Hemera/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Could flying across the pond be cheaper than taking a flight to Los Angeles? Sometimes, according to FareCompare CEO Rick Seaney. He says, "A look at round-trip fall fares for Nov. 26 to Dec. 1 from New York finds a flight to London costing only $299.15 compared to the price of a flight to Los Angeles at $445.00." "Both deals were found on FareCompare on Sept. 22, but can be seen elsewhere, too," Seaney notes. The reasons behind the deals are partially due to oil prices and demand. "Oil prices remain low, and so is demand now that the big summer season is over," Seaney says. "Plus, there are more discount carriers serving trans-Atlantic routes, including Portugals Tap, Icelands Wow Air and Norwegian Shuttle," he adds. "In order to compete, many big U.S. carriers are also serving up dazzling deals this fall." If you're planning to take to the skies this fall, here's what Seaney says you should know about finding deals to Europe: 1. Act fast As always, airlines are constantly tinkering with fares based on what the competition is doing and on the ebb and flow of demand, and theres no guarantee any one fare will stay at that level for long. If you see a fare you love, do not delay: buy it. It probably wont last long. 2. Dont fly too late The fall season itself wont last forever. The date to keep in mind is Dec. 19. Thats the last day to depart on a flight to Europe because beginning Dec. 20, we will see an average price increase of about 20 percent, and fares will stay there through the holidays and beyond. Wait too long and you will miss out. 3. Always compare fares This is true for any and every flight you book. If you dont compare fares, you could end up paying too much. Any airline would be thrilled if you had the kind of blind loyalty that sent you to their site and theirs alone because then youd pay whatever they asked. Be smart. See what everyone else is charging before you ding your credit card. 4. Look for cheap cities Despite the great New York to London fare quoted earlier, the U.K. isnt usually the cheapest place in Europe. Here are some recent round-trip fares to cheaper destinations with most good for travel in October and November. - Boston to Stockholm, $375 - Chicago to Rome, $567 - Los Angeles to Oslo, $473 - New York to Dublin, $490 - New York to Paris, $499 5. Holiday travels, holiday gifts Consider making a gift of travel as a holiday present, but talk to the recipient in advance so there arent any surprises like, I cant fly that day, as the best deals are usually nonrefundable. Or consider traveling to Europe to celebrate a holiday. Check out this comparison for recently-found Thanksgiving fares. - Boston to Shannon, Ireland: $432 - Boston to Portland, Maine: $603 The fun part about this of course is that you pay more for a New England flight of about 100 miles than for a 2,800-mile trip to Europe. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. 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. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday welcomed the call by Gabon's president-elect, Ali Bongo Ondimba, for national dialogue in central African country. "Such a dialogue must be representative of all stakeholders towards national reconciliation, inclusive governance, and the adoption of consensual measures for peaceful and credible legislative elections in December 2016," the secretary-general said in a statement issued here by his spokesman. Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping has rejected a ruling by the Constitutional Court that upheld the victory of President Ali Bongo in August's presidential election, which was mired by claims of voter fraud. Tension has been high as protesters took to the streets of Gabonese capital Libreville soon after poll results showed that the incumbent president, Ali Bongo, narrowly won re-election in a vote the opposition said was stolen. The protesters attacked the parliament building and clashed with police, leaving 1,000 arrested, local media reported. The secretary-general took note of the ruling of the Constitutional Court of the Gabonese Republic on the appeals lodged against the preliminary results of the Aug. 27 presidential election, as well as its confirmation of Ali Bongo as the president-elect, the statement said. "At this critical and sensitive juncture in the country's history, it is of utmost importance that all actors demonstrate maximum restraint and fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms," the statement said. "The secretary-general calls for the release of any persons detained arbitrarily during the electoral process," said the statement. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the democratic process and sustainable development in Gabon and will continue to work closely with national, regional and international partners in this regard, the statement added. Large images of Democratic nominee Hillary Clintonand Republican nominee Donald Trump are seen on a CNN vehicle, behind asecurity fence, on September 24, 2014, at Hofstra University, in Hempsted, New York. The university is the site of the first Presidential debate on September 26, between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. (AFP PHOTO) NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first of three U.S. presidential debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, will be held Monday at Hofstra University in New York. It would be the first-ever one-on-one debate between the two candidates, and the clash is expected to draw a record 100 million viewers. What can viewers expect to see as the two polar opposites face off against each other? The debate will last 90 minutes without commercial breaks. NBC's Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will be the moderator to ask questions. A WELL-PREPARED CLINTON VS. AN UNPREDICTABLE TRUMP As a veteran debater, Clinton has more stage experience than most of the presidential candidates in recent history. But she still took a better half of recent weeks preparing for Monday, looking into massive data about Trump's history and past performances, doing mock debates with her team and preparing to defend possible attacks from the freshly businessman turned politician. "I do not know which Donald Trump will show up," said Clinton in an August fundraising event in New York. How would Trump approach the debate, and whether Clinton has any effective plan to tackle his facade will be interesting to watch for. "Maybe he will try to be presidential and try to convey a gravity that he hasn't done before or will he come in and try to insult and try to score some points," said Clinton. Trump, on the other hand, showed little clue if he will stay on message while looking presidential or resort to petty insults and name-calling that had worked to his advantage on the debate stage in the primary season. He had been on the campaign trail to the various battleground states, paying minimal attention to the materials his team collected for him, and refused to participate in mock debates. But he had been studying videos of Clinton's previous debate performances "looking for her vulnerabilities," according to The New York Times. Even if Trump decides to act "presidential," It is unclear whether he can resist the temptation to attack Clinton on personal issues, including her health and her husband's past infidelities. But it's certain he would not give up the opportunities to go after the scandals that had been plaguing the race from day one, like Clinton's private email server and her relations with big donors. "I can talk about her deleting emails after she gets a subpoena from Congress and lots of other things," said Trump in a recent interview with Fox News. NOT ABOUT POLICIES History has shown that a presidential debate was seldom a contest of which candidate has better policies. Instead, it's a show of character and temperament. This was true ever since the very first nationally televised debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Radio listeners thought the debate had been a tie. However, with a baggy suit and bad makeup exposed by his constant sweating, Nixon was widely deemed loser of the debate by TV viewers in contrast to a well-dressed and poised Kennedy. Clinton has been widely acknowledged by voters as experienced and competent for the job of president. There's hardly any doubt about it. She also has been in many one-on-one live debates throughout her long political career, while Trump has never done even one. So it becomes imperative for Clinton to appear experienced, mature and relatable. If Trump can drag her into an angry dog fight and exchange of name-calling, then he would have a better chance. Being the first female major-party nominee in U.S. history, it would also be intriguing to see how or if Clinton will play the "gender card." Studies find that gender stereotypes play an important role. It is already a concern how the viewers would perceive the fact that a 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 meters) Trump will tower over a 5-foot-7-inch (1.70 meters) Clinton when they stand together on stage. Research has also found that a man appearing aggressive will likely be perceived positively, while a woman appearing aggressive is mostly received negatively. If Clinton remains calm and collected when under attack from Trump, and not get defensive or dismissive as she sometimes does during the campaign, she will score a better image among voters. Trump, on the other hand, should avoid his previous sexist rhetoric to ensure viewers wouldn't become sympathetic towards Clinton. DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS "When I watch her in the debate, she just seems somehow slimy and can just wiggle out from any question or situation," said Brian Grasso, a sophomore at Duke University. To gain an upper hand, Clinton has to find a way to change the public's reception of her as a dishonest and untrustworthy establishment politician, which is a difficult job to do. The expectation for Trump to emerge as the winner of the debate is relatively low. People don't expect him to speak with lots of substance. He just needs to show voters that he can handle the job as president, and not someone who cannot control his mouth from speaking outrageous things. The debate will also be a clash of views on whether the country is in decline. Trump had painted America as a dark and desperate place, and Clinton will have to challenge it. The three major topics announced by the Commission on Presidential Debates are "America's Direction," "Achieving Prosperity" and "Securing America," which are translated to economy, national security and the candidates' vision for the country's future. Recent bombing attacks in New York and New Jersey, tensions between police and African Americans in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and shootings in Burlington, Washington could all fall in line with Trump's rhetoric, as he had benefited before from inciting fear among the American public after similar incidents. "For all his lack of substance, Trump's showmanship, as ex-TV star, makes him a formidable debate foe," wrote Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for the Clinton campaign. Trump's team had urged the candidate to hold his own and stay focused on important themes like economy, anti-terrorism and protection of the country's borders. "A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man you can trust with nuclear weapons," Clinton said during her Democratic convention speech. How Clinton would attempt to get under Trump's skin in the debate and bait him into losing his temper will be a scene to look out for. KIGALI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural experts have cited beekeeping and honey production as key towards eradicating poverty among rural farmers across African continent. The experts made the observation on Sunday during the closure of the 5th All-Africa International Honey Exposition and the 3rd Continental General Assembly (GA) of the African Apiculture Platform (APP) in Kigali. "Most of the rural communities in Africa are not aware of the immense benefits accruing from beekeeping and honey production. They depend solely on agriculture for survival without engaging in other income generating activities like honey production," said Bosco Okello, chief executive, ApiTrade Africa. He added that apiculture is often overlooked and left untapped in most African economies as it is seen as a small investment venture. Apiculture is the practice of keeping bees as well as the manufacturing of honey and beeswax. ApiTrade Africa is an NGO that specializes in developing trade in bee products from Africa. Jean Claude Kayisinga, Rwanda's permanent secretary for agriculture and animal resources, said that honey continues to be a popular commodity across the globe, and poor rural farmers throughout Africa have not got a chance to take up the practice of beekeeping to earn money and fight poverty in their households. "We always talk about big investments to eradicate poverty in Africa, but small investments like beekeeping and honey production have not been made a priority to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. This is the reason why apiculture in Africa is poorly practiced and not developed at all," he said. Kayisinga noted that African governments' efforts to reduce poverty, especially in the rural areas, could be given a boost if apiculture or beekeeping were taken as a serious venture. At the conference, agriculturists argued that beekeeping and honey production could provide self-employment and reliable higher incomes if adequately supported to develop. Beekeeping is cost effective and not strenuous, requiring the use of relatively simple equipment, they added. Rwanda is hosting the 7-day continental forum from Sept. 21. The forum brought together some 5,000 bee keepers, honey dealers, agriculturists, officials and development partners from across Africa and beyond to promote apiculture and share knowledge on trade and business. DUBAI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The total value of trade between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea reached 33.43 billion U.S. dollars from 2010 to 2015, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported on Sunday. Chairman of the UAE Federal Customs Authority in Abu Dhabi, Ali Al-Kaabi, made the statement after he returned from a two-day meeting of the UAE-South Korea Joint Customs Committee in Seoul. He said South Korea is a strategic economic trade partner of the UAE, "so we are keen to promote customs cooperation with South Korea and share best practices in this field." The Korean delegation was presided over by the Commissioner of the Korean Customs Service, Chun Hong-uk, along with a number of Korean customs officials. The UAE has the largest man-made container port worldwide, the Jebel Ali Free Port in Dubai, which is used for the state's re-export business. However, the WAM report did not disclose trade figures before 2010. Al-Kaabi stressed the UAE and South Korea's strong economic and trade relations, saying that there is a "keenness of the two countries to strengthen relations and exchange experiences and expertise in the field of customs work to expand intra-regional trade and increase the overall volume of trade." The South Korean President Park Geun-hye visited the UAE in March last year, after which the joint customs committee was established. THE HAGUE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A few thousand people from different ethnic backgrounds marched in Amsterdam on Sunday to "celebrate" diversity in the Netherlands. The initiators wanted to make a positive statement against, according to them, polarization in the Netherlands. They therefore celebrated the ethnic and cultural diversity. "Because we believe in each other and want to work together to create a more beautiful Netherlands," said Nasrdin Dchar, actor and initiator of the march. In 2016 Amsterdam Marketing highlights the diversity in Amsterdam with the theme: "City of Diversity". With 180 different nationalities, the population of Amsterdam is one of the most diverse in Europe. But critics from the left and right wing had criticized the organization, which is called "Ieder1" (everyone), ignored the recalcitrant reality, with growing division and fragmentation in society. The parade of eight kilometers started in Amsterdam Southeast and ended at the Museum square in the center. At the Museum square, an event started with performances and speeches by artists and actors. Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher and Jet Bussemaker, Minister of Education, Culture and Science, were also present. The march was supported by the mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, and the mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb. They called on the residents of their cities to participate in the event. LAGOS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 Boko Haram insurgents were killed during an attack in northeast Nigeria's state of Borno, the Nigerian Army said Sunday. Four soldiers also died in the repelled terrorists attack, while two others sustained injuries, the army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement made available to Xinhua. The attack came in three waves with the terrorists, using 36 hand grenades and rocket propelled launchers at Logomani, he said, adding that the troops recovered two AK-47 Rifles, one G3 Rifle and 36 hand grenades. The location has been reinforced and replenished while the troops have continued their clearance operations, Usman said. Nigeria's northeast region has been a stronghold of the extremist group Boko Haram. In past months, the Nigerian government has launched several military operations to eliminate the terrorist threat. NICOSIA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A solution to the Cyprus problem this year is an ambitious target but not an unfeasible one, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said in a statement on Sunday carried by state television. In remarks to Cypriot and Greek journalists in New York after a joint meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Anastasiades said that intensive negotiations will continue soon after they return in Cyprus with a view of clinching an agreement in 2016. "We'll work tirelessly for a just and a lasting solution that will meet the expectations of all Cypriots," Anastasiades said. Ban said after meeting Anastasiades and Akinci for 90 minutes at the U.N. Headquarters that the period ahead will be crucial for the outcome of efforts to solve the four-decade old Cyprus problem, the second longest problem on the U.N. agenda. Anastasiades and Akinci have been negotiating for 16 months with the aim of restoring the unity of Cyprus, which was split along ethnic lines after Turkish troops occupied the islands northern part in 1974, in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece. Ban said the two leaders asked him to step up his personal engagement in the negotiating process, adding that he stands ready to support them, including tackling the international dimensions of the issue. These include removing of about 40,000 Turkish soldiers from Cyprus and terminating international guarantees dating back to the island's independence from British colonial rule in 1960. Anastasiades has said that there can be no solution with either Turkish troops on Cyprus or Turkish guarantee of the status quo on the island. Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2016 shows the Fresno Community Regional Medical Center, where injured Chinese tourists receive medical treatment in Fresno, California, the United States. Officials of Consulate-General of China in San Francisco confirmed Sunday that over ten Chinese tourists were injured in a bus accident on a tour of Yosemite National Park in California Saturday afternoon. (Xinhua/Yang Lei) LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Officials of Consulate-General of China in San Francisco confirmed Sunday that over ten Chinese tourists were injured in a bus accident on a tour of Yosemite National Park in California Saturday afternoon. Officials told Xinhua that two were seriously injured and they are still receiving treatment at a local hospital while the other eight who suffered minor injuries had been discharged from the hospital after medical treatment. According to a local police department report, the accident occurred "at approximately 17:35 local time on Saturday." The tour bus was run by 'A Top Line Charter" and a total of 22 people on board when the crash happened. "Most of the subjects were under the age of 18 years old. The location of the accident was Highway 41 and Road 630, just outside of the town of Oakhurst," local police said. The cause of the bus accident is still under investigation. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Sunday voiced his deep concern at the recent military escalation in some areas in Syria, and called upon the international community to work harder to help all Syrian parties in their efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement as he was speaking at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria, which was held at the request of the United States, Britain and France following the renewed fighting in the north Syrian city of Aleppo. The conflict in relevant areas of Syria has recently escalated and caused a heavy civilian casualty, and a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked, Liu noted, adding that China expressed its deep concerns at the grave situation on the ground. The Syrian government force was attacked by airstrikes and suffered heavy casualties, for which China expressed regret, he said. "We hope that all the concerned parties will enhance their coordination and prevent similar incidents from happening again," he said. The Syrian conflict has been lingering on for about five years, China has deep sympathy for the suffering of the Syrian people, he said. "This situation cannot be allowed to continue anymore." "The priority now is that all the parties in Syria must effectively implement the Security Council resolutions concerning the issue of Syria," Liu said. "The international community should work simultaneously on the tracks of ceasefire, political negotiation, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism cooperation in order to promote the solution of the Syrian question." Meanwhile, he said, China hopes that the agreement reached by Russia and the United States regarding the cessation of hostilities among all Syrian parties will be effectively implemented so as to create opportunities for improving the situation on the ground. "The international community should work in collaboration to urge all parties in Syria to effectively implement the agreement so as to resume the ceasefire," he said. "The more complex the situation in Syria, the more important it is to uphold the general direction of political solution, give full play to the role of the United Nations as the main channel of the mediation, continue to support the Special Envoy de Mistura in his efforts to re-launch the Geneva Talks as soon as possible, and press ahead the Syrian-own and Syrian-led process to achievement arrangements that accommodate all interests." Regional countries should play a positive role in promoting the political settlement of the Syrian question, he said. Furthermore, the senior Chinese diplomat urged all the parties in Syria to "provide full humanitarian access and ensure that all the humanitarian supplies can be delivered in a timely and safe manner." The international community should scale up humanitarian assistance to Syria in a bid to alleviate the humanitarian situation on the ground and provide assistance to neighboring countries to help them properly accommodate refugees, he said. "Counter-terrorism is a very important component of the solution to the Syrian problem," he said. "The Syrian conflict has led to the rise and spread of terrorism, without rooting out terrorism, there will be no peace for Syrian people, and there will be no security for regional countries." "The international community should work with resolve to combat all the terrorist force listed by the Security Council, including the Islamic State, he said. "In the process of counter-terrorism cooperation, we must enhance the intelligence sharing, and prevent social media from spreading extremist ideology and cut off the flow of terrorists and their financial channels." "China has been making unremitting efforts to promote political solution to the Syrian problem, and we have made extensive efforts to push all Syrian parties to end the conflict as soon as possible and to achieve a comprehensive political solution," he said. "China stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting a full, just and appropriate settlement of the Syrian problem," he added. TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Ministry of Petroleum announced Sunday that Japan will fund the development of some Iran's petrochemical projects, Press TV reported. Japan's Marubeni Corporation has signed a deal with Iran's Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC) to provide as much as 320 million euros (359.25 million U.S. dollars) for the development of PGPIC's petrochemical projects, the ministry said in a statement. The fund will be realized through a mechanism known as the USANCE Letters of Credit (L/C). The statement added that another deal will be signed with the Japanese side in near future to provide the PGPIC with another 640 million euros. The PGPIC plans to provide an extra 10 billion U.S. dollars for its projects, the statement said but did not specify how the capital will be provided. It was announced here in June that investors from Japan and South Korea were ready to finance Iran's petrochemical projects. To access credit lines from other countries, Iran's Ministry of Economy and Finance is supposed to provide state guarantees. Agents achieve Chad Oswald of Wilton and Beck Hruby of Bismarck are among the top five producers of life insurance sales at Farmers Union Insurance for the month of August. CCU Insurance Agency LLC, a partnership of Farmers Union Insurance and Capital Credit Union, insurance agent Ryan Schnell of Bismarck was a top five producer of FUMI Personal lines and Pacco auto sales insurance for the company during the month of August. Realtor hired Bianco Realty in Bismarck has hired Candi Steidler. Peterson elected Jesse Peterson, of Bismarck, was elected chairman of the Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota during the organizations annual conference held recently in Fargo. Peterson is a partner in Eide Ford Lincoln in Bismarck, Eide Hyundai in Grand Forks and Eide Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep in Pine City, Minn. He has served on the ADAND Board of Directors since 2010. Nehl awarded Jess Nehl, tax manager at Eide Bailly LLP, public accounting and business advisory firm, recently received the firms Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award recognizes staff who consistently go beyond whats expected by making clients feel understood, connected and confident; serving as mentors; rising above others in their work and leadership roles; and living the Eide Bailly culture every day. Agent recognized Danielle Wetzstein of Country Travel, Bismarck was named top sales consultant with Delta Vacations to Cancun, Mexico, out of more than 600 agents. Archaeologist hired KLJ, an engineering, surveying and planning firm, hired archaeologist Chris von Wedell for its Bismarck office. Von Wedell earned a masters degree in anthropology from Colorado State University and a bachelors degree in anthropology from University of Kansas. He has 12 years of experience in cultural resource management. Mabin certified Mike Mabin, managing partner with Shutter Pilots, attended a flight instruction course titled Commercial Drone Pilot Certification offered by V1 Aeronautics in Hagerstown, Md. Mabin passed a pilot knowledge exam administered through the Federal Aviation Administration to earn a remote pilot certificate, enabling him to operate as pilot in command under the FAAs new rules and regulations relating to small, unmanned aerial systems. Shutter Pilots is a Bismarck-based aerial imaging company providing low-altitude photography, cinematography and 2D/3D visualization services using drones. Two promoted The Bank of North Dakota promoted Liane Auch to IT tech analyst in Information Technology and Sheridon Dewald to administrative assistant in the Financial Institutions Market. Auch began her career at BND in 2011, most recently serving as a technical support manager. She attended Rasmussen College, where she earned her bachelors degree in business systems analysis. Dewald began her career with BND in May 2015 as a loan assistant. She is pursuing her degree in finance and is expected to graduate in May 2017. Realtor recognized Amy Hullet, a Realtor with Century 21 Landmark Realty in Bismarck, was named North Dakota Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year at the 2016 Convention of the Dakotas in Fargo. The Realtor of the Year award is presented annually to a member recognized for effort and work expended in the interest of fellow Realtors, their profession and their community. Hullet has been a licensed Realtor since 2005 and serves as the president of the Bismarck-Mandan Board of Realtors. Hospital hires two CHI St. Alexius Health hired Dr. Muhammad Jamil and Dr. Nida Zehra to its hospital medicine team. Hospitalists are experts in providing primary care to patients admitted in the hospital, 24 hours a day. Jamil received his medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan, and completed an internal medicine residency at State University of New York, in Buffalo, N.Y. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of American College of Physicians and Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. Zehra received her medical degree from Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan, and completed an internal medicine residency at State University of New York, in Buffalo, N.Y. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of American College of Physicians and Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. New director Tracy's Sanctuary House, a hospitality house, has hired Kelsey Zottnick as executive director. Zottnick has been a volunteer with Tracy's Sanctuary House for 10 years and has served as the assistant executive director for more than six years. Kotelnicki hired Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck hired Sarah Kotelnicki as marketing director. In her role, Kotelnicki is responsible for event creation, community partnerships and communication strategies to build awareness of the malls offerings. Kotelnicki was most recently employed by Scheels on the store's events and public relations team. Kotelnicki's role also includes marketing responsibility for two other CBL & Associates Properties in the Midwest Dakota Square Mall in Minot and Burnsville Center in Burnsville, Minn. Liu Jieyi (C, front), China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addresses during an UN Security Council emergency meeting on Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 25, 2016. (Xinhua-Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Sunday voiced his deep concern at the recent military escalation in some areas in Syria, and called upon the international community to work harder to help all Syrian parties in their efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Liu Jieyi, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement as he was speaking at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria, which was held at the request of the United States, Britain and France following the renewed fighting in the north Syrian city of Aleppo. The conflict in relevant areas of Syria has recently escalated and caused a heavy civilian casualty, and a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked, Liu noted, adding that China expressed its deep concerns at the grave situation on the ground. The Syrian government force was attacked by airstrikes and suffered heavy casualties, for which China expressed regret, he said. "We hope that all the concerned parties will enhance their coordination and prevent similar incidents from happening again," he said. The Syrian conflict has been lingering on for about five years, China has deep sympathy for the suffering of the Syrian people, he said. "This situation cannot be allowed to continue anymore." "The priority now is that all the parties in Syria must effectively implement the Security Council resolutions concerning the issue of Syria," Liu said. "The international community should work simultaneously on the tracks of ceasefire, political negotiation, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism cooperation in order to promote the solution of the Syrian question." Meanwhile, he said, China hopes that the agreement reached by Russia and the United States regarding the cessation of hostilities among all Syrian parties will be effectively implemented so as to create opportunities for improving the situation on the ground. "The international community should work in collaboration to urge all parties in Syria to effectively implement the agreement so as to resume the ceasefire," he said. "The more complex the situation in Syria, the more important it is to uphold the general direction of political solution, give full play to the role of the United Nations as the main channel of the mediation, continue to support the Special Envoy de Mistura in his efforts to re-launch the Geneva Talks as soon as possible, and press ahead the Syrian-own and Syrian-led process to achievement arrangements that accommodate all interests." Regional countries should play a positive role in promoting the political settlement of the Syrian question, he said. Furthermore, the senior Chinese diplomat urged all the parties in Syria to "provide full humanitarian access and ensure that all the humanitarian supplies can be delivered in a timely and safe manner." The international community should scale up humanitarian assistance to Syria in a bid to alleviate the humanitarian situation on the ground and provide assistance to neighboring countries to help them properly accommodate refugees, he said. "Counter-terrorism is a very important component of the solution to the Syrian problem," he said. "The Syrian conflict has led to the rise and spread of terrorism, without rooting out terrorism, there will be no peace for Syrian people, and there will be no security for regional countries." "The international community should work with resolve to combat all the terrorist force listed by the Security Council, including the Islamic State, he said. "In the process of counter-terrorism cooperation, we must enhance the intelligence sharing, and prevent social media from spreading extremist ideology and cut off the flow of terrorists and their financial channels." "China has been making unremitting efforts to promote political solution to the Syrian problem, and we have made extensive efforts to push all Syrian parties to end the conflict as soon as possible and to achieve a comprehensive political solution," he said. "China stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting a full, just and appropriate settlement of the Syrian problem," he added. BOGOTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony in the Colombian city of Cartagena on Monday will mark a historic moment for a country riven by decades of civil war, disappearances and drug trafficking. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the top leader of the FARC, Timoleon Jimenez, will formally sign the peace agreement agreed in August in Havana. However, ahead of this moment, the FARC has had some soul-searching to do. How does one of the foremost guerrilla groups in the world come down from the jungle and enter politics? How do trigger fingers stop gripping a gun to pick up a pen? These topics have been under intense discussion for the last week at the Tenth National Guerrilla Conference, held by the FARC in the jungle of the southern department of Caqueta. That the war has ended is not under question. On Friday, Ivan Marquez, part of the FARC's commanding group, told the conference that "we inform the country, the governments and people of the world that the guerrillas, delegated to this Conference, have given their unanimous backing to the final Havana agreement." Only the FARC's First Front has refused to accept the deal and did not attend the conference, although Marquez invited them to reconsider. He also announced that the FARC was expanding its central committee from 31 to 61 members, who face the challenge of outlining the manner in which the group will transition into a new political movement. In a statement, the FARC that another plenary summit would be held to better define the political transition and the new name of the group. This will be held after the Oct. 2 plebiscite in which the Colombian people will vote on whether to accept or reject the peace deal. A poll by Gallup Colombia, carried out between Sept. 14-18, found a majority of Colombians in favor of the deal, with 67.6 percent planning to vote Yes. VARIOUS MOTIVES AT CONFERENCE The FARC's summit, open to the press, also saw a number of people come in search of their relatives who joined the FARC over the years. One man, of medium build and wearing a hat, spoke to Xinhua but chose to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. Hailing from the mountainous area of Sumapaz, the man had travelled 20 hours to attend the conference to track young men from his community who joined the FARC in the 1980s. He happily told Xinhua that he had been in contact with seven of the men he now sought. He received their pictures on his cellphone in order to show their relatives that they are still alive. "They seem well. They are happy to have joined the guerrilla, convinced that it was worth the sacrifice, even though some have not seen their families in 20 years. This will change when they can...enter politics," he explained. FEARS REMAIN DESPITE PEACE Witnesses Xinhua spoke to during the Conference stated that they fear a renewal of violence once they lay down their arms. Harvey Arenas, commander of a FARC squad, said that "our fight sought the well-being of all Colombian people...without the (right-wing) paramilitaries who have always terrorized the Colombian people." "The news said that armed groups had killed two farmers (this week) in the town of San Vicente," he added. Cristobal Garcia, third commander of the FARC's 43rd Front, revealed that he joined the FARC at just 13 years old as he lived in a region with a heavy paramilitary activity. "The paramilitaries killed my parents and I was left alone, orphaned, abandoned," he told Xinhua. "Then, the FARC appeared in the region. We got to know the guerrillas, I decided to join them and find another way of life. I now know this is part of history and we must face the political stage with great care." Pablo Catatumbo, commander of the FARC's Western Front and a member of the negotiating team in Havana, said at a press conference that the issue of paramilitary activity remained a concern. "There is great concern in the country for the growth of paramilitary groups, as the state has not met its promises to return dispossessed lands. In the agreement, there are mechanisms that will surely bear fruit in times to come," stated Catatumbo. "Now comes the stage of implementing the accords. The people will have to participate," he added. "Social and political problems are not resolved at a negotiation table, tools are created but the fight must be carried on." OTHER WITNESSES Many rank and file members of the FARC plan to integrate civil society in different cities and actively participate in politics. However, they will continue to be linked to the group they have been a part of for decades. "I will do what the party says. I am not thinking of breaking with the party. We succeeded with them and we are ending with them. If the party tells me to go and sow yucca, bananas or maize, I will do it," David Preciado, a guerrilla fighter who lost an arm in a fight with the military, told Xinhua. Rudy Guzman, who joined the FARC at the age of 10 after his parents were killed by a far-right group, said he is now waiting for the decision of the Colombian people. "It is now time for the people to realize why our struggle lasted so many years, why so many fighters, both men and women, gave our lives to see a Colombia at peace. I think it is time for them to support us as this peace is for them, not for us," said Guzman. On Monday, September 26, Santos and Jimenez will sign the peace agreement in front of world leaders, including Cuba's President Raul Castro, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. However, the world will have to wait one week more until Oct. 2 to know if Colombia will truly remain at peace. Syrian government forces gather in the largely deserted Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, north of Aleppo, on September 24, 2016 after they captured the area following multiple Russian air strikes. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Battles continued in Aleppo on Sunday coupled with airstrikes on rebel-held areas, as Western powers dropped political barrel bombs on Russia and the Syrian government. Several rebel factions succeeded on Sunday to retake the strategic Handarat camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern province of Aleppo, just a day after the Syrian army and Palestinian fighters wrested control over it. Handarat, located 13 km northeast of Aleppo, has emerged as a battlefield over the past few months between the Syrian army backed by the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds on one side, and several radical rebel groups, including the Nour Addien Zinki, Nusra Front, Levant Front, and the Levant Legions. The camp has a special importance due to its proximity to the Castello road, the main rebel supply route into rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo city. The Castello road has been recently recaptured by the Syrian army, and taking Handarat enables the army to secure more areas around that key road, which seen several attacks by the rebels in the hope of taking it back. Military sources in Aleppo told Xinhua that battles are still taking place in the vicinity of the camp, as part of the army's resolve to take back that camp. Handarat is also close to the Jandoul roundabout, another intersection leading to the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo city. Capturing Handarat will also expose several rebel-held areas in Aleppo to the fire of the Syrian army, which will further tighten the government siege on eastern Aleppo. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian and Russian warplanes continued to strike rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo on Monday. It said 52 people were killed Monday as a result of the intensified airstrikes on rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo. The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll could likely rise due to the high number of wounded people, and those stuck under the rubble. The monitor 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 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. On the international arena, superpowers exchanged accusations during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, casting shadows over diplomatic efforts. Britain has accused Russia of war crimes, while the United States accused Moscow of "barbarism." "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism. It is barbarism," The U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said. "History will not look kindly on security council members who stay silent in the face of this carnage," she continued. For his part, Matthew Rycroft, the UK ambassador to the UN, said "bunker-busting bombs, more suited to destroying military installations, are now destroying homes, decimating bomb shelters, crippling, maiming, killing dozens, if not hundreds." "In short, it is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes," he added. Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the UN, agreed with his British counter part, saying the war crimes they accused Moscow of "must not go unpunished." The Russian envoy, Vitaly Churkin, responded with saying that the U.S. has no control over the rebels it's backing in Syria. He accused the U.S. and other Western countries of supporting the terrorist groups in Syria. Churkin also charged that the rebels were the ones who have undermined the U.S.-Russian deal on Syria, including the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari asserted that the Syrian government will remain committed to combating terrorism. He stressed that the Syrian army will recapture every inch in Syria, including the rebel-held part in eastern Aleppo. Syrian government forces gather in the largely deserted Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, north of Aleppo, on September 24, 2016 after they captured the area following multiple Russian air strikes. (AFP/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Battles continued in Aleppo on Sunday coupled with airstrikes on rebel-held areas, as Western powers dropped political barrel bombs on Russia and the Syrian government. Several rebel factions succeeded on Sunday to retake the strategic Handarat camp for Palestinian refugees in the northern province of Aleppo, just a day after the Syrian army and Palestinian fighters wrested control over it. Handarat, located 13 km northeast of Aleppo, has emerged as a battlefield over the past few months between the Syrian army backed by the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds on one side, and several radical rebel groups, including the Nour Addien Zinki, Nusra Front, Levant Front, and the Levant Legions. The camp has a special importance due to its proximity to the Castello road, the main rebel supply route into rebel-held areas in the eastern part of Aleppo city. The Castello road has been recently recaptured by the Syrian army, and taking Handarat enables the army to secure more areas around that key road, which seen several attacks by the rebels in the hope of taking it back. Military sources in Aleppo told Xinhua that battles are still taking place in the vicinity of the camp, as part of the army's resolve to take back that camp. Handarat is also close to the Jandoul roundabout, another intersection leading to the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo city. Capturing Handarat will also expose several rebel-held areas in Aleppo to the fire of the Syrian army, which will further tighten the government siege on eastern Aleppo. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian and Russian warplanes continued to strike rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo on Monday. It said 52 people were killed Monday as a result of the intensified airstrikes on rebel-controlled areas in Aleppo. The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll could likely rise due to the high number of wounded people, and those stuck under the rubble. The monitor 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 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. On the international arena, superpowers exchanged accusations during an emergency Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, casting shadows over diplomatic efforts. Britain has accused Russia of war crimes, while the United States accused Moscow of "barbarism." "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism. It is barbarism," The U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said. "History will not look kindly on security council members who stay silent in the face of this carnage," she continued. For his part, Matthew Rycroft, the UK ambassador to the UN, said "bunker-busting bombs, more suited to destroying military installations, are now destroying homes, decimating bomb shelters, crippling, maiming, killing dozens, if not hundreds." "In short, it is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes," he added. Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the UN, agreed with his British counter part, saying the war crimes they accused Moscow of "must not go unpunished." The Russian envoy, Vitaly Churkin, responded with saying that the U.S. has no control over the rebels it's backing in Syria. He accused the U.S. and other Western countries of supporting the terrorist groups in Syria. Churkin also charged that the rebels were the ones who have undermined the U.S.-Russian deal on Syria, including the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari asserted that the Syrian government will remain committed to combating terrorism. He stressed that the Syrian army will recapture every inch in Syria, including the rebel-held part in eastern Aleppo. Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2016 shows the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency meeting on the situation in Syria, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- During a testy -- including a walkout -- emergency Security Council meeting on Sunday called in wake of "one of the worst" weeks in Syria in nearly six years of fighting, the UN special envoy vowed to continue his role but pleaded with the panel "to enforce a cessation of hostilities (CoH) in Syria." The walkout, by the ambassadors of France, Britain and the United States, occurred while Syria's Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari near the end of the 2 1/2 hour session on the increased Syrian attacks on "terrorists" in his country's "second capital," said, "The Syrian government will recapture the whole town of Aleppo. The entire town." "These are indeed chilling days," said Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy, for Syria and "for the people of Aleppo in particular. The past week has been one of the worst ones in Syria during the near six years of this devastating conflict." He asked the council to press for a cessation of the violence and protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, weekly 48-hour pauses in the fighting for aid convoys "without preconditions neither from the government nor frankly from the opposition" and "to press for medical evacuations ... from eastern Aleppo." "Amid intensive air strikes reported on Friday, following the announcement of the beginning of a government offensive, an announcement was made by the government itself," de Mistura said, resulting in "scores of reported civilian deaths and injuries, including those of many children." "We have seen the situation in eastern Aleppo deteriorate to new heights of horror," the veteran diplomat said. "I am still convinced that we can turn the course of events," he said. "We have proven this more than once before." De Mistura said he has been asked several times, "'Why don' t you resign at this point? Frankly all this is leading nowhere and this will send a strong signal.' No I am not. Because any sign of me resigning would be a signal that the international community is abandoning the Syrians, and we will not abandon the Syrians, and neither will you." All 15 members of the council spoke during the session, many siding with Britain, France and the United States -- who called the meeting -- while a few sided with Russia in what has turned the Syrian civil war into a proxy battle many say is reminiscent of the Cold War. A few were quite direct, rather undiplomatically, naming states they felt were in the wrong. Russia says it was invited by Syria to help fight off terrorists and the West says it is supporting only "moderate" rebels and not terrorists. Ja'afari insisted the Syrian government was only defending itself from terrorists but would sit down with representatives of non-terrorist opposition groups. He said Britain, France and the United Sates, "weep and they have crocodile tears" for Aleppo and asked if Britain would give away Scotland, France relinquish Corsica or "the United States give away Texas." "The Syrian government will not give away a single inch of our territory," said the Damascus envoy who accused the trio of western nations of "falsely" calling armed opposition groups in Syria "moderates." Britain's Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, French Ambassador Francois Delattre, walked out of the council chamber while the Syrian ambassador was speaking. "We need to decide how to stop this, now," Rycroft said of the Aleppo siege on Twitter. "Syria's UN ambassador is not interested in that decision. That's why I just walked out of" the UN Security Council. "France, together with the U.S. and the UK (United Kingdom), called for this emergency meeting of the Security Council because we are simply horrified by what we are watching in Aleppo," Delattre told reporters after the walkout. "Aleppo is to Syria what Sarajevo was to Bosnia, or what Guernica was to the Spanish war." "This city epitomizes the Syrian tragedy more than any other," he said. "Aleppo, this symbolic city that dates back several millennia, this world heritage site, this crossroads where so many civilizations colluded and converged, is now experiencing a medieval type of siege. What a symbol, and frankly, what a shame!" "Today, the Syrian regime and its allies are sending a message loud and clear to the world, the Paris envoy said. "They are determined to besiege, starve, and bomb Aleppo until they reach their military goal: eradicating the opposition. That is what this siege is all about. It is clear that the various negotiations were nothing else in the minds of the regime in Damascus than a smoke screen." "That's why France is calling for the immediate implementation of the U.S.-Russia (CoH) agreement, starting in Aleppo: Aleppo first in terms of both the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian access." UN Security Council Holds emergency meeting on Syria conflict at UN headquarters in New York, the United States on Sept. 25, 2016. (Xinhua/Photo/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- During a testy -- including a walkout -- emergency Security Council meeting on Sunday called in wake of "one of the worst" weeks in Syria in nearly six years of fighting, the UN special envoy vowed to continue his role but pleaded with the panel "to enforce a cessation of hostilities (CoH) in Syria." The walkout, by the ambassadors of France, Britain and the United States, occurred while Syria's Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari near the end of the 2 1/2 hour session on the increased Syrian attacks on "terrorists" in his country's "second capital," said, "The Syrian government will recapture the whole town of Aleppo. The entire town." "These are indeed chilling days," said Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy, for Syria and "for the people of Aleppo in particular. The past week has been one of the worst ones in Syria during the near six years of this devastating conflict." He asked the council to press for a cessation of the violence and protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, weekly 48-hour pauses in the fighting for aid convoys "without preconditions neither from the government nor frankly from the opposition" and "to press for medical evacuations ... from eastern Aleppo." "Amid intensive air strikes reported on Friday, following the announcement of the beginning of a government offensive, an announcement was made by the government itself," de Mistura said, resulting in "scores of reported civilian deaths and injuries, including those of many children." "We have seen the situation in eastern Aleppo deteriorate to new heights of horror," the veteran diplomat said. "I am still convinced that we can turn the course of events," he said. "We have proven this more than once before." De Mistura said he has been asked several times, "'Why don' t you resign at this point? Frankly all this is leading nowhere and this will send a strong signal.' No I am not. Because any sign of me resigning would be a signal that the international community is abandoning the Syrians, and we will not abandon the Syrians, and neither will you." All 15 members of the council spoke during the session, many siding with Britain, France and the United States -- who called the meeting -- while a few sided with Russia in what has turned the Syrian civil war into a proxy battle many say is reminiscent of the Cold War. A few were quite direct, rather undiplomatically, naming states they felt were in the wrong. Russia says it was invited by Syria to help fight off terrorists and the West says it is supporting only "moderate" rebels and not terrorists. Ja'afari insisted the Syrian government was only defending itself from terrorists but would sit down with representatives of non-terrorist opposition groups. He said Britain, France and the United Sates, "weep and they have crocodile tears" for Aleppo and asked if Britain would give away Scotland, France relinquish Corsica or "the United States give away Texas." "The Syrian government will not give away a single inch of our territory," said the Damascus envoy who accused the trio of western nations of "falsely" calling armed opposition groups in Syria "moderates." Britain's Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, French Ambassador Francois Delattre, walked out of the council chamber while the Syrian ambassador was speaking. "We need to decide how to stop this, now," Rycroft said of the Aleppo siege on Twitter. "Syria's UN ambassador is not interested in that decision. That's why I just walked out of" the UN Security Council. "France, together with the U.S. and the UK (United Kingdom), called for this emergency meeting of the Security Council because we are simply horrified by what we are watching in Aleppo," Delattre told reporters after the walkout. "Aleppo is to Syria what Sarajevo was to Bosnia, or what Guernica was to the Spanish war." "This city epitomizes the Syrian tragedy more than any other," he said. "Aleppo, this symbolic city that dates back several millennia, this world heritage site, this crossroads where so many civilizations colluded and converged, is now experiencing a medieval type of siege. What a symbol, and frankly, what a shame!" "Today, the Syrian regime and its allies are sending a message loud and clear to the world, the Paris envoy said. "They are determined to besiege, starve, and bomb Aleppo until they reach their military goal: eradicating the opposition. That is what this siege is all about. It is clear that the various negotiations were nothing else in the minds of the regime in Damascus than a smoke screen." "That's why France is calling for the immediate implementation of the U.S.-Russia (CoH) agreement, starting in Aleppo: Aleppo first in terms of both the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian access." Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva 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) Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2016 shows the main flower parterre at the Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing, capital of China. The flower beds displayed at the Tian'anmen Square and along Chang'an Avenue have completed installation by Sunday for the National Day, which falls on Oct. 1. This year's main basket-shaped flower parterre is 50 meters in diameter and 17 meters in height. (Xinhua/Yin Gang) Fettig awarded Valley City State University announced that Paige Fettig has been awarded the Edson and Margaret Larson Scholarship by the School of Education and Graduate Studies for the 2016-17 academic year. Fettig is a sophomore and is pursuing a major in elementary education. She is the daughter of Greg and Sherry Fettig of Bismarck. Names announced The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation announced the names of employees who were awarded 2016 scholarships and ambassador awards. The scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $1,500, are awarded annually through the Tjaden Education Assistance Program. Scholarships go to employees currently pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. The seven, $500 TRMF ambassador awards were given to non-college student employees. TRMF also awarded eight Larson Ambassador Awards. The Larson Ambassador Awards are $500 awards that were established in 2016 by creator of the Sunshine Memorial Foundation, Van Larson. Scholarship and award winners need to demonstrate outstanding leadership and have a positive influence on the city of Medora, visitors of Medora and their fellow employees. Larson Ambassador Awards honor outstanding employees that have left an indelible impression on Medora. In order to be eligible for scholarships and ambassador awards, applicants must work at least 480 hours during the summer season. Employees who have shown excellent leadership skills throughout the summer season can be nominated by a manager, a coworker, or can nominate themselves. Scholarship and ambassador award recipients are then selected by a special committee that is appointed by TRMF President, Randy Hatzenbuhler. Area scholarship winners: Tjaden Scholarships, $1,000 award Mandy Marboe, Dickinson; Majalisa, Solen; Jenna Nicholson, Dawson (Wade Westin Award, $500 additional award); and Benjamin Schuler, Wishek, (Richard Johnson Education Award, $500 additional award); and Shannon Sunshine Larson Scholarship, $1,500 award Kristi Reuer, Bismarck. Larson Ambassador Award, $500 awards: Get 'er Done Award, given in honor of John Hild Ellen Murphy, Fort Yates; and Mistified Award, given in honor of Misti Koop Jim Muckle, Beach. Minot State homecoming Minot State University students selected Logan Gunderson and Keyona Walker as the 2016 Homecoming king and queen. Gunderson, a Berthold native, is an accounting and finance major. He represented Student Government Association. Walker, from Minot, majors in early childhood education. She represented MSU Life. Other area members of the homecoming court (with hometown, major and student organization) are Casey Feldner, Burlington, history, Mu Sigma Tau Fraternity; Kjerstie Fevold, Velva, physical education, MSCOPE; and Stephanie Sundhagen, Tioga, chemistry education, Residence Hall Association. Much of the advertising philosophy in the United States was transformed in the early 20th century by a mill owner who had earlier established two towns in North Dakota. In 1889, Emery Mapes, the former publisher and editor of the Nelson County News in Lakota, moved to Grand Forks to go into the milling business with George Bull. The two men purchased the milling machinery from the Diamond Flour Mill after a fire had destroyed the company's original milling facility near Mankato, Minn. The mill's new operator, Tom Amidon, discovered that a smooth white cereal was the result of cooking the wheat farina. This new cereal was given the name Cream of Wheat. After sending some samples to New York brokers, they received orders for many more boxes of the cereal. In early 1897, when Mapes and Bull realized the demand for their cereal was high and sales were likely to increase, they decided to move their company to Minneapolis, a much better location for distribution. On May 1, 1897, Bull suffered a heart attack and died. Mapes took over supervision of the booming company in its new location, and, through his insistence, quality control was given top priority. He used his experience as a publisher to implement great strides in the area of advertising. One day while eating at a Minneapolis diner, Mapes was served by a smiling, African-American waiter, and it suddenly occurred to him that a depiction of this man should serve as the symbol for his new cereal. Mapes rushed back to his office and hastily sketched out a drawing of the waiter and dressed the man in a "rakishly tilted chef cap." He named the chef "Rastus," and the idea for a highly successful advertising campaign had begun. Years later, his advertisements were judged to be racist because the likable Rastus was seen as a stereotypical uneducated African-American servant. Mapes brought in some of the best illustrators in the county to draw sketches of Rastus touting Cream of Wheat. Among the 58 artists he commissioned were N. C. Wyeth, Edward Brewer, Jessie Willcox Smith, James Montgomery Flagg, Helen Mason, Phillip Goodwin, Maud Tousey and J. C. Leyendecker. Their work epitomized what has become known as the Golden Age of Illustration. Mapes is credited as the father of the Minnesota School of Advertising, a philosophy that emphasized "burning the name of the product into the consciousness of the public with practically no copy," which was accomplished through persistent attention-grabbing illustrations. The primary directive given to the artists by Mapes was to create illustrations that would catch the attention and appreciation of the target population mothers. Very little attention was to be given to the taste of the product and mention of nutritional value was nonexistent. The Rastus ads were run in all of the popular magazines of the time and soon one-quarter of the entire Cream of Wheat expenditures $500,000 was plugged into advertising, an unprecedented practice at that time. Mapes' competitors deemed the ads a waste of money because "advertisements that failed to mention positive attributes about their product were doomed to failure." Mapes proved them wrong when his product, Cream of Wheat, became a major cereal on the world-wide market. Under Mapes leadership, Cream of Wheat became the top-selling hot breakfast cereal, replacing Quaker Oats. Mapes credited much of the success of his cereal to the numerous and colorful Rastus illustrations. The picture's popularity was much like Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers that appeared 40 years later. According to a 1916 article in Printers Ink, "There are thousands of persons who collect Cream of Wheat illustrations faithfully." Because of the success of Cream of Wheat, Mapes gained the admiration of the advertising community, and he also became very wealthy. In 1913, he was elected president of the Association American Advertisers. On Lake Minnetonka, southwest of Minneapolis, Mapes had a showcase brick Renaissance Revival palace constructed, and it was among the biggest mansions on the lake. Despite the success of the company, turmoil existed within top management. Of the three original partners Mapes, George Bull, and George Clifford only Mapes was still alive 20 years after the formation of the company. Daniel Bull replaced his father, and Fred Clifford had replaced his brother. While Fred Clifford tried to oust Mapes, Daniel Bull sided with Mapes and forced Clifford to the sidelines. The infighting took a toll on Mapes, and he "developed a drinking problem that hastened his death," which occurred on Oct.9, 1921. The Cream of Wheat Corporation remained a single-product company run by three generations of the Bull family and two generations of the Mapes and Clifford families for 69 years. In 1961, it was purchased by Nabisco. The Capital Gallery, a retail art gallery to be operated by The Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation in the old Woolworth building on Fourth Street, is nearing completion. Foundation president David Borlaug said the gallery will create a revenue stream for the foundations support of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn. Its a new chapter for us, he said. The space, set to open in the next few weeks, also will house the foundations offices. The gallery will be open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sundays. Inaugural artists to be featured include the late Gary Miller and Minots Walter Piehl. Future artists include Bismarcks Vern Erickson, Monte Yellow Bird Sr. of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Jessica Wachter, who grew up in Bismarck, Deane Colin Fay of Gackle and Steve Revland, who makes sequoia wood furnishings in Fargo. Original blown glass, handmade pottery and gifts will be sold in the gallery store. Dance studio expands DanceWorX dance studio has moved into a new, larger location at 1300 Tacoma Ave. in Bismarck. Co-owner Val Schafer said the new three-studio space has allowed her and her partner, Shannon Herman, to expand their class offerings. Since hosting an open house at the new business location, the studio has added 40 to 50 new students. In addition to traditional dance classes such as ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical, the studio offers yoga, acrobatics and a specialized class for stage performance that touches on various aspects of acting. Schafer said they also would like to add a trapeze class if interest in the studio continues to grow. For more information, go online to www.facebook.com/danceworxbismarck/?fref=ts. Kirkland's opening Kirkland's home decor store is set to open Oct. 18 at Hay Creek Shops in north Bismarck. The new Bismarck store will employ about 25 people and the store is now hiring. Kirklands has 398 stores throughout the country. This will be its first in the Bismarck area. Sleep Number opening store Sleep Number is opening a 3,000-square-foot store in Hay Creek Shops Friday. Sarah Reckard, public relations manager with Sleep Number, said the company has been seeking new markets. "And Bismarck was definitely an underserved market for us," she said. The store will feature 10 beds on its display floor. Business hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays. Reckard said the Hay Creek Shops was an area of "fresh retail energy," an environment in which her company has been looking to open new stores. H&M open H&M's store in the Kirkwood Mall opened last week. The Swedish fashion retail chain has 22,000 square feet of space in the mall, located near JC Penney. Offerings include clothing for men and women, as well as separate store within a store sections for accessories and beauty. The location will carry H&Ms childrens collection, for newborns through the age of 14. Theres yet another wrinkle in the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, this one related to archaeology. The date of Sept. 3 is a notable one in the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy related to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. The day before, on Sept. 2, the tribe filed for a temporary restraining order based on archaeological surveys conducted by Tim Mentz, its former historic preservation officer. Mentz said he identified about 82 stone features, at least two dozen burials and several rare ceremonial features that he placed in a once-in-a-lifetime find category on private land surrounding the pipeline route near the reservation. On Sept. 3, pipeline construction equipment was brought into that same area and topsoil was stripped and graded. Pipeline security workers had guard dogs at the work site and people who went there to protest were reportedly maced by security personnel and bitten by the dogs in a chaotic scene captured by a national news team and private cellphones. Security workers and two dogs also were injured, according to reports. It was by far the darkest day and the only bloody one in the ongoing protest on the pipeline route. It resulted in an admonishment from the federal Department of Justice and is under investigation by a task force gathered by Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier. Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman said the implications of that day could have a more far-reaching effect on the pipelines legal standing. Sacred sites First, the PSCs certification requires that, upon any finding of historical significance, work must stop pending clearance by the State Historic Preservation Office. Instead, Hasselman said, the pipelines field crew reviewed the location. And because they didnt see any sites, cleared themselves, he said. In addition, theres the potential violation of the National Historic Preservation Act, which says that deliberate harm to a historic site with the intention of circumventing the law could prevent a federal agency in this case the corps from issuing a permit, Hasselman said. Kimberly Caine, attorney for the pipeline, said in court filings that the grading was long planned and took place on private land thats not subject to the Sec. 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and furthermore that any features identified by Mentz were outside the pipelines work path or over an existing gas pipeline route and couldnt be historic. Many sites he identified were identified earlier and the route was adjusted to avoid them. The path within which work is occurring has already been surveyed by qualified archaeologists and approved for work by the State Historic Preservation Officer, Caine wrote. Hasselman said the dispute over the historic finds and any intentional destruction could be part of the corps review. In this pause that the administration called for, its on them to investigate that, he said. VALLEY CITY -- The idea of transforming older buildings into high-end living or office space has caught on big in a lot of larger cities, including Fargo-Moorhead. Now, a small town 60 miles to the west of F-M is getting in on the action. The 20-unit Pinnacle Condominiums, described as luxury homes, is being built in the former Mr. Spindle factory just off west Main Street in Valley City. The building was empty for about four years after Bob Matthews relocated his decking supply company from there to south Fargo. Hes one of the developers repurposing the building, turning an abandoned eyesore into a new housing option for this community of 6,700 people. We want it to be the nicest place in town, Matthews said. The condos will feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, granite kitchen countertops, custom cabinets, a walk-in closet and a balcony or patio. Each unit has its own heating and cooling system and washer and dryer, and residents will have a parking space in a heated garage. Residents will also have access to a lower-level library, a community room, a fitness center, outdoor green space with a fire pit and an individual storage unit. The building has served a variety of purposes over the years. Built in the early 1940s by Land OLakes, it was a creamery, then a turkey plant, a furniture store and a feed and seed company before Matthews bought it for his decking factory. After Mr. Spindle left Valley City, local business owner Bob Bergan approached Matthews about teaming up on the condo project. Bergans son, Chad Bergan, of Fargo also joined in. The concrete structure presented challenges for the developers and architects, wild|crg of Fargo. In some places, the concrete walls are 16 inches thick and there are concrete supports throughout. They had to work around the pillars, said James Jensen, a broker with RE/MAX Lawn Realty who is representing the property. Contractors were drilling holes for plumbing for about four months. Its built like a fortress, Bob Bergan said. The condos will sell for $259,000 to $279,000 per unit depending on size, which ranges from 1,250 to 1,550 square feet. City commissioner Matt Pedersen, who served as interim mayor between the resignation of Bob Werkhoven and recent election of Dave Carlsrud, said potential buyers will benefit from Valley Citys renaissance zone. He said qualified buyers can get up to $10,000 in state income tax credit for five years and a local property tax exemption for five years. Theyre basically only being taxed on the value of the land, but not the improvements for first five years, Pedersen said, so the developers are passing that benefit on to the end purchaser. The aim is to draw people who want to downsize from a single-family home and move into a lower-maintenance condo. What Im hoping for is to attract people from smaller communities to Valley City and keep some of our folks that are retiring and moving to Fargo, Pedersen said. Theres at least one hurdle, though, for the developers and for the city. Several large propane tanks, owned by Cenex Harvest States, are seated directly south of the condos -- not something prospective homeowners would likely want next door. Pedersen said Puklich Chevrolet, just across the road, wants to acquire the property for expansion, so all parties are considering a way to divvy up the cost of relocating the tanks. Conversations are ongoing, he said. Ill remain optimistic. The developers hope the condo project will be finished by the end of October. Were anxious to show it off, Bob Bergan said. Stronger than a seizure Raquel Rodreguez, like any mother would, knows her child and what she may be capable of, but in this instance, she sat and listened as her eldest daughter, Sarah St Vincent, spoke about the importance of young people surpassing the struggles theyre dealt with in life. Being epileptic isnt her story, its not what makes Sarah St Vincent stand out or important. What separates her is her strength to not be held down because of her epilepsy. Even at her young age, she embodies what it means to walk with faith. Matching the consistency that many young women get their menstrual cycle, Sarah experiences a seizure at least once a month. There is a family theory that a little two-year-old Sarah got shocked by the faulty cord of an old sewing machine. Her parents noticed her trembling and marked this as the beginning of Sarahs epilepsy, a condition that runs in both sides of the family. Many different things can bring on a seizure within an epileptic person, but for Sarah, a moment of shock, like tripping over a cord could bring it on. My hand gets stiff and goes straight up. If it goes straight up, then my whole body will get stiff and I will fall on the ground. Im conscious and Im aware. I can see everything and I can hear everything... It feels like I just froze in time and everybody is just moving. I cant move or speak. Though there are many different types of epilepsy, Epilepsy Actions website defines it as a condition which effects the brain, stating, A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. This causes a temporary disruption to the way the brain normally works. The result is an epileptic seizure. Hold my head up and cool my head down because it gets really hot, are instructions she wants people to know in order to help someone who may be having a seizure.Thinking back to her primary school days, at Malick Girls Roman Catholic School, she remembers one of her worst experiences, I rolled straight down the stairs. The whole half of my face was bruised. When students were rushing down the stairs someone pushed Sarah, which caused a seizure to come on. In a moment of helplessness, she fell down two flights of steps. Being a mother, its heartbreaking to see my child have seizures and you will ask yourself Why me, why my child? As she cleared her throat, an increase of strength seemed to envelope her. God does not put you through trials and tribulations for nothing. So I try to tell (Sarah)just to be positive and pray. Its not easy, its a fight and a struggle everyday, says Raquel. Both her mothers brother and fathers brother outgrew their epilepsy, so the family keeps hope in their doctors words that Sarah can outgrow it too, but until then, its clear that her faith will remain strong. I want to tell (young people) four steps they can take (in order to get through what they may be going through). One is to know your goals and the second one is to pray, because God can help you do anything. The third one is to have confidence and the fourth one is to put in the work. You cant pray and you cant have confidence and know your goals without putting in the work. If you dont put in the work, you wont get it back out. Listening intently, Raquel interjects, Shes growing, she was really shy because of the illness because kids used to bully her. Sarah continues, I didnt use to study it. The people who bully they bully because sometimes they feel bad about themselves or something and most likely, not to be harsh or anything, but they dont study their work... they dont have confidence. As she speaks, wisdom glows from her face as if she were six times the age that she is now. Her faith and her confidence is what keeps her going and is what allowed her to put her best foot forward to achieve such great results with her SEA exam. When I came out of the test, I just jumped up. Her ear-to-ear smile makes her love for school very obvious. Due to her medical condition, she is allowed about 15 extra minutes to complete the exam. Upon sitting for the SEA on her second attempt, Sarah proudly passed for the prestigious St Francois Girls College, Belmont. The Math lover boasted about her new school. The teachers are cool... Im learning French, Biology, Language Arts, Integrated Science and Group Guidance. Sarahs deep enthusiasm for learning continues even outside of school. I love, love, love piano. I used to study music by myself, my mother didnt even know. At the young age of ten, she began writing compositions to be played on the piano any time she got the chance to be near one. Excited at the possibility of getting a keyboard for her birthday this November, she said she loves playing for her cousin on the grand piano owned by a close family member. Seeing the passion on her daughters face, Raquel expressed that she wanted other parents who have children who are sickly (to know), it doesnt matter if they are sickly. Just try to push them. Some children may not be academically inclined, so you must see what your child loves and push them in that way forward. Knowing that she could be going through so much worse, Sarah and her family lean on each other and God to stay strong. With the support of their community and a teacher dear to Sarah for the support shes given, Joy Rush, Sarah is a motivational example of the silver lining that everyone needs to appreciate despite their dark clouds. Rowley: Many wish to be in TT He made the comment while delivering an address yesterday at the Governments Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Programme held at the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. He questioned what would happen in this country if citizens allowed themselves to be so despondent about their own circumstances which have changed, maybe not for the better and in response they believe that they are not in the place they want to be. He then theorised what would happen if the country were to open up all restrictions, remove the immigration department and anybody from anywhere in the world can come and stay as long as you want and find out if anyone would choose Trinidad and Tobago as the place they want to be. I guarantee you that if we open our borders to the rest of the world many, many, many others around would want our circumstances and to be here in Trinidad and Tobago. That is something to be thankful for, he stressed. He said that notwithstanding the fact the land is not as bountiful today as it was yesterday tomorrow holds out to us a better day. He gave the analogy of the best vehicles in the world the Grand Prix Formula 1 cars which are not tested on straight tracks but on torturous tracks with long stretches and deep and dangerous turns and this is always the journey to the checkered flag. And there are days and seconds when we accelerated as if there was no tomorrow and there was no need for brakes but as we enter the dangerous curves we have to slow down and carefully and very efficiently negotiate the curve then get on to the next straight way and at the end of the race is the checkered flag where only the victor will celebrate, he said. He added: That, ladies and gentlemen, is the route of a nation. He said that even today in Trinidad and Tobago, regardless of changed circumstance, there are teachers in all the schools for all our children, there are doctors and nurses in the hospital and there is food on the table. Let us be thankful and let us be grateful people, he added. He said he had asked that his address be removed from the programme because today is not a day for me to address anybody but to be addressed as you have been addressed today by those whose duty it is to call upon us as citizens, regardless of our station, to acknowledge that our land is still good. This land is still good, he reiterated to rousing applause from the attendees. He said he wanted to remind all that before they can give thanks they must first acknowledge that there is something to give thanks for. And on reflection every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago who has the authority under our Constitution to claim this land as their home will acknowledge that there is much to give thanks for, he added. He said a nation is an endless journey and citizens will never arrive at a place where they can stop travelling and say they have reached perfection. I can confidently say that in Trinidad and Tobago we are well on our way from the starting point of hopelessness and we do not now reside in the location of helplessness but perfection is a long way away, he added. He thanked the leaders of the denominations who prayed at the event and who have provided us with an incentive to do better and to do so in the name of whoever we pray to. Because at the end of the day we are all one people, one nation under God, he added. He said as citizens go forward they must take personal responsibility for this land, do their duty and be proud to be owners of Trinidad and Tobago. Facebook is dangerous He believes her kidnapping may be linked to human trafficking. Sookdeo, a mother of two, was snatched shortly after dropping off her two children at Picton Presbyterian School in San Fernando last Thursday morning. Speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday at the familys Philippines home in south Trinidad, a tearful Rajkumar, 64, said the abductors have not contacted family members, which can only lead him to speculate that his daughters disappearance may have been a case of human trafficking. To tell you the honest truth, we are not getting any calls about a ransom for my daughter, so I dont know if it could be human trafficking. I really dont know, but I do know that this Facebook thing is a very dangerous thing, he said. Sookdeo also had a profile on Facebook on which she posted photographs of herself and family members. Rajkumar said many people are not aware of the dangers of social media, particularly on Facebook. On Facebook you are exposing yourself to the world and there are cruel people in the world watching you and your every footstep, the tearful father said. He said evil people are watching individuals through social media. They are looking at everything you do and looking for the opportunity for when they would grab you. This Facebook thing exposes everything. I just really hope my daughter is alive, he cried openly. The father recalled the final moments speaking with his daughter, three days before she was abducted. I did not know it would be the last time. It hurts so much, no one knows what we are going through. I never thought this would have happened to us. Ria is such a loving girl, so kind and caring. I dont know why they would do this, the tearful man said. Sookdeo, a well-known hairdresser of Ragoo Village Extension, Wellington Road in Debe, was snatched moments after kissing her nine-year-old daughter Elena and son Toraz, five, as she saw them safely through the school gates. She drove away from the school, up a hill, a stones throw away to Picton Estate Drive, where she made a routine turn every morning and evening before heading back home. Police believe her abductors were lurking nearby and, according to reports, as she attempted to turn was intercepted by a man dressed in police uniform. The man, police said, dragged Sookdeo out from behind the steering wheel of her red Nissan X trail SUV and threw her into a waiting black Nissan X trail before speeding off. Surveillance cameras in the area picked up the vehicle. Sunday Newsday was told the getaway vehicle was spotted in the Lengua district sometime later. Sookdeos cell phone and handbag remained in her vehicle. Today marks four days since the young mothers disappearance. Her children have been asking for her and only recently relatives informed them that their mother was kidnapped. My granddaughter asked me, Papa when mummy coming home? I did not know what to tell her and it breaks my heart, but we did explain to them that their mother was kidnapped and she understands, but her son is only five years and he is still a bit young to fully understand what is going on, Rajkumar explained. He said persons have also been telephoning the family with false information about the whereabouts of Ria. There are people up to mischief out there, just recently someone called and said that Ria was in an abandon house tied up in Cedros, by doing this the family is hurting even more, he said. For the past few days, nightly prayer services were hosted at the familys Debe home. Sookdeos husband, Mark, yesterday again made and emotional plea for the abductors to release her. I am pleading with those who have abducted my wife, so please, please return her home to her family please, please, he wept. Relatives told Sunday Newsday the traumatized man has not been able to sleep. Police officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU), San Fernando CID, Southern Division Task Force, Highway Patrol, Rapid Response Unit are continuing investigations. CLR James lesson: Change the system Williams was one of James students who would gather in James Washington apartment in the United States on Saturdays to discuss Marxism and current affairs. According to Williams, James would open each discussion with the same phrase: Young men, you want to see change in the Caribbean? Well let me tell you this. If you cannot change the system, the system will change you. Williams believed James had grown very cautious about revolutionary leadership, and wanted to emphasize that the movement of the revolution should be more important than who leads it. He put forward that this was a result of being disappointed in the change seen in revolutionaries like Haitis Toussaint LOuverture, Kwame Nkrumah, of Ghana, and Dr Eric Williams, TTs first prime minister, after they had won their respective revolutions. Weighing in on this point was UWI historian Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, who advised young people who want to see change that they should be careful of counter revolutions. Toussaint, Dr Eric Williams, and Nkrumah all appeared to fail James after being met with the challenges of actually governing. One way young people, especially in Trinidad and Tobago, can avoid this is by building strong relationships across relationships across racial, political, and ideological lines, the historian observed. If you look at his relationships, he was close to Basdeo Panday in the Workers and Farmers Party and he was also friends with Raffique Shah, said Teelucksingh. Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah chimed in that James lesson for younger people is that the power for change lies in the common man. Over the last few years of James life, he was preoccupied with the idea of power lying in the streets, said Abdulah. The title of the documentary film, Every Cook Can Govern borrows from James book of the same name. Its central point, according to Abdulah, was that every individual in the society has the power to influence the society in which they exist. Other panellists included OWTUs Ozzi Warrick as chair, and Ceri Dingle, the producer, director and editor of the documentary. Dingle warned against looking to James as a bible for all the answers to our modern problems, and encouraged instead to see the value of the mans commitment to principles and activism. He was a 20th century revolutionary who cannot tell us what to do, but he can tell us how to look at the world and analyse it and critique it. Echoing Dingles point about James method of analysis, Williams told a brief story. On this very day in 1976, it was a Saturday, we were gathered in his (James) apartment. A Trini student said, today is Republic Day, you know and James turned to him and asked, What exactly does that mean? It was to be the third and final screening of the documentary, but according to one festival coordinator, it will be aired again after the festival is over due to popular demand. Pastor prays for FATCA passage Lord I plead with you today that you will help our parliamentarians to do what they must do to get the FATCA bill passed and we thank you in advance for saving our country from the possibilities of the failing of this bill, prayed Pastor Leslie Moses of the Seventh- Day Adventist Faith. He also prayed that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar would work together for the financial stability of the country and for the eradication of drugs, guns and corruption in the land. Moses was praying yesterday as part of the Governments Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Programme held at the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, Port-of- Spain. The Tax Information Exchange Bill 2016 is necessary for this country to be compliant with United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Finance Minister Colm Imbert, while speaking with the media following the event, reported that after the budget they will proceed with the legislation. In the meantime I am hopeful that we will get a response from the US authorities next week, he added. He explained that the counterpart was out of the jurisdiction and is returning into office tomorrow. He reiterated that if the bill was allowed to fail they would have had to wait six months which would have taken them to March or April and then we would have really been in jeopardy. Asked what would be Plan B if no extension was granted Imbert responded lets deal with it one step at a time. He explained that he has asked the US Treasury for the extension and personally gave a letter to the US Ambassador to TT John Estrada who has gone to Washington on other business and he did give me an undertaking that he would speak to the US Treasury himself . Lets just be very deliberate about this and we will carry on in a professional manner. Because the last thing we want to do is to give the United States the wrong message. You know we dont want to be flippant about this and we dont want to do anything to cause the legislation to fail, he added. Asked what message he would have give to concerned citizens Imbert responded, lets wait and see what happens next week. Minister in the Ministry of Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young, speaking to the media following the event, stressed that it was the previous administration that approved the model and said the legislation should be settled. We have tried all that we can do at this stage in the Parliament, he said. He reported that being a responsible Government after the first breakdown of conversation on the Monday after they first laid the legislation, they requested of the US Government an extension of time. This is something that we are not alarmed about. But we do feel a very great sense of disappointment when the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago including ourselves and our 23 votes have been put in this situation where we are now waiting to see what next. Whatever the Opposition wants to call it I think the population of Trinidad and Tobago saw yesterday (Friday) what had happened, he added. Asked if there was no extension granted from the US what would happen Young responded that we are not into speculation, we are a responsible Government and lets cross that bridge when we come to it. Masqueraders: Wine, Carmona, wine The topic provided fodder for several ole mas characters in true Jouvert style, as they addressed recent media reports of the Office of the Presidents expenses including orders for wine with the Coat of Arms and jewellery. Wine Carmona Wine and Ah Presidential Wine is how some masqueraders expressed their thoughts about the controversy which the President is due to officially make a statement on tomorrow. There was also commentary on the US presidential race between billionaire Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, and seasoned politician, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democrats choice. The occasion proved that Trinidadians are truly the happiest people on earth, as they came out from as early as 4 am, less than 12 hours after the House of Representatives was in a mess with Opposition parliamentarians being ejected and others walking out as debate on the Tax Information Exchange Bill came to an abrupt end. And although the Prime Minister called for the public holiday to be a day of prayer and thanksgiving, masqueraders gave praise the only way they know how, by chipping through the streets of Woodbrook to the sweet sounds of the national instrument. People came out by the thousands to be a part of the ever growing event which saw Mayor of Portof- Spain Keron Valentine dancing among his burgesses. The Jouvert featured Ole Mas, Fancy Sailors, devils, mud mas, traditional native American Indians, and several well-dressed characters all dancing to the sound of pan. Several people paraded in miniband sections and paraded with their favourite steel bands which went around the Queens Park Oval twice. The first time under the cover of darkness then the second time for the late-comers in the hot sun. Their names included Invasion of the Red Indian Disciples, Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Bunnies, Hawaiian Dancers and the usual red, blue and multi-coloured devils. Carmona urges youths: Be patriots At the opening of the event around 1 pm, Carmona urged the numerous youths in attendance to be patriotic, be peacemakers, show compassion to others, and to ignore religious detractors. He said citizens often did not appreciate who we are as a people or where we are going and so he advised youths to make the country a better one through a philosophy of patriotism. He said they should love and take ownership of their country so that they would be willing to give of the ultimate for their country in times of need. Carmona noted that, as a United Nations prosecutor, he saw mans inhumanity to man, and what it could do to a country. He therefore urged Christians to engage in mediation, as it was especially necessary in this world of hate and strife. As disciples of Lord Jesus Christ we must follow that example. We must ensure that we become creatures of empathy, compassion, selflessness, and service to humanity must be our philosophy, he said. We live in a world where, in fact, we require the intervention of the peacemaker and God Lord Jesus Christ is asking you, through his kind mercy, to be the peacemaker in your homes, in your community, in the nation, and by extension the world at large, he added. Carmona stated his personal philosophy was through God everything is possible, so he urged all in attendance to remember the power of prayer because, he said, through that power he had seen miracles. Singing two lines from Bob Marleys Get up Stand up, he told them to stand up for their rights as spiritual children who believe in the power of God. He urged them not to afraid to state their religious beliefs nor to concede to unbelievers or naysayers. Instead he said they should not be hypocrites, but truly practice what they preach by dealing with people with love, compassion and truth. Lord, deliver us! He was praying at Governments Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Programme held at the Grand Stand, Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain. Duncan said the land is still good and there is hope for the nation. He repented for the atrocities in the nation including misbehaviour in public office, the slow wheel of justice or downright injustice in some instances, the short fuse that leads to domestic violence, widespread murders, the snapping out of the life of unborn children, men not protecting women and children and women weeping for children that are gone. On youths, Duncan said there is a free for all and they have wrong values and unsound judgements. We are all guilty before you oh God today - forgive us. Our moral, ethical and spiritual standards have fallen badly as a people and we are reaping the consequences of this. Our land is defiled by blood and widespread abominations. We need a cleansing and a purification from you oh God today, he prayed. He prayed the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ would cleanse the land. Have mercy on us oh Lord and heal our land from years of deep and open wounds, he added. He prayed for wisdom for President Anthony Carmona and also for guidance to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his Cabinet to run the country effectively. Enough is enough. Let sagaciousness and prudence govern a new brand of politics for our land, he said. He continued: We sit in awe sometimes to see what happens in the Parliament. He prayed for wisdom for Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar and her MPs and also that the oil prices will rise, there will be more jobs and for God to remove fear and tension form the land. Pastor Leslie Moses of the Seventh Day Adventist Faith also prayed on crime and asked God to save us from the criminals and to bring them to justice. I pray they will give up the guns and give in to Jesus, he added. He continued: Save us from the bloodshed Lord. Beat back the powers of darkness. Roman Catholic Father Clyde Harvey in his prayer asked God to forgive us for our failings, selfishness and greed and may all those who would enrich themselves in this season of drought recognise their deep, unforgivable sin. And may all the poor know that no matter how poor they are they can make a contribution to the peace and stability of this land. He said 40 years ago this country decided to forge its own path and asked that we live that responsibility to the fall. Bishop Claude Berkley of the Anglican faith prayed for social order to be maintained and Pundit Uttam Maharaj, representing Hindus, prayed that the security forces would arrest the scourge of crime. Let us not be prisoners in our own homes, he stressed. He prayed for the police as well as the Coast Guard and Defence Force to protect our borders. He also prayed for the nations children and that they will never be the prey of vile and wicked predators. Agriculture stagnant This was how president of the Agriculture Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ASTT ) Dhano Sookoo described the operations of the sector during the past year. And she is hoping that measures to reinvigorate the sector will be announced in Fridays Budget presentation the second of the Dr Keith Rowley-led Peoples National Movement (PNM) Government. With a reputation for receiving the least allocation in all of the sectors in fiscal packages over the years, the Ministry of Agriculture received an allocation of $831 million in last years presentation, which was subsequently increased to around $1.2 billion. It has long been identified as one of the pillars for economic diversification a thrust which has taken greater prominence within recent months as the country grapples with the effects of the global economic downturn. In a Sunday Newsday interview, Sookoo painted a dour picture of the sector, noting that despite best efforts, the country was still experiencing a high food import bill (close to $6 billion). She also claimed farmers were becoming increasingly despondent and selling out their farm lands for housing. Farmers are being driven out of the market because they cannot compete with the imports, she said, adding there has not been any strong policy with respect to import substitution and driving the export sector. The Minister (Clarence Rambharat) has talked about restructuring the ministry and we applaud that effort but there has been no straight policy direction for the sector. What is the focus of the ministry? Sookoo asked. Sookoo hoped incentives for farmers would receive some attention in the Budget since the long-standing issues of land tenancy and access roads were still to be addressed. She also wondered about the contribution of State-appointed boards such as the National Agricultural Marketing Development Corporation and the Estate Management and Development Company in enhancing the sector, claiming politics was stifling the work of the agencies. Allow them to operate within their framework so that they can do their job, she said. Outspoken president of the Farmers Union Shiraz Khan lamented the sector remained the bastard child of the economy. With all the talk about diversification, importation of vegetables and meats are on the increase. While there has been a major increase in the food import bill from 2010 to 2015, when we thought it would have declined, it has continued to increase, he said. Khan observed farmers were finding it extremely difficult to survive in the economic downturn. We continue to see a number of things happening to make farmers uncomfortable, he said, adding that poor access roads and land tenure remained the bugbear of the sector. Khan said the Praedial Larceny Squad needed to be strengthened. The contracts of the squad will be up shortly and there is need for more resources to make them more viable, he said. Khan said although Rambharat had the interests of the sector at heart, bureaucracy was hampering progress. Singh: UNC still backs tax info bill We remain open to passing the legislation to protect the publics interest, he said in a telephone interview. It does not do the society well to create this level of uncertainty and instability. Singh claimed the Peoples National Movement (PNM) had never handled the legislation with a degree of professionalism when it was first introduced in the Parliament. But we have a commitment as an Opposition to make it work and our recommendations have to be taken into consideration for passage, he said. All we have been attempting to do is to get modest views on the issue and over the weekend we would have completed our assignment without all of this controversy and confusion. Debate on the controversial Tax Information Exchange Bill reached a bitter stalemate at the start of the Second Session of the 11th Parliament in the House of Representatives on Friday when the Opposition flatly refused an offer by the Government to suspend the sitting for an hour so that both sides could thrash out areas of contention with the bill. Prior to this development, though, Speaker Brigid Annisette- George put Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Princes Town MP Barry Padarath and Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal out the House for misconduct at separate instances in the sitting. The Opposition has since placed a full-page advertisement in the daily newspapers outlining its concerns with the legislation. The legislation, piloted by Finance Minister Colm Imbert, seeks to ensure that TT is compliant with the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FACTA). The FACTA deadline for TT compliance is Friday (September 30). The Government had said initially the legislation would have been put before a Joint Select Committee, to be dealt with after the Budget presentation on Friday. However, they decided to debate the issue. At the adjournment of Parliament on Friday, Imbert indicated Government was awaiting a response from the US Treasury Department on its request for an extension to have the FACTA legislation approved. The minister said he also had urged US Ambassador John Estrada, currently in Washington, to expedite the process. Singh complained yesterday that many stakeholders, including members of the banking sector, had not seen the legislation prior to its introduction in the Parliament. Nobody got the bill early, he said, claiming the Bankers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BATT) has compiled a list of some 13 recommendations for consideration. Singh said the legislation was not drafted for local citizens but American citizens and green card holders with equity, bank accounts and insurance. That is the target, but there appears to be an unwillingness or certain forces in the PNM that appear to want to delay it (the bill) at least, he said. I do not know for sure but it is my understanding that several people are giving up their citizenship so that they do not come within the embrace of the law. So, there is a delay on the part of the PNM. Singh described Fridays event as a distraction, saying the Opposition will not be bullied and intimidated into passing the legislation. Tabaquite MP Surujrattan Rambachan, meanwhile, accused the PNM of planning all along to blame the failure to pass the legislation. This is why they started to push this head at the public meeting last Tuesday in Mt Dor making that meeting an attack on the UNC while ignoring their own record of performance on the economy, on crime, on health and in particular on mounting job losses and the cost of living he said in a statement. Rambachan said the legislation, in its existing configuration, granted excessive powers to the Minister of Finance sand needed to be amended. The Opposition has a duty to ensure that where citizens freedoms are affected, such laws must be thoroughly scrutinized, he said. MSJ wants a Second Republic In his Republic Day message, he asked aloud, At 40, Republic of T&T, how you feel? He said a recent poll by Solutions by Simulations showed 100 percent of people are concerned about crime, and 90 percent are concerned about the economy and unemployment. He said major problems in almost every sphere of national life now arise because the institutions established by the First Republic of September 1976 have collapsed, because they are in essence, the old colonial institutions. We have changed the faces of those who run and manage these institutions but the institutions remain the same. Abdulah said the MSJ has encouraged citizens to hold an ideal of reconstructing our society on a new basis - of social justice, equity and fairness to all without discrimination. It all begins with our re-imagining the future! Let us re-imagine what Trinidad and Tobago could be, he invited. Imagine an education system that is fair and equitable instead of todays two-tier system where a minority does very well and 50 percent fail Maths and English at CSE C. He hoped for schooling where pupils know their history, economy, political system and role as citizens. Imagine a system where children are excited to go to school not to get into mischief or to have sex in an abandoned classroom but to learn, to be involved in sport, music, drama and the arts and to express their cultural creativity. Imagine schools that are zones of peace and where young people begin to engage in service to community and nation and develop a commitment to work and live in Trinidad and Tobago. That is the Second Republic! Abdulah imagined a health system where medical professionals visit every home and workplace to teach all how to eat right and take care of ones health so as to reduce later hospitalisation for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems. Imagine a health care system where going to the hospital either as patient or visitor is not a distressing experience because there is a shortage of beds, or no linen, or no medicine. Hoping for a time where medical professionals are plentiful and love their jobs, and where babies and mothers do not die horribly in hospital, he said, That is the Second Republic! Imagine a Trinidad and Tobago where there is peace in every community, where we are our brother and sisters keeper; where neighbours look out for all the children and where the village raises the child. Imagine a society where young men and women have a sense of hope in the future...That is the Second Republic! Abdulah envisioned a nation with progressive labour laws, with an economic system where agriculture and farmers are respected as central to development and where cultural creativity is a revenue-earner and job creator. Imagine an economic system where the resources of the country serve the common good, where we dont have a few obscenely rich people at the same time that tens of thousands are struggling every day just to survive and take care of their children. That is the Second Republic, he added. Imagine a justice system that is not stacked against the poor and powerless, and where those who are corrupt go to jail no matter how wealthy and powerful they may be. Imagine a system where those who commit violent crimes face the courts and are punished for their deeds, and where the system is not set up so that a few powerful lawyers can manipulate matters so that their clients never face justice and the victims never feel a sense of closure. That is the Second Republic! Imagine a political system where... we the citizens have power in our village and community councils to organize for better communities, and where we have a direct say in every law that goes before Parliament, and where there are checks and balances to prevent the abuse of office by any politician or government bureaucrat. That is the Second Republic! Abdulah hoped for a nation where all can participate in the process of national development and where, as our Constitution promises, the economic system will be organized so that the resources will subserve the common good. 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. Algeria has launched a new strategy called the new economic growth model aiming to diversify the economy and draw more investments to compensate for the collapse in oil prices. Yet, poor governance, insecurity, vested interests and regime opacity cast doubt on the success of the strategy. In an article on Foreign Policy, Robert Looney, describes the strategy as a major gamble based on false assumptions and calls on Algeria to breakaway with its centralized top-down approach in favour of a more community oriented approach following the example of Morocco. The governments only realistic option to guarantee the countrys stability and its own survival is to replace the New Economic Growth Model with a broad-based, community-oriented development plan subject to public oversightperhaps along the lines of the plan successfully implemented in Morocco, Looney says. Algeria risks sinking deep into the abyss of an economic crisis because the new strategy is based on unrealistic assumptions and takes highly centralized, bureaucratic approach to economic development, one that leaves no room for participatory methods that would let citizens ensure government accountability, the author adds. The article sheds light on a range of structural impediments to investments in Algeria, on top of which regime opacity, the lack of the rule of law and the prevailing corruption. The unfavourable business environment leaves Algeria lagging behind in terms of attracting foreign direct investments in the region. The perception of Algerias unfriendliness for investments is reinforced by recent investment reforms that left unchanged a rule requiring majority national ownership and prohibiting formal foreign control of any enterprise or project, looney says. Looney also sheds light on the impact of poor security on Algerias business climate as terrorist attacks have discouraged oil and gas companies from investing in Algerias south. The author argues that Algeria needs to undertake genuine reforms on a democratic path that breaks away with the vested interest of the ruling elites. Economic reforms require economic freedom to create an environment propitious for investments, he argued. Without the necessary reforms to boost foreign investment, the new plans success ironically depends on oil the very dependency the plan was intended to break, he concludes. The anti-smuggling operation that Morocco launched to clear the southernmost tip of the Saharan provinces of all sorts of illegal commercial activities had a geopolitical impact in terms of barring the road for Algeria and its allies in Nouakchott from creating a camp where they intended to dislocate some of the population held against their will in Tindouf camps, said le360.ma in an editorial. The failed Algerian plot to establish a camp in Lagouira near the Mauritanian borders was intended to give the polisario separatists a boost as they struggle desperately to portray the area beyond the Moroccan Royal Armed forces security wall as a liberated area. Yet, the intervention of the Moroccan security forces in the area to crackdown on the criminal networks confirms that Morocco reigns supreme in the southern provinces and that the area beyond the berm is not an exception. The editorial goes on to say that the calls made by the UN security council for all parties to abide by the 1991 cease-fire agreement are in Moroccos interest as they represent a straightforward condemnation of the violations by the Polisario separatists who sent armed men to the area in a clear breach of military agreement number 1. The Moroccan intervention also shows that the Kingdom has never abandoned the demilitarized area and that its security operation was dictated by actual concerns of a growing criminal network turning the Guergarat area into a venue for engaging in all sorts of smuggling and trafficking. The operation was security and customs in nature, as Morocco informed the UN and Nouakchott of the nature and purpose of the operation, which was followed by the pavement of the 3-km Guergarat road towards the Mauritanian borders with a view to better monitoring the area. Moroccos concerns were also vindicated by the busting earlier this month of an international drug trafficking network comprising 4 Polisario members. The investigations undertaken by the judicial police show the connivance of the Polisario with terrorist groups operating in northern Mali as well as the involvement of high ranking Polisario officials in drug trafficking. Photo: Mark Leibowitz/Masterfile/Corbis Last February, the Cuts Alana Massey wrote a column titled Why Im Buying a House Without a Family to Put in It. Seven months later, she is now living in that house, 100 miles away from her boyfriend, in a woodsy region of upstate New York. On this weeks Sex Lives, Alana talks to host Maureen OConnor about the move; the joys of fucking in a house with a yard; her dream of causing small-town scandals; and why driving 100 miles to visit your boyfriend is actually easier than traveling from north Brooklyn to south Brooklyn on New Yorks public transit system. Oh Kate. I want to like you but you keep working with pedophiles. Reply Thread Link I just gave up on Kate. When she doesn't work with questionable people, she opens her mouth and shows how privileged and white she is. Mess. Reply Parent Thread Link right? plus she has a young daughter; where is her sympathy for their victims?? Reply Parent Thread Link TBH I always thought she was kind of screwed up because when she was 16 she had a long-term sexual relationship with a guy who was 12 years older and later died. Like I think she has a very skewed view of adults having inappropriate sexual relationships with teenagers because of that and both Allen and Polanski have claimed that their victims were consenting (and maybe she just doesn't believe Dylan like so many others). Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ugh. Can he just die already? I'm so sick of waiting for him to die. Reply Thread Link Seriously, the grim reaper is taking his sweet time with Allen and Polanski... Reply Parent Thread Link i want them both to live a long ass time, in prison, getting their asses pounded daily Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I don't think I'll be able to stomach the mourning of this demon and all the "don't speak ill of the dead" nonsense. People sure love defending dead evil people. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Both is parents lived to be over 100. The voice-over he did for his last movie sounded off tho, like he's finally beginning to be old. And he's literally making the same movies over and over again. Reply Parent Thread Link But of course... And a movie about white people in New York? How original, Woody... Will he finally die this year, though? Reply Thread Link um XCUSE U but this woodie allen movie is set in the 1950s which it ttly differant from the other timez woodie made moviez about whit ppl set in ny during other periods of time!!!!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link He put Freida Pinto in a movie once, don't speak nonsense. Woody is colorblind. Reply Parent Thread Link woody wouldn't discriminate if you were purple or neon green. he is a man of the PEOPLE Reply Parent Thread Link poc weren't invented yet in 1950s nyc! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link LOL mte Reply Parent Thread Link No. 2016 is only coming for our faves. Come through, 2017! Reply Parent Thread Link Two people who have absolutely no need whatsoever to compromise their morals to work with this sick fuck Reply Thread Link booooooooooooo Reply Thread Link That ugly gremlin is so thirsty for any film acclaim. Reply Thread Link are you taking about JT? Reply Parent Thread Link Yes I'm tired of this potato face wanting to be seen as some brilliant actor. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Fuck all of these actors who continue to work with that pedophile. I'm pretty much going to wind up hating everyone in Hollywood. Don't let me down, JLaw! Reply Thread Link It's only a matter of time lbr. Reply Parent Thread Link we'll always have susan sarandon and most of the non-white actors in hollywood who won't be offered any parts Reply Parent Thread Link Basically Reply Parent Thread Link Doesn't she have a close relationship with David O'Russell? Unless you're talking about Jude. Reply Parent Thread Link DOR ain't a saint either Ohhh unless you mean the original JLaw Edited at 2016-09-25 12:19 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Hope they all die in a horrible accident on set. Reply Thread Link i don't get it! his movies aren't even good? besides cate for blue jasmine, who has recently received any awards for working with this vile man? Reply Thread Link 18 actors have been nominated for Oscars and 7 have won for his films. So yeah, even if they're in one of his flop movies actors are desperate to work with him so they can be part of his legacy (the one that includes all the awards, not the part where he's a child molester). Reply Parent Thread Link smh. i can understand wanting to achieve the highest honor an actor can receive but i would never be okay with working with a known child molester. Reply Parent Thread Link He's kinda like a white Tyler Perry in the sense that he makes very specific films for a very specific demo while working with a modest budget and generating a small but descent profit. oh & he gets actors to work for peanuts. Reply Parent Thread Link With one or two exceptions, he's been coasting since the early 90s on the acclaim for his 1970s/80s films. Still enough to lure almost any actor, apparently. Reply Parent Thread Link His films appeal to the old white voters who make up most of the academy. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think anyone will be getting nominated for Cafe Society. It got passable reviews, but didn't do well at the box office. Cost $30 million to produce and it's just about made that much in its run in theaters worldwide. Not considered profitable. Reply Parent Thread Link ugh also I'm still perplexed by Justin Timberlake continuing to have an acting career :/ I remember in the 2000's when he first started appearing in movies and was just like "lol good luck with this side gig" but...it keeps...going?? Reply Thread Link he's not bad in comedy imo, but he keeps trying to be a serious actor and it's just not working Reply Parent Thread Link he's so damn desperate to cross over into "serious" acting. Reply Parent Thread Link he was good in alpha dog and that's all i got Reply Parent Thread Link i cried at the end of the movie, where Anton realizes what's about to happen to him. Reply Parent Thread Link i keep hoping his career goes as badly as the time he tried to retool myspace Reply Parent Thread Link I'm a fan but he's a terrible actor. But I thought he was good or not terrible in TSN. Reply Parent Thread Link NOOOO KATE, NO. YOU WERE MY FAVORITE :( Reply Thread Link she already worked with polanski tho Reply Parent Thread Link lol mte who's next on her list of directors to work with, Victor Salva? Reply Parent Thread Link This is exactly what she would do to get another Oscar. She's always been unable to look past her privilege. This is no surprise. Reply Parent Thread Link She wants that second Oscah. Her campaign is going to be even more stomach churning. Reply Thread Link Can't believe I used to have a crush on Kate. Smh @ my old dumb self. Reply Thread Link lol it's not an ad. it's one of those idiotic backstage cam things they take of celebs attending the show. Reply Thread Link nope. courtney alone has done like five of these at different shows. they just put on music and have celebs dance around and they edit it to look like a music vid. it has no purpose or substance. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Your icon made me laugh, OP. Reply Thread Link Idgi Reply Thread Link somebody get frances some dry shampoo, stat Reply Thread Link mte, wash yo hair gurl. Reply Parent Thread Link that's good they're friendly again. Reply Thread Link What did Frances do to her face? She's looked completely different these past couple years. Reply Thread Link I remember a few years ago she had a lot done to her face and lost a lot of weight. I don't know if she's recently gotten more done, but it could just be she's getting older and maybe gained back some of the weight? Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I seem to remember her getting a whole new face when she originally lost weight. She definitely reshaped her jaw/chin and got her nose done. Poor thing inherited her mother's bulbous features. Reply Parent Thread Link she lost baby fat and had her lips done. pray to god she doesn't go for the total facelift head transplant overhaul like her mother. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She probably had a bunch of surgery. Can't blame her; she looked so similar to her deceased father and horrible mother that it must have fucked up her self-image quite a bit. Reply Parent Thread Link omw this makes me wanna wash my hair Reply Thread Link was frances ever able to keep kurt's money away from her creepy dad-look-a-like ex? Reply Thread Link he's asking for ridiculous amount in spousal support. it's ongoing. they'll probably end up settling out of court for an undisclosed amount. so to answer your question, no she wasn't. Reply Parent Thread Link He's asking for like $25,000 a month, which over 3 grand of that will go to his child's private school. Didn't know she was responsible for paying for his child from a previous relationship... Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not sure that I've completely forgiven my mother but I am trying. Didn't frances just divorce and isn't she having to pay spousal support? Reply Thread Link ongoing case as of yet. shes gonna fight his ridic demands in court, i hope she wins vs the kurt wannabe Reply Parent Thread Link damn @ every1 being bitter, i thought this was cute :'( frances greasy hair keeps distracting me, though hehdjahskf Reply Thread Link Have you forgiven your mother for being a hot mess during your childhood? NOPE, and I probably never will. Too many years of physical and emotional abuse. She seems to think my dad stealing what remained of my trust fund was worse than her abuse, but I really disagree. Reply Thread Link Different circumstances but same sentiment. Fuck them. Reply Parent Thread Link This is cute Reply Thread Link On the one hand, this is cute. On the other hand, Courtney, at least, looks high as fuck. Reply Thread Link France's face looks different again. Reply Thread Link One million barrels of oil per day is the magic amount of oil output that must be reduced globally to rebalance the energy markets and jumpstart a rise in oil prices, according to Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa. The question is at what level we would freeze or reduce outputwe need to find the good compromise in order not to destabilize the market, Bouterfa said on Tuesday. Its necessary at least to reduce by 1 million barrels of oil per day to re-balance the market. Will we get there? We are working for that. Bouterfas remarks come a little over a week before members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries hold a meeting in Algiers. And so far, it looks like the Algerian ministers wish may come true. OPEC supplies 40 percent of the worlds oil. The 13-member blocs secretary-general confirmed yesterday that the organization had been in talks with non-OPEC oil producers to institute a binding freeze on oil production for one year to undo the effects of the supply glut. Russian President Vladimir Putin who heads the country that produced 12.4 percent of the worlds oil output last year - vocalized his support for an output halt in an interview with Bloomberg earlier this month. We believe that [a production freeze] is the right decision for world energy, Putin said, later confirming that he believes it would be fair for Iran to receive some exceptions to the deal as it rebuilds capacity. In April, Saudi Arabia backed out of a negotiated output reduction deal after Iran refused to participate just four months after the removal of international sanctions allowed the country to re-enter global energy markets. Ironically, anticipation of a production freeze has led Iraq and Saudi Arabia to ramp up outputs to ensure their upper production limits under any quota-based deal would be as high as possible. An organized effort to counter the oil glut has caused an unintended boost in supply. Related: Big Oils Iraqi Disappointment Leading up to the Algiers meeting, Iranian oil officials and executives have made lukewarm statements regarding their willingness to abide by a production halt. "Iran will cooperate with OPEC to help the oil market recover, but expects others to respect its rights to regain its lost share of the market," Bijan Namdar Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the oil ministry's news agency SHANA at the end of August. Pre-sanctions levels would mean Iran would have to reach an output of four million barrels a day before the meeting in Algiers. Currently, the nation has managed to reach 3.8 million barrels a day, data obtained by Bloomberg shows. But Iran likely will not be able to meet this goal by next week, according to Mohsen Ghamsari, the National Iranian Oil Co.s director for international affairs. As soon as we come back to pre-sanction levels, we will be ready to discuss quotas and level of production, Ghamsari said in an interview in Singapore two weeks ago. Four million barrels a day production level is not very far from our hands. I hope by end-2016 or early next year, we would be able to reach that level. Related: The Natural Gas War Burning Under Syria If Iran insists on non-participation this time around, Saudi Arabia could tank yet another attempt at resetting the energy supply landscape. It looks like there is still hope, though: three anonymous sources told Bloomberg earlier today that representatives from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar met at OPEC headquarters in Vienna this week to prepare for the Algiers meeting. Despite this seemingly deal-affirmative news, twenty-three industry analysts surveyed by Bloomberg all predicted that no new agreement would emerge during next weeks summit. Nonetheless, if the oil ministers do reach a consensus during the meeting, they could call for an extraordinary meeting regarding the output freeze. At this point, anything could happen. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia will join output freeze discussions with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries only after its members agree on the terms of the deal amongst themselves first, according to three anonymous industry sources cited by Bloomberg. The 14 members of OPEC will meet on 28 September on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers next week. The Russian Delegation, led by Energy Minister Alexander Novak, will attend the forum and hold meetings with foreign officials, but the group may leave before the OPEC meeting occurs on Wednesday. Moscow would enter output freeze negotiations after receiving a formal invitation form OPEC to do so, the sources said, though the Russian Energy Ministry declined to comment. Oil prices have been volatile leading up to the unofficial meeting in the Algerian capital. Crude prices dropped on Friday after sources close to Saudi Arabian and Iranian officials commented that the two rival regional powers may not come to an agreement during the meeting due to political and technical differences. In April, Saudi Arabia walked away from a negotiated freeze deal at the last moment, after Iran refused to lower outputs as it rebuilt production capacity to pre-sanctions levels. Russia agrees that Iran should be offered an exception to the deal as it restores the strength of its oil industry. Related: Nigeria Sues Oil Majors Over $12.7 Billion In Stolen Oil Iran is starting from a very low position, connected with the well-known sanctions in relation to this country, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Bloomberg earlier this month. It would be unfair to leave it on this sanctioned level. Russian oil production reached a record high of 11.75 million barrels per day (bpd) last Tuesday, and averaged around 10.71 million bpd in the month of August. The rise in Russian oil production has helped global supplies grow and, in turn, been influential in keeping prices low. Should this oil glut continue, OPEC could hold discussions immediately following the Algeria conference. By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website The Russian government deceived itself with its fantasy belief that Russia and Washington had a common cause in fighting ISIS. The Russian government even went along with the pretense that the various ISIS groups operating under various pen names were "moderate rebels" who could be separated from the extremists, all the while agreeing to cease fighting on successive verges of victory so that Washington could resupply ISIS and prepare to introduce US and NATO forces into the conflict. The Russian government apparently also thought that as a result of the coup against Erdogan, which was said to implicate Washington, Turkey was going to cease supporting ISIS and cooperate with Russia. Alas, the Russians so fervently, or perhaps I should say feverishly, desired an agreement with Washington that they deceived themselves. If Finian Cunningham's report is correct, Washington has taken advantage of Russia's urging that Washington and Turkey join in the attack on ISIS by invading northern Syria under the guise of "fighting ISIS." Syria has now been partitioned, and the pretend or fake "moderate rebels" can be built up inside the US/Turkish occupied areas of Syria and the war against Syria can keep going for as long as Washington wants. The western presstitutes will report that the Turkish/American forces occupying areas of Syria are not invaders but are attacking ISIS. With US, Turkish, and, little doubt, soon other NATO troops operating inside Syria, the neoconservatives will have many opportunities to provoke a conflict with Russia from which Russia will have to stand down or reply with force. In the event of a Trump presidential victory, the neocons want to make certain Trump is embroiled in a war that will prevent an accommodation with Russia. It is unclear whether US Secretary of State Kerry's effort to arrange a Syrian ceasefire was sincere and he was sandbagged by the Pentagon and CIA. Regardless, if Kerry was sincere, he is obviously unable to stand up to the neocons, blessed as the State Department is with Victoria Nuland and a number of other warmongers. Obama is equally weak, which is why he was chosen by the oligarchy as president. A person without experience and knowledge is an excellent tool for the oligarchy. American blacks and white liberals actually believed that an inexperienced candidate from nowhere without an organization of his own could make a difference. Apparently, the gullibility of a majority of Americans is endless. This American hallmark of gullibility is why a handful of neoconservatives can so easily lead the sheeple into endless wars. The idiot Americans have been at war for 15 years and the morons have no idea what has been achieved. The fools are unaware that the US in its decades long accumulation of weakness now confronts two major nuclear powers: Russia and China. Americans have been taught by the presstitutes serving the military/security complex that nuclear war is not all that different from ordinary war. Look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two targets of American atomic bombs. Today, seven decades later, the cities are flourishing, so what's the problem with nuclear weapons? The atomic bombs that Washington dropped on these helpless civilian centers while the Japanese government was trying to surrender, were mere popguns compared to today's thermo-nuclear weapons. One Russian SS-18 wipes out three-fourths of New York state for thousands of years. Five or six of these "Satans" as they are known by the US military, and the East Coast of the United States disappears. Russia had a victory for Syria and democracy in its hands, but Putin lacked the decisiveness of a Napoleon or a Stalin and let his victory slip away as a result of false hopes that Washington could be trusted. Now a Russian/Syrian victory would require driving the Turks and Americans out of Syria. If Russia struck hard and fast, Russia could succeed by using Washington's lie and claiming that Russia thought the US and Turkish forces were ISIS, just as Washington claimed when Washington intentionally struck a known Syrian Army position. If Russia actually annihilated the Turkish and US force, which Russia could easily do, NATO would collapse, because no European country wants to be destroyed in World War 3. But Russia won't collapse NATO by decisive action. The Russians won't fight until war is absolutely and totally forced upon them. Then they will pay a huge price for their indecisiveness rooted in their foolish belief that Russia has common grounds with Washington. The only common grounds Russia has with Washington requires Russia's surrender. If Russia will surrender, Russia can achieve Western acceptance, and Washington's agents, the Russian Atlanticist Integrationists, can rule Russia for Washington. The clock is ticking for the embattled Dakota Access Pipeline as its developer, Energy Transfer, faces a battle in federal court that could easily take another year. It also is looking at a possible injunction that the company says would cost irreparable financial harm of $1.4 billion and is holding a construction permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that is only valid for another six months. While the company, which had scheduled to have revenue and oil flowing by the end of the year, has indicated its committed to getting the $3.8 billion Bakken pipeline completed, obstacles that are most visible in a water protection-protest encampment on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation signal the way forward wont be simple. It would be far and away the biggest oil pipeline ever built to carry Bakken oil. Its 570,000-barrel capacity is more than twice the next biggest one out there, the Enbridge Mainline. Similar to that line, its the only other pipeline that would direct oil east from North Dakota. The rest feed toward the south or to in-state refineries. New scenarios acknowledged Its unknown whether legal and regulatory obstacles would stop the pipeline in its tracks, but Public Service Commission chairwoman Julie Fedorchak said that scenario and others are being contemplated by her agency. To be clear, the company has not had that conversation with the PSC staff, said Fedorchak, adding its still incumbent upon the commission to consider the what ifs considering the degree of uncertainty surrounding the project. Were looking into so many different scenarios. Right now, its just a little seed of thought, and I hope its not necessary, she said. One scenario is abandonment of a project thats at least 60 percent completed. Normally, it would just be abandoned in place and reclaimed. For the good chunk of it already completed, the soil has been replaced. To remove the pipeline, there would be the danger of mixing the soils again, Fedorchak said. If the pipeline was never operated, it would be pressurized with gas and remain on the 811-call-first system. If oil ever flowed through it, it would have to be flushed before pressurized and abandoned, she said. A second scenario is using a portion of the pipeline or reselling it to another company for the same purpose, she said. A third scenario is rerouting the pipeline to avoid the Missouri River-Lake Oahe crossing disputed by Standing Rock tribe out of concerns about potential water contamination and disruption of sacred sites. Companies do modest reroutes, but if were talking, say, going 75 miles north and starting in Killdeer and laying 150 to 200 miles of new pipe, I have no idea if a reroute of that magnitude is possible. We could permit it, but that doesnt change all the other issues, Fedorchak said. And those other issues are stacking up. Regulatory, legal problems While much public attention has focused on the colorful and historic encampments of Standing Rock Sioux and indigenous people from nearly 300 other tribes and the 70 arrests of men and women obstructing pipeline construction, the pipelines most serious obstacles are happening in regulatory offices and courtrooms far from the pipeline. The first is in a federal district court, where Standing Rock, represented by the nonprofit legal firm of Earthjustice, is suing the U.S. Army Corps. The tribe contends the corps failed to adhere to provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act or adequately consult the tribe when issued a Nationwide Permit No. 12 for the project and particularly, when in July, it issued the additional verification to bore the pipeline under Lake Oahe near the reservation. Though the corps issued the verification, it has yet to write an actual easement for that water crossing. Until it does, the pipeline cant be plumbed from one side of Lake Oahe to the other, a delay the company indicated, in court filings, is already impeding construction deadlines. In order to meet its obligations to deliver oil via this pipeline, Dakota Access must complete the project far enough in advance of year end to properly test the pipeline and commence operations. The lead time for the Lake Oahe crossing requires months not days, company attorney Kimberly Caine told the court. If that werent problematical enough, the corps, on Sept. 9, stopped all work at the river while it reviews its previous decisions. This complexity was announced minutes after a federal court judge denied the tribes request for an injunction against the pipeline while its lawsuit progresses. The tribe immediately appealed that decision, at the same time hailing the corps stop-work order as a substantial victory. Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman said, while he cant comment on the possibility that Dakota Access could abandon the project, he said the scenario amounts to quite a debacle, but that the company put itself in this precarious place by starting pipeline construction in May. At that point, the company had a route permit from the PSC and regulators in the three other pipeline-route states, but the corps had neither verified the Lake Oahe crossing as required under the Nationwide Permit No. 12 nor provided the necessary easement. They looked at the Keystone XL project (denied after years of review) and said thats not happening to us and started throwing pipe in the ground as fast as possible without permits so they could say, `Too late, too far along. Thats a risk they took with investors money, Hasselman said. They made the decision to build up to Lake Oahe when they didnt have verification and treated that requirement as an afterthought. Expiration date Yet another potential obstacle for the pipeline is the March 18 expiration date on the river crossing verification. According to the corps, all existing nationwide permits are scheduled to be modified, reissued or revoked prior to that date. The corps does allow another year to complete work that has commenced or is contracted to commence under the water-crossing verification regardless of any changes in the nationwide permit, but, without a written easement, the validity of Dakota Access contract for the water-boring portion falls in a legal shadow. I dont know how complicated that is, Hasselman said of the permit renewal issues. He is aware the corps is coming under wide criticism for using a Nationwide Permit system thats sensibly streamlined for small, low-impact projects but doesnt fit the scale of a massive crude oil pipeline. A more immediate regulatory issue is what the corps will do with the time out it called in order to review its past decisions on the water crossing verification, according to Hasselman. If theres an admission that there are big problems and there is a full environmental impact statement requiring a look at alternative locations, thats not going to be done in six to nine months, Hasselman said. The court dispute between Standing Rock and the corps itself will likely take another year to wind through the system, he said. Dakota Access Pipeline did not return numerous emails seeking comment. Current status Next up on the legal schedule is the appeal filed by Standing Rock after the federal district court judge denied an injunction against the pipeline. The appeal moved to the Washington, D.C., circuit court and oral arguments will be heard Oct. 5 by a three-judge panel. Almost immediately, the court ordered Dakota Access to stop all work 20 miles either side of Lake Oahe while the appeal is in process. In appeal documents, the pipeline spells out how the corps met all necessary standards under the National Historic Preservation Act. Attorney Caine also says a temporary injunction would have devastating short and long term impacts, putting the entire project in jeopardy and harming pipeline workers and their families. Perhaps more importantly, and despite the staggering cost associated with a short-term injunction of indefinite duration, any injunction imperils the DAPL project in its entirety. Many contracts have a date certain after which DAPL could lose committed customers. The cost of an injunction during the first year would approach $1.4 billion and would exceed that amount each successive year, with none of the loss being compensable, Caine writes. Meanwhile, the tribes original suit against the corps, defended by Earthjustice, continues before federal district court Judge James Boasberg. He has scheduled a status hearing for Nov. 10. Creationism reappears in Texas September 25, 2016 11:32 MST Of course, it never really disappeared, as Michael Zimmerman notes in an article in the Huffington Post this past week. I will not go into detail, but according to Professor Zimmerman, a committee of the Texas State Board of Education had voted 6-2 to remove four standards that had been added in 2009, more or less at the last minute. Suffice it to say that the standards had been supported by Don McLeroy when he was chairman of the SBOE, and the two dissenting votes were by the creationists who, Professor Zimmerman says, were added to the current committee. Now, things get nasty. The committee is not scheduled to present its recommendations to the full Board until November. Nevertheless, Ray Bohlin, one of the two dissenting committee members and vice-president of something known as Probe Ministries, attacked the committees recommendation at a recent Board meeting. No one else from the committee had attended the Board meeting, so the Board received an unscheduled and one-sided perspective on the four anti-science, politically driven standards. Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, wrote to the SBOE (as quoted by Professor Zimmerman), complaining that a number of state board members seemed willing to call into question [the committees] objectivity and professionalism based on hearsay from one individual. Some board members even suggested that the panelists somehow want to prevent students from asking questions. It is distressing, then, that Mr. Bohlin in effect went over the head of the committee and directly to the board, and, perhaps more importantly, that some of the Board were sympathetic to his position. Though Don McLeroy lost his position as chairman of the SBOE, I am afraid Texas and we are by no means done with creationist attacks on the schools. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher, Vistas de pagina en total Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Archivo del blog PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR OTAN = Asesinos OTAN = NATO = Muerte Mas temprano que tarde los derrotaremos Hipocresia 3.0 El principe Carlos habla sobre el alto costo de la vida Es un chiste? 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Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! 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. Organizers in Tacoma. (Photo by Sahra Vang Nguyen) Rally in Minneapolis. (Photo by Pheng Thao and Xay Yang) Organizers in Cambodia. (Photo by 1Love Movement) Rally in Minneapolis. (Photo by Pheng Thao and Xay Yang) Last week, war veterans, mothers, fathers, family, friends, and children held signs of pleas to stop deportations of their loved ones. Organized by family members of those detained, and supported by a coalition of API advocacy organizations , people lined the streets of Minneapolis outside Senator Amy Klobuchar's office to demand justice after almost a dozen Cambodian Minnesotans were detained for deportation. This isn't solely in the Cambodian community. Just last year, the story of Lao American DJ Teace aka Thisaphone Sothiphakhak was in the Minneapolis City Pages. "That's the most frustrating feeling. I went through the court system, and literally something 18 years ago came back and made me feel like I was less than human." SEARAC reported in 2015 that since 1998, about 18,000 Southeast Asian Americans from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have been given deportation orders, the majority on the basis of past criminal convictions where time has already been served. These numbers lead us to systemic double punishment concerns. These 18,000 sought asylum and were given permanent resident green cards in the United States, only to be threatened with return to the very countries they had escaped from. Deportations in Southeast Asian communities isn't new. Strict US immigration laws passed in 1996 have impacted immigrant and refugee communities across the board. This is because Black immigrant and other immigrant communities are highly policed, profiled, criminalized and convicted in a U.S. criminal legal system that we all know to be unjust. This year marks 20 years since these laws passed, and protests have brought together multi-racial coalitions of community groups across the country in a collective campaign to #Fix96 As the United Nations and President Obama wrapped up a series of meetings with high-level leaders to address the global refugee crisis of over 65.3 million displaced people -- the highest it's ever been in human history -- half of whom are children. This is a familiar story to those in the US whose families fled post-war Southeast Asia, a struggling and painful journey to seek safety and peace. While these meetings were taking place in New York City, the Southeast Asian refugee community across the country is faced with a glaring human rights issue right here, right now on American soil -- detention and deportation.As Southeast Asians in the same struggle with a shared history of U.S. intervention and civil wars, we're writing this together as a show of unity in a moment when Lao, Hmong, Khmer, Viet, and Southeast Asian American solidarity overall is urgent and necessary now more than ever. We know the violence and fear that has been instilled by our own fellow community members against each other in our home countries during war, and here in the U.S. during Drug War-era resettlement when communities of color were pitted against each other for survival. As we struggle and commit to recognize the harm and violence we've enacted upon one another throughout our history, we also recognize the systems of militarism, foreign policy, and institutionalized criminalization and racism that created the conditions we all live under today.We come from a legacy of war and trauma that continues to inflict pain and suffering for many families. And while the experiences of our families in our different home countries stem from distinct histories of political, cultural, and ethnic struggle, we are drawn together by a common thread in the displacement from our homelands-- the systemic destruction and divisiveness of U.S. military actions across the region, which will be impacted by renewed U.S. diplomacy in the region.Earlier this month, President Obama made a historic gesture when he became the first sitting President of the United States to visit Laos, a nation still living under the legacy of U.S. intervention of a Vietnam War era that still plagues the land and its people with over 80 million tons of bombs littered across the country. The State Department committed $90 million to support clearance efforts. This was due to the relentless organizing and advocacy of the Lao community, in particular Legacies of War . We can feel pride and hope in the potential of strengthened diplomatic relations between the US and Laos, especially since efforts of justice were led by community voice and leadership, but it must be welcomed with transparent accountability of the different kinds of negotiations that these renewed political relationships will bring, such as Repatriation Agreements.Repatriation Agreements are contracts signed between two countries to secure a path and procedure of deportation between nations. Cambodia and the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations after the war in 1993, and by 2002 a Repatriation Agreement was signed between the countries. At that point, Cambodian-Americans began being deported to a land many of them had never even set foot in due to being born in refugee camps in Thailand. Vietnam and the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations after the war in 1995, and by 2008 a Repatriation Agreement was signed between the countries to begin deporting Vietnamese Americans, at a much more restricted rate than Cambodia, however. Laos and the U.S. re-established diplomatic relations in 1992 and has yet to sign a repatriation agreement. This could change with the recent visit and declaration agreement.With the strengthening of U.S. relations with Laos, and given the pattern we've seen in Cambodia and Vietnam, we must be smart and rigorous, and know that a repatriation agreement could be just around the corner. Strengthened relations between our home countries and the U.S. should not also come with the signing of Repatriation Agreements that will ensure the further destruction of Southeast Asian families from one generation to the next, and from one side of the world to the other and back again.It's a crucial time in our current rhetoric and global crises that Lao Americans and other Southeast Asians stand in solidarity with the Cambodian community, knowing also that our fate could be the same.The U.S. immigration system is often called broken, and it has been unfair and unjust for the thousands of Southeast Asian families it has divided. This isn't just a temporary issue that's going away or only impacting a few. It's a human rights issue that cannot be ignored. It's time to amplify the issue in our community and be in solidarity as Southeast Asians. As Southeast Asian Americans, our human rights fight today is deportation. For the past 14 years since the Repatriation Agreement was signed between the US and Cambodia, it has been our Khmer brothers, sisters and family who have felt the brunt of these deportation policies. 1Love Cambodia is a deportee-led organization based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which is leading the fight for justice from the other side of the globe. If our deported community members and loved ones can stand up and demand justice, then we must unite and do the same. It's time for us all to step up and address deportation because immigration policies impact us. We must do better, because we can, and the time is now. If you or someone you know is facing a deportation order or detained, find legal help at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus , contact Staff Attorney Anoop Prasad at anoopp@advancingjustice-alc.org or (415) 848-7722 Also check out this Deportation Resource Guide for Southeast Asian Americans Educate yourself and your community with resources and toolkits by SEARAC Read about the School-to-Prison-to-Deportation Pipeline in Asian American communities Read and share 1Love Cambodia's Statement from Deportees Join the fight with 1Love Movement , watch and share the SEAFN Campaign Launch Video to address Southeast Asian Repatriation Agreements, and in the midwest connect with Freedom Inc and ManForward , the local anchors of SEAFN's #Right2Return campaign Join in the fight to #Fix96 with SEARAC Sign the petition to stop future deportations of Cambodian Minnesotans. Learn more about the local work through the organizing of the families impacted by this crisis, and their supporters, such as No More Deportations Campaign Minnesota and IKARE . Follow their efforts and alerts with the official hashtag #Not1More and #Right2Return. Fall has arrived! It may still feel like summer, with the weather being warm, but if you look at the calendar, it is fall. This is my favorite season. I love the cool nights, wearing hoodies and being able to shut off the AC. I also love taking advantage of the great deals fall brings. Grills and BBQ necessities: Do you dream of a bigger, better grill? Grills are on clearance at most stores right now, as the big-box stores want to get rid of these large items and not have to move them around and store them all winter. This allows you more flexibility, and you may walk out with a grill much nicer than you could afford early in the summer months. Patio furniture and outdoor seating: Planning on doing some new things around your yard? If you have held off this season, you can find some great prices on patio furniture right now. For the same reasons as grills, these items take up a lot of real estate in the back room of any store, so if the stores can sell them, they will and at a discount price. Lawnmowers, shrubs, bushes and plants: Again, if you have plans on redoing your yard, this is the time to buy. Companies want you to buy shrubs, bushes and plants because they cant keep a lot of them until next spring. And everyone needs a reliable lawn mower. National Coffee Day: While you are out shopping the deals, dont forget to enjoy some coffee Sept. 29. Coffee shops will give out free or discounted cups of coffee to their customers. Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme participated last year. Starbucks did not do any giveaways, however, they did donate money to charity with every purchase. Some things to remember while out shopping this month is not to buy everything on sale. Black Friday is around the corner, and that is a great time to buy TVs, appliances, laptops and computers. So if you are in the market for one of these pricey items, you will want to wait if you can until November. In my monthly class at The Post-Star, I go into detail about using coupons, saving money, finding monthly deals and how it will benefit your family and your pocket book. There are also free giveaways. Join the next class, which is at 6 p.m. Oct. 25. Call 742-3309, or go to poststar.com/couponclass. Head over to my blog at Making Cent$ About Extreme Couponing to find some great deals around the region this week. Post your questions, comments and deals in the comments section. HEBRON The proposal to build a home for troubled teens is moving forward, with the founders now accepting job applications. But its a much smaller proposal now, of up to eight teenagers living in an existing house in Hebron. The teens would primarily be struggling with substance abuse addictions. And that may be winning over Supervisor Brian Campbell, who had strongly criticized the previous proposals by downstate cousins Jesse and Andrew Brand. The four to eight kids could be kids from our own community, Campbell said. And its important to help the people in our community. Local residential programs are needed, said Department of Social Services Commissioner Tammy DeLorme. Her staffers apply to dozens of such facilities to find a space for one student. And they particularly need more rural locations. She prefers to place Washington County youths in rural facilities because they are similar to the youths hometowns, she said. Having a facility close by would be helpful to the troubled youths she deals with, DeLorme said. It helps facilitate them staying in contact with their family and friends. Our goal is always family reunification, she said. She did not support the Brands initial proposals which called for 50 or more teens at the former Camp Hebron because she said the plan was not fully developed. The Brands now have a written program. Still, Campbell noted the proposal has a long way to go. He recently checked with the state and learned the Brand New Beginning Youth Center is not yet licensed. Til they have a license, I dont know how they even hire people, he said. The agency is seeking applications from veterans of the armed forces. Applications are available on the website, www.bnbyc.org. The Brands have not yet announced their new location, which is in the Salem Central School District, Jesse Brand said. The teens attending the youth center would go to the public schools. They would generally live at the youth center for seven to 12 months, according to the cousins written program. To graduate from the center, and thus return home, teens would have to perform well at each of three phases. The first focuses on learning to handle responsibilities, such as serving meals and doing laundry. To get through that phase, teens must also be passing their classes without ever skipping a class. In the second phase, teens get to have supervised visits with their parents on weekends, while learning to cook and to work together on projects. To get to the final phase, teens must show a monumental change in behavior and attitude, according to the program. In that phase, they get daily phone calls to their parents and are allowed to leave the youth center for an hour on Sundays with their parents. Throughout the program, teens will spend hours in recreation, including swimming and a ropes course. The teens also earn access to a game room as they progress through the program. Jesse Brand said those sorts of activities are sadly lacking at other facilities. He spent one month in a youth residential facility as a child after he stopped going to school, he said. His experience there led him to want to open his own facility, where he could provide better programs. In particular, he recalled that he was never allowed outside to play during his time in a residential facility. ALBANY The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for early Monday morning for northern Warren County and the Adirondacks and a frost advisory for the rest of the region. The warning and advisory are both in effect from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. In the freeze warning area, which also includes Herkimer and Hamilton counties, temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 20s and lower 30s. Unprotected outdoor tender vegetation will be be severely damaged. In the frost advisory area, which includes the rest of Warren, as well as Washington and Saratoga counties, temperatures are expected to be in the 30s. There is a risk of frost damage to sensitive plants and crops. Dimitri Glavas story starts in Glens Falls, but through a few twists and turns, he landed in the role of producer of a sci-fi film. Glavas is a 1996 Glens Falls High School graduate with a successful career in finance. After a year at then-Adirondack Community College, he went to SUNY Potsdam, then to Hofstra University. He worked in New York City, spending several years with Lehman Brothers. After the companys collapse in 2008, Glavas moved to California, and that is where the plot takes a turn. Glavas made several friends who were writers and actors. They joined forces and pitched a few shows to Sony and Spike TV making it further into the process than most professionals. We werent actually picked and felt like we were just nobodies, so we decided to make our own movie, to make a name for ourselves, Glavas said. The result is Lights, a feature-length found footage sci-fi flick that premieres Oct. 11 on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Comcast, DirectTV, VuDu and Xbox VOD. Glavas is the executive producer. The movie follows the story of Lisa, whose boyfriend and friends go missing in the desert, as she and Jim, a retired sheriff, retrace the groups footsteps and uncover a conspiracy. Lights is told using conventional filming, with found footage to tell the story of what happened to the group. There have never really been any sci-fi movies based on found footage, Glavas said. Because its an independent film, though, Glavas had to keep it low-budget. He and Fonseca reached out to friends and family members for investments. My daughter is in the movie, my car is in the movie, my apartment is in the movie; when its low-budget, you use what youve got, he said. Once production began, that low budget meant that Glavas was doing a bit of everything: unloading trucks, running to the store to grab food for the crew, raising money, setting up accounts, helping finalize the script. If anything was done in this film, I had my hand in it. I was executive producer and producer and owner of the production company that shot it, he said. Given the low-budget nature of the film, we had a skeleton crew. And it meant he had to commit a fair bit of his time and resources to the movie. He was working his day job and planning meetings for the movie in the evenings. But its all worth it to Glavas, who likes his day job, but has found what he loves to do. It started as a hobby, but what I have learned is, I have a passion for it, he said. I want to keep doing it moving forward. I cant wait to make the next one. Glavas found a distribution company Candy Factory, which has offices in Saratoga Springs and hopes Lights attracts attention to future projects. Getting his and Fonsecas work noticed is his main goal. If its not a financial success for us, I will definitely make one more movie, he said. Id be stupid not to make one more movie with everything Ive learned. But if that second movie is not successful, Ill have to reconsider what I do. The duo is working on raising money for the next movie, to continue what Glavas hopes is the second of many. Im finding out that Im very creative and thats the passion part, because nobody gets really excited about finance,he said. My day job, I love it and consider myself successful, but Ive turned a love and a passion into a side business that could actually grow. SARATOGA SPRINGS Art Spiegelman, a 1992 Pulitzer Prize winner for "Maus," his ground-breaking graphic novel of the Holocaust, and later the artist of In the Shadow of No Towers, will deliver the Frances Steloff Lecture at Skidmore College at 8 p.m., Oct. 4 in Gannett Auditorium. The event, free and open to the public, will begin with his receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters and will end with a question-and-answer period and a book-signing of his most recent works. His lecture, titled "What the %@&*! Happened to Comics?" will explore comics as a literary medium. Although they have often been disdained by academics and other literati, they can be eloquent and powerful, Spiegelman argues comics can be eloquent and powerful, in part because comics echo the way the brain works. People think in iconographic images ... and bursts of language, not in paragraphs. For 10 years Spiegelman served as an artist for the New Yorker magazine, creating dozens of sometimes controversial covers. Skidmores annual Steloff Lecture, endowed in 1967, honors the late Saratoga native Frances Steloff, who founded New York Citys Gotham Book Mart and acquired a vast collection of literary memorabilia, much of which she donated to Skidmore College. An urgent UN Security Council meeting on Syria was summoned to conduct an "information attack against Russia." This is a typical scenario the United States uses when the situation does not responds to its interests, Russian senator Franz Klintsevich said. Earlier on Sunday, France, Britain and the US called for an emergency UNSC meeting to address the escalating violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Fighting in Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on Friday, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable. US Envoy to the UN Samantha Power claimed during that UNSC meeting that Russia's actions in Syria were "barbarism." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier that Aleppo had faced the most intense airstrikes since the start of the Syrian conflict, expressing dismay at the situation and the fate of civilians trapped in the city. "A UNSC meeting on Syria initiated by Britain, France and the US is an attempt to shift responsibility for failures in the implementation of a Russia-US agreement on Syria," Klintsevich told RIA Novosti . He noted that the situation deteriorated after the US-led international coalition attacked Syrian forces. This incident intensified terrorists activity. "What is more, Washington has done nothing to separate areas controlled by Daesh, al-Nusra Front and opposition forces and to separate rebel fighters from terrorists," the lawmaker added. According to him, a meeting in the UN Security Council is not an optimistic sign. "This is another information attack against Russia. The US always does this when the situation is out of Washingtons control. Of course, this meeting will not be positive for building Russia-US cooperation on Syria," Klintsevich said. However, he added that it would be premature to say that the agreement is a failure but there are numerous violations of the deal. In a written statement for the meeting, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Russia and Iran would become "accomplices in war crimes" if they continued to prolong the war in Syria. In particular, the minister referred to the recent bombings in Aleppo, which killed scores of people. Russian UN Envoy Vitaly Churkin said during the UNSC meeting on Syria that the members of the US-led coalition have failed to announce the results of an investigation into the death of over hundred of civilians in Syria's Manbij as a result of strikes. "It was reported that French aircraft bombed this city. But neither French colleagues, nor American leaders of the coalition have failed to announce the results of this investigation for two months," Churkin said. Allegations about civil casualties as a result of airstrikes in eastern Aleppo is part of an information war aimed at demonizing the Syrian Army and its allies, representatives of the citys militia forces told RIA Novosti. "Terrorists are in a difficult situation and theyre making up stories about women and children killed in airstrikes. This is nothing but an information war aimed at setting the West against our army and the Russians," they said . Earlier, Syrian Brigadier General Samir Suleiman told Sputnik that the Syrian Air Force never attacked a civil target. The Syrian Army attacks only military goals and terrorist groups and always conducts intelligence before an attack. T he so-called "moderate" rebels turned off the water to 1.5 million civilians living in West Aleppo in retaliation for a Syrian Army airstrike on East Aleppo that allegedly left 250,000 residents without water setting the stage for an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The city of Aleppo is dying according to United Nations officials after a fierce wave of bombing last night by the Syrian Army in an attempt to break the stalemate in what once was the economic capital of the country but is now left to rubble after years of combat between the Assad government and rebels. Last nights airstrikes according to early reporting by the United Nations left 115 dead as hostilities have intensified following the collapse of the ceasefire earlier this week resulting in large part from a US-led coalition airstrike on a Syrian Army base in Deir Ez-Zor that left 62 dead and hundreds injured "paving the way" for a major offensive by Daesh (ISIS) terrorists and over 300 ceasefire violations by the rebels. The rebels signaled in the day before the ceasefire that they would not comply with the agreement brokered by the United States and Russia with the second largest rebel group Ahrar al-Sham even saying that it was impossible for the group to breakaway from al-Nusra Front terrorists (formerly Syrias al-Qaeda affiliate prior to a rebranding effort) because the two groups had become too entangled fighting under the common banner of the Army of Conquest. With hopes for peace on hold Syrian airstrikes have escalated which the rebels claim undermined attempts to repair a water pump supplying rebel-held districts in East Aleppo with water allegedly blocking the flow of the vital resource to some 250,000 residents. In an act of reprisal, the rebels switched off the Suleiman al-Halabi pumping station that provides water to 1.5 million Syrian civilians in government controlled West Aleppo raising the possibility of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in what has already turned into the largest displacement of civilians in human history. Kieran Dwyer, spokesman for the UN Childrens Rights & Emergency Relief Organization (UNICEF) explained that the Bab al-Nairab pumping station supplying rebel-held parts of Aleppo was allegedly damaged on Thursday and subsequent strikes rendered repairs impossible. "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," said Dwyer . UNICEF fears that families in West Aleppo will be forced to use contaminated liquid carrying waterborne diseases to which children are particularly vulnerable as a result of the intentional act of terroristic sabotage by the rebels in contravention of international humanitarian standards. "Aleppo is slowly dying, and the world is watching, and the water is being cut off and bombed its just the latest act of inhumanity," said UNICEF Deputy Director Justin Forsyth. Syrian troops captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city after what residents described as the heaviest air bombardment of the 5 -year civil war. The U.N. meanwhile said that nearly 2 million people in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and onetime commercial center, are without running water following the escalation in fighting over the past few days. An unnamed Syrian military official quoted by state TV said government forces killed many insurgents in Handarat, and that experts are removing explosives from the area. The camp, which is almost empty and largely destroyed, has seen intense fighting and bombardment in recent years, and changed hands multiple times. The escalation comes as diplomats in New York have failed to salvage a U.S. and Russian-brokered cease-fire that lasted nearly a week. Moscow is a key ally of Assad's government, while Washington supports the opposition. She is currently in the grips of the police. Narrating the incident to Kumasi-based Ultimate FM, the victim said Mr Owusu got even more provoked when he realised that she was recording his assault on her. She said parts of her ribs and face have been fractured as a result of the number of slaps and punches she received in the attack. The victims father, who was interviewed on the incident, said the family will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. He said his daughter had nothing amorous with the suspect. ALSO READ: Suspected kidnapper almost lynched by Lagos crowd The incident took place in the morning on Thursday, September 22, at the SDP junction in the area. According to an eyewitness, the man identified only as Daniel, trailed the unidentified victim who had a baby strapped to her back on a motorcycle after leaving the bank. Immediately she got off the bike, Daniel snatched the handbag and took to his heels. Unfortunately for him, a group of motorcyclists chased him down and apprehended him, tearing off his clothes and giving him the beating of his life. Some motorcyclists went after him, caught him and started beating him. They removed his clothes and left him on the ground," the eyewitness said. Fadi Dabboussi, a fierce critic of President John Mahama was arrested on Friday after a trip from Lebanon at the Kotoka International Airport. His lawyer, Hassan Tampuli said he has been refused access to his client. I have been to the office of the BNI and I was denied access to him. I was told the officer responsible for the case was not in the office and that I can only have access to him on Monday, Tampuli told Joy FM Saturday. Ghanaians have angrily reacted to the Dabboussi's arrest, slamming the president of trying to curtail freedom of expression. The arrest of Fadi Dabboussi comes after president John Mahama addressed the UN General Assembly on Wednesday in which he called on European leaders to stop meddling in the democracy of African countries. But it is for acts like these that the Europeans feel the need to poke their noses in the affairs of Africa. A police analysts at the Danquah Institute, Dr Gifty Oware reminded journalists the arrest of Dabboussi could happen to them if the BNI is not checked. A lecturer at the Department of Petroleum Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Mustapha Hameed, tweeted a reminder of president John Mahama's address to the UN General Assembly in which he told the west not to force democracy on Africa. Lawyer Kow Essuman believes the president is too sensitive to criticism. Others feel his arrest could mark the end of free expression and the return to authoritarinism, a dark past of the country. Dabboussi is also the author of "59 Years to Nowhere," a book that severely criticised the Mahama-led administration. Following the launch of his book, he received death threats from surrogates of the ruling National Democratic Congress. The land, which has become the subject of litigation, is being claimed by operators of the VVIP buses, saying they have the backing of Manhyia Palace. Rosemary Quandoh, another claimant to the land says she has documents to prove the land belongs to her. A relative of Madam Quandoh, Fiifi, reportedly stormed the station with macho men, preventing buses from leaving the station. Two people were assaulted in the confusion that ensued. Some of the victims who spoke to Kumasi-based Luv FM said the macho men were wielding dangerous instrument which they used to terrorise people. The police were called in to restore law and order following which six people were picked up including Fiifi who hired them. The macho men were reportedly parading the scene after the police had left. According to him, during the erstwhile Kufour administration, new districts were created but were never supported with seed capital, adding that the party cannot be trust to support district assemblies with $1 million due to its history. "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," Mr. Gunu told journalists on the sidelines of a ceremony to present educational materials to schools in his area."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," he added. Bagbin also touted the achievement of the president, urging voters to vote massively for him. "The last time we had a northern president from the northern part of the country is 35 years ago," Bagbin said, making reference to the Limann government his party overthrew in 1988. "And so if we are not lucky and this opportunity goes by, are we going to wait for another 35 years? no way!" He added that the achievement of the president is just the tip of the iceberg. "Once again, you are going to renew our mandate for us to continue with the good works. His Excellency president Mahama's achievement is the tip of the iceberg," he said, adding that the president will bring more development to their community if they renew his mandate. The rally was attended by the Chief of Staff in a bid to quell rumours that President John Mahama is sponsoring a candidate to unseat the MP for Nadowli Kaleo. It will be recalled that Bagbin launched scathing attacks on president Mahama in the early days of his administration. He accused Mahama of appointing his family and friends. Asked why he is criticising the president publicly, he claimed he does not have access to the president so he will advise him in public. He blasted the Akufo-Addo for being able to win the presidential elections on two occasions and also accused him of disunity, saying that is a mark of incompetence. Competency is measured by what one is doing and has exhibited plans to complete, but a two-time defeated flagbearer should not refer another as an incompetent person, Abdulah Abubakar said at the Northern Regional Campaign Launch in Bimbila. He added: It is because Ghanaians saw the competencies in President John Dramani Mahama that is why they gave him the mandate to lead the country and they will retain him come December 2016. The company was voted the best in Health and Safety and Wellbeing in an awards ceremony organised by the Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, West Africa. The awards ceremony is, amongst other things, aimed at rewarding organisations and companies committed to sustainability. It also seeks to give recognition to organisations that have implemented initiatives to promote social change in the country. As the world continues to evolve and transform, aided by technology, companies have a responsibility to do good in society and the CSR Excellence platform ensures that responsible companies are appreciated. READ MORE:Telecoms services in Ghana Vodafone Ghana was lauded for its achievements in safety at the workplace for its staff and stakeholders. Additionally, the Vodafone Ghana Foundation was recognised for its unprecedented intervention across the country in terms of healthcare. Its Healthline TV programme, call center and countrywide health screening exercises have over the years supported in bringing healthcare to the doorstep of Ghanaians. The Foundation is also known for its countrywide initiative, using multiple media and technological channels, to significantly create awareness during the Ebola pandemic. Commenting, Gayheart Mensah, Director of External Affairs at Vodafone Ghana said: 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! A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) showed some black individuals have some refreshment before they were attacked with bottles and other weapons. ALSO READ: Nigerian man suspected to be a cult leader butchered to death in Malaysia This led to a very quick dispersal of the men who were busy chatting and having drinks before some other group of men interrupted their get-together. According to the New York Post, Pope was connected to the unidentified teen after he asked his class about where he could get the psychoactive drug in large quantity. The teacher reportedly gave him the sum of $4,000 after the student promised to help him get the merchandise from his contact in Manhattan. ALSO READ: Female tenant docked for beating landlord over Indian hemp Unfortunately, the amount needed for the purchase was $7,000. The student however did not give report of this to his teacher and chose to spend the money instead. Pope, who is a science teacher at the John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy in Hunts Point allegedly threatened the boy, telling him that he would sexually assault his mother if the money was not refunded. I will kill you if I dont get my money! Pope allegedly told the student after pummeling him. I want my money in a month!, he said. According to the Daily Post News, the suspect, who resides at Ogiri Oko Streetin Otukpo, Benue State, committed the offence after successfully luring the girl to his residence. The victim had problem walking as a result of the intercourse, but Daniel claimed he terminated the intended rape after finding her impenetrable. ALSO READ: Police arrest man for raping daughter Because my manhood was too big for her, I could not penetrate and had to leave her alone. Police spokesperson, Moses Yamu confirmed the incident. Hussein stated that her tough experiences began as soon as she married her husband, who insisted that she must become a full time housewife. According to the complainant, Nurain turned down her request to take up a teaching job at a private university she was interested in. She said, As soon as we wedded, Nurain directed me to become a full time housewife which meant that I must do nothing to earn a living. At the same time, there had been little or nothing to cater for the growing responsibilities in the home, especially the educational needs of the children. I pleaded with him to give me a portion of his shop to start selling some petty things, but Nurain rejected the idea. I then told him that I secured a teaching job in a private university and it did not go down well with him. Nurain and I were products of that same university for our degrees, but I have since proceeded for my Masters and I am even on my PH.D. programme now. Nurain has not shown any understanding over this, but instead quarrels with me for no reason. During the last two Ramadan fasting periods, Nurain did not even know that I existed. My lord, Nurain has locked up our bedroom that could serve as a point of meeting for any sexual activity. The only reason he gave for our last quarrel was that I refused to carry his bag for him after opening the entrance door. I have since reported him to all his relatives, but nothing has changed", she said. Sheikh Hamad Tiamiyu, the President of the court, told the complainant to provide a list of witnesses that can support her claims. The British Medical Association (BMA) had planned a full withdrawal of labour by junior doctors on Oct. 5-7 and 10-11, Nov. 14-18 and Dec. 5-9, which would have been the longest stoppages in the nearly 70-year history of the National Health Service. Junior doctors - a term covering recent medical school graduates right through to doctors who have been working for well over a decade - have staged a series of walkouts over a new work contract the government plans to impose next month. The BMA said its decision to suspend the action follows feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and discussions with NHS England about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service if industrial action were to go ahead. "Following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors, the BMA has taken the decision to suspend planned industrial action," said Ellen McCourt, the newly elected chair of the BMA junior doctor committee. "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," she said. The BMA staged several strikes earlier this year, which escalated in April when junior doctors walked out of all services, including accident and emergency, for a day. A deal was reached in May between the BMA and the government, but junior doctors voted in July to reject the new contract. This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way. 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. Falana said the plan is a mere attempt to concentrate the nations wealth in the hands of a few people. The lawyer argued that selling national assets is in "total conflict with section 16 of the constitution. In a statement issued Sunday, September 25, Falana recalled how previous asset sales were characterized by corruption and short-changing of the people, for whom the government holds those assets in trust. He asked the federal government to recover the official quarters of the chief justice of Nigeria, senate president and speaker of the house of representatives, saying they were illegally sold by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to Katsina-Alu, David Mark and Dimeji Bankole respectively. The lawyer said each of the building was fraudulently sold for about N50 million, while many others in Abuja, Lagos and other cities were undersold to many public officers and their cronies. "Apart from the recovery of the NET building in Lagos, which was sold to the father of a legislator for N4 billon instead of the market value of N75 billion, the sale of the other 531 properties of Nitel and other agencies of the federal government located in the various parts of the country has not been accounted for," Falana said. The statement reads in part: "Under the pretext of offering solutions to the crisis plaguing the peripheral and parasitic capitalist economy of Nigeria, a business mogul, Alhaji Aliyu Dangote has suggested the sale of the remaining assets of the nation as a way of raising funds. "The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, an unrepentant ideologue of currency devaluation and privatization has supported the call for the sale of the nations assets. Although Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki claimed that the senate has backed the sale of the national assets some senators have distanced themselves from the call. "The assets being targeted for sale include valued properties, oil blocks and the interests of the Nigerian people in the liquified natural gas company. "It is pertinent to point out that the suggestion is in total conflict with section 16 of the Constitution which has prohibited the concentration of the nations wealth in the hands of a few people or a group. "Indeed, by virtue of section 44 of the Constitution the nations natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the federal government. One would have expected senators who swore to protect the Constitution to kick against the suggestion to sell the assets of the nation to a few people. But for selfish considerations a few legislators who may be queuing up to participate in the purchase of the nations assets are not prepared to defend the Constitution. "If the senate is genuinely desirous to contribute meaningfully to the debate on the economy it should, as a matter of urgency, propose a substantial reduction in the jumbo emoluments of federal legislators which are said to be the highest in the world." ALSO READ: CACOL condemns calls for FG to sell national assets Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it has no choice but to sell off some of the nation's assets as it has become impossible for it to fund the expenditure of 2016 budget. The Nigerian Army said its men also killed 22 terrorists in the attack. A statement signed by the acting director of army public relations, Colonel Sani Usman, said the rifles of the four soldiers were lost as a result of the effect of Boko Haram use of Rocket Propelled Grenades. He said two soldiers were wounded in the action. Usman said: "At about 1.00am today, Sunday 25th September 2016, some suspected remnants of Boko Haram fighters attacked our troops location of at Logomani along Dikwa-Gambarou road, Borno State, in a 3 waves attack using 36 Hand Grenades and Rocket Propelled Launchers. "Our troops fought gallantly and repelled the attack, which lasted for about one hour. At the end of the fierce encounter, the troops counted 22 dead bodies of Boko Haram fighters. They also recovered 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 FN Rifle, 1 G3 Rifle and some 36 Hand grenades. "Unfortunately, we troops lost 4 soldiers and their rifles as a result of the effect of Boko Haram use of Rocket Propelled Grenades, while 2 soldiers were wounded in action. The wounded in action have been evacuated for further medical management." 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." Vice President Yemi osinbajo, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, urged Nigerians to be patient as the country would regain prosperity. Vice President Osinbajo in his remarks assured that God is building a new Nigeria, where there will be peace from the North East to the Niger Delta region. The promise to God to our nation is that he is building a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where there will be peace from the North East to the Niger Delta, a Nigeria where our economy will experience abundance and prosperity. Where there will be job for the jobless, a Nigeria led by honest and committed leadership, a Nigeria where Christians, Muslims and men of different faith, men and women from every state and ethnic group will live and work together in peace and harmony. His promise is that we are on our way out of the wilderness, through this land flowing with milk and honey, he said. According to him, in understanding our role, we must remember how the children of God, the Israelites, after God has taken them out of Egypt, to the Promised Land began to grumble when they experienced the first problems. He said that Nigerians with the special anointing of God should declare to the nation that the nation would prosper and that it would be well with it. He advised Nigerians to reflect the personality of the Father as the great encourager, adding that the Bible in more than 300 times encouraged Christians to fear not. He urged Nigerians to live out the words of the scripture to be strong and not be discouraged and not be afraid or dismayed because the lord is with the citizens wherever they go. Osinbajo said that as the Israelites experienced a miracle in crossing the River Jordan, Nigerian would also experience a great miracle. Our message to you as Christians today is be strong and of good courage, do not be dismayed; God is faithful. He has promised and he will fulfil his promise; every Nigerian will benefit from the new Nigeria, he said. Osinbajo prayed for the prosperity of every Nigerian, adding that they would begin to see Gods favour immediately. He said that God saw the nation when he decided to put the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, a leadership that would take the nation across the `red sea. This leadership will take us to the new Nigeria, he declared. The CAN President, Ayokumle said the way out of the economic crisis was for the country to incline to divine revelation on leadership as the wisdom of man would not take the country anywhere. He urged humility for those in leadership, their ability to listen to counsel that would solve problems, and for them to celebrate achievements of past leaders to secure more blessings from God. Ayokunle urged every employer to promote good wages for the employees and for leaders to promote politics of love as placing God first in all things. He said that Nigeria was destined to be great but past leaders created the present hardship by failing to save for the rainy day. Former Vice President Ekwueme expressed thanks to God for keeping the country together in spite of all the troubles. ALSO READ: Osinbajo blames militants for recession He mentioned India, Russia, Sudan and Rhodesia as colonies that had split several times but said Nigeria had remained a united Nigeria ever since. He said that Nigeria remained a flagship in the continents development. The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had traced $15 million to bank accounts belonging to Mrs. Jonathan - the money which is believed to have been acquired fraudulently. A statement issued on Sunday, September 24, by the group's Executive Director, Adetokunbi Mumuni, said the FG ignored its request to prosecute Mrs. Jonathan. SERAP said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) failed to act on the request. In the said suit marked, FHC/L/CS/1318/2016, SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus, compelling the AGF to immediately file a criminal charge against the ex-First Lady for what the group termed illicit enrichment. Mandamus is a judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty. SERAP said: The Attorney General of the Federation has failed, neglected and or refused to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over the $15m unexplained wealth frozen in her accounts. "Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens, but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution, is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a democratic society, this is meant to be the norm; it is an apostasy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made to regulate matters. "Mrs. Jonathan is a politically-exposed person under anti-corruption standards. She is also covered under the definition of public officials contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Under Article 2 of the convention, public officials include Mrs. Jonathan or any other family members of former President Goodluck Jonathan who exercised official duties while he was President. The group is asking the court to declare that Malamis refusal to file criminal charges against Mrs Jonathan is in conflict with his constitutional mandate as well as the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. According to Punch, the decision to invite the President was reached at a meeting of principal officers of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The meeting was said to have been chaired by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at his private residence on Wednesday, September 21. The legislators want Buhari to tell the chambers the specific steps that his administration is taking to take Nigeria out of recession. It was gathered that, at the meeting, the lawmakers deliberated extensively on the current economic situation in the country and came up with some practical solutions. The President is expected to explain to the chambers the specific efforts of the government to take Nigeria out of recession. "It was Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who led the House of Representatives team to the meeting, that suggested the idea and it was adopted by leaders of both chambers," one of the lawmakers at the meeting was anonymously quoted as saying. "The president was asked to come and brief us on the specific efforts he had taken with his economic team to tackle the recession." The source said it was also suggested at the meeting that the National Assembly should ask the President to reshuffle his cabinet and bring in new people who can proffer solutions that would save the nations economy from total collapse. A statement signed in Abuja by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on Saturday, September 24, said the rigging story is false. We have read the comments attributed to the Deputy Director General, Obaseki Campaign Organization, John Osakue to the effect that our Party is working to rig the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election. This statement is false, misleading and totally in keeping with the All Progressives Congress (APC) principle of propaganda over no substance, he said. John Osakues comment is therefore a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and was 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 Organisation as well as the APC to stop peddling the falsehood, he said. ALSO READ: PDPs alleged plan to assassinate Obaseki exposed Adeyeye said that the people of Edo have decided to vote PDP on Wednesday. Tinubu on Sunday, September 24, asked Oyegun to resign, accusing him of sabotaging the will of democracy in the APC governorship primary in Ondo State. He said Oyegun bypassed the decision of the appeal panel that asked for a fresh governorship primary in the state following investigations that showed that the delegates list used had been tampered with. An APC aspirant in the Ondo governorship primary election, Michael Olusegun Abraham, had faulted Oyegun overthe emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the party's flagbearer in the gubernatorial poll. Abraham is said to be Tinubu's candidate in the race. A statement issued by Tinubu's media office reads: "The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance, is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party but never of it. "From the partys inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realized that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed. "If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation. "In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken. "Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. "The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyeguns conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help. "Oyeguns comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. "In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named. Having faith in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived. As a democrat, one must face the possibility of defeat and accept such as outcome with as much grace as one would embrace victory. "One of the few bright spots during the conduct of the primaries was Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. He chaired the primary convention with decorum and impartiality. He was unaware that a tampered list had been slipped into the process. "Indeed within hours of the announcement, news began to filter in that gravely disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled the waters. The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do. "The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error. The alteration was wilfully executed that the primary would be directed toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common with the will of most state party members. "A cunning few had tried to deceive the many into believing they were outnumbered. A conspiracy to steal the Ondo primary had been uncovered." The statement further said: "Fortunately, the grand deception afoot had been unable to cover its tracks fast enough. Truth began to cry for justice. Several candidates filed petitions contesting the result. The party established an investigative board to review the evidence. In a two to one decision, the panel found the delegate roster had suffered tampering. The panel recommended that a new primary should be held using the valid delegate list. This recommendation was tabled before the National Working Committee (NWC). "After many hours of deliberations spanning several days, a final vote was held by the NWC. Before hand, NWC members agreed that the decision of the majority would become the stance of the party. Such is the way of democracy. "The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary. For a moment, it seemed the party would restore its integrity by giving democracy a chance. However, those who sought to scam an entire state would not let the vote of 11 people spoil their enterprise. "After the NWC vote, a noticeably agitated Chairman Oyegun proposed the NWC engage in prayer before concluding the meeting. Adhering to this chairmans request, NWC members began to pray. "Seeing that the others had taken his bait, Oyegun used the prayerful interlude to secretly excuse himself from the meeting. Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud. Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party. "Truth has finally come to light. There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded. "They joined the APC because it was the best ride available at the time. Now they want to guide the party into the ditch. They want to turn the party into a soulless entity incapable of doing good, just like they are. When such a person tastes power, they shed all good restraint. They come to abuse the trust given them as if they are the owners of that trust and not its mere custodians. These people did little to build the party but now will do much to wreck it. "Our party was to stand for change. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length. They are the cohort of Unchange. "The APC wants to guide Nigeria into a better tomorrow. Oyegun and the cohort of unchange want to pull Nigeria back into the past where rigging and vote stealing were the old and new testaments of politics. They want the people to think that there is no alternative to their reactionary system of skewed politics and imperious government. "Thus, they seek to turn the APC into a factory of the very political malpractices the people soundly rejected in the past election. To choke the APC in this manner is to kill the chance for progressive reform for the foreseeable future. Much more than the Ondo primary is at stake. Oyegun has revealed his teams game plan: It is the destruction of progressive politics and governance on behalf of the people. As party chairman, Oyegun was supposed to protect our internal processes and be an impartial arbiter, a person in whom all had confidence. Instead, he donned the garment of a confident man, duping the NWC, the party, and INEC in one fell blow. He has robbed APC members in Ondo State of the chance to pick in a fair manner who they believe is the best candidate. As such, he has broken faith with the party and probably has broken a few laws. The consequences of what he has done are more expansive than a man of his scope can fathom, With strong expectation, we await a response to Oyeguns wrongdoing from those who clamored so long and loudly about Tinubus alleged role in the Ondo primary. Leading into the primary, a prominent lawyer from Ondo published lengthy missives alleging that Tinubu was a malicious hand intent on rigging the primary. His letters spoke of his great love for democracy and justice. "Though Oyegun has assaulted democracy in a most public and vulgar way, this lawyers prolific pen will remain stilled. He dare not publish a word about this travesty. His silence will be sign for all who care to decipher its meaning. The plan was to point the accusing finger at Tinubu. With everyone focused on Tinubu, they would have distracted all attention from the heist they had set in motion. As fate would have it, the trickery they hoped to conduct in the shadows has come to light. Those who so actively attributed imaginary wrong to Tinubu now stand dumb and mute in the face of confirmed impropriety. They remain silent for reasons they cannot divulge. Oyegun and his ilk turn out to be gangsters adorned in the tunic of party authority. Oyegun has engaged in the strange math where five is greater than six. This smacks of how the PDP conducted its affairs and orchestrated its own downfall. Tinubu disparaged such malpractice when it was not in his party. Tinubu surely disowns it now that it has invaded the party he helped bring to fruition. Tinubu has consciously refused to hold any official position with the party to avoid the perception that he was trying to control all and sundry. Tinubu has even kept his peace for some time despite many things that happened within the party that were not quite right. He exercised this forbearance because the party is young. A collective endeavor cannot avoid the mistakes and errors of organizational newness and evolution. Yet, the wrongs Oyegun committed had nothing to do with newness or the mistakes occasioned by the path of reform. His actions are in the nature of the old wrongs that have afflicted our national politics much too long. If Oyegun wants to walk backward into the past, he has every right to it. However, he has no right to drag the party or any of us with him. Against our choosing. The informal title of national leader of the party was given to Tinubu at the onset which he accepted it as a sign from those who wished to recognize my contributions to the partys formation. "It is an honorific title which he has been proud to wear until today. I would rather not have any title yet reside in a party that honors democracy than hold a title in a party that says it honors me but that treats justice with indecency. I find greater honour and comfort where democracy and fairness are found and respected. Oyegun has done the irredeemable. His coup is an insult to party and to patriot, to reason and to the reform agenda of this government. To remain silent would be to admit the defeat of the reform and progressive change many have labored to bring forth. While the forces resistant to change and reform are strong, Tinubu dare not submit to them. "Tinubu encourages all party members not to submit to them. If we acquiesce in this wrong, the one greater than this shall cascade upon us. Oyeguns transgressions are a warning. He is but the mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways. If they get away with this infraction, no telling what or whom they will undermine tomorrow. Much is at stake. On the chopping block, lies the future of the political party in which the majority of voters had placed their confidence. To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time. "If Tinubu is to choose between John Oyegun and progress toward a better Nigeria, the choice has already been made." The company has also suffered from management turmoil since its earliest days. CNBC reported earlier on Friday, 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. Twitter shares jumped more than 20 percent to $22.46 per share on Friday on the report of sales talks, marking the largest one-day rise since their first day of trading in 2013. Twitter, which now has a market value of nearly $16 billion, has been a near-constant focus of takeover speculation amid persistently disappointing sales and user engagement. Morningstar analyst Ali Mogharabi said Alphabet would be the best acquirer for Twitter since it has not yet been able to crack social media on its own despite several efforts. "From a strategic standpoint, we think from it would be more beneficial for Alphabet as opposed to Salesforce," Mogharabi said. Morningstar estimates Twitter could be bought for $22 per share. As rivals such as Facebook's 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. The company has struggled to generate revenue growth and profits, despite having some 313 million average monthly active users and a growing presence as a source of breaking news. It grew its user base by less than 1 percent in the second quarter. Twitter missed Wall Street's sales expectations in both the first and second quarters of this year, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine, and has yet to produce a net profit in 11 quarters as a public company. As of the end of the second quarter, the company has an accumulated loss of nearly $2.3 billion since its inception. As a result, Twitter shares have struggled to retain their brief upward momentum following the company's highly anticipated initial public offering in November 2013 at $26 a share. Hattar, a Christian and an anti-Islamist activist, was arrested last month after sharing on social media a caricature depicting a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and clear his dishes. Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite Hezbollah militant group mourned Hattar as a "brave and vocal voice" against the Takfiris, a derogatory term used to describe hard-line Sunni fundamentalists such as Islamic State. Many of Jordan's conservative Muslims considered Hattar's move deeply offensive. Still, such politically motivated assassinations are rare in the U.S.-backed Arab kingdom, whose relative stability has distinguished it from war-ravaged neighbours such as Syria and Iraq. Hattar, who was also Jordan's most vocal supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was charged with contempt of religion and sowing sectarian tensions. The country's highest official religious fatwa authority criticised Hattar for what it said was the "insult to the divine entity, Islam and religious symbols". "The assailant was arrested and investigations are ongoing," Petra quoted a security source as saying, adding that the killer, who held a degree in civil engineering, had fired three shots at Hattar. Two witnesses said the gunman was wearing a traditional Arab dishashada, worn by ultra conservative Sunni Salafis who adhere to a puritanical version of Islam and shun Western lifestyles. "This killer drew his weapon from his briefcase, or the bag he was holding, and shot Nahed Hattar's chest, causing Hattar to fall to the ground. He then shot at him again, a second, third..," said Mohammad Jughbeir, who was standing close to Hattar at the time of the attack. While many Jordanians thought Hattar had crossed a red line with the caricature, some of his secular and liberal supporters said his arrest was a breach of freedom of speech. "Hattar's killing is a direct result of lack of commitment to freedom of expression by Jordanian authorities," said a statement from Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa coordinator for New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists. Hattar had apologised on social media and said he did not mean to insult God but had shared the cartoon to mock fundamentalist Sunni radicals and what he said was their vision of God and heaven. He had accused his Islamist opponents of using the cartoon to settle scores with him. Hattar was a controversial figure whose calls for depriving Jordanians of Palestinian descent their political rights had won him many enemies in a country with a large Palestinian population. The Jordanian government condemned the attack. "The law will be strictly enforced on the culprit who did this criminal act and will hit with an iron fist anyone who tries to harm state of law," government spokesman Mohammad Momani said. The fight to keep the Pahrump Town Board functioning as a legitimate government body is far from over. The fight to keep the Pahrump Town Board functioning as a legitimate government body is far from over. Town board member Dr. Tom Waters said in a prepared letter this week that a bold group of local residents have taken the effort upon themselves to begin a process to reinstate the elected town board. The process involves generating a petition drive to place a new ballot question before voters in November. They would need 2,639 signatures by the allotted deadline, Waters said. The signature total is calculated as 15 percent of the 17,589 Pahrump voters in the 2012 general election. Reinstatement could be done easily by the commissioners but that would be the will of the commissioners. The people voted in 2012 and deserve to vote again in 2014. This could, and should, be done as a will of the people, Waters said. On Wednesday, Town Board Chair Harley Kulkin met several local residents at the Nye County Clerks office to get the drive started. Kulkin said though he needed five initial signatures to begin the process, several more residents came forward and signed the petition as well. We got seven residents to start this and everybody wanted to sign it. I was here just in case there wasnt enough signatures but as it turns out, we had more than enough, he said. Local residents Marie Hibbert and William Wesley were two of the initial signers. As an 11-year resident, Hibbert said she believes local residents should have local representation from a board form of government. We voted those people in and they are speaking for us in Pahrump. The important thing is that they are here. They are in Pahrump. They are not in Tonopah and they know whats going on in town. They hear us and I want my town board. Local control is very important, Hibbert said. Williams said he signed the petition for similar reasons. The six-year resident reinforced his argument by noting the countys multi-million dollar budget shortfall this year. With the money here in Pahrump, we can keep better control rather than having Tonopah spend our tax money for whatever they have planned, he said. Waters, meanwhile, also expanded on the local control element as he used the countys argument to support his belief. We hear our commissioners struggle with the marijuana issue and continue to state, Local control is the best control. I fully agree with their statement and believe that local control of Pahrump is best implemented by a locally elected town board. Although this is not a drive by the town board or the town staff, I feel confident that they would support this petition drive. Incorporation was yet another issue Hibbert and Williams spoke out on. In fact, it was the incorporation issue that fueled the ouster of the town board. Roughly two years ago, a ballot question asked local voters whether they wished to discontinue an elected town board form of government. The question passed by a narrow margin of 231 votes. Ironically, Hibberts support of the town board does not include incorporation. I think incorporation would just ruin it for me personally. Im not for incorporation at all, but I do support the town board. I know it kind of sounds silly and a lot of people did not agree with the choices they make, but I believe theyre doing their best for our town and they do explain the situation with us, she said. Wesley, meanwhile, had a different point of view. We do need more services here in town. We need more stores and restaurants to employ people with the additional revenue for us. If it takes incorporation to do that, then I am all for it. If they can do that without incorporation thats okay too, he said. On the issue of the petitions deadline, Kulkin said hes still trying to determine when all of the signatures should be submitted to the clerks office. When I read the law, it says that you have 120 days to 180 days depending on when it falls to the next election. The next election is this November, which is more than 120 days. So with that said, we have plenty of time. The law doesnt specify you have to start January 1st or February 1st. Its just a process that starts from day one. Were not exactly clear on a deadline but we are working that all out and if we have to have a special election, so be it, he said. Kulkin also said hes working to secure various sites where those interested in signing the petition may do so. Last month, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of the county which put the governance of the town under county control effective Jan. 5, 2015. The take-a-chance stance by Davenport Schools Superintendent Art Tate in his battle with the state of Iowa over per-pupil spending so far has remained under the state's radar. Last year, Tate announced he would break state law, if necessary, to provide the students in Davenport with the public funds equal to what children in other districts are awarded. Some districts in Iowa are permitted to spend $175 more per pupil than Davenport, and Tate has said he will spend up to $175 more per student with or without the state's endorsement. With thousands of students in the district, the per-pupil allotment adds up to millions of dollars. Punishment for spending beyond the amount approved by the state isn't entirely clear, but the action very well could result in the suspension of Tate's professional license, along with that of district financial officer Marsha Tangen. "It really is too early to talk about this," Tate said Thursday. "But we are in a year where that (shortfall) will probably happen." According to Iowa Association of School Boards Chief Financial Officer Galen Howsare, districts cannot exceed spending authority by law. That authority is figured at the Iowa Department of Management, according to a formula set by the state. State finance experts check each district's budget. Davenport officials submitted their "certified financial report" last week. But the spending authority "won't be known or verified until all the financials are done for this year," Tate said. Right now, there is no violation by anyone. The time frame for finding violations or shortfalls in school budgets is mid-September through December, Howsare said. If Davenport's authority is exceeded, what could happen? While the district's case is unusual, there is an established procedure concerning the professional licenses of school officials. According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, a considerable collection of individuals can file complaints against officials such as Tate or Tangen. These include licensed practitioners employed by a school district, educational entity or recognized local or state professional organization, as well as parents or guardians of students involved in a complaint. In the past 10 years, two superintendents and one assistant business manager have had their licenses suspended or revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. In each case, they were accused of theft or of indecent sexual acts with a minor. Tate's case would break new ground. As of now, however, no action has been taken, and none appears on the horizon. Ryan Wise, director of the Iowa Department of Education in Des Moines, said there has been no conversation on the matter. "This is the first time in months we've talked about the situation in Davenport," he said in mid-September. While Wise called Davenport's case "unprecedented," he said that nothing has happened to compel the state to take action against Tate or Tangen. A professional organization, the School Administrators of Iowa in Clive, Iowa, never has taken action with the state licensing board against an administrator. "It would be odd for us to do some kind of filing," Executive Director Roark Horn said. The group essentially acts in a consultative role to its members. Iowa school districts in a negative financial situation are referred to the School Budget Review Committee, of which Wise is the non-voting chairman. The committee considers each district's situation individually and decides whether to allow it to increase its spending level. Every year, some of Iowa's school districts are in a negative financial situation. Last year, 11 districts sought relief through the review committee, but none was in an urban area, said Tom Cooley, bureau chief in the state education department. Tate said if school districts overspend in Iowa, "and that happens a lot," then district officials get warning letters from the Iowa Department of Education, notifying them there's not enough "unspent balance" in their plan. "If it indicates we have gone into our reserves, then the state might warn us or might ask us for our plan, rather than putting us in jail or taking my license," he said. "After that, we'd have to respond to them." SPRINGFIELD A judge issued a ruling this month that reads as scathing indictment of the way his state funds and oversees public education. To keep its promise of adequate schools for all children, the state must rally more forcefully around troubled schools, the judge wrote, later adding, The distance between the rich and poor students in this state is great enough to remove any doubt about the importance of being careful to send money where it is most needed. Its a message that may sound familiar to anyone whos been following the debate over public school funding in Illinois for the past several years, but the words were written by Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher. At the end of an 11-year legal battle, Moukawsher gave his states Legislature 180 days to overhaul many aspect of its education system, including the way it distributes money to local schools. The Kansas Supreme Court, which previously ruled its states funding scheme unconstitutional, recently heard arguments in an ongoing lawsuit, and the high courts in Pennsylvania and Washington each heard similar cases in the prior two weeks. The Washington Supreme Court ruled that states funding plan unconstitutional in 2012. Aside from the court proceedings, these states have something in common: They all do a better job than Illinois of providing equitable funding for high-poverty school districts. Illinois has the widest gap between total state and local money spent per student in its poorest districts compared with its wealthiest, according to a 2015 study by The Education Trust. As a bipartisan commission that Gov. Bruce Rauner assembled works on a proposed funding overhaul, these court decisions offer a glimpse of what could be in store for Illinois if the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the Republican governor fail to reach an agreement. I think you would only logically come to the conclusion that Illinois is primed for that type of a decision, said state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, a leading voice for Senate Democrats on education funding reform. Because if its bad in Kansas, its awful in Illinois in the eyes of a court. Thats why we ought to try to proactively address the issue as a Legislature. Illinois suit pending The possibility of a court decision in Illinois isnt purely hypothetical. A lawsuit from the Chicago Urban League challenging the funding formula has been pending since 2008 in Cook County Circuit Court. But members of the governors commission, including Manar, say the group has been finding common ground on an issue that can divide lawmakers along both partisan and regional lines. Whether or not this translates into an actual piece of legislation remains to be seen, Manar said. But I think there is broad consensus that distribution of state funds the formula should recognize the unique needs of every school district, which we dont do today. And recognition of that is a victory. Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, a leader on education funding for Senate Republicans and another commission member, said he sees broad agreement forming around the so-called evidence-based model, which would use measures such as class sizes and the number of students who require special education services to determine how much money each district receives. The group also seems to recognize the need to pay special attention to districts with high concentrations of poverty, Barickman said. Funding overhaul If you can have an agreement as to what the model is and how youre going to handle issues like poverty, then you move to, really, the tougher policy choices, he said, such as whether student performance will be part of the funding equation and how local property tax revenue should factor in. The commission met Wednesday and reviewed the various funding proposals that circulated in the Legislature this spring and the plan that was ultimately approved, which kept the current formula but pumped in more than $600 million in additional funding to give a boost to high-poverty schools and make sure that no district received less than it did the previous year. The group is slated to take up property taxes at its Oct. 5 meeting. One topic the commission, composed almost entirely of lawmakers, has yet delved into is the politics of passing a school funding overhaul, including provisions that prevent school districts from losing money as a result. But Beth Purvis, the Rauner education secretary whos heading the commission, said the time for that conversation will come. Ignoring the political components of the discussion sort of defeats the purpose of having a council that is overwhelmingly members of the General Assembly, Purvis said at Wednesdays meeting. Meanwhile, Rauner said last week that he hopes the commission can beat the Feb. 1 deadline he set for it complete its work. Id like to have that be part of our grand compromise, if we can, on a budget, Rauner said. I think that would be the right time to do that. DES MOINES Candidates across the state are knocking on doors and speaking at forums, seeking a seat in the Iowa Capitol for next years session of the Iowa Legislature. Critical election races will help determine who controls the agenda when legislators resume their work in January. That's especially true for seats in the Iowa Senate, where going into the election, Democrats occupy just two more seats than Republicans. With the Nov. 8 election in mind, here are some of the top issues that legislators will face in 2017. Water quality Legislators in 2016 were unable to agree on a way to fund water quality improvement projects, so the task falls on the next session to continue the effort. The state needs $4 billion to fully fund a plan to reduce pollutants in its waterways. The federal government has ordered the state to take action because those pollutants are flowing into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, where they are killing marine life. Adding attention to the issue is a lawsuit brought by a Des Moines water utility that claims it incurs extra costs to clean water for its customers because of pollutants introduced into the Raccoon River by drainage districts in three northwest Iowa counties. Gov. Terry Branstad made water quality a top priority during his condition of the state address to legislators prior to the 2016 session, but no action was taken after legislators could not agree on a funding mechanism. Branstad proposes splitting future revenue from the school infrastructure sales tax with water quality efforts. Republicans in charge of the House proposed shifting money from other sources to water quality projects. Democrats in charge of the Senate did not act on any proposals. Support from interest groups continues to build for a sales tax increase to fund a natural resources trust fund created by voter approval in 2010. The trust fund would be devoted to a variety of natural resources programs, including those designed to improve water quality. But strong opposition to a tax increase remains. Legislators have heard a growing uproar over the lack of action over drinking and recreation waters. Iowans want more than a drop in the bucket solutions, they want to see measurable water quality improvements, Ralph Rosenberg, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, said in an emailed statement. The council is among the groups calling for the sales tax increase to finance the trust fund. (The trust fund) provides sustainable funding to support Iowas diverse natural resources that is immediate and accountable. We cannot wait. Medicaid oversight Legislators will be involved in oversight of the new private management of the states $5 billion Medicaid program. In 2016, Branstad transferred management of the Medicaid program to three private health care companies, saying the move would provide better care options, more efficient service for recipients and save money for the state. Branstad maintains the transition has been successful, but some patients say they are losing services, and providers say they are not being adequately reimbursed. Well be talking about oversight because (the transition) has not gone smoothly, said Rhonda Shouse, an advocate from Marion. I think oversight is definitely the top thing we will be talking about (with legislators). Education funding More than half of the states general fund goes to funding for public schools, including K-12 schools and the states regent universities. And legislators in recent years have engaged in many a contentious debate over those funding levels. In addition to haggling over general funding levels, legislators will face other public school funding issues. Many school districts want legislators to alter the states school funding formula because of inequities in permitted per-pupil spending levels and transportation costs. Schools are set to start a summer reading program to help prevent struggling readers catch up and avoid having to repeat early grades. Theres a bottom, baseline funding that affects all students across Iowa that has been insufficient, Tammy Wawro, president of the Iowa State Education Association said about general state aid. And then theres our children who are in our most needy areas who need some extra help and extra support. School choice proponents in recent years have proposed increasing tax credits for tuition assistance and creating education savings accounts. And the board that governs the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa has asked for additional funding to help keep tuition from increasing. Medical cannabis Advocates for an expanded medical cannabis program in Iowa have put heavy pressure on legislators in recent years; that is likely to continue in 2017, when the current, limited program is scheduled to expire. Current law allows parents to possess cannabidiol, a medicinal byproduct of the marijuana plant, to treat children who suffer from epileptic seizures. But it is challenging for parents to acquire cannabidiol, because many states that produce the product do not allow sales to non-residents and it is against federal law to carry the product across state lines. Advocates of an expanded program want the state to permit the growth, production and sale of cannabidiol. They also want more medical issues to be covered by the law, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and others. Opponents say there is insufficient evidence to support cannabidiol as a medicinal product. We have to have something new to protect the kids with epilepsy that are already seeing great results. They obviously still need access, Sally Gaer, a West Des Moines advocate whose daughter suffers from epilepsy, said while calling for a more expansive program that treats more ailments and allows for the product to be produced and distributed in Iowa. Tax policy Tight state budgets have prevented much in tax policy changes since the landmark commercial and industrial property tax reform approved in 2013. Legislators in 2016 debated whether the state should tweak its tax laws to match changes made to federal tax laws. Ultimately, legislators did make the changes to state tax laws, which are known as coupling, and prevented an additional $95 million in taxes from being levied on farmers, small business owners and teachers who expected the tweaks. The coupling debate could return in 2017. Republicans in recent years have proposed broad income tax policy reform, including a simplified state tax code that would cut rates to 20 percent across the board or a two-tiered system that would allow taxpayers to file under the current structure or under a flat rate different proposals in recent years have been 4.5 percent and 5 percent with few or no deductions. Opponents, mostly Democrats, to that brand of tax reform cite a concern for the lost state revenue, which could affect program funding. The Iowa Taxpayers Association, in conjunction with the national Tax Foundation, this summer published a report that detailed other potential tax policy changes. Jeff Smith, president and CEO of the association, said his group is aware of the states budget constraints and will suggest to legislators tax structure changes rather than tax cuts. Our focus is not so much on tax cuts, but more on tax structure, trying to make the code more simpler and more fair across the board, Smith said. Budget neutral, I think at least initially is going to be a key factor if any tax discussion is even going to be brought to the table. For Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, the equation is simple. "If our lives matter," he said, why aren't the state of Iowa and the United States investing dollars where they need to be truly invested: education. Abdul-Samad was the keynote speaker Saturday at the 98th annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Dinner held at the Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University, Davenport. The event was hosted by the MetroCom NAACP Unit 4019, Davenport. The theme of the night was "Our Lives Matter, Our Vote Counts," with more than 300 people attending the event. As a nation, Abdul-Samad said, We invest in our cellphones and in our cars and in all this technology. We have cars that can drive themselves. But we are not making an investment where it matters. We have neglected investment in what matters most, and that is the lives of our youth. Speaking before the banquet, he said, Ive been saying this for 40 years: We need to develop our children. We cannot be hoodwinked and bamboozled by those who tell us what defines success or what signifies success. When were ready to make an investment in education and into what needs to be done for our youth, then we can say that our lives matter. Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, concurred with her colleague. Go onto any junior high or high school campus and you see all these kids with their cellphones, Thede said. They are disconnected from society. Theyre coming out of high school without the social skills which are necessary for work. Our kids are trying to enter the job market and theyre not prepared. It costs $75,000 to put a kid through school from first grade through high school, she said. Thats an investment, but you get it back within two or three years because they have the skills to get a job, to have a career. But just as important as money, said Davenport School Board member Clyde Mayfield, is the time people can give to help guide and mentor youth. Time is the most valuable asset, Mayfield said. Yes, we need money for education, but it all doesnt come down to dollars and cents. I dont think our society invests enough time in our kids. We need people who will build a relationship with them and give them the guidance they need. Davenport NAACP first vice president Larry Roberson, a former member of the Davenport School Board, said that more money is spent building prisons than investing in education. Rarely will you see someone who has graduated from high school and is ready for work land in prison, Roberson said. Just throw video games and the trappings of technology at youth without providing that education and guidance, Roberson said, Then theyll turn to the video games or the street for guidance. We need to let the kids know that we care about them and their future. As a Davenport Community School District parent, I applaud the efforts of Superintendent Art Tate and faculty and staff to close the achievement gap, as reported in the Sept. 9 Quad-City Times. Achievement gaps are real, and virtually always reflect the profound impacts of poverty. Community outreach and the creation of mentoring programs must be a major part of this effort, as Tate emphasized. I am concerned about the emphasis the superintendent placed on improving standardized test scores; our questions about improving school, and ultimately, life experiences for students impacted by poverty must go much further. Standardized tests cant tell us, they are not designed to tell us, much about the vital abilities and dispositions that students develop as a result of their school experiences. Over the past decade at least, Davenport school officials have placed far too much emphasis on purchasing and implementing scripted curricula and the development of standard district assessments that focus on reading and math mechanics and memorized information, in a narrow effort to improve test scores. Sadly, our students become bored and frustrated with the dullness and relentless drilling that these programs bring. We must trust our teachers to make the critical decisions regarding instruction and assessment, rather than shackling them with rigid, canned-programs, and we must create open lines of communication between schools and parents, which seems to be having an impact in the Sioux City school district. A preoccupation with raising test scores will do little to address the real issues behind the achievement gap. Mike Schroeder Davenport Another stalwart business in the Omaha Street-Cambell Street corridor is heading for wider-open spaces. A couple weeks ago, Wade Rice of Rice Honda-Suzuki-Victory detailed plans for the motorcycle and UTV dealer to move to a new facility to be built next to Cabelas on East Mall Drive. Now Eddies Truck Center at 1002 E. Omaha St. is clearing ground for a new location on Elk Vale Road, next to the La Grand Station convenience store and Call of the Wild Museum. Truck Center manager Jon Gillam said the move, probably coming about a year from now, will mean improved service space, a larger parts department and easier access for the big rigs they sell and service. Gillam said the new facility will include 44,000 square feet on 10 acres. The location will be more convenient for our customers here in the community. Its tough access where were at for large trucks and trailers. Well be a lot easier to access off the interstate as well for folks driving through, Gillam said. Eddies got its start at the four-acre Omaha Street location as a recreational vehicle dealership started by Eddie Rypkema, brother of Milo Rypkema, longtime owner of the neighboring Dodge Town auto dealership. Eddies later added sales and service of semi-tractors and trailers, but will still service RVs even though they dont sell them, Gillam said. Eddies Truck Center also has a location in Ft. Pierre. In 2013, the Rypkema family sold the business to Floyds Truck Center based in Scottsbluff, Neb., and also with locations in Sydney, Neb., and Cheyenne, Wyo., Gillam is great-grandson of Floyds Truck Center founder Floyd Gillam, who started the business as a small truck and farm machinery repair shop in Scottsbluff. OfficeMax closing Signs went up late last week announcing a closing sale for the Rapid City OfficeMax at 1825 Haines Ave. next to Shopko. Office Max and Office Depot completed a merger in 2013 and the closure is part of the companys three-year strategy to make its store footprint more efficient, according to an email from Office Depot spokeswoman Julianne Embry. Approximately 300 Office Depot and OfficeMax stores will be shuttered in North America by 2018, Embry said. The Rapid City store will continue a closing sale until Nov. 12. Rapid Citys Office Depot at 1331 W. Omaha St. will remain open, or customers may shop for their office supplies at officedepot.com, she said. Sears, Kmart cuts The Associated Press is reporting another round of closings for Sears and Kmart stores across the nation. The list of 64 stores to be shuttered by mid-December includes locations in Sioux Falls, Scottsbluff, Neb., and Kearney, Neb., along with Wyoming stores in Riverton and Cody. Final clearance sales began on Thursday. Rapid Citys Kmart at 1111 E. North St., in the Northgate Shopping Center, is not on the list. The move follows the closure of 78 Sears and Kmart stores announced earlier this year, including Kmart stores in Huron and Yankton. A Spearfish Kmart closed late last year, with the space taken over by Bomgaars. Kmart stores remain open in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. Another Culvers? Not so fast Thats the word on the streets after last weeks demolition of the former location of Colonial House Restaurant, which moved farther north on Mount Rushmore Road. The property was purchased at auction by Millstone LLC. Jerry Scriver of Rapid City owns the franchises for both Millstone family restaurants and Culvers in the area. The city issued a demolition permit for the restaurant building and strip mall late in August and the buildings were torn down. Those buildings were old and needed to come down, Scriver said. But dont make plans to get a Culvers Butterburger or frozen custard dessert on the southside just yet. Scriver and Rapid City Culvers co-owner Guy Mann arent ready to divulge plans for the property quite yet, but that hasnt stopped the rumor mill from churning, with another Culvers apparently being at the center of speculation. I did hear from Paul Pitas, director of public relations and communications for the Prairie du Sac, Wisc., restaurant chain, who confirmed that an existing franchisee has an interest in establishing a Culvers in Rapid City, but plans are in what he called the very preliminary stages. I do not believe that a site has been selected or approved, Pitas said. Longtime business owner dies Longtime downtown business owner Kenneth S. Kenny Kingsbury, 73, died recently. Ken and his wife, Shirley, either owned or were involved with Whos Hobby House and several other downtown businesses since 1978, when they took over the hobby shop from Kens dad, Archie Kingsbury, who had owned the store since 1959. Their son, Clancy Kingsbury, along with his wife, Somer, now run Whos at 715 Main St., along with Whos Toy House and Whos Game House within The Shops at Main Street Square. Ken and Shirley had been scaling back their Creative Art & Frame shop next door to Whos Hobby, but had planned to keep their Black Hills Jewelers Supply and Black Hills Prospectors Supply operating there when Ken was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease, last November, said Clancy. Clancy said his fathers disease was advancing, but Kens death, coming in his sleep on Sept. 16, still came too soon. The art and frame, jewelers supply and prospecting shop at 717 Main St., remains closed because of Kens death. A new menu is popping up in Rapid City and some of the featured items include Creole spiced beans, Hawaiian chicken wraps, Cuban sandwiches and spiced pears. But these offerings aren't from a new restaurant. Rather, the dishes are all items on the Rapid City Area Schools new breakfast and lunch menu. The changes are part of an effort to offer healthy food that students will actually eat, while also meeting federal regulations for the school breakfast and lunch programs as stated in the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, said Janelle Peterson, student nutrition manager for RCAS. To improve the schools' food offerings, Peterson brought in Chef Cyndie Story and Chef Garrett Berdan, culinary nutritional consultants specializing in K-12 food production and safety, to train 80 kitchen staff in August. They taught knife skills to use with fruit and vegetables, to cut them in a way that kids might enjoy them better, Peterson said. We eat with our eyes first, so it should be appealing. Amber Foster, food service manager at Stevens High School, and Susan Jubie, a cook at the high school, said the new knife techniques have helped the kitchen staff cut down on the time needed for prepping vegetables. The chefs also focused on teaching new recipes to the staff by having them practice cooking and trying them during the training. One of the new menu items is Fiesta Mac and Cheese, an updated version of mac and cheese, prepared with black beans and fresh veggies. It might be a bit different than what kids are used to, Peterson said, but were trying to help kids realize they need to eat lots of veggies. And this dish holy Toledo, it has a little spicy kick to it. The kids will like it. New flavor stations at Stevens and Central high schools offer items such as salsa and give students more options to go with their meats, grains, and vegetables. Our students tastes are expanding, Peterson said. They can pick and choose everything when they eat out. Were schoolifying it: meeting federal requirements like portion sizes, sodium levels, and calorie content, but allowing them to create what they like. Another requirement of the school nutrition program is serving a certain amount of fruit and vegetables each day and including weekly offerings of dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli. And although it can be a challenge to get the students to eat fruit and vegetables, Peterson hopes to change that by offering fresh fruit, instead of canned syrupy fruit, and introducing the students to bitter vegetables, like broccoli, after it has been blanched and lost its bitterness. Were also fueling lifelong healthy eating habits. And fruits and vegetables keep the students full, they are able to perform better and they have increased concentration, Peterson said. Foster and Jubie said they have already received positive feedback from the students on the new menu items, such as the turkey pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. But they also added that the sweet potatoes havent had the same success. They say it takes 12 to 15 exposures to get used to a new food, said Peterson, adding that exposure to new food has to happen at home too. To encourage community involvement in healthy eating habits, the school district will be posting recipes and menu ideas on the RCAS website, public.rcas.org/Pages/Default.aspx, and Facebook page. MANDAN, N.D. | An oil pipeline protester from South Dakota who inspired a rally after she was arrested and jailed in North Dakota has been moved to Nebraska to face another criminal complaint. Forty-two-year-old Olowan Martinez was arrested Sept. 13 for criminal trespass during a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline. Earlier this week, about 300 people showed up outside the Morton County Jail in Mandan to appeal for her release. They held up a large sign that read "Free Olowan." Some called out to her in the jail. The Bismarck Tribune reports the North Dakota arrest triggered a warrant from Nebraska, where Martinez was wanted on charges of making terroristic threats, theft and criminal mischief. Martinez was released on $10,000 bond after making her initial appearance Thursday in Sheridan County, Nebraska. 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. BELLE FOURCHE | The state board that oversees water projects traveled 110 years into the past Thursday to see how a feat of agricultural engineering in the dry terrain of Butte County continues helping produce crops where they wouldnt grow otherwise. The Belle Fourche irrigation district supplies water during tough times of the growing season to more than 57,000 acres of private farms and ranches. The water comes from across the Indian Creek watershed, is collected at Orman Dam and, when needed, is turned loose through 450 miles of canals that deliver it to select spots to flood the land or, increasingly, be pumped through modern irrigation pivots. For a century, the district employed ditch-riders men on horseback and later using vehicles to adjust dozens of gates numerous times each day to coordinate where and when the water flowed. In the past 10 years, automation became the new method used to run the gates system and to collect data on water levels. The districts manager, Bill Anderson, whose farm is more than six miles away from the dam, or a consulting engineer can look at the numbers on a computer screen or a smart phone and make decisions and adjustments. The seven ditch-riders now focus on checking with the districts customers to see whether theyre receiving the right amounts of water at the right times to make their operations successful. The Belle Fourche project came together during a time when the U.S. government still thought almost anything possible of America. The federal Bureau of Reclamation set forth to build dams across the American west in an attempt to conserve water and make the land more attractive to settlement by farmers and ranchers. Crews built many of the key pieces of Orman Dam, the Belle Fourche reservoir and the canal system prior to 1910, hauling supplies including heavy iron many miles across the prairie, mixing concrete in the field for the control structure, surveying the expanse on foot and erecting the huge wall of earth that still stands as the dam itself. The missing piece in the plan was money to use in the future for removing the silt that would be washed into the reservoir and form berms of dirt dozens of feet high under water around the two intakes. There also wasnt money set aside for other rehabilitation that would be necessary through the decades or for converting to a more effective method of distributing the water at its final destination than simply flooding a field at the high end and letting gravity carry the water to the opposite end. Approximately 200 miles of drainage canals had to be constructed in about 1920, a decade after the project was running, to carry that leftover water away. They ran like the Little Missouri River all summer long, Anderson told the tour group of state board members and their professional staff from the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Thats the pollution in the Belle Fourche watershed, he said. In the past decade a variety of federal and state offices, participating landowners and others have invested nearly $30 million into a range of improvements and rehabilitation work. The state board granted $2.5 million and loaned another $2.5 million to the irrigation district to build two new gatehouses atop the dam the old ones were constructed in 1910 and to run modern pipes known as siphons through the base of the dam carrying the water from the intakes to the canals. The money also went to replacing a third siphon that pipes water underground to cross the Belle Fourche River so the flow can reach one of the districts many remote areas. The state assistance also helps pay for the dredging that is about to commence at one of the intakes. About 36,000 cubic yards of silt is to be removed. That silt washes into the reservoir in two ways. Much of it simply results from erosion at the ranches across the Indian Creek watershed during rains and snow. The reservoir also sees another big charge of dirt come when a load of water is released from Keyhole Reservoir in Wyoming. Approximately $24 million has been spent across the Indian Creek watershed to help ranchers adjust their operations through what are known as best management practices. This is everyday conservation on the ground. Every shovel of dirt that doesnt wash off the land is one less shovel clogging the reservoir. In the days of ditch-riders running the gates, water took three days to get from the dam to the farthest farms and ranches in the system. Now, with the automation, the water needs just one day and the losses of water are cut in half. Jared Oswald is the projects consultant from the RESPEC engineering firm. He said theres now automation at some 60 spots along the canal network. Combined with the increasing popularity of pivots to spread the water through the air across field, the system now is much more efficient, he said. He told the story of a tough summer when the districts members wanted to draw the reservoir nearly dry. But they couldnt get the last 11 percent of the water out of the reservoir because of the berms of silt surrounding the intakes. The silt became an unintended dam blocking the water from getting to the intakes. Amid all of the recent investments in restoring the system came serious interest from the state Game, Fish & Parks Department in making the reservoir a destination for people who enjoy the outdoors. The state Parks and Recreation Division built campgrounds, installed a wide ramp for launching multiple boats simultaneously and now requires a daily fee or annual entrance sticker to visit whats called Rocky Point. On the first evening of fall Thursday, camping trailers dotted the several grounds. No one appeared to be fishing or boating, but there is a grocery and bait business that caters to campers and anglers and provides storage for boats and camping vehicles at the corner of Fisherman Road and U.S. Highway 212. The project went through many chapters during the past century, including service as CCC work camp during the Depression and a prisoner of war camp during World War II. There was a long stretch when the dominant crop was beets, but the processing factory is long gone from Belle Fourche. More than 480 individual farmers get water from the district today. They mostly grow alfalfa with some corn, wheat and barley. The system allocates 20 inches of water annually for them in an area where natural precipitation averages 13 inches. Near the dam is a historical display with a row of information panels attached to small boulders. The road across the top of the dam is closed to civilian traffic and the road gates are chain-locked shut. But there is a road by which people can visit the bottom of the dam and the start of the canal system, where a sign warns of turbulent water when the releases are flowing from the reservoir. The reservoirs popularity can also be seen in the fire rings that people have constructed on the beach on the reservoir side of the dam now that the water is low. During spring and early summer that stretch would be deep under water. For many of the state board members, such as chairman Brad Johnson of Watertown, the visit Thursday marked their first time at the reservoir and irrigation system, even though its within a half-hour drive from Spearfish through Belle Fourche on main highways. Its good for us to get out and see some of these projects, Johnson said. Gov. Dennis Daugaard will be the main speaker at the Belle Fourche "Rail Ready for Business" grand opening celebration Thursday, Oct. 6, according to Belle Fourche Development Corporation executive director Hollie Stalder. Stalder said the public is welcome to attend the grand opening for Western South Dakota's new rail access at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at Permian Tank, 1125 Bonanza Street in the Belle Fourche Industrial & Rail Park. "Gov. Daugaard and the Governor's Office of Economic Development have been very supportive of our community efforts that brought us a state-certified 'Site Ready' industrial park with unique rail access for our entire area," Stalder said. Senator John Thune's West River director, Qusi Al-Haj, will bring home the rail transportation highlights from the national level and RCP&E general manager, Blake Jones, will highlight how manufacturing and rail complement each other and serve our region. Stalder said the development corporation and RCP&E have scheduled a special event to showcase the new rail siding being ready for business which includes the train making a grand entrance. The event is part of overall Belle Fourche participation in the GOED celebration of manufacturing in the state during the 4th annual South Dakota Manufacturing Week Oct. 3 through 7. In Belle Fourche and Butte County, some 30 manufacturers make a significant impact to the local economy from products they create to employment opportunities they provide. To name a few, those manufacturers include New Generation Feeds, Design Steel, Pipeline Plastics, Gillette Fence, Permian Tank, Rabers Welding, Ring Containers, and EZ Fabrication have have a customer base not just regionally, but nationally and some internationally. Two major bentonite mining and manufacturing firms are also local employers and significant users of rail that help support daily rail service to the Northern Hills community. Stalder said that GOED is actively promoting the Belle Fourche Industrial & Rail Park because of its unique advantages. It not only is "shovel ready" with streets and utilities, it is closely connected with a transportation network that includes highway 85, 212, 34 and is within minutes of Interstate 90. The rail also offers national and international rail access with connections to Europe, Asia, central and South America. Statewide, she said, "GOED statistics show that show that the 1,114 manufacturing businesses in South Dakota make up 42,592 manufacturing jobs with an average annual wage of $45,433." Belle Fourche Development Corporation is partnered with the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the impact these manufacturers have and the impact the new rail facility will have. Stalder said the chamber is planning tours of other Belle Fourche manufacturers following Thursday's program at the Industrial Rail Park. Dale McPherson, 86, believes some of the best people in the area are stationed at Ellsworth Air Force base. McPherson was born and raised on a ranch just outside Rapid City, and says he sometimes hears people complaining about those stationed at the base. But he has first hand experience on more than one occasion that the opposite is true. On a recent Thursday after a fun night out at Main Street Square with his wife Dorothy, they were carrying their lawn chairs and pillows to the car when a young man came out of nowhere and offered to help. "He just stopped me and said, 'Hey, let me carry those pillows for you.' I told him thank you and that I was almost to the car, but thanks," McPherson said. The young man then went to help Dorothy carry her pillows, and she obliged. "I just thought it was nice of him," McPherson said. "He doesn't know us. It doesn't make any difference to him." McPherson said he wanted to get this story out because he believes if more good news goes out in the world, it might inspire more people to do good things. And, in a year and time where he said it seems society gets more troubled every day, he remains unapologetically optimistic. "You hear a lot of the bad news and bad stuff, especially about young people today, but there's a lot of good too," McPherson said. "There is still more good than bad." Yoga for a cause A local yoga event this weekend will benefit the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25, the community is invited to attend an all-levels yoga practice "to ground into peace, love and kindness in breath, body and actions," according to a release from Vibrant Life Yoga & Pilates. Everyone is welcome, regardless of experience or skill level. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. The event is organized by Vibrant Life Yoga & Pilates and Jackalope, who hope to raise $1,000 for the mission. We chose the Cornerstone Rescue Mission as our beneficiary because of their holistic approach to tackling the issue of homelessness in Rapid City, said Jason Alley, proprietor of Jackalope, and co-visionary for the fundraiser. The event will be on the Pennington County Courthouse lawn. If there is inclement weather, the event will relocate to the Vibrant Life Yoga studio at 1002 Jackson Blvd. in Rapid City. This class is being offered for free, with a suggested donation of $10-$15. One hundred percent of the donations will go to the mission. Help for flood victims Another Rapid City man has deployed to volunteer in the flood-stricken state of Louisiana. According to the American Red Cross, Jacob Seidel deployed recently as a disaster mental health volunteer to Louisiana as families begin the recovery process from last month's extreme flooding. Seidel, a new volunteer for the Red Cross, will help with emotional support and provide coping tips on moving through the clean-up process. Another Rapid City man, Ken Michaelson, deployed as a volunteer to Louisiana in August. The unnamed storm, which deluged Louisiana with nearly 7 trillion gallons of rain, is the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, according to the Red Cross. Diapers needed Volunteers will kick off National Diaper Need Awareness Week, which is Sept. 26 to Oct. 2. To kick off the national awareness campaign, Volunteers of America will hold an event at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 26 at Mommy's Closet in Rapid City. A news release from VOA says Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender will read a proclamation, and VOA Program Director Kelly Folsom will present information about Mommy's Closet and their participation in the National Diaper Bank. This event will serve as the official start for VOA's Bottle Drive a fundraising event for Mommy's Closet. The drive collects spare change in bottles across the Rapid City community, and will end at the inaugural Soup for a Cause dinner on Nov. 10 at the Central States Fairground. Its a safe bet that neither John P. Plunkett nor Edward Lynch will show up to defend their water rights when a state board considers terminating them later this year. Thats because Plunkett and Lynch are dead and have been for a long time. Yet their joint rights to divert water from Rapid Creek live on, because they obtained the rights in 1896, more than a decade before the government of South Dakota began regulating the use of water. The grandfathered status of the old Plunkett-Lynch water rights means they are still technically in force, as are 437 other sets of water rights filed prior to the adoption of state water-use laws in 1907. Many of the rights are for large amounts of water, and some are attached to famous names like Seth Bullock, the legendary lawman of the Deadwood gold-rush era who still technically owns a water right on the Redwater River in Butte County. One modern expert refers to the pre-regulatory water rights as ghost claims, and their potential to haunt modern water management is highlighted by the Plunkett-Lynch case. The case could soon be the subject of an adversarial hearing involving state regulators who want to cancel the water rights and a local rancher, Richard Rausch, who wants to keep the rights attached to the land he leases. If Rausch can prove his claim to the water rights, he could gain access to a volume of water that is greater than the entire flow of the creek in some dry years. And the water right's effective date of 1896 would put Rausch at the front of the priority line, ahead of later rights issued to other users, during periods of low water. 'Absurd and speculative claims' It was 1891, just two years after South Dakota statehood, when Plunkett and Lynch first filed their water-rights claim on Rapid Creek about 20 miles southeast of Rapid City. Some errors in the language of the original document led them to refile it in 1896. In that 1896 document, which was recorded by the Pennington County Register of Deeds, Plunkett and Lynch formalized their intention to dig a ditch and divert water for milling, manufacturing, irrigating, domestic and other useful purposes. The two men must have liked what they saw in the clear and cool waters of Rapid Creek, which tumbles out of the Black Hills, runs onto the plains and dumps into the Cheyenne River near the edge of the Badlands. Plunkett and Lynch laid claim to 1,000 miners inches of water, which equates to nearly 9,000 gallons per minute. Thats about half the entire flow of the creek in a typical year, according to modern data collected from less than a mile upstream. By the time the Legislature passed laws in 1907 requiring state-issued permits for future water rights, there were already hundreds of locally recorded rights in county courthouses. Most were in the West River region, where farmers needed irrigation to overcome a dearth of rain and prospectors searched for gold in streams. The job of sorting through those pre-existing water-rights fell to the newly created position of state engineer, filled by Samuel Lea. He began collecting documents from county officials, and he went out to inspect local water-rights claims and found many were for huge amounts of water. The natural tendency was to make the claim large enough to cover all possible requirements, and in most cases greater than there was any expectation of using, Lea wrote in a 1908 report. This resulted in many instances in absurd and speculative claims, and the records show numerous cases where each of a number of claims to the water of a stream, filed in accordance with the former statutes, involved a larger quantity of water than had ever flowed in it, even during flood periods. Lea suspected many of the old claims were abandoned and could be legally terminated. In this way the records show a large number of appropriations of water which are no longer valid, Lea wrote, but which will require careful investigation to separate from those remaining in full force and effect. Lea got busy with other duties that fell to his new and growing office, and much of the careful investigation of old water rights that he proposed apparently never occurred. Eric Gronlund, who works in the modern Water Rights Program of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said his office tries to chip away at the ghost claims when it can. But the office has an even bigger backlog of modern permits, which constitute permission for an applicant to develop a water right. If development occurs, the state is supposed to conduct a re-inspection for the potential issuance of a water license. There are now nearly 2,000 permits lingering in the state water-rights database, including modern permits and the pre-regulatory ghost claims. Gronlund said the state has hired two water-rights inspectors to attack the backlog. The last two or three years, we have been making a concerted effort to get on that list and work toward reducing it, Gronlund said. Old claim unearthed It was that effort to attack the permit backlog that resurrected the names of Plunkett and Lynch. The dead pioneers water rights are located on land alongside Rapid Creek that was acquired decades later by Victor Bollmann, of Wisconsin. He leased the land to local rancher Richard Rausch. Bollmann obtained his own Rapid Creek water-use permit from the state in 1975, and the state conducted a licensing inspection last month. The state inspector learned that Victor had died and passed the land to his sons, Richard and Robert, also of Wisconsin. So, the inspector sent the Bollmanns a letter advising them to file an ownership-change document so the licensing of their water permit could proceed. Meanwhile, the state inspector discovered the old Plunkett-Lynch water rights assigned to the Bollmanns land. The inspector determined that the ancient water rights were never developed or were abandoned long ago. An old newspaper legal advertisement indicates that financial problems might have prevented Plunkett and Lynch from digging or maintaining their proposed irrigation ditch. The pair took on several loans from Illinois lenders in 1893 and eventually defaulted; by 1906, the loans were foreclosed and some Rapid City real estate used as collateral was put up for sale to cover the debts. All of that water had long since gone under the proverbial bridge by the time a state water-rights inspector visited Rausch in August to talk about the Plunkett-Lynch water rights. According to the inspectors written report, Rausch, whos rented land from the Bollmann family since 1982, was not aware of the old water rights and consented to their cancellation. A state Water Management Board hearing for that purpose was scheduled for Oct. 8. Then, on Sept. 8, Rausch notified the states Water Rights Program that he had changed his mind. If given the chance, wrote Rausch, who declined an interview request from the Journal, we would do what is required to keep the 1896 water rights in place. Rauschs change of heart triggered an automatic postponement of the hearing until November or December. In the meantime, if he hopes to keep the Plunkett-Lynch water rights, he has some work to do. David Ganje, a local attorney who specializes in natural-resource cases but is not involved in the Plunkett-Lynch matter, said Rausch will have to show a chain of land ownership stretching from the Bollmanns back to Plunkett and Lynch. Rausch must also produce evidence from the past that he intended to keep the old water rights proof of digging or piping projects, letters of inquiry to engineers about potential irrigation work, etc. Experts urges caution by state Given Rauschs reported admission that he was not aware of the old water rights until the state brought them to his attention, he could face long odds. State regulators, meanwhile, are getting a preview of the legal thicket that could await them if they try to purge other ghost claims. Ganje used the phrase ghost claims to describe pre-1907 water rights. He said state regulators should be careful about how they treat the old claims, because water rights are property rights, and anyone with a claim to property is entitled to certain constitutional protections. In a ghost-claim case, Ganje said, the passage of so many decades makes it possible that people unknown to state regulators could have a claim to the water rights. If those people are not properly notified, they could eventually claim their property rights were violated. Ganje noted that the state very nearly canceled the Plunkett-Lynch water rights after limited communication with a few people and a notice published in a newspaper. Instead, Ganje proposed, the state should work through the courts to serve formal notices on people potentially affected by a water-rights cancellation. Doing otherwise, Ganje said, could put state regulators at risk of improperly taking someones property. They have a tendency to short-circuit the process sometimes, and that likely happens if the state continues to do more of these ancient water-rights claim recoveries, most of which are probably abandoned, Ganje said. I accept that most of them are probably abandoned, but I dont accept that all of them are. Its not only the potential owners of ghost claims that could be affected. Applications for new water rights could also be affected, because state regulators have to determine how much unclaimed water is available before issuing new permits. If a large amount of water is tied up in a ghost claim, the state might have to go through the process of canceling the ghost claim, and the new applicant could be made to wait while that happens. So there is an incentive to clean up these old claims and recover them, Ganje said. But I just want it done right. Nothing kicks off fall like pumpkins flying through the air. That was the sight that greeted the crowds who gathered Saturday in Rapid City's downtown Memorial Park for this year's Pumpkin Chuckin' contest. Eight high school and collegiate teams competed in the Pumpkin Chuckin' during the annual Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival. The annual festival celebrates the fall season, and typically draws large crowds downtown, with activities and vendors sprawled across Main Street Square and the surrounding area. Events included a pumpkin carving contest, a pumpkin "weigh-off," a chef challenge in which cooks prepared a dish with pumpkin as an ingredient, and of course, the Pumpkin Chuckin'. Sponsored by RESPEC, the pumpkin catapult contest features students launching pumpkins across Memorial Park using self-made catapults. Teams from the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP) at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology were joined by high school students in the competition this year. "I think we're at least not going to get last place," joked Rapid City Central High School competitor Jamie St.Clair-Linde at the beginning of the contest. In an upset, the high school teams from Central and Douglas smashed their collegiate competition, with Central winning first and Douglas coming in a close second. Teams were judged on the accuracy of their pumpkin tosses. In the first competition, points were awarded to teams getting closest to 100 feet away. In one of its launches, Douglas High School hit exactly 100 feet. Building the catapults was a long process and took a lot of learning, according to the students who participated. "It was definitely time consuming. It took lots of time and lots of math," said St.Clair-Linde, a junior at Central High School. Joshua French, a sophomore at Central High School, said the teams had to get the building materials, figure out the physics involved, and build the equipment. "Overall it was very fun and I feel confident about it. I thought it would be really fun to destroy some pumpkins, and that's what I came to do," he said. Robert Riggs, the physics teacher who organized Central's team, knew the students' hard work would pay off. "We were challenged last year to compete with Mines. So at the beginning of the year, I enlisted about 25 students and asked 'Do you think you can do this?' There was a lot of trial and error and a lot of figuring things out, especially when you're trying for accuracy. But I always knew they could win." A new report shows that of the 6.5 million students identified as chronically absent in the U.S. during the 2013-2014 academic year, half were concentrated in just 4 percent of reporting school districts. The Rapid City School district fell within that 4 percent. That's according to Attendance Works, a national and state organization aimed at promoting awareness of the impact that attendance has on student achievement. Attendance Works defines a chronically absent student as missing 10 percent or more of school days in a given year. In Rapid City, 31.47 percent of students were chronically absent in 2013-2014, according to Attendance Works. More current numbers dont paint any prettier of a picture. According to district spokesperson Katy Urban, 29 percent of students were chronically absent in the 2014-2015 academic year. Numbers are not yet available for the 2015-2016 academic year. According to the South Dakota Department of Education, an average of 80 percent of the states students attended school 94 percent of the time during the 2014-2015 academic year. The Rapid City school district fell well below that average, with 71 percent of its students reporting to school most of the time. The low numbers in Rapid City cant be attributed to any one group, according to Superintendent Lori Simon. From our economically disadvantaged, our Caucasian and Native student groups theyre all under the state average, Simon said. So that tells me that we have a community issue; that we need to address this as a community. September is Attendance Awareness Month, and Simon has been using the time to raise awareness, build community partnerships and begin formulating a plan to better understand and address the low attendance numbers in the Rapid City school district. Robbinsdale There have been fewer than 20 days of school at Robbinsdale Elementary this year, but Principal Michelle Seaholm has already had to refer four students to the Pennington County States Attorneys Office for too many missed days. Those four referrals at Robbinsdale are only the tip of a larger iceberg that will slowly reveal itself as the year continues. According to Urban, 39 percent of Robbinsdales students were chronically absent last year. Under state law, it is a misdemeanor for a parent to fail to take their child to school, which could lead to fines after five to 10 unexcused absences, according to Kim Morsching, coordinator of the Pennington County Juvenile Diversion Program. Last year, Morschings office received a total of 1,400 referrals for chronically absent students from across the district. And those are just the ones that are reported. The problem, Morsching said, is almost certainly larger in scope. Its still too soon to say if there will be an increase or a decrease this year, Morsching added, but seeing 100-plus referrals in the early weeks of school is nothing new. One of the schools just told us theyre sending us a package of 90 referrals, Morsching said Friday. There have been a total of 120 referrals so far this year, Urban said, most of them from Central High School. After 15 consecutive days absent from school, Urban added, a student is considered "dropped." At Robbinsdale, the issue of absenteeism is a cause for concern among fourth grade teachers like Cecily McMacken, Becky Weber and Becky Glidden, all of whom have already had to talk to several kids in their classes about missing too many days. Minutes are like gold in school, Glidden said, noting that missing even a 15-minute period of class every day can put a student at a serious educational disadvantage. Indeed, there are plenty of students in that very situation at Robbinsdale. We have probably 30 to 40 students who are late every single day, Seaholm said. Many of the late or absent fourth-grade students at Robbinsdale have been missing classes for their entire school career. The loss of education and community building among their peers and teachers is cumulative, Seaholm said, and many teachers have to devote greater amounts of time and resources to catching those kids up. You dont get the chance to work one-on-one with the kiddos who are there on time, Glidden said. Most of the time, the teachers agree, its the parents, not the students fault for missing school, showing up late, or having to leave early. Some of them have seen their students dropped off in cabs, or show up late because they had to walk a couple miles to school that day. Lack of resources among the predominantly low-income families whose students attend Robbinsdale can contribute to truancy and absenteeism, Seaholm said, which lines up with the findings of Attendance Works: Nationally, many of the school districts with the highest rates of chronic absenteeism are in low-income areas. Seaholm and her teachers are sympathetic to the difficult circumstances some families find themselves in and are willing to be lenient up to a point. At the end of the day, however, the teachers agree that the education of their students has to be the top priority. Your job is to be passionate about the kiddos education, period, Weber said. And I cant educate them if theyre not here. Community buy-in Each school tries to encourage better attendance in different ways. At Robbinsdale, a free breakfast is served every morning, while ice cream, movie days and other incentives are offered to students who dont miss a single day of school for an entire month. At General Beadle Elementary, gift cards and free bikes are offered to students with good or perfect attendance. We have definitely seen success with this, Urban said. Our administrators do an excellent job of working with the families in an effort to get kiddos to school. Before the city made busing free to K-12 students, we used to buy hundreds of bus passes each year to help families with transportation needs. To that end, a new Youth Ride Free program through the Rapid City Transit System is already having a positive effect on getting kids to school on time. According to the latest info, we have 200-plus students that now ride Rapid Ride regularly students who didn't use it before, Urban said, adding that the district is in the process of reaching out to some area health-care providers to encourage them to stay open later on some days, so students dont have to leave early or miss school for appointments. That kind of buy-in from parents and the community as a whole, Simon said, is the only way substantive change can be affected. Improving attendance has been a priority for Simon since she assumed the role of superintendent in July. She is in the process of developing a comprehensive strategy to address the issue and hopes to identify a new attendance percentage goal by the end of the year. I really want to work with our entire community around the importance of all of our students being on time every day, ready to learn, Simon said. And I really believe if we work together, we will see improved attendance rates in our schools, and thats going to lead to increased achievement as well as graduation rates. PIERRE | During state governments 2016 fiscal year that ended June 30, nearly half of the 105 members of the Legislature took one or more trips outside South Dakota at state expense. For those 52, the total cost was about $115,000. For the other 53: Zero. Rep. Isaac Latterall, R-Tea, spent the most at $8,307.92. Next was Sen. Jenna Haggar, R-Sioux Falls, at $8,289.29. Eight others topped $5,000. Sen. Deb Peters, R-Hartford, tallied $6,692.99. Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell, $6,045.05. Rep. Kristin Conzet, R-Rapid City, $5,682.28. Rep. Steven Haugaard, R-Sioux Falls, $5,514.38. Rep. Jim Stalzer, R-Sioux Falls, $5,357.13. Sen. Craig Tieszen, R-Rapid City, $5,294.44. Rep. Dick Werner, R-Huron, $5,277.77. Rep. Larry Zikmund, R-Sioux Falls, $5,699.42. One trip can run $1,500 to $2,500. Peters, now in her twelfth year as a lawmaker, is a C.P.A. and chairwoman of the Senate budget committee. She is one of the Legislatures representatives in the streamlined sales tax effort and attends national meetings. The streamliners are still trying to achieve national recognition of state sales taxes among remote sellers who operate mail order and online services. By refusing to submit sales taxes in many instances, the remote sellers are a drain on the state treasury. Retail businesses in South Dakota feel the sales tax is an unfair disadvantage. Peters was at the center of legislation this year that brought a state lawsuit, now in federal court, against some big remote sellers. Peters also recently won election as the No. 2 officer in the National Conference of State Legislatures. She is in line to be NCSLs top leader come the summer of 2017, assuming she wins re-election Nov. 8 to her seat in the Legislature. Vehle, now in his twelfth year as a legislator, is term-limited as a senator, after four consecutive elections to the Senate. He is accepting retirement rather than run for election to the House of Representatives. During the past few years Vehle, as the Senate Transportation Committees chairman, led the Legislatures effort to raise taxes and fees on motorists because the state and local highway programs had fallen further and further behind on funding. In 2011 Vehle supported Rep. Steve Street, D-Revillo, on the bill raising vehicle registration fees. The Legislature overrode the governors veto of Streets bill. In 2014 and 2015, Vehle worked for political support throughout South Dakota, including a turn-about by Gov. Dennis Daugaard, for an even broader set of tax and fee increases for roads and bridges. The package won approval from the Legislature. His travels to national meetings reflect his legislative involvement. Legislators notice whos taking state-funded trips to national conventions and whos driving to Pierre for legislative work during April through December outside legislative session. There are some who didnt participate in interim work this year or last year. One is Latterell. A broader number spend considerable time in Pierre for interim work: Jim Bradford, Jim Bolin, Larry Tidemann, the late Dan Dryden, Phyllis Heineman, Jean Hunhoff, Roger Hunt, Scott Parsley, Deb Peters, Jim Peterson, Craig Tieszen and Mike Vehle, to name just some. During the coming weekends well look at that disparity and look too where legislators went. I've always had a special kind of contempt for the malefactors who try to turn their evil behavior against those who are resisting. A good example would be the oligarchs in this country who hoard the wealth they've accumulated by hook and crook, and then accuse those who resist of waging class warfare. Never mind that by using their riches to stack the deck in their favor and by bribing the politicians with their campaign contributions, they're the ones waging the class warfare. And so it is with Donald Trump, who has taken to saying that when Hillary Clinton calls out his bigotry, she "relies on the tired tactic of smearing opponents who question her policies as racists." "They talk all about racism, racism, racism," he goes on, "It's the only word they know." He's even accused the Democrats of bigotry. Notwithstanding his complaint, Donald Trump is an out-and-out racist, but he's trying to squirm out of that ugly reality, and so are his followers. They consistently have supported the "birther" slander that he and they embraced for years, calling into question the legitimacy of Barack Obama's presidency because he's black. There it is. To make matters worse, now that it doesn't serve his purposes to continue to express doubts about where President Obama was born, he lies to say that Hillary Clinton originated the charge. No, she did not. He also argues that somehow the "R" word doesn't apply to anyone who has smeared a judge's Mexican heritage in fact, all Mexicans, Muslims, the disabled and women. He's not only a racist but just about every kind of "ist" that there is. He also constantly accuses Hillary Clinton of failed judgment and a grasp of policy even though his verbal blunders are such a constant embarrassment that his ignorance has stopped being newsworthy, just like his outrageous and dangerous statements. He has so numbed us in the media that we hardly notice when he pulls some stunt like the way he persuaded the TV networks to carry his lengthy self-serving speech live before he finally uttered the single-sentence admission that Barack Obama was in fact born in the United States. "Period." The distortion of the journalistic process has gotten so bad that even the most craven media boss has decided the time has come to fight back. I have one suggestion that I think would be a good place to start: For the remainder of this election period, TV news organizations should no longer carry any candidate's event live, not the speeches, not any of the contrived photo ops. Instead, we should record the feed of the event, and when the various media decide that news has been made, the video can be turned around and aired. That would put the control of coverage where it belongs: in the hands of the editorial professionals at each network. More importantly, it would reduce the manipulative shenanigans of the political image-makers, particularly when they collude with the candidate to gloss over dishonesty or sleazy business dealings, blatant demagogic appeals to fear, ignorance and prejudice or dangerous statements meant to incite. WASHINGTON | If you are a black man in America, exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms can be fatal. You might think the National Rifle Association and its amen chorus would be outraged, but apparently they believe Second Amendment rights are for whites only. In reaching that conclusion I am accepting, for the sake of argument, the account given by the Charlotte, North Carolina, police of how they came to fatally shoot Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday. Scott's killing prompted two nights of violent protests that led Gov. Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency. On Friday, police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, shot and killed Terence Crutcher an unarmed black man and the two incidents gave tragic new impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement. Scott's relatives claim he was unarmed as well. But let's assume that police are telling the truth and he had a handgun. What reason was there for officers to confront him? North Carolina, after all, is an open-carry state. A citizen has the right to walk around armed if he or she chooses to do so. The mere fact that someone has a firearm is no reason for police to take action. This is crazy, in my humble opinion. I believe that we should try to save some of the 30,000-plus lives lost each year to gun violence by enacting sensible firearms restrictions and that the more people who walk around packing heat like Wild West desperados, the more deaths we will inevitably have to mourn. In its wisdom, however, the state of North Carolina disagrees. We should continue to lobby for tighter gun laws and hope that someday the voices of reason are heard. But at the same time, we should demand that current laws be enforced fairly even if we don't like them. Scott's death is the second recent police slaying to suggest that laws permitting people to carry handguns apparently do not apply to African-Americans. In July, police killed a black man named Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, after pulling him over for a traffic stop. When officers approached the car, Castile told them he was licensed to carry a handgun. I can only assume that Castile made this declaration so that the officers would not be surprised upon seeing the gun. But rather than assure them that he was a law-abiding citizen exercising his constitutional right, Castile's announcement had the opposite effect. The horror that ensued was live-streamed on Facebook by Castile's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds. Her cellphone video and calm, composed narration were chilling, especially to those of us who frequently commit the offense of driving while black. One of the officers shot Castile several times, and Reynolds watched as he slumped next to her, his life bleeding away. Did Castile reach for the gun? Reynolds maintains he was merely reaching for his wallet to get his driver's license, as the officer had ordered. But we have seen many times, including in the recent Crutcher case, that any perceived sudden movement by a black man under arrest, even if he is not known to have a weapon, can be seen by police as a deadly threat. Disclosure of the gun, meant to avert potential tragedy, seems to have invited it. Afterward, it was confirmed that Castile did indeed have a legal permit to carry a gun. He was not guilty of any crime. He was just 32 and, incredibly, had in his brief life been stopped a total of 52 times for nickel-and-dime traffic violations. That qualifies as harassment. I know many black men who have been pulled over for some trumped-up excuse and felt threatened by police. This has happened to me. In the Scott case, according to a Charlotte police department statement, officers said they went to a neighborhood looking for someone else and saw Scott "inside a vehicle in the apartment complex. The subject exited the vehicle armed with a handgun. Officers observed the subject get back into the vehicle at which time they began to approach the subject." If all they saw was a man with a gun who got out of a car and back in, what illegal activity did they observe? Why did they "approach the subject" instead of going about their business? Did they have any reason to suspect it was an illegal gun? Are all men carrying guns believed to be carrying guns illegally, or just black men? Our gun laws should be changed. Until then, however, they must be enforced equally. Does the NRA disagree? AURORA, Colo. | Here on the High Plains, where the deer and the antelope once played, Denver's suburbs roam toward the Rockies' front range and the nature of today's polyglot politics is written in the local congressman's campaign schedule. One day last week, Republican Mike Coffman went from a Hispanic charter school in a strip mall, to another strip mall for lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant with leaders of the Ethiopian-American community, then to a meeting with the editor of the largest of two Korean-language newspapers serving more than 3,000 Korean-Americans in the metropolitan area. Coffman was elected to Congress in 2008 with 61 percent of the vote, replacing Tom Tancredo, a firebrand who that year ineffectually ran for president as a scourge of illegal immigrants. Coffman's thinking was somewhat congruent with Tancredo's. Then, however, the political market aka democracy began to work, with an assist from Democrats, who inadvertently made Coffman a better politician and person. After he was re-elected with 66 percent in 2010, his district was gerrymandered to make it more Democratic 20 percent Hispanic, with a generous salting of other minorities. He won in 2012 with just 48 percent of the vote. In 2014, national Democrats recruited a formidable opponent, a Yale graduate who had taught, in Spanish, in Central American schools. So, Coffman learned Spanish well enough to do an entire debate in the language, and today banters in Spanish with the children at Roca Fuerte Academy. The pastor who founded it in 2008 says this charter school is anathema to, and underfunded by, the local school district, which is obedient to the teachers union, which dislikes charters that are not obedient to it. The district's schools have just a 61 percent graduation rate. Roca Fuerte Academy does better. Some of the academy's pupils in their school uniforms are antecedents of the pronoun in Donald Trump's four-word immigration policy: "They have to go." They were brought here by illegal immigrants. Trump wants to send them "home" to countries they do not remember. Coffman has co-authored legislation that would provide legal status and a path to lawful permanent resident status to those who came before age 16, have lived here five consecutive years, and who have been accepted to a college or vocational school or have demonstrated an intent to enlist in the military, or have a valid work authorization. At the Nile restaurant, Coffman's cowboy boots go beneath a table groaning under the weight of trays laden with Ethiopian food that is eaten without utensils, scooped up with bits torn from rolls of bread as thin and flexible as fabric. Coffman sits next to an Orthodox bishop who is wearing a cassock and a glittering pectoral cross. As guests arrive, several kiss a crucifix he holds. He speaks scant English but draws 1,500 to Sunday services. Many of those around the table have been in America for at least a decade and are citizens and small-business entrepreneurs. Ethiopians are Colorado's second-largest immigrant community and are grateful for Coffman's attempts to pressure Ethiopia's authoritarian government to stop using violence against protesters. Coffman attends the annual "Taste of Ethiopia" festival here in America's Mountain West and "Ethiopians for Coffman" might matter in November. As might the Korean-American community, which continues to honor those Americans who, like Coffman's father, fought in the Korean War. Coffman, 61, enlisted in the Army before receiving his high school diploma, which he earned while serving. After leaving the Army and graduating from the University of Colorado, he went to Marine Corps officer training. When he left the Corps he became a state legislator until called back into uniform in 1991 for the Gulf War. In 2005, he resigned as state treasurer to serve a tour of duty with the Marines in Iraq. There he helped organize elections in a place where diversity is rather more problematic than in Colorado's 6th Congressional District. His opponent this year, who dislikes charter schools and school choice, does not speak fluent Spanish and, unlike almost all candidates challenging incumbents, does not seem to want many debates she even declined the Denver Post's. Coffman thinks she does not want anything to distract from her theme, which is: Trump is a Republican and so is Coffman. In early August, however, Coffman acted pre-emptively with a television ad that began: "People ask me, 'What do you think about Trump?' Honestly, I don't care for him much." Spoken like a Marine who does 10 sets of 50 pushups daily. RAPID CITY | Gertrude Mary "Trudy" Christianson, 94, passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Gertrude was born April 20, 1922, in Colome, SD, the daughter of Irwin L. Adams and Ethel L. (Griswold) Adams. Gertrude spent her childhood in Colome and graduated from Colome High School in May 1940. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the school of nursing at St. Joseph Hospital in Clinton, IA. She began her career as a registered nurse in December 1944 by enlisting in the Naval Reserve Nurse Corps. On Nov. 23, 1950, Gertrude married William E. Christianson in Minneapolis, MN, and shortly after received orders to report for duty aboard the USNS SGT Charles E. Mower as a Junior Ship's Nurse, Military Department. She also served aboard the USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey during her naval career. Her military career allowed her to care for the wounded during WWII and the Korean War. Gertrude was honorably discharged from the Armed forces in June 1955. After the birth of her children, Gertrude accepted a nursing position at the Fort Meade Veterans Hospital near Sturgis. She retired in June of 1970. She is survived by her five children, Ann (Marlon) Healey, Rapid City, William (Jolie) Christianson, Hot Springs, David Christianson, Rapid City, Laura (Wes) Fleischhacker, Rapid City, and Diane Christianson, Shakopee, MN. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William E. Christianson; and her grandson, Luke Christianson. There will be a private graveside service for immediate family at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis. A memorial has been established to the Wounded Warrior Project. LEAD | Black Hills artist and environmentalist Dick Fort, 94, died Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center near Sturgis, with family and friends at his bedside. Dick was a prolific painter and composer, but he was best known as a leader of two decades-long projects. He and fellow cross-country skiers worked with the U.S. Forest Service to create the Eagle Cliff Cross Country Ski Area in the Northern Hills. Dick also was a founding member of ACTion for the Environment, formed to protect the Black Hills from damage threatened by open-pit gold mining. Richard Lindsey Fort was born July 6, 1922, in Mitchell, the son of Lyman and Mildred Fort. His father was principal of the local high school and his mother taught grade school and was a composer. She taught Dick piano. As a boy, Dick also painted and drew cartoons, and he taught himself to sculpt roadside alabaster. In summers the family camped in the Black Hills. Eventually his parents bought a cabin in Spearfish Canyon, where Dick hiked, climbed and fished for trout. The Fort family later moved to Sioux Falls. Dick graduated from Washington High School in 1940. Later he attended Grinnell College in Iowa, majoring in English and German. In 1943, Dick was called up from the Army reserves. He trained in Ohio with a special German-language unit and in London as a cryptanalyst. After D-Day, Dick served with combat units in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, intercepting and decoding German radio messages. He earned battle stars for pinpointing enemy positions some of them during the Battle of the Bulge and he was honorably discharged at Christmas in 1945. After the war, Dick returned to Grinnell College to finish his degree, and he earned a second degree from the Art Institute of Chicago, supported in part by the GI Bill. In 1956, Dick began a 28-year teaching career at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. During a 1960's sabbatical, Dick returned to Europe to visit galleries, museums, cathedrals and other architectural landmarks. He drew on those experiences for his own art and for the courses he taught. In Chicago, Dick often took his sketchbook to the jazz joints of Rush Street. He also drew inspiration from artists ranging from 17th century Baroque painters to 20th century abstract expressionists. Most summers during his teaching career, Dick returned to the family cabin on Spearfish Creek to paint, compose, hike and fish. He also organized popular Sunday volleyball games in Spearfish Canyon, and his reputation as a maker of chokecherry and dandelion wine grew with each vintage. In 1984, after he retired from Wright College, Dick moved permanently to the Black Hills to the small community of Englewood, not far from Spearfish Canyon. There, inspired by Buckminster Fuller, Dick built a home of connected geodesic domes, which became a weekend headquarters for his large, eclectic group of friends. Dick organized cross-country ski expeditions in winter and hikes in summer. In his 70's, he took up mountain biking. When gold prices shot up in the early 1980's, sparking a new gold rush in the Black Hills, Dick was among the first to see the risk. And he took action, recruiting and organizing environmentalists and testifying before regulatory agencies, the state Legislature and in court. Dick also created space in his home for a small music studio equipped with 1970's consumer electronics and two keyboards. There he composed 24 Black Hills-themed symphonies, each in a different key. Those works remain mostly unheard, but a 2014 documentary about Dicks life, Fort: a Spearfish Canyon Rhapsody, used some of them as a score. A 2014 coffee-table book also preserves some of Dicks art. The impact of his life, however, reaches further. Black Hills journalist Kevin Woster summed it up: If the human spirit can live on in a landscape, Dick Forts will surely live on in Spearfish Canyon. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, Donald and Gerald Fort. Survivors include Dicks nephew, Michael Fort, and Michaels wife, Yvonne, and their children, Jason and Melissa Fort; and Dicks niece, Sandra Larson, and her husband, Mark, and their children, Chad Larson and Carrie Morris. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A Celebration of Dicks life will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Spearfish Canyon Lodge near Lead. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Dakota Rural Action. Kinkade Funeral Home of Sturgis is in charge of arrangements. Hamilton-area sheep rancher and building contractor Jim Ellingson has done a lot of different things in his life that required a strong back and good knees. But someday he knows he's not going to be able to chase down a sheep and tackle it to the ground or hoist a sheet of plywood and carry it up a ladder. "I'm not there yet, but I know it's coming," Ellingson said. When that day comes, Ellingson hopes that he'll be able to rely on his more creative side to help pay the bills. With calloused hands shaped by a lifetime of hard work, Ellingson has been learning to fashion clay into pottery - and already his work is catching the eye of art enthusiasts near and far. "I'm kind of a sucker for variety," he said. "I'm always looking for something different to do." Seven years ago - in between marriages - Ellingson signed up for pottery class through adult education. "Some people have told me I'm a natural, but I'm really not," he said. "I have boxes filled with disasters." His work did impress one of the organizers of the Montana Arts Council's Montana Artrepreneur Program enough that she went to work convincing Ellingson he needed to enroll. "Kris Komar is a fan," he said, smiling. "She is always oohing and aahing over some of the things that I've made. I didn't think I had anything that worthy enough to sell. She convinced me I was wrong." He signed up with 10 other budding Bitterroot Valley artists to learn the art of entrepreneurship last year. Designed to help artists create sustainable businesses by marketing their artwork, the MAP program provides artists willing to commit 40 hours to workshops over a 7- to 10-month period a chance to network with others and develop a toolbox that makes them ready to take their work to the marketplace. As part of the program, the artist's cohort that Ellingson was part of took a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyo., to see professional art galleries and meet their owners. Ellingson remembers walking through many galleries and thinking he would never have anything that they would be interested in displaying. But then he started talking with one of the owners. He told the man he was from Montana and that he was a sheep rancher. And then the gallery owner asked him if he could see photographs of his pottery. "He took a look and then asked if I could bring three pieces for display at his gallery," Ellingson said. "That was an amazing boost to my ego. ... This program has opened my eyes to the possibilities and it's raised the bar of what I'm going to expect from myself." Mary Jane Ross of Stevensville knows exactly what Ellingson means. When Ross retired from Hamilton's Rocky Mountain Laboratories after 20 years, she really wasn't sure which direction life would take her. She certainly didn't expect the key might be locked inside a block of basswood. "I've loved art since I was very small," Ross said. "When I was really little, I used to write stories about horses and illustrate them. I made little books that I tied up tight with ribbons. "I guess I've always had that interest, but I never had the time to devote to it," she said. Two decades ago, she illustrated a book of her father's cowboy poetry with whimsical drawings of cowboys, ranch cooks and sheepherders. "When I looked at them again after all these years, they begged to be created in three dimensions," Ross said. Through trial and error, she started to carefully turn those earlier drawings into foot-tall creations that brought a smile to everyone. With encouragement from many, Ross signed up for the MAP program to see if she might take that next step from creation to cash box. "I have just been amazed at the amount of support that they have provided," Ross said. "They keep pushing and pushing. There is no way that you're going to fail. Any question you might have, they find the people that you need for help." Last week, Ross was putting some of the finishing touches on a brand new studio at her home just east of Stevensville. In the future, she'll meet her new mentor - world-class wood carver Tom Dean. "He's an amazing wood carver and a marketing genius," she said. "I'm sure that I'm going to learn quite a lot. ... A year from now, I hope that I'll have a thriving business. I hope that I won't be able to keep up the demand." Both Ellingson and Ross agree that the mere mention of the word "Montana" creates an appeal to art enthusiasts throughout the country and world. "I've always been drawn to the tenacity and hardworking rural Montanan," Ross said. "I think other people outside of this state have that same draw." "I think it's wonderful that artists are getting the support that's so important to taking that first step into the marketplace," she said. The next cohort is forming now. Those who are interested can contact Komar at 360-7019 or Deb Essen at 642-6424. The first weekend meeting will be held on March 17 and 18. Applications are being accepted until the class is filled. Reach reporter Perry Backus at 363-3300 or pbackus@ravallirepublic.com. It was 1977 when Olive Parker learned she could turn an ordinary piece of leather into something extraordinary. She was still living in Nebraska when the neighbors handed her an old Tandy leather kit that their children no longer wanted. "I had no idea where that gift might lead," Parker said Tuesday morning, while working on an intricate piece of leather jewelry that could soon be on display for the holiday season in her small shop just outside of Stevensville. Royce "Rooster" Vallejo received his first lessons on leather work from his father. More than 30 years later, he's built a reputation in Hamilton for making sturdy saddles and other gear that people know will outlast them. "I've worked with leather for as long as I can remember," Vallejo said. Both are just the kind of artists that the Montana Arts Council is hoping to help flourish with a relatively new curriculum it calls the Montana Artrepreneur Program. This past year, the council offered a select group of artists in the Bitterroot, Flathead, Melstone and Fort Belnap the opportunity to learn how to turn their passion into a sustainable business. Each cohort involved at least six artists who were willing to commit their time, talent and money to the intense programming. In return, artists learned about marketing, pricing, business law and the potential of the Internet for selling their wares. Parker and Vallejo joined with five other traditional artists in the Bitterroot Valley to take advantage of the offering. Cindy Kittredge, the Montana Arts Council's Folkarts and Market Development specialist, worked with Kris Komar and others from the Bitterroot Cultural Heritage Trust to bring the group together. The other artists were Monica Campbell, Suzette DelRae, Deb Essen, Georgine Forgatch and Joe Keeton. The council's Folklife Program is part of a long-range strategy to identify and reinforce traditional arts made in the Big Sky State. "Sometimes we had to look hard to find people to participate," Kittredge said. "Sometimes art is so much a part of their lives, they don't look at it as art. If you talk to a saddlemaker and call him an artist he'll say, Whoa. Wait a minute. I'm not that.'" The Montana Arts Council program is designed to nurture the traditional folk arts by helping artists learn how to market their wares and become more financially secure. "This form of art is an important part of who we are as Montanans," Kittredge said. "It tells a story about our culture and our lives." The hope is that by helping these traditional folk artists survive, they might pass their knowledge to the next generation. "People might see someone doing something and think that they can teach themselves," she said. "Maybe there's a trick to how you hold a certain tool or a way to position your hand that makes a difference." "Those kinds of things are passed from one artist to another," Kittredge said. "It can be a valuable part of the network that we are trying to form around the state." No one knows for certain just how many artists are working in basements, studios and backyard shops in Montana. "There is no block on the census forms for a folk artist," Kittredge said. "These folks are reporting themselves as ranchers, retail shop owners or loggers." Many have another job and the time they spend creating art is a secondary endeavor. "Most aren't initially pulling down $80,000 a year in income," she said. "But $10,000 a year can go a long way in determining whether a family might make it or not on a family farm." A 2005 economic study said nearly 6,000 people made their living by creating art in 2000. Since 1970, the number of full-time artists in Montana grew three times faster than the overall Montana labor market. Artists' economic impact to Montana in 2003 neared a quarter of a billion dollars. Making a living as a saddlemaker in the Bitterroot is a challenge right now. "There are 12 of us in the valley right now," Vallejo said. "We're all taking a chunk out of each other's business ... it scares you." Learning new ways to market and keeping a constant eye open for new niches is what Vallejo thinks will help him succeed in today's marketplace. "I repair whatever leather items people bring into me," he said. "I've had some really interesting things come in over the years. I fix whatever it is that people need fixed." Vallejo said he's one of those saddlemakers who never really considered himself an artist. On the day that a Bitterroot Cultural Heritage Trust representative came into his shop to inquire if he'd be interested in taking part in the new program for artists, he replied: "If I see one, I'll tell you." "I thought of myself as a saddlemaker, not an artist," Vallejo said. The program has changed the way he looks at his work and how he goes about selling it. "I wear three hats in here," he said. "I run the business. I'm the artist and I do the marketing. I try to do all three by myself. ... When you're in that situation, you're playing with your own money. Make one mistake and it affects everything else. It's no different for a farmer, rancher or any other small businessman. "I've made my share of mistakes," Vallejo said. "You just have to hope you don't keep making them." For Parker, the challenge is finding a way to create a sustainable business around her art. She has a couple of other small business ventures and wants to be able to stay home to raise her children and take care of her horses. Parker commits at least three hours a day to creating the remarkable leather jewelry and array of larger pieces that are gaining a following among people from all parts of the country. "If I could sell more of the larger items, then maybe this could be sustainable," she said. "At the current pace that I can make earrings and other jewelry, I'm not so sure." The Montana Arts Council's program opened some doors and offered ideas for the future. Following a show in Great Falls in October, the C.M. Russell Museum will display some of her work. "My strategy for the next couple of years is to try some of the bigger shows," she said. "I believe it's just a matter of getting out there where people can see what I have to offer." She's come a long way from that first hand-me-down leather kit back in Nebraska. Parker's story - and every other one from Montana's traditional art scene - is important. "That's the value added part," Kittredge said. "When they let people know who they are and where they come from, that makes their art even more valuable to people." "We want to be able to preserve those and pass them down from this generation to the next," she said. Reach reporter Perry Backus at 363-3300 or pbackus@ravallirepublic.com. BILLINGS Bataan Death March survivor, artist and educator Ben Steele will be remembered for his heroism and his warm, caring personality. Steele died Sunday in Billings at age 98 with his wife Shirley and daughters Julie Jorgenson and Rosemarie Steele at his side. Everyone knows his war stories and what he went through as a POW, but its his personality, his warm caring personality that made people love him, Jorgenson said. His students would come up to me and say, Ben and I have a special bond. But he made everyone feel special; every student had that special bond with him. A documentary film, Survival Through Art, has just been completed by filmmaker Jan Thompson. A private screening is set for November, but Jorgenson said there will be other upcoming opportunities to see it. Steele was born Nov. 17, 1917, in Roundup and grew up on riding horses and roping cattle in the Bull Mountains. One of his biggest and earliest influences was the cowboy artist Will James, Jorgenson said. Dad used to deliver art supplies to Will James, who was a loner, but he liked Dad. His parents told him not to hang out much with Will James because he was a drinker, but Dad never said a bad word about him. Steele later used his skill at drawing to keep his sanity when he was a prisoner of war. His powerful drawings of his time in captivity are housed at the University of Montana. In 2015, when School District 2 was naming a new middle school on Grand Avenue and 56th Street West in Billings, Shannon Burns Johnson pushed to have it named for Steele. She rallied the community, obtaining 2,000 signatures in a matter of days to get Steeles name on the list. When I went to tell Ben about the idea, he just stared at me for a minute, then he got this huge grin on his face and said, Ben Steele Middle School that would be a great name, Johnson said. Ground was broken on the middle school in March, and Jorgenson said her father considered having his name on the school one of his highest honors. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who met Steele on the Big Sky Honor Flight in 2013, issued a statement Sunday about Steeles heroism. Montana has lost an American hero and a state treasure, Daines said. Ben Steele will be remembered for his service, his courage and his artistic legacy. Steele was a U.S. Army Air Corps private in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked and captured his unit. At least 7,000 soldiers died during a 66-mile march under a hot tropical sun a march so horrific that the Japanese commander was later executed for war crimes. Steele was bayoneted, starved and beaten. He suffered dysentery, malaria, pneumonia, beriberi and septicemia. He gained the emotional strength to stay alive in part by sketching pictures. His heroic journey is told in the 2009 New York Times bestseller Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath, by Michael and Elizabeth Norman. Ohio teenager Lexi Winkelfoos traveled 1,000 miles to meet Steele in 2015 after she read the book for a history project. Winkelfoos said she wanted to hear Steele's laugh and know that he found happiness. "After reading the book, I just wanted to know that he was happy after everything he had been through," Winkelfoos said. After the war, Steele pursued college and graduate degrees in art and returned to Billings to teach at Eastern Montana College and Montana State University Billings. Steele met Harry Koyama, a student of Japanese heritage, in his art class in the 1960s. Steele said he learned to forgive his Japanese captors because of his relationship with Koyama, which Steele talked about in Tears in the Darkness. Hes been a part of my life since I met him in college in the 1960s, Koyama said. Thats even more of a humbling experience to know that I had not just an effect, but a positive effect on his life. Ben was just a great person and an excellent art teacher. I still use some of the techniques Ben taught me. Another former student, Jacque Kittson, said Steele was actively painting and drawing up until the final weeks of his life. A show featuring some of his new works and those of his friends is scheduled Oct. 8 at the Carbon County Arts Guild in Red Lodge. I was so blessed to have him as my teacher, friend, mentor and second father, Kittson said. The 37th annual fundraising banquet for the Bitterroot Chapter of Montana Trout Unlimited will be held beginning at 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 in the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. Dinner will be catered by Riversong Gourmet, The Edge will provide a cash bar featuring brews from Bitter Root Brewing Company and fine wines, and there will be live and silent auctions, door prizes, drawings and awards. Trout Unlimited member Marshall Bloom said the event is a tradition. This is the time of year each Fall when aficionados of trout and clean water get together to recognize what a great resource we have in the Bitterroot River, Bloom said. Well have a terrific time telling stories about this past season and people will be making plans for their expeditions and outings for the next year. Bloom said the Bitterroot Trout Unlimited is an entirely volunteer organization and this is their only fundraising event. The proceeds will go for a number of projects including their 20-year-old Bitterroot Buggers kids program. We have been teaching young people how to tie flies, how to fly-cast, how to identify native fish and why having trout is important, Bloom said. President Greg Chester said Trout Unlimited also supports a wide variety of projects including: restoring habitat along the Bitterroot river and its tributaries, hosting a fishing clinic for adults and the Hamilton High School Classroom Without Walls program. Bloom said they support other important groups in the valley such as Teller Wildlife Refuge, the Bitter Root Water Forum and the Bitter Root Land Trust. He said the Bitterroot Chapter of Montana Trout Unlimited has their eye on the future. This last year Greg Chester recognized the importance of reaching out in a substantive way to the anglers and conservationists of tomorrow and as a result, we now have two local high school students as active board members, Bloom said. These two exceptional women, Minica Casbara and Shelby Harness, have attended our board meetings and brought new energy and perspective. We are thrilled to have a couple of local high school students on our board. The banquet will have a number of outstanding premiums available. Two showcase items are: Match the Hatch in 14-Karat, four iconic Bitterroot dry flies tied by John Foust, on 14 karat-gold hooks with a small sapphire at the point crafted by master jeweler Cindy Mikesell. Each fly can be worn as a pin or a tie tack. The second is a hand-built fly-tying desk made of exotic Brazilian hardwood by woodworking artist Dale Roos. Other prizes include original artwork and photographs by Michelle Kapor, Mike Stidham, Susan Connell, Barbara Michelman and Merle Loman. A special limited edition lithograph by Monte Dolack, Solitude on the Missouri will also be available. There are accommodations and fishing at the Complete Flyfisher in Wise River, the Big Hole Lodge and the Rock Creek Lodge. A number of guided float trips on local waters are offered from Jack Mauer, Scott Nicolarsen and Rick Thomas. Tackle includes Loomis and Sage rods, Orvis reels, full dress Atlantic salmon flies and more. There are several gourmet dinner packages, one with banjo music and another with piano jazz. In other words, there is something that will appeal to everyone, Bloom said. In addition to having a lot of fun this is our annual effort to raise funds to support projects to ensure that our trout fisheries, Bitterroot River and water quality are maintained at the highest possible levels. Tickets to the 37th annual fundraising banquet for the Bitterroot Chapter of Montana Trout Unlimited cost $50 and are available at Freestone Fly Shop, Chuck Stranahans Fly Shop and Anglers Roost in Hamilton and at the Freestone Fly Shop and Bitterroot Fly Company in Darby. For more information, contact Marshall Bloom at drtrout@mtbloom.net or Greg Chester at 406-363-0033. When we go home, I think about our old people. I walk lightly when I walk around. The bones of my grandparents and their grandparents are all around here Louise Vandeberg, Salish Elder. History was celebrated in Stevensville Saturday. It was 175 years ago that the Black Robe Jesuits officially established the Historic St. Marys Mission on the site that would eventually grow into this Bitterroot Valley community. Nearly 300 braved a light drizzle to listen to speeches, participate in a Salish smudge ceremony and watch a reenactment of the Jesuits arrival as part of the annual Founders Day Celebration at the mission. For Lucy Vandeberg, the day took on a special note when she helped unveil a new sign that commemorated the Bitterroot Salish encampment. The sign said the encampment was built in humble respect to the Selis (Bitterroot Salish) people, who called this valley home for many generations, and whose spirit will forever dwell here. The sign concluded with her mothers quotation. Vandebergs father was just a young child in 1891 when the Salish were forced to move out of the Bitterroot Valley. We came back here all the time, she said. As a child, I can remember setting up a teepee right in here. I can remember walking around the graves with my parents and them talking all about this area. They had so many memories of being here, Vandeberg said. I think this encampment is significant to the people who once lived here. I think its quite an honor to have it here in Stevensville. And the teepees look good. Theyre not all baggy like you see sometimes. For the past year, the volunteers who support the historic mission have been planning for this day that brought dignitaries from across the state and beyond. Dressed in period clothing, Carole Page and Lyn Graves of Stevensville hunkered tight up against one of the historic buildings to avoid the light rain as the event began. Im kind of disappointed that there werent more people here, Page said. This was a lot of work over the past year. The last few days it was a lot of physical work to get this all set up just right. This Montana drizzle probably kept some from coming, she said. But look, weve got a rainbow now. The clouds parted with a rainbow that shone bright over the Bitterroot Mountains as the event continued into the morning. Clad in buckskins, Chris Weatherly waited his cue to uncover the Salish encampment sign that he had volunteered to make. History is what brings him back to this site time and time again. My love of history is what it is that brings me here, Weatherly said. I love Montana and this is where it all kind of began. There is a lot of special history in these buildings. When I come here to work on them, I can almost feel that people who built this place are here with me. Confederated Salish and Kootenai historian Steve Lozar would agree that the mission is a piece of ground like no other. On Saturday, Lozar offered a Salish smudge ceremony to help kick off the annual Founders Day celebration. Draped in a coyote skin, Lozar used eagle feathers to spread a small amount of smoke throughout the audience. We have been doing this since time immemorial, Lozar said afterward. Its a very, very important ceremony to us. Its an outward sign of acknowledgement and healingits a kind of balance of spirit and mind that helps us become one with one another. Lozar said he was honored to be asked to perform the ceremony. It was even more memorable because his 91-year-old father, Bud Lozar, and his son, Mike, were in attendance Saturday. In everyones life, theres a place that feels like home. This place is the home of my ancestors, Lozar said. When I come here, I know this is right where Im supposed to be. I feel blessed to walk on its very soil. Its truly holy ground to us. Colleen Myer is the director of the Historic St. Marys Mission. She and others spent hundreds of hours working bring everyone together to enjoy this special day. As the formal portion of the event was beginning to wind down, Meyer took a moment to breath it all in. I just extremely happy, she said. It is a very, very special day. Im very happy with all the people who came out to share this significant anniversary. The event ended with a Celebration of Mass inside the historic mission. Weve been preparing for this for a year, Meyer said. And now, we can give our thanks. The 2016 class of Bitterroot Valley artists in the Montana Artrepreneur Program are hosting an art sale 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Teased Salon in Hamilton during Apple Day, Oct. 1. The funds will assist them in attending The Gathering, an artist show that includes lectures, training and networking opportunities for all Montana artists in November. More than raising money, the sale is to provide the artist-students with art show experience, said Leisa Lewis, watercolor and oil painting artist and owner of Teased Salon and Art Studio. Lewis said Montana Arts Councils MAP teaches the essential business skills artists need to know to run a business with an artist angle: to go to art shows, how to market, creating an artist statement, business cards, brochures, social media and copyright issues for a total of 35 tool boxes to complete. We have to have a window display, we have to have a booth display and the experience of putting yourself out there and letting people experience your art, Lewis said. If we sell our art, thats a bonus. I thought I was going to learn the business of art but Ive also learned the love of artists. Kevin Silkwood, high school art teacher and founding member of Clay Works! Ceramic Co-op specializes in raku and functional pottery. He is participating in MAP to learn business skills and pass them along to his students. Silkwood said one of the best aspects of the program is meeting and collaborating with other artists. Its a statewide network of artists helping artists, Silkwood said. Everyone is helping each other and learning to get exposure in galleries and shows. This is a great way to network and meet other artists. Artist Annie Allen is a MAP coach. It is about guiding, Allen said. We dont call it teaching. We guide and if they need extra help and input, thats what were for. It is all about collaboration and networking. Participants apply to the program, pay a moderate fee, commit to attend monthly workshops and financially invest in their own art business. They attend four 10-hour workshops, six two-hour interim sessions, field trips to art markets, galleries and professional development presentations. MAP takes a year to complete. According Montana Arts Council, the bottom line is that art can be a sustainable career if artists continue to improve their craft, engage in the arts community, articulate their story and purpose as an artist and continue to find buyers for their art. Artist Posey Nickens is a weaver and in MAP. Im brand new on the scene, Nickens said. This is my first exposure to thinking about a business. Im plunging in and Ill figure it out. I want to sell some of my weaving so I can keep weaving. I like to make products that people will enjoy and use. Nickens said she weaves because it is creative and helps her remember her grandmother and other weavers. There is so much you can do with it and it is a never ending learning process, she said. It is large and encompassing of all the different types of weaving around the world. You can weave your whole life and never cover it all. Nickens makes table runners, placemats, clothing and dishtowels. I love color, all color and I do hand spinning and make afghans and what not, she said. Im feeling pretty good here. I can weave and come up with things people will like and I will like. The information presented by MAP is excellent and very helpful. MAP participant Tracie Hubbard is skilled at oil painting landscapes, portraits and still life. I just have to paint and I try to do it every day, she said. If you want to make a living at it you have to approach it as a job, you have to have a work ethic. There are times when it is not fun and there are challenges not easily resolved and you have to push through those, figure out how to finish and move on. Hubbard said she needed help to turn her art into a business. I know how to work on building my skills but I wasnt sure about the marketing side, she said. How you get your foot in the door, approach galleries, branding and all of the business side of it. Im learning and it is working. Hubbard said she is enjoying completing the units and working at her own place. I have seen some people who have come through the program and their work is stronger because they decided to take it to the next level, she said. They arent just looking at themselves as a hobbyist but they are looking at it as an investment of time and a little bit of money. MAP provides a strong foundation. Rebecca Dane is a MAP participant, fiber artist and a member of the Big Sky Fiber Arts Guild. She mainly makes functional art from recycled materials like t-shirts. Dane said the MAP program is inspirational. I enjoy learning the business aspects, Dane said. There is a lot more to it than I thought it was going to be. People should come to Apple Day to see our fabulous art. Other MAP artists at the Teased Salon show and sale include Don Whittecar, specializing in detailed wildlife engravings, and Amanda Wilner, a modern western impressionist painter. View the self-designed displays and purchase the work of Bitterroot MAP artists during Apple Day and Night, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the Teased Salon, 107 Bedford, Oct. 1. 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White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN U2 mixed the blues and the gospel - rock and roll and B. B. King - to create a genre-bending sound that honored tradition while creating something new. My sense is that the holy continues to break through our popular culture in startling but creative ways if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. John O'Donohue writes: "Beauty does not linger, it only visits. Yet beauty's visitation affects us and invites us into its rhythm, it call us to feel, think and act beautiful." More than ever before I sense that this era cries out for a spirituality of tenderness in small, real ways that touch our ordinary lives. Artist Anita Rolls gets it right with "Jesus on the Tube." In 1987 and 1988, I made several trips to Davao, a sprawling city on Mindanaos southeastern coast, to report on the convulsions rocking that city. Back then, Davao was known not so much for its balmy breezes, rich fisheries, and expansive plantations, but for a brutal campaign against a communist insurgency, sparked by widespread military abuses during the Marcos regime and longstanding problems of poverty and inequality. The breakdown in law and order had also made it a fertile breeding ground for crime. Each day, some two to three people were killed and thrown in a ditch, one longtime resident RELATED STORY 36 Killings a Day in the Philippines One late evening in September of 1988, a colleague and I went on a ride-along with the newly elected mayor of Davao, a 43-year old former prosecutor and vice-mayor named Rodrigo Duterte, to learn about his plans to fix Davao. As we patrolled the streets in his van, his bodyguards kept watch, the muzzles of their rifles peeking out of the vehicles windows. Throughout our ride, Duterte offered an invective-laced running commentary about the challenges of maintaining law and order in his rough-and-tumble city. There was a notorious drug dealer, he said, who had been rushed to the local hospital, wounded and bloodied, following a shootout with the police. The drug dealer was still alive, he said. So he went to the hospital and unplugged the life support system. My colleague on the ride-along that night recalled another story: Duterte claimed to have pushed a drug dealer out of a helicopter. I dont know whether any of his stories, loaded with blood-curdling hyperbole, were true or told merely for dramatic effect. What I do know is that amid the anarchy of Davao in the 1980s, these stories were far from the most chilling that I heard. In May, Duterte, who would serve as Davaos mayor for 21 years, was elected president of the Philippines, defeating four other challengers with a promise to purge the country of drug dealers. Already in his first two months in office, police and vigilantes have In the Philippines, the end of Ferdinand Marcoss 20-year dictatorship in 1986 was a tumultuous time. The new government of Corazon Aquino was being challenged on all fronts: from the Right, by ambitious military factions plotting coups; from the Left, by peasant guerrillas and angry protesters demanding radical reforms. In those days, I was working as a journalist in Manila, finally able to cover the countrys problems with corruption, crime, economic stagnation, and insurgency without fear of censors.In 1987 and 1988, I made several trips to Davao, a sprawling city on Mindanaos southeastern coast, to report on the convulsions rocking that city. Back then, Davao was known not so much for its balmy breezes, rich fisheries, and expansive plantations, but for a brutal campaign against a communist insurgency, sparked by widespread military abuses during the Marcos regime and longstanding problems of poverty and inequality. The breakdown in law and order had also made it a fertile breeding ground for crime. Each day, some two to three people were killed and thrown in a ditch, one longtime resident said . Agdao, the citys biggest slum, was famously called Nicaragdao. The streets were gridded with checkpoints manned by nervous soldiers, their Armalites at the ready. But that didnt deter unknown gunmen from shooting criminals and policemen, often in broad daylight. In 1985, Asiaweek branded Davao Murder City.One late evening in September of 1988, a colleague and I went on a ride-along with the newly elected mayor of Davao, a 43-year old former prosecutor and vice-mayor named Rodrigo Duterte, to learn about his plans to fix Davao. As we patrolled the streets in his van, his bodyguards kept watch, the muzzles of their rifles peeking out of the vehicles windows. Throughout our ride, Duterte offered an invective-laced running commentary about the challenges of maintaining law and order in his rough-and-tumble city. There was a notorious drug dealer, he said, who had been rushed to the local hospital, wounded and bloodied, following a shootout with the police. The drug dealer was still alive, he said. So he went to the hospital and unplugged the life support system. My colleague on the ride-along that night recalled another story: Duterte claimed to have pushed a drug dealer out of a helicopter. I dont know whether any of his stories, loaded with blood-curdling hyperbole, were true or told merely for dramatic effect. What I do know is that amid the anarchy of Davao in the 1980s, these stories were far from the most chilling that I heard.In May, Duterte, who would serve as Davaos mayor for 21 years, was elected president of the Philippines, defeating four other challengers with a promise to purge the country of drug dealers. Already in his first two months in office, police and vigilantes have reportedly gunned down some 2,000 suspected drug dealers, apparently heeding Dutertes vow during his inauguration that the fight against drugs would be relentless. Despite growing criticism from human rights groups in the Philippines and overseas, he has not backed down. I will not stop until the last pusher on the streets is fully exterminated, he said on Monday . I will kill all the drug lords. Make no bones about it. I will kill all the drug lords. Make no bones about it. But Dutertes version of success came with a price. There is a curfew for minors, and a ban on late-night liquor sales. Unlike in the rest of the country, traffic rules and city ordinances are strictly enforced in Davao. More menacingly, human rights groups say that Dutertes office facilitated the creation of the Last week, in To Duterte and his supporters, Davaoonce a haven for communist rebels, Muslim secessionists, and assorted criminals, and now one of the Philippiness safest, most prosperous urban areas is living testament to this take-no-prisoners approach. Duterte has staked his presidency on the presumption that if Davaenos were willing to pay such a steep price for law and order, most other Filipinos will be as well. You can think of Duterte, then, as the bastard child of Philippine democracy. If he is to be understood at all, its as a product of the bloody, messy democratic transition on Mindanao, the countrys conflict-torn southernmost island.But Dutertes version of success came with a price. There is a curfew for minors, and a ban on late-night liquor sales. Unlike in the rest of the country, traffic rules and city ordinances are strictly enforced in Davao. More menacingly, human rights groups say that Dutertes office facilitated the creation of the Davao Death Squad , a group of vigilantes composed of local thugs, former rebels, and ex-soldiers and policemen. Between 1998 and 2015, the death squad allegedly killed over 1,400 petty criminals and street children in Davao.Last week, in chilling testimony before the Philippine Senate, a man named Edgar Matobato testified that he was part of the Davao Death Squad, a group formed in 1988, the year Duterte became mayor. Matobato said that he and other death squad members were on the citys payroll, and that they targeted suspected drug dealers, rapists, and bag snatchers. In 1993, he threw a grenade at a mosque , after suspected Islamists bombed the Davao cathedral. In one of his testimonys numerous horrific moments, he claimed that he chopped up the corpses of victims, fed them to crocodiles, or buried them in a quarry. Duterte dismissed these stories as the accusations of a madman. * * * Extreme as Dutertes provocations may be, they resonate with deep-set anxieties in the Philippines. The rule of law is weak and the police and the courts are widely considered by citizens to be unreliable and corrupt. Last year, a national poll Duterte is of a type familiar in the Philippines: one of Residents transport on a trolley two bodies of men killed by policemen. (Ezra Acayan / Reuters) Duterte certainly lacks the urbane pedigree of his two predecessors, Benigno Aquino III and the Georgetown-educated Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, both the progeny of presidents past. They are the Filipino elite, comfortable in Washingtons embrace and the salons of Manila society. Dutertes uncouthness and vulgarity, by contrast, are the source of his Extreme as Dutertes provocations may be, they resonate with deep-set anxieties in the Philippines. The rule of law is weak and the police and the courts are widely considered by citizens to be unreliable and corrupt. Last year, a national poll found that even while the rate of crime victimization was falling, the sense of insecurity continued. While the Philippines is far from being a narco-state , the trade in methamphetamines is brisk and conducted in the light of day, and the government is seen as helpless to curb it. Across the country, both poor and middle-class families are concerned about drug addiction, yet the traditional political elites have mostly been indifferent to it, failing to address festering problems of law and order. Little wonder that Duterte was cheered on when he vowed to pull out all the stops in the war against drugs.Duterte is of a type familiar in the Philippines: one of many local strongmen that have thrived in the fetid swamp of the countrys feudal politics. He emerged from a clan of savvy provincial bosses who prospered in the countrys southern frontier through the skillful deployment of patronage and violence. He is also the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and brings to the office a proud Mindanaons disdain for faraway imperial Manila. Duterte certainly lacks the urbane pedigree of his two predecessors, Benigno Aquino III and the Georgetown-educated Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, both the progeny of presidents past. They are the Filipino elite, comfortable in Washingtons embrace and the salons of Manila society. Dutertes uncouthness and vulgarity, by contrast, are the source of his broad appeal . His supporters applaud his vulgar rhetoric, so different from that of the feckless and fork-tongued politicians who have failed to address the countrys myriad problems. * * * To understand what seems to validate Dutertes seemingly maniacal thirst for blood in the pursuit of order, youve got to grapple with the world that shaped him when he entered public life in the 1980s, at the height of the anti-communist campaign. In Davao in the early 1980s, guerrillas tested urban warfare strategies on the citys streets. They deployed Unless you saw the madness with your own eyes, it was hard to believe. On one trip to Davao, I found a city terrorized by bands of vigilantes, roaming the streets with guns or long knives, hunting for communists. The radio blared anti-communist tirades, the most incendiary of them from Jun Pala, a broadcaster who Davao was then a laboratory for a counterinsurgency strategy involving arming civilians, many of them recruited from the citys criminal underworld, and setting them loose in poor communities where the insurgents still enjoyed strong support. This strategy had the To understand what seems to validate Dutertes seemingly maniacal thirst for blood in the pursuit of order, youve got to grapple with the world that shaped him when he entered public life in the 1980s, at the height of the anti-communist campaign. In Davao in the early 1980s, guerrillas tested urban warfare strategies on the citys streets. They deployed sparrows , or assassins who gunned down policemen and criminals in broad daylight. Both in Davao and across Mindanao, the communists purged their ranks of suspected military informers, torturing and killing hundreds of innocent cadres.Unless you saw the madness with your own eyes, it was hard to believe. On one trip to Davao, I found a city terrorized by bands of vigilantes, roaming the streets with guns or long knives, hunting for communists. The radio blared anti-communist tirades, the most incendiary of them from Jun Pala, a broadcaster who compared himself to Goebbels. Pala walked around Davao armed with a Magnum revolver and a hand grenade. On air, he threatened to behead rebel sympathizers and egged on the vigilantes as they gunned down or knifed suspected communists. One day, news photographers chanced upon a vigilante band that had beheaded a suspected guerrilla. The killers posed for pictures, and said they drank the blood from the sundered head.Davao was then a laboratory for a counterinsurgency strategy involving arming civilians, many of them recruited from the citys criminal underworld, and setting them loose in poor communities where the insurgents still enjoyed strong support. This strategy had the tacit endorsement of Washington: The United States trained Filipino military officers in counterinsurgency and sent millions in military assistance for the anti-communist campaign, including a $10-million grant to the Philippine army for the planting of news stories and the creation of new political groups. Duterte appears to be betting that what worked in Davao then will work for the rest of the country now. The dark side of this was the Duterte appears to be betting that what worked in Davao then will work for the rest of the country now. And thats where the problem lies. Its hard to rein in a nation of 100 million people (Davaos population is under 2 million). Despite the political turbulence since the fall of Marcos, the Philippines today has a pluralistic political culture, a feisty press, and vibrant civil society. As the Senate hearings on the Davao killings illustrate, the checks and balances sometimes work, and theres always noisy opposition eager to stymie the powerful. In many ways, Duterte is a throwback to a dark era that the country has left behind. Hes a man out of time. Amid the murder and mayhem, Duterte was the citys only hope. Within a few years, he had neutralized the already-weakened communists by intimidating the recalcitrants among their ranks and driving them away from the city if they hadnt already been killed by the vigilantes. The rest, he offered jobs, including in the city government. He won the backing of the Davao elite, as improved peace and order allowed their businesses to thrive. He was conciliatory toward Muslim separatists and got the support of NGOs for programs that provided services for the citys poor. Today, Davao is a peaceful and booming commercial and tourist hub.The dark side of this was the masked gunmen he is said to have enlisted, some of them former communist guerrillas or local thugs, who targeted drug users, petty criminals, and the occasional criticlike the broadcaster Pala. By the early 2000s, Pala had begun aiming his incendiary broadcasts at Duterte, accusing him of a reign of terror. In 2003, as he was on his way home from work, Pala was shot multiple times in the chest and head by two men riding pillion on a motorcycle. Matobato, the former death squad member, said Duterte himself had ordered Palas murder.Duterte appears to be betting that what worked in Davao then will work for the rest of the country now. And thats where the problem lies. Its hard to rein in a nation of 100 million people (Davaos population is under 2 million). Despite the political turbulence since the fall of Marcos, the Philippines today has a pluralistic political culture, a feisty press, and vibrant civil society. As the Senate hearings on the Davao killings illustrate, the checks and balances sometimes work, and theres always noisy opposition eager to stymie the powerful. In many ways, Duterte is a throwback to a dark era that the country has left behind. Hes a man out of time. 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Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Before you decide to get your Volkswagen suspension repair in Dubai, it is important to understand what it is. There are many types of repairs to choose from. Some of Continue Reading For several decades now Park Chan-Wook has been at the forefront of Korean Cinema thats finding International audiences. His films are often breathtaking and full of bravado, solidifying sensuality and revenge in equal measure to craft works that both thrill and provide fodder for contemplation. From Oldboy through to Stoker his visual style is sumptuous and intoxicating, crafting visual marvels that are equally visceral in nature. His latest work, The Handmaiden, debuted at Cannes last May. It may well be his most accomplished work to date, a fantastic reimaging of Sarah Waters novel Fingersmith, resetting its Victorian local into the 1930s where Korea was occupied by Japanese forces. With its dizzying narrative and remarkable style even our seasoned Korea expert Pierce Conrad admits that with this work Park has outdone himself with this one. I spoke with the filmmaker through his private translater when he was in Toronto for the films North American premiere. With a screening set for Fantastic Fest, as well as a forthcoming release in October, its a fine time to hear from the master about his own views on the films impact and how it fits in with his own intellectual journey. I have described the film to people that it's as if SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE fucked RASHOMON and had a beautiful baby. I'm wondering if you could talk about your own passion for and intimidation of Japanese cinema, and how here you've made Japanese festish and Korean fetish connect. Well, I will have to talk about where the name Hideko comes from! I am a great fan of the Japanese flmmaker Mikio Naruse. His muse, for they made at least a dozen films together, was the great actress, Hideko Takamine. She is a model of my ideal woman and hence the name Hideko. As for this thing about the beauty of things that are Japanese - Of course, there's beauty to be found in other cultures as well, be it British, French, Spanish or Japanese or Chinese, what have you. They all have their own unique beauty and Japan would be no exception. Yes, I am drawn by such beauty to be found in Japanese culture. But, yes, Koreans tend to have two minds about this beauty of Japan. It would be quite different from a Korean looking at Italy and appreciating its beauty. Along with its beauty there's a sense of potential cruelty or potential violence that could explode under certain circumstances. Koreans have directly the previous generation had gone through the experience where this could be the case. That's why this film fuses together the attraction to the beauty of Japan, how we can be mesmerized by it, but at the same time, the sense of fear that you have when it comes to looking at it. On top of that youve provided another beautiful collision between this Western narrative and an Asian setting. While the film seems for me fundamentally about the complicated, masochistic and sadistic relationship betwen Korea and Japan, its equally about how the West has impacted this dynamic. Handmaiden starts as a British novel and a period novel. Im transposing that to a certain period in Korean history when it so happened that the Western culture started to flood into the Korean peninsula. Thats what makes it interesting. Koreans received Western culture, so-called the modern civilization, by route of, or filtered through Japan. For a long time, Korea played the role of being the one who was giving, passing on culture and civilization to Japan. For hundreds of years Koreans would think that they were superior and they would shut themselves to the outside world in this hermit kingdom. They were living in a situation where it was quite apart from the rest of the scientific developments that were happening in the world at that time. When the doors to Korea were forced open, the Koreans felt quite a sense of being insulted or. They were feeling that they were forcibly having their doors opened by the Japanese like this to have to receive culture this way. It was an affront. But while some others would feel rather than repulsion, they would be feeling attraction. That's of course key. Essential a Yin/yang, or Taeguk Right! Now, a character like Kouzuki (Jin-woong Jo) is the one who rather than feel affronted or feel repulsion towards the Japanese, rather, he's mesmerized by this new culture and modernism that is brought in by the Japanese and he is now worshipping the Japanese and everything that they are bringing to him. Also, he's now finding himself worshipping the British culture or the British civilization. They are both island nations and they are both imperialists at the time. In this way, Kozuki is internally being colonized as well. There's some parallels to be drawn between characters, like Kozuki and some intellectuals living in Korea right now, or at least some factions of the ruling class in Korea. The only difference is that they no longer serve Japanese masters, in their heart there are the American masters. This seems to mirror another tripartite in your film - You have Hollywood, you have Japanese cinema, you have Korean cinema. The conversation, as it were, is a Korean film coming to terms with 1950s and 60s Japanese cinema, when some in Japan were looking to Hollywood. It seems to me you are also coming to terms with also this colonization, finding fascination with all of this, but also, wanting to be your own man, find repulsion at the commonplace. As such, do you think this is your most personal film? It certainly is something to think about. First of all, Japanese films for a long time in Korea were forbidden. I didn't have the opportunity when I was young to watch Japanese films enough to be influenced by any of them. This is why I don't really think Japanese films worked in that way for me. You are influenced by films that you watch when you are younger, when are coming up. And if I cited any influences, as I was seeing them when I was younger, these would be the Hollywood classics and the French cinema. Locked-room mysteries don't get much more fiendish than the one at the heart of The Invisible Guest (Contratiempo), the new film by Spanish writer/director Oriol Paulo (The Body). Even better, that's just the starting point for an increasingly potent thriller. High-powered businessman Adrian Doria (Mario Casas) stands accused of murdering his lover in the aforementioned locked room. Complicating things still further, he's well known and also married, or at least he was until his wife learned of his arrest and the circumstances surrounding it. She departed from Adrian post-haste, with their young daughter in tow. He's already been convicted in the court of public opinion, but things are about to get even worse. According to his longtime attorney, a witness to the crime has come forward and will speak to the police (and the prosecuting attorneys) that night. So another lawyer knocks on Adrian's door. Virginia Goodman (Ana Wagener) is recently retired but, wanting to go out in a blaze of glory, agrees to take on the case to try and make his defense as bulletproof as possible, and to prepare a defense against what an eyewitness might say in court. To begin, Adrian narrates a simplified version of what happened on the fateful night, complete with flashbacks and a dramatic tear or two, which immediately irritates the lawyer. She demands to know what really happened, and insists that Adrian tells her the truth. Otherwise she cannot do the job. Thus begins a very long night, as Adrian and the attorney talk, pace, argue, and challenge each other in a high-rise apartment. It's a high-stakes cat and mouse battle, peeling away layers of self-justifications and half-truths that Adrian has constructed over a period of months. Adrian, of course, doesn't know the lawyer at all, and is not inclined to open himself easily to her, which raises additional layers of suspicion about what he is claiming to be the truth. The lawyer pokes holes in the various stories that Adrian tells -- and there are a dizzying number of versions that spin throughout the film, to the point that my head was spinning a bit. It's all told with visual clarity and elegance, even if the narrative points are sometimes hard to swallow. (Again, to a certain extent, that's to be expected, given the circumstances.). Casas is sufficiently versatile to glide easily from victim to possible victimizer, and he's well matched with Ana Wagener, who is volcanically compelling to watch as the formidable lawyer; she resembles a vulture in that she's always looking for any fresh meat that is exposed in her view. Casas is also well-matched with Barbara Lennie as his lover Laura; they have the sort of combustible chemistry that can turn from passion to pain during the course of a simple conversation. Writer/director Paulo keeps the narrative flowing ever onward at a surging pace. Early on, certain points are so ridiculously made and 'on the button' that they elicit laughter. Rest assured, that's intentional. The Invisible Guest goes beyond locked rooms into the forbidden territory of adult motivations. Why do we do the things that we do? In this movie, it's all about justice, either avoiding it or seeking it before the closing credits roll. The film will screen at Fantastic Fest again on Tuesday, September 27. News / Local by Stephen Jakes Zanu PF officials in Mbire area have reportedly threatened to starve the villagers if they did not support the ruling party.Heal Zimbabwe reported that the threats were made during a meeting at Mbire ward 17."On the 15th of September 2016, Zanu PF Councillor, Themba Zuze together with the Zanu PF ward chairperson, Shudern Bandira held a meeting at Majongwe Primary school," said the trust."At the meeting, they openly told villagers that everyone in the ward should support their party or risk being barred from receiving food aid. They warned that all opposition supporters will continue to be sidelined from food aid as this will "teach them a lesson" on who to vote for in the 2018 elections." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Ick. "Dede Wilsey Is the Defiant Socialite" https://t.co/5glUznL0UO Ayelet Waldman (@ayeletw) September 25, 2016 Following an evisceration of her work as board president and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco back in August, the New York Times circles back to paint a fuller picture of Dede Wilsey this weekend, dubbing her the "defiant socialite" of San Francisco, and even getting the reporter an invitation to lunch at Wilsey's Napa estate. The piece is delightful for all the obvious reasons, not the least of which being that Wilsey is typically very press shy and while this reporter, Laura M. Holson, gets a sit-down lunch with the grande dame, she didn't get much in the way of quotes from friends (Denise Hale, over the phone, only said, "I know you are in town, and I know why you are calling. But I dont talk about my friends."). Wilsey is keen to let the public know that as far as her museum responsibilities go, she's not going anywhere, and she'd "like to kill" whoever told the press that she was resigning. (It was reported back in July that she'd be replaced as board chair by two co-chairs, former Visa President and CEO Carl Pascarella and Jack Calhoun, come October, but she now says she's going to be sharing leadership duties with six board members.) But I for one was glad to learn that names of Wilsey's two Malteses are Twinkle and Dazzle, and that she built an entire children's village on her Napa property for her three grandchildren, which "includes a carousel, three squat miniature air-conditioned houses, a general store and a mock train station." Also: "Ms. Wilsey decorated the pale yellow walls inside the little station with murals of her dogs, her grandchildren and a monkey wearing a pink tutu." Some more gems: Absent from the family photos is Sean Wilsey, the stepson who, in a scathing memoir, characterized her as a vapid socialite who married his father for his $300 million fortune. Mr. Wilsey declined to comment for this article. Dinnertime conversations, he wrote, included such topics as the endearing unintelligence of tiny dogs, debutante parties and the popularity of his stepbrothers. I actually had a good relationship with Sean, and I have no idea why he decided to write that idiotic book, Ms. Wilsey said. Ms. Wilsey was on the cover of Town & Country in June 1962, her svelte figure wrapped in yards of fabric and white lace. She was a debutante, and her father wrote in the magazine about her coming out. At 1 a.m., the guests gathered at Dedes Peppermint Lounge, a custom-made dance club designed by Valerian Rybar, a prominent interior decorator at the time. The Bo Diddley Trio played that night; guests did the step that was all the rage at the time, the twist. Every Christmas, they kicked off the social season with a party at their Pacific Heights mansion for about 300 of San Franciscos elite. Mr. Brown, the former mayor, was a regular. It was mandatory, he said. If you ever get an invitation, you have to go. If you dont get invited, that is even worse. Ms. Wilsey estimated that she has donated to more than 380 charities in the past year, among them the Humane Society Silicon Valley, which named the Sparkle Wilsey Grooming Center in honor of a deceased dog. As lunch wound down, she recalled a time when her granddaughter, Daisy, hit her head on a glass table at the age of 2. I heard this horrible crash, Ms. Wilsey said, and she came out from under the table with this big bang on the head. And I said to her: Daisy, this is not going to be the last time you hit your head on a glass ceiling. But you did the right thing. Never cry. Never show that it hurts. Thats the most important thing you can learn from hitting your head today. Previously: Oh Dear, Dede: NY Times Eviscerates Wilsey While Chronicle Offers Her A Defense News / National by Staff reporter PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson George Charamba has lashed out at Botswana President Ian Khama over his recent calls for President Mugabe to step down saying he has recklessly exceeded the bounds of both geography and authority and has become a continental misfit.In response to questions by the Sunday News, after Reuters reported President Khama saying President Mugabe should step down, Charamba said, "If the sentiments attributed to President Khama are accurate and true, then the Batswana President has certainly exceeded the bounds of both geography and authority."He said President Khama was not a citizen of Zimbabwe and therefore has neither the right nor moral standing to call for an elected President to step down."He is not a citizen of Zimbabwe; not even a resident. That means he does not vote, itself the only democratic way of determining the term of a sitting President in Zimbabwe. That makes his views on the matter not just impertinent, but impudent as well," said Charamba.He added that it was unfortunate that President Khama was trying so hard to serve his Western friends and that was making him a misfit on the continent."No one takes notice, save those he strives so hard to serve and please. Not even his own predecessors agree with him, which is why he sticks out as an oddity on the continent," said Charamba.Information, Media and Broadcasting Minister Dr Chris Mushohwe said the Government was shocked by the strange behaviour of the Botswana President."The Government of Zimbabwe is shocked by this uncharacteristic behaviour on the part of President Khama who until last month, was at the helm of Sadc and should know better that you don't use the media platform to criticise fellow Sadc leaders as he has just done with President Mugabe. It is taboo in African etiquette and diplomacy. Mugabe has all times cautioned African leaders against attacking each other in public as this would serve to strengthen the hand of Western imperialism at the expense of African unityAll those patting him (President Khama) on the back for a job well done are hypocrites who have sold their souls to the devil and do not mean well neither for Zimbabwe nor this sub-region," he said.Zanu-PF Politburo member who is also Higher Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo weighed in his article published by The Southern Times and said President Mugabe's leadership of the country and Government was an intrinsic product of the new constitution which provides in Section 88(1) that, "executive authority derives from the people of Zimbabwe and must be exercised in accordance with this constitution."He added that consequently, the motley crew of regime changists who thoughtlessly say President Mugabe must go are enemies of Zimbabwe's new constitution."As such the Khamas of this world and their hopeless lot must be told in no uncertain terms to go hang. This is because their stance seeks to subvert constitutional democracy in Zimbabwe by overturning not just constitutionality in terms of the letter of the law, but also by undermining constitutionalism in terms of the spirit of the law and its supportive conventional practice."Sadc leaders, like Khama, who want to promote and support unconstitutional calls in Zimbabwe, are an embarrassment to the regional bloc which worked tirelessly and in a dignified way to facilitate the making of Zimbabwe's new constitution between 2009 and 2013," said Prof Moyo.He said citizens must stand up and defend the constitution as an expression of Zimbabwe's moment of truth.President Khama was quoted by Reuters saying President Mugabe should step aside without delay and allow new leadership, claiming the country's political and economic challenges since 2000 were dragging down the whole of Southern Africa."They have got plenty of people there who have got good leadership qualities who could take over," Khama, the UK-born son of Botswana's first president, Seretse Khama, and his British wife, Ruth, continued. PORTLAND, Texas William Schuetz's U.S. history class fell silent once he closed the door and walked into his classroom last May. "I don't expect you to believe anything I tell you over the next eight days," Schuetz told his students. "I came up with the idea of Conspiracy Week as a reward," Schuetz told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. "I'm not telling (the students) but I'm secretly still trying to educate them and make them curious." Schuetz covers events unconfirmed by the government. He started the week with the Philadelphia Experiment, a top-secret operation in the 1940s intended to mask naval ships from radar detection that went wrong. By the end of his series this year, he had made his pitch to students about the existence of UFOs and why Elvis Presley didn't die until recently. The chase for the truth traces back to when the teacher was a seventh-grader in a Beaumont junior high school. Over the PA came an announcement that would change his life. "'President (John F.) Kennedy was shot in Dallas,'" Schuetz recalled. "I have been researching the Kennedy assassination since that time." Schuetz gets all of his research from books, his self-proclaimed "vice." His colleagues rarely see him without one. "He's always reading something," Charlotte Brown, the school's drama teacher, said. "It's his passion and that's why his conspiracies are so good." He works meticulously to put his conspiracies together, which requires years of research. Even when he hits a dead end, he doesn't give up. "I'm resilient in the fact that I don't accept setbacks," Schuetz said. "If I'm researching and I hit a brick wall, I'll find a way around it." Schuetz is only satisfied once he fits all the pieces together. He views his research like an archaeologist digging for bones. "I'm digging in the ground for years and years and looking for that one stone tablet," Schuetz said. "That would be incredible." Conspiracy Week has become almost folklore for students. Brianne Dubose, now a senior at Gregory-Portland High School, heard about the lectures from her older sister, her mom and her friends before hearing it from Schuetz. "He's a very convincing speaker," she said. "It definitely makes you question everything." Through the years, Schuetz said teachers, principals and even school board members have stopped by to hear his conspiracies. Kyde Eddleman, the high school principal, said he enjoys sitting in for the lecture. "He's one of the most fascinating people I've ever met," Eddleman said. "His conspiracies get the kids thinking and opens up all sorts of discussions for the kids." The teacher's fascination began with a refusal to believe what he was told. Likewise, he doesn't want his students to buy into the conspiracies on his word alone. "I'm trying to challenge them," he said. "I want them to go check out a book and read up on something." Most students leave Schuetz's class with a new perspective on several events in American history, but the teacher hopes his students apply his lesson in their futures. "They're going to go to college and be exposed to incredible ideas," Schuetz said. "Don't discount them, listen, research and make up your own mind." The former Crawford County Clinic, valued at $351,000, was donated to St. Anthony by Davis Marc Tan Creti, M.D., and Dr. Rose Mary Mason in June. The renovation will be completed in two phases, with anticipated completion of the primary care clinic in January 2017, and the specialty care clinic in 2017. Throughout the renovation, current staff and services will continue at the clinic, alongside the Carroll Area Nursing Service to care for patients in the community. 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. SIOUX CITY | As narrator of Elizabeth Kelly's 2016 novel "Miracle on Monhegan Island," Ned is wry, teasingly snobbish and carries a deep, dark secret of his own. But all in all, his bark is probably no worse than his bite. Oh, did we mention that Ned happens to be a Shih Tzu? "Yeah, 'Miracle on Monhegan Island' is told from the perspective of a dog," said Mara Hall, Institute for Lifelong Learning coordinator. "I think that makes the book charming and unique." It also made this critically-acclaimed novel an interesting choice for Hall's Western Iowa Tech Community College September book club selection. Set in the picturesque Maine tourist trap, novelist Elizabeth Kelly ("The Last Summers of the Camperdowns") populates Monhegan Island with weathered lobster fishermen, fork-tongued ministers and an unusual anti-hero lead character named Spark Monahan. "(Spark) is a rakish, prodigal son who returns to his family's home out-of-the-blue," Hall explained. "In his absence, Spark's son Hally (short for Hallelujah) has been cared for by Spark's artist brother Hugh and their iron-willed dad Pastor Ragnar." It is during this eventful summer when Hally may -- or may not -- have seen a unique vision that puts the sleepy burg of Monhegan Island on the map while throwing the Monahan family for a loop. "This is a fun book that deals with family secrets and forgiveness," Hall said. "If you're willing to suspend your disbelief a bit, you'll have good time." What do you mean by suspending disbelief? Did some of your book club readers take issue with the novel? "Well, any book told from a dog's perspective is going to be unique and Ned knows how to tell a larger-than-life story. If you can get past a dog narrator, the book is fun." I supposed that's because Ned's story is one of several stories being told at the same time, right? "It is. One of the overarching themes of the novel is imperfection. The characters are far from perfect. That's also true of the Monahan's family home, the church and the island, itself. Being perfect is boring. There's drama in imperfection." And I imagine it takes a dog like Ned to dig up some very important family secrets. "That's true. I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers by saying this is not a 'dead dog' book like 'Where the Red Fern Grows.' My book club readers were relieved that Ned is never in physical danger over the course of the book." Still, Ned had some interesting hot takes on what he considered "lesser" breeds of dogs. Should readers take his attitude to heart? "I happen to be a dog lover but I'll take Ned's musings with a grain of salt. Born to dog show parents, Ned thinks Shih Tzus are the best, smartest breed of dogs. On the other hand, he considered schnauzers as being, well, sort of stupid. As a fan of mini-schnauzers, I can say with authority that they're far from dumb." LOS ANGELES -- When actors started filming the first episode of Designated Survivor, Executive Producer David Guggenheim told them, If youre playing the same character 22 episodes in, were not doing our job. The goal: To show how politics changes people. Working off a little-known practice that one cabinet official has to sit out the State of the Union address in case a disaster occurs the show thrusts a department secretary into the White House when an attack hits Washington. Where does he turn for help? How much of his life changes? The questions intrigued star Kiefer Sutherland, who thought he had had his fill of political drama with 24. I remember getting to the very end of the script and realizing that I was potentially holding the next 10 years of my life in my hands, he says. This script afforded every opportunity to create a landscape that was so vast that being able to do many years of a show would be possible. And that was very exciting to me. The president he plays in the first episode is an accidental president like Gerald Ford. As the series wears on, Sutherland says, hed like him to emulate Franklin Roosevelt, a very commonsense president (who) approached things in a very human way. Thrust into the spotlight, the actors Tom Kirkland isnt going to be politically savvy initially. When he makes an attempt to become political, he might not do it so well. Youre going to watch someone really try to learn how to manipulate Washington as Washington slowly gets put back together. Things are going to be more complicated than his ability to just think of what the right thing is to do. Family members will have problems adjusting, too. His son is a lightning rod for press attention; his wife isnt ready to play the Washington game. Issues, Sutherland adds, will become a wedge between the first couple. To help audiences forget Sutherlands past as the problem-solving Jack Bauer, the actor wears nerdy glasses and is frequently shadowed by a hulking Secret Service agent. Theres a definite differentiation, the actor says, but he doesnt want to erase the 24 experience: Never once did I feel that I was playing the same character over and over. That character, if you take a look from the very first season to the very end of the ninth season was continually evolving. Because he was working on an album and had appeared in several films after 24 ended, Sutherland wasnt interested in doing a series for the sake of doing it. I was just quite caught off guard by how special I thought (Designated Survivors) script was. Natascha McElhone, who plays Sutherlands wife, thought the ABC drama could address a whole load of questions about the democratic process because the accidental president takes the job without the ambition. While producers are aware of the campaign fatigue accompanying the current presidential race, they knew there was a desire for something different. Theres a hunger for outsider candidates, says Executive Producer Simon Kinberg. Theres a sort of Frank Capra aspect to the show theres a patriotic wish fulfillment aspect to it. While The West Wing featured an idealized president, Designated Survivor is going to rally around an innocent, uncorrupted one at least at the very beginning of his term, Kinberg says. Im Canadian, so its not something Ive ever thought of on a personal level, Sutherland says of the presidency. But the opportunity to play he transition of going from an everyday citizen to someone with that much power, thats a dream thing to play. ROME Italy's efforts to combat infertility and reverse one of Europe's lowest birthrates stumbled badly this week following an ad campaign denounced as sexist, racist and ignorant of the economic reasons why Italians aren't having babies. Italy on Thursday celebrated its first-ever "Fertility Day," promoted by the Health Ministry to prevent infertility and sterility through education and health programs. Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin sought to keep on message during the official launch, decrying the fact that 700,000 Italians who want to have children can't because of infertility problems. The campaign focuses on tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse. But she was on the defensive after her ministry was forced on the eve of the event to remove a "Fertility Day" publicity flyer criticized as racist. The flyer showed four smiling, light-skinned adults at the beach illustrating "good habits" for reproductive health. The image was placed over a darker image of a group of young people, including a black man, smoking an illustration of the "bad companions" who should be "abandoned." The criticism was swift and harsh, including from within the governing Democratic Party. Lorenzin said Thursday she had approved a different ad and didn't know how the mix-up occurred, and that she had fired the official responsible. Earlier ads in the "Fertility Day" campaign were criticized as being sexist for featuring a woman holding her belly with one hand and an hourglass with the other with the tagline: "Beauty doesn't have an age. Fertility does." Italy in 2015 registered the lowest number of births since the peninsula was unified over 150 years ago, with 1.35 live births per woman. It was the fifth straight year of declines, while the mean childbearing age for Italian women has grown steadily to 31.6 years. Many Italian women hold off having children, or have only one, for a variety of reasons: Inflexible work schedules, partners who don't share in childrearing and lack of affordable day care. Outside the "Fertility Day" launch, a few dozen protesters, including gay and lesbian activists, sharply criticized the Health Ministry initiative for having ignored what they said were the real economic reasons behind Italy's low birthrate: a stagnant economy, low-paying, temporary work contracts for young people and insufficient public day care. "It seems hypocritical coming from a government that asks us to have children without creating the conditions" to raise them, said Marica di Pierri of the Association a Sud group. SIOUX CITY | Aletha Hedlund described labor contractions to her peers who hadn't yet given birth as a tightening of the entire body. The soon-to-be mother of three said she rolled around in a seated position to try to get her mind off of the pain. "I think when you have a lot of support behind you it's not as painful as if you were by yourself," she reassured. Hedlund is one of six women between 23 and 29 weeks along in their pregnancies who are participating in CenteringPregnancy, a new prenatal care program offered at Siouxland Community Health Center. The women, some of whom are accompanied by their partners, learn about a variety of topics during the 10-session program, including nutrition, breastfeeding, postpartum mood disorders and family planning. Studies have shown that CenteringPregnancy increases breastfeeding rates and duration, decreases low birth weight and prematurity rates, and increases patient and provider satisfaction. According to Iowa Kids Count data, in 2014, 6.8 percent of babies born in Woodbury County were classified as having a low birth weight, which is less than 5.5 pounds. That percentage was slightly higher than the state average of 6.7 percent and below the national average of 8 percent that year. Infants born at a low birth weight are at higher risk for physical and developmental delays that hinder growth, school readiness and adult health. The data showed Woodbury County's percentage of live births where the mother began prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy (78.9 percent) was lower than the state average (83.9 percent) in 2014. "They're more apt to come to more appointments and get more education," Mikey O'Sullivan, manger of the prenatal program at Siouxland Community Health Center (SCHC), said of patients who attend group prenatal care. "The main reason that people do want to do it is they get the same provider and for a lot of first-time moms it gives them a chance to hear more information." Centering Healthcare Institute founder Sharon Rising started bringing pregnant women together for prenatal visits in the 1990s in an effort to provide more effective care. The centering model is now practiced at 425 sites in the United States. O'Sullivan, a registered nurse, said she and Amy Reif-Elks, a faculty physician with the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation, tried to get CenteringPregnancy going at the Crittenton Center, but lacked the necessary space and support. They turned to SCHC to start a program in Siouxland. Every year, the Health Resources and Services Administration makes grant awards to federally qualified health centers that demonstrate high quality patient outcomes. SCHC used about $8,000 of this funding for CenteringPregnancy training for three clinicians, while a $2,000 award from the Siouxland Community Health Foundation was used to purchase start-up supplies for the program, which debuted at SCHC on July 1 with the opening meeting of the first group. A second group will begin meeting in late October. "My first (pregnancy) I barely learned anything. I just went with the flow," Sarah Cotter, of Sioux City, said on a Wednesday afternoon as her 2-year-old son Sam toddled around the room playing with purple stability balls positioned in a circle. "I'm learning stuff that I wish I would've known before." Some of the women were busy recording their temperature and weight, while others tucked one by one behind a divider in the corner of the room. There, Reif-Elks listened to their babies' heartbeats and measured fundal height, the distance between the top of the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. She also answered questions the women didn't feel comfortable sharing in front of the group. Josefina Mora is pregnant with her first child. The Sioux City woman said she thought group prenatal care sounded like a good idea when she first heard about it because it would allow her to learn more about her health and that of her baby. She said "the whole thing" has been interesting. During the group discussion, the women sat on chairs or the stability balls as they passed around various forms of birth control. Prenatal case manager Mary Paeper said it's important to explore contraceptive options that might require an appointment with a specialist. Hedlund said she liked using a hormone-releasing birth control implant because she didn't have to worry about getting pregnant for three years. O'Sullivan chimed in, informing the women that they could get pregnant easily after having Implanon removed. She said women who want to conceive after using the Depo-Provera birth control shot might not be able to get pregnant for six months to a year after stopping injections. Hedlund said she became pregnant two weeks after having the implant removed. "I was also ready for it too, because I'm spreading my kids out three to four years apart," she said. Cotter said she took birth control pills every day, but still got pregnant. After covering family planning, the group moved on to domestic violence. Each participant was asked to hold up the red side of a card bearing a statement if it was false and the green side if the statement was true. They all held up green cards in response to, "An example of economic abuse is when a women's partner controls all of the money, even if the money is earned by the woman." The group was conflicted about the statement "Men who abuse their wives or partners are also likely to abuse their children." "Yes. Usually if they do abuse their spouse, they will also tend to abuse their children," Paeper said. A retirement party for retiring Sioux City Police Capt. Melvin Williams will be held 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Police/Fire Headquarters, 601 Douglas St. The time of the party was incorrect in an article headlined "Longtime Sioux City Police captain to retire from force" on Page A5 of the Journal's Sept. 23 edition. SIOUX CITY | As Rep. Steve King aims for an eighth term in the U.S. House, one of his three sons again has a chief role in his re-election campaign. King's youngest son, Jeff, quickly became part of his father's team after Steve King, a Republican businessman from Kiron, was first elected to Congress in 2002. Jeff King now serves as campaign chairman, and he's been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars from his father's campaign in the 12 years. "Advancing the conservative movement is why dad and I are into this," Jeff King told the Journal in an interview Friday. Jeff King said he enjoys working for his father, even if the congressman jokes that people can treat family members roughly, knowing they won't quit. At least he thinks his father is "90 percent joking" on that. "I have worked for some characters, and he is not a character, but he has his quirks...He works harder than anybody on staff and I hate to admit that," Jeff King said. King does a variety of tasks for his father's campaign team. He undertakes fundraising, oversees other workers, helps with debate preparations and helps organize notable annual Steve King events as the Defenders of Freedom and Pheasant Hunt, both of which frequently draw Republican presidential wannabees. "I am with Dad quite a bit when he is back in the district," Jeff King said. Steve King said his son is a valuable member of his team and that he is paid little in comparison to the expertise delivered. "Jeff King is so far undefeated, so I think that is pretty good... He is a highly valued individual. That is chump change, for what we get," the congressman told the Journal editorial board in May. Jeff King is paid for year-round work, not just in the final months as a campaign ramps up to election day every two years. Steve King said keeping his son on as an employee continuously saves money. The congressman said if he ran a campaign in the months before a November even-year election, then let the people go, before hiring a new staff, it would take extra time and money to gear them up. Back in the 2000s, while Steve King represented the heavily Republican 5th District, his campaign team was sometimes just Jeff King and one other staffer, he said. "He has accumulated an institutional knowledge that allows me to keep my mind on my job and not so much on the campaign. That helps me serve Iowans. You can't hire that, out there. The skill set that Jeff King has is not in the marketplace -- you'd have to raise it and you'd have to build it -- and he's been part of this team for as long as I've been in Congress," the congressman said. NORTHWEST IOWA ROOTS Steve King and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Kiron, where they built an earth moving construction business while raising their three sons. Jeff was 22 and a recent Iowa State University graduate when his father, then a state senator, was first elected to the U.S. House in 2002. Jeff King said he initially thought he would work for his father on his congressional staff, until learning that wasn't possible given nepotism rules. He went to Washington in early 2003 to work for a group advocating adoption of English as the official language of the U.S., and became a paid staffer for his father's first re-election campaign in 2004. Now, 37, Jeff lives in Wall Lake, with his wife, Lindsay, and their three children. Jeff acknowledged the campaign work is now tougher to juggle with family duties. The roles and pay levels for him have changed over the years. He was paid $18,839 for "consulting fees" in the first six months of 2005. Jeff said the job title doesn't matter, he just likes boosting his father in re-election cycles. "I definitely take pride in (his father's re-election). Not just for the wins, but because dad is the right person for the job," he said. HOUSE NEPOTISM RULES There is no law that says a federal legislator can't hire a family member for political campaigns. However, the rules are more stringent in the hiring of family for their congressional staffs, per the Committee on House Administration handbook on nepotism. It also is a rarity in Iowa politics for a major state or federal officeholder to hire a son as a paid campaign staffer, although some children certainly have volunteered to help boost a parent's election quests. Eric Branstad, a son of six-term Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, has worked on campaign teams for others, but not his father. Other Iowa congressman in recent years, including the state's three other Reps. Rod Blum, David Loebsack and David Young, are not believed to have hired their sons or daughters to work on their campaign teams. Like other members, Steve King's campaign team also includes non-family members. For instance, in 2012 he hired additional staff when facing a stiff challenge from Democrat Christie Vilsack, a former Iowa first lady. Jeff King said the team rose to a half-dozen campaign workers to compete with Vilsack, who he said has been the congressman's toughest competitor. DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ALSO PAID Steve King amasses campaign funds from individuals and political action committees, then doles out the money to targeted expenses. Those financial amounts are detailed in required Federal Election Commission reports. Federal Election Commission figures show Jeff King was paid $49,992 in 2013 for his role as campaign chairman. Jeff King's wife, Lindsay, was paid for the first six months of 2013 for data entry, then moved to office manager in July, when her pay level increased. Jeff and Lindsay King received a total of $69,327 for 2013, or 16 percent of the $444,832 in operating expenditures that King's campaign paid out for the year. In the current election cycle, figures from 2015 and 2016 reports show Jeff King received $94,988 over 18 months through June. (The next quarterly report will summarize finances through September.) Receiving paychecks twice per month, he got a raise in pay from $4,166 per month to $5,416 per month as 2015 went on. The first quarter 2016 FEC report showed nearly $8,000 combined per month going to Jeff and Lindsay King. As campaign chairman, Jeff King received $5,416 each month, with Lindsay King collecting $2,400 as office manager, from January through March. PAC TOOK ISSUE Funds directed to King family members became a campaign issue earlier this year as Steve King fended off a primary challenge from Republican Rick Bertrand, a state senator from Sioux City. In May, while meeting with the Journal editorial board, Steve King examined a copy of a mailer sent by the American Future Fund Political Action Committee that summarized payments from King's congressional campaign since 2003. "Congressman King and his family have received payments totalling (sic) $797,020 from his congressional campaign account," said the flier, which was mailed to 4th District votes in the run up to the primary election in June. The flyer also cited that King family campaign disbursements were above $91,000 in 2015, or 23 cents out of every dollar. Steve King said he didn't like that AFF was the source of the mailer, calling Iowa political consultant Nick Ryan, who was affiliated with the PAC, "the hatchet man." King said 23 percent of his funding going to Jeff and Lindsay King wasn't too high. "Some people have seen that and commented, 'That is pretty cheap,' " the congressman told the Journal editorial board. By comparison, Steve King said the engineering fees for expanding U.S. Highway 20 in Northwest Iowa are 18 percent of the project. "Everybody has overhead in their campaign. It would be a smaller percentage if we raised more money and ran more ads. But we didn't do that, we raised the money that we needed, and we spent it wisely," Steve King said. OTHER IOWA CAMPAIGN PAY VARIES Steve King faces Democrat Kim Weaver of Sheldon in the Nov. 8 general election. Weaver's most recent campaign finance report, showed paying her campaign manager David Kelso $976 every two weeks, or $1,952 per month. Three Iowa congressmen are running for re-election in 2016. 1st District Rep. Rod Blum, a Republican, lists no wage payments to a campaign manager this year, although he paid consultant fees. 2nd District U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat, is paying his campaign manager Nick Clarksen $4,141 per month. Third District U.S. Rep. David Young, a Republican, is paying campaign manager Charlie Szold $4,775 per month. SIOUX CITY | NBC personality Al Roker was the keynote speaker at the Diocese of Sioux City's annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Schools Saturday a gig he rarely does. "I do very few of these to be honest," said Roker, who attended Catholic schools growing up in New York. "But this was something that meant something. I do think it is a difficult time. My elementary school that I went to is unfortunately closed because of funding issues, and I think support of Catholic schools is very important. To do something to help that is a good thing." The Bishops Dinner for Catholic Schools serves as the single largest fundraiser benefiting 16 Catholic school systems throughout Northwest Iowa, including the Diocese of Sioux City. Saturday's event at the Convention Center brought 700 people from across the Diocese. Last year's dinner raised $200,000. "The reason he did this was that he believes in education, and he wanted to support that education, especially Catholic schools that are under difficult financial situations in many dioceses around the country," Diocese of Sioux City Bishop R. Walker Nickless said. "For him to come here and to support us, is a great sign that he respects our schools and that were are doing the right thing." Roker has been the weather and feature anchor on NBC News "Today" for more than 20 years. He also served as co-host of the morning show "Wake Up with Al" on the Weather Channel. He is a New York Times best-selling author of four books including his most recent written with wife Deborah Roberts titled, "Been There, Done That; Family Wisdom For Modern Times." Roker said his favorite part of all his different jobs is the variety. "Wednesday I interviewed Harry Belafonte. Yesterday I interviewed Geena Davis, this Monday Im going swimming with the U.S. Olympic water polo team," he said at a press conference before the dinner. "Every day is different, that's my favorite part... Then theres the weather itself that changes everyday." Millions are familiar with Roker's signature phrase, "That's what is going on around the country, and here's what is happening in your neck of the woods," after he presents the national weather forecast, and throws it to the local news stations to broadcast their weather. The iconic phrase, he said, was created on the spot after a director said local stations were complaining they didn't know when to cut away. "My mothers father, my grandfather, would always say, Oh grandson, whats going on in your neck of the woods, so it was the only saying I could come up with under the gun," Roker said. "Not the greatest saying in the world, but it's worked." News / National by Staff reporter President Robert Mugabe is back home after attending the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Venezuela and the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he joined other world leaders who gathered to find ways of tackling numerous challenges facing the world.Mugabe received a hero's welcome at the Harare International Airport from thousands of Zanu-PF supporters.President Mugabe and the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe were welcomed by the two vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cde Phelekezela Mphoko, Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Chris Mushohwe, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Miriam Chikukwa, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwawo, senior government officials and thousands of Zanu-PF supporters.Not to be outdone by Pan-African groups operating under the banner of the December 12 Movement, who gave Mugabe a hero's welcome in New York, were Zanu-PF supporters who turned up in their thousands to show solidarity with the President Mugabe and to thank him for articulating issues of concern to Zimbabwe at the two high level conferences.Addressing the crowd, Mugabe slammed Pastor Evan Mawarire's attempts to stage demonstrations at the UN headquarters saying his behaviour is a disgrace to the nation.Mugabe thanked the commitment and dedication shown by Zanu-PF supporters.President Mugabe addressed the Non-Aligned Movement where he challenged the organisation to assess its relevance and lead the process of reforming multilateral financial lending institutions and the UN in pursuit of a more equitable global order.Mugabe also delivered a powerful speech at the 71st United Nations General Assembly debate.He also addressed two other high level conferences that were held on the sidelines of the General Assembly. SIOUX CITY | Thomas Eugene Heck, 64, of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, surrounded by his family, following a lengthy battle with leukemia. Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, 2320 Outer Drive North, in Sioux City, with the Rev. David Hemann officiating. Inurnment will be in Hillside Cemetery, Merrill, Iowa. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, the family will be present at 4 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.christysmith.com. Thomas was born on Sept. 23, 1951, in Sioux City, to Ronald and Fern (Hamilton) Heck. He grew up in Sioux City and attended Sioux City Public Schools. He graduating from Leeds High School. Thomas was united in marriage to Debra Kohler on Oct. 6, 1972. The couple made the Leeds neighborhood of Sioux City their home and had two children, Corey and Stacey. Tom worked as a butcher for several grocery stores around town, including Sunshine Food Stores, Hy-Vee and Fareway. He also worked at Regency Square in South Sioux City. Tom enjoyed fishing, camping, watching the Huskers play, attending his grandchildren's games and taking road trips with his wife, Debra. He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Leeds Community Club. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Debra of Sioux City; two children, Corey and his wife, Beth Heck of Elkhorn, Neb., and Stacy and her husband, Matt Hattermann of South Sioux City; three brothers, Terry and his wife, Rochelle Heck, Todd and his wife, Lisa Heck, and Tim and his wife, Brenda Heck; two sisters, Lynne and her husband, Martin Pippett, and Loriann Nelson and her friend, Gene Schoenherr; four grandchildren, Emily Heck, Asher Heck, Andrew Hattermann and Madison Hattermann; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; and his mother and father-in-law. AURORA, Colo. -- Here on the High Plains, where the deer and the antelope once played, Denver's suburbs roam toward the Rockies' front range and the nature of today's polyglot politics is written in the local congressman's campaign schedule. One day last week, Republican Mike Coffman went from a Hispanic charter school in a strip mall, to another strip mall for lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant with leaders of the Ethiopian-American community, then to a meeting with the editor of the largest of two Korean-language newspapers serving more than 3,000 Korean-Americans in the metropolitan area. Coffman was elected to Congress in 2008 with 61 percent of the vote, replacing Tom Tancredo, a firebrand who that year ineffectually ran for president as a scourge of illegal immigrants. Coffman's thinking was somewhat congruent with Tancredo's. Then, however, the political market -- aka democracy -- began to work, with an assist from Democrats, who inadvertently made Coffman a better politician and person. After he was re-elected with 66 percent in 2010, his district was gerrymandered to make it more Democratic -- 20 percent Hispanic, with a generous salting of other minorities. He won in 2012 with just 48 percent of the vote. In 2014, national Democrats recruited a formidable opponent, a Yale graduate who had taught, in Spanish, in Central American schools. So, Coffman learned Spanish well enough to do an entire debate in the language, and today banters in Spanish with the children at Roca Fuerte Academy. The pastor who founded it in 2008 says this charter school is anathema to, and underfunded by, the local school district, which is obedient to the teachers union, which dislikes charters that are not obedient to it. The district's schools have just a 61 percent graduation rate. Roca Fuerte Academy does better. Some of the academy's pupils in their school uniforms are antecedents of the pronoun in Donald Trump's four-word immigration policy: "They have to go." They were brought here by illegal immigrants. Trump wants to send them "home" to countries they do not remember. Coffman has co-authored legislation that would provide legal status and a path to lawful permanent resident status to those who came before age 16, have lived here five consecutive years, and who have been accepted to a college or vocational school or have demonstrated an intent to enlist in the military, or have a valid work authorization. At the Nile restaurant, Coffman's cowboy boots go beneath a table groaning under the weight of trays laden with Ethiopian food that is eaten without utensils, scooped up with bits torn from rolls of bread as thin and flexible as fabric. Coffman sits next to an Orthodox bishop who is wearing a cassock and a glittering pectoral cross. As guests arrive, several kiss a crucifix he holds. He speaks scant English but draws 1,500 to Sunday services. Many of those around the table have been in America for at least a decade and are citizens and small-business entrepreneurs. Ethiopians are Colorado's second-largest immigrant community and are grateful for Coffman's attempts to pressure Ethiopia's authoritarian government to stop using violence against protesters. Coffman attends the annual "Taste of Ethiopia" festival here in America's Mountain West and "Ethiopians for Coffman" might matter in November. As might the Korean-American community, which continues to honor those Americans who, like Coffman's father, fought in the Korean War. Coffman, 61, enlisted in the Army before receiving his high school diploma, which he earned while serving. After leaving the Army and graduating from the University of Colorado, he went to Marine Corps officer training. When he left the Corps he became a state legislator until called back into uniform in 1991 for the Gulf War. In 2005, he resigned as state treasurer to serve a tour of duty with the Marines in Iraq. There he helped organize elections in a place where diversity is rather more problematic than in Colorado's 6th Congressional District. His opponent this year, who dislikes charter schools and school choice, does not speak fluent Spanish and, unlike almost all candidates challenging incumbents, does not seem to want many debates -- she even declined the Denver Post's. Coffman thinks she does not want anything to distract from her theme, which is: Trump is a Republican and so is Coffman. In early August, however, Coffman acted pre-emptively with a television ad that began: "People ask me, 'What do you think about Trump?' Honestly, I don't care for him much." Spoken like a Marine who does 10 sets of 50 pushups daily. SIOUX CITY | The number of city of Sioux City employees paid in excess of $100,000 rose from 20 to 27 in the last budget year, according to newly released city data. Despite the individual increases, the citys total payroll climbed less than a quarter of a percent, from $47.17 million in fiscal 2015 to $47.29 million for the fiscal year ending June 30. City manager Robert Padmore received a 3.6 percent raise in the most recent budget year, raising his annual salary from $158,824 to $164,571. After Padmore, Sioux City's highest-paid employees are city attorney Nicole Dubois ($133,240), assistant city manager Mike Collett ($121,999), information technologies director John Malloy ($121,950), police chief Doug Young ($121,551) and Sioux City Fire Rescue chief Tom Everett ($121,480). A notable pay raise during the year went to Collett, whose salary increased from $98,346 in fiscal 2015 to $121,999.88 in fiscal 2016. Padmore said Collett took on several additional duties during that year. "He became the assistant city manager overseeing not only transit, but also airport and administration services," Padmore said. "He had a major increase in responsibilities." Although Padmore remains the highest-paid city employee, his salary continues to be low in comparison to city managers in most other large Iowa cities. Sioux City is Iowa's fourth-largest city. The city manager of Cedar Rapids, the second-most populous city in the state, made $278,874.65 last year. Des Moines, the largest Iowa city, paid its city manager $215,286.52. Davenport, Iowas third-largest city, offers a yearly salary of $178,000. Dubuque's city manager received a base pay of $218,405 last fiscal year. City managers in Iowa City, Ames and West Des Moines also made between $180,000 and $200,000. A direct comparison in job responsibilities for city managers is difficult due to differences in the form of city government. Young and Everett both received about 6.6 percent pay raises in fiscal 2016. Padmore said the raise was performance-based. A raise during the previous year had included a pay raise to bring them more in line with similar positions around the state. Padmore acknowledged both Young and Everett are on the low end of pay for police and fire chiefs among Iowa's most-populous cities, but the city is working to keep their pay competitive. The city manager said the city pays attention to its total payroll when calculating budgets. He said pay changes based on the city's negotiations with union employees and cost of living increases. Non-union employees receive pay increases based on performance, he said. "We try to be fair to our employees," Padmore said. "You'll see increases every year, but we try to keep it reasonable and reflect the ability of the city to pay." In December 2015, the city council approved a two-year contract with its largest union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 212. The agreement included raises between 2.25 percent and 2.5 percent and concessions on health care benefits. The city also approved similar pay raises for other unionized workers, including those in the police and fire departments. In the fiscal 2019 budget, pay increases will kick in for Sioux Citys mayor and council members. In February, the City Council voted to raise the pay for mayor by 50 percent, and council members by 53 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Under the plan, the mayor's annual salary will climb by $5,000, from $10,000 to $15,000, while council pay will leap by $4,500, from $8,500 to $13,000. At the time, Mayor Bob Scott said pay for council members had not increased since 2000. Scott made $10,215.50 during the 2016 fiscal year, and his salary remains on the low end among Iowa's largest cities. It will remain among the low end after the increase. In comparison, the mayor of Des Moines makes $52,175, and the mayor of Cedar Rapids makes $35,378.46. Davenport's mayor has a budgeted salary of $45,000. All serve in mayor-city manager styles of government. At $13,000, council pay will remain competitive with Iowas top cities. Des Moines city council members earned $9,000 last fiscal year. Council members in Cedar Rapids made $17,693.78, and Davenport council members earned $15,000. DES MOINES | Monica Speaks wants answers about her fathers death 30 years ago. But like dozens of other Iowans this year, she was shut down by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. The reason is a controversial and relatively recent interpretation of a 45-year-old Iowa law in which the department claims any document created or collected as part of an investigation can be considered confidential forever. That includes records involving the apparent 1986 suicide in Oskaloosa of Rick Lynne Davis, Speaks father. Davis was found shot to death in a car. Speaks believes its possible the death was related to her fathers involvement in the drug trade. The agency gave Speaks a synopsis of its work but refused her access to the records. "It's impossible. It's literally impossible" to know without the records what was reviewed or investigated, Speaks said. "I'm not looking to arrest anybody. I just want to know what happened with my dad." The Department of Public Safety denied all or parts of 40 out of 59 record requests it received during the first six months of 2016, a Des Moines Register investigation found. And of the 40 denials, 28 were based on the investigative file exemption regardless of whether the case is closed, remains under investigation or went cold three decades ago. A spot check showed that local law enforcement agencies rarely use the same exemption. Des Moines police had no record of any requests it has denied citing that exemption in the first six months of 2016. The Polk County sheriff had two. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek said the department generally views most records as public once a case has closed. I know that school of thought exists, Parizek said in reference to agencies that have decided to keep most investigative records off-limits to the public even when cases are closed. But we tend to take an approach in favor of transparency. Some of the other records DPS has denied: A national group focused on privacy issues sought records showing how Iowa uses facial recognition technology. In that case, the state wouldnt even acknowledge whether it has written policies or manuals about the matter. An attorney said a denied records request prevented him from checking what, if anything, the state agency reviewed before clearing a local police chief accused of unlawfully entering a residence. A journalist was denied access to case numbers assigned to criminal cases. Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan declined multiple requests for interviews about the records issues, initially referring questions to the Iowa Attorney Generals office. DPS spokesman Alex Murphy ultimately answered the questions, saying the departments general policy is to withhold information related to investigations unless it fits the "immediate facts and circumstances" of a case, which Iowa law generally requires to be released. Murphy also defended the agencys decisions to release additional information in some cases but not others. He said those decisions are largely strategic and intended to help law enforcement investigate crimes. "For each request, we review the specific facts and circumstances of the case to determine what, if anything, can be released," Murphy wrote. An evolving interpretation The idea that a public record reviewed or collected by an Iowa investigator can be considered forever confidential is a relatively new interpretation of the law, and one that some say is contrary to the intent and spirit of Iowa's public records law. That exemption is intended to only be applicable if it is part of an ongoing investigation, said Arthur Bonfield, a retired University of Iowa law professor who was the principal architect behind the states open meetings law in 1978 and has helped legislators write or modify numerous other public transparency measures. It seems to me that once the investigation is no longer ongoing, that exemption is functionally terminated. Some of the first notable examples of that interpretation arose in 2014, when the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation refused to release records in several cases in which people died after officers shocked them with 50,000-volt electrical weapons known as Tasers. In another case that same year, Polk County District Court Judge Robert Blink ruled that the placement of a comma in the state's open records law means that records that were once part of a law enforcement agency's investigative files may remain confidential even after the investigation is concluded. That ruling was prompted by Timothy Wayne Allen's effort to review records pertaining to four Iowa homicides from the 1970s involving young women. Three of the four remain unsolved. Allen, of Ankeny, argued that routine public records may be released if they are not part of an ongoing investigation, which he said had been a longtime practice under Iowa's open records law. But Blink said the comma's placement in the statute's wording means that only electronic mail and telephone billing records of law enforcement agencies must be released following the conclusion of an investigation. "The initial phrase before the first comma, 'peace officers' investigative reports,' is unqualified; thus, investigative reports are confidential without condition," Blink ruled. Allen, a former New Orleans homicide detective, said the FBI provided him dozens of documents on the Iowa cases after he filed a similar records request with that agency. "If the FBI can provide me with responsive documents," Allen said, "why cant the DCI? (The Division of Criminal Investigation is part of the Public Safety department.) Theres something clearly fundamentally wrong in the way they are applying this exemption." Further court scrutiny Public record watchdogs are closely monitoring a case that involves the quest for records involving Autumn Steele, a 34-year-old mother accidentally shot and killed in front of her toddler by Burlington Police Officer Jesse Hill. Hill was cleared of wrongdoing and returned to work about two months after the incident. The family and the Burlington Hawk Eye newspaper have sought 911 call transcripts, emails and footage from police body and dashboard cameras. The local agencies involved including the Burlington police and the Des Moines County Attorney claim they turned all their records over to the state, and therefore have no documents in their possession. And the Division of Criminal Investigation claims those records are part of its investigation and not among the immediate facts and circumstances required to be released under Iowa law. All three agencies were charged with public record violations in a case being prosecuted by a public information board appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad. An administrative law judge is set to hear the case against the county attorney in October. Police tell a story and just expect the public to take their word for it. Its unbelievable, said Gina Colbert, Autumn Steeles mother. How does this happen in America? CEDAR RAPIDS | First impressions matter even or especially in presidential debates. Although the 2016 presidential campaign has been underway in earnest for months, Monday nights debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump at Hofstra University will create a first impression for many voters, said University of Iowa political science professor Cary Covington. Because its the first time they are face-to-face it will shape everything that happens in the remaining 42 days before the Nov. 8 election, Covington said. The impression you create in the first round you either have to overcome it or you can build on it, but it sets the stage for the next debate. The stakes are high because debates really do have potential to change elections and this election is very close, said Iowa State University English professor Ben Crosby. Based on the number of people who watched debates during the primary campaign, Crosby expects a huge percentage of the voting population will be watching. The big question is what will they be watching? We dont know what to expect because we dont know what to expect from Donald Trump, Covington said. Will he behave in a more conventional style? Or will he behave more like he did in many of the Republican Party debates? Will he wait his turn to talk? Will he interrupt? Will he make derogatory comments towards Hillary Clinton or Lester Holt? Or will he be polite and respectful? The cards are stacked against Trump, Crosby said, because his strategy in previous debates was to rely on his gut and ego and ridicule to win the day. That probably wont work in a high-profile debate against a female opponent. Clinton has built a campaign on her experience as a senator and secretary of state. However, thats her weakness, too, Crosby said, because Trump can question her record on Syria, Libya and her other supposed successes. As hes pointed out, there have been all sorts of failures and oversights on her watch, he said. Whichever Trump shows up for the debate, Chris Larimer, a University of Iowa political science professor, will be surprised if voters learn anything new. Rather than lay out new policies or new approaches, Trump and Clinton are more likely to reassure some hesitant supporters, to focus less on policy details and more on the performance, to convey a sense of being presidential. Both candidates will try to mobilize those voters who at this point are reluctant supporters. That would include Democrats for whom Clinton wasnt their first choice and establishment Republicans who have been slow to embrace Trump. I dont think theres going to be any sort of persuasive effect, that is you wont see a Trump supporter say theyll vote for Hillary or vice versa, Larimer said. Typically, its people who already have made up their minds who watch the presidential debates and they filter what they hear through that partisan lens, Larimer said. Whats different is that Trump may attract a wider audience of people who watch just to watch, he said. News / National by Staff reporter President Robert Mugabe, without a hint of irony, yesterday lashed at pro-democracy groups - including music icon Thomas Mapfumo - for demonstrating against him during his visit to New York last week.Addressing Zanu-PF supporters at Harare International Airport upon his return from the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, Mugabe however, said he was thankful to the December 12 Movement which "neutralised" the Zimbabwean protesters."Now, think about it, we are the only country who had these people," Mugabe told the bussed supporters."He (Evan Mawarire #ThisFlag ) leaves here alone and rushes to America to recruit other people two, three, four and says let's go. Zimbabwe was the only one, it's embarrassing, it's a shame, a great shame, there were no other countries."They say there is no democracy, in here? Are there no squabbles the whole world, aren't there people with their own disgruntlements?"Why are they not found at the United Nations? And you find only Zimbabweans, don't they think? We hear (Thomas) Mapfumo was also there, to do what? Only that group of Zimbabweans."Zimbabwe; the whole world, what a shame, a great shame," lamented Mugabe.Exiled clergyman, Mawarire who was hounded out of the country by Mugabe and his Zanu-PF allies, after staging a successful crippling strike on July 6, organised Zimbabweans in the US to demonstrate against the long-serving nonagenarian during the UN meeting in New York, last week, over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.Chimurenga music maestro, Mapfumo, was among the people who heeded Mawarire's call to embarrass Mugabe in front of the global media which came out in full force to cover the UN General Assembly meeting.Mapfumo has been living in the US since 2002 and is among Mugabe's most rabid critics.Yesterday, Mugabe betrayed a man clearly hurt by the protests which he countered through the vociferous December 12 Movement which has stood by him yearly when he is at the UN."They (Mawarire, Mapfumo and others) were sent by the whites. They were instructed, we say down with them and the whites who sent them. The British, the Americans who sent them, down with them," denounced Mugabe.Meanwhile, Mugabe castigated fellow African presidents for "warming" up to the western countries, claiming they were against the elevation of the continent to the permanent post of the UN Security Council.Describing them as cowards, the Zanu-PF leader said he would drum up support for fellow African countries to leave the UN."This year we have resolved to unite so that when our demands to reform the UN are not met... although we haven't finished the discussions."We want to resolve that if they continue refusing; they must not cry foul if everyone unites to form another organisation."I don't know if everyone will be willing to unite with us, because it requires people who are strong. But now we have people who fear, they are no longer those who formed the OAU now (Africa Union), they are cowards."So we are going to go around strengthening them in the coming days," said Mugabe. DES MOINES | Iowas public records law lists 67 exemptions when records may be withheld. The investigative file exemption has historically been viewed to be applicable to ongoing cases and specifically to the report itself, not public records that were gathered as part of the investigation. Heres what the exemption says, and heres how Polk County District Court Judge Robert Blink interpreted it in March 2014: Iowa Code 22.7: The following public records shall be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information: Iowa Code 22.7(5): Peace officers investigative reports, and specific portion of electronic mail and telephone billing records of law enforcement agencies if that information is part of an ongoing investigation, except where disclosure is authorized elsewhere in this Code. However, the date, time specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident shall not be kept confidential under this section, except in those unusual circumstances where disclosure would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to the safety of an individual. BLINKS RULING: The plain reading of the law does not support the interpretation that investigative reports must be disclosed if they are not part of an ongoing investigation. The phrase if that information is part of an ongoing investigation only modifies the immediately preceding phrase specific portion of electronic mail and telephone billing records of law enforcement agencies. The initial phrase before the first comma, [p]eace officers investigative reports, is unqualified; thus, investigative reports are confidential without condition. While CHS Inc. is a relatively new name in our region, it is widely known as is the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States. Diversified in energy, grains and foods, CHS (www.chsinc.com) is owned by 75,000 producers, about 1,100 member-owned cooperatives and 20,000 preferred stock holders. Simply put, CHS sells cooperatives and farmers everything they need to grow healthy, profitable crops, says Chris Oehler, CHS plant manager, South Sioux City, Neb. Products like fertilizer, seed, crop protection products, agronomic expertise, financing, fuel, lubricants for their machinery, and propane to dry their crops after harvest and warm their homes. Then, we buy our customers grain and sell it, either as a commodity or as a value-added ingredient, to food and feed companies all over the world. At the South Sioux City plant, CHS annually manufactures about 9,000 tons of isolated soy protein, which is an ingredient used to increase the nutritional components of snack bars, cereals, energy drinks, and processed meats, such as pizza toppings and meat in frozen entrees. Oehler says the process starts with soy flour white flakes, shipped to the plant from the CHS soybean processing plant at Creston, Iowa, or Mankato, Minn. We use fairly complicated, proprietary processes to extract the protein from the white flake. I would describe that process as combining science, chemistry, physics and mechanical methods, he says. On-site chemistry and microbiology labs monitor the production process to ensure high quality products that meet customer specifications. All product leaving the South Sioux City plant is non-GMO, and kosher and Halal certified. Every day, our teams are focused on helping our owners grow by providing global food and feed companies with safe, high quality soy protein isolates, says Oehler. The South Sioux City facility adds value for owners by extending the use of their commodity into new, rapidly-growing consumer markets. CHS is also a responsible steward in the communities where it does business. Last year, the CHS Foundation invested $15.5 million to develop the next generation of agricultural leaders, improve agricultural safety and enhance rural vitality. Closer to home, Oehler says the South Sioux City plant stewardship committee has invested $20,000 within the last 12 months, supporting a number of local organizations that alleviate hunger, build strong rural communities, develop future ag leaders, and improve agricultural and rural safety. CHS has 75 full-time employees at the South Sioux City plant, working 24/7 in a variety of production, engineering, maintenance, food safety, and operations positions. Currently, CHS has openings and is taking applications for internships. We are in expansion mode, Oehler said, adding that the company is looking for both supervisors and operators. The plant is located at 395 164th St., South Sioux City (Roth Industrial Park). To apply, or learn more, go to http://www.chsinc.com. Diamond Vogel Paints, a third-generation paint manufacturer headquartered in Orange City, Iowa, celebrated 90 years of business this year. Diamond Vogel founder Andrew Vogel started Vogel Paint and Wax Company in 1926 with two small pigment grinders in his garage and the third-grade education typical of his native Holland. Growing up in Friesland, Netherlands, Vogel worked in his fathers paint shop applying finishes to the homes and carriages of Dutch farmers. In 1913, the family immigrated to America. The Dutch immigrant settled in northwest Iowa and soon discovered that American paints did not measure up to his familys strict standards of appearance and performance. He decided that the only paint good enough for the barns and homes in the varied and often harsh Midwest climate was paint he perfected himself. So, from a modest workshop laboratory in Orange City, Iowa, a paint company was born. Vogel began a manufacturing business that would be doing an $850,000 volume by the time he retired in 1962. The next generation took it to over $100 million, and a third generation has moved the company, now called Diamond Vogel Paints, into the 21st century. The third generation grew up in the company and started on the front lines, clerking stores, cleaning vats, making paint, calling on customers. This breadth of experiences has given them an appreciation and passion for the paint business. Today, they have taken the reins and lead with dedication, experience and forward thinking resolve. Through its history, Vogel Paint has grown both organically and through acquisition. In 1967, Vogel Paint bought the Diamond Products Manufacturing company of Marshalltown, Iowa and in the early '70s the company started to do business as Diamond Vogel Paints to capitalize on the strong brand recognition of each company. Other key acquisitions have expanded the company both in technology and geographic reach. In 2003, Diamond Vogel opened a new $8 million powder coatings production facility to produce the company's Peridium Powder Coatings line, and is currently undergoing a multi-million expansion of that facility. Available in a wide variety of colors, glosses, finishes and chemistries, Peridium powder is made without water or petroleum-based solvents, much like dehydrated foods. Applied electrostatically, powder coatings are baked with heat to melt the dried paint together and cure the coating to its final abrasion -- resistant hardness, a feature that is advantageous for numerous industrial applications. Diamond Vogel operates about 70 service centers and seven manufacturing facilities. Orange City is the location of the company's largest plant as well as its corporate campus, providing a significant employment presence in Plymouth and Sioux counties. The Sioux City Diamond Vogel Paints store at 819 W. Seventh St. celebrated the company's 90th anniversary this year with promotions early in the year and specials for the anniversary month. Today's Diamond Vogel is known for being more than just a paint store, said Tim Kelley, manager of the Sioux City store. In addition to having a full line of architectural paint for the homeowner and professional painter, we stock heavy duty protective coatings, traffic paint, wood finishing products, spray equipment, wall coverings, window treatments and ceramic tile. With its own line of paints, Diamond Vogel has built its reputation on quality paint. The store offers many different types of paint for a variety of surfaces and conditions to meet almost any protective or aesthetic requirement. Your Diamond Vogel Paints professional can recommend the proper coating for your particular situation, plus offer advice on preparation and application for a long lasting, great looking paint job. In Diamond Vogel's window fashions department, consumers can find window treatments from Western Woods, Kirsch and Hunter Douglas. In the wallcoverings department, Diamond Vogel carries at least 300 in-stock wallcoverings and borders; it is one of few remaining stores in Sioux City that still does and it has the largest selection, Kelley said. The ceramic department at Diamond Vogel offers a large selection of ceramic tile for walls and floors by Daltile, Interceramic, Premiere, Sunderland and Syverson tile. All of the design consultants at Diamond Vogel work with homeowners and contractors on a regular basis. They give free in-home consultations to measure living spaces and offer design assistance. Many of the employees at Diamond Vogel have many years of paint and decorating experience. Kelley has been with the company for 24 years, Lil Carlson for 22 years, Lonnie Gustafson for 30 years, and Tim Ralston for 10 years. For more information about Diamond Vogels decorating products and services, call (712) 255-8063 or go online to diamondvogel.com. Dont forget to ask about their DVip (Very important painter) card for loyalty discounts every day. Customers who use the card to make paint purchases are much more likely to be able to find previous colors or track their purchases. Even with computer records available, Diamond Vogel always recommends keeping a file of your decorating receipts for future reference. Other benefits of using the DVip card include a speedier checkout and easier returns. Diamond Vogels store hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Small business owners are trying just about everything to try to recruit new talent these days from flexible hours to 401 Ks. But what about offering something just a little less conventional. Well, an established small business, the Farmers Daughter Country Market, located on the tiny Canadian island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, late last month posted a Facebook advertisement seeking to recruit employees. The Farmers Daughter job advert promised successful applicants would get not only a job, but also a free two acre piece of land with the deal. Yep, free land! Free Land Fringe Benefit New trends in job recruitment have been emerging again lately with Generation Z, for example, being more attracted to careers that offer generous pay and better benefits much like their parents generation. By comparison, Millennials are more attracted to trendy office perks like free gym memberships and Friday cocktails then just a good salary. But against the backdrop of these trends, the Farmers Daughter Country Market is offering something truly unique. The Canadian small business, which has been operating in the area for nearly 25 years, says it can offer job applicants not only free land. We cant give you big money, but we can give you an awesome life, says the ad for the market located in the little village of Whycocomagh. Apparently, this is an area surrounded by beautiful mountains and the shining Bras dOr Lake where kayaks and canoes outnumber motorboats. The company notes on its Facebook ad that it is rich in jobs, land and potential. The ad further explains that the market is looking to recruit anyone who wants to live a simpler life, close to nature, in an area that still believes in community meals and weekly jam sessions. We are looking for people who are environmentally conscious, want to be part of a community and will see our business not as you work for us, but we all work together to create something to be proud of. If you take pride in being friendly, helpful and positive, and have skills in the food industry or customer service, then you are who we are looking for, the job ad explained. But Theres a Catch If you are someone looking to escape the rat race, this might just be the job for you. But theres a catch. Apart from the wages being low, the Farmers Daughter says the job applicant will need to stay in the job for five years before they officially own the land. If you decide this opportunity might fit your dreams and goals for a close to nature and community focused life, then we are willing to offer you two acres of woodland where you can immediately set up your tiny house or quaint cabin, reads the ad. Plus give you access to our farmland and other resources we have available. If you are still working with us after five years and we all still like each other after that time, then the land is yours for the cost of migrating it out and putting it in your name. Despite these preconditions, lots of folks seem ready to drop everything and relocate to rural Nova Scotia for the opportunity. The markets owners Sandee Maclean and Heather Coulombe told CBC News, Canada theyve been overwhelmed by the response to the advert. More than 3,000 people from around the world have contacted them about the job. The pair explained they decided to advertise the job on Facebook because they had already hired all the locals qualified and in need of work. After choosing the first three hires earlier this month, Coulombe says shes happy to be welcoming the first family, a young couple Kerry and Brett Walkins and their two young children. The two other families include a single mom and her 10-year-old daughter, and another young couple who plan to use their land to grow organic produce to sell at the market. Im really excited theyre here. Its new beginnings for us, and growth for us and the community, Coulombe said. It goes to show that offering truly unique job perks a bit different an out off the ordinary can have a tremendous impact on your businesss recruitment success. And it also may be instrumental in attracting the employees you truly want ti fill positions at your company. Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. 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 Er is iets heel griezeligs aan de gang in Nederland. Dat wij geleidelijk aan in een totalitaire 'democratie' wegzinken wordt steeds ... News / Regional by Staff Reporter A Gungwe High School teacher has reportedly skipped boarder to neighbouring Botswana after he allegedly sexually abused 14 schoolboys at the school.It is alleged that the unnamed teacher would "sneak into the temporary boarding facilities and sodomise the pupils before threatening them if they reported the matter."Traditional leader, Chief Mathe confirmed the incident.Chief Mathe told the state controlled Sunday News that the headmaster, Mr Mangazha, on Friday told him that 14 boys had been sexually abused by a male teacher.He said: "This is very sad and shocking because we will be sending our children to school to learn and someone, more so who is supposed to protect them abuses them."The Chief said there are rumours that the teacher has fled the area and his relations do not know his whereabouts as well."Such cases should be reported to the police and such people be dealt with accordingly," said.Chief Mathe said such matters should be reported to the police, however Gwanda police said the cases had not yet been reported to them.In Botswana homosexual acts can be punished with a large fine or up to seven years of imprisonment. Teresa Purcell has raised a near-historic amount of campaign contributions in her quest for a state House seat representing Southwest Washingtons 19th District. Purcell, a Longview Democrat, has so far raised $127,000, according to the most recent state Public Disclosure Commission reports. Thats nearly three times more than the amount raised by her opponent, Grays Harbor Republican Jim Walsh. Its even more than state Rep. Brian Blake and state Sen. Dean Takko, democratic incumbents who are running for the re-election to their 19th District seats this year. Purcell has only spent $59,000, leaving her with a strong cash reserve heading into the last five weeks of the campaign. Much of her money has come from the party, which is eager to hold on to the seat because it holds only a two-vote majority in the House. The House Democratic Caucus Campaign Committee, for example, contributed $40,000 to her campaign on Sept. 12. Purcell has raised more money than any 19th District candidate since Brian Hatfield, who raised and spent $182,000 in his 2012 re-election bid for state senator. I have a lot of relationships from all across the state, and folks that are excited about me being able to go work for the people in the 19th Legislative District, Purcell said in an interview Friday. I think people are aware that the stakes are high. Walsh, however, says a large chunk of Purcells money comes from Seattle-area sources. Walsh, owner of Silver Lake Publishing, has raised about $46,000 and spent $26,000. Shes been very successful in raising money, no question about that, Walsh said. But a big chunk of her money comes from Seattle, and we all know her policies and philosophies are in line with the liberal policies of Seattle (legislators). Purcell who runs her own public relations company in Longview said she remains an advocate for the 19th District, where she grew up and bought her parents Columbia Heights home. The 19th includes all of Wahkiakum and Pacific counties and parts of Cowlitz, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties. Im not pushing a political agenda, she said. My agenda is to do whats in the best interest of the 19th District. Purcell said she is focused on making government work as opposed to tearing it down like her opponent. Walsh, who has described his philosophy as Libertarian, is pushing for fewer regulations and permits that discourage businesses from locating in the area. Purcell said her campaign contributors believe the government needs to invest in the districts infrastructure first to make companies thrive. Purcell and Walsh both support the methanol plant in Kalama but differ on the Millennium coal terminal in Longview and gun control. Purcell opposes Millennium and supports Initiative 1491, which would limit high-risk individuals from obtaining firearms. Purcell narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent J.D. Rossetti in the August top 2 primary to move on to the Nov. 8 General Election against Walsh, who got the most votes in the primary at 29 percent. Purcell received 24.2 percent and beat Rossetti, also a Longview Democrat, by a 49-vote margin. Since then, Purcell has been endorsed by state Sen. Dean Takko and state Rep. Brian Blake, both Democrats who had strong alliances to Rossetti, who had worked for them as a legislative assistant. Local Democratic organizations have also contributed to Purcells campaign. Cowlitz County Democratic clubs have also contributed $2,000. Republicans have not won a seat in the 19th District in decades. Joe Fitzgibbon, chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, said he thinks Purcell has run a strong campaign and considers Purcell the likely winner in November. But House Democrats didnt want to take any seat for granted with control of the House at stake. Teresas definitely going to win this fall, Fitzgibbon said. That said, shes a first-time candidate, and we want to make sure she pulls through. Opinion / Columnist "Courage is looking fear right in the eye and saying, "Get the hell out of my way, I've got things to do." from unknown poet.It is time we took stock: what our new revolution has achieved so far. In today' Bulawayo 24 social media, I read three articles written in detail about Pastor Mawarire. One reads: "Mawarire a shame, Mugabe" the other one reads: "This #Flag plot goes up in smoke" the other reads: Mawarire left Zimbabwe under hard-to understand circumstances" on the same page, same day here is a young and dynamic revolutionary written in details. If he was of insignificance nobody would give him such an audience in our daily news.If there is one person who should be applauded for his bravery to stand against the government of Robert Mugabe and shake it to the core, this earthquake kind scenario, a government that has farted several times because of fear at the mere mention of his name Pastor Mawarire, it is indeed Pastor Mawarire, it is Promise Mkhwananzi, it is Stern Zvorwadza, it is Patson & Itai Dzamara, and indeed the good Lady, our Meme, our mother Zimbabwe: Linda Masarira who is still languishing in prison for sixty straight days. She has to be imprisoned because of the power she resonates and the government is farting scared of her, scared of the power of this woman called Linda.We need to take stock of what has been achieved in this fresh revolution by the brave people on the ground and we give thanks for the change that they have started, it will never stop until we get our freedom. How long it will take, should not be the issue but that change has been ignited, that it has started is our blessing, we have been given the strength the gut to dare it, with all the brutal consequences it entails. The politics of Zimbabwe has changed it will never be the same until the masses get what they want: freedom from oppression of blacks by blacks.Firstly, it was Stern Zvorwadza who staged a demonstration inside Rainbow Towers, was sent to remand prison, was beaten several times; he went back to the hotel again without fear of brutal assaults on him, demanded the evacuation of VP Phelekezela Mphoko; he must vacate the hotel where he has been squatting for more than 500 days on the row fleecing the treasury US$ 1000.00 a day. Yes we can proudly say that the pressure that Comrade Stern Zvorwadza put on the government was wholly effective, and indeed the VP himself was shamed to the extent of leaving the hotel at once. He left the hotel Sheraton in absolute shame and disgrace.Thank you Stern Zvorwadza for you absolute courage that brought change to a lunatic asylum kind of lifestyle at the detriment of the most vulnerable in the country. Here is some irresponsible man made politician, is father and grand-father but cannot empathize with the country-wide poverty experienced in the land, instead he thinks about himself and his immediate family, goes on to distribute chickens to chosen ones as his empowerment program for Mathebeleland! My foot!Then after Pastor Ewan Mawarire staged a shut down that was successful followed by many others country-wide. This action call coincided with the non payment of civil servants. Revolution are always a combination of many social dissatisfactions in the society, all those ills combined gave a scare on the government, the government responded by paying the civil servants earlier than the stipulated time frames previously given. Instead of being ashamed of themselves, they went on to imprison Pastor Mawarire on fabricated charges that failed to realize a genuine court case. He was set free because the government was scared of the dire consequences of what would happen if he was sent to prison. Pastor Mawarire removed fear from the peoples of Zimbabwe. Hatichatya zvemene.This #Flag movement is now a global movement for all. Many citizens are talking all their frustration with our Zimbabwean flag flung on their necks, using their voices through the power of the media to send their voices to all citizens at home and in transition. Citizens all over the world have found their voice to talk about the ills of the Zanu PF government without fear. Those voices have become one collective voice that is saying enough is enough: #Hatichatya #Tajamuka Asikijiki!We thank Pastor Mawarire for removing fear in our lives and we begin to talk, we have begun to act because someone removed that fear that has kept us in a trance for 36 years in a row. The peoples of all ethnic groups in Zimbabwe will indeed come together and find one another as they have identified the devil in the making that was hidden in "tribalism." Tribalism has been a weapon of repression by Zanu since independence. Both peoples, lucky enough, have realised that all ethnic groupings are casualties of Zanu PF. Tribalism was used for a long time as cover and if we are not careful, it this very tribalism that will devour our new dawn of independence from the black rule, repressive rule, brutal and shameless in its dealings and lootings.Thirdly, thanks to so many people, home and abroad in the Diaspora who spoke to the money lending countries never to extend financial AID to current Zimbabwe government until conditions related to reforms are implemented. Only then can a new dispensation a new Zimbabwe government find the financial assistance on realistic terms. We feared that the very AID will be looted as the government is aware of the fact that its game-over with them, time is up for Zanu PF. They were sincerely banking on that bailout to loot for the last time and run away with packages of cash to sustain them in their hideouts.In Bulawayo24 of today 25th September, Finance Minister was quoted as saying: "Zimbabwe must now stand on its own." This is an admission that the bailout was declined by the all money lenders. Instead they put conditions attached to bailing out the regime: "please reform economically, political, electoral etc. We thank the people of Zimbabwe and all pressure groups that worked hard to make this appeal on lender institutions and has been a grand success. We saw too the power of demonstration that was staged by Zimbabweans living in the UK, how they went to demonstrate at number 10 Downing Street and successfully sent a petition to the new British Prime Minister Ms. Teresa May. We say thank you to Mr. Elliot Pfebve the MDC-T representative in the UK branch for his sterling contribution to highlight our cause.Dear Zimbabweans, we have achieved a lot indeed, we should be grateful about what has been possible under those most brutal circumstances. Pastor Mawarire was right inside the General Assembly and gave in his petition on our behalf. He is working day and night silently but effectively. We should remember too that our struggle for freedom was fought in neighbouring countries because it was not possible to fight Smith and his criminal cabal inside Rhodesia. That Pastor Mawarire is in America should be a blessing in disguise for all of us peace loving citizens. Most freedom fighters were in America during the bush war of the 1970s.Dr. Edison Zvobgo, Dr. Christopher Ushewokunze, Dr. Callistas Ndlovu were all in America. Nothing should be surprising that Pastor Evans is in America still fighting for our cause in accordance with the modern methods of fighting repressive regimes. Going back to the bush and fight bush war has long lost its sale by date. The new methods of fighting a government like the one of Robert Mugabe are to starve the system by not feeding it with looted funding borrowed from money lenders. Pastor Mawarire hauchatya and too nesu futi hatichatya. This fearlessness has gone global, is as fresh as when you left your home country for America.This method of fighting is wholly effective and it is evident on the ground. If they cannot pay those police and the army, let's forget about the teachers, nurses and doctors, then they will fall, they know this too, lucky enough! We still need to see how many times Mugabe is going to fly to Dubai to get money from his private bank to pay off civil servants, there are no revenue incomes from Zimre that can sustain the government spending for more than three months!Pastor Mawarire, wherever you are, please be proud of what your movement has achieved on the ground. Stay where you are, do not go home yet, it's not yet Uhuru, fight for our Uhuru where you are effectively. We really do not know if you remained in Zimbabwe you will have disappeared long back, harmed, and killed. We need to ask ourselves where Itai Dzamara is today! Zanu PF is a lethal organisation, you did what you thought was right for you and the revolution.Your access to world leaders and world bodies is very significant indeed. Mr. Stern Zvorwadza please be proud wherever you are, you have done wonders in the new revolution. Mr. Promise Mkhwananzi your courage to face VP Mnangagwa head on is amazing, you are daring and dynamic, sure so many growing citizens will know about your sterling contribution. Our mother Lindas Masarira, please we say "qinisela mama wethu, sekusedhuze laphesiya khona."However, we are concerned about the brutal beatings of women some of whom had children and babies. Such brutality is despicable, abhorrent and abominable. This is how low this government has sunk. We are really proud to know that there are women movement "Justice for Peace" who have taken the police brutality to task. Ms. Coezette Chirinda, charperson of this organisation, made an excruciating interview; she exposed methods of torture by the police in police custody. It is alleged police demanded the women prisoners to undress and began to beat them n_aked. The pornographic mixture female n_akedness, lust and brutality, but feeding on the n_akedness of the woman under their absolute control and helplessness is what is abominable at best and barbaric but last.Ms. Chirinda is saying, it seems it is the n_akedness of women that entices the police to demand women to undress and beat them undressed, hence she threatened: if her organisation does not get all the police personal who meted those brutalities to account within seven days, she will rally Harare women and demonstrate n_aked in the streets of Harare. In any conflict indeed it is the women who suffer most, dehumanised most. This evidence of brutality on women is overwhelming in Zimbabwe.To Ms Linda Masaria I send you this quote: "Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on Earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could by Louise Erdrich, The Painted Drum LPWe have achieved a lot the past three months Lets count our blessings and learn to name them one by one, and we shall be surprised what the Lord God has done to us! #This Flag #Hatichatya hidden With the aim to exchange information and best practices on cyber security, the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), a premier body on cyber security, on Saturday launched its first global chapter in Singapore. The DSCI Singapore chapter will help build linkages with various stakeholders in the government, industry and academia and establish channels of collaboration on policy deliberation, industry development and capacity building on security privacy and cyber crime investigation, among others. "Cyber Security is a global issue and needs attention of all stakeholders. It is essential that countries become partners to address this issue collaboratively," said Vijay Thakur Singh, High Commissioner to Singapore, in a statement. "In the light of recent affirmative steps by both the countries on the issue of cyber security, these initiatives reinforce the vital role played by global thought leaders like DSCI in bringing the stakeholders together to address this common issue," Singh added. The Singapore chapter will help the community bridge cyber security skills gap between India and Singapore and explore opportunities for developing niche capabilities in cyber security product space. "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," noted Rama Vedashree, CEO, DSCI. DSCI has created a network of over 4,000 security and privacy professionals in India with 12 chapters operating successfully in different cities. BB to ensure good governance in banking sector: Governor Economic Reporter : Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir on Sunday said the central bank has taken up reform programmes for the country's banks and financial institutions to ensure good governance at all levels. "The central bank has taken up such reform programmes so that it can strengthen rick management along with ensuring required services to the clients," the governor said while speaking at the opening session of a two-day international conference for bankers and academics. Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) and Australian Academy of Business and Social Sciences jointly organized the conference in association with Journal of Development Areas, Tennessee State University, USA. Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Mohammed Farashuddin presented the keynote paper. Director General of BIBM Dr Taufic Ahmed Chowdhury and Dr Stephen Boyle of University of South Australia and Prof Dr Prashanta Kumar Banerjee of BIBM spoke at the session. BB governor in his speech said demands of clients in banking sector are changing with a rise in using technology and passage of time and to meet these demands, changes have been brought in the services of banks. At the same time, use of technology in banking sector has been increased, he added. He said the banking sector has been making significant contribution to achieving higher growth and inclusive development despite having some problems in the sector. "The programmes taken by the central bank in this respect has been acclaimed worldwide," he added. Dr Mohammed Farashuddinin his keynote paper said Bangladesh has an expanding banking sector and despite some problems like a growing default culture, inadequate accountability system, non-optimal transparency, it has served the economy rather well. "If and when the appropriate reforms including a boldly implemented regulatory system is put in place, the greater use of technology will add definite strength to the productivity and growth of Bangladesh economy," he observed. Over 64 research papers are expected to be placed in the conference which will be concluded today. Ministries take separate steps to attain SDGs Economic Reporter : Different ministries of the government have undertaken separate steps to attain 17 targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) declared by the United Nations (UN) to build a hunger and poverty-fee world. Bangladesh Planning Commission has already finalized the draft of a strategy paper regarding implementation of the SDGs. A high-level workshop will be held in the city on September 29 over the implementation of SDGs. Discussions will be held in the workshop about the action plan to achieve 17 targets of the SDGs, an official of water resources ministry said. Water Resources Ministry Additional Secretary M Humayun Kabir told the New Nation that their minister will work as the lead ministry to attain goal No 6 of the SDGs. This ministry has already formed six subgroups under six agencies to implement this goal. These groups have already held workshops on action plans to attain SDGs, he added. Humayun Kabir observed that all the ministries would be able to work as per their respective initiatives after the approval of the final strategy paper to attain SDGs. Textiles and Jute Ministry Additional Secretary Nazrul Islam said his ministry is working as an associate again seven goals of the SDGs. This ministry will determine its course of action in this regard following the approval of the SDG implementation strategy paper, he added. Labour and Employment Ministry Planning Division Deputy Chief Jakir Hossain said this ministry will work as the lead ministry for attain target No 8 of the SDGs. This ministry has already held a workshop and will organize another workshop soon to determine actions plans, he added. SDGs have been formulated giving priority to improving the fate of 100 crore poor people across the world as the eight main targets of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were not attained. Currently the average daily income of these 100 crore people is US$ 1.25 only. The 17 targets of SDGs include poverty alleviation, eradication of hunger and ensuring health, education, gender equity, safe water and sanitation, sustainable energy, employment for all, improved infrastructures, sustainable towns and communities, responsible use of assets, tackling climate change, preservation of seas and land and establishing peace and justice. UN chief 'appalled' by Aleppo war escalation Syrian government forces gather amidst destruction in the largely deserted Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, north of Aleppo. UN chief Ban Ki-moon is "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo, his spokesman says. Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general was alarmed by reports of air strikes involving incendiary weapons and bunker-busting bombs. The Syrian government has stepped up strikes on rebel-held areas of the city since a ceasefire collapsed last week. The UN Security Council is due to meet on Sunday morning in New York. The meeting was requested by the US, the UK and France. Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested that a deadly attack on an aid convoy in Syria last week could have been deliberately carried out by Russian aircraft. If so, he said it could amount to a war crime. Russian President Vladimir Putin was "not only... handing [Syrian President Bashar] Assad the revolver", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme. "He is in some instances actually firing the revolver himself." Russia has denied carrying out the attack, blaming instead rebel artillery. Mr Dujarric said in a statement: "Since the announcement two days ago by the Syrian army of an offensive to capture eastern Aleppo, there have been repeated reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons and advanced munitions such as bunker-buster bombs. "The secretary-general considers this a dark day for the global commitment to protect civilians." The northern city of Aleppo has become a key battleground in Syria's bloody five-year civil war. Last Tuesday, Mr Ban launched a stinging attack on the Syrian government, saying it had killed the most civilians in the conflict. Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalem has said that government forces are making great strides against "terrorism". He told the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday that his belief in victory was now greater than ever. Syria refers to all rebel groups trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad as terrorists. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that any revival of the cessation of hostilities in Syria could not depend on unilateral concessions by his country alone. He said there had to be a collective effort involving all sides. The UN says the attacks on Aleppo have left nearly two million people without water. Unicef, the UN children's agency, has warned that fierce air strikes on Friday stopped repairs to a damaged water pumping station supplying rebel-held eastern districts of the city. In retaliation, Unicef says, a nearby station pumping water to the west of Aleppo has been switched off. Unicef spokesman Kieran Dwyer said water was being used as a weapon of war by all sides. He said residents now had to resort to contaminated water and were at risk from waterborne diseases. UK-based group monitoring the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 people were killed in fresh bombardments on Saturday. Activists say 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. China assures Pakistan support in event of foreign `aggression` Earlier this week, Chinese PM Li Keqiang had met Nawaz Shraif and expressed his support for Islamabad. PTI, 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 Pakistani media report has 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, the newspaper reported. "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 terrorists 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. Meanwhile, Britain has expressed serious concern over the growing tension between India and Pakistan amid tension over the Uri terror attack. "Britain wants easing of tension between Pakistan and India as it is concerned over the current situation (after the Uri attack)," British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew said yesterday. Mr Drew met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations. According to a release issued by the Punjab government, the British High Commissioner said, "Like other countries, Britain also wants easing of tension between Pakistan and India. Britain is concerned over the tension between the two countries. It is against violation of human rights anywhere in the world". He said Pakistan's political leadership is showing a responsible attitude in the current situation. Mr Sharif said Britain should play its role in resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said Pakistan is a peaceful country and wants durable peace in the region. Our immigrants, our strength Bill de Blasio, Anne Hidalgo and Sadiq Khan : World leaders are gathering in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, and at the top of their agenda sits a refugee crisis that has reached a level of urgency not seen since World War II. The United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants and President Obama's Leaders' Summit on Refugees represent a watershed moment that is putting a global spotlight on the need for an effective response to a growing humanitarian crisis. Our shared perspective is informed by the sober awareness of the dangers we face. In the aftermath of an explosive device going off in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York last weekend, and other attacks in cities throughout the world, we recognize that the security of all our residents is paramount in large, open, democratic societies. But it is wrong to characterize immigrant and refugee communities as radical and dangerous. Therefore, we must continue to pursue an inclusive approach to resettlement in order to combat the growing tide of xenophobic language around the globe. Such language will lead only to the increased marginalization of our immigrant communities, and without making us any safer. As the mayors of three great global cities - New York, Paris and London - we urge the world leaders assembling at the United Nations to take decisive action to provide relief and safe haven to refugees fleeing conflict and migrants fleeing economic hardship, and to support those who are already doing this work. We will do our part, too. Our cities pledge to continue to stand for inclusivity, and that is why our cities support services and programs that help all residents, including our diverse immigrant communities, feel welcome, so that every resident feels part of our great cities. In New York and Paris, for example, municipal ID programs have achieved great success in increasing a sense of belonging among immigrants and allowing for greater access to services like bank accounts and veterans benefits and city resources like libraries and cultural institutions. In less than two years, New York's municipal ID program, known as IDNYC, has signed up over 10 percent of the city's total population and garnered strong praise from a diverse coalition of community members, advocates and institutional partners. Programs like IDNYC build safer cities because immigrants and refugees know that they are included and recognized by their governments. In New York, the Police Department was a crucial partner in the establishment of the municipal ID program, as residents are more likely to report crimes when they have a form of ID that is accepted by law enforcement. In Paris, new measures such as the Carte Citoyenne and the participatory budget, which lets Parisians decide how to allocate a percentage of the city's annual spending, offer the opportunity to all residents to take part in civic life and become local stakeholders, without any restriction. Investing in the integration of refugees and immigrants is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do. Refugees and other foreign-born residents bring needed skills and enhance the vitality and growth of local economies, and their presence has long benefited our three cities. In New York, nearly half of all small-business owners are immigrants who contribute to the tax base and expand job opportunities for other New Yorkers. London recently began a publicity campaign, #LondonIsOpen, which highlights similar success stories, drawing from the three million Londoners who were born abroad and contribute to the city's creativity, vitality and entrepreneurial spirit. Our cities are also on the front lines of helping those fleeing violence or persecution connect to critical, often lifesaving, services. Paris is one of the first major municipalities to open a refugee center in the heart of the city. Beginning in October, the center will provide services and basic necessities, as well as administrative support, to 400 refugees. New York has placed city representatives in immigration court to connect the thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America seeking asylum to crucial health, education and other social services. Last year London boroughs provided support to more than 1,000 unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children, and the city is now developing new ways of working with communities to offer support to resettled refugees. We know policies that embrace diversity and promote inclusion are successful. We call on world leaders to adopt a similar welcoming and collaborative spirit on behalf of the refugees all over the world during the summit meeting this week. Our cities stand united in the call for inclusivity. It is part of who we are as citizens of diverse and thriving cities. (Bill de Blasio is the mayor of New York. Anne Hidalgo is the mayor of Paris. Sadiq Khan is the mayor of London). Courtesy: New York Times EC reconstitution gets priority in politics Govt playing drama in the name of search committee, says BNP: Don't make constitutional body controversial, tells AL: People need 'all-acceptable persons' in EC, states JP: It needs a law to select CEC, commissioners, thinks Sujan Sagar Biswas : The issue of reconstituting the Election Commission through a search committee is now getting high importance in the country's political circle, though the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party has termed the overall procedure as ruling Awami League's "drama". The incumbent Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed was appointed on February 9, 2012 and he has around four and a half months in hand to complete the five-year-tenure. Besides, tenure of four other Election Commissioners -- Mohammad Abu Hafiz, Mohammad Abdul Mobarrak, Brigadier General [retd] Mohammad Zabed Ali and Mohammad Shahnewaz - will also end at the same time. Significantly, most of the country's political parties and civil society members have demanded to form an EC, which would be "acceptable" to all. And this issue drew the attention of the political circle against the backdrop of Law Minister Anisul Haque's fresh hint to form the constitutional body through a search committee like 2012. Expressing severe dissatisfaction, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said: "We won't expect a domestic EC. The countrymen want to see an EC through a search committee after having consultation with all political parties." Countering the statement, AL has asked the BNP not to stir up "unnecessary controversy" about the EC. "President appoints the EC after consultations with all concerned. So, the commission appointed by the President must be acceptable to all," AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said on Thursday. Some political parties, especially the BNP and civil society members, have turned down the ruling party's claim, saying that it's nothing but an eyewash. And it's not possible to form a neutral and acceptable EC under the present Awami League government, they said. If an impartial and acceptable EC is not formed, then crisis will deepen in the future centering the next general elections. When asked, Secretary of Sujan [a civil society organization] Badiul Alam Mazumdar told The New Nation on Saturday: "We think there must be a law or guideline before appointing the EC members. Their capacity, qualification, experience, etcetera will be elaborated in the law. Questions will be raised about their legitimacy if commissioners are appointed without constituting a law. " According to article 118 [1] of the Constitution, the appointment of the CEC of Bangladesh and other Election Commissioners [if any] is made by the President. But there is no specific guideline in the Constitution about the criterion to choose the commissioners. Referring the issue, the Sujan leader, however, advised to constitute a five-member search committee taking two persons from two big alliances, a senior judge from appellate division, and two persons from media. On the other hand, General Secretary of Jatiya Party [main opposition in the parliament and partner of the government in the cabinet], Ruhul Amin Hawlader told The New Nation Saturday night: "We hope, the search committee's chosen CEC will be acceptable to all and create a transparent image in the country" Pointing to the controversial image of EC, Hawlader further said: "There were some limitations of present CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed. In several areas he failed due to non-cooperation of local administration and police However, we still hope that a capable person will be appointed in the post of CEC." Despite the constitutional bindings, the opposition BNP now wants a "dialogue" among the political parties and civil society members in formation of search committee to find out "all-acceptable" person for the post of EC. BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu recently said: "We've no other way except democracy There is no other alternative except election. In this situation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chief Khaleda Zia should sit in a dialogue to get a solution of the present crisis." For the first time in the country's history, late President Zillur Rahman took initiatives to form a search committee on January 22, 2012 to recommend names for EC. The Chief Justice had selected an appellate division judge as the head of the search committee. The other members of the committee were a high court judge, the comptroller and auditor general, and the chairman of public service commission. At that time 23 political parties, including Awami League and opposition BNP, hold dialogues with President Zillur Rahman. And except BNP, all parties submitted names of their desired persons for the EC. The search committee short-listed 10 persons, from where the President had picked five for the EC. Jordanian writer gunned down outside courthouse Mail Online, Amman : A prominent Jordanian writer on Sunday was shot dead in front of the courthouse where he had been on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. There were no immediate details on the identity or motive of the gunman. But a witness described the shooter, who was immediately arrested, as wearing a long grey robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. The shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan. Police and relatives said Nahed Hattar was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing when the lone gunman shot him at close range. "He was standing at a short distance of about one meter (yard) in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court," the witness told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions. The witness said seven shots were fired, and that Hattar was shot in the head. The official Petra News Agency said Hattar was shot three times. Hattar, 56, was detained in August after sharing a cartoon on Facebook. The caricature depicted a bearded man in heaven, smoking and in bed with two women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what Hattar, a secular Christian, viewed as the twisted religious views of Islamic State extremists. The post was quickly deleted after many angry responses. Hattar was briefly detained for two weeks before he was released on bail. Saad Hattar, a cousin, said relatives and friends of the writer apprehended the killer. "Nahed was accompanied with two brothers and a friend when he was shot. The brothers and the friend chased the killer and caught him and handed him over to the police," he said. He said the family held Jordan's prime minister, Hani al-Mulki, responsible for Nahed's death. "The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing," Saad Hattar said. In a statement, the family called on the government to hold accountable all those who had incited against Hattar. "Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them," they said. Jordan is a close Western ally and has been largely spared from the violence engulfing neighboring Syria and Iraq. But a series of recent attacks has raised concern about security in the kingdom. Late last year, a Jordanian police captain opened fire on instructors at an international police training center in Jordan's capital, killing at least five people, including two Americans, before being shot dead by security forces. In June, a suicide car bomb attack near the Syrian border killed seven Jordanian soldiers. Hundreds of Jordanians have been sentenced to prison, are awaiting trial or are being held for questioning about links to IS. Under toughened anti-terror laws, even liking or sharing the group's propaganda on social media can land someone a prison sentence. - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." Syed Nazrul Medical College closed over BCL factional clash Staff Reporter : Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj was closed for an indefinite period following a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of the ruling Awami League. The authorities of the college took the decision in an emergency meeting of the academic council following the clash. Principal of Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Professor Md Ruhul Amin Khan told The New Nation on Sunday that the college administration took the decision to avoid further untoward incident. Meanwhile, a three-member probe body has been formed to investigate the incident, he said. The male students were asked to vacate their dormitories by 5pm on Sunday and the female students have been asked to vacate by 7am today (Monday). The clash broke out between the followers of Mamun and Rajib groups on the campus in the morning over formation of its college unit committee. A tense situation was prevailing at the medical college since the BCL held their council on September 22, campus sources said. As per the council's decision, a full-fledged committee was scheduled to be formed on September 24. No more unilateral concessions in Syria RT News : Moscow's experience of giving concessions to the Syrian rebels following requests from the US, in the hope of it culminating in a ceasefire has not worked, Russia's envoy to the UN has told the Security Council adding that Moscow will no longer be following these steps. Vitaly Churkin said that Russia has pressured Damascus on several occasions to meet the demands of its opponents, in the hope that this would lead to a ceasefire. However, this has not had the desired result and has seen constant violations by some rebel groups despite Washington's promise to keep them under control."The American side de facto signed that it was unable to influence the groups it sponsors and to deliver on the deal as it promised. First of all, to separate those groups from terrorists and mark their positions on the ground accordingly," he said. He added that the actions of the UN-led coalition, which killed 62 Syrian government soldiers in a miscalculated airstrike near Deir ez-Zor and exposed them to an offensive by the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) damaged relations with Damascus. He dismissed criticism of the Syrian army, expressed at the Security Council meeting by the US, France and the UK, over the latest offensive in eastern Aleppo. He said that part of the city hosts an estimated 3,500 fighters, of which 2,000 belong to the Al-Nusra Front terrorist group, which uses the civilian population of those areas as human shields while indiscriminately attacking residential areas controlled by the Syrian government. "Over 200,000 residents of Aleppo are hostages of the Al-Nusra Front and groups allied with it," the Russian envoy said. Churkin said the terrorists have heavy weapons, tanks, including multiple rocket launchers and artillery systems, which they do not hesitate to use. He also added that they had managed to acquire these weapons through negligence or possibly with the direct help of the countries who would support anyone opposing the Syrian regime. Churkin said the militants are the main reason why attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo have failed, contradicting accusations by the US, which blames Russia and Damascus. Churkin dismissed the statements made by his US counterpart Samantha Power, who said Russia had to prove that it genuinely has intentions of bringing peace to Syria, saying the other parties also have to prove they are willing to take steps towards achieving a ceasefire. "The ceasefire can only be salvaged now on a collective basis. It's not us that have to prove something to somebody unilaterally. We have to see proof that there is a genuine desire to separate US-allied rebel groups from the Al-Nusra Front, then destroy the Al-Nusra Front and bring the opposition into a political process. Otherwise our suspicions that this was only meant to shield the Al-Nusra Front would only grow stronger." The UN Security Council meeting was convened at the request of the US, the UK and France to discuss the escalation of violence in Syria, after a ceasefire agreement, which was negotiated by Russia and the US had expired. The three countries accused Russia and Syria of causing civilian suffering in Aleppo, but did not mention the role played by armed groups opposing Damascus, which control large portions of the city. China took a neutral stance and called on the revival of the ceasefire and facilitation of humanitarian aid to Aleppo, without accusing any party for the violence. The Chinese envoy stressed that counter-terrorism effort is an essential part for resolving the Syrian conflict. UN's special envoy for Syria reported to the Council that the conditions in the contested city are deteriorating and that it needs relief as soon as possible. Govt to respond UNESCO concern next week Staff Reporter : The government will respond by next week to a report sent by UNESCO requesting it to conduct a revised Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before going ahead with the Rampal power plant. State Minister for Power, Energy and mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid told this to journalists on Sunday after inauguration of a workshop in Bidyut Bhaban in the city. "The government is conscious about the preservation of the Sundarbans since it is our national resource," he said. After a visit by a three-member reaction mission team from the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a report was sent to the government last month, seeking a specific assessment of the potential impact of a thermal power plant near the Sundarbans and the dredging of the Pashur river, sources said. The construction work of Rampal power plant will not be suspended despite the advice of UNESCO, the minister also told the journalists. "The construction will continue since the government has not yet reverted its previous state," he said. The remarks of the junior minister came against the backdrop of a UNESCO report that suggested the government to cancel the Rampal project. The scheme has been taken to build a 1320 MW coal-fired power plant at a site near the Sundarbans. The government was also requested to submit a revised EIA report with the advice note of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) before advancing with the physical work of the power plant. Bangladesh and India are jointly implementing the project despite strong opposition from local environmental groups. Indian power company BHEL has been awarded a contract to set up the plant. The state minister said, the government will come up with its response to the observations and queries by UNESCO, and then it will make a decision considering the future situation. The UNESCO report came at a time when the Bangladesh- India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFCL) is expected to sign a loan agreement with the Exim Bank, India and the physical work of the Rampal power plant is to start soon. Earlier in the 39th annual meeting held in 2015 in Bonn, Germany, the UNESCO had requested the government to undertake a comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in order to assess the indirect and cumulative impact from power plants and other developments in the vicinity of the Sundarbans, according to the website of the UNESCO. They mentioned to include a specific assessment of potential impacts on the "Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)" of the Sundarbans. According to the UNESCO, only those heritage sites have OUV that contains the most important and signi?cant natural habitats for the situ conservation of biological diversity. So far, the UNESCO has expressed concerns about the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest with "Outstanding Universal Value", for the third time in the last two years. 4 fake DB men held in city RAB mobile team raided Padma General Hospital Ltd and Brighton Hospital and fines Tk 22 lakh for various irregularities. This photo was taken from city\'s Sonargaon Road and Hatirpool areas on Sunday. Staff Reporter : Detective Branch of Police in a drive detained four persons, including a sacked army personnel, when they were extorting money from people using fake identities of Detective Branch (DB) of Police in the city's Moghbazar Wireless Gate area on Saturday night. The detained persons have been identified as suspended army personnel Shafiqul Islam Rana, 38, Mohammad Apple, 29, Ibrahim, 28, and Imran, 30. Police also seized DB police uniforms, a walkie-talkie, toy pistol, handcuffs and baton, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Abdul Baten in a press briefing at DMP Media Centre on Sunday. The police official said, "The arrested persons used to track clients at different banks and then informed their accomplices waiting outside over mobile phone. The cohorts later picked up the victims into a vehicle introducing themselves as DB men and then took away the money." If they found the victims short of cash, they detained them and demanded ransom from their families, threatening them of legal consequences, the Joint Commissioner said. The gang used to commit the crime with a microbus and dropped the victim in an isolated place after snatching the cash. Using the fake identities, they cheated people in different districts, particularly in Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Bogra and Sirajganj, he said. "On primary interrogation, they admitted their involvement in extortion. Rana was a suspended corporal rank staff of Bangladesh Army and he is the ringleader of the gang," he said. A case was filed against them with Ramna Model Police Station, he further said. Security threat Import of drones thru illegal channel on rise Kazi Zahidul Hasan : Import of drones through illegal channels has increased significantly in the recent months raising concern over aviation and civil security. At least 65 drones, which were imported illegally, were seized by the Customs Authorities from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport during the last six months. Earlier, the authorities have put restriction on drone import considering security threat. Officials said although there is a ban on the import of drones into Bangladesh, any government and non-government agency, organisation or business firm can import drones for their uses prior authorisation from agencies concerned. "The Custom Department has imposed ban on importing drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) due to security and safety concerns. It is currently illegal for civilians to use drones in Bangladesh," Md Lutfar Rahman, Dhaka Customs Commissioner told The New Nation on Sunday. "But the government and non-government agencies can be allowed to import drones and (UAVs) with approval from the Aviation and Defense Ministries," he added. Drones were created for military operations but now they are increasingly used in a variety of fields, including electric power industries, disaster-relief work, as well as shooting TV programmes, news broadcasting and capturing footage from sky. "The device (drone) with four rotors has multipurpose use. It can be used in subversive activities also. Stopping a determined drone operator is difficult for aviation and security agencies. So, the authorities have imposed ban on their import considering security issues," said Md Lutfar Rahman. The Dhaka Customs official said, "We do not know the motive behind the rising trend of drone import through illegal channel. But it has sparked the doubt of improper use of drones into the country." "The seized drones were imported through false declarations under fake companies. We are working closely with the police and other agencies to trace the people behind this illegal activity and to deter potential offenses," he added. "Use of drones around airports could be a potential threat for flaying aircrafts. Just imagine when a remote controlled drone hit a flying plane. It could bring a disaster. Operators of drones can carry out such disaster being involved in anti-state activities," Air Commodore (Retd) Iqbal Hossain, former Chief of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) told The New Nation. He suggested the government to approve uses of drones by private organizations after careful assessment of their purposes. "A random use of drones can be a potential threat to the aviation sector and civil security if somebody does something dangerous. We have to fix best standard in operating procedures to curb the threat," he added. The authorities of CAAB earlier curbed flying of drones and UAVs in and around the airports and state's Key Point Installations (KPI) considering security issues. Insiders said drones have gained popularity across the countries due to their multipurpose uses. Many countries have allowed import of the device after formulating a policy that adopted best standard for their uses. But in Bangladesh, import of drone the authorities has restricted denying the users to get benefit from the technology. So, such a policy led them to import drones and UAVs by adopting illegal means. Russia committed `war crime` in Syria UNSC meet at the request of US, UK, France: 6 children killed by barrel bombs in Aleppo UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested Russia may have committed a war crime in Syria if it was behind an attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that it was right to ask whether Russian forces had deliberately targeted civilians. Eighteen lorries and a warehouse were destroyed and 20 people killed in last Monday's attack. Russia denied responsibility, blaming rebel shelling or a US drone. Mr Johnson also said Russia was "guilty of protracting" the war in Syria and of "making it far more hideous". His comments came as Aleppo sustained heavy bombing, with the Syrian government saying it had launched an offensive to retake rebel-held areas. In the latest fighting, rebel forces in the city were reported to have retaken the Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, on elevated ground north of the city. The strategic area fell to government troops on Saturday. The UN Security Council is due to meet on Sunday morning in New York to discuss Aleppo. The meeting was requested by the US, the UK and France. United Nations special envoy Staffan de Mistura described last week's attack, on an aid convoy and Syrian Arab Red Crescent warehouse outside Aleppo, as an "outrage". The US said two Russian warplanes were involved in the attack. Mr Johnson appeared to go further, saying the convoy could have been deliberately targeted. Russian President Vladimir Putin was "not only... handing [Syrian President Bashar] Assad the revolver", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme. "He is in some instances actually firing the revolver himself. "We should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets. That is a war crime." The attack prompted the UN to temporarily suspend aid deliveries in Syria. Heavy bombardments of rebel-held areas of Aleppo by government forces have continued throughout the week after a truce brokered by Moscow and Washington collapsed. UN chief Ban Ki-moon was "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Aleppo, his spokesman said on Saturday. "Since the announcement two days ago by the Syrian army of an offensive to capture eastern Aleppo, there have been repeated reports of air strikes involving the use of incendiary weapons and advanced munitions such as bunker-buster bombs," the statement said. The northern city of Aleppo has become a key battleground in Syria's bloody five-year civil war. The UN says the attacks on Aleppo have left nearly two million people without water. UK-based group monitoring the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 25 people were killed in bombardments on Saturday. Activists say 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. Meanwhile, At least seven people-six of them children-were killed in a barrel bombing of opposition-held eastern Aleppo Sunday, an activist group reported, as the Syrian government continues its furious offensive in the wake of a collapsed ceasefire, adds CNN. The barrel bombs, launched from helicopters, struck the city's Bustan al-Pasha neighborhood, according to the Aleppo Media Center, an opposition-affiliated group of activists which works to document the conflict. The United Nations Security Council is to meet Sunday to discuss the devastating Syrian government offensive on Aleppo that has raged since a shaky ceasefire deal fell apart last week. The session, to begin at 11 a.m. ET, was requested by the United States, Britain and France in the wake of the regime's military push to retake rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo in recent days, a UN source confirmed to CNN. The opposition says the violence has been even more intense than before the ceasefire took hold. Hundreds of airstrikes have pummeled the city since the Syrian government, backed by Russia, announced a renewed, "comprehensive" offensive on Thursday following the collapse of the short-lived ceasefire. The offensive, involving ground troops as well as air power, has targeted rebel positions across the country, inflicting "heavy losses" on them, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. Residents in the opposition-held east of Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians are besieged by government forces, reported ongoing barrel bomb attacks Sunday. A Syrian family leaves the area following a reported airstrike on Friday, September 23, in rebel-held east Aleppo. Following the airstrike, recovery teams from Syria Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, began working to free the trapped and recover the dead, including small children. On Saturday, Syrian government troops and supporting militia made their first major ground advance of the assault on Aleppo, seizing control of the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp on the city's northeastern outskirts, while warplanes bombarded the opposition-held east, according to state-run SANA. Rebels then launched a counter-offensive to try to retake the area, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). There were conflicting reports as to the outcome of the fighting. BD, nat`l shot dead by BSF in Kurigram UNB, Dhaka : A Bangladeshi young man was gunned down allegedly by members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at Thatkoraibari border point in Raumari upazila of Kurigram district early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Baharul,35, son of Boktarkari, a resident of the area. Officer-in-Charge of Raumari Police Station ABM Sajedul Islam said BSF members of Dwipchar camp opened fire at Baharul in the area around 3.30am, leaving him dead on the spot. Outgoing M'singh DC in soup for joining 'royal farewells' UNB, Dhaka : The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to ask the Public Administration Ministry to take action against the outgoing deputy commissioner (DC) of Mymensingh as he joined 35 'royal farewells' and received gifts recently. The Commission on Sunday decided to send a letter to the ministry asking it to take departmental action against Mustakim Billah Faruque, the outgoing Mymensingh DC, a top ACC official told UNB wishing anonymity. ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmood has already instructed the director general of the Commission (legal) to send a letter to the Public Administration Secretary in this regard. "The letter, signed by ACC secretary Abu M Mustafa Kamal, will be sent to the ministry soon," the official added. He said such unusual farewells to a DC promote corruption, and this is why the Commission has decided to send a letter to the Public Administration Ministry as per section 17 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, seeking action against the bureaucrat. According to media reports, Mustakim has recently been transferred to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry as a deputy secretary. Before joining his new assignment, he was accorded 35 lavish farewell parties arranged by upazila parisads, local educational institutions and cultural organisations from September 3 to 18 last. The reports said Mustakim joined the farewells wearing king's costumes riding a horse cart. He was also learned to have received many gifts from the organisers. Sections 17 (g) and (k) of the ACC law state for promoting the values of honesty and integrity to prevent corruption and take measures to build mass awareness against corruption, and performing any other work considered necessary for the prevention of corruption. BD-origin man held in NY sex racket bdnews24.com : A Bangladesh-origin man has been charged with involvement in a New York sex racket. Sharekul Islam has been accused for "driving underage girls from hotel to hotel for the purpose of engaging them in prostitution," according to New York Police Department (NYPD). He faces minimum 10 years in prison if found guilty of the charges, Assistant US Attorney Nomi Berenson said. "These are incredibly serious charges," Berenson told the Brooklyn Federal Court. Sharekul, a resident of Queens, was arrested on Thursday after he was found with a 14-year-old girl inside a car in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania. According to court documents, police reached there following the smell of marijuana wafting from the car parked outside a motel. Sharekul confessed that he had rented a room at the motel. Following his statement, police found an underage girl along with Sharekul's wife inside a room of the motel. Police also arrested two others from the motel on charge of recruiting underage girls (13 to 17 years of age) to engage them in prostitution. If Russia can bomb to save Assad, US and West can also bomb to finish Assad As Russia is pounding Aleppo, the USA is arranging the UN Security Council meeting on Sunday to review what the global community can do to save the people of Aleppo. It is meaningless and also makes no sense abandoning the battle in the ground. Syria is a stunning shame on humanity as the killing of civilians in besieged Syrian city of Aleppo escalated over the past two days. President Bashar al-Assad announced new military offensive to regain the eastern part of the city, which is in rebel hands. Russia have intensified air strikes using powerful incendiary weapons and bunker-busting bombs in the rebel held areas where shortage of food and water is poised to create the biggest human crisis from death and starvation. It appears that death of innocents become just excuses to inflict more deaths and there is a growing fear that as the world witnesses the tragedy in silence the international community is drawing closer to a new World War. A ceasefire that was brokered by USA and Russia only two weeks ago essentially to open a humanitarian corridor to bring food to the besieged city immediately collapsed as Syria and Russia blamed the USA for failing to fulfil obligations. The flaming of an aid convoy last week, which was on move with big UN markings all over to Aleppo, gave the necessary excuse to Russia and Syria to return to war. As it appears that Syria and its major allies -- Russia and Iran now believe that a military victory in Aleppo is possible when the USA has no appetite to intervene militarily in the ground. They believe a military victory in Aleppo will decide the fate of Syria war. It will evict rebels to countryside and allow Bashar al-Assad to strengthen his position in cities. The attack on the food convoy gave them the pretext to go on the new military offensive as the USA looks on helplessly with the clear sign that until November election there will be no change in US policy about Syria. The USA is no more a trusted leader of the free world and more so to the Syrian people who see they have been betrayed by the Obama administration which had earlier inspired them to revolt against Bashar al-Assad and now abandoned. Now when Russia, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Hizbullah fighters are destroying the free Syrian Army and others, Washington is appeasing Moscow as the global community see a helpless Kerry is courting Lavrov. More than 200 people died over the past two days. Food and water are now additional weapons. UNICEF sources said air strikes in Eastern Aleppo stopped the repair of a water pump, which supplies water to the residents. In reply rebels have stopped another pump, which supply water to government held areas. It appears diplomacy has hardly any chance now as the Syrian government and allies are out to end the war militarily. It is clear that Russia is taking full advantage of the weakness of US and Western allies and bombing directly to save Assad who has no army strong enough to fight and save him. The US and the West should make clear that they will bomb to finish Assad. But unfortunately the US and the West playing safe although they feel strongly about killing going on in Syria. President Obama does not know how to deal with Russian bluff. Certainly there are ways for punishing Russia. A 4-day family-friendly festival with transformational music and yoga. Musicians include Trevor Hall, Mike Love, Bluetech, Desert Dwellers, Tina Malia, Luminaries and Earth Guardians. This September 22nd - 25th, Santa Fe will become home to the first ever Unify Fest, a 4-day transformational music, health, yoga, and community festival dedicated to unifying humanity, celebrating life, and creating a sustainable future. The festival boasts a music lineup of more than 50 musical acts including Trevor Hall, Mike Love, Bluetech, Desert Dwellers, Tina Malia, Luminaries, Earth Guardians, and many exciting headliners still to be announced. This mixture of rock, electronic, reggae, dance, and indigenous world music makes Unify a cant-miss event for all fans of conscious music and nightlife. Music will alternate between four stages until midnight each day followed by an acoustic chill-lounge running until 3am each night; transforming Santa Fe into the most upbeat and high-vibe party in New Mexico. Unify Fest offers a uniquely inspiring experience, bridging the gap between multicultural indigenous ceremonial practices and cutting edge sustainability to help build a better and more conscientious model for festivals and communities alike. A full schedule of workshop and presenter programming features world-renowned speakers, teachers, ceremonialists, indigenous elders, and leaders in the fields of personal growth, spirituality, healthy lifestyles and sustainable living. These captivating sessions will be punctuated each morning and evening by group ceremonial practices from a range of ancient cultures that let attendees dive into the feeling of tribal bonding and unification to experience new perspectives of a unified field of human community. The festival will bring forth and feature more than 100 presentations, workshops, and experiences in yoga, movement, breath work, tai chi, qi gong, sustainable design, medicine making, permaculture, and more to activate and regenerate the mind, body, spirit, and planet. The family friendly festival offers a transformational environment while creating fun and friendly space for children and families to participate safely in the scheduled activities. Next to a flowing creek under the shade of ancient cottonwood trees, a uniquely designed childrens village offers inspired programming each day to support the creativity of young attendees. The children's village will be a host for creative self-expression for parents and children alike. Unify Fest will come to life at El Rancho De Las Golondrinas, an active, living museum dedicated to the history, heritage and culture of 18th and 19th century New Mexico. Nestled on 200 acres of flowing creeks, acequias, fruit orchards, giant cottonwoods, ponds and vineyards in a pristine valley just south of Santa Fe, the festival will transform this already stunning landscape with 2-main stages, 1 geodesic yoga dome, a workshop stage, an acoustic lounge, a childrens village, a healing sanctuary, onsite camping, and art installations. Attendees will also enjoy a variety of spaces dedicated to connection, relaxation, sustainability, health, healing, and life transformation. Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment, There could be no building of new synagogues or churches. Dhimmis could not ride horses, but only donkeys; they could not use saddles, but only ride sidesaddle. Further, they could not employ a Muslim. Jews and Christians alike had to wear special hats, cloaks and shoes to mark them out from Muslims. They were even obliged to carry signs on their clothing or to wear types and colors of clothing that would indicate they were not Muslims, while at the same time avoid clothing that had any association with Mohammed and Islam. Most notably, green clothing was forbidden... Other aspects of dhimmi existence were that Jews - and also Christians - were not to be given Muslim names, were not to prevent anyone from converting to Islam, and were not to be allowed tombs that were higher than those of Muslims. Men could enter public bathhouses only when they wore a special sign around their neck distinguishing them from Muslims, while women could not bathe with Muslim women and had to use separate bathhouses instead. Sexual relations with a Muslim woman were forbidden, as was cursing the Prophet in public - an offense punishable by death. Under dhimmi rules as they evolved, neither Jews nor Christians could carry guns, build new places of worship or repair old ones without permission,or build any place of worship that was higher than a mosque. A non-Muslim could not inherit anything from a Muslim. A non-Muslim man could not marry a Muslim woman, although a Muslim man could marry a Christian or a Jewish woman. Martin Gilbert, In Ishmael's House: A History of Jews in Muslim Lands (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2010) 32 - 33. Israel Thrives is a non-partisan political blog for people who care about Israel and want an end to the Arab-Muslim war against the Jews in the Middle East. Michael Lumish, PhD, editor. - mike.lumish@gmail.com - Doodad, Empress Trudy, Geoffff, and Sar Shalom Contributors. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Israel Thrives..24 September '16..Israel is The Dhimmi That Got Away.The fundamental basis of the never-ending Arab-Muslim aggression against the Jews of the Middle East is the Muslim religion as outlined in the Qur'an and the Hadiths.Period. Full stop.It is not an aggression based upon notions of social justice, as the Palestinian-Arabs, and their friends, would have you believe. In truth, Israel is a social justicecompared to the rest of the Middle East.The Long Arab War against the Jews of the Middle East is a religious war.And it is within the primary sources of the Islamic faith that we find the basis of this aggression toward the loathsome, particularly toward those trouble-making Jews.The Jewish people, however, along with a few Christians, managed to escape- in violation of Islamic theocratic imperatives - with the fall of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and the creation of the Jewish State of Israel after World War II.From those days to these, the Jews of the Middle East are free and the Arabs do not like it.When Muhammad created Islam as an imperial-supremacist religion intent on global expansion, he constituted it as the enemy of the Jewish people, the Christian people, and all other "unbelievers."Furthermore, it is an astonishing testament to the man's will and intelligence that he damn near pulled it off. Within a mere century ofdeath Muslims were already banging on Europe's door in search of conquest, slaves, and booty.Please understand, however, that the following criticism are not pointed at Muslims as individuals, but toward the consequences of Islamic doctrine. It is Islam as a theocratic-political ideology, with far-reaching consequences for all of us, that is under scrutiny.The Qur'an is an opaque and contradictory book, but there is no question that the spreading of Sharia, and the defeat of the Infidels and "unbelievers," is at its core. What this means, needless to say, is death or conversion for pagans and death, conversion, orfor "People of the Book." Jews and Christians hold a higher place within the Qur'anic religious hierarchy and therefore have the honor to choose to live out their lives under the boot of Arab-Muslim imperial rule. This entails the payment of protection money (jizyah) under a system of enforced humiliation and submission to the will of Allah... which is to say, to the will of the Arab theological-political leadership.It is not, therefore, a coincidence that Islam is famous for its bloody borders and is presently conducting a casual,genocide of the Christians of the Middle East and much of Africa. The genocide is casual in the sense that no one, including the Pope, himself, really seems to give a damn and the Arabs conduct it in a here-and-there, sort-of piece-meal fashion.The reason for the never-ending Arab-Muslim war against the Jewish people, therefore, has virtually nothing to do with Jewish misbehavior toward Arabs and virtually everything to do with the Qur'anic religious imperative to keep "unbelievers" under submission. Many Arabs in the Middle East want Jewish blood for the very same reason that they want Christian blood ... because both are Infidel religions who absolutely refuse to bow their heads to The Sword of the Prophet The punishment for refusal of submission to Qur'anic law () is death, sometimes via crucifixion, sometimes via head-chopping, and sometimes, as we read in Sura 5:33 , by the chopping off of a hand and a foot from opposite sides of the body.The Christians of the Middle East, including of course the Egyptian Copts, are not guilty of anything other than being Christians and it is forcrime that Muslim extremists - with the approval of their friends - burn down churches in the thousands, kidnap young Christian girls for purposes of rape and / or conversion, and riot against Christians wherever they may be found.None of his is due to Christian behavior.The cause is the Qur'an, its insistence on Muslim supremacy, and Muhammad's will to power.A primary difference between Jews and Christians in that part of the world, vis-a-vis the perpetual aggression and contempt of Arab-Muslims, is the IDF. The IDF is the lone, sole reason why the Arabs have not driven the Jews "into the sea" as they once promised during a more honest period of their history.For thirteen long centuries Arab-Muslims had their way with all non-Muslims in the Middle East. In some times and placeswas better and in some times and placeswas worse, but it was never better than the very worst of Jim Crow in the early twentieth-century American south.In Martin Gilbert's, we read:The Palestinian-Arab leadership, and many of their people, are aggressors who portray themselves as victims in order to advance the Islamic religious imperative of Jihad.The Palestinian-Arabs are also the cudgel that the rest of the Arab world uses against free Israel.Arabs outnumber Jews in the Middle East by a factor of 60 or 70 to 1. There are about six million Jews surrounded by 300 to 400 million Arabs in the Middle East. Those Arabs are not the least bit happy about Jewish sovereignty on the ancestral Jewish homeland and it is not because of Israel's record on human rights, which is far-and-away superior to their own.Arab hatred toward Israel is for the simple reason that Islam claims the Jewish homeland as part ofand therefore, according to Islamic religious law, it must always and forever remain part ofHowever, until the Arabs manage to wrest back control of the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people it will remain, like all non-Muslim lands, part of, "the House of War."And it is for this reason that Palestinian-Arab mothers are sometimes happy to see their children commit suicide by intifada - by Jihad - in the streets of Jerusalem or Hebron. If they are fundamentalist in their Islamic faith, then they honestly believe that the violent Jihad is a religious obligation and that their dead sons will go to an eternal life of indulgence in Paradise.Nonetheless, despite chronic and unremitting Arab-Muslim theocratic animosity toward Jews, we are the only indigenous people in the history of the planet to successfully reconstitute a national home upon ancestral land after twenty centuries of diaspora and thirteen centuries of Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of 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Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe 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. President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The United States generally imports about 100,000 barrels a day from Russia, only about 5% of Russia's crude oil exports, according to Rystad Energy. Last year, roughly 8% of U.S. imports of oil and petroleum products came from Russia. Gas prices have been rising for weeks due to the conflict and in anticipation of potential sanctions on the Russian energy sector. The U.S. national average for a gallon of gasoline soared 45 cents a gallon in the past week and topped $4.06 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. Should the US ban Russian oil imports over Ukraine war? You voted: The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. Pepsi MidAmerica has donated a truck to Southeastern Illinois College for use in the diesel technology program, according to a news release from the college. Ralph Boots, diesel technology instructor at SIC, said the truck will be used for training current and future diesel tech students in different areas, such as diesel engines, electronics, suspension and steering, HVAC systems, and others. The students will benefit from the donation by honing their skill set with specific OEM (original equipment manufacturer) research and making hands-on repairs to all related systems and subsystems of a heavy duty truck, Boots said in the release. Larry Chambers, vice president of Fleet and Facilities at Pepsi MidAmerica and a member of the SIC Diesel Technology Advisory Council, is a strong advocate for the colleges program. I met with Ralph and Robbie a few years ago and I have been so impressed with this program. We think its important to help out in any way we can and we are so happy to do so, Chambers said in the release. The program at SIC fills a great need in this region for fully capable and well-trained mechanics. For information about Southeastern Illinois Colleges diesel technology program, contact an SIC recruiter at 618-252-5400, ext. 2245. The Southern Harvest is under way. Within a few short weeks, soybean farmers will be ready to sit down and evaluate the 2016 growing season and to begin preparation for next year. To help every Illinois soybean farmer make the best management decisions, the Illinois Soybean Association checkoff program maintains its active ILSoyAdvisor.com platform. The website shares insight from industry experts with timely, practical and useful tips and techniques for enhancing soybean production. Farmers can access tips through blog posts from university and company specialists, research results and listen to or watch podcasts, videos and monthly webinars that offer continuing education unit credits for professionals. Articles are categorized by management area: agronomy, plant and soil health, disease management, insect management, weed management and crop diagnostics. Links to various apps also are available, along with useful soybean management guides. For the second year in a row, ISA has worked with the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser program to bring even more expert advice to farmers. Six CCA Soy Envoys provided regular, ground-level expertise on ILSoyAdvisor.com during the 2016 growing season. Farmers with specific questions can visit the "Ask an Envoy" section to review questions and answers others have posed, as well as provide additional comments and questions. The CCA Soy Envoys are passionate about soybean production, and team members filed in-season field reports, thoughts about current issues and personal perspectives on the trials and successes that face the soybean industry. A new tab also was recently added to ILSoyAdvisor.com that features archived webinars and articles from the team. Farmers and crop advisers who want to dig deeper into learning can join these free online education sessions. Topics include technologies, strategies and on-farm decision-making, as well as water and soil management and integrated pest management. ILSoyAdvisor.com has links to Soy Podcasts as another learning tool. Audio interviews about various soybean issues provide personal insight into management practices and crop reports, including soybean fertility needs and double-cropping wheat and soybeans. ILSoyAdvisor extended its outreach the last two summers by bringing expert advice into the fields through ILSoyAdvisor Field Days. Three regional field days were held in different parts of the state to showcase practical advice to increase yields and profits. ISA hosts the Soybean Summit during the winter months to provide more resources for learning. The event was held in three regional locations in 2016, and plans are under way for 2017. In addition, ISA, with funding from the national soybean checkoff program, is providing Illinois CCAs with copies of the "Illinois Soybean Production Guide: Systematic Strategies to Increasing Yields." The continuing collaboration between ISA and the Illinois CCA program helps farmers improve their management, promote better yields and increase profits. ISA farmer-leaders encourage other Illinois soybean farmers to take advantage of the chance to make ILSoyAdvisor a top management resource. The website is mobile-friendly, so farmers can get information whenever and wherever it is needed. Farmers who want to be reminded of current information available can sign up on the site to receive weekly updates. CARBONDALE As another summer comes to an end, two things for Campus Lake remain the same the active presence of wildlife and the serenity Illinois Humanities hosted the third and final installment of its Seeding Change? The Future of Our Farms and Communities in August at the Old Feed Store in Cobden. This traveling program series gathered people to talk about the future of agriculture and rural Illinois communities. Simon King, director of the Carnegie Mellon University Design Center, gave an opening presentation. Wayne Sirles, vice president of Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass, and Mike Plumer, a farmer, agricultural consultant, and cover crop specialist from Creal Springs, gave responses. The event, part of a larger series focusing on the future of agriculture in central and Southern Illinois, featured a presentation about how technological innovation might change the future of small farms and industrial agriculture by King. Other presenters and audience members were invited to respond from a regional perspective, and share thoughts about how agricultural shifts could affect local communities in the coming years. The goal of Illinois Humanities was to start the discussion. Meacham set the tone of the evening with a quote from The Transformation of Rural Life: Southern Illinois 1890-1990 by Jane Adams: Farm Families and people who have grown up in rural areas seem caught on the horns of a dilemma: the old way was materially impoverished but far richer socially than the present. Most one quality be lost in order to have the other? The quote resonates as much today as it did when the book was originally published in 1994. It opened the way for Kings discussion of how farming is changing and the growing role of technology in farming. Everyone knows the Midwest is the agricultural center of the U.S., but it wasnt something I ever had to be told, King said. King, who grew up on a farm in rural Michigan, said our ancestors would be very familiar with the principles of farming today, but the practices would be very different from their farming experiences. The increase in population in the last 100 years has increased the need for food and food production. As a result, yields have increased 800 percent in the last century. That needs spurred great technological advances, like mechanization in the late 1800s and early 1900s, hybridization in the 1930s, increased use of chemicals like herbicides and pesticides after World War II and genetic modification in the 1990s. But todays innovations go much further and are computer-driven. Those include data driven agriculture, which uses sensors and computers to monitor field and crop conditions; self-driving tractors; farm drones that can monitor crops or create maps for chemical use; and systems that link farm implements and yield monitors to track field productivity. But are they actually good for the average farmer? King asked. He also discussed the eat local trend, calling people who want to eat food grown close to home locavores. He added that the this trend has given rise to an interest craft, hand-made processes and slow living, as well as people beginning small farms. King added that one quarter of all farmers are beginning farmers. The desire to eat locally has seen a huge rise in farmers markets and also in CSAs or community supported agriculture, King said. Is the locavore helping farmers? Plumer works mostly with farms that have between 15,000 and 40,000 acres. He said we must continue increase our food production if we are going to feed the worlds population, adding that U.S. farmers are the most efficient in the world. A normal goal of a farmer in the U.S. is to produce 160 to 170 bushels of corn or soybeans per acre. Last year, one Georgia farmer broke 500 bushels per acre. We also have to look at the economics. Is it economical and feasible? Plumer said. One issue in the U.S. is degraded soils. Illinois soils have been degraded after only 200 years of farming, while farms in Africa are not seeing the same issues even after farming much longer. That willingness to share extends to Ghana, where farmers have learned to employ no-till farming methods and other advances to increase their profits from $400 to $2,200. While they cannot afford new technology, farmers in the U.S. can share what they have learned through technology to benefit farmers in Ghana who cannot afford technology. One way farmers share what theyve learned is through blogs like Ag Talk. A farmer can ask a question on the blog, and those who have experience in that area can respond. Since the internet-based blogs have no boundaries, a farmer in one part of the U.S. can learn from other farmers across the country and possibly the world. Plumer also said some technology is too expensive for small Illinois farms. Do we feed the world by using technology and risk our water quality and soil? Plumer asked. Sirles, a fifth generation farmer, works on at a farm and orchards that have been in his family 140 years. Rendleman Orchards employs about 70 people in the growing and harvesting seasons and 18 to 20 during the winter months. Their operation grows, packs, sells and markets produce and fruit to grocery stores. People want to know where their food comes from and how it is grown, Sirles said. Rendleman Orchards uses cover crops to sustain their environment and maintain the soil on their hilly farm. They also use GPS to help with soil samples and create maps for chemical use. To see technology in use at Rendleman Orchards, visit the packing shed. As apples are picked in the orchard fields, they are placed in large wooden bins. Those bins travel by tractor load to the packing shed. A computer at one end of the apple line prints labels, and each crate is labeled as it comes into the shed. We can trace an apple all the way from the field to the end user, Sirles said. As labels are printed, information is registered in a database. The database makes it easy to not only track the fruit, but also to see the productivity of each field and variety. The database is networked with the farms Quick Books accounting software to create inventory which is used by the ordering system to know what is available for sale. The apples start down the packing lines by first being floated out of the bins. The water is chlorinated to help reduce contamination. Apples are then sorted to remove the fruit that has large spots and brusing. Next the apples are sorted by grade by a group ladies and washed. The USDA sets the grades of apples, and Apples of lower grades may not be as pretty as top grades, but the grading system does not take flavor or sugar contest into consideration. The number 1 grade continues down the packing line. Other grades are sorted for use in processing, such as making cider or applesauce. Some of these ladies have worked for Rendleman Orchards for years. They are well-trained and good at what they do, Sirles said. Apples are washed in a sodium hyperchlorite through a system that includes 30 brushes. The system is controlled by computer and includes a series of sensor probes that monitor the washing solution for levels of chlorine, temperature and electrical conductivity. It automatically injects chlorine to keep the proper levels and acidifier to keep Ph at proper levels. Its all run by computers, Sirles said. Apples then travel through the electronic weight sizer, which divides them by weight. It also is controlled by computer and can sort apples to within an ounce of weight. Sirles can control the mix of apples by size, depending on the needs of his customers. One of the few things the orchard cannot control is the weather. Farmers are some of the most adaptable people I know because the weather rules our lives, Sirles said. Dennis Watson, associate professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems at SIU, said technology is already being used on many farms. We are getting into harvest time right now. The technology in combines can tell as they go through the field what the yield is, Watson said. They can also use grain carts that coordinate movement with a combine. The combine tells the tractor where it needs to go, how fast it moves and when it dumps its grain. At a recent Farm Progress Show in Iowa, Case IH demonstrated a tractor that had no cab. Watson said the tractor could make its own decision where to go by knowing the boundaries of a field. We are not at the point where op are ready to send a tractor out on its own, Watson said. Tilling operations. Farmers set first line and tractor takes care of steering itself. Farmer turns around Once you get a field planted, you would like to be able to scout that field to get an idea of the relative health of that field, Watson said. Now, with UAV or drones, you can fly over field and take pictures. Computer programs can turn those pictures into health maps, use color-coding to get an idea of the fields health. Some computer software is cloud-based, but what happens if a farmer changes software. Watson suggests backing data up on a local computer. Illinois outstanding debt moves like the hour hand of a clock, ticking imperceptibly but steadily. If each of the roughly 6 million Illinoisans who file income taxes in the state had to pay his or her share of the states budget shortfall, the bill today would be $45,500 per taxpayer. This new data was released September 17 in a report issued by the State Data Lab, a project of the non-partisan tax watchdog Truth in Accounting. Sheila Weinberg, a certified public accountant and Founder and CEO of Truth in Accounting, said TIAs numbers were pulled from the states June 30, 2015, audited comprehensive annual financial report. The state does not report the unfunded pension and retirees health care debt on its balance sheet, however. The report suggests that Illinois has approximately $213 billion worth of expenses, but only $26 billion in the bank to pay them. That leaves a balance of $187 billion. TIAs figure on a per-taxpayer share has increased by $500 for each Illinois taxpayer over the past year. The report also revealed the state has $116.7 billion of pension debt, but says that only $108.6 billion of that is being reported by state officials. These debts are factors in Illinois, which has the third-worst debt among all states behind only New Jersey and Connecticut having received sinkhole status from TIA. Our biggest concern is that the state has not been truthful to the citizens about the amount of its debt. While elected officials have claimed balanced budgets, the debt has been increasing because it has been hidden, Weinberg said. Rich Carter, spokesman for the Comptroller Leslie Munger, said the state uses daily numbers only to calculate what is on the table and what is in the coffers. Mungers office uses what is called the bill backlog, then the general revenue fund the account from which most bills are paid. As of September 21, the state has a bill backlog of $8.823 billion. We started the day with 87,849 vouchers that we have no money to pay. When a voucher comes into the Comptrollers Office, it gets in line to be paid, unless it is expedited by court order or statute. Today, we are paying vouchers we received on June 6. Those vouchers are 76 working days in arrears, so they are being more than 3 months after we received the voucher from a state agency, Carter said. On average, the state receives about $100 million each day to pay the bills. Expenses are much more. The state is currently running a $400 to $500 million monthly operating deficit. As a result, we are projecting the bill backlog will exceed $10 billion by Dec. 31 and payment delays will increase to six months, he said. Carter said the comptroller explains the bill-paying function as there is $8,800 worth of bills sitting on the table with $115,000 in credit card statements the state owes, which represents the states unfunded pension liability. But theres only $100 coming in every day in her scenario. If theres a day where (Munger) has to make pension payments, which are more than $500 million per month, then some other bills have to wait," Carter said. "If its the day we cut payroll as ordered by the courts or have to make a debt payment as required by the statute, those must be paid first. Every day, we perform triage with the limited funds we have to pay whats required by the courts and the statutes while trying to keep our most vulnerable human services organizations afloat, he said. Carol Portman, president of the Taxpayers Federation of Illinois, said taxpayers should realize that all of the debt isnt due right away. Those numbers are mind-boggling and jaw-dropping, Portman said. The debt has been growing the past few decades, and with the budget standoff, it has been getting worse. Theres a principle that revenue should equal spending, and without tax revenue to back it up, the numbers have been getting worse. The biggest piece is the pension thats been increasing over time. The state has finally admitted to the problem and is trying to come up with a rational plan to address it, she said. Weinberg said the first step in alleviating the taxpayer load for the debt is for government officials to be truthful and transparent about the governments finances. Budgets need to be balanced, including the true cost of government, and the states balance sheet needs to include all of its pension and retiree health care debt, Weinberg said. The state should balance its budget using fact-based budgeting, meaning full accrual calculation and techniques. Portman said there have been many tax proposals floating about to help close the gap between revenue and expenditures by the state, and they are fairly common for counties and municipalities to authorize, such as a 1-cent sales tax. The federal government has debt, state governments has debt and one problem in Illinois for many years is that the state has spent more money than it's brought in, but the spending was done in such a way that its been deferred," Portman said. "So these large numbers are a reflection of the total of all those years spent deferring payments. We need to get the economy to grow versus taxing more. But it isnt just the state thats having difficulty either, Weinberg said. Most cities and villages have very large pension and retiree health care debt, Weinberg said. Aurora reported a $389 million pension debt in 2015. For 2014, that number was only $6.5 million, indicating the city was not reporting its true pension debt. The governments unrestricted assets dropped from negative $36.6 million to negative $401.1 million. This represents the amount of money the city needs to pay the bills it has accumulated to date, including pension debt. This is almost two times the amount of the citys annual revenue, she said. One concern for state taxpayers is that government employees those belonging to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees group have a median salary of $63,660, compared with $32,000 in the private sector. U.S. Census Bureau data states the median income for an individual AFSCME worker is higher than the median income for an entire household in the private sector. Portman said that many of the lower-wage jobs performed by government employees are now hired out to agencies that are private-sector employers, which may be the reason behind that difference in income. The folks left at the government are higher-management types or in a union, so their salaries are higher," Portman said. "The cost of living is also higher in Illinois." U.S. Census Bureau data shows that in 2014, the median household income in Illinois was $57,444, compared with the national average of $53,657. SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking temporary help in preparation for winter weather. According to a release from the Department, officials are looking to hire temporary workers for their annual "snowbird" program to assist with snow-and-ice removal throughout the state this winter. It states, "These seasonal employees will be hired on a full-time and an on-call basis." The Department's program, which requires employees to be prompt in response to weather situations, includes working in emergency conditions at any give time, including weekends, holidays and nights. To be considered for the program applicants must have a commercial drivers license and submit to a criminal background check. A pre-employment physical, vision testing, drug and alcohol screening also are required. According to the release applicants will be selected based on availability, job-related experience and qualifications. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information, including details on pay and the potential for benefits, visit http://www.idot.illinois.gov/about-idot/employment-opportunities/employment/index. Numerous residents told HUD they didnt want to move. Dont do this. Its wrong, man, one resident told them. You dont know what were going through because you're not from here, said another, noting he has lived in Cairo since the 1950s and doesnt intend to live elsewhere. Stop moving our people out of town. Build something new here. A solar energy company has announced a new project in Southern Illinois that will retrain former coal industry workers in renewable energy. Solar Alliance Energy Inc., based in San Diego, says it plans to build a 500 kW community solar generation and battery storage project in Southern Illinois over 2.5 years starting in 2017. The pilot project will include a workforce redevelopment program to provide skills training and jobs to 30 unemployed and underemployed coal industry workers. Solar Alliance CFO Eric Knutzen has family roots in Southern Illinois, and he proposed the region during a company brainstorming session. We said, what can we do to get into an area that maybe has high electric rates and also displaced workers? Knutzen said. I sort of raised my hand and said, Well, I definitely know where theres some displaced coal workers, underemployed at minimum, if not unemployed I mean, my moms house is even built on top of a coal mine. Knutzen said the project will address several interconnected issues. What Ive seen is the need for a transition to other skill sets, and there is, as you know, a big transition energy-wise to find solutions that save everyone money and address the issues in hand of greenhouse gases, and the use of a fuel or a source of energy that we can count on over the long term, and not just temporarily. Solar is one of those long-term solutions, he said. The project will provide power to both residential and commercial customers, Knutzen said. I think all of us want our electric bills on a monthly basis to go down, he said. The company said it expects to sign a power purchase agreement within a year, and a specific site for the project will be determined during that time. Knutzen would not say whether any specific towns or areas are currently on the table. 700 coal industry workers in Illinois lost their jobs in 2015, the company said in a press release announcing the new project. Underemployed coal sector workers will be recruited for the project through local job placement agencies, advertising and industry outreach. The skill sets that are available in training for installation and so forth are there, they just have to be applied there in Southern Illinois to help people transition over to something that we know the residential and commercial users of electricity are looking at right now, said Knutzen. Solar Alliance announced the project as a Commitment to Action at the 2016 Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York. Two Galatia residents were arrested Thursday for allegedly being involved in the trafficking of crystal methamphetamine, according to Saline County Sheriff Keith Brown. Larry W. Harris, 41, and Christina L. Voss, 30, were arrested Thursday in Harrisburg. Voss was initically charged with unlawful delivery of methamphetamine and unlawful use of weapons, after three handguns were discovered in her vehicle. She was also arrested on an outstanding warrant from Missouri. Harris was also charged with unlawful use of weapons as well as unlawful possession of methamphetamine. About 1/4 pound of methamphetamine, commonly known as 'ice,' was seized, along with the three handguns. The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation by agents from the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Drug Enforcement Administration and Saline County Sheriff's Office. Saline County State's Attorney's office, Williamson County State's Attorney's Office and the Illinois State Police District 19 K9 unit assisted. More charges are expected to be filed. The Associated Press A cottage industry of apologists for Donald Trump and his supporters has sprung up to excuse, justify, infantilize and pity his core group of white, non-college-educated males who lash out at immigrants and globalism more generally. Victims ignored by elites! The Emmy winners mock them! There are more than a few problems with this. First, conservatives used to stand up for "creative destruction," the rise and fall of businesses and entire industries, which is an intrinsic part of a dynamic free market. If you're not a hard-core Libertarian, the average conservative has considered the solution to this problem to be a safety net and tax, education and other policies that allow workers to rebound; it has never been to halt the marketplace or shift to a government-planned economy. The latter has been tried and has failed, as conservatives are quick to point out when ridiculing Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., or other anti-capitalist wags. It also exempts these voters from responsibility for their lives. The coal town is depopulated? Yes, that's sad, but why are they not moving -- as immigrants do -- to where the jobs are? Second, the ills about which Trump and his apologists complain have little to do with the plight of many of their supporters (whose average salary is $72,000, much higher than that of the average Sanders or Hillary Clinton supporter). The things Trump demonizes -- free trade and immigration -- did not cause the decline of low-skilled manufacturing (automation did that); they have, however, contributed to the resurgence of high-skill manufacturing in the United States to such an extent that we have record numbers of unfilled manufacturing jobs. If Trump were railing about the lack of job training programs, that would be one thing, but he is not, of course. Constructive measures that do not involve attacks on others are of no concern to him. He's simply casting about for targets for white, lower-class rage. Third, Trump's defenders seem to demand that we treat members of his base delicately for fear of ruffling their feathers and damaging their self-esteem. When you play the "Hollywood makes fun of us" card, you get perilously close to political correctness and emotional feebleness, not things Trump and his ilk are supposed to promote. Even worse, complaining that other people don't wish them "Merry Christmas" -- and then transforming that into a war against Christianity -- is victimology rarely seen outside the "safe spaces" on college campuses. Fourth, the pity party for lower-class white males excludes virtually everyone else. Are we expected to turn the economy inside out for the latter, even to the extent that it harms those who have prepared themselves for a competitive workplace -- or who simply want to enjoy moderately priced consumer goods not priced out of their grasp by tariffs? Why concern ourselves with the delicate sensibilities of the "Merry Christmas"-deprived and not with Mexican immigrants ("murderers"), women (Trump thinks it's a mistake to let wives work outside the home), African Americans (whose lives he insists are a "disaster"), the disabled, etc.? In elevating one specific group -- older white males -- Trump fails the test of a leader in a diverse, complex society in which we want to maximize benefits for the largest number of people. He seems not to grasp the demands of living in a prosperous 21st-century society, which demands technical prowess, flexibility, cooperation and respect for others. It also happens to be dumb politics, as Gerald Seib points out: "Suburban women 'have in the past voted consistently Republican, and this year they are leaning heavily toward Hillary Clinton' says GOP pollster Whit Ayres, who works with Sen. Marco Rubio. Says one Trump adviser flatly: 'Suburban women will decide this election.' " There is no virtue in pandering to Trumpkins at the expense of every other group and the country's general prosperity. In making these white males (and only them) into victims and encouraging them to blame outsiders or menacing forces beyond their control, Trump does what Republicans used to accuse liberals of doing -- pitting one group against another in a zero-sum conception of the economy. It is doing the Trumpkins no favors and it is heightening dissension in a country that needs to rediscover common values and shared endeavors and undertake some systemic reforms in government, education and criminal justice. 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. If you play the ukulele, want to learn how to play the popular four-stringed instrument from Hawaii, or love someone who does, mark your calendar for September 23 25 and plan a trip to Albuquerque for the Ukekopelli Festival. This is the third year for the popular ukulele festival and it continues to draw both exceptional instructors/performers and ukulele lovers from around the country. The event kicks off with a Friday evening concert, this year with an island music theme. The performers will feature songs from islands around the world (not just the lovely Hawaiian Islands), getting the audience in the mood for lots of exciting workshops all day Saturday and Sunday morning. The performers are many of the instructors for the upcoming workshops. Theyll all be on stage together, playing island songs that will have you tapping your toes and wishing you were strumming along. Gary Wells, the man who dreamed up this festival and works throughout the year to bring it to fellow fans of the little instrument, says, We run a themed show and workshops. Everything is built around a specific concept. That means that with the island music theme for 2016, in addition to the regular workshops, participants can take part in island dance workshops, learn to play enchanting music to back up the dancers, and even enjoy an island dance recital and luau. During each workshop time slot, several classes will be presented, coded to the level player for which they are most appropriate, allowing participants to customize their learning experience. Learners have the opportunity to take seven classes in each ability level. Wells says of those intrepid newcomers to the ukulele who are considering attending the festival, For a brand new player to come to a festival like this is courageous. They are jumping into a full day of beginner classes and learning how to play. They also get to meet some of the coolest uke people around. They can connect with a local club to attend and continue the fun of playing ukulele with others of the same skill level. The list of instructors is like a Whos Who of the ukulele world. Heidi Swedberg (you may remember her as Georges unlucky fiance, Susan, on Seinfeld. Now shes an accomplished and well-known ukulele performer and instructor); Daniel Ward, who plays a mean Flamenco ukulele; Gerald Ross, who has been heard many times on A Prairie Home Companion; Andy Andrews, the founder of the Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz (one of the biggest around); Frank Leto, who is accomplished in playing music from around the world; John Bartlit, who has performed everything from music with the New Mexico Symphony to Flamenco; Craig McClelland, who along with some others listed here make up the Smoking Jackets; and Cliff Johnson, who will focus on helping beginners get a strong foundation. The instructors teach at ukulele events around the country and for some, around the world (Daniel Ward will be freshly returned from a festival in England, for example). If youve already been playing a while, youll likely select different workshops from your beginner friends. Wells says, There will be some incredible advanced instruction and new ways to look at what it is about playing uke that they find fun and pleasurable. They can even take a workshop to improve their vocal performances. These accomplished instructors will have a lot to offer, whether you are just starting out on your ukulele journey or you have a closet of ukuleles, a bookcase of music books, and already amaze your friends with your musical talent. There are videos of the instructors on the abqukefest.com website introducing their topics and telling you more about what you can expect to learn. Speaking of that closet of ukuleles, anyone who plays knows you cant have just one. To help you with UAS (Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome), local music stores will be on hand to introduce you to what well may be the next uke in your collection. If youre the lucky type, the next ukulele in your collection may come from the luck of the draw. There will be a drawing for a number of ukuleles and other goodies, and who knows? You may be one of the winners Saturday afternoon. For the first year, there will be T-shirts available to serve as a memento of your weekend with luminaries of the ukulele world. You can order them online when you register for the conference (find the link on the website) and your shirt will be waiting for you in Albuquerque. Of course, so much ukulele playing works up an appetite. Kimos Hawaiian BBQ will be on hand to provide lunch on Saturday, and Saturday evening features a luau before the island dance recital. Meals are in addition to the festival registration. The luau is $20 per person and must be ordered by September 18. Lunch prices from Kimos will vary depending on which delicious Hawaiian-style meal you select. The event takes place at the African American Performing Arts Center, 310 San Pedro NE, in Albuquerque, less than a mile from the Barcelona Suites, where a group discount can be obtained by using the code ukefun1. Call (505) 255-5566 to reserve your room. The weekend pass includes the Friday concert and workshops for $115 per person. If you bring a family member along, the discounted rate is only $60, which is a great way to get your spouse or child to start loving the ukulele just as much as you do. The luau is not included in the weekend pass. Your non-ukulele-playing guests will have plenty to do, too. Individual tickets for the luau, concert, and dance workshops are available through the website. Go to abqukefest.com for more information, instructor bios and videos, the schedule, and a link to Brown Paper Tickets, where you can register for the ukefest and luau as well as order your T-shirt. If you still have questions, e-mail info@ukefest.com. CHARLESTON -- Over the next five years, nearly 26,000 new jobs are forecast for the tri-county region made up of Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties, according to an update to the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerces Talent Demand Study. A shortage of local talent in the counties bordering The T&D Region, specifically for production jobs, is forcing some employers to recruit workers from out of state, which is a concern for chamber CEO and President Bryan Derreberry. Weve gotten by in the past by attracting talent from other places, and now all 386 metropolitan statistical areas of the United States are facing the same thing we are: baby boomer retirement, he said in early August, speaking at an event held by the chamber and Trident Technical College on education in the region. So the regions that develop their own talent are the regions that are going to win with regard to future economic development and prosperity in their metro areas. Mary Graham, chief advancement officer at the chamber, said she thinks the prediction of 26,000 new jobs is woefully low. I think its more like 40,000 jobs in the next five years in our community, she said. The gap of those particular, what we call the high-demand fields is accelerating for us. The biggest shortage in the tri-county is for general assemblers and fabricators. In 2014, 25 people in the Lowcountry were awarded degrees in that field, which now produces 838 annual job openings beyond the college graduate output, Graham said. We dont have enough people wanting those degrees, she said. Over the past two years, the gap between college output and the number of assembler and fabricator jobs has increased by 350 percent. Weve gone from a couple hundred annual job openings in that particular field in 2014 to over 800 annual job openings due to Boeing, Volvo, Mercedes and other manufacturers in our community, Graham said. Weve got to help educate our youth that manufacturing today in our community is a fantastic career choice. She said manufacturers now work in a high-tech environment with high salaries and a great benefits package contradictory to the stereotype of manufacturing as a dirty, low-paying job. As I tell people all the time, you can practically eat off the floor of a manufacturer in our community today, Graham said. Medical secretary jobs, which require a certificate degree and have a $30,000 starting salary, also have seen a significant jump since 2014. The demand has grown 235%, with 37 degrees granted in 2014 and now 213 annual job openings, Graham said. Other fields experiencing shortages are accounting support, software developers, aerospace mechanics, IT security analysts and network administrators. All of these jobs pay amazing wages in our community, way above average, Graham said. So you can go into any of these fields, whether youre coming straight out of high school or youre going on here to Trident for an associates degree or on to Charleston Southern University or one of our other four-year institutions, you can step into a career in this community thats going to be a long-term growth opportunity for you. Filling jobs with local talent The talent demand study said 39 percent of technical and high-wage jobs in the region were filled by better-educated workers who moved from out of state. About 31 percent of jobs went to people who were educated in the Charleston metro area, and 23 percent went to S.C. residents from outside the Lowcountry. We want them (local students) to have the opportunity for these great jobs that are being created in our community, Graham said. We love the fact that people are moving to our community, and we welcome them here, but we dont want to leave our own youth behind. To help create a pipeline for local talent, the chamber started Career Academies in 2013 the program now operates in 22 high schools as well as a Youth Apprentice Program. Each year, employers agree to hire and mentor high school juniors and seniors. When the program is completed, the student apprentices walk away with a high school diploma, a Trident Tech certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of paid work experience, the chamber said. The 2017 class of Youth Apprentices includes 75 students who will work for 65 employers in five industry sectors: contractual services, health, hospitality and culinary, IT and manufacturing. Marquel Rolack-Smalls, who graduated in May from Woodland High School in Dorchester County, is now a student at Trident Tech and an apprentice at Venture Aerobearings in Ladson. He said he became an apprentice because he thought it would give him the best chance to get into the school of his dreams, Clemson University. I wanted to have something different on my college resume and my college application than all other students, he said. Karen Winningham, a human resources specialist at Bosch, said the apprenticeships are a win for everyone involved. When the youths come in, theyre just like a sponge, she said. The mentors at our facility just jump in and cant wait to transfer that legacy knowledge. Kim Wilson, principal at R.B. Stall High School in North Charleston, said the apprenticeship program provides students with exposure to the workforce and a dream. I think so many kids today are looking for something to grab a hold of, Wilson said. Our students, they need something that will awaken them. Thats what a job does. Ive seen kids who just flounder along in education, and then all of a sudden they get to go work at Bosch and they see this machine and that machine does something to them. I dont know what it does it wouldnt do anything for me but it does something for them. It turns them on. Then, as a result, they get the connection between education and career. Orangeburg City Council members are concerned about the work relationship between the Department of Public Utilities linemen and managers following an accident that caused a co-worker to lose both arms. It seems as if there is a wall thats there between management and the division, Councilman Bernard Haire said. Haire has cited issues he experienced while awaiting a response from DPU management to a list of concerns the linemen presented to council. Council organized a meeting with DPU staff to show support following an accident involving a lineman in June. The lineman, who had 22 years of experience, came in contact with a 14,400-volt power line. The accident is currently under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. He received medical care at the Augusta Burn Center. Both of his arms were amputated. The lineman appeared at the City Council meeting Tuesday in support of his fellow workers. DPU is a part of the City of Orangeburg. DPU spokesman Randy Etters said, The city council (was) deeply moved by the events that happened. They felt like it was prudent for them to come down and speak, Etters said. They basically had a meeting with the staff and said, Is there anything that we need to do to help you guys? The linemen presented the council members with a list of nine concerns they had with the current work conditions. The T&D has requested a copy of the concerns under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. Haire said Tuesday council provided a copy of the list to DPU management to indicate which concerns could be addressed. Approximately two weeks passed without my getting a response, Haire said. All I was simply asking for from management was to say yes or no. He said there appeared to be some foot dragging, so he called and was told that DPU was still working on answers. Haire noted after his call that he received answers to the listed items that night, but said that they seemed evasive. There seems to be some type of resistance to providing those kinds of relief to these men, Haire said. Im concerned that the men who are here representing the electric division, it appears to me that there is an environment that seems to say take it or leave it. This has lasted too long. This started ever since July and this is now September going into October. This is dragging along too long, he said. Haire said he wants to bring a halt to any feelings of intimidation the linemen may be experiencing at DPU. We owe too much to these men, he said. If we sit idly by and dont do anything, were going to lose some good people. Council member L. Zimmerman Keitt said council agrees with Haire. We really need to work some things out and get us moving, Keitt said. We as a city do not need any problems thats going to impede our young men from working. Mayor Michael Butler added, Our hearts are with you as a council. Haire requested that the mayor to call a special meeting to address concerns. Details of the meeting are not yet known. DPU did not return calls seeking comment on the issue. A divided Orangeburg City Council has approved giving Palmetto Development Group the old First National Bank building on Russell Street. Palmetto Development interim CEO Julie-Ann Dixon said Friday that owning the building will advance the group's efforts to help small businesses. "To receive the transfer of the title to the building will allow us to apply for federal funding to assist with services and future renovation while restoring the beauty of the building to revitalize the Russell Street corridor," Dixon said. "The Palmetto Development Group will move forward with our plans of offering a business incubator to aid with the economic growth in and around the city of Orangeburg, she said. After meeting in executive session Tuesday, council gave third reading to the transfer of 1170 Russell Street to Palmetto Development for use as a business incubator. Four council members voted to approve the transfer: Mayor Michael C. Butler and L. Zimmerman Keitt, Bernard Haire and Sandra Knotts. Two council members voted against the transfer: Charles B. Barnwell and Charles W. Jernigan. Jernigan said council was given incorrect information from the group. I cannot understand why this council wants to vote in favor of doing something with a group of people that have lied to us from the get-go and cannot give us proper information, Jernigan said. Jernigan said the group told the city about grants that it may or may not have had. One part of them says they got them, another part says they hadnt, he said. Just misinformation, total misinformation. They told us things that arent true, Barnwell said. He added that council was being intentionally misled. Councilman Richard F. Stroman abstained from the vote, saying there were too many changes made at the last minute. I just didnt completely understand it, Stroman said. I wanted to hold off. Dixon declined comment on council members remarks, but said the organization has worked hard and invested in the economic growth of Orangeburg. In other business: Michelle A. Mapp, executive director of the SC Community Loan Fund, explained her company to the council. Our organization focuses on making loans for real estate-based assets, housing, healthy food enterprises, community facilities and community-based businesses, Mapp said. The group has given loans ranging from $10,000 to $6.2 million across the state. City Administrator John Yow said, We plan on meeting with Ms. Mapp more and learning more details about what she does. Fred Johnson of F.A. Johnson Consulting Group, Inc. provided council with an update on the Railroad Corner redevelopment. We have completed a number of appraisals and we have several proposed contracts and weve had a number of conversations with some property owners, Johnson said. Johnson said that he would present to council in executive session contracts to acquire three properties. The owners have already agreed to the terms. Concerned citizen William Green made an appearance to voice his concerns with the downtown farmers market. The idea for the farmers market was supposed to be farmers and crafts market, Green said. He said after visiting City Hall, he learned that the farmers are paying $5 to set up a booth while people looking to sell crafts would need to pay $100. Yow said the difference is the cost of a business license. The farmers, if theyre selling their product under state law, they dont have to pay the business license, he said. He added that the city doesnt put on the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Associations farmers market. That matter needs to go to the board of DORA, Yow said. Assistant City Administrator John Singh requested a resolution for the city to provide a local match for a Municipal Association of South Carolina Hometown Economic Development Grant for $30,000 to go toward a project at the airport. Were going to be looking at setting up where the boundaries are, locating and putting utilities on a survey and that way we really have a good plan to work off as we move forward, Singh said. Dave Durgin of DPUs Natural Gas Division presented a resolution authorizing a natural gas franchise agreement between the City of Orangeburg and the Town of Elloree. The agreement would service over 100 customers in Elloree who are currently using propane. Pike Electric of Mount Airy, North Carolina plans to construct approximately 14.5 miles of plastic gas main for $1 million to Elloree. Durgin said the city would recover its money in less than 15 years. Council authorized the city administrator to enter into a contract with R&T Grading Inc. in the amount of $611,476.76 for the construction of an access road to a planned recreation complex area. The terrorist bombings in New York and New Jersey, which injured 29, and the terrorist stabbings in Minnesota, which injured nine, were nowhere near as serious as the terrorist shootings in Orlando, which killed 49, and in San Bernardino, which killed 14. Nevertheless, the acts of accused bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, and of Dahir Adan, the stabber whose rampage was ended by an off-duty police officer in Minnesota, brought the issue of terrorism back to the presidential campaign trail. There was a time when terror attacks were thought to benefit Trump politically, because polls suggested he was seen by many voters as tougher on the issue. But Trump is widely believed to have fumbled things badly after Orlando last June, forfeiting some of his advantage. New York, New Jersey and Minnesota presented an unhappy opportunity to do better. For Clinton, the attacks were a chance to lead, to show strength and steadiness after a tough few weeks. Clinton played it safe. Speaking to reporters in White Plains, New York, before setting off to a speech at Temple University Monday, she thanked first responders and in essence promised to continue the Obama administration's anti-terror efforts, only a bit better. She would start an "intelligence surge," she said, and an "accelerated" anti-Islamic State coalition air campaign -- all a little more of what Obama is doing. After two acts of jihad committed by immigrants apparently committed to Islamic radicalism, Clinton, as always, rejected Trump's immigration-oriented anti-terror proposals. "Let us remember, there are millions and millions of naturalized citizens in America from all over the world," she said in White Plains. "There are millions of law-abiding peaceful Muslim-Americans. This is the kind of challenge that law enforcement can be and is prepared to address, namely going after anyone who would threaten the United States." The overarching theme of Clinton's message at the news conference was continuity with the Obama administration. "I was part of the national security team that worked with President Obama to develop strategies to fight the terrorists," she said. "So we're going to stay focused on what will work ..." Clinton did not address the possibility that what is being done now is not working. In any event, that was it for Clinton's public statements on the issue. Trump, for his part, was as bold as Clinton was cautious. "These attacks and many others were made possible because of our extremely open immigration system, which fails to properly vet and screen the individuals and families coming into our country," he said. "Attack after attack, from 9/11 to San Bernardino, we have seen how failures to screen who is entering the United States puts all of our citizens, everyone in this room, at danger. So let me state very, very clearly: Immigration security is national security." Trump noted that in the past decade and a half, "hundreds of immigrants and their children from high-risk regions have been implicated in terrorism and terrorist-related activity in the United States." And Clinton, Trump continued, would substantially increase the number of refugees from high-risk areas being allowed into the U.S. Clinton also opposes ideologically vetting those entering the country, as Trump proposes to do. "Hillary Clinton refuses to consider an applicant's world view, and thus, their likelihood of being recruited into the terror cause at some later date, which is going to happen in many, many cases," Trump said. Trump covered other aspects of the fight against terrorism in conventional terms -- "working in partnership with our allies on a military campaign to utterly destroy ISIS." But the heart of his speech was immigration and a bold intention, if not a detailed plan, to attack the problem of imported terrorism. Trump is known for sharp attacks on his opponents, and in Florida he again accused former Secretary of State Clinton of creating the conditions that led to the rise of the Islamic State. But when it came to attacks, Clinton might have outdone her opponent. "Donald Trump is being used as a recruiting sergeant for the terrorists," Clinton said in White Plains. "The kinds of rhetoric and language that Mr. Trump has used is giving aid and comfort to our adversaries." Who won the safe vs. bold terror debate in the wake of New York, New Jersey and Minnesota? That's the kind of question that can't be answered on a day-to-day basis, and in any event could well change by next week's debate. But some Republicans felt Trump walked away with a real edge. "Trump looked strong, while Clinton looked measured and weak," wrote Curt Anderson, a veteran GOP operative not working on the campaign. "Also -- we overestimate the impact of what the candidates say in the wake of these things. The big issue is that any terror attack is terrible for Clinton. It highlights her biggest weakness. Anybody remember when Hillary Clinton's strongest asset was her command of foreign policy and experience with it? Seems like a long time ago." ----- Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner. 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. Azerbaijan`s embassy to France has completed all preparatory arrangements for a referendum to make amendments to the country`s Constitution due on September 26. A polling station was set up at the Cultural Center of the embassy where France-based Azerbaijani citizens eligible to vote can cast their ballots. Armenias armed forces have 6 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 25. The Armenian armed forces stationed on Vazashen village of the Ijevan district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gazakh district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Ashagi Seyidahmadli and Garakhanbayli villages of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district. 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. A delegation of the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has visited Azerbaijan`s parliament. They had a meeting with chairman of the parliament Ogtay Asadov, who hailed the fact that the mission will monitor the referendum in Azerbaijan. We have invited observers from international organizations and parliaments of foreign countries to every election held in Azerbaijan. And it is of vital importance to us that observers from PACE have been part of these monitoring missions. Asadov said international observers who will monitor the referendum have already arrived in Azerbaijan. He expressed his confidence that international observers will see that the voting will take place in accordance with international standards. Delegation head Aleksandar Nikoloski provided an insight into the composition of the Referendum Assessment Mission. He said PACE observers have monitored all presidential and parliamentary elections and referendums in Azerbaijan. The CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly observation mission has met with chairman of Azerbaijan`s Central Election Commission Mazahir Panahov. Azerbaijans chief electoral officer hailed the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly`s attention to elections and referendums conducted in the country. Panahov said CEC attaches particular importance to cooperation with international organizations. He highlighted preparations for a referendum on amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan to be held on September 26. Panahov said all necessary measures have been taken by the Azerbaijani government to ensure a fair and transparent voting in tomorrow`s referendum. Trend By Shocking reports have been spread in Armenian social networks about Russian Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile systems demonstrated in Armenian military parade on September 21. The reports say that those Iskander-M missile systems, which havent been exported to any country, were sent from Erebuni airport to Russian 102nd military base stationed in Armenia. A social network user Arman Manukyan wrote that he learned about this after hearing a dialogue between Armenian police chief Vladimir Gasparyan and lieutenant colonel Galstyan who were accompanying the military equipment after withdrawing it from the square following the parade. In the comments to these remarks, the users noted that lieutenant colonel Galstyan is the deputy head of the military equipment department of Armenian armed forces. Despite the denial of the Armenian side, Russian expert, military analyst Alexander Khramchikhin has also said that Iskander missile systems do not belong to Armenia. Armenian expert Karen Karapetyan has said that this is a game of Armenian leadership to calm down the Armenian people, who are in a depressed state after the April events, and draw them away from anti-Russian sentiment. Trend By A manhunt was underway on Saturday in northwest Washington state for a gunman who opened fire with a rifle in a shopping mall and killed five people before disappearing under the cover of darkness, authorities said, Reuters reported. The suspect entered the Cascade Mall in Burlington, around 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle, and began shooting at about 7 p.m. local time on Friday in the cosmetics section of a Macy's department store, police said. The unidentified suspect, who police described on Twitter as an Hispanic male, initially walked into the shopping center without the rifle but surveillance video later caught him brandishing the weapon, said Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department at briefing on Saturday. The rifle was later recovered at the mall, said Cammock, who is commander of the Skagit County Multi-Agency Response Team. Four women were killed in the rampage, which police believe was carried out by a lone gunman. Later a man who was seriously wounded in the shooting died at a local hospital. None of the victims were identified. Steve Sexton, the mayor of Burlington, described the shooting as a "senseless act." "It was the world knocking on our doorstep and it came to our little community here," he said before acknowledging the response by law enforcement. "I know now our support goes with them to bring this son of a bitch to justice." Authorities offered no information about a possible motive for the attack, which followed a series of violent outbursts at shopping centers across the United States, including the stabbing of nine people at a Minnesota center last weekend. "We have no indication that we have a terrorism act," said Michael Knutson, assistant special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Seattle office. "I can't discount that, but I can't conclude it either." After the shooting, police and rescue workers worked their way through the mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers, some of whom locked themselves in dressing rooms. The mall remained closed on Saturday as investigators sifted for evidence and attempted to recreate the crime scene. Cammock said police had no clues about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect, and asked the public for help in tracking him down. Authorities released a grainy photo of the suspect taken by a surveillance camera. It shows a young male in his late teens or mid-20s with short dark hair, dressed in dark shorts and T-shirt and carrying a rifle. Local authorities searched through the night for the gunman and warned residents to remain indoors, though later said the area was safe. Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov signed the Paris agreement on the sidelines of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the UN News Center said. The agreement is a "road map" of measures that will reduce emissions released to the atmosphere and strengthen resilience to climate change. The Paris agreement was adopted by all 196 sides of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 21st Conference, held in Paris December 12, 2015. The agreement was opened for signature on April 22, 2016. The representatives of 191 countries signed the document. The agreement will enter into force on the thirtieth day after it is ratified by at least 55 countries. According to the message, some 60 countries joined the Paris agreement. An alleged conman has been accused of duping more than 30 Bahrain-based investors out of almost BD90,000 ($235,000), reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication To read further, please visit GDNonline. Compareit4me.com, a leading financial comparison website in the Middle East, has received a total of $2.4 million in investment through its latest round of bridge funding. The sum more than doubled the $1 million that the company set out to achieve, taking the total amount that it has raised to date to almost $6 million. The funds will be used to build out Compareit4mes recently launched and fast-growing insurance business in the UAE, and will also help fund its aggressive expansion plans across the Mena region. Compareit4mes insurance business has led to millions of dirhams in savings for UAE consumers. With a panel of 10 insurance providers, it is now the largest insurance comparison platform in the region. More than half of the $2.4 million secured came from existing investors Wamda Capital, STC Ventures and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, who were keen to support the companys ongoing growth. This comes less than a year after they invested $3 million in the companys Series A funding. Khaled Talhouni, managing partner at Wamda Capital, said: "We remain impressed with the performance of Compareit4me, and the business ability to grow in the UAE and across the region. This follow-on investment is a testament to our belief in the founders and the future potential of the company." Angus Paterson, partner at STC Ventures, added: Were very excited to back Compareit4me again in its ongoing expansion, given the business impressive growth trajectory and, in particular, the huge transactional potential offered by its recently launched insurance platform. The growth of the company has also attracted a group of new, strategic investors. Saned, an independently managed venture capital fund that nurtures early-stage companies in the Mena region was joined by an influential collection of private investors. These include executives from leading regional and international e-commerce and financial comparison businesses, along with a senior executive at one of the worlds leading hedge fund and venture capital firms. In addition to this, Mulverhill Associates, an investment organisation that originally backed comparite4me as an angel investor, contributed to the latest round of funding. We have added some amazing investors who have built some of the largest e-commerce and digital businesses in the world. Their knowledge and experience will be a huge help as we build out our insurance platform, which has the opportunity to further disrupt the way that insurance is distributed in the Mena region, said Jon Richards, CEO at Compareit4me.com. Given the business is transactional, it creates the same opportunities and challenges as other e-commerce sites. These are very exciting times for the business. H1 2016 saw revenues grow approximately 2.5 times, and since our insurance business launched in March, we have already sold close to $2 million in policies and its growing at 80 per cent per month. In response to this growth, Compareit4me has built out a state-of-the-art call centre to service the business rapid expansion. Significant further investment and growth is anticipated for the coming year. This latest round of funding further reinforces our position as the regions largest insurance aggregator and leading banking comparison site. With users now able to compare 10 insurers and over 25 products, it is clear that we are the destination of choice for the Middle Easts financially savvy consumers. We are delivering on our core value of improving transparency in the Middle East, said Samer Chehab, COO at Compareit4me.com. Well soon see an even bigger push into the Saudi Arabian market, while our range of products for the UAE will be dramatically expanded. Expect some huge announcements from us in the coming months. Compareit4me.com allows users to compare finance and banking products from around the Middle East. Earlier this year, Compareit4me launched its insurance platform which allows users to instantly view, compare and buy car, home, travel or life insurance online via credit card, cash collection, or monthly instalments. TradeArabia News Service Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions (CMCS), a leading project management information systems (PMIS) solutions provider, has signed an agreement with Altus Group, a leading provider of independent advisory services, software and data solutions to the global commercial real estate (CRE) industry. The agreement will allow for joint business development and sales of Altus Groups Argus Developer products in the Middle East and North Africa region (Mena) and India. Over the last three decades, CMCS has empowered organisations from all over the world with its diverse portfolio of innovative solutions that aims to help them make the best informed decisions possible when selecting, delivering, governing and auditing multi-billion-dollar construction programs. Under the newly signed agreement, CMCS expertise, combined with Altus Groups many years of experience in providing industry leading technology for real estate investment, asset management and development lifecycle management, will result in a unique offering to the Mena and Indian CRE and construction markets. Bassam Al Samman, CEO, CMCS, said: The companys continuing success and growth is predominantly attributed to its clients, partners and team membersall of whom have relentlessly strived to deliver a successful and valuable customer experience. Were excited by the formalisation of our relationship with Altus Group, which I am confident in seeing great benefit to us and the Indian and Mena markets. Argus Developer is a comprehensive single platform to model, forecast, manage, analyse and report on CRE development project cost and cash flows, from project inception and feasibility through to planning, execution and completion. To support our continued growth in the global CRE market, the Altus Group is delighted to align with a strong, regional partner in the Middle East. CMCS proven track record of streamlining project management for construction industry customers and using data to deliver transparency and governance aligns perfectly with the capabilities of Altus Analytics, said David Oates, senior vice-president international, Altus Analytics, the software and data solutions business unit of Altus Group. Meanwhile, CMCS has announced that it will be running a series of training days in Dubai in December, tailored specifically for the development sector. The sessions will focus on feasibility analysis and development monitoring, and are designed for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and skills in these areas. - TradeArabia News Service Science fiction often speculates about robots that are virtually indistinguishable from humans. However, while there are examples of humanoid robots being developed, the majority of robots will not take after their creators, says GlobalData. Work is progressing well on the Barakah nuclear power project in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with about 70 per cent of the construction completed at all the four units of the plant, said a report, citing the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec). The major contract for the four 1,400-MW nuclear power plants was awarded by Enec to a consortium led by the Korean Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), the worlds third largest nuclear energy company. As per the deal, the consortium will design, build and operate the plants in the UAE. The first unit is expected to start operation next year, while the other three are scheduled for completion by 2020. Enec chief executive Mohamed Al Hammadi said it was proud of the progress made in the development of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme, according to state news agency Wam. "All four units are about 70 per cent complete, an amazing achievement, considering that we started construction a mere four years ago," Al Hammadi was quoted as saying in the report. "Most recently, we installed Unit Threes reactor vessel, completed the construction of the concrete dome for the Unit Two reactor containment building, and are progressing steadily through the testing and commissioning phase at Unit One, where the structural integrity and integrated leak tests were recently completed,'' he added. Ericsson will be showcasing a variety of its smart grid, utilities, cloud and sustainability solutions at the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (Wetex) 2016 in Dubai, UAE, next month. Ericsson is the Platinum Sponsor at the event, to be held from October 4 to 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The companys global head of utilities Marco Li Vigni will discuss digital transformation and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the utilities industry in light of the theme At the Forefront of Sustainability. The front-runners in industries such as utilities, transport, public safety, and mobile financial services, are starting to shift information and communications technologies from the backroom to the boardroom, from support act to main stage. To address this, Ericsson will demonstrate its Smart Grid Node and Cellular IoT and Sustainable Water solutions. Moreover, the company will have flash demonstrations of its smart meter to cash, analytics, and Cloud and data centre capabilities; in addition to videos showcasing smart grid nodes, digital utilities and smart meter as a service. On October 6, Li Vigni will discuss how increased focus on emission reductions, new business models and operational efficiency are changing the nature of the utilities business and creating new challenges and opportunities. Ericsson creates platforms with multi-industry relevance and scale, that focus on delivering transformational offerings to the Smart sustainable cities, utilities, transport, public safety and mobile financial services industries, the company said. - TradeArabia News Service The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of Dubais maritime sector, will launch the UAE Maritime Leaders Seminar (UMLS) on the sidelines of Dubai Maritime Week 2016, the latest edition of the Middle Easts first comprehensive maritime event. The conference will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council, from October 30 to November 3, at The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina. It is being organized by the Dubai Maritime Cluster Office. The UAE Maritime Leaders Seminar, which is being held for the first time, is an important interactive platform for consolidating communication channels among global maritime leaders and various maritime experts operating in the country--especially the young maritime workforce assigned across various administrative levels in the country's ports and facilities and university and college students interested in the local maritime sector. The event will enable them to develop a road map for optimally using smart maritime and communication techniques to enhance the maritime industry and at the same time, demonstrate the role of innovation in transforming Dubai into one of the worlds most important maritime capitals, said a statement. Government figures, global and regional maritime leaders, decision-makers and representatives of leading maritime training centres have confirmed their participation in the UAE Maritime Leaders Seminar, which will be moderated by Capt Michael P Elwert, group chief executive officer of the Elektrans Group. The day-long seminar, which will take place on October 30 at The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina, includes interactive discussions from four international maritime experts who will focus on the smart maritime subjecttouching key topics like Smart Maritime Navigation, Advantages of Smart Maritime Navigation, Role of Effective Communication in Promoting Smart Maritime Navigation and Development of Human Factor, and Role of Smart Maritime Navigation in Shaping the Future of Maritime Sector. Speakers at the seminar will include Dr Volker Bertram from DNV GL Maritime; Oscar Levander, vice president of innovation department at Rolls-Royce; and Frank Coles, president of Transas. At the concluding session of the forum, a senior researcher from Lloyd's Register will present the Lloyds International Report 2030, a specialised report tackling the future of the world's maritime sector. Dubai Maritime Week 2016 is expected to witness a series of world-class events, most importantly Dubai Maritime Summit 2016, which will take place on November 2, covering the launch of the first edition of the Dubai Maritime Innovation Award. The award is designed to highlight the most important contributions and innovative initiatives in the domestic maritime sector throughout the year. The week will also feature Seatrade Maritime Middle East, Global Shippers Forum, and DMCA Partners Appreciation Gathering, among others. Amer Ali, executive director of DMCA, noted that strengthening communications among the leaders of the maritime industry is the topmost priority for developing a clear framework for facing emerging challenges and investing in promising opportunities to serve the ambitious aspirations for activating the role of the maritime sector in economic prosperity and social well-being. Ali said: The DMCA is responsible for providing the maritime community with the latest developments and future prospects to enhance Dubais ability to compete with the most prominent maritime and logistics centers in the region and the world. This has prompted us to introduce a new quality event the UAE Maritime Leaders Seminar as the newest addition to the agenda of the Dubai Maritime Week, which we are proud of as the first and only event of its kind in the region that has established the emirates position as a leading hub for maritime excellence and innovation in the world." Dubai Maritime Week 2016 is expected to attract more than 350 exhibitors representing leading maritime companies from around the world and more than 7,000 leading local, regional and international experts and maritime professionals who will discuss the latest developments and explore the most promising solutions and opportunities that abound in Dubais maritime sector. - TradeArabia News Service Charlotte police released two videos on Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a black man that has unleashed days of protests, but the footage failed to settle the central question of whether shooting victim Keith Scott was holding a gun. Protesters who have gathered in Charlotte every day since the Tuesday shooting demanding that police release the body-cam and dashboard video marched again on Saturday evening, with many carrying signs protesting police violence. Both Scott's family and protesters have disputed the police statements that Scott was carrying a gun. The controversy over Scott's death has made Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city and a financial center, the latest flashpoint in two years of tense protests over U.S. police killings of black men, most of them unarmed. Before the release of the footage, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney acknowledged that the videos themselves were "insufficient" to prove that Scott held a gun. But he said that the totality of evidence, including eyewitness testimony, supported the conclusion that Scott was armed. "There is no definitive visual evidence that he had a gun in his hand - you can see something in the hand - and that he pointed it at an officer. That I did not visually see in the video," Putney said. "But what we do see is compelling evidence that, when you put all the pieces together, supports that." In a statement accompanying the video release, police said Scott was shot by Officer Brentley Vinson as he backed away from his vehicle. "Officer Vinson perceived Mr. Scott's actions and movements as an imminent physical threat to himself and the other officers," the statement said. Police released pictures along with the clips, including photos of a handgun and an ankle holster that authorities said Scott had been wearing at the time of the shooting. Police said that the gun recovered at the scene was loaded and had Scott's fingerprints and DNA. But Scott's family, which released its own video of the encounter on Friday, said the footage showed the father of seven was not acting aggressively and that the police shooting made no sense. The family video, shot by Scott's wife, was also inconclusive on the question of a gun. SCOTT "DESERVED BETTER" The family said neither of the police videos answered key questions surrounding the case, and left them with insufficient information to form an opinion on whether the officer who killed Scott should face criminal charges. In one of the police videos, a dashboard-mounted camera from a squad car showed Scott exiting his vehicle and then backing away from it. Police shout to him to drop a gun, but it is not clear that Scott is holding anything. Four shots then ring out and Scott drops to the ground. A second video, taken with an officer's body camera, fails to capture the moment of shooting. It shows Scott standing outside his vehicle before he is shot, but it is not clear whether he has something in his hand. The officer then moves and Scott is out of view until he is seen lying on the ground. Both videos show Scott moving at a measured pace with his hands at his sides. At least five people who appear to be police officers are seen in the bodycam video. Scott's family and family attorneys said the videos showed Scott walking away slowly from officers at the time he was struck by bullets. "He doesn't appear to be acting aggressively to the officers on the scene," Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the Scott family, told a news conference. Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said much of the media attention has focused on what kind of person Scott was. Although he was a "good person," Dotch said, what really matters is that "he was an American citizen who deserved better." Another lawyer for the Scott family, Charles Monnett, said, the family did not know enough of the facts to know whether the officer who killed Scott should face charges. Hundreds marched through the center of Charlotte on Saturday evening, including white and black families protesting police violence. Some carried signs reading "Stop police brutality" while some signs showed a picture of a bloody handprint with the phrase #AMINEXT. Some marchers angrily told media to leave the demonstration, but the city was less tense than on Friday night. Restaurants and bars were livelier, and many patrons came outside to watch demonstrators chanting "No justice, no peace, no racist police." Reuters Security at sea will be the focus of a major eventin Bahrain next week Naval commanders from around the world will gather in Bahrain this week to discuss security at sea, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication To read further, please visit GDNonline. Hyundai Motor Company has shared a first glimpse of its latest high-performance N Concept, the RN30, that will celebrate its world premiere at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Based on the New Generation Hyundai i30, the RN30 was born as a racing machine, developed in close collaboration with Hyundai Motorsport (HMSG), Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center (HMETC) and Hyundai Motors Performance Development & High Performance Vehicle Division. This is an insight into how Hyundais global technical resources can create a truly thrilling drivers car, and a testament to the already superb engineering of the New Generation i30 that underpins the project, said Mike Song, head of Operations for Hyundai in Africa and the Middle East. It also previews some of the qualities that will be built into the planned N models, which will offer a new level of excitement for enthusiasts. The striking concept is distinguished by its purposeful aerodynamic design and specialized high-performance technologies that deliver thrilling high-speed driving. The silhouette of the RN30 is unmistakably inherited from the clean and cohesive lines of the New Generation Hyundai i30, but with a lower, wider stance to enable greater stability during high speed driving and cornering. The high-performance Hyundai N Concept RN30 will celebrate its world premiere at the 2016 Paris Motor Show on September 29, alongside the New Generation Hyundai i30 and the new i10. Hyundai has unveiled a series of new models and concept cars at this years major international motor shows, each one a demonstration of quality and innovation, said Song. The i30 and the RN30 are cars that are sure to generate enormous interest. TradeArabia News Service Iran and Denmark recently discussed joint cooperation in the renewable energy sector, water resources, wastewater treatment and reuse, a report said. "Given Denmark's capabilities and Iran's unique capacities in wind and solar energies, expansion of ties in renewable energies can be the main focus of future talks between the two sides, Irans Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian was quoted as saying in the Iran Daily report, which cited Mehr News Agency. "Taking advantage of modern technologies in water and wastewater treatment remains yet another venue for cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries, he added. Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate Lars Christian Lilleholt is set to visit Iran to discuss ways of boosting cooperation in the water and electricity sectors, the report said. Adoption of new technologies can boost the regions energy sector in output and competitiveness at a time of reduced oil prices and global competition from new suppliers, according to a regional energy executive. Delivering the keynote address at the closing of the Insead Leaders Forum in Dubai on September 21, Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum and vice-chairman of the Crescent Group, highlighted the challenges from lower oil prices on company operating models and regional budgets, as well as the need for keeping up with global trends in the face of competing supplies from US shale oil and other regions. He also described the impact of new technologies such as electric cars and energy efficiencies, and alternative energy sources which are emerging in the region. According to Jafar, who is also the founder of the Centre for Economic Growth (CEG) at Insead Abu Dhabi, the Middle East region holds 48 per cent and 43 per cent of global oil and gas proved reserves respectively almost half, though production is only 32 per cent for oil and 18 per cent for gas about one third and one sixth of global supply, implying much greater potential than has been realised to date. Commenting on these numbers, Jafar said: The widespread adoption of new technologies is therefore critical to maximize recovery rates, maintain cost advantage, extend resource life and ensure security of supply to global and regional consumers. Turning to the impact of technology on supply, he noted that the oil and gas upstream industry is going through a challenging time as low oil prices are challenging the operating model of oil and gas companies across the world. The effects of these dramatic technological improvements in efficiency have however been slowed by weak economic incentives for consumers in many markets including the Middle East. Low fuel prices, or even outright fuel subsidies, don't encourage take-up of new energy efficient options or private sector investment in the best energy technology or infrastructure, nor innovations in energy technology specific to the requirements of the region itself: for example, reducing air cooling costs for homes. Only by removing such pricing distortions will the Middle East region make material gains in energy use, Jafar added. Talking about the impact of digital technology on the energy sector, Jafar stated that the drumbeat of technological change in the energy industry is widely misunderstood, with the focus too often falling on trendy innovations rather than the much larger and more significant incremental improvements in efficiency, design and capability of established sectors. The Insead Leaders Forum was held for the first time in the UAE on Wednesday at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. With a focus on digitisation and disruptive innovation, the forum brought together over 200 alumni from top business schools, key government officials and prominent business leaders. Insead was ranked the number one business school in the world in 2016 by the Financial Times and has campuses in France, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, UAE. Insead is committed to developing business education and advanced managerial ideas, and Global Insead Day provides an opportunity to alumni to celebrate their Insead experience. Alumni Associations have been formed across 46 countries around the world, and the event in Dubai followed similar celebrations in Lebanon, Peru, Portugal, Delhi, France, Columbia, Hong Kong, Washington DC, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brussels and Japan to commemorate Global Insead Day. -TradeArabia News Service Snap Inc, the newly renamed parent company of messaging app Snapchat, plans to start selling camera-equipped sunglasses starting this fall, chief executive Evan Spiegel told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. The sunglasses, dubbed Spectacles, will be sold via limited distribution for about $130, said Spiegel, who described the device as a toy. The first hardware to be sold by Snap, the sunglasses will record video from the user's perspective in 10-second increments that can be synched with his or her smart-phone. Reuters Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will acquire 63 aircraft as part of a fleet modernisation programme, a top executive was quoted as saying by state news agency SPA. The airline will acquire 15 Boeing B777-300ER, 13 Boeing B787 Dreamliners and 35 Airbus A320 and A321-neo, said director-general Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser. Saudi Arabia's air travel industry is benefiting from strong population growth and rising incomes since the country announced in 2012 that it would liberalise its domestic aviation market. At present the state-owned carrier's only domestic competitor is budget carrier flynas. In 2015 Saudia said it would raise the number of its planes to 200 from 119 and add new international and domestic routes. Reuters The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) celebrated Saudi Arabias national day by distributing gifts to visitors coming to Bahrain through the Bahrain International Airport and King Fahad Causeway on September 23, 2016. The celebration is in line with the bilateral relations and strong ties between both kingdoms under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin AbdulAziz Al Saud. We would like to express our congratulations and good wishes to the wise leadership and the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of their national day. We wish them further progress and prosperity, said the chief executive of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Shaikh Khalid bin Humood Al Khalifa. The BTEA has developed a yearlong calendar of events and activities in line with its ongoing efforts to attract tourists to the kingdom and contribute towards the country's economy and the 2030 Economic Vision. - TradeArabia News Service Tourism in Saudi Arabia continues to grow year-on-year, with the kingdom requiring 8,000 tourist guides by 2030, a member of the Saudi Society for Tourist Guides (SSTG) has revealed. According to Ahmed Al-Jaid, the current number of tourist guides in Saudi Arabia is around 500, said a report in Arab News. However, there is a need for more icensed tourist guides, including mutawif (pilgrim guides). Prince Sultan bin Salman, the president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), said in an article: The transformation in the tourism sector has become easier and more acceptable than before, and the reason for this is the existence of a real tourist sector and of an enormous market for tourism. Prince Sultan said: We hope that tourism will be the leader of the new economy ... as King Salman wants to develop tourism and the heritage sector." Oryx Rotana, a five-star luxury business hotel in Doha, has announced the appointment of Ferhad Zohny to the role of business development director. Zohny will be responsible for identifying and leading strategic business development, alliance and acquisition opportunities for the hotel. Prior to joining Oryx Rotana Doha, he was the director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Maryland, US. He was responsible for marking activities for the hotel to improve positioning. Much of Zohnys early career was spent in the Hyatt, IHG, Viceroy, Conrad, Hilton properties in Egypt, UAE and the US where he held roles in sales and marketing, logistics as well as food and beverage operations. A professional with over 20 years of progressive experience in sales, Zohny has been responsible for directing the sales, conducting sales calls, scheduling promotional work and tracking sales activities on large complex accounts or new territories. He holds a masters degree from University of Wales, and a Bachelors Degree in Food & Beverage. On this occasion, Mark Timbrell, general manager of Oryx Rotana, said: I am happier to welcome such a seasoned professional. Ferhad's deep knowledge of the industry in both sales and marketing will be an invaluable asset to Oryx Rotana Doha." His new role will see him supporting the continued growth of Oryx Rotana across the Middle East, utilising his extensive knowledge of the industry and relationships with key decision-makers," he said. - TradeArabia News Service Caspers housing market was recently ranked as one of the least healthy in the country, largely due to the oil and gas bust. Some locals, however, argue that the narrative lacks nuance. Every quarter, Nationwide Economics, a branch of the insurance company of the same name, analyzes the health of 400 metropolitan housing areas across the country. The bottom 10 markets in the most recent report were all oil- and gas-dependent communities. Only Bismarck, North Dakota, and Midland, Texas, ranked lower than Casper. Were looking at economic variables, explained Ben Ayers, a senior economist who worked on the report. Were looking at job growth. Were looking at household growth, and were looking at delinquency rates, home prices. Combining all of those factors gives a general reading on where the housing market is going and how healthy it is. And Casper is going to take some time to get back on track, he said. Though Casper housing prices have not declined rapidly due to the bust, they have stayed flat. And as job growth has declined, delinquencies on mortgages have risen, Ayers said. If you look at Casper, a year, two years ago, 15 percent of the workforce were working in oil and gas, and suddenly oil prices dropped, he said. You lose about half of those jobs, and that is a lot of folks that dont have income, that dont have the job potential they had going forward. So either they move away or you know they are stuck in a situation where maybe they are behind on their mortgage. Maybe they are behind on their rent. The study does not rank towns against one another. Instead, it compares this year in Casper with previous years going back to 2001. We are not comparing it to a national average. We are not comparing it to, say, San Francisco, a totally different market. We are comparing it against Casper, he said. Even compared against its own long-term averages, house prices well below, job growth well below, delinquencies well up, and all of that would tell us that over the next year, two years, probably a continuation of this poor trend, until the demand factors tick up. However, though the oil and gas bust is acknowledged locally as having an effect on housing, Caspers market is about more than oil and gas, some say. I think Casper really truly has diversified over the last 20 to 30 years, said Gilda Lara, director of the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce. We understand that there is going to be that boom and bust associated with the energy and extraction field. The chamber receives calls for relocation information, people who want to know about the local taxes, schools and services before they move. And what Casper is experiencing now is an increase in the number of senior citizens, she said. What we are seeing is an uptick in those requests, she said. These are seniors that are actually looking at Wyoming and saying, This is a great place to retire. Lara sees two main reasons for that: low taxes and Caspers health services. Our members that are Realtors, they are telling us that they are selling homes and they are selling them to retirees, she said. As a result, home values are not bottoming out as theyve done in previous busts, she said. Realtors report that homes are retaining their value, and the current market offers opportunity. Right now, the interests rates are screaming low, lower than they have ever been, said Gary Bryan, a real estate agent with Broker One Real Estate in Casper. There are better houses on the market, better inventory than weve had before because weve had a little bit of an adjustment. Its not a bad adjustment. Its a good thing for buyers. Two years ago, Casper was a sellers market, he said. But times have changed. There is a little more negotiation going on, he said. It certainly true that the average sale prices for homes in Casper havent drastically changed over the last three years, according to the Casper Board of Realtors data. However, variations reveal that both buyer and seller expectations have changed since the bust. In June 2014, single-family homes in Casper were listing for about $260,000 on average. The average closing price was about $249,000, according to the realtors website. Last year, people were still asking for around $260,000, but they were closing at much lower prices. This year, the average listing price for a single-family home in June is down to about $250,000. The average closing price is about $230,000. Single-family homes are also spending more days up for sale than they were in 2014. In contrast, mobile homes are being sold rapidly, going from an average 90 days on the market in the summer of 2014 to just 38 days this June. The change in housing affects the value of Natrona County as a whole, impacting budgets for county departments and schools. But the housing market effect is belated. We use sales to get our values, said Connie Smith, assessor for Natrona County. Just because there is a bust doesnt mean that the valuation goes down. It has to do with what the market is doing. Just until recently, those sales were pretty robust. The total value for Natrona County this year was almost $1.2 billion, down from $1.5 billion the previous year. That bucks the recent trend the county has gone up every year since 2010. However, only part of that value comes from homes. Commercial properties and businesses including those in the energy sector also factor into the equation. Its not surprising that Natrona County is seeing a dip, according to Ayers, the economist for Nationwide. If you look at our bottom 10, most of those are oil and gas, he said. Very similar issues going on there, very similar markets, very similar outlook as well. Mark Tews turned off Yellowstone Highway and parked his pickup outside one of the three large bays that make up his machine shop, Bulls Pen. Cars rumbled along the road outside. But in the shop, all was quiet. Metal shards crunched beneath his boots as Tews made his way inside. Millions of dollars worth of equipment sat idly beside his pet projects a souped-up speedboat, a broken-down car and an antique lawnmower. In the boom, he employed as many as 15 people. As of Wednesday, he was his business sole worker. Im bored, the 51-year-old said. Three years ago, a mid-week afternoon would have been busy. The buzz of the machines or the roar of the Harley-Davidson motorcycles Tews bought for his employees would have spilled out of Bulls Pen. That was before the slowdown in oil, gas and coal the three commodities most critical to Wyomings economy. Though oil prices have begun to improve, the effect of the downturn is still being felt all through Caspers support services industry, where machinists, welders and construction workers make a living serving exploration and production industries. Business owners like Tews wonder how long they can hold out. Some have shuttered their windows and locked their doors for the last time. Others have cut workers and reduced overhead, hunkering down until the economy recovers. In Wyoming, the number of service-sector workers exceeds those employed directly in oil, gas and coal. In Casper, that component of the workforce has dwindled since the bust. August registered Wyomings first gains in employment in 18 months, according to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, but the change was minor compared with the losses. From 2015 to 2016, the jobless rate nearly doubled in Natrona County and Campbell County, both areas with large numbers of service-sector workers. Boom and bust During boom periods, Caspers service sector expands to accommodate. When busts arrive, that economy adjusts, said Bill Schilling, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance. Historically Casper, because of its central Wyoming location has been a service center for the energy extractive industry, he said. You can chart the history of oil, gas and coal alongside the history of Yellowstone Highway. The businesses there have traditionally fared well even in the bad times. The service sector in our community, in Casper, both oil and gas and also coal has been quite resilient, Schilling said. For example, when coal-bed methane subsided in parts of the state, even though a lot of the service sector provided support for that area, what happened was the Bakken in North Dakota developed. So service providers from Casper and Gillette started providing services to them. Likewise, when the recent oil plays have taken place in Converse County and other southeastern parts of Wyoming, Casper was the natural service center. But the path to recovery is murkier than it once was. Wyoming could experience slow growth over the next decade, with commodity prices largely responsible for declines in oil and gas jobs, according to a recent report from the Research and Planning Division of the Department of Workforce Services. Construction jobs could decline by as much as 4.2 percent, with transportation and warehouse employment down 6 percent and manufacturing jobs off 8 percent, according to the divisions projections. Most of those jobs are in the service sector for mining and drilling, where the division projects losses as well. Still, many see hope in oils recent rally and are waiting for the price to be steady enough for producers to come online. After that, the work in service-sector jobs will tick up as well, just as it has before. Optimism Kolby McConnell still believes in the resilience of the energy economy. The 28-year-old manages a company, KO Construction, that he operates out of his home. He had just moved to Casper with his wife and 3-month-old son when the downturn came. It was pretty quick, he said. A lot of people compare it to the bust of the 80s, but the people Ive talked to it took four to five years back then, to about 18 months this time. McConnells company builds the roads, pads and pipelines when a well is being drilled, and workers go back out to perform maintenance. Business has dried up, and theyve laid off workers. We used to have probably 40 to 45 people out here, he said. Now we are down to eight and happy to have that eight. McConnell grew up in Texas, where agriculture, cattle and commodities all go through booms and busts, he said. To him, the downturn is just a waiting game until prices tick up again. It is tough, but we do work in a commodity-based market and its apt to change, he said. Im not worried myself. A job is a job. It will all work out in the end for the best. Thats how I feel about life. The Texan has plans to return to school when his kids are older a second son was born after the couple moved to Casper. But hes not looking for a different career in a more stable economy. Itll come back. If it takes 20 years, it will take 20 years, he said. People always make money. People always survive. Not again Tews knows the business hes in can fluctuate. When its down, he said, you just hole up and wait for the change. But hes not hopeful this time. The problem is too political, he said. I dont think its going to come back again. Its too far gone, he said. His office is an empty shell, as hes been remodeling. He still owes money on the shop, but the payments are low, he said. Pinup girls pout from three calendars set side by side on the office wall next to an alcove where Tews has set up his workstation. Its composed of a desk and a computer facing a window into the empty shop. If I really wanted to, I could keep it just like it is for a while longer, but barely, he mused. Im out of here if I can get out of here, but whos going to buy it? No one is going to buy it for what its worth. I been trying to find someone who wanted to come and run it, give it a go. Im tired. Im not going through this again. Jennifer Dyer has been the executive director at the Self Help Center for just over a year. Born and raised in Casper, she returned after earning a degree from the University of Wyoming and has worked with nonprofits for 12 years, including the YMCA, Mercer Family Resource Center/Natrona County Prevention Coalition and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. What services does the Self Help Center offer? We have both a 24-hour crisis intervention team and regular office hours, 307-235-2814, at 918 E. Second St. (right next to Bradleys), which are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. Clients can reach out either way. We have a 30-day safe house for domestic violence victims we are able to offer if they need shelter. We do advocacy, protection orders, legal aid, advocate in a court setting, case management, help if they are looking for employment or other housing issues. We do mental health therapy we offer that for free substance abuse treatment because we know co-occurring disorders often happen as well, and that treatment is free. We work hard in prevention as well; our prevention coordinator Vic Orr has been with us more than 20 years. Ideally, wed like to see you before the crisis happens. We are here, and we can help them through. We work with the power of control wheel, the cycle of violence. Safety planning is critical so people can be prepared. And because this is often a big part of this, we do financial empowerment classes as well. Can you tell us about the candlelight vigil? Its at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Tate Pumphouse. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. One in four women will be the victim of domestic violence at some point in her lifetime, and, on average nationally, three women are killed every day at the hands of a current or former intimate partner. Our observance on (Oct. 2) is an opportunity for the community to remember those who have been killed due to intimate partner violence. We want to create some awareness, reach out to those who might not know help is available, and start having those discussions and creating awareness that we do have some issues in our community but that we are hopefully working towards a healthier overall environment for our community residents. There will be food and music, the Barrel House Band will be there and the district attorneys office will do a little presentation. We will read the list of names of domestic violence victims who have fallen in the county (14 between 1988 and 2014). If anyone would like to throw a flower in the river to remember anyone, they are welcome to do that, and flowers will be available. How has the economic downturn in Wyoming affected your program? We have had a reduction in our funding. Overall our budget is $120,000 less than what we received from the Division of Victim Services state and federal funds. Our local foundations definitely are feeling it. They are reliant on the economy, too. We have not had to reduce any services; luckily we were able to work with what we had as far as staff, minimize expenses and make sure we have funds available, No. 1 to serve our clients. Weve made cuts in professional development training, travel and other staff things without cutting services to our clients. How can the public help? We are always looking for volunteers to help with our 24-hour crisis hotline. We do have a 40-hour advocacy training required. We want the public to start having these discussions, try to help us erase stigma against domestic violence. This is an opportunity for us to look as a community at how we react in crisis. We are all in this together. Heights dont bother Mark Jenkins. Whether hes climbing a ladder or scaling a rock wall in the Wind River Range, the logic is always the same. Anytime you start to get scared, you just have to rationalize it once youre 30 feet above the ground, you can be 300 feet or 3,000 feet. If you free fall 30 or 40 feet, youre dead. Doesnt matter. That very reasoning was used two years ago as Jenkins dug his ice axes into a mountain with a 5,000-foot drop. The Wyoming native was trying to reach the tallest peak in Burma with two other climbers, an expedition rife with risk. The adventure was for National Geographic magazine, a publication Jenkins frequently writes for. His story about the climb, titled Point of No Return, was published last year. It detailed the challenges, internal and external, of the climbing life. On Wednesday, the 57-year-old will host a program at Wheeler Concert Hall in Casper to talk about the experience in an event titled: Burmas Resurrection: An Expedition Deep into a Forbidden Land. Jenkins is the writer-in-residence for the University of Wyoming, and every year, he goes on an expedition for National Geographic magazine. Mountains are less dangerous than the other assignments I go on, he said, because those other assignments involve conflict and war zones. But this Burma expedition was unique. We spent 10 days crossing the country. We spent two weeks hiking through the jungle, and that was true jungle hiking. Lots of leaches. Lots of snakes. Spiderwebs as big as a hallway. We were actually pushing away spiderwebs that were 10 feet tall. Jenkins and his fellow climbers only had 10 days on the mountain. Then, they backtracked. In total, it was a two-month expedition, with the ultimate goal of reaching the top of the tallest mountain. They never made it. (Climbing) is always this balance between your passion and your rationality, Jenkins said. When we got to the last ridge before the summit, I realized that we could make it to the summit but probably wouldnt survive getting back down. In this particular case, the problem was, when we were up high, there wasnt much protection. There werent many anchors to tie us to the mountain, so there were times in which we were all tied to a rope. If one person slips, everybody else on that rope gets pulled off. If something were to happen, help would never arrive. In remote location like that, there was zero chance of rescue. Mistakes couldnt be made, even as they fought hypothermia and fatigue. Jenkins close friends have died while climbing. Thats a big theme in his story, more important than the act of climbing in Burma. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., hell talk about that and more at Wheeler Concert Hall. Admission is free. This story is a story about hardship and hubris, he said. Its an old-school adventure, haunted by the ghosts of my lost friends, a story about loss, about friendship and about death. We didnt want just us three safe, we wanted all four safe, he said. It wasnt a choice for us, we had to go get Kendell. What would you do if you survived three life-threatening situations? I felt I was given a second shot at life and an assignment, and my assignment was to help people help themselves through my speaking and my writing, said Donna Hartley, who will speak at this years Wyoming Womens Expo. Surviving an airplane crash on March 1, 1978, opened Hartleys eyes to new possibilities. A former actress who appeared with Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, John Ritter and others as well as on soap operas and in commercials, Hartley found herself at a crossroads. I was a Hollywood actress in Los Angeles, and I came with all the doubt and insecurities coming from a violent and alcoholic family (creates). I was looking for that outside recognition in life, she said. You cant get it from the outside. Everything kept closing for me. I was at the very all-time low of my life after struggling for seven years in LA being an actress. She began meditating, established a mentor and discovered a new path. The mentor, a man named George O'Steen from Oklahoma, was someone she had met in 1970 after she was crowned Miss Hawaii; he had been vacationing in the 50th state at the time. Later, when she was in Los Angeles, they would meet for breakfast. He became an important influence in Hartleys life, sharing lasting insights on changing patterns of behavior and actively looking for lessons in life events. He was a good, salt of the Earth guy a lot of his wisdom stuck with me, she said. Hartley adopted a child, moved to Lake Tahoe, California, and started training speakers, tapping into her acting experience. Then came round two. On March 1, 2002, she was diagnosed with Stage III melanoma. After a time of prayer and meditation, she underwent surgery. The doctors discovered a surprise. They found no cancer in my body, Hartley said. However, that would not be the end of her health concerns. Four years later, again on March 1, came round three: Hartley underwent heart surgery to replace a faulty aortic valve. They said I was two weeks away from a massive heart attack, she said. Hartley weaves her survival stories into her presentation Fire Up Your Life. Her goal is to empower the audience, providing strategies for change. Whether the change is in work, in health or in relationships, how one thinks about and addresses the situation is important, Hartley said. We all come with some challenges and those challenges (give opportunity) for us to really look at our lives and develop who we are supposed to be, she said. Dont look at those challenges getting fired from a job or getting a divorce as terrible, but as an opportunity for you to grow as a person and (in) your spirit. Self-talk is also important, she added. It takes some effort to really be aware of your thought process and what you say, she said. Its a different mindset. As simple as that is, it makes massive changes in the quality of life people live. Hartleys presentation is scheduled for noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 -- which is Professional Development Day at the expo. She will provide nine strategies to get unstuck. Hartley hopes audience members will put them to work in their own lives. Its that internal leadership that I really talk about, Hartley said. My goal is that you walk away with two or three of those (strategies) that you apply to your life to make the difference. Everybody is going to walk away with some skills and some insights. Hartley has been speaking for more than 30 years, traveling the world to encourage and inspire audiences. She works with businesses regarding customer service and has spoken at various medical conferences, including the 2014 Cardiovascular Research Technologies symposium. She has also participated in more than 20 American Heart Association Go Red for Women programs, educating women about heart disease, a topic she says she is passionate about. This will be her second trip to Casper, she said. Hartley is also a writer. Her short stories are featured in "Chocolate for a Womans Soul," "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Book of Miracles." Additionally, she is the author of three books: "Fire Up Your Life!," "Fire Up Your Intuition!" and Fire Up Your Health! She has also created meditation CDs and is working on another book, "I Flunked Entrance to Heaven Three Times." Hartley admits taking action to make changes in life and leadership isnt simple. Im not saying to people its going to be easy; Im saying its here and you get to decide whether you want to have regrets or whether you want to say Wow! I got through that. At any age, you can make your life come true. BUFFALO Wyoming lawmakers gathered Thursday morning hoping to begin answering the states most nagging question: how to fund state government in the face of declining energy revenues. Rep. Mike Madden started the meeting of the Joint Revenue Committee by reminding legislators that they needed to look at ways to raise money for the state, which faces a quarter-billion-dollar shortfall over the next two years. Madden, a Republican from this northeastern Wyoming town, told committee members they must review revenue bills and send them to the full Legislature. The lawmakers dont necessarily have to vote in favor of the bills once the 2017 legislative session convenes. But legislative leadership asked for ideas from the Joint Revenue Committee, and they should send well-vetted bills, he said. Over the course of the next two days, the committee rejected bill after revenue-generating bill. Or as Madden joked, the Revenue Committee would love to consider all bills as long as they have nothing to do with taxes. Im terribly concerned about it, he said. Were still in a world of fiscal hurt. The state faces more than just the projected $250 million budget shortfall anticipated for the current two-year budget cycle. The account that pays for K-12 education is expected to be down $400 million. The average Wyoming household pays $1,000 in property taxes for schools, yet it costs around $17,000 per year to educate a child, Madden said. Seventy percent of the money that flows to state coffers comes from oil, natural gas and coal commodities markets that have plunged and are expected to remain sluggish in the near future. The way out of the states boom-and-bust energy cycle could be new streams of revenue. But most of those tax proposals fall flat in deeply red Wyoming, where the Republican Party holds a supermajority in the House and Senate. When theres a downturn, our first resort should be to look at tightening the belt and controlling spending, said committee member Sen. Dave Kinskey of Sheridan, who remains anti-tax. It should not be looking at taxes. Rejected tax proposals On Thursday morning, the Revenue Committee killed a proposal to boost cigarette taxes from 60 cents a pack one of the lowest rates in the country to 90 cents. That evening, the Revenue Committee stopped a bill that would have increased the wind energy generation tax from $1 per megawatt hour to $3. As with the tobacco tax, Madden supported the wind measure, but most of his colleagues were swayed by wind company arguments and even pleas from ranchers who said wind was a way to make money during lean times in the cattle business. On Friday, the committee OKd a bill that could end many sales tax exemptions. But lawmakers amended the bill so much that the majority of the tax exemptions proposed in the original legislation will continue. Of nine exemptions proposed to end, five were saved, including big-dollar exemptions for manufacturing and data centers. Proponents of the exemptions argued that if taxed, the companies would expand in other states and Wyoming would lose property tax revenue and jobs over the long run. That afternoon, Madden wanted the committee to consider a bill that would broaden goods and services that would be subject to a sales tax. In Wyoming, for instance, a haircut and color is not taxed, even though it is taxed in most other states. In the end, the bill was so unpopular no lawmaker even suggested advancing it to the full Legislature, and the issue was dropped. Two measures did pick up steam, however. The committee voted to impose state sales taxes on online retailers with over $100,000 of sales from Wyoming residents and companies. A measure that would provide flexibility and clarity to local government sales taxes also advanced, although it wont necessarily generate any new revenue. Sen. Ray Peterson, the co-chair of the revenue committee, said that tax on large online retailers would make it more fair to brick-and-mortar stores in Wyoming, which pay taxes to the state. The mom-and-pop businesses cant offer the same discounts as global online retailer Amazon, in part because theyre paying state sales taxes. And the Wyoming-based businesses are the first places the high school band or softball team hit up for donations. I dont think Amazon has ever supported the cheerleading squad or the pep club, he said. The sales tax will likely be added when Wyomingites shop on sites such as Amazon, Peterson said. The bill related to local government sales tax, meanwhile, was not controversial. It wont raise any money for the state and is unlikely to increase revenues for local governments. The future ... an income tax? Shelley Simonton of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities watched the proceedings as industry after industry kept its exemption. Cities and rely heavily on revenue from sales taxes. You look at our funding model, state aid and sales taxes are how cities provide services water, sewer, streets, sidewalks, she said. Every exemption cuts into our ability to do our work for our constituents. Generally speaking, exemptions are not good for our cities and towns. However, we are supportive of economic development exemptions with sunset dates. Simonton believes the discussion about revenue isnt over. Taxes are a sensitive subject for lawmakers, who have constituents who dont want to be taxed, yet expect services to remain at the same levels. I respect why theyve made the choices that they have. I get it, she said. Well probably be having this conversation again in the future, if not multiple times, as we continue to look for revenue sources. Eventually were going to keep talking about these until it makes sense. Kinskey predicts it will be years before lawmakers talk tax increases. In the 2016 session, the Legislature passed a budget included a first round of cuts to state agencies. A second round came in July, when Gov. Matt Mead slashed another 8 percent, about $250 million, to balance the budget. I have not heard from the folks I represent a desire for more taxes at this time, Kinskey said. Now, two years, four years, six years out, if people feel government has been shrunk by too much, services are too restrained, we can look at taxes. But I dont think were there. Kinskey said education is a priority, yet he doesnt know how the state will continue to pay for it. I dont know the answer to that, he said. I know were going to have to take a look at how best to approach education. Theres an answer there, but let me tell you, the answer is not to raise taxes now. Its the worst possible time to do it. Well get through it somehow. Madden, the chairman from Buffalo, said that across-the-board cuts on state agencies are no longer practical, since no agency was spared in the two rounds of reductions. Drawing heavily from the states rainy day fund will empty it fast. It currently has $1.8 billion, but $200 million is being spent from it in the current budget cycle. After watching the committee say no to so many tax proposals, Peterson, the co-chairman who is from Cowley, wonders if its time for a state income tax. Nobody wants to pay, he said. Our minerals continue to drop. And we need to (diversify revenues.) Thats the fairest tax I can think of. Peterson envisions a low, flat tax, something like 2 percent on incomes, he said. Sen. Cale Case, a libertarian-leaning Republican from Lander, said the Wyoming Constitution would have to be amended to allow an income tax. Peterson said that the committee needs to research the constitutional issues surrounding any income tax. But Case believes any income tax is dead on arrival. I dont think the people would support it, he said. CHEYENNE An 18-year-old is charged with involuntary manslaughter in a fatal shooting. A hearing set for Sept. 30 is intended to determine if probable cause exists for a trial in the death of 19-year-old Mark Dreiman. Police took 18-year-old Austin L. Daniel into custody Wednesday on an unrelated warrant. Charging documents were filed Thursday. A judge set a $25,000 cash bond at the request of Laramie County assistant district attorney Benjamin Sherman. The prosecutor said Daniel was a flight risk. Defense attorney Joe Bustos argued for a lower bond. He said Daniel probably was just scared when he left the scene of the shooting and that the facts of the case may point to an accident. To offer new experiences for past attendees and attract new ones, the Wyoming Womens Expo, at the Casper Events Center, is incorporating two new events this year and expanding a traditional favorite. In past years, the Expo has offered a half day of professional development opportunities through featured keynote speakers. Over time, this portion of the popular event has been expanded, and this year it will feature six keynote speakers throughout the day on Friday. It stemmed from a need because there is nothing like this in our area that offers this level of conference experience, said Anna Rosburg, marketing director at the Casper Events Center. Some attendees are executives in town or own home-based businesses or are management level staff at local companies and the conference has something for everyone. We just wanted to provide a variety of topics, anything from leadership basics to innovation and positive thinking and then also provide motivation to get ready and move forward with the information they learn here and take it back to the workplace or home and apply some of those strategies. Rosburg said attendees can still choose to purchase a ticket for just a half day if time or budget does not allow for a full day of attendance but noted both ticket options include free admission to the trade show preview and comedian performance Friday evening. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Dream Upon a Princess performance company will host the Magical Kingdom, a program just for kids. Faith Conaway, the company's owner, said a cast of princess and superhero characters will be on hand to meet and visit with children. Kids can come and do a bunch of activities and meet some characters, said Conaway. We are going to have some story times; we will also have crafts and games going on. My super heroes will also teach some hero lessons and well probably do some singing. This gives the kids have a chance to do something fun. Conaway said there is no charge for the program but asks parents to accompany their children to the area. Also new for this year is The Range, which will offer women the chance to learn about a variety of outdoor-related activities. Our goal is to have an environment at the Expo that is safe and women-friendly without any judgment, said Lindsay Stilwell, who is organizing the event. Whether you have never set foot in the outdoors or been doing it your whole life, youll have the opportunity to learn about anything from gun safety or archery to fishing. Stilwell, a senior pro staff executive with Wyoming Outdoors Women and avid hunter and angler, said she has attended the Expo for several years and decided after last years event that outdoors-related activities would be a great addition to this years schedule. Stilwell noted that in addition to retail vendors there will be hands-on activities such as demonstrations on fly fishing and rod and reel casting. Another area will offer instruction on how to navigate the application process for hunting licenses and yet another booth will feature a firearms instructor who will provide information about concealed-carry classes and what is involved with pursuing a permit. We will also have an area to teach if you are going camping or hunting as a woman in the wilderness, what you need in a pack for survival and comfort and how to set up a camp, said Stilwell. I think the percentage of women in the outdoors and in the hunting field has gone up so significantly in the past five years and you see it even in the media, she continued. You didnt used to see that. But there are still a lot of women who havent gone out and done it and dont know how to start. We are hoping to create an environment to bring outdoor opportunities to women and tap into that large percentage of the community and create something for them. It appears something went awry last winter when Senate File 58 the criminal justice reform bill died on General File in the Senate. The bill sponsored by the Joint Interim Appropriations Committee had easily passed introduction on a 29-0 vote, with one excused. It cleared the Senate Judiciary 5-0 and then went to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Therein was the snag. The committee voted no recommendation. The 2016 fiscal note from the Legislative Service Office said the bill would seem to have an impact on administrative costs and could mean additional personnel, but it did not have an appropriation. In a recent note, the Legislative staff for the Joint Judiciary Committee wrote that the lack of any reference to an appropriation stalled SF 48 last year. The new and improved reform bill now before the Joint Interim Judiciary Committee will call for an appropriations of $2.8 million for one year. Most of that money would be spent on the increase in the number of offenders who will receive residential treatment for substance abuse. About 45 percent of people who enter prison each year are there because they have violated probation and parole rules, Steve Lindley, deputy director of the Department of Corrections, said earlier, according to published reports. Of those, 85 percent are substance abuse violations. The proposed changes in the committees bill apply to nonviolent offenders, particularly first-time felony offenders and drug users. They bill encourages judges to use alternate sanctions for breaking the probation and parole rules, such as jail time, rather than revocation and returning the offender to prison. These alternate sanctions could not be available for offenders who committed another felony or who run away. Utah is one state that already has adopted reforms. The impetus was an 18 percent growth in the states prison population, six times faster than the national average. Without changes, the state projected that an additional 2,700 people would end up in state prison over the next 20 years, increasing incarceration costs by $500 million. So Utah enacted a long list of reforms aimed at curbing the number of people in state prison without harming public safety. The state downgraded first- and second-time drug possessions from felonies to misdemeanors, and also reduced 241 misdemeanors to citations that wouldnt be subject to arrests or jail time. In all, 30 states have passed laws similar to the one in Utah in an attempt to save money and reduce recidivism. Wyoming is fortunate in having one of the most successful corrections systems in the U.S. as far as rates of return to prison, or recidivism, is concerned. The aim of the proposed reforms is to reduce that rate even further. Years ago, during the methamphetamine epidemic in Wyoming, the Legislature appropriated millions for residential treatment. The treatment was in addition to the Wyoming Meth Project, an educational prevention program designed to stigmatize the use of methamphetamine by showing graphically the side effects. As a result, by 2009 the rate of meth use had dropped sharply from the surge in the early 2000s. The new reforms, with its emphasis on keeping offenders on parole or probation, would seem to mean more work for the states probation and parole officers, now authorized at 193. They supervise more than 6,000 probationers and parolees. The emphasis on treatment helped with the meth epidemic; maybe it will work again in the new age of drug addictions. The legislators next year may also be dealing with the expense of either repairing the state penitentiary at Rawlins or abandoning that unfortunate site and building a new prison north of Rawlins. A legislative task force studying the prison is scheduled to report to the Joint Appropriations Committee next month. A consulting firm has been doing a cost-benefit analysis of the options. Either option will cost millions of dollars. Something went terribly awry with the 15-year-old South Facility, as the penitentiary is called, and also with its predecessor on the Rawlins site. These are two buildings that failed or are failing primary because they were built on unstable soil. According to the latest reports, the task force is leaning toward a new prison north of Rawlins but nowhere else in the state. Editor: I accompanied a recent tour of the Northern Red Desert hosted by the Wyoming Wilderness Association. I learned that the Rock Springs BLM office, which manages much of the Northern Red Desert, is hard at work revising its land use management plan for this area. Given the delay in getting the plan finished and the appearance of critical new information such as the discovery of the mule deer migration route, the Rock Springs Management Plan deserves careful attention in the months to come. It is time for the BLM to re-open the scoping process for the Rock Springs Land Management Plan. The tour revealed the many wide-open spaces and fascinating creatures that exemplify this high desert ecosystem. I observed mule deer, pronghorn, and several elk herds. Cow elk grazed upon elevated plateaus with their young calves near Steamboat Mountain. Herds of wild horses coursed across the sagebrush as we passed the Oregon Buttes and Boars Tusk. I pressed my hand into notched handprints of the birthing stones at the White Mountain petroglyphs. According to oral tradition, pregnant women held onto the rock while giving birth, and the handprints over millennia were worn into the soft rock. We ventured through parts of the South Pass Area. This is considered by historians to be one of the most important historic sites in the United States. In several locations, vast stretches of desert could be witnessed without any evidence of humans whatsoever. I found myself lost in the immensity of this landscape, and I experienced a true sense of wilderness. There is no doubt that the Red Desert is a unique and special area. It needs careful analysis and a planning effort that protects this areas uniqueness. Any economic development should be considered very carefully because it will permanently alter the landscape. Therefore, the Wilderness Study Areas in the Rock Springs District need continued protection. Lets all take a step back, take a breath, and look anew at planning the future of this treasured piece of Wyoming. I implore our public land managers to protect the Northern Red Desert. Cortelyou to promote Marana tourism Laura Cortelyou has joined the town of Marana as tourism and marketing manager. Cortelyou was director of marketing and public relations for the Tucson Museum of Art. Previously, she directed marketing for Forester Media Inc. and ABC-CLIO. She is president of the Southern Arizona Attractions Alliance and a board member of Visit Tucson. She holds a masters degree from Fielding Graduate University in human and organizational development and a bachelors degree from UC Santa Barbara in history of art and architecture. Benitez now practicing at animal hospital Broadway Animal Hospital announces the graduation, promotion and licensure of Gabe Benitez, DVM, who has worked there for many years. He is taking new patients. Doctors Cassell, Keyser, Laber join UA Drs. Heather Cassell, Emily Keyser and Erica Danielle Laber have joined the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson and Banner Childrens at Diamond Childrens Medical Center. Cassell, clinical associate professor, joined the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology. She received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, and completed fellowships there and at National Jewish Health in Denver. Her clinical interests are asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. She is board-certified in pediatrics and allergy and immunology. Keyser, clinical assistant professor, joined the Division of General Pediatrics. Keyser received her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, and completed her residency in pediatrics at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. Laber, clinical assistant professor, also joined the Division of General Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson and completed her residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in adolescent medicine at North Shore-LIJ Cohen Childrens Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. Her research interest is in adolescent medicine. She is fluent in Spanish and is board-certified in pediatrics. Campbell joins UA pharmacy faculty Ashley Campbell, PharmD, has joined the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy as an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science. She will serve a joint appointment with Banner University Medical Center Tucson as an internal medicine pharmacist. Campbell recently completed a post-graduate pharmacy residency in geriatrics while concurrently participating in a two-year faculty development fellowship through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center St. Margaret and the University of Pittsburgh. Justice named GM at Lazydays Tucson Greg Justice has been named general manager at Lazydays Tucson RV dealership, succeeding Evan Crayder, who is moving to be GM of Lazydays Loveland, Colorado, dealership. Justice is a 40-year veteran of the RV industry, including more than 20 years at Lazydays flagship RV dealership in Tampa; and he has been general manager of two Camping World stores. A part of Tucson hit hard during the housing crisis is seeing home values soar by more than 20 percent. The downtown neighborhoods in the 85705 ZIP code, from north of downtown along Interstate 10 up to the Flowing Wells, area are seeing prices rise faster than anywhere else in the Tucson area. Its an area Im very familiar with and very intrigued with, said Realtor Max Fisher, with Brule & Fisher Re/Max. Properties that are within walking/biking distance from downtown, bars and markets are in demand. Young families and professionals have been driving the surge in prices in areas such as Dunbar/Spring, Barrio Anita and Barrio Blue Moon, which border downtown. Those smaller neighborhoods are hidden gems, Fisher said. Were seeing increased desire to be in homes that are adobe, bungalows and row houses. Many of the buyers cant afford the prices downtown, so theyre scoping out the periphery, said Adam Lundquist, managing partner at Southwest Urban Realty & Development. Downtown is done it is really figured out, said Lundquist, whose company is buying properties in the area. If its not built out, its in the works or in the planning stages. In the past six months, homes in the 85705 zip code have increased from an average sale price of $113,000 to $143,000. Were seeing more homes coming on the market that were rentals, Fisher said. The number of sold listings has more than doubled since August of 2015, from 19 to 40 in August 2016. Adriana Rincon, a Realtor with TR Realty and Investments, has property for sale in Barrio Anita and said the inquiries are mainly from young buyers. What were seeing is young professionals who work downtown and want quick access there and to I-10, she said. Its not quite as funky as Dunbar/Spring or Blue Moon, but Barrio Anita has a cute park, community center and Anita Street Market people love to get their burritos for breakfast. HARD-HIT AREA Foreclosures in 85705 were about 6 percent higher than the market as a whole in 2011, said housing analyst Ginger Kneup. The higher demand areas recover faster, making the more distressed areas more attractive because there are still more affordable options, said Kneup, owner of Bright Future Real Estate Research. It is probable that with downtown revitalization, more people are interested in those neighborhoods nearer to downtown and that could support changing demographics in the area. Residents have noticed the changing faces of new homeowners. One unfortunate reality is that some newly constructed homes do not fit the character and unique aesthetic of our neighborhood, said Ezra Roati, president of the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Association. There have definitely been new faces moving into the neighborhood. The association is working with the city of Tucson on a workforce housing project for vacant lots in the neighborhood to maintain affordable homes in the area, Roati said. Many of the existing homes were built in the 1800s with a mix of sizes and styles. One thing that I appreciate about our neighborhood is the amount of shade trees that line the streets, Roati said. We just had our 20th annual tree-planting event last year, with to-date over 1,400 trees planted in the right-of-ways, street-side basins and yards. New residents are a mix of young families, young professionals, retirees and college students because of the proximity to both Pima Community College and the University of Arizona. Part of our draw is the great mix of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures represented in our neighborhood, Roati said. It is an eclectic mix of folks, and we hope that it remains that way into the future. INTEREST BEYOND RESIDENTIAL Last year, local developers bought an industrial building at 301 W. Fourth St., in Dunbar/Spring, and have converted it into commercial space. Since then, those investors have bought, upgraded and sold three residential properties in the neighborhood, said Lundquist, of Southwest Urban Realty & Development. We were willing to take a leap of faith with this neighborhood, he said. You can walk up Stone Avenue and be downtown or walk across the railroad tracks and go to Anita Street Market. Being sensitive to the neighborhoods character has been key to being welcomed by existing residents, Lundquist said. We are aware that these are historic homes and we dont change them, he said. We fix the infrastructure and upgrade the interiors, but we dont add a 3,000-square-foot suite. Lundquist is in escrow for another commercial property in the neighborhood with plans for a mixed-use project. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the next big thing in astronomy, is a worldwide effort, with a telescope mount from Spain, a dome from Italy, a coating chamber from Germany and a site in the Andean foothills of Chile. The heart of the project remains in Tucson. The project, known by its initials LSST, was dreamed up in Tucson and retains its headquarters here. A variety of local vendors, from the heavy-metal experts at CAID Industries to the electronics assemblers at Beacon Group, have a piece of the financial action. The project began with an idea for a novel mirror that contains the primary and tertiary surfaces of the light path on a single surface. That task, conceived and perfected by the astronomical mirror builders and polishers at Steward Observatory and the College of Optical Sciences, is the $20 million heart of a plan to take a 10-year movie of the cosmos. Coupled with the largest camera in the world a $165-million, 3.2-billion-pixel marvel being developed at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California it will spend 10 years imaging the entire night sky visible from Chile every three nights and recording all that moves, brightens, darkens, changes or remains constant. It will track the orbits of asteroids and watch explosions of supernovae. It will provide a map of the galaxies and clues to the mysterious phenomena of dark matter and dark energy. It will find some things weve never seen before. Its giant (27.6-foot diameter) mirror, cast in what is now known as the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab beneath the bleachers of Arizona Stadium, needs to be handled with care and for that, LSST turned to Tucsons CAID Industries. At first, LSST asked CAID to build a box for it a metal box that would delicately support the mirrors size and weight without breaking it, as it makes its way from Tucson to a mountaintop in Chile by crane, truck and ship. CAID had experience in building shipping boxes for similar-sized mirrors manufactured at the University of Arizonas mirror lab. LSST decided to add to its CAID contract and have it build a mirror cell that will become a permanent part of the telescope. It is currently milling and machining that 57,000-pound piece of weathering steel. Fabricating large metal structures is no big challenge for CAID, but working within the precision tolerances demanded by astronomy is, said Keath Beifus, CAID project engineer. We work within these tolerances all the time on things you can lift, he said. The top surface of the cell, a 7-foot-tall square that is 30 feet on each side, cant vary by more than the width of a piece of paper, he said. The design requires 4,440 machined features, said Beifus precision-drilled holes for wiring and plumbing to accommodate actuators that perfect the mirrors shape and the fans and coolant-filled tubes that keep its temperature constant. Those are currently being drilled. The entire cell must also be airtight. It has a round metal rim that, when mated with the coating-chamber dome being fabricated in Dresden, Germany, will create a vacuum needed for coating the glass with a reflective surface. That meant extra attention paid to all the welded joints to prevent air pockets and installation of a submarine-style access door, Beifus said. CAID is also building the cart that will hold the mirror and cell when it needs to be detached from the mirror mount and rolled on rails to the mirror-coating chamber. It is also building a surrogate mirror made of metal that will be used to test the cells ability to mold the mirror into shape before it trusts it with the fragile glass surface. CAIDs current contracts with LSST total more than $3.4 million, and it has been asked to do another phase of the project the integration of the parts that will turn the big empty behemoth of a cell into a functioning platform for the mirror, said Bill Gressler, telescope and site manager for LSST. About a dozen other local vendors are contributing $600,000 worth of parts and pieces to the telescope, with assembly of a variety of components being done in Tucson, where 72 LSST employees now work in the North Cherry Avenue building that also houses the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. The $400,000 contract for remodeling the space to accommodate LSST went to Tucson-based Division II Construction Co. LSST is managed for the National Science Foundation (NSF) by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). NSF has committed $473 million for construction of the telescope, scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. The $165 million camera is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Arizona Optical Systems is building mirrors for the camera, and sensors are being provided by the UAs Imaging Technology Lab. Some of the assembly work being done at the AURA center on North Cherry has been subcontracted to the Beacon Group, a Tucson nonprofit that provides work for people with significant disabilities. Greg Natvig, vice president for business operations at Beacon, said it does a lot of assembly work for local hi-tech companies. We do that sort of thing every day, he said. Gressler said LSST has used the Beacon Group for most of its Inner Loop Controller work. Its been a great relationship where many times weve had critical orders that needed short response times, he said. Gressler said he enjoys working with local companies and the project benefits from that proximity. A lot of Gresslers site visits involve long airline flights. The nicest thing, aside from our really good relationship with CAID, is going there in your car and coming home to your office the same day, he said. Contracting locally also saves a lot in shipping costs, he said. LSST has already had to move its main mirror from the UAs mirror lab to a hangar near the airport. It will bring it to CAID, just a few blocks away, for integration with the cell built there. It will be tested again back at the mirror lab before the cell and mirror are shipped in separate containers to Chile, where an observatory is under construction on a peak called Cerro Pachon, near the NOAO-managed Cerro Tololo Observatory, 50 miles east of the port of La Serena. When the cell, mirror, camera and mount are all put together, the telescope will weigh 350 tons and will move more quickly and more often on its axes than any telescope ever built. CAIDs cell will look a lot nicer before then, said Beifus. Excerpt from 'Nobody Rich or Famous: A Family Memoir" The following is excerpted from "Part I: Hazel and Red" of Richard Shelton's "Nobody Rich or Famous: A Family Memoir." Note: It includes language some may find offensive. October 1951 Hazel, who has been sick in bed for several days and is very pale and shaky, gets up and makes a pot of strong coffee. She hasnt had a drink in years, and she knows her system simply cant tolerate it, but shes tempted. There isnt any whiskey or beer in the house, and besides, she needs to keep her wits about her. Fortified with two cups of coffee, she takes a very hot bath, brushes her teeth, puts her hair up in pin curls, and plans her wardrobe. She needs a permanent, so shed better wear a hat. Then she begins to work on her makeup. Her eyebrows have to be plucked. Just enough powder and rouge to hide the sallowness of her olive skin. A little eye makeup and lots of lipstick, the way he likes it. Very little cologne. Smoking one cigarette after the other, in her petticoat and with her hair still up in pin curls, she goes to the closet in the little alcove off the kitchen. She has to get up on a chair to reach the shelf at the top, but she finds Reds Colt .45 where she knows it will be, unloaded as she knows it will be. The bullets are in a little box next to the gun. She has never loaded this gun, but she has watched him do it several times, and she is surprised at how easy it is. She puts the loaded gun in her fawn suede purse, which matches the fawn suede shoes and gloves she has not yet put on. The patterned silk dress, she thinks. Its the best thing shes got, and just right for this time of year. And the little black straw hat with a few tiny flowers and the veil. Red said it looked like a cow pie, but it doesnt matter. Its stylish, and she will need the veil, although it only comes down to just below her beautifully turned-up nose. When her hair is done and her ensemble is complete except for the hat, she lights another cigarette and calls a taxi. She knows she will have time before it gets there to put on her hat, check her makeup, and make sure she has on enough eye shadow and rouge. Her hair looks OK. Her seams are straight. Shes ready. When the taxi arrives, she is already halfway down the front walk. He doesnt have to honk. She is a lady from the tip of her little hat, the veil of which is now up on top with the tiny flowers, to the toes of her fawn suede sling-back pumps, and including her fawn suede purse with a kind of heft and weight to it that might be a little unusual but isnt really noticeable. Its just past 8 p.m. She directs the taxi driver to the Wonderbar on South 10th just off Main, and he thinks its strange that this lady, all dolled up, would be going to a dive like that, but it's none of his business and hes learned to mind his own. When they pull up at the curb, she pays him before she gets out, and then she says, Ill only be inside for a minute. Would you please wait for me? He says yes he will, goes around and opens the door for her, and she gets out. She stops just before entering the bars padded leather double doors and lowers the flimsy little veil on her hat. Then, almost as soon as she goes into the bar, the taxi driver hears what sounds like the Third World War, and he hauls ass out of there as fast as he can go. Later, the bartender, obviously shaken up, tells the police officers that a lady, dressed to the nines, stepped into the bar, looked around, pulled a gun out of her handbag, and shot hell out of the place. Either she couldnt see very well or she didnt have any particular target in mind, although she shot the barstool out from under one customer. There were only three customers in the bar at that early hour, and nobody got a very good look at her because they were all diving for cover. When the gun was empty, she put it back in her purse and walked out the front door. He had checked on his customers first, to see if anyone was shot, and by the time he ran out to the street, she was gone. Nobody in the bar had ever seen her before. The police believe him. Like most good lies, his story contains a mixture of truth and fiction. Actually, there are four customers in the bar when Hazel makes her appearance. Red and his girlfriend are sitting at the bar with their backs to the front door. The other two customers, Jimmy and Fred, both Reds good drinking buddies, are playing a game of pool off to the left of the front door. Jimmy, a small, quiet man, has worked as a painter with Red, off and on, for years. Hes a friend of the family and very fond of Hazel. He has always felt sorry for her because of the way Red neglects her in favor of the sluts he picks up in bars. As soon as Hazel empties the gun, she faints and falls on the floorher beautiful dress, her cow-pie hat, her matched accessories, and the Colt .45 all in a heap on the dirty floor of the bar. Red, Jimmy, and the bartender all get to her at the same time. The bartender is also a friend of Reds, but he has never seen Hazel. Nobody is hurt, although Reds girlfriend, whose barstool took a hit not three inches from her butt, is almost in shock. What to do? Quick! Quick! The sounds of gunfire must have been heard on the street. The cops are probably on the way now. My cars in the alley, Jimmy says. Let me take her out of here. You guys can figure out what to tell the cops. Hazel is beginning to regain consciousness. They hear a siren outside. There is no time for Red to argue. Can you take her to her mothers place? Red asks. Charlotte Beech. Down the valley past Star, about twenty miles. Shes coming around. Shell be able to tell you which farm it is. Red and Jimmy are carrying Hazel out the back door to Jimmys car. The bartender gathers up her purse and hat and the gun, and puts everything in the car with her except the gun. Ill keep this, he says to Red, and you can get it later when you pay for the damages. Ill pay for everything, Red says. Just get her out of here before the cops hit that door. Jimmy drives Hazel down State Street, past the corner where thirty-one years earlier she met a handsome redhead on a motorcycle, and down the Boise Valley where her mother, now Charlotte Beech, will nurse her back to health after what Hazel will later refer to as her nervous breakdown. Charlotte keeps her own counsel. Nobody knows what she thinks about Hazels histrionics, but her husband, Sherman, who had been a highly decorated marksman in World War I, says very quietly, Its a pity Hazel isnt a better shot. 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) Jeane Stevens-Allen has always known about Gold Star mothers. She just never realized she was one. Almost 50 years after the death of her son, John Bradford Stevens, in the Vietnam War, the 88-year-olds family will honor both mother and son with a potluck on Sunday, Gold Star Mothers Day. At least, thats what she thinks is happening. She knows more is going on than this meeting of the meals, but no one will tell her what. Niece and lead party planner Jeanene Kaiser has ordered the rest of the clan to stay tight-lipped about the evenings programming, which includes songs, poetry, a flag ceremony by a high school JROTC color guard and a presentation of a Gold Star lapel pin. Stevens-Allen wont be allowed to see the newspaper Sunday morning. It dawned on me for the first time that she was a Gold Star mother and also that we had never really recognized her for that, says Kaiser, 59. She has gone her whole life carrying this in her heart, not demanding or expecting any kind of special attention. The revelation came to Kaiser following Donald Trumps clash with the parents of a deceased Muslim-American soldier this summer. With attention honed in on Gold Star moms and families, Kaiser wondered what the designation actually meant. Through her research, she learned about a group of mothers bonded together in the 1920s by mutual loss. Each had lost a child to military service, not necessarily through combat. They named their support group the American Gold Star Mothers Inc., after the gold stars that families have been attaching to Service Flags since World War I. Gold Star Mothers Day has been recognized on the last Sunday in September since 1936. Stevens-Allen remembers windows draped in flags during World War II. Flags with blue stars represented the living service members in a family. Gold stars honored the deceased. She didnt make the connection until Kaiser brought it up, and now she wants everyone else to know, too. Its amazing how many people do not know what a Gold Star mother is, she says. I have been very adamant about it with everybody I talk to. She has become an advocate not for her own sake, but for other mothers in Tucson whom she knows must share her pain. They need to know that they gave up the best, and they need to be treated the best, she says. Born in 1946 in California, John Stevens was the kind of kid people liked. His school yearbooks are full of praise from his peers. Cousin Charles White, 69, spent many afternoons in elementary school with Stevens. For the event Sunday, he will travel from his home in Las Vegas to share about his cousin. Stevens enlisted in the Air Force in 1966, a year after graduating from high school, and was assigned to a photography unit. He worked at the Pentagon for nine months, where he met his wife. They married in January 1968. The last time I saw my cousin, I was 9 years old, Kaiser says. I was at his wedding. When he got married, all in his uniform, I thought, My cousin is so good-looking. And none of us realized that was the last time we would ever see him. He was killed in October 1968 in Vietnam, reportedly shot down by enemy fire. He was supposed to be headed home. Had he lived, he would have turned 70 this Oct. 18. Instead, he died before turning 22. The potluck is also a birthday celebration. To cope, his mother poured herself into her work at a California bank, never speaking much of her losses. She also lost a daughter, who died at the age of 2. Stevens-Allen endured the grief by taking her sons advice. He used to say, when anything went wrong, Just suck it up, Mom, and move on, she recalls. And thats what Ive done. Ive sucked it up and moved on. And yet she knows shell need a few boxes of tissues on Sunday evening. When people ask her why she so rarely mentions her sons death, she responds in tears and in faith. God has a plan for everything, and he knew that my son was not going to be here long, so he sent me the very best, and it was his to take back, she says. You learn to just put him in your heart and go on. Following the death, Stevens-Allen received an envelope in the mail containing her sons medals, including the Purple Heart and other accolades for his service and achievement in Vietnam. Somehow, over the years, they got misplaced. It brings me to tears because she never complains, and she is such a loving and giving person that you dont hear her whine, says Joyce Funk, a longtime Tucson friend of Stevens-Allens. She never gripes or complains about the fact that she lost him. The family wants to give her the honor she never received to assure her that John Stevens has not been forgotten. None of the family has ever talked about this to her, says Bettye Obenauf, Stevens-Allens 89-year-old sister and Kaisers mother. What my elder daughter wanted to do was have the family realize the pain she has gone through of not sharing it with anyone. We all want to show her how much we love her. ... My children have all adopted her as their second mother. Stevens-Allen moved to Tucson in 2000 to live closer to Obenauf. Her first husband died in 2001. She thought she would never marry again, but eight years later she met Louis Allen. She laughs and says she is thankful that her sister had six children. Im blessed, really, and I think you have to sometimes lose something precious to find what you really have in life, she says. I love these kids. I love every one of them. Five of her sisters six children plan to be at the potluck, along with their mother, Stevens-Allens older brother, his son and others. Kaiser says theyre expecting around 50 people. Telling the Gold Star story to great-nieces and great-nephews is part of the potlucks purpose. Stevens-Allen fears that this generation might not even know about her son. Its to make sure that the next generation, my generation, knows his story and this part of our heritage, says Corinne Blake, a 31-year-old great-niece in Tucson. This is the kind of support that ultimately provides healing and peace, says retired Lt. Col. Richard Montgomery, a career soldier and Vietnam veteran who will present Stevens-Allen with the Gold Star pin. I think its going to give a final closure to my aunt, says White, who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. I mean, its always been tough. It was a thing that until some time ago, we didnt talk about. Stevens-Allen has donated pillowcases and lap robes in honor of her son to the VA hospital, where she connected with a volunteer who served in Vietnam at the same time as her son. Even with so many military service members in the family, many knew nothing about Gold Stars. Kaiser and her own husband have served in the Coast Guard and Navy, respectively. Among others, Stevens-Allen perceives an apathy for the sacrifices military families make. That can hurt more than the actual loss of her son. No mom should feel that way. Little hugs, theyre the greatest things on earth, she says. I think every Gold Star mother in Tucson should get a special, loving hug on Sunday the 25th. The race for Congressional District 1 is considered one of the most competitive in the nation, with both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee trying to boost their partys candidate to victory. Republican Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and Democratic former state Sen. Tom OHalleran both want the open seat, vacated when Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick decided to try to unseat long-serving Republican Sen. John McCain. A fixture in Pinal County politics, residents in other parts of the district might know Babeu best for walking side-by-side with then-presidential candidate McCain in a political ad when McCain uttered the phrase, Complete the danged (border) fence. OHalleran is better known in the northern part of the state. He is a former Republican state lawmaker who lost his seat in 2008 when he was challenged by Prescott rancher and businessman Steve Pierce. Two years ago, OHalleran attempted to get his Senate seat back by running as an independent. He now identifies as a Democrat, and easily defeated his Democratic rival in the August primary. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns says the race is too close to call, labeling it a Democratic toss-up. THE DISTRICTS BIG ISSUES Shortly after learning he had won the Republican primary last month, Babeu shifted his focus to what he called the single largest issue in the district coal. Less understood in the southernmost part of the vast district, Babeu said the Environmental Protection Agency has overstepped its mandate by announcing mandatory cuts in the use of coal for power generation. Such proposals could close the coal-powered Navajo generating station, putting thousands out of work, constricting regional energy supplies and likely fueling increases in energy rates. Speaking out against the EPA has solidified a Republican base wary of federal mandates and has served as an attack against OHalleran, who once served as a consultant to environmental groups. There are 3,000 jobs directly connected to the four coal-fired generating stations in Arizona, Babeu said. They are all in District 1. OHalleran also opposes the EPAs mandates, saying they were made without being part of a national energy policy and without concern to how they would affect rural communities. This is not that competitiveness is taking us out, this is government coming in without any concern about you, the school district, the fire district or the community around these power plants, he said. Some of our best jobs in the district are either at the power plants or at the mines on the Navajo Reservation. Both men believe in climate change, with OHalleran saying he pressured the Bureau of Reclamation to include climate change in its modeling system for the Colorado River more than a decade ago. Babeu says he wants to see the coal industry adopt new technology to cut pollution. However, he believes it would take more than a decade to bring new energy sources like natural gas to rural Arizona. OHalleran notes that even Hillary Clinton has an energy plan using coal. Everybody has talked about it, he said. BABEU: TIME TO ACT ON IMMIGRATION On the campaign trail, Babeu still gets questions about getting comprehensive immigration reform through Congress. He remains optimistic that Congress will tackle the issue next year. So many people have asked me that same question, Is this ever going to get resolved? said Babeu. The most important issues in this country seem to percolate to the point that is becomes a crisis for us to finally act. I think we are there now. The biggest issue, for him, continues to be securing the border against possible terrorists sneaking into the country. Securing the border has a new meaning now, and not just because of illegal immigration or drug cartels that weve really focused on, he said. With the advent of ISIS and terrorists, it stands to reason that if this volume of people are crossing undetected with military training and all of the financial resources at their disposal, that they can get in just as easy, if not easier. He stopped short of saying how often he believed such people were crossing into Arizona from Mexico. I am not saying that there is a mad rush of these individuals. What I am saying is that it should raise eyebrows, Babeu said. All of us should want a sovereign, secure border because of that. Babeu has had his share of political scandals, including allegations that abusive disciplinary practices were used on students at a private school he once ran in Massachusetts and media reports that the fierce opponent of illegal immigration had a romantic relationship with an immigrant. Babeu has dismissed the attacks as thinly veiled political hit pieces, going so far as to file a bar complaint against Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark for her allegations that Babeu attempted to thwart an investigation into the school. Babeu ran the school 15 years ago. The primary was also hard on Babeu, as two of his sisters endorsed one of his Republican rivals, Wendy Rogers. Paul thinks only of himself and his political career at the expense of others. He does not care about the people whom elected officials are called to serve, sister Veronica Babeu Keating said in a prepared statement. OHALLERAN: I HAVENT CHANGED; THE GOP HAS OHallerans break from the Republican party happened years ago. My values havent changed. This is what Ive done all along, he said. What has changed is the party I was with. His core issue is how GOP leadership slashed education funding in 2009 when facing a state budget crisis. OHalleran said he was devastated that the Legislature was willing to sacrifice K-12 education as well as money to community colleges and the state universities rather than making cuts elsewhere. It is short-sighted and not the direction our country should be going in, OHalleran said. Additionally, the Legislature dismantled reforms he helped to enact regarding Child Protective Services by gutting funding. Tearing apart families is not leadership, he said. He said he ran for Congress once learning that his friend Ann Kirkpatrick, with whom he served in the Legislature, was running for another office. I ran because I feel that Congress has let people down, he said. Topping his political priorities is a jobs plan that focuses on education, job training and improvements in infrastructure particularly broadband internet service in rural parts of the state. He believes high-speed Internet access is essential for education and small businesses to survive and to allow rural Arizonans to compete in the 21st century. One number continues to define the Congressional District 2 race 161. Thats the razor-thin margin that forced a recount before Republican Martha McSally officially defeated Democratic incumbent and Jan. 8 shooting survivor Rep. Ron Barber. That was nearly two years ago, but the number is still relevant even as the local political conversation is largely eclipsed by the presidential campaign. McSally and her Democratic rival this time around, former state representative and emergency room physician Matt Heinz, are keenly aware of how competitive the district is. Both are campaigning hard to win over voters. For her part, McSally has amassed a massive campaign war chest to flood local airwaves, social media channels and mailboxes. As of the last reporting period, McSally had more than $2 million in the bank, according to the Federal Election Commission. Democrats have rallied behind Heinz, with support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, several political actions committees and local politicians even his rival in last months primary, former state Rep. Victoria Steele. Heinz and McSally both ran in 2012 for the seat, although never directly against each other. Heinz was defeated by Barber, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords one-time chief of staff, in the Democratic primary. Both candidates are playing to their strengths in the campaign. Heinz paints himself as an experienced lawmaker with the ability to work across the aisle. He also draws comparisons as an emergency room physician when a patient comes in, the focus is on the patient and everyone on duty must work together to help that person. A retired Air Force colonel, McSally relies on her 26 years of service to focus on national-security issues and veterans. She also is an advocate for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca army post. She and other members of Congress fought successfully to keep A-10s D-Ms primary mission flying when the Air Force wanted to begin phasing out the aircraft. Both candidates are distancing themselves from the presidential election. My vote is between me and God and the ballot box, McSally said when asked about whether she will support Republican nominee Donald Trump for president. Heinz has been equally coy, saying he is focused on the CD2 election. Planned Parenthood Sitting in the corner of his cramped campaign office, Heinz leans in as he talks about what brought him back into the political arena. I dont see shared values in my opponent that are consistent with Southern Arizona, he said. Specifically, he pointed to McSallys repeated votes to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. That is not this district. That is not Gabby Giffords district. That is not Jim Kolbes district, he said. It is not what Congress should be voting on. It isnt a blue versus red issue centering on abortion, Heinz noted Planned Parenthood clinics also offer breast-cancer screenings and well-woman health checks. To Heinz, the issue goes back to the do not harm philosophy associated with the Hippocratic Oath. And do not harm, Heinz quips, counting out loud the number of times McSally has voted to take away health-care options. The McSally campaign has rejected Heinzs claims, noting a recent fact check by the Arizona Republic found Heinz was making false statements about how many people were treated by Planned Parenthood. The Heinz campaign apologized for the error on Friday. As for the floor votes against Planned Parenthood funding, the McSally campaign said all members of Congress were required to vote on the issue. McSally advocated her position as redirecting federal funding to health-care centers in underserved areas. Still, Heinz is confident going into the final weeks before early ballots are mailed out. This is the closest district by registration in the country, he said. The Arizona secretary of state lists nearly identical numbers 132,697 registered Democrats and 132,710 registered Republicans in CD2. Voter-registration drives and other efforts to get out the vote have Heinz confident that the figures from the secretary of state are outdated. I am quite sure we have a very slightly Democratic district now, he said. The outlier continues to be independents, the ever-growing group of active voters with no ties to either party. Heinz believes independents likely lean more conservative in Cochise County, while a majority of them in Pima County are more likely to vote for a Democrat. Independents are a little bit like jicama they take on the flavors of the things around them, he said. MORE COMPLICATED THAN BUILDING A WALL McSally says one of her top issues continues to the be securing the border and addressing a broken immigration system. She championed the same issue two years ago, but has made little progress in a deadlocked Congress. She has been able to pass some legislation, including the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015, which is designed to speed up hiring of military veterans for jobs with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service along the border. McSally calls for modernization of the countrys immigration laws. She wants to speed up the process for work visas, but would require some kind of balance to make sure the move doesnt take jobs from Americans. We have been in a situation for decades with a system that is very cumbersome and doesnt necessarily make sense to be able to grow our economy, McSally said. With a national conversation focusing on whether to build a massive wall along the international border, including in her district, McSally said in some areas, a wall might be helpful. However, a contiguous barrier isnt a solution, she said. While the issue of Mexicans crossing the border gets most of the attention, the issue is far more complicated, she said. She mentioned specifically those who have overstayed their legal visas. There is a lot of dynamics here, she said. Regarding the economy, McSally is concerned how federal sequestration is hampering economic growth, especially in CD2. Cuts in military spending could harm two Southern Arizona treasures, she says, Davis-Monthan and Fort Huachuca. Sierra Vista is really suffering, not just in the number of troops, but the number of defense contractors and others that were supporting the war effort, she said. We need to make sure we have a strong military, that our defense spending is appropriate to make sure they are keeping us safe. McSallys office announced last month that the National Defense Authorization Act contained full funding for aircraft stationed at D-M and provisions to retain and expand missions at Fort Huachuca. The former A-10 pilot has also advocated for new missions for D-M, including bringing in drone pilots to be housed in Tucson. D-M is one of five finalists for the new mission. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns, gives McSally the edge in the race, listing Congressional District 2 as leans Republican. Phoenix-based political analyst Chris Herstam predicts McSally has little to worry about , since she has kept away from the controversies surrounding the Republican presidential nominee. Because McSally has successfully distanced herself from Donald Trump and projected an effective mainstream image, she seems unbeatable, Herstam said. Two former police officers and two recruits at local law enforcement agencies are facing the loss of their state licenses, officials said. The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board voted recently to initiate proceedings against Virgilio N. Marshall, Gabriel A. Rivera, Kyle D. Lovett and Matthew D. Moon, said spokeswoman Sandy Sierra. The board can choose to revoke or suspend their peace officer certifications, which allow them to work in law enforcement in Arizona. Marshall and Rivera worked at the Tucson Police Department, but Marshall was fired in March and Rivera resigned in April 2015, AZPOST records show. Lovett applied to the Marana Police Department and Moon to the Pima County Sheriffs Department in June, and while both men were participating in training at the academy, neither had been certified by AZPOST, according to the records. All four will receive formal letters from the board and will have the option of a hearing with an administrative law judge, Sierra said. Tucson police cases Marshall was hired by TPD in December 2014 and graduated from the academy last April, AZPOST documents show. In October, he responded to a burglary, and failed to adequately process the scene, mishandled evidence, failed to properly document the victims information and listed inaccurate information as it pertained to the suspect vehicle, the document said. During his investigation, Marshall was conducting a walk-through of the residence, but repeatedly refused to take fingerprints off various surfaces the homeowner indicated had been disturbed during the burglary, including a pamphlet the burglar dropped on the floor, the document said. The homeowner contacted Marshalls sergeant, who returned to the residence to collect evidence that Marshall had missed, including cigarettes that had been dropped by the burglar, the document said. During interviews with internal affairs, Marshall said he had collected the items, until he was shown an evidence list that refuted his claims. Marshall was assigned to work the departments front desk while the incident was investigated. In December, he fielded a call from a Department of Child Services employee, the document shows. The caseworker asked Marshall to take a police report regarding two children who had been taken into DCS custody and tested positive for morphine, heroin and marijuana. Marshall told the employee he would not take the report since no police officers were present during the initial contact. The employee explained the police report was necessary in order to prevent the parents from being reunited with their children, but Marshall still refused, the document said. The employee transferred Marshall to a DCS supervisor, but he again refused to take the report. She finally gave up and was able to give the report to a sergeant in the child-abuse unit, according to the document. During his interview with internal affairs, Marshall continually questioned why DCS waited so long to make the report and claimed he told both employees he would take the report, the document said. As a probationary employee, Marshall was fired for failing to meet standards. Rivera, a 15-year veteran, resigned in lieu of termination after he was accused of failing to take basic steps when investigating three separate sexual assaults of juvenile girls, according to an AZPOST document. The first incident took place in 2012, involving the rape of a girl at a party by multiple males. Internal affairs officers documented more than 15 steps that Rivera who was a detective at the time failed to take while investigating the case. The court recognized police failure as a primary reason that only three of the alleged five rapists were arrested and that the males were ultimately charged with a lesser charge for their criminal acts, the document said. Because of the critical errors discovered in Riveras work, an administrative investigation was conducted, and two more cases were located where he failed to accurately document pertinent facts, recall basic investigative details and complete necessary investigative processes. Rivera resigned in lieu of termination. Marana police recruit During a routine new-hire audit in July, the AZPOST discovered that Lovett, an applicant to the Marana Police Department, had lied about a theft case and drug use on past applications to multiple law enforcement agencies. The case was referred by AZPOST auditors to director Jack Lane, who advised Marana police to remove Lovett from the academy, pending the outcome of his AZPOST case, the document said. Pima County sheriffs recruit Moon applied to the Sheriffs Department in June, when a new-audit hire by AZPOST discovered that he lied on previous TPD applications about a theft case against him and drug use, documents show. The audit discovered that Moon had been permanently disqualified from TPD in 2009 for admitting he lied on the application and during a polygraph. Moon was employed as a corrections officer at the Pima County jail when he applied to become a deputy and entered the sheriffs academy last fall. He was removed from the academy in August and returned to his position as a corrections officer, the document said. 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. Help India! By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net Mumbai: Faiyazuddin, 40, a Bio Chemist in Indian Railway, is working in nights for its employer and volunteering his day time in Peace Conference, going on in Mumbai. Support TwoCircles Besides use of latest Technology, Professionalism and able leadership, its the Collective efforts, commitments, altruism of these hundreds of volunteers from all over India that transform this religious programme in to an international event. A volunteer explaining Islamic teachings. Renowned televangelist, Dr.Zakir Naik initiated this Peace Conference 4 years ago, to spread the message of Islam and shun the misconception about it, exhibits complete opposite pictures of Muslims in India. Team includes Highly Qualified Personals, Parents of International Islamic Schools students, Convent students, Burqa clad English speaking ladies, and Security personals all are putting their hard work consistently, day and night, for these 10 days. Mohsin Khan (left) talking to another volunteer Farhan Karmali Mohsin Khan, 25, a commerce graduate, is a stage co-ordinator, was also impressed by Dr.Zakirs lectures and debates. He got associated with IRF and got Dawah training. He feels that the conference brings all sections of Muslims together and therefore he said, I want to be a part of it to bring unity among the diverse community and to spread the message of Islam. He was a non-practicing Muslim but after Dr.Zakir Naiks has changed his life and now he is a practicing Muslim. This is the story of another stage coordinator of Peace confernce, Farhan Karmali, 22 years students doing Masters in computer Science. Aslam Khan has taken days off from his work to manage Peace Conference Aslam Khan, 47, electrical engineer in a private company is number three in the hierarchy of the Management of Peace Conference and responsible for Quality Control. He has taken off from his duty and devoting his full time for the success of this conference. He said, We have predefined Quality Norms for every section like Food court section, Catering section, PR, security, exhibition, guests etc and also defined the Dos and Donts to maintain the quality of the programme. Volunteers engaged in dawah work The conference has not only taken the time of the volunteers but in return it has given lots of experience to them. Tanveer Shaikh, 40, an electronic and telecom engineer and a director of a private firm said Experience of working in peace conference has improvised my managerial skill and taught me Time management, delegation of duties etc, which is very helpful in my professional life. He is now the In charge of VIP Lounge in the peace Conference. Its the Dr.Zakir Naiks lecture on Islam in English that attracted him first and now his kids are the students of International Islamic School, mange by IRF. Tanveer Shaikh Danish Reyaz, 32, journalist of urdu newspaper and magazine has also learnt how to manage media from volunteering in peace conference. He is looking after the Public Relation and mainly Media relation of Peace conference. He said, Initially we hired PR agencies for the promotion of the conference but now we are managing it form ourselves. He also informed that besides Urdu newspapers they are advertising in English, Marathi and Hindi daily newspapers. Maqsood bhai is in the media section. Maqsood, 47 is the oldest associate of IRF and is seeing the Media section mainly keeping records of news coverage of the programme. He said, I and Dr.Shaoeb, an oldest associate of Dr.Zakir and an eminent speaker, started doing dawah work and then we joined IRF and now through Peace TV our dream has come true. He said they always wanted to have a channel of Muslims devoted for Dawah. Besides these men there are hundreds of women, who due to Pardah, could not talk but seen working along. They are chasing Non-Muslim Teachers for Dawah work in Exhibition hall, helping women audiences and contributing what is required from them. In all, there are nearly 1800 volunteers in which 300 are from Mumbai and the rests are from Hyderabad, Latur, Karnataka and other parts of the country.They are not paid but being provided with the travelling expense, lodging boarding and food. Khalid, 22, is from Hyderabad and a Daai in the exhibition hall said, We are here for the sake of Allah and to seek his forgiveness and blessings and nothing else. Help India! [L-R: Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Yusuf Hamied, Yusuf Ali and Azim Premji] Support TwoCircles By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net, Four Muslims have made to the Forbes list of < a href=http://www.forbes.com/india-billionaires/#4d3a309d1c00> 100 Indian Billionaires for 2016. Three are the old faces who appear every year in the Forbes list while the fourth is a young NRI doctor with South Indian origin making debut to the prestigious listing. Thirty nine years old Shamsheer Vayalil, an entrepreneur and philanthropist has first time appeared on the list and with this he is the third youngest named in the 100 richest Indians published by Forbes for 2016. Among other Muslims to appear in the list are Azim Premji, M.A. Yusuff Ali and Yusuf Hamied. Vayalil is the Founder and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare, a network of hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturing units and pharmacies in the UAE and India. He is ranked 98th in the list a wealth of $ 1.27 billion. In 2014the Government of India awarded Vayalil with a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for his overall contribution to the healthcare sector. Premji, 71, a chairman of Wipro Limited continues to remain in the first 10 Indian Billionaire; however he slipped by a position to fourth this year with a net worth of $15 billion. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, Indias second highest civilian honour in 2011 and Padma Bhushan, Indias third highest civilian honour in 2005. M.A. Yusuff Ali, 60, an MD of EMKE Group alias LuLu Group International, UAE ranked at 25th position with a wealth of $4.2 billion. Last year he was at 24th position. Ali is known for his close involvement in many social, charitable and humanitarian activities both in India as well as in the Gulf countries. He has also undertaken various philanthropic activities across the globe. He was awarded with Padma Shri by President of India in 2008 and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2005. Eighty years old Yusuf Hamied, a non-executive chairman of Cipla, one of Indias top pharma outfits is named at 60th place with net worth of $1.54 billion. In 2015 he was ranked 28th. In February 2013, Hamied announced his retirement plans from Cipla after remaining managing director of the company for 52 years. He was awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 2005. Help India! By Saeed Naqvi I had the Muzaffarnagar riots of February 2013 at the back of my mind when I drove towards Pedda village on the Bijnor-Najibabad Road where three Muslims had been shot dead by Jats who fired with guns and pistols from the terraces of their homes. Support TwoCircles Trouble began when two Muslim girls were harassed at the bus stop. When their men folk protested, the economically stronger Jats decided to teach them a lesson. Muslims in Pedda have for generations been dhobis or washermen. In Sir Saiyyad Ahamd Khans framework, these are arzals or menials. Above them in the caste/class hierarchy are Ajlafs, weavers, and Ashraf, the genteel lot, the ones for whom the Aligarh Muslim University was initially opened. That Yasmeen and Farheen are college-going girls is not a negligible detail: it is a glimmer of hope in a picture of unrelieved gloom which envelopes the community. Jats are prosperous farmers but socially static on issues like gender and are still bound by Khaps. The man-woman population ratio is eerily adversarial to women. In the Muslim hovel, there is economic want, not social regression. Arrogance of economic power bristles at the sight of the lowest strata crawling upwards. This explains some of the accelerated violence against Dalits and Muslims. Caste and communal prejudice converge in such instances. The gram pradhan or village head of Pedda, Anis Ahmad, is a short, dark man with a well trimmed beard and a mandatory skull cap, headgear which defines all Muslims from Madrasas. He has gone through the drill at the Deoband seminary, a stint as a tailor in Kuwait and now a dress designer (believe it or not) for fashion shows. He is not free of the usual Mullah hypocrisy: I dont touch female bodies; I tailor clothes for mannequins. With the advent of washing machines, Muslim washermen in villages like Pedda have diversified as tailors, barbers, fruit and vegetable sellers, automobile mechanics, handy men of all sorts. The Pradhan takes me into the house where three men were shot dead on the terrace of their home. Below, in a dark verandah, women wail. Outside, across the lane, is the fortified house of Peddas most powerful Jat, Sansar Singh. He hid in another village five kilometres away, but has since been arrested along with eight others involved in organising the violence. A dozen or so policemen are snoozing outside Sansar Singhs house, their weapons on their laps. This is the scene outside every Jat house in the lane up to the highway where a large number of policemen keep vigil. Look, Anis Ahmad points his finger, they are protecting only Jat houses. At Bijnors police headquarters, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Dharam Veer Singh thumps his table gently. Yes, we are protecting Jat houses. If police were not posted as a deterrent, angry Muslims may retaliate against Jat women and children. Theoretically, Singh has a point but do Muslims in their current state of demoralisation ever retaliate? The two local journalists, Naresh Sharma of Swatantra Awaz and Jalil Ahmad of a local TV channel, India Voice, are crouching on Singhs table, symbols of watchfulness. Singh smiles: Please give the police some credit for having prevented riots from spreading. Why did these riots not spread? He cites geography as a roadblock to communalism. The Ganga flows between Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor the communal wave that overwhelmed areas the other side of the Ganga some years ago weakens crossing the river. There are other reasons for weakened communalism in Bijnor. BJP President Amit Shahs very determined presence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli three years ago made the difference. Trumped-up stories of love jihad; fake video from Pakistans northwest circulated as Jats being lynched by Muslims; Maha Panchayats of weapon-wielding mobs and Amit Shahs famous refrain, Yeh badley ka election hai (We go into this election to seek revenge) all augmented the incendiary atmosphere. Today, there is saffron in the air, true, but not murderous saffronisation. In Bijnor, Muslims as well as the administration (even some Jats) have praised the local MLA, Ruchi Veera of the Samajwadi party, who was present in the village round-the-clock for the duration of tension. In fact, she was able to extract Rs 20 lakh from the government in Lucknow by way of relief within days of the violence. Assessments of damage are being made for more. District Magistrate Jagat Raj is flanked by City Superintendent of Police M.M. Baig and Senior Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar Srivastava to address about 60 print and TV journalists around a giant oblong table. Seldom have I heard media being so lavishly thanked for having exercised restraint. On my return, when I cross the barrage on the Ganga, I remember SP Dharam Veer Singhs words: rivers block communal waves. Before reaching Meerut, I see road signs to Muzaffarangar. I have horrible memories of that pogrom. Past Meerut is Maliana, the site of the notorious 1987 massacre. The police had separated 42 Muslim young men, lined them up by the nearby canal and shot them. P. Chidambaram was Rajiv Gandhis Minister of State for Home. He knows that incident like the back of his hand. He is now a columnist. May be some day he will give us the inside story on why the case drags on into its 29th year? Approaching Ghaziabad, I see signs to Dadri where in September 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by cow protection vigilantes. His family is still implicated in unproved charges. As lights of Delhi shimmer, the villainy of Pedda recedes. Nastier memories surface. Reports that Alaskan Bush People has been renewed and that the Brown family will return to television for a season 6 in November have many fans excited and critics looking forward to being able to scrutinize something. While fans and critics might disagree about the Brown family and how their life in the Alaskan wilderness is being represented on television, supporters and opponents of Alaskan Bush People agree that "Discovery Channel" needs to do something for viewers not rob them of their money. The new scandal In contrast to the scandal surrounding Billy Brown and his sons deceiving the state of Alaska about being full-time residents and receiving money for Alaskas oil pipeline, the Brown family has not done anything to prompt fans to send money to them. Neither Billy Brown, his wife Ami, nor their seven children have asked any fans for money. As evident on numerous social media sites, the Brown children including Matt Brown, Joshua Bam Bam Brown (who just turned 32), Bear, 28, Gabe 25, Noah, 23, Snowbird, 21, and 12-year-old daughter Rain love their fans and are more than happy to share what is going on in their lives apart from the reality television show. From Matt Browns heartbreaking decision to face his drinking problem to Joshuas exciting trip to New York City, social media sites are filled with photos of the Brown kids posing with fans. However, "Discovery Channels" description of the Brown family on the Alaskan Bush People main Facebook page and its television show info section is misleading viewers. Deep in the Alaskan wilderness lives a newly discovered family who was born and raised wild. As reported by "Movie News Guide," kindhearted fans of the Brown family allegedly living in poverty in the Alaskan wilderness love the family so much that they are sending money to them. Whats fake and whats real about the Brown family? Yes, Matt Brown and Joshua Brown grew up in the Alaskan wilderness after their family moved from Texas to Alaska. Matt, then 3, and Joshua, then 1, grew up away from most of civilization while their parents, Billy and Ami Brown, tried to make a living in the Alaskan outback. Billy Brown, the familys patriarch, actually grew up in an affluent family in Texas until his parents and his sister died in a private plane crash. Orphaned at the age of 16, Billy later tried to make a living as a plumber in Texas, but after meeting Ami and finding out that a nine to five job wasnt quite his nature, the young family took off to Alaska. Billy, Ami, and their two young sons struggled to survive in the Alaskan wilderness.After we realized we weren't going to die, we fell in love with everything," wrote Billy about his early years in the Alaskan outback. The Brown familys love for Alaskas amazing bush life and the love and support among the family members is all too real and fans can feel that reality. Do fans need to support the Brown family? "Discovery Channe"l approached Billy Brown about turning his familys Alaskan wilderness life into a reality television show after Billy had self-published his book One Wave at a Time in 2007. The Brown familys reality television show about their life in the Alaskan outback began airing in 2014 and it has captured the love of millions of viewers from around the world. Of course, in keeping with the shows theme of the Brown familys survival in the Alaskan wilderness, the network does not want to promote that Billy Brown has an estimated worth of $500,000 and that his children are well compensated for appearing on a reality television. Those kindhearted fans sending money to the Alaskan bush family feel that they are making a difference in a poor familys life. However, more informed fans and critics agree that "Discovery Channel" should take action and reveal a bit more about the truth behind the Brown family -- no matter how heartbreaking that reality might be. Outside of the Box 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!) Rejection of one-China basis the bane of Taiwan Updated: 2016-09-26 07:02 (China Daily) Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, April 15, 2015. [Photo/IC] Taiwan's failure to get invited to Tuesday's International Civil Aviation Organization assembly in Montreal, Canada, should not come as a surprise for island leader Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party administration. Tsai should have expected this ever since she refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which lays out the one-China principle by the island and the Chinese mainland, on May 20, the day she assumed office. It is easy for Taipei to misread the failure and lay unwarranted blame on Beijing's opposition to the island's participation in international activities. But finger-pointing can neither solve the problem nor eliminate the main reason behind the ICAO's decision to not invite Taiwan this year. In 2013 when Taiwan's civil aviation authorities were invited to send representatives as non-voting delegates to the ICAO assembly, it was cross-Straits negotiations based on the understanding that both sides adhere to the 1992 Consensus that resulted in a special arrangement. Under the arrangement, Taipei was invited as a special guest of then-ICAO council president Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez because only sovereign states have the right to participate in ICAO within the UN framework. The DPP's refusal to adhere to the one-China principle, however, has undermined Taiwan's chances of participating in any international activity. Tsai and her administration have underestimated the damage the refusal to adhere to the one-China principle could cause. Under the leadership of former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT between 2008 and 2016, cross-Straits ties had grown stronger, with the inking of dozens of economic deals, closer personnel and cultural exchanges, as well as practical arrangements for Taiwan's participation in some international organizations and activities. In fact, the DPP administration's refusal to recognize the political basis of one China has already stalled bilateral communication and almost frozen cross-Straits ties since May 20. The suspension of institutional exchanges between top agencies in charge of cross-Straits relations of both sides and the sharp drop in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan are some of the signs of the tense ties. In essence, no way can Taipei participate in international organizations by bypassing the one-China principle, whether it is the ICAO assembly or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting scheduled for November in Peru. Taipei will meet more dead ends if it doesn't fulfill the prerequisites for its participation in world activities. The DPP administration should realize this, reflect on its cross-Straits policy and come up with a practical solution instead of playing the blame game. Mall shooting in Washington state claims 5th victim Updated: 2016-09-25 06:59 (Xinhua) SAN FRANCISCO - A male victim who sustained life-threatening injuries in a mall shooting in Washington state passed away on Saturday morning. An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington on Friday night, and who is still at large, released by the Washington State Patrol, September 24, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] 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 US 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. After Clinton's health scare, more Americans say presidents should release medical info Updated: 2016-09-25 07:04 (Xinhua) WASHINGTON - 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. US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts after speaking at a campaign event at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US September 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] 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. 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. Duong Van Hoc, who has been a solo puppet artist most of his life is still busy with the art. He has, in fact, started a puppet museum at his home in Nha Trang City. Most of his puppets are models of Vietnamese heroes and animals. To keep up with the times, he has to bring things that are to do with modern life into his puppet shows. At the age of 75, artist Duong Van Hoc, who is well known as a pioneer in contemporary solo puppetry in Viet Nam, is still busy performing, teaching and writing about puppetry and managing a small puppetry museum in the coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province. Early this year, his private Contemporary Solo Puppetry Museum, the first of its kind in the country, was opened at his house on 92B Duong Hien Quyen Street, Nha Trang City. The museum is said to be a long-nurtured dream of Hoc who has identified himself with puppetry for over 30 years. During the early stage of his career, Hoc used to work as a dance scriptwriter and stage director. In 1984, he began working at the Viet Nam Puppetry Theater where his passion for the art blossomed. He pioneered and introduced contemporary solo puppetry in 1992, and so far is the only local pursuer of the art. His newly-established museum has a modest area of 50sq.m, where he is displaying more than 120 puppets. Most of the puppets are shaped after Vietnamese heroes and animals that the artist has crafted and performed with across Viet Nam and in tens of other countries over the past two dozen years. The puppets of various sizes and types, in different colours and patterns reflect multiple characteristics or points of view. Hoc said that like life, puppetry contained the good, the bad and the combination of good and bad. Each of my puppet shows must deliver a message relating to a certain view of humanity, the world and life, Hoc said, adding that this was the key to attracting audiences and gaining their hearts. Audiences, both local and foreign, have been impressed by Hocs shows, including The Boat on a River, The Death of a Swan, The Clown, Girl or Spider and Behind the Eyes. When recalling past performances, Hoc remembers 20 years ago when a Korean viewer was moved to tears after watching the show The Boat on a River. The puppet show presents two rival crews fighting on the same boat. The boat staggers, fails to dock and is almost stricken by big waves. Some audience members told him that they saw themselves and their situation in the puppet show, Hoc said. I want to bring reality into puppet shows as I see many similarities between them, Hoc said. He revealed that occasionally he spent sleepless nights making puppets and writing scripts. Sometimes, it took him a few months to complete the puppets and script for a new show, he said. Modern life develops to become more and more complicated, which forces puppetry and puppet performers to change to be able to catch up with it, he said. In 1998, Hoc performed The Death of a Swan in Paris. A viewer met with Hoc and said he would pay US$500 for one of Hocs puppets. Hoc refused and said, If you like, I will make another puppet for you. This puppet is a friend of mine. I cannot sell my friend. Vietnamese puppetry Hoc said that it was a great happiness for him when visitors to the museum felt it interesting. A group of Russian tourists on their trip to Nha Trang happened to know about the museum and visited it. During their visit, they looked at the puppets and listened to Hoc carefully and with interest when he told them about each puppet as well as its message or the point of view the puppet maker wanted to deliver. When they said the tour helped them understand more about Viet Nam, its culture and art, I was so happy and proud, Hoc said. One special guest to the museum has been poet Bang Viet who is president of the Ha Noi Writers and Artists Association. After a visit, Viet wrote to Hoc that he was impressed by the way the museum was organised. The museum presents a typical type of culture from northern Viet Nam and Van Hoc possesses the typical characteristics of northern feudal intellectuals, Viet wrote. Hoc was born in Ha Noi, but left for Khanh Hoa to work with the Phu Khanh Artistic Group. In 1984, he returned to Ha Noi and found his real passion with puppetry. Keeping his love of beautiful Nha Trang City in his heart, Hoc returned there to spend his retirement and realise his dream of puppetry preservation. Besides opening the museum, Hoc writes books on puppetry and teaches the art to pre-school teachers so they can help spread the love of puppetry to more people, particularly children. The museums modest area once hosted almost 30 pre-school kids at once. The narrow space couldnt prevent them from enjoying stories illustrated with small hand puppets such as Clever goat, Two goats crossing a bridge, and Smart bunny. The happy eyes and laughter inspired me a lot, he said. The museum also highlights collections of photos and newspaper articles about Hocs solo puppetry, and books on the countrys time-honoured art of puppetry which he has written over the years. The museum is open free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Those interested can phone Hoc at (+84) 986 071 420 before paying a visit to the museum so that the artist can prepare and possibly offer a special surprise. I do it as I want more people to know about Vietnamese puppetry, he said. VNS GLOSSARY At the age of 75, artist Duong Van Hoc, who is well known as a pioneer in contemporary solo puppetry in Viet Nam, is still busy performing, teaching and writing about puppetry and managing a small puppetry museum in the coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province. A pioneer is someone who starts something. Contemporary means happening now. Solo puppetry is puppetry performed by only one person. The museum is said to be a long-nurtured dream of Hoc who has identified himself with puppetry for over 30 years. Nurtured means carefully and lovingly developed over time. During the early stage of his career, Hoc used to work as a dance scriptwriter and stage director. A scriptwriter is someone who writes the words that are used in a performance such as a film or a play. In 1984, he began working at the Viet Nam Puppetry Theater where his passion for the art blossomed. If you have a passion for something you do not worry how much time or money you spend on it, you just love doing it so much. If your passion for something blossoms, it brings it to being at its best. He pioneered and introduced contemporary solo puppetry in 1992, and so far is the only local pursuer of the art. A pursuer of an art is someone who follows that art. His newly-established museum has a modest area of 50sq.m, where he is displaying more than 120 puppets. A modest area is an area that is neither smart nor shabby. Most of the puppets are shaped after Vietnamese heroes and animals that the artist has crafted and performed with across Viet Nam and in tens of other countries over the past two dozen years. A dozen means twelve. Two dozen is therefore twenty-four. The puppets of various sizes and types, in different colours and patterns reflect multiple characteristics or points of view. Multiple means many. Each of my puppet shows must deliver a message relating to a certain view of humanity, the world and life, Hoc said, adding that this was the key to attracting audiences and gaining their hearts. Humanity means the human race. When recalling past performances, Hoc remembers 20 years ago when a Korean viewer was moved to tears after watching the show The Boat on a River. To be moved means to be emotionally affected by something. The puppet show presents two rival crews fighting on the same boat. Rival crews are crews that compete against one another in a fierce but friendly way. The boat staggers, fails to dock and is almost stricken by big waves. When a boat staggers, it wobbles. He revealed that occasionally he spent sleepless nights making puppets and writing scripts. To reveal something means to give out information, especially information that is secret or slightly secret. The museum presents a typical type of culture from northern Viet Nam and Van Hoc possesses the typical characteristics of northern feudal intellectuals, Viet wrote. Possesses means has. Keeping his love of beautiful Nha Trang City in his heart, Hoc returned there to spend his retirement and realise his dream of puppetry preservation. A persons retirement is the time of his or her life when he or she has stopped work due to age. Preservation means keeping things the way they are and not let them get worse with age. The happy eyes and laughter inspired me a lot, he said. If something inspires you, it puts you in a mood that makes you want to go out into the world and do something positive. WORKSHEET Find words that mean the following in the Word Search: A day of the week when the puppet museum is open free to the public. Half a dozen. A place where things are on display, including things from the past. An animal that features in the names of at least two hand puppets. A natural landscape feature in Nha Trang City. v l o n l i n e e e k l e b g r w I n e n u s n n r x u c h s d m p s c u i o m j e s i i r b u s a t u r d a y l a e p y i w s g u r h l q l c i y h e l g z a e e g o a c i u n k i s t h i a u n t m u c h a b l e s d p a l c o h o g o a t ANSWERS: Duncan Guy/Learn the News/ Viet Nam News 2016 1. Saturday; 2. Six; 3. Museum; 4. Goat; 5. Coast. HA NOI President Tran ai Quang yesterday welcomed the signing of several cooperation agreements at the fifth ministerial conference on anti-crime cooperation in Hanoi between the public security ministries of Viet Nam and China. The President was receiving Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun, who is in Viet Nam for a working visit and to co-chair the fifth ministerial conference on anti-crime cooperation. Quang said that increased bilateral collaboration across diplomacy, national defence-security, and law enforcement contributed to strengthening mutual trust and development. Its in the two countries common interests to ensure an environment of peace, stability and cooperation for national construction and development, he said. Recently, both sides have reached a common important consensus on increasing strategic exchanges, enhancing political trust, promoting mutually-beneficial cooperation, and well managing and promptly settling outstanding differences and emerging problems. The President spoke highly of the collaboration between the two public security ministries over the past years, especially in the fight against cyber, drug, and human trafficking crimes. He noted that with important events scheduled in both countries next year the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum) Summit in Vietnam and the 19th National Party Congress in China, the strengthening of security ties and exchanges between law enforcement forces will serve the need and interests of both sides. Minister Guo Shengkun, in reply, informed the host that at the conference, both sides discussed in depth issues regarding anti-terrorism, trans-border crime prevention, cyber security and personnel training. The two ministries also targeted expanding coordination to new fields with diverse contents. He said he planned to visit the northern port city of Hai Phong and call for Chinese investment in the locality. VNA/VNS The sight of people crawling along Da Nang beach on their stomachs in the early morning draws the attention of passers-by. It is all part of the novel free exercise classes being run by 33-year-old Do Quang Anh to improve his communitys health. Thanh Tran reports. It was after 5am when the sun started to scatter its first delicate rays, but the Son Tra beach in the central city of a Nang was already thronged with people doing morning exercises. Some were lying down and propped themselves up with their arms, others crawled on their stomach, drawing the attention of passers-by. The exercise, called the creeping cat, is one of the daily routines of the free gym class on the beach operated by 33-year-old o Quang Anh from Nai Hien ong Ward in Son Tra District. Anhs gym is open to all. When he was in Ha Noi, Anh said, he used to attend several gym clubs but was dissatisfied with the attention he got from the instructors, despite the high fee he paid. He then quit and started to run around the citys West Lake until he accidentally learned about a special gym of foreigners. They used the simplest equipment for exercises affecting the whole body. I dared to attend it only once a month due to the high tuition to learn about the exercises and instruction, then trained myself at home, Anh recalls. In mid 2015 he moved to a Nang City. Realising that the environment of the coastal city was favourable for physical fitness training, he thought about introducing such useful exercises to everyone. After months of creating simple equipment like steel sticks and bags of sand, he invited the public to join him in practising. At first, only a few came. When passers-by stopped to look, he would invite them to join. From trying just for fun, more and more people became interested in the simple but exciting exercises, inviting their acquaintances to join. When Anhs gym class had a considerable number of participants, he arranged a regular schedule. Accordingly, the class is held every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:30am. Some days dozens of people appear, from high school students to the elderly who can be seen gripping horizontal bars, jogging while carrying sand bags or pulling ropes. The classes are free of charge because Anhs aim is to improve the communitys health, not to earn money. A small notebook, in which he carefully writes down each persons amount of practise, is always open. Anh explains that exercise scientifically, using a medium amount of strength, provides the best results. The creeping cat: one of the daily morning exercises of the free gym class on the beach operated by 33-year-old o Quang Anh from Nai Hien ong Ward in Son Tra District. Anh also has specific exercises for people in different physical conditions. For example, the creeping cat exercise will effectively help overweight people burn up fat. There was too much fat in my abdomen, but now it has nearly disappeared, says Tran Thanh Binh. Only after attending Anhs gym class have I truly understood how hard serious morning exercises are. All the body parts have to be involved in the exercise, from hands, legs, back to abdomen; however, I feel much healthier. Just finishing the push-ups and handstands, a group of high school students excitedly announce that they have achieved the most visible changes in their bodies, with tight arm, leg, shoulder, chest and abdomen muscles. Hoang Quang Danh, 55, has also clearly seen changes in his body since joining the class. My hands and legs were exhausted during the very first days. Now they have become much stronger and more flexible, Danh says while taking a break from gripping the bars. Anh says many local people do all kinds of morning exercises on the beach, but free-styled exercises only help the hand and leg muscles and blood circulation. However, those wanting to be truly healthy must feel tired after the exercises. After training for a while, the trainees tell me they have dared to take over strenuous work, like carrying or pulling heavy objects. They have not complained about backache, which proves that they have really become stronger and have more endurance, Anh says. In this special free gym class on the beach, there seems no distance between the young and old. All do similar exercises and enthusiastically support and encourage their classmates. Therefore, we never get bored and always feel strong and happy, Danh says. VNS by Moc Mien Over the past two decades, since Viet Nam and the US normalized their diplomatic relations and the Law on Foreign Investment was issued, waves of foreign investment, especially from English-speaking countries, have flooded the country. It has resulted in many employment opportunities, enormous economic, information, and cultural exchanges, changing the life of every Vietnamese citizen. With Viet Nam integrating more deeply into the world, English has become increasingly important, perhaps even a decisive factor in ones successful future. The use of English is no longer rare in this society. As for recruitment, many enterprises require candidates to use English properly. Regarding work promotion, English abilities are among top priority criteria. It is happening everywhere in the private sector, says Nguyen Thuy Linh, a personnel manager. My major was engineering at university. I studied it in Vietnamese totally. If I hadnt trained in English on my own, I would probably not have obtained a high-paying job, says Tran Anh Tuan, a graduate student. Lets consider how students are studying English. Every day they are sent to an English training center in the hope of mastering the language as much as possible, in addition to increased English learning at school. My son has to study at least one foreign language because his future largely depends on how much he can be fluent in foreign languages. I dont want him to be left behind, receive few chances to approach better education, and then better jobs. He must master English before Japanese or Chinese, says Ngo Hung Tri, father of a fourth grader. The preference for English doesnt seem linked only to dreams of higher paying jobs. It has become an unimaginable source of social bias. After the finale of the Miss Viet Nam contest in mid-August, the winner, o My Linh, received many harsh comments on her English ability after she posted a short English-speaking video on skincare. Some complimented her fluency. But others said her accent was unlike that of a native English speaker and her style was not professional enough. Some even expressed anger that she had been awarded her crown because the runner-up seemed to speak English better. They said she is not qualified to represent Vietnamese beauty in international contests. Such reactions reflect a social prejudice held by many in Viet Nam, who judge others according to their foreign language fluency. Maybe they think that acquiring a new language needs will, hard work, industriousness and commitment. With this assumption, they give themselves a right to judge anyone. On a deeper layer, it says to us that when something becomes popular in society, it will easily be a reference to evaluate any person, says Nguyen Kim Phuong, a middle-aged life insurance consultant. I would hesitate to talk about Miss Vietnam 2016 or anyone according to their ability to use English. For me, language is first and foremost a tool for people from different countries to communicate with each other, understand each other and live harmoniously. Speaking English like a native is not essential. Those who do may not be able to communicate effectively with an Indian or Korean who speaks English as a second language. We are approaching foreign languages as a tool to promote economic benefits rather than a tool to discover new cultures. Please remember that any language is worthwhile and unique. It would be unfair to judge anyone for their inability to use English as we expect. He or she may be a master of local culture, says Nguyen Quynh Anh, a high school literature teacher. Recently, the Ministry of Education decided to develop a roadmap to turn English into the second language of Viet Nam. I myself expect a lot from this initiative - that new generations will be able to confidently communicate with the rest of the world. And I do hope that those involved in the task will find a way to make language a tool to communicate rather than a criterion of peoples worth. VNS A Virginia Tech professor studied the effects of climate change on sugar maples, along with a student and faculty member from the University of West Alabama, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Agriculture and Food Research Initiative on Climate Variability and Change. Carolyn Copenheaver, associate professor of forest ecology in Virginia Techs College of Natural Resources and Environment, and Keita Shumaker, associate professor of biology at the University of West Alabama, who met in 2011 during a plant genomics workshop, developed a working relationship that eventually led to collaborating on a research grant proposal through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The two partnered to recruit Brittany Butcher, a senior majoring in biology at the University of West Alabama, for Virginia Techs Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program Summer Research Internship, a 10-week program designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate-level work. The department of agriculture research grant funded Butchers internship. Climate Change Study Their climate change study is part of a larger three-year project involving six U.S. universities, each of which is responsible for researching how a different set of tree species reacts to changing climate conditions. Many species are seeing massive mortality, particularly in high-latitude areas like Alaskas boreal forest, Copenheaver said. Areas that were formerly forested are converting to shrub and grasslands. To understand the effects of climate change on trees on the East Coast, the researchers visited the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. There, they collected tree core samples, a technique that allows them to see the trees annual rings without cutting down the tree. The samples are only about the size of a drinking straw, Copenheaver said, but they allow us to see the ring width. Wide rings indicate good growth conditions while narrower rings indicate poor conditions. For Butcher, this type of research was uncharted territory. Dendroclimatology was totally new to me. I was starting from scratch, but I really like learning new things and I dont like to give up, she said. The researchers used temperature and precipitation data to analyze the tree rings, but were puzzled to find no real relationship between this data and how fast the trees were growing. A breakthrough came when discussing the project with colleagues at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, another participant in the department of agriculture study. They suggested looking at relationships between tree groups before 1950 and tree groups after 1950, said Copenheaver. The effects of climate change really began to appear during that later time period. Once the researchers changed their focus, they soon discovered that prior to 1950, sugar maples were not particularly sensitive to precipitation levels. Post-1950, however, they became increasingly sensitive. According to Copenheaver, drought conditions caused by climate change have put stress on the trees. Before 1950, these trees didnt experience drought conditions. Now that they do, the trees are changing how they are responding to climate. Even though we dont have mortality in Eastern forests like in some other places, we are seeing stress related to lack of moisture. Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program Butcher produced a poster and an oral presentation detailing the groups findings for the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Programs Summer Research Symposium in August. The program, which hosted 46 interns from around the U.S. this summer, is designed to increase representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in graduate programs at Virginia Tech and provide holistic support to both undergraduate and graduate students. Butchers internship included preparation for graduate school through a variety of workshops, professional development opportunities, and Graduate Record Exam prep courses offered through the program, in addition to conducting research with Copenheaver and Shumaker. We had retreats and workshops where we learned what would help us get into graduate school, Butcher said. There were also fun monthly activities like bowling or pizza parties. Shumaker, who often mentors first-generation college students at the University of West Alabama, explained the importance of the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program and others like it. All the skills they learn in internships allow students to appreciate diversity and learn to communicate with others. Its very important for students to have those experiences. Brittany had never realized that she was well suited for research, Copenheaver said, but I watched her gain in confidence and, by the end of the summer, I was able to communicate with her as though she were a scientific peer rather than a student. The internship also allowed Butcher to discover an exciting new career path. In addition to research opportunities and development workshops, Butcher also was able to talk about her career goals with Virginia Tech faculty members. After discussing her interest in the field of medical geography with Associate Professor Korine Kolivras in the Department of Geography, Butcher decided to continue working toward a career in research. I was worried about my next steps, but after meeting with the faculty at Virginia Tech, it opened my eyes to how much more is out there and how much I liked research, Butcher said. I learned research skills, interview skills, and presentation skills that will help me in grad school. With her eye-opening internship behind her, Butcher, who will graduate in December, plans to return to Virginia Tech to pursue a masters degree in geography. 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. WATERLOO Emily Boge is leaving her mark on the field of dental hygiene. More precisely, its on a newly designed tool commonly used by dental hygienists to clean patients teeth. American Eagle Instruments calls its new dental scaler the Boge 513. The modified sickle/hoe scaler was designed in partnership with Boge, Hawkeye Community Colleges dental administrative chair and current president of the Iowa Dental Hygienist Association. She attended the instruments June debut at the International Federation of Dental Hygiene Symposium in Basel, Switzerland, and its later domestic product launch in the Washington, D.C., area. They didnt anticipate the response they got, said Boge. Its pretty cool how fast word can get out about a new product. Jim Kelley, chief of staff for Missoula, Mont.,-based American Eagle, said there was a substantial inventory order prior to the products launch. The initial success was so great we actually went into a back order situation for a short time, he said. Never underestimate Emily Boge. The Dyersville woman went to Hawkeye for her dental assisting certificate and hygienist degree. She earned a bachelors degree and a masters of public administration at Upper Iowa University. In July 2015, she started at Hawkeye. During the 12 years prior working as a dental hygienist in Manchester, Boge had ideas about improving the instruments she used every day. Involvement in a number of professional associations led to joining Colgates oral health advisory board. She also built a small business writing and speaking on dental issues. All of that put her into the orbit of those who could potentially do something with her product innovation ideas. By the time Boge made the pitch to American Eagle, she was among a circle of dental industry people the company went to for feedback on their products. She came here on invitation from our director of sales, said Kelley, with seven other hygienists. All of these were a whos who of hygienists. Even so, he said, Boge stood out with a dynamic personality and command of the subject. While there, Boge laid out her concept of a longer, thinner scaler with a modified hoe shaped like the lower jaw. American Eagles XP Technology, which embeds titanium nitride into stainless steel, creates an ultra-hard alloy that remains sharp for the life of the instrument. As a result, it can be skinnier than instruments that need regular sharpening. Her unique hoe design is kind of bent back on itself, which makes sharpening it impossible, said Kelley. Preliminary designs were created and prototypes made up in-house. After getting feedback and going through several iterations, the company had an instrument design that married what her concept was, he said. It was really neat, because they dont usually let dental hygienists design things like that, said Boge. New instrument design doesnt usually happen in working with a hygienist, so its a little unique, Kelley acknowledged. But Boges strong conviction about her design resonated with him. This actually wasnt her first time designing a scaler. In 2012, Boge worked with a different company to create an instrument that is still on the market. Because she and that company didnt write up a contract in advance protecting her interests, they kind of took me for a ride financially. So, Boge wanted to do things right on her second attempt. She got cooperation from Kelley. I told her, Look, I have been in this business for over 20 years and I am not going to do something that isnt a win-win situation, he said. If these terms dont work for you, we wont move forward. I think we were both pleased. The company got early indications the Boge 513 would do well. We sell all over the world, so we got the product into the hands of our biggest distributor in Germany, said Kelley. The feedback came back very positive. The market immediately recognized it as being different. A quip the 6-foot, 1-inich Boge made about her height while eating out with Kelley and others during a dental convention is the origin of the tools name. She referred to herself as being 5-feet, 13-inches tall, said Kelley. That was just a point of humor in all my correspondence with her. I would call her 5-13. When it came to naming the instrument, he knew exactly what it should be. Nothing depicted the person better than Boge 513, said Kelley. Emilys personality is 10 feet tall, anyway. GRACE CULLEY has started her new role as program manager of compliance at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital. Culley joined Allen Hospital in 2015 as compliance coordinator. PAULA GEISE has been appointed vice president of post-acute services at UnityPoint Health-Waterloo. She will serve as the executive director for UnityPoint at Home in the Waterloo region while also supporting strategy across all care settings. Geise previously was the executive director of procedural services at Allen Hospital. ANDREA MOULDS is director of cardiovascular services at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital. Moulds started at Allen as a cardiovascular nurse in 2007 and was most recently the nurse manager since 2014. BRIAN HAASE has assumed the responsibility of director of radiology services at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital. Haase has a bachelors degree from Luther College and a bachelors degree in nuclear medicine technology from the University of Iowa. He started at Allen in 1998 as a nuclear medicine technologist. BROOKE GRITZNER has joined UnityPoint Clinic OB/GYN and UnityPoint Clinic Pediatrics-Cedar Falls as senior clinic administrator. She is currently clinic administrator for UnityPoint Clinic OB/GYN in Cedar Falls and Waterloo, and transitions to her new position in preparation for the pediatric clinic opening in January at UnityPoint Health-Prairie Parkway. ALEX BARR and SHANE FULLER have joined Prairie Lakes Church Cedar Falls Campus. Barr has been named childrens ministry assistant. She has a B.A. in family services from the University of Northern Iowa and was previously marketing and development assistant at Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity in Waterloo. Fuller has been named associate campus pastor of discipleship. Fuller is a graduate of UNI with a major in communication studies, and has a master of divinity from Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix. Fuller previously was a ministry resident at the church. Four new associates have joined VGM Group Inc. KIM BRUSTKERN joins Homelink as a billing supervisor. She previously was with Ocwen. ERICA SAMMONS comes to Homelink from USDA Farm Service Agency. KAYLA GAUL also joins Homelink as a patient care coordinator. Gaul previously was with CCMSI. ANDREW ACKERMAN joins VGM Fulfillment. NANCY AOSSEY has been named a recipient of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business Influential Leadership Award. Aossey graduated from UNI with a marketing degree in 1982 and a masters of business administration in 1984. She currently serves as president and CEO of International Medical Corps in Los Angeles. SARA KOCH has joined Byrnes & Rupkey Inc. as social media coordinator and staff support. She is pursuing her degree in communication studies at the University of Northern Iowa and will graduate December. LOIS RUPKEY, CEO and president of Byrnes & Rupkey, has been honored by two national Executive Search Associations as a Top Biller for 2015, leading Byrnes & Rupkey to multiple Top Agency Awards. She was awarded a Gold Medallion by IPA for $1 million in billings. JAMES COOK of Dutton, Braun, Staack & Hellman in Waterloo has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Cook has been practicing in Waterloo for 18 years, having previously practiced in California for 11 years. He is an alumnus of the University of Iowa College of Law. JENNY LUCAS, DNP, ARNP, has joined the Covenant Clinic Cardiology office of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa. Lucas, of Evansdale, received her BSN from Creighton University and her MSN from Clarkson College, both in Omaha, and her DNP from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. She worked as a family nurse practitioner at both Muskogee Regional Medical Center and Cardiology Clinic of Muskogee in Muskogee, Okla., from 2009 to 2012. She served as a family nurse practitioner at Allied Medical Center in Oklahoma City from 2012 to June 2016. MAGGIE LENDERMAN has joined US Bank as the new branch manager at their Cedar Falls Washington Street branch. She previously was at Wells Fargo. WATERLOO The final lessons Cathy Ketton and her daughters received from her mother are marked by secrecy and loss. Through the Splash of Color breast cancer support group, theyve resolved to ensure other families will learn from their experiences. In November 2004, Kettons mother asked her to feel a hard mass in her breast. Ketton did indeed feel a lump, but it was Thanksgiving weekend. She reassured her mother theyd get it checked out as soon as possible and wondered, Could it be breast cancer? It was. By early January 2005, her mother had undergone surgery and subsequent treatments. Ketton served as primary caregiver. Despite these efforts, her mother died having never said the word cancer, Ketton recalled. A year later in November 2005, her daughter Nisha Robinson, then 21, found a lump in her breast. Ketton was completely nonplussed, but she sprang to action. A year after her grandmothers surgery, Nisha had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery in January 2006. In November 2007, Kettons daughter ShanQuiesha Shae Robinson, then 25, found a lump in her breast. A health-care provider, Shae was frustrated that what appeared to be her familial predisposition for breast cancer hadnt been discussed. Why didnt we have this information? she asked. Why didnt granny say anything? Why didnt she tell us about granddaddy? Ketton doubted three breast cancer diagnoses in rapid succession were a coincidence. She started asking questions and digging for answers. What she learned was the family secret: Both sides of her family had a high incidence of breast cancer. My mother was from Mississippi, and cancer is not something thats talked about in our family, Ketton explained. It was viewed as a curse. Meanwhile, Shae sought to find comfort and camaraderie in a breast cancer support group. While she found welcome, as an African-American woman in her mid-20s, she didnt fit the groups demographics. This was significant, because breast cancer creates issues and concerns specific to young black women and women of color in general, said Ketton. White women are more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis, but black women have a higher incidence of death, she explained. Black women aged 45 and younger in particular have the highest breast cancer mortality rate, according to Sister Network Inc. What this tells us is that black women go to the doctor and get the test, but they dont go back to get the test results, said Ketton. Why? Our history. Our background is to fear this sort of information. Theres that what goes on in our house stays in our house mindset. That perspective kills. This knowledge and the hidden family history led Ketton and her daughters to create Splash of Color. The organization is devoted to educating and informing women of color and the broader community about how breast cancer directly affects people of color. Through regular fundraising activities, the organization also is able to provide services and support to women of color with breast cancer. Since founding SoC in 2010, the group has provided assistance and encouraged women to arm themselves with all the information possible. We dont exclude; we dont turn anyone away, said Ketton. Were designed to support any woman or man. We want to support people in any way we can. Because of the longevity of the group, Ketton believes its an opportune time to reintroduce SoC. Its a good time to make ourselves more visible in the community, she added, citing opportunities to begin education through area schools, especially to girls entering puberty. SoC has seen breast cancer diagnoses in women of color as young as 16 and several in their 20s. Typically, area hospitals provide patients with information about the group and offer to help make the connection. Youre never too young to be informed about breast cancer, said Ketton. Its not a topic we should ever be fearful of talking about. Area churches also provide key outreach opportunities. Our churches are where we gather, Ketton explained. If everyone brings Splash of Color information to the churches what it is, what were doing that will make a difference. If you say it in church, well believe it. WATERLOO The new season for the wcfsymphony is composed around three elements variety, creative and accessibility. And the concerts are as far from staid, sedate and stifling as any orchestra can get. Were the anti-stuffy, says Jason Weinberger, laughing. This year, in particular, the music weve got is fun, approachable and very un-stuffy. The traditional way of presenting concerts isnt doing it anymore. We wanted to find new ways to bring in audiences who love the symphony, and people who dont know anything about it. If variety is the spice of life, then the symphony is really living it up with several different concert venues this season, as well as dynamic performers, interesting collaborations and unexpected musical choices. The theme is "music for you." Creativity makes the live experience that much more entertaining for the audience. We want to give the community an irreplaceable experience, one that isnt the typical, old-fashioned, black-tie Beethoven concert, notes Weinberger, Pauline Barrett artistic director, conductor and chief executive officer. On Oct. 8 at the Brown Derby in downtown Waterloo, the orchestra will celebrate the changing season from summer to autumn with those concertos from Vivaldis classic, Four Seasons. Violinist Ross Monroe will perform Summer, while Anita Tucker, the symphonys concertmaster, will play Autumn. Max Richters contemporary Vivaldi redux, The Four Seasons Recomposed, is also on the program. The idea is to connect classical music with things people know in their everyday life. It makes the music more immediate and gives the audience a palpable sense of what was going on with Vivaldi when he composed the music, the conductor explains. The second half of the concert Winter and Spring, will be performed on Feb. 25 at the Brown Derby, featuring Scott Conklin and Beth Hoffman, associate concertmaster. Just in time for Halloween, the symphony will explore John Williams magical musical scores from Harry Potter in a family concert at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls. The Harry Potter movies are iconic, but if you watched them without the music, youd be bored to tears because the music is so integral to the film. Williams wrote some incredible, memorable music which well perform, along with different pieces that inspired him, a little Russian influence in the pieces, Weinberger says. Selections from Prokofiev, Bartok, Mussorgsky, Grieg and a new work by Paul Alan Price-Brenner are on the program. The audience is encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Potter movie characters. An unbeatable combination of big brass and organ signals arrival of the holiday season in the Glorious Brass concert Nov. 19 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls. Guest organist Nathaniel Parrish and the symphonys brass and percussion sections will present secular and holiday brass music by Bach, Gabrieli, Dukas and others. Duke Ellingtons Nutcracker Suite and Gary Kelleys visual storytelling with original images will create a new Nutcracker tradition. This family holiday diversion is Dec. 10 at the GBPAC. Given Garys artistic style in the childrens books he illustrations and his sensitivity and feeling for jazz, this is going to be a really cool concert. Kids and adults are going to be blown away. We wanted to design something for families that we could bring back every other year or on an annual basis, and Ellingtons arrangement of Tchaikovskys The Nutcracker came to mind. Family concerts are surprisingly affordable, Weinberger points out, so a family can attend the symphony without it costing an arm and a leg. The West High School Jazz Choir is on the program, along with the favorite audience sing-along. Appassionato Romance in the Romantic Era, featuring pianist Rachel Kudo, will take place April 29 at the GBPAC. The concert will explore the relationship between Romantic period composers Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, one the 19th centurys great pianists and composer, her husband Robert Schumann, and Claras lover, Theodor Kirchner. Kudo also will perform Brahms First Symphony. Broadway! Theatre Music Under the Stars takes place June 3 at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre. The event will celebrate 100 years of the Waterloo Community Playhouse and Broadway classics, including West Side Story, Porgy and Bess, My Fair Lady, The Music Man and more. It will be full orchestra with vocalists singing solos and duets for a fun evening of great American music, celebrating a tradition of music that is totally American and totally Broadway on a wonderful outdoor stage, Weinberger enthuses. For more information and tickets, call 273-3373 or visit wcfsymphony.org. WATERLOO The family of a Waterloo girl who was picked up by a man she met through social media and taken to a hotel for sex is taking the school district to court. Authorities said the man, Orlando Nefitali Ramirez Ruiz, arrived at George Washington Carver Academy in September 2014 pretending to be the 13-yaer-old girls uncle after she told school officials she had a doctors appointment. Ramirez, 27, was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse and enticing a minor during a May 2016 criminal trial and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Now the girls parents, represented by attorneys Luke Guthrie and John Rausch, have filed a suit against the Waterloo Community School District and eight unnamed district employees alleging negligence and loss of consortium. The suit alleges Ramirez, who was a stranger to the family, wasnt on a list of people allowed to remove the girl from school, and school employees allowed her to leave with him. According to testimony at trial, the girl had changed the contact phone number the school had for her parents, instead submitting a friends phone number. She then told her teacher she had a doctors appointment shortly after arriving at school for the day and met Ramirez in the school office. At trial, Ramirez admitted he picked up the girl and took her to a hotel, but he denied there was any sexual contact. The girls parents learned about the incident the following day when school officials inquired about her absence. CEDAR FALLS Building schematics for a planned elementary school will be presented to the Board of Education Monday. The board meets at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of Cedar Falls City Hall, 220 Clay St. A finalized site plan shows the school, parking lots and future roads on the eastern half of a 40-acre parcel near Erik Road west of Hudson Road. The design development plan shows two options with a similar layout. The administrative offices, music rooms, cafeteria, kitchen and gymnasium are grouped together at the core of the building. The two main classroom wings are to the west of that area, with the media center and the art room between them. A smaller classroom wing is to the east of the offices and music rooms. Cedar Falls Community Schools voters approved the new elementary in April as part of a $32 million bond issue. The total estimated price tag to build the school is $19.84 million. The bonds will be repaid with a property tax increase. In other business, the board will consider: Approving the 10-year physical plant and equipment levy expenditure plan that starts in the 2017-18 school year. Approving a bond counsel engagement agreement with Des Moines law firm Ahlers & Cooney. Submitting an funding application to the states School Budget Review Committee for limited English proficient students allowable costs that exceeded revenues for the past school year. CEDAR FALLS It was just the news the Cedar Valley hoped for. The Cedar River at Cedar Falls crested at 98.8 feet shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 88 feet. The river had been projected to crest as high as 100.8 feet. In Waterloo, which uses a different measuring system, the river reached a preliminary crest of 22.95 feet Saturday evening, the Weather Service announced shortly after 9:30 p.m. The projected crest also was lowered through the day Saturday from as high as 26.4 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. It was the second-highest crest ever for both cities. Black Hawk Creek at Hudson crested at 14 feet, flood stage. Lori Glover, Black Hawk County emergency management director, said rain expected late Saturday and today wasnt anticipated to significantly affect stream levels here, with most of it draining south. Cedar Falls City Administrator Ron Gaines was cautiously optimistic as he and Mayor Jim Brown toured the flood levee and downtown with U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, Saturday afternoon. Theres still a lot of water going though there, Gaines said. But barring any fluctuations, I think we will focus on recovery efforts and where do we go from here, particularly for residents of the North Cedar area of northern Cedar Falls. Donations have come in, and we have to figure out what the needs are for people who are working to salvage their homes and businesses, Gaines said. As sightseers flocked downtown to snap pictures, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart pleaded for residents to stay away so city workers could do their jobs. The Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center was being prepared for a Saturday evening wedding reception. It was a similar scene in Cedar Falls. With downtown still closed to vehicle traffic but busy with pedestrians Saturday afternoon, Gaines observed a wedding party posing for photos in the middle of the Main Street Parkade. Waterloo officials worked to assess standing water emanating from storm sewers. Some downtown blocks along West Sixth Street, and a block of West Fourth between Jefferson and Commercial by the convention center, were closed to traffic. Expanded pumping appeared to stabilize the situation. Engineers are monitoring the saturated levee in Cedar Falls throughout the weekend. Sightseers were asked to stay off of the earthen levee, and Gaines said public safety officials would enforce that. Some downtown Cedar Falls businesses reopened late Saturday afternoon. Several downtown Waterloo bridges remain closed Park Avenue, 11th and 18th streets and Westfield Avenue. Hart said a major concern remained the Cedar Terrace neighborhood along the Cedar River southeast of Crossroads Center, where volunteers amassed a sizable flood wall. Residents of at least one home surrounded by water had to be rescued by boat. Were trouble-shooting and problem-solving at this point, Hart said. Staff has done an excellent job. Overall, theres some challenges, but so far so far were holding all right. City Engineer Eric Thorson said Friday staff would monitor the flood control system through the weekend and address any potential leaks. Chris Smith, a truck driver who lives in Wellsburg and is a Waterloo native, heard volunteers were needed and drove down Friday. He was the de factor organizer of Cedar Terrace sandbagging operations along Belle Street on Saturday afternoon. Its been a steady flow (of volunteers) since 9 oclock this morning, Smith said. They had gone through what Smith estimated to be 45 dump trucks full of sand, filling more than 8,000 bags. Smith said the mayor told them to begin sandbagging at Shaulis Road near Faulk Road, where floodwaters had already come over the street. Several residents down there got caught in 2008 and had to be evacuated, Smith said. Smith estimated 300 to 400 people helped fill sandbags and build berms. This is what makes me proud to be who I am, to be an American, to be an Iowan, Smith said. Most of these people are total strangers. When the call was made they just came, and its awesome. The Weather Channel cable network was at Cedar Terrace on Saturday to broadcast the efforts nationwide. In Cedar Falls, hundreds of volunteers sandbagged until nearly 2 a.m and resumed at 7 a.m Saturday until some 250,000 sandbags were placed on the south side of the river downtown. Gaines said sandbags, water barriers and large Hesco barriers heavy-fabric wire-mesh sand-filled bastions similar to those used for military fortifications Iraq and Afghanistan, were put in place along much of the south side of the river. Gaines said the city was particularly worried about the north side of the Cedar River. We know that theres going to be some significant damage up there, and weve got to get up there and help those neighborhoods out as we recede, Gaines said. The Lone Tree Road fire station is open to assist residents and drinking water is available there for residents who bring a container. City officials emphasized they made many improvements to the citys levee system after the 2008 flood, including flood improvements around Cedar Falls Utilities. UnityPoint-Allen Hospital took in 54 residents of The Western Homes Martin Center near downtown Cedar Falls as a precaution against anticipated flooding and any subsequent power outage. Those residents returned to the Martin Center Saturday afternoon, UnityPoint-Allen development official Jim Waterbury said. Cedar Falls City Council member Mark Miller said the Living Water Church of the Nazarene near the Lone Tree Road fire station also was being utilized as a place to receive and disburse donations of household items for residents in the area, jointly operated by city employees and volunteers. Also the American Red Cross-Iowa region opened an emergency shelter in Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa West Gym. The Salvation Army of Waterloo-Cedar Falls summoned an emergency mobile canteen from Davenport to provide food and liquids to volunteers, as did other businesses and organizations. Firefighters notified mobile home parks and other residences in the North Cedar and Lincoln Street areas Friday in advance of rapidly rising floodwaters. Some left and others stayed. If it were me, I would make arrangements to leave, Cedar Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Mike Buhrow told one resident. At a certain point we arent going to be able to get out to you unless its a medical emergency. At the Center Street sandbagging station Friday, Greg Elin of Janesville was loading orange sandbags onto a trailer with some Cedar Falls family members. Were helping some friends, he said. We have one on Lake Street off of Big Woods Road. It was one of several stops they planned on making. Jeff Kessell was filling sandbags shortly before 11 a.m. with co-workers from City Builders, located along Center Street. Weve been preparing for this for two days now, so this is the third day, he said. The sandbagging station at 2806 Center St. was one of three in Cedar Falls. The City of Waterloo closed several flood control gates and activated storm water lift stations to keep water from backing up into storm sewers. Workers installed flood walls along the Cedar River at locations such as the Waterloo Center for the Arts and Veterans Memorial Hall. Motorists were cautioned against driving through floodwater though some didnt heed that and some people were cruising through flooded areas on personal watercraft. In Janesville, just north of Cedar Falls on the Black Hawk-Bremer county line, rising floodwaters prompted evacuation of a mobile home park Thursday night. Some homes along the Cedar River were also surrounded by water. Its like a gigantic moat all around the house, said resident Jeff Nichols. I still have a boat if I need to go anywhere. DES MOINES Mike Pence described Donald Trump as a defender of the faith in remarks to roughly 600 Christian conservatives in Iowa on Saturday night. Pence, the governor of Indiana and running mate to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, hit familiar campaign notes during his 45-minute address to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalitions annual fall fundraising dinner, criticizing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton on a number of fronts, including national security and the economy. But Pence also made a direct pitch to his audience, saying Trump as president would nominate conservative judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, approve legislation that would make late-term abortions illegal, eliminate the threat of removing tax-exempt status for politically active churches and end taxpayer funding to womens health care provider Planned Parenthood. For the sake of the sanctity of life and all of our God-given liberties, Iowa, lets ensure that the next president making appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States of America is president Donald Trump, Pence said to a standing ovation. In these challenging times, Donald Trump will stand for the freedoms enshrined in all of us, including the freedom of religion. Pence, who opened with his trademark introduction by describing himself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order, described Trump as a man motivated by his faith and family. We both come from the same place: a foundation of faith, family and a belief in the boundless potential of the American people, Pence said. Pence said he thinks Trumps candidacy has tapped into a movement that is stirring across America. After years of more government, more taxes and condescending attitudes toward traditional values unfurling out of Washington, D.C., toward people of faith all across Iowa and all across this country by the millions, the hinge of history is swinging in the direction of faith and freedom, and I literally see it every day, Pence said. Trump was among eight Republican presidential candidates who spoke at the coalitions event a year ago during the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses. He brought to that event a copy of his personal Bible and a photograph from his confirmation class, and told that crowd he would fight for their religious liberty. Early post-Labor Day polls on the presidential race in Iowa showed a tight race between Trump and Clinton. But a pair of recent polls have showed Trump leading by six and eight percentage points. The Clinton campaign countered Pences appearance in Iowa on Saturday with a roundtable discussion on federal immigration laws. The discussion was hosted by U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat from Chicago, who discussed immigration policy with roughly a dozen Latino Iowans. Gutierrez told reporters before the event he believes faith-based voters supporting Trump and Pence may be forgetting the second of the Ten Commandments. What about love your neighbor as you love yourself, Gutierrez said. What about the fact that your family is secure, Mr. Pence. At the end of the day, youre going to go home to your wife. Youre going to go home to your children. Your children know that youre safe. What about the millions of undocumented families that need that kind of safety. You know, theyre Americans in everything but a slip of paper. Gutierrez noted Hillary Clinton in 2004 backed an immigration reform bill sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy. He also reminded his audience as conservatives often do the next president will nominate at least one and possibly multiple justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, and that could also impact future attempts at immigration reform. We have a partner in Hillary Clinton, Gutierrez said. WATERLOO The city is preparing to hire a national retail recruiting firm to help attract stores to Logan Plaza, Crossroads Center and elsewhere in the community. Waterloo City Council members will be asked Monday to approve a three-year contract with Buxton Co., based in Fort Worth, Texas, to use its customer analytics approach to lure retailers. The city would pay Buxton $50,000 annually from property taxes collected in tax-increment financing districts. Buxton collects customer information via credit cards and other sources national retail chains use to help identify where goods and services will find a market. Company officials said they work with more than 2,200 retailers, including Trader Joes, Applebees, Bass Pro Shop, FedEx and more, on site selections. But the company also has contracts with more than 750 cities, including Ames and Cedar Rapids in Iowa, to help identify which retailers would be a good fit given local consumer habits. Council members earlier this year approved an agreement with local developer Ben Stroh to redevelop the blighted Logan Plaza shopping center at U.S. Highway 63 and Donald Street. The contract specifically notes Buxtons services would be needed there to help find tenants. Other scheduled council business includes: Another agreement with Deer Creek Development, headed by Harold Youngblut, to construct additional streets, storm sewers and other utilities necessary to open more lots for development in the Greenbelt Centre business park north and east of the former Waterloo Greyhound Park. The city would pay Youngblut $1.8 million from TIF revenue once work is completed. Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson said the partnership with Deer Creek has produced nine new or relocated businesses with a taxable value exceeding $16 million. The final readings of updated building and fire codes. The measures passed their first readings unanimously without major objects. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Let's start with Timo Miller, who is in the worst situation of all: As of this past Tuesday, he has not been brought to the United States. He remains in the custody of the Nicaraguan authorities. No one seems to know for sure why, after leaving him alone to carry on his life for years, the Nicaraguans suddenly decided to arrest him in connection with his role in the so-called "kidnapping" of Isabella Miller--a charge (of course) originating in the United States and in the laws of the United States. It is all the more mysterious since they haven't yet sent him back to the U.S. Someone did something, probably recently, to bring about his arrest. His family was told "Timo does have a red card against him in the Interpol." A quick googling indicates that a "red card" means that the person has been listed as wanted for arrest and extradition by some other country. So it looks like the U.S. somehow got a red card put out on him through Interpol, which got him arrested, but...then what? If Nicaragua is not bound by or doesn't consider itself bound by an extradition treaty with the U.S., why did they bother to arrest and hold him pursuant to the red card? His family was apparently told on August 31 "that in 2 weeks the states plan to have him up there," but we are now well past that, and he's still in Nicaragua, according to the U.S. co-prosecutor. Is this a result of incompetence causing the Nicaraguans to take a surprisingly long time to "do the paperwork" to send Timo Miller back to the States, of warring factions in the Nicaraguan government, or of someone's malice, wanting to keep Timo Miller in bad prison conditions in a foreign country in such a way that he cannot even receive due process of law? And if so, whose malice? And why did a red card suddenly get put on him now after all these years, after he was cooperative back in 2011? All of these questions are unanswered, and the strain must be terrible for his family. They need prayers. Moving on from Timo Miller to Pastor Ken Miller: He has declined to testify in the trial of Philip Zodhiates and has been found in civil contempt and told that he could be found in criminal contempt. Here is a moving account of the court scene in which he refused to testify. Right now no sentence has been given to him for either civil or criminal contempt. He is being held in Buffalo for the remainder of the Zodhiates trial in case he changes his mind about testifying. We should pray that he is not punished further for this refusal and also pray for his wife and family who must be in great anxiety about the possibility that his sentence will be lengthened and the uncertainty about how long it would be lengthened for. Here are some details on the initial arguments in the Zodhiates trial. Evidently the lawyers are duking it out over the state of the law at the time of Zodhiates' "offense." Also over what Zodhiates did or didn't know. Since at the time of Lisa's and Isabella's flight the actual transfer order from the judge, ordering full custody to Janet Jenkins, had not been officially made (he had merely warned of it), Zodhiates' lawyer is arguing that he did not break federal law against assisting in a parental international kidnapping. Not being familiar with the niceties of that law, I can't say how much wiggle room there is there. It's certainly the case that Lisa Miller had been flouting other judicial orders to send Isabella to visit Jenkins unsupervised, and those orders predated her flight. It may be that any time there is dispute over child custody of any kind between people to whom a family court has given some sort of parental or visitation rights, the federal law forbids leaving the country with the child to cut short the dispute. I don't know. It will be interesting to see what the jury thinks. Matias Loewy in Scientific American: Peruvian mathematician Harald Helfgott gained worldwide attention in 2013 when he solved a 271-year-old problem: the so-called Goldbachs weak conjecture, according to which every odd number greater than 5 can be expressed as the sum of three prime numberssuch as: 2 + 3 + 5 = 11 and 19 + 13 + 3 = 35. But Helfgott, 38, went even farther back in time and conceived an improved version of the sieve of Eratosthenes, a popular method for finding prime numbers that was formulated circa 240 B.C. Helfgotts proposed version would reduce the requirement of physical space in computer memory, which in turn would reduce the execution time of programs designed to make that calculation. Prime numbers are something like atoms of mathematics, which can only be divided by themselves and the number 1. Eratosthenes of Cyrenea Greek mathematician, astronomer and geographer who was director of the Library of Alexandria and became famous for calculating the circumference of Earthalso proposed a practical method to identify them: the sieve, or filter. Like many other children, I was taught this it in primary school when I was 10, with a table, says Helfgott, who is currently a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Gottingen. In order to determine with this sieve all primes between 1 and 100, for example, one has to write down the list of numbers in numerical order and start crossing them out in a certain order: first, the multiples of 2 (except the 2); then, the multiples of 3, except the 3; and so on, starting by the next number that had not been crossed out. The numbers that survive this procedure will be the primes. The method can be formulated as an algorithm and computers can quickly run it. More here. Lucy Ives in Lapham's Quarterly: In the mid-eighteenth century, the term bureaucracy entered the world by way of French literature. The neologism was originally forged as a nonsense term to describe what its creator, political economist Vincent de Gournay, considered the ridiculous possibility of rule by office, or, more literally, rule by a desk. Gournays model followed the form of more serious governmental terms indicating rule by the best (aristocracy) and rule by the people (democracy). Yet bureaucracy quickly developed a nonsatirical life of its own once the French Revolution got under way. The Terror was, of course, infamously bureaucratic, with dossiers the way to denunciation, condemnation, and execution. On July 2, 1789, as legend has it, a voice rang out from the interior of the Bastille into the street below: They are killing prisoners in here! Two weeks later, citizens stormed the Bastille, inaugurating the long and complex series of events that would constitute the French Revolution. The alleged yeller, one Donatien-Alphonse-Francois de Sade, had been removed to the insane asylum at Charenton ten days before the siege, thus having miraculously galvanized his potential liberators or murderers and evaded them. It is a singular piece of luck that Sade was not present for the storming, for it is likely that, descending upon the marquis luxuriously appointed cell, the sansculottes would have had some difficulty differentiating Sade from his oppressors, much less from their own. As this series of apocryphal events intimates, the Marquis de Sade occupies an unusual place in French letters. He is at once the paradigmatic aesthete to end all aesthetes, a supreme materialist and spendthrift, an aristocrat determined to organize his life around complexly choreographed orgies (and the eccentrically appointed locations necessary for these performances), and an iconoclast, if not a revolutionary. Though the paper trail that emerges from his early life includes at least three accusations of flaying, stabbing, poisoning, and other unusual forms of physical and emotional abuseleveled by prostitutes and other women poorly protected by the lawSade has been held up as a beacon of sexual liberation during an era benighted by Christian repression and hypocrisy. Susan Sontag and Julia Kristeva have praised the freedom of his writing and thought. As the myth of his cry to action from within the Bastille indicates, Sades readers are willing, in spite of his title, to receive him as an anarchist hell-bent on upending the feudal order of his day. But for all Sades aristocratic indulgence of peculiar whims and profligate spending on whips and whores, he is also one of the first major authors of what we might term modern bureaucratic literature. His writings are extraordinarily, pruriently concerned with acts that can be accomplished only by people working in groups who follow, in an orderly fashion, arbitrary rules and regulations. These secular constraints not only defy common sense but fly in the face of what we usually think of as basic respect for the sensations and lives of others. Thus another neologism: sadism. The writings of the Marquis de Sade describe dispassionate intimacy in the plural. In this sense, they foreshadow the social world of the contemporary office. More here. Ahsan Akbar in the Los Angeles Times: In February this year the authorities in Bangladesh took Shamsuzzoha Manik, a 73-year-old publisher, into custody for publishing a book titled Islam Bitorko (Debate on Islam). His arrest and the shutting down of his stall marked a sour moment in the nations largest book fair, Ekushey Boi Mela, held annually at Bangla Academy in honor of the International Mother Language Day. While the book, deemed to be offensive to Islam, has been taken out of circulation, seven months later the publisher remains behind bars. Maniks imprisonment adds to a series of recent attacks on freedom of expression in the country, which have included a number of killings perpetrated by extremist groups. There are laws that allow the government to ban or confiscate any publication that may be considered blasphemous. The law extends to any form of publication in print or online and led to the arrest of four bloggers in 2013 for hurting religious sentiments with their blog posts. Self and state-censorship coupled with lack of protection for writers at risk have meant free speech and freedom to publish are in dire straits. Bangladesh is not unique in facing the threat of terrorism, which is now a global issue, but it is sadly the only country where writers and publishers are specifically on the hit lists of the killers. More here. JavaScript is not available. Weve detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser. Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using twitter.com. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center. Help Center Laws crafted by those elected should do most good for most people columns Mumbai Police suspect the involvement of Chhota Rajan in Hanif Kadawalas murder and the case has been transferred to CBI after 15 years of his murder. The murder case of Hanif Kadawala an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts incidents has been taken over by CBI. Kadawala had provided AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt. The investigating agency has registered a case against gangster Chhota Rajan and his accomplices. Kadawala, who transported weapons to Mumbai (then Bombay) on the instructions of Tiger Menon which were used in the 1993 serial blasts, was killed on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan after the 12 blasts that had left 257 dead and more than 700 injured. It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hid the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutts house. The actor nonetheless had denied any knowledge of conspiracy of blasts and was acquitted from charges under TADA in the case. The agency has taken over the probe into Kadawalas murder, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said. On April 16, 1993, Kadawala was arrested under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat coast to Mumbai. Five years later he was granted bail. On the other hand, Sanjay Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act. In 2001, it was alleged that a person who introduced himself as Yusuf had repeatedly sought appointment with Kadawala regarding a deal. On February 7, 2001, three persons allegedly entered his office at Bandra (West) in Mumbai where two of his employees were also present. After a brief discussion, Kadawala was allegedly shot with a .32 revolver. He sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries. According to sources, CBI had taken over the probe after a reference from the Maharashtra government in this regard. According to rules, the investigating agency begins its probe after state police registers an FIR. They said a case has been registered against Chhota Rajan, his gang member Guru Satam and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act in connection with Kadawalas murder. On October 25, 2015, Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia and he was deported to India. He is an accused in around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the 2011 J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all these cases to CBI. Rajan, once considered a henchman of Dawood, parted ways with him after the 1993 Bombay serial blasts. Actress Kriti Sanon is excited about teaming up with Farhan Akhtar for their upcoming film Lucknow Central, and feels it would be easy to get along with the actor-filmmaker. Produced by Nikhil Advani, Lucknow Central marks the directorial debut of his assistant Ranjit Tiwari. For the first time Kriti will be sharing screen space with Farhan. I have met him (Farhan) on formal occasions as he is busy with Rock On 2. Whatever I have seen of him on and off screen, he has a great sense of humour, Kriti told . He seems to be a nice person. I dont think it will be difficult to gel with him. When you work with different actors you react differently. I am excited about it (working with Farhan) and you learn a lot, she said. Apparently, Lucknow Central follows the story of a few jail inmates who form a band in prison to rekindle their passion for music. The film will see Farhan playing a prisoner and Kriti will be seen in the role of a NGO worker helping the prisoners. According to the actress, the shoot will commence in November. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his government was committed to resolve the issues being raised by the Maratha community, agitating over reservation demand and punishment for culprits of Kopardi rape and murder case. Our government is committed to solve the issue. I assure you that amicable solution will be found out with the help of all, Fadnavis said. The chief minister was addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Turbe in neighbouring Navi Mumbai on the occasion of 83rd birth anniversary of mathadi leader Late Annasaheb Patil. Governments view is that the Maratha community should get reservation. Hence, even when there is a stay by the court, our government has passed an Act (regarding it). Now, even when the matter is subjudice, evidences are being placed before the courts, he said. We have taken a serious note of the silent morchas. All should come together and help in resolving the issue and hold discussions so that effective legal steps can be taken, he said. On Kopardi alleged rape and murder case, he said Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as senior public prosecutor in the case and expressed confidence that victims family will get justice. A 15-year-old girl, belonging to Maratha community, in Kopardi in Ahmednagar district was allegedly raped and brutally murdered by three Dalit men in July. The Maratha community, which is pre-dominant in state politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns in the state over the last one month, following the Kopardi incident. Also, community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, saying it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs. We are trying hard to empower the Maratha community through employment and entrepreneurship. Our plan is to give job opportunities to 5 lakh Maratha youths, Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, he said a committee has been appointed to suggest amendment in Maharashtra Mathadi Hammal & other Manual Workers (Regulation of employment & welfare) Act. The committee will submit its report in next three months. The Bombay High Court has asked the Union Commerce Ministry and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to take a stand on a plea of an American couple to take back their embryos, kept in a hospital lab here, after the Indian Government recently banned commercial surrogacy. An embryo is an unborn offspring in the process of development. A division bench of Justices Shantanu Kemkar and M S Karnik, hearing a petition filed by the American couple which wants to take back its embryos to USA, has served notices to both the respondents and asked them to spell out the policy of the Government on the issue on October 4. During the hearing of the writ petition two days back, the bench asked the couple how they could file this petition because the Constitution of India gave such a right only to Indian citizens. However, their counsel and senior lawyer Ashutosh Kumbhkoni, argued that article 21 of the Constitution gave such a right to every person, even to foreign national. This is because right to life includes right to have a baby and hence the couple has a right to file such a petition in HC. The petition said that the couple had tried to have a baby for many years but failed. The doctors had advised them to undergo surrogacy. Accordingly, the American doctors, with the help of the couples sperms and eggs, created the embryos and advised them to get a surrogate mother for the same. The couple made eight embryos and sent them to India by a special courier (in a frozen state). All the embryos are currently lying in a hospital at Powai here. The couple had also obtained surrogacy visa and came to India by following the procedure. In April 2015, the ICMR had given no objection certificate to the couple to import their frozen embryos from USA. Accordingly, they were sent to India. Meanwhile, in November 2015, the Government of India announced a change in policy and banned surrogacy for foreign couples. The couple then asked the hospital authorities to return their embryos but they refused to part with the embryos saying that import and export of embryos was banned in India as per the new policy rules. India is in talks with South Korea, known for its maritime technology prowess, for long-term partnership to develop its rivers to drive economic growth. Earlier this year, Parliament has enacted a legislation to convert 111 rivers across the country into National Waterways, a move that would boost movement of goods and passengers via rivers and reduce transportation cost substantially. We are in talks with a Korean government company to develop our rivers, Shipping, Road Transport andHighways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. We have offered them to select out of 111 rivers and develop these. Once we start getting profit, we can return their investment in 15-20 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened a mega Maritime India Summit earlier this year with Korea, a world leader in shipbuilding, as the partner and has promised to personally handhold investors for a safe, secure and satisfactory berthing so as to transform the countrys 7,500-km long coastline an engine of growth. Gadkari said waterways unfortunately had taken a backseat in India, with only 3.5 per cent of trade being done through the mode here as against 47 per cent in China, 40 per cent in Europe, 44 per cent in Japan and Korea and 35 per cent in Bangladesh. According to the minister, if developed properly, inland water transport, which is an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transport, will reduce the high logistics cost currently at 18 per cent and boost the economy. Gadkari said that if all the 111 rivers are developed as waterways, it will revolutionise the Indian economy. Maritime development is high on the priority list of the government as it has the potential of opening a new era of foreign investment in ship-building, repair, ship breaking, inland water transportation, cruise shipping and hinterland connectivity, to name a few. Maritime logistics is considered as a key component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of export-import trade by volume and 72 per cent by value. He said a total of one billion tonne of cargo is being handled by over 200 ports, including 12 major ones, in the country and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2025. Talks are also on with Singapore for development of cruise shipping in the country. The maritime summit was held on April 14-16 this year and was billed as a flagship event to harness Indias immense natural maritime advantages with a 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of navigable and potential navigable waterways. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently visiting the United States, will separately meet US presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday, campaign sources and Israeli officials said. The meetings will take place a day before Clinton and Trump face off in a first presidential debate but no details of where or when the meetings will take place were immediately available. Netanyahu travelled to the United States this week to address the UN General Assembly and met US President Barack Obama and a number of other world leaders. Earlier this week, Clinton met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who also addressed the UN General Assembly. Trump also met Sisi. [dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the recent past, Jihad or service to Allah is given synonym to the violence. The term jihad has accrued both violent and non-violent meanings. According to John Esposito, it can simply mean striving to live a moral and virtuous life, spreading and defending Islam as well as fighting injustice and oppression, among other things. The relative importance of these two forms of jihad is a matter of controversy. According to scholar of Islam and Islamic historian Rudoph Peters, in The Contemporary Muslim World wrote, Traditionalist Muslims look to classical works on fiqh in their writings on jihad, and copy phrases from those; Islamic Modernists emphasize the defensive aspect of jihad, regarding it as tantamount to bellum justum in modern international law; and Islamist/revivalists/fundamentalists view it as a struggle for the expansion of Islam and the realization of Islamic ideals. Anyway, now the question is that, whatever Osama bin Laden has left for the service of Allah, would be used for the betterment of Muslims or for the violence? Bin Laden was born to the family of billionaire Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden in Saudi Arabia. He studied at university in the country until 1979, when he joined mujahideen forces in Pakistan fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He helped to fund the mujahideen by funneling arms, money and fighters from the Arab world into Afghanistan, and gained popularity among many Arabs. In 1988, he formed al-Qaeda, He was banished from Saudi Arabia in 1992, and shifted his base to Sudan, until U.S. pressure forced him to leave Sudan in 1996. After establishing a new base in Afghanistan, he declared a war against the United States, initiating a series of bombings and related attacks. Bin Laden was on the American Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) lists of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives and Most Wanted Terrorists for his involvement in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings. Al Qaedas leaders were increasingly worried about spies in their midst, drones in the air and secret tracking devices reporting their movements as the US-led war against them ground on, documents seized in the 2011 raid on Osama bin Ladens Pakistani hideout and reviewed some news agencies revealed earlier. The cache of 113 documents, translated and declassified by US intelligence agencies, are mostly dated between 2009 and 2011, the documents the second tranche from the raid to have been declassified since May 2015 depict an al Qaeda that was unwavering in its commitment to global jihad, but with its core leadership in Pakistan and Afghanistan under pressure on multiple fronts. In one document, bin Laden issues instructions to al Qaeda members holding an Afghan hostage to be wary of possible tracking technology attached to the ransom payment. In one of the declassified documents, Bin Laden outlines how at least $29 million stashed in Sudan should be apportioned after his death, requesting that most of it be used to continue global jihad. He sets down specific amounts in Saudi riyals and gold that should be apportioned between his mother, a son, a daughter, an uncle, and his uncles children and maternal aunts. He then writes: I hope for my brothers, sisters and maternal aunts to obey my will and to spend all the money that I have left in Sudan on jihad, for the sake of Allah. From 2001 to 2011, bin Laden was a major target of the War on Terror, as the FBI placed a $25 million bounty on him in their search for him. On May 2, 2011, bin Laden was shot and killed inside a private residential compound in Abbottabad, where he lived with a local family from Waziristan, during a covert operation conducted by members of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Central Intelligence Agency SAD/SOG operators on the orders of U.S. President Barack Obama. CIAs Operation Cyclone from 1979 to 1989, the United States and Saudi Arabia provided $40 billion worth of financial aid and weapons to almost 100,000 mujahideen and Afghan Arabs from forty Muslim countries through Pakistans ISI. Bin Laden met and built relations with Hamid Gul, who was a three-star general in the Pakistani army and head of the ISI agency. Although, the United States provided the money and weapons, the training of militant groups was entirely done by the Pakistani Armed Forces and the ISI. By 1984, bin Laden and Azzam established Maktab al-Khidamat, which funneled money, arms and fighters from around the Arab world into Afghanistan. Through al-Khadamat, bin Ladens inherited family fortune paid for air tickets and accommodation, paid for paperwork with Pakistani authorities and provided other such services for the jihadi fighters. Bin Laden established camps inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and trained volunteers from across the Muslim world to fight against the Soviet puppet regime, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. He would also participate in some combat activity, such as the Battle of Jaji. It was during this time that he became idolised by many Arabs. Al-Qaeda was formed on August 11, 1988, in a meeting between several senior leaders of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Abdullah Azzam, and bin Laden, where it was agreed to join bin Ladens money with the expertise of the Islamic Jihad organization and take up the jihadist cause elsewhere after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan. Following the Soviet Unions withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989, Osama bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia in 1990 as a hero of jihad. Along with his Arab legion, he was thought to have brought down the mighty superpower of the Soviet Union. He was angered by the internecine tribal fighting among the Afghans. He took charge over many issues that were bothering followers of Islam. Osama became a biggest threat to USA. One fine day the operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was ordered by United States President Barack Obama and carried out in a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operation by a team of United States Navy SEALs from the United States Naval Special Warfare Development, with support from CIA operatives on the ground. The raid on bin Ladens compound in Abbottabad was launched from Afghanistan. After the raid, reports at the time stated that U.S. forces had taken bin Ladens body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried it at sea within 24 hours of his death. Even after his death, many stories surfaced but there was no authentic report about those claims. When Osama was alive, he was threat to USA even after his death, he made his organization financially strong to deal with Americans. Present scenario and attitude of the presidential candidate says, if Donald Trump wins American elections, Muslims at large would be much more sufferer. (Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com) With the Cabinets approving the merger of Railway Budget with General Budget, the parliamentary panel on finance has decided to examine the move along with its ramifications thereof. Ending a 92-year-old practice, the Cabinet had decided to scrap a separate budget for railways and merge it with General Budget, presentation of which would be advanced to spur spending and boost the economy. The Committee on Finance has selected the Budgetary Reforms including Merger of Railways Budget with General Budget Ramifications thereof, according to the Lok Sabha bulletin dated September 22. As part of a major overhaul of the budget process, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also decided to do away with classifications of expenditure into Plan and Non-Plan, making the exercise simpler. To facilitate early presentation of the Budget, the finance ministry had proposed that the Budget Session of Parliament be convened sometime before January 25, a month ahead of the current practice. The parliamentary panel headed by the Congress MP M Veerappa Moily, will review the all budgetary reforms. The panel move comes after the Congress termed the decision to cosmetic, superficial and non-substantive changes Besides the budget, the panel has also selected to review the disinvestment policy, banking sector in the country, Reserve Bank of Indias emerging role and its framework. The committee will also review the performance of regulatory bodies Securities Board of India (SEBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). Similarly, the performance of other bodies Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd (SHCIL), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), will also be reviewed. The panel will also evaluate the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Central Statistical Office(CSO)and streamlining of statistics collection machinery in the country. Six persons have been arrested for assaulting a five-month pregnant Dalit woman and her family for refusing to dispose of the carcass of a cow in a village in north Gujarat. Police said that the victims were abused and assaulted by the accused belonging to the dominant upper caste community in Mota Karja village. Banaskantha SP Niraj Badgujar, who visited the village, said the victims have been admitted to the civil hospital and provided police protection. Police arrested six persons belonging to Darbar community for assault, criminal intimidation, rioting and under various sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused were identified as Batvarsinh Chauhan (26), Manknusinh Chauhan (21), Yogisinh Chauhan (25), Babarsinh Chauhan (45), Dilvirsinh Chauhan (23) and Narendrasinh Chauhan (23), all residents of Karja village. The incident occurred on Friday night when the accused barged into Nileshbhai Dhunabhai Ranavasias house after he refused to dispose of the carcass of a cow from the fields. On Friday night, the accused, who belong to a dominant upper caste community in Mota Karja village, asked Ranavasia to go to the fields and remove the carcass of the cow. He refused, and said he would take up the work the next morning. They abused me and thrashed me before entering my house and beating my pregnant wife on the abdomen with sticks, Ranavasia alleged in the complaint. The accused also hurled casteist remarks at them. Ranavasia alleged that the men also threatened to kill his wife if he doesnt go the farm immediately and remove the carcass. My wife Sangeeta is admitted at civil hospital as she was hit in her stomach, Nilesh stated in his complaint. While Sangeeta is still under treatment, Nilesh, who sustained minor injuries, was discharged. Syrian troops captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city after what residents described as the heaviest air bombardment of the 5-year civil war. The UN meanwhile said that nearly 2 million people in Aleppo, Syrias largest city and onetime commercial center, are without running water following the escalation in fighting over the past few days. The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting on the escalating attacks Sunday morning at the request of the United States, Britain and France. Government forces captured the rebel-held Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat as airstrikes pounded rebel-held eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, killing 52 people, including 11 children and six women, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said 49 were killed on Saturday alone. The Observatory said the death toll in Aleppo is expected to rise since many people are in critical condition and rescue workers are still digging through the rubble. Residents say the latest bombardment is the worst theyve seen since rebels captured parts of the city in 2012. Activists reported dozens of airstrikes on Friday alone. Since the beginning of the crisis, Aleppo has not been subjected to such a vicious campaign, said Mohammed Abu Jaafar, a forensics expert based in the city. Aleppo is being wiped out. For days, videos and photographs from eastern Aleppo have shown flattened buildings and paramedics pulling bodies from the rubble. Wounded people have flooded into clinics, where many are being treated on the floor because of a lack of stretchers. People in Aleppo already suffocating under the effects of the siege, have yet again come under horrific attack, said Carlos Francisco of Doctors Without Borders, which supports a number of area clinics. No aid, including urgent medical supplies, is allowed to enter. 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. UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the chilling escalation in Aleppo, which he said marked the most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict. The statement issued by his spokesman said the reported use of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas may amount to war crimes. US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking at Tufts University in Boston, said what was happening in Aleppo was beyond the pale. 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 in medieval terms to an entire community, he said. 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 Sheriffs 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 US 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. 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 suspects arrest capped a frantic search following the slayings of five people the day before. The first 911 call came in just before 7 pm on a busy Friday 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. 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 dont 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 the suspects 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 that Skagit County court records show three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin. The victim was identified as Cetins 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. Uri terror attack on Army camp became the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modis radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday. A day after his diatribe against Pakistan for exporting terrorism at the BJPs National Council Meeting in Keralas Kozhikode, Modi reiterated that the perpetrators of the Uri attack would not go unpunished and we trust our army for it. The 23rd edition of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday completes two years. On the programme, Modi said, he knows there is a lot of anger in the country about it. We trust our soldiers, we have faith in them. We are proud of our soldiers. For us citizens and political leaders, there are many opportunities to talk and we do talk. But the Army doesnt talk. They speak through their valour, Modi said. All of us know that peace and unity are key to our success. And it is the only solution to our problems, the Prime Minister said assuring the people of the state that their safety is Centres responsibility. He mentioned young Harshvardhan, who wrote to him after the attacks saying he was troubled. Some gunmen attacked a military camp in Uri last Sunday, killing 18 soldiers. India blames the Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, for the attack. India has strongly taken on Pakistan following the attack in Uri, in which, investigations have indicated the involvement of Pakistan-based terrorists. PM Modi has endorsed a plan to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and the nation has provided a strong response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs address at the UN Human Rights Council, where he had eulogized terrorist Burhan Wani. On the 2nd anniversary of Mann Ki Baat, Modi thanked all the listeners who supported the initiative. He also expressed gratitude to Akashvani for translating his address in different languages and taking it to people across the country. The PM said he had tried to keep the programme away from politics, despite many provocations. IATA has filed a request for antitrust immunity with the US Department of Transportation which would allow airlines to discuss options to maintain connectivity to Venezuela whose government refuses to release $3.8bn in airline funds. Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs director general and chief executive, said: The economic situation in Venezuela is grave. And it will be made worse if airlines cannot maintain connectivity as the blocked-funds issue drags on. Despite years of effort by IATA and its members to resolve the issue, there has been little action by the Venezuelan government. We are now asking the US government to approve anti-trust immunity for discussions among airlines focused on maintaining connectivity while the blocked funds crisis persists. This is an escalation of the industrys efforts to find a solution to this untenable situation. Venezuela and Nigeria top an IATA list of five countries blocking the repatriation of airline funds, a global problem which exceeds $5bn in total. De Juniac continued: To be clear, the intention is not to do anything that is anti-competitive. On the contrary, our member airlines seek to explore a global solution allowing them to keep Venezuela connected to the world and do business normally in a country that is not meeting its international obligations. Venezuelas refusal to allow repatriation of airline revenues contravenes its obligations under international agreements. Many bilateral air service agreements, for example, include provisions that require the timely repatriation of revenues to the home country of the air carrier. Bilateral investment treaties to which Venezuela is a party contain similar obligations. Since 2003, Venezuela has operated a currency control system which prevents foreign airlines from repatriating their funds without government approval. By 2013, approvals to repatriate funds from Venezuela were not keeping pace with the amount of funds requiring repatriation and significant airline revenue accumulated in Venezuela. The situation became critical in 2015 when only one request to repatriate funds was approved. There has been only one approval in 2016. Airline funds blocked in Venezuela now total some $3.8bn. Said de Juniac: With the economic challenges Venezuela is facing, the country needs robust air connectivity more than ever. But carriers have been forced to cut back services in light of blocked-funds issues. That, unfortunately, limits the important role that aviation could play in reviving Venezuelas economy. We urge the US government to quickly grant airlines immunity to discuss joint action to keep Venezuela connected. That would help the Venezuelan economy and its people. Share this story On Rosh Hashanah, identify your unique mission and responsibility to live a life filled with purpose. As we approach the Jewish New Year, we need to focus on why our lives matter, as an urgent wake-up call to our responsibility to live a life filled with meaning and purpose. There is a story I heard some years back which resonated with me in a way I believe changed my life. Shmuel Tamir was a minister in Israel at the time when Menachem Begin was Prime Minister. Many years earlier, when Israel was going through a period of severe economic difficulty, Tamir felt it was his prerogative to speak to one of the preeminent sages of Jerusalem, the legendary Reb Aryeh Levin, widely known and respected for his compassion, to enlist his support for a religious ruling, even though Tamir was not personally observant. Tamir felt that Israels difficult economy many couples simply could not afford to properly take care of the needs of a growing family. He argued with the Rabbi to agree to allow abortions for some of his followers. Rabbi Levin paused for but a moment before he responded: I find it very interesting that youve come to me with this question because years ago I was faced with a very similar predicament. A young couple came to me. They were students with one child, a little girl, and they had just found out that another was on the way. Their financial situation was desperate. They saw no way to cope with the costs of another mouth to feed. They too begged me to consider granting them permission to end the life of the fetus. I explained to them that although I understood with all of my heart that it would not be easy, there were three reasons why they needed to go through with the pregnancy and allow their child to be born. The first was the firm conviction that God who gives life can be trusted to sustain it. God assures us that He stretches forth His hand and supports all of His children. You may be confident that your child is also His child - and his Father will never forsake him. The second reason for my decision is your legal responsibility. You already have one child, a girl, but Jewish law requires that you strive to fulfill the biblical commandment of be fruitful and multiply with a boy as well. But the third reason for my refusal to allow you to abort is perhaps the most important. You are pregnant and within you there already exists a holy soul with a mission. Like every one of us here on earth, a soul has a purpose which the world needs or else it would not have been created. Dont prevent the fulfillment of your childs mission, for its sake and for the sake of all mankind. Tamir, disappointed by the rabbis refusal to accede to his request, asked, And did they listen to you and did they have the child? Rabbi Levin answered, Yes, they had a boy. And, Tamir followed almost sarcastically, did the boy fulfill his mission in life? Rabbi Levin responded, This you will have to answer. The people who came to me those many years ago were your parents and you are standing before me today only because they chose to follow my ruling. So, indeed, let me ask you now did you fulfill your mission? God placed us here because our lives matter to us and the entire world. It was a startling denouement to an amazing story that highlights an ultimate question relevant to every one of us as we contemplate our own lives and the reason for our continued presence here on earth. God placed us here because our lives matter. They matter not just to us. Our lives are meant to matter to the world as well. We are all Divine messengers with a mission. And in the ultimate sense, our lives matter to God. He put us here, so obviously we have a purpose. The journey of our lives is to seek out our mission and then strive to hopefully fulfill it. Our mission can revolve around many things. It can be concentrated around our families, our loved ones and our people, our careers and professions, our talents and Divinely-given gifts which make us unique and allow us to do the things no one else could or would ever do and without which the world would be so much poorer. On the High Holy Days we turn to God and pray for life. We need to spend some time identifying our unique mission in order to fulfill our purpose. Continuing to make our lives matter is our guarantee that we will be granted ever more opportunities to fulfill our mission. This Rosh Hashanah, may we live up to that challenge. Shana tova. Click here to read Sara Riglers article on how to identify your lifes mission. ` September 25, 2016 With Egypt at odds with many countries, its hard to understand why it would shun opportunities to improve relations. Yet that has been its approach or rather, lack of one with Turkey, Italy and Britain. Egypt was offered two golden opportunities to make diplomatic headway during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, held last week in New York, and the G-20 summit, held Sept. 3-5 in Chinas Hangzhou province. China chose Egypt as a guest of honor at the summit amid a group of 20 countries controlling two-thirds of the world's trade and 90% of the global output of crude oil. This seemed to reflect a positive development in Egyptian-Chinese relations. Egypts relationship with Italy went sour earlier this year. On Feb. 3, Egyptian security forces found the body of Italian doctoral student Giulio Regeni, which showed signs of torture, in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo. Investigations kicked off surrounded by mystery as Egyptian, Arab and international media outlets suggested the security forces themselves were responsible for Regenis death. Regeni had been researching labor rights, a touchy subject in Egypt. In June, the Italian Senate approved the Regeni amendment, halting Italys supply of spare F-16 military aircraft parts to Egypt in a move that was deemed escalatory. Also, the Italian Tourism Association suspended trips to Egypt, a move that added both insult and injury to Egypts struggling tourism industry. And though Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was at the G-20 meetings and the session of the UN General Assembly, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi did not meet with him in an attempt to alleviate tensions. However, on Sept. 9, an Egyptian judicial delegation headed by Attorney General Nabil Sadeq visited Italy to meet with the Italian attorney general and briefed him on the Regeni investigation, as well as other matters. Yousri al-Azbawi, a political analyst at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor that the Italian Senate made the gesture for its citizens as a response to the slow, conflicting and small amounts of information Egypt was providing. It was more of a popular decision rather than a political sanction, he said, adding that the only beneficial solution will be for Egyptian authorities to show they are taking the investigation seriously. Egyptian diplomat Mohamed al-Orabi, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Egyptian parliament, visited Italy in July to meet with top lawmakers about the F-16 parts. But the effort accomplished nothing, Azbawi said; the Italian parliament was unwilling to risk its popularity by allowing the sale unless an investigation showed Egypt was not involved in the killing. As for Egypts relationship with Britain, when Theresa May became prime minister of the United Kingdom on July 13, Egyptians were hopeful about recovering the money smuggled abroad during the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak. They also hoped Britain would extradite the prosecuted Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood members who had fled there. However, little has been achieved, and Sisi didn't meet with May during the G-20 summit. While they did meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, the meeting didn't include anything new about smuggled money or Brotherhood members in the United Kingdom. The leaders focused on developing economic relations and how to bring British tourism and air travel back to Egypt, with "May's confirmations that she wants to open a new page of political relations with Egypt," according to Egyptian Presidency statement. However, there was no explanation of what "a new page" meant and whether it included the issues of smuggled money and Muslim Brotherhood members in the United Kingdom. Mohammad Hamid Gamal, the former head of the State Council, has said that according to international law, foreign states are only obliged to return smuggled money if judicial rulings prove that the owners of such funds are corrupt. Gamal told Al-Monitor, The extradition of those who fled to Britain is most difficult, given the lack of any extradition agreements between Britain and most countries of the world, including Egypt. The issue has nothing to do with the Brotherhood specifically, as there are some Mubarak regime figures such as Youssef Boutros-Ghali and Rachid Mohamed Rachid who are there, too. In other words, Sisi meeting with May would not be useful because the recovery of funds and extradition of fugitives is a purely judicial matter. Egypts relationship with Turkey has been a complicated one. Jamal Chakra, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies and a specialist in Turkish affairs, told Al-Monitor, I expected Turkey to take the initiative to improve its relations with Egypt on the sidelines of the G-20 meetings, in the presence of [Turkish] President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sisi, and especially as top Saudi and Russian leaders were there. Chakra said he believes the Saudis and Russians are playing a prominent mediation role to achieve reconciliation between Egypt and Turkey following the Turkish-Russian reconciliation, but it seems that Turkey is either not serious about reconciliation or has not made up its mind about the Egyptian conditions related to Turkeys disengagement from the Brotherhood group. Therefore, reconciliation will remain suspended, he said. On Aug. 24, a few days before the start of the G-20 summit, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim pointed out his countrys need to improve relations with Egypt. Turkeys embassy in Egypt announced the same day that Turkey would resume flights in September to Sharm el-Sheikh, following a nearly yearlong halt after a Russian plane exploded after takeoff from the city. The announcements made it seem as if reconciliation would result from a meeting between the two presidents during the G-20 summit. However, the men did not even shake hands before the summit started. Tension has plagued Egyptian-Turkish relations since Egypts armed forces overthrew then-President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013, in the wake of popular protests against him. The Turkish administration described what happened in Egypt as a military coup, and it still criticizes the Sisi regime on several domestic issues. Furthermore, Turkey has hosted many Muslim Brotherhood members and leaders who are wanted in Egypt. Contradiction seems evident between Yildirim's statements calling for improved relations with Egypt, and Erdogan's remarks criticizing the situation. Is the contradiction perhaps an intentional political maneuver? Its possible, as Turkey dangles reconciliation in front of Egypt while at the same time suggesting that some Turkish circles would tolerate reconciliation only reluctantly. This would potentially give the Turkish administration leverage to impose conditions on the reconciliation process, such as reintegrating the Muslim Brotherhood (Turkey's allies) into the political life in Egypt, or conditions on border demarcations in the eastern Mediterranean, one of the richest regions for natural gas. Perhaps political crises with other countries are not at the top priorities of Sisi at a time he is focusing on developing economic relations with the world, as he did with the British prime minister. September 25, 2016 Wearing her embroidered face veil and Bedouin-style gown, Salmiyya al-Gebaly stands in a corner, ready to welcome visitors from outside the Sinai Peninsula. With her eyes lined with kohl a traditional form of eye liner she offers the visitors handmade crafts that several local women have produced themselves. Gebaly, a woman in her 40s, first began to work in embroidery when she was 15 years old and living in the mountains. She gradually started exporting her wares to foreign countries, mostly the United States and Germany. Gebaly first began operating outside the Bedouin community in 1998; she left the mountains for the town that surrounded St. Catherines Monastery in the eastern Sinai, where she showed her wares to the local officials. She told Al-Monitor that she then began to take part in exhibitions through a European Union grant, which provided her with funding for two years. Within the larger tourist destinations in Sinai, there is a thriving trade in the handicrafts by Bedouin women such as Gebaly, which have become very popular among tourists. These handmade items can be found in virtually every marketplace in the tourist-driven cities of Sinai; an intermediary who represents the Bedouin women brings the products to the owners of the tourist shops and commercial centers. However, the slump in tourism that followed the January 25 Revolution has had a negative impact, driving the women to approach the store owners on their own. Handmade crafts from Sinai include beads, embroidery and weavings. They are used in the making and adornment of womens gowns, face veils (burqas), handbags, earrings, pendants, necklaces made of colored beads and all those collectibles that bear the Bedouin stamp: characterized by ornate, bright colors, yet with a simplicity derived from the desert environment. Gebaly said that her work reached greater exposure after the EU offered assistance in providing venues to showcase her products as well as those of her Bedouin friends. Bedouin custom normally prevents the women from going out and socializing with non-Bedouin strangers. This assistance enabled her to forge contacts with a number of foreigners, many of whom she continues to communicate with even after the expiration of the grant. Gebaly was able to help Bedouin girls work in the trade, and she acted as an intermediary between them and the merchants who would showcase their crafts. As soon as the EU grant expired she started liaising with merchants directly, aided by a few advisers who worked on a development projects in Sinai to market handicrafts. In the process, she confronted the traditions of Bedouin society, since she decided to complete her secondary education, which is normally off-limits to Bedouin women. Gebaly said that she began working with five other women whom she trained. They offered training courses to other groups of Bedouin women, and eventually they numbered 430 women in the area of al-Wadiyan, which is inhabited by the al-Jabaliyya and Ulad Said al-Muzayyina tribes. She claimed that this project came about in an effort to promote the economic development of the Sinai tribes, after the recession that followed the decline in tourism. She opines that these small projects have aided in changing the culture of the Bedouin society. According to Gebaly, the monthly income of the women participating in the Bedouin handicrafts trade has grown from about 150 to 1,300 Egyptian pounds ($17-$147), enabling these women to help their families. Gebaly has navigated the international market by supplying orders placed by her friends in the United States and Germany; she garners relatively high-priced sums on these orders, enabling her to earn a profit and to invest in merchandise for future projects. The entire world has become a small village, through electronic means of communication, but we are proud of our heritage, customs and traditions. We will develop and promote them across many countries, she said. The women of Sinai are now participants in the salvation of Sinais economy and promotion of its products on a global level. Gebaly is a self-confident woman who has put in place a defined plan through which she is working to preserve Sinais cultural output, particularly its Bedouin handicrafts, for the coming decades. She hopes to find an independent market for her products in the near future by establishing an institute to preserve Sinais cultural heritage. Yet she has grown weary of the governorates and governmental institutions neglect of her small projects. The government and the governorate do not help us and have completely misunderstood how to develop Sinai, she claimed, calling on them to take an interest in small projects that can achieve long-term sustainable development. For a model of the tangible role that development associations play on the ground in Sinai, one need look no further than the Al-Jurah Association for Local Development. Established as a market for promoting handicrafts from Sinai produced by female heads of household from the al-Sawarikah tribe, it offers the women revenue and helps them to provide for their families needs, especially when the husband is either not present or is unemployed. Fatimah told Al-Monitor that she applied to work with Al-Jurah Association and that because of her handicraft skills she is now able to provide for her family after her husband fell ill and can no longer work. The association provided her with two rooms: one to showcase all of the handicrafts that are produced by the women of al-Sawarikah tribe, and the other room is a storage area, itself divided into two sections one for raw materials the association provides and the other is a workplace where keffiyehs and bags are produced. Salihah, a local woman who is the manager of the childrens project at Al-Jurah Association, told Al-Monitor that the number of girls who drop out of school is very high due to tribal customs and traditions. There are only 14 girls [at the association] who have achieved higher than a middle school education. This is one of the reasons for their indifference toward seeing other societies. But this wall is slowly breaking down. According to Salihah, civil society has a large role to play in encouraging women to work and to increase womens participation rates in public work as well. September 25, 2016 An errant attack by US warplanes in Deir ez-Zor on Sept. 17 that killed 62 Syrian soldiers marked the beginning of the end of a short-lived US-Russia agreement to provide humanitarian relief to Syrians, jump-start political talks and coordinate targeting against terrorist groups. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he found it very hard to believe that the United States could make such a mistake in Deir ez-Zor, where Syrian forces were battling Islamic State (IS) militants, adding that he had, however, conveyed an apology on behalf of the United States to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Sept. 19, two days after the Deir ez-Zor incident, a statement by the Syrian General Command of the Army and Armed Forces declared an end to the truce. The United States blamed Russia for a deadly attack on a United Nations aid convoy that night in Aleppo that killed 12. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen OBrien, while not accusing Russia, said that if the attack on the convoy was deliberate it would constitute a war crime. On Sept. 22, Syrian military forces, backed by Russia and Iran, unleashed a furious assault to retake those areas of Aleppo primarily held by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (Conquest of Syria Front), previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaedas Syria affiliate, and aligned groups including Ahrar al-Sham. The collapse of the agreement and renewed fighting dashed the hopes of Syrians longing for peace. The United States and Russia had hoped to gain some diplomatic traction for the deal during leaders' week at the UN General Assembly in New York. The deal had depended on the until-now remarkable efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry and Lavrov. At times, they seemed a party of two, perhaps three, if you included UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, in their determination to win a reprieve for the Syrian people and strengthen cooperation against terrorists. Many in Washington and Moscow made known their pessimism, if not opposition, to the deal, and it is a fair question whether the regional parties on either side of the Syria war did anything to back up the US-Russian effort. Our guess here is probably not, or if so, not much. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, for his part, seems in no mood to give the US-Russia deal a second chance, at least for now. He was never an enthusiast. On Sept. 12, hours before the US-Russia agreement went into effect, Assad had declared that he would retake every area from the terrorists and to rebuild. The Syrian president accused the United States of collusion with the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra in the attack on Syrian troops in Deir ez-Zor. After setting the pace for Syria diplomacy for much of the year, Kerrys last-ditch efforts to seek a prohibition on aircraft in Syria, and his emphasis on no military solution, were now out of step with the turn of events. Lavrov said a unilateral prohibition on Russian and Syrian air forces would not be taken seriously by us anymore, adding that unless the United States and its coalition partners take steps to separate moderate armed groups from Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, our suspicions that this all is being done to take the heat off Jabhat all-Nusra will strengthen. In anticipating the next steps in Syria, the key player to watch is Iran, which is fully on board in backing Assads offensive in Aleppo. The first stop for discussions on the future of Syria, after Damascus, is Tehran. As we wrote in our second column back in December 2012, Irans influence in Syria surpasses that of Russia. There is no closer relationship, and no country with more vital interests in Syria. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in an interview on NBC, also rejected the notion of grounding Syrian and Russian aircraft. If you ground all planes, that would mean that [IS] can continue its savage killings with more vigor. So if you ground all airplanes, then it would benefit the terrorists 100%, the [IS] terrorists. So to move in that direction would mean a move toward benefiting terrorism. Ali Hashem writes that Iran is assessing the situation in accordance with its agenda and interests, which may not necessarily be fully congruent with those of Russia but both countries are nevertheless trying to make use of their common interests in Syria to solidify their front. Their main objectives include keeping a defiant Assad in power, preserving the structure of governance in Syria and combating terrorism. One of the main requests the Iranians made during the many negotiations over Syria was the designation of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, previously Jabhat al-Nusra, as a terrorist entity, just like IS; this request was fulfilled in the US-Russia agreement. This step was enough for Tehran to at this stage abide by the deal despite all the concerns, as the latter alone could be seen as a blow to its regional rivals, who saw the rebranding of Jabhat al-Nusra as a way to place it along with other Syrian opposition factions on the other side of the negotiating table. Ultimately, to Iran, the collapse of the US-Russia agreement as the deal itself will not change anything in its only plan on the table, which involves supporting Assad until he survives the tide. Indeed, the visit by Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaber Ansari to Damascus on Sept. 19 reflected this stance. After meeting with Assad, Ansari said, Iran is determined to provide Syria with all the facilities it needs in its critical fight against terrorism." September 23, 2016 As Palestinians were preparing for the local elections slated for Oct. 8, the High Court of Justice in Ramallah announced Sept. 8 a surprising decision to hold the elections on Sept. 21 instead. However, when Sept. 21 came, the court decided to postpone the elections until Oct. 3. In light of these repeated delays, the Central Elections Committee (CEC) announced Sept. 21 that holding the planned elections on Oct. 8 was unfeasible, as the delays have disrupted the electoral process timetables. This decision sparked mutual accusations between Hamas and Fatah over the postponement of the elections. While Hamas viewed the postponement as a cancellation of the elections, Fatah accused Hamas of sabotaging the elections. Meanwhile, dozens of leftists rallied before the High Court of Justice on Sept. 21 to express opposition and demand the court to reconsider its decision. The repeated delays of the election raised many speculations about the scenarios that will ensue. Some spoke about the postponement of the elections until further notice or their cancellation, while others mentioned holding them in the West Bank without Gaza, or vice versa. But the possibility of holding the elections with both Fatahs and Hamas approval was excluded given their disagreement over the appeals against Fatahs electoral lists submitted by Hamas before Gaza courts, which Fatah does not recognize. Kayed al-Ghul, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestines (PFLP) political bureau, told Al-Monitor, There are high expectations that the elections will be held in the West Bank without Gaza, despite the Palestinians disapproval, as this would prevent them from expressing their right in choosing their leaders. If the Palestinian Authority [PA] were to hold the elections this way, the division that erupted in 2007 between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip would deepen. As for the PFLPs participation in such elections, the issue will be discussed when the time comes. Also, if Hamas decides to appoint its lists of candidates in Gazas [municipalities] should elections not be held, we would categorically refuse this, Ghul added. It seems most Palestinians would rather elections be held in all Palestinian territories simultaneously to maintain the geographical unity and avoid deepening the division. However, the PAs and Fatahs fears of Hamas winning might prompt the PA to hold the elections in the West Bank without the Gaza Strip. On Aug. 28, the Times of Israel quoted anonymous Fatah officials saying they urged President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the local elections for fear that Hamas would achieve sweeping success. The officials also warned Abbas that the Fatah movement would risk losing against Hamas in the elections, which would destroy Fatah. Fayez Wardeh, Hamas representative on the CEC in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, Holding the elections in the West Bank without Gaza is possible, but it is a bad option and unlikely to happen since most Palestinians reject it. This possibility would deepen the division instead of ending it. Fatah might seek to hold the elections at a later stage, with more convenient conditions in terms of timing, laws and procedures. Hamas, for its part, would not participate in elections held in the West Bank without Gaza. Holding the elections in the West Bank without Gaza means the consolidation of the geographical and political division between the entities, which contradicts Abbas' repeated calls for putting an end to the division, the last of which was on Aug. 13. In this context, a CEC official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, It is difficult for Abbas to hold the elections in the West Bank without Gaza, because he might not get an approval from the World Bank and the European Union. The latter are funding institutions working with local bodies, such as the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund. The World Bank and EU support these bodies [on the condition] that they operate in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, not in one geographical region without the other. The source added, Abbas alternative to holding the elections in the West Bank without Gaza is to reach an agreement with Hamas over the elections phases: Elections may be held first in the West Bank and at a later stage in Gaza. For its part, Hamas would be making the wrong decision to appoint local bodies in Gaza as such a step would deepen the division among Palestinians. It would be best if it keeps things as they are or if it reaches an agreement with leftist and independent [parties] to form the local bodies [in Gaza] if elections are not held in Gaza. Hamas has not said or hinted to the possibility of appointing its candidates in Gazas local bodies should elections be held in the West Bank alone. Thus, it is highly probable that the already existing local councils appointed by Hamas in 2007 will remain in place. Fatah may benefit from the elections should they be held in the West Bank alone. The movement enjoys security and political influence in the West Bank, which may allow it to win in any elections held there. In this context, Hamas had complained on Aug. 27 about the Palestinian security services threatening its electoral lists and candidates in the West Bank. Amin Maqboul, the secretary-general of Fatahs Revolutionary Council, told Al-Monitor, The option of holding the elections in the West Bank without Gaza is quite possible. The Palestinian territories should not be left without elections. This possibility would not deepen the division between the West Bank and Gaza [as some claim], because these are local, not legislative or presidential elections. Hamas authority in the Gaza Strip is illegal, and all the local bodies it appoints are not recognized by the PA. Holding the elections in the West Bank without Gaza was even discussed by the Israelis. On Sept. 17, Israeli correspondent for Walla News Avi Issacharoff claimed that Abbas will carry on with holding the elections even if it were in the West Bank without Gaza in order to strengthen Fatahs legitimacy, which could suffer a hard blow if Hamas were to win in some cities in the West Bank such as Hebron and Tulkarm where Hamas enjoys wide popularity. Meanwhile, Khalil Shaheen, the research director of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies - Masarat, told Al-Monitor, It is possible to hold the elections in the West Bank without Gaza, but it is not a favorable option as it deepens the division. However, Abbas is looking to renew his legitimacy among Palestinians both in Gaza and the West Bank. So long as Hamas controls Gaza, Abbas would not care about the situation there because [Hamas rule there] is illegal. Meanwhile, Hamas could appoint new local bodies in Gaza, which will aggravate the Palestinian political crisis. The possibility of holding the local elections in the West Bank without Gaza raised controversy among the Palestinians, with some supporting the option and others opposing it. But in this case, if Hamas decides to contest the elections in the West Bank, this would complicate Fatahs calculations. Indeed, Fatah was surprised by Hamas decision to participate in the initial Oct. 8 elections and expressed its concern over Hamas possible win. Should elections be held, the same scenarios may repeat themselves, with Palestinian courts postponing them or the PA putting pressure on Hamas candidates in the West Bank to stop them from securing a possible win. September 25, 2016 BAGHDAD On Sept. 5, unidentified gunmen attacked the home of Ann Nafaa Awsei, the newly appointed minister of construction, housing and public municipalities, in the Iraqi capital, which resulted in material damages. Following the attack, Awsei issued a statement confirming that the attack was to deter the government's reform process. The Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee visited Awsei on Sept. 18. Following the meeting, the head of the committee, Hakim al-Zamili, said, The lords of corruption are fighting competent figures and technocrats to stop the reform work in the country. The attack took place less than a month after the appointment of Awsei as minister in the Iraqi Cabinet. Awsei is one of the technocrat figures hand-picked by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to fill the vacant ministerial positions in his Cabinet. Her appointment along with other independent ministers, such as Kadhim Finjan al-Hamami, who was appointed as minister of transportation, fall within the scope of Abadis reform plan to appoint independent qualified persons in ministries and government institutions to eradicate corruption in the state establishments. Writer and journalist Zaher Moussa told Al-Monitor, Awsei is not affiliated with any political bloc participating in the Iraqi political process, which means that she has no support from the Iraqi government and parliament, placing her and other technocrats within the Iraqi state institutions in a weak position. Member of parliament Ali al-Badri said Sept. 17 that it is difficult for Abadi to appoint more ministers from among technocrats and independent figures, since the political blocs notified him that he will have to withdraw from the Dawa Party if he wants to give ministerial security portfolios to independent figures irrespective of the power-sharing principle, which delayed the appointment of the ministers of interior and defense after a long period of vacancy. Moussa explained the challenge facing technocrat ministers, saying, Independent ministers will have to fight the sharks, brokers and militants of the major dominating political parties. He said, The political parties brokers have been accustomed to concluding money-spinning and corrupt contracts and deals through the Iraqi ministries. Technocrat ministers are here to put things back on track and get rid of these brokers. On Aug. 17, in her first press conference after her appointment as minister of construction, housing and public municipalities, Awsei seemed to challenge the routine political procedure, saying, We do not belong to any specific component. The ministry is an Iraqi ministry. Its objective is to serve the country. Traditionally, according to the Iraqi political process, state positions are distributed among the major political parties according to a sectarian power-sharing principle. The portfolios are divided according to specific quotas among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Awseis previous statements seem to cancel these procedures approved by the Iraqi parties. Moussa said that he doubts all of the ministers appointed by Abadi are from among technocrats. However, he said, The technocrat ministers will not adapt to the rampant corruption in the ministries given their different mindset and the difficult task to rationalize expenditures under the pressure of austerity. Moussa also spoke to Al-Monitor about another challenge that a Cabinet of technocrats will have to deal with and that is not related to corruption. He said, We must admit that armed factions across the Iraqi territories impose a specific approach with the ministries, which is difficult to avoid. A political clash is predicted between these factions and the new ministers, which has nothing to do with corruption. The political parties economic deals within the Iraqi government ministries have been brought into the spotlight. On Aug. 27, the head of Iraq's Commission of Integrity called on the political parties to abolish their affiliated economic committees, which coordinate the deals between the political blocs ministries and businessmen. Fighting these committees or auditing and exposing corruption cases may lead to death. This is exactly what has happened with the staff of the Commission of Integrity every year since its establishment following the fall of Baghdad in April 2003. The commission was established in 2004 under the Coalition Provisional Authority and staff members have been killed each year since in the line of duty. In this regard, Ahmed Madlul Mutlaq, the member of parliament for the Iraqi National Forces Alliance, said, There are mafias within the Iraqi state who are backed by political parties and who threaten any independent figure or other individual who stands against corruption. He told Al-Monitor over the phone, Technocrats were appointed as ministers to implement the reform process and keep away corrupt figures from assuming official state positions. Reform is not easy. Any technocrat and independent figure assuming a ministerial or government post should be aware of the risk and the challenges ahead. He pointed out that the political situation in Iraq is not rosy and the road of reform is long, noting that technocrats and other incorrupt figures should stand together. Mutlaq and Moussa both said it was likely that some technocrat ministers would be exposed to threats or pressures. Their statements are corroborated in light of arms proliferation, the deployment of armed factions and the prevailing security chaos in Iraq amid state inability to provide adequate security to the independent ministers and all citizens in general. Indeed, the reform of the political system in Iraq seems to be a daunting and long task, since it does not stop at replacing the ministers of the political blocs with independent ministers. The issue seems to be more complicated. The political parties, genuinely seeking to eradicate corruption and consecrate the values of a fair and democratic state that protects its citizens and officials from any harm, must keep this in mind. September 23, 2016 The week leading up to the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was interrupted by terrorist attacks in New Jersey and New York that claimed no lives, but reminded voters that on Nov. 8 they will choose a commander in chief who will be entrusted with the increasingly elusive job of keeping Americans safe. With less than seven weeks to go in the campaign, neither candidate used the occasion to soothe their countrymens fears, nor unite Americans. Instead, they sought to turn the scare to partisan advantage while also inadvertently underscoring their own strengths and weaknesses. Just before I got off the plane, a bomb went off in New York and nobody knows exactly what's going on, Trump told supporters in Colorado as the situation was unfolding. In his now-familiar style, Trump used the occasion to heap praise on himself. I should be a newscaster because I called it before the news. The Republican nominee also used the bombing to repeat his calls for tightening US immigration standards. This is something that will happen, perhaps, more and more all over the country, he said. Because weve been weak. Our countrys been weak. Were letting people in by the thousands and tens of thousands. Trump added that he had talked to unnamed law enforcement officials who said that under current US law it is impossible to adequately screen immigrants for terrorist connections. Were allowing these people to come into our country and destroy our country, and make it unsafe for people, he said. We dont want to do any profiling. If somebody looks like hes got a massive bomb on his back, we wont go up to that person because if he looks like he comes from that part of the world, were not allowed to profile. Give me a break. The Democrats took a different tack. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio inexplicably said at first that the bombings did not appear to be the work of a terrorist, a statement he later corrected. Hillary Clinton, attempting to draw a contrast between herself and Trump, was also measured in her initial response. I think it's important to know the facts about any incident like this, she said, adding that she thought it was important to let the investigation unfold before commenting. When it unfolded rapidly with the wounding and arrest of a 28-year-old Afghan immigrant who had taken recent trips to Pakistan, Clinton took sharp issue with Trump over his response. We know that a lot of the rhetoric we've heard from Donald Trump has been seized on by terrorists, in particular [the Islamic State], because they are looking to make this into a war against Islam rather than a war against jihadists, she said at a press conference. Monday night face-off This sparring took place as Clinton and Trump are preparing for their biggest showdown of the campaign: the first presidential debate, set for Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in New York. Interest is high in the face-to-face meeting between the two nominees, with predictions of viewership akin to those for a Super Bowl, not a political debate. Its the first of three debates and brings together two well-known people with vastly different styles. Clinton, a lawyer by training, is a policy wonk who meticulously prepares and is known for excelling on the debate stage. Trump has been content, as least during the Republican primaries, to wing it and to issue insults or brash statements that become TV sound bites the next day without much regard to the inevitable correctives issued by media fact-checkers. The two candidates have taken different approaches to their preparations. Clinton has been largely off the campaign trail, huddling with advisers in prep camp. She was quiet on Sept. 20, held one rally Sept. 21 and was quiet again Sept. 23. Trump, by contrast, has done a couple of events every day. The former secretary of state is preparing for an unpredictable opponent who hangs back a lot, picks his moments and may be aggressive, her communications director, Jennifer Palmieri, told Bloomberg News. Trump, meanwhile, is being advised to put Clinton on the defensive by questioning her judgment, intelligence, and accomplishments, as well as by confronting her over controversies surrounding the Clinton Foundation, her private e-mail server, and her paid Wall Street speeches, Bloomberg reported. Moderator Lester Holt of NBC announced that the topics will be America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. The economy, which is still lagging, is expected to be a major focus. Two more fatal police shootings of black civilians one in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the other in Charlotte, North Carolina might also lead the conversation to a discussion of race relations in America. RealClearPolitics David Byler examined the polling surrounding past presidential debates and found the effects of a single debate are often temporary, and the polling after the debate season ends frequently looks similar to the polling before it began. Clinton leads Trump by 3 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics polling average. Obamas exit President Barack Obama made his farewell address at the United Nations this week, criticizing Russia for attempting to recover lost glory through force, while also taking a shot at Trump over his call for a wall between the United States and Mexico. The president also sat down with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin for an exit interview on his presidency. Some highlights from Goodwins piece that ran in Vanity Fair: On Hillary Clinton: I was always amused that people were either skeptical or surprised that I would choose a Hillary Clinton as a secretary of state. To my mind, having somebody smart, tough, capable, with her own stature, who could travel around the world and command the stage, was a huge asset. What I also knew partly by virtue of her having served as First Lady, and partly just because I knew her and had observed her was [that] her dedication to the country would lead her to operate with great loyalty. On his persona: People who know me will tell you that my public persona is not that different from my private persona. I am who I am. You sort of get what you see with me. The two exceptions are that I curse more than I should, and I find myself cursing more in this office than I had in my previous life. And fortunately both my chief of staff and my national-security adviser have even bigger potty mouths than me, so its O.K. And the second thing is that I can be much more sarcastic and, I think, sometimes withering in my assessments of things than I allow to show in my public life. On his communications style: I think part of the reason that I have been successful, though, despite maybe not always fitting my message into the pre-packaged formulas, is there is this whole other media ecology out there of the Internet and Instagram and memes and talk shows and comedy, and Im pretty good at that. I [give] maybe the long-winded speeches that not everybody reads, but I can also do a slow jam on Jimmy Fallon better than most. September 23, 2016 Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are running neck-and-neck. Both are hoping the first presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Sept. 26 will finally put them over the top. For Trump, the stage is an opportunity to put past controversial statements behind him and focus on his core message aimed at the struggling middle class. The consummate showman will try to stick to the script and broaden his appeal after another week of comments that pleased his white male base but further alienated many minority voters. Speaking at a candidates forum Sept. 21, Trump called for a nationwide expansion of stop and frisk tactics in response to high levels of crime in many predominantly black neighborhoods. The controversial search of people due only to their presence in high-crime areas has been linked to lower crime rates but heightened distrust between police and minorities. For her part, Clinton will set out to prove that she is the candidate with a firmer grasp of the issues while trying to shake off lingering doubts about her trustworthiness. Shell also need to demonstrate she has the stamina to withstand a barrage of attacks from Trump, who has tried to sow doubts about her health in the publics mind. The debate comes as both candidates remain virtually tied, with Clinton slightly ahead of where she was last week after her pneumonia deception came to light. According to RealClearPolitics latest polling average, Clinton leads Trump by 3 percentage points (46.2% to 43.2%). {image2} Will the debates really make a difference? History offers some perspective. Televised debates came of age on Sept. 26, 1960, when Democrat John F. Kennedy faced off against Republican Richard Nixon. But the basic format itself goes back much further, to a debate over slavery more than a century and a half ago. In a series of seven debates between incumbent Illinois Sen. Democrat Stephen Douglas and Republican challenger Abraham Lincoln now remembered as the Great Debates of 1858 the candidates took turns addressing the moral and economic issues of the day. The debates were not moderated, and Lincoln lost the Senate race, although he would go on to win the presidency just two years later, thanks in part to the popularity of his published debate speeches. There things stood for almost a century. Then, in 1948, the format would get a new boost with the radio broadcast of the debate between Republican primary contenders Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen. Somewhere between 40 million and 80 million listeners tuned into that first audio recorded presidential debate, which centered around the wisdom of outlawing communism in the United States (Dewey argued against and won the primary). Political science research suggests the presidential debates have very little impact on the electorate, unlike the party conventions a few months before when many voters tune in to the race and the arguments and message being put forth by both candidates for the first time. On a few occasions, however, televised debates have appreciably helped the challenger. The best-remembered example is the debate between Kennedy and Nixon. Most Americans who heard Massachusetts' senator debate the two-term vice president on the radio thought Nixon performed better. But those who watched on television saw a haggard, perspiring vice president next to a handsome, confident and charming JFK who seemed at home on the debate stage. A month and a half later, Americans turned out to vote in record numbers. As predicted, it was a close election, with Kennedy winning the popular vote 49.7% to 49.5%. Sixteen years later, Republican President Gerald Ford committed one of the most famous gaffes in debate history by asserting that the Soviet Union did not dominate Eastern Europe. He made this point about Yugoslavia, which was not a Warsaw Pact country; about Romania, which was a member; and also about Poland, a country that was directly under the Soviet thumb a well-known fact to a large Polish-American community. Fords brain freeze came just eight years after the Soviets and their reluctant allies had marched into a liberalizing Czechoslovakia, and just 20 years after Soviet tanks rolled through the streets of Budapest. Without uttering a word, Jimmy Carter was able to present himself as the man better prepared to confront the Soviets at the height of the Cold War, and he went on to win the 1976 election. But was the debate responsible for Carters win? Illinois was and remains home to Americas largest Polish population, and Chicago had a powerful Democratic machine but Ford won the state anyway. So is the first debate between Trump and Clinton a make-or-break moment for either candidate? Certainly the excitement is palpable, with various media experts predicting as many as 100 million people will tune in. Political science tells us that Trump should have a leg up, as many voters usually use the debates to gauge for the first time whether the challenger measures up to the incumbent. In this case Clinton, while not the current officeholder, has served in government for decades while Trump presents himself as an outsider ready to shake things up. Unlike traditional challengers of whom little is known before the campaign, however, Trump himself has been in the public eye for just as long as Clinton. He has also garnered an unprecedented amount of media attention throughout the campaign, suggesting that despite all the hype, theres little new a face-off can reveal about either candidate. Cancer survivors and supporters came out for the Alabama Gulf Coast Relay for Life event at Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Saturday, September 24, 2016. (Brian Kelly/bkelly@al.com) "Keep pushing. Never give up." That was the message from cancer survivor Tanga Renee Watts. Wearing lots of pink, Watts, of Foley, Ala. was one of dozens of cancer survivors and supporters who came out for the Alabama Gulf Coast Relay For Life event at Gulf Shores Public Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Saturday. The event was held at the shaded, grassy picnic area adjacent to the beach, which was a good thing since unseasonably warm temperatures soared to the high 90s, giving the afternoon a triple digit feel. After some opening ceremonies and the National Anthem, survivors took the first lap of the day to the song, "How Sweet It Is" (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor. It was a relatively short lap around the grassy area which, for some, was a good thing given the extreme heat. One of the most stirring survival accounts was from Rev. Jim VanMatre of Gulf Shores First Baptist Church. He spoke of being diagnosed with stage four melanoma when he was just 23 years old. "I had this black wart on my hand. When I saw the doctor, I was sent to surgery right away. Later, they told me it was stage four melanoma. Nobody survives that. That was hard for a 23-year-old to hear and I had reached my end with this," VanMatre told the crowd, many sporting purple. "But then I felt the presence, the voice of God and a peace came over me." Sitting in the shade was Harold Moore, who looked more as though he were ready for the beach, towel draped over his sun-burned shoulder. "I was headed to the beach and saw a Relay For Life event," Moore said. "Back home I always attend these so it's important for me to come across one (RFL) and sit for a moment and listen. Makes me remember those I lost over the years to cancer." The event continued with activities until 8 p.m. NEW ORLEANS -- The juxtaposition of drumbeats and chants of "No justice, no peace" filled the air on Saturday afternoon as hundreds marched toward Jackson Square in New Orleans in an act of protest against four monuments honoring Civil War era figures. Take 'Em Down NOLA arrived at Jackson Square at 2:17 p.m., where a horse-mounted New Orleans Police patrol blocked access to the Andrew Jackson monument. At one point, protesters could be heard chanting, "We can't get no satisfaction until you take down Andrew Jackson," and some threw liquid-filled balloons at the NOPD command vehicle and spattered EMS Deputy Chief Ken Bouvier of EMS. New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison said seven protesters were arrested during the event. One man named Chuck Perkins was escorted away by NOPD in handcuffs from Jackson Square. Take 'Em Down organizer Michael "Quess" Moore said Perkins marched alongside them in opposition to the monuments. Harrison said police received information about threats regarding the event, leading the police to create a security plan to manage at least four different groups. "We did have a couple of incidents that we were able to arrest people for without incident or no injuries to police," he said. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison addresses media following Take Em Dow NOLA protest in Jackson Square Posted by Beau Evans on Saturday, September 24, 2016 Harrison said there were no injuries to citizens during the protest. Although most of the arrests were for disturbing the peace, Harrison said they made one arrest for aggravated assault involving a man who was allegedly carrying a box cutter. He nonetheless stressed that "at the end of the day, everybody's voices were heard," and "everybody accomplished their goal" with the cooperation of the police. Earlier, Moore and Take 'Em Down organizer Angela Kinlaw worked with others to begin the march from Congo Square around 1 p.m. "We're gonna teach them how to be human," Moore said in reference to anticipated encounters with counter protesters who supported the monuments. His words came hours before white nationalist David Duke appeared at the locked gates of Jackson Square to speak with the NOPD. Duke, who is seeking to succeed retiring Sen. David Vitter, R-La. in the Nov. 8 election, was only present to speak to the crowd for a few minutes before leaving as things heated up in the crowd. Kinlaw told protesters they "are prepared to do whatever is necessary" Saturday in their fight for the removal of the monuments. Cars trying to move down Basin Street at Lafitte Avenue honked at the protesters sharing the street with motorists during initial steps toward the French Quarter around 1:30 p.m. An RTA bus had to stop at North Rampart Street at St. Philip Street and watch a black banner displaying the words "Take Em Down" in white glide through the crowd before they eventually entered the French Quarter. The protesters were greeted with stares from pedestrians in the French Quarter. One man at the intersection of Bourbon Street and St. Philip Street could be heard over the chants as he told his friend that "this is about raising awareness." Some employees stood in the doorways of their businesses to watch the crowd turn onto Decatur Street before they finally arrived at Jackson Square. A woman watching the scene from across the street looked to her husband and said "that's wrong" while the protesters were greeted by the NOPD blockade and their barricade surrounding the monument. The event comes days before a court hearing Wednesday morning (Sept. 28) by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In that case, City Hall will argue for removing the monuments in opposition to some preservationists. "This is just the start," Kinlaw said. "Let us build, and continue to build, and continue to build." Member Malcolm Suber stressed their "right to defend our public spaces," and he told authorities that "if you don't defend them, we will." In a public statement, Take 'Em Down NOLA not only demanded for the removal of the monuments, but they also called on the city to reallocate or raise $5 million dollars annually to fund the coalition's plans to create a youth educational mentorship program that would create jobs. They also wanted the funds to build historical markers "that accurately inform the public of New Orleans history." "We're not only take down NOLA, we're build up NOLA," Kinlaw said. Staff writer Beau Evans contributed to this report. The Birmingham legal community is coming together to help raise money for medical bills for attorney John Wiley, who was seriously injured when he was struck by a truck Friday as he was walking near the Jefferson County Courthouse. A Go Fund Me account - John Wiley Expense Fund - was set up Saturday by a few local attorneys and within hours had raised more than $4,500 of a $10,000 goal. By 7 a.m. Sunday, there had been $9,895 in donations and a new goal of $20,000 had been set. "On September 23, 2016, John Wiley was hit and struck by a truck while walking to the Jefferson County Courthouse. He is in the hospital and is the main financial support for his family. John is one of the nicest people on the planet. Please give generously as this could happen to anyone. Continue to pray for his healing and recovery!" according to the statement on the GoFundMe account page. Trussville attorney Jacqueline O. Morrette said the account was a collaborative effort between Birmingham attorney Amber Ladner and herself. "John Wiley is one of the most honorable attorneys in our profession and those of us who know him know of his compassion and tremendous faith," Morrette said. "I know that if this happened to any of those who know John, he would not hesitate in helping any of us. We join the family in continued prayers for a quick recovery." Details of the incident that injured Wiley were not available. Wiley has represented defendants in a number of high profile murder cases in the Birmingham area over the years. He was one of the attorneys who represented Scott Lamar Abbott who was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in the slashing and stabbing deaths of four people inside a Hueytown house in 2009. Wiley, center, at 2010 trial of Scott Lamar Abbott Wiley also was one of the attorneys for Jessica McCord, who was convicted of capital murder in the 2002 shooting deaths of her ex-husband and his new wife in a child custody dispute in Shelby County. McCord's second husband also was convicted in the slayings. Update: Donald Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, said Flowers will not be attending the debate. Pence said the invitation by Trump was an effort to point out the hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton's campaign. Trump's invitation was meant "to mock an effort by Hillary Clinton and her campaign to really distract attention from where the people -- the American people are going to be focused tomorrow night, which is on the issues, it's on the choice that we face." Earlier: Gennifer Flowers, the Penthouse model who had an affair with former President Bill Clinton, has accepted Donald Trump's invitation to attend the first presidential debate. On Saturday, Trump said if Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban - an outspoken critic of the GOP nominee - attended the debate as a guest of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, he'd invite Flowers to be his guest. Later in the day, Flowers, 63, took him up on the offer. Hi Donald. You know I'm in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!... Gennifer Flowers (@gennflowers) September 24, 2016 A spokesperson for Flowers later confirmed to Buzzfeed she would be attending the debate. The first presidential debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton is set for Monday night at New York's Hofstra University. The debate will be take place 9-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time without commercial breaks. Flowers' relationship with Bill Clinton was first revealed in 1992 when then-Arkansas Governor was running for president. Flowers, a former Arkansas state employee, has maintained she and Clinton had a 12-year affair; the former president said they had a one-time sexual encounter. In 1998, Clinton admitted to an encounter with Flowers as part of a deposition in connection to a sexual harassment suit. During the 1992 campaign, Hillary Clinton famously appeared on television to defend her husband against the infidelity charges. vote here sign in huntsville.JPG ( ) Voters statewide will decide the fates of 14 proposed amendments to the Alabama Constitution on Nov. 8. The topics range widely - from protecting money for state parks to expanding the Auburn University board of trustees. A few affect only one county. Voters might find some of the amendments confusing unless they do some homework before heading to the polls. An example is Amendment 14, which officials say is needed to save hundreds of local laws from legal jeopardy. "All 67 counties would have something at stake should this go down," Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, said. The issue goes back to another amendment added to the state Constitution in 1984. Amendment 448 requires legislators to pass the state budgets before other bills. The budgets are long, detailed documents that need lots of fine-tuning, so lawmakers circumvent the mandate to approve them first. To do that, they pass a "budget isolation resolution" for each bill they consider before the budgets, which is allowed under Amendment 448. The so-called BIR vote is ingrained in the legislative routine. In December, a court ruled that a Jefferson County sales tax law was invalid because the BIR vote did not get the required three-fifths vote. Amendment 448 says approval requires three-fifths of a quorum, meaning at least 32 votes in the House. But a House of Representatives rule says approval requires three-fifths of those voting, a lower standard. The Jefferson County sales tax bill passed the House after a 13-3 vote on the BIR. Hundreds of other local bills have become law since the 1980s with BIR approval by fewer than 32 votes in the House. That's because it's customary for House members to abstain on local bills outside their districts. The court ruling invalidating the Jefferson County law is on appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. Ward said more than 600 local laws would be ripe for lawsuits if the Supreme Court upholds the decision. That would "pretty much guarantee that any other challenges will sail right through," said Ward, who sponsored the bill to put Amendment 14 on the ballot. Local laws that are potentially at risk affect sales taxes, gasoline taxes, property taxes, court costs, pistol permit fees, Sunday alcohol sales, annexations and dozens of other matters. One example is a Chilton County law passed in 2014 to allow a referendum for a 1-cent sales tax to build a hospital. St. Vincent's Chilton Hospital will have a grand opening on Sept. 30. Amendment 14 would ratify and validate all the bills that have passed under the House BIR rule. Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, said Amendment 14 is the logical way to resolve a technicality that jeopardizes established laws needed to deliver government services. Brasfield said it's not practical to think that the Legislature could pass them again. Local bills have to be advertised for four consecutive weeks before passing, and Brasfield said that alone would cost an estimated $3 to $4 million. Brasfield said he's worried because there are 13 other amendments before Amendment 14 on the ballot. "Sometimes voters lose interest," Brasfield said. Ward said mayors, county commissioners, sheriffs and other local officials have participated in conference calls about the importance of approving Amendment 14. He said they will be the leading the effort to get the word out. "That's going to be your principal cheerleaders and surrogates out there because they realize what it can do to so many local laws and sources of funding," Ward said. There is a new resource to help voters understand the proposed amendments. The Legislature passed a bill in 2015 to create the Fair Ballot Commission. The commission writes summaries of constitutional amendments in plain language, easier to digest than the legalistic wording of some amendments. The summaries are on the Secretary of State's website. Some of the other amendments: Amendment No. 1 would add two at-large members to the Auburn University Board of Trustees and ensure that no more than three trustees have terms that expire the same year. The board would increase to 16 members. Amendment No. 2 would prohibit the Legislature from using money generated at state parks for purposes other than maintaining the parks. It would allow certain parks and lands to be operated and maintained by someone other than the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Amendment No. 4 would allow county commissions to create policies on county personnel, litter-free roadways and public property, public transportation, safety on public roads and emergency assistance. Currently, counties have to seek passage of a local law for many basic policy decisions. The amendment would not authorize tax increases, planning and zoning or salary changes. Amendment No. 6 would repeal and replace Article VII of the Constitution, which governs impeachments. Currently, the impeachment article does not say how many votes is required in the Senate to remove an official from office. Amendment 6 would say a two-thirds vote is required. It would not change reasons for which an official can be impeached. The amendment was proposed by a bill passed in 2015, before the ongoing move to impeach Gov. Robert Bentley, which is being investigated by the House Judiciary Committee. Barack Obama,Michelle Obama,Laura Bush First lady Michelle Obama, center, hugs former President George W. Bush, as President Barack Obama and former first lady Laura Bush walk on stage at the dedication ceremony of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Black history officially has a new, prominent place in America's story. With hugs, tears and the ringing of church bells, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors Saturday to help this nation understand, reconcile and celebrate African-Americans' often-ignored contributions toward making this country what it is today. President Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, wiped away a tear as he formally opened the Smithsonian's 19th museum with an impassioned 31-minute speech on the National Mall. His audience included two former presidents, leaders from all branches of the federal government, and first lady Michelle Obama, whose lineage has been traced back to slaves in the South. She too shed a tear as her husband spoke. Obama noted one artifact in the museum: a stone marker from a slave block where Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay spoke in 1830. This item, Obama said, chronicles not just the fact that two powerful men spoke, but also that multitudes of slaves were "bought and sold, and bid like cattle."How Alabama helped shape the National Museum of African American History and Culture "This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are," Obama said. "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." Ground for the $540 million museum was broken in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument, and construction was completed earlier this year. Millions of donors, known and unknown, contributed $315 million in private funds ahead of the opening. "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. The names of some big donors are on prominent spaces inside: the Oprah Winfrey Theater; the Michael Jordan Hall: Game Changers; and the Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center, named for the CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners after a $20 million gift announced Monday. With exhibits ranging from the glass-topped casket used to bury lynching victim Emmett Till to a fedora owned by late pop superstar Michael Jackson, the museum helps to complete the American tale by incorporating highs and lows, triumph and trauma experienced by black Americans since the first African slaves arrived on this continent almost 400 years ago. "We're not a burden on America, or a stain on America, or an object of pity or charity for America. We're America," Obama said. "And that's what this museum explains, the fact that our stories have shaped every corner of our culture."Photos from the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Obama was joined on stage by his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who in 2003 signed legislation establishing the museum, and John Lewis, a veteran civil rights activist and longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia who co-sponsored the bill. Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, 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 its history," Bush said. "It faces its flaws and corrects them." Lewis, who is featured in the museum, said he could feel the weight of history around the museum, with slave voices whispering of escape and church choirs singing of freedom. "All their voices, roaming for centuries, have finally found their home here, in this great monument to our pain, our suffering and our victory," Lewis said. After the speech, Obama hugged the congressman as he returned to his seat. Also on hand were former President Bill Clinton, Chief Justice John Roberts and House Speaker Paul Ryan; celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Will Smith, and Angela Bassett; and thousands of Americans who just wanted to witness the museum's opening firsthand. "I'm just elated and can't express how much joy and gratitude I have to be here today and witness history," said Master Sgt. Donald Sparks of Houston, who just finished a yearlong deployment in Iraq. The honor of helping Obama open the doors went to Ruth Bonner, 99, daughter of a Mississippi slave who escaped to freedom. The president and first lady joined Bonner and her family in ringing 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 organized entirely by black people, acquired its Freedom Bell in 1886. It will be returned to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. The 400,000-square-foot museum, designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. The exterior 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. The museum's opening "finally marks the place and time where we're finally recognized ... and it's about time," said Shenise Foster of Alexandria, Virginia. Families across the country have been swept up in their own political torrents during this tumultuous election cycle. Washington DC, United States Kayla Helmers was surprised when she got to speak to Hillary Clinton at a political gathering in Mason City, Iowa, last December. As the Democratic presidential candidate approached her, Helmers, a 23-year-old student and staunch Democrat, started recording a video. Mrs Clinton! My dad is a long-time Donald Trump supporter. Can you give him a message? After pausing to laugh, Clinton addressed Helmers father, Shawn Starry, directly on camera. Shawn I hope you can see I dont have horns, and I really do hope, as this election goes on, that youll listen to your daughter. The 2016 election cycle has been a tumult of contentious debate, incredible headlines and social media storms. It is, therefore, no surprise that many families across the country have been swept up in their own political torrents. Helmers said she has always clashed with her father on politics. I have strong disagreements, always have, with my dad It makes me roll my eyes that [he] is a supporter for Donald Trump. WATCH: Who is the real Donald Trump, and who are his supporters? Starry, 43, a protection officer in Rockford, Illinois, and a former Iowa State arm wrestling champion, told Al Jazeera that he is looking for a president who can lead, a man with character, like the late American actor John Wayne famous for his depictions of cowboys and cavalrymen. Trump makes sacrifices, according to Starry, who is not afraid to liken the Republican nominee to some lofty figures. Like Moses, [Trump] has taken time to listen and take charge, he said. When it comes to his daughters choice for president, Starry said he is disappointed particularly as he believes that Clinton has a bad political record. To vote for someone, rejecting the evidence at hand, is foolish, he says. But, he added, he will not be trying to change Helmers opinion before the November 8 election. She is an adult. I will respect her choice simply because I love my daughter. Its a choice she must make and a lesson to learn, as I did. Survival of the planet According to some experts, the negative and, at times, toxic tone of this elections campaign cycle is filtering down to the family unit. Avidan Milevsky, an associate professor of psychology at the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, told Al Jazeera that the vitriol in the political system is creating a level of tension that is clearly impacting family dynamics in destructive ways. He explained that the polarising nature of this campaign, in particular, is leading to an increase in political tension within families. The candidates this time around have really triggered aversive reactions Its become very personal in families. If you believe that your parent, brother or sister will be voting for a candidate who will usher in the end of the world, family harmony will take a back seat to the survival of the planet. Ian Menard, a 29-year-old student from Houston, Texas, has rather different political views than his family. Come November, he will be voting for Clinton, unlike his parents who support Trump and his brother, who plans to vote for the Libertarian presidential candidate, Gary Johnson. It does bother me that my parents are voting for Trump, in a way that them voting for [Mitt] Romney or [George W] Bush never did, he told Al Jazeera. I thought that having a gay son might make them rethink some of their support for the Republican Party, but it hasnt. They very much detest Hillary. While he appreciates having a politically diverse family, Menard said it can be challenging. I would say that we dont try to talk politics so much as try to avoid talking about them. According to Milevsky, families generally deal with conflict in one of three ways: ignoring the issues, fighting over them, or constructively communicating about them. The last option is clearly the most likely to be successful in overcoming tense political discourses. Some positive outcomes Amanda, who asked that her full name not be disclosed, said she knew that her politics differed from her husbands early on in their relationship. Amanda had helped out with several Democratic campaigns while her husband used to work in Republican politics. She told Al Jazeera that having differing political views has had some positive outcomes. When we first started dating, I dont think I was able to articulate all of my beliefs the way I can now. Being married and having someone challenge my beliefs has helped me articulate why I believe what I believe. READ MORE: US voters disgusted with presidential race In November, Amanda will be voting for Clinton, while her husband is still unsure he is torn between Trump and Johnson. While I certainly wish he would [vote Clinton], it doesnt bother me that he is voting differently from me, said Amanda. I think the only thing that bothers me is that much of his opposition to Hillary is based on the sexist reporting that happens in the news. Hillary is pegged with the scandals of her husband in a way that a man would never be. Meanwhile, Grace Elena, who lives in the state of Washington, feels disheartened that her father is going to vote for Trump. While she is not an avid supporter of Clinton, she said that when it comes down to it, I prefer her over Trump. Al Jazeera asked Elena if she planned to watch the upcoming presidential debate with her family, and she replied in a message on Twitter: Haha I definitely dont think we will that would be a mess. Follow Jessica Sarhan on Twitter: @JessicaSarhan Whether paralysed by fear of censure or retribution, the corporate media was reluctant to call him a liar. Apparently, Donald Trump and Pinocchio are related temperamentally speaking. Arguably, Trump is less mature than the wooden toy boy. What the two cartoonish characters share undeniably, however, is a disagreeable habit of telling demonstrable lies. Famously, when Pinocchio lies, his nose grows. Still, in the end, the insecure puppet, who yearns to become a real boy, has a life-altering epiphany. Lying, he understands, is futile and, ultimately, self-destructive. Trump, the human manikin, appears incapable intellectually, perhaps even morally, of doing what Pinocchio belatedly does in Carlo Collodis timeless fable: that is grow up and stop lying. Body of lies Of course, Trump isnt the first politician to lie about his many adversaries, political or otherwise. But Trump lies with such signature relish and impunity. All the while, his head, rather than his nose, swells as he basks in the notoriety and media-propelled attention generated by his blimp-sized lies. Trump has lied about opposing the Iraq invasion. For years, he lied about Barrack Obamas birthplace, promoting and giving eager sustenance to the racist myth that the United States first black president wasnt born there and, as such, isnt an American, nor eligible to be president. The sinister intent of that sinister lie was to suggest, nudge-wink, that Obamas presidency has been an illegitimate, eight-year-long, unconstitutional canard. Even when he grudgingly, cryptically retracted that lie last week, Trump compounded the original lie with more lies. He lied when he said that Hillary Clinton was responsible for the noxious birther lie and that he, in effect, not only exposed her lie, but put it definitively to rest. Through much of all the at times reality-defying chicanery, Trumps lies went unchallenged by the US establishment media that too often and for too long was content to play the role of willing, enthusiastic courier to the B-list celebrity turned A list-Republican presidential nominee. The pursuit of fairness, objectivity and balance has repeatedly meant not simply shading the truth, but burying it in a blizzard of weasel words. by Whether paralysed by fear of censure, retribution or exercising yet again a near universal deference towards authority, the corporate media has remained stubbornly reluctant to use that direct, one-syllable word lie in connection with Trumps long-standing bitherism or his blatant revisionism about the Iraq invasion. Instead, the Washington Post and other major US news organisations, preferred to use euphemistic symbols like little, cheery-looking drawings of Pinocchio to signify the nature and magnitude of the lies. The bigger the lie, the more Pinocchios it warranted. OPINION: The garden of Americanly delights Meanwhile, many news reporters opted for carefully calibrated euphemisms like falsehood or false claims or the oxymoronic stretching the truth to presumably soften the blow of using a sharp, uncomfortable word like lie. The pursuit of fairness, objectivity and balance has repeatedly meant not simply shading the truth, but burying it in a blizzard of weasel words. The moment of epiphany Then, like Pinocchio, the New York Times seemingly experienced an epiphany. Earlier this month, the newspaper ditched the euphemisms in a front-page headline and story about Trumps stage-managed ad for a hotel masquerading as a mea culpa over his career-defining smear of Obama. Donald Trump Clung to Birther Lie for Years, and Still isnt Apologetic the headline read. The accompanying story dissected Trumps lies and assailed what it described as his relentless deception. OPINION: Trumps emotional intelligence deficit The newspapers decision finally to call a lie a lie prompted other major corporate media to follow its laudable, if tardy, lead. Indeed, as if liberated from the straitjacket of euphemisms, the most powerful newspaper in the world has since published story after story about Trump and his rhetoric dotted with lie. Times executive editor, Dean Baquet, has not only defended using lie, but now insists the newspaper will continue to use it when the truth demands it. We have decided to be more direct in calling things out when a candidate actually lies, Baquet said. A tardy realisation The shame and the irony is that The New York Times failed to adopt the same enlightened editorial attitude in the months and years leading up to the calamitous invasion of Iraq. By its own admission, the newspaper allowed the thirst for ephemeral scoops to trump (pardon the pun) the truth. Editors at several levels who should have been challenging reporters and pressing for more scepticism were perhaps too intent on rushing scoops into the paper, the newspaper wrote in a 2004 autopsy of its reporting prior to the invasion. This failure to challenge and to be more sceptical of the official line and anonymous sources, was, with a few notable exceptions, endemic to US corporate media. The result, a flimsy case for war based on a litany of now infamous lies, was peddled by another set of politicians at a not so distant time. One institutional response to this disreputable history has been the advent particularly among US print media outlets of a stable of so-called fact-checkers, who assess the veracity of statements, claims, charges and counter-charges made by politicians of various political persuasions. While welcomed, the fact-checkers have appeared too preoccupied with shielding themselves from accusations of bias to speak plain, unambiguous truth to power. Hence, their grating penchant for euphemisms. Hopefully, the sudden outbreak of unapologetic truth-telling will spread and embolden more reporters, editors and news organisations to call a lie a lie not only today, but also tomorrow whether the lie is uttered by Trump or any other politician. Andrew Mitrovica is an award-winning investigative reporter and journalism instructor. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Morocco has chosen to remain silent in order to not escalate tensions with the UN. Samir Bennis is a political analyst with more than eight years of experience as a political adviser. The tension between Morocco and the Polisario has reached a boiling point following Rabats decision to send armed security personnel to the Guerguerat region at the Morocco-Mauritania border. On August 15, Moroccan authorities announced that they had sent 10 security forces to fight drug trafficking and smuggling of all kinds of goods. Polisario reacted immediately by sending two letters to the United Nations secretary-general accusing Morocco of violating the 1991 ceasefire agreement, which ended the 16-year war between Morocco and the Algerian-backed movement. The UN mission in the Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, said after a preliminary investigation that Rabat had not violated the ceasefire. Still, Polisario sent armed troops and posted them 200 metres from Moroccos gendarmerie. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement on August 28 expressing concern over the current tension as a result of changes in the status quo and the introduction of armed units from Morocco and the Polisario in close proximity to each other. Bans statement was made on the assumption that Morocco had introduced its military into the region. This assumption was reinforced when the Associated Press published a document submitted to the Security Council accusing both parties of violating the ceasefire. The confidential document said the operation Morocco conducted was initiated without prior notice to MINURSO, contrary to requirements specified in Military Agreement No 1 of the ceasefire, and with the support of armed security personnel from the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie. Following a government cabinet meeting on August 30, Rabat refuted Polisarios allegations. Communication minister and government spokesperson, Mustapha Khalfi, said the operation takes place because of the danger of insecurity in this region which is witnessing the prevalence of drug trafficking and trade and other illicit practices. Khalfi added that the operation will continue in coordination with MINURSO. Conflicting reports The discrepancy between the statement issued by the UN chief and Moroccos announcement that it will continue the cleanup operation shows not only a clear gap in the definition of what constitutes the Moroccan army, but also that the UN may have been subjected to pressure and manipulation from the Polisario and its supporters. Immediately after Morocco sent its armed security personnel to the region, the Polisario media accused it of violating the ceasefire. To make their accusations more credible, they referred to the armed security personnel as Darak Al Harbi, which can be translated into English as the gendarmerie of war. When Morocco sent its gendarmerie to the border crossing, it was precisely because they are entrusted with ensuring public order outside of urban areas and with fighting criminal networks. by This language was used in all news stories run by the Polisario and Algerian media, as well as in the letters the Polisario sent to the UN. Before concluding that Morocco had violated the ceasefire agreement by introducing its military to the region, the UN should have done a quick research on the legal status of the gendarmerie. According to Moroccan law, the gendarmerie is an armed force charged with police duties. It is placed under the authority of both the Ministry of Interior and the armed forces, as well as the Ministry of Justice, for which it plays the role of judiciary police. Its main duties consist not of participating in wars, but of ensuring security and public order throughout the Moroccan territory. As such, in rural areas the gendarmerie play the role that the police play in cities. OPINION: Morocco and Mauritanias rocky relations Additionally, it is also entrusted with controlling and ensuring the safety of Moroccan roads. The role that Moroccan gendarmerie play is equivalent to the role that the French gendarmerie and the Spanish civil guards play in the French and Spanish territories. When Morocco sent its gendarmerie to the border crossing, it was precisely because they are entrusted with ensuring public order outside of urban areas and with fighting criminal networks. What Polisario aims to achieve What points more to the manipulation of the UN or lack of understanding of the status of the gendarmerie is that this is not the first time that Moroccan security forces have entered the region. Although the UN chief has hinted in previous annual reports to some minor violations, those actions by the gendarmerie neither drew international attention nor Polisario denunciation. This is primarily because the UN is aware of Moroccos efforts in fighting criminal networks that use the area as their safe haven. And the regional context did not warrant such denunciation from the Polisario. However, this situation is clearly different, which pushed the Polisario leadership to seize the opportunity to accuse Morocco of not abiding by its international commitments. The Polisarios strategy seeks to obtain three goals. First, it aims to keep the Western Sahara among the most pressing issues on the UN agenda, especially as the UN General Assembly had just convened last week. In doing so, the Polisario seeks also to remind the UN of the necessity that MINURSO retrieve full functionality with the return of all its civilian staff. Second, the group is seeking to sabotage the efforts Morocco has made recently to rejoin the African Union (AU). The Polisario is aware that such a return might endanger its own membership in the AU, especially after 28 members submitted a motion last July calling for the suspension of Polisarios membership. READ MORE: Polisario Front leader Mohamed Abdelaziz dies It is no coincidence that the Polisario sent an emissary to the AU on September 6 to request its support at the Security Council. By resorting to the AU, the Polisario seeks to strain its relations with Morocco and hamper the latters return to the organisation. And finally, the Polisario wants to reassure the desperate Sahrawis in the camps that it still runs even after the death of its leader Mohamed Abdelaziz and that it will resort to war if the international community fails to force Morocco to respect its commitments. Moroccos plan The UNs hasty conclusion that Morocco violated the ceasefire shows a lack of understanding on its part of the legal status of Moroccos different security forces. Furthermore, it clearly demonstrates that MINURSO personnel are not fully acquainted with the culture, politics and administrative organisation of the country where they are posted. Morocco has chosen to remain silent in order to not escalate tensions with the UN, especially after it reached an initial agreement to allow the return of MINURSO civilian personnel. Moroccos strategy is also dictated by the need to avoid giving the current tension an international dimension in the aftermath of the UN General Assembly last week. Most importantly, the Moroccan government needs to avoid any tension that would push Ban Ki-moon to shun the UN Climate Change Conference, COP22, which will be held in Marrakech in November. Samir Bennis is a political analyst with more than eight years of experience as a political adviser in New York. He is the editor-in-chief of Morocco World News, and an expert on Moroccos foreign policy, UN-related issues and the Maghreb. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Bosnias ethnic Serbs have begun voting in a referendum over a disputed national holiday, defying a ban by the countrys highest court and western pressure to call off a process that risks stoking ethnic tensions in the divided Balkan country. The referendum, on whether to mark January 9 as Statehood Day in the Serb Republic part of Bosnia, on Sunday is the first since a 1992 vote on secession from Yugoslavia that ignited three years of conflict in which 100,000 were killed. Polling stations across the predominantly Serb region in Bosnia opened at 05:00 GMT and will close at 17:00 GMT. Organisers said the first preliminary results were expected within 48 hours after the vote. I came to vote because every nation and every state has its own national holiday. Accordingly, our Serbian people must have their holiday, said Vojo Vujakovic, 60, at a polling station near the Bosnian Serb capital of Banja Luka. Novak Kajkut, another voter in the city, said: We dont dispute the right of the Muslim Bosniaks to mark their holidays but they can neither dispute this right to us. The Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court has ruled that the holiday would be illegal because it coincides with a Serbian Orthodox Christian holiday and so discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats living in the Serb Republic. The court also banned the referendum. January 9 is the date when Bosnian Serbs declared independence from Bosnia in 1992, precipitating the countrys devastating war marked by mass killings and persecution of Bosniaks and Croats in Serbian territory. It was Europes bloodiest conflict since World War II. Many believe that by defying the court ruling, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik is aiming to highlight the weakness of post-war Bosnias central authorities in Sarajevo and set the stage for a vote on secession. The Republic is going into a referendum. Its a great day for our Republic and our people, Dodik said on Friday after a trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have to show our dignity, that we are a democratic people and that we have the right to make our own decisions, he said. WATCH: Bosnia divided country, divided media The Serb regions administration has said it would comply with the courts ruling on the Statehood Day and make changes to its law on holidays to ensure it was not discriminating against other peoples but only after the vote. The Serbs celebrate the holiday by hanging out Serb flags and holding Orthodox Christian ceremonies in public institutions, which non-Serbs say is aimed at excluding them. Western diplomats warn that the referendum violates the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the Bosnian war. Some Bosniak politicians said that it would weaken Bosnias delicate structure, created to hold the country together in the aftermath of the devastating war. Many in the Bosniak and Croat- dominated autonomous region fear that the Serb Republic could be preparing to secede. Talk of a new conflict has increased tensions, prompting the Serb Republic police to raise the security level at the weekend. Whats happening brings back memories of what happened in 1992, when the Bosnian war began, said Nusreta Sivac, a Bosniak who was held in a Serb detention camp in the western town of Prijedor during the war. While the United States, which brokered the Dayton treaty, and the European Union called on the Serb Republic to cancel the vote, fearing instability, Russia supported the plebiscite. The West and Russia are choosing sides again whenever big powers get involved, people suffer, Bosnian Serb opposition leader Mladen Bosic told Reuters news agency. US, UK and France demand Security Council meeting to discuss violence in Aleppo that has left 200 dead in a week. The United States, Britain and France have called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the escalating violence in Syrias second city of Aleppo following a rising civilian death toll and impending humanitarian crisis. The latest step comes as Syrian government forces, backed by Moscow, have heavily bombed rebel-held areas of Aleppo killing nearly 200 people since Wednesday. The United Nations says that nearly two million civilians are left without water in the embattled northern city after government bombardments damaged a pumping station and rebels shut down another in retaliation. Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 91 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. Mainstream rebel groups said on Sunday that the escalating Russian-backed bombing of besieged Aleppo had rendered any peace process futile unless there was an immediate halt to the fighting and aid deliveries under UN auspices. Negotiations under the present conditions are no longer useful and are meaningless, said a statement released by 30 rebel groups including the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The factions said they would not accept Russian mediation of any negotiations, calling it a partner to the regime in the crimes against our people. The statement was signed by some of the largest factions from across Syria but did not include the powerful, ultra-conservative Ahrar al-Sham nor the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. A weeklong ceasefire agreed between the US and Russia unravelled after dozens of Syrian soldiers were killed in US-led coalition air strikes in Deir Az Zor, which the US called a mistake. The Syrian army resumed its military offensive after the strikes. Efforts to revive the truce have failed so far with the West, which is opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad, and Russia have engaged in a blame game amid a continued humanitarian tragedy. The US and its European allies have been pressing Moscow to allow unfettered humanitarian assistance, halt the Syrian governments indiscriminate bombing of its own people and create the conditions necessary to resume political transition talks led by the UN. On Sunday, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said Russians were guilty of protracting the war in Syria. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said that he was appalled by the chilling upsurge in fighting in Aleppo, and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the 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. Residents of rebel-held eastern Aleppo said ferocious bombardment by Syrian and Russian jets continued. We do not have enough doctors to cope with such a high number of casualties, said Ibrahim al-Hajj, a volunteer with the White Helmets, a rescue group that operates in rebel-held districts. He said more than 200 injured people are in makeshift hospitals. Photos and videos released by activists showed injured people lying on floors due to a lack of beds, covered in blood. WATCH: How critical is the city of Aleppo in Syrias war? Speaking to Al Jazeera late on Saturday, Abdulkafi al-Hamdo, a professor at the University of Aleppo, said that residents were expecting another night of horror. What we are suffering cant be expressed by words in any language, he said. We dont have water to give our children [Rescuers] cant help people any more and the roads have been cut off by rubble. In the hospitals, there are three to four people on one bed, even in the intensive care units. Meanwhile, Syrian rebels said late on Saturday that they had regained control of Handarat, a former Palestinian refugee camp north of Aleppo city, after it had earlier fallen to government soldiers. Rami Abdulrahman, the director for the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the fighting was back and forth and inconclusive. The shelling and the raids did not stop. It is continuous, Bahaa al-Halabi, an activist in eastern Aleppo, told DPA news agency. Humanitarian deliveries have been further hampered by an attack on Monday on an aid convoy outside Aleppo, which killed 21 people. The US blames Russia, but Moscow has denied its involvement. However, 36 lorries from the international Red Cross entered al-Waer, a district in central Homs province. This week, hundreds of rebels and their families evacuated the area, under a deal. The Syrian civil war started as a largely unarmed uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly escalated into a full-blown armed conflict. Five years on, more than 400,000 Syrians are estimated to have been killed, and almost 11 million Syrians half the countrys prewar population have been displaced from their homes. Chinas air force says it flew more than 40 bombers and other fighter planes through a strait between Japanese islands on their way to military drills in the western Pacific. Regular long-range drills in the western Pacific and patrols over the East China Sea air defence identification zone were to protect Chinas sovereignty and national security, Chinas air force spokesman Shen Jinke said on Sunday, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Defence website. China drew condemnation from Japan and the United States in 2013 when it imposed an Air Defence Identification Zone in the East China Sea, in which aircraft are supposed to identify themselves to Chinese authorities. The patrols were to carefully monitor and judge the foreign military aircraft that enter the anti-aircraft defence zone, to take measures to respond to different threats in the sky, and to protect national airspace, the statement said. Aircraft of the Peoples Liberation Army carried out the exercises after flying over the Miyako Strait, a body of water between Japans islands of Miyako and Okinawa, the air force statement said. This comes as China has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. Chinas ties with Japan have been strained by a longstanding territorial dispute over a string of islets in the East China Sea, known in China as the Diaoyu and in Japan as the Senkaku. The two countries have also clashed over what China sees as Japans refusal to take responsibility for its wartime past. Chinas navy has often used the Miyako Strait, a key strategic route for the military, as a pathway from eastern China to the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, Chinese bombers, fighters and early warning and aerial refuelling aircraft flew through the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan and the Philippines to exercises in the western Pacific. The United States called Russias action in Syria barbarism, while Moscows UN envoy said ending the war was almost an impossible task, as government forces relentlessly bombed the besieged city of Aleppo. The United Nations Security Council met on Sunday at the request of the US, Britain and France to discuss the escalation of fighting in Aleppo following an announcement on Thursday of a fresh offensive by the Syrian army to retake the northern city, once the countrys most populous before the war. What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism, it is barbarism, the US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, told the 15-member council. Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals, and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive, Power said. A September 9 ceasefire deal brokered by the US and Russia effectively collapsed on Monday when an aid convoy was bombed north of Aleppo. In Syria, hundreds of armed groups are being armed, the territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately, and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this, Russias UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council. Britains UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the US-Russia track was very, very near the end of its life and yes the Security Council needs to be ready to fulfil our responsibilities. The regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo, Rycroft told the council. Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes. Russia is one of five countries on the UN Security Council with veto powers, along with the US, France, Britain and China. Russia and China have protected Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government by blocking several attempts at council action. It is time to say who is carrying out those air strikes and who is killing civilians. Russia holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, this is a privilege and it is a responsibility. Yet in Syria and in Aleppo, Russia is abusing this historic privilege, Power said. As Syrias UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari began addressing the council, Power, Rycroft and French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre walked out of the chamber. Jets pound Aleppo The emergency UN meeting came as Syrian government and Russian air raids continued to pummel rebel-held areas of Aleppo in some of the heaviest bombardments since the war began in 2011. More than 60 people were killed on Sunday in attacks on rebel-held neighbourhoods of the divided city, according to members of the Syrian Civil Defence, a volunteer search-and-rescue group also known as the White Helmets. The group, which operates only in rebel-held parts of the country, lost several vehicles in Sundays bombardment and was struggling to reach many of those caught up in bombings across the city and its outskirts. We dont have enough vehicles to cover the whole city. [Assads forces] bombed us directly and devastated most of our headquarters but well continue with our duty until the end, Ahmad, an Aleppo-based volunteer with the rescue group, told Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Ferocious air strikes pummel Aleppo as ground gained At least 231 civilians have been killed in violence in Aleppo and its outskirts since a truce collapsed last week in an intense air bombardment by the government and its ally Russia, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Tiny window of opportunity At the Security Council meeting on Sunday, UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura urged members to come up with a way to enforce the failed cessation of hostilities. The US and Russia still have a tiny window of opportunity to salvage the now broken-down truce, said de Mistura. But he noted mutual trust to solve the five-year crisis was seriously broken. I want to believe, because I am still a naive UN official, that they really meant what they said and they really wanted it to work, de Mistura added. Im asking, indeed urging, both of them to go that extra mile to see if they can save their agreement and do so at the 11th hour. Noting attacks of unprecedented frequency and intensity in eastern Aleppo, de Mistura called on the council to ensure a cessation of hostilities against civilians, the establishment of weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses in fighting, and medical evacuations. The surge in violence has worsened the situation inside eastern Aleppo, which has been besieged by government forces since July 17. The siege has resulted in acute shortage of food and medical supplies as well as fuel, according to the Syrian Observatory, which relies on a network of activists inside Syria. A UN official on Saturday noted nearly two million people had been cut off from running water. Zouhir al-Shimale in Aleppo contributed to this report Gunman kills prominent writer Nahed Hattar outside Amman court where he was facing charges over offensive cartoon. A gunman has shot dead prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside a court where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. Hattar was struck by three bullets before the unidentified assailant was arrested on Sunday, state news agency Petra reported. Witnesses and police said Nahed Hattar, 56, was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing when the lone gunman shot him at close range. He was standing at a short distance of about one metre in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court, a witness told the Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions. Hattar, a Christian, was arrested on August 13 after posting a caricature on his Facebook account that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. He removed the cartoon shortly thereafter, saying it mocks terrorists and their concept of God and heaven. It does not infringe Gods divinity in any way. It is not known who produced the cartoon. Many Jordanian Muslims considered it offensive and against their religion. Authorities said Hattar violated the law by widely sharing the caricature. He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani condemned Hattars killing as a heinous crime. The government will strike with an iron hand all those who exploit this crime to broadcast speeches of hatred to our community, he told the Petra agency. But supporters of Hattar said they held the government responsible for the shooting, accusing Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki of creating a hostile atmosphere that encouraged violence against the writer. The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing, said Saad Hattar, a cousin of the writer. Shocked Daoud Kuttab, an award-winning journalist and director of Community Media Network, told Al Jazeera Hattars killing represents a scary situation where people with opinions we dont like or the government doesnt like become susceptible to assassination. Its a clear case of intellectual terror, said Kuttab. The omen is that many people are now going to be worried about what they say Its a scary situation for people who believe in the freedom of thought and opinion and the right of expressing their opinion. Social media accounts of prominent conservatives in Jordan and elsewhere were celebrating Hattars death, saying he deserved it for blasphemy. Anja Wehler-Schoek, resident director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Jordan, said she found the social media posts shocking. The German foundation promotes democracy and political education in the region. This is clearly a very dark day for Jordan, which has long been celebrated as a model of peaceful co-existence, she said. I am very worried we are seeing the end of an era here and more and more problems to come in the future. Jordans Islamists hopeful about making electoral gains Sara Williams, a Jordan-based journalist, told Al Jazeera that Hattar had been detained in the past over critical postings about Jordans king. This was not his first brush with the law, but people I have spoken to are shocked about todays events, Williams said. This morning, outside the hospital where Mr Hattars body was taken, some family members of his were screaming [with] rage at the interior ministry, which is responsible for security, and particularly cursing the minister of interior. After sharing the cartoon on Facebook, the backlash against Hattar was immediate, with Jordanian social media users lambasting the writer for purposely causing offence to Muslims. Social media users also called on the government to question and arrest Hattar, and some attacked him for being Christian and a secularist. Attempting to explain his motive for sharing the cartoon, Hattar said he did not intend to cause offence to Muslims and wanted the cartoon to expose the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and the Muslim Brotherhood. In another explanation, Hattar said as a non-believer he respected the believers who did not understand the satire behind the cartoon. Gaziantep, Turkey Located just an hours drive from the Syrian border, the Turkish city of Gaziantep has become a massive intake point for refugees fleeing Syrias civil war, now into its sixth year. Its proximity to the conflict has also made Gaziantep a target for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), with the group blamed for an attack on a wedding party that killed more than 50 people last month. The city, meanwhile, has been under a heightened state of security for the past week, contributing to increased tensions on the streets. Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Sahin spoke with Al Jazeera about the refugee influx and the challenges of maintaining security in a border city. IN PICTURES: Mourning in Gaziantep Al Jazeera: How have the past five years reshaped Gaziantep? Fatma Sahin: When the revolution in Syria began, we tried to support the Syrian people, to protect their lands and their country from separation. As with every war, it affected the neighbouring countries and cities: Antakya, Gaziantep, Urfa and other cities and provinces. The population of Gaziantep increased by 20 percent very quickly. We werent aware it would happen so quickly, so we were not prepared, but we quickly started to prepare. When I became mayor, there were just 3,000 Syrian children in Turkish schools here, and now there are 70,000. We are working very closely with the ministry to help get the 30,000 who have been left out, into the schools. There are 350,000 Syrians living in Gaziantep, 50,000 inside the camps and the rest outside of the camps. When we realised this crisis would not be over any time soon, we thought about long-term and middle-term projects. Half of the Syrians are children, and the biggest issue was education. We were aware that if we did not fix this problem, a generation would be lost. Al Jazeera: Amid this influx, tensions have periodically flared up between Turkish and Syrian residents of Gaziantep, with disputes over issues such as the economic impacts of the refugee crisis. What is being done to address this? Sahin: Some citizens may be worried about their jobs, the economic struggles, the financial situation, because it has affected some businesses. The Syrian community established 700 factories here in Gaziantep alone. They have engineers and workers. They are part of 40 industrial areas in Turkey in general. We do have programmes, including a quota system, so that 10 percent of schools can be filled by Syrians. This helps us to bring them together to know each other. We are similar, but we also have differences. Its not something bad our differences are good. The government is also protecting Turkish and Syrian workers; 10 percent of spaces in Turkish factories must be given to Syrian workers. With that, we are protecting our Turkish workers, and in the meantime giving Syrians an opportunity to be part of the workforce. Al Jazeera: Over the past week, the city has been under a heightened security alert, with reports of several planned attacks and this is nothing new in Gaziantep. How has the city been grappling with such tensions, and would you describe Gaziantep today as safe? Sahin: In our area we have a very clear civil war. We are trying to protect the Syrian lands, but in the meantime we are dealing with many terrorist organisations inside Syria, and we are a target of those organisations. We are working hard to integrate Syrians. They are teachers and engineers and doctors. We want them to be a part of this community in the long term. by We are trying to manage the citys security in the meantime. The people are aware that we are dealing with all of these things. They are happy about our decision to make a safe zone inside Syria so that they can go back. Jarablus is the perfect example of offering the Syrians safe zones so that they can go back, and some have gone back already. Gaziantep is as safe as Germany and the US. Terrorism is a problem everywhere, and Gaziantep is a part of this world. Al Jazeera: With no end in sight to the war in Syria, what is the outlook for Gaziantep and the long-term vision? Has Syrias war changed the city forever? Sahin: The government is working to integrate Syrians into the Turkish economy. Our first three priorities are health, education and security, so we are working hard to integrate Syrians. They are teachers and engineers and doctors. We want them to be a part of this community in the long term. Gaziantep is a city that is always receiving immigrants; if not from Syria, then IDPs [internally displaced people] from southeastern Turkey. For 30 or 40 years, Gaziantep has successfully used this type of movement to benefit its economy. Its always been a growing city. Follow Megan OToole on Twitter: @megan_otoole New bill allows intelligence service to tap phones and computer networks of cyber criminals and terror suspects. Swiss voters have approved a new surveillance law granting their national intelligence service greater powers to spy on terrorist suspects and cyber criminals. The legislation that will let security agents tap phones and computer networks under certain conditions won more than 65 percent of the five million voters on Sunday. In Switzerland, where privacy is considered an important right, the intelligence service currently has to rely on information from public sources and other authorities. Swiss voters reject basic income grant for all Left-wing groups warned that the law would violate citizens privacy and undermine Switzerlands neutrality as the secret service would also be allowed to cooperate with foreign intelligence agencies. But the government insisted it was not aiming to set up a vast data-gathering apparatus, similar to the one developed by the US National Security Agency (NSA) that came into the public eye in part through former contractor Edward Snowdens revelations. This is not generalised surveillance, said Yannick Buttet, a politician and Christian Democratic Party vice president. Its letting the intelligence services do their job. Guy Parmelin, Swiss defence minister, said that with the new measures Switzerland was leaving the basement and coming up to the ground floor by international standards. Parmelin insisted that the Swiss system was not comparable to the United States or other major powers, which have struggled to find the right balance between privacy and security. Disproportionate Rights group Amnesty International said it regretted Sundays result, arguing the new law will allow disproportionate levels of surveillance, adding it posed a threat to freedom of expression. The new bill, which will only be triggered with approval by a federal court, is due to go into force on September 1 next year. The law was approved by parliament in 2015, but an alliance of opponents including from the Socialist and Green parties got enough signatures to force Sundays referendum. The poll was part of Switzerlands direct democracy system, in which votes are held on a wide range of national issues four times a year, and even more frequently at regional and municipal levels. Republican candidate acknowledges he will accept the divided city as Israels capital if elected president. Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump has pledged to recognise Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital if he is elected. Trump met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his residence in Trump Tower on Sunday, a day before the New York billionaire faces off against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in their first presidential debate. Clinton was also expected to meet Netanyahu in New York on the eve of the debate. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years, and that the US, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel, his campaign said in a statement. Israel captured the Arab eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed it in 1980, declaring all of Jerusalem Israels unified capital. The United States, and most other United Nations member countries, do not recognise the annexation and consider Jerusalems final status to be a key issue to be resolved in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. The US Congress passed a law in October 1995 calling for an undivided Jerusalem to be recognised as Israels capital and to authorise funding for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But no US president, Democrat or Republican, has implemented the law, regarding it as an infringement on the executive branchs authority over foreign policy. No mention by Netanyahu Netanyahus office issued a statement about the hour-long meeting but made no mention of Trumps pledge on Jerusalem. Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed with Mr Trump issues relating to Israels security and its efforts to achieve stability and peace in the Middle East, it said. The Trump statement said he promised Netanyahu that Washington would provide Israel with extraordinary strategic, technological and military cooperation if he is elected. Netanyahus meetings with Trump and Clinton come after the US recently completed a 10-year, $38bn military aid package for Israel. Clinton said in a statement that it would help solidify and chart a course for the US-Israeli defence relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges. Arcan Cetin, 20, suspected of killing five people at a shopping mall in Washington state has been captured, police say. The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five dead and sparked an intensive, nearly 24-hour manhunt is in custody, authorities said. Washington state police identified the suspect via Twitter as 20-year-old Arcan Cetin, of Oak Harbor, Washington. Authorities announced earlier that the suspect had been apprehended on Saturday evening. OFFICIAL: Here is a DOL photo of the suspect: Arcan Cetin, 20-yr-old Oak Harbor resident. pic.twitter.com/fypj6aBBJ2 Trooper H. Axtman (@wspd7pio) September 25, 2016 A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall, in Burlington, Washington, on Friday night, killing four females and a man before fleeing. Police officer Mike Hawley said he spotted Cetin on the street from a patrol car and immediately recognised him as the suspect in the shooting rampage. 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. No immediate charges were brought against Cetin, who awaited a court appearance Monday. One of the victims was a 16-year-old girl. Sarai Laras mother told The Seattle Times that her daughter had survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Evangelina Lara told the paper that she was shopping at the Cascade Mall with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up; Sarai went to Macys looking for pants. The first emergency call came in just before 7pm 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, four people were dead, and the gunman was gone, last seen walking towards a local highway. A fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours on Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. This was a senseless act. It was the world knocking on our doorstep, and it came into our little community, Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said at a news conference on Saturday. As the small city absorbed the tragic news, critical questions remained, including the gunmans motive. Surveillance video captured the suspect 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 officer 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 on Monday. UNDP says the Human Development Index has declined for two straight years for the first time in its history. The names of 40 black men and women were read aloud on Turlington Plaza. On Friday afternoon, more than 300 students, faculty and staff came together for a peaceful demonstration to honor those who were fatally shot by police so far this year. Students were asked to wear white to the event hosted by UF Black Affairs. Khyra Keeley, the event organizer and social justice and advocacy chair of UF Black Affairs, said the demonstration wasnt about mourning but about celebrating life. We focused on celebrating who they were and what their lives meant, the 19-year-old UF political science and African American studies student said. We werent here to just talk about the moment of their death. As she copes with police-involved shootings that seem to never end, Keeley said she feels exhausted and frustrated. The demonstration comes three days after the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and two weeks after Terrence Crutchers Sept. 16 death in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Crutcher and Scott are two of at least 707 people 164 of them black men who were shot to death by law enforcement this year, according to a Washington Post database. Were tired of losing our brothers and sisters to meaningless violence, Keeley said. Were tired of going on Facebook and seeing videos of people being killed. Were tired of saying Black Lives Matter and trying to explain what that means. Alisha L. Perkins read the name of one of the victims. Dyzhawn L. Perkins, the 20-year old UF linguistics junior declared. He was 19, and he was unarmed. She said the victim could have easily been a part of her family. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now He has my last name, she said. That could have been my brother, my sister, my dad, my mom. Perkins said she feels UF students have the opportunity to provoke change in the community. Legitimately, enough is enough, she said. Ive heard too many names, heard about too many people, seen too many hashtags. David Parrott, UFs vice president of Student Affairs, said he thought Fridays reading was powerful. We allowed students voices to be heard and thats what its all about, he said. Despite the heightened tensions between the public and law enforcement, Parrott said local law enforcement has done a good job mending relationships. Im impressed by the University Police and by the Gainesville Police that I have met and interacted with, he said. I find them to be committed to listening and to paying attention. He said to enact change students should fight hate with love. Lets continue to care for each other and demonstrate that, he said. Ebony Love, a 20-year-old UF history junior recites the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou Friday afternoon in Turlington Plaza. Love helped organize a demonstration to call attention to the police-involved shootings of black men and women. UFs Vice President of Student Affairs David Parrotts incomprehension statement is factually false because it incorrectly implies that violence has only occurred against blacks across the nation. The Washington Post reported July 8 that of the 509 people who had been killed by police in 2016, 123 were African-American. That means about 75 percent of the people killed were not African-American. To say there was only violence against blacks across the nation is, and continues to be, a blatant and intolerable misstatement of fact. In Parrotts struggle to finds words, he has actually continued a false narrative that white people hate black people because he specifically excluded the fact that the problems in Ohio, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Charlotte, North Carolina were due to police violence, not white-on-black hatred. Parrott makes a further implication as the vice president for Student Affairs that he speaks for the university and that it agrees with his false assertions that violence is only and solely committed against African-Americans by whites and all whites are guilty of black hatred. Furthermore, why didn't he hope that the tragedies in Chicago, where hundreds of African-Americans have been killed and thousands have been injured, not go unnoticed? He is complaining about violence against African-Americans, yet he is excluding the violence not committed by whites or police? Why not conduct a respective or supportive dialogue about the shooting and tensions in Chicago? If he wants to be truly concerned about violence in the U.S., then why not expose the entire truth about violence? Why omit vital facts about the situation? If Parrott truly cared, why not say all violence matters? He should be upset about violence against all Americans. When Parrott and others are selective about which acts of violence to be outraged about, it does nothing but further divide us and builds the walls his Office of Multicultural Affairs should be tearing down. I understand his zeal to encourage students to stand together and participate, but its not his job to do that. When he prefaces his request with gross misstatements of fact and omissions, it only serves to divide the UF Student Body into white aggressors and (everyone else) victim groups. In his letter, for me, he portrayed whites as racists who just want to commit violence on anyone and everyone who is not white. He has created more divisiveness, not more diversity. Parrots email should not have been sent using the student-wide server. It contained his private and factually inaccurate opinion about the state of our nation. It created the appearance that UF supported and agreed with his blatant falsehoods. It was an attack and an insult to me and all Americans, because he implied we (anyone not black) are all racists and practice black hatred as a matter of course, which I do not. I feel that the university should retract the statement, and Parrott should apologize. Furthermore, personal opinions should be limited to personal and private email servers, and school-wide emails need to be fact-checked before they are sent. Sincerely, John Jones, UF business student 2005 .. English News After Nehru China has brought Modi on ground (due to mishandling of CPEC) Alwihda Info | Par Hem Raj Jain - 25 Septembre 2016 Bengaluru, India Sub:- (i)- After Uri as if India with tail-between-legs was not enough, bombshell comes from China (ii)- Open support by China of Pakistan and its Kashmir cause has fundamentally changed geo-politics of SAARC (iii)- India should assure China on CPEC otherwise will face most humiliating defeat (iv)- Now India is left with only one option, to take PoJK even under threat of nukes (v)- As far Baluchistan etc India should ensure their human rights through proper HR mechanism --- After attack, allegedly by Pakistan sponsored terrorists, at Army-camp at Uri in J&K on September, 18 (in which 20 soldier were killed and equally injured) India (including its government) started talking about punishing Pakistan militarily in a jingoistic manner for 3-4 days. But then India saw that Pakistan was more interested in war than India for the simple reason that then Pakistan could play nuclear card to constrain world-community to find solution of Kashmir problem (especially in view of on-going unrest in Kashmir) so that Indo-Pak hostilities can be eliminated forever. Hence India went with tail-between-legs and stopped talking about military means to punish Pakistan and started talking about diplomatic and economic measures to teach Pakistan a lesson. But then as if this pusillanimity of India was not enough that suddenly on Saturday bombshell came from China which is a game changer and if India does not go for immediate retrieve of PoJK militarily even under threat of nukes then India will lose entire J&K to Pakistan and some more territories to China as explained below:- (1)- As per report on September, 24 in a leading English newspaper of Pakistan, in the wake of rising tensions at borders with India, China (through Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren) has assured in unequivocal terms its support in case of any foreign aggression and also supported Pakistans stance on the Kashmir dispute, according to a press release issued by the Punjab Chief Minister Office. China reportedly further said [Were and will be siding with Pakistan on 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. Referring to the support Beijing has been extending to Islamabad at all international forums, the diplomat reportedly said his country would continue supporting Pakistan through thick and thin]. Yu reportedly discussed with the chief minister the situation developing in held Kashmir and the progress being made on various projects under CPEC a portion of which involves a part of the disputed region. (2)- After said declaration of China about support to Pakistan the way PM Modi (in his public speech on Saturday in Kerala) appealed to the people of Pakistan to discipline government and military of Pakistan (especially when entire India was expecting tough response from Modi against the military and terrorists of Pakistan) every perspicacious political observe across the world knows that it is unmistakable sign of acceptance of defeat by PM Modi even before war (or military operation in any form) has even started against Pakistan. This is not surprising. As I mentioned at http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/detail.php?articleid=2806 China is offended the way India has been trying to harm the interest of China regarding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but China will be offended so deeply that it will go to the extent of providing open support to Pakistan and to its Kashmir cause, was not known. (3)- This of-course has brought Modi on ground who without understanding basic economic interests of the countries and without giving any importance to geo-political consideration (like former PM Nehru who offended many powerful countries through lecturing the world about non-alignment movement) was behaving like a proverbial bull in the China shop. How Nehru brought most humiliating defeat to India in 1962 Indo-Sino war which ultimately brought Nehru on ground and even broke him completely (politically) is well documented history and needs no repetition. But if PM Modi does not do course correction then India may again face much more humiliating defeat at the hands of Sino-Pak military alliance because:- (i)- In addition to other military factors which are heavily in favor of Sino-Pak formidable military alliance vis-a-vis India (which any one can tell about) one more factor will be a big problem and liability for India. In utter disregard to secularism Hindu majority India did not retrieve Muslim PoJK and instead of thus solving Kashmir problem left the people of J&K (especially Kashmiri Muslims) at the mercy of hundreds of thousands of military with AFSPA, SPA etc. As per media in addition to military at border and LOC all over India about three to five hundred thousand military is in J&K (mainly in Kashmir valley) which is a major part of spare Indian military which is meant to be moved from one place to other as per requirement of the war. (ii)- But with China joining hands with Pakistan this spare military in valley can without much difficulty be trapped from three sides and de-mobilized (by cutting its access roads, supply of military necessities, food etc especially in a hilly terrain) by Sino-Pak military alliance. This will incapacitate India to send military at various points where ever needed all along border / LOC with China and Pakistan [in a war during which Pakistan will try to take Muslim Kashmir if not remaining J&K and China will beneficially adjust its border / LOC with India and may even try to take its claimed territory of Arunachal Pradesh). (4)- Even if India tries to avoid Indo-Pak war it cannot. India should understand that now with said Chinese support to Pakistan on Kashmir, Pakistan (through Jihadis) with renewed vigor will prolong Kashmir unrest (going-on for last two and half months) and will also carry-out more terrorist attacks in J&K in order to provoke India to go for some military action against Pakistan and which will precipitate and internationalize Kashmir issue though Indo-Pak war. (5)- Therefore India should mend its way and should assure China about progress of CPEC undisturbed from Indian side in the interest of breaking said Sino-Pak military alliance. India should further declare openly that now India will take PoJK militarily even by giving threat of nukes if needed (in order to constrain world-community to let India take PoJK peacefully). (6)- As far human rights violation in Baluchistan or in any other part of Pakistan or in any other country, the right approach is to move UN for replacing Optional Protocol OP-1 by Mandatory Protocol MP-1 of ICCPR and by establishing a mechanism for enforcing human rights even on the petition of an aggrieved citizen of member erring country especially when remedy in courts and HR Commissions of erring countries are exhausted [If UN does not do it then India can get it done through SAARC]. Therefore India and its government should realize in what difficult situation it has landed itself into by unnecessarily offending China on CPEC and should do course correction as mentioned above so that the most humiliating imminent scenario for India (including further dismemberment of India by Pakistan) can be avoided. Regards Hem Raj Jain (Author of Betrayal of Americanism) Bengaluru, India Dans la meme rubrique : < > More robots entering people's daily life China sees accelerated development of express delivery sector in rural areas China's FAST discovers largest atomic cloud in universe Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) The anxiety is palatable. The question will not be made audible, but it remains: is she losing this election? Is it really slipping away? To put it in the words of Hillary Clinton: "Why am I not winning by 50 points?" 1. Epistemological poisoning. The depth of public outrage has been the consistent misunderstanding of all pundits trying to explain the current election. Why is the public so mad? Why do people seem to love Trump so much? Those charged with telling us the truth journalists, the federal government, politicians, academia, Hollywood, and the Church do not. The epistemological organs of our nation favor an illiberal anti-American view of the world, epitomized by the Jonathan Grubers and condescending Hollywood stars, that mocks the average American. Sadly, even the Republican Party thinks this way about the average American, and for that, the public burned down the RNC. While Democrats laughed, they never thought the populist fires could touch their perfect candidate. That was the boundless hubris of a reactionary community emboldened by the echo chamber of leftist politics emanating from American institutions taken over by Jacobins. Americans were tired of drinking the poison, so they shattered the epistemological world painfully constructed by the left. This is not Plato's Blue Republic; it's a democracy where people can show up and vote. 2. Democrats started losing in 2010. Democrats forget that they won last time on the basis of a change agent named Barack Obama. He promised to fundamentally transform America. We were so messed up after President Bush according to Obama and his followers that we needed this complete political overhaul. In fact, the more experienced and established Hillary Clinton lost rather incredibly to this unknown advocate of hope and change. She was the insider, and he was the outsider. McCain was the insider, and Obama was the less experienced outsider. But by 2010, the Democratic eternal dynasty of politics was already falling apart. The Congress and almost every elected office in America began moving sharply right. Presently, the nation has not had so many elected Republicans since the 1920s. That was the Tea Party and the building outrage since Obamacare. Democrats and the elite fooled themselves with the win they scored over Romney in 2012. President Obama received millions fewer votes in 2012 than 2008, and the shine and appeal of the unknown was gone. Obama was largely just another politician. Republicans continued to gain more and more congressional control in 2014. This surge has been ongoing for the Republicans since 2010. Was Hillary ever as popular or as persuasive as Barack Obama? The honest answer was always no. The hope and change of Obama is the reciprocal cry of flyover country as they mob Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton was foolish never even to try to triangulate against President Obama. She left the promise of change wide open and tied herself hopelessly to the establishment and status quo. 3. Lies, lies, lies. Of course, trust of politicians is abysmally low, but Hillary and Bill Clinton represented a unique manifestation of how political deception could work and be made profitable. Bernie Sanders warned about this, as did other parts of the true left, but it could never be taken too seriously. If the truth were told, it was never Hillary's problem it was the armies of people who lied for her. She said a video caused Benghazi. She helped put a filmmaker in jail to for his freedom of speech criticizing the prophet Muhammad. But all of it was fine and rearranged to be made politically truthful. The "fact-checkers" say she never argued in 2008 that Obama was born outside the U.S., cleverly avoiding the reality that her campaign handlers did. Bill Clinton can say Trump is racist for saying he will make America great again, though that is exactly what Clinton said to get elected in 1992. Partisans are frustrated that Trump is not being held to a high account of honesty like Hillary, but they miss the public's point. Trump is not a politician, and they view his lies as an attempt to escape a government that finds us all guilty of crimes, from the environment to taxes to hate speech and even bad thoughts. Trump is a wrecking ball that will, at least in their eyes, take down the elite world of deception and suppression or so they hope. There are dozens of other miscues that can be added to the mix: the peculiar belief that one can campaign while rarely holding press conferences, the odd communications about her health, the anemic audiences at rallies. In the end, the reality that populism is always a potentially winning American political argument, and was precisely why she lost to Obama in 2008, never came to be accepted as a real threat to the 2016 campaign. The laughter at poor Jeb Bush flailing away at a caricature that was Donald Trump never allowed the Clinton team to recognize the echo chamber they were in for months. Outspending the millionaire Trump never really seemed to matter. It all seemed so real: the convention bounce, the self-injuries of Trump, and the largely reassuring media voices. History will show the signs and that America typically gets the President she deserves. Ben Voth is an associate professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs and director of debate at Southern Methodist University. He is the co-author of a new book on political communication, Social Fragmentation and the Decline of American Democracy, with Dr. Robert Denton. Tomorrow night well see the much-awaited matchup one-on-one debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Her staff is working with the debate commission to erase height and stamina advantages of her opponent. They asked that the debate be by seated opponents which was refused as was their effort to allow her to stand on a hidden stool. Her podium will be lowered though so when the camera sweeps from candidate to candidate viewers might not notice he is considerably taller than she. Outside of the debate hall in Charlotte, North Carolina, another drama is taking place. Apparently "Black Lives Matters" needs a translation: To most of the rioters it means New Free Nikes Matter. As the first child in the family and the daughter of a small businessman who grew up in a working class community, Im with John Schindler who tweeted this week, Like Pier Pasolini, I am always on the side of the police, unless proven otherwise. Class matters. Order matters, Criminal filth does not. The media airbrush the mayhem, if not actually inciting it by biased coverage. They did it in the Trayvon Martin case as American Thinkers Jack Cashill detailed this past Friday. In Charlotte they have regularly referred to the thugs as protestors and failed to fully publicize how awful their behavior has been. Here are some examples you wont see on your news programs: Rioters attacked an elderly homeless man and beat a helpless man in parking garage and pulled off and stole his pants to further humiliate him. Reports are in of stealing and looting on a significantly large scale, hijacking cars and trucks and terrifying their occupants, blocking streets and threatening to spread the mayhem outside the city limits. BLM would in a lawful society be subject to criminal racketeering and conspiracy charges, Instead, Attorney General Loretta Lynch defended the demonstrators as people exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful protest to create change. We hear your voices and we feel your pain." Its unsurprising that the attorney general is not acting as she should. We just learned this week through late released documents of Hillary Clintons emails that the president who had asserted he first learned of her illegal use of a private unsecured email server int he newspapers had himself sent her mail on it using a pseudonym. It shows how unserious they all are about national security and the rule of law. We also learned this week that the FBI had granted immunity to five of Hillarys closest aides. Or, as the Mark Twain of Twitter, Iowahawk, David Burge, said: Breaking: FBI gives Clinton immunity in Clinton investigation. Add this to the unprecedented and grossly improper meeting between Lynch and Bill Clinton before FBI head Comey announced his decision, we know the fix was in from the outset. You have no Department of Justice. You have no FBI. What of the local police? In Los Angeles cops have been told to run away from armed suspects. In Charlotte, as in the prior cases of race riots in recent years, the DOJ has sent in troops which in the past stirred up the crowds, interfered with standard police operations and did what they could to keep the embers lit, innocent men prosecuted on no basis and moving us closer and closer to federal control of local policing -- by the most lawless of lawmen, Its not only the government behind this immiseration of our poorest communities for presumed political advantage, It is the Democratic partys money bags, billionaire George Soros, who has contributed millions to Hillary and her party, who wants open borders and a recasting of the USA into his insane version of it. heres a solitary man at the financial center of the Ferguson protest movement. No, its not victim Michael Brown or Officer Darren Wilson. Its not even the Rev. Al Sharpton, despite his ubiquitous campaign on TV and the streets. Rather, its liberal billionaire George Soros, who has built a business empire that dominates across the ocean in Europe while forging a political machine powered by nonprofit foundations that impacts American politics and policy, not unlike what he did with MoveOn.org. Mr. Soros spurred the Ferguson protest movement through years of funding and mobilizing groups across the U.S., according to interviews with key players and financial records reviewed by The Washington Times. In all, Mr. Soros gave at least $33 million in one year to support already-established groups that emboldened the grass-roots, on-the-ground activists in Ferguson, according to the most recent tax filings of his nonprofit Open Society Foundations. The financial tether from Mr. Soros to the activist groups gave rise to a combustible protest movement that transformed a one-day criminal event in Missouri into a 24-hour-a-day national cause celebre. Organizers and protestors were bussed in there as they have been in Charlotte -- where police say 70% of the people arrested were from out of state. It always takes time to sort out conflicting reports about incidents such as the death of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte but the fact is that he was shot by a black policeman when he refused to drop his gun. He had a gun, not a book in his hand when he was shot, a gun which police reported on Saturday had his fingerprints on it. There was PCP in his car and he had a prior string of arrests -- at least one for shooting at police in 2005. This has followed the usual pattern -- the honor student, family man hands up dont shoot, false witness narratives all evaporated in the light of day. And yet the press keeps showing the video his wife took in which she shouts repeatedly he had no gun and (she was going to sue if he was killed in the fray). In the meantime, local homes and businesses have been destroyed, one black protestor murdered another in cold blood and Soros and his anointed candidate keep doing well by doing evil. Its hard to fight such a well-funded propaganda effort with facts, but let me try with the help of Zero Hedge: What is most disturbing is that behind the pent up rage and thuggish violence, dressed up in the socially-acceptable package of "black lives matter" is the reality that white violence is the last thing blacks should be "protesting." Milo Yiannopoulos details even more from the statistical evidence in this short but compelling video: The big lies propagated by Soros on whose shoulders Hillary stands continues on. Shes part of what Tom Lipscomb characterizes as a gangster regime doing everything it can to expand its reach. Do these developments sound familiar to those aware of modern world history? They do to my friend Alex Bensky, who notes that if we criticize Obama we are charged with evil motives. We have a government which is suppressing the opposition by every means possible, (including misusing supposedly neutral agencies like the IRS, FBI, and DoJ), makes corporate profits depend on (corrupted by cash) government approval, not market-based competition, and now gives support for and approval of mob intimidation and violence to advance political ends. At any rate, journalists are probably too busy this Sunday to bother with such questions today. They are already drafting their copy of how splendidly -- strong is likely to be their descriptor of choice if she doesnt collapse at her mini podium -- Hillary performed in the debate taking place tomorrow night. Here's a few questions for American Thinker readers: Do you take an interest in the way society functions? Are you angry or upset about injustice, exploitation and oppression? Are you interested in political ideas and theories, even if you dont yet know much about them? Do you want to get involved in contributing to positive social change, if only in small ways at first? Lastly, no experience of activism is necessary to attend Demand the Impossible, but some experience should not prevent you applying. Does all that sound appealing? Then Demand the Impossible is for you. So just in case you thought schools and universities weren't already left-wing enough, here's a school explicitly for radicals. It's called Demand the Impossible and it will take part in London on October the 3rd. The school is the brainchild of Global Justice Now. Global Justice Now is a democratic social justice organisation working as part of a global movement to challenge the powerful and create a more just and equal world... We need to make really big changes in the world. But this wont happen overnight because power is rarely relinquished easily by those who possess it... This is how the school sells itself: Demand the Impossible is an evening course for young people about political ideas and activism, starting October 2016. Organised by Global Justice Now and the Critical Education Project. And here's a list of some of the goodies on offer at this school for radicals: Brexit Britain, London's housing crisis, migration and its causes, capitalism and alternative systems, mental health, Trump vs Clinton and more. The agitation/propaganda (agitprop) itself will take the form of interactive role-plays, talks from activists, film screenings and performance, as well as special excursions, talks, exhibitions and walks in London and elsewhere. Finally, do you also want to earn money from your radicalism; as well as forge a career? Of course you do! Thus this school for radicals offers you the possibility of an additional four-week activism placement with a campaigning organisation such as Global Justice Now, Take Back the City or Momentum. (Momentum, incidentally, is the far-left group right at the heart of Jeremy Corbyn's attempt to turn the UK into a dreary and depressing socialist utopia.) And like any business (this is in the business of radical change) which advertises itself on the Internet, this school for radicals quotes the words of various previously satisfied customers. Take this example: I feel more developed socially and mentally. I have gained new friends, insights and perspectives and I feel like a person ready to take on the world. This school also tells us that it has heard from speakers like the radical academics Doreen Massey, Jeremy Gilbert and Danny Dorling. (Interestingly enough, yet another left-wing professor (as well as an ex-terrorist and now simply a supporter of terrorism), Bill Ayers, wrote a book called Demand the Impossible!) Demand the Impossible! What do the words demand the impossible actually mean? Well, that phrase became a well-known piece of graffiti written on various walls during the French student uprisings of 1968. The full quote is: Be realistic, demand the impossible! Basically, Leftists demand the impossible -- from the state/government -- knowing full well that it can't deliver. Thus it's not the demands that these radicals really want. For example, if the UK minimum wage were to be increased to 100 an hour, such people would still demand more. Similarly, if an extra 10 billion each year were to be spent on overseas aid, then, yes, you guessed it, Social Justice Warriors would still be up in arms. The thing is that by demanding the impossible you create a revolutionary situation in which the state/government can't deliver. Then, it's hoped, the people will rebel or revolt. So, again, if the British government allowed a million extra immigrants a year into the UK, there would still be middle-class revolutionary unrest. Don't take my word for all this -- take to the words of the greatest philosopher in the world today, Slavoj Zizek! In a section of Contingency, Hegemony, Universality, titled Soyons Realistes, Demandons LImpossible!, he writes: The only 'realistic' prospect is to ground a new political universality by opting for the impossible, fully assuming the place of the exception, with no taboos, no a priori norms ('human rights', 'democracy'), respect for which would prevent us also from 're-signifying' terror, the ruthless exercise of power... (326) Theory Why do we need another school for radicals when almost every university in the UK and U.S. (more so in the U.S.) is already a school for radicals? (That's if you choose the right departments.) Well, the world is in crisis -- that's why. The world has been in crisis since the mid-to-late 19th century, according to Marxists. In addition, each year, from the 1960s onwards, the UK Socialist Workers Party has proclaimed a capitalist crisis. (Sometimes the final crisis!) Capitalism, of course, has survived these make-believe crises primarily because it's not a rigid body of theory, as Marxism is. Firstly, we get the oh-so-classic Marxist theory of racism. Or, in the words of this school for radicals, division and instability are boosting racists and fanatics from the Middle East to the US and Europe. Yes, divisions and instability which are almost exclusively really the fault of the Left and of Liberals. Demand the Impossible (DI) also has a predictable go at the evil rich. Apparently, the rich, the white and the middle-aged have used the financial crisis of 2008 to strengthen their power at the expense of the powerless and the planet itself. Then even Brexit gets a mention. Apparently, [a]fter Brexit it's the case that Britain risks being taken over by the most conservative forces in society. That's strange, because DI appears to be having a go at the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKip). In many ways UKip is far from being conservative. The status quo before Brexit included our membership of the European Union. UKip helped us get out of that bureaucratic and anti-democratic setup. UKip is also radical in its various attempts to replace the politically-correct hegemony which rules the roost in the UK today. UKip wants to take power away from the universities and the law and give it to the people; such as the seventeen-and-a-half million who voted for Brexit. Leftism is now conservative (with a small 'c'). It's a solid block of political correctness and conformity which stretches from the BBC to the schools to the law and to the universities -- and it has done, to greater or lesser degree, since the 1960s. However, this PC/Leftist onslaught got really heavy in the 1980s when a chasm developed between the Conservative government of the time and various Leftist institutions. Conclusion Make no mistake, this school is a revolutionary outfit which wants to destroy capitalist democracy. Or, as the school itself puts it, DI wants to destroy the old order of cut-throat capitalism, inherited privilege, sexism and racism; which, in any case, is crumbling. As I said earlier, saying that capitalism is crumbling is designed to be some kind of self-fulfilling prophesy. Yet even though capitalism is far from crumbing (or in crisis), if members of the middle-class Left say that it is often enough, the hope is that this revolutionary crisis may well come about. Ever wonder why there are so many Muslims and Muslim countries in the world? Over the millennia many countries were conquered, but didn't remain Persian or Greek or Roman as the case may be. You see, the countries conquered in the name of Islam, became and remained Islamic. For example Pakistan, part of India, and Malaysia both were Hindu; Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and N. Africa were Christian; Afghanistan was Buddhist. They are all Islamic now. This transformation was not by chance but by design. All these countries were conquered by force then shorn of their wealth and many of their women. Then the Muslim conquerors introduced Sharia and continued fighting the local inhabitants. The inhabitants were either forced to convert or accorded Dhimmi status. As time went on all cultures submitted and eventually became Islamic. The advance of Islam was finally reversed in Spain and stopped at the Gates of Vienna in 1642. Thereafter the power of Islam went into decline but other than Spain, it never lost its hold on the people it conquered. This decline was reversed in the Twentieth Century when Arabs became wealthy as a result of their vast oil reserves. This wealth was then deployed to conquer the west, not by Violent Jihad, but by Stealth Jihad. This design was referred to as The Islamic Doctrine. It consists of Koran (14%) which stipulates that there is no god but ALLAH and Mohammed is his messenger, Sira, Mohammeds biography (26%) and Hadiths, traditions, (60%). There are two different Korans combined into one, the Mecca Koran and the Medina Koran. Dr. Moorthy Muthuswamy writes, About sixty-one percent of the contents of the Koran are found to speak ill of the unbelievers or call for their violent conquest; at best only 2.6 percent of the verses of the Koran are noted to show goodwill toward humanity. About seventy-five percent of Muhammads biography (Sira) consists of jihad waged on unbelievers. Mohammed started as a religious preacher in Mecca. It was during this period that the Koran 2:256 stipulated. There is no compulsion in religion and 109:1 stipulated You have your religion I have mine. Ultimately he was chased out of Mecca and migrated with his followers to Medina. Then began the Jihad period. From then on people were forced to convert under pain of death or were forced to live as Dhimmis (second class citizens) and pay (Jizya) for the privilege of living there. This Jihad continued until there was no more discord. Koran 2:193. Fight them (Kafirs) until there is no more discord and the religion of Allah reigns absolute but if they submit, then only fight those who do wrong. Thus it continues until everyone in the territory has submitted to Islam, accepts Dhimmi status and pays Jizya. Quotes from the Qur'an and Hadith on war, violence, infidels, and unbelievers may be found here. For example: Ayhat 8:12, I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who are bent on denying the truth; strike, then, their necks, [O believers,] and strike off every one of their finger-tips!" Sura 9:5,29,41. Slay the idolators [non-Muslims] wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the last Day. Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! This inconsistency in the Koran is resolved by the doctrine of abrogation, wherein the Medina principles abrogate the Mecca principles. Migration intends to overtake the host country through this doctrine. It is driven by Islams proscription against assimilation, and its will to dominate. 51% of the Koran concerns itself with the Kafir. It is a political doctrine not a religious one. There is no golden rule. Kafirs are to be subjugated. Muslims are to dominate. Dr Bill Warner summarizes this as follows: Migration is part of the doctrine of jihad. Migration is so important that the Islamic calendar is based upon the Hijra, Mohammeds migration from Mecca to Medina. Why? Because it was migration that lead to the creation of jihad in Medina. And it was jihad that made Islam triumphant. In the past Muslims tended to stay in Islamic countries. Today, the new politics is to migrate to Kafir lands and immerse themselves in local politics. This is the jihad of money, writing and speech. Their politics is to bring the Sharia to Kafir culture. An example is using Islamic money is to build departments in universities that will support Sharia and never criticize Islam. To understand how they do it, read 4 Stages of Islamic Conquest. Unfortunately this migration is encouraged by globalist leaders such as Chancellor Merkel and President Obama. And of course, Hillary Clinton aspires to be one of them. Professor Belhaj explains elites encourage migration and accommodate Islam, and described the harmony between Muslim migrants and neoliberalism as structural, and not accidental. Migration is useful for the neo-liberal model of the borderless, minimal, global society The Muslim Brotherhood met in 1991 and produced a document which set out its strategic goals for North America. The document was entered as evidence in the 2008 Holyland Terror Funding Trial. It contained among other things, the following paragraphs: Enablement of Islam in North America, meaning: establishing an effective and a stable Islamic Movement led by the Muslim Brotherhood which adopts Muslims causes domestically and globally, and which works to expand the observant Muslim base, aims at unifying and directing Muslims efforts, presents Islam as a civilization alternative, and supports the global Islamic State wherever it is. ...the Movement must plan and struggle to obtain "the keys" and the tools of this process in carry out [sic] this grand mission as a 'Civilization Jihadist' responsibility. The process of settlement is a Civilization-Jihadist Process with all the word means. The Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers [W]e must possess a mastery of the art of coalitions, the art of absorption and the principles of cooperation. Pres Obama and Secretary Clinton, upon taking office, embraced the Muslim Brotherhood and worked with them to depose Mubarak and Assad. Luckily General al Sisi reversed their victory in Egypt and Assad, with the help of Iran and Russia, thwarted their plans in Syria. In Why is Obama in Bed with the Muslim Brotherhood? I wrote The alliance between the Obama administration and the Muslim Brotherhood is the cornerstone of Obamas New Middle East policy. Capt. Joseph R. John, USN (Ret), the Chairman of Combat Veterans for Congress PAC, wrote in June 2016: Members of the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and MPAC have sinister goals that are not in support of the US Constitution or The Bill of Rights. They have become a very dangerous Fifth Column in the United States, appointed by Obama to very high and sensitive positions in the US Government agencies. For nearly 8 years Obama has been filling the Washington bureaucracy including DHS, the CIA, DOD, the National Security Council, the White House, the State Department, every US Intelligence Agency, and the US Armed Forces with thousands of members of the CAIR, MPAC, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other Muslim Brotherhood front groups. In June of this year Donald Trump recognized the danger of Muslim migration and said, This could be the all-time great Trojan horse. And so it is but the US elites refuse to recognize it. On August 15/16 he gave a speech on immigration and terrorism in which he clarified; A Trump Administration will establish a clear principle that will govern all decisions pertaining to immigration: we should only admit into this country those who share our values and respect our people. In the Cold War, we had an ideological screening test. The time is overdue to develop a new screening test for the threats we face today. In addition to screening out all members or sympathizers of terrorist groups, we must also screen out any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles or who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law. Those who do not believe in our Constitution, or who support bigotry and hatred, will not be admitted for immigration into the country. So you can see, rather that limiting his policy to weeding out terrorists, he advocates weeding out Jihadists who want to subjugate America to Islam. This is not racism. It is common sense. Trump has been stressing that Hillary Clinton wants to let in 550% more refugees than the 10,000 Obama let in. In response I wrote Dont be duped about Muslim migration to the US in which I pointed out that the problem is much bigger and that no distinction should be made between refugees and immigrants. According to a report highlighted by Megyn Kelly, According to the Report, Obama has issued over 832,000 green cards to Muslim majority countries in his first 6 years of his presidency. In addition, 482,000 Muslims overstayed their visas and are not being sent back. These Muslims support Sharia to an astonishing degree. In Afghanistan 99%, in Iraq 91% and in Pakistan 70%. When in the US 70% vote Democrat. And now Obama is intending to allow in another 1 million Muslims. Jewish Americans are very supportive of allowing such numbers into the US. They argue either we have a duty to do so or that Jews should be more welcoming given the history of America banning Jewish immigration in the thirties and forties. But this analogy doesnt hold up at all. Jews were no threat to Americans personally and to their values, whereas the Muslims are both. Furthermore Muslims are very anti-Semitic and very anti-Israel. The Muslims have many other countries they could go to. The Jews had no other country willing to take them in. Jews are, in effect, welcoming their enemies into the country. As for a duty to allow Muslim immigration or any immigration, there is none. We need Donald Trump. This is a perfect illustration of hardball politics when it comes to trying to prevent voter fraud. For 20 years, Ohio has purged its voter rolls of people who have not voted in the last several elections. The usual reasons for why people don't vote is that they are dead, or have moved out of state. The Hill: In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court reversed the lower court's ruling, sending the case back for remedy, CNN reported. According to the ruling, the purge would affect thousands of Ohio voters who don't vote regularly "even if he or she did not move and otherwise remains eligible to vote." The decision is a victory for the American Civil Liberties Union in Ohio that has spearheaded the campaign to defeat the practice. "We are very happy that the court found that process of purging voters in Ohio is illegal and must stop," said Mike Brickner, Senior Policy Director at the ACLU. "We don't believe that any voters should be removed from the rolls simply because they haven't voted in a few elections." According to Secretary of State Jon Husted, who is a strong supporter of the "Supplemental Process" method, the long-standing practice was used to suppress voter fraud. The decision on Friday "overturns 20 years of Ohio law and practice, which has been carried out by the last four secretaries of state, both Democrat and Republican," he said. "It is one thing to strike down a longstanding procedure; it is another to craft a workable remedy. To that end, if the final resolution requires us to reinstate voting eligibility to individuals who have died or moved out of Ohio, we will appeal," he added. The few genuine voters that are purged who simply haven't taken the time to vote but are still eligible may find it inconvenient that they need to register again (although it's become ridiculously easy to register these days.). But is that any reason to throw the whole process out and invite voter fraud? The ACLU and liberal Democrats thinks it is. Ohio's voter rolls, like almost every other state's rolls, are a mess. Records are kept on antiquated computer systems that are inadequate to the task and vulnerable to hacking. Being able to quickly differentiate between the dead and living, for example. would make the purge more efficient - and probably legal. But culling the list to include only those who are no longer eligible to vote will be a painstaking process that may not be completed in time for the November election. Over time, I have learned two lessons about socialism: first, it does not work, and second, some people just don't want to believe that it does not work. The story of Cuban communism, or socialism, is a good case in point. I've run into people over the years who praise the Cuban health care system or the so-called improvements in education. Every time I challenge them, they refer to some report from the Cuban government or something a college professor told them. It is refreshing to see someone again tackle the myths of Cuba, the self-proclaimed island paradise that is more like an island prison with a couple of bearded brothers sitting on top. So thumbs up to Vanesa Vallejo, a Colombian economist and columnist: Almost 60 years later, the results of the Castro dictatorship are appalling. Millions of Cubans have been forced to flee the island. Thousands have died defending their political ideas, while many others have spent decades in prison, or have been persecuted and harassed by Castros security services. In the economics, the picture is no less devastating. The destruction of private property and free trade have had no other effect than to tear down the countrys productivity. And the few areas that look prosperous, such as tourism, only serve to ensure, using foreign currencies, the continuity of the regimes coercive apparatus. Castros followers insist that the terrible results Cubans face are compensated by an alleged welfare state that guarantees all kinds of social benefits to its citizens. In addition, they say Cuba is a true socialist utopia that, despite the opposition of the empire, serves as an example for the rest of Latin America. To support their opinion, they mention its health and education systems, and even the achievements of its athletes. The blame also falls on the embargo, with accusations that the United States prevented the paradise island from being even more idyllic. One of the challenges of dismantling the myths of Fidels paradise is the absence of reliable statistics. There is no independent validation for the extraordinary coverage and quality indicators of health on the island, which progressives often use for propaganda. It would be very naive to believe that in a country where there is no free press, and where people cannot express themselves against the government without going to jail, a serious audit of the figures of the health system are allowed. The last point is critical. There is no objective report of any of Cuba's health care or anything else. What you get is a summary written by the people who don't allow you to challenge anything. There is no free press demanding government documents. There are no investigative reporters or any other reporters since every one works for the state media. Change will eventually come to Cuba. We are off to a rough start because the Obama approach has done nothing but to consolidate the people running everything. Nevertheless, change will come someday, and the truth of the Castro regime will be revealed. It will be an embarrassing moment for the many carrying Castro water all of these years. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. The Rev. Jesse Jackson never met a race riot he didn't like and proved it again in an interview with Fox News' Neil Cavuto. Jackson was asked repeatedly by Cavuto to condemn the violence in Charlotte outright and never answered. Instead, he appeared to give it his blessing by saying that "a riot is the language of the unheard." Washington Free Beacon: Jackson would not say at one point during the interview if the rioting was fair to the victims who were affected. Do you find that what happened last night got out of control when so many, when so many started attacking structures, attacking police vehicles, breaking into stores, many of them black owned businesses. Is that fair? Cavuto asked. Its not fun, Jackson said before referencing a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: I think that weve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. But when the police literally, and the camera becomes the conduit of justice, shoots them with their hands up in the air, again, thats wrong, and those who do it should face the full weight of quick justice, Jackson said. But you seem to be saying that all 680 cases that weve seen in the past year and a half where blacks were shot by police were all that way, Cavuto said. Were there not some that were legitimate, where a gun was involved? Shooting people in the back is not legitimate, Jackson responded. Careful, careful. Because you always say dont generalize, Cavuto said. Jackson later said that not many police officers are being shot, although the press widely covered the five Dallas police officers who were fatally shot in July. The reverend then said the police in Charlotte are covering up Tuesdays incident. Would you say you went one step too far there? Cavuto asked. Jackson did not answer the question and began quoting King again. So, you condone their losing and justify what they did? Cavuto asked. Jackson again did not answer and instead tried to propose a reverse scenario in which police officers were shooting white individuals. You are justifying what happened last night, Cavuto said. Jackson responded that he advocates for peaceful protests. With less than 6 days to go before the government runs out of money, Congress will vote this week on a stop gap measure that would fund the government through December. What is not in the Continuing Resolution is far more significant than what it contains. Not included are any controversial policy riders. Funding the battle the Zika virus is included, but at reduced levels. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gives some more details of what the CR is funding: Its a good bill because of what it does have. It contains funding for all current government operations at agreed-upon, bipartisan spending levels and under the terms and conditions President Obama signed into law last December and that more than 30 Senate Democrats supported. It contains funding for the new laws President Obama just signed, like the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act that will allow us to fight the prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. It contains a significant down payment on flood relief for the many states like Maryland, Texas, West Virginia, and Louisiana that have recently been impacted by severe flooding. It also contains record levels of funding for our veterans. Both parties and, more importantly, our constituents have called for all of these provisions and we've included them, as well as the funding we need to fight Zika. This bill contains the resources necessary to get the mosquito population under control, bring advanced diagnostics and treatments online, and develop vaccines to finally ensure expectant mothers and their babies are safe. It was unfortunate to see Democrats block this essential anti-Zika funding several times over the summer, but the concerns they raised then have been addressed in this bill in a bipartisan way. Now, with thousands infected by Zika already, there is no time to lose and zero reason to stall this essential relief again. Democrats like Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida understand that urgency and support this common sense package. This bill provides a clean $1.1 billion to help stop the spread of Zika virus with no political riders, Sen. Nelson said, and I will support it. Sen. Nelson, a Democrat, and Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, have both seen first-hand the devastating toll Zika has already taken in their home state and across our country. Weve all seen the devastating toll that severe flooding and the heroin and prescription opioid crisis have taken from coast to coast to coast. The fact that the CR funds the government at levels agreed upon last year is irrelevant. Those levels are unacceptable because they add tens of billions to the deficit. The military is upset because the reduced funding agreed to will hamper operations and readiness. About the only people who are truly happy with this CR are the bureaucrats who will once again be able to expand their power through additional funding. If this is "bi-partisanship," give me gridlock every day. After three days of massive bombardment of the Syrian city of Aleppo, it seems clear that the ceasefire negotiated between the US and Russia was a ruse to allow President Assad and Vladimir Putin to organize their forces to make a primal push to take the city and deal a huge blow to the rebellion. It's being called the most intense fighting of the 5 year civil war as cluster bombs, barrel bombs, and other ordnance rains down on helpless, defenseless people. Russia has targeted aid stations, the rebel water supply, and rebel held neighborhoods in a bid to soften up the opposition for what one Syrian officer said was a ground assault on the city. It appears that there was never a serious effort by Assad to obey the terms of the ceasefire. And because of John Kerry's stupidity and naivete, the two million people trapped by the Aleppo seige are paying for it. Associated Press: Government forces captured the rebel-held Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat as airstrikes pounded rebel-held eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, killing 52 people, including 11 children and six women, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said 49 were killed on Saturday alone. The Observatory said the death toll in Aleppo is expected to rise since many people are in critical condition and rescue workers are still digging through the rubble. Residents say the latest bombardment is the worst they've seen since rebels captured parts of the city in 2012. Activists reported dozens of airstrikes on Friday alone. "Since the beginning of the crisis, Aleppo has not been subjected to such a vicious campaign," said Mohammed Abu Jaafar, a forensics expert based in the city. "Aleppo is being wiped out." For days, videos and photographs from eastern Aleppo have shown flattened buildings and paramedics pulling bodies from the rubble. Wounded people have flooded into clinics, where many are being treated on the floor because of a lack of stretchers. "People in Aleppo already suffocating under the effects of the siege, have yet again come under horrific attack," said Carlos Francisco of Doctors Without Borders, which supports a number of area clinics. "No aid, including urgent medical supplies, is allowed to enter." "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." U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the "chilling" escalation in Aleppo, which he said marked the "most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict." The statement issued by his spokesman said the reported use of "indiscriminate" weapons in densely populated areas "may amount to war crimes." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking at Tufts University in Boston, said what was happening in Aleppo was "beyond the pale." "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 in medieval terms to an entire community," he said. Did Kerry actually believe that Assad and Putin were "serious about wanting a peaceful outcome to this war"? Why should they be when they are clearly on the cusp of a stunning military victory? Kerry's arrogance in believing in his own powers of persuasion would be amusing if the consequences of his doltishness weren't so profound. And that includes his being taken in by Iran during negotiations over the nuclear deal. Kerry's massive failure has been covered up by soothing lies told about the agreement by the administration and their surrogates. Only now are we beginning to understand the depth of the betrayal by Kerry and Obama as we continue to fund Iranian terrorists and their military with assets that have been released. The humanitarian disaster that will result from a protracted ground campaign in Aleppo will be unthinkable. It will be another war atrocity committed by Vladimir Putin and his puppet Bashar Assad. Kerry's breathtaking stupidity in being duped by a negotiating partner is something we've come to expect. Early in my career as one of those "university academics," I experienced a number of intellectual revelations at least revelations for a fat boy who had grown up mostly in Cleburne, Texas and (earlier) in Winslow, Arizona. Some of these were when I began courses in marketing and statistics that eventually led to a B.S. in economics, a MBA, and a Ph.D. in economics. One of the first assignments I remember in my first statistics course was to read a book titled How to Lie with Statistics. This book was assigned not to teach us things we were supposed to do when collecting data and when using statistical analysis to interpret that data. This book was assigned to teach us what we were supposed not to do there. To cloak statistical analysis in such forbidden procedures was not scientific at all: that type of research was revealed as merely an elaborate sham to promote some outcome the user held at the onset, an outcome or determination that had no scientific "truth" about it. Much of what we are sold as "scientific" results is really only propaganda. Also included with this assignment were some lectures about associated considerations delivered by our old milquetoast professor, one Vernon Clover: bad dandruff, small stature, and (in opposition to evolved faculty today) not a political agenda in sight. These observations might be grouped in a file folder titled "The Scientific Method." These lectures focused on parameters valuable for researchers striving to separate chicken salad from the other chicken stuff. One parameter is that one can never prove anything; we cannot know all the data. The best we can hope to do is fail to disprove the alternate hypothesis to our study. If we fail to disprove the alternate hypothesis, then the scientific conclusion is that we tentatively accept the primary hypotheses, pending further investigation. Inescapably, therefore, science is never settled. Another parameter is "garbage in, garbage out" in referring to the design of the data collection experiment to exclude data noise and to include all relevant data possible within budget and time constraints. Simon Kuznets, back in the 1920s, was the head of a federal office first charged with developing our national databases. A quote attributed to him went (paraphrased): "The government can collect all the data it wants, and its researchers and statisticians can massage that data, run transformations on that data, do all sorts of things to that data in the name of accurate and meaningful results. But we must never forget that in the first instance, the data were written down by the town watchman, who writes down what he damned pleases." Another parameter is to avoid any personal bias, held at the onset, as to what the conclusions of the study should be. Otherwise, the experiment will not yield chicken salad. Of course: all humans are biased at some level, and this bias creeps in to all science and skews conclusions. At the least, there is cultural bias. Muslims, for example, will not research certain tenets of their faith. Nor will we of ours. Or of racial differences in I.Q. Or gender. Except to "prove" some pre-determined value judgment. Not chicken salad, there. Finally, we were cautioned about the "engineer mentality:" Science seeks to operate in the realm of what is and of what can be done. Science has absolutely nothing to say about whether we ought to do something. That is a personal opinion one no more valid than any other. That point is where the marketing comes in. Say "goodnight," Al Gore. The anarchy we saw in Charlotte, N.C. was not about an action taken by police; it was about an organized gang of thugs raging against a system that was put in place to stop them from doing what thugs do, which is rip off the decent, hardworking residents and business owners of the community. Every city has its loafers, burglars, and violent predators hanging out on the street corners looking for victims to prey upon. Typically, these lowlife cretins will swoop down on their victims under the cover of darkness. However, what they really want is an excuse to break into those stores with impunity and steal what theyre too lazy to work for. Hence, when a cop does his job, and it happens to involve the death or injury of a black person, it becomes a siren call for undocumented burglars to go on a spree. They dont care to wait for the facts of the incident because that would just delay or deter them from seizing an opportunity to commit criminal acts under the guise of protests. Moreover, we have a black president and a black attorney general who encourage anarchy every time they take to the airwaves and talk about the injustice they claim is at the root of these riots. In fact, they are sowing the seeds of anarchy by condoning wanton violence, arson, and looting. The result is that our country is being ruled by a thugocracy a government run by thugs on a power trip, twisting the law to suit their nefarious ends. They feel impervious to criticism and/or punishment because they wear their skin color as a shield against any form of prosecution. Therefore, we are in the bizarre position of having twice elected the first black POTUS, while were being constantly scolded for being racist. Every word, gesture, and nuance is being parsed and magnified in a cynical attempt to scare non-blacks into a state of reticent acquiescence. The left-wing lunatics realize that their days are numbered if they dont find a way to discredit the national movement for Donald Trump, which is poised for a victory in November. They feel that the best way to accomplish that is to muzzle people by twisting their words until everything sounds racially motivated. Something as innocuous as Itll be a dark day in America if Hillary Clinton is elected could be interpreted as a reference to skin color. Its a dishonest and despicable tactic that restrains free speech and keeps the opposition on the defensive. No decent person wants to be characterized as a bigot. So if such a charge is made, the victim of the accusation is forced to deny the slur and lose sight of the message he was trying to convey. Since its impossible to disprove a negative, the victim is often relegated to a series of contrite utterances where none should be needed. Social media has only exacerbated the problem by giving race-baiters a verbal bludgeon to batter their opponents with false accusations in an effort to shut them up. If someone posts an opinion of disapproval regarding the arson and looting, theyre almost certain to be badgered and bullied by the usual internet trolls who dont have the class or the intellect to engage in civilized discussion. We need to see this for what it is: a tyrannical scheme to stifle dissent and further the aims of left-wing philosophy! While good people are wasting time assuring the accusers they are pure of heart, the issue that was germane to the discussion has disintegrated into a puff of fraudulent smoke. White people have been practically stripped of their right to free speech, while blacks have been given a license to use abusive, racist language with no consequences. Inasmuch as the most potent weapon in a democracy is free speech, if we lose it because we were conned into adopting a morbid fear that our words are tantamount to subliminal racism, censorship and tyranny may be closer than we think. To paraphrase Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a Harvard professor you may have heard of, censorship is to speech as lynching is to justice. The editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal had an op-ed piece that gave me pause, even coming from that newspaper. It was "The United States Must Be the World's Policeman' by one Anders Fogh Rasmussen. (Note the operative word 'must.') Rasmussen is no impartial observer on such matters. He is a former prime minister of Denmark and for five years Secretary General of NATO. He is part of the European elite. In his WSJ piece, this Dane goes through the usual litany of why the world needs shelter under the wing of the America eagle. Interestingly, he does this without even a mention of the cost to the U.S. for playing such a role. But let's allow that slight go for now. Although he writes in global terms, Rasmussen real concern is for Europe which he believes needs the U.S. to defend it from Russia as the European Union countries are, as he puts it, too weak, divided, and leaderless to do it for themselves. But does this square with reality, that Russia is an ominous threat to Europe and that Europe cannot defend itself? Let's see. The population of the European Union countries is 510 million while Russia's is but 143 million. The gross domestic product of the EU combined is around $18 trillion while Russia's is only $1.13 trillion, slightly above Mexico's GDP. The elephant in the room which Rasmussen completely ignores is not why can't Europe defend itself but why Europe won't defend itself? The short answer to that question is because Europe has grown accustomed to two things. First is the fact that since the end of WWII -- over 70 years ago -- America has carried the main burden for Europe's defense without serious complaint. This has caused a frightening degree of infantilism to take root in the minds of the European political class. Europe now believe that it is the natural order of things for Europe to do the 'thinking' and for the U.S. to do the 'fighting'. After all, in their minds, we're a bunch of cowboys anyway who like nothing better than to roll around in the mud and shoot guns. Yee-ha! Second and more significantly, this multi-generational vacation from paying for its own defense has enabled Europe to build a vast welfare state. This has become so entrenched in the politics and culture of present day Europe that it would take nothing short of an act of God to diminish it. The European welfare state is a costly enterprise that is already straining the budgets of nearly every country on the continent. If the added expense for an adequate defense were to be imposed on Europe, their welfare system would have to be drastically trimmed. It could even collapse. This might literally rip some European countries apart. It is thus far easier for Europe's leaders to use their sliver tongues to try and convince America to continue to soldier on -- all for our own benefit, of course. Without a doubt, maintaining the status quo is in Europes benefit. But is it in ours? With our own $20 trillion debt, why should America be going deeper into debt for a Europe that steadfastly refuses to defend itself? And why be put in a position where one day, an American president might have to say, as Slim Pickins did in the film Dr. Strangelove, "Well boys, I reckon this is it. Nuclear combat, toe-to-toe with the Ruskies." And you better believe that if that horrible nuclear nightmare ever came to be, European leaders would be conniving in every which way possible for the missiles to sail over Europe as they go to and from America. True, nuclear war with Russia is quite improbable. But a conventional one is not so much so, especially if NATO continues to push up against the Russian border. And here, who can reasonably expect soft Europe to carry its share of the burden for defending itself? Before you discount this thought, consider the demographics of Europe. For decades now, the birth rates of European countries have been dismal. The accepted birth rate to maintain a population is 2.1 children per woman. Europe's birthrate is a mere 1.6. This means that many European families consist of one child for a set of parents and and two sets of grandparents. In such a situation, that sole child is more precious than children in a large, traditional family. That in turn makes European families extremely averse to risking their posterity on the battlefield. So here again in the case of conventional warfare, American men and women would be expected to do the bulk of the fighting and dying --- all for Europe. This brings us to our presidential race. Without question, Hillary Clinton is the candidate of the status quo. This is why some hawkish Republicans are abandoning their party to support her. One can expect Mrs. Clinton to support NATO in a manner and degree that will delight Rasmussen and the rest of the European elite. She is their candidate. Donald Trump is another matter with his 'Make America Great Again' theme. Trump's critics exaggerate in saying that he is reckless and will destroy NATO. To see how Trump's campaign theme rankles the feathers of the European elite, Denmarks Rasmussen has the chutzpah to say, "His [Trump's] slogan is out of touch with what is actually the role of the United States." I don't know about you, but I find it highly insulting to have my country's role defined by a self-serving foreigner. The complaints about Trump relative to NATO do not hold water. The Donald's aim is to introduce needed reforms into NATO, painful reforms that the political establishments both here and in Europe are loath to take. The unvarnished truth is that the inordinate amount of support America gives to NATO is not so much to defend Europe from Putin as it to defend Europe's bloated cradle-to-grave welfare states. Enough is enough. Only a few days ago was it reported that the South Korean government had asked Samsung to delay the exchange program of the Galaxy Note 7 in the country. Initially, Samsung planned on resuming Galaxy Note 7 sales on September 28th, but it appears the company has listened to the governments request and has decided to push this date back to October 1st. The recall, which was announced at the beginning of September, will see Samsung replace all 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 units sold worldwide. In some countries, customers have the option of returning their Galaxy Note 7 and receiving a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge in exchange, while the majority of countries have the sole option of simply waiting until the company resumes sales of the phablet in order to receive a new unit. As South Korea was one of the first countries to start the recall process, it makes sense that Samsung will resume sales of the device in this country first, but with the delay, the safe Galaxy Note 7 wont be available to purchase until three days later than originally anticipated. The reason for this delay is so that the lengthy recall process can be completed as quick as possible before the restart of Galaxy Note 7 sales which, inevitably, will slow down the recall process quite substantially. Disappointingly for Samsung, its South Korean recall program doesnt seem to be going as smoothly as in other countries, with roughly half of the devices sold in the country still waiting to be returned, representing over 200,000 units. This is in contrast to other markets such as the United States where nearly 500,000 Galaxy Note 7 models were returned within the first two days. For those who live in other countries, there is no reason to expect any further delays outside of South Korea. This delay has happened under the request of the government and sales arent expected to begin in other countries until mid-October or even November in certain countries. Unfortunately, the recalled devices arent the only problem in the firms hands right now, with some South Korean consumers logging further battery complaints, but this time for the replacement devices. It appears the new devices seem to be losing power quicker than usual when the devices are charging. Government officials have requested that all battery suppliers conduct x-ray tests before they are shipped alongside the additional tests Samsung has to do. The only thing that remains to be seen right now is whether the company can successfully save its next revenue report and get past the recall. Instapundit v free speech: the censorship run down When WBTV News of Charlotte Tweeted LIVE NOW: Protesters on I-277 stopping traffic and surrounding vehicles. AVOID. Watch live http://3wb.tv/1TGw8DS #KeithLamontScott, @Instapundit, aka Glenn Reynolds responded, Run them down. For that Reynolds was banned from free-speech loving twitter for a day. And it got worse. He was then suspended for one month by USA Today, which runs his twice-weekly column. Reynolds works as a law professor at the University of Tennessee and publishes the Instapundit news aggregator and comment sheet. The Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law Melanie D. Wilson says: Professor Reynolds has built a significant platform to discuss his viewpoints, but his remarks on Twitter are 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. 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. Did he encourage violence? Would anyone sane who follows Instapundit see the tweet and be inspired to run someone down? Twitter has a pretty low view of its users if it thinks they can be driven to commit violent acts in just 13 characters (including spaces). And does Tennessee College of Law really think Reynolds was advocating violence? The tweet was snappy, a tad glib and, well, a tweet. The great American tweet has yet to be written. In the meanwhile, millions struggle to make a defining comment in 140 characters or less. The trouble is that in the current climate of You cant say that one tweet can be held up as something that defines you. The twitter mob love a twitter hunt. One tweet can ruin you. Free speech needs context. Reynolds is no rabble-rouser bent on civil disobedience and violence. But stripped of context, a three-word tweet can be corrupted to reveal something essential about the tweeter and the banner. If you agree with it, then youre a right-wing loon. Disagree with it and the tweet signals your virtue. You can get a T-shirt bearing the message: Deliberately killing innocent people with a car is WRONG. Honk twice is you agree. Dont bother honking if you dont (itll only warn them that youre coming). The backdrop to these tweets and their fallout is the death of Keith L. Scott, a 43-year-old black man shot dead by police officer outside an apartment complex. Its a highly sensitive subject. Was the victim armed? Are the police institutionally racist? Do these questions scare twitter, the Press and the universities? If the subject is big enough, do the aforesaid champions of free speech start advocating a need for censorship, slapping a big but after I believe in free speech? Yes. It sure looks that way. Reynolds has explained his position: 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. He says he removed the offending tweet so that I can tweet my response to this affair. But once thats over, I intend to shut it down. I dont see why I should provide content to a platform that will shut me down without notice. The USA Today ban hurts more. That gig pays. Reynolds apologised to the papers readers. He explained some more, saying automobiles in a riot should keep driving, in order to ensure driver safety. What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles, he said. 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. Two words beats three. On twitter, brevity rules. Play it safe and say nothing. Reynolds explained some more: But riots arent peaceful protest. And blocking interstates and trapping people in their cars is not peaceful protest its threatening and dangerous, especially against the background of people rioting, cops being injured, civilian-on-civilian shootings, and so on. I wouldnt actually aim for people blocking the road, but I wouldnt stop because Id fear for my safety, as I think any reasonable person would. Thats the run down. Discuss. Paul Sorene Posted: 25th, September 2016 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink 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. Al Ali who was instrumental in overseeing the launch of the first low cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa was recognised for his efforts in further strengthening Air Arabias leadership position in the region and his role in delivering outstanding results for the airline. The award was presented to Al Ali at a ceremony held at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. As one of the most coveted business honours in the region, the CEO Middle East Awards are presented to senior executives with a strong vision for their companies, demonstrate excellence in leadership and make vital contributions to the growth of business across the region. Al Ali said: "I accept this award on behalf of the entire Air Arabia team as the success of our airline mirrors the shared commitment and hard work of every member in scaling new heights to deliver a memorable flying experience for our guests, and constantly weathering the ever-changing market forces." The companys existing Design Organisation Approval (DOA) for conventional manned aircraft has been extended to cover UAS the critical step in allowing it to achieve type certification for that class of aircraft. The milestone was reached two years after its Atlante UAS became the first UAS to be submitted to EASA for civil certification. EASA and Airbus Defence and Space have been working closely together to develop certification processes based on the existing system for manned aircraft and to agree new practice where no procedures were previously in place. Jana Rosenmann, head of UAS, Airbus Defence and Space said: Establishing the UAS category in DOAs will be a key element in the regulatory regime needed to foster UAS development in Europe. As a company we are determined to maintain a leading industrial position in the civil UAS sector, but all players stand to benefit from the establishment of the optimum regulatory framework. The gospels are not designed to be exhaustive, chronological descriptions Jesus. Each gospel is written in order to present a particular side of the magnificent Messiah. Our Savior is far too altogether lovely to be illustrated in one painting. Therefore, in addition to all of the Old Testament passages, we have been given four gospels, each of which paints related but different paintings of His majesty. The gospels also demand a response from the reader. The gospels are designed to get the reader to ask and answer, Who is this man?! Matthew presented Jesus of Nazareth as the King. More specifically, Jesus is the Rejected Savior King. The genealogy provided by Matthew indicates that Jesus is descended from Abraham and David, both of which are necessary to be the King. Matthew provides announcements and heralding of the King. The star in the east, the Magi, John the Baptist, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit all announce that this Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited King. Jesus proves Himself worthy in the wilderness temptations where He succeeds in that which the first Adam and all mankind failed miserably. In the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed the laws of the kingdom that His subjects are to obey. In the healings, cleansing of lepers, casting out demons, raising from the dead, restoring sight, restoring speech, etc., Jesus gives an unmistakable display of His Kingly power. Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the King. Once Jesus displayed this mighty power, He delegated that power. He gave his disciples authority and power and sent them out into the cities to do what He would have done. When the disciples returned, Jesus began to teach them difficult truths. He taught them specifically about the rejection the King would face and thus the rejection they would face. The King would have no place to lay His head. Take no money with you but rely on the generosity of those you minister to. You will be sent out as sheep among wolves. You will be handed over to courts to be beaten and scourged. You will be hated. Do not fear those who can kill the body but fear the One who can kill the body and cast the soul into hell. You must deny yourself and take up your cross. Matthew records the formal presentation of the King followed by the absolute, methodical rejection of the King. On the final leg of Jesus journey to Jerusalem, the blind men cry out all the more that Jesus is the Son of David and thus the King. Palm Sunday clearly demonstrates Jesus as the long-awaited King. The unridden colt, the palm branches, the coats, the crowds shouting Hosanna to the King and the children in the Temple shouting the same thing present a complete acknowledgement that Jesus is the King. Matthew next records a complete and methodical rejection of the King. Through a series of mock and illegal trials, Jesus was rejected as King by a Jewish political court, a Jewish religious court, and a Roman court. The same crowds who heralded Jesus as King just days earlier shouted Crucify Him to Pilate. Praise God, Matthews record does not stop here. There is a final proof and triumph which could not be more absolute. The tomb remains empty and the One who was placed there appeared several times to many people before ascending. In the Great Commission, Jesus declared that all authority is given to Him. Furthermore, He lives in the hearts of His subjects to this day. Who is this man?! Speaking before thousands of catechists from around the world during the Jubilee Mass, Pope Francis highlighted "the centre" of the faith that is to be proclaimed: "the Lord Jesus is risen, [. . .] and he has given his life for you. He also focused on the quality of the messenger, who proclaims not by the power of convincing, never by imposing the truth, no less by growing fixated on some religious or moral obligation. The rich man is blind because he does not see the poor. He squints because he looks with adulation at famous people, of high rank, admired by the world, yet turns his gaze away from the many Lazaruses of today. Nowadays, we have fallen into this abyss of indifference, worldliness, selfishness". Francis expressed solidarity with Mexican bishops committed to the family against gender ideology. He mentioned the beatification of Fr Engelmar Unzeitig, killed in Dachau as well as the Day of the Deaf. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis, in his homily during the Jubilee Mass for catechists, those engaged in the Church in proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and the teaching of the Catholic faith, said that It is by loving that the God-who-is-Love is proclaimed to the world: not by the power of convincing, never by imposing the truth, no less by growing fixated on some religious or moral obligation. More than 15,000 catechists from around the world came to Rome for the occasion, representing the millions scattered in all nations. Several hundred came from Asia. Many are volunteers; others are paid full-time to proclaim the Christian faith. In his address, the pontiff clearly defined the Christian message that they communicate. This centre around which everything revolves, this beating heart which gives life to everything, is the Pasqual proclamation, the first proclamation: the Lord Jesus is risen, the Lord Jesus loves you, and he has given his life for you; risen and alive, he is close to you and waits for you every day. We must never forget this. On this Jubilee for Catechists, we are being asked not to tire of keeping the key message of the faith front and centre: the Lord is risen. Nothing is more important; nothing is clearer or more relevant than this. The pope then turned to the messenger who passes on the proclamation. It is by loving that the God-who-is-Love is proclaimed to the world: not by the power of convincing, never by imposing the truth, no less by growing fixated on some religious or moral obligation. God is proclaimed through the encounter between persons, with care for their history and their journey. Because the Lord is not an idea, but a living person: his message is passed on through simple and authentic testimony, by listening and welcoming, with joy which radiates outward. We do not speak convincingly about Jesus when we are sad; nor do we transmit Gods beauty merely with beautiful homilies. The God of hope is proclaimed by living out the Gospel of love in the present moment, without being afraid of testifying to it, even in new ways. To explain what love is, Francis was inspired by the parable of the rich man and the beggar from in today's Gospel (26th Sunday, Year C, Luke, 16:19-31). This rich man, in fact, does not do evil towards anyone; nothing says that he is a bad man. But he has a sickness much greater than Lazarus, who was full of sores (ibid.): this rich man suffers from terrible blindness, because he is not able to look beyond his world, made of banquets and fine clothing. He cannot see beyond the door of his house to where Lazarus lies, because what is happening outside does not interest him. He does not see with his eyes, because he cannot feel with his heart. For into it a worldliness has entered which anaesthetizes the soul. This worldliness is like a black hole that swallows up what is good, which extinguishes love, because it consumes everything in its very self. And so here a person sees only outward appearances, no longer noticing others because one has become indifferent to everyone. The one who suffers from grave blindness often takes on squinting behaviour: he looks with adulation at famous people, of high rank, admired by the world, yet turns his gaze away from the many Lazaruses of today, from the poor, from the suffering who are the Lords beloved. Conversely, the Lord looks at those who are neglected and discarded by the world. Lazarus is the only one named in all of Jesus parables. His name means God helps. God does not forget him; he will welcome him to the banquet in his kingdom, together with Abram, in communion with all who suffer. The rich man in the parable, on the other hand, does not even have a name; his life passes by forgotten, because whoever lives for himself does not make history. Todays callousness causes the digging of chasms that can never be crossed. Pausing and looking at the tens of thousands of people gathered, Francis added spontaneously, "And we have fallen into this abyss of indifference, worldliness, selfishness". He contrasted the opulent life of the rich man who is all about his needs and rights even after death to Lazarus poverty from whose mouth no complaints or protests or scornful words issue. As servants of the word of Jesus we have been called not to parade our appearances and not to seek for glory; nor can we be sad or full of complaints. We are not prophets of gloom who take delight in unearthing dangers or deviations; we are not people who become ensconced in our own surroundings, handing out bitter judgments on our society, on the Church, on everything and everyone, polluting the world with our negativity. Pitiful scepticism does not belong to whoever is close to the word of God. Whoever proclaims the hope of Jesus is one who carries joy and sees a great distance, because he knows how to see beyond evil and beyond his problems. At the same time, he sees clearly from up close, because he is attentive to his neighbour and to their needs. The Lord is asking this of us today: before all the Lazaruses whom we see, we are called to be disturbed, to find ways to meet and help, without always delegating to others, or saying: I will help you tomorrow. The time taken to help is time given to Jesus; it is love that remains: it is our treasure in heaven, which we earn here on earth. Lastly, And so, may the Lord give us the grace to be renewed every day by the joy of the first proclamation to us: Jesus loves us personally! May he give us the strength to live and proclaim the commandment of love, overcoming blindness of appearances, and worldly sadness. May he make us sensitive to the poor, who are not an afterthought in the Gospel but an important page, always open before us. At the end of the Mass before the Angelus, Pope Francis thanked all the catechists present. "Thank you for your commitment to the Church in the service of evangelisation. May Mary help you persevere on the path of faith and bear witness with your life to what you pass on in catechesis. " The pontiff also expressed solidarity with Mexican bishops, engaged in a standoff with President Enrique Pena Nieto, who in recent months expressed his willingness to introduce gender ideology and recognise same-sex marriage with adoption rights for gay couples. "I am very happy, the pope said, to associate myself with the Bishops of Mexico, in supporting the commitment of the Church and of civil society in favour of the family and of life, which in this time require special pastoral and cultural attention in all the world. The Holy Father went on to say, I assure my prayer for the dear Mexican people, that the violence, which has in recent days reached even several priests, might cease. On 18 September, two priests, Frs Alejo Nabor Jimenez Juarez and Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, from the Diocese of Papantla (Veracruz state), were abducted and found dead the next day. Francis also mentioned yesterdays beatification, in Wurzburg (Germany), of Engelmar Unzeitig, a priest with the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill. "Killed in hatred of the faith in the extermination camp of Dachau, he said, he opposed love to hatred, meekness to ferocity. May his example help us be witnesses of charity and hope even in the midst of trials." Finally, on the occasion of the Day of the Deaf, which falls today, Francis greeted "all deaf people, represented here as well, encouraging them to make their contribution to a Church and a society increasingly able to accommodate" them. Kangaroo Nuts! I am actually in love with their Garlic Cashews, Honey Cashews and Seaweed Nuts! Their nuts are definitely fresh and are high quality because you can really taste fresh nuts bite after bite. No spoiled ones like other brands! Kangaroo Nuts are available at leading supermarkets and groceries near you! Like them on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/Kangaroonutsph If you have tried this brand, let me know your favorite variant! Keep smilin' Stay happy! Whenever we go to a mall, supermarket is definitely part of the itinerary not because we love spending money on groceries but because Kyle Nash considers the "supermarket" as his "Toy Store". One of our favorite supermarket is at Lucky Chinatown called Metro, I actually enjoy walking through their aisles of snacks from different countries --- Japan, Thailand, South Korea, China, Taiwan, etc...And I found something new at the "snacks aisle".We love stocking for snacks, especially since I wait for Kyle in preschool for 3 hours daily so snacking really is part of the routine! With the addition of my favorite cup of coffee, my day will be made! But I have to be careful with the snacks I choose, they have to be healthy, because I AM NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER!Kangaroo Nuts products are made from freshly-harvested top quality nuts and seasoned using the finest ingredientsBut of course, I can't just accept what they say so I have to really try on their wide range of nuts!Garlic Cashews, Salted Pistachios, Sugar Peanuts, Maple Glazed Cashews, Mocha Almonds, Teriyaki Cashews, Seaweed Nuts and Chedder Cheese Almonds just to name a few. Dog house on patio at Lucky's Burger & Brew in Atlanta photo by Charles Siskin Dog themed chairs at Lucky's photo by Charles Siskin Lucky Dog Dessert Burger photo by Charles Siskin The signature Grim Reaper Burger at Lucky's photo by Charles Siskin Ernie and Diane Geyer, owners of Lucky's with their third generation Golden Retreiver, Lucky photo by Charles Siskin Lucky having a well deserved drink after a tough day at his namesake restaurant photo by Charles Siskin Previous Next Lets face it; Im a push over for most animals excluding snakes. Especially snakes. Recently on a trip to Atlanta to spend some quality face time with my two youngest granddaughters, one a bona fide teen ager and the other on the cusp but acting like one, my wife suggested we head out to Luckys Burgers and Brew. Shed actually heard about it down here at the Beach from Diane Geyer whose husband, Ernie, developed the restaurant concept. Several years ago Ernie Geyer was diagnosed with cancer. Subsequently he went to the University of Floridas Shands Hospital in Jacksonville for treatment. When he realized he needed to be in the Jacksonville area for a period of time he decided to rent a place in St. Augustine. His best pal in the dog world was his golden retriever, Lucky, who went pretty much everywhere that Ernie went. (sounds like a well-known lambs story) Consequentially it was Lucky that took up residence with Ernie in St. Augustine and saw him through those dark days and the happy ending when Ernie was declared cancer free. Ironically a number of years later Lucky died of cancer. It was at that point that Ernie decided he needed to pay tribute to Lucky by opening a dog friendly restaurant (there are now 3). Ironically the name of my dog when I was growing up was Lucky. Is that not a total coincident and a cause to bond? As it turned out, there were numerous big life size pictures of Lucky, the Golden Retriever, covering pretty much all the walls in the restaurant. I need to note that my Lucky on the other hand was a black and white terrier about a third the size but as weve all agreed size is of no matter. While the owner encourages diners to bring their pets and sit out on the patio where there is even a dog house, we did not bring along my little French Bichon, Madame, who does not handle other dogs being in her territory. In this case that would have been the entire patio. So we sat inside which was an excellent compromise since the weather was typically hot, muggy August in Atlanta. The themed menu features aptly named burgers including the Memphis Bloodhound, the Georgia Dawg Pounder, the Poodle Chaser, the Boxer and the Retriever among others. However the mother of all burgers is the Grim Reaper. It consists of 4 beef patties, 8 slices of American Cheese, 12 strips of Applewood smoked bacon, 7 fired eggs and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. Okay no Partridge but as big as that sucker is who knows what could fly in unnoticed? Incidentally no one has ever been able to finish the Grim one and, really, who would want to? And, yes it is definitely sharable by 4 at least. But wait, wait there is the Undertaker which is a somewhat smaller version of the Reaper and while it doesnt say so on the menu, I would venture to say guarantees a trip to the morgue should you personally finish either one I suspect. I personally opted out for the Georgia Dawg Pounder. Its your basic burger but the hook here is the fried pimento cheese ball on top and as a fan of pimento cheese (what red blooded Southerner isnt?) I had to go for it. The grandchildren had the scaled down kids burger. Its your basics Lucky Burger. Unfortunately my brides choice, because of her gluten issues, was the Luckys Ham and Swiss. She was not so lucky. Lesson #1, if you are coming to a burger joint stick to what they are noted for, seriously. If you prefer a meatless burger there is a black bean burger plus there are chicken and turkey options. But why bother to come to Luckys if you arent having a burger? While I enjoyed my pimento burger what really made my visit most memorable was a dessert 3 of us shared. It is called the Lucky Dog Dessert Burger, what else? It was described on the menu as warm chocolate chip cookies, gooey brownie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It came with funnel cake fries and raspberry dipping sauce. While the girls dug into the brownie and ice cream I did a swoon over what I thought was the most outstanding part of the presentation those fries and the dipping sauce. What a neat way to serve funnel cake. Everyone thinks of funnel cake as a carnival staple where you struggle around the premises trying to eat this large mess while powder sugar leaves a bigger trail than Hansel and Gretel. Funnel fries are the way to go. It was a fun calorie filled evening which the girls enjoyed and when you can make young ladies happy then theres you Happy Meal after all. FUNNEL FRIES What you will need to make your own: Flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs, baking powder, vanilla and oil for frying Or be smart and buy the Funnel Cake Batter Mix (Duh!) Remember when you are pouring the batter through a funnel into the hot oil just pour in long strips about 5 or so at a time Nix the powder sugar and buy a readymade dipping sauce instead. Tip: Dont share If you go, there are three locations of Luckys in Atlanta: Luckys Roswell 1144 Alpharetta St 770-518-5695 Luckys Town Brookhaven 305 Brookhaven Ave. Ste 1250 678-705-1713 Luckys Emory Village 1569 N. Decatur Rd 404-343-4506 Pakistan B.com & UK MBA-Skilled Visa Hello I have 2 years of Bachelor in Commerce from Pakistan completed in 2007. Then I have 1 year of MBA from you in 2013 From 2007 to 2013, I have been working in UK in small companies on job which is on CSOL but some of those companies have dissolved and difficult to get reference. From 2014 onwards, again my Occupation is CSOL and I am currently working in same job which is Facilities Manager. Where do my experience and qualifications stand for claiming points for immigration? What proof I need to provide for my experience before 2013? Thank you. Driving for Uber is seen either as a means of rounding off your income or a way for those who lack the spirit of entrepreneurship to stop working for an employer and become the masters of their working hours. 1 photo The British automaker will shift all operations from Longbridge to China, and its representatives have explained that the move will bring lower costs for the final product. MG was only building the MG3 in the factory in central England, so the shift is not a dramatic move concerning volume. Instead, it comes as a disappointment to some, including Andy Palmer, the CEO of Aston Martin.Palmer started his automotive career at Rover, back in 1991, and he used to work at the Longbridge facility. Palmer is presently the CEO of Aston Martin, one of the few independent automakers in the world, in the sense that it is not owned by a larger corporation that also sells other brands of cars.Mr. Palmer used to develop manual transmissions for MG, and he says that learned so much of his trade at the Longbridge site.According to Automotive News , MG estimates that 25 jobs will be lost in the United Kingdom because of the move. As we noted above, this is not a massive cut from a volume perspective, but will stir critics regarding the decision.Other British brands owned by foreign corporations had not made such dramatic moves when it came to shifting production operations, even though they might have saved money in the process. Instead, some models have been built by different contract automakers to support higher demand.Jaguar Land Rover, for instance, manufactures many cars and SUVs in the United Kingdom, and BMW has invested heavily in the MINI factory in Oxford. German-owned Bentley and Rolls-Royce also treasure their British legacy and continue to build their cars in the UK.The Longbridge facility had restarted production five years ago with the MG6 , when the Chinese owners of MG wanted to assure clients that the brand still had a British character. SAIC Motor owns MG since 2007, when it acquired its former owners, Nanjing Automobile. The latter bought MG after the company collapsed in 2005.The United Kingdom is MGs single European market, and it only sold 3,152 cars in the country. In 2016, MG expects to sell about 5,000 units. The company denied rumors that the shift is related to the Brexit vote, which made some companies reconsider their options regarding British facilities. Either way, MG only performed final assembly of the MG3 in the UK, as the engines and bodies came in kits from China. Deeply disappointed to see the closure of the Longbridge site where I learned so much of my trade. https://t.co/PQXwj9YwFH Andy Palmer (@AndyatAston) September 23, 2016 25 September 2016 15:00 (UTC+04:00) A renewed version of Arshin Mal Alan (The Cloth Peddler), which is one of the most famous Azerbaijani movies, has been shown at Seravit Cinema, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Azertac reported. Prior to the screening, Azerbaijani ambassador Elman Abdullayev said the iconic movie, which has already been shown in 136 countries in 86 languages, was remastered and colorized in 2013 in Los Angeles at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The ambassador hailed the foundation's role in promoting Azerbaijan`s national music and culture both in the country and beyond. The event participants included heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Addis Ababa, foreign diplomats, representatives of the African Union Commission, state and government officials, chairman of the Ethiopian Association of Cinematographers, cultural figures, and Ethiopian graduates of Azerbaijani universities. The event was widely covered by the Ethiopian media. Arshin Mal Alan is based on the operetta of the same name by great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. The operetta is regarded as the first operetta in the Muslim world. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Armenias armed forces have 6 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry on September 25. The Armenian armed forces stationed on Vazashen village of the Ijevan district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gazakh district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Ashagi Seyidahmadli and Garakhanbayli villages of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani company AZDynamics will introduce the first hybrid engine unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with increased duration of autonomous flight, the company told Trend. The hybrid drone will sport an internal combustion engine along with rechargeable batteries and an electric motor, making it possible to increase the duration of the autonomous flight from 25 minutes to two hours. The drone will be demonstrated at the BakuTel 2016 Azerbaijan International Telecommunications and Information Technologies Exhibition and Conference, to be held from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2. 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 the treatment of land with reagents. It can fly on its own without a need for the remote control. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 September 2016 10:05 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev will participate in an Inter-Parliamentary Forum due to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on September 26-27, Azertac reported. MPs, politicians, representatives of research institutions, media, civil society and private sector will attend the forum, which is co-organized by ISESCO and UNESCO. They will discuss ways of strengthening management in the spheres of science, technology, and innovations in member countries. Aliyev will make remarks at the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Azerbaijan State Economic University (ASEU) has become a member of One Belt One Road University Alliance as it held its first forum in the city of Dunhuang, China, Azertac reported. ASEU vice rector Shahin Bayramov attended the forum, which brought together more than 280 university authorities and representatives from over 110 national and international universities. The alliance will work to establish special projects for student exchange, joint scientific programs, platforms and think tanks, double majors and subjects, and joint schools. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 10/29/2022 The Chattanooga womens soccer team avenged its loss from just one week ago, beating Wofford 2-1 in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Conference Championships Friday night at the UTC Sports ... more By Trend Airbus and Boeing are going to send their representatives to Iran to discuss how to carry out their deals with the Islamic Republic, Iranian Minister of Transport Abbas Akhondi said. The sides will accordingly discuss the legal aspects of the deals to precipitate their implementation, Akhondi told reporters, IRNA news agency reported September 24. The two aircraft manufacturers were authorized by the US Treasury earlier this week to sell their products to Iran, months after Iran signed deals with the companies. In January Iran and Airbus signed a deal over 118 airliners. But the company could not accomplish the deal as it was restricted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States in doing business with Iran. A similar deal between Tehran and Boeing had the same story. Iran plans to buy about 500 aircraft in 10 years to refurbish its aging fleet. Iranian airliners average 25 in age. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met with Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday during a two-day trip to Havana, and the two leaders oversaw the signing of around 30 agreements on economic cooperation in various sectors, Reuters reported. Li is the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba since the two countries established diplomatic relations 56 years ago, although President Xi Jinping visited in 2014. China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner after Venezuela. The two countries traded $1.6 billion in the first nine months of 2015, a 57 percent increase in the same period the previous year, official Cuban data shows. Li said in an interview with the Cuban Communist Party newspaper Granma that his trip aimed to deepen the two countries' relationship, forge new areas of economic cooperation and "intensify the mutual political trust." The two countries signed agreements on collaboration in the science, environmental, industry, energy, public health, and agricultural sectors, Cuban state TV said. China also agreed to extend lines of credit for certain projects, it added but did not specify how much. Cuba has become a hot destination for tourists, foreign investors and leaders alike since the government embarked on business-friendly reforms and Havana and Washington announced a detente nearly two years ago after decades of hostility. Earlier this week, Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to visit Communist-ruled Cuba, saying he wanted to deepen the two countries' relationship. Li landed in Havana on Saturday and is set to leave early on Monday. No news conference is scheduled during his visit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Russia is seeking Iran's help to achieve a long- range drone technology, Mohammad Baqeri, Brigadier General of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said, IRNA news agency reported on September 25 There are only one or two countries, including the US and Israel , which have the knowledge of manufacturing long-range drones, capable of recognizing and targeting spot areas with one square meter dimension, Baqeri said. Iran has the knowledge of manufacturing the long-range drones, he said, adding that Russia wants the technology. It is not the first time that Iranian officials say Russians are seeking to gain Irans knowledge in drone manufacturing. In a similar statement, Manouchehr Manteghi, secretary of Irans Technology Development and Knowledge-based Aviation and Aeronautical Industries Headquarters, said last year that Russia wants to import the technology of one of the Iranian-made drones. The Iranian official refused to unveil more details on the issue. Iran earlier gave Russia a copy of ScanEagle- a US spy drone as proof that its elite forces have reverse-engineered and mass-produced the American unmanned aerial vehicle. Tehran has gained a lot of experience in making drones after the country first used the aircraft for military use. The Islamic Republic has so far unveiled various domestically produced drones, including Ababil, Fotros, Hazem, Karrar (long range attack drone), Mohajer, Sarir, Shahed 129, Yasir and Zohal. The country unveiled its first domestically manufactured long-range UAV named Karrar in 2010. The first Iranian medium-altitude long endurance UAV, the Shahed-129 was unveiled in September 2012, which is capable of carrying out combat and reconnaissance eight missions for 24 hours and has a range of 1,700 km. Iran also unveiled its largest yet homemade UAV, titled 'Fotros' in 2013. Fotros has a range of some 2,000 kilometers and is capable of launching air-to-surface missile strikes. The drone can fly at an altitude of 25,000 feet, with a flight time of 16 to 30 hours. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 September 2016 14:39 (UTC+04:00) A delegation of the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has visited Azerbaijan`s parliament, Azertac reported. They had a meeting with the chairman of the parliament Ogtay Asadov, who hailed the fact that the mission will monitor the referendum in Azerbaijan. We have invited observers from international organizations and parliaments of foreign countries to every election held in Azerbaijan. And it is of vital importance to us that observers from PACE have been part of these monitoring missions. Asadov said international observers who will monitor the referendum have already arrived in Azerbaijan. He expressed his confidence that international observers will see that the voting will take place in accordance with international standards. Delegation head Aleksandar Nikoloski provided an insight into the composition of the Referendum Assessment Mission. He said PACE observers have monitored all presidential and parliamentary elections and referendums in Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 September 2016 18:45 (UTC+04:00) By Trend Iranian warships most likely will visit Italian ports in the near future, Irans Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said. Irans Navy hosted an Italian warship in southern port city of Bandar Abbas yesterday, Sayyari said, IRINN TV reported on September 25. It is an important event indicating the European countries interest to form maritime relations with the Islamic Republic, Sayyari said. However, he underlined that holding a joint drill with Italian warship which was held upon its arrival doesnt mean cooperating with NATO. He further said that on September 24 Iranian navy dispatched a peace and friendship flotilla consisting of two guided-missile destroyers, a frigate carrier, and a fleet support ship as well as a helicopter to Pakistans ports to provide security in high-risk regions. The Italian Navy frigate dubbed Euro arrived in Bandar Abbas, the capital of Irans southern Hormozgan Province, on September 24 for a four-day stay. The visit comes in line with the two countries plan to boost friendly military relations. In a meeting with Italys ambassador to Tehran, Mauro Conciatori, and the countrys military attache, Commander of Irans First Naval Zone Admiral Hossein Azad said the Italian frigate has been dispatched to the Islamic Republic with the purpose of improving political, cultural and military relations. 25 September 2016 17:15 (UTC+04:00) Air flights between Egypt and Russia may be resumed in October already, Egypts Al-Masry Al-Youm said on Sunday referring to high-ranking officials at the Egyptian civil aviation authority, Azertac reported. "The parties have agreed to resume step by step the aviation communication in October," the sources said, TASS reports. The civil aviation ministry said "at first will be resumed the flights between Moscow and Cairo, which will be served at the second, new, terminal of the airport in the Egyptian capital city. The test opening of the new terminal is due on September 28. Later on, we may resume flights between Moscow and resort Sharm el Sheikh and Hurgada. And when this is done, the parties will proceed to discussing chartered flights." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The gay-friendly, not gay-firendly, and then gay-friendly again Pope Francis is back to being a homophobic bigot today as he has voiced his support for the anti-gay marriage protest that took place yesterday in Mexico and the Mexican bishops in their efforts to support the family and life in the national debate over gay marriage. I join willingly the Bishops of Mexico in supporting the efforts of the Church and civil society in favor of the family and of life, which at this time require special pastoral and cultural attention worldwide, Francis said after the weekly Angelus prayer. On Saturday, the streets of Mexico City were covered in white, as an estimated 215,000 people dressed in this color and carrying balloons participated in a rally in opposition to President Enrique Pena Nietos push to legalize same-sex marriage. The marchers held banners warning against same-sex marriage and demanding parents right to control sex education in schools. In May, Pena Nieto proposed legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, since its currently only legal in some places such as Mexico City, the northern state of Coahuila and Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean coast. Although many Christian denominations supported the rally, organized by the National Front for the Family, the Catholic Church and the local bishops have been one of the movements biggest supporters, inviting people to attend this march and ones organized around the country earlier in September, when almost a million people gathered in parks to defend the family. Among those calling for those in the pews to go to the rally was Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo of Cancun, who said recently that hes willing to go to prison to defend the family, should it come to that. The Associated Press NBC News reports: A large majority of registered LGBT voters support Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump, according to results of two weeks of the NBC News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Election Tracking Poll. Seventy-two percent of registered LGBT voters support Clinton, compared to 20 percent who support Trump. On the campaign trail, Trump has touted himself as the better candidate to fight for LGBT rights, but his decision to pick Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running-mate was seen by some as contradictory to his LGBT-friendly claims. When Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein are added to the match-up question, Clinton still maintained the lead among registered LGBT voters with 63 percent support. Trump, on the other hand, had 15 percent support. Johnson was not far behind with 13 percent, followed by 8 percent support for Stein. In past elections, LGBT voters have played an important role. According to results from the 2012 NBC News Exit Polls, 5 percent of voters identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual** and 76 percent voted for Barack Obama. Voters who did not identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual were split49 percent voted for Obama and 49 percent voted for Romney. Opinions expressed in this column are those of Lois Henry. Her column runs Wednesdays and Sundays. Comment at bakersfield.com, call her at 395-7373 or email lhenry@bakersfield.com. Photos: Chance The Rapper & His Puppets Color A Magnificent Festival By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 25, 2016 12:44PM Going into Magnificent Coloring Day, the debut music festival by Chance the Rapper felt like a culminationthe flowering of the Chatham-born hip-hop artists spectacular recent rise. He made the most of the opportunity hed built for himself on Saturday night with an ambitious, odd and overall unforgettable performance for the massive, sold-out crowd at US Cellular Fieldone that was preceded by a slew of great shows and jaw-dropping cameos. Chances song selection stuck frequently to this years hit mixtape, Coloring Book, and his breakthrough Acid Rap (2013), but it was the curious "how" as much as "what": Chano going back and forth with a giant marionette lion/spirit guide named Carlos, duetting with another puppet for Same Drugs, and enlisting choir backup from children both real and animatronic for the set-closing Blessing. It was hip-hop meets the Childrens Television Workshop, and probably anathema for critics who think he treads toward infantilization. But the record-breaking crowd of thousands thrilled to what felt like a historic moment in Chicago hip-hop, felt-assisted or not. And when he launched into No Problem, you could feel an entire ballparkif not the whole rap landscapequake. The day began with Prismizer wizard Francis and the Lights performing to an unforgiving, early afternoon timeslotunder-attended as the crowd still filed through. Then, a half-hour past his scheduled start, new-school standard-bearer Lil Uzi Vert instantly washed away late-arrival anxiety as fans stormed the dugout roofs for the one-two of Do What I Want and Ps and Qs. Young Thug was a no-show for his set (were still processing our disappointment), so Vert led to Tyler, The Creator. The pit seemed especially taken with the aggro onetime Odd Future ringleader, but the highlight in our minds was his persistent attack on the fuckin idiots who sold stage-side seats whose view was obstructed by scaffolding and tarps. After Tyler, it was the walk on of all walk ons: Kanye West sent the stadium into a frenzy (plenty of vendors and security included) with a medley of Black Skinhead, Cant Tell Me Nothing, Touch the Sky, Gold Digger, Father Stretch My Hand Pt.1 and Pt. 2, and THat Part, before Chance jumped out to help close with Ultralight Beam. Thousands of people saw it live; millions will say they did. Incredible. John Legend somehow followed and, far from the grown-folks-shaped peg in the festivals contemporary hole we expected, was a fine complement, delivering a hit parade with much more grit than usually heard in studio versions. Common joined to close the set with Glory, so it looks like theres no bad blood for MCDs crossover with Aahh! Fest Day One. Chicago-born comedy great Hannibal Buress followed with a quick surprise bit about Ye and all was right. One any other day, the Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz duo of Collegrove (plus Jimmy Butler cameo!) wouldve been the runaway highlight. The crowd dined on the palpable camaraderie between master and protege, and Weezys wide range (A Milli, Go DJ, Mrs. Officer) was downright exemplary. Then Alicia Keys delivered a hit-heavy command performance (Empire State of Mind, You Dont Know My Name, This Girl Is On Fire, No One) while on her feet at her piano. Skrillex closed and, despite a noticeable exodus after Chance, lets just say that reports of EDMs demise in popularity may have been exaggerated. There were some first-year logistical issues we won't bore you with, but overall it was all, well, pretty magnificent. Can't wait to see what Chance does next year. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (1st L) and his wife Cheng Hong (2nd L) arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, the United States, Sept. 18, 2016. Premier Li Keqiang will attend the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) It is interesting to note that all Chinese presidents have visited Cuba at least once since 1993; however, not a single Chinese premier has done so until now. When Premier Li Keqiang lands in Cuba later this month, therefore, he will be making history since the two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 1960. The visit follows Li's trip to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years. It seems he is creating some kind of record during these visits, which are part of his 11-day tour of the western hemisphere that started in New York for the annual UN General Assembly session. Li's visit sets a new pattern for his successors. Especially, his visit to Cuba has historical importance, as it was the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic ties with China. His visit, therefore, is crucial in possibly leading to marked changes in the overall relationship between the two countries. There are two prominent aspects of Li's trip. First, there is visible political and diplomatic importance for the historical reasons mentioned above. Second, it has economic implications because the meetings and talks in Havana should provide a major boost to the trade and commercial links between the two countries. Politically, China and Cuba are ideological twins as they follow the communist model of governance. Its original prominent features were the centralized planning and a political philosophy drawing breath from the teachings of Karl Marx and other leading Marxist thinkers, including Lenin and Mao Zedong. The Cuban people are rightly proud of their own legendary communist leader, Fidel Castro. In old age, he is inactive politically after handing over power to his brother Raoul Castro, who is now president of the country. However, Fidel is still highly respected. It's certainly expected that Premier Li will meet Fidel Castro during his stay in Havana, and, indeed, it will be a high point of this trip. Being followers of the same political ideology is not enough to keep any two nations close to each other. It is well known that economic interests are the main driving force behind the national relationships. Hence, Cuba and China need to forge deeper strategic economic ties. Certainly, the economic relations between the two countries are already moving on the right path; however, Li's visit can add a strong impetus to two-way trade by opening up new avenues of cooperation. It is heartening to note that the trade between Havana and Beijing has been around US$2 billion in recent years. Yet, this is comparatively low when seen in the light of the longstanding political relationship. China can offer new investments to Cuba that needs to invigorate its economy with new allies after recent improvement of ties with the United States. Mention of U.S. injects a note of caution for China and Cuba. Since Washington has re-established ties with Havana after decades of flawed policies in seeking to isolate the tiny island country, it is likely the Americans will want to claim the privilege of being the most important neighbor and an economic partner. This could lead to some kind of competition with China due to strategic and economic rivalry between Washington and Beijing. It is important for Cuba to avoid such friction. It can do so by giving fair and equal treatment to the two economic giants at the right level. The United States is important for Cuba due to historic linkages and close proximity; however, China can help balance the relations and protect economic and strategic interests of Cubans if the U.S. displays any unacceptable behavior due to past tendencies when it tried to stifle the economic well-being of Cuba. The Cuban leaders can deftly handle the situation as they did in the past, and will maintain a robust relationship with both China and America. It is also possible that Cuba might become a land of win-win cooperation for everyone. Li's visit can lay the first brick for such a cooperative relationship. Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash 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. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel are investigating a fatal boating incident in Clearwater Saturday. Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire and Rescue were called to the scene shortly before 4 p.m., according to officials. The incident took place on the 800 block of Island Way on Island Estates. Florida FWC investigators said the deceased, Bobby Anderson, 58, was performing maintenance near the rear of his boat. Anderson reportedly fell overboard and struck the propeller of the boat's motor. He died from his injuries. No further information is available at this time. Charlotte police released dramatic video footage Saturday that shows officers surrounding a black man with his hands at his side before shots are fired and he buckles to the ground. It's unclear if there was anything in the man's hands. Public pressure to release video grew in recent days Incident has sparked multiple nights of protest in Charlotte Police Chief said release is meant to get "objective facts" to the public WATCH: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police release video of Scott shooting The footage of the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott was released after several days of demonstrations that coalesced around demands that the public see the video. Police said Scott had a gun, though residents have said he was unarmed. In the police dashboard camera video released Saturday night, Scott could be seen backing away from his SUV with his hands down, and it's unclear if there's anything in his hands. Four shots are heard, and he falls to the ground. Police also released photos of a gun that they said was retrieved at the scene, adding that it contained Scott's DNA and fingerprints. They said the gun was loaded and Scott was wearing an ankle holster. They also said Scott also had marijuana. Videos from the dashboard camera and the body camera also show events leading up to the shooting. The dashboard camera footage starts with two officers pointing 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, 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 SUV. The body camera footage doesn't show the moment the shots are fired, and Scott next comes into view already on the ground. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released portions of dashboard cam and body cam footage associated with the officer-involved shooting of Keith Scott. (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police) Before releasing the footage, Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference that he received assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that letting the public see the video would not 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. RELATED STORIES: At his news conference, Putney said that his officers didn't break the law but noted that the state is continuing its investigation. 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, and that officers also saw marijuana in his car, prompting them to act. 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. 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. 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 Thursday. City officials said police did not shoot 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details. Along with the video, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released photos of a handgun, ankle holster and a marijuana blunt recovered at the scene that officers said belonged to Scott. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said the release of the video footage had nothing to do with the mounting public pressure to do so. Rather, he insisted it was part of their effort to get the objective facts to the public. Flash Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R 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. 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. Flash 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. 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. A tablet device shows a page of BHS International as it announces the UK relaunch of BHS as an online retailer British Home Stores is to relaunch online, a month after the last of its high-street shops shut down. The business, a staple of British shopping, went into administration in April and the company was wound down when a buyer could not be found. Now BHS International, formed by the Al Mana Group, is relaunching the "iconic" brand allowing shoppers to make purchases on the new website. BHS.com goes live on Thursday, selling lighting and home furnishings, which accounted for around three quarters of the most popular online products sold before the retailer went into administration. Its kitchen, dining and clothing ranges are set to go on sale next month. The collapse of BHS affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, and sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry. Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded the "the unacceptable face of capitalism" by MPs. Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for 1 in 2015. Sir Philip has come under fire for taking more than 400 million in dividends from the chain, leaving it with a 571 million pension deficit and for selling it to a man with no retail experience. BHS International has stressed the online retailer has no links with Sir Philip or Mr Chappell. The new retailer, with headquarters in London, will employ 84 people, most of whom worked for the firm before it went into administration. David Anderson of BHS International, who will oversee the launch, said: "We are thrilled to be relaunching this iconic brand back into the UK. It had a loyal customer base with around 1.2 million British shoppers who bought from us online, and for our relaunch we have managed to secure many of the products they liked the most. "In addition to this, we have developed a new specially designed online platform for our UK business so we are not inheriting any legacy systems, and we were able to recruit the majority of people who worked on the profitable online and international operations of BHS before it went into administration. "So although we are starting again in the UK, we have a number of advantages over a typical start-up. We are nimble and efficient, but with a great brand, strong customer base and a proven and dedicated team." The site will not have as wide a range of products, but will focus on "best-sellers", BHS International said. Ed Balls and partner Katya Jones on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls said he was "madly disappointed" with his Strictly Come Dancing debut which left him bottom of the leaderboard. The ex-Labour MP's waltz with partner Katya Jones to Elvis's Are You Lonesome Tonight? failed to impress the judges with Craig Revel Horwood calling it "pedestrian". Balls scored 21 points but and said he had done "massively better in rehearsals" and felt he had "let down" Jones. He added: " We started from a low base but the truth is we are madly disappointed. "It would have been so much better but I messed up the turns which I have done so many times. "As a result I never really did get through the rest of it the best that I could." Head judge Len Goodman said he was "pleasantly surprised" by Balls's performance whilst judge Bruno Tonioli called the dance "prim and proper" and "politically correct". Balls was part of the second group of celebrities to hit the dance floor, with several breaking the 30 points barrier on Saturday. Model Daisy Lowe flew to the top of the leaderboard with a near-flawless waltz to Nat King Cole's Unforgettable. She received 32 points, with Goodman calling it the the best dance he had ever seen in the first week. Lowe, who is partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec, said: "I can't believe it. I am gobsmacked, I am speechless and that really rarely happens." Lowe paid tribute to her grandfather who passed away recently. She said: "All I can think is that my grandpa must had been meddling with the numbers and I got a nine from Len on week one. "I am just so grateful and so it is wonderful to do it as a tribute to gramps. It really meant the world to me." Bookies' favourite Will Young placed fourth with 30 points behind joint second placed Louise Redknapp and ex-Hollyoaks actor Danny Mac who each collected 31 points. Mac, dancing with partner Oti Mabuse, performed a cha cha whilst Redknapp danced a jive with partner Kevin Clifton to Jump, Jive An' Wail. Former Pop Idol winner Young danced to David Bowie's Let's Dance, with Goodman - who is appearing in his final series of Strictly - calling it an "excellent performance". Their high scores knocked down Friday night's performers, including initial front-runners Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford and TV presenter Ore Oduba. Radio DJ Melvin Odoom received 22 points for his maraca shaking cha cha to Loco In Acapulco with partner Jeanette Manrara, placing the pair 14th. Tonioli told the former Xtra Factor host that he "forgot the hips", whilst Revel Horwood called the performance"wooden" and "stiff". Odoom said he felt like he had "won Strictly" by just making it through the performance. He added: "I feel so happy. The judges enjoyed the performance and I am still alive. "I don't care about the scores as long as we got from the beginning to the end with no interruptions and no injuries then we are happy." Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane and partner AJ Pritchard received 26 points for their cha cha to One Direction's What Makes You Beautiful whilst EastEnders actress Tameka Empson and partner Gorka Marquez also collected 26 points for their paso doble to El Gato Montes and Y Viva Espana. Anastacia and Brendan Cole collected 28 points for their cha cha to Lady Marmalade, putting them in fifth place. Mr Balls' wife, Yvette Cooper, said her husband had been "brilliant". The Labour former frontbencher told ITV's Peston on Sunday: "He's having fun. We are all having fun." Ms Cooper said her own waltzing ability was "terrible" and her husband had tried to give her some lessons. "I would love to learn and he has tried to show me some of the dance steps in the kitchen and it's not working. "I am so envious because I think it's just brilliant to be able to do that. "He's doing the dancing, he's been doing the Bake Off and he's done the early morning piano practice. "I have said to him before it's like a bit of a feeling of this managed mid-life crisis. Just get on with it and get the motorbike." Asked if she would return to the show when she had learnt the waltz, Ms Cooper relied: "I'd love to." Logged on: your laptop will become your best friend if you are a serious blogger, according to Emily Johnston One of the first UK fashion bloggers to quit her day job and make a living out of her website, Fashion Foie Gras, otherwise known as Emily Johnston, considers herself part of the "old school" of the blogging crowd. At 36, and with seven years' experience under her belt (four of those as a pro), the American, who now calls London home, has a wealth of advice for those who want to crack into the blogosphere. These are Fashion Foie Gras's top tips for burgeoning bloggers: 1. Do it for the love "If people want to start a project online, it should be because of their love for it. If that evolves into a career, fantastic, but if you start out thinking it's going to be a career, it won't have the same impact." 2. Dream big "So many people think the whole marketplace is way too saturated; they think, 'How can I be involved in that?', but even today, we'll have people who've only been around for a year who have more hits than some people who've been around a decade, so it's by no means a closed door." 3. Learn before you leave "You shouldn't just leave your job or stop your education to pursue this. That is a huge risk. You should still go to university, but what I wish someone had told me is that I should have mixed my history of art degree with a business degree." 4. Earn - and keep - your readers' trust "I've always said you're only as good as the last thing one of your readers buys from you. Because if I recommend something and they buy it and it's absolutely horrific, they will never trust me again." 5. Brush up your business skills "Learn how to code, so that you can manage your own site, learn how to run a business and the skills of bookkeeping. These are things which you think might not be relevant, but when you're running your own business, you'll wish you'd taken these courses." 6. Be ready to blog on the go "My laptop, a HP Pavilion x360, has become my best friend; it's seen more of the world with me than any boyfriend or family member. You never know when inspiration will strike, and you need a keyboard more than a phone for that." 7. Set a sponsorship limit "I have a one-in-10 rule, which is, I try and keep 90% of the content on the blog completely free of any sort of sponsorship. Of course, I need to make a living, but I make it clear when anything is sponsored." 8. Turn off the trolls "I have now turned the comments off on my blog, because I found that some people were being threatening, or overly sexual - I really didn't want my 13-year-old niece, or my parents, to see that. If those people still want to email me to be mean and horrible, I have a delete button for that." Orphaned refugee children walking amongst the shelters at the Jungle camp at Calais in France An inspirational mother is hoping to use her sense of style to help thousands of refugee children. Diane Duffy, from Belfast, has been so moved by the plight of those stranded in camps across Europe she has organised a huge fashion event in the city to raise vital funds. The mother-of-one who volunteers with the Northern Ireland Community of Refugees & Asylum Seekers (Nicras) said: "I had wanted to go to Calais or Greece to do something practical, but with a young baby that was just not possible. "But, the more I saw or read about displaced children living in these dire conditions and dying trying to get into the UK to other relatives, the more I felt compelled to do something." The Fashion Conscious event at RBG Park Inn, Belfast, on Thursday October 6, will include a fashion pop-up shop, where dozens of donated designer clothes, shoes and bags will be up for grabs for just a few pounds. Money raised will go to humanitarian charities Help Refugees and the Greek-based group Project Hope 4 Kids, which are delivering crucial aid to those caught up in the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. Mrs Duffy added: "I just cannot imagine, as a mother, having to put a child on to a boat to cross the Mediterranean Sea or having to go into a boat while being pregnant or with a baby. "It is just mind-blowing that the only option these people have appears to be death or risk of death. Their situation is hopeless no matter what way you look at it." The conflict in Syria has created almost five million refugees. According to the UN's refugee agency, so far this year 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe and more than 3,200 have died or gone missing. Tens of thousands are struggling to survive in appalling conditions on the borders of Greece, Italy and France. Last week, hundreds of people took part in a rally at Stormont demanding a better international response. Mrs Duffy, whose daughter Arabella is just 19 months old, said: "Obviously this is a huge global crisis but everyone can do their bit to help. If I can help just one family then it will be worth it." Tickets for Fashion Conscious are priced 10 and are available online from https://getinvited.to/fashion-conscious/fashionconscious-2016/. Entry can also be paid at the door. More details can be found on their community Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FashionConscious2016/ The Office for National Statistics is expected to reclassify housing associations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales from independent social businesses to "public bodies" later this week A target to deliver 2,000 new so cial homes every year in Northern Ireland could be dealt a major blow if Stormont does not act swiftly to reverse an anticipated change to the official status of the region's housing associations, the sector's representative body has warned. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is expected to reclassify housing associations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales from independent social businesses to "public bodies" later this week. The ONS made the same reclassification with English housing associations last year. The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) said the expected move, which will reflect the level of state involvement in the associations, could have major ramifications for the associations and the Stormont Executive. There are currently 22 associations in Northern Ireland which together own and manage around 47,000 social and shared ownership homes. The NIFHA said turning associations into public bodies will limit their ability to access the private finance they rely on to build new homes, while it highlighted that the 1 billion of private debt already on their books will automatically be added to the Executive's balance sheet - an addition that would drastically reduce the administration's capacity to borrow money for other initiatives across Stormont departments. The Government's response to reclassification in England was to changes laws to reduce regulation of the associations, so they could once again be considered independent businesses. Cameron Watt, chief executive of the NIFHA, said the Executive would have to take a similar approach. But he warned that the timeframe to make the legislative changes was tight. Mr Watt said he hoped the Treasury would give Stormont a year's grace before registering the associations' accounts on the public balance sheet. "On September 29, the Office of National Statistics is likely to reclassify local housing associations as public bodies," he said. "Housing associations are the sole builders of new social homes in Northern Ireland. With 22,000 households in housing stress, the NI Executive is looking to our sector to significantly increase delivery to 2,000-plus starts a year. "To maximise house building, our sector needs to be independent and able to continue borrowing to match and multiply government funding for new homes. "Reclassification threatens this and without swift action to reverse it, there could be a significant reduction in the number of new homes housing associations can deliver. "Therefore, if our sector is reclassified this week, we will be calling on the NI Executive to quickly take the necessary steps to reverse it. "This will mean promptly bringing forward legislation, and negotiating a derogation with HM Treasury to enable the sector to function normally in the interim period. "Having engaged extensively with ministers and civil servants ahead of the ONS decision, we recognise they are fully aware of the issues. "We will work closely with the NI Executive and NI Assembly in addressing the challenges that arise from any sector reclassification. Together, we must protect housing associations' ability to keep providing great homes and thriving communities." University challenge: Freshers Week can be a roller coaster of emotions for new students, but its definitely worth the experience When it comes to worrying about our children going off to university, Northern Ireland parents have proved they have more fear about their safety than other parents in the UK. Over half a million new students will be starting university this week and in a new survey of 1,000 adults with children, Northern Ireland parents came in tops for being the most worried overall. Half of parents surveyed here said that were were concerned about safety compared to one third of parents in London. Northern Ireland parents also topped the rest of the UK for having the most concern (32 pc) that their child would be a victim of crime; fall in with the wrong crowd (48 pc) and would drink too much or take drugs when they left to go to university (45 pc). Parents in Northern Ireland also worried that their son or daughter would run out of money (38%), a third also feared they would neglect their studies and drop out or be victims of crime. The UK-wide Lookout Call study found that the top five worries for parents across the country were that they would neglect their studies and drop out (29%), not be safe (32%), drink too much and take drugs (33%), not settle in 39%) and run out of money (45%). In England, where students face large debts through student loans and hikes in fees, the biggest fear was that students would run out of money (46%). In Wales, money worries and safety were ranked equally (37%), with drinking too much and taking drugs in third place (33%). In Scotland, worries about children settling in to their new environment away from home came top (41%), followed by 36% who worried they would fail to study and drop out, with a third worried about safety, and drink and drugs. Worries that their children would run out of money were the top concern in every English region, including East of England (42%), East Midlands (43%), North East (51%), South East (50%) , South West (46%) and West Midlands (46%). They were strongest in the North West (55%) but lowest in London (41%). In Yorkshire and the Humber, running out of money and safety were the joint biggest fears for 43% of parents. Flash 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. The aim is to boost language skills across the country Britain's first ever National Museum of Languages will soon be coming to high streets across Britain, as part of efforts to make the country multilingual. The new pop-up museum will have a physical presence in regional centres as well as a major batch of online learning resources. The project is part of the new MEITS (Multilingualism - Empowering Individuals, Transforming Societies) project based at the University of Cambridge, and funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council. Regional centres will be based in shops in high streets in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Cambridge and Nottingham. Further centres are being planned elsewhere. Wendy Ayres-Bennett, Professor of French Philology and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge and the principal investigator of MEITS, said the museum was important to engage the wider public in languages. She added: "When we started, we found it very surprising that there are museums for dog collars and lawnmowers, but there is no National Museum of Languages in the UK, and we thought that was a real gap. "We wanted to plug that gap with a pop-up museum and give people a chance to reflect about questions around multilingualism, identity, and diversity, and about their own language skills." The move has been announced to coincide with Monday's European Day of Languages. Professor Ayres-Bennett said the MEITS project aims to instil a greater understanding of the health and social benefits of learning a language, particularly to help resolve conflict in troubled areas of the world. She added that languages can have a role in building peace and cohesion. One project will be introducing Irish language and culture to the protestant loyalist community, including working with former paramilitaries. "We want to show that Irish is all around them in place names, as part of their linguistic landscape, that it is rooted in their daily experiences," said Professor Ayres-Bennett. "We also want to teach them some soft diplomatic skills in Irish to give them more confidence when negotiating in a cross-community situation. "Language learning there is helping to build peace in what historically has been a very fractured community." She added: "In the UK there is a widespread misconception that speaking English is enough and that monolingualism is the norm. "In fact, more than half of the world's population speaks more than one language on a daily basis, and in the UK nearly one in five primary school pupils has a first language other than English. "Our project aims to demonstrate the value of languages both to individuals and to society, and the importance of speaking more than one language, or being multilingual." New laws criminalising prostitutes' clients are putting sex workers at greater risk, the High Court heard yesterday. A judge was told they face increased dangers from having to operate alone, with reduced abilities to screen those seeking out their services. The claims were made as a sex worker's unprecedented legal challenge to legislation making it illegal for men to pay for prostitutes got under way in Belfast. Laura Lee's lawyers claim amendments to the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act breach her right to privacy and freedom from discrimination. But Attorney General John Larkin QC, representing the First and Deputy First Ministers, resisted her judicial review bid, insisting European law does not cover sex for hire. Northern Ireland is the only UK region to make the purchase of sex a criminal offence. The amended legislation was introduced last year in a Private Member's Bill brought before the Assembly by DUP peer and MLA Lord Morrow. Although it shifts the legal burden away from prostitutes, sex workers believe it will put them at heightened risk from customers using fake names to avoid identification. Ms Lee, a 38-year-old Dublin-born law graduate, was accompanied by a number of supporters for the first stage in her courtroom battle. Mr Justice Maguire was told she has been a sex worker for two decades and now operates in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic. Her counsel, Steven McQuitty, stressed the case was not a debate about the morality or any perceived degradation of those involved in the trade. "We simply say the current law operates to make sex work in Northern Ireland more dangerous, particularly for women, given that most sex workers are women," he said. The barrister set out three ways in which the risks have allegedly been heightened: Sex workers have to increasingly operate alone, without the protection offered by brothels; They have reduced opportunities to meet and screen clients without them being exposed to criminal liability; Prostitutes' ability to share information being hit by customers remaining anonymous. The court heard that Ms Lee was herself exposed to significant verbal abuse during one encounter. She feared for her own safety, but was able to avoid any violence. Her legal challenge is directed against the Department of Justice - even though former minister David Ford opposed the new legislative clause. Counsel for the department, Tony McGleenan QC, did not oppose the case advancing to a full hearing, but stressed it was no indication of support for Ms Lee's action. However, the Attorney General argued that proceedings should be thrown out at the first stage. He insisted no unlawful act had been identified and claimed the new Act provided Ms Lee with greater protection from any abusive behaviour. "Put bluntly, she no longer has to put up with that sort of conduct - the path to the police station is smoothed and widened," Mr Larkin said. Referring to Ms Lee's business model, the Attorney General emphasised how she is paid up-front in cash for sexual services. "She can't sue for her fees, she can't issue an invoice to a client asking him or her to pay up," he said. "Her business... is utterly unsupported by the common law and existing law of contract." Responding to claims that customers are more likely to remain anonymous, Mr Larkin suggested those who are "hardly flowers of humanity" may always have been wary about being known. He rejected claims the law means men seeking to pay for sex will be more dangerous, contending Ms Lee retains "sovereign choice" to accept clients who do not identify themselves. The Attorney General added: "The applicant wants to continue to receive money from prostitution. The policy of the law designed to disrupt and, if possible, prevent human trafficking is to choke off demand. "Time will tell whether or not that works, but Lord Morrow I hazard would be very pleased indeed to know he stopped one or two women being trafficked into prostitution." Following submissions Mr Justice Maguire reserved judgment on the application for leave to seek a judicial review. The Lord Mayor of London Jeffrey Mountevans, left, and Prince of Wales attend National Police Memorial Day Politicians should offer more than "apparent hollow words" in their praise of the police, a serving officer has said as he called for an end to funding cuts. Angus Morrison, a temporary detective sergeant with Police Scotland, spoke as he attended an annual service commemorating officers killed in the line of duty. Around 2,000 people including relatives of those who have died as well as the Prince of Wales and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, gathered at St Paul's Cathedral in London to honour fallen officers. Det Sgt Morrison's brother Detective Constable James Morrison of the Met police was killed almost 25 years ago on his way home from work as he cornered a thief. Det Sgt Morrison said action, not words, is required when it comes to officers being able to provide a high level of security across the UK. The 49-year-old spoke out after meeting Ms Rudd, whose department is in charge of policing. He said: "It is greatly appreciated that senior officers, politicians and alike attend to show their support and offer their kind words. "However, this type of event should show them that the police service and its officers deserve more than apparent hollow words. "These cuts are dangerous and increase the risk to those who daily serve the public and, by default, may make the ultimate sacrifice." He said the modern-day threat of terrorism makes it crucial to properly fund police forces. "They can't keep cutting the budgets and expect the same level of policing," he said. He added: "Threats have changed in the 28 years I have been in the police. "Irish terrorism was the issue, but now it's global." Charles, who is patron of National Police Memorial Day, paid tribute to those he said had "paid the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding our families, our communities and our liberty". In the order of service he wrote: "For many of us, the security challenges of today further underscore the importance of the police and their ongoing commitment to protecting us all, despite the inevitable risks that they face on a daily basis." Among those to be specially remembered was Pc Dave Phillips who was knocked down and killed by a teenage car thief in October last year. His eight-year-old daughter Abigail lit a candle to remember the 34-year-old who died after he set down a tyre-puncturing stinger device in a bid to stop a stolen vehicle during a police pursuit in Wallasey, Merseyside. Relatives of other officers killed in the line of duty represented Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as they too lit candles. Prayers were offered by family members including Paul Bone, father of Constable Fiona Bone, who was murdered by one-eyed gangster Dale Cregan four years ago. A string of Labour moderates have lined up to warn that the party could die if it does not change. The warnings came a day after Jeremy Corbyn's re-election as leader, as an ICM opinion poll for The Sun on Sunday put Labour on 26% - its worst standing since 2009 and 15 points adrift of the Conservatives on 41%. Delegates at the party's annual conference in Liverpool waited to see whether any of the MPs who walked out of Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet in June would respond to his calls for unity by agreeing to return to the frontbench. Mr Corbyn has said he wants to offer an olive branch to his critics after strengthening his mandate with a 62%-38% victory over challenger Owen Smith. But he has set his face against their key demand for MPs to elect the shadow cabinet, and the ruling National Executive Committee kicked the issue into the long grass by agreeing to consider the issue at an awayday on November 22 - long after a possible reshuffle is likely to take place. Mr Corbyn said he believed the "vast majority" of Labour MPs would be safe from deselection in the upcoming shake-up of constituency boundaries, but stopped shortly of promising they will be able to stand. Candidate selection will be a matter for "democratic discussion" by local activists, he said, while his close ally Diane Abbott said the leadership would not intervene in the decisions of constituency parties - some of which have threatened to remove Corbyn critics, like Angela Eagle in Wallasey. Mr Corbyn has been in talks with key backbench figures but has yet to announce any appointments to fill numerous holes in his frontbench team, and shadow chancellor John McDonnell said there may be no changes before MPs return to Westminster next month. Meanwhile, Labour peer Lord Mitchell quit the party, saying it was "very difficult" for Jews who support Israel to remain members after Corbyn's re-election. Defiant moderates attended a packed rally of the Labour First movement to hear warnings that the party's future existence is at risk as well as pleas for centrists to stay and fight rather than quit or defect in protest at Mr Corbyn's re-election. As numbers overfilled the venue, speakers went outside to address crowds spilling out onto the street. Former shadow cabinet minister Vernon Coaker warned: "The political terms of trade in this country are changing. The Labour Party has to change. Our policies have to change. "If we don't change we will die." Hilary Benn, who was sacked as shadow foreign secretary by Mr Corbyn, told the gathering: "Don't be disheartened because in the end the values that bind us together will win." And Ms Eagle, who mounted a brief challenge for the leadership after the revolt within the party's ranks at Parliament, was given a standing ovation as she said she had received 47,000 pieces of abuse simply for changing her Facebook photo. Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who has been targeted with death threats, said: "If I'm not going anywhere, not one of you gets to go anywhere because we are staying and we are fighting." At a fringe meeting within the conference, former shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy warned that traditional supporters were "moving away" from the party, which risked following the old Liberals into irrelevance if it "stands still while the world around (it) changes". And London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the Sunday Times: "We know from history - the Gang of Four in the 1980s - that when the Labour Party splits, we are out of power for a generation. Now it is far more serious than that. If the Labour Party splits, it could be the end of the Labour Party." Meanwhile, the Labour leader attended a rally of the Momentum organisation set up by his supporters, which is holding a parallel festival near the Liverpool conference with events including film screenings, debates and "poems for Corbyn". Mr Corbyn told supporters of the World Transformed event that their discussions were "absolutely central and mainstream" to the conference. Speaking to BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn insisted the party was "quite united" on policy, and said it was time to "move on" from the bruising exchanges of the leadership contest. Asked whether he wanted sitting MPs to be reinstated in the upcoming redrawing of boundaries, or if he would prefer a set of candidates with views closer to his own, Mr Corbyn said: "Listen, I wish them well. "The relationship between an MP and their constituency is a complex one, not necessary a policy tick-box exercise. It's also the relationships, the community, the effectiveness of representation. "Let's have a democratic discussion and, I think, the vast majority of MPs will have no problem whatsoever." Shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested that supporters of Mr Corbyn could come to influence the Parliamentary Labour Party even without the threat of sitting MPs facing reselection. He told the Momentum event that the mass movement of new members who had joined Labour were already starting to make their presence felt at local level, which "has caused some elements of consternation because people are anxious about the change". Mr McDonnell added: "You will see it at Parliamentary Labour Party level. This isn't about reselection or anything like that, that's not a threat. "But you will see that permeate." That could be as existing MPs "come to terms with this mass movement that they are now part of - many of them will embrace what's happened" while "over time you will see the representation change as a result of that mass movement coming along". Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the party will survive but could end up like a pressure group. He told a conference fringe: "I think the Labour Party will survive but I don't know whether the Labour Party will survive as a party which can realistically attempt to be in government." The BMA has suspended industrial action by junior doctors in England after concerns about patient safety. 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 strikes had been scheduled for October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18 and December 5 to 9. 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. 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. 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". 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. "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." Dr McCourt said the dispute hinged on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days. She said there is a need for "an open and honest debate led by the BMA" on this and hoped that all interested parties - including medical and healthcare professionals, the Government and patient groups - would work with junior doctors to try and make it happen. A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We welcome the news that strikes have been suspended, and commend the leadership of Dr McCourt. 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." 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 b ut 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. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: "The BMA's abandonment of the planned five day strikes in October, November and December will be welcomed by employers across the English NHS, as well as by the public. "I again ask the BMA to commit to work with us to oversee and review the implementation of the new contract." Katherine Murphy, chief executive of The Patients Association, said: "We are delighted that the BMA have listened to the fears of patients and the public and called off the planned industrial action. "It will be a huge relief to thousands of patients who have been worrying about when their surgery or hospital appointment would be re-arranged, in light of the strikes announced last month." She added: "The Patients Association understand the enormity of the decision taken today by the BMA. The evidence, experience and feeling of doctors about what constitutes safe-staffing levels was overwhelming, so to take a step back and re-evaluate their decision to strike should not be trivialised. "I have no doubt, that having reviewed the responses from NHS Trusts and having listened to their patients, that the BMA made this decision in the very best interests of patients, proving that they continue to place patients at the heart of this debate. "I hope that the Department of Health show willingness to meet with the BMA and do what they can to address doctors' working conditions and respond to their concerns around patient safety. I trust that both parties will arrive at a solution whereby patients are given the very best and safest level of care that can possibly be provided." Professor Neena Modi, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "The country can be proud of the junior doctors' mature, compassionate and principled determination during this damaging dispute. We have been calling for both sides to get back to the negotiating table and end the deadlock of the past months. "The Government's own Equality Analysis acknowledged that the proposed new contract would impact adversely on parents, and those in less than full-time training. Any new contract must not disadvantage doctors in less than full time training or taking parental leave, and must maintain pay parity between specialities. "We hope that government and the BMA will return to constructive negotiations based on honest recognition of the difficulties facing our health services, and reach a consensus that safeguards the founding principles of the NHS and places the needs of patients foremost." 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. 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. "The grown-up thing for them to do, instead of carping, is to show some humility and get behind Theresa May as she seeks to get back control of migration with the EU as we leave." Three gunmen have shot eight people including a three-year-old girl on an east Baltimore street. The Maryland city's police commissioner said the suspects fled and the victims were expected to survive. The shooting erupted outside some terraced houses about 8.30pm on Saturday after the armed men converged on the group from different points, Kevin Davis said at the scene. Mr Davis said it was a premeditated act of retaliatory violence in response to a Labour Day weekend shooting in which a person was shot dead and two others wounded, including a pregnant woman. He said the victims could have recognised the gunmen but authorities had not immediately been able to identify the suspects and were still searching for them hours later. One of the armed men emerged from an alley and two others ran down the street, stopping just short of the victims before they opened fire, he said. The 3-year-old girl and her father were standing away from the group and the child was not an intended target, Mr Davis said. Authorities tweeted that one man had a shotgun and the other two had handguns. Other victims were a woman and the rest were men. Aside from the girl, the ages of the victims ranged from 26 to 39, according to police. The shooting occurred just a street from where the city held a party earlier on Saturday for a special event. Police said the attack was unrelated to the party in which the city dedicated a project called Open Works, billed as an innovative work space. At the scene, police sealed off at least three streets and were keeping bystanders away as Mr Davis spoke to detectives at the scene. Nearby, police were seen using flashlights as they searched tall, overgrown grass in an alley near the shooting site. Police cars blocked a nearby junction and crime scene tape secured the area. AP Flash Police in the U.S. city Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday released the police bodycam and dashcam videos of the fatal shooting of a black man after days of protests and violence. In addition to the two videos, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also released three photos of a handgun, a holster, as well as a marijuana "blunt" that belonged to Keith Lamont Scott, the 43-year-old victim who was killed by a police officer on Tuesday. The police move came under increasing pressure from Scott's family and the public after the shooting sparked four days of protests and riots. Scott was shot and killed by CMPD police officer Brentley Vinson, also an African American, who was serving a warrant on someone else with other officers when they encountered Scott at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon. The CMPD said police officers at the scene saw marijuana and a weapon inside Scott's car and that Vinson opened fire after Scott refused to obey police commands to drop a handgun. But Scott's family and residents disputed the police claim, insisting that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun. In a police video, Scott was seen slowly walking backward out of his car before the shooting. He neither pointed a gun at the officers nor made sudden movements. In response to the release of police videos, Justin Bamberg, attorney for Scott's family, told a news conference Saturday evening that he did not see anything in the videos that would lead to the loss of Scott's life. He said the most important question that should be answered is whether Scott's actions justified the police shooting. Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said that the family was left with far more questions than answers by the videos. Scott "was an American citizen who deserves better," he added. Indeed, people cannot clearly tell from the cellphone video released Friday, which was shot by Scott's wife during the shooting, that an object left on the ground near Scott's body was a gun or not. In the video, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly told the police officers not to shoot his husband because he had no gun and was just taking his medicine. But the officers were heard opening fire minutes after they shouted commands to Scott to drop a gun. In a news release distributed Saturday with the videos and photos, the CMPD detailed the fatal encounter between its officers and Scott Tuesday afternoon, alleging that Scott possessed marijuana and a handgun and ignored officers' repeated loud verbal commands to drop the gun. Officer Vinson opened fire at Scott after perceiving that Scott's actions and movements posed "an immediate physical threat." A lab analysis of the gun recovered at the scene "revealed the presence of Mr. Scott's DNA and his fingerprints" on it, the CMPD claimed. CMPD chief Kerr Putney told a news conference earlier Saturday that he decided to release the videos to the public after determining that the release would not have an adverse impact on the investigation. The shooting incident has sparked four nights of protests in Charlotte, including two nights of violent riots on Tuesday and Wednesday. Protesters have demanded the police release the tapes of the shooting. A state of emergency was declared Tuesday in Charlotte, followed by a curfew that was imposed from midnight Thursday. Protests continued on Thursday and Friday in the city, but were mostly peaceful. Holocaust survivor Max Mannheimer, who dedicated his life in post-war Germany to fighting anti-Semitism, has died aged 96. German chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to Mr Mannheimer on Saturday for his efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said Mrs Merkel is mourning his death and that "we owe him gratitude". Mr Mannheimer spent two years being held in different death camps, including Auschwitz. Most of his family was murdered during the Holocaust. After the Nazis were defeated, Mr 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. The German news agency dpa reported that Mr Mannheimer died on Friday at a Munich hospital. No cause of death was given. AP A prominent and outspoken Jordanian writer has been shot dead in front of the court where he was on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. The gunman was identified as Riad Abdullah, an imam in his late 40s, at a local mosque. Jordanian media said he was motivated by his anger over the cartoon posted to Facebook by writer Nahed Hattar. The shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan. The gunman shot Mr Hattar, 56, at close range as the writer was preparing to enter the court for a hearing, said witnesses and police. "He was standing at a short distance of about one metre in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court," said a witness. Mr Hattar was shot three times, said the official Petra News Agency. The witness said the gunman, who was immediately arrested, was wearing a long grey robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. Abdullah, from northern Hashmi, a poor neighbourhood in Amman, recently returned from a trip abroad. Abdullah had confessed to police that he was upset over the cartoon, which depicted a bearded man smoking and in bed with two women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. All physical depictions of God or the Prophet Muhammad, even respectful ones, are forbidden under mainstream Islamic tradition. The killing was condemned as a "heinous crime" by Government spokesman Mohammad Momani. "The government will strike with an iron hand all those who exploit this crime to broadcast speeches of hatred to our community," he said. But supporters of Mr Hattar said they held the government responsible for the shooting, accusing prime minister Hani al-Mulki of creating a hostile atmosphere that encouraged violence against the writer. "The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing," said Saad Hattar, a cousin of the writer. Mr Hattar has long been a controversial figure in Jordan. Years ago, he claimed that the late King Hussein had arrested and tortured him many times for his critical writings and vowed not to mourn the king, who died in 1999. While born a Christian, he considered himself an atheist. He was a strong supporter of Syrian president Bashar Assad and an outspoken critic of the Islamic State group and al Qaida. Mr Hattar was detained in August after sharing the cartoon on Facebook. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what he viewed as the twisted religious views of Islamic State extremists. The post was quickly deleted after many angry responses. Jordan is an overwhelmingly Muslim and deeply conservative society. Mr Hattar was briefly detained for two weeks before he was released on bail. The family called on the government to hold accountable all those who had incited against Mr Hattar. "Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them," they said. Jordan is a close ally of the West and has been largely spared from the violence engulfing neighbouring Syria and Iraq. But a series of recent attacks has raised concern about security in the kingdom. A Jordanian police captain opened fire on instructors at an international police training centre in Jordan's capital late last year, killing at least five people, including two Americans. He was shot dead by security forces. And a suicide car bomb attack near the Syrian border in June killed seven Jordanian soldiers. Hundreds of Jordanians have been sentenced to prison, are awaiting trial or are being held for questioning about links to IS. Under toughened anti-terror laws, even liking or sharing the group's propaganda on social media can land someone a prison sentence. But social media accounts of prominent Islamists in Jordan and elsewhere were celebrating Mr Hattar's death, saying he deserved it for blasphemy. Anja Wehler-Schoek, resident director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Jordan, said she found the social media posts shocking. The German foundation promotes democracy and political education in the region. "This is clearly a very dark day for Jordan, which has long been celebrated as a model of peaceful co-existence," she said. "I am very worried we are seeing the end of an era here and more and more problems to come in the future." AP The outbreak of deaths comes after 52 people died from heroin or fentanyl in August Seven people have died from overdoses in the Cleveland area, prompting warnings from authorities. The outbreak across Cuyahoga County comes after 52 people died from heroin or fentanyl in August. The county medical examiner says there is no evidence yet linking the seven deaths which occurred on Saturday. Medical examiner Thomas Gilson says his office is conducting tests to figure out which drugs were involved in the deadly overdoses. He says the number clearly raises the possibility of a very deadly drug in the Cleveland area. The wave of deaths follows outbreaks of overdoses in Akron and Cincinnati involving the animal sedative carfentanil. AP The scene of the shooting in Burlington (AP) The 20-year-old man suspected of killing five people with a rifle at a Macy's storer had been involved in a string of run-ins with police in recent years, including charges he assaulted his stepfather. As investigators tried to piece together information on Arcan Cetin, who was arrested on Saturday evening after a nearly 24-hour manhunt, a picture emerged of a troubled young man. Court records show more than a half-dozen criminal cases in Island County alone, stretching back to 2013. Authorities said the gunman in the attack at the Cascade Mall in Burlington opened fire in Macy's cosmetics department on Friday night, killing a man and four women ranging from a teenager to a senior citizen. The killer then fled. Cetin said nothing and appeared "zombie-like" when he was taken into custody on a pavement some 30 miles away in Oak Harbor by a sheriff's officer who recognised him as the suspect in the rampage, authorities said. Cetin was arrested near the apartment complex where he was believed to be living. He had emigrated from Turkey to the US and is a legal permanent resident, officials said. The FBI said early Saturday there was no indication the shooting was terrorism, but local authorities said later they were ruling nothing out. On Sunday, investigators searched Cetin's vehicle and the apartment complex and were seen carrying boxes from a rear, upstairs unit. The four-unit building was surrounded with yellow police tape. Detectives would not say what they found. The Seattle Times reported that court records show he faced three charges of assaulting his stepfather. The newspaper said Cetin was also arrested on drink-driving charges. It gave no details on when the arrests took place or the outcome of the cases. In the assault case, Cetin was told by a judge last December that he was not to possess a gun, 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". Social media accounts apparently belonging to Cetin showed he had a fondness for the military and video games. Oak Harbor is a city of 22,000 on Whidbey Island with many military families associated with the nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Sheriff's Lt Mike Hawley said he spotted Cetin from a patrol car and immediately recognied him as the suspect in the shooting rampage. "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. No immediate charges were brought against Cetin, who awaited a court appearance on Monday. The identities of the victims were withheld by police pending post-mortems and notification of family. But The Seattle Times identified one as 16-year-old Sarai Lara. Her mother said she survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Authorities in suburban Seattle identified another victim as Belinda Galde, 64, a probation officer with the Snohomish County District Court. AP ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. Mit den gewonnenen Informationen mochten wir verstehen, wie unsere Dienste verwendet werden, und die Qualitat dieser Dienste verbessern. neue Dienste zu entwickeln und zu verbessern Werbung auszuliefern und ihre Wirkung zu messen personalisierte Inhalte anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen personalisierte Werbung anzuzeigen, abhangig von Ihren Einstellungen Wenn Sie Alle ablehnen auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies nicht fur diese zusatzlichen Zwecke. Nicht personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung werden u. a. von Inhalten, die Sie sich gerade ansehen, und Ihrem Standort beeinflusst (welche Werbung Sie sehen, basiert auf Ihrem ungefahren Standort). Personalisierte Inhalte und Werbung konnen auch Videoempfehlungen, eine individuelle YouTube-Startseite und individuelle Werbung enthalten, die auf fruheren Aktivitaten wie auf YouTube angesehenen Videos und Suchanfragen auf YouTube beruhen. Sofern relevant, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auerdem, um Inhalte und Werbung altersgerecht zu gestalten. Wir verwenden Cookies und Daten, umWenn Sie Alle akzeptieren auswahlen, verwenden wir Cookies und Daten auch, umWahlen Sie Weitere Optionen aus, um sich zusatzliche Informationen anzusehen, einschlielich Details zum Verwalten Ihrer Datenschutzeinstellungen. Sie konnen auch jederzeit g.co/privacytools besuchen. Already have an account? Log in here A 24-year-old Brandon man is in police custody following a shooting on Saturday night. We need your support! Local journalism needs your support! As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Gardai have charged a man in connection with a robbery in Dublin yesterday. Two men, one armed with a gun, asaulted a male member of staff at the entrance of a convenience shop at Neilstown, Dublin 22, at 7am yesterday. They fled the scene on foot with cigarettes and alcohol. Shortly afterwards, Gardai arrested a man close to the scene of the robbery and then found a firearm, a baton, cigarettes and alcohol in a follow-up search. He is being held at Ronanstown Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The 44-year-old man is due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court, tomorrow morning. A second man remains at large. The injured shop worker was taken to Tallaght Hospital with minor injuries. Gardai are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact them at Ronanstown Garda station on 01 6667700 The Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda Station. Let Me Tell You is a new bespoke podcast series from Hosts Daniel McConnell and Paul Hosford take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players involved. Dramatic video has been released by Charlotte police 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. But it is unclear if there was anything in the man's hands in the footage, which has done little to satisfy his relatives. The police shooting of Keith Scott in the North Carolina city was released amid days of protests, including an outpouring by hundreds demanding that the public could see the video. Police said Mr Scott, 43, had a gun, though some residents have said he was unarmed. In the dashboard camera video, Mr Scott could be seen slowly backing away from his SUV with his hands down, and it is not apparent if he is holding anything. Four shots are heard and he falls to the ground. Police also released photos of a handgun from the scene, saying it was loaded and contained Mr Scott's DNA and fingerprints. They also said Mr Scott had marijuana. The dashboard camera footage starts with a police car pulling up as two officers point their guns at Mr Scott, who is inside the SUV with the doors closed and windows rolled up. Mr Scott gets out and starts walking backwards 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 Mr Scott. When Mr Scott comes into view, his hands are at his side and he is standing beside his SUV. The body camera footage does not show the moment shots are fired and Mr Scott is next seen on the ground. A lawyer for Scott's family, Justin Bamberg, said the footage left more questions unanswered than it provided clarity. "One of the biggest questions is, do those actions, do those precious seconds, justify this shooting?" he said. Mr Scott's brother-in-law Ray Dotch objected to reporters' questions about Mr Scott's background, saying he should not have to "humanise 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 said. Before releasing the footage, police chief Kerr Putney said he received assurances from the State Bureau of Investigation that making it public would not affect the state's independent probe of the shooting. Asked whether he expected the footage to calm protesters, Mr Putney said: "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. Mr Putney said that his officers did not break the law but noted the state investigation continued. "Officers are absolutely not being charged by me at this point, but again, there's another investigation ongoing," he said. Mr Putney said Mr 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 Mr Scott to their attention. Two plainclothes officers in an unmarked vehicle were preparing to serve a warrant on someone else when Mr Scott parked next to them, according to the document. The officers saw Mr Scott rolling a marijuana cigar, or blunt, though they did not 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 Mr Scott did not respond to repeated commands to drop his weapon. Those commands are not heard in the body camera video, which does not have audible sound until after the shooting. Amid anxiety and unease over the shooting, 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, 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 in hospital on 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 organisers stressing a message of peace at the end of the week. 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. A prominent Jordanian writer has been shot dead in front of the courthouse where he was on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. Police and relatives say Nahed Hattar was gunned down shortly before arriving for a court hearing in Amman. LONDON: OPEC is likely to maintain its view world oil demand will rise for another decade, longer than many other... 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... 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. The Federal government has committed to the pre-election promises of Eden-Monaro MP Peter Hendy, including upgrades to the Barton Highway. In June, Dr Hendy promised a $50 million upgrade of the Barton Highway during his election campaign. Upgrade: Barton Highway. For months, Member for Goulburn Pru Goward, Yass Valley mayor Rowena Abbey and the Yass council have been appealing to the Federal Government for access to the promised funds. Newly appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, wrote to Ms Goward in early September confirming the Australian government's four-year funding commitment of $50 million. A young woman who was raped by a man who advertised a room for rent says she had never felt more powerful and strong after staring her attacker in the face as he was sentenced to 6 years' jail. *Rose was one of two women who were raped by real estate agent Thomas Hofer, 49, at Glebe after responding to an advertisement he posted on the website flatmates.com.au. A woman (left) who was raped by a man who advertised for a flatmate has urged other victims to stand up to their attackers. Credit:Emma Partridge The 19-year-old has spoken for the first time in the hope that other victims of sexual assault will feel empowered to stand up to predators such as Hofer. "I felt stronger than I ever had in my life to be honest," she told Fairfax Media. Many customers were were not satisfied with the telco's response. Riyadh Jamal from Sydney told Fairfax Media he and his four other family members were all affected by the outage for five hours. "My brother works in sales and is advised the day before of his hours for the next day. He couldn't look up his work roster," he said. "My in-laws are overseas for a religious purpose and we also couldn't check if they were okay. "We're not sure if we have missed any calls or messages." Energy supply could be threatened after hundreds of employees at one of Australia's biggest power plants knocked back a large pay rise of 20 per cent over four years. The prospect of potentially disruptive strikes and lockouts at AGL's Loy Yang power station in Victoria is increasing, with the energy giant now pressing ahead with its "last resort" bid to terminate an enterprise agreement covering more than 500 workers. Hundreds of workers face deep cuts to pay and conditions if the move succeeds, as they would revert to less favourable minimum rates of the power industry award. In response, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union signalled it would now apply to the Fair Work Commission to run a ballot of its workers to authorise industrial action. Tim Nicholls has held two of the toughest jobs in state politics. Opposition Leader and Treasurer. As Opposition Leader he still carries the opprobrium associated with the Newman Government, and the public rejection of their privatisation agenda. As Treasurer in the aforesaid government he was stuck with having to fund infrastructure with no money. Hence the privatisation agenda and the Strong Choices campaign to promote it. Opposition Leader and former Treasurer Tim Nicholls has not been helped by interventions from former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett. Credit:Glenn Hunt While community engagement experts have panned Strong Choices as a poorly structured and badly managed propaganda exercise, it was valuable as government attempted to take the community with it on a major policy initiative. Tim Nicholls should not be put off by the perceived failure of that exercise. Indeed, there is a view that it was the excesses of the Newman Government in the areas of law and order and industrial relations, along with an inexhaustible ability to upset people, that saw it turfed and not the privatisation agenda. 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 take part in a protest to urge the Irish Government to repeal the 8th amendment to the constitution, which enforces strict limitations to a woman's right to an abortion, in Dublin. Credit:Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne Demonstrators marched in the rain on government buildings from Dublin's main thoroughfare 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," said Sal Roche, a 42-year-old dance teacher at the march with her 2-year-old son, Tommy. 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 Thongs are usually pretty reliable footwear, but when they suffer a blowout they can leave you stranded. And a thong-wearing man in Jurien Bay in WA's Mid West has learned that the hard way after police chased him down after they caught him allegedly vandalising a car. Jurien Bay's police station is directly across the road from the supermarket where the alleged incident occurred. Credit:Google A WA Police spokesman said the alleged incident occurred at around 11.50pm on Saturday night at the IGA Supermarket on Bashford Street - directly opposite the Jurien Bay police station. Latest News Lendi Group settles $33.6 billion in FY22 Ambitious target of a deal a day for brokers APRA announces new appointments The prudential regulator has a new chair, deputy chair, and members The Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia ( MFAA ) believes a slimmed-down offering of its national conferences for 2017 will better resonate with brokers.The MFAA last week announced its 2017 conferences have been rebranded as the MFAA Business Builders and will be a one-day state-based event in every capital city outside of Hobart and Darwin.The 2017 conferences themselves have also been streamlined and will only run each day from 9am to 2pm, a decision MFAA head of marketing Stephen Hale said was based on feedback from this years events.Its purely based on broker feedback. They liked the idea of what we did with Broker 2020, but the day went too long, Hale told Australian Broker.It started with a breakfast, so they were there at 7am and finished at 4:30pm and had very little time between then and the awards on the same night. Based on the feedback we got from the people who attended we decided to pull the event back and have a more concise day, he said.Hale said marketing would be a cornerstone of the 2017 conferences and that the MFAA is committed to delivering practical advice to its members.A lot of people put on days where they have guest marketing speakers and anybody can really do that. A lot of brokers say to us that those sorts of things sound good, but its not really practical when it comes to their business, he told Australian Broker.One of our members uses the MFFA free content and puts that into e-books aimed at first home buyers or investors and mails them out. So its looking at marketers like that who are actually brokers and doing it in a practical sense.Hale said conferences would have a heavy focus on how brokers can build and stabilise their revenue streams while keeping operating costs down, including advice on how to better use social media and other digital tools to generate leads and interact with consumers.Along with shortening the run time for each day, the MFAA has also reduced attendance costs. The Business Builder conferences will now cost brokers $99 compared to $250 this year, while the awards ceremonies are also down from $250 to $165.While there is still a cost involved in attending the events for MFAA members, Hale believes they are provided with value for money.Were not asking members to fly in to the Gold Coast or somewhere like that. Were saying this is in your capital city, with the exclusion of Hobart and Darwin.Were saying well bring this to the broker and meet in a location thats convenient to them. Weve reduced the cost and the revenue we do get from the fees allows us to take it to each state.In an effort to make other services more convenient for brokers, the MFAA has also announced it will soon roll out the online delivery of both live and recorded professional development days for regional brokers.The MFAA said the new program is aimed at ensuring regional brokers are able to log their continuing professional development hours.Our team has responded to regional business members who are often too busy to travel to development days, or too far away from them. They want to receive the education and information but often miss out due to the sheer size of Australia, Hale said.The MFAA will ensure that at least seven or eight of our PD Days are broadcast to regional areas nationally so that brokers dont feel so isolated.MFAA members and non-members will still need to register to receive the CPD hours and confirm attendance on the day, as they would for attendance at a physical event. 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 YEAR OF VOTING DANGEROUSLY Maureen Dowd Twelve 432 pages; $30 This is a stranger-than-fiction campaign many of us want to forget. So is it too soon to wallow in the reality of it? That question bedevils Maureen Dowd's book on the 2016 presidential race, The Year of Voting Dangerously, a rolling, roiling collection of her columns - mainly ridiculing the two political figures she, like most of us, loves to loathe: Hillary Clinton and Donald J Trump. In a first by a consumer goods company in India, Nestle will tweak the brand taglines of three of its top products Maggi, Nescafe and KitKat as it seeks to espouse a cause. L&T Shipbuilding, part of the $16-billion engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is eyeing around Rs 9,000 crore orders over the next three years, mostly from the Navy. L&T diversified into shipbuilding earlier this decade and is yet to make money in the segment. The company, which has two facilities at Kattupalli near Chennai and Hazira in Gujarat is also expecting revenues to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore over the next three years, L&T Shipbuilding Managing Director and Chief Executive B Kannan told PTI. "There was a slowdown in the shipbuilding industry for quite some time both in the commercial as well as defence sectors. "But with the government now opening the defence sector to private players, we see a huge opportunity and expect to bag a sizeable amount of orders to be awarded by the Navy in the coming years," he said. The company is expecting to bag at least Rs 9,000 crore worth of orders over the next three years, he said, adding the government's focus on improving national security and ring-fence the Indian Ocean Region will drive growth in the sector. "While bids for some contracts are already prepared, some may be finalised in the coming months. Some of these orders were the ones which were to be handed out between 2013 and 2015 but have been delayed and have now started moving. We expect there will be momentum from next year and some more ship orders will be coming in," Kannan said. "Currently very few orders are being given to the private sector. We hope over time, there would be level playing field between the public and private sector and the latter would be given more orders. It's only time before private sector shipyards demonstrate their capabilities in a very strong manner," Kannan said. The company is also expecting to bag one contract to develop amphibious assault ships, also called landing platform docks (LPD). The defence ministry has issued an RFP for developing four such LPDs, out of which two will be developed by private sector shipyards while the remaining will be produced by Hindustan Shipyard. Producing under a cap imposed by the Supreme Courts empowered committee, iron ore miners in Goa have put issues relating to taxation, high logistics cost and production restriction in front of the government. In an interview with Jyoti Mukul & Megha Manchanda, R Kishore Kumar, chief executive officer (iron ore), Ltd, says the company is concentrating on cost-efficiency. Edited excerpts: How important is it to lift the production cap, especially when the market is also not good in terms of demand pick-up? The most important challenge facing the industry is freedom to produce. In Goa, the production used to be 40 million tonnes (mt). The Supreme Court-imposed cap is 20 mt. was producing 14.5 mt in Goa; now we are producing five mt because of the empowered committee (EC) cap. Most of the limit in the state gets exhausted by November-December. We believe that have exhausted the EC limit should be given higher limits because we cannot produce for a few months and then not produce. There are that have a mine that may not be ready for production in the near term. So, those caps are lying unused. We have appealed to the state government to raise our limit if it gets exhausted by November-December. Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF) has formed a venture with Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation (GSFC) and Faradast Energy Falat Company (FALAT) for the development of a 1.3-million-tonne (mt) urea plant at Chahbahar in Iran. The project entails investment of Rs 6,500 crore. The product will be shipped back to India. Weeks after Mukesh Ambani-controlled Infocomm announced the commercial launch of its mobile broadband services, getting a SIM card has become a challenge in many parts of the country. India's second largest two-wheeler maker Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has strongly denied the claims of a section of its sacked employees that production at its Tapukara, Rajasthan plant has been hit by labour unrest. "There is no production loss at all at the 1.2-million units Tapukara plant in the first place. Therefore, the claims of these few sacked employees that the operation is hit is factually incorrect. In fact, we are running above our capacity. Moreover, they have no locus standi to make any such claims as they ceased to be our employees in the first week of February this year," senior vice-president and director, general and corporate affairs, Harbhajan Singh told PTI. Singh further said, "All our plants have either unions or worker committees. There is already a union ( 2F Karamchari Union) at Tapukara and one at Manesar plant too. There is no pending labour dispute at any of our plants and the long-term wage settlements have been executed successfully after discussions with the registered unions." The Tapukara plant has a daily capacity of 4,400 units but is now rolling out 4,400-4,500 units to meet rising demand, Singh added. The plant produces the bike brand Shine, and the largest selling two-wheeler Activa, apart from the Dio and the latest India-only model Navi. Around 100-odd workers, some of them fighting criminal cases against them for attacking police in February, are on hunger strike at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi since last week, claiming that the management is preventing employees from forming a union. It can be noted that following labour unrest in February this year, terminated 100 permanent workers and suspended 47, out of which 25 have been taken back. Five of those on hunger strike are facing criminal cases from the Rajasthan police under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 395 (dacoity). Singh said HMSI has not filed any case and these workers were booked under various charges after they attacked the state police on the street of Gurgaon during the unrest on February 16. HMSI started the Tapukara factory in 2011 and churns out 1.2 million scooters and bikes a year and employs 500 permanent and around 2,000 casual workers. When asked why these people are claiming the backing of the labour union of its Manesar factory, which is Honda's first plant here, Singh said this is also factually incorrect. "They have no backing of any of our employees/unions and also there is already a union at the Tapukara plant. Following the April wage agreement with the Tapukara union, their salaries rose by Rs 17,400, taking their average salary to Rs 31,000 now, which by the end of the three-year agreement will top Rs 40,000, while those at the Manesar plant are drawing Rs 51,000-60,000 now," Singh said. He also deplored these striking ex-employees' bid to tarnish the brand Honda by baselessly alleging that people with no experience are making the scooters and bikes and therefore their quality is suspect. "Our products always stand for highest quality benchmarks. These allegations are unfounded, mischievous and malicious, and are aimed at damaging our reputation, goodwill and business." But central trade union representative accuse the management of scuttling efforts to form a union by prompting a section of workers to challenge the move in a civil court, which stayed the process after the February troubles. Manesar plant's union president Suresh Gaur could not be contacted for comments. He had told reporters last week in Delhi that they would support the Tapukara agitation if the management refused to cooperate. Whether HMSI is ready to take back these sacked people to end the stalemate, Singh said there is no such plan. "There is absolutely no possibility of they being taken back. They were sacked for gross indiscipline, sabotage at plant including damage to machinery, inventory and production loss which led to over Rs 12 crore loss to HMSI in February. Moreover, threatening the lives of co-workers under the name of union formation cannot be ignored." Singh also said before being sacked these workers were demanding Rs 11,000 each from each permanent workers towards forming the union and those who refused to pay up were brutally beaten up and detained at the plant on February 16, which led to the police action. HMSI, which has an annual capacity of 5.8 million scooters and bikes, has had brush with labour unrest in the past too. Its first plant at Manesar saw labour dispute in 2005, which turned into a political issue after agitating workers were beaten up by the Haryana police. In late 2009 also there were disputes at Manesar. Then last December and February this year, Tapukara workers began to protest, and the ongoing Jantar Mantar sit-in is continuation of that. A 35-year-old Bangladeshi smuggler was allegedly killed and his accomplice injured on Sunday by near Indo-Bangla border, officials said. The incident occurred in the wee hours in northern Kurhigram area's Roumari Upazila. Baharul Islam was killed as India's Border Security Force (BSF) personnel opened fire at Purbochhat Karaibari area around 4 a.m., bdnews24 quoted a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) outpost official as saying. Another Bangladesh national, said to be the accomplice of Baharul, was also injured in the firing, the outpost's commander Abdul Aziz said. "Baharul Islam was a smuggler. That is why he had crossed the border so early in the morning and was shot," he was quoted as saying by the report. Aziz, while quoting locals, said troopers from BSF's Gutalu camp fired at the Bangladeshis. "A seriously injured Baharul tried to reach his home and died near his house," he added. Cattle smuggling, which is the "root cause" for firing incidents across the Indo-Bangla border, has dwindled to about one per cent in the past one year after India's clampdown on the illegal trade, top Bangladeshi border guard officials have said. In the midst of a tussle in the medical devices sector, cardiologists from leading hospitals and some medical associations have backed "next generation" stents, calling them superior, and have said that these deserve preferential pricing. In fresh trouble for RJD leader Mohd Shahabuddin, the mother of three youths who were brutally killed by henchmen of the controversial politician has moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in the case in which he has already been sentenced to life. The woman, whose two sons were killed and her third son, who was an eye witness to the incident, later on murdered allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, has challenged the Patna High Court's March 2 this year order granting regular bail to him during pendency of his appeal. While a sessions court in Siwan had convicted Shahabuddin for the offence of murder and kidnapping for ransom in the twin murder case and had awarded life imprisonment to him, the trial in the murder case of the eye witness son is going on. In her plea, Kalawati Devi has claimed that the high court had "completely lost sight" of the fact that Shahabuddin was a "dreaded criminal, who has absolutely no regard for the law, and granting bail to him even though he has been convicted for heinous offences like murder, abduction etc and is still facing trial in many of the cases lodged against him would be travesty of justice". On September 19, the apex court had sought a response from Shahabuddin on a separate plea filed by Devi's husband Chandrakeshwar Prasad challenging the bail granted to him by Patna High Court in the murder case of their third son. The apex court is also hearing a separate plea filed by the widow of journalist Rajdev Ranjan, who was murdered in Siwan allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi. In her plea, Devi has said that as per an affidavit filed by the Bihar government in the apex court, till November 2014, trials in at least 38 cases were pending against him in which he was facing alleged heinous charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapon, extortion and others. Her plea is likely to come up for hearing before the apex court tomorrow. Devi has said in her plea, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, that her two sons, Girish and Satish, were abducted by Shahabuddin's henchmen and after being brutally assaulted, they were killed by acid poured on them and their bodies, packed in a sack full of salt, buried. The plea alleged that Devi's third son, Rajiv Roshan, was initially abducted but he had managed to escape. He was an eye-witness to the killing of his two brothers. She claimed that during pendency of trial in the twin murder case, Roshan was killed in June 2014 allegedly at the behest of Shahabuddin who is facing trial in the case. "The High Court did not consider that, apart from being terror as dreaded criminal, Shahabuddin is considered to be a very influential person in Siwan as he is a two-time MLA and four-time MP fromthere. Being convicted in many criminal cases, he has been debarred from contesting since 2009 general elections," the plea claimed. It said that some of the cases could not be proved against him due to lack of evidence as sometimes Shahabuddin "managed to influence the prosecution or sometime witnesses were too afraid of deposing against him". "The grant of bail to a history-sheeter like Shahabuddin is travesty of justice. If the bail granted Shahabuddin is not stayed by this court, irreparable injury is going to cause to the interest of the present case as well as other pending cases," it said, adding, "there is a serious threat to the life of the petitioner and his family members". Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7 in another case, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him. BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uri attack was part of a "long war" forced on India by and declared that the country is committed to giving a "strong reply" to Pak-sponsored terrorism. Shah while echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view that those responsible for the terror strike last Sunday will not go unpunished said the attack was a result of Pakistan's frustration after security forces foiled 17 infiltration attempts. "The final victory will be ours," he said. Taking on Pakistan, Shah also asserted that it is no less than a war crime if terrorism becomes part of a government's policy. In his inaugural address at the party's Council, Shah said the party feels the widespread anger in the country as he hit out at and supported the Modi government's diplomatic efforts to corner the neighbour. He later made a separate statement on the raging issue with the Prime Minister and entire top brass of the party present on the dais. "BJP feels the widespread anger in the people against the conspirators behind the Uri terror attack. BJP and the central government have adopted the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism from the beginning. A strong reply to defeat such terror attempts will be given. 117 terrorists, which is the highest in recent times, have been killed in the last 8 months as the Centre started its strategic and strong fight against terrorism. "Terrorists have made 17 attempts to infiltrate across the border in the last eight months but our brave soldiers have foiled them. The Uri attack has been carried out due to this frustration. This is a long war which has been forced on us by our neighbour. Uri is only its transit destination and not the final outcome. The final victory will be ours," he said. "The country is committed to giving a strong reply to this Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he said. His remarks came a day after Modi tore into over the Uri attack, saying India will not forget it but indicated that his government's focus will be on isolating Pakistan diplomatically. The party fully supports the government's diplomatic efforts to expose Pakistan, he said, adding that it has succeeded in showing the country's true face to the world. Shah noted that Modi has assured the people that those behind the incident will be punished. "However long is the battle, we will fight it and the victory will be ours." He appealed to the people and other political parties to support the Centre and the Army in this battle. The world is shocked at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's reference to Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a "peace-loving youth" and it is an evidence of that country's involvement in terrorism, he said. India has long been a victim of Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism and faced several small and big terror attacks in the last many years. "Pakistan has become a centre of global terrorism," he said. Amid reports that India is considering withdrawal of most favoured nation (MFN) status to in the wake of the Uri terror attack, Assocham on Sunday said the special privilege has not made much of a difference as trade between the two remains abysmally low. Of India's total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion. India's exports to the neighbouring country worked out to $2.17 billion, or 0.83 per cent, of the total Indian outward shipments while imports were less than $500 million, or 0.13 per cent, of the total inward shipments. In all, trade with was equivalent to 0.41 per cent of India's global merchandise commerce, said D S Rawat, secretary general of Assocham. Thus, the MFN status or no MFN has not made much of a difference on the bilateral trade. While India has granted Pakistan the MFN status, Islamabad had not responded... even with the MFN status, Pakistan's exports to India remained less than half a billion dollars. He said that for political reasons, the businesses have not been showing interest in each other. Going forward, as things stand today, almost no movement is seen in the immediate future. Even the symbolic presence of Pakistan exhibitors at the annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) in November in New Delhi is not expected, whether or not formal ties are snapped or not, given the present state of affairs, said Rawat. On its part, India Inc has come out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for pushing India's interest, the industry body said, adding that strategic decisions are fully in the domain of the government. Even as India was grappling with the global slowdown, its merchandise exports stood at $261 billion in 2015-16 while imports were $380 billion. India's main exports markets are the European Union, the US, Africa and the South-East Asia. In my experience, proffering the idea that Pakistan should abandon its quest for is generally rewarded with condescension. Tell self-styled foreign policy experts of this hair-brained scheme, and you are met with the rhetorical equivalent of a patronising pat on the shoulder; one is not considered anti- so much as naive, not unpatriotic but unserious. In the real world of power politics, these strategic gurus tell us woolly-headed fools, states do not abandon their interests, they fight for them by hook or crook. Pakistan is no different. In this view, is a vital symbolic and strategic interest, tied to both Pakistans foundational religious nationalism as well as its geopolitical goals. As such, it needs to continue the political, diplomatic, and yes, military struggle for Kashmir, no different to how big and small countries have fought for their interests for centuries. Its Realism 101, kid. Minister of External Affairs of India arrived here to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with all eyes and ears set on her speech tomorrow which is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived yesterday afternoon and will address the UN General Debate tomorrow morning. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UNGA speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the UNGA session, New Delhi's envoy to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here on September 23 that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however did not elaborate on elements of Swaraj's address but said: "The whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the external affairs minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community." Swarup said one can also expect, "A continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security." Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambler had said: "The worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan as "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors. External Affairs Minister is set to address the UN General Assembly tomorrow with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here Friday that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security". Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. The death toll in rain-related incidents in has gone up to 11, with eight deaths reported in Medak district and three others in Warangal, officials said. A single vehicle crash Saturday morning took the live of one and sent three to the hospital. The 911 call came in at 10:30 a.m. with a report of a crash in the 5700 block of 510th Avenue in the town of Menomonie. Dunn County deputies and Menomonie Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. A rescue helicopter was called but later redirected to Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar in Menomonie. One of the vehicles occupants, Angela M. Goodman, 38, of Menomonie, was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. It appears that speed was a factor in the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriffs Office and the Dunn County Medical Examiners Office. The Wisconsin State Patrol also assisted at the scene. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the country would ratify the on October 2, Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary. This marked an end to uncertainty and flip flops that had gripped Indias climate change diplomacy ever since the failure to attain the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership in June this year. Modi announced his governments decision in Kozhikode, Kerala, at the national conclave of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ratification requires a simple Cabinet approval at a time of the prime ministers choosing and not a Parliamentary approval. The announcement comes after the governments attempt to link countrys ratification of with the US putting its weight behind Indias bid to win a NSG membership came to naught. A successful linkage was hinged on two factors. One, that the outgoing US President Barack Obama is keen to have the come in to force before his term gets over as his legacy; and two, Indias ratification would be essential for it. The linkage, drawn up at the highest level in the government in June, lacked credibility to start with. Indias emission reduction commitments under Paris Agreement do not require a substantial increase of nuclear power in the future energy mix. After linking the ratification to producing more nuclear power, implying the need for NSG membership (and a more robust support from the US for it), the government changed its tone in September. On the side-lines of G20 talks, the government claimed ratification would not be possible this year because of procedural concerns. Regardless of the reason proffered in public, the decision at the highest level to not ratify the Paris Agreement left the rest of government to mull the consequences within the climate diplomacy arena. But within days, the government re-calibrated its line in public yet again, claiming it was making all the efforts to ratify but remained uncertain if it could do so in time for end-2016. The diluted line was to deflect from the obvious reading that India was playing a manoeuvre against the US in the hope of getting better support for its NSG membership. It was the first sign of emerging understanding in the government that the gambit was failing. And, the gambit did fail when about 30 more countries ratified the Paris Agreement last week taking the total tally to 60. This included almost all major emerging economies including China, Brazil, Argentina and others. EU remained the only key developed country group yet to join, but it, too, on Friday announced that it would collectively ratify the global climate compact before November. This promised to leave India isolated and embarrassed about the brinkmanship around climate talks as US President Obama looked on track to get the legacy gift without Indias help. The agreement requires 55 countries accounting for 55 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions to ratify in order for the pact to come into force. 60 countries adding up to 48 per cent emissions have already done so and both the necessary thresholds would have been crossed by countries by October leaving India behind risking global opprobrium. The annual climate negotiations are to begin on November 7 and an informal meeting of environment ministers is planned for October both in Morocco. Various states signed memorandum of understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 15,000 crore with investors for and hospitality projects in the first investors summit. A total of 86 MoUs were exchanged by states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttarakhand, said a CII statement on Sunday. NITI Aayog, a policy think-tank of the government, is pushing for a 10-year corporation tax holiday for proposed coastal economic zones (CEZs) provided these generate a threshold of employment. An informal proposal to this effect came at a time when the finance ministry is looking at phasing out exemptions given on corporation tax and reducing the levy to 25 per cent from the current 30 per cent at present. The initial success of masala bonds, or rupee-denominated bonds issued in the foreign market, has prompted Indian companies to explore if they could raise rupee loans from abroad. Deutsche Bank is helping these companies raise such loans, said Amit Bordia, head of Corporate India, in an interview with Anup Roy. Edited excerpts: 23 Persons Rescued by Indian Air Force at Edupalaya in Medak District of Telangana Two Chetak helicopters of the Indian Air Force got airborne at 0709h today for carrying out rescue operations at flood hit Edupalaya village in Medak district. The operation lasted for more than an hour wherein the Indian Air Force successfully airlifted 23 construction workers trapped on an island amidst strong currents and moved them to safer places. The helicopters landed back at 0851h after successful completion of the rescue despite inclement weather in the area. The operation was undertaken from Air Force Station Hakimpet in Hyderabad and was coordinated by Wg Cdr P Surendran, the Chief Operations Officer at Air Force Station Begumpet. Indian Air Force had been standing by for last two days and yesterday two attempts were made at rescuing the marooned workers, which did not fructify due to heavy rain and low clouds. However, with the persistent efforts of IAF, the mission was successfully accomplished today. IAF is further standing by to undertake rescue operations in view of forecast of more rain in the next couple of days. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are expected to meet separately with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of their first presidential debate on Monday night. Netanyahu was expected to meet in New York with the presidential nominees of the two major parties in what could set the tone for future relations between Israel and the next White House administration. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favoured over President Barack Obama in 2012. The one-on-one discussions will follow what was likely Netanyahu's final meeting with Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky 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 US Nuclear agreement with Iran. More recently, Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israel's security. The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 earlier this month that the Islamic State group was "rooting for Donald Trump's victory" and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of "treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one." But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israel's commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didn't want to show any bias in favour of one side or the other. The meetings will also come after the US Recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. Clinton said in a statement that it would help "solidify and chart a course for the US-Israeli defence relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges. Activists and refugees staged a protest in on Sunday calling on Washington to pardon fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden, with protesters describing refugees in the city as "heroes" for helping him evade authorities in 2013. The former National Security Agency contractor, who released thousands of classified documents revealing the vast US surveillance put in place after the September 11 attacks, currently lives in Russia. He fled with documents to Hong Kong, where he hid among Sri Lankan refugees in cramped tenements, and later received political asylum in Russia after the United States revoked his passport while he was en route to Ecuador. The New York Times reported he stayed with at least four refugees with the help of a human rights lawyer in the southern Chinese city. Protesters said the city's refugees, many of them forced to live in slum-like conditions, and Snowden both suffered rights abuses. "We are forced to leave our country like Snowden. We stand together with him to fight for pardon," a 36-year-old refugee from Indonesia, who only gave her name as Dede, told AFP. Around 50 protesters chanted "Pardon Snowden" and "We are not criminals" as they marched to the US consulate, with some holding placards that read "No racism. Stop Oppressing refugees". Protest organisers said 11,000 refugees have applications for protection pending but have no official status and no right to work. "The government thinks refugees are criminals... but they are true heroes. They helped Edward Snowden escape the US government back in 2013," Sally Tang of Socialist Action told reporters at the rally. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union have launched a campaign to pressure President Barack Obama to pardon Snowden, who is also the subject of an Oliver Stone movie. 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. US President reportedly used a pseudonym in some of the e-mails he exchanged with Hillary Clinton when she served as his Secretary of State from 2009-2013, according to new documents released by the FBI. The FBI on Friday released its second batch of documents comprising 189 pages from its two-year investigation into Clinton's use of a private e-mail server during her time as Secretary of State, EFE news reported. The documents include FBI interviews with some of Clinton's top aides such as Huma Abedin, who in an interview conducted on April 5, 2016, was shown e-mail correspondence between Clinton and another person, although Abedin said she did not recognise that other person's identifying designation, the online news website Politico reported. "Once informed that the sender's name is believed to be (a) pseudonym used by the President, Abedin exclaimed: 'How is this not classified?'" the report stated. "Abedin then expressed her amazement at the President's use of a pseudonym and asked if she could have a copy of the e-mail." Congressional Republicans, just six weeks before the November 8 election, continue to press the FBI to make public more material from their investigation, which ended in July with Director James Comey concluding that no charges could be filed against Clinton despite the fact that she had been "extremely careless" in handling certain classified information. The Clinton campaign, in a communique from spokesman Brian Fallon, said that the new documents published on Friday show why the Department of Justice believes that there is no basis for pursuing the case. rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that it was exporting terror, saying the remarks were part of a "well thought out vilification campaign" to distract attention from Kashmir. Foreign Office, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi in a public meeting in Kerala "tried to malign Pakistan". "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable," the Foreign Office said. "It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated" by its forces in Kashmir against "innocent and defenseless" Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The "atrocities" in Kashmir intensified since the "extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader" Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistan's reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. "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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asia's, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement alleged, "In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands." The Foreign Office claimed that the community has taken notice of these "blatant human rights violations" with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. "The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)," the statement said. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he was "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Syria's battleground city of Aleppo where residents cowered indoors as air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians. The Security Council was set to meet today to discuss the upsurge in violence since the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the devastated city. Nearly two million civilians were left without water in Aleppo after regime bombardment damaged a pumping station and rebels shut down another in retaliation, the UN said. Secretary-General Ban warned yesterday that the use of bunker buster bombs and other advanced munitions against civilians may amount to war crimes, after the army Thursday launched the offensive backed by Russian air raids that has cost around 100 lives. Top EU officials said that the attacks on civilians amount to a "breach of humanitarian law," and called for intensified peace efforts. Washington and leading European powers said yesterday that "the burden is on Russia... To salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities." A week-long ceasefire agreed between the US and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. That same day, an aid convoy was hit by an air strike that US officials have said was carried out by Russian planes, although Moscow has denied responsibility. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who failed in talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to revive the ceasefire, earlier said: "What is happening in Aleppo today is unacceptable. It is beyond the pale." "If people are serious about wanting a peaceful outcome... they should cease and desist bombing innocent women and children, cease cutting off water and laying siege in mediaeval terms to an entire community," he said. Kerry had harsh words for Moscow's involvement in the conflict, in comments at a meeting with his European counterparts. "Russia needs to set an example, not a precedent -- an unacceptable precedent, I might add, for the entire world," he said. Syria's regime said it was confident of victory, with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem telling the UN General Assembly that the army and its allies were making "great strides" in the conflict. Pepper Pepper at the Kochi market is currently trading at Rs 71,733 a quintal. The demand is low and availability of imported pepper from Sri Lanka and Vietnam is adequate. Leading stock exchange BSE has roped in operator to set up trading infrastructure for BSE International Exchange at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) city. BSE and have finalised an agreement under which the global exchange operator would set up trading technology for the BSE's International Exchange, sources told PTI. BSE has declined to comment on the matter. Earlier, BSE had acquired trading technology BOLT Plus for its equity platform from . BOLT Plus is the fastest trading platform in the country. Deutsche Boerse, which holds nearly 4.75 per cent stake in BSE, had also partnered with the exchange earlier to act as the exclusive licensor of BSE market data and information products to all international clients. BSE had signed a pact with GIFT SEZ Ltd in January last year to set up BSE International Exchange and BSE International Clearing Corporation at the GIFT city -- the country's first International Financial Services Centre(IFSC). While the stock exchange has received approval from the Corporate Affairs Ministry to establish international exchange and clearing corporation at GIFT, it is waiting for approval from market regulator Sebi. The international exchange is expected to provide an electronic trading platform that facilitates domestic companies to raise capital in foreign currency by issuing foreign currency denominated bonds and to trade in such securities. It would also help Indian startups to raise equity from foreign investors by getting listed and provide companies incorporated outside India a platform to raise money in foreign currencies by the issuance and listing of their equity shares on the international exchange. BSE has also decided to begin mock trading sessions for its international stock exchange in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) from October 3. In backdrop of the 2016-17 crushing season merely a few weeks away, Uttar Pradesh farmers are demanding at least 25 percent increase in state cane price over steep hike in farm input costs. With the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) increasing the limit of a foreign entity in Indian stock exchanges from five per cent to 15 per cent, bankers expect global exchanges to raise their stake or buy stakes in the existing equity and . Bollywood actors Richa Chadda and Vir Das have also expressed concern over the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's threat asking the Pakistani actors to leave India or face consequences and said that an amicable and brotherly solution should be found to all problems. When Richa was quizzed on the same at an event yesterday, she said, "If you feel that banning Zindagi channel and banishing the Pakistani actors from India will stop all these terror-attacks then do so. But can anyone give a guarantee about this?" "Let the government handle this conflict. They know very well how to do it. Our Prime Minister and the army are strong enough to take proper step. I don't think actors should be associated to it," the 'Sarbjit' actress added. Speaking on the same note, actor Vir Das stated that actors in this situation are some small fishes in a very large situation. "It is a very complicated situation. Actors are very small fish in a very large situation. So if you are targeting a tension towards the actors, then you have to come up with a bigger solution on a larger level. I have always embraced brotherhood and friendship towards any nationality and the vice versa has happened. So I am hoping that an amicable, brotherly solution can be found to all problems," he told media here. The MNS' orders, backed by the Shiv Sena, came 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. The party also warned that it would not allow the release of the upcoming Karan Johar's flick 'Ae Dil Hai Mushqil' and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees' as the movies star Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively. When Richa was asked how this decision will affect the two films, she said, "I don't think the movies will be affected by this decision. I wish for some peaceful solution to it, by the time of these movies' release. I again will say, the artists should be kept away from this conflict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan over the Uri terror attack, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president on Sunday said India has been the victim of this state sponsored terrorism since long, adding Islamabad now stands exposed before the world. Saluting the sacrifices of the 18 army personnel killed in the Uri attack, Shah offered his condolences to the family members of the brave hearts. Addressing the BJP's council meeting in Calicut, Shah said India is committed to give a befitting reply to Pakistan sponsored terrorism. "Terrorism is a big threat to a democratic and civil society. Terrorism in itself is a big hindrance to humanity. If terrorism becomes a part of state politics, this is not less than war crimes from any angle," Shah said. "Pakistan is openly advocating terrorism through state politics and India has been the victim of this state sponsored terrorism for a long time. Since the last one and half decade, we have been tolerating other smaller and bigger attacks," he added. The BJP president also used the platform to take potshots at Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. "Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech (at the UNGA) is a strong proof that Pakistan is openly preaching and spreading terrorism in the world. The whole world was disappointed to witness the Prime Minister hailing a young terrorist from the Hizbul Mujahideen as a peaceful youth," Shah added. The BJP president also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism. Shah further said the Central Government has initiated strong actions against terrorism and 117 terrorists have been killed in the last eight months because of the same. "The terrorist tried to infiltrate the borders 17 times in the last eight months but our brave army personnel foiled their attempts. The Uri strike was done to avenge their failed attempts," he said, adding the final victory will be India's. The BJP president also spoke about India's attempts to isolate Pakistan on global platforms and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the nation that the perpetrators behind the Uri attack will be brought to book. "However long the fight might be, we will fight and we believe the ultimate win will belong to the Indian Army. In this fight against terrorism, the BJP is with the government and the soldiers of the Indian Army. The BJP appeals to the people of the nation to come together to fight terrorism" he said. Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong words against Pakistan were not 'new' to the ears as he had taken the same stance after the deadly Pathankot Air Base attack earlier this year, the Congress has dared him to turn his words into action and bring justice to the sacrifice of the 18 soldiers who were killed in the Uri terror strike. Speaking to ANI here, Congress leader Meem Afzal said that the Prime Minister's attacking stance against Pakistan was quite similar to his words after the Pathankot attack, adding that he appreciated his words, which even though repetitive, have come at the right time. "But the Prime Minister needs to turn his attention now to the pain of his own people, who are burning with rage after losing 18 of its soldiers to terrorists. He said that we will extract revenge and never forget this....but one never forgets a sacrifice like this in the first place," he said. Re-iterating that the Centre's mood now is the same after the Pathankot attack, in which talks were held about an inquiry and the Pakistan team was even allowed to come to the site of the attack to investigate, Afzal added that the BJP-led government became helpless when Islamabad denied permission to the team from New Delhi to probe. "Today the Prime Minister is saying those same words, which is why I want to know his action plan. He also said that his government is ready to accept Pakistan's challenge of war, well I want to remind him that it is the UPA government which has fought three wars against Pakistan and won," he said. Calling on Prime Minister to not trivialise the matter by comparing the strategies of different governments in the past, the Congress leader asserted that it was the Army which was the backbone and the strength of the nation in times like these. "By giving out such a message, the Prime Minister is trying to prove that today there is such a government that can turn do just about anything. So I dare him to go ahead and turn his words into action," Afzal said. Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi had said in Kozhikode, Kerala, yesterday that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. The Prime Minister said he could see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century, adding that all countries in Asia are working for it, except one. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces. Intensifying his attack further, Prime Minister Modi said the Pakistani leaders speak out addresses written by terrorists and talk about Kashmir. "Pakistan is aiming for Kashmir. They should first look at the land they already have captured i.e. PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan," he added. Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists. "I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India" he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech against Pakistan and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken up the matter very seriously. Singh said, "The way Pakistan has shown cowardness in Uri and the way they had sent there men and attacked our Army men it was a kind of proxy war. This incident has agitated the whole country and the BJP has taken up this matter very seriously." Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan and said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. "A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists," said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode. The Prime Minister said he can see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century, adding that all the countries in Asia are working for it, except one. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces. "There have been 17 fidayeen attempts by our neighbour, which our brave soldiers foiled. Leaders of the neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years; where are they now," he asked. The Prime Minister further said more than 110 terrorists have been killed in the past few months by the Indian Army as they were trying to infiltrate. Taking a jibe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists. "I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India" he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress party said Saturday that the Karnataka Government needs to prove to the court that there is no intentional disobedience involved in not releasing waters of the river to Tamil Nadu, as the quantity of water available is not sufficient. After the Karnataka state assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday to only release water to meet the basic needs of people living in Bengaluru and those icinity of the Basin, Congress leader and senior advocate K T S Tulsi said, "The Government of Karnataka can't produce water if there is none, and therefore, they will have to convince the court there is no intentional disobedience, but these are circumstances that are beyond their control." Defending the resolution passed by the Karnataka state assembly, Tulsi said, "According to the information that has been given to the legislative assembly, only 27,000 metric tons of water is available for meeting the drinking needs of Bangalore, Mysore and other places in the Basin and all reservoirs taken together, only 27.6 pmc is available. So, if the water is just not there, how will they release it, how can there be contempt?" The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the apex court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its Samba paddy crop. The Supreme Court had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. Backed by an all party mandate, the state cabinet had on Tuesday decided to defer the release of water to Tamil Nadu and convene a day's legislature session to discuss possible outcomes related to the escalating row between the two neighbouring states. The Congress Party on Sunday did not appear to be in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'let's fight battle against poverty' assertion and said that it was not in good taste as one does not have to battle its own problems with regard to other nation. Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI that his speech made no sense. "To say that we won't forget the martyrs is fair enough, but it is important what the government is doing. Are we doing something to strengthen our defense establishments, which are being constantly breached? Are we helping the Army, military and others to become more secure and get whatever they require to be safer? Are we putting adequate pressure on the people, who are supporting Pakistan to drop their terror tactics?" Dikshit said. "As far as challenging another country to win the war against unemployment and see who wins. I mean the war against poverty and unemployment is not a race, it is a commitment to our people. I think to say that it's a race against misery, against deprivation with some other country that doesn't make any sense," he added. The Congress leader further said the Indians are committed to removing poverty, deprivation, discrimination, misery of any kind and destitution Dikshit said, "These are our issues and we have been tackling them well, we shall tackle them in future. And I think that's not a battle, it's a commitment that we give to ourselves and we work against it every day." Launching a blistering attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi yesterday sent across a strong message against the "export of terrorism" from that country, vowing "India will never forget the Uri attack." "A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists," said Prime Minister Modi while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode The Prime Minister said he can see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century, adding that all countries in Asia are working for it, except one. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces. "There have been 17 fidayeen attempts by our neighbour, which our brave soldiers foiled. Leaders of the neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years; where are they now," he asked. The Prime Minister further said more than 110 terrorists have been killed in the past few months by the Indian Army as they were trying to infiltrate. Taking a jibe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists. "I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India" he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Premier body on cyber security Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has announced the launch of its new chapter in Singapore with an aim to encourage the exchange of information, sharing of knowledge and best practices on cyber Security. The DSCI Singapore chapter among other things would be engaged in building linkages with stakeholders in the government, industry, LEAs and academia, establishing channels of collaborations on policy deliberation, industry development and capacity building on Security Privacy and Cybercrime investigation, building community to bridge cyber security skills gap between India and Singapore amongst others. "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," said High Commissioner Vijay Thakur Singh. "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. I am confident the chapter will act as a catalyst for growth of a strong community in the region to address the evolving cyber challenges," said CEO DSCI, Rama Vedashree. DSCI has created and nurtured a network of over 4000 security and privacy professionals in India in with 12 chapters operating successfully in different cities in India. The chapters are directed by voluntary association of individuals, the Anchor and Co-Anchor are appointed to conduct regular affairs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address targeting Pakistan over the Uri terror attack as an attempt to divert attention, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday urged the former to chalk long-term solution to such problems. "The nation expects the Prime Minister to take stringent steps post the Uri attack so that such incidents do not occur again. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not able to build trust among the Indians that such incidents will not occur," Mayawati said. "Our Prime Minister instead of finding a long-term solution to the problem is distracting people by making such speeches," she added. Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister over his reference to Pakistan over war against poverty, unemployment and development, Mayawati said that the former before advising Islamabad should introspect as to what has his government done for the people of India. "The Prime Minister in his address yesterday including the Uri attack also spoke of development in the nation. I would like to say that instead of giving advice to Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi should look at his own government. There has been no development in their rule, he should also see whether his government has done enough to advise someone else," she said. Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan and said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. "A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists," said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode. The Prime Minister said he can see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century, adding that all the countries in Asia are working for it, except one. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces. "There have been 17 fidayeen attempts by our neighbour, which our brave soldiers foiled. Leaders of the neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years; where are they now," he asked. The Prime Minister further said more than 110 terrorists have been killed in the past few months by the Indian Army as they were trying to infiltrate. Taking a jibe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists. "I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India" he added. At least six members of the Haqqani network, including two senior commanders, involved in a brutal suicide attack on the convoy of Afghan Police cadets in June have been killed during an operation in Afghanistan's central Maidan Wardak province. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) in a statement said that the Haqqani network commanders identified as Mullah Mahmood and Azizullah were killed during a special night operation conducted by the intelligence operatives, reports the Khaama Press. The NDS said several light and heavy weapons were also seized during the operation. Earlier on June 30th, more than 30 police cadets lost their lives in a coordinated suicide attack in the outskirts of Kabul city. A suicide bomber targeted the convoy of the police cadets as they were on their way from the neighbouring Wardak province and another suicide bomber rammed into the convoy minutes after the first blast as several people had gathered to help the victims of the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and have reached an agreement for establishment of an air corridor. "We reached an agreement with #India for establishment of an air corridor, to send #Afghan goods through the air. Pres @ashrafghani," Pajhwok Afghan News tweeted quoting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying. Ghani during his two-day visit to India last week urged the Indian businessmen to use the air route for trade in a bid to help free his landlocked country from the constraints of those neighbours, who do not wish his country well. Earlier this month, he called upon Pakistan to allow Kabul to engage in trade with India through its land routes, a request turned down by Islamabad. The bilateral trade between India and stood at less than $685 million in 2014-15. However, the trade relations can realize its true potential if the Wagah-Attari route is opened for bilateral trade with . The Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) has been restrictive in this aspect. The APTTA is a bilateral trade agreement between Islamabad and Kabul. It has been renegotiated several times. The treaty was signed in 1950 which gave Afghanistan the right to import duty-free goods through Karachi. The US has maintained that it would encourage Ghani's move of asking Pakistan to include India in the transit trade agreement for stronger trade relations between all countries of the region. Speaking at the daily press briefing, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Mark C Toner said, "I would just say, speaking broadly, that we would support stronger trade relations within the region. And we've long said that it's a priority for the United States at least, but it should be a priority for the countries in the region to all work more cooperatively and constructively together. And a trade agreement would be part of that." When asked as to what was his position on Afghanistan asking India's inclusion in the transit trade agreement it has with Pakistan, Toner replied, "I think we would encourage, as I said, stronger trade relations between all the countries of the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India would rectify the decisions that were made during the Paris Climate Deal (COP21) on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. "On the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, India will ratify the COP21 resolutions on climate, because Gandhiji's life is an example of a minimum carbon footprint. He was very close to nature," said Prime Minister Modi while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party Council on the birth centenary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. "Today people discuss global warming, while Pandit Deendayal used to say we should respect our resources. Pandit Deendayal was appointed chairman of the Jana Sangh in Kozhikode," said the Prime Minister, adding that no political pundit would have expected Jan Sangh 50 years ago to become the number one party of India," he added. Noting that standards of politics fell a lot after independence, Prime Minister Modi said, "It creates immense amount of danger for democracy. However, it is not true that all hope is lost; ideals are still alive. In this country of 125 million people, dreams and determination of this young country should also be young," he added. Stating that the BJP's original character is based on principles of welfare of people, the Prime Minister added, "We have never comprised on our ideals. BJP's original character is based on principles of welfare of people. India's politics is attached to its roots, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay gave us the mantra." "Our party was formed for poor section of society and all our initiatives are focusing on down trodden people only. Our government is committed to the welfare of the last person in the society. Our effort is that we continue on the path of balanced growth," he added. "Deendayal Upadhyayaji said, Muslims should not be treated as substance for votes or look down upon, they should be considered equal. Don't reward Muslims, don't rebuke Muslims, empower them. Think of them as your own," said the Prime Minister. Asserting that the solution to the country's all problems rest in development, the Prime Minister said, "There is a need for a discussion to bring in change in the procedures for elections in our country." Earlier, the Prime Minister unveiled a book titled 'Amal', outlining how the Chhattisgarh Government aligned it's pro-poor schemes with the "integral humanism" (ekatm manavvad) philosophy of Deendayal Upadhyayaji. The book has outlined that how in various sectors such as food security, health, education, sports, industry, employment, culture and skill development, the Chhattisgarh Government is trying to reach out to the last person in the society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former IPS officer D.G. Vanzara, who is out on bail in the Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter cases, Sunday said the "encounters were not fake and the truth will come to light finally". While responding to questions about an FIR filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) into the missing files pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan case, Vanzara told ANI, "The developments will keep happening in the case as we are a democratic nation, where there is rule of law and liberalism. But, because these encounters were not fake, the truth will ultimately come out, which is not on view due to misplaced files." "The encounter that happened in Gujarat were all legitimate, still when 'anti- politics' came in the country, the Gujarat police suffered a lot of harassment. But, the final truth will come to light," he added. The FIR was lodged at the Sansad Marg Police Station in New Delhi on Saturday. According to reports, the Delhi Police have initiated a probe into the case of missing documents pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan case. Earlier in March, an MHA team had found around five different documents, including two affidavits, missing, following which it was decided that the probe would be handed over to the CBI, but later the MHA directed the Delhi Police to probe the matter. Ishrat Jahan was killed in an alleged fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thanking High Peace Council chairman (HPC) Pir Sayed Ahmad Gailani for their efforts in getting Hizb-e-Islami sign a peace agreement with the government, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani hailed the move and said that his country believes in Afghan-owned reconciliation process. Ghani's office in a statement said that the gesture was conveyed at a meeting with Gailani on Saturday. "We always said that we don't want peace from others and we believe in an Afghan-owned reconciliation. The signing of the peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami was a big step," the Tolo News quoted Ghani as saying. He said that his government has shown its people and the on its will and the commitment for legal peace with dignity. "The national and international community strongly supports the Afghan-owned reconciliation (process)," he added. The Afghan President also stressed that "successful reconciliation with Hizb-e-Islami was a good beginning and we will continue this process." Meanwhile, Gailani during the meeting conveyed that HPC is working on a basic strategy for all insurgent groups to join the peace process. "We are also considering holding a national conference on peace in the future," Gailani said. Ghani's deputy spokesman Shahussain Murtazawi at a press conference said that the executive committee from Government and Hizb-e-Islami will follow all contents of the agreement. The second deputy of the CEO, Mohammad Mohaqiq, said that it is a good opportunity for the Hizb-e-Islami leader to return to the country. However, the head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation, Amin Karim, said that Hekmatyar will not return to the country until his name is removed from the UN's blacklist. The draft peace agreement between Afghan government and Hezb-e-Islami party was signed on September 22 in a compound of Afghanistan High Peace Council. The Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar signed the agreement on behalf of the Afghan government while Mohammad Amin Karim signed the agreement on behalf of the Hezb-e-Islami. The agreement was signed after almost six months of continued negotiations between the Afghan High Peace Council and the delegation of Hezb-e-Islami. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan on Sunday cornered the grand alliance government for not initiating firm steps to tackle the rising crime in Bihar and said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should leave the greed for power and part ways with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Expressing grave concern over the crime graph in the state, Chirag said that he was ashamed being a Bihari to witness the deteriorating law and order situation. "I am a Bihari, but I myself feel ashamed that our state is in the news only for crime. Our state has become a state where the culprits are given protection and the people associated with law are now frightened and scared," he told ANI. "It is a matter of grave concern for our state where due to fear of criminals, the judges asks for transfer, where police personnel are shot blatantly in broad daylight. It is high time that Nitish ji should wake up and leave the greed for power as well as he needs to leave the grand alliance involving people like Lalu ji who gives protection to criminals," he added. The LJP leader advocated the Bihar Government to take a firm stand so as to ensure that the people of the state feel secure. "It is his responsibility or such incidents will keep on happening, innocents will be killed, criminals will keep getting safety and there will be fear of criminals in the people as well in the police and judges," he added. Bike-borne assailants gunned down Assistant Sub-Inspector R R Choudhary near Fathua over bridge on Saturday. The Bihar Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the broad daylight killing of the ASI. Inspector General of Police Nayyar Khan has said that the SIT would be headed by Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and would probe the killing of two more police officers in Patna and Nalanda districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Florida Abolitionists Petition to Outlaw Abortion as 1st-Degree Murder Contact: Bonnie Coffey, Abolish Abortion Florida, 813-300-7570 TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- The political committee Abolish Abortion Florida (AAFL) has launched a ballot initiative to amend the state's constitution to punish abortion as capital murder. Under the proposed amendment, anyone who performs or procures an abortion would be charged with first degree, pre-meditated murder. "Abortion" would include any abortifacient drug or device that can kill an embryo by preventing implantation, as well as the intentional destruction of unwanted IVF embryos. The amendment would define life as beginning at fertilization rather than "conception," and declares that "abortion deprives an innocent human being of the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." According to AAFL, the idea is not only to collect enough signatures to get the measure onto the 2018 ballot, but also to encourage legislators to begin putting forward legislation to abolish abortion instead of merely regulating it. Per AAFL: "The Supreme Court cannot make murder legal. Pro-life politicians have passed incremental regulations for decades, but it's time to abolish abortion by recognizing it for what it is cold-blooded murder and prosecuting it accordingly." The complete petition language can be seen at www.abolishabortionfl.com. Share Tweet After Prime Minister Modi's strongly worded speech against Pakistan, Pakistani author and analyst Tarek Fatah said that for Islamabad such speeches are just empty threats until it directly feels the heat. "It is encouraging that he (Prime Minister Modi) has brought it up one more time, but it depends whether it is having any effect on the Pakistani military government or not. I don't think Pakistan takes anything seriously because from their perspective, these are just empty threats," Fatah told ANI. He said that unless the Government of Pakistan feels the heat directly, there will not be any change in their attitude. He added, "This can only happen if India acts in the Indus Act treaty and takes the first step at ensuring that Pakistan feels that Prime Minister Modi means what he says." He alleged that Pakistan uses the policy of blackmail and exporting terrorism. "It is just Pakistan that relies only on blackmail, exporting terror and blackmailing the United States, China and the European Union through funding from Saudi Arabia to carry out terror," said Fatah, adding, "The people of the land are very unfortunate that a certain group of Punjabi military mullah mafia is controlling the destiny of the Balochs, the Sindhis and the Pashtuns." Reacting on Modi's comment to fight war against poverty, Fatah said, "For Pakistan, poverty is essential because how else can the upper class enjoy the exploitation of the poor. The ruling class there does not want poverty to end, because if poverty ends, the power ends." Yesterday, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, and said the people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and our country is exporting terrorists. He said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. He also challenged Pakistan that if it wants war it should fight against poverty and other evils in its society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that there shouldn't be any ambiguity left regarding the Centre's Kashmir policy post Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah's assertion on Pakistan. "After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah ji's speech, there shouldn't be ambiguity left regarding the Bharatiya Janata Party's policy with regard to Kashmir. Amit Shah ji once again today reiterated that Kashmir was a part of India and would remain so. He said if there is any discussion, it should be within the Constitution of India," Singh told ANI. Singh said the Prime Minister acknowledging the sacrifices of the soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, has strengthened the morale of the armed forces. "When the Prime Minister himself says such a thing, it shows how clear our principle is. I don't think there should be any doubt about the party's principle in regard to Kashmir," he added. Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi had said in Kozhikode, Kerala, yesterday that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. Prime Minister Modi said the people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Islamabad got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and our country is exporting terrorists. He also challenged Pakistan that if it wants war it should fight against poverty and other evils in its society. Last Sunday, a militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers. While 17 soldiers died on Sunday, the army confirmed that one more critically injured soldier succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 18. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Highlighting the scams which took place during the former Congress-led UPA regime, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president on Sunday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and said that nobody can ever level corruption charges against the ruling dispensation at the Centre. Addressing the BJP's council meeting in Calicut, Shah said scams worth Rs. 12 lakh crores came to light during the former UPA regime headed by Dr Manmohan Singh. "It has been two and a half years in office, nobody can level allegations of corruption on us," he added. Highlighting the schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for public welfare, Shah pointed out that the Congress had in the last 68 years given only 13 crore gas connections while the incumbent NDA regime rolled out five crore connections to the poor and rural households under the Ujjwala Yojana. The BJP's council meeting is being held at Calicut to celebrate the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Defence expert Brigadier (Retired) Anil Gupta on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned Pakistan of all consequences of pursuing the path of terrorism in South Asia, and warned that if Islamabad doesn't mend its ways, it should be prepared to bear the brunt of its acts. "Last evening, during a speech at Calicut, the Prime Minister made it very clear and exposed Pakistan and its nefarious activities, and declared it a terrorist state in no uncertain terms. The Prime Minister warned Pakistan of all the consequences of the terrorism it is spreading in South Asia," Gupta told ANI. Gupta quoted Prime Minister Modi as saying that he brought out a point that the leadership in Pakistan today is in the hands of the terrorists and the military and not with elected representatives. "He (Prime Minister) made it very clear that Nawaz Sharif is not speaking his own language, but speaking the language of the terrorists. He also referred that the speech made by Nawaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly was not his own script, but was forced to speak the language of the terrorists," he added. Gupta said that this clearly showed that today Pakistan is being controlled by terrorists and the military and is becoming a rogue state. "He (Prime Minister) also made it very clear that the martyrdom of 18 soldiers of the Indian army which took place at Uri will not go waste. He also challenged Pakistan that if they want war, India is ready for that and he accepted their challenge," he added. Gupta said Pakistan has to be now very cautious and careful because the Indian Government has decided that they would strike at the time and place of their own choosing. "I am sure the government and the armed forces must be working tirelessly to put a plan in action," he added. Addressing a rally in Kozhikode, Kerala, Prime Minister Modi yesterday challenged the people of Pakistan to fight a battle against India. In the challenge, the Prime Minister deviated from the conventional idea of war and asked Pakistan to declare war against poverty, illiteracy and unemployment in their country. In a first public speech since the September 18 terrorist strike in Uri, the Prime Minister lashed out at Pakistan and warned its leadership that the terror attack will not be forgotten and the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain. He said that India will mount an all-out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror, killing of innocent people and bloodshed. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday deported a Philippine national back to Dubai for travelling with an invalid visa. Melanie Delos Santos arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport on flight number EK-624 in Lahore with double entries on her visa. She wanted to enter the country for the third time on the visa, reports the Express Tribune. However, the FIA refused to let her enter the country and she was sent back to Dubai. The agency also issued a letter to Emirates, asking it to pay a fine of 5, 00,000 rupees for bringing a passenger with an invalid visa. Adopting a strict policy regarding violation of immigration rules by passengers and airlines, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had earlier directed that any airline which brings an inadmissible person to Pakistan should be imposed a fine. So far, various airlines have been imposed fines to the tune of 40 million rupees who brought passengers to Pakistan without a valid visa. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the people for supporting his call to give up their LPG Subsidy under the 'Give-it-Up' campaign to provide help to the needy. Prime Minister Modi in the 24th edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme congratulated people for giving up the LPG subsidies for the nation's welfare. "There is a special pleasure in giving, I observed this when I appealed people to give up LPG subsidy," said Prime Minister Modi. The Prime Minister had in his previous address highlighted an emotional letter written by an 84-year-old retired teacher, who gave up her subsidy. "I received a letter recently which touched my heart. A motherly lady of about 84 years of age who is a retired teacher wrote that letter to me. If she had not forbidden me from revealing her name, I from the core of my heart wanted to announce her name while talking to you," said Prime Minister Modi. "She wrote in her letter that after my appeal to the people to forego their cooking gas subsidy, she had given up her subsidy and then she even forgot about it. However, a few days ago a person on my behalf went to her and delivered a letter in which she was thanked for her giving up the subsidy. And, she has said that a letter from the Prime Minister was no less than a Padma Shree honour for her," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reacting over the ultimatum by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to all Pakistani actors to leave India in 48-hours of face consequences, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput said that politics and art should not interfere in each other's work. "I think politics and art-culture should not interfere in each other's work," he said, when quizzed by the media at an event yesterday. MNS' orders, backed by Shiv Sena, came 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. Sushant, who was present at the 35 years celebration of Raj Babbar's wife and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient Nadira Zaheer Babbar's famous theatre group 'Ekjute,' also mentioned that he got his first television break from this platform. "Juhi (Babbar) Di directed a play, titled Pukar, where I had a monologue. That was where I got my first chance in television from. So, whatever I am, it is because of them (Ekjute)," said the actor, who was associated with this theatre group for almost two and half years. On the professional front, the 30-year-old actor is all set to release his much-awaited film 'M. S. Dhoni: The Untold Story' on September 30, is excited to share the experience he underwent during this project. "I know the story is very good and engaging. I had a very good experience for the two years I was in this project. Now I want to share that experience with everyone. I am very excited," he told media here. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film is based on the life of India's limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The movie also stars Kiara Advani, Disha Patani, Anupam Kher, Bhumika Chawla and others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Party on Sunday advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to indulge in the politics of polarisation and said that the latter should give suggestions to his own party members instead of Pakistan. Congress leader Meem Afzal echoed the sentiments of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati. "The entire opposition is today saying the same as Mayawati ji. And it is absolutely right that Modi ji instead of giving suggestions to Pakistan should instead focus on what is happening in his country. Modi ji should solve the Kashmir issue, no proper development is visible, the people are unemployed... He had promised 10 crore jobs in five years... I think he did not even give 50,000 jobs to the people," Afzal told ANI. "So, I am of the view that whatever suggestions he is giving to Pakistan, he should himself ponder over it and focus on action against Pakistan," he added. The BSP chief earlier in the day urged the Prime Minister not to divert public attention post the Uri terror attack and chalk long-term solution to tackle such problems. Mayawati said the nation expects Prime Minister Modi's assurance that incidents like Uri will not be repeated. "The nation expects the Prime Minister to take stringent steps post the Uri attack so that such incidents do not occur again. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not able to build trust among the Indians that such incidents will not occur," Mayawati said. "Our Prime Minister instead of finding a long-term solution to the problem is distracting people by making such speeches," she added. Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister over his reference to Pakistan over war against poverty, unemployment and development, Mayawati said that the former before advising Islamabad should introspect as to what has his government done for the people of India. "The Prime Minister in his address yesterday including the Uri attack also spoke of development in the nation. I would like to say that instead of giving advice to Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi should look at his own government. There has been no development in their rule, he should also see whether his government has done enough to advise someone else," she said. Meanwhile, the Congress leader also rubbished Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's assertion that nobody can level charges of corruption against the ruling dispensation at the Centre. "As far as the issue of corruption is concerned, the (BJP ruled) state governments face corruption charges. Allegations have leveled of scams worth to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crores but no one is paying heed to that. The Central Government has turned a deaf ear to these issues," said Afzal. Addressing the BJP's council meeting in Calicut earlier today, Shah highlighted the scams which took place during the former Congress-led UPA regime. Shah said scams worth Rs. 12 lakh crores came to light during the former UPA regime headed by Dr Manmohan Singh. "It has been two and a half years in office, nobody can level allegations of corruption on us," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that the Uri terror attack was a loss to the entire nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated that the perpetrators would not be spared and said that they would be given a befitting reply by the Indian armed forces. Addressing the nation in the 24th edition of his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, Prime Minister Modi appealed to the people to channelise their anguish constructively and place their hopes upon the Indian Army. "I pay my tribute to the soldiers, who lost their lives in the Uri terror attack; the culprits will be punished for sure. This is not just a loss to the families of the martyred soldiers, but a loss to the entire nation. We have full faith in our Army. The perpetrators will definitely be punished," he said. The Prime Minister also asked the nation to remember the "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" slogan advocated by former president Lal Bahadur Shastri post the 1965 war with Pakistan. Asserting that the Kashmiris have started to recognise the elements opposing the country, Prime Minister Modi assured that the Centre would take necessary steps to provide security to them. "Today I want to speak to the people of Kashmir. They have started to recognise elements, who oppose our country. They want their life to get back on track. Studies, trade should normalise. The process has started. The security of the people of Kashmir is the responsibility of the administration," he said. Last Sunday, a militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers. While 17 soldiers died on Sunday, the army confirmed that one more critically injured soldier succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 18. The armed militants lobbed grenades into their tents and barricades while soldiers were sleeping. The ensuing fire led to large casualties. At least 10 civilians were killed in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Sunday in Yemen's Ibb province, the media reported. The victims were killed in the neighbourhood of Maffrak Jibla, Xinhua news agency reported. Civilians said the airstrikes targeted residential buildings in the area. "There is no military, no security, no government and not even rebels' establishment here...but poor residents only," a resident said. It was the latest in a series of airstrikes against civilians in Yemen. On Wednesday, the coalition airstrikes killed 25 civilians when they hit a residential quarter. --IANS sm/ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian actor Ali Fazal's latest Bollywood release "Happy Bhag Jaayegi" couldn't release in Pakistan, but he was delighted to meet some of his fans from the country recently while in London. Ali, who is busy shooting an international project in London and Scotland, met some of his fans from different countries, including Pakistan. Talking about his Pakistani fans, Ali said in a statement: "I believe that we take actors very seriously, and art for what art is not. And we end up mixing it all up with our own versions of the 'larger more important topics in life'. "I am bridging a gap with every film I do. Every actor is, in his her own way. Fans are fans. And the geography is for maps. I only hope I can reach the ends of the world and selfishly enough be liked by most." "Happy Bhag Jaayegi" was reportedly banned in Pakistan for showing a portrait of Muhammed Ali Jinnah. Ali is busy filming Hollywood film "Victoria And Abdul", which stars famed actress Judi Dench. --IANS rb/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army doesn't speak, it acts to show valour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, recalling the September 18 cross-border terror attack on a military base in Jammu and Kashmir and vowed that perpetrators of the "cowardly act" that left 18 soldiers dead won't go unpunished. "Recently, we lost 18 soldiers in a terror attack in Uri. I pay my tribute to these martyrs. There is anger in the country. This cowardly act was enough to shake the nation," Modi said, opening his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann ki Baat' by remembering the fallen men. India has said the militants who attacked the army camp in Uri had come from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan. Islamabad has denied the allegation even as New Delhi says it has incriminating evidences to prove that the four attackers, who were killed in the Uri gunfight, belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and had come from Pakistan. Modi reiterated his government's resolve to punish those who masterminded the attack. "The perpetrators of these attacks will be punished for sure. We have full confidence in the Indian Army and are proud of them. While politicians speak, military acts to show valour. We are proud of our army," the Prime Minister said. Modi said a Class 11 student named Harshvardhan who was disturbed by the Uri attack had written to him saying he wanted to do something for the country. "He was angry. But he pledged to study for three more hours daily, be a good citizen and serve the nation," Modi said, adding the boy's constructive and healthy thinking was inspiring for all. The attack at the army base near the de facto border with Pakistan came as the Kashmir Valley is battling the deadliest unrest in six years that has left 90 people dead since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Normal life remained disrupted for the 80th day in a row on Sunday. Schools, colleges, offices and other businesses have closed due the turmoil and there are no signs of respite from daily protests and separatist called shutdown. Modi referred to the hardships being faced by Kashmiri people due to the unrest and said people of the valley have begun recognizing "anti-nationals". "Today, I want to speak to the people of Kashmir. They have started recognising those who oppose our country. They want their life to get back on track. All of us know that peace and unity is the only solution to our problems. This has begun (in Kashmir)." "The security of the people of Kashmir is the responsibility of the administration. The administration has to take steps to maintain that," Modi added He said parents in the valley were worried about the future of their children who have not been to schools in the last nearly three months. "Farmers are also worried about their crops which have ripened. They are keen that their products and fruit crops reach other parts of the Indian market," he said. --IANS sar/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BSF said its troopers seized 63 kg of cannabis from a village of West Bengal's Nadia district on Sunday. Following up on a specific information regarding smuggling of narcotics close to the Bousmari border outpost, the troopers of the Border Security Force's 43rd Battalion carried out a search operation in Gauripur in association with personnel from Hogalberia police station. The cannabis was found from the courtyard of the house of Rasid Mondal, who managed to escape, a BSF official said. The seized narcotics has been handed over to police for further legal action. So far in 2016, BSF's South Bengal Frontier has seized 595.451 kg cannabis and apprehended six persons, the official said. --IANS ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament will be holding crucial sitting of the panel on Monday to discuss, among other things, the submission and briefing by officers of the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the flagship rural road scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The briefing will be done based on the CAG report, a parliamentary source said here on Sunday. Sources said that "oral evidence" of the Ministry of Defence on non-compliance by the government in timely submission of Action Taken Notes will also be taken up. The panel comprising members from both the houses of parliament and headed by Congress member K.V. Thomas will also take into account the "oral evidence of the representatives of the Ministry of Railways" on non-compliance by the ministry on submission of Action Taken Notes on the Non-Selected Audit Paragraphs. The committee members include Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (both Trinamool), Prem Singh Chandumajra (Akali Dal), Bhartuhari Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), P. Venugopal (AIADMK) and Kirit Somaiya, Anurag Abhishek Singh and Nishikant Dubey all from the BJP. The panel is also likely to take up the evidence of the representatives of the ministries of Textiles, Railways, and Shipping on "Performance of Import and Export Trade Facilitation through Customs Ports" based on the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), sources said. --IANS nd/ask/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Police has started investigating the case of missing files pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan shootout case after the Union Home Ministry lodged an FIR in the matter that had seen a row between the BJP and the Congress. "We have filed an FIR in the Ishrat Jahan missing documents case and are planning further proceedings," Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Jatin Narwal said on Sunday. An Under Secretary in the Home Ministry has filed the FIR at the Parliament Street Police station here under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code. The FIR seeks a probe on "why, how and under what circumstances" five documents related to the case went missing, sources said. "The complaint from Home Ministry was filed on August 26 and a police case has been registered under 'stealing' category earlier this month on September 22," a source said here. An official panel was appointed by the government to probe the "missing documents" after former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai sparked a row by claiming that some papers related to an affidavit in the case were changed by then Home Minister P. Chidambaram. The Congress and Chidambaram had denied the charge and instead charged the Modi government with "politicising" the issue. The Home Ministry had ordered the probe by senior IAS officer B.K. Prasad on March 14. He was also given extension in July amid complaints that he had tried to "tutor" some of the witnesses, including retired officials. The ministry had maintained that since this is "highly sensitive enquiry" wherein allegations have come in that efforts were made to conceal the terror link of Ishrat Jahan, the government desired that the panel submit a "detailed and final report". The NDA government has maintained that "the second affidavit", which was different from the original, had said there was no evidence to link Ishrat to the terror group. According to sources in the Home Ministry, the papers which went missing and listed in the FIR are the office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then Home Secretary to the then Attorney General on September 18, 2009, a copy of another letter sent by then Home Secretary to the AG on September 18, 2009, and the draft of a further affidavit as vetted by the AG. Ishrat Jahan and three others were killed in an alleged staged shootout in Gujarat in 2004. Police had claimed that they were Lashkar-e-Taiba militants on a mission to kill then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The controversy over the case flared up after David Headley, a Lashkar operative involved in the 26/11 Mumbai attack, also made some observations on February 11 this year about the case. --IANS nd/vd/dg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police has started investigating the case of missing documents pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan shootout case after an FIR was lodged recently by Home Ministry officials. The documents reportedly went missing from the North Block office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure. Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, Jatin Narwal on Sunday told IANS: "We have filed an FIR in the Ishrat Jahan missing documents case and are planning for further proceedings." According to the police, in March an inquiry committee led by Additional Secretary of the Home Ministry examined the Ishrat Jahan files in detail and it was found that around five documents, including two affidavits, were missing. However, Narwal said that it was too early to determine how these papers went missing from the file, or if they were removed deliberately. "At this stage nothing can be said. We are probing the matter," he said. The police has registered a case under Section 409 (Criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of a complaint filed by V.K. Updhyay, Under Secretary to government of India, on September 22. Ishrat Jahan and three others were killed in an alleged fake gun battle near Ahmedabad in Gujarat in 2004. --IANS sp-mak/ksk/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four youth have been arrested for hooliganism and opening fire at a cab driver after a dispute over parking, police said on Sunday. Police said the four - Manoj, 40, Sudhant Tiwari, 25, Ravi, 25 and Aryan, 19, residents of Dhobi Ghat in Lodhi Colony area of south Delhi, were consuming alcohol at an open ground when they were arrested. According to police, the incident was reported at around 12.15 a.m. on Sunday, when the four, consuming alcohol, scuffled with a cab driver over a parking dispute. Manoj, who had a licensed pistol with him, threatened him with dire consequences and even opened fire in the air. "Police control room was informed by the victim that four drunk youth opened fire at him. A team reached the spot and found them consuming alcohol. Police arrested them and recovered a licensed pistol from Manoj. No one injured in the incident," said a senior police officer. A case under the Arms Act was registered against the four in Lodhi Colony police station. --IANS sp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) K.J. George will rejoin the Siddaramaiah ministry in Karnataka on Monday, over two months after he resigned as Bengaluru Development Minister on July 18 following an FIR against him in the suicide case of a police officer, an official said on Sunday. "Governor Vajubhai R Vala will swear in George as cabinet minister on September 26 at Raj Bhavan," a senior official told IANS. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to re-induct George after an inquiry by the CID found no evidence of his role in the unnatural death of Mangaluru Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) M.K. Ganapathy at Madikeri in July. "The CID has filed a report in the Madikeri court on September 17 clearing George of the charge by Ganapathy that he was responsible for forcing him to take his life," the official said. George, a legislator from the Sarvagnanagar assembly segment in the city, was the state Home Minister before his portfolio was changed on October 31, 2015 to Bengaluru development and town planning. The court in Kodagu district on July 18 ordered police to file the FIR against George and two IPS officers A.M. Prasad and Pranab Mohanty, who were also named by Ganapathy for harassing him and driving him to commit suicide. Ganapathy, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a hotel room at Madikerei on July 7, had accused the trio in an interview to a local news channels hours before taking his life that they would be responsible "if anything happens to me". The inquiry also cleared Prasad and Mohanty of the charge that they caused mental agony to Ganapathy, leading him to end his life. The court order for an FIR came in response to a private complaint filed by Ganapathy's elder son Nehal under section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Commenting on the CID report, ruling party's working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said when there was not a shred of evidence against George, where is the question of him abetting the suicide. --IANS fb/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The teachings of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh are still relevant to promote harmony and brotherhood, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Sunday. "The teachings of Guru Gobind Singh are more relevant in present times and we should follow them to enrich our lives and to promote peace and harmony in society," he said at a function here to mark the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh. Noting the Sikh Guru inspired him as he was a great warrior who fought for the unity and integrity of the country, Virbhadra Singh said that he also "showed the path to humanity and strengthened the Sikh religion". The Sikhs have contributed immensely towards the development of the country through their distinguished services and also established their presence world over," he said. Virbhadra Singh also said he would make best efforts to look into the demands of the state's Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. --IANS vg/sm/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India will ratify the 21st Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) National Council meet here, noting Gandhi lived his life with a minimum "Carbon footprint". It was also on October 2 last year that India had submitted its action plan, called the 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution', to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which eventually led to a deal at COP 21 in Paris in December 2015. Modi also noted Jan Sangh founder and ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had said that "we should exploit natural resources only to the extent which does not cause imbalance in the nature else its cycle will be destroyed". Expressing concern over climate change, he said the whole world is endeavouring to keep the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius as provided in the Paris agreement. "Such was the perception of other nations that India is being a spoilsport...but at CoP21 the whole world praised India saying it played a forward and positive role (in allowing the negotiations at CoP21 go smoothly)," he added. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) was held in November-December 2015 in Paris, where 191 parties, including India, adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal, out of the total 197 parties to the convention. India, along with 190 others, signed the Paris Climate Agreement at the UN in New York to create an 'Environment Democracy' in commemoration of the 46th 'International Mother Earth Day' on April 22. Out of 191 signatories, 60 -- contributing 47.79 per cent of global emissions -- have already ratified the CoP21 protocol, which is due to come into force in 2020. At least 55 countries, and signatories accounting for 55 per cent of the world's harmful emissions, needed to ratify the agreement before it comes into effect. While this country criterion has already been fulfilled, the emissions target - even after India's ratification - would still outstrip the required figure by 3.11 per cent. China and the US have both ratified the accord. China is responsible for 20.09 per cent emissions, followed by the US at 17.89 per cent. The European Union, which is yet to ratify the agreement, accounts for 12.10 per cent while India stands at 4.10 per cent. To cut down its emissions, India has pledged to increase its clean energy share - solar and wind - by 40 per cent by 2022 to 175 GW. Its solar programme - aimed to achieve 100 GW by 2022 - is one of the fastest growing in the world. --IANS kd-am-vn-ap-nd/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A ministerial panel would probe Thursday's mob attack at a district court in Mizoram, state Home Minister R. Lalzirliana has said. Lalzirliana told reporters in state capital Aizawl on late Saturday that the "ministerial committee would be formed" soon and it would "look into all aspects of the attack on the court buildings, ransacking court offices and the official residence of a civil judge". A mob attacked the Lunglei district court buildings on Thursday and ransacked the official residence of a civil judge after a 26-year-old murder accused was brought before the court for allegedly killing a man in Zohnuai locality in Lunglei district on August 27. The crowd demanded to see the accused, but police turned down their demand, leading to the scuffle and later violence. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh separately condemned the incident. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, besides Assam, fall under the jurisdiction of the Gauhati High Court, while Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur and Sikkim have separate state High Courts. An official of the Mizoram law department said that Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh called it a "dark chapter" in the history and has urged the Chief Minister "to take stringent action against the culprits". The official said the Chief Justice in a letter to the Chief Minister said a severe action must be taken to prevent similar future incidents. The state police have arrested 27 suspects in connection with the mob violence and they have been remanded in judicial custody. --IANS sc/sar/vt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A mob in West Bengal's Birbhum on Sunday attacked a police team which went to investigate a bike theft, police said. The incident happened in the Rampurhat area, where the group of local residents, alleging that police were hand-in-glove with the burglars in the area and allowed them to roam freely, pelted stones at the police vehicle. Police however said the mob attacked them because as they prevented two accused from being beaten up. "The mob got agitated as we stopped them from beating up the burglars. We can't let them take law in their hands," a police official said. Inspector Swapan Bhowmik, of Rampurhat police station, said that the two accused have been arrested and further investigations are on. --IANS mgr/ssp/sm/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uri terror attack last week was not a "result" but the beginning of India's war against terrorism, and added that ultimately the country will succeed in this fight. Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meet here, Shah also issued a statement on the Uri terror attack, condemning Pakistan and vowing to win the fight against Islamabad-sponsored terrorism. "Lambi ladai hai jo hum par hamare padosi desh dwara thopi gayee hai. Uri hamla padav matra hai, parinaam nahi. Antim vijay hamari hogi (This is a long fight, foisted upon us by our neighbouring country. The Uri terror attack is but a stage (padav) and not a result. The final victory will be ours)," Shah said in the statement. The statement was unanimously adopted by the National Council without any discussion. Shah said the BJP has taken this attack very seriously. "The country is determined to give a befitting reply to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he said. "During last eight months, 117 terrorists were killed, our soldiers foiled 17 attempts of infiltration and the Uri attack was a result of their frustration," Shah said. Supporting the government's actions to isolate Pakistan internationally, he said that Islamabad has been isolated internationally. "Howsoever long the fight against terrorism would go, we are ready to fight and we will win it," Shah added. Dubbing terrorism as a threat to democracy and humanity, Shah said terrorism itself is an offender of human rights. "If terrorism becomes state policy of any country, it is not less than a war crime. Pakistan today is supporting terrorism openly as its state policy and is also sponsoring it," he said, adding that India has been a victim of this policy of Pakistan since long. "We have faced many such terror attacks. Pakistan has also supported the separatist movement in Kashmir." Shah affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and no one can separate it from India. "For peace, we are ready to hold discussion with everybody but not with those who have no faith or belief in the Indian Constitution. Peace talks can't be held with those who don't believe in our Constitution," he asserted. The BJP President's statement described Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nation General Assembly as open proof that the neighbouring country openly advocates terrorism. "The world was taken aback when he (Sharif) dubed a Hizbul terrorist as a peaceful youth. Pakistan prepares terrorists by investing crores of dollars and sends them around the world for spreading terrorism. It has emerged as a centre of global terrorism." He said the BJP and NDA government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against terrorism, and appealed to the people of the country and all political parties to extend support in this battle. --IANS bns/vd/dg (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.) The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that killed five persons was arrested and has been identified, police said. The suspect was identified as Arcan Cetrin, 20, a resident of Oak Harbour, Washington, located about 28 miles southwest of Cascade Mall in Burlington, the Washington State Patrol said. Police released his identity and mugshot on Saturday evening, ABC News reported. The shooting occurred on Friday evening. Police said Cetrin entered the mall and opened fire roughly 10 minutes later in the makeup department of Macy's department store, police said. Surveillance video images showed Cetrin, whom police originally described as Hispanic and in his late teens or early 20s, went into the mall without the rifle that he shortly after brandished in the department store. Four women, were killed on the spot, and a man who had sustained life-threatening injuries died early Saturday morning, said Sgt. Mark Francis of the Washington State Patrol. Police have said they believe Cetrin acted alone, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had no indication that the shooting was linked to terrorism. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that killed five persons dead was caught, police said. The Washington State Patrol said in statement that on Saturday evening at around 7.15 p.m., the gunman who opened fire on Friday in the Cascade Mall, Burlington was in custody. The patrol said more details of the gunman would be released later, NBC News reported. According to the statement, a 20-year-old was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, a city about 28 miles southwest of Burlington. Five victims - four females and a male - were killed after a gunman described as wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts opened fire inside a Macy's department store in the mall. Security footage showed the man entering the mall. In additional footage from about 10 minutes later, he "entered Macy's with a rifle and fired multiple times", police said. The four female victims were pronounced dead on Friday night, and the male victim was taken to a hospital where later succumbed to injuries. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I had the Muzaffarnagar riots of February 2013 at the back of my mind when I drove towards Pedda village on the Bijnor-Najibabad Road where three Muslims had been shot dead by Jats who fired with guns and pistols from the terraces of their homes. Trouble began when two Muslim girls were harassed at the bus stop. When their men folk protested, the economically stronger Jats decided to teach them a lesson. Muslims in Pedda have for generations been "dhobis" or washermen. In Sir Saiyyad Ahamd Khan's framework, these are "arzals" or "menials". Above them in the caste/class hierarchy are "Ajlafs", weavers, and "Ashraf", the genteel lot, the ones for whom the Aligarh Muslim University was initially opened. That Yasmeen and Farheen are college-going girls is not a negligible detail: it is a glimmer of hope in a picture of unrelieved gloom which envelopes the community. Jats are prosperous farmers but socially static on issues like gender and are still bound by Khaps. The man-woman population ratio is eerily adversarial to women. In the Muslim hovel, there is economic want, not social regression. Arrogance of economic power bristles at the sight of the lowest strata crawling upwards. This explains some of the accelerated violence against Dalits and Muslims. Caste and communal prejudice converge in such instances. The gram pradhan or village head of Pedda, Anis Ahmad, is a short, dark man with a well trimmed beard and a mandatory skull cap, headgear which defines all Muslims from Madrasas. He has gone through the drill at the Deoband seminary, a stint as a tailor in Kuwait and now a dress designer (believe it or not) for "fashion shows". He is not free of the usual Mullah hypocrisy: "I don't touch female bodies; I tailor clothes for mannequins." With the advent of washing machines, Muslim washermen in villages like Pedda have diversified as tailors, barbers, fruit and vegetable sellers, automobile mechanics, handy men of all sorts. The Pradhan takes me into the house where three men were shot dead on the terrace of their home. Below, in a dark verandah, women wail. Outside, across the lane, is the fortified house of Pedda's most powerful Jat, Sansar Singh. He hid in another village five kilometres away, but has since been arrested along with eight others involved in organising the violence. A dozen or so policemen are snoozing outside Sansar Singh's house, their weapons on their laps. This is the scene outside every Jat house in the lane up to the highway where a large number of policemen keep vigil. "Look," Anis Ahmad points his finger, "they are protecting only Jat houses." At Bijnor's police headquarters, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Dharam Veer Singh thumps his table gently. "Yes, we are protecting Jat houses. If police were not posted as a deterrent, angry Muslims may retaliate against Jat women and children." Theoretically, Singh has a point but do Muslims in their current state of demoralisation ever retaliate? The two local journalists, Naresh Sharma of Swatantra Awaz and Jalil Ahmad of a local TV channel, India Voice, are crouching on Singh's table, symbols of watchfulness. Singh smiles: "Please give the police some credit for having prevented riots from spreading." Why did these riots not spread? He cites geography as a roadblock to communalism. "The Ganga flows between Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor -- the communal wave that overwhelmed areas the other side of the Ganga some years ago weakens crossing the river." There are other reasons for weakened communalism in Bijnor. BJP President Amit Shah's very determined presence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli three years ago made the difference. Trumped-up stories of "love jihad"; fake video from Pakistan's northwest circulated as Jats being lynched by Muslims; Maha Panchayats of weapon-wielding mobs and Amit Shah's famous refrain, "Yeh badley ka election hai" (We go into this election to seek revenge) -- all augmented the incendiary atmosphere. Today, there is saffron in the air, true, but not murderous saffronisation. In Bijnor, Muslims as well as the administration (even some Jats) have praised the local MLA, Ruchi Veera of the Samajwadi party, who was present in the village round-the-clock for the duration of tension. In fact, she was able to extract Rs 20 lakh from the government in Lucknow by way of relief within days of the violence. Assessments of damage are being made for more. District Magistrate Jagat Raj is flanked by City Superintendent of Police M.M. Baig and Senior Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar Srivastava to address about 60 print and TV journalists around a giant oblong table. Seldom have I heard media being so lavishly thanked for having exercised restraint. On my return, when I cross the barrage on the Ganga, I remember SP Dharam Veer Singh's words: rivers block communal waves. Before reaching Meerut, I see road signs to Muzaffarangar. I have horrible memories of that pogrom. Past Meerut is Maliana, the site of the notorious 1987 massacre. The police had separated 42 Muslim young men, lined them up by the nearby canal and shot them. P. Chidambaram was Rajiv Gandhi's Minister of State for Home. He knows that incident like the back of his hand. He is now a columnist. May be some day he will give us the inside story on why the case drags on into its 29th year? Approaching Ghaziabad, I see signs to Dadri where in September 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by cow protection vigilantes. His family is still implicated in unproved charges. As lights of Delhi shimmer, the villainy of Pedda recedes. Nastier memories surface. (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) --IANS naqvi/mr/sac/ky (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I read TCA Srinivasa-Raghavan's article, "Politics, patronage and intellect" (September 24) with great interest. Among other things, the writer argues that the journal Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) has a disproportionately Left influence on public discourse. He adds that support from public institutions benefited the publication, with adverse consequences to public interest. When passing wealth to their children, some parents want to give more to one than to the . This could be because one son is financially worse off than his siblings, or one has a bigger family to provide for. In many business families, the patriarch hands over the reins of the business to the child he thinks is more capable. But, in doing so, many times parents end up hurting the child they think can do with less. Such arrangements often get challenged in court. USE TRUST, WILL AND CODICIL Put assets in a trust and stipulate conditions for the assets to be passed on If you are using a will for wealth distribution, explain in it why you are distributing unevenly Distribute 70-80 per cent of your wealth equally; use discretion in 20-30 per cent Add codicils to your will at regular intervals with minor changes. This will show that your intention to distribute wealth unevenly did not change over a period of time There have been many such cases, like a recent one involving a famous business family in Mumbai. The children of the elder son, who severed ties with the family many years earlier, recently claimed a stake in the business alleging that their uncle (younger son of the patriarch) had been enjoying the family wealth while they had not got what they deserved. Until Saturday evening, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Council meeting was meant to pass only a political resolution to highlight Narendra Modi governments pro-poor initiatives. But lukewarm feedback to the PMs speech on Saturday, where he talked of waging a war with Pakistan but to end poverty, forced party leadership to bring about an aggressive resolution on the Uri terror attack. What makes Ivy League of terrorism and how a nexus of abject poverty and religious fundamentalism pushes scores of youngsters into militancy? A Pakistani journalist and an academic explore their countrys endless obsession with Kashmir. Adnan Ali reports on the political economy of the Liberate Kashmir movement in Pakistan, while Ahsan Butt attempts a cost-benefit analysis of Kashmir as an issue in Pakistans relations with India and the world Communist Party of India (CPI) secretary D. Raja on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Kozhikode attacking Pakistan was nothing new, as they were his routine reiterations at public meetings. Raja told ANI that Prime Minister Modi was addressing his own party's public meeting, which is why such a tough stance on the issue could be expected from him. "The point is that there was nothing new in what Prime Minister spoke. He has been speaking the very same things continuously ever since the attack. What is new in his speech? Nothing," Raja said. "These are all routine reiterates in a public meeting and I don't find anything new. Maybe the Government and Prime Minister have different plans that they cannot explicitly tell in public meeting," he added. Raja further stressed that as a government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government should think and explain as to how it will engage with Pakistan and deal with the situations that are emerging and affecting the people. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi's speech in Kozhikode launched a scathing attack on Pakistan and said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. "A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government to fight terrorism. India has been successful in isolating you (Pakistan) globally, and we will intensify our efforts to make sure that you are isolated globally. The people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and your (Pakistan) leaders are exporting terrorists," said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a public rally here. The Prime Minister said he can see a lot of potential to make sure that the 21st century becomes Asia's 21st century, adding that all the countries in Asia are working for it, except one. Asserting that terrorism is the enemy of humanity, Prime Minister Modi called upon the international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. Recalling the sacrifices of the 18 soldiers, who were killed in the Uri terror attack, Prime Minister Modi said India is very proud of the armed forces. "There have been 17 fidayeen attempts by our neighbour, which our brave soldiers foiled. Leaders of the neighbouring country used to say that they will fight for 1,000 years; where are they now," he asked. The Prime Minister further said more than 110 terrorists have been killed in the past few months by the Indian Army as they were trying to infiltrate. Taking a jibe at Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi said India is exporting engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad is exporting terrorists. "I want to tell Pakistan that India is ready to fight you. If you have guts, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins? Who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India" he added. Prime Minister on Friday gave a definite pro-poverty shift to his governments policies and programmes for the next one year, even as he finally addressed the elephant in the room how his party views or should view Indias largest minority, the Muslims. Swaraj Bhavan, the nerve centre of India's freedom struggle and the residence in Allahabad where the Jawaharlal Nehru took key decisions against the British Raj, is set to be abuzz with political activity this November. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address the United Nations General Assembly on Monday. She will not merely rebut every point made by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (who, in his speech on September 21, strongly criticised India for its conduct in Kashmir) but will assert that no human rights violations have taken place in Kashmir, which is part of India by democratic choice, having participated in every Lok Sabha election since 1947. The California Highway Patrol said 12 people were injured when a tour bus carrying Chinese teens struck a tree near Yosemite National Park and went down an embankment. Sgt Michael Schwab told KFSN-TV two of the injured were flown to the hospital with head trauma after yesterday's crash on State Route 41, south of Fish Camp. Schwab said 22 people were on the bus, most of them 12- to 15-year-old Chinese students and their adult chaperones who were heading to their hotel in Fresno after visiting the park. Schwab said the bus was operated by A Top Line Tours. A call to the Monterey Park-based company in Southern California has not been returned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists have killed four Chadian soldiers in a cross-border raid in the volatile Lake Chad region, a security source told AFP on today. "Around 8.00 PM (local time) yesterday night, Boko Haram members attacked the Djoroye border post near the Niger border in the Lake Chad region killing four of our soldiers," the source said. "The Chadian army killed seven Boko Haram fighters," the source said. The military did not comment, refusing to confirm or deny the attack. Boko Haram, which wants to establish a caliphate in northern Nigeria, has been waging an insurgency since 2009. Their battle has spilled across the borders of neighbouring countries which, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, have formed a regional force to fight back. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first Incredible India Tourism Investors' Summit witnessed signing of 86 pacts worth around Rs 15,000 crore for the development of tourism and hospitality projects. The first investment summit for tourism held in India came to a resounding close today with several announcements being made to promote investments in the sector. This summit will be organised annually to boost tourism in the country. Besides, there are plans to set up an investor facilitation desk and task force to promote tourism. "We will assist and support investors for making India the tourist destination of choice," a statement by industry body CII quoted Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma as saying. He was speaking at the valedictory session of the 'Incredible India Tourism Investors Summit (IITIS) 2016' organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the CII and the Tourism Finance Corp. The Minister assured the support and assistance of the Ministry of Tourism for investment projects. He referred to the tourist helpline in 12 languages and highlighted that a portal is being opened for inviting suggestions. "Let us join hands to give tourists a memorable experience," Sharma said. Among the major announcements are: institutionalisation of IITIS to be held annually with the next summit to be organised in September 2017; setting up of a task force headed by Secretary, Tourism, with membership from relevant ministries, states, and industry associations to undertake strategic planning and setting up of an investor facilitation desk to handhold investors and facilitate projects. Besides, such meets will be organised in states with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi said at the valedictory session. States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh exchanged 86 MoUs during the session and many more are in the pipeline, aggregating close to Rs 15,000 crore, the statement said. Gujarat exchanged MOUs worth around Rs 9,000 crore, Karnataka with Rs 2,600 crore, Rajasthan Rs 1,000 crore, Uttarakhand Rs 500 crore and Chhattisgarh Rs 12 crore. Also B R Shetty group is keen to invest Rs 450 crore and Costa Cruise Rs 750 crore, Triveni Singapore close to Rs 800 crore in the country. Global Director, Trade and Competitiveness, World Bank Cecile Fruman noted that the tourism sector is among the top sectors with potential to create jobs. The World Bank is supporting India's Buddhist Circuit development and will provide support for sustainable tourism development including through funds, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Trinamool Congress taking over control of opposition-ruled municipalities by way of defection of leaders to the party, state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury today challenged the Mamata Banerjee-led party to win them in election. "Many people are saying that MLAs, councillors are leaving Congress. The TMC is taking over opposition-ruled municipalities one after another. I challenge them: win these municipalities in elections if they have guts," Chowdhury told a party programme here. TMC has recently taken control of the Zilla Parishads of Malda and Jalpaiguri following defection of opposition members. The party also has taken Jangipur and Baharampur in Murshidabad district, considered to be Chowdhury's stronghold, in the same way. The state Congress chief asked the party workers to conduct roadside meetings and inform the people about the ongoing defections in the party and TMC's role in it. AICC General Secretary and Congress in-charge of West Bengal, C P Joshi, was scheduled to address the programme but he did not attend it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air India's employees union today joined issue with the ongoing advertisement war between the national carrier and budget airline IndiGo by asking Mumbai airport authorities to remove the controversial ad forthwith. Air Corporations Employees Union, which is the largest staff union at the government-owned airline, has in a letter to the Terminal 1B Manager of the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has asked the authorities to create a healthy atmosphere at the airport and remove the controversial ad put up by the IndiGo immediately. Union regional secretary Vivek Rao said, "As the airport operator, you cannot absolve yourself from the responsibility on such an issue as it is your bounden duty to ensure that no airline use such a defamatory and slanderous advertisement campaign against any other airline." MIAL, which runs Mumbai Airport, is a joint venture company between GVK-led consortium and Airports Authority of India. GVK holds majority stake in the JV. "Therefore as a responsible airport operator, we want you to immediately remove the glow sign put by IndiGo against Air India," the union said in the letter, which it wrote after meeting the terminal manager. The controversy started early last week when the AI ad placed next to the check-in areas of IndiGo said: 'Wish you a comfortable flight. Next time fly with Air India and feel the difference.' IndiGo, which of late has been faring badly on on-time performance amid its aircraft reporting frequent technical glitches, reacted the very next day with a counter ad, that named Air India directly. At the check-in bay of the national carrier, IndiGo put up a small standee that read: 'Yes, Air India, there is a difference. Says the government.' To back its claims, the Gurgaon-based airline added a small table that shows its airline rated as the best when it comes to on-time performance and Air India as the worst. When it came to passenger complaint, IndiGo was rated as the lowest while the national carrier had the highest number of complaints, as per the IndiGo ad. The union letter concluded saying "We hope you take a serious note of the development and our letter and create a good and healthy atmosphere at the airport." When contacted, an official of MIAL said the ad is still present where it was placed. MIAL has given the advertising rights to the Times Group's outdoor agency Times OOH. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US nonprofit organisation devoted to accelerating social and economic change in India has raised USD 150,000 for the empowerment of people with disability in the country at a fund-raising event, an official statement said today. "There are 70 million people with disabilities in India, and less than two per cent are employed," said Lata Krishnan, chair of American India Foundation (AIF), which is known for funding social and educational work aimed at empowering the weaker and underprivileged sections of the society. "At AIF we believe that it is what you are able to do -not your disability -that defines you," she said. Funds raised during the gala in Maryland on Friday will directly benefit AIF's Ability-Based Livelihood Empowerment (ABLE) programme which works to ensure that persons with disabilities are able to obtain equal, inclusive and dignified livelihoods, the statement said. Former US Ambassador to India Frank G Wisner honoured Raj and Neera Singh, Founders of Telcom Ventures, LLC in recognition for their outstanding philanthropy and leadership. Emphasising on the value of education, Raj and Neera said they had continue to support education and livelihood programmes across India, including AIF. "There is no better way than education to make this world a better place and AIF does wonderful work for this noble cause," Raj said. The gala also recognised the leadership of Aruna Miller, 15th Legislative District Representative of the Maryland House of Delegates. AIF has partnered with 227 of India's NGOs while raising over USD 84 million since its inception in 2001. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today visited the family of RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja who succumbed to injuries recently after being shot at by unidentified assailants in August, to pay his condolences. Sharing his grief with the bereaved family, he said it was a great loss for everyone as Gagneja was not only a noble soul but an "outstanding and brave soldier" who had fought many battles for the country, including the Bangladesh war. Besides, he had engaged himself in social service after his retirement from the army, he added. Later, talking to reporters, Amarinder claimed that law and order had "totally collapsed" in Punjab, adding that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal must own responsibility for the situation. He said Gagneja's was a "well planned and targeted" murder and even after one-and-a-half months since the incident, his assailants had not even been identified, let alone arrested. Gagneja was shot at by unidentified assailants at Jalandhar on August 6. He succumbed to the injuries at a hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday. The Punjab government has handed over the probe into his killing to the CBI. Amarinder said in a democracy, everyone was entitled to a political belief and ideology. "We have political and ideological differences with the Akalis, the BJP and the RSS and we fight them ideologically and democratically. Killing someone because you do not agree with his views is unacceptable and must be condemned by one and all. "Irrespective of which party or organisation Brigadier Gagneja belonged to, his assassination is a loss to the state and everyone should condemn it," the Congress leader said when asked to comment on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not visiting the RSS leader's family when he was at Jalandhar and that too, at a place not more than a kilometre from his house. Amarinder said, even though he did not want to comment on Kejriwal's action as it was his "discretion", it certainly did reflect his "lack of sensitivity" as all the issues "should not be viewed in a partisan manner". He alleged that the Badals had "lost all the authority" and it seemed to be a "free-for-all" in Punjab. He claimed that not only did the police fail to solve Gagneja's murder case, they were still "clueless" about the killing of Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur and had failed to punish the culprits behind the murderous assault on Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. "This is either a deliberate design or complete incompetence on part of the Akali government," Amrinder said, adding that there was a feeling of "fear and insecurity" among the people in the aftermath of such incidents. He said Punjab had already paid a heavy price and it could not afford to slip back into those "dark days" (of militancy) once again. "We will not let that happen", the Congress leader said, warning the Badal against their "attempts at polarising the people". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Nigeria and Mali tomorrow to further strengthen India's bilateral engagements with these two West African nations. He will go to Nigeria first at the invitation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. On the second leg of his trip, Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will be visiting the landlocked country at the invitation of its Prime Minister Modibo Keita. The vice president will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials. In Abuja, Ansari will hold talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. He will also meet the governor of Lagos and deliver an address at the joint business forum at the University of Lagos. The vice president will inaugurate the High Commission of India Chancery complex at Abuja and interact with members of the Indian community both in Abuja and Lagos. "The vice president's visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. In Mali, Ansari will meet the president, the prime minister and also address the National Assembly. The visit to Mali is aimed at boosting the relationship between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation to expand and diversify bilateral relationship. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With heavy rains lashing Palnadu region of Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the area for the second consecutive day today and promised all help from the state government. He flew over Gurazala, Macherla and other villages in the region inspecting the damaged crops and also the overflowing rivulets and streams. Naidu landed in Dachepalli and toured the villages in the area and interacted with the locals and promised full help from his government. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that all necessary relief like food and drinking water are provided to the rain-hit people. "Don't be lax. Ensure proper distribution of relief. Even if one person complains that he did not receive any relief, I will act tough on the officers," he warned. Standing crops, mostly paddy, chilli, and cotton, suffered extensive damage in over 41,000 hectares of Guntur district alone. "Full-scale enumeration of the losses will be completed soon and affected farmers will be compensated under the Pradhan Mantri Phasal Bima Yojana. The state government will also give input subsidy to farmers to raise alternative crops," he said. Naidu directed the Roads and Buildings Department to invite short-term tenders and complete repair and restoration of damaged roads within 30 days. "You have to complete temporary repairs in three days and restore road transport," he told the officials. Nine persons have so far died in rain-related incidents in the state - six in Guntur and three in Visakhapatnam. Train services on Guntur-Secunderabad section, remained disrupted in last four days. The rail tracks which were washed away at some places are likely to be revived by tomorrow. Meanwhile, 84,107 cusecs of water flowing into the K L Rao Sagar reservoir on Krishna river, upstream the Prakasam Barrage, is being discharged as the storage level remained steady at 30 tmc ft. At Prakasam Barrage, all 70 crest gates have been lifted to discharge 1,02,272 cusecs of water into the Bay of Bengal. Inflow into the barrage was recorded at 77,954 cusecs at 3 PM today. The flood water also gushed into the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage on river Godavari at Dowlaiswaram near Rajamahendravaram. The SAC Barrage received 2,42,368 cusecs of water and all of it is being discharged into the Bay of Bengal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 23 civilians were killed in renewed government airstrikes on the contested city of Aleppo, Syrian activists said today, as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the spiraling violence in Syria. At the start of that meeting the UN's top envoy to Syria accused the government of unleashing "unprecedented military violence" against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syria's declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the 5 1/2-year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons including incendiary devices may amount to war crimes. Medical workers and local officials reported airstrikes on neighborhoods throughout Aleppo's rebel-held eastern districts as an announced government offensive entered its fourth day. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 23 civilians had been killed by 6 pm and said it expects the toll to rise. Ibrahim Alhaj of the Syrian Civil Defence search and rescue outfit said hospitals and rescuers have documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and medical workers are expecting many of the wounded to die from a lack of treatment, according to Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the opposition areas. "I've never seen so many people dying in once place," he said from a hospital in the city. "It's terrifying today. In less than one hour the Russian planes have killed more than 50 people and injured more than 200." The Observatory, which relies on a network of contacts inside Syria, said earlier in the day that 213 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and shelling on opposition areas in and around Aleppo since a US-Russian brokered cease-fire collapsed Monday evening. De Mistura, at the Security Council meeting, warned that if the Syrian government is intent on taking Aleppo, it is going to be "a grinding" a street-by-street fight where all the infrastructure in the city will be destroyed, but it won't lead to victory. "A so-called military solution is impossible including in Aleppo," he stressed. He urged the United States and Russia to go "that extra mile" and save the September 9 cessation of hostilities agreement "at the 11th hour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The attacks on civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo amount to a "breach of international humanitarian law," top EU officials have said, 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 yesterday. 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." 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." A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite in Aleppo earlier this month, but no humanitarian aid before its total collapse this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With India looking to completely seal the Indo-Bangla border in Assam soon, a top Bangladeshi security commander has said his country has decided to erect a barbed wire fence along the border with India and Myanmar. Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh's border guarding force, Major General Aziz Ahmed told a visiting group of Indian journalists here that his government has already approved a project to have a 282 km road along the border it shares with India and Myanmar. While India borders Bangladesh from three sides (4,096 km), it shares a small 271 km border with Myamnar on its eastern flank. "Our government, in principle, has agreed to have barbed wire fencing along the borders with India as well as Myanmar. In principle, it has also been decided to have link roads all along the border like India is having which facilitates BSF activities and those of the Myanmarese border guarding forces," the BGB chief said while speaking via video-link at the headquarter of BGB's south-west region here from his office in Peelkhana in Dhaka. He said it was "unfortunate" that these "two basic needs" of having a barbed wire fence and roads has not been developed on the Bangladeshi side till now. Ahmed said these projects are under "active consideration" of his government. Ahmed made the remarks while replying to a question where he was asked what was Bangladesh's response to the India which had recently said that the Indo-Bangla border in Assam will be fully sealed by June, 2017 and later all along. "You would understand that all these things require huge amounts of money...But the government has already approved a project for 282 km where roads along with barbed wire fence will be erected and possibly that will start from the Myanmarese side," Ahmed said. He said as India has already raised fence along 79 per cent of the Indo-Bangla border, it "indirectly helps" his country in checking cross-border crimes. The DG stated that in a large number of cases where BSF approaches them for construction of fencing along the border, they give a "prompt consent" except in few instances where the construction is very close to the zero line and there are issues involved. "After all, Indian fencing helps us too," he reiterated. The top commander said the two border guarding forces are also working to create a database of habitual offenders active along the Indo-Bangla frontier as he accepted that this was a "weak" point in ensuring effective border security and trans- border movement of terrorists and criminals was a "serious concern" for them. (Reopens FGN 7) The BGB chief, who will lead a delegation to New Delhi for the bi-annual DG-level talks with their counterparts Border Security Force (BSF) beginning October 30, also said he has given "clear instructions" to his men to crackdown on cross-border cattle smuggling incidents after the Indian establishment ordered a complete clampdown on this criminal activity sometime back. "We don't want Indian cattle into Bangladesh. I can say we have become self sufficient over the years in food grains that we are exporting it now...A day will come when we will export cattle. Our main concern and priority is to stop killing of Bangladeshi nationals by BSF. "More than 95 per cent of border killing is due to cattle smuggling. This issue will surely be discussed during the DG level talks that will take place soon," he said. The DG expressed his strong disapproval on the killing of Bangladeshi citizens in BSF firing and said such situations can be negated without killing a person. "Our soldiers are also attacked by smugglers (like BSF) and we use lethal weapons...But we don't kill them," he said. A BGB data said while 21 Bangladeshis have been killed till September this year along the Indo-Bangla border, the figures for the previous years stood at 45 (2015) and 40 (2014). Ahmed denied existence of any camps of Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) on their soil after BSF handed them over various dossiers in this regard in the past saying there has been "no signs of any hideouts or camps" after their forces conducted operations in areas identified by their counterparts. Talking about Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), Ahmed said his country was "very concerned" about the issue. These notes were being prepared outside Bangladesh and routed through its territory, he said. "It is not only affecting Indian economy but also ours," he added. For the first time in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, three women commandos, who formerly fought against security forces alongside naxals, took part in an anti-Maoist operation in which two ultras were gunned down. Kosi, Phulo Markam and Kavita Kashyap, all assistant constables belonging to District Reserve Group (DRG), carrying automatic rifles, fought alongside their male counterparts against the armed cadres in the gun-battle yesterday, Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI. The three women were earlier active as naxals in Bastar and surrendered before police last year, expressing their willingness to join the mainstream. The two maoists were killed last morning in the encounter in Burgum police station area that lasted about an hour, with a joint squad of DRG, Chhattisgarh Armed Force and district force in restive Sanguel forest. "It was for the first time in Bastar district when women commandos accompanied forces in the operation conducted deep inside the naxal hotbed," he added. After the surrender the three joined police force and were enrolled with state's DRG-a locally raised force of personnel recruited from among local youths and surrendered naxals, for activities meant for countering Maoists. "If Maoists can have women in their ranks, why not the security forces. These women commandos have been given special training in combating insurgency," the SP said. About a dozen women personnel are working shoulder-to- shoulder with men in the DRG in Bastar. However, women DRG commandos have also been deployed in other districts of Bastar division (comprising 7 districts), the SP said without disclosing the exact number of such women personnel engaged in combat role in counter-naxal operations. These womencommandoshave been given advanced field crafts and tactics training at forces camps, the SP added. Citing operational benefits of deploying local women combatants in LWE (left-wing extremism) areas, Dash said these personnel can easily interact with local women and children, which help them get closer to locals. Besides, most of the recruits in DRG are surrendered naxals, having served with the outlawed CPI (Maoist), they are aware of the movement of ultras in forests, their schedule, habits and the operational pattern, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police today foiled an attempt to picket the Neyveli Lignite Corporation's second mine here by residents of some villages demanding alternative house sites for those whose lands are being acquired for an expansion project of the public sector major. Police said a number of people, including 200 women, from Thandavakuppam and nearby villages gathered near the mine along with activists of political parties led by Bhuvanagiri MLA A. Saravanan to press their demand. However, they were prevented from approaching the mine and dispersed, police said. Later vridhachalam Revenue Divisional Officer Senthilkumar and NLC officials held talks with a group of representatives of the protesters. As the talks remained inconclusive, another round has been scheduled on October 6, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the backfoot over Dalit issues as it heads into elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states, BJP today blamed Congress for the disparities faced by the community and pledged to work for promoting social harmony to achieve social justice for the marginalised sections. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Birth Centenary Year Resolution adopted at the party's National Council meeting pitched for realisation of objectives of social justice, saying all classes must get equal access to means, privileges and opportunities for individuals. It also spoke about a number of schemes launched by the party-run central and state governments to achieve social, food and energy security. Criticising the Congress, the resolution alleged that during its rule in the country, the weaker sections have been deprived of transparent allocation of basic amenities. The result was that poor have become poorer in rural areas whereas in urban areas dalits, backwards and economically weaker sections have been reduced to a life in the slums, it said. "Due to the policies of the Congress, we could not achieve our social goals even after 70 years of independence. "The reason for this is inability to end economic disparity for long. "Along with this, it is also unfortunate that in these seven decades, disparities faced by Dalit society could not be completely eradicated," the resolution said. The party said Deendayal Upadhyay used to believe that in the country, every individual shall have intimate bonding with the society. "To end all social disparities so as to establish an egalitarian society and to bring the SCs and STs into the mainstream development, the BJP will promote sense of social harmony this year so that social justice could be rendered to the marginalised sections," it said. The BJP has been facing dalit backlash, especially after the Rohith Vemula suicide row and incidents of cow vigilantes attacking the community. It has come as a setback to the party which is trying hard to woo the dalits especially as the community could play a crucial role in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. The party asserted that it continues to strive as per the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to ensure economic, cultural and spiritual freedom. "We must work to end discrimination and disparities among various sections of the society and infuse the sense of integrity in the whole nation," said the resolution proposed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and adopted by the Council. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain, France and the United States have requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria's second city of Aleppo, diplomats have said. The meeting was likely to be held at 10 am (local time) today, the diplomats said yesterday. Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo yesterday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offencive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was appalled by the "chilling" upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the 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 offencive 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 week-long ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) today decided to suspend the affiliation of 56 schools across the state for not complying with the prescribed norms and criteria. The Board also decided to cancel the affiliation of nine schools/colleges which were in-principle given affiliation but were not issued affiliation letters by it, Board Chairman Anand Kishore said in a release here. On inquiry, it was found that these schools did not live up to the standards and prescribed norms set by the Board for running the institutions. Besides, it also decided to lodge an FIR against an Intermediate College at Madhepura for its decision to start admissions even before getting an affiliation letter to run the institute. These 56 schools have also been served separate show cause notices asking them to explain why their recognition should not be cancelled, Kishore said, adding, they will have to furnish their reply within 15 days. The Board is conducting an inquiry into schools which were granted affiliation in the past two years, he said. Sources said schools which are under scanner are those which were granted affiliation in the last two years during the tenure of former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the state intermediate examination. These institutions are among the 212 schools in 31 districts which are being probed by committees constituted by district magistrates to check whether they complied with the 18 criteria fixed by the Board, the Chairman said, adding, the committees made physical and on the spot inspections. Out of 212 institutions, the Board has so far received inspection reports of about 177 schools. Of these, assessment of 165 institutions has been completed. Of the 165 schools, it has suspended affiliation of 144, including 56 institutions. Affiliation of 52 and 36 schools was already suspended on August 27 and September 6 respectively. Kishore, however, made it clear that students studying in the schools which have been suspended would be admitted to nearby schools in the district due to special circumstances. Stern action would be taken against those officials and employees whose involvement would be found in providing help to these schools to get affiliation, he said. Kishore said buildings of the schools were not constructed as per the criteria laid down and shortcomings were found with regard to appointments of teaching and non teaching employees. Most of the schools did not have a library, laboratory, playground, sports equipment, fire safety norms, administrative rooms etc, he said. Almost four months have passed since the intermediate toppers scam in the state came to light in the state. Twenty people, including the main accused Bachcha Rai, principal of the Bishun Rai College of Vaishali from where state topper Ruby Rai and other students who appeared for the exam, were arrested. Former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife ex-MLA Usha Sinha were also arrested in the case. A Special Investigation Team headed by Patna SSP is probing the matter. In a sign of internal rivalry in the Baloch separatist movement, Brahamdagh Bugti's cousin has said he would fight for Pakistan in the event of a war with India. Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of slain Baloch tribal leader NawabAkbar Bugti, has said that if war breaks out with India he and his tribal warriors would fight against Indian troops along with the Pakistan Army. Shahzain, a cousin of Geneva-based Brahamdagh who has sought asylum in India, said at the annual conventionof the Jamhoori Watan Party which was formed by his grandfather that the Bugti tribe would always stand in defence of Pakistan. "Brahamdagh can stay in India or Geneva that is his personal decision. But as far as I or the party is concerned we will always follow the dictates of Nawab Akbar Bugti," Shahzain said. He said his grandfather had opted for Pakistan at the time of Partition and his party would remain loyal to this ideology. "Nawab Akbar Bugti was always with Pakistan and in the past also our tribesmen fought for Pakistan. Nothing has changed. Our ideology is the same. Even today if India goes to war with Pakistan we will defend the Pakistani borders," he said. Ever since nationalist leader Akbar Bugti was killed in a military operation in August, 2006, there has been a war of succession between three of his grandsons including Shahzain and Brahamdagh who are both claimants to the title of the tribe's chieftainship, and have refused torecogniseAali Bugti as his successor. Akbar Bugti had decided to nominate Brahamdagh as his successor during his lifetimebut met with resistance fromseveral tribal elders. He had informally appointed Brahamdagh as his political successor and Mir Aali as his tribal successor. Brahamdagh, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking political asylum in India. His application was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. The troubled Balochistan province has been in the eye of a storm since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the atrocities and human rights violations being committed in the province. India has also raised theBalochistanissue at the UN. Yesterday, several hundred tribesmen also held a demonstration against India insisting they would fight side by side with the Pakistan military if war breaks out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI has taken over the probe into the murder of Hanif Kadawala, an accused in the 1993 case who gave an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt, and registered a case against gangster Chhota Rajan and his accomplices in this regard. "The agency has taken over the probe into Kadawala's murder," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said. Sources said the investigating agency took over probe after a reference from the Maharashtra government in this regard. As per norms, the agency starts its probe from the FIR registered by the state police. They said a case has been registered against Chhota Rajan, his gang member Guru Satam and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act in connection with Kadawala's murder. Kadawala, who transported weapons to Mumbai (then Bombay) on the instructions of Tiger Menon which were used in the 1993 serial blasts, was killed on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan after the 12 blasts that had left 257 dead and more than 700 injured. Rajan, once considered a henchman of Dawood, parted ways with him after the blasts. It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hid the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutt's house. The actor had, however, denied any knowledge of conspiracy of blasts and was acquitted from charges under TADA in the case. The actor was convicted under the Arms Act. Kadawala was arrested on April 16, 1993 under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat coast to Mumbai but was released on bail five years later. In 2001, it was alleged that a person introducing himself as Yusuf repeatedly sought appointment with Kadawala regarding a deal. On February 7, 2001, three persons allegedly entered his office at Bandra (West) in Mumbai where two of his employees were also present. After a brief discussion, Kadawala was allegedly shot with a .32 revolver. He was severely injured and rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The sources said agency has also initiated a probe into the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty who was on May 4, 2001 killed allegedly by the members of Chhota Rajan's gang. Shetty was the owner of Golden Crown hotel in South Mumbai. They said a case under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, murder and provisions of the Arms Act has been registered against Rajan, notorious criminal Hemant Pujari, Ajay Mohite, Sameer Manik among others. Manik was acquitted in the case by the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in 2008. However, three other gang members -- Ajay Mohite, Pramod Dhonde and Rahul Pansare -- were convicted by the court in connection with Shetty's murder. Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25 last year and deported to India. He is an accused in around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the 2011 J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all these cases to CBI. Urging the Centre to set up a Cotton Board on the lines of Coffee and Jute Boards, Indian Cotton Federation (ICF) today appealed it to nominate representatives from stake holders (cotton textile industry) as directors on the board of Cotton Corporation of India. In his address to the 37th Annual General Meeting of ICF, its president, J Thulasidharan said that considering the fluctuation and volatility in the prices, particularly during the end season, due to artificial shortage, the Govenrment should take steps to make obligatory the pressing figures by each and every ginning and pressing factory for reliable statistics. Similarly, marking each bale coming out of the ginning and pressing factory with bales numbers and press marks should be made mandatory to guarantee quality of the cotton, he said. Stating that export import data of cotton should be promptly available on day to day basis, Thulasidharan said that sufficient finance for cotton purchase should be available during the peak arrivals at a subsidised rate of seven per cent or less. The meeting estimated that the cotton production for the 2016-17 (October-November) would be around 325 bales and arrivals are expected from November first week. A six-member delegation will be visiting Sri Lanka in the middle of next month, to negotiate with Colombo Port authorities to allow the port to be a storage Centre for the imported cotton for a minimum period, before being brought to Tuticorin or Kochi ports, to avoid delay. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If the old adage about too many cooks spoiling the broth is the rule, Sunday proved an exception with the international cooking competition--the centrepiece event of the Spice Route Culinary Festival--laying out a bevy of delectable dishes. Envisaged as a fresh beginning to the ambitious Spices Route project--an initiative of Kerala Tourism in association with UNESCO and the Tourism Ministry, the festival has proved to be that and more. The international competition was kick started by S Sharma MLA, Vypeen, with the lighting of a traditional lamp at Bolgatty Palace and Island resort in the morning. He had invited the 15 participant countries to explore and discover not just the cuisines, but also the cultures of the Spice Route, according to a release here. The inauguration was attended by Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of Netherlands to India, Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives,Nepal and Sri Lanka, Moe Chiba, Culture Head at UNESCO India and U V Jose, Kerala Tourism Director. "Food is a part of culture and helps to connect people. The Dutch government welcomes this wonderful initiative and will support efforts to promote the heritage shared by the countries of the Spice Route," the Dutch Ambassador said. Noting that chefs are transmitters of culture, Aoyagi said "The Spice Route initiative celebrates not only our common legacy, but also our differences." Jose thanked the chefs and dignitaries for being part of this unique event and said the culinary festival is a great beginning to the Spice Route initiative. "It is the first step to realising the true potential of Spice Route as a viable tourism offering for the state. Let us now take this forward through similar projects," he said. Leading chefs from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Netherlands, France, Malaysia, Italy and Japan poured their cooking talents into three dishes --an entree, main course and dessert--within the three-and-half hour allotted period. With all-star judges--noted chefs Vijay Nagpal, Debraj Bhaumik and Montu Saini,executive chef to the President--doing the rounds, teams had to pull out all the stops to stand out. The first place team gets a 15-night holiday voucher, second prize is a 10-night holiday voucher and third, a seven night holiday voucher. Winning teams will all receive two airline return tickets, a memento and certificate for each member. The Turkish team first tabled their appetiser--an Ottoman Almond Soup--setting off a chain reaction of raised hands and shouts from contestants to draw the judges' attention. The question of who will come out on top will be known at an award ceremony ahead of valedictory function tomorrow. Before that, the finals of 'Kerala Chef' competition--an initiative to promote local culinary flavours and talent--will round out the morning's proceedings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pro-Kremlin activists who threw urine at pictures by US photographer Jock Sturges - best known for nude images of adolescents and their families - today forced its closure, a day after a government advisor condemned the images as "child pornography". Moscow gallery curator Natalia Litvinskaya told journalists the show had "nothing to do with paedophilia" but that she took the decision to close after receiving "threats from absolutely delusional people". The closure of the exhibition, "Jock Sturges- Absence of Shame" - came after influential conservative senator Yelena Mizulina yesterday released a statement on her website calling it "a public demonstration of child pornography materials" and said it "must be closed urgently". Russia's children's ombudswoman Anna Kuznetsova then weighed in, condemning it on Facebook a few hours later as "child pornography". The exhibition, which opened on September 7 at the established Lumiere Brothers Gallery close to the Kremlin, is the first to show the California-based Sturges' work in Russia. Around 20 activists in matching uniform jackets and camouflage from a little-known group called the "Officers of Russia" today positioned themselves outside the doors of the gallery, as police watched, an AFP video journalist witnessed. The Officers of Russia describes itself as a patriotic association of former and serving military and "concerned citizens" with more than 100,000 members. One activist standing outside the gallery, 20-year-old Timofei Bendas, told journalists he had seen some photos from the show which he called "dirty, vile and disgusting". The organisation's leader Anton Tsvetkov, who also heads the security committee of Russia's Public Chamber, an advisory body made up of public figures, then viewed the exhibition with its organisers, before coming out and announcing its closure. "The organisers accommodated the Public Chamber and the exhibition is closed from today," he shouted from the gallery doorway to shouts of "shame!" from supporters of the show. He acknowledged however that the show included only "semi-naked" pictures of children. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Young child rem can make adult-like moral judgements from the age of four, according to a new study which suggests that the ability has often been underestimated in young kids. The researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, conducted the study involving 138 children aged four to eight years old, and 31 adults. When making moral judgements, adults tend to focus on people's intentions rather than on the outcomes of their actions - hurting someone intentionally is much worse than hurting them accidentally. However, the prevailing view in developmental psychology is that younger children's moral judgements are mainly based on the outcomes of actions, rather than the intentions of those involved. Despite decades of research there is still disagreement about whether this claim is correct. To address this, researchers led by Gavin Nobes of UEA's School of Psychology looked at the reasons for the findings of two of the most influential and frequently cited studies - published in 1996 and 2001 - both of which provide strong evidence that young children's moral judgements are mainly outcome-based. These studies also tested adults, something which enables researchers to establish the mature response against which children at various ages can be compared. Many of them also made outcome-based judgements, which prompted researchers to question the methods used. In the original studies children were asked if the action was good or bad. In the new study, the question was rephrased and participants were asked about the person who acted. Children were asked about pairs of stories in which accidents took place. In one the intention was good and the outcome bad, and in the other the intention was bad but the outcome good. When the original question was asked the findings were very similar to the previous studies. However, when the question was rephrased, the four to five-year-old's judgements were equally influenced by intention and outcome, and from five to six years they were mainly intention-based. The older children's and adult's judgements were essentially reversed, from almost exclusively outcome-based in response to the original question, to almost exclusively intention-based when the rephrased question was asked. "The long-held claim has been that young children judge according to the outcome of an event, rather than intention. If that is the case, then children's moral judgements are fundamentally different from adults," said Nobes. "However, our findings indicate that for methodological reasons, children's ability to make similar intention-based judgements has been substantially underestimated," he said. "We show that they can be remarkably adult-like in their thinking. The implication is that even young children, from around the age of four, can make intention-based moral judgements, just like adults," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mounting a fresh attack, Congress today said Prime Minister has failed to spell out the concrete steps to avert an Uri-type attack and that his election promises of tackling terrorism with an iron hand have turned out to be a "bluff". With the Prime Minister yesterday issuing a blunt warning to Pakistan that the Uri attack will not be forgotten and that the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said Modi's speech failed to convey message on the steps to be taken to tackle terror. "PM Modi's speech failed to convey message on the concrete steps to tackle terrorism and avert Uri type attacks. Election promises were bluff," Surjewala said in a tweet. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said in a tweet, "Even Modi's supporters disappointed with his speech, social media users said, sowed Modi, reaped Manmohan." Singh said Modi has "destroyed" Pakistan with verbal missiles. In his first public address after last Sunday's deadly attack by terrorists from across the border, Modi said yesterday in Kozhikode that 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. Another Congress leader Manish Tewari raised questions on Modi government's foreign policy over the presence of Russian troops in Pakistan. "Russian troops are in Pakistan, China building CPEC Iran wants to join CPEC, Americans are in bed with Pak for Af-PAK which world does@narendramodi live in...," Tewari tweeted. Congress in Kerala today described BJP President Amit Shah's claim that the saffron outfit would form the next government in the state as "daydream." Asked about Shah's statement in this regard at the BJP's rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President V M Sudheeran said it was a 'daydream' of Shah. Referring to the party's performance in the May 16 Assembly polls, Shah had claimed he was confident that in the next polls in the state, the party would form the government. Briefing reporters on deliberations of the KPCC Political Affairs Committee held here yesterday, Sudheeran said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre "has only shown neglect and not fulfilled any of the promises it made." The Committee passed a resolution condemning the Uri attack and said it was the result of the failure of the BJP government, he said. "If the government had learned lessons from Pathankot attack, this would not have happened," Sudheeran said. In the wake of Uri attack, BJP should have postponed the party's National Council meet, he said. "The issues regarding security of the nation have to be discussed in Parliament and not in party forum," he added. Sudheeran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised relief to rubber growers when he visited the state. "Nothing has been done on the matter," he said. Similarly, the state's request for amendments to the Coastal Regulation Zone notification that would enable local people, especially fishermen, to build and repair houses, has not been considered so far, he pointed out. Besides, no cities and towns from Kerala have been included in the SmartCity project scheme announced by the Centre, he claimed. Attacking the BJP and CPI-M in the state, he alleged that these parties were trying to communally polarise the society. "Activities of LDF government and also that of CPI-M are actually helping BJP," he said. Congress would take out a statewide campaign to expose both BJP and CPI-M, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after blaming Congress for causing the downfall of NCP, Praful Patel, senior leader of the Sharad Pawar-led party, today said he was only referring to what happened in Maharashtra ahead of the 2014 assembly polls. "I had said that in the context of Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, we were together, but (at the) last minute, there was no alliance with Congress...As a result both of us lost," Patel told PTI in Vasco town. The former Union Minister was here to launch NCP's campaign for the upcoming Goa Legislative Assembly polls. Congress and NCP, which shared power for two consecutive terms (from 1999 to 2014), had parted ways ahead of the 2014 state assembly polls. "What I had said was in the context of Maharashtra. This was in the context of the state. In Maharashtra, there were lot of scams being projected. But now those scams are not there!," Patel said. Ahead of the crucial local body polls in Maharashtra, Patel had accused Congress of pulling his party down. "Congress sank and took us down as well. In the last five years, it is because of Congress only that its workers and supporters and also NCP have suffered," Patel had said while addressing NCP workers at Akola in Vidarbha region on September 11. "Scams were not really scam but a conspiracy by Congress itself and leaders like Prithviraj Chavan," the former union minister had said in Akola. His comments had drawn a strong reaction from Congress, which had said it was an attempt to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi in "good humour". However, reacting to Congress' charge, Patel today said that NCP does not need to keep anyone happy. "We are eligible on our own. Why do we need to keep anyone happy," he said. The NCP, which was in power in Goa till the 2012 polls, had failed to win even a single seat in the coastal state in the last election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consumer durables makers are gearing up for a bumper festive season ahead, expecting sales to spike by up to 35 per cent on the back of good monsoon, pent up demand and the 7th pay commission payout. Different players in the consumer durables sector such as Sony, LG, Samsung, Panasonic, Haier, BSH Household Appliances and Videocon, are estimated to have earmarked nearly Rs 500 crore to spend on marketing to push sales during the festive period. According to the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), in 2016 the industry is pinning all its hopes on the upcoming festive season wherein, "noteworthy players" have allocated anywhere between 30 to 40 per cent of their budget on marketing. "With an overall positive customer sentiment, consumer durables companies expect to increase their sales by almost 15 to 20 per cent," CEAMA President Manish Sharma told PTI. To woo the customers, the companies have lined up a host of schemes, including freebies such as music system, smartphones, tablets, strolley bags, steam iron, dry iron, sunglasses, hand blenders, extended warranty and cashback on purchase of TV, refrigerator, microwave ovens, washing machine and air conditioners. "This festive saeson, we are going to start with a very strong and positive momentum...With all the promotions, we expect at least 35 per cent growth in the panel business. Most of them would be driven by 32 inches and above," Sony India sales head Satish Padmanabhan said. The company has already witnessed around 25 per cent growth in sales during the Onam in Souther India this month, he added. Similarly, LG is expecting around 30 per cent growth in sales this season as it expects good demand, especially in flat panels and home appliances segment. "We are very optimistic about festive growth as consumer sentiment is quite positive and till now we have seen good growth. We are targeting 30 per cent growth this festive season," said LG Electronics India Head, Corporate Marketing, Niladri Datta. Panasonic, which has been receiving an encouraging response to its smartphones, is expecting the segment to do well this festive season. "The sales for smartphones is expected to grow by almost Rs 600 crore during the months of September to November with a 200 per cent growth jump from what was seen last year in the segment," said Panasonic India Head - Sales and Service, Ajay Seth. Samsung too is expecting a double digit growth in sales this year. "We had a healthy monsoon this year. The festive season is estimated to generate good annual sales for consumer durables and appliances. Additionally, increased rural electrification and announcement of 7th Pay Commission will be key growth drivers this season," Samsung India Vice President, Consumer Electronics, Rajeev Bhutani said. Bullish on festive sales, BSH Household Appliances said it expects over 40 per cent growth. "During the festive season, consumers usually revamp and refurnish their homes as well as upgrade their appliances. In the consumer durables segment, the festive season marks one of the most important time of the year, owing to increased purchase activity and consumer inclination to spend," said BSH Household Appliances Manufacturing MD and CEO Gunjan Srivastava. In order to woo customers, consumer durables manufacturers are loosening their purse strings for marketing activities with industry estimate putting it anywhere near Rs 500 crore. "We plan to spend around Rs 150 crore in terms of ATL (above the line) spend. With this, we expect to emerge as the biggest panel player in the festive season," said Padmanabhan of Sony. Likewise Panasonic is also ready to spend on marketing activities. "We have set aside nearly Rs 85 crore as Festive Marketing investments towards ATL and BTL activities across India and have already started looking at focused markets. Moreover, we have also invested in manpower to spruce up our marketing activities," Seth said. Homegrown firm Videocon plans to spend around Rs 100 crore. "We have earmarked Rs 100 crore for promotions during the festive season of which 1 per cent will be spent on carrying out the digital initiatives," said Videocon Ltd Director Anirudh Dhoot. Besides, the companies are also spending a good portion of the pie on digital platforms. "Digital platform is certainly important and our 10 to 15 per cent spend will be on digital marketing," said Datta of LG Electronics. According to CEAMA, companies aren't losing sight of the fast growing e-commerce segment. Haier India president Eric Braganza said: "I have always considered e-commerce as another sales channel and expect them to also contribute to the festive sales". Expressing similar views, Sharma, who is also president & CEO - Panasonic India & South Asia, and Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation said: "E-Commerce players too are trying hard to reap maximum traction and have decided to cut their commissions from large and preferred sellers by 30 to 50 per cent. Controversy shrouds the expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav ministry tomorrow with a social activist throwing a spanner by challenging before Governor Ram Naik the possible re-entry of tainted former Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati. The Governor is scheduled to administer oath of office and secrecy to some new ministers tomorrow, a Raj Bhawan communique said. With Prajapati's re-induction on the cards as part of a compromise formula to douse the flames in the Yadav clan that took the hue of a major political crisis recently, activist Nutan Thakur has petitioned the Governor against making him minister again. 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. Another probable swearing in could be that of Ziauddin Rizvi, who was not able to take oath in July when the cabinet was last expanded. He was abroad then. Nutan filed the petition before the Governor just 48 hours before the oath ceremony requesting him not to re-induct Prajapati. In her petition, she said Prajapati was removed as minister on serious corruption charges after the order of Allahabad High Court for CBI enquiry and the CBI report was presented before the court. She said a minister is removed from office under provisions of Article 164 of the Constitution when he loses the pleasure of the Governor. Nutan said when Prajapati was removed as minister, he had lost the pleasure of the Governor. Hence, he cannot be re- inducted in the Ministry unless the facts and reasons on which he had lost the pleasure of the Governor get removed. Prajapati began as Minister of State for Irrigation in February 2013 and was moved to the lucrative berth of mining, directly under Yadav who handled that portfolio. In July 2013, Yadav elevated Prajapati to MoS (Independent Charge) and in January 2014, he was made a Cabinet Minister. Meanwhile, Naik has given time in the evening to Nutan to present facts about her petition. "I have been informed by Raj Bhawan that I should present facts to the governor in the evening," Nutan said. Akhilesh had recently sacked Prajapati at a time when there were indications that the CBI was set to tighten the noose around Prajapati and officials of the state mining department. The High Court had asked the CBI to look into the role of government functionaries in allegations of illegal mining. Prajapati was in when Nutan had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta, accusing him of corruption and gathering wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Lokayukta had, however, dismissed the complaint on grounds that no such evidence was found against him. But, as his sacking on September 12 set off a tsunami in the ruling party circles, taking the shape of an unprecedented political crisis ahead of the UP Assembly elections due early next year, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had to chip in to end the impasse and as a compromise formula it was decided that he would be re-inducted, but with a different portfolio. Akhilesh was said to be unhappy with the minister who was mired in controversy over allegations of promoting illegal mining. The opposition, however, alleged that the sacking of the minister was just an eyewash to hide the corruption in mining sector. "Illegal mining is rampant in the state and it is an open secret that he was promoting it. Now when the HC has taken serious view of the matter and ordered CBI probe, the CM's decision is mere an eyewash. It will not help as people know the reality," Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi said. BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said it was good that CM has taken the decision to sack the minister. "Our party has been raising the matter of illegal mining in the state. The decision should have been taken earlier," Pathak added. Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar has reportedly been fired from "Coronation Street" after posting "racially offensive" tweets about Indian people over the Kashmir issue. The 45-year-old actor, who plays Sharif Nazir in the long-running soap, was dismissed after the Sunday Mirror informed the ITV network bosses about his racist tweets. Mirror published a screenshot of the alleged tweets from the actor's account, attacking India over Kashmir and calling for Pakistani actors to stop working in the country. The paper also quoted an official statement from ITV. "We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. "We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect," the statement read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Industry body Laghu Udyog Bharti (LUB) today said that Central Public Sectors Units (CPSUs) need to take measures towards achieving the target of 20 per cent procurements from MSMEs. "So far 43 CPSUs out of a total of 277 CPSUs have achieved the target of 20 per cent." Hitendra Joshi, President, Gujarat unit of LUB, said at the Annual General Meeting of LUB held here today. "As per available information, 129 CPSUs had made a total purchase of Rs 1,28,345 crore during 2014-15. However, these CPSUs made purchase of only Rs 14,551 crore from MSMEs which comes to 10 per cent purchase from them," Joshi said. "If CPSUs make purchases from MSME units and meet the target, it can help additional 50 lakhs workers getting direct jobs and another 50 lakhs to get indirect employment," he added. The 20 per cent annual procurement policy was made mandatory by the Centre from April 2015 with a view to promote MSMEs and startups in the country. Joshi said in a bid to promote start-ups, the Ministry has also issued a circular allowing PSUs to relax the norms of 'prior experience and prior turnover' for those MSMEs which can deliver goods as per prescribed technical and quality specifications. He demanded setting up of convention centres and coordination between industries and educational institutions and constructions of sheds for MSME units. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A section of Dalits from a village have threatened to convert alleging that the state authorities were dily dallying on taking action against some persons who allegedly 'illegally occupied' land given to them, by the state. A cooperative society formed under the Punjab Nazul Act 1956 alloted the land to the Dalits for their betterment. But between 2010 to 2014 a number of high-profile people including some who claimed to be from BJP had illegally grabbed 600 acres of Nazul land which also included 41 acres from Dhidwara village, they alleged. They claimed that despite making a complaint on July 13 last year, the police failed to act due to the pressure from BJP leaders. However, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assigned his OSD Jagdish Chopra to look into the matter after some of the Dalit community members met him. Protesting in front of the mini secretariat for the last four days, the Dalit families have alleged that the police had warned them of "dire consequence" if they don't stop their protest. Congress state president Ashok Tanwar who came to support the Dalits alleged that since the BJP government came to power the atrocities against them have been on the rise. "The labour class and Dalits are targeted in the rule of BJP. The law and order situation in the state has become a joke since the day BJP came to power," he said. The villagers have asked for a CBI probe and demanded that their land be returned or else they will convert and migrate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Kriti Sanon is excited about teaming up with Farhan Akhtar for their upcoming film "Lucknow Central", and feels it would be easy to get along with the actor-filmmaker. Produced by Nikhil Advani, "Lucknow Central" marks the directorial debut of his assistant Ranjit Tiwari. For the first time Kriti will be sharing screen space with Farhan. "I have met him (Farhan) on formal occasions as he is busy with 'Rock On 2'. Whatever I have seen of him on and off screen, he has a great sense of humour," Kriti told PTI. "He seems to be a nice person. I don't think it will be difficult to gel with him. When you work with different actors you react differently. I am excited about it (working with Farhan) and you learn a lot," she said. Apparently, "Lucknow Central" follows the story of a few jail inmates who form a band in prison to rekindle their passion for music. The film will see Farhan playing a prisoner and Kriti will be seen in the role of a NGO worker helping the prisoners. "Lucknow Central" is a unique script. I was sold out on the basis of script. I play an NGO worker," Kriti said without divulging details about the story and her look in the film. According to the actress, the shoot will commence in November. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filling up of vacant faculty positions, improving quality of research and enhancing student-centric measures are among the issues to be discussed during Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar's meeting with the vice chancellors of central universities next month. Apart from these, the agenda of Javadekar's first comprehensive meeting with VCs of around 40 central universities, scheduled on October 6 in Varanasi, includes strengthening internal resource generation of these varsities. "The number of vacancies in central universities is quite large and that is one of the top items on the agenda as it is directly linked to improving the quality of education, which is the government's priority area," a senior official told PTI. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry had last December told Parliament that 1,310 posts of professors were vacant in various central universities. While the ministry is keen on filling the vacancies, the numbers are still quite substantial, the official said, adding that filling up key positions like those of registrars, finance officers and controllers of examination would also be discussed during the meeting. Several student-centric measures, including checking the status of setting up of complaints committee on gender-based complaints, setting up of SC/ST cells, equal opportunity cells will also figure during the meet to be held at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Another area, which is high on the priority during the conference is generation of greater resources for the universities besides government aid. "While the universities get central assistance, they can raise additional funds through consultancy work. Various ideas will be generated," the official said. Discussions will also be held focusing on improvement in research works. Among measures that would be looked at include setting up of start up or incubation centres and industry academia link in research. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government was committed to resolve the issues being raised by the Maratha community, agitating over reservation demand and punishment for culprits of Kopardi rape and murder case. "Our government is committed to solve the issue. I assure you that amicable solution will be found out with the help of all," Fadnavis said. The chief minister was addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Turbe in neighbouring Navi Mumbai on the occasion of 83rd birth anniversary of mathadi leader Late Annasaheb Patil. "Government's view is that the Maratha community should get reservation. Hence, even when there is a stay by the court, our government has passed an Act (regarding it). Now, even when the matter is subjudice, evidences are being placed before the courts," he said. "We have taken a serious note of the silent morchas. All should come together and help in resolving the issue and hold discussions so that effective legal steps can be taken," he said. On Kopardi alleged rape and murder case, he said Ujjwal Nikam has been appointed as senior public prosecutor in the case and expressed confidence that victim's family will get justice. A 15-year-old girl, belonging to Maratha community, in Kopardi in Ahmednagar district was allegedly raped and brutally murdered by three Dalit men in July. The Maratha community, which is pre-dominant in state politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns in the state over the last one month, following the Kopardi incident. Also, community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, saying it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs. "We are trying hard to empower the Maratha community through employment and entrepreneurship. Our plan is to give job opportunities to 5 lakh Maratha youths," Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, he said a committee has been appointed to suggest amendment in Maharashtra Mathadi Hammal & other Manual Workers (Regulation of employment & welfare) Act. The committee will submit its report in next three months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Looking to save on huge taxi bills, government departments and PSUs are now turning to popular ride-hailing apps like and Uber for their transportation needs and have been promised service without any 'surge pricing'. Both Uber and are looking at offering taxi services to government departments at special rates and have registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM). Besides, is also in discussions with various public sector units (PSUs) for its 'Corporate' offering. The GeM was launched last month for buying goods and services by central ministries and departments for greater transparency in government procurement, which is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore a year. According to an official, the government is looking at significant savings as various departments currently shell out as much as Rs 40,000 every month per taxi. "What has been agreed is that they will give a monthly bill to us, something they have never done. Second, for the government, there will be no surge pricing," the official said. The official added that the organisations need cabs everyday and "if you get the Uber and Ola, it is economical and it is efficient. You also get a complete tracking of distance and clear-cut billing". The demand for taxi services in government departments is growing and companies like Uber and Ola are keen on tapping this segment. Besides, home-grown taxi hailing app operator Ola is planning to offer its 'corporate' service to PSUs. Ola Head (Corporate) Ankit Jain said the company is in discussions with various public sector units (PSUs) for its 'Corporate' offering. This, the company expects, will play an important role in its target of getting the top 100 companies in the country on board its platform. Jain said many private companies/government organisations continue to follow the conventional route of booking, where they outsource their travel needs to be managed by a travel agency or facilitate the reimbursement mechanism for the expenses incurred by employees. Buoyed by interest shown by global investors, the government plans three more sector specific sub-funds, including for the development of airports and ports, under the Rs 40,000 crore National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). There is a proposal for airport development fund, port development fund and one more under the NIIF, sources said. The government last week announced that it is in the process of setting up two sub-funds one in clean energy fund which will primarily focus on renewable energy, and another fund with focus on highway projects. The government had set up the Rs 40,000-crore fund in December last year as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects. It was envisioned as a mother fund with several sectoral feeder funds. Observing that there were certain challenges with regard to NIIF, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das had last week had said investors were more interested in investing in specific, dedicated, sectoral fund rather than all-purpose, multi-sector umbrella fund. Subsequently, the government had to restructure and recast the structure and begin with two sectorally dedicated funds namely highway sector and clean energy fund, he had said. Speaking about investor who are keen to participate in India's sovereign fund, Das said, "We have signed MoUs with Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Rusnano and we have understanding with the UK treasury and the US treasury. There is a lot of investment appetite." There are 2-3 proposals and MoUs to be signed and it's just a matter of weeks or one or two months at best activities taking place, he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Consumer appliances and electronic goods maker Haier India is eyeing 30 per cent increase in sales this year on the back of higher demand during the festive season. "We are looking at 30 per cent increase in sales this year. All our categories are reporting good growth. We expect to clock Rs 2,200 crore sale this fiscal," Haier India President Eric Braganza told PTI. The company, which reported sales of Rs 1,700 crore last fiscal, has set a target to become one of India's top three brands by 2018 and increase its revenue to USD 1 billion by 2020. Haier India recently invested Rs 490 crore to expand capacity at its existing manufacturing facility at Ranjangaon near Pune. "We have invested about Rs 500 crore at our plant at Ranjangaon to double capacity of refrigerator production and make new products too. We had to increase the production capacity due to the growth in the sales, therefore we had to build up additional manufacturing facility in India," he said. The company expects to bring down its product import when its additional capacity at Pune plant becomes operational by October next year. "We expect our imports to go down from 25 per cent at present to 15 per cent when the additional capacity becomes operational. We will continue to import some hi-end products," Braganza added. Earlier, the company was making only refrigerators at the plant. Now, it will also make washing machines, ACs, TV panels and water heaters. Haier India, a 100 per cent subsidiary of China's Haier Group, began operations in 2004 and started manufacturing in India by acquiring a 40-acre plant at Ranjangoan in 2007. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heavy rains that lashed the city over the past few days have damaged roads under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, officials said. "The engineering officials have submitted a report stating that under the GHMC limits, 180-km length of roads has been damaged," GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy today said. According to initial estimates, the civic body requires over Rs 100 crore to restore the roads. "Every day, around 1,500 potholes were filled up," he said, adding that efforts were on to demolish the illegal structures raised on the nullahs (drainages). "Circle-wise demolition drive will be taken up. GHMC has asked the state government to set up a tribunal, which will settle the disputes pertaining to illegal constructions. A reminder letter was sent to the government," he said. Four columns of the Army were yesterday 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. Although the city did not receive rains till evening today, some of the low-lying areas continued to remain inundated, even as GHMC and some NGOs are offering essential food items, such as milk, for relief of those affected. Meanwhile, the civic body chief directed the Health and Sanitation wing to take up a sanitation drive in rain-effected areas for control of diseases in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ice man Otzi, the 5,300-year-old well-preserved mummy found in the Austrian Alps, was likely shot and murdered by a treacherous acquaintance while enjoying a hearty meal, a new study has claimed. An arrow head discovered in 2001 in Otzi's left shoulder suggests that he was murdered. To understand the circumstances surrounding the crime, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Italy commissioned Chief Inspector Alexander Horn of the Munich Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the "Otzi Murder Case" using the latest criminological methods. Horn interrogated archaeologists from the museum who had been looking after Otzi for years, or experts from forensic medicine, radiology and anthropology. The results of this investigation were that Otzi probably did not feel threatened shortly before his murder, because the situation at the Tisenjoch location where he was found indicates that he had been resting while enjoying a hearty meal. In the days prior to the murder he had incurred an injury to his right hand, probably as a result of defensive action during the course of a physical altercation. No further injuries could be found, and this might serve to indicate that he had not been defeated in this particular conflict. The arrow shot, which was probably fatal, seems to have been launched from a great distance and took the victim by surprise, from which we may infer that it was an act of treachery. Further medical findings suggest that the victim fell and that the perpetrator used no further violence. The perpetrator probably did not wish to risk a physical altercation, but instead chose a long distance attack to kill the man from the ice. As valuable objects such as the copper axe remained at the crime scene, theft can be excluded as the motive. The reason for the offence is more likely to be found in some sort of personal conflict situation, in a previous hostile encounter - "a behavioural pattern which is prevalent even today in the bulk of murder crimes," Horn said. Scientists from all over the world presented these and other new insights, at the recent International Mummy Congress held this month in Bozen-Bolzano to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Otzi's discovery. Researchers also believe that copper used to make Otzi's axe blade did not come from the Alpine region as had previously been supposed, but from ore mined in southern Tuscany in Italy. Otzi was probably not involved in working the metal himself, as the high levels of arsenic and copper found in his hair had, until now, led researchers to assume. His murder over 5,000 years ago seems to have been brought about due to a personal conflict a few days before his demise, and the man from the ice, despite his normal weight and active life-style, suffered from extensive vascular calcification. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On his second visit to Punjab within three weeks, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today reached out to traders promising to end 'raid raj' and also met Radha Soami sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon in a bid to broaden AAP's base the state which goes to polls next year. Taking potshots at the Centre over black money compliance window, Kejriwal alleged IT department is targeting traders across the country to meet its target while big businessmen like Vijay Malya were going scot-free. Wooing the business community, traditionally considered BJP supporters, he said if AAP forms next government it would end 'raid raj' and bring "business-friendly" policies in the state as it has done in Delhi. The AAP national convenor also met Radha Soami sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at Beas. The sect has a considerable following in the state. Kejriwal met Dhillon at Radha Soami headquarters, also known as Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, and spent over 30 minutes with him. "During the meeting, they discussed the political scenario of Punjab in view of upcoming assembly election in the state, an AAP spokesman said. Earlier, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also met the Radha Soami sect chief at beas. Kejriwal said the trader community has complained to him of unnecessary IT department raids. "Instead of conducting such raids, IT sleuths should be raiding Vijay Malya and I'm sure their target of at least Rs 7000 crore could have been met," he said in an apparent reference to Centre's Income Declaration Scheme which gives citizens time till September 30 to declare undisclosed income. "Giant corporate houses are being allowed to go scot free with the loot, which indicates the government's intention on the issue of black money," the Delhi CM said. He claimed the AAP government in Delhi reduced VAT on many items from 12.5% to 5% even without the traders asking for it. Speaking on the occasion of Maharaja Agarsen Jayanti here, Kejriwal, who attended the programme as chief guest, vowed to end 'raid raj' in Punjab if his party comes to power after the 2017 Assembly poll in the state. "It is our observation that raid raj instead of curbing corruption encourages it among corrupt bureaucrats and inspectors," he said, adding, it's very important governments must discourage 'raid raj' in any state. "When we came to power in Delhi, about 150 raids were being conducted per month, which we stopped and now raids are allowed only in cases the department has ample evidence against whom the raid to be conducted," he said. On the drug menace in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "We have to curb this and once it is done there would be a dire need of employment for rehabilitating youths." He said the business community could help by giving jobs to such youths so that they don't get astray again. Earlier, on his visit to Jalandhar by road from Amritsar, Congress women wing protested against him showing placards and black flags. They were protesting against alleged misgovernance of the Delhi government which has been held responsible for dengue chickenguniya deaths. During his visit at Beas, Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and party's Sangoor MP Bhagwant Manna. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also visited Beas in March this year, while Senior BJP leader L K Advani had gone there in 2014 and attended the morning discourse by Dhillon. Several projects, including a school, constructed with Indian assistance of 85 million Nepalese rupees in northwest Nepal near the border with Tibet have been inaugurated, officials said today. India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae inaugurated the projects during a five-day visit to Mustang and Lo Manthang. Rae inaugurated three projects constructed with Indian grant on Friday at Tukuche, Kagbeni and Jharkot in Mustang district, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy here. The two-storey building for Yogendra Higher Secondary School at Tukuche has been constructed at a cost of NRs 44.39 million while the second River Training Work project in Kagbeni on Kali Gandaki river has been built at a cost of NRs 30.72 million. During rainy season, the swollen Kali Gandak threatened the residents of its catchment area and the historical Buddhist Monastery Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling. Rae also inaugurated a renovated community hall at Jharkot in Muktinath, a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists. The renovation was completed with India's assistance of NRs 528,000 under its Small Development Project scheme. The hall will benefit more than 17,000 locals and pilgrims visiting the Muktinath shrine. Yesterday, he inaugurated the Purangaun drinking water supply project in Muktinath. The project has been built at a cost of NRs 10.20 million. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. From Ambanis and Adanis to Premjis and Khorakiwalas, several generation-next leaders of India's leading family-run businesses have joined crorepati club when it comes to their salaries and other perks. With a number of corporate houses promoting sons and daughters of their promoters to leadership positions, many of these companies have begun giving hefty remuneration packages to them for their "increased responsibilities" and "active involvement" in exploring new business opportunities. Still, the annual pay of these next-generation leaders remains relatively low, as against the overall average payout of over Rs 20 crore for CEOs of India's top-listed companies forming part of Sensex and only a fraction of the same in the US at close to USD 20 million (about Rs 130 crore). Gujarati industrialist Gautam Adani's son Karan, who was appointed CEO of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, did not draw any remuneration from the company for fiscal 2015-16, but the board has approved an annual remuneration for him of up to Rs 1.5 crore, including salary, perks and other benefits, with effect from September 1, 2016. As Chairman and Managing Director of the company, Gautam Adani got total remuneration of Rs 2.8 crore in 2015-16, while Whole Time Director Malay Mahadevia got Rs 10.7 crore. In case of Anil Ambani's son Anmol, who was recently appointed as Director on the board of the group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, the company has proposed a salary of Rs 10 lakh per month. Reliance Capital will seek shareholders' approval on the upcoming AGM on September 27 for various proposals, including Anmol Ambani's appointment as Executive Director for a period of five years as well as for the remuneration to be paid. In the shareholders' notice, the company said his salary would be Rs 10 lakh per month. In addition to the salary, perquisites and allowances, he will also be entitled to receive commission based on next profit of the company. Anmol,24, has been working in various financial services businesses within Reliance Capital since 2014 and has a degree from Warwick Business School in the UK. Salaries of Mukesh Ambani's children -- Akash and Isha -- could not be ascertained, though they are said to be playing key roles in Reliance Industries group's telecom and retail ventures. Sudarshan Venu, son of TVS Motor's Venu Srinivasan, got annual remuneration of Rs 9.59 crore for 2015-16, while the company last month sought shareholders' approval for revising his remuneration as Joint Managing Director. Explaining the proposal, the company said in its AGM notice, "The board reviewed the remuneration payable to him after taking into consideration his active involvement in all spheres of management for exploring business opportunities both in India and abroad and felt that, JMD can be compensated by way of enhanced commission. "The board was of the opinion that the existing remuneration was considerably inadequate, when compared with the industry norms and similarly placed senior management personnel of the company. As Chairman and MD of TVS Motor, Sudarshan Venu's total remuneration of Rs 13.88 crore in 2015-16, while his package has also been proposed to be revised for the current fiscal. At IT major Wipro, Azim Premji's son Rishad serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Director and his remuneration for 2015-16 stood at Rs 2.15 crore. The same for his father was Rs 2.17 crore, down from Rs 4.78 crore in the fiscal 2014-15. Wockhardt has disclosed remuneration of Rs 1.32 crore for 2015-16 to its Chairman Habil Khorakiwala, while the same for his sons Huzaifa (Executive Director) and Murtaza (Managing Director) stood at Rs 1.328 crore each. His daugther Zahabiya Khorakiwala runs Wockhardt Hospitals, but her salary details could not be ascertained. At another pharma major Cipla, Samina Vaziralli, niece of Chairman Y K Hamied, got total remuneration of Rs 2.47 crore as Executive Director in 2015-16. She was made Executive Director in July last year. She became Executive Vice Chairman with effect from September 1, 2016. Chairman Y K Hamied said in his message to shareholders, "As we see a transformation to the next generation of the Hamied family, I have no doubt that in Samina Vaziralli we have a trustee who will preserve, inspire and enhance the spirit that we call Cipla." However, there are also a few generation-next leaders with annual remuneration below Rs 1 crore level. At Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd, Kishore Biyani's daugther Ashni's total remuneration for 2015-16 as Whole Time Director was Rs 69.09 lakh, which was same in preceding year. In case of Suzlon Energy, Tulsi Tanti's daughter Nidhi was paid a remuneration of Rs 25 lakh in fiscal 2015-16, up from Rs 12 lakh in 2014-15. In comparison, Tulsi Tanti's total remuneration stood at Rs 1.58 crore for the last fiscal. At DLF, Chairman K P Singh's remuneration stood at Rs 4.37 crore while that of son and Vice Chairman Rajiv Singh was Rs 4.42 crore in 2015-16. Pia Singh, daughter of K P Singh, was Rs 29.6 lakh for her role as Whole Time Director till May 20, 2015, after which she became a non-executive director (remuneration of Rs 33 lakh). In its annual report, DLF has also disclosed as "salary and wages" totalling Rs 1.97 crore for Renuka Talwar, also daughter of K P Singh. India ratifying the Paris climate agreement will be a "big" step and will bring a big change in world stage with regards to climate change, Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave today said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will ratify the pact on October 2. "Today Prime Minister has announced that India will ratify the Paris agreement, implying the agreement arrived at in Paris has been accepted by India in binding. The goals decided, the targets fixed with regards to climate change, 55 nations will come together to achieve this, later more countries will come. "I believe that this is a major step taken by India on the world stage. Ratification of Paris Agreement by India will bring a big difference to climate change," Dave said. Earlier, in a surprise move, while addressing BJPs National Council meet here, the PM announced that India will ratify the Paris Climate Change Agreement on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. "There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of mahatma Gandhi," he said Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhi's life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. Dave said till date, more than 50 nations have signed the agreement, that is they have accepted the pact according to their respective Constitution. "In India, this right is vested with the Prime Minister and is vested in the Union Cabinet," the Environment Minister said. During the Paris climate meet last year, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The surprise announcement by Modi came after India had earlier this month said that no decision to ratify the Paris climate change agreement has been taken so far as its domestic processes in this regard were still underway. While Western countries including the US has been supporting an early ratification of the pact, India has been seeking more time to complete its national processes as it fears that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects. Dave said that India believes that development and environment go together and every decision including the signing of Paris agreement and now ratification has been taken keeping in mind the interest of the people of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is in talks with South Korea, known for its maritime technology prowess, for long-term partnership to develop its rivers to drive economic growth. Earlier this year, Parliament has enacted a legislation to convert 111 rivers across the country into National Waterways, a move that would boost movement of goods and passengers via rivers and reduce transportation cost substantially. "We are in talks with a Korean government company to develop our rivers," Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI. "We have offered them to select out of 111 rivers and develop these. Once we start getting profit, we can return their investment in 15-20 years." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened a mega Maritime India Summit earlier this year with Korea, a world leader in shipbuilding, as the partner and has promised to personally handhold investors for a "safe, secure and satisfactory" berthing so as to transform the country's 7,500-km long coastline an "engine of growth". Gadkari said waterways unfortunately had taken a backseat in India, with only 3.5 per cent of trade being done through the mode here as against 47 per cent in China, 40 per cent in Europe, 44 per cent in Japan and Korea and 35 per cent in Bangladesh. According to the minister, if developed properly, inland water transport, which is an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transport, will reduce the high logistics cost -- currently at 18 per cent -- and boost the economy. Gadkari said that if all the 111 rivers are developed as waterways, it will "revolutionise" the Indian economy. Maritime development is high on the priority list of the government as it has the potential of opening a new era of foreign investment in ship-building, repair, ship breaking, inland water transportation, cruise shipping and hinterland connectivity, to name a few. Maritime logistics is considered as a key component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of export-import trade by volume and 72 per cent by value. He said a total of one billion tonne of cargo is being handled by over 200 ports, including 12 major ones, in the country and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2025. Talks are also on with Singapore for development of cruise shipping in the country. The maritime summit was held on April 14-16 this year and was billed as a flagship event to harness India's immense natural maritime advantages with a 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of navigable and potential navigable waterways. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin doctor from a UK sperm bank has launched a new mobile app for women who can browse and pick the right candidate online to father her child. Dr Kamal Ahuja, scientific director of the London Sperm Bank, believes the app is the first-of-its-kind in the world. "You make all the transactions online, like you do anything else these days. This allows a woman who wants to get a sperm donor to gain control in the privacy of her own home and to choose and decide in her own time. We think this is the first-of-its-kind in the world," he was quoted as saying by the 'The Sunday Times'. The London Sperm Bank's app -dubbed 'order a daddy' app by the newspaper -allows women to order sperm just as they would carry out any other online transaction. It allows women to browse for potential fathers by choosing a donor with desired physical characteristics such as hair and eye colour or height. They can also filter applicants by educational level and occupation and read a description of their personality and create an online wish-list. A payment of 950 pounds, made via the app, is required for a donor's sperm sample, which is then delivered to the fertility clinic where the woman is being treated. About half of Britain's IVF clinics, including private and the UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) institutions, are understood to have registered to use the service. The app is legal and meets the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), Britain's IVF regulator. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad yesterday. "I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...It was horrible," Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, "The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned." Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, "I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad." Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. "It is God's grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me," Balram told PTI. Balram aid that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balram's wife Sridevi said, "It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...The feelings cannot be expressed in words." Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying "MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 34-year-old Iranian man was today arrested in Nepal at the airport here for attempting to smuggle 1.7 kg of contraband drugs to Sri Lanka via India. Vahid Nikzamir, a hashish addict for the past 15 years, was arrested from the Tribhuvan International Airport during a routine screen examination, police said. The contraband was hidden in his suitcase and was being smuggled to Colombo via Mumbai, according to the police. Nikzamir had come to Nepal for the first time in 2013 after learning that good quality hashish was available in Nepal, said the police. He currently resides in Sri Lanka and was planning to smuggle the contraband for his own use, sources said. The police also confiscated 405 gram yarsagumba, a mountain herb known for increasing sexual power, from his possession. Nikzamir would face cases for smuggling hashish and yarsagumba. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking potshots at the Centre over its black money compliance window, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today alleged IT department is targeting traders across the country to meet its target while big businessmen like Vijay Malya were going scot-free. Reaching out to the business community in Punjab, traditionally considered BJP supporters, he said if AAP forms next government it would end 'raid raj' and bring "business- friendly" policies in the state as it has done in Delhi. Kejriwal said the trader community has complained to him of unnecessary IT department raids. "Instead of conducting such raids, IT sleuths should be raiding Vijay Malya and I'm sure their target of at least Rs 7000 crore could have been met," he said in an apparent reference to Centre's Income Declaration Scheme which gives citizens time till September 30 to declare undisclosed income. "Giant corporate houses are being allowed to go scot free with the loot, which indicates the government's intention on the issue of black money," the Delhi CM said. He claimed the AAP government in Delhi reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on many items from 12.5% to 5% even without the traders even asking for it. Speaking on the occasion of Maharaja Agarsen Jayanti here, Kejriwal, who attended the programme as chief guest, vowed to end 'raid raj' in Punjab if his party comes to power after the 2017 Assembly poll in the state. "It is our observation that raid raj instead of curbing corruption encourages it among corrupt bureaucrats and inspectors," he said. Therefore, it's very important governments must discourage 'raid raj' in any state, he said, adding corrupt officers fill their own pockets instead of government's coffer through such activities. "When we came to power in Delhi, about 150 raids were being conducted per month, which we stopped and now raids are allowed only in cases the department has ample evidence against whom the raid to be conducted," he said. On the drug menace in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "We have to curb this menace and once it is done there would be a dire need of employment for rehabilitating youths." He said the business community could help by giving jobs to such youths so that they don't get astray again. Earlier, on his visit to Jalandhar by road from Amritsar, Congress women wing protested against him showing placards and black flags. The protesters were whisked away by police from the venue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following a strong display in the evening ratings, ITV's historical drama "Victoria", which stars Jenna Coleman as Queen Victoria, has been given the green light for a second series next year. Coleman, 30, who plays the young monarch, and co-star Tom Hughes, who portrays her husband Prince Albert, will both return to their roles, with writer and executive producer Daisy Goodwin also retaining her position, reported Contactmusic. "Victoria" has consistently outperformed BBC One's "Poldark". ITV said, while confirming the of the renewal, that last Sunday's episode had pulled in an average of 7.7 million viewers (accounting for catch-up views), which is half a million more than "Poldark". "Mammoth and Daisy Goodwin have brought the characters so vividly to life in this series, and we're thrilled with the reception for 'Victoria'. We're pleased to be able to confirm that Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes will return to continue the story on ITV," Kevin Lygo, ITV's director, said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a legal battle against new state norms governing app-based taxi-aggregators, Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge today said these companies should follow the rules but pitched for changes in policies in tune with emerging new businesses like e-commerce. "There are certain laws that needs to be followed. If you are a facilitator or an aggregator, and if you are making money from that platform, you are responsible for safeguarding passengers or customers," he told PTI here. The Minister was responding to a query on how the Siddaramaiah government would address issues raised by the aggregators. Kharge, however, said both the central and state governments should change the existing policies and tune them to the needs of emerging new businesses and industries. "We - both the central and state governments - should pull our socks up and prepare policies, that are in tune with the emerging new businesses and industries, which will allow them to function freely," he said. The Minister said he was in a tricky situation as IT minister because he had to ensure that the government does not lose revenue and at the same time facilitate ease of business. Uber has challenged the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, in the high court here after transport department impounded vehicles for not securing licences under the new norms. Uber had contended that since taxi-hailing app Uber is a technology platform that connects drivers with passengers, it cannot be regulated under India's Motor Vehicles Act, which governs taxis and aggregators in the country. During the hearing of the plea, the court had last month questioned the state government on 'stifling' the startup business through regulatory rules that create an "unviable" environment while on the other hand wanting to encourage them. It had also sought to know why aggregators like Uber had to fulfil the requirement of installing panic buttons in cabs and not other taxi drivers or owners in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala-based plans to open 20 stores this financial year to meet its revenue target of Rs 13,000 crore. After entering the Chennai market last year, the jewellery manufacturer inaugurated two stores here on Sunday, taking the total number of outlets in the city to five with investments of up to Rs 430 crore, according to its Executive Director Ramesh Kalyanaraman. "We are on expansion mode now. We have opened two showrooms in Chennai with investments of Rs 150 crore. As of March 2016, we were the first to cross revenues of Rs 10,000 crore. This year, we are looking at revenues of Rs 13,000 crore," he told PTI. The company plans to open 20 showrooms this financial year, he said, adding that six had already been inaugurated. The jewellery major has earmarked Rs 900 crore for its expansion plans and is entering Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh markets. "We have earmarked Rs 900 crore for expansion. We are also looking at entering Malaysia and Sri Lanka next year," he said, adding the company has emerged as the preferred jewellery brand, particularly for Indian customers in the Middle East. With the launch of two showrooms in Chennai, the firm's total number of outlets will reach 102. "About 20 showrooms are there in Middle East, and the remaining in India," he said. The company has seen 2,500 footfalls on an average every week and has looked at expanding schemes with the launch of the Kalyan Priority Programme. "What we are launching is a different scheme programme. For example, a customer pays Rs X amount in the first month, he needs to pay the remaining amount after completion of 11 months. "The priority scheme is targeted at different customers, while the gold chit scheme is for another set of customers. This is a first of its kind scheme to be launched by a jewellery retailer," he said. Kalyan Priority membership starts from Rs 2,000, enabling customers save up to Rs 30,036 in one year as there are no making charges, he said. Noting that Tamil Nadu ranked first in terms of revenue for the company, followed by Kerala, he said the company is on track to achieve breakeven. "Last year, we invested in the Chennai market. We are on track of achieving breakeven." To a query, he said the company allocates 1.5 to 2 per cent of their total revenue for brand promotion. Kerala Governor Justice (Rtd) P Sathasivam today wished a speedy recovery to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who has been admitted to a private hospital in Chennai following complaints of "fever and dehydration". In a message sent to her, Sathasivam said, he was deeply saddened by the of TN Chief Minister being hospitalised due to an indisposition. "We pray to God for your speedy recovery to normalcy so that the people of Tamil Nadu continue to receive your services and blessings," he said in the message. State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also sent a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart yesterday wishing her speedy recovery. Jayalalithaa (68) was admitted to the Apollo hospital in Chennai 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.) Unavailability of deep port harbours in India is hampering export of trucks and it is the "biggest constraint" while planning to ship more vehicles from the country, says German auto major . The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned arm India Commercial Vehicles, manufactures trucks and buses out of its Oragadam plant near Chennai. It is targeting to touch 30 exports markets by the end of this year. "I'll be happy if we could have a deep port harbour. I can export my trucks easily because this, for us, is the biggest constraint to raise export numbers. Access to shipping lines, access to deep water harbours this would help us," India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) Managing Director and CEO Erich Nesselhauf told PTI. So, if the government really has the intention to help raise exports, deep water port facilities are needed, he added. Asking the government to address the matter urgently, Nesselhauf said: "I am not interested in 2025, I am interested in it right now." DICV currently exports DICV-built FUSO trucks from Oragadam plant to markets to over 20 markets in South East Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Since starting operations in India four years ago, the company has so far sold 42,000 units in the country and exported another 7,000 trucks. The company is now also gearing up to export fully built buses. It plans to start exporting 9-tonne Mercedes-Benz school buses to the Middle East by the end of this year. The company has already invested Rs 4,400 crore for truck manufacturing and an additional Rs 425 crore for the over 400-acre bus plant near Chennai. When asked when the company expects to break even in the country, Nesselhauf said: "Our clear target is next year but it also depends upon the Indian economy...It is extremely challenging for us not knowing the date and rate of GST and so on...We will do everything to achieve it but there are so many uncertainties in the market." He listed uncertainties in GST implementation by April 2017, BS4 emission norms implementations across the country, scrappage rate and if overloading be banned or not as some of the major challenges for the company. "No problems with new tax regime, we would have liked it to come earlier..But uncertainty of not giving a deadline, this is a difficult thing for everybody," Nesselhauf said. Despite all these challenges, the company will ramp up its service network especially in smaller towns going ahead, he added. Describing Sri Lanka's current constitutional reform move as a "death trap", former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today appealed to the public to oppose the ongoing process that could reinstate a federal Tamil state. "People must be aware of this move. There are federal plans in this to divide the country. The place of Buddhism also is to be diluted," Rajapaksa told reporters in the central district town of Pilimatalawa. The government led by Rajapaksa's successor Maithripala Sirisena has set in motion a process to formulate a brand new constitution replacing the current 1978 constitution. The Tamil minority urges a political power devolution to the north and east in the new constitution. The former strongman called the proposed constitutional reform a "death trap" and appealed to the public to oppose it. His comments came a day after the Chief Minister of the Tamil-dominated Northern Province C V Wigneswaran held a protest rally in Jaffna demanding a federal solution to the minority's aspirations for political recognition. The rally advocated a merged north and east province as the federal Tamil state. Rajapaksa as President in 2006 had taken action through a court order to separate the two provinces - which had been merged in 1987 in terms of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord of the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the then Sri Lankan President J R Jayewardene. Wigneswaran adopts a hard line to win Tamil rights as opposed to the softer approach of the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance. Reacting to Wigneswaran's demands, Deputy Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena said the government would ignore all demands even as it grapples with the issue of achieving reconciliation with the Tamils. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A policeman was injured and some police vehicles were damaged when the locals clashed with the municipal and police authorities over dumping of garbage in a new dumping ground at Banchukamari village, near here yesterday. Tension was already brewing over the issue in the area with locals objecting to it on grounds of foul smell which would emanate from the dumping ground. When the municipal authrities went to collect garbage yesterday, the locals prevented them from reaching the spot. On informing the police, a police team arrived which angered the locals. The locals started pelting stones in which one policeman was injured, two vehicles of the police and municipal authorities were damaged, superintendent of police A Rabindranathan said. The villagers have been protesting against this for the last two-three days by resorting to blocking of NH31, sloganeering by school students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a fresh step towards attracting more investments to the state, Odisha government will organise a 'Make in Odisha' conclave here shortly in which potential investors, industry bodies and business chambers are likely to join. The detailed proposal for the event was discussed in a high-level meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary A P Padhi here yesterday. Principal Secretary Industry Sanjeeb Chopra presented the proposals and outlined the issues for discussion, an official statement said. It was decided to organise the event from November 30 to December 2, 2016 at Bhubaneswar. It would be organised under the joint aegis of Government of Odisha and Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Government of India. Various industry associations, business chambers, experts, potential investors from India and abroad would participate in the event, it said. The Chief Secretary directed concerned departments to prepare shelf of investment projects in their respective sectors and share it with potential investors for making the conclave more result-oriented. Chopra said specific arrangements would be done to list out and follow up the investment leads and intends. Chief Secretary Padhi also directed the departments to finalise various investment policies in different sectors before the conclave. The departments were asked to finalise the policies or bring necessary amendments to the existing policies within 30 days. The objectives of the conclave are to showcase manufacturing ecosystem in Odisha, highlight investment opportunities and elicit investment intentions from the corporate. There will be 3-day long activities including exhibition, exposure, networking, plenary sessions and sectoral sessions. The stall of large companies operating in Odisha in the sectors like steel, aluminum, infrastructure, food processing, IT, textiles, petrochemicals, power etc will also be set up showcasing newly emerging investment opportunities in their respective sectors. The meeting also decided to organise pre-event investor reach out activities like road shows at Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Hyderabad along with participation in TEXCON, Delhi scheduled to be held on October 13-14, and Ambassadors meet at Delhi on October 17. A budget of around Rs 20 crore has been proposed for the conclave. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 25-year-old man who claimed to be a member of the Islamic State in an attempt to increase his following on social media has been detained for "spreading rumours" by the police in South China's Guangdong Province. The man surnamed Zhong will be detained by local police in Tangjia, Guangdong for five days for "fabricating false facts and spreading rumours online" in defiance of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, state-run Global Times reported. Zhong was taken in for questioning by police after the city's department of public security on September 12 found that he had identified himself on the Tieba online forum as a member of IS, the report said. However, the official investigation found that Zhong had been working in Zhuhai since graduating college three years ago and had no record of criminal behaviour or overseas travel. Police found no evidence of him being involved in planning terror attacks or having ever contacted IS. According to police, the post in which he claimed to be a member of the IS and garnered more than 500 views was simply a way for him to get more attention. Zhong has confessed to the crimes of which he was accused, the report said. In July, an Internet user surnamed Wei from Anyang in Central China's Henan Province was detained for four days for spreading rumours about a non-existent flood and mass brawls involving hundreds of people out of personal anger, according to the Henan-based portal dahe.Com. Rumourmongers can be sentenced to up to seven years of imprisonment for spreading fabricated information online, China Central Television reported in October 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Markets across Kashmir opened today and there was heavy rush of customers thronging shops as curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir. Shops and business establishments which had remained closed for 79-days due to separatist call for shut down opened today after 2 pm. There was heavy rush of customers thronging shops as markets opened. Traffic jams were witnessed in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk here and in adjoining areas of the city while other district towns also witnessed movement of large number of vehicles. The separatist groups have announced a 16-hour relaxation in the shutdown till 6 AM tomorrow. A police spokesman said the situation across the valley remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the valley. "The entire Kashmir Valley is curfew-free today but restrictions are in place in many parts as a precautionary measure," the official said. However, miscreants attempted to create disturbances in Anantnag and Sopore, he said. At Sopore chowk and KP road in Anantnag, miscreants in their attempt to create disturbances pelted stones on shopkeepers when they were opening their shops today, the spokesman said. Police and security force deployments immediately reached the spots and chased away miscreants and normalised the situation, he said. Police, during past 24 hours, arrested 39 more miscreants who were wanted in the offences of harassing shopkeepers, creating disruptions in traffic movement by stone pelting and by placing obstructions on roads and lanes, he added. He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation yesterday. As many as 82 people including two cops have been killed and thousands of others have been injured in the ongoing unrest that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Claiming the triple talaq issue has the potential to escalate and cause eventual de- recognition of Muslim Personal Law and imposition of uniform civil code, the Chairman of State Minorities Commission that serves Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has urged the AIMPLB to change its stance on it. The Muslim community today has a huge social problem where literally lakhs of women all over the country are suffering because their men divorced them by pronouncing talaq thrice, Abid Rasool Khan said. Khan told PTI that he has written letters to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and Jamiat-Ulema-I- Hind expressing his views, noting that during his tenure in the last more than three years, he has come across many cases of Muslim women approaching the Commission seeking justice in matters of harassment, desertion, physical abuse, non-payment of maintenance and not granting talaq or Qula, among others. "I would like to alert you that if you (AIMPLB) insist on the triple talaq, you will be committing injustice to literally lakhs of our sisters and opening the doors for the Supreme Court to strike down this law as it is seen as being in violation of human rights," he said. "... This (triple talaq) has become an issue which has the potential to escalate and cause the eventual derecognition of our personal law and the imposition of a uniform civil code," he said. Noting that India is a secular country, Khan said though religious laws are recognised, where they were found to be in violation of human rights, they were struck down by courts. "A case in point is the 'Sati' (Prevention Act, 1987) and the latest Bombay High Court judgement in the Haji Ali Dargah case," Khan said. "It is possible that a similar action may be taken in the case of triple divorce. If that happens, then the AIMPLB would have been instrumental in opening the door for the eventual imposition of the uniform civil code," he said. Triple talaq has resulted in a large number of Muslim women being abandoned by their husbands who divorced them in a fit of anger or because of their ignorance about the way to divorce a woman, Khan said. "Added to this is the taboo of marrying a divorced woman. That is again un-Islamic, which results in young girls being condemned to live their lives as widows unable to get married again," he said. Khan said in the letters that Islam intends to make marriage easy and divorce difficult so that there may be time for reconciliation and the marriage may be saved. "Unfortunately, in this country, the Muslims have turned their own law upside down and have made marriage extremely difficult and expensive and loaded all the expenses on the bride and her family which is not the way of Islam at all," he said. "And Muslim men are misusing the talaq and instead of following 'Sunnah', are following a 'Bida' and committing a sin and divorcing their wives without giving themselves a chance at reconciliation which Islam intends," Khan said. The Centre indicated last week that it is likely to take a tough stance against triple talaq in the Supreme Court on the plea that according sanctity to it under Sharia is "completely misplaced" and it is "unfair, unreasonable and discriminatory" as many Islamic countries have regulated matrimonial laws. The Centre is also of the view that the issue is not to be seen from the point of view of uniform civil code, but be treated substantively as an issue of gender justice and that of fundamental rights of women. These views are likely to be articulated by the Centre before the Supreme Court in the triple talaq case that will come up before it sometime this week. Public charitable trust Mukul Madhav Foundation and leading pipes and fittings maker Finolex have joined hands for a long-term project to help children with cerebral palsy across various districts of western Maharashtra and Konkan belt. The two organisations first came together in November 2015 to help such children in Satara near here, after the Foundation was approached by the district administration which in a survey had identified 314 children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Subsequently, MMF approached Finolex to take this initiative under their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) umbrella and they decided to donate specially designed chairs for such children for the district zila parishad schools, Finolex and MMF said in a joint statement. Taking their initiative further, the venture also decided to donate special wheelchairs and portable commode chairs to each of these children at their homes. The statement said that 30 children are being covered under this venture every month. "So far, out of the promised figures, Finolex and MMF have successfully donated 169 wheelchairs and 103 commode chairs at homes and 100 cerebral palsy chairs in the Zila Parishad schools," the two organisations said. The statement added that they have also decided to provide physiotherapist to these children after they found the government had appointed only one physiotherapist for the entire Satara district. They have further decided to help provide expert doctors such as pediatric neurologists and ortho surgeons to treat these children, while special camps have also been held. Under these initiatives, 12 children have been successfully operated upon at Sancheti Hospital, Pune, while rehabilitation centres are being opened to provide post- surgery physiotherapy sessions to the children. The two organisations said they have appealed to Satara district administration to help them by providing centres at each taluka and they are also ready to make this a long-term initiative. "This is a pilot project that Mukul Madhav Foundation and Finolex Industries are looking to launch on a long-term basis and will replicate the same across other districts in Western Maharashtra and Konkan belt," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seven boys drowned in a pond at Laluatora area in the district today, police said. The group of teenagers had gone to the pond in Laluatora, nearly 15 kms from here, for bathing. Initial investigations suggest that they slipped into the deep water and drowned, Guna Police Station inspector Vivek Asthana said. He said one body was seen floating in the pond in the evening while clothes of some of the other boys were also found near the water body. Soon after receiving an alert, police pressed into service divers and fished out the remaining bodies. The deceased were identified as--Tillu Kushwaha (14), Hemant Kori (12), Dilip Kushwaha (12), Vikas Kori (13), Karan (10), Gollu Kori (12) and Anand Kushwaha--all residents of Piprauda village, the officer said, adding that the bodies have beeb sent for postmortem. Meanwhile, Guna MP and Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has asked the district authority to immediately provide financial aid to the families of the deceased. He also said officials should take steps to ensure that such tragedy does not occur again. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After fleeing North Korea to avoid extreme poverty and oppression, the young woman allowed a stranger to arrange a marriage for her with a rural Chinese farmer because she had nowhere to go. An even more painful decision came later. She said severe abuse by her husband, including once being tied to a post, and the constant fear police would send her back to the North to face torture and prison convinced her that she needed to flee to South Korea. She decided she had to make the risky journey alone, leaving behind the young daughter she had with her Chinese husband. "My heart has been torn apart," the 35-year-old said of the daughter she left in the northeastern Chinese town of Longjing nearly 10 years ago, when the girl was 4. "I heard from my Chinese husband that my daughter cried herself to sleep and searched for me until she turned 8." She asked to be identified only by her surname, Kim, out of fear that publicity about her past would destroy her life in the South, where she has remarried and has two other children. Kim has lost touch with her daughter and is afraid to return to China, but neither she nor other defectors in similar situations have given up. Deep shame and guilt about not seeing their children and worry about social stigma in the South kept them silent for years, but some have begun pushing publicly for international help to get back their children. Four defectors plan to travel to the United States next month to seek help from US and United Nations officials. It will not be easy. Experts say Chinese authorities aren't likely to accept the appeals because the women were illegal residents and their relationships were not legally recognized marriages. Their efforts to reunite with their children could be viewed as individual family problems, rather than human-rights issues requiring international intervention. "Is there any female defector who had registered their marital status in China?" said Yoon Yeo Sang, a co-founder of the Seoul-based nonprofit Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. "For China, they were the ones who were supposed to be repatriated, and I wonder if China would accept their common-law marital status and take necessary legal steps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) None of the operators bid last week for a government-funded project for rolling out mobile networks in uncovered parts of the North-East region. The project was approved by the Cabinet two years ago. "There was no bidder for the project when tender was opened on September 22," an official source told PTI. The Cabinet in September 2014 approved Comprehensive Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region entailing an estimated expenditure of Rs 5,336.18 crore to be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The project envisages providing 2G mobile coverage in identified uncovered areas and seamless mobile coverage along National Highways in the North-East region. At present, there are 43,200 villages in this region, of which 9,190 (21 per cent) are not connected to any mobile network. Under this project, the Cabinet approved coverage of 8,621 villages through installation of 6,673 towers. The project has been divided in two parts where tough terrain, which include two districts of Assam and Arunanchal Pradesh, has been given to state-run firm BSNL for installing about 2,100 mobile towers and the rest was kept for private telecom operators. When contacted, telecom body COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews said, "Telecom operators could not participate primarily because of investment reason. Right now everybody is occupied in rolling out 4G networks, improving networks to address call drop and there is fund crunch because of upcoming spectrum auction." He said that the Cellular Operators Association of India had written to the Department of Telecom for easing tender norms but these were not relaxed. Indian telecom gear makers body TEMA too approached the DoT opposing its move to limit participation to only mobile service providers for the project. TEMA and even telecom operator Idea Cellular requested it to allow infrastructure providers (IP-1) to bid for the project but the DoT rejected the demand. "It (limiting it to telecom operators) will benefit only a few select mobile operators who were, in fact, supposed to provide coverage in these areas as per their licensing terms and conditions, but never reached there even after 15-20 years of issuance of licence," TEMA had said in its letter. Amidst racial strife over police shootings of African-American men, President Barack Obama has dedicated a sprawling museum devoted to black history, saying it will help to tell the world "a richer and fuller story of who we are." Opening the Smithsonian Institution's first national museum about African-American history here yesterday, Obama, the first African-American president, said that the new museum elevates the often-overlooked impact of black Americans and will help others better understand the breadth of the American story. "This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are," Obama said, as he drew on key figures and moments in history, from slavery through to present day protests over police shootings of African-American men. "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," he added. "It is central to the American story," the president said, months ahead of relinquishing his presidency. The opening ceremony for the museum also was attended by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and Chief Justice John Roberts. Calling it an "act of patriotism" to understand African- American history and the struggles of all Americans, Obama, 55, said "a great nation doesn't shy away from the truth." "We're not a burden on America or a stain on America or an object of shame and pity for America. We are America," Obama said. "And that's what this museum explains." "Hopefully, this museum makes us talk to each other and listen to each other and see each other," he added. Obama also said the museum can provide context to the current national debate on the relationship between law enforcement and black communities that recently made headlines following the police shooting deaths of black men in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina. "Perhaps it can help a white visitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like Ferguson (Missouri) 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 the nation, we see the sincerity of law enforcement officers and officials who, in fits and starts, are struggling to understand and trying to do the right thing," he said. The event included musical performances by Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and Denyce Graves, as well as appearances by Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett, who read the words of black poets and historians. The effort to bring the museum to life began decades ago but was finally set in motion in 2003 when Bush signed a bill creating it. Ground was broken in February 2012. The Smithsonian says the museum is the only one in the US exclusively focused on African-American life, history and culture, but organisers say it is also meant to capture the story of all Americans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Olivia Wilde has revealed she and actor fiance Jason Sudiekis will welcome baby girl, their second child together. The 32-year-old actress took to Twitter to announce that she is expecting a baby girl, while endorsing Hillary Clinton. "Donald Trump speaks about women, our daughters can hear him," Wilde first quoted the Democratic presidential candidate. She then added, "As someone who is about to have a daughter, this hits me deep in my core. #NeverTrump." Wilde and Sudeikis welcomed a son in 2014. The couple has been together since 2011. They were engaged in 2013. It will be the second marriage for both. Wilde was previously married to photographer Tao Ruspoli while Sudeikis was once married to "30 Rock" writer/producer Kay Cannon. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan has not left the path of terrorism despite India's overtures of peace, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today said, asserting that Islamabad's stand was unacceptable. "We don't want enmity with Pakistan...But if time comes there will be a need to wage war against Pakistan...This is what I feel," Athawale said. "We give importance to peace, but Pakistan is again and again trying to indulge in terror activities...We oppose Pakistan's stand," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment told reporters here. Condemning the Uri terror attack, he said, "Pakistan has always tried to disturb our country. Terrorism is always coming from Pakistan. It is responsible for 2008 Mumbai attack...It wants to destabilise India's economy," he said. "Pakistan is intentionally attacking our Army personnel, creating instability in Kashmir and provoking youngsters in J-K against India. Youths and security personnel are dying...Pakistan is responsible for all this," Athawale said. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that India will work to isolate Pakistan internationally, Athawale said, "We appeal to the international community to take steps in this regard." He said Pakistan has no right over PoK and it is a part of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar has been fired from "Coronation Street" after allegedly posting "racially offensive" tweets about Indians over the Kashmir issue, British media reported today. ITV said Marc, 45, who joined the soap as Sharif Nazir in February 2014, would not be returning to the show "with immediate effect". The actor, who plays Sharif Nazir in the long-running soap, was dismissed after the Sunday Mirror informed the ITV network bosses about his racist tweets. They include offensive language used to refer to Indian people. Mirror published a screenshot of the alleged tweets from the actor's account, attacking India over Kashmir and calling for Pakistani actors to stop working in the country. The paper also quoted an official statement from ITV. "We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. "We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect," the statement read. The actor's tweets came days after the Uri terror attack which lead to the killing of 17 Indian soldiers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "irresponsible behaviour" by making provocative statements that it was exporting terror, saying his remarks were part of a "well thought out vilification campaign" to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi in a public meeting in Kerala "tried to malign Pakistan". "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable," the Foreign Office said. "It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated" by its forces in Kashmir against "innocent and defenseless" Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The "atrocities" in Kashmir intensified since the "extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader" Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistan's reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. "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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asia's, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement alleged, "In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands." The Foreign Office claimed that the international community has taken notice of these "blatant human rights violations" with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. "The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)," the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde today took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi without taking his name saying he says many things but does nothing. The former Union home minister was speaking to reporters after attending a function at Bhiwandi in the district. "The Prime Minister had said that those who attack India will not be spared but after the Pathankot attack, they (terrorists) dared to attack our soldiers in Uri," he said. "The Prime Minister says several things but does nothing. We are witnessing worst days during the rule of those who promised 'Acche Din' (better days)," Shinde quipped. On September 18, four terrorists had attacked battalion headquarters of 10 Dogra regiment in Uri killing 18 soldiers. All the four terrorists were eliminated. In January, seven Indians were killed when six terrorists attacked the Pathankot air base. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over "failure" to prevent terrorist attacks, BSP supremo Mayawati today said while he is advising Pakistan to concentrate on welfare of its people, he should also introspect on the working of his government. "It is good to advice Pakistani counterpart to concentrate on welfare his people. PM should also introspect of working of his government. There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack. "People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident," Mayawati told reporters here. People of the country are "upset" with the BJP government due to terrorist attacks on soldiers and want such incidents to end, Mayawati said and lamented that "PM has failed to give any assurance to people of the country that such acts will not be repeated and our borders are safe.., there will be no terrorist inflitration..And none of your soldiers will have to sacrifice their lives due to terrorism." "This is failure of the Centre to fulfill aspirations of the people," she added. She said instead of framing any "long term policy" to counter such attacks, Modi government is "misleading" the people and trying to divert attention by advising Pakistan to fight "unemployment, poverty, illiteracy". "The PM should also see that his record is bad on the fronts of eradicating poverty, controlling price rise and fighting illiteracy," she said adding that due to failure of BJP to fulfill its promises it had to taste "humiliating defeats" in Delhi, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On Jammu and Kashmir, Mayawati said that the situation there could not be controlled in past three months due to which the "people of the country are concerned". Alleging that PM Modi was trying to "emotionally blackmail" people ahead of Assembly polls, Mayawati said advising Pakistan was a "political conspiracy" and people of UP and Punjab should be aware of it. Addressing a rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Modi asked Pakistan's people to question leaders of their country as to why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism despite getting Independence together. Lashing out at the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were 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. Accusing Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to check spread of Dengue and Chikangunia, Mayawati said common man were facing hardships but Samajwadi party is busy in "Grihyuddh" (family dispute)". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities have arrested the suspect behind a shooting that left five people dead at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington, about 24 hours after the killings. "Gunman captured tonight by authorities," Washington State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis said on Twitter yesterday. There were no other suspects. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The shooter - described as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s - later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 110 kilometres north of Seattle. "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 conference. "But I certainly plan to find out through the investigation, to the best of our ability." It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. 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. The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle, said Cammock. Police received calls around 6:58 PM Friday that shots were fired at the mall. The suspect was last seen walking toward a highway from the mall before officers arrived. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from more than 26 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. As the small city absorbed the news, critical questions remained, including the shooter's motive. Island County Sheriff's Lt Mike Hawley said he spotted Arcan Cetin from a patrol car yesterday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, and immediately recognised him as the suspect who killed five people at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington. Hawley said at a conference they had received information that Cetin, of Oak Harbor, was in the area Cetin, who immigrated to the US 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. "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 7.00 PM (local time)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 yesterday 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 yesterday at a conference. Authorities said it now appears the rifle was brought into the mall from the suspect's vehicle that was there, Mount Vernon police Lt Chris Cammock said yesterday 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 tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second session of the 13th Kerala Assembly, scheduled to begin here tomorrow, is likely to be stormy with opposition Congress-led UDF targetting to take on the CPI(M)-led LDF government on various issues including alleged political violence. UDF leaders have already given indications that the controversy over government's recent agreement with managements of private self-financing medical colleges on admission and fees would also be raised during the 29-day-long session. However, the ruling LDF is confident of overcoming the opposition challenge with a list of achievements in a short period of 100 days in office. The indefinite fast, conducted by Youth Congress president Dean Kuriakose before the Secretariat here, on medical college issue, is also expected to find an echo. The alleged attack against workers of opposition parties, especially in politically volatile Kannur district, would be another headache for the ruling front. Both Congress and BJP have alleged that CPI(M), which leads ruling LDF, is trying to annihilate rival party activists ever since it came into power after the May 16 Assembly polls. Kerala PCC president V M Sudheeran today alleged that the Vigilance case against Congress leader and former Excise Minister K Babu in the bar bribery scam was part of a political vendetta of the LDF government. "Vigilance has failed to come out with any evidence against Babu in the case. It is a clear case of political vindictiveness," he told reporters here while briefing them on yesterday's KPCC's political affairs committee meeting. Meanwhile, LDF circles expressed confidence that various government initiatives including that of distribution of welfare pension which was pending for many months, a comprehensive housing programme for poor and landless, and reforms in education and health sector would equip it to take on the Congress-led UDF opposition. The session will also witness former Finance Minister K M Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) sitting as a separate bloc after snapping its three decade-old ties with UDF. The main agenda of the session is to pass the budget for the year 2016-17. GST Constitutional Amendment Bill is also expected to come up for approval. Besides, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, envisaged to mobilise funds outside the budget for development projects and the Kerala State Devaswom Recruitment Board (Amendment) Bill to hand over appointments in temples other than priests to the Public Service Commission, would also come up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was here to participate in the three-day BJP national council meet, was today served the traditional Kerala 'sadya' feast. At least 100 varieties of dishes, including 15 types of 'payasam', a sweet preparation, were served, BJP sources said. NDA partners in Kerala, BDJS President Tushar Vellapally, Janadhipatiya Rashtreeya Sabha of tribal leader C K Janu, P C Thomas, former union minister heading a faction of Kerala Congress, A N Rajan Babu who leads a JSS faction, were among those joined Modi for lunch. Janu later criticised some of the policies of the Centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Little Princess Charlotte, Prince George and their parents, Prince William and Kate, have arrived in Canada 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 yesterday. 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. The public will only see the children once at their departure on October 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 travelled 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thailand's first female prime minister today told the man who ousted her government two years ago to investigate his own brother over corruption allegations, in an unusually strong broadside against the junta. Yingluck Shinawatra was booted from office shortly before army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power in May 2014, the military's second coup in less than a decade and their twelfth successful power grab since 1932. Since then she has been hit with a series of junta-led prosecutions including a retroactive impeachment, an ongoing criminal negligence trial that could see her jailed for up to a decade and a separate move to seize more than USD 1 billion in civil damages. The last two legal cases stem from a popular but financially costly rice subsidy scheme that Yingluck's government pushed. "The Prime Minister (Prayut) says that all the legal actions against me are based on the law and are not bullying," Yingluck wrote on her Facebook account today. "I would like the Prime Minister to apply the same logic and justice given to me like he gives justice and protection to his brother and other people who are on his side. Because the laws should be enforced for everyone, not just used only against my side." Yingluck's comments were a direct reference to new corruption allegations that have surfaced this month against Prime Minister Prayut's brother Preecha Chan-O-Cha, who is also a senior army general. Local media said one of Preecha's sons had won a series of lucrative construction contracts from Thailand's Third Army, which Preecha used to command. Preecha insisted his son won the contracts in a fair tender process and denied any wrongdoing. But it is not the first time the junta chief's brother has had to deny negative headlines. Earlier this year he admitted helping another son land a well-paid officer's job in the military. And when the junta ordered senior officials to reveal their wealth -- part of a post-coup attempt at transparency -- Preecha had USD 1.2 million in his bank account -- money he said was military assets he was looking after and not his own personal wealth. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Realty firm Puravankara Projects Ltd plans to raise up to Rs 1,500 crore by issuing non-convertible debentures for execution of its projects. The Bengaluru-based firm also proposes to change its name to Puravankara Ltd. Puravankara has sought shareholders approval for raising funds through NCDs and changing the name of the company through postal ballot. In a postal ballot notice, it said: "The company in order to execute various projects has to borrow money from banks and other financial institutions as a means of finance... "The Board of Directors of the company are contemplating the feasibility of borrowing money through the issue of non-convertible debentures, subject to the approval of the members of the company by passing a special resolution," The approval has been sought to offer or invite subscriptions for redeemable non-convertible debentures in one or more series or tranches aggregating up to Rs 1,500 crore. "It is proposed to change the name of the company from Puravankara Projects Limited to Puravankara Limited, to reflect the strength of the brand Puravankara, which is also in line with the registered trademark," the notice said. Earlier this month, the company reported 67 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 10.24 crore for the quarter ended June 30, on lower sales. Its net profit stood at Rs 30.72 crore in the year-ago period. Its income from operations fell 32 per cent to Rs 311.35 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal from Rs 456.52 crore in the year-ago period. "We are witnessing a strengthening of our business as compared to earlier periods on project deliveries, collections, accelerated sales from ready-to-move-in and a favourable balance-collections vs balance-cost-to-go owing to many of our current projects having sold over 50 per cent," Company's MD Ashish Puravankara had said. Puravankara Projects has presence in Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Mysore, Mumbai and Pune. It has around 25 million sq ft of projects under development with additional about 85 million sq ft in projected development over the next few years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death toll in rain-related incidents has gone up to eight in Telangana's Medak district with a factory worker allegedly getting drowned in flood water following heavy showers. Three deaths were on Saturday reported from Medak, even as the Army was deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations. Besides, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. Anjanayelu (30), a native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was last night going on his bike to his workplace. However, while trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, which was overflowing due to heavy inflow of water in Paspaleru lake, he got swept away along with his bike, police said. Hathnoora Police Sub-Inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated soon after getting information but the body was yet to be retrieved. On Saturday, a 14-year-old boy had fallen inside a swelled water tank in Aroor village under Sadasivpet police station limits after he lost balance while taking stock of the water level of the tank. In Narayankhed, a 30-year-old man was washed away in heavy flow while he was trying to cross a stream by walk. Besides, a 28-year-old man was killed after he lost balance of his two-wheeler and was washed away while traversing through a water body near a village in Medak. With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief. Following instructions from the CM, a Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue operations, if necessary. Besides, four columns of Army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. Meanwhile, at least 23 construction labourers from Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, who were stranded on an island in swollen Manjira river for nearly 36 hours due to heavy rains, were today rescued by NDRF, officials said. According to M Nagesh, Revenue Divisional Officer of Medak district, the workers were airlifted by the NDRF team using two helicopters this morning after they were marooned on Tekulagadda island since Friday night. The operation, which began at 7.30 a.m. lasted for 40 minutes. The district administration had sought relief from NDRF yesterday but the operation had failed due to bad weather. The workers were engaged in constructing a bridge from Yedupayala temple on the river banks to nearby Pottamshettipally village in the district. The labourers were safely brought to Yedupayala village where Deputy Speaker of Assembly Padma Devender Reddy received them and directed their shifting to a rehabilitation camp. Also, efforts are being made to rescue two other persons stranded near Mambojipally village in the district, the official added. Heavy rains in the catchment areas of Manjira river have increased the water flow downstream. Besides, more than 1.50 lakh cusecs of water was released from Singur project near Sangareddy following continuous showers in the area. Rio Tinto, one of the leading producers of rough diamonds in the world, is planning to focus on the affordable diamond jewellery segment in India, a company official said. "The affordable diamond jewellery has an average ticket price of Rs 35,000. This segment roughly constitutes 50 per cent of the diamond jewellery industry in India," Director of Rio Tinto's India representative office Vikram Merchant told PTI. Rio Tinto, the Australian diamond miner which has two mines, one each in Canada and Australia, is among the top producer of rough diamonds in the world and enjoys a considerable market share in India. Merchant said Rio Tinto, which created the 'Nazrana' brand few years back, is keen to expand in the affordable diamond jewellery segment, which it believes has good growth potential. "Fifty per cent of the diamond jewellery sales is wedding related. But the balance is the affordable jewellery segment, where the growth is expected to happen," Merchant said. Rio Tinto extends the Nazrana brand to select diamond jewellery manufactured with the rough diamonds supplied by the company to jewellers after polishing and cutting them. Merchant said young consumers of the country have decent disposable income, and affordable diamond jewellery is gaining popularity in this segment. "In India, the diamond jewellery industry had been growing at 15 per cent year-on-year for the last five years. However, growth in the last financial year had been somewhat muted due to the slowdown", he said. He said Rio Tinto had been working closely with the customers in India, US and China to grow the market. According to him, total rough diamonds produced in one year across all mines in the world is worth around USD 14 billion, adding that eight miners, including Rio Tinto, control 85 per cent of the global production. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister on Sunday claimed that the incidents of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in the state were "handiwork of those forces which wanted to disturb its hard-earned peace". Talking to reporters after paying floral tributes to Sawinder Kaur Kahlon, wife of former Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, on her first death anniversary here, Badal, while expressing "deep concern" over the "unfortunate" incident, said that some forces, "wary of the peace and progress of Punjab", were continuously perpetuating such incidents. He said the state government was "duty-bound" to nab the culprits and put them behind the bars. Badal said his government was committed to promoting the "ethos of peace, communal harmony and brotherhood" and the "nefarious designs of these fissiparous forces" would be thwarted at any cost. Replying to a query, he said his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal's visit to the state would "hardly have any effect on the state polity". He said the people of the state were wise enough to judge friends and foes, adding that they would only support the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, which was the "true custodian of the interests of Punjab and its people". "Kejriwal is free to come and go but it will hardly help improve his party's fortune in Punjab as the people are solidly behind the alliance," Badal said. Replying to another query, he said Punjab was the "only rightful owner" of Chandigarh and the river waters of the state, adding that according to "universally accepted principles", Haryana had no right over either. Badal said every new state, carved out of another, had developed its own capital. So, Haryana had no right over Chandigarh, adding that as per riparian principles, it could not even claim "a drop of river water" from Punjab. Describing the SAD-BJP alliance as "firm and everlasting", he said it would contest the 2017 Assembly polls together, adding that any meeting on seat-sharing was yet to take place and the two alliance partners would take a call on it at "an appropriate time". Badal said the poll plank of the combine in the Assembly polls would be "communal harmony, peace and development". A 35-year-old man has been arrested by the Scotland Yard in a case involving the alleged hacking of Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton sister's iCloud account that contained around 3,000 private photographs, including that of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Scotland Yard said they arrested the man yesterday at an address in Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands region of England, "on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence". The man has been taken into custody at a south London police station. Around 3,000 private photographs, said to include snaps of 33-year-old Pippa Middleton and Britain's royal family are believed to have been stolen. They include pictures of Prince George and Princess Charlotte, William and Kate's children. The images were offered by an anonymous seller via WhatsApp to several UK newspapers. 'The Sun' said it had been approached by someone using a pseudonym and asking for 50,000 pounds within 48 hours. 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.) The Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen's government has killed a senior Yemeni rebel leader on the border, a source close to the coalition has said. Hassan Almalsi, head of Huthi rebel "special forces", was killed two days earlier "during an infiltration attempt along with his squad at Najran", which borders Yemen, said the source yesterday who asked for anonymity. He said Almalsi held the rank of rebel "major general". The Huthis are allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. In late 2014 they seized Yemen's capital Sanaa before moving into other parts of the country. Saudi Arabia in March 2015 formed an Arab coalition to begin air strikes and ground support for forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who fled to Riyadh. More than 30 civilians have been killed in rebel bombardments of the Najran area since the coalition intervention began. Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its Yemen air campaign. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shiv Sena today denounced the latest incident of alleged desecration of Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab. The incident was reported from Jalandhar yesterday. Presided by the outfit's Youth 'Parbhari' (in-charge) Happy Mahant, a meeting of the Sena, held at the Hanumangarhi temple complex here, demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits behind the incident and threatened to launch a protest if it was not met, a release said. Terming the Akali Dal's politics "religion-centric", the meeting alleged that these pre-poll incidents of desecration, one after the other, pointed towards a "method in the madness", besides raising "serious questions" on the style of functioning of the SAD-BJP regime in Punjab. Maintaining that scriptures of all the faiths must be respected equally, the meeting demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reclusive, gentle and quick to roll up into a ball, pangolins keep a low profile. But they are also the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, and experts at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference this week are ringing alarm bells over their survival. Demand for pangolin meat and body parts has fuelled a bloodbath, and driven the scale-covered, ant-eating mammal towards extinction. More than a million pangolins are believed to have been poached from the wild in the past decade. Most are used to supply demand in China and Vietnam, where they are highly regarded as a delicacy and an ingredient in traditional medicine. At the CITES meeting in Johannesburg, conservationists will discuss moving pangolins into the highest protection category, which bans all international trade. "The pangolin today is regarded as the most heavily trafficked mammal in the world," CITES chief John Scanlon told AFP. "There has been a massive surge in the illegal take of the pangolin for its meat and for its scales." Currently CITES allows for trade in pangolins but under strict conditions. "Existing laws are clearly failing to protect pangolins from the poachers. A complete international trade ban is needed now," said Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's wildlife advisor. There are four species of pangolin in Africa and four in Asia. Watchdogs say those in Asia are being eaten to extinction, while populations in Africa are declining fast. Research published in the early 2000s estimated populations in China to have declined by up to 94 percent, said Dan Challender, pangolin expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Pangolins are covered in overlapping scales, and have pink, sticky tongues almost as long as their bodies. When physically threatened, they curl into ball, making it easy for them to be picked up by hunters and put into a sack. About the size of a small dog, they are solitary, mostly nocturnal and cannot be farmed. "Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity -- they only feed on wild ants and termites, and they are extremely prone to stress and dehydration, so they die," Ray Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, told AFP. India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Senegal and the United States are co-sponsoring the proposal to impose a total ban on pangolin trade. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of a Shiv Sena leader's son was found in the wee hours today from the compound of his house in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation area in Ankleshwar, police said. The deceased was 18-year-old Vivek, the son of Satish Patil, Vice President of Gujarat unit of the Shiv Sena. Vivek had gone missing since yesterday afternoon and the family members had registered a complaint with the Ankleshwar GIDC police station, police inspector R K Dhulia said. After searching for several hours, the body was found at around 3.30 AM from the compound of his house - Madhuvan Apartment, the officer said. The body has been sent for post mortem. However, as per preliminary investigation, police suspect that Vivek could have been murdered, he said, adding a case of accidental death has been registered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after a 17-year-old girl committed suicide by jumping from the third floor of a mall in east Delhi's Anand Vihar area and her parents alleging that she took the extreme step after her pictures were circulated by a jilted lover, a youth was arrested here today. Indira Puram police today arrested a youth who was blackmailing the deceased girl whom he had met through a social networking site two years ago, and had circulated her "objectionable" photographs, said SHO Sheelesh Yadav. Acting on a tip-off, a police team nabbed the youth who has beenidentified as Rinku Kumar, a native of Karauli district in Rajasthan. During interrogation, he confessed that two years ago he came in contact with the girl through a social networking site and had first met her at an east Delhi Mall. "We often used to meet each other. After knowing about our relations, her father scolded me and threatened me of implicating in a court case. In retaliation, I circulated her photographs,"Rinku admitted before the police. After seeing the photographs, father of the girl Kunwar Singh, a sub-inspector in UP police, admonished his daughter and warned her not to meet the boy again. On September 22, the girl had committed suicide in the Cross River mall around 7.15 pm and had left behind a suicide note in which she apologised to her parents, police said. Her father had told police that the girl was depressed since a jilted lover had circulated her "objectionable" pictures to him and other family members. An FIR under section 306 of IPC (Abetment of suicide) has been registered and Rinku has been sent to jail,the SHO added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stayzilla.Com, an online aggregator of verified homestays, has partnered Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCG) for jointly promoting and marketing homestays and alternate stays in Gujarat. This is the third such tie-up for Stayzilla.Com, after its partnerships with Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation and Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. Under this agreement, Stayzilla and Gujarat Tourism will share the current base of homestays on each other's digital platforms to bring more awareness on homestays in Gujarat, Stayzilla said in a statement. Stayzilla, which currently has over 8,000 homestay units on its platform, will also aid verification procedures and jointly promote the concept of homestays in the state, it added. *** *** *** JSPL bags Best CSR Practice Award * Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Angul has been honoured with Best CSR Practice Award by a leading non profit organisation engaged in promoting CSR in Odisha. The award was presented by Odisha's Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat at a Symposium on Start-up India and Stand-up India organised here recently, a company release today said. On behalf of JSPL, Prashant Kumar Hota, Executive Vice President & Group Head CSR & Education and BP Mishra AVP (Corporate Affairs) received the award, given by Odisha CSR Forum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stories of valour and of supreme sacrifices in some cases that mark the lives of Param Vir Chakra awardees were narrated to a group of children during an event organised by Delhi Metro. The session, held yesterday at the Metro Museum housed in the Patel Chowk station here, was a joint effort by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the National Book Trust (NBT). Param Vir Chakra is the highest military honour bestowed by India to those serving in the Indian Armed Forces. "During the programme, professional storytellers spoke about the courage and valour of our defence personnel from the series 'Veergatha' to the children," a DMRC official said. NBT Chairman Baldeo Bhai Sharma and DMRC Director (operations) Sharat Sharma, who were present on the occasion, distributed copies of the series 'Veergatha' among the children. The series has been published by NBT on the lives of the 21 Param Vir Chakra winners. The event was a part of the Metro Museum's social outreach and CSR activities under which workshops and visits of children, senior citizens among others are organised. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A suspected hacker was bailed by British police following reports that 3,000 photographs had been stolen from Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Prince William, and were up 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. The Sun said it had been asked for USD 65,000 for the shots, after someone contacted the newspaper via the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. London's Metropolitan Police said on yesterday a 35-year-old man arrested a day earlier had been released on bail, to return to a police station in the British capital in late November. Police said the suspect, whom they did not name, was arrested in the central English county of Northamptonshire on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence. Detectives received a report on Friday regarding the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account, police said, without naming Middleton as the victim. Pippa Middleton, 33, is the younger sister of Kate and found fame after acting as bridesmaid at the 2011 royal wedding. She is engaged to hedge fund boss James Matthews and the couple are expected to marry next year. The allegedly hacked photos also reportedly included shots of her own wedding preparations. William and Kate and their two children started an eight-day tour of western Canada on Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG), the Indian affiliate of an international Buddist association, has held a symposium on peace here. The symposium titled "Universal Respect for Human Dignity: The Great Path to Peace" was organised by BSG, an affiliate of Soka Gakkai Internataional (SGI), to discuss about SGI President Daisaku Ikedas 2016 peace proposal. Inaugurating the symposium yesterday, former Indian ambassador to the United States T P Sreenivasn said 'this year marks the 35th year since SGI began its activities in support of United Nations'. A strong proponent of world peace, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, has worked over 60 years to spread the universal message of peaceful coexistence, he said. This peace proposal examines ways and means to bridge different cultures and nationalities to create a better world where no man is left behind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 53-year-old man at Mohari village in her house at Pathardi tehsil in the distict today, police said. The accused, Ashok Sadashiv Valekar, has been arrested, they said. "The victim, who is a slow learner, was alone at home. Her mother had gone to Ahmednagar for the medical treatment of her elder daughter and her father was working at the farm. Taking advantage of the situation, Valekar entered the house and raped her," police said. The villagers caught the accused and brought him to Pathardi police station. Villagers sought immediate legal action against the accused. People left the police station only after an FIR was registered, police sources said. Assistant Police Inspector of Pathardi police station Vikas Ghanwat said the accused was arrested and booked under IPC section 376 (rape), 452 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and the POCSO Act. In July, Ahmednagar district was rocked by the gang rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi village which had sparked protests across the state. The girl who belonged to Maratha community was gangraped and tortured to death. As a fallout of the incident, the community members started carrying out silent marches across the state for their demands, including strict action against Kopardi culprits. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With heavy rains lashing Telangana over the past few days, state Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today directed his ministerial colleagues to stay in their respective districts and monitor the flood situation and supervise relief and rehabilitation works. In view of the flood situation, Rao cancelled the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow and asked the ministers to work in coordination with district-level officials and ensure evacuation of people from the low-lying areas to safer places. "In the wake of increasing flood in Godavari river and its tributaries following heavy rains in the catchment areas of the river in Maharashtra, the Chief Minister directed the district ministers, officials and also the police of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts, to remain alert," an official release said. Rao further directed Warangal district administration to be on high alert as river Godavari is in full spate. The river is receiving huge inflows, therefore those living on the banks of the river should be alerted. Similarly, the CM asked the minister T Nageshwara Rao to maintain alertness in Khammam district as the water level in the river could reach danger level at Bhadrachalam in the district. Rao said the Nizamsagar, SRSP and other projects were receiving huge inflows. He directed the officials to take steps to shift people and cattle to safe locations. Earlier, Rao spoke to Telangana Irrigation Minister Harish Rao and Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on the measures undertaken. Harish Rao informed the Chief Minister that all the projects in Godavari basin have received inflows to their full capacity. Harish also briefed him about the necessary measures taken up to handle the situation. In a related development, the Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at most places over Telangana for today and tomorrow. "Heavy rains are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad of for today and tomorrow," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Monty Python star Terry Jones is no longer able to give interviews after being diagnosed with dementia, his spokesman confirmed. The 74-year-old British funnyman who, alongside Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman formed the iconic surreal comedy group, has been told by doctors he has primary progressive aphasia - a type of dementia affecting the brain's frontal lobe, reported BBC. A spokesman for the writer, director and actor announced the sad after it was revealed he would be honoured with a lifetime achievement gong at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Cymru (Wales) Awards. "Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia," his representative said. "This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews. Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations." Organisers are still hoping Terry will attend the event but it is thought he will be accompanied by a family representative and won't give a speech. Hannah Raybould, Director of BAFTA Cymru, said the gong was to celebrate the Welsh born comic's work since the 1960s. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trinamool Congress (TMC) today burnt the effigy of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and demanded apology from him for his alleged anti-national remarks before foreign nationals in a seminar on Thursday. TMC activists burnt the effigy of Sarkar at Orient Choumuhani, the heart of the town, for his remark in a business seminar. Sarkar had remarked in the seminar said that India was showing 'big brotherly attitude' towards South Asian nations thereby tarnishing the image of the country as delegates from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan and Russia were present there, TMC leader Sudip Roy Burman said. "His voice corroborated the stand of Pakistan. He said it at a time, when Pakistan sponsored terrorists killed 18 Indian soldiers. We demand an unqualified apology from Sarkar and demand that he withdraw the statement," Burman said. Burman said a TMC delegation would meet Governor Tathagata Roy tomorrow to submit a memorandum against Sarkar. He also raised the same issue in the assembly on Friday and demanded an adjournment for discussion, but the Speaker rejected his demand. However, the Chief Minister then clarified his position saying "I have said our External Affairs ministry should have such an attitude that we can maintain a good relation with our neighbouring countries. We want good neighbours. India should not show any big brotherly attitude towards its neighbours. As an Indian, it is my right and I stick to my point." CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar and the party's Central Committee member Gautam Das said there was nothing wrong in the statement of the Chief Minister. "He said our central government should not show any big brotherly attitude. We do not find anything wrong in it," the two leaders told a press conference. "India should open dialogue with Pakistan to solve unresolved issues including Kashmir. Though we are of the view that Kashmir is an integral part of India," they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Elections to over 1.31 lakh local body posts in Tamil Nadu will be held in two phases next month, the State Election Commission said today. Announcing the schedule, State Election Commissioner P Seetharaman said the elections will be held on October 17 and 19 and filing of nominations will start tomorrow. Counting of votes will be taken up on October 21, he told reporters here. Polling will be held for a total of 1,31,794 posts, he said. Sufficient security will be provided during elections and the polling process will be videographed, he said, adding, the model code of conduct comes into effect immediately. The state had a total of 5.80 crore voters, with 2.88 crore of them being men and 2.92 crore women. About three lakh electronic voting machines will be used, an official release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Giving recognition to the unsung heroes, 4th TOFTigers Wildlife Tourism Awards 2016 honoured men and women working to restore the green cover of India and Nepal in multiple ways. The evening, hosted by the British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith KCMG, had in attendance Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, acclaimed naturalist Valmik Thapar and chairman awards panel film maker Mike Pandey amongst others. The awards, which were given in nine categories, also accompanied a prize upto Rs 75,000. Other than that, it also offers equipment to be used in tiger conservation or services for the benefit of destination or community. "For forests to flourish we need communities support and people visiting wildlife areas. Never can this be achieved by foresters and government officials alone. That is why TOFTigers is a unique initiative and a step forward," said Kant, who is also the brain child behind 'Incredible India' campaign. Thappar, the author of 14 books on wildlife, was unequivocal when he said: "Forest officials should step back; as they are not trained to manage tourism. If the future of Indian wildlife is to be saved, they are to be 33 per cent partner and not more. And let me say this again, future of Indian wildlife lies in wildlife tourism." Optimistic about the future, founder TOFTigers, Julian Matthews said his mission is to start a new movement of support for nature conservation, local rural communities and re-wilding through the power of well-known nature tourism." Supporting the TOFTigers movement British High Commissioner Dominic Asquith KCMG in his address said, "The awards are a curtain raiser for next year's focus especially when it is United Nation year of sustainable tourism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the top Pakistani Taliban commanders along with at least 10 other militants have been killed in an operation in eastern Afghanistan, a spokesman for a powerful faction of the outfit said here today. Azam Khan Tariq, the former spokesperson for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was killed reportedly in air strikes carried out by Afghan and NATO forces in Paktika province, said the spokesman for Sajna Group, which had broken away from the TTP in May 2014. According to the spokesman, Tariq's son and nine other militants were also killed in the operation. However the nature of the operation was unclear. Tariq, who had a 20 million rupee bounty on his head, was also known as Raess Khan and reportedly killed late yesterday. Tariq worked as chief TTP spokesman from 2009 until 2013 and was a close aide to former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2013. He figured in a list of TTP commanders for whom the Pakistani government offered USD 5 million in 2009. In May 2014, the outlawed TTP split into two factions after a major group based in South Waziristan quit the TTP and accused its leadership turning the outfit into an organisation providing safety to criminals. The other group was led by Khan Saeed Sajna, after whom the faction was named. Sajna was reported killed earlier this year in a targeted US drone strike in Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tried to make the case that he'd do more to help women from the White House than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, a lifelong champion of women's rights who would become the nation's first female president. "My opponent likes to say that for decades she's been fighting for women, that she's been fighting for children. Why, then, are 70 million American women and children living in poverty or on the brink of poverty in our country?" Trump asked a rally crowd in Roanoke. "For years she's been doing this and she's done nothing." The appeal came hours after Trump threatened on Twitter to invite a woman who'd had an affair with Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the first row at tomorrow's presidential debate. The Clinton campaign had invited Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Trump rival, to the debate. "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 said. Trump's campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment on yesterday, and it remained unclear whether Flowers would actually attend. Clinton's campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri responded: "Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people's lives." She added: "It's not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path." Trump has been criticised throughout the campaign for crass comments he has made about women in the past, including insults about their physical appearance. Clinton's campaign has tried to capitalise on those comments, including with a new add that features images of adolescent girls looking at their reflections as audio of Trump's comments play. The tweet on Saturday underscored the challenges Trump faces as he attempts to close his deficit among female voters, whom polls show favour Clinton by significant margins. Trump had all but ignored issues like child care and maternity leave until the Republican National Convention when his daughter, Ivanka, suddenly said her father would work to provide affordable childcare for women. Clinton, on the other hand, released a policy a year ago and has spent much of her life advocating for women and girls. After graduating from law school, Clinton worked for the Children's Defence Fund. She also 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." As secretary of state, she stressed the importance of women's rights in of US foreign policy. Two Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, including an official, were injured in alleged accidental firing at separate places here. "The injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur for treatment today at noon," Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said. While assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Chandramani was injured at his camp in Aundhi police station premises last night in the accidental firing, another personnel Pradeep Singh, a constable was hurt in a similar incident at his camp in Khadgaon police station premises this morning. A team of ITBP had returned to Aundhi police station after carrying out an anti-insurgency operation last night, he said. "A jawan who was cleaning an AK-47 rifle, accidentally went off and the bullet fired from the weapon hit Chandramani, a native of Himachal Pradesh," the SP said, adding the ASI sustained serious injuries on his thigh. In a similar incident at Khadgaon police station, a bullet accidentally got fired from INSAS rifle while a paramilitary jawan was cleaning it and hit constable Singh, who hails from Uttar Pradesh. Police said both the incidents are being investigated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US today said it strongly "encouraged" India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue to reduce tensions, as the war of words between the two neighbours escalated over the Kashmir issue. "The United States strongly supports all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable, democratic, and prosperous region, including meetings between the Indian and Pakistani officials," a senior State Department official said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in Kerala. "Our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations and practical cooperation. We encourage India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions," the official said. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Modi had launched a blistering attack on Pakistan yesterday in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly attack. Modi said the sacrifice of the 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault with both countries hitting out at each other including at the current UN General Assembly session. Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" in his UNGA speech in which he had focussed elaborately on Kashmir, India had slammed Pakistan for being home to the "Ivy League of terrorism" and a "terrorist state" that commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Patanjali Ayurved, promoted by yoga guru Ramdev, may announce an investment of Rs 1,600 crore shortly for setting up a herbal food park in Noida in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh to meet its domestic as well as global demand. "It is almost finalised now. You may see an announcement by Patanjali Ayurved for an investment of around Rs 1,600 crore in Noida for setting up a food processing plant around Diwali," a senior UP government official privy to the development said. ALSO READ: How Vodafone can make the best of Rs 47,700-cr capital infusion "As far as investments in the state are concerned, the Uttar Pradesh government is fair and transparent for promoting industrialisation which will create jobs." There were speculations that Patanjali will announce its investment in Uttar Pradesh after the assembly polls in March next year. However, the company officials have also confirmed the development, saying the procedure for identification of the land is at an advanced stage and the unit can be near Yamuna expressway. A Patanjali Ayurved official said: "It would be an international food park, which would be for exports and domestic markets as well." He further said Patanjali CEO Acharya Balkrishna has held meetings with the CEO of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in this regard. "The state bureaucracy is also involved in this project under the instructions of the chief minister of UP. It would be a major investment boost for UP and employment generation," he added. Asked how soon Patanjali could start manufacturing at the proposed plant, the official said: "We would make the unit operational within 12-18 months of allotment of land." He added: "The food park will manufacture all major products. As it is located in the NCR region, which has proximity to the airport and dry ports, it will act as a hub." When the plant runs to its full capacity, it would have a capacity to produce goods worth Rs 25,000 crore annually, the official claimed, adding that around 10,000 direct jobs could be provided benefiting 50,000 families. Patanjali is also in the process of setting units in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir, besides another plant in the drought-hit area of Bundelkhand region of UP. "For Bundelkhand regional plant, we are discussing for the special package and incentive with the state government. We are working on that," the company official said. Selling drugs at a high price has never been a good idea, more so, if one increases the price in an election year. And recent developments in the US should send a clear message to Indian pharma majors. Sun Pharma subsidiary, Taro Pharma-ceuticals, in its filings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, said that on September 8, 2016, Taro USA, and two of its senior officers, have received a grand jury subpoena from the Antitrust Division of US Department of Justice, which sought documents related to corporate and employee records, generic pharmaceutical products and pricing, communications with competitors and others regarding the sale of generic pharmaceutical products. "Taro intends to respond to the subpoena and, otherwise, cooperate with the Department of Justice investigation," the company informed. It is, however, not clear yet whether the inquiry was over price increase or about antitrust. Taro manufactures and supplies topical dermatological products and solid dosage form products (pills) used in cardiology and neurology. Since companies are not required to get an approval on decisions relating to drug pricing because of the free-market dynamics in the US, the underlying belief is that in an unregulated market, people expect responsible behaviour from manufacturers. But this does not seem to be the case always. And, US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has shown concern over outrageous price increases in her tweets. Says D.G. Shah, Secretary-General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance: "The need for moderation and on being reasonable can never be overemphasised." He feels it is important for companies to pay heed to the current environment where there is increased sensitivity to high drug prices. "Indian companies have generally been conservative in their pricing and, in fact, a study by Morgan Stanley in 2014 had shown that in 92 per cent of the cases, medicines from India were being sold in the US at the same price as in the previous year, if not lower," Shah adds. Nevetheless, analysts say Indian pharma companies must be more cautious. "It is becoming more and more difficult for companies to take a price hike in the current environment. Mylan did it, but had to backtrack," says a leading Mumbai-based pharma analyst. In a recent press release, Mylan had said: "The US subsidiary will launch the first generic to EpiPen auto-injector at a list price of $300 for a two-pack carton, which represents a discount of more than 50 per cent to the Mylan list price of the branded medicine." Auto-injectors are used in emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions. Barring Taro, there are no immediate worries for Indian firms, say analysts, because the US stance was not about targeting Indian companies. In fact, today there are many instances of US pharma companies, including Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Turing Phar-maceuticals, coming under pressure to make drugs more affordable. It is, however, ironical that the US, which is going after generic drug makers, has rarely intervened in cases of exorbitant prices of patented drugs. Under the Bridge The new Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge cuts near the once bustling Hillcrest neighborhood. For those who didn't move away this is what life is like now. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Diane Harrison stands in her kitchen lined with moving boxes in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex on Sept. 8. Harrison has been slowly packing up her apartment in anticipation of the upcoming move. She was notified that she qualified for a new apartment Thursday. SHARE COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Christie Garza, Shae Rice and Carina Hernandez play with their children as they talk outside Garza's apartment in the D.N. Leathers housing public housing complex on Sept. 13. The complex is slated for demolition because of Harbor Bridge construction. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Diane Harrison cooks dinner as her 15-year-old daughter, Kaylan, watches a video in the living room of their apartment in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex Sept. 8. The complex is slated for demolition because of Harbor Bridge construction. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES Shae Rice talks to her neighbor, Christie Garza, on Tuesday in front of her apartment in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex on Sept. 13. At the time, their housing vouchers, issued in August, had been put on hold. The voucher program, which will help residents relocate, reopened Wednesday. The complex is slated for demolition because of Harbor Bridge construction. COURTNEY SACCO/CALLER-TIMES The artwork of Diane Harrison's 15-year-old daughter Kaylan hangs in the living room of their apartment in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex Sept. 8. The complex is slated for demolition because of Harbor Bridge construction. By Kirsten Crow of the Caller-Times Boxes stacked head-high in the kitchen neatly catalog the belongings of Diane Harrison and her 15-year-old daughter, Kaylan. Barbies. Books. A wooden rooster. An iron flower bowl. Harrison has been stocking the cardboard boxes with their personal possessions and sealing them with tape in the evenings. "The books went first," Harrison said. "I had just shelves and shelves of books that I like to read or I'm going to read ... the books can be read later." Each cardboard box is labeled, then pushed against the paint-peeled, dingy wall of the cramped town home in the D.N. Leathers public housing complex. The rooms are already warm by late morning, despite heavily shaded windows warding off some of the early September sun. But the apartment, like others on the property, relies on window units instead of central air conditioning to battle often unsuccessfully the rising heat as the day wears on. Harrison and her daughter have lived here for nearly seven years. In coming months, the walls the boxes lean against are expected to crumble in a planned demolition of the complex, as construction of the replacement Harbor Bridge continues its approach. But even if a federal agency doesn't sign off on the teardown, the 75-year-old complex will at best be a ghost town, emptied of all the residents who live in its 122 units. She won't be sad to leave, Harrison said, though she is grateful she and her daughter have had a place to live through these years. "It's our house, it's our home," she said. "But I mean ... hopefully we can move somewhere a little nice." Several weeks later, an early morning call may have opened that door. After anxiously waiting for word on a new apartment, there was a ruling Thursday. Qualified. CHANGES It's been an unsettling time for many Leathers residents, including Harrison, who knew they had no choice but to move. Many started packing, one eye on the calendar, without knowing where they would land. The exodus from the complex is paved by housing vouchers, which were issued to tenants in early August by the Corpus Christi Housing Authority. At the time, it was expected that most of the residents would need to be out by the end of October. For some, the vouchers have represented an opportunity for improved accommodations and greater freedom to choose where they live. The most-cited desire is for a home with central air conditioning and heating. For others, the prospect of new circumstances had amounted to a mirage, within sight but still out of reach: subsidized rent that would make housing affordable, but no money to pay application fees or security deposits, which can soar anywhere from $200 to $800. And then there was the time frame three months to find a suitable home with a landlord who would accept a housing voucher, which can be an intimidating task. In Texas landlords are not required to accept housing vouchers, and critics say many who have properties in areas of town with good schools and other benefits simply don't. If unsuccessful, residents will relocate to other public housing properties. About 110 units are available in preparation for that scenario, although it doesn't appear many tenants will need that option. It was expected demolition would begin in December. But tenants will now have longer to make arrangements. On Wednesday, an updated relocation plan was announced that includes the housing authority reimbursing up to $500 for application fees and security deposits, and a 90-day extension that will permit residents to leave Leathers as late as January instead of October. Tenants who have secured housing but can't yet move in will have until the end of February, when the complex will close. For Harrison the deposit reimbursement will likely make a difference. She had been unsure how, if she qualified, she would pay a $275 security deposit for a new apartment. It's unclear at this point how many other residents will see similar relief, either with the new funding for security deposits or the extended deadline to move out. Leathers tenants' vouchers were put on hold for little more than a week while federal officials reviewed a complaint filed about the relocation plans, subsequently making changes. The program resumed late Wednesday. It wasn't immediately clear whether any of the units identified by residents as potential homes were leased to other renters during the program's temporary suspension. Some who had scrambled to find an apartment and accepted any location available, meanwhile, now have more time to be selective. The relocation process in general has been frustrating, said Shae Rice, who lives at Leathers with her three daughters, ages 7, 13 and 15. She and other residents have said they don't feel their concerns are being heard. "You have to understand the situation that all of us are in," she said. "All of us have children, all of us have started packing our houses. Some have packed their houses completely, and they have little ones who are tripping over all these boxes." COMPLAINT The original plan offered by the housing authority which required the earlier relocation deadline, and did not include any funding for security deposits was criticized in a letter filed earlier this month by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a group that has advocated for Northside residents affected by the construction of the bridge. In the letter, attorneys contended the preliminary plan didn't fulfill obligations of an agreement brokered late last year that enabled transportation officials to move forward with bridge construction. The letter filed with the Federal Highway Administration contended the housing authority's original program failed to "affirmatively further fair housing." The agreement leading to bridge construction stemmed from a Title VI civil rights complaint filed in spring 2015 against the Texas Department of Transportation that alleged the selected route of the new bridge "intentionally discriminated against people of color." The neighborhoods that will be most affected are historically black. The preliminary plan included the housing authority covering costs for packing materials, the move itself and transferring utilities, but no deposits. Residents have said it was nearly impossible, if not entirely impossible, to come up with that money. The average income of Leathers tenants is about $8,400. Lack of financial assistance for security deposits posed "a substantial barrier for many low-income tenants, particularly tenants with disabilities who receive a fixed income," legal aid attorneys wrote in the letter. The Corpus Christi Housing Authority had never offered deposits as part of its housing voucher program, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development does not permit federal funds to be used for that purpose, said Gary Allsup, CEO of the housing authority. On Wednesday he announced that some of the housing authority's nonprofit funding not federal will go to deposit and application fee reimbursements. The money was originally planned to go to a demonstration infill housing project, Allsup said. The housing authority agreed as part of a four-party contract with the city of Corpus Christi, the Port of Corpus Christi Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation late last year to relocate residents and demolish the complex as crews construct the nearly $1 billion Harbor Bridge replacement. The Texas Department of Transportation is charged with overseeing its agreement with local entities. A separate but related agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, required to settle the civil rights complaint, is contingent on the contract between the state and local agencies. The agreements were finalized in January, and in August officials broke ground on what is said will be the third-longest main span cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is expected construction will continue through late spring 2020. The new design elevates the bridge's clearance, promising a gateway to usher larger vessels into the ship channel and opening wide the possibilities of regional economic development, area and industry leaders have said. The existing bridge was built in the 1950s. The new one is expected to improve safety with its modern layout. Critics have said it isn't doubted that the bridge needs to be replaced but the selected route further isolates Northside neighborhoods, already sequestered by Interstate 37 from the edge of downtown. AGREEMENT As part of settling the civil rights complaint, state and port officials put into place a voluntary relocation and acquisition program for homeowners and private market tenants within an area bound by West Broadway Street, Floral Street, Martin Luther King Drive and the right of way of the Harbor Bridge project. Eligible residents were given three years to make a decision about whether to stay or go. D.N. Leathers residents, however, don't have a choice: They will be relocated from the public housing units. The state transportation department plans to purchase the property, along with the adjacent, now-empty land that was once home to an accompanying public housing complex, D.N. Leathers II. The area comprises about 27 acres, and it would be used as right of way and for storage of construction equipment and supplies, according to the agreement. About 25 Leathers residents have opted to relocate to another public housing property, housing authority representatives have said. DEPOSITS The housing vouchers are often considered a valued asset they mean recipients who make less than 80 percent of area median income pay 30 percent of household income for approved rental housing, with federal funding covering the difference within a set cap. As part of the local housing authority's program, the agency can cover up to 110 percent in fair market value for housing. As part of the new relocation program, residents can renew the vouchers in alignment with the new move-out deadline. The $500 reimbursement could be helpful for some tenants, Rice said. But for her, it may not be enough. Some of the apartment complexes request deposits of as much as $800 after running a credit check, she said. "Common sense is that if we're on housing, I'm sure the majority of us if not all of us are having credit issues," Rice said. Pushing back the deadline for the move will likely be beneficial, Rice said some residents had tried to get into housing "wherever they could, because they didn't want time to run out." In her first round of searches, several apartment complexes she Googled came back with poor reviews. Some had no availability. Others didn't have the right number of rooms. Many of the houses she researched required tenants to provide their own refrigerator and stove. She was previously unable to find a three-bedroom apartment and ended up settling for a two. She's since changed her electric company, Rice said, and learned that the apartment complex doesn't accept that service. She doesn't want her three girls to share a single bedroom, and she now has a chance to look for a better fit, but there aren't many places that offer three-bedroom apartments. At this point Rice is just ready to get out of Leathers. In the end, her prime concerns remain the same as four months ago. "All I asked for, anyway, was for some central air and heating, and some carpet," Rice said. 'A BLESSING' Built in 1941, the exterior of the aging Leathers complex echoes the style of a military barracks austere, block-shaped buildings painted a nondescript eggshell shade. Cater-cornered to the once thriving but now declining T.C. Ayers Park, the apartments aren't far from the lawns of Refinery Row. The apartment Harrison qualifies for would be on the city's Southside. Instead of living in an isolated, rapidly depopulating residential area, the new apartment would be within walking distance of businesses and restaurants. The call Thursday means continued packing the back seat of Harrison's car is full of boxes, she said, although she's used up all of her tape. It also means there will need to be several more administrative steps ahead. Included on Harrison's to-do list: More paperwork, a deposit, an inspection by HUD. She is optimistic it will work out for her and her daughter. "I look at this as a blessing I was stuck here and now I'm not," Harrison said. "We're moving up to a better place, a better environment with more opportunity, I think, for both of us." Twitter: @CallerCrow SHARE By Esther Hackleman, Esther.M.Hackleman@caller.com Corpus Christi Fire Department freed a man trapped in a car after a two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of Ennis Joslin Road and South Padre Island Boulevard. Firefighters and Corpus Christi police responded to a wreck between a Mitsubishi passenger car and a pickup around 1:50 p.m Saturday. The car driver ran a red light while traveling east on Ennis Joslin Road, and the pickup struck the car on the driver's side, Senior Officer D. Ellis said. The car driver was taken to Christus Spohn Memorial in serious condition; the pickup driver was uninjured, Ellis said. Twitter: @Caller_Esther SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times John Moritz By John C. Moritz, USA Today Network Austin Bureau 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 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 Members of the Cambridge community were so pleased to see the re-opening of the city's only Aldi store that they clubbed together to host a weekend picnic. The Cambridge Aldi Shoppers Support Group, originally set up to help food fans get through the summer months while the store was closed, hosted a picnic on Histon Road Recreation Ground today (Sunday). There was also a collection for Cambridge homeless charity Wintercomfort. The idea of the picnic, which took place from 2pm, was for those interested in going along to buy food and drink from Aldi before meeting up at the recreation ground. The organisers of the picnic created a Facebook page for the event, and recommended that people stock up at Aldi on the way and bring friends, family, musical instruments, frisbees and so on. The picnic comes after more than 250 shoppers queued outside the Histon Road supermarket for its re-opening on Thursday. Some fans even camped overnight in the hopes of winning one of the 100 'golden tickets', which each contained a voucher for a prize. The store was re-opened following a six-month refurbishment by Team GB Olympic Gold Medallist Hannah Macleod. Speaking about the picnic held today (Sunday), Aldi support group founder Guy Snape, said: I started the group as a joke because I kept hearing people saying how are we going to cope all summer without Aldi?" People were encouraged to buy food from Aldi on the way for the picnic - but it's a public park so people could bring whatever they want. The idea for the picnic was just because we'd had fun as a little community sharing pictures of trips to other Aldi stores, so I thought it would be nice to have a get together once ours had re-opened. On the actual day of the picnic itself today, we've had 10 families turn up which is great. We have had a wonderful time, with people bringing frisbees and just having fun." We have more newsletters 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 Thousands of people turned out for some fun as a popular seasonal festival returned to Milton Country Park. The park's annual autumn festival was held today (Sunday), with all proceeds going towards the upkeep of the park itself. Visitors could try their hand at making Viking braiding and friendship bracelets to take home with the Cambridge Wood Craft Folk, while there was also face painting, a canoe safari, storytelling and a produce show. A new attraction this year was the miniature steam train, while people could also give apple pressing a go in the park's orchard. There were tractors to ride and animals to meet and pet, brought by the College of West Anglia. Adults could enjoy some popular local street food, real ales and cider and live music. Milton County Park is managed by the Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, which receives no external funding. Sarah Harris from the Trust told the News: We've had a fantastic day; it's been great to see so many people and families here having a good time. We have a lot more going on this year, including a miniature steam train and loads of children's activities. The festival is a really charming and old fashioned event and we hope to hold something similar in the near future." Sarah said approximately 4,000 people turned out for the festival, which was ticketed for the first time this year. She added: People know that money raised from the event goes back into the upkeep of the park, and it's nice that they are so keen on supporting us. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came along on the day, as well as all of our volunteers and sponsors." The event also boasted Hovercraft rides on the lake with charity Hoveraid, which brings aid and development to remote communities in Madagascar where hunger, malaria, HIV and lack of clean water affect the health of millions. There were also 'magical enchanted days' workshops with creative organisation Gap Learning CIC. For more information about the festival, visit miltoncountrypark.org/autumnfestival. | BY Martin Trevaskis | A regular blog by Damon Stapleton, chief creative officer of DDB New Zealand You could certainly save money by inviting people to your wedding in an email, but not many people would show up. Rory Sutherland I was not designed for the clinical beauty of Singapore. It has the humidity of a Bikram Yoga Studio inside a Turkish Bath House. I have hair that is the opposite of short. Subsequently, whenever I go there I feel like I have a dead octopus on my head. I am perfectly designed for the temperature you feel at the base of a lone pine tree on the Tundra in the Arctic Circle. So, the relentless moisture of Singapore creates or adds to the fog in my head. As it turned out, it would be the place that cleared it too. In advertising, there is a lot of noise. It is easy to start looking at the wrong things. The great fashion photographer Norman Parkinson once said the purpose of fashion is to change. In many ways, advertising is not that different. We are always looking at what is changing or what is new. Anybody remember Vine or Foursquare? Vine was launched in 2012. Four years ago, it was the biggest thing ever. I was in many meetings about vaguely doing something with it. Remember how it was going to change the advertising world. Anybody remember having conversations a couple of years ago about how all ads in the future would be 10 or 15 seconds long because that would work better on social media platforms? Anybody notice how the latest Kenzo ad Spike Jonze just shot is 3 minutes long. Boy, we talk a lot of shit in this business. I guess the trick is to remember to look at what doesnt change. This fog had been building for a while. I had been having stupid conversations about ad blocking or what the absolute definition of content actually is. As far as I can tell, content is just another word for stuff right? Then there was the story about Matthew McConaughey becoming a creative director for a big Whiskey brand. I didnt realise it was that easy to become a creative director. I feel a bit stupid now spending the last 20 years trying to get there. Oh well. In between copy checking shelf wobblers and trying to motivate his creatives with his speech from the Wolf of Wall Street, Matthew used his time to make a violently average ad. The ad had no idea. But it didnt need one did it? Because the real idea was using Matthew McConaughey as the creative director. This is happening more and more. The idea is simply to use a celebrity with a big social media following. Is that an actual idea? Stuff like that. I was thinking about the wrong things. While this was going on in my head I was in the middle of the task of judging about 500 television commercials as well as online content ~ theres that word again ~ for Spikes Asia. Its an interesting experience looking at that much work at one time. In the beginning, you might be very analytical about the work, but I think when you judge this much work you become a consumer. You notice it or you dont. You feel it or you dont. When you get to that point all the verbal shrapnel and bullshit confetti we deal with every day disappears and it all becomes so very simple. The fog lifts. It has to have a great idea. It has to be well made. Seems obvious and easy right? Well, if that were true there would be far more of that kind of work. I think many in our business at the moment think there are shortcuts. Concept and quality wise. Do yourself a favour. Go and judge 500 pieces of work. You will see many pieces just like the next piece. Many with no ideas at their heart. Many that are made without the care and quality a good idea needs. They are invisible. Whatever box they ticked, they were a waste of money. And then, you will see a handful of pieces that are brilliant. They go straight into your heart and head. No explanation or post rationalisation is necessary. They make you laugh and cry. They make you feel. More importantly, they stay in your head. You remember them. This is what quality and care does. It makes you notice. It makes you give away your most valuable asset: your time. On my last night in Singapore our jury president Tony Granger very kindly took us to have a Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel, the place where it was first made in 1915. We could have gone anywhere to have a Singapore Sling but it wouldnt have been as special. And its special because The Raffles Hotel has invested in an idea. This has created an experience you remember. The tiny fans on the roof. The ingredients they use. The beautiful green lights against the wood panelling. The peanut shells all over the floor. The fact that Ernest Hemingway used to drink there. Details matter. There are no shortcuts. Advertising is no different. Its funny, we want consumers to believe and invest in our brand or product, but I think part of their belief comes from them seeing that we believe and are investing in the brand or product too. In a sense, they are saying, you first. And we show them we are doing these things by investing in how we communicate with them. (Rory Sutherland wrote a great piece in The Spectator about this idea and the value of experts). Look at a great piece of work. A piece of work somebody really cared about. It says to the consumer, I care about what I am selling you. I care about your time. I will try not waste it. A lot of things may be changing but these things will never change. Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:04PM Were not just getting Episode VIII in 2017 and Episode IX in 2019. There is the upcoming Rogue One anthology film coming out this December. But aside from this Gareth Edwards-directed Star Wars film, there is also the standalone Han Solo film coming out in 2019. These two movies look like theyre part of the bigger plans Disney and Lucasfilm has for the Star Wars universe. Bob Iger, Disneys chief executive, confirms at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference that a new anthology film is coming out by 2020, too. And that upcoming film will form a trilogy with Rogue One and the upcoming Han Solo movie with Alden Ehrenreich taking the titular role. After that, were all kept in the dark with whatll happen in the galaxy far, far away. But Iger has said hes already in talks with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy on plans for the Star Wars beyond 2020. Source: Rolling Stone The centre would be used for education, to engage with community groups, and work with universities. Mr Cummings said the goal was to have Mulligans Flat able to fund itself, and said it could learn a lot from Zealandia. The 5500 sq m CFMEU block has three buildings, two used by the union as headquarters and training area and one leased to the Stockade gym, at $104,000 a year. The unimproved value of the land is $283,000. The block's lease allows only a club, construction apprentice training and related accommodation. The Colliers valuation suggests two values: $3.25 million with 18 months' rent free for the union; or $3.55 million with vacant possession. The Land Development Agency paid the Tradies $3.9 million, with 42 months' rent free. The agency said the payment included GST (although the Colliers valuation expected no GST would be payable on the site). The transfer was signed on December 15, 2014, and settlement was four days later. "I felt a lot of pressure, I think we all did, having all the cameras on us. The fact that there literally really is no food, and that really starts messing with you, it messes with your body and it starts messing with your mind and it's ridiculous," he said. He also opens up about his father, who has been referred to as a "drug cartel boss" for heading up a $9 million cannabis trafficking operation. He was sentenced to eight years prison when Barrett, whose middle name is Kale, was 16 years old. He is now out on parole. 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. [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. State Police at Gettysburg said Edwin J. Taylor, 68, of Orrtanna did not make a turn on Shippensburg Road in Menallen Township at 8:40 Friday night. His truck crossed the center line, struck an embankment, flipped and hit a tree on the side of the road. First Presbyterian Church in Carlisle will be honoring its former pastor, the Rev. Jon Black, during its Oct. 2 worship services. Black, who retired from First Presbyterian in 2013 after serving the congregation and the greater Carlisle community for 17 years, will be named pastor emeritus in a service of word and song. The congregation extends a warm welcome to all community members who wish to join them and current pastor, the Rev. Anthony Lorenz, in honoring Blacks dedication to his call. Service time is 10:45 a.m. First Presbyterian is located on the Square in downtown Carlisle. Remember when the GT-R was a bargain, offering supercar performance with a price tag in the five digits? Well it still offers supercar performance, but now these days it comes with a supercar price tag as well or at least much closer to exotic territory. The Japanese automaker has announced pricing for the updated 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo, which comes in at a whopping $174,990, in addition to the $1,595 destination charge that puts the as-delivered price at $176,585. Thats a substantial premium over the standard GT-R, which for 2017 carries a sticker price of $109,990 (or $111,585 delivered) or about $25,000 more than what Nissan charged for the GT-R Nismo just last year. That price difference alone could put a couple of Versas in your driveway, or cover most of the base price of 370Z. It also closely matches the sticker on Porches 911 GT3 RS ($175,900 pre-delivery), and fairly evenly splits the difference between the 911 Turbo ($159,200) and Turbo S ($188,100). For all that scratch, the 2017 Nismo GT-R still packs the same 600-horsepower 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 as last year, but benefits from a stiffer chassis, retuned suspension, and the revised styling applied across the GT-R range. The pricing was announced upon the GT-R Nismos US debut this weekend at the Japanese Classic Car Show, held in the shadow of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Photo Gallery Hyundai Motor Company has announced a recall for the aging Azera due to a concern with the power-adjustable front driver seat. The automaker has already informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the problem that affects 9,700 units of the Hyundai Azera, produced between March 7, and August 14, 2007. According to the feds, due to a production error over at the supplier, Duck Il Industries of South Korea, the microswitch within the power seat on the drivers side may have been exposed to the environment, leading to unintentional movement of the drivers seat and affecting the drivers ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. It is believed production variances during manufacturing of the switch resulted in environmental exposure to the microswitch and the symptoms observed in the fields, the NHTSA writes in the description of the cause. The recall is expected to commence on October 28, and until then, owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Hyundai. In turn, the companys dealers will replace the power-adjustable seat switch, free of charge. For additional questions on the topic, owners can contact Hyundai Customer Service at 1-855-371-9460 (recall number 150), or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. PHOTO GALLERY If you think the Grand Cherokee SRT interior isnt something to write home about, Vilner is ready to impress you. The concept behind Vilners latest project was inspired by the British SAS, making the 6417 cc, V8, 470 hp, 630 Nm, all-wheel-drive, 2336 kg machines interior more radical and dynamic. Thats why the Special Air Services logo can be found throughout the car, and embroidered on the headrests of the front seats. SAS motto, Who Dears Wins, is also present, which attests the Bulgarian tuners attention to details. Although Vilner kept some areas of the original interior intact, like the carbon fiber inserts on the dashboard, the company rearranged the SRT color scheme throughout the cabin. Now, a red Alcantara headliner brightens the atmosphere, giving it a sporty vibe, while the SRT embroideries on the sun visors remind customers theyre not in an ordinary Cherokee. Vilner says the red color is also present in different areas of the cockpit and correlated to the missions of the SAS. Moreover, every part of exposed black plastic in the original interior was re-trimmed in Alcantara, including the central tunnel, and the bottom side of the dash. Even the belt locks are wrapped in the synthetic microfiber fabric, while the seatbelt themselves are red. Its unclear why the Cherokee was transformed into an homage to the SAS, but Vilner says that everything was commissioned by a special person whose identity they had to keep a secret. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: The Canadian Press - Jonathan Hayward Prince William, his wife Kate and their children arrived in Victoria on Saturday to start a week-long visit to British Columbia and Yukon. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were scheduled to participate in a welcoming ceremony at the B.C. legislature on Saturday evening with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov.-Gen. David Johnston. The royal couple and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be based in Victoria for the duration of their tour. Hundreds of people lined blue gates criss-crossing the legislature lawn, many sporting small Canadian and British Columbia flags in their hands, hats or hair. Many had been waiting since noon, more than five hours before the royal couple's scheduled arrival. Victoria native Katherine Pitt, who describes herself as a "big fan" of the royal family, turned up before sunrise to snag a front-row seat to the event, armed with a picnic blanket, food and an iPad loaded with the last season of the historical drama "Downton Abbey." "This is a big deal," said Pitt, who has previously seen Prince Andrew and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex "It's a great opportunity. Probably a once in a lifetime chance for most of us here in Canada anyway. We're just happy to be here." On Sunday, William and Kate travel to Vancouver where their itinerary includes a visit to Sheway, a pregnancy outreach program for mothers struggling with drug and alcohol issues in the heart of the city's Downtown Eastside, a neighbourhood known for its extreme poverty, homelessness and drug addiction. The royals will also visit the indigenous community in Bella Bella on B.C.'s remote central coast and fly over the area's Great Bear Rainforest, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world. At Haida Gwaii, on the province's northern coast, the royal couple will go on a sea-going canoe trip from historic Skidegate Landing to the Haida Heritage Centre and Museum. The tour takes the duke and duchess to a food festival at an Okanagan vineyard in Kelowna, and indigenous cultural events at Whitehorse and Carcross in Yukon. This is the royal couple's second visit to Canada. Their first trip to Canada followed their 2011 wedding, taking them to Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Charlottetown, Summerside, Yellowknife, Calgary and Slave Lake after that community was ravaged by a forest fire. Prince William last visited British Columbia on holiday in 1998 with his brother, Prince Harry, and his father, Prince Charles. Photo: Facebook - COSAR UPDATE: SEPT. 25 More details have emerged following a challenging rescue Saturday evening at Crawford Falls. Central Okanagan Search & Rescue reports that more than 20 personnel from four different agencies worked together to complete the rescue. COSAR president and search manager Ephraim Nowak said a man in his early twenties had been hiking the Crawford Falls trail network with friends when he decided to attempt a free-climb. During the climb he fell at least 30 feet and required rescue. BC Ambulance Service, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, Kelowna Fire Department Technical Rescue and the BC Air Rescue all responded to the incident. Due to the steep terrain and serious nature of the subjects injuries we decided to launch the helicopter rescue team right away; we had a tight window before sunset, explained Nowak. Unfortunately, the helicopter was grounded while en route, necessitating a rope rescue by the ground teams. COSAR assisted the Kelowna Fire Departments rope rescue team in hauling the subject up a steep incline in the dark, and transported him to a waiting ambulance. Technical rescues are never easy, and the situation is compounded in the dark, added Nowak. This rescue highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation and teamwork. This was the second rescue from the Crawford Falls trail network in one month, and hikers are reminded to wear proper footwear and to heed warning signs in local parks. The outcome could have been a lot worse for the subject, added Nowak. Hes lucky to be alive. ORIGINAL: SEPT. 24 A fallen climber was rescued from the Crawford Falls area in Kelowna's Mission district, Saturday evening. About 5:15 p.m., a 911 call alerted Kelowna fire dispatch to the incident. The seriously injured victim had fallen about 30 feet, landing on rocky terrain. Ambulance paramedics were unable to reach the patient, but four firefighters made their way to the victim and tended to the patient while a helicopter was en route. The helicopter aborted the mission about 6:30 p.m. as daylight was fading. Kelowna fire department mustered its technical high-angle rescue team to retrieve the patient. As of 9:30 p.m., the climber was being raised to the top of the falls and was to be taken to Kelowna General Hospital in a waiting ambulance. Emergency crews responded to a crash into a Bulk Barn Sunday morning. Police believe the elderly driver hit the gas instead of the brakes, causing the car to jump up onto the sidewalk and hit the building at 1475 Harvey Avenue. The woman was checked out by an ambulance on the scene, but was able to walk away afterward. The car doesn't appear to have suffered any significant damage, but the window of the Bulk Barn was smashed in the incident. Something craven infects political candidates as the days dwindle down to a precious few, especially when prospects for victory appear slimmer than an emaciated giraffe in a fun house mirror. It may be darkest before the dawn, but for those scheduled to be executed at first light, the darkness triggers a kind of dastardly creativity that those made of lesser stuff might characterize as desperation. The late hour slandering of an opponent has come to be called the October Surprise, and considering the volatile history of this years campaign, we should be prepared for copious disclosures of gargantuan proportions. Not mere October Surprises, but October Lightning Bolts Tossed by Odin Himself, October 80 Megaton Hydrogen Bombshells and October Exposes That Will Make Your Mouth Hang Open Long Enough To Attract Bottle Flies. And with one week of November in the mix this time around, even more delicious salacious wickedness awaits. Heres a sample of the expected and unexpected we can expect in the final five weeks of this the most important election of your lifetime. Yes. Again. OCTOBER 2 Breitbart News discovers that when the first words of Hillary Clintons deleted emails from October of 2009 are arranged chronologically, a love letter to Lucifer is revealed in which she calls him Smoochie. OCT OBER 3 Moveon.org posts a video of Donald Trump shouting the phrase Youre fired to photos of family members. OCTOBER 4 During the Vice Presidential debate, moderators and Longwood University audience members inexplicably fall asleep. Later the CDC dubs the new phenomenon MDHS: Mass Droning Hypnosis Syndrome and urges the FCC to prohibit future events from being broadcast on car radios. OCTOBER 8 Fox News interviews a high school classmate of Hillary Clinton, who recalls the future Secretary of State going door to door supporting Barry Goldwater and referring to Lyndon Johnson as a southern- fried booger. OCTOBER 10 Photographs showing Donald Trump poking a group of special needs preschoolers with a stick are laughed off by the candidate as political correctness run amuck. His poll numbers rise. OCTOBER 14 On route to a campaign stop in South Carolina, Hillary Clinton rushes into a burning building to rescue a litter of newborn kittens. Her poll numbers do not budge. OCTOBER 22 Donald Trump explains that pushing an old lady in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs was a therapeutic attempt to jar loose her cramped muscles. His poll numbers rise. OCTOBER 24 Bill Clinton is revealed to have adopted the Twitter handle Carlos Danger Jr. OCTOBER 26 Hillary Clinton trips on a curb and Sean Hannity calls for her withdrawal due to her obvious incurable case of metastasized brain cancer. Her poll numbers drop. OCTOBER 28 Murky footage from a surveillance camera of Donald Trump shooting a stranger in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York City racks up 3 million hits on Youtube in 4 hours. His poll numbers rise. NOVEMBER 1 A report surfaces that Donald Trump has a calendar in which October has 32 days. The candidate agrees many people have told him this. Important people. Top people. Despite evidence to the contrary, supporters feel in their heart that it must be true and make plans to vote a day late. NOVEMBER 8 Trump loses. Finding a certain friends or neighbors birthday used to be a matter of glancing at the local church calendar usually hanging over the kitchen sink where each date in a turnover month sheet contained (in small-point type) a list of congregants birthdays or religious festival days. The calendars were available yearly (always free or for a small donation) in the church vestibule. They were designed in a matter-of-fact fashion and in small communities were chock-full of the names of everyone regardless of status within the congregation but of this particular denominational preference. In the late 1940s and early 50s it essentially was a list of those who, when it came to matters of Protestant belief, were your right-thinking neighbors. My parents preference, at the time were the Wesleyan Methodists, a holiness breakaway from normal Methodists with some Anglican cross-overs. Across the tracks were housed the red-bricked Presbyterians while the Danish Lutherans were peppered through the hamlet and neighboring farms. Those without edifices of worship in the town included local Episcopalians, Baptists of all stripes, and the Roman Catholics whose church was in a nearby community of Italian immigrant miners, Birthday confusion in the early years was marked by an absence of the names of several cousins who, while living just down the street, were absent from the oft-consulted calendar of the most righteous Wesleyan Methodists whose clapboard chapel was also just down the street, although in the opposite direction. When questioned why those cousins names were not registered with ours on the Wesleyan calendar, it was inferred that they had strayed somewhat which meant going over to Rome, which was the not-so-secret cipher that they had married here, eyeballs were traditionally rolled a Catholic. Not that it was really a big deal, but such folks did, after all, believe differently than we did and, well, it was best to leave it at that. It was later learned that the absence of those names from the Wesleyan calendar did not mean they didnt have birthdays, but that their church probably had their own calendars printed with a list of their own birthday boys and girls. When asked why the Wesleyans, Catholics, Lutherans and Presbyterians couldnt print one big birthday calendar, thereby laying to rest childrens questions about cousins birthdays, eyeballs rolled again and an unearthly silence ensued. The unspoken answer was that someday we would understand. When that someday arrived, of course, we failed to understand, or simply didnt care. In that small hamlet where now insignificant differences in belief once seemed insurmountable obstacles of class and community, the remaining Wesleyans and Presbyterians have merged into whats called the Church of Hope (I prefer the term Hopefuls), the Lutherans have faded, split and faded again, and the mostly Italian Roman Catholics have continued nearby as the most successful community of surviving believers. No, this is not an example of a Protestant disintegration over the last half century as a cataclysm on par with the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Thats a big picture view of hometown religion best left to academic analyses. Instead, it simply means weve evolved, however haltingly, toward learning to live together, with a touch more harmony. With cell phones and the internet, who needs a calendar, anyway? Just kidding. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy First Russia-Pakistan military exercise Druzhba-2016 begins Published: September 24, 2016 The first military exercise between Russia and Pakistan named Druzhba-2016 (Friendship-2016) has kicked off in Pakistan. With this, Pakistani Army and Russian Ground Forces (RGF) have come together for the first time in military exercises reflecting growing military ties between two former Cold War rivals. Key Facts The military exercise is taking place at the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistans Rattu and at a special forces training centre in Cherat. The two week long joint military drills aims at bolstering and building military cooperation between the two countries. It will involve experience sharing and develop coordination in carrying out practice combat tasks in a mountainous environment, including operations against illegal armed groups. About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills. Of them around 70 personnel will be from Russias Southern Military District (SMD). Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: Defence Indian Military Exercises International Military Exercises Russia-Pakistan Latest E-Books UNSC approves resolution for global implementation CTBT to ban nuclear weapons tests Published: September 24, 2016 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban treaty (CTBT) to ban tests of nuclear weapons. The resolution has welcomed progress made towards universalization of the Treaty with 14 votes in favour of it and one abstention (Egypt). Key Facts The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes. It was adopted by the UNGA under resolution 50 (1996). The Treaty will enter into force 180 days after the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification by all. So far, 183 countries have signed the CTBT and 166 States have deposited their instruments of ratification. The treaty already has a network of monitoring stations but does not have power to go on site to inspect for tests until it enters into force. But for that, the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated nuclear capable, the United States, Egypt, China, India, Israel, Iran, North Korea and Pakistan must ratify it. Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016 Topics: International Nuclear weapons UNSC Latest E-Books Rashbam (Shemos 4:10): It is inconceivable that a prophet who spoke with G d face to face and received the Torah from Him should have a sp... Shemos Rabbah (52:03) The story is told of R. Simeon b. Halafta, that he once came home just before the Sabbath and found that he had no fo... Important!! email - yadmoshe@gmail.com : , FIR Encouraging young students to read up on the Civil War or Martin Luthers 95 Theses is more likely to yield irritation than intrigue, which probably explains why so many of them struggle with history. Its usually not until much later in their education that any of them will show interest in past events. While most adults recognize history as a useful topic of study, some manage to turn it into a full-blown passion. For these guys, watching documentaries and reading books can offer a glimpse into a completely different time that helps give a better understanding of the world today. Those materials can only get you so far, though. For a true taste of the past, a vacation might be the best way to learn. Leave the textbooks behind and head to one of these five historic locations for a vacation youll never forget. 1. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico Weve all seen pictures of the Mayan ruins, wondering what it would be like to get a glance in person. Take the plunge by booking a trip to Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, where you can enjoy views of the stunning structures and also have plenty of opportunity to lounge on the beach. EscapeHere recommended visiting Cancun as well as Merida, where youll find the Puuc Route. This trail takes you through caves, villages, and pyramids that you can get to by bus or car rental. But be aware that you have to pay for entrance to many of the sites. History isnt the only reason to visit this location. USA Today Travel recommended checking out the freshwater pools, swimming with dolphins, and bird watching. For more ideas on how to plan your trip, visit TravelYucatan.com. 2. Charleston, S.C. American history lovers usually think about the northeastern states, but the south has plenty to offer. U.S. News & World Report highlighted Charleston as one of their favorite historic destinations in the country thanks to highlights like The Battery and Fort Sumter. Its also home to some of the most impressive, not to mention oldest, mansions in the country. When youre ready to relax at the beach, head to nearby Isle of Palm for a relaxing afternoon. And dont forget about dinner, because Charlestons food scene is seriously booming. Conde Nast Traveler featured the city as one of their readers favorite places to dine, showcasing everything from southern classics to Vietnamese fare. 3. Cape Town, South Africa If youve planned some time off a bit later in the year, The Huffington Post recommended planning a history-based trip to Cape Town. According to U.S. News & World Report, November and December are among the best months to visit this locale thanks to warm temperatures and minimal precipitation. Must-see stops include the Castle of Good Hope, which initially served as a refueling station when it was erected during the 17th century, as well as Robben Island, most famous for its imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. Wine lovers will especially love the nearby vineyards. Get a taste of some of the best sips by visiting a few of Travel+Leisures favorite stops. It might be a bit of a trek to get to those tasting rooms, but its well worth the trip. 4. Washington D.C. No city is as steeped in American history as our nations capital. With sites like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the National Archives, and the White House, its no wonder Travel+Leisure chose this city as the best historical site in the country. The story also said D.C. offers tons of free attractions, making it a good choice for those on a budget. Planning ahead? Consider a visit during the spring, when the cherry trees are in full blossom. Theres even an annual festival during this time, which celebrates the bond between the U.S. and Japan. The festival lasts for three weeks, which makes scheduling a cinch. 5. Athens, Greece For those who are most interested in ancient history, it doesnt get any better than Athens. The Las Vegas Review-Journal chose this Greek city as one of the best spots for history buffs thanks to sites like the Parthenon. Its also the birthplace of democracy. Cleisthenes introduced the three-tiered system in 507 B.C. and it gave rise to contemporary political models, including our own. Dont let all the historical sites fool you, though, because Athens is hardly stuck in the past. The New York Times said the city is teeming with great restaurants, shopping, and music venues. You also have tons of choices for hotels, ranging from glamorous suites to budget-friendly stays. More from Culture Cheat Sheet: John Crouch remembers well when the train rolled through Farmington. Crouch, a lifelong resident of the community, Ward II councilman and admitted railroad buff, said he would walk along the tracks to his grandparents' home on North A Street. The councilman shared the history of the line when the Farmington City Council discussed road improvements on North Street earlier this year. Crews began removing the last portions of the track from the road last week. The beginnings In 1862, St. Louis Iron Mountain Southern built a line down to Iron Mountain, extending the tracks on to Birds Point on the Mississippi River. The railroad went right through Delassus two miles from Farmington. Crouch said the residents in Farmington refused to buy bonds in the railroad, so (the company) detoured the town. A few years later, the Illinois Southern Railway built a line from Ste. Genevieve to Bismarck, where it would intersect with the St. Louis Iron Mountain Southern. Farmington had been bypassed on the north and on the south by the steam railroad, Crouch said. At that time, it was a big disadvantage especially once we got past the Civil War and things started prospering once again. Some businessmen in Farmington decided to go ahead and build our own railroad, Crouch said, explaining the new line would be considered an inner-urban railroad which is different than the steam railroad of the time. An inner-urban railroad uses rails on ties, but is powered by electric using an overhead power line instead of steam engines. They built it as an inner-urban, with the initial route from Farmington to Delassus, he said. On the other side, it went from Farmington up north to where it got real close to the Illinois Southern, paralleling it to Flat River (near Hurryville.)" Traces of the route to Hurryville can still be found to those who know what to look for. Crouch said a bridge abutment and the grading of the area show where the train once ran. At that time a park was located along the route, where those traveling on the line would stop for picnic lunches. Also, if you go to Camelot Nursing Home and follow Potosi Street, you see a grade if you look closely, he said. Or, at the (former) Mineral Area hospital. The railroad was later sold to a major railroad around 1910, going through a couple bankruptcies. About 1926, a group of local businessmen acquired the line back from the major railroad a whos who of local businessmen, Crouch said. One of those men would be his grandfather, Henry Manley. Others included M.P. Cayce, C.H. Giessing, G.B. Snider, F.W. Schramm, D.F. Giessing, C.E. Rozier, W.R. Lang, the P.A. Shaw estate, L.H. Williams, W.C. Fisher, the Morris Brothers, George Tetley, the C.A. Tetley estate, Harry Denman (owner of the Farmington News), O.J. Mayberry, B.T. Gentges, C.Y. White, E. J. Lawrence, Henry Giessing and the Klein Grocery Co. Crouchs grandfathers company. Farmington was full of enterprising people the Langs, the Schramms, the Giessings, he said. They were all ambitious. They had to be or they would have never left their home country and made the trek over here. The railroad used electric trolley cars to carry passenger and pull freight cars to carry freight throughout the community. In 1947, the electrical system on the railroad was beginning to show signs of wear and tear. The group would purchase two diesel locomotives for the railroad which by this time was functioning as a freight-only system. A common sight in downtown Farmington was to see the train come through town pulling freight cars right down Columbia Street, coming down from Delassus, he said. Or, Id be at my grandmothers house up on North A Street and here would come a train pulling a few cars heading to Hurryville. I was born in 1947, the year they dieselized, Crouch said. From the time I could walk, Ive always been a train buff. By the time I was big enough to do things on my own, I would walk the tracks up to my grandmothers house on North A Street. That would be a big no-no now, but they ran slow enough it was possible. The starting point for the railroad in Farmington is just outside of Crouchs office window at his accounting firm, Crouch, Farley and Heuring. Its also where the Farmington Press offices are located today. A raised portion at the rear of the building shows where the train shed was located. Trolley cars were stored in there and later the diesels, Crouch said. The depot was found at the corner of Washington and College Streets the corner of the parking lot at the newspaper office. Two tracks led into the engine house. Where the parking lot is now located were two team tracks parallel to the engine house. Team tracks were used to load and unload freight from the cars. The tracks curved around Washington Street down College Street. There was a spur between Spring and Middle Streets. The Industrial Spur The trek through Farmington had the train beginning at the depot on Washington Street. The track would go east on College Street to Middle Street, with a spur at Spring and Middle Streets to serve Standard Oil Company. The track traveled on down Middle Street to the current location of Ragsdales Pool and Spas. A concrete abutment in that area is where Schramm Dairy and Ice stored coal. They had double-tracks there for unloading cars, Crouch explained. The train then crossed Ste. Genevieve Avenue near the location of the Farmington Police Station, curving near the current Sk8 Park. The police station is where the Farmington Milling Company, owned by the Charles Giessing family, was located, he said. There were two big, tall buildings there a power plant and a flour mill and a grain elevator. The tracks then curved around to Harrison Street behind where the Lang Brothers Wagon Company was located the present site of the Farmington Fire Department. At Lang Wagon Company, they actually had a siding (a low-speed section of track) that went in (the building) and made a partial loop, he said. They loaded and unloaded cars right there. Through the downtown area Those traveling to Delassus would leave from the depot on Washington Street up to Columbia Street near the courthouse, where the train turned west. Until just a few years ago, you could see where the curve was because it was a cut-off, he said. The train traveled down the middle of Columbia Street to the entrance of the former state hospital, where the tracks were alongside the road. A gap in the wall near Southeast Missouri Health Center was filled in, but shows where a spur for the railroad was located. It went to the power plant. The state hospital was a big enough customer that they actually had a siding there, too, he said. They brought the coal into the state hospital. They were by far the biggest customer. Stonework remaining from the bridge can still be seen on the stretch of road near West Columbia Street near the hospital. In addition, track from the Delassus branch of the railroad is visible from the walking trails at Engler Park. One of the walking trails is right on the track, he said. You see a tree line. That was the St. Louis Iron Mountain Southern, later the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Hurryville line The section heading north would leave from Washington Street to College Street. There were two sidings on the line one to the Farmington Laundry and the other to the Giessing Milling Company, later known as MFA. The line traveled west on College, turning north onto North A Street. The curve at the corner of A and College Street shows how the road curved to accommodate the railway line. The line then turned onto North Street where a section of the track is still located and the city plans to repave the street this year. The railway then turned right onto Potosi Street, crossing what is Karsch Boulevard and traveling down Potosi Street behind the current location of Panera Bread. Electric Street in Farmington got its name from the original power station located at that area. According to the book, Farmington, Missouri The First 200 Years 1798-1998, there were three boilers, supplied with water from an artesian well, driving two Western Electric generators to power the trains. Kanye West, left, and Chance the Rapper after their surprise set performance at Chance The Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day Festival at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) It took a 23-year-old South Side artist to bring a major festival to U.S. Cellular Field, and Chance the Rappers Magnificent Coloring Day filled the ballpark Saturday with a stadium-record rainbow coalition of 47,754 fans. After a few early hiccups, Chance and his team delivered a stellar lineup from Alicia Keys to Lil Wayne -- and a show long on inspirational themes. And, yes, there were unannounced cameos by a few high-profile friends: Kanye West, Common, Hannibal Buress, even the Bulls' Jimmy Butler took an on-stage bow. Chance has been playing by his own rules for years, divorcing himself from the music industry's trickle-down economic model to forge his own path. Part of that mission involves fusing genre-busting music with social themes and community activism. The festival Saturday satisfied all three imperatives. MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR Advertisement Things got off to a rocky start, with Young Thug a no-show (he reportedly was late for his scheduled 2:40 p.m. start time and was bumped from the lineup). Tyler, the Creator criticized the festival for selling seats with obstructed views behind the stage. (Several of these patrons say they bought seats with no warning that they wouldn't be able to actually see the performers, only video screens. On Monday, a spokesman for promoter Madison House Presents said ticket buyers were alerted of an obstructed view if they bought tickets through Ticketmaster, but may not have been notified if they bought their tickets on the secondary market.) When the volume plug was abruptly pulled on Tyler as he was wrapping up his set, things appeared to be going downhill fast. But it turned out it was all just a set-up for West's explosive entrance. In no mood to chat, West simply threw one haymaking beat after another "Black Skinhead," "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "All Falls Down." He finally broke into a smile when Chance joined him to reprise their all-star duet on the gospelized "Ultralight Beam," then the two walked off arm-in-arm, like a couple of gladiators who had just tag-teamed the stadium into a frenzy. Advertisement Chance the Rapper performs during his own Magnificent Coloring Day Festival, at U.S. Cellular Field, in Chicago, on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) John Legend glided between ballads and uptempo tracks, and whether hunched over his piano or strolling down the walkway from the stage, he never appeared to break a sweat. His plea for a "Green Light" or pledge of devotion in "All of Me" were all cut from the same romantic cloth. But when Common joined him for "Glory," the energy surged as Legend tested his voice's upper register and Common raised a fist in memory of Chicago shooting victims Laquan McDonald and Rekia Boyd. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz traded songs, but it was Wayne's world all the way the diminutive, dread-locked MC remains a brilliant weirdo with his bullfrog vocals, herky-jerky dancing and mix of outlaw swagger and smiling resilience. Keys threw back her head and sang like her life depended on every note. Even "Empire State of Mind" couldn't be denied in enemy territory it's that stirring of an anthem. She sang "Fallin'" with such fervor the audience answered her every wail with cheers. She projected a kind of mischievous joy when she made eye contact with her bandmates or a fan and then she was gone after a filled-to-the-brim 40 minutes. More, please. Alicia Keys performs during Chance the Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day Festival, at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) How to follow that? Chance, of course, had a plan. "Take it back to the old things that matter," a Sesame-Street-like puppet named "Carlos" instructed the rapper who dressed in white for the occasion. Chance tends to turn his big shows into one-of-a-kind spectacles that are as much theatrical as musical, and this was no exception. Carlos and a series of puppet characters representing, among others, an old girlfriend and a gospel choir served as alter-egos and accomplices in Chance's self-inquiry. What at first appeared to be a tentative and unsure Chance was actually revealed as an actor in a play of his own making. Through the 90-minute set, Chance calibrated and recalibrated what matters in his music under Carlos' interrogation, and in turn challenged the audience to search for the best in itself. "Take it back to the old things that matter" is another way of articulating what an artist's mission is. It is about entertaining, sure, but there was no mistaking the context of this show. Chance had been aiming to stage a major festival in his neighborhood for several years, partly to counteract negatives stereotypes of how the South Side is often portrayed in the media. Kanye West, left, and Chance the Rapper after their surprise set performance at Chance The Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day Festival at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune) Amid guns and hopelessness, this music and this festival were designed to serve as a counter. The diversity of the audience and the lineup -- and the messages delivered from the stage -- spoke loudly. On his latest album, Chance declares, "All we got is music," but he also has helped build a community to go with it. As Chance and his band, the Social Experiment, worked through "Cocoa Butter Kisses," "Special," "Sunday Candy" and other rousing songs, he strived to fulfill Carlos' request. "I think I get it now," Chance said. He was talking to his audience as much as himself. "Are you ready for your blessing?" he asked. "It's coming." Advertisement greg@gregkot.com RELATED STORIES: Chance the Rapper's festival may usher in new concert era at Sox park Inside 'Magnificent Coloring World' Chance the Rapper references Laquan McDonald case on 'SNL' Chance the Rapper's father advised him not to sign with Sony Watch the latest movie trailers. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP) Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 101 Soft Science extends that legacy on its third album, Maps (Test Pattern), and adds its own twists. The soft, almost cooed vocals of singer Katie Haley bring a pop veneer. Read the review. (Test Pattern) I had round-trip tickets to fly from Cleveland to Bangor, Maine, via Philadelphia on American Airlines recently. Three of the four flights were in first class. I paid a total of $957. American made unrequested changes to my flights several times, resulting in a downgrade to economy class for all but one leg. There was no offer of a refund for the difference between the cost of the three first-class flights that I paid for and the one first-class flight that I received. Advertisement I contacted customer service, and they directed me to the refunds department. An airline representative told me to submit the request again after I completed the flights, which is not the response that I expected. I submitted a request after my last flight, but after waiting several weeks and then resubmitting it, I've received no response. I'd like an apology and a refund of the fare difference. Advertisement John Rodda, Rocky River, Ohio A: This one's simple. American Airlines sold you three flights in first class; it should have delivered them. If it didn't, it should have refunded the difference between economy class and first class on the day you purchased the tickets. But that's not how airline math works. Airlines calculate the fare difference on an involuntary downgrade based on the price the day of the flight, not the day you booked the flight. As you probably know, the price of an airline ticket changes right until the moment of departure. The numbers work to the airline's advantage in a big way because an economy-class ticket is much more expensive on the day of travel. So the difference between first- and economy-class may be only a few dollars or, strangely, it may have a negative value. That's right, unbelievably, the economy-class fare to which you were "downgraded" could cost more than your advance-purchase first-class ticket. When we spoke, your estimate of the fare difference was about $200. By American's estimate, it was $112. That's airline math! I have no idea why American ignored your repeated efforts to obtain a refund. You could have contacted a customer-service executive at the airline. I list their names, email addresses and phone numbers on my consumer-advocacy site: http://elliott.org/company-contacts/american-airlines/. I think this kind of airline math is morally wrong and opportunistic. But American is hardly alone. This is how virtually all airlines do it. I contacted American on your behalf. It refunded the $112 fare difference. It's not quite the $200 you were hoping for, but it's better than nothing. Advertisement Christopher Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine and the author of "How to Be the World's Smartest Traveler." You can read more travel tips on his blog, www.elliott.org, or email him at chris@elliott.org. RELATED STORIES: Carnival Corp. launching 3 TV shows about vacations, travel For $805 a night at the Trump Hotel, you deserve what you get Travel booking company misspells name, customer forced to purchase new ticket Malaysia Airlines planes at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on March 19, 2014. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared earlier that month while on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. (Ahmad Yusni / EPA) It's been nearly 80 years since aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared while attempting a flight around the globe, but theories about what happened keep making the news. One suggests that she was really a spy for Japan. Or captured by aliens. Or that she survived capture by the Japanese and lived out her life under a different name. Advertisement The simpler and more plausible scenario is that she and her navigator, who had a drinking problem, could not find the island they were looking for and crashed into the sea. In her book "The Crash Detectives," coming out Tuesday from Penguin Books, journalist and crash investigator Christine Negroni looks at numerous air crashes from Earhart's in 1937 to the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and explores the different theories about what might have happened and why it can be so difficult to get to the truth. Advertisement She also discusses why complex conspiracy theories about famous crashes like Earhart's are so common. "It's such high drama everyone can put themselves at the scene of an airplane crash," said Negroni, who spent 10 years in Chicago as a reporter for WGN and CBS. "They may not be able to understand up close and personal JFK's assassination, but nearly everyone's been on an airplane and can appreciate the terror of that." Multiple theories have sprung up around Flight 370 in the last two years, including that it was shot down by Russia, North Korea or even the United States. In her own look into the crash, Negroni applies Occam's razor, a principle that suggests that if there are many possible explanations, the simplest is the most likely. She speculates that the cause of the 370 tragedy was not terrorism but hypoxia, a condition caused by loss of oxygen. When a plane goes above a certain altitude, the cabin must be pressurized with conditioned air to make it safe for people to breathe. A problem with cabin pressure can deprive passengers and crew of oxygen. Before people pass out from hypoxia, they can behave irrationally and make bad decisions while imagining that they are performing brilliantly, which would explain Flight 370's sudden changes in direction before it disappeared, Negroni explained. Hypoxia has caused at least seven fatal air accidents since 1999, yet many commercial pilots dismiss the possibility that a pilot who should have known he or she needed to put on an oxygen mask would fail to do it, Negroni said. "You can't do the right thing if you're not thinking correctly," said Negroni. "It's a very hard thing to get your mind around." One crash that involved hypoxia was Helios Airways Flight 522 in 2005, which killed 121 people in the worst air disaster in Greek history. About five minutes after takeoff, a warning horn alerted pilots that cabin altitude was too high, meaning there wasn't enough oxygen. Passenger masks dropped down, but the captain and first officer decided to first figure out what went wrong instead of putting on their own masks, "a classic case of impaired judgment due to hypoxia," Negroni wrote. Advertisement The pilots passed out. A flight attendant put on an oxygen mask, entered the cockpit and tried to fly the plane but it was too late, the book explained. The plane ran out of fuel and crashed. In 1996, American Trans Air Flight 406 out of Chicago's Midway International Airport avoided near disaster from hypoxia. Negroni said the captain delayed putting on his oxygen mask until he was too disoriented to manage it and passed out. After a series of mishaps, a flight attendant got the mask on the captain and the plane landed safely in Indianapolis. Negligence and manipulation Negroni also looks at crashes that were the result of manufacturer and official negligence, and explores how investigators manipulated evidence. She said it was a "really eye-opening experience" to discover that some crash investigators are not looking for the truth. "I feel like, in every industry, they are subjected to pressures within and without that have an effect on what should be objective decisions, but become subjective decisions," Negroni said. One example is the investigation of the Air New Zealand disaster over Antarctica. In 1979, a jumbo jet full of sightseers eager to see the frozen continent crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 257 people on board. The initial investigation unfairly tried to pin the blame on the pilots and included lies, document shredding and burglary, becoming a national scandal, Negroni wrote. Advertisement A lack of transparency, like that shown by Malaysian leaders following the 370 crash, can also encourage conspiracy theories, since people like to fill in blank slates, Negroni said. "I've come to the conclusion that there can be no better tactic for an investigator with something to hide than to encourage those theories," she wrote. Negroni's book also looks at heroic pilots, like Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who was able to make a water landing in the Hudson River in 2009 after his plane was disabled by a flock of geese. His story was made into a movie that came out this month. Negroni said she sees a common denominator among pilots who avoided what could have been a disaster: They were all highly experienced and learned from every flight. "These pilots I talked to that had 1,000 hours they didn't have the same hour 1,000 times," she said. "They spent their nonflying hours talking about flying, going up in private aircraft, going to the manufacturers. It's more than a job for them. It's a passion." Negroni said the importance of experience must be considered when deciding how much is needed to fly large passenger jets that's an issue being discussed as airlines deal with staffing shortages. Advertisement Automation worries Increasing automation is another big issue in aviation and now also in ground transportation, with the advent of driverless cars. Negroni said that, as cars become more automated, we should be looking at the lessons taught by the introduction of automation into flight that the more tasks you take away from a pilot, the harder it is to stay engaged. "Just because you put someone behind the wheel and say to them, 'Pay attention,' doesn't mean they will," said Negroni. She said increased automation is a "brand new world," and there will be accidents as humans figure out their new relationship to the machine. Negroni herself flies all the time, and despite her many investigations into what can go wrong, she does not usually get nervous about it. She noted that there is a misconception that an airplane crash always means death. In reality, 95 percent of all aviation accidents, which include planes going off the runway, have survivors. But passengers need to be prepared and not be too complacent. "We're so comfortable in airplanes, the fact that you can't breathe outside, that you'll freeze if you're outside, that there's just this very thin membrane of aluminum that separates us we take it for granted," said Negroni. Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > She said she hates to sounds like a "schoolmarm," but passengers should listen to the flight attendants' instructions about how to use the oxygen mask, locate their nearest exits and stow heavy items. Advertisement "Keep your seat belt buckled. Put your seat up on landing. Keep your shoes on. You may have to be running across an icy tarmac, or a hot tarmac," she said. "You're in an airplane you're going to be flying around. You should give it 10 seconds of your thought." Metra paired with Divvy In other transportation news, Metra entered into an agreement with the city's transportation department to install a Divvy station last week at its Grayland Station on the Milwaukee North Line. Located along Milwaukee Avenue in the Irving Park neighborhood, the bike-sharing station is the first to be installed on Metra property, the agency said. Funding was provided in part by Ald. John Arena (45th). The station sees about 330 Metra customers a day, and a buffered bike lane is planned for that part of Milwaukee. mwisniewski@tribpub.com Twitter @marywizchicago Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Saturday gave East Chicago residents a chance to ask questions about clean up plans for the former U.S.S. Lead facility they had plenty. When will clean up start? What will crews do during clean up? Should residents be concerned about lead and arsenic in the air when the soil is removed? Why aren't all the yards being cleaned? Advertisement But the answers to those questions often were drowned out by the crowded space at Riley Park and the lack of microphones. "They gave information but not in an organized way," said Jimmy Ventura, a former East Chicago city councilor. "They needed to." Advertisement East Chicago resident Carline Gadling said she wished the meeting had been in a better venue. The EPA held a forum for residents of zones 2 and 3 to describe what the clean up of contaminated soil in those areas would entail. A resident of East Chicago voices her concerns of long term effect of the poisoning their residents have been through over the years due to the contamination from previous factories in the area. (Gary Middendorf / Post-Tribune) "It's disappointing," Gadling said. "They gave a lot of information." Ventura said the charter school near the park is a larger venue with a sound system, and would have better suited the crowd. He said a lot of residents thought the same. Janet Pope, the EPA's community involvement coordinator, said the location was picked because residents said during a forum it was the best location. "We have to go with what we have," Pope said. Throughout the three-hour session, EPA officials described what the clean up would entail for residents in zones 2 and 3 of the national Superfund site. Zones 2 and 3 cover the western portions of the U.S.S. Lead Superfund site, with East Chicago Avenue as the northern edge. "We are here to dig down to clean," said Tim Drexler, an EPA remedial project manager. He said how far the EPA will dig is based on the lead and arsenic concentrations at each property. Advertisement Tom Alcamo, an EPA remedial project manager, said work to start cleaning around the houses in zone 3 will start next week. EPA officials said in August the agency will be able to clean contaminated soil from the easternmost part of the former U.S.S. Lead site without relocating residents. Tim Drexler talks to the residents about the decontamination of several areas in East Chicago. (Gary Middendorf / Post-Tribune) Around the West Calumet Housing Complex, the EPA found high levels of lead and arsenic consistently, but that's not the case for the other parts of the Superfund site. "They're much, much higher than we saw in these two zones," Alcamo said. The remediation plans for zone 3 of the site, which runs from East Huish Drive to Parrish Avenue, will range from digging only a few inches of soil out of the properties to excavating two feet into the ground, Alcamo said. Eighteen homes in zone 3 had high concentrations of lead and arsenic in the soil, Alcamo said. Lead levels below 400 parts per million and arsenic levels of 26 parts per million are considered safe, Alcamo said, and the highest concentration found in zone 3 was 2,600 parts per million. The EPA said the homes with the highest concentrations of lead in the soil will be prioritized. Advertisement Resident Mauro Jimenez said he's concerned the clean up won't work. The EPA cleaned his neighbor's yard a couple years ago, Jimenez said, but recent tests still found high concentrations of contaminants in the ground. "I don't think the stuff is going to go anywhere," Jimenez said. The letter Jimenez received found one area with lead concentration of more than 1,600 parts per million. Jimenez said he doesn't want what happened to his neighbor to happen to him. Many residents of East Chicago will have the top 24 inches of soil around their property dug up and replaced over the next several years as part of a decontamination for decades of lead and other toxins present. (Gary Middendorf / Post-Tribune) For residents in zone 2, Alcamo said some properties will get cleaned up this fall, while soil testing will continue throughout the area for the rest of the year. The EPA said preliminary soil testing results found at least 20 properties of the 136 tested that will need clean up in zone 2, which is the portion of the U.S.S. Lead site with boundaries at East Chicago Avenue to the north, East 151st Street to the South, East Huish Drive to the West and McCook Avenue to the East. The preliminary results included only 136 of the 590 properties in zone 2. The EPA began taking soil samples in zone 2 during the summer to develop a plan for the clean up of the site. Advertisement Zone 2 of the U.S.S. Lead site was not included in the 2014 consent decree, which The U.S. District Court for Northern Indiana approved, between the EPA, Department of Justice, state of Indiana, the Atlantic Richfield Co. and E.I. du Pont De Nemours regarding the cleanup of the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery site. Based on the agreement, the two companies would cover roughly $26 million in cleanup costs, according to the EPA. The EPA will fund the cost of the clean up in zone 2 and plan to try to recoup those costs from responsible parties. Resident Maritza Lopez said when the area flooded in 2008, water and dirt filled many residents' basements and wanted to know if lead and arsenic got into people's homes. She said it's one thing to clean around the homes but asked "what about underneath the concrete?" Alcamo said when workers come to each home for the clean up, they will take samples inside to see if any contamination is inside the houses. He said test wipes will look for anything that may have come in during the flooding. "We're here to try to fix all these properties," Drexler said. Advertisement clyons@post-trib.com Twitter: @craigalyons William Darrell Garth Sr., the longtime owner and publisher of the Citizen community newspaper chain covering African-American communities throughout the city and suburbs, and a business leader who mentored young Chicagoans of color to invest in their communities, has died. Garth died Friday at RML Specialty Hospital in Chicago from complications of diabetes, according to his son William Darrell Garth Jr. He was 78. Advertisement For more than 30 years, Garth was the chief executive and publisher of the Citizen newspaper chain, which included the Hyde Park and Chatham Citizen papers and the Chicago Weekend paper, the largest chain of black-owned newspapers in the Midwest. As owner and publisher, he was dedicated to telling stories affecting black residents overlooked by the city's mainstream papers. The Alabama-born businessman started as an advertising sales representative at the Citizen Newspapers in 1969 when the company was run by future Rep. Gus Savage. When Savage won a seat in the U.S. House in 1980, he sold his stake in the chain to Garth, who took over control of the paper and extended its reach from the West Side to the south suburbs of Chicago, all communities with large black populations. Advertisement "He was a very savvy newspaperman and publisher," said Garth Jr., who goes by his middle name. "He cared about, as he would always say, being the eyes and ears of the community as he reported what is right, what is just and what was important to the community." Over his long career, Garth was active in numerous organizations, including the Illinois Press Association, the National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Midwest Black Publishers Association. In a statement released Saturday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Garth "was more than the successful publisher of the Chicago Citizen and other respected publications. He was a philanthropist and community leader whose legacy will live on in the countless lives he has touched." Friends and family said Garth's background as a salesman and his vantage point as a newspaper owner in underserved communities made him recognize the importance of small business and leadership coming from within the neighborhoods. As a founding member of the Chatham Business Association, most recently serving as its chairman, Garth was instrumental in recent revitalization efforts in Chatham, including the opening of a Target store and several other chain businesses. "Mr. Garth was responsible for a lot of the development in Chatham," said Melinda Kelly, the business association's executive director, who was also mentored by Garth. "In bringing a Nike outlet (store), the Target store, the Home Depot, he was at the forefront." "He was a man of integrity who cared a lot about his community," said Paul A. Labonne, a vice president and community investment officer for PNC Bank, whom Garth wooed to the Chatham Business Association as his vice chairman. "He will be deeply missed." Over the years, Garth also mentored scores of young African-Americans, recognizing their talents and nurturing them to become active members in their communities, something he believed was more effective than social services and government programs, Kelly said. Under his personal tutelage in business and community involvement, Kelly said she learned lessons that remain with her today. "He taught me know who you support and why. You have to understand who you're supporting and what they're bringing back to the community," she said. Advertisement In 1995, six years after his youngest son Quentis was killed in a domestic stabbing at his South Side home, Garth started a foundation in his name that has provided more than $1 million in scholarships since its creation, his family said. In addition to his son, Garth is survived by his daughter-in-law, Janice, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending. wlee@chicagotribune.com Twitter @MidNoirCowboy An Evanston woman was in critical condition after apparently falling off a pier into Lake Michigan in the north suburb Saturday afternoon, police said. The 67-year-old woman fell into the lake about 4:45 p.m. near the Church Street boat ramp, 1701 Sheridan Road, and was in critical condition at Evanston North Shore University Hospital, according to a news release from Evanston police. Advertisement Emergency crews were called to the boat ramp when someone called 911 to report seeing a woman who was walking along the pier fall into the lake, according to police. Someone had pulled the woman from the lake before crews arrived and had begun cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the woman. Paramedics were able to revive the woman and she was taken to Evanston North Shore, according to the release. Advertisement Evanston police detectives are investigating the incident. Guillermo Romero turned 18 years old on Saturday and was charged with fatally shooting Tonriche Weathersby, 20, of Evergreen Park. A Chicago man who turned 18 years old on Saturday was ordered held on $1 million bail after being charged with fatally shooting a 20-year-old man at a house party earlier this month. Guillermo Romero was at the party in the 5800 block of South Maplewood the night of Sept. 17 when a fight broke out. The victim, Tonriche Weathersby, 20, of Evergreen Park, was talking to his brother when he was hit in the side of the head with a bottle during the fight, prosecutors said. Advertisement Romero pulled a handgun from his waist and fired twice at Weathersby, hitting him both times in the chest, prosecutors said. Weathersby was taken to Holy Cross Hospital and pronounced dead. Partygoers had gotten an invitation to a house party that said no weapons or gangbanging would be tolerated: "Leave the bulls--t at home and come celebrate," it said. Advertisement The person who held the party holds similar parties on a regular basis, advertising them on social media and via word of mouth, according to prosecutors. Romero and his friends were regulars at the parties, but Weathersby was not, according to prosecutors. Romero, of the 3100 block of West Pope John Paul II Drive, fled the scene but he was identified as the shooter by two witnesses at the party and later tracked down and arrested in the 4300 block of West 31st Street, according to a police report. Prosecutors sought to have Romero held without bond but because Romero was 17 at the time of the shooting, Cook County Judge Laura Marie Sullivan ordered him held in lieu of $1 million bail. Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Liam Reardon said Romero also has an unlawful use of a juvenile weapon arrest on his record. Romero's next court date is Sept. 26. A worker suffered the amputation of at least part of his left arm in an accident at an apartment high-rise under construction in the River North neighborhood, authorities said. The 34-year-old man was injured about 4:20 p.m. in an accident in an elevator shaft at the building under construction in the 700 block of North Hudson Street, said Office Kevin Quaid, a police spokesman. The man suffered an injury to his left arm, Quaid said. Advertisement Rescue crews were called to the building at Hudson and Chicago following a report of an amputation and took a victim in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in surgery Saturday afternoon, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said. The Hudson, a 25-story high-rise apartment building, is under construction at the site of the accident at 750 N. Hudson St. Police are looking for Katlynn Goodwill Yost, who lived in the house where three adults were found slain. (Fullerton Police Dept.) FULLERTON, Calif. Two men were arrested and a 17-year-old girl was detained Sunday on suspicion of killing three people inside a Southern California home over the weekend, police said. Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus would not say if the arrested teen was the missing daughter of two of the victims. Advertisement He did say she has been found since authorities issued an alert looking for her, initially saying they were concerned about her safety. "Katlynn Goodwill Yost has been located and she is unharmed," Radus said. "State law prevents law enforcement from releasing the names of juveniles who have been arrested for crimes. That said, a 17 year old female juvenile has also been detained in connection with the murders and is in the custody of the Orange County Juvenile Hall." Advertisement Katlynn Goodwill Yost, 17, whom Fullerton police are trying to locate. (Fullerton Police Department. ) The arrests came a day after a child called 911 to report her parents had died. Officers who went Saturday morning to the home in the southeastern Los Angeles suburb of Fullerton discovered two men and a woman dead with signs of trauma to their bodies. Two girls, age 6 and 9, were found unharmed inside the home. Radus identified the victims Christopher Yost and Jennifer Goodwill Yost as the girls' parents and described the third victim, Arthur William Boucher, 28, as a family friend. The cause of their deaths was under investigation. Suspects Josh Acosta, 21, of Fort Irwin and Frank Felix, 25, of Sun Valley, were arrested Sunday morning and booked into jail for investigation of murder, Radus said. The sergeant did not disclose a motive for the killings but says investigators believe the victims were targeted by the suspects. "We hope the quick arrest of these individuals will bring comfort to the community and assist the friends and family of those affected by this unthinkable crime," he said. Associated Press CLEVELAND Authorities in the Cleveland-area are issuing warnings after seven people died from overdoses on Saturday. The outbreak across Cuyahoga County comes after 52 people died from heroin or fentanyl in August. The county medical examiner says there's no evidence yet linking the seven deaths Saturday. Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson says his office is conducting tests to figure out which drugs were involved in the deadly overdoses. He says the number clearly raises the possibility of a very deadly drug in the Cleveland area. The wave of deaths Saturday follows outbreaks of overdoses in Akron and Cincinnati involving the animal sedative carfentanil. 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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 Elgin Symphony Orchestras Resident Conductor Stephen Squires will lead the ESO in performing the movie score for Charlie Chaplins silent film "City Lights." (Elgin Symphony Orchestra / Handout) ESO performs score to Chaplin's 'City Lights' The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present Charlie Chaplin's silent film masterpiece "City Lights" with the orchestra, led by Resident Conductor Stephen Squires, performing the movie score live on Friday, Oct 7 to Sunday, Oct. 9. Advertisement Even though silent films were on their way out, Charlie Chaplin's "City Lights" was an instant success when released in January 1931, according to a news release. It has consistently been listed as one of the most influential films of all time and directors like Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, George Bernard Shaw, Federico Fellini and Woody Allen rate "City Lights" as one of their favorite movies, the release stated. Squires has conducted for many artists, including Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey, Janos Starker, Pinchas Zuckerman, Shmuel Ashkenasi, John Browning, Leon Bates, Stewart Goodyear, Richard Stoltzman, Ani Kavafian, Wendy Warner, James Tocco, Kevin Cole, Vadim Gluzman and most of the principal players of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera orchestras, according to a release. He has premiered over 80 new works. Advertisement Squires received his musical training at the Preparatory School of the Eastman School of Music and the Crane School of Music, in New York, and he earned his master's degree in instrumental conducting/trumpet performance at California State University, Northridge, the release stated. The film runs 90 minutes without an intermission. Popcorn is provided by Mama Lee's Gourmet Popcorn. Sponsors are WDCB Radio, The Palmer Foundation and EFS Foundation. For tickets, which start at $30, call 847-888-4000 or go to ElginSymphony.Org. The ESO City Lights performance and film screening is part of A Celebration of Music from the Golden Age of Cinema and Radio, a project of the ESO, Chamber Music on the Fox and the Gail Borden Public Library. For information, go to gailborden.info/BernardHerrmann. Emergency management program in Aurora In partnership with America's PrepareAthon, the city of Aurora Emergency Management Agency will host its first Aurora PrepareAthon to help residents prepare for potential emergencies and disasters. The Aurora PrepareAthon will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Aurora Police Department, 1200 E. Indian Trail. Advertisement Attendees will learn how to create a family disaster plan, assemble an emergency kit and prepare for specific hazards through group discussions, drills and exercises, event organizers said. The Aurora PrepareAthon is free and open to the public, but space is limited and registration is mandatory. To reserve a seat, go to https://aurora.seamlessdocs.com/f/PrepareAthon The biggest trees in Kane County A guided hike to see some of the biggest trees in Kane County will visit the sites of some of the local champions in the Kane County Big Tree Program. During the walk, there will be a little tree identification and how trees are measured in the Big Tree Program. Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Bliss Woods Forest Preserve, located at 5S660 Bliss Road, Sugar Grove. Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve, located at 5S002 Merrill Road, Sugar Grove. Advertisement Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Glenwood Park Forest Preserve, located at 1644 S. River St., Batavia. Advance registration is required for this free program. Call 630-444-3190 or e-mail programs@kaneforest.com. To view a full roster of Forest Preserve District nature programs, go to www.kaneforest.com. 'Coffee with a Cop' in St. Charles Participants can enjoy complimentary coffee and talk with St. Charles Police Chief Jim Keegan and St. Charles police officers at the inaugural "Coffee with a Cop" event at McDonald's at 915 W. Main St. Thursday. The event will run from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Advertisement "We have so many ways to communicate these days, between smartphones, apps and social media. But sometimes face-to-face conversation is best," said Keegan. "We look forward to getting out and meeting St. Charles residents. This gives them a chance to get to know us in a casual atmosphere." For more information about the event, contact the St. Charles Police Department at 630-377-4435. Reaching voters in the process of relocating from the lead-contaminated West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago to inform them of their voting rights is proving more difficult than expected, a county election official said. Michelle Fajman, director of Lake County's Board of Elections and Voter Registration, said election board staff is searching for a new polling site for East Chicago 14, which includes all of the West Calumet complex and a handful of neighboring streets, because the current site is at the complex's community center where lead contamination is prevalent. Advertisement "We know for a fact the polling place will be moved," Fajman said. Voters will have to be notified of the emergency change in polling places, but that will be a challenge, she said. A large number of the letters sent earlier this month to the 578 registered voters in the EC-14 precinct informing them of their voting rights if they move before the Nov. 8 election have come back unable to forward. The letters included an explanation of the voting process for those who move and a federal voters registration application. Advertisement A second letter to voters informing them of the precinct change will be needed. Fajman said the new information also will be posted online and in local newspapers in an effort to reach as many voters as possible. Staff is still researching a site that meets criteria including parking and American with Disabilities Act compliance. Barbara Bolling-Williams, president of the Indiana State Conference of the NAACP and treasurer of the James C. Kimbrough Bar Association, attended the meeting and thanked officials for their forethought in reaching out to voters in the affected area so they are not disenfranchised come November. "The reality is over 300 families don't know if they will be able to find adequate housing in that time frame," Bolling-Williams said. Since so many cannot be reached by mail, she encouraged the board to send a representative to one of the various community meetings that are taking place for West Calumet residents to help keep them informed of the different aspects of their situation. "It is important someone from the board goes out to a community meeting," she said. West Calumet voters who relocated anywhere in Lake County have the option of returning to their old polling place to vote one last time before registering their new address. They must fill out a form at the polling place to do so. Registered voters who leave the county or the state will have to register again by Oct. 11 in order to vote in the Nov. 8 election. Fajman asked and received permission for the elections board to hire additional clerks for the precinct for the Election Day to help with questions and potential delays created by paperwork needed for voters who have moved elsewhere in Lake County and returned to vote one last time in their old precinct. Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Performers dance at the Belarus pavilion during the 5th China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Sept 22, 2016. Starting from Sept 20, more than 2,000 Chinese and foreign companies, delegates from 57 countries and regions, and six global organizations are participating in the six-day fair held in the regional capital of Urumqi. [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. Endite Cuban President Raul Castro holds a welcoming ceremony for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) before their talks in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 24, 2016. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Tao) The visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Cuba can be seen against a backdrop of the Chinese administration's desire to maintain good relations and further improve ties with the whole region of Latin America in which harmonious economic cooperation is indicative. According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, trade between the two sides was worth US$236.545 billion in 2015. In the same year China's non-financial direct investment flow to Latin America was worth of US$21.46 billion and the contract amount signed by Chinese enterprises for projects in the region reached US$18.16 billion. In regard to Cuba, the trade volume was approximately US$2 billion in 2015. China is Cuba's second largest regional partner after Venezuela and Cuba is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean region. China exports manufactured goods and imports raw materials such as sugar, nickel and oil. There is a mutual interest for more business in the fields of technology, financing, industrial capacity, quality control and environmental protection. However, Cuba deserves particular attention for two additional reasons. First, it is one of the few communist countries in the world; secondly, and more important, it is currently attempting to escape from its longstanding international isolation by taking some new steps after the normalization of its relations with the U.S. It was in April 2015 that U.S. President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raoul Castro shook hands, paving the way for a historical rapprochement and the re-establishment of diplomatic ties. Eleven months later Obama visited Havana putting his own, personal stamp on a remarkable achievement of his foreign policy. In spite of progress made - such as the increase of American tourists visiting Cuba and the approval of high business transactions - the bilateral relationship has not yet returned to absolute normalcy. For this to happen the U.S. Congress needs to lift its embargo against deals with Cuba which is not expected any time soon. The question now is what his successor will do vis-a-vis Cuba. Until recently, continuity was expected as both candidates for the American presidency, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, had been supporters of the rapprochement with Havana. Only a few days ago, however, the issue suddenly appeared anew in the pre-election campaign because the Republican nominee reconsidered his previous view. As he said, if he is elected president, he will change the deal which he now regards as being beneficial "only for the Castro regime" and expecting more quid pro quo from the Cuban side. The demand includes, for instance, the "freeing of political prisoners." Should Trump insist on this, he will easily return the bilateral relationship back to basics by reversing concessions made to Castro through an executive order the same way as Obama restored bilateral ties. Although Hillary Clinton promises to advance the normalization of U.S.-Cuban relations and even push towards an end of the embargo, prospects for the future remain unclear. Even if she wins, the dynamics of cooperation between Washington and Havana will not necessarily shift opinion inside Congress to remove economic sanctions. So, limits on any improvement of the bilateral relationship remain a possibility. China is closely monitoring the evolution of the U.S.-Cuban relationship. Its official position is that this "is a good thing." The country is also well-aware of all restrictions and is waiting for the result of the American presidential election which will define the future course. For the time being, Beijing is concentrating on economic affairs. The restoration of U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations means that Chinese companies will in the short-term face harder competition in order to sign contracts for several projects in Cuba. In the medium-term, results could be more constructive, though. That is because the quality of Chinese investments might be improved and their scope expanded. It is somewhat premature to make predictions about the political outcome of the normalization of ties between Washington and Havana when there remain several unknowns. It cannot be assumed that Raoul Castro will make a U-turn in his foreign policy impacting on the time-honored friendship with China. By contrast, new developments in Cuban foreign policy - including the forthcoming visit of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - can meet Beijing's hopes to see its close Latin American ally upgrade its international role. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Flash 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. Drought leaves 237,000 people thirsty in central China (Xinhua) Updated: 2016-09-25 07:53 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. Rules to streamline employment application process are being tested A trial program to test the issuance of a single, unified work permit for foreignersreplacing the current system under which two government entities have issuing authorityis expected to ease the burden of getting work in Shanghai for highly skilled expats, starting in October. The trial was highlighted in a recently released notice about further deepening of measures to attract more foreign talent to speed up the development of the scientific and technological innovation hub. Until now, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs has been responsible for issuing a certificate qualifying some individuals to work in China; local labor bureaus issued their own work licenses to authorize others. In the pilot program, highly skilled applicants will not need to submit applications before entering the country, and only need to complete an online application after being recruited to work in Shanghai. Expats who have applied at least twice for a one-year work permit will be eligible for a five-year work permit, making the process more convenient. In July 2015, 20 measures including 12 released by the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau reduced complexity for highly skilled overseas passport holders. Also, the length of an overseas talent residence permit was extended to 10 years, opening Shanghai's door wider to the world. "We retain the core spirit of creating an environment for talent to grow and explore innovation, in order to shape the city into a cluster of global innovative talent by 2020," said Chen Hao, deputy director of the organization department of the municipal government. Apart from looser application requirements for work permits, the more open and efficient overseas talent policy will allow the staff of foreign work teams to apply for permanent residence directly. High-level workers in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone who qualify will be recommended by the administrations of the zones for permanent residency. Investment companies, regional company headquarters, and research and design centers registered in the two zones will also be able to recruit new graduates from world-class universities to work in Shanghai. "It will encourage employers to fill positions with better-fitting talent, especially those international students who may add value and fresh thoughts, to compete with local talent in the Chinese job market," said Pete Chia, managing director of BRecruit China, a recruitment service provider in Asia. Sadik Senturk, a 32-year-old Turkish project manager at a consulting company in Shanghai, said: "I will apply for a green card for the sake of my son, who just turned 2 years old and will be enrolled in the education system like a local child. "I hope the lower requirements for permanent residence and expanded benefits will narrow the gap between green card holders and local residents." Senturk is also applying for a residence permit based on talent. H-6K bombers and Su-30 fighters were among the 40 aircraft involved in the PLA Air Force's drill over the Western Pacific on Sunday. The drill was to test the military's far-offshore combat and assault capabilities.[Photo/Xinhua] The PLA Air Force said on Sunday it had conducted a drill involving long-range operations over the Western Pacific, past the Miyako Strait, to test far-offshore combat and assault capabilities. Shen Jinke, a spokesman for the air force, said regular drills in the Western Pacific and patrols over the East China Sea air defense identification zone were aimed at protecting China's sovereignty and national security. According to a statement on the Ministry of National Defense's website, more than 40 aircraft including H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters and aerial tankers of the People's Liberation Army completed exercises such as assaults on sea-surface targets and in-air refueling. The fleet also conducted a routine patrol in the East China Sea air defense identification zone, established in November 2013. The Miyako Strait is a body of water between Japan's Miyako and Okinawa islands. Zhao Xiaozhuo, a researcher at the Center on China-US Defense Relations at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said long-range drills in the Western Pacific are a standard practice to develop the air force's equipment. "It's a normal defense exercise that will be conducted more and more, with our military becoming better equipped. It's a natural progression that we will be able to fly further and conduct drills on a wider range," he said. "The awakening of China's maritime rights consciousness has encouraged the country to expand its activities from coastal areas to far-offshore regions." The PLA Air Force will continue to patrol the East China Sea air defense identification zone to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of China, and will keep conduct various training to improve its combat capacity, Shen added. Wang Meng (pseudonym), a billionaire from southwest China's metropolis of Chongqing, has not slept well for the past eight years. Wang, 50, a successful businessman, has been annoyed by myriad of daily trifles to deal with. "I want to put aside my job, but I could not find one to handle it," complained Wang. While in his driver's eyes, Wang is too picky. A stain on the car or foul smell at the toilets would make Wang agitated. He was diagnosed with depression. Unable to escape from lingering anxieties, Wang has been visiting a psychiatrist for eight years. "Depression is a top cause of suicide," said Qu Wei, director of the clinical psychology department with the Southwest Hospital in Chongqing. "Some 15 percent of patients with serious depression have engaged in suicidal behavior," said Qu. It is estimated that China has millions of people with depression and the number is rising all the time. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 350 million people with the disorder worldwide. It is estimated that by 2020, depression will become the second most common disease in the world. Depression is a frequently occurring mental disorder with symptoms including sadness, a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and feelings of tiredness and poor concentration, according to Wang Gang, deputy head of Beijing Anding Hospital, a leading hospital for mental disease treatment. Medically, it is considered a disease caused by genetic, biochemical, environmental and personality factors, Wang said. In China, where competition to outperform others, especially in education, can be intense, depression among adolescents is on the rise, according to Zhu Zhuohong, a psychology professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "My parents always tell me my classmates are competitors. So I take them as my enemies and feel upset whenever I see them," said Xiao Min, a 13-year-old sufferer of depression. Active treatment needed Although depression can sometimes be fatal, few patients go to hospital for treatment as seeing a psychiatrist is taboo, and many sufferers and their parents view it as as shameful. Only 30 percent of people with depression in China have been identified as having the condition and just 10 percent of them resort to medical treatment, according to an official survey. According to plans for 2016-2020 released by the State Council in August, the government is moving to enhance screening for mental illnesses that may cause disability, including schizophrenia, depression and autism. Qu, who opened a psychological clinic more than 20 years ago, said only two to three patients visited the clinic each day in the 1990s, but 72 visited in the morning of last Sunday, many accompanied by their parents. Thanks to the development of antidepressants in the 1980s, depression can be relieved to a degree. Yet the current clinical cure rate for depression is only about 30 percent, which leads to many sufferers quitting treatment, said Qu. The more understanding and care parents can give to sufferers of depression, the better therapeutic effects they will receive, she said. Meanwhile, the psychiatrist also called for more public attention and financial support to the treatment of depression as well as training medical personnel in the fields. Lung cancer has emerged as the leading killer in rural China, closing to the incidence and mortality of urban men and women stricken with the disease. "The incidence and mortality of lung cancer has dramatically climbed in China's rural population over the past ten years," says surgical oncology professor Zhou Qinghua. "The rates for each have hit 47.6/100,000 and 39.1/100,000 respectively in 2015." Lung cancer claimed 66,100 rural lives last year, overtaking breast cancer as the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women in 2015, which killed 25,700 women. Speaking at the first West China International Conference on Lung Cancer recently held in Chengdu, Sichuan, Zhou noted that esophageal carcinoma that had been blamed for cancer deaths in rural China due to low fruit and fresh vegetable intake from the 1970s to the 1990s. A well-established surgeon, Zhou receives as many as 1,000 lung cancer patients a year from all over the country, near 50 percent of them are farmers. "The youngest patient I saw was a 13 year old country girl from Sichuan, and a 14 country boy from Yunnan. The oldest one was a 91 year old rural grandpa . " The old man had smoked most of his life, and his cancer was already in its late stages when detected. "But the 13 and 14 year old didn't smoke at all and had no family history of cancer. I deeply doubted that involuntary smoking and air pollution combined could be responsible," Zhou said. In fact, Ge Jiu, the young boy's home county, is notorious for tin mining-related pollution that has brought about silicosis deaths affecting a huge number of people. Passive smoke and indoor air pollution are mainly responsible for the incidence of lung cancer in Chinese farmers, especially in those high-risk areas like Xuanwei county of Yunnan. Dr. Qiao Youlin, an acclaimed epidemiologist of oncology noted that people of Xuanwei have lived in unhealthy conditions for generations. Most are still using firepits or coal ovens for cooking and heating. These release heavy PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) which creates indoor air pollution The figures from the National Cancer Center suggested that the incidence and mortality rate of lung cancer in Xuanwei are two times higher than the country's average rate of 53.4/100,000 and 44.4/100,000 in 2015. This disease is difficult to detect in its early stages, so most lung cancer cases are found during the late stages, said Zhou, who is also the director of Cancer Center & Institute of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. According to Zhou, the overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer as of 2015 stands at 16.7 %. Unlike cervical cancer, caused by the HPV virus, the exact cause of lung cancer is yet unknown, making the disease difficult to curb. However, certain risk factors for lung cancer, include smoking, exposure to air pollution, radon gas, and genetics, are scientifically known to play a part in causing cells to become cancerous. About 75 percent of lung cancer cases in men in China are due to long-term tobacco smoking, while 25 percent occurs in men who have never smoked. While most of female lung cancer were not smoke. In the case of rural China, second-hand smoking and indoor air pollution play a dominate role in lung cancer. In addition to that, Dr. Qiao thinks that a lack of awareness about the effects of tobacco smoking as a leading risk factor for lung cancer puts rural people's health in jeopardy. He said some people may be nonsmokers, but under pressure of sharing smoking and gifting they become social smokers, joining in a gatherings. In addition, smoke-free area legislation and policies are not in force in rural China. In fact, the country does not have yet a national smoke-free law. So far only metropolitans like Beijing and Shanghai have banned smoking in public areas. As of June 1, 2015, all indoor public places in Beijing are required by law to be 100 percent smoke-free, including indoor workplaces, restaurants and bars, hotels, airports, and public transport facilities. Despite this, Dr. Qiao thinks that the country's constant promotion of urbanization and industrialization are responsible for increase in the number of farmers suffering lung cancer. He notes "these two ambitions have indeed brought heavy pollution to rural China." In 2015, lung cancer occurred in 1.8 million people worldwide and claimed 1.6 million lives. And in China, there were 733,300 new cases and about 610, 200 people lost their battles with the disease. Overall, about 19.5 percent of people in urban China with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis. Outcomes are depressingly lower in rural areas, where only about 11.2 percent survive for the same five years. According to Dr. Qiao, a recent trend analysis shows the incidence of lung cancer in China has increased over the last 20 years and it is predicted that the disease burden will continue if no effective action taken to keep the disease at bay. Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, April 15, 2015. [Photo/IC] Taiwan's failure to get invited to Tuesday's International Civil Aviation Organization assembly in Montreal, Canada, should not come as a surprise for island leader Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party administration. Tsai should have expected this ever since she refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which lays out the one-China principle by the island and the Chinese mainland, on May 20, the day she assumed office. It is easy for Taipei to misread the failure and lay unwarranted blame on Beijing's opposition to the island's participation in international activities. But finger-pointing can neither solve the problem nor eliminate the main reason behind the ICAO's decision to not invite Taiwan this year. In 2013 when Taiwan's civil aviation authorities were invited to send representatives as non-voting delegates to the ICAO assembly, it was cross-Straits negotiations based on the understanding that both sides adhere to the 1992 Consensus that resulted in a special arrangement. Under the arrangement, Taipei was invited as a special guest of then-ICAO council president Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez because only sovereign states have the right to participate in ICAO within the UN framework. The DPP's refusal to adhere to the one-China principle, however, has undermined Taiwan's chances of participating in any international activity. Tsai and her administration have underestimated the damage the refusal to adhere to the one-China principle could cause. Under the leadership of former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT between 2008 and 2016, cross-Straits ties had grown stronger, with the inking of dozens of economic deals, closer personnel and cultural exchanges, as well as practical arrangements for Taiwan's participation in some international organizations and activities. In fact, the DPP administration's refusal to recognize the political basis of one China has already stalled bilateral communication and almost frozen cross-Straits ties since May 20. The suspension of institutional exchanges between top agencies in charge of cross-Straits relations of both sides and the sharp drop in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan are some of the signs of the tense ties. In essence, no way can Taipei participate in international organizations by bypassing the one-China principle, whether it is the ICAO assembly or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting scheduled for November in Peru. Taipei will meet more dead ends if it doesn't fulfill the prerequisites for its participation in world activities. The DPP administration should realize this, reflect on its cross-Straits policy and come up with a practical solution instead of playing the blame game. Police officers make a list of bank cards seized in a telecommunication fraud case in Xuchang, Henan province, in January.[Photo by Niu Yuan/China Daily] The Ministry of Public Security, along with the Supreme People's Court and four other State departments, issued a notice on Sept 23 setting Oct 31 as the deadline for telecom defrauders to surrender to police. Those who confess to their crimes before the deadline might get a lighter penalty, and those who don't will face severe consequences. This is widely seen as a move to end the rampant defrauding of people via phones. Beijing News welcomes the move: There have been many cases about telecom defrauders, pretending to be public security or judiciary officials, calling people and telling them to transfer money to a certain bank account. Such criminals have not only cheated people of their money but also have been responsible for some deathsseveral victims have suffered heart attacks or committed suicide. The notice will deter defrauders from cheating more people, and is within the legal framework, because there is a provision in law to hand down lighter punishment to those who admit their crimes. The central authorities have also taken other measures to prevent telecom frauds. For example, as most of the defrauders ask their victims to transfer money via ATMs, the notice specifies: From Dec 1 money transferred via ATMs will not be deposited in the receiver's account until 24 hours later, in order to make it possible for victims to get their money back. Other measures include requiring telecom service providers to suspend services to the account numbers involved in frauds and strengthen supervision of bank accounts. In other words, telecom companies, police and banks have finally united to end frauds. When 18-year-old Xu Yuyu from East China's Shandong province suffered a heart attack and died after being defrauded of the money for her college tuition fee this August, the suspects were quickly arrested. Yet many believed police acted so fast and efficiently because her case had drawn national attention. The notice, however, has raised people's hopes that telecom frauds will be reduced or even ended. Since telecom frauds are not the only threat to people, we also hope the ministry's notice sets an example for fighting other crimes. Potential homebuyers examine a property project model in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Feb 28, 2016.[Photo/VCG] Rising reality prices prompted serveral property owners in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, to nullify the sales contracts they had already signed with buyers. After a local court directed the realty owners to honor the contracts, they organized a protest on Aug 22 that turned violent. Police controlled the violence and put five of the demonstrators, including hired "protesters", in judicial custody. Beijing News comments: By organizing a violent "protest" on the court premises, the suspects have challenged the judiciary so they deserve to be punished. However, the case also teaches us a lesson. When realty prices rise sharply, some people will always regret signing sales contracts earlier; often property owners try to tear up the contracts they have already signed. How should a court deal with such a case? The law provides two possibilities: Ordering property owners to pay a penalty2 to 5 percent of the realty price to the buyeror directing them to honor the contract. Earlier, courts tended to opt for the first. But the problem is, with realty prices rising sharply, a property owner could tear up another contract, pay a fine and earn much more profit by selling the property at a still higher price. This could affect the market order. So a penalty can no longer stop people from breaking contracts. And if people get accustomed to nullifying contracts, they may no longer believe in the rule of law. The Shenzhen court has done the right thing by ordering the realty owners to honor the contracts. In fact, the law lists "executing the contracts" as a choice before the "penalty" clause. We do not mean to advise courts, but if all courts nationwide follow the Shenzhen court's example, the economic order can be better protected. Of course, the final solution is to control realty prices. Only when property prices are stable can the nullifying of contracts be ended. A letter from 81 year old woman Angie Morris, who is living in Vancouver, published on The Globe and Mail tells a warm story of her and her Chinese neighborhood and has been spread in Canada. An illustration screenshot from The Globe and Mail shows what Angie Morris mentions as her Chinese neighbor, Wing, sending her food everyday when she was recovering from an operation. "My doorbell rings at 11 a.m. On the step, I find an elderly Chinese lady; she is small and slight, and she's holding the hand of a little boy. In her other hand, she holds a paper carrier bag. The boy shrinks back as my yellow Labrador tries enthusiastically to greet him,"Angie wrote in the letter. The elderly Chinese lady, Wing, is the mother of Angie's neighbor, Nicole. She came to Canada to help take care of her grandson as Nicole went to Shanghai on business. Maybe it is because Nicole told her mother that Angie had just had heart surgery, Wing then brings food every day for Angie. The food, containing meat, vegetables, soup and pancakes, is made in a Chinese way. Neither Wing nor Angie can speak each other's language so they communicate with each other using body language. Sometimes Wing would invite Angie to her house and use a webcam with Nicole. So Wing would know whether Angie likes the food or not. As residents in Vancouver think the wealthy Chinese who have raised the local house price are a headache, the story of Angie and Wing tells them that it might be good to have a Chinese neighbor. WASHINGTON - 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. US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts after speaking at a campaign event at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US September 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] 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. CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte police released body camera and dashboard videos on Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a black man that triggered protests in the North Carolina city, but the footage did not show whether the victim was holding a gun. Charlotte police officer point their guns at a fallen Keith Scott (not seen) after shooting him four times in Charlotte, North Carolina, US in this September 20, 2016 still image from video released by Charlotte police. [Photo/Agencies] A dashboard camera from a police car showed Keith Scott, killed on Tuesday, exiting his car and backing away from it. Police shout to him to drop the gun, but it is not clear that he has anything in his hand. Then shots break out and Scott drops to the ground. A second body camera video from an officer does not show the moment of shooting. It shows Scott outside his vehicle before he is shot, but it is not clear whether he has something in his hand. Then the officer moves and Scott is out of view until he is seen on the ground. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney announced the release of the video at an earlier briefing, following days of demonstrations at which protesters demanded that authorities allow the public to see clips of the Tuesday shooting. Putney said before releasing the footage that the videos themselves were "insufficient" to prove that Scott held a gun. But the totality of evidence did, he said. "There is no definitive visual evidence that he had a gun in his hand, you can see something in the hand, and that he pointed it at an officer. That I did not visually see in the video," Putney said. "But what we do see is compelling evidence that, when you put all the pieces together, supports that." Police also released pictures including one of a handgun it says was recovered at the scene and an ankle holster police say Scott was wearing. The news conference came as demonstrators on Saturday mounted a fifth day of protests in Charlotte. They called for the end of emergency measures imposed on the city this week, the removal of National Guard troops and for officers involved in the incident to be prosecuted. The shooting of Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, was the latest in a series of deadly police encounters across the country in recent years that has raised questions about the use of force by U.S. law enforcement against African-Americans and other minorities. Raul Castro, president of the Cuban Council of State and the Council of Ministers, held a welcoming ceremony for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Havana on Sept 24, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] HAVANA - China on Saturday pledged to further forge ahead bilateral relations with Cuba through enhancing high-level exchange of visits and promoting economic cooperation. The pledge came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Saturday. Li arrived in the capital of the Caribbean country on Saturday afternoon following a visit to Canada. Hailing the progress made in the past 56 years since the two countries set up diplomatic ties, Li said China has firmly adhered to the policy of China-Cuba friendship, supported Cuba in following a socialist path and promoted bilateral pragmatic cooperation. China stands ready to further enhance high-level exchange of visits, deepen economic cooperation and step up coordination on international affairs with Cuba so as to push forward bilateral ties, said Li. Both China and Cuba are currently facing urgent tasks of developing the economy and improving the livelihood of the people, said the premier. China wants to focus on development and cooperation with the Cuban side, supports Cuba's industrialization process and would like to conduct cooperation with Cuba in infrastructural construction and industrial equipment production, Li said. The Chinese premier also called on the two countries to expand trade and investment cooperation, share development experience and make more frequent people-to-people exchanges. Raul Castro, for his part, spoke highly of the historic significance of Li's visit, the first official visit by a Chinese premier in 56 years. Li Keqiang makes history in visit to Havana, to visit Fidel Castro on Monday Premier Li Keqiang and Cuban President Raul Castro wave during their meeting at Havana's Revolution Palace, in Cuba, on Saturday. Huang Jingwen / Xinhua On the same day that Premier Li Keqiang made history in Havana, China and Cuba agreed to work together to boost the island nation's economic development. Li, who on Saturday became the first Chinese premier to visit Cuba in more than 50 years, vowed to help industrialize Cuba. The consensus was reached in talks between Li and Cuban President Raul Castro in Cuba's capital. The agreement could have a large impact on Cuba, where the economy last year grew at 4 percent year-on-year, according to China's Commerce Ministry. The premier, who heads home on Monday, also oversaw the signing of more than 20 agreements in Havana to ramp up cooperation in wide-ranging areas including finance and infrastructure. Li arrived in Havana Saturday afternoon after attending the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York and making an official visit to Canada. The premier is scheduled to visit former Cuban top leader Fidel Castro who celebrated his 90th birthday in August on Monday. Fidel Castro is Raul Castro's older brother. Both China and Cuba are engaged in the pressing tasks of developing their economies and improving the livelihood of their people, Li said. The Chinese side is ready to support Cuba's industrialization, he said. The two countries will work together on the planning of infrastructure construction projects, and launch cooperation in industrial equipment manufacturing. Trade, financing and investment activities will be intensified between the two countries, the leaders agreed. China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner. Bilateral trade was valued at $2.2 billion last year, a surge of 58.7 percent from the 2014 level, according to Chinese customs officials. Raul Castro said Cuba would borrow from China's experience and expertise in development, and enhance pragmatic cooperation with China, said a statement which was released after their talks. The two countries also will have more exchanges and collaboration in the world arena, joining hands to maintain the common interests of developing countries, the statement said. Before their meeting, Li attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to Jose Marti, a national hero for Cuba and an important figure in Latin American literature during the 1850s to 1890s. After their talks, Li and Raul Castro witnessed the signing of a score of intergovernmental agreements and business contracts covering a wide range of fields such as economy, technology, finance, industrial capacity cooperation, information communications, and inspection and quarantine. Cuba maintains good political relations with China, said Xu Shicheng, a researcher in Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. China could also increase investment in Cuba to help the country in infrastructure, food and the agricultural industry, internet connections and training of officials, Xu said, adding that both countries should expand military and security cooperation. Contact the writers at huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn (Photo : getty images.) India will woo Chinese companies at India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, which will be held next month, to invest in its ambitious make in India project. Advertisement India is planning to woo Chinese MNCs engaged in electronic manufacturing and textiles for its ambitious Make in India project. The Indian government plans to showcase India as an attractive investment destination with cheap labour and improved economic climate to lure Chinese firms. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement TheMake in India project, which is initiated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to revive India's long-undermined manufacturing sector by attracting foreign investment. Modi claims that reviving India's manufacturing sector is key to putting India back on the trajectory of high economic growth. To do this, India will send formal invitation to Chinese companies at India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, Times of India reported. The two-day dialogue will be attended by Chinese delegation of 220 businessmen and government officials slated on Oct. 6 to 7. "Labour wages are two to three times lower in India in comparison to China. We would want Chinese MNCs in areas like electrical and electronics and textiles to migrate to India to take advantage," Niti Aayog vice chairperson Arvind Panagariya, who will lead the Indian delegation for the dialogue, said. Panagariya claimed that since Chinese companies are shifting their manufacturing base to other countries to cut costs, India will prove to be an attractive investment destination. This would also help in creating more jobs and give a big push to India's exports, he added. Niti Aayog, an economic think tank formed by Indian government, will rejig the priorities set by the previous government for this year's dialogue. It will focus on giving a push to Narendra Modi's goal to develop smart cities and upgrade key infrastructure across the India cities. This will put focus of discussion more on railways and roads, solar energy, coal gasification, urbanisation, domestic electronic manufacturing and new policy initiatives like coastal employment zones. Several well-known Chinese companies like Huawei, Xiaomi and Foxconn have already committed billions of dollars for the Make in India project. China's tech company Huawei said on Friday it will start manufacturing smartphones in their Indian plant starting next month, a big step in the success of Make in India project. Advertisement TagsMake in India, India and China, Chinese MNCs, Chinese companies in India, China Make in India (Photo : getty images.) Amid growing tensions with India, China has assured its close ally Pakistan of unequivocal support in case of any foreign aggression. Advertisement In the wake of rising tension in India following the Uri attack, China has assured its close ally Pakistan of unequivocal support in case of any foreign aggression. The message was conveyed by a top Chinese diplomat to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "In case of any [foreign] aggression, our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," Consul General of China in Lahore Yu Boren was quoted as saying by the Shahbaz Sharif's Office. Yu met Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore on Friday to felicitate the latter on his 65th birthday, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported. Shahbaz Sharif is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan. Yu conveyed to Sharif during the meeting that China completely supports Pakistan's stance on Kashmir as well. The support comes barely days after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also assured Islamabad of unconditional support on the on-going Kashmir dispute. "We're and will be siding with Pakistan on 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 press release quoted the Chinese diplomat as saying. The tension between India and Pakistan increased dramatically after last week's Uri attack, which left 18 Indian soldiers dead. New Delhi alleges that the attack was carried out by a Pakistan-based terrorist organization. The attack led to Indian government waging a diplomatic battle to isolate Pakistan on international stage, while New Delhi's diplomatic aggression forced Islamabad to resort to its ally China for much needed support. Last week's Uri attack happened amid the growing violence in Indian-administrated Kashmir. The latest violence has left nearly 85 Kashmiri dead and countless injured. The northern Himalayan region is the main bone of contention for tension between two South Asian giants. Both countries have fought three wars over the region, but failed to find sustainable solution on the dispute. In the middle of this tension, Pakistan has continuously found a supporter in China, which it maintains good relations. Advertisement TagsChina and Pakistan, china, kashmir, India, Kashmir Dispute, China Pakistan Relations Support (Photo : Xinhua) Micius military quantum satellite Advertisement China's military-run space program said its Micius "quantum satellite" orbiting the Earth has established a "quantum channel" with ground stations. This is an important step in the quest of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of the Communist Party of China (CPC), to develop ultra secure military communications and quantum encryption systems impervious to hacking by the United States and its allies in a coming war. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Quantum encryption uses the principle of "quantum entanglement" to foster communication that's totally safe against eavesdropping and decryption by others. The satellite's true military nature is being disguised under the civilian name, Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, or QUESS. Publicly, QUESS is being billed as an international research project in the field of quantum physics. Micius or Mozi is operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) while the University of Vienna and the Austrian Academy of Sciences run the satellite's European receiving stations. The quantum satellite was launched last Aug. 16 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. QUESS is a proof-of-concept mission designed to facilitate quantum optics experiments over long distances to allow the development of military quantum encryption and military quantum teleportation technology. Chinese quantum physicist Pan Jianwei, who led the team that developed Micius, said a quantum channel has been established between the satellite and ground stations. He said his team successfully passed photons, the quantum form of light, between the satellite and ground stations in Tibet and Xinjiang in western China. QUESS' aim is to eventually send a quantum cryptographic key via the satellite from Beijing to Vienna to demonstrate that military-grade quantum encryption can't be broken. Pan said his team is still figuring out how to protect photons from the interference of daylight. This flaw limits experiments to night time on Earth. They must also find a way to prevent the signals carried by photons from getting lost in the journey through the atmosphere, said Pan. China plans a network of quantum satellites by 2030 that will augment a ground-based quantum computer network. This network will likely be extended from the currently operational 2,000 kilometer link between Beijing and Shanghai. China's quantum communication network will serve as a dual-use strategic asset that will primarily advance PLA's capacity for power projection through a constellation of space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. It will also assist the PLA's tactical warning and attack assessment; command, control, and communications; navigation and positioning and environmental monitoring. Advertisement TagsMicius, Quantum Satellite, Communist Party of China, Quantum encryption, quantum entanglement, Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, QUESS, Pan Jianwei, People's Liberation Army (Photo : China TopRS Technology Co.) ZC-5 aerial drone. (Photo : DigitalGlobe) Vietnam's island building in the Spratlys. Advertisement A state-owned aerial surveying firm will soon begin an extensive aerial survey to map what China claims are the islands and features in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea that belong to it. China TopRS Technology Co. Ltd. will use two of its largest unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or aerial drones to conduct the aerial mapping covering thousands of kilometers of ocean. The company will use its long-range ZC-5B and ZC-10 UAVs to map both seas, said Li Yingcheng, general manager. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China TopRS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping, a government agency engaged in basic theoretical studies and applications in surveying, mapping, geoinformation and related disciplines. These drones are the largest in the company's UAV fleet. The ZC-5B is a twin-boom UAV with an inverted V-tail. Its two-blade propeller is driven by a pusher engine mounted at the rear of the fuselage. ZC-5B, which is two meters long and can loft a five kilogram payload, is made of carbon fiber and is intended for long endurance surveillance. This UAV was specifically designed to map and survey open sea reefs. It has an operating range of 1,400 km and can work up to 30 hours. Not much information has been revealed about the ZC-10 but since China TopRS designates its UAVs by increasing complexity, the ZC-10 will likely be larger than the ZC-5B with longer range and a heavier payload. Li said the UAVs are equipped with China's Beidou satellite navigation system and can cover in one mission an area as large 80 nautical miles and partially areas spread across 1,500 nautical miles. China TopRS will probably avoid the airspace over the islands and reefs held by Vietnam or face the risk of its UAVs being shot down. The Vietnamese have rebuilt 10 islands in the South China Sea over the past two years and have deployed surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile batteries on some of them. A shoot down of a Chinese UAV by the Vietnamese will certainly inflame tensions in the disputed region, which the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a decision last July 12 said does not belong to China. This same court said China had infringed on Philippine sovereignty and ordered China to relinquish to the Philippines the islands it seized from the latter. China, which signed an international treaty that bound it to comply with the court's decision, has ignored the ruling and since then has heightened tensions by holding naval drills and hardening aircraft hangars on its illegally claimed islands. The Center for Strategic and International Studies' Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative has documented 10 sites where the Vietnamese have reclaimed land to improve the islands they claim. Vietnam has built some 120 acres of land compared to China's 3,000 acres of land in the Spratly Islands. Advertisement TagsChina TopRS Technology Co. Ltd, ZC-5B, ZC-10, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, Vietnam, spratly islands, South China Sea, East China Sea (Photo : UN) Chinese peacekeepers on patrol in Haiti. Advertisement A Chinese peacekeeping force has become the first standby, rapid deployment Formed Police Unit (FPU) in the history of the United Nations. The world's first standby unit for United Nations peacekeeping missions passed UN tests on Sept. 21 opening the door for the Chinese FPU participating in future UN missions. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "Today, altogether we have witnessed an excellent performance, a professionally formed police unit," said Ata Yenigun, chief for selection and recruitment at the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the test evaluator. "We have seen motivated personnel, a fit and healthy staff." Yenigun said another UN team will inspect the FPU's equipment in October. After assessment, and if everything goes well, the unit will be ready for rapid deployment. "China has set a high standard for its peacekeeping FPU," said Yenigun. "During the past few days (of the selection process), I have noticed that the team is professional, and many of its members have rich experience in peacekeeping. They are fully prepared, and can be sent for missions swiftly once there is need." The tests were held at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center in Langfang, Hebei province. China's Ministry of Public Security, which oversees China's UN peacekeeping operations, said all 160 members of the Chinese FPU passed with merit. During the UN Peacekeeping Summit in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised China will take the lead in organizing a standby FPU. Xi also announced China's plan to establish an 8,000-strong standby FPU for UN peacekeeping missions. China's standby FPU consists of 160 members. Of this number, 50 were stationed in countries, including Haiti and Liberia for peacekeeping missions. All the members passed three rounds of selection. Most understand or speak English since the peacekeeping missions have a high standard for language proficiency. On average, China contributes more troops to UN peacekeeping missions than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council. Advertisement TagsUnited Nations, Formed Police Unit, United Nations peacekeeping missions, Ata Yenigun, China Peacekeeping Police Training Center, Xi Jinping (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang shakes hand with Cuban President Raul Castro. Li is on a two-day visit to Cuba. Advertisement Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday in Cuba's capital city Havana. Li, who is on a two-day visit to Cuba, is the second high-profile Chinese leader to visit Cuba since both countries established diplomatic relationship 56 years ago. Both leaders signed nearly 30 agreements on Saturday, Reuters reported citing a report in Cuban state media. The agreements between both countries include cooperation on important areas like science, environmental, industry, energy, public health, and agricultural sectors. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China has reportedly agreed to extend a line of credit to Cuba for certain projects. However, it was not specified how much would be offered on credit. Speaking about his maiden visit to Cuba, Li told a Cuban state-owned newspaper that the purpose of his two-day visit is to "intensify the mutual political trust" between the two countries. Although Beijing and Havana are bonded by communist ideology, the two countries have never enjoyed close ties. This was mainly due to Cuba's self-isolation and the vast geographical distance between the two countries. However, Cuba has been pursuing a path of political transformation ever its talismanic leader Fidel Castro handed over the reins to his younger brother Raul. The country's decision to embark on the path of economic reforms has attracted the interest of several international investors. Cuba's decision to mend ties with the United States has also had a positive impact on the country's reputation on international stage. Earlier this week, Cuba welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who became the latest high-profile leader to visit the communist country. Advertisement TagsLi Keqiang, Raul Castro, China and Cuba, Cuba, Premier Li Keqiang's Visit to Cuba (Photo : GettyImages/LintaoZhang) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang concluded his four-day visit to Canada on Saturday. Advertisement Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrapped up his successful Canada visit on Saturday. During his visit, both countries explored various areas of bilateral cooperation and signed 29 accords including three law enforcement agreements. The visit saw development on many fronts including law enforcement, trade, and economy. Both the countries settled a trade dispute and agreed to start exploratory talks on a free trade pact. China also granted access to Canadian canola to its markets until 2020. Both countries set the goal of doubling their bilateral trade by 2025, from 2015 base. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Reuters reported that Beijing and Ottawa signed an agreement related to "sharing and return of forfeited assets." A law enforcement agreement between both nations is aimed at increasing cooperating between border agencies. The third agreement is a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Public Security of China and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. According to Xinhua, Li met several high-profile Canadian authorities during hi visit including Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan and Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey. Li expressed the willingness of the National People's Congress to boost the exchange of ideas with House of Commons and Senate. He also met Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. Justin Trudeau, who was elected Canada's prime minister last year, is keen on improving ties with China. Canada counts China as its biggest trading partner after the United States and the European Union. Before Li's visit to Canada, Trudeau had visited China. Advertisement Tagschina, Canada, Li Keqiang, Justin Theroux (Photo : Getty Images) India has agreed to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. Advertisement India on Friday sealed a crucial defense deal to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets from France at an estimated cost of $8.7 billion (7.8 billion Euros). This is India's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades, and it is expected to give a huge boost to the country's air force capabilities. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The deal was sealed after Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in New Delhi, ending almost three years of negotiation that saw both countries wrangling over terms and conditions. The first Rafale fighter jet is expected to be delivered to India in 2019, while rest of them will be delivered within six years, according to Reuters. New Delhi had initially placed an order for 126 Rafales with Dassault defense company but later settled for 36 jets as series of talks with the company collapsed. Dassault said in a statement that it welcomes the Friday's contract signing, while Parrikar said the deal would "significantly improve India's strike and defense capabilities." Concerns over the widening gap in India's air force capabilities has led to seen intense debt among Indian military experts. Experts claim that the existing deficiency makes Indian air force too vulnerable to compete against China and Pakistan's state-of-the-art planes. India is embroiled in a festering border dispute with both China and Pakistan. In past, India has engaged in war with both neighbors to resolve the border disputes. The multi-billion dollar Rafale deal comes amid simmering tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute. China has backed Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir issue after India waged a diplomatic battle to isolate Pakistan on the international stage. A top Chinese diplomat on Friday said that China would unequivocally support Pakistan in the wake of any foreign aggression. Advertisement TagsRafale deal, Rafale Figher Jet Deal, Rafale Deal With India, India, India and France, Pakistan, china (Photo : YouTube Screenshot) China's first crime-fighting droid called Anbot is patrolling round-the-clock in Shenzhen airport. Advertisement China's first intelligence security robot called Anbot started its round-the-clock patrol in the departure hall of Terminal 3 of the Shenzhen International Airport in Guangdong. Anbot, which was first introduced at the 12th Chongqing International Tech Fair in April, has four major capabilities including independent patrol, intelligent service, emergency response, and face recognition, according to China's People Daily. The droid will take a significant part in China's anti-terrorism and anti-riot measures. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The crime-fighting bot is equipped with four high definition cameras that take images of travelers and send these to security stations handled by human workers for analysis, Tech Worm reported. Aside from its aviation security task, Anbot could also respond to threats and emergencies with its non-lethal electrically charged riot control tool, which must be activated by a human operator. Running trouble makers have no escape too as the intelligent guard can accelerate at a maximum speed of 18 kilometers per hour (11 mph), Shanghaiist reported. At a normal pace, the droid could patrol at 1 kph. Anbot, which was developed by the National Defense University, stands 1.5 meters tall and weighs nearly 75 kilograms. In an interview last April, Xiao Xiangjing of the National University of Defense Technology told New China TV that Anbot, which appears like a Russian nesting doll, can function to a "high degree" on its own. "It can patrol, avoid obstacles, and then charge on its own. It is equipped with non-lethal weapons... it could be a service provider," Xiao said. The Anbot is just a part of a slate of innovations in key technologies including "low-cost autonomous navigation and intelligent video analysis," People's Daily reported. Advertisement TagsAnBot, Robot, DROID, Artificial Intelligence, shenzhen airport (Photo : Getty Images ) Philippines President Duterte is set to visit China in November to discuss the South China Sea dispute. Advertisement Beijing has welcomed Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to make his first official state visit to China next month. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Beijing hopes that Duterte could make his visit to China at an early date. He added both countries are in close communication over the issue. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China also reiterated its call for dialogue to end the South China Sea dispute between two nations. "It is only normal for any two countries to have differences on one thing or another. Huge differences or not, as long as China and the Philippines maintain the political willingness to resolve problems, there will be no insurmountable obstacles in the development of bilateral relations," Lu said during a regular press briefing in Beijing. In July, an international arbitration tribunal ruled against China in favor of the Philippines in a territorial dispute over the South China Sea. Duterte is planning his first state to China next month. He will also make a state visit to Japan in October. Duterte on Thursday said he is willing to enter into a dialogue with China to resolve the long-standing territorial disputes over the South China Sea. "I am willing to talk. I am going to China," the Filipino leader said. "And if it is just the two of us there, I will present the problem to him ( Chinese President Xi Jinping)." The newly-elected Philippines President, known for his anti-US tirade, also stated he would hold talks with China to grant Filipino fishermen rights to fish in the contested waters. Advertisement TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo : Getty Images) Chinese fighter jets and a refuel plane perform during the closing ceremony of a Sino-Russian military exercise on August 25, 2005 in eastern China's Shandong Province. Advertisement China Air Force on Sunday has conducted another series of drills and patrols in the Western Pacific region after passing through a strait between Japanese islands. Shen Jinke, a spokesperson from the People's Liberation Army Air Force, said that the sorties, which included more than 40 bombers and fighter jets, were part of its regular long-range drills in the Western Pacific and patrols over the East China Sea Air Defense identification Zone (ADIZ), Press TV reported. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement In a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense, Shen said the patrols were necessary to "carefully monitor and judge the foreign military aircraft that enter the anti-aircraft defense zone, to take measures to respond to different threats in the sky, and to protect national airspace." The Air Force's fleet also included H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters, and air tankers, according to state-backed Xinhua News agency. It conducted reconnaissance and early warning, attacks on sea surface targets, and in-flight refueling. The aircraft of China Air Force did the drills after it flew over the Miyako Strait, according to the statement. Miyako Strait, which is a body of water located between Japanese islands Miyako and Okinawa, has been often utilized as a strategic route by the Chinese navy to enter the Pacific Ocean from eastern China, Reuters noted. The exercises, however, took place amid increasing tensions over China's presence in the South and East China Seas. Meanwhile, a fleet of Chinese bombers, fighters, and early warning and aerial refueling aircraft also flew via the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan and the Philippines, to conduct exercises in the Western Pacific earlier this month. Advertisement TagsChina Air Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force, South China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, Japan, china, Miyako Strait home World Religious freedom violations in North Korea among worst in the world - report Advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has released a report slamming the religious freedom violations taking place in North Korea, concluding that the violations in the isolated regime "are among the very worst in the world." CSW notes in the report that freedom of religion in North Korea is "largely non-existent." Christians in North Korea are secretive about their faith and those who are discovered are likely sent to prison camps called "kwalinso." The report lists a number of human rights violations against Christians in the camps including extra-judicial killing, forced labor, torture, forced relocation, rape and other inhumane acts. Other documented incidents include Christians "being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges, and trampled underfoot." CSW acknowledges that since the release of a U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in 2014, the situation in North Korea has moved up in the agenda of the U.N. However, Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman reported in January 2016 that human rights violations still occur. The organization notes that the information in the report comes from secondary sources because on-site research is not possible. However, CSW maintains that the cited sources are highly credible. Some of the information was taken from "governmental organizations, international and national civil society organisations, academic papers and media articles." The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) lists only five Christian churches in Pyongyang. The North Korean regime has claimed that there are about 500 unofficial churches in the city but this figure has not been verified. North Korean escapees suggest that the churches are only used as propaganda sites for tourism and foreign exchange. The NKDB believes the regime uses religious organizations within the country to build up its image with foreign religious organizations. The Open Doors World Watch List ranks North Korea as the most dangerous place for Christians. The regime has maintained its rank in the list for 14 consecutive years. The organization labeled the source of persecution as "dictatorial paranoia." Christian event disrupted by extremists who oppose non-Jewish activities in Israel Even in the place where Jesus Christ preached God's Word, Christians are still not welcome up to this day by some people who do not believe in their faith. A group of extremists who oppose non-Jewish actions in Israel disrupted a Christian conference in the Clal Center in Jerusalem on Thursday. Members of the radical far-right Lehava organisation, led by Bentzi Gopstein, barged into the venue while a Christian choir was performing during the finale of the Manofim festival of contemporary art. They confronted believers who participated in the event, and shouted "Jew murderers!" and "Go back to Syria," prompting the choir to cut short its performance. Gopstein also confronted police who arrived at the scene to restore order. The far-right leader was reportedfly struck by a Border Police officer before he was arrested. Security forces were then posted at the entrance to the event to prevent Lehava members from going in, according to Haaretz. Wadie Abunassar, the executive director of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops in the Holy Land involved in the Christian conference, described the extremists' action as "barbaric." "We strongly condemn this barbaric act and call on the Israeli law enforcement authorities to put Gopstein and his people on trial, not only for this incident, but for all their activities that are full of violence and incitement," Abunassar said in a written statement, as quoted by The Times of Israel. He also urged Israeli authorities to pursue firm legal action against the extremists who disrupted the Christian event. "We take this opportunity to mention that we filed a police complaint against Gopstein over a year ago for similar actions," Abunassar added. "Likewise, we condemn any justification to infringe on the freedom of expression of any person." Aside from Gopstein, the police also arrested another unnamed activist after he reportedly refused to heed the authorities' orders to stop disrupting the Christian conference. LG V20 release date, news: First Android Nougat-run flagship to launch on Sept. 29 As the first flagship to come out of its box already loaded with the new Android Nougat 7.0 platform, it is expected that the LG V20 will be released to the market soon. Fans will not have to wait long as it is confirmed that the new flagship will become official on Sept. 29. According to a translated page from LG Electronics South Korea, the new company smartphone flagship will be available in its home country starting Sept. 29. The announcement also enumerated some purchase details on the new flagship. Later this month, the LG V20 will be available for KRW 899,800 which is around $810. The new iteration will be available in three colors. Meanwhile, as an introductory bundle, there is also a gift pack worth $185 that will be available for only $15 with the purchase of the LG V20. The bundle contains the expected add-ons for the new flagship like an LG Bluetooth speaker, LG headphones, or a charging dock. It is understandable that the LG V20 will roll out first in South Korea since it is the tech giant's home country. Although, a Sept. 29 rollout signals a global release for the new flagship. However, it is confirmed that the global launch will have a staggered release. A U.S. rollout of the LG V20 is revealed to be happening on Oct. 21. A European release date is yet to be confirmed. The LG V20 is touted to be the first flagship to run on Android Nougat 7.0 outright. It was first announced at the 2016 IFA trade show in Berlin. As a flagship, the LG V20 also runs on top-tier specs like a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of onboard memory which is expandable to up to 2 TB. The LG V20 also features the same Always On screen as its predecessor. This is a secondary, 2.1-inch display on top of its main screen. The main one, on the other hand, is a 5.7-inch display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. 'Respond With Love': Pope Francis Meets Grieving Nice Relatives Pope Francis met with friends and families of victims of the Nice terror attacks on Saturday as he looked to comfort them and urged them resist the temptation to "respond to hatred with hatred and to violence with violence". "I desire to share your pain", he told them as he promised to pray for their loved ones who had died. He said the Church "remains close to you and accompanies you with immense compassion". He also used his address in the Vatican to tell those who were "attacked by the demon" to respond with "forgiveness, love and respect for your neighbour" rather than giving in to the temptation to react with hate and violence. Earlier this week he denounced any form of violence within religion and insisted "there is no God of war". Among the some 1,000 people who attended the ceremony were members of Nice's Jewish community and a local Muslim imam. "It makes me happy to see that inter-religious relations are very vibrant among you, and this cannot but soothe the wounds left by this dramatic event," said Francis. Islamic State (IS) militants claimed responsibility for the July 14 Nice attack. Less than two weeks later, IS militants killed an elderly French priest, Father Jacques Hamel, in his church, prompting the pope to declare the "the world is at war". But the pope also insisted the war was not a religious one, and that it was wrong to "identify Islam with violence", suggesting instead that the lack of economic opportunities for young people in Europe was one of the causes of terrorism. After speaking briefly, the pope descended from the pulpit and spent more than 45 minutes meeting those who attended the ceremony, many of whom were in tears. Additional reporting from Reuters. The Lie Single Christians Believe And How It's Harming Mission Singleness is a wonderful gift in our churches and on the mission field. So, why do we act like there's something wrong with it? Here's an idea. What if we didn't tell single people to wait? What if we decided not to assure them that God has the perfect person out there for them and they just need to be patient while he refines them? What if we stopped treating singleness like a stopgap, took the words of Paul seriously and realised that maybe it actually is "better to stay unmarried" (1 Corinthians 7:8)? Some single Christians have believed a lie. An unbiblical lie that the evangelical community has subscribed to and disseminated. A lie which says happiness, fulfilment and success come from a ring on your finger. That marriage and adulthood are synonymous. Single people have inadvertently been told that they're not ready or grown-up enough to be used by God. They have been put in a waiting room while there are hundreds of opportunities available for them to serve right now in a myriad of ways in which their singleness actually gives them a practical, and maybe even a spiritual, advantage. Amazing single Christians have been changing the world for the last 2,000 years. And they are doing so today. It's time for the Church to start recognising it and encouraging single people to use the gifts God has given them, at home and in overseas mission. They've got a lot to offer. "I felt a freeness to go, being single," says Justin, a missionary in Chad (name has been changed). "I realised I was in a stage of life where I could just drop everything and try this out." Justin is working in a very rural area in Chad, a majority Muslim country. Life can be unstable and, for him, being single has significant benefits. "It's the reason I'm here," he says. "I think if I was married and had a family I would really feel the burden of it. That is not true of everyone, and there are amazing couples and families out there serving. But personally I just feel so much less worried. I can go out and come home whenever I need to. And it's really easy to make decisions." When Justin decided to take the step into overseas mission there were people who asked, 'are you going to Chad to find a wife?' It's an undermining questioning of motive that married missionaries face far less often. "I think a lot of people haven't even thought that you can live life in a state of singleness and that be okay," he says. "It doesn't come up often, but sometimes there's a need to just tell people, 'actually, I'm having a great life.'" Rev Dr Lina Toth (formerly Lina Andronoviene) has studied singleness and the evangelical Church's view on it extensively and has come to the conclusion that our view on marriage and family life is based on Old Testament pinciples. "One of the accusations towards the first Christians was that they were destroying the Roman society because they were anti-family," Toth says. Early Christians found their primary community in the church, and many of them were purposefully single an approach that directly contrasted with the Roman pagan emphasis on family. "I don't think most Christians and most churches grasp quite how radical the New Testament is," Toth adds. "Starting with Jesus saying: 'who is my mother and who is my brother?', all the way to Paul saying: 'I wish all of you were single, because it is so much better.'" According to Toth, while our churches occasionally preach on the 'gift of singleness', an undertone in church life often implies that there is something wrong with single people leaving many singles fervently praying that God hasn't given them that gift. Questions that amount to: 'why are you still single?' are asked over coffee at the end of a Sunday service, and well-meaning couples relentlessly try to match-make their single friends. It's rare to find single ministers, and in some churches it is an actual prerequisite of leadership to be married. "There's an assumption somehow that single people are less mature, less experienced," says Toth. "I would say many churches are suspicious of singleness." The overwhelming emphasis on marriage within the church can result in single people missing the unique opportunities their singleness provides whether they are single involuntarily and temporarily or whether it is what God has called them to long term. World mission owes much to singles. People like Mother Teresa and Jackie Pullinger. People like Paul. And of course, the author of mission himself, the one who told us to 'go' Jesus. The freedom found in singleness creates opportunities to work in places where it would be very difficult for families to serve. Laura-Lee Lovering is living and working in a rural town in Peru's Amazon, with Christian charity BMS World Mission. There are no international schools where she is serving, so if she had children it would be challenging to work there. "The benefit of having single people on the mission field is that we can just get up and go wherever we need to," Lovering says. "Single people can be sent to places where it wouldn't be practical to send a family." There's also the gift of focus. "The very biblical answer is that 'of course, if I am single, I can focus fully on the work and my relationship with the Lord,'" says Laura. "And to a big extent, that's true. I don't have to worry about anything else I can simply worry about my relationship with God and how I can maximise my time for the ministry. No-one's going to say: 'you haven't spent time with me. You need to spend time with the kids.'" While it may be easier to focus, being single in mission is not straightforward. If it's an uncomfortable novelty for someone to be single and happy in the UK, in countries like Peru and Chad, where Lovering and Justin are serving, it's completely counter-cultural. Laura is often asked when she is going to get married by her Peruvian colleagues and the people she meets. "It used to bother me," she says. "I used to think, 'why aren't you asking me if I am happy? Surely that's the important thing.' But now I just gloss over it. It's important to them." Singleness is often equated with loneliness, and the fear of being lonely is undeniably a big factor when choosing to become a missionary. For many people, the leap of faith needed to embark on mission is too big to take alone. While in the New Testament, Christians' primary community was the church family, in our modern Western society the 'normal' way to find belonging is often through marriage and children. And concern about being alone and lonely is legitimate. "At times it is lonely, yeah," Justin says. "I think that's part of the cost. Loneliness is always an issue. You can be married and lonely, or single and lonely. I think that sense of belonging only comes through committed community. We all need that. Marriage is obviously an amazing means of finding that, but it is not the only one." Society's obsession with a 'happily ever after' has rubbed off on the church, and "we have completely sold ourselves to the myth of happiness coming from coupledom," says Toth. Buying into that lie can rob us of our joy and potential. "This is a good part of my life," says Justin, "and from my perspective it's ideal right now." The Bible celebrates a diversity of people and relationships, and Toth believes the church will grow healthier and stronger if we start to do the same. "The evangelical church often prides itself on following the Bible, but it's definitely failing to take seriously what the New Testament says about singleness and marriage," she says. "We need to convert and really embrace the radical nature of our call." Of course, that doesn't mean it's wrong for single people to want to get married, or that marriage and family don't bring great things to the church and the mission field. Of course they do. But God's will looks different for each person. Perhaps it's time to start building real Christian community, where we love each other singles and marrieds like brothers and sisters, children and parents. Marriage is a wonderful gift but it's a calling, not an inevitability. Singleness can be a wonderful gift too. If we encourage people to cherish it and use it while they have it, our churches could be safer spaces and our mission more effective. We'll also stop annoying the single people in our lives and that has to be a good thing. "If the Lord's chosen you to do something then let him guide you, let him send you. You don't have to be in a couple to do mission," says Lovering. "If you do need to be in a couple, he'll provide you with someone. And if you don't, you'll be OK." Sarah Stone works for a British Christian mission agency. A domestic spat broke out into gunfire Sunday morning, when a woman in Houston allegedly shot her boyfriend and fled, according to police. Just after midnight, the couple started arguing in their home a few blocks from Texas Southern University. The woman - who police have not identified - allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting her boyfriend in the leg. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The battle cries of angry activists echoed through the Third Ward Saturday night as dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters blocked streets and shouted obscenities at the swarm of police flanking the march. Sparked by the recent police-involved shootings of black men in Oklahoma and North Carolina, the MacGregor Park protest kicked off at 6 p.m., just minutes after Charlotte police released much-awaited footage of the moments leading up to the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Halfway through the meandering Houston march, mounted police squared off against protesters in a parking lot, but ultimately activists agreed to take a different path, and officers followed along to guide traffic. Briefly, marchers blocked the intersection of Scott and Wheeler, but after a few rounds of ebullient chants of "Hands up, don't shoot," the crowd continued on its way to Texas Southern University. "We're tired of seeing what's going on in America. We're fed up," protest leader Deondre Moore said as crowds gathered before the demonstration. "Every morning I see black and brown bodies in the street. I don't feel safe when I see a police officer coming around. I'm afraid to say this, but white people don't have to deal with this," he continued. "When something is wrong, we need to call it for what it is - systematic racism, police brutality, a system that wasn't built for people who look like me. It needs to be dismantled and rebuilt." Houston Community College student Gregory Chatman, 25, added: "Too many times people are dying at the hands of cops. We're tired of coming here and saying black lives matters - police need to stop killing us." Meeting under a statue of Martin Luther King Jr., a diverse assembly of protesters, toting colorful signs and wearing bold-print Black Lives Matter shirts, opened with a moment of silence - followed by more than two hours of impassioned shouting. Keri Blakinger "Black lives do matter because I'm a black woman," said Rebecca Nelson, 43, who spontaneously joined in the protest after spotting it during her niece's birthday party in the same park. "Nothing from no one else," she added."It's just saying that I'm someone too." Other speakers stressed the importance of nonviolent protest and making changes. One woman specifically encouraged attendees to vote against GOP candidate Donald Trump because "he's speaking like a fascist." Sometimes ignoring police requests to stay in one lane, protesters spilled out across the street as they snaked through University of Houston campus and into the Third Ward, sounding off with a slew of group chants, including, "No justice, no peace, no racist police" and "Pig, pig, bang, bang." "F--- blue lives," shouted one particularly incensed demonstrator. A large police presence - including numerous vehicles, at least 15 mounted officers and another 30 or more on foot - corralled the crowd, negotiating with leaders from time to time about which paths they could take. As the evening's exertions wound up on Texas Southern campus, still-energetic protest leaders stopped for another round of chants and speeches and a quick and unexpected moment of slam poetry. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Led by Mayor Turner, 30 Houstonians departed Sunday for a three-day trade missions to Cuba, as America reignites connections to the communist nation after more than 50 years of estrangement. Turners office, in a release, said the group included representatives from the Texas Medical Center, Houston Port Authority, Houston Airport System, Houston Community College, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, United Airlines, several City Council members and Houston based companies. There are opportunities to explore in the areas of health care, sports, energy, trade and the arts, Turner said. I want to begin the delicate process of drawing Houston and Cuba closer together. READ MORE: Houston charter gets permission to fly to Cuba Officials did not detail specifics of the trip or with whom the delegation would be meeting. Gov. Greg Abbott visited Cuba in December, on what was billed as a trade mission. Diplomacy between America and Cuba has led to a loosening of travel restrictions and easing of tensions between the former Cold War adversaries. In July 2015, the countries re-established diplomatic relations. Flights between the countries began earlier this year, with direct flights by United from Bush Intercontinental to Cuba are scheduled to start Nov. 29. READ MORE: Rice University to have baseball, educational trip to Cuba in November Turner has other foreign missions on the horizon. In addition to meeting with Mexican officials when he visits Mexico City for a Houston Texans game on Nov. 21, the mayor has said he intends to visit South Africa next month and is scheduling a trip to China. We cant say that Houston is a world-class city unless we are reaching out and establishing international relationships, Turner said in a statement. 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. Blog Hinangai While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity. Cleveland police officer stock Gregory Boey, 37, died Saturday afternoon in a shooting on East 79th Street near Superior Avenue in Cleveland. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 37-year-old Cleveland man was shot dead Saturday night in the city's St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man Sunday morning as Gregory Boey. Boey was shot about 5:45 p.m. at East 79th Street and Myron Avenue, just north of Superior Avenue, police said. Paramedics rushed Boey to University Hospitals Case, where he was pronounced dead within an hour, police said. Witnesses told police that Boey got into an argument with another man, who pulled a gun, shot Boey and fled, police said. Investigators did not release a description of the shooter. Boey's death brings the city's homicide tally to 89 this year. To comment on this post, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Cleveland school district test scores compared to state averages 2012-16.jpg Cleveland school district test scores have improved - compared to a declining state average - since voters passed a 2012 school tax and since an improvement plan, the Cleveland plan for Transforming Schools, was passed by the state legislature. (William Neff/The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mayor Frank Jackson and the Cleveland school district promised in 2012 to improve the district and to put more students in better schools through their school improvement plan and with money from a tax increase that year. Four years later, results are mixed, at least as measured by Ohio's state tests. Here's the bad news: As you have probably heard, the state handed the district straight Fs on the recent state report cards. With those results, any creep by the district up from the very bottom of state test score rankings has stalled. There's also some good news: Test scores for Cleveland schools have improved - if you compare them to the declines seen by other districts across Ohio. Cleveland's Fs came as the state ramped up expectations on students and schools. Ohio gave no F grades on a key report card measure the previous two years, but Cleveland received one of seven this year. A grades on that measure fell from 37 in 2014 to two in 2016. And Ohio has also switched to the multi-state Common Core learning standards, to taking more state tests online, to requiring higher scores to earn high ratings and between three different state tests in as many years - - Ohio Achievement Assessments through 2014, PARCC in 2015 and AIR in 2015. To offer some control for all these changes, The Plain Dealer did a statewide analysis that compares each school and district's scores to the state average score in each of the last five years. Click here for more on that comparison. Click here to see the comparison for all districts in Ohio. Click here to see the comparison for all schools in Ohio. With that comparison, Cleveland had relatively better scores in 2016 than when the Cleveland Plan began and voters passed the 2012 tax. It's a change from really, really low scores to not-quite-as-low scores that are far from good, just with an upward trend. The district had the 15th highest improvement in the state over that period, in our comparison. District spokesperson Roseann Canfora noted that Cleveland's adjusted scores increased the second-most in Cuyahoga County over that period. "While we are still below the average," Canfora said, "this would show that we are moving in the right direction and moving more so than the vast majority of districts." She and other district officials said the gap in scores between Cleveland and suburban districts in this analysis, just like with state report cards, overlooks the socioeconomic challenges holding back mostly-poor students with high disability levels and often with limited English language skills. Click here for a look at how Cleveland did compared to the other Ohio 8 Coalition urban districts. The Plain Dealer also calculated two comparisons of schools in the city from 2012 to 2016 and their enrollments for a look, albeit a limited one, at whether the district is making progress on its goal for having "more kids in better seats." These show no progress, or even backsliding. The Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools called for improving enough school district and charter schools that it would triple the number of students in high-performing schools. The goal of the Cleveland Plan was to triple the number of students in high quality schools from 11,000 in 2011 to 34,000 by 2018 - a deadline that's still two years away. But we can't use the same way of defining quality schools that the district and Jackson used in 2012. Their goal was based off of old state report card grades that are not calculated anymore. The Plain Dealer could not even calculate them ourselves without access to scores of individual students. So, we again compare Cleveland schools relative to state average scores for each year, each time with different averages for each year to account for how the tests and scoring changed for everyone. We found: - Cleveland has fewer students in district schools that score above state average today - 2,227 - than the 4,031 in 2012. - Cleveland has a few more students in schools that are falling further behind the state average today - 18,847 - than are in schools that are improving and closing the gap toward the state average - 17,241. The goal of putting more students in stronger schools also included charter schools in the city, especially a handful of schools that the district has chosen as partners and who receive some money from the 2012 tax. But these charter partners only add 820 students in schools scoring above state average in 2016, with almost 4,000 students in schools scoring below. This analysis is limited by the district closing several schools and opening new ones over that period, so that there is no comparison from 2012 to now. In addition, it does not account for how far above or below the state average a school is, or how much or how little it improved. Gordon himself conceded that the district and partnering charter schools are not meeting that goal. "We have not yet met our goal of tripling the number of students enrolled in high-performing district and charter schools," Gordon said in his State of the Schools speech this year. District spokesperson Roseann Canfora said that there are more ways to define quality schools than report cards, though that is the method that Gordon and Jackson used in setting their goal in 2012. "More kids in better seats is not just a score," she said. Large improvements in the district's graduation rate, along with high school scores holding stronger than elementary schools suggest that the district is improving high schools, Canfora said. And she said that the district has created several specialized schools - like its digital arts high school downtown and its new high school partnership with MetroHealth Medical Center - that offer students choices that they and their families like. Paolo Demaria, Ohio's state superintendent, has warned against drawing too many conclusions from comparing tests. "We have a system in transition," Demaria said, stressing that the state will not compare grades from year to year. "I have been telling people it's really not comparable." Superintendents across the state have also lashed out against the most recent state report cards that were released late last week as "flawed" and "broken" for making so many changes in expectations and measurements And State Rep. Andrew Brenner, the Powell Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee, said he sees some anomalies in results that have him discounting the results. "I am urging caution of these report cards this year, given the fact that we've had some transitions," Brenner said. "I would urge caution on anybody looking at it, even Cleveland city schools." But with 2012's 15 -mill levy - one that raised school tax rates in the city by roughly 50 percent - up for renewal in November, comparisons are inevitable. Jackson and Gordon forced them in their campaign for the Plan and levy, even knowing many of these state testing changes were coming. Click here for more about what the tax means to the district and costs you. Both Gordon and Jackson repeatedly promised voters they would improve the schools if the levy passed. "if we don't, then voters get to hold us accountable by not renewing the levy," Gordon said at a campaign luncheon at the Corporate Club at Landerhaven that fall. police tape.jpg A 36-year-old man shot dead at an abandoned Cleveland home Friday night has been identified as Christopher Sullen, of Oakwood. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man shot dead at an abandoned home Friday night has been identified as a 36-year-old Oakwood man. Christopher Sullen died at University Hospitals late Friday after he was found shot at Hopkins Avenue and Lakeview Road, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office. Officers found Sullen about 10 p.m. Saturday night lying near the intersection in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, police said. Investigators believe Sullen was shot at an abandoned building nearby, then stumbled out toward the intersection and collapsed. Police have not identified a suspect, and released no description of the shooter. Sullen's death came at the end of a 24-hour span that saw five homicides reported, the deadliest span one-day span in the city so far this year. To comment on this post, please visit our crime and courts comments section. votingA.jpg Guest columnist Jeremy Jusek is critical of voting restrictions initiated by some Ohio officials. (Marvin Fong/Plain Dealer/file photo) Jeremy Jusek Guest columnist Jeremy Jusek is a freelance writer living in Parma with his wife and two kids. He runs the monthly West Side Poetry Workshop at the Parma Library on Powers Boulevard. Interested adults can register online at the library's website. Check him out at jeremyjusek.com. Voting should be a fundamental right for everyone, yet since the dawn of our country lawmakers have attempted to abuse the voting system to legally rig elections. The laws we pass support the public idea that every vote is sacred. In 1920 the 19th Amendment was added to the Constitution, eliminating gender as a voting barrier. The follow-up Voting Rights Act of 1965 addressed racial discrimination in voting. Today most states allow rehabilitated felons cast ballots, while Maine and Vermont allow inmates to participate from prison. But let's return to the Voting Rights Act for a moment. One of its provisions required any law associated with voting to enter federal channels for approval. When it was first passed officials at the state level viewed this akin to using a SWAT team to handle a jaywalker, but Congress wasn't deterred. They wanted to ease "an insidious and pervasive evil which had been perpetuated in certain parts of our country through unremitting and ingenious defiance of the Constitution." South Carolina v. Katzenbach, 383 US 301, 309 (1966). Since the Voting Rights Act was passed, politicians at the state level have attempted to lower participation of unfavorable demographics using tactics straight from the bigoted Grandfather Clauses passed in response to Reconstruction. This is not hyperbole. Dallas County in Alabama tried to outright purge black voters in 1990. In 1995, Mississippi attempted to reinstate an 1892 Grandfather Clause--a dual registration system written specifically to lower African American participation. In 2004 the attorney general of Waller County in Texas moved to legally prosecute two black college students for voting in local elections. In the mid-2000's Texas first challenged the Voting Rights Act and a host of litigation has followed from dozens of states looking for legal weaknesses. States rushed to create less obtuse laws--mostly focused on voter identification--to bar voting participation. Then in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder the Supreme Court ruled Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. In the three short years since state-level voter restriction laws surged, leaving the federal government to sort out individual constitutionality at its usual pace--the speed of the dying sun. In the meantime voters are suffering. Since the 2013 ruling swing states like Ohio have aggressively attacked any aspect of the voter laws possible. Same-day registration is gone. Our Golden Week is gone. Restrictions were placed on who was allowed to mail absentee ballot applications. Most recently Ohio purged a whopping 200,000 voters, with 52,000 of those registered in Cuyahoga County. The claim is voter participation frequency, a series of words so meaningless it could serve as ad copy for office supplies. To note, purging voters for death is common. Purging for inactivity is not. Voters should not be denied based on how often they participate. Before you think the courts will protect voters, just know a federal judge in Columbus upheld the purge. The claim is these voting restrictions overcome fraud. The Washington Post found out of a billion votes cast between 2000 and 2014 there were only 31 cases of fraud across the entire nation. Are those 31 cases spread over more than a decade worth the abandonment of many Ohio voters? The New York Times just published an article called "Some Republicans Acknowledge Leveraging Voter ID Laws for Political Gain," wherein they cited numerous Republican-controlled states that used false claims of voter fraud and aggressive voting laws immediately before elections to gain leverage. For instance, regarding a final State Senate hearing on several voter ID bills in Wisconsin: "A handful of the GOP Senators were giddy about the ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing minority and college voters." Mike Turzai of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has stated voter ID laws would allow Governor Romney to win the state in November, and political consultant Scott Tranter acknowledged that restrictive voting laws is just a tool in his [Republican] party's toolbox. We are not a trivial state. Since 1960 no president has entered the White House without first winning Ohio. And voting laws are one of those topics that seem to disappear immediately following elections. But know this--more than 2 percent of Ohio's voting age population was just removed with little public discussion. The going rhetoric wants you to believe that this 1 in 31,000,000 chance of in-person voting fraud is worth blocking all those people from doing something the government agrees even rehabilitated felons should do: vote. So for this election I urge you to do two things. First, check and confirm you are registered for the November 8 election. The last day to register is October 11, less than three weeks away. Second, contact John Kasich's office. Contact Jon Husted, Mike DeWine, and your state representatives. Tell them everyone deserves a voice. Tell them you want your Golden Week back. Tell them our right to freedom of speech would never be infringed upon to win an election, and ask them to explain what the difference is when our right to vote is intentionally corroded. But most importantly, please don't forget about these voting laws after the election, because without public action, they likely aren't going anywhere without a fight. Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue) just below. Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Linda Kinsey at lkinsey@cleveland.com. Essays must also include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting today's topics are also welcome. Heroin deaths Heroin, along with the powerful medication fentanyl, is expected to be responsible for up to 500 overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County this year. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Authroities here issued a warning to the public after seven people fatally overdosed on heroin or fentanyl Saturday across Cuyahoga County. "This cluster of deaths is deeply concerning," Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson said in a Saturday statement. "Although there is no clear link between the individuals, this number clearly raises the possibility of a very deadly drug in our community." Gilson said that his office has no evidence linking the cases together. He urged that, if people are going to use drugs, they not use them alone and not mix different drugs together to minimize the risk of overdosing. The medical examiner's office said it is still conducting tests to determine which drugs were involved in the overdoses. But the news comes months after outbreaks of overdoses in Akron and Cincinnati involving the animal sedative carfentanil left dozens dead. "Carfentanil is a concern any time there are multiple fatalities," said Gilson's spokesman, Chris Harris, pointing out that the office is still testing drugs. Cuyahoga County is on pace to log more than 500 overdose deaths from heroin, fentanyl or a combination of the two this year. Ambulance Cleveland police say a 22-year-old Euclid woman drove drunk, high and in excess of the speed limit when she crashed head-on into an SUV, killing her passenger, 21-year-old Stephanie Greene. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 22-year-old Euclid woman is accused of causing a fatal head-on crash early Sunday while she was drunk, high and speeding, police said. The woman, who is hospitalized and in need of surgery, has not been arrested or charged in the 12:30 a.m. crash near St. Clair Avenue near Woodworth Avenue. The collision killed the passenger in the Euclid woman's car, whom police identified as 21-year-old Stephanie Green. Police say the Euclid woman recklessly drove her Chevrolet Malibu westbound on St. Clair Avenue and crossed the center line and struck a Dodge Journey head-on. Paramedics rushed Greene to University Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The driver of the Journey was seriously injured, as was the Euclid woman. They were both rushed to local hospitals. The Euclid woman faces aggravated vehicular homicide charges, police said. To comment on this post, please visit our crime and courts comments section. TWINSBURG, Ohio -- Firefighters here battled a blaze that broke out at a scrap metal facility in an industrial park Sunday afternoon. The fire ignited in several tractor trailers that housed scrap metal off Highland Road next to Crown Hill Cemetery, the department said. Firefighters from multiple departments were still working to extinguish it as of 1:30 p.m. Companies that process aluminum and recycle computer hardware share the building. It's unclear which company owned the trailers that caught fire, the department said. The fire sent large black clouds of smoke billowing into the sky. fuelcells.jpg In this 2007 file photo, student lab worker Trent Hovis looks at a fuel cell being tested at the Wright Fuel Cell Center in Cleveland. Millions of grant dollars from Ohio's Third Frontier program helped build the center, as well as develop the state's fuel cell industry. Today, the industry sector is booming -- but needs help from Congress to extend its investment tax credits as it moves more products into commercialization, writes Pat Valente of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition. (Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer, File, 2007) Pat Valente of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition Fuel cells have long been viewed as a breakthrough technology for transportation and stationary power, offering unprecedented efficiency, ultralow emissions and the potential to use current fuels as well as renewable fuels. Recognizing fuel cells' potential to expand manufacturing, the state of Ohio planted the seeds to allow a new dynamic industry to flourish in the state. In the early 2000s, for instance, Ohio's Fuel Cell Program, under the broader Third Frontier program, offered millions of dollars for low-interest loans, research and development, and worker training. Another one of those seeds was the creation of the Elyria-based Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, which has received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and sparked further growth. The fuel cell industry now includes a broad network of supply chain participants, several fuel cell integrators, and researchers developing breakthrough technologies spread throughout dozens of our cities. This strong base and dedicated support from the state has prompted leading innovative companies, such as LG Fuel Cell Systems (in North Canton) and Johnson Matthey ex-Catacel (in Ravenna), to choose Ohio to invest and expand. With more than $100 million in fuel cell components purchased from Ohio supply chain companies last year, there now isn't a fuel cell manufactured in the United States that does not include Ohio components. As a result, Ohio is recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the rising states leading the development, component manufacture, and commercialization of fuel cell technology. That's what will be discussed when the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition hosts its 2016 Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium in Canton and North Canton on Monday and Tuesday. We hope this event will help us build on Ohio's fuel cell strength in the automotive and aerospace industries while also fostering industry collaboration. Our state is home to many fuel cell industry players. Crown Equipment Corp., in New Bremen, for instance has become the international leader in the fuel cell material handling equipment market, with more than 3,500 fuel cell-powered lift trucks in service. In late 2014, Cleveland-based lift truck manufacturer Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc. acquired a fuel cell manufacturer and hydrogen fuel generation company in Massachusetts - Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc. Meanwhile, Plug Power, a leading fuel cell integrator, opened a service office in Dayton tasked with monitoring more than 130 commercial hydrogen dispensers. And next year, the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority will operate the largest fuel cell bus fleet outside California. On a national level, as well, fuel cells boost American manufacturing and exports, with several of the world's leading companies based in the United States. Currently, almost a quarter of the top 100 companies on the Fortune 500 list use fuel cells for primary or backup power generation, or to power fuel cell material handling equipment. What's more, the fuel cell industry supports thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly. The good news is that the fuel cell industry is expected to continue benefiting our state. As fuel cell applications continue to gain market share and expand into new areas, the industry is anticipated to undergo significant growth. Some years ago, the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition and NorTech joined forced to roadmap the fuel cell industry's trajectory in Ohio. According to our estimates, Ohio's fuel cell industry could add up to 1,650 jobs by 2019. If that's not a win for U.S. manufacturing and job growth, I don't know what is. Today, fuel cells are at a critical stage, moving from technology advancement to commercial products, a time when the first products are very expensive because volumes are low. The federal investment tax credit helps early products compete until commercial volumes are achieved. It's because of this industry's potential for growth and job creation that we want to make sure Congress takes steps to ensure Ohio-based companies can continue to expand and hire skilled workers. One thing Congress can do is extend an investment tax credit for fuel cell technologies like it's done for the solar industry, leveling the playing field for advanced energy solutions. Advanced energy technologies like fuel cells require years of research and development, manufacturing and production, and scaling to cultivate a concept into a commercialized, established business. Extension of the investment tax credit for fuel cells will be critical to spur early adopter demand of the technology, which will ultimately help drive the cost of the technology down and establish it in the marketplace. Pat Valente is executive director of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, a group of industry, academic, and government leaders working collectively to strengthen Ohio's fuel cell industry and to accelerate the transformation of the region to global leadership in fuel cell technology. ********* Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue) just below. Quote from article:"Added Morell about Trump: He cares more about himself than anything else, including his nation. The definition of a patriot is someone who puts his nation above everything else in his life. In that regard, Donald Trump is not a patriot. The positions that he has taken are positions that are 100 percent in line with his business interests. The American people have a right to know what these businesses are and whether or not his policies are influenced by those business interests.Anyone who supports a traitor like Trump are just as traitorous as the Trump and should be dealt with accordingly. Colonial Ale Source: Blue Point Brewing Company Hofstra University, located in Hempstead on New York's Long Island, will find itself the center of the political universe on Monday night as the host of the first presidential debate of 2016. To celebrate one of the most anticipated presidential debates in recent memory, Long Island based beer maker Blue Point Brewing Company has turned to another moment of local history for inspiration. The company has created Colonial Ale, inspired by George Washington, who was both a beer lover and home brewer. Colonial Ale will join Blue Point's flagship Toasted Lager and a other Blue Point products in being served in the hospitality room of the debate center at Hofstra, which is sponsored by its parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. In 1790, after being elected the nation's first president a year earlier, Washington took a tour of Long Island, visiting Hart's Tavernbelieved to have been located about five blocks from Blue Point's brewery in Patchogue. A plaque commemorating Washington's visit now marks the spot where Hart's Tavern is believed to have stood. "We researched his life and found out his favorite beer was porter," said Dan Jansen, Blue Point Brewery Head Brewer. "He (also) had hand written his own beer recipe back in 1757, it's on record at the New York Public Library." Beer with molasses? The recipe, written in one of Washington's military journals, is for what was known at the time as a "small" beer, meaning a low alcohol brew, similar to what might be called a session beer today. Jansen took that information, along with research on what type of ingredients would have been readily available in the 1700s, and used it as the main points of inspiration in creating Colonial Ale. "At the time trading with the British was highly sensitive because of the unrest that was happening," Jansen explained to CNBC. "A lot of the time good malts and good hops were hard to come by, and if you could come by them you had to pay pretty high tariffs." So Washington, like other brewers of his time, learned to supplement their recipes with what they could easily get their hands on. "When you get into his recipe there is some mention of molasses and you immediately think blackstrap molasses but the more you research it, it's more like golden English syrup," said Jansen. "It would have been available as a byproduct of the rum trade, so it's not like molasses as we would think of [it] today." So when it came time to brew Colonial Ale, Jansen and his team used a light golden molasses, malt from upstate New York and spruce tips, which were often used to supplement hops in colonial times. Source: Blue Point Brewing Company India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized 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 a meeting of his Bharatiya Janata Party, whose leaders have said there should be a strong response to the attack, which took place in Uri. "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 neighbors 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. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. A Michelin one-star restaurant in Shanghai has closed only one day after being awarded the coveted endorsement reportedly because it did not have two necessary licences. A notice displayed on the front door of Tai'an Table, in Taian Road, on Thursday said the restaurant had suspended its operation due to an "internal overhaul", news portal Kankannews.com reported. According to the Market Supervision Bureau in Shanghai the restaurant was run without two necessary licences a general business licence, granted by the Shanghai Industry and Commerce Bureau and a food business licence from the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration. More from the South China Morning Post No independence in 1,000 years for Hong Kong, Beijing legal expert declares Beijing needs to temper its high-handed attitude towards Hong Kong When even Hong Kong's super wealthy opt to rent, something is not right Tai'an Table, which had first opened in April, could seat up to 29 customers and served only dinners from 6pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Reservations could be made only through its website. It had been offering only two set menus: one comprising 14 dishes, at a cost of 1,288 yuan (HK$1,500) per person; the other, providing 10 dishes, had cost 988 yuan per head. The restaurant's Stefan Stiller, a Michelin star chef, told the website that it would reopen in November at a new location, in Zhenning Road. But the style of the food and method of making reservations would remain the same at the new restaurant. "We are applying for the general business licence and the food business licence," he was quoted as saying. On Wednesday Michelin released its first dining guide for mainland China. In the Shanghai guide, 26 restaurants were awarded its coveted stars. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. In an onstage interview with me today at the Nantucket Conference, Uber products head Jeff Holden said the fast-growing ride sharing company was seriously looking at a new form of transportation to offer its customers: Short-haul flying in cities. Called VTOLwhich stands for vertical takeoff and landingHolden said that he has been researching the area, "so we can someday offer our customers as many options as possible to move around." He added that "doing it in a three-dimensional way is an obvious thing to look at." Holden said in the interview that such technology could be in use within a decade, which is an aggressive prediction given issues of the complexity of movement in the air above densely populated areas. (Also, you know, the possibility of these VTOL vehicles crashing into each other.) Holden, who previously worked at Amazon and Groupon, has been deeply involved in Uber's recent rollout of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, noted that the company accelerated the development of that technology after it was first mentioned by CEO and co-founder Travis Kalanick only a few years ago. VTOL is certainly a step further in ambition, but it's a pretty slick concept to imagine and the actual development of such vehicles is far along. Simply put, VTOL is an aircraft that can hover, take off and land vertically, which would also describe a helicopter. But, unlike the typical helicopter, these planes would have multiple rotors, could have fixed wings and perhaps eventually would use batteries and be more silent. In time, like cars, such aircraft could be autonomous. More from Recode: Two million Twitter followers? Whatever. Fox Sports 1's Skip Bayless just ignores the internet. The CEO of Dot & Bo explains why the furniture startup failed Snapchat's camcorder goggles are creepy cool and kind of brilliant While Uber's plans are in their infancy, the idea of airports everywhere Holden talked about landing on top of buildings in cities, reducing commuting time and congestion dramatically is compelling. Holden imagined many people would use it together, like a way cooler UberPool. Uber has offered helicopter services before, but it was largely a marketing effort, he said. VTOL is another thing altogether and, thus far, most of the development of vertical takeoff and landing has been done by the military. Below, for example, is a video that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is imagining as part of its VTOL Experimental Plane (VTOL X-Plane)program that "aims to overcome these challenges through innovative cross-pollination between fixed-wing and rotary-wing technologies and by developing and integrating novel subsystems to enable radical improvements in vertical and cruising flight capabilities. Flowers were placed in front of an entrance to the Cascade Mall on September 24, 2016 in Burlington, Washington. Five people were killed last night when a gunman opened fire in the shopping mall. A 20-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday in connection with a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five people dead, authorities said. Police said Arcan Cetin was arrested in Oak Harbor at around 6:30 p.m. while walking down the street one night after the shooting at Burlington's Cascade Mall sparked a massive search for the suspect. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he had spotted Cetin from a patrol car and recognized him as the suspect. "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." Tweet 1 Hawley added that Cetin was unarmed, "said nothing" and was arrested without incident. "He was just kind of zombie-like," Hawley told reporters. A motive in the shooting is still under investigation, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock, part of a multi-agency task force, said at a news conference Saturday night. When asked whether authorities were considering terrorism as a possible motive, Cammock said he wasn't ruling anything out. However, he cautioned that it was "just too early to tell" and said his response doesn't mean the investigation is going in that direction. "We're only about a couple hours from taking him into custody, and the next stage right now is to do those interviews and learn more from him, if he's willing to share that with us," Cammock said. Officials previously said it appears the gunman acted alone and they have no indication it was terrorism. The tragedy unfolded on Friday night at the Macy's department store. 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 craved anonymity, told newsmen on Saturday in Warri that the victims included a man and three women. He said that 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 Thursday. 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. NAN recalled that Late Ekpemupolo died on Sept. 7 at Lily Clinic, Warri. Delta Police spokesperson, SP 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. Guest Commentary from the Oct. 10, 2016, issue of Coin World: From Sunday, May 29, 2016 to Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Rotary International held their annual convention in Seoul, Korea. DJ Sun, my Rotary District (5280 Los Angeles) governor, who was born and raised in Korea, arranged for a special after tour of his homeland. As we went through the country, everyone was struck by several things. There is no graffiti. Rush hour was indistinguishable from any other first world country. Rice fields are usually planted between mountains, which comprise about 70 percent of the country. Because of a mix-up in the reservations, my wife and I could not go to the DMZ, the no-mans land between the two Koreas. With the DMZ only 25 miles north of the capital, the subway can double as a bomb shelter. Connect with Coin World: Sign up for our free eNewsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter A brief history of 20th century Korea is important. From 1910 until 1945, Korea was a colony of Japan. At the end of the war in 1945, the country was partitioned. The north ended up as a ruthless communist dictatorship, while the south was set up as a pro-Western nation. From June 25, 1950, until July 27, 1953, a devastating war raged on the peninsula. By the wars end, 5 million soldiers and civilians lost their lives. There were many highlights of the trip. First and foremost was visiting the Korean War cemetery. The dramatic Korean War memorial details the tragedy of that war. The most touching and emotional part of the trip was visiting the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, which is the only cemetery in the world where the United Nations has sovereignty. To pay my respects to those of all nations who made the supreme sacrifice, I wore my Marine Corps hat. As I approached the entrance, Koreans who were there saw my hat, bowed down and said, Thank you. They well remember the marines who played a critical role in keeping their country free. Once across the entrance, you are no longer in Korea, but on international soil. Within the cemetery, which covers 35 acres, are approximately 2,300 graves of troops from many nations. They are set out in 22 sites and are designated by the nationalities of the buried service members. During the trip, I acquired three different medallions. This column focuses on the United Nations Medallion. The diameter is 1 inches. On the obverse is the logo of the UN, which is the flag of the world with a blue background. Around the top of the rim is UNITED NATIONS COMMAND. The bottom part of the rim is MILITARY ARMISTICE COMMISSION. Between the two texts, at both 3 oclock and at 9 oclock are two five pointed stars. The reverse is dramatic. Centered across the top part of the rim is MEMORY OF KOREA, while centered across the bottom is DEMILITARIZED ZONE. Between these texts are clusters of 10 leaves on each side. Centered is a regional map of the area that shows Korea being sandwiched between its two powerful neighbors: China and Japan. The two main features of Korea are the mountains and the line running from northeast to southwest representing the DMZ. The Korean people know their history very well. Their top priority is the peaceful reunification of the country. Hopefully, in my lifetime, I can see their dream come true. Joel Forman is a longtime coin collector and a senior appraiser with certification in numismatics accredited by the American Society of Appraisers. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 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. SWEET HOME After a 36-year career with the Cenex and Wilco agricultural cooperatives, Steve Nyseth knew he couldnt just sit still in retirement. So he and his wife Lorrie spent nearly two years searching the Willamette Valley for a small farm that would keep them busy, plus serve as a gathering place for their three grown children and four grandchildren. Their search led them to 105 acres about one mile east of the Crawfordsville Market on Highway 228. And now, Nyseth, who grew up in a logging and wood products family in the McKenzie Valley, has joined the ranks of a rapidly growing sector of Oregon farmers: some 650 hazelnut growing families. According to Oregon State University, hazelnut production in Oregon primarily the Willamette Valley encompasses more than 52,000 acres, with about 5,000 acres of new orchards being added annually. Since 1989, the hazelnut has been the official state nut. I knew I was going to retire and we wanted something to do, said Nyseth, 59. I had considered hazelnuts for a long time, but was concerned about blight, but now, there are several blight-resistant varieties. Nyseth said he and Lorrie considered an established orchard planted to the Barcelona variety, but the farm they bought offered them more opportunity. Of its 105 acres, 90 are irrigated. An existing pump drew water from the Calapooia River and the irrigation system was in place, although it needed to be overhauled. Last December the Nyseths and their son, Curtis, who lives in Southern Oregon, hand-planted 8,000 blight-resistant Jefferson variety hazelnut trees. The work took two months. We planted them 12 feet apart in 20-foot wide rows, Nyseth said. In 10 to 12 years we will take out every other tree, giving us a spacing of 20-by-24-feet. For six to eight years we should get double production while the yield builds up. Nyseth said the thinning process is necessary to remove excess limb and leaf canopy as the trees mature. A hardy tree Hazelnuts also called filberts bloom and pollinate in the winter and the nuts grow in the spring. They ripen until they naturally fall off the trees. Then they're swept into windrows and harvested. Orchards can bear nuts for 50 to 80 years if properly tended. In the United States, hazelnuts are grown as trees, but in many other countries, they are cultivated as a bush. While the long-term outlook for hazelnut production profitability is good, the drawback is that it takes three to five years before trees begin to bear harvestable nuts, starting with a few hundred pounds per acre. But as the trees mature, yields can range from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds per acre, depending on soil conditions, weather and farm practices. With prices ranging from $1 or more per pound, the Nyseths and other mid-valley farmers seeking to diversify their cash flows should see significant opportunities for profit as their orchards mature. We topped the plantings at 32 inches so they would put out scaffold branches, Nyseth said. They also wrapped the lower portions of the plantings to deter voles, provide protection against herbicides and to decrease sun scald on the new plants. Nyseth said he lost about 5 percent of the plantings 400-plus and will replace them this year. I love it, he said. I enjoy learning new things, having a new challenge. We knew nothing about this when we started. Nyseth said that with irrigation he and Lorrie moved 122 pieces of aluminum pipe twice a day this summer he hopes to get a small crop in four years. Although irrigation isnt mandatory, Nyseth was surprised as how quickly the plantings seemed to dry out in the spring once warm weather set in. I was a little late getting the irrigation going in June, but the trees seemed to perk up overnight once we put water to them, so it does help, he said. Nyseth said the orchard is his way of being with his three grown children, Curtis, Ryan and Katie, and four grandchildren. The family also operates an irrigated alfalfa farm near Klamath Falls. I always have something to do, Nyseth said. A growing industry Nik Wiman is the OSU Extension hazelnut specialist based at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center near Aurora. Wiman said that according to Michael McDaniel at Pacific Ag Survey, there were about 45,471 acres of hazelnuts in Oregon in 2015 and 52,707 in 2016. Of those, 17,225 acres are from one to five years old and 5,608 are from six to 10 years old. Wiman said there are nearly 30,000 acres of mature orchards that provide most of the production and tend to be blighted orchards. Hazelnut production in Oregon in 2015 was estimated at 39,000 tons, an 8 percent increase over 2014, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Marion County has the most hazelnut acreage of all ages, with 11,157 acres followed closely by Yamhill at 10,691 acres. Others are Benton: 1,398; Linn: 3,441; Clackamas, 5,154; Douglas: 312; Lane, 4,028; Polk, 3,520; and Washington, 5,620. Marion County is really hopping as is much of the south valley because thats where we have the most land available, Wiman said. Also, were seeing grass seed farmers moving some of their acres into hazelnuts to diversify. But, he said, some of those new orchards are being planted on marginal ground, which creates unknowns as to their long-term viability. On some of those poorer soils, irrigation becomes even more important, Wiman said. And, weve seen some other issues such as diseases and pests in the poorer soil areas. Wiman spent a lot of time this summer on farms from north to south looking for problem areas. He said as with grass seed and Douglas fir or pine tree farms, voles can cause extensive damage to new plantings. Ive been on this job for a year and it has definitely been a learning curve, Wiman said. According to Wiman, it isnt far-fetched to predict Oregons hazelnut industry to grow to as many as 100,000 to 150,000 acres in the next 10 to 20 years. He said Oregon State University has been a leader in research of blight-resistant hazelnut varieties during the past 30 years and several varieties are now available, including, among others Jefferson, Yamhill and Dorris. There has been a lot of concern about blight starting with the Eastern Filbert Blight that was identified in Oregon in the 1960s, but there really are different forms of disease present on the East Coast, Wiman said. About 99 percent of hazelnuts produced in the United States come from Oregon and 1 percent comes from Washington state, but combined, U.S. hazelnut growers account for only 3 percent of worldwide production. Going to market Hazelnuts are an ancient crop, dating back to 7,500 B.C., and they have a long history in Oregon dating to the mid-1800s. Most hazelnuts are grown in Turkey, Italy, Spain and Greece and nearly all major production is near a large body of water, which tends to moderate climates. There are two key markets for hazelnuts, Wiman said. Buyers for nuts in the shell want size and buyers of kernels are more concerned with flavor and quality since they are going to be used to make chocolate (items). Growers in the United States export most of their product to Canada, Vietnam and Hong Kong totaling almost $118 million in sales in 2014-15. But the U.S. also imported more than $42 million worth of hazelnuts in 2015. Earlier this month, the McMinnville-based Hazelnut Growers Bargaining Association, reached an agreement with packers to set the initial price of field-run hazelnuts at $1.18 per pound. According to a prepared statement, the price is the third highest minimum ever, but is down slightly from the $1.22 mark of a year ago. The highest minimum to date is $1.70 per pound in 2014. Terry Ross, a growers representative, said factors in setting the price included a solid crop from Turkey, a decent carryover and an ample supply of other nuts such as almonds, walnuts and pecans. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates the 2016 harvest at 38,000 tons, about 7,000 tons more than last year. The 2015 crop was affected by extreme drought. As with all agricultural production, mid-valley businesses are seeing a benefit of increased hazelnut production. Carl Laux, regional sales manager for Pape Machinery in Tangent, said the company has imported 10 machines that windrow hazelnuts on the ground, harvest them and load them in carts, all in one pass. It is built in northwest Italy and is brand new technology we hadnt seen until this year, Laux said. Currently nut growers have to sweep and then make another pass to harvest the nuts. Thursday afternoon, Laux and a representative of the Italian company Monchiero, demonstrated the machine at the Jason Whitehead farm near Scio. Weve been really busy demonstrating this, Laux said. It will greatly reduce costs for producers. Laux said three units have been sold so far with a price tag in the $155,000 range, but that could be recouped quickly through reduced harvesting costs for fuel, labor and equipment wear and tear. Laux said the machine features a 130-horsepower diesel engine manufactured by John Deere, which has been a partner with Monchiero for decades. There seems to be a new hazelnut orchard popping up around every corner, Laux said of potential for new equipment sales. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500 urban office real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is the first, longest-tenured, and pioneering owner, operator, and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology, and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $31.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, and an asset base in North America of 49.7 million square feet ("SF"). The asset base in North America includes 31.9 million RSF of operating properties and 3.3 million RSF of Class A properties undergoing construction, 7.1 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects, and 7.4 million SF of future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science, technology, and agtech campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, technology, and agtech companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value. Memphis author Corey Mesler takes readers wandering through the streets of his hometown from the perspective of a homeless man in his ninth novel, "Robert Walker." SHARE "Robert Walker" by Corey Mesler By Maria Browning, Chapter16.org The men and women who live on America's streets are often discussed as a collection of problems to be solved. If only we changed this policy or offered that bit of aid, we say, homelessness could be fixed. A few folks endeavor to provide such practical help, while the rest of us sit in comfort and make sympathetic (or not so sympathetic) noises. In his ninth novel, "Robert Walker," Corey Mesler imagines his way past our usual discourse to enter the mind and heart of one homeless man wandering the streets of Memphis. Robert Walker is sorely in need of practical aid of many kinds, but his suffering is deeper and more profound than any material help can touch. We meet Walker as he wakes "on the two hundred and twenty-fifth day of his abandonment" in a remote, wooded corner of Overton Park. The nature of the abandonment is not immediately clear, but we quickly learn that it involves a woman, Lyn, who is "a spook, a ghost now,." Lyn's memory clearly causes Walker pain, but he has more pressing concerns than lost love. He needs to find a toilet where he can relieve himself, wash up, and most important, look into a mirror to figure out why half his face suddenly seems to be paralyzed. Then, if he's lucky, he might be able to beg enough money for breakfast. Thus begins a story of two days and nights in Walker's struggle to survive, which is shaped by random encounters with kindness, judgment and casual cruelty. There's a brief, excruciating brush with well-intentioned exploitation, as well. Walker is keenly aware that the arrogance of privilege takes many forms, and though he can't really afford any attachment to his pride, he still hurts when it's wounded. Most of the people who cross his path, including some of his fellow street denizens, see him only in terms of their own needs and prejudices. Although, like them, he's rarely able to think much beyond himself, he has enough awareness to regret the failing, and this feeling puts him slightly ahead of the herd. In his clearest moments, Walker seems to be a pilgrim in search of authentic human communion, lost in a world that echoes the novel's description of Memphis traffic: "clamorous and reckless and full of malevolence." The facial paralysis turns out to be Bell's palsy, an affliction that comes and goes seemingly at random, with no clear cause or cure. It's miserable and humiliating, and there's not much to be done about it. As Walker's tragic past is revealed, the ailment begins to seem like a perfect metaphor for his general condition. His misfortune is obvious enough, but bad luck is not really an explanation for anything, and there's no quick fix for heartbreak. Whatever else he may be, Walker is most definitely not a problem waiting to be solved. He's a mystery, just like every other human being, and Mesler seems to suggest that society's real sin is its failure to recognize that truth. The secondary characters in "Robert Walker" include a pretty, sympathetic social worker, a villainous psychiatrist, a smug academic and an assortment of Walker's fellow homeless. It's a predictable cast for such a tale, but Mesler makes them a vivid and engaging bunch. Although none of them is drawn with particular depth, they're fully alive on the page and serve to make Walker's plight feel real and poignant and sometimes quite funny. ("Robert Walker" wouldn't be a Mesler novel without some bawdiness and breezy lust.) The most important bit player, though, is the city of Memphis. True to his name, Walker spends most of his time traveling by foot, and his wandering becomes a detailed if haphazard walking tour of Mesler's hometown. There's not much of Mesler's usual literary whimsy in "Robert Walker," but he does give a clutch of writers Thomas Pynchon, Iris Murdoch and Wallace Stegner walk-on roles via their books, and his own shop, the venerable Burke's Book Store, has a minor cameo, as well. Mesler's fiction never seems to take itself too seriously, and "Robert Walker" is no exception, despite its fundamentally tragic subject. It's a bittersweet novel with a big heart that seeks to stretch the heart of the reader. For more local book coverage, please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee. Clark McMillan (Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal files) SHARE By Andy Humbles, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee The first person Tennessee paid money to after being wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit says the more than $800,000 awarded to him hasn't been enough. Clark McMillan, 59, of Memphis, was convicted in 1980 for the rape and robbery of a 16-year-old girl before DNA evidence cleared him in 2002 and he was released from prison. State lawmakers passed legislation in 2004 to pay McMillan $832,950 to compensate him for his time in prison. His case now points the way forward as a Wilson County man also seeks a formal exoneration and potential compensation for the time he served for a crime he also did not do. McMillan received $250,000 up front with the remainder placed in an annuity that pays him about $3,400 a month, according to the Tennessee Board of Claims. But more than two decades in prison rendered McMillan unable to build a career and job skills, he said. An array of medical costs from multiple health issues without adequate insurance also have swallowed much of McMillans income, he said. Im treated like I should be glad to have gotten something, McMillan said. There has been nothing to cover job training, placement, medical care, post-traumatic stress. Help me restore my dignity so I can get a job. My compensation is controlled by the state and they dictate what my life is worth. Wilson Countys Lawrence McKinney spent 31 years in prison until his release in 2009 when DNA evidence also proved his innocence in a rape case. McKinney has a hearing Tuesday with the Tennessee Board of Parole, which provides a recommendation to the governor on whether to issue a formal exoneration order. The governor is not bound to follow or act on the parole boards recommendation. McKinney's criminal record has been expunged, but if he is exonerated he would be eligible to file for compensation with the Tennessee Board of Claims. Claims are capped at $1 million. There is not enough money to compensate people going through something like that, said Rob Briley, a former state representative and the House sponsor of the legislation for McMillans case. Briley is an attorney who also represented McMillan for free before the Tennessee Board of Parole and Tennessee Board of Claims. They should increase the compensation and lower the bar to be considered" for exoneration, he said. "That is not easy to get from the governor. The state has paid only two exoneration claims, McMillans and about $142,000 to a man in 2012 who was exonerated after spending two years and three months in prison after being wrongly convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual battery of a 9-year-old. Attorney David Raybin, who is part of McKinney's legal team, said he opposes how the state puts money into an annuity for those wrongly convicted. You dont do that in personal injury cases," he said. "They could invest. Let them spend it how they see fit. We dont have an appropriate compensation model. McMillan suffers from paralysis in his right leg and a spinal injury from a gunshot wound at age 18 when he said he walked into a shootout involving police. McMillan and his wife are diabetic, he said. Qualifying for subsidized health insurance has been a challenge because of his income with the annuity, McMillan said. He also suspects the stigma of prison, even with his conviction vacated and charges dismissed, also has lingered with employers. They did give me something and a lot of people play off that, McMillan said. But its not mine. I could not make a rational decision of something I had no experience of. The legislators promised they would take care of me. When disagreements arose I felt they closed me off. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, was a state senator when McMillan was released from prison and the Senate sponsor of legislation crafted and approved. The monthly payment was designed to help McMillan manage finances because he hadnt been dealing with money in society for 22 years while he was in prison and to protect him from being taken advantage of. Cohen calls it outstanding legislation. But the congressman also feels job training and health benefits regardless of the amount someone is awarded with an exoneration claim would be appropriate" for the current state legislature should consider. I could picture us going along with something like that, said state Rep. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, who has advocated for McKinney and already indicated he wants to craft legislation to address the pace of exoneration attempts. I think we would want to give them more than money, Pody said. I want to make sure the system is working properly. McMillan also was acquitted of wrongdoing in a 1978 shooting that involved a police officer in Memphis. McMillan was shot in the back, which led to his spinal injury, he said. McMillan did buy a home for himself and his wife with the initial lump sum payment, he said. But shortly after getting the home, McMillan had to assume a mortgage to help pay for his mothers funeral, he said. McMillan also initially received disability payments, but was cut off when he began receiving money from the state, he said. He also had to cover medical bills and other expenses for the three years between when he was released and the state approved his compensation package. This man spent 20 years in prison unjustly, and all involved wanted to make this right as best as possible, said state Rep. John DeBerry Jr., D-Memphis. A man who was wrongly convicted and locked up 20 years is probably not ready to make those decisions to handle that money. In my opinion the state made a wise decision to place that in an annuity to pay him the rest of his life. We didnt want to write a check and that would be that. I feel like the state of Tennessee gave him a new life. I think that was our intent. Reach Andy Humbles at 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles. SHARE In 1961, Stax released the William Bell hit single "You Don't Miss Your Water," whose lyrics were about lost love. The song title was a play on the adage you never miss the water till the well runs dry. In other words, people are not grateful for what they have until they lose it. Some people fear that one day generations from now, Memphis and Shelby County could experience their well the precious Memphis Sands aquifer running dry if local industries continue to be allowed to pump millions of gallons a day from the aquifer. No one is pushing a panic button, but we concur with those who feel there should be more oversight and structure over how the industrial wells are approved and how the water is used. The pure fresh water the Memphis Sands provides has been a quality-of-life plus for area residents and a major economic development selling point. This kind of water resource has been described as the "new oil" in some of economic development circles. A story in The Commercial Monday revealed that the eight largest industrial users of Memphis Sands water were drawing a total of more than 1 million gallons of water a day from private wells during several months of 2014, the most recent year for which Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation figures are available. That water is used in making everything from beer to gasoline. Plans by the Tennessee Valley Authority to pump an average of 3.5 million gallons of aquifer water daily from five wells to obtain cooling water for its $975 million Allen Combined Cycle Plant under construction in the Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in Southwest Memphis have brought new attention to the health of the aquifer. Monday's story pointed out that water experts believe the TVA pumping will not come close to exhausting the Memphis Sands. The aquifer, which is 400-900 feet thick in many areas, holds an estimated 57 trillion gallons of water beneath Shelby County enough to last nearly 700 years at current usage levels, even without natural "recharge" or replenishment taken into consideration. Still, the fact that the TVA and other industries can tap into the aquifer with only a bare minimum of regulatory oversight regarding the approval of the wells and how they are used seems like misguided lack of concern for such a valuable resource. Shelby County officials, including the Mayor Mark Luttrell and some County Commissioners, agreed, saying that at a minimum, more monitoring and communication is needed on major projects affecting the aquifer. That includes an update of the county's well ordinance and a long overdue review of the county's Groundwater Quality Control Board. Right now, wells and aquifer water are the purview of the Health Department, which issues permits for wells, and the Groundwater Quality Control Board that, among other things, is tasked with securing, protecting and preserving the quality and quantity of water lying beneath the county's boundaries. But under current practices, the groundwater board generally reviews well permits only on appeal when the department has rejected applications. Despite concerns about the TVA wells, Health Department officials said Wednesday they are granting the TVA permits to drill the final two wells it sought to obtain cooling water for its new power generating plant. Under current codes, department officials said they did not have a basis to deny the permits. Decades ago, Arkansas scientists expressed concerns about the state's underground water tables were being compromised because of the enormous amounts of water being used for agriculture, especially rice farming. Studies now show that the state's underground water levels are dropping as the use of groundwater and surface water for irrigation and public water supplies have increased. The Memphis Sands aquifer remains healthy, despite increased demand for its pure fresh water. That does not mean, however, that steps should not be taken now to make sure it stays that way. SHARE By Danielle Allen, Special to the Washington Post Where and how did birtherism start? Not, certainly, with Hillary Clinton, no matter what Donald Trump says. For that matter, birtherism did not even originate with the specific false accusation, or calumny, that Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii or had failed to produce a birth certificate. That allegation merely advanced the story line on the overarching calumny that began percolating in 2004 after Obama's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention namely that Obama was concealing Muslim origins. What is calumny? The use of false accusations to destroy someone's reputation for the sake of securing victory over them. Calumny was long held to be a mortal sin, because it is the most devious form of combat. Honorable combat does not rely on duplicity. Where did this calumny against Obama, which led eventually to birtherism, come from? Perennial political candidate, sender of nasty emails and launcher of frivolous suits Andy Martin put out an Aug. 10, 2004, press release in which he wrote: "I feel sad having to expose Barack Obama but the man is a complete fraud. The truth is going to surprise, and disappoint, and outrage many people who were drawn to him. He has lied to the American people, and he has sought to misrepresent his own heritage." Obama was said to be hiding or misrepresenting, specifically, a Muslim heritage. As Obama's political trajectory began to rise, the rumors took off. By late 2007, it was common to find bloggers churning out the false allegations. A blogger from Boston called Beckwith wrote that Obama is "by birth, blood and training, a Muslim." On a San Diego radio show in January 2008, Beckwith said Obama's "relationship to Islam is the big question. When one investigates the background of Obama's conversion, I can find no record of his baptism." Many who voted in the 2008 election will remember the wide circulation of emails that began with the subject line "Be Careful, Be Very Very Careful" and then went on to articulate the calumniating narrative against Obama. The effort to turn Obama into a Muslim Manchurian candidate, as much a slur against American Muslims as against Obama, is the original source of birtherism. The specific false allegation that Obama was not born in Hawaii was just another crank of the narrative wheel, an embellishment, not a new story line. The original source of this "Muslim Manchurian candidate" narrative was a combination of the likes of Andy Martin, right-wing bloggers like Beckwith and Ted Sampley, and microbloggers using the Free Republic website. That is where the earliest versions of the calumniating email emerged to public light in January 2007, shortly before Obama's February 2007 announcement of his presidential bid. Sampley, who died in 2009, was also instrumental in race-baiting attacks on John McCain in 2000 and the Swiftboat attacks on John Kerry in 2004. In January 2007, still before Obama's formal announcement of his candidacy, Insight, a conservative Web magazine owned by the Unification Church, published a story alleging that the Clinton camp was questioning Obama's heritage. Fox News picked up the story, but it was brought to an end via refutation by CNN on Jan. 23, 2007. Later that year, unauthorized Clinton staffers did circulate the "Obama is a Muslim" email and were repudiated by the campaign. Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle told the New York Times, "This was wholly unauthorized, and we were totally unaware of it; Let me be clear: No one should be engaging in this." When Clinton supporters circulated the email, they were just the most minor of contributors to a massive effort to calumniate Obama. The real origins and force of that effort came from the right. Where does that leave us? In 2011, Trump reignited an issue that should have been long dead. He recognized that calumniating the president's origins could move the needle on poll numbers. And he has kept that calumny alive ever since. On Friday, Trump finally publicly acknowledged that Obama is born in the United States, but, more important, he refused to relinquish his project of calumny. After all, Obama is no longer his enemy. Clinton is. So he refocused his calumniating attack of false accusations on her: She, he falsely alleged, started birtherism. By pivoting from a use of birtherism to calumniate the president to using it to calumniate his opponent, Trump reveals the truth about himself. He is a liar. Worse, he lies to harm. When a lie no longer serves his interest, he is willing to abandon it. But only to repurpose it against his current target. All that has changed with Trump's birther calumny is who his enemy is. It's no longer Obama but is now Clinton. Birtherism isn't dead; it just has a new target. A vote for Trump is a vote for the Calumniator in Chief. Danielle Allen is a political theorist at Harvard University. SHARE FILE In this Oct. 28, 2015, file photo, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt arrives at the 9th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at the California Museum, in Sacramento, Calif. Holt will moderate the first scheduled presidential debate on Sept. 26, 2016 with ABC's Martha Raddatz, CNN's Anderson Cooper and Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace lined up for others. (Jose Luis Villegas/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool, File) Martha Raddatz of ABC News FILE In this Nov. 17, 2015 file photo, Anderson Cooper attends CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute in New York. A joint memoir by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt will be published on April 5, just days before the airing of an HBO documentary featuring the famous designer-socialite and her CNN anchor-son. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File) By Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post Whatever you may think of Donald Trump's politics, fitness for office and character, you have to admit he's a genius communicator, especially on television. That's why it comes as no surprise that he floated the idea last week that the three scheduled presidential debates feature no interference in the form of a moderator who might inhibit his penchant for fact-challenged showmanship. Here's how the Republican nominee put it in a CNBC interview: "Let Hillary and I sit there and just debate, because I think the system is being rigged so it's going to be a very unfair debate." Trump said he fears that the widespread criticism of Matt Lauer, who moderated NBC's recent "Commander in Chief Forum," means that debate moderators will come out loaded for bear. Lauer was thoroughly pummeled, especially for letting Trump go unchallenged when he said he opposed the war in Iraq from the start, which is false. "Well, now the new person's going to try to be really hard on Trump just to show, you know, the establishment what he can do," Trump said. (Brian Stelter of CNN accurately called this out in his newsletter as "working the refs" pre-emptively.) But in making this proposal, Trump inadvertently raises the issue of just how the moderators should approach these debates, which could be immensely important in the election's outcome. The moderators are NBC News' Lester Holt on Monday, ABC's Martha Raddatz and CNN's Anderson Cooper on Oct. 9 (that one is a town-hall-style debate), and Fox News' Chris Wallace on Oct. 19. None of the four has moderated a general-election presidential debate before. They strike me as generally solid choices. Here's some unsolicited advice for what they should do in these extraordinarily important debates: Maintain control. Good luck with this, of course, but it's of paramount importance. The moderators have to walk a careful line; they should not become the story, but somebody has to be in charge. If not the moderator, it will be the candidates, particularly Trump, who is so dominant in his demeanor. Be well-prepared enough to assert the truth in real time. Wallace, who'll moderate the last debate just two weeks before the election has already said he doesn't see his role as fact-checking, otherwise known as calling the candidates on their lies. "I'm not there to truth-squad," he told his colleague, Howard Kurtz. That was surprising because Wallace can be a very tough and effective interviewer; I hope he'll change his mind. If journalists aren't interested in being part of the truth squad, they should find another sport. They can get some help with this, through some real-time fact-checking by the networks airing the debates. We've seen some from cable networks during the campaign in those bottom-of-the-screen captions known as chyrons. ("He's not," said one of them when Trump insisted President Barack Obama was the founder of ISIS.) More of this, please! Be willing, and able, to stop the candidates in their tracks. Candidates always wander off the subject in an effort to stay on message, and the moderators need to lasso them right back to where they should be. Set clear guidelines at the start and hold the candidates to them. Lauer tried this, to no avail, when he said he didn't want the candidates attacking each other. They did. Let's try that kind of thing again, with more follow-through and a stiffer spine. Be willing to pursue a logical line of questioning, with repeated follow-up questions. James Fallows of the Atlantic magazine, whose just-published cover story looks ahead to the debates and back to other notable presidential debate moments, says this kind of persistence should not be confused with tough-talk showboating. "It's so easy to think that sounding tough is the same as being clear," he told me. "It's important not to mistake hostility of tone for relentlessness of logic." He noted that Chris Matthews of MSNBC did this well when he interviewed Trump about his abortion beliefs a few months ago. It ended up making news because Matthews pressed Trump until he became more specific: He said women who seek abortions should be subject to "some form of punishment" if the procedure were to be banned. It's not easy to do this job well, and it may never have been tougher than in this election cycle. But despite Trump's ardent wishes, it's imperative that the moderators rise to the challenge. You can sometimes stand so close to something that you cant really see it like a man peering from a few inches away at the glass of a cathedral window. So it is for Britain with Brexit. Those who write about politics tend to get caught up in the day-to-day. This is part of what we do: probe when Theresa May might move Article 50; peer at Labours death-wish as it re-elects Jeremy Corbyn; or turn, say, to todays book serialisation about the referendum campaign. We will return to all these; its our business to do so. But today we look up from the detail and gaze towards the horizon. Lets stand back, at this start of the conference season for the countrys two biggest political parties, and marvel at the consequences of what we did on June 23. Begin with the party that held its conference last week the Liberal Democrats. A Remain vote would have been claimed as a victory by David Cameron, and rightly. It would have confirmed the Conservatives as a pro-EU party at Cabinet and Parliamentary level. This would have left Tim Farron and his party with less space in which to proclaim a distinctive message. The Brexit vote gives it a chance to do so, get noticed, appeal to the 48 per cent who voted Remain, and speed slightly its attempted crawl back towards power and prestige. It is different for Labour. Not so long ago, Labour was the more Eurosceptic of the two main parties. Jacques Delors and Margaret Thatcher helped to change all that: for the best part of 30 years, Labour has been signed up to a pro-EU consensus, exemplified in Tony Blairs three-times victorious New Labour project. But Labours midlands and northern heartlands voted decisively for Leave in June. The party must now come to terms, amidst its present chaos, with this seismic fact a task made all the more difficult by its other and different base, London, plumping for Remain. This leaves a golden opening for UKIP, or should do. There is cultural resistance to the Tories in the urban north. A new anti-immigration, protectionist, anti-globalisation party ought to have a chance of elbowing Mays party aside, and competing for Labour seats across a wide sweep of northern England. But the party didnt go for Paul Nuttall or Steven Woolfe. Instead, it has plunged into faction-fighting ferocious even by its usual standard. Even if it had not, however, a question would linger: if Britain is to leave the EU, whats the point of UKIP? That leaves the Conservatives: a party whose last leader, last Cabinet, present leader and present Cabinet not to mention a majority of its MPs backed Remain. But the Party has got lucky, at least for the time being. Its grassroots were for Brexit. So were several of its best-known public figures: Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith. Theresa May is consolidating her government behind Junes decision. And with Labour MPs having gone one way and its members another, she has a chance to step in where UKIP is too divided to tread. Thinking broadly about the future fortunes of our main political parties is bigger-scale than squinting at the narrow business of who did what to whom during the referendum campaign. None the less, it is in its own way a failure of imagination. Brexit will mean so much more than who wins in 2020. At some point next year, Article 50 will be moved. Two years after this happens, Britain will be out of the EU unless all parties concerned agree to extend the process, which is unlikely. Talks about trade and about terms will stretch on long after. But out we will formally be. This will represent a change in our self-image so vast that its implications are only now beginning to come home. From Suez until last June, for the span of over half a century, the default setting among Britains political ascendancy was that the countrys vocation lay within a European combination: that we simply could not hack it as a self-governing country. That conviction was probably at its strongest during the 1970s, when Britain indeed wasnt hacking it, and when it duly entered the Common market. We may not be able to do so now. But the sum of Junes decision is that we are going to give it a go. In particular, England decided to do so by more than the national margin overall: by 53 per cent to 47 per cent. Outside London and much of the south-east commuter belt, many of the majorities were emphatic. 58 per cent went for Leave in the North-East; 59 per cent did so in the West Midlands; 58 per cent in Yorkshire and the Humber. Tory-voting rural England and the Labour-supporting north combined. Wales too went for Leave. It is very early days in which to assess the knock-on effects of the vote in Remain-supporting Scotland. But even there, four in ten Scots voted Leave. And there is some evidence that the prospect of independence outside the EU with that oil revenue dwindling in value is changing the way that Scots feel about leaving the Union. Ruth Davidsons poll ratings have overtaken Nicola Sturgeons. So have Theresa Mays. This doubtless wont last, and more support for independence may return, but Englands decisiveness appears to have made an impression on the Scots. We are set to become a self-governing country again. This will have known and unknown consequences. Among the known are that the Commons will recover some its political centrality, as powers flow back from Brussels to Westminster. There will be an explosion in lobbying. Among the unknown are whether Britain goes for a low tax, low regulation, free trade economy, which implies higher immigration rates than would otherwise be the case; or for a model with lower growth, less migration, protection and (by implication) postponed infrastructure decisions. Brexit could also mean a concomitant withdrawal from international affairs with fewer defence commitments, for example. Or it could lead to the opposite: to Britain projecting its military force abroad more, as it seeks to prove that leaving the EU doesnt mean leaving the wider world. Either way, politics is going to be different. By voting leave, we can finally bring down the curtain on the Blair era, John Hayes wrote on this site on the morning of the referendum itself. He was right. The May leadership could fail. George Osborne and the Cameroons could make a comeback. Labour could suddenly cast off Corbyn, and lurch back towards electoral reality. But any or all of this would be surface movement; the depths would remain unstirred, untroubled. On June 23rd, Britain made its biggest decision of the post-war era far bigger than the original one to enter the Common Market, since that was not brought about by a referedendum decision. We gaze at that cathedral window, but cannot yet begin to take in its size and scale. As is so often the case, the version of events in the EU referendum that will eventually be recorded by history is being fought over through memoirs and books. Two such books are out today. One, by Craig Oliver, is openly partisan in its view of events. The other, by Tim Shipman of the Sunday Times, is journalistic in nature. The serialised extract of Shipmans book includes a rather blunt piece of blame-allocation for the failure of the renegotiation (and by extension, for the eventual Leave victory): the decisive intervention that killed off an emergency brake on migrant numbers, a policy that many Cameroons believed later might have been enough for them to win the referendum, was made by Theresa May and Philip Hammond. Both had been invited to see Cameron after the regular 8.30am meeting in Downing Street the day before the JCB speech, along with a small number of officials. Cameron made clear that, despite Merkels opposition, he was considering demanding the emergency brake anyway. The PM told them what the Germans had said, and asked for their view on whether we should go ahead and announce in any case, a Downing Street source said. Hammond spoke first, and argued that we just couldnt announce something that would receive an immediate raspberry in Europe. It wouldnt be seen as credible domestically, and it would set us on the path towards Brexit. Theresa simply said that we just couldnt go against Merkel. An eyewitness said: The PM was visibly deflated as they left. Cameron turned to one of his officials and said: Look, we tried, but I cant do it without their support. Well just have to go with the benefits plan. If it wasnt for my lily-livered cabinet colleagues . . . We dont know the identity of Shipmans Downing Street source, but its not unreasonable to ask: Cui bono? There are obvious losers from the telling of the story namely, the new Prime Minister and Chancellor, who are essentially blamed for turning down the idea of an emergency brake. There is also a winner if you buy the tale, it would make Cameron less personally responsible for the disastrous failure of his renegotiation. The further implication that May and Hammond fatally undermined the Remain campaign itself also serves the same purpose. Poor old David, condemned to failure in Brussels and then in the referendum by his unreasonable colleagues, who are branded lily-livered for good measure. Except such an excuse is baloney. As Shipman judges elsewhere in the same extract, Merkel was clearly determined that freedom of movement should continue May and Hammonds assessment that she would simply reject Camerons request for an emergency brake seems obviously correct. Merkels personal principle was not the only reason why she would have stuck to her guns. The German Chancellor was canny enough to realise that Cameron would never use his ultimate sanction of responding to rejection by supporting a Leave vote. He had already meekly accepted numerous waterings down of his original renegotiation demands. If she concluded that she could do what she liked to his renegotiation plan and he would still end up recommending that the British people vote to Remain, she was right to do so for that is exactly what ended up happening. Furthermore, even if the emergency brake had been granted it would have been a pointless measure, delivering neither what the Conservative manifesto had promised nor what the British people wanted. As I wrote on this site at the time of the proposal: Not only is the policy fundamentally weakened, but it will not be permanent only an emergency brake, to be applied occasionally and temporarily. Worst of all, the power to apply that brake will not rest with Parliament or the British Government, but will be decided by the EU institutions after an application from Britain. In the Q&A after that 2014 speech Cameron poured scorn on some arcane mechanism within the EU, which would probably be triggered by the European Commission and not by us but now hes got one. The idea that such a lame concession would somehow have carried the day in the referendum is absurd. It would have been picked apart by the press and seen through by voters in an instant. If May and Hammond dismissed it as both doomed and pointless, they were correct. In short, Cameron and/or his allies appear to be trying to unfairly blame others for the failure of the renegotiation and even for their eventual referendum defeat. That isnt a great look for a former Prime Minister, particularly when the case for the defence is so weak. To use his successor as the target of such attacks is even less attractive; even during the sometimes acrimonious shift from Thatcher to Major, the former didnt brief journalists against the latter. No-one expects Cameron to be happy about what has just happened, but seeking to dodge responsibility for it is unattractive in the extreme. As the Sunday Times itself concludes in its leader column, He has only himself to blame. Is Government of India's Hindutva thrust behind its alleged refusal to provide asylum to 36,000 Rohingiyas, forced to flee Myanmar in the wake of the 2015 insurgency, and currently living in different parts of India and the reason is, all of them are Muslims? It would seem so if the new Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 is any indication. While Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, says that the Central government is concerned about the Rohingiyas at a humanitarian level, the Bill, say well-informed sources, seeks to do just the opposite.It is seeking to amend the definition of illegal immigrants by excluding under its ambit minority-religious individuals such as Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Muslim-dominated countries specifically Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.A recent commentary says , If the motive of the government is to protect religiously persecuted people in the neighbourhood, the question of why they are ignoring the Muslim community is inevitable.Forced to migrated to several other countries in much larger numbers following the 2013 riots in Central Myanmar (Burma) they risked their lives, sailing in small boats, to reach Bangladesh, several South-east Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.The change in the Bil has been made, it is suggested, in the garb of relaxing the requirements for Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants. The problem, it is suggested, is not with the flexibility of the rules, but the applicability of the amendments on purely religious lines.The Citizenship Act of 1955 denied citizenship rights to any illegal immigrant. It defined an illegal immigrant as a person who (i) enters India without a valid passport or with forged documents, or (ii) who stays in the country beyond the visa permit.The Bill, however, reduces the requirement of 11 years to acquire citizenship by naturalisation to only six years of ordinary residence for such immigrants. "This means that a Hindu from Pakistan can cross the border illegally and claim Indian citizenship after six years", says an expert.The Bill, according to this expert, is a furtherance of the BJPs election promise to grant citizenship to Hindus from Muslim majority countries in its 2014 parliamentary election manifesto, in which it declared India to be a natural home for persecuted Hindus.During an election rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, We have a responsibility towards Hindus who are harassed and suffer in other countries. India is the only place for them. We will have to accommodate them here.This is not the first time that religion is being made the consideration for the conferral of citizenship. According to legal experts, a veiled reference to religion can be found in Article 6 and 7 of the constitution. Article 6 confers citizenship to people who migrated to what is now India after the announcement of partition, whereas article 7 grants citizenship to individuals who migrated to Pakistan after the announcement of partition but returned to India later on.Those included in the second category had to go through an elaborate process of registration before they could be awarded citizenship rights. Although neutral on the surface, it is suggested, these provisions have deep religious markers attached to them.While article 6 was directed towards Pakistani Hindus who had moved to India, article 7 implicitly referred to the Indian Muslims who had left India during the violence of partition but wanted to return to claim back their lives, livelihood and property.Keeping a similar view, it is suggested, the Congress government at the Centre enacted the Illegal Migrant (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, which provided for the detection and expulsion of illegal immigrants from Assam all of them Bangladeshi Muslims. Here, the word illegal immigrant was a thinly caped reference to the Muslims who had entered the state, says an expert. I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. More on who I am is here. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com The Journey to America and Silver Days, are about German Jewish refugees who flee the horrors of the Holocaust and resettle in America. I've been giving her pointers, from my two lengthy stays in Afghanistan about what the family she's inventing were likely to have gone through-- and what kind of mindset they will be bringing with them-- before they arrived in the U.S. Tuesday's dinner is going to be about Tuesday I'm having dinner with a friend of mine, Sonia, a Berlin-born novelist and Holocaust survivor. She's written over 40 books and is working on a new novel about a family of refugees who have resettled in the U.S. from Afghanistan. Two of her early books,and, are about German Jewish refugees who flee the horrors of the Holocaust and resettle in America. I've been giving her pointers, from my two lengthy stays in Afghanistan about what the family she's inventing were likely to have gone through-- and what kind of mindset they will be bringing with them-- before they arrived in the U.S. Tuesday's dinner is going to be about Pashtunwalli , the code that predates Islam Afghans live by. I sent her the post related to the mass shooting in Orlando by the son of Afghan refugees, hyper-linked above. In their list of 31 lies that Trump spouted last week , Maggie Haberman and Alexander Burns in included one that's been driving me crazy-- and that I've seen Trump repeat at rallies all week-- namely that "We have cities that are far more dangerous than Afghanistan." That's not even remotely close to true. The first time I got to Afghanistan was in 1969, a relatively peaceful time, when Mohammad Zahir Shah was still the king and gradually introducing western ways into the country. I left just before he was deposed in a coup and the country slowly but steadily descended into chaos, coups and civil war. At the end of December, 1979, the Russians invaded. The country I loved so much has experienced almost 4 decades of non-stop mega-violence. No American whop hasn't been in a war zone-- and that includes Herr Trumpf, a draft dodger-- has ever seen anything like it. No American city-- not even Rahm Emanuel's Chicago-- is anything like Afghanistan. Even when I was there, in relatively peaceful times, Afghanistan was more dangerous than any city in America. Other than in Kabul, the capital city, an Afghan male would no sooner walk out of his house without a gun than he would walk out of his house without pants. And the aforementioned Pashtunwalli is so punitive and retaliatory that a minor misunderstanding could easily-- and often did-- result in deadly violence. Afghanistan was-- and is-- an extreme patriarchal society. Women and children are routinely and universally treated as property by men. Economic disparity between the very rich and everyone else is so enormous and plays such an immense role in power and status assignations that danger was everywhere at all times. Violence between ethnic groups, religious sects, clans, tribes, regions was pervasive. In many parts of the country, there was no law and no order. Most people outside of Kabul didn't even recognize the authority of a country called Afghanistan. I was shocked in the second biggest city, Kandahar, 4-5 hours away from Kabul by car, to find that people referred to the king as the king of Kabul. As with most things he talks about on the campaign trail, Trump doesn't have any idea what's he's talking about. He says whatever pops into his primitive skull. And if it "works," he keeps repeating it, which doesn't make it any truer. Some say he's severely addicted to prescription drugs. That could be. But that he's afflicted with narcissistic personality disorder is beyond a doubt, as anyone who has ever been in contact with him will tell you. Trump's insane. No matter how abhorrent voting for Clinton appears to be, it's a tradeoff worth taking to prevent him from ever getting into the White House. He should be dropped off in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush for a winter-- as I once was-- and see if he survives. He'd be a different person, which would be much welcomed by the entire world. Trump's vision of American inner cities? Which ones? The man in the video above, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, endorsed Herr Trumpf for president Friday. The clip was shot during a press gathering in Indiana where Trump was in the process of winning every single Indiana delegate and closing down Cruz's narrow path to victory. (The final score was Trump 590,460 to Cruz 406,380 and next door neighbor John Kasich 83,913.) Cruz eked out wins in 5 northeast counties to Trump's 87. While Indianans were still casting their ballots, Cruz said "I'm going to tell you what I really think of Donald Trump" for the very first time since the campaign began. I wonder if he studied psychology in college. "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. And he hit a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology text book: his response is to accuse everybody else of lying. He accuses everybody on that debate stage of lying and it's simply a mindless yell. Whatever he does, he accuses everyone else of doing. The man cannot tell the truth-- but he combines it with being a narcissist, a narcissist at a level I don't think this country has ever seen... Everything in Donald's world is about Donald... The man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him... Donald is a bully... Every one of us knew bullies in elementary school. Bullies don't come from strength; bullies come from weakness. Bullies come from a deep, yawning cavern of insecurity. There is a reason Donald builds giant buildings and puts his name on them everywhere he goes... He is lying to his supporters." And yesterday he urged his fellow Texans and fellow Americans to vote for that man for president of the United States. OK, then. But there was another endorsement Friday that was more telling than Cruz's sad surrender. The last time the militantly conservative Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed a Democrat was in 1916 when Supreme Court Justice Charles Hughes was the Republican candidate and they backed incumbent Woodrow Wilson. Arguably, Wilson would have lost without the endorsement, since he lost every upper Midwestern state-- Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa-- but Ohio and the 24 electoral votes that gave him his 277-254 electoral college margin of victory. Had Hughes won Ohio the count would have been 278 (Hughes) to 253 (Wilson). Wilson won Ohio with 51.86% of the state's vote. The Enquirer endorsement yesterday makes it clear they're not big Hillary enthusiasts, but are afraid of what a Trump presidency would mean for America. They accused him of having "exploited and expanded our internal divisions" and of bringing out the worst in people. 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. ...[O]ur reservations about Clinton pale in comparison to our fears about Trump. This editorial board has been consistent in its criticism of his policies and temperament beginning with the Republican primary. We've condemned his childish insults; offensive remarks to women, Hispanics and African-Americans; and the way he has played on many Americans' fears and prejudices to further himself politically. Trump brands himself as an outsider untainted by special interests, but we see a man utterly corrupted by self-interest. His narcissistic bid for the presidency is more about making himself great than America. Trump tears our country and many of its people down with his words so that he can build himself up. What else are we left to believe about a man who tells the American public that he alone can fix what ails us? While Clinton has been relentlessly challenged about her honesty, Trump was the primary propagator of arguably the biggest lie of the past eight years: that Obama wasn't born in the United States. Trump has played fast and loose with the support of white supremacist groups. He has praised some of our country's most dangerous enemies-- see Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Saddam Hussein-- while insulting a sitting president, our military generals, a Gold Star family and prisoners of war like Sen. John McCain. Of late, Trump has toned down his divisive rhetoric, sticking to carefully constructed scripts and teleprompters. But going two weeks without saying something misogynistic, racist or xenophobic is hardly a qualification for the most important job in the world. Why should anyone believe that a Trump presidency would look markedly different from his offensive, erratic, stance-shifting presidential campaign? Some believe Trump's business acumen would make him the better choice to move America's slow recovery into a full stride. Its true that he has created jobs, but he also has sent many overseas and left a trail of unpaid contractors in his wake. His refusal to release his tax returns draws into question both Trumps true income and whether he is paying his fair share of taxes. Even if you consider Trump a successful businessman, running a government is not the same as being the CEO of a company. The United States cannot file bankruptcy to avoid paying its debts. Trumps rise through a crowded Republican primary field as well as Sanders' impressive challenge on the Democratic side make clear that the American people yearn for a change in our current state of politics. However, our country needs to seek thoughtful change, not just change for the sake of change. Four years is plenty of time to do enough damage that it could take America years to recover from, if at all. In these uncertain times, America needs a brave leader, not bravado. Real solutions, not paper-thin promises. A clear eye toward the future, not a cynical appeal to the good old days. Hillary Clinton has her faults, certainly, but she has spent a lifetime working to improve the lives of Americans both inside and outside of Washington. It's time to elect the first female U.S. president-- not because she's a woman, but because she's hands-down the most qualified choice. Last night another major Ohio newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal, a reliably Democratic newspaper, founded in 1839, also came out swinging against Trump and, unabashedly for Hillary. Blue collar northeast Ohio is exactly where Trump thinks he can appeal to working class white voters. Kasich beat him in the 5 counties where the Beacon Journal is most read: Summit, Portage, Stark, Wayne and Medina. Trump averaged around 35% in those 5 counties, similar to how he fared statewide. Trump did best in the poorest Appalachian part of the state in the east and south, his best Ohio counties being Trumbull, Mahoning, Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont and Monroe, all bordering on western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. The Beacon Journal editors offered Trump no quarter: "[I]n assessing the dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump," they wrote, "it is essential, especially in this swing state of Ohio, to weigh the accumulation, all the outrages, lies and revelations that have gathered since he jumped into the race. They form the portrait of a Republican nominee unfit to serve as president. This editorial page has examined many candidacies at all levels over the years. None is quite like Trump in its disqualifying traits, from his ill-suited temperament to his aggressive lack of knowledge and preparation. With so much at stake, the debates approaching and Election Day just six weeks away, it is important to discuss how his candidacy falls severely short." Start at the beginning of his political rise, when he noisily took the lead in the birther movement, making the outlandish claim that President Obama may not have been born in this country. That cannot be dismissed as easily as Trump aimed to do last week, not when he waged a five-year campaign, seeking to portray the first black president as somehow illegitimate or undeserving. This was racially tinged, and it has echoed elsewhere in his candidacy, spreading divisiveness, whether in sweeping comments about Muslims or denigrating a federal judge because of his Mexican heritage. Many politicians exaggerate, fudge the truth, even tell whoppers. Few do so in such a serial and brazen fashion, as the independent fact-checkers have confirmed. Recall Trump seeking to link Ted Cruzs father to the assassination of John Kennedy. Or insisting that he opposed the war in Iraq and the Libyan intervention when the record clearly shows otherwise. Or that he watched thousands of Muslims cheer when the World Trade Center collapsed. This unrestrained neglect of the truth surfaces in the myth about the businessman. If Trump has made big money, he also has left a trail of wreckage, most notably, exploiting bankruptcies and stiffing contractors, often small businesses. No wonder Michael Bloomberg declared: Trump says he wants to run the nation like hes run his business. God help us! Trump University carries the stench of fraud. The Washington Post has exposed the shady doings of the Trump Foundation, its violation of campaign finance law, phantom donations and self-dealing, using, for instance, foundation money to settle lawsuits involving for-profit businesses of Trump. The candidate easily could address questions about his finances by releasing his tax returns (as other presidential candidates have going back to 1980) and detailing his extensive business relationships. This lack of transparency, or disdain for voters, alone disqualifies him from the presidency. Yet even more disturbing are the repeated indications of how little Trump knows about conducting the presidency and the complex terrain he would have to navigate. Take just one emblematic moment, his claim, often made, that in Iraq, the smart move would have been to take the oil. Imagine the backlash, in the expense of lives and dollars, carrying out the mission, or the reaction in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world, all of it confirming the darkest suspicions about American intent. Add that in repeating this view Trump shows an intellectual laziness, confirmed by how little he has done to get up to speed in policymaking, or what a president does. If he has proved rash, demagogic, self-aggrandizing and thin-skinned, he also celebrates the value of being unpredictable. What happened to the Republican priority of certainty? Trump has appeared the dupe of Vladimir Putin and an unwitting recruiter for the Islamic State. All of this helps explain why 50 former national security officials in Republican administrations stated that Trump would be the most reckless president in American history. The Wall Street Journal reports that no living member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Democratic or Republican, supports Trump. Many in Akron, Ohio and across the country have been battered by a changing economy and feel they have been pushed aside by the political class. They have a case, and many see Donald Trump sending a powerful message. He does talk tough. He boasts and blusters. He is a skilled pitchman who has built a global brand. Yet begin to look closely and fully, and his candidacy unravels, revealing a man unworthy of the office he seeks. The most recent poll in Ohio , by Democratic-leaning Democracy Corps shows Trump ahead, 41-39% and with momentum. If only Schumer hadn't interfered in the Senate primary and torpedoed P.G. Sittenfeld in favor of a walking corpse who not even the DSCC is bothering to support! Sittenfeld would be making Ohio's Senate race at least competitive and would be helping gin up excitement for Clinton in the state. If Hillary loses in Ohio, Florida and Iowa, much of the blame should fall on Schumer for his sick ideology that he-- and only he-- knows better than local Democratic primary voters. UPDATE: NY Times Weighs In This morning the NYTimes endorsed Hillary, respectfully if not enthusiastically. They saved their enthusiasm for a short, effective bashing of Trump. They pointed out that a comparison of the positions and platforms of the two candidates would be pointless this year because Hillary "has a record of service and a raft of pragmatic ideas, and the other, Donald Trump, discloses nothing concrete about himself or his plans while promising the moon and offering the stars on layaway." They titillate their readers by promising a subsequent editorial that will explain how they came to the conclusion that Trump is "the worst nominee put forward by a major party in modern American history " while asserting that "the best case for Hillary Clinton cannot be, and is not, that she isnt Donald Trump." Times' Times endorsement with barely 1% of the vote. His top 3 states were New Hampshire (4.21%), Florida (3.82%) and Alabama (3.28%) and had no impact on the ultimate results of any state. In New York he drew 1.33% compared to McKinley's 57.58% and Bryan's 38.72%. That wasn't the last time The Times made a weird choice. They picked Alton Parker over Teddy Roosevelt in 1904 and Wendell Wilkie over FDR in 1940. Starting in 1960 with JFK, they've always endorsed Democrats, including McGovern in 1972. The review of it's endorsements from 1860 on is interesting. It starts with Abraham Lincoln-- "we shall have honesty and manliness instead of meanness and corruption in the Executive departments, and a decent regard for the opinions of mankind in the tone and talk of the Government on the subject of Slavery"-- and meanders through a bipartisan list of presidents including Grant (R), Hayes (R), Garfield (R), and Cleveland (D)-- three times-- to serial party switcher John Palmer (ended his career a Blue Dog) who opposed both populist Democrat William Jennings Bryan and establishment Republican William McKinley and ended up, despite theendorsement with barely 1% of the vote. His top 3 states were New Hampshire (4.21%), Florida (3.82%) and Alabama (3.28%) and had no impact on the ultimate results of any state. In New York he drew 1.33% compared to McKinley's 57.58% and Bryan's 38.72%. That wasn't the last timemade a weird choice. They picked Alton Parker over Teddy Roosevelt in 1904 and Wendell Wilkie over FDR in 1940. Starting in 1960 with JFK, they've always endorsed Democrats, including McGovern in 1972. The Nation features dueling perspectives on voting for Jill Stein, Kshama Sawant's This weekfeatures dueling perspectives on voting for Jill Stein, Kshama Sawant's Don't Waste Your Vote On The Corporate Agenda-- Vote For Jill Stein And The Greens and Joshua Holland's Your Vote For Jill Stein Is A Wasted Vote . Unless Trump suddenly looks like he's going to have any chance of winning in California-- Clinton is up by an average of just over 19 points here-- I plan to, once again, vote for Jill Stein. Obviously, I don't expect her to win. It's simply a protest vote to send the Democrats a message that their dishonest corporate candidate is not acceptable to me. Yes, she's much, much, much preferable to Trump. So would a steaming pile of dog poop, but, unlike Divine , I'll respectfully pass on eating it. Unless you want the Democratic Party to just keep on nominating candidates like Clinton (up and down the ballot) you won't vote for her in any state that is safe from the Trumpist contagion. I have now switched my position enough to say that if I lived in Ohio or Florida or North Carolina or any state that could be a firewall against Trump, I would unhesitatingly vote for Hillary. That said, I don't represent Holland's assurance that between 75 and 90% of those who say that theyre planning to vote for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in November wont follow through and that the her support "is an expression of contempt for the Democrats that evaporates in the voting booth." If I voted for her instead of Obama last time, you can count on me not voting for Clinton this time. I'm not a typical voter though. Holland makes a pointless effort to bash the Green Party, pointless to me at least, since I see them-- at this point at least-- as nothing other than a vehicle to protest unbearable Democratic Party corporatism and corruption. "Many Greens," he concludes, "think that their vote isnt wasted because it sends a powerful 'message' to Washington. But why would anyone in power pay attention to the 0.36 percent of the popular vote that Jill Stein won in 2012, when 42 percent of eligible voters just stayed home? Political parties are merely vessels. The Green Party provides a forum to demonstrate ideological purity and contempt for 'the system.' But the Democratic Party is a center of real power in this country. For all its flaws, and for all the work still to be done, it offers a viable means of advancing progressive goals. One cant say the same of the perpetually dysfunctional and often self-marginalizing Greens." Voting for Stein in safe blue states (or even profoundly backward deep red ones where Trump will win by landslides-- say Wyoming, Idaho or Alabama) is a smart move for progressives who can then busy themselves trying to perfect the Democratic Party or the Green Party or any other party... and trying to make sure the Democratic Party reforms itself;f so that it doesn't steal the nomination from the next Bernie Sanders. Sawant sees the Green Party as a legitimate alternative to the Democrats. Good luck with that. "Most progressives," she writes, "will vote for Clinton to keep Trump out of the White House. Thats understandable, but even more important is building an alternative to pro-capitalist parties... [O]rdinary people feel disenchanted and disempowered. Donald Trump is an abomination, and consistently over 60 percent of people polled disapprove of him and his bigotry. Trump is the single-most-unpopular major-party candidate ever, and he deserves to be trounced. But, incredibly, the Democrats have managed to nominate the second-most-unpopular candidate in history: Hillary Clinton, whose disapproval rating stands at 56 percent. Make no mistake: I want Trump to lose this election. But progressives should not support Clinton. Her close ties to corporate America and its brutal neoliberal agenda will serve to increase the appeal of right-wing populism even if she wins." Clintons billionaire backers, who wined and dined her throughout August, want her to promise as little as possible to ordinary people for fear of a mass movement developing under her administration. They know that working people, and young people especially, are fired up in a way that we havent seen in decades. E-mails recently leaked from Nancy Pelosis office contain explicit instructions not to agree to any specific demands from Black Lives Matter. The Democratic Party has a special talent for enabling the right. President Obama was first elected in 2008 on a wave of opposition to eight years of George W. Bushs wars and tax cuts for the rich. But he and the Democrats continued the bailout of Wall Street and stood by as millions lost their homes-- and the leadership of the labor movement and most progressive organizations gave him a pass. This created space for the Tea Party to exploit the legitimate anger of large sections of the working and middle class. It wasnt until 2011 that Occupy Wall Street gave a genuine left-wing expression to the widespread outrage at corporate politics. Change comes from mass movements, not from on high, as Bernie Sanders has said. His campaign proved decisively that ordinary people can build a powerful electoral movement representing their interests without taking a penny from corporate America. Polls consistently showed that Sanders would crush Trump in the election. But his campaign was trapped inside a party whose leadership was prepared to do almost anything to stop him. We need to build a new political party, one completely free from corporate cash and influence... Many progressives will vote for Clinton in spite of their opposition to her politics, simply to prevent Trump from setting foot in the White House. I understand their desire to see him defeated, but even more important is beginning the process-- too long delayed-- of building an alternative to the pro-capitalist parties monopolizing US politics. Not radical enough for you? Paul Street, writing yesterday for TruthDig also urged his readers to vote for Stein . "Every four years," he writes, "liberal-left politicos scream wolf about how the Republicans are going to wreak plutocratic, racist, ecocidal, sexist, repressive and war-mongering hell if they win this, the most important election in American history. The politicos conveniently ignore the plutocratic, racist, ecocidal, sexist, repressive and military-imperial havoc that Democrats inflict at home and abroad in dark, co-dependent alliance with the ever more radically reactionary Republicans. Democrats fail to acknowledge their preferred partys responsibility for sustaining the Republicans continuing power, which feeds on the dismal Dems neoliberal abandonment of the nations working-class majority in service to transnational Wall Street and corporate America. They commonly exaggerate the danger posed by the right-most major party and (especially) the progressivism of the not-so-left-most one." he points to journalist Mark Leibovich's observation that DC has "become a determinedly bipartisan team when there is money to be made. 'No Democrats and Republicans in Washington anymore,' goes the maxim, 'only millionaires.'" So why might a serious left progressive living in a contested state (someone like this writer) consider following the venerable left political scientist Adolph Reed Jr.s advice this year to vote for the lying neoliberal warmonger Hillary Clinton? Part of it could be that leftys sense that it is better for the U.S. Left (insofar as it exists) and the development of the dedicated, day-to-day, grass-roots social movement we desperately need in place beneath and beyond the election cycle when a corporate Democrat occupies the White House. The presence of a Democrat in the nominal top U.S. job is usefully instructive. It helps demonstrate the richly bipartisan nature of the American plutocracy and empire. Young workers and students especially need to see and experience how the misery and oppression imposed by capitalism and its evil twin imperialism live on when Democrats hold the Oval Office. At the same time, the presence of a Republican in the White House tends to fuel the sense among progressives and liberals that the main problem in the country is that the wrong party holds executive power and that all energy and activism must be directed at fixing that by putting the right party back in. Everything progressive gets sucked into a giant Get Out the Vote project for the next faux-progressive Democratic savior, brandishing the promises of hope and change (campaign keywords for the neoliberal imperialist Bill Clinton in 1992 and the neoliberal imperialist Barack Obama in 2008). Hillary will be much less capable than the more charismatic Obama (under whom there has been more popular organizing and protest than some lefties like to acknowledge) of bamboozling progressives into thinking theyve got a friend in the White House. Unlike Obama in 2008, shes got a long corporatist and imperialist track record that connects her to the establishment and is hard to deny. It is an urban myth that Republican presidents spark and energize progressive and left activism. True, theyve done outrageous things that can put lots of folks in the streets for a bit. One thinks of Richard Nixons invasion of Cambodia and Bush Jr.s invasion of Iraq. But the waves of protest recede, followed by repression, and everything tends to get channeled into the holy electoral quest to put Democrats back in executive-branch power. The second George W. Bush term was no activist heyday, thanks in significant measure to the great co-optive and demobilizing impact of Democratic Party electoral politics and the deceptive, not-so antiwar Obama phenomenon. But the main reason it is easy to understand why many intelligent lefties stuck behind contested state lines might follow Reeds advice is that Trump is no ordinary Republican wolf. By some dire portside reckonings (including Reeds), the Donald is something like a real fascist threat worthy of mention in the same breath as Hitler and Mussolini. Hes a really bad version of the wolf who finally appears to devour the sheep in the ancient [Boy who cried wolf] fable. ...In warning about Trump and instructing lefties not to vote third-party this time, Reed reminds us of the German Community Partys fateful error: choosing not to ally with the German Social Democrats against the Nazi Party during the early 1930s. The moral of the story is clear: All sane left progressives need to report to duty to protect the flock under the banner of the admittedly horrid (good of Reed to admit that) Hillary. ...[There is] enough to scare lots of left progressives into voting for the arch-corporatist and Wall Street-sponsored neoliberal imperialist Hillary Clinton (a candidate whom Gupta has described as right-wing fanatic and enemy of workers) as the proverbial lesser evil in a contested state? Sure. For many lefties (this writer included), however, the Trump threat level does not rise that high. The wolf cry still falls on deaf ears. This is for at least six reasons. First, ominous warnings from smart people notwithstanding, the American corporate, financial and imperial ruling class doesnt yet need or want real or quasi-fascism through Herr Trump or anyone else at this historical moment. The U.S. model of corporate-managed and inverted totalitarianism (Sheldon Wolin) sold as democracy is not about strongmen and brown shirts. The notion that the nations deep state power elite-- the actual rulers who run the nations commanding-heights affairs behind the marionette theater of electoral politics-- would (a) let an uber-narcissistic man-child like Donald Trump into the Oval Office and (b) permit him to do the crazy things he talks about is far-fetched. Neofascism is simply not where the American ruling class is right now. When it is, we will know. If and when it gets there, it will put forward a far more serious and capable frontman than the preposterous Donald-- a man so uninterested in the actual work of ruling that he offered the moderate Republican John Kasich control over domestic and foreign policy in a Trump White House if Kasich would be his running mate. Trumps ascendency to the White House could well portend a further chaotic delegitimization of homeland authority and a pervasive sense of societal absurdity (Id be lying if I didnt acknowledge that my anarchist streetfighter side would relish the installation of a commander in chief as completely absurd as Trump). Along with the humiliating black eye that a Trump White House would be for Uncle Sam on the global stage, this is something the American power elite has reason not to want. It would be bad for business-- and for American-style business rule as usual. Second, it is frankly comical to think of the ludicrous, soft-fleshed, silver-spooned draft-dodger and pampered television personality Donald Trump as some kind of neo-Fuhrer. He is seen as unfit for command by most top military commanders and is far too monumentally unpopular with the majority of citizens to ever rally enough masses to overcome the hostility he faces with the corporate and imperial establishment. Third, the populace would not be as pathetically supine and powerless as Gupta imagines in response to the election and policies of a vicious clown like Trump. His selection and installment as U.S. president would be understood by tens of millions of Americans as an incredibly provocative development-- provocative and dangerous enough to spark protests and mass mobilizations on a scale like nothing ever seen in American history. That, too, is part of what makes Trump a different kind of Republican wolf. I suggested above that ultra-left backlash theorists (folks who think things have to get worse before they get better) are wrong to assume that its better to have Republicans in the White House when it comes to sparking popular protest. Trump would be an exception to that rule. The deep state has zero interest in the riotous instability that would result from Trumps election and inauguration. Fourth, Trumps not going to win. For all Hillary Clintons obvious terrible flaws as a candidate, the big insider cash, the national electoral demographics, and the Electoral College map (just ask Nate Silver and his team of multivariate election predictors at FiveThirtyEight.com) strongly favor her. Her health stumbles and some recent homeland terror attacks have, yes, boosted Trump in the polls recently. That will fade as cold campaign finance realities and corporate media bring the bipartisan ruling classs long-chosen candidate Hillary to the moment she has literally craved for so long. The big and smart money is still on the lying neoliberal warmonger. Fifth, the Green Partys Partys Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka are combining genuine social movement activism with an electoral campaign for a Green New Deal-- a many-sided program that is much more than just another bit of progressive policy wonkery. Its an existential necessity for a decent future, one that combines a giant livable ecology-saving program of national and energy and economic reconversion with a giant jobs program and universal health insurance paid for by genuinely progressive taxation (long overdue in New Gilded Age America) and massive reductions in the nations giant Pentagon System (which accounts for half the worlds military spending). How does any environmentally sentient and peace-advocating lefty not vote for all of that in the current age of savage inequality, rampant militarism, and ever-more imminent eco-catastrophe? Sixth, lesser-evil voting (LEV) has a terrible track record, as Stein reminded me last spring. The more American liberals and progressives do it, the more the Republican right wing is emboldened, the further the Democrats move into ideological and policy territory formerly held by Republicans, and the more dire the American and global situation becomes. LEV is a viciously circular, self-fulfilling prophecy that itself holds no small responsibility for the ascendancy of horrible Republican presidents and other terrible things like the tea party and Donald Trump phenomena. And one does not seriously challenge LEV only in so-called safe states. You have to draw some lines in the sand and exit left at some point: Protect the flock. I am not so inured to the quasi-neofascistic evil of the Trump phenomenon and the ugly prospects of a Trump presidency-- especially on the ecological level-- that I cannot understand why many fellow leftists would mark a ballot for the hideous imperial corporatist Hillary Clinton to block Herr Trump. The intra-left bloodletting that takes place on a regular quadrennial schedule over the difficult question of how best to respond to the United States plutocratic electoral and party system certainly does not serve the progressive left cause. Let us join together after the latest quadrennial extravaganza to build and expand a great popular movement with a list of demands and the introduction of an election and party system that deserves passionate citizen engagement. It's a point of view.I hope you're glad to have read it. You can contribute to stopping Trump here if you want to: Attendees arrives in Tianjin. Chinese officials and industry leaders gather for Friday conference sessions. Carnival and CSSC prepare for the JV/MOA announcement. A packed room representing the cruise industry globally and in China. Weihang Zheng, executive vice chairman and secretary general, China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association Arnold Donald, president and CEO, Carnival Corporation Chinese officials arrive. Thatcher Brown, president, Dream Cruises; and Ang Moo Lim, president, Star Cruises Min Fan, president and CEO, SkySea, takes questions from the media. Frank del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Adam Goldstein, president and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises From left: Helen Huang, president, Greater China, MSC Cruises; and Gianni Onorato; president and CEO, MSC Cruises David Herrera, president of NCLH China and Harry Sommer, executive vice president for international business and operations, NCLH Hernan Zini, COO, SkySea From left: Michael Ungerer, COO Asia, Carnival Corporation; and Alan Buckelew, COO, Carnival Corporation Anthony (Tony) Kaufman, executive vice president, international operations, Princess Cruises The red carpet was out at the trade show in Tianjin. A sign of things to come Trade show highlights The China Cruise Tourism Service Alliance was officially launched on Saturday by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association at China Cruise Shipping in Tianjin. China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation display Royal Caribbean was promoting its cruise experience. Dream Cruises' branding platform features a mermaid. Photos: Cruise Industry News A good day is when politicians make no hard decisions. So Im pretty sure the governor would have preferred submitting to a root canal than choosing between two powerful business interests. But thats what Dannel Malloy had to do. By cutting a 20-year, $400 million deal in 2014 with airplane engine giant Pratt & Whitney, Malloy took sides, in effect, against Pratts competitor, General Electric. Things were never the same after that between GE and Hartford. Malloy bet big and it cost him. He has the lowest approval rating of nearly all governors in the country. But the latest news shows his bet paid off. Pratt is set to hire 8,000 people by the end of the next decade, including 2,000 next year in engineering and manufacturing. Another deal with Lockheed Martins Sikorsky Aircraft appears to be bearing fruit, too. In exchange for $220 million in tax breaks and other aid, the helicopter maker, based in Stratford for 85 years, has pledged to expand hiring, from 7,600 to 8,000 jobs, and double its budget from $350 million on business with state-based suppliers. Thats a big deal. All this comes about a month after Donald Trump blew through Connecticut, telling residents to vote for the Republican nominee as a protest against Malloy and his handling of the states economy. Youve got to vote for Trump just as a signal to your incompetent governor that youre not going to take it anymore, he said. Do it as a protest against your governor for losing General Electric. For Trump, as for many state Republicans, GEs departure shows one thing and one thing only: High taxes are driving business away. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the states biggest business lobby, believes state Democrats are on the defensive, and plans to support several Republican challengers to Democratic incumbents, especially in the state Senate. But the story is more complex. It began when Pratt & Whitney won a military contract in 2014 to build engines for the Pentagons F-35 jet fighter. General Electric wanted a piece of the action, so it lobbied members of the U.S. Congress to make an alternative engine to the F-35. GE, however, gave no sign workers making the engine would be based in Connecticut. That created a political problem. If General Electric won the bid, Connecticut could lose jobs exacerbating its reputation, as MSNBCs Joe Scarborough once put it, as hostile to business. Would Malloy stand by Pratt or GE? Governors have no say in military contracts, but they are sometimes forced to bet on businesses that can grow and spread prosperity. GE had been shopping for subsidies with states eager to host the global firm even as Connecticut had given millions in incentives over the years. But nothing compared to Pratts deal. Not by a long shot. Malloy could have tried pleasing both firms, like Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey, who has handed out subsidies like candy to anyone who could fog a mirror. Instead, Malloy made a hard choice that has accelerated his falling approval rating (around 24 percent). Like state Republicans pounding Malloy for losing GE, Trump wasnt telling the whole story. The moral of that story is this: Governing is hard. Moodys Analytics Mark Zandi concluded that Hillary Clintons plan to tax the rich to fund education, infrastructure and economic development would be a boon to our states economy. But Trumps plan to cut taxes and raise tariffs would be fiscally unsound. Thats a polite way of putting it. Raising taxes is never popular, but its sometimes the right thing to do. And the right thing can sometimes be popular. Time will tell if our unpopular governor is rewarded politically for doing the right thing. As for Trump, he said hed win Connecticut, but those were words more than deeds. To the dismay of many state Republicans, his campaign has a new plan for resources once intended for Connecticut. Theyre headed to New Hampshire. John Stoehr is a lecturer in political science at Yale and the 2016 Koeppel Journalism Fellow at Wesleyan. He is a contributing writer to Washington Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Steve Haas grew up with a love for music. You might say it was in his blood. His great-grandfather was a mason who worked on European concert halls and his grandfather was a concert pianist and violinist. Haas himself learned to play the piano early at an early age. He is now a practiced pianist, saxophonist and electronic musician. So when it came time to choose a career, Haas chose the world of sound. That decision has taken him all over the world in his job as an acoustics consultant for residential and commercial spaces, designing ways to make sound an integral part of any visitors experience. A graduate of Cornell University, Haas created his own concentration in audio engineering within his mechanical engineering major. He worked at Norwalk-based Jaffe Holden Acoustics and then, in 2003, decided to branch out on his own and establish SH Acoustics in Milford. That same year, an Act of Congress created the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of African American History and Culture. Several years ago, Haas was approached by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the chosen museum exhibit designers, with which he has had a longtime relationship, to work on the project, as well. The museum was built on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., between the Washington Monument and the Smithsonians National Museum of American History. It is the only national museum exclusively devoted to the documentation of African American history, art and culture. The collections will explore the cultures African origins and go through history from slavery to the present. SH Acoustics played a key role. We were responsible for all of the sound design, Haas said. The role included designing how and where sound systems should be installed, overseeing the installation of those systems and tuning and calibrating the equipment. Haas said he had to work with the exhibit designers, architectural teams and others to ensure each room had the proper acoustics. He said it took roughly three years to design the audio features for 85,000 square feet worth of media-intensive exhibits. Our role is to make sure the visitor experience when it relates to sound is at a very high level from start to finish, Haas said. How do you deliver that sound so people can feel immersed in that sound but you dont have it bleed into other spaces? He said some of the exhibits will feature sounds meant to bring them back to a specific time and place, while other exhibits will feature speakers, like the voices of civil rights activists in the 1960s. But working on the museum wasnt always easy. Noise is a given in any construction zone, but it isnt always the optimal environment to test audio systems and the acoustics in a museum. Because of the historic and cultural significance of this project, so many more people wanted to come through and experience it before it was finished, Haas said. Its hard to tune sound when thousands of people are walking through a gallery. So Haas found himself working late hours this year so he could experience the audio in an exhibit as a visitor would. Youre creating a museum that tells a fascinating story, Haas said. The significance of the project wasnt intimidating, though, Haas said. He has worked on other museums of significance, like the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Locally, Haas has worked on the acoustics in the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center in Ledyard. Working on the African American museum, although like working in other museums in many respects, was an unforgettable experience for Haas. It was both exciting and chaotic, he said. ktorres@hearstmediact.com; 203-330-6227 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Today marks the 40th anniversary of the premiere of ABCs hit series Charlies Angels which propelled the careers of stars Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. The premiere of the show signaled the rise of jiggle TV according to critics at the time, wherein sex began to be sold on network television like never before. RELATED: Farrah Fawcett inspired 'Midnight Train to Georgia' The trio hired by a mysterious billionaire named Charlie were detectives who had previously graduated from the police academy but were placed in decidedly boring jobs within the force. In need of more excitement they all applied to work for Charlies private investigative agency. After just one season, Texas-native Fawcett left to do movies, replaced ably by perky blonde Cheryl Ladd. Fawcett would make a few return appearances though. By Season 3, Jackson would also leave, with Smith the only actress to remain for all five seasons. John Forsythe, who voiced Charlie, was also around for all five seasons, along with David Doyles John Bosley. To this day the shows first season is mythologized by audiences. The show came with ready-made eye candy but it also showed women in protagonist roles rarely seen before. In short, boys and men loved the jiggle but girls and women could appreciate the trios moxie. RELATED: Jaclyn Smith keeps Houston in her heart The iconic poster featuring Fawcett smiling in a red bathing suit with that mess of dirty blonde hair was seared into the minds of a generation of young men. In 1980, ABC attempted a male version of the show ("Toni's Boys") but the show was not picked up. Maybe "The A-Team" hit on the magic formula a few years later with Mr. T. The "Angels" series finale aired on June 24, 1981, after years of diminishing returns and 110 episodes. Later in 2000 a big-budget reboot film starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu hit the big screen and was a box-office hit. A follow-up sequel in 2003 was mildly received. In 2011 ABC attempted to reboot the property for television with Rachael Taylor, Annie Ilonzeh and Minka Kelly. It was canceled after four episodes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT Teens joining gangs? Shooting incidents on the rise? The citys top law enforcement officer thinks irreligiosity is a major factor in the problems facing the city. We need God in our lives, Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez said Saturday to a group of around 50 people following a police solidarity march. Perez, who is Catholic, addressed a group of mostly church members between the police department and City Hall. The problems that were having is because people have abandoned church, people have abandoned God, and that cannot happen, he said. The march was organized by City Councilwoman Rev. Mary McBride-Lee, who introduced speakers under the white cross of a church on Park Avenue. Marchers chanted religious slogans like one faith, one city, one baptism, and civil rights mottoes such as no justice, no peace. About a dozen officers and four police cars accompanied the marchers down Washington Avenue to the memorial circle outside police headquarters, where a Black Lives Matter protest was held in July following a series of police shootings around the United States. Recent high-profile shootings hung over Saturdays event as well. We see challenges across the country, whether its Charlotte, (N.C.) whether its Tulsa, (Okla.), Mayor Joe Ganim said at the start of the march, where he acknowledged the diverse class of new officers who recently graduated from police academy. Were not a perfect police department, were not a perfect community. And Im far from a perfect mayor, the former felon said. but we understand the sensitivities of providing law and order, (and) also community policing. Perezs police department didnt start any of these national stories, but has been forced to contend with them. The focus of the July protest was less to confront local issues and more to show solidarity with national groups over high-profile shootings of unarmed black men. But those national events impact policing locally, at every traffic stop and, yes, doughnut shop. I was in the drive-thru at Dunkin Donuts (this week) and I see a cop pass in his car. He didnt do anything to me, but I felt scared, said banker Dawn Thompson, 52, of Shelton. Thompson did not attend the march (she hadnt heard about it). She spoke to Hearst Connecticut Media after participating in a conversation with her Bridgeport friends (and former neighbors she used to own a home here) on Facebook that chronicled the pains of watching a video of a Tulsa police officer shoot a black man who some said appeared to pose little threat to police. As a mother of a black, young, 6-foot-tall man, I live in fear of getting that news, she said. I want him to live a long life, and do things I never got to do. Police officers, meanwhile, have noticed a wave of positive interactions with the public in the past three months, with people going out of their way to show appreciation Officers have gone into Dunkin Donuts ... and citizens want to buy their coffee, said Bridgeport Patrol Lt. William Mayer, 60, of Trumbull. (The media) want the public to think that we feel like theyre all against us, but we dont feel that at all. The march did not attract any counterprotesters. But there was a voice of dissent on an internal policing issue. Thompson called on our Caucasian brothers and sisters to take a larger role in confronting the police violence issue. She also said that she prays. Perez, in his remarks, advocated a lot more praying. Lets bring God back in our lives, back in our church bring our kids in our city, in our schools absolutely, Perez told the crowd. When asked to clarify his remarks, Perez said that he didnt advocate a specific religious belief, though he stood by his statement about religion in schools. Man 1: Hey, didja see the Tahoe anywhere? Man 2: From another room. Keys to the Tahoe? Man 1: No, no. Not the keys. The TAHOE. You know, the $47,000, 17-foot-long, seven-foot wide, six-foot tall black three-ton behemoth SUV we drive around in. Pause. Man 2: Now that you mention it..... Man 1: Holy #@##%&*. Man 2: Mayor, calm down. Itll turn up. And it did. At 5:27 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, this email was sent to a variety of Bridgeport city employees, including the Police department: At approximately 0430 HRS September 22, 2016 the EOC received a call from the Oak Grove, Kentucky Police Dept advising that they have in their possession a 2015 Chevy Tahoe color black, CT REG 555-XFA registered to the City Of Bridgeport Ct. They also reported that in the vehicle was a City of Bridgeport Gas Card. Operating the Vehicle was a 20 year old male Derrick Johnson Greene who was being uncooperative with Police. This vehicle has not been reported stolen as of yet. If any City of Bridgeport employees have any information on this vehicle please contact the Bridgeport EOC 203-576-7671. Thank You .. Signed, Supervisor Nick Meriano. Some of us might ask, How do you sort of lose track of a $47,000, 17-foot-long, seven-foot wide, six-foot tall black three-ton behemoth SUV. The keys, sure. Misplace mine all the time. But having only one car, I generally know where the car is. But I suppose when you use the word fleet in connection with your transportation options, its not that difficult to lose track. So maybe Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, whose office SUV this was, was using a cab for a couple of days? City officials wasted no time in springing to action: Within minutes perhaps seconds and maybe even sooner of getting the flash from Kentucky..... they reported the car stolen. The vehicle is normally kept on the roof of the Margaret E. Morton Government Center at 999 Broad Street, or in the buildings basement. Ganim is often seen riding around town in a black SUV with his driver, Detective Ramon Garcia. Come to find out, whoever drove the Tahoe last may have left the keys in the vehicle, and left it unlocked. My, my.Reminds me of the time I walked into Peoples Bank downtown on a rainy day. Got to the little stand where the deposit slips are, set my umbrella against the base and got in line. When I finished my transaction just minutes later, I remembered the umbrella. When I went to retrieve it, alas, all that was there was a puddle formed by the water that had run off it. I went to the desk in the middle of the floor and asked if someone had turned in an umbrella. I said Id left it right over there, pointing to the puddle. No one had turned in an umbrella. Another patron standing nearby looked at me like Id just arrived from Oklahoma, clucked her tongue, and said, You know, this is Bridgeport. Ah, a lesson learned. The umbrella, though, only cost six bucks. The Keystone Kops aspect to this story, however, masks a more serious reality. Bridgeport is a city with massive financial problems. How many of these $47,000 Tahoes are in the fleet? Weve got a school board in hand-to-hand combat over how to pay for kindergarten aides, expanding the distance a kid has to walk to be eligible for busing, scraping money together to keep counselors in the schools, and the city buys $47,000 cars? And is so cavalier about them that they can disappear and no one notices? Bill Finch, for whatever shortcomings he had, drove some little hybrid thing that ran on liquefied granola and herbal tea, or something like that. Its not clear why the mayor, or anyone else in city employ, needs to be given some over-the-top vehicle when the money could be spent on something important. One other item: It was reported here a few weeks ago that former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the key person in helping former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch get his new gig with the New York State Thruway Authority. Bloomberg may have had a role, but it now seems far more likely that the direct avenue may have led through the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a Washington-based organization in which Finch was both active, influential and well-liked. The CEO and executive director of the conference is a fellow named Tom Cochran, with whom Finch has had a good relationship. Cochrans son, Alexander, is a close aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appointed the former mayor to the interim job of executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority in June. Michael J. Daly is editor of the editorial page of the Connecticut Post. Email: mdaly@ctpost.com. HARTFORD State health officials are warning residents to avoid ground beef and other products purchased recently from a farmers market or a Connecticut farm after two state residents became ill and the slaughterhouse that processed the products issued a recall. The two Connecticut residents were hospitalized suffering from e.coli bacteria and released after treatment. The Connecticut Department of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the contamination, which sickened seven people in four states, was traced to Adams Slaughterhouse in Athol, Massachusetts. The slaughterhouse has recalled veal, bison and beef products that tested positive for Escherichia, officials said. The illnesses started on dates ranging from June 27 to September 4. Those who became sick ranged in age from one years old to 74 years old, with a median age of 25, health officials said. In addition to those sickened in Connecticut, three people in Massachusetts and one person in Pennsylvania and West Virginia become ill. Ed Maltby, general manager of Adams Farm Slaughterhouse, said none of the meat products were sold to supermarket chains. We pride ourselves on being a high-class facility with testing. We regret that people have gotten sick, he said. Maura Downes, a spokeswoman for the state health department, said on Sunday officials were waiting for the slaughterhouse to provide a list of places in Connecticut where it sold beef. She said that list may be available Monday. Maltby said farmers bring their livestock to his business to be slaughtered, butchered and packaged. Each package contains a code that tells when it was slaughtered. Farmers sell the products at markets or other establishments and cooperatives. All farmers who had animals slaughtered and processed on the dates of suspected contamination have been notified, Matlby said. He said he believes the USDA has taken excessive measures with the recall of hundreds of products, adding the slaughterhouses testing found only two days when meat may be contaminated. The state health department is urging consumers with left-over beef, veal or bison products purchased from farmers markets or a Connecticut farm to check the USDA plant code printed on the Adams label to see if it contains the number 5497, which means it is included in the recall. Consumers who do not have access to the original packaging can contact the farm or retailer where they purchased the meat directly to determine if the product is included in the recall. Staff writer Jim Shay contributed to this report Some of the biggest companies from Thailand are ready to grab stakes in Vietnam's top state-owned enterprises, a report says. The Vietnamese governments plan to sell off its stakes in major state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are being watched closely by investors from Thailand, who are especially interested in the beverage sector, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. The target is to fully divest state ownership from these companies by the end of 2017, exciting foreign companies looking to tap strong demand in this previously inaccessible market of 93 million people, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. One of the largest corporations in the country, Vinamilk, is set to be the first in line with a 9-percent stake reportedly up for grabs. The dairy giant is one of the best earners for the sovereign wealth manager State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), bringing in $100 million in dividends annually. Among the most ambitous suitors is Thai Beverage, better known as ThaiBev. Its CEO, Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, was quoted as saying that Vietnam is the first priority of the company's M&A targets. Its competitor Fraser & Neave, owned by Thailand's richest man Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, has also expressed interest in Vinamilk. Vietnam's beer market is one of the most attactive sectors for foreign investors. Photo by Reuters/Kham Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage, or Sabeco, is also attracting foreign investors. Beer consumption in Vietnam rose 10 percent in 2015 to reach 3.4 billion liters and Vietnam may surpass Japan as Asias second largest beer market in the next decade. Sabeco occupies 40 percent of the Vietnamese beer market and its shares are sought after by Thailands Boon Rawd Brewery along with Asahi Group Holdings, Kirin Holdings and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Meanwhile, Siam Cement, Thailand's largest materials conglomerate, is eying plastics producers Tien Phong and Binh Minh. The Vietnamese plastics market is growing at 20 to 25 percent annually, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Vietnams government is speeding up the process of selling shares in state-run companies. The Southeast Asian nation had around 800 SOEs at the end of last year. In the first seven months this year, the government offloaded stakes in 60 of those, earning more than $233 million. Related news: > Vietnam taps banks to advise on $900 mln Vinamilk stake sale: sources > Vietnam to divest from dairy giant Vinamilk in privatization push > Vietnam's top brewer Sabeco seeks listing on HCMC bourse This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As its slogan All Things Basementy! declares, Basement Systems offers a variety of basement-related services from extending a homes living space, to waterproofing, crawl space repair, refinishing and foundation repair. With the largest network of basement waterproofing and crawl space contractors in the world, Seymour-based Basement Systems works with more than 300 dealers in 47 states, across Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The companys CEO, Larry Janesky, described by many as a visionary, credits the rise of his now multimillion-dollar company to the top of the basement beautification world to some creative thinking and a lot of hard work. Without new ideas there cant be progress or growth, Janesky said. Our company and our international network of dealers have been built on both of these principals. New ideas bring energy to our company and thats important for our employees and our customers. Janesky said Basement Systems encourages new ideas at every level of the workforce and because of that, the company earned both the No. 4 spot of the midsize brand category and the New Ideas award of the 2016 Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces survey. Employees know this and dont hesitate to suggest new ways of doing things. Knowing they are contributing and growing keeps employees happy, Janesky said. With multiple creative workspaces at the companys Seymour headquarters including a treehouse-themed internet marketing division and a workspace known as the Forge & Anvil, paying homage to the American worker, its no secret that Janesky thinks outside of the box, or cubicle. Who wants to work in an office full of cubicles? Thats not going to inspire anyone, he said. We build workspaces that inspire our employees and our dealers to think differently. Giving employees special workspaces lets them know were happy to have them with us. Jennifer Saunders has worked at Basement Systems for six years as a producer and editor in the video department. She said Basement Systems encourages a team environment. We are encouraged to work together on a daily basis, but also to use our individual strengths to produce unique work. I work with a group of incredibly talented people, which challenges the work I create every day, she said. Saunders said although Janesky allows for creative freedom, he is a large part of everyday operations. It is nice to be in a workplace that you are appreciated and encouraged to grow and do your best work. Tom Matthews, national director of marketing for Basement Systems, said the companys CEO is a committed learner, continuously learning new things and encouraging his employees to do the same. We are definitely a unique workplace that encourages creative thinking and how that really happens is all ideas are welcome. Larry encourages experimentation at all levels; its something that he believes and encourages, Matthews said. And because we are a relatively flat organization, in terms of theres not a lot of hierarchy here, it allows people not only to contribute new ideas, if they are accepted they are quickly implemented. Recently, one idea sparked some serious creative drive and ingenuity, falling well outside of the realm of all things basementy. After the Ansonia Nature Center demolished its 25-year-old playground that had posed many safety hazards, they were in need of a new playscape with limited funding and short timeline. Janesky willingly delivered. We called the playground project The Big Build and thats exactly what it was an epic project, Janesky said. More than 2,100 man hours in one weekend, and it was really hot. Our company is successful because we like to help other people our customers, our dealers and our employees. So helping the community fits in with that. We enjoy being in Seymour and want to make sure we give back to the town and the Valley. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Who determines Top Workplaces? Those who know them best: the employees. Hearst Connecticut Media partnered with Philadelphia-based WorkplaceDynamics, the employee research and consulting firm, to determine the regions Top Workplaces rankings. Beginning in February, the newspapers ran articles and advertisements encouraging employees in the region to nominate companies as Top Workplaces . WorkplaceDynamics invited those companies, as well as other organizations in the region, to participate in the program. Anyone could nominate a company. The only requirement was that the organization must employ at least 35 people in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties. The organization could be public, private, nonprofit, or governmental. WorkplaceDynamics invited 874 workplaces to participate and surveyed 70 of them. Only those organizations that agreed to participate were included in the surveys. The surveyed firms employ 13,797 people in the area. Of those employees who received questionnaires, 8,418 responded, either on paper or online. The employee survey seeks responses from 24 statements covering seven factors. Key to those are organizational health factors, which measure how well employees are working together toward a common cause: Alignment where the company is headed, its values, cooperation Effectiveness doing things well, sharing different viewpoints, encouraging new ideas Connection employees feel appreciated, their work is meaningful My Manager cares about concerns, helps learn and grow Time and time again, our research has proven that whats most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how its going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together, said Doug Claffey, CEO of WorkplaceDynamics. In addition, the survey asks employees about other factors: Employee Engagement loyalty, motivation, and referral Leader confidence in company leadership The Basics Pay, benefits, flexibility Statements relating to Connection and Alignment were among the most important to employees, while statements about pay and benefits rated among the least important. While pay and benefits remain important to a point, they do not make a bad workplace better, Claffey said. After employees completed the surveys, WorkplaceDynamics ran statistical tests to look for any questionable results. (It sometimes will disqualify a small number of employers based on those tests.) Employers were categorized into size bands, because smaller employers tend to score higher than midsize employers, and midsize employers tend to score higher than large employers, Claffey said. Within each size band, employers were ranked based solely on employee responses to the survey statements. The top employers in each size band were selected as Top Workplaces for 2016. WorkplaceDynamics also determined a list of special award winners based on standout scores on specific survey statements. Why is a particular employer not on the list? Perhaps the company took the survey and scored too low. Or, it might have chosen not to participate. We hope more Connecticut employers take the time next year to survey their employees and see where they stand, Claffey said. A stronger economy is good news for workers, who have more employment options than they did in the wake of the recession. But business leaders are likely to face some daunting HR challenges if they havent already. Those who arent doing everything they can to keep great employees risk watching them walk out the door. Nationwide, our research shows 37 percent of employees more than one in three considered pursuing a better job elsewhere in 2015. That figure is an increase over the previous year (35.7 percent). And keep in mind, were studying organizations that either qualify as Top Workplaces or aspire to get there. These are companies that reap the benefits of employee engagement at levels more than double the norm in the United States. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Developing top-of-the-line products across the toy, baby, housewares, home improvement and outdoor living categories, the Trumbull-based consumer products powerhouse SCS Direct has advanced to become a leading marketplace in the dot-com industry. Founded in 1998, SCS Direct began as a niche marketing company focused on a single category. But, after nearly two decades, SCS Direct has continued pioneering the internet marketplace, with more than 10,000 products from toys to sporting goods. Howard Greenspan, president of SCS Direct, attributes the companys growth and expansion to its eclectic workforce. Earning the No. 25 spot on the small size brand of the 2016 Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces survey, SCS Direct has 100 employees in its Trumbull office. Greenspan said the company ensures employees have a voice, know that sometimes not everything works out, and have a sense of pride in their work. Most people hate their job, Greenspan said. In the olden days, businesses were about fostering talent, providing promotions and achievements and allowing people to get the most out of their jobs. Over the last 20 years, there has been a shift away from that. Every single person needs to be replaceable. Companies have to minimize the importance of their employees, minimize decision making. If youre not a decision maker, then youre a lot easier to replace. At SCS, Greenspan said, employees could not be more important. Our job has always been to increase the importance of our employees, so that they are not able to be replaced. Doing that gives people an amazing amount of pride in their work; it gives them ownership. For Ben Ebersold, a product designer with SCS Direct, the company offers a dynamic environment to work in that promotes growth and innovation. I love my job because of light bulb moments, he said. As a product designer, I love the moment where you find the start of an innovative idea it could be something from the research, your millionth sketch or your latest prototype. Its thrilling. It makes you incredibly motivated and excited to use all your skills to turn that idea into a finished product to share that sense of discovery with everyone else. He said working at SCS is the epitome of variety. In the morning Ill be sketching designs for new high chairs. Later Im finishing up computer models of licensed nightlights so they can be 3-D printed by the next day. In the afternoon, I might be building prototype wooden toys. Then I finish the day by testing a prototype charcoal chimney that came in from our factory. Ebersold said that SCS challenges each of its employees with the quote What would you do if this was your company? Everyone in SCS takes that to heart and sees it as a responsibility to each other. We each feel the weight a CEO feels when leading a company. It pushes us to give the best of ourselves, to continue to learn, challenge ourselves and never settle. Its challenging every day but it is incredibly satisfying knowing youve given your best and those around you have, too. It makes SCS an exceptional place to work. U.S. consumers spent $341.7 billion on retail goods online last year, per U.S. Commerce Department estimates. Forrester Research Inc. estimates the value of goods sold to U.S. consumers through Amazon at about $100 billion, accounting for about 30 percent of U.S. online retail sales. The industry itself is massively changing. Every day it gets more challenging; we have to do better than we did the day before, Greenspan said. We have a theory of idea generation. We have this philosophy that we are not afraid to fail here. We definitely have lots of failures but people appreciate that its their failure. To keep cutting edge, Greenspan said, employees never walk with blinders on. Every day we are working on trends, we are analyzing personnel, new software. We challenge our employees daily and we never take anything for granted. We are always thinking about what is next, what are the next big ideas, he said. As long as people feel like they have a voice, it keeps the business innovative. A 74-year-old South Korean man died while swimming off the coast of Hoi An with a stroke or heart attack suspected to be the cause. A 74-year-old South Korean man died while swimming off the coast of Hoi An on Saturday with a stroke or heart attack suspected to be the cause. Locals rushed Kim Tae Yeol to a medical clinic on Cham islet after discovering him motionless in the water; Yeol later expired at the clinic. The tourist may have suffered a stroke or heart attack, said Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of the Hoi An Peoples Committee, the local government. Dung added that officials at the South Korea Embassy in Hanoi have arrived to repatriate Kims body. Local and foreign tourists flock to the small archipelago of eight islets where Yeol died, every day via a 30-minute express boat. UNESCO has recognized the area as a World Biosphere Reserve (Cu Lao Cham Marine Park). Related news: > American man found dead in Vietnam hotel 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. Tan Son Nhat is expected to receive around 31 million passengers this year. Photo courtesy of Airports Corporation of Vietnam The government approves plans to remove three air force units from major airports ceding runway space to commercial carriers. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed off on plans to remove three air force units from airports in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang City ceding much-needed runway space to commercial carriers. The military has occupied and conducted training in portions of the country's main airports since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Overloading, particularly at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, moved the city to pursue land occupied by the Ministry of National Defense. On Friday, Major General Hoang Viet Quang, the vice director of the Defense Ministrys Department of Operations, said the country's biggest airport would soon have room to grow. Air Force Regiment 917 moved from Tan Son Nhat to Bien Hoa Airport in the bordering province of Dong Nai in March. The regiment will again relocate to the new airport underway in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho when it opens in the second quarter of next year. Vietnam is working to expand Tan Son Nhat to receive more than twice the passengers in the next 10 years as a rapid growth in traffic strains its overloaded facilities. The city government is working to coordinate with the ministries of transport, defense and natural resources to expand Tan Son Nhat's cramped 21-hectare (52-acre) operation eastward into land vacated by the air force. Major General Quang says the Ministry of Transport would assume control of the extra land by October. The new 850-hectare (2,100-acre) Tan Son Nhat should be able to accommodate 50 million passengers, annually, by 2025at present, it's designed for just 20 million. The extra land can't come soon enough. The airport saw over 26.5 million passengers last year, a figure that's expected to increase to around 31 million this year. Meanwhile, in Hanoi, Air Force Regiment 921 will leave Noi Bai International Airport for a new base in the northern province of Yen Bai. Work on Yen Bai Airport began in July and is scheduled to finish in the second quarter of 2018. Meanwhile, Air Force Regiment 929 will leave Da Nang International Airport for Chu Lai Airport in the central province of Quang Nam. The new facilities should come into operation in the third quarter of 2019, if everything goes according to plan. Vietnam's aviation market has boomed in recent years. An average of 650-750 flights come and go every day from airports addled by regular delays and cancellations. Related news: > Vietnam to expand overburdened Tan Son Nhat Airport under new plan 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. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh addresses the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S., September 24, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Eduardo Munoz All parties are urged to exercise self-restraint and solve differences by peaceful means. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh is urging all parties involved with territorial ownership issues in the South China Sea to exercise self-restraint and solve disputes by peaceful means. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly during its annual ministerial meeting on Saturday, Minh, who is also Vietnams foreign minister, asked members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue contributing to common efforts to maintain peace, stability and maritime safety and freedom in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea. China routinely outlines the scope of its territorial claims through maps featuring a so-called nine-dash line a demarcation that includes about 90 percent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea. But these maps have been emphatically rejected by international experts and fly in the face of competing claims by four ASEAN members. At a meeting with ASEAN leaders earlier this month, U.S. President Barack Obama said an international arbitration ruling on July 12 against China was binding and "helped to clarify maritime rights in the region." Related news: > Vietnam calls for peace maintenance as Russia joins China in military drill in S.China Sea > China says Japan trying to 'confuse' South China Sea situation Saigon dooms hundreds of old villas to demolition In late June, private citizens razed a nearly century-old villa on No Trang Long Street in Binh Thanh District. Photo by VnExpress/Duy Tran Developers continue to drop HCMC's historical homes. The Architecture Research Center of Ho Chi Minh City maintains that half of the town's pre-1975 villas have already been torn down, leaving roughly 650 historical structures in a kind of limbo. On Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, for example, 29 of 53 villas have disappeared. Likewise, half of Hai Ba Trung Street's 40 villas now exist only in photographs. The edict requiring developers to submit to an administrative review by the city's mayor before tearing down any such building hasn't had a noticeable impact. In late June, private citizens razed a nearly century-old villa on No Trang Long Street in Binh Thanh District while owners of a villa on District 1's Ly Tu Trong Street felled a mansion valued at VND200 billion ($8.8 million). Neither had bothered to consult the city government, prompting calls for the district government to punish those involved. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies has submitted a draft regulation aimed at classifying old villas for preservation purposes, Hoang Minh Tri, deputy director of the institute, told VnExpress. Tri said the regulation would classify the town's remaining villas into three tiers and only allow for the demolition of tier-3 villasor those considered to hold minimal architectural, cultural and historical value. The draft regulation, however, has yet to receive the citys approval. Related news: > Stunning layers of Saigon make you stop and wonder > Watercolor Exhibition: Saigon - Just around the corner > Then and now photos of Saigon corners show how much the city has changed over time History tends to be written by the winners. That statement might be a cliche, but it doesnt 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 Camerons side throughout the campaign, and why, despite having thrown everything at it, he lost and had to leave Downing Street. The account, serialised in todays 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 didnt expect to tell the story so soon because I hoped wed win. Exit: Craig Oliver with David Cameron the day after he resigned, on June 25 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 dont. My intention isnt 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 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 Britains 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 Farages 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. 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 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 shouldnt 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 couldnt 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 Camerons 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. Im frank about the mistakes we made and take my full share of responsibility for my part in them. Its 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 its the economy, stupid! Those words were coined by Bill Clintons campaign manager James Carville during their first presidential campaign. They became a mantra for political parties around the world. 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 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 didnt 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 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. Well have a better idea after the Chancellors 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, Id 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. Sir Craig Oliver's memoir of life inside Downing Street during the referendum campaign is vivid, instructive and, at times, deeply troubling. Most alarmingly, we learn that Boris Johnson was glibly dismissing the chance of a Brexit victory just minutes before coming out publicly to back the cause. Oliver, who wrote his book in the heat of the Brexit battle, risks the accusation that his is a partial account and an exercise in score-settling. Exit: Craig Oliver with David Cameron the day after he resigned, on June 25 But he speaks with the authority of someone who had the ear of David Cameron for more than six years. The Foreign Secretary, who played a pivotal role in the Leave campaign and is now central to our negotiations with Brussels, does not appear to know his own mind on the matter. Oliver's recollections effectively the first draft of Brexit history also shed an intriguing light on Theresa May. David Cameron begged Mrs May to campaign for the Remain cause on numerous occasions. She agreed, grudgingly, just once, leading Cameron to believe that she was positioning herself for a leadership bid. David Cameron begged Mrs May to campaign for the Remain cause on numerous occasions No 10 dubbed her the 'submarine', because while Boris Johnson and Michael Gove fought a poisonous and public battle, at times being economic with the truth, she was steaming silently towards power. Cameron, understandably, felt deeply frustrated by this approach. But Mrs May's calm, discreet, unshowy style could be an asset in the coming years, as she leads the country's Brexit negotiations. She has also been bold and impressive in domestic policy, such as her plans to bring back grammar schools, and her one-nation Tory message. Oliver argues that Remain lost because they relied too heavily on economic scare tactics, and failed to address voters' concerns about immigration. But it was legitimate for Cameron to emphasise the risks which Brexit posed. It will not be certain that we have escaped these threats for several years. That is why it will be so important for Mrs May to demonstrate the better qualities of a 'submarine': tough, resilient, purposeful and effective. Black day for us ALL The re-election of Jeremy Corbyn is not just a black day for Labour moderates. By voting in a man who is manifestly unfit to become Prime Minister, party members have dealt a blow to British democracy. It was Margaret Thatcher's Foreign Secretary Francis Pym who argued that large landslide majorities did not 'produce successful Governments'. He might have added that the same curse of complacency can apply to Prime Ministers who have slim majorities if the Opposition is completely feeble. By voting in a man who is manifestly unfit to become Prime Minister, party members have dealt a blow to British democracy In addition to the onerous responsibilities of the Brexit negotiations, Theresa May is embarking on challenging domestic reforms. Throughout this, she should be tested by a Leader of the Opposition who has a credible chance of supplanting her. Corbyn is not that man. His supporters don't care: many admit openly that they are more interested in establishing a hard-Left social movement than seizing the levers of power. Here in my favourite American small town, I detect a strange, ominous feeling of approaching danger. Something has gone wrong with the USA. I first came to Moscow, Idaho, eight years ago when the great Obama frenzy was at its unhinged peak. This is a divided place, traditional rural conservatives living alongside a Left-wing university campus, but in 2008 they coped with their deep divisions in the usual way. People disagreed, but they did it politely and openly, and were ready to accept the result even if they did not like it. Almost every front lawn had its partisan placard. Now politics has gone underground in an almost sinister way. I searched the towns pleasant suburbs for a Trump or Clinton poster and found none, only a single defiant declaration of support for Americas Jeremy Corbyn, the Left-winger Bernie Sanders, who long ago quit the race. I lived through the Cold War and never believed we were in real danger. But I genuinely tremble at the thought of Mrs Clinton in the White House Republican headquarters in Main Street until recently contained posters supporting lots of the partys candidates for local office, but none at all for Donald Trump. Last week they finally managed to mention his name, but you have to look carefully for it in their window. Democrat HQ, almost directly opposite, is nearly as coy about Hillary Clinton. MAKING NEW LAWS IS USELESS IF NOT ENFORCED When will we learn that making new laws is useless unless we enforce them? It is no good having tough laws against texting while driving unless lots of people are caught, prosecuted and punished for this. Now car manufacturers, with breathtaking cynicism, are marketing new models with dashboard internet screens. This will undoubtedly mean more pointless deaths. My suggestion is that such cars should only be sold if the drivers seatbelt and airbag are removed first, and that they should not be permitted to have any insurance apart from third party cover. Too many drivers think they are invulnerable. That is why they kill. Advertisement In private conversations (the only sort where people will say what they really think), you find out what this means. Democrats are holding their noses over Hillary because they despise her and wish she wasnt their candidate. But many Republicans are stifling their genuine enthusiasm for Trump, because in small towns like this they dont want to annoy or alienate neighbours who may also be customers, clients, patients or employers. Of course there are conservatives, usually serious Christians, who loathe and mistrust Donald Trump and see him for what he is a balloon of noise and bluster which will one day burst in a terrible explosion of disappointment and regret. But they have been swept aside by the great carnival of resentment and revenge which has carried Trump past all the obstacles and restraints that are supposed to prevent such people getting near real power. For Trump is the anti-Obama emotional, irrational, a spasm. Those who had to sit, grinding their teeth, through all the long-years of Obama-worship, now hope for their own matching hour of gloating. And we really ought to recognise that rejoicing over the woes of your enemies is one of the greatest sinful pleasures in life. Few will turn down the chance. I can see no good outcome of this. Adversarial politics are a good thing, but only if both sides are ultimately willing to concede that their rivals are entitled to win from time to time. But that attitude seems to have gone. Now the rule is that the winner takes all, and hopes to keep it if he (or she) can. A narrow defeat for Trump will poison the republic. Millions of his supporters will immediately claim fraud at the polls, and nothing will convince them otherwise. The bitterness of the Florida hanging chad episode of 2000 will seem like brotherly love compared with that fury. A victory for Trump decisive or narrow will give astonishing powers to a lonely, inexperienced, ill-educated old man who (I suspect) is increasingly terrified of winning a prize he never really intended or expected to obtain. A clear victory for Hillary Clinton would create even greater problems. Educated, informed people here believe that there are serious doubts about her health. Even if they are wrong, her militant interventionist foreign policies are terrifying. I lived through the Cold War and never believed we were in real danger. But I genuinely tremble at the thought of Mrs Clinton in the White House. She appears to have learned nothing from the failed interventions of the past 30 years, and scorns Barack Obamas praiseworthy motto: Dont do stupid stuff. She will do stupid stuff, and drag us into it, you may rely upon it. How odd it is, to hear on the air the faint but insistent sound of coming war, here in this place of sweet, small hills, rich soil and wistful, mountainous horizons. Men came here in search of what we all really desire, to be left alone to get on with the really important aims of life, to build a home and raise a family, to see the fruits of their labour, to believe what they wish to believe. I cannot quite work out how the good, sane impulse that gave birth to the USA could possibly have led us to this nightmare choice between two equally horrible outcomes. I shall just have to carry on hoping that I am wrong. Syria's 'WMD moment'. Don't be duped again Almost everyone (barring a tiny knot of deluded losers) knows that Saddam Hussein had no WMD. Most people now grasp that Colonel Gaddafi wasnt planning a massacre in Benghazi or ordering his troops to engage in mass rapes. How long will it be before we also grasp that neither Russia nor Syria bombed a UN aid convoy in Aleppo? This incident, about which almost no independently testable, checkable facts have yet been produced, is the WMD of Syria. If we all fall for it, then we shall very soon find ourselves embroiled in the most dangerous international confrontation since the Cuban missile crisis. Under immense pressure from the despots of Saudi Arabia, the USA will not give up its efforts to overthrow the Syrian government. It is clear that it is now prepared to risk an open confrontation with Moscow to achieve this. Why? Who do they think they are, and how can their cause be so good that they take such risks? The deliberate sabotage of a workable peace deal in Syria (opposed from the start by the Pentagon) is one of the scandals of our age. There was a chance we might end the misery of millions, and it was thrown away. We in Britain must resist being dragged into a Syrian war, not least because, if we are, it will not be long before any troops we send there are being hounded in their own country for alleged war crimes. Weve been fooled enough by this propaganda. Dont be bamboozled again. We'll beat Corbyn with reason - not abuse Labour cannot win an Election whoever leads it, including Corbyn (pictured) Look, there are plenty of good arguments against Jeremy Corbyn, the best one being his absurd thought-free loathing for grammar schools. Some of the greatest socialists in this country, notably the 1930s Jarrow MP Ellen Wilkinson, and that fine teacher and socialist Eric James, realised that such schools helped the poor. But please can people stop proclaiming that Labour cannot win an Election with Mr Corbyn at its head? It is such a stupid thing to say, that every time I hear it I want to beat my head against the nearest wall. Labour cannot win an Election whoever leads it. It is dead in Scotland and the South of England. And why on earth, after the 13-year catastrophe of the Blair government, do so many people seem so anxious to back the ghastly, dishonest Blairites against Mr Corbyn, who is at least open and honest about what he intends? I personally prefer that to the conscious fraud practised by the Blairites and their Tory equivalents, the Cameroons, who pretended to be patriots and friends of the family, and turned out to be neither. Mr Corbyn, as well as being generally right about foreign policy, actually confronts the issues that worry many people. His answers may be wrong, but if we listened to him and debated with him, instead of abusing him, this country and its people would benefit. Freedom is all about being forced to listen to people we disagree with, and to defeat them (if we can) with facts and logic. The Corbyn abusers should try it. As Jeremy Corbyn rose to deliver his victory speech he found himself addressing a half empty hall It was the perfect metaphor. As Jeremy Corbyn rose to deliver his victory speech he found himself addressing a half empty hall. The bulk of his supporters had voted with their feet and decamped to the Momentum rally down the road. Let us wipe the slate clean, he proclaimed. But he didnt mean it, and everyone knew he didnt mean it. On Wednesday hed been asked what would be different about him if he was re-elected. Sadly for everyone its the same Jeremy Corbyn, he replied. Over the next week well hear a lot from Corbyn and his allies about unity. About how they will reach out to their parliamentary colleagues. And they will. They will reach out to rebellious Labour MPs and they will wring the last vestiges of life from them. Accept this olive branch or else will be the message. What we witnessed yesterday was billed as the result of the Labour leadership contest. But instead it had the feeling of a surrender ceremony. The final, formal capitulation of moderate, progressive socialism. Its already starting, one Labour MP told me. Ive had people emailing me saying, I dont want to go back, but Ive got a wife and kids to think about. By going back they mean returning to serve in Jeremy Corbyns shadow cabinet. Two months ago the instigators of Labours Summer of Discontent were desperately struggling to restrain people from resigning to help manage the insurrection in an orderly manner. Today theyre fighting to prevent those same MPs scrambling back aboard the sinking ship. The problem is, for a lot of them, being shadow minister for paperclips is the pinnacle of their political lives, one former shadow minister told me. Another said: You can dress it up as much as you like. But in the end it boils down to personal ambition. Fighting for Labours soul is great, but the truth is there are a lot of people sitting there saying, If Angela Rayner is going to be on the 10 oclock news, so should I. Over the past week a lot has been made of efforts by deputy leader Tom Watson to force through the reintroduction of shadow cabinet elections. Its been billed as a way of surrounding Corbyn with shadow ministers who owe their loyalty to the parliamentary party, rather than to him. Tom Watson has been trying to force the reintroduction of shadow cabinet elections But this is a smokescreen. Watson knows full well the rebellion is teetering on the point of collapse. His move is simply an attempt to provide a way of giving a route back into the shadow cabinet that allows Labour moderates to save face. Toms priority is just trying to protect the MPs and the party staff from the coming backlash, an ally told me. But there can be no dignified return. No peace with honour. Whether people go back to the shadow cabinet via elections or via the munificence of their leader is utterly irrelevant. They will to borrow the words of one former Labour Minister have done a Burnham, a reference to the newly anointed Marshall Petain of Manchester, who refused to back the coup against Corbyn in order to secure his partys mayoral nomination. Once again, Labours moderates are preparing to reinforce every negative caricature painted by Corbyn and his acolytes. That they are governed solely by personal ambition. That they have no courage or conviction. That they exist only to secure for themselves the closest proximity to power. And if they bow the knee to Corbyn now, that caricature will become a self-portrait. This week it was reported that George Bush Snr has told friends he will vote for Hillary Clinton rather than back Donald Trump. A number of other senior republicans have done the same. It comes to something when the old white men of the Republican Party are schooling the British Left in political bravery and responsibility. Labour MPs are now preparing to go back on claims they could not serve under Corbyn Those who spent the summer solemnly declaring I cannot in good conscience serve under Jeremy Corbyn, cannot suddenly announce, Whats that you say, 60 per cent of the vote? My conscience can cope with that. Or in one breath claim an independent nuclear deterrent and collective defence through Nato are vital to the countrys national security, then stand shoulder to shoulder with the man committed to abolishing them. Or decry the bullying intimidation and abuse directed at their colleagues, then pledge allegiance to the Godfather of it all. Actually, they can. But if they do, Jeremy Corbyn will have been proved right. The summer rebellion will have been nothing more than a grotesque act of self-indulgence. A cadaveric spasm from the New Labour corpse. The fact is that there can be no truce. No dignified armistice. After yesterday, Labours moderates have a simple choice. They hand Jeremy Corbyn their unconditional surrender. Or they fight, fight and fight again to save the party they profess to love. A burly bodyguard: The face of modern Labour This week it was announced Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth would be taking a minder with her to the Labour Party conference. This follows a campaign of intimidation over the summer, which saw her receive more than 20,000 abusive and threatening messages, many of them from supporters of Jeremy Corbyn. I used to sit alongside Ruth when we both worked for the campaign organisation Hope Not Hate. Our time was spent fighting Nazis. And when I say Nazis I dont mean people who said or did mildly offensive things or who tried to shout down those who disagreed with them. I mean real Nazis people who waved swastikas and wore deaths head armbands and had convictions for acts of violence and even terrorism. Obviously we had to be careful about security. We worked out of a small office in North London, the address of which we kept secret. We made sure never to post anything on social media that would let people know in advance where members of the team would be. But during all her time fighting actual Nazis, Ruth never felt the need for a bodyguard. Now she does. She needs one to safely attend her own party conference. Want to know what Labour looks like under Jeremy Corbyn? It looks like that man walking a couple of steps behind Ruth Smeeth. Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth is taking a minder with her to the Labour Party conference THERESA MAY FACES RACE AGAINST TIME ON BIG SPEECH Next week Theresa May arrives in Birmingham for the Conservative Party conference and the most important speech of her life. But, according to Government insiders, drafting it has become a race against time. Normally you have months to prepare the leaders speech, a Minister told me. But Theresa and her staff have had weeks. Thats a massive challenge. David Cameron followed a lengthy timetable for his conference speeches. The initial planning would be held as far back as June, with Cameron joined by key aides and senior Cabinet Ministers such as George Osborne and Michael Gove. May, in contrast, has had to manage what one Cabinet Minister calls a wheels-up entry into Downing Street. A new Government, a tentative framework for new legislation, a round of get to know you diplomacy and Brexit have dominated her first months. Its basically been Theresa and joint No10 chiefs of staff Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy scratching out time to work on the text, says a Government insider. May prides herself on being an unspun politician. Next week will see her aversion to spin facing its ultimate test. Advertisement Triumphant Jeremy Corbyns talk about ending the Labour mud-slinging after his victory is just that talk. The real Jeremy was caught by an undercover film crew mocking his failed leadership rival Owen Smiths call for peace negotiations with Islamic State terrorists. Wheres the Isis office for the negotiations? Have they got one on Bond Street or something? smirked saintly Corbyn. Triumphant Jeremy Corbyns talk about ending the Labour mud-slinging after his victory is just that talk The real Jeremy was caught by an undercover film crew mocking his failed leadership rival Owen Smiths call for peace negotiations with Islamic State terrorists Labour activists are taking bets on whether Keith Vaz will shrug off his recent rent-boy scandal and roll up as the star guest at tonights diversity nite, as billed on the conference agenda. Seasoned party watchers predict the Labour MP will be there. He had the front to turn up at last weeks NEC meeting and got a round of applause when he walked in, said one. He must think all is forgiven. Corbyn critic and karaoke fan Michael Dugher is skipping part of tomorrows conference sessions to deliver a personal tribute to his beloved Beatles at the world-famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. The MP will belt out 30 minutes of Fab Four favourites on request, with party moderates suggesting Help! and Corbynistas predictably preferring Back In The USSR. Anyone for Come Together? Georges raspberry for Mays Rasputin George Osborne has the Brummie Rasputin Nick Timothy in his sights as he plots his return to power. The former Chancellor mocks Timothy, Theresa Mays Chief of Staff, as ridiculous for claiming that Chinese investment in the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant was a national security risk. And as for Timothys beloved grammar school project, George says dismissively: Well see where all this ends up. George Osborne has the Brummie Rasputin Nick Timothy (pictured) in his sights as he plots his return to power Even out of power, the former Chancellor is still enjoying the high life. Shortly after being sacked by Mrs May, Osborne was being flown VIP-style in a helicopter to a ball thrown by Ripon Conservatives. The 8,000 bill was picked up by property firm Countrywide Developments. They at least must still think a comeback is on the cards Bojos safety curtain No 10s frantic efforts to gag Boris Johnson on Brexit extend to physically restraining him when required. On the flight out with Theresa May to last weeks UN summit in New York, the curtain separating Ministers from press parted, to reveal a smiling Foreign Secretary seemingly set on sharing his thoughts with reporters. An alert No 10 aide spotted the danger and yanked him back behind the screen. Sadly for the Bojo restraint unit, he has since slipped the leash and predicted Mrs May will fire the Brexit starting gun early next year. No 10s frantic efforts to gag Boris Johnson on Brexit extend to physically restraining him when required Viewers of the late-night BBC1 politics show This Week were horrified to see sacked Tory Arts Minister Ed Vaizey appear with shirt unbuttoned to reveal his hairy chest, then with it done up and then all open again medallion-man style. A woman who posted a photo of her make-up gift voucher online was left reeling after it was stolen within minutes. Shanae Arias, from Perth, WA, posted two images of her $94 Mecca Maxima voucher on to the Makeup Junkies Perth Facebook page, hoping to sell it to raise some money towards a trip to Bali. The page has more than 16,000 members and is used to share make up advice and to buy or sell make up. Shanae Arias from Perth, WA, posted two images of her Mecca Maxima voucher on to the Makeup Junkies Perth Facebook page, hoping to sell it to raise some money towards a trip Soon after posting the images - one of which showed the barcode of the voucher - two people commented, warning Ms Arias that because the code was visible the voucher could be used online. But although she quickly deleted the image, it was too late - she later discovered the full value of the voucher had already been used. 'I was wanting to sell the voucher for some money for a Bali trip that my family had organised,' Ms Arias told Daily Mail Australia. She was left reeling when the funds on the voucher were stolen within minutes 'I needed the money more than the make up - the voucher was a returns voucher that I got for taking back some make up that I purchased and didn't need.' She continued, 'Two girls commented on the photos saying that this code on the voucher could be used online and that anyone could use it so I quickly deleted the picture of the bar code and I went onto the Mecca page to check the balance of the card and it said "this voucher has no available funds".' Ms Arias said she couldn't believe what had happened. 'I needed the money more than the make up - the voucher was a returns voucher that I got for taking back some makeup that I purchased and didn't need,' Ms Arias said 'Two girls commented on the photos saying that this code on the voucher could be used online and that anyone could use it so I quickly deleted the picture of the bar code,' she said 'So many girls were commenting saying how horrible it was for someone to do that,' she said, explaining that after she revealed what had happened on Facebook, her post received more than 200 comments. Ms Arias said that the admin for the Makeup Junkies Facebook page had been supportive and will remove the offender from the group if they can be identified. 'Because it happened on a Sunday I couldn't get in contact with the Mecca customer services until Monday morning,' Ms Arias went on. 'So I went to the police to tell them what had happened and to file a report. They pretty much told me that they're not going to do anything about it because I was the idiot that posted it online, they told me to try get information from customer services.' Ms Arias said that Mecca customer services was very sincere but that there was nothing they could do Ms Arias said that she contacted Mecca customer services on Monday morning. 'They were very sincere but told me that yes the voucher had been used but there was nothing they could do about it,' she said. 'I asked if they could cancel the order or give me any information about the person so that I could give it to the police and no, they could [not] do anything. 'After all that I had to leave for Bali and couldn't do anything much further.' Ms Arias is speaking out to shame the person responsible. Mike Tindall has appeared in his second advert in the space of a week as he starred in a promotional video for Amazon Prime - days after he starred in a clip for Domino's Pizza. The husband of the King's niece Zara and former rugby international, 44, took to Instagram to share the five-minute long ad for the delivery service, amid rumours he will also appear on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! In the clip, which was shared on his The Good The Bad And The Rugby YouTube channel, he is delivered by former England teammate and fellow podcaster James Haskell to a desperate Amazon Prime customer looking to buy a scrum cap. He then pops out of a cardboard box, while the customer exclaims: '[It's] Mike Tindall, Zara Phillips' husband!' Mike - who has previously admitted he 'always worried about money' - and his wife Zara, 41, inset, each have a long list of brand ambassadorships with names such as Musto, Rolex, Land Rover, which are estimated to bring in more than 1 million a year, but many are tied to sport and horse riding. However, his latest deals are the most high-profile to date, thrusting the former rugby player further into the limelight in the weeks since the Queen's death. MailOnline has approached Mike Tindall for comment. In a year and a half she has dropped 60 kilos and now weighs 75 kilos She said she could no longer bear to look at herself in mirrors The 23-year-old from Victoria weighed 135 kilos when she decided to act An obese single mum who piled on the weight after giving birth to her first child, has lost 60 kilos to reveal a dramatic new look. Natalie Burtina, 23, from Mooroopna, Victoria, told Daily Mail Australia that at 135 kilos and a size 24 she could not longer bear to look at herself in a mirror. 'I felt ashamed. I did not like looking in mirrors. It made me feel gross,' she said. New look: Natalie Burtina, 23, lost 60 kilos after not being able to look at herself in a mirror when she was a size 24 Former self: Ms Burtina told Daily Mail Australia that she 'felt ashamed' about her size But the mother-of-one who now reveals her svelte size 10 figure on her Instagram page, said it took some simple steps for her to change. 'After I had a baby it just got out of control,' Ms Burtina said. 'I had packed on the weight once I got pregnant. I just did not care but I was so uncomfortable with myself. Ms Burtina's son, Layton, suffers from autism and is a lively little boy. It meant that keeping up with his needs was hard. 'After I had a baby it just got out of control,' Ms Burtina said, referring to her spiralling weight after she gave birth to a little boy Brand new you: The mother of one is now a svelte size 10 and reveals her new look on Instagram 'I was puffed out doing anything, just exhausted all the time,' Ms Burtina said. 'Now I have so much energy.' Ms Burtina's weight started to climb when she fell pregnant with Layton at the age of 20. She suffered from high blood pressure during the pregnancy, but Layton was born just five days early weighing almost 4 kilos. She said she struggled to adapt to the early days of motherhood - neglecting herself in order to care for her little boy - but that by the beginning of last year she had vowed to change. Changing face: By the beginning of last year she said she had decided she needed to change Starting simple: Ms Burtina's turning point came with a two-kilometre stroll around Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton, pushing her son in his buggy. 'I knew I really needed to do something,' she said. 'So I just started walking at first and eating healthier.' In fact, Ms Burtina's turning point came with a simple two-kilometre stroll around Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton, pushing her son in his buggy. 'The first time I did it I struggled,' Ms Burtina said. 'And then I got a little bit better - then I decided to join the gym.' Loving mum: Now Ms Burtina attends the gym two or three times a week - while her mum looks after Layton (pictured) Lively soul: Ms Burtina now has more energy to devote to her little boy who has autism Now Ms Burtina attends the gym two or three times a week - while her mum looks after Layton. But as a time-poor working mum, Ms Burtina - a dental assistant - also does what she can from the comfort of her own home, working out in the lounge with the help of Kayla Itsines' Sweat with Kayla app. 'I just did not care what I ate and drank before,' she said. 'I did not drink that much water before - that's all I drink now. I basically just eat fruit and vegies and meat - organic stuff.' Staying hydrated: Ms Burtina credits drinking more water for helping her achieve her incredible transformation Previously Ms Burtina, who has now lost 60 kilos and weighs 75 kilos, said she would sip on soft drinks and ate whatever she liked. When it comes to advice for other mums struggling to lose their post baby weight, Ms Burtina had this advice: A six-year-old girl who was born a paraplegic has defied expectations by walking. Brydi Saul, six, from Acacia Ridge, Qld, was born with a 5cm tumour growing on her spinal cord. Her mum, Toni, 32, told Daily Mail Australia that while she was initially warned that Brydi would most likely remain paralysed for life, her daughter was a 'go-getter'. Toni Saul, 32, said that while she was initially warned that Brydi (pictured with her) would most likely remain paralysed for life, her daughter was a 'go-getter' Brydi Saul, six, has defied expectations by walking Soon after birth, doctors discovered Brydi had a congential spinal hemangioma - a benign tumour that developed while she was in the womb. 'She had surgery at three days old,' Ms Saul said, explaining surgeons had to remove part of her vertebrae as a result. Afterwards, there was uncertainty about what the future would hold for Brydi. 'We were told "she will not be able to sit up" and "obviously she will never walk",' Ms Saul said. 'They were not sure how she would get around and she pretty much started proving everyone wrong straight away.' Ms Saul said that right from the outset, she and her husband Trent were determined not to set any limits on what Brydi might achieve. Ms Saul said that her daughter had started proving everyone wrong 'straight away' 'She was only a newborn and they [the doctors] were saying she can't do this and she can't do that. We thought, there's no such thing as can't. We will see what she can do. She's going to be able to do whatever she wants to do.' Ms Saul, who has three other children, Locklan, one, Thomas, nine and Kiarna, 11, with her builder husband said Brydi does not get treated any differently at home. She said that Brydi, who wants to be a doctor when she grows up, had adapted by watching the other children achieve things and then giving it a go herself. Brydi, who wants to be a doctor when she grows up, has adapted by watching her siblings achieve things and then giving it a go herself Ms Saul said there is no limit to what her daughter may be able to achieve in the future 'She just gives it a go anyway,' Ms Saul said, explaining that recently her daughter had started pulling herself into a standing position with the help of the lounge, and then counting how many seconds she could stay there before falling. She does this presently with the help of leg braces - and she still requires the use of a wheelchair - but Ms Saul said there is no limit to what her daughter may be able to achieve in the future. In spite of her disability, she wants to take part in triathlons with the help of specialised equipment which her family is currently fundraising for. Brydi found the strength to stand with a walking frame at just 12 months old 'We don't try and set too many expectations,' Ms Saul said. 'But we hold a lot of hope.' 'Both her dad and I used to do triathlons,' Ms Saul said. 'She saw a para-triathlete one day and was like "I can do that". 'Brydi cannot feel her feet, but I touch and play with them anyway,' Ms Saul went on. 'The other day she said she wanted to wiggle her toes and you could see them trying to move slightly. It was a big celebration.' The family is fundraising to buy Brydi a new wheelchair It's not the only celebration that the Saul household has experienced. While Brydi found the strength to stand with a walking frame at 12 months old, earlier this year she took a few shaky steps independently. 'We don't try and set too many expectations,' Ms Saul said. 'But we hold a lot of hope. We don't know what the future is going to be like, but we're going to wait and see and hope for the best. 'Brydi is just generally a go-getter. She does what she wants and she's got an adorable attitude to go with it.' After welcoming a baby girl into the world, the family had two reasons to celebrate. Baby Blair Eloise Mitchell represents the fifth generation of females in the Horton-Cavanagh family in Queensland's Gympie. In a remarkable family portrait, Alexis Mitchell cradled her daughter Blair in her arms as the pair complete five generations of women in the same family. The bundle of joy was born just two months after her great-great-grandmother Olive Cavanagh turned 100 years old, The Gympie Times reported. Girl power: Great-grandmother Bev Brown (left), grandmother Andrea Gill (back, centre), mother Alexis Mitchell (right) with baby daughter Blair Eloise Mitchell and great-great-grandmother Ollie Cavanagh (front, centre) There is nearly a century between the latest addition and the matriarch of the family, who married her late husband John Cavanagh in 1936. The third generation started with great grandmother Bev Brown and then grandmother Andrea Gill. Andrea's daughter Alexis marks the fourth generation and is the proud mother to six-month-old Blake. The United States will lift Executive Order-based sanctions on Burma, which have been in place for nearly twenty years. President Barack Obama made the announcement after meeting in the Oval Office with former Burmese political prisoner and now State Counsellor for Burma Aung San Suu Kyi. In welcoming the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, President Obama spoke of the remarkable journey Burma has made in recent years, a journey helped in part by the advocacy of the United States and others in the international community, but most of all because of the courage and strength and resilience of the Burmese people. Milestones on that journey have been a transition from a military dictatorship to elections that brought Aung San Suu Kyi herself into the government; as well as a representative legislature that, despite constraints, is, President Obama said, giving voice to the hopes and dreams of a new generation of Burmese people. Lifting the sanctions, he added, is the right thing to do in order to ensure that the people of Burma see rewards from a new way of doing business and a new government. The United States is also restoring Burmas trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences, which provides commercial and trading advantages for poor and developing countries as they enter into the global economy. Burmas benefits were removed in 1989 after the military junta cracked down on pro-democracy protesters. President Obama said that reinstating trade benefits for Burma, along with lifting economic and financial sanctions, will give U.S. businesses and non-profit institutions greater incentives to invest and participate in what the U.S. hopes will be an increasingly democratic and prosperous partner for us in the region. Burma still faces significant challenges, including a long-standing civil conflict and discrimination against the ethnic Rohingya minority in Rakhine State. The new government has committed to tackling Burmas long-standing issues inherited from the previous government. President Obama praised Aung San Suu Kyi for convening a peace conference to address armed conflict in the country and reaching out to ethnic minorities, including the Rohingya, who have faced discrimination. We are very hopeful about the future, said President Obama. More work remains to be done, but [Burma] is on the right track. Tess Holliday has put out a plea for help on social media after being left totally helpless by her baby son's adorable face. The 31-year-old plus-size model took to Instagram on Sunday with a collage of four images of her baby boy Bowie Juniper in honor of the tiny tot reaching 15 weeks of age. The photos show Bowie lying on his belly on a white pillow, looking up curiously at his mom, his little face breaking into a sweet smile. Scroll down for video All smiles: Tess Holliday shared this adorable series of images of her son Bowie on Instagram on Sunday Big love: Tess said in the caption that she was marking her boy reaching 15 weeks of age Looking good: The mother-of-two, 31, is a vocal advocate for body positivity 'Send help, I've died from cuteness,' Bowie's mom wrote on the post, accompanying it with a series of crying, baby and ambulance emojis. Baby Bowie also made an appearance on Tess' Instagram page on Thursday in another sweet baby photo - but this time with a serious message. The is a vocal advocate for body positivity and fat acceptance, and having a new little one at hone has given her some new perspective on the matter. On Thursday, she shared an image of her three-month-old son Bowie Juniper on Instagram, cropping out his face put closing in on his round little tummy. How cute! Tess shared a picture on Instagram showing her baby Bowie's chubby little belly on Thursday Thoughts: She wondered in the caption why people stop appreciating round tummies after a certain age, and why society only finds 'flat' stomachs acceptable The newborn is wearing striped pants, no socks, and a light blue T-shirt that's hiked up above his stomach. 'Bowie fell asleep on me nursing & I just can't stop smiling at his cute belly,' she wrote, before addding: 'It got me thinking, when did we stop appreciating round tummies & as a society "flat" is the only way to be acceptable or "cute"?!' She added in a few body-postiive hashtags #allbodiesaregoodbodies and #effyourbeautystandards for good measure. Several followers were quick to comment on their love of big baby bellies, including one that wrote: 'My little chunker has a belly and it is the cutest thing ever!' Such a proud mom: She's also been regularly sharing images of her baby boy since he was born three months ago Brothers: Tess has another son, Rilee (right), from a previous relationship 'Seriously - 100% with you on this, I look at my baby girls chubby cheeks and can't stop smiling. So why do we need to have flat tummies when we love our babies with the rills and chubby cheeks and bellies?' wrote another. Some just squealed over how cut Bowie is, a common theme when the mother-of-two shares images of him on Instagram. Earlier this month, Tess shared a somewhat startling snap of the little guy resting on her chest, on which she used a face swapping filter and achieved terrifying results. The little boy's childlike face is transplanted on Tess' head, while Tess' bold eyebrows, mascara, and highlighter-dusted cheeks are on his head. Stuff of 'nightmares'! Earlier this month, she shared a terrifying face swap with her son For a good cause: Tess recently posed with Callie Thorpe, left, and Britains first Asian Curve model, Bishamber Das, right, in a striking new campaign to promote body positivity Showing off: The women teamed up with eBay to star in a shoot and short film with the aim of inspiring British women to reset the rules of plus-size dressing 'Happy Friday, welcome to your nightmares,' she wrote, adding that the effect made it look like the baby's highlighter was 'on point'. The post was shared just two days after the size-22 model joined Callie Thorpe and Britains first Asian Curve model, Bishamber Das to pose in a striking new campaign to promote body positivity. As a child of the Seventies, I grew up in the decade that dental hygiene forgot. A childhood visit to the dentist involved having molars extracted to seemingly hasten the growth of adult teeth. And the mantra wasnt cavity prevention, but drill and fill (with mercury). Ive lived with the legacy of bad dental education, spending a fortune on replacement white fillings. But now in my late 40s, Im staring down another challenge to my already fragile smile menopause. During menopause, women's teeth are affected by hormonal changes, and women are often surprised that during the menopause they seem to need more fillings or have to work harder to stave off gum disease As women, our teeth are affected by any hormonal changes and menopause is a key marker for oral health, says dentist Dr Uchenna Okoye. Hormonal changes alter the environment of the mouth and women are often surprised that during the menopause they seem to need more fillings or have to work harder to stave off gum disease. Thankfully, as you can see here, there is much we can do to help . . . MAKE FRIENDS WITH FLOURIDE Falling oestrogen levels during menopause cause a drop in saliva production, our first line of defence against acid attack from plaque bacteria and acidic food and drink. For menopausal women, teeth cleaning needs to be phenomenal, explains Dr Okoye (londonsmiling.com). The night-time clean is the most important as its when our saliva production drops naturally. Menopause is often the time when women seek out natural remedies but steer clear when it comes to teeth, cautions cosmetic dentist Dr Rhona Eskander: I have seen women who turn to herbal toothpaste have problems with decay because they dont have fluoride. Menopause is often the time when women seek out natural remedies but steer clear when it comes to teeth Instead, she says, you should ask your dentist if you might benefit from Duraphat, a high fluoride prescription toothpaste. You could also try an electric toothbrush with a sensitive setting such as the Philips Sonicare Diamondclean (249.99, boots.com). As gums recede, gentler brushing is essential. And if you want to go the extra mile, the trendy Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling, where a tablespoon of coconut oil is sloshed around the mouth for 20 minutes a day, is said to be anti-bacterial and to whiten teeth. Dentist Dr David Cook (londonholisticdental.com) says theres no hard evidence that it works, but I have several patients who do it and whose gum condition has definitely improved. However, never use it as a substitute for cleaning. MOISTURISE YOUR MOUTH In menopause dry skin can be a problem and that includes the inside of your mouth. Low levels of saliva can make it hard to swallow and chew. Optimum hydration is important, says Dr David Cook, but often people with dry mouths drink more sodas and juices, which cause acid erosion. Stick to non-fruit herbal teas, which lower acidity, or water. Its also a good idea to cut back on your nightly glass of Sauvignon as alcohol can be seriously dehydrating. To boost your hydration levels, you could also eat more celery and broccoli, which are made up of more than 90 per cent water and require a lot of munching To boost your hydration levels, you could also eat more celery and broccoli, which are made up of more than 90 per cent water and require a lot of munching. Chewing stimulates saliva flow, says nutritional therapist Daniel OShaughnessy (bodhimaya.com). Artificial saliva sprays and gels such as BioXtra Dry Mouth Oral gel (6.33 amazon.co.uk) lubricate the mouth and act as an acid buffer, and chewing sugar free gum with xylitol increases salivary flow and prevents bacteria from sticking to teeth, says Dr Cook. Try Hylamints (15victoriahealth.com) which contain xylitol and hyaluronic acid to moisturise the mouth. BOOST YOUR COLLAGEN Falling oestrogen levels during menopause cause collagen to unravel, including in our gums. Our teeth are held in place in a bed of connective tissue, which is mostly collagen, explains Dr Okoye. The gums lose their grip and your teeth start moving and crowding. Many women invest in a retainer or braces to prevent movement or correct changes. Once the teeth are straight, an orthodontist can permanently attach a fine titanium wire to keep them in place. Anxiety is a classic trigger for teeth grinding - which is also a secret sleep disrupter Supplements can boost collagen. Daniel OShaughnessy recommends Collagen Hydrolysate (40.99, greatlakesgelatin.com) a tasteless powder thats added to soups, porridge and coffee. PROTECT YOUR JAWLINE Falling collagen levels can also make jaw joints less stable, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. You start to notice pain, noises in the joint, restricted opening, difficulty chewing and headaches, says Dr Cook. I see twice as many women with jaw problems as men, peaking between the ages of 48 and 55, so there is clearly a major hormonal effect. Joint instability can lead to bite changes increasing the risk of abnormal tooth wear, tooth fracture and grinding. Massaging the jaw joint can reduce pain. Good hydration helps lubricate the joint and I have seen many patients who have taken the supplement Glucosamine & Chondroitin (10.95, healthspan.co.uk) experience a dramatic improvement. AVOID THE DAILY GRIND Anxiety is a classic trigger for teeth grinding, and even in perimenopause (the five to ten years of declining sex hormones leading up to menopause) 61 per cent of UK women complained of anxiety, according to a survey by vitamin company Healthspan. We see an increase in teeth grinding causing shorter, worn teeth or chipped and fractured teeth and even increased tooth sensitivity, says Dr Okoye. Teeth grinding is also a secret sleep disrupter. Early intervention is key. A custom-made bite splint worn at night to stop the molars meeting is expensive at around 1,000 but its cheaper than losing your teeth, says Dr Cook. Try the following exercise by yoga teacher Karin Lilleberg to release teeth-grinding tension: Make fists with both hands and place under your jaw, around where your rings would sit. Resisting with your fists, push down with your jaw to open your mouth as wide as possible. Do this ten to 15 times on waking. Repeat throughout the day when you feel the jaw tightening. STEP AWAY FROM SNACKS The only safe snacks are raw nuts, cheese, plain yogurt and raw crunchy vegetables such as celery and carrots or a boiled egg, as these foods dont cause plaque bacteria and are not acidi Its not fully understood why tastes change during menopause. Everything in the body is changing. Women will have different taste sensations or complain that their mouth is burning or that they suddenly have cravings, notes Dr Okoye. I have seen women who have never had a sweet tooth suddenly craving sweet things and snacking more. It could be they taste things less, or that want to relieve a dry or burning mouth. Stress is also a factor, says Daniel OShaughnessy. The stress hormone cortisol makes us crave sweet and salty foods. Snacking is terrible for teeth as each time you eat it creates a new acid attack, says Dr Cook. Dyeing my hair was one of the first things I ever did to fight the ageing process. I was in my mid-30s when the first bits of grey poked through. I remember being livid. As well as shocked. Surely I wasnt that old? How dare my hair start to go grey? I felt it was a deep betrayal. I immediately made an appointment with my hairdresser and ever since that day I have been dyeing it back to nut-brown every two to three weeks. Before and after: Helena Frith Powell decided to get grey streaks or 'silver lights' to subtly transition from fully dyed hair to grey (right, pictured after) This may cost me a fortune, but its worth every penny. As all women know, glossy, youthful hair is the very essence of femininity. After all, nothing says Ive given up like grey. And I most definitely have not. Ive written two anti-ageing books and, as a late fortysomething edging ever upwards, Im engaged in an enthusiastic fight with time. My hair is long, swishy, and resolutely conker-coloured. Until now, that is. Im sitting in Knightsbridges swanky Michaeljohn salon about to have my first experience of what have been dubbed silver lights, and which are, essentially, grey streaks. My hair has been blue, and its been pink, but the one thing it has never been is grey. Yes, I know all about last years trend, which saw the very glamorous and, mostly, the very young dye their hair gunmetal grey. She went to the swanky Michaeljohn salon in Knightsbridge to have her first experience of silver lights The new trend for silverlights or half-way grey - thats somewhere between block colour and the full-on as-nature-intended - bridges the gap over the years Going artificially grey is a deeply complicated process because before you can even think about creating silver streaks, your hair has to be lifted But while gorgeous things like Rihanna and Cara Delevingne looked wonderful with it, I firmly believe that a full head of grey is a very brave choice for anyone over 40. Silverlights, however, are apparently something else entirely. For this is a clever, grown-up trend. This, ladies, is transition hair. Because as much as we all know we have to hit the bottle as soon as the first grey rears its ugly head, we also know that, at some stage, we have to stop. We all have to accept that sooner or later, block colour just doesnt work. You simply cant keep on dyeing into your dotage. Lets be honest, there comes a point when that conker-brown brunette or dazzling platinum rinse is very obviously not natural. And while you may have been a raven-haired beauty or blonde bombshell in your youth, maintaining that colour eventually simply draws attention to the sad gap between your fantasy and reality. This translates as the stripping away of your hairs natural pigmentation, rendering it a sort of anaemic blonde Demi Moores silver highlights have inspired many clients to embrace their own grey hair I have a female relative in her 80s who still dyes her hair dark brown. Its not a good look. Eventually we all have to soften the dye job, but for a lot of women that cut-off point is tricky to negotiate. Accepting that its time to let the grey come through can be a very emotional journey. This is where the new trend for silverlights or half-way grey thats somewhere between block colour and the full-on as-nature-intended is so brilliant. Its a totally new look that says I embrace my age but am still glossy and glamorous. Carefully done, this is the colour to bridge the gap between the two for many years. Which brings me to the salon. For while Im years away from masses of grey, Im prepared to accept that my uniformly Dairy Milk hair might be pushing the bounds of probability. Im at my tipping point its time to try transition hair. But the real key to getting this look right, colourist Imran said, is the positioning of the silver Halfway grey is not for the faint-hearted and neither is it for those on a tight schedule. And it is definitely not something you should try at home. Ironically, going artificially grey is a deeply complicated process because before you can even think about creating silver streaks, your hair has to be lifted. This translates as the stripping away of your hairs natural pigmentation, rendering it a sort of anaemic blonde. We have to lift it to a very pale blonde in order to get silver, the colourist Imran explains. If the colour is not pale enough, the silver will look slightly orange or muddy. I agree wholeheartedly that orange-tinged silver streaks should be avoided at all costs and insist he take as much time as he needs with the process. While he begins the lifting, Imran tells me that this new silver-dashed look is proving extremely popular: Demi Moores silver highlights have inspired many of my clients to embrace their own grey. These are discerning, high-powered women. Keeping your hair too dark for too long is a common mistake, continues Imran: As you age, your skin lightens and if you dont lighten your hair, too, then it makes you look washed out, he explains. Just because you had deep brown hair when you were 20, doesnt mean keeping that colour will keep you looking 20. Imran (pictured) said: 'Peoples temples are usually the first place they lose their natural pigment. Enhancing and embracing what the hair is naturally doing, like making the hair line silver will be the most flattering' Helena's formerly, chestnut hair was folded into foils around her face, and left to develop But the real key to getting this look right, he says, is the positioning of the silver. Peoples temples are usually the first place they lose their natural pigment. Enhancing and embracing what the hair is naturally doing, like making the hair line silver will be the most flattering. You definitely need some lights around the face, he says. It stops the look being too harsh and stripey. The key here is that it has to look deliberate it cant look like you couldnt get an appointment to have your roots covered or that you chickened out midway. You should also avoid being too tentative, which, in his opinion, was the trap that Demi fell into. She didnt do enough, is his verdict so it looks as if she was scared. As I stare at the reflection of my, formerly, chesnut hair now folded into foils around my face and smelling strongly of peroxide, I cant help but feel a certain sympathy for Demi. In between blow dries for models appearing at London fashion week, Imran checks my foils. Its lifting nicely, he says quite a few times. Another ten minutes. He says this more than once. Rather like a professional manicure where the preparation is the time-consuming thing and the nail varnish goes on in a matter of minutes, the lifting was what dragged on When the foils were finally removed, Helena was shocked by the milky blonde strips that were in their place At this rate becoming a silver fox is going to take somewhere in the region of three hours. Rather like a professional manicure where the preparation is the time-consuming thing and the nail varnish goes on in a matter of minutes, the lifting here is what drags on. Finally, however, Im deemed to be suitably lifted and its time to remove the foils. Horror! Strips of my hair have been reduced to a sort of milky blonde. I am reminded of my 16- year-old self when I bleached my hair with cheap peroxide. I look hideous. I want to cry. But before I can run screaming from the salon, Imran gets started on the silver: It will take quite quickly now that your colour is down to this porous neutral tone. I think this is intended to sound comforting, but frankly Im rattled. Will I end up with grey, straggly hair and looking as though Ive let it all go? The exact opposite of the chic, put-together look I was aiming for? Sensing my distress, Imran tells me about his techniques for counterbalancing, a process that could clearly play havoc with the condition of your hair. Then Imran put in revolutionary new product called Olaplex, which builds up the hair shaft, in with the silver highlights Helena's hair was given a bouncy blow-dry afterwards He uses, he says, a revolutionary new product called Olaplex that builds up the hair shaft. The best way to picture the wonders of Olaplex, he advises, is to imagine my hair as a broken ladder and then to imagine Olaplex rebuilding that ladder with false steps. He has, he assures me, been adding Olaplex to the peroxide and will use it over my whole head at the end of the treatment to boost condition further. He does concede, however, that silver hair is harder to maintain than other colours. Warm colours do shine more. And you never see wild silver hair that looks good, you really have to style it. Im worried about this bit, too, because I know Imrans blow-dry will be worlds away from anything Ill be able to recreate at home. So if this look relies on good styling then Im doomed. My post-washing routine has hitherto consisted of drying my hair very briefly and sometimes using straighteners to smooth it out. I watch Imran working with a round brush and the hairdryer with a sinking heart. Speaking of the result, Helena said: 'At first, the result is slightly shocking. I am grey. Grey equals old. This is not good. But then I look again; there is a new life to my hair' Finally, were done. I look in the mirror. At first, the result is slightly shocking. I am grey. Grey equals old. This is not good. But then I look again; there is a new life to my hair, a movement, there is definitely some interest as Imran would have it. Actually my new look makes the old block colour I had seem rather drab. And, dare I say it, ageing. Imran is delighted with the result. Its elegant, sharp and chic, he declares. I love it. Finally I escape the salon to have lunch with a friend. I wouldnt have had such a big bit right at the front, she says. But it looks good. As I leave the restaurant to go on to a business meeting, I must say I feel rather good. The usual post-salon glow aside, the streaks are turning heads in a good way I think. A colleague tells me I look fabulous. After all, I tell myself, this is purposeful, confident hair. It is clearly man-made so speaks of bold decision making. This is hair that says: Yes, thats right, Im older and Im enjoying it. She added: 'Actually my new look makes the old block colour I had seem rather drab' Helena is now a convert, and despite her teenage daughters scepticism, thinks the silver lights brighten her face My teenage daughters, however, are harder to please. Why didnt you have your whole head done? they ask several times. I patiently explain I am not trying to emulate Rihanna or Lady Gaga. They remain non-plussed. You look almost as hot as your mother, says my ever-helpful husband. I should add that my mother, now aged 72, stopped dying her hair at 64 and today looks wonderfully elegant with a striking, silver bob. Three days in and despite my daughters comments I am a convert. I have even managed to blow-dry my hair and although it doesnt look quite as good as it did when Imran dried it, I have managed to smooth the silver bits out with straighteners and theyre still eye-catching. After a few days the family are converted. I agree it lightens up your face, says my husband. The girls treat me like a kind of circus animal, telling any friends who come round to check out my mums silver streaks. So far they have been unanimously approved of. In an Instagram and Facebook poll I carried out among my friends, 80 per cent voted for me to keep them. So, it seems, the halfway grey is here to stay. Fans of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be heartbroken over the couple's recent split, but it seems brands are already looking at the news with dollar signs in their eyes. One such company, Norwegian Airlines, heard about the A-listers' impending divorce and saw an opportunity to sell their flights from Oslo to Los Angeles. Some of the new full-page ads simply read 'Brad is single' above information on purchasing the one-way overseas flights. Cashing in: Norwegian Airlines have released a new series of ads promoting flights from Oslo to Los Angeles based on Brad Pitt's new single status All over: The actor and his wife Angelina Jolie are to divorce after nearly 13 years as a couple Another is written in the form of a personal ad, claiming to be from a newly single actor in LA who is seeking 'a likeminded partner with GSOH [good sense of humor].' The flights themselves are also remarkably cheap at 169, which is equivalent to around $220. The ad has appeared both online and in print as well as on the airline's various social media pages. As web users spotted the ad across various media, many took to their own Twitter accounts to praise the company for their 'brilliant' marketing skills. 'This is just right on the spot! Well done!' remarked one user. A twist: Some of the creative ads were written in the form of a personal ad from a newly single actor seeking a 'likeminded partner' All around: The ads have appeared online and in printed papers, causing many to share photos of them on social media However, not everyone was quite so impressed, especially after news broke that 52-year-old Brad was being investigated for child abuse following an alleged encounter with one of the couples' six children. 'Kind of gross to glorify a person being investigated for child abuse,' wrote one user. Speaking to the New York Daily News, Norwegian Airlines spokesman Anders Lindstrom reveals that the ad was created before they knew of the investigation, but said that they think it's 'too early to tell' as to whether they jumped the gun. 'Were fully aware of negative comments, but most people think its fun and tongue-in-cheek,' he added. Some trouble on the way: The company received some criticism after it was revealed that Brad was under investigation for child abuse Brad has been apart from his six children since wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, Us Weekly reported. The actor, who is under investigation by the FBI following reports of alleged child abuse, is keen to see them as soon as possible. He is reportedly cooperating fully to hurry along the process. Among the many circulating theories on the cause of the bombshell break-up this week is that Brad got drunk on a private jet with his family en route to LA five days earlier, and was seen fighting with his eldest son Maddox during a refueling stop at Minnesota. Middle-aged men are wrongly being prescribed drugs to treat the 'male menopause' costing the NHS millions a year and leading to serious side-effects. Many patients taking testosterone have been given the male hormone after complaining of fatigue, erectile dysfunction and disturbed moods. But a study found that many of these are due to conditions often caused by lifestyle, such as obesity or diabetes, rather than ageing. Middle-aged men are wrongly being prescribed drugs to treat the 'male menopause' costing the NHS millions a year and leading to serious side-effects (File photo) Testosterone prescriptions have shot up 20 per cent since 2012 costing the NHS 20million a year. Researchers claim doctors are being increasingly influenced by drug companies who market the treatment by suggesting it will help men get 'their oomph back'. Two different drugs testosterone and testosterone undecanoate are among the top ten most prescribed controlled drugs for the first time. Testosterone can increase muscle mass and body hair. Negative side-effects include a higher chance of strokes and heart attacks. Men's libidos can flag and physical endurance levels can drop due to a dip in testosterone. This is known as 'late-onset hypogonadism' and is seen to be a symptom of the male menopause, also known as the 'andropause'. But it is usually caused by underlying factors, such as obesity and diabetes in older age, research in doctors' magazine Pulse suggests. The Royal College of GPs' prescribing adviser Dr Martin Duerden said he is concerned testosterone is increasingly being used in the UK to treat 'the male menopause' among those with reduced energy and libido, 'rather like oestrogen has been used in women as an 'anti-ageing' product in the past'. He added: 'I think we should use these products very cautiously unless there are clear clinical explanations for hypogonadism other than age.' Many doctors refuse to accept that the male menopause even exists. Unlike in the female menopause, where hormone levels drop suddenly, in men testosterone levels dip gradually. But Mike Kirby, GP and visiting professor to the Prostate Centre said: 'Since the introduction of Viagra, and more interest in erectile problems, more men are being tested for testosterone deficiency that's been a major driver of it.' He explained that the rise shows GPs are more aware of testosterone deficiency. But Dr Andrew Green, of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee, warned: 'Patients with non-specific symptoms or indeed just the normal changes in sexual function that happen with age are influenced by articles in magazines and request testing, which can then result in expectation to prescribe for low-normal readings.' Newcastle University researchers suggest a link between increased marketing in the medical media of testosterone replacement therapy and a sudden increase in prescriptions. 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. Dismissing Pakistans rulers as those who read speeches of terrorists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to address Pakistanis directly saying they will soon fight their own leaders. In his first public appearance after the Uri attack, Prime Minister Modi was combatant but he turned around Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos famous tagline of fighting 1,000 years of war saying he accepts the challenge, but the battle should be over eradicating poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. A common fight against poverty, illiteracy and unemployment is a line taken consistently by Modi in his campaign rallies but he repeated them when there is widespread speculation about Indias next move to avenge the killing of 18 soldiers in Uri. 'India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism. Before 1947, your ancestors used to consider India their land, worshiped it, said PM Modi. Modi spent a large part of his forceful speech on the issue of terrorism with specific reference to the Uri incident. By directing his speech at the people of Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi signalled a complete breakdown of ties between New Delhi and the civil or military leadership in Islamabad. He warned that India will isolate Pakistan as its leaders were misleading their own people on Kashmir. Modi gave a forceful speech on the issue of terrorism with specific reference to the Uri incident at a rally in Kozikhode Singling out Pakistan for turning the streets in Asia blood soaked, Modi said that India will not forget killing of its 18 soldiers in Uri by Pakistan backed terrorists last Sunday. Wherever there is terrorism in Asia, every country holds only one country responsible. This is the one country that is exporting terrorism in every direction, he said. 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. He said Indian forces were giving befitting reply to all terror acts. Modi told Pakistanis that they should question their leaders for failing to manage affairs in Sindh, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakhtoon and Baluchistan. Talking about the Uri attack, the Prime Minister said that the army had stopped 17 infiltration attempts in the recent months and killed over 100 terrorists. 'The sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. We will leave no stone unturned to isolate Pakistan in the world,' said PM Modi But one successful attempt in Uri resulted in the killing of 18 soldiers. The sacrifice of our 18 jawans will not go in vain. We will leave no stone unturned to isolate Pakistan in the world, he said. He called upon the people of Pakistan to remember their shared history before 1947. He said they should ponder that how India has progressed and where Pakistan stands today. An Army soldier takes position near Army Brigade camp during a terror attack in Uri India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism, he said. I want to remind Pakistan, before 1947, your ancestors used to consider India their land, worshiped it, he said. A day will come when the people of Pakistan will go against their own government, the Prime Minister said. He said that his government was aware about the public anger after the Uri attack. But he said that India was ready to fight with Pakistan but against illiteracy and poverty. Let us see who defeats illiteracy and poverty first, he said. Aatankwaadi kaan khol ke sun le, ye desh iss baat ko kabhi bhoolne wala nahin hai (Terrorists should hear it loud and clear, this country is not going to forget it soon). Prime Minister Modi said that India had succeeded in isolating Pakistan and it will be forced it to live alone. Neighbours test fireworks at LoC before Diwali By Mail Today Bureau India and Pakistan have increased military presence both on the ground and in the air near the Line of Control with both sides taking preemptive action in case the other decides to strike first. From F-16s circling the Islamabad skies to a steady flow of unverified reports about reported military movements in India, the people on either side of the border have been living under war clouds since last Sunday, when 18 Indian army soldiers were killed in Uri and New Delhi promised retaliation. Highly placed sources in New Delhi said the government is well aware of the mood in the county. Both sides are conducting military drills near the LoC The next move of Modi government will be strong retaliation, which is awaited by people who are frustrated by frequent terrorist attacks by Pakistan. The military activities have increased on either sides. Pakistan air force is conducting exercise High Mark, during which its fighter jets practiced landings on motorways between Islamabad and Lahore. Indian Air Force too carried out a test of the newly acquired MICA missiles. IAFs Tigers squadron flew the upgraded Mirage-2000 fighter jet tested MICA beyond visual range missile in the eastern sector on Thursday. Events that were unrelated to the post Uri developments have also got linked to the ongoing atmosphere, including the contract India signed for the purchase of 36 new French Rafale jets and UAV Indian Air Force lost after it crash landed in Jaisalmer on Wednesday. Across the border an F-7 combat jet of Pakistan air force crashed in Khyber agency, resulting in the pilots death. Two terror guides for Jaish held By Agencies The Indian Army on Saturday said it has nabbed two Pakistani nationals in Uri who were acting as terror guides for the Jaish-e- Muhammad (JeM) outfit. According to Colonel SD Goswami, the spokesman of Armys Udhampur headquartered northern command, 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 arrested in a joint operation by the Army and BSF on September 21. The Army nabbed two Pakistani nationals who helped JeM terrorists for infiltrations 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 Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The duo was recruited two years ago by JeM and were guiding terrorists to infiltrate across the Line of Control, Goswami said. 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. The government has stepped up vigil in the Valley ever since the dawn attack on the army base in Uri. The army has managed to foil several infiltration attempts by militants and reports said that 10 militans were killed in an army raid. Rajesh Gambhir, was arrested for allegedly blackmailing girls If you are on social networking sites like Facebook or WhatsApp, better watch out. You need to change the privacy settings or else one can get hold of your profile photograph and misuse it with a criminal intent. Thats what a 29-year-old Delhi man allegedly did when he downloaded photographs of girls and morphed them only to blackmail his unsuspecting targets. The accused, Rajesh Gambhir, has been arrested for allegedly targeting and blackmailing at least 50 girls. Gambhir owns a mobile phone shop in Delhi and the police have found many morphed photographs of girls from his mobile phone. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he used to surf profile pictures on Facebook and search for girls. He saved the profile pictures and later used to add them to obscene images of women using cut-and-paste application on his mobile phone, DCP north-west Vijay Singh said. The police got to know about the accused after they received a complaint at Ashok Vihar police station that some unknown person had sent morphed obscene pictures to the complainants daughter on her mobile phone through WhatsApp. Gambhir confessed that he used to surf profile pictures on Facebook and would make obscene images using cut-and-paste application on his mobile phone A complainant found morphed images of her daughter, who studies in Std IX in a reputed school. During investigation, it was revealed that the accused Rajesh had procured the SIM number on the basis of fake identity. He was arrested after a police team raided his house from where he operated a mobile phone shop. Three mobiles phones and the SIM cards which were used to commit the offence have been recovered as well, Singh added. Rajesh also admitted to blackmailing the girls with whom he chatted, the police said. He told the police that he procured the cut-and-paste application for his mobile phone from Google Play Store through which he could paste the faces/pictures of anyone on the pictures of other persons, the police added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally revealed his response to the Uri attack. Over-the-top coverage in the Indian media wanted to push Modi for a military strike on Pakistan, and his own party-men were cheering on the process. Yet, when the Prime Minister spoke at a meeting of the BJPs national council in Kozhikode in Kerala it was in calculated, if tough tones, but clearly shelving military options and instead challenging Pakistan to a duel on removing poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, maternal deaths and infant mortality. Over-the-top coverage in the Indian media urged Modi to push for a military strike on Pakistan, however Modi must concentrate on India's economic transformation Restraint The Modi line emphasises strategic restraint on the military sphere, while stepping up the diplomatic pressure, and possibly covert operations, to isolate and sanction Pakistan. Clearly, the Prime Minister insists on maintaining focus on Indias economic transformation, a project that would be derailed were India to get involved in any military adventure. More importantly, Modi appears to recognise the point being made by several analysts, that it is strategic restraint that has brought India to the front rank of economic powers, where Pakistan has been brought to its knees by the blow-back from its long support for terrorism. Over-the-top coverage in the Indian media wanted to push Modi for a military strike on Pakistan, and his own party-men were cheering on the process On the other hand, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech to the UN General Assembly in New York last Wednesday, was clearly a wasted opportunity. It was the usual tirade criticising India on Kashmir, and a grab bag of other issues -claiming victimhood on the issue of terrorism, demanding equal rights with India on the issue of membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and so on. On Friday, in a stop-over at London on his way back, Sharif took another tack, arguing that the Uri attack was the consequence of the Indian atrocities in Kashmir, implying that the attackers were local residents, rather than Pakistani nationals. Prime Minister Modi insists on maintaining focus on Indias economic transformation, a project that would be derailed were India to get involved in any military adventure Modi speech was a skillful mix of verbal aggression and restraint. He spoke after a publicised meeting with the three Service chiefs, and in a significant gesture, made it a point to separate the people of Pakistan from its government, saying that the people of the country would themselves turn against their government to fight terrorism. He pointedly referred to Pakistans inability to hold on to its eastern wing, and the dissidence it faces in POK, Gilgit, Balochistan, Pakhtunistan and Sindh, and said that Kashmir was being used to distract them from their real problems. Promises Those observing Sharifs performance say that his heart was not in it; that he was reading from a prepared text is not unusual, but his body-language seemed to suggest that he was not quite in form. When Sharif came to power in 2013, there were expectations that he would reach out to India as a means of fulfilling his election promises which were mainly on the need to promote economic growth. He was also expected to keep the Pakistan Army at length, considering his own experience at the hands of his erstwhile Army chief Pervez Musharraf in 1999. Modi speech was a skillful mix of verbal aggression and restraint However, the army pre-empted him by getting Tahir ul Qadri and Imran Khans Tehreek-e-Insaf to launch agitations against him and paralyse the functioning of his government. More recently, the issue of his illegal assets has come up through the Panama revelations. As of now, it appears that the PML (N) is in no shape to take on anyone. As a result his ambitious economic agenda, including an opening up to India have stalled, though Pakistans economy is doing well and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor scheme have given the country hope. Statesmanship Attacks such as the ones in Pathankot and Uri have been specifically designed to ensure that he does not stray from the path the army has laid out for him. This path has no room for an Indian outreach. The choices before Sharif are stark. He can quietly retire from the scene in 2018 when the general elections are due, or adjust his policies to align themselves to those of the Pakistan Army. As for Modi, he has clearly indicated that he is in it for the long run. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York By refusing to be provoked, either by Pakistan, or his own bhakts, he has displayed statesmanship. No doubt, somewhere in the system, there will be plans to get back at the Pakistan Armys role in the Uri incident. But the bottom-line Indian response is that we will not be distracted by skirmishes- our aim is to win the war. And that war is not to be fought with guns and bombs, but as Modi indicated, infrastructure and industry, employment and social change. As for elections in 2019, Modi intends to win them. Amid claims that an enhanced vigil on the India-Bangladesh border has brought down cattle smuggling by 99 per cent in just one year, the illegal trade continues to flourish, Mail Today investigations have found. Bangladeshi cattle markets, known as khattals, are brimming with cows and oxen from India that travel thousands of kilometers, including water routes, without being detected. Traders at these markets admit that demand for Indian beef is high and the scaling down of smuggling activity has only served to push the prices up. A Mail Today investigation has found that the illegal cattle trade on the India-Bangladesh border continues to flourish despite Border Guard Bangladesh claims that smuggling is down 99% Mohammed Rehan, who works at Gabtole, one of the biggest cattle market of Bangladesh, a 13km drive from Capital Dhaka told Mail Today: There is a slump in the volume after the (Narendra) Modi government came to power, but cows and oxen still reach here from villages of Haryana, Rajasthan and even Maharashtra. On an average, around 3,000 cattle make it to Gabtole daily from India and Nepal. The prices have now gone up due to higher risk and bribe rates. Depending on its health and species, a cow can fetch Rs 3,000 to Rs 45,000 takas in Bangladesh. Bigger cow species from Haryana and Rajasthan are sold at a premium. During festival time, such as Eid, the prices could move into one to two lakh takas. Traders at Gabtole told Mail Today that the cattle are first transported in trucks via UP, Bihar and Jharkhand to enter into border destinations of West Bengal and Assam. From the two border-states, the smugglers use water routes from villages to cross over. The commonly-used water routes are in rivers Kalindi, Ichhamati, Raimangal and Hariabhanga of Bangladesh. The cows are first kept in remote villages and bound to one another by a long iron-chain. Depending on its health and species, a cow can fetch Rs 3,000 to Rs 45,000 takas in Bangladesh. Bigger cow species from Haryana and Rajasthan are sold at a premium. At night these are herded in water by Rakhals, young local aides who are good swimmers and know their way even in the dark. For smuggling a pair of cows, a Rakhal gets the equivalent of Rs 3,000. The BSF and BGB have also identified many of these cattle corridors which include Khulna, Kustia, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Mymensing, Sylhet, Comilla and Chittagong. The rise in demand for beef in Bangladesh has made smuggling even more lucrative However, there are always new routes are discovered by the smugglers. The business of cattle (smuggling) has been going on since Bangladesh was East Pakistan. "Cows come from India, Nepal and Bhutan legally or illegally, said Nadeem Khan, a trader at Gabtole, before he is advised by others against drawing undue attention. Similar stories were recounted by traders at the Paikgachi cattle market, located between Satkhir and Jessore. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the traders said rise in demand for beef has made smuggling even more lucrative. Only the smugglers are making more money, said one of the traders. Defence expert Maj Gen (Rtd) PK Sehgal told Mail Today the cattle smuggling on Indo- Bangladesh border was worth $8 to $10 billion but after strict instructions by Narendra Modi government, the smuggling has come down. The cattle are pushed in, unfortunately many times in connivance of the force guarding the border. This is in sharp contrast of the claims made by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) that smuggling on the border has come down by 99% as compared to the previous year. The BSF, over the last five months, has plugged some of the vulnerable patches of the 4,096-km border by not only increasing troop strength but also new vehicles and a fresh fleet of attack motorboats to patrol riverine areas. The seizure of cattle by BSF in South Bengal frontier also known as the cattle corridor of India, reflects the trend. In 2014, it was 1,21,887, in 2015 1,51,402, and till August-end this year it has been 1,18,711. GI pipes have been welded to a metal fence as a defence against cattle smugglers," said a top officer in BSF. However, smugglers either manage to either cut wires or use makeshift wooden cranes to lift the cattle. On Sunday, BSF guards killed a 35-year-old cattle smuggler, Bahrul Islam, for allegedly trying to cross over near northern Kurhigram areas Roumari Upazila. There is another set of cattle which fetch better prices now. Police and guards often catch cattle that have either moved into Bangladesh or were abandoned by the smugglers for the fear of being caught. These cattle go to the auction block, said Subash Chowdhry, a local journalist with a Bangladeshi daily at border district of Satkhira said. The word trust, exactly what does that mean? What can you rely on? What or who can you trust in todays world? Your employment? Your freedom? Your health? The doctors diagnosis? Family? Friends? Even though we place our trust in these things we have no guarantee that they will be there for us when it is needed. A young woman, Louisa Stead and her husband were relaxing with their 4-year-old daughter on a Long island beach when their peaceful day was interrupted by a desperate childs cry. A young boy was drowning; Mr. Stead tried to rescue him, but was pulled under by the terrified boy. Both Mr. Stead and the boy drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched helplessly. Louisa and her daughter were left with no means of support except the Lord. They experienced dire poverty. One morning, when she had neither funds nor food, she opened the front door and found that someone had left food and money on her doorstep. From the grief stricken heart of Louisa she penned the words of the hymn, Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus. Soon after this Louisa and her daughter left for missionary work in South Africa. After more than 25 years of fruitful service she died in Southern Rhodesia. Her fellow missionaries had always loved the song, and wrote this tribute after her death, We miss her very much, but her influence goes on as our five thousand native-Christians continually sing this hymn in their native language. Out of a deep human tragedy early in her life, Louisa Stead learned simply to trust in Jesus. Like Louisa, we need to learn that Jesus is the only one in which we can totally trust. What can we trust Him with? We can trust Him with our physical needs, our protection, our family, our children, our finances everything! But most important we can trust His Word, His promises to us. The first promise is that if we ask Him he will forgive our sin and save us, thereby; guaranteeing us life in Heaven after death. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He also promises to never leave us or forsake us Hebrews 13:5 for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Some scholars have said there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible. There may be more, the point is that they are there and they are from God the One who keeps His promises and can not lie. II Peter 1:4 tells us Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. Why could the heartbroken young widow and mother Louisa, pen the words to the hymn, Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus? because she had placed her faith and trust in Him. She had trusted Him with every being of her life. Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him At His Word, Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How Ive proved Him oer and oer! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! Have you placed your trust in Him? I urge you to do so today. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi castigated Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism, BJP president Amit Shah has slammed the neighbouring country for disturbing regional and global peace. Speaking on the last day of the BJP national council meet at Kozhikode in Kerala, Amit Shah said: If a country makes terrorism its state policy, its nothing less than a war crime. Lashing out at Pakistans Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif for his much-criticised speech at UNGA, the BJP president said that Pakistan had been brazenly supporting and sponsoring terrorism. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi castigated Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism, BJP president Amit Shah has slammed the neighbouring country for disturbing regional peace Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN is the solid proof that Pakistan advocates terrorism across the globe. "The whole world is surprised at Sharif s blatant attempt to paint self-proclaimed commander of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani as a peace loving youth, Shah said. Terming Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism, Shah said that Islamabad spent billions of dollars to train terrorists and send them across the globe. Speaking on the last day of the BJP national council meet at Kozhikode in Kerala, Amit Shah said: If a country makes terrorism its state policy, its nothing less than a war crime Shah also blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley. Pakistan has encouraged the separatist extremists in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP president added. Paying respect to the martyrs, who laid their lives during Uri terror attack, Shah said the government was committed to give a suitable reply to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. He appealed to all the political parties to bury their differences and support the NDA government to strategise a comprehensive policy in fight against terrorism. PM Narendra Modi reiterated that those responsible for the Uri attack will be punished. In his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat which he began by paying tributes to the 18 soldiers who died in the Uri attack on September 18, Modi termed the Uri attack as a cowardly act which had shaken the entire country. "This is a loss not only for those families which lost their sons, brothers, husbands. This loss is for the entire country. Modi used his monthly Mann Ki Baat to pay tribute to the 18 soldiers who died in the Uri attack on September 18, and said that the attack was a cowardly act which had shaken the entire country "That is why, today I will say only this much, which I said on that day (of the incident) also and I will repeat it today, that the guilty will surely be punished. Reaffirming his faith in the Indian Army, the prime minister said it will foil all such malicious designs through its bravery. They (Indian armymen) are the people who take bravery to its pinnacle so that 125 crore people can live a peaceful life.. We are proud of our army. People and politicians get opportunities to speak and thats what they do. But the army does not speak. The army displays its bravery, Modi said. The prime minster read out a message of an eleventh-standard student who had expressed anger over the Uri incident and had the desire to do something about it. After lot of thinking, the student has decided to give an extra 3 hours to his studies every day, as his way of contributing to India's continued development. Appreciating the childs constructive thinking, the Prime Minister said, there is a lot of value to the anger that the people of India have. This is a symbol of the countrys awakening. This anger is of the kind of do something When the 1965 war (with Pakistan) broke out and Lal Bahadur Shastri was leading the country, similar was the feeling, anger in the country. Punjab's business community, which used to be the conventional urban vote bank of BJP, is now being selectively targeted by the Aam Aadmi Party. Despite being strictly advised by his doctors to not speak and travel, after he underwent a surgery recently, New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, reached Jalandhar on Sunday to address the convention of the states businessmen. However, Kejriwal faced protests in Amritsar and Jalandhar from Mahila Congress activists who wore black badges and waved black flags while chanting Kejriwal Go Back slogans. Punjab's business community, which used to be the conventional urban vote bank of BJP, is now being selectively targeted by the Aam Aadmi Party They also blocked the GT road holding Anti Aurat Party and Aam Aashiqi Party placards. Jalandhar Mahila, a protester at the road blockage told reporters: AAP leaders are facing serious allegations, which include exploitation of women. The person who has failed to deliver in Delhi will do the same in Punjab. We will not allow him to ruin Punjab. Nevertheless, hitting out at the Union government, Kejriwal said the government was out to harass the traders by raiding their business establishments and shops. Kejriwal faced protests in Amritsar and Jalandhar from Mahila Congress activists who wore black badges and waved black flags while chanting Kejriwal Go Back slogans We are called a pro-businessman government in Delhi. I think the tax slabs should be businessman-friendly. Lower the slab, the higher will be the returns, Kejriwal said. He said that the raids conducted to unearth illegal money and tax evasion often benefit inspectors than the government, which should be stopped immediately. Tax raids are an eyewash and the method is being exploited by inspectors to harass the traders. We will abolish the Raid Raj, Kejriwal assured the members of business community. This is not the first time that Kejriwal has tried to woo the business community of the state. He has also addressed groups of industrialists in Ludhiana and Khanna. China and Pakistan have held their first official-level dialogue discussing the latters aspirations to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), signalling that Indias path to membership may remain far from straight-forward. Barely nine days after China sent its top nuclear negotiator Wang Qun to Delhi, his deputy in the Disarmament Department Li Yang was dispatched to Islamabad for talks on September 22. The September-13 talks in Delhi were seen as a sign of Beijings willingness to finally bilaterally engage with India on the issue of its entry into 48-member grouping. Wang Qun, Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Beijing had stymied Indias entry at the NSGs plenary in Seoul, insisting that the grouping first needed to agree on criteria for entry of all non- NPT countries before discussing Indias specific case. China said after the Delhi talks, on the question of non-NPT states participation in the NSG, China shared with India the recent developments. China also shared with India its principled positions and views on the above question. In the meantime, China listened to and had the inputs from India on this issue, and indicated that it will bring such views and inputs back to the Group for its consideration. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York Beijing issued a near-identical statement after the Islamabad dialogue, saying: On the question of non-NPT states participation in the NSG, given that it is an issue of concern to Pakistan, China, for its part, shared with Pakistan the recent developments as it sees within the Group in relation to the question. Some analysts had suggested that Beijings stance to stall Indias entry was because it was keen to draw equivalence between Indias and Pakistans aspirations for the group by insisting on criteria for all non- NPT states. This is Money rounds up the Sunday newspaper share tips. This week, power supplier Good Energy, plumbing parts supplier Wolseley and veterinary group CVS. MAIL ON SUNDAY 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, chief executive Juliet 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. >>> READ THE FULL MIDAS COLUMN HERE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH The veterinary industry is undergoing a period of big consolidation, with big conglomerates swallowing older and smaller firms. CVS, Britain's largest vet firm, has acquired several surgeries recently, bringing its total to 360. It has also acquired a couple of specialist centres where more complex surgeries can be carried out. But with just 7 per cent of the total vet market in the country, analysts say there is considerable scope for further growth through acquisition. The big majority of its revenues are generated from its veterinary business, although it has moved into other areas, such as pet crematoria, which has doubled sales last year. Vet firms make money by doing expensive surgeries. For this reason, CVS's main priority now is developing its referrals business so that its clinics can refer lucrative, complicated cases in house. CVS shares have risen 15 per cent since the beginning of the year and analysts suggest they are set to rise further. However they offer little yield. At 945p, they are considered too expensive to buy. Hold. SUNDAY TIMES Wolseley, the world's largest supplier of plumbing parts, sold 1.5billion-worth of pipes last year. It will post its annual results on Tuesday. Analysts are expecting turnover to have surged by around 2billion to 14.3billion for the year and pre-tax profits to have soared by 60 per cent to 833million. New chief executive John Martin, who took over from Ian Meakins in August, was the group's finance director since 2010. Martin has helped reshape the business after the housing crash, pushing into America, which now accounts for two thirds of the group's sales. But Wolseley's British arm needs a rethink, according to analysts. BHS is to relaunch in the UK on Thursday as an online retailer just five months after the original company collapsed. The online shop is being launched by the brands new owner, the Qatar-based Al Mana Group, with a plan to offer a full range of home furnishing and fashions in time for the Christmas season. The new operation, which is unconnected to any of the previous owners of BHS, has invested in a new website, and has agreed deals with many of the suppliers who previously sold through BHS. Online reincarnation: BHS is to relaunch in the UK on Thursday as an online retailer just five months after the original company collapsed The former BHS online business had 1.2million customers, who will now automatically be registered with the new service. The operation is being headed by David Anderson, a former executive at the old BHS group. Anderson said the online business at BHS had been profitable and had been showing rising sales even through the last few difficult years for the wider business. I want this business to break even as quickly as possible, but this is being built on solid ground, said Anderson, who worked at the former BHS business from 2009 and was retail operations director for its last three years. The new venture has nothing to do with the old owners, he added. The Al Mana Group bought up BHS international business and the rights to the BHS name in June, after the original firm collapsed in April. The Qatari conglomerate runs a raft of businesses from cars to technology as well as acting as a franchisee of international retail brands including Zara, Mango and Benetton. It also operates 70 BHS stores outside the UK which remained open after the collapse of the UK group. Under fire: Former BHS owner Sir Philip Green The new BHS will be headquartered in London and employ 84 people and will encompass both the international franchise of BHS stores as well as the BHS.com business. The BHS.com site will launch with a range of lighting and home furnishings, which accounted for 50 per cent of the old BHS online sales. The site will add kitchenware in October and a fashion range before Christmas. Anderson said a new website had been purpose built for the launch. The 1.2 million customers of the old BHS online shop were notified earlier this year that their details had been passed to new owners. Anderson said those customers would receive a special offer thought to be a 10 per cent discount when they first visit the site. The site is also expected to attract a slightly different customer to the old BHS stores. In the old BHS, our average customer age was 50-plus. Online it is more like 35-plus, Anderson said. Analysts have warned that any attempt by BHS to move to a younger, more fashion-conscious market would force it to compete against the historically more successful M&S and John Lewis brands. However, the collapse of the old company has allowed the BHS brand to separate itself from its high street stores at a time when most groups are finding bricks and mortar outlets a cost burden and most sales growth from online shoppers. The range of products offered on the BHS site will be much smaller than the previous site, with Anderson saying the total range will be around 3,000 products. The vast bulk have been selected from the best-selling lines from the old BHS. I thought we would find it quite difficult to get the suppliers to work with us, but out of about 100 who we knew from the old BHS, less than a handful said they did not want to. New owners: The Al Mana Group bought up BHS international business and the rights to the BHS name in June, after the original firm collapsed in April BHS was owned by billionaire Sir Philip Green until March 2015, when he sold it to would-be retail entrepreneur Dominic Chappell. The group went into administration just over a year later. The collapse saw 163 stores close, cost 11,000 jobs and left a 571million black hole in its pension fund. Sir Philip has faced fierce criticism from MPs and is working on a deal with pension authorities to sort out the shortfall. The Al Mana Group was founded by Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana and is now owned by his three sons Wissam, Hisham, and Kamal. Hundreds of people have turned out in New Orleans to protest a statue of Andrew Jackson and Confederate monuments in the city. New Orleans has been struggling with what to do with a number of Confederate-era monuments. The city council voted last year to remove four of the monuments after heated public meetings but the effort has been stalled in the courts. A major hearing on their removal is slated for Wednesday. The Take Em Down Nola group called for a demonstration in the historic French Quarter Saturday to take down the statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square and to protest the slow progress of taking down the Confederate monuments. A man is kicked and punched at a protest organized by Take Em Down NOLA in New Orleans Former Ku Klux Klan leader and current U.S. Senate candidate David Duke tries to speak as he is taunted by hecklers New Orleans police guard a statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square during the protest The group has been advocating for the removal of monuments it describes as being linked to the city's white supremacist history. The Jackson statue is not one of the four Confederate monuments that the council voted to remove. Jackson is considered a key figure for leading the defense of the city in an 1815 battle against the British. But Michael Quess Moore, one of the group's organizers, said Jackson was also a slave-owner who as president signed the controversial Indian Removal Act. 'We are acting against white supremacist monuments,' said Moore. 'The majority of the city is not reflected by these monuments.' The Advocate newspaper estimated about 200 people took part in the march to Jackson Square where they were met by dozens of police officers who had set up barricades around the monument. Clash: A protestor yells at Former Ku Klux Klan leader and current U.S. Senate candidate David Duke (not pictured) and a group of his supporters, as he speaks in front of a statue of Andrew Jackson, in Jackson Square A man who tried to stop a crowd from advancing on the statue of Andrew Jackson gets into a fight during the protest 'I want to erect statues that bring people together,' said one of the protesters Ameer Baraka. Shortly before the protesters arrived, white supremacist David Duke and a small group of supporters converged on the square, calling for the statue to be protected. As Duke, who is also running for Senate, talked to supporters he was heckled by bystanders. 'I am here to defend our American heritage. Our Louisiana heritage and our New Orleans heritage,' he said. Three bodies have been found in the sea about 23 miles southeast of the Florida Keys. The U.S. Coast Guard said on Saturday in a news release: 'At approximately 10:45am, Coast Guard Sector Key West Command Center personnel received a report of a person in the water from a good Samaritan. 'Watch standers issued an urgent marine information broadcast, launched an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew and a Station Islamorada boatcrew. The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday said it received a report around 10.45am of a person in the water off Islamorada (seen in this map) 'A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission aircraft located two additional bodies around 2.28pm Saturday.' It is not clear how the bodies came to be in the water. According to the Sun Sentinel a fisherman found the first body and it was floating near a raft. The Coast Guard says crews are searching the area for any other bodies, or survivors. 'Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are assisting in a search for survivors', the release said. A magistrate has criticised the judicial system after having to examine graphic child sex images during a sentencing hearing. University of New South Wales PhD student Fangzhou Zhou downloaded hundreds of thousands of child pornography images, and new technology has meant Magistrate Vivien Swain must examine them in the interests of fairness. The Magistrate did not want to examine a portion of the disturbing images, but prosecutors argued that the court has a duty to examine all material that is put forth, the Daily Telegraph reported. University of New South Wales PhD student Fangzhou Zhou, 25, downloaded 326,519 images and 1717 videos while studying engineering The 25-year-old Kensington student fronted the Downing Centre Local Court for downloading 326,519 images and 1717 videos while studying engineering. Ms Swain preferred to sentence Zhou based on documents that described the graphic material as he had already pleaded guilty. But a legal precedent meant that Ms Swain was forced to view the distressing information, which included a how-to on abusing children without leaving evidence. Ms Swain's stance comes after members of the judiciary wanted to avoid examining similarly distressing evidence in fear of psychological damage. But others believe there is a duty examine all types of evidence, no matter how disturbing, in order to make informed sentencing choices. In a written submission, the police prosecutor said that the court has a duty to 'acknowledge the trauma, abuse, torture and suffering of the victims on behalf of the community.' 'It's the court's responsibility to view all available material in order to inform itself of the exact conduct of the defendant.' The Magistrate did not want to examine a portion of the disturbing images, but prosecutors argued that the court has a duty to examine all material that is put forth Zhou was sentenced to 18 months home detention for an offence that carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail. But the prosecution was concerned with how Zhou's internet use would be monitored. In 2010, the NSW government passed an amendment which accepts smaller samples of child abuse material collections to be used in court. Ms Swain declined the Daily Telegraph's request to be interviewed. Refugees looking to resettle in Australia will be offered $20,000 to go back to their home country. The cash bonus is the government's last ditch effort at discouraging asylum seekers from resettling in Australia and keeping them in detention centres, which is estimated to cost $300,000 per person. Senior government officials have confirmed that they will be able to increase payment on a case-by-case basis, which has so far been accepted by 500 refugees, according to a report by The Daily Telegraph. Refugees are being offered $20,000 to return to their home country In government documents, outlining the resettlement deal, refugees are told that settling in PNG will give them a 'great opportunity' and a 'bright future' in a dynamic and fast growing country. They are also given $200, a pack of household items, one year health cover and a free counselling program for torture and trauma. In addition, they will also be given a job and housing assistance as part of the offer. However, many refugees have begged to go back to detention centres after violent assaults from locals. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has said that asylum seekers illegally enter by boat will not be resettled in Australia The document also reads: 'Australian immigration officials do not have jurisdiction in PNG. You will not be settled in Australia.' Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has yet to make a comment about the cash offers but has warned in the past that asylum seekers attempting to illegally enter by boat will not be resettled in Australia. 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. I am struck by two things: Boris is genuinely in turmoil, flip-flopping within a matter of hours; and his cavalier approach 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. Where's that selfie stick when you need it? George W. Bush struggled to take a selfie outside the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture today and enlisted the help of President Obama instead. The 70-year-old former president posed for a photo with a woman, before grabbing hold of her cellphone and struggling to fit a young girl in the frame as well. Obama, who was shaking hands with Ruth Bonner, the daughter of a man who was born a slave in Mississippi, stepped in to take the group shot instead. Bush, who signed the legislation in 2003 authorizing the museum's construction on the National Mall, was a guest of honor at the star-studded event with former first lady Laura Bush. He spoke at the dedication ceremony and said a great nation does not hide from its history, but 'faces its flaws and corrects them.' Big names including Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Angela Bassett and Robert DeNiro celebrated the museum's opening. 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.' George W Bush was posing for a photo with a woman outside the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture today Bush, who was a guest of honor, grabbed her phone while Barack Obama (left) was shaking hands with Ruth Bonner, who rang a bell at the dedication ceremony The 70-year-old former president struggled to fit a young girl in the frame as well Bush, who signed the legislation in 2003 authorizing the museum's construction on the National Mall, enlisted Obama's help The president eventually stepped in to snap the group photo Labours Shadow Minister for domestic violence was an abusive bully who terrified her former husband and cost him 200,000 in their divorce settlement, a friend claimed last night. Sarah Champion admitted yesterday that she was arrested and cautioned by police after attacking explorer Graham Hoyland during their very acrimonious divorce in 2007. But the Rotherham MP who faced calls to resign last night told a national newspaper the violent bust-up came after she had been provoked for years by Mr Hoyland. Miss Champion, 47, who had ended up in a police cell, claimed the altercation was over who would keep a valuable painting. She said: Im not proud of what happened and I accept I was in the wrong, but I have nothing to hide. Sarah Champion admitted yesterday that she was arrested and cautioned by police after attacking Graham Hoyland But a friend of Mr Hoyland, 59, a best-selling author and mountaineer who was the 15th Briton to climb Mount Everest, last night accused Miss Champion of distorting the truth and playing down the incident. He told The Mail on Sunday the row was really about a pre-nuptial agreement signed before they wed in 1999 and suggested it was not the first and only time she had hit Mr Hoyland. The friend said: In retrospect, Graham was stupid to have married Sarah. She was an attractive, vivacious woman but also very harassing and abusive during their marriage. He became terrified of her. The argument that saw Graham call the police was over a pre-nuptial agreement. They both received cautions, which was something Derbyshire Police did at the time, but there was no doubt that Graham had called 999 and was the victim. He added that Mr Hoyland felt aggrieved, that despite the abuse and harassment he suffered during the marriage, Miss Champion still ended up walking away with 200,000 in the divorce settlement. Mr Hoyland said last night: I can confirm I was the victim of the attack by Sarah Champion. Its embarrassing to have to admit your wife attacked you, but perhaps this is an issue that needs to be talked about. His current partner of seven years, Gina Waggott, said: Graham is still deeply disturbed by what happened during his marriage. He is very loving and caring and would never lay a finger on a woman. He still has nightmares about Sarah. Charities and domestic violence campaigners last night called for Miss Champion to resign. Mike Buchanan, leader of Justice for Men and Boys, said: Sarah Champion should stand down. If this was a male politician, it would be inconceivable that they could remain in this position having admitted that they have a caution for domestic violence. Mr Hoyland and his partner, Gina Waggott, pictured with TV presenter Clare Balding on the Cotswold Way But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backed her to continue in her job yesterday, telling his partys womens conference in Liverpool: I know everyone in this room today will want to join me in just simply saying this to Sarah Champion, You have our total, full and absolutely warm support. Mr Hoyland and Miss Champion met through her father Ron and started dating in 1994. She suggested marriage to him in 1999 via an answerphone message after he led an expedition that found the body of missing George Mallory on Everest. The friend said Mr Hoyland paid off Miss Champions considerable debts before they married. But Miss Champion said this weekend their seemingly happy marriage was a lie and they were living in a very strained, unbearable atmosphere before the 2007 row. He was taken to hospital and treated for a bruised face and concussion struck the officer in the face Police were called to the Mount Isa Racecourse when a fight broke out A man has been charged with serious assault A police officer has been hit in the face and allegedly choked by a man while trying to break up a fight after a race day event. Police were called to the Mount Isa Racecourse, in northwest Queensland, when a fight broke out between two groups of men at 10.30pm on Saturday. When police intervened, a 29-year-old male constable was allegedly struck in the face by a 25-year-old man before he attempted to strangle him. A 25-year-old man allegedly struck a 29-year-old male constable in the face by before he attempted to strangle him at the Mount Isa Racecourse (pictured) Officers at the scene arrested the man from Soldiers Hill. The police officer suffered bruising to the face and concussion, he was taken to Mount Isa hospital for treatment. The 25-year-old man has been charged with serious assault and obstructing a police officer. He will appear before Mount Isa Court on Monday, September 26. Brother-in-law Ray Dotch spoke, too, saying his brother shouldn't have to be humanized for him to deserve justice like any other American citizen Also said Scott did not appear The family of Keith Lamont Scott said they were grateful to Charlotte Police for releasing dashcam and bodycam videos, which showed the shooting of Scott, but said unfortunately they are left with more questions than answers'. Attorney Justin Bamberg spoke first at the conference, saying the family wants to continue to look at the facts as this case moves forward. 'One of the biggest questions is when you look at this dash cam footage, when you look at the time frame between Mr Scott stepping out of his vehicle, to the moment he unfortunately passes away on the pavement, do those actions, those precious seconds, justify the shooting? Scroll down for video Attorney Justin Bamberg (right) spoke at a conference held by the family of Keith Scott after dashcam and bodycam footage was released on Saturday (pictured with Rachel, left, and Ray Dotch, center) Bamberg said the family wants to continue to look at the facts as this case moves forward He also told reporters the family doesn't believe Scott was armed when he was shot by police 'That is the most important question that has to be answered. And we're going to continue to look into the facts,' Bamberg said. He then noted that in the dashcam footage, it is apparent to him that Scott is not acting hostile toward the officers. 'What we see when we look at this dash cam video is Mr Scott steps out of the vehicle. He is not acting aggressive towards any officers on the scene. 'He doesn't appear to be making motions or gestures. He doesn't lunge at the officers. He appears to have his hands by his side. Rachel and Ray Dotch comforted one another during the press conference as Bamberg spoke Ray Dotch said he fears the department doesn't currently have policies in place to deescalate situations like the one his brother-in-law was in 'There is no definitive evidence in this video as to whether or not there is an object in his hands and what it is,' Bamberg said. He also expressed the need to identify if all officers present should have been fitted with body cameras. Bamberg explained that when the officers spotted Scott, they left, 'suited up' and returned. He said the policies of the department need to be made clear and that it's a problem the officer who shot Scott, Brently 'We need to know whether or not the policies and procedures of this department are for officer who's are now, as they say, identifying themselves as police officers with this department. Are they required to wear body cameras? Ray Dotch (pictured), the brother-in-law of Keith Scott, said Scott shouldn't have to be humanized in order for him to get justice 'We know one officer responding was. At the moment they put the vest on, it appears that they are law enforcement. Do they need to have their cameras on? 'If they do, and they don't have them on, that is a problem. Quite frankly, we have no perspective from the alleged shooter. We don't know what he looked at,' Bamberg said. Later, Ray Dotch, the brother of Rakeyia Scott, the wife of Keith Scott, spoke to the crowd. 'Unfortunately, we are left with far more questions than with have answers. To us it does not make sense to us how this resulted in a loss of life. It just does not make sense and it is not clear in the videos released. 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 Rakeyia Scott (pictured with Keith), his wife, was not present at the press conference. Her brother said she was grieving and making funeral arrangements 'Additionally, many of you, the media, of which I'm a part, have requested information about Mr. Scott, what kind of person he is, was he a good father, husband, those issues surrounding his character. Of course he is wonderful and we loved him dearly. 'That should not be the issue. We should not have to humanize him for him to be treated fairly. 'He was an American citizen who deserved better. That is our position. And it should be yours,' Dotch said. Dotch said he was grateful to police for releasing the footage and giving them some understanding of what happened. However, he said he fears the department doesn't currently have policies in place to deescalate situations like the one his brother-in-law was in. 'One of the things that really disturbs me about what I see on the video is the failure of the police to use all of the resources they had at their disposal to avoid killing Keith. 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 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 'We're a state with a huge number of veterans. Many are coming back with traumatic brain injuries. This is not going to be the last time that police face one of our citizens who suffer from a brain injury. 'His wife is trying to tell them this is a man with a brain injury. Why didn't they use that resource. Why didn't they get his wife? And get her assistant to deescalate the situation. Officer Brentley Vinson is the cop who shot Keith Scott; he has been placed on administrative leave 'It is supposed to be emphasized across the country to police departments. Deescalate, don't escalate. We have to ask why,' he said. After a few more moments the family took questions and remained adamant that they don't believe he was armed. The said the images released by the police was the first they'd seen of a handgun and ankle holster that allegedly belonged to Scott. Bamberg said the immediate family is grieving and preparing funeral arrangements. The conference came on the heels of the release of bodycam footage and dashcam footage that showed new angles of the shooting of Scott. Aleppo is dying after nearly two million people were left without water and at least 115 were killed in ferocious bombing, the UN said last night. Countless more victims were feared buried alive under rubble yesterday as President Bashar Assads Syrian forces tried to reclaim rebel areas. Hostilities had intensified on Friday night when attempts to repair a water pump supplying rebel districts were halted by a fierce bombardment. A man carries his child to safety after fresh bombardments that killed 25 people, according to The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Countless more victims were feared buried alive under rubble yesterday as President Bashar Assads Syrian forces tried to reclaim rebel areas In retaliation, the Suleiman al-Halabi pumping station serving the rest of the city was switched off yesterday. Kieran Dwyer, spokesman for the UN childrens agency Unicef, said water was now being used as a weapon of war by both sides and warned the results could be catastrophic. Mr Dwyer said the Bab al-Nairab pumping station supplying rebel-held parts of Aleppo was damaged on Thursday and subsequent strikes had made repairs impossible. He said: That pumping station pumps water to the entire population of the eastern part of city thats at least 200,000 people. 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. Fears are growing that desperate families will be forced to use contaminated water carrying diseases that are a high risk to young children. Kieran Dwyer, spokesman for the UN childrens agency Unicef, said water was now being used as a weapon of war by both sides A Syrian mother leaves the area with her two young children following the airstrike Unicef deputy director Justin Forsyth added: Aleppo is slowly dying, and the world is watching, and the water is being cut off and bombed its just the latest act of inhumanity. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group monitoring the conflict, said 25 people were killed in fresh bombardments yesterday, following reports of 91 deaths in Fridays bombings. Footage of children being pulled, seemingly alive, from the rubble emerged at the weekend and the death toll was expected to rise. Many of the wounded were in a critical condition and rescuers were still searching for life amongst the bombed buildings. The latest offensive was launched after a ceasefire collapsed on Monday. A pause in fighting, agreed by Russia and the US earlier this month, was intended to improve aid deliveries and lead to joint operations against Islamic State and other militant groups. A young boy is treated for injuries as hostilities intensified on Friday night with the series of bombings A pause in fighting, agreed by Russia and the US earlier this month, was intended to improve aid deliveries But hopes the truce would be extended collapsed as the US-led coalition apologised for killing more than 62 Syrian soldiers in one of its air strikes. Residents in the rebel-held eastern part of the city described yesterdays bombardment as more destructive than anything they had seen before. Many buildings were destroyed and craters were left several metres wide and deep. Ammar al Selmo, the head of the civil defence rescue service in the opposition-held east, said: Our teams are responding but are not enough to cover this amount of catastrophe. Rebel officials said yesterdays that air strikes hit at least four areas of opposition-held eastern Aleppo and believe they were mostly carried out by Russian warplanes. A Scottish aristocrat facing life in a Kenyan jail for smuggling drugs worth 4.5 million would be proved innocent if the British authorities released vital documents, according to a former American narcotics agent. Jack Marrian, 31, grandson of the 6th Earl of Cawdor, is set to be tried next month after 200lb of cocaine was found hidden in a shipped consignment of sugar destined for his trading company in Kenya. It was uncovered by police on the dockside in Mombasa in July, packaged as large cellophane-wrapped bricks marked with the crocodile logo of French fashion company Lacoste, apparently used by the criminals as a trademark. Jack Marrian, 31, grandson of the 6th Earl of Cawdor, is set to be tried next month after 200lb of cocaine was found hidden in a shipped consignment of sugar destined for his trading company in Kenya The consignment originally came from Brazil, where agents from the US Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) suspect that criminals hid the drugs in a container without the knowledge of Mr Marrian or his company. Spanish, US and British anti- narcotic agents tracked the container, which was heading for Valencia before continuing to Africa. Spanish police and the DEA then warned the Kenyans about the drugs in documents that allegedly clear Mr Marrian. Former DEA agent Anthony Coulson, who was in Nairobi at the time of the drugs raid in Mombasa training Kenya police to tackle narco- terrorism, told The Mail on Sunday: 'The US, the British and the Spanish authorities the Guardia Civil all have the information which exonerates Jack Marrian and his company from knowledge or involvement in the cocaine shipment. 'They have all made public the fact than an innocent man has been falsely accused of a crime. The Kenyan police and prosecutors are also fully aware but are pressing ahead with charges against him. 'They have the documents detailing how Jack Marrian and his company were unwittingly exploited by traffickers.' A source close to Mr Marrian's family told this newspaper that representatives of Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) in Kenya had visited Mr Marrian in jail and told him of the classified report, which contained 'the names of perpetrators, the names of intelligence agents, and records of phone calls'. Mr Marrian was told by the NCA that the report would be passed to the Kenyan authorities, who should hand it on to him, according to the source. He was also assured that if the Kenyans did not provide the papers, the NCA would, but the source added: 'That simply hasn't happened.' The NCA said it had sent the documents to the Kenyan authorities handling the case but it would be 'inappropriate' to comment. The documents are said to reveal that Spanish, US and British anti-narcotic agents had been tracking the drugs that were smuggled out of Rio by a Colombian cartel with no connection to Mr Marrian. The Spanish, who were working with the DEA, expected the cocaine to be collected by gang members in Valencia, but for unknown reasons the shipment continued to Mombasa. Dockside haul: The cocaine was seized from a ship in Mombasa American agents said the smuggling operation had been a 'rip-on, rip-off' crime in which gangs hide drugs in legitimate cargoes and unload them on route, a method familiar to international enforcement authorities. Melvin Patterson, DEA spokesman in New York, said that in Mr Marrian's case 'the recipient of the containers would have no knowledge it was being used to transport drugs'. Mr Marrian's home in the Karen suburb of Nairobi was raided in the early hours of July 31. He was taken away by armed officers to be questioned and later placed in cells under arrest. He was kept in jail for weeks until his release on 500,000 bail. Mr Marrian told the MoS last week: 'I have never had any dealings with the police in my life before, not even a speeding ticket. 'I've never been inside a prison before. I am innocent. There is no possibility of proving me guilty'. A spokesman for the NCA said: 'We are aware of the seizure and the subsequent arrest of a UK national, and have assisted our Kenyan and US law enforcement partners. 'However, this is now a matter for the Kenyan authorities so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.' Mr Marrian's lawyer, Sheetal Kapila, said: 'We are not seeking any favours. All accused persons are entitled to what we are asking for. The constitution of Kenya provides that every accused person has the right to a fair trial, reasonable access to evidence.' Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer knew in July that her company was investigating a possible hack and security breach Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer knew back in July that the tech giant was investigating a possible breach that was later determined to have compromised the personal data of 500million accounts, it has been claimed. According to the Financial Times, the Yahoo executive was aware that her company received a tip back in July from an anonymous hacker who claimed that information from 200million accounts was stolen. The revelation may now compel the federal government to intervene. Yahoo began investigating the claim and found no evidence to suggest that the hacker, who goes by the name Peace, was correct, claims an unnamed source who was briefed on internal discussions. Nonetheless, the allegation triggered a more thorough investigation that found a far more serious security breach, the results of which were announced earlier this week. Mayer could be in hot water with the federal government, particularly since her company had agreed to sell its main business operations to communications giant Verizon back in July for $4.8billion. Even though the company was conducting an investigation back in July, Verizon said it learned of the breach earlier this week. The Securities and Exchange Commission (whose Washington headquarters is pictured above) may intervene to determine whether Yahoo withheld key information from investors In its regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month, Yahoo said that it did not know of 'any incidents' of 'security breaches, unauthorized access or unauthorized use' of its systems. According to the filing, Yahoo said that it knew of no investigation into claims regarding personal data that could 'reasonably be expected to have a Business Material Adverse Effect.' 'Marissa was aware absolutely she was aware and involved when Peace surfaced this allegation in July,' a source told the Financial Times. '[She] was part of the investigation and conversation from the very beginning and along with the team every step of the evidentiary gathering and analysis process.' In July, Yahoo announced that it would be acquired by telecommunications giant Verizon in a deal valued at $4.8billion 'In fact, the key executive team has been engaged from the very beginning.' Withholding information from investors that could impact the valuation of a company may compel the SEC to get involved, according to legal experts. 'The SEC is going to want to know exactly what they knew and when they knew it,' Stewart Baker, a partner at law firm Steptoe & Johnson and a former National Security Agency general counsel, told FT. 'The SEC has been eager to investigate people who are slow to disclose breaches. This is an obvious target.' 'They might get a letter or phone call from someone in enforcement relatively soon,' a former SEC official told FT. 'If I were at the SEC, I'd be looking for the perfect case, the perfect storm,' said Washington attorney Kim Phan. 'This may be it.' A spokesperson for Yahoo told FT that the company was truthful and forthcoming. Comments come days after an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir ITV said they were 'deeply shocked' by the 'racially offensive comments' Coronation Street viewers are calling for police to investigate Pakistan-born soap actor Marc Anwar after he was fired from the show for a racist rant on social media. Mr Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Corrie, referred to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter. On his account - which ironically says 'it's not what you say, but what you do' - he also wrote: 'Why the f*** do Pakistani artists want to work in f***face India? Do you love money so much?' It has prompted a furious backlash on social media, with many describing themselves as 'disgusted' and others calling for Mr Anwar to be reported for a hate crime. His comments come days after an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir killed 18 soldiers. India claimed Pakistan was behind the attack, something it has denied. Scroll down for video Marc Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Corrie, referred to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter Mr Anwar, from Rochdale, joined Coronation Street in 2014 to play the role of Kal's [Jimi Mistry] father in what was the first Muslim family on the show Twitter users hit out at Mr Anwar, who has previously campaigned against hate crime with the British Transport Police. Posting a picture of Mr Anwar at an anti-hate crime event, Vijay Patel wrote: 'I want to report a hate crime do I talk to this guy..? #CoronationStreet #hatecrime #MarcAnwar' Twitter user Konigstiger1 added: 'I demand a Police investigation...' The Sunday Mirror alerted ITV bosses to the Twitter rant and the actor was reportedly sacked within hours. ITV said in a statement: 'We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. 'We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.' Mr Anwar, from Rochdale, joined Coronation Street in 2014 to play the role of Kal's [Jimi Mistry] father in what was the first Muslim family on the show. In the soap he is a businessman and had recently been at the centre of a storyline surrounding a seven year long affair and new blackmail plot. One Twitter user said he wanted to report Mr Anwar for committing a hate crime while posting a picture of the actor at an anti-hate crime event for British Transport Police, pictured Several people on social media demanded Greater Manchester Police act on the Tweets In the soap he is a businessman and had recently been at the centre of a storyline surrounding a seven year long affair and new blackmail plot, but he will now be cut out of the soap Mr Anwar also attacked Indian PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan leader Nawaz Sharif in an offensive tweet. He wrote: 'F***ing Indians killing our #Kashmir brothers and sisters, beygairth Nawaz Sharif still sucking Modi. Lul!' Last night the actor - whose Twitter account is now locked to private - reportedly deleted two of his most offensive messages. Just two months ago he was pictured with police endorsing their campaign against hate crime. The 45-year-old, who appeared in the 51st State starring Samuel L Jackson, is the first Corrie star to be sacked since Chris Fountain in 2013. He was fired after being filmed wearing a Halloween mask and delivering a number of obscene and expletive-filled rhymes, which included boasts of violence and rape. Campaigners welcomed ITV's decision to sack him last night. Just two months ago he was pictured with police endorsing their campaign against hate crime Fiyaz Mughal, director of the charity Faith Matters, said: 'It's unacceptable for anyone today to put material online that targets a segment of a population. You can't just blame a whole group of people for a conflict. 'Marc needs to reflect, and in a way retract what he said, and understand you can't go online and add fuel to the fire. Baroness Hussein-Ece, a Liberal Democrat and anti-racism campaigner, said: 'He is a public figure and he's gone about this in the wrong way.' The actor's comments come amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. It follows 10 weeks of protests in Kashmir, in which almost 90 people have died, the vast majority of whom were civilians. Pakistan's PM claimed India was carrying out an unprecedented arms build-up in the region, while India described Pakistan as a terrorist state. This has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries. His sister said he had health problems that were being ignored in prison He was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition An Aboriginal inmate has been 'left brain dead' after a clash with five prison guards. Wayne Morrison, 29, was waiting to appear via video link at the Elizabeth District Court on Friday when he was involved in a physical incident with five members of prison security in the Yatala Labour Prison, north of Adelaide in South Australia. The violent clash between Morrison and two guards, while he was restrained by three other guards, according to The Advertiser. Wayne Morrison (right), 29, has been left brain dead after he was involved in an altercation with five prison guards. His sister Latoya Rule (left) said he was suffering from health problems that were being ignored Morrison is believed to have had an attack as he was being taken to the maximum security section of the Yatala Labour Prison (pictured). He was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital It is believed he had an attack as he was being taken to the maximum security section of the prison, which holds some of South Australia's dangerous criminals. Morrison was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition and on life support. The young father has been left brain dead from the incident, while the guards treated for the injuries, two of them suffered facial fractures. SA Correctional Services chief executive David Brown said the guards have been discharged and are receiving psychological support. The family of Morrison has been distressed at his poor treatment and are planning national protests to fight for his justice. His sister Latoya Rule said it was his first time ever in police custody and that he was suffering from health problems. During those six days in custody his right to health care was being ignored, according to a report by Nine News. SA Correctional Services chief executive David Brown said the five guards from Yatala Labour Prison (pictured) who were injured in the clash were also taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital In a Facebook post, Ms Rule wrote that she will support her brother. She also said that she will be organising protests around Australia to fight for his justice In a Facebook post, she said that she will stand by her brother no matter what is said about his character. Ms Rule wrote: 'Don't believe them... he was due to be released on home detention... you don't get released after 6 days to home detention if they've even got a whimper of reason to investigate further... and they didn't and still don't.' [sic] Three gunmen shot and wounded eight people including a 3-year-old girl on an east Baltimore street Saturday night, police said, adding the suspects fled and the victims were all expected to survive. The shooting erupted outside some rowhouses about 8.30pm after the three armed men converged on the group from different points, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference. Davis, who went to the scene, said the shooting was a premeditated act of retaliatory violence in response to a Labor Day weekend shooting in which a man was fatally shot and two women were wounded, one of them pregnant. He did not immediately explain how investigators believed the shootings were linked. Scroll down for video Baltimore police work at a scene where multiple people were shot in Baltimore on Saturday A police spokesperson said none of the injuries are life threatening Davis said the victims could have recognized the gunmen but authorities haven't immediately been able to identify the suspects and were still searching for them hours afterward. According to the commissioner, one of the armed men emerged from an alley and two others ran down the street, stopping just short of the victims before they opened fire. He added that the 3-year-old girl and her father were standing a slight distance away from the others and that the child was not an intended target. Authorities have said one of the attackers had a shotgun and the other two had handguns. A previously created memorial, right, stands as Baltimore police work at a scene where multiple people were shot in Baltimore Davis said that in addition to the girl, one of the victims was a woman and the rest were men. The adults ranged in age from 26 to 39. The shooting occurred just a block from where an outdoor fair was held earlier Saturday. Police said the attack was unrelated to the fair and grand opening for 'Open Works,'a project billed as an innovative work space. Baltimore Police Spokesman T.J. Smith tweeted earlier that none of the injuries was life-threatening but he didn't elaborate further. Police cordoned off at least three city blocks late Saturday and were keeping bystanders away as the police commissioner stood with detectives at the scene. Nearby, detectives used flashlights to search overgrown grass in an alley near the shooting scene. Police cars also blocked a nearby intersection. The shooting erupted outside some rowhouses about 8:30 p.m. after the three armed men converged on the group from different points, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis says The man was charged with A 31-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly broke into the home of Perth mining billionaire Andrew Forrest and stole jewellery. Police allege the Mount Claremont man climbed over the fence of the Cottesloe house on September 17 and rummaged through several rooms before leaving with the stolen items. Video of the theft shows the man brazenly entering the grounds of the property in daylight. Video of the theft shows the man, 31, brazenly entering the grounds of the property in daylight The man has been charged after he allegedly broke into the home of Perth mining billionaire Andrew Forrest (pictured) and stole jewellery He has been charged with burglary, stealing and trespass, and will face the Perth Magistrates Court on October 18. Separately, the Fortescue Metals Group chairman has taken civil court action in a bid to recover some $615,000 from a NSW man who allegedly siphoned money out Mr Forrest's family bank accounts by installing a virus on a home computer via an infected spreadsheet. In the Supreme Court of WA last week, Justice Jeremy Allanson granted Forrest Family Investments' request to extend freezing orders on bank accounts associated with Igors Urvancevs and also grant orders preventing him from leaving the country. The court heard Mr Forrest's legal team 'had people on standby at various airports around the country' to serve legal papers on Mr Urvancevs. A spokesman for Mr Forrest said no comment could be made as the matter was also being investigated by police. The burglary and bank account theft are believed to be unrelated. Three construction workers were hanging 60 metres in the air after a crane collapsed in North Sydney. They were rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital once they were freed after dangling precariously from their harnesses above the 25-storey tower. The men are aged 24, 28 and 36. One of them has shoulder injury, another an injured hip and a head laceration while a third has a suspected broken arm. Three construction workers were hanging 60 metres in the air after a crane collapsed One of them has shoulder injury, another an injured hip and a head laceration while a third has a suspected broken arm Three construction workers were hanging 60 metres in the air after a crane collapsed in North Sydney The 24-year-old managed to release himself and climbed to safety on the roof of the building. Other workers lowered a metal box using a second crane to assist the other men, who were then released and lowered to the ground. Rescuers used an angle grinder and the Jaws of Life to cut them out of the box according to the Daily Telegraph. A witness told the newspaper the crane was supposed to be dismantled on Sunday morning, with three semi-trailers parked nearby in preparation. 'They were supposed to be dismantling it this morning but targets not how you dismantle a crane,' the witness said. Numerous other office workers in buildings nearby wrote on social media that they heard a loud crack before the crane fell. Other workers lowered a metal box using a second crane to assist the other men, who were then released and lowered to the ground Police were told the three workers were inside the crane when it malfunctioned, collapsed and hit a concrete wall The twisted wreckage of the crane's arm was hanging over the side of the Meriton building after it collapsed at about 11.15am on Sunday. Police were told the three workers were inside the crane when it malfunctioned, collapsed and hit a concrete wall. Engineers have been called in to assess the site and SafeWork NSW is investigating the incident. The twisted wreckage of the crane's arm was hanging over the side of the Meriton building after it collapsed at about 11.15am on Sunday Police were told the three workers were inside the crane when it malfunctioned, collapsed and hit a concrete wall The third is still being assessed by paramedics on the scene in Arthur Street. The men are aged 24, 28 and 36 Alleged members of an Australian motorcycle gang have been caught on CCTV assaulting two Thai men in a road rage incident. The September 17 attack, recorded on security camera footage, left Polrat Chartbutr unconscious and his friend Nattapong Pooncharoen bruised, Thai news outlet Khaosod English reported. Pattaya City police chief Apichai Klobpetch says they have identified them as Australian nationals and will soon make an arrest after notifying Immigration Police. Scroll down for video Alleged members of an Australian motorcycle gang have been caught on CCTV assaulting two Thai men in a road rage incident 'They belong to a biker gang that has members around the world called Hells Angels,' Apichai said on Thursday. He said his department has notified Immigration Police. Mr Chartbutr was having dinner at a market in South Pattaya when a pickup truck crashed into his parked motorcycle. He and Mr Pooncharoen then chased the truck until it stopped in front of a bar, at which point four Caucasian men began assaulting the pair. The footage shows four tattooed and bearded men dragging, beating and kicking Mr Chartbutr as he struggles to escape. During incident, one of the alleged gang members holds him down while the other two men kick and punch him in the head. Mr Chartbutr is able to get up several times but is not fast enough to escape them. The September 17 attack, recorded on security camera footage, left Polrat Chartbutr unconscious and his friend Nattapong Pooncharoen bruised Two locals on a motorbike then pass by as the fight moves out of the frame. Mr Chartbutr was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital with a slash wound on his face. His friend had extensive bruising on his body. It comes after a former Hells Angels member Wayne Schneider was found dead in Pattaya. American man Tyler Gerard is currently on trial for the murder of Mr Schneider. An 11-year-old boy was reported missing from Toowoomba two days ago An 11-year-old boy has been missing for two days after he was last seen at a road intersection in rural Queensland. The boy, who has not been named, from Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, was reported missing on September 23, police said. He was last seen around 3pm at the intersection of Boundary Street and Hursley Road in the suburb of Glenvale. An unnamed 11-year-old boy (pictured) from Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, has been missing for two days. Police said they are concerned for his welfare because of his age Police said they are concerned for his welfare because of his age. He is described as Aboriginal in appearance with a light complexion and approximately 140cm tall. He has a slim build with black hair and brown eyes. The boy was last seen wearing a black hoody and black shorts. A high school history teacher who reportedly 'stomped' on an American flag in a lesson about the First Amendment has been suspended without pay, according to ABC. Lee Francis was teaching his students at Massey Hill Classical High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina last week about a Supreme Court ruling protecting flag burning as a freedom of 'symbolic speech'. But one student's parent, Sara Taylor, uploaded a photo of Francis standing over a flag and slammed the teacher for his disrespect in a post that has gone viral on Facebook. The incident has sparked widespread controversy, dividing students at the school and prompting Republican state representative John Szoka to express his 'disgust'. High school history teacher Lee Francis has ruffled a few feathers after he allegedly 'stomped' on an American flag (pictured, with Francis standing over it) One student's parent, Sara Taylor, uploaded a photo of Francis standing over a flag and slammed the teacher for his disrespect in a post that has gone viral on Facebook Francis (pictured) said he was teaching his students about a Supreme Court ruling protecting flag burning as a freedom of 'symbolic speech' at Massey Hill Classical High School In a lesson about Texas v. Johnson in 1989, Francis was accused of 'stomping' on the flag after none of his students responded to his calls to bring up lighters or scissors, according to Taylor. But Francis said he had stepped on the flag 'two or three times', the NY Post reported. On Tuesday, Francis learned he would be placed on paid leave until an investigation is finished, but ABC reported on Friday that he would be suspended without pay for 10 days. Alex Dunn (pictured), a 16-year-old student, called Francis' behavior was 'disgraceful' Alex Dunn, a junior at the school, was shocked at Francis' actions, having grown up with his father in the military. 'Why would an American want to do that to the flag? Why would a social studies teacher want to disrespect the flag like that?' he asked in an interview with ABC. He told FOX: 'It was such a disgraceful thing for a person to do especially in front of so many military children who understand the meaning of the flag - apparently unlike him.' Dunn, who thought of the veterans who fought for the US and returned with the flag draped over their coffins, said he picked up the stars and stripes and went to the principal's office. Another student also reportedly walked out of the class. Francis asked the remaining students if they were offended, to which they responded 'no', he told the Observer. The teacher, who said that members of his own family have served in all branches of the military, said he was teaching his students to be independent thinkers. He told the Observer: ' You dont teach kids how to think or what to think; you teach them to go their own path. 'If they feel so convicted that this is their cause theyre going to stand for, I dont blame them,' Francis said. But he stood by his actions, citing his freedom to desecrate the flag despite condemnation from local politicians as well as death threats, racial slurs, and accusations that he is 'anti-American'. THE CLARK COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT'S FULL STATEMENT In a first period class at Massey Hill Classical High School on Monday, September 19, Mr. Lee Francis taught a lesson on the First Amendment by stepping on an American Flag. As I have already stated, this was inappropriate in our schools. I have conducted an investigation that focused on three areas: (1) the actual event; (2) the legalities; and (3) the events after Sept. 19. Regarding the legal aspect, many quote Texas v. Johnson where the First Amendment protection explained in this case does not extend to a teacher in the performance of his or her duties in a public classroom. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West has determined that there was no criminal violation. Although there is no action that falls under the jurisdiction of Mr. West, it is a wrong conclusion to draw that it protects his actions in the classroom. As former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once said, "Freedom of speech does not allow you to yell 'fire' in a crowded theater." There are policies and procedures that impact the teaching in our schools. After reading statements from staff and students at Massey Hill Classical High School and other material that was available to me, I have concluded that the actions of Mr. Francis were not an act of civil disobedience by the school or the Cumberland County Central Services. All agree that his actions were inappropriate. Therefore, I have determined discipline is appropriate based on violating our policies. The most hurtful aspect of this incident is the comments made by Mr. Francis during his interviews with reporters and media. Although I disagree with many of his statements and wish he had remained silent, there was nothing said that violated school policy. I will have no further public statement. Advertisement 'The idea to label me as anti-American or someone who hates the flag is very disingenuous when you look at the context of the lesson,' Francis told the Observer. 'It saddens me that this is the direction of where the conversation is going.' Despite the teacher's defense, state representative Szoka said he was 'stunned' and 'disgusted', in a statement that called for Francis to be both prosecuted and fired. While desecrating the American flag is a misdemeanor in North Carolina, legal experts believe the 1989 Supreme Court decision overrides it. The superintendent said they are still looking into the incident and would not comment on whether Francis would be disciplined (pictured, Massey Hill Classical High School) Francis' lesson first gained widespread exposure after the mother of a student at the school shared her outrage on social media, writing: 'Excuse me, THIS is part of their curriculum?!?!' It remains unclear how she obtained the photograph of the teacher standing over the flag. Francis, who began teaching at the school this August, has taught in several states across the state after receiving a master's degree in English, according to his LinkedIn. In October, he ran against state representative Elmer Floyd in the Democratic primary, calling for a 'revolution' in the education system before he dropped out just two months later, according to the Observer. An elderly man suffered horrific injuries after being allegedly assaulted by a stranger in his Hamlyn Heights home. Kyle Elston of Lofty Ct, Corio allegedly threatened Wally Janeczko, 67, and his 93-year-old father before beating him in the head in front of his father, the Herald Sun reported. Mr Elston was arrested on Saturday morning for an alleged violent home invasion and later fronted Geelong Magistrates' Court. Wally Janeczko, 67, was left bloody and bruised after a stranger allegedly invaded his home and beat him up The 19-year-old allegedly visited the Chaucer St address on August 22 where he threatened Mr Janeczko with a knife and lured him outside before assaulting him for about 20 minutes and stealing his wallet. His father was able to flee the house to call for assistance from a neighbour. He was left with severe bleeding, bruising and swelling on his face and head. Mr Elston has been charged with aggravated burglary, armed robbery, intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury and assault with a weapon. The court heard that Mr Elston was in the process of withdrawing from ice, marijuana and alcohol. He did not apply for bail and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on January 13. He was airlifted to hospital and is in a stable condition Tourists who witnessed the attack controlled bleeding until help arrived Mr Bredl is known as 'The Barefoot Bushman' in documentaries He has a partially severed hand and extensive wounds to his arm and leg He was feeding the 4.5m reptile at his wildlife park when it turned on him The 66-year-old was attacked on Thursday near Mackay in Queensland Rob Bredl is out of intensive care and recovering after a crocodile attack A wildlife park owner who was attacked by a 4.5-metre-long crocodile is recovering after being released from intensive care. Rob Bredl, 66, remains in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital after suffering serious injuries in the attack on Bredl's Wild Farm at Bloomsbury, north of Mackay, on Thursday. He was moved out of intensive care on Saturday and is recovering well. Scroll down for video Renowned wildlife filmmaker Rob 'The Barefoot Bushman' Bredl is out of intenisve care and recovering well, after being seriously injured when a crocodile on his wildlife farm savaged him as he was feeding it 'So far surgeries have gone well and things are looking good,' a family spokesman said. 'He remains in good spirits.' Known as 'The Barefoot Bushman' Mr Bredl was in the middle of a feeding demonstration when the 4.5-metre male reptile turned on him. The renowned wildlife film maker, who is famous for riding crocodiles on his farm in far north Queensland, managed to break free from its jaws but suffered serious injuries to his left forearm and right leg. Mr Bredl was flown by helicopter (pictured on stretcher) to Mackay Base Hospital after paramedics reached him at 1pm at the farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay The 66-year-old, who is famous for riding crocodiles on his farm in far north Queensland, had his hand partially severed by the 4.5-metre-long beast His family have thanked the public for their well wishes but have asked for their privacy to be respected. It was one of 40 juvenile and eight adult crocodiles he keeps on the 175-acre Blue Planet Park, including an 800 kilogram monster named Brian. Mr Bredl was flown by helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital after paramedics reached him at 1pm at the farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay. 'We hope the injuries aren't life threatening,' a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman told the ABC. 'We hope the injuries aren't life threatening,' a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said He also suffered extensive puncture wounds to his arm and leg reptile tried to drag him into water just after noon on Thursday Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl (pictured) first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived 'The injuries are quite extensive to the lower left arm and also to the upper thigh region in the way of puncture wounds and lacerations.' Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived. Advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said they had done an excellent job looking after him. 'It was a fully grown adult crocodile about 4.5 metres long, so he is very lucky. '[The attack] happened on land, it was attempting to drag him to the water but he's got away before he was submerged at all.' It was one of 40 juvenile and eight adult crocodiles he keeps on the 175-acre Blue Planet Park, including an 800 kilogram monster named Brian Tourists who witnessed the attack gave Mr Bredl first aid and controlled the bleeding until paramedics arrived Advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said he was in a stable condition Mr Bredl claims to have been bitten more than 40 times by crocodiles and other reptiles on his park, but he nephew said they were mostly just minor grazes. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are making initial inquiries into the incident. Mr Bredl's niece Karla Bredl suffered a broken pelvis and thigh bone when she was attacked by a four-metre saltwater crocodile at the Barefoot Bushman's Wildlife Park at Cannonvale in 1997. He has appeared in numerous documentaries It's America's ultimate road trip, but one Australian man turned Route 66 into a motivational endurance test - on a skateboard. Damien Rider, 40, skated the entire 4,000 kilometre trek from Chicago to Santa Monica, battling sunburn, exhaustion, and scorching desert heat. But most of all he was helping those battling post-traumatic stress beat the demons that once haunted him for decades after his abusive childhood at the hands of a man his mother knew. Damien Rider, 40, skated the entire 4,000 kilometre Route 66 highway in the U.S. from Chicago to Santa Monica 'Skating was my way of escaping. You scream out, but no one helps. No one wants to step in when its someone elses family,' he told Men's Health. Growing up he was wracked with PTSD and unable to love, trust or feel fulfilled no matter what he accomplished. 'So many times, I thought I'd never see another sunrise. And times, I hoped I'd never see one again,' he said. He did it to help those battling post traumatic stress beat the demons that once haunted him for decades after his abusive childhood Mr Rider (R) with childhood friend Dan Osper about to set out from Chicago Then last year he pushed himself to journey 800 kilometres across shark-infested ocean from his home on the Gold Coast to Bondi Beach. During the three weeks of sunburn, hunger, fatigue, and unimaginable muscle pain he finally buried his past just from willing himself to go one every day. 'After the paddle, it was like I pressed the reset button on my life. All those memories, emotions, thoughts, smells, feelings that I was carrying with me just seemed to fade away and disappear,' he told myGC. The Route 66 adventure was his way of inspiring other people suffering from torments like him to start over in the same way. The Route 66 adventure was his way of inspiring other people suffering from torments like him to start over in the same way The Mojave Desert (pictured) was the hardest part of his journey, with hot dry winds whipping across the terrain and back-breaking hills to climb Setting out in late June, the trip was supposed to take 66 days but he got it done in just 56 - riding more than 100 kilometres a day on the home stretch. 'Living with demons for most of my life from childhood traumas, I wanted to try and help other survivors of child abuse and give them the tools and motivation to keep moving forward,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'Going through the Mojave Desert I did 250 kilometres in 24 hours. The air temperature was about 48 degrees and the road was 55.' The desert was the hardest part of his journey, with hot dry winds whipping across the terrain and back-breaking hills to climb. He needed to stop every 45 minutes and soak himself in ice water. Now back on Australian soil, Mr Rider said positivity and focusing on small daily goals was the key to helping people turn their life around 'The heat was nothing like I've ever experienced to where anytime I'd sit in the car to cool down for a second I'd pass out cold for 10 minutes,' he wrote on Facebook during the trip. 'My eyes felt like they were bleeding from the hot, dry, strong head winds even through the wrap around sunnies. My throat was burning through my cover. 'Every time I'd pick up my board it would burn my hands from the heat coming off the road. ' Now back on Australian soil, Mr Rider said positivity and focusing on small daily goals was the key to helping people turn their life around. Setting out in late June, the trip was supposed to take 66 days but he got it done in just 56 - riding more than 100 kilometres a day on the home stretch Mr Rider celebrates at the end of the route 'For me its about helping people hands-on and really showing them what is possible physically and mentally, and how they can overcome adversity no matter what it is,' he said. 'Ive come through a lot in my life, Ive faced my biggest fears and I had to face them again on the board. Its about helping others to realise what their fear is in life, face it, and keep on moving forward.' His next challenge begins on November 20 be he insists he will remain tight-lipped until the day it begins. 'This is what Im going to do for the rest of my life now. We are here to learn and pass on that knowledge to other people to help us grow. We owe it to everyone else to be there for one another and put a bit of care in to other peoples needs,' he said. Brad Pitt is so distraught over his wife Angelina Jolie's refusal to allow him access to their children that he is hoping her father, movie legend Jon Voight, will intervene as a mediator. 'Brad has made an effort to make contact and is keen to try and improve the situation between them,' a source close to the situation told the UK's Daily Mirror. 'He's hoping his good relationship with Angelina's family will help to build bridges. He's spoken to her dad Jon and hopes he may be able to play peacemaker.' 'It's a very tricky time for the family but Brad hasn't given up hope yet.' Brad Pitt (center) has reportedly reached out to his father-in-law, actor Jon Voight (left), in the hopes that he could bring his influence to bear on Angelina Jolie (right) Jolie shocked the world earlier this week when she filed for divorce from Pitt, putting in motion the dissolution of what was Hollywood's ultimate glamorous power couple. The Tomb Raider star was reportedly convinced that her husband was having an affair with French actress Marion Cotillard. Pitt and Cotillard co-star in the movie Allied, a flick about the French partisans who fought the Nazis during World War II. In an effort to assuage his wife's fears, Pitt offered to take a polygraph to prove that he had remained faithful to her, according to the UK Daily Star. 'Angie hated all the female attention Brad would get,' a source close to the couple told the Daily Star. 'She is very jealous and insecure, despite being one of the most beautiful women in the world.' 'They had a number of arguments about his closeness to Marion,' the source said. Jolie (right) filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday after a 12-year relationship. The couple has six children 'Brad did all he could to reassure her there was nothing going on and even offered to take a polygraph test to prove he was telling the truth.' 'Sadly for him she refused.' Cotillard, 40, issued a statement on her Instagram account denying that she slept with Pitt. She also announced that she was expecting her second child with her partner, French writer and actor Guillaume Canet. Meanwhile, it's been almost a week since Pitt has seen his kids. Jolie was reportedly jealous over Pitt's (right) relationship with Marion Cotillard (left), his co-star in the movie Allied. Pitt was willing to take a polygraph to prove he was not cheating Cotillard, 40, posted a message on her Instagram account denying that she and Pitt had an affair The 52-year-old has been apart from his six children since wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, Us Weekly reported. The actor, who is under investigation by the FBI following reports of alleged child abuse, is keen to see them as soon as possible. 'He knows the severity of the allegations and wants to be cleared of abuse before he sees them,' the source claimed. 'He is confident he will be cleared. The kids are asking to see Brad, so he is hoping to see them next week.' A second source added: 'He's so torn up and shattered, not only because of the divorce but because he hasn't seen the kids and he really wants to. Being apart from them is part of why he's so torn up.' Among the many circulating theories on the cause of the bombshell break-up this week is that Brad got drunk on a private jet with his family en route to LA five days earlier, and was seen fighting with his eldest son Maddox during a refueling stop at Minnesota. While the actress listed September 15 as the date she and her husband of two years separated, she had already organized a $95,000 a month home for her and her six children to live in. A source confirms to the DailyMail.com that the 41-year-old actress rented the ocean front home three weeks before the Oscar-nominated star filed for divorce in a Los Angeles' court on September 19. Angelina filed for divorce from Brad on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after the couple wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. Male celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing are advised to 'dress to the left' to avoid getting over-excited during intimate dance routines. Ex-Strictly professional Ola Jordan, 33, revealed that some former contestants forgot the advice and 'inevitably became aroused'. She said the woman can 'feel absolutely everything' when performing ballroom routines on the dance floor. Male celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing are advised to 'dress to the left' to avoid getting over-excited during intimate dance routines. Pictured are Greg Rutherford and Natalie Lowe performing on the show on Saturday 'In ballroom dancing the man has to press his right side into the woman, and all professional male dancers know that they have to dress to the left when they are preparing to dance, as you connect right side to right side with your partner,' she said. 'If the man hasnt dressed to the left there is a danger he might get a bit excited, especially if he has to rub up against the woman during a routine. 'The celebs usually needed the whole thing explaining, which was always funny for the pro-dancers and an eye-opener for the stars. Former Strictly professional Ola Jordan, 33, (pictured with husband James) revealed that some former contestants forgot the advice and 'inevitably became aroused' 'Sometimes the male celebs forgot the advice and would be embarrassed when a female dancer had to say: Ooh, I think you need to move that to the other side! She added: 'Occasionally it was too late and some of the men inevitably became aroused. 'This happened to me over the years, with one or two of the celebs I danced with after Kenny.' Ola recalls teasing one of the male celebrities she danced with when the problem occurred. She said: ' Id seen this particular celeb empty his pockets before we started rehearsing together so I knew that the bulge was what I feared it was. '"Did you leave your mobile phone in your pocket?" I teased. "Put your willy in the right place!"' Speaking about the 'curse' of Strictly in her new book Strictly Ola: My Story, she admitted that her husband and fellow professional dancer was not immune to getting jealous on the show. She said: 'James, like any man, was not immune to jealousy occasionally. 'When the producer in my first series of Strictly suggested I kiss my partner, Radio 1s DJ Spoony, at the end of a routine to the Prince song Kiss, James said: "Er, I dont think so. The only man who kisses Ola is me!" 'He said it in a light-hearted way but the truth was that he found it very difficult to see me dancing intimately with another man.' Both men fought against each other during the EU David Cameron and Michael Gove, once close friends, have not spoken since the fallout from Brexit. The referendum is thought to have destroyed their families' ties after both men fought on opposite sides during the campaign. Mr Cameron and his Number 10 team were shocked when Mr Gove, a long-term ally of the former prime minister, announced he would support Leave. David Cameron and Michael Gove (pictured in 2010), once close friends, have not spoken since the fallout from Brexit He was devastated when the country voted for Brexit three months ago but has not spoken to Mr Gove since. The Camerons and Goves used to holiday together and Mr Gove's wife, the journalist Sarah Vine, is godmother to the Cameron's youngest daughter Florence. Steve Hilton, who is a mutual friend of the families, and was a top aide for Mr Cameron, spoke about their closeness in the summer. 'It's about spending time together with their families, with their children, going on holiday together and they love loads of things in politics,' Mr Hilton said. 'In fact the friendship probably doesn't even derive from politics, it derives from something deeper than that.' The divide between the men began when Mr Gove was demoted from education secretary and made chief whip. He suffered a pay cut and was stripped of his status as a full member of Cabinet. The Camerons and Goves used to holiday together and Mr Gove's wife, the journalist Sarah Vine, is godmother to the Cameron's youngest daughter Florence. The Telegraph reported that this weekend sources close to Mr Cameron and Mr Gove said the relationship had not recovered Mr Cameron's former communication chief, Craig Oliver, is set to accuse Mr Gove of going against and betraying Downing Street when he fought for Leave. In his memoir, Unleashing Demons, Mr Oliver will also claim the Leave side 'lied' to the public in the run-up to the vote. Former PM David Cameron and George Orwell also related to slavers Family ties: Princess Beatrice and Eugenie are related to a major slave trader who owned more than 1,000 people Princess Beatrice and Eugenie are related to a major slave trader who owned more than 1,000 people across plantations in the Caribbean, a report has revealed. The Queen's granddaughter's enjoy an unedifying link to slavery through their maternal grandmother, Susan Barrantes, according to a study by The Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership (LBS). Ms Barrantes, the mother of Sarah Ferguson, is a descendant of Sir Henry Fitzherbert who owned sugar plantations in Jamaica and Barbados, reports the Guardian. While the Royal family's link to slavery is the latest high profile case to be revealed - thanks to the tireless study by researchers at the LBS - they are certainly not the first. Earlier work showed that former Prime Minister David Cameron and celebrated British author George Orwell also had descendants that benefited from the human trade. Novelist Jane Austen also enjoyed links to slavery, with her family friends with major slavers including Thomas Hall - who owned three plantations in Jamaica. It is believed the author would go on to base the character of Henry Woodhouse in Emma on Hall. Parliament abolished slavery in 1807 but it would be another 26 years before those that were effected by it where finally granted their freedom. In 1833 ministers abolished slavery in the British Caribbean, Mauritius and the Cape meaning that millions of people were finally given a life of their own. Pictured: An artist's impression on African slaves being forced aboard a vessel that would transport them to the Caribbean However, while seemingly Britain performed a progressive step in freeing those wrongfully ripped from their homes and families - there was still a sympathetic thought for their former owners by ministers. The British Government granted 20million (around 1.8billion today) in compensation for slavers who had lost their human stock. Among those to receive such reimbursement was a relative of acclaimed author George Orwell, who wrote Animal Farm and Nineteen eighty four. The great-grandfather of the novelist, Charles Blair, was paid a more modest 4,442, equivalent to 3million today. Descendants of Britain's recently departed Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, also benefited. Compensation: Descendants of David Cameron and George Orwell both received financial sums from the British Government after slavery was abolished Among the relatives on his father's side was General Sir James Duff, an army officer who was MP for Banffshire in Scotland and is Mr Cameron's first cousin six times removed. Compensation records show Sir James was given 4,101.01 for the 202 slaves he forfeited in 1833 on the Grange Sugar Estate in Jamaica. The Government has faced numerous calls for financial reparations to countries effected by slavery. Mr Cameron was criticsed during a visit to Jamaica back in September 2015, when he told it anti-slavery campaigners it was time to 'move on'. He said: 'Slavery is abhorrent, and as we remember the past we should also remember the extraordinary work that Britain did to wipe slavery off the face of our planet. 'Move on': During a visit to Jamaica in September 2015 Mr Cameron (pictured) told anti-slavery campaigners: 'I don't think reparations are the answer' He added: 'I don't think reparations are the answer.' The insightful LBS study also shows how the human trade had a connection to many other aspects of life in Britain and its empire. For instance the birth or development of key companies in our banking industry, with the predecessors of Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays all holding enslaved people. On the LBS website it says: 'Colonial slavery shaped modern Britain and we all still live with its legacies. 'The slave-owners were one very important means by which the fruits of slavery were transmitted to metropolitan Britain. Truth: LBS researchers wants Britons to be confronted with the uncomfortable reality that our nation profited greatly from slavery (pictured, an artist's impression of slaves at work) 'We believe that research and analysis of this group are key to understanding the extent and the limits of slavery's role in shaping British history and leaving lasting legacies that reach into the present.' Dr Nick Draper, the new director of the centre, says he wants Britons to be confronted with the uncomfortable reality that our nation profited greatly from slavery - rather than just celebrating the work of abolitionist William Wilberforce. He told the Guardian: 'We've just focused on abolition and put slavery to one side. provoked far-right protesters to demonstrate in the city A mother-of-three has allegedly been drugged and raped by a gang of migrants sparking violent demonstrations. The 26-year-old said she woke up in a strange house with cuts and bruises, and believes her drink had been spiked on a night out before she was abducted and sexually assaulted. Police arrested and bailed six men - aged between 20-30 - from Iraq, Syria and Bahrain over the September 4 attack in Sunderland. Police arrested and bailed six men from Iraq, Syria and Bahrain over the September 4 incident in Sunderland (stock image of migrants in Calais) Far-right supporters organised a protest six days in the city after the alleged attack which turned violent. Those on the march, including members of the Sunderland Defence League, met outside The Ivy Leaf Club at 11am on September 10. They smashed windows at the terraced house where the woman says she was attacked. Police rushed to control the demonstrations which was attended by dozens protesters. Two Asian men, unconnected with the alleged rape, were injured and five men, all from Sunderland, were arrested for offences including affray. Philip Hacker, 38, was charged with affray and possessing a controlled drug; Gary Hutchinson was charged with affray; Sean Ruffell, 25, was charged with affray and possessing an offensive weapon; Darren Kerr, 25, was charged with affray and Kevin Sayers, 30, was charged with disorderly conduct. Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott last night called for calm. Southern Area Command Chief Inspector Paul Milner said: 'We know the woman had been in Sunderland City Centre on Saturday night before waking up in a strange address in Peel Street with cuts and bruises. 'She managed to leave the house and get to a family member's home at around 5am on Sunday morning. Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott last night called for calm after police rushed to control the protest which was attended by a larger number of demonstrators than expected 'The victim believes her drink may have been spiked. 'This is obviously a very serious incident and something we know the local community will be concerned about and we will have officers on patrol to offer reassurance to anyone who may be concerned and answer any queries they may have.' The six men are on bail until October 17. Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Yorkshire ripper Peter Sutcliffe, pictured, said his move to a prison was 'political' but has bragged about the '1-a-week' television and DVD player he has in his cell The Yorkshire Ripper has boasted about the luxuries he is enjoying in prison after branding the decision to move him to a jail from hospital as political. Peter Sutcliffe, 70, has written letters bragging about having a television and DVD player in his cell for just 1 a week. He also claims to have always been a model patient and prisoner and has hit out at the legal system over his move from top security Broadmoor Hospital to HMP Frankland in Durham. The former lorry driver, from Bradford, mutilated and beat to death a string of women, mostly prostitutes. He was given 20 life terms for the murders and was caught when police found him with a prostitute in his car. According to the Sunday People, Sutcliffe claims to be very kind and considerate and that he is well liked by his fellow inmates, who have handed him gifts. He added he believes he will die in prison despite being very ill with paranoid schizophrenia. Sutcliffe wrote: Yes I am now a simple man but I am fortunate enough to have some very loyal friends out there who do not agree with how the legal system works. But they do say the law is an ass, stubborn and inflexible... So here I am! As reported by MailOnline, a tribunal last month ruled Sutcliffe was sane and ordered he be transferred to a top security prison. Sutcliffe was transferred to HMP Frankland, pictured, in Durham earlier this month He previously spent decades at Broadmoor Hospital, pictured, after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia The family of Maureen Long, pictured, who survived a hammer attack by Sutcliffe, said they want the killer to 'rot in hell' Among the other infamous faces at Frankland include child-killers Ian Huntley and Levi Bellfield as well as hate preacher Anjem Choudary. In the letters Sutcliffe, who was earlier this month said to be considering converting to Islam, writes that he is now a Jehovahs Witness and that his faith has kept him going. His words have outraged the families of his victims, including Denise Long, 58, daughter of Maureen Long, who survived a hammer attack by Sutcliffe in 1977 but was left with serious injuries. She told the People: Hes living a life of luxury while his victims families are left to suffer. Hell never take full responsibility for what hes put us through. Pictured: Twelve of the 13 victims of Sutcliffe's killing spree in the late 1970s FROM POTTERY CLASSES TO A 'PIT OF BLACK DESPAIR' LIFE IN BROADMOOR 20 a week pocket money Supermarket where he buys phone cards, writing paper and stamps, snacks and Diet Coke Relaxed regime allows him to write dozens of letters and make 15 phone calls a week Room has TV and and MP3 music player. Enjoys tuning in to Im A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! Weekly pottery classes Bible class (he claims to be a Jehovahs Witness) Constant stream of adoring visitors up to four days of visits every week permitted. They can stay four hours a day, or six on a Saturday Team of bodyguards protect him from unwanted attentions of other patients Told a friend the nurses are friendly and patient Cost to public: 300k a year LIFE IN CATEGORY-A JAIL Cramped cells fitted with an uncomfortable bed and a toilet bowl Endemic problems with gang culture, drugs, bullying and violence Early starts (Sutcliffe reportedly likes his lie-ins) around 7.45am. Morning workshops, education or gym Allowed two one-hour visits every four weeks Sutcliffe recently told a friend: Category A prisons are a pit of black despair. If he goes to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, he will be in heart of the region where he waged his reign of terror Current inmates of the jail - nicknamed Monster Mansion - include April Joness killer Mark Bridger and Sarah Payne murderer Roy Whiting Cost to public: 50k a year Advertisement Ms Long added: You never forget. Now hes claiming hes kind and considerate. Its disgusting and I want him to rot in hell. The whole thing makes me mad. Last month Sutcliffe claimed he would be 'murdered' if he was transferred back to a prison. He was at Broadmoor since 1984 after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia following his life sentence in 1981. Sutcliffe will continue to have his mental health assessed in prison and could be returned to a psychiatric hospital if there is a change in his condition. It has been estimated that the move will save the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds. Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed calls for an end to hounding of British troops over alleged abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Labour leader said he recognised that soldiers had been serving in 'awful conditions' - but a controversial probe into allegations should continue. The comments came as Tony Blair joined condemnation of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) process. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has also been accused of 'gagging' British soldiers who planned to tell MPs about the witchhunt against them. Jeremy Corbyn, seen arriving for an appearance on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today, dismissed calls for the Ihat investigation process to be scrapped The body has been heavily criticised for its handling of claims, which are often funded with taxpayer's money. In some cases it has taken years to dismiss false accusations. Mr Blair, who sent troops into both Iraq and Afghanistan, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'I do not think this process should ever have been put in place. 'I am very sorry that our soldiers and their families have been put through this ordeal.' He added: 'Our armed forces gave extraordinary service in both Iraq and Afghanistan and this type of investigation simply makes their job harder to do.' But appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning, Mr Corbyn insisted Ihat should continue its work and consider prosecutions. 'I have spoken to a number of soldiers that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and I recognise the awful conditions that they were asked to serve under, and the difficulties they had with that,' he said. 'But I do think there has to be a recognition that we have signed up for international law on the behaviour of troops. Tony Blair said he was sorry for the 'ordeal' many soldiers were suffering 'America is going through the same experience, as do other European countries even though they're not signed up to the International Criminal Court. 'So I think there has to be investigations. Saying never to prosecute I think would be a step too far.' Calls for Ihat to be shut down have been growing after veterans were hounded through the courts on unfounded claims, often using taxpayer's money. At a meeting with defence chiefs last week, Prime Minister Theresa May said 'every effort' would be made to stop the legal system being abused and protect forces from 'vexatious' allegations. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has pledged legal support for soldiers affected. But he said Ihat needed to continue as a way of preventing troops from facing prosecution at The Hague. The Daily Mail has campaigned for an end to the hounding of troops, with many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after fighting for Britain overseas (file picture) Theresa May summoned military top brass last week to discuss how vexatious allegations against troops could be weeded out He insisted soldiers had to face multiple probes in the UK to stop them being tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Sir Michael admitted there had been a 'bucketful' of 'patently' false claims against UK forces, but said work was under way to eliminate all but a 'handful' of serious cases. Asked if he would apologise to innocent soldiers who have fallen victim to a witch-hunt, he suggested the investigations were necessary. He replied: 'Ihat was established in order to prevent this country being hauled in front of the International Criminal Court. We have to investigate these allegations.' And he said it should be Russian forces who face prosecution at The Hague which normally tries dictators for genocide not British troops. Meanwhile it has been revealed that three serving soldiers under investigation by Ihat have been blocked from appearing before the Defence Select Committee. Another senior officer who wanted to blow the whistle on tactics used by the body was prevented by the Ministry of Defence from giving evidence, according to the Sunday Times. 'I have been gagged by the SoS [secretary of state] from giving evidence to the committee,' one of the soldiers wrote in an email to the Tory MP Johnny Mercer. Their evidence would apparently have included searing accounts of how Ihat's inquiries had destroyed the careers and mental health of some soldiers. The army's top brass was also set to be criticised for 'leaving them to rot' and giving them 'zero support'. In a letter to Julian Lewis, the chairman of the committee, explaining his decision, Sir Michael said : 'Much as I recognise the importance of the matter, I am unable to grant permission for these three serving personnel to provide evidence in the manner you have outlined.' Mr Mercer, who is leading the select committee's inquiry, said: 'If the MoD is seriously committed to looking after our people, they will let these individuals give me their evidence.' looking for love and their relationship is true A former British aid worker is to marry a younger Syrian refugee, after they fell in love in the jungle migrant camp. Sarah Gayton, 41, from Chiswick, in west London, quit her job five days after meeting Hamoude Kahlil, a law student who had fled the city of Aleppo, in Syria, in 2014. She returned to volunteer at the French camp and they were engaged within a few months. The management consultant met Mr Kahlil when she was volunteering in the port in 2015 helping a charity deliver food parcels. Sarah Gayton and Hamoude Kahlil got engaged a few months after meeting in the Calais refugee camp, in France Miss Gayton, who quit her job in West London, to return to the camp said she was never looking for love but is happy The couple, who insist they are genuine, worked in a warehouse run by the charities Help Refugees and L'Auberge des Migrants. Mr Kahlil helped as a translator at the camps. Speaking to The Sunday Times Miss Gayton said she 'was definitely not looking for love' and disputed claims circulating from a male volunteer on Facebook last week that British women were volunteering at the camp to have sex with migrants. She told the paper: 'You can always look at someone else's life and make assumptions but that's pretty sad. 'I know that I met a kind, caring, wonderful man a year ago and I'm happy.' Within a few months of getting to know each other Mr Kahlil proposed. The couple announced their proposal on their Facebook pages on November 1 2015 and the post received 85 likes from their family and friends with comments such as 'you two make me smile' and many 'congratulations' from friends in Arabic. In London: Mr Kahlil came to Britain illegally in the back of a lorry despite his promise to his fiancee that he wouldn't Visiting Cornwall: He has been given leave to remain for five years and the couple are planning their wedding Friends and family were supportive of their engagement when it was shared on Facebook According to their social media the couple now live in Chiswick, west London, after Mr Kahlil broke a promise to his fiancee and entered the UK illegally in the back of a lorry. According to The Sunday Times he was given leave to remain for five years and the couple are now planning their wedding. Illegal entry by a lorry: Miss Gayton admitted she knows some people will be sceptical about their relationship, but those who saw them together 'knew it was real' Miss Gayton admitted she knows some people will be sceptical about their relationship, but those who saw them together 'knew it was real'. She added: ' We are two people that fell in love and remain that way.' As the Mail Online reported on Friday a whistle blower claimed calais aid workers volunteering in the Jungle were having sex with migrants. The revelations caused a furious row on Facebook, with some volunteers claiming the allegations should have remained secret and criticised the whistle blower for expressing his concerns. According to the whistle blower, some volunteers avail of the service of the Jungle camp prostitutes, while others have multiple partners in one day. Other aid workers have complained that unscrupulous volunteers are treating the camp like a 'free for all festival' and 'find it difficult to keep it in their pants'. The original allegations were aired on a Facebook thread concerning the People to People Solidarity group, which has since been deleted. Miss Gayton disputed claims circulating from a male volunteer on Facebook last week that British women were volunteering at the camp to have sex with migrants Advertisement Incredible drone footage has revealed the devastating floods after torrential rain swept through a rural town. As residents brace for the worst flooding in 25 years, footage shows the true extent of the disaster caused by heavy rain that has forced around 1,000 people to evacuate their homes in Forbes in central-western NSW. More than 100 properties in Forbes in central-western NSW are damaged from the water while residents at nearby Condobolin remain on stand-by as waters continue to rise. But despite the rainfall saturating large parts of inland NSW, aerial footage has captured the carnage left behind after the wild weather over the weekend, with the peak expected to hit after midnight on Monday. Using a drone from the air, the footage reveals just how much of Forbes has been left under water, with many backyards completely submerged. Hovering above the town, the flood has come to a standstill in some parts of the area, while water flows ferociously through channels. Scroll down for video Drone footage reveals just how much of Forbes has been left under water, with many backyards completely submerged Incredible drone footage has revealed the devastating floods after torrential rain swept through a rural town Rising floodwaters expected to inundate two rural NSW towns may cause problems with power and sewage for several days, despite lower and later-than-predicted peaks. Residents at Forbes are being advised to evacuate as the Lachlan River swells to an estimated peak of 10.7m by midnight Sunday following 17mm of rain overnight Saturday. Emergency crews are at nearby Condobolin, building barricades with sandbags as they wait for the water to arrive, and it's likely authorities will be busy in the area for another few weeks. 'It's slow to rise and slow to fall,' SES spokeswoman Sue Pritchard said on Sunday evening. Since the rain began on August 30, the SES has received 2343 calls for assistance and has performed 96 flood rescues. No people needed rescuing on Sunday but volunteers were kept busy saving horses, cattle and sheep at properties expected to be impacted. Dramatic scenes has revealed the extent of the devastating flood caused by the heavy rain and wild weather More than 100 properties in Forbes in central-western NSW are damaged, with the peak expected to hit on Monday The flood is expected to be the worst to hit the central-western region of NSW since 132 houses were damaged in 1990 Rising floodwaters expected to inundate two rural NSW towns may cause problems with power and sewage for several days About 1,000 people in Forbes were ordered to evacuate on Saturday while residents at Condobolin remain on stand-by More rain is due on Wednesday and Thursday and it's likely residents won't be able to return home for between three to five days, depending on river peaks and rainfall, Ms Pritchard said. While flooding in Forbes has surpassed the 1990 floods, in which the Lachlan River reached 10.65m, the worst is now being predicted to hit next week. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a second, higher peak next week near Condobolin and Euabalong. About 1,000 people in Forbes were ordered to evacuate on Saturday while residents at Condobolin remain on stand-by pending possible further flooding. Farmers in flood-affected regions are nervously waiting to see how much damage has been done to crops once the waters 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. As residents brace for the worst flooding in 25 years, footage shows the true extent of the damage caused by the heavy rain Farmers in flood-affected areas are nervously waiting to see how much damage has been done to crops once waters recede Incredible drone footage has revealed the devastating floods after torrential rain swept through a rural town Dramatic scenes has revealed the extent of the devastating flood caused by the heavy rain and wild weather Farmers in flood-affected areas are nervously waiting to see how much damage has been done to crops once waters recede Drone footage reveals just how much of Forbes has been left under water, with many backyards completely submerged Incredible drone footage has revealed the devastating floods after torrential rain swept through a rural town As residents brace for the worst flooding in 25 years, footage shows the true extent of the damage caused by the heavy rain The flood is expected to be the worst to hit the central-western region of NSW since 132 houses were damaged in 1990 Dramatic scenes has revealed the extent of the devastating flood caused by the heavy rain and wild weather A woman who crashed into a parked car tried to bribe bystanders into not calling police, offering them $5,000 and saying she 'didn't care about money.' The 24-year-old woman crashed into a car parked on the side of a street in the eastern Sydney suburb of Double Bay, reported the Daily Telegraph. A 24-year-old woman (pictured) who crashed into a parked car in Sydney on Saturday night tried to bribe bystanders into not calling police, offering them $5,000 After she hit a dark-coloured ute parked on the side of Knox Street, the woman allegedly kept driving. People sitting in a bar nearby reportedly chased her car down and forced her to stop the car in the middle of the road, before taking the keys off her. The 24-year-old woman, who was driving a white Subaru Impreza (pictured) was charged with mid range drink driving and had her license suspended In footage one person can be heard saying: 'She's going to run off', to which the woman replies 'I'm not going to run off!' Another person can be heard saying: 'You're drunk as f*** man, what if you'd hit a kid? Or a person?' The woman can be heard saying: 'Listen to me, I'm being apologetic!' She is the heard yelling: 'I'll give you five grand, I don't care about money.' Police told Daily Mail Australia that officers from Rose Bay Local Area Command were called to the scene on Knox Street just after 11.40pm on Saturday night, following reports of a failure to stop crash. Police alleged the driver of a white Subaru Impreza, a 24-year-old woman, provided a positive breath test and was arrested. The woman was taken to Kings Cross police station where she provided a breath analysis reading of 0.095. Her license was suspended and she was charged with a mid range drink driving offence. Jeremy Corbyn has condemned plans to recruit an extra 1,000 spies to combat ISIS and cyber warfare tactics - saying he does not understand why they are needed. The Labour leader made the extraordinary remarks as he dismissed the need to increase the defence budget. The veteran left-winger also risked enraging British troops by insisting investigations over abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan should continue. Jeremy Corbyn said he did not see why an increase in MI6 staffing levels was necessary Mr Corbyn was speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool after trouncing rival Owen Smith to be re-elected to the party's top job. The CND member has been trying, and so far failing, to make scrapping nuclear weapons Labour's official policy. And he was recently ridiculed as naive for suggesting that he would install a 'minister for peace' if he ever wins the keys to Downing Street. It emerged last week that MI6 is to recruit 1,000 new spies following a stark warning from its chief that the threat from Islamic State-style terrorism will last a 'professional lifetime'. Alex Younger known as 'C' said ISIS-style terrorism posed a 'persistent threat', driven by the internet revolution and the breaking down of international barriers. In a rare public appearance at a security conference in Washington DC, he said 'deep social economic and demographic drivers' meant there was little sign of the 'enduring' danger disappearing soon. The extra 1,000 staff would mean a 40 per cent rise by 2020, to a total of 3,500. But asked about the expansion today, Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: 'I don't necessarily think that is particularly necessary. 'I am unclear as to why they want to be so much bigger.' Mr Corbyn refused to condemn the controversial Ihat process for investigating alleged abuses by troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. NOW LEADER SUPPORTS THE WITCH-HUNT OF VETERANS Jeremy Corbyn was accused of not standing up for hounded soldiers as he defended taxpayer-funded probes into Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The Labour leader said the controversial inquiries should continue because of international laws. The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which was set up by Gordon Brown in 2010, is investigating 1,668 accusations of wrongdoing by British troops. A second inquiry, Operation Northmoor, is looking at more than 550 allegations of abuse in Afghanistan. Most are expected to be thrown out in the coming months as spurious. In response, Tory Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin said: The Labour leaders negative approach clearly shows that Labour are no friends of our troops. Advertisement There has been criticism that soldiers have been hounded for years over spurious claims, with cases often funded by legal aid. 'I have spoken to a number of soldiers that have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and I recognise the awful conditions that they were asked to serve under, and the difficulties they had with that,' Mr Corbyn said. 'But I do think there has to be a recognition that we have signed up for international law on the behaviour of troops. 'America is going through the same experience, as do other European countries even though they're not signed up to the International Criminal Court. So I think there has to be investigations. Saying never to prosecute I think would be a step too far.' The UK has committed as a member of Nato to spend 2 per cent of its GDP on defence. Asked if the budget should be higher or lower, Mr Corbyn said: 'I don't think it should be any higher. 'I think it should be efficiently used, but I also think the defence budget should also be used where necessary so that Britain is very good at actually giving aid and comfort during emergencies. Look at what we did during the Ebola crisis and other things.' He added: 'We've been through a period of putting a lot of money and a lot of troops in a very dangerous place and we've lost a lot of troops as a result of that. I think we need to reflect on that.' MI6 is to recruit 1,000 new spies following a stark warning from its chief that the threat from ISIS-style terrorism will last a 'professional lifetime' Mr Younger said 'deep social economic and demographic drivers' meant there was little sign of the 'enduring' danger disappearing soon. Pictured, flowers outside the Bataclan theatre in Paris after the terrorist attacks of 2015 Mr Younger's intervention followed a string of terrorist attacks on continental Europe over the past 12 months, including the November 2015 attack on Paris, the worst in its history, and the July attack in Nice when a lorry mowed down crowds celebrating Bastille Day. In March 32 people were killed in twin suicide attacks in Brussels. Mr Younger did not mention the rise in staff numbers, but did warn of the damage done by the leaking of secrets by Snowden, and said developments in technology presented both an 'existential threat and a golden opportunity' to security agencies. Asked if the terror threat from groups such as IS and Al Qaeda had reached its peak, he said: 'I would like to be optimistic about this but we have got quite long experience of this phenomena now and I see it very much as the flipside to some very deep-seated global trends, not least of all globalisation the reduction of barriers between us. 'It's a function also of the information revolution and the capacity for ideas to travel. It is fuelled by a deepening sectarian divide in the Middle East and there are some deep social economic and demographic drivers to the phenomenon that we know as terrorism. 'Allied with the emergence of state failure this means that, regrettably, this is an enduring issue which will certainly be with us, I believe, for our professional lifetime.' Mr Corbyn trounced rival Owen Smith to be re-elected as Labour leader yesterday But former Labour security minister Lord West suggested Mr Corbyn did not understand what was at stake. This is not a sensible area for the Leader of the Opposition to try to second guess the security services, he said. I have no doubt that this increase is based on an assessment of the threat what is needed to prevent terrorist outrages on the streets of this country. Mr Corbyn, vice-president of CND, has already angered Labour moderates by trying to drop the partys support for Britains nuclear deterrent. Last week he was mocked for suggesting he will appoint a new Minister for Peace at the Ministry of Defence if he wins power. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: He wants to whack up taxes. He wants to abolish [the] Army. He wants nuclear submarines without nuclear missiles so the country is literally firing blanks. It is not serious. The new defence row added to the chaos of a Labour conference bitterly divided between Mr Corbyns supporters and his MPs. Defiant moderates warned that the party needed to change or die as they vowed to fight Mr Corbyn from within. Rumours swirled around the conference that he could face more front bench resignations this week. A new national opinion poll out yesterday put Labour on just 26 per cent, 15 points behind the Tories. If replicated in a general election, the figures would hand the Conservatives a majority of around 100. Aides said Mr Corbyn has begun work on a reshuffle of his top team, which will be unveiled next week. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has sparked rumours of a political comeback after he declined to rule out a return to the frontbench. A family has been left devastated after a father and his 17-year-old son were both diagnosed with terminal cancer just months apart. New Zealand high school student Jesse Warena, 17, has incurable non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and his father John is in the late stages of lung cancer. The tragic news has shattered Jesse's mother Pearl and three older brothers, who now face the immeasurable pain of losing two family members forever. In an even crueler twist of fate, Pearl's eldest son Jon was murdered in a street brawl in 2007 while living in Australia. Five men were jailed over the fatal fight in Perth. New Zealand high school student Jesse Warena (pictured), 17, has incurable non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and his father John is in the late stages of lung cancer Despite undergoing intensive treatment over the past year, including chemotherapy and radiation, last week Jesse learned that his only option going forward was palliative care. The brave teenager is taking it one day at a time, and is striving to complete his National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 and get his driver's license. Ms Warena, who lives in Hawke Bay on the east coast of the North Island, told stuff.co.nz she was overwhelmed by the nightmarish news. 'It is devastating, you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy,' she said. 'I break down at night, sometimes. Anything can spark it, but I have got to keep a brave face on.' The mother-of-six now splits her time between looking after her youngest son Jesse and travelling to Palmerston North Hospital where her ex-husband John is. 'The family is split. We have some with him and some with Jesse. It's really hard,' she told the publication. A fundraising page has been set up to help financially support Ms Mcrae and allow Jesse to tick off some activities on his bucket list. Armed police have been stationed outside Gareth Bales hotel room in Spain after a spate of arson attacks against his fiancees family. Cars belonging to the grandparents and aunt of Emma Rhys-Jones have been torched while petrol was poured through another aunts home in north Wales. It is understood to be part of a feud with a drugs gang after Miss Rhys-Jones cousin Epiphany Dring a former glamour model disappeared allegedly carrying a suitcase full of 300,000 in cash, plus drugs and watches believed to make the full contents worth around 1million. Scroll down for video Gareth Bale, pictured with fiancee Emma Rhys-Jones, had armed guards posted outside his hotel room in Spain last night after his soon-to-be-wife's family was attacked in what appears to be a feud with a drugs gang over a 'missing suitcase of cash, drugs and watches' that disappeared alongside her glamour model cousin Epiphany Dring, right The 86million footballer was staying at the Hotel Santa Catalina, pictured, in Gran Canaria According to The Sun, three armed guards stood outside Bales room at the hotel Real Madrid were staying at ahead of a game in Gran Canaria. A source told the paper: There were three armed police posted outside the rooms, obviously there to make sure there were no unwanted visitors. It was pretty extreme for such a luxury hotel, renowned for its old-fashioned charm. Miss Rhys-Jones is said to be scared stiff that the couples 2million home in the Vale of Glamorgan could also be targeted, although police in Wales have spoken to them to reassure them. Police confirmed two cars were burned in an arson attack in Flint, north Wales, on Wednesday belonging to Miss Rhys-Jones aunt Annabella Williams, 55, while petrol was poured through her other aunt Jane Burns, also in Flint. Two cars were torched, pictured, in an arson attack outside Miss Rhys-Jones aunt Annabella Williams' home in north Wales on Wednesday Last week cars were also burned outside her grandparents home, pictured, in Cardiff Ms Burns, mother of Miss Dring, said she had not seen her daughter for five weeks and that she had been staying with her grandparents John McMurray, 79, and wife Eva, 84 in Cardiff. North Wales police have charged a 22-year-old man with criminal damage and arrested a 54-year-old woman on suspicion of making threats to kill. After Miss Dring vanished, cars outside the home were torched and bricks thrown through the window. South Wales Police are investigating the arson in Cardiff, and neighbours have described it as a 'grudge attack' over a family dispute. Both cars were taken away in a special 'anti-explosives' vehicle and undergoing forensic tests. Rolex (left) and Kors (right) watches are believed to be among the valuable items also in the suitcase (file pictures) Neighbours said they had not seen the couple recently and believe they have gone into hiding. South Wales Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident and have stepped up patrols in the area. Meanwhile a family source told The Sun they fear the attacks wont stop because of the missing money. The source said: People are wondering if they will target Gareth and Emma because they have money. No one knows where it will end. It is understood Miss Dring had left the country and police believe she could be in Malaysia. Britain has accused Russia and Syria of war crimes during a special meeting of the UN Security Council in New York to discuss the crisis in Aleppo. Russian and Syrian jets have been accused of using phosphorous and cluster munitions on civilian areas. Also, the regime has been targeting emergency workers responding to attacks with barrel bombs. Scroll down for video Russian and Syrian aircraft bombed areas of eastern Aleppo killing 100 people since Thursday At least 17 children have been killed since the major offensive began on Thursday Rebel commanders claim Russian and Syrian jets have been using phosphorous munitions The British ambassador to the UN said Russia is partnering with Syria to commit war crimes. US ambassador Samantha Power accused the Russians of 'barbarism' during the high-powered discussion in New York earlier today. The US has accused Russia of 'barbarism' as a result of Moscow's bombing campaign in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo. The US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power slammed Russia and Syria over the campaign to push out rebels from the city due to the high level of civilian deaths caused by the campaign. Ms Power said the Russian campaign in support of Bashar al-Assad was not counter-terrorism, but 'barbarism'. The UN Security Council met in New York today to discuss the crisis. The United Nations special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura told the same meeting he was convinced the situation in Syria could still be turned and said he would not quit, as Russia and the United States try to salvage a ceasefire. French UN Ambassador Francios Delattre said: 'War crimes are being committed here in Aleppo. They must not be unpunished and impunity is simply not an option in Syria.' Russian and Syrian jets dropped banned phosphorous and bombs on a rebel camp on the outskirts of Aleppo killing at least 100 civilians, including 17 children. Bombers pounded rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo including a Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the city. The camp, which overlooks the north of the city was captured briefly by Syrian troops, who were later driven out. Rebels claim Russian and regime jets then bombed the camp with phosphorous munitions, which are not supposed to be used on civilian populations. The Russians have launched a 'shock and awe' campaign against the Syrian rebels Some 250,000 people are trapped in Aleppo which is under siege by Syrian troops The Handrat camp has been in rebel hands for a couple of years. Rebel commander Abu al-Hassanien said: 'We retook the camp, but the regime burnt it with phosphorous bombs ... We were able to protect it, but the bombing burnt our vehicles.' According to the regime: 'The Syrian army is targeting the armed groups positions in Handarat camp.' The army announced on Thursday the start of a major new military campaign to regain Aleppo, intensifying strikes and use of powerful weapons that rebels said was an 'shock and awe' campaign aimed at creating devastation and demoralising them. Russian planes also continued their pounding of residential parts of Aleppo, with whole buildings flattened, according to rebels and residents. The assault on Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped, 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. Two weeks after Moscow and Washington announced a ceasefire that quickly unraveled, 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. The UN Security Council is due to meet later today in an emergency session to discuss the escalating violence, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon described as 'chilling'. Washington and its European allies meanwhile said the burden was on regime ally Moscow to save a truce that fell apart in the past week. The United Nations is set to discuss the situation in Syria during a meeting in New York today At least 101 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syrian and Russian bombardment of eastern Aleppo since the army announced an operation to take it Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said at least 17 children were among those killed in the assault, which has included missile strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire. On Saturday night, residents said cluster bombs rained down on eastern parts of the city, where an estimated 250,000 people are living under a government siege. 'All night long they were dropping cluster bombs. I couldn't sleep until four in the morning,' said 62-year-old Ahmed Hajar, who was out looking for bread in Al-Kalasseh neighbourhood. 'Today the streets of my neighbourhood are full of unexploded cluster bombs. One person was killed when he disturbed one and it exploded,' he added. 'It tore him apart... it was an awful scene.' In the nearby neighbourhood of Bab al-Nayrab, 30-year-old Imad Habush was baking bread in a small wood-burning oven outside his house. 'None of the bakeries are open anymore because of the bombing and the shortages of fuel and flour, so people have started making their own bread,' he said. 'I don't know why the regime is bombing us in this barbaric way. We're civilians here, we're not carrying weapons, and we're besieged, we have no way to escape.' Syrian troops are engaged in a battle to retake the city with the assistance of Russian airpower Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by war and roughly divided since mid-2012 between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. The eastern portion of the city has been under near-continuous siege since mid-July, prompting food and fuel shortages. A truce deal hammered out by Russia and the United States this month was meant to see aid trucked into the east of the city. But the ceasefire fell apart before any assistance was brought in, and the army and its Russian ally have since pounded the eastern neighbourhoods with a force that residents say is virtually unprecedented. More than 300,000 people have been killed and over half the country displaced since the war began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Successive attempts to reach a political solution have failed, and the latest bid by Moscow and Washington has virtually collapsed, despite ongoing talks to save it. Ban said Saturday he was 'appalled by the chilling military escalation' in Aleppo, and Britain, France and the United States requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The meeting is scheduled for 3pm, but it was unclear what results it could produce, with Moscow and Washington trading accusations over who is to blame for the ceasefire's failure. The United States and its European allies said Saturday it was up to Moscow to save the truce. 'The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts,' read a joint statement from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and European Union. 'Patience with Russia's continued inability or unwillingness to adhere to its commitments is not unlimited,' the statement added. But Russia has blamed Washington for the ceasefire's failure, saying it did not uphold its commitment to ensure moderate rebels distanced themselves from jihadist groups like former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Syria's foreign minister meanwhile said Saturday that his government was confident of 'victory' with support from 'true friends' including Russia, Iran, and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. 'Our belief in victory is even greater now that the Syrian Arab army is making great strides in its war against terrorism,' he told the UN General Assembly. Meet the glamorous family behind a payday loans company that was ordered to pay out more than 34million for treating over 97,000 customers unfairly. The Garrit-Smith clan could be seen enjoying a jet-set lifestyle of exotic holidays despite thousands of CFO Lending customers complaining they had their money taken from their bank accounts without permission. Founder and investor Henry Smith, an East End property tycoon, said he worked with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) during its investigation and FCA has now forced the lending company to pay out more than 34million. Mr Smith, his wife and daughters, could be seen enjoying lavish parties, holidays and boarding private planes as complaints against the company mounted up. Records at Companies House show that Mr Smith, 54, a property developer, was the largest shareholder. His Aitch Group lent millions of pounds to the business. Gilded lives: CFO Lendings founder Henry Smith with daughters Shauna, Brogan and Keara, and wife Faye Social media: Henry Smith's daughters Brogan and Shauna Garrit-Smith (left) posing in their bikinis and Brogan and Keara (right) in dresses Mr Smith, who launched CFO in 2008, toured Italy and Switzerland in a Ferrari with his wife Faye, as the firm was investigated over dubious business practices. Social media posts show the couple arm in arm on sun-kissed Mediterranean beaches and dressed in finery at lavish parties. Away from the glamour, complaints against CFO Lending were beginning to rack up. And after facing an astonishing 246 investigations by the Financial Ombudsman, the company was forced to pay back its victims of its unfair practices. Speaking to The Sun Marc Gander from the Consumer Action group called the actions 'parasitic abuses'. High life: The glamorous family enjoyed a gilded lifestyle of exotic foreign holidays and private jet travel Partying: Brogan Keara and Shauna Garrit-Smithdaughters were also on the board of directors of CFO Lending and had small shareholdings The lender took money from customers' accounts without permission, charged them more than they owed and sent threatening letters and text messages, the Financial Conduct Authority found. The company has been ordered to write off debts of nearly 32million and make 2.9million of cash payments to customers. The firm has also been banned from offering loans. C FO Lending, which was based in an office in Leytonstone, East London, was the parent company of six other payday lenders Payday First, Flexible First, Money Resolve, Paycfo, Payday Advance and Payday Credit. Model: Daughter Keara, 24, of Loughton, Essex, is a fashion model with the Diva agency in Dubai according to its website and worked for Goldman Sachs Smith, 54, is still the major shareholder but has never sat on the board of directors. Company records show that between July 2011 and September 2014 his three daughters Brogan Garrit-Smith, 25, Keara Garrit-Smith, 24, and Shauna Garrit-Smith, 22 were on the board and had small shareholdings. Smith's 45-year-old wife was also a director and shareholder. The four women each owned 500 shares in the company until May 2015, according to CFO Lending's last annual report. Smith's wife and daughters were all directors and investors in the company when it agreed with the regulator in August 2014 to carry out an independent investigation into its business practices. They all stepped down a month later. Social media posts from around the time of the investigation showed Keara divided her time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The 24-year-old, of Loughton, Essex, who worked for Goldman Sachs, was also a fashion model with the Diva agency in Dubai. Keara and Brogan Garrit-Smith: The family share lots of photos on their social media of their trips around the world A picture on Instagram from last December shows Keara, who works as an assistant at investment bank Goldman Sachs, about to board a private jet from the Harrods Aviation VIP Terminal at Stansted Airport. Her older sister Brogan has enjoyed numerous foreign trips over the past few years. She attended a 'pool party' in Hollywood, relaxed on sun-kissed beaches in Ibiza and regularly visited popular resort Marbella in Spain. When one of her friends appeared to joke that she had been on a lot of holidays, Brogan wrote on Facebook: 'God loves a traveller.' Earlier this year she posted a message which said: 'I enjoy the simple things in life like recklessly spending my cash and being a disappointment to my family.' Keara and Brogan: The sisters' social media accounts show them frequenting upmarket London bars and hotels, including the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone and the Savoy in The Strand More recently the sisters' social media accounts show them frequenting upmarket London bars and hotels, including the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone and the Savoy in The Strand. Earlier this week Brogan, who works for US investment bank Morgan Stanley, posted a picture of her dog sitting on the wing of a private jet with the message: 'Someone is not impressed to be back in London ... Me neither Rolo.' Neither Smith nor any of his family appears to have worked directly for CFO Lending and none has been accused of any wrongdoing. A spokesman for CFO Lending said: 'The existing board of directors were appointed to CFO Lending Limited in January and February 2015. The current board has worked closely with the FCA to identify historical issues that resulted in poor consumer outcomes.' Smith claimed there was a 'remarkable difference' in the business now compared to before January 2015. Jeremy Corbyn has said the 'vast majority' of Labour MPs have nothing to fear from de-selection but failed to confirm every MP would be able to stay on. The Labour leader said that sitting MPs with a geographical claim on new constituencies following the upcoming shake-up of boundaries will 'automatically' go onto shortlists. But Mr Corbyn then said constituencies and MPs have a 'complex' relationship and said local parties will use 'democratic discussion' to choose a final candidate. The remarks that will fail to quell fears among Labour MPs that opposing Mr Corbyun could cost them their jobs. Moderate Labour MPs have urged the leader to rule out de-selections and restore shadow cabinet elections as an olive branch to bring the party back together. Jeremy Corbyn today said the 'vast majority' of Labour MPs had nothing to fear from re-selection around the boundary review Labour's London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that a failure to unite after the leadership contest could kill off Labour forever. And leading Labour moderate Chuka Umunna said the party cannot win a general election unless it is a 'broad church' taking in the left and centre-left. Speaking to BBC1's Andrew Marr Show on the first day of Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn insisted the party was 'quite united' on policy, and said it was time to 'move on' from the bruising exchanges of the leadership contest. Asked whether he wanted sitting MPs to be reinstated in the upcoming redrawing of boundaries, or if he would prefer a set of candidates with views closer to his own, Mr Corbyn said: 'Listen, I wish them well. 'The relationship between an MP and their constituency is a complex one, not necessary a policy tick-box exercise. It's also the relationships, the community, the effectiveness of representation. 'Let's have a democratic discussion and, I think, the vast majority of MPs will have no problem whatsoever.' He said his message to constituency parties contemplating deselection of MPs they regard as disloyal was: 'Concentrate on policies, concentrate on campaigning, concentrate on getting out there and what we've got to get across as a message.' London Mayor Sadiq Khan, pictured in New York last week, has urged Mr Corbyn to rule out re-selecting Labour MPs who disagree with him Mr Khan told the Sunday Times: 'The idea of deselecting MPs is wrong. The review of boundaries should not be an excuse for Conservatives or others to reduce the number of Labour MPs.' Senior Labour MP Chuka Umunna today insisted he would not challenge Mr Corbyn in a further leadership election And he warned: 'We know from history - the Gang of Four in the 1980s - that when the Labour Party splits, we are out of power for a generation. Now it is far more serious than that. If the Labour Party splits, it could be the end of the Labour Party.' Mr Corbyn confirmed he had asked Labour's ruling National Executive Committee to review the party's democratic structures to give a greater role to members and trade unionists in developing policy. And he said that conference - which lost most of its decision-making powers under Tony Blair - should 'move very much more to the centre of concluding our policy debates'. The re-elected leader has spent the last week speaking to key Labour MPs in an apparent effort to lure some back into his frontbench team, where a number of posts remain unfilled after the mass resignation of dozens of shadow ministers in June. WIGGINS: CORBYN IS LOVELY BUT MAY IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB Bradley Wiggins praised Theresa May Bradley Wiggins has said Jeremy Corbyn is a 'lovely fellow' but made a surprise endorsement of Theresa May's new government. The champion cyclist, who once took part in a TV programme with the Labour leader, said Mrs May was doing a 'fantastic job' tackling Brexit. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr: 'I don't agree with everything he is for I think the world is changing at a fast pace 'What I will say is, my family has been historically Labour, my wife's family has been historically Labour, I think Theresa has done a fantastic job of stabilising the country in the short term after the whole debacle in the summer.' Advertisement 'I'm reaching out to all our MPs, having lots of discussions with them,' said Mr Corbyn. While acknowledging there were 'some differences of policy opinion', he insisted there was 'a good deal of unanimity' on issues like selective education and austerity. Asked whether he would welcome Hilary Benn - who he sacked as shadow foreign secretary - back into the shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn said only: 'He wants to become the chair of the select committee on Brexit.' And when interviewer Andrew Marr said he could read out a list of scathing comments made about the leader by some of his MPs, he joked: 'You have only got half an hour on the programme.' Mr Corbyn insisted he would not respond to personal comments and called on his critics to 'put your contribution into the policy debate ... into making our party and our movement stronger'. Mr Umunna dismissed reports that he was being lined up to challenge Mr Corbyn before the next general election. 'This issue of the leadership is settled, we don't need to be talking about this any more,' the Streatham MP told the Andrew Marr Show. Mr Corbyn was re-elected by a landslide as Labour leader yesterday, pictured, after a bruising summer contest against Owen Smith Mr Umunna warned that Labour can only win an election as a 'broad church', and cautioned against any move to punish those who have rebelled against Mr Corbyn. 'We've got to move on from this notion of crushing people who disagree with us,' he said. She continues to clean the house - just as she was once instructed to do Kampusch now lives in the house where she was kept as a child sex slave A woman who was raped and psychologically abused for most of her childhood after she was kidnapped on the way to school inherited the home she was kept hostage in for eight-and-a-half years and still cleans it - just as she was once instructed to do. Natascha Kampusch was just 10 years old when she was snatched by deranged loner Wolfgang Priklopil and held captive in a cramped dungeon cellar hidden in the basement of his unassuming house near Vienna, in Austria. For almost a decade she was treated as his sex slave - beaten, starved and locked underground - until she decided to flee on August 23, 2006. Priklopil killed himself by jumping in front of a train on the day she escaped aged 44. Scroll down for video Natascha Kampusch, now 28, was kidnapped as a child and was held captive for over eight years in an underground cellar in a home near Vienna, in Austria She inherited the home when her kidnapper committed suicide and now lives there on weekends, continuing to meticulously clean it - just as she was once instructed to do so under threat of punishment Natascha (left, during first TV interview after escape) was raped and psychologically abused for most of her childhood by deranged loner Wolfgang Priklopil (right) - who snatched her up on a morning walk to school when she was just 10 years old She explained that it was '(therapeutic) ... in a special way' to be able to spend time in the house where a large chunk of her horrific childhood played out (pictured outside of it) Now, in an exclusive interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night, Kampusch, now 28, took reporter Rahni Sadler on a walk through the building where the nightmarish ordeal took place - a home she now calls her own and lives in most weekends. As Kampusch started a tour around the home where she was relentlessly abused and tormented, she strangely asked Sadler: 'Are you feeling okay coming in here?' She went on to explain that it was '(therapeutic) ... in a special way' to be able to spend time in the house where a large chunk of her horrific childhood played out. When asked about Priklopil, the computer technician that would force her to act as his personal maid when she wasn't living in isolation, Kampusch had little to say. 'He had two parts in his personality. I call the one part the dark side and it was like, a schizophrenic personality,' she said softly and reminiscently, in halted English. He had two parts in his personality ... the handsome person, the brave son. And the dark side, the brutal person with no conscience 'I think one part was the part of the outside, the part of the handsome person. The brave son. And the dark side ... the brutal person with no conscience.' All that remains of Kampusch's five square-metre cellar prison is a concrete slab with the date '2011' carved into it. She says the council 'made' her fill it in. When asked why she didn't want to sell or burn the house down to the ground, Kampusch calmly responded that she didn't want it to 'become a theme park.' She continues to clean the house from top to bottom, exactly as she was once instructed under threat of punishment by Priklopil over ten years ago. The outdated home appears almost untouched, as if it were an eerie time capsule paying homage to its twisted past. All that remains of Kampusch's five square-metre cellar prison is a concrete slab with the date '2011' carved into it Kampusch's windowless bedroom (left) was reached by the stairs on the right The 28-year-old said the reason she didn't want to sell or burn the house was because she was afraid of it turning into a 'theme park' She continues to clean the house from top to bottom, exactly as she was once instructed to do under threat of punishment by Priklopil over ten years ago Kampusch, pictured as a child before being abducted, spends weekends at the house where her childhood was stolen In a recent interview with Germany's Bild newspaper Kampusch recalled the day she escaped, saying: 'I was told to clean his car. 'He wanted to sell it and had told me to clean it really thoroughly and completely. I remember that I felt like I could eat a horse because I had to make him jam sandwiches for breakfast but got nothing myself.' At 12.56pm Priklopil, 44, took a call on his mobile phone and was momentarily distracted. Kampusch went on: 'Previously he has observed me all the time. But because of the vacuum cleaner whirring in my hand he had to walk a few steps away to better understand his caller.' Natascha, who received his house in his estate said: 'I crept to the gate which was usually closed or blocked by heavy objects, but not on this day. At 12.58pm she opened the gate and ran to freedom, bringing an end to the ordeal that had begun in March 1998 when Priklopil snatched her as she walked to school. The cellar where Natascha lived has since been filled in, but police photographs expose the cramped and claustrophobic conditions The exterior of the house where Kampusch was held - and constantly watched A trapdoor leads from Priklopil's garage into a hidden room where Kampusch was kept A cupboard (left) hides the entrance (right) from the garage into the hidden room Kampusch has written a new book about her life called Ten Years of Freedom but her ordeal goes on. Despite garnering a fortune estimated at five million pounds from TV interviews, her books and movie collaboration, she remains the little girl lost she was during her captivity. A new probe is underway concerning the alleged suicide of Priklopil. Two coroners who examined the case files determined that he might have been murdered and that is now being investigated. Kampusch acquired the house and car of her captor as palpable links to a past that psychiatrists say she should move on from. She spends weekends at the house where her childhood was stolen, living in the rooms where the days often passed as slowly as weeks and she felt as if she were drowning in quicksand. But campaigners have hit out at the 950 service branding it 'digital dads' A new mobile app has been launched that allows British women to select a sperm donor to father their child. London Sperm Bank Donors, nicknamed 'order a daddy', lets women browse men by a series of characteristics including height, ethnicity and hair colour. The company says it is the first such app of its kind, designed to 'address the acute shortage of sperm donated in the UK'. A new app has been launched allowing women to browse sperm donors online and place an order via a fertility clinic (file picture) London Sperm Bank Donors, pictured, said the 950 service is the first of its kind Much like online dating apps, it also includes a biography of the potential father containing their educational history, job and personality traits. For example, a Caucasian, Latvian dance instructor who has green/hazel eyes and light brown hair is described as 'passionate' with a 'good sense of fun' while an Iranian student with brown eyes, black hair is described as a 'humble, well-mannered and honourable' person who knows four languages, but has 'restrictions' on who can access his donations. To obtain a sample, the user must pay via the app, which will allow the sperm to be delivered to a fertility clinic of the woman's choice. Dr Kamal Ahuja, scientific director of the London Sperm Bank, told the Sunday Times finding a donor will now be as easy as ordering from big retail websites such as Marks & Spencer or Tesco. He said: 'You make all the transactions online, like you do anything else these days. 'This allows a woman who wants to get a sperm donor to gain control in the privacy of her own home and to choose and decide in her own time.' But it has been criticised by campaigners, including Josephine Quintaville of Comment on Reproductive ethics, who told the paper: 'It's digital dads. This is the ultimate denigration of fatherhood.' Women using the app can list the characteristics they most desire in a father and can set up alerts when an appropriate person becomes available. Among the anonymous donors are lawyers, doctors, engineers and actors. The user must pay a 950 fee to obtain the sperm, which is then transported to the clinic (file picture) The app has met all the criteria set by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which regulates in vitro fetilisation (IVF). It is understood around half of the UK's private and NHS IVF clinics have registered with the service. The London Sperm Bank, which was previously the Dr Louis Hughes sperm bank set up in 1976, was formed when the latter joined forces with the London Womens Clinic sperm bank in 2010. A statement on its website said: 'The London Sperm Bank (LSB) was established to address the acute shortage of donated sperm in the UK. With support from a wide range of altruistic men, we are proud that we are now the largest provider of donor sperm in the UK.' Homes are 200 years old and may have been occupied by domestic staff Larder can still be seen, while window and door frames still remain A 'lost' street has been discovered underground - with secret tunnels leading to other parts of the town. The mysterious underground homes were found during a 1m refurbishment of a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. An old larder can still be seen in the living quarters, which date back more than 200 years, while wooden window and door frames remain intact. A 'lost' street has been discovered underground in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham Secret tunnels were found in the basement of the property leading to other parts of the town The discovery was made during a 1m refurbishment of a Grade II Listed Georgian townhouse Jeff Highfield, who owns Gloucester House, told The Gazette that the underground living quarters used to have access to street level. It is believed the tunnels leading from the underground homes, which may have been occupied by domestic staff, led to other parts of Stockton. Mr Highfield said: 'What we found is what appears to be the living quarters from we assume some 200 years ago or more. 'There used to be access to street level and according to the previous mayors that have been down here we believe these are tunnels that link to other parts of Stockton. Wooden window frames and door frames still remain in the living quarters Pictured is one of the larders in the underground homes that date back 200 years 'This used to be effectively a street below the street.' The row of Georgian townhouses used to be known as Paradise Row and was owned by wealthy townspeople. Some of the rooms may have been used to store animals as the local cattle market used to be opposite. Gloucester House was turned into a hotel and later council offices. Mr Highfield said he now plans to preserve the underground homes and tunnels. Other features that still remain include cavities in the wall used to hold candles Some rooms may have been used to store animals as the local cattle market used to be nearby Ms Iffland competed to a crowd of 20,000 people watching the event She came third behind Canada, in second place, and the USA in first place She completed a dive off Bosnia and Herzegovina's Stari Most bridge The 25-year-old Australian from Newcastle was a wild card in the event Australian cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland has wowed crowds in Bosnia and Herzegovina after completing an impressive flip off Stari Most bridge. The 25-year-old, who is from Newcastle in northern New South Wales, competed in the Red Bull Cliff Diving Women's World Series in Mostar, reported the ABC. Despite the fact she only began diving in 2015 and was a wildcard in the competition, she placed third overall. Scroll down for video Australian cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland (pictured) has wowed crowds in Bosnia and Herzegovina after completing an impressive flip off Stari Most bridge in the Red Bull Cliff Diving Women's World Series in Mostar Despite being a wildcard entry Ms Iffland finished third (right) behind American Cesilie Carlton who came second and Canadian Lysanne Richard who won the women's competition Canadian Lysanne Richard won the women's competition with 244.90 points. American Cesilie Carlton placed second with 242.05 points and Ms Iffland finished third with 240.30 points. Ms Iffland's fellow Australian diver Helena Merten, who is a permanent diver in the competition, finished fourth with 236.05 points. Fifth place went to Belarusian Yana Nestsiarava, sixth place was Mexican Adriana Jimenez and seventh place went to American Ginger Huber. The divers competed in front of a crowd of 20,000 in the town in the southern part of the country, about two hours south of the capital Sarajevo. In an interview straight after the dive Ms Iffland said she was really happy with her result. 'I was pushing through an injury so I'm really happy that I finished the dive safe,' she said. 'It's a great feeling, everybody here is so energetic and you just take the energy and use it up on the platform.' Rhiannan Iffland (left) is pictured warming up before the event with Russia's Artem Silchenko of Russia in the Mostar Diving Club during Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Ms Iffland said her favourite dive is the front triple pike half twist, as she said she loves 'the feeling of the rotation and the small flight to the water.' Czech Republic's Michal Navratil finished in first place in the men's competition. The world series' next stop is at Shirahama, Japan on October 16 before the final competition at the Dubai Marina in the United Arab Emirates on October 28. The event (pictured), which was held on the historic Stari Most bridge in Mostar, in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the seventh stop of the Cliff Diving World Series A bureaucratic mix-up means Debbie Haigh is listed as the biological mother of a baby boy she has never met. The Melbourne woman has called for an investigation into the records of births that used donor eggs and sperm after she was listed incorrectly on the registration of birth database. 'Information like this, especially when it comes out 18 years later, can destroy families, it can destroy relationships,' Ms Haigh told the Herald Sun. A bureaucratic mix-up means Debbie Haigh is listed as the biological mother of a baby boy she has never met (stock image) No doubt Ms Haigh was shocked to find she was listed as the mother of the one-year-old boy after receiving a letter from the in the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In fact, the little boy is the son of another woman Ms Haigh has never met who is in a same-sex partnership, and gave birth two years apart from her. Both women underwent fertility treatment at Melbourne IVF and gave birth at the Epworth Freemasons Hospital. Adopted as a child, Ms Haigh says incorrect birth records can be traumatic for a child and has called for an investigation. 'How are these children supposed to find out their genetic history?' she told the Herald Sun. Ms Haigh was told in the letter that if the baby boy was to ever contact the registry about his birth, he would be informed his conception was a result of a donor treatment procedure. The mix-up was due to a human error matching certificates at Births, Deaths and Marriages according to a spokeswoman at Victoria's Department of Justice and Regulation. 'While we have a number of processes in place to reduce the risk of mistakes, unfortunately sometimes errors do occur,' Sheree Argento told the Herald Sun. The little boy is the son of another woman Ms Haigh has never met who also underwent fertility treatment Advertisement As hundreds of mourners packed a church on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thousands more watched from screens across the nation as they paid tribute to a black man whose life was cut short by a white police officer. Family, friends, community leaders and complete strangers remembered Terence Crutcher through song, prayers and tears at Antioch Baptist Church. The 40-year-old was fatally shot September 16 by Officer Betty Jo Shelby. Shelby has been charged with first degree manslaughter and turned herself in Friday. Scroll down for video As hundreds of mourners packed a church on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, thousands more watched from screens across the nation as they paid tribute to a black man whose life was cut short by a white police officer Family, friends, community leaders and complete strangers remembered Terence Crutcher through song, prayers and tears at Antioch Baptist Church The 40-year-old was fatally shot September 16 by Officer Betty Jo Shelby. Shelby has been charged with first degree manslaughter and turned herself in Friday Flowers grace Crutcher's blue casket as pallbearers get ready to wheel the casket down the aisle Shelby was released after posting bond. Crutcher's fatal shooting was captured on video taken from a police helicopter and a dashboard camera. The killing prompted several rallies and protests throughout the city in the past week, all of them peaceful. One of the speakers at the funeral was the Crutcher family's attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons. He told that crowd that 'it could have been me,' before reciting the names of black residents who died after police encounters nationwide in recent years. One of the speakers at the funeral was the Crutcher family's attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons. He told that crowd that 'it could have been me,' before reciting the names of black residents who died after police encounters nationwide in recent years Crutcher's fatal shooting was captured on video taken from a police helicopter and a dashboard camera. The killing prompted several rallies and protests throughout the city in the past week, all of them peaceful. Mourners watch the service from the lobby of the church Family friend Stacy Buchanan told said that her emotions were all over the place. She said they are 'a little sad, a little anger just uncertain of what's happening between the people and police officers'. Family and friends clap during Crutcher's funeral service And like several people in the community Diana Cooper-Russell said that it's her 'hope they will learn from his life and death and his living was not in vain' Mourners pay their respects as the casket is wheeled through the aisle by pallbearers 'Just like Terence, I'm 40; just like Terence, I'm bald; just like Terence, some think I'm a bad dude,' Simmons said. Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett also spoke at the service. 'Too many young people have died in this community, way too many,' the mayor told attendees. 'We must stand up and say no more.' Family friend Stacy Buchanan told News 6: 'Right now my emotions are a little but all over the place a little sad a little anger just uncertain of what's happening between the people and police officers.' And like several people in the community Diana Cooper-Russell told the station that it's her 'hope they will learn from his life and death and his living was not in vain'. Others who attended Saturday said they hoped the service could help draw attention to future incidents involving police officers and black men. Tulsa resident Wanda Armstrong, 69, said she hopes Crutcher's killing will bring better scrutiny after similar incidents across the country. 'I say that this was the shot that was heard around the world,' Armstrong said. University of Tulsa men's basketball coach Shea Seals breaks down and takes a moment during his speech at Crutcher's funeral Emotional scenes were captured throughout the church as tears poured as the casket was wheeled down the aisle and out of the church Others who attended Saturday said they hoped the service could help draw attention to future incidents involving police officers and black men Donald Trump got some tips on how to build border walls from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday. Trump met with Netanyahu for 90 minutes at his residence in Trump Tower in Manhattan, where they talked about 'military assistance, security and regional stability,' according to Israeli and campaign officials. The pair discussed 'at length' Israel's use of a security fence to help secure its borders. Trump has proposed building a wall along the length of the southern border to keep out people and illegal drugs and often points to Israel as an example of how such barricades can be successful. Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) met for 90 minutes on Sunday and discussed 'military assistance, security and regional stability' The Israeli leader (pictured) has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012 The press was barred from covering the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, but Trump's campaign said in a statement that the men, who have known each other for years, discussed 'many topics important to both countries,' including 'the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries.' Trump also repeated his pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he's elected to the White House. 'Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3,000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel,' the campaign said. That promise has been made in various forms since at least 1992. Congress three years later passed a law calling for the U.S. embassy to be moved to Jerusalem by 1999, but presidents of both parties always have waived the requirement. George W. Bush promised in 2000 to start the move 'as soon as I take office,' then didn't. Hillary Clinton also was expected to meet with the prime minister in New York on the eve of the first debate between the candidates. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The pair discussed 'at length' Israel's use of a security fence to help secure its borders. Trump has proposed building a wall along the length of the southern border to keep out people and illegal drugs and often points to Israel as an example of how such barricades can be successful Security personnel stand outside Trump Tower during a meeting between Netanyahu and the Republican presidential candidate Trump and Netanyahu also discussed the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Islamic State militants, military assistance provided by the U.S. to Israel and other security issues. 'Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism,' the campaign said in a statement. 'He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State.' Trump also vowed 'extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries' if he's elected. Netanyahu's office said in a statement in Hebrew that Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also participated in the meeting. Police move pedestrians and reporters back before Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departs after meeting with Donald Trump Trump also repeated his pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he's elected to the White House 'Prime Minister Netanyahu presented to Mr. Trump Israel's positions on regional affairs related to Israel's security and efforts to reach peace and stability in our region,' said the statement. 'Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Mr. Trump for his friendship and support of Israel. The one-on-one discussions follow what was likely Netanyahu's final meeting with Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky 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. More recently, Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israel's security. Hillary Clinton also was expected to meet with the prime minister in New York on the eve of the first debate between the candidates The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 earlier this month that the Islamic State group was 'rooting for Donald Trump's victory' and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of 'treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one.' But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israel's commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didn't want to show any bias in favor of one side or the other. Trump recorded a video endorsing Netanyahu in 2013. The meetings come after the US recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. The mother of a woman who plunged to her death after climbing into a garbage chute at her apartment has claimed her daughter may have been murdered. Phoebe Handsjuk was found dead on the ground floor after tumbling 12 storeys of the high-rise apartment in Melbourne where she lived with her much older boyfriend Antony Hampel, a son from a prominent legal family. The 24-year-old woman fell 40 metres - feet first - into the garbage compactor and bled to death in the dark after her right foot almost severed off. Victoria police determined she had committed suicide on December 2, 2010 while a coroner ruled her death was a freak accident - but her family rejected the findings. And six years on, her death remains a mystery as questions swirl around how she managed to get herself into the garbage chute that led to her horrific death. Scroll down for video Phoebe Handsjuk (pictured) plunged to her death after climbing into a garbage chute at her Melbourne high-rise apartment on December 2, 2010 Appearing on 60 Minutes, Natalie Handsjuk (pictured) has spoken of her grief, claiming the last moments of her daughter's death still played on her mind today Appearing on Nine Network's 60 Minutes, Natalie Handsjuk has spoken of her grief, claiming the last moments of her daughter's death still played on her mind today. Two years ago, a coroner found the young woman was in an alcohol and Stilnox sleeping pill stupor, or a 'state similar to that of sleepwalking', when she climbed into the chute. Coroner Peter White determined her 'enthusiasm for climbing and penchant for physically challenging activity' had played a part in her descent down the chute. But he categorically ruled out suicide or murder, saying no one had a motive for killing her. However, her family said it was absurd to suggest she could have physically climbed into the tiny space unassisted while intoxicated - as her mother believed someone was responsible for her daughter's death. 'I believe that she was put into the chute, by someone else,' Ms Handsjuk claimed as she spoke about her family's ordeal with reporter Tara Brown. The 24-year-old woman was living at the apartment complex with her boyfriend Antony Hampel (right), who is from a prominent legal family CCTV footage shows the final moments of the young woman before she fell to her death She was found dead on the ground floor after plunging 12 storeys of the high-rise apartment in Melbourne (pictured) Broken glass fragments were found on the floor of her apartment, as well as blood on a computer keyboard and mouse on the night of her death. 'There was an unusual scene,' Ms Handsjuk said. 'It seems to me that there was enough evidence to suggest something had gone on in the apartment before she went down the chute. 'I think perhaps there could have been an accident, or some sort of confrontation, might have been a panic situation, I really don't know.' Reporter Tara Brown (right) watched as a young woman attempted to climb into the chute unassisted - but she struggled to get her body through the tiny space She fell 40 metres - feet first - into the garbage compactor and bled to death in the dark The family want the case to reopen but cannot afford to appeal the coroner's decision And adding to the family's torment, the young woman had survived the fall but she died from blood loss after suffering a 'catastrophic severance injury' to her leg. 'She pulled herself right around the room. Pretty lonely way to die,' her mother said. Despite the coroner's findings based on inconclusive evidence, her death remains unsolved to her grieving family as the case has since been closed. The family are desperate for the case to reopen but cannot afford to challenge the coroner's decision. Her mother said she felt the family had been let down by authorities but was confident that they will eventually find closure. Donald Trump's threat to put Bill Clinton's ex-mistress Gennifer Flowers front and center at Monday night's presidential debate was just that according to his campaign manager and running mate. 'Gennifer Flowers will not be attending the debate tomorrow night,' said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence this morning on 'Fox News Sunday.' Kellyanne Conway told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's 'This Week' that Flowers 'has not been invited by the campaign.' Scroll down for video Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, said on Fox News Sunday that Gennifer Flowers, Bill Clinton's ex-mistress, would not be at Monday's debate Donald Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said that the Trump campaign did not invited Gennifer Flowers to attend the presidential debate 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) Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN's 'State of the Union,' Conway chided the Clinton campaign for inviting billionaire Mark Cuban, which caused Trump to tweet that he'd like to have Flowers attend the affair. 'I can't believe how easily baited the Clinton campaign was,' Conway said. 'Basically Mr. Trump was saying if Mark Cuban is going to send out these texts, "the humbling at Hofstra" or "this is his big downfall," than Mr. Trump was putting them on notice that we could certainly invite guests that may get into the head of Hillary Clinton.' 'But we have not invited her formally and we don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign,' Conway continued. 'I can understand why Hillary Clinton wants a billionaire in the front row, that's just another Monday night for her,' Conway said. Trump's campaign manager added that she thought the Clinton campaign should have ignored Trump's threat. 'It seems odd, it seems odd that they would give it life and breath since you just said three times in a row that Gov. Clinton had an affair with her. I didn't say it,' Conway said, noting how many young Americans weren't familiar with Flowers' allegation that rattled Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. 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 ?' Trump made the threat to invite Flowers on Twitter Saturday afternoon after Cuban said he 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. '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. 'We've not invited her formally and don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign' said Kellyanne Conway of Gennifer Flowers, seen here in 1998 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. 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) Meanwhile preparations have begun for Monday's debate in Hempstead, New York. Pictured, workers install the set at Hofstra University Monday will mark the first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump. Pictured, construction crews hand part of the set on Saturday 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 visited his hometown of Pittsburgh with the Democratic nominee and referred to Trump as a 'jagoff,' a derogatory slang term used in the region. Cuban has since called out Trump on multiple occasions. One person was killed and five more were injured after two shootings occurred near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus early Sunday morning. Four victims were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a shooting broke out during an apartment party just after 12.30am, according to Champaign police. George Korchev, a 22-year-old who lived in the Mudelein suburb of Illinois, died from his injuries just after 1am at a nearby hospital. Police told Daily Mail Online that he is not a student at the university. The other three victims' injuries are not life threatening. One of the victims was confirmed to be an Urbana-Champaign student. Scroll down for video One person was killed and five more were injured after two shootings occurred near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus early Sunday morning George Korchev, a 22-year-old who lived in the Mudelein suburb of Illinois, died from his injuries just after 1am at a nearby hospital Authorities said a fifth victim was struck by a car as they ran from the gunfire and received minor injuries. It is believed that an argument took place during the apartment on the 300 block of East Green St. Police said the argument transitioned outside and shots were fired after a fight broke out. The five victims who were injured in the incident had not been involved in the fight. Korchev had been walking in the area, just a block away from a popular campus bar, when he was struck by the gunfire. Authorities who arrived at the scene had received multiple reports of shots fired. Another shooting was reported less than a mile away just 30 minutes later on the 700 Block of South State St. Four victims were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a shooting broke out during an apartment party just after 12.30am on the 300 block of East Green St (pictured) Police said an argument broke out at the party that then transitioned outside, where a fight broke out before shots were fired Police at the scene found one victim who was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. Their injury is not life threatening. A preliminary investigation suggests that the two shooting incidents may be related. Authorities are searching for a suspect or suspects in both shootings, as well as the driver involved in the hit-and-run. University students received an alert about the shooting from the school around 1am and were told to avoid the area. About two hours later an additional alert was sent out informing students that it appeared the shooter had 'left the campus district'. The emergency was declared over by the school after 6am. Champaign police told Daily Mail Online they are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing potential witnesses. The investigation is ongoing. University students received an alert about the shooting from the school around 1am and were told to avoid the area Four robbers who plotted to mug a pizza boy after ordering a delivery to an unoccupied house found their plans coming undone when a 250lb former linebacker turned up with the pie. Napoleon Harris III, the six-foot-three-inch Illinois Senator and former Minnesota Vikings linebacker, was in a Chicago Beggars Pizza franchise he owns when a call came in at the last minute on September 6. He decided to run the pizza in himself - and ended up serving up some rough justice instead, CBS 2 reported. Hero: Napoleon Harris III, an Illinois senator and former linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, was delivering a pizza to help out the staff of the franchise he owns when he was attacked Suspects: Malik Mayer (left) and Lawrence Hines (right) and two others allegedly tried to rob Harris - but he fought off all four attackers and chased them from the scene in his car Harris had offered to deliver the pizza because his crew was 'overwhelmed' - and as the robbers were about to learn, Harris is a tough guy to overwhelm. He arrived at the house, on the 15800 block of Paulina Avenue in Harvey around three miles his pizza parlor, to find one of the robbers on the porch. As Harris entered the property, though, three others sprang from the bushes in the front yard and attempted to overwhelm him. They failed. Dramatically. 'They put a chokehold on the senator, but to no avail,' Sean Howard, a spokesman for both Harris and the local PD, said. 'They were really trying to choke him to death, and he was just too strong. He out-powered all four of them.' 'As they were all beating on him, one guy just went out of his way and really hit him hard, and Napoleon never moved. 'He just looked at him like Hulk Hogan, and from that the guys knew that we better get out of here, because we can't get this guy down.' Senator: Harris (pictured) followed the attackers to a timber yard. They fled but their car was linked to the murder of a Georgia man and police began tracking them The men managed to take Harris's wallet and the pizza, then fled in a Chevy Tahoe and Harris gave chase, tracking them to a lumber mill and calling in cops. They managed to escape but left behind the Tahoe, which was registered to Lester Jones, a man who was later found dead in Georgia. Thanks to Harris's descriptions of his attackers, police were able to track down all four suspects. Malik Mayer was charged with murder and financial transaction card fraud after allegedly using Jones's card in an ATM on September 15. Lawrence Hines was found in a Georgia mental institution and charged in relation to the murder later in the month; he is also accused of allegedly kidnapping and torturing a man in 2015. A third person, a juvenile who cannot be identified, was also arrested in September. And the fourth man, from Gary, Indiana, is expected to face charges in relation to Harris's attack. Harris is a gun owner, Howard said, but didn't have his firearm during the delivery as he had been driving with his daughter earlier in the day and doesn't like having the weapon around her. Ohio continues to fall further into a drug epidemic. There was yet another outbreak of drug overdose deaths in the state this time officials say seven people died in one day in the Cleveland area. Tests were being conducted to figure out which drugs were involved in the Saturday deaths, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson said. There was another outbreak of drug overdose deaths in Ohio: seven people died in one day in the Cleveland area Ohio has been among the hardest hit by the opioid scourge in America, with 3,000 unintentional drug overdoses last year eight per day. In one egregious case, Rhonda Pasek (left) and James Acord overdosed on heroin with their four-year-old grandson in the car The outbreak comes after 52 people died from heroin or fentanyl during August in the Cleveland area Officials believe the drugs involved were either heroin or fentanyl. 'This cluster of deaths is deeply concerning,' Gilson said in a statement. 'Although there is no clear link between the individuals, this number clearly raises the possibility of a very deadly drug in our community.' He issued a warning to take extreme caution while also advising people not to use illicit drugs. The deaths were reported across the county in both Cleveland and its suburbs and weren't limited to one area, Chris Harris, a spokesman for the medical examiner, said Sunday. The outbreak comes after 52 people died from heroin or fentanyl during August in the Cleveland area. The opioid deaths last month were the most in the county's history, the medical examiner's office said. Cuyahoga County, which has about 1.2 million residents, is on pace to record more than 500 overdose deaths from heroin or fentanyl this year, Cleveland.com reported. The opioid deaths last month were the most in the county's history, prompting action from community leaders like Christel Brooks (center) to try to raise awareness to the problem Debra Hyde (pictured) was found unconscious in her truck her eight-month-old grandson in the backseat while parked at a gas station in front of a wall of propane tanks in Elyria, Ohio The wave of deaths around Cleveland follows outbreaks of overdoses in Akron and Cincinnati involving the animal sedative carfentanil. Hospitals in the Cincinnati area have seen more than a dozen overdoses a day since the powerful drug used to sedate elephants was found in the area's heroin supply about two months ago. In one six-day span last month, there were 174 overdoses reported in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Addiction to opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, codeine and morphine has reached crisis point in many states in the US. Across Ohio. which has been among the hardest hit by the opioid scourge. there were 3,000 unintentional drug overdoses last year or eight per day. Fentanyl was to blame for nearly 40 per cent of overdose deaths in Ohio last year, state data revealed. The Drug Enforcement Agency said the drug Fentanyl was being used to cut heroin on the streets to stretch dealers' supply. First responders had to break two windows in order to extricate Hyde (pictured) and her grandson from the vehicle Meanwhile, first responders nationwide say there is an ongoing sentiment some people tell them they should just say no to using so many resources on drug abusers. Authorities say people have expressed frustration about rescuing heroin addicts who often immediately resume using the potentially deadly drug. There are also concerns voiced about the wide-ranging social and government budget costs involved, including for the overdose antidote naloxone. First responders nationwide say there is an ongoing sentiment some people tell them they should just say no to using so many resources on drug abusers An effort by authorities in Ohio's Hamilton County to get a dangerous heroin batch off the streets by offering immunity for people who turn in drugs drew a rebuke from Sheriff Richard Jones in neighboring Butler County, who argued it only enables dealers and users and gives them an excuse if they are caught. 'I understand the frustration,' said Police Chief Thomas Synan Jr. of Newtown, Ohio, who heads a Cincinnati-area heroin coalition task force. 'I understand the feeling that someone is doing something to themselves, so why do the rest of us have to pay? But our job is to save lives, period.' Synan said unlike with repeat heroin overdosers, he has never had members of the public say he shouldn't try to save a habitual drunk driver after an auto accident or someone who has repeatedly attempted suicide. Marion, Ohio, Fire Capt. Wade Ralph said heroin has an 'extremely expensive' toll on his department, struggling to keep up while being understaffed and relying on donations from health organizations for naloxone to revive those who overdose. 'If they weren't doing their job, they'd all be dead,' said Christel Brooks, a recovering addict in Cincinnati who said she's been clean for 12 years now. She said the problem is lack of treatment facilities and other resources for intervention before rescued addicts resume drug use. Along with the tireless efforts by Ohio first responders to save heroin users, an increasing challenge with more powerful drugs showing up, some backlash is also showing up from people who question the resources being used to revive overdosed users and to try to get them into treatment There have been a number of egregious cases of overdoses in Ohio recently. On Sept. 19, a grandmother was found passed out after overdosing on heroin in her pickup truck as her 8-month-old grandson was sitting in the backseat. Debra Hyde was discovered unconscious in her truck while it was parked at a gas station in front of a wall of propane tanks in Elyria, Ohio. First responders had to break two windows in order to extricate Hyde and her grandson from the vehicle. Earlier in September,Ohio's East Liverpool police shared shocking images of a couple overdosing on heroin with a four-year-old boy in the back seat of a car. The couple James Acord, 47, and Rhonda Pasek, 50 were detained after a policeman spotted their Ford Explorer being driven erratically. An unresponsive woman was caught on camera on the ground suffering from an overdose in a store as her 2-year-old daughgter tried to pull her arm, wailing Officer Kevin Thompson followed the car as it weaved along the road before it stopped suddenly behind a school bus that was dropping off children. Thompson found Acord with 'pin point pupils', his 'head bobbing back and forth his speech was almost unintelligible'. Acord then tried to speed off, but he reached into the car and yanked the keys out of the ignition. It was then that Officer Thompson noticed Pasek's four-year-old boy strapped in the back seat. He was taken into custody by county children's services. Cleveland has struggled with a number ofbig-city ills a shrinking population, entrenched poverty and neighborhoods beset with decay and violent crime. Ohio's most populous city is now considering a merger with East Cleveland, a place so impoverished, its citizens sometimes fill their own potholes. A teenager was suspended for posting a photo of discolored water that was coming out of the sink at her school on social media. Hazel Juco said the water concerned her and she 'just took a picture of it' and then talked about it with other students in her newspaper class, WXYZ reported. Juco, who is a senior at John Glenn High School, posted the photo on Facebook and Twitter. Hazel Juco was suspended by her school's administrators for posting a photo of discolored water (pictured) that was coming out of the sink at her school to social media The teen (pictured) said the water concerned her and she 'just took a picture of it' and then talked about it with other students in her newspaper class. She then posted the photo on Facebook and Twitter hoping that someone would see it and 'want to help us' She told the station that she hoped 'someone will see it and want to help us' because she said, it's obvious that her school 'doesn't have money'. Juco was then given Out of School Suspension (OSS) as she said school officials told her that she inappropriately used 'electronics in the restroom'. But Juco said she believed that she was being singled out because 'no one has gotten in trouble' for taking 'selfies in the bathroom'. After students found out about it, many protested by tweeting photos they had taken in the bathroom and didn't get in trouble for them. Wayne-Westand Community Schools Superintendent Dr Michele Harmala, told the station that after looking into what was happening she found out that the high school's administrators didn't report the issue to maintenance. Harmala said: 'They sent a plumber out right away.' Juco, who attends John Glenn High School, was given Out of School Suspension (OSS) as she said school officials told her that she inappropriately used 'electronics in the restroom', but the school district's superintendent said she would have that expunged from her record Maintenance crews discovered that there was a pipe leading to that faucet that needed to be replaced. Harmala also told WXYZ that the rule against cell phones in bathrooms was implemented to prevent students from taking inappropriate photos of other students. 'The punishment is inappropriate. I am going to make sure the out of school suspension is expunged from the student's record,' said Dr. Harmala. After starting his day in Washington at the dedication of the National Museum of African American History, sharing a hug with Michelle Obama and interrupting the President to take a photo, George W. Bush spent dinner wearing his tuxedo in Texas celebrating a family wedding. Sam LeBlond, the elder son of George's sister Dorothy, was married in Lubbock Saturday night in front of friends and family - including the 43rd president and an assortment of his famous cousins - including Barbara, Jenna and Lauren Bush. Earlier Saturday in Washington D.C. George W. Bush went viral when he tried and failed to take a group selfie, and instead interrupted Obama to take the photo for him. Saturday night, Bush was wearing his tuxedo in Lubbock Texas celebrating at his nephew's wedding. He's pictured here with a member of the wedding band Saturday he spent the morning and midday at the dedication ceremony for the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall and shared a picturesque hug with the First Lady Bush, who signed the legislation in 2003 authorizing the museum's construction on the National Mall, interrupted the President as he greeted people in order to have him take a photo when his arm wasn't long enough for a group selfie In 2003 Bush signed the legislation to fund the museum. The gala opening on the Mall in Washington DC was attended by luminaries from Bill Clinton to Oprah. Hours later the Bushes were at the Lubbock Country Club where D.C. beer distributor Sam, 32, married Lee Bobbitt, 29. No doubt Bobbitt fits right in with the Bush family. She works a legislative assistant in the Senate and graduated from Texas Tech, which is in Lubbock, where she was once student body president. Cousin Jenna, second from right, shared this photo with her sister Barbara and their coursin the groom, center. 'OUR Sam meets his match! Couldn't be happier for them' she captioned the group selfie All the Bush cousins: 'Cuzzie convention' one Bush relative caption this group photo, which features Babara and Jenna, Lauren Bush Lauren with her arms around husband David Lauren (Ralph Lauren's son), Lauren's siter Ashley in Green, and Jeb's son George P. Bush, seated center. The bride wore a stunning sleeveless dress with a deep V in the front, and the groom (sipping from a beer bottle) a white rose in his lapel Following their engagement, the bride-to-be celebrated her future grandparents-in-law with this sweet photo and message The black tie event gathered a group of the Bush cousins - including George's daughter's Barbara and NBC correspondent Jenna, former model Lauren Bush Lauren and her husband David Lauren and Jeb's son George P. Bush. It's unknown if George H. W. Bush was able to make the wedding festivities. He and wife Barbara missed out on the museum celebrations earlier in the day, tweeting his regrets. The elder Bush has been in a wheelchair and suffered various health setbacks in recent years. The night before: The mother of the groom Dorothy, second from left, celebrated the impending wedding on Friday. Her brother missed the wedding eve, but jetted down in time to make Saturday's nutpials Bush shared a thanks to the President for taking his photo and this moving message after leaving the celebration Labour could die as a political party if it does not face up to the challenges of modern Britain, an MP tipped as a future leader warned today. In a stark message to Jeremy Corbyn a day after he won a second landslide, Lisa Nandy said he had to acknowledge the real threats facing Labour because voters were already 'moving away' from the party. The Wigan MP said the collapse of Labour in Scotland and many of the party's voters backing Brexit were clear warnings of a once-in-a-century crisis. Speaking on the fringes of the party conference in Liverpool, Ms Nandy said the demise of the Liberal Party in the 1920s was a signal Mr Corbyn must 'acknowledge the scale of the challenge' and make changes. Lisa Nandy, pictured at last year's Labour conference, warned her party must heed the warnings of Brexit and the SNP and change before being left behind A new national opinion poll out today put Labour on just 26 per cent, 15 points behind the Tories, while another survey in Scotland put the party in third place by five points. If replicated in a general election, the figures would hand Theresa May's Conservatives a majority of around 100 and leave Labour shattered. Ms Nandy, who quit the shadow cabinet in the summer in protest at the Labour leadership, indicated she would not return to the front bench when Mr Corbyn attempts to rebuild his team. To even consider it, she said it was vital for Mr Corbyn to take the 'symbolic' step of reinstating shadow cabinet elections to bridge the gap between MPs and the leadership to start rebuilding the party. The proposal was kicked into the long grass by the leader last night. Speaking to the Huffington Post's Paul Waugh, Ms Nandy said: 'Even as late as yesterday there were senior members of the leadership out saying we were ahead in the opinion polls, that we were doing well and just needed to go back to what we were doing before. 'I just don't agree with that because I can feel the public moving away from us, even in towns like mine where people have a strong commitment to social justice and have voted Labour consistently for 100 years. 'We have got to take that seriously. Brexit, Scotland, these were warnings to us. 'But there is another warning from history as well and that is the fate of the Liberal Party. 'If you stand still while the world around you changes, then it doesn't matter whether you are radical because you cease to be relevant and then you're not a force any more.' A new opinion poll out today laid bare the scale of Labour's problems as the party sank to just 26 per cent in the survey by ICM Mr Corbyn, pictured today on the platform at the Labour Party conference, is set to try and rebuild his front bench team but Ms Nandy indicated she would not be going back Ms Nandy said Ukip had provided an outlet for disaffected Labour voters and given them 'somewhere else to go'. BREXIT SHOULD NOT HAVE SHOCKED LABOUR, TOP MP WARNS Nobody in Labour should have been surprised by the Brexit vote, a senior MP warned today. Lisa Nandy, whose Wigan constituency heavily voted for Out despite her campaign for Remain, said the dissatisfaction with the status quo had been clear for years. Ms Nandy, tipped by many as a potential future leader, said Labour now had a duty to draw up its own vision for Brexit. Speaking on the fringes of the party conference in Liverpool, she said: 'The only surprise was that the result was as close as it was.' Advertisement And she said the party had to address concerns of the electorate as a whole, winning back Tory voters and shaping the centre ground with progressive values. Outlining her fears for the state of her party, Ms Nandy revealed the levels of personal abuse she had suffered over the summer - including threats person as well as online. And the MP insisted the party needed to do much more than simply say 'let's not abuse people' in an effort to stop the rot. The Wigan MP whose Indian-born father was a race relations activist in the 1960s and 70s insisted that '99 per cent of people' in Labour are 'thoroughly decent' but admitted 'the summer's been awful.' She said: 'The online abuse is one thing and the abuse in person is another. There have been moments this summer where I have felt genuinely frightened. 'I've only felt that once in politics and that was when I was first elected and I was targeted by the far-right. 'I felt it again this summer and that is a huge thing for a political party that stands for decency, kindness and respect. We will never convince the public that we will create that sort of society if we don't live those sort of values ourselves.' The Labour faithful were gathered in Liverpool today as the main conference started but Ms Nandy warned the party faced a genuine crisis When asked whether she had received 'abuse in person' from Labour members, Nandy replied: 'The problem is when people come up to you in the street they are abusive or threatening you don't know who they are and actually a lot of abuse about what I should or should not be doing with my life and my choices have been leveled at me from people in other political parties.' She called on all members of Labour to work together to stamp out abuse. 'I do think we have a duty all of us to do much better than saying lets not abuse people. We have to proactively challenge where we see that sort of culture develop,' said Nandy. Ms Nandy played down suggestions she could be the next Labour leader - insisting that was not the reason she had come into politics. She said: ' I think what has happened to me over the last six years is I can see the presidential model we have of leadership isn't working. 'The only things we ever achieved in this country we achieved together.' An ISIS suicide bomber killed seven people and wounded 28 others in a sectarian attack in western Baghdad. The killer evaded security measures before detonating his vest in the Iskan area of the city which is predominately Shiite. Security spokesman Saad Maan said the suspect was believed to be an Iraqi national. Iraqi soldiers mount a checkpoint to prevent ISIS suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad The terror group is losing its grip on Iraq but is still able to launch lone suicide attacks The Baghdad attack came a day after militants killed 12 people in gun and bomb attacks claimed by the terror group in the northern city of Tikrit. Iraqi forces are preparing for a push on Mosul, the last ISIS-held city in the country, after regaining much of the Iraqi territory the jihadist group seized in June 2014. But even as it loses ground, ISIS retains the ability to carry out deadly attacks in government-held areas. The ISIS Amaq news agency said the bombing targeted members of the Badr Organisation, the most powerful Iraqi Shi'ite militia, which is backed by Iran. It claimed a truck bombing in July that killed at least 324 in the Karrada shopping area of Baghdad, in the deadliest single attack in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, in 2003. Analysis of military records reveal that Hitler was talked out of taking over the Isle of Wight The course of the Second World War was forever altered after Hitler was talked out of a plot to occupy the Isle of Wight, an author has claimed. Analysis of German military records reveal that Hitler was the first to suggest the plan which, if successful, would have provided his forces with a launch pad from which they could bombard Britain. Military historian Dr Robert Forczyk believes the British would have struggled to defend the island and, in the event of it being occupied, unlikely to have had the resources available to take it back. This would have given the Germans a base just four miles from shore as well as access to vital civilian airfields, giving a greater possibility of success for their plan to invade the mainland, known as Operation Sea Lion. But Hitler was ultimately talked out of the plan to invade the mainland by his naval commanders who feared the might of British submarines and overestimated the number of British soldiers, a decision the Fuhrer went on to regret. However a smaller invasion of the Isle of Wight to save face following the Luftwaffe's failure to defeat the RAF in the Battle of Britain by November 1940 was not ruled out. And in Dr Forczyk's new book, We March Against England, he claims this could have been a successful 'tactical surprise'. The Germans had 25 Siebel ferries ready for their planned, later called off, invasion of Britain, known as Operation Sea Lion A group of German Dornier Do 17 light bombers flying over England; they were designed to outrun Allied fighters Hitler was ultimately talked out of the plan to invade the Isle of Wight (pictured) by his naval commanders who feared the might of British submarines He said: 'Since the Isle of Wight was separated from the mainland by the Solent, the risk of strong British counter-attacks was small. 'Thus a relatively modest German force - perhaps two divisions - could be transported from Cherboug and seize the Isle of Wight in a coup de main. 'Holding the Isle of Wight offered considerable advantages that could have increased the feasibility of Operation Sea Lion. 'First, German artillery deployed on the north side of the Isle of Wight could shell the mainland across the Solent and force the Royal Navy to withdraw its cruiser-destroyer forces from the naval base at Portsmouth. 'Second, capture of the island would provide the Luftwaffe with four civilian airfields that were much closer to England, thereby alleviating the problems caused by the limited range of the Bf-109 fighter and providing an emergency landing site for damaged aircraft.' And Dr Forczyk said it was Hitler who personally suggested the Isle of Wight as a target. He said: 'Throughout the planning process we know Hitler kept bringing up the idea and it was incorporated into the Fuhrer Directive No. 16. Troops from the 6th Battalion Black Watch training in July 1940 (left); and German infantry practising manoeuvres in September 1941 A Martello tower in Eastbourne; although dating from the 19th century some were used as anti-aircraft stations and observation platforms A British 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft gun, which was the backbone of Britain's area defence system in 1940 'He later said it was a mistake to let his Navy talk him out of the plan.' This assessment appears to have been correct, with many of the gunners on the island being reservists and only very limited and dated air defences built before World War I in place. The gunning positions the island did have were in open positions, making them vulnerable to air attacks and the single battalion of troops relied on civilian buses and push bikes for transport. Dr Forczyk said the Germans could have had up to 4,000 troops on the island within two days and it is likely, with military commitments elsewhere, that recapturing it would not have been a priority for the British. Dr Forczyk's new book about Operation Sea Lion has been released He added: 'If the operation failed, it could be described as only a raid, not an invasion. If the coup de main succeeded, it would have both propaganda and tactical value for continuing the battle against Britain in 1941.' Field Marshall Alan Brooke, he said, expressed concerns about the possibility of the Germans invading in his diary and doubts over the capability of his forces to resist. He added: 'In London, Brooke would likely regard the Isle of Wight landing as a diversion and be opposed to committing too many forces onto the island. 'Over the course of several weeks, the British would retreat into the western end of the island while the Germans would content themselves with capturing the port of Cowes in the north. 'In time, the Germans might take the rest of the Isle of Wight by the end of 1940 or simply hold the eastern end of the island as a bargaining chip. 'In any event, the prevailing military factors suggest that the Germans had the capability to seize at least the eastern half of the Isle of Wight in 1940 and there was very little that the British could do to stop this.' Dr Forczyk's book also examines more widely the Third Reich's plan to occupy the mainland and challenges widely accepted opinions about its failure. The prevailing historical account, one endorsed by Winston Churchill, was that Operation Sea Lion never came to fruition because the Luftwaffe failed to gain air supremacy over the RAF during the Battle of Britain. However Dr Forczyk calls into question whether this really was the end of the plan and claims the Nazis could have launched an attack at a later date when the British thought the threat was over. He said: 'When all was said and done, at the end of September 1940 Hitler decided what was going to come next, not Churchill. 'Hitler had allies, Churchill had refugees. Without powerful allies or significant offensive capabilities, Great Britain had no potential to achieve its war aims on its own, whereas Hitler had multiple options to try to pressure Great Britain into a negotiated peace. Sculley, from Poplar, will appear in Thames Magistrates' Court tomorrow The gang chased and beat the 31-year-old, leaving him in a pool of blood A 29-year-old man will appear in court tomorrow morning and be charged with the chicken shop murder of a Czech national. Raymond Sculley from Poplar, east London has been charged with the murder of Zdenek Makar on Wednesday morning. He will appear in Thames Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning. A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been released on police bail. They have been ordered to return to an east London police station in early October. Tributes have been paid to businessman Zdenek Makar who lost his life after a petty row Flowers and photographs of the 31-year-old now lie outside the spot where he was attacked 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 on Wednesday. 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. Three males, including a 16-year-old boy, have been arrested in connection wth the bloody chicken shop brawl in in east London 'He was then followed down the street and attacked. 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. 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 Makar 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 Makar'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 meal from a chicken shop The Czech national died after the assault in the early hours of Wednesday morning 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 Parents have been told to 'wake up' to the real threat of sexting with the trend now appearing regularly in primary schools with kids as young as 10 years of age sending nude messages. Easy access to internet porn and social media are taking the brunt of the blame for the trend reaching such a critical stage that principals have turned to sexual assault groups for guidance to deal with the fallout, according to News Corp. With school students in Year 5 and Year 6 participating in the trend, which involves sending semi-naked and nude photos of themselves, child experts are reaching out to parents to monitor the minimum age restriction for social media sites - not letting kids join before they turn 13. Primary school students in Year 5 and 6 as young as 10-years-old have been found to be regularly sexting Kids Helpline reported to the senate that 95 children had contacted them for help involving sexting issues between July and December 2015 (Stock Image) Child and adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, of the National Centre Against Bullying, said his plea for young children to be reported on social media for their own wellbeing is going unheard. 'I am pleading for every parent to report every child to Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat, if they find out they have these accounts underage,' he said. 'They don't have the social and emotional maturity to manage their digital footprint. But it seems to be falling on deaf ears.' In a submission to the senate, Kids Helpline reported 95 children had contacted them for help involving sexting issues between July and December 2015. Centres Against Sexual Assault spokewoman Carolyn Worth said there needs to be education at a primary school level to teach kids about the ramifications (Stock Image) Centres Against Sexual Assault spokewoman Carolyn Worth said there needs to be education at a primary school level about the ramifications of sexting - amidst a rise in the reported number of schools reaching out for help. 'For some kids it is terrible, they get stalked and harassed, with the pictures sent to other people,' she said. Seven people were stabbed in Boston after a brawl broke out in the city's Theater District at bar closing Sunday morning. Police said the fight broke out shortly after 2am as a number of people exited bars and clubs around 271 Tremont St., near the Royale nightclub and Courtyard Boston downtown hotel. It is unclear what started the fight, but cops say at least seven people were stabbed with knives and broken bottles,' the Boston Globe reported. Seven people were stabbed in Boston after a brawl broke out in the city's Theater District at bar closing Sunday morning Police said the fight broke out shortly after 2am as a number of people exited bars and clubs on Tremont Street near the Royale nightclub and Courtyard Boston downtown hotel (pictured) One of the victims was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery. Of the other six, three were transported by authorities and three walked to nearby hospitals. It is unclear what started the fight near Royale nightclub (pictured), but cops say at least seven people were stabbed with knives and broken bottles' Police said one suspect was identified among the wounded. No charges have been filed . Another suspect appears to be at large, according to local reports. The brawl happened near Emerson College, which sent out an alert to its students. Mike Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, also said that Flowers would not be in the debate audience tomorrow night Trump had tweeted that suggestion upon hearing that the Clinton campaign had invited billionaire Mark Cuban to attend This morning Kellyanne Conway said that the Trump campaign did not officially invite ex-mistress Gennifer Flowers , while Jones thought Benghazi family members should be there too Both women believe Trump should invite Bill's ex-mistresses and victims Broaddrick claims that the ex-president raped her in 1978, while Jones accused Clinton of sexual Hearing that Bill Clinton's ex-mistress Gennifer Flowers might attend Monday night's presidential debate, Juanita Broaddrick, who has accused the ex-president of rape, and Paula Jones, who sued Clinton for sexual harassment, want to attend the confab too. 'Sure I would like to be at such an epic event just to look Hillary in the face,' Broaddrick said in an interview with The Daily Mirror, published Sunday, as Trump's campaign manager and running mate made clear that Flowers would not be attending Monday's event as a guest of the Trump campaign. Jones, who was encouraged to go to the debate by Trump supporters on Twitter, said she wished she could say she was going, 'but I haven't been invited.' She later tweeted that she thought Trump should invite the families of Benghazi victims as well. Scroll down for video Juanita Broaddrick (left) and Paula Jones (center) said they'd love to be at Monday's presidential debate upon hearing that Gennifer Flowers (right) might come Paula Jones said she wishes she could be at Monday night's presidential debate and thought Donald Trump should invite the families of murdered Benghazi victims Juanita Broaddrick (right) says that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978 at a Little Rock, Arkansas, hotel when he was running for governor of the state Juanita Broaddrick has been a thorn in the Clintons' side this election cycle, using Twitter as a way to get her story heard Juanita Broaddrick labeled Bill Clinton an 'abuser' and his wife an 'enabler,' and told The Daily Mirror that she would like to confront Hillary Clinton at Monday's debate Jones sued Bill Clinton for sexual harassment and her case brought to light the president's affair with Monica Lewinsky and led to his impeachment, in which he was acquitted by the Senate. Broaddrick says Bill Clinton raped her in an Little Rock, Arkansas, hotel room in 1978 while he was campaigning to become the governor of the state. Bill Clinton's lawyers have called her claim 'categorically false'. She first made her story public in 1999, but has remained a vocal critic of the Clintons through this election cycle, labeling Bill Clinton and 'abuser' and Hillary Clinton an 'enabler.' She pointed to a meeting with Hillary Clinton that occurred several weeks after the alleged rape, in which the current Democratic nominee grabbed her hand and thanked Broaddrick for helping Bill. 'We want to thank you for everything that you do for Bill,' Hillary Clinton said, according to Broaddrick. 'Everything you do for Bill,' Hillary Clinton repeated, which Broaddrick interpreted as a threat. If Broaddrick got a chance to confront Hillary Clinton, she said she'd call her a liar. 'Remember me? I'm the one your husband raped and threatened,' Broaddrick told The American Mirror she would say. 'I'm still here telling the truth and you are a liar.' Broaddrick argued that Trump should have Bill Clinton's ex mistresses and alleged victims in the audience Monday night 'to remind everyone who supports [Hillary Clinton] that she covered up and attacked so many women her husband sexually abused and had affairs with.' 'She did it all for power and money,' Broaddrick said of the Democratic nominee. 'She is not for women's rights when it comes to Bill Clinton's victims,' Broaddrick said. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (left) said Sunday that Gennifer Flowers would not be at Monday's debate, while Kellyanne Conway (right) says she wasn't officially invited 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 (pictured)to the debate and had given him the best seat possible This morning, however, Trump's campaign manager and running mate both said that Flowers would not be attending the debate, at least as a guest of the Trump campaign. 'Gennifer Flowers will not be attending the debate tomorrow night,' said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence this morning on 'Fox News Sunday.' Kellyanne Conway told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's 'This Week' that Flowers 'has not been invited by the campaign. Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN's 'State of the Union,' Conway chided the Clinton campaign for inviting billionaire Mark Cuban, which caused Trump to tweet that he'd like to have Flowers attend the affair. 'I can't believe how easily baited the Clinton campaign was,' Conway said. 'Basically Mr. Trump was saying if Mark Cuban is going to send out these texts, "the humbling at Hofstra" or "this is his big downfall," than Mr. Trump was putting them on notice that we could certainly invite guests that may get into the head of Hillary Clinton.' 'But we have not invited her formally and we don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign,' Conway continued. 'I can understand why Hillary Clinton wants a billionaire in the front row, that's just another Monday night for her,' Conway said. Trump's campaign manager added that she thought the Clinton campaign should have ignored Trump's threat. 'It seems odd, it seems odd that they would give it life and breath since you just said three times in a row that Gov. Clinton had an affair with her. I didn't say it,' Conway said, noting how many young Americans weren't familiar with Flowers' allegation that rattled Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. 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 ?' Trump made the threat to invite Flowers on Twitter Saturday afternoon after Cuban said he 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. '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. 'We've not invited her formally and don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign' said Kellyanne Conway of Gennifer Flowers, seen here in 1998 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. 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) Meanwhile preparations have begun for Monday's debate in Hempstead, New York. Pictured, workers install the set at Hofstra University Monday will mark the first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump. Pictured, construction crews hand part of the set on Saturday 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 visited his hometown of Pittsburgh with the Democratic nominee and referred to Trump as a 'jagoff,' a derogatory slang term used in the region. Cuban has since called out Trump on multiple occasions. The grieving families of two young passengers who were killed in a horrific car crash have been left reeling after a judge sentenced the hoon driver to just 20 months behind bars. Bowden Barker was behind the wheel when he crashed his Toyota Hilux that claimed the life of Jake Isbister, 21, and Chloe Hardy, 17, near Leeton in the Riverina region of New South Wales on the morning of December 5, 2014. District Court Judge Clive Jeffreys handed down the lenient sentence to the 19-year-old driver, which has been found to be 'manifestly inadequate' by the appeals court, The Daily Telegraph reported. Jake Isbister (left) and Chloe Hardy (right) were killed after the vehicle they were travelling in rolled several times before landing on its roof in an irrigation canal on December 5, 2014 District Court Judge Clive Jeffreys (pictured) handed down the lenient sentence to the 19-year-old driver that has been found to be 'manifestly inadequate', according to reports The distraught families of the two victims - who were thrown from the vehicle when it rolled several times - have described the sentence as a 'kick in the guts'. The Court of Criminal Appeal agreed Judge Jeffreys' decision was too lenient but the panel of three Justices decided against increasing Barker's sentence over concerns it could affect his 'already fragile mental state'. Victims of Crime Assistance League president Howard Brown said he was outraged by the sentencing and urged for Judge Jeffreys to 'undertake further training' with the Judicial Commission. The case comes after Barker was speeding at 104km/h in a 60km/h zone moments before his vehicle rolled several times before landing on its roof in a canal. Jake's lifeless body was found in the water just five metres from the car and Chloe was thrown up to 10 metres from the crash scene. But some claim their royal blue ensembles were more suited for the '1950s' They arrived for first official visit as a family-of-four in With all eyes on them as they landed in Canada, the Royal Family pulled out all the stops to ensure they looked picture perfect. Colour-coordinated in royal blue, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked every inch the close-knit family as they stepped off a Canadian Air Force plane with their children in tow. They were no doubt well aware that the photographs of their first official tour as a family-of-four would be remembered for years to come and tried to dress fittingly for the special occasion. But some were quick to comment on their 'post-war' look suggesting that little Prince George and Princess Charlotte were dressed 'for the 1950s' or a '19th century gothic novella'. Scroll down for video The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been accused of dressing ' old fashioned' and like 'something out of a 19th century gothic novella' during the opening day of their Canadian tour Twitter users were quick to comment on the Royal family's outfits - describing them as '1950s' One Twitter user commented: 'Why are the royal children always dressed in such an old fashion style? Or do they only wear trainers and jeans when chilling at home?' Another, named Jas, said: 'They royal kids look like they were dressed in the 1950s' Jackie Kane added: 'Why the hell are the royal offspring always dressed like something out of a 19th century gothic novella?' And, lamenting the Duchess of Cambridge's Locke and Co hat, Sonja Renea said: 'I don't get the royal family. No woman under 60 should be wearing that hat #fashion #style #styletip #royalty #KateMiddleton #PrinceWilliam.' Kate, who carried Charlotte in her arms as they stepped off the plane in Victoria following a 10-hour flight from the UK, opted for a blue Jenny Packham dress. She accompanied it with a Locke and Co hat - decorated with maple leaves as a tribute to her Canadian hosts - and the Queen's glittering maple leaf diamond brooch, which was given to the late Queen Mother by her father, King George VI, to mark the state visit to Canada in 1939. Twitter users described the family's style as 'old fashioned' with one taking dislike to Kate's hat The Duchess of Cambridge, 34, was wearing a blue Jenny Packham dress and held her daughter Charlotte in her arms as she walked down the steps from the Canadian Air Force jet The brooch was inherited by the present Queen in 2002 and Her Majesty loaned it to the Duchess of Cambridge for her first visit to Canada in July 2011. Complementing her look was Prince William, who wore a dark blue suit and his Guards tie. Meanwhile, Prince George - third in line to the throne - was dressed in the same outfit that he wore to visit the Lindo wing when his sister was born, a pale blue jumper with blue shorts, knee-length socks and 'big boy' lace up shoes. Charlotte wore a pretty patterned white dress with blue shoes and a blue bow in her hair. She clung to her mother during her third public appearance, after appearing to have hurt her knee, which was visibly bruised. The family arrived at the 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron airfield shortly before 4pm local time and were greeted by the Prime Minister and his equally fashion forward wife Sophie. Charlotte wore a pretty patterned white dress with blue shoes and a blue bow in her hair. She clung to her mother during her third public appearance, after appearing to have hurt her knee A restless Prince George was wearing a blue jumper with blue shorts and knee-length socks They were on their specially loaned Canadian Air Force airbus (A310) after taking off from London's Heathrow Airport at 2:30pm BST. Prime Minister Trudeau and wife Sophie, Governor General of Canada David Johnston (and wife Sharon), Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon and Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark - with son Hamish - were all on hand to welcome the royal couple and their children. Prince George stole the show as the Cambridge family arrived, ignoring waiting dignitaries by waving excitedly at a landing helicopter. Meanwhile, Charlotte seemed pleased to be coo-ed over by the waiting dignitaries and showed little sign of having just disembarked from a long-haul flight. George, his blonde hair combed down, was slightly more hesitant than his sister and required a little more encouragement from both his father and mother. All eyes were on Princess Charlotte, 16 months, making only her third public appearance The Duchess of Cambridge holds the hand of her son Prince George while carrying Charlotte He twisted and turned slightly anxiously as they chatted to the Prime Minister and his wife, craning his neck to look at the other aircraft on the military base. But with a little gentle prompting from his father, Prince William, the future king waved several times at the huge crowd of waiting media and shook hands with some of the line-up, although he then grew a little shy again. Prince George, three, has already notched up a royal tour to Australia and New Zealand but it is 16-month-old Charlotte's inaugural foreign visit and all eyes will be on the adorable toddler, who is fourth in line to the throne. 'Everyone is particularly keen to see Charlotte because, remarkably, she has only appeared in public twice since her birth, in the pram at her christening and on the balcony this year at Trooping The Colour,' said one insider. Prince George, three, has already notched up a royal tour to Australia and New Zealand but it is 16-month-old Charlotte's inaugural foreign visit and all eyes will be on the adorable toddler A young married woman fell to her death this weekend, after a night of drinking on her rooftop with her lover. Elena Gladkikh and her boyfriend were watching the sunrise and drinking a six pack on her Manhattan apartment building rooftop around 8:30am Sunday morning when they got locked out. The 27-year-old Russian-born beauty consultant then had to call her husband to let her back into the apartment. While her boyfriend hid on the roof, Gladkikh waited for her husband on the ledge of the building and was 'dangling her legs over the edge' just before she fell. The woman was allegedly drunk and wearing just a bra and underwear when she fell from the five-story building at 449 West 37th Street. Scroll down for video Elena Gladkikh (pictured) - a 27-year-old beauty consultant - has died after she fell from the roof of her apartment building in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday morning The married beauty consultant had been drinking with her lover on the roof when they got locked out and she had to call her husband for help She got stuck between two buildings after falling, and was trapped until emergency services arrived to try to rescue her, a police spokesman said. Responders had to borrow a ladder from a worker in the area to reach the woman, and she was then rushed to Bellevue Hospital, the New York Daily News reports, where she was later pronounced dead. Gladkikhs shattered husband said he is heartbroken at this 'bad time', and is contacting his wife's family who live overseas, according to the New York Post. Gladkikh (pictured) had reportedly been dangling her legs over the edge of the building when she lost balance The 27-year-old's (pictured) husband said he was heartbroken and is trying to contact his wife's family who live overseas A GoFundMe page has been set up by the family to raise money to help bring her body back to Russia to be buried. The worker who gave paramedics his ladder, James Proctor, told the Daily News the woman 'didn't look alive' when rescuers got to her. Young children are being forced to become brutal killers at an early age to stop them 'growing up to be cowards', a British ISIS recruiter has boasted. A harrowing image from soon after his 2014 arrival in Syria shows former Morrison's security guard-turned jihadi recruiter Omar Hussain with children - most of whom look no older than primary school age - proudly holding up machine guns. And Hussain, who and now goes by the name Abu Saeed al Britani, explained in an interview with the Daily Star Sunday why they start killing so young and that he would happily train his own children if he had any. Harrowing images from soon after his 2014 arrival in Syria show former Morrison's security guard-turned jihadi recruiter Omar Hussain with children proudly holding up machine guns The former resident of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, dubbed the 'Supermarket Jihadi' said: 'To be honestmany kids nowadays would probably faint seeing a cow get butchered, so it's a way of bringing them up not to fear war.' In reference to horrific clips of the radicals torturing captives, he added: 'We use some innovative ways don't we? Killing enemies and broadcasting it is a way for us to show our enemies what their end fate will be if we capture them.' The Mail On Sunday revealed his identity soon after he fled the UK in 2014, also uncovering the fact that police let him travel to Syria despite him being known to officials. As Hussain was questioned at Heathrow the police came and raided his house. He was also re-arrested a few weeks later outside his house, but was released the next day without charge before making his way to Syria. In his interview with the Star, he said that their Muslim faith gives them an advantage on the battlefield, should British troops be fully deployed there. 'We fight with the aim of dying,' he said. 'As we Muslims say, death brings us to paradise. So when it gets rough we don't shake. Hussain used to be a security guard at a Morrison's store in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, before he fled to Syria 'But the British troops don't believe in an afterlife.' Hussain was slapped down by ISIS's official media wing for sending out unauthorised messages on an encrypted app called Telegram, which has become the social media platform of choice for extremists. The terror group threatened him with 'serious repercussions' after he urged would-be fighters to go to Libya instead of Syria, where he is based. He also ran a blog to offer tips to potential recruits back in Britain about how they too can avoid detection, suggesting that they could get to Syria by pretending they are going to adopt a child. The unemployed father is believed to be in custody facing questions Nathan Wyatt, 35, has been arrested by detectives probing the case Nathan Wyatt, 35, (pictured) has reportedly been arrested after Pippa Middleton's iCloud account was hacked An unemployed father is being quizzed by detectives after 3,000 photographs from Pippa Middleton's iCloud were taken when her account was hacked. Website designer Nathan Wyatt, 35, was arrested and is believed to be in custody facing questions from officers who are investigating the incident. The revelation comes after Scotland Yard announced last night they had arrested a 35-year-old man in Northamptonshire on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence. And Mr Wyatt's three-bedroom home in Wellingborough, near Northampton, was spotted being searched by forensic teams who were trying to find evidence relating to the case, reports The Sun. Miss Middleton, 33, whose sister is the Duchess of Cambridge, 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. It is not known what Wyatt's alleged involvement was, or whether he was the hacker or the seller. Officers also searched his blue Ford Puma car as well as the 200,000 home he shares with his fiancee Kelly Howell. The collection of photographs from Miss Middleton's account is said to include private pictures of her sister, Kate - the Duchess of Cambridge - and her children George and Charlotte. According to the newspaper, the pictures show Miss Middleton at a wedding dress fitting and naked images of her fiance, James Matthews, 40. Meanwhile, the hacker is also believed to have the personal phone numbers of Prince William and Kate Middleton. A neighbour who asked not to be named said that police turned up at Mr Wyatt's house at 10pm on Saturday night. They told The Sun: 'He stays at home and she works. They (the police) were taking a lot of pictures in the house but also outside. 'The cops were checking in the boot of his car and looking for paperwork. Mr Wyatt's three-bedroom home in Wellingborough (pictured) was searched by forensic teams Miss Middleton (pictured) 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 'He is friendly and always says good morning police haven't told us what it is about.' Mr Wyatt reportedly illustrates a knowledge of computers and discusses Sony PlayStation games on the internet. The revelation comes after the seller hid their identity by calling themselves the 'Crafty Cockney' and 'Mas'. They reportedly contacted the newspaper 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. The pictures reportedly show Miss Middleton at a wedding dress fitting (Miss Middleton, pictured with her fiance James Matthews at Wimbledon this year) '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. The seller added: 'This is obviously a vast source of info and pictures that I neither want nor intend to keep in my possession very long.' 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. A pre-dawn blaze that took place this weekend at a Wilmington, Delaware, rowhouse killed two firefighters. The fire took the lives of Lt. Christopher Leach, 41, and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, 51. The floor of the home collapsed as firefighters went inside, and four firefighters fell. Leach and Fickes fell into the basement and were left stuck before they were discovered by fellow firefighters, NBC 10 reported. Scroll down for video A fire took the lives two firefighters: Lt. Christopher Leach, left, and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes, right The pre-dawn blaze took place this weekend at a Wilmington, Delaware, rowhouse killed Neighbor Marion Veasey told the station: 'The saddest thing was having to watch them carry that firefighter out with an American flag over them, and it almost broke my heart.' Leach and Fickes have children and families, NBC 10 reported. The Salesianum School, where Leach had gone to school, had a prayer service for both him and Fickes, according to the news outlet. The floor of the home collapsed as firefighters went inside, and four firefighters fell All residents of the Wilmington row house where the fire broke out early Saturday were able to escape to building Debbie Napier, whose daughter lived in the row house with her children, says she suspects the firefighters thought someone was trapped but 'everybody got out' Smokes is seen at the site of the rowhouse fire in Wilmington, Delaware All residents of the Wilmington row house where the fire broke out early Saturday were able to escape to building. The Wilmington News Journal reported that the residents were able to safely get out of the home. Debbie Napier, whose daughter lived in the row house with her children, told the newspaper she suspects the firefighters thought someone was trapped but 'everybody got out'. Vice President Joe Biden (pictured) visited the deadly scene. He formerly served as a US senator for Delaware A prayer service for the two firemen who were killed took place Wilmington firefighter Tim Taggart told WPVI of Fickes: 'He was one of the toughest guys I know. When I went to his house today, he has pull up bars in every single doorway of his house. 'That dude must do pull-ups every single time he walked through a door.' He said of Leach: 'He was a year younger than me, but he was actually one of the guys you look up to. No matter where he went in life, he was just successful.' Two firefighters who were injured in the blaze, Ardythe Hope (left) and Brad Speakman (right), are in critical but stable condition Two firefighters who were injured in the blaze, Ardythe Hope and Brad Speakman, are in critical but stable condition, WPVI reported Sunday. Two other injured firefighters, Terrance Tate and John Cawthray, were treated at the hospital and released Saturday afternoon, the News-Journal said. Cawthray wrote on Facebook Saturday: 'Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me and my family. Your kind words and prayers are greatly appreciated. 'I was lucky, I came away with only 2nd degree burns on my wrist and hand. Two of my Brothers paid the ultimate sacrifice. Advertisement Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate from Cedar Rapids as forecasters warn of historic flooding in the area. Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said the city has been preparing to deal with a major flood since the 2008 flood, which caused billions of dollars in damage. Flood waters have already risen to swallow up streets, block roads and damage homes but city workers and volunteers have been working desperately for days to build a temporary system of levees to stop further destruction. Scroll down for video Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate from Cedar Rapids as forecasters warn of historic flooding in the area (pictured is Cedar Falls in Iowa,Saturday) Flood waters spread over Highway 218 Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Cedar Falls, 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. (Tiffany Rushing/The Courier via AP) A vehicle turns around as flood waters run over Ford Road, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Friday where authorities were mobilizing resources to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river Holly Cole, right, and Michael Ridenou, second from right, work to build sandbag walls at the Alley Cuts on Main building along West Main Street in Manchester, Iowa on Friday to protect their business from the floods The city has been preparing to deal with a major flood since the 2008 flood (pictured) which caused billions of dollars in damage In Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, with about 130,000 people, officials asked those living in about 5,000 downtown homes near the river to leave by 8pm Sunday. They said it could be days before people could return home. 'All the work is coming together, and you can see the benefit of planning and preparation,' Pomeranz said. Hundreds of homes are also at risk in Waterloo and Cedar Falls on Sunday evening when the Cedar River is expected to crest at 24.5ft - well above the flood stage of 13ft. The predicted water levels are only slightly lower than the record 27ft crest in 2008, when a flood devastated the region. People view the turbulent waters and flooding on the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, Saturday Volunteers fill sandbags in the New Bohemia District of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, to try and defend against a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream Jason Mann, of Cedar Rapids, loads sandbags onto a truck in the New Bohemia District of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday Volunteers and city workers place sandbags along the dike between the Cedar River and the water treatment plant in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, to try and prevent contamination Mayor Tom Yock in the small town of Palo, along the Cedar River said that they are trying to be more proactive in their defenses this time. Yock told the Des Moines Register that volunteers and work crews scrambled Saturday to protect as much of the town from flooding as possible. City Clerk Trisca Dix said that the mandatory evacuation in the town of about 1,000 took place Saturday afternoon and many people moved their belongings to the upper levels of their homes and built sandbag barriers before evacuating. After the 2008 flood, about 1,350 homes near the Cedar River were bought out and destroyed to reduce the amount of damage that future floods could inflict. About 45 acres of green space sit in that area today. Unlike in 2008, residents have had more time to prepare for a flood. The benefit of that extra time was clear in the small town of Palo upstream where residents of more than 80 homes have evacuated. Waters have begun to cover Waterloo Road by Cedar Falls Utilities as the river is expected to crest at 24.5 ft this evening The Cedar River rises into downtown Waverly between City Hall and East Bremer Avenue, flooding the streets The fast flowing water flows over the dam through downtown Waverly, Iowa where authorities are preparing for historic flooding Two men check water levels near West Main Street Friday, September in Manchester, Iowa. In neighboring Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, with about 130,000 people, officials asked those living in about 5,000 downtown homes near the river to leave by 8pm Sunday Ben Bowman, right, hands a hose to Matt Rowell as they pump out his basement on Friday in Shell Rock, Iowa Kim Hutchins, whose home in Palo is about 10 miles upstream from Cedar Rapids, told the Des Moines Register that she spent Saturday packing up her kitchen while some friends unhooked her furnace in the basement and moved it up to the garage. And most of her furniture was piled onto trailers to move. 'They've been telling us it was coming for days. Last time, we had eight or 10 hours to get out,' said Hutchins, 53, who planned to go stay with her mother. Parts of southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin also remained under flood warnings on Sunday, but it appeared that most of the threat of major flooding has passed in those states. In the southern Minnesota town of St. Clair, eight to 10 homes remained evacuated Sunday, but the Le Sueur River was receding after cresting on Friday. Assistant Blue Earth County Emergency Manager Eric Weller said Sunday that 'we were very lucky overnight' that not much rain fell. But he said crews were still pumping at the wastewater treatment plant's lift station and that the town's 870 residents should still refrain from taking showers or using the toilet. Tom Moffitt stands on his deck as he looks at the flood waters on Friday as residents are warned to evacuate their homes Dustin Osier and other volunteers fill sandbags as the Shell Rock River continues to rise in Greene, Iowa, Thursday Volunteers build a sandbag barrier as the Shell Rock River rises over West Traer Street on Thursday A truck brings another load of sand for sandbags as the Shell Rock River continues to rise in Greene, Iowa, Thursday Residents look in flooded storefronts on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Greene, 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 ) Flood waters rise near the 3rd Street East Bridge, Friday - with water levels almost reaching over the top Flood waters close McCoy Road on Saturday, in Evansdale, Iowa, as water stands several feet deep Evansdale residents look at the flood waters on Saturday, as they block the road ahead of them Waterloo authorities help a family evacuate flood waters on East Shaulis Road Saturday In Minnesota, which has also been struck by flooding, Ellery Forsythe pushes some kids on an air mattress to get a closer look at the submerged vehicles Two bridges remain closed in LeSueur because of high water, but Weller said schools are expected to reopen Monday. 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. 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. Cedar Rapids officials are also asking curious residents to stay out of downtown and flooded areas. 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. 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. While white voters are Donald Trump's stronghold, he's not winning the country's largest voting bloc by the same margins as his Republican predecessor, 2012 nominee Mitt Romney. Four years ago, the former Massachusetts governor received support from 59 percent of white voters, while President Obama, who won re-election, earned 39 percent, according to exit polls. Right now Trump is winning 50 percent support, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, while Clinton stands at 39 percent, the same number as President Obama. Scroll down for video Donald Trump (left) is winning the white voter over rival Hillary Clinton (right), but not by the same margins Mitt Romney won it over President Barack Obama - and Romney lost Donald Trump is beating Hillary Clinton by 11 points among white voters. However more educated whites are choosing to vote for the Democratic nominee In 2012, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney beat President Barack Obama by 20 points among whites, the country's biggest voting bloc, and he still didn't win the White House Among the other two large voting blocs, blacks and Hispanics, Trump is actually performing better than Romney among African-Americans, though by only one point, and he's still being creamed by Clinton generally with the group. Clinton earns the support of 81 percent of black voters. Trump is receiving 7 percent support, according to the NBC/WSJ poll. He's also doing more poorly than Romney among Hispanic voters, earning 18 percent of the group, compared to Clinton's 51 point lead. She earns 69 percent of the Latino vote, says the new polling. In order to win the election, Trump will need to improve upon Romney's numbers, especially among white voters, where he's currently underperforming by 9 points. Because whites make up such a huge percentage of the American electorate, 'that 9-point difference is enormous,' NBC News pointed out. For white voters, it's education that divides Trump's supporters from Clinton's. 'I love the poorly educated,' Trump said in February in Nevada and they love him right back. Trump leads by 26 points among whites without a college education. However, while Romney won whites who held a college degree or more, Trump is losing them even the men, who usually side with Republicans during presidential elections. An ABC News/Washington Post poll that dropped today shows the race essentially tied, with Clinton receiving 46 percent support to Trump's 44 percent, with a huge education gap between white voters, which echo the results of the NBC/WSJ poll. White men who lack a college degree support Trump 76-to-17 percent, giving The Donald a 59 point advantage over the former secretary of state. Earlier this month the gap was only 40 points. While Romney won the group in 2012 by 31 points. Meanwhile, Clinton has a 25 point lead when it comes to college-educated white women, earning 57 percent support to Trump's 32 percent. Earlier this month she was only winning white college-educated women by 10 points. Romney won this group of women by 6 points in 2012. The ABC News/Washington Post poll also has Trump winning college-educated white men by 11 points, which wasn't the case in the NBC/WSJ poll. The ABC poll shows Trump winning non-college educated white women by 12 points. He's winning the white vote by 16 points overall, compared to the 11 points in the NBC/WSJ survey. Ed Miliband (pictured at the Labour party conference in Liverpool tonight) was heckled after telling the Labour party not to campaign for a second EU referendum Ed Miliband was heckled after telling the Labour party not to campaign for a second EU referendum tonight. The former Labour leader pleaded with members not to 'become the party of the 48 per cent,' dismissing such talk as 'nonsense' in a slap down of failed leadership challenger Owen Smith, who had campaigned for a second EU vote. Speaking at a fringe at the Labour party conference in Liverpool tonight, Mr Miliband said the referendum result showed the 'scale of rejection of mainstream politics,' and said Leave voters were not just 'racists' or people 'duped' by claims over how the EU budget could be spent on the NHS. But a Labour member in the audience interrupted and broke into tears as she told Mr Miliband and fellow MPs she felt betrayed by their opposition to a second referendum and said she feared over her future in the UK. Ulrike Bulle, a German national, said that her voice had been ignored because EU citizens did not have a vote and said she was considering leaving the Labour party if it refused to campaign to stay in the EU. Speaking in a discussion on the economy after Brexit Mr Miliband said: 'I see talk that we should become the party of the 48 per cent. That is nonsense I mean that is nonsense. 'I don't think just think it's nonsense electorally but it is incidentally because more than 400 seats voted to leave but it's nonsense in principle because actually it buys into the same problem that people were objecting to in their vote which is the argument 'we're right, you're wrong.' The former Labour leader pleaded with members not to 'become the party of the 48 per cent,' dismissing such talk as 'nonsense' in a slap down of failed leadership challenger Owen Smith, who had campaigned for a second EU vote Ed Miliband slapped down Owen Smith's call for Labour to campaign for a second EU referendum. Pictured, Mr Smith congratulates Jeremy Corbyn yesterday after the veteran MP was re-elected Labour leader at the party's conference in Liverpool One-time leadership contender Chuka Umunna (pictured alongside Ed Miliband at tonight's fringe event on Brexit at the Labour party conference in Liverpool) said campaigning for a second referendum would be 'a incredibly patronising way' to treat the majority of voters who backed Brexit Pointing out that voters in his Doncaster North seat voted 69 per cent for Out, he said: 'We've got to speak for the people who voted Leave more. We need acceptance of the result.' But he was cut off by Ulrike, who angrily shouted: 'What about the people who didn't get to vote the Europeans here, the Brits abroad and the 16 and 17-year-olds?' ED MILIBAND SPARKS RUMOURS OF POLITICAL COMEBACK Ed Miliband (pictured tonight) said the prospect of him joining the shadow cabinet was 'for Jeremy and discussion' Ed Miliband sparked rumours of a political comeback after he declined to rule out a return to Labour's frontbench. The former leader said it was a matter for Jeremy Corbyn, and signalled that there would be 'discussions' about going back to the shadow cabinet. Mr Corbyn, who was re-elected by the membership on Saturday, is expected to name a new top team in the next few days. Mr Miliband suggestion of a possible return comes just weeks after he voted against him in a confidence vote, saying he was not up to the job of leadership. In a fringe event at the Labour conference, the ex-leader also warned Labour against becoming the party of Remain, saying they must continue to represent those who voted to leave the EU. Asked whether he would consider returning to the shadow cabinet, Mr Miliband said: 'I decided a year ago to be a backbencher - that was the best thing for me to do, that's what I anticipate continuing. 'In the end these are matters for Jeremy and for discussion. That's what I would anticipate.' Advertisement Her intervention was ignored by one-time leadership contender Chuka Umunna, who said campaigning for a second referendum would be 'a incredibly patronising way' to treat the majority of voters who backed Brexit. Lisa Nandy, a former shadow cabinet minister, said some on the Remain side had given the impression they thought people were too stupid to understand the question on the ballot paper. She said the issue of free movement had exploded like dynamite during the campaign as she urged her party to accept the people wanted limits on immigration. I dont agree we can overturn the result of the referendum that would be deeply disrespectful, she said. Rachel Reeves, another former shadow cabinet member, said David Cameron would have won the vote had he got a better deal on immigration. She pointed out that polls showed that even those on the Remain side wanted curbs on migration. Mr Miliband was speaking at his first fringe event at Labour conference in seven years following his five years as leader. He sparked rumours of a political comeback after he declined to rule out a return to Labour's frontbench. The former leader said it was a matter for Jeremy Corbyn, and signalled that there would be 'discussions' about going back to the shadow cabinet. Mr Corbyn, who was re-elected by the membership on Saturday, is expected to name a new top team in the next few days. Mr Miliband suggestion of a possible return comes just weeks after he voted against him in a confidence vote, saying he was not up to the job of leadership. In a fringe event at the Labour conference, the ex-leader also warned Labour against becoming the party of Remain, saying they must continue to represent those who voted to leave the EU. Asked whether he would consider returning to the shadow cabinet, Mr Miliband said: 'I decided a year ago to be a backbencher - that was the best thing for me to do, that's what I anticipate continuing. 'In the end these are matters for Jeremy and for discussion. That's what I would anticipate.' A Walmart store has been accused of refusing to bake a cake decorated with the 'police officer's flag' because workers said it was 'racist'. The store in McDonough, Georgia, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, allegedly refused to make the Blue Lives Matter cake on Friday for a retirement party. 'My buddy's sister went to Walmart in McDonough, GA to have a cake made for their father's retirement party,' Taylor Wilkies, a police officer from Georgia, wrote on Facebook. 'She asked Walmart to make a "thin blue line" cake to commemorate his extensive and honorable service as a dedicated police officer. A Walmart store has been accused of refusing to bake a cake decorated with the 'police officer's flag' because workers said it was 'racist', and then offered this cake (pictured) as a replacement 'Walmart refused to honor her request due to it being "racist". To me, this is appalling. 'People CHOOSE to make EVERYTHING about race. I'm so tired of it. It's literally exhausting for me to think about now. The claim was then picked up by conservative Fox News host Todd Starnes who wrote about the alleged incident. Starnes says he spoke to the daughter of the police officer on Saturday night, however he does not include any details of the family or the woman. He wrote that the daughter said: 'I was so shocked... One of the bakers told me the design could be perceived as racist and nobody feels comfortable decorating the cake.' Starnes claims the woman told him she was 'disappointed'. 'I just wanted to make my dad a cake to show how much i appreciated him,' the unidentified woman said, according to Starnes. The Fox News host then goes on to say the workers were told to make the cake after complaints were made to the store's manager, but they still allegedly refused. A Georgia police officer shared the story of her 'buddy's sister' being denied the cake and it quickly went viral on Facebook The Walmart store in McDonough, Georgia, about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, allegedly refused to make the cake on Friday for a retirement party on Sunday 'The manager offered to make and decorate a new cake. But there was just one problem the cake decorators refused to comply,' he claims. 'Ive attached photographs of Walmarts handiwork its absolutely embarrassing and unacceptable. 'Walmart needs to make this right and they can start by delivering a professionally decorated cake to the police officers family. 'The three cake decorators need to be told: either decorate the cake or be fired.' Since Starnes tweeted the story, the Walmart alleged of refusing to make the cake has been flooded with criticism. 'Why do you not hold your employees to the job requirements they agreed to, decorate cakes? Fire them or as a Patron I'd worry you would poison the cake or other food I might purchase there because your employees hate cops,' Lisa Victoria angrily wrote. Other people refuted the story, claiming the store told them the accusations were made up 'Shame on you walmart!!!!! Hopefully you will take action upon your bakery department,' Erik Fowler said. However another person claims the store's manager told them the allegations were false. 'She was very polite, was familiar with the story, and denied that any of this was true,' David Sauls said. 'I asked her if I wanted to have the bakery decorate a cake depicting the thin blue line would they do it, and she said that they would be more than glad to, that it's ridiculous for anyone to make this claim, and that she doesn't understand why someone would make it. Anti-Royalist protesters waved banners emblazoned with 'No Kings' and brandished a 'guillotine' as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Vancouver today. The demonstrators formed part of the crowd which gathered outside the Immigration Services Society in British Columbia for day two of the Canadian tour. Leaving their two young children with their nanny, Prince William and Kate arrived at the centre having taken a seaplane for the 35-minute Victoria to Vancouver trip. However, while they were largely greeted by well-wishers, one group - thought to be part of the Young Communist League - used the opportunity to show their disdain. The protesters formed part of the crowd which gathered outside the Immigration Services Society in Vancouver during day two of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's royal tour Waving banners bearing the words 'No Kings No Landlords', the protesters stood among the large crowd as they objected to the British Monarchy and the royal tour. One is believed to have shouted 'we should not celebrate the royals', while brandishing a makeshift mock 'guillotine' made from boards of wood and tinfoil. Others masked their faces with hooded tops and scarves pulled up to their eyes. Despite the objections, the royal family continues to hold Canada dear, with the Queen reigning as the country's sovereign since 1952. The Commonwealth country is one of the Queen's 16 realms - nations where the monarch is head of state. It became fully independent through the Constitution Act of 1982 proclaimed by Her Majesty and she became the second-longest reigning Canadian monarch - after King Louis XIV of France - on September 9 last year. During her reign, she has visited the country a total of 27 times - more times than the total of all of Victoria's official foreign excursions combined. One demonstrator is believed to have shouted 'we should not celebrate the royals', while others brandished a makeshift mock 'guillotine' made from wooden boards and tinfoil The protesters gathered as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Immigrant Services Society alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau Meanwhile, William has also been a frequent visitor to the country famed for its beautiful wildernesses and outdoor life. In 1991, he joined Charles and his late mother Diana on a royal tour of the country. He also visited as a 'shy teenager', before again returning with his wife Kate just three months after they married in 2011 when they received a welcome befitting of international stardom. Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau invited the Cambridges for the latest royal visit back 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 have already joined the royal couple for a number of events. The liberal prime minister was elected earlier this month after ending almost a decade of Conservative rule in Canada, which is part of the Commonwealth. The couple unveiled a plaque commemorating their visit to the Immigration Services Society The Duchess of Cambridge waved to supporters who had lined the path alongside protesters As a young child in the 1970s, Mr Trudeau met the Queen several times through his father, Pierre Trudeau, who was one of Canada's longest serving prime ministers. Recalling their history, Mr Trudeau, now 6ft 2in, told the 5ft 4in sovereign last year: 'The last time we met you were much taller.' The Queen told him it was 'nice to see you again ... but under different circumstances'. Controversially, Trudeau's new government removed the Queen's portrait from its foreign affairs department lobby after the election, hanging two paintings by a Quebec artist in its place. The ministry said the change, a move away from the monarchist symbolism of the previous Tory government, was intended to 'showcase Canada'. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met with young people and refugees who benefit from the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia New Welcome Centre in Vancouver The Royal couple had earlier been greeted by hundreds of well-wishers as they arrived in the city on day two of their eight-day tour by seaplane in Vancouver Harbour (pictured above) In a statement released during his visit to London, Mr Trudeau was visibly emotional as he spoke of his father attending the Queen's signing of the Constitution Act in Ottawa in 1982. The leader's father, Pierre, governed Canada for more than a decade from 1968, was the fourth prime minister to serve during the Queen's reign. Two former employees of Wells Fargo Bank have filed a $2.6 billion lawsuit against the bank as it is investigated for alleged banking fraud. Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185million to federal and local authorities earlier this month to settle allegations that bankers striving to meet the targets opened fraudulent credit card and bank accounts. Last week, the bank's Chief Executive John Stumpf - who faced difficult questions over the allegations, resigned from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's advisory council on Thursday. Now two former employees Alexander Polonsky and Brian Zaghi have filed a lawsuit 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. Two former employees of Wells Fargo Bank have filed a lawsuit against the bank as it is investigated for alleged banking fraud The lawsuit for both current and past Wells Fargo employees in California in the last 10 years, 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. 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. Polonsky and 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 CEO John Stumpf is pictured testifying in front of the Senate Banking Committee. He has since stepped down 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. The lawsuit accuses Wells Fargo of wrongful termination, unlawful business practices and failure to pay wages, overtime, and penalties under California law. Wells Fargo was worth just shy of $300billion, making it the world's most valuable bank in the world according to figures released last year. The bank was known for it's ability to 'cross-sell' or get customers to sign up for more and more accounts, which attracted the financial backing of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett's firm is the largest owner of Wells Fargo with a 9.5% stake in the bank. The bank attracted the financial backing of Warren Buffett's firm Berkshire Hathaway According to a criminal complaint filed in California, the bank largely targeted checking account customers, pushing them into taking savings, online or credit accounts which would charge fees. Bank employees were told that the average customer tapped six financial tools but that they should push households to use eight products, according to the complaint. A 2013 LA Times investigation found a culture that left some employees desperate to reach quotas, whether it was forging signatures or begging family members to open additional accounts. In some cases, employees created fake email addresses and pin numbers to create more accounts, and customers were charged for overdraft fees after their money was moved without their consent. A former bank manager Rita Murillo told the paper: 'We were constantly told we would end up working for McDonald's. 'If we did not make the sales quotaswe had to stay for what felt like after-school detention, or report to a call session on Saturdays.' In total, a consulting firm hired by Wells Fargo to investigate the fraud found more than two million deposit accounts that may not have been authorized. Wells Fargo ended up firing 5,300 employees over the last few years, but top executives have been largely saved from the chopping block. CEO John Stumpf was paid $19.3million in 2015 and has been awarded several 'Banker of the Year' awards from industry organizations, CNN reported. CEO John Stumpf, (left) who has received several industry awards, was paid $19.3million in 2015. David Carroll (right) was paid $9.05million because his department oversaw growth David Carroll, the senior executive vice president of Wealth and Investment Management, was paid $9.05million, according to the news website. His department 'achieved a number of important strategic objectives, including ... growth in loan balances and deposits,' a Securities and Exchange Commission filing cited by CNN stated. A Wells Fargo spokesperson told CNN the terminations affected 'both managers and team members'. The bank has since lowered sales goals, restructured employee incentives and instilled a system of oversight, the LA Times reported. Stumpf, under fire over problematic sales tactics, has now resigned from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's advisory council on Thursday. 'John made a personal decision to resign as the Twelfth District's representative to the Federal Advisory Council. His top priority is leading Wells Fargo,' Wells Fargo spokesman Mark Folk said in an email. Arthur Scargill is being investigated by his former union after he used one of Margaret Thatchers flagship policies to buy his 2million council flat for half its value. The National Union of Mineworkers is examining how its former militant leader was able to exploit right-to-buy laws to snap up his three-bedroom London apartment. The union has written to the City of London Corporation to ask whether Mr Scargill claimed the flat was his main residence when he applied for the perk. Rules state a tenant is eligible to buy a council home only if it is their only or main home. Arthur Scargill is being investigated by his former unionover the purchase of one of his properties Sources at the development in the Barbican say Mr Scargill is rarely seen at the 2million property and it is usually empty. The NUMs intervention comes days after the Mail revealed that the 78-year-old exploited Mrs Thatchers policy. Mr Scargill, who lives in a 600,000 three-bedroom home in Yorkshire, was given use of the London flat when he became president of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1982. He tried to buy it under right to buy in 1993 but was turned down because it was not deemed to be his main residence. It is unclear why the owners, the City of London Corporation, sanctioned the discounted sale in January 2014. But a month beforehand, Mr Scargills daughter and son-in-law bought his Yorkshire home, which he still lives in and sources say this will have helped his application for the London flat. Chris Kitchen, national secretary of the NUM, said the union still pays about 3,500 a year towards Mr Scargills Yorkshire home on the basis that he lived there. The arrangement is due to his role as honorary life president of the union and the latest bill was for a 4,500 security system because he had warned of assassination attempts. Mr Kitchen is now planning to consult solicitors to examine where Mr Scargill has declared his main residence to be. The NUM also paid up to 36,000 a year in rent and bills for the London flat between 1991 and 2011. When it stopped, Mr Scargill went to the High Court to challenge the decision but a judge ruled against him. Mr Scargill is being kicked out of his luxury apartment in the Shakespeare Tower (pictured) at the Barbican complex News of his first attempt to buy the flat emerged in 2014, when Mr Scargill said he had planned to transfer ownership to the NUM. According to Land Registry records, he bought the property two days later for 1.05million. Some of the money for the purchase was provided by his daughter Margaret Scargill, a GP, and her husband. Mr Scargill set up the Socialist Labour Party in 1996 after being booted out of the NUM. One of its policies called for an end to the transfer of public housing stock to the private sector. Mr Kitchen added: He has two personalities: the public one, of the great trade unionist and socialist who is against the sell-off of council properties and then the other, who is the Arthur Scargill who says, Ive got to look after myself. Was captured after a shootout and has been in and out of consciousness Rahami seems to have taken instructions from three issues, DHS believes Resemblances concern the containers, detonators and the charges used Accused terrorist Ahmad Rahami likely followed bomb-making instructions found in an Al-Qaeda magazine, a federal memo shows. A table put together by the Department Of Homeland Security compares the manufacturing of the devices recovered in New York and New Jersey last weekend with guidelines from three issues of Al-Qaeda's in house publication, Inspire. Rahami, 28, is accused of planting a bomb that exploded in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood on September 17, injuring 29 people. Authorities also believe he placed a second device, which did not explode, on 27th Street, as well as a partially exploded device near a charity run in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and several bombs near the train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Explosives in each location were all different from one another, but all had similarities with guidelines outlined in Inspire, the memo shows. Accused terrorist Ahmad Rahami seems to have learnt how to make explosives in Al-Qaeda's magazine Inspire, a federal memo (pictured) shows Rahami (pictured after his arrest on September 19), 28, is accused of planting a bomb that exploded in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood on September 17, injuring 29 people The table, published by BuzzFeed News, comes from the DHS' office of bombing prevention. Two of the events involved pipe bombs and the other two had devices made out of pressure cookers, the memo shows. Some had cellphones as detonators and others used modified Christmas tree lights. The device in Seaside Park contained low explosive powder and the one in Chelsea used a binary explosive, made out of two components that are harmless on their own but will go off if mixed together. These elements can also be found in issues 1, 3 and 14 of Inspire, according to the memo. 'Might he have been influenced by foreign terrorists? Yes. He might have been, but they have no evidence that he was urged to do this specific act at this specific time in any way,' Senator Chuck Schumer told the New York Post on Sunday. Authorities believe Rahami (pictured) placed other devices in New Jersey and New York Rahami, who worked at a chicken shack owned by his family in Elizabeth, is now the sole suspect in the New York and New Jersey events. 'To me, it seems likely that other people knew, given how open he was about this and he exploded a bomb in his backyard,' Schumer added. 'But [investigators] haven't come to a conclusion.' Investigators, Schumer said, are 'checking everything' and looking 'carefully' at Rahami's family. Rahami's diary, which he had on him when he was arrested, shows a reference to a deceased Al-Qaeda leader and includes praise for Osama Bin Laden, according to officials. The diary also referenced ISIS, authorities said, but Schumer now doesn't believe the group encouraged Rahami to conduct the attacks he is accused of. Rahami had traveled to Pakistan and his native Afghanistan recently. He was arrested the following Monday after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey and has been charged with five counts of attempted murder. Rahami, who was shot in the shoulder and in the leg during his arrest, has been 'in and out of consciousness' since, according to Schumer. Rahami's diary (pictured), which he had on him when he was arrested, shows a reference to a deceased Al-Qaeda leader and includes praise for Osama Bin Laden, according to officials The second device found in New York City on Saturday, September 17 was made out of a pressure cooker (pictured) as was the one in Chelsea, the memo shows She took up flying in the air cadets at 13 and made her first solo flight at 16 The 26 year old, from Carlisle, is a rising star at budget airline easyJet Kate McWilliams has become the world's youngest c Just a decade after taking to the skies as a teenage air cadet, Kate McWilliams has proved she is a real high flier - by becoming what is believed to be the world's youngest commercial captain at the age of 26, according to easyJet. The 26-year-old, a rising star of budget airline easyJet's crew, has been promoted from first officer to captain, a feat usually achieved by much older pilots. And a spokeswoman said they believe Kate McWilliams is the youngest commercial airline captain in the world. After taking up flying in the air cadets aged 13, Miss McWilliams made her first solo flight aged 16 and went on to train as a pilot on her 19th birthday. Kate McWilliams (left, pictured with Luke Elsworth) has become the world's youngest commercial captain at the age of 26 Miss McWilliams, pictured with Luke Elsworth, took up flying in the air cadets aged 13 She said she gets quizzed about her age by cabin crew and passengers almost every day and most are 'impressed' to learn she has fast-tracked her way to the cockpit. Miss McWilliams said: 'Personally I don't think my age matters. I've been through the same training and passed the same command course as every other captain so I've proven myself capable regardless of my age. 'I do now get asked how old I am on an almost daily basis which didn't used to happen when I was a first officer. 'Usually that question comes from the cabin crew but sometimes passengers ask too. 'When I tell them I'm 26, most people are pleasantly surprised and impressed with my achievement at such a young age.' She is also one of the few women to be promoted beyond the rank of first officer. Just 5per cent of commercial pilots are female and last year easyJet announced an initiative to double the proportion of female new entrants to 12per cent over two years. Miss McWilliams made her first solo flight aged 16 and went on to train as a pilot on her 19th birthday An easyJet spokesman said they believe Miss McWilliams (pictured) is the youngest commercial airline captain in the world Miss McWilliams said the lack of female role models made her 'never even thought it could be an option' to become a commercial pilot. And she felt she had no one to 'ask for advice' in order to pursue her dreams. Determined to succeed, she was flying loop-the-loops at 15 and made her first solo flight at 16. She joined a training programme at CTC Aviation in Southampton on her 19th birthday. In May 2011 she joined EasyJet as a first officer and recently took up the rank of captain after passing the airline's command course. Originally from Carlisle, she is now based in Reigate, Surrey, and works from Gatwick Airport. Originally from Carlisle, she is now based in Reigate, Surrey, and works from Gatwick Airport She flies Airbus A319 and A320 planes to around 100 destinations, including as Reykjavik, Tel Aviv and Marrakesh. 'With Gatwick having such an extensive route network my roster is very varied so I rarely fly to the same place twice in the same month. 'That keeps things interesting. I love being a commercial pilot for easyJet, and I am proud that I have now achieved my ambition of becoming a captain.' Julie Westhorp, chairwoman of the British Women Pilots' Association (BWPA), said she hopes Miss McWilliams' progression inspires more women to consider pursuing a career in aviation. She said: 'Both the BWPA and easyJet are aware of the importance of visible role models for girls and young women when making career choices and continue to work together to encourage young women to consider a pilot career. 'Kate's achievement clearly demonstrates to other young women that it is possible to succeed as a pilot in commercial aviation. 'We wish Kate continuing success in her career and are delighted that she is now an excellent role model for other females.' The suspect in the Washington state mall shooting was so 'creepy, rude and obnoxious', according to his neighbor, that she kept a Taser by her front door out of fear. Arcan Cetin, 20, an immigrant originally from Adana, Turkey, was arrested near his Oak Harbor home on Saturday after he allegedly killed five people in Macy's Burlington's Cascade Mall. He is facing five counts of first-degree murder. He will be arraigned on Monday. Amber Cathey, 21, lived in an apartment next to Cetin for the past three months and said she was so frightened by him that she complained to apartment management. Scroll down for video Arcan Cetin, 20, (pictured on Saturday), who is facing five counts of first-degree murder, has been described as 'vulgar' and 'creepy and obnoxious' by two of his former classmates Cetin, originally from Adana, Turkey, was arrested near to his Oak Harbor home and is being held without bail after he allegedly killed five people at a Macy's in Burlington, Washington Amber Cathey, 21, lived in an apartment next to Cetin for the past three months and said she was so frightened by him She said she kept a stun gun handy out of fear of Cetin. Cathey said she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch. 'He was really creepy, rude and obnoxious,' Cathey said. She said she would try to avoid him by walking the long way around to her apartment if she saw his car in the parking lot. The two were in high school together as well, and Cathey said he acted the same way then. Another high school classmate, who spoke to DailyMail.com, said she remembers lewd behavior from Cetin. Uhlaine Finnigan, 19, of Washington, said Cetin sat at her table during her junior year of high school. Cetin was taken into custody by Island County Sheriff's Office 30 miles away from the mall Cetin (pictured in CCTV footage) was described as 'zombie-like when he was picked up by police on Saturday Investigators are seen at the apartment complex that has been tied to Cetin, the suspected Cascade Mall shooter Cathey said she would try to avoid Cetin by walking the long way around to her apartment if she saw his car in the parking lot 'He would grab or slap girls butts regardless of the blatant lack of consensual agreement. With girls of all grades. He was rude, stubborn, and sexist,' Finnigan said. Like Cathey, Finnigan said she steered clear of him and she couldn't recall many girls who would interact with him. 'He wasn't good at speaking to others, regardless of who was nice to him he'd always be off and rude. He didn't seem to have friends. 'I didn't think he'd take it as far as mass murder but I knew he was trouble. Especially when it came to women,' Finnigan told DailyMail.com. She said she doesn't believe growing up in Turkey had anything to do with the attack, but that she thinks something is off with Cetin. 'I don't believe his culture has anything to do with him I just think he's a messed up person. He's been a time bomb waiting to go off. This was an attack on women,' Finnigan added. Cancer survivor Sarai Lara (pictured), 16, was confirmed to be one of the dead by her mother Evangelina. Evangelina said Sarai went to go shop in Macy's for pants when she was shot Belinda Galde, 64, and her 95-year-old mother Beatrice Dotson were both killed while shopping in the cosmetics section of the department store Austin Hendrix, 19, told the Seattle Times that Cetin's behavior also caused him to not be friends with the 20-year-old. 'In high school he started harassing kids and not being a nice person, so I disassociated with him. 'He would grope women in high school and middle school,' Hendrix said. As investigators tried to piece together information on Cetin, a picture emerged of a troubled young man. Court records show more than a half-dozen criminal cases in Island County alone since 2013. Court records show Cetin faced three domestic violence charges for assaulting his stepfather, The Seattle Times reported. Cetin was struggling with emotional or mental health issues, according to court records. Prosecutors and a defense team were trying to get him help, the Times reported. The newspaper said Cetin also was arrested on drunken driving charges. It gave no details on when the arrests took place or how the cases may have been resolved. In the assault case, Cetin was told by a judge last December that he was not to possess a gun, the newspaper reported. Chuck Eagan, a father of two daughters, had been at the mall with his wife when shots at the mall rang out. They both ran and she fell over. Eagan was killed as he tried to help her Another victim is believed to be 52-year-old Shayla Martin (pictured). Martin was a make-up artist from Mount Vernon, Washington However, the stepfather urged the judge not to impose a no-contact order, saying his stepson was 'going through a hard time'. As more details emerged from Cetin's past, so did the identities of the five victims of the Cascade Mall shooting. They are 95-year-old Beatrice Dotson, her daughter Belinda Galde, Chuck Eagan, Shayla Martin and 16-year-old cancer survivor Sarai Lara. At a press conference on Saturday evening after Cetin's arrest, police refused to 'rule out or rule in' terrorism. Authorities said he was apprehended by police 30 miles from the scene of the crime in a 'zombie-like state' on Saturday evening. Cetin allegedly took the three legally purchased guns from his father before heading to Macy's, where his ex-girlfriend once worked, according to KING 5 News. His ex-girlfriend quit several months ago and was not at the mall at the time of the shooting. KING 5 News reported that Cetin took three legally purchased guns from his father and drove to Macy's where his ex-girlfriend once worked According to his Facebook, Cetin is lives in Oak Harbor, Washington, but is originally from Adana, Turkey Pictures posted to Cetin's MySpace page show him holding what appears to be a rifle and another appears to show a revolver There have been unconfirmed reports the suspect shouted a woman's name multiple times just moments before opening fire, according to FOX-Q13. Cetin reportedly opened fire for one minute before he laid down a rifle, a .22 Ruger, on the counter and walked away. Old pictures posted to Cetin's MySpace page show him holding what appears to be a rifle and another appears to show a revolver. According to his Facebook, Cetin lives in Oak Harbor, Washington, but is originally from Adana, Turkey. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis said Sunday morning that authorities were searching an apartment tied to Cetin as well as searching his vehicle. Francis said authorities don't yet know who is on the apartment lease or how long Cetin may have lived there. 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, suspected shooter did not appear to have anything in his hands Police said original reports claiming the shooting suspect was Hispanic were based on initial witness statements. During a press conference on Saturday night, officials confirmed that along with having Cetin in custody, they also had his rifle. Lieutenant Mike Hawley of the Island County Sheriff's office said after tips from the community, he heard a report over the scanner that the suspect had been spotted. He drove to the Oak Harbor area and spotted Cetin, who he immediately recognized as the suspect in the shooting. 'I literally hit my brakes, did a quick turn, I jumped out,' Hawley said. 'He just froze.' Four women were confirmed dead on Friday evening at the Cascade Mall in Burlington (pictured), the Washington State Patrol said on Twitter Hawley said Cetin was silent and almost 'zombie-like' but completely complied with orders and was taken into custody without issue. Lieutenant Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said one of the things that helped connect Cetin to the shooting was his vehicle, which was seen on surveillance footage. He did not explain in detail how the vehicle led them to Cetin, but said after receiving tips the car was able to link the suspect to the shooting. Officials said they are not willing to rule in or out terrorism because the investigation is too new. Cetin, who immigrated to the US from Turkey, is a legal permanent resident, authorities said. He had been arrested once before in the county for assault, Hawley said. Cetin's criminal record includes three domestic violence charges, according to the Seattle Times. Skagit County court records identified the victim as his stepfather, who pleaded with a judge not to impose a no-contact order because Cetin was 'going through a hard time'. The stepfather told the court he wouldn't able to help Cetin if the order was put in place. Classmates who knew Cetin at Oak Harbor High School claimed he was known for harassing people. 'He would grope women in high school and middle school,' said Austin Hendrix, who graduated with Cetin in 2015. '[He] wasn't afraid to say something offensive or vulgar. I disassociated with him.' Finnigan also told the New York Times that Cetin was 'sexist' and would often slap or grab the butts of his female peers. Police evacuated the mall before escorting emergency responders inside to tend to the wounded whose injuries are not known at this time As the mystery around Cetin's true motives for the shooting continues to unravel, the community is mourning the mothers, fathers, and daughters he killed. Sarai Lara, 16, was a cancer survivor who battled the disease as a young child. She attended Mount Vernon High School and had just entered her sophomore year. He mother, Evangelina, said she was shopping with Sarai and her younger daughter when they split up to go into different stores. Sarai went to Macy's looking for pants, her mother said. The gunman walked into Macy's (pictured) and opened fire in the makeup department around 7.30pm local time As news spread through the mall of the shooting, Evangelina desperately tried to get to her daughter but was blocked from entering the store. Seven hours later it was confirmed that Sarai, who had just applied for a job at Denny's to support her family, was among the victims. Shayla Martin, 52, was working behind the makeup counter at the Macy's cosmestics department when she was killed. Her sister Karen Van Horn told the Seattle Times: 'We're really having a tough time right now.' 'She was so sweet. She was just very independent. She wanted to make her own way. She didn't want to rely on anyone else,' Van Horn told the Seattle Times. Chuck Eagan, a father of two daughters, had been at the mall with his wife when shots at the mall rang out. Eagan and his wife began to run but she fell down. He was shot when he stopped to try and help her. He died early Saturday from his injuries at a local hospital. A Boeing employee, Eagan was just about to retire. Belinda Galde, 64, and her 95-year-old mother Beatrice Dotson were both killed in the cosmetics section, according to King 5. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Burlington, Washington. The shooter was last seen walking towards Interstate 5 The Snohomish County District Court released a statement identifying Galde as an employee with the court since 1989. Galde was an 'amazingly kind and caring individual' who helped thousands of probationers find a better way to live, the statement read. During a press conference on Saturday morning, authorities said the man believed to be Cetin was seen entering the mall without a gun about 10 minutes before he opened fire in Macy's at 7pm on Friday. At the press conference, Mayor Steve Sexton described the suspect as a 'son of a b***h'. 'Our community comes together in times of tragedy,' Sexton said. She shocked the world by helping her husband fake his death in a canoe to cash in his life insurance. Now, in an extraordinary new book, Anne Darwin is revealing all. On Saturday, she told how she lied to her weeping sons that their father had died. Today, she tells how her husband's plan to live like millionaires in Panama goes horribly wrong With the police due to arrive the next day for a forensic search of the house looking for any clues they might have missed, they said my husband and I went methodically through every room, making sure there were no tell-tale signs of his presence. It seemed incredible to me that the police were actually flagging up their visit, but thank God they did. It was only three days since John had risked returning home, after faking his own death three weeks before by making it look as though he'd accidentally drowned at sea while in his canoe. New life: Anne Darwin (pictured) enjoying a carefree holiday lifestyle in Panama Fed up with camping on the beach in the small Cumbrian town of Silloth, more than 100 miles away from where we lived in the seaside resort of Seaton Carew, he had decided, with typical bravado, that the best place for him to hide until I could claim his life insurance money and pay off our 350,000 worth of debt was in the house next door a house which we owned and was divided into rental bedsits. However, even John knew it was far too dangerous and far too early to risk hiding next door while the police conducted their search. He wasn't happy, but he realised his only option was to disappear again. With much grumbling, he booked himself into a B&B in Morpeth, an hour's train journey north. One of the first things the police did was to search our bedroom, carefully pulling back the duvet. Obviously there were some officers who felt there was more to John's disappearance than met the eye. They went through every drawer, bagging up dozens of letters and bills and taking away John's computer. I panicked when they briefly went through the connecting door to the ground floor of next door, and was mightily relieved when they didn't search all the bedsits probably because they would have needed individual search warrants. The whole experience left me badly shaken, and convinced me more than ever that some detectives, at least, were sceptical about John's vanishing act. Meanwhile in Morpeth, John was finalising plans for a new identity. Although I didn't know it at the time, he'd decided to steal the plot from Frederick Forsyth's The Day Of The Jackal, a book he'd read many times. He loved how the hero trawled graveyards looking for the headstone of a baby boy who, had he not died, would have been about the same age as the assassin, and whose identity could be adopted. If it was good enough for the Jackal, then it was good enough for John. He made an appointment with Morpeth council to search through the genealogy and archives department. There he found exactly what he was looking for: John Jones, born just five months before him in 1950 in Sunderland where my husband was also born who had died aged five weeks. Same first name, common surname. For John, it was perfect. He jotted down the date of birth and reference numbers necessary to get a birth certificate and sure enough, he duly got what he wanted. The new certificate was folded and refolded many times and rubbed into a grubby bit of carpet to look old and worn. John Jones mark two had been born. Several days later, when he returned home, my husband joined the library in Hartlepool. He was now taking huge risks, going out and about through the front door of the bedsits, still in his dishevelled disguise and walking with a limp. But he was utterly brazen about it. Caught out: John and Anne in Panama with their relocation agent in 2006 - four years after he had 'died' On April 22, 2002, John filled in an application form, showed the librarian his fake birth certificate and a tenancy agreement from our bedsits and was told that his membership card would be ready next time he called. John was well aware that librarians were public figures and able to vouch for people on passport applications. Like so many of us, that librarian was just a pawn in his ruthless game. As the year progressed and we waited for an inquest to be held, I was a bag of nerves. Only then would the money be released which would settle all our debts. John was constantly moaning about being a prisoner in his own home, and furious that things seemed to be moving so slowly. Not surprisingly, our relationship deteriorated. We argued all the time about money and John infuriated me with his mood swings. Sometimes he was happy as Larry, confident it was all just a matter of time before things fell into place; at other times he was depressed and miserable. I lost all interest in our sex life, leaving John who never seemed to stop thinking about sex angry and frustrated. He was bored, so began painting the bedsits, pretending to be my odd-job man. He was taking absurd risks, and that none of the residents recognised him as their former landlord is quite staggering. Two years after my husband had faked his own death to claim the insurance money, he was taking ridiculous risks every day, writes Anne Darwin On April 10, 2003, a coroner finally declared John officially dead. With the death certificate in my hands, the money started to come in. Between May and August that year, I received a total of 90,867 from pension and life insurance policies, and the mortgage protection policy paid out a further 137,400, paying off all but 130,000 of the global mortgage. John was thrilled. For him, it had all been worth it. He had always been confident of getting away with it, and now he'd been proved right. 'I'm a genius,' he'd congratulate himself, seemingly with little regard for his sons, whose hearts he had broken, nor for anyone else. He now turned his attention to getting a passport, and, thanks to the obliging librarian, obtaining it proved as ridiculously easy as everything else had been. His plan was to sell up and move his money and us safely abroad. A few weeks later, on October 13, a shiny new passport for Mr John Jones arrived in the post. A new phase of our nightmare was beginning. Eight months later, in June 2004, there was a call from the police. They had some news for me. They'd had a reported sighting of John near our house. Had I heard anything from him? That phone call threw me into a state of complete and total panic. Two years after my husband had faked his own death to claim the insurance money, he was taking ridiculous risks every day wandering around town disguised as a scruffy odd-job man and hoping that no one would recognise him. It was amazing that nothing like this had happened before. I told the police that I hadn't seen him, of course, but I was petrified that they would want to come round and turn the house upside down again. If they had knocked on the door that day instead of phoning, I don't know what I would have done. It turned out that a former colleague of John's from the prison where he used to work had spotted my husband walking along the seafront. He'd told the police that the man he'd seen had a long grey beard and resembled Saddam Hussein at the time of his capture, but that he was '100 per cent sure' that it was John Darwin. My heart was pounding as I put the phone down. How could John be so reckless? After all, apart from the beard, his appearance hadn't changed all that much. But rather than coming to the house to check out the sighting, the police fortunately or perhaps foolishly simply rang me. We'd got away with it this time, but clearly we needed an escape route and, frankly, the sooner the better. It would be another three years, however, before John could put his master plan of moving us abroad into action. His idea was to get the money we'd falsely claimed and the two of us safely out of Britain to a place where, even if our fraud ever came to light, we couldn't be touched by the authorities. The country that caught his eye was Panama. He loved everything he read about the exotic-sounding Central American location: the climate, the scenery, the way of life. John Darwin leaves Teesside Crown Court, Middlesbrough, in 2014 after a Proceeds of Crime hearing act According to one of his guidebooks, the country was famous for attracting 'adventurers and entrepreneurs, schemers and dreamers, misfits and full-on nutcases' and I had to admit he ticked quite a few of those boxes. Panama really did look like the perfect place for us to start afresh, especially when John found out that if you set up a corporation there your assets couldn't be touched, even in the case of a legal action from abroad. 'I've hit the jackpot!' he crowed. It was his sole topic of conversation. Not that he cared what I thought, but I had serious doubts about whether it was the sort of place you could put down roots and feel it was home. But, as usual, I just went along with things, as I had done for years. It was long before dawn on the morning of July 12, 2006, when John and I left our home for our first recce visit to Panama. I must have looked a comical figure as I tiptoed down the steps of our seafront home that morning. I had a good look round, glanced up at the windows of the neighbouring houses, and then, satisfied the coast was clear, went back inside to fetch John. We grabbed our luggage, loaded it into the boot of the Range Rover and slowly set off across the gravel drive, trying to make as little noise as possible. What a ridiculous, furtive way to carry on and yet it had been our life for so many years now. In advance of our visit, John had been corresponding using a false name, of course with a man named Mario Vilar, head of a relocation agency in Panama. He'd made all the arrangements for our holiday accommodation, and had plenty of ideas about how to make John's dream of buying some land and building a property a reality. A few days into our visit, we went to see Mario in his seventh-floor suite in a high-rise building in the heart of Panama City's banking district. When he asked if he could have his photo taken with us, we had no time to think or make an excuse as his wife Karina appeared with a Polaroid camera and took the picture. The date, July 14, 2006, was automatically burned into the front of the photograph in an orange font. John and I were both conscious that keeping a low profile was very important, but we didn't have time to object. It was just a memento for Mario, we reassured ourselves, and thereafter we didn't give it a lot more thought. Little could we have imagined how that seemingly innocent snap would come back to haunt us 17 months later. Six months after this, in early 2007, I decided to tell our two sons I was thinking of emigrating. I said I was fed up with windswept Seaton Carew; that the house held too many unhappy memories of their father and that every day I was forced to look out over the very spot from where he had set out on his ill-fated canoe outing. 'It's as if my life is on perpetual hold,' I said. Now that all the debts were paid off I told them that I would be putting my two remaining properties on the market and starting a new life. It was the only way I would ever get closure, I said. Though shocked that I supposedly a widow was contemplating moving halfway across the world to a place in which I'd never expressed the slightest interest, Anthony and Mark both supported my decision. It was just another of the wicked lies I told them, which I will regret to my dying day. Before I left for good, I asked the boys if they would like a keepsake from their father's possessions. Mark chose a pair of black onyx cufflinks and his wristwatch, while Anthony opted for his pocket watch, wedding ring and passport. He also selected some books, one of which he later realised had been printed in 2003, long after his dad had supposedly 'died'. Another had an American sticker on it, and Anthony realised that it must have been bought while his supposedly deceased dad was on his travels. But at the time of the handover of their beloved father's personal belongings, the boys were grief-stricken. It was very emotional for me to see their reactions. I was happy that they had something of John's but I felt awful because I was, yet again, deceiving them. John, meanwhile, was already back in Panama where he'd found and bought a small apartment for us to live in while we looked for a place to build our dream home. During this period, he was constantly bombarding me with instructions in preparation for our move emails that were frequently saucy and full of sexual innuendo. He even claimed to have written some of them while sitting on the balcony in the nude. The very thought disgusted me. My husband appeared to be becoming more insane by the day. But when I finally moved out to join him in the autumn of 2007, the picture changed totally. After six long years of hiding, we could live openly together as man and wife. It was lovely, and I was very happy. A mugshot photograph from Cleveland Police of John Darwin - who was later sentenced to prison For the first time in years, John seemed relaxed again. It was as if our marriage was reborn; as if a huge weight had been lifted from both of our shoulders. It was the first time I had felt normal in a very long time. The flat was a modern, top-floor apartment in a four-storey block in a city suburb called El Dorado. I was particularly pleased because there was a small Catholic church within walking distance. That had always been one of my top requirements when looking for a flat. There was a large, open-plan lounge/diner with a cloakroom off, a large, fully-equipped kitchen with white units, and two bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room. Leading off the lounge was a balcony covered with pot plants, which was a very pleasant space to relax. We soon settled into our new way of life, rising early and starting the day on the patio with a breakfast of yoghurt and fresh fruit peaches, melons, mangoes, papaya (my favourite) and bananas. I would potter around the apartment, usually in my bikini, then make the most of the tropical climate by sunbathing on the terrace for an hour or so before the heat became too intense. I marvelled at the exotic, brightly coloured birds I saw from the terrace: parakeets and tiny hummingbirds. It was like having our own personal wildlife display. Not that the show from our balcony was anything compared with what lay in store for us on the plot of rugged land which John had agreed to buy at a cost of $389,000 in Escobal, a small rural village on the shores of Lake Gatun, two hours' drive from the capital. It was at the northern end of the Panama Canal, on the country's north coast. It was partly jungle there were steep ravines and swamps but there were also wide open spaces and some of the land bordered the shores of the lake, meaning it would be ideal for boating. Talk about rose-tinted spectacles. It covered a huge area (481 acres) but there was no running water or electricity and the road to it was rutted with potholes. As per usual, though, John wasn't about to let reality get in the way of his dreams. His plan was to build an eco-tourist resort there, where we'd rear animals and grow fruit to feed our guests the freshest, most perfect organic produce imaginable. He also wanted to spend a further $100,000 building a villa, Jaguar Lodge, where we'd live while developing the resort. And when he'd heard there were plans afoot to build an international airport at the region's main city, Colon, and another bridge over the canal, making the area far more accessible, his mind was made up. It would mean that land prices would shoot up, he'd told me so we'd better move fast. 'It will soon be worth millions,' he bragged. 'And we'll be laughing all the way to the bank.' It was a massive project he was planning in a foreign country where he didn't speak the language and wouldn't be able to communicate with the builders. But the land was, I had to admit, truly gorgeous: home to howler monkeys, tapirs, wild boar, toucans and butterflies galore. On one visit there, for the first time in years, we felt happy to pose for photographs. At last, we thought, we really were anonymous. It wasn't long before the honeymoon was over. John began criticising me for opening what he thought were the wrong sort of Panamanian bank accounts. As far as he was concerned, I could never get things right. He returned to his old self and I realised I'd been naive to think it would be any different. Then John dropped a bombshell. He told me there'd been a change in the law and anyone wanting to be granted permanent resident status would, without exception, need a letter from the police force in their home country, stating that they were 'a person of good character'. Without that, foreigners would only be able to visit on a tourist visa, like the one John held, allowing a stay of only three months at a time. John knew that getting a reference letter from Cleveland Police would be an impossibility; he was there under a false identity and the kind of checks needed for a reference would reveal this. What's more, the Panamanian government were planning a crackdown on foreign nationals overstaying their welcome, and anyone found to be repeatedly renewing their tourist visa to stay in the country illegally would face arrest. John simply wouldn't be able to pop over the border to neighbouring Costa Rica every three months to renew his visa any more. I was astonished to learn that John had known about this for four months and hadn't said a word. That's when he came up with yet another insane plan: he was going to 'come back to life'. He said he'd have to go back to the UK and reinvent himself as John Darwin, so that he could return to Panama with his real identity re-established. For a while I was speechless. 'How?' I finally managed to ask. Simple, he said. He would claim that he had amnesia. He thought that if he went back saying he'd lost his memory and remembered nothing for the past seven years, it would all be fine. I told him he was crazy. But, as usual, he didn't listen. He was sure he knew best. Anne Darwin will donate any proceeds from the book to the RNLI and the RSPCA. A man who spent 43 years in a wheelchair because of a mistaken medical diagnosis is finally re-learning to walk only in his fifties. When Portuguese man Rufino Borrego was 13, he was diagnosed by a Lisbon hospital as having incurable muscular dystrophy. After that he used a wheelchair to get around for more than four decades - until a neurologist realised in 2010 that he in fact suffered from a different disease that weakens the muscles, myasthenia. When Portuguese man Rufino Borrego was 13, he was diagnosed by a Lisbon hospital as having incurable muscular dystrophy (file image) The rare disease can be treated simply by taking asthma medication - and just a year after his new diagnosis, Borrego was able to walk for the first time to his usual neighbourhood cafe. 'We thought it was a miracle,' Manuel Melao, owner of the cafe in Alandroal, southeast Portugal, told the newspaper. Now aged 61, Borrego is able to live a normal life, requiring only two physiotherapy sessions a year. He insists he harbours no ill-feelings against the hospital that made the original diagnosis, acknowledging that myasthenia was almost unknown in the medical profession in the 1960s. Mr Blair's actions led to the inquiries because he took Britain to war in Iraq A serving soldier said that the former PM's comments were 'disgraceful' Former prime minister Tony Blair (pictured on Saturday in LA) said criminal investigations should never have been launched Soldiers hounded over their roles in the Iraq War reacted with fury last night after Tony Blair sought to absolve himself of blame. The former prime minister said criminal investigations should never have been launched. But soldiers and MPs angrily pointed out that Mr Blair's actions led to the inquiries because he ignored expert advice in signing up to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and took Britain to war in Iraq. A Tory MP said the former PM's comments were 'contemptible', while a serving soldier said they were 'disgraceful'. A former Army major said Mr Blair was trying to 'absolve himself' after 'feeding soldiers to the wolves', while the daughter of a tormented soldier said he had 'hung soldiers out to dry' to save himself. In his first comments on the controversial investigations into alleged abuses by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the ex-PM said it was wrong to put soldiers through the 'ordeal' of a criminal probe. Mr Blair said: 'I do not think this process should ever had been put in place. I am very sorry that our soldiers and their families have been put through this ordeal.' But the controversial taxpayer-funded Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which is investigating 1,668 allegations of criminality, was only set up in 2010 to stop soldiers being dragged before the ICC, which Mr Blair signed up to. The ICC's Rome Statute was incorporated into UK law in 2001, meaning Britain had to abide by international law on the battlefield. Mr Blair was also the architect of the Human Rights Act, which became law in 2000. Subsequent legal rulings have extended the reach of human rights to include the actions of soldiers overseas. Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth warned Mr Blair about signing up to the ICC in 2001, saying it would 'inhibit troops on the battlefield'. He said: 'If we are seen to fail to bring people to account then the ICC can step in and over-ride our parliament and our courts and that is completely and utterly intolerable.' The former prime minister met troops in the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq in May 2003 Tony Blair is escorted as he disembarks from a helicopter after arriving by helicopter in Basra, Iraq, in 2005 The Tory MP added: 'It was Blair that insisted we sign up to the ICC. It is absolutely contemptible for him to now say we got it wrong when he was told at the time it was wrong. The man has contributed to putting our troops at risk.' Demi Catterall, whose father Richard was dragged through three probes over the death of an Iraqi 12 years ago and is too unwell to speak, said: 'Tony Blair hasn't been held accountable for anything. This makes my blood boil. He has hung the soldiers out to dry to save himself.' Tory MP Colonel Bob Stewart, who is on the defence select committee, added: 'It is a bit rich coming from Tony Blair. I blame the government for not getting a grip on this years ago. Ihat is a disgrace.' Ex-Army major Milos Stankovic, whose career was destroyed after he was falsely accused of spying in the 1990s, said: 'Tony Blair fed soldiers to the wolves and now he is trying to absolve himself of it.' Former defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth warned Mr Blair about signing up to the ICC in 2001, saying it would 'inhibit troops on the battlefield' Mr Blair was condemned by the Chilcot report for the way he dragged Britain to war in Iraq on flawed intelligence when peaceful options had not been exhausted. But the ICC has said he will not face war crime charges because his decision to go to war in Iraq is outside its jurisdiction. A serving soldier quizzed by Ihat, who cannot be named, said: 'Am I going to get someone like Pol Pot on my side next? He's got a nerve.' Another serviceman, who lives in constant fear of being dragged through a probe, added: 'This is disgraceful. It is Tony Blair who should be in front of a judge.' Ian Sadler, whose son Jack was killed in Afghanistan, added: 'When did Tony Blair start caring about British soldiers?' A 12-year-old girl was dragged from her bed by a stranger who tried to abduct her during a sleepover with friends. She and two other girls, also aged 12, were sleeping in her grandparents' lounge room when a man entered the house in Gladstone, north of Brisbane, through an unlocked back door about 1am on Sunday. Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow said the alleged offender laid down on the mattress beside one of the young girls. Scroll down for video A 24-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly dragged a sleeping 12-year-old girl from her bed in a Queensland home 'He has touched her on the outside of clothing. He has then got up and physically dragged the young victim from the house into the backyard,' Det Insp Shadlow said. 'The screams of the young girl and her friends alerted the grandfather of the victim to what was occurring. He has run outside and the offender has decamped.' Det Insp Shadlow said the 'random' attack was 'obviously quite scary' for the girl. 'She's obviously very shaken. She has some minor injuries from the ordeal, some scratches and some slight bruising,' he said. 'For this to occur, you don't imagine happening [at a sleepover].' Det Insp Shadlow said the girl's grandfather who came to the aid of his granddaughter acted the way most people would in this scenario. Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow (left) said the offender laid down on the mattress beside one of the young girls. 'He was reacting to what he heard that night, which is screams of his granddaughter and her young friends as well,' he said. 'He did what I imagine what any grandfather or father would do.' Investigations led police to an address at Seaview Heights later that day about 1.30pm. When police arrived at the address, a man ran away from the home and sparked a widespread search in the Seaview heights and Clinton areas. Detectives, uniformed police and the dog squad were called into to help. Eventually a 24-year-old man, from Sunset, was found in a backyard of a home about 8.15pm and was taken into custody. He has been charged with one count each of abduction of a child under 16 years of age, assault, entering dwelling with intent, indecent treatment of a child under 16 and obstructing police. He was denied police bail and remanded in custody to appear in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday morning. Sir Michael Fallon has been accused of 'gagging' a senior officer and three soldiers Sir Michael Fallon has been accused of 'gagging' a senior officer and three soldiers who planned to tell an inquiry how they were hounded by investigators over the Iraq war. The soldiers and the commanding officer of a major now facing prosecution were banned from appearing before MPs on the orders of the Defence Secretary. The soldiers, under investigation by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, had planned to tell the Commons defence committee how they had been 'left to rot' by the Army. The senior officer, who wanted to blow the whistle on tactics used by Ihat detectives, was also stopped by the Ministry of Defence from giving evidence. One soldier wrote to Tory MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army captain, saying: 'I have been gagged by the SoS [Secretary of State Sir Michael] from giving evidence to the committee.' The MoD said 'it is nonsense to suggest the military have been gagged', adding it had a 'long-standing' policy that serving soldiers could not give evidence in a personal capacity. But Mr Mercer said last night: 'This is nonsense. They were told they would not be given permission to appear. We have highlighted the number of times soldiers have given evidence to a committee.' The committee, which launched the inquiry after a Daily Mail campaign to end the witch-hunt against troops, held an initial hearing in June. It can now be revealed that ministers will be hauled before the inquiry to give evidence. The Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning is due to appear, but Mr Mercer is demanding that both Sir Michael and the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Nick Carter, also give evidence. The inquiry was intended to look at how troops hounded for incidents a decade ago could be better supported. PARA HERO: GUTLESS MoD WON'T BACK OUR TROOPS Ex-major Milos Stankovic, who was decorated by the Queen for bravery, said the government was guilty of 'self-cannibalism' A former paratrooper whose career was destroyed after he was falsely accused of spying described the Ministry of Defence as 'gutless immoral cowards who won't stand up for their troops'. In a letter to the Daily Mail, Ex-major Milos Stankovic, who was decorated by the Queen for bravery, said the government was guilty of 'self-cannibalism' in its hounding of Iraq War troops through Ihat and Operation Northmoor. He added that he had recently advised a 20-year-old man to join the French Foreign Legion and not the British Army because of what he called the MoD's 'hunger for scapegoats'. Mr Stankovic, who fought for seven years to clear himself of spying charges, said: 'The MoD's appetite for pursuing its own troops through the courts is an act of self-cannibalism that dismays but does not surprise me.' Advertisement Soldiers volunteered to give evidence about what help the MoD offered those under investigation by Ihat. It is understood their testimony would have included accounts of how Ihat's inquiries had destroyed the careers and shattered the mental health of some troops. But the soldiers were told the day before the session they had been barred from appearing, The Sunday Times reported. After the ban, a major facing prosecution for manslaughter wrote to Sir Michael last month venting his frustration and volunteering to face a war crimes trial at The Hague. Tulsa officer Betty Shelby, 42, (pictured) has turned herself in to jail after being charged with the first-degree manslaughter of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher The officer charged with first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Terence Crutcher has turned herself in to jail. Court documents say that Tulsa officer Betty Shelby, 42, 'reacted unreasonably' when she fatally shot the 40-year-old Crutcher. She was formally charged on Thursday with manslaughter and turned herself in on Friday. Shelby was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled for an initial court appearance on September 30. If convicted, she faces at least four years in prison, lawyers said. Shelby fatally shot Crutcher on September 16 and an affidavit filed with the charge says Shelby 'reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation from a confrontation with Mr. Crutcher, who was not responding to verbal commands and was walking away from her with his hands held up, becoming emotionally involved to the point that she over reacted'. Dashcam and aerial footage was released days after the shooting. Scroll down for video She was formally charged on Thursday with manslaughter and turned herself in on Friday. She has since been released on a $50,000 bond Shelby fatally shot Crutcher on September 16 and an affidavit filed with the charge says Shelby 'reacted unreasonably by escalating the situation' The incident, which was captured on police videos, has intensified scrutiny over the use of excessive force and claims of racial bias by U.S. law enforcement officials against minorities. Charlotte in North Carolina has seen several nights of protests, some of them violent, after the fatal shooting of a black man by police there on Tuesday. In two videos provided by Tulsa police, Crutcher can be seen with his hands in the air shortly before he was shot. Tulsa police have said Crutcher was unarmed and there was no weapon in the vehicle. They released the videos, one of which was taken from a police helicopter and the other from a dashboard camera in a patrol car, in a bid for transparency. Shelby said she was traveling to another call when she came upon Crutcher, whose broken-down SUV was blocking a road. Crutcher's funeral (pictrued) was held on Sunday as hundreds packed a church to remember his life Some who attended Saturday said they hoped the service could help draw attention to future incidents involving police officers and black men She said he did not respond to her questions and did not respond to her commands to stop as he walked to his vehicle with his hands in the air, it said. Crutcher's funeral was held on Sunday as hundreds packed a church to remember his life. One of the speakers at the funeral was Crutcher family attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons. He told that crowd that 'it could have been me,' before reciting the names of black residents who died after police encounters nationwide in recent years. 'Just like Terence, I'm 40; just like Terence, I'm bald; just like Terence, some think I'm a bad dude,' Simmons said. Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett also spoke at the service. 'Too many young people have died in this community, way too many,' the mayor told attendees. 'We must stand up and say no more.' Others who attended Saturday said they hoped the service could help draw attention to future incidents involving police officers and black men. Tulsa resident Wanda Armstrong, 69, said she hopes Crutcher's killing will bring better scrutiny after similar incidents across the country. Gary Johnson may be running for President of the US, but the Libertarian candidate is aiming for the stars after after stating in a television interview that the future of the human race will require us learning to live on other planets. 'We do have to inhabit other planets. The future of the human race is space exploration,' Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico told ABC News after being asked on how he would address the issues posed by climate change. Five years ago Johnson was also asked about a comment he made about climate change back in 2011, when he said that 'in billions of years the sun is going to actually and encompass the earth.' Gary Johnson was asked for his thoughts on climate change during Sunday's interview When asked about it on This Week, the Libertarian candidate said today that he had been joking at the time. 'Can't we have a little humor once in a while?' he said. 'And that is long term. Plate tectonics, at one point Africa and South America separated, and I am talking now about the earth and the fact that we have existed for billions of years and will going forward.' Johnson's stated position on climate change has been an acceptance of science, but a rejection of the notion that government or international treaties can solve the problem. His remarks represent the third time in as many weeks that the Libertarian Party nominee has made a bizarre and eye-popping statement. Out of his mind: Johnson claims that the human race will have to move to other planets in order to survive, so clearly he is looking beyond the current presidential race Earlier this month, Johnson's mind went blank after he was asked during an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe how he would handle the humanitarian crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo, one of the worst-hit in the nation's devastating civil war. 'What would you do, if you were elected, about Aleppo?' commentator Mike Barnicle asked. 'And what is Aleppo?' a confused Johnson replied. 'You're kidding,' Barnicle said. 'Aleppo is in Syria, it's the epicenter of the refugee crisis.' 'Okay. Got it. Got it,' Johnson said, before detailing his concerns for Syria. Last week, Johnson misspoke when he said he was glad that 'nobody got hurt' in the Chelsea explosion and Minnesota stabbing attacks that left dozens of people injured. Johnson won't be able to join Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Monday nights first presidential debate after polling less than 15 percent, the minimum set by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a decision which he criticized. 'The panel is made up of Republicans and Democrats that just have no intention whatsoever in seeing anyone other than a Republican or Democrat on the debate stage,' he said. If he reaches the 15 percent threshold in polls later in the fall, he would become eligible to participate in subsequent debates. Theresa May last night launched a blistering fightback against attempts by allies of David Cameron to make her look soft on immigration. Friends of Mrs May revealed she had written to Mr Cameron at least twice when he was PM to demand stricter border controls and a brake on EU immigration only to be ignored. And they said that, when Mrs May spoke publicly about the need for tougher rules on immigration, Mr Cameron's team slapped her down or complained. The explosive row was triggered by the publication of two new books on the referendum campaign, one of which was written by Mr Cameron's ex-spin doctor, Sir Craig Oliver. Theresa May (right) last night launched a blistering fightback against attempts by allies of David Cameron (left) to make her look soft on immigration Mr Cameron's allies attacked Mrs May for failing to give her full backing to the Remain camp as it slumped to a historic defeat on June 23. They also said she had failed to back him on the idea of a brake to limit the number of EU migrants pouring in, leading to Mr Cameron dumping the idea. Friends of Mrs May are worried the attacks are part of a concerted attack by a rump of Cameron supporters to destabilise her Government. Sir Craig was not the source of the claims about Mrs May scuppering the emergency brake. This originated with two other unnamed Cameron allies. The contested allegations come only days after George Osborne made his own attack on Mrs May for her handling of the Brexit negotiations so far with tensions between the two rival camps now threatening to boil over. Sir Craig, who was knighted by Mr Cameron, said his old boss asked Mrs May 13 times to 'come off the fence' and give a full-throated endorsement of the EU but was 'stonewalled'. In his book, Unleashing Demons, he described her as a 'submarine' and 'sphinx-like' and suggested her silence was calculated to benefit from a Leave win. Mrs May only nailed her colours to the mast, he claimed, after Mr Cameron became so 'wound up' during a phone call that he hung up on her. The row was triggered by the publication of two new books on the referendum campaign, one of which was written by Mr Cameron's ex-spin doctor, Sir Craig Oliver (pictured) Sir Craig wrote: '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.' In a second book, by Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, friends of Mr Cameron branded Mrs May 'lily livered' for allegedly telling him not to press ahead with plans for an emergency brake on EU migrants. At a meeting in November 2014, she is said to have pointed out that Germany and Angela Merkel would not approve of the idea. This led to Mr Cameron dropping the plan only hours before he was due to make a major speech on what his EU negotiation demands would be, it is claimed. The unnamed aides say that, had Mrs May not blown Mr Cameron off course, he could have won the referendum and still be inside No 10. 'SHE'LL BE PM IN SIX MONTHS' David Cameron predicted Theresa May would take over from him even getting the month right. The former prime minister's spin chief, Sir Craig Oliver, said Mr Cameron said at the end of January that Mrs May could take over from him in six months. '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,' Sir Craig said. 'DC [David Cameron] looks wistfully out of the window and says: 'Well, it may work for her. She could be PM in six months' time'.' Mrs May became Prime Minister on July 13, five-and-a-half months later. The book also reveals Mr Cameron believed he was forced into holding the EU referendum for fear of 'unleashing demons' in his party. The phrase used by the former PM in a conversation with Sir Craig is the title of his book on the inside story of Brexit. Advertisement The account was fiercely contested by Downing Street, which described it as 'utterly untrue'. Sources said Mrs May had repeatedly pressed for stricter border controls. Writing to Mr Cameron in November 2014, she explicitly called for an emergency brake. Crucially, she also wrote to the PM in May 2015 when his negotiations were beginning to again call for a brake. Senior Tories leapt to Mrs May's defence accusing the Cameron camp of being embittered about losing power and trying to blame anybody but themselves. Ex-Cabinet Minister Iain Duncan Smith said: 'These are the people who arrogantly believed they had the keys to the kingdom. Now they have been knocked aside and they simply cannot cope with it.' The former Tory leader also made a withering attack on Sir Craig's decision to write his book, saying: 'In the past, a knight of the realm who had failed in battle and lost would have quit the field and retired in humility to better understand their own failings. I sat in Cabinet and watched Theresa May as she argued for stronger control of migration from the EU, often against others who later ran the Remain campaign.' Sir Craig said last night: 'Iain appears to have got the wrong end of the stick. I have not made the specific allegations he claims. The book is a sincere and honest attempt to explain what went wrong and I take full responsibility for the mistakes made by the campaign.' A spokesman for Mrs May said: 'It is completely and utterly untrue to suggest that Theresa did not want immigration controls to be part of David Cameron's EU renegotiation.' Tears, hugs and back slaps in touchy-feely Downing St Life at No 10 was a never-ending round of tears, hugs and back slaps, according to Sir Craig Oliver. Among the toe-curling touchy-feely incidents he highlights are how David Cameron's team descended into tears on the night of the referendum as it dawned on them that they were doomed to defeat. The former spin doctor said he 'knew [Mr Cameron] had already made up his mind to go... There was some pushing back and forth. I felt tears welling in my eyes'. When Mr Cameron said he would stand down, and moved towards the door, Sir Craig said he couldn't think of anything to do other than 'slap him on the back'. When Mr Cameron delivered his resignation speech, Kate Fall, his deputy chief of staff, was also 'in tears'. Sir Craig writes how: '[Cameron] gets to the final sentences about loving his country and begins to choke up, just about getting to the end without crying.' Back inside No 10 Mr Cameron 'gives me a big hug and I feel the tears well up in my eyes'. Mr Cameron's wife Samantha also hugged him. Mrs Cameron was said to have veered between deep distress and bouts of ice cold fury over Brexit. Boris told Cameron that Brexit would be crushed... minutes before backing Leave Boris Johnson told David Cameron he believed the Out campaign would be 'crushed' just minutes before coming out for Leave. The former London mayor 'flip-flopped' over his EU referendum stance on the weekend before he made his decision, according to Mr Cameron's spin chief. Mr Johnson was 'in turmoil' and 'depressed' over which way he was going to jump, and at one point he 'wobbled' and texted the then PM to say was going to back Remain. In one of his messages, he said Brexit would be 'crushed like the toad beneath the harrow' a quote from a Rudyard Kipling poem. The revelations about Mr Johnson's 'dithering' are in a book by Sir Craig Oliver, Mr Cameron's former director of communications. Boris Johnson told David Cameron he believed the Out campaign would be 'crushed' just minutes before coming out for Leave It shows that Mr Cameron believed that, despite coming out for Leave, Mr Johnson had always been a 'confused Inner'. Mr Johnson, now Foreign Secretary, announced which way he was going to go on Sunday, February 21. The previous day, at 9am, he sent the Prime Minister a message saying he would be backing Out during a meeting Mr Cameron was holding in Downing Street with George Osborne, Sir Craig and others. Sir Craig reveals: 'He then reads it out. It begins by saying how he has been a tortured soul, but he has to 'go with his heart'. He suggests at the end we will end up staying in.' But four hours later, Mr Johnson appeared to have had second thoughts. Sir Craig wrote: 'There's been another text suggesting he might change his mind and back Remain.' The next day, Mr Johnson made his decision public in a shambolic press conference outside his home in Islington, North London. Sir Craig said Mr Cameron 'received a final text from Boris just nine minutes before he told the world'. A spokesman for Mr Johnson declined to comment last night. Dave and Gove STILL aren't speaking Ex-spin doctor Sir Craig Oliver labels Michael Gove a political 'suicide bomber' who David Cameron did not consider fit to run the country. The book lays bare how the former Justice Secretary's decision to campaign for Leave destroyed his close friendship with the ex-Prime Minister. Mr Cameron and Mr Gove have not spoken directly to each other since a frosty phone call on the morning the EU result was announced. Mr Cameron was so angry with 'deceitful' Mr Gove's pro-Brexit attacks that he threatened to denounce him publicly on television. A 16-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed on Sunday night after a fight broke out at an annual Muslim festival, known as the Sacrifice Feast, in north Melbourne. The teenager was injured during at the two-day-long Islamic Eid Festival, which marks the Eid Al-Adha holiday and the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca, in the suburb of Dallas, a Victoria police spokeswoman said. 'Investigators have been told that a number of people were involved in an altercation near Gibb Reserve around 8.25pm,' she said. Scroll down for video A 16-year-old boy was allegedly stabbed on Sunday night after a fight broke out at the annual Islamic Eid Festival, a two-day-long Muslim holiday, in the north Melbourne suburb of Dallas (pictured is the 2015 festival) WHAT IS THE SACRIFICE FEAST? The Islamic Eid Festival, known as Eid-ul-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice, marks two significant Islamic events - the culmination of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, and God's (Allah) command to Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ismail. It is celebrated from the 10th to the 13ths annually during the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Source: Why Islam? Advertisement 'A 16-year-old boy is believed to have been stabbed during the incident.' 'Police dispersed the crowd and the boy was taken to hospital suffering non-life threatening injuries.' The boy was stabbed in the upper body, according to Nine News. He is in stable condition at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Police said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the argument. The investigation is ongoing. Officers said they broke up the crowd and the boy was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries The event, which is also known as the Sacrifice Feast or Festival of the Sacrifice, marks the end of the annual Hajj to Mecca When he arrived for his first day in Downing Street in 2011, Craig Oliver (pictured) was mocked for sporting huge and trendy white 'Beats' headphones As it sank in that the EU referendum was lost, Craig Oliver, one of the architects of Downing Street's reckless Project Fear, walked out of the front door of No 10. Dawn had broken and, while the final votes were still being counted, Oliver, who was David Cameron's communications chief, stumbled into Whitehall. The description of this moment in his memoir is melodramatic to say the least. '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,' he writes. 'I suddenly retch harder than I have done in my life. Nothing comes up. I retch again so hard it feels as I'll turn inside out.' It's rather more information, perhaps, than readers might want and leaves us in no doubt that the Brexit result hit him hard. However, unlike the rest of Cameron's kitchen cabinet of Remainers, Oliver had organised himself a lucrative insurance policy if things went wrong. To the irritation of many ministers and civil servants, he made little secret of the fact that he had been keeping detailed notes about the daily dramas of his time in Downing Street. One minister told me: 'When Oliver arrived he took the deeply cynical view that he would exploit his privileged access not for the benefit of contemporary political history but to line his pocket and help him bag a big corporate job. 'The fact his memoir is out already shows you how advanced it was even before he left. If he had spent more time honing the government message, rather than his own, Cameron might still be PM.' Former PM David Cameron arrived with Craig Oliver (right) at the BBC TV centre in Birmingham for the Andrew Marr Show Brought in from the BBC to replace No 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson, Oliver rapidly discovered that his predecessor was a hard act to follow. Coulson is of course the disgraced former editor of the News of the World who was jettisoned by Downing Street in 2011 because of the hacking scandal and jailed for his part in it in 2014. Yet, despite his unacceptable behaviour at the newspaper, Coulson's red-blooded tabloid instincts had been highly successful in getting the Tory message across. His spin operation was well regarded by politicians and aides. Coulson was also a rare beast in Cameron's privileged inner circle in that he was a working-class Tory who went to an Essex comprehensive school and he never hesitated to tell Cameron when he thought he was wrong. Many Tory MPs and government aides feared Oliver wouldn't have the same sharp skills and was far too 'metropolitan' for the job. When he arrived for his first day in Downing Street in February 2011, Oliver was mocked for sporting huge, but ultra-trendy, white 'Beats' headphones, earning him the nickname of Dr Dre, after the rap artist who makes them. It was not long before the MPs and advisers were proved correct in their misgivings. Oliver was no Andy Coulson he wasn't as clever or as cunning. Yet Cameron who ironically had opted for Oliver precisely because he was a scandal-free BBC pen-pusher came to rely on him more and more heavily. But where Coulson had led with his heart, say insiders, Oliver led with a clipboard. Coulson got things done, whereas Oliver talked a good game but achieved little in true BBC style. Oliver, 47, grew up in Scotland and went to state school followed by St Andrews University after which he joined a small Scottish TV station. He was married to BBC News presenter Joanna Gosling and they have three daughters but the couple split up after he entered Downing Street. By his early 30s, he was a senior executive at ITV News and in 2006, the BBC poached him to edit the News at Ten. Then came the jump to Downing Street. One of the people who recommended him for the job was Nick Robinson, then political editor of the BBC, who is a friend. Mr Cameron's director of communications was photographed wearing large headphones as he arrived at No10 in February 2016 Nevertheless it was a surprise appointment. Robert Peston, who was the BBC's business editor at the time, said: 'Despite working closely with Craig Oliver for three years I had no clue about his politics or that he was interested in politics.' Five years later, his political beliefs are still a mystery. One minister said last night: 'There is no evidence that Oliver is a Conservative. I never heard him come up with a genuinely Conservative idea. I do recall him being dismissive of our attempts to reform welfare. He's not a Tory he's just made a career out of being loyal to David Cameron.' There's no doubt that in his time at Downing Street he became one of the most trusted members of the inner circle. Oliver also jealously guarded his territory, shutting out some ministers from seeing Cameron if they weren't on message. 'When things were going wrong Oliver shielded Cameron from it. So the PM had no idea about the scale of the revolt on things like gay marriage,' said the minister. 'Oliver was part of that snooty metropolitan elite who bought into all that rubbish about gay marriage detoxifying the Tory brand.' His white 'Beats' headphones earned him the nickname of Dr Dre, after the rap artist who makes them For the most part, Oliver ran a disciplined but unimaginative media operation but he saw his main job as ensuring Cameron looked and sounded good on TV. In the last parliament, with the polls suggesting Labour's Ed Miliband could become Prime Minister, a number of senior Tory peers went to see Cameron to protest about Oliver, who they regarded as too lightweight. Cameron would not listen. 'He was badly burned by losing Coulson and was unwilling to lose another communications chief so he closed his ears to the fact Oliver wasn't very good,' said one peer. Fiercely loyal to Cameron, Oliver never hesitated to use the black arts to undermine politicians he decided had not been sufficiently supportive. Theresa May, then Home Secretary, was high on his hit list. In the spring of 2013, Nick Robinson revealed that Mrs May was regarded in Downing Street as being 'grotesquely naive' for allowing her name to be touted as a successor to Cameron. Where did Robinson get that idea? Oliver was spotted having coffee with him in Westminster's Portcullis House barely an hour before the hostile report appeared. Oliver is a committed Europhile, so it was natural that Cameron turned to him when he needed a trusted ally to oversee the campaign to keep Britain in the EU. He worked with Britain Stronger In Europe, the official Remain campaign, helping to create Project Fear which was designed to scare people into voting to stay in the EU. He was responsible for generating many of the ludicrously over-the-top economic warnings which were dismissed at the time as a scaremongering. As we now know, the campaign was considered too overblown and too negative by voters and it showed that Oliver had woefully underestimated the depths of public concern about immigration. 'He sneered at people who went on about immigration,' said a senior Brexiteer. A report in the behaviour of Paul Evans before LowCostHolidays' collapse is being will be passed to the Government The controversial tycoon behind the collapse of one of Britains biggest online holiday firms is at the centre of an investigation probing the failure. A report into the behaviour of Paul Evans, founder of LowCostHolidays, and other directors, before the collapse of the business will be passed to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Administrator Smith & Williamson launched the inquiry after more than 137,000 travellers had their summer holidays thrown into chaos. Up to 400 staff lost their jobs. It said: As with all formal insolvency appointments, the administrators have a statutory duty to investigate the behaviour of the directors prior to the failure of the business and to make a report. These investigations are ongoing and will take some months due to the complexity of the business. Evans controversially moved the firms offices to Spain in 2013 to avoid having to contribute towards an expensive industry safety net in the UK. LowCostHolidays sold trips to British customers from the overseas offices but the move meant customers no longer benefited from the ATOL scheme, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority and which protects travellers if the firm they booked with has gone bust. The firm sold some 500 million of holidays a year. In an update, administrators said they recognised the frustration felt by people caused by the failure of the business. Greg Clark (pictured) is the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and heads the department that will look into the report Smith & Williamson said it had received more than 30,000 emails sent by customers who want answers to when and if they will receive any refund from the group. Attempts by the companys directors to sell parts of the business in the run up to its collapse had failed. For the Labour Party I love, the party I have devoted more than 50 years of my life to serving, the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader is a catastrophe. Im in despair at this calamitous situation. I honestly cannot see how were going to get out of it. Most readers, of course, will not be lifelong party members like me. Perhaps you think that this is merely a Westminster matter. Scroll down for video David Blunkett: For the Labour Party I love, the party I have devoted more than 50 years of my life to serving, the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader is a catastrophe Jeremy Corbyns position as leader of Her Majestys Opposition has been reinforced by a vote, and thats just politics. Does it affect real life? The answer is a resounding yes. This is about the immediate future of British democracy. There has to be a credible opposition party, one that the wider public can trust. If not, there will be a permanent Conservative majority in the Commons, with nobody to keep the government honest and accountable. And even for the most dyed-in-the-wool Tories that is very bad news. For the country, its an utter disaster. Everyone should be as concerned as I am. The Labour Party under Corbyn is not electable. I am at a loss to understand what the 313,000 members who voted for him believe they can really achieve in the next three years, and what the eventual outcome will be, other than annihilation at a general election in 2020. They have shown that they are completely disconnected from the broad electorate and, when that happens to a party, it ceases to be relevant. Thats my worst political nightmare a Labour Party that doesnt connect to the lives of ordinary working people. Jeremy Corbyns position as leader of Her Majestys Opposition has been reinforced by a vote, and thats just politics. Does it affect real life? Much of the support for Corbyn exists on social media, in online forums such as Facebook and Twitter. I can appreciate that for the activists constantly parroting each others soundbites, it must be deeply satisfying to be surrounded by the echoes of their own voices. But its a terrible mistake to imagine that noise is the voice of the whole country. With the backing of Britain, Labour leaders in the past have achieved massive social changes. We did not establish the National Health Service by being a protest movement. David Blunkett, former Labour Home Secretary from 2001-2004 We did it by uniting millions of people. And thats what Jeremy Corbyn can never do. Hes a past master at the art of opposition. Hes been opposing the government, whether its Tory, Labour or Coalition, since he first entered the Commons in 1983. And thats all he can do. He could never lead a government, because he has no experience of it and no aptitude for it. My own experience tells me so. I joined Labour when I was 16 years old in 1963, the year The Beatles had their first No 1. I became the youngest member of Sheffield City Council in 1970, and I was elected leader of that council ten years later. My own politics were left of centre, but I was able to work with men and women with widely differing convictions because we all wanted the same thing: a Labour government. Thats why, as part of the National Executive, I was instrumental in fighting and expelling the Trotskyite Militant Tendency during the 1980s. Some of those people are the same ones who are steering the Momentum organisation that now backs Corbyn. Labour is my lifeblood. All of us who love the party have to fight to take it back. But that doesnt mean a knee-jerk reaction, setting up an alternative movement to seize the middle ground. If we attempt to do that, without thinking it through very carefully, well be doomed to failure. My worst political nightmare a Labour Party that doesnt connect to the lives of ordinary working people The Corbyn wing controls all the money and the party machinery, for a start. MPs who try to break away will be powerless. I was against the peremptory move to dislodge Corbyn this summer, because we werent prepared for the battle. We hadnt made enough of an effort to recruit ordinary people to the party, to combat the extremists. And we didnt have any clear idea of our goals, other than Corbyn must go. It would be madness to carry on like that. We have to stop, take deep breaths and start talking. For those who demand acquiescence and see even the writing of this article as betrayal, I have one question: Do you really believe that repeating someone elses message, and swearing that Jeremy can lead Labour to victory, can change reality? The great political novelist George Orwell wrote in the late 1930s that the problem with Marxists is that they dont have any clue whats going on in normal peoples heads. Thats as true today as it was before the Second World War. Much of the support for Corbyn exists on social media, in online forums such as Facebook and Twitter The people running Momentum are modern-day Marxists. And they are incapable of seeing that Britain will never vote for Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister, when he has no concept of national security. He doesnt want to fight terrorism he cant even bring himself to denounce Palestinian terrorists or the IRA. He has already said he would never push the nuclear button, and I strongly suspect he could never sanction any kind of war at all. A Britain led by this man would be vulnerable and helpless, and the electorate knows it. All the Twitter and Facebook slogans in the world wont change that. Labour is a great party, founded by great men. I ask myself what our past leaders, visionaries such as Keir Hardie and Clement Attlee, would make of this current mess. I strain to hear their voices down the ages, and I think they would be as speechless with dismay as I am. One of Britains largest online holiday rental firms is facing an angry customer backlash after introducing new hidden charges. Owners Direct added a service fee of up to 299 for holidaymakers who book through its website in June. The charge has sparked fury among home-owners, who already pay a 299 fee to advertise their properties. They claim the tariff has led to a slump in bookings and accused the firm of corporate greed. The company has also been accused of hiding the charge, which works on a sliding scale of four to eight per cent depending on price plus VAT from holidaymakers. While it is included in the advertised price of the rental, customers must navigate through two pop-up boxes for a costs breakdown which reveals the charge. Owners Direct added a service fee of up to 299 for holidaymakers who book through its website in June. The charge has sparked fury among home-owners using the site The change follows the buyout last year of Owners Directs parent company, Texas-based HomeAway, by Expedia. Sue Ayre, 56, advertised her cottage in Cyprus on the website for two years but has now withdrawn it. She said: Its a total disaster enquiries and bookings have fallen off a cliff. 'This is nothing more than a device to earn more money for the company. Its effectively hidden from guests who have to click through boxes to find out it is added to the price. Hundreds of owners have voiced their anger on reviews website Trust Pilot, giving Owners Direct an average 0.4 out of 10. Last night, an Owners Direct spokeswoman said: The service fee is displayed in appropriate prominence and we do not have any records of any confusion with travellers in relation to this fee. She's one of the world's top supermodels who has this year marked 20 years in the business. And Australian stunner Miranda Kerr, 33, has said that she took her career with a grain of salt. The brunette mother of one told Stellar Magazine: 'It's kind of weird - I never took modelling very seriously.' Scroll down for video 'I never took it seriously': Australian stunner Miranda Kerr, 33, has said that she took her career with a grain of salt (seen in May 2015) She added she decided that modelling could be lucrative and would earn her a living but said she never really wanted to be a model. 'I never really had that desire to be a model.' The engaged star added she's now achieved what she wants to in modelling and wants to focus on her family. Adding to her brood? Miranda is engaged to Snapchat founder and tech entrepreneur Evan Spiegel, 26, and said she isn't opposed to having more children with Evan Miranda is engaged to Snapchat founder and tech entrepreneur Evan Spiegel, 26, and said she is open to having more children with Evan. 'I am very content with just having one, but I am definitely open to the possibility of having more.' She added their upcoming wedding will be 'small and intimate.' The pair announced their engagement in July, after having dated for a year. Sweet: The pair announced their engagement in July, after having dated for a year 'They are extremely happy,' a spokesperson for the Snapchat CEO told DailyMail.com exclusively. Miranda later shared an image of her stunning sparkler to Instagram confirming that Evan had indeed asked her to be his wife, with the beaming message: 'I said yes!!!' Miranda first started her career having won the Dolly model search at the tender age of 13. The US-based star went on to appear in Westfield catalogues before posing for brands including Portmans and Billabong. Back in the day: Miranda first started her career having won the Dolly model search at the tender age of 13 Doing well: The US-based star went on to appear in Westfield catalogues before posing for brands including Portmans and Billabong Over her career, she has walked for the likes of Alex Perry and Roberto Cavalli before becoming Australia's first Victoria's Secret Angel in 2007. In 2013, after six years with the lingerie giant, her contract with the brand was not renewed. Us Weekly reporting that Miranda had a 'difficult reputation' and was not a 'big seller for VS.' On the runway: Over her career, she has walked for the likes of Alex Perry and Roberto Cavalli before becoming Australia's first Victoria's Secret Angel in 2007 (seen walking for the lingerie giant in 2012) That was contradicted by other reports - Page Six was told that she couldn't commit to the three months of work Victoria's Secret wanted her to do - and a statement from the brand's president Ed Razek. When rumours of her splitting from the label in 2013 swirled, Ed said: 'While her international commitments have kept her away from us more than we'd like over the past few years, she will always be an angel to me.' In October 2009, Miranda established her organic skincare line called Kora Organics and has gone on to do collections for Royal Albert and Swarovski. According to RichestCelebrities.org, the statuesque stunner has a networth of US$20 million. Not many details have been revealed about the newly announced film, Tully. However, Charlize Theron was spotted on Saturday in Vancouver, Canada filming day two for the Jason Reitman-directed movie. She plays a mother-of-three, and the 41-year-old actress looked the part as she was seen filming in a denim maxi dress while wearing a pregnant bodysuit underneath. Day two: Charlize Theron wore a fake baby bump underneath her denim maxi dress on Saturday while filming in Vancouver for the Jason Reitman-directed film, Tully The Oscar-winning actress appeared to be getting into character as she donned a full-length, light denim dress that was adorned with pockets and a few buttons along the top. Her short blonde locks were loosely styled while she wore a chain around her neck and beige boots. Walking with a downcast expression, Charlize held a coffee cup in her hand, staying focused on her scenes. Getting into character: The Oscar-winning actress wore a downcast expression as she focused on her scenes Make-up free and marvelous: The Mad Max star, who wore only a touch of make-up, sported a natural and beautiful look on set Playing the part: The 41-year-old actress plays the main character, Marlo, who is a mother-of-three including a newborn baby The Snow White And The Huntsman actress was also seen a day earlier on Friday, yet instead, cradling a newborn baby without wearing the fake baby bump. Raising three children in the film, Charlize plays the main character Marlo who was gifted a night nanny by her brother, and to her surprise, formed a unique bond with the unique young nanny. Written by Diablo Cody, Tully also stars The Martian's Mackenzie Davis, though it is not known who she will play in the film. Doting: The mother-of-two was seen holding a newborn while filming Tully on Friday Beaming: Charlize was seen without her fake baby bump while holding the newborn This role is not far off for the South African-born beauty as she has two children of her own: five-year-old son Jackson who she adopted in March 2012 and her baby daughter, August, who she adopted in July of 2015. Charlize - who was recently featured in the animated film Kubo And The Two Strings - will appear as a villain in the upcoming Fast And Furious 8 in April 2017. She will also play an undercover agent in the film, The Coldest City, set during The Cold War period, which releases August of 2017. Her second one has not even arrived yet, but this model is already planning to have another baby. Blac Chyna has two months to go in her pregnancy but has revealed she wants more children with fiance Rob Kardashian. The heavily pregnant star stepped out in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday with son King Cairo - and while she already had her hands full carrying her toddler while bumping along, the 28-year-old says she is not done yet. Just the two of us... for now: Blac Chyna stepped out in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday with son King Cairo as she revealed she wants more children Just before heading out, the Rob & Chyna star took to Snapchat telling fans: 'I can honestly see myself having more kids, honestly, truly.' Sharing a chat from a reclined position, with a filter which added a floral garland, the 32-weeks pregnant star also revealed that she and Rob have picked out a name for their daughter. 'Yes, I have picked out a name. Me and Rob [sic] both love it - it's super girlie and you'll never guess what it is.' The star also shared that she has gained a lot of weight during her pregnancy. More babies: The 28-year-old told followers on Snapchat, 'I can honestly see myself having more kids, honestly, truly' Keeping mum: Adding a filter which gave her a floral garland, the 32-weeks pregnant star also revealed that she and Rob have picked out a name for their daughter but is keeping it a secret In a Snapchat she explained that during her first pregnancy with King she was 140 pounds at the start and 185 pounds at the end. However, she said she expected to beat that this time around. 'With my second pregnancy now with my baby girl, I started at 130 (pounds) and now I'm 185 and I'm still gaining weight.' 'I' still gaining wight': The video vixen revealed that she has put on 55 pounds but expects to be closer to 200 pounds by the time she delivers Blooming beauty: Chyna was certainly looking lovely as she stepped out with King for a spot of shopping Downtown Bumping along: For their trip, the star highlighted her bump by wearing a tight white midi dress which clung to her pregnant physique The beauty salon owner - whose real name is Angela White - said that she hasn't exercised during either of her pregnancies and has no intention of doing so. 'I did not work out and I'm not planning on working out,' she explained. With eight weeks to go, Chyna said she is feeling beautiful: 'They say [being pregnant] with boys - they make you pretty and with girls they make you ugly. I don't think that's true.' Just for her: . The star added a light distressed denim jacket to the look and it featured a painting of her face on it Mommy's boy: Walking into the store, King Cairo clung to his mom like a little koala bear Chyna was certainly looking lovely as she stepped out with King for a spot of shopping Downtown. For their trip, the star highlighted her bump by wearing a tight white midi dress which clung to her pregnant physique. The star added a light distressed denim jacket to the look. Good idea: As she is late in her pregnancy, unlike sister-in-law Kim Kardashian, the video vixen skipped high heels in favour of a pair of comfortable sneakers The coat was clearly custom made for the star as it featured a painting of her face on the back. As she is late in her pregnancy, unlike sister-in-law Kim Kardashian, the video vixen skipped high heels in favour of a pair of comfortable sneakers. Reality stars: The couple, who announced their engagement in April, are expecting a baby on November 16 Walking into the store, King Cairo clung to his mom like an adorable little koala bear. King, who turns four next month, is Chyna's son with rapper Tyga who is now dating Rob's sister Kylie Jenner. Her baby girl will be Chyna's second child and Rob's first. In a clip for this Sunday's Rob & Chyna, she took her fiance on a trip down mammary lane as she went back to Sensationals, the gentleman's club where her stripping career began. The 29-year-old reality star said: 'If I ever catch my daughter up in here, boy.' He also told the future Mrs Kardashian: 'I don't ever want you going back here again.' Chyna got a bit sentimental and brought Rob (along with friends and mother Tokyo Toni) to the club. But the dad-to-be wasn't enjoying Chyna's trip down memory lane, making clear he felt it was a sleazy environment he was going to keep their child far away from. Roots: In a clip for this Sunday's Rob & Chyna , she took her fiance on a trip down mammary lane as she went back to Sensationals, the gentleman's club where her stripping career began Former job: Chyna got a bit sentimental and brought Rob (along with friends and mother Tokyo Toni) to the club But Chyna didn't flinch at her fiance's snobbery toward the sultry sirens of the stage. 'I'm proud of where I came from, and I just wanted to show Rob what I had to go through,' she said, 'and the environment that I had to be in to make me this person.' The couple, who announced their engagement in April, revealed in May that they're expecting a baby on November 16. New episodes of Rob & Chyna premiere Sunday on E! at 9/8c. They both have little ones of their own at home but these two stars have plenty of love to go around. Kristen Bell and Jordana Brewster were using their star snuggle power to make some seriously big smiles happen at an Alliance Of Moms event. The two actresses, who are both 36, joined fellow star Kathryn Hahn to help out at the Raising Baby workshops at the at Children's Institute on Saturday in Los Angeles, California. Helping out: Kristen Bell and Jordana Brewster were using their star snuggle power to make some seriously big smiles happen at an Alliance Of Moms event The two actresses, who are both 36, joined fellow star Kathryn Hahn to help out at the Raising Baby workshops at the at Children's Institute on Saturday in Los Angeles, California While they all have high powered careers and children of their own keeping them very busy at home, these threw celebrity moms did their bit to help out the charity dedicated to empowering young moms and dads. Kristen often speaks passionately about the organisation, so in Saturday was practicing what she preachers. The star has a one-year-old and a three-year-old at home so is an old pro when it comes to entertaining babies. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall star snuggled up to one baby in particular and the little girl seemed completely taken with her. Smile all round: While they all have high powered careers and children of their own keeping them very busy at home, these threw celebrity moms did their bit to help out the charity dedicated to empowering young moms and dads Dedicated: Kristen often speaks passionately about the organisation, so in Saturday was practicing what she preachers Jordana spent her time with one tiny tot who appeared to be close in age to her three-year-old Julian. The Fast And The Furious star only just became a mom of two, welcoming baby Rowan into the world back in June. Fellow actress Kathryn is also a mom of two - a seven and a nine-year-old - but she clearly still has the magic touch when it comes to toddlers. Play time: Jordana spent her time with one tiny tot who appeared to be close in age to her three-year-old Julian Say cheese! The three actresses took a little break to pose up for a selfie snap The actress - who starred opposite Kirsten in Bad Moms - had a little girl enthralled as she read her a story. For their day of charity and baby fun, the stars all wore a T-shirt created by Beyond Yoga for the organization which was a loose-fit grey batwing tee with a red heart on the front. The ladies, who were also joined by actress Lindsay Price, all paired the top with denim jeans. Story time: Kathryn - who starred opposite Kirsten in Bad Moms - had a little girl enthralled as she read her a story Represent: For their day of charity and baby fun, the stars all wore a T-shirt created by Beyond Yoga for the organization which was a loose-fit grey batwing tee with a red heart on the front Smile squad: The ladies, who were also joined by actress Lindsay Price, all paired the top with denim jeans The Raising Baby event was a educational health and wellness day for pregnant and parenting foster teens in Los Angeles. Aside from hanging out with the celebrities, young moms and dads attended workshops designed to empower them with tools to raise their children in a positive environment. The organisation was set up to help young women in particular who grew up in the foster system as currently 75 percent of girls in foster care fall pregnant by 21, and a significant portion of their children later end up in foster care also. Important cause: The Raising Baby event was a educational health and wellness day for pregnant and parenting foster teens in Los Angeles A Lexus SUV would be considered a pretty impressive car by most people. But when it's up against the supercars of Transformers: The Last Knight, it's always going to come off second best. The unfortunate vehicle got smashed up as it filmed scenes for the upcoming action sci-fi sequel on The Mall in central London on Saturday. Ouch: This unfortunate Lexus took a beating on the London set of Transformers: The Last Knight on Saturday Thankfully - for the film's budget manager at least - the REALLY expensive cars managed to make it through the day without so much as a scrape. Most recogniseable of the bunch was the bright yellow and black custom Chevrolet Camaro, who fans of the franchise will know is Autobot second-in-command Bumblebee. Despite being able to somehow keep up with Chevy's ever-evolving line of models, he has yet to figure out a way of repairing his vocal processor, and has been unable to speak for four films so far. The most pricey machine by far was a new entrant to the Transformers cinematic universe: the $2.5million Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4. Fender bender: It is not known if the Lexus is really a robot in disguise Gis a lift: A forklift was on hand to give the crippled car a helping haul Capable of going from from 0 to 60 in 2.7secs, with a top speed of 217mph, there are only 40 of the machines in existence, built to commemorate Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday. The 41st will be newcomer Hot Rod, Bumblebee's 'brother-in-arms'. In Transformers lore, Hot Rod in known as Rodimus Prime, who inherits the Matrix of Leadership after Optimus Prime is killed. Expensive: The most pricey machine by far was a new entrant to the Transformers cinematic universe: the $2.5million Lamborghini Centenario LP770-4. New guy: Only 40 of the Lambos were ever built; the 41st will be newcomer Hot Rod, Bumblebee's 'brother-in-arms' N00b: Other newcomers to the film franchise spotted racing around London included a silver Aston Martin DB11, and a red MacLaren 570s (pictured) both believed to be Autobots Other newcomers to the film franchise spotted racing around London included a silver Aston Martin DB11, and a red MacLaren 570s, both believed to be Autobots. It is not known if the Lexus is really a robot in disguise. However earlier scenes being filmed around the capital show the Lexus in pursuit of the Autobot super-cars, joined by a suped-up police cruiser, which was certainly the Decepticon Barricade. Transformers: The Last Knight, released on 23 June 2017 and directed by Michael Bay, will see the return of star Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, Josh Duhamel as Lieutenant Colonel Lennox, Tyrese Gibson as Robert Epps, and Stanley Tucci as Joshua Joyce. Phew! Thankfully - for the film's budget manager at least - the REALLY expensive cars managed to make it through the day without so much as a scrape Under wraps: Not much is known about the plot so far, but time travel and possible alternate timelines appear to feature prominently Immersive: A camera rig mounted on the roof of a car allowed filming of the explosive chase scenes Bad guy: Earlier scenes being filmed around the capital show the Lexus in pursuit of the Autobot super-cars, joined by a suped-up police cruiser, which was certainly the Decepticon Barricade Not much is known about the plot so far, but time travel and possible alternate timelines appear to feature prominently. This week Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire - the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill - was draped in Nazi swastikas and surrounded by German World War II vehicles for a scene. Meanwhile Brit actor Liam Garrigan has been cast as King Arthur - the same role he plays on ABC's Once Upon A Time. She recently landed her 'dream job' hosting the new I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here spin-off show. And Vicky Pattison seemed to be celebrating in style as she headed out to the Hospital Club in London on Saturday night. Oozing glamour as she left the bar, the 28-year-old reality starlet was clad in a plunging navy jumpsuit that struggled to contain her ample bust. Scroll down for video Cheers! She just landed her 'dream job' hosting the new I'm A Celebrity... spin-off show. And Vicky Pattison seemed to be celebrating in style at the Hospital Club in London on Saturday With the risque neckline leaving little to the imagination, the garment nipped in at her slender waist before flaring out into wide legged trousers. Just visible were a pair of patent nude heels, whilst Vicky styled her honey coloured locks in loose waves that framed her flawless features. Vicky wasn't the only star in attendance, as she took to Instagram that night to reveal she'd been partying with Celebrity Big Brother star Michelle Visage - who had looked equally as glamorous in a little black dress with thigh high boots. Blue-tiful! Oozing glamour as she left the bar, the 28-year-old reality starlet was clad in a plunging navy jumpsuit that struggled to contain her ample bust Vicky was no doubt celebrating her latest career breakthrough, which will see her return to the Australian outback to host Im A Celebrity: Extra Camp. It was announced on Thursday that she'd be taking on the role with Stacey Solomon as well as comedian Chris Ramsay and Stacey's boyfriend and former King of the Jungle Joe Swash. Clearly overjoyed by the news, she took to Instagram to gush about the opportunity, posting a snap of herself after she won Im A Celebrity last year. Leggy lady! With the risque neckline leaving little to the imagination, the garment nipped in at her slender waist before flaring out into wide legged trousers Glam girls: Vicky wasn't the only star in attendance, as she took to Instagram that night to reveal she'd been partying with Celebrity Big Brother star Michelle Visage She wrote alongside it: 'Winning the jungle last year was the most incredible experience of my life - I knew it was a moment that was going to take some beating! But I can honestly say joining the I'm A Celeb team as a presenter has almost surpassed it! 'The crew are fantastic and I can't wait to work alongside @realjoeswashy @staceysolomon and @iamchrisramsey who are all brilliant!! I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my jungle experience just yet and luckily, after getting my dream job- I don't have to!! 'I'm dying to get back in that jungle and hopefully they'll still let me give some of the trials a go! Can't let the camp mates have all the fun can we?! I'm buzzing like an old fridge!! NOW GET ME TO AUSTRALIA!!!' She proudly proclaimed that 'the old Zilda is back!' on Friday after swapping her sophisticated bob cut for 22 inch hair extensions. And on Saturday, reality-star-turned-actress Zilda Williams showed that she wasn't kidding as she took part in an X-rated photo shoot that harked back to her days as a topless Maxim centerfold. Snapchat videos from the set of the provocative shoot saw the 33-year-old engaging in a number of explicit activities, from riding a rocking horse in a G-string to eating a banana covered in delicious Nutella. Healthy eating: Zilda Williams enjoyed a Nutella-covered banana during an X-rated photo shoot on Saturday The blonde bombshell, who shot to fame as a breakout star on Sam Wood's season of The Bachelor, flaunted her famous E cup assets in a variety of plunging tops and lacy bras. Clearly feeling amorous, she showcased her voluptuous curves by displaying her derriere in a G-string as she mounted a toy rocking horse. The Kiwi-born beauty briefly stopped posing to enjoy a healthy snack, opting for a nutritious banana to satisfy her ravenous appetite. 'Ride em cowboy!' The 33-year-old reality star later stripped down to a G-string to ride a toy rocking horse To add a little extra flavour to the suggestively shaped fruit, Zilda dipped it into Nutella before taking a seductive bite. She was joined on the shoot by her busty BFF Karyssa Leigh, who was also seen partaking in some erotic poses on set. Like her famous friend, Karyssa dared to bare by bending over on a bed in a sheer piece of lingerie that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Whoa! Zilda also had her enviable E cup chest on full display for all to see Where to look? The former Bachelor babe documented her X-rated antics on social media The pair were later spotted out partying in Bondi together to celebrate the success of their adults-only shoot. 'Wine 'o-clock!' exclaimed Zilda as she downed a full glass of white wine. Despite Zilda's outrageous display, the former reality star has previously shown a more conservative side of herself in a bid to get her acting career off the ground. Is this an adult film?! Also on set was Zilda's busty BFF Karyssa Leigh Bad girls: The top-heavy twosome showed off their finest physical features during a break from shooting Let's celebrate! After a hard day shooting photos, the Kiwi-born bombshell enjoyed a glass of wine before hitting the town Back in June, she told New Zealand's Stuff: "I chopped off the hair and got a breast reduction. I wanted to strip my image down a bit.' She continued: 'I'm changing, I'm getting older and I want people to see me as I am. I'm a down-to-earth Kiwi girl, I'm not a blonde from the Gold Coast.' However, the Zoo magazine babe has made a seemingly magic return to her former self after getting 22 inch clip-in hair extensions on Friday. Hello boys! Earlier that day, the aspiring actress was spotted sauntering around Bondi 'The old Zilda is back!' she exclaimed on Snapchat as she twirled her new mane around her fingers shortly after getting the new 'do. The Christchurch-born stunner has filmed a number of new TV projects, both scripted and unscripted, which are currently awaiting the green light from a network. She's also been spotted on the set of season two of Channel Nine's Here Come The Habibs. On Saturday, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux were spotted enjoying a night out in New York City. The 47-year-old and her 45-year-old husband left a stylish restaurant called The Smile in Manhattan's NoHo neighbourhood. She was seen clasping his hand. Their evening together comes five days after Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Aniston's ex-husband Brad Pitt. The Man I Love: On Saturday, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux enjoyed a dinner date in New York City One Hand, One Heart: The pair were spotted clasping each other's hands as they arrived A Time For Love: The loving wife put a hand on her husband's shoulder as they trod the pavement Smile: Their destination was the restaurant The Smile in the NoHo neighbourhood of Manhattan The Friends alumna kept her outfit New York chic, tucking her black tank-top into loose black slacks she cinched with a black belt to accent her trim waist. A gleaming gold pendant dangled from her neck, and she completed the look with black ankle-strap stilettos and a black Chanel purse. Meanwhile, the Mulholland Drive actor had pulled midnight blue anorak vest over a Prussian blue hoodie. His hair slicked upward and back, he wore a pair of faded grey jeans and what looked like grey boots. New York chic: The Tropic Thunder writer opted for blues and greys and the Cake actress chose head-to-toe black New York State Of Mind: Us Weekly reported Thursday that the Cake actress left New York after being 'hounded' in Los Angeles in the wake of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's divorce On Thursday, Us Weekly reported the Cake actress was fleeing to New York after being 'hounded' in Los Angeles in the wake of the Jolie-Pitt rupture. Theroux joined her there after wrapping the HBO programme The Leftovers, which had been filming its third and final series in Melbourne. Pitt and Aniston had married in 2000 but separated in January 2005, finalising the divorce that October. That July, Jolie and Pitt had paraded their romance in a W Magazine spread called 'Domestic Bliss: Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt At Home.' Two months later, the Horrible Bosses actress commented on the piece in Vanity Fair: 'There's a sensitivity chip that's missing.' The Man That Got Away: The Friends alumna had been married to the Inglourious Basterds star from 2000 until 2005 In the years since, both Pitt and Jolie have admitted they fell for each other whilst filming their spy caper Mr & Mrs Smith, which was shot during his first marriage. The Changeling star told the New York Times in 2008 that she wanted to show their children the film because 'not a lot of people get to see a movie where their parents fell in love.' A couple of months later, in Rolling Stone, the Fight Club actor called Mr & Mrs Smith his favourite film of Jolie's 'Because I fell in love.' How About Me: Pitt and Jolie have since both admitted they fell in love whilst filming the spy caper Mr & Mrs Smith during the Babel actor's first marriage My Man: The 45-year-old arrived in New York after wrapping his HBO series The Leftovers in Melbourne When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go: The Leftovers was filming its third and final series This Tuesday, after their divorce went public, Us Weekly reported that, according to an insider, Aniston's reaction to the news was to say: 'That's karma for you!' Memes and GIFs have been circulating of her Friends character Rachel Green in various states of triumph, including one of her saying a line from the NBC smash: 'And that, my friend, is what they call closure.' On Wednesday, the New York Post ran a cover of the Marley & Me star laughing riotously. The Way We Were: The Wanderlust co-stars began dating in 2011 Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady: They tied the knot last August As Time Goes By: Their marriage was preceded by a three-year engagement Neither Aniston nor Theroux has yet commented publicly about the increasingly vicious divorce, which has involved rumours of Pitt's infidelity with his Allied co-star Marion Cotillard and an FBI investigation following reports of his alleged child abuse. After her own divorce from the World War Z star, the We're The Millers actress dated famous men including John Mayer and Vince Vaughn before alighting on the Tropic Thunder screenwriter. Aniston and Theroux began dating in 2011, having worked together on the film Wanderlust. Theroux himself had carried on a 14-year relationship with costume designer Heidi Bivens that collapsed in 2011. Working actor: Justin stars in The Leftovers on HBO and can be seen in the upcoming thriller The Girl On The Train At the time, E! claimed that Bivens had been, according to a friend of hers, '"straight-up dumped,"' though the report had qualified: 'Not to say it's Aniston's fault, maybe the timing was just terrible?' After a three-year engagement, Aniston and Theroux married last August. Theroux can next be seen on the big screen in the mystery thriller The Girl On The Train due out on October 5 in the UK and on October 7 in the US. They are on opposing television networks. But rivals and Channel Seven's Edwina Bartholomew, Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys and Ten's Sarah Harris are forgetting about that for one evening for the Still Light Exhibition this Friday. The trio will host the event, with Edwina telling The Sunday Telegraph: 'Every day is a competition in the ratings who can get the best story, who can get the best interview. But that has all been put aside for one night.' Scroll down for video Working together: Channel Seven's Edwina Bartholomew, (pictured) Nine's Sylvia Jeffreys and Ten's Sarah Harris are forgetting about network rivalries for the Still Light Exhibition this Friday The 33-year-old blonde added that despite being on opposing networks, they all get along in real life, saying they are 'certainly friends'. She added: 'Even though we compete each day, all of the people at the networks are friends and we catch up outside of work.' The networks are combining to support the evening, which hopes to raise money for the National Stroke Foundation by showing photos taken by their respective operators. A good cause: The networks are combining to support the evening, which hopes to raise money for the National Stroke Foundation by showing photos taken by their respective operators (seen is Sylvia Jeffreys) Getting involved: Studio Ten's Sarah Harris is also a host, seen here in May The photographs go under a silent auction and feature the works of both men and women. Camera operators are able to submit their works from all across Australia. The Stroke Foundation is a not-for-profit set-up that aims to help stroke survivors and do important research. Edwina is a presenter on Sunrise and former weather girl, Sylvia is a presenter on the Today Show and Sarah Harris is a co-host of Studio Ten. More recently, new mother Sarah showed support for Sylvia's fiance and Channel nine star Peter Stefanovic. No rivalry here! More recently, new mother Sarah showed support for Sylvia's fiance and Channel nine star Peter Stefanovic, reading his new book She shared a selfie to Instagram showing herself holding up Peter's new book, Hack in a Flack Jacket. Sylvia and Peter - who is Karl Stefanovic's brother - announced their engagement in July. He popped the question while on a romantic trip away to Europe and they made the announcement on Instagram. Sylvia wrote: 'How's this for a framer?! A couple of weeks ago Pete popped the question, and I said yes, OF COURSE!!! We've had the most wonderful time celebrating with great mates. We couldn't be happier (check the grins) and so excited to share the news with everyone. He lasted just one night in The Bachelorette mansion before being sent home by Georgia Love. But it looks like Dale isn't losing any sleep over his early boot, confessing to Popsugar that the brunette broadcast journalist 'is definitely not my type.' The 30-year-old also defended villain Sam Johnston, calling the male model 'amazing' and different to how he's been portrayed on the show. Not a match: The Bachelorette's Dale (left) confessed that Georgia Love (right) isn't his type 'Sam's awesome. I love Sam. He's amazing!' exclaimed Dale. The personal trainer continued: 'I know him personally and he's a good guy... He's classic, he's great. No problems between him and anyone.' However, Dale wasn't quite as enthusiastic when quizzed about Georgia. 'Sam's awesome. I love Sam. He's amazing!' While Georgia didn't float his boat, Dale had nothing but praise for Sam Johnston 'I know him personally and he's a good guy... He's classic, he's great. No problems between him and anyone,' Dale continued 'She's definitely not my type. I mean, you kind of figure it out,' he explained. Dale continued: 'I don't really have a type but when you meet someone it's usually like yay or nay. It's hard, like I'm not going to push it if I don't really think it's going to work.' The 30-year-old was given the boot from the reality show on the first episode, along with male stripper Carlos. 'She's definitely not my type. I mean, you kind of figure it out,' he explained 'I'm not used to competing with other men for one girl,' confessed Carlos as he was sent packing. He added: ''Usually it's the other way around. There's usually about 30 girls and one magic man.' The Bachelorette airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30. She has an impeccable figure. And Suki Waterhouse decided to show some of it off on Saturday as she rolled up her T-shirt to display her flat and toned midriff. The 24-year-old model arrived at the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca, New York donning a stylish yet cozy attire. Not an inch to pinch! Suki Waterhouse showed off her toned midriff in a rolled up grey T-shirt while out and about in NYC on Saturday Known for her fashion forward style on the carpet, the British beauty kept it chic in a pair of trendy black jogger pants and a grey T-shirt that she rolled and knotted to the side, baring her taut tummy. She threw on a zipped-up dark blue jacket, which featured wide flaps on the collar, and a strip of red along the zipper. Opting for comfort, Suki wore beige Toms while her blonde locks were down and parted in the middle. The Love, Rosie star decided to go make-up free as she covered her eyes with see-through, blue-tinted shades. Comfortably chic: The 24-year-old model opted for black jogger pants, a tied up tee, dark blue jacket and beige Toms All smiles! The star appeared to be in high spirits as she arrived at the Greenwich Hotel While it is unclear whether or not she was meeting up with a friend, the model did hold what appeared to be a gift bag in her hand and cash as she wore a wide smile upon her arrival. Meanwhile, Suki has been keeping busy promoting her upcoming film, The Bad Batch, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. The film, which is a follow-up to Ana Lily's directorial debut A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, also stars Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves and Diego Luna. Fashionistas: Suki posed with (from left) Adwoa Aboah, Cara Delevingne and Clara Paget durign London Fashion Week last week Beauty: The ex-girlfriend of Bradley Cooper - pictured here at Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month - premiered her film, The Bad Batch The former girlfriend of Bradley Cooper also launched her own fashion line with her best friend and television presenter, Poppy Jamie. Debuting in October, Pop & Suki is an affordable accessory line that features a customized camera bag, chic shopper tote, charm jewelry and other unique pieces. 'For years Ive been involved in other people's pursuits and visions, so I wanted to have my own thing,' the Vogue cover girl told InStyle. 'But I love the 360 of the business. I love the elements of photography and creating a universe. And with Pop & Suki, I knew I could make something that people would like.' The busy star will also be featured in the upcoming film Billionaire Boys Club alongside Kevin Spacey and Emma Roberts. She's known for her outlandish comments and outspoken personality. And Carrie Bickmore has remained true to her style as she recently penned an opinion piece on massages for Sunday's Stellar magazine. The 35-year old wrote: 'Am I the only person who finds massages stressful, not relaxing?' The Project host Carrie Bickmore recently penned an opinion piece on massages for Sunday's Stellar magazine. The 35-year old wrote: 'Am I the only person who finds massages stressful, not relaxing?' The Project host went onto to say: 'Are the rules a bit ambiguous? Should you be honest when they ask if it's too hard or soft. 'Are you allowed to break wind, or is that immature? It's stressing me out just thinking about it,' she added. She also confessed that she bought an ex-boyfriend a massage for his birthday and when he returned looking a little sheepish, she found out she had sent him to a place that offered a 'happy ending'. Confession to her co-hosts: Carrie Bickmore, 35, admitted The Project that she once hosted an event with her dress on backwards And her outspokenness doesn't stop there. A couple of weeks back on The Project, the 35-year-old confessed she once hosted a charity event with her dress on backwards. Carrie's admission came when the news team noticed that Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, was wearing her dress inside out in a clip that aired on the show. After viewing the video, the Logie-winning TV presenter stated, 'I once hosted a charity event with my dress back to front.' The TV host continued, 'It was a lovely charity event and my neckline was so plunging and I kept thinking, 'I didn't think it was this revealing.' 'I kept tripping on the train ... I had it on back to front. 'The stylist said, 'Why did you wear the dress back-to-front?' I said, ''I don't know! You weren't there to dress me!''' The event where Carrie had the wardrobe mishap is unknown, as is who the dress was designed by. Tag dag: Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk accidentally wore her dress back-to-front at a recent media conference Her appearance has also been in the news lately due to her decision to dye her hair brown. 'You know what, I had the same [look] for 35 years and I was bored, and I thought 'Why not? I'll give it a whirl',' she said. While fans have hailed the new look, Carrie's nine-year-old son Oliver does not approve. 'He keeps looking at me and saying, 'When is the old mummy coming back?'' she said. Sportsbet has started to take bets on when the star will transition back to blonde, reports Mumbrella. Punters are also betting on what colour the 35-year-old will switch to next, with the lowest being black at $1.50, and the highest being green or blue at $51. Hair goals: After 35 years, Carrie decided to do a dramatic dye job - from light blonde to dark brunette He popped the question in May last year. And Josh Brolin and Kathryn Boyd sealed the deal on Saturday, when they married in a romantic wedding ceremony in Cashiers, North Carolina, reports Us Weekly. The 48-year-old actor tied the knot with the model in front of family members and close friends, according to the website. Congratulations: Josh Brolin and Kathryn Boyd married in a romantic wedding ceremony in Cashiers, North Carolina on Saturday, reports Us Weekly A source told Us that guests who helped them to celebrate their nuptials included Bradley Cooper, the groom's father, James Brolin, and wife Barbra Streisand, and Matt Damon. Kathryn flaunted her stunning square-cut diamond engagement ring while attending her fiance's Sicario movie premiere at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. She was Josh's assistant for nearly two years before their relationship became romantic. Josh employed her as his assistant for nearly two years before their relationship became romantic (pictured in February) After eight years of marriage, the No Country For Old Men actor split with Diane Lane, and their divorce was finalised in November 2013. The stepson of Barbra Streisand called 2013 the year of his 'turning point.' 'I realised that I was on a destructive path,' Josh recently told The Guardian. 'I knew that I had to change and mature. It was like I stepped back and saw the hamster wheel.' This is the third marriage for the Oldboy star, who has two children, son Trevor, 28, and daughter Eden, 22, with first wife Alice Adair. Josh was also briefly engaged to Minnie Driver in 2001. Divorced: He split with second wife Diane Lane (pictured in 2012) in 2013 He divorced from actress Billie Piper back in May. But Laurence Fox has admitted this week that he is still very much struggling with the tough separation. Talking to The Mirror, the Leeds native, 38, admitted that while he is starting to get back to his best, he has not slept properly for six months - even with the use of medication. Scroll down for video Hanging in there: Laurence Fox, 38, admitted to The Mirror that he is still struggling to recover from his divorce with Billie Piper, 34, in May The actor, best known for his role in ITV drama Lewis, told the paper that since the split: 'I haven't slept for six months, even with sleeping pills. I go to bed the same time, same bed as the kids and just lie awake, sleeping two or three hours. My mind's whirring round.' Laurence announced his divorce from the Yerma actress, 34, on his Facebook page in May, after bearing two children Winston, seven, and Eugene, four, together. Having been married for over eight years and stating there were 'no third parties involved', the star admitted that the split after such a long-term match was not what he had expected in his youth. Suffering: Laurence announced his divorce from the Yerma actress (above) on his Facebook page in May, after bearing two children Winston, seven, and Eugene, four, together He explained: 'Let's get married and stay married forever. That's what I grew up watching, so this has derailed me, but I am starting to feel back on track.... I don't feel like a failure, I've got two amazing children. But it's definitely tempered my belief in fireworks between two people, the big spark.' Laurence and Billie met when they performed together in the stage play Treats in 2006, calling it 'love at first sight'. They married on 31 December the following year, in the 12th century parish church of St. Mary's Eastbourne, West Sussex. While it was Laurence's first marriage, it was the second for the Swindon-born blonde, who married TV presenter Chris Evans in 2001 at the age of 19. Loved-up: Laurence married Billie back in 2007, even revealing they had got matching tattoos during a 'drunken lunch' on their honeymoon The pair eventually split in 2004 but have remained very close friends - which Laurence confesses he found a difficulty in their relationship. He said of Billie's ex, who she has reportedly turned to for support during her marriage woes: 'I don't think I was super tolerant of having him around. I was just more naive than I should have been. 'Chris Evans' job is to observe people, interview them and be interested in them so that's what he does for better or worse.' It is not the first time Laurence has been open about his struggle with the split. Former flame: While it was Laurence's first love, the union was the second for the Swindon-born blonde, who married TV presenter Chris Evans in 2001 at the age of 19 At The Isle of Wight festival in June, Laurence took to the stage to perform songs which he claimed were 'about my old hamster'. As he went on to sing a number about heartbreak on the Hard Rock stage, he added: 'All these songs are about my old hamster. I miss him terribly.' Hinting at his ex-wife, the actor-turned-musician finished his set by stating: 'Losing hamsters is hideous. It's very bad because the cage all needs to be rearranged - the kids.' However, the actor recently hinted he may be moving on, by romancing Brian McFadden's ex-wife Vogue Williams. Happier times: Laurence and Billie first met when they performed together in the stage play Treats in 2006, calling it 'love at first sight' The pair sparked rumours of a blossoming romance after they posted a selfie together, but the Irish TV presenter insisted it was nothing more than a drink with the actor at The Wolseley in London. Yet, Laurence affirmed this further himself by telling The Sun he has given up sex since the split to focus on his children. The Yorkshire-man told the newspaper: 'I'm completely abstinent in that way. I'm firmly dad at the moment and occasionally festivals.' Meanwhile Billie is said to be currently dating indie rocker Johnny Lloyd. The pair were seen pair a heavy night out together in Camden earlier this year, where the former Tribes frontman appeared to sniff a suspicious looking substance. They were delighted to announce they had moved in together earlier this week. And Love Island stars Rachel Fenton and Rykard Jenkins looked more loved-up than ever on Saturday night, as they headed to London club Cafe de Paris arm-in-arm. The blonde beauty, 24, flashed serious cleavage in a glamorous plunging jumpsuit as they headed on their date night - showing why she caught the attention of her 25-year-old beau on the ITV2 series back in June. Scroll down for video Fit to bust! Rachel Fenton, 24, flashed serious cleavage in a glamorous plunging jumpsuit as she headed to Cafe de Paris with boyfriend Rykard Jenkins, 25 on Saturday The nurse sizzled as she went braless in the daringly low-cut jumpsuit, giving a glimpse of her plentiful cleavage as she headed on her night out. Alongside the daring neckline, the outfit stood out from the crowd due to its stylish suedette material. Tying with a ribbon, the skin-tight jumpsuit nipped in her at slim waist before hugging her enviably leggy figure all the way down. Suede-sational: The nurse sizzled as she went braless in the daringly low-cut suedette jumpsuit, giving a glimpse of her plentiful cleavage as she headed on her night out Stylish couple: Meanwhile personal trainer Rykard opted for very tight white jeans and a clean-cut pale blue shirt, which featured short sleeves to show off his bulging biceps Keeping things muted-down and classic, the TV star paired the look with a pair of strappy nude stiletto heels and a simple dainty silver necklace. She added a speckled blue clutch bag for a pop of bright colour, and left her blonde tresses in loose waves as she ventured out with her beau, Rykard. The personal trainer opted for very tight white jeans and a clean-cut pale blue shirt, which featured short sleeves to show off his bulging biceps. Still going strong: The handsome couple looked happier than ever as they enjoyed their first date night since announcing they had moved in together He completed his outfit with a pair of tan loafers as she headed into the club clasping tightly on to his girl. The handsome couple looked happier than ever as they enjoyed their first date night since announcing they had moved in together. Rachel and Rykard confirmed they had taken the big step in their relationship on Wednesday. Proving things are going from strength to strength for the couple, the blonde beauty appeared overjoyed as she announced the news to her 273,000 Instagram fans. Big step: Love Islands Rachel Fenton, 24, and Rykard Jenkins, 25, have revealed they have taken a big step in their relationship by officially moving in together Captioning a snap of the couple toasting to their own place, Rachel wrote: 'So myself and Mr Jenkins have officially moved in together! 'Our new place couldn't be more perfect I've never been happier.' Clearly overjoyed with their decision, the reality star shared another picture of her shirtless beau - saying: 'Feeling like I've won the lottery'. At the centre of a dramatic twist in week three of this year's Love Island, the pair famously prioritised their relationship over the show and potential prize money. From strength to strength: Announcing the news on Instagram, the blonde beauty appeared overjoyed as she shared the news (and a shirtless snap of her beau) with her 273,000 fans Rykard controversially gave up his place on the dating show to pursue his flourishing romance with the nurse, after she was voted off the programme. The reality star fell for Rachel after she was brought in as a late arrival designed to shake up the show and the relationships between the Islanders. The handsome star was originally paired with Olivia Buckland although they were adamant their 'coupling' was merely platonic as they had been left without partners themselves. Despite Rykard and Rachel beginning to fall for each other, the Kent-born personal trainer and Olivia became intimate in a shock move, while Rachel slept just inches away from them. Anything for love: Rykard controversially gave up his place on the dating show to pursue his flourishing romance with the nurse, after she was voted off the programme After Olivia and Rykard hid their illicit dalliance, Rachel was later voted off yet he opted to follow - a move he may have regretted when presenter Caroline Flack unveiled his romance with the former. Speaking after his departure, Rykard said: 'I decided to leave the villa because at that moment I was developing a really nice relationship with Rachel and watching her walk away, I knew I had the power to stay or go. 'No one was holding me to staying in the competition, so I decided I wanted to go after Rachel as that is who I wanted to be with. 'I didnt want to meet anyone new and I wasnt there for the prize money. Loved-up: The reality star fell for Rachel after she was brought in as a late arrival designed to shake up the show and the relationships between the Islanders 'I didnt anticipate Rachel leaving in advance but when it came to it I had made up my mind if Rachel left the villa, I was going as well.' Although Rykard and Rachel's relationship is going from strength to strength, they aren't the only couple from the hit ITV2 show to make it work. Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen have too moved in together since leaving the villa this summer - setting up home in her native Essex. Love Island winners Cara De La Hoyde and Nathan Massey have too made the big step to live together in August. In their footsteps: Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen have too moved in together since leaving the villa this summer - setting up home in her native Essex She's in New York for business. But Amal Clooney, 38, has packed quite the wardrobe for the Stateside trip, wowing in another stunning look as she headed out on Saturday. The human rights lawyer made the most of the city sunshine in a pretty floral frock. Chic in the city: Amal Clooney has packed quite the wardrobe for her trip to New York, wowing in another stunning look as she headed out on Saturday The wife of actor George showed off her trim figure in the chic dress, which featured a full pleated skirt and a dizzying print. She added a pair of classic black heels, and carried a cream bag while keeping cool in designer shades. Tied back locks and a pop of colour from her lipstick completed Amal's ensemble. Amal has been in New York all week, and on Thursday wowed in a striking hot pink suit as she returned back to her Upper East Side hotel. Pretty print: The wife of actor George showed off her trim figure in the chic dress, which featured a full pleated skirt and a dizzying print She finished her ensemble with a large and luxurious CH Carolina Herrera Baret Bag, while she let her luscious raven locks fall freely. She ran her fingers through her tresses as she left her black SUV, and wore characteristically classy make-up including lashings of mascara which enhanced her chestnut peepers. Earlier in the day, Amal caught the eye in a bright red dress as she left the Carlyle Hotel. Pretty pink: Amal combined glamour and sophistication with aplomb as she arrived back at her Upper East Side hotel in New York on Thursday Scarlet statement: Amal sported a bright red dress as she left the Carlyle Hotel in New York City on Thursday Power dressing: Amal, nee Alamuddin, cut a ladylike figure in the long-sleeved number, featuring flattering bow detailing on the right hip Chic from head-to-toe: She completed her ensemble with a pair of patent grey heels and a black leather handbag Whilst Amal performs her talents off-screen, she found herself more well-known than her Hollywood husband George earlier this week. Seemingly surprised by the recognition, the Lebanese-British activist was mobbed by adoring fans she left the UN roundtable in New York on Tuesday alongside her handsome husband. And the silver fox looked more like a doting fan himself as he beamed at his preoccupied wife. Perfectly polished: Amal wore her raven tresses in a bouncy blow dry and accessorised with silver drop earrings Amal posed for selfies with her devoted fans, as George was forced to simply look on, while a bodyguard tried to reunite the pair. The couple, who married in 2014, proved the honeymoon stage was not over as they gave a loved up display while holding hands and casting adoring looks throughout the roundtable meeting, which was also attended by President Obama. During the summit for refugees, George thanked the President for commitments of $650-million for refugee assistance. Busy schedule: Amal has called on the UK to take more refugees from Syria and is currently mounting a legal case against ISIS on behalf of a Yazidi sex slave, Nadia Murad She recently unveiled a report last week on the rampant corruption in South Sudan. Amal has called on the UK to take more refugees from Syria and is currently mounting a legal case against ISIS on behalf of a Yazidi sex slave, Nadia Murad. She also said she would be 'delighted' to work on a prosecution of Syrian president Bashar Assad over crimes against humanity and war crimes. Speaking to Channel 4 News alongside Nadia, Mrs Clooney said: 'I would hope that more could be taken in. Angelina Jolie has turned to pal Johnny Depp for support following her split from Brad Pitt, according to reports. The actress has been discussing her broken marriage with the troubled Pirates Of The Caribbean star and even hired his divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to represent her based on Johnny's recommendation, according to The Sun. A source told the publication: 'Angelina idolised Johnny for years before she worked with him on The Tourist, and then the pair of them really hit it off on set.' Scroll down for video Helping her through? Angelina Jolie, 42, has turned to pal Johnny Depp, 53, for support following her split from Brad Pitt, 52, according to reports There is no suggestion Angelina and Brad's split is anything to do with Johnny, who recently underwent a public divorce from Amber Heard. The insider continued: 'The two of them have stayed in touch ever since then, and spoke regularly during the storm that surrounded Johnnys break up with Amber. 'They have been speaking about the situation, and Angelina hired Johnnys lawyer to represent her based on the advice that he has given her.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Angelina and Johnny and is awaiting comment. Trusting: Angelina even allegedly hired Johnny's divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to represent her based on Johnny's recommendation Johnny married Heard, his Rum Diary co-star, in February 2015 following his split from longtime love Vanessa Paradis, with whom he has two children Lily-Rose and Jack. Heard filed for divorce in May, appearing in court in Los Angeles with a bruised face to seek a temporary restraining order against the Hollywood star whom she accused of abuse. The former spouses reached a settlement on August 16 in which the restraining order was dismissed and Heard received $7 million, which she then donated to charity. Big fan: Angelina reportedly 'idolised' Johnny for years before she worked with him on The Tourist Meanwhile, Brad is allegedly so distraught over Angelina's refusal to allow him access to their children that he is hoping her father, movie legend Jon Voight, will intervene as a mediator. 'Brad has made an effort to make contact and is keen to try and improve the situation between them,' a source close to the situation told the UK's Daily Mirror. 'He's hoping his good relationship with Angelina's family will help to build bridges. He's spoken to her dad Jon and hopes he may be able to play peacemaker.' 'It's a very tricky time for the family but Brad hasn't given up hope yet.' Jolie shocked the world earlier this week when she filed for divorce from Pitt, putting in motion the dissolution of what was Hollywood's ultimate glamorous power couple. The Tomb Raider star was reportedly convinced that her husband was having an affair with French actress Marion Cotillard. Asking for help: Brad (centre) has reportedly reached out to his father-in-law, actor Jon Voight (left), in the hopes that he could influence Angelina (right) Jolie (right) filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday after a 12-year relationship. The couple has six children Pitt and Cotillard co-star in the movie Allied, a flick about the French partisans who fought the Nazis during World War II. In an effort to assuage his wife's fears, Pitt offered to take a polygraph to prove that he had remained faithful to her, according to the UK Daily Star. 'Angie hated all the female attention Brad would get,' a source close to the couple told the publication. 'She is very jealous and insecure, despite being one of the most beautiful women in the world.' 'They had a number of arguments about his closeness to Marion,' the source said. 'Brad did all he could to reassure her there was nothing going on and even offered to take a polygraph test to prove he was telling the truth.' 'Sadly for him she refused.' Cotillard, 40, issued a statement on her Instagram account denying that she slept with Pitt. She also announced that she was expecting her second child with her partner, French writer and actor Guillaume Canet. Meanwhile, it's been almost a week since Pitt has seen his kids. Jolie was reportedly jealous over Pitt's (right) relationship with Marion Cotillard (left), his co-star in the movie Allied. Pitt was willing to take a polygraph to prove he was not cheating Cotillard, 40, posted a message on her Instagram account denying that she and Pitt had an affair The 52-year-old has been apart from his six children since wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, Us Weekly reported. The actor, who is under investigation by the FBI following reports of alleged child abuse, is keen to see them as soon as possible. 'He knows the severity of the allegations and wants to be cleared of abuse before he sees them,' the source claimed. 'He is confident he will be cleared. The kids are asking to see Brad, so he is hoping to see them next week.' A second source added: 'He's so torn up and shattered, not only because of the divorce but because he hasn't seen the kids and he really wants to. Being apart from them is part of why he's so torn up.' Among the many circulating theories on the cause of the bombshell break-up this week is that Brad got drunk on a private jet with his family en route to LA five days earlier, and was seen fighting with his eldest son Maddox during a refueling stop at Minnesota. While the actress listed September 15 as the date she and her husband of two years separated, she had already organized a $95,000 a month home for her and her six children to live in. A source confirms to the DailyMail.com that the 41-year-old actress rented the ocean front home three weeks before the Oscar-nominated star filed for divorce in a Los Angeles' court on September 19. Angelina filed for divorce from Brad on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after the couple wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. She's been lighting up billboards as a model from the age of 16, but fast forward a few decades and Eva Herzigova still looks as youthful as ever. The supermodel, 43, looked incredibly fresh-faced as she arrived for a plush event wearing minimal make-up. Mum-of-three Eva looked radiant in an black asymmetric ball gown for the opening season gala at Opera Garnier in Paris on Saturday. Scroll down for video Picture of youth: Supermodel Eva Herzigova, 43, shows off age defying beauty in an asymmetric black gown for the opera in Paris The statuesque beauty showed off her perfect posture as she stood tall in her stunning gown for arrivals at the plush event in the French capital. With her delicately patterned strapless black gown that clung to her trim figure, Eva cut a striking figure on the red carpet. The actress looked far younger than her years in the stunning frock which she teamed with a pink clutch for a pop of colour. The Wonderbra star wore her blonde hair slicked back in a ponytail while she showed off her slim figure in the gown which draped at the back into a short train. Chic! The actress looked far younger than her years in the stunning frock which she teamed with a pink clutch for a pop of colour Timeless beauty: Supermodel Eva Herzigova, 43, showed off her age defying beauty in a floaty black gown at Opera Garnier in Paris on Saturday Eva showed off her natural good looks by wearing minimal make-up. Her piercing blue eyes looked incredible with just a touch of mascara to define her long lashes. She added just a touch of colour to her lips for a deep nude effect as she arrived at the lavish venue. Glam: The Wonderbra star wore her blonde hair slicked back in a ponytail while she showed off her slim figure in the gown which draped at the back into a short train Pop of colour: A pale pink coat draped over her shoulders was the finishing touch Joining Eva at the opera was actor Ralph Fiennes who looked dapper. The Brit actor, 53, scrubbed up well in a tuxedo with a satin bow tie, and wore his hair slicked back for the occasion. Ever the gent, the Skyfall star escorted Aurelie Dupont, a French ballet dancer, star of the Paris Opera Ballet, to the elegant event. Aurelie turned heads in her chic monochrome ensemble - a white blouse that was slashed to reveal her supertoned arms, and a billowing satin skirt that nipped her in to flaunt her tiny waist. Smart guy! Joining Eva at the opera was actor Ralph Fiennes, 53, who looked dapper at the opening season gala at Opera Garnier in Paris on Saturday Ever the gent, the Skyfall star escorted Aurelie Dupont, a French ballet dancer and star of the Paris Opera Ballet, to the elegant event She was unwittingly thrust into the spotlight as a teenager after being sent to a rehabilitation centre to help with her battle against anorexia. And now Chloe Lattanzi's mother, Olivia Newton-John has weighed in on her daughter's debilitating illness and her struggles in the past with substance abuse. In an interview with Karl Stefanovic on 60 minutes the Grease actress empathised with her daughter's journey noting that it must be 'hard' to be the child of a celebrity. Scroll down for video Struggle: Olivia Newton-John has opened up about her daughter's past battles with anorexia and her substance abuse in an interview with Karl Stefanovic on 60 minutes, which aired on Sunday 'I think it's hard to be the child of a person in the limelight, I really understand that. 'There's privilege but there's also other things that come along with that,' she added. Last year the mother and daughter duo recorded a dance version of Olivia's 80s hit Magic, which topped the US dance charts. When asked how Chloe was doing now since her struggle with body image the doting mother-of-one said: 'She's happy and working she's in a good place.' Born to fame: Chloe Lattanzi (pictured in 2007) was unwittingly thrust into the spotlight as a teenager after being sent to a rehabilitation centre to help with her battle against anorexia 'She's in a good place': Last year the mother and daughter duo recorded a dance version of Olivia's 80s hit Magic which topped the US dance charts When the soon to be 68-year-old appeared on Network Ten's The Project recently Olivia made the heartfelt confession that her only daughter was her greatest achievement. During the interview host Waleed Aly listed a selection of Olivia's career milestones before asking: 'Is there a single achievement that means the most to you?' 'Well in my whole life, it would be having my daughter. I mean, having children is the most important thing in the world,' she replied. 'Yeah, but I've done that,' Waleed joked. Doting mother: When the soon to be 68-year-old appeared on Network Ten's The Project recently Olivia made the heartfelt confession that her only daughter was her greatest achievement Chloe has overcome a troubled past, which includes struggles with cocaine and alcohol abuse. The 30-year-old was also admitted for treatment due to an eating disorder when she was just a teenager. At the time, Olivia was accused of being in denial about her daughter's eating disorders, with Chloe telling Daily Mail back in November 2013 that it was 'very difficult for her'. 'She'd never faced anything like that before and she didn't know how to deal with it,' Chloe added. 'She'd never face anything like that before': Chloe attributes her troubled past of cocaine and alcohol abuse to anxiety, admitting her mother didn't know what to do at the time 'It was difficult for her': At the time, Olivia was accused of being in denial about her daughter's eating disorders 'Eventually she faced up to it and sent me to a treatment centre for my eating disorder when I was 18,' she continued. 'It didn't help at all. Putting people with eating disorders together is the worst thing you can do. It creates competition. 'I left and slowly got better on my own. But then I replaced one addiction with another.' Chloe has since credited her martial arts instructor fiance, James Driskill, whom she met in 2009, as a helping hand in her recovery over the years. 'It must be hard to be the child of a person in the limelight': The Grease actress empathised with her daughter's journey after she was born into fame Last year, a 'family insider' told New Idea that Olivia was concerned by her daughter's 'obsession' with body image. Chloe later revealed that she had 'recovered fully' and that she had 'a lot of fat on (her) body.' But admitted that it had been a 'terrible' period in her life. '[It was] awful having people taking pictures of you, writing about you when you're that sick,' she added of the hype surrounding her illness at the time. 'It was awful having people taking pictures of you, writing about you when you're that sick': Chloe revealed what it meant to have an eating disorder and substance abuse issues when in the media The Los Angeles-based beauty blames anxiety for sending her life into a self-destructive spiral. In 2013 she spent seven months in a rehabilitation facility to help her combat her drug and alcohol addiction. She told Daily Mail: 'I had blackouts. I would stay up on three-day-long binges without ever going to sleep. Days and weeks started to blend together. 'Later, being drunk and high became so routine that I would be high in front of my mum and I don't think she even noticed because it was such a normal state for me to be in.' They're the high-profile pair at the centre of persistent split rumours. But on Sunday, Kate Ritchie put the rumours to rest as the fiercely private star posted a sweet selfie of the pair celebrating their wedding anniversary. 'Six years ago today,' the former Home And Away actress captioned the photo, followed by emojis of a bride and groom. Scroll down for video 'Six years ago today': Kate Ritchie put split rumours to rest on Sunday with the fiercely private star sharing a sweet selfie of herself and husband Stuart Webb to Instagram, as the pair celebrated their six-year wedding anniversary The Nova drive-time host added the hash-tags: 'happy anniversary' and 'we dragged everyone to Launceston'. In the shot, the couple are both seen smiling into the camera, with the 38-year-old mother-of-one in a very low-cut black one-piece swimsuit, showing a glimpse of her cleavage. While her former Rugby League star husband also shows off his fit frame shirtless in the photo, which appears to be taken straight after a swim. Kate has been posting a number of photos to Instagram across her week off, as she enjoyed time in Western Australia, before the weekend getaway to Tasmania. Time off: Kate has been posting a number of photos to Instagram across her week off, as she enjoyed time in Western Australia, before the weekend getaway to Tasmania 'On croc patrol for the husband': Stuart joined Kate for the week-long holiday as the couple appeared to enjoy a time together without daughter Mae after being spotted jetting out of Sydney Airport last Sunday Stuart joined Kate as the couple appeared to enjoy a holiday sans baby, with the pair spotted jetting out of Sydney Airport last Sunday. In one of Kate's bikini clad social media snaps, the radio personality noted she was 'on croc patrol for the husband' as she also welcomed back freckles on her skin after time out in the sunshine. Rumours of a split first started after the couple bought a new house in the Southern Highlands in August. It was alleged the couple were living separately with the retired St George player staying in their new home, while Kate remained in their city house with two-year-old daughter Mae. Split? It was alleged the couple were living separately with the retired St George player staying in their new Southern Highlands home, while Kate remained in their city house with two-year-old daughter Mae Back on track: All appears to be well given the family holiday to Launceston - just a short drive away from the place where the couple wed in 2010, Quamby Estate Fuelling speculation, the couple were then spotted without their wedding rings on. However, all appears to be well given the family holiday to Launceston - just a short drive away from the place where the couple wed in 2010, Quamby Estate. The couple married in an intimate country-style wedding a year after getting engaged during a European holiday. In August 2014, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mae, into the world, an experience that prompted Kate's first children's book I Just Couldn't Wait To Meet You. Hollywood legend Tom Hanks has laughed off rumours he is keen to run for President. 'Oh dear lord, that would be a disaster,' the politically-active actor told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes. 'Who the hell would want that job? I never want to have any job where I have to answer the phone,' the 60-year-old jokingly added. Scroll down for video 'Who the hell would want that job?' Tom Hanks has laughed off rumours he is keen to run for President The Forrest Gump star has been a vocal critic of Republican Presidential hopeful Donald Trump. But he seemed relatively apathetic on Sunday when asked to imagine an America run by the real estate tycoon. 'We would be fine. I don't want Donald Trump to be President of the United States. But in the grand scheme of things, America corrects itself.' Meanwhile, the two-time Academy Award winner revealed he would continue acting even if is was paid next to nothing. 'I do it for pleasure, I like being an actor and I like being in movies. Politically-active: Tom as been a vocal critic of Donald Trump. (Pictured at Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009) Not for the money: Tom revealed he would continue acting even if is was paid next to nothing 'When I found out in school that they gave you credit for showing up and being in plays, I said "Who invented this scam?" 'When I was young I didn't bat an eye when it came down to throwing all my possessions in a car and driving across the country to work for $250 a week. 'It was a no-brainer, of course I'll do it.' And the 40-year acting veteran says he would work for the same money today. 'Yes, I would. This is the greatest job in the world.' 'This is the greatest job in the world': The proud actor recently stepped out at the 26th Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit at Freud Playhouse last week Tom has received rave reviews for his most recent role, playing real-life hero Chesley Sullenberger, who safely landed US Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River back in 2009. Out now in Australian cinemas, Clint Eastwood's miraculous drama Sully - also stars Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, and Anna Gunn. He will next be seen in the Ron Howard directed thriller Inferno, the long-awaited sequel to The Da Vinci Code. Advertisement She looks to have put her split from Justin Bieber behind her. And Sofia Richie, 18, put on a stylish display as she graced the Dolce & Gabbana SS17 Milan Fashion Week show in a quirky white suit with the jacket worn open over a racy black bra. The model confidently wore the revealing ensemble at the tropical-themed event, striking her best pose for the cameras. Scroll down for video Eye-catching: Sofia Richie, 18, put on a stylish display as she graced the Dolce & Gabbana SS17 Milan Fashion Week show in a quirky white suit Her high-waisted trousers were adorned with various prints including a bird cage, chandelier, fountain. She stood casually with her hand tucked in her pocket as she showed off her taut tun. An array of necklaces hung around her neck and she held a shimmering silver clutch which contained her essentials. Fashionista: Sofia wore her hair scraped tightly back and went for a subtle application of make-up for a classy finish Body-confident: The model confidently wore the revealing ensemble at the tropical-themed event, striking her best pose for the cameras On the front row: Sofia cosied up to Cameron Dallas, who wore a funky black and white ensemble Here come the girls: Led by Hailey Baldwin, the models took to the catwalk in branded D&G T-shirts A job well done: The vibe looked to be fun-filled at the tropical-themed show Sofia wore her hair scraped tightly back and went for a subtle application of make-up for a classy finish. Sylvester Stallone's daughter Sistine, 16, was also in attendance and helped herself to a fresh coconut drink. She wore a stylish black dress which she matched with black heels for a coordinated look. Refreshing: Sylvester Stallone's daughter Sistine, 16, was also in attendance and helped herself to a fresh coconut drink Sophisticated: She wore a stylish black dress which she matched with black heels for a coordinated look A touch of sparkle: She accessorised with a bejewelled clutch and colourful necklace Leading the way on the runway were beauties Sara Sampaio and Hailey Baldwin. Portuguese model Sara sizzled in a lavish musical-inspired ensemble, while Hailey looked like a sexy senorita in an LBD with red roses in her hair. US Vogue editor Anna Wintour was on the front row, but she looked unimpressed as she glared into the camera. Other attendees at the star-studded runway included Jude Law's son Rafferty, Swedish pop star Zara Larsson, Mick Jagger's son Dylan and model Lucky Blue Smith to name but a few. Happy! The teen smiled brightly for the camera as he locks fell over her shoulder Sitting comfortably: Cameron sat inbetween Sofia and Sistine with whom he was sartorially in sync There for the fashion: Sistine's complexion was unblemished, even in the glare of the camera Sofia's month-long romance with Justin came to an end earlier this month. According to TMZ, the relationship was not that serious to begin with. The 22-year-old Sorry hit maker and the Yeezy model have not been photographed together since their Mexican getaway on August 29. Their romance got off to a roaring start in August as they frolicked in Laguna Beach, California. By mid-month they were holding hands in Tokyo. What's the matter? US Vogue editor Anna Wintour didn't look impressed on the front row Immaculate: Lucky Blue Smith couldn't be missed in a white suit with a black lapel Glamour girls: Thylane Blondeau, Pyper America Smith and Starlie Smith pulled out all the stops with their looks Striking: Sonia Ben Ammar cut a vibrant figure in a purple trouser suit, while Talita Von Furstenberg opted for flamboyant knit-wear Flower power: Sarah Snyder shone in a floral print dress with a black lace hem, while Swedish pop star Zara Larsson rocked a lavish gold and black coat and Kristina Bazan dressed in a stylish black onepiece Mix of styles: Daisie Smith wore a black and white polkadot jumpsuit with a checked blazer, while Zoey Deutch sported an eye-catching minidress with a floral decolletage Sophisticated: Miroslava Duma donned a sophisticated grey suit and carried a funky little bag Sexy senorita: Hailey Baldwin sizzled in an LBD and wore roses in her hair She's no wallflower: The model threw her best smoldering glare as she sashayed down the catwalk Hitting the right notes: Sara Sampaio looked fantastic on the catwalk in an elaborate outfit with a piano key pattern Faces on the FROW: The models and fashionistas were all at their stylish best on the FROW (L-R Luka Sabbat, Zoey Deutch, Sarah Snyder, Lucky Blue Smith, Pyper Smith, Daisie Smith and Starlie Smith) And for her 18th birthday in late August, they hit The Doheny Room in Hollywood. A trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, followed where they got their PDA on while hanging out on a yacht. Ever since then they have not been seen together, though she has been caught wearing his Purpose tour sweatpants. A chip off the old block: Jude Law's son Rafferty cut a cool figure in a print bomber and white tee Monochrome: The model kept things coordinated with a pair of dark jeans and grey shoes Standing out from the crowd: Brandon Thomas Lee, Jamie Campbell Bower and Dylan Jagger Lee all opted for unconventional items Walk this way: The clothes on the runway were a mixtire of light fabrics and shimmering metals Angelina Jolie's political ambitions were a huge factor in her and Brad Pitt's divorce, according to new claims. TMZ reports that the Changeling star 'dreamed of becoming the top UN official' and made this her main focus - even going so far as hiring professional help. The actress was claimed to have two political advisers on hand towards the end of the marriage to help her achieve this goal, as well as installing a ''war room' to help with decisions and image.' Scroll down for video Bad to worse: TMZ reports that it was Angelina Jolie's charity work that drove her and Brad Pitt apart, with the issue of taking their kids to war-torn countries a 'bone of contention' Alongside Angelina's dedication to her political future, the pair are said to have clashed over the six children and their constant travelling for her charitable causes. The source claimed that Brad was unhappy Angelina had taken the kids to war-torn countries at such young ages, despite being supportive of her work. The insider told the site: 'Brad was always supportive of Jolie's solo charity work, but travels with the kids became a bone of contention for several years.' Doing her bit: Angelina ensured they were accompanied top security on the trips but it is claimed Brad remained dubious of their safety The troubled couple reportedly came to blows when Angelina, who visited a refugee camp in Jordan only two weeks ago, expressed her desire to take their clan to Syria to help rebuild the country. While Angelina ensured they were accompanied by the top security, it is claimed Brad always remained dubious of their family's safety in the suffering areas. The Maleficent star is known for her philanthropic work, having held the rank of Special Envoy to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) since 2012, and creating the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation to build Asia's first Millenium Village. Charitable: The Maleficent star is known for her philanthropic work, having held the rank of Special Envoy to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) since 2012 The new claims come after Angelina reportedly turned to pal Johnny Depp for support following the split. The actress has been discussing her broken marriage with the troubled Pirates Of The Caribbean star and even hired his divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to represent her based on Johnny's recommendation, according to The Sun. A source told the publication: 'Angelina idolised Johnny for years before she worked with him on The Tourist, and then the pair of them really hit it off on set.' Helping her through? Angelina Jolie, 42, has turned to pal Johnny Depp, 53, for support following her split from Brad Pitt, 52, according to reports There is no suggestion Angelina and Brad's split is anything to do with Johnny, who recently underwent a public divorce from Amber Heard. The insider continued: 'The two of them have stayed in touch ever since then, and spoke regularly during the storm that surrounded Johnnys break up with Amber. 'They have been speaking about the situation, and Angelina hired Johnnys lawyer to represent her based on the advice that he has given her.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Angelina and Johnny and is awaiting comment. Trusting: Angelina even allegedly hired Johnny's divorce lawyer Laura Wasser to represent her based on Johnny's recommendation Johnny married Heard, his Rum Diary co-star, in February 2015 following his split from longtime love Vanessa Paradis, with whom he has two children Lily-Rose and Jack. Heard filed for divorce in May, appearing in court in Los Angeles with a bruised face to seek a temporary restraining order against the Hollywood star whom she accused of abuse. The former spouses reached a settlement on August 16 in which the restraining order was dismissed and Heard received $7 million, which she then donated to charity. Big fan: Angelina reportedly 'idolised' Johnny for years before she worked with him on The Tourist Meanwhile, Brad is allegedly so distraught over Angelina's refusal to allow him access to their children that he is hoping her father, movie legend Jon Voight, will intervene as a mediator. 'Brad has made an effort to make contact and is keen to try and improve the situation between them,' a source close to the situation told the UK's Daily Mirror. 'He's hoping his good relationship with Angelina's family will help to build bridges. He's spoken to her dad Jon and hopes he may be able to play peacemaker.' 'It's a very tricky time for the family but Brad hasn't given up hope yet.' Jolie shocked the world earlier this week when she filed for divorce from Pitt, putting in motion the dissolution of what was Hollywood's ultimate glamorous power couple. The Tomb Raider star was reportedly convinced that her husband was having an affair with French actress Marion Cotillard. Asking for help: Brad (centre) has reportedly reached out to his father-in-law, actor Jon Voight (left), in the hopes that he could influence Angelina (right) Jolie (right) filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday after a 12-year relationship. The couple has six children Pitt and Cotillard co-star in the movie Allied, a flick about the French partisans who fought the Nazis during World War II. In an effort to assuage his wife's fears, Pitt offered to take a polygraph to prove that he had remained faithful to her, according to the UK Daily Star. 'Angie hated all the female attention Brad would get,' a source close to the couple told the publication. 'She is very jealous and insecure, despite being one of the most beautiful women in the world.' 'They had a number of arguments about his closeness to Marion,' the source said. 'Brad did all he could to reassure her there was nothing going on and even offered to take a polygraph test to prove he was telling the truth.' 'Sadly for him she refused.' Cotillard, 40, issued a statement on her Instagram account denying that she slept with Pitt. She also announced that she was expecting her second child with her partner, French writer and actor Guillaume Canet. Meanwhile, it's been almost a week since Pitt has seen his kids. Jolie was reportedly jealous over Pitt's (right) relationship with Marion Cotillard (left), his co-star in the movie Allied. Pitt was willing to take a polygraph to prove he was not cheating Cotillard, 40, posted a message on her Instagram account denying that she and Pitt had an affair The 52-year-old has been apart from his six children since wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, Us Weekly reported. The actor, who is under investigation by the FBI following reports of alleged child abuse, is keen to see them as soon as possible. 'He knows the severity of the allegations and wants to be cleared of abuse before he sees them,' the source claimed. 'He is confident he will be cleared. The kids are asking to see Brad, so he is hoping to see them next week.' A second source added: 'He's so torn up and shattered, not only because of the divorce but because he hasn't seen the kids and he really wants to. Being apart from them is part of why he's so torn up.' Among the many circulating theories on the cause of the bombshell break-up this week is that Brad got drunk on a private jet with his family en route to LA five days earlier, and was seen fighting with his eldest son Maddox during a refueling stop at Minnesota. While the actress listed September 15 as the date she and her husband of two years separated, she had already organized a $95,000 a month home for her and her six children to live in. A source confirms to the DailyMail.com that the 41-year-old actress rented the ocean front home three weeks before the Oscar-nominated star filed for divorce in a Los Angeles' court on September 19. Angelina filed for divorce from Brad on Monday for 'the health of her family', two years after the couple wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval. She's walked in many of the hottest catwalks shows in Milan. But supermodel Bella Hadid bid farewell to the Italian fashion capital as she arrived at the city's airport on Sunday in style. The 19-year-old American beauty made sure to put a daring spin on her Moschino logo emblazoned tracksuit as she displayed her Versace Versus underwear. Scroll down for video Ciao Bella: Supermodel Bella Hadid is saying farewell to the Italian fashion capital as she arrived at the city's airport on Sunday in style Bringing both style and comfort together for her flight, the striking model slipped into the loose-fitting grey and white tracksuit which eye-catchingly featured Moschino Couture in blue down the left leg. Hadid teamed a black skintight crop top under her zip top as she used every opportunity to flaunt her enviable figure. Teasing her taut abs, the cleavage inducing top allowed Bella to flaunt her designer undergarments as she pulled the waisted band over her slender hips. Step to it: The 19-year-old American beauty made sure to put a daring spin on her Moschino logo emblazoned tracksuit as she displayed her Versace Versus underwear Chic: Bringing style and comfort together for her flight, the striking model slipped into the loose-fitting grey and white tracksuit which featured Moschino Couture down the left leg Bella opted to inject height into her already statuesque frame as she adorned her feet in a velvet high-heeled booted. Carrying her chic black tote, the runway star jazzed up her look as she wrapped a thick black choker around her neck and worked a pair of silver hoop earrings. While the fashion darling slicked back her raven coloured mane into a stylish chignon as to not bother her during her flight. The fashionista appeared to go make-up free as her reflective oversized shades covered her model features - allowing her natural pout to take centre stage. Walk this way: Bella opted to inject height into her already statuesque frame as she adorned her feet in a velvet high-heeled booted What a tease: Teasing her taut abs, the cleavage inducing top allowed Bella to flaunt her designer undergarments as she pulled the waisted band over her slender hips Jet setter: While the fashion darling slicked back her raven coloured mane into a stylish chignon as to not bother her during her flight It's been a busy week in Italy for the catwalk queen - who appeared on the runway for Moschino, Versace, Bottega Veneta, MaxMara and Philosophy. The GQ Model Of The Year opened the coveted Fendi and Alberta Ferretti shows as she spent time sharing the runway with sister Gigi. Earlier this week, Bella was there for her 21-year-old sibling after she was manhandled by a notorious prankster on Thursday. All black everything: The GQ Model Of The Year opened the coveted Alberta Ferretti in Milan Stylish: From left to right, Bella in the Fendi, Philosophy and Max Mara shows for Milan Fashion Week Runway star: The in-demand model also strutted her stuff at the Bottega Veneta show on Saturday Vitalii Sediuk assaulted the supermodel by grabbing Gigi and lifting her into the air, before the blonde beauty - who is an avid boxer- fought him off. Gigi elbowed him and then tried to chase him down before being restrained by her security, who later said they thought the man was a friend. Bella was by Gigi's side during the bizarre stunt, and yelled at the man to put her sister down. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of Hollywood's most successful love stories. But after 28 years of marriage and two children, the acting legend has revealed to 60 Minutes it may never have been. 'I told her long ago, "if you and I were at the same high school I wouldn't have had the courage to speak to you". Scroll down for video 'I wouldn't have had the courage to speak to you': Tom Hanks has revealed he never would have spoken to Rita Wilson at high school 'Too vivacious, too beautiful, too popular - everything - too upbeat, too positive.' And it seems the feeling was somewhat mutual, with Rita admitting she wouldn't have given Tom the time of day when they were young. 'To her credit my wife said "if we had gone to school at the same time, I would've had nothing to do with you",' the Forrest Gump star laughed. Then and now: The pair are one of Hollywood's most successful love stories after 28 years of marriage 'I would've had nothing to do with you': Rita said she wouldn't have wanted to speak with Tom in school either 'Rita and I are blessed because we really like each other and we always have. We weather a storm here and there, it's no big deal, you can get past it.' The Academy Award winning actor previously admitted that he was attracted to Rita when he first laid eyes on her on the 1970s sitcom, The Brady Bunch. Tom first saw her when she guest-starred as a cheerleader on the popular show. 'I was actually at a friend of mine's house when it aired and I remember thinking, "that girl's cute",' the 60-year-old said, according to People. Early attraction: Tom previously admitted that he was attracted to Rita when he first laid eyes on her on the 1970s sitcom, The Brady Bunch Philadelphia favourite Tom finally became romantically involved with his crush many years later in 1985. Rita and Tom tied the knot in 1988 and have sons together Chester, 26, and Truman Theodore, 20. Tom is also father to Colin Hanks, 38, and Elizabeth Hanks, 34, from his previous marriage to Samantha Lewes. She plays a breakfast TV anchor in upcoming drama series The Wrong Girl. And Madeleine West said she based her character on two 'outspoken' media personalities. 'For me, she is a bit of a hybrid of Sonia Kruger and Lisa Wilkinson,' the 36-year-old told Monday's The Daily Telegraph. 'She's a hybrid': Madeleine West admitted in an interview published on Monday that she's based her The Wrong Girl character on Channel Nine's Lisa Wilkinson and Sonia Kruger The former Neighbours star will play Erica in the series, which premieres Wednesday on Network Ten. 'There's elements of both of those women that I really, really admire and that I certainly got a sense of when I started reading the script for Erica,' the Australian actress said. 'She knows her stuff and she's not scared of being outspoken, so for me those women really typify that.' Meanwhile, the Underbelly star recently gushed to Who that she was keen to take on Sonia's real-life role on the Today Show. Role models: When looking to create the character of Erica, Madeleine confessed she looked to veteran media personalities Lisa Wilkinson (left) and Sonia Kruger (right) Them fighting words! Madeleine West, 36, on Thursday targeted Sonia Kruger, saying, 'if you don't keep up your act I'll be sneaking your job before you know it' 'I want Sonia's job! Look out, Sonia Kruger - if you don't keep up your act I'll be sneaking your job before you know it!' Madeleine admitted. The actress' shocking statement comes after the mother-of-six had 'a ball' playing TV presenter Erica Jones. 'I felt like I've learnt a whole new skill set,' said Madeleine. The Australian actress came to prominence on popular TV soap Neighbours when she played Dee Bliss, seeing her nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent. Smiling assassin: The blonde beauty stars as a breakfast TV anchor in the upcoming Australian series The Wrong Girl, and says she's learnt a 'whole new skill set' from playing the part And she's set to star in Neighbours once again, more than a decade after leaving the show. The blonde beauty has also starred in Australian shows Underbelly and Fat Tony & Co. The Wrong Girl is based on Zoe Foster Blake's acclaimed novel of the same name. Madeleine will star alongside Jessica Marais, Craig McLachlan, Hamish Blake and Rob Collins in the contemporary drama. Having a ball, on and off screen: The mother-of-six divulged she 'had a ball' playing Erica Jones on the new series, set to air next Wednesday on Channel 10 Sonia Kruger, 51, came under fire in mid July this year when she called for Australia to stop Muslim immigration because she 'wants to feel safe'. During a fiery Today Show panel discussion, the TV host argued there is a correlation between the number of Muslims in a country and the number of terrorist attacks. Under fire: Sonia Kruger can under fire in mid-July when she called on Australia to stop Muslim immigration Controversial topic: Sonia sparked a social media firestorm with her comments about Muslims and Australia 'Personally, I would like to see it stop now for Australia because I want to feel safe as all of our citizens do when we go out to celebrate Australia Day,' the media personality said. The television host said she had 'a lot of very good friends' who were Muslims and peace-loving, beautiful people. 'But there are fanatics.' He's been cast in a leading role for the TV spin-off of Guy Ritchie's geezer gangster film. And it seem that Rupert Grint has taken to mob-life with aplomb, as the film star appeared in high-spirits while filming the latest heist scenes for Snatch, on Sunday. Donning a boiler suit, parka and a rubber pig mask for the shoot in Manchester, the 28-year-old actor cut a formidable figure as he robbed a van single-handedly. Scroll down for video Bringing home the bacon? It seem that Rupert Grint has taken to mob-life with aplomb, as the film star appeared in high-spirits while filming the latest heist scenes for Snatch, on Sunday The actor, famous for taking on the mantle of Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, has been filming the Crackle streaming service exclusive in Manchester for the past few weeks. And it would appear that there really isn't any rest for the wicked, as Rupert had to go to work as Charlie Casvendish over the weekend - filming more action-packed scenes. Changing up his more familiar tailored jackets and bowties for something a little more utilitarian, it looked as though the roguish Charlie was having a day of graft. Throwing on a dark boiler suit over the rest of his costume, the wheeler-dealer prepared for his one-man raid by slipping on a pair of leather driving gloves. No need to ask: Donning a boiler suit, parka and a rubber pig mask for the shoot in Manchester, the 28-year-old actor cut a formidable figure as he robbed a van single-handedly Making sure his victims would have no chance when it came to identifying Charlie, the wardrobe department had also provided Rupert with a rubber pig mask. Keeping things practical for his plundering pursuits the actor had also been kitted out with a stinger trap and a shotgun. Setting his trap in a scarily real way, Rupert laid the spiked stinger out across the road and then donned his mask as he waited for his prey to arrive. As the van ran over the stinger and smoke flew up from the tires the actor sprang into action as Charlie. Tools of his trade: Throwing on a dark boiler suit the wheeler-dealer prepared for his one-man raid by slipping on a pair of leather driving gloves and hefting a stinger trap Running around the vehicle he proceeded to rob it at gun-point, though it seems that he managed to avoid 'doing away' with the driver. Rupert has been filming the show over the past few weeks alongside SKINS star, Luke Pasqualino. Other household names attatchd to the project at this point in time are Dougray Scott and Ed Westwick. The show is scheduled to air on the Sony owned streaming service Crackle - currently unavailable in the UK. Don't tell any porkies: Making sure his victims would have no chance when it came to identifying Charlie, the wardrobe department had also provided Rupert with a rubber pig mask All tooled up: Keeping things practical for his plundering pursuits, the actor had also been kitted out with a stinger trap and a shotgun Other actors set to feature in the forthcoming show include Dougray Scott as jailbird Vic Hill and former Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick as club owner Sonny Castillo. Snatch will adopt a formula previously employed to great success by the makers of cult show Fargo by using a film of the same name as a jumping off point for a new range of characters and plot developments. However unlike Fargo, which enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim after airing on FX and Channel 4, Snatch will be harder for British viewers to access. Man on a mission: As the van stopped, Rupert ran around the vehicle which he proceeded to rob it at gun-point, though it seems that he managed to avoid 'doing away' with the driver Speaking to The Independent, a Crackle spokesperson said the show would likely air in Britain 'at some point, but it's too soon to say where yet. 'Similar to the programs produced by Sony Pictures Television, will be sold around the world by our international distribution team.' Principal photography began in Manchester in August, with the show expected to air in 2017. She made a head-turning appearance at Milan Fashion Week for Dolce and Gabbana. But just a matter of hours after prowling and pouting her way down the catwalk in the fashion capital, Hailey Baldwin found herself sashaying down the city's streets. The model, 19, flashed a hint of her toned tummy in a tiny crop top and leather jeans combo as she paid a visit to some of the city's luxury shops. Scroll down for video Struttin' her stuff: Just a matter of hours after prowling and pouting her way down the catwalk in the fashion capital, Hailey Baldwin found herself sashaying down the city's streets The blonde bombshell appeared to be in the mood for some retail therapy following a hard day at work on the runway. Opting for a more understated look, Hailey - the daughter of Stephen and Kennya Baldwin - teamed a small black crop-top with leather jeans. Flashing cleavage and more than a hint of her toned tummy thanks to the tiny lace-up top, Hailey injected some raunch into her attire by slipping into a pair of skin-tight leather jeans. Toned and honed: The model, 19, flashed a hint of her toned tummy in a tiny crop top and leather jeans combo as she paid a visit to some of the city's luxury shops From runway to retail: The blonde bombshell appeared to be in the mood for some retail therapy following a hard day at work on the runway Though adding a seasonal touch to her look, the rising fashion star shrugged on a houndstooth overcoat. Rounding her outfit off in a typically racy manner, Hailey donned a pair of skyscraper lave-up leather boots. Adding a classic Hollywood touch to her look the model accessorised with a pair of white boxy shades. Showing some skin: The model flashed her cleavage and more than a hint of her toned tummy thanks to the tiny lace-up top Hell for leather: Hailey injected some raunch into her attire by slipping into a pair of skin-tight leather jeans Wrapping up warm: Though adding a seasonal touch to her look, the rising fashion star shrugged on a houndstooth overcoat Cool vibes: Adding a classic Hollywood touch to her look the model accessorised with a pair of white boxy shades Wearing her long blonde locks tied back Hailey kept her look faff-free; whilst a minimum application of make-up also allowed the teen to show off her striking natural features. Clearly having been inspired by the Dolce and Gabana runway show, Hailey looked to have picked up a few items from the fashion house's shop in the city. Earlier on in the day, Hailey had worn the same racy jeans and boots to D&G's MFW SS17 show - though she'd traded the coat and crop for a black slogan sweater. Striking: Wearing her long blonde locks tied back Hailey kept her look faff-free; whilst a minimum application of make-up let the teen show off her striking natural features Comfy chic: Earlier on in the day, Hailey had worn the same racy jeans and boots to D&G's MFW SS17 show - though she'd traded the coat and crop for a black slogan sweater Master style: The model looked to be feeling a slgiht chill throughout the day Hours later on the runway, Hailey stole the show as she sashayed down the catwalk in a form-fitting leather dress. She wowed in the bodycon black dress, which featured a structured and embroidered bodice and a chic satin panel on the skirt. Topping off her saucy sartorial look, Hailey wore red roses in her hair - something she seemed very taken with as she snapped a photo of herself modelling the flowers back-stage. Runways ready: Hours later on the runway, Hailey stole the show as she sashayed down the catwalk in a form-fitting leather dress Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) Rating: Celebrity Island (C4) Rating: Like alcoholics tumbling off the wagon, fans of Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1) went from abstinence to mad over-indulgence in one lunge, as the contest returned with a double bill spanning two-and-a-half hours. This was Strictly distilled to its purest essence. Unlike the gala opening three weeks ago, there were no star guests, no time for larks. Instead, it was 15 pairs of dancers, 15 rapid-fire debuts and well under 15 minutes of fame apiece amid a blizzard of catchphrases. For addicts, this was a glorious binge. For more casual viewers, the people who dont really get hooked until the later stages that is, most of us, and definitely me it was much too much of a good thing. Ed Balls and partner Katya Jones were bottom of the pile after the politician's wobbly performance on the floor Despite his low scoring from the judges, the former Shadow Chancellor just looks happy to be there In its rush to show us a set piece from every celebrity hoofer, Strictly slides too easily into the trap of being mechanical, more conveyor belt than ballroom. Every showcase follows a rigid formula: a profile of the celeb, practice scenes and the 90-second dance. Then its the judges comments cheers for Len, laughs with Bruno, applause for Darcey, boos for mean old Craig a quick chat with Claudia Winkleman and the score is revealed. And then . . . do it all over again. At this stage, its a sausage machine: churn, churn, churn. Theres simply not enough variety, which makes it impossible to keep track of all the routines. Thats made harder because several of these celebs are virtual unknowns. If you knew who Ore Oduba, Danny Mac or Melvin Odoom were before last month, youre probably family. The format might work better if the 15 contestants were split into three groups of five, with one group appearing each week. Theyd have longer to rehearse and wed have longer to get to know them. Mr Balls' outfit might have doubled for the Labour Party conference this week, were it not for the rhinestones on the lapels His hair was slicked back so hard, he looked more like a gangster than a prancing politician LOVE SCENE OF THE WEEKEND Youre hateful! cried Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) as her husband Ross rescued her from the tide in Poldark (BBC1). Youre infuriating! retorted the Capn (Aidan Turner), carrying her ashore in his arms. Ah, but theyre beautiful when theyre angry. Advertisement Instead, the two-parter, split over Friday and Saturday, was more a whirl of impressions. First to dance was Laura Whitmore, and if you didnt know she was a TV presenter, you might have assumed she was a politician. This one is a Kipper, announced judge Bruno. Was he talking about Ukip? Apparently not Kipper is how he pronounces keeper in that cod Italian accent. The actual politician, albeit failed, was Ed Balls. He was dressed in a lounge suit with a red tie (and, hedging his bets, a blue pocket hankie). The outfit might have doubled for the Labour Party conference this week, were it not for the rhinestones on the lapels. And his hair was slicked back so hard, he looked more like a gangster than a prancing politician. During rehearsals, he is sporting a cut above one eyebrow thanks to crashing into an automatic door while out and about hawking his new memoirs. During the performance itself, there might have been no crashing into the set. But, struggling with an umbrella in a pretend storm, Ed was failing to evoke memories of Gene Kelly. He was more like Gene Jelly a wobbly mess. The kindest thing any of the judges could muster was Brunos comment: Very politically correct. Ed scored the lowest marks of all, and its now odds-on that hell be first to be voted out. At least hes used to being evicted by the electorate. The castaways on Celebrity Island (C4) were voting themselves off, in protest at their own laziness and stupidity. They couldnt find food and they couldnt be bothered to look for it. Theyre supposed to be doing this to raise cash for cancer research, but two have quit already. The castaways on Celebrity Island (C4) were voting themselves off, in protest at their own laziness and stupidity Theyre supposed to be doing this to raise cash for cancer research, but two have quit already Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island contestants could not find food despite it being all around them The food was there a huge fish snoozed in clear water below a rocky outcrop and, if any of the celebs had thought to bring a pointy stick, it would have been Frying Tonight. They had only twine and fishhooks, and Lydia from TOWIE managed to impale herself on one of those. There is a doctor in the camp, Dawn Harper from Embarrassing Bodies, but a fishhook in the finger was too complex a surgical procedure for her. Her love life has remained firmly in the public eye since the nation watched her romance with Mark Wright crash and burn on TV. But it appears that Lauren Goodger may have fallen for a real-life bad boy, as the former TOWIE Star has reportedly been bonding with a convicted criminal. According to The Sunday People, the 30-year-old TV personality has been visiting violent drug dealer Joey Morrison - sparking rumours of a romance between the two. Scroll down for video Jailhouse lovedbirds? It appears that Lauren Goodger may have fallen for a real-life bad boy, as the former TOWIE Star has reportedly been bonding with a convicted criminal The newspaper reports that the former ITV2 stalwart has 'struck up a close friendship' with Morrision - who was sentenced to over 17 years in prison in 2010 for a spate of offences, including drugs. Morrison is currently serving part of his lengthy sentence in HMP Standford Hill, Kent, where Lauren's visits have prompted rumours of a romance. The prison is rated as category D open prison, meaning prisoners work within the community outside of the jail and there is a more relaxed attitude for visits. Speaking to the paper another visitor said: 'Ive seen Lauren there visiting Joey a couple of times and they look incredibly close. Her Mr. Right? According to The Sunday People , the 30-year-old TV personality has been visiting drug dealer Joey Morrison - sparking rumours of a romance between the two 'Joeys been a bad lad over the years, but hes got links to Essex so shes probably known him some time. They look every bit like a couple and thats what everyone in the prison thinks is going on.' MailOnline has contacted a representative of Lauren's for comment. Morrison, alongside accomplice Marvin Russell Jacobs, was convicted of possession with intent to supply, possession of a firearm, kidnap, blackmail, actual bodily harm and aggravated burglary following an eight-week trial at Wood Green in North London. In one incident, the pair were accused of forcing their way into a home in Enfield and using a stun gun on a 27-year-old man while demanding 2million. When the victim told them the police were outside, the suspects fled. The judge at the time said the victims were concerned in the supply of drugs. Giving him a chance? The paper reports that Lauren has 'struck up a close friendship' with Morrision - who is serving 17 year sentence behind bars 'Ive seen Lauren there visiting Joey a couple of times and they look incredibly close': Another visitor said the pair had been getting 'incredibly close' during the visits at HMP Standford Hill Another bad boy? Lauren's love life has often been thrust into the limelight, and her last serious relationship was with Jake McLean (pictured), who also spent time behind bars Forensic examination of items including a knife, glove and shotgun left at the scene later linked them to Morrison and Jacobs, and they were arrested. Lauren's love life has often been thrust into the limelight, and her last serious relationship was with Jake McLean, who also spent time behind bars. The couple first started dating in 2012 before splitting in 2013, only to rekindle their love fro a few months between 2015 and 2016. McLean was jailed for three-and-a-half years at St Albans Court in 2008 after being found guilty of conning his way into a mother's house two days before Christmas, overpowering her before a masked gang ran in and raided the family home. Prior to her relationship with Jake, Lauren was engaged to co-star Mark Wright, however, the couple split in 2012 and he has since gone on to marry actress Michelle Keegan. He's the self-assured poet who's vying for Georgia Love's heart on The Bachelorette. But Rhys Chilton has admitted his persona of the romantic, 'deep guy' is all just an act for the cameras in a bid to protect himself from being manipulated by clever editing. 'I'm super-strategic about all that,' the 29-year-old told TV Week. Scroll down for video All an act? Rhy Chilton has revealed his romantic and poteic character on The Bachelorette was in fact his own creation 'I think the best protection in a show like this is to, instead of letting them [the producers] paint you how they want, give them something else,' the Queenslander said. 'So, instead of them going, "Oh, we don't have a character for Rhys - we'll make him into the a**hole of the group," I'm giving them something on a platter: the romantic, deep guy who's really good-looking and has a good chest!' Meanwhile, a source close to the ladies' events entertainer has revealed Rhys is anything but ready for a relationship. Not lacking confidence: The 29-year-old admitted he decided to portray 'the romantic, deep guy who's really good-looking and has a good chest' First impressions: The male model made an impression on Georgia Love with a French line on the first night 'Rhys is a slime ball,' the female inside told NW. 'He doesn't want anything [serious] - he wants booty calls.' On last Thursday's episode, Rhys attempted to work his charms on Georgia with a poem. 'Slime ball': Meanwhile, an insider has revealed the Queenslander is a only looking for 'booty calls' 'Now, I'm not a journalist or anything, I'm not a writer, so you'll have to forgive me if this is sub-par,' the model began. 'Lights, cameras, the whole production. The night we met was lacking seduction. 'Not on your end, you were more than fine. If we had no spark, the blame was all mine. Poetic: Last Thursday's episode saw the self-confident hunk try to impress the Bachelorette with a poem 'What we really need is a fun single date. I'll be myself, I won't compete, like a gentleman. Till then, I'll wait.' Rhys' words appeared to make an impression on the 27-year-old beauty, with the hunk being one of the first guys to receive a rose later that evening. US, European allies say Russia must save Syria truce The United States and its European allies said it was up to Russia to bring about a truce in its ally Syria through "extraordinary steps." The allies pressed Moscow to allow unfettered humanitarian assistance, halt the Syrian regime's "indiscriminate" bombing of its own people and create the conditions necessary to resume political transition talks led by the United Nations. "The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts," read a joint statement that included the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union's top diplomat. Syrian government forces gather amidst destruction in the largely deserted Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat, north of Aleppo George Ourfalian (AFP) A weeklong ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the so-called cessation of hostilities (CoH) failed. That same day, an aid convoy was hit by an air strike that US officials blame on Russia. "Patience with Russia's continued inability or unwillingness to adhere to its commitments is not unlimited," the diplomats said. "The outrageous bombing of a humanitarian convoy, the Syrian regime's public denunciation of the CoH, continuing reports that the regime is using chemical weapons, and the unacceptable ongoing regime offensive on eastern Aleppo, supported by Russia, blatantly contradicts Russia's claim that it supports a diplomatic resolution." On Saturday, heavy air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. The allies reaffirmed their commitment to destroying the Islamic State group and urged Russia to focus on the jihadists as well. They called on Russia 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." They also demanded "immediate, expanded" humanitarian access to all parts of Syria, deploring "delays and obstruction caused primarily by the Syrian regime of humanitarian deliveries to Syrians in desperate need." While supporting UN investigations into the use of chemical weapons, the group pressed the UN Security Council to "take urgent further steps to address the brutality of this conflict, and particularly the assault on Aleppo." Earlier in the day at the UN, Britain, France and the United States requested an urgent Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria's second city of Aleppo. A meeting has been set for Sunday at 11:00 am (1500 GMT) to discuss the violence. Suspected gunman arrested in US mall shooting that killed five Authorities have arrested a Turkish-born man suspected of shooting five people dead, including a teenaged cancer survivor, at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington. Police named the suspect as Arcan Cetin, a 20-year-old resident of the nearby town of Oak Harbor, saying he was arrested late Saturday about 24 hours after the killings. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. Surveillance image courtesy of Washington State Police shows the suspect in the fatal shooting of five people at a shopping mall in the town of Burlington The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. He later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at the scene of the violence, Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle. Police are still trying to establish a motive. The youngest victim was named as Sarai Lara, 16, who survived cancer as a young girl. Relatives named another victim as 52-year-old Shayla Martin, who worked as a Macy's makeup artist. "We're really having a tough time right now," her sister Karen Van Horn told The Seattle Times. - Details emerge on gunman - Authorities had initially described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s. Members of the public called in with numerous tips that helped lead to the arrest, police said, adding that Cetin's family was cooperating. While Cetin was born in Turkey, he is a legal permanent resident of the United States, said Lieutenant Chris Cammock, criminal investigations chief for the Mount Vernon Police Department. He is due in court Monday. A Facebook page that appeared to belong to Cetin -- and which has since been taken down -- said he was born in the southern Turkish city of Adana. It also said went to Oak Harbor High School, which is about a 30-mile drive from Burlington, and had worked at a grocery store on nearby Whidbey Island. In February, he posted a link to a "Call of Duty" first-person shooter videogame practice session, in an eerie foreshadowing of the real world violence he is suspected of perpetrating. YouTube users posted lewd comments on that page and Cetin's Twitter page in response to the mall shooting. Police said Cetin had one prior arrest, last year, for assault. - 'Changed forever' - It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. "We suffered a devastating loss of five treasured members of our community who had done nothing more than what we all would have done on any given day: gone to the shopping mall," he said. "It changed those families forever. And we keep them in our prayers. It changed our community, I'm afraid, forever." 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. "We are united in knowing that the status quo is not good enough when it comes to violence in our community," said Washington Governor Jay Inslee. "Passivity in the face of this scourge of violence is unacceptable." The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from up to 27 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. "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. 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." The mall was closed Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims. Pressure is on Clinton, Trump in first debate Pressure mounted on Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump Sunday as they head into their first presidential debate with a new poll showing them in a dead heat. Mind games were on display as Trump threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, a former lover of Bill Clinton, to watch Monday's high-stakes battle of wits from a front-row seat. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said it was meant to show the New York billionaire had ways "to get inside the head of Hillary Clinton" but she told CNN there were no plans to invite Flowers. As many as 90 million people are expected to tune in when Trump and Clinton face off at Hofstra University in New York just six weeks before the November 8 election Paul J. Richards (AFP/File) "It's a warning sign before the debate has even started about Donald Trump's lack of fitness, his bullying tactics that make him unfit to be president," said Clinton's campaign manager, Robbie Mook, on CNN. As many as 90 million people are expected to tune in when Trump and Clinton face off at Hofstra University in New York six weeks before the November 8 election. Many analysts say debates usually don't win a candidate the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence, or the slightest slip, can do serious damage. Clinton, 68, enters the fray with no cushion. A Washington Post-ABC News poll published Sunday found that her slim advantage from last month has evaporated. She is tied with Trump at 41 percent among registered voters, with Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson at seven percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at two percent, according to the poll. In a two-way match-up, Trump and Clinton were even at 46 percent of registered voters. The survey showed a statistical tie among likely voters as well. "I think this thing will be close right up until the end," said Clinton running mate Tim Kaine. "We have to make our case every day. The debates are a great way to do that." Plenty of American voters will have made a decision by now, to be sure. Most have. But nine percent by some estimates still don't know who to vote for, after a long campaign in which bitter attacks have often replaced talk of substance. And this year has been like none in the past, with Trump, 70, using social media around the clock in combative fashion, while often making mistakes, misstatements and blunders without troubling his base. President Barack Obama's former campaign manager David Axelrod called the debate Clinton's "final exam." "She will be facing an entirely different kind of opponent on Monday night," he warned in a New York Times opinion piece. - Clinton cram session - On Saturday, the New York Times endorsed Clinton, who ahead of the debates has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practicing with relatives playing Trump. She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can't control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs. If he reacts by attacking, Trump also risks losing women's votes; he already has a harder time with women voters, and they make up 53 percent of those who turn out. And any slip is sure to be a TV news sound bite. Clinton's campaign released a long list of lies it attributed to Trump ahead of the debate. Trump in turn says preparations are "going very well," trying to at least appear relaxed. On Friday he won the endorsement of former conservative rival Senator Ted Cruz. Trump took Friday to prepare, and still had to work Sunday on the debate. But he continued with campaign rallies on other days, including Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia. On Sunday, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and later issued a statement pledging to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital" if elected. - 'Be yourself' - Clinton, making her second presidential bid, is an old hand at debates and considered solid. In some ways, she may have more to lose. After almost 40 years of public service, she is very well versed on the issues, and 88 percent of Americans believe she is smart. But in the latest poll 66 percent say they do not find her honest. And 57 percent have a negative opinion of a woman they see as cerebral, distant or cold. Trump's negative numbers were virtually identical. Her image has been sullied by Trump attacks over her email scandal, the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-to-play donations, and her ties to Wall Street. "Be yourself and explain what motivates you," Obama suggested to his former secretary of state, who as president would carry on the legacy of his two administrations. Trump has not yet experienced a presidential debate: 90 minutes of intense questioning, with only one opponent and a moderator, who on Monday will be NBC news anchor Lester Holt. But that does not worry the former reality TV star. He is good on his feet, and unpredictable, more comfortable in the limelight than on issues. He has promised to be "very respectful" with Clinton. Trump vs Clinton first TV head-to-head Alain BOMMENEL, Laurence SAUBADU (AFP) Television news crews prepare for the first presidential debate at Hofstra University Drew Angerer (Getty/AFP) As many as 90 million people are expected to tune in when Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton face off at Hofstra University in New York Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP) US Air Force set to replace intercontinental nuke arsenal Hidden underground in steel-and-concrete silos across rural America, more than 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles point to the skies, poised for launch -- and ready to obliterate cities across the world. First designed in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War, the Minuteman nuclear weapons are starting to show their age, and replacement parts are difficult to find for the weapons designed in an analog age. Also aging are their silos, many built in the 1950s and now rusting as water seeps through the decaying concrete. A deactivated Titan II nuclear ICMB in a silo at the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, Arizona Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File) Over the next 20 years, the US Air Force will switch out the entirety of its Minuteman III fleet with an as-yet-unnamed new missile known only as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). The Air Force estimates the cost of the GBSD, to be introduced late in the 2020s and phased in over the following decade, will be around $86 billion over the missiles' life cycle of about 50 years. Critics point to the Defense Department's long history of projects going way over budget and say the cost of replacing the nukes and maintaining their launch facilities is not warranted, given the tactical threats the United States currently faces. The Air Force "doesn't know how we are going to afford this," said Laicie Heeley, a nuclear expert at the Stimson Center, a nonpartisan anti-nuclear proliferation think tank in Washington. "Nuclear is crowding out more conventional systems that are (better suited to) the threats of today." - America's nuclear triad - The Air Force issued requests for proposals in July for vendors to replace the Minuteman, named after colonial militiamen who eventually fought against the British in America's Revolutionary War. The prize will likely go to one of the three US defense giants: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, and the new missile will be equipped with state-of-the-art electronics while being protected from any cyber threats. America's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are just one leg of its "triad" -- a three-pronged nuclear attack force also comprising submarines and bombers. The Pentagon wants to replace or modernize all three legs of the triad, at a cost experts estimate will hit $1 trillion over the next 30 years. "We flat can't afford it. And from a priorities standpoint, it's the wrong priority in the world that we face," Democratic Congressman Adam Smith told a Washington forum last week, noting that the ICBM force is the part of the triad best suited for reduction. The lawmaker said countries like China are able to boast a "spectacular deterrent" with far fewer nuclear weapons. "What they have is enough to say 'Don't screw with us, or we will obliterate you,'" he said, adding that even if the United States were to enter a major nuclear fight, "we're pretty much all toast anyways." The Pentagon insists it is imperative to push ahead with a complete overhaul of America's nuclear force. While the United States and Russia signed a treaty in 2010 to reduce the numbers of nuclear launchers, Moscow is modernizing its own triad. "The Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans are upgrading all of their systems," an Air Force official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the nuclear program. "They are upgrading all of their legs of the triad -- in that environment, I am not sure it makes sense" to do nothing. Another Air Force official said many of the vendors who first built or equipped the missile silos have long gone out of business, making it an arduous task to find replacement parts. He said he'd heard anecdotes of colleagues scouring Ebay or other sites looking for antique components. The Minuteman fleet is currently dotted across locations in North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will on Monday visit Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where control centers for that state's nukes are located. The Air Force has in recent years battled flagging morale among its "missileers" -- airmen in charge of the land-based missile force. A series of embarrassing revelations in 2014 described the state of the nuclear force, with dozens of airmen disciplined cheating on a test. Other investigations have probed drug use. The trouble began after the demise of the Soviet Union, as the mission gradually received a lower priority and offered a less-promising career path. US Air Force image shows a technician inspecting an LGM-30G Minuteman III missile inside a silo about 60 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base, in North Dakota Timbuktu ready to forgive as jihadist faces justice Timbuktu's residents still recall with horror the sight of jihadists waging a campaign of destruction against the fabled Malian city, but now some say they are ready to forgive an extremist whose trial in The Hague they see as a rare moment of justice. On Tuesday, Ahmad Al-Faqi Al-Mahdi will be sentenced on war crimes charges for his role in the destruction of nine of Timbuktu's holy shrines as well as the door of a revered mosque in 2012. "The pardon that he's asked for, for every Muslim it is right to accept it, regardless of the bad things he has done," said youth leader Salah Maiga. "We are ready to accept his apology and to forgive him." Workers pose in front of the newly restored doors of the 15th-century Sidi Yahia mosque hacked apart by jihadists in Mali's ancient city of Timbuktu four years ago Sebastien Rieussec (AFP/File) Mahdi, himself from the Timbuktu area, has pleaded guilty to the charge of cultural destruction constituting a war crime by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has begged for the community's forgiveness. His lawyer said he "lost his way" as head of Al-Qaeda-linked group Ansar Dine's "Hisbah" brigade, which enforced the group's strict interpretation of Islamic behaviour. "We were there with these barbarians, these lawless people without religion, who claim to speak in the name of Islam," Maiga said, recalling the day when Ansar Dine descended on the UNESCO world heritage site. Speaking at the unveiling of the restored door of the Sidi Yahia mosque that was damaged by Mahdi's men, Maiga added that he was hoping for a "fair trial for someone who destroyed something that belonged to the whole of humanity". - City of saints - Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, Timbuktu in northern Mali is also known as the "the city of 333 saints" for the number of sages buried there. For several months now, inhabitants have once again begun openly appealing to saints buried in tombs for help, believing they are capable of divine intervention. Mahdi was well known for his belief in a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law that was not widely supported in the community but which Ansar Dine sought to impose when they took over the city. Mahdi and his men considered the worship of saints un-Islamic. "I know exactly who he is," said jeweller Youba Maiga, who also witnessed the destruction at Sidi Yahia and remembered the curly-haired jihadist on patrol with his band of morality police. "We even spoke once: they said they were just coming for sharia, so that sharia could be applied. I said 'Before you do that, you have to check with everyone'," he added. Muslims in Mali are better known for practising a Sufi version of Islam, which is more pluralistic and incorporates some elements of mysticism. The jeweller said his own Islamic beliefs meant he had "no problem" forgiving Mahdi. "We just want peace here and we want justice to be done," he added. Ansar Dine was allied with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and a third local group until it was ousted in a French-led intervention in January 2013. Large swathes of the country remain lawless and for some Malians Mahdi's case is a rare example of justice being carried out. "We think that you have to make an example of someone, even if that person represents a single, weak link in the whole chain of predators and criminals," writer and activist Ismaila Samba Traore told AFP in the Malian capital, Bamako. "There are criminals who are still out there, people with hands covered in blood," he said. "There has been so much violence during this crisis that a huge number of victims are awaiting a result that will deliver justice." - Small fish - El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, who oversaw the reconstruction of Timbuktu's damaged sites with UNESCO assistance, said that Mahdi's trial itself was a "teachable moment" and more important than the prison sentence of up to 11 years that he could face on Tuesday. "The process has to be useful for something, showing to everyone that in the same way that we cannot kill another person with impunity, we cannot just destroy a world heritage site with impunity either," he said. But others fear the trial has netted a small fish while the real perpetrators remain at large. "It's good that justice will be done. But it shouldn't be the case that this creates injustices: we catch the weakest and let the strongest go," said a Timbuktu resident who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. "The ones really responsible are still out there." An armoured personnel carrier of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on a patrol in Timbuktu Sebastien Rieussec (AFP) Caroline Wozniacki ends title wait with Tokyo victory Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki overpowered Japan's Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-3 to capture the Pan Pacific Open on Sunday, her first tournament victory since February 2015. The Dane, who has battled back from a wretched run of injuries this year, weathered an early storm from her teenage opponent before running out a comfortable winner, claiming a second Tokyo title and the 24th of her career. "I'm very proud to win the tournament," Wozniacki told reporters. Caroline Wozniacki weathered an early storm from Japan's Naomi Osaka before running out a comfortable winner, claiming a second Tokyo title Toru Yamanaka (AFP) "Somebody just told me I've won a tournament every year since 2008. That's a nice little streak and hopefully I can keep it going and keep moving forward." Wozniacki, the Pan Pacific champion six years ago, survived a health scare after dropping serve to go down 4-3 in the first set. After feeling a twinge in her left thigh, she left the court for treatment and returned with her leg heavily bandaged. But it appeared to have little adverse effect as Wozniacki took complete control, ripping a fierce backhand down the line to take the set. Wozniacki, who reached the US Open semi-finals earlier this month to signal her return to form, roared into a 5-0 lead in the second set as Osaka's game unravelled in the Tokyo sunshine. Playing with the roof open after a week of typhoon rains, Osaka paid for her youthful exuberance, her strategy of attempting to hit the fur off the ball on every shot backfiring badly against a vastly more experienced opponent. The 18-year-old, who called a medical timeout of her own for a sore right shoulder after losing the first set, produced some spirited resistance to avoid the dreaded 'bagel', but it was too little too late. Wozniacki completed victory with a crisp backhand which forced Osaka into yet another wild shot, giving the 26-year-old her first title since Kuala Lumpur last year. "I hurt my groin a little bit in the first set, but I tried to stay aggressive and stay calm," said Wozniacki, who had seen her world ranking plunge to 74th after suffering wrist and ankle injuries. "To be honest I was just trying to fight for every point. It was tough at the end but I was just happy to close it out." The Dane is set to climb to 22 or 23 in the new rankings when they are released on Monday. Osaka, born of a Japanese mother and Haitian father, will break into the top 50 after her fairytale run but confessed her inexperience had cost her. "Everything is a bit new to me," she said. "I was thinking too much about the whole situation. When she took a medical break I should've been more focused on my game. "I'm sort of taking everything as it comes," added Osaka, who had lost all her previous five finals on the WTA satellite circuit. "I will try to fix things I did wrong today but honestly I'm happy how I've played this year." Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after losing a point against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on September 25, 2016 Toru Yamanaka (AFP) Indonesia struggles to tap volcano power Columns of steam shoot from the ground at an Indonesian power plant sitting in the shadow of an active volcano, as energy is tapped from the red-hot underbelly of the archipelago. Pipes zig-zag up rugged mountainsides covered in tea plantations, carrying steam from the Earth's core to power enormous, electricity-generating turbines at the Wayang Windu facility on Java island. Indonesia, a seismically-active island chain studded with scores of volcanoes, holds an estimated 40 percent of the world's geothermal energy reserves, but has long lagged behind in its use of the renewable power source. Steam rises from the Wayang Windu geothermal power station on West Java Bay Ismoyo (AFP) Now the government is pushing to expand the sector five-fold in the next decade, although the challenges are huge in a country where the burden of red tape remains onerous, big projects are often delayed and targets missed. "The potential is tremendous," said Rully Wirawan, field manager at Wayang Windu. "The current government is trying to tackle the challenges so I believe the development of the sector will be better in future." Geothermal, a clean energy source which releases negligible amounts of greenhouse gases, unlike burning dirty fossil fuels, is mostly found in seismically-active areas around tectonic plate boundaries. The Earth's heat emanating through the faultlines warms underground reservoirs, and the resulting steam can be channelled to geothermal energy plants. - Fossil fuel addiction - The majority of Indonesia's power is generated from its abundant reserves of coal and oil. It currently has installed capacity to produce about 1,400 megawatts of electricity from geothermal, enough to provide power to just 1.4 million households in the country off 255 million. That is less than five percent of geothermal's estimated potential and behind the world's two leading producers of the energy source, the United States and the Philippines. But the government is aiming to increase Indonesia's generating capacity to around 7,200 megawatts by 2025, as part of a broader plan to boost the renewables sector, which would likely make it the world's top producer of the power source. A major part of the drive is a law passed two years ago that means geothermal exploration is no longer considered mining activity, as it was previously. The old definition had held up the industry as mining cannot be carried out in the country's vast tracts of protected forests, believed to contain about two-thirds of Indonesia's geothermal reserves. The government is also seeking to sweeten local administrations -- which had sometimes resisted the construction of the steam-belching facilities -- by offering them up to one percent of revenue from any geothermal plant in their area. Abadi Poernomo, chief of the Indonesian Geothermal Association, which represents companies involved in the sector, is upbeat about future prospects: "A lot of investors from abroad are coming to Indonesia with the intent to develop geothermal". - High costs, red tape - Still, the challenges are enormous. While achieving the 2025 target may be possible, it will be extremely difficult, said Daniel Wicaksana, an energy expert at consultancy Frost and Sullivan Indonesia. One of the biggest problems is the high exploration costs needed at the outset, as checking for potential geothermal reserves is a complex, time-consuming business, that is not always successful. Building a geothermal plant costs the equivalent of $4 to $5 million dollars per megawatt, compared to $1.5 to $2 million for a coal-fired power station, according to the association. Investors have also complained about what they say is the relatively low price offered by the state-run power company to buy electricity from a geothermal facility, which they claim usually doesn't cover the large initial outlay. To top it all off, Indonesia's complicated bureaucracy puts many off -- 29 permits are required from different government agencies and ministries for a geothermal plant, and time-consuming negotiations with powerful local administrations can also hamper progress. "The level of complexity to complete the necessary paperwork, at the local level especially, also adds to the slow development of geothermal," said Wicaksana. Green groups have also questioned authorities' commitment to geothermal in the near term -- a plan by the government to ramp up electricity-producing capacity dramatically by 2019 seems more focused on building coal-fired power stations than expanding the use of renewable energy sources. Wayang Windu, which is jointly managed by independent company Star Energy and state-owned energy giant Pertamina and takes its names from the active volcano near the plant, illustrates some of the challenges. Exploration first began at the site in 1985 but it was not until 15 years later that the plant began producing electricity commercially, while work on a new unit to boost power generation has been delayed due to negotiations over cost. Even officials admit achieving the government geothermal target will be tough. Ego Syahrial, the head of the government's geology agency, which assesses geothermal energy reserves conceded: "The progress is not very encouraging to be honest." Indonesia volcanoes A plant technician inspects the distribution lines at the Wayang Windu geothermal power station on West Java Bay Ismoyo (AFP) The government is aiming to increase Indonesia's generating capacity to around 7,200 megawatts by 2025 Bay Ismoyo (AFP) Plant controllers working in the control room of the Wayang Windu geothermal power station on West Java Bay Ismoyo (AFP) US-EU economic relations in for stormy weather With spats over Apple and Deutsche Bank and squabbles about Airbus and Boeing, approaching elections on both sides of the Atlantic are exacerbating strains in US-European economic relations. The recent controversy over taxing the iPhone maker surely epitomizes the situation best. European authorities' decision in late August to force the American giant Apple to pay $14.5 billion in taxes to Ireland infuriated officials in Washington and is still ruffling feathers. US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has repeatedly expressed his astonishment and openly accused the Europeans of "disproportionately" focusing on US corporations. European authorities' decision to force Apple to pay $14.5bn in taxes to Ireland infuriated officials in Washington and is still ruffling feathers Don Emmert (AFP/File) On the other hand, the US Justice Department's $14 billion proposed settlement with Deutsche Bank over trading in mortgage-backed securities derivatives has rattled nerves in Europe, where some accuse Washington of coming down particularly hard on foreign banks. Add to this the US victory at the World Trade Organization this week in the battle over Europe's purportedly illegal public subsidies to Airbus. The matter is not yet concluded but the United States could in theory claim billions of dollars in compensation from Europe. And to top it off, negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which are to resume in a week in New York, are also foundering -- not only because of divergent positions but also because of the calendar. The Americans still insist the agreement could be signed before the end of the year while President Barack Obama is still in office. The Europeans now say this is "not realistic." - Friction - There has always been friction among the two allied sides, but this time things are worsened by the uncertainty from the coming presidential elections, set for November 8 in the US and for April in France. General elections are due to be held in Germany before the end of 2017. "In normal times, both sides would easily reach a compromise on these issues but the problem is that it is coming in this incredibly uncertain environment," said Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations, a New York think tank. The rise of protectionist views in the United States with the candidacy of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and in Europe, with the British vote to secede from the EU, has electrified talks and complicated reactions from current governments. "The danger is that what should be routine disputes become harder and harder to deal with in this environment," said Alden, adding that both Europe and the United States are now "disoriented" by the rejection of trade liberalization. Assailing trade partners then becomes tempting. And so France took the gloves off recently, decrying the purported stubbornness of the United States in trade talks. "The Americans offer nothing or crumbs.... This isn't how allies should negotiate," French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said last month. He then drove home the point, saying it would be "inconceivable" to continue talks so long as the Americans persisted in applying their laws in supposedly extraterritorial manner on European companies. The French bank BNP Paribas was a case in point, settling with the Americans for $8.9 billion in 2014 over alleged sanctions violations. But some experts express doubts about such head-butting. "I don't think you can really score points in the coming elections in the United States or Europe by attacking trade partners," said Sebastian Dullien of the European Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin, adding nevertheless that "some populists may think so." Others point out that past transatlantic troubles have been overcome without too much difficulty. At the time, the penalties imposed on BNP Paribas by the United States did cause pronounced tension. But in the light of day, things look a little different, said Jacob Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. "Who today could argue that the US-EU economic relationship was really badly damaged by this case?" he asked. The rise of protectionist views in the US with the candidacy of presidential nominee Donald Trump has complicated reactions from current governments Mandel Ngan (AFP) European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager takes pictures of journalists using her iPhone at the EU Delegation in Washington Yuri Gripas (AFP/File) Asia scoops top honours at San Sebastian film festival Asian cinema dominated awards at the San Sebastian film festival, with veteran Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's "I am not Madame Bovary" taking the top Golden Shell prize while Fan Bingbing won the best actress gong for her role in the same film. In the satirical comedy, Chinese star Fan plays a cafe owner caught in the bureaucratic maze of the Chinese legal system after she is swindled by her ex-husband. It had attracted attention earlier this month at the Toronto film festival where it won the International Federation of Film Critics' prize, with the jury hailing "its ambitious rendering of a woman's Kafkaesque struggle as she takes on the Chinese legal system". Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's "I am not Madame Bovary" takes the top prize at the San Sebastian film festival as Fan Bingbing wins the best actress gong for her role in the same film Eli Gorostegi (AFP/File) Among the other awards Saturday, prolific South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-Soo won 'best director' for his comedy "Yourself and Yours" about the adventures of a painter seeking to win back his girlfriend, a woman who while drinking tends to forget her flirtations. Spanish actor Eduard Fernandez took home the best actor Silver Shell for his role in "Smoke and Mirrors", about a real-life a Spanish spy, Francisco Paesa. The festival's "Latin Horizons" section on Latin American film honoured Chilean director Pepa San Martin's first feature "Rara" about the struggle of a lesbian judge who loses custody of her daughters because of her sexual orientation. Shy pangolins need world spotlight to survive Reclusive, gentle and quick to roll up into a ball, pangolins keep a low profile. But they are also the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, and experts at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference this week are ringing alarm bells over their survival. Demand for pangolin meat and body parts has fuelled a bloodbath, and driven the scale-covered, ant-eating mammal towards extinction. Zimbabwe game reserve guide Matius Mhambe holds "Marimba", a female pangolin that has been nine years in care at Wild Is Life animal sanctuary just outside Harare Jekesai Njikizana (AFP) More than a million pangolins are believed to have been poached from the wild in the past decade. Most are used to supply demand in China and Vietnam, where they are highly regarded as a delicacy and an ingredient in traditional medicine. At the CITES meeting in Johannesburg, conservationists will discuss moving pangolins into the highest protection category, which bans all international trade. "The pangolin today is regarded as the most heavily trafficked mammal in the world," CITES chief John Scanlon told AFP. "There has been a massive surge in the illegal take of the pangolin for its meat and for its scales." Currently CITES allows for trade in pangolins but under strict conditions. "Existing laws are clearly failing to protect pangolins from the poachers. A complete international trade ban is needed now," said Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's wildlife advisor. There are four species of pangolin in Africa and four in Asia. Watchdogs say those in Asia are being eaten to extinction, while populations in Africa are declining fast. Research published in the early 2000s estimated populations in China to have declined by up to 94 percent, said Dan Challender, pangolin expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. - Curl into a ball - Pangolins are covered in overlapping scales, and have pink, sticky tongues almost as long as their bodies. When physically threatened, they curl into ball, making it easy for them to be picked up by hunters and put into a sack. About the size of a small dog, they are solitary, mostly nocturnal and cannot be farmed. "Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity -- they only feed on wild ants and termites, and they are extremely prone to stress and dehydration, so they die," Ray Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, told AFP. In Chinese traditional medicine, pangolin scales are ground into a powder believed to cure conditions from headaches and menstrual cramps to nose bleeding and lack of virility. The scales are sometimes even used as guitar plectrums. In traditional African culture, some people believe in keeping a scale in their pockets to ward off evil. Zimbabweans used to present the mammals to President Robert Mugabe during his early years in office, but the practice has been discontinued. "In Shona and Zulu culture, a pangolin is regarded as the greatest gift you can bestow on a chief, statesman or an elder," said Jansen. Pangolin fat, blood and bones are also highly valued in African traditional medicine. According to Jansen, in South Africa a pangolin can sell for anything between 10,000 rand ($730) to 80,000 rand ($5,800) depending on the client. India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Senegal and the United States are co-sponsoring the proposal to impose a total ban on pangolin trade. The CITES treaty, signed by 182 countries and the European Union, protects about 5,600 animal and 30,000 plant species from over-exploitation through commercial trade. The 12-day conference started Saturday and will sift through 62 proposals to tighten or loosen trade restrictions on some 500 species. Indonesian police display some of 657 dead and frozen pangolins seized in Surabaya, East Java Juni Kriswanto (AFP/File) Probe your own brother, ousted Thai PM tells junta chief Thailand's first female prime minister on Sunday told the man who ousted her government two years ago to investigate his own brother over corruption allegations, in an unusually strong broadside against the junta. Yingluck Shinawatra was booted from office shortly before army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power in May 2014, the military's second coup in less than a decade and their twelfth successful power grab since 1932. Since then she has been hit with a series of junta-led prosecutions including a retroactive impeachment, an ongoing criminal negligence trial that could see her jailed for up to a decade and a separate move to seize more than $1 billion in civil damages. Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was booted from office shortly before army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power in May 2014 Lillian Suwanrumpha (AFP/File) The last two legal cases stem from a popular but financially costly rice subsidy scheme that Yingluck's government pushed. "The Prime Minister (Prayut) says that all the legal actions against me are based on the law and are not bullying," Yingluck wrote on her Facebook account on Sunday. "I would like the Prime Minister to apply the same logic and justice given to me like he gives justice and protection to his brother and other people who are on his side. Because the laws should be enforced for everyone, not just used only against my side." Yingluck's comments were a direct reference to new corruption allegations that have surfaced this month against Prime Minister Prayut's brother Preecha Chan-O-Cha, who is also a senior army general. Local media said one of Preecha's sons had won a series of lucrative construction contracts from Thailand's Third Army, which Preecha used to command. Preecha insisted his son won the contracts in a fair tender process and denied any wrongdoing. But it is not the first time the junta chief's brother has had to deny negative headlines. Earlier this year he admitted helping another son land a well-paid officer's job in the military. And when the junta ordered senior officials to reveal their wealth -- part of a post-coup attempt at transparency -- Preecha had $1.2 million in his bank account -- money he said was military assets he was looking after and not his own personal wealth. Such headlines have stung Prayut, who has defended his coup as necessary to root out political corruption and end years of instability between competing factions. However critics say his regime has been selective in graft prosecutions, with the main aim being to rid the country of the Shinawatra political clan. Yingluck's billionaire brother Thaksin was ousted as prime minister in a 2006 coup. The Shinawatras have won all general elections since 2001 by promising greater wealth and opportunity to the nation's poor, especially in the long-neglected north and northeast. But their parties were loathed by a Bangkok elite and by southern voters -- backed by the military establishment -- who accused them of corruption and nepotism. Prime Minister Prayut appeared to distance himself from his brother in comments on Sunday after returning from New York, the first time he has addressed the issue in detail. "A brother is a brother, it's not the same as me," he said. "He is not stupid. But I do not make a guarantee for him because it is his responsibility." Trump trips over African American museum's name Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is seeking to shore up support among black voters, has stumbled over the name of the new Washington museum on African American history. The new museum is a "really beautiful place," Trump told thousands of supporters in Roanoke, Virginia, on Saturday. He called it the "Smithsonian national museum of American history, African American art." In fact, the long-awaited institution, which opened Saturday amid fresh racial strife in the country, is called the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Donald Trump called a new Washington museum on African American history, the "Smithsonian national museum of American history, African American art" instead of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Mandel Ngan (AFP) Trump, who has been accused of racism toward several minority groups, hailed African Americans' "incredible contributions" to the United States. "African Americans have given so much to our nation, and sacrificed so much for this nation." While noting that some African Americans have been very successful, Trump acknowledged that "too many African Americans have been left behind and trapped in poverty," he said. Trump blamed President Barack Obama's Democrats for black travails in the United States. Obama is the nation's first African American leader. Obama earlier inaugurated the striking 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) bronze-clad museum before thousands of spectators gathered in the US capital to witness the historic opening. African American voters largely support Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. "I will fight to make sure every single African American in this country is fully included in the American dream," Trump said. Trump recently visited a black church in Detroit, Michigan, promising more jobs. French fighter jet deal: an Indian saga The less-than-supersonic sale of French Rafale fighter jets to India has highlighted the obstacles facing foreign arms firms seeking to do business with the world's biggest weapons importer. India has signed a series of key defence deals under Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a $100 billion upgrade of its Soviet-era military hardware, making it an attractive proposition for arms exporters. But a series of corruption scandals have made India a challenging environment, with huge delays and a tough negotiation process. A Rafale fighter jet, manufactured by France's Dassault Jean-Pierre Muller (AFP/File) After nearly a decade of discussions and setbacks India signed a deal Friday to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets for 7.9 billion euros ($8.8 billion) as it seeks to bolster its military against an increasingly assertive China. Defence experts say the aircraft, manufactured by France's Dassault, will provide a much needed boost to India's air force. But the final windfall was much less than had been hoped for by the French. "The Indians always conduct very tough negotiations. They are known for it," said Isabelle Saint-Mezard, a specialist in South Asian strategic issues at the University of Paris. "They have all the major weapons suppliers knocking at their door, so they are well positioned to do so." Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, has gained experience of India's bargaining tactics in recent years. "India is a school of patience," he said. The country ranks 130 out of 189 on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index -- the worst of all G20 countries -- and regulations vary capriciously across its 29 states, where even the same law can be interpreted in bafflingly different ways. - Fear of corruption - Allegations of corruption have scuppered Indian defence deals as far back as 1987, when then-prime minister Rajiv Gandhis government collapsed over charges of kickbacks paid to Indian officials by the Swedish group Bofors to clinch a $1.3-billion artillery deal. Fears of further corruption meant that "the modernisation of the armed forces stalled," said Gulshan Luthra of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi. To erect safeguards against graft India ramped up its army of bureaucrats dealing with weapons sales, with contracts becoming trapped in a paper maze. The smallest comment on an arms deal required from a government department can delay a case for several months. "In recent years, the authorities have tried to clamp down on graft. As a result, officials in charge of issuing contracts fear exposing themselves to suspicion of corruption and are reluctant to engage," said St. Mezard. For a contract to succeed, "it usually takes strong political will at the highest level of the state," she added. But all these precautions do not prevent old demons resurfacing. In 2013 the government scrapped a $748 million contract with AgustaWestland helicopters following allegations it was won through kickbacks. - Technology transfer - Deals are also complicated because India is determined to achieve its goal of being less dependent on foreign trade for its military equipment. Its tenders are accompanied by significant technology transfer requests. For example, one mooted deal was to have seen Dassault assemble 108 out of 126 fighter jets on Indian soil. But the French refused to assume responsibility for all the planes that were to be built in India. "The Indians insist on such deals, but without always having the means or the expertise to carry them out. As a result, suppliers are reluctant to embark on this sort of agreement," said St. Mezard. Faced with an urgent need to modernise its military, Modis government finally opted for the direct sale of 36 ready-to-fly Rafale jets, which will be manufactured in France. But Dassault will be contractually bound to reinvest nearly half of the value of the deal in India, an obligation known as the offset clause. "The offset rules are very complicated and opaque," said Rahul Bedi, a Jane's Defence Weekly analyst. "We are talking high-tech and the Indian industry does not have the sophistication to absorb such offsets." India has signed several big-ticket deals since Hindu nationalist Modi took power in 2014. The increasing assertiveness of its giant neighbour China as well as its simmering rivalry with Pakistan have increased its need to upgrade its military. That signals many potential contracts for foreign arms suppliers -- despite the obstacles. The Rafale jet fighter The 56-year-old writer died after being shot three time by the gunman A Jordanian writer has been shot dead outside a court room where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon which was deemed offensive to Islam and mocked Jihadis. State news agency Petra said Nahed Hattar was hit three times after the gunman opened fire outside the court building in Amman's Abdali's district. The 56-year-old Christian was arrested on August 13 after posting a cartoon mocking jihadists on his Facebook account. Nahed Hattar was shot dead as he walked down the steps outside a court in Amman, pictured A gunman walked up and shot Hattar three times as he left the courthouse earlier today Jordan's attorney general had placed a news blackout on reporting Hattar's case He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September. Jordan's attorney general had imposed a blackout on media coverage of the case. Hattar removed the cartoon from his Facebook page after it triggered outrage on social media. The cartoon features an illustration of God under the title 'God of Daesh', using an Arabic acronym for ISIS He explained on Facebook that the cartoon made fun of 'terrorists and how they imagine God and heaven, and does not insult God in any way'. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting ISIS in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting ISIS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory. Jordan is a key ally with the United States in the ongoing bombing campaign against ISIS Jordan had imposed a media blackout on the trial of Nahed Hattar, a Christian writer accused of insulting Islam after he shared a satirical cartoon which mocked ISIS jihadis The attorney general had imposed a blackout media coverage of the case against Hattar, also known as a leftist and supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Prime Minister Hani al-Malki ordered his interior minister, Salam Hammad, to summon the writer and to initiate legal proceedings against him after he shared the cartoon on the internet. The Jordanian government denounced his killing as a 'heinous crime'. 'The law will be firmly applied to the person who committed the crime and the government will strike with an iron fist anyone who dares to take advantage of this to spread hate speech,' said spokesman Mohamad Momani. The opposition Muslim Brotherhood and Dar al-Iftaa, the highest religious authority, also condemned the attack. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory. In recent years, extremists have had other publications in their sights for publishing caricatures seen as insulting to Islam, including in Europe. In January 2015, jihadists killed 12 people, including eight staff, in an attack on the offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The French satirical weekly had drawn the fury of Muslims around the world since publishing drawings of Islam's Prophet Mohammed in 2006. Authorities in Denmark have thwarted attacks linked to the Mohammed cartoons published in the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in 2005. Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. (Photo:VNA) The bloc, which consists of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, made clear its stance in a joint statement delivered by Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, at the general debate on September 23rd on Item 6 in the framework of the 33rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. We recognize that a key to the success of the UPR is its being an intergovernmental peer-review mechanism where every country is equally and objectively reviewed and encouraged to further promote and protect human rights in their own country, according to their needs and priorities, the statement said. ASEAN also stress that the UPR must continue to be conducted in an objective, transparent, non-selective, constructive, non-confrontational and non-politicized manner, taking into account their respective social, political and economic circumstances. We reaffirm that national mechanisms are best placed to translate UPR recommendations into concrete outcomes for their citizens. In order that the UPR continues to improve the human rights situation on the ground, we believe that UPR should enhance constructive dialogue, serve as a forum of sharing of best practices in the implementation, and promote constructive cooperation, especially through technical assistance and capacity building, in consultation with, and with the consent of, the state concerned, the statement said. ASEAN countries once again reaffirm their commitment to continue their constructive engagement with this mechanism of the Human Rights Council. The UPR, which was launched in 2008, involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN member States. It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights./. Netanyahu sorry after comments on soldier accused of manslaughter Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologised Sunday after facing criticism for comments in which he seemed to compare a soldier currently on trial for manslaughter with troops killed in combat. In an interview broadcast on Saturday night, Netanyahu was asked if he regretted telephoning the father of Elor Azaria, on trial for shooting a Palestinian assailant in the head as he lay on the ground without posing any apparent threat. "Not at all," Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 2 television from New York, where he had attended the United Nations General Assembly, saying he told the soldier's father to trust the military and its judicial system. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on September 18, 2016 Asked if he telephoned other parents of soldiers accused of breaching the army's code of conduct, Netanyahu said "No". The premier, however, said that he "called many parents who were in distress after their sons were killed in action or had gone missing, or were killed in action and went missing." "The citizens of Israel are greatly distressed here," he said of the Azaria case. The front page of Sunday's Yediot Aharonot, Israel's top-selling newspaper and often hostile to Netanyahu, called it an "infuriating comparison". Netanyahu responded on Sunday. "I'm sorry if my remarks were misunderstood," Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page. "In no way did I intend on comparing between the pain of bereaved families, pain I'm very familiar with, to the condition of other parents in distress," wrote Netanyahu, whose brother Yonatan was killed while commanding a military operation. "There is no comparison, nor can there be any." Azaria's case has deeply divided Israeli public opinion, with top military brass condemning his actions and rightwing politicians arguing he has been unfairly treated. A military court in Jaffa was on Sunday holding a hearing in Azaria's trial, which began in May. A widely circulated video of the March 24 incident showed the Palestinian lying on the ground after stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier, according to Israeli authorities. IS suicide bomber kills six in Baghdad A suicide bomber killed six people in western Baghdad on Sunday, an Iraqi security spokesman said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. The bombing in the Iskan area also wounded 18 people, according to a statement from security spokesman Saad Maan. IS claimed the attack in a statement, saying it was carried out by an Iraqi national wearing an explosive vest who had successfully penetrated security measures. Iraqi soldiers stand guard in the capital Baghdad, frequently targeted in suicide bombings by the Islamic State group Ahmad Al-Rubaye (AFP/File) The Baghdad attack came a day after militants killed 12 people in gun and bomb attacks claimed by IS in the northern city of Tikrit. Iraqi forces are preparing for a push on Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country, after regaining much of the Iraqi territory the jihadist group seized in June 2014. But even as it loses ground, IS retains the ability to carry out deadly attacks in government-held areas. Yemen air strike kills 9 family members: witnesses A Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen killed nine members of the same family, including several children, on Sunday in the southwestern rebel-held city of Ibb, witnesses and medics said. Eleven neighbours were also wounded when the family's house, on the southern edge of the mountain city, was hit during a night of intense air strikes, witnesses said. Medics at the city's main hospital confirmed they had received nine bodies, including those of women and children. A Saudi F-15 fighter jet lands at the Khamis Mushayt military airbase Fayez Nureldine, Fayez Nureldine (AFP/File) The house was next to a vocational college that Iran-backed Huthi rebels have converted into a military base and arms depot, witnesses said. The air strikes came amid growing international criticism of the Arab coalition over the mounting toll of civilian casualties in its campaign against the rebels. Huthi rebels and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh control Ibb and swathes of Yemeni territory including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in September 2014. Since the coalition intervened in March last year, government forces have managed to push rebels out of five southern provinces, including the port city of Aden. More than 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the start of the Saudi-led campaign, more than half of them civilians, according to the United Nations. The UN warned on Friday of rising civilian casualties, saying that 180 people were killed and 268 injured in August, a 40 percent rise on the previous month. On Wednesday, at least 20 civilians died in air strikes on the rebel-held Red Sea city of Hodeida that the coalition said targeted "Huthi leaders". Jordan writer in anti-Islam case shot dead at court A prominent Jordanian writer was shot dead Sunday on the steps of a court where he was facing charges for sharing an anti-Islam cartoon on Facebook. Nahed Hattar was struck by three bullets before the alleged assassin was arrested at the scene of the shooting in Amman's central Abdali district, said the official Petra news agency. The assailant -- bearded and dressed in a grey dishdasha worn by conservative Muslim men -- shot Hattar, a 56-year-old Christian, as he made his way up the steps outside the court, a security source told AFP. Demonstrators gather in the town of Fuheis, near the capital Amman, on September 25, 2016, denouncing the killing of Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar Khalil Mazraawi (AFP) Hit in the head, he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, the source said. The gunman, a 49-year-old resident of the capital, gave himself up to police at the court, the source added. Media reports said he was a former preacher in an Amman mosque. A judicial source later said the assailant was remanded for 15 days and charged with premeditated murder, meaning he could face the death penalty if convicted. The suspect, an education ministry employee, had acted alone and was not linked to any "terrorist" group, a source close to his interrogation said, asking not to be named. An AFP journalist saw blood on the steps of the building where police had cordoned off the area of the shooting. Mohammad al-Jaghbir, Hattar's friend, told AFP he had witnessed the killing. - 'Death threats' - "We were climbing the steps when a bearded man... got a pistol out of a bag he was carrying and fired at Nahed Hattar," he said. Hattar's family said the writer had no protection despite having asked for it after receiving death threats on Facebook and by phone. Hattar was a political commentator known for his antipathy towards Islamists including Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and also his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The cartoon Hattar posted on his Facebook page featured an illustration of God under the title "God of Daesh", using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. It depicts a bearded man in bed smoking with two women lying to either side, addressing God as a servant. He asks for a glass of wine, cashew nuts and orders someone to clean the floor, before telling God to knock before entering next time. Any depiction of God is prohibited in Islam. Hattar removed the cartoon after it triggered outrage on social media. At the time, he explained on Facebook that the cartoon made fun of "terrorists and how they imagine God and heaven, and does not insult God in any way". He was arrested on August 13 and charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam, before being released on bail in early September. - Media blackout - The attorney general had imposed a blackout on media coverage of the case against Hattar, who was also known as a leftist. Prime Minister Hani al-Malki had ordered Interior Minister Salam Hammad to summon the writer and to initiate legal proceedings against him. On Sunday Hattar's brother Majed, who accompanied him to his trial, blamed the government for his death. "We hold the prime minister, the minister of the interior and the security services responsible for Nahed's killing," Majed said. "Nahed Hattar was killed in cold blood in front of the highest institution of justice in Jordan." The government denounced the killing as "heinous" and said the law would be "firmly applied to the person who committed the crime". The opposition Muslim Brotherhood and Dar al-Iftaa, the highest religious authority, also condemned the attack. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was targeted in a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and also hosts coalition troops on its territory. In recent years, extremists have attacked other publications for publishing caricatures seen as insulting to Islam, including in Europe. In January 2015, jihadists killed 12 people, including eight staff, in an attack on the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which published drawings purporting to show the Prophet Mohammed in 2006. Jordanian police and onlookers gather at the scene where prominent writer Nahed Hattar was shot dead outside a court in Amman on September 25, 2016 Ahmad Alameen (afp/AFP) Police cordon off the area where writer Nahed Hattar was killed outside the court in Amman where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam, on September 25, 2016 Ahmad Alameen (afp/AFP) Demonstrators gather in the town of Fuheis, near the capital Amman, on September 25, 2016, denouncing the killing of Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar Khalil Mazraawi (AFP) Russia under fire at UN as air strikes pound Syria's Aleppo The US accused Moscow of "barbarism" over the worsening carnage in Aleppo, as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded the city in one of the heaviest bombing raids of the five-year war. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to demand Russia rein in its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and halt intense air strikes, Moscow and Damascus were repeatedly accused of war crimes. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism. It is barbarism," US Ambassador Samantha Power said at the Sunday session. A tractor clears the rubble following Syrian govermnet forces' airstrikes in the rebel held neighborhood of Tariq a-Bab in Aleppo Thaer Mohammed (AFP) Some 124 people, mostly civilians, have died since bunker-busting bombs and sophisticated weaponry were unleashed on residential areas in rebel-held eastern Aleppo after the army Thursday launched an operation to take it. "It is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, adding that the high-tech weaponry had inflicted "a new hell" on war-weary Syrians. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also warned the use of advanced weaponry against civilians could amount to war crimes, and French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the atrocities must not go unpunished. Britain, France and the United States had called for the urgent talks after days of intense diplomatic efforts to salvage a US-Russian ceasefire deal ended in failure at the weekend. Ban called on world powers to "work harder for an end to the nightmare" in Syria that has left more than 300,000 people dead and driven millions from their homes. To protest the attacks in Aleppo, the US, French and British ambassadors walked out of the Security Council chamber as the Syrian ambassador delivered his remarks. - Almost impossible peace - Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin conceded that the surge in violence over the past days meant that "bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now." Churkin again laid blame for the failed diplomacy with the United States, accusing Washington of being unable to convince armed opposition groups that it backs on the ground to distance themselves from the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and abide by the ceasefire. A US-Russian ceasefire deal that would have charted a way forward towards peace talks was broken by the "sabotage by the moderate opposition", he asserted. Churkin however said that reviving the ceasefire was still a goal that Moscow could pursue if it was part of a "collective" effort on all sides. Despite the recriminations, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said a "tiny window of opportunity ... still exists" for Russia and the United States to help Syria. He appealed for renewed efforts to allow Syria to "step away from the brink of more years of bloody conflict which risks to become even worse." Residents said cluster bombs rained down on Saturday night on eastern parts of the city, where an estimated 250,000 people are living under a government siege. At least 19 children were among those killed in the assault, which has included missile strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "All night long they were dropping cluster bombs. I couldn't sleep until four in the morning," said 62-year-old Ahmed Hajar, who was out looking for bread in the Al-Kalasseh neighborhood. - We're civilians here - In the nearby neighbourhood of Bab al-Nayrab, 30-year-old Imad Habush was baking bread in a small wood-burning oven outside his house. "None of the bakeries are open any more because of the bombing and the shortages of fuel and flour, so people have started making their own bread," he said. "I don't know why the regime is bombing us in this barbaric way. We're civilians here. We're not carrying weapons, and we're besieged. We have no way to escape." Air strikes were continuing on the eastern neighborhoods on Sunday, the Observatory said, with at least 25 civilians, including two children, killed since dawn. Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by war and roughly divided since mid-2012 between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. The eastern portion of the city has been under near-continuous siege since mid-July, causing food and fuel shortages. Syria's foreign minister said Saturday that his government was confident of "victory" with support from "true friends" including Russia, Iran, and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. US military chief Joe Dunford said last week that Washington was considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces ahead of an offensive to retake the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqa. Turkey's foreign minister told France24 Sunday that the plan was "unacceptable". Ankara, a NATO member and member of the US-led coalition against IS, launched an unprecedented ground operation in Syria last month, sending dozens of tanks to back pro-Turkish rebels fighting Kurdish militias as well as jihadists. The siege of Aleppo Thomas Saint-Circq, Sabrina Blanchard (AFP) A Syrian boy receives treatment at a makeshift hospital following air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo on September 24, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP) Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, attends the United Nations Security Council emergency meeting on the situation in Syria Bryan R. Smith (AFP) Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by war and roughly divided since mid-2012 between government control in the west and rebel control in the east Karam Al-Masri (AFP) Turkey could only join US Raqa op without Kurds, says Erdogan President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey could join a US-led operation in Syria to retake the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqa only if Kurdish fighters are not involved, a newspaper reported Sunday. US support for Kurdish forces in Syria is a sore point for Ankara, which considers such fighters to be "terrorists" linked to the Kurdish rebels waging a bloody insurgency across the border in southeast Turkey. Washington, however, sees the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as the best forces fighting IS jihadists on the ground in Syria. Soldiers identified by Syrian Democratic Forces as US special operations forces ride in the back of a pickup truck in the northern Syrian province of Raqa in May 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP/File) Erdogan said that if the US conducted its Raqa operation with Syrian Kurdish forces, Turkey would "not have any place" in the offensive. "If they do not insert the PYD and YPG into this business, then certainly, we can get (involved) with the US in this fight," he told reporters on the plane back from this week's UN General Assembly in New York, quoted in the Hurriyet daily. Adding that it would be a "shame" if the US and Turkey could not counter the 10,000 IS jihadists on the ground in Syria, he called for a "national army" of Syrian rebels to take the region's security into their own hands, saying there were 65,000 such fighters. US military chief Joe Dunford said last week that Washington was considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces ahead of a Raqa offensive. On Thursday Erdogan accused the US of sending "two planes with weapons" to Kobane in northern Syria for the YPG and PYD, but added that he had raised the issue with US Vice President Joe Biden who insisted he had no information. Ankara, a NATO member and member of the US-led coalition against IS, launched an unprecedented ground operation in Syria last month, sent dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops to back pro-Turkish rebels fighting the YPG as well as jihadists. 4 Chadian troops killed in Boko Haram attack: security source Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists have killed four Chadian soldiers in a cross-border raid in the volatile Lake Chad region, a security source told AFP on Sunday. "Around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday night, Boko Haram members attacked the Djoroye border post near the Niger border in the Lake Chad region killing four of our soldiers," the source said. "The Chadian army killed seven Boko Haram fighters," the source said. The military did not comment, refusing to confirm or deny the attack. Soldiers of the Chadian army are driven in a pickup near Iriba, northern Chad on March 12, 2009 Philippe Huguen (AFP/File) Boko Haram, which wants to establish a caliphate in northern Nigeria, has been waging an insurgency since 2009. UK soap sacks Pakistan-born actor for offensive India tweets A Pakistan-born actor has been sacked from Britain's most popular television soap after posting what broadcaster ITV called Sunday "entirely unacceptable, racially offensive" comments about Indians on social media. Marc Anwar, 45, joined "Coronation Street", the world's longest-running TV soap opera, in 2014 as a member of the show's first Muslim family. The Sunday Mirror newspaper published screenshots of the messages posted on his personal Twitter account. An Indian paramilitary trooper stands guard during curfew in downtown Srinagar on August 26, 2016 Sajjad Hussain (AFP/File) The posts hit out at India over the Kashmir dispute and suggested Pakistani actors should refuse to work in the country. "Indians killing our Kashmir brothers and sisters," he wrote. He called Indians "b*****ds" and used other insulting terms. An ITV spokeswoman said: "We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. "We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to 'Coronation Street' with immediate effect." His character, love cheat gym boss Sharif Nazir, will still appear in scenes that have already been filmed for upcoming episodes. The actor has appeared in Hollywood films including "Captain Phillips" and "51st State". Famed for its cobbled streets and wistful big-band theme tune, "Coronation Street", which began in 1960, became the longest-running soap opera in the world in 2010. Set in a fictional suburb of Manchester in northwest England, it remains one of Britain's most-watched programmes with around eight million viewers. It has also been syndicated in dozens of countries around the world. Egypt migrant shipwreck deathtoll rises to 168 Egyptian rescue workers have recovered 168 bodies from a migrant shipwreck off Egypt's Mediterranean coast, the health ministry said Sunday. Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel headed to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over Wednesday off the port city of Rosetta. Egypt's military has said it rescued 163 survivors and that recovery attempts were continuing. Policemen and medics gather around the body of a migrant along the shore in the Egyptian port city of Rosetta on September 22, 2016, during a search operation after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Mohamed El-Shahed (AFP) The International Organization for Migration said most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian. The tragedy sparked an emergency cabinet meeting and also topped the agenda of talks between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt's security chiefs on Saturday. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail ordered heightened patrols of harbours used by migrant boats and of the northern coastline. A new bill being submitted to parliament would include "deterrent penalties" against people smugglers. Egyptian authorities have so far in 2016 foiled 110 attempts to smuggle migrants to Europe, Interior Minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar told the cabinet. The UN refugee agency expects 2016 to be the deadliest year on record for Mediterranean crossings by migrants. More than 4,600 non-Egyptians, many of them Sudanese and Ethiopians, have been arrested this year trying to depart from Egypt's northern coast, the UNHCR said Friday. Top Pakistani Taliban commander killed in Afghanistan: sources Afghan security forces have killed one of the top Pakistani Taliban commanders along with at least 10 other militants in a border area operation, sources said Sunday. Raeas Khan, also known as Azam Khan Tariq, had a 20 million rupee ($190,740) bounty on his head and was the fourth-highest ranking commander in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "I confirm the killing of Azam Tariq along with at least 10 other Pakistani Taliban in Paktika province," a senior commander loyal to Tariq told AFP, requesting anonymity. An Afghan border policeman takes position on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan in eastern Nangarhar province on June 15, 2016 Noorullah Shirzada (AFP/File) The nature of the operation was unclear, but three sources in the militant group said Tariq and his associates were killed in the Laman area of the Afghan province, which is near Pakistan's South Waziristan region. Tariq worked as chief TTP spokesman from 2009 until 2013 and was a close aide to former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2013. In 2009 the Pakistani government offered $5 million for information leading to the capture of TTP commanders. Tariq was top of the list as three other commanders had been killed -- either in US drone strikes or in Pakistani military operations. He had been working as spokesman for the Mehsud faction of the TTP prior to his death. Pakistan has demanded that Kabul hand over fugitive TTP chief Maulana Fazlullah, who is reportedly hiding in eastern Afghanistan. South Sudan rebel chief issues war call from exile South Sudan's rebel leader issued a call for renewed war with the government this weekend, declaring the collapse of an internationally-backed peace deal. Former vice president Riek Machar is in exile in Khartoum where he fled following fighting in the South Sudanese capital Juba in July. In a statement received by AFP on Sunday, Machar said he intended to "wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and fascist regime of President Salva Kiir in order to bring peace, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in the country." South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar left the country following violent clashes last month and is now in a "safe" country in the region, his aides say Zacharias Abubeker (AFP/File) Machar's leadership of a faction of rebels, known as the SPLA/IO, is in question with former ally Taban Deng Gai having taken his position in government and international backers of the peace plan urging that efforts to end the war should move ahead, with or without Machar. It is unclear whether armed rebel forces and allied militias on the ground in South Sudan follow Machar or Deng. South Sudan's civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. The conflict, characterised by attacks on civilians, ethnic massacres and appalling human rights abuses, has killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions from their homes. Machar said the international community should "declare the regime in Juba as a rogue government and a spoiler of peace that is threatening regional and international peace and security." He also called for "resuscitation of the peace agreement", for Deng's dismissal, and for the immediate deployment of a proposed 4,000-strong UN protection force. The statement is Machar's first public declaration since he fled Juba after fierce fighting with Kiir's army. He termed that outbreak of violence an "assassination attempt". John Clement Kuc, a spokesman with the rebel faction in Juba that follows Deng dismissed Machar's declarations. Algeria urges OPEC decision to stabilise oil price The world's top oil producers "must take a decision" to stabilise prices, Algeria's energy minister said on Sunday ahead of an OPEC meeting on Wednesday in Algiers. Oil prices are already depressed after two years of oversupply amid deep disagreements between members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Failing to agree on a production freeze could push prices even lower, Noureddine Boutarfa told reporters in Algiers. Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Boutarfa gives a news conference on September 25, 2016, in the capital Algiers on the eve of the three-day International Energy Forum and an informal meeting of OPEC ministers Ryad Kramdi (AFP) "Every state in the organisation agrees on the need to stabilise prices, it just remains for us to find a format that pleases everyone," he said. "The best solution would be a (production) freeze", he said. Oil prices collapsed from peaks of more than $100 a barrel in mid-2014 to near 13-year lows below $30 in January. As a result, OPEC members are losing between $300 and $500 million a day, Boutarfa said. "No (oil) company will be able to withstand it if prices remain under $50 a barrel," he said. Hopes of a deal to limit production pushed prices above $46 a barrel last week, but they slid to $44.48 on Friday as investors' optimism waned. Venezuela and Iraq, which have been hard-hit by low prices, support the idea of a production freeze to boost prices. But an attempt in April to reach a deal, led by OPEC linchpin Saudi Arabia, fell apart when its political arch-rival Iran refused to play ball. Iran said it needed to bring its production back up to the level it enjoyed prior to Western sanctions over its nuclear programme which have since been lifted. Algeria's cordial ties with OPEC members across the board mean it is well-placed to push for a deal. "We are able to bring together states with political differences around a single table," Boutarfa said. OPEC's 12 member states produce around a third of the world's oil, and their production decisions have a global impact on prices. Boutarfa said Wednesday's summit would be a "first step" towards stability in the market. "The Algiers meeting will not fail," he said. Trump says he'll recognize Jerusalem as Israel's 'undivided' capital Republican candidate Donald Trump pledged to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital if he is elected president, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Hillary Clinton also met that evening. Netanyahu met privately with Trump at his residence in Trump Tower on Sunday, a day before the New York billionaire faces off against Democratic rival Clinton for their first presidential debate. "Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel," his campaign said in a statement. Israel captured the Arab eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and annexed it in 1980, declaring all of Jerusalem Israel's unified capital Marina Passos (AFP/File) Israel captured the Arab eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and annexed it in 1980, declaring all of Jerusalem Israel's unified capital. The United States -- and most other UN member countries -- do not recognize the annexation and consider Jerusalem's final status to be a key issue to be resolved in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. The US Congress passed a law in October 1995 calling for an undivided Jerusalem to be recognized as Israel's capital and to authorize funding for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But no US president -- Democrat or Republican -- has implemented the law, regarding it as an infringement on the executive branch's authority over foreign policy. - 'A vital partner' - Netanyahu's office issued a statement about the roughly hour-long meeting but made no mention of Trump's pledge on Jerusalem. "Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed with Mr Trump issues relating to Israel's security and its efforts to achieve stability and peace in the Middle East," it said. The Trump statement said he promised Netanyahu that the United States would provide Israel with "extraordinary strategic, technological and military cooperation" if he is elected. "Mr Trump recognized Israel as a vital partner of the United States in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism," it said. "They discussed at length the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against ISIS and many other regional security concerns." The campaign also said the two discussed Israel's experience with its security fence used to wall off Israel from the West Bank. Trump has made building a wall along the US-Mexico border a signature campaign promise. - 'Strategic interests' - Clinton met privately with Netanyahu at the W Hotel in New York, where the Israeli leader has been attending the UN General Assembly. In a campaign statement the White House hopeful stressed "overarching strategic interests" between the two countries and affirmed her support for a robust military aid deal the US recently promised Israel. The statement underscored that the two nations would work in tandem to "enforce and implement the nuclear deal with Iran," US President Barack Obama's signature diplomatic initiative, which Israel has fiercely opposed. Clinton also promised Netanyahu to help Israel confront regional "terrorist threats," according to the campaign. "The Secretary reaffirmed her commitment to work toward a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiated directly by the parties," the statement read. It would guarantee "Israels future as a secure and democratic Jewish state with recognized borders and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity." In recent weeks Washington has toughened its criticism of Israel's accelerated building of settlements on occupied land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, warning that it could destroy hopes for peace with the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departs following a meeting with the US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, in New York, on September 25, 2016 Mandel Ngan (AFP) India PM says will ratify Paris climate pact next month India, the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter, will ratify the Paris climate change pact next month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday, bringing the deal a step closer to reality. Modi said India will formally join the landmark accord struck in 2015 in Paris, through which countries commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures. The accord needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will formally join the Paris climate change pact, through which countries commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures Karel Prinsloo (AFP/File) "Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. I announce that India will ratify the decision on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," Modi said in a speech at a national meeting of his ruling party in the southern state of Kerala. Modi said he had chosen that date because Indian independence leader Gandhi had lived his life with a low carbon footprint. The treaty moved closer to taking effect earlier this month when a string of countries joined during the UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced confidence then that the accord would come into force by the end of the year. China and the United States, the two largest emitters, gave a major boost to the accord when they signed on during a summit earlier this month between presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama. After a meeting days later with Obama in Vientiane, Modi said India would formally join the agreement later this year. India has not agreed to cap or cut its carbon emissions outright like some countries. Instead it says it will hike its use of green energy and reduce its emissions relative to its gross domestic product by up to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels -- meaning emissions will continue to grow but at a slower rate. 12 years urged for Palestinian minor over stabbing An Israeli prosecutor called Sunday for a 12-year jail term to be handed down to a Palestinian minor for stabbing an Israeli child in October 2015, his lawyer said. Ahmed Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May this year of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack with his 15-year-old cousin Hassan Manasra. Ahmed Manasra, a 14-year old Palestinian boy convicted of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a stabbing in October 2015, walks out of the District Court following his sentence hearing in Jerusalem on September 25, 2016 Ahmad Gharabli (AFP) The two stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. Hassan Manasra was shot dead by security forces, while Ahmed Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra's lawyer Lea Tzemel told journalists after a hearing behind closed doors that her client had apologised "to the child he stabbed, who was present in court". After his conviction in May, she said Manasra "said he just wanted to scare Jews so they'd stop killing Palestinians". "The prosecution is demanding a 12-year prison sentence," she said on Sunday. "We have requested a procedure of reintegration, given that he is a minor and minors have more rights when it comes to reintegration into society," Tzemel added. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Early last month, Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" following repeated attacks by young Palestinians. Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. UN chief takes on Cyprus challenge UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pledged Sunday to play a greater role in stepped-up efforts to reach a deal on settling the decades-old conflict in Cyprus before the end of the year. Following a meeting with the leaders of the divided island, Ban praised the two men for their decision to intensify negotiations with a view to reaching a deal on reunifying the island in 2016. "The leaders asked me to step up my personal engagement in the process," Ban told reporters following a trilateral meeting. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (C) speaks to reporters with Greek Cypriot politician and President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci (R), Turkish Cypriot leader at the United Nations on September 25, 2016 in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP) "I stand ready to support them in whatever they may require, including on the international dimensions of the issue." The division between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities is one of the world's thorniest and longest-running diplomatic problems, and has defied repeated efforts at a solution. The United Nations relaunched talks in May 2015 in what is seen as the best chance yet to end four decades of division. The Mediterranean island has been divided since an Athens-inspired coup in 1974 triggered a Turkish invasion of the north. The division has been a major hurdle in Turkey's aspirations to join the European Union. "The period ahead will be crucial for Cyprus," Ban said following his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades. "Time is of the essence. The United Nations and I will do our utmost to promote a successful outcome," he pledged. Ban has said he would like to see a final settlement of the Cyprus conflict before he steps down as UN chief on December 31. - A road map to a deal - After meeting with Ban on Saturday, Akinci said he expected a "road map" to be agreed during the trilateral meeting to turn recent progress in the talks into a "real success story." Anastasiades told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that a settlement to the decades-old conflict would provide a "beacon of hope" that even the world's most intractable problems can be resolved. Negotiations have centered on creating a new bi-communal Cyprus federation, but there have been differences over the issues of property and territorial adjustments that could see a number of Turkish Cypriots displaced from their homes. The issues of how many people will be allowed to return to their former homes and how many will receive financial compensation are also huge stumbling blocks. The costs of compensation are estimated to run to billions of euros (dollars) and the financial aspects of the agreement are said to be among the issues on the table during the talks in New York. Any agreement the two leaders reach will have to be put to simultaneous referendums on either side of the island. A previous peace deal brokered by then-UN chief Kofi Annan in 2004 was backed by a significant majority of Turkish Cypriot voters but overwhelmingly rejected by their Greek Cypriot counterparts. The division between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities is one of the world's thorniest and longest-running diplomatic problems, and has defied repeated efforts at a solution Iakovos Hatzistavrou (AFP/File) Syrian poet Adonis says poetry 'can save Arab world' Noted Syrian poet Adonis, whose name surfaces regularly as a top contender for the Nobel literature prize, says religious fanaticism is "destroying the heart of the Arab world", but sees salvation in poetry. The 86-year-old lives in exile and is equally scathing about the West's role in the conflict in his homeland which has claimed more than 300,000 lives over five years. "The Americans are not looking for solutions, they are seeking problems," he told AFP in an interview at the Gothenburg Book Fair. Syrian poet and literary critic Ali Ahmed Said Esber aka "Adonis" who is a regular top contender for the Nobel literature prize was born to a farming family with no formal schooling in his early years Patrick Kovarik (AFP/File) "The Americans do not have a coherent vision. Neither do the Russians, who are only driven by self-interest. The Arab world is strategic, an area of riches and the Arab people are just a means," to oil wealth, he said The poet, who is Alawite, the sect to which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belongs, wrote to the leader in 2011 calling for a democratic transition. Now he sees hope in poetry. "Poetry cannot slit a child's throat, nor kill a man or destroy a museum," said Adonis, whose real name is Ali Ahmad Said Esber. Calling for a separation between the state and religion, he said poets could play an important role in bringing this about. "Arab poetry has always been against God," he said. There are no great poets in our history who were great believers like for example (Paul) Claudel in France." - 'Future lies in securalism' - "The future lies in secularism," he said. "I had said one cannot stage a secular revolution with people emerging from the mosque to demonstrate. A revoution is one thing and the mosque another." Adonis said poetry would never be stifled. "As long as death is there -- and death exists -- there will be poetry," he said. "Poetry will never be silenced." Adonis, who is also an acclaimed critic, painter and essayist, moved to Paris in 1985 and has been named a Commander of France's Order of Arts and Letters. He was Ladbroke's favourite as Nobel Literature Prize winner in the year of the Arab Spring in 2011. His name frequently comes up in the annual run-up to the top literary award but it has eluded him so far. Born to a farming family and with no formal schooling in his early years, Adonis has come a long way from the poor western Syrian village where he spent his early years. "I'd never seen a car, electricity or a telephone till I was 13. I always ask myself how I was transformed into this other person; it was almost miraculous," he had said in an interview a few years ago. The Latest: Police standoff ends peacefully in San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Latest on a standoff at San Francisco's Civic Center (all times local): 6:40 p.m. A standoff with an armed and suicidal man at San Francisco's Civic Center has ended after the man surrendered peacefully. A San Francisco Police officer responds to the scene of a standoff of a possibly armed man in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Police Officer Carlos Manfredi said the man gave up Saturday after six hours of negotiations that prompted authorities to evacuate Civic Center and a nearby public square. Manfredi tweeted a photo of the handgun stuffed in a belt that negotiators said the man was wearing. The standoff began after the man called 911 to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who came close to him. Authorities emptied the area of pedestrians and motorists and issued a temporary flight restriction above the City Hall area. Manfredi said noise from news helicopters was interfering with negotiations and creating a hostile situation with the man. ____ 5:25 p.m. Police say an ongoing standoff with an armed and suicidal man has shut down San Francisco's Civic Center and nearby United Nations Plaza. Police spokesman Carlos Manfredi says the man called 911 around noon Saturday to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who came close to him. Negotiators who made contact with the man at the plaza reported seeing a handgun in his pant pocket. They have been talking to him for more than four hours as the area around City Hall was emptied of pedestrians and motorists. Manfredi says police were trying to resolve the situation peacefully. The standoff caused traffic to back up in the area around City Hall. ____ 4 p.m. A police standoff with a possibly armed man has prompted the evacuation of San Francisco's Civic Center and nearby United Nations Plaza. The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/2cZLGFS)people in nearby buildings were told to leave and traffic into the area was blocked off Saturday as negotiators try to talk to a man who is threatening to commit suicide. Police spokesman Carlos Manfredi told the newspaper the man called police around noon saying he was thinking of hurting himself and possibly other people. Manfredi issued a plea to news helicopters to leave the scene out of concern that the helicopter noise was interfering with negotiations and creating a hostile situation with the man. The standoff caused traffic to back up in the area around City Hall. ____ 2:03 p.m. Police in San Francisco have blocked off traffic around Civic Center and United Nations Plaza after receiving reports of a man who might be armed. KGO-TV said Saturday that pedestrians and motorists are being asked to leave the area amid reports of a man holding up something that may be a weapon. The television station says police are attempting to communicate with the man. San Francisco Police officers respond to a man, whom they believe to be armed, in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) San Francisco Police officers respond to a man, whom they believe to be armed, in Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Trump says he'll do more for women as president than Clinton ROANOKE, Va. (AP) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tried to make the case Saturday that he'd do more to help women from the White House than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, a lifelong champion of women's rights who would become the nation's first female president. "My opponent likes to say that for decades she's been fighting for women, that she's been fighting for children. Why, then, are 70 million American women and children living in poverty or on the brink of poverty in our country?" Trump asked a rally crowd in Roanoke. "For years she's been doing this and she's done nothing." The appeal came hours after Trump threatened on Twitter to invite a woman who'd had an affair with Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the first row at Monday's presidential debate. The Clinton campaign had invited Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Trump rival, to the debate. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves 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) "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 said. Trump's campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday, and it remained unclear whether Flowers would actually attend. Clinton's campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri responded: "Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people's lives." She added: "It's not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path." Trump has been criticized throughout the campaign for crass comments he has made about women in the past, including insults about their physical appearance. Clinton's campaign has tried to capitalize on those comments, including with a new add that features images of adolescent girls looking at their reflections as audio of Trump's comments play. The tweet on Saturday underscored the challenges Trump faces as he attempts to close his deficit among female voters, whom polls show favor Clinton by significant margins. Trump had all but ignored issues like child care and maternity leave until the Republican National Convention when his daughter, Ivanka, suddenly said her father would work to provide affordable childcare for women. Clinton, on the other hand, released a policy a year ago and has spent much of her life advocating for women and girls. After graduating from law school, Clinton worked for the Children's Defense Fund. She also 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." As secretary of state, she stressed the importance of women's rights in of U.S. foreign policy. But on Saturday, Trump tried to argue that Clinton had failed in her objectives. "Why has she provided no relief for the millions of Americans in search of affordable, reliable, quality childcare?" he asked at the rally, suggesting that in Clinton's roles as first lady, senator or secretary of state, she had the power to implement that kind of program on her own. Trump also pointed to his own record of hiring women to some of the highest positons in his company and campaign. Trump is indeed the first Republican nominee to hire a woman as his campaign manager. And he has a history of hiring women to high-profile leadership positions, which was especially rare in the real estate industry in the 1980s and 1990s. ___ Follow Colvin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/colvinj Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves 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) Attendees at North Korean air show wowed by model F-16 WONSAN, North Korea (AP) Now here's something you don't see every day: an F-16 fighter jet buzzing through the skies of North Korea and launching fireworks. The plane roaring over people's heads at the country's first air show Sunday was actually a remote-controlled mock-up of the fabled U.S Air Force fighter. The scale models of the F-16 and a Chinese J-10 fighter were featured on the second day of the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival. A remote-controlled F-16 fighter jet lands in front of an Air Koryo commercial airplane at the Kalma Airport after a flight demonstration on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) The choice of flying a one-sixth scale F-16 at the show was an odd one considering the outrage North Korea regularly expresses over the presence of U.S. troops and Air Force bases in South Korea. The North was particularly outraged over recent flights by B-1B Lancer bombers. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency described the B-1B as an "ill-famed nuclear war means" and accused the United States of resorting to "nuclear threat and blackmail" against the North. The B-1B doesn't currently carry nuclear weapons under a disarmament treaty, and some U.S. experts do not consider them as nuclear capable in their current configuration. The model fighters did, however, appear to please the crowd watching the air displays Sunday at Wonsan's newly renovated Kalma Airport. Thousands of North Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to the event which is intended to showcase Wonsan's tourism appeal were given a rare glimpse of North Korea's own air force fighters, including a MiG-29 and SU-25 ground attack fighter, acquired from Russia. "This plane is faster than other airplanes and can maneuver quickly, so there is little time to think, you must make fast decisions," Rim Sol, a MiG-21 pilot, said, standing beside her fighter on the tarmac. The Wonsan airport was long used by the North's military but was upgraded and rebuilt to handle commercial flights, though it is unclear how it would fit into national flag-carrier Air Koryo's very limited international flight schedule. The final day also included a demonstration of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. Officials refused to comment on the origin of the model F-16. The air show's first day opened Saturday with an aerobatic display by U.S.-made Hughes MD 500 military-use helicopters, the origin of which has raised questions of whether international sanctions against North Korea had been violated. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the B-1B bomber does not currently carry nuclear weapons under a disarmament treaty. North Korean men and women wave flags and cheer as they watch a military parachuting demonstration at the Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Korean female MiG-21 fighter pilots Rim Sol, left, and Jo Kum Hyang, right, walk past a MiG-21 jet plane, on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Pyrotechnics explode as a military parachutist descends upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Pyrotechnics explode as military a parachutist descends upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Korean men and women watch a military parachuting demonstration at the Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) A remote-controlled F-16 fighter jet lands in front of an Air Koryo commercial airplane at the Kalma Airport after a flight demonstration on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Korean female parachutists prepare to board a helicopter on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Koreans wave towards the sky as military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Koreans watch as a remote-controlled plane hovers over them at the Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Koreans watch as military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Koreans wave towards the sky as military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) A military parachutist descends upon Kalma Airport with the control tower in the background on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) Military parachutists descend upon Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) North Koreans watch as a remote-controlled F-16 fighter jet lands on the runway of Kalma Airport on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Wonsan, North Korea. Thousands of Koreans and hundreds of foreign tourists and journalists invited to Wonsan, a port city, for the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, were given a glimpse of North Korea's own Air Force fighters, remote-controlled scale mock-up planes including an F-16 fighter jet, and demonstrations of military parachuting, with the first two skydivers descending with huge North Korean and ruling party flags. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E) BEIJING, Sept. 24 -- 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. Police probing triple homicide search for missing teen FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) Police investigating a triple homicide inside a Southern California home were searching for a teenage girl who lived there and is considered at-risk. The probe began Saturday morning after a child called 911 to report her parents had died. The child placed the call about 8:20 a.m., and officers were dispatched to a home in Fullerton, 26 miles (42 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles. Inside, first responders discovered two men and a woman dead. Two children were found unharmed, police said. "Anytime someone loses their life it's a tragedy," police Sgt. Jon Radus said. "It's even more of a tragedy when children are involved." Radus declined to release the children's ages or their relationship to the three adults found inside the home, citing the ongoing investigation. He said detectives spent the day searching for the children's sibling, identified as 17-year-old Katlynn Goodwill Yost, but have not been able to find her. "We're concerned for her safety because we obviously haven't been able to find her," Radus said. He said there were obvious signs of trauma to the bodies, but he would not release any details on how the adults might have died. Authorities were still working to determine their cause of death and identify them. Investigators were classifying the deaths as a multiple homicide. In a statement, the Fullerton Police Department said the agency has "committed all its resources to identify who is responsible for this act." Radus said authorities were working to obtain a search warrant to continue their investigation at the home. He said investigators were still trying to determine whether an outside suspect was responsible for the deaths. "We don't believe the community is currently in danger at this particular time," he said. A neighbor told the Orange County Register a couple lived in the house with three children, one a teenager and the others between 7 and 9 years old. "It's sad for the children. They're now without parents," Donna Trice told the newspaper. "The two little girls found the bodies, and that tears me up." N. Korean defectors sold as brides in China want kids back SEOUL, South Korea (AP) After fleeing North Korea to avoid extreme poverty and oppression, the young woman allowed a stranger to arrange a marriage for her with a rural Chinese farmer because she had nowhere to go. An even more painful decision came later. She said severe abuse by her husband, including once being tied to a post, and the constant fear police would send her back to the North to face torture and prison convinced her that she needed to flee to South Korea. She decided she had to make the risky journey alone, leaving behind the young daughter she had with her Chinese husband. "My heart has been torn apart," the 35-year-old said of the daughter she left in the northeastern Chinese town of Longjing nearly 10 years ago, when the girl was 4. "I heard from my Chinese husband that my daughter cried herself to sleep and searched for me until she turned 8." In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Kim Jungah cries during an interview at her house in Gunpo, South Korea. Kim, a North Korean living in the South who was separated from her child in China, will lead three other defectors on a trip to the United States in October to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials to get their children back. North Korean women trafficked into China and sold as wives to farmers are often separated from their children when they flee to the South. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) She asked to be identified only by her surname, Kim, out of fear that publicity about her past would destroy her life in the South, where she has remarried and has two other children. Kim has lost touch with her daughter and is afraid to return to China, but neither she nor other defectors in similar situations have given up. Deep shame and guilt about not seeing their children and worry about social stigma in the South kept them silent for years, but some have begun pushing publicly for international help to get back their children. Four defectors plan to travel to the United States next month to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials. It will not be easy. Experts say Chinese authorities aren't likely to accept the appeals because the women were illegal residents and their relationships were not legally recognized marriages. Their efforts to reunite with their children could be viewed as individual family problems, rather than human-rights issues requiring international intervention. "Is there any female defector who had registered their marital status in China?" said Yoon Yeo Sang, a co-founder of the Seoul-based nonprofit Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. "For China, they were the ones who were supposed to be repatriated, and I wonder if China would accept their common-law marital status and take necessary legal steps." China's foreign ministry did not reply to questions about whether it would help the women. The defectors say they deserve international attention because their plight was primarily caused by the North's abysmal rights conditions and by China's policy of repatriating North Korean defectors who are caught hiding in the country. "There are South Korean laws, Chinese laws and North Korean laws, but none of them can help us," said Kim Jungah, 40, a North Korean defector living in the South who was separated from her child in China. Now an activist, she will lead three other women on a trip to Washington and New York from Oct. 8-18. The 35--year-old Kim from Longjing had initially planned to go the United States as well but said she cancelled due to worries about the publicity. The market for selling North Korean women into marriage in China heated up after the North suffered a devastating famine in the mid-1990s that's thought to have killed hundreds of thousands. China has significantly fewer women than men, and the imbalance is particularly acute in rural farming areas because young women often migrate to big cities seeking better economic opportunities. Bride trafficking of North Korean women may have eased in recent years, but thousands of North Korean women sold to Chinese men are believed to still live in China, most illegally, according to activists specializing in North Korea affairs. In the early years of bride trafficking, most North Korean women were lured by brokers who promised food and jobs in China; some were abducted. But later on, many have volunteered to be sold as brides because they lacked money to sneak across the border and believed living with Chinese men would decrease the danger of arrest and repatriation, according to Ahn Kyung-soo, a Seoul-based activist who has interviewed many defectors. Kim the woman who agreed to be identified only by surname said she slipped into China on her own and managed to stay at an orchard for a few days in 2002. The orchard's owner proposed that she marry one of his Chinese friends, 14 years her senior. Kim accepted because she had nowhere else to go. She later found that the orchard owner had essentially sold her to his friend as a way to clear a 6,000 yuan ($900) debt. After arriving in China, many women are beaten or sexually abused before being sold to husbands. Park Kyung-hwa, who escaped from her traffickers in 2000, said she saw brokers grope other trafficked women many times. She said brokers kicked and beat her with wooden clubs for about 20 minutes when her first attempt to escape failed. "The brokers didn't see (North Korean women) as human beings, but as products to sell," said Park, 44. Young women are sometimes sent to karaoke bars or brothels, or forced to work on adult video chat sites, according to defectors and activists. Park said brokers tried to sell her twice to bars, although she asked to be sold as a bride. One bar owner in Shenyang examined her and two other North Korean women for 10 minutes before deciding not to buy anyone. "If I was taller and a little prettier, I think I would have been sold," said Park, who now works for a Seoul-based shortwave radio station targeting North Koreans. She said she came to South Korea in 2002. Chinese looking for North Korean brides are often old and less well-off; some are disabled bachelors or widowers who work as farmers or manual laborers in rural villages. Some treat the women well, and even end up moving with their wives to South Korea. The four women traveling to the U.S. next month include one whose husband allowed her and their child to come to South Korea and sent them money. Other men, however, inflict horrible abuse. When Kim once returned days after running away, she said, her husband tied her to a wooden post for several hours in the middle of the night. She said she was forced to urinate while standing. Days before she gave birth to their daughter, she said her husband beat her with a broom until she bled from her nose because she fought with his mother. Many of the women flee their husbands in secret. Some tell them they are going to the South only to make money and will come back. Yet many are terrified of actually returning, out of fear they could be repatriated or even captured by North Korean secret agents. Kim said she regularly sent money, clothes and other gifts to her husband in China, but he broke off contact several years ago after determining she would never return. In her last phone conversation with her daughter, the child complained about being abandoned. Kim said life with her two South Korean children has helped her begin to understand the pain her daughter in China must have suffered. When one of the children was 4 the same age the child she left behind was when she left he "became very anxious and made a big fuss whenever I went out or returned home late," Kim said. "Think about how much more a 4-year-old girl would cry when her mom disappeared suddenly." __ Follow AP correspondent Hyung-jin Kim at www.twitter.com/hyungjin1972 In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Kim Jungah points to a photo of his son left behind in China, during an interview at her house in Gunpo, South Korea. Kim Jungah, a North Korean living in the South who was separated from her child in China, will lead three other defectors on a trip to the United States in October to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials to get their children back. North Korean women trafficked into China and sold as wives to farmers are often separated from their children when they flee to the South. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Kim Jungah, right, speaks during an interview with her husband Kim JongPhil at their house in Gunpo, South Korea. Kim Jungah, a North Korean living in the South who was separated from her child in China, will lead three other defectors on a trip to the United States in October to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials to get their children back. North Korean women trafficked into China and sold as wives to farmers are often separated from their children when they flee to the South. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Sept. 4, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Kim Jungah, right, watches her husband Kim Jong Phil speak during an interview at their house in Gunpo, South Korea. Kim Jungah, a North Korean living in the South who was separated from her child in China, will lead three other defectors on a trip to the United States in October to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials to get their children back. North Korean women trafficked into China and sold as wives to farmers are often separated from their children when they flee to the South. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 25, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Park Kyung-hwa who works for a Seoul-based shortwave radio station targeting audience in North Korea, demonstrates how she records her broadcast at a church in Seoul, South Korea. Park, who fled the North in 2000 before being sold to a Chinese man, said she saw brokers grope other trafficked women many times. She said brokers kicked and beat her with wooden clubs for about 20 minutes when her first attempt to escape failed. (AP Photo/Jungho Choi) US guidelines on self-driving cars get good reception at G-7 TOKYO (AP) U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Sunday that his counterparts in the Group of Seven nations welcomed U.S. guidelines on regulating self-driving cars and have agreed to work together on creating such standards to maintain safety. "There was actually a very enthusiastic reception to the policy," he said. "We did a good job of inventorying what each country is doing and laying out areas that we want to explore further." Such issues include cybersecurity, ethics and privacy, wireless spectrum questions and many other issues, he said, while noting that reaching a resolution might take years, meaning the technology would be moving faster. Foxx called the U.S. guidelines released earlier this month the most comprehensive on autonomous vehicles, coming out ahead of the rest of the world. In this Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 photo, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, second right, talks with Japan's Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii, second left, during their meeting held on the sidelines of G7 Transport Ministers' meeting in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Foxx says his counterpart ministers from the Group of Seven nations welcomed the new U.S. guidelines on regulating self-driving cars at a weekend meeting in Japan, and they agreed to work together to maintain safety. (Junko Ozaki/Kyodo News via AP) Foxx and other transportation officials from the G-7 met over the weekend in the Japanese resort town of Karuizawa. Speaking by telephone with The Associated Press, Foxx stressed road tests on autonomous vehicles must continue to encourage innovation. U.S. electric car maker Tesla's Model S that was using the semi-autonomous mode crashed in May. The driver died after crashing into a tractor-trailer. Tesla is introducing improvements to its Autopilot system to make it safer. "One of the things I think that autonomous vehicles suffer from is that they get compared to perfection, and not to the 94 percent of car crashes that are attributable to human factors. We have to make the right comparisons," Foxx said, while declining comment on the ongoing investigation on Tesla. "These vehicles will not be absolutely perfect in terms of having no accidents, but by comparison they can be markedly better." Many automakers besides Tesla are testing or have rolled out automated vehicles, including Ford Motor Co., based in Dearborn, Michigan, and Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan. The new U.S. guidelines are meant to bring order to the technology's development. Proponents say such technology can make cars safer because machines can react faster and they are less prone to human error. But even experts remain cautious. Among the recent forays into self-driving technology are the partnership between Chinese-owned Volvo Cars and the Swedish-based automotive safety group Autoliv Inc., as well as Volvo teaming up with U.S. ride-hailing company Uber. Ford has announced a $75 million investment in Velodyne Inc., which makes laser sensors. BMW Group, Intel Corp. and Mobileye have joined together to develop and sell autonomous driving technology. Hans Greimel, Asia Editor for Automotive News, believes the new U.S. guidelines are an important "proactive" step in seeking powers to approve autonomous vehicles before they're brought to market, marking a departure from the past, when regulators enforce rules after the cars are already sold. "They are a clear step toward clearing the way for the next-generation of automobiles. The technology of autonomous vehicles is mostly there. What is lacking is a clear guideline for how the technologies should be applied," said Greimel. ___ Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama North Korean defectors who became Chinese brides end silence SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korean defectors who became brides for rural Chinese men, they faced another excruciating choice when they suffered abuse: to flee to South Korea and leave their children. Women who've made that choice have lived with the guilt and shame for years, but some are breaking their silence and trying to get international help for their situation. What some of the women told The Associated Press about their experiences: __ KIM JUNGAH, 40, chose to be trafficked because she could no longer endure poverty and malnutrition in the North. In this Aug. 25, 2016 photo, North Korean defector Park Kyung-hwa who works for a Seoul-based shortwave radio station targeting audience in North Korea, demonstrates how she records her broadcast at a church in Seoul, South Korea. Park, who fled the North in 2000 before being sold to a Chinese man, said she saw brokers grope other trafficked women many times. She said brokers kicked and beat her with wooden clubs for about 20 minutes when her first attempt to escape failed. (AP Photo/Jungho Choi) "I thought about killing myself many times but it wasn't easy to do it. For me, escaping from North Korea was the only way to survive," she said. Before she was sold to a farmer in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang who paid 20,000 yuan ($2,990), Kim said potential buyers visited her and that brokers ordered her to stand up, turn around and show her profile. "I felt so bad about that. I felt so humiliated and I realized they didn't see me as human being," she said. Kim said she was pregnant when brokers sold her to the Shenyang man, who eventually adopted her daughter. "There aren't any mother and daughter who are separated like us. I'm demanding a simple thing. I'm demanding the parental rights that that every couple in the world has," she said. __ KIM, 35, asked to be identified only by her surname. She allowed a stranger in China to marry her off with one of his friends, 14 years her senior, without knowing it was meant to clear the man's debt. "When I first saw him (my husband), he really looked like a grandpa. He was like a country man who didn't care about his appearance at all ... How can a man in his 30s look like a grandpa? I thought he was lying about his age," she said. "I felt really bad and cried." She said her husband beat her about once a month and looked down on her so much. "He always told me he brought a beggar-like person to his house ... and threatened to report me to police to get me punished," she said. "Do you know how intimidating that threat was to me?" __ PARK KYUNG-HWA, 44, offered herself to traffickers but escaped before being sold to a Chinese man. "I had just prayed for meeting a good husband," she said. "The women sold as brides were the people who belonged to the lowest class in the North. Our dreams were like eating rice fully and we had heard that even dogs and animals in China ate rice," she said. Park said she and six other women were on the back of a big truck loaded with logs for about 12 hours when brokers were moving them. "If one log fell, we would have died all ... We all cried. It was miserable ... We held each other's' hands and sang together," she said. __ CHAE OKHEE, 48, lived in China for about 16 years. She wasn't a trafficking victim but has many friends and relative living in Seoul who had been sold as brides to Chinese men before their arrivals to South Korea. "One of my friends told me her Chinese husband had put her leg in the shackles to prevent her from going out," Chae said. She said her 25-year-old niece from North Korea had also lived with a Chinese man with "a little bit of autism" before she fled to South Korea in 2014. "She said she wasn't beaten by her husband but she ran away wearing only underwear in the middle of night in collaboration with brokers," Chae said. "She came here because she didn't want to live with him." __ Follow AP correspondent Hyung-jin Kim at www.twitter.com/hyungjin1972 As Clinton focuses on debate, Trump says he'd champion women ROANOKE, Va. (AP) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is arguing that he'll do more to help women from the White House than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. At the same time, he's taunting her over the infidelities of her husband. As Trump campaigned in the battleground state of Virginia, Clinton stayed close to home in New York while preparing for Monday night's opening debate. She was spotted at a Westchester hotel near her home in Chappaqua, but her campaign would not comment on whether she was holding practice sessions at the hotel. Clinton and Trump were expected to meet separately on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has sought to project neutrality in this year's election. There were perceptions that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures 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) Trump told supporters at a rally Saturday in Roanoke, Virginia, that Clinton has not delivered for women and children. "My opponent likes to say that for decades she's been fighting for women, that she's been fighting for children. Why, then, are 70 million American women and children living in poverty or on the brink of poverty in our country?" Trump asked. "For years she's been doing this and she's done nothing." The appeal came hours after Trump threatened on Twitter to invite a woman who'd had an affair with Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the first row at their first debate. The Clinton campaign had invited Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Trump rival, 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 said. Trump's campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday, and it remained unclear whether Flowers would actually attend. Earlier Saturday, one of Clinton's supporters, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, accused Trump and his fellow Republicans of "making hate OK." She told Clinton campaign volunteers in Nashua, New Hampshire, that she never predicted a major presidential candidate would base a campaign on scapegoating Mexicans, women and Muslims. Warren was particularly critical of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who denounced Trump in the primary campaign but announced Friday that he strongly opposed Clinton and would vote for his former rival. "Is that really what your word is worth, Ted Cruz?" she asked. In Texas, Cruz described as "agonizing" his decision to announce that he would vote for Trump but denied that he had given in to pressure to support his rival for the Republican nomination. His announcement Friday, from which the word "endorsement" was conspicuously absent, drew criticism because of his longstanding antipathy for the man he had called a "pathological liar." "Any path we took, if I supported Donald, if I didn't support Donald, the criticism was going to be there," Cruz told a packed Austin auditorium during a policy forum organized by The Texas Tribune. He had refused to endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention and instead urged Republicans to vote according to their conscience. Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, assured home-schooling advocates in North Carolina that Trump would be their champion if elected. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Clinton's running mate, praised American Indian culture and highlighted his efforts to win federal recognition of the state's tribes while visiting the Chickahominy Indian Tribe Fall Festival near his home in Richmond. ___ Associated Press writers Ken Thomas in New York; Kathleen Ronayne in Nashua, New Hampshire; Will Weissert in Austin, Texas; Bill Barrow in Des Moines, Iowa; and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves 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) 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) Republican vice presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks during the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's Annual Family Fall Banquet, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) China begins operating world's largest radio telescope BEIJING (AP) The world's largest radio telescope began searching for signals from stars and galaxies and, perhaps, extraterrestrial life Sunday in a project demonstrating China's rising ambitions in space and its pursuit of international scientific prestige. Beijing has poured billions into such ambitious scientific projects as well as its military-backed space program, which saw the launch of China's second space station earlier this month. Measuring 500 meters in diameter, the radio telescope is nestled in a natural basin within a stunning landscape of lush green karst formations in southern Guizhou province. It took five years and $180 million to complete and surpasses that of the 300-meter Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, a dish used in research on stars that led to a Nobel Prize. In this Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 photo released by Xinhua News Agency, an aerial view shows the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in the remote Pingtang county in southwest China's Guizhou province. China has begun operating the world's largest radio telescope to help search for extraterrestrial life. (Liu Xu/Xinhua via AP) The official Xinhua News Agency said hundreds of astronomers and enthusiasts watched the launch of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, in the county of Pingtang. Researchers quoted by state media said FAST would search for gravitational waves, detect radio emissions from stars and galaxies and listen for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life. "The ultimate goal of FAST is to discover the laws of the development of the universe," Qian Lei, an associate researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told state broadcaster CCTV. "In theory, if there is civilization in outer space, the radio signal it sends will be similar to the signal we can receive when a pulsar (spinning neutron star) is approaching us," Qian said. Installation of the 4,450-panel structure, nicknamed Tianyan, or the Eye of Heaven, started in 2011 and was completed in July. The telescope requires a radio silence within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius, resulting in the relocation of more than 8,000 people from their homes in eight villages to make way for the facility, state media said. Reports in August said the villagers would be compensated with cash or new homes from a budget of about $269 million from a poverty relief fund and bank loans. CCTV reported that during a recent test, the telescope received radio signals from a pulsar that was 1,351 light-years from Earth. The radio telescope has double the sensitivity of the Arecibo Observatory, and five to 10 times the surveying speed, Xinhua said. China has also completed the construction of tourist facilities such as an observation deck on a nearby mountain, reports said. Such facilities can be a draw for visitors the one in Puerto Rico draws about 90,000 visitors and some 200 scientists each year. Earlier this month, China launched the Tiangong 2, its second space station and the latest step in its military-backed program that intends to send a mission to Mars in the coming years. In August, the country launched the first quantum satellite experts said would advance efforts to develop the ability to send communications that can't be penetrated by hackers. __ Swiss vote to grant new powers to intelligence services GENEVA (AP) Swiss voters granted new powers Sunday to the country's intelligence services, allowing them to track internet activity, snoop on email and tap phones to better fight spies, criminal hackers and violent extremists. A majority of 65.5 percent voted for the new law in the national referendum, Swiss media reported. Under it, the Federal Intelligence Service and other authorities will be allowed to tap phones, infiltrate email and deploy hidden cameras and microphones to monitor suspects who are deemed a clear threat but only if authorized by the federal administrative tribunal and oversight counselors. FILE - The Oct. 14, 2014 file photo shows a surveillance camera and a sign indicating the surveillance zone in the neighborhood of Paquis close to the central train station in Geneva, Switzerland. On Sept. 25, 2016 Swiss voters are casting ballots to decide whether to grant new powers to Switzerland's intelligence services, such as tracking internet activity, snooping on email boxes and tapping phones to better fight spies, criminal hackers and violent extremists. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Until now, Swiss authorities had been barred from using anything more than publicly available information or tips from foreign officials when monitoring threats inside the country. Proponents said the law was needed to help Switzerland catch up with other countries that have stronger legal arsenals to counter cyber-crime or extremist attacks. Opponents say it will deplete civil liberties, do little to truly impede terrorism and chip away at Switzerland's long-vaunted neutrality. Bosnian Serbs vote in referendum banned by top court BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) Bosnian Serbs on Sunday voted in a referendum banned by the country's constitutional court, risking Western sanctions against their autonomous region and criminal charges against their leaders. The vote was whether to keep Jan. 9 as a holiday in Republika Srpska, commemorating the day in 1992 that Bosnian Serbs declared the creation of their own state, igniting the ruinous 1992-95 war. It comes despite the top court's ruling that the date, which falls on a Serb Christian Orthodox religious holiday, discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats in Bosnia. 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. Bosnian Serb Milorad Dodik, centre, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, Bosko Tomic, left, and Bosko Jugovic, right, greet supporters during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) The vote has raised tensions and fears of renewed fighting as Bosniaks and Croats see the referendum as an attempt to elevate the Serb region above the country's constitutional court. It is also a test for a more serious referendum that Bosnian Serb leaders have announced for 2018 one on independence from Bosnia. During the 1992-95 war that killed 100,000 people and turned half of the country's population into refugees, Bosniaks and Croats were persecuted and almost completely expelled from Republika Srpska territory. After the war, Republika Srpska ended up not independent but an autonomous region of Bosnia. Bosniaks and Croats who returned there view the holiday as a celebration of their expulsion. Republika Srpska, a region of 1.2 million, marks the day with religious ceremonies, hinting the region is still meant just for Serbs. The constitutional court has banned both the holiday and the referendum, a ruling that Bosnian Serbs see as an attack on their autonomy. The West has urged that the illegal referendum not be held, but Bosnian Serbs are backed by Russia. Western officials said they might consider halting projects in the mini-state or impose travel bans on its leaders and freeze their assets. Tomislav Stajcic, a resident of Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska, compared the holiday with a birthday. "There is no force on this earth, political or divine or any other really, which can change the date of your birth," he said, calling the constitutional court's decision "senseless." Opposition leaders have dismissed the idea of a new conflict, saying the Bosnian Serb ruling party scheduled the referendum a week before a local election to divert campaign topics from corruption to nationalism. The Bosnian Serb member of the country's presidency and one of the opposition leaders in Republika Srpska, Mladen Ivanic, said he doesn't understand the "circus" about the referendum. "Who wants to celebrate it should and who doesn't does not have to," he said. But the Bosniak member called for prosecutors to act, saying Bosnian Serbs have been pushing the limits for decades. "Now they reached a new level of spitefulness, exceeding all limits," Bakir Izetbegovic said. "These people pull the rope until it snaps and then, of course, they land on their back." Bosnian people wave flags during the speech of Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) A man listens to the speech of Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Bosnian Serb Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, greets supporters during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) A Bosnian Serb woman waves as she listens to the speech of Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Bosnian people wave flags during the speech of Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Bosnian Serb Milorad Dodik, President of the Bosnian Serb region of Republic of Srpska, greets supporters during celebrations after the result of the referendum in the Bosnian town of Pale, Bosnia, on Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Sunday's vote asks residents of Republika Srpska whether to maintain a national holiday on Jan. 9, despite a ruling of Bosnia's constitutional court that the date discriminates against non-Serbs. (AP Photo/Amel Emric) Jordanian writer gunned down outside courthouse AMMAN, Jordan (AP) A prominent and outspoken Jordanian writer on Sunday was shot dead in front of the courthouse where he had been on trial for posting a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam on social media. A Jordanian security official said the shooter was a former imam, or prayer leader, at a local mosque, and said the man had been motivated by his anger over the cartoon posted to Facebook by writer Nahed Hattar. The shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan. Witnesses and police said Hattar, 56, was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing when the gunman shot him at close range. An ambulance transports the body of Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar to a medical facility, after he was shot, in Amman, Jordan, Sunday, September 25, 2016. The prominent writer was shot dead in front of the courthouse where he was on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed as offensive to Islam. (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) "He was standing at a short distance of about one meter (yard) in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court," a witness told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions. The official Petra News Agency said Hattar was shot three times. The witness said the shooter, who was immediately arrested, was wearing a long grey robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. Jordanian media, citing anonymous officials, identified the shooter as Riad Abdullah, 49, a former imam in northern Hashmi, a poor neighborhood in Amman. The reports said Abdullah had recently returned from a trip abroad, but gave no further details. The security official declined to confirm the suspect's name. But he said he had confessed to the shooting and claimed he had acted alone and had no connections to any militant group. Prosecutors charged the man with premeditated murder, committing a deadly terrorist act and possession of an unlicensed weapon. The suspect was detained for 15 days while the case was referred to the State Security Court. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the suspect said he was motivated by the cartoon, which depicted a bearded man, smoking and in bed with two women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. All physical depictions of God or the Prophet Muhammad, even respectful ones, are forbidden under mainstream Islamic tradition. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani condemned the killing as a "heinous crime." "The government will strike with an iron hand all those who exploit this crime to broadcast speeches of hatred to our community," he told the Petra agency. But supporters of Hattar said they held the government responsible for the shooting, accusing Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki of creating a hostile atmosphere that encouraged violence against the writer. "The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing," said Saad Hattar, a cousin of the writer. Hattar has long been a controversial figure in Jordan. Years ago, he claimed that the late King Hussein had arrested and tortured him many times for his critical writings and vowed not to mourn the king, who died in 1999. While born a Christian, he considered himself an atheist. He was a strong supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad and an outspoken critic of the Islamic State group and al-Qaida. Hattar was detained in August after sharing the cartoon on Facebook. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what Hattar viewed as the twisted religious views of Islamic State extremists. The post was quickly deleted after many angry responses. Jordan is an overwhelmingly Muslim and deeply conservative society. Hattar was briefly detained for two weeks before he was released on bail. In a statement, the family called on the government to hold accountable all those who had incited against Hattar. "Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them," they said. Jordan is a close Western ally and has been largely spared from the violence engulfing neighboring Syria and Iraq. But a series of recent attacks has raised concern about security in the kingdom. Late last year, a Jordanian police captain opened fire on instructors at an international police training center in Jordan's capital, killing at least five people, including two Americans, before being shot dead by security forces. In June, a suicide car bomb attack near the Syrian border killed seven Jordanian soldiers. Hundreds of Jordanians have been sentenced to prison, are awaiting trial or are being held for questioning about links to IS. Under toughened anti-terror laws, even liking or sharing the group's propaganda on social media can land someone a prison sentence. But on Sunday, social media accounts of prominent Islamists in Jordan and elsewhere were celebrating Hattar's death, saying he deserved it for blasphemy. Anja Wehler-Schoek, resident director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Jordan, said she found the social media posts "shocking." The German foundation promotes democracy and political education in the region. "This is clearly a very dark day for Jordan, which has long been celebrated as a model of peaceful co-existence," she said. "I am very worried we are seeing the end of an era here and more and more problems to come in the future." ___ Daraghmeh reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Egypt moves to tighten borders after migrant ship tragedy CAIRO (AP) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi ordered the tightening of border security after more than 160 mainly Egyptian migrants died when their Europe-bound boat sank in the Mediterranean, a tragedy that highlighted the extent of Egypt's economic woes. Presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef, in a statement issued late Saturday, said el-Sissi had also ordered during a meeting with top aides that those behind the tragedy be brought to justice. Authorities last week arrested four members of the doomed boat's crew and said they had issued arrest warrants for five more people. However, there have been no known arrests of members of the organized crime rings behind the human trafficking rife on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. El-Sissi has also urged parliament and the government to work together to issue legislation combating illegal migration. He also directed his aides to accelerate a government program offering assistance to small businesses and young entrepreneurs in areas where illegal migration is rampant. The boat sank Wednesday off the Egyptian coastal town of Rosetta. At least 162 bodies were later recovered and another 160 migrants rescued. The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year. Many of the Egyptians who were on board the boat were unescorted minors or single men in their early 20s. The fact that they were willing to risk their lives to reach Europe has brought into focus Egypt's harsh economic realities, with many of the country's 91 million people struggling to cope with double digit unemployment and rising inflation among a host of economic woes. Many of the survivors said they were leaving to find jobs and better lives in Europe. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Police in the U.S. city Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday released the police bodycam and dashcam videos of the fatal shooting of a black man after days of protests and violence. In addition to the two videos, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also released three photos of a handgun, a holster, as well as a marijuana "blunt" that belonged to Keith Lamont Scott, the 43-year-old victim who was killed by a police officer on Tuesday. The police move came under increasing pressure from Scott's family and the public after the shooting sparked four days of protests and riots. Scott was shot and killed by CMPD police officer Brentley Vinson, also an African American, who was serving a warrant on someone else with other officers when they encountered Scott at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon. The CMPD said police officers at the scene saw marijuana and a weapon inside Scott's car and that Vinson opened fire after Scott refused to obey police commands to drop a handgun. But Scott's family and residents disputed the police claim, insisting that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun. In a police video, Scott was seen slowly walking backward out of his car before the shooting. He neither pointed a gun at the officers nor made sudden movements. In response to the release of police videos, Justin Bamberg, attorney for Scott's family, told a news conference Saturday evening that he did not see anything in the videos that would lead to the loss of Scott's life. He said the most important question that should be answered is whether Scott's actions justified the police shooting. Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said that the family was left with far more questions than answers by the videos. Scott "was an American citizen who deserves better," he added. Indeed, people cannot clearly tell from the cellphone video released Friday, which was shot by Scott's wife during the shooting, that an object left on the ground near Scott's body was a gun or not. In the video, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly told the police officers not to shoot his husband because he had no gun and was just taking his medicine. But the officers were heard opening fire minutes after they shouted commands to Scott to drop a gun. In a news release distributed Saturday with the videos and photos, the CMPD detailed the fatal encounter between its officers and Scott Tuesday afternoon, alleging that Scott possessed marijuana and a handgun and ignored officers' repeated loud verbal commands to drop the gun. Officer Vinson opened fire at Scott after perceiving that Scott's actions and movements posed "an immediate physical threat." A lab analysis of the gun recovered at the scene "revealed the presence of Mr. Scott's DNA and his fingerprints" on it, the CMPD claimed. CMPD chief Kerr Putney told a news conference earlier Saturday that he decided to release the videos to the public after determining that the release would not have an adverse impact on the investigation. The shooting incident has sparked four nights of protests in Charlotte, including two nights of violent riots on Tuesday and Wednesday. Protesters have demanded the police release the tapes of the shooting. A state of emergency was declared Tuesday in Charlotte, followed by a curfew that was imposed from midnight Thursday. Protests continued on Thursday and Friday in the city, but were mostly peaceful. Mall shooting suspect: 'Creepy,' multiple arrests, disputes OAK HARBOR, Wash. (AP) The 20-year-old man suspected of killing five people with a rifle at a Macy's makeup counter had a string of run-ins with the law in recent years, including charges he assaulted his stepfather, and was described by a neighbor as so "creepy, rude and obnoxious" that she kept a Taser by her front door. As investigators tried to piece together information on Arcan Cetin, who was arrested Saturday evening after a nearly 24-hour manhunt, a picture emerged of a troubled young man. Court records show more than a half-dozen criminal cases in Island County alone since 2013. Authorities said the gunman in the attack at the Cascade Mall in Burlington opened fire in the department store's cosmetics department Friday night, killing a man and four females ranging from a teenager to a senior citizen. The killer then fled. This late Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, image from video by KIRO7 photographer Jeff Ritter shows suspected Cascade Mall shooter Arcan Cetin at Skagit County Jail in Mount Vernon, Wash., after his arrest in Oak Harbor, Wash., earlier in the evening. Investigators on Sunday tried to piece together information on the 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shootings who was apprehended after a nearly 24-hour manhunt. (Jeff Ritter/KIRO7.com via AP) Cetin said nothing and appeared "zombie-like" when he was taken into custody on a sidewalk outside his apartment complex some 30 miles away in Oak Harbor by a sheriff's officer who recognized him as the suspect in the rampage, authorities said. Cetin immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey and is a legal permanent resident, officials said. As the surrounding area absorbed news of the arrest, critical questions remained, including the gunman's motive. The FBI said early Saturday that there was no indication the shooting was terrorism, but local authorities said later in the day that they were ruling nothing out. On Sept. 17, a 20-year-old man stabbed 10 people at a Minnesota mall before being shot to death by an off-duty police officer. Authorities said they are investigating the attack by Dahir Ahmed Adan as a possible act of terrorism. On Sunday, investigators searched Cetin's vehicle and the apartment complex and were seen carrying boxes from a rear, upstairs unit. The four-unit building was surrounded with yellow police tape. Detectives would not say what they found. Amber Cathey, 21, lived in an apartment next to Cetin for the past three months and said she was so frightened by him that she complained to apartment management and kept a stun gun handy. Cathey said she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch. "He was really creepy, rude and obnoxious," Cathey said. She said she would try to avoid him by walking the long way around to her apartment if she saw his car in the parking lot. The two were in high school together as well, and Cathey said he acted the same way then. The Seattle Times reported (http://bit.ly/2cWhxJY) that court records show Cetin faced three charges of assaulting his stepfather. The newspaper said Cetin also was arrested on drunken driving charges. It gave no details on when the arrests took place or how the cases may have been resolved. In the assault case, Cetin was told by a judge last December that he was not to possess a gun, 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." Attempts to reach Cetin's family for comment by phone and social media weren't immediately successful. It wasn't clear if Cetin had a lawyer yet. A man who came to the door Sunday morning at an Oak Harbor address believed to be where Cetin's stepfather and mother live asked an Associated Press reporter to leave the property. Social media accounts apparently belonging to Cetin showed he had a fondness for the military and video games. A Twitter account showed, among other things, selfies, photos of him in younger years and pictures of Turkish food. He once participated in paintball and said he "can't wait for Halo 5," the first-person shooter video game. He also tweeted: "Shout out to the ROTC peeps." A Facebook account showed he liked military-related sites. Cetin also appeared to have blogs on the site Tumblr that had not been updated in many months. They included seemingly random posts about serial killer Ted Bundy, a collection of selfies, the top-secret Area 51 Cold War test site and photos of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The two blogs linked back to each other and one of them linked to what appeared to be his Twitter page. Cetin took part in his high school's ROTC program with former classmate Matthew McClimans, who described the suspect as "a pretty normal guy, but he was a little bit weird." "Every once in a while he'd make inappropriate comments: Things that are rude or in bad taste," McClimans said. Oak Harbor is a city of 22,000 on Whidbey Island with many military families associated with the nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted Cetin Saturday from a patrol car and immediately recognized him as the suspect in the shooting rampage. "I literally hit my brakes, did a quick turn, I jumped out," Hawley said No immediate charges were brought against Cetin, who awaited a court appearance Monday. The names of the dead were not immediately released by police. But The Seattle Times identified one as 16-year-old Sarai Lara. Her mother said she survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Authorities in suburban Seattle identified another victim as Belinda Galde, 64, a probation officer with the Snohomish County District Court. ___ Baumann reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Phuong Le in Burlington, Washington, Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, Kimberlee Kruesi and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. Amber Cathey, next-door nighbor and former high school classmate of Cascade Mall shooting suspect Arcan Cetin, stands in front of their building in this Oak Harbor, Wash., complex, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. As a neighbor, she said he was "creepy, rude and obnoxious" and was so frightened by him that she complained to apartment management and kept a Taser by her front door. (AP Photo/Martha Bellisle) Investigators are seen at the apartment complex that has been tied to Arcan Cetin, the suspected Cascade Mall shooter, in Oak Harbor, Wash., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Authorities carried boxes from a rear, upstairs apartment in the four-unit building. (AP Photo/Martha Bellisle) 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) Nick Torset becomes emotional as he kneels after lighting a candle during 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 at a Macy's department store at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) 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) Hollande honors Algerians who fought for French colonizers PARIS (AP) French President Francois Hollande has acknowledged the state's culpability in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence and were then massacred as traitors after the French retreat in 1962. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those made it to France were placed in camps. Their descendants have long sought official recognition that the harkis were unjustly treated. Speaking Sunday in the Invalides monument that houses Napoleon's tomb, Hollande said, "I recognize the responsibility of French governments in abandoning the harkis, the massacres of those remaining in Algeria and the inhuman conditions for those transferred to France." French president Francois Hollande stands to attention during a ceremony in which he acknowledged the state's responsibility in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence, in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those who made it to France were placed in camps. (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) "France betrayed its promise, turned its back on families," he said, making the first official recognition of the state's role in abandoning the harkis. The harki contingent included some 200,000 forces who had fought against fellow Algerians in a war seen as one of the darkest chapters in France's modern history. Only in 1999, under then-President Jacques Chirac, did France officially admit that the eight-year combat that ended 132 years of French rule in Algeria was a war. The true number of Algerians who died in the war and its aftermath is unknown, as many were never identified. The wounds of the country's colonial past remain deep on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea. In 2002, Chirac inaugurated a memorial near the Eiffel Tower to those who died fighting on the side of France, including harkis. Chirac also began what is now an annual ceremony for the harkis every September. Other prominent politicians at Sunday's ceremony included Hollande's potential rivals for next year's election, conservative former President Nicolas Sarkozy and far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen. French president Francois Hollande stands to attention during a ceremony in which he acknowledged the state's responsibility in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence, in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those who made it to France were placed in camps. (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) French president Francois Hollande reviews troops during a ceremony in which he acknowledged the state's responsibility in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence, in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those who made it to France were placed in camps. (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) French president Francois Hollande, center, shakes hands with members of veterans associations during a ceremony in which he acknowledged the state's responsibility in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence, in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those who made it to France were placed in camps. (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) French president Francois Hollande stands to attention during a ceremony in which he acknowledged the state's responsibility in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence, in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were killed after the French withdrawal, and those who made it to France were placed in camps. (Ian Langsdon/Pool Photo via AP) India to ratify Paris Agreement on climate change NEW DELHI (AP) India's prime minister said Sunday that his country will ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change early next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government will ratify the agreement Oct. 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of India's independence leader Mohandas Gandhi, who believed in a minimum carbon footprint. Modi made the announcement at a meeting of his Bharatiya Janata Party's leaders in the southern Indian town of Kozhikode. India accounts for around 4.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said this month that 60 countries accounting for about 48 percent of emissions had already joined the agreement. FILE- In this Nov. 30, 2015 file photo, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses world leaders at the COP21, United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Le Bourget, outside Paris. India's leader says his country will ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change early next month. Modi said Sunday that his government will ratify the agreement Oct. 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of India's independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File) The Paris Agreement asks both rich and poor countries to take action to curb the rise in global temperatures that is melting glaciers, raising sea levels and shifting rainfall patterns. It requires governments to present national plans to reduce emissions to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). On Sunday, Modi said global warming especially poses a threat to coastal countries and cities. Last week, Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said he expects to announce that countries accounting for over 55 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions have formally joined the treaty the threshold needed to trigger the landmark agreement when he presides over the 22nd U.N. Climate Conference in Marrakesh that starts on Nov. 7. The Morocco conference is expected to hammer out the difficult details of how to make the agreement work and raise the $100 billion needed each year to meet its ambitious goals. Israeli military indicts Palestinians for online incitement JERUSALEM (AP) The Israeli military says it has indicted more than 145 Palestinians so far this year for incitement over social media. Sunday's announcement comes amid an Israeli campaign to stamp out the online incitement it says has fueled a yearlong campaign of Palestinian attacks. The Palestinians say the violence is a result of nearly 50 years of Israeli military occupation. Earlier this month, a pair of Israeli ministers met with Facebook executives to discuss ways of limiting calls to violence on the platform. Israel says Facebook should do more to monitor and control content, raising a host of issues over whether the company is responsible for material posted by its users. WWII Navy chief reunited, in spirit, with his ship's bell NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) A Navy chief who died saving his shipmates during the attack on Pearl Harbor has been reunited, in spirit, in Rhode Island with the bell from his ship. The hall where the Navy's senior enlisted-leaders study in Newport is named for Chief Peter Tomich; his picture and a Medal of Honor are displayed in the entryway of the Senior Enlisted Academy, part of the U.S. Naval War College. The bell from the ship on which Tomich served, the USS Utah, was recently put on display at the academy. One of the students who stopped to admire the new arrival, Senior Chief James Werner, said, "I feel like it's at home, where it belongs." In this Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, photo, a woman passes the ship's bell from the USS Utah at the entrance to Tomich Hall on the grounds of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. The hall is named after Peter Tomich, who died saving his shipmates aboard the Utah during the attack on Pearl Harbor. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) The Utah was torpedoed by Japanese aircraft in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Though the ship was capsizing, Tomich stayed below deck to make sure sailors had left their stations and the boilers were secure. Another, Fireman John Vaessen, remained at his station to keep the lights running as long as possible. Sailors who were on the water's surface heard knocking from within the overturned ship's hull and rescued another 10 men who were trapped within, the last being Vaessen, according to the Navy. Tomich was posthumously awarded the medal. The Navy says 64 men died and 461 men survived. The bell was likely removed from the ship before the war began, which is why it wasn't damaged, said Jay Thomas, of the Naval History and Heritage Command. It was common practice then to remove nonessential or valuable items from ships and store them. Years later, the Navy loaned the Utah's bell to the University of Utah for its Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps building. There are few artifacts associated with Tomich or the Utah, and the bell "provides a connection with that story in a way that nothing else can," said Thomas, the assistant director for collection management. Tomich was born in in 1893 in Prolog, in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the Croatian border. He immigrated to the United States in 1913 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in New York. He became a U.S. citizen. After serving during World War I, he joined the Navy in 1919. The Utah has been called the "forgotten ship" of Pearl Harbor. It was moored on the far side of the island, away from the front-line battleships, because it had been converted from a battleship to a target ship for use in the practice of bombing operations with dummy bombs. The academy's director, Command Master Chief Richard Curtis, said he envisioned having a ship's bell to be displayed at the schoolhouse in October. He thought nothing would be more fitting than the Utah's bell, so he looked online and discovered it was in Utah. Curtis asked to borrow it so it could remind students what it means to lead and the sacrifices sometimes required. "They should take pause at why that bell is standing there in front of the academy charged with teaching leadership, in a hall named after a man who gave his life to lead," he said. The bell and its steel bracket, weighing more than 500 pounds, were sent to Rhode Island in late August. The bell is on display until April, during which time more than 600 of the military's senior enlisted leaders will see it, Curtis said. International service members also study at the academy. The bell will be sent for a conservation assessment before it is loaned back to the University of Utah. Police: 5 shot, 1 dead, after fight at Illinois campus party CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) One man was killed and four other people were wounded in a pair of shootings early Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. Police believe the two shootings in the eastern Illinois city of Champaign may be related. They say the first apparently stemmed from an argument shortly after midnight at an apartment party on Green Street, the commercial heart of the campus. "Our preliminary investigation completely points to an argument taking place at the party and the argument spilled out into the street and that's when a fight occurred," Champaign police spokeswoman LaEisha Meaderds said, adding the reasons for the fight aren't clear yet. Champaign firefighters assist with the cleanup at the scene of a fatal shooting on Green Street, near the University of Illinois campus, in Champaign, Ill., on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. One man was killed and four other people were wounded in a pair of shootings early Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. (Holly Hart/The News-Gazette via AP) Shots were fired as the fight escalated, striking four people, she said. One of those shot, 22-year-old George Korchev, was killed, Meaderds said. She said Korchev, who was from the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, wasn't involved in the fight and wasn't a University of Illinois student. He just happened to be walking by when the shots were fired. The other three were taken to a hospital for treatment of what police called non-critical gunshot wounds. Less than half an hour later, police received a report of another shooting a few blocks west of campus. Officers found a victim, who was taken to a hospital and treated for a non-critical wound. Police later said that three of the four surviving victims were discharged from the hospital. The fourth remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are searching for a suspect or suspects in the shootings and for the driver of a vehicle that struck someone who was running away from the gunfire at the first scene. That person's injuries were minor. It isn't clear how many people were at the party because many ran when the gunfire began, Meaderds said. Police are hoping to find and speak to as many as possible. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said in a statement Sunday that city and university police were working together to aggressively pursue all leads. Champaign detective, Sgt, Dave Griffet investigates the scene of a shooting in Champaign, Ill., on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. One man was killed and four other people were wounded in a pair of shootings early Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. (Holly Hart/The News-Gazette via AP) AP-GfK poll shows voter distaste for Putin-style leadership WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump has called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a leader unlike what we have in this country." But most Americans don't agree with Trump's assessment of Putin's leadership skills, a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows. Only 24 percent of registered voters say Putin has leadership qualities that would be good for an American president to share, while 71 percent say he does not. In fact, a majority, 56 percent, said they have an unfavorable view of Putin, while only 10 percent said they view the Russian leader favorably. FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2016 file-pool photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Donald Trump has called Putin a leader who has very strong control over his country. But most Americans arent on board with Trumps assessment of Putins leadership skills, a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File) Voters were split on whether Trump would be too close to Putin, with 42 percent saying they think Trump would be too close, and 41 percent saying his approach would be about right. Fourteen percent think he would not be close enough. By comparison, most voters (53 percent) think Democrat Hillary Clinton's relationship with Putin would be about right, while 11 percent think she would be too close and 32 percent think she would not be close enough. The relationship between the Republican nominee and the Russian strongman began taking on new life when Putin praised Trump last December as "bright and talented" and "the absolute leader of the presidential race." The billionaire businessman hailed Putin's regard for him as a "great honor," brushing off widespread allegations that the Russian president has ordered the killing of political dissidents and journalists. "Our country does plenty of killing also," Trump told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" in December. Four in 10 Trump supporters and only 1 in 10 Hillary Clinton supporters say Putin has leadership qualities that would be good for an American president to have. Still, even among Trump's supporters, just 16 percent have a favorable opinion of Putin. Only 5 percent of Clinton's supporters do. Marissa Garth, a 28-year-old stay-at-home mom from Smithfield, Utah, said she plans to vote for Trump this November because he exhibits the qualities of a strong leader not to be compared with Putin. "I think (Putin) is a strong leader for his country," she said. "But at the same time I don't think he necessarily has the qualities that I would want as a president." In fact, the poll finds that men are more likely than women to say that Putin has leadership qualities that would be good in an American president, 28 percent to 19 percent. Among Clinton's supporters, 69 percent say Trump would be too close to Putin. Forty-nine percent of those supporting another candidate share that view, but only 8 percent of Trump supporters say their candidate would be too close to Putin. Eighty percent of Trump supporters say his approach would be about right. Among conservatives, 20 percent say Trump would be too close to Putin. There is nothing 54-year old Gary Sellers, of Homewood, Illinois, likes about Putin or Trump. He called Putin a "dictator," adding, "there are no qualities of his that I wish that an American president would have." A lukewarm Clinton supporter, he's concerned that Trump shares Putin's extreme views of governing. "I feel he has a dictatorial approach toward being president of the United States," Sellers said of Trump. Forty-seven percent of voters say they approve and 52 percent disapprove of President Barack Obama's handling of the U.S. relationship with Russia. Voters are divided over whether the next president should take a tougher approach to Putin (42 percent) or whether the current approach is about right (39 percent). Just 16 percent think the next president should take a friendlier approach. Just under half of voters (48 percent) say the U.S. relationship with Russia is a very or extremely important issue, ranking it low on Americans' list of priorities, far below issues like the economy (92 percent), the threat posed by the Islamic State group (70 percent), the U.S. role in world affairs more generally (68 percent) and immigration (60 percent). There's a generational divide over Russia. Two-thirds of voters age 65 and over and more than half of those between 50 and 64 call the U.S. relationship with Russia very or extremely important, while only 4 in 10 30-49 year olds and only a third of those under 30 say the same. Generally speaking, voters are more likely to say they trust Clinton than Trump on negotiating with Russia, 40 percent to 33 percent. Nineteen percent say they trust neither and 7 percent trust both equally. John Eppenger, 68, a retiree in Fairfield, Ala., said that when it comes to dealing with Russia, Clinton would "do a much better job than Trump. She's not perfect, she's not ideal, but she's better." ___ The AP-GfK Poll of 1,694 adults, including 1,476 registered voters, was conducted online Sept. 15-19, using a sample drawn from GfK's probability-based KnowledgePanel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, and for registered voters is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. Respondents were first selected randomly using telephone or mail survey methods and later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didn't have access to the internet were provided access for free. ___ Online: Mother uncovers lasting impact of baby son's organ donation WASHINGTON (AP) An ultrasound showed one of Sarah Gray's unborn twins was missing part of his brain, a fatal birth defect. His brother was born healthy but Thomas lived just six days. Latching onto hope for something positive to come from heartache, Gray donated some of Thomas' tissue for scientific research his eyes, his liver, his umbilical cord blood. Only no one could tell the Washington mother if that precious donation really made a difference. So Gray embarked on an unusual journey to find out, revealing a side of science laymen seldom glimpse. "Infant eyes are like gold," a Harvard scientist told her. In this frame grab from video, taken Sept. 14, 2016, Sarah Gray with her son Callum, 6, and infant daughter Jocelyn in their Washington home. Callums identical twin Thomas died of a birth defect when he was just 6 days old, and the family donated Thomas eyes, liver and umbilical cord blood for medical research. Now Gray has written a book about her unusual journey to find out if that donation really made a difference, revealing a side of science laymen seldom glimpse. (AP Photo/Rick Gentilo) "I don't think people understand how valuable these donations are," said Gray, who hadn't either until her years-long quest brought her face-to-face with startled scientists. They had never met a relative of the donors so crucial to their work either. Families often find comfort in learning how many lives were saved if they donated a loved one's organs for transplant. But donating a body for research gets less attention there are no headline-making "saves." Yet critical medical research in labs around the country depends on scientists' ability to work with human cells and organs, so they can study both normal development and how disease does its dirty work. "A lot of people, if the tissue doesn't get used for transplant, they think it's kind of second-rate tissue or something. I'd like them to know that people who do research with human tissue are doing worthwhile things that are going to, hopefully, lead to cures for all kinds of diseases," said Dr. James Zieske, a corneal specialist at Harvard and the Schepens Eye Research Institute, whose description of treasured infant eyes spurred Gray's hunt. Now, hoping to help other families facing decisions about donation, Gray has written a book, "A Life Everlasting, The Extraordinary Story of One Boy's Gift to Medical Science." Gray and two of the scientists she met in her quest spoke with The Associated Press about donation for research. ___ NEONATAL DONATIONS OF ANY TYPE ARE RARE Gray's obstetrician didn't think donation was an option for a baby with this birth defect, called anencephaly. Only when Gray persisted late in pregnancy did she learn, from the Washington area's organ procurement agency, that her baby's organs probably would be too small for transplant but that donation for research was an option. Statistics from the United Network for Organ Sharing show that organs from a dozen newborns, those younger than a month old, were donated last year for transplant. On the research front, Dr. Arupa Ganguly of the University of Pennsylvania studies retinoblastoma, eye cancer that attacks young children. Before receiving Thomas' tissue, she had waited six years for donation of a healthy young retina to compare with diseased ones. Cells taken from younger tissue typically grow much better than an adult's, said Zieske, who could recall receiving infant corneas only two or three times in his career. Thomas' corneas were ordered to study how to repair blindness-inducing corneal damage. ___ MOST ANY TISSUE CAN BE USED In recovering tissue from deceased donors, hospitals consult a national registry of researchers' current needs. On that day in 2010, Thomas died at home in his father's arms. The organ agency retrieved his body, and recovered his eyes and liver. Blood from the umbilical cords of both Thomas and his healthy identical twin Callum already had been shipped to Duke University researchers studying what causes anencephaly. ___ WAS THE RESEARCH WORTHWHILE? Two years later, all Gray knew was where Thomas' tissue had been shipped. So during a business trip to Boston, she called the Harvard-affiliated eye lab, identified herself as a donor mom, and asked for a tour a first for the lab, and one that changed the scientists' perspective. "I still think more about, when we get a donated cornea, who that came from," said Zieske. Eventually Gray visited each lab that procured and handled Thomas' tissue. A North Carolina biotechnology company, Cytonet, uses liver cells in researching treatment for babies awaiting a liver transplant. Penn's Ganguly froze some retinal tissue for future work. Callum, now 6, even started coming along. "We explained to him there are some special scientists there working on helping other people, and they're using some stuff from Thomas to help them," said his father, Ross Gray. "We always get a sample but we don't see the person behind that sample. The lab has really established a bond with that family. And I think it makes the work a lot more meaningful," Ganguly said. ___ THE JOURNEY ISN'T OVER Gray changed careers to work for the non-profit American Association of Tissue Banks. That brought her to a meeting where scientists debated if it was ethical to test a new technology gene editing to fight inherited diseases. "If you have the skills and the knowledge to fix these diseases then freaking do it," she told the group, recounting how Thomas had suffered seizures each day of his brief life. The Latest: Clinton says Israel's security vital to the US WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Campaign 2016 on the eve of Monday's presidential debate at 9:00 p.m. on MSNBC from Hofstra University (all times local): 8:50 p.m. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says a "strong and secure Israel" is vital to the United States. Her comment came after Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City on Sunday evening. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Reporters were barred from covering the meeting. Clinton's campaign said in a statement released afterward that she "reaffirmed her unwavering commitment" to the U.S.-Israel relationship. Clinton also stressed her support for the new military aid agreement reached earlier in September and her commitment to countering efforts to boycott Israel. Republican rival Donald Trump met with Netanyahu for more than an hour at his residence in the Trump Tower on Sunday morning, according to Israeli and campaign officials. Both meetings come on the eve of the first presidential debate. ___ 6:50 p.m. Hillary Clinton is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City on Sunday evening. Her Republican rival, Donald Trump, met with the Israeli leader for more than an hour at his residence in the Trump Tower on Sunday morning, according to Israeli and campaign officials. Both meetings come on the eve of the first presidential debate. Reporters were barred from covering either meeting. Trump's campaign said in a statement released afterward the two discussed topics important to both nations. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality after perceptions arose in 2012 that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama . ___ 11:22 a.m. House Speaker Paul Ryan disagrees with Donald Trump's recent statement that things have been "absolutely in the worst shape that they've ever been in before" for blacks living in America's inner cities. Ryan responded Sunday, "I don't see it that way, that's not how I would describe it." On CBS' "Face the Nation," Ryan then praised Trump for making appeals to black voters. Ryan said Republicans like himself need "to go in communities where we don't expect to get a single vote" to gain perspective and come up with solutions. ___ 10:35 a.m. Don't look for Gennifer Flowers in the audience at Monday's kickoff presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. That's according to a transcript by "Fox News Sunday," in which Trump's vice presidential running mate Mike Pence says "Gennifer Flowers will not be attending the debate tomorrow night." Pence spoke after Trump tweeted Saturday that he might ask Flowers to sit in the audience. Flowers claimed that she and Clinton's husband, Bill, had a long-term affair. The allegation nearly derailed Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. He acknowledged having caused pain in his marriage and went on to win two terms as president. Earlier Sunday, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on ABC's "This Week" that Flowers has a right to attend the debate if "somebody else gives her a ticket." ___ 10:06 a.m. Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York. The prime minister was spotted entering Trump Tower shortly before 10:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday. The prime minister is also expected to meet with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton later in the day. ___ 10:03 a.m. Hillary Clinton's campaign is defending immunity deals granted to her aides in exchange on to hand over their old laptops as part of the FBI's investigation into her use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state. Clinton campaign strategist Joel Benenson said on the eve of the first presidential debate that the immunity deals were "fairly routine" when witnesses are turning over personal files to law enforcement. The issue could come up Monday night. On ABC's "This Week," Trump Campaign Manager Kellyanne Conway cited the immunity deal as an example of why Clinton has a trust deficit with Americans. The Associated Press first reported Friday that three additional former State Department staffers got immunity agreements as part of the FBI investigation, including Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills. The immunity agreements were limited in scope and did not cover statements made to investigators or potential testimony before Congress. Conway spoke on ABC's "This Week." ___ 9:22 a.m. Will Gennifer Flowers attend the first debate between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? Only if someone other than Trump's campaign invites her. That's according to Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway. She tells CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday that "we don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign." But on ABC's "This Week," Conway said Flowers has a right to attend "if somebody else gives her a ticket." Flowers claims she had a lengthy affair with Bill Clinton while he served as governor. The accusation nearly derailed his presidential bid in 1992. Bill Clinton acknowledged having caused pain in his marriage. Conway says Trump's tweeted threat to put Flowers in the audience was merely countering the prospect of billionaire Mark Cuban, a harsh Trump critic, attending the debate. Conway says voters deserve and expect a debate about issues such as the economy, health care, terrorism and national security. ___ 9:40 a.m. Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are expected to meet separately in New York with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting could set the tone for future relations between Israel and the next White House administration. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The one-on-one discussions will follow what was likely Netanyahu's final meeting with Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky relationship between the leaders of the two allies. ____ This version corrects attribution to Pence's remark that Gennifer Flowers will not attend Monday night's debate. Pence made the remark on "Fox News Sunday," not CBS' "Face the Nation." Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a ceremony unveiling the statue of Thomas Edison in Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Republican vice presidential candidate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence acknowledges supporters after speaking at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's Annual Family Fall Banquet, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures 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) FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2006 file photo, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., pauses over her notes as she delivers the closing address to a convention of United Auto Workers at a hotel in Washington. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, of the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center, says, "People who support her say she is thoughtful. Those who oppose her say she is hiding something." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, arrives for a meeting United Nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- As many as eight people were shot on Saturday night in east Baltimore, including a father and his three-year-old daughter, Baltimore police said. The victims have been rushed to hospital and their injuries are non-life threatening, said the police. Following the shooting, all three armed suspects fled the scene on foot, one reportedly with a shotgun and two with handguns, a CBS report quoted the police as saying. No more details are available for now. The Latest: UN takes no action after arguments over Aleppo BEIRUT (AP) The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 10:30 p.m. An emergency session of the U.N. Security Council on Syria has ended with no action taken as Russia clashed openly with representatives from the United States, Britain and France. In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of Civil Defense removing a dead body from under the rubble after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) All three Western powers heaped blame on Moscow Sunday for supporting the offensive by its close ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has been the deadliest of the 5 1/2-year war. And when Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari was called to speak, all three ambassadors walked out of the council chamber in protest. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin blamed Syria's rebels for sabotaging the Sept. 9 cease-fire agreement by shoring up its forces. And he accused the Western coalition of failing to separate the moderate forces it backs from "terrorist" groups including the al-Qaida-linked Fatah Sham Front. "Bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now," Churkin said. But he told the council that Russia still wants a cease-fire along with renewed negotiations between the Syrian parties. France's U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre said immediate implementation of the cease-fire agreement, hammered out by the U.S. and Russia, "is our only hope." ___ 10:15 p.m. The ambassadors of the United States, Britain and France walked out of the U.N. Security Council when Syria's ambassador was called to speak at an emergency meeting they called for in order to demand a halt to the Syrian offensive in Aleppo. The walkout on Sunday by U.S. envoy Samantha Power, Britain's Matthew Rycroft and France's Francois Delattre demonstrated Western anger and frustration at Syrian President Bashar Assad's decision to try to take Aleppo after U.S.-Russian talks failed to revive a cease-fire. In separate speeches to the council before the walkout, the three countries accused Russia of backing the Syrian offensive while talking about a cessation of hostilities. Power said the U.S. knows "that Russia has consistently said one thing, and done the opposite." But she said the U.S. also believes it must do "everything in our power to find a way to halt the violence" and will "continue to look for any way possible to restore the cessation of hostilities." ___ 9:15 p.m. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is "appalled" by the current spike in violence around the contested Syrian city of Aleppo. As an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council continued on Sunday, Ban said the city is facing "the most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict." He focused in particular on reports of the use of so-called "bunker-busting bombs" that are designed to target underground structures. Ban said, "Let us remember: the fighting has forced hospitals and schools to operate in basements. These bombs are not busting bunkers; they are demolishing ordinary people looking for any last refuge of safety." Ban urged all parties involved to "work harder for an end to the nightmare." ___ 8 p.m. The International Committee for the Red Cross says it has delivered food, medical supplies, and other supplies to a set of four besieged Syrian towns that have been inaccessible to aid organizations in nearly six months. The organization said Sunday it was reaching 60,000 residents trapped in the towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foua, and Kafraya. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which is managing the convoys jointly with the U.N. and the ICRC, says 53 trucks have reached Madaya and Zabadani, besieged by pro-government forces, and 18 trucks have reached Kafraya and Foua, which are besieged by rebels. Government forces and rebels have so far blocked the U.N. from establishing regular aid access to besieged areas in Syria. The U.N. estimates 600,000 Syrians are trapped in different sieges. ___ 6:30 p.m. Syrian activists say several civilians have been killed in renewed airstrikes on opposition areas in the contested city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 23 people have been killed in presumed government or Russian airstrikes on various neighborhoods in rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Sunday. Ibrahim Alhaj of the Syrian Civil Defense search and rescue operation says the group has documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals in the city are reporting that they are overwhelmed with casualties. Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the opposition areas, says he expects many of the most badly wounded will die from insufficient treatment and facilities. "I've never seen so many people dying in once place," he said from a hospital in the city. ___ 6:20 p.m. A top U.N. envoy is accusing Syria at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council of unleashing "unprecedented military violence" against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syria's declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the 5 1/2-year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons including incendiary devices may amount to war crimes. De Mistura said U.S.-Russian talks on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial meeting failed to reinvigorate the Sept. 9 cessation of hostilities, and the offensive has left two million people in Aleppo without water. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, delivery of humanitarian aid, and evacuation of urgent medical cases. ___ 6 p.m. Russia's Foreign Ministry is taking a slap at Boris Johnson for his suggestion that Russia has committed war crimes in Syria. Following the British Foreign Minister's comments, Russian ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova quickly responded on Facebook Sunday, saying: "The foreign minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson said in a broadcast of the BBC that Russia is guilty of protracting civil war in Syria and, possibly, of committing war crimes in the form of air attacks on convoys with humanitarian aid. All this is right except for two words: Instead of 'Russia' it needs to be 'Great Britain' and instead of 'Syria,' 'Iraq.'" ___ 5:45 p.m. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says Russia should be investigated for war crimes following an attack on a Syrian aid convoy that claimed 20 lives. Johnson said Sunday that Russian air power may have deliberately targeted the civilian convoy on Sept. 19. Russia denies involvement and instead suggests Syrian rebels or a U.S. drone were responsible. Johnson said the West had been "too impotent in its response" to aggression by Syrian President Bashar Assad and his Russian backers during Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year. He said Russia is "guilty of protracting this war, of making it far more hideous. And yes ... we should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets. That is a war crime." ___ 5:30 P.M. France's foreign minister says Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they don't pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Jean-Marc Ayrault said an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Sunday is a "moment of truth" for the U.N. He said Assad's regime "has clearly made the choice of a military escalation. I am calling on Russia and Iran to pull themselves together and show responsibility, by putting a stop to this strategy. ... If not, Russia and Iran will be accomplices in war crimes committed in Aleppo." The U.S, Britain, and France sought Sunday's meeting, as pro-government forces continued their intense bombardment of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian air strikes. ___ 3 p.m. A monitoring group says Syrian rebels have retaken an area in Aleppo that fell to government forces the day before, extending a punishing stalemate in the contested northern city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which maintains a network of local contacts, says rebels seized Handarat, a largely uninhabited Palestinian refugee camp, early Sunday. The area is near Castello Road, a vital supply route to the city's besieged rebel-held areas. Government forces seized the Castello Road earlier this year, besieging rebel-held districts where some 250,000 people reside. Yasser al-Yousef, a spokesman for the Nour el-Din al-Zinki rebel faction, says rebels seized Handarat late Saturday. The Observatory says 213 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and shelling on rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo since a cease-fire expired Monday. In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows wounded men receiving treatment at a local clinic after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) In this photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows heavily damaged buildings after airstrikes hit in Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Syrian government forces captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo on Saturday, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighborhoods in the northern city as an ongoing wave of airstrikes destroyed more buildings. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) Swooping, gliding over the Alps at free-flight festival SAINT HILAIRE DU TOUVET, France (AP) In wild costumes, wingsuits and even home-made flying machines, thousands of people are gliding through the French Alps in the world's oldest free-flight festival. Hang gliders, paragliders, acrobatic sailplanes and hot air balloons from around the world gathered this weekend for the Icarus Cup, celebrating its 43rd edition on the slopes of Saint Hilaire du Touvet. Motorized paragliders will race in an airborne slalom in one of the festival's events. Kitted out like a dragon, a trumpet, or a car, some participants are aiming for victory at a costume contest. Paraglider Gabriele D'arrigo performs a flight with a Dragon during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Emergency services are on hand in case of accidents and to watch out for suspicious packages as part of France's state of emergency after deadly extremist attacks. A paraglider performs an aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, performs a flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Paragliders perform synchronise aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Paragliders perform synchronise aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) A paraglider performs aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, performs a flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, performs a flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, opens his parachute during a performance flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, performs a flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Swiss pilot Yves Rossy, known as 'Jetman,' the first man in the world to fly a jet-fitted wing, performs a flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) A paraglider performs an aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Francois Ragolski, 2016 World Champion aerobatic paragliding performs aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Paragliders perform synchronize aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Paragliders perform synchronize aerobatic flight during the 43st Icare Cup paragliding festival in Saint Hilaire du Touvet, French Alps, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The "Coupe Icare" dedicated to free flight, orchestrates all the various types of flying such as hang gliding, paragliding and acrobatic sailplaneing. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Pentagon chief is expert on nukes but says little about them WASHINGTON (AP) As defense secretary to a president who famously envisioned "a world without nuclear weapons," Ash Carter has said remarkably little about them. He has been quiet on a range of nuclear issues, including the Pentagon's $8 billion effort to correct an array of morale, training, discipline and resource problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps, revealed by The Associated Press in the last three years. Nor has he publicly explained in detail the utility of nuclear weapons in an age of attacks by non-state actors like the Islamic State to build support for spending hundreds of billions on a new generation of them. When asked, he has left no doubt that he sees nuclear weapons as the "bedrock" of U.S. security. But he rarely reveals the underpinnings of his thinking. FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2016 file photo, Defense Secretary Ash Carter, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. As defense chief for a president who famously envisioned a world without nuclear weapons, Ash Carter has said remarkably little about them. He has been quiet on a range of nuclear issues, including the Pentagons efforts to correct an array of morale, training, discipline and resource problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps. This is all the more notable for the fact that Carter, a physicist by training and policy wonk by reputation, cut his professional teeth on nuclear weapons during the Cold War. This quiet approach is expected to end when Carter visits Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) This is all the more notable because Carter, a physicist by training and policy wonk by reputation, cut his professional teeth on nuclear weapons during the Cold War. He probably knows more about them than any defense secretary since William Perry, a longtime nuclear expert, led the Pentagon a generation ago. This quiet approach is expected to end when Carter visits Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on Monday. There he plans to deliver a speech on nuclear deterrence, the notion that a robust and ready U.S. nuclear force will make clear that the cost of hitting the U.S. would outweigh any benefit. It will mark his first visit to a nuclear weapons base since becoming defense chief in February 2015. Minot is home to Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles that stand in underground silos, ready for nuclear war. A portion of the Air Force's B-52 bomber force, including a number equipped to carry nuclear bombs, also are at Minot. Like the three other men who have run the Pentagon for President Barack Obama, Carter has plenty of other high-priority issues to consume his time and attention, including the war against the Islamic State group. Carter also has chosen to focus on what he calls the "force of the future" a set of policy initiatives meant to modernize the way the defense establishment recruits and develops members of the armed services. And he has given a great deal of attention to Silicon Valley and other technology hotbeds that he sees as potential keys to translating civilian innovation into U.S. military advantage. Nuclear weapons issues have taken a back seat, at least publicly. "Secretary Carter has not said much on nuclear weapons, but his actions speak volumes," says Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, an advocacy group that argues for nuclear reductions and against the administration's plan to commit hundreds of billions to build a next-generation nuclear arsenal. "He has been the Dr. No of nuclear reductions, defending every program contract and resisting every cut in the nuclear force." A spokesman for Carter disputes that the Pentagon chief has been quiet about nuclear issues. "He regularly speaks about the importance of the nuclear triad to our security, its importance in reassuring our allies and deterring potential adversaries, and the need to ensure that we maintain and modernize that capability," said Gordon Trowbridge, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary. Carter has talked quite a lot about the nuclear weapons of other countries. He chastised Russia for nuclear "sabre rattling," endorsed the U.S. nuclear deal with Iran and criticized what he has called North Korea's nuclear "pursuit and provocations." But when it comes to America's own weapons, he has mostly limited himself to broad references to their importance. Before this week, Carter had not given a speech about nuclear weapons nor visited a nuclear weapons base. His immediate predecessor, Chuck Hagel, visited two of the three Air Force bases that operate Minuteman 3 missiles, plus one of the two Navy bases for Trident nuclear submarines. Hagel also visited a B-2 bomber base to highlight his support for an Air Force's plan to build a new nuclear bomber. Among Carter's most substantial remarks about nuclear weapons was his response earlier this month to a question from a student at the University of Oxford in England after Carter spoke about the American defense relationship with Britain. Carter was asked whether he worries that important nuclear issues are being ignored or neglected. "Well, it's a blessing to be able to take the public's mind off the nuclear question," Carter began. He said he was thankful that nuclear issues are "not in the headlines." He called deterrence the cornerstone of U.S. strategic defense policy because "we've never found another way to manage the unprecedented risk inherently posed by the technology of nuclear weapons." He added, "we're going to have nuclear weapons as far into the future as I can see. And they need to be safe, they need to be secure, they need to be reliable." "Fortunately you don't see us using" nuclear weapons, Carter said in response to a question last week from a sailor at the Pentagon. "And that's a good thing." Nuclear weapons, he said, are "there in the background as a guarantor of our security." During his long career as a national security specialist, Carter has written extensively about nuclear weapons issues. In a 1985 article titled "The Command and Control of Nuclear War" he dissected the intricate issue of how wartime decisions would be communicated to and executed by the nuclear force. He was the lead author of a report, "Crisis Stability and Nuclear War," in 1987, again examining nuclear command and control issues. During Bill Clinton's first term in the White House, Carter served as assistant secretary of defense for nuclear security and counter-proliferation. FILE - In this June 25, 2014 file photo, the warhead-containing nose cone of an inert Minuteman 3 missile is seen in a training launch tube at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. As defense chief for a president who famously envisioned a world without nuclear weapons, Ash Carter has said remarkably little about them. He has been quiet on a range of nuclear issues, including the Pentagons efforts to correct an array of morale, training, discipline and resource problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps. This is all the more notable for the fact that Carter, a physicist by training and policy wonk by reputation, cut his professional teeth on nuclear weapons during the Cold War. This quiet approach is expected to end when Carter visits Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel. File) FILE - In this photo June 24, 2014 file photo , the second of two blast doors leading to the underground control room is opened where a 24-hour shift is staffed at an ICBM launch control facility near Minot, N.D. . As defense chief for a president who famously envisioned a world without nuclear weapons, Ash Carter has said remarkably little about them. He has been quiet on a range of nuclear issues, including the Pentagons efforts to correct an array of morale, training, discipline and resource problems in the Air Force nuclear missile corps. This is all the more notable for the fact that Carter, a physicist by training and policy wonk by reputation, cut his professional teeth on nuclear weapons during the Cold War. This quiet approach is expected to end when Carter visits Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) Clinton as communicator, from Wellesley to campaign trail NEW YORK (AP) Hillary Clinton has said it herself: She's not the most naturally gifted public communicator. "I am not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed, like my husband or President Obama," she said in March. Yet her first public speech was a star-making one, landing her in a Life magazine write-up at the tender age of 21. She was a senior at Wellesley, the first student chosen to address a commencement there. Unhappy with the words of the U.S. senator invited to speak before her, she parried with an unplanned rebuke, before launching into her prepared remarks. It was unscripted and rather audacious so audacious, in fact, that the president of Wellesley felt compelled to apologize to the senator. FILE - In this Jan. 4, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. speaks at a rally in Nashua, N.H. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University says Clinton _ like other women in authority _ is subject to a double bind, meaning whatever she does is going to violate either expectations for how a woman should speak, or how a leader should. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) "Courtesy is not one of the stronger virtues of the young," wrote Ruth Adams, in a letter recently unearthed by The Washington Post. "Scoring debater's points seems, on occasion, to have higher standing." Nearly 50 years later, Clinton is facing the most important debates of her life as she squares off against Donald Trump beginning Monday three high-stakes contests that could set the momentum for the remainder of the presidential campaign. What kind of communicator has she become in those years since Wellesley, the last 30 or so in the public eye? That first speech is significant, says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, of the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center, because it shows how even a college-age Clinton was able to think on her feet and jump on the moment a key asset in a debate. Clinton also showed, and has honed for years, a propensity to engage the other side, to argue and counter-argue like a lawyer, Jamieson says not surprising, since her next stop after Wellesley was a law degree at Yale. But along with those and other obvious strengths such as the depth of her preparation Clinton can sound scripted, especially in contrast to her husband, a gifted empathizer. "'I feel your pain' that was a joke line about Bill Clinton, but some people have to work harder at it than others," Jamieson says. "It was more natural for Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton than it is for Hillary Clinton." She's also known to be guarded. "People who support her say she is thoughtful," says Jamieson. "Those who oppose her say she is hiding something. But she adds that there's good historical reason for Clinton to watch her words. "She's been burned by statements that were taken to mean something she didn't necessarily intend, like her famous 1992 'cookies and teas' remark," which Jamieson says was "taken egregiously out of context." Then, of course, there's the persistent description of Clinton "lecturing" or worse, "yelling." Many counter that this particular description is inextricably wound up in gender perceptions. (One commentator, Mark Rudov, said on Fox News in 2008 that when candidate Obama spoke, "Men hear, 'Take off for the future,' and when Hillary Clinton speaks, men hear, 'Take out the garbage.''') "I don't think one can talk about anything related to Hillary Clinton where gender is not (a factor), whether it's conscious or not," says Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University. "What you constantly hear about is her yelling," Tannen says. "But of course, candidates all yell. They have to." That famous 2004 Howard Dean yell was a rare occasion when a male candidate was called out for it, she notes. Tannen says Clinton like other women in authority is subject to a "double bind," meaning whatever she does is going to violate either expectations for how a woman should speak, or how a leader should. In other words, for a female candidate, appearing tough and empathetic at the same time is a challenge. Biographer Gail Sheehy says that during Clinton's 2008 presidential race, her campaign emphasized the toughness, so that she would be taken seriously especially by the military as a potential commander in chief. "She won that battle," Sheehy says, "but in the process it obscured her nurturing qualities her ability to understand and relate to people who are vulnerable. We've seen that ability in her actions throughout her whole life but even today she has a hard time conveying it." One of Clinton's most admired moments as a public speaker came in 1995, when, as first lady, she addressed the U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing and made the powerful declaration that "human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights." But Sheehy also points to a very different moment as memorable for Clinton the 2008 "coffee shop moment" in New Hampshire, where Clinton's voice shook and she seemed near tears as she spoke of her goals for the country. "She allowed herself to show a little vulnerability in spite of herself and wow, women all over the place related to her," Sheehy says. "The problem is that today, there isn't very much 'we' in the way she speaks. We don't feel like she's having a conversation with us." In the debates, Sheehy suggests, Clinton might do well to inject some humor where she can, to portray accessibility. Some feel Clinton shouldn't have to be worrying about that at all. Why, wonders feminist blogger Andi Zeisler, isn't it enough for Clinton simply to show her qualifications for the job? When did it become, she asks, about being the candidate you can have a beer with or who can dance with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show? "That's not the person I want to see, and that's certainly not who she wants to be," Zeisler says. "I think she's from a time when you weren't SUPPOSED to have a beer with your president. They were supposed to be too busy and too smart." ___ Follow Jocelyn Noveck on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/jocelynnoveckap ___ 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 Sept. 30, 1992 file photo, Hillary Clinton, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton, speaks to the crowd during a rally at the Statehouse in Providence, R.I. Hillary Clinton burst into the public eye at 21 with an unexpectedly audacious speech at her Wellesley graduation that earned her a write-up in Life magazine. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) FILE - In this Sept. 5, 1995 file photo, first lady Hillary Clinton addresses a special session of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Clinton declared, "human rights are womens rights, and womens rights are human rights," and said that it was indefensible that many women who registered for the conference were denied visas or were unable to fully participate. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2014 file photo, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's annual fundraising "Steak Fry" in Indianola, Iowa. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, says, "I don't think one can talk about anything related to Hillary Clinton where gender is not (a factor), whether its conscious or not." (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) FILE - In this March 21, 1994 file photo, first lady Hillary Clinton, accompanied by President Bill Clinton, responds to a question during a health care forum for senior citizens at Century Village in Deerfield Beach, Fla. In March 2016, she said, "I am not a natural politician, in case you haven't noticed, like my husband or President Obama." Yet her first public speech was a star-making one, landing her in a Life magazine write-up at the age of 21. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File) FILE - In this Oct. 28, 1993 file photo, first lady Hillary Clinton, holding a copy of the Clinton health-care plan, kicks off a three-state campaign with a visit to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. As first lady, Clinton's signature policy initiative, reforming the nation's health care system, fell apart, largely due to both Clintons' refusal to compromise with health care industry skeptics, and lawmakers. (AP Photo/Joe Marquette, File) FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., left, talks to Laura Styles of Exeter, N.H., after become emotional while answering a question from an undecided voter at a cafe in Portsmouth, N.H. Of this "coffee shop moment," biographer Gail Sheehy says, "She allowed herself to show a little vulnerability _ in spite of herself _ and wow, women all over the place related to her." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2006 file photo, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., pauses over her notes as she delivers the closing address to a convention of United Auto Workers at a hotel in Washington. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, of the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center, says, "People who support her say she is thoughtful. Those who oppose her say she is hiding something." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE - In this Aug. 14, 1995 file photo, first lady Hillary Clinton addresses the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses in Washington. The committee was set up to provide recommendations on government activities relating to Gulf War veterans' illnesses. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, of the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center, says, "People who support her say she is thoughtful. Those who oppose her say she is hiding something." (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) FILE - In this April 19, 2008 file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., rallies the crowd in the rain as she campaigns in McKeesport, Pa. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University says Clinton _ like other women in authority _ is subject to a double bind, meaning whatever she does is going to violate either expectations for how a woman should speak, or how a leader should. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) FILE - In this March 6, 2016 file photo, Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, left, and, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., argue a point during a Democratic presidential primary debate at the University of Michigan-Flint in Flint, Mich. Clinton is facing the most important debates of her life as she squares off against Donald Trump beginning Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 _ three high-stakes contests that could set the momentum for the remainder of the presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) Nebraska town considers banning smoking in apartments BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) Some leaders in a blue-collar Nebraska suburb that's home to Offutt Air Force Base are borrowing an idea from a vastly more liberal state: Ban apartment renters from smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes inside. The proposal, which would be one of the few such restrictions outside of California and is similar to federal rules for public housing across the U.S., isn't meant to protect the health of the city's 50,000 residents, but instead to prevent fires. Councilman Don Preister proposed the ban, which wouldn't affect duplexes and single-family homes, in August after cigarette smoking at a single Bellevue apartment complex led to two fires a month earlier. The second fire destroyed the building, displacing dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter. In this Sept. 14, 2016, photo, restoration work is performed at a Bellevue, Neb., apartment complex which was hit twice by fire. The second fire on July 26 destroyed the building, displacing dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter. The fires prompted City Councilman Don Preister to introduce a measure to ban smoking in city apartment complexes. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) "We had firefighters in the building ... when the floor started giving way," Preister said. "Had they not evacuated, we could have lost lives in the fire. I want to prevent that going forward." But some residents in the city that borders Omaha set in a deeply conservative state see the proposal set for a vote by the City Council on Monday as an example of government overreach. "I don't see how you're going to tell people what they can do in their homes," Brent Clatterbuck, who owns three apartment complexes in Bellevue, told the City Council earlier this month. "You're messing with somebody's home." Even some anti-smoking advocates noted that Nebraska would seem an odd choice for the proposal. "It would be surprising, if it had come up in isolation," said Pat McKone of the American Lung Association, an anti-smoking group. "But there was a fire. We all understand no matter what our political persuasion that fire kills." The ban, which Preister acknowledged would have secondary benefits of reducing health problems caused by secondhand smoke, is similar to those in dozens of California cities. Federal officials have adopted similar rules in public housing nationwide, but cities have rarely taken up the effort. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the anti-tobacco group SmokeFree Nebraska, said it couldn't find any local ordinances in Nebraska or surrounding states that are similar to the Bellevue proposal. "Smoking is both a health and safety issue," McKone said. "I'm not sure why we separate the issues of secondhand smoke and fire safety. Both are a danger to those living in multi-family dwellings." Preister, who said he has nothing against smokers, argues that such a ban would also lower insurance premiums by preventing expensive fires. U.S. Fire Administration statistics show smoking is the No. 1 cause of home fire deaths. Opponents of the proposal said officials haven't thought through the proposed change. Margie Guy, a smoker who also rents four apartments located above her bridal boutique, recently told council members that three of her four renters smoke and two live on fixed incomes. "Who are we to tell them they can't smoke in their own homes?" Guy asked. "What are the costs of actually enforcing these laws? Has anybody looked at that?" James Hardy, a smoker who lives in an apartment, argues the measure would violate a state law that says people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their own homes. He also contends it relegates apartment dwellers, who are often poorer than homeowners, to second-class citizens. "By passing this law, you're effectively saying to the whole country, 'If you're a private property owner, you may still exercise your personal liberties and still have a reasonable expectation of privacy within your own dwelling' ... you're saying to the denizens of all apartments that this new class of citizen must surrender their civil liberties by virtue of where they chose to live." David Sutton, a spokesman for Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc., which owns the nation's biggest cigarette maker, Philip Morris USA, said in an email there are places where smoking should be banned, such as in small enclosed areas, such as elevators, and places where children primarily are, such as schools. "Complete bans go too far," he said. "Owners of private residences and other private places should determine the smoking policy for that particular location." Preister understands the arguments against his proposal. He's not backing down. "I can empathize with smokers who are continually feeling put upon," he said. "However, smoking is a choice. It's not a protected class. ... They just need to go outside or to a safe place." In this Sept. 12, 2016 photo, Bellevue City Councilman Don Preister holds up a newspaper clipping at a city council meeting showing the aftermath of a fire in a city apartment complex which was caused by cigarettes. The fire destroyed the building, displaced dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter. Preister is introducing a measure to ban smoking in city apartment buildings. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) In this Sept. 12, 2016 photo, members of the Bellevue City Council listen to public comments on a proposed measure to ban smoking in city apartment buildings. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) In this Sept. 12, 2016, photo, Margie Guy who rents four apartments located above her bridal boutique in downtown Bellevue, Neb., addresses the Bellevue City Council on a proposed measure to ban smoking in apartment buildings. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) In this Sept. 12, 2016, photo, Margie Guy who rents four apartments located above her bridal boutique in downtown Bellevue, Neb., listens to a Bellevue City Council meeting on a proposed measure to ban smoking in apartment buildings. Following a fire in a city apartment complex caused by cigarettes which destroyed the building, displaced dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter, City Councilman Don Preister is introducing a measure to ban smoking in city apartment buildings. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) Pemex says fire put out on tanker off Mexico's Gulf coast MEXICO CITY (AP) A fire on a tanker carrying gasoline and diesel off Mexico's Gulf coast was put out Sunday, a day after the blaze began, the country's state oil company said. Firefighting boats had battled the blaze since Saturday aboard the Burgos, which is owned by the company, Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. A Pemex statement Sunday night said experts have begun investigating to determine what caused the fire in two of the ship's tanks. It said specialists from a Texas salvage company had boarded the vessel. A provider boat sails by the burning fuel tanker Burgos a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Firefighting boats were battling the blaze aboard the Burgos, which is owned by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. Pemex said in a statement Sunday that a team of international experts in putting out fires and transferring fuel has arrived to assist.(AP Photo/Felix Marquez) Pemex said a flight over the ship had determined that only a minimal amount of fuel was in the water and it was contained by floating booms. Earlier in the day, the company had said the Burgos' double hull had prevented any fuel spill. It said that the volatility of the gasoline and diesel on the ship would aid in its evaporation. Firefighters used a chemical extinguisher against the fire, the Veracruz Port Authority said. Mexico's environmental protection agency, Profepa, said Sunday in a statement that a mile (1 kilometers) of containment booms were deployed to prevent any spilled fuel from reaching the coast. The Burgos was carrying about 168,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel, Pemex said. The ship was anchored about 7 miles off the coast when it called for help at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. All crew members were rescued without injury. The Burgos had been sailing from Coatzacoalcos in eastern Veracruz state to the Pemex terminal, Port Authority Director Juan Ignacio Fernandez said. Members of the marine wildlife conservation organization Sea Shepherd monitor the fuel tanker Burgos, as it continues to burn a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Firefighting boats were battling the blaze aboard the Burgos, which is owned by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. Pemex said in a statement Sunday that a team of international experts in putting out fires and transferring fuel has arrived to assist. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) The fuel tanker Burgos continues to burn a day after it erupted in flames off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Sunday Sept. 25, 2016. Firefighting boats were battling the blaze aboard the Burgos, which is owned by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. Pemex said in a statement Sunday that a team of international experts in putting out fires and transferring fuel has arrived to assist. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez) Kuwaiti armed with hunting rifle shoots an Egyptian, Syrian KUWAIT CITY (AP) Kuwaiti police say they have arrested a man who says he accidentally shot a Syrian and Egyptian near a bloc of stores selling hunting rifles. The Kuwait News Agency, which carried the Interior Ministry's statement on the incident Sunday, reports the Egyptian man is in critical condition and that the Syrian man had been injured in his leg, though no further details were given about his condition. The shooter, a Kuwaiti national, has told police he did not know the rifle, which belonged to a friend, was loaded. The Interior Ministry said it is investigating the shooting. Residents evacuate Cedar Rapids homes ahead of flooding CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Several thousand residents of Cedar Rapids left their homes Sunday as floodwaters began to spill out of the rising Cedar River, and Iowa's second-largest city worked to apply the lessons officials learned after the record 2008 flood. The river crested Saturday night in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, which are about 55 miles (90 kilometers) upstream from Cedar Rapids, which is Iowa's second-largest city, with about 130,000 people. The water levels in Cedar Falls and Waterloo were slightly lower than had been expected, but they still reached levels that were second only to those in 2008, when a major flood devastated the region. People view the flooding on the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) The National Weather Service predicted that the river will crest at 23 feet (7 meters) in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday morning well below the 2008 record of 31.12 feet (9.5 meters). Officials asked those living in about 5,000 downtown homes near the river to evacuate. They said it could be days before people can return home. The Cedar Rapids school district said Sunday that it is canceling classes through Wednesday because of the flooding. District officials will reevaluate the situation by Wednesday afternoon. Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said the city has been preparing to deal with a major flood since that of 2008, which caused billions of dollars of damage. City workers and volunteers have been working for days to build a temporary system of levees to try to contain the floodwaters. "All the work is coming together, and you can see the benefit of planning and preparation," Pomeranz said. After the 2008 flood, about 1,350 homes near the Cedar River were bought out and destroyed to reduce the amount of damage that future floods could inflict. About 45 acres of green space sit in that area today. On Sunday morning, more than 100 volunteers helped remove the seats from the restored Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids and move them up to the second floor to protect them from floodwaters. The theater was heavily damaged in the 2008 flood because it is one block from the Cedar River, and it cost $35 million to restore. Unlike in 2008, residents have had more time to prepare for a flood. The benefit of that extra time was clear in the small town of Palo upstream where residents of more than 80 homes evacuated. Kim Hutchins, whose home in Palo is about 10 miles upstream from Cedar Rapids, told the Des Moines Register that she spent Saturday packing up her kitchen while some friends unhooked her furnace in the basement and moved it up to the garage. Most of her furniture was piled onto trailers to move. "They've been telling us it was coming for days. Last time, we had eight or 10 hours to get out," said Hutchins, 53, who planned to go stay with her mother. Palo residents were being urged not to use water on Sunday because of a sewer line break and area flooding. Officials said they were working to repair the sewer line quickly. In the meantime, they were providing bottled water to residents. Officials in Waterloo and Cedar Falls hope their communities will sustain less damage in this flood because of steps taken since 2008, but Black Hawk County Emergency Management Coordinator Lorie Glover said the extent of the damage won't be clear until the water recedes. In Waterloo, the Cedar River crested at 22.95 feet (7 meters) Saturday. That's well below the 2008 record of 27 feet (8.2 meters), but still caused major flooding. It remained at 22 feet Sunday afternoon. "We do have pockets of damage in some areas that we will be looking at, but the water is still very high," Glover said. "We need to wait until it goes down a little bit before we can get into some areas to look at what damage there will be." Parts of southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin experienced flooding over the past few days, but it appeared that most of the threat of major flooding had passed in those states by Sunday. In the southern Minnesota town of St. Clair, eight to 10 homes remained evacuated Sunday. Assistant Blue Earth County Emergency Manager Eric Weller said Sunday that "we were very lucky overnight" that not much rain fell. The tops of mailboxes barely break the surface of floodwaters from the Cedar River in the North Cedar neighborhood of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP) Mike Baer, left, Brad O'Donnell and Todd Huxford stand near the edge of the flooded Le Sueur River across Park Street North Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in St. Clair, Minn. (Bre McGee/The Free Press via AP) Lengthy jury selection in Charleston church shootings begins CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) The laborious process of jury selection is getting underway in the federal death penalty trial of Dylann Roof, the white man charged in the deaths of nine black parishioners gunned down during a Bible study at a Charleston church. The 22-year-old Roof is charged with hate crimes, obstruction of religion and other counts in the June 17, 2015 shootings at Emanuel AME Church. Prosecutors allege he talked of starting a race war, posed with the Confederate battle flag before the killings and used the internet to scope out Emanuel and other historically black churches. The first of hundreds of potential jurors report to the courthouse in Charleston's historic district on Monday. Testimony in the case being heard by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel is not anticipated until after Thanksgiving. FILE - In this Thursday, June 18, 2015, file photo, Charleston, S.C., shooting suspect Dylann Roof is escorted from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, N.C. The first jurors report to the federal courthouse in Charleston, S.C., on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 for jury screening in the federal death penalty case charging Roof with hate crimes and other charges. He is charged in the June, 17, 2015 slayings of nine people during a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) In the trial last year of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, jury selection took about two months with weather and other delays. The guilt and sentencing phases took almost nine weeks. Like the Tsarnaev trial, the Roof trial will be in two phases: a first to decide guilt or innocence and, if he is convicted, a second to determine if he should be sentenced to life in prison or death. Roof's attorneys have said repeatedly their client is willing to plead guilty if the death penalty is taken off the table. But U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch has said the government is seeking death because of "the nature of the alleged crime and the resulting harm." Miller Shealy, an attorney who teaches criminal law at Charleston School of Law, said the challenge for the defense is finding a jury that will keep Roof out of the death chamber. "You're trying to apply a little common sense and the best social science and psychology you can get to determine how you can pick a jury that is as non-lethal as possible," he said. "The government is trying to pick a jury that actually will give the death penalty based on the facts and the circumstances." Three thousand potential jurors from the Charleston area were summoned over the summer and asked to fill out a standard questionnaire about education, employment and the like. When jurors report Monday they will be sworn in, introduced to the defendant and attorneys and then the court will hear from any who want to be excused. Reasons for being excused include being over 70, having served on a federal jury in the past two years, having no one else to care for young children, serving as a volunteer with a public safety agency or having a business that would fold if the juror served. Those not excused will then fill out a second questionnaire asking specifically about the Roof case, a questionnaire the judge has sealed. Once a pool of 700 jurors has filled out the questionnaires they will return Nov. 7 to be individually questioned by the judge. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24 -- A 20-year-old suspect was arrested Saturday night for his role in a mall shooting in the U.S. Pacific northwest state of Washington. Washington State Patrol posted a message on Twitter: "gunman captured tonight by authorities, details forthcoming." KING-TV in Seattle reported that the man was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, about 47 km southwest of Burlington, where the incident on Friday night killed 5 victims. The fatalities, initially four women at the makeup department of Macy's department store, one of some 50 vendors at Cascade Mall, were revised Saturday morning to include a male who did not survive life-threatening injuries sustained in the incident. Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with state patrol, described the suspect as a "Hispanic male wearing grey" Friday night. However, the identity of the suspect in custody less than 24 hours after the shooting is not immediately available. Security camera images showing the shooter entering the mall apparently without a weapon and then holding a rifle in front of a store were posted by authorities in an effort to seek public help to hunt down the suspect. The Latest: Mall suspect 'creepy, rude and obnoxious' BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) The Latest on a deadly mall shooting in Washington state (all times local): 2:15 p.m. A neighbor and high school acquaintance of the suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting says he was "creepy, rude and obnoxious." 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) Amber Cathey, 21, lives in an apartment in Oak Harbor, Washington, next to the apartment where 20-year-old Arcan Cetin lived and told The Associated Press she was so frightened by him that she complained to apartment management and kept a Taser by her front door. She says she tried avoid him by walking the long way around to her apartment if she saw his car in parking lot. Cathey says she blocked him on Snapchat after he sent her a photo of his crotch. The two went to high school together, where Cathey says Cetin displayed "socially inept" behavior. Cetin was arrested Saturday following the shootings Friday in Burlington, Washington, that left five dead. __ 12:55 p.m. Social media accounts apparently belonging to Arcan Cetin, the suspect in the Washington state mall shootings that left five dead, show he had a fondness for the military and video games. A Twitter account shows, among other things, various selfies, throwback photos of the 20-year-old in younger years, that he once participated in paint ball and that he "can't wait for Halo 5," the popular first-person shooter video game. He also Tweeted "Shout out to the ROTC peeps." A Facebook account showed he liked military-related sites. Oak Harbor, where Cetin lived, is a city of 22,000. Many military families make their home in the city as Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is nearby. Oak Harbor is about 30 miles west of Burlington, where the Friday shootings happened. __ 11:00 a.m. Authorities are searching an apartment connected to the suspect of the deadly Washington state mall shootings and interviewing relatives. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis said Sunday morning in addition to going through the Oak Harbor residence tied to 20-year-old Arcan Cetin investigators are searching his vehicle. Francis said authorities don't yet know who is on the apartment lease or how long Cetin may have lived there. Cetin was arrested Saturday evening in Oak Harbor. Authorities say a gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. ___ 8:50 a.m. Authorities say one of the five victims in the deadly Washington state mall shooting was a probation officer. The Snohomish County District Court in a statement identified Belinda Galde as an employee with the court since 1989. The statement says the 64-year-old Galde "was an amazingly kind and caring individual" who helped thousands of probationers find a better way to live. Police arrested 20-year-old Arcan Cetin on Saturday following Friday's shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, north of Seattle, that left five people dead. ___ 12:21 a.m. 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) 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 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) Jordan's king re-appoints prime minister to new term AMMAN, Jordan (AP) Jordan's King Abdullah II has re-appointed his prime minister in what is largely a formality following Sept. 20 parliamentary elections. In a letter of designation from the king, Hani al-Mulki was asked to form a new government. Earlier Sunday, al-Mulki had tendered his resignation with the expiration his 28-member Cabinet's mandate. The king asked the resigning ministers to stay on until a new government is formed. Al-Mulki and his Cabinet were sworn in as a caretaker government on May 31 to oversee the parliamentary elections. He replaced the government of Abdullah Ensour, who served for four years. Clinton team hopes 'birther' flap will motivate black voters DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Democrats wasted no time looking for political opportunity after Donald Trump falsely accused Hillary Clinton of starting the rumor that President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. Just hours later, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York was on Philadelphia R&B station, WDAS, critiquing Trump's behavior. Days later Clinton's North Carolina state organizers met in Raleigh, in part to chart how to use negative reaction to Trump's statement to motivate the state's disproportionately high black voting bloc to turn out. And Clinton's team welcomed Georgia Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights activist, to a Philadelphia voter registration event where he railed against Trump's claim. Polls suggest Clinton can count on an overwhelming percentage of support from African-Americans. But she can't necessarily count on them to vote. "If they feel like they have the African-American community locked up, they should be very, very careful about making that assumption," Sara Lomax Reese, president of Philadelphia's independent black radio station WURD, said of Clinton and her team. One of the biggest questions of the 2016 election is whether African-American voters will turn out for Clinton as they did for the first black president. They voted at a historic level in 2008 and an unexpectedly high rate in 2012. Also to be seen is how political consequences play out over tensions between majority-white police departments and black communities, stirred by police shootings of African-Americans and ensuing unrest. Saturday marked the fifth day of rallies in Charlotte, North Carolina, since a black man was shot by police earlier in the week. Violence peaked Wednesday before the National Guard was called in the next day to maintain order. Trump this month put to rest the myth he had peddled for years that Obama might have been born outside the U.S. But in the same breath, he said Clinton started it. In fact, she steered clear of the conspiracy theory when it bubbled up in the 2008 primary campaign and disregarded advice from her pollster to contrast her American roots favorably with Obama's. Although Clinton campaign aides said the birther issue would stay at the forefront in outreach to African-Americans and undecided voters, they declined to say whether they expected to run TV ads about it. The campaign did produce an online ad that could convert to a television spot. Former Obama campaign pollster Paul Harstad said the added pressure, if kept up, could make a difference in competitive states with large segments of black voters. "Trump further alienates blacks and gives them marginally more motivation to turn out, which could be a significant factor in close states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina or Georgia," he said. It's hard to know whether it's worth spending the money to advertise about the issue because it's uncharted territory, said University of Florida voter statistician Mike McDonald. "Romney and McCain didn't go there," McDonald said, referring to the two previous GOP presidential nominees who didn't question Obama's birthplace. Seven in 10 blacks nationally say they would be afraid if Trump is elected, compared with 56 of all likely voters nationwide, in an Associated Press-GfK Poll taken Sept. 15-19. About two-thirds of African-Americans would be excited if Clinton is elected president, twice the percentage of all likely voters. MIT's flea market specializes in rare, obscure electronics CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) Once a month in the summer, a small parking lot on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's campus transforms into a high-tech flea market known for its outlandish offerings. Tables overflow with antique radio equipment, some of it a century old. Visitors can buy a telescope that's the size of a cannon. One man has hauled in a NASA space capsule he owns. It's known as Swapfest, a place where tinkerers from across New England go to buy and sell the gadgets they can't find in stores. Some arrive searching for parts to build robots. Others are amateur radio enthusiasts adding to their collections. For some, it's simply an outdoor museum of the strange and surprising. "You can pretty much find all things nerdly," said Steve Finberg, an MIT alumnus and longtime organizer, who arrives every month wearing a cowboy hat and a bushy beard. "The flea is where you go to buy the stuff you didn't know you needed." In this Sept. 18, 2016, photo, Joel Goldberg, of Newton, Mass., browses MIT's Radio Society flea market on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Every third Sunday, MIT's Radio Society hosts a parking-lot flea market that's part yard sale and part curio museum from the world of electronics. Vendors come to hawk radio equipment, but also vintage Macintosh computers, castaway musical instruments, baubles of all kinds and the occasional space capsule. The storied market is part of a circuit of flea markets hosted by radio clubs across New England, but this one is known for attracting the strangest of wares. (AP Photo/Collin Binkley) The event started 30 years ago as a campus fundraiser for student radio clubs at MIT. It still supports those groups, but it's grown far bigger. Sellers now drive from hours away to hawk their goods, some arriving the night before to claim marquee spots for their tables. Hundreds of shoppers come to browse every month. New England hosts other flea markets with a high-tech spin, but this one has a reputation for drawing the rare and obscure. Some credit it to the market's location, surrounded by MIT and technology companies around Boston, whose retired equipment sometimes filters down to the sale tables. "It's the high-tech community in Boston that makes it unique," said Finberg, who's also an engineer at an MIT-affiliated research lab. "People will bring surplus runs from production at some facility which dumped a project, and you'll find resistors that cost big bucks being sold for a dime apiece." Some of the vendors are professionals, there to buy and sell electronics for a living. Others are amateurs, mostly there to clear out their garages. They all get the same warning: It's considered taboo to sell furniture, clothes or other typical yard-sale fare. The Swapfest has a charter explicitly barring it from becoming a general flea market. Since the beginning, the event been held the third Sunday of the month, from April through October. Its tables fill a surface lot next to an MIT power plant, with dozens more in a nearby parking garage. Among the crowd last Sunday were Neel Shah and Sasha Berisheva, two juniors at Northeastern University who are building a car that runs on chemical reactions. It's part of an annual competition at their university, and they came to rummage through boxes of electronic baubles, hoping to find capacitors for their project. David Purrington brought his 10-year-old son, Alec, to check out radio gear, a shared hobby between the father and son from Needham, Massachusetts. "My dad has gotten me into ham radio," Alec said, adding that he was in good company at the sale. "I would definitely call this a geekfest." Among the items for sale at the latest gathering: an ultrasound machine, like those used to capture images of unborn infants, and a dish antenna, said to be plucked from a 1960s fighter jet. One man, Tom Perera, routinely brings his collection of Engima machines, the ciphering devices that Germans used to pass coded messages in World War II. Chuck Ochs has been a regular seller since 1991, stacking his table high with vintage radios and electronic testing equipment. His rarest item up for sale last week was a Crosley Model 51 radio from 1921, going for $100. Over the years, Ochs has taken his collection to dozens of other sales, but he says none quite compare to MIT's flea. "A lot of this stuff was thousands and thousands of dollars when it came out," said Ochs, of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. "If it exists in the city, this is where you'll see it." In this Sept. 18, 2016, photo, vendor Chuck Ochs shows a 1921 Crosley Model 51 radio, priced at $100, at MIT's Radio Society flea market on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Every third Sunday, MIT's Radio Society hosts a parking-lot flea market that's part yard sale and part curio museum from the world of electronics. Vendors come to hawk radio equipment, but also vintage Macintosh computers, castaway musical instruments, baubles of all kinds and the occasional space capsule. (AP Photo/Collin Binkley) In this Sept. 18, 2016, photo, a photo slide Magic Lantern projector, circa 1930, is displayed at MIT's Radio Society flea market on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Every third Sunday, MIT's Radio Society hosts a parking-lot flea market that's part yard sale and part curio museum from the world of electronics. Vendors come to hawk radio equipment, but also vintage Macintosh computers, castaway musical instruments, baubles of all kinds and the occasional space capsule. The storied market is part of a circuit of flea markets hosted by radio clubs across New England, but this one is known for attracting the strangest of wares. (AP Photo/Collin Binkley) In this Sept. 18, 2016, photo, a vintage electronic voltmeter/ohmmeter, circa 1960, is displayed at MIT's Radio Society flea market on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Every third Sunday, MIT's Radio Society hosts a parking-lot flea market that's part yard sale and part curio museum from the world of electronics. Vendors come to hawk radio equipment, but also vintage Macintosh computers, castaway musical instruments, baubles of all kinds and the occasional space capsule. The storied market is part of a circuit of flea markets hosted by radio clubs across New England, but this one is known for attracting the strangest of wares. (AP Photo/Collin Binkley) Just say no to Narcan? Heroin rescue efforts draw backlash CINCINNATI (AP) First responders in U.S. communities reeling from waves of heroin overdoses say some people tell them they should just say no to using so many resources on drug abusers. Authorities say people have expressed frustration about rescuing addicts who often immediately resume using the potentially deadly drug. There are also concerns voiced about the wide-ranging social and government budget costs involved, including for the overdose antidote naloxone. Some signs of heroin overdose backlash: FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Christel Brooks, of Cincinnati, wipes a tear as she speaks to the media as heroin awareness and advocacy groups rally on the steps of the Hamilton County Justice Center to demand action after a wave of overdoses hit the region. Along with the tireless efforts by Ohio first responders to save heroin users, an increasing challenge with more powerful drugs showing up, some backlash is also showing up from people who question the resources being used to revive overdosed users and to try to get them into treatment. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Gov. Paul LePage in hard-hit Maine vetoed legislation this year to expand access to naloxone, usually under the brand name Narcan. He has explained that when people are receiving a dozen or more doses, they should start having to pay for it. The Legislature overrode his veto. An effort by authorities in Ohio's Hamilton County to get a dangerous heroin batch off the streets by offering immunity for people who turn in drugs drew a rebuke from Sheriff Richard Jones in neighboring Butler County, who argued it only enables dealers and users and gives them an excuse if they are caught. A police photo of a grandmother and her boyfriend unconscious after overdosing with a 4-year-old boy in their car went viral this month after the police department in Ohio's East Liverpool posted it on Facebook, drawing thousands of comments including from people decrying lenience toward users who endanger children or steal to support their habits. A retired attorney wrote an op-ed column in The Cincinnati Enquirer examining the costs of treating heroin addiction, the strain on public resources and the rise in "drugged driving" accidents as he urged aggressive punishment. "What social policy is advanced by subsidizing recklessness?" John M. Kunst Jr., of suburban Cincinnati, wrote earlier this year. "Why do we excuse and enable addiction?" "I understand the frustration," said Police Chief Thomas Synan Jr. of Newtown, Ohio, who heads a Cincinnati-area heroin coalition task force. "I understand the feeling that someone is doing something to themselves, so why do the rest of us have to pay? But our job is to save lives, period." He started hearing more of the frustration amid an overdose spike in the Cincinnati area that saw 174 reported overdoses within six days last month. And the outbreaks continue, with seven overdose deaths Saturday in the Cleveland area. Synan said unlike with repeat heroin overdosers, he has never had members of the public say he shouldn't try to save a habitual drunk driver after an auto accident or someone who has repeatedly attempted suicide. Marion, Ohio, Fire Capt. Wade Ralph said heroin has an "extremely expensive" toll on his department, struggling to keep up while being understaffed and relying on donations from health organizations for naloxone to revive those who overdose. "There's a human factor to that that some people, I think, just forget about or maybe they ignore it and say, 'Hey screw it, let them die.' I'm like, you can't do that. We have people here, we have guys at the firehouse, whose kids have been hooked on stuff like that," said Ralph, whose city of some 37,000 people was hit last year by 30 overdose hospitalizations and two deaths in a 12-day stretch. In the Cincinnati area, first responders have held the death toll to what appears to be low double digits, pending lab results. The spreading practice of mixing heroin with the powerful painkiller fentanyl or with carfentanil, so strong it's used to tranquilize elephants, has resulted in frequent needs for multiple doses of naloxone. "If they weren't doing their job, they'd all be dead," said Christel Brooks, a recovering addict in Cincinnati who said she's been clean for 12 years now. She said the problem is lack of treatment facilities and other resources for intervention before rescued addicts resume drug use. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Fire Chief Jay Delaney wrote this year to federal and state lawmakers for funding for the naloxone, expecting to administer doses this year worth about $10,000 to $11,000 at $40 each. "Whether a firefighter is saving one from a burning building or administering Narcan, you're still saving that human being's life, so that's a big deal to us," said Delaney, whose department has received grant money this year but needs a steady funding answer. "We never thought ... that we would have so many that we would have to deal with so it became a funding crisis." Lawrence, Massachusetts, police last week released cellphone video of an overdosed mother lying in a store aisle while her toddler daughter tried to revive her before paramedics arrived and did so. Family Dollar clerk Nicaurys Anziani, who called 911, told The Eagle-Tribune newspaper she felt terrible for the little girl, who "was just crying and crying and crying." Police said they hoped sharing the video will alert people to the consequences of drug use that they see on the front lines, as East Liverpool police explained about their photo of the overdosed couple with a child. Ron Calhoun, an anti-drug activist in northern Kentucky, disputes suggestions he hears often that reviving people with naloxone is enabling heroin use. "The only thing Narcan enables is breathing," he responds. "We just want to keep them alive and get them into treatment." He said one young woman he knows had been revived 15 times with naloxone. "And today, she's in rehab," Calhoun said. "Corpses don't do well in rehab." ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press writer Kantele Franko in Columbus, AP photographer John Minchillo in Cincinnati, and AP researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York. FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Carol DeMoss holds a sign as heroin awareness and advocacy groups in Cincinnati rally on the steps of the Hamilton County Justice Center to demand action after a wave of overdoses hit the region. Along with the tireless efforts by Ohio first responders to save heroin users, an increasing challenge with more powerful drugs showing up, some backlash is also showing up from people who question the resources being used to revive overdosed users and to try to get them into treatment. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, a detainee bangs on the window of his cell as heroin awareness and advocacy groups rally on the steps of the Hamilton County Justice Center to demand action after a wave of overdoses hit the region. Along with the tireless efforts by Ohio first responders to save heroin users, an increasing challenge with more powerful drugs showing up, some backlash is also showing up from people who question the resources being used to revive overdosed users and to try to get them into treatment. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Officers hoof it in 'hotspots' to bridge community divisions NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP) Two officers wearing bulletproof vests walk block after block through one of the toughest neighborhoods of this small city that has earned an oversized reputation for violence, with 55 shootings last year. Nearly every third house they pass is boarded up. Others are strewn with trash. Some young men sitting on stoops give hard stares. But the officers keep moving, talking to dozens of residents as they pass. "Where've you been? I've been worried about you." ''What's up, man?" ''Did you go to school today?" In this Sept. 15, 2016, photo, Newburgh Police Officers Jeff Perez, left, and Chris Tabachnick talk outside a convenience store in Newburgh, N.Y., near the end of a foot patrol. New York is funding foot patrols in crime hotspots around the state with an emphasis on procedural justice, where interactions are respectful and meant to be perceived as fair. Its part of an effort to cross a national divide between poor urban communities and law officers suspected of picking unfairly on minorities. (AP Photo/Michael Virtanen) Older residents seem happy to see them. Some ask them to stick around. Young children, herded by their mothers, wave and smile. "You get more by being friendly than by being miserable," Officer Jeff Perez said. Newburgh's push to exit squad cars for more frequent foot patrols is part of an effort in the state's violent crime hotspots to bridge the divide between poor urban communities and law officers suspected of picking unfairly on minorities. And it comes at a time when police killings of minority suspects anywhere most recently in Columbus, Ohio; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Charlotte, North Carolina have the ability to create tensions on the street everywhere. "It's affecting us. Things halfway across the country. It's crazy," said Officer Chris Tabachnick, Perez's partner on the foot patrol. The foot patrols were done in pairs for safety, even before recent events, Lt. Richard Carrion said. "There was a time in society they were hurting themselves and we were just the police," Perez said. "In this day in society, police are targets." With about 28,000 people in nearly 4 square miles, this city 70 miles north of New York City consistently has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the state. Including the 55 shootings, it recorded four murders, 19 rapes, 128 robberies and 261 aggravated assaults last year. Newburgh's 85-officer department shared a small part of the state's $13.2 million grants this year aimed at reducing violent crime, money that went to 20 police departments in 17 counties. One key emphasis of the 3-year-old program is ensuring that interactions between officers and individuals are respectful, fair and perceived that way. "It's the face-to-face contact, meeting people as people on equal terms," said Michael Green, executive deputy commissioner of the state's Division of Criminal Justice Services, which administers the grants. "It's hard to do that with a police car." At a bodega at the end of their route, Tabachnick pointed out a man whose brother was killed in a confrontation with police a few years ago and threatened revenge. And there was another who had been shot at but refused to say anything to police because he is skeptical of them. Larry Williams, a retired warehouse worker sitting on a stoop by his house, bantered with Perez, who met him with a fist bump. "I enjoy them," he said of the officers. "I don't know about the rest of the people." Patrolling chronic "hotspots" is one of four "evidence-based approaches" the grants fund, this one aimed building trust in communities where the large majority of people aren't criminals, Green said. Another is "focused deterrence," putting more attention on chronic offenders. Some past approaches, such as "zero tolerance" for minor violations, had unintended consequences of making some people in high-crime communities feel police were just looking for an excuse to pick on them. While the results in Newburgh will take time to determine, they are already clear elsewhere, according to David Kennedy, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He heads the National Network for Safe Communities, working with Newburgh and other cities to reduce gun violence and homicides through specific strategies with statistical backing. "We know in a very solid way ... as perceptions of legitimacy, especially the legitimacy of the police, go down, particularly in troubled neighborhoods, crime, including violent crime, goes up," Kennedy said. "That is a measureable and measured phenomenon." Kennedy said most violent crime is caused by less than 1 percent of people in chronic hotspots, particular street corners and blocks, not whole neighborhoods, where most people believe in the law. In gas drilling country, the honeymoon is over on royalties WYALUSING, Pa. (AP) Jan Brown pores over his royalty statement and wonders where all the money went. A few months ago, the nation's second-largest natural gas producer siphoned $2,201 worth of gas from his 240-acre property but paid him only $359 after taking deductions for transportation and processing. Brown, 59, who relies on the royalties as his sole source of income, says the deductions are outrageous and claims his lease forbids them. He feels cheated and duped. In this Sept. 15, 2016, photo, Jan Brown looks over a royalty statement at his home in Wyalusing, Pa. Brown and other landowners with natural gas wells contend that gas companies are ripping them off by taking improper deductions from their royalty checks. The drilling industry says the deductions are proper. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam) In Pennsylvania and other leading gas-producing states, a battle royal has developed over royalties, with landowners bitterly disputing the sums that some drillers have been taking from royalty checks already severely diminished by a collapse in prices. Chesapeake Energy Corp. alone is facing royalty lawsuits in Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Pennsylvania including one filed by the Pennsylvania attorney general and says it has received subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Service and states over its royalty practices. The deductions' impact is especially acute in Pennsylvania, where gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale, the nation's largest natural gas field, has been selling at a steeper discount than anywhere else in the country. Some landowners have seen their royalty checks dwindle to nothing at all, despite a 1979 state law that mandates a landowner royalty of at least 12.5 percent of the value of the gas. In rare cases, landowners have even gotten statements with negative balances. "This is robbery," declared Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko, an ardent supporter of gas drilling who has nevertheless found himself at war with the industry. "People up here are fighting mad." Energy companies have sunk more than 1,000 wells in McLinko's rural county since 2009. In the early years of the fracking boom, royalties could amount to tens of thousands of dollars per month. The money helped save many family farms. Then prices tumbled, the wells began producing less gas as they aged and residents began taking a closer look at their drastically shrunken checks. Many of them didn't like what they saw: huge deductions for the cost of getting the gas from well to market. Charlene and John Tewksbury, who own a dairy farm, said that for every $1.20 their gas fetched this year, Chesapeake has been taking about $1.15 in deductions. They figure the deductions have totaled $277,000 since their wells began producing gas in 2011 cash they want back. "It's a lot of money. It could have done something in this state, but, instead, Chesapeake kept it," Charlene Tewksbury said. Chesapeake did not answer questions from The Associated Press about its practice of taking deductions, but said in a statement it has been working with the Pennsylvania attorney general's office and class-action plaintiffs on a "global resolution" of the royalty dispute. A mediation session is scheduled for Oct. 25. The disagreement centers on how the gas should be valued for royalty purposes. Landowners contend they're entitled to 12.5 percent of whatever the gas sells for, citing the state's minimum royalty law and the gas companies' own sales pitches that induced landowners to sign drilling leases. Drillers say the royalty is properly calculated based on the market price, less post-production deductions for transportation and processing, a method permitted in most states. In 2010, the state Supreme Court sided with the gas companies but also noted that state lawmakers are "best suited" to deciding how the royalties should be paid. Lawmakers have scheduled a procedural vote Tuesday on a bill in the state House that would prevent deductions from reducing landowner royalties to below the 12.5 percent state minimum. The gas industry has been lobbying against it, asserting it would unconstitutionally interfere with tens of thousands of existing private contracts. Any contractual disputes should be decided in the courts, not through legislation, the drillers argue. "We understand and share the frustration being voiced by some mineral owners," Marcellus Shale Coalition spokeswoman Erica Clayton Wright said in a statement, but added that landowners and drillers both "share in the success and challenges that the market brings." With deductions now reducing landowners' royalty payments by 80 or 90 percent or more the issue has reached a boil. Brown, the landowner, produced a statement showing that Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake paid an effective royalty rate of just 2 percent while another company that owns a portion of his lease, Statoil, took no deductions at all and gave him the full 12.5 percent. He said he recently called Chesapeake and told them to take his wells offline. A former USA Gymnastics team physician accused of sexually abusing two gymnasts is facing 16 more abuse complaints at the university where he was a faculty member, according to a newspaper report on Sunday. Police in Michigan are also reviewing allegations from 2004 and another from 2014, meaning there are at least 20 complaints overall against Dr Larry Nassar. The complaints against Nassar date back to 1996, according to Michigan State University police logs obtained by The Indianapolis Star. Former USA Gymnastics team physician Dr Larry Nassar is accused of sexually abusing four gymnasts faces 16 more abuse complaints at the university where he was a faculty member The women ranged from 13 to 20 years old when the alleged abuse began, according to the newspaper. Four of the women who filed reports with Michigan State University police told the newspaper that Nassar allegedly penetrated them with his finger during what were supposed to be medical treatments. Bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and gymnast Rachael Denhollander (pictured) has also launched a claim against Nassar saying he abused her Nassar hasn't been charged with a crime and denies wrongdoing. His attorneys, Matthew Newburg and Shannon Smith, said the doctor had used a legitimate medical procedure. Police logs for 16 complaints show the alleged abuse occurred at the MSU sports medicine clinic, where Nassar worked. All of the reports were filed in September. Nassar was fired from the university last week for not complying with 'certain employment requirements,' according to a university spokesman. Michigan State authorities have said they're devoting significant resources to reviewing the accusations. One woman said she filed a complaint when she was 16 after seeing Nassar in 2004. That woman said Nassar applied pressure to her back so intense it made her wince. He then told her he wanted to try something to alleviate the pain. She claims Nassar then put a finger at the entrance of her vagina and put another hand on her breast. She said she had a tampon in at the time, according to IndyStar. 'I think I was just in shock,' she recalled, 'and I just froze.' She was later told by friends she should report the interaction. Bronze medalist from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and gymnast Rachael Denhollander has launched a claim against last month Nassar saying he abused her. Additionally, police in Michigan are reviewing two earlier allegations about Nassar from 2004 and 2014, meaning there are at least 20 complaints overall The women ranged from 13 to 20 years old when the alleged abuse began, according to the newspaper (Nassar pictured, center) She said he assaulted her five times while she was being treated for back pain at Michigan State University by the doctor, as a teenage athlete in 2000. Denhollander said she was 'terrified' by Nassar's abuse, NY Daily News reports. 'I was ashamed,' she said. 'I was very embarrassed. And I was very confused, trying to reconcile what was happening with the person he was supposed to be,' she said. 'He's this famous team doctor. He's trusted by my friends. He's trusted by these other gymnasts. How could he reach this position in the medical profession? How could he reach this kind of prominence and stature if this is who he is?' Denhollander said she was just 15 at the time of the abuse which took place while her mother was in the room. But she said the doctor positioned himself in such a way that her mother was unable to see what was going on. Both women say Nassar fondled their genitals and breasts during treatment. One woman claimed the the abuse from Nassar became more intense over time. The IndyStar reported that the woman claims Nassar 'massaged her genitals, penetrated her vagina and anus with his finger and thumb' and unhooked her bra to massage her breasts. University officials said earlier this month that Nassar was investigated in 2014 when a graduate of the school filed a complaint. An administrative investigation found no violation of school policy, and the local prosecutor's office did not file charges after an investigation by MSU police. In September, Nassar was accused of sexually groping and fondling an Olympic gymnast in a lawsuit filed in California. Clinton, Trump buff foreign policy bona fides on debate eve NEW YORK (AP) Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were meeting separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday, giving each candidate fresh foreign policy talking points on the eve of their first presidential debate. Clinton met Sunday evening with Netanyahu for less than an hour in Manhattan, according to Clinton campaign officials. Her meeting came after Trump sat down with the prime minister at his residence in Trump Tower in the morning, Israeli and Trump campaign officials said. Reporters were barred from covering either meeting. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives for a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Clintons' campaign said in a statement that the two had an "in-depth conversation." She stressed that "a strong and secure Israel is vital to the United States" and "reaffirmed unwavering commitment" to the relationship. According to her campaign, Clinton stressed her support for the 10-year, $38 billion military aid package signed between the two countries earlier the month and opposition to efforts to boycott Israel. They also discussed Iran, the conflict in Syria and other regional challenges, including her support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict negotiated by the two parties not an outside organization like the U.N. Security Council. Trump and Netanyahu discussed "at length" Israel's use of a fence to help secure its borders, an example Trump frequently cites when he's talking about the wall he wants to build between the U.S. and Mexico. "Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism," the campaign said in a statement. "He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State." The meeting was designed to put Israel on good footing with the next U.S. president. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. But it also served to showcase the candidates' expertise in foreign policy in the shadow of their first debate Monday, six weeks before Election Day. Clinton, a former senator and secretary of state, often says that Trump does not know enough about the world and lacks the temperament to be president. Trump has argued that he has extensive experience with foreign policy through his career as a business executive and blames Clinton for many of the nation's stumbles in foreign policy. Meanwhile, the candidates deployed their top supporters to the Sunday shows to take early jabs at their opponents and lower expectations for a showdown expected to draw 75 million viewers many of them disenchanted with both candidates, the least-popular presidential hopefuls in history. Facts and who will determine them during the 90-minute debate seemed to be a top concern of the campaigns' strategists given Trump's habit of saying things that are untrue and the public's general distrust of Clinton. Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, told ABC's "This Week" that he is concerned Trump will continue his habit of sometimes saying things that aren't true and still get a passing grade. He called on moderator Lester Holt to correct any inaccuracies made by the candidates. But Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said it's not the job of debate moderators to fact check. Trump's vice presidential running mate, Mike Pence, meanwhile, said that Gennifer Flowers will not attend the debate. Trump had tweeted that if frequent Trump critic Mark Cuban attended the showdown, he'd put Flowers, allegedly the former mistress of Clinton's husband, Bill, in the audience too. Conway said that Flowers had a right to be there if "somebody else gives her a ticket." But Pence drew a harder line. "Gennifer Flowers will not be attending the debate tomorrow night," Pence said on "Fox News Sunday." Conway on ABC defended the tweet, saying Trump "wants to remind people that he's a great counterpuncher." The candidate was focused on other matters Sunday. Trump's campaign said that during his meeting with Netanyahu, the Republican presidential nominee promised, "extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries" if he's elected. The press was barred from covering the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, but Trump's campaign said in a statement that the men, who have known each other for years, discussed "many topics important to both countries," including "the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries." Among those topics: the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Islamic State militants, military assistance provided by the U.S. to Israel and other security issues. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Thomas in New York and Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed to this report. __ On Twitter, follow Lerer at https://twitter.com/llerer , Colvin at https://twitter.com/colvinj and Thomas at https://twitter.com/KThomasDC . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves in his vehicle after a meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) New York City police officers move journalists and pedestrians away from Trump Tower during a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Security personnel stand outside Trump Tower during a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) All those cars on California's famously gridlocked highways could be doing more than just using energy - they could be producing it. The California Energy Commission is investing $2 million to study whether piezoelectric crystals can be used to produce electricity from the mechanical energy created by vehicles driving on roads. The commission is in the process of choosing a company or university to take on small-scale field tests. It will study how the small crystals, which generate energy when compressed, could produce electricity for the grid if installed under asphalt. California's traffic-locked roads are being considered for their potential to serve a new purpose as clear power producers. After several years studying the technology, the California Energy Commission is soliciting companies and universities to create small-scale field tests to investigate whether the waste energy created by vehicles, and passed onto roads when driving, could be captured and turned into electricity. HOW IT WILL WORK The commission is in the process of choosing a company or university to take on small-scale field tests. It will study how the small crystals, which generate energy when compressed, could produce electricity for the grid if installed under asphalt. Scientists already know the technology works, but the state needs to figure out whether it can produce high returns without costing too much. Advertisement Scientists already know the technology works, but the state needs to figure out whether it can produce high returns without costing too much. Similar projects in other parts of the world have been discontinued. 'It's not hard to see the opportunity in California,' said Mike Gravely, the commission's deputy division chief of energy research and development. 'It's an energy that's created but is just currently lost in vibration.' Scientists say it's a matter of shifting perceptions. 'No longer is driving just the act of using energy. Maybe it's also part of the process of generating it,' said Paul Bunje, a scientist at a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that funds technological developments and the former founding director of UCLA's Center for Climate Change Solutions. The hope is that the use of clean energy produced by roads will help the state reach its goal of producing 50 percent of California's electricity with renewables by 2030, Gravely said. The state is on target to reach 25 percent by the end of the year, according to the energy commission. Whether the technology can withstand the wear and tear of traffic is something that concerns Joe Mahoney, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. 'One would need to consider which would last longer: the pavement or the devices,' he said, adding highways need to be resurfaced every 10 to 30 years. There is also uncertainty about whether the technology will be competitive enough with other renewables to merit full-scale investment. California's funding to study the technology follows a series of projects in Tokyo, Italy and Israel that appear to have failed or been dropped. Most notably, an Israeli company whose pilot test attracted global attention in 2009 is now in the process of liquidation, and the project was unsuccessful, according to the Israeli roads authority. The company, Innowattech, also had plans to install its devices under a section of Italian highway but pulled out, according to Salini Impregilo, the Italian construction company involved. It was the Israeli project that inspired California lawmaker Mike Gatto, a Los Angeles Democrat, to ask the energy commission to fund pilot projects in California. Gatto submitted a bill to the Assembly in 2011 and has lauded the Israeli project in several news releases since. He told The Associated Press that he didn't know the project apparently failed. 'Hearing these details for the first time obviously, they're not heartening,' Gatto said. 'I don't want anything to be colored by one tiny experiment by one company in a different country.' Gatto said he thinks the technology is still viable. 'It's probably that there are cost issues that might have been present in Israel that might not be present here,' he said. Innowattech data also featured heavily in the commission's feasibility study, published by an energy consulting company in 2014. The study gathered and compared the data available from projects experimenting with the technology at the time. But the commission's Gravely said conclusions were drawn from a range of sources, assuring him the results are reliable. He added he has spoken to several manufacturers within the United States who are eager to explore it. Bunje noted it's not uncommon for a technology's early adopters to fail. 'Innovation comes with risk,' he said. 'There is a general rule that you don't know what is going to work.' Regardless of the risks, it's worth trying new things, he said. The $2 million California is using to test the new technology will come from a renewable investment fund created by the California Public Utilities Commission. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 Trend: Armenias armed forces have 6 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Sept. 25. The Armenian armed forces stationed on Vazashen village of the Ijevan district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gazakh district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Ashagi Seyidahmadli and Garakhanbayli villages of Azerbaijans Fuzuli district. 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. ACLU: Lafayette 'flag desecration' arrest unconstitutional LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana says a man has been unconstitutionally arrested in Lafayette on a charge of desecrating the American flag by setting one afire and tearing up another. Online jail records indicate that 57-year-old Charri Mohamad was held Sunday on charges of flag desecration and entering or refusing to leave a place where he'd been forbidden. Police arrested him Thursday after a complaint that surveillance video showed him setting an American flag on fire and tossing it near a pile of lumber behind a business on Sept. 19, KLFY-TV reported (http://bit.ly/2d1DrYb). Police said video from another surveillance camera showed the same man tearing up another flag in front of the business. The fire did not spread and there was no property damage, according to the arrest report. "While Mohamad's actions may seem distasteful to some, they are not illegal," the ACLU said in a news release. "No one should be arrested for exercising their First Amendment rights." The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal flag protection law in 1990 and, in 1991, did the same to a Texas law that made it illegal to burn or otherwise destroy a flag, wrote Marjorie Esman, executive director for ACLU of Louisiana. The later ruling also invalidated similar laws in 47 other states, she said. Lafayette police didn't respond to an email Sunday requesting comment. It wasn't clear whether Mohamad has an attorney. The ACLU's news release responded to news reports. ___ Larissa beats Olympiakos 1-0 with injury-time goal ATHENS, Greece (AP) Defending champion Olympiakos stumbled Sunday when defender Luca Milivojevic scored an own-goal in injury time to give Greek league newcomer Larissa a 1-0 victory. A sturdy Larissa defense restricted Olympiakos' chances and the hosts looked more likely to score in the closing minutes. Larissa finally got its chance two minutes into injury time when Milivojevic, trying to block a shot, deflected the ball into the net. Panathinaikos and Platanias, which both played to away scoreless draws Saturday against Panetolikos and Giannena respectively, top the league standings. The leaders are a point ahead of Olympiakos, Panionios which lost 2-1 at home to Veria on Saturday and AEK Athens. But AEK can go top Monday when it hosts Iraklis. The Latest: 3 in custody in California triple slaying FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) The Latest on the investigation into a triple homicide at a Southern California home (all times local): 4:45 p.m. Police have arrested two men and detained a 17-year-old girl in connection with the killing of three people inside a Southern California home over the weekend. Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus would not say if the arrested teen was the missing daughter of two of the victims. He did say she has been located since authorities issued an alert looking for her. The investigation into the triple homicide began Saturday morning after a child called 911 to report her parents had died. Officers who went to the home discovered two men and a woman dead with signs of trauma to their bodies. Two girls, age 6 and 9, were found unharmed inside the home. Radus identified the victims as the girls' parents and a family friend. Two male suspects were arrested Sunday morning on suspicion of murder. Radus did not disclose a motive for the killings but says investigators believe the victims were targeted by the suspects. ___ 3:25 p.m. Police are expected to release details of their investigation into a triple homicide inside a Southern California home over the weekend. The Fullerton Police Department will hold a 4 p.m. news conference Sunday to discuss the probe which began after a child called 911 to report her parents had died. First responders who were dispatched to the home in Fullerton, a suburb 26 miles southeast of Los Angeles, on Saturday discovered two men and a woman dead. Two children were found unharmed, and police were searching for their 17-year-old sister who is considered missing and at-risk. Brazilian city council candidate shot dead at Rio rally RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazilian police say gunmen have killed a city council candidate as he was leaving a political rally outside Rio de Janeiro. The candidate was 49-year-old Ricardo Guimaraes, a retired police captain who was running for a post on the city council of the poor suburb of Itaborai. Rio police say he was leaving a rally by motorcycle Sunday when he was shot. He was taken to a hospital where he died. Police give no motive for Guimaraes' murder and say officers are hunting for the attackers. At least 13 other city council candidates have been killed in the Rio metropolitan region this year. Drug gangs and fuel theft rings are behind some of the attacks. Change or die, moderates warn Labour Party A string of Labour moderates have lined up to warn that the party could die if it does not change. The warnings came a day after Jeremy Corbyn's re-election as leader, as an ICM opinion poll for The Sun on Sunday put Labour on 26% - its worst standing since 2009 and 15 points adrift of the Conservatives on 41%. Delegates at the party's annual conference in Liverpool waited to see whether any of the MPs who walked out of Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet in June would respond to his calls for unity by agreeing to return to the frontbench. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is interviewed by Andrew Marr for the BBC1 current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show, at the Museum of Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual conference. Mr Corbyn has said he wants to offer an olive branch to his critics after strengthening his mandate with a 62%-38% victory over challenger Owen Smith. But he has set his face against their key demand for MPs to elect the shadow cabinet, and the ruling National Executive Committee kicked the issue into the long grass by agreeing to consider the issue at an awayday on November 22 - long after a possible reshuffle is likely to take place. Mr Corbyn said he believed the "vast majority" of Labour MPs would be safe from deselection in the upcoming shake-up of constituency boundaries, but stopped shortly of promising they will be able to stand. Candidate selection will be a matter for "democratic discussion" by local activists, he said, while his close ally Diane Abbott said the leadership would not intervene in the decisions of constituency parties - some of which have threatened to remove Corbyn critics, like Angela Eagle in Wallasey. Mr Corbyn has been in talks with key backbench figures but has yet to announce any appointments to fill numerous holes in his frontbench team, and shadow chancellor John McDonnell said there may be no changes before MPs return to Westminster next month. Meanwhile, Labour peer Lord Mitchell quit the party, saying it was "very difficult" for Jews who support Israel to remain members after Corbyn's re-election. Defiant moderates attended a packed rally of the Labour First movement to hear warnings that the party's future existence is at risk as well as pleas for centrists to stay and fight rather than quit or defect in protest at Mr Corbyn's re-election. As numbers overfilled the venue, speakers went outside to address crowds spilling out onto the street. Former shadow cabinet minister Vernon Coaker warned: "The political terms of trade in this country are changing. The Labour Party has to change. Our policies have to change. "If we don't change we will die." Hilary Benn, who was sacked as shadow foreign secretary by Mr Corbyn, told the gathering: "Don't be disheartened because in the end the values that bind us together will win." And Ms Eagle, who mounted a brief challenge for the leadership after the revolt within the party's ranks at Parliament, was given a standing ovation as she said she had received 47,000 pieces of abuse simply for changing her Facebook photo. Labour MP Ruth Smeeth, who has been targeted with death threats, said: "If I'm not going anywhere, not one of you gets to go anywhere because we are staying and we are fighting." At a fringe meeting within the conference, former shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy warned that traditional supporters were "moving away" from the party, which risked following the old Liberals into irrelevance if it "stands still while the world around (it) changes". And London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the Sunday Times: "We know from history - the Gang of Four in the 1980s - that when the Labour Party splits, we are out of power for a generation. Now it is far more serious than that. If the Labour Party splits, it could be the end of the Labour Party." Meanwhile, the Labour leader attended a rally of the Momentum organisation set up by his supporters, which is holding a parallel festival near the Liverpool conference with events including film screenings, debates and "poems for Corbyn". Mr Corbyn told supporters of the World Transformed event that their discussions were "absolutely central and mainstream" to the conference. Speaking to BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Corbyn insisted the party was "quite united" on policy, and said it was time to "move on" from the bruising exchanges of the leadership contest. Asked whether he wanted sitting MPs to be reinstated in the upcoming redrawing of boundaries, or if he would prefer a set of candidates with views closer to his own, Mr Corbyn said: "Listen, I wish them well. "The relationship between an MP and their constituency is a complex one, not necessary a policy tick-box exercise. It's also the relationships, the community, the effectiveness of representation. "Let's have a democratic discussion and, I think, the vast majority of MPs will have no problem whatsoever." Shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested that supporters of Mr Corbyn could come to influence the Parliamentary Labour Party even without the threat of sitting MPs facing reselection. He told the Momentum event that the mass movement of new members who had joined Labour were already starting to make their presence felt at local level, which "has caused some elements of consternation because people are anxious about the change". Mr McDonnell added: "You will see it at Parliamentary Labour Party level. This isn't about reselection or anything like that, that's not a threat. "But you will see that permeate." That could be as existing MPs "come to terms with this mass movement that they are now part of - many of them will embrace what's happened" while "over time you will see the representation change as a result of that mass movement coming along". Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls said the party will survive but could end up like a pressure group. He told a conference fringe: "I think the Labour Party will survive but I don't know whether the Labour Party will survive as a party which can realistically attempt to be in government." Officer attacks politicians over funding cuts and 'hollow' praise Politicians should offer more than "apparent hollow words" in their praise of the police, a serving officer has said as he called for an end to funding cuts. Angus Morrison, a temporary detective sergeant with Police Scotland, spoke as he attended an annual service commemorating officers killed in the line of duty. Around 2,000 people including relatives of those who have died as well as the Prince of Wales and Home Secretary Amber Rudd, gathered at St Paul's Cathedral in London to honour fallen officers. Lord Mayor of London Jeffrey Mountevans and the Prince of Wales attend National Police Memorial Day Det Sgt Morrison's brother Detective Constable James Morrison of the Met police was killed almost 25 years ago on his way home from work as he cornered a thief. Det Sgt Morrison said action, not words, is required when it comes to officers being able to provide a high level of security across the UK. The 49-year-old spoke out after meeting Ms Rudd, whose department is in charge of policing. He said: "It is greatly appreciated that senior officers, politicians and alike attend to show their support and offer their kind words. "However, this type of event should show them that the police service and its officers deserve more than apparent hollow words. "These cuts are dangerous and increase the risk to those who daily serve the public and, by default, may make the ultimate sacrifice." He said the modern-day threat of terrorism makes it crucial to properly fund police forces. "They can't keep cutting the budgets and expect the same level of policing," he said. He added: "Threats have changed in the 28 years I have been in the police. "Irish terrorism was the issue, but now it's global." Charles, who is patron of National Police Memorial Day, paid tribute to those he said had "paid the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding our families, our communities and our liberty". In the order of service he wrote: "For many of us, the security challenges of today further underscore the importance of the police and their ongoing commitment to protecting us all, despite the inevitable risks that they face on a daily basis." Among those to be specially remembered was Pc Dave Phillips who was knocked down and killed by a teenage car thief in October last year. His eight-year-old daughter Abigail lit a candle to remember the 34-year-old who died after he set down a tyre-puncturing stinger device in a bid to stop a stolen vehicle during a police pursuit in Wallasey, Merseyside. Relatives of other officers killed in the line of duty represented Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as they too lit candles. Prayers were offered by family members including Paul Bone, father of Constable Fiona Bone, who was murdered by one-eyed gangster Dale Cregan four years ago. Svetlana Kuznetsova advances in Wuhan after Belinda Bencic retirement Ninth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was the highest-profile winner on the opening day of the Dongfeng Motors Wuhan Open in China. The Russian was in a winning position at 6-3 3-4 when her Swiss opponent Belinda Bencic pulled out with a lower-back injury and she will now meet Heather Watson or Madison Brengle in the next round. It was not a healthy day for the Swiss as 12th seed Timea Bacsinszky was also forced to withdraw through injury when she was 6-3 4-3 down against grateful opponent Louisa Chirico. Svetlana Kuznetsova came through her opening match at the Wuhan Open after Belinda Bencic retired Roberta Vinci made serene progress against Olympic champion Monica Puig in a 6-3, 6-3 win, Lucie Safarova beat Vavara Lepchenko 7-5 6-3 while Ekaterina Makarova thrashed Sabine Lisicki 6-1 6-2. There were also early first-round wins for Yaroslava Shvedova, Yanina Wickmayer, Laura Siegemund and Irina-Camelia Begu. Fourth-seed Simona Halep, US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova, 11th seed Johanna Konta and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova headline Monday's action, with Konta and Kvitova in first-round action and Halep and Pliskova in the second. New world number one Angelique Kerber begins her tilt at the Premier 5 event on Tuesday. Caroline Wozniacki's resurgence continued as she won her first WTA Tour title since March 2015 by beating Naomi Osaka in the Pan Pacific Open. The former world number one, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open earlier this month, is looking back to her best after an injury-ravaged year and she won 7-5 6-3 to claim a second title in Tokyo and a 24th in her career. Wozniacki beat second seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals and she was in no mood to surrender her favourite tag, crucially breaking at 6-5 in the first set before racing into a 5-0 lead in the second. Highly-rated teenager Osaka, playing on home soil, saved match points to fight back to 5-3 but Wozniacki held on and will now travel to China to play in the Wuhan Open. Lara Arruabarrena also ended a drought for silverware, this time going back to 2012 as she won the Korea Open in Seoul. City chiefs slam PM's Brexit stance Some of the City's biggest hitters have delivered a withering critique of Theresa May's Brexit negotiations ahead of the 100 day anniversary of Britain's decision to quit the European Union. The likes of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and financial PR guru Roland Rudd rubbished the prime minister's oft-used "Brexit means Brexit" catchphrase, while Sir Martin Sorrell has urged the Government to maintain access to the single market. Mr O'Leary also accused the Government of delaying decision-making and warned that investment is being postponed. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary accused the Government of delaying decision-making on Brexit "So far we've had the Government saying 'Brexit means Brexit', which is as clear as mud. Mrs May is kicking this as far down the road as she can. The British want to delay it for as long as they can - but the Government will have to start making decisions. "The impact is beginning to be felt as investment decisions are being already postponed. Whether the UK leaves the EU or stays, I couldn't care less. The issue for us is whether we stay in the single market," he told the Press Association. Ryanair is one of a string of companies, including British Airways and Virgin Group, that have warned of the impact of the referendum result on their business. Mr Rudd, founder and chairman of corporate communications firm Finsbury, wants more clarity on Mrs May's negotiating stance, adding that people are "waking up" to the difficulties involved in leaving the EU. He said: "'Brexit means Brexit' means nothing. After 100 days, we need more clarity about the Government's negotiating position, starting with whether they want us to stay in the single market, which is so vital to so many British businesses. "International partners like Australia and the US have said they will not talk to us about new trade deals until we leave. David Davis has admitted that Britain could end up trading with the EU under WTO rules, which would see exporters facing unnecessary tariffs." Although post-referendum data has shown some resilience in the economy Sir Martin, boss of advertising giant WPP, believes this is a "false dawn". "A couple of months' data, heavily influenced by a short-term spending hike due the weakness of sterling, does not represent firm evidence that fears of economic damage were overblown. The Bank of England's prompt action may also have created a false dawn. "Divorcing Europe could take the best part of a decade, and we won't know the full impact for many years." The chief exec added that he believes growth will slow in the UK, Europe and possibly globally and envisages a long, complex and painful withdrawal from the EU that could see businesses delay or cancel investment decisions. Sir Martin added: "I would like to see the Government prioritise the retention of preferential terms of access to the single market. To lose them would be a huge blow, especially for services." The WPP boss said that he had not given up on the idea of a "Brexit check", either through the next general election or even a second referendum to once again "test the view of the electorate". However, other high profile businessmen have advocated a so-called "hard Brexit", whereby the UK would ditch the single market. The outspoken Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: "We need to restore democracy, which means leaving the single market. As James Dyson has demonstrated, we should say to European negotiators that we're happy to trade with or without tariffs - it's up to them. Ben Needham: police to begin new dig on Kos Police investigating the disappearance of missing toddler Ben Needham will begin excavation work on the Greek island of Kos on Monday in the search for possible remains. Ben's mother Kerry Needham, from Sheffield, has been told to "prepare for the worst" by South Yorkshire Police who suspect he may have died in an accident 25 years ago. The new line of inquiry suggests the 21-month-old may have been crushed to death by a digger near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating in July 1991. Ben Needham disappeared 25 years ago Konstantinos Barkas, also known as Dino, was clearing land with an excavator close to where Ben was playing on the day he vanished and may be responsible for his death, a friend of the builder has reportedly told police. The driver reportedly died of stomach cancer last year, months before detectives from South Yorkshire Police arrived on the island for a renewed investigation. But Mr Barkas's widow Varvara strongly dismissed any suggestions her late husband had killed Ben in an accident. A variety of theories on his fate and reported sightings have arisen since his disappearance and Ms Needham had been holding out hope that she would one day be reunited with her son. South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that its team, led by Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, will begin searching a specific site on Kos, starting on Monday. But they warned progress could be painstaking, with the first dig expected to last up to 12 days. Detectives are said to have carried out initial inquiries at the site, with experts testing soil and surveying the area with drones. Last week, Mr Fenwick said: "There will be planned operational activity at two locations on the island that have been identified as areas of interest to the investigation. "We continue to keep an open mind and have updated Ben's family about certain lines of inquiry we're currently exploring." Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police received extra funding from the Home Office to help in the search for Ben. Ms Needham has been forthright in her support of Mr Fenwick's investigation. In May, she jumped to the defence of the investigation team when they were pictured on the front page of a national newspaper drinking in the sunshine during a visit to Kos. Rail passengers face months of industrial conflict, warns union leader A union leader has warned of months of industrial conflict on the railways as disputes over staffing threaten to cause fresh travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers. Southern Railway travellers will be hit by more disruption because of a series of 14 strikes between October and December in the long running row over the role of conductors. Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), told a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference it was "lunacy" to be cutting staff at a time of record passenger numbers. Southern Railway workers are locked in a long running dispute over the role of conductors To loud applause from a packed meeting, he accused the Department for Transport of trying to push through staffing cuts across the railway industry. "At a time when record numbers of passengers are using the railways, you would think the last thing anyone would do is cut back on staff, but the bean counters at the Treasury and the Department for Transport are doing just that. "Over the next few months there will be a lot of industrial conflict in the railway network. "Unions will be standing shoulder to shoulder against these people who are trying to vandalise our industry." Mick Lynch, assistant general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said a system could quickly be developed to take rail franchises back into public ownership when they expire. "We could take back stations, infrastructure, track and train operating companies as well as freight companies which are struggling because they have to make a profit." Mick Whelan, leader of the train drivers' union Aslef, said: "We believe in booking offices, staff on platforms and at the back and front of trains," adding that passengers and rail workers were losing faith in the industry because of high fares, over-crowded and unreliable services and cuts. Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald, told the meeting the disruption which has affected Southern services for months was "appalling", saying that the Government was quick to blame the unions rather than the management. The re-election of Jeremy Corbyn had boosted the campaign to re-nationalise the railways because he was a strong supporter of publicly-run railways, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.25 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: A day of silence has been announced in Azerbaijan Sept.25 before the referendum on making amendments to the countrys constitution. Holding pre-election campaign on the day of voting and a day before the voting is prohibited, according to the Election Code. According to the calendar plan approved by Azerbaijans Central Election Commission (CEC), the referendum campaign started Sept.3 and ended Sept.25 at 08:00 (UTC/GMT +4 hours). Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree July 18 on submitting the draft Referendum Act On making amendments to Azerbaijans constitution to the Constitutional Court. The referendum will be held Sept.26, 2016. Russia hits back at Johnson 'war crimes' slur Boris Johnson has provoked a furious response from Russia after he said Moscow's forces may be guilty of war crimes in Syria. The Foreign Secretary condemned the "barbaric" bombing of rebel held areas of Aleppo and accused President Vladimir Putin of "protracting" the conflict through his military support for the regime of Bashar al Assad. The Russian Foreign Ministry hit back saying that if anyone was guilty of war crimes, it was British forces in Iraq. The Foreign Secretary said Russian involvement was prolonging the Syrian conflict Appearing on BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Johnson said it was "the right question to ask" whether an air strike last week on a UN aid convoy - widely blamed on Russian warplanes - constituted a war crime. "A war crime is defined as when you attack something, attack a civilian target in the knowledge that it is a civilian target," he said. "Putin's regime is not only as it were handing Assad the revolver. He is in some instances actually firing the revolver himself. The Russians themselves are actually engaged. "We have an absolutely tragic situation now in Aleppo which is being bombed and repeatedly bombed in a way that is absolutely barbaric. They (the Russians) are guilty of protracting this war and making it far more hideous. "I think when it comes to instances such as the bombing of civilian apartments in Aleppo we should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent, wholly innocent civilian targets. That is a war crime." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova retorted that Britain should look to its own record before criticising Russia. "The foreign minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson said in a broadcast of the BBC that Russia is guilty of protracting civil war in Syria and, possibly, of committing war crimes in the form of air attacks on convoys with humanitarian aid," she said. "All this is right except for two words: Instead of 'Russia' it needs to be 'Great Britain' and instead of 'Syria,' 'Iraq.'" Mr Johnson joined the foreign ministers of the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the EU high representative in calling on Russia to take "extraordinary steps" to salvage Syria's shattered "cessation of hostilities" (CoH). Man bailed over claims Pippa Middleton's account was hacked A 35-year-old man who was arrested by police investigating claims that Pippa Middleton's iCloud account was hacked has been bailed. He was arrested at an address in Northamptonshire on Saturday evening on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence but he has since been released pending further inquiries, Scotland Yard said. 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. Pippa acting as bridesmaid to William and Kate Private photographs were said to have been offered to The Sun and Daily Mail newspapers via encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. The Sun said it had been approached by someone using a pseudonym and asking for 50,000 within 48 hours. The alleged theft comes two years after a host of celebrities, including Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence, fell victim to a hacker attack on the iCloud - which stores private photos from phones and computers online - which saw images posted online. 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". Labour must focus on winning power, London Mayor Sadiq Khan to say Labour's big city mayors can show the party the way back into power, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is due to tell its annual conference in Liverpool. In his first conference speech since entering City Hall in May, Mr Khan - tipped as a possible future Labour leader - will warn the party that it must focus its attentions on winning power and insist that settling for opposition "will never, ever be good enough". His comments, which are likely to be seen as a coded criticism of Jeremy Corbyn's left-wing policy agenda, come after a string of senior Labour figures including former cabinet minister Lord Blunkett warned the leader's approach was rendering the party "unelectable" and threatening its future survival. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (left) stops for a selfie as he arrives for the second day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. A clutch of polls released during the four-day conference have put the party's support as low as 26%, with one pollster calculating it could be reduced to fewer than 200 MPs in the House of Commons for the first time since 1935. But shadow chancellor John McDonnell brushed off the gloomy predictions, insisting that Labour is a "government in waiting" and blaming its current slump in the polls on the bruising leadership contest which ended with Mr Corbyn's decisive defeat of challenger Owen Smith on Saturday. Mr Khan - whose election as London mayor gave him the biggest personal mandate of any politician in UK history, with more than 1.1 million votes - will congratulate Mr Corbyn and say that "after the election this summer the leadership of our party is now decided". But he will make clear that Labour must now devote its efforts to seizing national power rather than to internal party power struggles. "It's only with Labour in power that we can create a fairer, more equal and more just Britain," he will warn. "Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough ... The people who need us the most are those who suffer the most when Labour is not in power. "It's time to put Labour back in power. It's time for a Labour government. A Labour prime minister in Downing Street. A Labour cabinet. Labour values put into action." Mr Khan will praise Labour leaders and elected mayors in power across Britain, saying: "Labour is in power right now, not just in London, but in Wales too with our First Minister, Carwyn Jones, and in Bristol with our new mayor, Marvin Rees. "Labour is in power right now in Liverpool, Manchester and Southampton. In Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield. In Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds and Cardiff too. Labour is in power in towns and cities the length and breadth of Britain." He will call on the party to do everything possible to win mayoral elections for the newly created city regions in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and the Liverpool region in 2017, saying: "We have to start by winning the mayoral elections next year, here in Liverpool, along the M62 in Manchester and down the M6 in Birmingham. Let's ensure Labour is in power in every great city in Britain." Labour mayors in office "can demonstrate that we can make a real difference to people's lives" and that "with Labour in power we can prove that we are ready for government", he is expected to say. Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Diane Abbott will tell the conference that Labour needs to "come to the rescue" of the NHS after being "pushed to the brink" by the Conservative Government. Ms Abbott is expected to say: "Labour will restore the NHS to a properly functioning service after years of Tory cuts, damaging reorganisations and privatisations. "As the party which founded the NHS, Labour will once again be obliged to come to its rescue after a Tory Government has once more pushed it to the brink. Labour will restore it." In her keynote speech, Ms Abbott will promise to focus investment on public health and preventative measures and to prioritise mental health services, particularly for young people. She will promise to "renationalise" the NHS by restoring the accountability of the health secretary which was removed by the controversial 2012 Health and Social Care Act. And she will say that Labour would end marketisation and remove private provision where it is "ripping off" the NHS, as well as setting up a new unit to cut out waste caused by private finance initiative (PFI) contracts and agency staffing. Smart motorway lay-bys labelled 'death zones' by unimpressed drivers Drivers have described emergency lay-bys on smart motorways as "death zones" and "desperate unreachable havens". Highways England guidance is for stopping places to be no more than 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) apart on motorways where the hard shoulder can be converted into an extra traffic lane during busy periods. But the AA said drivers have made it "abundantly clear" that they believe this is insufficient to avoid broken down vehicles being forced to stop in live running lines, putting them at risk of being hit from behind. Traffic uses the hard shoulder of the M42 near Solihull during busy times Asked by the motoring organisation to give the lay-bys an alternative name, the responses by drivers included "death zones", "foolish planners' promised land", "good luck breaking down beside this space" and "desperate unreachable havens". AA president Edmund King said: "O ur members came up with some scary names for the emergency refuge areas, which indicates just how worried they are. "If drivers can see the next lay-by, they are much more likely to make it to the relative safety of that area even if their car has a puncture or is overheating. "If they can't see the lay-by, they often panic and stop in a live running lane. If more lay-bys are designed at the planning stage it will be less expensive and safer. "It is time for the Government to go back to the drawing board and design a scheme acceptable to drivers." According to Highways England, emergency refuge areas are typically in place every two kilometres on smart motorways, meaning motorists driving at 60 miles per hour pass one around every 90 seconds. Officials have been keen to press ahead with smart motorway projects, which are already in operation on sections of the M42, M1, M6, M4 and M5. Earlier this month Transport Secretary Chris Grayling gave the green light for the hard shoulder to be permanently used as a traffic lane on a 32-mile stretch of the M4 from Hayes, west London, to Theale, Berkshire. Earlier this year MPs on the Commons Transport Select Committee held an inquiry which concluded that such schemes - known as all lane running - are too dangerous and have not been properly considered. An AA survey of more than 20,000 motorists found that 79% think the loss of hard shoulders has made motorways less safe. Mr King believes there should be at least twice as many lay-bys included in the design of smart motorways. He said: " Whilst we support measures to improve motorway capacity, we do not think that safety should be compromised. "We do not accept that the current criteria of emergency refuge areas is safe. "Breaking down in a live running lane with trucks thundering up behind you is every driver's worst nightmare. The official advice is to dial 999, which just shows how dangerous the situation can be." A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We have some of the safest motorways in the world and are always looking at ways to make them safer. Sanctions against Russia should be considered, says Johnson Boris Johnson has claimed sanctions against Russia should be "considered" amid suggestions the country is committing war crimes in Syria. Speaking during a visit to a refugee camp in Turkey, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed his view that Russia was in danger of breaching international humanitarian law. Moscow earlier reacted angrily to the "unacceptable" suggestions, which have come from Britain and America, about its role in Syria's bloody civil conflict. Boris Johnson triggered a furious response from Moscow after saying Russian forces may be guilty of war crimes in Syria It warned that the comments could harm the US-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria, as Mr Johnson visited the camp near the border of the war-ravaged nation. The Foreign Secretary's visit to the camp around 100 miles (161km) from Aleppo in Syria comes after angry exchanges at the United Nations over the latest offensive by the Russia-backed regime to take the beleaguered city. Speaking to Sky News, he said: "This is why I think the Russians are in danger of committing war crimes - there's another bomb that comes in, what they call the 'double tap' manoeuvre, and I think that is absolutely unthinkable. "I believe we should be accumulating evidence of such double tap bombings, such callous strikes on aid workers and we should bring those responsible to justice." The so-called double tap manoeuvre is when two consecutive missile strikes are fired at a target, the latter of which often risks hitting response teams, aid workers or civilians who have rushed to the scene to help after the first blast. Asked if he thought there should be more sanctions against Russia, Mr Johnson said: "All those things have got to be considered, in my opinion." The country was accused by Britain and the United States of barbarity and helping President Bashar Assad's regime "unleash a new hell" on the city, but Moscow has hit back. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia considers the tone of the criticism "unacceptable" and insisted "such rhetoric is capable of causing serious harm to the resolution process" in Syria. Mr Peskov told reporters that Russia was concerned that "terrorists" were using the ceasefire to "regroup, to replenish their arsenals and for obvious preparations to carry out attacks". Meanwhile, the Syrian regime said the ceasefire is still viable and said it was willing to take part in a unity government but also claimed the West was supporting "terrorists" in the country. Their comments come after British ambassador Matthew Rycroft joined his US and French counterparts in walking out of an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday in a show of anger. The meeting followed Mr Johnson warning that Moscow would be guilty of committing war crimes if its warplanes were deliberately striking civilian targets. Mr Rycroft told the Security Council meeting in New York that it was "difficult to deny" that Assad's regime and its Russian allies were engaged in committing war crimes. "After five years of conflict, you might think that the regime has had its fill of barbarity - that its sick bloodlust against its own people has finally run its course," he said. "But this weekend, the regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo." The UN special envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said the offensive to take the city had unleashed "unprecedented military violence" on its inhabitants, killing at least 213 civilians, many of them women and children. He said there had been reports of the use of bunker-busting bombs and incendiary weapons which created "fireballs of such intensity that they light up the pitch darkness in Aleppo as if it were daylight". Earlier, Mr Johnson accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of "protracting" and called for an investigation into whether Russian forces were committing war crimes. UAE says Iran wasted no time in undermining regional security UNITED NATIONS, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday Iran had wasted no time in undermining regional security since it sealed a nuclear deal with world powers last year. Yemen plans U.N. complaint over Iran weapons transfers -minister By Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Yemen plans to complain to the U.N. Security Council over what it says are Iran's weapon transfers to Houthi allies fighting the internationally recognised Yemeni government, the foreign minister said on Saturday. In an interview with Reuters, Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi also said he hoped a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire would take effect "early next week." Yemen and Saudi Arabia - which intervened in the country in March 2015 to prevent the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president from taking over - blame Shi'ite Iran for supplying weapons to the Houthis. Tehran views the Houthis, who hail from a Shi'ite sect, as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies accusations it supplies them with weapons. The Iranian mission at the U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest accusation. "There are new weapons coming from Iran," Mekhlafi said in New York where he was attending the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "It is impossible to hide that weapons-smuggling is still taking place from Iran. Some of these weapons have been found on the Saudi-Yemeni border and they are Iranian weapons," he said. Mekhlafi said his government was in the process of filing a complaint to the Security Council, with evidence including documents and pictures. U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end 18 months of fighting that has killed at least 10,000 people collapsed last month. The foreign minister said President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi had met with U.S. and U.N. officials this week and had agreed in principle to a 72-hour ceasefire. "He (Hadi) asked that the ceasefire be taken advantage of by lifting the unjust siege of Taiz and for food to enter simultaneously," Mekhlafi said, referring to a city in the country's highlands. The government was waiting for the U.N. envoy to speak with the Houthi side to secure those guarantees, he added. NEW CENTRAL BANK Asked about international criticism over the civilian casualties caused by the Saudi-led coalition, Mekhlafi said the issue was politicized and exaggerated. "We do not say that there are no victims in this war. This is a war, it's not a war of angels, it's a war of people. There are many victims and there are mistakes and this is normal," he said, adding that less attention was given to attacks against civilians by the Houthi side. The United Nations said last month that 3,799 civilians have been killed in the conflict, with air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition responsible for 60 percent of deaths. Saudi Arabia has said it is committed to international humanitarian law. Mekhlafi defended the Yemeni president's move to appoint a new central bank governor and move the bank's headquarters to Aden, where Hadi's government is based. "This was a necessary step ... Even our allies, and the international institutions, have reached the conclusion that it was the necessary last step to save the Yemeni economy," he said. He said the central bank in Houthi-controlled Sanaa was down to its last $700 million in foreign reserves and there was no longer any local currency liquidity. The bank also had not paid the interest on external debt since May, or public sector salaries for the last two months. The government in Aden 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. Mekhlafi said the government had made clear to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and American and British officials that the new central bank would pay public sector salaries for everyone, including those in areas under Houthi control. He said the bank's new administration was in the process of agreeing with a Russian company to print additional Yemeni notes. Coalition raids kill 9 in central Yemen- medical sources, residents DUBAI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Arab coalition air strikes killed nine people in Houthi-controlled Ibb city in central Yemen late on Saturday, medical sources and residents in the area told Reuters. Nine people were also wounded in the attack on several areas of the city and its outskirts, they said, adding the nine dead included three children and their parents. A spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries could not immediately be contacted. The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians. Unidentified explosion rocks Hungary's capital, two injured BUDAPEST, Sept 25 (Reuters) - An unidentified type of explosion rocked central Budapest late on Saturday, causing injuries to two police officers nearby, police said in a statement on Sunday. "The police have involved experts for the review of the area, interviewing witnesses and collecting data," the statement said. "The local and expert examination of the origins of the explosion and the review of the damage is under way." Police said there were no further injuries from the explosion, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. local time (2030 GMT). There have been no further comments from police nor the disaster relief agency. A government spokesman declined further comment on whether the explosion may have had anything to do with a deliberate attack. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal opponent of immigration into Europe and has campaigned for a referendum about migrant resettlement quotas on the premise that immigration increases the terror threat in Europe. In a campaign leaflet to reject the quotas, Orban cited the Paris attacks last autumn and the Brussels and Nice attacks to underscore the perceived links between immigration and terrorism. Hungary has seen merely a trickle of migration since it sealed its southern border with Serbia with a razor wire fence last year. Police cordoned off a wide area around the Oktogon square in central Budapest and told residents to leave the buildings nearest the blast, local media reported. The normally busy intersection was packed with eye witnesses, including tourists. "I am here on holiday and I was here in the hostel across the corner, and I was getting ready for a party," Polish tourist Olivia Sehildt told Reuters. "Suddenly I heard a big boom...I was looking through the window and I saw a lot of cars coming, police, firemen, and a lot of people coming to the street...the windows were broken and nobody knew what happened." Hungarian Kadosa Bencsy said his first thought was it may have been a terror attack. Algeria plans bank privatisations as oil money dries up By Hamid Ould Ahmed ALGIERS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Algeria plans to allow its dominant state banks to list on the local stock exchange to help develop its financial markets and diversify sources of funding after the oil price slide, a senior financial official said. The plan will open the door for foreign investors to acquire controlling stakes in banks, reversing a rule requiring Algerian firms to keep a majority shareholding in any partnership with foreigners, the official told Reuters. Algeria's six government-run banks account for most of the sector's assets. French companies such as Societe Generale and BNP Paribas have the strongest presence among foreign-owned banks already working in the country. OPEC member Algeria's economy has been largely based on a state-run and centralised system since its independence from France in 1962 and it remains reliant on an energy sector that still provides 60 percent of its budget. But the oil price drop since 2014 has put Algeria under financial pressure, forcing the government to trim spending and search for alternative financing sources. "The era of $100 a barrel is over. We have no choice but to change our policy," the official said, asking not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media. "Reforms will move slowly, but there will be no step backwards." With more than $130 billion in foreign exchange reserves and little foreign debt, Algeria is in better shape than other oil producers such as Venezuela. However, it has been forced to push up taxes and increase subsidised gasoline and diesel prices, scaling back a vast welfare system that has in the past helped ease social tensions. Advocates of the 51/49 ownership rule and tight foreign exchange controls say they helps protect Algeria's strategic sectors after an experimentation with privatisation in the 1990s. But critics say such curbs stifle growth and investment. PAST FAILURE Algeria is now far safer following the end of a war it fought with armed Islamists in the 1990s that killed 200,000 people. Its government has been keen to promote the expansion of its agriculture, health, manufacturing and tourist sectors but cumbersome bureaucracy has put off investors. It is also not the first attempt at selling off the banks. The government scrapped previous plans for a bank privatisation in 2007, just two days before the deadline for the submission of bids, citing an international banking crisis at the time. That plan was to sell a majority state in Credit Populaire d'Algerie (CPA) -- two years before the introduction of the new rule limiting ownership for foreign firms to 49 percent in any partnership deal. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have since repeatedly urged Algeria to reform the underdeveloped banking sector and modernise its stock exchange to help attract investment. However, it is not clear how much appetite there will be for the banks. Plans to float cement producer Societe des Ciments de Ain El Kebira were dropped in June because of a lack of demand for the shares on offer. The new bank proposal is included in the 2017 budget law draft currently in parliament for debate and must be approved by lawmakers and by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Under the new plan, state banks that want to list on the Algiers bourse will still have to get "prior green light" from the central bank before any step to sell a stake in excess of r 49 percent, the official said. The other state banks consist of Banque Nationale d'Algerie, Banque Exterieure d'Algerie, Banque de Developpement Local, Banque de l' Agriculture et du Developpement Rural, the largest in terms of its network, and the Caisse Nationale d'Epargne et de Prevoyance. Officials have previously said Algeria is preparing to allow foreign investors to buy shares on its stock exchange, where authorities hope the number of listed companies will rise from five to 50 in the near future. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 Trend: President of the Repubic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Led by Aleksandar Nikoloski, the mission includes monitoring co-rapporteurs for Azerbaijan Stefan Schennach and Cezar Florin Preda among others. President Aliyev said the Azerbaijani government has worked to ensure the maximum transparency in the referendum on amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan to be held on September 26. The president said the people of Azerbaijan will freely express their will, adding that all necessary measures were taken to ensure this. President Aliyev noted the importance of the fact that the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe visited Azerbaijan with a large delegation. The president said Azerbaijan was a very active member of the Council of Europe. Azerbaijan has maintained historic cooperation with the organization for more than 15 years, said the president, adding that these years were critical for the country`s development, modernization and transformation. President Aliyev said Azerbaijan enjoys close cooperation with European institutions in various formats. Head of the Referendum Assessment Mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Aleksandar Nikoloski said the delegation includes representatives of different political groups. He thanked the leadership of Azerbaijan and the country`s parliament for creating conditions for them to monitor the referendum. Nikoloski said all necessary conditions were ensured for conducting the referendum. He said Azerbaijan is a very important country for the Council of Europe. The sides also discussed Azerbaijan-PACE cooperation. They then posed for photographs. Russia guilty of prolonging war in Syria, UK foreign minister says LONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Russia is guilty of prolonging the war in Syria and may have committed war crimes by targetting an aid convoy, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in an interview aired on Sunday. A 31-truck convoy was attacked on Monday night, killing around 20 civilians. U.S. officials believe Russian aircraft were responsible for the strike, but Moscow has denied involvement. "(Russia) are guilty of protracting this war and making it far more hideous," Johnson told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. Turkey wants to join U.S.-led operation against Islamic State in Raqqa, says Erdogan ISTANBUL, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Turkey wants to join the United States in a military operation to push Islamic State from its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, as long as it excludes Kurdish rebel forces, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Sunday. NATO member Turkey, part of the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State, is backing Arab and Turkmen Syrian rebels who seized the Syrian town of Jarablus from the jihadists a month ago in an operation it has dubbed "Euphrates Shield." But Ankara is wary of the U.S.-allied People's Protection Units (YPG) and its political arm, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syrian Kurdish groups it sees as extensions of Kurdish militants who have waged a three-decade insurgency on its own soil. "Our foreign minister and military authorities are in talks with the United States discussing the matter of Raqqa. We shared with them our conditions," Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from New York, where he spoke at the annual United Nations general assembly and met U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. "Taking a joint step is important for us," he said, according to private broadcaster NTV. "If the United States does not insert the PYD and YPG into this business, we can fight this battle with the United States." Turkey has focused much of its energy during the six-year war in neighbouring Syria on its desire to oust President Bashar al-Assad rather than fighting Islamic State. Its recent push into northern Syria came after steady advances by the YPG. But Erdogan said Turkey had exhibited "the most effective struggle against Islamic State, despite the disinformation." Senior U.S. military officials said last week they were considering arming Syrian Kurdish fighters and acknowledged the difficulty of balancing this with the relationship with Ankara. Somalia's parliamentary election postponed again - lawmaker MOGADISHU, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Elections in Somalia to choose a new parliament have been postponed for the second time in two months due to a dispute over how to select future members, a lawmaker said on Sunday. Voting for the 275-seat parliament was scheduled to start this weekend and end on Oct. 10, with new lawmakers set to appoint a president on Oct. 30. Facing an ongoing threat from the al Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group al Shabaab, Somalia abandoned plans for a one person one vote election. Instead about 14,000 people representing federal states across the nation will choose members of the legislative assembly. Although a fraction of Somalia's 11 million people, it is more than the 135 elders who picked the outgoing parliament in 2012. "No election is going on," a lawmaker who asked not to be named told Reuters. "There is inter-clan dispute over selection of clan elders (voters) and parliamentary candidates," added the lawmaker. Government officials were not immediately available to comment. The election was originally planned for last month but it was postponed to allow for more time for preparations. Al Shabaab told its followers to attack participants in the election early this week. Algeria says all options 'possible' for Algiers OPEC gathering ALGIERS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - All options are possible for OPEC concerning a cut or freeze of output with oil producers agreed on the need to stabilize the market, Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa said on Sunday. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26-28, where they will discuss a possible output-limiting deal. "We will not come out of the meeting empty-handed," Bouterfa told reporters in Algiers. Syria rebels say peace talks futile while Russia backs Aleppo bombing AMMAN, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Syria's mainstream rebel groups said on Sunday the escalating Russian-backed bombing of besieged Aleppo had rendered any peace process futile unless there was an immediate halt to fighting and aid deliveries under United Nations auspices. In a statement signed by more than 30 rebel groups including the biggest faction backed by Turkey, Gulf states and the West, they said the bombing campaign that has killed dozens in the past few days was "unprecedented" and rendered futile the U.N.-backed political process Washington and Moscow seek to revive. Quit or risk being killed, brother warns South Africa's Zuma -report JOHANNESBURG, Sept 25 (Reuters) - President Jacob Zuma has received the latest call for his resignation from his own brother, according to a media report, as the South African leader clings to power despite a string of scandals. Zuma's younger brother Michael urged him to quit or risk being killed, the Sunday Times reported. The president has survived accusations of corruption and even rape before he took office in 2009, showing no signs of leaving office before 2019 when he is required by law to step down after two five-year terms. "My brother is having a very difficult time and I have never seen such difficulty," said Michael Zuma, speaking from the family's rural home of Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province. "My brother has such difficulty in such a way that you fear that they are going to kill him," he said, without elaborating on any death threats. Presidential spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga said he could not comment on family matters, while State Security Minister David Mahlobo told Reuters he could not comment on Zuma's safety. "We never discuss any security details of the president," he said. The leader of Africa's most industrialised nation has faced calls to quit from several members of the African National Congress (ANC) after the ruling party suffered its worst losses in municipal elections in August. But the ANC's top echelons have backed the president. On Thursday, anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a former first lady and wife of the late Nelson Mandela, said South Africa needed fresh leadership, but stopped short of asking Zuma to resign. "Business as usual," Gabon leader says, as uneasy calm returns By Edward McAllister LIBREVILLE, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Gabon will return to normal after a bitterly disputed election, its newly re-elected President Ali Bongo said, as soldiers patrolled and military aircraft flew over a capital that has been bracing for another explosion of violence. The Constitutional Court late on Friday threw out a challenge against the election results by rival Jean Ping, enabling Bongo to extend his family's dynastic 50-year rule over the small, oil-producing central African country. Ping swiftly rejected the ruling as biased, and many Gabonese feared a return to the violence that killed at least six people - Ping's supporters say it was more than 50 - when the result was first announced at the start of the month. But in a nation that usually manages to avoid the massive bloodshed that afflicts other countries in the region, like Congo and Central African Republic, when power is contested, Bongo said he was confident of a peaceful resolution. "It is business as usual. We are not worried about this state of crisis," Bongo told Reuters in an interview late on Saturday. "I think that we will go back to normal ... Gabonese are peace-loving people." On Sunday, soldiers deployed along main roads and a helicopter hovered over Ping's headquarters. A fighter jet roared above the city. The red and white taxis that normally ply its palm-lined seaside avenues were mostly absent. "Things are not normal. The people's voice was stolen," Richard Obame, 46, an unemployed Ping supporter, said, after the jet noise had died down. "If it was calm, would we need the military presence on the streets and the helicopters above the house of Mr Ping?" And yet Ping, whom authorities have threatened to arrest for inciting violence, has so far refrained from calling people on to the streets. That raises the possibility of a peaceful resolution, although Ping insists that the will of the Gabonese people be respected. "OPEN GOVERNMENT" 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 and to whom Ping himself was very close. "Bongo Junior", as he is nicknamed, is showing signs of wanting to handle opponents in much the same way his father did: by bringing them into the tent. On Saturday he called for members of opposition parties to come and join his cabinet. Communications minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze was quoted on France's Journal du Dimanche website on Sunday as saying that from next week there would be "an open government, with members of the opposition, civil society and independent personalities." Whether this will be "business as usual" for Gabon and the Bongo dynasty may partly depend on the international reaction. Gabon has never had a poll that international observers judged free and fair, and Western powers, especially ex-colonial master France, always looked the other way. But on Saturday France and the European union both expressed "doubt" about the poll, which swung it for Bongo on a province, Haut-Ogooue, that gave him 95 percent of a 99.9 percent turnout. Bongo pledged to address some of the issues that have fuelled anger in the country of 1.8 million, like youth unemployment and over-reliance on dwindling oil revenues. Raids kill nine in central Yemen - medical official, residents SANAA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Arab coalition air strikes killed nine people in Houthi-controlled Ibb city in central Yemen late on Saturday, a hospital manager and residents in the area told Reuters. Abdul Malik Al-Sanani, the manager of the city's al-Thawra Hospital, told Reuters: "Nine civilians were killed, and another nine were wounded, treated and discharged from the hospital." Residents said the nine dead in the attack on several areas of the city and its outskirts included three children and their parents. A spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries could not immediately be reached for comment. The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians. U.N.-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 forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Yemen and Saudi Arabia - which intervened to prevent the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president from taking over - blame Shi'ite Iran for supplying weapons to the Houthis. France's Pouille claims first ATP title in Metz PARIS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Frenchman Lucas Pouille claimed his first ATP title by beating Austrian top seed Dominic Thiem 7-6(5) 6-2 in the Moselle Open final in Metz on Sunday. World number 18 Pouille, seeded third, overcame a 4-0 deficit in the opening set's tiebreak to down Thiem, who made too many unforced errors. Pouille, who has been enjoying a fine end of season after reaching the quarter-finals at this month's U.S. Open, rode his momentum by breaking in the first game of the second set. He broke again in the seventh game to lead 5-2 before wrapping it up with his 10th ace. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 25 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Some 451,370 tons of raw cotton were supped to collection points in Turkmenistan, the Turkmen government said. The cotton-picking campaign, which lasts from August to October, has been recently discussed at the governmental meeting. "The measures are being taken and agricultural machinery is used as part of cotton-picking campaign," the message said. Some 1.05 million tons of cotton are planned to be picked from a 545,000 hectare-land in Turkmenistan in 2016. Cotton is the main raw material for the textile industry of Turkmenistan. Moreover, it is an important export product. Traditionally, the country supplies raw cotton to China, Russia, UK, South Korea, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine and the Baltic countries. Libya PM calls for national reconciliation in splintered country By Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Libya's prime minister called for a national reconciliation initiative to repair the divisions in a fragmented country reeling from the turbulence that has followed the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Fayez Seraj also told Reuters in an interview that the battle against Islamic State militants in their former stronghold of Sirte was in its last stages, although bombings and booby traps still posed a challenge. Gaddafi's fall in 2011 brought chaos that splintered the North African country into rival armed fiefdoms. The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has been seeking endorsement for months as it tries to extend its authority beyond its base in Tripoli, in western Libya. "In the last five years, Libya has been through a very difficult and critical phase ... many political divisions," Seraj said in New York, where he was attending an annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "There was disintegration of the social fabric as a result of bloody conflicts. "So we need a real reconciliation between Libyans inside and Libyans abroad ... there will be no exclusion of any political faction," he said. "Reconciliation will provide political stability, which will give way for economic stability." Seraj said he expected to begin the drive before the end of the year but he faces an unenviable task. General Khalifa Haftar, who has been waging a military campaign against Islamists and other opponents in Benghazi and the east, and his backers in eastern Libya have been in a stand-off with the GNA for months. They have blocked a parliamentary vote to endorse the GNA and challenging the U.N.-mediated deal to unify Libya. Haftar also has resisted the GNA's efforts to integrate his self-styled Libyan National Army into the national armed force. The eastern-based parliament has twice rejected lists of ministers put forward by the GNA's leadership, or Presidential Council, which is meant to represent all sides of Libya's fractured politics. NEW GOVERNMENT The Presidential Council has struggled to win popular support and secure the loyalty of Libya's political and armed factions since they arrived in Tripoli from Tunisia in March. Frustration has mounted at its inability to tackle everyday problems including a liquidity crisis, frequent kidnappings, power cuts and a failing health system. "We expect within coming weeks to end negotiations on shaping a new government," Seraj said. "We have, until now, not received any official letter from the parliament to present again a newly reshaped government. Despite that we dealt positively with the results of the parliament ... (it) has to now bear its responsibility and carry out its duty," he said. Seraj has said repeatedly he was open to talks with Haftar, whose recent seizure of oil ports has risked deepening the long-standing east-west divisions and alarmed the west. "As a Presidential Council we are open to all political factions ... I have no reservations. Anything that helps solve the Libyan crisis and that can open bottlenecks, we are ready to meet anyone," he said. Seraj struck a conciliatory tone over the port seizures but warned that protection of the vital installations had be done by the internationally recognized government. "We would not have hoped that there would be escalation in the area but what happened has happened ... and we tried to deal with it with wisdom and calculation," Seraj said. "But we sent a clear message that oil installations must be protected and should not be damaged ... Whoever protects the oil must be under the umbrella of the Presidential Council," he said. Haftar's forces handed operational control to the National Oil Corporation (NOC), which Seraj said operated under the Presidential Council. U.S. slams Russian 'barbarism' in Syria, Moscow says peace almost impossible By Michelle Nichols and Yara Bayoumy UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday called Russia's action in Syria "barbarism," not counter-terrorism, while Moscow's U.N. envoy said ending the war "is almost an impossible task now" as Syrian government forces, backed by Moscow, bombed the city of Aleppo. The United Nations Security Council met on Sunday at the request of the United States, Britain and France to discuss the escalation of fighting in Aleppo following the announcement on Thursday of an offensive by the Syrian army to retake the city. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it is barbarism," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the 15-member council. "Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive," Power said. A Sept. 9 ceasefire deal between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov aimed at putting Syria's peace process back on track effectively collapsed on Monday when an aid convoy was bombed. "In Syria hundreds of armed groups are being armed, the territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council. Britain's U.N. ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, said on Sunday the U.S. and Russian bid to bring peace to Syria "is very, very near the end of its life and yes the Security Council needs to be ready to fulfill our responsibilities." "The regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo," Rycroft told the council. "Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes." However, Russia is one of five veto-powers on the council, along with the United States, France, Britain and China. Russia and China have protected Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government by blocking several attempts at council action. "It is time to say who is carrying out those air strikes and who is killing civilians," Power said. "Russia holds a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. This is a privilege and it is a responsibility. Yet in Syria and in Aleppo, Russia is abusing this historic privilege." As Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari began addressing the council, Power, Rycroft and French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre walked out of the chamber, diplomats said. "Any political solution can only be successful by providing the requisite conditions through intensified efforts to fight terrorism," Ja'afari told the council. "The real war on terrorism has never started yet. The advent of Syrian victory is imminent." U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura briefed the council meeting on Sunday. He appealed to the council to come up with a way to enforce a cessation of hostilities in Syria. "I am still convinced that we can turn the course of events. We have proven this more than once before," he said, adding that he would not quit trying to bring peace in Syria. Houthi official in Yemen offers border truce, amnesty SANAA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A top official in Yemen's armed Houthi movement on Sunday offered to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia and an amnesty for Yemeni fighters opposing the group if the kingdom stopped air strikes and lifted a near blockade on the country. The move falls short of demands by Yemen's government and their backers in Saudi Arabia, but offers rare hope for a pause to 18 months of fighting which has killed at least 10,000 people and pushed impoverished Yemen toward famine. "(In exchange for) stopping the aggression against our country by land, sea and air, stopping the air strikes and lifting the siege imposed on our country, in return (we will)stop combat operations on the border," Saleh al-Samad, the chief of a Houthi-backed political council, said in a speech. Hailing from Yemen's Zaydi Shi'ite sect, the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and pushed the government out of its last stronghold in Aden in March 2015. The advances by the Iran-allied group prompted an intervention by a Saudi-led coalition that has launched thousands of air strikes on the Houthis and their allies in Yemen's army but has failed to push them out of the capital. A near-blockade on Yemen's ports, which the coalition says is aimed at arms bound to the Houthis, has also hobbled Yemen's already struggling economy and created a humanitarian crisis. For months, the Houthis have retaliated with attacks on Saudi Arabia from its mountainous strongholds in northern Yemen and has launched around a dozen ballistic missiles at the kingdom, all of which were intercepted. Fighting has also raged within the country between pro-Houthi and pro-government militiamen, soldiers and tribal gunmen - a tangle of armed groups so complex that any peace initiative would struggle to contain them. Samad said the group was prepared to pardon its foes. "(We call) all fighters on the side of the aggression on the various fronts to respond to a general amnesty and come back into the national fold," he said. Two shaky truces accompanied previous efforts mediated by the United Nations to end the conflict, and the leader of the Houthi group warned last week that the conflict would last "God knows how long". Yemen's internationally recognised government say that any move toward peace can begin only when the Houthis heed a 2015 U.N. Security Council Resolution mandating that they quit Yemen's main cities. Six bodies found in parking lot in Mexico's Sinaloa state MEXICO CITY, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The bodies of five men and a woman were found in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, home turf of captured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, state prosecutors said on Sunday. The corpses were found at dawn in a parking lot in the Pacific port of Mazatlan, said Guadalupe Martinez, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office in Sinaloa. He could not say how the victims died. It also was unclear whether the deaths were related to conflicts between Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel and rival gangs in the state, where violence has crept up again in recent months. Guzman was captured by Mexican security forces in Mazatlan in February 2014 after years on the run, then broke out of prison in July 2015 through a tunnel dug right into his cell. He was recaptured in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, in January. 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. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a hot summer day on Saturday delivered a knockout punch. Not to the foe Pakistan as much as to Ram Madhav, the BJPs hotshot general secretary. Madhav and the entire war machine of the BJP were made to bite the dust by Modi. As a key party figure and part of the inner coterie of BJP president Amit Shah, Madhav would have known what was coming at Kozhikode. He had told ANI a day before the speech, Modis first public statement since the Uri attack: Do you people only want statements, or want to see some action. Action will be taken, wait and see. To Madhav and his war-mongering followers disappointment, Modi didnt go for whole jaw for a tooth. He launched a war cry from Kozhikode; he challenged Pakistan to fight a war. But it was not a war that the BJP has been crying for since the Uri attack. Modi challenged Pakistan to fight a war against poverty and illiteracy. Sounding statesman-like, Modi declared: "I want to tell the people of Pakistan, India is ready to fight you. If you have the strength, come forward to fight against poverty. Let's see who wins. Let's see who is able to defeat poverty and illiteracy first, Pakistan or India." Modi, perhaps, had read Winston Churchill before addressing the public meeting in Kerala. Churchills wise counsel told him, jaw-jaw is better than war-war. Modis speech was lapped up by many of his bitter critics in the media, though opposition parties found the speech lacking in clarity and purpose. Prominent journalist Rajdeep Sardesai said in a tweet: Going many steps further, journalist Shekhar Gupta joined chorus with BJPs supporters. He said Modi was firm and statesman-like in his speech. BJP supporters were firing off the Twitter handle. They felt Modi had put Pakistan in place with his blistering speech. #PMreturnsUriFire was trending on social media. It would be correct to state that Modi didnt pull punches. He went out of the way dropping all niceties to hit out at Pakistan. In a first-of-its-kind, perhaps, in the bitter and checkered history of India-Pakistan relations, Modi made an appeal to the people of Pakistan going above the heads of its leaders. He called on the people of Pakistan to virtually throw out the Nawaz Sharif government and its political establishment that has been supporting terrorism. The call to create this sort of people-power dichotomy in Pakistan by an Indian Prime Minister is unprecedented. Senior journalist Sagarika Ghose felt Modi was keen to bring back the narrative of people-to-people relations in the India-Pakistan discourse. At this point in time it could also mean to stop the hotheads clamour for the boycott of Pakistani actors by Bollywood. The question one needs to ask is why did the government and BJP allow the hotheads in the ranks to create a situation for war if the strategy was to isolate and hit Pakistan with aggressive diplomacy? Why did the party take the people on a belligerent jingoistic warpath if the strategy was to expose and fuel the internal fissures in Balochistan and PoK in a tit-for-tat for Kashmir? Are the people who have been baying for blood since the Uri attack going to be satisfied with mere words and no military action? Wasnt Modi expected to add extra punch to his vow that the attackers wouldnt go unpunished? Nobody expected him to enumerate what actions the government proposed to take but surely one of the actions on the table since Uri has been military action. Of that there was no hint in the speech. Congresss Randeep S Surjewala tweeted to expose the chinks in Modis armour but failed to explain why his party had joined the war chorus along with the BJP? Modis speech was meant to calm down the rising temperature that had caught the country in a war fever for the past one week. With his war rhetoric toned down, he shrewdly and wisely sought to bring about sanity, to bring back the country from the hysteria of war to equanimity of peace. On this score, Modis speech was laudable in purpose despite all its shrill elements. But if the call for war had reached a crescendo after the Uri attack, Modi, his ministers and senior party leaders are to be blamed. People were angry, they are justifiably angry over Pakistans unrestrained policy of cross-border terrorism. But its the governments responsibility to channelise the anger in the right direction. Unfortunately, the government, the party and the media were leading the people to build war hysteria, not calm them down for effective but pragmatic punitive measures to be taken against Pakistan to avenge Uri. The blow hot, blow cold rhetoric induced by the government after every terrorist attack coming from Pakistan has done more damage than good. The heightened expectation of the people to avenge the Uri attack through an eye-for-an-eye response is a result of the governments failure to assuage the peoples feelings through concrete and well-planned strategy against Pakistan in the wake of the Pathankot attack. For the whole of last week, since the Uri mayhem was reported, the country has discussed nothing but the possibility of war. There was hardly any voice that could dare to suggest that war could be the last option after various other pressure tactics brought to the fore by the Modi government had been exhausted. Unfortunately, Madhavs whole jaw for a tooth call and the hysteria following that led people to believe that war on the cards. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 25 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov signed the Paris agreement on the sidelines of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the UN News Center said. The agreement is a "road map" of measures that will reduce emissions released to the atmosphere and strengthen resilience to climate change. The Paris agreement was adopted by all 196 sides of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the 21st Conference, held in Paris December 12, 2015. The agreement was opened for signature on April 22, 2016. The representatives of 191 countries signed the document. The agreement will enter into force on the thirtieth day after it is ratified by at least 55 countries. According to the message, some 60 countries joined the Paris agreement. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Irans central province of Semnan was a target of a foiled terrorist attack by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, the provinces governor-general, said. Some members of the terrorist group have been recently arrested in the province, Khabbaz said, ISNA news agency reported. Explosives were also found and seized from the terrorist group members in the province, he added. Earlier, some other terror attempts have been made in Semnan by the terrorists as well, the official said. Last month Irans intelligence ministry announced that several terrorists linked with the IS group, which had entered Iran through the border to carry out terrorist operations in central Iranian cities were killed in western country in a joint operation with the IRGC. The provinces Governor-General Asadollah Razani said that on Aug 15 night, police, security and intelligence forces killed the key IS agent and arrested some others. On Aug. 16 morning, forces swooped on a safe house used by the terror cell in Kermanshah city, killing three more terrorists and seizing suicide vests and belts, grenades, and various automatic weapons. Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iranian warships most likely will visit Italian ports in the near future, Irans Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said. Irans Navy hosted an Italian warship in southern port city of Bandar Abbas yesterday, Sayyari said, IRINN TV reported Sept. 25. It is an important event indicating the European countries interest to form maritime relations with the Islamic Republic, Sayyari said. However he underlined that holding a joint drill with Italian warship which was held upon its arrival doesnt mean cooperating with NATO. He further said that, on Sept. 24 Iranian navy dispatched a peace and friendship flotilla consisting of two guided-missile destroyer, a frigate carrier and a fleet support ship as well as a helicopter to Pakistans ports to provide security in high risk regions. The Italian Navy frigate dubbed Euro arrived in Bandar Abbas, the capital of Irans southern Hormozgan Province, on Sept. 24 for a four-day stay. The visit comes in line with the two countries plan to boost friendly military relations. In a meeting with Italys ambassador to Tehran, Mauro Conciatori, and the countrys military attache, Commander of Irans First Naval Zone Admiral Hossein Azad said the Italian frigate has been dispatched to the Islamic Republic with the purpose of improving political, cultural and military relations. By Mehdi Sepahvand Iran is expected to sign new oil deals with foreign companies in the coming months. The priorities that the country has announced for the fields come as somewhat different from what was expected earlier, a fact that brings some questions to mind. One of Irans big potentials comes from early-life fields, which Iran started developing in the 2000s. Most of these fields extend into neighboring countries territories. It was expected that Tehran would focus on these fields development once it found the opportunity in the post-sanctions era. However, Director of Integrated Planning at the National Iranian Oil Company Abdolmohammad Delparish on September 24 said that Iran is prioritizing fields that are more complicated and would cost more to develop. The official mentioned shared field development programs only as the last item on his list of high-priority projects. Oil layers at the several Bangestan fields, Khamei, some offshore fields, as well as those shared with Iraq are high on agenda, he said. Iran unveiled the generalities of IPC in November 2015, offering 49 oil and gas projects to foreigners. In the IPC model, Iran has kept its sovereignty over its hydrocarbon reserves, but payment of all direct and indirect expenses, as well as finance and operation costs will be dependent on allocating a portion (maximum 50 percent) of products or proceeds based on current day sale prices. By prioritizing the more complicated fields, Iran may be aiming at obtaining the latest technology for developing oil fields. One of the major objectives of the IPC model, according to the government, is to import technology. Once it possesses the know-how, Iran would be able to develop less-complicated fields by itself, thus saving on financial resources. Underdeveloped due to harsh sanctions, Irans oil industry has been unable to tap the countrys resources as it should have. Many wells that date back to pre-sanctions times are also nearing their old age and decline of output. According to two official documents obtained by Trend, Iran has re-injected about 580.810 billion cubic meters of gas to 24 oil fields from 1996 to 2015, while the needed amount was 1,270 billion cubic meters. Iran hasn't put into operation any new oil field since 2007. Some 17 of the mentioned 24 fields, prioritized for gas re-injection, were producing 3.7 million barrels per day in 1979, but the figure plunged to 1.75 million barrels per day in mid 2000s and continued to decline. Eighty percent of Iran's active oil fields are in their second half-life and lose 8-12 percent of their output naturally each year. Iran needs extra 942.795 billion cubic meters of gas (or 287 million cubic meters per day) re-injected to the current oil fields during 2016-2024, which is about three times more than the current level. Before the western sanctions were imposed on Iran in mid-2012, the country was producing about 3.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, of which around 2.2 million barrels per day was being exported. In January 2016, when the sanctions were lifted, Iran started to add to its 1 million barrels per day oil export, now back at about 2.2 million barrels per day. The country is running to catch up on the sanctions period loss and much needs to develop its oil fields. According to Fourth and Fifth Development Plans (2005-2009 and 2010-2015), Iran should have increased the oil recovery rate by 1 percent during the period of each plan, but the recovery rate remained unchanged during the Fourth Plan. Former head of NIOC Ahmad Qalebani said in 2012 that Iran needed a $70 billion worth investment to reach a 1 percent increase in the crude oil recovery rate. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @mehdisepahvand Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools: Portfolio Monitoring Top Stock Lists Premium Reports Stock Screeners Live News Feed Premium Support Free for your first month. The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. 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Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Johnson & Johnson: 3Dintegrated ApS, ALZA Corporation, AMO (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Beijing Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Guangzhou Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., AMO ASIA LIMITED, AMO Asia Limited (Korea Branch), AMO Asia Limited Taiwan Branch (Hong Kong), AMO Australia Pty Limited, AMO Australia Pty Limited (New Zealand Branch), AMO Canada Company, AMO Denmark ApS, AMO Development LLC, AMO France, AMO Germany GmbH, AMO Groningen B.V., AMO International Holdings Unlimited Company, AMO Ireland, AMO Ireland Ireland Branch, AMO Italy SRL, AMO Japan K.K., AMO Manufacturing USA LLC, AMO Netherlands BV, AMO Nominee Holdings LLC, AMO Norway AS, AMO Puerto Rico Manufacturing Inc., AMO Sales and Service Inc., AMO Singapore Pte. Ltd., AMO Spain Holdings LLC, AMO Switzerland GmbH, AMO U.K. Holdings LLC, AMO United Kingdom Ltd., AMO Uppsala AB, AUB Holdings LLC, Abott Medical Optics, Acclarent Inc., Actelion Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc., Actelion Treasury Unlimited Company, Akros Medical Inc., Albany Street LLC, Alios BioPharma, Alza Land Management Inc., Anakuria Therapeutics Inc., Animas Diabetes Care LLC, Animas LLC, Animas Technologies LLC, AorTx Inc., Apsis, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, Atrionix Inc., Auris Health, Auris Health Inc., Backsvalan 2 Aktiebolag, Backsvalan 6 Handelsbolag, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co. Ltd., BeneVir BioPharm Inc., Berna Rhein B.V., BioMedical Enterprises Inc., Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Biosense Webster Inc., Branch of Johnson & Johnson LLC (RU) in Kazakhstan, C Consumer Products Denmark ApS, CSATS Inc., Calibra Medical LLC, Campus-Foyer Apotheke GmbH, Carlo Erba OTC S.r.l., Centocor Biologics LLC, Centocor Research & Development Inc., Cerenovus Inc., ChromaGenics B.V., Ci:Labo Customer Marketing Co. Ltd., Ci:Labo USA Inc., Ci:z Holdings, Ci:z. Labo Co. Ltd., Cilag AG, Cilag GmbH International, Cilag Holding AG, Cilag Holding Treasury Unlimited Company, Cilag-Biotech S.L., CoTherix Inc., Coherex Medical Inc., ColBar LifeScience Ltd., Company Store.com Inc., Conor MedSystems, Cordis International Corporation, Cordis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Corimmun GmbH, DePuy Hellas SA, DePuy International Limited, DePuy Ireland Unlimited Company, DePuy Mexico S.A. de C.V., DePuy Mitek LLC, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., DePuy Products Inc., DePuy Spine LLC, DePuy Synthes Gorgan Limited, DePuy Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Institute LLC, DePuy Synthes Leto SARL, DePuy Synthes Products Inc., DePuy Synthes Sales Inc., Debs-Vogue Corporation (Proprietary) Limited, Dutch Holding LLC, ECL7 LLC, EES Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EES S.A. de C.V., EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Europe) GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC, Ethicon Inc., Ethicon LLC, Ethicon PR Holdings Unlimited Company, Ethicon Sarl, Ethicon US LLC, Ethicon Women's Health & Urology Sarl, Ethnor (Proprietary) Limited, Ethnor Farmaceutica S.A., Ethnor del Istmo S.A., FMS Future Medical System SA, Finsbury (Development) Limited, Finsbury (Instruments) Limited, Finsbury Medical Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics International Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited, GH Biotech Holdings Limited, GMED Healthcare BV, GMED Healthcare BV (Branch), Global Investment Participation B.V., Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech Co. Ltd., Hansen Medical Deutschland GmbH, Hansen Medical Inc., Hansen Medical International Inc., Hansen Medical UK Limited, Healthcare Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Hickory Merger Sub Inc., I.D. Acquisition Corp., Innomedic Gesellschaft fur innovative Medizintechnik und Informatik mbH, Innovative Surgical Solutions LLC, J & J Company West Africa Limited, J&J Pension Trustees Limited, J-C Health Care Ltd., J.C. General Services BV, JJ Surgical Vision Spain S.L., JJC Acquisition Company B.V., JJHC LLC, JJSV Belgium BV, JJSV Manufacturing Malaysia SDN. BHD., JJSV Norden AB, JJSV Produtos Oticos Ltda., JNJ Global Business Services s.r.o., JNJ Holding EMEA B.V., JNJ International Investment LLC, JOM Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Holding) Limited, Janssen BioPharma LLC, Janssen Biologics (Ireland) Limited, Janssen Biologics B.V., Janssen Biotech Inc., Janssen Cilag C.A., Janssen Cilag Farmaceutica S.A., Janssen Cilag S.p.A., Janssen Cilag SPA, Janssen Development Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Janssen Egypt LLC, Janssen Farmaceutica Portugal Lda, Janssen Global Services LLC, Janssen Holding GmbH, Janssen Inc., Janssen Irish Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Korea Ltd., Janssen Oncology Inc., Janssen Ortho LLC, Janssen Pharmaceutica (Proprietary) Limited, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Pharmaceutica S.A., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceutical Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Japan Branch, Janssen Products LP, Janssen R&D Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Janssen Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Janssen Supply Group LLC, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Janssen Vaccines Branch of Cilag GmbH International, Janssen Vaccines Corp., Janssen-Cilag, Janssen-Cilag (New Zealand) Limited, Janssen-Cilag A/S, Janssen-Cilag AG, Janssen-Cilag AS, Janssen-Cilag Aktiebolag, Janssen-Cilag B.V., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Lda., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Ltda., Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen-Cilag Kft., Janssen-Cilag Kft. Branch Office, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen-Cilag Manufacturing LLC, Janssen-Cilag NV, Janssen-Cilag OY, Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH, Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutical S.A.C.I., Janssen-Cilag Polska Sp. z o.o., Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (Branch), Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag s.r.o., Janssen-Pharma S.L., Jevco Holding Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson (Angola) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson (Egypt) S.A.E., Johnson & Johnson (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Ireland) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Jamaica) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Kenya) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (DHCC Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (JAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. Service Center (DAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Mozambique) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Thailand) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (Trinidad) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, Johnson & Johnson - Societa' Per Azioni, Johnson & Johnson AB, Johnson & Johnson AB Eesti filiaal (Branch), Johnson & Johnson AG, Johnson & Johnson AG (Zuchwil Branch), Johnson & Johnson Belgium Finance Company BV, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria EOOD, Johnson & Johnson China Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Thailand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer B.V., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Care Switzerland Branch of Janssen-Cilag AG, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Holdings France, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Dominican Republic Branch), Johnson & Johnson Consumer NV, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Del Paraguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson Dominicana S.A.S., Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., Johnson & Johnson European Treasury Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson Finance Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Finance Limited, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH (Branch Office), Johnson & Johnson Gateway LLC, Johnson & Johnson Gesellschaft m.b.H., Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Guatemala S.A., Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions Inc., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Commercial and Industrial S.A., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Consumer Products Commercial Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson Hemisferica S.A., Johnson & Johnson Holding GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Inc., Johnson & Johnson Industrial Ltda., Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited, Johnson & Johnson International, Johnson & Johnson International (Belgian Branch) (European Logistics Center), Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Branch), Johnson & Johnson International Financial Services Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson K.K., Johnson & Johnson Kft., Johnson & Johnson Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Korea Selling & Distribution LLC, Johnson & Johnson LLC, Johnson & Johnson Lda, Johnson & Johnson Limited, Johnson & Johnson Limited (Sri Lanka Branch), Johnson & Johnson Luxembourg Finance Company Sarl, Johnson & Johnson Management Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Proprietary) Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical B.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group - Latin America L.L.C., Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical NV, Johnson & Johnson Medical Products GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical S.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.C.S., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.p.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical SAS, Johnson & Johnson Medical Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Ankara Branch), Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Izmir Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East - Scientific Office, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ - LLC (Lebanese Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Ghana Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Kenya Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC Branch (TSO) (Saudi Arabia Branch), Johnson & Johnson Morocco Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson NCB (Belgian Branch), Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB, Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pakistan (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Panama S.A., Johnson & Johnson Personal Care (Chile) S.A., Johnson & Johnson Poland Sp. z o.o., Johnson & Johnson Poland sp. z o.o. oddzial w Warszawie "Consumer", Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd. Korea Branch, Johnson & Johnson Pty. Limited, Johnson & Johnson Romania S.R.L., Johnson & Johnson S.A., Johnson & Johnson S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson S.E. Inc., Johnson & Johnson S.E. d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson SDN. BHD., Johnson & Johnson Sante Beaute France, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision India Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson UK Treasury Company Limited, Johnson & Johnson Ukraine LLC, Johnson & Johnson Urban Renewal Associates, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson de Argentina S.A.C. e. I., Johnson & Johnson de Chile Limitada, Johnson & Johnson de Chile S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Colombia S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson de Uruguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Venezuela S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Ecuador S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Peru S.A., Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria E Comercio de Produtos Para Saude Ltda., Johnson & Johnson for Export and Import LLC, Johnson & Johnson s.r.o., Johnson Y Johnson de Costa Rica S.A., Johnson and Johnson (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson and Johnson Sihhi Malzeme Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, LTL Management LLC, La Concha Land Investment Corporation, Latam International Investment Company Unlimited Company, Legal Entity Name, MDS Co. Ltd., McNEIL MMP LLC, McNeil AB, McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., McNeil Denmark ApS, McNeil Healthcare (Ireland) Limited, McNeil Healthcare (UK) Limited, McNeil Healthcare LLC, McNeil Iberica S.L.U., McNeil LA LLC, McNeil Nutritionals LLC, McNeil Panama LLC, McNeil Products Limited, McNeil Sweden AB, Medical Device Business Services Inc., Medical Devices & Diagnostics Global Services LLC, Medical Devices International LLC, Medos International Sarl, Medos International Sarl succursale de Neuchatel (Branch), Medos Sarl, MegaDyne Medical Products Inc., Menlo Care De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Mentor B.V., Mentor Deutschland GmbH, Mentor Medical Systems B.V., Mentor Partnership Holding Company I LLC, Mentor Texas GP LLC, Mentor Texas L.P., Mentor Worldwide LLC, Micrus Endovascular LLC, Middlesex Assurance Company Limited, Momenta Ireland Limited, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata UG (haftungsbeschrankt), Netherlands Holding Company, NeuWave Medical Inc., Neuravi Limited, Novira Therapeutics, Novira Therapeutics LLC, NuVera Medical Inc., OBTECH Medical Sarl, OGX Beauty Limited, OMJ Holding GmbH, OMJ Ireland Unlimited Company, OMJ Pharmaceuticals Inc., Obtech Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals NV, Ortho Biologics LLC, Ortho Biotech Holding LLC, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical LLC, Orthospin Ltd., Orthotaxy, PT Integrated Healthcare Indonesia, PT. Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, Patriot Pharmaceuticals LLC, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pharmadirect Ltd., Pharmedica Laboratories (Proprietary) Limited, Princeton Laboratories Inc., Productos de Cuidado Personal y de La Salud de Bolivia S.R.L., Proleader S.A., Pulsar Vascular Inc., Regency Urban Renewal Associates, RespiVert Ltd., RoC International, Royalty A&M LLC, Rutan Realty LLC, SYNTHES Medical Immobilien GmbH, Scios LLC, Sedona Singapore International Pte. Ltd., Sedona Thai International Co. Ltd., Serhum S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Elsker For Mother & Baby Co. Ltd, Shanghai Elsker Mother & Baby Co. Ltd Minghang Branch, Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sightbox LLC, Sodiac ESV, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Company, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Partnership, SterilMed, SterilMed Inc., Surgical Process Institute Deutschland GmbH, Synthes Costa Rica S.C.R. Limitada, Synthes GmbH, Synthes Holding AG, Synthes Holding Limited, Synthes Inc., Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, Synthes Produktions GmbH, Synthes Proprietary Limited, Synthes S.M.P. S. de R.L. de C.V., Synthes Tuttlingen GmbH, Synthes USA LLC, Synthes USA Products LLC, TARIS Biomedical, TARIS Biomedical LLC, TearScience Inc., The Anspach Effort LLC, The Vision Care Institute LLC, Tibotec LLC, Torax Medical Inc., UAB "Johnson & Johnson", UAB Johnson & Johnson Eesti Filiaal (Estonian Branch), Vania Expansion, Verb Surgical, Verb Surgical Inc., Vision Care Finance Unlimited Company, Vogue International, Vogue International LLC, Vogue International Trading Inc., WH4110 Development Company L.L.C., XO1, XO1 Limited, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Beijing Branch Office, Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Shanghai Branch Office, Zarbee's Inc., and Zarbee's Naturals. Read More Iran's Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh will leave Tehran for Algiers on Monday to attend the 15th Meeting of the International Energy Forum (IEF) and non-official meeting of OPEC, IRNA reported. According to the Petroleum Ministry, the 15th meeting of IEF will be held in Algerian capital from September 26-28. Zangeneh is slated to deliver a lecture during the first specialized meeting of the event on Tuesday and his Algerian counterpart, Noureddin Boutarfa, is the first speaker to inaugurate the event. OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo, Head of IEF Fateh Birol and Secretary General of IEF Sun Xiansheng are the main lecturers of the upcoming event. Russian, Saudi and Venezuelan energy ministers are also among the participants in the IEF which is the main venue for gathering of energy ministers. OPEC non-official meeting will also be held on the sidelines of the 15th Meeting of IEF to discuss oil freeze project. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877. JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture. JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries. JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone. The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types. The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products. The following companies are subsidiares of Allstate: AIMCO Private Fund I Holding LLC, AIMCO Private Fund I LLC, AIMCO Private Fund II LLC, ALIC Reinsurance Company, ALINV Mosaic LLC, ANIHI Newco LLC, AP Real Estate LLC, AP Riverway Plaza LLC, AP Timber LLC, Allstate Assignment Company, Allstate Assurance Company, Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company, Allstate Digital Ventures LLC, Allstate Distributors L.L.C., Allstate Enterprises LLC, Allstate Exchange Services LLC, Allstate Finance Company Agency Loans LLC, Allstate Finance Company LLC, Allstate Financial Advisors LLC, Allstate Financial Corporation, Allstate Financial Insurance Holdings Corporation, Allstate Financial LLC, Allstate Financial Services LLC (1), Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Global Holdings Limited, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Insurance Holdings LLC, Allstate International Assignments Ltd., Allstate International Holdings Inc., Allstate Investment Management Company, Allstate Investments LLC, Allstate Life Insurance Company (2), Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Allstate Motor Club Inc., Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings Inc., Allstate North American Insurance Company, Allstate Northbrook Indemnity Company, Allstate Northern Ireland Limited, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Settlement Corporation, Allstate Short Term Pool LLC, Allstate Solutions Private Limited, Allstate Texas Lloyds, Allstate Texas Lloyds Inc., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Company, American Heritage Life Insurance Company, American Heritage Service Company, Answer Financial Inc., Answer Marketplace LLC, Arity 875 LLC, Arity International Limited, Arity LLC, Arity Services LLC, CE Care Plan Corp, Castle Key Indemnity Company, Castle Key Insurance Company, Complete Product Care Corp, Current Creek Investments LLC, E.R.J. Insurance Group Inc. (3), Encompass Floridian Indemnity Company, Encompass Floridian Insurance Company, Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company, Encompass Indemnity Company, Encompass Independent Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company, Encompass Insurance Company of America, Encompass Insurance Company of Massachusetts, Encompass Insurance Company of New Jersey, Encompass Insurance Holdings LLC, Encompass Property and Casualty Company, Encompass Property and Casualty Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Holdings Inc., Esurance Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Company of New Jersey, Esurance Insurance Services Company of Canada, Esurance Insurance Services Inc. (4), Esurance Property and Casualty Insurance Company, First Colonial Insurance Company, Identity Protection Strategic Solutions LLC, InfoArmor Aggra Inc., InfoArmor Inc., Insurance Answer Center LLC (5), Intramerica Life Insurance Company, Ivantage Insurance Brokers Inc., Ivantage Select Agency Inc., Kennett Capital Inc., NBInv AF1 LLC, NBInv AF2 LLC, NBInv AF3 LLC, NBInv AF4 LLC, NBInv AF5 LLC, NBInv AF6 LLC, NBInv AP1 LLC, NBInv AP2 LLC, NBInv AP3 LLC, NBInv AP4 LLC, NBInv AP5 LLC, NBInv AP6 LLC, NBInv AP7 LLC, NBInv AP8 LLC, NBInv APAF1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Cars1 LLC, NBInv Riverside Management LLC, North Light Specialty Insurance Company, Northeast Agencies Inc. (6), Pablo Creek Services Inc., Pafco Insurance Company, Pembridge Insurance Company, PlumChoice Business Services Inc., PlumChoice Inc., Protection Plan Group Inc., Right Answer Insurance Agency LLC, Road Bay Investments LLC, ST Product Care Corp, Signature Agency Inc., Signature Motor Club Inc., Signature Motor Club of California Inc., Signature Nationwide Auto Club of California Inc., Signatures Nationwide Auto Club Inc., SquareTrade Australia Pty Ltd, SquareTrade Canada Inc., SquareTrade Europe Limited, SquareTrade Holding Company Inc., SquareTrade Inc. (7), SquareTrade Insurance Services Inc., SquareTrade Limited, SquareTrade Protection Solutions Inc., SquareTradeGo Inc., Tech-Cor LLC, and West Plaza RE Holdings LLC. Read More Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farms in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. The Boeing Company is the worlds largest manufacturer of airplanes and commands more than 50% of the market in some channels and categories. The company and its family of subsidiaries design, develops, manufacture, sell, service, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and related services worldwide. The company operates through four segments including Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital providing products and services to end-users in 150 countries. Boeing got its start in 1910 when William E. Boeing developed a love for aircraft. Soon after he takes his first plane ride which leads him to build a hangar and begin construction of his first plane. The onset of WWI helped spur the companys growth but business was cut drastically in its wake. The start of WWII was another milestone for the company and one that led to its current position of dominance. The company was incorporated in 1916 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Boeing employs over 140,000 people in 65 countries making it one of the most diverse employers on the planet. The Commercial Airplanes segment is built around the iconic 7-series which includes the 737, 747, and 787. The segment provides commercial jet aircraft for passenger and cargo requirements, as well as fleet support services for regional, national, and international air carriers and logistics and freight companies. In terms of global volume, the company estimates about 90% of all air freight is carried aboard one of its jets. This segment also includes the Dreamliner family of planes. The Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane for many carriers as it opens up the potential for new one-stop destinations because of its capacity and range. The Defense, Space & Security segment develops and manufactures a range of systems including manned and unmanned aircraft, missiles, missile defense systems, satellites, communications equipment, and intelligence systems for governments. Among the many iconic brands within this segment are the AH-64 Apache, Air Force One, B-52, C-17 Globemaster, Chinook, F/A-18, and the V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft used by the Marines. The Global Services segment offers a range of products and services that include supply chain and logistics management, engineering, maintenance, upgrades, conversions, spare parts, pilot and maintenance training, technical and maintenance documents, and data analytics to its commercial and defense customers. Boeing is also a leader in innovation, leveraging its many decades and avenues of experience to further aerospace and defense technology. Among the many innovations is the MQ-25 Stingray which will be the worlds first autonomous aircraft. The Stingray is only one of many areas of research that also include drones and undersea vehicles. A manhunt was underway on Saturday in northwest Washington state for a gunman who opened fire with a rifle in a shopping mall and killed five people before disappearing under the cover of darkness, authorities said, Reuters reported. The suspect entered the Cascade Mall in Burlington, around 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle, and began shooting at about 7 p.m. local time on Friday in the cosmetics section of a Macy's department store, police said. The unidentified suspect, who police described on Twitter as an Hispanic male, initially walked into the shopping center without the rifle but surveillance video later caught him brandishing the weapon, said Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department at briefing on Saturday. The rifle was later recovered at the mall, said Cammock, who is commander of the Skagit County Multi-Agency Response Team. Four women were killed in the rampage, which police believe was carried out by a lone gunman. Later a man who was seriously wounded in the shooting died at a local hospital. None of the victims were identified. Steve Sexton, the mayor of Burlington, described the shooting as a "senseless act." "It was the world knocking on our doorstep and it came to our little community here," he said before acknowledging the response by law enforcement. "I know now our support goes with them to bring this son of a bitch to justice." Authorities offered no information about a possible motive for the attack, which followed a series of violent outbursts at shopping centers across the United States, including the stabbing of nine people at a Minnesota center last weekend. "We have no indication that we have a terrorism act," said Michael Knutson, assistant special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Seattle office. "I can't discount that, but I can't conclude it either." After the shooting, police and rescue workers worked their way through the mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers, some of whom locked themselves in dressing rooms. The mall remained closed on Saturday as investigators sifted for evidence and attempted to recreate the crime scene. Cammock said police had no clues about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect, and asked the public for help in tracking him down. Authorities released a grainy photo of the suspect taken by a surveillance camera. It shows a young male in his late teens or mid-20s with short dark hair, dressed in dark shorts and T-shirt and carrying a rifle. Local authorities searched through the night for the gunman and warned residents to remain indoors, though later said the area was safe. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates as the bank holding company for NBH Bank that provides various banking products and financial services to commercial, business, and consumer clients in the United States. It offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and other deposit accounts, including fixed-rate and fixed maturity time deposits. The company also provides commercial and industrial loans and leases, such as working capital loans, equipment loans, lender finance loans, food and agriculture loans, government and non-profit loans, owner occupied commercial real estate loans, and other commercial loans and leases; non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans consisting of loans on commercial properties, such as office buildings, warehouse/distribution buildings, multi-family, hospitality, and retail buildings; small business administration loans to support manufacturers, distributors, and service providers; term loans, line of credits, and real estate secured loans; residential real estate loans; and consumer loans. In addition, it offers treasury management solutions comprising online and mobile banking, commercial credit card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, electronic bill payment, lock box, remote deposit capture, merchant processing, cash vault, controlled disbursements, and fraud prevention services, as well as other auxiliary services, including account reconciliation, collections, repurchase accounts, zero balance accounts, and sweep accounts. As of January 20, 2022, the company operated through a network of 81 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, New Mexico, Utah, and Texas. It also operates 121 ATMs. The company was formerly known as NBH Holdings Corp. and changed its name to National Bank Holdings Corporation in March 2012. National Bank Holdings Corporation was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. KAR Auction Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides used vehicle auctions and related vehicle remarketing services for the automotive industry in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. The company operates through two segments, ADESA Auctions and AFC. The ADESA Auctions segment offers whole car auctions and related services to the vehicle remarketing industry through online auctions and auction facilities. It also provides value-added services, such as auction related, transportation, reconditioning, inspection, title and repossession administration and remarketing, vehicle research, and analytical services, as well as data as a service. This segment sells its products and services through vehicle manufacturers, fleet companies, rental car companies, finance companies, and others. As of December 31, 2021, this segment had a network of approximately 70 vehicle logistics center locations in North America. The AFC segment offers floorplan financing, a short-term inventory-secured financing to independent used vehicle dealers; and sells vehicle service contracts. The company provides wheel repair and hail catastrophe response services. It serves vehicle manufacturers, vehicle rental companies, financial institutions, commercial fleets and fleet management companies, and dealer customers. The company was formerly known as KAR Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to KAR Auction Services, Inc. in November 2009. KAR Auction Services, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. The company provides Alimta for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma; Cyramza for metastatic gastric cancer, gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma, metastatic NSCLC, metastatic colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma; Erbitux for colorectal cancers, and various head and neck cancers; Retevmo for metastatic NSCLC, medullary thyroid cancer, and thyroid cancer; Tyvyt for relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's lymph and non-squamous NSCLC; and Verzenio for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer, node positive, and early breast cancer. It offers Olumiant for rheumatoid arthritis; and Taltz for plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis. The company offers Cymbalta for depressive disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain; Emgality for migraine prevention and episodic cluster headache; and Zyprexa for schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and bipolar maintenance. Its Bamlanivimab and etesevimab, and Bebtelovimab for COVID-19; Cialis for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia; and Forteo for osteoporosis. The company has collaborations with Incyte Corporation; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; AbCellera Biologics Inc.; Junshi Biosciences; Regor Therapeutics Group; Lycia Therapeutics, Inc.; Kumquat Biosciences Inc.; Entos Pharmaceuticals Inc.; and Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Read More Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently visiting the United States, will separately meet U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday, campaign sources and Israeli officials said, Reuters reported. The meetings will take place a day before Clinton and Trump face off in a first presidential debate but no details of where or when the meetings will take place were immediately available. Netanyahu traveled to the United States this week to address the U.N. General Assembly and met U.S. President Barack Obama and a number of other world leaders. Earlier this week, Clinton met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who also addressed the U.N. General Assembly. Trump also met Sisi. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. Syria's return to peaceful life has become almost an impossible task, Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin said Sunda, Sputnik reported. Churkin emphasized that Moscow will no longer agree with unilateral steps on Syrian settlement. "There are hundreds of militant groups wielding across Syria. Country's territory is bombed by anyone who feels like doing it. Syria's return to peace has become almost an impossible task," Churkin said speaking at the UN Security Council. "Constantly new conditions [for cessation of hostilities in Syria] were put forward. We have always sought compromise, but ultimately this leads to the fact that the rebels and the armed groups carry out new attacks, then there was a requirement stating that the Syrian government had to unilaterally stop flights by its armed forces. And initially that was for three days and we did agree to that. Unilateral steps are something that we will not agree to any more." He also stressed the necessity to resume the political process settlement in Syria. "We need to renew the political process. Quite frankly speaking it is not clear to us why decisive steps in this area have not been taken since May," Churkin told the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura speaking at the UN Security Council. France, the UK and the US called an emergency UN Security Council meeting over the situation in Syria's Aleppo. Turkey and Russia are currently in talks over a protocol to coordinate combat flights in the Syrian airspace to prevent incidents, a Turkish military said, Hurriyet Daily News reported. While working on a draft protocol, both sides reached a "gentlemans agreement," the source said. According to the agreement, one side must not enter the area where the other side is conducting combat operations. The decision to coordinate combat flights over Syria was made on September 15 at a meeting in Ankara between Russian Military Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar. This was the first visit by a Russian high-profile military commander to Turkey after a Turkish jet shot down a Russian bomber over Syria in November 2015. After the incident, contacts between the Russian and Turkish militaries were suspended. During the meeting, Moscow and Ankara agreed to establish a direct hot line as well as communication channels between the Russian and Turkish air forces to prevent incidents. "Work to accomplish the protocol continues at the highest level," a Turkish army source told the newspaper. If signed, the protocol will be an important step in building cooperation between Turkey and Russia on the Syrian battlefield. The Turkish military has provided Russia with the coordinates of the areas where it is operating. In return, Russian warplanes will not enter those areas. "Our communication with Russia functions perfectly," the source said. Russia is acting very carefully to avoid violations of Turkish airspace and regularly provides information about its flights in nearby areas. The need to reach a protocol coordinating combat flights became urgent after the Turkish military launched the Euphrates Shield military operation in Syria on August 24. Then, Russian newspaper Izvestia reported that the Russian Defense Ministry had requested information on Turkeys military campaign in Syria in order to prevent aerial incidents. Schools and libraries in the Charlottesville area will join others across the county this week to celebrate literature that has been challenged or banned based on its content. The purpose of Banned Books Week 2016, which started Sunday and will end Saturday, is to celebrate the freedom to read, according to the American Library Associations website. Each year, Banned Books Week highlights books that have been targeted or challenged in schools and libraries across the nation for various reasons such as material containing drug use, sexually explicit references, religious viewpoints, homosexuality and so on and was first held in 1982, according to bannedbooksweek.org. John Halliday, executive director of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, said the idea of Banned Books Week is to highlight and appreciate the freedom to read and help make people aware of it by showcasing these works. The freedom to read really is essential to our democracy and it is frequently under attack, he said, and so once a year its good to take some time to reflect on that and to be thankful for the freedom that we have to read and express ourselves in the United States. In Albemarle County Public Schools, some media centers will display books that have been challenged in past years. Beck Fisher, who oversees the media centers for the county schools, said the decision to put up a display is down to those who work in school media centers. Part of what the librarians try to do is leverage this as an opportunity to connect kids to books, she said. At the display in Western Albemarle High School, books were covered with a written description of why it had been targeted and challenged. For C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, it attempts to animalize Christ, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley makes promiscuous sex look fun. And even Anne Frank: The Diary of a Girl has been challenged because its a real downer. According to bannedbooksweek.org, some of the most challenged books of 2015 in schools and libraries were Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James for sexually explicit material, Looking for Alaska by John Green for offensive language, Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin because it is offensive and anti-family, and because it expresses a religious viewpoint. Fisher said Banned Books Week is a good way for students to recognize and celebrate their First Amendment rights, as well as to push them to develop their critical thinking and to expand their worldview. And if banned books is a path to do that, thats great, she said. JMRL will celebrate Banned Books Week at several of its branches. The Crozet Branch will feature an I Read Banned Books photo booth, the Gordon Branch will showcase a display of challenged books and the Louisa Branch will host an escape room from Thursday through Saturday. The Central Branch also will feature a photo booth, and will host a Banned Books Week reading at Tin Whistle Irish Pub at 5 p.m. Thursday. A display of frequently challenged books is on display at the Central Branch near the photo booth similar to the one at the Crozet Branch including some classic works such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Krista Farrell, assistant director at JMRL and branch manager at the Central Branch, said she believes public libraries have a responsibility to have a diverse collection of books, and Banned Books Week helps emphasize that. And for 2016, Banned Books Week is focusing on diversity by promoting the works of diverse writers whose work has been challenged, such as Alice Childress, Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, according to bannedbooksweek.org. Everyone has a different viewpoint and all viewpoints need to be represented, and to try to pull a book based on one persons viewpoint and keep it from other people is not what public libraries are about, Farrell said. When it was released in 2011, Academically Adrift shed an unflattering light on higher education. The book co-written by University of Virginia sociology professor Josipa Roksa combed through student surveys, transcripts and testing data showing that colleges were failing to teach students the analytical skills needed to succeed in the real world. About 36 percent of the 2,300 students studied by Roksa and co-author Richard Arum showed no significant improvement in these skills in four years of college. In their latest book, Roksa, Arum and co-author Amanda M. Cook take on a more difficult question: how can colleges fix it? In Improving Quality in American Higher Education: Learning Outcomes and Assessments for the 21st Century, the authors argue that accountability is the key. Faculty need to think about what they want students to learn what should they know by the time their graduate? and build their coursework around that. Most importantly, colleges need to test students to ensure theyre leaving college with more than a credential. This isnt a new insight by any means, but it is something that deserves more attention in higher education today, said Cook, a program manager with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Lawmakers and administrators have begun talking about using data and mandatory reporting to hold schools accountable. But the researchers say officials are looking at the wrong things, including income levels immediately after graduation and early employment outcomes. And these accountability discussions, Roksa said, are missing faculty voices. I think the only way to fix this problem is to engage the faculty, she said. The authors spoke with experts in six different fields around 70 academics in total about what they believe students majoring in their subject need to learn during their time in college. They found that faculty members in the same discipline mostly agreed on what students need to learn. Most agreed that analytical skills were more important than recalling information from memory. For example, the list compiled by biology faculty includes understanding how to read data and critically evaluate the conclusions reached by other scientists. To be sure, content is crucial, but not in the form of facts that can be memorized, write the authors in the books opening chapter. Rather, content matters insofar as it serves as a building block for more complex forms of thinking. If faculty in economics or biology can come to a consensus on what students should know by the end of four years, they can come up with tests that meaningfully measure students progress. The authors envision tests that could be useful for employers and make it simpler for students to transfer credits from one institution to another. But this isnt standardized testing in the top-down fashion used in the K-12 world. Roksa, Arum and Cook write that colleges should have the freedom to opt in or out, or pick measures that fit their institution. In short, its a bottom-up approach that emphasizes learning outcomes, rather than employment or incomes. In some ways, its a reaction to the current public discussion that looks at college education in cost-benefit terms. Arum now the dean of the School of Education at the University of California-Irvine said faculty members are eager to change the tone of the conversation, but feel theyre being left out. Faculty that we were working with were worried that there is too little attention to improving student learning in higher education and that many of the top-down efforts such as imposing accountability systems based on looking at early employment outcomes are wrong-headed and will be counterproductive, he said. Roksa said this consumerist attitude is at the heart of a cultural problem in higher education. Many students, Roksa said, come to college with the attitude that they are paying customers, and institutions are all too happy to oblige. This is the reason students are receiving higher average grades while studying less, she said its a lack of rigor that colleges will need to combat moving forward. Its part of a larger problem of how we treat students like consumers, Roksa said. Weve moved toward personal development as opposed to academics. Turkish military officials are in touch with their American counterparts on a possible joint military operation against Daesh's headquarters in Raqqa, Erdogan said, Daily Sabah reported. "We have shared with them our preconditions to join this operation." However, the US's attitude toward the Raqqa operation is yet to be clear, he noted. "If the US wants to conduct the operation with the PKK's Syrian offshoots, the PYD and YPG, Turkey will definitely be part of it. If not, we will surely support it." Officials from the military, Foreign Ministry and intelligence will deliberate on various plans once the US's attitude becomes clear, Erdogan said. "Another sensitive topic is the freeing of Mosul, where Arabs and our Turkmen compatriots live. Whether the US shares our sensitivities or not, I don't know but their attitude seems positive. It is said that a military operation to free Mosul will be launched on Oct. 19. We'll see what happens." However, Turkey, which is hosting millions of refugees from Syria and Iraq, needs to be ready for all eventualities, argued Erdogan, adding that cooperation between Arabs and the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) peshmergas who benefitted from the train-and-equip program was of paramount importance for the Mosul operation. He said the US administration's policies on Syria were so confused that when he asked U.S. Vice President Joe Biden about two plane-loads of weapons delivered to Kobani for the PYD just a few days ago, he claimed ignorance. "I told him, 'You say that but I know it.' How can this happen? Only the next day [Secretary of Defense Ash] Carter said, 'We hand them weapons and will continue to do so.'" When Pastor James Kilby visited a Baptist Church in Browntown and met a pastor from Liberia enlisting donations to fill a canister, he had no idea the encounter would change his life. The West African minister told him, I know some Kilbys back in Liberia! That encounter led to connecting with a long-lost relative, William Kilby, living in Liberia and the forging of a relationship through email and phone. Seven long years after first making contact, James and his sister waited for a flight to bring William to Virginia. She waited at the gate with a sign bearing his name so hed be able to find the woman hed never met. We bonded right away at the airport, James said. When she brought him out to the car, he embraced me like hes known me all of his life. The men believe their common ancestor was named Randell Kilby, perhaps going by Jimmy, a businessman who traveled to Liberia around 1850. He settled near Grand Kola. As far as we know, he had something to do with coffee, said William. Most of the first and second generations of Kilbys to land on the shores of Liberia are long gone. Were the third and fourth generation now, said William, whos married to Jennifer. The couple have four children ranging in age from 15 to 32. Theres also a headstone for a Mary Elizabeth Kilby dating from the 1800s in a cemetery in Liberia, but the two men arent sure how she ties into the family. If they can learn more about her, they believe, many of their questions may be answered. Some relative must have taken her there, said James. And we believe the Kilbys that went to Liberia came from Virginia. Despite an oceans distance and the passage of time, the men share remarkable similarities. James Kilby has been pastor at First Baptist Church in Little Washington, VA for several years. William Kilby is pastor at Chocolate City Baptist Church in Gardnersville, Liberia. In addition to being pastors, theyre both social activists. James Kilby wrote to South African President Frederick Willem de Klerk in the mid 1990s urging an end to apartheid in the racially split nation. When the ebola virus swept through three African countriesLiberia, Sierra Leone and Guineaearlier this year, William Kilby wrote a letter thanking U.S. President Barack Obama for sending about 3,000 public health officials and American service members to help fight the spread of the deadly disease. William Kilby has been enjoying his six-week journey to the United States. He was last here in 2006, to visit his mother, Luvenie, and sister, Beatrice, living in Georgia. Hes also traveling to Texas to meet James sister. The most remarkable things about this trip to the U.S., according to the Liberian, are the fellowship from area churches and experiencing this new family connection. The people are hospitable, friendly and welcoming he said. And the roads, he said, laughing. You have a great road network here. Also, I met more Kilbys than I expected. Black Kilbys, white Kilbys. So many many Kilbys. During his visit to the area, William preached at a recent homecoming service at his cousins church in Rappahannock, speaking on the topic of Why we come home. He also participated in a meeting and services held at the Wayland Blue Ridge Baptist Association facility in Rixeyville. In addition to simply meeting his family here in Virginia, William Kilby hopes to forge sister church relationships with one or more Baptist congregations in the region. Hes seeking some assistance through donations to launch a school at the church. We really have needs back home for our church, he said. We need school supplies, choir robes and hymnals. Wed also like to have some computers in order to make it a 21st century kind of church. Liberia is home to about 150 Baptist churches, many of them in need, he added. The two men also dont believe its a coincidence they connected seven years ago and met in person this month. I believe that we have to believe that God was in the plan, said James. This is the way to get the Kilby family together. The Culpeper Ruby Tuesday survived the chopping block in August by not making the list of 95 underperforming casual dining restaurants in the chain closing their doors across the country this fall. In August, Ruby Tuesdays corporate office representatives announced the closures would take place by the end of September. Melissa Calandruccio, representing investor relations for Ruby Tuesday, said Sunday that to her knowledge, there are no plans to close [the Culpeper location] right now. We re-evaluate our restaurants at least quarterly or as their leases expire, but if its still currently open, it was not one of the ones that we closed in that announcement. It will remain open for the near future. Ruby Tuesday still operates 724 locations nationwide, including the two locations in Fredericksburg. Total revenue at the chain fell 5.9 percent in the latest quarter according to the August news release. The decision to close restaurants is a difficult but necessary step as we take aggressive actions to strengthen our organization. Performance at each of these locations, despite the loyalty of valued guests and the efforts of our dedicated employees, was not meeting expectations. Located in Dominion Square Shopping Center on James Madison Highway, the national burger chain is known for its salad bar, cocktails and family atmosphere. Other nearby national restaurant chains in Culpeper that compete for similar clientele include Glory Days Grill, Chilis Grill & Bar and Buffalo Wild Wings. Ruby Tuesday restaurants in Virginia that closed included locations in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Roanoke and Virginia Beach. Other states closures included Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, according to Clark.com, a consumer report website. Rhonda Simmons can be reached at rsimmons@starexponent.com or 540/825-6397. Turkish army will move further south in the Syrian territory to create a "de facto safe zone" of 5,000 square kilometers in the Manbij region, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Chavusoglu said, Anadolu reported. "First we should go down at least 45 kilometers [30 miles] to close the Manbij pocket. And this area can be a de facto safe zone. It is around 5,000 square kilometers," Chavusoglu told France 24 broadcaster in an interview. On Aug. 24 morning, the Turkish Air Force, with the support of the coalition aircraft, launched an operation to liberate the city of Jarabulus from the IS militants in northern Syria, near Aleppo. The operation was dubbed Shield of the Euphrates. Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives. Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The IS, YPG and PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria. A bomb planted by the PKK terrorist group hit a freight train in eastern Van province on Sunday, injuring two personnel and damaging four wagons, the regional governors office said, Anadolu reported. According to Van Governors Office, the explosives had been planted on the railway track. "The train's locomotive was damaged and burnt, while four wagons derailed," the statement said, adding an investigation into the incident had been launched. Earlier, the local railway station directorate in the provinces Saray district told Anadolu Agency that PKK terrorists detonated the bomb when the TCDD-53032 train passed by as it came from the Kapikoy border gate located along the Turkish-Iranian border, 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away from Saray. The PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year. Since then, PKK terrorist attacks have martyred more than 600 security personnel and also claimed the lives of many civilians, including women and children, while more than 7,000 PKK terrorists were killed in army operations. It is said that "The Seven Deadly Sins" Season 2 will center on Ban's quest to resurrect an important person in his life. (Photo : YouTube/DeadlySins) "The Seven Deadly Sins," which is an anime set in the medieval period where the world is ruled by kings, Queens, princes, princesses and knights , will still focus on human and non-human co-existence theme on its second season. According to reports, "The Seven Deadly Sins" Season 2 will be based on the manga series storyline created by Nakaba Suzuki. The manga was first released in 2012 on the Weekly Shonen Jump and it continues to be published at present. Advertisement Recently, reports on the purported storyline of "The Seven Deadly Sins" Season 2 continue to grow. Accordingly, the focus of "The Seven Deadly Sins" Season 2 is princess Elizabeth and her search for the Seven Deadly Sins. For those who have not yet watched the anime, Seven Deadly Sins, in reality, are Knights who are believed to have the power to restore peace and order to the world. According to a number of reports, the second installation of the hit anime series will commence after the conclusion of the spinoff, "The Seven Deadly Signs: Signs of Holy War." It can be remembered that the producers were overwhelmed by the strong support the first season of the anime received, prompting them to release the OVA episode currently aired in TBS in Tokyo. The continuing success, even by its OVA, is the reason why fans keep on believing that "The Seven Deadly Sins" Season 2 is coming. Furthermore, in the last episode of the OVA, a teaser shows Gowther, Elizabeth Liones and Merlin Ban, the King, and Diane, while Meliodas was specially focused as he is the lead in the manga. At present, reports on what else will be featured in season 2 are scarce. In other news, the complete episodes of "The Seven Deadly Sins" in Blu-ray/DVD format is expected to be launched on Jan. 11, 2017. Aside from the DVD itself, there will also be giveaways of free ticket form for the upcoming The Seven Deadly Sins Fest event. Microsofts Xbox Wireless Controller Samsung's Gear VR headset is not bundled with a controller and it is required for the best virtual reality games including "Minecraft" developed by Microsoft-owned Mojang. Xbox Wireless Controller is shipped with the new Xbox One S console and includes built-in Bluetooth connectivity for PCs and Android devices. The tech giant has just launched a software update for the wireless controller that can be activated from an Xbox One console or Windows 10 PC. Advertisement "Minecraft" for Gear VR is also required. That is the only game that supports the wireless controller now but Microsoft guarantees all future controller-supported Gear VR games such as "End Space," "Herobound," "Omega Agent," and "Spirit Champion" will work with the Xbox accessory. Navin Kumar is a Senior Marketing Manager at Microsoft. He explained "Minecraft: VR Edition" allows gamers to build, explore, and battle from a new perspective. Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have the top specs among VR headsets. Meanwhile, the $99 Gear VR works with the newest Samsung smartphones, such as Galaxy 7 and Galaxy 7 Edge, while the $400 PlayStation VR to ship later this year will work with Sony's PS4. Kumar shared that Microsoft is gradationally allowing gamers to play video games anywhere and on any device. It seems to be keeping that promise by expanding the Xbox Wireless ecosystem to Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs, and adding the Xbox Wireless Controller to Samsung's mobile devices. This is not the first teaming up between Microsoft and Facebook. The Oculus Rift is bundled with an Xbox One Controller without Bluetooth, and it is likely Oculus will team up with Microsoft for the Xbox Scorpio to launch by the holiday season 2017, according to The Verge. In related news, Crystal Dynamics has added new content to "Rise of the Tomb Raider" for PS4, according to Gamereactor UK. The new game featuring Lara Croft celebrates the franchise's 20th anniversary. This new "Tomb Raider" game includes an extra hour of gameplay titled Blood Ties. It can be played using the PSVR headset or without the VR accessory. The title also is getting a survival horror mode named Lara's Nightmare, and an online multiplayer mode named Endurance. Here's a review of Xbox Elite Wireless Controller: Sony Xperia XZ (Photo : YouTube / Sony Xperia) In the previous month, Sony had released the list of Sony Xperia smartphones and tablets that would be updated to Android 7.0 Nougat. Now, a leaked document from Sony Slovakia has revealed the Nougat update roadmap for the Xperia lineup. In August, Sony Mobile had officially confirmed that Sony Xperia X Performance, Xperia X, Xperia XA, Xperia XA Ultra, Xperia X, Xperia Z5 Premium, Xperia Z5 Compact, Xperia Z5, Xperia Z4 Tablet, and Xperia Z3+. However, it did not reveal the exact timeframe of Android 7.0 Nougat roll out for these devices. Advertisement According to Xperia Blog, a leaked document from a presentation by Sony Slovakia has revealed the Android 7.0 Nougat update release schedule for Sony Xperia devices. Sony had released Xperia XZ at the start of this month through the IFA 2016 event. The Sony Xperia XZ is not included in the list of devices that will receive Android N update as it was announced before the launch of Xperia XZ. Citing the leaked document, the publication has reported that Android N will be available for Xperia XZ by October. The Xperia X Performance, the other 2016 flagship from the company is also slated to be blessed with Nougat update in October. Both smartphones constitute the first update cycle. Even before the official release of Android N update for Xperia X Performance in October, owners of this smartphone can now update to the latest Android N software by joining the Xperia Beta Program that is available in countries like Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The Sony Xperia X and Xperia X Compact are next in the line to get Android N upgrade by November. These phones belong to the second update cycle. The other smartphones from Sony Xperia Z5 series that include Sony Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia Z5 Compact along with other smartphones such as Xperia Z3+ and Xperia Z4 Tablet are slated to get Android Nougat upgrade in December this year. These smartphones belong to the third update cycle. The fourth update cycle includes Sony Xperia XA and Xperia XA Ultra. These smartphones are going to receive Android N update in early 2017. Rest of the smartphones from 2015 are now speculated to receive the Android N upgrade later in 2017. Here is a hands-on video of Android 7.0 Nougat update features. With a number of corporate houses promoting sons and daughters of their promoters to leadership positions, many of these companies have begun giving hefty remuneration packages to them. New Delhi: From Ambanis and Adanis to Premjis and Khorakiwalas, several generation-next leaders of India's leading family-run businesses have joined crorepati club when it comes to their salaries and other perks. With a number of corporate houses promoting sons and daughters of their promoters to leadership positions, many of these companies have begun giving hefty remuneration packages to them for their "increased responsibilities" and "active involvement" in exploring new business opportunities. Still, the annual pay of these next-generation leaders remains relatively low, as against the overall average payout of over Rs 20 crore for CEOs of India's top-listed companies forming part of Sensex and only a fraction of the same in the US at close to USD 20 million (about Rs 130 crore). Gujarati industrialist Gautam Adani's son Karan, who was appointed CEO of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, did not draw any remuneration from the company for fiscal 2015-16, but the board has approved an annual remuneration for him of up to Rs 1.5 crore, including salary, perks and other benefits, with effect from September 1, 2016. As Chairman and Managing Director of the company, Gautam Adani got total remuneration of Rs 2.8 crore in 2015-16, while Whole Time Director Malay Mahadevia got Rs 10.7 crore. In case of Anil Ambani's son Anmol, who was recently appointed as Director on the board of the group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, the company has proposed a salary of Rs 10 lakh per month. Reliance Capital will seek shareholders' approval on the upcoming AGM on September 27 for various proposals, including Anmol Ambani's appointment as Executive Director for a period of five years as well as for the remuneration to be paid. In the shareholders' notice, the company said his salary would be Rs 10 lakh per month. In addition to the salary, perquisites and allowances, he will also be entitled to receive commission based on next profit of the company. Anmol,24, has been working in various financial services businesses within Reliance Capital since 2014 and has a degree from Warwick Business School in the UK. Salaries of Mukesh Ambani's children Akash and Isha could not be ascertained, though they are said to be playing key roles in Reliance Industries group's telecom and retail ventures. Sudarshan Venu, son of TVS Motor's Venu Srinivasan, got annual remuneration of Rs 9.59 crore for 2015-16, while the company last month sought shareholders' approval for revising his remuneration as Joint Managing Director. Explaining the proposal, the company said in its AGM notice, "The board reviewed the remuneration payable to him after taking into consideration his active involvement in all spheres of management for exploring business opportunities both in India and abroad and felt that, JMD can be compensated by way of enhanced commission. "The board was of the opinion that the existing remuneration was considerably inadequate, when compared with the industry norms and similarly placed senior management personnel of the company." As Chairman and MD of TVS Motor, Sudarshan Venu's total remuneration of Rs 13.88 crore in 2015-16, while his package has also been proposed to be revised for the current fiscal. At IT major Wipro, Azim Premji's son Rishad serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Director and his remuneration for 2015-16 stood at Rs 2.15 crore. The same for his father was Rs 2.17 crore, down from Rs 4.78 crore in the fiscal 2014-15. Wockhardt has disclosed remuneration of Rs 1.32 crore for 2015-16 to its Chairman Habil Khorakiwala, while the same for his sons Huzaifa (Executive Director) and Murtaza (Managing Director) stood at Rs 1.328 crore each. His daugther Zahabiya Khorakiwala runs Wockhardt Hospitals, but her salary details could not be ascertained. At another pharma major Cipla, Samina Vaziralli, niece of Chairman Y K Hamied, got total remuneration of Rs 2.47 crore as Executive Director in 2015-16. She was made Executive Director in July last year. She became Executive Vice Chairman with effect from September 1, 2016. Chairman Y K Hamied said in his message to shareholders, "As we see a transformation to the next generation of the Hamied family, I have no doubt that in Samina Vaziralli we have a trustee who will preserve, inspire and enhance the spirit that we call Cipla." However, there are also a few generation-next leaders with annual remuneration below Rs 1 crore level. At Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd, Kishore Biyani's daugther Ashni's total remuneration for 2015-16 as Whole Time Director was Rs 69.09 lakh, which was same in preceding year. In case of Suzlon Energy, Tulsi Tanti's daughter Nidhi was paid a remuneration of Rs 25 lakh in fiscal 2015-16, up from Rs 12 lakh in 2014-15. In comparison, Tulsi Tanti's total remuneration stood at Rs 1.58 crore for the last fiscal. At DLF, Chairman K P Singh's remuneration stood at Rs 4.37 crore while that of son and Vice Chairman Rajiv Singh was Rs 4.42 crore in 2015-16. Pia Singh, daughter of K P Singh, was Rs 29.6 lakh for her role as Whole Time Director till May 20, 2015, after which she became a non-executive director (remuneration of Rs 33 lakh). In its annual report, DLF has also disclosed as "salary and wages" totalling Rs 1.97 crore for Renuka Talwar, also daughter of K P Singh. China will Defend Pakistan against an Attack by India A Chinese and a Pakistani soldier at a joint drill. (Photo : Sina) In no uncertain terms, China has said it will militarily support Pakistan in the event of foreign aggression against its "iron brother." The stark warning directed against India comes against the backdrop of dangerous tensions along the Line of Control separating Pakistan from Indian-administered Kashmir. Advertisement Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sept.21 at the UN General Assembly demanded an independent probe into what he called "the extra-judicial killings" and "atrocities" in Kashmir committed by India against the Muslim-majority Kashmiris and to punish those responsible. Three days previously, a suicide squad of four Kashmiri "fedayeen" penetrated an Indian Army base at the town of Uri in Kashmir and launched a gun and grenade attack that killed 18 soldiers. All four attackers were later killed. It was the largest loss of life suffered by the Indian Army in a single attack in two years in Muslim-majority Kashmir. It occurred despite the Army being on its toes with the activation of Operation Calm Down the week before. India accused Pakistan of being responsible for the Uri attack, an allegation Pakistan denied. China's staunch expression of support was followed by a statement supporting Pakistan's stand on the Kashmir dispute. "In case of any (foreign) aggression our country will extend its full support to Pakistan," said Yu Boren China's Consul General in Lahore. Yu also said China will continue supporting Pakistan through thick and thin. Beijing relayed the message during a meeting of its top diplomat in Lahore with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. "We're and will be siding with Pakistan on 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," said a Chinese statement. On the other hand, the United States has come down on the side of India in this argument. The U.S. said it is committed to a "strong partnership" with India to combat terrorism in a statement following the Uti assault. "The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on an Indian Army base in Kashmir during the early morning of September 18," said State Department spokesman John Kirby. Akshay's last release was the super successful 'Rustom'. Mumbai: Akshay Kumar has had one helluva year, with a hat-trick of hundred crore grossers and has an interesting cluster of projects lined up. The actor, who's fiercely protective of his daughter Nitara, never misses an opportunity to spend time with her. Nitara who turned four, had a fun time playing with her superstar father in a mini-tub, as Akshay happily played 'crocodile' to a visibly thrilled Nitara. Twinkle Khanna tweeted an absolutely adorable picture of the father-daughter duo. Akshay, whose last release was the extremely successful 'Rustom,' sure is giving out some serious dad goals. Mumbai: As a mark of protest, popular comedian Raju Srivastav has cancelled his show in Pakistan because he does not have the heart to entertain those who murdered our soldiers. In a video that is now viral on Twitter, Raju has expressed his grief over the recent Uri attacks and how Pakistan has failed India. In the video, Srivastav was seen saying he has turned down an invitation to do a comedy show in Pakistan because of what has happened in Uri. He justifies this move by saying that comedy will not come from inside. Raju said: The situation that we are facing right now I dont think I can go to Pakistan to entertain those who murdered our soldiers. I cant do comedy from inside. I dont want to go to Pakistan. Our India is very good. The notorious Uri attack on September 18, which has got the entire nation mourning, saw 18 Indian soldiers losing their lives. Srivastav, who has seen the pain and suffering of the families of these martyrs, feels Pakistan has always betrayed this nation. He added, The soldiers who have died I have seen their families suffering. Pakistan always betrays us while we always send the message of friendship, but they are not getting anything from our friendship. The otherwise jolly comedian was very emotional about India and how everyone in this country is treated equally. Here, we have respect, love and humanity for each and everyone. We are happy here. I will not go to Pakistan to do the show, said the grief stricken comedian. It is not just Srivastav who has vehemently criticised the terror attack; the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Friday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani film and TV artistes to go back to Pakistan or face consequences. Watch the full video here: Mumbai: Her debut Bollywood film MS Dhoni: The Untold Story is yet to hit the screens but actress Disha Patani is already determined to cement herself in the industry as a performer and not just be yet another pretty face. Disha, who already has a host of advertisements in her kitty, shot to fame with Befikra, a music video featuring rumoured boyfriend Tiger Shroff, that released earlier this year. The actress says she was constantly getting offers for commercial roles in films, even before the music video, though she turned them all down as she thought they did not amply challenge her acting mettle. "I don't want to come across as a pretty looking girl. Because it is very easy, wear good clothes, wear good make-up, and you'll look good. I know my abilities. I know I can do action, dance, but these are the areas I want to go later because I know I can do well in that. Performance is one thing which has to be good because you're an actor," Disha was quoted as saying. The 21-year-old, who has no aversion to commercial flicks, however is uncomfortable with being restricted to a mere showpiece. "I want to do good work. I don't want to be an eye candy. I don't mind doing commercial films. Who doesn't want to do a good dance film? But only where I have a strong character. Not just be there like a showpiece in the film. That's something I want to stay away from. I know it is too early in my career to ask for, my first film isn't out yet, but it's something I believe in," she admitted candidly. Disha, who made her Tollywood debut last year, is quite clear about not wanting to chase stardom. "I don't want to become a star. I never wished to become an actor, even when I am here. When you decide to become an actor, you've to choose why you're doing it. Are you doing it to become an actor or because you want to be famous? I am doing it because I love being in front of the camera," she concluded. Mumbai: Tiger Shroff seems to be quite upset these days. Despite delivering action movies like Baaghi and A Flying Jatt this year, the actor seems to be unhappy with his talent agency for being unable to get fitness brands on board for endorsements. Despite having made his debut with a lover-boy image in Heropanti in 2014, Tiger seems to have been working on his action hero looks and even signed up for the superhero flick, A Flying Jatt, besides the high-octane Baaghi, with Shraddha Kapoor. A close source revealed his disappointment. Tiger is upset with his talent agency that fetches endorsements for him. This is since he didnt get any brand association despite delivering the Rs 100 crore movie Baaghi, the source said. The actor is keen to endorse fitness-related brands, and has been asking his agency to get some of these on board, but to no avail. Tiger also feels like he has competition from his contemporaries like Varun Dhawan and Sushant Singh Rajput, who have a huge list of endorsements under their belt. Leena Yadavs bold cinematic endeavour Parched has come under fire. Gujarats Rabari community has filed a PIL, seeking a ban on the film, claiming that it shows the community in poor light. Unperturbed and unwilling to buckle under pressure, the films director Leena Yadav says, Though the PIL was filed a day before our release, weve been receiving threats for weeks now. Our dialect specialist Nain Rana and my husband (cinematographer Aseem Bajaj, who is also the co-producer of Parched) have been getting threatening calls saying things like, You dont know what we can do. Were a community of seven lakh people. They have been trying to reach me too but they dont have my phone number. We are not giving in to any pressure tactics. Strangely, the film makes no mention of any community or geographical location. So how did the community feel slighted? Says Leena, By the clothes of one character. Tannishtha Chatterjee wears clothes worn by women in the community. But is that enough to decide that weve in any way been disrespectful? Weve received no notice as of now. Once we do, we will decide our course of action. London: Young children can make adult-like moral judgements from the age of four, according to a new study which suggests that the ability has often been underestimated in young kids. The researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the UK, conducted the study involving 138 children aged four to eight years old, and 31 adults. When making moral judgements, adults tend to focus on people's intentions rather than on the outcomes of their actions hurting someone intentionally is much worse than hurting them accidentally. However, the prevailing view in developmental psychology is that younger children's moral judgements are mainly based on the outcomes of actions, rather than the intentions of those involved. Despite decades of research there is still disagreement about whether this claim is correct. To address this, researchers led by Gavin Nobes of UEA's School of Psychology looked at the reasons for the findings of two of the most influential and frequently cited studies - published in 1996 and 2001 - both of which provide strong evidence that young children's moral judgements are mainly outcome-based. These studies also tested adults, something which enables researchers to establish the mature response against which children at various ages can be compared. Many of them also made outcome-based judgements, which prompted researchers to question the methods used. In the original studies children were asked if the action was good or bad. In the new study, the question was rephrased and participants were asked about the person who acted. Children were asked about pairs of stories in which accidents took place. In one the intention was good and the outcome bad, and in the other the intention was bad but the outcome good. When the original question was asked the findings were very similar to the previous studies. However, when the question was rephrased, the four to five-year-old's judgements were equally influenced by intention and outcome, and from five to six years they were mainly intention-based. The older children's and adult's judgements were essentially reversed, from almost exclusively outcome-based in response to the original question, to almost exclusively intention-based when the rephrased question was asked. "The long-held claim has been that young children judge according to the outcome of an event, rather than intention. If that is the case, then children's moral judgements are fundamentally different from adults," said Nobes. "However, our findings indicate that for methodological reasons, children's ability to make similar intention-based judgements has been substantially underestimated," he said. "We show that they can be remarkably adult-like in their thinking. The implication is that even young children, from around the age of four, can make intention-based moral judgements, just like adults," he added. It is pretty tough, protecting the body from extreme temperatures, rough surfaces, and most paper edges (Photo: AFP) New York: Researchers have developed a novel method that measures the limit to which human skin can be stretched, an advance that could help grow new skin for burn victims. "Surgeons use a variety of techniques to grow skin for tissue expansion procedures designed to grow skin in one region of the body so that it can be auto-grafted on to another site (sometimes used for burn victims)," said Guy German, assistant professor at Binghamton University in the US. "This procedure stretches the skin, typically, by inflating a balloon with air or silicone under the surface," said German. Skin grows more in regions where it is stretched - during pregnancy, for instance - but stretch it too much and the tissue might break," German said. The new predictive technique could be employed in this field as a method of predicting the limit to which the skin could be stretched. The outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, regulates water loss from the body and protects underlying living tissue from germs and the environment, in general. It is pretty tough, protecting the body from extreme temperatures, rough surfaces, and most paper edges. "Most people think skin is smooth and flat just like a Photoshopped advertisement. It is not. If you look at the back of your hand, skin has small triangular patterns on it," said German. "These shapes are caused by small canyons in the skin. Those canyons act just like notebook perforations when you tear a page out; they are weak points. We wanted to see how these topographical features acted as weak points of the skin," said German. Researchers, including those from State University of New York, assumed skin is smooth and without major cracks and looked how the toughness of skin varied significantly in relation to its water content. They found dry skin is brittle and easier to break than hydrated skin. Researchers then used advanced imaging to track skin deformation and stretching which, combined with the structure of the skin itself, correlates to where cracks in skin begin. This can help scientists and doctors predict where fractures may occur in the future. Next, scientists found that cracks in the skin are not straight; instead they follow topographical ridges of skin, which have triangular patterns. Researchers proved that most fractures propagate along cell-cell junctions rather than breaking the cells themselves. This does not always happen, but it suggests that cell junctions are structurally the weakest points of the skin. The results could help create new topical medical creams, soaps and cosmetic products. It may also be used in more extreme cases, researchers said. Currently CITES allows for trade in pangolins but under strict conditions (Photo: AFP) Reclusive, gentle and quick to roll up into a ball, pangolins keep a low profile. But they are also the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, and experts at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference this week are ringing alarm bells over their survival. Demand for pangolin meat and body parts has fuelled a bloodbath, and driven the scale-covered, ant-eating mammal towards extinction. More than a million pangolins are believed to have been poached from the wild in the past decade. Most are used to supply demand in China and Vietnam, where they are highly regarded as a delicacy and an ingredient in traditional medicine. At the CITES meeting in Johannesburg, conservationists will discuss moving pangolins into the highest protection category, which bans all international trade. "The pangolin today is regarded as the most heavily trafficked mammal in the world," CITES chief John Scanlon said. "There has been a massive surge in the illegal take of the pangolin for its meat and for its scales." Currently CITES allows for trade in pangolins but under strict conditions. "Existing laws are clearly failing to protect pangolins from the poachers. A complete international trade ban is needed now," said Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's wildlife advisor. There are four species of pangolin in Africa and four in Asia. Watchdogs say those in Asia are being eaten to extinction, while populations in Africa are declining fast. Research published in the early 2000s estimated populations in China to have declined by up to 94 percent, said Dan Challender, pangolin expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Curl into a ball Pangolins are covered in overlapping scales, and have pink, sticky tongues almost as long as their bodies. When physically threatened, they curl into ball, making it easy for them to be picked up by hunters and put into a sack. About the size of a small dog, they are solitary, mostly nocturnal and cannot be farmed. "Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity -- they only feed on wild ants and termites, and they are extremely prone to stress and dehydration, so they die," Ray Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, told AFP. In Chinese traditional medicine, pangolin scales are ground into a powder believed to cure conditions from headaches and menstrual cramps to nose bleeding and lack of virility. The scales are sometimes even used as guitar plectrums. In traditional African culture, some people believe in keeping a scale in their pockets to ward off evil. Zimbabweans used to present the mammals to President Robert Mugabe during his early years in office, but the practice has been discontinued. "In Shona and Zulu culture, a pangolin is regarded as the greatest gift you can bestow on a chief, statesman or an elder," said Jansen. Pangolin fat, blood and bones are also highly valued in African traditional medicine. According to Jansen, in South Africa a pangolin can sell for anything between 10,000 rand ($730) to 80,000 rand ($5,800) depending on the client. India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Senegal and the United States are co-sponsoring the proposal to impose a total ban on pangolin trade. The CITES treaty, signed by 182 countries and the European Union, protects about 5,600 animal and 30,000 plant species from over-exploitation through commercial trade. The 12-day conference started Saturday and will sift through 62 proposals to tighten or loosen trade restrictions on some 500 species. It first hinted at the divorce in a tweet (Photo: Twitter/AFP) People commonly find it hard to move over the negativity in the aftermath of a tragedy especially in times of social media, but then there are always those who see the upside of almost everything and are also quick to make the most of it. The world cannot move over the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie divorce which has been dominating headlines for quite a few days and has left people heartbroken. But while the world is still mourning the disaster, an airline is busy capitalising on it. Days after the couple decided to part ways, Norwegian Airlines marketed their London to LA with a tweet that read, Actor. LA. Newly Single. Seeks likeminded partner with GSOH. While the tweet in the wake of a celebrity divorce made it clear who it referred to, a print ad which announced Brad is single, left no room for doubt. Ok, #BradPitt - you need to see this; Norwegian airlines uses your for commercial purposes: Brad is single! Trips to LA from ... pic.twitter.com/OtljmVXBq9 Anja Lindtner (@AnjaLindtner) September 22, 2016 It cant be said how many of those with a crush on the star will book a flight to LA with the airline, but tweeple were clearly impressed by this smart marketing manoeuvre. Even as some did point out how a crisis in someones life was being used for a marketing campaign, everyone agreed on the creativity and presence of mind involved. Massachusetts: Scientific research into how polyester pants affect the sex life of rats, what it's like for a human to live like a badger and how different the world looks when viewed through your legs was honored at this year's Ig Nobel spoof awards. The group also took a dig at Volkswagen AG, lauding it in chemistry for engineering its vehicles to produce fewer emissions "whenever the cars are being tested." The prizes will be awarded for a 26th straight year at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Thursday by a group of actual Nobel Prize winners, and are intended to honor accomplishments in science and humanities that make one laugh, then think. "The prizes are for something pretty unusual," said Marc Abrahams, editor of the Annals of Improbable Research, and host of the awards. "Almost any other kind of award is for the best or worst. Best or worst is irrelevant to us." Timeliness is also of limited consideration: The Ig Nobel Reproduction Prize went to the late Ahmed Shafik of Egypt, who died in 2007, for a 1993 paper documenting that rats who wore polyester or polyester-cotton blend pants were less sexually active than those who wore cotton or wool pants or conformed to rat norms and wore no garments of any kind. The paper suggested that "electrostatic fields" created by polyester pants could play a role in impotence. "We have never heard of anybody else who carefully spent time examining what happens sexually to rats if you put pants on them," Abrahams said. Two Britons split this year's Biology Ig Nobel. Oxford University fellow Charles Foster, was honored for his book "Being a Beast," chronicling his experiments in living as a badger, including digging a den to sleep in and eating worms. Countryman Thomas Thwaites' work was in a similar vein; he built a set of prosthetic leg extensions to try living like a goat in Switzerland. Japan's Atsuki Higashiyama and Kohei Adachi were granted the Perception Ig Nobel for a paper on how objects look different when one bends over and views them through one's legs. Volkswagen's award was more ignominious, going to the company for equipping its vehicles with a "defeat device," which activated the emission controls of an engine undergoing government tests and deactivated them afterward. VW has already agreed to spend up to $16.5 billion to address U.S. environmental, state and owner claims. Indian Army patrol in the hills of Kashmir finds the going hard. (Photo : Indian Army) Faced with China's statement of military support for Pakistan should the latter be attacked by a "foreign aggressor," India is playing the only effective tool against Pakistan at its disposal: diplomatic isolation. A defiant Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India will mount a global campaign to isolate Pakistan from the rest of the world. He also accused Pakistan of being an "exporter of terrorism." Advertisement "We will isolate you. I will work for that," said Modi in his first speech after the attack on an Indian Army base in Uri, Kashmir last Sept. 18 that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Modi warned Pakistan that India will do all it can to make Pakistan a pariah state in the eyes of the world. "We will intensify it (our efforts) and force you to be alone all over the world," he said. Modi also noted terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and Afghanistan are being instigated from Pakistan. He accused Pakistan of trying to destabilize Asia by exporting terrorism. Modi revealed that in the last four months, Indian security forces killed 110 terrorists that allegedly crossed the Line of Control into Kashmir from Pakistani territory. "This is the only country (Pakistan) that is exporting terrorism in all corners," said Modi without directly naming Pakistan. "Wherever there is news of terror, there is news that either the terrorist first went to this country or later, after the incident, like Osama Bin Laden," he said at a rally in southern Kerala state. "We both gained independence in the same year but (today) India exports software and your leaders export terrorists," he said in a statement aimed at Pakistani citizens. "India has and never will bow down in the face of terrorism." Earlier, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said Pakistan is a hub of terrorism and is involved in subversive activities against India. "Pakistan has become a big center of terrorism and is resorting to subversive activities as it cannot win an open war with India," he pointed out. Bruce Riedel, a former CIA operative and long-time expert on the region said it's "been clear for several months that the Pakistan Army believes the situation in Kashmir is ripe for a re-intensification of the conflict and that India has few credible options to respond." Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert with the Wilson Center, said the attack might have been triggered by Modi's recent comments about human rights violations in Balochistan, the Pakistani province where an insurgency by the dominant Baloch people fighting for independence from Pakistan has been festering since 1948. He had chased after his dogs, who led him into the taiga (Photo: YouTube) Siberia: A Russian toddler who went missing in the Siberian taiga was found three days later, alive and healthy, Russian media and the emergencies ministry reported. Three-year-old Tserin disappeared from his home in a remote village in Tyva in southern Siberia last weekend. Left unattended, he had chased after his dogs, who led him into the taiga - a forest between the tundra and the steppes populated by wild animals ranging from bears and wolves to lynx and foxes. Three days of searches by more than 100 police and rescue workers, sniffer dogs and a helicopter yielded no result. Eventually, the boy heard his uncle calling and replied. He was just a few kilometers from his house. The first thing the little boy asked for was his toy car, a rescue worker said, according to local media. Tserin probably survived because he didn't panic, a local emergency worker was quoted as saying. The first thing he did after he got lost was finish some chocolate in one of his pockets. Then he laid down in a dry spot under a larch tree and fell asleep. Quite predictably, he has already been nicknamed Mowgli. Individuals who dislike traveling to and from work often try to offset negative emotions with fun distractions, like books or music Hate your lengthy commute? Youre not the only one a recent survey found that nearly half of American employees say that their commuting experience affects their time in the office. But if you use this time to prepare for your workday (instead of, say, reading or playing with your phone), new research suggests, you can actually boost career satisfaction. A recent Association for Psychological Science blog post looked at a Harvard Business School study examining how commuting behaviours influenced workers attitudes toward their professional lives. Researchers split 154 volunteer subjects into two groups; members of the control group were instructed by text message to go about their commutes as usual, but to pay close attention to how they spent their journeys. In contrast, a randomly-assigned goal-directed group received regular texts instructing them to think about ways to be more productive during their trips into the office. It said, Many people find it helpful to make a plan of their work day, or week ahead and reflect on how these plans will help them achieve their long-term personal and career goals. For example, what are the strategies you have for the week to be productive? The study lasted for six weeks. At the end, members of the second group who had devoted time and energy to focusing on work-related goals during their downtime reported feeling happier with their jobs, and less stressed out. The studys findings boil down to this notion you might not be able to change your long commute, but you can change your mindset. Individuals who dislike traveling to and from work often try to offset negative emotions with fun distractions, like books or music. But people who focus on their future goals and how they can achieve them will end up feeling more prepared and far more optimistic than their peers. Source: www.mentalfloss.com Ansar Khan (right) was arrested on Friday for faking a job at NASA and forging President Barack Obama's signature. (Photo: YouTube screen grab) Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh police on Friday arrested a youth who claimed to be an employee of United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and seized an identity card that had forged signature of US President Barack Obama. According to a report in NDTV, 20-year-old Ansar Khan from Kamlapur had told people in his town that he has been hired in NASAs Space and Food Research department and would receive an annual salary of Rs 1.85 crore. A primary school in Kamlapur felicitated him during the Independence Day function attended by local politicians. His fraud was busted after he went to meet Dewas superintendent of police Shashikant Shukla to invite him for the event. Shukla grew suspicious when he noticed the identity card hung around Khans neck and asked his officers to verify the claims of the youth, who is a class 12 pass out. The investigation revealed that Khan had the identity card printed from a photo studio and he had also borrowed money from several people, saying he would return the loan soon after receiving his salary from NASA. Our SP got suspicious after seeing his (Ansar's) identity card and we started our investigation. He had even taken money from people for going to abroad," police officer B. S. Gaure said. The photo studio owner told the police that Khan did not have a passport and he kept on postponing his date of going to the US, Gaure said. Khan has been booked for fraud and forgery, according to reports. The most contentious part in the draft relates to the definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will have to adopt into their own criminal law. (Photo: File) New Delhi: With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj set to make an address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday in the background of the Uri attack, India is building up momentum to push for consensus amongst member countries to adopt the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a draft of which, it had proposed way back in 1996. According to reports, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the CCIT would give legal teeth to prosecute terrorist acts. Indias ambassador at the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, even went further. He was quoted as saying that India was considering all options, including forcing "voting" on the CCIT. Former chief of UN Peace Keeping Forces Lt Gen (retd) Satish Nambiar was quoted as saying long before the developed world had begun to take cognisance of the threat of terrorism, India had proposed this draft with the aim to take a holistic approach and collective action to bring the perpetrators to justice. Ratification of such a convention by member states would bind them to action on the contents, the report said. There has been opposition from three main blocs since the CCIT draft was tabled first the United States (US), OIC and Latin American countries. The most contentious part in the draft relates to the definition of terrorism that all 193-members of the UNGA will have to adopt into their own criminal law. Other important provisions include binding countries to ban all terror groups and shut down terror camps regardless of their stated objectives, prosecute all terrorists under special laws, and to make cross-border terrorism an 'extraditable' offence. However, the draft was modified in 2013 to address the US concern that its troops engaged in war in the Middle East, which have been accused of human rights abuses, should be kept out of the ambit of the act. The OIC on the other hand is concerned about how the act will impact the Israel-Palestine conflict. At the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had particularly referred to the proposed convention. Sushma Swaraj's address on Monday is likely to push towards stronger consensus towards the CCIT. Currently, the CCIT draft is being discussed at the Sixth Ad Hoc Committee of the United Nations, set up by the General Assembly to supplement existing conventions against terrorism. The foetus has been sent for post-mortem examination and a case has been registered under section 316. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a five-month-old foetus was on Saturday 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. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a meeting on the Indus Water Treaty on Monday, amid calls from various quarters that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in wake of the Uri terror attack. According to sources, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and senior officials will brief the Prime Minister on the matter and discuss its pros and cons. 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. He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on "goodwill". He refused to elaborate and only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he has not said that the treaty was not working. Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. Chandrababu Naidu flew over Gurazala, Macherla and other villages in the region inspecting the damaged crops. (Photo: Twitter) Vijayawada: With heavy rains lashing Palnadu region of Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of the area for the second consecutive day on Sunday and promised all help from the state government. He flew over Gurazala, Macherla and other villages in the region inspecting the damaged crops and also the overflowing rivulets and streams. Naidu landed in Dachepalli and toured the villages in the area and interacted with the locals and promised full help from his government. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that all necessary relief like food and drinking water are provided to the rain-hit people. "Don't be lax. Ensure proper distribution of relief. Even if one person complains that he did not receive any relief, I will act tough on the officers," he warned. Standing crops, mostly paddy, chilli, and cotton, suffered extensive damage in over 41,000 hectares of Guntur district alone. "Full-scale enumeration of the losses will be completed soon and affected farmers will be compensated under the Pradhan Mantri Phasal Bima Yojana. The state government will also give input subsidy to farmers to raise alternative crops," he said. Naidu directed the Roads and Buildings Department to invite short-term tenders and complete repair and restoration of damaged roads within 30 days. "You have to complete temporary repairs in three days and restore road transport," he told the officials. Nine persons have so far died in rain-related incidents in the state - six in Guntur and three in Visakhapatnam. Train services on Guntur-Secunderabad section, remained disrupted in last four days. The rail tracks which were washed away at some places are likely to be revived by tomorrow. Meanwhile, 84,107 cusecs of water flowing into the K L Rao Sagar reservoir on Krishna river, upstream the Prakasam Barrage, is being discharged as the storage level remained steady at 30 tmc ft. At Prakasam Barrage, all 70 crest gates have been lifted to discharge 1,02,272 cusecs of water into the Bay of Bengal. Inflow into the barrage was recorded at 77,954 cusecs at 3 pm Sunday. The flood water also gushed into the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage on river Godavari at Dowlaiswaram near Rajamahendravaram. The SAC Barrage received 2,42,368 cusecs of water and all of it is being discharged into the Bay of Bengal. Amritsar: Heckled by BJP and Congress workers during his last visit to Punjab by train, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday chose to come by a plane but was again shown black flags by Congress women workers as his convey came out of the airport in Amritsar. A large group of Punjab Mahila Congress members led by its president Mamta Dutta protested against the alleged misgovernence by Kejriwal Government in the capital as the Aam Aadmi Party Chief reached here to campaign for the Assembly polls. After landing at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, Kejriwal straightway headed to Jalandhar where he was scheduled to attend a gathering of the Aggarwal community. With placards saying 'Kejriwal Go back', Congress activists alleged his MLAs were involved in outraging the modesty of women and the leader of such persons will not be tolerated in Punjab. Dutta also alleged that she was badly "pushed and manhandled" by a male constable during the protest and she sustained injuries on her face. Other women Congress activists also alleged that they were pushed and shoved by policemen when they attempted to intercept Kejriwal's cavalcade. After the incident, Congress activists staged a protest on the middle of road for one hour. On September 8, Mr Kejriwal was heckled by BJP, Congress and Akali Dal protesters at railway stations both in New Delhi and Ludhiana when he took a Shatabdi express from Delhi to reach Punjab for a four-day tour to boost the party's campaign in the state where polls are due early next year. New Delhi: The CBI has taken over the probe into the murder of Hanif Kadawala, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case who gave an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt, and registered a case against gangster Chhota Rajan and his accomplices in this regard. "The agency has taken over the probe into Kadawala's murder," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said. Sources said the investigating agency took over probe after a reference from the Maharashtra government in this regard. As per norms, the agency starts its probe from the FIR registered by the state police. They said a case has been registered against Chhota Rajan, his gang member Guru Satam and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act in connection with Kadawala's murder. Kadawala, who transported weapons to Mumbai (then Bombay) on the instructions of Tiger Menon which were used in the 1993 serial blasts, was killed on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan after the 12 blasts that had left 257 dead and more than 700 injured. Rajan, once considered a henchman of Dawood, parted ways with him after the blasts. It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hid the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutt's house. The actor had, however, denied any knowledge of conspiracy of blasts and was acquitted from charges under TADA in the case. The actor was convicted under the Arms Act. Kadawala was arrested on April 16, 1993 under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat coast to Mumbai but was released on bail five years later. In 2001, it was alleged that a person introducing himself as Yusuf repeatedly sought appointment with Kadawala regarding a deal. On February 7, 2001, three persons allegedly entered his office at Bandra (West) in Mumbai where two of his employees were also present. After a brief discussion, Kadawala was allegedly shot with a .32 revolver. He was severely injured and rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The sources said agency has also initiated a probe into the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty who was on May 4, 2001 killed allegedly by the members of Chhota Rajan's gang. Shetty was the owner of Golden Crown hotel in South Mumbai. Former Women naxals take part in an anti-Maoist operation in insurgency-hit Bastar district (PTI) Raipur: For the first time in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, three women commandos, who formerly fought against security forces alongside naxals, took part in an anti-Maoist operation in which two ultras were gunned down. Kosi, Phulo Markam and Kavita Kashyap, all assistant constables belonging to District Reserve Group (DRG), carrying automatic rifles, fought alongside their male counterparts against the armed cadres in the gun-battle Saturday, said Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash. The three women were earlier active as naxals in Bastar and surrendered before police last year, expressing their willingness to join the mainstream. The two maoists were killed last morning in the encounter in Burgum police station area that lasted about an hour, with a joint squad of DRG, Chhattisgarh Armed Force and district force in restive Sanguel forest. "It was for the first time in Bastar district when women commandos accompanied forces in the operation conducted deep inside the naxal hotbed," he added. After the surrender the three joined police force and were enrolled with state's DRG- a locally raised force of personnel recruited from among local youths and surrendered naxals, for activities meant for countering Maoists. "If Maoists can have women in their ranks, why not the security forces. These women commandos have been given special training in combating insurgency," Mr Dash said. About a dozen women personnel are working shoulder-to-shoulder with men in the DRG in Bastar. However, women DRG commandos have also been deployed in other districts of Bastar division (comprising 7 districts), the SP said without disclosing the exact number of such women personnel engaged in combat role in counter-naxal operations. These women commandos have been given advanced field crafts and tactics training at forces camps, the SP added. Citing operational benefits of deploying local women combatants in LWE (left-wing extremism) areas, Dash said these personnel can easily interact with local women and children, which help them get closer to locals. Besides, most of the recruits in DRG are surrendered naxals, having served with the outlawed CPI (Maoist), they are aware of the movement of ultras in forests, their schedule, habits and the operational pattern, he said. iOS 10 jailbreak release imminent as iOS 10 beta 5 rolled out. (Photo : Getty Images/ Stephen Lam) The Cupertino-based tech giant, Apple, is upping its game with regard to Operating System updates. The company suddenly released iOS 10.0.1 update a few weeks after the rollout of iOS 10, which effectively had Pangu and TaiG struggling to catch up. It came as a surprise when Apple dropped the first upgrade for iOS 10. According to Forbes, the file size depends on the kind of device that users choose to apply the new software to, which means that there is no specific code for all devices to give jailbreaking groups a difficult time in cracking the latest codes. The release update makes any moves already in place for jailbreaking iOS 10 unlikely. Advertisement Pangu was inclined to skip the last update for iOS 9 that came just a few days before the iPhone 7 equipped with the latest iOS premiered. From the look of things, the Chinese hacker is already two steps behind Apple. The problem is believed to be rooted from Cydia-related issues, which eventually affect the overall project. Italian security researcher, Luca Tedesco, was able to infiltrate the system, adding to Pangu's problems proving that it might not be that difficult to break into iOS 10. The reputable independent code hacker posted a snapshot on his successful attempt on Twitter. However, just as always, it is unlikely that Tedesco will publicly release his jailbreak tool. The latest iOS 10.0.1 update brings small but important improvements for better iPhone usage. The improvements include the prevention of "Hey Siri" request bugs and some Bluetooth connection issues. Audio quality as well is said to have been refined and some stability improvements with the Camera and Contacts apps. iOS 10.0.1 will reportedly remove any jailbreak that users might have installed. Meanwhile, the ever watchful Apple Support Community has reports of a few isolated iOS 10.0.1 cases with regard to jumbled camera rolls, disappearing keyboards, and issues with iCloud backups, although there is no momentum behind any of them for now, according to Apple official website. Watch the footage below for more information on iOS 10.0.1 update: Addressing a massive gathering at a BJP meet yesterday in Kozhikode, Modi challenged Pakistan to go to war against poverty and unemployment. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Congress on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "playing politics" with national security and said he was offering "platitudes" to Pakistan as if he is going to fight elections in that country instead of understanding the anger of people in India. Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "Prime Minister has suddenly started lecturing the people of Pakistan about its new developmental imperatives. It seems Narendra Modi would be fighting the next elections in Pakistan rather than understanding the depth of anger which is there in the people of India." "...He has tried to change the goalpost by talking about malnutrition and other development indices like poverty and unemployement. These are battles India won far back." Addressing a massive gathering at a BJP meet yesterday in Kozhikode, Modi challenged Pakistan to go to war against poverty and unemployment. He said, "I want to say that India is ready for a war? India is a ready for a war on poverty. Let both countries fight to see who would eradicate poverty first...I want to tell the youth of Pakistan, lets have a war on ending unemployment. "...I want to call out to the children in Pakistan, lets declare war on illiteracy. Lets see who wins. Lets declare war on infant mortality and maternal deaths." People loitering on the flooded streets on the fourth day of heavy rains in Hyderabad on Saturday. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: The flood situation deteriorated in Telangana on Sunday as water levels continued to rise in Godavari river following heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas and release of water from Maharashtra dams. Several places across Telangana continued to receive heavy rainfall paralysing normal life. People in low lying areas on the banks Godavari were been put on high alert and are being evacuated to safer places and relief camps are being opened. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday rescued 24 labourers who were caught in floods in Telangana's Medak district since Saturday. According to reports, the rescue operation, which was aborted on Saturday evening due to heavy rains, resumed on Sunday morning. Two Chetak helicopters which were pressed into service airlifted the labourers stranded in Manjeera river at Yedupayala. The migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha were engaged in construction of three bridges in the area. Rivers, rivulets and streams in the state are flowing at dangerous levels with water levels reaching their peaks. To control flood situation in Godavari and Krishna rivers, the state irrigation authorities have released downstream huge quantities of water from the projects. 17 people have died so far in the floods, which CM K Chandrashekhar Rao described as not as severe as was being projected, particularly when compared to Chennai. 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. New Delhi: In fresh trouble for RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin, the mother of three youths who were brutally killed by henchmen of the controversial politician has moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in the case in which he has already been sentenced to life. The woman, whose two sons were killed and her third son, who was an eye witness to the incident, later on murdered allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, has challenged the Patna High Court's March 2 this year order granting regular bail to him during pendency of his appeal. While a sessions court in Siwan had convicted Shahabuddin for the offence of murder and kidnapping for ransom in the twin murder case and had awarded life imprisonment to him, the trial in the murder case of the eye witness son is going on. In her plea, Kalawati Devi has claimed that the high court had "completely lost sight" of the fact that Shahabuddin was a "dreaded criminal, who has absolutely no regard for the law, and granting bail to him even though he has been convicted for heinous offences like murder, abduction etc and is still facing trial in many of the cases lodged against him would be travesty of justice". On September 19, the apex court had sought a response from Shahabuddin on a separate plea filed by Devi's husband Chandrakeshwar Prasad challenging the bail granted to him by Patna High Court in the murder case of their third son. The apex court is also hearing a separate plea filed by the widow of journalist Rajdev Ranjan, who was murdered in Siwan allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi. In her plea, Devi has said that as per an affidavit filed by the Bihar government in the apex court, till November 2014, trials in at least 38 cases were pending against him in which he was facing alleged heinous charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapon, extortion and others. Her plea is likely to come up for hearing before the apex court on Monday. Devi has said in her plea, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, that her two sons, Girish and Satish, were abducted by Shahabuddin's henchmen and after being brutally assaulted, they were killed by acid poured on them and their bodies, packed in a sack full of salt, buried. The plea alleged that Devi's third son, Rajiv Roshan, was initially abducted but he had managed to escape. He was an eye-witness to the killing of his two brothers. She claimed that during pendency of trial in the twin murder case, Roshan was killed in June 2014 allegedly at the behest of Shahabuddin who is facing trial in the case. "The High Court did not consider that, apart from being terror as dreaded criminal, Shahabuddin is considered to be a very influential person in Siwan as he is a two-time MLA and four-time MP from?there. Being convicted in many criminal cases, he has been debarred from contesting since 2009 general elections," the plea claimed. It said that some of the cases could not be proved against him due to lack of evidence as sometimes Shahabuddin "managed to influence the prosecution or sometime witnesses were too afraid of deposing against him". "The grant of bail to a history-sheeter like Shahabuddin is travesty of justice. If the bail granted Shahabuddin is not stayed by this court, irreparable injury is going to cause to the interest of the present case as well as other pending cases," it said, adding, "there is a serious threat to the life of the petitioner and his family members". Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7 in another case, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him. 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 on Friday night. (Photo: PTI/ Representational Image) Palanpur: A Dalit family, including a pregnant woman, was allegedly assaulted at Karja village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district after the members refused to dispose off 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 FIR lodged by Nilesh Ranwasia, a group of around 10 people from Darbar community attacked his family including his pregnant wife Sangeeta on Friday 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. Rumours are being spread in several parts of Uttar Pradesh that the coin is no longer legal tender. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Refusing a Rs 10 coin in Uttar Pradesh could now land you in serious trouble. According to reports, the district magistrate of Pilibhit has said that those refusing to accept the coin could be charged with sedition. He has taken note of reports on social media of the coin being refused. "The Rs 10 coin is a national currency and no one has the right to refuse it as the government of India promises to pay the value of the currency to the bearer," DM Masoom Ali Sarwar was quoted as saying. Sarwar also added that according to RBI rules, those who refuse to accept the Indian currency can be liable for action under section 124A (sedition). Rumours are being spread in several parts of Uttar Pradesh that the coin is no longer legal tender. Hence, people are no longer accepting it. The Reserve Bank (RBI) of India has also confirmed that the Rs 10 coin was very much in circulation and those refusing to accept it could face legal action, said the report. New Delhi: India is in talks with South Korea, known for its maritime technology prowess, for long-term partnership to develop its rivers to drive economic growth. Earlier this year, Parliament has enacted a legislation to convert 111 rivers across the country into National Waterways, a move that would boost movement of goods and passengers via rivers and reduce transportation cost substantially. "We are in talks with a Korean government company to develop our rivers," Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told PTI. "We have offered them to select out of 111 rivers and develop these. Once we start getting profit, we can return their investment in 15-20 years." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened a mega Maritime India Summit earlier this year with Korea, a world leader in shipbuilding, as the partner and has promised to personally handhold investors for a "safe, secure and satisfactory" berthing so as to transform the country's 7,500-km long coastline an "engine of growth". Gadkari said waterways unfortunately had taken a backseat in India, with only 3.5 per cent of trade being done through the mode here as against 47 per cent in China, 40 per cent in Europe, 44 per cent in Japan and Korea and 35 per cent in Bangladesh. According to the minister, if developed properly, inland water transport, which is an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transport, will reduce the high logistics cost -- currently at 18 per cent -- and boost the economy. Gadkari said that if all the 111 rivers are developed as waterways, it will "revolutionise" the Indian economy. Maritime development is high on the priority list of the government as it has the potential of opening a new era of foreign investment in ship-building, repair, ship breaking, inland water transportation, cruise shipping and hinterland connectivity, to name a few. Maritime logistics is considered as a key component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of export-import trade by volume and 72 per cent by value. He said a total of one billion tonne of cargo is being handled by over 200 ports, including 12 major ones, in the country and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2025. Talks are also on with Singapore for development of cruise shipping in the country. The maritime summit was held on April 14-16 this year and was billed as a flagship event to harness India's immense natural maritime advantages with a 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of navigable and potential navigable waterways. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday shared his thoughts on the Uri attack and other issues in his Mann ki Baat programme on All India Radio. This edition of Mann Ki Baat, the 23rd, is the two-year anniversary edition of the show. On the programme, Modi talked about the terror attack in Uri, saying there is a lot of anger in the country about it. "We trust our soldiers, we have faith in them. We are proud of our soldiers. For us citizens and political leaders, there are many opportunities to talk and we do talk. But the Army doesn't talk. They speak through their valour," Modi said. He said the attack had brought home the presence of anti-national elements to the Kashmiris. Kashmir has been facing unrest ever since Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani was killed by Indian security forces in August. Peace, harmony and unity are the ways to solve problems and move towards development, the Prime Minister said addressing the people of Kashmir. Modi said that the people of Kashmir want to get their lives back on track, to normalise trade, commerce, for schools and colleges to start. He called on the administration to ensure the security of people in Kashmir. Talking about the recently concluded Paralympic Games, where India won four medals, Modi praised paralymic silver medal winner in shotput, Deepa Malik. The medals that Indian athletes had won have changed our way of looking at Divyang people, said the Prime Minister. Referencing the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Prime Minister said 2.5 crore toilets had been constructed in the country over the past two years. Another 1.5 crore toilets will be constructed in next one year, he stated. Modi said Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala are on their way to becoming open-defecation free. Urging one and all to be a part of the cleanliness campaign, Modi said a 'revenue model is a must cleanliness'. He emphasised on proper solid waste disposal. "Today is September 25, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyays birth anniversary," Modi said speaking about Jan Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, the father of BJP's philosophy of Integral Humanism. He called for celebrating Deen Dayal Upadhyays centenary as Garib Kalyan Varsh. On the 2nd anniversary of 'Mann Ki Baat,' Modi thanked all the listeners who supported the initiative. He also expressed gratitude to Akashvani for translating his address in different languages and taking it to people across the country. The PM said he had tried to keep the programme away from politics, despite 'many provocations'. Modi finished his address by wishing people for Dushehra, Diwali and Durga Puja in advance. Lucknow: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over "failure" to prevent terrorist attacks, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said while he is advising Pakistan to concentrate on welfare of its people, he should also introspect on the working of his government. "It is good to advice Pakistani counterpart to concentrate on welfare his people. PM should also introspect of working of his government. There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack. "People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident," Mayawati told reporters in Lucknow. People of the country are "upset" with the BJP government due to terrorist attacks on soldiers and want such incidents to end, Mayawati said and lamented that "PM has failed to give any assurance to people of the country that such acts will not be repeated and our borders are safe.., there will be no terrorist inflitration..and none of your soldiers will have to sacrifice their lives due to terrorism." "This is failure of the Centre to fulfill aspirations of the people," she added. She said instead of framing any "long term policy" to counter such attacks, Modi government is "misleading" the people and trying to divert attention by advising Pakistan to fight "unemployment, poverty, illiteracy". "The PM should also see that his record is bad on the fronts of eradicating poverty, controlling price rise and fighting illiteracy," she said adding that due to failure of BJP to fulfill its promises it had to taste "humiliating defeats" in Delhi, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On Jammu and Kashmir, Mayawati said that the situation there could not be controlled in past three months due to which the "people of the country are concerned". Alleging that PM Modi was trying to "emotionally blackmail" people ahead of Assembly polls, Mayawati said advising Pakistan was a "political conspiracy" and people of UP and Punjab should be aware of it. Addressing a rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Modi asked Pakistan's people to question leaders of their country as to why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism despite getting Independence together. Lashing out at the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were 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. Accusing Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to check spread of Dengue and Chikangunia, Mayawati said common man were facing hardships but Samajwadi party is busy in "Grihyuddh" (family dispute)". Kozhikode: Contending that the definition of secularism has been distorted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay to say that Muslims should be treated as "your own" rather than being seen as "items of vote market". Addressing the BJP Council meeting here, he said his government's mission of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' is not a political slogan but a commitment to ensure welfare of the last man in the society. In his speech, Modi spoke at length about secularism, balanced and inclusive growth and need for electoral reforms while paying tributes to Upadhyay on his 100th birth anniversary. "These days, the definition has been distored. Even nationalism is cursed these days," he said. While talking about life and contribution of Upadhyay, Modi quoted him as saying, "don't reward nor rebuke Muslims. Empower them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own." At the conclusion of the two-day BJP conclave here aimed at making inroads in Kerala, the Prime Minister traced the party's journey from the days of Jan Sangh and asserted that "we never compromised with our ideology". He said if the BJP had compromised with the ideology, it could have attained power long back. Bhubaneswar: Odia BSF jawan Pitabas Majhi (30), who was injured during the combing operation after last Sundays terrorist attack in Uri, succumbed to injuries on Saturday night, taking the death toll in the attacks to 19. Majhi had joined Border Security Force (BSF) in 2008 and planned to come home during Dussehra to witness the birth of his first child, said a report. He hailed from Danajhola village of Komna block in Nuapada district. Majhi had spoken to his wife on September 22 from his hospital, and promised her he would come home, reports said. Majhis body will be taken to his native village Sunday where the last rites will be performed. Kozhikode: Describing the Uri terror strike a transit destination in the "war" forced on India by Pakistan, BJP President Amit Shah today said the attack was an outcome of frustration after security forces foiled 17 infiltration attempts and that the final victory will belong to India. Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view that those responsible for the terror strike will surely be punished, Shah said the country is committed to giving a strong reply to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. In his inaugural address at the party's National Council, Shah said the party feels the widespread anger in the country as he hit out at Pakistan and supported the Modi government's diplomatic efforts to corner the neighbour. He later made a separate statement on the raging issue with the Prime Minister and entire top brass of the party present on the dais. "BJP feels the widespread anger in the people against the conspirators behind the Uri terror attack. BJP and the central government have adopted the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism from the beginning. A strong reply to defeat such terror attempts will be given. 117 terrorists, which is the highest in recent times, have been killed in the last 8 months as the Centre started its strategic and strong fight against terrorism. "Terrorists have made 17 attempts to infiltrate across the border in the last eight months but our brave soldiers have foiled them. The Uri attack has been carried out due to this frustration. This is a long war which has been forced on us by our neighbour. Uri is only its transit destination and not the final outcome. The final victory will be ours," he said. "The country is committed to giving a strong reply to this Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he said asserting that it is no less than a war crime if terrorism becomes part of a government's policy. His remarks came after Modi tore into Pakistan over the incident, saying India will not forget it but indicated that his government's focus will be on isolating Pakistan diplomatically. The party fully supports the government's diplomatic efforts to expose Pakistan, he said, adding that it has succeeded in showing the country's true face to the world. Shah noted that Modi has assured the people that those behind the incident will be punished. "However long is the battle, we will fight it and the victory will be ours." He appealed to the people and other political parties to support the Centre and the Army in this battle. The world is shocked at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's reference to Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a "peace-loving youth"and it is an evidence of that countrys involvement in terrorism, he said. India has long been a victim of Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism and faced several small and big terror attacks in the last many years. "Pakistan has become a centre of global terrorism," he said. New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari will embark on a five-day tour of Nigeria and Mali on Monday to further strengthen India's bilateral engagements with these two West African nations. He will go to Nigeria first at the invitation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. On the second leg of his trip, Ansari will go to Mali on September 29, the first ever high-level visit to that country from India. He will be visiting the landlocked country at the invitation of its Prime Minister Modibo Keita. The vice president will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, four MPs and senior officials. In Abuja, Ansari will hold talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives and deliver an address at the National Defence College of Nigeria. He will also meet the governor of Lagos and deliver an address at the joint business forum at the University of Lagos. The vice president will inaugurate the High Commission of India Chancery complex at Abuja and interact with members of the Indian community both in Abuja and Lagos. "The vice president's visit (to Nigeria) intends to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, expand and diversify bilateral economic engagement and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. In Mali, Ansari will meet the president, the prime minister and also address the National Assembly. The visit to Mali is aimed at boosting the relationship between the two countries and explore new areas of cooperation to expand and diversify bilateral relationship. Hyderabad: Water will continue to enter houses whenever there is heavy rain as the demolition of 28,872 illegal constructions and the subsequent widening of major nalas are easier said than done. A former GHMC commissioner said: It is a big challenge in a democracy. It will definitely take more time. It will require the cooperation of political parties, expertise of legal luminaries and a sustained campaign. Usually such demolition drives lose steam after the flood recedes. That was what happened after the floods in the year 2000. Urban development experts said there were other challenges. Technical expertise to widen the nalas was needed. And there was the social angle of the livelihood of the poor families. GHMC commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy said they would work out plans to rehabilitate the poor in the nearly 25,000 vacant flats of JNNURM, Vambay and Indiramma Housing; the others would have to make their own arrangements. While GHMC should be supported, it should plan its drive carefully. The 25,000 flats of JNNURM and government projects are vacant because the beneficiaries did not want to go 20 km to 30 km away from the city. The demolition drive should not stop because people will stage dharnas. The drive to demolish buildings should be taken up with a proper plan and not in haste, said secretary of Forum For Good Gover-nance M. Padmanabha Reddy. The government had given permission for the layouts, buildings, and was supplying electricity and water to these houses. Will demolition of illegal constructions on nalas solve the problem? What about those constructed on lake beds and downstream of water bodies which will continue to get inundated? The GHMC should explore the possibility of laying underground bypass drains. In a democratically elected set-up, it will not be easy to pull down 28,000 structures in which 40,000 families are living, said urban development expert Prof. G. Vasanth Kumar of Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Stu-dies, Osmania University. Advocate S. Raghavender Goud told this newspaper that the GHMC had the powers to pull down all illegal buildings. Even if the building falls in the lake buffer zone, leave alone full tank level area, the civic body has the power under GHMC Act to pull it down. It is only that a serious attempt is not made on the part of GHMC to vacate stay cases awarded against demolition of buildings by courts, he said. Bhopal: Putting to rest all speculations that the alleged role of former Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav in the infamous Vyapam scam may be overlooked, at least for the time being, owing to his ill health, CBI has dropped indications to implicate him in the scandal by seeking certain documents from Raj Bhavan here. Sources in governors office disclosed to this newspaper on Sunday that the CBI probing the scam that gained notoriety following death of 44 people linked to it during its investigation, has sought access to visitors register of Raj Bhavan. Hyderabad: In a temporary reprieve for the city there will be a reduction of rainfall after Monday till September 30. Thereafter, a fresh spell of rainfall is predicted. IMD and Hyderabad traffic police said that the city will receive heavy rains in isolated places and light to moderate rains in most places on Monday. According to the education department, schools and colleges will remain open from Monday. Chief secretary Rajiv Sharma said that authorities will monitor the situation. IMD Hyderabad director Y.K. Reddy said, After Monday, rain will reduce. It wont be totally dry days but there will be a reduction wherein only 25 to 50 per cent of places will get moderate rain. From September 30 there will be increase in rainfall in Telangana state including Hyderabad. According to the IMD there is no heavy rainfall warning for Andhra Pradesh for the next three days. Fresh rain could hit traffic again: Experts Hyderabad DCP (Traffic) A.V. Ranganath, in an alert posted on the official Facebook page, said, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast of heavy rain up to September 27. On Monday (September 26), there is likelihood of heavy traffic on Hyderabad roads. Since the roads are damaged at many places, vehicular movement would be slowed down resulting in traffic congestion. In case it rains tomorrow, especially in the morning hours or evening time, traffic problems would be further aggravated. There are 41 major waterlogging points in Hyderabad Commissionerate. This list is available over FB. Please try to avoid these stretches, Mr Ganganath added. As per AccuWeather, Hyderabad will witness less rainfall on Monday, just about 4 mm with a total of 3.5 hours of precipitation. On Tuesday also the rainfall will be reduced recording just around 1.2 cm. For Wednesday, around 2.4 cm of rain has been predicted. The trend is expected to continue on Thursday as well. However, on Friday good rainfall of up to 8.7cm is expected. Alwal: The GHMCs age-old method of laying new roads on damaged roads has resulted in severe inconvenience for a few colonies in Temple Alwal that have been inundated due to the recent rains. Flood water from Mothkulakunta (Bolaram) to Srinivasa Nagar Colony and Reddy Enclave is not able to go downstream because of the increased main road height. Water flows into the colonies regularly, said Srinivasa Nagar Colony vice-president Balwanth Reddy. Even though flood water is receding in a few colonies, there is no respite for the nearly 700 families in these two colonies. Around 60 families living on the ground floor are seriously affected, Mr Reddy said. He added that the road was laid six months ago on top of the earlier CC road. This affected the slope between colonies on either side of the road, he said. Nacharam: Water stays there The Nacharam main road has been cut off for more than three days due to water overflowing from Patel cheruvu. A small bridge in Errakunta over the nala was destroyed on Sunday for the third time, hampering movement of people. Local politician T. Ramachandra said, Due to the two sluices remaining blocked, excess water from Patel cheruvu flows with high pressure through the single open nala. As it has been heavily raining since the past few days, the pressure has increased manifold and water has spilled outside, cutting off the road. If the two sluices could have been opened, then excess water would have drained. He said, There is a need to remove even the water hyacinth which covers the entire lake, which needs to be desilted. This will also help in increasing the water containing capacity of the lake. Mr M. Sandeep, a resident of Errakunta, said, People do not dare stay outside after dark due to the mosquitoes. No medical camp has been set up in our area since the flooding. There is stagnant water at some places. Moula Ali: Flood from the hill Water flowing from the three hills at Moula Ali gushed into the homes of residents on Sunday. Such was the force of the water that it damaged the road and drinking water pipelines at many places. Compound walls of many small homes collapsed. Mr Mohammed Salim, a flower vendor, said, The water came down the hills and collected in those homes that are at a lower level. However, it was pumped out and has not stagnated in our area. Ms Fatima Bi, a home maker, said, We are worried about drinking water as the pipelines have broken. Nizampet: Finally, back home As the water levels in cellars at a few apartments in Nizampet, Balajinagar and Bandari Layout came down, citizens who vacated their flats have begun returning to their houses. Except 25 apartments at Bandari Layout and Nizampet, flat owners of all the other apartments got a little relief on Sunday. On the insistence of the police and GHMC officials, about 95 per cent of residents have vacated their flats. A few localities are still inundated in Nizamabad and officials and NGOs have supplied food and other material to the public at low-lying areas at Dharaninagar with the help of boats. A column of Army is still on stand by at Nizampet and they along with other officials diverted water at Turka Cheruvu by strengthening the bund with sand bags. Minister P. Mahender Reddy who visited Nizampet, Kukatpally and surrounding localities directed officials to focus on communicable diseases. Fire officials are still clearing water. Allam Thota Bavi: Lower than drains Over 400 families living in RK Towers, Vamsy Homes and other apartments and buildings in Mayur Marg are suffering due to lack of a proper drainage system. The heavy rains since last Tuesday made the lives of residents of these apartments and the adjoining slum, Allam Thota Bavi, miserable. There is no proper drainage network in Mayur Marg. The drainage line was laid at a level lower than the Kukatpally-Begumpet nala. Whenever water in the nala increases, drainage floods Mayur Marg instead of flowing into the Kukatpally-Begumpet nala, said Mr T. Ranganathan, who had to vacate his house and shift into an apartment. At least five commissioners of MCH and later GHMC have visited Mayur Marg in the last 16 years. Even ministers and MLAs have visited but the flooding problem has not been solved. A star hotel was constructed recently at the entrance of Mayur Marg and its drainage has been connected to the existing line without laying a new line, said Ms J. Shama who had unsuccessfully contested as a corporator from Begumpet division that covers Mayur Marg too. Shashi Tharoor, MP, and Vikram Sampath, Director of Symbiosis School of Media and Communication, at a lecture in the school in Bengaluru on Sunday (Photo: R. SAMUEL) Bengaluru: As the Cauvery crisis continues to burn, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene and find a solution to end the water war between the two states. He (Modi) should step up and find a common ground for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," Tharoor said, even as the BJP continues to defend Mr Modi's silence over the issue. In an interaction with students of Symbiosis School of Media and Communication on Sunday, Mr Tharoor highlighted some of the global crises plaguing the country and stressed that India is not ready for a war. If we want our economy to flourish, India should not be risking a war with Pakistan, even if it means going on a surgical war, he cautioned. Suggesting that the turbulent times in Kashmir do not augur well for foreign investors, who were particularly enticed by peace, Mr Tharoor said that to flourish economically, the country should maintain peace. Talking to DC, Pandit Kishore Upadhyaya of Varanasi said that the growing trend of offering online pind daan was unethical and should be banned. (Representational Image: AP) Lucknow: Hindu priests in Allahabad and Varanasi have demanded a ban on virtual pind daan, a post death ritual that is performed to ensure salvation for departed souls. The pind daan is performed mainly during the Pitra Paksh, a 16-day lunar period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors through this ritual. Talking to DC, Pandit Kishore Upadhyaya of Varanasi said that the growing trend of offering online pind daan was unethical and should be banned. The ritual requires the person to be physically present and make offerings to the departed souls. It is an elaborate ritual and cannot be performed in absentia, he said. According to him, a large number of websites have come up which offer online tarpan for a price. These websites are doing huge business but the people are being duped. We understand that working people are short on time and cannot travel to religious places like Gaya, Allahabad, Varanasi or Haridwar to perform the ritual but they can opt for the ritual in their own cities. In fact, some religious organizations even arrange for collective pind daan for those who cannot afford to travel, he said. Pandit Shiv Misra of Varanasi said that the idea of online pind daan was ridiculous and asked for a total ban on the practice immediately. KOZHIKODE: Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Kumar Singh has said Pakistan was doing everything to create chaos and discord in the valley. He told reporters here on the sidelines of the BJP national council meeting on Saturday that the situation was under control in Kashmir now after the Uri terror strike. Mr. Singh, who is minister of power development and housing and urban development in the Mehbooba Mufti government, said Pakistan was sending terrorists to create disorder in the Valley. It does not understand that terrorism will affect it more, he said. The country will not be able to keep itself united. We will expose the terror outfits in PoK, said Mr. Singh. On the unrest in Kashmir, he said normalcy was returning to the state and that the central and state governments were taking all steps to restore peace. Pakistan is directly sending terrorists and its people to Jammu and Kashmir to create disorder," added Mr. Singh. BENGALURU: Scenes at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border at Attibele resemble those at the international border between India and Pakistan at Wagah. As the tension continues to simmer over the release of Cauvery water, people have to cross the border on foot as none of the state-run or private buses are crossing the border fearing attacks. Throughout the day, thousands of people get down from buses and private vehicles just before the border on both sides and make the crossing on foot, all the while carrying heavy luggage and small children. Commuters walk nearly half a kilometre to cross the Karnataka Tamil Nadu border near Attibele. (Photo: R. Samuel) Sathish Kumar, who was heading to Karnataka from Tiruvannamalai for business purposes, said, I have my business association with Karnataka for the last 25 years and keep visiting the state. But over the last few days, I felt that I was entering a different country. It has remained the same for over two weeks now. Its Wagah at Attibele, passengers suffer Even as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu remain at loggerheads over Cauvery water, the scene at Attibele on the border of the two states resembles Wagah on the India-Pakistan border. Thousands of people from both states cross the border, guarded heavily by police deployed by both states at Attibele, on foot carrying their luggage as government -run buses don't dare cross it for fear of being attacked and drop passengers here. Private bus services too are no longer running inter-state. The experience is no better for those travelling by cars and bikes as except for two-wheelers, all other vehicles bearing Karnataka registration numbers are not allowed to enter Tamil Nadu and vice-versa. Border Security Forces personnel stationed at the border. (Photo: R. Samuel) Only vehicles owned by locals of Attibele and Hosur town are exempted and allowed to cross on displaying their ID card and address proof. For many the experience is unnerving. Said Sathish Kumar, who was heading to Karnataka from Tiruvannamalai on business, I have been coming to Karnataka on business for the past 25 years. But this time I am feeling very insecure. It's almost like I am entering a different country." Mr Ranjith Kumar of Udanapalli in Hosur said although he worked in Karnataka and owned a vehicle bearing a Karnataka registration number, he was allowed to cross the border on displaying his address proof, but he found it an unpleasant experience. "I wish the Cauvery imbroglio is settled at the earliest, he added fervently. The police for their part say they have no choice in the matter given the current situation and are only acting in the people's interests. Following high-level meetings between Russian and Egyptian aviation officials, both sides said that progress has been made on a resumption of flights between the two countries Russia said talks with Egypt on civil aviation security cooperation have undergone significant progress as Cairo seeks the resumption of air traffic between the two countries. Egypt's Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi was in Moscow last week along with a high-level security delegation to conduct talks over the return of Russian flights. The Egyptian minister and Russian Deputy Transport Minister Nicholas Zakhryapin discussed "in detail" the course of working on a draft agreement on cooperation between the Egyptian and Russian government in civil aviation security, the Russian transport ministry said. "To the mutual satisfaction of both parties, the two sides noted significant progress in this direction," said a statement in Russian by the ministry on its official website. Both sides expressed mutual interest in the need to continue close cooperation in the full implementation of necessary security measures to ensure safe flight operations to and from Egyptian airports, it added. They also discussed if there was any need to send more Russian experts to inspect airports in Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada. In their meeting with the Egyptian authorities, the high-level security delegation requested allocating a terminal for Russian tourists, a security source at the airport told Ahram Arabic website. The Egyptian authorities said that the request was sent to the aviation and transportation ministries along with the security apparatus for consideration. In August, the aviation minister confirmed to Ahram Online that Egypt was willing to allocate special terminals for Russian tourists "if their numbers reached three or four million." The meeting on Friday came as Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov is expected in Cairo to meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Discussions with both leaders will include "Russian-Egyptian cooperation in the field of civil aviation security and the 'road map' aimed at the resumption of air traffic between the two countries," the ministry's statement on Friday added. Moscow grounded all civilian passenger flights to Egypt last year over security concerns after the crash of a Russian jet over Sinai shortly after taking off from Sharm El-Sheikh. All 224 people on board were killed in the crash, which was claimed by Islamist militants. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said on Tuesday that up to 500 monthly charter flights could be run by Russian airlines to Egyptian resorts if charter services are resumed, according to Russian state news agency Sputnik. Cairo says investigations into the crash are still underway and that a delegation of Russian investigators is currently cooperating with Egypts general prosecution, which will issue a final report on the cause of the crash. Britain also halted flights to Sharm El-Sheikh following the crash, with the suspensions dealing a huge blow to the country's vital tourism industry. Russian, British and Italian tourists make up more than 50 percent of the total number of tourists that visit Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: KOCHI: In view of the unrestrained use of carry bags and other plastic products and the subsequent increase in the quantity of non-biodegradable waste generated in the city, the city corporation is planning to implement a blanket ban on plastic carry bags. During a recent council meeting, mayor Soumini Jain said legal opinion would be sought on this matter. It has also been decided to strictly enforce the ban on carry bags with less than 50-microns thickness from October 1. Meanwhile, there are doubts over the feasibility of the proposal as the local body could not effectively enforce the partial ban introduced earlier. Ms Jain says the local body cant immediately go for a blanket ban, and it should come in phases. As per the plastic handling rules, a total prohibition is not possible immediately. However, with an objective of bringing down its use, the partial ban will be strictly enforced from October 1. Awareness creation among the public also is important, she observed. The civic body which announced a ban on plastic carry bags of less than 40 microns in 2012 following an order of LSGD secretary had failed to enforce it. While raising the issue in the council, C. K. Peter, the councillor from Konthuruthy division, said that tonnes of plastic refuse are being generated in the city every day, and the corporation was clueless on how to dispose of the huge heaps of trash piled up at Brahmapuram plant. On average, 300 tonnes of garbage is being transported to Brahmapuram of which 70 to 90 tonnes is non-biodegradable. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Within hours of sharply criticizing the BJP leadership for its failure to fulfill the promises made to his party BDJS which is an important NDA ally, SNDP general secretary Vellapally Natesan hailed Pinarayi Vijayan as the most powerful chief minister Kerala has ever seen. Kerala now has a real chief minister," he said after calling on Pinarayi Vijayan at Cliff House here on Friday evening. The meeting gained significance as it came on a day BJP began its national council meeting in Kozhikode. Vellapally who is one of the most powerful leaders of the BJP-led NDA in Kerala, spent more than 10 minutes with the chief minister who is also a CPM politburo member. The SNDP leader, however, said there were no political discussions during the course of his meeting with the chief minister. We brought to his notice some of the problems being faced by the educational institutions being run by the SN Trust," he said. Nothing will happen to me in micro-finance corruption case," the SNDP leader said while referring to the criticism that he was cozying up to the LDF Government because of the case. Earlier in the day, Vellapally launched a scathing attack on the BJP leadership. He said there was widespread resentment among BDJS workers against BJP's failure to fulfill the promises made before and after polls. Even the discussions held with BJP national president Amit Shah failed to yield any results perhaps because of the groupism in the state unit of the party. The BJP national leadership had also promised positions for our people but failed to keep the promise, he told a regional news channel. The SNDP leader said he would not meet Shah to sort out the problems. It may be recalled that the BJP led NDA had increased its vote share from 6.3 per cent in 2011 to 16 per cent in the 2016 Assembly polls. One of the major factors for the significant increase in vote share was the alliance with BDJS. The BJP could also make big inroads into many constituencies because of BDJS support. Political observers say Vellapallys growing camaraderie with LDF should set alarm bells ringing for the BJP. Banga: Mounting an attack on Arvind Kejriwal, Congress leader Amarinder Singh on Sunday said "Punjab is only for Punjabis" and warned people that the AAP leader would "unleash chaos and disorder" in the state, just "as he had done in Delhi". "What the Akalis have done to Punjab in 10 years, Kejriwal has done to Delhi in just a year," he said, referring to "chaos and disorder prevailing" in the national capital. His remarks came as the AAP supremo arrived in the state for the second time in less than three weeks to steer the party's campaign for the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls. Amarinder Singh said he firmly believes that "Punjab is only for Punjabis", to whichever party or group they belong, adding that he will "fight against" Mr Kejriwal from whichever seat he decides to contest in the upcoming polls. The state Congress chief said as he feared "large-scale bungling" by the ruling combine in Punjab in the upcoming polls, he had already approached the Election Commission (EC) for deployment of central forces and arranging for EVMs from outside the state. Amarinder Singh said if his party comes to power in the state, it would take "all the required legislative and executive steps" to create more jobs for the unemployed youth and stressed on the need for industrialisation of the state. Speaking at his 'Halke Vich Captain' programme, the former chief minister said industrialisation was the "only solution" to provide jobs to the nearly 90 lakh unemployed youth in the 18-40 age group in the state. Amarinder Singh said he would take all the measures to provide a "conducive environment" to the industries, including providing "cheap" electricity and land. Ropar-Gurdaspur would be developed as an "industrial belt" on a priority basis, he added. The Congress leader cautioned the people against the "alluring promises" of the Aam Aadmi Party and Mr Kejriwal who, he said, had "adopted confrontation as a way of life". He alleged that while Delhi was fighting dengue and chikungunya, Mr Kejriwal "hospitalised himself" in Bengaluru and his deputy chief minister and other ministers were "holidaying in Europe". There are 43 days left for the election to pick the leader of the worlds most powerful country, and everyone is keeping their fingers crossed. One man is, however, sure hes already picked the winner. History professor Allan Lichtman, who claims hes accurately predicted every White House winner from 1984, says Donald Trump is his man. That may send shockwaves to many who feel hes quite the wrong choice as Americas next President, but the truth is this race might be too close to call. The professors findings, based on a study of elections from 1860 to 1980, is not a Gallup poll, but raises key issues, such as the distinct lack of charisma in the first woman to seek Americas highest office, as well as questions on the economy and foreign relations. The nature of predictions being such, the professor does put in a rider 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. An election as fascinating as this one between a woman and a reality show star, who as a real estate developer is said to have the ability to sell sand to Arabs, is certain to go right down to the wire. India is also a bigger swing factor than ever, over the Bangaloring of jobs. About one thing there is no doubt: any result will be a harbinger of change impacting the world, but if Donald Trump does make it, the turmoil may be huge! Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before coming to office, used to speak in the sharpest tones about the supposed pusillanimity shown by his predecessor in dealing with China and Pakistan, and appeared specially sharp on this count in the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign. He was projecting himself as a so-called strong leader. This was in line with the ethos of the RSS and BJP, and also with that of the expectations of his followers. But speaking at a BJP meeting in Kozhikode on Saturday, a week after the terrorist attack at the Army base at Uri in Kashmir, the PM appeared to be signalling his cohorts to cool down on hyper-nationalism. After the Uri assault, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav had said: For a tooth, the whole jaw. After security sector consultations, and probably also after taking soundings from the world community, the PM attacked Pakistan politically at Kozhikode but did not brandish the military stuff. He said instead he was ready to wage a thousand-year war with Pakistan, but one against poverty! The fallout of this among his admirers can only be said to be uncertain at this stage. There was much cheering at the mention of a thousand-year war the phrase once uttered by late Pakistani leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but it petered out the moment the PM closed his line of thought with the mention of poverty and unemployment. It was hard to escape a sense of anti-climax among the BJP cadre. But seen nationally, the PM has taken a rational view of things. Every significant terrorist incident should not trigger a debate on war. Terrorism can be contained by tightening our own defences. America has shown this by foiling several attempts after the attacks of September 11, 2001. But in the past year alone, we have permitted one incident after another in locations linked to the armed forces Udhampur, then Pathankot and now Uri. Infiltration in Kashmir has risen 200 per cent. In any case, a well worked-out response mechanism to terrorism inflicted by Pakistan may be well worth crafting. In his Kerala speech, the PM warned the attackers that India would not forget Uri. It must be seen if this is a preface of things to come. If India believes it can tighten the screws on Pakistan by taking stringent economic measures, such as cancelling most favoured nation status in trade and by declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, it should push these energetically in international forums and initiate actions suo motu in these directions rather than wait for a response from leading powers. Our response to Uri so far has been cluttered and loud. Mr Modi has brought some sanity to it in Kozhikode. At the BJP national meet at Kozhikode, Kerala, on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke a week-long spell of war-drumming that had broken out after the Uri terrorist attack. Leading the band were BJP leaders. They were merely being who they are the natural representatives of the partys rank and file who have been weaned on the idea of sounding strong and raining blows on perceived foes, especially Pakistan, on account of the religious dimension. Bowing to their ideological compulsions, and following in the footsteps of the RSS and BJP leaders (Mr Modi himself is a good example of this when he was Gujarat chief minister, and later as he campaigned in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections), these cadres look for simple even simplistic solutions to complex problems, such as ties with Pakistan. In the RSS-BJP lore, a heave and a blow is all it takes. We may recall that after the nuclear weapons test when Atal Behari Vajpayee was Prime Minister, a leading light of the BJP establishment in Delhi who had been a Cabinet minister, a fine but simple man, had invited Pakistan to a wrestle. In an unwarranted show of belligerence he struck his thighs with his open palms in the North Indian manner to denote posing a challenge by the obviously superior side. When the news of the testing of the Pakistani nukes came days after, there was understandable silence. So thats who they are. This time television was dutifully obliging. Screens were filled with silly debates in which a nearly undifferentiated school of experts chosen from the cadre of retired diplomats, former security bureaucrats, and ex-military folk who abound in Delhi expanded on strike options. Thank God these guys exist, or our television will have to invent them to keep going. At Kozhikode, the Prime Minister busted the narrative of the merry war-gamers. He showed a remarkable sense of realism and fell in line with whats come to be known as strategic restraint, displayed by all his predecessors except Indira Gandhi in 1971. Mr Vajpayee showed it in 2001 when Parliament was attacked, and Manmohan Singh in 2008 after the attack on Mumbai. Both ran coalition governments. But Mr Modi runs a government in which his party has more than a comfortable majority. Thats the lesson. While war cannot be forsworn by any State as a matter of principle, in dealing with Pakistan it cannot come as an easy, obvious and only option to India whether a leader in Parliament heads a motley coalition or a triumphalist majority of Hindu nationalists, the expression Mr Modi favoured for himself in an interview two years ago. This is for two principal reasons. Prosecuting even a short war (a country like Pakistan, even if it were foolhardy enough to use battlefield nuclear weapons against India, is unlikely to last a week) will extract sharp economic costs and push down our economic advance as a nation in the medium term. Two, the external environment is not likely to accept an outbreak of hostilities for a variety of reasons, but essentially because the principal powers, specially China, the US and Saudi Arabia, are unlikely to want another possible fragmentation of Pakistan (after Bangladesh). Remember, when the Kargil misadventure was going badly for Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif rushed to Washington to beg President Bill Clinton to urge the Indians to pull back, and they did. In its own way, each of the above-named powers will be hurt from a prospect of intense political and territorial turmoil in Pakistan. Indeed, China, which has begun to invest massively in Pakistan, including in colonised Balochistan and in PoK (which is an Indian territory) for geopolitical and geo-economic reasons, and probably looks to build a naval base in Gwadar in Balochistan in addition to a major port, could conceivably enter a military engagement on Pakistans side, something it fell short of doing in 1971. No matter how much delight we may take in highlighting Pakistans miserable state from world forums, and its use of terrorist proxies as state policy, any Indian planner will have to take note of these realities. Another set of facts also needs to be considered. In 1971, the US and China were on the Pakistan side, and America especially showed India much belligerence. In the Cold War era, Indira Gandhi was enabled to counteract Pakistan with a full array of force on account of the treaty it signed with the then Soviet Union. The picture today is more mixed and may have got worse for India. China and the US remain friends with Pakistan. Moscow too now holds military exercises with Islamabad. The US is solicitous of New Delhi, but not to the extent of jettisoning ties with Islamabad. Chinas tilt towards Pakistan has become a lean and an embrace. Some of these qualitative shifts have occurred under the Modi dispensation whose foreign policy trajectory looks to be different from that of past governments, including Mr Vajpayees. Mr Modi is shown up to be as having no policy worth the name toward Pakistan. He first tried trading gifts with Mr Sharif. Then he arrived unannounced at the Pakistan leaders door in Lahore to show goodwill after talks had unravelled. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, who has no contribution to the making of foreign policy, gushed like a young girl, saying that this single gesture had made Mr Modi a world statesman. This is the BJPs idea of world affairs. And after Uri, the Prime Minister has had to swallow the bitter pill and speak of waging a thousand-year war with Pakistan to remove poverty. Whatever the faithful may make of this, it is also evident that minding defence and security in relation to Pakistan has also suffered grievously under the present dispensation. After the event there is febrile talk of isolating Pakistan economically and taking it apart militarily, but little has been done to prevent major terror strikes and build military capability to check Islamabads ambitions. Before Uri there was Pathankot, and there was Udhampur before Pathankot all military stations. Not a single gap in defences found by inquiries has been filled. Unprecedented infiltration has been permitted in the Kashmir Valley in the past two years. Dont just blame Pakistan, go do something worthwhile yourself. Securitymen too turning saffron The BJPs eagerness to lap up leaders from the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh is now turning into a joke of sorts. When Mayawati stated that the BJP is accepting her rejected maal, everyone thought it was a case of grapes being sour. But the BJP took not only the cake but the entire bakery this week when it inducted Padam Singh, Ms Mayawatis former security officer. A veteran leader remarked, After leaders from the BSP, we are now importing security officers and next in line will perhaps be former drivers and cooks of Mayawati. Mr Singh, now a retired police officer, was Ms Mayawatis personal security officer (PSO) since she first became the chief minister in 1995. Like all PSOs, he enjoyed her confidence and was privy to all political dealings that took place. Mr Singh was one person she blindly trusted and this automatically put him in an envious position, inside and outside the party. In the BSP, everyone knew that things could move in the right direction only if Mr Singh wanted. However, two years ago, something went wrong and Mr Singh made a humiliating exit from the BSP, which was not shocking since he was the only one to have lasted for almost two decades in the party. How long he lasts in the BJP, however, remains to be seen. Age no bar, really! Much to his discomfiture, saffron leader Kalraj Mishra has perhaps found, albeit at the fag end of his political career, that raising a wrong issue at a wrong place can be damaging. The Union minister, during his visit to Bhopal, seemed more than happy to oblige a few electronic media reporters with a byte on the contentious issue of giving marching orders to two veteran BJP leaders of Madhya Pradesh Babulal Gaur and Sartaj Singh from the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Cabinet being overaged, realising little that his statement would land him in acute embarrassment soon. I am not aware of any rule to bar BJP leaders crossing 75 years of age from occupying any official position, purportedly enforced by party leadership. That I still continue in Central Cabinet despite being 75 years old, is evidence, he told mediapersons on the sidelines of his meet in the entrepreneurs programme. Needless to say, his remarks provided a handle to sulking leaders to hit back at Mr Chouhan, indicating machinations by him to drop them from the ministry on false premises of partys age-bar rule. Mr Mishra later attended his scheduled programme. He however appeared relaxed as he was seen meeting entrepreneurs at the venue, unmindful of his apparent next schedule, sparking confusion among officials. Later, a senior officer of the state government approached to remind him that he was to address a media conference, his next programme. I have no knowledge of any programme to address a press conference, he shot back, much to the surprise of the officer, even as reporters, armed with official invitations, waited in the adjoining room for him to address them. Later, the confusion was cleared when mediapersons came to know that Mr Mishra had shied away from meeting them after he received a snub from the party leadership for his unsolicited observations on the age-bar rule. Caught in own trap Orissa chief minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik did not know the strategy he had devised a few hours before the Monsoon Session of the Assembly began to ward off Opposition attacks would backfire. Apparently, being apprised by intelligence sleuths that the Opposition Congress and BJP had made concrete plans to expose the treasury benches on certain issues, he asked the partys young MLAs to ensure that the rival lawmakers did not get such opportunities. Some young MLAs who have alleged links with mafia elements decided to disrupt the proceedings of the House from day one to be in the good books of the boss. They were so excited that when the national anthem was played to mark the beginning of the session, they started shouting slogans against the BJP and Congress. The Opposition seized the occasion and alleged that ruling party lawmakers had shown disrespect to the national anthem. The Opposition members went on the offensive and sought an immediate apology from the CM and his party members. With no option left, the BJD immediately tendered an apology and shelved its plan to stall the session for long. Ticket first An AAP leader, Kanwar Sandhu of Punjab, runs an online show for NRI Punjabis who can call and discuss various issues about Punjab. Recently, when Mr Sandhu was discussing the current position of political parties in Punjab, a lady called from Canada to air her views and participate in the programme. The lady talked about various social issues affecting Punjab and how they should be addressed. However, in her parting comment, the lady said that how she would like to see Mr Sandhu in some prominent position, like a chief minister or at least home minister. Embarrassed, Mr Sandhu told the lady: Please be careful while making me a chief minister, take care that I do get the party (AAP) ticket. Lincolns gun priceless This tiny 6-inch derringer sitting in a display case at Fords Theatre National Historic Site is one of the most priced guns ever. Yet the only price ever paid for this item was around $25 in the mid-1800s, by actor John Wilkes Booth. Booth entered the theatre box where Lincoln and his wife were watching Our American Cousin, slipped the single-shot derringer from his pocket, and fired at Lincolns head. Kept for generations as evidence by the War Department, the gun was eventually brought back to Ford Theatre, where it attracts countless visitors. Though once allegedly stolen, and replaced with a fake, the FBI re-authenticated it in 1997. Washington The French Marquis de Lafayette who played a significant role during the American Revolution gave two priceless pistols to George Washington. The guns are Damascus steel-mounted saddle pistols with a silver and gold wire inlay and come with a detailed description and documentation. They were sold at Christies in New York in 2002 to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for nearly $2 million USD or Rs 1,33,984,900 approximately. Simon Bolivar Simon Bolivar was a Venezuelan military and political leader who played a crucial role in the establishment of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama as sovereign states. He is often regarded as the father of Hispanic America. He died rather unbrazenly of tuberculosis and left behind a pair of flintlock pistols, which no doubt had the blood of Spanish viceroys on it. In 2004, the pair fetched $1,687,500 or Rs 1,113,103,759 approximately at a Christies auction in New York. The Fuhrers Golden Gun Some say that it was gifted to Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party on his 50th birthday in 1939 by the Walther family, and it was more like a prized possession rather than a protective accessory used by Hitler. According to several other historians, this gun was used by Hitler to commit suicide in his bunker as World War II waned. Another version says that an American soldier looted this treasure to capture Hitler, just months before his death. This ivory-gripped gun became one of many things secured from his desk drawers and was later auctioned for $114,000 or Rs 7,640,787 approximately. Teddy Roosevelts Double-Barreled Shotgun As historical tales tell us, it is said that Teddy Roosevelt, a pioneering American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 was fond of hunting. To take his passion forward, Roosevelt went ahead on on a year-long Smithsonian African expedition soon after he left his presidency post. During his excursion, it is said that he killed some really rare species in the name of science and history. His most priced guns that he used for hunting were later auctioned for `57,808,588 approximately. Wearable augmented-reality device Google Glass may help paramedics and emergency medical technicians in disaster. Boston: Wearable augmented-reality device Google Glass may help paramedics and emergency medical technicians in disaster areas assist injured patients by quickly consulting doctors in real time. When first responders enter the scene of an active shooting or chemical spill, they must rapidly decide how to prioritise patient care. The current system uses colour-coded tags corresponding to the seriousness of a patient's injuries. However, first responders do not always have the medical expertise to accurately identify who needs the most pressing attention. "During disasters, emergency rooms typically get overwhelmed. So when truly injured patients show up later, we have nowhere to put them," said Peter Chai, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) in the US. Although Google Glass failed as a consumer product, it is getting a second life as a tool that turns paramedics and emergency medical technicians into walking telemedicine suites, 'Popular Science' reported. Wearing it while assessing patients allows them to consult surgeons and other doctors back at the hospital in real time. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Since this update is only limited to Chromebooks, other compatible devices including machines from HP, Lenovo, Samsung are still waiting for their turn. Google has released a stable version of Chrome OS for Acer Chromebook R11 and Asus Chromebook Flip. This version essentially contains a number of bug fixes, security updates and greater feature enhancements. It even provides users with the opportunity to run mobile apps on the top of their usual web access through Google Play Store. Since this update is only limited to Chromebooks, other compatible devices including machines from HP, Lenovo, Samsung are still waiting for their turn. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. E-commerce giant Flipkart recently teased the upcoming Samsung Galaxy On8 for one of its promotional events on October 2, hinting that the device will be launched the same day. Technology website GSM Arena was the first ones to spot the listing on Flipkarts website and luckily, some of the specifications of the device have been leaked as well. The leak suggested that the new Samsung handset will feature a FHD AMOLED display, encircled by a metallic rim, much like the Galaxy J5 and J7 launched earlier this year. Although the listing doesnt reveal any info on performance, word from the rumour mills suggested that the handset will be backed up by a larger battery. A few days earlier, Samsung introduced the 2016 iteration of the Galaxy On 7 and will feature a massive 5.5-inch FHD display and an octo-core Snapdragon 625 SoC. Though the company has a lot of loyal buyers, the company has been going through a rough patch due to its flagship phones catching fire. The problem was primarily identified on the latest Note 7 but it has expanded to other phones as well. Just a couple of days ago, a Samsung Note 2 caught fire mid-air on an Indigo flight, on its way from Singapore to Chennai. All major aviation bodies around the globe have strictly warned flyers to switch off their Samsung devices before boarding a plane. The south-Korean company is also suffering huge losses after the news broke out about its exploding smartphones. The challenge now for the company is to stay calm and try to improve the scenario by being honest with its customers. It, however, claims to have already replaced half the faulty Note 7 devices with new ones in the US. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New York: India has hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir, saying the "use of alibis" by him is not going to work anymore. "The use of alibis which are so blatantly and obviously wrong did not work in New York, it's not going to work in London and it is not going to work, we all can say with some confidence, even in Islamabad," Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar told PTI here. Akbar made the remarks in response to Sharif's comments in London that the Uri attacks could be the result of the people's "reaction" to the tense situation in Kashmir. "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 had told reporters on Friday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Akbar, who has attended a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session here, said it was in an "extremely receptive manner" that the most important and powerful nations accepted India's "rationale and reasonable positions, our efforts to working through problems with cooperation, our efforts at saying that the true objective should be the elimination of the scourge of poverty and development". He said there is strong support among nations for India's key focus that the greatest benefits of growth should go to those who need it most. Underscoring that the biggest enemy of human rights is terrorism, he said the "enemy of development is terrorism and we must end this scourge". 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. A suspect in the fatal shooting of five people at a Washington state mall was captured on Saturday. (Photo: AP) Washington: A suspect in the fatal shooting of five people at a Washington state mall was taken into custody on Saturday, Washington State Patrol spokesman Keith Leary said in a telephone interview. The Washington State Patrol in a message on Twitter also confirmed a person had been taken into custody. A manhunt was underway on Saturday in northwest Washington state for the gunman, authorities said. The suspect entered the Cascade Mall in Burlington, around 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle, and began shooting at about 7 pm local time on Friday in the cosmetics section of a Macy's department store, police said. The unidentified suspect, who police described on Twitter as an Hispanic male, initially walked into the shopping center without the rifle but surveillance video later caught him brandishing the weapon, said Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department at briefing on Saturday. The rifle was later recovered at the mall, said Cammock, who is commander of the Skagit County Multi-Agency Response Team. Four women were killed in the rampage, which police believe was carried out by a lone gunman. Later a man who was seriously wounded in the shooting died at a local hospital. None of the victims were identified. Even some anti-smoking advocates noted that Nebraska would seem an odd choice for the proposal. (Representational Image) Bellevue: Some leaders in a blue-collar Nebraska suburb that's home to Offutt Air Force Base are borrowing an idea from a vastly more liberal state: Ban apartment renters from smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes inside. The proposal, which would be one of the few such restrictions outside of California and is similar to federal rules for public housing across the U.S., isn't meant to protect the health of the city's 50,000 residents, but instead to prevent fires. Councilman Don Preister proposed the ban, which wouldn't affect duplexes and single-family homes, in August after cigarette smoking at a single Bellevue apartment complex led to two fires a month earlier. The second fire destroyed the building, displacing dozens of people, and injured four, including a firefighter. "We had firefighters in the building ... when the floor started giving way," Preister said. "Had they not evacuated, we could have lost lives in the fire. I want to prevent that going forward." But some residents in the city that borders Omaha set in a deeply conservative state see the proposal - set for a vote by the City Council on Monday - as an example of government overreach. "I don't see how you're going to tell people what they can do in their homes," Brent Clatterbuck, who owns three apartment complexes in Bellevue, told the City Council earlier this month. "You're messing with somebody's home." Even some anti-smoking advocates noted that Nebraska would seem an odd choice for the proposal. "It would be surprising, if it had come up in isolation," said Pat McKone of the American Lung Association, an anti-smoking group. "But there was a fire. We all understand - no matter what our political persuasion - that fire kills." The ban, which Preister acknowledged would have secondary benefits of reducing health problems caused by secondhand smoke, is similar to those in dozens of California cities. Federal officials have adopted similar rules in public housing nationwide, but cities have rarely taken up the effort. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the anti-tobacco group SmokeFree Nebraska, said it couldn't find any local ordinances in Nebraska or surrounding states that are similar to the Bellevue proposal. "Smoking is both a health and safety issue," McKone said. "I'm not sure why we separate the issues of secondhand smoke and fire safety. Both are a danger to those living in multi-family dwellings." Preister, who said he has nothing against smokers, argues that such a ban would also lower insurance premiums by preventing expensive fires. U.S. Fire Administration statistics show smoking is the No. 1 cause of home fire deaths. Opponents of the proposal said officials haven't thought through the proposed change. Margie Guy, a smoker who also rents four apartments located above her bridal boutique, recently told council members that three of her four renters smoke and two live on fixed incomes. "Who are we to tell them they can't smoke in their own homes?" Guy asked. "What are the costs of actually enforcing these laws? Has anybody looked at that?" James Hardy, a smoker who lives in an apartment, argues the measure would violate a state law that says people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their own homes. He also contends it relegates apartment dwellers, who are often poorer than homeowners, to second-class citizens. "By passing this law, you're effectively saying to the whole country, 'If you're a private property owner, you may still exercise your personal liberties and still have a reasonable expectation of privacy within your own dwelling' ... you're saying to the denizens of all apartments that this new class of citizen must surrender their civil liberties by virtue of where they chose to live." David Sutton, a spokesman for Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc., which owns the nation's biggest cigarette maker, Philip Morris USA, said in an email there are places where smoking should be banned, such as in small enclosed areas, such as elevators, and places where children primarily are, such as schools. "Complete bans go too far," he said. "Owners of private residences and other private places should determine the smoking policy for that particular location." Preister understands the arguments against his proposal. He's not backing down. "I can empathize with smokers who are continually feeling put upon," he said. "However, smoking is a choice. It's not a protected class. ... They just need to go outside or to a safe place." Washington: Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump has threatened to bring a woman Bill Clinton had an affair with to a debate with Hillary Clinton on Monday. 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! the Republican candidate tweeted. The Trump campaign has, however, said that Flowers has not been formally invited. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trumps vice-presidential nominee, said Trumps suggestion hed invite Flowers was just mocking Clintons campaign for distracting from the real issues at stake on Monday night. Flowers, meanwhile, has accepted Trumps invitation and said she will attend Mondays debate. Hi Donald. You know Im in your corner and will definitely be at the debate! she tweeted. Flowers and Bill Clinton had had a 12-year affair. Bill had denied the allegation at first, but in 1998, under oath, he acknowledged to having a sexual encounter with Flowers. With the first debate slated for Monday both the campaigns have stepped up their attacks. Clinton camp had confirmed that it will invite billionaire mogul Mark Cuban to the debate. Cuban has publicly criticised Trump in the past attacking him for not releasing his tax returns and calling him bats*** crazy. Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri said, Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in peoples lives. Its not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path. North Korean defector Park Kyung-hwa who works for a Seoul-based shortwave radio station targeting audience in North Korea, demonstrates how she records her broadcast at a church in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: AP) Seoul: North Korean defectors who became brides for rural Chinese men, they faced another excruciating choice when they suffered abuse: to flee to South Korea and leave their children. Women who've made that choice have lived with the guilt and shame for years, but some are breaking their silence and trying to get international help for their situation. What some of the women told The Associated Press about their experiences: Kim Jungah, 40, chose to be trafficked because she could no longer endure poverty and malnutrition in the North. "I thought about killing myself many times but it wasn't easy to do it. For me, escaping from North Korea was the only way to survive," she said. Before she was sold to a farmer in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang who paid 20,000 yuan ($2,990), Kim said potential buyers visited her and that brokers ordered her to stand up, turn around and show her profile. "I felt so bad about that. I felt so humiliated and I realized they didn't see me as human being," she said. Kim said she was pregnant when brokers sold her to the Shenyang man, who eventually adopted her daughter. "There aren't any mother and daughter who are separated like us. I'm demanding a simple thing. I'm demanding the parental rights that that every couple in the world has," she said. Kim, 35, asked to be identified only by her surname. She allowed a stranger in China to marry her off with one of his friends, 14 years her senior, without knowing it was meant to clear the man's debt. "When I first saw him (my husband), he really looked like a grandpa. He was like a country man who didn't care about his appearance at all ... How can a man in his 30s look like a grandpa? I thought he was lying about his age," she said. "I felt really bad and cried." She said her husband beat her about once a month and looked down on her so much. "He always told me he brought a beggar-like person to his house ... and threatened to report me to police to get me punished," she said. "Do you know how intimidating that threat was to me?" Park Kyung-Hwa, 44, offered herself to traffickers but escaped before being sold to a Chinese man. "I had just prayed for meeting a good husband," she said. "The women sold as brides were the people who belonged to the lowest class in the North. Our dreams were like eating rice fully and we had heard that even dogs and animals in China ate rice," she said. Park said she and six other women were on the back of a big truck loaded with logs for about 12 hours when brokers were moving them. "If one log fell, we would have died all ... We all cried. It was miserable ... We held each other's' hands and sang together," she said. Chae Okhee, 48, lived in China for about 16 years. She wasn't a trafficking victim but has many friends and relative living in Seoul who had been sold as brides to Chinese men before their arrivals to South Korea. "One of my friends told me her Chinese husband had put her leg in the shackles to prevent her from going out," Chae said. She said her 25-year-old niece from North Korea had also lived with a Chinese man with "a little bit of autism" before she fled to South Korea in 2014. "She said she wasn't beaten by her husband but she ran away wearing only underwear in the middle of night in collaboration with brokers," Chae said. "She came here because she didn't want to live with him." Colombo: Describing Sri Lanka's current constitutional reform move as a "death trap", former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday appealed to the public to oppose the ongoing process that could reinstate a federal Tamil state. "People must be aware of this move. There are federal plans in this to divide the country. The place of Buddhism also is to be diluted," Rajapaksa told reporters in the central district town of Pilimatalawa. The government led by Rajapaksa's successor Maithripala Sirisena has set in motion a process to formulate a brand new constitution replacing the current 1978 constitution. The Tamil minority urges a political power devolution to the north and east in the new constitution. The former strongman called the proposed constitutional reform a "death trap" and appealed to the public to oppose it. His comments came a day after the Chief Minister of the Tamil-dominated Northern Province C V Wigneswaran held a protest rally in Jaffna demanding a federal solution to the minority's aspirations for political recognition. The rally advocated a merged north and east province as the federal Tamil state. Rajapaksa as President in 2006 had taken action through a court order to separate the two provinces - which had been merged in 1987 in terms of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord of the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the then Sri Lankan President J R Jayewardene. Wigneswaran adopts a hard line to win Tamil rights as opposed to the softer approach of the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance. Reacting to Wigneswaran's demands, Deputy Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena said the government would ignore all demands even as it grapples with the issue of achieving reconciliation with the Tamils. Officials suspect the ISIS was responsible for the attack that killed almost 57. (Photo: AFP) Ankara: A child died from injuries sustained during a bomb attack on a Kurdish wedding in southern Turkey last month, raising the death toll to 57, local media reported Sunday. As a result, 34 children are now among those killed in the suicide attack in the city of Gaziantep which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said was carried out by a child bomber acting on the orders of the Islamic State group. Mahsun Nas, 13, was the latest victim of the bombing on August 20, the Dogan news agency reported, and succumbed to his injuries while in hospital where he had been since the attack. The bombing was the deadliest in 2016 after the country has suffered more than a year of attacks linked to ISIS and Kurdish militants. A triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport in June left 47 dead, with authorities pointing the finger at the extremist group. Four days after the attack, Ankara launched its unprecedented military incursion into northern Syria against ISIS militants and Syrian Kurdish rebels linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) waging an insurgency in southeastern Turkey. British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any alien civilisations. (Photo: AP) London: British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any alien civilisations, especially to those more technologically advanced than humans. Our first contact from an advanced civilisation could be equivalent to when Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and things "didn't turn out so well", Hawking said in a new online film. The film, "Stephen Hawking's Favourite Places", takes viewers to five significant locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16 light years away. "One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back," he said. "They will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria," Hawking warned. "As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone. After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'. It is not the first time Hawking has warned about the prospect of hostile aliens. Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, last year Hawking had suggested that any civilisation reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans. "The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking," he said, in the film that appeared on the online platform CuriosityStream. London: A former senior British government official says Prime Minister Theresa May undermined her predecessor, David Cameron, in the run-up to Britain's June 23 referendum to leave the European Union. The accusation is levied in Sunday's published serialization of a book by Cameron's communications director, Craig Oliver. Oliver writes that Cameron was driven to the edge of exasperation while seeking support from May for voters to keep Britain inside the EU. May, home secretary in Cameron's government, was officially committed to retaining EU membership but maintained a low profile during the campaign. In his book, "Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of Brexit," Oliver says Cameron repeatedly pressed May to take a prominent role in pro-EU campaigning but she adopted a "submarine strategy of disappearing from view." May declined to respond. A roadside bomb exploded on the Rafah-Sheikh Zuweid road One civilian was killed and six injured on Sunday after a roadside bomb exploded in North Sinai, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported. The explosion took place on the Rafah-Sheikh Zuweid road. The injured were transported to Arish hospital. Roadside bombs are frequently planted by Islamist militants targeting security forces in North Sinai. Security forces have been battling an Islamist insurgency in North Sinai over the past several years. The insurgency has left hundreds of security forces and militants dead. Search Keywords: Short link: At least nine people were killed in Arab coalition air strikes in Houthi-controlled Ibb city, Yemen. (Photo: AFP/Representational) Ibb: Arab coalition air strikes killed nine people in Houthi-controlled city in central Yemen late on Saturday, medical sources and residents in the area told Reuters. Nine people were also wounded in the attack on several areas of the city and its outskirts, they said, adding the nine dead included three children and their parents. A spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries could not immediately be contacted. The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians. UN-sponsored talks to try to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure last month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Jerusalem magistrates' court had in March found Sheikh Omar Abu Sara, 51, guilty of incitement to violence and racism in a sermon he delivered at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. (Representational image) Jerusalem: An Israeli court on Sunday sentenced a Palestinian Islamic preacher to eight months in prison over a sermon at a volatile Jerusalem holy site in which he called for Jews to be killed. The Jerusalem magistrates' court had in March found Sheikh Omar Abu Sara, 51, guilty of incitement to violence and racism in a sermon he delivered at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound. In his November 28, 2014 sermon, which was also uploaded to YouTube, Abu Sara said "the Jews" were treacherous, stubborn, murderous, rude and shameless, while also calling them "monkeys and pigs". "I'm telling Jews explicitly -- it's time to slaughter you, time to fight you, time to kill you," he said, according to a transcript of the speech in the court decision. He vowed Muslims will "free this land from your filth, and that day is approaching." The sermon came against the backdrop of months of unrest over perceived Jewish attempts to take control over the holy site, which Jews refer to as the Temple Mount and consider their most sacred. There were also tensions over the murder of a Palestinian teenager in July in revenge for the killings of three Jewish teenagers in the West Bank. The killings were part of a cycle of violence that led up to the 2014 war between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Abu Sara claimed the sermon should not be considered incitement to violence and racism since it was based on religious scriptures and teachings and contained "general and non-binding" statements, the decision said. But the court rejected that argument, noting most of the sermon was not quotes but original statements by Abu Sara, who "sought to humiliate and degrade Jews" and "preach Jew-hatred to the other worshippers". The Islamic Waqf organisation, which administers the Al-Aqsa compound, the third-holiest site in Islam, said it as not aware of a preacher there by that name. The sentence is to begin on December 18, 2016, the court said, and Abu Sara can appeal within 45 days. The Jewish high holidays in October see a rise in Jewish visitors to the site, and authorities were bracing for an increase in violence in and around east Jerusalem. Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, comatose peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have helped feed the unrest. Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a main cause of the violence. Shahzain, a cousin of Geneva-based Brahamdagh who has sought asylum in India, said at the annual convention of the Jamhoori Watan Party which was formed by his grandfather that the Bugti tribe would always stand in defence of Pakistan. Karachi: In a sign of internal rivalry in the Baloch separatist movement, Brahamdagh Bugti's cousin has said he would fight for Pakistan in the event of a war with India. Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of slain Baloch tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, has said that if war breaks out with India he and his tribal warriors would fight against Indian troops along with the Pakistan Army. Shahzain, a cousin of Geneva-based Brahamdagh who has sought asylum in India, said at the annual convention of the Jamhoori Watan Party which was formed by his grandfather that the Bugti tribe would always stand in defence of Pakistan. "Brahamdagh can stay in India or Geneva that is his personal decision. But as far as I or the party is concerned we will always follow the dictates of Nawab Akbar Bugti," Shahzain said. He said his grandfather had opted for Pakistan at the time of Partition and his party would remain loyal to this ideology. "Nawab Akbar Bugti was always with Pakistan and in the past also our tribesmen fought for Pakistan. Nothing has changed. Our ideology is the same. Even today if India goes to war with Pakistan we will defend the Pakistani borders," he said. Ever since nationalist leader Akbar Bugti was killed in a military operation in August, 2006, there has been a war of succession between three of his grandsons including Shahzain and Brahamdagh who are both claimants to the title of the tribe's chieftainship, and have refused to recognise Aali Bugti as his successor. Akbar Bugti had decided to nominate Brahamdagh as his successor during his lifetime?but met with resistance from several tribal elders. He had informally appointed Brahamdagh as his political successor and Mir Aali as his tribal successor. Brahamdagh, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking political asylum in India. His application was received by the Home Ministry in New Delhi which is examining it. The troubled Balochistan province has been in the eye of a storm since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the atrocities and human rights violations being committed in the province. India has also raised the Balochistan issue at the UN. Yesterday, several hundred tribesmen also held a demonstration against India insisting they would fight side by side with the Pakistan military if war breaks out. US Senator John McCain has assured Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari that the bill to designate Islamabad as a state sponsor for terrorism wont get through US congress. (Photo: AP) Karachi: United States Senator John McCain has assured Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari that the bill to designate Islamabad as a state sponsor for terrorism will not be successful. McCain is said to have pointed out that the bill had been moved by a small minority in Congress and would not garner support, reports the Express Tribune. During telephonic conversation with Zardari on Friday, both the leaders also discussed bilateral and international issues. While the former president insisting that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism itself and will never support it, McCain reportedly acknowledged the sacrifices made by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. The duo also agreed that it is in the interest of peace and stability that Pakistan continues to play its part in the fight against the global threat of terrorism. Zardari said that his country Pakistan wants to resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue. Earlier, two American lawmakers introduced legislation in the US Congress aimed at designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. The bill was moved by Congressman Ted Poe from Texas, who is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, and Congressman Dana Rohrabacher. Poe in the statement also pointed out that Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years. "Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years. From harboring Osama bin Laden to its cozy relationship with the Haqqani network, there is more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the War on Terror. And it's not America's," Poe said in a statement while announcing the bill. He said that the bill will require the administration to formally answer this question and the President must issue a report within 90 days of passage detailing whether or not Pakistan has provided support for international terrorism. "Britain wants easing of tension between Pakistan and India as it is concerned over the current situation (after the Uri attack)," British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew said yesterday. (Representational Image) Lahore: Britain has expressed serious concern over the growing tension between India and Pakistan amid tension over the Uri terror attack. "Britain wants easing of tension between Pakistan and India as it is concerned over the current situation (after the Uri attack)," British High Commissioner in Pakistan Thomas Drew said yesterday. Drew met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations. According to a release issued by the Punjab government, the British High Commissioner said, "Like other countries, Britain also wants easing of tension between Pakistan and India. Britain is concerned over the tension between the two countries. It is against violation of human rights anywhere in the world". He said Pakistan's political leadership is showing a responsible attitude in the current situation. Sharif said Britain should play its role in resolution of the Kashmir issue. He said Pakistan is a peaceful country and wants durable peace in the region. This is the biggest air exercises conducted by China after the July verdict of the international tribunal which struck down Beijing's claims over all most all of the South China Sea. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP) Beijing: Flexing muscles, China on Sunday pressed a fleet of 40 military aircraft to conduct its biggest exercises in high seas of West Pacific in a bid to showcase its growing air power over the disputed South China Sea and the contentious islands in East China Sea. Shen Jinke, spokesperson of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, said the fleet, including H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters and air tankers, conducted reconnaissance and early warning, attacks on sea surface targets, and in-flight refuelling to test the Air Force's fighting capacity on the high seas. Bombers and fighters of the PLA Air Force also conducted routine patrol in the East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), state-run Xinhua news agency reported. China established ADIZ three years ago over the East China Sea as it stepped its claims over the disputed islands called Senkakus which are under the control of Japan. This is the biggest air exercises conducted by China after the July verdict of the international tribunal which struck down Beijing's claims over all most all of the South China Sea. Shen said routine drills in the West Pacific and patrols in the East China Sea ADIZ are conducted "in accordance with the needs of the Air Force to defend national sovereignty and security, as well as to maintain peaceful development". Since the East China Sea ADIZ was set up nearly three years ago, the PLA Air Force has kept regular patrols. The Air Force will continue patrolling in the East China Sea. It will keep conducting various training to improve its combat capacity, Shen said. Lahore: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a writ petition by JuD chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing "the matter raised by the petitioner is not justifiable before the court and falls within the domain of politics". The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeed's counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed will challenge the verdict in the intra-court. In the petition Saeed said India had been "committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions". He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said "(former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir, however, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking". Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. "Indian army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistan government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements," Dogar said. Criticising the LHC verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. "It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect," he said. 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 with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of the state on Saturday, particularly the Hyderabad-Karnataka, causing large-scale destruction. Torrential rains continued for the third consecutive day bringing further destruction in various parts of Bidar district. The river Manjira is in spate as Maharashtra has released water from Dhanegaon dam in Udgir taluk. Standing crops on 49,991 hectares were washed away due to the floods in the river. Heavy rain has claimed three lives in the district. Madhu, a six-month-old baby, who was sick, died as his parents could not take him to hospital in time due to flooded roads. An 8-year-old boy, who was returning from his aunts house, drowned after falling into a road-side pit in Sindhankera village of Humnabad taluk. The residents of Tegampurkere in Aurad taluk found a body floating in the water body on Saturday. It is suspected that the victim was washed away in rainwater. Police are yet to ascertain the identity of the person. Bidar district recorded 52mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. As many as 2,600 houses are estimated to have been damaged due to the rains in the last three days in Bidar and Kalaburagi districts. The officials said three teams of the National Disaster Response Force those stationed at Hyderabad, Guntur and Davangere have taken up rescue and relief operations in the flooded areas. Gangaram Baderiya, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department (Disaster Management), when contacted by DH, said he had sent three teams of NDRF to the flood-affected districts. I am visiting the districts on Sunday to take stock of the situation. I am yet to get a report on the casualties in those districts, he said when asked how many deaths have been reported due to the floods. Around 250 residents of Anandwadi village in Bhalki taluk had been shifted to nearby government high school as the villages faces flood threat. Road connectivity has been snapped at various places as bridges have submerged. More expected Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre Director Sreenivas Reddy on Saturday said a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal has led to rains and floods in Kalaburagi and Bidar. The impact would reduce by Sunday. But there is a formation of another depression and this may hit the same districts after three days, he added. Belagavi and Khanapur taluks received good spell of rain on Saturday. The showers begin early in the morning and continued till noon without a break. However Hukkeri and other parts of Belagavi Chikkodi, Athani, Gokak, Raibag received light rains. Kushtagi taluk in Koppal district received rains for around two hours in the noon. According to farmers, the rain is conducive for the tur crop. Several parts of Bagalkot district received widespread rains for more than three hours towards noon. Moderate to heavy rains continued to lash Malnad region in Shivamogga district. Hosanagar, Thirthahalli and Sagar received heavy rains intermittently. Shivamogga, Bhadravathi, Shikaripur and Sorab received moderate rains. Most parts of the district witnessed cloudy weather throughout the day. The water level in Linganamakki dam rose to 1795.70 feet against the maximum level of 1819 feet. Though Mangaluru experienced moderate rainfall on Saturday morning, the rain receded by afternoon. In the last 24 hours, the Dakshina Kannada district received an average of 18.8 mm rainfall. Kodagu district too experienced moderate rainfall with an average of 20.06 mm in the last 24 hours. The water level in Harangi reservoir stood at 2,843.98 feet. Its only a drizzle in Cauvery basin The Cauvery basin, which is facing a rain deficit, is likely to get only a drizzle in the next couple of days. This may result in an inflow of just 5,000 to 6,000 cusecs a day in the Krishnaraja Sagar catchment areas, , reports DHNS from Bengaluru. The KRS reservoir gets water from parts of Hassan, Chikkmagaluru and Mysuru districts. River Kabini, which contributes to the Cauvery basin, gets inflow from Wayanad in Kerala. According to Sreenivas Reddy, director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, from June 1 to September 23, the deficit of rain in Wayanad is 61%. Kabini river gets nearly 90% of its flow from Wayanad. As on Saturday, Kodagu district has recorded a rain deficit of 34% while the deficit in parts of Hassan which is in the KRS catchment area is 22%. The deficit is 27% in parts of Chikkamagaluru and in Mysuru, it is 26%. The average deficit in the KRS catchment area is around 30%, Reddy said. After 18 days, members of the District Raita Hitarakshana Samiti, on Saturday, called off their protest following the assurance of compensation for crop loss. Addressing the members near the Visvesvaraya statue, former MP G Madegowda, president of the samiti, announced the decision. He said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured him that farmers would be provided compensation for crop loss in the Cauvery, Kabini and Hemavathy river basins. The chief minister said that the compensation will be finalised at a Cabinet meeting. He also promised to take measures to withdraw the cases filed against farmers during the Cauvery agitation, Madegowda said. Earlier, Siddaramaiah had spoken to Madegowda over phone and appealed to him to end the protest now that the state legislature has resolved to utilise Cauvery water only for drinking purposes. Egypt's State Commissioners Authority recommended on Sunday that the administrative court dismiss a case challenging a controversial government decision made earlier this year to introduce a new security system designed to monitor social networking sites. The case was filed in June by a number of Egyptian human rights groups against the interior ministrys decision to implement a social media surveillance programme to track security threats including terrorism, explosives manufacturing and assassination operations. The court authority said in its report that while the case argued that the proposed system undermines rights and freedoms guaranteed in constitution, "such rights and freedoms are contingent on not exceeding legal limits or undermining national security or public order." The report argued that freedom of opinion and expression requires regulation amid attempts on social media to incite against the state. It said the planned security system, which had sparked public outrage on social media websites, "empowers the police to perform its constitutional and legal role to preserve public order and general security and curb crimes." The system, the report says, does not amount to an invasion of people's personal accounts or data, as it would merely involve the monitoring of publicly available information. However, Al-Watan newspaper published in June information leaked from the interior ministry stating that the system would involve the monitoring of private communication platforms such as Viber and WhatsApp. The leaks also revealed that the ministry intends to track online information about subjects it deems dangerous including contempt of religion, libel and defamation. Observers say that the controversial system is meant to expand practices already in use by the country's security apparatus. Authorities had previously arrested several suspects they claim set up Facebook pages used to incite violence against police and army forces, which have been targeted by an Islamist insurgency since the 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. The government, however, has argued the system will operate within the law. Egypts interior ministry under deposed president Hosni Mubarak was infamous for spying on citizens to quash political dissent. In April, parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al said that the chamber should pass legislation that regulates Facebook and other social networking websites to prosecute users who pose threats to national security. The parliament is expected to discuss the matter later this year. Search Keywords: Short link: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the state will move an application before the Supreme Court on Monday seeking modification of its September 20 order on the Cauvery issue. In his letter, copies of which were released to the press, Siddaramaiah has informed Modi about the resolution passed by both the Houses of the Legislature on Friday. Siddaramaiah has stated that the modification petition will seek change of schedule of Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court, in its interim order on September 20, had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu upto September 27. The state legislature on Friday passed a resolution directing that the state government should not draw water from the existing storage in the four reservoirs of the state, and save the water to meet the drinking water needs of the towns and villages in Cauvery basin and for Bengaluru. The government has no intention to disregard any of the orders of the Supreme Court, the letter states. Days after he advised the Siddaramaiah government to stop any further release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda continues to be a busy man. Amid a steady stream of visitors at his Padmanabhanagar residence, Gowda spends his time going through volumes of reports on the Cauvery dispute, court orders and related documents. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has begun seeking Gowdas guidance on the issue. Gowda says the government will come out of the contempt of court threat in the next few days. The state should now focus on making a strong contention before the Supreme Court when it takes up for final hearing on October 18 the original suit, challenging the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). In an interview to Vijesh Kamath of DH, the JD(S) supremo had this to share. You advised the government to stop further release of water to Tamil Nadu. Now, the government faces the threat of being hauled up for contempt of court. The court cannot initiate contempt proceedings. There will be no such problem as the court has surpassed its jurisdiction. Besides, the court order is unimplementable. Should we be giving priority for water to crops or human survival? We do not have water even for drinking purpose. We should tell the court that a practical decision has been taken. But on earlier occasions, you had said the government should comply with Supreme Court orders. Why the change in stand ? I had planned to go on an indefinite hunger strike in protest against the Supreme Court order of September 5. However, when our appeal for modification was not considered and the state got adverse orders, the public outcry was becoming too hot to handle. We had to take a hard decision. What should be the governments next move? There are several flaws in the final award of the CWDT. We should pinpoint them before the Supreme Court when a three-judge bench takes it up for final hearing on October 18. We should highlight that there was division among the two members and chairman of the CWDT. A divided tribunal award cannot be implemented. The award also allots 27 tmcft for unnamed and undecided projects in Tamil Nadu. It also states one-third of Bengaluru comes under Cauvery basin and drinking water can be provided only to that region. This cannot be accepted and must be questioned. You have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Cauvery dispute. But there has been no response so far. I had four meetings with Modi and they were cordial. The PM is aware of our problem and has good knowledge of the Cauvery issue. That is all I have got to say, as of now. What were your efforts to solve the Cauvery imbroglio during your tenure as PM? I had called up the then Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and told him that we should sort out the problem. I suggested that Karnataka could construct a reservoir at Mekedatu. During a distress year, Tamil Nadu could make use of water from this reservoir. During normal years, Karnataka could supply water from Mekedatu to Chamarajanagar and surrounding areas. Karunanidhi said he was ready to accept the proposal, but that lady (AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa) would object. He said she was too stubborn and could not be convinced. The proposal had to be dropped. The court has also ordered the Centre that the Cauvery Management Board be constituted within four weeks. It cannot be done. The court has surpassed its jurisdiction. When the matter is yet to be heard by a three-judge bench, how can a two-judge bench pass such orders? The question of propriety of the judiciary will arise. You visited the Vidhana Soudha after a gap of 20 years to participate in the all-party meeting on Cauvery. Why did you keep away for all these years? It was a personal decision. I am not a member of the Assembly. What work will I have in the Vidhana Soudha? Siddaramaiah requested that I attend the all-party meeting and I agreed. Secretary of Campus Front of India (CFI) State Committee Mohammed Tafsir on Saturday said that the recent developments at Mangalore University and Srinivasa College do not augur well for the district which is popularly known as an education hub. Addressing the protesters in front of the deputy commissioners office complex here, Tafsir said Mangalore University campus at Konaje is turning into a political den. Recently, a programme was organised by a political party, in memory of erstwhile feudatory ruler Rani Abbakka, on the campus. Equally disturbing is the incident like placing a hidden camera in the womens toilet at Bioscience Block of the campus, he criticised. Tafsir said Srinivasa College of Pharmacy is turning into another Central University of Hyderabad (CUH) where a research scholar ended his life due to caste discrimination. A section of 25 students of the college are booked under false charge of ragging at the behest of its principal Shabaraya. He is akin to Apparao the Vice-chancellor of CUH, he criticised. At Shivarama Karantha Government First Grade College at Peruvaje, Sullia taluk, students belonging to a particular community attend classes by wearing saffron shawls, the same students take umbrage against students belonging to other community, if they wear hijab to class practicing their religion, he claimed. Tafsir sought to point out that the organisation is forced to take to streets due to the inevitable circumstances. He clarified that some educational institutions in the district have the credit of producing eminent personalities. Tafsir gave a call to the students to question such activities and strive towards building a better society. Earlier, hundreds of students from different colleges arrived in a rally to the deputy commissioners office. They were jointly led by CFI District President Muhammad Athaulla, General Secretary Mohammed Imran, State President Mohammed Tufail, Kerala Student Forum, Mangaluru convener Mohammed Ali and others. Washington State Patrol spokesman Keith Leary said in a phone interview that the suspect was taken into custody but declined to immediately release more details. Seattle television station KOMO reported on Twitter that the suspect had been captured in Oak Harbor, a community about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Burlington where the mall shooting occurred on Friday. Washington state police officials said in messages on Twitter that authorities would hold a news conference to provide further details about the arrest. The shooter disappeared under the cover of darkness at the Cascade Mall on Friday, authorities said. The suspect, whose name has not been released, is believed to have entered the mall in Burlington, around 65 miles (105 km) north of Seattle, and began shooting at about 7 p.m. local time on Friday in the cosmetics section of a Macy's department store, police said. He initially walked into the shopping center without the rifle but surveillance video later caught him brandishing the weapon, said Lieutenant Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department at a briefing on Saturday. A man believed to have opened fire with a rifle at a Washington state mall, killing five people, was captured on Saturday, one day after the attack, authorities said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly tomorrow with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived here yesterday afternoon and will address the UN general debate tomorrow morning. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here Friday that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security". Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. Body of a six-month old pre-mature male child was found abandoned at the toilet of Rao Tula Ram Hospital in South West Delhi on Friday. Police have taken the body into their custody and search for its mother is underway as they said. It is suspected that the mother of the child accidentally gave him birth while using the toilet. However, police are also investigating whether it was a case of unwanted pregnancy.The incident came to the fore on Friday around 11 am when in the hospitals emergency ward, a sweeper spotted the head of a newborn stuck in the commode of the toilet. The sweeper than informed the hospital authorities about the matter, and subsequently police was also told about the matter. Police have sent the body for post-mortem. Police are also scanning the hospitals record book whether a pregnant woman had come to the hospital in the last few days. CCTV footage of the hospital, especially of the emergency ward is being scanned to find out if a pregnant woman entered the toilet. Apart from police, hospitals administration is also conducting an internal inquiry into the whole matter. Tamanna (name changed), 17, was rescued from a brothel on GB Road last month following a raid. Being a minor, she was sent to a child care centre, from where she is expected to be reunited with her parents in West Bengal. It looks like the perfect ending of a story. However, far from it, the reality is lot different. Tamanna is the fourth daughter of her parents who are agricultural labourers in West Bengals Malda district. They are so poor that they had to send her with someone to Delhi to work as a housemaid. But as soon as she reached here, her documents were snatched away and she was locked in a room at one of the brothels. She was repeatedly raped for days and then presented before customers when she was ready, says Jyoti, an NGO worker. Now that she is free, Tamanna is not sure whether her parents would be happy seeing her back. The main reason she was pushed into prostitution was her poverty and unemployment. Without addressing those reasons her freedom is short-lived, says Suleman George, director, Delhi Brotherhood Society, an NGO. According to George there is not a single scheme by the centre or state government yet which addresses the issue of rehabilitation of sex workers. With no sound rehabilitation policy in place for them, sex workers continue in the profession as they feel they dont have any other option. It is a vicious cycle. The trafficked becomes the trafficker after a point of time. Their sons become pimps. There is no end to this, says Suleman George. As per a study by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) 60.7% of the sex workers who were surveyed said that they had children. 54.7% said that their children were not residing with them. The children were found to be mostly staying with the parents of sex workers. For several sex workers in GB Road, educating children is raising them in hometowns and away from the dark lanes of the brothels. Growing up on GB Road is not desirable. Children often feel stigmatised when peers from outside the community come to know of the background. Those who stay with their mothers have a negative growth pattern and develop different kinds of behavioral difficulties since they are exposed to negative environment right from their childhood, George says. Government must make provisions for day and night creche facilities. Formal and non formal education and life skills training need to be made available to the children. When they grow up employment opportunities must be made available so that they are not forced to end up as sex workers," George adds. The middle-aged sex workers, especially, should be rehabilitated to stop second-generation prostitution. As it is the number of clients for them is dwindling. Civil society organisations have repeatedly demanded that the government opens a residential school for young and adolescent children in GB Road itself. This should also double as an open home for day boarders. The school will not only provide quality education but also impart vocational training. In this case, the children can live in proximity to their mothers and also focus on their interest areas in a competitive space, says Jyoti. Both the central and the state government have failed to bring out a rehabilitation policy till now. In fact it was only after the intervention of the Delhi Commission for Women that the Delhi governments state-level coordination committee on trafficking met for the first time last year on October. The committee planned to rehabilitate 50 women on a pilot basis by giving them professional placements instead of just skill development. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) specifically told the committee that should venture in this project only if they can provide jobs. The focus should not only be on skill development. The sex workers or others, who have been trafficked, cannot earn their livelihood through these courses. There should be some lucrative options so that they can completely leave the trade, DCW chief Swati Maliwal says. There should be a holistic rehabilitation. They should be seen with respect and no social stigma should be attached to a sex worker. The company where they are placed should not make public her past otherwise the whole exercise will be futile. The Delhi government and the DCW are putting its head together in this regard, she adds. Maliwal, during the meeting also suggested that industry organisations such as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry, The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India and PHD Chambers of Commerce should be involved to help in the rehabilitation process. The committee, set up on the orders of Supreme Court, was reconstituted in 2012. Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini, an NGO, which has been working closely on the rehabilitation of sex workers, says: The problem is there is no synergy between various stakeholders such as police, anti-trafficking units, welfare department and civil society. Everyone works in isolation. On the other hand, the traffickers are a united lot and their network is very strong. There can be various options for rehabilitation like handing over Mother Dairy outlets to these women, giving them a small house, employing them in government canteens, etc, he adds. The death toll from the capsizing of a migrant boat on Wednesday off Egypts Mediterranean coast reached 169 people on Sunday, with Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail assigning the Petroleum Marine Services to retrieve the sunken vessel, according to a statement by Egypt's health ministry. The dead include 94 Egyptians and 75 foreigners. The vessel tasked with recovering the boat is equipped with 11 divers and a crane capable of lifting 100 tonnes. The migrant boat, which was carrying several hundreds of different nationalities, sailed from Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta and was heading to Italy. Some locals have expressed doubt over the recovery mission, with the head of the fishermens union in Rosetta Ramadan Abdo saying that the boat may need a larger crane to lift out of the sea. Abdo told Ahram Online the capsized boat weighed around 80 tonnes, and that this weight would increase after sinking, thus making it doubtful that it can be lifted by a 100 tonne crane. Local fishermen have offered to help recover the boat by retrieving it in separate pieces, Abdo added. Hospitals have made preparations to receive more bodies, as dozens of corpses are expected to be recovered from the sunken boat. According to eyewitness estimates, the boat was carrying around 450 migrants many of whom were women and children on a vessel believed to have a maximum capacity of 150 passengers. At least 52 Egyptian families are reported to have inquired about missing relatives as of Saturday. A total of 164 people have been rescued, including 117 Egyptians and 43 foreigners, as well as the boats four crew members who have been arrested. Survivors say that they were in the water for seven hours before being rescued. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on Saturday for the prosecution of the traffickers behind the disaster. [The traffickers] violated Egyptian and international law... taking advantage of the people's lack of awareness amid regional and international circumstances that make Egypt a transit point for illegal immigration," El-Sisi said. The four crew members, who are in custody pending investigation, are facing 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 opportunities, with Egypts northern coastline considered a hot spot for smugglers and migrants heading to Europe, mainly Italy. Egyptian security forces have thwarted numerous irregular migration attempts in recent months. Search Keywords: Short link: Human trafficking is one of the largest organised crimes in India.With successive governments failing to combat it, the trafficking has grown and traffickers have adopted new styles of functioning to dodge police Days after GB Roads brothel owners Afaq Hussain, 50, and Saira, 45, were arrested along with six of their associates by Delhi Polices Crime Branch, central district police transferred 42 police personal, posted at Kamla Market police station, to other police stations. GB (Garstin Bastion) Road, a strip of three kilometre of land, falls under the jurisdiction of Kamla Market police station in Central Delhi and houses around 4000 sex workers in 90 odd kothas (brothels) lined up on one side of the road. Experts believe that the arrest of the couple followed by the transfer of police personnel cant be a mere coincidence. We have experienced in our numerous raids at GB Road that whenever we have accompanied the local police personnel the raid turned out to be a failure. The brothel managers in advance get to know about our arrival and we get no proof of any illegal activity at the place, says Nishikant, executive director, Shaktivahini NGO. On the other hand, when we have accompanied Joint Commissioner of Police (Central range) or the Crime Branchs Anti Human Traffic unit personnel, raids have been successful, Nishikant adds. In 2013, the then additional deputy commissioner of police (central) Rajiv Sharma had ordered an inquiry into the connection between local police personnel and brothel managers, said sources. The inquiry, conducted by the special staff of central district, revealed that nearly 50 per cent staffs of Kamla Market police station was in touch with owners and managers of several brothels. Following the inquiry report, action was taken against several policemen of the police station, sources add. Role of local police is sometime fishy, which is a matter of great concern. The investigating officer and the beat officers need to be regularly transferred. They should not remain there for a long period of time otherwise chances of a nexus between them and the brothel managers are high, Nishikant says. Sensitization of police officers handling the rescue operation is another aspect which needs major attention. Lot of trafficked girls dont speak up against their handlers due to insensitive and casual manner in which they are being questioned by the police, said experts. Moreover, the presence of musclemen and henchmen of the various brothel naayikas (women brothel managers) create an atmosphere of fear around the hapless girls and women. Station house officer who is being brought there should be a sensitized officer on the issue of human trafficking. Ideally, inspector-ranked officers should be brought from Anti Human Trafficking unit, Nishikant says. If it happens then lot of intervention and successful raids and rescue operation are possible. We have seen such intervention when Surender Jeet Kaur and Mr. Joshi (both from Delhi Police) were there. We have been able to successfully close down lot of brothels during their tenure. So sensitised officer is the need of the time, Nishikant adds. Crime Branchs Anti Human Trafficking unit was established in 2012 as a dedicated unit of Delhi Police to tackle the cases of human trafficking and forced prostitution. Local police deals with several issues. Human trafficking is just a part of their various tasks. Due to the nature of their job, they cant tackle the matter in a specialised manner, says G Ram Gopal Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime). To deal with the issue of human trafficking, a dedicated force called Anti Human Trafficking unit under the Crime Branch was established. The unit does in depth investigation and deals with the problem in a holistic manner, Naik adds. Human trafficking is one of the largest organised crimes in India. According to government data, over 1.5 lakh children went missing in 2014 alone. With successive governments failing to combat it, the trafficking business has grown and traffickers have adopted new styles of functioning to dodge police. Delhi contributes 1.3% to the total human trafficking in India. Among the girls rescued last year, 194 were trafficked to Delhi on the pretext of jobs, seven were forced into prostitution and three were sold to other states. In all, 163 people were arrested for trafficking children. The 2015 National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data shows a 73% increase in the registration of cases against traffickers-the figure went up to 156 from 23 registered a year ago. As many as 207 girls were rescued by the police and other agencies in 2015 compared with 32 in 2014. At GB Road, there is a four-tier structure in which the brothels are managed. At the bottom of the layer are naayikas, who directly control the girls at GB Road. Each naayika is responsible for 10-15 girls under her. Then comes the brothel manager who happens to be a muscleman managing the business aspect of the brothel. Above a manager is a kotha madam, and then at the top is the kotha owner. The faceless kotha owners are the real force behind the economy of GB Roads sex trade, say experts. After the arrest of Afaq Hussain and Saira, both owners of several kothas in the red light area, police are expecting that the business will receive a blow. However, sources said there are many more owners who are still operating in the lucrative business worth hundreds of crores. On September 22 this year, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal alleged that a Union minister and another Delhi leader, from a prominent party, were involved in the functioning of brothels on GB Road. Maliwal also claimed Delhi Police had registered an FIR against her since she was probing ownership records of establishments on GB Road. We were trying to find out under whose patronage this business was taking place. I have received very strong leads that there is a minister in the Union government, and a senior Delhi leader of a prominent party, under whose patronage this entire business is taking place, Maliwall said. Earlier this year, Maliwal had accused the Delhi Police of being ineffective in checking the illegal trafficking of girls and women in GB Road. "This place exists just three kilometres away from parliament and a similar distance from the Delhi secretariat. Also police teams from far away states like West Bengal and Karnataka come find missing girls based on tip-off to GB Road but the Delhi police station on the same road does little to keep a check on preventing trafficking," Maliwal had said. In the past few years, the national capital has emerged as a major trafficking hub of the country where girls from as far as from Nepal are being trafficked in. In 2015, 11,538 cases of immoral trafficking were found pending in courts across the country out of which more than 70% of the victims were connected to Delhi. In 10% of the cases, the accused were booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. There were 23 cases of parents getting booked for abandoning minor children, who were later trafficked. About 60% of the victims were in the age group of 12-16 years and 83.3% of the traffickers were known to the victim. Most of the victims rescued were trafficked from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha. Police had booked 121 people for employing a trafficked child as a household help or at a workshop. In 2015, Delhi Police 200 cases were lodged under sections of Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act. In 2014, one case had been registered under Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act. Curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town in the wee hours today after three persons were detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) triggering stone pelting. "Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar town and other nearby areas around 0400 hours today as a precautionary measure", SSP Kishtwar, Sandeep Wazir told PTI. He said three persons were detained last night in Kishtwar in connection with attempts to disrupt peace. After they were detained, some persons in the area resorted to stone pelting, police sources said. This forced the district administration to impose curfew, the sources said. Those detained under PSA have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Molvi, Saif-I'd-din Bhagwan and Farid Ahmad Bagwan. Amid debate over chikungunya deaths in the city, opinion of doctors seem to be divided with some asserting only 0.1 per cent people run the risk of dying due to its complications while other medical professionals attribute the fatalities to the vector-borne disease. "1 out of 1,000 people, i.e., 0.1 per cent run the risk of dying due to chikungunya complications and that too if the patient has co-morbid conditions. Chikungunya is otherwise non-fatal," AIIMS Head of the Department of Medicine Dr S K Sharma said. At least 15 fatalities due to chikungunya complications have been reported at various city hospitals, including one at AIIMS, while over 2,600 people have been affected by the mosquito-borne fever this season. "If one analyses the deaths, attributed to chikungunya, being reported in Delhi, you would realise that most of them had co-morbid conditions, like hypertension or diabetes or kidney or other renal problems. Chikungunya as such cannot cause death," AIIMS Director Dr M C Misra said. But doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), where nearly half of these deaths have been recorded, say it was chikungunya that precipitated the death. "Yes, most of these patients were old and had co-morbidity, but why are people finding it hard to believe that chikungunya cannot cause death. There are six crore diabetic people in Delhi, nearly 15 lakh suffer from blood pressure problems, they weren't dying earlier. "The seven persons, who died here, were elderly people and suffered complications triggered by chikungunya and succumbed. Why are we so embarrassed to admit that these deaths were due to chikungunya? As per WHO reports, chikungunya outbreak in France and the US and South America have caused deaths," Chairman of Department of Medicine at SGRH, Dr S P Byotra told PTI. Among the remaining fatalities, five of them were reported at Apollo Hospital, one each at AIIMS, Hindu Rao Hospital and Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute. Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant in Department of Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospital, says, while a debate over the fatality issue is fine, "doctors should not get dogmatic that chikungunya cannot lead to death." "Out of the five patients who died at Apollo, while four of them were old and had some kind of co-morbid conditions, a 31-year-old man from Noida, did not have it, and died within a day of admission. His death has puzzled all of us doctors here," he said. Besides, a 22-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest triggered by chikungunya complications at Hindu Rao Hospital. Most of the deceased belong to Uttar Pradesh, including the one at AIIMS, who hailed from Muzaffarnagar, and died of multi-organ failure. Gulab Chand Gupta (70) from Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi, had died on September 12 Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute (PSRI). His family members are still trying to come to terms with his death, as Gupta was "fit and had no medical history". "We have been told chikungunya is non-fatal. And, that may lead to death in those cases where the patients has co-morbidity. But, he had no medical history, he was fit and never smoked a cigarette or consumed alcohol. And, he even practiced yoga everyday," his son-in-law Santosh Mangal said. Doctors at PSRI in the report said, describing his death from chikungunya complications said, "he died of acute febrile illness with septic shock and multi-organ failure." AIIMS Head of the Department of Medicine, Dr Sharma, when asked about this case said, "I will have to scrutinise this case, before commenting on it." At AIIMS laboratories, at least 2,000 blood test samples have tested positive for chikungunya, and doctors there are also studying the viral strain that is in circulation. Experts have conjectured that the outbreak of chikungunya this year could be due to "evolution" in the virus strain. Chatterjee and Byotra, both say that there is a possibility of viral strain of chikungunya "having evolved" but only a scientific study can give us a real picture. The national capital and several other parts of north India are witnessing an outbreak of chikungunya after nearly 10 years. In 2006, over 13 lakh suspected chikungunya cases were reported in Delhi. Dr Lalit Dar of Department of Microbiology at AIIMS, however, says, the rising cases of chikungunya after the 2006 outbreak could be due to "Delhi having a lot of migrant population and generation born after 2006." "Since they were not exposed to the viral strain in 2006 and hence not grown immune, so they are getting affected by it," he said. According to Dar, AIIMS laboratories have "tested 3,500 cases of chikungunya samples out of which 2,000 have tested positive, nearly 58 per cent. And, for dengue, out of 8,500 samples only 474 have tested positive." The committee set up by the Delhi government to review the death attributed to dengue and chikungunya, had earlier, "ruled out" chikungunya as the primary cause of fatality. "Why is a debate about primary or secondary cause. Chikungunya complications have proved fatal in many of these patients, and it is better to acknowledge the deaths do a proper research of the virus, rather than seeing it as something to be embarrassed about," Byotra said. The White House race between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump has narrowed to a virtual dead heat, according to a latest poll ahead of the first presidential debate tomorrow. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll stated that the two leaders, ahead of the first presidential debate, are locked in a neck-and-neck battle with just over a month to go for the elections. Forty-six per cent of the likely voters are supporting Clinton while 44 per cent backing Trump, the Washington Post said, adding that among registered voters, they are tied at 41 per cent. The poll said 68-year-old former secretary of state's August advantage erased after recent difficulties and her 70-year-old Republican rival is still facing doubts about his qualifications and temperament. In a two-way matchup, Clinton tops Trump by 49 per cent to 47 per cent among likely voters, and the two are tied at 46 per cent among all registered voters, the report said. Clinton's two-point edge among likely voters, in both the four-way and two-way ballot tests, is within the survey's 4.5 percentage-point margin of sampling error, it said. The findings of the poll show how much the presidential contest has tightened in recent weeks. In early September, Clinton led Trump by five points among likely voters and in early August, she led by eight points. As Clinton has run into some turbulence, Trump has worked to present himself as a more disciplined candidate in an effort to attract more support from voters who traditionally have supported Republican nominees, the poll said. Much will be at stake tomorrow night at Hofstra University when Clinton and Trump meet at 9 PM (local time) in what is said to be one of the largest television audiences ever for a presidential debate. A vast 74 per cent of Americans, eight in 10 voters, plan to watch the debate.Forty-four per cent expect Clinton to win while 34 per cent expecting Trump to lead. The poll said that expectations for Clinton are lower than they were for President Barack Obama against Republican Mitt Romney ahead of the 2012 debates, when 56 per cent thought Obama would prevail against 29 per cent for Romney. 17 per cent of the registered voters said that the debate could change their minds. Most Americans said they are following the campaign diligently, but a higher percentage of Trump supporters appear to be paying close attention than Clinton backers. Several Clinton backers said they are not registered to vote, adding pressure on her Campaign to get them registered. India has hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir, saying the "use of alibis" by him is not going to work anymore. "The use of alibis which are so blatantly and obviously wrong did not work in New York, it's not going to work in London and it is not going to work, we all can say with some confidence, even in Islamabad," Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar told PTI here. Akbar made the remarks in response to Sharif's comments in London that the Uri attacks could be the result of the people's "reaction" to the tense situation in Kashmir. "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 had told reporters on Friday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Akbar, who has attended a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session here, said it was in an "extremely receptive manner" that the most important and powerful nations accepted India's "rationale and reasonable positions, our efforts to working through problems with cooperation, our efforts at saying that the true objective should be the elimination of the scourge of poverty and development". He said there is strong support among nations for India's key focus that the greatest benefits of growth should go to those who need it most. Underscoring that the biggest enemy of human rights is terrorism, he said the "enemy of development is terrorism and we must end this scourge". 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. He also sent out a message to the people of Kashmir, which has been witnessing unrest for over two months, saying that "peace, unity and harmony" are the ways to resolve problems and expressed confidence that all issues can be addressed through discussions. In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' which he began by paying tributes to the 18 soldiers who died in the Uri attack on September 18, Modi said, "this cowardly act was enough to shake the entire country. There is mourning as well as anger in the country." He said, "This is a loss not only for those families which lost their sons, brothers, husbands. This loss is for the entire country. That is why, today I will say only this much, which I said on that day (of the incident) also and I will repeat it today, that the guilty will surely be punished." Reposing faith in the Indian army, the Prime Minister said it will foil all such designs through its bravery. "They (Indian armymen) are the people who take bravery to its pinnacle so that 125 crore people can live a peaceful life," he said. "We are proud of our army. People and politicians get opportunities to speak and that's what they do. But the army does not speak. The army displays its bravery," Modi said. He read out a message of an 11th standard student who had expressed anger over the Uri incident and had the desire to do something over it. After lot of thinking, he had resolved to give extra 3 hours to studies every day as his contribution to the country. Appreciating the child's "constructive thinking", the Prime Minister said, "there is a lot of value to the anger that people of the country have. This is a symbol of the country's awakening. This anger is of the kind of 'do something'... When 1965 war (with Pakistan) broke out and Lal Bahadur Shastri was leading the country, similar was the feeling, anger in the country. There was fever of nationalism. Everybody was keen to do something. "At that time, Lal Bahadur Shastri ji attempted to represent this feeling in an excellent manner to the world and he gave the slogan of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' to inspire common people to work for the country." Modi also said that when Mahatma Gandhi was leading the freedom movement and whenever it attained speed, he would direct that for constructive works in the society. "We all -- the army should carry out its responsibility, we in the government should fulfill our duties and the citizens should provide constructive contribution with the feeling of nationalism -- then the nation will definitely touch new heights," he said. In his 35-minute broadcast, the Prime Minister also wanted to specially "speak" to the people of Kashmir. "The people of Kashmir have started to understand the anti-national forces clearly. And as the reality is dawning on them, they have started distancing themselves from such forces and have started walking on the path of peace," he said. He said it is the desire of all parents that schools and colleges in Kashmir started working properly and farmers there want that their produce should reach the markets of the country. "Economic activity should take place properly. Since last few days, business activities have started," he said. "We all know that peace, unity and harmony are the ways to solve our problems and also to ensure our progress and development. For our future generations, we have to cross new heights of development," the Prime Minister said, adding "I am confident that we will resolve all issues together through discussions, will find ways and jointly lay the track for the future generations of Kashmir." Emphasising that security of common people of Kashmir is the responsibility of the government, he said, "to maintain law and order, the authorities have to take some steps," an apparent reference to the tough measures taken in the Valley to deal with stone-pelters that has led to casualties. At the same time, he said he wanted to tell the security forces that "the capabilities, the power, the laws, the rules" which they have should be used properly as these are for maintaining law and order and to ensure peaceful living of the people of Kashmir. Likening the anger in the country over Uri attack to that witnessed in the 1965 war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today maintained that those responsible for the terror strike will surely be punished as he asserted that the army does not speak but displays bravery. The Home Ministry has lodged an FIR in connection with the missing documents related to the controversial Ishrat Jahan 'fake encounter' case, a move that might escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress. An Under Secretary serving in the Home Ministry has filed the FIR at the Parliament Street Police station here under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code asking police to probe "why, how and under what circumstances" five documents related to the case went missing. The move came after an inquiry panel, headed by an Additional Secretary, concluded that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September, 2009, a period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister. Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went missing from the Home Ministry was found, said the inquiry panel, which submitted its report on June 15 after a three- month-long investigation. The inquiry panel, however, made no reference to Chidambaram or anyone in the then UPA government. The FIR was lodged under "stolen" category of police station register on September 22 following a communication sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner on August 26. Based on the statements of 11 serving and retired officers, including the then Home Secretary G K Pillai, the 52 -page inquiry panel report had said the documents went missing between September 18-28, 2009. The second affidavit, which was different from the first one, and filed before Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009, had said there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ishrat was an LeT operative. The papers which went missing and listed in the FIR are office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then Home Secretary to the then Attorney General on September 18, 2009, office copy of another letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009, draft further affidavit as vetted by the then AG, draft further affidavit "as amended" by the then Home Minister on September 24, 2009 and office copy of the further affidavit filed with the Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009. The paper which was retrieved from a computer hard disk was the letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009. The lodging of the FIR is expected to escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress as the former had accused the latter of lowering the fight against terror by filing the second affidavit during UPA regime. Congress had hit back in the past by saying the BJP-led government was politicising the issue after assuming power in 2014. Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. Gujarat Police had then said those killed were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said in his statement to the Ishrat inquiry panel, retired IAS officer Deverakonda Diptivilasa had reportedly said the documents were part of the file which he sent to the seniors during the deliberations before the second affidavit related to the alleged fake encounter case was filed. However, the five documents were not found in the file when it returned, Diptivilasa, who was the then Joint Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, was learnt to have told the panel. Sources said Home Ministry officials have detected about the five missing documents in 2013, when the UPA was in power but it was never flagged as the fair copies were intact then. The one-member panel was constituted after Home Minister Rajnath Singh had disclosed in Parliament on March 10 that the files were missing. The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides Intelligence Bureau where it was said the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was an activist of Lashkar-e-Taiba but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said. The second affidavit, claimed to have been drafted by Chidambaram, said there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Ishrat was a terrorist, the officials said. Pillai had claimed that as Home Minister, Chidambaram had recalled the file a month after the original affidavit, which described Ishrat and her slain aides as LeT operatives, was filed in the court. Subsequently, Chidambaram had said Pillai is equally responsible for the change in the affidavit. In a clear message to the Kashmiri separatists, BJP President Amit Shah today said the central government will not have talks with those who do not believe in the Indian Constitution but those who consider themselves Indians. Acknowledging that the situation in the valley has been worrisome for last few months, he said if anybody thinks that Kashmir could be separated from India, then it is nothing but a daydream which will never come true. In his inaugural address at the party's National Council meeting here, he also invoked the partys garib kalyan agenda, saying the central government has been dedicated to the development of the poor since Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister. He said the next one year will be observed as 'garib kalyan year'. With the Prime Minister and other senior leaders listening, Shah devoted most of his speech to the saffron partys ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, whose 100th birth anniversary fell today, and his concepts of 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and integral humanism. Touching upon the Kashmir unrest and Uri terror attack, the BJP chief asserted, "Kashmir is an unbreakable part of India and no force in the world can separate it from us." The BJP-led government "is willing to discuss all paths to peace but the talks will be held with those who consider themselves Indians No talks will be held with anybody who does not believe in the Constitution, he said. This is a clear message to separatists who are insisting that talks cannot be held within the Indian Constitution. Referring to the Uri attack, Shah said BJP will not tolerate terrorism and the party and its government stand for "zero tolerance" to it. Heaping praise on Modi, he compared him with noted freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, saying he had infused hope and aspiration among masses with his Gujarat model during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and later with his work in the same way Tilak gave voice to the nations discontent with the colonial rule with his call for swaraj (self-rule). BJP governments in 13 states besides the Centre are now working to unlift and empower the poor following the Upadhyays concept and that is why its dispensations in many states have been re-elected on the basis of performance, he said. Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad yesterday. "I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...it was horrible," Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, "The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned." Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, "I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad." Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. "It is God's grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me," Balram told PTI. Balram aid that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balram's wife Sridevi said, "It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...the feelings cannot be expressed in words." Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying "MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident." France appreciates Egypts pivotal role as a main pillar for security and stability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Frances defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi at a Cairo meeting on Sunday. Egyptian presidency spokesman Alaa Youssef said the meeting, also attended by Egypts defence minister Sedki Sobhi, witnessed a discussion on the latest developments in the region including the Syrian and Libyan civil conflicts. The Egyptian president stressed on importance of joint international efforts to reach political solutions for these crises. El-Sisi also praised the strategic partnership between Egypt and France, especially in the military field, and agreed with the French defence minister that the two countries should intensify ongoing efforts to combat terrorism. Le Drian stressed that Egypt was one of Frances most important partners among the Middle East and Mediterranean countries. Earlier this month, Egypt raised its flag atop a Mistral-class warship that Cairo bought from France in 2015. The ship is the second of its kind sold by France to Egypt, with the first named after late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser delivered in June to Alexandria from the French city of Toulouse. The contract for the two Mistral aircraft carriers, which was finalised in September last year, was valued at 950 million euros, according to AFP. The deal is part of several defence contracts Egypt has signed with France, with the European country now topping the list of countries that have signed military supply agreements with Egypt during the term of President El-Sisi. Search Keywords: Short link: British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any alien civilisations, especially to those more technologically advanced than humans. Our first contact from an advanced civilisation could be equivalent to when Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and things "didn't turn out so well", Hawking said in a new online film. The film, "Stephen Hawking's Favourite Places", takes viewers to five significant locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft - the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16 light years away. "One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back," he said. "They will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria," Hawking warned. "As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone. After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'. It is not the first time Hawking has warned about the prospect of hostile aliens. Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, last year Hawking had suggested that any civilisation reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans. "The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking," he said, in the film that appeared on the online platform CuriosityStream. Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar has been fired from "Coronation Street" after allegedly posting "racially offensive" tweets about Indians over the Kashmir issue, British media reported today. ITV said Marc, 45, who joined the soap as Sharif Nazir in February 2014, would not be returning to the show "with immediate effect". The actor, who plays Sharif Nazir in the long-running soap, was dismissed after the Sunday Mirror informed the ITV network bosses about his racist tweets. They include offensive language used to refer to Indian people. Mirror published a screenshot of the alleged tweets from the actor's account, attacking India over Kashmir and calling for Pakistani actors to stop working in the country. The paper also quoted an official statement from ITV. "We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. "We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect," the statement read. The actor's tweets came days after the Uri terror attack which lead to the killing of 17 Indian soldiers. You may now have more messaging apps than you have close friends.As of this week, there are six prominent chat apps or as I see it, one too many. The latest to join the horde is Allo, Googles highly anticipated messaging app that lets people take advantage of artificial intelligence to chat and make plans. Google began offering the smarter app last Wednesday. Allo is appearing at a time when smartphones are already crowded with chat apps. IMessage from Apple is prominent among iPhone owners. Facebook Messenger is widely used on that social network. Also popular is WhatsApp, the chat service from Facebook that has largely replaced text messaging internationally. Add to the list Slack, a group chat tool that is popular among businesses, and Google Hangouts, which was released in 2013, and you have six. I asked British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, who studies the relationship between brain size and social circles, about the overload. His research has found that most people have the mental capacity to sustain 150 meaningful relationships, and among them, only five close ones. Having more apps than close friends doesnt help, as something will have to go, Dunbar said in an email, though he noted that the various messaging apps serve different purposes. Younger people are shying away from chatting on Facebook, for example, to have more private conversations on apps like WhatsApp. With that backdrop in mind, I tested Allo for five days and compared it with the apps that are most similar to it: Google Hangouts, Apple iMessage and Facebook Messenger. After weighing the pros and cons, my advice is that people can hold off on downloading Allo, largely because its artificially intelligent assistant was unhelpful. But if Allo matures, users will probably want to ditch the Hangouts app. The unhelpful assistant First, some context about Allo. Google announced the app in May, aiming to highlight the companys push into artificial intelligence. Its older chat app, Hangouts, will remain, but Google will emphasise that products use as a videoconferencing jand messaging app for businesses. To understand how Allo works, its easiest to think of the apps AI assistant as an office intern who is lurking in the background, eager to chime in. The assistant analyses messages you have typed or dictated and, when appropriate, springs into action with automatically generated phrases you can choose to reply with or suggestions for Google searches that may help accomplish tasks. When youre having a conversation with another person, for example, the assistant suggests ways it can help. Saying Want to see a movie tonight? prompts the assistant to offer a Google search for movie showtimes or to reply with suggestions like Sure, what time? or Not really. Here is where Allo became frustrating for me. Asking an assistant to search movie showtimes tonight should load a list of movies and corresponding showtimes. Instead, Googles assistant shows a list of movies without showtimes; only after tapping on a film can you ask for times. Sometimes that doesnt even work. Asking for showtimes for the movie Snowden loaded movies playing at a movie theater called UA Snowden Square Stadium 14. Not helpful unless, of course, you live in Columbia, Maryland. Allo also tries to guess what your written response might be to certain types of phrases, questions or photos. With photos, the app occasionally identifies whats inside the photo to generate a suggested reaction. So when you receive a photo of a dog, Allo loads responses like adorable. This feature ran into several problems. When I sent a picture to a friend of my cat sitting inside my car, Allo suggested this response to the friend: What a cute car! (Sorry, Allo, but my Prius is the opposite of cute.) When I sent photos of my dog to the same friend, Allos assistant correctly identified the breed, a Pembroke Welsh corgi. It suggested the reaction Nice pembroke welsh corgi. Impressive, but if someone said that to me in real life, I would add that person to my list of suspected Cylons. For now, Allos artificial assistance feels limited. So if I were a manager seeking an assistant, I probably wouldnt hire Allo. But I would politely tell the candidate to reapply after getting more experience. Shortcomings in chat Each messaging app has its own purpose, but Allo has the most in common with Facebook Messenger, iMessage and Google Hangouts. Thats because all four are capable of adding some personality with stickers and emojis. So I tested Messenger, iMessage and Hangouts against Allo to determine their pros and cons. The highlights: iMessage, Hangouts and Messenger work on mobile devices and computers. Allo works only on Android and iOS mobile devices, though Google plans to expand Allo to computers later. iMessage and Messenger support third-party apps, adding features like sending money to friends within messages. Google has no plans to support outside apps in Allo. Messenger has more sticker packs than Allo, which has only about 25. Facebook is experimenting with chat bots that you can talk to for shopping or summoning an Uber car. Allos assistant was quicker to respond and more natural to communicate with than Facebooks chat bots. iMessage stickers are more fun to use. In iMessage, stickers can be placed on top of messages and photos add a cartoon mustache to your selfie, for example. On Allo, stickers can be sent only as stand-alone messages. The Hangouts app is very much like Allo, without the half-baked assistant. Allo has more entertaining stickers, including a muscular yellow bull that appears to be twerking. The big difference between the two is that the Hangouts app relies primarily on your contacts list linked to a Google Mail account, whereas Allo pulls contacts from your devices phone book. The upshot: iMessage and Messenger have more features than Allo. There are two major features missing from Allo: the ability to chat using a computer and using third-party apps and games to do more within messages. With Allo, Google has the opportunity to stand out by offering superior artificial intelligence. Neither Messenger nor Allo has great AI yet, but Googles assistant has a better start. Private, but not airtight Finally, there is privacy to consider. Its tough to say how Allo will fare in terms of security until encryption experts take a close look at the app. Heres what we know so far: By default, Apples iMessage service is end-to-end encrypted, which means a message is encrypted when it is sent from your device and remains encrypted when it passes through Apples server and reaches the recipient. Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger both lack end-to-end encryption, so at some point when messages pass through their servers, they can see your messages. Allo has end-to-end encryption turned off by default because its server needs to see the messages to work its AI magic. However, Allo includes a mode called Incognito with full encryption enabled, which people can use for private conversations, similar to a private mode on a web browser. But, of course, the AI features do not work in Incognito. So Allo is a step ahead of Hangouts and Messenger for privacy. But by default (and by design), it is not as secure as iMessage. Bottom line I recommend waiting for Allo to become available on computers and for its AI to become smarter. At the moment, Allos assistant will waste more time than it saves when it comes to helping you make plans, and it will probably make conversations more awkward. Google said it was still improving and refining its algorithms, and Allos assistant will get better over time. Once Allos assistant matures, the Hangouts app will become redundant and youll be able to delete it from your device. The catch, of course, is that Allos AI wont become sophisticated until more people use it and share feedback.For now, if I really need help, Im going to request a competent intern. The US today welcomed India's surprise decision to ratify the key Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2. "We welcome the news India will join the #ParisAgreement October 2," US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said. "Congrats Prime Minister @narendramodi for your leadership to #ActOnClimate," Verma tweeted. Earlier, in a surprise move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. "There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," he said while addressing BJP's National Council meet in Kozhikode, Kerala. Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhi's life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. During the Paris climate meet in December last, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Talking about the need to ratify the COP21 decision, Modi said there is a looming threat due to global warming to many coastal countries and cities. Even Kerala, where the conclave was being held, is also a coastal area. While Western countries, including the US, had been supporting an early ratification of the pact, India had been seeking more time to complete its national processes as it fears that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects. The issue of India ratifying the Paris deal had come up for discussion between Prime Minister Modi and US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos earlier this month. Four days after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran near here, Navi Mumbai police today called off their search operation. "The search operation for the suspects in Uran has been operationally modified. But check points continue to be on the vigil. Any information on the issue is being thoroughly verified and steps are being taken to counter any untoward incident," Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said in a statement today. Indian Navy, which had sounded highest state of alert after the first report of sightings of the armed suspects, had wound up the search operation two days back. Some students of the Uran Education Society's school had reported to have seen some suspicious-looking armed men in Uran, about 47 km from here, on Thursday, following which their teacher had informed the police. Subsequently, the Navy had issued a "highest state of alert" along the coasts, where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. The alert had come four days after the Uri attack, which left 18 soldiers dead. Massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas is being carried out with the help of Coast Guard and CISF. The elite commandos from National Security Guard (NSG) and state police's specialised 'Force One' had also been roped in. Western India's biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the country's largest container port, JNPT are located in close vicinity of Uran. Coastal security has been top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed in the city using sea route. 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. Indian steel giant Tata Steel is set for what are believed to be crunch talks with trade union representatives of its UK steelworks to settle the deadlock over a 15-billion-pound pension scheme for its workers, the main obstacle in its merger with German rival ThyssenKrupp. The company has reportedly called two days of pension talks to try to secure a merger of its European operations with those of ThyssenKrupp. According to The Sunday Times, the focus will be on breaking a deadlock over a 15-billion pension scheme the main obstacle to a rescue of its Port Talbot unit. Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp could formalise the deal within weeks, even if the pension issue has not been resolved, but the tie-up would be contingent on resolving the pensions dispute. Escalating tension over Kashmir region is presenting a challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who needs regional peace to reach his principal goal of economic revival in the country. But Indian citizens have been clamouring for a response to what they say is a provocation by Pakistan. The tension reached a boiling point on the early morning of Sept 18 when militants attacked an army base near the town of Uri in Kashmir and killed 18 soldiers setting off a war of words between the two nuclear powers, which have fought three wars in recent decades. India accuses the militants of having links to Pakistan. The situation not only risks economic growth but could also send two nations skidding into a nuclear war. It could happen, and it would be catastrophic for both countries, said Stephen P Cohen, the author of Shooting for a Century: The India-Pakistan Conundrum. India and Pakistan have been locked in a feud it began nearly 70 years began ago with their independence from Britain mainly over the Himalayan valley of Kashmir. The dispute over its control, which has led to two wars, had appeared to be relatively dormant since 2010 as tourists returned to the scenic region and turnouts in elections were large. That led the Indian government to believe that the turbulence of recent decades might be over, says Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. That thinking, it now appears, was a mistake. There were warning signs over the last two years about rising unrest among young people in Kashmir. Small disputes with the Indian security forces stationed in the Kashmir Valley often drew enormous crowds very quickly. The killing of a 22-year-old separatist militant named Burhan Muzaffar Wani by Indian security officers in July touched off the latest protests. Wani should have served as an alarm bell for the government system, said Siddharth Varadarajan, a former editor-in-chief of the English daily The Hindu. Why would a young man, instead of taking up engineering, adopt a course that any reasonable person would tell him would end up in death? Now, Kashmir is engulfed in a crisis. Since the shooting, the Valley has been shut down, with curfews and strikes forcing the closing of schools, offices and markets. Wanis death incited violent stone-throwing protests that the security forces sought to eradicate by firing birdshot at protesters. The use of the birdshot, or tiny pellets that scatter when fired, has caused thousands to be wounded, many with eye injuries. More than 70 people, including protesters and Indian security forces, have been killed since the violence began. The question now is whether Modi can defuse the crisis. Modi has the political capacity to do it, said Ashley J Tellis, a senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Tellis said Modi had two advantages: His Bharatiya Janata Party controls the Lower House of Parliament, so he has the legitimacy to make a bold move; and his partys strong Hindu nationalist roots allow him to take more risks without being accused of pandering to Muslims, who make up the majority in Jammu and Kashmir. But those same roots make it hard for Modi to enact a policy in Kashmir that will draw the young protesters into a dialogue. That must involve a conversation about the restoration of autonomy in Kashmir in a way originally imagined under the 1954 agreement, Tellis said. He was referring to a deal struck by Indias first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, that gave Jammu and Kashmir substantial political autonomy within India. That agreement has gradually eroded. I personally think any attempt simply to treat Kashmir as just another Indian state is not going to work, Tellis said. Because Modi began his political career in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing Hindu organisation known as the RSS, that strongly influences his party and has opposed more autonomy for Kashmir, Tellis and others said it would be extremely difficult for the prime minister to offer such a bold policy in Kashmir. The RSS has the capacity for constraining even the prime minister on this question, Tellis said. Even if Modi is bold enough to try, he will need to regain control of the streets of southern Kashmir first and find a leader to engage in conversation. So far, the Indian government has been unable to find anyone with whom to negotiate. Freelance diplomacy People close to the government, nevertheless, have been trying their hand at freelance diplomacy, including the guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. He invited the father of Wani to his ashram and suggested that the elder Wani might serve as an intermediary. Sri Ravi Shankar expected that I can play some role in bringing peace to Kashmir, the father, Mohammad Muzafar Wani, said in an interview. He said, To resolve the problem, with whom should the talks be initiated? With you? I told him, No.' For Modi, pressure remains strong to punish Pakistan with some form of military action for the attack on the army base. Pakistan has talked tough. In a news release, Gen Raheel Sharif, the Pakistani Army Chief, said that taking note of a hostile narrative from India, the armed forces of Pakistan were fully prepared to respond to the entire spectrum of direct and indirect threat. Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan said peace between his country and India cannot be achieved without a resolution to the Kashmir dispute. There was another flare-up of violence along the Kashmir border on Tuesday with Pakistan when Indian troops battled two groups of militants trying to cross from the Pakistani side into India, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. One Indian soldier was killed in the skirmishes. Britain, France and the United States have requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the escalating campaign in Syria's second city of Aleppo, diplomats said Saturday. The meeting was likely to be held at 10 am (1400 GMT) on Sunday, the diplomats said. Intense air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians in Aleppo on Saturday, two days after the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the city. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier said he was appalled by the "chilling" upsurge in fighting in Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry in the 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 weeklong ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. Search Keywords: Short link: North Korea has recently conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test. There are indications that Pyongyang has finally mastered the difficult stage of miniaturising a nuclear warhead. This is significant, because it means they are on the verge of possessing an operational deterrent capability that can arm their strategic missile units. It is not, therefore, surprising that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK)s statement after the test declared its new strategic position as a full-fledged nuclear weapons state. De-nuclearisation is no longer possible. For one, the DPRK does not trust China to maintain its posture as a perpetual security provider for the North Korean regime. Chinese analysts have actually admitted this: that DPRKs nuclear expansion is linked to a fear of abandonment by Beijing. It is instructive that Kim Jong-un has never visited Beijing since his ascent to leadership five years ago. Second, no other great power and here Russia is the only credible alternative has an incentive to underwrite the survi-val of the North Korean regime. Geopolitically, China remains the most important neighbour with a 1,300 km-long border, compared to a 14 km border between DPRK and Russia. Finally, Pyongyang is unlikely to seriously entertain a hypothetical quid pro quo whereby Washington offers a non-aggression pact in exchange for DPRK dismantling its weapons programme. There is also very limited space to change DPRKs incentives to roll back its nuclear programme through coercion and international pressure. Neither China nor Russia wish to escala-te the situation in Northeast Asia by collaborating with the US and Japan on imposing crippling sanctions. Besides, DPRKs auta-rky and ability to endure previous rounds of economic pressu-re suggest there is little credible space to impose new costs that might alter Pyongyangs choices. The backdrop of Sino-American strategic mistrust makes it even more improbable that th-ese two big powers will come together in pressuring the DPRK. But this does not imply that they do not have any common interests in what occurs next. Nearly all the major players have a shar-ed interest in both ring-fencing DPRKs nuclear and missile capabilities from being transferred to other potential state or non-state aspirants, and in mitigating ripple effects regarding nuclear choices across Northeast Asia. The consequences of North Korean nuclearisation on strategic stability in Northeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific can be evaluated by addressing several questions: Would nuclearisation buttress or diminish the insecurity of the North Korean regime? After all, the pursuit of nuclear weapons in this case is fundamentally linked to state insecurity and the resolve to preserve an independent identity. Further, would nuclearisation embolden or pacify North Koreas approach towards the South? Put more bluntly, would Pyongyang emulate Pakistans strategic behaviour where nuclear weapons have been leveraged as a shield to wage an offensive sub-conventional proxy war against a neighbour? There is no reason to presuppose that such a reckless calculus drives Pyongyang. The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean peninsula is a hardened frontier, and most analysts opine that regime survival is the dominant motivation in the North Korean case. Long-term dilemmas Insofar as a spillover effect is concerned, possible scenarios of horizontal proliferation ensuing as a consequence of DPRKs nuclearisation would involve an increase in nuclear aspirations in that sub-region. Specifically, would Japan and South Korea, who live under the protection of a nuclear umbrella remain confident in Americas extended deterrence? Such dilemmas cannot be completely discounted. As long as Americas basic Asia Pacific posture remains stable and its commitment to uphold its East Asian alliance system (of which South Korea and Japan form the core) remains robust, it is unlikely that DPRKs nuclear weapons development will prompt a radical shift in nuclear choices in Tokyo and Seoul. A real game-changer could be a situation where Pyongyang acquires an intercontinental ballistic missile capability to deliver a nuclear warhead on the American homeland. That could provoke a serious nuclear rethink in Seoul and Tokyo. Staving off such a strategic future ought to be the focus of the great powers today. It is entirely possible to shape DPRKs subsequent nuclear pathway and the quantum of capability development. Perhaps, something akin to the Iran nuclear deal might work: a multilateral negotiation whereby DPRK's international isolation is finally ended. The Six-Party talks could serve as an already established framework of the directly effected regional stakeholders to commence such a broad diplomatic process. It could also occur under a parallel bilateral approach where the US-DPRK normalisation tempers the perceived insecurity of Pyongyang and brings it into the international community. Arguably, a radical shift towards engagement and positive material incentives is the about only tool left in the US foreign policy quiver to constrain DPRKs nuclear ambitions and influence the future size of Pyongyangs arsenal. US Secretary of State John Kerrys statement, however, does not lend much hope for a change in US strategy. He noted the US remains open to credible and authentic talks aimed at full and verifiable denuclearisation of the DPRK. But it is too late. North Korea has already presented its fait accompli. (The writer is an Adjunct Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies) The BJP has asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar 10 questions with regard to convicted RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin. This comes ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Monday on a plea seeking cancellation of Shahabuddins bail, filed by the Bihar government and Chandrakeshwar Prasad, whose three sons were reportedly killed at the behest of Shahabuddin. Launching a broadside against the JD(U) strongman, senior BJP leader Sushil Modi asked Nitish to explain whether the state government had fielded a top lawyer to challenge the bail of Shahabuddin, who has hired senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani to represent him in court. Sushil further asked whether the state government was ready to ask the apex court to monitor all cases related to Shahabuddin. The BJP leader wanted to know whether the government was ready to keep Shahabuddin out of Bihar and ensure a court hearing outside the state. Sushil questioned Nitish as to why he had not asked alliance partner RJD chief Lalu Prasad to remove convicted politicians like Shahabuddin from the party. Questioning further, Sushil asked why the state government had not made any sincere effort to restart the trial related to Shahabuddin, which has been pending for the past three years. He quizzed Nitish on why the trial could not begin despite a court order in the Rajiv Roshan murder case and why the state government did not challenge his bail for six months in the Girish and Satish Raj murder cases. Roshan was the main witness in the August 2004 twin murder case of his two younger brothers Girish and Satish. Shahabuddin was found guilty of kidnapping Girish and Satish, giving them an acid bath and murdering them. Roshan was shot dead three days before he was to record his statement in court. Sushil asked Nitish why the Bihar government waited for eight days to oppose Shahabuddins bail until advocate Prashant Bhushan moved the apex court. What action was taken against Bihar minister Abdul Ghafoor who had visited Shahabuddin when he was in Siwan jail was the next question. Finally, Sushil wanted to know why no effort was made to stop Shahabuddins cavalcade, comprising hundreds of SUVs, which created terror while travelling from Bhagalpur to Siwan after he was released on bail. The JD(U) has taken umbrage over the BJP questioning Nitish. The BJP should first explain why it failed to appeal in the higher court in the Amit Shah case. Besides, Sushil Modi should answer whether he had pleaded the case of expelled RJD leader Pappu Yadav before the Union home ministry and argued against the CBI moving the Supreme Court when the controversial leader was exonerated, said JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh. Controversy dogged what is probably the last cabinet expansion of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav before next years elections with activists opposing the possible inclusion of tainted mining minister Gayatri Prajapati. Akhilesh was scheduled to expand his Cabinet on Monday in which Prajapati and another sacked minister Raj Kishore Singh were likely to be reinducted. Social activist Nutan Thakur approached Governor Ram Naik with a petition to prevent Prajapatis re-induction, with a likely meeting with the governor later in the day. Prajapati had been removed as minister on serious corruption charges after the order of Allahabad High Court for CBI inquiry, she said in her petition. A minister is removed from office under provisions of Article 164 of the Constitution, when he loses the pleasure of the governor.... when Prajapati was removed as minister, he had lost the pleasure of the governor and hence, he cannot be re-inducted in the ministry unless the facts and reasons on which he had lost the pleasure of the Governor get removed, she said. Sacked for alleged corruption and land grabbing, Prajapati would in all likelihood be taking oath of office and secrecy for the fourth time in the past three years. Determined to clear all major stormwater drains in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporations jurisdiction, the Telangana government has declared a phased programme to raze all 28,000 encroachments on them. The government said it would announce a detailed programme in two days. Taking a cue from the recent demolition drive in Bengaluru, a decision to act ruthless on illegal constructions that are choking the drains was taken by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao while reviewing the situation in the state capital. Initially, all the major structures will be taken up for demolition after paying them compensation under the land acquisition act. The poor will be given a two-bedroom flat under the ongoing housing scheme, KCR said, proposing a Tribunal to save the drive from legal problems. Armed with the Kirlsokar Committee report which has found present drainage system grossly inadequate to withstand more than a 12 cm rainfall, the GHMC wants to maintain an average width of drains between four and 50 metres fit for at least five decades even if the city received a rainfall of 24 cm. Following KCRs proposal, the GHMC has announced special demolition flying squads for all the 24 divisions under the corporation. The squads will be headed by a deputy municipal commissioner, a tahasildar, and assistant police commissioner along with two town planning officials each. The Supreme Court and even the Green Tribunal have given specific orders regarding demolition of encroachments, GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said. A village near Jaipur is playing host to an Emu, the second biggest bird species in terms of height that belongs to Australia, as mystery persists on where it came from. Residents of Saperon Ki Dhaani (snake charmers village) are going out of their way to protect the winged bird, while also questioning why the government is not stepping in to rescue the bird and maintain it in a place with better facilities. Amarnath Saphera (40), a snake charmer belonging to the village, saw stray dogs chasing the bird at the national highways outside the village. I kept this ostrich-like bird at an open pen in the village. We contacted the administration, but no one from the forest department is taking charge of the bird, Saphera told DH. Villagers feed the bird with bananas and chapathis and find it responding to their attention. We keep vigil to protect the bird from the dogs, said Henna, a seven-year-old girl from the village, adding the bird eats all kinds of snacks and fruits. An elderly woman feels that the birds presence is divine coincidence, as she pets the six-foot flightless bird. The Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of being the weakest ever when it came to dealing with matters of national security, particularly Pakistan. The sharp attack by Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari was reminiscent of Prime Minister Narendra Modis barbs at the then UPA government when Pakistani troops had beheaded Indian soldiers along the Line of Control in January 2013. The Congress wondered whether Modi was contesting the next elections from Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that those involved in the Uri terror strike will surely be punished, saying the Indian Army displays valour, instead of only speaking like the politicians do. He, however, took note of the anger prevailing in the country post Uri strike and asked the countrymen to have a creative approach towards the situation, appealing the people to apply their strong patriotic feelings in creative activities so that the nation can attain newer heights of growth. In an effort to make his point, the prime minister, while addressing the nation during his Mann ki Baat monthly radio programme, likened the Indians anger over the Uri attack to that witnessed during the India-Pakistan war in 1965. Amid explosions of bombs and raining of bullets, the then prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the mantra of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and presented an alternative before the people of the country to express their patriotism, Modi said. He also referred to the successful experiments carried out by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle, saying the Father of the Nation used to motivate people towards creativity. Cowardly act He described the Uri terror attack as a cowardly act, saying it was enough to shake the entire nation. This is a loss not only for those families which lost their sons, brothers and husbands. This loss is for the entire country.The guilty will surely be punished, he said. Prime Minister reposed his faith in the Indian Army. People and politicians get opportunities to speak and thats what they do. But the army does not speak. The army displays its bravery, he added. In his message to the people of Kashmir, Prime Minister gave a call for peace, unity and harmony in the Valley, expressing confidence that all issues can be addressed through discussions. The BJP on Sunday tried to recall the doctrines of ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya as Prime Minister Narendra Modi defines his government and the BJP agenda on empowering poor, secularism, clean politics and regional imbalance in the country. Paying tribute to former Bharatiya Jan Sangha president to conclude the BJP conclave, Modi recalled Deendayals half-a-decade old outreach towards Muslims as a better example of secularism than that practised by some political parties. Quoting Deendayal, he said, Muslims shouldnt be treated as an object of vote-bank politics or looked down upon. They should be considered equal. He has said 50 years back that dont reward Muslims, dont rebuke Muslims, empower them. The opposition has been accusing the Centre of being anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit, a perception which had emerged due to attacks on them. He insisted that the BJP-led NDA governments motto is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He promised that the government at the centre and at 13 BJP-ruled states were attempting to fulfill Deendayals dreams on integral humanism and upliftment of the poorest of the poor. On the garib kalyan (welfare of poor) programmes of the government, he said the most underprivileged should be the first to progress. He went back to the ideologue again and remarked that Deendayal Upadhyaya used to say that if equality has to be achieved among all, then the people on top have to bend down and extend their support to those who are neglected. The BJP came to Kozhikode, emphasised Modi earlier in his speech, to hold its conclave, the same place where its ideologue was made president of Bharatiya Jan Sangha way back in 1967, to revive his principles with a new vigour. The PMs summing up remarks at the BJP meet was in continuation with his previous days public address at a beach here. In his speech, Modi had placed the right wing ideologue intellectually on an exalted position enjoyed by Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Maohar Lohia. Their thoughts get reflected in todays politics, he had said. The three-day BJP national council came to an end on Sunday with the party vowing in its adopted political resolution to take inspiration from the life and works of Deendayal to transform India into a glorious and developed nation under Modis leadership. The Karnataka government has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking modification of its September 20 order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil along with Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav on Sunday held a series of meetings here with senior counsel Fali S Nariman, the head of the states legal team in the Cauvery case. After the meeting, Patil told DH that the state has decided to file a petition in the apex court, seeking modification of its earlier order. Karnataka will also explain to the court that it is not in a position to release any more water to Tamil Nadu due to low storage in its reservoirs in the Cauvery basin. The state will also bring to the courts notice the resolution passed by both the Houses of the legislature on September 23, that the existing water in the Cauvery basin reservoirs in Karnataka should be used only for drinking purpose and not for any other needs. With the Cauvery water-sharing issue coming up in the apex court on Tuesday, the state, on the legal teams advice, has decided to bring to the courts knowledge the existing water levels in the reservoirs, requirement for drinking need and the resolutions passed. The possible intention of the state is to avoid any adverse order from the Supreme Court in view of the state governments decision not to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the September 20 order. The Supreme Court on September 5 directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu for 10 days and on September 12, the court reduced it to 12,000 cusecs and asked the state to release water up to September 20. Though the Supervisory Committee headed by Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs water from September 21 to September 30, the Court later directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs water till September 27. It directed Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to file their objections by September 23. As both the states have filed their objections, the matter will come up for hearing on Monday. A gunman shot dead Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar on Sunday outside the court where he was to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature seen as insulting Islam, witnesses and state media said. The gunman was arrested at the scene, state news agency Petra said. A security source said he was a 39-year-old Muslim preacher in a mosque in the capital. Hattar, a Christian and a anti-Islamist activist who was a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was arrested last month after he shared a caricature that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and cashews. In the cartoon, the man also asks God to clear his dishes and put a door on his tent and knock before entering. Many conservative Muslim Jordanians considered Hattar's move offensive and against their religion. The authorities said he violated the law by sharing the caricature. The state news agency quoted a security source as saying Hattar was killed by a man who fired three shots at him on the steps of the palace of justice in the Jordanian capital. "The assailant was arrested and investigations are ongoing," Petra quoted the security source as saying. Two witnesses said the gunman was wearing a traditional Arab dishashada, worn by ultra conservative Sunni Salafis who adhere to a puritanical version of Islam and shun Western lifestyles. Some secular and liberal supporters of Hattar said his arrest last month was a breach of freedom of speech but other Jordanians thought the caricature's publication had crossed a red line in a Muslim country where it is a taboo to attack God or the Prophet. Hattar was charged with contempt of religion and sowing sectarian tensions. The country's highest official religious fatwa authority criticised Hattar for what it said was the "insult to the divine entity, Islam and religious symbols". Hattar had apologized on social media and said he did not mean to insult God but had shared the cartoon to mock fundamentalist Sunni radicals and what he said was their vision of God and heaven. He had accused his Islamist opponents of using the cartoon to settle scores with him. Hattar also supported restricting the rights and privileges of Jordanians of Palestinian descent. The Jordanian government condemned the attack. "The law will be strictly enforced on the culprit who did this criminal act and will hit with an iron fist anyone who tries to harm state of law," government spokesman Mohammad Momani said. The moderate Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group also warned against a flare up in religious and sectarian tensions in a country in which Jordanian Christians are a minority but wield wide political and economic influence. Search Keywords: Short link: The torrential rains in the district for the past four days has left behind a trail of destruction. However, the intensity of rain reduced at several places on Sunday. Traffic on the Ribbanpalli-Wagdhari highway, connecting the three states of Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra remained suspended for the third consecutive day, due to the overflowing Kagina river on the Malkhed bridge, about 40 km from here. The traffic between Kalaburagi and Chittapur also remained cut off for as many days, due to the overflowing of water on the Dandoti bridge. Standing crops in over 35,000 hectares have been badly damaged due to floods and over 1,330 houses have collapsed either fully or partially. About 2,700 people affected by floods in 22 villages in Kalaburagi, Chittapur, Chincholi and Sedam taluks have been shifted to safer places. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Hyderabad and local residents rescued 31 people caught in the floods. District incharge minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil, who held a review meeting on Sunday, directed the authorities to prepare a report on the damage caused, so that it can be submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is expected to visit the district on September 27. According to officials, no loss of human life has occurred, but unconfirmed reports say two have lost their lives in rain-related incidents. Six cattleheads have perished in the floods. Revenue secretary (disaster management) Gangaram Baderiya, on Sunday, visited the flood-hit Bidar district. The rains claimed four lives in the district and caused widespread damage to crops, he said. Baderiya told DH over phone that the district administration had reported four deaths due to heavy rains in the last three days. He said the rains had subsided from Saturday night. Directions have been issued to the deputy commissioners of the affected districts to assess the damage and submit a report in a weeks time, he added. The officer said three flood rescue teams of the NDRF, comprising 84 rescuers and equipped with 10 inflatable rubber boats and latest communication equipment, were deployed at various flood-affected places. Two teams of the NDRF, each comprising 15 members, have launched an operation to rescue monkeys which are trapped in trees due to floods. The Congress and JD(S) on Sunday decided to continue their alliance in the BBMP. The mayoral election is slated for Wednesday. The Congress will get the mayors post, while the deputy mayors post will go to the JD(S). A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting between Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara and JD(S) state chief H D Kumaraswamy here. The JD(S) is learnt to have demanded four standing committee chairperson posts, but the Congress did not agree. The two parties are likely to finalise the issue in a day or two, sources in the Congress said. During the previous election held in September 2015, B N Manjunath Reddy of the Congress and Hemalatha Gopalaiah of the JD(S) were elected mayor and deputy mayor respectively after the two parties agreed to share power in the BBMP. The two had defated their BJP rivals by a narrow margin of three votes. BJP to field candidate Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister R Ashoka on Sunday said the BJP has decided to field its candidate in the election for the post of mayor. The party corporators and MLAs from Bengaluru will chose the candidate. The BJP is the single largest party in the BBMP council, he stated. Ashoka, however, refused to comment on the Congress and the JD(S) continuing their alliance in the BBMP. Looking to save on huge taxi bills, government departments and PSUs are now turning to popular ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber for their transportation needs, and have been promised service without any surge pricing. Uber and Ola are looking at offering taxi services to government departments at special rates and have registered at the portal of government e-marketplace (GeM). Besides, Ola is also in discussions with various public sector units (PSUs) for its corporate offering. The GeM was launched last month for buying goods and services by Central ministries and departments for greater transparency in government procurement, which is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore a year. According to an official, the government is looking at significant savings as various departments currently shell out as much as Rs 40,000 every month for taxis. What has been agreed is that they will give us a monthly bill, something they have never done. Second, for the government, there will be no surge pricing, the official said. The official added that the organisations need cabs everyday and if you get the Uber and Ola, it is economical. You also get a complete tracking of distance and clear-cut billing. Ola Head (Corporate) Ankit Jain said the company is in discussions with various PSUs for its corporate offering. India will ratify the Paris climate change agreement on October 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties on the UN climate agreement that took place in Paris). The ratification is yet to be done. On the birth anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced at the BJP national council meet at Kozhikode. Once ratified, India will formally be a member of the Paris pact and will abide by its provision. However, no immediate administrative and policy decisions are needed as the treaty will kick in only after 2020 and there is no compulsion on India to reduce big emission. In India, the Union Cabinet will decide on the ratification. For many other countries, the procedure involves a sitting of the national parliament. Canada, Australia, South Africa and Russia indicated that they would ratify the Paris treaty by October. China did it in September 2016, while the US, the worlds largest polluter, only accepted the treaty and is yet to ratify it. The decision will be taken by the new US president, who will take office in January. The Paris agreement seeks to combat climate change and unleash actions and investment towards a low carbon economy. Its main aim is to keep the rise of global temperature this century well below two degrees Celsius and to initiate efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels. Modi said he had chosen October 2 as Gandhis life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. The Father of the Nations famous quotation the world has enough for everyones need, but not enough for everyones greed was extensively used by Modi and then environment minister Prakash Javadekar in their speeches and documents during the United Nations Paris Climate Conference and in the run up to the summit. Underscoring the need to ratify the COP21 decision, Modi said there was a looming threat due to global warming to many coastal countries and cities. While more than 190 countries agreed to the Paris climate change treaty, 60 nations, accounting for 47.76% of global pollution, ratified the treaty till September 21. Earlier, India had sought more time for ratification due to apprehensions that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects. Photos of politicians with folded hands, seeking your vote could soon become a common sight behind autorickshaws and buses as the Delhi governments transport department is preparing to lift a ban on political ads on public transport vehicles. Public transport buses, autorickshaws and taxis may become mediums of political ads, whenever the next elections are held in the city in 2017. The civic polls in early next year are likely to be the first testing ground for the mobile poster wars. The new platform may also be used if a by-poll is held for the 21 Assembly seats whose MLAs are facing a disqualification plea in the EC for holding an office-of-profit. The State Transport Authority Board is likely approve to in its next meeting the use of public transport vehicles for political ads. After the approval, a notification shall be issued, said a transport department official. The use of autorickshaws for political posters was first introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the 2013. The posters on autorickshaws helped the new party reach every nook and corner of the city and develop a mood for change against the then Congress government which had been in seat of power for 15 years. With active support of major autorickshaw unions in the city, the AAP monopolised this form of political campaign till 2014 Lok Sabha polls when the BJP aggressively used this medium. In the 2015 Assembly polls, all the three major players AAP, BJP and Congress used autorickshaw ads to reach out to voters. The ads on public transport were banned by the transport after some complaints related to unauthorised use of photos of rival leaders were received in the Election Commission, said an official. A set of guidelines were issues soon thereafter to regulate the content of ads put up on public transport vehicles. Inflammatory or derogatory posters, surrogate ads on liquor and tobacco products, misleading or magical medical remedies and political posters were struck off the list of permissible content that could be displayed on public transport vehicles. However, a rethink on political ads was necessitated by representations received from parties and autorickshaw unions who saw in them an opportunity to earn extra money, said an official. Farmers of Gubbi taluk in Tumakuru district have lost all hopes on their crops. Water level in the Hemavathi reservoir at Gorur in Hassan district, which is the lifeline of farmers in Gubbi taluk, has touched the rock bottom. Now, there is little chance of the standing crops surviving. Reason: non-availability of water. The Hemavathi is a tributary of the Cauvery river. Farmers in Gubbi took up kharif sowing in June, hoping that they will have good agriculture season. But, not a single drop of water has reached Gubbi so far. Low water level in the reservoir has promoted the government to preserve it only for drinking purpose. Puttaswamy, a farmer of Vadaluru village in the Gubbi taluk said he felt miserable when water from the Hemavathi reservoir was released to Tamil Nadu though the crops here were withering due to lack of water. But, the state governments decision to stop further release of water to the neighbouring state has brought some solace to farmers. Rangaswamaiah, a marginal farmer of Kittadakuppa, says that due to shortage of water he has lost ragi grown on an acre. He was hoping that the south-west monsoon would come to his rescue. But, he faced disappointment as the monsoon failed. The M K Patna lake in the taluk, which has the potential to irrigate 195 hectares has gone bone dry. We do not want compensation. The government should release water for at least one crop. We have to survive. We have no other source of employment, another farmer Chikkanna said. Though coconut and arecanut palms in the region have somehow managed to survive, the prices of areca and coconut have plummeted. K Balakrishna, Chief Engineer, Hemavathi Zone, Tumakuru, said farmers have not been able to cultivate semi-dry crop like ragi and jowar. At the same time prices of coconut and arecanut have plummeted, leaving the farmers high and dry. He said the present live storage at the Hemavathi reservoir stood at seven tmcft against its total capacity of 37 tmcft. But only three tmcft could be utilised if dead storage is excluded. In Belur taluk of Hassan district, the water level in the Yagachi reservoir is at its lowest ever. The Yagachi river, which originates at Mudigere in Chikkamagalur district is a tributary of the Hemavathi. The total capacity of the reservoir is 3.603 tmcft and the present level is 1.25 tmcft. No water is being released for irrigation purpose. As much as 0.37 tmcft is required for drinking water need of Belur and Chikkamagaluru till next May. We have never faced such a situation earlier, said P Rangaswamy, assistant executive engineer, Yagachi reservoir sub-division. A man was killed on the spot and six were injured when a mini goods vehicle they were travelling by toppled between Bannerghatta and Kanakapura Road on NICE Road, south Bengaluru, on Sunday afternoon. The deceased was aged around 25 years and is yet to be identified. A total of 10 labourers were travelling by the vehicle four in the cabin and six in the carrier in the back. The group had loaded machinery from a godown in Bommanahalli industrial area and was heading towards Kanakapura. Around 3.30 pm, one of the tyres punctured. The vehicle tipped and then toppled. It rolled for some distance and came to a halt. A senior police officer suspected that the vehicle was being driven in a rash and negligent manner, which caused it to topple. One of the labourers sitting next to the driver was killed. The three others in the cabin, including the driver, were injured. Besides, three people in the carrier also sustained injuries. Police identified them as Shivakumar, 30, Bheemaraju, 30, and Venkataramana, 35. Three others Abdul, 23, Shobha, 40 and Bhanu Prakash, 35 escaped unhurt. Passersby took the injured to private hospitals. The police said they were trying to identify the driver and three others who were sitting in the cabin, including the deceased. A case has been registered at the Thalaghattapura police station. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Sunday Russia and Iran would become accomplices in war crimes if they continued to prolong the war in Syria. Describing Russia and Iran as supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Ayrault called on them "to take their responsibility by stopping this strategy that leads to a dead-end." "Otherwise, Russia and Iran will become accomplices of the war crimes committed in Aleppo," the minister said in a written statement with reference to the bombings that struck the Syrian city and killed scores of people. Search Keywords: Short link: Home Minister G Parameshwar on Sunday lauded the contributions of the Christian missionaries to the fields of education and healthcare. Delivering the inaugural address at the 112th anniversary of Hudson Memorial Church here, Prameshwara said, The Christian community looks after a number of school and colleges as well as hospitals in the city. The church is known for promoting peace and harmony. The historic Hudson Memorial Church even offers mass (prayer) in Kannada. Due importance has been given to the language of the state. Author Dr L S Srinivas Murthy too appreciated the contributions of the Church to promote education. The roots of Mysore University, which was started in 1915, goes back to the Hudson era (1879) who made sure that exams were held in this part of the region instead of the erstwhile procedure of students going to Madras, the minister said. [Keep in mind that Eos is a publication of AGU, which has voted to continue receiving sponsorship from the fossil-fuel industry. Desdemona] By Rebecca Heisman 22 September 2016 (Eos) Climate change has caused a boom in aquatic plant biomass on the Arctic tundra in recent decades. Those plants, in turn, are releasing increasing amounts of methane into the atmosphere, according to a paper published last week in the journal Global Change Biology. Christian Andresen of Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M. and his colleagues suspected that longer growing seasons and increasing permafrost thaw were altering the ecology of small freshwater ponds that pepper the tundra landscapeand perhaps the amount of methane they give off. Without a time machine, however, its hard to go back and see just how ecosystems and their greenhouse gas dynamics have been affected on a local scale. Andresen and his colleagues didnt have a time machine, but they had the next best thing. A multinational project in the late 1960s and early 1970s called the International Biological Program (IPB) collected detailed data on major ecological communities around the world, including the Alaskan tundra. IPB researchers werent working with climate change in mind, but the data they gathered have provided Andresen and his colleagues with a unique window onto the state of the tundra ecosystem decades ago. The IPB data didnt include information on methane, so Andresen and his colleagues developed a mathematical model to determine how such factors as vegetation biomass and thaw depth correlate with the amount of methane released today. By plugging the ecological data collected in the 1970s into the model, they could estimate the methane flux at that time. Their results show that the biomass of grasses and sedges growing in tundra ponds has increased by 20% to 25% since the IPB era, primarily because of longer growing seasons and the increased availability of nutrients released from the thawing permafrost. During the same time period, Andresen and his colleagues estimate, the methane flux from these wetlands has increased by about 60%. Wetland plants that cover just 5% of the tundras surface may account for as much as two thirds of the regions methane flux, the researchers estimate. Warmer conditions in the Arctic dont lead to increased methane flux on their own. The new study confirmed that aquatic grasses and sedges act like straws, drawing methane up from the anoxic muck at the bottom of a pond and releasing it through their leaves before it can be converted to carbon dioxide. If methanes only path to the atmosphere is through the soil, then the likelihood of a methane molecule being oxidized before it makes it to the atmosphere is very high, said Joe von Fischer of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, an expert on ecosystem function and methane flux who was not involved in the study. The presence of these plants as conduits for methane is fascinating. [more] The United States on Sunday called Russia's action in Syria "barbarism," not counter-terrorism, while Moscow's U.N. envoy said ending the war "is almost an impossible task now" as Syrian government forces, backed by Moscow, bombed the city of Aleppo. The United Nations Security Council met on Sunday at the request of the United States, Britain and France to discuss the escalation of fighting in Aleppo following the announcement on Thursday of an offensive by the Syrian army to retake the city. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it is barbarism," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the 15-member council. "Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive," Power said. A Sept. 9 ceasefire deal between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov aimed at putting Syria's peace process back on track effectively collapsed on Monday when an aid convoy was bombed. "In Syria hundreds of armed groups are being armed, the territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council. Britain's U.N. ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, said on Sunday the U.S. and Russian bid to bring peace to Syria "is very, very near the end of its life and yes the Security Council needs to be ready to fulfill our responsibilities." "The regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo," Rycroft told the council. "Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes." However, Russia is one of five veto-powers on the council, along with the United States, France, Britain and China. Russia and China have protected Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government by blocking several attempts at council action. "It is time to say who is carrying out those air strikes and who is killing civilians," Power said. "Russia holds a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. This is a privilege and it is a responsibility. Yet in Syria and in Aleppo, Russia is abusing this historic privilege." As Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari began addressing the council, Power, Rycroft and French U.N. Ambassador Francois Delattre walked out of the chamber, diplomats said. "Any political solution can only be successful by providing the requisite conditions through intensified efforts to fight terrorism," Ja'afari told the council. "The real war on terrorism has never started yet. The advent of Syrian victory is imminent." U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura briefed the council meeting on Sunday. He appealed to the council to come up with a way to enforce a cessation of hostilities in Syria. "I am still convinced that we can turn the course of events. We have proven this more than once before," he said, adding that he would not quit trying to bring peace in Syria. "Any sign of me resigning would be a signal that the international community is abandoning the Syrians, and we will not abandon the Syrians, and neither will you," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Authorities on Saturday arrested a Turkish-born man suspected of shooting five people dead, including a teenaged cancer survivor, at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington. State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis named the suspect as Arcan Cetin, a 20-year-old resident of the nearby town of Oak Harbor, saying he was arrested about 24 hours after the killings. There were no other suspects. Police had initially described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s. A Facebook page that appeared to belong to Cetin said he was born in Adana, Turkey, went to Oak Harbor High School and had worked at a grocery store on the town's Whidbey Island. In February, he posted a link to a "Call of Duty" first-person shooter videogame practice session, in an eery foreshadowing of real world violence he was to perpetrate. YouTube users posted lewd comments on that page and Cetin's Twitter page Saturday in response to the mall shooting. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The shooter later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle. "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." The youngest victim was named as Sarai Lara, 16, who survived cancer as a young girl. Relatives named another victim as 52-year-old Shayla Martin, who worked as a Macy's makeup artist. "We're really having a tough time right now," her sister Karen Van Horn told The Seattle Times. It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. 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. The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle, said Cammock. Police received calls around 6:58 pm Friday (0158 GMT Saturday) that shots were fired at the mall. The suspect was last seen walking toward a highway from the mall before officers arrived. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from more than 26 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. "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. 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." The mall was closed Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims. Search Keywords: Short link: Oil futures slumped on Friday, following reports that Saudi Arabia did not expect an agreement to freeze oil output to be reached when producers met in Algiers over the following week. Front month West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures dropped 3.97% to end the day at $44.48 per barrel on NYMEX. Reports earlier in the day that Saudi Arabia had offered to cut production if Iran froze its own, then at approximately 3.6m barrels a day, had pushed WTI futures as high as $46.55. Saudi Arabia now anticipated that talks would continue in the run-up to the formal OPEC meeting due to be held on 30 November, Bloomberg reported citing a delegate familiar with its policy. The Kingdom had pumped a record 10.7m barrels of oil out of the ground in August, 490,000 b/d more than in January. In parallel, Irans production had rcovered to 3.62m b/d in August, roughly 820,000 b/d more than before some sanctions against it were lifted. Significantly, Iraq was reportedly set to defend production for itself of 4.75m b/d to 5.0m b/d, Bloomberg said. Other energy futures were also lower on Friday, with October 2016 NYMEX heating oil losing 3.23% to $1.4073 a gallon and similarly-dated gasoline futures losing 1.78% to $1.3769. "Our base case assumption is no freeze; yet, members are likely to make statements highlighting that they are closely watching market developments and will host a subsequent exceptional meeting if deemed necessary. We believe that any agreement in Algiers, or in the coming weeks, will depend on prices and will have little physical supply effect. "Thus, we recommend paying less attention to Algiers and more attention to a naturally tightening oil market balance that precludes the group from having to make any difficult decisions," analysts at Barclays said in a research report sent to clients on 23 September. Meanwhile, trading in the metals space was subdued, with gold and silver futures drifting just 0.2% lower on COMEX. December 2016 COMEX copper was up 0.3% to $2.2010 per pound by the end of trading. Over in the agricultural commodities space, trading was also muted in the likes of corn and wheat, but December 2016 cocoa futures on ICE lost 2.33% to $2,852.00 per metric tonne while cotton futures erased 2.29% to $7.0 a pound. The Bloomberg Commodity index ended the session lower by 1.39% at 84.32 points as the US dollar spot index gained 0.14% to 95.51. Wolseleys John Martin will be able to hold his head up high when he goes in front of analysts for the first time as the companys boss next Tesday. Consensus expects the worlds largest seller of plumbing parts to report a 60% jump in pre-tax profits to reach 833m on sales of 14.3bn. The company has done very well since the last housing crisis, pushing deeper into the US market and selling secondary businesses. Its UK operations continue to be the 'problem child' but here too there are indications that Martin may be looking to repeat the success of its wildly successful US website build.com, which last year already sold far more wares, about 1.5bn-worth, than the likes of Asos. More online growth appears to be the pipeline, with turnover from that channel possibly reaching 2bn. To take note of, aalysts at JP Morgan believe Wolseley may announce a 250m share repurchase programme. Nonetheless, trading on 15 timess earnings a smooth transition at the top ofthe firm looks already priced-in. So, 'hold', says The Sunday Timess Danny Fortson. CVS had room - and the financial power - to continue growing and management was doing all the right things, but following large share price gains the stock had probably gotten ahead of itself, the Sunday Telegraphs Questor team said. Scale was key in the highly fragmented and low-margin veterinary industry, the tipster argued, pointing out the fact that CVS still only accounted for 7% of the UK market, despite owning 360 surgeries spread across the country. Fortunately, it had the financial wherewithal to continue scooping up market share. Hence, total turnover was up by a third in its last financial year, as the firm picked up 67 surgeries. The companys Healthy Pet Club was also seeing strong growth and the firm was moving into new areas, running diagnostic laboratories, pet crematoria, a digital dispensary, a recruitement firm and was developing its referral business to tap into the need for expensive surgeries. Leverage was high, with net debt standing at 2.8 times cash profits, but the vet business was highly cash generative and required little investment. Yet the shares were trading at 23 times expected earnings and offered hardly any yield. "That makes CVS a core holding, but one thats too expensive for Questor at the moment. Hold." 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. French police arrested two young women from the city of Nice in mid-September for suspected ties to Islamist State militant Rachid Kassim, the Paris prosecutors' office said on Sunday. Aged 17 and 19, the teenagers used the Telegram encrypted messaging system to communicate with Kassim, who is suspected of having participated in several attacks or attempted attacks in France, a spokesman said, confirming an earlier report by newspaper Le Parisien. "They were incited to commit an attack on specific targets in retaliation for the recent death of the Islamic State's spokesman (Abu Muhammad al-Adnani)," a source close to the investigation told Le Parisien. The two teenagers admitted considering the attack, before abandoning the idea, the daily reported. At least four other teenagers, all suspected of having plotted to kill in the name of the Islamic State, were arrested in about 10 days in early September by the General Directorate for Internal Security, a French intelligence agency, which spotted the suspects on social networks. All were in contact via Telegram with Kassim, who is currently located in the Syrian-Iraqi region, according to police and judicial sources. Search Keywords: Short link: Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists have killed four Chadian soldiers in a cross-border raid in the volatile Lake Chad region, a security source told AFP on Sunday. "Around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday night, Boko Haram members attacked the Djoroye border post near the Niger border in the Lake Chad region killing four of our soldiers," the source said. "The Chadian army killed seven Boko Haram fighters," the source said. The military did not comment, refusing to confirm or deny the attack. Boko Haram, which wants to establish a caliphate in northern Nigeria, has been waging an insurgency since 2009. Their battle has spilled across the borders of neighbouring countries which, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, have formed a regional force to fight back. Search Keywords: Short link: 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. An Egyptian team is in Russia on Sunday to discuss a ban placed on Egyptian agricultural exports, Egyptian daily Al-Ahram has reported. The Egyptian delegation comprises of officials from Egypt's agriculture and trade ministries as well as representatives of imports and exports departments and the Russian-Egyptian Business Council. Russia said on 16 September it would temporarily suspend imports of fruit and vegetables from Egypt starting 22 September. The move came shortly after Cairo, the world's largest wheat importer, tightened its regulations to ban any ergot fungus in imported wheat last month and has since failed to approve any Russian wheat shipments. Egypt, like most countries, had previously accepted 0.05 percent of ergot fungus in imported wheat, a quantity considered harmless. The new policy has hurt Russia, which is one of major suppliers of wheat to Egypt. In the past, Russia often imposed bans on agricultural imports amid political or trade disputes with other nations. But there might be a change in the situation after Russia said on Friday it would resume supplying its wheat to Egypt after Cairo scrapped the restrictions, RIA news agency cited Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov as saying. Russia is also one of Egypt's main export markets for fruit. Cairo sold some $350 million in agricultural commodities last year to Moscow. Search Keywords: Short link: While others were sunning themselves in Portugal, or strolling through The Marshes in search of a bargain three intrepid students from St Louis Secondary School were getting a head start on their college degrees. Hannah Pheifer, from Dulargy, Hermione McAleer, Kilkerley and Eva Harmon, also Kilkerley spent three weeks in DCU at their CTYI courses. The Centre for Talented Youth of Ireland offers courses in diverse subject areas after undergoing an exam to test for eligibility and the three girls chose very different topics upon acceptance. Hermione was a residential student and she chose Medicine. She is interested in being a doctor in the future so felt this was a good way to test the waters. "We did two dissections and I realised I am less interested in physical medicine than research but would not have known that except that I did this course. It was very interesting. I also realised that it is hard work living away from the comforts of home and appreciate far more all that my mum does for me! Living on campus was really enjoyable and I learned to be responsible for getting myself up and out in the mornings." Eva Harmon started in a course called App Design and Development and discovered that she didnt enjoy the coding aspect. She moved quickly instead to Biotech which was a medical course but the study of the medicines involved in curing illnesses as opposed to Hermiones course which was more about the anatomy of the body. Eva commuted for the three weeks and also enjoyed the experience. There were lots of activities on every day as well as the study aspect so it made it a really enjoyable experience. I made a lot of new friends and had some lovely teachers who were really engaging so it made the learning side fun too. Hannah Pheifers interests are diverse so this year she chose to study Novel Writing. It was again a really interesting course. We got all sorts of tips in novel writing, from the list of First Chapter Must Haves to tips on writing about conflict. We got to attend the launch of a book and did a literary walking tour of Dublin. I found it really interesting and it has helped me with the creative writing element of the new Junior Cycle English Course. The girls have no idea what they will study next but it looks like they are well on top of their Junior Cert at least in second year. Maiduguri, Nigeria, capital of the northern state of Borno, has become almost synonymous with Boko Haram. But one photojournalist is trying to change that by taking pictures that focus on life outside the Islamist militant group's violent acts. Type Maiduguri into a search engine, and a quick scan of the results will show the words most often associated with it: explosion, suicide attack and, of course, Boko Haram. It is a city now known mainly for its violence. But photojournalist and humanitarian aid worker Fati Abubakar has sought to change that by capturing images of everyday life there. Laughing schoolchildren, an idle shopkeeper, a rapt classroom Each photo transcends the violence endured by Maiduguris residents on an almost daily basis. Instead of focusing on the attacks, Abubakar has chosen to document development projects, international and local health initiatives, the know-how of local artisans or the hustle and bustle of the citys streets. Abubakar, 30, first launched the project in September 2015, posting photos of life in Maiduguri on Facebook and Instagram under the username @bitsofborno, along with descriptive captions and quotes. People think that theres only death, but I want to give a different view of the city than one limited to death tolls and bombings, Abubakar told FRANCE 24. I look for photos that depict the strength of the people. I don't want to focus only on the bad, I want to focus on every angle, happiness, joy, moving on. Everything that shows people are moving forward with their lives; thriving amidst the adversity. Boko Haram Looking at Abubakars photos, its almost possible to forget that Maiduguri, which lies on Nigerias border with Cameroon, is a Boko Haram stronghold. But those born and raised in the city remember a gilded age before the Islamist militant groups arrival. Life before Boko Haram was incredible. We had friends, we went to school, we had parties. We had very colourful weddings. [We were] very much a connected community, Abubakar recalled. [When Boko Haram arrived], it became very frightening, tense and unpredictable. [There was lots] of paranoia. Boko Haram was established in 2002 by Sunni preacher Mohammed Yusuf, who ordered the groups first assaults against the police in 2003. Since then, Boko Haram has continued to terrorise the country. The situation worsened in 2010 under Abubakar Shekau, who took over the groups leadership a year after Yusuf was publically executed by Nigerian police in the streets of Maiduguri. In 2015, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group, carrying out further kidnappings, assaults and suicide attacks. Overall, the groups insurrection has claimed more than 21,000 lives in Nigeria since 2009, according to the Armed Conflict and Event Data Project. At least 2,000 people are considered missing. Resisting terror In some ways, Abubakars photos are an act of resistance. Too many people lost their families. It was very tragic. But we have become almost desensitised to these happenings now. We have become more resilient and are very keen to move on, she said. I want to show the world that we are moving on from tragedy. That it is not easy and that we are still struggling but are keen to move on, heal and rebuild. While Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls in the northern village of Chibok in 2014 to denounce their schooling, Abubakar has boldly stated her support of girls education by posting photos of women attending a class in a refugee camp near Bama, just 60 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri. Yet despite her desire to focus on more positive stories, Abubakar is unafraid of exploring the hardships of living in Maiduguri, taking pictures and collecting quotes that illustrate the economic or governmental challenges residents face. One such photo shows a young girl standing against a wall, the caption explaining that she spends time in a brothel because the hotel where it operates is one of the only places her father could find a job. Abubakars work has not only allowed her to show a different side of Maiduguri, but it has also enabled her to raise money for local development projects. I believe Boko Haram is truly not as strong as it used to be. It is losing influence. The fight against [their] insurgency is in full force and we hope soon it will be totally eradicated, she said. 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Done correctly, a shipping container home can be built affordably, quickly, sustainably and even look good. But for a more important reason, builders are also flipping these large steel boxes into homes to house people who need it the most. https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/698517476070522881 1. Homes for the homeless The Los Angeles Times recently featured the efforts of American Family Housing, a nonprofit organization thats building a two-story, 16-unit apartment building out of shipping containers to house Orange Countys homeless veterans. The building is scheduled to open in January, making it Californias first ever shipping-container apartment building. https://twitter.com/AFHUSA/statuses/778622106154127360 We are putting them in housingvery energy-efficient, very structurally strong, very beautiful multifamily housing. It happens to be that the materials that will build that housing are shipping containers, Donna Gallup, the groups chief executive, told the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles happens to be home to the nations largest port, meaning that the project is also making use of empty containers that are otherwise taking up space at the docks. https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/756234844640841728 2. Military applications The same Los Angeles Times report also highlighted the works of American contractors working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that have built hundreds of shipping container homes in Iraq and Afghanistan to billet military and other U.S. personnel. While they arent the most eye-pleasing, a shipping container homeor a Containerized Housing Unitcan be ideal in a war zone because they arent meant to be permanent. Sustainable real estate company Three Squared Construction CEO Leslie Horn described to NREI how shipping containers have provided strength and portability. Shipping containers are naturally easy to transport since they are stackable, seaworthy and resistant to flooding. Horn added that [cargo containers] have numerous applications in humanitarian efforts as temporary and permanent housing, transport of goods and commercial pop-ups. Containerized housing units being moved in a U.S. Army installation in Baghdad in 2008. Wikimedia Commons 3. Housing shortages Montainer Inc., a builder based out of Missoula, Montana, is trying to solve Portlands notorious housing shortage one shipping container at a time. According to Portland Business Journal, the company sees its offerings as part of the solution to the Rose Citys increasingly tight and expensive housing market. We see each of these backyards as a vacant lot, with the potential to add much needed housing for the city, said Montainer co-founder and CEO, Patrick Collins, in a release. We are empowering individual homeowners with a streamlined way to add an [Accessory Dwelling Units] to their backyard, and in essence, become micro developers who can collectively make a real dent in rising housing costs. The cost of a shipping container home makes them an attractive option for many. A typical Montainer unit with less than 1,000 square feet costs between $80,000 and $120,000. We really started the company to make homeownership more attainable, Collins told Oregon Live. A demo unit displayed in Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon summer 2016. Montainer 4. Student accommodations In Amsterdam, The Wenckehofwhich consists of 1,000 shipping containers converted into housing for studentsis the largest development of its kind, The Guardian reported in October 2015. Although shipping container homes have its critics, advocates tout its versatility and affordability. One Wenckehof resident told The Guardian that he pays is 450 a month ($505) in rent to live at Wenckehof and also qualifies for a 140 ($170) monthly housing subsidy, much cheaper than the 600 ($675) a month that students often pay to share an apartment in central Amsterdam. The Wenckehof is not the only shipper container building designed for young academics. Design Boom recently featured an innovative floating, carbon neutral property called The Urban Rigger. The structure is meant to provide affordable and sustainable homes for students in Copenhagen. Amenities include a courtyard, kayak landing, a bathing platform, a barbecue area and a communal roof terrace. Nine container units are stacked in a circle to create 15 studio residences that frame a centralized communal courtyard. The housing is also buoyant, like a boat, so that can be replicated in other harbor cities where affordable housing is needed, but space is limited, the designers told Design Boom. The Urban Rigger features a slew of green building components, including hydro source heating, solar panels and low energy pumps. Each year, thousands of newly enrolled students wind up on the student housing offices official list of people in urgent need of a place to live, and it is well-known fact that the real problem far exceeds the official registration. A situation that, by all standards, is completely unacceptable! the company states on its website. The first full scale Urban Rigger was launched in the summer 2016 in Copenhagenor as the company says, the first in a potential fleet of mobile, sustainable dwellings, for students, refugees and others, in urgent need of a home. [vimeo https://vimeo.com/183658543 expand=1] An old steel box might not sound like the coziest place to live, but for many people around the world, a humble shipping container means home, sweet, home. From Berlin to Bangalore to London, people all over are shacking up in shipping containers. And now, Copenhagen-based container architecture firm CPH Shelter and architect Sren Nielsen, a partner at Danish firm Vandkunsten Architects, have designed the CPH Village, a planned shipping container structure aimed to help solve the areas student housing shortage. Not too shabby for a shipping container!https://t.co/hek3gseyQb Stonehealth Ltd (@Stonehealth) February 10, 2016 The CPH Village project is an offshoot of the companys standalone CPH Shelter, an easily transportable plug and play unit that can be customized easily and inexpensively. For instance, a single house can be merged, divided or reshaped over time to family or senior housing. The CPH designers can certainly turn an old box into something livable, as Arch Daily wrote: The units central room is created by cutting a 40-foot container in two halves and pulling them two meters apart, creating a large living area flanked by two niches for the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom alcove faces the living room and features a daybed that can be used as seating and sleeping, thereby saving the space traditionally dissolved by the redundant functions of a sofa and a bed. The homes itself are built from up-cycled materials and comes furnished with a kitchen, bath and integrated and multi-functional cabinet and storage space. It is also insulated and left unpainted inside to avoid fumes or chemical exposure from paint. These shelters can be easily merged, divided and reshaped over time. Photo credit: CPH Shelter Because there is no need to dig a foundation and can be disassembled and reassembled, the homes are ideal for temporary, or even permanent, university housing. CPH Shelter has a 80 percent lower CO2 footprint in the production phase than traditional buildings, the company boasts on their website. The CPH Village project will be launched later this year. Our effort to create cheap, flexible and sustainable colleges have taken a big leap forward, the company wrote on a Facebook post in November 2015. Yesterday the city council of Copenhagen unanimously agreed to ask the Danish government to adjust the Planning Act and make it possible to construct temporary student residences in urban perspective areaseg. Refshaleen or Nordhavn in Copenhagen. The government will present their proposals for a new Planning Act early 2016. If the right framework is put in place, we are ready to construct hundreds of sustainable and affordable student housing in the coming years. The house is not painted inside to avoid fumes from the paint. Photo credit: CPH Shelter Copenhagen wont be home to the first shipping container student village in the world. In Amsterdam, The Wenckehofwhich consists of 1,000 shipping containers converted into housing for studentsis the largest development of its kind, The Guardian reported in October 2015. Although shipping container homes have its critics, advocates tout its versatility and affordability. One Wenckehof resident told The Guardian that he pays is 450 a month ($505) in rent to live at Wenckehof and also qualifies for a 140 ($170) monthly housing subsidy, much cheaper than the 600 ($675) a month that students often pay to share an apartment in central Amsterdam. For tiny home aficionados, a repurposed shipping container means living simply and affordably. EcoWatch recently featured six beautiful tiny homes made out of shipping containers. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Want to Get Off the Grid and Live in Harmony With Nature? Build an Earthship Solutions Wanted: Do You Have a Solution That Will Create a Cleaner, Greener World? Worlds First Solar-Hydrogen Residential Development Is 100% Self-Sustaining New York City Soon to Be Home to Worlds First Underground Park Saleh died on 25 September 2014 from complications after undergoing open heart surgery September 25 marks the second anniversary of Khaled Saleh's death. Born on 23 January 1964, Saleh was one of Egypt's most respected actors with an impressive list of cinema and television productions under his belt. During his law studies, he participated in several university theatre performances. Upon the opening of Hanager Theatre in the 1990s at the Cairo Opera House grounds he joined independent and amateur theatre troupes at the venue. He was cast in several roles during this time, including his first main role in a theatre play Ehtefal Khas Ala Sharaf El A'ela (1992), written by Sayed Haggag, which brought much attention to his unique acting skills. In cinema, Saleh starred in a number of successful film productions including Malaki Eskendereya, Tito, The Yacoubian Building, Heya Fawda. His last cinematic role was in El-Gezira II which came out in 2014, after Saleh's death. Besides cinema, his television career was also thriving, with almost yearly performances. His most important roles in television include Al-Rayan and Faroan (The Pharaoh). For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: More and more Indian students are choosing to study in the European Union, which has become the second most popular education destination for them globally. Around 50,000 students from India are studying in almost all the EU countries, particularly the UK, Germany, France and Spain. We want to attract more Indian students to the EU, says Tomasz Kozlowski, ambassador of the EU, ahead of the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) scheduled for September 30 and October 1 in Delhi. More than 100 universities, other higher-education institutions, national embassies and education organisations from 26 EU member states are expected to take part in the event organised by the European Union Delegation to India. To reach out to more students, the European Higher Education Virtual Fair India and South Asia 2016 launched a series of webinars. The trend is growing. The number has increased tremendously, says Kozlowski. With the growth, there seems to be a change in students preferences as well. While so far engineering, science, IT and medicine have been Indian students favourite subjects in the EU, there is now a growing interest in the social sciences, he says. One of the reasons for the jump, he points out is that a more universities outside the UK are introducing courses delivered in English from the undergraduate to the PhD level. Major European universities are able to provide courses in English, though its very well to learn a foreign language as well. Also, the EU is Indias largest trading partner, with more than 6,000 companies from the continent present in India, he adds. A Delhi University (DU) college has created a mobile app for IOS and Android smartphones through which students will soon be able to place photocopy orders of any important document or textbooks and paying the amount through the app to the operator on campus. Laxmibai College had launched the app in July to provide students with schedule notifications, announcements and other information. But it added news feature such as this recently. Pratyusha Vatsala, principal, said, Since everyone uses smartphones, the college came up with the idea of creating a time-saving app. So far, the app was only being used to inform students about announcements, notices, etc. The operator can also send the soft copy of the documents or study material through smartphones. Students can order food from the canteen and directly message the principal. The college now plans to add the college library and a panic button in view of female students safety. The button will include the numbers of firefighters and the police as well as of four of her family. If a student is in trouble, she can press the panic button through which the required information will reach all of them within seconds, said Vatsala. Nigel Pye Professor of business and management, and MBA director, Essex Business School, UK By studying for, say, a business degree abroad, you will expand your horizons in many ways. You will, of course, learn about the country in which you study, but on a truly international course, you will learn much more. The cohort not only learns from each other the particular issues faced when doing business in each of the countries represented, it also starts to understand the different national and regional cultures, something that can be crucial in developing business in new regions. Within Europe, there are many opportunities to take part of the course in another country. Students might take a single module or spend a whole term in another university again increasing the cultural diversity of their learning experience. The key factor is to talk. Those who have a culture of sitting and listening in class will not gain as much as those who share their experiences and debate issues. Usually English is the common language. So, ensure that you are comfortable debating in English. This will help you create bonds with fellow students. At the end of your course, you will have a global network of friends that will help you and your business grow over the years to come. Swati Salunkhe Career counsellor Every year, many students go abroad to study for Bachelors, Masters or other degrees in various disciplines. The only concern many of them have is their future. Let us see why they would leave the comfort of their homes and take a calculated decision to study overseas. Some of the reasons are: -Varied majors and vocations to choose from -The opportunity to interact with some of the best faculty and students -Gain an international, cross-cultural experience -The possibility to work in a foreign country after completing your study programme -Independence There are many more factors but due to the surge of international schools and the need to explore and experience a global education, students prefer to go abroad. Parents are more than willing to invest in the education as the returns are good not in only in tangible terms but also in the way it enriches children: Students learn so much simply by studying and living in a new social and cultural environment, from the people they meet, and from life as it influences their career paths, worldview and confidence. Kritika Narula Student, Institute of Company Secretaries of India Today, studying abroad is more than just a trend. It is a decision based on logic and practicality than on impulse. For many students, foreign universities are as much a choice as are Indian institutions. With the exorbitant fees charged by some government B-schools in India, an education loan is anyway in order. As there are abundant study loans on offer, study abroad no longer seems like a far-fetched idea. In general, students today make informed choices about the specific subjects they would like to study, many of which are not available within the country. If they are, the curriculum may not be rigorous enough. For example, a friend of mine is reading international relations in Geneva. This can help her gain hands-on training because Geneva is a global hub of diplomatic and networking events. Another friend, studying global media communications in Melbourne, is two months into the coursework, and appreciates that the assessment system is more intuitive there. Since this is a practical subject, students do not have semester-end exams but rather round-the-year assignments. Then the obvious factors play out: the exposure and confidence you gain by staying on a different continent is incomparable, and the international community provides a unique experience. Students who plan to study a course lasting more than six months require a study permit. To be able to apply for a permit, those intending to undertake postsecondary education in Canada need a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI). They also need to prove they can pay for their study, living and to-and-fro travel costs (including any accompanying member of their family). They may be required to submit a police certificate to show they have no criminal history, and undergo a medical exam for physical fitness. It is advisable to apply for a permit soon after receiving the letter of acceptance. Those enrolling in an educational institution for six months or more in Quebec must obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) as well. (More information about the CAQ is available at http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/students/index.html) Applicants need to mention the DLI number on the application form. To find a list of DLIs, visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-institutions-list.asp Candidates can apply for a permit online or in person at a visa office in India. A list of visa application centres is available at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/vac.asp Fee factor The fee is Rs 7,400 if you apply in person. Students applying online pay the same visa fee and are not required to pay the additional service fees charged by the visa application centre. After reaching Canada, candidates need to provide the required documents to an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the point of entry. The documents include a valid passport, a valid temporary resident visa (if required) and the letter of introduction given to you by the visa office when the study permit was approved. This letter, carrying your permit reference number, is necessary for the CBSA officer to issue your study permit. You also require a copy of the letter of acceptance from the DLI where you are going to study and provide evidence that you have the requisite funds to stay in Canada. Apart from the passport, the 'point of entry' letter of introduction and valid visa, students might be required to show proof of funds in the form of a bank draft or a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) equivalent of C$10,000 and receipt of the first semester/year tuition paid. You will be given a study permit once you fulfil all the necessary conditions. The list of documents is available at www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-arriving.asp News Date: 25/09/2016 SES-imagotag to acquire Pdi SES-imagotag to acquire 100% of Pdi, a Taiwanese company specialized in display design that houses ultra low power e-paper displays. SES imagotag is into electronic shelf labels (ESLs) for retail, and Pervasive Displays (Pdi). The acquisition to help SES imagotag to add capabilities of e-paper based ESLs on multiple levels. In cases such as integrated product development from Research and Development for advantage of extended geographic areas. Pdi being a display design house supplement ultra-low power e-paper displays for industrial applications. The emphasis is on ease of access and use. Engineers look out to create IoT applications to substitute paper through Pdis paper display platform. Through the concept of connected paper, improvements in the process are brought in by Pdi partners. Tangible efficiencies are yielded across industries such as logistics, healthcare and automation. paper-like graphic displays in digital shelf labels are adopted by Pdi. This alliance is about speed. It is about accelerating our collective ability to deliver ever more competitive products to the market. Since our inception, Pdi has focused on delivering the most energy efficient displays in the world. Our accumulative experience and knowledge in e-paper is crucial to companies looking to improve the total cost of ownership of IoT solutions requiring visual user interfaces. The robustness of the growth in ESL will enable Pdi to impact more applications and industries. There will be much synergy and creativity from working together with SES-imagotags talented and entrepreneurial team. We are extremely honored and proud to join SES imagotag, the global ESL market leader, to define the future of retail and our increasingly connect world commented by Scott Soong, founder of Pdi. This transaction is the natural evolution of our long-standing and extremely fruitful cooperation with Pervasive Displays, and it is of critical importance for our future. Over the last6 years Pdi has helped imagotag and then SES imagotag build a leading position in e-paper-based ESL, from an innovation, competitiveness and quality perspective. We make the best ESLs in the world in large part thanks to the exceptional expertise of Pdi. Over the years our two companies and our teams have become so close and our innovation projects so closely linked that even before shaping this transaction we already felt part of the same group. E-paper solution design is a paramount component of our industry one that still requires a lot of innovation and it will significantly drive differentiation in the years to come. This alliance is an essential strategic step that reinforces our R&D and expertise in e-paper modules and end-to-end ESL manufacturing. It makes us a truly global company and opens great new development avenues in Asia as well as in non-retail applications. This deal at once is the end of a wonderful journey between two companies and the beginning of a great adventure together. I warmly welcome the whole Pdi team in our new group is commented by Thierry Gadou, CEO of SES-imagotag. Tweet Follow @eeherald Date: 25/09/2016 National Conference on E- Governance: Deliveries on Transparency, Compliance and Good Governance PHD Chamber in collaboration with NeGD (National E- Governance Division) organized National Conference on E-Governance: Deliveries on Transparency, Compliance and Good Governance on 8th September 2016 at PHD House, New Delhi. The objective of the Conference was to discuss the roadmap for effective and robust e-Governance implementation and how India can upgrade its current structure of E-Governance. It also discussed the issues in E Governance with focus on Health and come up with strategies and suggestions on the policies and implementation side. Left to Right: Mr. Milan Narendra, Partner, Ernst and Young India; Mr. Atul Anand, Co Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT,PHD Chamber; Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW);Mr. Sanjeev Shriya, Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT, PHD Chamber and Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director, PHD Chamber The Conference was inaugurated by Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and Mr. Milan Narendra, Partner, Ernst &Young India Mr. Sanjeev Shriya, Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT, PHD Chamber in his welcome address said that the rise of e-governance has been one of the most striking developments of the web and it presents national governments with a number of challenges and opportunities. Elaborating further Mr. Shriya said that with the increase in Internet and mobile connections, the citizens today are expecting more and more information and services online from governments and corporate organizations and thereby strengthening the new e-citizenship model. Mr. Shriya also said that E-Governance has the potential to benefit Indias citizens exponentially and maximize the return on the governments investment in it. It offers benefits such as Speed, Cost Reduction, Transparency, Accountability, Convenience and Increased access to information. Mr. Atul Anand, Co-Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT, PHD Chamber in his theme address of the Conference said that E- Governance essentially is integrated governance which integrates people, processes and information technology in achieving good governance Mr. Anand said that considerable initiatives in E-Governance were taken by the State governments in India with a special mention of Andhra Pradesh which has done a commendable job in this sector. He added that states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi have also undertaken innovative projects which have brought in transparency to the governance system. Mr. Anand was optimistic and said that India is likely to soon emerge as a leader in E-Governance especially when the country is focused on e-commerce and Information Technology (IT) and given the current high level of political commitment and largely adequate sources of funding. He also added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi jis call for Digital India' and a Paperless Government has created ripples in the domestic market and the vendors and manufacturers should not waste this big opportunity which can propel India on the world stage. In his Address in the Inaugural Session, Mr. Milan Narendra, Partner, Ernst and Young India spoke on the theme Global Learning for Feasible and Sustainable model of UHC in India. Mr. Narendra mentioned that there are 6 pillars of UHC defined by World Health Organisation which are: Healthcare Financing; Availability of essential medicines and healthcare products; Policies; Motivated Workforce; Proactiveness in providing healthcare delivery and Availability of Information Statistics & Information systems. Mr. Narendra said that there has been a lot of work happening in India with respect to healthcare delivery which is at par with the global practices. He mentioned that IT today has a major role in effective healthcare delivery. Adding further he said that IT has a key role in mitigating frauds. Mr. Milan Narendra said that Ministry of Health is running a program with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) on vaccination where cold chain handlers and vaccines are being managed across different states which is an encouraging sign. Mr. Narendra cited the example of countries including Bangladesh, Singapore and Thailand as to how proper planning and execution in phases made their healthcare delivery models successful. Mr. Milan Narendra stressed that from Indias perspective there is a requirement for Integrated Health Management which covers various aspects including predictive analytics, personalised records and information exchange system. Extreme Right: Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) giving his address in the Inaugural Session Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) in his Address in the Inaugural Session talked on the theme eHealth in Digital India. In his opening remarks Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari said that the Government of India is about to come up with revised guidelines for Electronic Health Records (HER).He elaborated that first set of guidelines came up in August 2013 and said that the latest guidelines have been approved by the Health Ministry and would soon be published on their website. Prof. Sarbadhikari said that along with e-Health, Sanitation and Nutrition are equally important for having good health. Prof. Sarbadhikari mentioned that E- Governance today is need of the hour and said that e-Healthcare is an important component of Digital India programme which is on the core agenda of the Government of India. Prof Sarbadhikari said that a major reason for Bangladesh being successful in the Healthcare sector is due to involvement of non government sector. He added that Sri Lanka is the second country after Maldives to be declared Malaria Free. Prof. Sarbadhikari said that India must take cue from its neighbours on implementation of healthcare service delivery. Given the rising no. of Smartphones and Internet users in India, Prof. Sarbadhikari mentioned that Government had taken several steps to reduce the complexity of the healthcare system in India and providing services online in the form of websites like Data.gov.in and National Health Portal (NHP). He said that these sites have made it easier for user to access wide range of information as a large amount of information is uploaded by the Ministry on these websites. Prof. Sarbadhikari also mentioned that the Health Ministry was envisaging Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and the purpose of the same would be to develop a facilitating ecosystem for smooth adoption of e-Health throughout India. Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director, PHD Chamber said that the technology is most important and only factor which can ensure how healthcare delivery can reach the last mile. He said that 70% of healthcare delivery happens through the private sector in India and suggested that the Government must increase the allocation in healthcare in the budget which would benefit all. Mr. Seigell also mentioned that it is commendable that the Government has become proactive over past 2 years and are inviting all relevant stakeholders from the industry before making finalising and framing National policies. Left to Right: Mr. Chandrakant Mishra, Head Government Business, Religare; Dr. Vajahat Talib, Director, Gentrac Labs; Dr. K L Ramesh, HOD Biochemistry Department, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) ;Mr. S K Sethi, Vice President, Insurance Foundation of India and Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director, PHD Chamber during the Plenary Session. Right to Left: Mr. Sanjeev Shriya, Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT, PHD Chamber presenting a memento to Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) along with Mr. Atul Anand, Co-Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT, PHD Chamber Right to Left: Mr. Atul Anand, Co- Chairman, Committee on Electronics and ICT,PHD Chamber presenting memento to Mr. Milan Narendra, Partner, Ernst and Young India Plenary Session The Plenary session was Chaired by Prof. Suptendra Nath Sarbadhikari, Project Director, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) and moderated by Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director Electronics and ICT Committee, PHD Chamber. Eminent speakers included Mr. Chandrakant Mishra, Head Government Business, Religare; Dr. Vajahat Talib, Director, Gentrac Labs; Dr. K L Ramesh, HOD Biochemistry Department, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital; Mr. S K Sethi, Vice President, Insurance Foundation of India and Mr. Debaparatim Dey, Sales Business Unit Head - Health and ID, Safran Limited. Mr. Chandrakant Mishra, Head Government Business, Religare said that public health budget in India is lowest in the world with 1% of GDP. He mentioned that the Government schemes like RSBY and Rajiv Aarogyasri Community Health Insurance Scheme have not met the desired results due to low awareness, low participation and exclusion of minor ailments in these schemes. He said that in order to have effective implementation of Universal Health Coverage there is a need to mix public funded insurance scheme with private sector specialised schemes. Dr. Vajahat Talib, Director, Gentrac Labs said that delay in the reimbursement has been the biggest problem in the Health insurance sector in India. He said that there is a time delay in system which should be tackled when it comes to handling of patients. Dr. Talib also mentioned that when it comes to practicality, a lot of frauds have also come up related to reimbursement of insurance claims for which the Government should boost the IT infrastructure. He mentioned that the process should be automated and carried out electronically with real time alerts being sent to the user for tracking his claim. Mr. S K Sethi, Vice President, Insurance Foundation of India expressed concern on the state of healthcare facilities even in villages 20 km from Delhi in Noida and Gurgaon. Mr. Sethi said that if the Government plans to take Universal Health Coverage (UHC) they should open medical college in each and every district of India. He added that this step would help heck the shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedics staff in the country. Mr. Sethi also said that states like Tamil Nadu, Karntataka and Andhra Pradesh have successfully implemented the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and said that other states must also take cue from these states. Mr. Sethi also said that a lot of confusion is created in the minds of people due to renaming of insurance schemes and thus hampers the objective of UHCs. Mr. Debaparatim Dey, Sales Business Unit Head - Health and ID, Safran Limited in his address spoke on use of biometric identity and managing health plan interaction through electronic transactions. He mentioned that both Central and State Governments have taken keen interest in implementing E-Governance initiatives in India. He added that the health insurance cover has grown considerably over the past decade and this is primarily due to RSBY. Mr. Dey said that 2 key areas which drive the government initiatives are security and identity. Mr. Dey said that biometric technology represents the future for positive healthcare identification and would enhance the secure use, storage, and exchange of personal health information. Dr. K L Ramesh, HOD, Biochemistry Department, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in his address mentioned that Government Hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarjung and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital are upgrading their IT infrastructure in order to provide the best services to the patients. He said that the patients get an appointment with the doctor through their website without directly approaching him or talking to him on a telephone. Adding further Dr. Ramesh said that payment system has also been updated in most of the Government Hospitals. He said that the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital carries out 10000-13000 tests per day in a computerised manner and the reports generated are Paperless. Among the future initiatives Dr. Ramesh said that the Government of India would soon provide diagnostic facilities at village as well as small taluka level. He also mentioned that planning is going on for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Seva Yojana and said that it would take some time to implement. Mr. Vivek Seigell, Director, PHD Chamber said that as an industry Chamber, PHD Chamber looks forward to setting up of a regulatory mechanism which can promote and cultivate the habit of creating health data. Adding further he said that technology enablers must work to ensure that there is no duplication of data. Mr. Vivek Seigell also mentioned that if National Control Diseases are controlled, they can contribute 2% of GDP of the country. The Association partners for the Conference were Life Insurance Council (LIC) and Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI). Media Partners for the Conference were EFY Group, EE Herald, Governance Today, B-Positive and Medgate Today Magazine. News Source: PHD Chamber Tweet Follow @eeherald Panama City, Sep 25 (EFE).- Panama's commitment to fight climate change seems convincing, given its ratification of the Paris Accord and its proposal to host a world emissions reductions center, but there is a gap between this foreign policy issue and the way it's handling things at home. On the one hand, Panama is signing agreements and on the other it is approving the expansion of power plants. Thousands of hectares (acres) of trees are being planted in a public-private alliance, but the cutting of another 11,000 hectares (about 28,000 acres) per year is continuing, Collective Ecological Voices activist Olmedo Carrasquilla said. Panama belongs to the mechanism to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD+, and as part of the Paris Accord it agreed to host the international center to implement that strategy, but the capital's rapid urban growth and spread is destroying surrounding wetlands. "States are coming to international agreements to present an image to the multilateral financial entities ... but the reality is that most governments are responding to economic interests that link them to those agreements and Panama is no different," Panamanian environmentalist and urban planner Geronimo Espitia told EFE. In Panama, where tropical forests cover 60 percent of its territory, many economic activities are being undertaken in areas adjacent to protected zones, or in areas that deserve special attention but are not getting it. The protected ecosystems cannot survive in an isolated manner because "the territory is like the human body, it's interconnected," said Espitia. He said that just a short distance east of the capital the Environment Ministry has avoided dealing with the deforestation of part of the Juan Diaz wetlands, which is adjacent to the Panama Bay wetland, a refugee for two million migratory birds each year. Although only low-density housing may be built in the surrounding zone, huge apartment towers have been approved and the floodbasin of the Juan Diaz River has been refilled to meet housing demand over the opposition of environmental organizations. A similar risk faces the Darien jungle, bordering on Colombia, and the Matusagarati Lagoon, which have been placed at the mercy of agricultural development. The Environment and Justice Ministries have not responded to the devastation of the zone and the contamination of the waters there, activists say. Biologist Isaias Ramos, with the Environmental Impact Center-Panama, attributes the lack of action to bureaucratic "a lack of coordination." "On one hand, the Environment Ministry says it's going to protect the area, but the Public Services Authority issues permits; the Public Works Ministry allows highways to be built; the Tourism Authority allows unsustainable tourist growth and the Education Ministry builds schools" that attract urban development, Ramos told EFE. So far, 60 states comprising slightly more than 47.5 percent of global emissions have joined the Paris Accord, including Panama, just shy of the threshold for the pact's entry into force. New York, Sep 24 (EFE).- 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 programs 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." 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 U.S. 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," the paper said. 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 emphasized 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, emphasizing 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 Gov. John Kasich for the Republicans. 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 reelection 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. Last Night in Madrid was staged at El-Ghad Theatre on 21 and 22 September Eugene Ionesco Theatre of Moldova participated in the 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre this week with the monodrama Last Night in Madrid, drawing audiences into the story of Jacqueline Roque, Pablo Picasso's last wife. The troupe has a memorable history with Egypt. The first of several visits was in 1992, after they had journeyed four days by bus to perform Waiting for Godot at the festival, then known as the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre. At the time the state of Moldova was just two years old, having just separated from Romania. "I think no one in Egypt had even heard about Moldova then," one of the troupe's actors, Petru Vutcarau, tells Ahram Online. They left right after their performance, feeling their presence was negligent, and it was only when they reached home four days later that they realised they had won the grand prize for best performance, and Vutacarau best actor. At the time the experimental theatre festival was competitive, and they ended up winning the year after's Best Actor for Exit the King, and then again in 2001 Best Actress for Medea. Earlier this year they performed The Bald Soprano at Bibliotheca Alexandrina during the contemporary theatre festival. They return again with actress Ala Mensicov performing Last Night in Madrid, directed by Vitalie Durcec. The artist's women come to life The troupe premiered the play Last Night in Madrid in 2004 in Romania, and went on to stage it widely internationally. The script is a chapter from Irish writer and playwright Brian McAvera's text Picasso's Women; a series of eight honest and intimate one-woman plays about each of the painter's wives, mistresses and muses. McAvera's highly successful 1999 script was translated into fifteen languages, providing an account of the prolific artist's life through the eyes of his women, the muses he often abused. The monologues don't shy away from showing Picasso's dark side, painting the artist as a libidinous, selfish and often abusive lover, with occasional tenderness at his own convenience. The troupe selected Jacqueline Roque's monologue for what they saw in her unique relationship and position in the painter's life. "I really liked her story, though it has a lot of suffering. Jacqueline was quite special to him, and he really loved her," Mensicov tells Ahram Online. Jacqueline was widely viewed as a cleverly scheming 'other woman', and the enigmatic one who got the painter to settle down. In a sense, she was the heart of a Russian doll that was Picasso's relationships. Their relationship began during Picasso's companionship with Francoise Gilot from 1944 to 1953 who was the mother of two of his children, which was already within his first marriage to Olga Khokhlova, mother of one of his sons. When Picasso met Jacqueline, she was 26 and he 72. Khokhlova died in 1955 and Picasso married Jacqueline in 1961. Their marriage lasted until his death in 1973. Thirteen years later, Jacqueline shot herself. Jacqueline's monologue is told to the audience between suicide attempts; starting her life with her first husband, until her tragic ending. From beyond the grave her prominent and haunting image lives in over 400 portraits of her by Picasso. McAvera's text gave her a voice, and with Mensicov 's performance she is fully resurrected. The one-woman show Mensicov's Jacqueline is a powerful woman with deep insecurities. The character is a complex one, with very few historic accounts documenting her, making the actress' role all the more challenging to depict multiple psychological layers. Mensicov fleshes out the inner workings of a woman determined to "be indispensible," and how she justifies her plans to control, which often contrasted her submissive actions in the story she shares. From the first words she speaks she is balancing between a desperate widow that is almost pathetic, and a smooth operating, possessive seductress at work who is almost cunning. "Because the play is simple on stage, I can express easily the different aspects of her and her many stages. Sometimes she is sensitive, other times she is strong," Mensicov says. The set harmoniously looks like one room in an artist's house, but serves as several spaces arranged like points on a half circle; a set-up with clay pots depicting the pottery shop where Jacqueline worked and met Picasso, an easel with paints depicting a studio, a ladder with clothes hanging on it, and a rocking chair for a living room. Upstage there is a transparent screen. Standing behind it, she would be performing scenes alongside her shadow, caused by a backlight. Mensicov's movements encompass the stage, as she moves across the micro-sets with the story. At times she is a powerful imposing figure, climbing to the highest step of the ladder, other times she is a sensual, lithe dancer on cue with the music, and sometimes she is weak and collapsing to the ground. Most of the performance plays out in a high emotional state, with some lower points that don't last long. But the absence of gradual build-up is justified by the fact that it already opens at a high point (Jacqueline's suicide attempt) and already has a hysterical sense of urgency to begin with. The emotions are high from the very start while the events within serve to justify those already well-crafted emotions. She accentuates her story with different props, painting in red the year in which Picasso left Francoise, picking up a Spanish shawl for their time in Spain, drinking from the wine glass in his studio. She even changes her costume on set, after having taken her dress off while describing an incident of undressing for Picasso. Though Mensicov's performance is enough to visually engage the audience, the play in Romanian very much relies on understanding the monogue itself to be enjoyed by a foreign audience. An English translation was projected on a screen suspended from the ceiling. One technicality that was challenging was how the small theatre made it difficult for viewers to look at the screen without missing the action on stage. A larger stage would have placed the screen further upstage and made it more comfortable. The widow uses another projector to show slides of paintings by her deceased beloved, obsessing over how many portraits are of her. The play runs like one long shot, with scenes from a decade fluidly melting into one another. Lighting also serves to heighten Mensicov's monodrama. Warm yellow lights were at times cast on the set with Jacqueline in relative darkness, and other times flooded her. In certain moments red backlights would spill on the transparent screen, flooding it in an urgent warmth expressing passion, jealousy, anger, and eventually death. Death is accompanied by the sound of thunder and violent storms. Other sounds come in to match scenes, such as a simple guitar soundtrack and music from the different countries Jacqueline mentions, France and Spain. Richard Dorment wrote in The Telegraph that when Picasso bought the Chateau de Vauvenargue [where the play is possibly set]: "At once his palette darkened to ochre, dark greens, sombre reds, and Spanish blacks. And so, almost by osmosis, Jacqueline became associated with these forbidding colours, the colours of approaching death." The audiences at El-Ghad theatre expressed their delight with a standing ovation, the highest praise the troupe can receive now that the festival is no longer competitive. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Washington, Sep 25 (EFE).- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival, Donald Trump are virtually tied heading into their first debate, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Sunday shows. Clinton has the support of 46 percent of likely voters, while Trump is backed by 44 percent of likely voters. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson has the support of 5 percent of likely voters and Green Party nominee Jill Stein is drawing the support of 1 percent of likely voters. Among registered voters, Clinton and Trump are tied at 41 percent, while Johnson has 7 percent and Stein has 2 percent. In a two-way race between the major party nominees, Clinton edges Trump by 49 percent to 47 percent among likely voters and they each draw 46 percent support among registered voters. The Democratic candidate's advantage over her Republican rival is within the margin of error of 4.5 percentage points in the poll, which was conducted Sept. 19-22 among 1,001 adults surveyed by telephone. The 68-year-old Clinton and the 70-year-old Trump will square off in the first presidential debate on Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. The debate is expected to be one of the most-watched events of its type ever, with eight of 10 voters planning to tune in, according to the Post poll. Some 44 percent of respondents said they expected Clinton to win, while just 34 percent saw Trump emerging as the winner. The expectations for Clinton, a former secretary of state and U.S. senator, are lower than they were for President Barack Obama in 2012, when 56 percent of respondents expected him to beat rival Mitt Romney while just 29 percent bet on the Republican winning. In the previous Washington Post-ABC News poll, Clinton had a five-point lead over Trump among likely voters, a number that was down from the seven-point lead she enjoyed in August following the Democratic National Convention. The latest polls also show Trump gaining support in the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Clinton has been plagued by questions in recent weeks about her health and honesty after failing to reveal that she had been diagnosed with pneumonia. The former first lady abruptly left the ceremony in New York marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks after being affected by the heat. Clinton also continues to face questions about her use of a private e-mail server while secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Trump, who had a tough August after a number of verbal gaffes, is now getting the support of the Republican Party, with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a bitter primary rival, saying last week that he planned to vote for the New York businessman. Home to the Salah El-Din Citadel, Tekeyet El-Mawlawiya and Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque, El-Khalifa is a journey in time through Cairo's Islamic history When crossing Salah Salem Road at any time of the day, you cannot miss the iconic Citadel of Salah El-Din dominating the eastern edge of the city. One might think this is the best this side of the city has to offer, but there's a world behind the beautiful fortress that holds a fine collection of Cairo's Islamic architectural gems. Take a small detour off the main Salah Salem road towards Salah El-Din Square and get ready to embark on a special journey through the sites of El-Khalifa neighbourhood. While many of the nearby districts may be more well-known for their monuments and touristic sites, the streets and nooks of El-Khalifa neighbourhood are perfect for a day-walk if you are looking to see a great collection of monuments and mosques in a less crowded and non-commercial area of Cairo. Sabil Um Abbas: Ottoman era Starting off the walk at Salah El-Din Square, you will start noticing the decorative Islamic designs on some of the buildings, and further down the street you cannot miss the remarkable Ottoman landmark resting on a street corner; Sabil Um Abbas. The landmark was originally built on the orders of Banbah Qadin, the mother of Abbas Helmy I, who ruled Egypt from 1848 to 1854. At the time, sabils were built to serve clean water for passersby as well as serve as a Kutab, or a small educational institution. Thirteen years after his death, Abbas's mother ordered the construction of this sabil in the honour of her son, whose reign was marked with cruelty and culminated in his assassination. Though sabils are not uncommon in Cairo, Sabil Um Abbas is particularly splendid. The structure is marked with a beautiful marble facade, with wooden hoods engraved with Arabic calligraphy and Qur'anic verses. The sabil also boasts beautiful bronze window grills and unique marble ornaments, with full-blossomed flowers on its different sides. The luxurious landmark catches the eye from afar, though sadly it has long been closed to the public. Amir Taz Palace: Mamluk era If you take a right at the sabil and walk a few metres down the street, you will come across the entrance to the magnificent Amir Taz Palace at the intersection of Saliba and Siyufiya streets. The palace, which dates back to the Mamluk era and now serves as a cultural centre, is open to the public free of charge. As you step inside, you find yourself in a courtyard at the centre of the structure, facing the different rooms. Unlike some other historical palaces that still hold the belongings of their original masters, there is not much to see inside the rooms of the Amir Taz Palace. However, the beautifully designed building, with its chandeliers and walls adorned with Arabic calligraphy, is splendid to behold on its own. The palace also serves as host to many cultural events and exhibitions, especially during the month of Ramadan. Tekeyet El- Mawlawiya: Ottoman era Beyond the intersection where the palace stands lies Tekeyet El- Mawlawiya, or the Mevlevi Museum. Although one of the less popular touristic or historical sites in the area, Tekeyet El- Mawlawiya still has much to offer behind its doors. The place was built during the Ottoman period to serve as a house for dervishes following the Mevlevi Sufi order. Inside the complex, you first come across a room that serves as a museum where the clothes and belongings of the dervishes are displayed. The main attraction of the site, however, is the Sama'a Khana; a two-floor dance hall for the dervishes where Sufi performances are held to this day. The ceiling of the Sama'a Khana is an art piece adorned with Sufi writing, and the hall holds colourful mosaic windows and a chandelier. You may find one or two visitors during the day if you visit on a weekend, though most of the time the place is free of visitors unless there is an event. Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque: Tulunid Dynasty A 10-minute walk from the sabil will take you to the gate of the Ahmad Ibn Tulun Mosque. Ibn Tulun is one of the oldest standing mosques in Egypt that remains in its same original form. It was built by Ahmad Ibn Tulun, a soldier who came to Egypt from Iraq and went on to found the Tulunid Dynasty, forming a new Egyptian capital; Al-Qata'i. Inside the mosque, you cannot miss the unique arches and the windows all around the courtyard with beautifully carved stucco, as well as the coloured, red-brick columns, each representing a different era. The architecture and the different decorative additions made to the mosque are a reflection of the Abbasid Dynasty architecture. The mosque is perched on the rocks of Jabal Yashkur as a way to ensure its protection. While the Amir Taz Palace and Tekeyet El-Mawlawiya serve mainly as tourist attractions, the Ibn Tulun Mosque sees visitors from all walks of life. When visiting the mosque, you may want to check out the upper floor, where you can get a great view of the courtyard as well as the Citadel of Salah El-Din. You can also take the Samarran-inspired spiral staircase up to the mosques minaret. From within the walls of Ibn Tulun, you can find a small gateway to the south of the mosque's entrance that leads to the world of Gayer Anderson. Gayer-Anderson House The Gayer-Anderson House and Museum, also known as Beit El-Keretleya (the House of the Cretan Woman), consists of two connected 16th century houses that hold a beautiful collection of artefacts, furniture, letters, artworks, images and objects that once belonged to the British major and army doctor John Gayer-Anderson. Gayer-Anderson was a British officer and doctor who first came to Cairo in 1906 as part of his service in the army, eventually settling down in the city in the 1940s. Gayer-Anderson was a great collector of objets d'art, monuments and furniture from all around the world. The house is notable not only for the objects and unique collection of artefacts that Gayer-Anderson left behind, but also for its architecture, as the residence was made up of two 16-century houses which Gayer-Anderson restored. Gayer-Anderson, who lived in the house until his death, bequeathed the house and its contents to the Egyptian state, which turned it into a museum. Unlike many other historical houses or palaces, this museum is one of few that still contain all the well-preserved belongings of the original owners. Every small detail of the house is a masterpiece in its own right, from the Damascus Room, Queen Anne's Room, the Reading Room to the Haramlek and Salamlek. Even the doorknobs, the library has on its door a small figurine of an angel and on top of it an engraving that says, Love knocks on your door and love starts. The house also partially served as a set for the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me. Unlike many of the other sites on El-Khalifa that offer free entrance, the museum has an EGP 5 entrance fee and an EGP 50 photography permit, though it is certainly worth the price of admittance. Search Keywords: Short link: Ahram Online takes you on a tour of the picturesque Mediterranean old districts in Egypt's second capital Alexandria, Egypts second biggest city and the capital of the country in ancient times, is famed for its rich history and glorious past. Traces of past glory remain standing today despite the adverse and often ugly consequences of so-called modernisation. The air of the older Mediterranean city can still be best breathed in the Bahari district at the western end of the corniche, a seafront promenade that stretches for over 17 kilometres. The journey to explore the gems of an old Alexandria, away from the fancy hotels, buildings and restaurants that are now ubiquitous, starts at the Citadel of Qaitbay, a defensive fortress built by Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Qaitbay, who ruled Egypt from 1468 to 1496. With an entrance fee of a modest 10 Egyptian pounds, you can get inside the fortress and move through the narrow corridors and get a glimpse of the outside world through tiny and steely windows. You can also move upstairs and enjoy a stunning view of the Mediterranean from above, where many lovers gather. At the same complex just outside the citadel, vendors line up to sell souvenirs to tourists and kids enjoy smooth bike rides on a long corridor, while others simply relax by the sea. A few metres away, the Greek Clubs White and Blue Restaurant stands out with a wonderful view of many fishing boats decorating the sea, offering a variety of dishes and drinks and relaxing Greek music, although its prices are relatively high. On weekends, you will probably have to reserve a table in advance for a minimum charge of EGP 100 per person. For more modest prices, the same complex also hosts Al-Kal3a, another restaurant with a superb ambiance including an open air area right by the sea. Moving outside the complex back towards the corniche, a walk would be enjoyable in the older part of Alexandria. Signs of the bygones are obvious in the architecture, with old and ship-shape residential buildings lined up along the coast. The wall that separates the corniche from the sea in the Bahari district is another important feature of the good old days, given its small size which allows passersby and daydreamers an unhindered view of the sea. It stands in stark contrast to the eastern end of the corniche where high walls were erected. During the stroll in Bahari you will find Azza, one of the most famous places to offer cheap ice cream in Alexandria, as well as several humble cafes that all have in common a great view of the sea. For romance seekers who are willing to spend about 400 Egyptian pounds for an unforgettable lunch, the historic Windsor Palace hotel near Al-Raml Station would be a safe bet, with its sky roof offering a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. Another stop from the corniche side is Al-Raml Station itself, a commercial hub that includes many cafes and restaurants, from common ones like Kentucky Fried Chicken to decades-old places like pastries kings Delices, which was founded in 1922. Abul Abbas Al-Mursi Mosque Just a few steps from Azza Ice Cream and across the colourful boats on the corniche, cross the street and treat your eyes to this beautiful mosque from the 13th century dedicated to the Andalusian Sufi Saint Abul Abbas Al-Mursi, which also contains his tomb. Sea food restaurants Abul Abbas Al-Mursi is located in an area called Al-Anfoshi. This area, along with Al-Mansheya just next to it, is home to some of the best sea food restaurants in Alexandria's Bahari. On the corniche there is the famous Qadora, Hosni, and a few blocks down the road there is Arous El-Bahr. These are local restaurants where you can have loads of fresh sea food delights for relatively cheap prices, but the restaurants lack ambiance. If you are after a more glamorous setting, head to the Fish Market, right by the sea in a posh restaurants complex that includes Chicken Tikka and other restaurants. Street Markets Keep walking down the manshiyat on the corniche or delve into the side streets to enjoy the street markets. The oldest of all and the most famous is Zanqet El-Setat, where you can buy anything from handmade scarves to puppets and household stuff. Also on the corniche is Alexandria's delightful fish market mentioned in Alexandrian literature. It is home to many of Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid's scenes in No One Sleeps In Alexandria. This fish market is delightful for a walk or if you are after some fresh sea food to cook at home. Keep walking down the corniche and enjoy the sea breeze and the beautiful architecture of some of the old buildings-turned-embassies like the Swedish and French embassies. The Cecil Towards the end of this walk you will find yourself at Saad Zaghloul Square, the end of Bahari and beginning of Al-Raml district. This is home to the most famous hotel in Alexandria, the Cecil. It was recently bought by Steigenberger and they are refurbishing it. The Cecil hotel was built in 1929 by the French-Egyptian Jewish Metzger family as a romantic hotel. It still maintains a magnificent sea view. The Cecil was mentioned in Laurence Durell's Alexandria Quartet and Naguib Mahfouz's Miramar. This hotel is historic, as Winston Churchill stayed here, as well as author Somerset Maugham. The British Secret Service had a suite there for their operations. The hotel was seized by the Egyptian government after the 1952 revolution and the Metzger family was expelled from the country together with most of the Jewish community, who either fled to Europe or Israel. This left Alexandria with only traces of what was a real cosmopolitan culture where Greeks, Italians, Frenchmen, Jews, Christians and Muslims had lived and owned businesses for generations. You can still see the lovely Greek shop facades in Bahari at many of the shops, cafes and restaurants. End your walk with a drink and a Chinese dinner and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean from the Cecils rooftop restaurant. Try their prawns barbecue and steamed rice, as well as their vegetable spring rolls. A little bit away from the corniche, Fouad Street represents another landmark of a beautiful and old Alexandria. Named after the late Egyptian king, who ruled the country from 1917 to 1922, it is filled with antique shops, fancy restaurants, and most importantly the Sayed Darwish Theatre, which is now the Alexandria Opera House. It resembles a European street and offers a reminder of what was once the cosmopolitan nature of Alexandria, which used to host many expatriates decades ago. Alexandria Bahari hotels Steigenberger Cecil Hotel The four-star Steigenberger Cecil Hotel in Alexandria was built as the Cecil Hotel in 1929 by the French-Egyptian Jewish Metzger family as a romantic hotel. Address: 16, Saad Zaghloul Square, 16 El-Gaish Rd, Al Mesallah Gharb WA Sharif Basha, Qesm Al Attarin, Alexandria Governorate 21311 Phone: 03 4877173 Le Metrople Hotel Dating from 1902, this elegant hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is a two-minute walk from the Alexandria National Museums history exhibits and 2 km from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Casual rooms and refined suites are decorated with traditional European furnishings. All come with free Wi-Fi and satellite TV, and upgraded quarters add sea views. Breakfast and parking are complimentary. There are 2 sophisticated French restaurant/bars, 1 with regular live music. Address: 52 Saad Zaglol Street, Raml Station, Alexandria, El-Seifarah El-Etalia, El-Mesallah Sharq, Qesm El-Attarin, Alexandria Governorate Phone: 03 4861465 Paradise Inn Windsor Palace hotel Dating from 1906, this palatial, luxury hotel overlooks a waterfront promenade, and is a 6-minute walk from the Alexandria National Museum. It's also 2 km from the modernist Library of Alexandria. The antiques-filled rooms feature gilded walls and hand-decorated high ceilings, as well as free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Most have private balconies with Mediterranean Sea views. Upgraded rooms have living areas, while suites add stately living rooms and art from the hotel's collection. Breakfast is free and served on the rooftop terrace. A restaurant adorned with frescoes serves high-end cuisine, while a cafe and terrace offer light fare. Address: 17 El-Shohada Street Alexandria, El-Gaish Rd, Alexandria Governorate Phone: 03 4808123 Budget hotels These are basic hotels where you can find a clean bed and basic breakfast. Some rooms share a bathroom, others have an ensuite bathroom. Most of the rooms have an unbeatable sea view terrace. Union hotel Al Mesallah Gharb WA Sharif Basha, Qesm Al Attarin, Alexandria Governorate Rooms are clean and spacious, and the sea views are terrific. The hotel serves a basic breakfast of bread, butter, jam and croissant with tea or coffee, and the kitchen can make some basic sandwiches and drinks. The food is nothing special but there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and supermarkets in the area. Phone: 03 4807312 Le Crillion hotel Two buildings away from the union hotel, this beautiful hotel is characterized with the old high ceilings and beautiful European wall encriptions. There are a couple of family rooms with a private bathroom, and the rest of the rooms share bathrooms. The kitchen of the hotel provides a very nice traditional Egyptian breakfast with foul, falafel, Egyptian cheese, salads, and omelets. 5 intersection of 26th of July St. Al-Raml Station,Alexandria Phone: 03 4800330 Ramses Hotel Al Mesallah Sharq, Qesm Al-Attarin, Alexandria Governorate Phone: 03 4869620 Triomphe hotel Al Mesallah Gharb WA Sharif Basha, Qesm Al-Attarin, Alexandria Governorate Phone: 03 4807585 Hotel Acropole Al Mesallah Gharb WA Sharif Basha, Qesm Al-Attarin, Alexandria Governorate Phone: 03 4805980 Getting there Alexandria is a two-hour ride from Cairo by car, bus or train. Search Keywords: Short link: Bioethics discourse aims to change the practice of medicine and the thrust of public policy usually not for the better. As I have been noting, the field increasingly targets the right of doctors to refuse to perform an abortion, euthanize patients, or perform other procedures or issue prescriptions that violate their religious beliefs. Recently I discussed a consensus statement on this issue in Practical Ethics, published by Oxford. Now, two internationally influential bioethicists Jualian Savulescu and Udo Schuklenk join forces to advocate that society legally coerce doctors to kill. First, they deconstruct medical professionalism itself by reducing the practice of medicine to the status of mere technocratic order-taking. From Doctors Have No Right to Refuse Medical Assistance in Dying, Abortion or Contraception: It is clear that the scope of professional practice is ultimately determined by society, and that it is bound to evolve over time. That is true not only for the question of what kinds of services must be provided, it is also true for conscientious objection itself Note that the bioethicists state that a service must be provided. They use contraception as their primary example, but as the title demonstrates, they dont differentiate between preventing new life from being conceived and active life-taking actions in the medical context: If a service a doctor is requested to perform is a medical practice, is legal, consistent with distributive justice, requested by the patient or their appointed surrogate, and is plausibly in their interests, the doctor must ensure the patient has access to it. It is then irrelevant how defensible the doctors own moral take on the patients actions is. Please understand that the bioethicists advocate elevating life-taking practices (where legal) such as euthanasia from what I call mere legality, meaning it can be done if a doctor is willing, into a positive right meaning the doctor must do it. Hence, since the patient has a right to be killed, society and the medical profession have the duty to coerce all doctors into participating in a medical culture of death. Ironically, the bioethicists actually concede that such actions are not really practicing medicine, properly understood: [T]here is no reason why only doctors could competently provide, for example, contraception, abortion, or assisted dying services. Would anyone assert that a non-doctor should be able to diagnose cancer or perform an appendectomy? This is a Jack Kevorkian meme. He wanted what he called lay executioners to operate out of euthanasia clinics. In California, to make sure no woman is ever delayed from having her fetus killed, certified nurse practitioners can already perform terminations. The ultimate goal is to keep all pro-life, Hippocratic Oath-respecting, orthodox Catholic or otherwise traditionally religious believers out of the practices of medicine (and, I would add, nursing too): If you dont believe contraception or sterilisation [or abortion and euthanasia] are part of the modern practice of medicine, dont become a GP Even if there were a strong calling to medicine or to a particular field within medicine, people are still free to decline the call and do something else with their lives. If they were not free to make that choice, due to the strength of the call, it is questionable that their decision to join the medical profession was truly an autonomous choice in the first place. This is a proposed tyranny. If these bioethicists views prevail, in order to become an MD, you will have to be willing to kill. That would be the end of medicine as a true profession. For anyone interested in my views about how a proper medical conscience protection law could be framed, see here. Photo credit: Zsolt Bota Finna stock.adobe.com. Cross-posted at The Corner. From: Jack Marshall -- ProEthics, Ltd. For Immediate Release: Dateline: Alexandria , VA Saturday, September 24, 2016 I am often disappointed in the volume and balance of comments on particular posts here. Yesterday, I was waiting for someone to defend the extreme reaction to Glenn Reynolds unseemly tweet regarding the Charlotte riots, and was especially interested in hearing arguments why Mariners catcher Steve Clevengers blunt tweets were racist as so many headlines were calling them. Admittedly, I was waiting for such arguments because it would be so easy and fun to reduce them to rubble, but still: where are the people who want to stifle speech and opinion, and who believe that criticizing violent rioters and Black Lives Matter should be punished so severely? Clevenger has been docked about $28,000 for expressing an opinion on Twitter, and sportswriters, who get paid to opine, often cretinously, on the web every day, are cheering. I know defenders of speech and opinion suppression are out there, but they are mute, rationalizing, I think, that they are right but those brutes on Ethics Alarms are too primitive to understand. At least many of the comments that the posts have spawned are of high quality and extremely thoughtful. This is the second Comment of the Day inspired by them, by Chris Bentley: I was thinking about a particular topic as I drove home from work today, about why people, mostly people on the left, justify and rationalize the behavior of looters during riots. After reading Jacks initial post regarding Instapundit, I went to read the linked Reason.com article, and then checked out the comments section. One person, with the screen name Krabapple, made the following comment: Yeah sorry I cant take seriously moderation from a company that allows the hashtag #killallwhitepeople but not this. This sentiment ties in with the thoughts stirring around in my head as I drove: Why isnt behavior like that, hashtagging a desire for white people to die, called out for the despicable behavior that it is? Aside from the obvious (and maddeningly stupid) idea that white people cannot be racially discriminated against because of privilege (which brings up a whole nother set of issues), I believe it is because people who agree with this hashtag, or similar ones, are either 1) too ignorant/uneducated to understand how illogical and unethical double standards like this are; or, 2) educated, but have lowered the standards of acceptable conduct for certain groups of people. I understand how bias mixed with ignorance has blinded the first group into rationalizing away their behavior; I dont understand why people in the second group cant see that their behavior is deeply racist. A similar argument is made by Derrick Green, of Project 21, in a video I came across on Youtube some months ago. One of the points he made, in a rebuttal to the accusation that voter ID laws were racist was, to put it simply, Why are white people expected to be able to acquire IDs but blacks cant? Its a point also perfectly encapsulated by Michael Gerson with the simple quote, the soft bigotry of low expectations, a quote that I feel doesnt get NEARLY enough traction as it deserves. When trying to identify whether or not Im embracing lowered standards in a particular group (as a PE teacher, Im constantly adjusting the difficulty levels of activities, and at times, recognizing that I have expectations that are too high/low for a certain age group) I ask myself, would I expect class B to be able to accomplish this task? And depending on the answer, I adjust. Simple enough. When trying to identify this in adult behavior though, I use myself and/or fictional adult children that I may have someday as the guide: Would I accept this behavior from myself and/or teenage/adult children of mine? In the end, the only people whose behavior I have some level of control over, and whom I can punish for failing to live up to expectations, are myself, and my (fictional, future) children. (When I picture them, theyre usually riding around on jet packs, seeing as how theyre in the future and all) When I see someone speed, I ask myself, Would I accept that behavior out of myself? What about my kids? I would accept speeding out of myself, but not necessarily out of my kids. However, getting into a fight with peers when provoked passed an acceptable limit is something I might accept more from my kids than I would from myself, as I expect a higher level of self-control with myself (which doesnt make it right, and I would still make sure my kids knew that, and had a very serious talk with them, etc.). So, the point is, the level to which I will justify, excuse, tolerate, or enable the behavior in a 3rd party is usually the high point of bad behavior that I would accept from myself and/or my kids. Golden Rule and all. So when I see educated, logical, reasonable, equality-minded adults, rationalizing other grown adults bad behavior (looting stores in the midst of a protest/riot), I continuously think to myself, Yes, the issue (killing of a black man at the hands of police, regardless of whether it was justified or not) that set this off can touch off already-frayed emotions; I get that. However, why do you (presumably) have standards for behavior for yourself, or your kids, standards that you look for in the general public all around you every day, that you dont hold these looters to? And I truly believe it is rooted in a subtle racism. The thought that those people cant be expected to behave in the way that I would, but its ok.I dont expect them to. Because theyre mad. I know I get mad, and when I do, I channel my anger in non-destructive ways, but, againI dont have that same expectation of maturity for those people. But I do want to shield them from scrutiny, because I see them as oppressed, and want to protect the oppressed, so I will lash out at those who point out the obvious wrongness of their action, but dont understand the motivation. But I would still never act in such as way. And I would be mortified if my child did. Now, I know a lot of the preceding was built upon assumption, and straw-manning, but I would welcome others, anyone, especially those inclined to defend the behavior of the looters, to please explain to me how having lowered expectations for a groups of adult, capable people, engaging in obviously illegal actions, in spite of their being angry/upset/frustrated/mad, is not inherently racist.if you wouldnt act in such a way yourself when similarly provoked. Because, as a black man, for the life of me, I cannot look at this looting, this stomping on cars, this stopping traffic, and think anything other than THIS is why there are people out there who still think so little of us. Because too many of use live down to that lowered expectation. Share this: From: Jack Marshall -- ProEthics, Ltd. For Immediate Release: Dateline: Alexandria , VA Saturday, September 24, 2016 From Politico. President Barack Obama used a pseudonym in email communications with Hillary Clinton and others, according to FBI records made public Friday. The disclosure came as the FBI released its second batch of documents from its investigation into Clintons private email server during her tenure as secretary of state.The 189 pages the bureau released includes interviews with some of Clintons closest aides, such as Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills; senior State Department officialsIn 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 senders 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 presidents use of a pseudonym and asked if she could have a copy of the email. If Obama only used the pseudonym to communicate with Hillary, it would strongly suggest that he knew she was using an insecure private server all along, and that he tacitly approved it. Obama denied that last year, when he told CBS News that he learned about the home-brewed server from newspaper reports. It would mean that he lied, and would indicate that Obama was a full and knowing participant in Clintons efforts to hide her communications from scrutiny by Congress and public FOIA requests. I chose Politico because it is a left-leaning political website and because its story, which is virtually word for word the same as similar reports on conservative sites like those of the Washington Times and and The Hill , includes the intriguing words and others that the conservative sites mysteriously omit. Politicos and others suggests that Obama may have used nom de plumes for some other reason. All rightwhat others? What reasons? Politico doesnt say. Did the conservative sources leave out that detail to make Obama look bad? Did Politico put it in to protect him from public suspicion? We dont know, because no liberal-leaning, mainstream media source has yet relayed this new finding arising from the latest Friday afternoon document dump. Surely this is news that the public has the right to know. Why hasnt it been widely reported on, especially the part where Hillarys own top aide asked, How is this not classified?' If you are a Hillary Clinton supporter, are you really comfortable with the fact that journalists are hiding and manipulating the news to avoid showing the full dishonesty and corruption of your candidate, as well as the complicity of Barack Obama in allowing this misconduct by his Secretary of State? If you are comfortable, whats the hells the matter with you? Im not comfortable with a lot in this matter. Im not comfortable that I can trust neither the conservative media to give the facts straight, nor the liberal media not to bury stories that reflect poorly on their political darlings. Im not comfortable that the President of the United States may have been part of a conspiracy to avoid transparency by his Secretary of State; you ll recall that Josh Earnest demanded that reporters give Obama the credit due him for delivering on his transparency pledge, one of the most gutsy endorsements of Orwellian reality in US history. Im not comfortable that like my fellow Americans, there is literally nobody I can trust to tell me the truth, and I am especially uncomfortable that so many of my fellow Americans are so hollowed out of courage, integrity, intelligence and principle that they dont give a damn. Share this: "But there's a lot of yoghurt already on the market there, it's a very competitive market and there's a lot trying to get into the top end," he said. "We are asked the Goodings if they were interested in selling him but at that stage they weren't, so we thought we'd go up to their sale and see what else they had," Mr Pickering said. Flanked by the farm's stock manager Wayne Girando, Mr Wright said he was on the hunt for superior genetics to introduce to the farm's current flock and the top-priced ram was exactly the type of ram he set out to purchase. The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you We witness the rise of a new absolute power. Google transfers its radical politics from cyberspace to reality. It will earn its money by knowing, manipulating, controlling the reality and cutting it into the tiniest pieces. As if interests of his business stand for the entire Web and Internet: Googles Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt Bild: AP Recall those fabled frogs happy in the magic pond. Playful. Distracted. The water temperature slowly rises, but the frogs dont notice. By the time it reaches the boiling point, its too late to leap to safety. We are as frogs in the digital waters, and Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner has just become our frog town crier. Mr. Dopfners Why We Fear Google ( a response to Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidts open letter, A Chance for Growth) warns of danger on the move: The temperatures are rising fast. If his cry of alarm scares you, thats good. Why? (Autorisierte deutsche Fassung: Die Google-Gefahr - Schurfrechte am Leben von Shoshana Zuboff) First, because there is a dawning awareness that Google is forging a new kingdom on the strength of a different kind of power ubiquitous, hidden, and unaccountable. If successful, the dominion of this kingdom will exceed anything the world has known. The water is close to boiling, because Google understands this statement more profoundly than we do. Second, because accessing the Web and the wider Internet have become essential for effective social participation across much of the world. A BBC poll conducted in 2010 found that 79% of people in 26 countries considered access to the Internet to be a fundamental human right. We rely on Googles tools as we search, learn, connect, communicate, and transact. The chilling irony is that weve become dependent on the Internet to enhance our lives, but the very tools we use there threaten to remake society in ways that we do not understand and have not chosen. Something new and dangerous If there is a single word to describe Google, it is absolute. The Britannica defines absolutism as a system in which the ruling power is not subject to regularized challenge or check by any other agency. In ordinary affairs, absolutism is a moral attitude in which values and principles are regarded as unchallengeable and universal. There is no relativism, context-dependence, or openness to change. Six years ago I asked Eric Schmidt what corporate innovations Google was putting in place to ensure that its interests were aligned with its end users. Would it betray their trust? Back then his answer stunned me. He and Googles founders control the super-voting class B stock. This allows them, he explained, to make decisions without regard to short-term pressure from Wall Street. Of course, it also insulates them from every other kind of influence. There was no wrestling with the creation of an inclusive, trustworthy, and transparent governance system. There was no struggle to institutionalize scrutiny and feedback. Instead Schmidts answer was the quintessence of absolutism: trust me; I know best. At that moment I knew I was in the presence of something new and dangerous whose effects reached beyond narrow economic contests and into the heart of everyday life. Google kills Innovation Mr. Schmidts open letter to Europe shows evidence of such absolutism. Democratic oversight is characterized as heavy-handed regulation. The Internet, Web, and Google are referenced interchangeably, as if Goggles interests stand for the entire Web and Internet. Thats a magicians sleight of hand intended to distract from the real issue. Googles absolutist pursuit of its interests is now regarded by many as responsible for the Webs fading prospects as an open information platform in which participants can agree on rules, rights, and choice. While the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie divorce news hasn't done shocking the world yet, another report might augment that agony among the fans all over the world. It is learned that, Angelina Jolie has decided to quite a movie to avoid Brad Pitt, in which they were working together. The celebrated Hollywood couple, who earlier have worked together on movies like Mr & Mrs Smith and By The Sea, were reportedly working together on a film named Africa. But now Angelina, who was directing the movie, has decided to step down in order to avoid Brad Pitt. "This movie has been a nightmare to get off the ground from the beginning. Until the last few weeks, Angelina was resolute in her intent to get it made, but now she doesn't want to direct it at all," a source revealed. "Brad Pitt was still interested in acting in the movie - for him it was 'Seven Years in Tibet' set in Africa and he wasn't ready to give up on it. But Angelina now doesn't want to have any kind of relationship with him, personal or professional." The source added further The reports claims that Jolie has decided to quit the project, after Brad Pitt makes a desperate call to Angelina Jolie and begged her to let him meet with the children. Nivin Pauly, the crowd-puller of M'town is teaming up with Premam fame Althaf, for his directorial debut. The movie, which started rolling today, has been titled as Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela. Earlier, it was reported that the movie is titled Njangalude Kadha, but the team brushed off the reports and revealed the actual title later. The project is expected to be released for Christmas 2016. Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela also marks Nivin Pauly's second venture, as a producer. The actor, who made his production debut with Action Hero Biju, produces the movie under his home banner Pauly Jr. Pictures. Ahaana Krishna essays the female lead opposite Nivin Pauly in the movie. The actress, who made her movie debut with Rajeev Ravi's Njan Steve Lopez, is sharing the screen with Nivin for the first time in her career. The team is yet to announce the rest of the star cast and technical crew of the project officially. Reportedly, the team has roped in the main actors and technicians of Premam for the project. Nivin Pauly will join the sets of Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela after completing the filming of his upcoming Tamil project. The actor's next release will be the untitled project, which is directed by Sidhartha Siva. MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/25/16 -- Beginning today, Airports Council International (ACI) hosts some 2,000 delegates from all over the world at its annual conference, taking place at Montreal's Palais des congres, and which, exceptionally, is being held the same week as the 39th triennial Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The official opening of the ACI Conference will be attended by the Director General of ACI World, Angela Gittens; the President and CEO of ACI-North America, Kevin Burke; the Mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre; and the Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Martin Coiteux. Taking advantage of this unique forum, the President and CEO of Aeroports de Montreal, James Cherry, will launch the inaugural edition of Montreal Civil Aviation Week, which aims to underscore the presence in the city of these major international organizations and their impact on the economy of the Greater Montreal Region. Of note during the ACI World Conference, four themed sessions addressing current challenges faced by airports: -- The emergence of airports as venues for showcasing cultures and communities to travellers; -- Crisis management in the era of the citizen journalist/passenger; -- ICAO and why it matters to the world's airports; -- The impact of the digital technology revolution. Montreal Civil Aviation Week 2016 takes place from September 26 to October 3, and will feature two events open to the public: -- Lunchtime Conference with James Cherry, President and CEO of Aeroports de Montreal: a company and facilities in continuous transformation; -- Talks, an exhibition and "Dragon's Den"-type competitions with teams of aerospace students, organized by Aero Montreal, Saturday, October 1, at Ecole de Technologie Superieure; -- The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal "International Leader" lecture with Bertrand Piccard, pilot of the record-setting Solar Impulse plane, Monday, October 3, at the Salle Pierre-Mercure of Centre Pierre- Peladeau. What: Opening of the ACI World and ACI-NA Conference Launch of Montreal Civil Aviation Week 2016 Who: James Cherry, President and CEO, ADM Angela Gittens, Director General, ACI World Kevin Burke, President and CEO, ACI-NA Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy and Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region When: Monday, September 26, 2016, 10 a.m. Where: ADM check-in table, 1st floor Palais des congres de Montreal 1001 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle Room 517 BC For more information: http://annual.aci-na.org/ http://www.semainedelaviationcivilemontreal.com/en Contacts: Christiane Beaulieu Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications 514 394-7304 Sanjay Leela Bhansalis forthcoming project Padmavati has been beset by troubles. The film is about Rani Padmini (or Padmavati) of Mewar, an icon of Rajastan (from the 14th century), the two men in her life her husband Rana Ratan Singh and Sultan Alauddin Khilji, who learned about the queens beauty and began coveting her. The only thing certain about the film hitherto appears to be that Deepika Padukone will play Padmini. Since there are two men in the queens life, their rivalry finds reflection within Bollywood in male stars being unwilling to share the spotlight (Ranveer Singh-Shahid Kapoor). Deepika may also be unprepared to share billing with two male actors unless both measure up; a second line actor cannot obviously be paired off with her as one of men in the Ranis life. If these factors are leaving director Bhansali sleepless, Hardik Patel of the Patel Navnirman Sena has also warned him of the need to be historically accurate if his film is to be released in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Now historical accuracy does not only mean painstaking and reliable research; each historical character has a ready constituency (Maratha, Rajput, etc) which insists that he/she should fit its conception of his/her role in history. All these factors tell us that there is more to making a historical film in India than one might have supposed. History is evidently not what has happened but is, arguably, a contested site and not only for Bollywood. It is a space in which different ideologies battle it out, and nothing makes this clearer than the efforts of the Hindu right wing to rewrite history and give it a Hindutva slant, which is not to say that there was not already an existing bias. When India became independent, the Congress, which propagated the ideals of secularism and religious tolerance (partly because of the horrors of Partition), chose appropriate icons like the emperors Akbar and Ashoka to help Indians take pride in their past, and these icons were endowed with politically desirable qualities. While Akbar became synonymous with Hindu-Muslim amity, Ashokas Kalinga War became a key moment in Indian history for schoolchildren; the reigns of the two emperors thus became celebrated as golden ages. It did not matter that not enough was known about Emperor Ashoka, a king long forgotten but discovered afresh in the 19th century only through his edicts. Also, local Hindus and Muslims were both kept at a distance by Akbar, whose court was dominated by people from his ancestral home in (present day) Uzbekistan. Religious identity was evidently not as important under Akbar as it has become today; Mahmud of Ghazni was known to loot both temples and mosques. It may therefore be surmised that national history is actually a later-day construct used to infuse a demarcated space with cultural continuity. Its purpose is to retrospectively posit a nation which comes into political existence only much later. Mohenjo Daro is taught as part of Indian history but it is, equally, part of the Pakistani past. Bollywood has rarely been inspired by Indian history and historical films like Mughal-e-Azam (1960) are essentially costume dramas with love as the central motif. The story of Prince Salim and Anarkali was apparently a work of fiction but it has made it to legend and then to cinema. Films set in the British era (1942: A Love Story, Lagaan) are patriotic more than historical films. A factor linking all these films and taking them away from being explorations of history is that they focus on personal matters (usually love and individual valour) without attention to the political background in each story, different from a film like Satyajit Rays Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977) in which British plotting is the more important issue. The spate of historical films beginning with Ashutosh Gowarikers Jodha Akbar (2008) are not different from the older Bollywood films except that they also take advantage of digital technology, without which much of the historical spectacle in world cinema today would be impossible. These films of the past decade are not historical as I defined the term, i.e. they are not conscious explorations of political forces at work, but that does not mean that the films cannot be read pertinently in todays political context. Jodha Akbar was made by a director with mildly nationalist leanings judging from Lagaan (2001) and Swadesh (2004). Jodha Akbar is about a celebrated Muslim ruler in Hindustan who makes a marriage of convenience with a Hindu princess and eventually wins her love. The message here is the unification of India through love and tolerance rather than war; this may be interpreted as secular-nationalist discourse in the Congress mode. Akbar cannot be presented in any other way today so deeply is the image (created by Nehruvian education) implanted in us. The nation is the principal preoccupation of mainstream Hindi cinema and this holds good for historical films before 1947 as well. Humayun (1945) and Shahjehan (1946) affirm the Muslims place in India; the films were apparently anticipating Partition which the directors (Mehboob Khan and Abdul Rashid Kardar) regarded with dread. Less apparent is the preoccupation of most historical films set in medieval India with the Hindu-Muslim question, and this is true of Bhansalis Bajirao Mastani (2015) as well. Historical films cannot do without depicting war because that offers the greatest potential for spectacle. But since the nation is implicated in every historical film (usually as Hindustan), the foreign also needs to be suggested; a war between two Hindu kingdoms may not suggest this. If we recollect the war between Mahishmati and the Kalakeyas in Baahubali (2015), the Kalakeyas spoke foreign gibberish, their leader had eyes of two different colours like David Headleys and their flag was black like that of the ISIL. Most Hindi historical films about medieval India therefore suggest the foreign through the Muslim ruler still to be assimilated and Jodha Akbar is about this assimilation. Bhansalis Bajirao Mastani perhaps represents a new phase in the discourse around the historical film with a Hindu king going to the assistance of another against a Muslim enemy. This is also a more stridently nationalist work with Bhansalis customary ostentation turning the Pune court into something from Zhang Yimous Hero (2002), also a nationalist tract about the first Chinese emperor. Baahubali and Bajirao Mastani have another thing in common apart from digitally created ostentation and this is that both films are about the ascension of a capable person to the status of unquestioned leader. It is not accidental that the motif of the glorious heritage (assisted by digital animation) and the motivated leader should appear after 2014 and it touches the right chords in the Modi era. Mohenjo Daro is perhaps a more sincere recreation of the past than Bajirao Mastani although it is a more uncertain past. Very little is known about the Indus Valley Civilisation except that its decline commenced around 2000 BC (Gowariker sets the story in 2016 BC to have Jesus birth bisect the interval between that year and the present). The part played by flooding in the end of Mohenjo Daro is also conjecture. Gowarikers Mohenjo Daro was apparently a colossal flop but it may, paradoxically, be the films authenticity which is responsible for this. The proposition here is that Hindi film audiences may not want to see any spectacle but only spectacle associated with India, and a recognisable India from the imagery they are familiar with. They might not, for instance, want to be privy to the goings on in ancient Egypt or Babylon. The problem with the actual Mohenjo Daro is that few images have been made about it for public consumption; whatever little is known suggests that it would be visually unrecognisable to Indians as their own past. The Hindu right-wing might celebrate it since it would be pre-Aryan and Aryan invaders are difficult to accommodate alongside the theory that the Hindu tradition originated in India. But that is too much in the realm of ideology for it to catch the imagination of audiences. What a Hindi historical film needs to do today to be commercially successful is not to be authentic but to serve up a vision of India recognisable from popular belief, with the visual stimuli directed thus. With the Hindi historical film being understood as the public in a growing economy inventing, in visual terms, a glorious past for themselves, what does one make of the protests around the blockbusters? Why was there a protest against Jodha Akbar when there was no protest against Mughal-e-Azam? Gowarikers Mohenjo Daro seems to have departed quietly because the descendants of the original inhabitants of Mohenjo Daro are not identifiable, but there are Rajputs, Marathas or others taking issue with the authenticity of every other film since they see themselves as of the same clans or groups as those depicted. My own proposition is that even as the middle-classes construct a splendid past for the nation, the nation-state itself has weakened; its authority is increasingly ceded to local groups. How the past should be portrayed cannot be a decision usurped by arbitrary private interests, but the state is unable to enforce the clearances of the instituted Censor Board. Local communities gaining in strength is at the expense of nationhood, and this has another manifestation in the khaps enforcing their own justice rather than submit to constitutional law. We are, in effect, constructing a great past for our nation when the sense of nationhood is itself under threat. Digital technology can fabricate a spectacular past for us but it cannot create nationhood. MK Raghavendra is a Swarna Kamal winning film scholar and author of The Oxford India Short Introduction to Bollywood (2016) Few Indian stars can do ludicrousness quite like Dileep. The Malayalam film actor is in full flow in director Sundardass Welcome to Central Jail in which he plays a habitual prison-goer constantly seeking excuses to get himself arrested. Weird? You see, he feels at home behind bars since his parents died in custody, and he finds himself bereft of love in the outside world. Then one day he falls for local photographer Radhika (Vedhika) and in her, finds a reason to value freedom. A murder follows, leading to a second half in which comedy shares equal space with suspense, corrupt politicians, policemen who are on their payrolls and extreme bloodshed. Alls well as long as Dileeps Unnikuttan indulges in inoffensive, over-the-top antics. After all, everything about his character is unapologetically caricaturish and crying out not to be taken seriously. Fair enough. I giggled each time Unnikuttan refers to the jail as his tharavadu (ancestral home). There are plenty of laughs to also be had from the banter between the hero and a prison superintendent played by Renji Panicker, an inmate played by Hareesh Perumanna and a friend played by Aju Varghese. These portions work on the strength of the actors comic timing, energy levels and some well-thought-out silliness. Sadly, though not surprisingly, cliched juvenility, sexism and squirm-worthiness too are par for the course in Welcome to Central Jail. In one scene a mans wig is accidentally lopped off in public and ice creams fly around. Yawn. There are bawdy references to female breasts, Unnikuttan describes a policewomans bottom in detail and as an afterthought makes a wisecrack about her male colleagues rear. Cringe. But when a dwarf falls into a food container, you have to wonder how low-IQ and insensitive a viewer must be to find humour in a disability. It gets worse. Writer Benny P Nayarambalam couches rape jokes in concern. There is a pointed conversation between Unnikuttan and two cops one of the few sober exchanges initiated by the protagonist in which he expresses his revulsion for rapists and a belief that imprisonment is a kindness to them. Yet, other mentions of rape are made in a deliberately comical tone. Guess Team Central Jail knows their audience. You should have heard the sniggers in the hall where I watched the film, when a character casually tells Unnikuttan to next time make arrangements for a longer prison sentence with a rape or murder charge. I could tell you more about Welcome to Central Jail. I could tell you that Dileeps dance moves to the films title track part of a stage show by the prisoners are hilarious. I could discuss the amusing contrast between his gawkiness and Vedhikas lissome grace as they groove to the song 'Sundaree'. I could reveal that Welcome to Central Jail lifts from the Pink Panther theme for the background music to a break-in scene. I could critique the gruesome violence in two long-drawn-out scenes that come as a shock in the middle of a UA-rated comedy. Or I could say what I really want to say. And what I really want to say is that I am tired of stars who sacrifice not just intelligence but decency and humanity too while wooing the lowest common denominator in the audience for box-office success. Absurdity is acceptable as fun, but not when it descends to callousness. New Delhi: The CBI has taken over the probe into the murder of Hanif Kadawala, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case who gave an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt, and registered a case against gangster Chhota Rajan and his accomplices in this regard. "The agency has taken over the probe into the Kadawala's murder," CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said. Sources said the investigating agency took over probe after a reference from the Maharashtra government in this regard. As per norms, the agency starts its probe from the FIR registered by the state police. They said a case has been registered against Chhota Rajan, his gang member Guru Satam and others under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act in connection with the Kadawala's murder. Kadawala, who transported weapons to Mumbai (then Bombay) on the instructions of Tiger Menon which were used in the 1993 serial blasts, was killed on 7 February, 2001 in his office by three men. Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan after the 12 blasts that had left 257 dead and more than 700 injured. Rajan, once considered a henchman of Dawood, parted ways with him after the blasts. It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hidden the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutt's house. The actor had, however, denied any knowledge of conspiracy of blasts and was acquitted of charges under TADA in the case. The actor was convicted under the Arms Act. Kadawala was arrested on 16 April, 1993 under TADA for being part of the conspiracy and transporting weapons from Gujarat coast to Mumbai but was released on bail five years later. In 2001, it was alleged that a person introducing himself as Yusuf repeatedly sought an appointment with Kadawala regarding a deal. On 7 February, 2001, three people allegedly entered his office at Bandra (West) in Mumbai where two of his employees were also present. After a brief discussion, Kadawala was allegedly shot with a .32 revolver. He was severely injured and rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The sources said the agency has also initiated a probe into the murder of hotelier Jaya Shetty who was on 4 May, 2001 killed allegedly by the members of Chhota Rajan's gang. Shetty was the owner of Golden Crown hotel in South Mumbai. They said a case under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, murder, and provisions of the Arms Act has been registered against Rajan, notorious criminal Hemant Pujari, Ajay Mohite, Sameer Manik among others. Manik was acquitted in the case by the Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in 2008. However, three other gang members -- Ajay Mohite, Pramod Dhonde, and Rahul Pansare -- were convicted by the court in connection with Shetty's murder. Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on 25 October last year and deported to India. He is an accused in around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the 2011 J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all these cases to CBI. Karnataka is defying the Supreme Courts order by not releasing the required 3,000 cusecs of water from the Cauvery to Tamil Nadu. It has, in a sense, already begun that process after the all-party meeting, boycotted by the BJP, by deferring release of the water from 21 September. Why is Karnataka initiating a confrontation between the legislature and the judiciary? Firstpost asked BV Acharya, senior advocate, as to what are the issues relating to the Supreme Court order that has led to a situation fast deteriorating into a crisis. Acharya was also the special public prosecutor in the Supreme Court appointed trial of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram in the disproportionate assets case. He speaks to Imran Qureshi in his capacity as a senior advocate, former advocate general and a former member of the Law Commission of India. A number of questions have been raised about the latest verdict of the Supreme Court in Karnataka. What, in your opinion, are the inconsistencies in the order? First and foremost when the application of the Tamil Nadu government is for the release of water for the present, the Supreme Court went on passing orders on 5, 12 and 19 September. The most damaging part of the latest order that it is illegal, unwarranted and uncalled for, is the direction that the Centre shall appoint the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) within four weeks from today and then saying produce gazette copy of the notification and thereafter we will go on giving directions. This part of the order by the two-judge bench is without jurisdiction. In the first place, there was no application from anybody nor was there any argument advanced by anyone with regard to the CMB. Suddenly, the order is passed totally ignoring the fact that Tamil Nadu had last year filed an interlocutory application (IA-7) praying for the Central government to constitute the CMB with a three-judge bench presided over by Justice RM Lodha. The bench had directed that this IA shall also be heard along with the main SLP (special leave petition) which is now posted for hearing on 18 October. When this is the position, a two-judge bench has no right to overrule a three-judge bench or to ignore it. Therefore, this sort of an order without anybody asking for it, without anyone advancing an argument for it or without giving Karnataka an opportunity to point out that it cannot be done because there is an earlier decision of the court, baffles anybody as to why the two-judge bench should go to that extent. Just as a clarification, this bench which is going to hear the main SLPs is a three-judge bench? Certainly. There is a specific direction that the main SLPs shall be heard by a three-judge bench. So, how a two-judge bench can arrogate to itself the power that a three-judge bench alone has without anyone even asking for it is a surprise. Therefore, to do justice the bench should recall its order. I believe that Karnataka should immediately file an IA before the two-judge bench requesting it to recall its order because it was passed without anyone asking for it and passed without knowledge that such an order existed. Certainly, they were unaware of it or they wouldnt have passed it. What are the options before the aggrieved party when the court passes orders which cannot be implemented as Karnataka is pleading, particularly when the technical panel or the supervisory committee had said that only 3,000 cusecs of water need to be released? Let me, first, briefly explain the irregularities in the entire procedure. When Tamil Nadu filed its application for release of water, the first objection Karnataka government had raised was that for the very purpose of resolving such disputes, the Supreme Court had constituted the supervisory committee in 2013. The judges, rightly so, directed Tamil Nadu to go before the supervisory committee within three days. Its an expert committee which has all the data and representatives of all the (riparian) states, including the Centre. Once having asked Tamil Nadu to go before the committee, it is highly improper on the part of the Supreme Court to give an interim order to Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water without having any basis and merely on the basis of arguments. Karnataka sought modification of the order as legally permissible but as if they were favouring the state, they reduced 15,000 cusecs to 12,000 cusecs but extended the number of days the water should be released. The result is that for having approached the Supreme Court, Karnataka got a worse order. The second and third mistake they have done is that when the supervisory committee considered everything and stated in its order that 3,000 cusecs should be reduced, the court said release 6,000 cusecs. In the entire order, there is not even a sentence as to why they are increasing the quantum from 3,000 cusecs to 6,000 cusecs. It is also conceded by both sides that Tamil Nadu has a storage of 50 TMC feet of water at Mettur for irrigation. This water is not for immediate release. Whereas in the case of Karnataka, it has 22 or 26 TMC feet of water preserved for drinking water needs of the state that too for a short time. When this is the situation, this order is highly inequitable. It is accepted that drinking water is the most important thing. Supposing I have collected one bucket of water for drinking water purposes for the next one week. Can you say that your neighbour needs water for his coconut tree, so give it? Is it equitable? In the wake of the decision of Karnataka to defer release of water, do you think the state is committing contempt of the apex court? No. For various reasons, it does not amount to contempt. In the first place, the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction at all under Article 262 to pass such orders in relation to a water dispute. Secondly, when the Supreme Court directed the supervisory committee to deal with the situation and also directed Tamil Nadu to go there. It is a void order. It cannot say water collected for drinking water purposes be supplied to fulfill irrigation needs of the neighbouring state. It is a void order without jurisdiction. Apart from all that, it's an order almost incapable of implementation in a sense that the state government cannot say that it does not matter if our people die for want of drinking water but we will supply water to the next state for irrigation. It will not amount to willful disobedience or an order and therefore it will not be contempt. The latest move to seek the seal of approval from the Karnataka legislature is bound to lead to a confrontation. What is your opinion on this aspect? Supposing a resolution is passed not to release water, there will be a clear conflict between the legislature and the judiciary. The resolution will put the state government in a fix because both are constitutional bodies which have given contradictory instructions. Whoever it follows, it will be disobeying one of them. Therefore, the state government can keep quiet and say I will not be able to decide, so I have not committed contempt. Yes, it does lead to confrontation. What is the choice the state government when it is asked to implement an order that is void or unimplementable? In the high court, it is possible to appeal to a division bench or even go to the Supreme Court. But, in the Supreme Court, there is no such provision. From a two-judge to a three-judge bench it all depends on the reference and the prerogative of the Chief Justice of India. I can only request this bench to refer it to a three-judge bench and they can refuse. They have that right. In the great cosmopolitan NCR, certain people find their 'total freedom' to be themselves. The result is quite sad. In the first week of September, an 11-month-old baby was raped for two hours in Delhi and then abandoned in bushes by one such 'freedom seeker'. In the third week, two women were stabbed to death by their stalkers in two separate incidents. Delhi has long been called the 'rape' capital. There cannot be a 'rape' capital without it being the 'pervert' capital. Theres something about the NCR that makes it very attractive for perverts and sexual offenders from all over to consider it their 'ideal' place. They feel at home here like nowhere else. Should we be concerned about Delhi? Not really. We should be concerned about protecting children, elderly and women from Delhi. The latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data is important for every Indian citizen who wants to live in an area safe for women, children and older people to make informed choices about where to live and thrive. The NCRB data can be misused if one uses total number of crimes, since places will have a larger number of crimes just due to a bigger population. What matters is the crime rate, which is, total number of crimes in comparison to its population. All the data points to one fact there is something seriously wrong about Delhi. The above incidents arent cherry-picked for shock value to defame Delhi with regards to crimes against women. On this count, Delhi is already infamous enough. There is another reason why the national capital is notorious for as the most polluted city in the world. In this Firstpost article, Sandipan Sharma wrote about the writer who had left Delhi to save his children from pollution. This most polluted city in the world impairs the lung functions of half of its children. Pollution isnt only danger due to which many concerned parents have left Delhi. The parents I met chose other cities over Delhi when their girl child was born or were looking to move out. Living in a cosmopolitan style is now a secondary option to many than the safety of their near and dear ones, especially the girl child. The NCRB data shows that in 2015, there were 927 incidents of child rapes reported in Delhi. Thats three children being raped per day! It states that in 20 percent of the cases of reported child rape, the perpetrators are children themselves. Now, even Delhis children are not safe around Delhis children. Such is the effect of Delhi on children; the city turns them into perpetrators and makes them victims at rates unheard of elsewhere. Rapes of children in Delhi are not committed from strangers. In 97 percent of the cases, its people known to them, says Delhi police data. About 22 percent of the victims are aged below seven years and 38 percent of the victims fall between ages 7 and 12 years. Thus a child in Delhi isnt safe at home or anywhere. If this isnt sick enough, police and child rights activists say that the actual number is much higher. There is evidence that the NCR-Delhi region under-reports rapes more than any other state. Thus, these numbers are a good estimate of Delhis shameful top spot. Apart from child rapes, Delhi has been on top among all states and union territories with 37 kidnapping and abduction cases per 1,00,000 in 2015. Thats about 29 kidnappings per day. In 60 percent of these abductions, the targets are children. Delhi had 7,730 abductions in 2015, more than each of large states like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. Delhi for some is apparently the place for opportunities. Among the opportunities Delhi provides is also the opportunity for sex offenders and child abductors to commit their crimes at unbelievable rates. In short, parents who care about their children not being raped or abducted might want to think of the childs interest when choosing where to live and make their career in this huge subcontinent filled with places where children are much safer rather than selfishly exposing minors to constant threat from surroundings. A parent who left Delhi to ensure his childrens well-being wrote, Some feel it is unethical for those who have a choice to willingly raise children here. He quoted another parent Sarath Guttikunda, who said, "If you have the option to live elsewhere, you should not raise children in Delhi." And they were just talking about the pollution and not the chart-topping rates of rape and abduction of children. On the other end of the spectrum from children are the elderly. When the young fly high, its the older people who often care for the children. But in Delhi, even the old are not spared. Senior citizens are defined as those over the age of 60 years. As per the 2015 NCRB data, Delhi is the most unsafe place for senior citizens. It had won this infamy in 2014 and has repeated the feat in 2015. Its crime rate against the elderly of 108.8 crimes per one lakh elderly is about five times more than the rest of the India. Delhis 2015 crime rate against senior citizens is more than the 2014 rate. Things are getting from bad to worse. When the girls in Delhi grow up to be women, how is it for them? In total numbers, there were 1,893 rapes in Delhi in 2015. That is more than five per day. Its reported rape rate per one lakh population was a whopping 11.6 in 2015. For comparison with another large city, the same rate for Kolkata in 2015 was 0.2. This means in Delhi, a woman is 58 times more likely to be raped as compared to Kolkata. This is a 'disease' which afflicts the NCR region as a whole. For example, the 2015 rape rate in Faridabad is 9.1, that is 46 times more than Kolkata. Delhi also has the highest number of attempted rapes among mega cities. If this were not enough, it is also known as the 'stalking' capital, with 18 percent of all stalking cases in the union territory. This expands to all kinds of crimes and accounts for the largest number of crimes among all states in the national capital. There is not a single category of crime where Delhis crime rate is not more than that of Kolkata and most often Delhi also has the highest number of attempted rapes among mega cities. If this were not enough, it is also known as the 'stalking' capital, with 18 percent of all stalking cases in the union territory. This expands to all kinds of crimes and accounts for the largest number of crimes among all states in the national capital. There is not a single category of crime where Delhis crime rate is not more than that of Kolkata and most often it's many times greater. Since 1990, and especially so in the previous decade, the central government has built up Delhi by showering it with goods, subsidies and made it an employment destination for the rest of the country. Other cities havent received this help cities where women are less likely to be raped. Delhi is peppered with infrastructure that Indias provinces have toiled hard to pay for. The elite of Delhi and the regional elites who wish to see their children in Delhi in perpetuity have, by dint of their grip on the central government, made it a world-class city for themselves. By choosing to do this at a location where power, impunity, and rape rates are the highest among cities, they have conspired against their children, parents, and women. The inordinate subsidisation of the 'rape' capital by the central government has to stop. Subsidising the 'rape' capital is like creating the best-equipped school in the street with the highest number of child molesters. This shocking state of affairs is confirmed by no other than the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women who says, "The truth is that Delhi now is not only the rape capital of the world but has also become the 'stalking' capital of the world." Four years after the Nirbhaya case, the number of rapes in Delhi has tripled. Delhi has maintained its top rank in rape rates before, during and even after Nirbhaya incident. Delhi is no place to be Nirbhaya. Such nomenclatures are good for self-congratulatory posturing. No wonder that the mother of Nirbhaya refused this false name and publicly stated her daughters real name Jyoti Singh Pandey, for thats who she really was. It is the place which makes its girl children full of bhay (fright), its seniors abused and its women stalked and raped at rates which other cities cannot even begin to imagine. With a sharp rise in cases, Delhi is now also seen as the capital of stalking. Only on 20 September, a stalker killed a woman brutally by stabbing her with a scissor at Burari in Delhi. The incident where stalker Surender Singh stabbed the woman to death happened just a day after another man stabbed a woman to death and killed himself at South West Delhi. Only in the year 2016, five women lost their lives at the hands of stalkers in the city. As per record of National Crime Records Bureau, cases of stalking have grown from 541 in 2014 to 1,124 in 2015. Criminal lawyer Tarminder Singh attributes this rise in the cases of stalking to growing awareness among the women. Earlier stalking was not included in the Indian Penal Code. Hence it was not possible to file a case against a stalker. Now that it is included as a crime in the Indian Penal Code women have come forward to file such cases, he says. He also says that stalking was always there. But many women kept silent as there was no legal provision to book stalkers. As per national crime records bureau, the average age of a stalker is 18-30 years, which signifies the presence of mental health problems among some youth. Psychologist Anup Dhar, who is presently working as the Associate Professor of Psychology in Ambedkar University Delhi says that stalking emerges out of a warped notion of love, where the stalker wants to possess the woman. Women are often seen as objects to be possessed in a patriarchal society. Stalkers are not lovers. They just want to possess the woman. They tend to harm her when they fail to do so, he adds. He also says that men brought up in an environment where women are not respected can grow up to be stalkers. A kid has to see the woman being respected in his home to be respectful to the opposite sex when he grows up, he further says. Asha Thakur, a retired ACP of Special Unit for Children and Woman, says that stalkers are often aloof in nature. She also says that stalkers often mistakenly believe that the girl is in love with him. Sometimes they take the friendly behavior of a woman as a gesture of love and follow her and try to contact her even when the woman is clearly unwilling to keep in touch with them, she says. India included stalking as a crime in the Indian Penal Code after the Nirbhaya rape case, with up to three years imprisonment as punishment. But some police officials are yet to take stalking as a serious crime. Anup Dhar says, There are instances where police officials advised the complainants to compromise with the stalkers. But it is not a crime that can be compromised. As per news reports the two women who lost their lives at the hands of stalkers in two different incidence of stabbing had complained to the police of being stalked, but police officials at the station advised them to compromise, rather than arresting the stalkers. Sumedha Dwivedi IPS, who presently works as the Senior Superintendent of Police in the National Human Rights Commission says that law making is not enough to stop a crime. Enforcement of the law is equally important. We are better off now to fight stalking as we have a separate provision for this crime in the Indian Penal Code. But criminal justice system has to work pro-actively to book the criminal. Not only that, society also should report such crime against women as soon as they come into notice, she says. New Delhi: The Home Ministry has lodged an FIR in connection with the missing documents related to the controversial Ishrat Jahan 'fake encounter' case, a move that might escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress. An under secretary serving in the home ministry has filed the FIR at the Parliament Street Police station in New Delhi under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code asking police to probe "why, how and under what circumstances" five documents related to the case went missing. The move came after an inquiry panel, headed by an Additional Secretary, concluded that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September 2009, a period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister. Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went missing from the Home Ministry was found, said the inquiry panel, which submitted its report on 15 June after a three-month-long investigation. The inquiry panel, however, made no reference to Chidambaram or anyone in the then UPA government. The FIR was lodged under "stolen" category of police station register on 22 September following a communication sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner on 26 August. Based on the statements of 11 serving and retired officers, including the then Home Secretary GK Pillai, the 52-page inquiry panel report had said the documents went missing between 18-28 September, 2009. The second affidavit, which was different from the first one, and filed before Gujarat High Court on 29 September, 2009, had said there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ishrat was an LeT operative. The papers which went missing and listed in the FIR are office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then Home Secretary to the then Attorney General on 18 September, 2009, office copy of another letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on 18 September, 2009, draft further affidavit as vetted by the then AG, draft further affidavit "as amended" by the then Home Minister on 24 September, 2009 and office copy of the further affidavit filed with the Gujarat High Court on 29 September, 2009. The paper which was retrieved from a computer hard disk was the letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on 18 September, 2009. The lodging of the FIR is expected to escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress as the former had accused the latter of lowering the fight against terror by filing the second affidavit during UPA regime. Congress had hit back in the past by saying the BJP-led government was politicising the issue after assuming power in 2014. Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on 15 June, 2004. Gujarat Police had then said those killed were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said in his statement to the Ishrat inquiry panel, retired IAS officer Deverakonda Diptivilasa had reportedly said the documents were part of the file which he sent to the seniors during the deliberations before the second affidavit related to the alleged fake encounter case was filed. The inquiry panel, however, made no reference to Chidambaram or anyone in the then UPA government. However, the five documents were not found in the file when it returned, Diptivilasa, who was the then Joint Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, was learnt to have told the panel. Sources said Home Ministry officials have detected about the five missing documents in 2013, when the UPA was in power but it was never flagged as the fair copies were intact then. The one-member panel was constituted after Home Minister Rajnath Singh had disclosed in Parliament on March 10 that the files were missing. The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides Intelligence Bureau where it was said the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was an activist of Lashkar-e-Taiba but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said. The second affidavit, claimed to have been drafted by Chidambaram, said there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Ishrat was a terrorist, the officials said. Pillai had claimed that as Home Minister, Chidambaram had recalled the file a month after the original affidavit, which described Ishrat and her slain aides as LeT operatives, was filed in the court. Subsequently, Chidambaram had said Pillai is equally responsible for the change in the affidavit. One of the favourite maxims of Winston Churchill was "ponder, and then act". Prime Minister Narendra Modis public exposition at Kozhikode on Saturday, a week after the Uri attack, and his 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday on All India Radio (AIR) clearly steered the country away from war-mongering. For those willing to read the fine-print of his speeches, the outline of his message was unambiguous Modi is not willing to go headlong into a war. His two speeches were clearly a rap on the knuckle on those who called for extracting a "complete jaw for a tooth". Modi did not fall for such a rhetoric for obvious reasons. Unlike those who feed on unbridled and destructive jingoism, on the basis of uninformed opinions and sentimentalities, Modi as the prime minister can ill-afford to lend credence to cry for prosecuting a war against Pakistan. That is the precise reason why he took his public speech in Kozhikode to a crescendo by agreeing to conduct a "thousand year war with Pakistan", but nuanced it by saying that let the war be against poverty, illiteracy and infant mortality. On the face of it, Modis conduct and his utterances on Pakistan would reflect a complete dissonance with his past demeanour as the chief minister of Gujarat. If you recall his "Mia Musharraf" tantrums and his claim that "Pakistan is scared of Gujarat" as the chest-thumping chief minister, you will find something amiss in his behavior as the prime minister. How would one explain Modis conduct then? Perhaps Modi is one of the rarest politicians who always defies stereotypes about him. Right from his swearing-in where he surprised everyone by inviting Saarc heads of states, including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Modis public bonhomie with Chinas president Xi Jinping at Ahmedabad was nothing short of breaking the old mould. Similarly, his decision to fly to Lahore to attend a private function of the Sharif household was outright audacious. And it would be naive to regard these steps as guided by impulse. Modi is not known for letting the emotions get the better of him on issues of critical national importance. In the context of the Uri attack, Modi has been apparently following Churchills above-mentioned maxim, "ponder, and then act". If one looks at the ground realities, a direct conflict with Pakistan would not overcome the problems that bedevil the relationship between the two countries. As a practitioner of the realpolitik, Modi is quite conscious of the fact that war has a momentum of its own and would rarely follow the predictable course. His worry emanates from the fragile condition of the internal security that exposes the countrys vital installation to terrorists strikes sponsored by Pakistan. Sources in the government admit that in his meetings with chiefs of defence forces and central police organisations (CPO), Modi showed his concern on this count, and asked them to tighten the belt. At the same time, the Uri attack also exposed the vulnerability of the army installation and the cavalier manner in which the security is being handled at various defence facilities. Apparently, behind the smokescreen of bravado and eulogisation of security forces, the Uri attack at the brigade headquarters clearly displayed chinks in the Indian Armys armour. What further complicated the situation, is the claim by local army officials of having launched an operation to neutralise 10-odd terrorists along the line of control, two days after the Uri attack. The worst part is that the government later found out that the operation was part of a "psy-ops" strategy without any truth. Officials handling the situation point out that the "psy-ops" by the army have become not an aberration but a rule in troubled regions. Not long ago, a similar kind of "false bravado" was claimed by the Indian army in Myanmar which subsequently proved to be untenable. In his role as Prime Minister of the country, Modi knows it better than most that war is as much a game of deception as preparedness. It would be wrong to see his silence as a sign of equivocation. In his Kozhikode speech, he seems to be setting his own term of engagement with those in Pakistan who nurse a congenital hostility with India. He is cautious enough to point out the social fault lines in Pakistan by referring to Baloch, Pashtos, Sindhis, while skirting the issue of religiosity, which is used as critical glue by Pakistani elites and the Army to hold the nation together. By all indications, he is preparing himself for a long haul, not a quick retribution as envisaged and peddled by vacuous "jingoists" of his own party. In one of his frustrating moments during the Second World War, Churchill said "the difficulty is not winning the war; it is persuading people to let you win it persuading fools". As of now, this Churchillian dilemma squarely confronts Modi. The virtual absence of a strong opinion from the Muslim intellectual class against the practice of triple talaq, which threatens to snowball into a major controversy, is intriguing. It could mean any of these things: this class, supposed to be more advanced and better placed within the community by a dint of better education or social exposure, is indifferent to the deeply-entrenched unfair practices within the community; it sees benefits for itself in the perpetuation of such practices, and it has outsourced all thinking in matters of society and religion to a bunch of fundamentalists, who have some kind of vested interest in maintaining status quo than encouraging change. That explains why the triple talaq fight remains confined to a few people and groups, and has not become a topic of a larger intense debate within the community. In his book Revolution From Above: Indias Future and the Citizen Elite, sociologist and thinker Dipankar Gupta mentions that when at every historical juncture democracy makes significant advances, it was the citizen elite or the elite of calling who led the charge, often going against the grain of popular demands and sentiments. He gives the example of figures from recent history such as Gandhi, Nehru and others who, driven by the higher calling, pushed for positive change in society at the risk of upsetting the status quo and being unpopular. Since left to itself the society would only maximise the given, it requires enlightened forces from above to drive change, he says. All reforms, social and otherwise, that we have witnessed so far has had such forces in the lead. Now, lets bring this down to the context of the Muslim community. Before that, heres a clarification. The Hindu intellectual class is hardly any better when it comes to being brave in the face of forces of continuity and orthodoxy, but it has managed more change than the Muslims by aligning better with secular democratic institutions. Its secular leadership came out much stronger than the religious leadership. This could be changing in recent time though. Before we get any further, heres a low down on the backdrop. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, hardly the representative of all Muslims, would insist that since the sharia sanctifies triple talaq, it is immutable. The question to settle now is whether the sharia actually treats triple talaq the way the law board would have us believe. Another question is whether in a country governed by religion-neutral institutions guided by higher human values, personal laws should be allowed to take precedence over secular laws. The Centre, in its response to the Supreme Courts notice seeking a reply to whether Muslim Personal Law treated women unfairly in the matter of divorce, is likely to trash the sharia argument of the AIMPLB, saying more than 20 Islamic countries have their own laws governing matrimonial relations, including talaq. If these countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, rooted in Islamic beliefs can have such laws then there can be no logic to the law boards contention, it is likely to suggest. Keeping the controversy potential of its submission in mind, the government has decided to steer it clear of the Uniform Civil Code issue. Given that change cannot be an automatic process from below, it has to come from above. Yet, a controversy is unavoidable given the ideological eco-system to which the party running the government belongs. The AIMPLB is likely to see and project it as interference in the religious matters of the community, by extension an infringement of the constitutional rights of the minorities. At a more crude level, it would be interpreted as one more proof of BJP being anti-Muslim. The issue is likely to get amplified with support from rival political parties. If the law board stays steadfast in its claim that the practices mentioned in the holy Quran are out of bounds for the judiciary, and the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to make changes in personal laws and manages to rally the conservative opinion community in its favour, it is likely to be a serious blow to social reforms in the community. This is where the role of the elite mentioned above is almost absent. There has been no challenge to the AIMPLB on its claim that it represents the whole Muslim community or on whether it has any right to interpret the sharia. While it is interesting to note that a few Muslim women intellectuals are leading the charge, and doing well at it, for a change male voices have been more or less inaudible. The deeply patriarchal nature of the community is one explanation for it; the more important one, however, is that the intellectual class in general is reluctant to take the lead because it has not yet managed to define the religion-secular divide in the backdrop of a vibrant democracy for itself yet. There have been individual voices but that is hardly a substitute for collective voice of an influential class. It is easy to browbeat or outshout them in a rather closed community. Given that change cannot be an automatic process from below, it has to come from above. When are the intellectuals in the community going to be prepared for the responsibility? Three years ago, in 2013, two photographers Amit Amin and Naroop Jhooti decided to document their Sikh brethren who wear a turban and beard as a part of their religious and cultural identity. This gave birth to their Kickstarter funded photo-series The Singh Project which highlights the distinct ways Sikh men project their identities. These un-stylised, studio portraits of Sikhs have become internationally famous and this year, with the help of the Sikh Coalition, they are bringing their project to America. The Sikh Project featured portraits of 38 Sikhs (men and women, both) from 17-25 September 2016 at a New York gallery. An interview with the duo revealed several interesting aspects about the photo series, including its origins. Edited excerpts: How did you come up with the idea for 'The Singh Project'? Back in 2013, we did a lot of work in an East London area called Shoreditch, which is supposed to be really hip. We started to notice men who had started growing growing long beards to stand out and be cool. We thought it was really interesting because Sikh men have grown beards for thousands of years as a part of their religion and never as a fashion statement; its just an integral part of who they are. Thats when we thought, why not do a project with beards and Sikh men, to show how this has been a part of our religion for years. We then extended our idea to incorporate the turban with the beard. We wanted to throw a spotlight on the juxtaposition between the beard and identity and how Sikh men carry their identity. We decided to name the project The Singh Project with Singh being the last name of many Sikh men. The US project is called The Sikh Project because it also features women who wear turbans; we wanted to include women who carry their Sikh identity too. How do you find your subjects, and think 'Yes, this is the person I want to photograph'? Initially it was very difficult for us to find people for The Singh Project. We first photographed my grandfather and my dads friend; who were both Sikh men with beards and turbans. We retouched those photographs, and we would walk around in South Hall (which is predominately an Indian area in London) and show those photographs to people on an iPad. We would tell them the reasoning behind our photo-series and ask them if they would like to get involved. Initially, people were hesitant to be a part of it, but slowly over time, we started to get enough people. We wanted to photograph them as they were because, it was about how they looked, and also what they did for a living. This way we could break stereotypes and show the world that all Sikh men werent accountants, doctors and engineers but they are also polo players, magicians, boxers or watch makers. So when we started trying to gather portraits for 'The Sikh Project', we worked with the Sikh Coalition in New York. We made a list of the kind of people we wanted to photograph. With the popularity of 'The Singh Project' working for us, and our predetermined list, it was much easier to find subjects willing to be photographed. We even did a casting on Facebook for people to submit portraits with back stories; and we selected one or two like that as well. How ready are your subjects to be photographed? Majority of the subjects, barring one or two, never had their photos taken professionally. They were quite nervous, but then thats the challenge we enjoy as photographers. Photographing a model or an actor is not really the hardest thing but its with members of the public that the skill really comes out. They were excited but also a bit nervous. Are they okay with sharing their stories in a public platform? Well in the US, from what I have been told, there is still alot of prejudice and bullying against Sikhs (post-9/11). They are still called names, and hopefully this is something 'The Sikh Project' can change. America is a big country, there are so many different people and different cultures. Like New York might be the most culturally diverse and progressive thinking but the attitude in middle America is a whole different ballgame. But in the UK, they don't seem to face the same level of prejudice that Sikhs seem to face in the USA. In your subjects, is there a more passionate need to hang on to identity because of being in a foreign land like the UK or USA as compared to being in your country? Yeah, we do think so. Some people let go of their culture and some people (don't). If we all let go of our history, our heritage and culture, then we all will end up being like each other and that will be a very boring place to be. So the subjects, yes they are all hanging on to who they are and but also we think it's important to understand that hanging on to history doesn't mean we can't integrate with people. People can be united and have different backgrounds, that's what makes them unique. How did you go about your Kickstarter campaign? Well we launched our kickstarter campaign for our Singh Project exhibition. Our aim was to raise 7,000 pounds in a month. We ended up raising 10,000 pounds in 10 days, and surprisingly, alot of the donation came from people who were not in the UK. Not only were we getting donations internationally, but we were also getting them from non-Indians and non-Sikhs. We think this speaks about the universality of the project. Our next kickstarter campaign is to raise funds for creating a book out of the portraits of the exhibition. Any other exhibitions or portrait series that you are working on? We are also working on this other project called 'People Who Play' which is about costume play, about people who dress up for Comic Cons as their favourite characters. We have photographed more than 70 people for this.The interesting thing is that these people who dress up as their favourite superhero characters, invest so much time and energy in these costumes, don't you wonder who they are in real life? Someone who might dress as Batman might be a plumber, someone who dresses up as the Hulk might be a teacher it is really interesting to see the people behind the costumes. Are there any photographers that you draw inspiration from? Nadav Kander, Sharif Hamza, Vincent Peters, Mitch Jenkins are some of the many photographers that we draw inspiration from. All photos are courtesy Amit and Naroop. Lucknow: Controversy shrouds the expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav ministry on Monday with a social activist throwing a spanner by challenging before Governor Ram Naik the possible re-entry of tainted former Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati. The Governor is scheduled to administer oath of office and secrecy to some new ministers on Monday, a Raj Bhawan communique said. With Prajapati's re-induction on the cards as part of a compromise formula to douse the flames in the Yadav clan that took the hue of a major political crisis recently, activist Nutan Thakur has petitioned the Governor against making him minister again. 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. Another probable swearing in could be that of Ziauddin Rizvi, who was not able to take oath in July when the cabinet was last expanded. He was abroad then. Nutan filed the petition before the Governor just 48 hours before the oath ceremony requesting him not to re-induct Prajapati. In her petition, she said Prajapati was removed as minister on serious corruption charges after the order of Allahabad High Court for CBI enquiry and the CBI report was presented before the court. She said a minister is removed from office under provisions of Article 164 of the Constitution when he loses the pleasure of the Governor. Nutan said when Prajapati was removed as minister, he had lost the pleasure of the Governor. Hence, he cannot be re-inducted in the Ministry unless the facts and reasons on which he had lost the pleasure of the Governor get removed. Prajapati began as Minister of State for Irrigation in February 2013 and was moved to the lucrative berth of mining, directly under Yadav who handled that portfolio. In July 2013, Yadav elevated Prajapati to MoS (Independent Charge) and in January 2014, he was made a Cabinet Minister. Meanwhile, Naik has given time in the evening to Nutan to present facts about her petition. "I have been informed by Raj Bhawan that I should present facts to the governor in the evening," Nutan said. Akhilesh had recently sacked Prajapati at a time when there were indications that the CBI was set to tighten the noose around Prajapati and officials of the state mining department. The High Court had asked the CBI to look into the role of government functionaries in allegations of illegal mining. Prajapati was in news when Nutan had lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta, accusing him of corruption and gathering wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Lokayukta had, however, dismissed the complaint on grounds that no such evidence was found against him. But, as his sacking on 12 September set off a tsunami in the ruling party circles, taking the shape of an unprecedented political crisis ahead of the UP Assembly elections due early next year, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had to chip in to end the impasse and as a compromise formula it was decided that he would be re-inducted, but with a different portfolio. Akhilesh was said to be unhappy with the minister who was mired in controversy over allegations of promoting illegal mining. The opposition, however, alleged that the sacking of the minister was just an eyewash to hide the corruption in mining sector. "Illegal mining is rampant in the state and it is an open secret that he was promoting it. Now when the HC has taken serious view of the matter and ordered CBI probe, the CM's decision is mere an eyewash. It will not help as people know the reality," Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi said. BJP state general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said it was good that CM has taken the decision to sack the minister. "Our party has been raising the matter of illegal mining in the state. The decision should have been taken earlier," Pathak added. New Delhi: In fresh trouble for RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin, the mother of three youths who were brutally killed by henchmen of the controversial politician has moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in the case in which he has already been sentenced to life. The woman, whose two sons were killed and her third son, who was an eyewitness to the incident, later on, murdered allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, has challenged the Patna High Court's 2 March this year order granting regular bail to him during pendency of his appeal. While a sessions court in Siwan had convicted Shahabuddin for the offence of murder and kidnapping for ransom in the twin murder case and had awarded life imprisonment to him, the trial in the murder case of the eye witness son is going on. In her plea, Kalawati Devi has claimed that the high court had "completely lost sight" of the fact that Shahabuddin was a "dreaded criminal, who has absolutely no regard for the law, and granting bail to him even though he has been convicted for heinous offences like murder, abduction etc and is still facing trial in many of the cases lodged against him would be travesty of justice". On 19 September, the apex court had sought a response from Shahabuddin on a separate plea filed by Devi's husband Chandrakeshwar Prasad challenging the bail granted to him by Patna High Court in the murder case of their third son. The apex court is also hearing a separate plea filed by the widow of journalist Rajdev Ranjan, who was murdered in Siwan allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, seeking transfer of the case to Delhi. In her plea, Devi has said that as per an affidavit filed by the Bihar government in the apex court, till November 2014, trials in at least 38 cases were pending against him in which he was facing alleged heinous charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapon, extortion and others. Her plea is likely to come up for hearing before the apex court on Monday. Devi has said in her plea, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, that her two sons, Girish and Satish, were abducted by Shahabuddin's henchmen and after being brutally assaulted, they were killed by acid poured on them and their bodies, packed in a sack full of salt, buried. The plea alleged that Devi's third son, Rajiv Roshan, was initially abducted but he had managed to escape. He was an eye-witness to the killing of his two brothers. She claimed that during pendency of trial in the twin murder case, Roshan was killed in June 2014 allegedly at the behest of Shahabuddin who is facing trial in the case. "The High Court did not consider that, apart from being terror as dreaded criminal, Shahabuddin is considered to be a very influential person in Siwan as he is a two-time MLA and four-time MP from there. Being convicted in many criminal cases, he has been debarred from contesting since 2009 general elections," the plea claimed. It said that some of the cases could not be proved against him due to lack of evidence as sometimes Shahabuddin "managed to influence the prosecution or sometime witnesses were too afraid of deposing against him". "The grant of bail to a history-sheeter like Shahabuddin is travesty of justice. If the bail granted Shahabuddin is not stayed by this court, irreparable injury is going to cause to the interest of the present case as well as other pending cases," it said, adding, "there is a serious threat to the life of the petitioner and his family members". Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on 7 September in another case, was released from Bhagalpur jail on 10 September. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him. Contending that the definition of secularism has been distorted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue, Deendayal Upadhyay, to say that Muslims should be treated as "your own" rather than seeing them as "items of vote market". Addressing the BJP Council meeting, he said his government's mission of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' is not a political slogan but a commitment to ensure the welfare of the last man in the society. In his speech, Modi spoke at length about secularism, balanced and inclusive growth and need for electoral reforms while paying tributes to Upadhyay on his 100th birth anniversary. "These days, the definition has been distorted. Even nationalism is cursed these days," he said. While talking about life and contribution of Upadhyay, Modi quoted him as saying, "don't reward nor rebuke Muslims. Empower them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own." At the conclusion of the two-day BJP conclave here aimed at making inroads in Kerala, the prime minister traced the party's journey from the days of Jan Sangh and asserted that "We never compromised with our ideology". He said if the BJP had compromised with the ideology, it could have attained power long back. Paying tributes to Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked if politicians today can change Indian politics by following his ideals. "Through our thinking and conduct, can we change people's perception towards politicians? Can we become symbols of the ideals of Pandit Deendayal?" Modi said in his address at the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meeting. He said that Upadhyaya gave the mantra that the Indian politics should be rooted in Indian culture. PM Modi calls for electoral reforms Reissuing his call for electoral reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was imperative to strengthen democracy. "I think this is time to bring about electoral reforms. In the centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, we can organise seminars across the country on electoral reforms," Modi said. "At least we should start brainstorming the issue, and we will see what amrit (nectar) will come out of this churning," he said. "To strengthen the roots of democracy, we will have to bring about electoral reforms, we will have to add a few new things, have to delete a few obsolete things from the electoral procedures," he said. He said that even members from other political parties have been asking him to bring about electoral reforms, but it would be better if changes emerged after thorough brainstorming. This is at least the third time in as many months that the prime minister has called for electoral reforms, including simultaneous parliamentary and state assembly elections, in the country. India to ratify Paris Climate Change agreement on 2 October India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2, Modi said on Sunday in a sudden announcement that will give momentum to implementation of measures at international level to control global warming. "There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on 2 October, the birth anniversary of mahatma Gandhi," he said. Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhi's life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. During the Paris climate meet in December last, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Talking about the need to ratify the COP21 decision, Modi said there is a looming threat due to global warming to many coastal countries and cities. Even Kerala, where the conclave was being held, is also a coastal area. While Western countries, including the US, had been supporting an early ratification of the pact, India had been seeking more time to complete its national processes as it fears that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects. With inputs from IANS and PTI Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was sacked as Convenor of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in an inglorious manner after a sting operation, is all set to form a new political party. The unceremonious sacking has made him even more determined to set up a new political organisation which will work only for the interest of the Punjab and 'Punjabiat' in an honest manner. The 65-year-old Sucha Singh Chhotepur is one of the most experienced political leaders of Punjab. Along with Capt Amarinder Singh of Congress, Chhotepur was the Akali Dal minister in the Surjit Singh Barnala government in the mid-1980s. A man of principles, he had resigned from the Punjab cabinet along with Captain Amarinder Singh after the police entry in the Golden Temple complex in April 1986 when extremists had declared the entity of 'Khalistan' from the Akal Takht. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Sucha Singh talks about his plans of setting up a new party in order to tackle various problems of Punjab in the light of the forthcoming assembly elections in the state. There are talks of you forming a new political party. When is that going to happen? I am in the process of forming a new political party with the support of people. I have already made good preparations and plan to launch the party in the first week of October. At present my group is assessing our support base and has found out that it is very strong. All those people who love Punjab and value its honour and dignity are willing and eager to join our group. Is your party going to be called the 'Aap Lok Party'? People have suggested various names for the party. We are considering them. We will disclose the name when we form the party. I am happy people are taking keen interest in the formation of a party under us. I am thankful to them. Will your party be able to compete with other established parties of the state? Do you have money and resources to contest a state-level poll? We are receiving tremendous support of people from all walks of life. Dont forget I had set up AAP on my own resources and people's support. AAP did not give me any money to run the organisation. If I can do it once, I can certainly do it again. Who all members will be in your party? My thinking is clear. I am determined to take all the people who want clean politics in the state. So far I have had talks with several political leaders of the state who have promised support. I am very hopeful of forming a group of people who are ideologically solid and have a clean image. Navjot Singh Sidhu was also reported to be moving ahead to set up a political party through his 'Awaaz-e-Punjab' and join hands with you. What happened to that? Only Sidhu knows what he has in mind and what he wants to do. You better ask him. I have no idea. If he wants to support our party he is most welcome. In fact, I welcome all those people who have the welfare of Punjab in mind. What would be the agenda of your party? Our party will be Punjab-centric. All political parties be it Akali Dal or Congress or the BJP have left no effort behind to loot and destroy this great state. The land and sand mafia are ruling the state. Drug mafia has destroyed an entire generation. Youth are jobless and restless; farmers are committing suicide; women are not safe; industry has run away; education, health, and transport are in shambles; criminals and drug peddlers are roaming free. After all this loot, a new party (AAP) has come up to continue the plunder. Corruption rules large. There are criminal elements in all the parties. For how long will this continue? There is no respite for the people. We want to change all this and establish the rule of the people. Our election manifesto will be based keeping in view the welfare of the people. Can your proposed party tackle the growing drug menace in Punjab? I have said before that the drug menace in Punjab can be tackled in just two months. We have to cut the drug mafia links with high and mighty people and that includes politicians as well. We have to take extremely strong steps and harsh measures for this. We can do this because we have the will. You have had a bitter experience with AAP. They removed you as party's Convenor of Punjab and have also pronounced you guilty in the sting operation. All I would say is that I am innocent, but became a victim of AAPs machinations and manipulations. If they (AAP) have found me guilty let them hang me. What can they do? It was all a setup. What kind of an inquiry asks no questions to the accused (me)? AAP has pronounced a one-sided judgment which is not acceptable to me. AAP is there in Punjab just to make money. It does not care for Punjab or Punjabis. Arvind Kejriwal is a dictator. He does not listen to anyone. Amritsar: Heckled by BJP and Congress workers during his last visit to Punjab by train, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday chose to come by a plane, but was again shown black flags by Congress women workers as his convey came out of the airport here. A large group of Punjab Mahila Congress members led by its president Mamta Dutta protested against the alleged misgovernence by Kejriwal government in the capital as the Aam Aadmi Party chief reached here to campaign for the Assembly polls. After landing at the Sri Guru Ramdas International Airport, Kejriwal straightway headed to Jalandhar where he was scheduled to attend a gathering of the Aggarwal community. With placards saying 'Kejriwal Go back', Congress activists alleged his MLAs were involved in outraging the modesty of women and the leader of such persons will not be tolerated in Punjab. Dutta also alleged that she was badly "pushed and manhandled" by a male constable during the protest and she sustained injuries on her face. Other women Congress activists also alleged that they were pushed and shoved by policemen when they attempted to intercept Kejriwal's cavalcade. After the incident, Congress activists staged a protest on the middle of road for one hour. On 8 September, Kejriwal was heckled by BJP, Congress and Akali Dal protesters at railway stations both in New Delhi and Ludhiana when he took a Shatabdi express from Delhi to reach Punjab for a four-day tour to boost the party's campaign in the state where polls are due early next year. Hyderabad: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today reiterated his demand for separate Vidarbha state and said two new states should also be carved out of Uttar Pradesh. "During agitation for separate statehood to Telangana, we supported it. And now separate Vidarbha state should be formed at the earliest. Our party and people are demanding for a separate state," he said. "Similarly, two new states should be carved out of Uttar Pradesh," Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (A), said in Hyderabad. He alleged, "There is no development in Vidarbha, whether it is industrial, irrigation or power (sector). We want separate Vidarbha state...Hindi speaking states have been divided and Telugu speaking states have been created. So why not in Maharashtra." "(Maharashtra) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari are from Vidarbha. My party is also supporting the demand for separate Vidarbha state," he added. On the ongoing reservation demand by various communities, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said that Marathas, Patels, Jats, Rajputs, Gujjars, Brahmins, Lingayats and others are demanding reservations but he is favour of quotas on the basis of the economic status. "As the leader of RPI and the Minister of state for Social Justice, I support reservation for the economically backward sections among them," he said adding, a constitutional amendment should be made to provide 25 per cent quota to the poor among the upper castes. "I will discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all other political parties in this regard. There will be no problem if a law in passed in Parliament taking overall reservation to 75 per cent," he said. The minister also said there is a need to encourage inter-caste marriages in order to bring an end to casteism in the country. Victoria: Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate arrived in British Columbia on Saturday for an eight-day trip during which they will view spectacular nature sites and meet with refugees and indigenous Americans. William, holding his son George by the hand, and Kate, with daughter Charlotte in her arms, stepped off their plane at around 4 pm (2300 GMT). George, 3, more interested in a helicopter hovering overhead than by protocol, and his year-old sister, wearing a smocked dress for her first foreign trip, climbed aboard a car with their parents headed for a gorgeous Victorian home where they are staying for the visit. The royal family was received an hour later at a ceremony with military honors and a 21-gun salute under blue skies on the lawn in front of the westernmost Canadian province's legislature on Vancouver Island. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remarked that this visit would be quite different for the royals, now that they are parents of two young children, compared to their last trip to Canada five years ago. "As any parent who has travelled with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your family with you," said Trudeau, who has three young children of his own and joined many official visits when his father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister. "Let me caution you from my own experience, if they're anything like our kids, getting them back on a plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge." Trudeau was received by the British and Canadian head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace early this year. "As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary next year, we're excited to meet and interact with the young people who will lead this country into its next few decades," William said, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd. "And in the year of the queen's 90th birthday, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to thank the people of Canada for the warmth and generosity they've extended to my grandmother throughout her reign." After a children's chorus sang the Canadian national anthem, William and Kate exchanged greetings with locals. The duchess of Cambridge, sporting a blue dress and matching hat, her hair gathered in a bun, wore a brooch in the shape of a maple leaf, Canada's national symbol. The royal family was received an hour later at a ceremony with military honors and a 21-gun salute under blue skies on the lawn in front of the westernmost Canadian province's legislature on Vancouver Island. Nature and health initiatives This time, the prince and his wife will take in the natural beauty of Canada's Pacific coast, heading as far north as the rugged Yukon territory, and will also meet with indigenous people. George and Charlotte will stay with their nanny in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Royal fever has taken hold in the city of Victoria, where the provincial parliament has been decorated to welcome the British couple. Accompanied by the Trudeaus, the royal couple will begin their trip in earnest on Sunday in Vancouver by visiting a shelter for refugees and a home for children with mental disabilities. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, will also go with Sophie Trudeau to meet with women living at a drug rehabilitation residence. Vancouver has seen a spike in overdoses involving the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. The rest of the visit will take William and Kate to the island of Bella-Bella for a traditional indigenous ceremony at the foot of a totem poll, then for a hike through a rainforest before heading north to the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon, a wild, mountainous territory with a sparse population. Then they will stop off in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley in the south of the province, near the US border. For their fans, William and Kate have set aside time at the end of the trip for a big festival at which residents of Victoria will be able to snap photos of them and their kids. The family will leave Victoria by seaplane on 1 October, before returning to Britain on their official plane. Some Canadians mainly those who dislike the royal family's expensive lifestyle are complaining about the cost of the visit for taxpayers. The cost of the trip to British Columbia and the Yukon will be disclosed after it is over. But when the couple visited in 2011, two months after their wedding, the trip cost Canadians Can$1.2 million ($0.91 million US). Los Angeles: Authorities have arrested the suspect behind a shooting that left five people dead at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington, about 24 hours after the killings. "Gunman captured tonight by authorities," Washington State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis said on Twitter on Saturday. There were no other suspects. Gunman captured tonight by authorities, Details forthcoming, Press Conference tonight at 1800 Continental Pl. Time TBA Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 25, 2016 The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late on Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The shooter described as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 110 kilometres north of Seattle. "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." It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. The shooting came amid fierce debate in America over gun control laws. It is a hot issue on the campaign trail ahead of the 8 November presidential election. The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle, said Cammock. Police received calls around 6.58 pm Friday that shots were fired at the mall. The suspect was last seen walking toward a highway from the mall before officers arrived. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from more than 26 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. Indias prime minister Narendra Modi has set the stage for a fiery Sushma Swaraj smackdown of Pakistans "terror export" at the UNGA Monday in New York City. Swaraj is third in line to speak on the final day of the general debate which has run from September 20. Oman is first up at 9 am EST (6:30 pm IST same day), followed by Bahrain and then India. Indian MEA officials in New York confirmed that Swarajs speech will be around 7 pm IST. Even if there are delays, it's most likely well before 9pm IST because the entire list of 18 speakers have to wind up by around 11 pm IST. There is no layover session scheduled for Monday which coincides with the date of the first Clinton versus Trump presidential debate. Watch Sushma Swaraj speech live here on Sep 26: http://webtv.un.org For the short-lived shock value of Nawaz Sharif tirade delivered on September 21, India has delivered two deep gashes in the same week across geographies - Eenam Gambhir from Indias permanent mission to the UN delivered the Ivy League of terrorism rebuttal at UNGA, Prime Minister Modi made a powerful case for strategic restraint - ask your leaders: both our countries got freedom together, so why does India export software and your country export terrorists? - and now its time for closure against the familiar green marble backdrop at the UNGA pulpit. Most unlikely that the Sushma Swaraj coup de grace will be tame stuff. Links: Modi first speech after Uri attack That India has a 3 million strong diaspora in the US and Indias economy and its brainpower are wooed aggressively by America is no secret on the world stage. If the Hillary versus Donald debate on the same night in New York is likely to grab a TV audience of 100 million at best, the Swaraj speech will be a runaway winner even on raw or repeat viewership metrics across both traditional and social media platforms. Modi's speech clip from Kozhikode has 500,000 views by Sunday evening EST and more than 3,000 shares which will grow at an average of 3x not possible with cable TV. Eenam Gambler's speech posted on Facebook has 130,000 plus views and 2500 shares by the same time. As Indias top diplomats are saying, that Pakistans speeches are not finding resonance means something horribly wrong with their diplomacy. Although the theme of the general debate at UNGAs 71st session is Sustainable Development Goals and a universal push to transform our world, its by now well known that preaching from this lectern is becoming hyper local as politicians seek to reach their national audiences and settle scores in their neighbourhood. Modi on Uri attack Modi's speech in the southern Indian city of Kozhikode was his first since 19 soldiers were killed in an attack on an army base in Kashmir last Sunday. Maps and weapons from the bloodstained attack site bear the stamp Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed militant group based in Pakistan. Pakistan, of course, denies the charge, like it does for the Pathankot attacks on New Years day 2016, like it does for the Mumbai attacks in 2008 and so on. Pakistans official line is that it provides political and diplomatic support to insurgents who have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India. "Let me tell Pakistan that the sacrifice of 18 Indian soldiers will not go to waste," Modi said in Kozhikode. "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. Modi's speech follows soon after the verbal flogging of Pakistan scripted by the permanent mission in New York under Syed Akbaruddins leadership - When practiced as an instrument of state policy it (terrorism) is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region. Read together, both Modis and Eenam Gambhirs statements give you a sense of exactly how lethal Swarajs final cut will be on Monday. Chances are it'll trump the pyrotechnics of the Hofstra debate later the same night. Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that it was exporting terror, saying the remarks were part of a "well thought out vilification campaign" to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi in a public meeting in Kerala "tried to malign Pakistan". "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable," the Foreign Office said. "It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated" by its forces in Kashmir against "innocent and defenseless" Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The "atrocities" in Kashmir intensified since the "extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader" Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistan's reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. "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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asia's, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement alleged, "In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands." The Foreign Office claimed that the international community has taken notice of these "blatant human rights violations" with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. "The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)," the statement said. Moscow: Relatives of Edward Snowden may visit Russia soon to meet the fugitive US intelligence whistle-blower, his lawyer has said. "I've sent an invitation, but he (Snowden's father Lon) has his plans. We talk with him nearly everyday now," Xinhua on Tuesday quoted Snowden's lawyer Anatoly Kucherena as telling Russia Today television. Snowden's mother and grandparents, he said, might also come to Russia. "I won't tell you the date for the time being," the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying. "He (Snowden) will decide himself how to act and what to do within the framework of his human rights activities," he said. The lawyer also said Snowden was currently learning about Russian culture. "He is walking, he can travel, and he is travelling, and therefore he is keen on learning our history," said Kucherena. Snowden faces espionage charges in the US after disclosing a classified intelligence surveillance project code-named PRISM. Russia granted him asylum August 1 amid calls by Washington to return him for a trial, which prompted US President Barack Obama to drop a scheduled bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September. IANS Like they erect stalls at a circus, wealthy television networks have flown in their troops to the Hofstra University campus in suburban New York to soup up tents with pyrotechnic capabilities in prep for live coverage of the presidential debate here on Monday. Hundreds of cameras, accent lights, props, make up trucks, power back-ups and miles of wiring, cables and duct tape have taken over the campus, giving students here 4 days of really cool, broadcast quality selfie backdrops. Hofstra University in Hempstead is the venue for the first presidential debate on September 26 at 9 pm EST. All this drama is for the 100 million plus viewership heaven the networks are hoping to hook. Thats the spectacle. The headaches are real for Hillary Clinton, who lives not far from this location. Its still her debate to lose. Worse, the election is looking more ominous. Watch this state carefully Recent polls show Clinton has an edge in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire but those are not enough to win. If she does win those, her best bet is to pocket Colorado and take the White House but problem is that Trump has now overtaken Clinton here. This states voters are more Hispanic and better educated than the national average. Trump has wiped out Clintons leads and is now ahead by four points. President Trump is not a long shot at this rate. Debates have almost never changed the polling patterns dramatically - its a straight line graph over the last many decades. Never have expectations been lower for a presidential debate than for Clinton versus Trump. With barely 40 days to go before America chooses Obamas successor, its truly extraordinary that Trump and Hillary are almost tied at this late stage of the race. Debate prep Clinton has been preparing for the debate at home in Westchester, New York with her long time aide Philippe Reines playing Trump in mock debates. Meanwhile, Trump and his team have created a psychological profile of Clinton based on analysis of 16 years worth of videos dating back to her 2000 campaign for Senate in New York. Clinton has debated more than 30 times at the presidential level but this will be her first presidential debate against a candidate from an opposing party. Clinton has released a booklet on Trump's "seven deadly lies, over the weekend before the first debate but nothing ever seems to stick to Trump. With polls running close, the first debate is Clintons best chance to slam Trumps nonsense without middlemen involved. Undecided voters If somehow, Hillary is able to convice undecided voters that its time to shift focus to their actual policies, it may work for a public that is quite sick of politicians. 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. Trumps path to White House Trump has two likely paths, save for some bizarre development. If he carries carrying almost every state that Mitt Romney won, the most competititve of which is North Carolina and also wins the three biggest swing states - Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, its his simplest path to 270 electoral votes. But since Pennsylvania is slipping away in current polling, the other way is that he carries Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and then wins Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and one of Maines two electoral votes. That will get him to 270. Keeping these numbers in mind will give you a more fun ride through the infotainment evening of September 26. Here are all the dates, timings, live telecast details September 26, Hofstra University, NYC October 4, Washington Univ, St Louis, Missouri October 19, Univ of Nevada, Las Vegas Live TV The debates will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC (2), CBS (6), Fox (12) and NBC (8), CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. Debate moderators September 26: NBC's Lester Holt October 4: CNN's Anderson Cooper and ABC's Martha Raddatz October 19: Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace. Time 9:00-10:30 p.m. EST, 6-7:30 pm PT, without commercial breaks. Thats 6.30 am, September 27, IST Format Total time 90 minutes without commercials. Debate 1: 3: Six blocks of 15 minutes each Chemical giant DuPont (DD) is optimistic about the future these days. True, its merger with fellow chemical titan Dow Chemical (DOW) is still under regulatory review, but the company is expressing confidence that it will be approved by the end of the year. In the meantime, though, DuPont still has a business to run...or rather, multiple businesses. However, it seems like its agriculture unit is getting the lion's share of the company's resources. Here's how that could be bad for DuPont investors -- and great for investors in rival 3M (MMM 3.09%). The seeds of discord For much of its lifetime, DuPont was strictly a materials-science company. The brand-name substances its labs created became household names all over the globe: products like nylon, Teflon, and Kevlar. However, in recent years the company has been branching out into more lucrative sectors like nutrition and agriculture. It spun off many of its materials businesses -- including Teflon -- into a new company, Chemours (CC -0.83%), last year. Now, the company plans to merge with Dow and then split into three separate companies. One will focus on agrochemicals, one on performance chemicals, and one on materials science. In an ideal world, DuPont would work to ensure the continued success of each of the three companies after the split. Recently, however, there have been troubling signs that the company may be focusing primarily on its agrochemical research and development while its other businesses fall by the wayside. Growing the business Healthy R&D spending is essential for any manufacturer, but particularly for a chemical company. And DuPont, even up until last year, was the gold standard, spending a higher percentage of its revenue on R&D than its competitors: Company Total 2015 R&D Spending 2015 R&D Spending as % of Revenue DuPont $1.9 billion 7.6% 3M $1.7 billion 5.8% Dow Chemical $1.6 billion 3.3% Chemours $97 million 1.6% However, in the first half of 2016, DuPont cut its R&D spending to $850 million, from $975 million in 2015. CEO Edward Breen indicated in the second-quarter earnings call that it was likely to stay that way: "We're running around $1.7 billion in total spend, and that feels about appropriate." With the company's guidance suggesting comparable sales to last year, that would equate to about 6.8% of revenue: still higher than its peers' 2015 percentages, but down historically. And once the company merges with Dow, even if the merged companies don't cut their combined R&D spending, the overall percentage will be even lower due to Dow's lower R&D expenditures. That should concern long-term investors. You reap what you sow Statements by the company seem to indicate that in addition to spending less on R&D overall, DuPont plans to concentrate its R&D spending on its agriculture business. In the Q2 earnings call, Breen had this to say about R&D and growth: To meet growers' needs better, we are introducing higher-performing products like Zorvec fungicide and Leptra corn hybrids. We're increasing capacity in faster-growing areas like Tyvek building wrap and medical packaging. Our scientists today are utilizing the newest technologies like CRISPR-Cas gene editing to develop targeted applications to deliver enhanced solutions and greater choice for our customers. Zorvec, Leptra, and CRISPR-Cas genes are all agricultural products. Breen also references "increasing capacity" for existing materials like Tyvek and medical wrap, but not any R&D investment in those areas. Lest you think that this was just an oversight on Breen's part, later in the call, he was asked specifically about the reduced overall R&D spending and replied (emphasis mine): We obviously want a hefty R&D. We especially want it in the Ag business. We want to be one of the top spenders, if not the top spender, in R&D in Ag. But we'll move some of that around to some other new product areas that we can work on, instead of duplicating some efforts with Dow. I think probably that will be just great for the farm community and our farmers and our customers; there'll be more choice for them over the ensuing years, if we get that right. These statements, coupled with recent reports of layoffs and project cancellations at DuPont's materials-science research lab, paint a picture of a company focused on agricultural R&D to the exclusion of other areas. If true, this would be fantastic for DuPont's major materials-science rival, 3M. Its total annual R&D spending would be larger than DuPont's, in numeric terms -- but since 3M isn't involved in agriculture or nutrition, it could also devote more money to developing materials. With labs in 36 countries, including a state-of-the-art research lab opened in Minnesota just last year, 3M employs 8,300 researchers worldwide. Foolish takeaway When one of your main rivals starts spending less than you on R&D, and focuses its remaining R&D efforts on areas where you don't compete, that's a very positive development for you. Investors in 3M should be cheered by this news. DuPont investors, on the other hand, have good reason to be concerned. If DuPont's merger-and-split with Dow goes as planned, DuPont investors will be holding shares in three separate companies, only one of which involves agriculture. It would be smart to keep an eye on details of DuPont's R&D spending in the coming quarters. If this trend continues to worsen, the long-term thesis for the company could change...and not for the better. Procter & Gamble (PG 2.53%) is a titan of the household products industry. The company is nearly 200 years old, worth more than $200 billion, and owns well-known brand names such as Tide, Gillette, and Pampers. But the company has struggled recently. It's sold off secondary brands like Duracell, Cover Girl, and Zest to cut costs and focus on its core brands. Moreover, the company's once-strong pipeline of innovation has yielded little success, and spending on R&D as a percentage of sales is lower than it's been in almost any point in the last 20 years. The Crest-maker's sales have fallen as it has shed brands, struggled to grow domestic sales, and faced a strengthening dollar. The stock is up 12% this year, but the long term looks challenging. Here are three similar stocks with better prospects than P&G. 1. Church & Dwight (CHD -0.18%) The parent of Trojan and Arm & Hammer has been one of the strongest performers in the household products industry. The stock has more than doubled in the last five years, delivering solid earnings growth along the way. Unlike P&G, Church & Dwight derives the majority of its revenue from the U.S., meaning it's less susceptible to the currency volatility that's hit its larger rivals. Despite its small size, the Trojan-maker has a better operating margin than P&G (19.9% versus 16.8%), and has been able to deliver steady growth through small acquisitions and by extending its Arm & Hammer brand into as many new products as possible, including toothpaste and deodorant. Its CEO has also said the company is looking at big acquisitions, and estimates it could spend as much as $2.8 billion on a target. While I wouldn't expect another doubling from the stock in the next few years as its multiple has gotten inflated, I do think it will continue to outperform P&G, as it seems to be making the better strategic choices. 2. Unilever (UL 2.33%) Arguably Procter & Gamble's biggest rival, Unilever is the next largest household products company after P&G. The European giant owns brands including Dove skin care products, Axe body spray, Hellmann's mayonnaise and Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Today, both companies are similarly valued with P/E ratios of 24, and both offer 3% dividend yields. But while P&G has been dumping brands, Unilever has been snatching up some of the most promising growth companies in the sector. In July, it bought Dollar Shave Club, the start-up that became a significant rival to P&G's Gillette by offering discount, subscription razors. The deal should help Dollar Shave Club expand to new countries, improve distribution, and increase sales thanks to Unilever's marketing might. Earlier this week, it snatched up green household products maker Seventh Generation for an undisclosed amount. That company generated more than $200 million in revenue last year, and it has seen double-digit compound annual revenue growth for the last 10 years. Environmental and e-commerce brands like Seventh Generation and Dollar Shave Club are growing fast, and in a slow-growth industry acquisition may be the best way to engineer profit growth. 3. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 1.49%) Among defensive dividend stocks, Johnson & Johnson has been one of the best picks on the market in recent years. The stock has nearly doubled in the last five years even as earnings growth recently slowed due to foreign currency headwinds and generic competition for Hepatitis C treatments. The company's three sectors -- consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices -- give it a diversification that's unmatched, and growth in healthcare is likely to beat household products over the coming years as baby boomers age and the Affordable Care Act lifts healthcare spending. Johnson & Johnson pays a dividend yield of 2.6%, nearly as high as P&G, but its dividend has been growing faster than the Tide-maker's in the last two years as Procter & Gamble barely lifted its dividend 1% this year. Both companies are dividend aristocrats, but J&J is a bit cheaper at a P/E of 22. As a megacap dividend aristocrat, Johnson & Johnson offers similar benefits to Procter & Gamble, but its strong position in healthcare should provide greater growth in the coming years as P&G futzes through its turnaround. Earlier this month, Philip Morris International (PM 3.34%) released the results from its new tobacco Reduced Risk Product scientific research. The new division, PMI Science, employs over 300 scientists to study the potential health risks of the company's new products aimed at making tobacco consumption less harmful. Why would a cigarette company conduct such a study, what were the findings from the study, and will the efforts help the company grow long-term? The setup for the study As the world's population grows, the number of smokers is expected to grow as well. According to the World Health Organization, there will be more than 1 billion smokers by the year 2025. So why would Philip Morris, the company most famous for selling Marlboro outside the United States, be interested in studying tobacco alternatives? The company cites increasing regulatory efforts aimed at reducing smoking and educating people about the risks. As a result of these increased regulatory efforts, even high-growth emerging markets have been slowing in recent years. Shipments of cigarettes in developed markets such as North America and Western Europe have been decreasing in the past few years. In fact, worldwide cigarette consumption broke a decades-long trend when use fell 1.8% in 2014, led by a surprise decrease in China. For these reasons, Philip Morris is developing and studying a portfolio of alternatives. The company's report states the following: Our objective is to replace cigarettes with RRPs as soon as possible. The scientific work we're conducting is at the heart of this transformation. Our approach is based on the acknowledgment that innovative products will benefit public health if they meet two conditions: first, they must significantly reduce risk of disease compared with cigarettes; and, second, they must be acceptable enough to smokers to encourage them to switch to such reduced-risk alternatives. Basically, if you had any ideas that big tobacco has found a moral high ground, think again. These efforts are aimed at reducing tobacco use risks only if smokers want the new products, and only if the new products help get regulators out of the way. As a company with shareholders demanding ever increasing profits, though, such is the duty a company like Philip Morris has accepted. The gist of the study PMI Science starts by studying new products in laboratory settings and finishes with studies in the real world. The lab first demonstrates that the new product doesn't cause combustion of the tobacco or nicotine-containing material. The next step is to verify that the lack of combustion results in reduced levels of "harmful and potentially harmful compounds," or HPHCs. The last step is to conduct studies on how the consumers use the new products in the marketplace. These studies coincide with long-term clinical studies that attempt to find out if the new products reduce the health risks associated with traditional smoking. To date, the company has developed two systems of nicotine delivery. The first are products that electrically heat tobacco, but not to the point that the tobacco reaches combustion. The second group consists of nicotine-containing but non-tobacco products that are heated and create a vapor. What were the findings? Based on initial studies conducted in Japan and the United States, the company has found that smokers who switched to electrically heated products saw reduced exposure to HPHCs approaching, but typically not quite reaching, levels of exposure for those who quit using tobacco completely. Philip Morris plans on submitting results to a scientific journal for peer review later this year as well as sponsor an expanded program of study measuring longer-term effects of switching to electrically heated products. The Investigator Initiated Studies Program has been launched as a pilot program, and company support is available for researchers interested. Has Big Tobacco won a battle or the war? Perhaps you're thinking that new smoking products will reinitiate a wave of growth for cigarette companies. Philip Morris studied that idea, too. When presented with cigarette alternative product messages, non-intended audiences (read: non-smokers) showed no interest in using the products. That would suggest that a new avenue for growth is not being developed here, since non-smokers aren't showing any new interest in starting with an alternative product. How about the goal of getting regulators to relax? Recent history would suggest not so much. The electronic-cigarette industry was dealt a blow earlier this year, when the FDA levied new regulations in the United States that would give the power to control new products the same way cigarettes are. A spirited debate and a lawsuit against the FDA has ensued since. As that conversation continues to unfold, it would at least initially indicate that new alternative products aren't Big Tobacco's silver bullet to regulation. Philip Morris has the advantage of not selling in the U.S., so the company hopes the new study will help get a jump on increased scrutiny in other markets, especially the all-important developing markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. A highlight from the company's second-quarter earnings was that electrically heated products in Japan have grown to own 2.2% of total smoking products market share. Shipped units increased to 1.6 billion, up from 56 million last year, indicating massive growth potential for the new alternative. However, total volume of cigarettes shipped so far this year is down 7.5% for Asia and down 3.2% worldwide from the first six months of 2015. Rather than being an exciting new growth opportunity for investors to mull over, new reduced risk products are starting to look like a way for Big Tobacco to hold on to what it already has. Image source: Vipshop. One of the market's biggest winners in the three-year span between 2012 and 2014 is showing signs of life again, as shares ofVipshop (NYSE: VIPS)soared 11.48% last week. There was no company-specific news to spur last week's buying spree, but the stock has been moving higher since the company posted blowout financial results this summer. Chinese stocks generally moved higher on the week. A likely catalyst came when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered some encouraging news about the state of the economy in the world's most populous nation. He thinks the country could sustain growth at a healthy rate in the long term. He's also backing proposals to open China's economy by encouraging development. However, Vipshop wouldn't go along for the ride if investors didn't think the former market darling was back on track. That confirmation came in August, when it posted better-than-expected results for the second quarter. Flash sale on a flash-sale provider The fast-growing online discounter of branded apparel clocked in with $2.02 billion in revenue for the second quarter, 49% ahead of the prior year. That may be light relative to its historical standards, but it was an acceleration from the prior quarter's 41% year-over-year gain. Analysts were holding out for only $1.9 billion in revenue. Adjusted earnings rose 31% to $0.17 a share, also well ahead of the $0.15 the Wall Street pros were targeting. Vipshopwas a blazing investment a few years ago, soaring 174%, 370%, and 133% in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. When you double three years in a row, you typically attract investor attention, but Vipshop remained largely off the radar for stateside growth seekers skeptical of China's dot-com offerings. The stock's three-year run concluded with a 10-for-1 stock split in late 2014, but that's when growth began to slow for both Vipshop's business and its stock. Shares of Vipshop declined 22% last year, and they were trading lower again this year before this summer's blowout quarter. Vipshop's popularity continues to grow. The flash sale provider has 23 million active customers, 62% more than it had on its rolls a year earlier. They're not placing as many orders as they used to, and the orders are smaller -- hence the mere 49% spike in revenue -- but it's still impressive volume. Growth might slow at this point. Vipshop's guidance last month was calling for just 37% to 43% in top-line growth for the current quarter that ends this week. However, it was targeting only 37% to 42% last time out, and the market was still treated to a 49% surge in revenue. If Vipshop is back just as investors are warming up to Chinese e-tailers, it could be the right stock at the right time. Dangdang (NYSE: DANG) -- another online retailer that also had its share of ups and downs -- punched out last week. It was taken private after Tuesday's market close, a path that many out-of-favor Chinese growth stocks have followed in light of investor apathy. That's not Vipshop's problem these days. It may never have another three-year run the way it did between 2012 and 2014, but it's inching its way back into favor now. 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. Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Philip Morris International. Earlier this month, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) released the results from its new tobacco Reduced Risk Product scientific research. The new division, PMI Science, employs over 300 scientists to study the potential health risks of the company's new products aimed at making tobacco consumption less harmful. Why would a cigarette company conduct such a study, what were the findings from the study, and will the efforts help the company grow long-term? The setup for the study As the world's population grows, the number of smokers is expected to grow as well. According to the World Health Organization, there will be more than 1 billion smokers by the year 2025. So why would Philip Morris, the company most famous for selling Marlboro outside the United States, be interested in studying tobacco alternatives? The company cites increasing regulatory efforts aimed at reducing smoking and educating people about the risks. As a result of these increased regulatory efforts, even high-growth emerging markets have been slowing in recent years. Shipments of cigarettes in developed markets such as North America and Western Europe have been decreasing in the past few years. In fact, worldwide cigarette consumption broke a decades-long trend when use fell 1.8% in 2014, led by a surprise decrease in China. For these reasons, Philip Morris is developing and studying a portfolio of alternatives. The company's report states the following: Basically, if you had any ideas that big tobacco has found a moral high ground, think again. These efforts are aimed at reducing tobacco use risks only if smokers want the new products, and only if the new products help get regulators out of the way. As a company with shareholders demanding ever increasing profits, though, such is the duty a company like Philip Morris has accepted. The gist of the study PMI Science starts by studying new products in laboratory settings and finishes with studies in the real world. The lab first demonstrates that the new product doesn't cause combustion of the tobacco or nicotine-containing material. The next step is to verify that the lack of combustion results in reduced levels of "harmful and potentially harmful compounds," or HPHCs. The last step is to conduct studies on how the consumers use the new products in the marketplace. These studies coincide with long-term clinical studies that attempt to find out if the new products reduce the health risks associated with traditional smoking. To date, the company has developed two systems of nicotine delivery. The first are products that electrically heat tobacco, but not to the point that the tobacco reaches combustion. The second group consists of nicotine-containing but non-tobacco products that are heated and create a vapor. A myriad of electronic nicotine delivery methods has been developed. Image source: US Food and Drug Administration. What were the findings? Based on initial studies conducted in Japan and the United States, the company has found that smokers who switched to electrically heated products saw reduced exposure to HPHCs approaching, but typically not quite reaching, levels of exposure for those who quit using tobacco completely. Philip Morris plans on submitting results to a scientific journal for peer review later this year as well as sponsor an expanded program of study measuring longer-term effects of switching to electrically heated products. The Investigator Initiated Studies Program has been launched as a pilot program, and company support is available for researchers interested. Has Big Tobacco won a battle or the war? Perhaps you're thinking that new smoking products will reinitiate a wave of growth for cigarette companies. Philip Morris studied that idea, too. When presented with cigarette alternative product messages, non-intended audiences (read: non-smokers) showed no interest in using the products. That would suggest that a new avenue for growth is not being developed here, since non-smokers aren't showing any new interest in starting with an alternative product. How about the goal of getting regulators to relax? Recent history would suggest not so much. The electronic-cigarette industry was dealt a blow earlier this year, when the FDA levied new regulations in the United States that would give the power to control new products the same way cigarettes are. A spirited debate and a lawsuit against the FDA has ensued since. As that conversation continues to unfold, it would at least initially indicate that new alternative products aren't Big Tobacco's silver bullet to regulation. Philip Morris has the advantage of not selling in the U.S., so the company hopes the new study will help get a jump on increased scrutiny in other markets, especially the all-important developing markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. A highlight from the company's second-quarter earnings was that electrically heated products in Japan have grown to own 2.2% of total smoking products market share. Shipped units increased to 1.6 billion, up from 56 million last year, indicating massive growth potential for the new alternative. However, total volume of cigarettes shipped so far this year is down 7.5% for Asia and down 3.2% worldwide from the first six months of 2015. Rather than being an exciting new growth opportunity for investors to mull over, new reduced risk products are starting to look like a way for Big Tobacco to hold on to what it already has. 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. Nicholas Rossolillo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Long before Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie became one of Hollywood's most beloved couples, they were living separate lives with different people, while rising to fame in the acting world. The duo, who announced they were divorcing after two years of marriage on Tuesday, has had their fair share of hot hookups. From fast flings with co-stars to real-life romances, ET is breaking down Pitt and Jolie's famous arm candy over the years. WATCH: Report Claims Brad Pitt Is Under Investigation for Alleged Incident Involving His Child Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, 1998-2005 When Pitt fell in love with Jolie on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," he was still married to Aniston. The two said "I do" in Malibu, California, in 2000, after dating since 1998 when they were set up on a blind date by both of their agents. "I have to think there's some reason I have called this into my life," Aniston revealed to Vanity Fair in Sept. 2005, her first interview following the split. "I have to believe that -- otherwise it's just cruel." Angelina Jolie & Billy Bob Thornton, 1999-2003 Jolie met Thornton on the set of 1999's "Pushing Tin." They dated for two months before saying "I do," later divorcing in 2003. "It was a crazy time," the actor told The Hollywood Reporter of their whirlwind romance in Oct. 2014. "I've never been fond of it." Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate, 1989 After dating Pitt briefly, the "Bad Moms" star (who also played Aniston's sister on "Friends") took the actor as her date to the MTV Movie Awards in 1989, but ditched him to hang out with another guy! During her appearance on Watch What Happens Live last August, she admitted that was the end to their short but sweet relationship (she has yet to reveal who the other guy was). PHOTOS: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Sweetest Moments Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, 1994-1997 Young love! This adorable duo met in 1994 while on the set of "Seven." Two years later, Pitt proposed to the actress, but ultimately called off their engagement in 1997. Back when the pair was head-over-heels for each other, Pitt told ET popping the question to Paltrow was "one of the greatest moments" of his life. "I guess I'm gonna be a dad with a lot of kids," he said at the time. Angelina Jolie & Jonny Lee Miller, 1995-1999 After meeting and falling for her Hackers costar in 1995, her first real relationship since her early teens, Jolie and Miller eloped in Las Vegas in 1996. Unfortunately, things didn't work out and they ultimately called it quits. According to an interview Jolie did with Buzzfeed in May 2014, the two are still "great" friends. "I think of [Jonny] when I think of that [film]," she dished. "Although, I'm sure the movie looks so ancient now, but we had a lot of fun making that." Brad Pitt and Robin Givens, 1986-1987 One of Pitt's earliest public relationships was with Mike Tyson's ex-wife, and his "Head of the Class" co-star. The actress was criticized for divorcing the professional boxer, but joked that dating Pitt helped ease the pain. During an interview with Huffington Post Live in January 2013, Tyson explained that in the midst of his divorce from Givens, they were "still having sex" -- until he saw Pitt in the passenger's seat of her car one day. Brad Pitt and Jill Schoelen, 1989 "Cutting Class" was not only the film that featured Pitt in his first starring role, it's also where he met his reported first fiancee. The pair dated for a short three months before he was rumored to ask the actress to marry him. Shortly after, Schoelen called it off when the two were in Budapest, Hungary. "I got there, went straight to the set where she was filming ("The Phantom of the Opera") and that night we went out to dinner," Pitt recalled to The Sun in April 2011. "She told me that she had fallen in love with the director of the film. I was so shocked I said, 'I'm outta here.' WATCH: Angelina Jolie Files for Divorce From Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie & Jenny Shimizu, '90s and '00s Jolie dated the actress on-and-off for several years in the '90s and early '00's, after meeting during a casting for Foxfire. "I fell in love with her the first second I saw her," Jolie explained in a 1997 interview with Girlfriends magazine. "We had a lot of fun. I probably would have married Jenny Shimizu if I hadn't married my [first] husband." Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis, 1989-1993 After working together in "Too Young to Die?" and "Kalifornia," the two decided to become more than just close co-stars. Their relationship lasted for about four years, but while chatting with the Huffington Post in Sept. 2014, Lewis said she's amazed that people still find their romance fascinating, all these years later. "Whenever I get asked Brad questions, I'm like, 'Do you want to talk about my seventh-grade crush?' Because that was my boyfriend too," she joked. Angelina Jolie & Colin Farrell, 2004 While this romance was never confirmed by either party, the two were rumored to be hooking up before Jolie gave Pitt a shot at love. The actress was reportedly infatuated with Farrell on the set of their film, "Alexander," but he apparently wasn't feeling a relationship with her and put a stop to their fling during a press tour for the movie. WATCH: Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt: A Timeline of Their Relationship The homecoming celebration at a Pennsylvania high school Saturday night was extra special for a student battling a rare brain disorder. Crowning of homecoming king will warm your heart (PHOTOS) https://t.co/0YVX8y6S3T pic.twitter.com/NPQiLZ6Zck Joseph Roy (@BASDSUPT) September 25, 2016 Students at Freedom High in Bethlehem chose as the homecoming king senior Adam Recke, who has Type C Niemann-Pick, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder, often called Childhood Alzheimer's, Lehighvalleylives.com reported Sunday. The disorder afflicts only 500 people around the world. Recke, who is 17, was diagnosed with the disease when he was 6. You can see the smile on his face, Sean Recke, Adam's father, told WFMZ-TV. It means the world to him. He didn't even know what to do. This is so exciting for him. It really is. The gymnasium erupted in cheers when Freedom principal Michaele LaPorta announced the votes, the station reported. Its heartwarming, LaPorta said. According to Lehighvalleylive.com, the disease hasnt stopped Recke from acting in plays -- and just being a teenager. Recke cannot metabolize cholesterol and other lipids in his body, which causes them to build up in his liver, spleen and brain at toxic levels that destroy the cells controlling mobility and cognition, the news outlet reported. He is participating in a clinical trial of a drug aimed at slowing down the diseases decline. The question, taken at face value, seems preposterous: Can we cure all diseases in our childrens lifetime? It takes a very bold thinker to answer, Yes. And it takes very deep pockets to try to make it happen. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, are bold thinkers with deep pockets. The couple announced this week that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the limited liability company into which theyve put their Facebook shares, will invest at least $3 billion over the next 10 years to achieve that lofty goal. Theyll start by providing $600 million to build the Biohub, a research lab of engineers and scientists in San Francisco. The first disease to be wiped off the face of the earth must be ignorance. The health care industry has impeded progress because it has failed miserably in the effective use of available data. It has been the poster boy of ignorance. Good for them. Ultimately, it will take trillions of dollars not just $3 billion to eradicate all human diseases. But setting the bar incredibly high ensures that our investment, initiative, enthusiasm and effort will remain focused on pursuing the goal, no matter how long it takes. Compromise will not be an option. The very idea of curing, preventing or managing all human diseases by the 22nd century now becomes the catalyst for massive investment in areas of technology and research that will fundamentally change the way we think about health and disease. Its not as crazy as it sounds. Consider that just a decade ago, hardly anyone imagined that human beings across the planet would be able to communicate daily on a common platform, obliterating boundaries that had existed for millennia. But they are thanks to Zuckerberg, who had the foresight to envision how human relationships would evolve through technology. Ten years from now, maybe well be talking about a different platform, but one thing is for sure: Facebook, like the printing press and the telegraph and the telephone and television and radio, will always hold a position on the list of things that changed the way people connect. Mindful of that, there are a few lessons to be learned from the way Facebook evolved that scientists, biologists, physicians and educators should keep in mind as we move toward eradicating human disease. 1. Data is key. Ive spent more than 20 years in health care working with data, and I am astounded daily by how poorly the industry uses data. So, apparently, is Zuckerberg. "We spend 50 times more on health care treating people who are sick than we spend on science research (to cure) diseases so that people don't get sick in the first place," he told the Associated Press. If you look at companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon on the cellular level, you find that data is the nucleus around which theyve built everything. It has unleashed information about consumers behavior, preferences and consumption patterns, enabling them not only to give customers exactly what they want, but also to make them want more. Look closely at these Silicon Valley companies and you see that one-third of their employees are data scientists whose sole job is to work on this core resource. But look under the hood of most major health care companies and you find, at best, just a handful of data scientists. One can only hope that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiatives investment in ending disease will finally persuade the health care industry to allocate massive dollars to data science and technology. No major investor, hedge fund or philanthropist has stepped up to effect such a change. Now the time has come. 2. The power of influence and networking. Facebook transformed the structure of human relationships by eliminating the global boundaries of communication. Zuckerberg initially had no real business model, other than to create more users and a captive audience, but he understood that a massive worldwide network of people would generate data that would reveal their likes and dislikes. Once Facebook reached a critical mass of users, it set in motion a flywheel of data that created a gold mine of opportunity in understanding human behavior. The health care industry can leverage the same principals and the beauty is that it wont require building a new network, because it already exists. Whether youre at the gym, the grocery store, the doctors office, the emergency room, the pharmacy or your workplace, that information is being captured. But none of it is being used to study how your behavior and decisions affect the biology of disease, which is critical to eradicating it. Using the data that already exists will help scientists develop cures and preventive measures. 3. The importance of education. As a physician, Chan has more than an observers interest in wiping out disease. "I've been with families where we've hit the limit of what's possible through medicine and science," she told the AP. "I've had to tell families devastating diagnoses of leukemia, or that we just weren't able to resuscitate their child." As millennials with a 10-month-old child, Zuckerberg and Chan know they may not live to see their goal accomplished, but their daughter may. And they know that education will be key to developing a new breed of physicians and scientists who have the skill set needed not just to be good clinicians, but also to understand and analyze data far more than their predecessors. Right now, the health care industry is focused on putting out small fires. What Zuckerberg and Chan envision is an environment where the flame never ignites. Their long-term goal isnt to treat disease. Its to obliterate it. And heres where it has to start: The first disease to be wiped off the face of the earth must be ignorance. The health care industry has impeded progress because it has failed miserably in the effective use of available data. It has been the poster boy of ignorance. What the health care industry needs now is bold thinkers, people like Zuckerberg and Chan, and Bill and Melinda Gates, people with big ideas and deep pockets who want to make the world better for everyone in it. Eradicating all diseases in our childrens lifetime would be a great place to start. Three Walmart workers in McDonough, Ga., refused to decorate a thin blue line cake for a police officers retirement party because they said it was racist. A number of my Georgia readers alerted me to the story and on Saturday night I spoke directly with the police officers daughter. She asked that I not divulge her name and Ive agreed to do that. Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a free, must-have resource for Conservatives! I was so shocked, she told me. I didnt know what to do or say or anything. I was trying not to lose my temper or make a scene. For the record, Walmart has confessed that most of her allegations are true. Our goal is to always take care of customers. But, sometimes we misstep. We're glad we were able to connect with the family to apologize and make this right, the retailer said in a statement. For the full story, read my column below. Read more on Todd Starnes.com The final hours before tonight's first 2016 presidential debate brought all the hype of a political version of the Super Bowl, with expectations, predictions and talk of special guests -- and Hillary Clinton's customized lectern -- dominating coverage. Arguments about whether Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump or Democratic rival Hillary Clinton would do better on substance or style were indeed largely overshadowed this weekend by Trump suggesting Saturday that hed invite Gennifer Flowers, with whom Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, has acknowledged having a sexual encounter. Clinton's podium will feature a customized step stool to compensate for the 10-inch height advantage held by the 6-foot-3 Donald Trump, a maneuver that could boost the optics for the Democratic nominee. As to Flowers, GOP vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence told Fox News Sunday that Trump was merely mocking the Clinton campaign for confirming that Trump nemesis-entrepreneur Mark Cuban was indeed invited to a front-row seat at the Hofstra University debate. He argued the campaign was really trying to distract attention from where the American people are going to be focused, which is picking a president to chart the future of America. However, the Indiana governors comments did little to end the debate sideshow. Its legitimate to have a business person sitting there who's been advocating for you because of your economic policies, Clinton campaign strategist Joel Benenson told Fox News Sunday. Former Obama campaign official Stephanie Cutter later told NBCs Meet the Press" that Clinton and Trump are trying to throw each other off their game. The difference is that Hillary Clinton is doing it with a legitimate businessman, also a celebrity, she said. Trump is just jumping right down in the sewer and swimming by inviting Gennifer Flowers. Clinton, a former New York senator and secretary of state, and Trump, a first-time candidate and reality TV star, are essentially tied with Election Day about six weeks away, according to essentially every major poll. And their debate preparations are reflective of their paths to success -- with Clinton off the campaign trail to study briefing books at her Westchester, N.Y., home and participate in mock debates Longtime Clinton aide Philippe Reines, a combative political operative, is purportedly playing Trump in the rehearsals. And President Clinton has sat in on some sessions, offering advice from his own White House debates. Trump has eschewed traditional debate preparations but has held midflight policy discussions with a rotating cast of advisers. He's also spent numerous Sundays batting around ideas with aides. He remained on the campaign trail this weekend, with a stop Saturday in southwestern Virginia. Trumps loose approach is potentially risky, considering he is new to the 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 GOP House speaker and a Trump adviser who has been talking through policy with the candidate in recent days. The 90-minute debate in Long Island, N.Y., is expected to attract 75 million viewers -- many of them disenchanted with both candidates, the least-popular presidential hopefuls in history. On Sunday, Clinton campaign aides express concern about Trump's habit of saying things that might be untrue and voters general distrust of Clinton. Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, on ABCs This Week called on NBC debate moderator Lester Holt to correct inaccuracies made by the candidates. But Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said it's not the job of debate moderators to fact check. The Clinton aides also fear Trump will be judged more for his performance than his grasp of the numerous challenges that pass across a president's desk. Trump will likely need to prove to voters that he has the policy depth and gravitas to serve as commander in chief. Clinton will likely need to connect with Americans who question whether she can be trusted. Clinton will be the first woman to take the stage in a presidential general election debate. Trump emerged as the Republican nominee in an improbable primary run in which he gave an overall, solid debate performance amid a huge field of established politicians and debaters. However, he will not likely be able to resort on Monday to the personal attacks that doomed such primary rivals as GOP Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. People familiar with Clinton's preparations say she has been working on addressing possible questions about her lack of trustworthiness, a problem that has dogged her throughout the campaign. Supporters cringed during a candidate forum earlier this month when Clinton was pressed about her use of a private server system while running the State Department and became defensive, rather than apologizing and trying to move on quickly. 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. "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 Obama. "The differences don't have to be manufactured. The differences exist." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday as the presidential candidates brush up on foreign policy hours before their debate. Clintons meeting with Netanyahu was brief. The two met for less than an hour in Manhattan, according to Clinton campaign officials. Her meeting came after Trump sat down with the prime minister at his residence in Trump Tower at length, Trump campaign officials said. Reporters were barred from covering either meeting. Clintons' campaign said in a statement that the two had an "in-depth conversation." She stressed that "a strong and secure Israel is vital to the United States" and "reaffirmed unwavering commitment" to the relationship. According to her campaign, Clinton stressed her support for the 10-year, $38 billion military aid package signed between the two countries earlier the month and opposition to efforts to boycott Israel. They also discussed Iran, the conflict in Syria and other regional challenges, including her support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict negotiated by the two parties not an outside organization like the U.N. Security Council. Trump and Netanyahu discussed such key issues as the Iran nuclear deal, Middle East stability and the problems that the Islamic State terror group has created in the region, according to Trump campaign officials. Trump and Netanyahu are long-time acquaintances. But in December 2015, Trump 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. The Trump campaign said Sunday that the nominee and the prime minister have known each other for many years and had the opportunity to discuss many topics important to both countries, citing ISIS, the Iran deal and Trump suggesting, if elected, continuing U.S. military aid to Israel. Trump and other leading Republicans have suggested that 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 United States also provides billons annually to Israel in military aid. Most recently, Trump and fellow Republicans have agreed with Netanyahu that the administration-brokered Iran nuclear deal hurts Israel, Tehrans enemy, because it lifts economic sanctions without enough safeguards to ensure Iran has indeed curbed efforts to build a nuclear weapon. Mr. Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism, the campaign also said after the meeting. He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State. They also said Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for more than 3,000 years and that the U.S., with Trump as president, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel. Netanyahus meeting with each of the candidates was designed to put Israel on good footing with the next U.S. president. Both candidates likely will seek Netanyahus support for their respective White House bids, considering Israel is often called the United States most important ally. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. But it also served to showcase the candidates' expertise in foreign policy in the shadow of their first debate Monday, six weeks before Election Day. Clinton, a former senator and secretary of state, often says that Trump does not know enough about the world and lacks the temperament to be president. Trump has argued that he has extensive experience with foreign policy through his career as a business executive and blames Clinton for many of the nation's stumbles in foreign policy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted Saturday that he would invite former Bill Clinton paramour Gennifer Flowers to sit in the front row at Monday's first presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, but a campaign insider told Fox News on Sunday he would not invite any special guests to call attention to the Clinton family's history. Trump made the initial suggestion via social media after the Clinton campaign invited Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and prominent Trump critic, to the debate. Trump initially misspelled Flowers' first name, with a J, then tweeted again to fix the mistake. Clinton campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri responded: "Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people's lives." She added: "It's not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path." Hours later, Trump told supporters in Virginia that if elected, he would do more to help women than Clinton. "My opponent likes to say that for decades she's been fighting for women, that she's been fighting for children. Why, then, are 70 million American women and children living in poverty or on the brink of poverty in our country?" Trump asked a rally crowd in Roanoke. "For years she's been doing this and she's done nothing." Trump has been criticized throughout the campaign for comments he has made about women in the past, including remarks about their physical appearance. Clinton's campaign has tried to capitalize on those comments, including with a new ad that features images of adolescent girls looking at their reflections as audio of Trump's comments play. Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 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 says he created it to remind the Republican presidential nominee that he has "stirred the pot of racism, anger and fear." He says he wants to help Trump reflect on the legacy he's leaving. Dubbed "The Trump Tombstone," it appeared last spring in the Manhattan park in the middle of the night. Police quickly removed it and held it for months. When discovered, Whiteley paid a $300 fine for littering. This weekend, the tombstone reappeared in a Brooklyn gallery. Three people died on Sunday after two small planes collided in the air and then crashed in western New York, The Buffalo News reported. The FAA said the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Sunday in North Collins, south of Buffalo. One of the planes was a Cessna 120; the other was a Piper PA-28. One person who died was a 60-year-old Hamburg man. The other two were a couple from Eden, both 69, according to The Buffalo News. Erie County Sheriff's Office Chief Scott Joslyn said the planes departed from Hamburg Airport, about 10 miles away from the crash site. The pilots of each aircraft were experienced amateur pilots with at least 15 years of experience flying. The planes were in a group of six that took off together and were flying to St. Mary's, PA to get breakfast, The Buffalo News reported. "We're all shaking in our boots now," said airport Vice President Larry Walsh. The FAA said it would investigate, and the National Transportation Safety Board would determine the cause of the incident. "We have several eyewitnesses who saw the planes approaching before there was contact," Joslyn told The Buffalo News. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Three adults and one child are dead after an early morning fire at a home in Massachusetts, authorities said. State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Greenfield fire Chief Robert Strahan said it happened Sunday at a single-family home in Greenfield, about 40 miles north of Springfield. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities didn't release further details. Ben Steele, a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March during World War II, has died in Montana. He was 98. Shirley Steele told KTVQ her husband died Sunday morning. His book Tears in the Darkness --The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath chronicled his experiences during the war, the station reports. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard. They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked enemy ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces. Steele was a POW for 1,244 days, the station reported. After the war he became a distinguished artist. The alleged New Jersey terrorist charged with trying to blow up Chelsea last weekend with homemade bombs spent weeks getting an Islamic education at a Pakistani seminary, according to a report. Ahman Khan Rahami spent three weeks in Kuchlak, an area described as a longtime hub for the Taliban, in 2011, a security official inside the country told the Guardian. Rahami, 28, attended lectures at the Kaan Kuwa Naqshbandi madrasa. Click to read more from The New York Post. The identical twin brother of a Cook County man who has been in prison for over a decade has confessed to committing his brother's crime. The Chicago Tribune reports that Karl Smith testified in court Thursday and said that he committed the murder his brother, Kevin Dugar, has been in custody for since 2003. County prosecutors questioned the admission, telling Judge Vincent Gaughan that Smith only came forward after an appeals court upheld his own conviction for attempted murder. Smith is serving a 99-year prison sentence for his part in a home invasion and armed robbery in 2008 in which a 6-year-old boy was shot in the head. Dugar's lawyer, Karen Daniel, says the evidence against her client during his trial was thin. It's unclear when Gaughan will decide if Dugar should get a new trial. The term work-life balance has been so frequently tossed around in the past decade that it has almost become meaningless -- a vague, distant goal that most claim to strive for but no one seems to wholly attain. In Silicon Valley especially, where your lack of sleep is a bragging right and the 40-hour workweek feels like a thing of the past, its easy to lose sight of the value of a meaningful life outside work, and some even view it as an impediment to professional success. As the CEO of a Silicon Valley-based business for the past 20 years, I intend to make the case for true work-life balance, and offer some advice for making a genuine effort to improve this aspect of your company. In defense of life outside of work. Rejuvenated, energized employees are productive employees. There is an incredible amount of research dedicated to the effects of overworking, work-related stress and the numerous detriments associated with both (a few of which are listed below). Being able to truly check out of work (both physically and mentally) at a decent hour and spend time on something completely unrelated is critical to reducing stress levels. Related: The Truth About Work-Life Balance According to data accrued by the recently launched Happiness App experiment (where 10,000 users logged in to record their various levels of happiness each hour of the day), the sharpest overall peak in happiness on any given day is around 7 p.m., presumably a time when people are at home, spending time with loved ones, socializing or decompressing from the day. Similarly, a 75-year study on happiness and adult development concluded that good relationships keep us happier and healthier, period. Employees deserve the chance to cultivate relationships outside of work -- the results will benefit employee and employer alike. The problem. When being overworked starts to seem like the national pastime, employees are going to feel pressure to put in longer hours at work. Add a burgeoning mobile workforce to the mix, and we get employees working a 50- to 60-hour workweek, who feel additional pressure to be available in their few off-hours via email, cell, Slack, etc. It should come as no surprise that one in three full-time employees cite work-life balance as increasingly difficult to achieve in the past five years, according to an Ernst & Young survey. There are several reasons why this is bad for you, and bad for business: 1. You arent as productive as you think you are. Workers report spending an average of 50 minutes each workday on non-work activities, and it's likely this self-reported figure is significantly less than the actual one. Further research shows that employee productivity significantly drops off after a 50-hour workweek -- so much so that someone who works a 70-hour workweek is equally productive as someone who works a 55-hour workweek, and ultimately produces nothing more with those extra 15 hours. Related: 5 Secrets to Achieving and Maintaining Work-Life Balance 2. Youre putting your health at risk. According to the American Institute of Stress, the correlation between job-related stress and heart attacks is so widely acknowledged that in Los Angeles, New York City and several other districts, any police officer who has a heart attack on or off the job is presumed to have a work-related injury and is compensated accordingly. Work-related stress is a well-documented detriment to employee health, and costs businesses an estimated $200 to $300 billion annually in lost productivity. 3. This is a gendered issue. Full-time female employees with families still shoulder a disproportionate amount of housework and childcare at home (often called the double shift) compared to their male counterparts. A recent Harvard Business Review study found that 60 percent of male executives have spouses who dont work full-time outside the house that can take the reins on family-related work, compared to just 10 percent of female executives. Bottom line: Are you looking to save money on insurance costs, decrease absenteeism and turnover, maximize productivity and have overall happier, healthier and energized employees? Commit to a culture of work-life balance. 1. Consider a use it or lose it vacation policy. While unlimited PTO policies are gaining recent traction, studies have shown that the use it or lose it approach (a policy that doesnt allow accumulated vacation days to rollover to the next year) is far more effective in incentivizing employees to actually take a vacation. As a bonus, this approach relieves your company of any potential unused vacation liability. 2. Try flex time or work-from-home days. A survey from the Society for Human Resource Management found that home-based employees were 13 percent more productive than their office-based counterparts. Flex time has proved similarly beneficial, with a recent report demonstrating how flex-time options improve employee retention. Of course, the ability to work from home or schedule your own non-traditional weekly hours hinges heavily on an employees particular role, and isnt a feasible option for everyone. Still, even minor schedule tweaks (allowing employees with long commutes to come in early and leave early to avoid rush hour, for example) can result in drastic changes in employee satisfaction. 3. Structure your culture thoughtfully. Do your late meeting times prevent people from getting home at a decent hour? Are your office social functions not particularly family-friendly? Do you encourage staying late by catering dinner? These are subtle ways you could be barring your employees from a healthy work-life balance. While catered meals and work-sponsored happy hours are much-loved perks, consider catering just breakfast and lunch, and hosting happy hour at a Lucky Strike from time to time. These small changes can do a lot to alleviate the tension employees (particularly parents) might feel between work and home. 4. Educate your employees. Implement an education initiative to inform your employees about the importance of work-life balance and to equip them with various tools to achieve it. This could be a seminar, webinar, lunch series or even a talk from a hired professional. This is also a good way to walk the walk by demonstrating your commitment to supporting your employees in this endeavor. Related: Adopt These 12 Habits for a Better Work-Life Balance Ultimately, the most universal piece of advice I can give is to lead by example, because no policy is effective unless your company leadership supports it. If execs and managers consistently work late, spurn vacation time and answer emails off-hours, then that establishes the norm for the people that work for them. Of course, there will be days where you have no choice but to work late, work on the weekend or spend time answering emails after dinner -- the important part is to make this the exception, not the norm. At Replicon, we adhere to a true nine-to-five workday. Its not unusual to see only a few people left in the office after 6 p.m. If you email someone in the off-hours, its not unusual for them to wait until the next morning to respond. For the most part, this is true for Replicon employees of all levels, including our executive team, and in no way has this impeded our success or progress as a company. We closed a series A in 2013 and have been growing ever since -- thanks, in part, to our commitment to relaxing and rejuvenating in our time spent outside of work. The laborious process of jury selection is getting underway in the federal death penalty trial of Dylann Roof, the white man charged in the deaths of nine black parishioners gunned down during a Bible study at a Charleston, South Carolina church. The 22-year-old Roof is charged with hate crimes and other counts in the June 17, 2015 shootings at Emanuel AME Church. The first of hundreds of potential jurors report to the courthouse in Charleston's historic district Monday. They will be asked to fill out questionnaires about what they know about the Roof case. Testimony in the case being heard by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel is not anticipated until after Thanksgiving. Roof also stands trial next year in state court for nine counts of murder. State prosecutors are also seeking the death penalty. A suspected gunman believed to have killed five people at a Washington state mall was arrested Saturday, according to authorities. At a news conference, officials said they had not ruled out any possible motives for why 20-year-old Arcan Cetin allegedly shot four women and one man at the Cascade Mall in Burlington Friday evening. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley told reporters that he spotted Cetin near the suspect's home in Oak Harbor, around 30 miles due west of the mall. Hawley said he immediately recognized Cetin as the suspect, turned his patrol car around and arrested Cetin without incident. "He said nothing," said Hawley, who added that Cetin was unarmed and carrying a computer in a satchel when he was apprehended. "He was kind of zombie-like." Mount Vernon Police Lt. Chris Cammock said Cetin had immigrated to the U.S. from Turkey and was a "legal permanent resident." It was not immediately clear when Cetin came to the U.S. Hawley said Cetin had been arrested for simple assault last year, but provided no further details on the case. The Seattle Times reported that Cetin faced three domestic violence assault charges in both Burlington and Island County, with the victim identified as Cetin's stepfather. The newspaper reports Cetin also was arrested for drunken driving. Court records show Cetin was told by a 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." Cetin was arrested almost exactly 24 hours after his alleged victims were shot at the mall Macy's makeup counter. The four female victims died in the store. The male victim died early Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. Local media outlets had identified the victims as of early Sunday. One was 16-year-old Sarai Lara, a cancer survivor and high school sophomore. Her mother, Evangelina, told the Seattle Times that through a translator that she was shopping with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up. She said Sarai went to Macy's looking for pants. News of the shooting spread through the mall, and Lara tried to get to her daughter but was unable to do so. KIRO-TV identified two more victims as Belinda Galde, 64, and her mother, 95-year-old Beatrice Dotson. The Seattle Times identified the other two victims as Macy's makeup artist Shyla Martin, 52, and Chuck Eagan, a Boeing maintenance worker who was shot while helping his wife flee the store. "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 earlier Saturday. "This was a senseless act. It was the world knocking on our doorstep, and it came into our little community." 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. The lieutenant said late Saturday that the rifle was apparently brought into the mall from a suspect vehicle. The weapon was recovered at the scene. "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. Burlington, a community of 8,600 people, is about 65 miles north of Seattle, too far 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 in a region where agriculture is king, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. 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. Joanne Burkholder, 19, of 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. "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." 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. 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, Wash. The Rev. Cody Natland lit five candles on a table in front of the church, one for each victim. The Associated Press contributed to this report. One man was killed and four other people were wounded in a pair of shootings early Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. Police believe the two shootings in the eastern Illinois city of Champaign may be related. They say the first apparently stemmed from an argument shortly after midnight at an apartment party on Green Street, the commercial heart of the campus. "Our preliminary investigation completely points to an argument taking place at the party and the argument spilled out into the street and that's when a fight occurred," Champaign police spokeswoman LaEisha Meaderds said, adding the reasons for the fight aren't clear yet. Shots were fired as the fight escalated, striking four people, she said. One of those shot, 22-year-old George Korchev, was killed, Meaderds said. She said Korchev, who was from the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, wasn't involved in the fight and wasn't a University of Illinois student. He just happened to be walking by when the shots were fired. The other three were taken to a hospital for treatment of what police called non-critical gunshot wounds. Less than half an hour later, police received a report of another shooting a few blocks west of campus. Officers found a victim, who was taken to a hospital and treated for a non-critical wound. Police are searching for a suspect or suspects in the shootings and for the driver of a vehicle that struck someone who was running away from the gunfire at the first scene. That person's injuries were minor. It isn't clear how many people were at the party because many ran when the gunfire began, Meaderds said. Police are hoping to find and speak to as many as possible. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said in a statement Sunday that city and university police were working together to aggressively pursue all leads. Shreveport police are investigating posts to a large neighborhood watch group suggesting recent car break-ins are reason to watch young, black men or teens, and even for so-called "vigilante justice." The Times reports (http://bit.ly/2d9dSVB ) that police confirmed on Thursday that they're investigating some of the posts made to the Facebook page called "Broadmoor Neighbors in Shreveport." The page's co-administrator, James Richard, says he hopes users learn that "words typed on social media can have consequences in the real world." He says administrators deleted some posts for breaking rules against abusive or inflammatory comments. The group has nearly 2,700 members. The newspaper said it received screenshots of parts of some posts, but was unable to reach the people who wrote them. Police arrested two men and a female teenager for the deaths of three people inside a Southern California home over the weekend, officials announced Sunday. Police said they located the 17-year-old daughter of the deceased couple, who was reported missing after the murders. Fullerton police Sgt. Jon Radus would not say if the arrested teen was the missing daughter of two of the victims. "Katlynn Goodwill Yost has been located and she's unharmed," he said. "State law prevents law enforcement from releasing the names of juveniles who have been arrested for crimes," Radus added. "That said, a 17-year-old female juvenile has also been detained in connection with the murders and is in the custody of the Orange County juvenile hall." The two men who were arrested were identified by authorities as Josh Acosta, 21, of Fort Irwin and Frank Felix, 25, of Sun Valley, Fox 11 reported. The investigation into the triple homicide began Saturday morning after a child called 911 to report her parents had died. Officers responded to the home in Fullerton, 26 miles southeast of Los Angeles, at around 8:20 a.m. local time after a child called 911 to report that her parents had died. Inside, first responders discovered the bodies of two men and a woman. Two young children were found unharmed. Radus declined to release the children's ages or their relationship to the three adults found inside the home, citing the ongoing investigation. He added that officials do not believe the deaths were a murder-suicide or a random act of violence. A neighbor told the Orange County Register a couple lived in the house with three children. "It's sad for the children. They're now without parents," Donna Trice told the newspaper. "The two little girls found the bodies, and that tears me up." Trice added that some neighbors reported hearing gunshots Friday evening. Radus did not disclose a motive for the killings but says investigators believe the victims were targeted by the suspects. The Associated Press contributed to this report. World War II didnt end for one Marine veteran until Wednesday. Thats when 91-year-old Indianapolis resident Junior Howell finally received his Purple Heart medal 72 years to the day after he was wounded fighting the Japanese on Peleliu island, The Indianapolis Star Press reported. Its the end of World War II for me, Howell told reporters. Everything turned out fine. I had a good life. More than 100 spectators turned out to watch the honor bestowed on Howell. Some were strangers who made the trek merely to pay their respects. From one vet to another, I wanted to show my support, ex-Army paratrooper Joe Litke told The Star Press. Howell was wounded during a sniper attack on Sept. 21, 1944. But he was initially denied the Purple Heart because his medical history which included phrases such as wounded in action against organized enemy had been overlooked. Thats whats crazy, said Nate Jones, the current veterans affairs service officer for Delaware County. Someone dropped the ball on him. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Bosnian Serbs are voting in a referendum banned by the country's constitutional court, risking Western sanctions against their autonomous region and criminal charges against their leaders. Sunday's vote is whether to keep Jan. 9 as a holiday in Republika Srpska commemorating the day in 1992 that Bosnian Serbs declared the creation of their own state and ignited a devastating 1992-95 war. The vote comes despite the top court's ruling that the date discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats in Bosnia, who were persecuted and expelled by the Serbs. The West has urged the illegal referendum not to be held but the Bosnian Serbs are backed by Russia. Western officials say they might consider halting projects in the mini-state or impose travel bans on leaders and freeze their assets. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 French President Francois Hollande has acknowledged the state's culpability in abandoning Algerians who fought alongside French colonial forces in Algeria's war for independence. Tens of thousands of the fighters, known as harkis, were massacred as traitors after the French retreat in 1962. Those who made it to France were placed in camps. Their descendants have long sought official recognition that the harkis were unjustly treated. Speaking Sunday in the Invalides monument that houses Napoleon's tomb, Hollande said, "I recognize the responsibility of French governments in abandoning the harkis, the massacres of those remaining in Algeria and the inhuman conditions for those transferred to France." The harki contingent included some 200,000 forces who fought against fellow Algerians in a war seen as one of the darkest chapters in France's modern history. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 An unlikely array of forces is converging on the city of Mosul, lining up for a battle on the historic plains of northern Iraq that is likely to be decisive in the war against the Islamic State group. The usual alliance Iraqi troops alongside Shiite militiamen, Kurdish fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and U.S special forces underscores the importance of this battle. Retaking Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, would effectively break the back of the militant group, ending their self-declared "caliphate," at least in Iraq. But victory doesn't mean an end to the conflict. In a post-Islamic State Iraq, the enmities and rivalries among the players in the anti-IS coalition could easily erupt. The battle, expected near the end of the year, threatens to be long and grueling. If IS fighters dig in against an assault, they have hundreds of thousands of residents in the city as potential human shields. And as residents flee, they fuel the humanitarian crisis in Iraq's Kurdish region around Mosul, where camps are already overcrowded with more than 1.6 million people displaced over the past two years. Humanitarian groups are rushing to prepare for potentially 1 million more who could be displaced by a Mosul assault. The biggest prize captured by the militants after they overran much of northern, western and central Iraq in the summer of 2014, Mosul has been vital for the Islamic State group. The reserves in its banks provided a massive cash boost to the group, and the city's infrastructure and resources helped IS as it set up its caliphate across Iraq and Syria. Mosul was the location chosen by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to make his first public appearance after declaring the caliphate, a triumphant sermon delivered at a historic mosque in the old city. For the past two years, much of the leadership seems to have operated from Mosul. If Mosul is retaken, it would be a nearly complete reversal of the jihadis' 2014 sweep. The group would be left with only a few pockets of territory in Iraq. IS fighters have already responded to battlefield losses by reverting to guerrilla-style tactics or retreating into neighboring Syria to defend the group's territory there, which is also rapidly eroding. For weeks, the disparate forces have clawed back territory in Nineveh province, where Mosul is located, seizing villages and key supply lines. Still, the Iraqi military's closest position is some 30 miles south of Mosul and there remain dozens of militant-held villages with civilian populations that the troops must take before reaching the city's outskirts. Kurdish forces are closer, some within 10 miles of the city to the north and east. U.S.-led coalition forces have sped up training for Iraqi troops and Kurdish fighters, condensing courses that once took more than two months into just four weeks. In July, the Pentagon announced that 560 more U.S. troops would deploy to Iraq to transform Qayara air base, south of Mosul, into a staging hub for the final assault. Still, Iraq's military is thousands of soldiers short of the estimated 30,000 troops needed to launch the assault, and the existing forces are stretched thin trying to hold other recaptured territory, particularly in western Anbar province. Iraq's "biggest challenge is generating the forces required to get to Mosul," said Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, the head of U.S ground forces in Iraq. "If you want to pull someone out of Anbar to go to Mosul, you've got to put somebody else there." Iraq's military fell apart when it fled Mosul in the face of the IS blitz two years ago, with a third of its troops melting away. In the ensuing months, it was revealed that tens of thousands of troops on the rolls did not exist: They were only names whose pay was pocketed by commanders. Since then, the military has been slowly rebuilding, while other armed forces such as Shiite militias and Iraq's Kurdish forces have steadily grown in strength. The rivalries within the alliance are already starting to show and are likely to come to a head once IS falls. The Kurds, who seized large swaths of territory during the fight against the militants, want to keep it. Iranian-backed Shiite militias demand recognition for the political and military strength they have garnered during the war. The Sunni minority is deeply worried about Shiite domination and discrimination, and those fears are likely only to grow as the community tries to recover from Islamic State rule and return to their homes. The Shiite-led government in Baghdad will have to balance among these factions. The most immediate question will be whether Shiite militias and Kurdish forces will join the assault into mainly Sunni Arab Mosul. It's a sensitive issue. Shiite militias have been accused of abuses against Sunnis in other areas they have retaken from the Islamic State group. If Kurds capture parts of the city, it gives them a strong card in future negotiations over the territory they hold. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said all forces will participate in the Mosul operation, a nod to Kurdish and Shiite militia demands. But at a news conference last week, he also said Iraqi military decisions must respect the delicate ethnic balance in Nineveh province, where most of the population is Sunni Arab, with pockets of Kurds, Shiites, Christians, Yazidis and other minority groups. When asked what role Shiite militias would have in Mosul, al-Abadi was circumspect. "I don't want Daesh to make use of sectarian conflicts," he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. Sunnis make up the vast majority of the 3.3 million Iraqis displaced by the conflict. The treatment of civilians in Mosul will likely be seen as a test of the government's commitment to lasting political reconciliation. The marginalization of Sunnis and increasingly sectarian politics under al-Abadi's predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki, fueled the rise of the Islamic State group in Iraq to begin with. For al-Abadi, retaking Mosul is a key political prize. In office just over two years, he has faced increasing anti-government sentiment fueled by IS attacks in and around the capital and the failure to fight corruption or bring reconciliation. Al-Abadi said he believes Iraq is more unified today than when he took office, but difficulties still remain and "new challenges" are likely to erupt after Mosul is liberated. "Some people tell me we should delay the liberation of Mosul because of these challenges," he said. "I say: No." ____ Keath reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Balint Szlanko and Salar Salim in Irbil, Iraq, contributed to this report. A prominent Jordanian writer on Sunday was shot dead in front of the courthouse where he had been on trial for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam. There were no immediate details on the identity or motive of the gunman. But a witness described the shooter, who was immediately arrested, as wearing a long grey robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. The shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan. Police and relatives said Nahed Hattar was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing when the lone gunman shot him at close range. "He was standing at a short distance of about one meter in front of Nahed on the stairs of the Supreme Court," the witness told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions. The witness said seven shots were fired, and that Hattar was shot in the head. The official Petra News Agency said Hattar was shot three times. Hattar, 56, was detained in August after sharing a cartoon on Facebook. The caricature depicted a bearded man in heaven, smoking and in bed with two women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what Hattar, a secular Christian, viewed as the twisted religious views of Islamic State (ISIS) extremists. The post was quickly deleted after many angry responses. Hattar was briefly detained for two weeks before he was released on bail. Saad Hattar, a cousin, said relatives and friends of the writer apprehended the killer. "Nahed was accompanied with two brothers and a friend when he was shot. The brothers and the friend chased the killer and caught him and handed him over to the police," he said. He said the family held Jordan's prime minister, Hani al-Mulki, responsible for Nahed's death. "The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing," Saad Hattar said. In a statement, the family called on the government to hold accountable all those who had incited against Hattar. "Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them," they said. Jordan is a close Western ally and has been largely spared from the violence engulfing neighboring Syria and Iraq. But a series of recent attacks has raised concern about security in the kingdom. Late last year, a Jordanian police captain opened fire on instructors at an international police training center in Jordan's capital, killing at least five people, including two Americans, before being shot dead by security forces. In June, a suicide car bomb attack near the Syrian border killed seven Jordanian soldiers. Hundreds of Jordanians have been sentenced to prison, are awaiting trial or are being held for questioning about links to ISIS. Under toughened anti-terror laws, even liking or sharing the group's propaganda on social media can land someone a prison sentence. The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local): 5:30 P.M. France's foreign minister says Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they don't pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Jean-Marc Ayrault said an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Sunday is a "moment of truth" for the U.N. He said Assad's regime "has clearly made the choice of a military escalation. I am calling on Russia and Iran to pull themselves together and show responsibility, by putting a stop to this strategy. ... If not, Russia and Iran will be accomplices in war crimes committed in Aleppo." The U.S, Britain, and France sought Sunday's meeting, as pro-government forces continued their intense bombardment of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian air strikes. ___ 3 p.m. A monitoring group says Syrian rebels have retaken an area in Aleppo that fell to government forces the day before, extending a punishing stalemate in the contested northern city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which maintains a network of local contacts, says rebels seized Handarat, a largely uninhabited Palestinian refugee camp, early Sunday. The area is near Castello Road, a vital supply route to the city's besieged rebel-held areas. Government forces seized the Castello Road earlier this year, besieging rebel-held districts where some 250,000 people reside. Yasser al-Yousef, a spokesman for the Nour el-Din al-Zinki rebel faction, says rebels seized Handarat late Saturday. The Observatory says 213 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and shelling on rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo since a cease-fire expired Monday. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Pope Francis has voiced support for Mexican bishops and citizens opposing the government's push to legalize same-sex marriage. At his weekly Sunday blessing, Francis said he willingly joined their protest "in favor of family and life, which in these times require special pastoral and cultural attention around the world." Tens of thousands of people marched through Mexico City on Saturday to protest President Enrique Pena Nieto's proposal on marriage. Wearing white, they held banners warning against same-sex marriage and demanding parents' right to control sex education in schools. Francis has opposed gay marriage and has railed against "gender ideology," particularly as taught in schools. But he rarely intervenes publicly in national debates, preferring to let local bishops take the lead. Francis visited the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Mexico in February. 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. 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. Two young women suspected of planning an attack in France were detained by police in the southern French city of Nice, a person familiar with the investigation said Sunday, the latest sign that Islamic State is shifting its focus from the battlefield in Syria to orchestrating terror plots in Europe. The two young women17 and 19 years oldhad been in contact with Rachid Kassim, a French recruiter for Islamic State, on the Telegram Messenger messaging app, the person said. Mr. Kassim, who is believed to be in Islamic State territory, couldnt be reached for comment. Mr. Kassim called on the women to attack specific sites in France to avenge the death of Abu Mohammed al Adnani, a founding member and chief spokesman for Islamic State, who was killed on a battlefield in northern Syria last month, the person added, without providing further details. Even as Islamic State loses territory in Syria and Iraq, the mushrooming of small-scale terror attacks in Europe has allowed the militant group to keep people here on edge, without having to train and equip teams to pull off highly sophisticated operations. Over the past year, a spate of terror attacks has left more than 200 people dead in France. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. A former senior British government official says Prime Minister Theresa May undermined her predecessor, David Cameron, in the run-up to Britain's June 23 referendum to leave the European Union. The accusation is levied in Sunday's published serialization of a book by Cameron's communications director, Craig Oliver. Oliver writes that Cameron was driven to the edge of exasperation while seeking support from May for voters to keep Britain inside the EU. May, home secretary in Cameron's government, was officially committed to retaining EU membership but maintained a low profile during the campaign. In his book, "Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of Brexit," Oliver says Cameron repeatedly pressed May to take a prominent role in pro-EU campaigning but she adopted a "submarine strategy of disappearing from view." May declined to respond. Colorado Sustainable Agriculture Earth Friendly Organic Farm Event Announced Celebrate Sustainability, an event run by the Institute of Ecolonomics, has been announced. It offers attendees the chance to learn about sustainable agriculture and enjoy food, music, tours, and discussions. -- The Institute of Ecolonomics (IOE) has announced its 6th annual Celebrate Sustainability event to be held at Mountain Sky Ranch in Northern Colorado. IOE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to demonstrate the power of a symbiotic relationship between a strong economy and a healthy ecology. The group's event will be a two day free event featuring food, music, tours, fishing, alpacas, sustainable agriculture, hay rides and more. More information can be found on the IOE website at: http://ecolonomics.org. The event is in partnership with Dorband & Associates (D&A), which is a group of environmentally conscious companies working in a range of different sustainable business areas, including sustainable agriculture. The location at Mountain Sky Ranch is a subsidiary of D&A that commercially practices sustainable agriculture. It raises alpacas, goats, chickens, and fish, and has a number of practices that are earth friendly. On the Institute of Ecolonomics website, visitors can discover how IOE provides business development services to entrepreneurs through innovative ideas, new technology, inventions and concepts that can help to improve the planet while generating a sustainable profit. The organization prides itself on conducting world class research, education and demonstration at its Northern Colorado Center for Ecolonomic Excellence and Development. It also strives to empower the hungry and the thirsty through a Nourish the Planet Program. The Celebrate Sustainability event is a family oriented event that is free and open to the public with discussions and hay-ride tours occurring throughout the day, and demonstrations for attendees to enjoy. These include information on small acreage farming, sustainable livestock, aquaponics for home food production, and tips for sustainable living. Throughout the weekend at the Celebrate Sustainability event, free raffles and prizes will be held, along with guided tours and hikes for people to take part in. The weekend will end with a special Ecological Aquaculture Workshop with proceeds going to supporting young entrepreneurs and sustainable agriculturalists. In addition to this, the event is being held in conjunction with National Alpaca Farm Days, and the elite herd of alpacas will be on show, where it's possible a new baby will be born. The Mountain Sky Ranch alpaca herd is among one of the best in the region and is home to the world-famous Snowmass Matrix, and a number of his sons, daughters and other relatives. Dr. Dorband, President of the Institute of Ecolonomics and Dorband & Associates, states: "This event will be fun for all the family. You can come for an hour or stay for the entire day. We will end the day with music from the popular local band, Daily Fruit, and we will enjoy some hot chocolate and tell stories by the fire. Come and join us.". For more information about the event go to http://bit.ly/1MsWN65 and find out much more about how IOE works hard to help people make some money making the planet better at http://ecolonomics.org. For more information, please visit http://ecolonomics.org Contact Info: Name: Dr. Wayne Dorband Organization: INSTITUTE OF ECOLONOMICS, LLC Address: 901 S COUNTY ROAD 31 Phone: 3034953705 Release ID: 134262 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) Just-Brill Best Digital Baby Ear Thermometer DigiThermo Launched A new digital baby thermometer has been launched by Just-Brill, where it is available on Amazon. The DigiThermo is a high quality device that reads in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. -- Just-Brill has announced the launch of a new digital baby ear thermometer, which can also take the temperature of anyone who uses it. The DigiThermo was created after the company researched the digital thermometer market and discovered that too many products were lacking in quality. Because of this, they sourced the best quality materials they could find and launched the DigiThermo in a bid to offer their customers the best thermometer available. More information can be found on the Just-Brill website at: http://just-brill.com. The site explains that, while researching the thermometer market, Just-Brill found that although many products looked the same, the materials used were often poor quality, thinner, and sometimes the functions they were supposed to provide simply didn't work, like changing the temperature scale from Celsius to Fahrenheit. Because of this, they set out to ensure that the Just-Brill DigiThermo accomplishes what the other products can't. When Just-Brill set about creating their digital baby thermometer, they wanted to ensure that the scale switch feature was there and worked well, so that users didn't have to find a conversion scale to every time they use it. The site goes on to say that the DigiThermo comes well protected and packaged, and is safe from any rough handling at the warehouse or through the postal service. The product comes with an easily recyclable cardboard box, and inside this is a zip up case which contains the DigiThermo itself. Full instructions for using the product are provided on the company website, where there is also a YouTube video showing customers how remove the battery isolation tab and begin using the product. This also shows users how to change the battery when they need to, although Just-Brill explains that the device will provide around 4,000 readings per battery. Full instructions and features are provided on the Just-Brill website, where interested parties can also get in touch with the company for more information. The DigiThermo is also available for purchase on Amazon and has a discount site here when available: http://amazo.me/ywz8 For more information, please visit http://just-brill.com/ Contact Info: Name: Justin Burghard Organization: Just-Brill LTD Address: 5a The Broadway Brighton BN1 5NF United Kingdom Release ID: 134306 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Doctor Strange Release Date, News & Update: Benedict Cumberbatch Is Marvels ONLY Choice? Ryan Gosling, Joaquin Phoenix Not Even Considered? Marvel wanted Benedict Cumberbatch badly for "Doctor Strange" that they even made adjustments to accommodate his previous appointments. Ryan Gosling, Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Loreto was also interested with the title role, but Scott Derrickson, the film director, was decisive that it has to be Cumberbatch according to a report by Independent. Benedict Cumberbatch is under contract to cast in the theatre play "Hamlet" in London. The "Sherlock" actor never thought that he will be able to get the title role of "Doctor Strange." It came as a surprise to Cumberbatch to know that Marvel changed the release date of the movie from summer to autumn. Marvel's accommodation of Benedict Cumberbatch's schedule so he could star in "Doctor Strange" was the biggest compliment according to the theatre actor. Now, Cumberbatch is motivated to fulfil their confidence in him, and perhaps a little bit more pressured. The burden to make the movie successful is now resting heavily on "Sherlock's" shoulders. It is uncommon that Marvel will switch dates just to accommodate an actor's schedule. But since Benedict Cumberbatch is their only choice for "Doctor Strange," then they could have just moved heaven and earth. Marvel has also a blockbuster movie in store of summer. "Captain America: Civil War" is out to be released on May 6 next year. Ryan Gosling, Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Leto have long wanted to star in a comic book adaptation according to some news. Leto got his wish when he was cast as The Joker in "Suicide Squad." Sadly, Gosling and Phoenix were not considered for Marvel's "Doctor Strange." With Benedict Cumberbatch's long list of awards from Order of the British Empire, Primtetime Emmy Award, Lawrence Olivier Award for Best Actor, Marvel's only choice for "Doctor Strange" seemed well deserved. Stay tuned to GameNGuide for more news and update of "Doctor Strange." Leaving Corvallis for home, 93-year-old Emery Castle and his daughter, Cheryl Rogers, had a warm feeling inside that they had done the right thing. They had just donated a 20-acre plot of forest land that will serve as an outdoor classroom for Philomath students. We really think that there is nothing that we couldve done with the land that will provide any better service for the community and secondly, the generations to come, said Rogers, who lives in the South Waterfront area of Portland in a condominium across the street from her father. It felt very good and everybody in the room walked away with just an uplifting attitude because it was such a positive experience. Castle, a well-known professor, researcher, administrator and author in agricultural economics who has been associated with Oregon State University for more than a half-century, has shown the desire to contribute to those in rural settings. The stars aligned to create an opportunity for Philomaths youth. Years ago, when Castle taught at OSU, lifelong forester Van Decker was among the students in his classroom. Castle had done a lot in Corvallis, Philomath and other rural communities around the state in the area of agricultural economics. Decker came from a family that made its living from logging and ranching for generations. The idea germinates A friendship developed and Decker eventually came up with an idea for what Castle might want to do with 20 acres of forest. I had this piece of ground out there by Wren and three different times, I went and logged for him and we talked about his piece of ground, Decker said last week. Decker eventually took Castle to Philomath High School to see the forestry program and what skills students were learning. This past winter, Decker decided he should pursue an idea for the 20 acres. Castle, who owned the land with his daughter, relayed to Decker that his daughter might be interested in doing something with it. An effort to create a special video of PHS forestry students was then produced. We did a few things around there just to showcase things we do in the forestry program and what kinds of things we would utilize his property for and that was to show Emery and his daughter, and also the Philomath Community Foundation, to give them a visual of how this would be a benefit for students, said Simon Babcock, who heads the high school's forestry and natural resources department. The video became part of a proposal for Castle and Rogers to consider. We took a proposal to him that wed give him a certain amount of money and hed gift the other value of the piece of ground to the Philomath forestry program, Decker said. Two days later, he called me back and said, Yeah, we looked at that and read it and I like it, his daughter liked it and his attorney liked it. When everyone got together in the office of Castles attorney, Decker learned that they had decided to accept no money and donate the entire 20 acres outright. Basically, all the pieces fell together, Babcock said. Van had a vision and spearheaded it, and Van and I know each other really well. It was a good opportunity for our students here to actively manage a piece of property for very similar purposes as the industry. Foundation role The gift, which became official with the signing of closing documents Sept. 12, did not shift ownership of the property directly to the school district. Instead, it beloongs to the Philomath Community Foundation. The land was given to the foundation but there is a stipulation that it will be for the use of Philomath High School, possibly others, so we are in the midst of getting our agreement with the high school, said Steven Kearsley, Philomath Community Foundation treasurer. But there will not be any kind of monetary payment by the high school to the foundation. Kearsley expects the finalization of an agreement between the foundation and the school district to take a few months. Although he said the district would not have to pay the foundation for the lease, its possible that there could be a minimum required amount in place for such arrangements, such as $1 per year. Whatever is required, well get those terms all hammered out, he said. Were excited as can be that this is available now for the community. We feel that the logging community and related companies will step up to the plate. Managing the land The 20-acre piece of property, which will be called Castle Family Forest, is located on the west side of Kings Valley Highway about 100 yards north of Wren Community Hall. According to the Benton County Assessment Office, last year's real market land value was set at $160,933. Van was instrumental in making this happen. Hes known Mr. Castle and knows the community," Kearsley said. "Without Van Decker, this transaction probably wouldnt have happened. Were indebted to Van and all his hard work and his vision for what can happen to this property in the future. Babcock called the land gift monumental. Its one of those things that from a teachers standpoint and for the future of our program and for future students, I think its an amazing gift to have this, Babcock said. Its a huge addition to an opportunity for the program and sustainability for the program. The primary focus for the land is to utilize local resources as much as possible. One of the things Van Decker said is its a great opportunity for the community, Babcock said. Its for everybody to come together Its quite an amazing opportunity to be a part of this, to be a part of this process. Its a milestone in my career. The Philomath High School forestry program has experienced an upward trend recently in terms of numbers. Babcock is now back to teaching forestry on a full-time basis. In the meeting with the lawyer, Emery made one comment a stipulation that it be managed in such a way that it looks like its a well-managed forest along the road, Decker said. At present, it doesnt look that way. It has a lot of brush and a poor stand of timber, so it needs a lot of work to get it to look the way it should. An advisory board that features PHS forestry program alumni who are working in the industry will oversee management of the property. The advisory groups goal is to get the main road in before the winter weather sets in so we have better access, Babcock said. For a lot of the other work, well have the advisory group come up with goals and their thoughts on how we can manage it sustainably so we can meet our goals and projections for the property. Future plans Early plans also call for the construction of a shelter, although Babcock said that project will be a little further out. We would love to put down a shelter so people can go out if there is inclement weather, Kearsley said. We will be looking to the community to help us in those endeavors to improve the property. Educators envision using the 20-acre property for more than the forestry program. Babcock said the possibilities for all students in grades K-12 serves as a driving force. An elementary teacher could take some kids out there and draw scenery pictures or read books, Babcock said. It basically is a classroom, an extension of the classroom. Thats one of the things Im extremely excited about to get other teachers out there to utilize this. Kearsley shared a story involving Philomath schools superintendent Melissa Goff, who also happens to serve on the foundation board. At one point in her career, she was an English teacher, Kearsley said. She said, I wouldve loved to have taken my English class out to this beautiful place to read some English literature. There are all kinds of wonderful experiences for these kids that this property is going to help benefit. When it came down to the decision to donate the property, Rogers said its about more than her dad. Its also for her mother, Merab Castle, who died in 1999. If it hadnt been for Van, we probably would not have pursued this, Rogers said. When he came to us with this forestry program, it seemed like a perfect fit because dad always enjoyed teaching at the college level and my mother was a very, very outstanding English and drama teacher. It seems like the appropriate memorial to both of their legacies. For years, the property had been a special place for the Castle family. It has been in the family for quite a while, Rogers said. The familys small my mother, my dad and myself but we used to go out and have family picnics out there. Its always been a place that weve enjoyed some wonderful moments of being in a small forest and experiencing the love of nature. And now in the future, it will likely become special for others. Mr. Castle and his daughter, Cheryl, are very generous people and think in his book that he wrote, he indicated that he wanted to work with young people and he wanted to have them reach their potential, Kearsley said. As I expressed to him on closing day, I think what he has done this week will do that in perpetuity. Euskirchen in shock : Classmate attacked and critically injured a twelve-year-old boy Erneuter Vorfall an der Gesamtschule Euskirchen: Ein unbekannter Junge soll einen 12-Jahrigen mit einem Messer bedroht haben. Foto: Marius Becker Euskirchen Investigators now believe they know the identity of the attacker of a twelve-year-old at a school in Euskirchen. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken North Rhine-Westphalia police said that after questioning more children, they suspected a fellow pupil was responsible for a life-threatening attack on a twelve-year-old in Euskirchen. Robin Fabender, spokesman for the Bonn public prosecutors office said: From what we have learned so far from the versions of events given, we are assuming there was only one perpetrator. The suspected perpetrator is another boy. He is younger than fourteen and therefore below the age of criminal responsibility so would not need to appear in court. However, Fabender said the child protection services would become involved. A teacher from the Gesamtschule (high school) in Euskirchen called an emergency doctor on Thursday because the 12-year-old was complaining he was in pain and was dazed. It turned out he had suffered life threatening injuries after being beaten. He later had to be flown by helicopter to a Cologne hospital.When asked on Saturday whether the boy was still in a critical condition, Fabender said he was still in intensive care. Investigators have questioned several children in the presence of their parents. They did not want to give any further details of the case as they are hoping further witnesses will come forward. There were grounds for believing further schoolchildren may have witnessed the incident and they should not be influenced by what is reported publicly. Fabender said the attack happened on school grounds during school hours. The Native People of America have an amazingly rich culture of legends. Some of them explain physical features in the land and others report ongoing strife between the tribes, but the ones that give the most shivers are the legends of creatures that create absolute terror. Chenoo The Algonquian/Wabanaki tribes had a legend that was similar to many heard throughout all the Native People around the globe - cannibalistic giants! The Chenook (plural of Chenoo) were said to be from the icy north, giants who ate people. This legendary creature was said to once be human but through dark magic became a cannibalistic giant. Interestingly the Paiutes, when describing the red-haired giants they dealt with who cannibalistic, said that they seemed human but they had lost their humanity. An ice lump in their belly is said to keep them entrapped in their horrible form and if one can make them vomit it up, they become human again. Here is a LINK to one of the legends. Skinwalker Skinwalkers are especially sinister as they involved those who practice dark arts. This witch can turn himself into any animal he wishes. This is a legend commonly spoken of among the Navajo tribe. They are said to have been medicine men who rose to a high level, but decided to use dark energy instead of good. Because they wear the skin of the animal they become, it is said to be bad luck and taboo to use their pelts to wear. Once the identity of the skinwalker is uncovered, if their name is exposed, the witch will die. Owl Woman Monster Tah-Tah-kle'-ah Owls have been signs of death and bad omens for Native People. It is no wonder there are legends to support that anxiety. "Before the tribes lived peaceably in this country, before the last creation, there were certain people who ate Indians whenever they could get them. They preferred and hunted children, as better eating. These people, the Tah-tah kle' -ah, were taller and larger than the common human. They ate every bad thing known such as frogs, lizards, snakes, and other things that Indians do not eat. They talked the Indian language, and in that way might fool the Indians. There were five of them, all sisters. But at the last creation they came up only in California. Two were seen there. They were women, tall big, women, who lived in a cave." (LINK) This legend reflects what the Paiutes said of the red-haired giants, that they came from the California area and the description of them being owl people would make sense, given that they seemed to do much of their work at night. Relating them to caves also relates them to the red-haired giants legends. Interestingly, one thing I have studied about Bigfoot for many years is their tendency to spend hours a day in practice of animal sounds and human voices. Are the two related? Well, tall people of the past, tall people of the present. But, as we are not at all like our Neanderthal and Homo erectus past as far as our civilized quality, so too are the Bigfoot far progressed past their origins. Teihiihan The cannibal dwarves are perhaps one of the creepiest legends. Sure, we know of people-eating giants, but what about little ones? Think of the movies"Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" and "Trilogy of Terror" and you realize wee ones are scary. The Arapaho and Cheyenne speak of these little cannibalistic dwarves. The Arapaho describe them as having superhuman strength. They are the size of children, dark-skinned, and extremely dangerous. Some say they can turn invisible, making them even more dangerous! Are these little beings feasible? Well, some reports have said the little people were found mummified in the west and buried in Tennessee with attributes that made it seem quite feasible they were cannibalistic. The "Hobbit" people were found in Indonesia. It would seem our history may not have just had giants, but also wee folk who were rather aggressive, as well. Two archaics of different stature living among modern man who had "civilized" his ways and tempered it out by breeding among many kinds of man, would cause some serious battles between civilized and "noncivilized" ways. The nature of the beast remains, however. Man has not really gotten rid of his warring ways, he's just not built to be carnivorous any longer. Perhaps it was bred out of us by traveling the world and breeding with a variety of man and evolving omnivorous ways or perhaps if one believes in the doctrines in the Bible, God realized cannibals did not make good citizens. Piasa Bird What reports say? The micro-blogging site has been a topic of sell-off for many months and as per reports, the company is dealing with stagnant user growth, soft advertising sales and losses running at hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Twitter now boasts over 302 million users, with revenue figures crossing $436 million, but still below the $440 million forecast. So, a net profitable loss. The Potential buyers As per a report, Twitter is in talks with companies including Google and may receive a formal bid soon. Verizon and Salesforce.com are also in pursuit to buy the online giant. These companies can utilize the data generated from over 300 million active users of the micro-blogging site. Click Here for New Android Smartphones Best Online Deals What went wrong? It's not like Twitter is not innovating, the things are just not going right for the micro-blogging site. It introduced new features like Twitter Highlights, a new homepage, stepped into video world with Vine, Periscope, etc. but at the same time is considered a niche social media site that might never manage to gain the user base matching the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Besides, abusive users on the platform have remained to be the biggest pain for the company's credibility. Click Here for New Android Smartphones Best Online Deals The downfall Twitter saw an accumulated loss of nearly $2.3 billion since its inception. The micro-blogging site also lost the fight to rivals Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat in terms of user's base. Moreover, advertisers have begun to migrate their ad dollars accordingly, because after all, it's pure business. The expected market value As per sources, Twitter could be bought for $22 per share. The micro-blogging website is working with investment banks Goldman Sachs and Allen & Co in considering possible transactions. Click Here for New Smartphones Best Online Deals AliBaba affiliate in China to launch first e-commerce satellite News oi -GizBot Bureau A Chinese shopping website affiliated with e-commerce giant Ali Baba group plans to launch the world's first e-commerce satellite to provide consumers with customisd products. The Peoples' Daily quoted China Economic Net as saying that the satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2017. SEE ALSO: Amazon Exclusives: Check Out 10 Gadgets That You Can Buy Now Juhuasuan.com announced plans to launch the satellite in cooperation with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and the China Space Museum. According to the report, one example of benefit to consumers would be that the best and freshest vegetables would be available to consumers after cultivation and harvesting data is analysed by the satellite. "In future, consumers on the Juhuasuan platform will be able to enjoy high-quality goods that follow the trajectory of the satellite," the site's general manager Liu Bo was quoted as saying. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Lenovo Smartphones Eligible to Get Reliance Jio Welcome Offer Benefits Liu said the company aimed to develop a series of customised prooducts with the help of such satellites. Source IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications 2016 - Boko Haram A February 2015 video was the last time Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was seen publicly. His absence since sparked rumors about his death or that hes been replaced, suggesting that Boko Haram was not as strong as it once was, despite numerous suicide bombings and attacks in early 2016. But the continued lack of solid intelligence on Shekaus whereabouts is troublesome, and indicating the Nigerian military's deep lack of resources and organization, and underscoring just how much further it has to go to defeat Boko Haram entirely. Boko Haram had killed some 20,000 people and displaced more than 2 million more since Shekau launched the brutal insurgency in 2009. In early 2016 there was a spike in Boko Haram activities within northeastern Nigeria but also in surrounding countries. In addition to the attacks in Dalori which is located about 10 km (6 miles) outside Borno state's capital Maiduguri, there was also a Boko Haram attack in Cameroon, in the extreme north province, in the Lac region of Chad, and also a few other bombings specifically in Gombe in Adamawa state. All of these attacks seemingly targeted civilian interests within the region. So the attack in Dalori in itself marked a shift away from Boko Harams usual modus operandi; a lot of the sect's violence within the past 2-3 years has specifically targeted soft civilian population centers in armed raids, in addition to suicide bombings targeting bustling market places and even public transportation hubs. In late March 2016 hundreds of hostages were freed in one Nigerian state, but more than a dozen new hostages were seized in a neighboring state. The captives were all held in Nigeria's Borno state, which borders Chad and Niger. At least 520 were freed in the village of Kusumma, and 300 more from 11 other villages that were controlled by the militants. In August 2016 the Islamic State militant group named Abu Musab al-Barnawi as its "Wali" (governor) of its West African Province. The article didn't say so explicitly, but the implication was that al-Barnawi had replaced Abubakar Shekau, the bombastic preacher who had led the group since 2009. Al-Barnawi also reportedly released an audio statement attacking Shekau. A man claiming to be Shekau responded to this so-called attempted coup with a 10-minute audio statement of his own, briefly posted on YouTube before it was taken down. In the statement, Shekau reasserted his authority over Boko Haram and said that al-Barnawi, a long-time member of the group, is trying to stir up conflict. Shekau accused IS of staging a coup against his leadership. The apparent leadership struggle sparked concerns of an ideological split that could lead to a surge in violence in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. Al-Barnawi is said, by some, to be the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in police custody in 2009; but, that was up for debate. "In choosing one of Yusuf's sons, the Islamic State has shown they understand the importance of continuity of a local vision to their allies," wrote Nigerian analyst Andrew Walker, the author of Eat the Heart of the Infidel. "Concern will intensify that al-Barnawi and his IS backers will take a more international, outward-looking path." The new leader who is vowing to bomb churches and kill all Christians. Under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram has been known to kill not only Christians but also Muslims who oppose the terrorist group. Al-Barnawi, who was formerly believed to be just the group's spokesman, vowed to end attacks on mosques and vowed to attack more churches. Nigerias Air Force on 23 August 2016 claimed to have fatally wounded Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and several other high-ranking members of the group in air strikes carried out against the terrorist organizations headquarters. Sani Usman, a spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force said in a statement that Shekau was fatally wounded in the shoulder when government planes bombed the Boko Haram jungle stronghold in the Sambisa Forest. Other Boko Haram leaders killed in the raid, according to Usman, include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman. Several others were confirmed wounded. Nigeria had previously claimed to have killed Shekau, but those claims were later thrown into doubt when video surfaced showing a man claiming to be Shekau alive and well. Nigerias chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, said 16 September 2016 " ... the ability of the Boko Haram terrorist group to move freely as they were doing before, the ability to hold ground, the ability to take on territories or ransack large communities and towns has been virtually eliminated. ... To the best of our knowledge and all well-meaning Nigerians who know the happenings in the northeast, they know that those are just empty, boastful positions of the Boko Haram terrorists. They have nothing to show and indeed they are just trying to show their prowess in terms of propaganda." Nigeria is in need of $164 million in humanitarian funding to prevent thousands of deaths from malnutrition in its war-torn northeast, a United Nations humanitarian coordinator said in July 2016. The ongoing conflict between Nigerias military and the Boko Haram insurgency was to blame for the growing hunger crisis in the northeast. The seven-year-old war has disrupted planting and marketplaces, killed more than 20,000 people and forced 2.7 million to flee in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Toby Lanzer, the UNs regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, said 4.4 million people in northeastern Nigeria are severely food insecure, but the country doesnt have the resources to tackle this problem alone. Sure enough, as usual, the leader of jihadist group Boko Haram reappeared in a video posted on social media 25 September 2016, saying he is in good health and rejecting statements by the Nigerian army he has been seriously wounded. Speaking in Hausa, Arabic and English and in dialects spoken in northeast Nigeria, a man purporting to be Abubakar Shekau said in a 40-minute video addressed to the military, "You broadcast the news and published it in the social media that you injured or killed me, and here I am. Sekau issued threats against President Muhammadu Buhari, who had appealed to the United Nations for help in negotiating the release of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by the militants more than two years ago. "To the tyrants of Nigeria in particular and the west of Africa in general, die in your anger and the news is not like as you claimed and as you distributed, because you broadcast the news and published it in your media outlets that you injured me and killed me and here I am, telling you if God willing, you tyrants I am fine and secured if God willing and nothing has hit me and I will not get killed until my time comes," he said. Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari told the 21 Chibok girls rescued in October 2016 that he will redouble efforts to find those still missing two years after their kidnapping. We shall redouble our efforts to bring the rest back home, Buhari said Wednesday. Aside from rescuing them, we are assuming the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life. It is not late for the girls to go back to school and continue the pursuit of their studies. The Nigerian army has defeated Boko Haram in the Sambisa forest, one of the jihadists' last remaining strongholds, President Muhammadu Buhari said 24 December 2016. A campaign lasting for months in the 1,300 square-kilometre (500 square-mile) forest in northeastern Borno state led to the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest", Buhari said in a statement. The government in Abuja and the military have frequently claimed victories against the Islamic State (IS) group affiliate but access to the epicentre of the conflict in Borno state is strictly controlled. That has made independent verification of official statements about victories virtually impossible. Attacks have meanwhile continued, making claims of defeating Boko Haram questionable despite undoubted progress in pushing back the group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For five hours, Danville Police were on the 100 block of Marshall Terrace negotiating a peaceful end to a hostile situation. Andrew Steven Petrick, 35, was wanted for grand larceny and forgery warrants. When police attempted to make an arrest that morning around 10 a.m., he went into a residence and would not surrender. Petrick told police he had a firearm and would not come out. It was the second standoff in as many months in Danville: On Aug. 17, it was Christopher Bennett on Sunnyside Street and Petrick on Marshall Terrace on Sept. 15. The first situation ended with Bennett committing suicide. Petrick was brought in alive. Then, and in any standoff, police have many responsibilities: preventing the suspect from hurting himself; taking the suspect into custody; keeping the public out of harms way; and protecting police officers from harm. In that particular instance last week [at Marshall Terrace], I was the negotiator, said Corporal D.E. Whitley. The No. 1 element in being a successful negotiator is you have to honestly care about the person on the other end of that phone, Whitley, a 13-year member of the Danville Police Department and a crisis negotiator for around nine years, said. My sole focus at that point and time is talking to him. Figuring out what weve got, figuring out what it is that had led to that crisis, and how to get that person out of the situation that hes in. Marshall Terrace was blocked off at both ends by crime scene tape. Police had someone in charge of the scene, who dictates who goes here and there, said Lt. Mike Wallace with the Danville Police Department. The S.W.A.T. team, patrol officers, the Street Crimes Unit, and the Special Investigative Unit collaborated to secure the area, talk Petrick into a peaceful surrender and take him into custody. The Danville Fire Department and Danville Life Saving Crew responded to the scene as well. Virginia State Police arrived as backup. With the area secured and blocked off to residents and Whitley in an undisclosed location talking to Petrick all [Whitley] has to do is have that conversation with that person in crisis, Wallace said. And that isnt easy. When you start, you have to start with that genuine [feeling of] I really want to help this person, Whitley said. As it goes on, youre learning about what makes this person tick, what are the right and wrong things to say, etc., Whitley said. Wallace said crisis negotiators have developed a rapport with the suspect. Even though it may not be a great relationship, you got a relationship with that person, and you want that person to survive. Well be there as long as we have to be there to try and get that connection to make this thing work. A lot of that conclusion depends on the person who is in crisis, Whitley said. We can do everything right, Wallace said, but you dont know what a person is going to do. On the afternoon of Aug. 17, Bennett killed himself after a 48-minute negotiation with police. Its unfortunate, Wallace said of the suicide. Its one of those [incidents] where we think we do everything that we need to do in the situation, and he chooses to go the route that he chooses its sad. It was unfortunate that Bennett died. However, it was also fortunate that no civilian or officer was injured. At 2:24 p.m. Aug. 17, a Danville Police officer approached Bennett to arrest him for domestic assault and battery charges. Bennett raised a gun and threatened the officers life, a Danville Police news release stated. During the standoff, Bennett asked for an officer who was off-duty at the time to come to the scene. Bennett still put the gun to his head and fired. He was pronounced dead at Danville Regional Medical Center at 4:43 p.m. Whitley said that the two situations are different. Sometimes, people make a decision. That decision is theirs to make, Whitley said. Thats where we fall back on our training. Its a collaborative effort [with police], in any of these situations, he said. At the end of the day if they dont [surrender], thats something that you have to overcome, Wallace said. Livingston reports for the Danville Register & Bee. SHARE By Jerry Lackey SAN ANTONIO ? Leroy Keese and Wylie McDonald, two retired wool buyers from West Texas, received American Wool Excellence awards here Friday during the American Sheep Industry Association's annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk hotel. "As we celebrate the industry's legacy and make plans to ensure a prosperous future, it is fitting that we honor these men who helped build our foundation by promoting our product during their lifetime careers," said Paul Frischknecht, Utah sheep producer and the association's outgoing president. The American Sheep Industry Association is a federation of 43 state sheep associations representing sheep producers nationwide with a common goal to promote the well-being and profitability of the U.S. sheep industry. Keese, of Brady, is credited with buying more than 200 million pounds of wool and mohair during a 35-year career with Massachusetts-based Forte Dupee Sawyer Co. After graduating from Texas A&M University, he moved to Philadelphia and worked for the U.S. Testing Co. While at U.S. Testing, Keese was instrumental in starting wool testing for carpets for Northeast carpet mills. In 1963, he started working for Forte Dupee Sawyer, bidding on wool at warehouse and wool pool sales. He also oversaw the wool scouring operation for Forte in Brady for more than 35 years. McDonald, of San Angelo, retired in 2001 after 43 years in the wool industry. His career started in 1958 while working in his family's wool warehouse in Menard. He went to work for Burlington in 1963 and moved to Virginia for two years of training. He returned to Texas nine years later as vice president of Burlington Industries Wool Co. McDonald's duties at Burlington included buying wool from the warehouses in the Southwest, plus international travel to South America and South Africa. Burlington was the first group in the wool business to core test all its wools and to sell them by micron diameter, determining that the top quality was dependent upon the micron of the wool. In 1981, McDonald founded Anodyne Inc., a company designed to buy wools for the mills that remained after the extensive decline in the domestic textile industry. Terry Martin of San Angelo has served as Anodyne's president since McDonald's retirement. Darrell Keese of Brady presented his father with the special award on behalf of the American sheep organization. The two worked side by side as Forte representatives until Leroy retired. Darrell Keese's 23 years with Forte ended Dec. 31 when the company closed its doors. The family-owned business traded scoured and greasy wool and mohair, selling mainly to U.S. manufacturers until the past six years, when its customer base turned to overseas buyers. "Several former customers of Forte have come to me and asked if I would provide them with scoured and greasy products," Darrell Keese told me Friday. He said he has organized Keese International, LLC and will focus on the domestic market. The products will be treated at Roddie Wool in Brady or Bollman Industries in San Angelo. Contact agriculture writer Jerry Lackey at (325) 949-2291 or jlackey@wcc.net. Did you know? - More than 5 million sheep in the United States were shorn in 2005, producing more than 37 million pounds of wool. - The average weight of a single U.S. fleece is 7.3 pounds. - In 2005, there were 68,280 sheep operations in the U.S. - As of July 1, there were more than 7.7 million head of sheep in the U.S. - More than 2.7 million lambs were processed in the U.S. in 2005. - The average weight of a market lamb was 138 pounds. Source: American Sheep Industry Association Other honorees Others receiving honors from the American Sheep Industry Association included: n Pierce Miller of San Angelo, a Shepherd's cane from the National Lamb Feeders Association for years of service to the sheep industry. - Guy Flora, Cardington, Ohio, McClure Silver Ram Award. - M. Quinn Jacobson, Dubois, Idaho, Flock Guardian award. - Wayne D. Purcell, Riner, Va., Camptender award. - Church Stocks, publisher of the New Mexico Stockman, Albuquerque, N.M., Shepherd's Voice for print media. - Tony Purcell, farm news director for Texas State Network, Dallas, Shepherd's Voice award for broadcast media. - Michael Bronkema, owner of Shady Side Farm, the first sheep operation to be certified under the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program, Holland, Mich., environmental stewardship award. Graphic Illustration Thomas Johnson, born Dec. 15, 1846, in Norway, made his way to America as a young man seeking opportunities for a better life. He met and married Mary Betcher, who was born Oct. 6, 1864, in Germany. She came to America with her parents, August and Elisabeth Kimski Betcher, who left Prussia about 1870 and came to New York. From there they traveled to South Bend, Indiana, and Abilene, Texas. Their last name was "Boettcher" in the old country. Mary Betcher's siblings were: Albert Betcher (1865-1954), Emma Betcher Wristen (1871-1967), Otto Betcher (1876-1954), Tillie Betcher Farmer (1878-1938), Henry Betcher (1880-1974) and Olvena M. Betcher Cutbirth (1883-1980). Besides farming, Johnson worked as a rock mason and in 1892 purchased his first land almost 126 acres in Callahan County. After Thomas and Mary were married, they purchased 640 acres adjacent to the 126 acres in 1901. According to the Texas Agriculture Department's Family Land Heritage, the award honoring the Johnson family in 2002 for operating the same land for 100 years are more, Thomas cleared the land of rocks and brush from the start. He grew cotton, milo, wheat, oats, corn and cane. He also raised cattle, horses, mules, hogs, chickens and turkeys. Thomas and Mary Johnson had six children: Amelia Johnson Poindexter, Edith Johnson, William "Willie" Johnson (1887-1961), Edd Johnson, Andrew Johnson and Eulys Pat Johnson (1900-1974). The M. Johnson Ranch was located 1 mile northeast of Oplin at the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 604 and Farm-to-Market Road 2926. The Johnsons donated land for the Oplin town site, south of the Middle Fork and Pecan Bayou in southwestern Callahan County. A post office was established in 1903 when William A. Smith was named postmaster. Population was 300 in 1915. The post office closed in 1961. Only 75 people lived in Oplin in 1990. Thomas Johnson died March 1, 1915, at age 68. Edd Johnson began to manage the 640-acre ranch with his mother and brothers following his father's death in 1915. After Edd died in 1924, his wife Mamie raised their three young boys Frank Edward, Eldon Maurice and Tommie Waymon on the ranch. As soon as the boys were old enough to ride, they worked on the ranch with their uncles and brought the ranch through the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Maurice Johnson entered the service during World War II and served four years, mostly overseas. After his return, Maurice and his brothers worked with the Soil Conservation Service to make improvements on the ranch, including building new tanks and controlling mesquite. They added 300 acres to the property. Maurice and Mary Maxine were married. They had two daughters: Mary and Mallie. When Maurice died in 1980, Maxine continued operating the M. Johnson Ranch. According to Family Land Heritage, Maxine deeded Mary and Mallie part of the original acreage to them and grandchildren. Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net or 325-949-2291. A number of heritage fall bull and production sales across West Texas kick off in upcoming weeks and similar to recent years, the offering features outstanding performance-tested cattle suited for rough terrain country. ISA CATTLE COMPANY The 55th annual Isa Cattle Company sale will start at 10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 1) at Producers Livestock Auction, 1131 N. Bell St. in San Angelo. The Lasater family will offer 140 performance-tested Beefmaster bulls. "The bulls have all been through Isa's unique yearlong performance test, including a grass-gain test and a 50-day feed test," said Lorenzo Lasater, Isa president. "In addition to gain data and individual performance and pedigree information and EPD's, complete carcass sonogram data will also be provided." Lorenzo Lasater represents the third generation of the family dedicated to breeding performance Beefmaster genetics. The breed was founded by his grandfather, Tom Lasater, in 1937. Bull sale headquarters is the Rodeway Inn in San Angelo, Phone number is 325-944-2578. For more information, contact Lorenzo Lasater at 325-656-9126 or Lorenzo@isabeefmasters.com. A catalog is available at www.isabeefmaster.com. HALFMANN, BECKTON The Halfmann Red Angus Ranch will host a joint production sale with Beckton Red Angus, of Wyoming, at 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the ranch north of Miles. These two ranches have more than 120 years of experience in breeding Red Angus cattle. "We are very excited about this group of cattle we are offering this year," said Glen Halfmann. "We put a lot of work into developing and selecting these bulls and females." For more information, contact Glen Halfmann at 325-895-0544, Cody Halfmann at 325-245-8928, Chad Halfmann at 325-374-6116. DUDLEY BROTHERS On Oct. 6 at the Dudley Bros. 55th Hereford Production Sale in Comanche, 140 Hereford bulls will be sold starting at noon following lunch at 11 a.m. "Although my father, Gail, and his brothers, Tom and Eltos, established Dudley Bros. in 1927, they got into the Hereford business in 1938 after inheriting some of the original land founded by my great-grandfather James Hudson Dudley Jr.," John Dudley said. The Dudley Bros. Ranch is one of the nation's oldest, largest and most respected Registered Hereford herds. For more information, call John at 325-356-3737 or cell 325-642-0745; or Tom at 325-356-3918 or cell 325-542-0748. POWELL HEREFORD SALE The 19th James Powell Family Hereford Sale will start at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 11, following lunch at the Six Mile Ranch near Fort McKavett. About 100 breeding-age Hereford bulls and 100 head of ranch raised heifers will be offered. "Our primary goal at Powell Herefords is optimum beef production," Jimmie Powell said. "Since 1954 we have worked to develop cattle with high growth traits, excellent fertility, superior muscling and good disposition. We believe our customers should have bulls and heifers that can be counted on to perform reliably in range conditions and to provide consistent, top quality offspring." The Six Mile Ranch is 25 miles east of Eldorado on Highway 190. For more information, visit www.powellranches.com or call 325-653-1688. R.A. BROWN RANCH The R.A. Brown Ranch's 42nd annual bull, female, and Quarter Horse Sale are scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at the headquarters, 4.2 miles west of Throckmorton. Sale offerings include 20 Quarter Horses, 550 registered bulls and 700 commercial bred heifers Red Angus, SimAngus, and Angus according to Donnell Brown, 5th generation owner. Also, 350 bred registered females (Red Angus, SimAngus, and Angus) will be offered. The R.A. Brown Ranch, a progressive family ranching business has been producing some of the most superior cattle and Quarter Horses in the industry since 1895, Brown said. For more information, contact the R.A. Brown Ranch at 940-849-0611 or office@rabrownranch.com. Jerry Lackey is the agriculture editor emeritus. Contact him at jlackey@wcc.net or 325-949-2291. SHARE By Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times (TNS) The Exorcist is the Fox networks second series this season to be based on a 20th century film franchise. (Legal Weapon debuted Wednesday). It also doubles the number of current Fox shows with a demonic foundation, joining Lucifer, in which the Devil runs a Hollywood nightclub and solves crimes. A different, more downbeat brand of devilry is afoot in The Exorcist, which takes off from William Peter Blattys bestselling 1971 novel and director William Friedkins 1973 film. Its not a remake; the events of the original are nodded to, historically, in a briefly seen newspaper clipping. And these characters have different names and particulars. But it mirrors Blattys basic structure. As in the book and the movie, there is a woman (Geena Davis) worried about a daughter (Brianne Howey) who has been sullen and strange and a house full of thumps, noises and eeriness. And there are two priests, one older and battle-tested (Ben Daniels), the other young and uncertain (Alfonso Herrera), who will eventually join forces to investigate, perchance to exorcise. The series adds a husband (Alan Ruck), suffering fitfully from dementia, and a second daughter (Hannah Kasulka, perky). Neither sister is 12 years old, happily (they are older). And we move from a Washington, D.C., townhouse to a suburban Chicago spread. This was exotic stuff when it first appeared. The novel spent 57 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list; the movie was nominated for a slew of Oscars and introduced what might be called the Judeo-Christian horror genre. With some exceptions, Lucifer and his subalterns had been portrayed in pop culture as figures of relatively harmless figures of fun Im looking at you, Hot Stuff, you diapered devil. Monsters came from science, or from being bitten by other monsters; religion had little to nothing to do with it. But Blatty, who trusted in the supernatural reality of the 1949 case that inspired his novel, took his good and evil seriously, calling The Exorcist an argument for God. Though the young priest in the Fox show suggests to the troubled mother that demons are a metaphor, an invention of the Church to explain things like addiction, mental illness, the series wastes little time in declaring him wrong: For here is the old priest in a Mexico City slum, battling a demon for the life of a boy in scenes made to remind us of its pedigree: pustular child tied to a bed, speaking to a priest in the voice of an Irishman, levitating. The Old Rotating Head Trick. Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) keeps the pilot chilly and drear, not overdoing the shocks and special effects. (Anyone who finds the going slow I would direct to the Friedkin film, which much of the time is positively mopey.) There are tense and spooky moments, to be sure, and a couple of scenes, one featuring a raven and another a rat, I found too disturbing to really watch, though Im sure no actual animals were harmed during their filming, or possibly used at all. Daniels has something of the air of the weary gunfighter strapping on his six-shooters, or holy water and crucifix, as the case may be, and Davis, whom you should watch in anything, projects an interesting mix of will and fragility. If nothing else, their presence promises to make the series watchable, but its a creditable job all around. If you like this kind of thing, youll likely like this thing of its kind. Still, just how much exorcism one series (and one family) can bear is an open question. Perhaps the next season, if one comes, will take the priests to some new thrilling case of possession. Or maybe the demons will open a nightclub and solve crime. Theres precedent. SHARE CBS/TNS Lucas Till as Angus MacGyver in "MacGyver" television series on CBS. Lucas Till, from left, George Eads and Sandrine Holt participate in Pop Network's "MacGyver" panel during the CBS Television Critics Association summer press tour on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) By Mary McNamara Los Angeles Times (TNS) Why, why, why, MacGyver? Why, why, whyyyyyyy, MacGyver? The above should be sung to the tune of the Tom Jones hit Delilah, and if you know that oldie but goodie, you may be the age to have a nostalgic interest in CBS reboot of the iconic 1980s DIY secret-agent series. Interest that will not, I fear, have much of a payoff. The problem with icons is that, by definition, they cannot be reproduced. When Lee David Zlotoff created the original MacGyver, with its admirable reliance on Swiss Army knives and an endless array of creative real-life hacks (Fact: It is more difficult to pick most locks with a bobby pin or a paper clip than the show made it seem), he invented a whole new type of action hero. Unlike James Bond, Angus MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) didnt need an arsenal of futuristic gimmicks or the ability to seduce everyone in sight while mixing the perfect martini. All he needed was a little American ingenuity. Give MacGyver one gun, some string and a book of matches, and he could simulate an attacking army; put him in a hole with a little duct tape and a high-pressure hose, and he would literally fly to safety. The show itself might not stand up to modern television standards (clunk, clunk, clunk went the dialogue), but the Home Depot conceit made it a national treasure. The name itself entered the vernacular, as both noun I pulled a MacGyver and verb, as in I suddenly realized there were no clean diapers so I MacGyvered it. Even folks who never saw the show know what that means. Which, one assumes, is why CBS thought it would be a grand idea to bring the series back. This MacGyver, played by Lucas Till, is surrounded by other new faces with old names. Jack Dalton (George Eads) is Macs sidekick muscle and Wilt Bozer (Justin Hires) his oblivious roommate. Updates also include a female boss (Sandrine Holt) and a tech-savvy team that includes Macs paramour. Producer Peter Lenkov also has given the 2.0 version a Burn Notice-lite voice-over to explain some of the hacks. None of which need explaining, by the way, at least not in the premiere in which the action is so predictable it feels at times like a joke. We meet the team as its members crash a fancy party to swipe a purloined weapon. One look at waiter Mac, and we know just what hell do: A fingerprint will be lifted from a glass, a magnet will briefly mess up something and that drinks tray will definitely be used as a weapon as Mac crashes through a window at some point. And then it does happen. Just as we knew it would because we have seen it 100 million times. (Honestly, at this point, I feel like I could lift a fingerprint and bypass a security system, and Im a TV critic.) There is a tiny twist, involving a hostage, to prove that the team is far from perfect and now bent on revenge, but what follows is just more of the same. The bad guys are so bad they are British and say things like hand it over; the good guys are almost undone by their goodness, and for some reason, Mac feels he must dissolve tin foil in homemade acid to create the smoke that sets off the distracting fire alarm. Instead of, you know, just setting a rolled-up newspaper on fire. There is, perhaps, pleasure to be had in the nuttiness of it all. The cast is fine (though Bozer is forced to say things like I made waffles as if he were channeling Donkey in Shrek) and the action is propelled by one of those typically relentless soundtracks. Ironically, this MacGyvers biggest problem is that it ignores the significance of the original. Zlotoff started a revolution that has affected every spy thriller from Jason Bourne to Scorpion. The reboot adds nothing to the archetype, which makes it less nostalgic than archaic. SHARE By Mary McNamara Los Angeles Times (TNS) Oh, Syfy, you crazy outlier of a network. Just when it would seem to any reasonable group of people that the last thing television needs is another post-apocalyptic tale of vampires run amok, you give us Van Helsing. A title that still evokes snickers among anyone who saw the unintentionally hilarious Hugh Jackman movie of the same name. Honestly, bonus points just for having the courage to throw that name up on the screen, though this Van Helsing is, obviously, not that Van Helsing This is Vanessa Van Helsing (Kelly Overton), Syfys latest tough-as-nails heroine who we are told, right from the get-go, is humanitys only hope. As we are shown, in the opening scene, when, startled out of sleep in what appears to be a laboratory, Vanessa takes out a team of vamps who, and this is important, appear to have been looking for her. Turns out, a plague born of a volcanic eruption (in Yellowstone!) has descended on the land though Vanessa has pretty much slept through it. Guarding her in a makeshift modern fortress is the handsome soldier Axel (Jonathan Scarfe), who is also caring for a caged vampire he refers to as Doc (Rukiya Bernard). Keeping Sleeping Beauty alive is his official mission; keeping Doc alive is more personal. As he is joined by the requisite motley band o survivors, what this all means and how it came to is slowly (and partly) revealed during the two-hour premiere. And while the plague may appear accidental there are, certain shall we say elements? who have been waiting for this moment. Ancients who also anticipated, and fear, the presence of person such as Vanessa. Not because she has the power to kill them because she has the power to make them human once more. And that is creator Neil LaButes contribution to the canon the possibility not just that the apocalypse can be survived but that it can be reversed. With such a twist, similarities to virtually every vampire/plague-created monster tale are only to be expected and not necessarily a bad thing. Its tough to beat a good monster tale; thats why it remains such a popular genre. And for all its literary pretensions, the television renaissance rode in on the backs of werewolves, vampires, zombies, white walkers and other supernatural beasties. True Blood brought a new set of eyeballs to HBO, and though Breaking Bad and Mad Men may have won the Emmys, The Walking Dead was AMCs first bona-fide hit. Van Helsing is certainly no Walking Dead. LaBute, best known for his films (Nurse Betty, Lakeview Terrace), often seem unsure what to do with so much time on his hands the characters take forever to make narrative connections that seem immediately obvious, and no one seems remotely curious about what exactly is happening to the world. Yet even as her hours-long insistence that she is nothing special grows tedious, Vanessa is delightfully cranky and concerned only with her young daughter, who Axel insists must be dead and we suspect is not. Its a tough room these days, television; with so much to choose from, people are now looking for a reason to not watch a new show. Van Helsing may not pop, but apocalypses are tough to resist, as are ancient nemeses, and for all its late-in-the-game timing and unfortunate title, Van Helsing has both. From left, Bastian Preut and Timo Jeran from Lueneburg, Germany, and Joerg Dill, from Hanover, Germany, recently replaced the side-view mirror on Bastian's car near the campus of Angelo State University. They are among the dozens of students who have come from elsewhere as part of Angelo State University's International Studies program, which also sends ASU students overseas. SHARE By Matt Phinney With one year to go before college graduation, Bastian Preut weighed his options. He was studying at Leuphana University of L<0x00FC>neburg in Germany, his native country, and he decided he had at least two options. His choices were to stay there and hang out with the same people and do the same things he had done for much of educational life - or he could pack up and move to San Angelo for a year. He has had a blast in West Texas. "I've seen so many different things that I never would have seen in Germany," said Preut. "Just dealing with so many different people you otherwise would never see. It's definitely been a positive." Preut, 24, is one of about five dozen foreign students taking classes as part of Angelo State University's International Studies program. On the flip side, more than 100 ASU students will go overseas to study this year. ASU recently opened a Center for International Studies office in the Rassman Building, 2222 Dena Drive, to house every component for the International Program. ASU has 65 foreign students from 27 countries enrolled. The number of ASU students who study abroad has increased: Last year, 54 ASU students went overseas to study and this year 115 students are expected to take classes in other countries. The university is putting an added emphasis on international studies to helps its students compete in a global market, to augment diversity and to give students a "world outlook." University President Joseph C. Rallo said American students are competing against students from other countries as well as students from across the U.S. Going overseas gives ASU students more exposure to different cultures and allows them to come back to San Angelo with more experience and new ideas. "I always bring up an example that if you have a Web site, you are involved in international business," Rallo said. "And this is not a 'nice to do' type of thing, but absolutely essential to allow our students to be exposed to the real competitive challenge that is new over the past three or four years and will not diminish." The center includes the university's Study Abroad Program and the new International Student and Scholar Services, to recruit, retain and advise international students. Two other programs are under development: an English Language Learners program for foreign students who need more English proficiency to be admitted to the university, and a K-12 program that will offer international education activities for public school students in UIL Region XV also will be housed in the center. Both of those programs are expected to be running by the fall 2009 semester. They can help recruit more students to ASU, said Sharynn Tomlin, director for the center. The Center for International Studies, formerly known as the Office of International Education, will stay in the Rassman Building until renovations are complete on the Hardeman Administration Building, which is scheduled for 2010. To help create the center, Tomlin studied international programs at other institutions to develop a plan that would work best at ASU to increase international opportunities in San Angelo. She said the plan got immediate support from Rallo. Traveling abroad is usually an eye-opening experience for the students, Tomlin said. "They totally change in four weeks," Tomlin said. "They are more confident and self-assured. They are more accepting of change and less rigid, and they realize there is a different way of doing things." ASU offers study abroad opportunities in Costa Rica, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Scotland and The Netherlands. Whitney Meeks, a 21-year-old international business major, studied in Scotland last year. It's a cliche, Meeks said, but it's true: The world is becoming a smaller place. "If you have a business, it's going to be international," she said. "And it's also about life experiences, and you have to do something you are not used to." Karla Ponce, 21, of Mexico said she wanted to study in San Angelo to learn to speak English and to know more about American culture. She's going to Tecnologico de Monterrey Campus Chihuahua and said that school and ASU have a long tradition of working together for international studies. Ponce said she wants to work in the food industry, possibly catering or maybe as a wedding planner. She plans to come back to ASU next summer, and she said her English is progressing very nicely. "When my classmates start talking really fast, I say, 'Please slow down a little,'" she said. "This is a great way to adapt the way I see things." The interaction between students from different cultures is one reason the program is so important, Tomlin said. "They learn in many ways they are the same," Tomlin said. "The students are sometimes surprised they dress alike, they all like music and they are fun to be with." Preut, the student from Germany, will graduate in August with a degree in business. He's also set to get a marketing degree in April in Germany. ASU and the German school have had a partnership for many years, and Preut said he knew what to expect in Texas from others who have spent time here. He's also traveling. Preut and friends spent this week in California and are about to spend some time in Hawaii. "I think this program brings diversity to the school and the whole campus life," Preut said. "I think other students should really go after it. Everyone gets something out of it." At a glance Angelo State University is adding new focuses to its Center for International Studies. The staff members in charge of the programs are: Sharynn Tomlin, director - Responsible for operations of the center and component programs. Paula Dowler, coordinator of business affairs - responsible for budgets, accounts and reporting for the center. Elva Aguila - center secretary. Study Abroad Programs - Elizabeth-Christine Muelsch. International Student and Scholar Services - Meghan Pace. English Language Learners - Position not filled yet. The program is scheduled to be running Fall 2009. Coordinator for K-12 Programs - John Miazga. This program is scheduled to be running Spring or Fall 2009. Cowboys offense clicks in rout of Bears Dak Prescott threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Micah Parsons returned a fumble for his first NFL score in Dallas Cowboys win. SHARE By Staff Report A San Angelo man pleaded guilty to a charge of criminally negligent homicide last week and was sentenced to four years probation and a $4,000 fine, according to Tom Green County District Court records. Alexander Tankers McCammon, 22, was arrested after a grand jury indicted him on the charge in March 2009 for the crime, which occurred March 1, 2008. On that day, McCammon was driving a 2005 Mustang and crashed into a tree on A&M Avenue. His passenger, 20-year-old Marco Flores, was taken to Shannon Medical Center where he died from his injuries. The offense is a state jail felony, which carries 180 days to two years in a state jail and a fine up to $10,000. Ting Shen/Dallas Morning News/TNS Gloria Fortner, 13, says she values all of the influences of her parentage. Her father, Bruce Fortner, is a black pastor, and her mother, Florencia Velasco Fortner, is a Mexican immigrant who heads a nonprofit. SHARE By Jill Cowan, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) DALLAS When Gloria Fortner was a little girl, a classmate of black and white parentage claimed to be a better mix than her. It was a jarring experience one that has stayed lodged in her mind over the years. But now, Gloria, the daughter of a black pastor and a Mexican immigrant who heads a nonprofit, said shes forgiven if not forgotten. Its OK, the lanky violinist said on a recent afternoon. We follow each other on Instagram now, so its fine. Gloria is 13. And she doesnt see herself as mixed up or half anything. Rather, the eighth-grader views herself as equally of two cultures both of which she values deeply. I consider myself as African-American and also Mexican and also a little Native American? she said, looking toward her mother for a nod. Nothing more, nothing less. The Lancaster teen is one of a growing number of Americans who are navigating a shifting racial middle ground as the countrys white population ages and interracial coupling becomes more common. Since 1980, for instance, the percentage of marriages between spouses of different races has almost quadrupled. Those changing demographics which are even more marked in rapidly diversifying Texas demand a more nuanced understanding of race and ethnicity. Discussions have taken on a heightened sense of urgency as disproportionate police violence against black people has brought racial tensions to the foreground tensions long simmering underneath broader debates about poverty and stubborn housing segregation. The idea of race as a single box you check on a form is disappearing, said Carolyn Liebler, who has done extensive work with census data as a sociology professor at the University of Minnesotas Minnesota population center. Im a white person, and all of my ancestors are white, from northwest Europe, she said. People like me founded the system, and we dont imagine that there could be a complication because its outside the realm of experience. But that complexity can be a good thing. Its better to have a more complicated view because the world is complicated, Liebler said, and what were trying to do is understand the world. Race, according to sociologists and demographers, isnt so much a scientifically fixed trait as it is a set of experiences: a complicated, evolving puzzle that fits together the way you see yourself and the way others see you, all set against the backdrop of your place within a fraught history. U.S. Census Bureau officials say the countrys increasing diversity has prompted the agencys most significant review yet of the way it asks Americans about their race and ethnicity. The Census Bureau is continually researching methods to improve our data on race and ethnicity so that we can provide our country with important information that reflects our growing racial and ethnic diversity and the complexity of our myriad of American experiences, a Census Bureau official said in a statement. Recommendations from that research will shape the wording on the 2020 survey, which officials hope will lead more people to an accurate description of their ethnicity not just some other race. Rachel Marks, a senior analyst for the agencys ethnicity and ancestry branch, put it another way: Does this (wording) help people find themselves better? In particular, Marks said, people of Middle Eastern or North African descent havent been well-represented in government data. Currently, she said, the federal government considers them white. The agency has also researched whether it makes sense to have two separate questions about ethnicity and Hispanic origin. In 1790, the first census grouped people into three racial categories: free white males and females, all other free persons and slaves. Since then, changes to the race and ethnicity question have coincided with various waves of immigration. Chinese made its first appearance as a racial category on the 1860 survey, but only in California. Hindu was listed as a racial category in 1920, 1930 and 1940, before it was removed. It was the only time a religion has appeared as an option in the race and ethnicity question. The Census Bureau first allowed people to pick more than one race to describe themselves in 2000. All those changes highlight the fuzziness of race as a concept. Lieblers research shows that it may be more accurate to track racial identity as fluid and shifting. Demographers already have crazy complicated (statistical) models: You have everyones life story, of being single, dating or cohabitating, getting married and getting divorced, and then you take those life stories and look for patterns, she said. Is it a problem to have a fluctuating identity? The Pew Research Center reported that as many as 6.2 percent of census respondents picked some other race in the 2010 census, which means millions of people are essentially unaccounted for in Americas ethnic tableau. And more than 10 million Americans changed which race or ethnicity boxes they picked between their 2000 and 2010 census forms, according to an analysis of 168 million census forms that Liebler worked on with the Census Bureau. Jenifer Bratter, a sociologist at Rice University, said watching how Latinos identify themselves in Texas as they become the majority can serve as a microcosm for the rest of the countrys demographic trends. Understanding mixed identity will only enhance our understanding of that group how the expansion of (the Hispanic origin group) is blurring as opposed to competing with the non-Hispanic white population, she said. Still speaking days after a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Dallas was transformed into a killing ground by a black military veteran who targeted white police officers Bratter said she doesnt have high hopes for some kind of utopian color-blind, post-racial society. If (that) is any indication, no, she said. The relevance of these categories occurs against the backdrop of the relevance of race in daily life, and as long as it continues to be experienced as a divide, with different access to resources, these categories are always going to have meaning. Florencia Velasco Fortner and Bruce Fortner, Glorias parents, are far from wide-eyed idealists when it comes to racial inequality, though they both said they have hope things will improve. They met as community organizers in Dallas, and both have continued to work as community advocates. She was born in Mexico and moved to Texas from El Monte, Calif., a heavily Latino enclave outside of Los Angeles. He grew up in New Orleans. When Florencia first met Bruces mother, she had two questions: She said, Boy, have you checked her ID? because I looked really young, Florencia recalled. And the second question Is she white? Bruce finished the story. His mother just hadnt met many Latinos. When they were married, a minister told Bruce that by marrying Florencia, youll turn your back on the black church. Florencia said that gave her pause. I knew how passionate he was about the black church and his ministry, she said. He was wrong, so we just moved on, Bruce said. He said that inevitably those points of community friction will lessen, just as they have in his own life. He and his mother-in-law now end their conversations by joking: Florencia loca. And his wife has settled into her role as first lady of a Baptist church in South Dallas, even though shes often the only non-African-American in the room. Thats the question How have we been able to make this work? Bruce said, sitting across from his wife and daughter in their sunlit living room. I think foremost, we came in with an open mind to each others culture and allowed ourselves to be transformed by that. Gloria fidgeted a little on the couch, stifling giggles while her parents reminisced about their relationship. Shed heard a lot of the stories before. For the most part, Gloria said, shes proud of her background and its made her more aware of other peoples struggles. When her family visited New Orleans, her dad recalled, she wanted to give money to everyone who asked. At Glorias largely Latino school, though, conversations about ethnicity often get rolled in with the everyday anxieties that come with being a teenage girl. Her classmates, Gloria said, have a strict way of how they see beauty: youre lighter skinned, and youre thick if youre not like that youre not hot; youre just kind of there. You can be not hot for a little while longer. Im OK with that, her dad cut in with a chuckle. Gloria said she hopes that someday, no one will think its weird that her dad is black and her mom is Latina. Because they fell in love and they had me, and thats basically all you need to know about me. SHARE By Sharon Randall If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans. Old people used to say that when I was a child. I never knew what it meant, but I do now. I said it myself this morning. I've been making plans both good and bad for most of my life, only to see them fall apart. It has happened so often you might think I'd have learned not to bother planning at all. If you think that, think again. I keep making plans, partly because it's fun, but mainly because a lot of things worth doing won't get done without a plan for doing them. Also, it gives God a reason to laugh. Take this past week. I flew home on Monday after three days in Montana, visiting my youngest and his family. It was a great visit. I was tired, but happy, ready to start checking off a long list of things I needed to do before leaving again a week later for some speaking engagements in Redding, California. What was on the list? Usual stuff. Get my hair done. Go to the doc for a check-up. Float in the pool with my husband. Have lunch with my friend Linda. Write a column and finish working on the talks I'd be giving. Unpack, do laundry, repack ... all good things. Then, Monday night, my husband yelled from the garage: "You gotta come see this!" I hate it when he says that. It's never good. Sure enough, our water heater was leaking. Picture a 50-gallon sieve. He shut off the water and gas. It kept leaking. We stood there watching it drip, scratching our heads, the way you do when you don't know what else to do. Finally, we piled towels around it to soak up the water and started making phone calls. And so it began. I spoke to our home warranty company. They sent a plumber the next morning, who said, in effect, "Whoa. It's bad." The leak had soaked into the walls. In the garage. And the kitchen. And the dining room. Not only did we need a new water heater. We needed "water removal specialists." I spoke to our insurance agent, who sent a team from Stanley Steemer to rip out soggy sheet rock and set up giant turbine fans to dry the wet walls. It sounded like a fleet of fighter jets preparing for take off. We considered moving to a motel. Instead, we wore ear plugs. We couldn't hear the doorbell, the phone, the TV or each other. It was like a silent retreat, without the silence. Also, no hot water meant no taking showers or running the dishwasher or doing laundry. Luckily, after two days, the plumber set up a new water heater temporarily, to give us hot water while the work is being done. Then he'll do a final installation. I might kiss him. The "drying phase" lasted five days. And nights. Then the guys from Stanley Steemer took away the turbines, hallelujah, and told us to call a contractor. We did. He's coming soon to give us an estimate on the repairs. I'm hoping the work will start the day I leave for Redding, and end before I get back. Meanwhile, I've checked off a few things on my long list. I have two days to finish it up. The important stuff will get done, the rest won't matter. Maybe I should have that carved on my tombstone? This morning we awoke to two glorious gifts: Silence and hot water. My husband, bless him, brought me coffee, and set it on the nightstand. It's a lovely way to wake up, sipping coffee and being thankful. I had big plans for the day and was almost ready to get started. But as I reached for the coffee cup, it slipped from my hand and bounced across the floor. And coffee rained about the bedroom to the far ends of the Earth, sloshing a power strip, splashing across my desk and dripping off my nose. Seriously? Somedays I think I was born just to keep God in stitches. Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com. According to authorities, more than 400 persons were in and around the bridge in Morbi when it collapsed Sunday evening. SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times John Moritz 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 the 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," said the interdenominational group, Texas Impact. "They have already experienced immeasurable hardships, rejection, death and deprivation. 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 smoothly as anyone during a 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 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 Texan. We'll keep a close eye on this one. Also on Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee will examine whether 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. SHARE The following editorial appeared in Tuesday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The U.S. Justice Department's inspector general has cleared an FBI agent of wrongdoing for impersonating a journalist and using a fake Associated Press story to track down the 15-year-old who made bomb threats against a high school in the state of Washington nine years ago. The ruling sends a horrible message to agents "do whatever you want, guys" and has the potential to promote other ethically challenged behavior at an agency where professionalism should be a top priority. With its stonewalling on records requests and bullying of reporters over news leaks, the Justice Department under President Barack Obama long ago set a new low for attempting to subvert the journalistic process. Still, the inspector general's ruling was a surprise partly because the FBI itself tacitly admitted mishandling the case. In June, it adopted a policy requiring agents to get high-level approval before impersonating a journalist in future investigations. Hopefully, the person reviewing those requests will have more scruples and better judgment than the DOJ inspector general or the FBI rogues who devised the 2007 caper. Back then, law enforcement officials couldn't figure out who was making bomb threats to Timberline High School via email. An agent contacted the suspect by email, posing as an AP "staff publisher," and got him to open a link to a fake AP story about the bomb threats. The fake story was posted on a fake web page that resembled that of The Seattle Times. When the 15-year-old clicked on the link, it infected his computer with tracking software, leading authorities to him. The FBI's ruse and the inspector general's whitewashing of it are damaging to journalism. But the government doesn't care about that. The less journalism the better, as far as government agencies in general, and law enforcement agencies in particular, are concerned. The less the public knows, the happier they are. During the Cold War, government agents sometimes found journalism jobs to be a convenient cover for clandestine activities. Austin Goodrich, for example, worked as a CBS correspondent while an undercover CIA officer in Europe in the 1950s. But those days are over. Today, journalists are sometimes detained in unfriendly countries and accused of being government spies. On other occasions, they're branded as mouthpieces for one political party or another. The FBI has made it more difficult for journalists to assert their independence and that one day could cost a reporter his or her life. At the FBI, little, if anything, will change. Emboldened by the inspector general's report, agents will do what they want, if only because they know they can get away with it. Governor-level awareness is on the rise. Cybersecurity is becoming part of the fabric of government operations. A formal strategy and better communications lead to greater command of resources . There is a need to rethink talent strategies. In the same week when Yahoo announced one of the biggest data breaches of all time And the White House announced a data breach that included a scan of First Lady Michelle Obamas passport . ... (Note: this second most talked about data breach story led theat a time when violent protests occurred in Charlotte, N.C.)And in a week where the majority of state government technology grades from the Center for Digital Government (CDG) improved over two years ago. ...And in a week where thefrom the Professional Services Council (PSC), which now includes federal CISOs answering questions, released their survey results calling-out big increases in cyberattacks against the federal government over the past year. ...Thewas released.Here are some of the key themes from the reports executive summary:Another highlight included the general need for more cyberfunding, roughly in line with a slight growth from previous cybersecurity reports and the spending levels recorded in 2010, 2012 and 2014. You can read about my coverage of the 2014 NASCIO cybersecurity report that was released in Nashville, Tenn., here Coverage of the 2016 NASCIO Cybersecurity survey did include these quotes highlighted by many media outlets:An excellent Stateline article by Jenni Bergal focused on the fact that state computers are increasingly under attack by cybercriminals . Here are a few excerpts from that article:The Stateline article went on to rightly focus on the big cybersecurity issue currently on everyones mindthe upcoming general election in November.magazine ran this story , which focused on interviews regarding cybersecurity plans with the CIOs in Minnesota and Florida.This NASCIO Conference Day 2 highlight article highlighted several quotes from state leaders from the NASCIO keynote session:Washington state CISO Agnes Kirk: We realized our legislators have to make policy and funding decisions about vast topics. Everybody has a need and at varying degrees. I just hope legislators understand that if you dont invest in cybersecurity up front, you'll invest on the back end."Indiana CISO Tad Stahl: When we established our funds, we put together a strategy [about] what we needed to do to address the most significant risks at the time. Largely for us, the strategy has stayed the same while tactics have changed.Connecticut CIO Mark Raymond: We dont have a strategy in Connecticut. Nobody wants to give you money when you have problems. They want to give you money when you have a strategy to fix the problems.I want to start by underlining how important this cybersecurity study is every two years. It provides perhaps the best snapshot that we have of progress made on protecting data in state governments across state governments. I think the Deloitte staff, NASCIO security committee, state CISOs, government business leaders and others who participate in this biennial survey are to again be commended for this effort. I urge you to download and read the 2016 study . I personally participated in answering the questions for Michigan in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and this 2016 product is another excellent study based on state CISO answers.These survey results seem very similar to 2014; nevertheless, online threats continue to increase dramatically. As the survey shows, I do think that most state governments have made modest progress on cybersecurity over the past two years. However, just as in the majority of businesses in the nation and world, not enough is being done on cyber. In fact, states are falling further behind the cyber bad guys. Although the survey shows leadership progress, overall cyberawareness and moderate funding increases, the overall threat level is increasing much faster.Yes, there are plenty of positive survey answers, but compared to industry averages, the funding and technical resources for cybersecurity remain inadequate in the majority of states. Furthermore, if Yahoo.com, the White House, OPM and dozens of other public- and private-sector organizations have faced headline-grabbing data breaches over the past two years, many more data breaches in state governments seem inevitable.Add in the coming surge of new Internet of Things (IoT) devices including smart cities connectivity, more scary nation-state attacks against election (and other critical) systems and the proliferation of ransomware, and it seems almost impossible to stop future reputation damaging for state governments. Just as techrepublic.com reported, its hard to miss a bleak future for cybersecurity over the next few years.Further, I continue to see three different groupings in state governmentsleaders, adopters and laggardswith roughly a third of states in each group. Even the best state government technology and security programs in the country are struggling to stop cyberattacks from succeeding. Since public trust in government is at a low ebb right now, I think it is essential that state government leaders somehow turn the general awareness of cybersecurity challenges into a greater focus on addressing cyberthreats and incident response in local situations.During this tough time, states need to maintain some level of optimism in order to have any hope of improving technology infrastructure over the next several years. Government leaders cannot "throw in the towel," but must persevere in the midst of this cyberbattle.I have no doubt that we will continue to see more high-profile data breaches coming from state and local governments over the next few yearsmuch like other sector cyber incidents in areas such as health care and banking. I am hoping that these reported breaches can lead to the needed cyberattention being provided in lagging states.Eventually I think there will be a turning point on cybersecurity, but I just dont see it yet - in either the public or private sectors.I close with these two quotes from Winston Churchill: Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.Also, Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. If you want to read about personal finance, you can find books on how to be a millionaire, reduce debt, play the stock market and much more. But Ultimate Cheapskate Jeff Yeager, who will visit Greensboro on Oct. 11, contends that the most fundamental issue is your relationship with your money. Yeager, a contributor to NBC, the AARP, his own blog and YouTube, contends that happiness can be found in doing more with less. The one thing he can live without, he says, is debt. The Ultimate Cheapskates Road Map to True Riches explains just how this works. In advance of Mr. Yeagers upcoming visit to the Greensboro Public Library, I read his book and found it compelling, funny and, most importantly, useful. I think I did change my definition of happiness, and Ive begun to adopt the frugal lifestyle he proposes. How does Yeagers frugality play out in The Ultimate Cheapskate? The book is divided into 10 easily digested chapters and a glossary, which articulate the core concepts. The examples and anecdotes range from sewing your own clothes to boiling eggs along with your dishes in the dishwasher. Examples of the Road Map to True Riches baseline concepts include the money step, taking an Amish approach to the digital age, and taking a bye on purchases. The money step is his term for the default dance that we do with money, earning more to spend more to get what we want. He proposes that we skip that step and spend less, yet live a more satisfying lifestyle. Yeager cites the Amish philosophy toward electricity use no more than you have to, and contemplate the effect it will have on your life as one we should have towards purchases. This goes hand-in-hand with the concept of taking a bye on technology the strategy to not buy the next-generation technological product, and instead wait until prices come down. He suggests auditing expenses, to reveal spending mistakes and habits that can be corrected. Thus, we see some of the tenets of the cheap pride movement. The book introduces frugality in an entertaining way. Yeagers experiences, both in his personal life and as a nonprofit executive, back up the prose. After reading his book, I learned to skip the money step: to carefully consider purchases, then eliminate them if they dont improve my life. I wanted to become a member of the cheap pride movement, too. Id recommend The Ultimate Cheapskates Road Map to True Riches as a great introduction to the frugal lifestyle. If youre interested in learning more about Yeagers frugal lifestyle plan, read his other two books, The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskates Guide to Retirement. In The Cheapskate Next Door, he updates his frugality ideas for a post-recession world. In The Ultimate Cheapskates Guide to Retirement, he tailors his frugal philosophy to the needs of the retired and those about to retire. He includes case studies of people who are living beneath their means, but not depriving themselves. While The Ultimate Cheapskate Road Map to True Riches contains some lists of frugal tips and internet sources, there are even more in The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskates Guide to Retirement, which were written more recently. I read the paperback edition of The Ultimate Cheapskates Guide to Retirement, which was especially helpful for reading, re-reading and absorbing. I read the e-book editions of The Ultimate Cheapskates Road Map to True Riches and The Cheapskate Next Door, which highlighted the valuable online resources. All are available at the Greensboro Public Library (one of Yeagers frugality suggestions). If you want to read classics of the modern frugality movement, start with Amy Dacyczyns Tightwad Gazette I, II and III, all of which are available at the Public Library. It started as a blog, morphed into a three-book series and lives on in cyberspace through social media. You may want to venture on to Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguezs Your Money or Your Life. It was one of the first books that addressed our relationship with money, and Yeager admits that he owes a debt to it for his own work. The book was first written before the integration of computers into our lives, so some methodology seems a little outdated, like tracking your spending on a piece of graph paper. Nevertheless, the underlying ideas are solid. For a robust discussion of the concept of frugal living, look no further than The Ultimate Cheapskates Road Map to True Riches. Yeager aims to change your attitude toward what makes you happy. Part of his message is that you actually will enjoy the frugal lifestyle that looking for bargains and sharing them with others is part of the fun. And that not only will your finances improve, but so will the quality of your life. Start with Yeager and then venture on to the others. For a discussion of frugality, be sure to attend Yeagers workshop at the Greensboro Public Library on Oct. 11. Its free! In response to National Voter Registration Day, YWCA High Point will host a nonpartisan voter registration drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the YWCA, 112 Gatewood Ave. in High Point. Since early August, the YWCA High Point has been registering voters and encouraging individuals to pledge to vote. To honor this national day, YWCA invites the community and local businesses to stop by to register to vote, pledge to vote and get more information as citizens prepare for local and national elections. This event is free and open to the public. Spanish bilingual staff will be in attendance and ice cream will be provided. For information, call (336) 882-4126. Quilt show, contest on tap at WhiteStone WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Community will host its second annual quilt show from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7-11. The community has engaged local churches to participate in the show by having each submit their best work to be displayed and voted on. Each congregation has a chance to win $1,000 for their church, votes are needed to select a winner. Entry forms are due by Wednesday. Voting will take place during the display hours. For information, contact Susan Brewer at (336) 510-4811 or SBrewer@LiveatWhiteStone.org. Merchant Marine vet group seeks members The American Merchant Marine Veterans, a nonprofit veterans organization, is seeking younger members to help preserve the traditions of Merchant Marine history dating back to 1775. Established in 1984 to gain veterans status, recognition and benefits for Merchant Mariners, the organization is seeking help moving into the future. Merchant Mariners are the men and women who operate supply ships, especially in times of conflict. For information, call (707) 546-6349, email saaren@sonic.net or visit www.ammv.us. My arthritic mothers health began to rapidly decline about two years ago. First there was a wreck involving another driver, and then a few months later there was an altercation with a concrete pole in a grocery store parking lot. So I began driving her to her various doctors appointments, more than 20 in the course of a year. They say alone time in the car is a good opportunity to bring up difficult topics with teenagers, so I gave it a go with my mother, 84. Did she have a will? What hopes and plans did she have for her two homes, multiple outbuildings and almost 200 acres of farmland? What sort of things would she want included in a living will? Silent, I tried other angles such as, What were my dads thoughts? Well, I dont know, he went so fast, we didnt have time to talk about it, she answered. He was 87 when he died in 2007. Like coaxing a freshly baked caked out of a pan, I tried to gently introduce these topics into the conversations. I failed at times. What about you, do you have all your affairs in order? Mom once loudly responded. She had a good point. My husband and I are in our 40s, and while we have a will and life insurance for everyone in our household, we dont have any advance directives in place. Nor do I know what we will do if either of us experiences early onset dementia, the disease that killed my late mother-in-law. But given Moms age, the need to ascertain her plans seemed more pressing. And I dont like procrastinating. In college, my papers were almost always typed and ready for submission at least two days in advance. I managed to get her, my older brother and an adult nephew to a lawyers office. My mother brought her will, drafted shortly after my birth and not notarized. For this will to be valid, the attorney said, we would have to find the two people who witnessed it and they would have to affirm that, yes, they did sign it. Three meetings with the lawyer resulted in an updated will, power of attorney documentation and a living will all documents needed three months later when Moms various physical limitations made it necessary for her to move to an assisted-living facility. And I have to say that as a parent myself, I am somewhat baffled that she had to be cajoled into this last and probably most unpleasant parenting duty. My mother was not a fly-by-the-seat of your pants kind of gal. She always had a pie and casserole in her freezer to take to families grieving a death or recovering from an illness. She carefully clipped coupons and actually used them. She somehow managed to save enough Betty Crocker stamps to provide several family members with complete sets of beautiful silverware. A talented seamstress, she always measured twice and cut once. My daughter, 14, has assured me that she already has a plan in place, a bit limited perhaps, when my husband and I die. Im just going to throw all your stuff away. Good to know that she is thinking ahead. GREENSBORO City Council members could decide to take strong action Monday against a former police officer whose conduct with a local man shocked them into agreeing to show his body-camera footage on live television. Among the things members will vote on shortly after they broadcast footage of the June 17 incident: A resolution asking the Guilford County district attorneys office to reconsider assault charges against Travis Cole, who resigned during an investigation into his encounter with Dejuan Yourse. In August, the district attorneys office declined to charge Cole with assault. The council is deeply concerned about the prosecutorial opinion rendered in this case, the resolution says, adding that prosecutors should review this incident again. The resolution also urges the state law enforcement licensing agency to revoke Coles certification so he will not be eligible to serve as a law enforcement officer in the future. Efforts to reach Cole have been unsuccessful. Yourse hasnt returned telephone calls since watching the footage Thursday. The News & Record doesnt know the names of their attorneys. It also was unclear Saturday how many council members will vote in support of the resolution. City Attorney Tom Carruthers sent them a draft Friday, along with a five-page memo outlining the police departments internal investigation. Carruthers addressed the memo to council members Jamal Fox, Sharon Hightower and Justin Outling, but sent it to all nine members. The council will discuss the matter in a special meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, which will be aired live on the citys Greensboro Television Network (Time Warner Cable, Channel 13). The council will show footage from the cameras Cole and his partner were wearing that June evening, then vote on the resolution. The council also will discuss the departments internal review of the incident. Police Chief Wayne Scott said he didnt learn about it until two months afterward, which bothered some members who said they didnt know about it until last week. Yourse was on the porch of his mothers home on Mistywood Court a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood near Wendover Avenue and Interstate 40 when police responded to a report of a possible burglary. Council members havent described publicly what they saw in footage from the cameras Cole and his partner were wearing, but said Coles conduct was unacceptable. Yourse told the News & Record that Cole hit him in the face and called him derogatory names. He said Coles partner acted appropriately, though, and was pretty cool during the ordeal. When (Cole) punched me in the face, she looked at him like he was crazy, Yourse said. Cole resigned on Aug. 19, nine days after the police department placed him on administrative duty. Compounding the councils concern about the incident was Coles disciplinary record: He was once briefly suspended from the department for his handling of the high-profile case of Devin and Rufus Scales. The Scales brothers, who are black, were arrested by Greensboro police in August 2014 for blocking traffic on an empty street, public intoxication and resisting arrest. But Devin Scales recorded his brother being handcuffed without incident, raising questions about why he was charged with resisting arrest. After months of public pressure, the police dropped the charges. Cole was found to have violated the departments conduct, courtesy and discretion policies and received a 16-hour suspension. Carruthers memo to council members provided other new pieces of information. Among them: Cole cooperated with police officials initial review of his use of force on Yourse, which took place before he resigned. Cole, however, refused after his resignation to participate in both the district attorneys investigation and the departments own Professional Standards review. The city couldnt make him, Carruthers said, since he was no longer an employee. Police Chief Wayne Scott had the authority to fire Cole immediately because of a new departmental policy for actions so egregious that it erodes public trust and negatively impacts or interferes with day-to-day operations of the department, Carruthers wrote. Scott would take such an action only in extreme circumstances, Carruthers said for example, an intentional homicide. Scott considered the move and determined it to be inappropriate, according to Carruthers. Only the state Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission can revoke Coles law enforcement license, he wrote. The council can, however, recommend that the commission do just that. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close It defies reasoning as to how the Democratic Party of North Carolina and Roy Cooper can believe, much less say, that Gov. Pat McCrory has set back the North Carolina education system. In the 12 years of Democratic leadership prior to his term, practically no raise was given to North Carolina teachers. In his three-and-a-half years in office, McCrory has given North Carolina teachers an extraordinary pay raise. Yes, North Carolina education was near the bottom in the nations 50 states. The system has been run by the Democratic leadership for the majority of the last 100-plus years. Ill spell it out for you. Thats who was responsible for the low ratings. Republicans are working on bringing the rating up. Give them a chance. I cannot understand how anyone can vote for Roy Cooper unless they truly do not think for themselves. By the way, Roy Cooper vowed to not uphold all the laws of North Carolina, which he had sworn to do. Bob Blanchard Randleman The end of a great love is never easy. But there are still material issues to resolve. Related: 5 Essential Tips for Financial Planning After Divorce Yes, we're going there: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie: As the whole world gawks at the dissolution of perhaps this most iconic of Hollywood marriages, we are once more reminded of the complexity of divorce between entrepreneurial individuals with multiple complex assets. Naturally, the existence of a prenup to that marriage would alleviate some of the intricacies of the financial divorce. But, as there was no mention of one in Jolie's divorce filing, it is possible (albeit unlikely) that the couple never signed one. Because Jolie and Pitt are two of the most famous people on the planet and own a variety of complex assets, their case presents all the complexities of a high-profile, high net worth divorce. Aside from the sensationalist lure of the story, there is much wisdom that entrepreneurs with their own marital woes can extract from the multiple possible scenarios in the Jolie-Pitt split. Here are those lessons: 1. Get a prenup. Jolie and Pitt married after many years of living together, sharing humanitarian work and raising several children. Who would have thought that after a decade-long relationship, their marriage would last only two years? My experience with celebrity and high net worth divorce has taught me that no matter how in love you are and how much you trust your future spouse, even if you have lived together 10 years, you still need a prenup. Though this may not be apparent at first glance, discussing a prenup requires an openness and level of trust that can greatly strengthen the marital bond. When the couple married two years ago, Pitt had a higher net worth than Jolie, due mainly to such successes of his production company Plan B as Eat, Pray, Love; 12 Years a Slave; and Selma. Now, I do not personally practice in California, but I am informed that, withhout a prenup, California's community property laws will prompt a 50-50 split of Jolie's and Pitt's earnings. Because Jolie has been in fewer blockbusters since she married Pitt, and Plan B has been doing extremely well of late, absent a prenup, Jolie will be entitled to a share of Pitt's earnings. 2. Keep your passion project as separate property. In 2012, Pitt and Jolie purchased an established wine-producing chateau in France. Unlike other stars who put their names on wine labels prompted by an oversized ego rather than an entrepreneurial spirit, these two actor-entrepreneurs saw their investment in Chateau Miraval turn out to be a success. The chateau's signature rose was the only rose to make Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines list in 2013. Pitt and Jolie paid $60 million for the estate, adding some extra Hollywood-glamour value to the property by having their wedding celebration there on the grounds. According to media reports, the winery means much more to Pitt than to Jolie. But the truth is that unless the chateau was listed in a prenup as Pitt's separate property, the couple might potentially have to liquidate it in order to split their money; or else each spouse might have to come up with the funds to buy out the other partys interest. On the other hand, it seems that Jolie is much more invested in the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation than her husband. If things get ugly, Jolie might find herself having to listen to Pitt's ideas for the foundation and be unable to have full control over one of her most cherished projects. Related: Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary Says Married Entrepreneurs Must Do This or Risk Divorce 3. Do not take business appraisals lightly. Plan B is an excellent business, as are the separate Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie brands. The Chateau Miraval winery is also a profitable business. At this point, however, either Jolie or Pitt may be tempted to present low business valuations, in order to have to shell out less, in the divorce, for the other spouse. I have seen this happen countless times. A monied spouse shows up with a business appraisal that is convenient for the divorce: "The business is not doing very well, and it is not worth much." And this may be difficult for the other spouse to refute, because business valuations are very subjective, and it is very hard to argue against them; so, such unrealistic appraisals are commonly accepted. Now, if that same, first monied spouse wants to sell the business some time after the divorce, what will he or she do when potential buyers request to see all previous business appraisals? This person cannot very well say, Here is the appraisal, but my business is worth much more; I was just trying to screw over my spouse. That's hardly a good starting point for a sound business transaction, of course. Therefore, when it comes to business appraisals, long-term thinking is the way to go. 4. Settle out of court whenever possible. For entrepreneurs like Jolie and Pitt, discussing personal finances in the public eye never does any good. Strategically, there are certain details about your business that you do not want on the cover of People magazine. If you are a partner in a company, for instance, the suspicion that your former spouse might soon have a stake in it might weaken the business. This is especially true if your spouse has no prior connection with the business and no experience. In that case, it can be devastating for board members to learn that they will soon need approval from a complete outsider for every subsequent business decision. Such fears can have a domino effect, and your business can suffer as a result. Then there is the fact that litigation is expensive. While people like Jolie and Pitt can certainly afford it, it is emotionally draining, especially when children are involved. The majority of high net worth divorces settle, and there is good reason for that. The prospect of going to court is simply too risky on many levels, because there is little guidance from the law in the high net worth divorce space, and a great deal is left to the judge's discretion. For busy actor-entrepreneurs like Jolie and Pitt to be at the mercy of a court can be extremely problematic, as a judge will not care if they are on location in the Sahara shooting a $200 million movie. Court dates will have to be honored. Settling a case is the only way to control the schedule, which can be a critical point for high-earning individuals. 5. Keep finances and emotions separate. Since Jolie has not asked for spousal support and neither spouse is currently trashing the other one for the benefit of the tabloids, their divorce may well turn out to be a clean one. After all, if you are just dividing up money, divorce turns into a somewhat of a business negotiation. But there is a threat looming over Hollywood's most beloved power couple, and it has to do with child custody. Should Jolie maintain her current position of requesting sole custody of the parties six children -- and assuming that Pitt will not agree -- the two may be facing a custody fight. Once children, not money, are the issue, the mind shifts and emotions run high. When the business mind no longer dictates the discussion, emotions run the gamut, and custodial issues often blur with financial ones. However, if the parties understand that it is in their best interest to deal with finances and child custody separately, and not let their emotions get the best of their good judgment, everyone will benefit. If Jolie and Pitt agree on custody, as she does not want spousal support, and her $275 million net worth is not that far below Pitt's $350 million, the division of the assets may run smoothly. Both Jolie and Pitt will be able to maintain their current lifestyle, and so will the children. Related: If You Run a Company Together, What Happens When You Divorce? At that point, all of us gawkers can move on to whatever Hollywood offers next. The dream of a seemingly perfect love that enthralled millions of us for 12 years may be over, but perhaps the fans` sensibilities will be spared; the Pitt-Jolie divorce won't have to turn into a nasty spectacle, after all. Related: How Will 'Brangelina' Divide Their Millions? And Who Gets the Winery? 5 Tips for Structuring Your New Business Like a Pro How To Protect Your Assets When Starting a Company Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved CBRE, the worlds largest commercial real estate services and investment firm with offices in Stamford, was ranked for the first time in the annual Hearst Connecticut Media Top Workplaces survey, earning the No. 22 spot in the small size brand. CBREs senior managing director Robert Caruso sat down to discuss how his company thrives in a competitive environment. Q: What makes CBRE a great place to work? A: Every day our employees are empowered and expected to be better. You have the freedom to make your own path. Your career is in your own hands; theres no need to wait to be shown the way. Its about how well you perform, not just how long youve worked here. Employees are encouraged to take intelligent risks and explore new ideas and innovations. Our scale gives you mobility and a broader choice of opportunities. Most importantly, you always have a team behind you. Q: Why do you think your employees have ranked CBRE as a Top Workplace? A: As a professional services and investment firm, our most important asset is our people. We believe that by proactively investing in our employees, we can recruit and retain the top talent in our industry while improving productivity in the workplace to better serve our clients. From our leading-edge workplace environments to the benefits programs we offer, we strive to create the ultimate employee experience in an atmosphere that fuels collaboration and innovation, and empowers our employees to perform at their best. Q: What types of opportunities do you offer your employees for growth and training? A: CBRE understands that our success is directly related to the quality of our team, and the professional development of our staff is one of our highest priorities and professional development programs that give our people the resources they need to take charge of their careers. Through collaborating and sharing best practices in our networking groups, mentoring programs, and learning and development resources, we are able to attract, develop and retain top talent. All employees have access to the Career Planning page on our Intranet. This is a key resource for employees who are looking to advance in their career or identify new job opportunities. The page provides a high level of transparency around job families and competencies associated with most jobs. Q: How do you help your employees stay on the cutting edge of your industry? A: From research and marketing to IT and legal, our extensive platform ensures that you have the resources and information you need to succeed. Industry-leading market information enables informed decision making, cost savings, value creation and negotiating leverage. CBRE invests heavily in the latest technology tools and innovations to sustain its premier service delivery platform and provide the highest level of service for its clients. We are a learning culture. We continually educate and develop our professionals to ensure client access to the best talent in the industry. Q: How do you help your employees face challenges? A: How we respond to and manage challenging conflicts is not just a set of corporate policies and procedures its a fundamental factor in defining our success. CBRE is firmly committed to conducting business with the highest integrity and in compliance with the letter and spirit of the law. By Panos Kotzathanasis | Published on 2016/09/24 Winner of the 1995 Grand Bell Awards for Best Film, S. Korea's official selection for the Academy Awards for Foreign Film, screenings at Sundance and Berlin are only some of the indications of the importance of "301, 302", one of the films that paved the way for the international acknowledgement of the country's cinema. Advertisement The script initiates with a police officer interrogating Song-hee at apartment 301, regarding the disappearance of Yoon-hee, who was living in 302. From that point on, and through flashbacks, the story of the relationship between the two women starts unfolding. Song-hee moves into apartment 301 after her divorce. She has a clear obsession with food: she records all her meals in a journal, she cooks gourmet dishes and is also obsessed with her weight. When she learns that her neighbor, Yoon-hee is anorexic, she starts offering her meals, all the time, which she permanently denies. As the story goes even further into the past, through another series of flashbacks, the reasons for their disorders are revealed. Song-hee was trying for years to hold her husband's interest through intricate meals, until the day she learned that he has a mistress. Yoon-hee was a victim of sexual abuse by her stepfather, a butcher. Park Chul-soo directs the first movie in the history of contemporary S. Korean cinema where feminism is the dominant theme, as the lives of women in the country's society are presented with the darkest colors, despite the evident hyperbole of the script. Apart from that, he focuses chiefly in three axes: Food, the connection between food and sex, and the reasons that led each of the women to their current stance towards it. These axes are presented through the interactions of the two protagonists The film also stands apart due to three shocking scenes of violence, although the shock does not derive from their graphic depiction, but from the events and the behaviors. The first one is the sequence with Song-hee and her husband's dog, the second when she is trying to force-feed Yoon-hee, and the third is the final scene in their common story. Considering that the movie was shot in 1995, when such scenes where unprecedented, the difficulty and the boldness of including them in the film becomes even more obvious. Both the protagonists, Pang Eun-jin as Song and Hwang Shin-hye as Yun are great in their respective parts, as they exemplify their antithesis in eloquent fashion. The film was shot 21 years ago, and it was low-budgeted, even for that era, and that takes a toll in the technical department, which is highly unimpressive. However, the depiction of everyday life in urban S. Korea is quite accurate. Furthermore, the pace is quite slow and that makes "301, 302" an even harder film to watch. On the other hand, it is full of meaning and substance, and the three scenes I mentioned will definitely compensate anyone who manages to overcome its technical difficulties. Review by Panos Kotzathanasis Facebook "301, 302" is directed by Park Chul-so and features Pang Eun-jin and Hwang Shin-hye. Published on 2016/09/24 See how South Korean horrors "reclaims the occult", Hangul Celluloid reviews Korea's highest-grossing film of the year, Korea gets its first mountain-themed film festival, and explore the history of Korean animation at the Animation Museum in Chuncheon. Advertisement "The Goat's Throat: How Korean Horror Reclaims The Occult" Summer time is horror time in Korea, but this year the horror hype was a little less impressive compared to previous years (save "Train to Busan"). But that doesn't mean Korea has given up the ghost. In this article, Josh Gripton, a K-film-loving Texan, considers how Korean cinema manages to "reclaims the occult": "Korean cinema continues to make strides in the West. Korean horror in particular has been gaining traction with those who are bored of the jump-scare trappings of mainstream Hollywood..." ...READ ON MOVIE PILOT [Film Review] "Train to Busan" Paul Quinn, writing for Hangul Celluloid, reviews the biggest Korean film of the year so far: Yeon Sang-ho's "Train to Busan" starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok and Kim Su-an. Yeon's latest, his first live-action film, hit local theaters mid-July and attracted 11.5 million filmgoers during its run. "Ultimately, "Train to Busan" is an absolute white knuckle rollercoaster ride with the undead. Miss it at your peril". Have you caught "Train to Busan" yet? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below... ...READ ON HANGUL CELLULOID "Ulju to host 1st mountain film festival" While exploring Korea's thriving cinema scene you will no doubt be pleasantly surprised at just how many different film festivals there actually are. Yes, there are the biggies like the upcoming Busan International Film Festival, but there are also a host of smaller festivals that specialize in specific genres and/or unique themes. Ulsan city, for example, will host the country's first-ever mountain-theme film festival-the Ulju Mountain Film Festival (UMFF)-that will take place from September 30 to October 4. Are you up for it? ...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES "Animation Museum & Robot Studio" South Korea's animation industry is really coming of age, and what better way to celebrate and explore this branch of the country's visual culture by visiting the Animation Museum & Robot Studio in the city of Chuncheon. The Animation Museum, which was the first of its kind when it opened its doors back in 2003, "excavates, collects, preserves, exhibits and studies animation-related materials to awaken the importance and correct sense of animation". Visit Korea has all the information you need if you want to explore the wonderful world of Korean animation... ...READ ON VISIT KOREA Published on 2016/09/25 | Source Seoul has the most sex crimes in the country and the lowest arrest rate. Advertisement According to data from the National Police Agency on Thursday, the capital had the most sex crimes at 43,464, followed by surrounding Gyeonggi Province with 32,854 and Busan with 11,513. But Busan topped the list at for arrests with 89.3 percent, and Seoul had the second lowest rate of 76.4 percent, only higher than Jeju's 65.5 percent. In Seoul Gangnam District had the highest number of sex crimes over the past six years, followed by Gwanak and Seocho. Gwanak saw the most sexual harassment, and Gangnam had the most cases of hidden cameras. But Gangnam's arrest record was poor at just 66.7 percent, ranking 13th from the bottom among 252 districts nationwide. Gwanak and Seocho performed even worse, ranking 10th and eighth from the bottom. COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR ADDRESSES NEEDS OF HOMELESS IN WAIANAE Successful Model Expected to be Replicated News Release from Office of the Governor September 24, 2016 (Waianae) Some 150 residents of a large homeless encampment on DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) land on the Waianae Coast met with a variety of providers on Friday, in the first state-sponsored Community Resource Fair. More than a dozen service providers tallied 467 visits, from homeless people, looking for help with housing, employment, and basic needs. Scott Morishige, the Governors Coordinator on Homelessness explained that the state pulled together resources to serve the nearly 300 people living in the camp. Morighige added, Weve been meeting with people from the encampment and the community for the past several months and one of the things we asked is; what can we do to help people get into permanent housing? They told us about a number of barriers people face. Many dont have photo identification. A lot of them dont have income to pay rent and some are just not aware of the resources available in the community. So we gathered all of the resources in one spot. Based on the experience of reducing the number of homeless people camping in Kakaako from an estimated 300 each night to 30-50, the State would like to see the same thing happen in Waianae. Morishige said, We eventually want to see over the next year or so people steadily move into permanent housing. This fair is something were looking to replicate as we think its a good way to meet the needs of the people. Part of the success in Kakaako was bringing resources to the community. The Community Resource Fair at the Waianae Boat Harbor Part included booths from: Dept. of Human Services Kapaalana Preschool Dept. of Health Kealahou West Oahu Alternative Structure International Kumuhonua Transistional Shelter Catholic Charities Legal Aid Society of Hawaii Hale Naau Pono Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Community Assets US Vets Helping Hands Veteran Affairs Hoomaukeola Waianae Comprehensive Health Center Some people came for food and clothes, others for health and insurance assistance, and at least three residents of the encampment plan to now transition into permanent housing after attending the resource fair. Morishige concluded, I think the providers connected with people that they wouldnt have otherwise. They became more familiar with the needs of the people in the encampment and the homeless people who attended learned a lot more about services, that in many cases, they didnt even know existed. This was part of the state strategy of bringing resources to meet the needs of the community and really understanding what those needs are. # # # RESOURCES (All images courtesy: Hawaii DLNR) HD Video (b-roll and interviews): https://vimeo.com/184077780 Photographs: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p6npl8495cxsx2a/AABslcNd8qtuaFwN5hHH29tKa?dl=0 * * * * * Housing Offered to 289 Homeless9 Accept SA: like others, Borge has little intention of leaving the place she calls Puuhonua, or place of refuge. Its where shes lived for the last 13 years, and where she got sober 10 years ago. Some people are set in their ways, Borge said. For me, this is my home. A family of six, a couple and one other person agreed to move out of the encampment and into a shelter, according to the state homeless coordinators office, which organized the outreach. In all, an estimated 150 people attended the four-hour event. People seeking services tended to visit more than one organization and collectively they added up to a total of 467 contacts. A group of University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University student nurses provided first aid while other homeless people lined up to learn about getting help with security deposits and first and last months rent that could lead to a traditional home. the Waianae encampment of 289 people tucked among the brush includes 48 children and 147 dogs. read Refuse Shelter Elli Avram Sets The Internet On Fire With Her Bold And Sizzling Hot Pictures In A Towel; Check Here Overmountain Men re-enactors wearing Revolutionary War-era clothing forded across the Holston River Saturday in Sullivan County, Tennessee. They crossed at a fairly shallow and cold spot along the river. Men, women and children portrayed the Overmountain Men, showcasing what it was like back in September 1780 when the backwoodsmen of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina traveled to South Carolina to fight the British. Tom Vaughan, a member of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association, said they began early Saturday in Abingdon, Virginia, at the muster grounds. The group of historians also met at the Pemberton Oak, the spot where the Overmountain Men gathered in eastern Sullivan County. Vaughan, whose family owns the Pemberton Oak property, shared their story with Scouts and school children. After braving the chilling waters of the Holston at the old Choates Ford, in present-day Bluff City, the men traveled to Rocky Mount for the evening. There, they shared more stories. Eventually, theyll reach Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. On Oct. 7, 1780, Col. John Sevier and his men from Tennessee forged their way up the wooded ridge to the top of Kings Mountain, where they encountered a group of unsuspecting British soldiers. Sevier, who later became Tennessees first governor, was one of a handful of militia leaders who led hundreds of men over the Appalachian Mountains in the fall of 1780 to fight the British army. The Overmountain Men as they are now called learned that British Major Patrick Ferguson and about 1,000 men were traveling northward from Georgia about five years after the start of the war and four years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Their courageous story, which historians say turned the tide of the American Revolutionary War, is told each fall in the Appalachian Mountains. In late September and early October, re-enactors follow the Overmountain Mens path from the Abingdon Muster Grounds in Virginia to Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina. Along the way, at places like Choates Ford in Sullivan County, Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Gilbert Town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, and Cowpens National Battlefield, South Carolina, they share stories about what the Overmountain Men endured more than two centuries ago. Many school children, about 3,000 by Saturday, attend festivities along the route. Their accomplishments were accomplishments of national significance, said Jennifer Bauer, manager of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. The Overmountain Men pioneers who primarily resided in Tennessee and Virginia mustered at Sycamore Shoals before crossing the mountains. More than 100 years after the war, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote of the Battle of Kings Mountain in his book, The Winning of the West, that this brilliant victory marked the turning point of the American Revolution. Its remarkable to me, if you look at what these people did when Ferguson said he was going to lay waste to their country with fire and sword, Bauer said. Their courage, their willingness to risk their life, to risk everything for freedom from Britain was amazing. By Sept. 10, 1780, Ferguson had established a camp at Gilbert Town, in present-day Rutherford County, North Carolina, and issued a challenge to the Patriot leaders, which included Sevier, Isaac Shelby and Colonel William Campbell. The pioneers of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina heard Fergusons threat. The British major said hed march his army over the mountains and hang their leaders, in addition to laying waste to the countryside. The British forces had already taken Charleston and Camden when Ferguson threatened the Patriots. Patriot leaders called upon the men of Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina to muster and take on Ferguson and his army. Under the leadership of Campbell, about 400 Virginians met at the present-day Abingdon Muster Grounds, along the banks of Wolf Creek, on Sept. 23, 1780. The Virginians traveled to Rocky Mount, a state historic site in Sullivan County, Tennessee, to meet with a group of Tennesseans on Sept. 24. Sevier had led about 240 men from the Nolichucky River valley and Shelby led about 240 men from Sullivan County. On Sept. 25, the Overmountain Men arrived at Sycamore Shoals, along the banks of the Watauga River. The men brought limited supplies for their journey. They brought food provisions, weapons, something to lie on, something to carry water in, something to make fire with, the very basic survival tools that one would need to live out in the wild and in all kinds of weather, Bauer said. A majority of the men were on horseback. Their saddlebags would have been used to carry necessary items. I would assume that their emphasis was powder and lead, Bauer said. Sycamore Shoals was a well-known site at the time of the muster. Prior to the war, a speculator, Richard Henderson, met with Cherokee Indian leaders at Sycamore Shoals and purchased lands west of the mountains. It was known as a place where people would come together and horse race, Bauer said. Settlers would often gather with some of the Cherokee people and have horse races at Sycamore Shoals. Its unknown what Sycamore Shoals looked like at the time of the Revolutionary War. People obviously were coming here, Bauer said. When the first settlers came to the area, they described it as being mostly devoid of trees. The land had been cleared but there was nobody here. They called it the Watauga old fields, because there were old fields. The Overmountain Men crossed the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals. Stories handed down from generation to generation, and journals, have led historians to identify the spot along the river where they forded across. Today, on the crossing anniversary, re-enactors will ford across the river at the same spot. During the Revolutionary War, the Watauga would have been much wider than its current width. Bauer noted that the Tennessee Valley Authority didnt construct a dam until the mid-20th century, which would have confined the size of the river. Area residents worked to prepare the men for their journey over the mountains to fight the British and protect their homes. According to historian and author Pat Alderman, grist mills in the area grinded corn for bread making. The women made and mended clothes for their husbands. One woman, Mary Patton, supervised a powder mill. Lead for bullets was mined from a hill near the Nolichucky River in Unicoi County. Every hand turned out to help in the defense of home and country, Alderman said. Before venturing off to South Carolina, the Overmountain Men on Sept. 26 heard a prayer from the Rev. Samuel Doak. My countrymen, you are about to set out on an expedition which is full of hardships and dangers, but one in which the Almighty will attend you, Doak said. They heard a wonderful prayer from Doak and went out in search of they didnt know what they were looking for, Bauer said. The unknown was in front of them. It was so important on the national level. These farmers, blacksmiths tinsmiths, folks who are just doing their thing had to come together an untrained army and made that trip over there. While most men went to battle, some stayed on the homefront to protect their families and homes from the Cherokee. The journey to and from Kings Mountain can be followed today along the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, a more than 300 mile long route through the mountains. Sections of the actual foot trail and a driving route are maintained by the National Park Service. Prior to crossing Roan Mountain, the Overmountain Men stopped at the Sheltering Rock to set up camp. The famous rock overhang can be found along Tennessee State Route 143 near Roan Mountain State Park. Like many stops along the trail, a marker has been installed at Sheltering Rock, also known as Shelving Rock. Bauer said the Overmountain Men encountered several inches of snow when they camped at Roan Mountain. The men protected their gunpowder by placing it under the rock ledge. After crossing Roan Mountain at Yellow Mountain Gap, the men traveled to present-day Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The Overmountain Men of Tennessee and Virginia eventually met up with Patriots from North Carolina at Morganton. The men encamped at Colonel Charles McDowells family home at Quaker Meadows before trekking south. Vaughan said the Overmountain Men cross rivers on three occasions during the journey, including Choates Ford, Sycamore Shoals and Morganton at the Green River. On Oct. 4, the Overmountain Men reached Gilbert Town, where Ferguson had previously set up base. Ferguson and his army had already left Gilbert Town toward Charlotte when the men arrived. Gilbert Town, which was once a bustling community, is now farmland outside of the town of Rutherfordton. Several historic markers notate its past. The next day, while camped at Alexanders Ford along the Green River, a spy told the Overmountain Men that Ferguson was heading toward Ninety-Six, South Carolina. By Oct. 6, the Overmountain Men reached Cowpens, where they were joined by about 400 South Carolina frontiersmen. During the annual re-enactment, the Overmountain Men stand in front of the Cowpens visitors center, where an historic marker has been installed. In 1780 at Cowpens, the men learned that Ferguson was camped about 30 miles to the east at Kings Mountain. The Battle at Kings Mountain lasted for about one hour. Upon arrival on Oct. 7, the Overmountain Men ascended the mountain and assaulted Ferguson, who was not prepared, from both the south and west. The men, who were not trained, took care to remain well camouflaged behind trees, logs and rocks. I couldnt tell you what it would have been like, Bauer said of the Overmountain Mens courageous journey and fight. There are so many factors that come into play. You have people that were so driven by their mission. Theres probably those that were fearful. There are probably those that were uneasy about that unknown. You dont know who is out there. Although forced to fall back several times during the battle, the Overmountain Men rallied each time. About an hour into battle, Ferguson was killed. Surviving British soldiers surrendered and the Overmountain Men claimed victory. The Overmountain Men lost fewer than 100 men, while the British lost three times that including Ferguson. Lord Charles Cornwallis, one of the main British generals in the war, was forced to cancel plans to invade North Carolina. The battlefield is now part of the Kings Mountain National Military Park, a 3,945 acre property. Guests can follow the battlefield loop trail, which passes by several monuments, including the site where Ferguson died. A marker along the trail says, Here Col. Ferguson Fell Oct. 7, 1780. His gravesite is also along the trail, as well as the U.S. Monument, an 83-foot white granite obelisk on Battleground Ridge. In addition to several kiosks along the paved path, theres also a marker noting President Herbert Hoovers visit to the park to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battle. 276-645-2531 Twitter: @RSorrellBHC The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do. Even as the last date of the income disclosure scheme (IDS) a government-provided opportunity for those holding unaccounted money to come out clean draws closer, the tax department has sent out mails exhorting people to make the most of it to avoid penal action. The mails were addressed to people who have made large transactions or investments disproportionate to their sources of income, government officials said. The four-month compliance window under the IDS for voluntary disclosure of domestic black money ends on September 30. With just a few days left, the government is anxious to make it a success. Read | PM Modi warns tax evaders again, hints Sept 30 window wont be extended The tax department has sourced information on these people as well as their transactions from banks and property registration authorities across the states over the last six years. It reportedly has a list of more than 90 lakh non-PAN transactions. The letter is not intended to offend anybody. It does not even mention the transaction that led to its issuance. We have just advised citizens to pay taxes if they havent done so, an official from the tax department said. Banks regularly share data on transactions categorised as suspicious with the government. All cash transactions of `10 lakh or above are recorded, and investigation agencies notified. Read | Dont try to pass off black money as current income, I-T dept warns The government has already issued a warning that those caught with black money after the expiry of the scheme will face stringent action, including imprisonment. The tax department has been sending mailers to many as a reminder, and it should not be taken otherwise Once the scheme is over, those holding illegal money will land in trouble. Those who have erroneously received the mailers need not worry, said Manoj Fadnis, former president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The Narendra Modi government had launched IDS-2016 on June 1 with a promise that no inquiry would be made into the source of undisclosed income and assets if they are declared voluntarily. Those wishing to avail this scheme would have to pay 30% tax, plus a penalty of 7.5% and a similar 7.5% surcharge adding up to 45%. Read | Black money: Income tax deparment set for action against shell firms Almost a decade-and-a-half after it first erupted (and then died down), the battle between Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal for supremacy of Indian radiowaves is finally coming to a boil. In anticipation of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltds launch, Bharti Airtel Ltd cut data rates, and got the industry group Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), of which it is a part and which it pretty much controls, to lobby the government against various aspects of Jios soft launch. The two companies have since been locked in a bitter battle over so-called Points of Interconnection, or PoIs (that allow calls between networks to be completed). Jio says it is unable to complete up to 20 million calls a day because Bharti has not provided enough of such points. Bharti has countered that the problem is with Jios own network. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is now looking at flow across PoIs over five days (September 15-19) to find out who is lying. There have also been reports that Bharti is not allowing its subscribers to port their numbers (under the mobile number portability facility) to the Jio network -- if true, this could again result in action by Trai. Read | Telecom firms face stiff penalties over points of interconnection issue In interviews to two business news dailies (The Economic Times and the Business Standard) last week, Mittal struck a conciliatory note. The essence of his arguments: Problems related to PoIs and number portability are teething issues and will be sorted out; Bharti has significant strengths and will hold its own against Jio. Read | We will increase revenue market share, says Sunil Mittal Mittal is right. Bharti did hold its own against the might of Reliance Industries Ltd when the latter launched Reliance Infocomm in late 2002. Even then, Reliances entry into the mobile telephony space was controversial. The company only had a fixed telephony licence but went ahead and launched mobile services. Bharti and other telcos lobbied and took legal recourse to prevent the launch, but to no avail. Reliances entry triggered a pricing disruption that caused Indian mobile telephony tariffs to become among the lowest in the world, and the market exploded, almost doubling (or more) in size every year in the following five years. Still, if Bharti held its own, it was in part because Mukesh Ambani, the brain and the force behind Reliance Infocomm, and his younger brother Anil Ambani got into a long and messy fight over control and ownership of the Reliance empire soon after (in mid-2004). The brothers eventually settled their differences in 2005, and the telecom business went to Anil Ambani, but it had lost at least some momentum by then. Read | Challenging Jio? Airtel will give 3 months of unlimited data for Rs 1,494 Mittal didnt comment publicly on the dispute but he must have been relieved that it took the heat off Airtel. Sure, even back then, it wasnt an unequal fight. By the early 2000s, Mittal had already emerged as the most powerful person in Indian telecom no mean feat for a one-time gelatin manufacturer who was up against the Ambanis, Tatas, Birlas, Modis and Goenkas. Through the years, there have been murmurs that Bharti Airtel was the favourite of the department of telecommunications, although theres been little to show for this by way of evidence. In the absence of a spectrum policy, all allocation of radio waves was ad-hoc (or based on temporary policies), and if Bharti benefited, so did several others. Indias telecom policy has evolved since the early 1990s. It has seen five radical changes that effectively rewrote the dynamics of the business. The first was in 1999, when the government allowed telcos to move from a licence fee regime to a revenue sharing one. The change benefited all telcos and created the ideal conditions for the telecom boom of the 2000s . Read | Call blocks: Telcos may be fined up to Rs 50 crore The second was in 2002-03, when the government allowed companies with fixed telephony licences to offer mobile telephony services. This legalised the mobile telephony operations of Reliance Infocomm, which had started offering mobile services even before the change. The other beneficiary was Tata Teleservices Ltd. The third, and fourth, in quick succession were in 2007-08, when the government allowed companies offering mobile services on the CDMA platform to also do so on the dominant GSM platform, and also decided to go back on the 1999 policy of allowing only four telcos in each circle, or operating area. The first of these changes again benefited Reliance Communications Ltd (as Reliance Infocomm was rechristened after its control passed to Anil Ambani) and Tata Teleservices. The second benefited several new entrants, although it also set the stage for what is now known as the 2G scam. Read | Telcos connect with Jio, but fear impact on balance sheets And the fifth was in 2012 when the government allowed companies with a broadband wireless licence to offer voice services. Only one company had a pan-India broadband wireless licence at the time Reliance Industries Ltd. In each case, the change of policy made sense from the perspective of technology and served the interests of customers (and both should be driving forces of any policy). However, the changes did disadvantage incumbent telcos and benefit a new entrant. Not that many of the incumbents have done themselves any favours. In a country-wide survey last year, Mint discovered that there were no best telcos, only best-of-the-worst ones in terms of service. Read | No best telcos, only best-of-worst ones Reliance Jios launch comes at an inconvenient time for Bharti and other incumbent telcos that delayed making voice free, still charged for national roaming, and didnt adapt innovative (and aggressive) data-pricing models. Jio did all three, in the process making itself look consumer-friendly (especially by comparison). R Sukumar is editor, Mint letters@hindustantimes.com SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Friday arrested five members of an interstate gang for their alleged involvement in a dacoity and firing incident in east Delhis Khichripur near Kalyanpuri. Five people had sustained gunshot wounds during the dacoity-firing incident that was reported last week. Police said the arrested robbers were members of the doctor gang. Four country-made pistols, 10 cartridges and two stolen motorcycles that were used in the crime were recovered from their possession. The robberies were all planned inside in Bhondsi Jail where the gang members had been previously lodged in a robbery case, said Rishipal Singh, deputy commissioner of police (east). On September 18, four people were injured in Khichripur area after a group of six armed men opened fire while trying to escape after a failed robbery attempt. The robbers fired seven rounds before fleeing the crime scene. One of the robbers was chased and caught by locals. The crime was captured in a CCTV camera installed at one of the shops in the vicinity of the crime scene. Deputy commissioner of police (east) Rishipal Singh said that a case under relevant sections of IPC was registered and investigation taken up. During investigation the police zeroed down on the accused and tracked their movements. On Friday, a team led by sub-inspector Vinay Yadav received inputs that the gangs kingpin, Hashim alias Doctor, and Shubham were going to come to Noida Sector 12. A raid was conducted and the two men arrested. Their interrogation led to the arrest of three other suspects, identified as Rishu, Vivek, and Kirti, said the DCP. NEW DELHI: 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 went to see off her male friend at a nearby bus stop where Kumar saw her. 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. We registered an FIR and arrested Kumar, the officer added. NEW DELHI: 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. 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 Rs 55,000 crore. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI : 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 AshishJoshi 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 apart 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 victim is ed unnecessarily , the teacher said. NEW DELHI: 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. 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-lakhcrore 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 Flying squads are on the prowl in the Capitals government-run schools this exam season. The mission is to prevent students from cheating. The Delhi government has formed a dozen teams, headed by a sub-divisional magistrate, to conduct surprise checks in its schools during exams, a move that follows the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administrations promise to overhaul the education system and weed out malpractices. The teams, called flying squads, started their work when the summative assessment (SA)-I exam for class 3 to class 12 began in more than 1,100 government schools from September 19. The exam ends on October 4. We usually have our internal teams conducting inspections. This is the first time we have formed independent external teams, headed by SDMs, an official with the directorate of education (DoE) said. There are 17 internal teams, headed by DoE officials. A government directive spelt out the flying squads mandate: ensure zero tolerance is enforced in case of cheating at exams. The city does not have the problem of large-scale, organised cheating the kind noticed in states such as Bihar where a photograph of men clinging to window sills of a four-storey school in Vaishali to pass answer chits to children writing an exam inside shocked the nation in 2015. Delhis flying squad will be deterrent for anybody trying to do a Vaishali. It will help build a culture of intolerance towards cheating, DoE director Saumya Gupta said. This is to set an example for years to come. She clarified the move is not aimed at punishing students, but to plug any loophole in conducting a fair exam. The teams will also check if papers were distributed on time and if students have proper seating arrangement because many of our schools are still constructing classrooms. Also, the squads will inspect the headmaster and teachers are not casual in their approach. These exams are the first since the AAP government started its Chunauti 2018 scheme to improve the learning level in state-run schools. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Some in India have expressed consternation that Russia is holding military exercises with Pakistan. First, the worlds militaries are utterly promiscuous when it comes to holding bilateral exercises India has held exercises even with China. Second, a mild Russia-Pakistan military engagement is in keeping with a broader trend of normalised relations between the two countries that has been evident for at least a decade. Read | How Russia changed its stance on military drill with Pakistan Only those still living in the shadow of the Cold War should be surprised. The Soviet Union had an adversarial relationship with Pakistan, but Russia has no reason to maintain such a posture. The only drawback for Moscow is concern at how much wooing Islamabad will damage its relationship with New Delhi. India itself has long since diversified its military and political relationships away from Russia and is no position to complain too much. Sensibly, India has preferred to draw red lines on how far the Russia-Pakistan relationship should go. For example, this includes Moscow not selling major offensive weapons platforms no warships or fighters. Nonetheless, Russias initial agreement to hold exercises with Pakistan in disputed parts of Kashmir was remarkably ill-conceived and a sign of how much less India counts in its strategic calculus a situation mirrored in the New Delhis worldview. Read | Modi looks for stronger ties with friend-in-need Russia The India-Russia relationship is still trying to find a new normal in the wake of the Cold War and the surge in Chinese assertiveness. The greatest weakness is the lack of an economic relationship that encompasses the Indian private sector. Indias odd defence purchase and equity stake in a Siberian oil or gas field are substitutes for rather than the basis of a strategic relationship. This is exacerbated by the accident of geography, which means a land route and even sea links between the two countries are difficult, forcing them to concentrate their energies on other nations. People-to-people contacts are parlous. Read | Back to Russia with love: Moscow remains Indias reliable partner What is developing is a relationship based on specific areas of convergence, some areas of disagreement but minus the ballast of civil society engagement. The two countries cooperate in helping the Kabul government against the Taliban insurgency. In fora like the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation there is also a meeting of minds. However, the main challenge facing the two countries is the slow but steady drift of Russia towards the strategic shores of China. This shift has moved to a new level ever since Russias fracas with the West over Crimea and the global collapse in commodity prices. Moscows closeness to Beijing, especially in the military sphere, though born of economic necessity, is a genuine concern for New Delhi. The danger is that the present Russia-Pakistan exercises may be seen through that prism and fray a 60-year bond to the breaking point. This is what Moscow must be wary of and be warned about. In an interview to a national daily last week, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said: The fundamental point we are missing in our education system is teachers education. The teachers education system is very bad in our country. That is our biggest sin. He is right. The lack of trained professionals can be attributed to the rampant commercialisation in teacher training close to 90% of the teacher training institutes lie in the private sector, where standards of training are low. States such as Haryana, for instance, have institutes that offer teacher training with price gradations, depending on whether a candidate would like to skip classes or design teaching aid kits, and even forego the mandatory training in classrooms, say experts. Read: Govt restructures teacher training system in bid to improve quality This crisis has led to a shortage in the number of trained professionals. There are almost 660,000 teachers in the country who need training. This shortage is evident from the fact that less than 10% of candidates who appeared for the 2015 Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) managed to crack it. The TET was introduced after the enactment of the Right to Education Act (RTE), when the National Council of Teacher Education laid down the minimum qualifications required to become a teacher and introduced the test as a qualifying exam. At 4.6 million out of a total of 7.7 million teachers government school teachers constitute the bulk among teachers in the country. Along with lack of proper education and training, government teachers face several other challenges: They are used as frontline workers in different government surveys and the threat of ad hoc transfers. In states such as Rajasthan, if a government changes, a huge number of teachers appointed by the previous government are transferred randomly. But in states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have a policy on transfers, where you get points for serving in rural areas. This makes the transfer policy transparent. Third, the shortage of teachers in schools puts pressure on the existing staff. For instance, as in March this year, 500,000 sanctioned teaching posts are vacant in India. As a result, several schools have a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 80:1 and single-teacher schools account for 8% of elementary schools . Read: Teaching teachers, the great challenge for Indias education system The New Education Policy is in the works; the government must use this opportunity to redesign the teacher education programmes. They must be seen as professionals who require multiple skills to do their job and accordingly professional standards need to be built into all teacher education programmes. Read: Teachers travails: Battling crowded classrooms and non-teaching duties Muscular, classically chiseled male models are a dying breed as men are ever more chosen for thinness, even androgyny, in a fashion world playing with the notion of gender. It only takes looking back a decade to male fashion shows -- at Versace, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton or Gucci -- to see the change on the catwalk. Shoulders have lost their squareness, chests have sunk. Back then, male models were a little bit bigger... not so, so skinny, said Tricia Romani, head of the Canadian branch of the Wilhelmina international modeling agency. A model waits backstage before the MAISON the FAUX presentation of Chubby Chaser during New York Fashion Week. (REUTERS) Hedi Slimane, while at Saint Laurent and Dior, was among the designers who transfigured the dominant vision of the masculine look into lank, languorous and unique. For high fashion, thats definitely what they want. Very thin, edgy-looking guys, Romani said. And theyre designing the clothes in that way so if you had a model that was big and muscular, that wouldnt fit. Skinnier, the new ideal male model is also taller, hitting up to six feet two inches (1.90 meters), said Neil Mautone, founder and owner of the agency Red Model Management. Along with the fading ideal of muscle is the classically beautiful face, formerly in demand for men as well as women. The top-end models can earn more than $1 million a year, people in the industry say, though the best-paid female models can make about 10 times more. (REUTERS) Today, according to Romani, a male model can be sort of interesting looking, or edgy or different and be hired even if he does not fall into a category of plastic, beautiful models. With the growing power of male fashion, seen in the 2015 launch of the first mens shows in New York Fashion Week, demand for male models has exploded. Between 10% to 15% of male models find enough work to be employed full-time, combining runway shows, advertising, catalogs and magazines, Romani said. The top-end models can earn more than $1 million a year, people in the industry say, though the best-paid female models can make about 10 times more. - Man, woman, who cares? - Responding to the growing market, model agencies and designers are trashing stereotypes and broadening their palettes, an approach that is also boosting ethnic diversity, Romani noted. The new ideal look, the evolution of mens fashion and the current focus on gender have blurred the lines between men and women. That was more evident than ever on the New York catwalks last week. Several shows were decidedly gender fluid, parading out clothes that could be worn by either sex. The streetwise New York brand Hood By Air, a pioneer of the trend, was joined by Dutch studio Maison the Faux and Baja East, a New York-based company known for relaxed luxury apparel. Several shows were decidedly gender fluid, parading out clothes that could be worn by either sex. (REUTERS) For Maison the Faux, undoubtedly the most radical of them all, the men walked the runway wearing bras and girdles. Society always puts people in boxes and I think that doesnt make the world a better place, said Tessa de Boer, one half of the design team at Maison the Faux. The Wilhelmina agency has among its models a 26-year-old person who refuses to identify with a gender and goes simply by the name Lex. The model notably has worked for N-p-Elliott, where Scottish designer Nicholas Elliott conjures up avant-garde, asexual clothes. Being so androgynous, to me, is a blessing, Lex told AFP in an emailed response to questions. It increases my ability to participate in endless projects without limitation to my gender. If men and women are equal, then what does all that matter? Follow @htshowbiz for more Actor-director Angelina Jolie has reportedly quit a movie so she doesnt have to work with her estranged husband Brad Pitt. The Hollywood couple, who have worked on two films together Mr & Mrs Smith as well as By The Sea, reportedly spent several years on trying to get Africa into production, reports mirror.co.uk. The film is about archaeologist Richard Leakey, who championed the end of elephant poaching. This movie has been a nightmare to get off the ground from the beginning. Until the last few weeks, Angelina was resolute in her intent to get it made, but now she doesnt want to direct it at all, the source told Heat Street site. Brad Pitt was still interested in acting in the movie for him it was Seven Years in Tibet set in Africa and he wasnt ready to give up on it. But Angelina now doesnt want to have any kind of relationship with him, personal or professional. It was reported that the couple, who had been together for over 10 years, were set to begin work on the film next year with Pitt starring in the movie. Africa has been in pre-production for several years and its been claimed that there has been several creative differences between Jolie and Skydance Productions, who is producing the movie. It has been suggested that Jolie did not like the idea of a love story that was pitched to her, while it was also claimed that financial woes marred the project. The reports that Jolie has quit the project comes after it was claimed that Pitt is desperate to see their six children and has reportedly begged his estranged wife: Please just let me see my kids. 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. According to People magazine, the actor now lives in a rental house in Los Angeles with her six children. A real estate source said the 41-year-old Maleficent star rented the home during the second week of September for $95,000 a month before she filed for divorce. You could tell Angelina was in a rush to find a new house, the source claimed. Her people signed a lease very quickly. They only seemed concerned about if it was an appropriate house for kids. Angelina Jolie Barricades Kids Inside Malibu Rental After Brad Pitt Split: Why Theyre Hiding https://t.co/Laco92CXFX pic.twitter.com/SjpZpdP41H rnest Maino (@ErnestMaino) September 25, 2016 Follow @htshowbiz for more Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Satish Chandra Mishra on Sunday rooted for a Brahmin-Dalit formula and called upon Uttar Pradeshs Brahmins to foster bhaichara (brotherhood) with Dalits to ensure his partys victory in the upcoming state polls. Addressing a bhaichara workers meeting, the BSP national general secretary said Brahmins would not be able to alter the states political fortunes on their own as they constituted a small proportion of UPs population. Brahmins are not in a position to form a government on their own and they need support of other communities to capture power. If they ally with the Dalits, who constitute 24% of the population, the combination can form a government with ease. Read | The BSP is showing signs of a tentative political revival in UP Despite heavy rain, a large number of Brahmins came out to welcome Mishra, who claimed that Mayawati had reached out to members of the community during her tenure as the chief minister. When Mayawati was the CM, 15 Brahmins were ministers in her cabinet, 1,000 Brahmins lawyers were made district government counsel, a dozen Brahmins were members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, he said. Launching an attack on the BJP, Mishra said, Amit Shah considers Brahmins an enemy. He is leaving no stone unturned to humiliate leaders from the community. Leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalraj Mishra and Laxmikant Bajpai have been sidelined, while Keshav Maurya, who has been charged in a dozen criminal cases, has been made BJPs state president. He also accused the states ruling Samajwadi Party of ignoring Brahmin leaders. The condition of Brahmins is no better in SP. Leaders like Manoj Pandey have been deserted whereas the likes of Pandit Singh and Gayatri Prajapati, who are accused in corruption cases, have been reinstated as ministers, he said. Also read | The great Dalit cauldron and why it matters SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday for playing politics with national security and said he was offering platitudes to Pakistan as if he is going to fight elections in that country instead of understanding the anger of people in India. Congress leader Manish Tewari said, Prime Minister has suddenly started lecturing the people of Pakistan about its new developmental imperatives. It seems Narendra Modi would be fighting the next elections in Pakistan rather than understanding the depth of anger which is there in the people of India. ...He has tried to change the goalpost by talking about malnutrition and other development indices like poverty and unemployment. These are battles India won far back. Addressing a massive gathering at a BJP meet on Saturday in Kozhikode, Modi challenged Pakistan to go to war against poverty and unemployment. The Congress said on Sunday the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should have delayed its grandiose national executive meet held in the Kerala city of Kozhikode after the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir. Kerala state Congress president VM Sudheeran criticised the BJP, saying the meet was being held when the national security of the country has been affected by the attack in Uri that left 18 soldiers dead. Sudheeran told reporters that the BJP should have postponed the event. Instead of speaking at the grandiose event of their party going on in Kozhikode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have called (a special session of) parliament. He should have addressed these issues in parliament and not at a party meeting, said Sudheeran. The Congress leader also took a dig at Modi for his alleged failure in keeping the promises he had made to the people of Kerala during his earlier visits to the state. The price of rubber is at rock bottom. He (Modi) had assured that price of agricultural produce would be taken care of but nothing has happened, and also his promise on enacting new laws to amend the present Coastal Regulation Zone has also not taken place, leaving thousands of fishermen unable to renovate their homes. Police lodged an FIR on missing documents from the Union home ministrys files related to the alleged extra-judicial killing of Ishrat Jahan, a Mumbai college girl suspected to be a terrorist and shot dead in 2004. The investigation may trigger a fresh round of Congress-BJP slugfest since the probe may focus on former home minister P Chidambaram. Read | My stand on Ishrat Jahan vindicated, BJP created fake controversy: Chidambaram Gujarat police killed the 19-year-old girl in Ahmedabad along with Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai and two Pakistanis, saying they were Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on a mission to assassinate Narendra Modi, the chief minister then. The allegation was contested after Pillais father and Ishrats mother approached the Gujarat high court, leading to suspicion of a staged police shooting, or fake encounter, and triggering a long political battle between the Congress and BJP. The case has seen many twists and turns, one of them being the missing papers five crucial documents related to preparation of a second affidavit in the Ishrat case. The home ministry wants police to find out under what circumstances these went missing. Read | Ishrat Jahan case: FIR filed over missing files The Centre filed two affidavits in 2009, when Congress leader Chidambaram was home minister, following a petition seeking a probe into the shooting. The first had details about Ishrats alleged terrorist links, but those were omitted in the second, filed more than a month later. The BJP accused its predecessor, the Congress-led UPA, of dropping Ishrats name from the second affidavit to bolster its stand that an innocent girl was killed by Gujarat police, and to defame the state government under Modi. Chidambaram defended the decision to file a second affidavit, saying it was necessary since a magisterial inquiry in Gujarat called the incident a fake encounter. The political wrangling took a turn when the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre and, on March 10 this year, home minister Rajnath Singh said in Parliament two letters from then home secretary GK Pillai to the attorney general in 2009 have disappeared. Pillai too alleged that the second affidavit was framed at the political level, hinting at Chidambarams role. The missing documents included a draft of the second affidavit that Chidambaram had corrected. Singh then appointed additional secretary in his ministry, BK Prasad, to head a one-man committee to investigate the case of missing documents, crucial in the Ishrat trial. The Prasad panel submitted a 52-page report to home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, saying five missing documents on preparation of second affidavit were removed knowingly, unknowingly or misplaced between September 18 and 28, 2009, when the UPA was in power. Read | IAS officer probing Ishrat Jahan missing papers has a new job waiting for him But the panels fairness came under question as Prasad has been accused of tutoring a witness. Chidambaram called its report doctored. The Delhi police FIR, registered last Thursday, is likely to raise the political heat again between the two rival parties. The CBI had charged more than half-a-dozen Gujarat policemen and four Intelligence Bureau officers of extra-judicial murder. But the trial is in limbo as the home ministry did not give the CBI sanction to prosecute the IB men. Also read | The Ishrat Jahan encounter case, explained SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An autographed print of a work by renowned painter Sayed Haider Raza, worth lakhs of rupees, has gone missing from the Kakaiya government primary school in Mandla district. Raza, born in Narsinghpur districts Babria, did his elementary schooling from the school, and this was where the Padma Vibhushan awardee drew his inspiration for the concept of bindu, an idea he would later use in his geometric abstract works during the 1980s. Read | SH Raza: The man who brought bindu to the canvas and made it his own In the winter of 2006, Raza visited the village and gifted the school with the print, an album and a book. Raza was emotionally attached to his teachers. Even at his studio in Paris, he put photographs of his teachers. In 2006, Raza had gifted a print of one of his bindu paintings, which must cost lakhs, Razas friend Ashok Bajpai, who was with the painter when they visited the school, said. After Razas death on July 23, the villagers realised that the print was missing from the school, only the book and the album were intact. Read | SH Raza, Indias poster boy of modern art dies at 94 For close to two months, the villagers probed the matter themselves, but when their search left them no wiser, they decided to inform the police. On Friday, they lodged a written complaint with Mandla SP Rahul Kumar Lodha, who said the police have started probing the matter. After they discovered that the painting was missing, they called Ramakant Dubey, who was the principal in 2006, to learn what had happened. Dubey told them that the print had been taken away by one of Razas relatives four years ago, purportedly to enlarge it. The print has since not been returned to the school, Lodha told Hindustan Times on the phone. He said the police are now trying to trace this relative. In our investigation, if Dubeys story is found to be fake, an FIR will be registered by the police, he said. Also read | Remembering SH Raza the artist, the inspiration and the mentor An Indian-origin doctor from a UK sperm bank has launched a mobile app for women that will allow them to browse and pick the right candidate to father their child online. Dr Kamal Ahuja, scientific director of the London Sperm Bank, believes the app is the first-of-its-kind in the world. You make all the transactions online, like you do anything else these days. This allows a woman who wants to get a sperm donor to gain control in the privacy of her own home and to choose and decide in her own time. We think this is the first-of-its-kind in the world, he was quoted as saying by the The Sunday Times. The London Sperm Banks app dubbed order a daddy app by the newspaper allows women to order sperm just as they would carry out any other online transaction. It allows women to browse for potential fathers by choosing a donor with desired physical characteristics such as hair and eye colour or height. They can also filter applicants by educational level and occupation and read a description of their personality and create an online wish-list. A payment of 950 pounds, made via the app, is required for a donors sperm sample, which is then delivered to the fertility clinic where the woman is being treated. About half of Britains IVF clinics, including private and the UKs state-funded National Health Service (NHS) institutions, are understood to have registered to use the service. The app is legal and meets the requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), Britains IVF regulator. The home ministry has lodged an FIR in connection with the missing documents related to the controversial Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, a move that might escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress. An Under Secretary serving in the Home Ministry has filed the FIR at the Parliament Street Police station here under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code asking police to probe why, how and under what circumstances five documents related to the case went missing. The move came after an inquiry panel, headed by an Additional Secretary, concluded that the papers were removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced in September, 2009, a period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister. Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went missing from the Home Ministry was found, said the inquiry panel, which submitted its report on June 15 after a three- month-long investigation. The inquiry panel, however, made no reference to Chidambaram or anyone in the then UPA government. The FIR was lodged under stolen category of police station register on September 22 following a communication sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner on August 26. Based on the statements of 11 serving and retired officers, including the then Home Secretary G K Pillai, the 52 -page inquiry panel report had said the documents went missing between September 18-28, 2009. The second affidavit, which was different from the first one, and filed before Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009, had said there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ishrat was an LeT operative. The papers which went missing and listed in the FIR are office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then Home Secretary to the then Attorney General on September 18, 2009, office copy of another letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009, draft further affidavit as vetted by the then AG, draft further affidavit as amended by the then Home Minister on September 24, 2009 and office copy of the further affidavit filed with the Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009. The paper which was retrieved from a computer hard disk was the letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009. The lodging of the FIR is expected to escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress as the former had accused the latter of lowering the fight against terror by filing the second affidavit during UPA regime. Congress had hit back in the past by saying the BJP-led government was politicising the issue after assuming power in 2014. Following overnight arrest of three accused for their alleged anti-national and criminal activities and subsequent stone pelting on a police station, authorities have clamped curfew in the communally sensitive Kishtwar town, about 240 kms from Jammu early on Sunday. Trouble erupted around 1 am on Sunday night when Kishtwar police arrested an imam of Umar Mohalla Masjid, Abdul Qayoom Mattoo and Saif Din under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and another man Firdous Ahmed for raising anti-national slogans and inciting others, said a local man. Soon after their arrests, their supporters made an announcement calling for a protest. A group of people including their family members and took to streets demanding the release of the arrested men. They also started pelting stones at the police station. Kishtwar deputy commissioner, Ghulam Nabi Balwan said, subsequently police had to lathi-charge the protestors. It was a mild lathi-charge. No smoke shells were fired. Around 5 am, we imposed curfew in the entire town, he said. The DC said that CRPF and SSB personnel have also been deployed. There is no tension in the town but we imposed curfew as a precautionary measure, said Balwan. The administration may not lift the curfew on Sunday in the interest of law and order, he said. Post- Burhan Wanis killing on July 8 , these three accused have been allegedly inciting passions and had become threat to peace in the town. The beleaguered Haryana governments assertions in Punjab and Haryana high court that criticism of investigation during hearings and further supervision by the court of February-2016 Jat quota violence cases may not be in the interest of justice has not gone down well with the court. The division bench of justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill made it clear to the government on Saturday that it had never interfered with the investigations of the government and only wanted it to investigate matter in fair and transparent manner. But it was the state that was not serious to pursue the cases and court had to intervene, the HC bench said citing example of alleged Murthal gangrape cases, where an FIR was registered on courts intervention. If you want us to lay our hands off the matter, I (We) am not going to do it. I am sorry. We are not going to buckle down, the high court bench said, adding monitoring by the high court would continue and that if state was aggrieved, it could approach the SC. Must read | Jat quota violence report: Khattar has much to explain We are even ready to face strictures from Supreme Court for a public cause, the bench added. In the affidavit filed by the secretary, home department, Nitin Kumar Yadav, the government had said, When the jurisdictional magistrates are seized of the matter and investigation is going on, discussions, deliberations and/ or criticism of the investigation seriously hampers the course of law under the code of criminal procedure and may not be in the interest of justice. The government had also argued for high court not supervising investigations as it might not be in the interest of justice. The states response had come on the high court asking state as to why all the cases of February violence should not be handed over to the CBI. Tushar Mehta, additional solicitor general of India, who appeared on behalf of state government, however, offered to withdraw the statement, which the high court refused. There are 2000 FIRs. All cant be looked into by the high court. We are proposing a mechanism under which investigation as per law is carried out, but of course with the approval of high court, he said. However, court was not amused. Why impression is gaining ground that state wants to protect the protesters, it asked, What is worrying is that it appears there is a protective umbrella for protesters because they are vote banks, the high court said, further observing that in the independent India, there was no incident in Haryana and Punjab, where parallels could be drawn with the devastation seen during the February 2016 quota protests. Even in the peak of terrorism days in Punjab, we have not seen such incidents. It is disheartening to see devastation (of this scale), the high court bench observed. It was amicus curaie, senior advocate Anupam Gupta, who drew attention of the court towards the content of affidavit filed in court. The government says that the court should withdraw itself from the case as it was coming in the way of justice, he said pointing towards affidavits content. Sorry, case too big to handle: CBI The CBI on the other hand opposed any move for transfer of probe from state police to it. We do not have the infrastructure or the manpower to probe the matter of this magnitude, the CBI counsel, Sumeet Goel, told HC. The HC had issued notice on Thursday as to why all FIRs registered into Jat quota violence should not be handed over to the CBI for further investigations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over the Uri killings that left 18 Indian soldiers dead. She said while the country expected Modi to initiate immediate steps to ensure that attacks arent repeated, the PM was busy engaging in emotional blackmail. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Sunday Mayawati claimed that the PM was unable to assure the nation that such attacks wont be repeated, she said, The all-round failure of the Modi government in not being able to resolve such issues as well as those linked to public welfare and social security would cost the BJP not just in the forthcoming assembly polls but in 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well. She also questioned BJP governments Kashmir policy. The BSP leader said, Instead of formulating a long term strategy after forging a consensus, the PM and his ministers are busy misleading the country. She said, Instead of finding a solution on the issue, the PM was busy promoting select industrialists close to him. Now, he has even started campaigning for them. That is why there is considerable anger against the Modi government. The BSP chief who spoke for nearly 20 minutes later refused to take any queries on any other topic except Uri attacks and a brief take on UP Samajwadi Party governments failure to check the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya. She said, In his Saturday speech at Kozhikode the PM counselled Pakistan PM to concentrate on initiating welfare steps to Pakistani people instead of focusing on exporting terror. However, while dishing out the well-meaning advice, the PM must consider if his record is good enough for such lecturing. She said, I say so because while advising Pakistan to fight poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, the PM must also consider the record of his own government back home as the Modi governments performance on the topics mentioned have been most dismal. She claimed Modi governments inability to fulfill its pre-poll promises led to BJPs defeat in Delhi, Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. That is why the people of poll bound states like UP, Uttarakhand and Punjab now want Modi to first complete his old promises rather than make fresh promises to the people, she said. The BSP chief also questioned the Modi governments Kashmir policy. Despite sharing power in Kashmir with PDP, the Modi government has been unable to control popular unrest in the valley where the situation has only worsened in the last three months. Before winding up, she also attacked UP government over its inability to check the spread of Dengue and Chikungunya. The UP government is busy fighting family wars even as people are under the grip of such deadly diseases, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting on Monday to look into the possibility of revisiting a water-sharing treaty with Pakistan that has survived decades of frosty ties and three wars, a top government official said. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi will be looking at the pros and cons of the pact, senior government official said. The Indus Waters Treaty of September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan, is one of the most liberal water-sharing pacts in the world. Read | Mutual trust must for treaties like on Indus water to work, says India Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan president Ayub Khan, the water of six rivers Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum is shared between the two countries. The pact, brokered by the World Bank, survived three wars between the two countries and constant strain in their bilateral ties. There is now a clamour to use the pact to bring the neighbour to mend its ways after the Uri attack proved Pakistan is both unable and unwilling to stop its territory from being used by terrorists against India. The Indus agreement deals with six rivers the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and their tributaries and the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and their tributaries. Water from the eastern rivers has been allocated to India, and New Delhi is obligated to let 80% water from the western rivers flow to Pakistan. Read | Why Indus water treaty is a bad bargaining chip for India The Indus water treaty gives the lower riparian Pakistan more than four times the water available to India. Despite such liberal terms, Pakistan and India have often sparred over the amount of water released. Reviewing the treaty, however, will be a difficult proposition for India. Pakistans all-weather ally China is the upper riparian state in the Brahmaputra, a river that flows into Indias northeast. Making any precedent in which an upper riparian state is overbearing can give hints to Beijing on the water-sharing issue, which doesnt augur well for India. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A flood alert has been issued for districts around the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after the meteorological department forecast more rains for the next four days. Administration in five Telangana districts were put on high alert and evacuation of low-lying areas in riparian towns and villages was ordered since the rivers are in full spate from heavy rains. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a review meeting and ordered the state machinery to be alert for any eventuality across vulnerable areas. The meeting of the sate cabinet scheduled to take place tomorrow (Monday) has been cancelled due to heavy rains. CM KCR asked all ministers to stay in their respective districts to oversee the relief measures being carried out in the wake of incessant rains, officials from the chief ministers office said. Rains in the past four days wreaked havoc in the two states, claiming 25 lives in total. Sixteen death occurred in the relatively new state of Telangana, mostly in the districts of Medak and Warangal. Across the border in Andhra Pradesh, nine people died, many in Guntur. On Sunday, a 35-year-old woman was washed away in flash floods in Manjeera river while a youngster was caught in the current while crossing a stream, both in Medak. Such has been the rainfall that for the first time in nearly a decade, most reservoirs in the two states are at full capacity, with dams gates being opened to handle the volume. Water from dams in Maharashtra have been released as well. Read | Hyderabad: Heavy rain triggers traffic jams, roads cave in, localities flooded Residents stand in floodwater outside their homes following heavy rain in Alwal on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 23, 2016. (AFP) Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by teams from the army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian Air Force (IAF). On Sunday, two IAF Chetak helicopters airlifted 23 construction workers stranded on an island at Edupayala village in Medak district. The sorties was undertaken from the Hakimpet air force station in Hyderabad and was coordinated by wing commander P Surendran, the chief operations officer at the Begumpet air force station, also in Hyderabad. With more rains expected, the choppers have been kept on standby. Meanwhile, several army teams helped out in flood-hit areas such as Nizampet, Kukatpally, Chintal, Alwal, Qutbullapur, Alwyn Colony, Patigadda and Begumpet. Read | Heavy rains lash Andhra, Telangana; 500 rescued from Hyderabads low-lying areas In Andhra Pradesh, nine flood rescue teams comprising 309 rescuers equipped with 32 inflatable rubber boats and communication equipment were positioned at various rain-affected areas, including Piduguralla, Narsaraopet and Amravati in Guntur district, as well as Vizag, Srikakulam and Nellore districts. But the trouble remains with two rivers Krishna and Godavari that flow from Maharashtra and through both the states. Bigger dams including Sriramsagar, Nizamsagar, Yellampalli, Manair, Singur and Manjira dams reached their full capacity, with water being released downstream. In the Krishna basin, except for Nagarjunasagar, other reservoirs such as Jurala, Srisailam and Pulichintala also filled up. (With inputs from agencies) Also | In pics: Andhra rains turn roads into rivers, parking lots submerged SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Military Engineering Services (MES), one of the oldest and largest government infrastructure development agencies in India, will continue to have fixed posts and cadres for army officers, the Delhi high court has ruled, dismissing a plea of an association representing civilian officers of MES. MES has both military and civilian officers. It was originally set up with in 1923 during the British rule and celebrates its 94th MES Day on Monday. With an annual budget of over Rs 15,000 crore, MES provides round the clock engineering support to the armed Forces. Traditionally, the proportion of army officers at MES was left to exigencies of the times while the civilian component was guided by rules laid down in 1959, which set guidelines on sources of recruitment and promotional criteria. However, in 1989 the government brought in a regulation fixing the number of army officers in the MES at the officers level and other subordinate levels. These regulations were later supplemented by a rules laid down in 1991, which created the Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) the civilian component of MES. Members of the IDSE are selected through the Indian Engineering Services Examination conducted by UPSC every year. Two years back, an association of IDSE moved the high court challenging the 1989 regulations saying that it has adversely affected conditions of service for its officers in MES. It also contended that MES could not have been restructured by the government by framing them under the Army Act, 1950. A bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Deepa Sharma, however, dismissed the petition saying that the 1989 regulation was an improvement over the prevailing rules. By statutorily earmarking the number of posts and cadres, definiteness as to where army officers could be posted, was imparted. Hitherto such certainty did not exist, the bench said. Neither army officers could claim more than what was provided in the regulations, nor could the army post such officers, in excess of such defined cadres. The court also noted that the IDSE association have not been able to demonstrate how their accrued or vested rights have been adversely affected because of the change in the rules. It further said that nearly 20 years ago, the officers of the IDSE had challenged the regulation before the Central Administrative Tribunal, but was turned down. A subsequent challenge to the verdict was rejected by the Supreme Court in 1997. The court said that historically, MES has had a composite character and the 1989 regulations brought an element of definiteness and finality to its cadre structure. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in Kozhikode about what India intends to do with Pakistan after the Uri attack must have left hordes of war-mongers disappointed. But the PM showed no illusions of grandeur in dealing with a complex neighbour. He spoke with a great deal of clarity. Pare down the flourish, you would get a fair idea of what he has in mind as a long-term strategy. He didnt give in to calls for a knee-jerk reaction to satiate television experts and twitter warriors. Modi reiterated that the Uri attack would be avenged. And he is willing to accept a 1000-year challenge from Pakistan, which continues with its plan to bleed India through a thousand cuts. That is one illusion Pakistani leaders from Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Zia-ul-Haq nurtured as they unabashedly undertook radicalisation as an instrument of state policy to hurt India. We are ready to accept the challenge for a 1,000-year-long fight from Pakistan, Modi said. Read | Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri, harps on Paks vulnerabilities Rightly, Modi knows what the entire world knows: Pakistan cant survive by exporting terrorism. The monster it had created has come to hurt it in myriad ways. Fanning anti-India sentiments is a strategy of survival for Pakistani rulers. To emphasis this point, he addressed the people of Pakistan telling them the anti-India rhetoric is a ruse for their leaders to divert attention from their failures of governance, modernising the society and building democratic institutions. "Your rulers are misleading you over Kashmir Modi said. He continued that a day will come when people of Pakistan will go against its own government to fight terrorism. In other words, Modi told Pakistan your good terrorist, bad terrorist strategy is hurting the country, the region and the world's war on terror. The price Pakistan has paid in terms of human lives and economic loss in the fight against terror is mind-numbing. In December 2014, Pakistans National Assembly was told that Pakistan had suffered losses of $80 billion and 50,000 lives in the war on terror over the preceding decade. Despite American largesse, the economic cost of the fight against terrorism has been bleeding Pakistan, whose economy at $225 billion is just over a tenth the size of Indias. Capital has flown and jobs dried up under the lengthening shadow of terror, not to mention the agony of those directly affected by the death of a loved one or breadwinner. In every countrys history, a defining moment comes when public sentiment drives a change in a fatally flawed national policy. That moment for Pakistan, may thought, happened when terrorists mowed down 132 children in a Peshawar school in 2014. Tehreek-e-Taliban, better known as the Pakistani Taliban, had claimed responsibility. Pakistan selectively chose to go after the Taliban but turned a blind eye to an array of terror outfits ranged against India. Read | PM Modi hits out at Pakistan, says India wont forget Uri attack But there are still many ways effective ways to send the message across. Prime Minister Modi spoke about Pakistans vulnerabilities at length. And stopped just at that. That is a better way of communicating in strategic terms than raising the spectre of war in a rhetorical sense 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. The emphasis was in highlighting that Pakistan has been a breeding ground of terrorism and harbours terrorists. The fact that Modi didn't launch into a rhetoric of war or aggression is a clear signal that he knows a cool head is needed to deal with Pakistan. Being loud doesn't amount to being firm. And so, those including many who share Modis ideology, and who are inclined to use rhetoric of war, need to understand there are ways to make Pakistan see reason. And war-mongering is not one of them. Pakistan rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modis assertion on Sunday that it was exporting terror, saying the remarks were part of a well thought out vilification campaign to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistans foreign office said Modi, in a public meeting in Kerala, tried to malign Pakistan. Read: Not for war-mongers: PM Modi spells out what India can do with Pakistan It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable, the foreign office said. It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated by its forces in Kashmir against innocent and defenceless Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. Read: Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri, harps on Paks vulnerabilities The atrocities in Kashmir intensified since the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistans reaction came after Modi launched a blistering attack on it on Saturday in his first public address after last Sundays deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. 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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of a BJP national council meet. Read: PMs Kozhikode speech was a people oriented confidence building measure He said Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across Asia by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan foreign office statement alleged, In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands. The foreign office claimed the international community has taken notice of these blatant human rights violations with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), the statement said. Prime Minister Narendra Modis Kozhikode speech was salutary amid the cries for war after the militant attack in Kashmirs Uri. But to call his outreach to the people of Pakistan an innovative first would be an overstatement. For years now, our bilateral engagements with the oft-hostile neighbour have had to them a people-to-people orientation. Barring sporadic disruptions, confidence building measures (CBMs) that include rail and road connectivity have remained in place through the worst of times. The diplomatic objective that guided the policy was part altruistic, part pragmatic. From the Indian standpoint, permitting visitors from across the border served the dual purpose of connecting families divided by Partition, which, by itself, was an effective counter to Islamabads propaganda on the state of our minorities. The approach was particularly useful in the years succeeding the Babri Masjid dispute and the post-Godhra violence in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other BJP leaders in Kozhikode on Saturday. In distinguishing the people of Pakistan from its civil-military establishment that waged three wars with us, Modi seemed to drawn from the institutional memory of the office he holds. The reality is that the average urban Pakistani always had a sneaking admiration for Indias growth story and its adherence to democracy thats only a dream half-realised beyond Wagah. The PM stoked that sentiment by exhorting them to a creative competition to fight unemployment, illiteracy and poverty that deny the sub-continents dispossessed the life they deserve. The message wasnt dissimilar when, during the UPA regime, then foreign secretary Shyam Sharan reasoned in a major policy lecture that Indias economy wasnt a threat but an opportunity for its neighbours. Read | Modi hails army on Mann ki Baat, says people in Kashmir want peace I remember having quizzed Nawaz Sharif on it during a visit to Lahore. Then in the Opposition, he had no qualms agreeing; stable bilateral relations, he said, would help generate jobs as Pakistan could attract FDI in its manufacturing sector citing geographical proximity to the huge Indian market. Its another matter that his business instincts had him so argue. Hes guided now by his survival instincts amid charges of graft and profligacy. In fact, advocacy of a flexible Indian visa regime for Pakistanis dates back to the late 1970s when AB Vajpayee was Morarji Desais foreign minister. It was also an integral part of a doctrine named after former Premier Inder Gujral and driven by the idea of non-reciprocal magnanimity towards smaller neighbours. Even the back channel India-Pakistan talks for an out of the box resolution of Kashmir were all about meeting popular aspirations through CBMs aided by an institutional framework facilitating easy cross-LoC interactivity and movement. The initiative that represented a paradigm shift --from new borders to no borders-- got aborted when domestic discord in Pakistan pulled Pervez Musharraf down from his mighty pedestal. During one hopeful phase in our bilateral ties, a top politician-diplomat gave me a deeper insight to the value of CBMs. Kashmir, he argued, cannot be resolved through a pact or a treaty, involve as it does the stakeholders national pride. Its resolution has to be through consistent efforts to give the people of Kashmir a way of life they want --on either side of the Line of Control. But a pre-requisite for that is mutual trust and peace that elude the estranged neighbours. In the historical context of the 1971 Bangladesh war, the PMs overt support for Baloch nationalists would be seen as another bid to dismember Pakistan--by its people and the ruling class adept at demonising India. Read | Not for war-mongers: PM Modi spells out what India can do with Pakistan The Congress will go it alone in the Uttar Pradesh election due early next year, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said. Gandhi is on a 2500-km Kisan Yatra across Uttar Pradesh, seeking to revive the Congress in a bellwether state it dominated before regional parties built along caste lines displaced it from power 27 years ago and left it a marginal player. But Gandhi ruled out any opportunistic election alliances with other parties. 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, he told Hindustan Times in an interview. Gandhi spoke on a wide range of issues from questioning the BJP-led central governments policies that he said promoted businesses above farmers to accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of botching up his response to violence in Kashmir and in dealing with Pakistan. He also called the Jammu and Kashmirs ruling PDP-BJP alliance a crime against India that had created a space for Pakistan in the troubled region, and said Modi does not listen to the counsel of experts or ministers who understand the problem. Gandhi, 46, is campaigning through 26 districts of the state whose chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is trying to beat back a power struggle in his Samajwadi Party just months before the election. Gandhi said Akhilesh raised expectations after his victory but he frittered away the opportunity by tolerating too much corruption and lawlessness. Rahul Gandhi addresses supporters at a road show during his Kisan Yatra in Allahabad. (PTI Photo) Although I am a leader of the opposition, it makes me sad that a young leader like him was unable to deliver, he said. Akhilesh became chief minister at the age of 39 in 2012. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have alternated power alone or with allies for almost three decades. Gandhi said both parties failed the people of the state for long. Sharing his opinion on continued protests in Kashmir, Gandhi said the central government had made a mess of a previously successful strategy to tackle militancy in Kashmir. He said the states PDP-BJP alliance destroyed all room for Kashmiris to join the political system. Read | BJP uses peoples fears, Mayawati compromised her movement: Rahul Gandhi 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, he said. The Congress leaders comments came after two months of violence in Kashmir that has claimed 86 lives and left more than 10,000 people injured, with widespread protests and discontent against the government and army. Analysts say the surge in anti-India sentiment had undone decades-long efforts to curb militancy that first broke out in the Valley in 1989. India holds Pakistan responsible for the violence and bilateral relations have rapidly plummeted, especially after an attack on an army base in Uri in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers last weekend. Gandhi said the BJP had diverted from the successful plan by not talking to local people and not including smaller countries in a global campaign to isolate Pakistan. The PM should start listening to experts and his ministerial colleagues. There are brilliant people in our bureaucracy, institutions and agencies, the Congress leader said. The PM talks but he does not listen. People are afraid of telling the PM what they think. Read | Did BJP pressure force Rahul Gandhis visit to Ayodhya SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The death toll in rain-related incidents has gone up to eight in Telanganas Medak district, as a factory worker allegedly drowned in flood water following heavy showers. Three deaths were reported from Medak on Saturday, even as the army was deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations. Four people were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. Anjanayelu (30), a native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was going on his bike to his workplace on Saturday. While trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, he was swept away along with his bike, police said. Hathnoora police sub-inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated soon after but the body was yet to be retrieved. On Saturday, a 14-year-old boy fell inside a swelled water tank in Aroor village under Sadasivpet police station limits after he lost balance while taking stock of the water level of the tank. In Narayankhed, a 30-year-old man was washed away in heavy flow while he was trying to cross a stream on foot. A 28-year-old man was killed after he lost balance of his two-wheeler and was washed away while traversing through a water body near a village in Medak. With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief. Following instructions from the CM, a National Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue operations, if necessary. Four columns of army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. Contending that the definition of secularism has been distorted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya on Sunday to say that Muslims should be treated as your own rather than seeing them as items of vote market. Addressing the BJPs national council meeting in Kozhikode, he said his governments mission of sabka sath, sabka vikas is not a political slogan but a commitment to ensure welfare of the last man in the society. In his speech, Modi spoke at length about secularism, balanced and inclusive growth and need for electoral reforms while paying tributes to Upadhyaya on his 100th birth anniversary. These days, the definition has been distorted. Even nationalism is cursed these days, he said. While talking about life and contribution of Upadhyaya, Modi quoted him as saying: Dont reward or rebuke Muslims. Empower them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own. At the conclusion of the two-day BJP conclave aimed at making inroads in Kerala, the Prime Minister traced the partys journey from the days of Jan Sangh and asserted that we never compromised with our ideology. He said if the BJP had compromised with the ideology, it could have attained power long back. An attack on an army base in Uri was the result of terrorists frustration with the governments strategic and aggressive response that foiled 17 infiltration attempts and killed 117 intruders in the past eight months, BJP president Amit Shah said on Sunday. Shahs comments came amid a growing clamour for a military response to the Uri strike last Sunday that killed 18 soldiers. India says the militants came from Pakistan and has moved to isolate the neighbouring country at global fora -- but the charge is flatly refuted by Islamabad. Read: Not for war-mongers: PM Modi spells out what India can do with Pakistan The BJP is under pressure from cadre and supporters to follow through on its election promise of tough action against militants. Though conscious of the feeling of anger and resentment after the Uri attack- as Shah acknowledged on Sunday- the party is aware that military retribution is no option. It asked the people to stand with the government in its decisive battle against terrorism. It is a long drawn battle foisted on us by our neighbour. Uri is only a temporary setback. The final victory will be ours, said Shah at the BJP national council meeting in Kozhikode. The prime minister has promised that the perpetrators shall not go unpunishedthis battle may be a protracted one, but we shall fight it to the finish. Shahs remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will not forget the Uri attack and directly addressed the people of Pakistan, exhorting them to fight a war against poverty and illiteracy. He also tempered calls for a military retribution. In his speech, Shah spoke out against Kashmiri separatists and the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Uri, drawing appreciation from Modi who shook hands with him when he returned to his chair. The BJP president later read out a statement on Uri and Terrorism. Read: Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri, harps on Paks vulnerabilities Anxious to convey that the government is acting against the perpetrators, the BJP chief said the Centres diplomatic offensive had exposed Pakistans policy of promoting terrorism as a state policy and isolated the neighbouring country globally. Pakistan is today openly supporting and sponsoring terrorism as a state policy. India has been a long time victim of this policy of Pakistan, Shah said. India and Pakistan have been locked in war of words over Uri at the United Nations this week, especially in response to a speech by Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN general assembly. Read: Uri attack could be the result of Kashmir unrest, says Pakistan PM Sharif The speech of Nawaz Shar at the UN is a testimony that Pakistan is openly advocating terrorism. Pakistan spends billions of dollars from its budget to funding, equipping and training terrorists on its soil and exporting them into many countries in the world. Thus Pakistan, over the years, has emerged as the global terror hub, Shah said. But Shah didnt seem inclined to discuss Uri and the governments response, even at a party gathering. He told the gathering of about 1,700 BJP leaders that his statement on Uri did not require any discussion and they should just adopt it. The BJP chief also blamed Pakistan for instigating the militant separatist movement in the Kashmir Valley. He said the government is ready to talk with anyone who wants peace in Kashmir but it will include only those who consider themselves Bharatiya and respect the maryada (limits) of the Constitution. Terming the situation in Jammu & Kashmir in the past ten weeks as worrisome, he said there will be no discussion with anyone who does not accept the Constitution. Even the militant separatist movement in J&K is also a creation of Pakistan only, Shah said. The prolonged unrest in Kashmir Valley following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani last July has left 86 people dead and over 10,000 injured. The NDA government maintains it is ready to engage all stakeholders in the Valley but refuses to acknowledge separatist Hurriyat leaders as one of them. BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uri terror attack last week was not a result but the beginning of Indias war against terrorism, adding that ultimately the country will succeed in this fight. Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Partys National Council meet here, Shah also issued a statement on the Uri terror attack, condemning Pakistan and vowing to win the fight against Islamabad-sponsored terrorism. Lambi ladai hai jo hum par hamare padosi desh dwara thopi gayee hai. Uri hamla padav matra hai, parinaam nahi. Antim vijay hamari hogi (This is a long fight, foisted upon us by our neighbouring country. The Uri terror attack is but a stage (padav) and not a result. The final victory will be ours), Shah said in the statement. The statement was unanimously adopted by the National Council without any discussion. Shah said the BJP has taken this attack very seriously. The country is determined to give a befitting reply to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, he said. During last eight months, 117 terrorists were killed, our soldiers foiled 17 attempts of infiltration and the Uri attack was a result of their frustration, Shah said. Supporting the governments actions to isolate Pakistan internationally, he said that Islamabad has been isolated internationally. Howsoever long the fight against terrorism would go, we are ready to fight and we will win it, Shah added. Dubbing terrorism as a threat to democracy and humanity, Shah said terrorism itself is an offender of human rights. If terrorism becomes state policy of any country, it is not less than a war crime. Pakistan today is supporting terrorism openly as its state policy and is also sponsoring it, he said, adding that India has been a victim of this policy of Pakistan since long. We have faced many such terror attacks. Pakistan has also supported the separatist movement in Kashmir. Shah affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and no one can separate it from India. For peace, we are ready to hold discussion with everybody but not with those who have no faith or belief in the Indian Constitution. Peace talks cant be held with those who dont believe in our Constitution, he asserted. The BJP Presidents statement described Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the United Nation General Assembly as open proof that the neighbouring country openly advocates terrorism. The world was taken aback when he (Sharif) dubed a Hizbul terrorist as a peaceful youth. Pakistan prepares terrorists by investing crores of dollars and sends them around the world for spreading terrorism. It has emerged as a centre of global terrorism. He said the BJP and NDA government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against terrorism, and appealed to the people of the country and all political parties to extend support in this battle. The US on Sunday said it strongly encouraged India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue to reduce tensions, as the war of words between the two neighbours escalated over the Kashmir issue. The United States strongly supports all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable, democratic, and prosperous region, including meetings between the Indian and Pakistani officials, a senior State Department official said after Prime Minister Narendra Modis address in Kerala. Our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations and practical cooperation. We encourage India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions, the official said. Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Modi had launched a blistering attack on Pakistan yesterday in his first public address after last Sundays deadly attack. Modi said the sacrifice of the 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault with both countries hitting out at each other including at the current UN General Assembly session. Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs tirade in his UNGA speech in which he had focussed elaborately on Kashmir, India had slammed Pakistan for being home to the Ivy League of terrorism and a terrorist state that commits war crimes by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. The news of Sajjangarh Biological Park getting a white tiger has brought cheers to wildlife lovers in Udaipur, but the staff here is in a fix as the feline understands only Tamil. The five-year-old male tiger named Rama is being brought to Udaipur under an exchange offer with Chennais Arignar Anna Zoological Park for a pair of wolfs from Jaipur and Jodhpur zoos, and has the approval of the Central Zoo Authority. But the language problem is one that the officials did not foresee. Either the tiger learns Mewari language or the caretakers here learn Tamil, said officials of the Park. The DFO and in-charge of Sajjangarh Biological Park, T Mohanraj, who hails from Chennai, said a letter has been sent to the director of the Chennai zoo to send along a Tamil caretaker with the tiger. A forest department team from Udaipur, which has gone to Chennais Arignar Anna Zoological Park to bring the tiger, is also working on bringing a caretaker after learning about the big cats dialect. Rama was born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in 2011 and understands the commands of its present caretakers who speak Tamil. Chief conservator of forests, Udaipur, Rahul Bhatnagar said, We already have a female tigress, known as Damini, which we had brought from Pune zoo last year under exchange. The presence of male tiger will help in improving the tiger population. There are huge numbers of animal lovers in Udaipur, and the presence of white tiger will be another attraction for them. The park witnessed a footfall of 80,000 this year and generated revenue of Rs 25 lakh, Bhatnagar said. In these tense days for our soldiers, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has approached IIT- Kharagpur to put smiles back on the faces of Indian jawans. DRDO will shortly tie up with IIT-Kgp to work out methods that will increase the happiness quotient of Indian soldiers. Happiness increases productivity, and therefore, a rise of happiness levels will result in more productive and loyal soldiers for the country, both the director of IIT-Kgp and the director-general of life sciences at DRDO told HT on Friday. As part of the comprehensive solider fitness programme we would be tying up with IIT-Kharagpur to work on increasing the happiness quotient of the Indian army, Manas K Mandal, director-general of life sciences at DRDO. The details of the programme will be worked out, and the process has just started. The concept of gross national happiness (GNH) and happiness index are doing the rounds for a few decades now. The term GNH was first used by the Bhutan king in 1972. Bhutan, incidentally, is ranked first in the world happiness index We are looking at devising ways to build resilience among our soldiers, and it can be done by increasing the happiness quotient among them. We will be working with the Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness at IIT-Kgp, Mandal added. Read: PM Modi meets armed forces top brass to discuss Indias response to Uri attack Speaking about the initiative, Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, director of IIT-Kgp, said, We are in the process of tying up with DRDO to help increase the happiness levels of our army. The details of the programme will be finalised shortly. We will work out the module that will require them to visit us and we visiting them. However, if you thought the initiative is being under taken by the DRDO to help distressed soldiers at border duties, injuries and war fatigue, you are wrong. Unlike the US army serving in Afghanistan who require programmes to de-stress, our men on the frontlines do not need such tools. Most of our soldiers come from struggling families and continue facing hardship on the job. So they are much less vulnerable compared to the US soldiers in Afghanistan, who are used to abundance, said the DRDO official. But then, we have to admit that working in extreme weather conditions (in Siachen, for example) for a prolonged period does require a lot of resilience, which we can induce through this programme, said Mandal. This is an emerging discipline and is going to be one of the key pillars by which human development will happen, Chakrabarti said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bandra-Kurla complex (BKC) police last week arrested three members of a Mumbai family, including two women for allegedly forging a document to get a visa for the United States of America (USA). Two of the accused are cousins but they posed as husband and wife and made a fake marriage certificate in order to get the visa. According to the BKC police, the FIR was registered on September 18 by the complainant from the US consulate. The accused have been identified as Sukmit Singh Dalbir Singh Tung, 22, Daljit Dalbir Singh Tung, 44, Maninder Kaur Manjeet Singh Tung, 28. All are residents of Mumbai. Sukmit and Maninder are cousins. Sukmit is son of Daljit. Maninders mother is said to be settled in US. Police sources said Maninder wanted to settle with her mother in the US. They knew they wouldnt get the visa so they forged a marriage certificate to get a tourist visa. They applied for it around 20 days back. The police sources added they do not know if Maninders mother is a citizen of USA as she claims. According to sources, during the interview taken by US consulate, their bluff was caught and the visa application was rejected. Further, a first information report (FIR) was registered under sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using forged document as genuine), 467(forgery of valuable security), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal code (IPC) against the trio. The agent who helped them make the fake marriage certificate and assured them they will get a visa is not to be found and the police are now looking for him. The three arrested accused were remanded in police custody for few days and were sent to judicial custody for 14 days on September 22. The Navi Mumbai police are still continuing with search operations in Uran, Navi Mumbai. However, they said that the pace of the search has been slowed down in comparison to the urgency of the first three days. The search operations for the suspects in Uran area have been operationally modified. However, check points continue to be vigilant and any information on the issue is being thoroughly verified. Steps are being taken to counter any attempt at an attack, said Hemant Nagrale, Commissioner of police (Navi Mumbai). Sources in the police said they have not found anything substantial in the claims made by the two students. However, as the facility has a lot of important installations including a naval base and an armament depot, the police have still deployed a security presence in the area. The Navi Mumbai police have 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 had called off their search in Uran and the surrounding coastal belt on Friday after sanitising the naval base and their area of operations. 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. On Thursday, two school children allegedly spotted armed men dressed in Pathani suits and carrying backpacks, after which the Indian Navy and Coast Guards had sounded an alert in the West coast. The Mumbai and Thane police had also joined the Navi Mumbai police and sounded alerts in their respective jurisdictions. Four days after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran near here, Navi Mumbai police called off their search operation on Sunday. The search operation for the suspects in Uran has been operationally modified. But check points continue to be on the vigil. Any information on the issue is being thoroughly verified and steps are being taken to counter any untoward incident, Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said in a statement. The Indian Navy, which had sounded the highest state of alert after the first report of sightings of the armed suspects, had wound up the search operation two days ago. Read | Uran alert: Operations continue, but with less urgency Some students of the Uran Education Societys school had reported to have seen some suspicious-looking armed men in Uran, about 47 km from here, on Thursday, following which their teacher had informed the police. Subsequently, the navy issued a highest state of alert along the coasts, where several sensitive establishments and assets are located. The alert had come four days after the Uri attack, which left 18 soldiers dead. Massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas is being carried out with the help of Coast Guard and CISF. The elite commandos from the National Security Guard (NSG) and the state polices specialised Force One had also been roped in. Read | Uran alert: Schoolgirl questioned a 2nd time, stands by her statement Western Indias biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the countrys largest container port, JNPT are located in close vicinity of Uran. Coastal security has been top priority after the 26/11 attacks, in which multiple locations in Mumbai were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed in the city using sea route. 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 Navys elite strike force. KOZHIKODE: 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 military retribution by challenging Pakistan to a war on poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. In his first public comments since the Uri attack, 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 1,000-year war over Kashmir an allusion to an oft-quoted remark by former Pakistan PM 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. 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. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi might have given some talking points to the BJP to address the jaw-for-a-tooth clamour following last Sundays attack on Uri army base. The party was in a dilemma over how to aggressively pitch its nationalist credentials amid growing clamour for a befitting reply to the perpetrators of the terror attack (read Pakistan). The draft political resolution, to be adopted by the partys national council on Sunday, did not mention the Uri attack when it came up for discussion by senior party leaders on Friday. Party president Amit Shah addressed them but skipped any reference to Uri attack or Pakistan. He said that the BJP, as the ruling party, has to behave responsibly even as he stressed that the party has to walk the talk in terms of delivery. Shah is not known to be too subtle in delivering messages but for once, some office-bearers had many questions in their minds. Read | PM Modi hits out at Pakistan, says India wont forget Uri attack The final resolution that the apex decision-making body will pass on Sunday is likely to reflect the PMs aggressive rhetoric against Pakistan but not matching it with action could still leave the BJP vulnerable. The ruling party is conscious of the public outrage over the Uri attack, especially among its cadre and supporters. We couldnt do anything after the attack on the Pathankot air base. We could justify it because Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif called Modiji and promised action against the perpetrators. If we dont do anything after the Uri attack, how will our cadre and supporters react? They will think there is no difference between Modiji and Manmohan Singh, between BJP and Congress, said a senior BJP functionary. The party might have opted for rhetorical bravado but the government has advised it not to go overboard while attempting to match the expectations of the party cadre. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar told party leaders early this week that their statements should be moderate, not shrill, said sources. The reason for this guarded approach is the fact that the government does not want to take any retaliatory action immediately, said sources. Its priority is to isolate Pakistan diplomatically, as the Prime Minister spelt out at his public rally on Saturday evening. The BJP finds itself in a cleft stick: The government wants it to be moderate but its core constituency of supporters expects it to live up to its promises made while in opposition. Moderation or restraint is not the core strength of BJP, which used to pan former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for being weak in responding to cross-border terror. As opposition leader, Swaraj wanted 10 Pakistani heads for one of an Indian soldier. Such aggressive posturing while in opposition has returned to haunt the ruling party now. Read | Modi goes beyond knee-jerk reaction to Uri as he harps on Paks vulnerabilities With dengue cases crossing over 400, the health department has moved to educate residents about the viral disease by putting up posters and pamphlets in offices and public places. To begin with, the officials of the department on Friday visited the civil hospital here and inspected the condition of the ward and interacted with the patients and informed them about the precautions to be taken by the patients, after they are discharged. Also read | Tricity fights dengue scare as 38 fresh cases surface in Mohali, Chandigarh The officials of the team stated that they are carrying out this checking not only in government hospitals but also in private ones. District epidemiologist Dr Madan Mohan said, The team visited the civil hospital on Friday. The sole purpose of the visit was to ensure that the dengue ward has all the essential things as per the set parameters. The department wants to keep a check on the private hospitals as well. So, we are conducting regular inspections there also. We will be regularly visiting private institutes. We want to ensure that patients are provided best possible treatment. An ideal dengue ward should be isolated, clean, equipped with mosquito nets and should also have a proper supply of medicines. When asked about the steps taken by the department regarding the implementation of the cap not to charge more than Rs 600 to conduct ELISA (enzyme linked immunosobent assay), a test to confirm the viral infection, Dr Madan said, We have so far not received any complaint, but as we get any complaint. we will inquire about it. It has been over a month since the disease broke out in the city. Four cases of chikungunya have also been reported in the city. The health officials said that it became important for them to carry out awareness programmes as the disease is spreading The department is also going to distribute posters in various government departments and at public places to inform the general public. The posters would include the causes and the precautions to be taken along with the contact number of the civil surgeon, Dr Pradeep Chawla, and district epidemiologist Dr Madan. The department is also planning a rickshaw awareness rally in the affected areas, especially in the walled city from Monday, from where a majority of cases have been reported. Four rickshaws with information about the disease pasted on them would visit different areas of the walled city to inform and educate people about the disease. The Punjab government is planning to lower the minimum qualification for appointment as agriculture officers from MSc to BSc. The state cabinet is likely to take the decision in its meeting on Monday. Graduates and postgraduates from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, join the state agriculture department and fresh graduates demanded that they be given a chance a take competitive examination for the post. In a representation to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, fresh graduates said those who cant afford higher studies should not be deprived of appearing for the competitive examination. In 2013, the state government fixed MSc as the minimum qualification to take the competitive examination. Those who clear the exam, conducted by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), are appointed as agriculture development officers (ADOs). Before 2013, MSc candidates taking the exam used to get preference in the interview. There were reports that many candidates were not able to take the exam due to eligibility criteria. Also, the minimum qualification to appear for the civil services is graduation. So, increasing the minimum qualification criteria doesnt make sense, said an agriculture department official. 350 POSTS TO BE RECALLED The government may defer the entrance test to fill 350 posts of agriculture officers for which a requisition had been sent to the PPSC. Sources say if the eligibility criteria is changed (from MSc to BSc), the posts will be filled under the new policy. So far, PPSC has not invited applications against the earlier sent requisition. We may have to send the requisition again if the cabinet changes the minimum qualification criteria, said director agriculture JS Bains. NO DIRECT RECRUITMENT ADOs get timescale promotion as agriculture officers. As per norms 25% posts of agriculture officers are filled through direct recruitment. The cabinet is also expected discontinue the practice of direct recruitment. The government has sought suggestions from state personnel department, which is expected to come on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hundreds of activists of the Kissan Sangharsh Committee (KSC), who had been sitting on a dharna for the past six days, blocked the Amritsar-New Delhi rail route by sitting on the rail track, meters away from the railway station here on the seventh day of their protest . No train entered or left the city. Even Shatabdi Express and Shan-e-Punjab trains, that come from New Delhi, were halted at the Manawala railway station, about 12 km from here. The farmers took the local administration by surprise, as after lifting the dharna from outside the DC office, they suddenly moved towards the Bhandari bridge and sat on the rail tracks under it. Farmers halted trains at the Manawala railway station. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo) The main Amritsar-New Delhi rail route has been blocked affecting the movement of all trains coming to and going from the holy city. On Sunday afternoon at around 1:50 pm, the farmers gathered on the rail tracks blocking the mainline. Raising slogans against the Punjab government for its alleged anti-farmer policies, the KSC announced it as a pakka dharna saying that they wont lift it till their demands were met. The farmers are demanding waiver of every kind of debt on farmers, compensation of `10 lakh each to families of the farmers who have committed suicide under the pressure of debt, a government job to one of the members of the victim family, residential plots to labourers, electronic equipment to the applicants of new tubewell connections and also compensation for the loss borne by farmers during lathicharge on them in 2014. Deputy commissioner Varun Roojam and police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal held meetings with farmers to lift the blockade, but to no avail. Many passengers were stranded at the Amritsar railway station. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo) Several commuters were left stranded on the railway station. The authorities were concerned about the inconvenience to the people, but they were not able to convince the farmers to lift the blockade till the filing of the report. Police officers at the railway station on Sunday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo) Trains will not be effected: DC Camping at the railway station since the afternoon, the deputy commissioner said that no train will be disrupted as a plan has been worked out and diversions have been made. He said that the trains coming towards Amritsar will halt at the Manawala station while those departing from here will be diverted though Tarn Taran. He said that talks were on with the government and a decision will be taken late in the evening. Mahila Congress workers staged a protest in Jalandhar on Sunday, ahead of Aam Aadmi Party supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals visit to the city. The Congress women workers, about 50 in number, raised black flags and raised Kerjiwal go back slogans outside the Victoria Palace in Jalandhar. Placards that read Delhi ko barbad kiya... Punjab nahi (You have ruined Delhi... Not Punjab) were also waived. One of the placards also read Anti aurt parti (sic). A similar protest was seen near the Amritsar airport where Kejriwal landed on Sunday. Here too, Mahila Congress workers, led by Punjab Mahila Congress president Mamta Dutta, waived black flags and shouted Kejriwal go back slogans. Delhi CM and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal along with Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann coming out from the Amritsar International Airport on Sunday. (Gurpreet Singh/Hindustan Times) Kejriwal will now travel from Amritsar to Jalandhar where he is scheduled to attend Aggarwal community gathering as the chief guest. The AAP supremo has been frequently visiting Punjab, where assembly elections are to be held early next year, in the last few months. Also read | I will take charge of Punjab unit in my hands: Kejriwal Indelible Bhagat Singh, a documentary film on the efforts of Pakistani civil society to recognise the legend as their freedom fighter as well, will be screened on Tuesday in Jalandhar. But the filmmakers from Lahore wont be around. The producers independent journalist Hafeez Chahar and social activist and academician Jainab Dar have been denied visa amid tension between the two countries since the Uri terror attack. However, their film will be shown at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall here along with a play organised by the Aam Aadmi Volunteers Group (AAVG). The 32-minute documentary explains the Pakistani civil society campaign to honour Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It begins with a 2012 incident where it forced the Pakistani Punjab government to name one of the provincial capitals major roads after the martyr. A section of society opposed it, and so began a battle against odds. Kanhaiya Kumar, face of the Jawaharlal Nehru University protest, and other students leaders of the Left, including Ameek Jyami, will address the gathering, Sumeet Bhullar of the AAVG said. A poultry farm worker was murdered in Khera village, after he demanded return of Rs 8,700 he had given to an acquaintance to be sent to his family in Bihar, on Friday. The victim identified as Ramesh Paswan, a resident of Champaran in Bihar, was presently living at Dehlon village. The accused identified as Upkar Singh also belongs to Champaran. Bhupinder Singh, owner of the poultry farm, told police that Ramesh used to work at his farm and a few days ago, he lent Rs 8,700 to Upkar Singh to send the money to his family at his native village. However, Upkar didnt send the money. On Friday, residents of the village found a body in fields after which, they informed the police. After visiting the site, police made announcements in nearby areas to ascertain the identity of the deceased. The police came to know that the deceased was Ramesh and worked at a poultry farm. On questioning, Bhupinder said, On Thursday, Ramesh demanded his money back from Upkar Singh but to no avail. On Friday, Upkar called Ramesh in the fields where an accomplice was present. The heated argument took place and Upkar with the help of his accomplice murdered Ramesh and dumped the body in fields. Dehlon police initiated an investigation and found that Ramesh was murdered with a sharp-edged weapon. The body was sent for postmortem and handed over to the family. Following the information, additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Rattan Singh Brar along with police team reached the spot and initiated investigation in the case on Friday. Investigating officer at Dehlon police station, Jaspal Singh said that accused was on a run since Thursday. A case under the Section 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the accused and an unidentified person and manhunt has been launched, added Jaspal. More than 5,000 students (aged 5-19) of Chandigarhs schools and colleges have to work to earn their livelihood or support their families, says Census data that was released a few days ago. Of the 2.89 lakh people in the age group of 5-19 in the Union Territory, only 2.33 lakh (80.8%) are attending educational institutions. This means over 55,000 youngsters in this age group are not studying anywhere. Of those attending educational institutions, 3,469 are main workers (who work for over six months in a year) and 1,768 are marginal workers (who work for less than 6 months). Of the 5,237 working students, 1,978 are girls (37.8%). There are 55,387 (19.2%) youngsters who are not attending any educational institutions. Of these, 30,966 (56%) never attended an educational institution while 24,421 (44 %) are dropouts. Among those who are not attending any educational institutions, 15,544 are main workers, 1,253 are marginal workers (working for 3-6 months) and 378 marginal workers (working for less than three months). The data was collected in 2011. The data is useful for finding school dropouts and effectiveness of education programmes, said prof Aswini Kumar Nanda, population research centre, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID). In the neighboring Haryana, 1.63 lakh students in the age group of 5-19 are working while 17.72 lakh are not attending any educational institutions. Haryana has a total of 78.44 lakh in this age group of which 60.72 lakh (77.4%) go to educational institutions. Out of those attending educational institutions, 49,010 are main workers and 1.14 lakh are marginal workers. Of more than 17 lakh (22.6 %) in the age group, who are not attending any educational institution, 7.02 lakh (39.6%) are dropouts while 10.7 lakh (60.4%) never went to school. In Punjab, 1.5 lakh students are working. In Punjab, 1.5 lakh students are working. More than 19 lakh of 77.69 lakh people in age group of 5-19 are not studying. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh has urged the election commission (EC) for the deployment of central forces and arranging for electronic voting machines (EVMs) from outside the state to rule out the possibility of manipulation during the assembly elections in Punjab. Speaking on the sidelines of Halke Vich Captain programme on Sunday, Amarinder said he had written to the EC to provide EVMs from outside the state. This was to prevent manipulation by officials at the behest of their Akali bosses. The EVMs are under the custody of local officials who can always be cajoled or coerced by the Akalis to do their bidding, he said. If you dont identify yourself fully with your men you can never hope to lead them successfully in battle. General KS Sivakumar said this at the recent commemoration by 3 Jat, at Gurdaspur, of the 50th anniversary of its hard-won victory at Dograi in Pakistan in 1965. It was easy to make out how closely the officers of this very fine battalion related to their men by the easy way they mixed with them conversing in chaste Haryanvi and reliving the days when they faced danger together. This bonhomie and trust between the officers and jawans carried the unit to victory in 1965. Also contributing substantially was the outstanding leadership of its commander, Colonel Desmond Hayde supported by leaders at lower levels. Colonel Devesh Wahi (currently commanding the battalion), Subedar Major Ram Swarup Faujdar and all officers and men in the battalion worked very hard to make the celebrations a grand success. My salute to all the veterans who made it to the anniversary and also to all those who fought the war. The controlled aggression which 3 Jat adopted to achieve victory in 1965 is the right approach to deal with assaults on our territorial integrity or people. New Western Army Commander General Surinder Singh has taken over as the GOC-in-C, Western Command. Commissioned in 1979, he later commanded 2 Guards (the old 1st Grenadiers) after it had converted to a mechanised battalion equipped with BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles. Earlier he had graduated from the British Armys Staff College at Camberley. His most recent command was that of XXXIII Corps defending Sikkim, Bhutan and the vital corridor to the North-East. With his appointment, the avoidable deadlock over senior officers postings seems to be nearing its end. General Soni takes over ARTRAC General DR Soni took over as the commander of the Army Training Command, headquartered at Shimla on September 17. Commissioned in the Central India Horse in June 1979, the general attended the Defence College of Management and Technology at Shrivenham in Britain graduating with a masters degree in global security. His last command was that of X Corps, the pivot formation whose area of responsibility ranges from Fazilka to an area south of Bikaner. Naval Twitter handle That the Navys spokesperson has a Twitter handle @indiannavy is well known. What isnt too well known is how naval families are able to follow the progress of ships in which their loved ones are serving, through the medium. Recently they learned of the arrival of the Talwar-class guided missile frigate INS Trikand at Maputo in Mozambique on September 17 on a three-day goodwill visit. Earlier, on September 10, one learned of the visit of INS Kolkata, the lead ship of the Kolkata-class of stealth guided missile destroyers and INS Aditya, a replenishment and repair ship to Mombasa in Kenya. Disability Pensions Armed forces personnel are more prone to disabilities than their civilian counterparts because of the hazardous nature of their jobs and the fact that they serve in all kinds of inhospitable terrain. In spite of that the Seventh Pay Commission has recommended slab-based disability pensions for the former while retaining percentage-based pensions for civilians. This recommendation violates the principles of justness and conformance. Can we then blame the Services Chiefs for refusing to implement the proposals? (Please write in with your narratives of war and soldiering to msbajwa@gmail.com or call/WhatsApp on 09316135343) Naturally, bird-watching had to beat a hasty retreat in restive Kashmir. Dr Bakshi Jehangir is one of Kashmirs renowned bird-watchers but he is far too engaged in dealing with wounded civilians as superintendent of a government medical facility in Srinagar to take time off to pursue his feathered friends. A traumatic encounter with the Army, a day before the Pathankot airbase attack in January, had red-flagged his birding adventurism. Dr Jehangir was clicking Red-wattled lapwings under a bridge situated on the highway to Jammu airport. Army personnel got suspicious and took Dr Jehangir to their camp. After a polite but extended screening process, the Army released Dr Jehangir as he furnished identity proofs and displayed the incriminating evidence frozen on his cameras memory card: preening lapwings! The butterfly escapes as the Drongo sub-adult opens its bill to toss it into the air; (centre) a male Hoopoe feeding a female as a courtship ritual; (right) a Eurasian roller brings too big a meal for its chicks. (Photo: COL KRISHNANDU SARKAR) The good news is that officers of the Indian Army have stepped into the breach and continued a tradition of British Indian Army officers such as Maj TC Jerdon and Lt Col RSP Bates, who documented and illustrated Kashmirs avian riches with water colour paintings and later, photographs. In 2011, Col Anil Kumar, Lt Col Rohit Gupta and Capt Pankaj Dahiya wrote a pictorial guide, Birds of Baramulla, that included species of the Uri and Gulmarg LoC sectors. Not to be left behind, Kupwaras dense forests brimming with bears and birds found their own chronicler, Col Krishnandu Sarkar, who served multiple tenures in Kashmir till very recently. He utilised his deployments on the Kupwara LoC to capture bird images in forests inaccessible to most civilians. I was a jungle boy during my childhood, handling snakes with ease. My career took me to remote jungles and high altitudes, where dawn heralds a silence pregnant with mellifluous bird calls. For four months, I photographed the breeding cycle of the Eurasian roller, including moments when a parent brought too big a lizard/salamander for the chicks to eat. Since the parent did not have a knife and fork to cut it up for the kids, the feeding took multiple attempts and left the parent roller exasperated! Or, when an Ashy drongo sub-adult kept tossing in the air a live butterfly its parent brought as it was the youngsters habit before gobbling a morsel. The butterfly kept escaping and the parent drongo kept catching it! Col Sarkar told this writer. A heart for darkness On display at Punjab Kala Bhawan, the painting, Life, and (right) a photograph of a Darter tossing fish. (MAHESH PRAJAPATI/HEMANT KUMAR) From childhood, we are conditioned by culture and half-baked knowledge to fear darkness and serpents. Though both represent genuine dangers to human existence, there are many fears instilled in us which are unwarranted. Those who have ventured into the heart of darkness or the hidden life of serpents know that many of the imagined fears evaporate at the first step of bold exploration. An artistic interpretation of this theme is a painting captioned, Life, rendered by asst professor Mahesh Prajapati of the Government College for Arts, Chandigarh. The painting is on display at a national exhibition of the arts, Untitled, at the Punjab Kala Bhawan. At first appreciation, Prajapatis painting depicts a siege from creeping darkness and peeping snakes. But the man at the centre of the gathering storm stands calm and confident in a pool of light. Snakes and darkness represent problems of life. But snakes and humans are both parts of nature and can co-exist. In Indian mythology, snakes also represent sexuality, gods like Shiva, and the power to relieve humans of their problems. My painting shows that a positive approach (the man in the light) invariably finds a path to reach its goal, which may be success, money etc. In my painting, the goal is romantic fulfilment as shown by a blissful couple on a bed of small stones at the paintings top. The stones signify lifes many, many little troubles but natures powers of love and unification allow the couple to transcend the intrusion of stones, Prajapati told this writer. The exhibition also displays a photograph of the near-threatened species, the Oriental darter, contemptuously tossing a small fish. Hemant Kumars frame vibrates with life and colour and underscores natures abiding ethic: might privileges many unfair rights. The Hyderabad-based Kumars other exhibit is of a River tern snapping a fish and that won him acclaim on National Geographic. Kumars lens prefers birds because he finds the pursuit more challenging than the allure of big cats. Tigers are easy to photograph because they behave in a tame manner being used to tourists. But birders have to understand the behaviour/ecology of each species. For this darter photograph clicked at Ameenpur lake, Hyderabad, I had to slither like a snake for 30 minutes to get close, make the darter feel comfortable and expend hours in a cramped posture before capturing the definitive frame, said Kumar. (vjswild1@gmail.com) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the party would end raid raj and will facilitate the business community after coming to power in the state. Kejriwal was in Jalandhar as the chief guest of the Agrasen Jayanti Samaroh celebrations, organised by the Aggarwal community. Must see | In pics: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal in Jalandhar Addressing a gathering in the function, he said: Even though my doctor advised me to rest and refrain from speaking and travelling, it is your love that brings me here. Targeting the Narendra Modi government, he said it had launched a crackdown on businessmen to complete their income tax target and claim that they are recovering black money. If the government really wants to get black money back, it should bring Vijay Mallya back and seize his property worth Rs 7,000 crore. The government should not harass small traders and businessmen in the name of income tax raids, he added. Arvind Kejriwal with Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann at the Amritsar. (HT Photo) I feel the government cannot generate revenue by raids as it only fills pocket of inspectors who never deposit the money in the government treasury, he said. I appeal to the Union government to immediately stop raids in the name of income tax collection like we did in Delhi, Kejriwal added. He said after coming to power in Punjab, the biggest challenge for the AAP government would be to curb drug menace. We would ensure jobs for them so they dont fall in the drug trap again, he said. Also read | Mahila Congress workers protest in Amritsar, Jalandhar ahead of Kejriwal visit Meanwhile, representatives of the Aggarwal community demanded assembly tickets for their candidates. Vote vi saadi, note vi saade, par seat saadi ni. Is vaar saanu vi seat chahidi (Our vote, our money, but no seat for us. This time, we want a seat too), community representatives said during their speeches in Kejriwals presence. Senior AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann and state convener Gurpreet Ghuggi also attended the event. Former Budhlada MLA Mangat Ram Bansal also attended the programme and addressed gathering. Bansal, who is trying his re-entry into the Congress, exhorted the gathering to vote for candidates belonging to the Aggarwal community. Bansal joined the Akali Dal after it retained power in Punjab, but had to quit in 2015. Meanwhile, Mahila Congress workers staged a protest against Kejriwal outside the venue. Two petrol bombs were hurled at the Kannagi Nagar police station in Chennai early on Sunday morning, as public anger over a suspicious custodial death increases. Twelve motorcycles were destroyed in the blaze, and several jeeps were partially damaged before the fire was put out. Meenkulambu Karthi, a 22-year-old who was arrested for allegedly stealing a chain, was found dead in his cell on Wednesday under suspicious circumstances. It is the second such incident of custodial death in as many weeks, following the alleged suicide of the lone suspect in the Swathi murder case, Ramkumar. More than 600 protesters gathered outside of the Kannagi Nagar station on Thursday after Karthis mother, S Ganga, claimed that her son was beaten to death while in custody. The crowd dispersed after high ranking police officials promised an inquiry would be held in the matter. Ganga also claims she was offered a bribe of Rs 4 lakhs while at the station in order to remain silent, an allegation the police have denied. On Saturday, Ganga formally asked the police commissioner to register a case of murder against the personnel involved. Though police have stated that Karthi died after sustaining several head injuries, Ganga said she saw many bruises on his body, indicating that he had been beaten to death while in custody. Police officers declined to comment on the allegations of torture and bribery. A number of personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further attacks on the station. Donald Trump spoke for nearly 45 minutes but not a word about one of the most anticipated events this election, the first presidential debate. That was very unusual for a man who tweets alerts about his upcoming interviews, mostly on Fox these days. Is he worried he will be a spectacular failure, as suggested by some critics such as Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative Weekly Standard and leader of the NeverTrump movement? Or, because he is confident he will crush his opponent, Hillary Clinton? The debate was playing on the minds of many in the audience at an election rally here in an electorally critical state. And they were not sure how their nominee will fare. Umm, lets see, said David Fuller, who self-described as we rural folks. He lowered his head in concentration, looked up, pursed his lips, and went back to staring at the floor. Umm He will be thoughtful, Fuller, said, adding he was struggling to find the right word to describe how Trump will be at the debate. Thoughtful? Not many of his supporters will buy that, not the ones who showed up at the rally in T-Shirts reprising the muscular, take-no-prisoners message the Republican nominee has come to be known for. Not this man, whose T-Shirt proclaimed, blithely: Donald Trump, finally someone with b***s. Or this one: You stomp on my Flag, and I will stomp on your ass. Here is yet another, I am the infidel allah warned you about. Would they want to see Trump thoughtful? I am curious to see what he will do, said Russell Drum, an independent who voted for President Barack Obama in 2012 in the hope of change. But disappointed in the president, Drum is voting for Trump in the same search for change. His wife, a lifelong Republican who didnt want to give her name so she could be as insulting as she could be of Clinton and she was, mocking her recent illness to wondering what she does to look young would spare Trump any misstep. Behind the brave, angry words, many supporters said they worried Trump might somehow come up short, or throw away the debate, or the one after, because of some slight thrown at him by Clinton, who is likely to come armed with a few. I would too if I was Clinton, said Michael G Barrett, a retired US navy commander, who didnt like some of the stuff Trump had said on the campaign trail and had cringed at some of his insults. He has fretted about the debate, lately. But also because, echoing Trump, the former navy commander said he feared debate moderators might be unfair to the nominee much like the rest of the media, which, he added, may also spin the outcome in a way so as to declare Clinton the winner. 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 at 6:30 am IST on Tuesday . 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. Here are five interesting moments from the previous presidential debates. Read | All about the US presidential debate Carter versus Ford, 1976 President Gerald Ford, who got the presidency after Richard Nixons ignominious exit following Watergate, was up on the stage against challenger Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer from Georgia. And Ford did himself in. There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there will be never be under the Ford administration, he said. When challenged by the moderator, Ford dug in, saying he believed the Yugoslavians, the Romanians or the Poles considered themselves dominated by the Soviet Union. The answer arguably cost him the election. Watch the full debate here. Reagan versus Mondale, 1984 When asked abut his age and ability to cope with the rigours of office, Ronald Reagan deadpanned, I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponents youth and inexperience As the room erupted, even Mondale couldnt help himself and broke into grin. Reagan coolly reached for a glass of water Watch the full debate here. George H W Bush versus Michael Dukakis, 1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis who had been opposed to the death penalty was asked - what if his wife was raped and murdered? Would he favour the death penalty for the killer? Dukakis principled answer, consistent with his life-long stand on the issue, made him look cold, heartless and unemotional. Bush, the vice-president, went on to win his first term. Watch the full debate here. George H W Bush versus Clinton, 1992 Running for a second term, George H W Bush seemed impatient debating challengers Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and Ross Perot, a businessman who ran as an independent. As Bush rose from his stool it was a town-hall style debate he stole a long look at his wristwatch, and seemed distracted as a member of the audience asked him her question. Bush didnt get it, said he had misheard the question, and had to be prompted by the moderator to straighten out his answer. Even that didnt work, and he asked the questioner to try again. Bush lost to Clinton, who went on to serve two terms. Watch the full debate here. Obama versus Romney, 2012 Flush from a bumper performance in the first debate, Mii Romney, the Republican nominee thought he had cornered President Barack Obama, catching him out on an inconsistency and calling it a lie. You said in the Rose Garden the day after the (Benghazi, Libya) attack, it was an act of terror? Arching both his eyebrows, he darted a got-you-pal look at Obama, who intoned icily, Please proceed, governor. Romney turned to the moderator, asking her to note and seal the lie. But she sided with the president, saying, He did, in fact, sir. Watch the full debate here. Thirteen people died when a panic-stricken crowd stampeded in a troubled town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, local officials 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. 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. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir, is not designed to target India or take Pakistans side on the Kashmir dispute, Beijing has said. But the project is certainly a platform to further strengthen China-Pak cooperation, the Chinese government said. It described Kashmir dispute as a historical problem that should be resolved through dialogue, indicating that Beijing was unlikely to take a side in the issue. The sovereignty of the Kashmir region has been a historical problem between India and Pakistan and should be appropriately settled through bilateral talks and negotiations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Hindustan Times in a written statement. Referring to the CPEC, linked inseparably according to India to the Kashmir issue, the MFA said: Chinas programmes in the region aim at boosting the local economy and improving the peoples well-being. It neither concerns any third party nor is it attacking the position of any side on the issue, the ministry said in response to HTs questions on CPEC and Kashmir. But whether India is opposed to the project or not, it said, the CPEC has gradually stepped from primary planning to the full operational phase. India has repeatedly raised its concerns over the CPEC the flagship project in President Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) passing through the PoK. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue again with Xi during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in eastern China. Modi is learnt to have told Xi that terrorism is being exported to India from the same region through which the CPEC passes. The MFA statement did not directly respond to questions on Indias concerns, but said it benefits Pakistan and the region. The CPEC not only carries significance for the common development of China and Pakistan, it also benefits the region and will positively contribute to the peaceful and steady development of the region. The project has been open and transparent and many countries have expressed their willingness to join in the project, it said. The MFA said security of the CPEC and of Chinese citizens against attacks from militant groups active in the region remains an important requirement. Security has been an important requirement for the CPEC construction. Pakistan has declared it would take necessary and efficient measures to ensure the safety of the project and the security of Chinese citizens and build a safe environment for the CPEC construction, the statement said. It added: China has been paying high attention to the issue, trusting Pakistan's ability on ensuring the safety of the project and the personnel. Premier Li Keqiang first floated the proposal to build the CPEC during his 2013 May trip to Pakistan, after visiting India. In April 2015, the two countries signed 30 deals connected to the CPEC when Xi visited Pakistan. The project is proceeding smoothly. Over the past year, a great many of important programmes have been implemented, the construction of the corridor has been in full operation through joint efforts, the MFA said. The ministry added that the four focus areas of the CPEC are: building energy hubs, transportation infrastructure, the Gwadar port and industrial infrastructure. The two countries have also reached agreements on the long-term plans of the CPEC, it said. The CPEC has been an important agreement between China and Pakistan as a framework and platform for the two countries to implement comprehensive and pragmatic cooperation, it added. A gunman on Sunday killed prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside a court where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam, state news agency Petra reported. Hattar was struck by three bullets before the assailant was arrested, said Petra. Witnesses told AFP that a man had opened fire in front of the court in Ammans Abdali district. The 56-year-old Christian was arrested on August 13 after posting a cartoon mocking jihadists on his Facebook account. He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September. Jordans attorney general had imposed a blackout on media coverage of the case. Hattar removed the cartoon from his Facebook page after it triggered outrage on social media. The cartoon features an illustration of God under the title God of Daesh, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. He explained on Facebook that the cartoon made fun of terrorists and how they imagine God and heaven, and does not insult God in any way. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory. Pakistan on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of irresponsible behaviour by making provocative statements that it was exporting terror, saying his remarks were part of a well thought out vilification campaign to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan foreign office said in a statement Modi in a public meeting in Kerala tried to malign Pakistan. It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable, the foreign office said. It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated by its forces in Kashmir against innocent and defenseless Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The atrocities in Kashmir intensified since the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistans reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sundays deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. 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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asias, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan foreign office statement alleged, In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands. The foreign office claimed that the international community has taken notice of these blatant human rights violations with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), the statement said. The Lahore high court has dismissed a writ petition by Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. Chief justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing the matter raised by the petitioner is not justifiable before the court and falls within the domain of politics. The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeeds counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed will challenge the verdict in the intra-court. In the petition Saeed said India had been committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions. He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Saeed, who carries a 10 million-dollar bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said (former prime minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir, however, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking. Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. Criticising the verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect, he said. Imposing international sanctions on Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack would not serve its purpose and would only add to the anti-India propaganda in the neighbouring country, a leading lawyer who has dealt with sanctions on Iran and Russia has said. The appeal for global sanctions on Pakistan is strategically and diplomatically disastrous for India and the rest of the world, senior London-based lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla told HT. Having had first-hand experience on the effects of sanctions on countries including Iran and Russia, I can say with certainty that such a situation would further brew anti-India propaganda in Pakistan, he said. These sanctions would induce heavy economic meltdown within the state, castrating its overall stability and leading to a further impoverished population resorting to a negative rhetoric against India and rest of the world. If state-sponsored terrorism is prevalent, this would further branch into a glorious propaganda machine, and indeed would threaten the stability of the region, Zaiwalla said, adding the only mode of resolution currently viable is through international diplomatic scrutiny to wrestle a peace solution until it works. The effectiveness of sanctions in world politics, he said, depends on a collective global stance which is unlikely in the case of Pakistan due to the overlapping power structures at play between China, Russia and America. However, if sanctions are to be imposed as the last measure, an EU-led sanction would be strategically viable as China might veto in the UN security council. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any alien civilisations, especially to those more technologically advanced than humans. Our first contact from an advanced civilisation could be equivalent to when Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and things didnt turn out so well, Hawking said in a new online film. The film, Stephen Hawkings Favourite Places, takes viewers to five significant locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft - the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16 light years away. One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back, he said. They will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria, Hawking warned. As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone. After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out, he was quoted as saying by The Guardian. It is not the first time Hawking has warned about the prospect of hostile aliens. Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, last year Hawking had suggested that any civilisation reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans. The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking, he said, in the film that appeared on the online platform CuriosityStream. WASHINGTON: 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. 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 killings took place in the Macys retail store at Cascade Mall in Burlington, which is 105 km from Seattle. Police received calls around 6.58 pm on Friday that shots were fired at the mall, Trooper Rick Johnson, a police spokesperson said to CNN. Right now, we cant assume anything. So theyre still interviewing witnesses and trying to get a good idea of exactly what action to take next. Were 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 Macys 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 didnt 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 FBIs 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. 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. LONDON: Many Labour Party MPs and others hold the view that leader Jeremy Corbyn cannot win a general election, but party members once again reposed their trust in him, electing him with more support on Saturday than when he first became leader last September. The election was triggered soon after the June 23 Brexit vote amid allegations that Corbyn did not campaign strongly enough for Britain to remain in the European Union. The Labour parliamentary party passed a no-confidence motion against him. Britains principal opposition party is placed in a piquant situation of its MPs subscribing to the view that Corbyn cannot lead the party to power in the 2020 elections, but growing numbers of party members increasingly rally behind him - almost like a personality cult. Corbyn promised to unite the party after the election results were declared in Liverpool, saying, There is much that unites us than divides us. He insisted that he can lead the party to power by defeating the Conservative in the next general elections. Corbyn polled nearly 62% of the votes cast, increasing his support from the 59% in September 2015. His challenger, Owen Smith, polled 38% votes in an election that some believed was not necessary and in which Corbyns election was seen as a foregone conclusion. The leadership election campaign aroused much passion in a divided Labour Party that is widely seen as struggling to present a strong opposition to the Theresa May government, particularly in the post-Brexit vote situation. There has also been talk that Corbyns re-election may split the party. The left-leaning The Guardian said it would welcome an electable, effective Labour Party as an indispensible part of progressive politics. It would have important work to do. But for that Labour Party to return, the leader and his party must be judged on three main things, starting now. The first is the leaders ability to bring the party together again, not force it apart. That means mutual respect for all Labours currents of thought, not purges. Further leadership contests, deselection of MPs and organisational battles should end. The second is his ability to reach out to the electorate and build support. That means listening more to the non-Labour and the formerly Labour parts of Britain, and working with them too, for Labour has never had the monopoly of progressive virtue and has never won without support in the centre. And the third is the leaders need to draw up a properly costed economic and social programme for government in the national interest, above all in relation to Brexit, in a general election that may come as early as next year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON WASHINGTON: 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. Pakistan came quite close in the 1990s. 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. PROTEST OUTSIDE PAK MISSION IN HOUSTON Baloch nationalists along with the Indian-American community members staged a protest outside Pakistans Consulate in Houston against state-sponsored terrorism. Holding placards and shouting slogans against Pakistan for human rights violations, protestors condemned the recent dastardly and cowardly act of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Uri. (With PTI inputs) COMBAT ARTISTS OF WW II, PBS Telelvision, check local listings for times. Moving interviews with seven of the 100 U.S. servicemen and civilians who served as combat artists during World War II are featured in the one-hour PBS television documentary, They Drew Fire: Combat Artists of WWII, which will air nationally on May 15 (check local listings for time). Although newsreels and photographs were prolific in war coverage, American generals insisted that artists be sent into battle to experience and interpret the conflict. This program details the recent rediscovery of more than 12,000 pieces of artwork stored in dusty military archives and basements and features more than 100 of these paintings and drawings. The sobering images vividly portray the camaraderie of the troops, and also depict, in graphic reality, the horrors of the battlefield. More multi-media reviews from the June 2000 Issue of American History: THE INDOMITABLE TEDDY ROOSEVELT (Video & DVD) As indicated in confidential documents leaked by a Samsung official, the next flagship in the Galaxy S Series will be sporting a 10nm System on a Chip (SoC). This means that the South Korean company's next smartphone will have a powerful processor than the one found inside the Galaxy S7. Samsung has been keen in manufacturing 14nm and 10nm chips but the latter will be likely used for its next device. To be specific, the leaked information suggests that the tech giant will be utilizing a 10nm Exynos 8895 processor and the ARM's latest Mali-G71 graphics unit. According to SamMobile, the Mali GPU is twice as powerful as the Galaxy S7 Mal-T880 MP12 processor. It is as well interesting to note that the S8's GPU will be faster than the Snapdragon 830 which will come out in 2017. The unveiling of the Mali-G71 can be a hint about more sophisticated technologies to come for the handset. It has been pointed out that this unit can support high-end 4K and VR experiences including OpenGL ES 3.2, Android Renderscript, Vulkan and GPU Compute. The G-71 GPU corroborates the previous rumors that Apple's biggest rival will introduce a 4K display and more advanced VR technology for next year's release of a new flagship. In a California's Society for Information Display trade show last March, Samsung Display has showcased a 5.5 ultra-high definition 4K screen with a pixel density of 806ppi for virtual reality devices. Considering the production yield rate for the next-generation display, it is predicted that the AMOLED will deployed on the next Galaxy unit, presumably, the S8. The addition of a 4K display can be a part of the company's effort to future-proof the device for new high-resolution virtual reality content. According to Weibo, the new device's camera will feature a dual 12MP plus 13MP rear-facing screen. It has also been rumored that Samsung's new device will have an iris scanner that provides biometric security. It is probable that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will use the USB Type-C reversible charging port which offers fast charging and quicker data transfers. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When Pastor David Fleming arrived a decade ago at Champion Forest Baptist, one of Houston's largest evangelical churches, he took stock of its mostly white congregation and made a bold decision. Sitting between Cypress and Spring, the church reflected its neighboring McMansions but not the apartment complexes popping up around FM 1960. "We want to reach all of the people within the shadow of our steeple," he preached to his predominantly Republican parish that includes Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman and state Rep. Debbie Riddle, who once likened the children of immigrants to "little terrorists." Recruiting a Hispanic and black pastor, he moved the main English-language Sunday service earlier and convened a Spanish-language sermon at the prime-time 11 a.m. slot. Lamented by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as "the most segregated hour in this nation," it was a powerful gesture that Champion Forest could be different, even fulfill King's vision for churches to "remove the yoke of segregation." Fleming envisioned one multilingual, multi-ethnic church, a rarity among Southern Baptists who have only 1 percent of churches meeting that criteria. As the nation's premier evangelical denomination posted nine straight years of membership losses, Champion Forest doubled to nearly 8,000 people, including almost 3,000 in what Fleming said is the state's largest evangelical Spanish-language congregation. Catering to both the Republican soccer mom and the Mexican construction worker she wants to deport can be a challenge of biblical proportions. Fleming tackled it head-on, becoming among the first leading evangelicals to push for comprehensive immigration reform. He pointed to demographic studies showing that of school-age children in the church's radius, equal thirds are Hispanic, black and white. "We can either say this community is changing, and we should embrace it or we should relocate," he told his flock. "My preference is to embrace it." His views don't sit well with everyone. But at a time when debate on race and immigration is laced with harsh rhetoric likening Mexicans to criminals and rapists, at Champion Forest, it is more nuanced, at least publicly. Fleming thinks it's precisely his congregation's diversity that helps spur conversation politicians can't seem to have. And as the issue has not only divided the country but propelled Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, himself controversial among evangelicals, it's arguably never been more critical. "Our nation and our cultures are struggling to live together, to love each other, to work together in spite of our differences," Fleming said. "I'm convinced the church ought to be the model for how that's possible." 'Anyone is welcome' When Fleming, 51, was approached for the job in 2006, he told the search committee the region's diversity intrigued him. He wanted to be "very intentional" about reaching the community. "I don't mean saying 'Anyone is welcome; they can come.' I'm talking about being very strategic to invite them and set up a ministry that is very appealing multiculturally, from the songs we sing to the things we say," he said. Fleming grew up in Orlando, Fla., preached in Atlanta and outside of New Orleans, and wrote his doctoral thesis on using demographics to evangelize. He appointed Ramon Medina, a Colombian immigrant, to expand the Spanish-language ministry - then just a few dozen people - and hired bilingual staff. It was clipping along when, around 2008, Fleming came across the distraught nephew of a staff member in the hallway. He asked how he could help. "You can't do anything," the man, Francisco, despaired, explaining that he overstayed his visa and soon would be deported. Surely, Fleming thought, he could solve the problem. Several state representatives attend his church. He knows congressmen. "The more people I called, the more I realized how polarized the issue had become ... with no honest conversation about how to solve what is an obvious problem," he said. One side, Fleming said, advocated building a wall and deporting all 11 million immigrants here illegally. The other seemed not to understand the need to hold people accountable to the law. Fleming shared his concerns with the conservative Houston Area Pastor Council. In his own church, about 1 in 5 congregants in the Spanish-language service is thought to be here illegally. "We have to find some way to deal with them in a way that is both just and compassionate, that respects the rule of law but deals with them as compassionate human beings made in the image of God," Fleming said. The council issued a declaration calling for lawmakers to secure the border, then overhaul the immigration system. Immigrants here who have committed no other crimes should have a pathway to legal status. Pastors like Fleming were witnessing the demographics of their churches change. Hispanics account for nearly 7 million of the nation's 68 million evangelicals, the church's fastest-growing segment, according to the Public Religion Research Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. Preachers began making the biblical case to thousands of conservatives every Sunday. In October 2009, the National Association of Evangelicals endorsed a resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform. In 2011, the Southern Baptist Convention followed. It was enormous. "The path to immigration reform is that we need to seek conservative support from the South and the Southeast," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C. "The only way that happens is if evangelical leaders on a local level see it as a moral and biblical responsibility." Like others, Fleming took his case to the pulpit. But his parish includes Riddle, one of Harris County's most conservative legislators, who lost her primary for the first time in 14 years this March to Valoree Swanson. The district, which borders the church on the east, is solidly Republican in a Bible Belt state. Fleming was undeterred. "He put that immigration issue in front of him, and he just stood up and let us have it," recalled Mark Lanier, one of the nation's top trial lawyers, who teaches an adult Bible study class of 750 people at Champion Forest. "He said, 'If God is Republican, Democrat, conservative or liberal, these are people who we need to give God's love to, need to minister to, in a way that's legally right. We can't turn our hearts." Lanier, a lifelong Republican who contributes generously to races, said he and his wife "picked our jaws up off the ground." "It was such a gutsy thing for him to say and to do," he said. In Lanier's case, Fleming was preaching to the choir. His property caretaker, Manuel Duran, came here illegally from Mexico when he was 14. He stayed in overcrowded apartments, working hard landscaping jobs. In 1986, he received his residency through President Ronald Reagan's amnesty and is now a U.S. citizen. His children attend college. "The world is a better place because of Manuel Duran, because at 14 he knew he had no future where he was," Lanier said. "We need to make a way for these people who are contributing to America to come here." Not everyone in Fleming's congregation feels this way. Riddle, a horse breeder in Tomball, said Fleming is an outstanding pastor, but the two don't see eye to eye on immigration. During the 2011 legislative session, Riddle filed two bills similar to a 2010 Arizona law considered the nation's harshest immigration measure in years. She doesn't see a conflict with Scripture like Leviticus 19 that Fleming cites in support of immigration reform: "Treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." "It's way too much to ask anybody to agree with their husband or their pastor or their children or everyone else 100 percent of the time," Riddle said. Whereas she sees Fleming's position on the issue as falling in the middle, she said she lands on the side of rule of law. "That does not mean we don't have compassion," she said. "But if we have no borders, we have no country. We have laws for a reason." Finding a balance Scott Riling, Riddle's former chief-of-staff who is now a pastor at Champion Forest, said borders in biblical times were more fluid than today, when nations exist so that its citizens can determine what laws should apply. He compared illegal immigration to strangers moving into your house. "I can say, 'OK. Treat my home and my cars like your own.' Or, I can say, 'We need to talk about this. You can't just demand you want to live in my home,' " he said. "It doesn't mean there's not times where we do charitable giving, acts of service, where I might be reaching out to those less fortunate." In testimony to a U.S. Senate committee in 2013, Fleming imagined a midway. "We are to be guided in all we do to protect the value and dignity of human life," he said. "We must have laws and a legal system that enables us to live out those values." Balancing the Bible's call for compassion to strangers with its instruction to follow worldly laws has long divided evangelicals on immigration reform. Fewer white evangelical Protestants than other Christians - 49 percent - support a pathway to citizenship provided immigrants meet certain requirements, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. Thirty percent favor deporting immigrants here illegally compared to 19 percent of all Americans. Lanier, who owns a 17,000-square-foot theological library with 85,000 volumes, said those favoring the rule-of-law argument would point to Romans 13. "The authorities that exist have been established by God," it reads. "Whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Lanier sees it differently, noting that slavery once was also legal. "The law is what the law is, but that doesn't mean, as Christians, if we think the law is unjust, we won't refuse to follow an unjust law," he said. "As Christians we should try to change the law to be more reflective of the character and heart of the church." Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky, said evangelicals struggle with opposite pulls - wanting to hold lawbreakers accountable as a matter of national policy while supporting parishioners under their own steeple. "The weakness of the evangelical position is that many are calling for something like immediate deportation that they will not want in their own neighborhood or congregation," Mohler said. Fleming sees the spectrum of his church as a gift, congregating people with different backgrounds in one space every week. "It's easy to make a macro-statement like, say, send 11 million people home, but when you know some of them and you care for them and you know they don't fit the stereotype, it becomes more personal," he said. The unity of Champion Forest's Spanish-language and English-language congregations is unusual. Many evangelical churches trying to diversify loan their space to Spanish-language or black parishes but remain essentially separate. Here, it's all one. Church literature and events are in both languages, and Fleming himself went to Costa Rica a few years ago to study Spanish. Planning is done together. On Sundays, the Spanish-language congregation files in as the English-language one streams out, and for Christmas and New Year, services combine. A little more than half of the congregants are white, about a third are Hispanic, 12 percent are black, and 2 percent Asian. The diversity puts the church in the vanguard. Nearly 9 in 10 congregations across the nation attend worship with parishes where 80 percent consist of a single racial group, according to a Duke University study. One recent Sunday, Fleming and Medina preached the second chapter in Acts about the Holy Spirit enabling a diverse crowd to hear the disciples in their native language. The message was the same, but the approach tailored. "You just can't learn another language with Rosetta Stone this quickly," Fleming told his 9:30 a.m. service. "This is the language of God." 'A very open church' For Medina's Spanish-language service, he recalled stumbling through a job interview in poor English but miraculously getting the gig. The Holy Spirit, he said, spoke through him. Outside, the church's busy lobby seemed like a veritable tower of Babel as Spanish and English darted across the room. "Christ excludes no one and neither should we," said Don York, who retired from the oil and gas industry and has attended Champion Forest with his wife Betty for almost 20 years. The couple said they could not be more supportive of Fleming, but insisted that he backed only legal immigration. Emerging from a Spanish-language Bible study, Claudia Lopez, a teacher from Mexico, said she began coming here five years ago and quickly felt at home. "This is a very open church," she said. But points of inevitable conflict emerge. "All of us have had acquaintances who one wishes could have their papers," said her husband, Juan Carlos, who is from Costa Rica. "These are good people, workers." At times, Medina must counsel families who have had relatives deported under policies likely supported by many in the church. "Sometimes it's the consequence for their acts. ... But sometimes it is because of nothing, and that is very hard," the pastor said. "These families came to the United States looking for opportunity. It's the same thing as the fathers of this nation when they came 300 years ago." Voters will face a test on Election Day, and whether they answer correctly will determine the future of the Houston Independent School District. It should be a simple question, but it's written in the obtuse vernacular of lawmakers who really don't want voters to understand it. The ballot provision will ask voters to authorize the board of trustees of HISD to purchase attendance credits from the state with local tax revenue. That sounds like a good, progressive measure, but be warned - it is a trick question. The ballot is really asking whether HISD should submit itself to state recapture and send $162 million in local property tax dollars to Austin. The correct answer is "NO," or "AGAINST." If this misleading ballot provision passes, HISD will not only be required to send $162 million in local property tax dollars to the state next year. The district will also likely face higher annual payments for the foreseeable future under the state's broken school finance system. The mandate comes about because rising property values have made HISD subject to "Robin Hood" provisions under the Texas Education Code. All those skyscrapers and rapidly appreciating homes have apparently pushed HISD over the top. As Texas schools are financed through property taxes, the recapture provisions (what we know as Robin Hood) were supposed to provide a way to equalize school funding across the state - for poor and wealthy schools alike. In May, the Texas Supreme Court held that this system of school finance is marginally constitutional. Consider that assessment a D-minus grade. The fact of the matter is that the state's school funding formula fails to accomplish its intended goals of helping poor school districts. Technically these recaptured funds are supposed to help schools that need the resources. If the provision worked like a true Robin Hood, it would "rob" from the rich and "give" to the poor. But in reality, the system robs from the poor and gives to legislators so that they don't have to raise state taxes. There's no guarantee that poor schools will receive a single extra dime if HISD pays up. How does this work? Simply put, the state keeps two bank accounts: one for general revenue and one for the recaptured Robin Hood sums. Every dollar that the state pays from Robin Hood frees up general revenue money that the state otherwise would have to spend to help poor schools. So instead of giving extra money to needy districts, any HISD money will essentially be spent on highways, border security or some other appropriation besides education. If this passes, then HISD is projected to send more than $1 billion of our local property taxes to the state over the next four years. Not only does that hurt HISD, but it looks an awful lot like a state property tax - which is prohibited in the Texas Constitution. Houston's economy is strong and diverse, but to maintain that edge Houston needs well-educated students. If HISD has to pay recapture, it will face a $95 million budget deficit in the next budget cycle. In an ironic twist, that budget deficit will end up hurting the very students that Robin Hood is supposed to help. More than 75 percent of HISD students are disadvantaged. It is a sign of our bizarre and busted school finance system that the district with the largest number of poor families will have to give away critically needed resources. Voters can block this preposterous outcome. By voting no, Houstonians will keep their money and instead authorize the commissioner of education to detach $18 billion worth of commercial property from HISD and assign it to other school districts. This has never happened before, and such a radical move would give the Legislature an opportunity to rectify the situation. A "no" vote won't end the problem. However, it will give the Legislature the entire 2017 session to fix school finance in Texas and keep local taxpayer dollars in our HISD schools. It is a tricky question, but the answer is simple. Vote "No" on attendance credits. An event that provides meals for adults as well as area students is scheduled for Sunday. The 24th annual Texas County Stomp Out Hunger Walk starts at the Houston Senior Center on Grand Avenue. The walk includes one and three-mile routes. Registration is at 1:30 p.m. with the walk at 2 p.m. All proceeds will benefit close to 900 families who receive food from the Texas County Food Pantry, Blessings in a Backpack Weekend Food Program, Licking Weekend Food Program (Love Packs), the Licking United Community Help Center and Texas County schools. Pledge envelopes may be picked up at the Texas County Food Pantry or from a member of the Houston Lions Club. Walkers can make their tax-deductible donations payable to Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). The person, organization, business or church that raises the most funds will win the Annual Stinky Shoe Award. Walkers are encouraged to bring their family and friends. To make a donation or for more information, call Bennie Cook of the Houston Lions Club at 417-260-2382. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. 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... Few people if ever have travel wear as camera-ready as Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge and her family arrived in Canada Saturday for a royal tour of British Columbia and Yukon. And like always, she did so with elegance and flare. Advertisement The royal family descend the plane for their 2016 royal visit to British Columbia and Yukon. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Kate Middleton crouches on the tarmac in Victoria. (Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage) Kate stepped off the plane wearing a long-sleeved, collared lapis dress with a pencil skirt by Jenny Packham. She paired the frock with taupe Gianvito Rossi pumps. Advertisement Kate Middleton carries her daughter, Princess Charlotte as they exit their plane in Victoria. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) She accessorized with a matching blue cocktail hat by Lock & Co, adorned with maple leaves, small stud earrings and the same jewelled maple leaf brooch worn by both herself on her last trip to Canada in 2011, and by Queen Elizabeth II. Middleton pulled her hair in a polished chignon and kept her makeup natural and subdued. The royal family arrive in Victoria for an 11-day visit to Canada. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The entire family was colour co-ordinated, with Prince William sporting a navy suit, Prince George in a light blue sweater and black shorts and Princess Charlotte wore a pale blue dress and a bow in her hair. Advertisement The royal family received a warm welcome from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau who wore a remarkably similar dress in violet. B.C. Premier Christy Clark, Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon Johnston also greeted the family on the tarmac. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, and B.C. Premier Christy Clark awaited the royal family on the tarmac (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) While royal family arrived at Victoria's airport, large crowds gathered at the British Columbia legislature for a welcome ceremony. Advertisement Brace yourselves for a week full of major closet-envy. Also on HuffPost The last time the royal couple visited Canada was 2011, right after their spectacular wedding. Now, three-year-old George and one-year-old Charlotte are tagging along with mom and dad for their trip to B.C. and Yukon. The siblings looked adorable leaving the airplane with their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Advertisement The royal family touch down at Victoria Airport. (Photo: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic) It's Prince George's second overseas trip the first being to Australia. For Princess Charlotte, it's her first. The whole family colour co-ordinated in shades of blue. George wore a collared shirt and blue sweater, black shorts and knee-high socks. Charlotte donned a pale blue patterned dress and a bow in her hair. Advertisement Prince George arrives at Victoria Airport (Photo: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic) Kate Middleton descends the plane at Victoria Airport carrying Princess Charlotte. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images) The young prince and princess will mostly be staying in Victoria, while Prince William and Catherine trek Canada's Pacific coast over the next eight days. But the young royals will accompany mom and dad on an excursion or two. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau will be on hand to show the royals around on a few of their outings as well. We're hoping that means there's still a chance the whole Trudeau clan will show up including Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien. And if we're lucky, maybe a play date for the kids will be added to the itinerary. Advertisement Fingers crossed! Also on HuffPost The style mavens of Canada and the U.K. came together in Victoria, quickly proving they have plenty in common. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau welcomed the Duchess of Cambridge and her family with open arms and a gorgeous outfit, of course, on Saturday. Advertisement The Canadian prime minister's wife nicknamed "Canada's Kate Middleton" from early on wore similar outfits as the Duchess, albeit in different colours. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau (second from left) awaits the royal family at Victoria's International Airport on Saturday. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty) Gregoire Trudeau donned a long-sleeved purple pencil dress from Montreal brandEditions de Robes, along with a matching fedora by The Saucy Milliner. She completed her ensemble with black heels by Gianvito Rossi and simple jewellery. Advertisement Meanwhile the Duchess of Cambridge wore a remarkably similar dress in blue, designed by Jenny Packham. She tied her outfit together with neutral pumps and a blue Lock & Co hat adorned with maple leaves. The royal family touch down in Victoria (Photo: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic) Clearly great minds think alike! Canada welcomes the royal family in Victoria (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty) Prince William and the Duchess arrived in British Columbia to start their tour of the west coast and Yukon. While the royal couple have a busy schedule ahead of them, their children will be staying put for the most part. Advertisement The family will be calling Victoria's Government House home for the next eight days. Also on HuffPost Prepare to be amazed, Kate Middleton fashion-watchers. The royal couple got a rainy start to the second day of their visit to Western Canada on Sunday. Despite the Vancouver rain, the duchess' outfit was the ray of light many had been looking forward to seeing. Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge exit their seaplane in Vancouver on day two of their royal visit. (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty) Kate Middleton stepped off the seaplane wearing a slightly modified, white two-tier pleated Alexander McQueen dress with red embroidery. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives in Vancouver on day two of their royal visit. (Photo: Samir Hussein/Getty) Advertisement (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Carrying a small red Miu Miu clutch, she paired her outfit with matching red heels by L.K. Bennett. For accessories, she kept things simple with a silver watch and stud earrings. Crowds of Vancouverites cheered William and Kate as they walked by, occasionally greeting some patient fans behind the barriers. Kate Middleton greets people in Vancouver. (Photo: Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Also on HuffPost Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Royal Visit To Canada 2016 See Gallery The British royal family received a warm welcome on Saturday after they disembarked their plane at Victoria International Airport. But one greeting fell flat on the tarmac. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Advertisement He greeted each family member directly, but experienced an awkward moment when he tried to high five Prince George. EPIC FAIL! When Canadian Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau ask Prince George for a high-five ? Low-five? Handshake? pic.twitter.com/X7Wv1uU0a1 Chang Hung (@ChangHung23) September 25, 2016 In the video embedded above, Trudeau kneeled down to the young prince's height and held up his hand. The three-year-old prince did not reciprocate. The prime minister went for the low five. Nope. He tried for a handshake. Nada. Evidently, Prince George is not one to be negotiated with. The royal snub did not go unnoticed. Advertisement wow prince george is cold as ice pic.twitter.com/9x0eu6FXYZ David Mack (@davidmackau) September 25, 2016 Prince George just became a spoilt fairy tale prince refusing to high-five a commoner pic.twitter.com/yL2VJNqguH Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) September 25, 2016 The prime minister shouldn't feel too badly about the royal rebuff. Earlier this year, Prince George didn't change out of his pyjamas to meet U.S. President Barack Obama. But hey, the kid is only three. Keep at it, Trudeau, he may come around. Also on HuffPost [I headed to Delhi Railway Station to meet the so-called 'terminator' train./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] By Jeong In-seo, New Delhi correspondent, AsiaToday - The Indian government has launched a specialized 'terminator train' to combat dengue and chinkungunya that are still rampant in India. Chikungunya and dengue are febrile diseases which are transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. They causes fever reaching up to 40 C. Other symptoms include sever joint pain, headache, muscle pain, and rash. Advertisement I headed to the New Delhi Railway Station, the hub of Indian train station on Saturday. While heading to the station by taxi, I heard what Indian health minister Rajendra Jain was saying on the radio. He said, "The Indian government is making efforts to prevent the spread of chikungunya and dengue. But people should still be careful." He added, "Patients should visit the hospital and take medication that are appropriate for their symptoms." The advertisement was 30 seconds long and I heard the same advertisement twice on my way to the train station. [A specialized 'terminator train' is pressed into service to spray insecticide on water bodies along the track to curb mosquito breeding./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] The train platform 1 of the New Delhi Station was full of crowds. And an exceptionally unique train stood out. The train was carrying two trucks and a team of people was moving busily. It was the 'mosquito terminator.' The 'terminator train' is launched by the Indian government to curb mosquito breeding. Spray trucks mounted on the wagon sprays insecticides to sanitize the water bodies along railway tracks. An administrator working in the terminator train said, "The train is operated for four hours a day. We fill pesticides in the truck and we sanitize the water bodies along railway tracks from Delhi to Gurugram. We have been running the train for more than ten years, but people are unaware of this. We are doing our best to catch mosquitoes." Advertisement [The mosquito terminator train is operated for four hours a day. It sanitizes the water bodies along railway tracks from Delhi to Gurugram./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] When I asked to the administrator if I could take the terminator train, he refused, saying, "The general public cannot take a ride because the pesticides are poisonous." Then the train departed immediately. I got into an auto rickshaw to move to a nearby hospital. When I asked questions about dengue and chikungunya to the driver, he was very concerned saying that it was a serious problem. Mr. Kailash, 45, said, "The son of my colleague died from dengue. It was very sad. Many people die from dengue fever every year. There should be other ways apart from sanitation." When asked about 'terminator train', he replied, "I'm doubtful of it because of its narrow range of sanitation." [Warning messages on chikungunya and dengue that are frequently seen in India./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] In fact, many local media outlets point out that the sprayers can sanitize up to a distance of 60 meters from the tracks, but they are harmful for the environment due to their toxic substances and that they cannot sanitize large areas. Advertisement [A private hospital in Vasant Kunj in Southwest Delhi. Patients of chikungunya and dengue can be seen easily in the emergency room and waiting room./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] I was able to meet a chikungunya patient in a private hospital in Vasant Kunj in southwest Delhi. Mr. Jarhir, a 30-year-old taxi driver, showed me the red dots all over his body, and said, "I left work for 15 days because of chikungunya. All of the three roommates that live with me are suffering from chikungunya. There were many dirty places and water bodies near my house and I was probably beaten by a mosquito born in one of those sites." [A warning advertisement about dengue and chikungunya by Delhi government can be seen in a typical coffee shops and stores. In the advertisement, Delhi state governor Arvind Kejriwal warns of chikungunya and dengue./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] The post-Reconstruction South ushered in Jim Crow laws, systemically designed to condemn the black community to second-class citizenship. To counter this reality, several black communities across the country developed areas known as "Black Wall Street." These were financial nerve centers of economic development spurred by black entrepreneurs who sought to meet the needs of their community that would otherwise be denied because of segregation. Arguably, the most successful of the Black Wall Streets was located in Durham. The four block hub on Parrish Street served the black community there for nearly a century. National leaders including W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington visited Durham on several occasions, seeing it as a model of successful black entrepreneurship that should be replicated in other areas. By the 1960s, much of what Black Wall Street symbolized was but a glorious memory of yesteryear. Advertisement But today, a group of young entrepreneurs -- Jesica Averhart, Talib Graves-Manns, Dee McDougal and Tobias Rose -- have formed a partnership in Durham, building on the Black Wall Street legacy to offer a groundbreaking 21st century version. With a goal of increasing the number of entrepreneurs of color, specifically in the world of technology, this 21st century version of Black Wall Street celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship within diverse, multicultural communities. Next month, they will host their second annual Black Wall Street Homecoming conference in Durham. "When you think about what made Black Wall Street so special at the turn of the century, it was problem solving," Averhart told me, adding, "You had a black community 30 years removed from slavery, trying to figure out how to survive in a country that wasn't accepting them." And the problem that today's Black Wall Street is attempting to solve is a gargantuan one. Technology, on the idea front, along with professional sports, may represent the ultimate meritocracies, where one is measured largely by one's talents and abilities. But when one examines it from the perspective of who receives funding, meritocracy quickly takes a backseat to the more traditional ways decisions are made in America. Advertisement "The beauty of technology is that it knows no color. However, the need for Black Wall Street and organizations like ours today is that the 'club' still exists," McDougal told me. "Access to capital and connection is what we really want to provide to entrepreneurs of color," she said. McDougal's analysis is supported by a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers that stated that in 2015, venture capitalists deployed $58.8 billion into various stages of technology ventures. Less than one percent went into black-owned businesses. Even more staggering is to consider the difficulty for anyone seeking funding. According to McDougal, "Venture capitalists tell us they receive between 1,000 and 2,000 proposals annually. Of that group they actually review 200, and of that 200 they may make 5-10 investments." But the funding disparity that Black Wall Street seeks to address is not a resurrection of the challenges that their antecedents faced. It is human nature in this case to fund the businesses with which one is familiar. Too often, businesses of color never get an opportunity to pitch venture capitalists, let alone reach the seed round of funding. If the groups making the funding decisions are comprised primarily of white men, it stands to reason that without an intentional effort, businesses led by people of color and women will be left out. Advertisement I also suspect if those demographics were reversed and it were black men who dominated the venture capitalists decisions, they would be more prone to invest in businesses headed by black men. The only way to grow scalable businesses, securing the proper funding, is having access to the right connections. This is the primary gap that Black Wall Street seeks to close. While the reasons behind this phenomenon are obviously not as pernicious as, say, Jim Crow segregation, the existing narrative remains problematic. But many of those in a position to finance these ventures also see it in their self-interest as a problem worth addressing. This is not some quota to satisfy a particular group, but a willingness to expand the pool of possibilities in order to invest in someone with an idea that can potentially change the current landscape. Google Fiber, the Magic Johnson Foundation, Square 1 Bank and American Underground are among the organizations underwriting the upcoming conference that will put entrepreneurs at every stage with venture capitalists and others. The conference will take place Oct. 12-14 at various venues in Downtown Durham. For more information, go to http://bwshomecoming.com/about/ Advertisement The Baltimore Police Department, with the support of two wealthy Texan philanthropists, thought they had found an innovative solution to the city's crime problem: surveillance from the air. But their flawed implementation provides lessons about the importance of transparency and citizen engagement. On 18 June 2015, the popular US public radio show, Radiolab, aired an episode about a company called Persistent Surveillance Systems and its "HawkEye" technology. Originally developed for use in the Iraq war, the company's camera array is mounted on the belly of an airplane and flown above a location for hours on end. The imagery can give analysts a bird's-eye view of an entire city and allows anyone's movements to be tracked. Ross McNutt, the founder of Persistent Surveillance Systems, had for a while been trying to convince US police forces in crime-ridden cities to use - and pay for - his technology. Radiolab told the story of HawkEye's development in war zones, as well as the backlash that occurred after the exposure of its covert use in the Los Angeles suburb of Compton. The programme also described what happened when police in Dayton, Ohio held public hearings about their proposed deployment of HawkEye. The programme was discontinued after a short nine-day trial run in Compton and never got off the ground in Dayton. Advertisement Baltimore-bound... The Radiolab episode not only raised a few eyebrows among privacy advocates but also captured the imagination of Laura and John Arnold. The two Texan philanthropists offered McNutt to pay for the system's use, provided that he could find a city willing to use it. While the two donated the money in their private capacity this time, they also run the Laura and John Arnold Foundation which is engaged in similar endeavours in criminal justice. The Baltimore Police Department got on board and began using the system in January 2016. There was only one problem: the Baltimore Police Department didn't tell anyone. The deployment of the surveillance system was not announced to citizens, and public approval was never sought. It was first disclosed by a Bloomberg Businessweek article published at the end of August, more than six months after the surveillance plane started flying over Baltimore. Even the city's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, says that she had not been briefed on the initiative before it began. The only people who decided on the total surveillance of an entire city were the Baltimore Police Department and the Arnolds. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun on 30 August, Laura Arnold said that she and her husband "trust local actors to make those decisions. We don't say you have to do it one way or another." It is unclear what led the Arnolds to believe a police department not known for holding civil liberties in high regard should be trusted blindly with a borderline totalitarian surveillance technology. The US Justice Department concluded in its recent investigation that the Baltimore Police Department had engaged in "making unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests", "using excessive force", and using enforcement strategies that discriminate against African Americans. One could be forgiven for having second thoughts about whether the Baltimore Police Department should be trusted with a surveillance system that can track anyone's movements in the city, with no oversight mechanism of any kind. Advertisement Critics pounce After the Bloomberg Businessweek article revealed the existence of the system, there was sharp criticism of the surveillance methods from civil liberties advocates, the state's public defender, and state delegates - a reaction which should have surprised none of those involved. The technology's extraordinarily controversial nature had, after all, been well documented in the very radio episode that sparked the Arnolds' interest. As the private funders and critical enablers of the initiative, the Arnolds share the moral burden here. With political and financial power come responsibility and accountability. At a an absolute minimum, the Arnolds should have made their funding contingent on the Police Department's plans being made public. Laura Arnold was also quoted in the Baltimore Sun interview as saying the debate that resulted from the disclosure was "healthy" and that they did not have "a position as to whether or not Baltimore should use" the technology. Healthy debates on such matters, however, happen ahead of time, not after the fact. When, or if at all, this debate would have happened without journalists investigating, is also at best unclear. Lessons to learn Whether this technology can effectively reduce crime is beside the point. In order to achieve lasting impact, governments need more than just effective policies. Having policies which are seen as legitimate is just as relevant. There are a great number of measures governments could deploy to achieve "results", but which societies have decided not to touch. Or, in President Obama's words, "just because we can do something, doesn't mean we should do it". From Politico to Snapchat, Telemundo to Buzzfeed News, The Wall Street Journal to Hulu, a sporting event of historic proportions will captivate American viewers Monday night. For all the frenzy around this presidential Super Bowl, one would expect unprecedented levels of voter engagement. With every corner of the new media landscape promoting Hillary v. Donald, a massive advertising campaign is underway for the grand event culminating November 8th. Surely the marketing onslaught will draw the electorate to the polls in throngs, compelling all but the most disaffected and disengaged to cast their ballot? Or not. When it comes to the business of electoral marketing, the results are surprisingly dismal. Back in 1960, 62.8% of voting-age Americans voted, whereas in the age of the internet, new media and mass cross-channel marketing, that number came down to 54.9% in 2012. Data from The Pew Research Center reveals just how poorly the political election marketing machine is doing in getting out the vote. Despite the ever-lengthening election season, billions spent on ads, and an abundance of free media enveloping the voting-eligible population, Americans lag far behind our international peers in casting ballots. Of the 35 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a list of "highly developed, democratic states", the U.S. came in...31st. Our low ranking isn't due to mandatory voting laws abroad; only 6 of the listed countries have compulsory voting. However, the majority of the nations on the list do far more to register voters, and the government takes on a larger role. In contrast, here in the U.S., the onus is on the individual, who lives within the backdrop of a surge of media messages, political spending, and state regulations encouraging--or disturbingly, discouraging--the acts of registering and voting. Advertisement A complex array of factors keeps us at such low numbers. Apathy, frustration and distrust of the political system constitute genuine obstacles to voter turnout, but the problem runs much deeper, involving significant barriers to voting in this country. Republican moves to pass stringent voter ID laws have had the effect of disenfranchising large numbers of would-be voters, particularly people of color. The Washington Post reported on a series of studies conducted at University of California, San Diego exploring the marked racial disparities in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. The researchers found instances that caused gaps between black and white voters "to almost double to 8.5 points." For Latino voters, turnout "was suppressed by 10.8 points in states with strict photo ID laws, compared to states without them. For multiracial Americans, the drop was 12.8 points." Voter purges and irregularities such as the elimination of 125,000 votes in Brooklyn, New York's Democratic primary also disproportionately affected Latino voters and eroded trust more generally in the entire electoral process. Systemic challenges prevent the type of massive voter turnout we should strive for as a democratic society, but our abysmally low rates of voter engagement are due to more than governmental failings. The level of disengagement we see each election cycle is uniquely striking considering that it exists in the midst of America's world-renowned, 24/7 media barrage. We may be galvanizing viewers to turn on the TV or livestream the reality show, but when it comes to taking action, how many will show up? Advertisement Stanford University behavioral scientists could give a few tips to anyone campaigning to motivate voting. It turns out that saturating people with election news, phone calls, and ads does not constitute effective election marketing. If the goal is to actually spur people to cast their ballots, here's what works: 1. Make a Plan. Voting comes down to logistics. Voters who are encouraged to make a specific plan and to determine exactly how and when they'll be arriving at their polling location are far more likely to go. General motivation doesn't work nearly as well. 2. Invoke Personal Accountability. Calling upon a sense of personal responsibility nearly doubled turnout in the Stanford research. Flyers asking voters if they could be contacted after the election to discuss their experience yielded far greater results than flyers that didn't hold voters accountable. 3. Ignore this article. Well, just the parts about low voter turnout. Emphasizing poor voter engagement actually serves to demotivate voters and create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Voters who are told that turnout will be high respond to the social behavior of their peers, and they do more than tune in. They turn out. Just a short time ago, the music industry debuted its latest prestigious award, and while that may at times seem like the last thing that's necessary for an already self-congratulatory business, this one has a noble purpose, and it has the potential to become something really special. The Anchor Award was born out of the Reeperbahn Festival, a blended conference and new music discovery event hosted in Hamburg, Germany. Reeperbahn, which is named for the area of town where the majority of the festivities take place, is one of the best festivals in Europe for uncovering great new talent before the rest of the world catches on, and now with the Anchor Award, there's a way to further those artists that seem ready to rise to the next level. Advertisement The Anchor Award highlighted just eight unique, talented, stand-out names from the dozens of bands that played in Hamburg over the past few days, and from that small pool, one act was declared the winner. A jury of six music industry bigwigs including legendary David Bowie producer Tony Visconti, former MTV personality Ray Cokes, SXSW Festival Manager James Minor, as well as musicians Y'akoto, Anna Ternheim, and Emiliana Torrini were tasked with picking just one winner, and while that doesn't sound like an easy job, they explained that when it came down to it, they were almost unanimous in their decision. The six acting jury members had to trek across Hamburg throughout the weekend to see all eight of the nominees in their natural setting: playing live. Because the Anchor Award is part of Reeperbahn, part of the criteria used to select a champion was not just the music they market as a finished product, but their live show as well, which is where some musicians either thrive or begin to blend in. For the first-ever Anchor Awards, Swedish musician Albin Lee Meldau came away the winner, and while his acceptance was certainly exciting, his win wasn't entirely unexpected. Of the eight chosen musicians, Meldau was clearly a frontrunner from the beginning, as his brand of brooding, melancholic pop, which is emphasized by his deep, soulful vocals, is impossible to ignore. Albin Lee Meldau might have come out on top, but all of the other seven nominees were certainly worthy of being nominated, and there was plenty of chatter amongst attendees that made it seem as though any one of the musicians up for the prize could have walked away with the simple and tastefully-designed trophy. To claim the title of the first-ever musician to be named an Anchor Award winner, Meldau had to best the likes of Conner Youngblood, Olivia Sebastianelli, Konni Kass, Woman, Parcels, Holly Macve, Shame, who all hail from various parts fo the world and who have their own distinct styles and approaches to honest, thought-provoking music. If you don't already know any of these names, give them a try--you won't regret a single second of their tunes. Advertisement While it's certainly fun to follow intensely-branded festivals like the Grammys, they aren't always the best when it comes to honoring what was really the best in music in the past year, and they really aren't meant to reward those making waves and phenomenal art that hasn't hit the mainstream just yet. The Anchor Award (it's singular, by the way) is looking to be Germany's answer to the Mercury or Polaris Prize, which is some truly excellent company to attempt to be in. A Party Lobotomized Once the venerable party of Lincoln, the Republicans split off from the Whigs in 1854 to oppose slavery, and for a century stood for fiscal restraint, free enterprise and principled conservatism. Their demise probably began with Richard Nixon's "southern strategy" of 1968 -- the deliberate pandering to white racist Democrats of the southern states -- but Barry Goldwater's nomination four years earlier had also been a harbinger of doom. Now, as Tom Friedman has pointed out, the party is an empty shell of its former self, the rusting hulk of a Rube Goldberg contraption slapped together to garner the support of Christian fundamentalists, the gun lobby, the Tea Party, global warming deniers, birthers and other right-wing conspiracy theory nuts. In hindsight, the nomination of Donald Trump seems the inevitable climax of this recent and sad history. Whether Trump wins or loses in November, the political party he hijacked is dead. Most of its traditional constituency -- thoughtful conservatives who care about solving real problems through compromise -- have been purged. They need a new political home, as do other disaffected citizens, but what form might that take? What should it be called? What big ideas should it advocate? What principles should guide it? Science as a Way of Solving Problems Advertisement I have no law degree or experience in government. I'm not a historian. My background is in science and biology, which may seem irrelevant to these questions. But science is by far the most successful method humans have devised for finding truth and solving problems. It opened our eyes to the vast size and age of our universe, doubled our lifespans and took us to the moon. Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Image credit: NASA/Neil Armstrong Could the principles at the core of the scientific method -- honesty, humility and a ruthless insistence on discarding ideas that conflict with empirical evidence -- guide a political party? And could we make better use of scientific insights from nature in the way we manage human affairs? I think so, and a party that championed this approach could win support from thinking people across the political spectrum. Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating the resurrection of the Technocracy Movement of the 1930s. I'm not even suggesting that political leaders should have degrees in science or engineering, though that might help. Instead I'm suggesting that our way of choosing social policies should, as much as possible, follow the scientific method. Science is not merely a body of knowledge about how nature works. Above all it is a method for finding truth and solving problems, one that mimics biological evolution in the way it explores the vast space of possible solutions. A lovely solution found by evolution. Image credit: Wikimedia: Elaine R. Wilson We see similar dynamics in free-market economic systems. We have not, however, seen much of it in politics, where slavish adherence to intuitively appealing ideologies generates an impoverished menu of options: cutting entitlement spending versus higher taxes on the rich; a single-payer healthcare system versus private health insurance; private school vouchers versus greater pay for teachers in public schools. In these and other problem domains, ideology has blinded us to that vast space of possible solutions. Advertisement Mathematician, poet and philosopher Jacob Bronowski made essentially the same point sixty-five years ago in The Common Sense of Science. At a time when the threat of global nuclear war darkened our collective mood, he wrote: [S]cience is the acceptance of what works and the rejection of what does not. That needs more courage than we might think. It needs more courage than we have ever found when we have faced our worldly problems. This is how society has lost touch with science: because it has hesitated to judge itself by the same impersonal code of what works and what does not. We have clung to Adam Smith and Burke, or we have agitated for Plato and Aquinas, through wars and famine, through rising and falling birth-rates, and through libraries of learned argument. And in the end, our eyes have always wandered from the birth-rate to the argument: from the birth-rate to what we have wanted to believe... Here is our ultimate hope of saving ourselves from extinction. We must learn to understand that the content of all knowledge is empirical; that its test is whether it works; and we must learn to act on that understanding in the world as well as in the laboratory. [p. 152, Harvard University Press 1967 edition] What Would Scientific Politics Look Like? If this fantasy could be realized in a new political party, it would be a striking break from the past. Like an electron in its quantum mechanical realm, this new party could not be localized with certainty to any one place on the political spectrum. That fact alone might increase its appeal in a time of unprecedented political gridlock, obstruction and frustration. Its big unifying principle would be its method of solving problems. Of course good old-fashioned political haggling, deal-making and voting would still be needed in Congress to decide which problems to tackle and, more importantly, to choose criteria by which we will judge the success or failure of alternative solutions. But having made those decisions, open-minded experimentation with multiple solutions in parallel would be the immediate goal, rather than a single solution dictated by ideology. For many problems, especially economic ones, it might be best not to specify any tentative solutions, but instead to shape economic incentives and let the free market explore the solution space. This is what Germany did to increase its use of renewable energy and decrease its contribution to global warming. Anyone could make real money -- enough to make the effort worthwhile -- by installing solar panels and selling their excess electricity to the grid. This required a subsidy paid by residential customers of the electrical utility, so the cost of electricity increased for those who didn't put up solar panels. But even those people responded to the price incentive: they found ways to use less electricity. Timber framed house with an array of photovoltaic panels in Buschhoven near Bonn, Germany. Image credit: Wikimedia: Turelio A similar approach could help with the coming crisis in Medicare solvency. Medicare might survive if wasteful and unnecessary procedures could be reduced, and this might happen naturally if patients and healthcare providers had the right incentives. Suppose, for example, that there were some formula for limiting the total Medicare benefits that each person could receive over his or her life. Both patients and doctors would have an incentive to use that limited resource wisely, but only if the system had complete price transparency. The cost of every medical procedure, device and drug would need to be known up front by all concerned, and patients would need to have the freedom to do comparative shopping. In such a system, real costs could be weighed along with medical risks and benefits -- something that is impossible in our current healthcare system. But what formula should be used for limiting benefits? Should exceptions be allowed for certain medical conditions? Should the limit be age-dependent, such that people above a specified age lose coverage for heroic and expensive life-saving procedures? How should the formula be related to the balance in the Medicare trust fund? These are difficult questions, but experimentation is the way to answer them, and it would help to have a political party that embraces this empirical and exploratory approach. Lessons From Nature Advertisement And when that party sets its political priorities, it should also embrace our scientific understanding of reality. The acknowledgement of and response to global warming is an obvious example, but there are less obvious and more important lessons we can take from nature. One is the observation that organisms normally live in dynamic equilibrium with their environment. "Equilibrium, not Growth" may not be a catchy slogan for a bumper sticker, but it is the hallmark of an enduring species, and we ignore it at our peril. We have increased Earth's carrying capacity for humans by decreasing it for other species, a shortsighted strategy that leads to mass extinction. We are currently on track for a global population of about 11 billion humans on Earth by the end of this century, a number that is unsustainable if these billions are to have even a modestly comfortable standard of living. Stabilizing our numbers and preserving biodiversity should be high priorities for a party that takes its lessons from nature. What should this party be called? Tom Friedman suggested "New Republican Party," but that suggests too small a departure from the party of Trump, or even of Lincoln. Of course "Scientific Party" comes to mind, but this sounds too much like familiar and dubious attempts to imbue wholly undeserving movements with the credibility of science, merely by tacking on the label -- Mary Baker Eddy's "Christian Science," for example, or L. Ron Hubbard's "Scientology." But since this is my fantasy, I'll offer my current favorite choice for a name: the "Pragmatic Party." It has a nice ring to it and seems to express the essence of the idea. Prospects for a Pragmatic Party Whether this fantasy will ever be realized remains to be seen. I admit it seems far-fetched in a country where about 40 percent of adults believe in young-earth creationism. Yet there is hope in our younger generation, who are far more accepting of scientific reality. Ironically the Trump phenomenon offers some hope, too. Only a broken primary system could allow someone like Donald Trump to get this close to the presidency. Many people, conservatives among them, feel a strong and urgent need to fix this. A good Pragmatist would respond with a list of possible fixes. If the primary electorate is unrepresentative of the general electorate, then we need to make primaries look more like the general election. There are many possibilities. One of my favorites would be to eliminate primaries altogether by using ranked-choice voting. You may have even better ideas. Let's experiment! John C. Wathey is a computational biologist whose research interests include protein folding, evolutionary algorithms, and the biological forces behind religion. Learn more at www.watheyresearch.com. U.S. Marines with Task Force Spartan, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), on Fire Base Bell, Iraq, fire an M777A2 Howitzer. Photo by : U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Andre Dakis, Courtesy Dept. of Defense The battle for Mosul is pending. It is likely to start later than its October deadline, however, take longer to fight than anticipated, and will likely result in the destruction of much of the city. Even if the campaign is ultimately successful, it will not bring an end to the violence that has plagued Iraq; it will simply open a new chapter in the continuing sectarian violence and political instability that plagues it. Moreover, regardless of its outcome, it will prove to be a far-reaching human tragedy for hundreds of thousands of its inhabitants. Baghdad does not have the billions that will be required for its reconstruction nor is it prepared to deal with the onslaught of refugees that the fighting will create. Advertisement The campaign itself will be hard fought against a tenacious enemy that will unleash even more new battlefield horrors and will be hampered by political divisions and sectarian conflicts and by the absence of a unified command structure. In his address to the UN on September 20, 2016, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that the campaign to liberate Mosul would begin in a few weeks and predicted victory by year's end. Earlier, General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had also confirmed an imminent campaign. In Washington, it is common knowledge that the Obama administration is pushing to have Mosul liberated before President Barack Obama steps down on January 20, 2017. It's impossible to predict how effective Iraqi forces will be or how tenacious they will find the Islamic State (IS) resistance; much less the date of Mosul's liberation. There are a number of factors, however, that suggest that the campaign will drag out over many months, that it will be far bloodier than previous campaigns and that it is unlikely that Mosul will be liberated before next spring. First, there is no central command authority. There are four armies descending on Mosul: the Iraqi Army, the Hashd al-Shaabi Shiite Militia, Sunni Militias, and the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces. All four of these groups are controlled by their own commanders and operate independently of each other. In some cases, the groups have multiple, disparate commanders with seperate agendaas. Advertisement The U.S. and its coalition partners are providing air and artillery support, and training and logistical services, and have deployed advisors at the brigade level to work with Iraqi troops. The US has also deployed special forces units and provided advisors to Kurdish Peshmerga units. American and coalition forces report to and are coordinated by the U.S. Central Command. In addition, Turkey has sent a battalion-sized force into Bashiqa in northern Iraq, ostensibly to train Sunni militias. Recently, Ankara has expanded that force. It's unclear what role, if any, Turkish forces might seek to play in the liberation of Mosul. Iran has many officers and "volunteers" drawn from Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRG) within the Shiite militias. It also has approximately 5,000 troops along with tank divisions, helicopter gunships and mobile missile batteries along the border with Kurdistan. What role Iranian forces might seek to play is also unknown. Soldier with Hashd al-Shaabi Shia Militia Coordinating such a disparate force, especially when so many of them are mutually antagonistic, will prove difficult and is bound to hinder the campaign. Indeed, there have already been repeated clashes between Shiite militias and Sunni and Peshmerga units. In addition, there have also been military clashes between IRG and Peshmerga forces. Secondly, Islamic State (IS) has had more than two years to prepare for the campaign. Judging by its determined resistance in the campaigns to liberate Tikrit, Ramadi and Fallujah, IS can be expected to mount a tenacious, scorched earth resistance that will see protracted urban fighting. In Mosul, it appears that Islamic State has taken additional steps to slow down the Iraqi advance. Advertisement Mosul has been ringed with oil tanks ready to be set afire if Iraqi troops penetrate the city limits. In addition, when IS militants retreated from the Qayyarah air base they set local oil fields afire. Given the importance of smuggled oil for IS's finances, their willingness to torch oil fields suggests that IS understands they are approaching the end game and that once dislodged from the area they are unlikely to regain control anytime soon. Expect more oil fields to be torched once the fighting begins. There have been persistent reports that Islamic State militants have been digging tunnels in Mosul to allow them to stage attacks in the rear of advancing Iraqi troops. This was a practice also evidenced in the Tikrit, Ramadi and Fallujah campaigns. It's likely it will prove true in Mosul as well. Equally troubling, has been IS's use of chemical weapons. Pentagon fears that IS was manufacturing mustard gas, a highly toxic WWI era nerve gas, was confirmed when Sleiman Daoud-al Afari, IS's head of chemical weapons development, was captured. To date, IS has used primarily chlorine gas as a chemical weapon. Chlorine gas is relatively easy to acquire. Liquid chlorine gas is used to disinfect water supplies and is a common item at municipal waterworks. When deployed as a chemical weapon it is deadly but has the disadvantage of dispersing rather quickly, as WWI combatants found out. Video of US airstrike against chemical weapons facility in Mosul, September 12, 2016. Video footage courtesy Dept. of Defense. Advertisement Mustard gas, on the other hand, is highly toxic, tends to hug the ground, and remains persistent in the environment. IS militants have fired artillery shells containing mustard gas at opponents. Most recently, in mid-September against the Marine artillery base at Kara Soar (Fire Base Bell). In an urban setting, in large quantities, it could also be used to create area denial zones that would slow down advancing troops or force them into prepared kill zones. The release of mustard gas in the rear of advancing Iraqi troops could also prove to be highly disruptive. Widespread use of mustard gas would also make post liberation clean up highly dangerous and could result in significant civilian casualties. Pentagon estimates put the strength of IS fighters in Mosul at around five thousand militants. Iraqi government sources place the strength at around 30 thousand. The likely number is probably in the middle. Regardless of the number, it is going to be a larger force that Iraqi troops have previously dealt with. Coupled with a civilian population of between one and two million people, and an opponent determined to die fighting, the liberation of Mosul is going to be the bloodiest, most bitterly fought urban campaign since Stalingrad. UN sources estimate that upwards of one million people in Mosul will be displaced by the fighting and that it will take months, if not longer, before the city would be safe enough for them to return. Judging from the Anbar campaigns, large areas of Mosul will likely be rendered uninhabitable by the fighting. Advertisement UNHCR officials in Mosul believe that neither they nor the Kurdish and Iraqi governments have the ability to handle this scale of refugees. Baghdad's proposal to bus 250,000 Mosul refugees to abandoned buildings in Tikrit was denounced by Sunni leaders as hopelessly inadequate and as little more than a thinly veiled attempt at the ethnic cleansing of Sunnis from Mosul. At the moment, Iraqi forces have been advancing up the Tigris Valley from the south, while other Iraqi troops have been advancing from the east in an attempt to secure the Tigris Valley to their rear and flank before they advance on Mosul. Peshmerga unit in Northern Iraq. Photo courtesy Dept of Defense. On September 22, Iraqi troops took the town of al-Shirqat, about thirty-five miles north of Baiji and due west of Kirkuk. Al -Shirqat is about 25 miles south of the town of al-Qayyarah. This section of the Tigris Valley is the last remaining portion, outside of Mosul, still controlled by Islamic State. Closing this last gap would completely isolate IS militants in Hawija and the surrounding region and make it harder for any Islamic State fighters to escape from Mosul down the Tigris Valley. Along with Tal Afar, Hawija is one of the last two remaining IS controlled towns in Iraq besides Mosul. Ironically, al-Shirqat is where the last battle between British and Ottoman troops was fought in the Mesopotamian Theater. Had British troops stopped there in accordance with the provisions of the Armistice of Mudros, this would have been the northern border of Iraq. Advertisement Clearing this last stretch of the Tigris Valley would also secure the rear area of the al-Qayyarah military base. That base, only 40 odd miles south of Mosul, is expected to serve as a key logistical center and a forward air base for American and coalition planes providing ground support. The base was heavily damaged, however, and it is unclear how quickly it will be operational. It's entirely possible that the advance on Mosul will begin before the rest of the Tigris Valley is secured. Given Islamic State's history of trying to deflect attacks by striking elsewhere, however, securing the rest of the Tigris Valley and further strengthening their hold on Highway 1 to Mosul would be prudent, even if that means the advance on Mosul is deferred into late October or November. Moreover, even stripped of its territorial holdings, Islamic State will remain a formidable opponent. IS has already been largely ejected from the major urban centers in Anbar province. As expected, however, it has simply returned to its "insurgency mode," launching a string of attacks and bombings against Iraqi government targets and Iraqi Shiites. It is likely that Mosul and the rest of Nineveh province can expect the same. Sorting out post liberation Mosul will likely prove to be equally complex. Mosul, and much of the region of Iraqi Kurdistan, was never part of the historic region of Mesopotamia on which modern day Iraq is based. Officially, the fighting in the Mid-East theater during WW I, including the Mesopotamian campaign, ended when the Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros with the Allied powers effective October 31, 1918. Advertisement Arbat refugees transit camp in Iraqi Kurdistan The British Commander Sir William Raines Marshall, was instructed by the War Office in London, however, to make "every effort...to score as heavily on the Tigris before the whistle blew." The armistice specified that all sides were to hold their positions as of October 31, but Marshall ordered General Alexander Cobbe to continue to advance on oil rich Mosul. Despite Turkish protests, Cobbe continued to advance unopposed for an additional two weeks, covering 80 miles, until he had secured Mosul and its oil fields. Were it not for that advance, in violation of the Armistice of Mudros, northern Iraq, including most of Nineveh Province and Iraqi Kurdistan, would have remained part of the Turkish state that emerged from the detritus of the Ottoman Empire. Historically, Mosul was a Kurdish city. During the 1980s, Saddam Hussein's government resettled large numbers of Sunnis in Mosul in order to reduce its predominantly Kurdish population. The disposition of Mosul and its surrounding oil fields is likely to become a contentious issue between Erbil and Baghdad. Remember this? During the January 2008 Republican presidential debate in Boca Raton, MSNBC moderator Tim Russert asked Mitt Romney, "Will you do for Social Security what Ronald Reagan did in 1983?" A disembodied whisper of, "He raised taxes," followed. Romney appeared to take note before answering Russert, "I'm not going to raise taxes." Here's the video: In another segment of the same debate, the voice seemed to cue Romney to use the word support. After reviewing the video, MSNBC surmised that a microphone had simply picked up the whispers of an audience member. Which fueled speculation that the audience member was a Romney helper speaking into a covert ultrasound-based communicator. Advertisement Holosonics of Watertown, Massachusetts, manufactures a system called the Audio Spotlight that converts ultrasound to audible sound via a narrow targeted beam heard only by its recipient, who doesn't need to wear a receiver. The transmitter can be as small as a cell phone. The catch is the helper needs the recipient in his line of sight. If the narrow beam of ultrasound grazes a microphone en route to a debater, the helper's whispers would be amplified for the world to hear. To guard against such helpers, the Commission on Presidential Debates employs an individual known as Frequency Coordinator armed with a spectrum analyzer to detect radio communication. The spectrum analyzer wouldn't detect an Audio Spotlight. According to Joseph Pompei, founder and president of Holosonics, "The Audio Spotlight system uses only ultrasound, which is just a special kind of sound wave, so there is no specific radio frequency signature for a spectrum analyzer to see." Another means of debate subterfuge is covert wireless radio. In the 1970s, the CIA created such a communications device, the SRR-100, for its operations officers in Moscow. The receiver was strapped under the officer's arm or onto his back, sprouting a wire that looped around his neck and was hidden by his collar. A second wire was encased in a Q-Tip-head-size earpiece placed in his actual ear, which in turn was entirely concealed by a silicone cast of the ear. Today spread-spectrum encrypted technology has been added to the audio -- against it, the spectrum analyzer is essentially defenseless. And the receiver and earpiece have been miniaturized into a single earpiece so small that an inspector would need an otoscope to detect its presence in a debater's ear. Otoscopes are not used at the debates. Nor are the debaters inspected. Both George W. Bush and Hillary Clinton have been accused of wearing such systems, although without conclusive evidence. Advertisement The campaigns sign off on a Commission on Presidential Debates' memorandum that constitutes a set of rules. The 2012 rules included: "No props, notes, charts, diagrams or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by any candidate, including portable electronic devices, and prior to the beginning of the debate, the Commission will verify as appropriate that the candidates have complied..." Other than using the spectrum analyzer, how did the Commission enforce the rules in 2012? As Commission on Presidential Debates executive director Janet Brown put it, "You have to assume that a code of honor is being followed." Were a candidate to, hypothetically, deviate from the code of honor, infrared light beam communicators would also do the trick. Prior to the 2008 vice-presidential debates, there were unfounded rumors that Sarah Palin would employ the "Voice of God," a system costing hundreds of thousands of dollars that transmitted messages to terrorists so it seemed they were hearing from Allah himself. Today there's an infrared communicator that debaters can get online for $28.99, not including shipping. Finally, no look at debate-cheating tech would be complete without the old Get-a-Look-at-the-Test-Ahead-of-Time method. Moderators' questions aren't exactly kept under armed guard. In fact, there are almost no countermeasures beyond the networks' standard security--email passwords, night watchmen and so forth. The biggest challenge for every entrepreneur and every startup today is to get noticed and remembered in today's information overload. The number of entrepreneurs worldwide is huge, starting an estimated 50 million new businesses in the past year, or 137,000 per day. Every one of these probably has a unique story, but in my years as a startup advisor I only remember hearing a few who capitalized on their story. The impact of a memorable story was highlighted for me recently as I completed a new book, "Sell With A Story," by Paul Smith, who is an expert trainer on increasing business results through storytelling. His focus is primarily on improving the results for traditional sales professionals, but I'm convinced that the same principles are equally critical for entrepreneurs selling their startup to investors, strategic partners, and customers. I say that because I've heard too many abstract pitches about the next paradigm-shifting technology, which I can't relate to, and only a couple with stories that really grabbed me. The best story I remember related the family impact of devastation wrought by Alzheimer's disease, leading to the development of a mitigation process, and I am now fully committed to this effort. Advertisement I learned from Smith that a memorable story doesn't have to hit you personally, but it does have to include six key attributes to raise it above the standard sales pitch, or new venture problem statement, opportunity sizing, and value proposition. These attributes include the following: Specific moment-in-time indication. Most entrepreneurs were incented to start their venture at a specific moment they remember well, so telling the story of when and how this happened is a natural. The result will always have more impact than merely outlining a new technology, cutting costs, or tackling a known problem, such as world hunger. Place where it happened. A memorable story needs to start with location specifics to make it real. Stories relay events, and these events have to happen somewhere. The words can be simple, like "I was meeting with a customer in Boston," or "When my home was devastated by a tornado." It's even acceptable to make up a place with a "what if." Every story needs a main character. This should be obvious, but much of what passes for "a story" these days are things like elevator pitches or product descriptions that have no characters at all. In the context of new venture stories, the character would most likely be the entrepreneur, a potential customer, an investor, or all of the above. Advertisement The obstacle or the painful need. This is the villain in the story, which should be the problem you are solving. If could be a disease you are designing medicine to combat, missing data that your solution provides, or a safety risk in a common process. The explanation of your solution, financial return, and the rollout comes later. A worthy goal. The main character in a story must have a specific goal, ideally one that is appreciated or even noble in the eyes of the listener. These days, it's not cool to have a primary goal of making lots of money, but it is smart to include evidence that the new venture is sustainable as a business, and will provide a satisfying return to constituents. Something has to happen. Statements about your product's amazing capabilities or your service commitment, or testimonials about how awesome your company is, are generally not stories because they don't relay events. They are just someone's opinion about impact which still belong in marketing collateral, but won't make you memorable. If possible, every entrepreneur should craft a unique story, or tune their story, for different audiences, such as investors and customers, to convey your values and your commitment in their specific context. Add emotion, surprise, dialogue, detail, data, and other elements to make your story fresh and effective. Always close stories with succinct lessons and recommended actions. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves as she boards her campaign plane at the Westchester County airport in White Plains, New York, U.S., September 21, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Early voting has started in a number of states and we're getting the first hard data on actual voters. So, it is time to start digging into the data to get a sense of where the 2016 presidential election stands. There are three huge grains of salt to throw on top of the small tea leaves I'm about to read. First, only a small slice of the electorate has requested a ballot or voted one. There are two types of early voters: those who find themselves in a situation where they must vote an absentee ballot, like our military stationed abroad, and those who choose to vote early. For the latter, only the most hardcore political junkies vote the earliest because they follow politics closely, know where the candidates stand, and are comfortable with casting a ballot. Early voting is just a dribble now, with 9,525 people who have voted (in the reporting states and localities). Over 100 million people will vote, and the pace of early voting will naturally increase as we approach Election Day when more people finalize their choices. Advertisement Second, voters' behaviors are affected by the early voting options offered by election officials, which can change from election to election. These are just some of the changes. Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Jersey will offer expanded early voting options for the first time in a presidential election. Colorado has moved to all-mail ballot elections, with in-person voting centers where eligible people can register and vote any time during the voting period. In 2012, Florida adopted semi-permanent absentee ballot status where mail ballot voters can request to vote-by-mail in the next election when they mail in their ballot, and we saw an increase of mail balloting in 2014. Ohio will send out absentee ballot requests to all registered voters who cast a vote in the 2012 or 2014 general elections. Iowa started their mail balloting slightly later than 2012 due to slower printing of ballots. Third, the campaigns can change their mobilization strategies. Republicans have traditionally not placed much emphasis on early voting, or voter mobilization in general. This is not a deficiency, but a recognition that the Republican coalition is composed primarily of older, wealthier, and better educated people who have established ties to their communities and thus more often fit the profile of a likely voter. It is the Democratic coalition that is primarily composed of younger, poorer, and less educated people who more frequently move that more often need voter mobilization. These folks are also more often found in urban areas, which are thus fertile ground for campaign offices to base Democratic mobilization efforts. There is an interesting twist in this election, in that lower-education rural Whites have shifted their allegiances more towards the Republican Party. How the Republican Party will effectively mobilize this hard-to-reach constituency remains to be seen. And while the Democrats need greater voter mobilization effort, the Republicans have taken notice of Democrats' organization, and began beefing up their early voter mobilization in key 2014 Senate elections. Advertisement Now on to reading the tea leaves! We do not know who early voters have voted for. By law, election officials cannot begin to count ballots until Election Day. Still, there are some clues in the party registration (if a state has party registration) and demographics of early voters. Early voting statistics can be a bit of a Rorschach Test that entices partisans to see victory for their favored candidate. I see early voting statistics to be another piece of the puzzle to fit in with polling numbers that gives us a clearer picture of where the election stands. Since it is still very early, I will focus on the ballots that voters have requested, rather than the ballots that have been returned. North Carolina The best early voting statistics are available for North Carolina, which has been voting since September 9th. Requests for absentee ballots by registered Democrats and Unaffiliated registered voters are running ahead of 2012, for the same number of days prior to the election. Requests by registered Republicans is down. Given that Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by two percentage points, the early voting statistics appear to confirm polling averages which show a narrow lead for Hillary Clinton. Maine Maine splits its Electoral College votes, awarding one delegate to the winner of each congressional districts and two to the overall winning. Statewide, the party registration composition of absentee ballot requests appears similar to 2012, with a slightly lower pace among unaffiated voters. Digging down within congressional districts reveals an interesting pattern that supports polling indicating Maine could split its Electoral College votes for the first time. The number of requests in the First Congressional District looks similar to 2012, again with a slightly lower pace among unaffiliated. In the Second Congressional District requests are down across the board, with the steepest decline among registered Democrats. Another feature worthy of note is that the total number of requests in the Second Congressional District are running lower than the First, which is why Maine as a whole may still tilt towards Clinton. Iowa Polling in Iowa indicates Donald Trump has a narrow lead over Clinton, and the early voting statistics may back this up. I'm a little more cautious here because Iowa got off to a slower start than 2012 in printing its absentee ballots and it could be that the parties delayed their absentee ballot drives. As evidence of campaign effects, it is instructive to compare registered Republicans' absentee ballot requests to 2014 (the 2014 same-day comparison is off by two days since the Iowa Secretary of State did not begin reporting until Sept. 21, 2014), when the party initiated more a robust absentee ballot drive campaign than in 2012. Democratic absentee ballot requests are down from 2012 by about a half, while Republican requests are down from 2014 by about a third. Again, this could be a campaign effect, but the numbers are consistent with Maine's Second Congressional District, showing Trump doing better where Democrats are less engaged. Other States There are other states that are reporting early voting statistics, such as Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia. However, there is incomplete reporting in these states or there is no reliable 2012 comparison. I'll continue monitoring these states and report observations as warranted. Advertisement What Did We Learn This Week? The Iowa, Maine, and North Carolina early voting statistics appear to confirm the polling averages, showing a Trump with a slight lead in Iowa, Maine splitting its Electoral College votes in the First and Second Congressional Districts, and Clinton running slightly ahead in North Carolina. Again, I can't say this enough: these are the earliest early voters and this is a weak signal that will get stronger as Election Day approaches as the trickle of early voters becomes a flood. Also of interest is that Clinton does better where voters appear to be more engaged, as measured by absentee ballot requests, and Trump does better where interest is running lower. This has important implications for polling, as Clinton does better among the universe of registered voters and less so among likely voters. A secret sauce of many pollsters is their likely voter models, and their modeling choices can be as large as simple statistical sampling error. Since voter turnout target turnouts are a component for many polling models, it is important for pollsters to reveal predicted turnout rates and what they think the electorate will look like. The varying levels of engagement across states and regions strikes me as different from past elections. Usually, we are all in the same boat when it comes to interest and participation in the election. When the turnout tide rises, it generally rises across all states. This election may be different in that the boat is being rocked by a wave, whereby turnout will be higher than normal or lower than normal in some places. If this is true, state and national polls may be correlated in different ways than in the past. This in turn could affect the more sophisticated poll aggregators' models which incorporate national and state correlation estimates. Pretty good shape for 90 - must be those G&Ts Last week we celebrated my father-in-law's 90th birthday. There was a time when even getting to 90 was a major achievement, and if someone were lucky enough to make it to 90, they were generally frail, wheelchair bound and barely aware of the celebration going on around them. I remember when my great grandmother hit 90. She was in a nursing home, bent over, in a wheelchair. She barely knew where she was, or who she was. That was some time ago. For my father-in-law, Ken Pattenden, nothing could be further from the truth. The man still stands a lean and wiry six foot plus (as I am only 5'6", I find this alone intimidating), has a full head of hair, a crushing handshake, an athlete's build and more than all his marbles. I suppose it's a tribute to genetics and clean living. Advertisement In any event, to celebrate the event, we all gathered in one of those massive old English country houses (did I mention that he lives in the UK?), and gathered the family for a weekend long party. Ken was born in 1926, (you don't have to be a math major to have figured that one out), one year before Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly across the Atlantic. Lindbergh's flight took 33 hours in a tiny, one-seater, single engine plane made of wood and cloth, lacking even a front window. It was hailed as the 'wonder of the world'. Our trans-Atlantic flight took about 6 hours. We slept most of the way in the reclining beds and we watched a movie. They also served us two meals. Lindbergh brought along some sandwiches. The world has changed a lot since 1927, when Lindbergh made his historic flight. Sometimes, we lose sight of that. Advertisement This remarkable transformation, all of it, took place within my father-in-law's lifetime. At dinner, I asked Ken about his experiences in the Second World War. He served in the British navy, assigned to Alexandria, in Egypt. At that time, Britain was still the British Empire and Britain ruled one-quarter of the world's surface and also ruled one-quarter of the world's population. Today, they are down to a few islands, and maybe Scotland, if they stay lucky. But, prior to the war and signing up with the Navy, Ken had grown up and lived in London. This was during the Blitz, the German bombing of the city, and he recounted that as well - walking past houses that had been simply blown to oblivion overnight, and never knowing when or if you were going to get hit. As we chatted, his wife of 60 plus years, Anne, who was sitting next to him also joined in. She recalled that as a child in a small English village, they had no running water. Her mother had to go to the well in the center of the village and fill jugs each day. They had no central heating - all of the heat, and the cooking, was provided by an open fire. They had no indoor plumbing, but rather an outhouse behind the house. And no electricity, at least in the earliest days. They had no refrigerator, but instead an ice box that would, when it was available, be stocked with a block of ice to keep food cool. She remembered the first car in the village, the first phone. She went on to become a head teacher. Ken became an accountant. The transitions in the course of their lives, from the time they were born until the present is, well, mind-boggling. The changes they have seen and personally experienced represent a transformation so massive that, frankly, personal computers and iPhones (he is quite good with his), which we think of as major are, in fact, minor events. Advertisement When Ken and Anne were born, the world was, in many ways, far closer to what it had been for more than 500 years in the past, maybe a thousand. Most transport was done by animal power or walking. Agriculture was largely driven by animal power as well. Modern medicine was virtually unknown. You could die of a simple infection. Penicillin only came into public use in 1942! Last year Ken had laser cataract surgery and a few years before, an artificial replacement knee. Automobiles, airplanes, telephones, refrigeration, running water, central heating, electricity, modern medicine, television, radio - the changes that their one lifetime has encompassed was probably the greatest transformation that any generation has ever seen, or for that matter, is ever likely to see. We like to complain that 'things are bad'. This is particularly true in this election cycle. Things are terrible. Things have never been worse. What we are lacking is a sense of history. There was a bumper sticker that was prevalent about a decade ago in Christian circles. It read, "God is not a democrat or republican." Despite its reductionist ethic, it communicated a unity amongst diversity that we seem to have lost. Read most online social platforms and your screen will be flooded with partisan claims conforming God into the image of our political affiliation. The polarized political rhetoric has also led to another message: we are in dire times and unless we vote for a specific candidate, our world is doomed. Naturally, that candidate is the one we agree with. For a while, I thought this message was new to the current American climate which seems increasingly fractured between right and left. Yet in readings of two of my favorite Christian thinkers, Soren Kierkegaard and Thomas Merton, I've come to realize that every time experiences dread and faces the same feeling of hopelessness that we do in our current context. With the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump looming, and with a mass influx of amateur political commentary about to flood our screens, I offer a different perspective brought to you by thinkers from our past who provide keen insight for our current dilemma. It is one I find to be corrective to the damaging, dividing route I see occurring in America. This article is admittedly a bit more academic that most other articles I publish here on Huffington Post. Yet I rely on the words of giants whose words not only provided wisdom for their contemporaries, but for us long after their passing. Advertisement From the personal notebooks of Father Thomas Merton, a 20th Century monk, we learn that his world faced the same contentious division that we likewise face half a century later. Merton is known for his directness, and his political commentary is certainly not without exception. He indicts all people of the same sin, "The basic falsehood is the lie that we are totally dedicated to truth, and that we can remain dedicated to truth in a manner that is at the same time honest and exclusive: that we have the monopoly of all truth, just as our adversary of the moment has the monopoly of all error." The cause of the fracturing of our community is the very thing that should unite us: truth. Instead of recognizing that each person has a subjective interpretation of what truth might be, we tend to confuse our interpretation with what we convince ourselves is objective, unbiased truth. When we do this, our ability to listen and learn from those with whom we disagree disintegrates. As a result, we fight and convince ourselves that those with whom we disagree is full of ignorance, and holds views that we consider dangerous. Regardless of which candidate is triumphant in the 2016 presidential election, I fear that our society has become too accustomed to the idea that the person to whom we disagree is the enemy. I've been asking myself a lot over the past few months the question are we too far gone? Have we become comfortable with an enemy mentality? Can we recover our communities and reunite in peace? Advertisement Can conversation become a spiritual practice? These questions are similar to those asked by thinkers in the past. Merton offers a workable solution, albeit one which requires significant effort on the part of many. Merton states that we must recognize that each of us is a contemporary pharisee. Merton defines this as "a righteous man whose righteousness is nourished by the blood of sinners." The pharisaical action in which no person is excluded is that "in order to be right, it must be sufficient to prove somebody else is wrong." This is the sin of humanity, past and present. In our exclamatory endeavor to "pursue truth" Merton rightly calls our true motivation "to be in the right." He further writes, " What we seek is not the pure truth, but the partial truth that justifies our prejudices, our limitations, our selfishness." This mentality not only furthers the divide that exists in our communities, but it is the cause of viewing the "other" as enemy. This pattern is cyclical, and exists on both sides of the political spectrum. Merton writes, "No wonder we hate. No wonder we are violent. And no wonder we exhaust ourselves in preparing for war! And in doing so, of course, we offer the enemy another reason to believe he is right, that he must arm, that he must get ready to destroy us." The suggestion to move beyond this enemy mentality does not mean that the discussion of what is good for our communities must cease. To the contrary, we must continue to pursue this good. I have and will continue to participate in the effort to make sure Donald Trump is not elected into one of the highest offices in the world. I do this not only because I disagree with him, but because I view him as a grave threat to freedom, and that, as a Christian, he stands in opposition to the many virtues held by the Christ. With that said, I do not believe Trump or Hillary Clinton hold the ability to bring our communities back together. That power rests only in us, the people. The method to reunite is love. The cynicism that permeates in our world will likely cast this suggestion aside as too soft or unrealistic. Yet that same cynicism has likewise led to the current state we find ourselves in. We must move past this. Love possesses a power to unite and forgive that cannot be matched. Merton writes, " Love, only love, love of our deluded fellow man as he actually is, in his delusion and in his sin: this can open the door to truth." Advertisement It is in love for each other that we find hope. This love is not easy. It is the greatest task facing each individual. It is easy to love those we agree with. It is burden we must all carry to love those we find ourselves in opposition. Yet love binds and allows room for forgiveness - a forgiveness that we all so desperately need. Love triumphs over principle. Moral principle, in even its most earnest form, heeds separation. In an essay criticizing the mass media of his day, 19th Century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, writes that " 'On principle' a man can do anything, take part in anything and himself remain inhuman." Kierkegaard rightly understands that our ethical convictions can deceive us into thinking we are always pursuing good, when in fact that pursuit leaves us and our communities in ruins. Love protects us from this result, and love demands proximity to those we find disagreeable. London Financial District. Off the record interview with international billion-dollar business CEO who expresses the real fear about the Trump movement in the USA. This friendly chat was a lively pre-debate exercise. The global billionaire concern is that the same successful "workers-populist" movement of Brexit is moving across the Atlantic to America with growing Trump supporters. The CEO financier informs that the past decade in America has been extremely friendly to international business by helping move jobs offshore, especially the latest U.S. Presidential Executive Order to raise the minimum exempt salary to $48k per year. This is a windfall gain for the international uber-rich elite, the ardent CEO maintains. It allows even more mid-management American jobs to be offshored to overseas offices giving publicly traded international companies a huge advantage over domestic American-based competition. International businesses that can offshore mid-management jobs to countries without minimum salary requirements gives multi-billion dollar companies a strong advantage over small and mid-size American companies that don't have the ability to offshore their mid-management jobs. The successful CEO advises that the fear by the global billionaires is a Trump presidency because it changes policies back to protecting American jobs. Like a lot of banking colleagues, this prudent CEO shares that global company peers are following suit by investing millions into the Clinton campaign to ensure more flexibility to operate big businesses offshore with U.S. labor law support. Advertisement This is an interesting perspective to consider when discussing the economic future of American small and medium-sized companies and the middle-class jobs they create in America. Currently 7 out of 10 jobs are created by the small and mid-size American based companies. This new $48k legal roadblock undermines the middle-class and joins other Democratic Party policies that only help the progressive uber-rich elites. It's not surprising that nearly 100% of Wall Street bankers have been donating to the Clinton campaign and foundation. Trump is not the global elite advocate. In spite of the fact that the U.S.A. is amongst the highest income and corporate tax nations, the Democratic Party stubbornly continues to push for higher income tax harming American workers and the middle-class, giving an unfair advantage to publicly traded multi-billion dollar international companies that move American jobs, revenues and profits overseas. Illustrating the current Democratic Party is actually the Party of Global Billionaire Elites not the "working class." Trump supporters are Americans that passionately believe it is time to take back the power from the billionaire ruling elites that mask themselves in the DP as the party of workers. Ironically, it will take a billionaire who will not be influenced by special interest to unseat the "illuminati-like" power of the global elite. The most exciting factor to consider is the real possibility of changing the plight of America's inner-city minority families. They are all in the DP prison. This institutional reality is the deep-rooted cause of civil unrest across America. The progressive global elite strategy is to keep the American middle-class worker down. The Democratic Party has become the protector of the limousine liberal, the Trustfarians (Trust-fund babies) and Wall Street financiers by keeping dividend taxes low in favor of the highest level of income and corporate tax designed to continue to push jobs and companies overseas and kill small and medium-size businesses. Publicly traded international businesses have an unfair advantage over American small and medium companies of being able to hire workers at lower wages and move profits overseas. Advertisement There needs to be a challenge by the media and by workers and small, medium size businesses to the Democratic Party that purports to care about the middle-class. The "Middle-Class Million Dollar Asset Quest" to be debated is: "By doubling the minimum salary wage for mid-management workers overnight, will it actually create a net benefit to workers or force companies to cut jobs while benefiting billionaire international firms that can afford to offshore jobs and avoid paying U.S. taxes?" Look at the company names in the Channel or Cayman Islands for a glimpse of the "progressive pirates." The result of stolen booty from the middle-class is already underway, American companies are being forced to cut mid-management jobs. By way of example, my CEO interviewee informs that the new $48k minimum requirement for mid-management caused 20% of their American jobs to be eliminated or converted to a reduced hourly wage without a prospect for future growth for the mid-management workers. They plan to hire all new mid-management jobs in Asia and countries in Europe. Especially with the stronger dollar, mid-management salary jobs are cheaper in Asia, Europe and the UK. The other significant consideration for the survival of middle-class "American Dream" goals is the question of morale. Dialogue with a successful HR Executive of a leading American company informs that the $48k minimum salary policy implemented by the Democratic Party leadership translates into a dramatic decrease of mid-management jobs, reducing growth opportunities and most troubling-destroying morale. Workers who were exempt and are forced to be hourly feel they have been demoted and lose their self-worth and motivation to advance. The current U.S. Administration must have considered that the decision to "double" overnight the federal minimum salary to $48k for mid-management employees would result in harming Americans by moving American middle-class jobs overseas and hurting growth opportunities at home for American workers. Logically the majority of small and medium-size American companies cannot afford to double labor costs overnight leading to elimination of jobs because they cannot offshore like the publicly traded multi-billion dollar international corporations. The global billionaires win and the American middle-class workers lose. This is not the American Way. President Kennedy promised "a rising tide lifts all boats" but the "progressive" Democratic Party is actually promoting regressive policies for workers. Sinking jobs is not uplifting. With this con artist for a leader, who would need enemies? Michelle Obama said on September 16, "The presidency doesn't change who you are, it reveals who you are. The same thing is true of a presidential campaign." Donald Trump demonstrated the truth of this the same day. Without explanation or apology, Trump dropped his birther lie against President Obama, and told two more lies: that Hillary Clinton started birtherism, and that he had ended it in 2011. He angered the media in the process by playing them to promote his luxury hotel. Trump's heavy-handedness may finally end the false equivalence with which the media have portrayed the major party nominees. The thin case against Hillary (her email server, decades of GOP smears, her every cough being treated like an operatic death scene) pales beside Trump's nonstop lies and provocations, as his dealmaking pales beside her public service. Advertisement Trump's botched pivot away from birtherism did not dispel the nativist bigots he has riled up, who would sooner pull down our republic than accept the full enfranchisement of women and people of color. Friday evening, repeating his lie that Clinton wants to disarm all Americans, he said of her Secret Service detail, "Take their guns away" and "Let's see what happens to her." The previous weekend, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin threatened bloodshed if Clinton wins. These men who talk about terrorists should look in a mirror. Who made Trump the arbiter of a candidate's legitimacy? His slanders and fabrications assume a privilege of passing judgment that disproportionately targets minorities and women. The outrage of African Americans at his attacks on Obama is well expressed by my friend Robert Naylor Jr., a leadership and diversity consultant: What Mr. Trump has shown during and prior to his campaign is much worse than dog-whistle politics. It's part of a long-standing, deep-seated effort to denigrate and delegitimize African Americans who don't fit negative racial stereotypes and who rise to positions of prominence and authority. This underbelly of racism that still exists in our country suggests that African Americans can only achieve through the benevolence of whites, reduced standards, special treatment, cheating, or some combination of those things. One thing I often say to young African American men is that nothing frightens and agitates the racists more than an educated, intelligent, sophisticated black man. It is hard to observe Trump's selfishness, recklessness, meanness, compulsive lying, murky foreign ties, and ignorant blather about grave matters without wondering how otherwise decent people can support him. It only makes sense as a destructive impulse borne of bitterness and resentment. Instead of uplift, he offers boasting and bile. Advertisement It's not just on him. The zeal with which Republicans pursue voting restrictions and revile even the mildest gun regulations suggests abandonment of the social compact that makes our diverse people a nation. Fear and ignorance function as a wrecking ball. The reality-challenged assassins encouraged by Trump's call to disarm Clinton's security detail would be shooting at a cartoon villain, just as Cleveland officer Timothy Loehmann was shooting at a stereotype when he killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014. Too often white Americans act grievously wounded when criticized, while we take discrimination against others in stride. We are too much like Moliere's Imaginary Invalid for people convinced of our national greatness, hyperventilating over any suggestion that America's original sin lives on in other guises a hundred fifty years after the Civil War. Thus we deny the white supremacist mindset hiding in plain sight in "stand your ground" and voter ID laws. We tout our Enlightenment values while looking away as our neighbors denounce a planned mosque or harass a woman wearing hijab. We will discover on November 8 if we have degraded into a silly people swayed by empty promises and brazen ignorance. This summer was the hottest on record; when Trump dismisses climate change as a Chinese hoax, he appeals to our decadence. Any greatness we inherited came from facing challenges, not avoiding them. Electing a president whom Colin Powell calls "an international pariah" might please those who like nothing better than "sticking it" to friends and enemies alike. Shall America model itself on Trump by being pathologically thin-skinned, stiffing our creditors, and evading responsibility? With such a leader, who needs enemies? Advertisement This piece originally appeared in the Washington Blade and Bay Windows. I grew up in Paris reading the classic Tintin et Milou albums. I learned about some countries I had never been, and the best curse words I had never heard from Capitaine Haddock. Nobody in real life used his blasphemous words. As a kid, I did not know nor realized that Tintin was in fact a slightly racist and homophobic young man. To me he was simply a brave explorer with a malicious dog and some flamboyant friends - think of the opera diva named La Castafiore, constantly and deafeningly out of tune! I had all 22 available titles written by Belgian artist Herge (1907-1983), including "Tintin au Tibet", but my collection, passed down from my parents to my older brothers, and then to me was missing "Tintin chez les Soviets" - as that one had been censured and no longer for sale. Over 300 characters came alive in the 23 illustrated books, and many are still to this day part of many French school-age kids education. Advertisement I dreamed of going to the moon, about mysterious islands, desert treks, Chinese adventures, buried treasures, sunken ships, temples of gold, oil trade, pharaohs, Indians, magicians, Arabs, missing jewels, shady characters, deadly poisons, and wonderful endings. The Tintin books were never disappointing, they always ended well, saved all good people, vanished (not killed really) bad ones, almost always saved the World. I learned about far-away countries, forgotten locales, strange planets, and Tintin was showing me the way in geography better than any school books ever did (my mother was a geography/history teacher and would likely turn in her grave if she was to read this.) Milou (known as Snowy in America) made me chuckle at every page, with his tendency for being clumsy, smart, funny, and a practical helping hand to his young master Tintin. The genius of Professor Tournesol and the far-fetched idiocy of the Dupont/Dupond twins were mesmerizing to me. The Capitaine Haddock had a serious problem with rum. He definitely drank too much, and the books were good at showing the bad side effects that alcoholism can have on people. His swearing was incredibly creative, with words I had never heard in the French language - and that I am not about to translate! Advertisement Tintin's creator was from Belgium, but used French to write his beloved books. His name was Herge, which stands for George Remi, his initials: R + G. Beginning at the end of the 1920s, the illustrated books often denotes of some incorrect political views about the then USSR, Red China, and other repressed countries. People from then Congo (Africa), American Indians, cowboys and Chinese all have been stereotyped and shown under bad angles and blinded looks, but this never impeached my own joy at reading the books at a very young age, as I was never able to see all the racism and discriminations of the stories. It's only as an adult that I realized all of these problems with my adored childhood companions, and when time came to teach my own children, and to let them enjoy my books collection, I made sure to warn them about the very sad discrepancies in the stories. Still to this day, I enjoy a good sitting with the books. The one missing from my Tintin collection, the very first published, was found a few years ago at an antique dealer store in Provence, where I had to buy it, despite the enormously exaggerated sticker price. Now I have them all and they will stay on my bookshelves, part of my legacy for generations to come. I moved many times so far in my life, different countries, continents, cities, and my Tintins always followed, I would never leave them behind anywhere. Advertisement Tintin was a reporter and I always wondered if he was the one responsible for my own passion for the printed words and my newspapers career. I even had several Milous! Now, a new exhibit at the Grand Palais in Paris is about to open and promises you will have fun with the show. Reviewing the entire career of Herge and the many facets of his incredible success, the exhibit highlights with true colors the masterful publishing work of the vivid author. Herge's influence came from several masters of classical art. Translated into hundreds of languages of the World, many have changed some of the names to resonate more with each culture, but Tintin is almost always Tintin! INFO: HERGE: Grand Palais Museum, 3 avenue du General Eisenhower, 75008 Paris. Metro stop: Franklin-D.-Roosevelt,or Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau. September 28 to January 15, 2017. The Grand Palais has several entrances, the Herge show is on the Champs-Elysees side. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with extended hours to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. Timed tickets start at 10 Euros and are 1 Euro for under 16. Free on Saturday, Oct. 1st after 8 p.m. and until midnight, for the White Night event. New York, NY USA - July 16, 2016: Donald Trump speaks during introduction Governor Mike Pence as running for vice president at Hilton hotel Midtown Manhattan "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." - George Washington At the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump vowed to put "America first" again. God, that sounds so good, right? I can almost see the flag flying. My little Southern heart nearly skips a beat, as I hear the tune of "I'm Proud to be an American" in my ears. Advertisement As a senior in high school, I attended George W. Bush's inauguration. At 18, it was the biggest thrill of my life. But these days, I've never been more ashamed to be a former Republican. I really wish this was a nightmare we could all wake up from. And friends, to be clear: this is a nightmare. But we are wide awake. This is not the America of my childhood. The Republican party has proven they are no longer the party they used to be. Or maybe it's that they are finally bold enough to be exactly who they've always been. Why does the Grace is Messy guy suddenly care so much about politics? Because I have the sinking suspicion that Donald Trump's America doesn't look anything like a place that will respect and regard all people. I want to create and live in a place that accepts people as they are and celebrates their varied stories. America is a melting pot - a mixture of the most beautiful individuals you've ever seen. From my trans friend Jake, who I had tea with yesterday, to my amazing friends Kevin and Liz who are changing the face of what it means to be a queer Christian, to the beautiful Hispanic family we swam with last night at the neighborhood pool. This is my America. And I fear Donald Trump doesn't have what it takes to lead this America. Rather, he's a schoolyard bully, whose only intent is to prove just how powerful he really is. He has made it clear that he does not value my black brothers and sisters, my trans friends, or my queer church peers. Advertisement Donald Trump's America is anything but great. But instead of giving you my assumptions, let's look at his own words. Here's what Trump has had to say about sex and women: "You know, it doesn't really matter what [the media] write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass." -- Esquire, 1991 "I wouldn't mind if there were an anti-Viagra, something with the opposite effect. I'm not bragging. I'm just lucky. I don't need it. I've always said, "If you need Viagra, you're probably with the wrong girl." -- Playboy, 2004 "No, I don't do anal." -on Howard Stern I have to ask how in the world evangelical leaders - our pastors - can read comments like the ones above and say this is the man I want to lead my country. How can they rail against sexual immorality on Sundays but hold this man up as the role model for your sons and grandsons? This is what it means to be the most powerful and influential man on the planet? THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT?! And let's not forget Trump's love of "the blacks": "I have a great relationship with the blacks." -Celebrity Apprentice "And if you look at black and African American youth, to a point where they've never done more poorly. There's no spirit." -Twitter "...laziness is a trait in blacks." -Trumped The White House has seen Bill Clinton and his cigars, and Nixon and his politics. Certainly scandals have been a part of past Presidencies. But Donald Trump introduces a whole new level of immaturity, disrespect, and disregard for people. I have never known a more openly hateful, vile, abrasive person to be this close to leading the free world. On reality TV, Trump's brash opinions may earn him ratings. But this is not reality TV. What happened to a sense of dignity, self-respect, and acting Presidential? If you're asking yourself how can the messy grace guy be so harsh? Friend, it is because I am the grace guy. I cannot think of a more divisive, foul, or toxic American, other than maybe The Donald's good friend, Howard Stern. I used to admire the Office of the President so much. Now I fear for it. Advertisement In a time when racial tensions are higher than they have ever been in my lifetime, Donald Trump wants to create America: Land of the Fearful, Home of the Bigot. It's like we've lost our minds and invited the old, fat, drunk uncle over for dinner. The one nobody wants to be around, who thinks his money entitles him to say whatever he wants. He's the one who slaps Grandma's ass as she gets the turkey out of the oven, and offends your wife with his filthy jokes at the table. And this guy isn't coming over for dinner, he's coming to lead the free world. "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." - Samuel Johnson, 1775 Heated debate has arisen throughout the nation as a result of Colin Kaepernick's kneeling protest. Athletes and others are kneeling, sitting or, in at least one case, lying on the ground as the anthem plays. This protest has become intertwined with the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly since the latest among the endless string of questionable police shootings of black boys and men. Our national anthem ends, " . . . for the land of the free and the home of the brave." Who are the "free?" Who are the "brave?" Who are the real patriots? The United States of America was forged out of a deep longing for freedom and the bravery of colonists who sought liberty from the oppression of England. In 1775, just the year before the Declaration of Independence, Massachusetts formed a government that proclaimed, perhaps for the first time, "God save the people," rather than "God save the King." The revolutionary movement's refusal to mindlessly recite the mantra of authority of Great Britain was an essential part of the establishment of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence, adopted a year later, stated in part: Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. For black Americans, the ensuing years have been anything but "free." From slavery, through Jim Crow and enforced segregation, through unequal education, through mass incarceration and the New Jim Crow, the promises of the United States of America have been diluted and withheld. Advertisement As with the colonists in the 1760's and 1770's, the American "Form of Government" has become "destructive of these ends" for women, children and men of color. And so, as true patriots did in 1775, folks of color and their supporters are refusing to sing, pledge or otherwise declare fealty to the nation that has failed to "effect their Safety and Happiness." It is deeply ironic that the nation is divided in this way. The modern day loyalists, who have appropriated symbols of the original independence movement, are deeply angered by the refusal of black folks to honor the anthem or to pledge their unconditional allegiance to the government. The Trump campaign and its racist figurehead are most violently outraged by the resistance. Those symbols - the flag, the Star Spangled Banner, the Pledge of Allegiance, the ubiquitous "God Bless America" - once the anthems of freedom, are now the rallying cries of the oppressor. They are the contemporary iteration of "God Save the King." I don't suggest that a revolution is imminent or justified. The difference between 1776 and 2016 is that the prescience of the founders of our democratic republic provided us with mechanisms for reinvention, recalibration and reconsideration. Patriotism does not inhabit the lyrics of the bombastic anthem, the unconstitutional Pledge of Allegiance or the trite and seductive melody of God Bless America. Patriotism is not demonstrated by waving a flag. Advertisement Patriotism inhabits the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Patriotism is demonstrated by the bravery of men, women and children who love the country enough to demand that it fulfill its overdue promises. Colin Kaepernick and the millions of Americans who kneel in protest or march in solidarity with those who want Black Lives to matter are the real patriots. 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. Email IC Arizona at azpoliticalintel-at-yahoo.comIC Arizona is a subsidiary of IntellectualConservative.com For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Local cloud services pioneer and IT security specialist IPC strongly urges financial institutions to safeguard their systems by deploying up-to-date security measures to ensure data and network protection. IPC called on banks to check on their current data security setup, stating that even the most secure institutions are not exempt from the alarming increase in crimes perpetrated online. This is a reality that has caused the loss of significant revenue for many businesses. The global recorded cost of cyber attacks is at $400-500 billion dollars per year roughly fifty percent of which is from DDoS attacks, said IPC President Rene Huergas, citing data from DDoS Mitigation partner Nexusguard. Unless executives take stock of this as a serious issue at hand, companies are most likely to lose more. IPC acknowledges that some institutions may have inadequate system and network security layers to protect them from cyber attacks. This poses an even greater danger to both the customer as well as the institution. As data and network security is a commodity in this day and age, now is the best time to recognize that the threats are real and can make businesses vulnerable and susceptible to attacks; banks and financial institutions being the most inclined to this kind of attack, added Huergas. Just recently, several Iranian hackers have been indicted following a well-orchestrated cyber attack on US banks. The criminals hit the banks with DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks on an almost weekly basis, flooding their servers with illegitimate traffic that slowed websites down and caused millions in lost business. Perpetrators have been launching DDoS attacks to mask the other ways by which they compromise systems, said IPC Director for Product Management and Marketing Nino Valmonte. Financial institutions, especially those with online transactions (e-payments, online banking), must remain vigilant against these threats or theyll easily lose their clients trust and consequently, their business. While DDoS attacks are considered the worlds most costly cyber crime, cyber attacks that involve malware, phishing, password attacks, MITM (Man-in-the-middle), Drive-by downloads, malvertising, and rogue software are also widespread. In fact, it was found that the Philippines vulnerability to cyber crimes has statistically doubled. A large percentage of computers in the country have been invaded by malware, the same intrusive software initially found to have allowed the illegal electronic transfer of funds in the Bangladesh case. This condition poses a real and imminent threat as records from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that around 22 million people utilize electronic banking services and channels and that the volume and value of e-money transactions keep growing over the years. The figure continues to increase each year as more and more people join the workforce and make use of a banks facilities. This translates to the overwhelming amount of data that is at risk. Cyber attacks have been growing in size and becoming more and more complex. While they cant be scrapped entirely, employing security features and updating them every once in a while will help ensure that disruptions to business processes are at a minimum, Valmonte said. IPC, through its ThinkOutCloud initiatives, has been continuously educating enterprises and the public about the threats that jeopardize data and other properties stored online. To prevent the possibility of having sensitive data compromised, IPC recommends that at the most basic level, installation of updated anti-virus protection and firewalls, as well as utilization of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption and cookies should be done to ensure the security of connection. But it doesnt stop there. Depending on the needs of the institution, additional security measures have to be in place. It is also as important to regularly review and assess whether these security measures are being implemented and are functioning well, Valmonte explained. Businesses that do not have a core competency on data and network security may leave it to experts like IPC to conduct rigid vulnerability assessments to ensure that all bases are covered. IPC has been in the business of security for over ten years, it is the de facto security provider for majority of companies nationwide. Financial institutions should rethink their data security measures if they would like to ensure that their data and network are safe from the imminent threats and attacks looming, Huergas explained. As the countrys pioneer DDoS Mitigation service and data security provider, IPC has best-in-class facilities that are ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management Systems-certified. Moreover, IPC is partnered with the world leaders in DDoS mitigation and it is the first and only DDoS Mitigation Service provider that has an in-country DDoS scrubbing center, addressing data sovereignty concerns. Because we are in the business of data centers, security is in our DNA. It is something that we take seriously on a day to day basis. All companiesbig and smallcan be the subject of attacks. The only way we can eventually destroy these threats is if we adopt a defensive mindset, concluded Huergas. Back to top AV-TEST has evaluated 11 small business security solutions to find out, which provides the most effective security for Windows 10. According to the test results, Kaspersky Small Office Security took first place. The Kaspersky Lab solution excelled against the competition, gaining maximum scores in all three categories: protection, performance and usability. The AV-TEST Institute is an international and independent service provider in the fields of IT security and anti-virus research. The aim of the research work carried out by AV-TEST is to directly detect the latest malware, to analyse it using state-of-the-art methods and to inform customers of the top-quality results obtained. The main objective of the test was to examine 11 different, Windows 10 compatible, corporate solutions. The tests covered three categories, with AV-TEST specialists evaluating protection, speed and usability. In all three categories, only Kaspersky Lab solution was awarded the maximum of 6 points; giving a total of 18 points overall. "This is not the first time Kaspersky Labs corporate solutions have finished as a leader in independent testing by AV-TEST. The current test showed Kaspersky Small Office Security as one of the best security solutions on the market, cooperating perfectly with Windows 10. Even when the solution is installed using standard settings, it can satisfy the most demanding customer security requirements, comments Maik Morgenstern, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at AV-TEST. The protection test took place in two stages. Firstly, protection against 0-day malware attacks, inclusive of web and e-mail threats was tested. Secondly, the solutions were tested in their ability to detect widespread and prevalent malware, discovered in the last 4 weeks by AV-TEST. To assess the performance of security solutions under Windows 10 the testers mimicked typical user behavior, launching popular websites, downloading and installing frequently-used applications, and copying of files both locally and in a network. The usability assessment focused on the influence of the security solution, on the usability of the Windows 10 system. Two different factors were considered: how much the user was distracted by warning messages about unknown programs or false positives, and the false detection of safe programs as malicious software. Only Kaspersky Small Office Security was awarded top scores as a result of the test. It was therefore hailed as the leader among all competitors. In this age of raising cybercrime Kaspersky Lab is strongly focused on delivering best of breed security solutions that have minimum impact on user productivity. We understand that ransomware, spyware and banking Trojans can not only paralyze businesses but also damage reputations. Kaspersky Lab delivers a truly multilayered protection, which prevents attacks at all stages: from multiple vectors of infection monitoring and prevention, to post-execution applications behavior control, says Konstantin Voronkov, Kaspersky Lab Head of Endpoint Product Management. Security is always a tradeoff with usability, and we are proud to be recognized as the best security solution, as well as the solution that has minimum impact on productivity, identifies the minimum level of false positives and maximizes the automatic mitigation and prevention of attacks, he added. During protection rate tests, where 140 samples of 0-day malware and 14,658 widespread samples were used, the Kaspersky Lab solution demonstrated 98.75% and 99.95% detection results respectively. During usability tests, more than 1.3 million samples were used to examine the solutions for false detections and blockages of legitimate software as malware during a system scan, as well as visiting web sites and installing legitimate software. This is not the first time when Kaspersky Lab has taken first place in independent tests. In all previous tests with earlier versions of Windows (including Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1), Kaspersky Lab has shown consistently excellent results, taking the highest score among competitors. Back to top Acer Smartphone Distributor of the Year MSI-ECS bags two prestigious recognitions from Acer, Distributor of the Year both for Tablets and Smart Phones, at the recently concluded Acer ePinnacle Awards 2015 held last March 3, 2016 at Chaos Club, City of Dreams. Entitled Bo1d. Celebrating 10 Years of Leadership, the annual gathering honors its top distributors and resellers in the country. The Acer ePinnacle Awards is now on its 8th year and have always been the venue for celebration and for thanking Acers partners who showed exemplary achievements in sales performance and in promoting Acers products. Acer Philippines General Manager Manuel Wong recognized the contribution of its partners and distributors for making Acer the top Notebook brand consistently for 10 years, six years in PC and three years in commercial notebooks in the Philippines. Also present in the event is Acer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Jason Chen who also thanked all its partners and shared whats in store for Acer this 2016. Acer Tablet Distributor of the Year Back to top This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! 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 }} Despite what some publications would have you believe, Daniel Radcliffes career has rapidly moved forward since the Harry Potter series wrapped. In 2012, for instance, he played the main character in the screen adaptation of The Woman in Black. The following year, he played Allen Ginsberg in John Krokidass Kill Your Darlings to further critical acclaim. Now, Radcliffe is tackling his two most controversial projects yet; playing an undercover CIA agent pretending to be a white supremacist in Imperium, and a farting corpse in Swiss Army Man. As with the aforementioned releases, critics are questioning if the obscure projects are an attempt by the actor to leave behind his past as the Boy-Who-Lived. Asked by The Independent how he feels about those remarks, the 27-year-old said that was not the case. I dont want people to forget about Harry Potter, Im incredibly proud of those films, he said. I also dont want to repeat myself in terms of what I did with Harry, but in terms of Woman in Black and now Imperium, I think I get an undeserved amount of credit playing diverse things because people saw me playing one role for a long time. Really, its just what most actors want; as varied a career as possible. Im just lucky enough to be in a position where I can do that. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Show all 5 1 /5 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Jim Kay's illustration of Draco Malfoy in the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone edition Jim Kay Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Jim Kay's illustration of Rubeus Hagrid in the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone edition Jim Kay Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Jim Kay's illustration of Hermione Granger in the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone edition Jim Kay Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Jim Kay's illustration of Ron Weasley in the new Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone edition Jim Kay Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone illustrations Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Deluxe edition will cost 150 and a more affordable 30 version will be published alongside it Bloomsbury Also in the interview, which can be watched above, the actor revealed how - while filming one particular scene in Imperium - members of the public began throwing insults at the cast, adding that he hope white supremacists see the film in order to expand their horizons. Speaking about Swiss Army Man, Radcliffe said how he was glad the conversation about the film was moving past the initial farting corpse headlines. Imperium is currently showing in cinemas while Swiss Army Man is released on Friday. 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 }} Captain America: Civil War has been heralded as this years best superhero film, showing the world Marvels winning formula is still working with the general movie-going audience. One of the films biggest selling points is the sheer number of likeable superheroes, including the titular Cap, Iron Man, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Vision, Scarlett Witch, Falcon, War Machine, Winter Soldier The list goes on. Despite there being a very near death (War Machine), the directors - the Russo Brothers - decided not to remove anyone from the MCU permanently (unlike Joss Whedon with Quicksilver in Age of Ultron). But why not? Surely, one death would not only add emotional value to the film but also mean fitting fewer characters in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War? Speaking to Hitflix with Marvel president Kevin Feige, the duo explained how they wanted to focus on the family tearing itself apart, not with a character dying (except Peggy Carter, of course). Russo brothers and Kevin Feige on death in Civil War Anthony Russo: I think the thing to remember is, we do talk about every possible scenario over and over and over again for months and months and months. We talked about it. But it never made its way into a realistic outline. Kevin Feige: Well, the ending was always more about fracturing the team completely before getting into Infinity War. Joe Russo: We talked about lots of potential characters dying at the end of the movie. And we thought that it would undercut what is really the rich tension of the movie, which is this is Kramer vs Kramer. Its about a divorce. If somebody dies, it would create empathy, which would change and allow for repair, and we didnt want to do that. Anthony Russo: The tragedy is the family falls apart. Not that the family falls apart and then somebody dies. Interesting how they see death as a way of repairing; with Civil War ending with the Avengers split, perhaps one of their deaths will bring the band back together during Infinity War. 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 In other Marvel news, Sam Neil recently revealed he will star in the third Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok, while Benedict Cumberbatch has spoken about the superhero studio moving its filming schedule to fit him in. 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 }} In a far corner of the Caribbean Sea, one of those idyllic spots touched most days by little more than a fisherman chasing blue marlin, billions of dollars worth of the worlds finest oil equipment bobs quietly in the water. They are high-tech, deepwater drillships -- big, hulking things with giant rigs that tower high above the deck. Theyre packed tight in a cluster, nine of them in all. The engines are off. The 20-ton anchors are down. The crews are gone. For months now, theyve been parked here, 12 miles off the coast of Trinidad & Tobago, waiting for the global oil market to recover. The ships are owned by a company called Transocean Ltd., the biggest offshore-rig operator in the world. And while the decision to idle a chunk of its fleet would seem logical enough given the collapse in oil drilling activity, Transocean is in truth taking an enormous, and unprecedented, risk. No one, it turns out, had ever shut off these ships before. In the two decades since the newest models hit the market, there never had really been a need to. And no one can tell you, with any certainty or precision, what will happen when they flip the switch back on. Its a gamble that Transocean, and a couple smaller rig operators, felt compelled to take after having shelled out millions of dollars to keep the motors running on ships not in use. That technique is called warm-stacking. Parked in a safe harbor and manned by a skeleton crew, it typically costs about $40,000 a day. Cold-stacking -- when the engines are cut -- costs as little as $15,000 a day. Huge savings, yes, but the angst runs high. These drillships were not designed to sit idle, said Willard Duffey Jr., an electrician who spent two decades with Transocean. The Deepwater Pathfinder, a ship he had served on for four years, was among the first to be parked off the Trinidad coast. The ship made the voyage there from the Gulf of Mexico about a year ago. Duffey was one of the last men aboard before the engines were turned off. He fretted constantly -- did I do everything I could? -- as he flew back home to Ore City, Texas. To get the Pathfinder back up would be very difficult to guess actually, he said. Once famously labeled the new Ferraris of the oil world, these are no ordinary ships. Carrying a price tag of about $500 million a piece, they are loaded bow to stern with sophisticated, and very heavy, gadgetry. Below the water line sit a half-dozen Rolls-Royce thrusters, coordinated by satellite to push against each other and keep the rig hovering on top of wells lying as much as two miles underwater. Up on deck, theres a robot that can be launched to work a screwdriver or a wrench under water pressures on the seabed that no human could survive. And the 220-foot-tall, dual-activity oil-drilling derrick is capable of simultaneously lifting and lowering gear down to the seafloor, including a diamond-studded drill bit, a five-story-tall blowout preventer and a heavy-drill pipe. The derrick can handle as much as 5 million pounds of gear -- equal to the weight of some 20 adult blue whales -- going up and down at one time. All of these fancy elements, though, are what make turning the ships back on so daunting. Chip Keener, whose rig-storage consulting firm advises Transocean, compares it to what would happen if you left a high-tech new car parked in the garage for months. The battery would be dead, sure, but then thered also be a slew of pre-sets to reprogram. On a drillship, there are thousands and thousands of pre-sets. And unlike your car, those on a ship are essential to its proper functioning. Its a big deal, says Keener. For now, cold-stacking has been a huge success for Transocean, a long-time Texas powerhouse thats based today in Switzerland. (It owned the offshore rig that BP Plc was operating in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster.) The company reported a profit of $77 million in the second quarter, surprising investors who had been bracing for a loss. Within minutes the next morning, its stock price had jumped 8.5 percent in New York trading. "I dont think a simple congrats on this quarters cost beat is really sufficient," one stunned analyst, Scott Gruber at Citigroup Inc., told Transocean executives on a conference call. A big kudos to all of you. Still, there are any number of deepwater rig operators unwilling to turn the engines off: Noble Corp., Rowan Cos. and Pacific Drilling, to name a few. Theyre paying anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 a day to store their out-of-work ships. Chris Beckett, the CEO of Pacific Drilling, said the unknowns of cold-stacking are just too great and the cost to keep the ships running too manageable -- about $10 million a year -- to turn them off. He likes the peace of mind that comes with his approach. We dont worry about how you start them again, Beckett said in an interview at the companys Houston headquarters. The cold-stack versus warm-stack dilemma doesnt figure to go away anytime soon. Nearly half of the worlds available floating rigs are out of work today, and most observers expect that number will climb further. Not only are the drillship operators customers -- the likes of ConocoPhillips and Total SA -- slashing spending in high-cost offshore areas and canceling work contracts early, but new rigs that were ordered in recent years keep rolling out of shipyards. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates as much as $56 billion worth of offshore rigs, capable of drilling in everything from shallow water to oceans more than two miles deep, are still under construction. Its a far different mood from a couple years ago, when crude was hovering around $100 a barrel and just about every single deepwater rig on the planet was in use. Transoceans Pathfinder was in many ways the symbol of those go-go days. In mid-2014, just as oil prices were peaking, Eni SpA agreed to pay Transocean $681,000 a day to lease the ship. It was one of the richest drilling contracts ever, an amount thats about triple the rate a deal signed today would fetch. By the end of that year, with oil in freefall, Eni canceled the contract four months before it was due to expire. Things are quiet on the Pathfinder these days. The water is calm off Trinidad, one of the top global destinations for drillship storage. A handful of seamen recruited locally make the rounds, in part to ward off criminal elements. Theyre joined every once in a while by Transocean mechanics sent in to monitor the ships. The companys chief operating officer, John Stobart, recently dropped in to check them out himself. CEO Jeremy Thigpen said Stobart came away encouraged. "He was really impressed with the preservation of all the critical components," Thigpen said at an energy conference in New York this month. "His belief is, Listen, were going to be able to reactivate these rigs in a timely and low-cost manner." Stobarts going to have to wait for his chance. Oil, after having briefly rebounded above $50 in June, is slumping again. And Transocean seems prepared to be in Trinidad for a while. The contract to lease out seabed space that the companys negotiating, island officials say, could extend through October of 2020. 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 }} From snapping selfies with Bear Grylls to being scolded for posing for a group selfie at a memorial for Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama is no stranger to the photo craze of the modern epoch. For that very reason, it should come as no surprise that George W Bush decided to put his ideological differences behind him and enlist the help of the current US President for a selfie. Appearing at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of African American Culture and History on Saturday, the former Republican US president attempted to take a selfie with a group of people but failed to squeeze everyone into the shot. Obama in Cuba Show all 6 1 /6 Obama in Cuba Obama in Cuba U.S. President Barack Obama makes a face towards a group of children in the audience as he stand on stage with first lady Michelle Obama as he is introduced by Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis Charge d'Affaires to the U.S. Embassy in Cuba Obama in Cuba President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez upon arrival to the airport in Havana, Cuba Obama in Cuba U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle approach Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez as they arrive at Havana's international airport Obama in Cuba US President Barack Obama waves after his arrival on Jose Marti Airport in Havana, Cuba Obama in Cuba US President Barack Obama carries an umbrella as he is followed by First Lady Michelle Obama after their arrival on Jose Marti Airport in Havana, Cuba Obama in Cuba The 'Air Force One' jet carrying US President Barack Obama touches down at the Jose Marti Airport in Havana, Cuba Luckily for him, Mr Obama walked past at that particular moment and leant a helping hand. Both Mr Obama and Bush gave speeches as the event, emphasising the importance of American history and unity. The museum is the first national museum about African-American history in the US. It was designed by British architect David Adjaye and is located on Washington's National Mall. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Obama called upon 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," he continued. "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." Bush and his wife Laura also addressed the crowd and their appearance was followed by Stevie Wonder performing the song "Where Is Our Love". 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 }} Coronation Street actor Marc Anwar has been sacked from the soap opera for what the programme described as racially offensive comments. The Pakistan-born actor, who plays the role of businessman Sharif Nazir in the show, is said to have referred to Indian people as b******s and p***-drinking c***s in tweets posted on his private account on Friday. ITV was informed of the comments and decided to dismiss Mr Anwar immediately. We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on twitter by Marc Anwar, an ITV spokesperson said in a statement sent to The Independent. We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect. People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015. The Sunday Mirror published screenshots of the alleged tweets, which have since been deleted, from his account. According to the paper, the 45-year-old condemned India for its relationship with Kashmir and called for Indian films to be banned in Pakistan. Anwars remarks follow intensified tensions between India and Pakistan over the divided Himalayan territory, following fatal attacks by militants and both sides increasing their military presence on the ground. Anwar graduated from the London Academy of Dramatic Art and has appeared in Emmerdale, Holby City and Citizen Khan and Hollywood films Captain Phillips and 51st State. This is the first time a Coronation Street actor has been dismissed for bad behaviour since 2013 when Chris Foundation, who played Tommy Duckworth, was let go for an offensive rap advocating sexual violence towards women on YouTube. 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 world's largest radio telescope began searching for signals from stars and galaxies and, perhaps, extraterrestrial life Sunday in a project demonstrating China's rising ambitions in space and its pursuit of international scientific prestige. Beijing has poured billions into such ambitious scientific projects as well as its military-backed space program, which saw the launch of China's second space station earlier this month. Measuring 500 meters in diameter, the radio telescope is nestled in a natural basin within a stunning landscape of lush green karst formations in southern Guizhou province. It took five years and $180 million to complete and surpasses that of the 300-meter Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, a dish used in research on stars that led to a Nobel Prize. The official Xinhua News Agency said hundreds of astronomers and enthusiasts watched the launch of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, in the county of Pingtang. Researchers quoted by state media said FAST would search for gravitational waves, detect radio emissions from stars and galaxies and listen for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life. "The ultimate goal of FAST is to discover the laws of the development of the universe," Qian Lei, an associate researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told state broadcaster CCTV. "In theory, if there is civilization in outer space, the radio signal it sends will be similar to the signal we can receive when a pulsar (spinning neutron star) is approaching us," Qian said. Famous people who believe in aliens Show all 16 1 /16 Famous people who believe in aliens Famous people who believe in aliens Tom Cruise Scientologist Tom Cruise believes that alien souls live in human bodies. Getty Famous people who believe in aliens William Shatner Star Trek's Captain Kirk says: "There is no doubt that there is life out there; the mathematics of it lead you to that absolute conclusion. In my mind, there is no doubt that the universe teems teems! with life in all its forms." Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Tom DeLonge The Blink-182 guitarist believes there's a government cover-up and says he's had his phone tapped trying to expose that aliens exist Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Robbie Williams The singer claims he has been visited by aliens Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Dan Ayckroyd Believes that aliens visit Earth frequently because: "this is the planet that produced Picasso, the atom bomb, penicillin... They [the aliens] didn't paint like Renoir, they don't dance like Mick Jagger" Rex Famous people who believe in aliens Demi Lovato Lovato believes that mermaids are aliens and said: "I know that they are real. How self-centered would we be, as humans, to believe that we are the only living things in the universe? Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Halle Berry I dont believe we are the only species in existence, she argues Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Will Smith The Independence Day and Men In Black actor says: "Any assertion is just as absurd as the other. It'd be just as ridiculous to say that there aren't [aliens] as it would to say that there are. I have a very open mind." Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Jaden Smith The well-connected son of Will Smith said: "I talked to President Obama about extraterrestrials. He said he could neither confirm nor deny the existence of aliens, which means they're real. If people think we're the only people that live in this universe, then something is wrong with them." Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Zooey Deschanel "I grew up believing my sister was from the planet Neptune and had been sent down to Earth to kill me," the New Girl actress says. "I believed this because my sister Emily convinced me of it when I was a toddler. I think she'd seen Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and her imagination ran away with her. There's a part of me that still believes it." Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Katy Perry The singer says: "I see everything from a spiritual lens. I believe in a lot of astrology. I believe in aliens." Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Ariana Grande "Wed be so stupid to believe we are the only people here," the singer argues Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Megan Fox The Transformers actress believes in aliens "1000%" Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Olivia Newton-John In England most people now think UFOs are possible. Twenty years ago, how many people would have thought that? Newton-John believes she saw a UFO as a child Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Keanu Reeves Sure I believe in other forms of life. How can it be possible that we are the only living, sentient beings in the universe? I dont know if we will get to them in our lifetimes, but in my view, it is inconceivable we are the only ones, he argues Getty Famous people who believe in aliens Alicia Keys The singer says: "I think they're here now Yeah, Ive met some serious aliens in my life, for sure. Im sure youve seen a UFO. Havent all of us seen something flying in the sky, and its at some random time of night that doesnt make sense, and its not the shape of a plane?" Getty Installation of the 4,450-panel structure, nicknamed Tianyan, or the Eye of Heaven, started in 2011 and was completed in July. The telescope requires a radio silence within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius, resulting in the relocation of more than 8,000 people from their homes in eight villages to make way for the facility, state media said. Reports in August said the villagers would be compensated with cash or new homes from a budget of about $269 million from a poverty relief fund and bank loans. CCTV reported that during a recent test, the telescope received radio signals from a pulsar that was 1,351 light-years from Earth. The radio telescope has double the sensitivity of the Arecibo Observatory, and five to 10 times the surveying speed, Xinhua said. China has also completed the construction of tourist facilities such as an observation deck on a nearby mountain, reports said. Such facilities can be a draw for visitors the one in Puerto Rico draws about 90,000 visitors and some 200 scientists each year. Earlier this month, China launched the Tiangong 2, its second space station and the latest step in its military-backed program that intends to send a mission to Mars in the coming years. In August, the country launched the first quantum satellite experts said would advance efforts to develop the ability to send communications that can't be penetrated by hackers. AP Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne has launched an inquiry after a vessel carrying scores of people crashed into a harbour. The transport firm said a technical failure on board the MV Hebrides meant the ship was unable to slow down enough for a routine docking and struck the harbour pontoons at Lochmaddy on North Uist. The vessel, which had been carrying passengers from Tarbert on Harris had 76 passengers and crew on board at the time, as well as as 13 cars, one lorry and a motorhome. A Caledonian MacBrayne spokeswoman said: A technical failure led to the vessel being unable to to reduce speed sufficiently for the routine docking procedures and she struck both pontoons in Lochmaddy harbour and the seabed. She stressed that no-one was injured and all passengers and vehicles had been disembarked after the incident, which took place shortly after 11am on Sunday. The spokeswoman said: A team of divers is on its way to make underwater investigations of the hull and a full inquiry into what happened has been launched. Services on the route are expected to be disrupted for at least 48 hours, with passengers advised to check the CalMac website and social media for updates on alternative travel plans or call 0800 066 5000. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Russian hackers reportedly tried to disrupt last years general election, in what is thought to be the first known cyberattack on the British political system. The group known as Fancy Bears planned to target every Whitehall server, including the Home Office, Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence, and every major TV broadcaster, including the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky, but was thwarted by GCHQ. The agency, which is responsible for all the security services communications surveillance, managed to discover the plot in time after analysing a successful attack on French broadcaster TV5Monde in April last year. Posing as Isis supporters, the group forced the channels scheduled programme off the air for 18 hours and replaced them with a screen showing the terror groups flag. GCHQ had initially feared Isis hacking abilities had reach a new level of sophistication but the attack was eventually linked back to Moscow. David Anderson QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, told The Sunday Times that the incident was a possible imminent threat to the UK and said GCHQ deployed a capability to protect government networks from this cyber-attacker. Analysts were reported to have worried that an attack would embarrass the government and took defensive measures to shore up Whitehalls cyber security as well as warning TV networks about the plot. A security source told The Sunday Times: We found signs of this particular group and activity they were looking at government department networks in the UK. 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 We had information, and it could have been activated, which is why it was an imminent threat. They certainly could have defaced a website for propaganda reasons and they could have possibly taken it down. The hackers, who are believed to have links to the Russian state, are also believed to have been responsible for the leak of medical data about top British athletes such as Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mo Farah. This is the first time a Russian-based hacking group is known to have targeted British politics but there have been repeated attempts to undermine the US presidential election. Last week DC Leaks, another Russian hacking group with alleged ties to the state, is said to have leaked Michelle Obamas passport information. The hack of DNC emails by a hacker known as Guccifer 2.0 in July led to the resignation of its chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Emails, published on Wikileaks, dated from January 2015 to May 2016 between seven key DNC staffers appeared to suggest they were trying to undermine the campaign of Bernie Sanders. Both the Russian government and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have denied that the information came from Russian hackers. Republican nominee Donald Trump attracted heavy criticism in the days that followed when he appeared to call for the hackers to break into Hillary Clintons email server. GCHQ foiled the plot after studying the details of an attack on a French broadcaster (Ministry of Defence - Wikimedia Commons) ((Ministry of Defence - Wikimedia Commons)) He said: Russia, if youre listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think youll be rewarded mightily by our press. When asked if he was concerned about encouraging a foreign power to spy on a political party he said it gave him no pause and he would love to see Russia or China getting involved. 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 }} Civil servants preparing for negotiations to pull Britain out of the EU face a task of mind-boggling complexity, experts have said. With the 100-day mark to be passed later this week since the UK voted to leave, there are signs of impatience among some Brexiteers at the slow pace of progress, with former Ukip leader Nigel Farage warning against backsliding. But Whitehall-watchers said it was likely that Government officials have still not fully quantified the scale of the task ahead, which is likely to stretch well beyond the two-year deadline set under Article 50 of the EU treaties. Stephen Booth, co-director of the Open Europe think-tank, said it was likely that Brexit would end up being a gradual withdrawal from different aspects of the UKs entanglements with the EU, rather than a single big bang event. The Institute for Governments Brexit lead Hannah White said officials should be working on the assumption that finding a new trade relationship with the remaining EU will take more than two years, and push from an early stage for an interim deal to keep the wheels of trade turning in the transitional period following the end of the Article 50 talks. Any deal reached in the talks which will not begin before the end of this year will have to be approved by all 27 European capitals and may be subject to legislation at Westminster, reducing the chances of a swift conclusion, she said. Every time we look at the different aspects of it, we see a whole new degree of complexity and new things that need to be taken into account, Ms White said. First there's the process of getting to the negotiating position, which involves a lot of consultation with different levels of government and economic sectors and working out what trade-offs and compromises you can accept. Then theres the process of negotiating the divorce agreement, then working out the new trading and immigration arrangements we want with the EU. Before getting a trade agreement with anyone else, we need to sort out our baseline position with the World Trade Organisation, which involves negotiations affecting all sorts of sectors and could take years. Other countries need to know what our basic offer is within the WTO before they strike a free trade deal with us. For the US it's a legal requirement that a countrys WTO schedules are agreed before they can enter trade talks with them. What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty I think its highly unlikely we will have a trade deal sorted out with the EU by the end of the two-year Article 50 process. We will need some sort of interim agreement, and there have been suggestions we should sort that out before triggering Article 50, though the EU may prefer to keep pressure on the negotiation process by not agreeing an interim deal in advance. We can spend as long as we like coming up with a deal centrally, but when it has to be approved by all 27 EU states all sorts of national and sub-national interests and lobbying will come into play. The sequencing of it all is really mind-boggling. Meanwhile, upcoming events in the European calendar will create extra time pressures, such as the European Parliament elections and the appointment of a new EU Commission in 2019 and the need for a new seven-year EU budget in 2020. Although the UK may not formally have left the EU by this time especially if Ms May chooses to delay invoking Article 50 until after German elections in the autumn of 2017 there is unlikely to be any appetite for Britain to elect new MEPs or appoint a commissioner. The remaining EU states can be expected to draw up their new multi-annual financial framework to reflect the UKs likely absence, even though some legacy commitments will see Britain making payments into the budget beyond 2020. Mr Booth said that the size of the UKs economy and its position as a key member of both the UN Security Council and Nato should enable Ms May to achieve her goal of an ambitious bespoke deal for Britain, rather than the off-the-shelf models in place with Norway or Switzerland. This may mean Britain continuing to co-ordinate closely with the EU after Brexit on security issues, such as sanctions on Russia, he suggested. There are lots of process issues at the EU level where it would make sense for the UK to be actively extracting itself at a particular time, said Mr Booth. But these issues arent necessarily the same as sorting out the key questions of whether we stay in the customs union and what will be the exact trading relationship between the UK and EU, which may be a longer process. I think the UK will have to see it as a process rather than an event. One of the things the Government should be looking at is whether there can be an early agreement about a less time-pressured negotiation. While Ms May was right to bide her time over Article 50, she will face growing political pressure to take concrete steps towards the exit, he predicted. Ms White said that calls for a hard Brexit which would see the UK pull out of the EU without negotiating new trade deals was simplistic, potentially exposing agriculture to cheap imports and imposing punitive obstacles to market access for some exporters. Leaving the customs union would create a sudden demand for hundreds of customs officers as well as the logistical problem of finding space in ports like Dover for huge numbers of containers which would need to be checked. The UK would also be exposed if it leaves the EU before finalising a new trade relationship and relies on an interim arrangement to tide it over. Food-exporting countries like Russia or Argentina would be likely to object to the WTO over such a deal granting protections against cheap imports to a non-EU member. It is small wonder that Brexit Secretary David Davis recently told Parliament that the process was likely to be the most complicated negotiation in modern times, maybe the most complicated negotiation of all time. Click here to download your free guide on Brexit ideas and action plans, from Independent Partner, Hargreaves Lansdown 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 }} Boris Johnson has been accused of flip-flopping over whether to back Brexit or not, sendng conflicting signals to his former leader David Cameron as he prepared to make his decision. A new book by one of Mr Camerons closest aides reveals that the day before publicly declaring his support for Leave, Mr Johnson sent a text to the then prime minister suggesting he would back Remain. In the damning book by Sir Craig Oliver, Mr Camerons former communications chief, the Foreign Secretary is accused of having a cavalier approach to the issue. The memoir, Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story Of Brexit, serialised in The Mail on Sunday, claims Mr Johnson sent a text to Mr Cameron warning him that he would be campaigning for Leave, only to send a second message suggesting he could back Remain. Boris Johnson goes 'off script' about when Brexit should happen Sir Craig, handed a knighthood in Mr Camerons controversial resignation honours list, said: 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 hes 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. The following day Mr Cameron received a final text from Mr Johnson saying he would be backing Leave, just nine minutes before he publicly announced his intentions in a chaotic press conference outside his London home. Sir Craig said that Mr Cameron later phoned him to say that Mr Johnsons final message had been clear that he did not expect to win, believing Brexit would be crushed. He says Boris is really a confused Inner, and their previous conversations confirmed that view to him, he wrote. Also in the book, Sir Craig reveals Mr Cameron became intensely frustrated at Theresa Mays unwillingness to declare her intentions in the run-up to the EU referendum campaign, with some wondering if she was even an enemy agent. A second book, All Out War, by the Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman serialised in that paper, claims Mr Cameron branded Mrs May lily-livered after she scuppered his plans for tough new immigration controls. Mr Cameron wanted an emergency brake on migration as part of his EU renegotiation to help convince voters he would cut the numbers of migrants coming into the country. But according to the book he was blocked by Ms May, who was not prepared to take on German Chancellor Angela Merkel 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 just couldnt do something that would receive an immediate raspberry in Europe. Theresa said very, very little, and simply said that we just couldnt 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 wasnt for my lily-livered cabinet colleagues.... 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 }} David Camerons allies have been accused of blaming Theresa May for the humiliating defeat in the EU referendum that cost him his job as Prime Minister. A bitter blame game for the Brexit vote erupted after Sir Craig Oliver, Downing Streets former director of communications, claimed in a book that Ms May rebuffed Mr Cameron on 13 occasions when he asked her to back the Remain campaign and came off the fence only after a dressing down by the then Prime Minister. Sir Craig, whose book Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story Of Brexit, is serialised in The Mail on Sunday, claimed the then-Home Secretary was dubbed Submarine May by No 10 because she always disappeared when it needed her. A second book, All Out War, by Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, claims that Mr Cameron described Ms May as lily-livered after she advised him not to demand tough curbs on EU migration that might have helped him win the referendum. The criticisms of Ms May are explosive because of the implication that she failed to give Mr Cameron her full support in order to boost her prospects in a future Tory leadership election. But Iain Duncan Smith, the former Cabinet minister and prominent Leave campaigner, accused Sir Craig of trying to pin the blame for his own failures running the Remain camp on Ms May. Describing Sir Craigs account as utter fiction, Mr Duncan Smith said: I sat in Cabinet and watched Theresa May as she argued for stronger control of migration from the EU, often against others who later ran the remain campaign. And she made a powerful speech to [the Tory] conference in 2015 calling for tougher controls. He added: Craig Olivers [book] is one of a growing number of foolish attempts by ex-government Remainers who lost to shift responsibility for their failure. The grown-up thing for them to do, instead of carping, is to show some humility and get behind Theresa May as she seeks to get back control of migration with the EU as we leave. Sir Craig was knighted in Mr Camerons controversial resignation honours list and Mr Duncan Smith said: In the past, a Knight of the realm who had failed in battle and lost would have quit the field and retired in humility to better understand their own failings. Sir Patrick McLoughlin, the Tory chairman, told Sky News: Theresa May during the referendum campaign made her position very clear. This is a book that has been written after the event. You have got to have certain spicy things in a book to sell it. I don't blame Craig for doing that. At the time, Theresa was very much part of the Remain campaign. Responding to Mr Duncan Smith's comments, Sir Craig said: Iain appears to have got the wrong end of the stick. I have not made the specific allegations he claims. The book is a sincere and honest attempt to explain what went wrong and I take full responsibility for the mistakes made by the campaign. The inquest into the vote for Brexit by senior Tories could prove a headache for Ms May as she prepares to start withdrawal negotiations early next year. Ministers believe that allies of Mr Cameron want to spread the blame as they try to protect his legacy. Download a free Brexit action plan and investment ideas from Independent partner, Hargreaves Lansdown. 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 }} Jeremy Corbyn has insisted that British troops must face investigation for alleged abuses carried out in Iraq and Afghanistan as Tony Blair added his voice to mounting criticism of the process. Former prime minister Mr Blair said he was "very sorry" that soldiers were being put through such an "ordeal", and said the process looking into claims should never have been set up. But Mr Corbyn said the UK had signed up to international law and it would be a "step too far" to say troops should not face prosecution for their actions. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has pledged legal support for soldiers affected. The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which investigates claims of murder and abuse by British soldiers in Iraq, has come under fire for its handling of allegations. Concerns have been raised about false accusations being made and the length of time taken to address claims. Mr Corbyn told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I have spoken to a number of soldiers who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. I recognise the awful conditions they were asked to serve under and the difficulties they had with that. "But I do think there has to be a recognition that we have signed up to international law on the behaviour of troops." He said the USA and other European countries were going through the same experience. "So I think there has to be investigation," he said. "Saying never to prosecute, I think, would be a step too far." Mr Blair told the Sunday Telegraph: "I do not think this process should ever have been put in place. "I am very sorry that our soldiers and their families have been put through this ordeal." He added: "Our armed forces gave extraordinary service in both Iraq and Afghanistan and this type of investigation simply makes their job harder to do." Former soldiers have said they have been hounded through the courts on unfounded claims and there are growing calls for Ihat to be shut down. At a meeting with defence chiefs on Thursday, Prime Minister Theresa May said "every effort" would be made to stop the legal system being abused in such cases and to protect forces personnel from "vexatious" allegations. Sir Michael insisted that Ihat must continue its work if Britain was to avoid being brought before the International Criminal Court, but said troops facing investigation would be properly supported. 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 }} Jeremy Corbyn is preparing to tighten his stranglehold over Labour by appointing his own shadow cabinet and cementing his control over the partys ruling executive. Critics claimed he had shelved a plan to give MPs a chance to elect his shadow cabinet members, which many saw as the price he must pay for a truce in the party. But having smashed the challenge to his leadership from Owen Smith and seen off a bid to impose the elections, sources began to report that Mr Corbyn would conduct his own reshuffle. At the same time a string of high-ranking MPs prepared for a fight, making speeches at meetings across the partys conference in Liverpool calling for resistance. Recommended Read more Corbyn indicates some Labour MPs may be deselected Battle lines were being drawn less than 24 hours after calls for unity came from all sides of the party in the wake of Mr Corbyns victory. But one senior backbencher laid them to rest, saying the leader only wanted the unity of the graveyard. Leading MPs had said the elections plan drawn up by deputy leader Tom Watson was the only way that Mr Corbyn could regain the trust of his party. But Labour insiders reported that the leaders discussions to tempt some MPs to take up jobs were progressing, giving him the confidence to kick the Watson plan into the long grass. It will now be considered at an event on November 22, long after a reshuffle is likely to have taken place. John McDonnell repeatedly refuses to apologise for calling Tory MP a 'stain on humanity' It came as Mr Corbyn hinted at a limited number of deselections of MPs, as he told the BBCs Andrew Marr that the vast majority of Labour MPs had nothing to fear. He also vowed to give grass-roots Labour supporters more say over policy-making, which could sideline the MPs who oppose him calling it key to building a more equal and decent society. If the leader does appoint his own shadow cabinet it means the crucial seats its members take on Labours ruling National Executive Committee could all be held by his backers - further strengthening his control over that crucial decision-making body. One longstanding MP said: Toms plan was delayed to November which suits his backers just fine. They can then decide on it after a reshuffle, when Jeremys people could well have an extra seat on the NEC. Once they have the NEC, they have the party. At the Progress rally where those from the right of Labour gathered, Alison McGovern MP brandished a Militant newsletter she said she had been handed on the way into the conference. The MP claimed Militant had ruined her childhood in Liverpool, adding: I will not stand by as they ruin the next generation." Wes Streeting MP told the rally: We the people in this room, and across our party cannot surrender to a political tradition that will keep this party in opposition for generations to come. The defiant tone was also struck by Iain McNicol, the Labour General Secretary apparently targeted for removal by Mr Corbyns allies. In his conference address, Mr McNicol pointedly stressed the partys purpose was clause one socialism - referring to the first clause of the party which committed it to being a force in Parliament, rather than simply a mass membership movement, hailed by Mr Corbyn. At a conference fringe meeting one former minister Vernon Coaker said the stakes could not be higher, telling delegates: Our policies have to change. If we dont change we will die. At the meeting staged by the Labour First group, which calls itself the voice of moderates, Mr Coaker added: The real task, of course, is changing the membership and winning the party back to the views of electability as well as principle. Former Shadow Chancellor Chris Leslie said: I cannot give up on my belief in parliamentary democracy. We did not choose revolutionary socialism. 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 Lisa Nandy who quit the Shadow Cabinet with the defeated Mr Smith - said a return to power was impossible unless Labour could win back Tory voters. She pointed to the demise of the old Liberal Party as a warning from history. And Ruth Smeeth, who has been targeted with death threats, said: If Im not going anywhere, not one of you gets to go anywhere because we are staying and we are fighting. Earlier, in a TV studio, Heidi Alexander, the former Shadow Health Secretary, said Mr Corbyn still had to prove he is a competent and capable" leader of the opposition after a dysfunctional first year in office. She warned: What people like me are determined to do is to continue fighting for a Labour Party that speaks to and for the whole of the country, and one which is capable of winning the next general election. But the daunting task facing them became clear when it emerged there had been a further membership boost even in the hours since Mr Corbyns victory, with a further 15,500 people joining the party. The dark mood among the defeated Owen Smith supporters was summed up by Conor McGinn MP, a whip, who joked that Labour was in a much worse position than the doomed British troops in his favourite film Zulu. 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 }} Failure to unite in the wake of the Labour leadership election could kill off the party, Sadiq Khan has warned. The London mayor said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn should drop plans to take revenge on his critics following his victory. "We know from history - the Gang of Four in the 1980s - that when the Labour Party splits, we are out of power for a generation," Mr Khan told The Sunday Times. "Now it is far more serious than that. If the Labour Party splits, it could be the end of the Labour Party." Corbyn re-elected as leader Mr Corbyn confounded his critics by winning his second Labour leadership contest in two years, winning by a large margin of 313,000 votes compared to Owen Smith's193,000. Speaking after his victory at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn vowed to unite the party and claimed that he and Mr Smith were part of the "same Labour family". He told The Observer that his empathic victory was a "vindication" and gave him a "very strong" mandate to lead. "I have been given the authority by the members and that is what I intend to deliver on," he said. 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 With party membership increasing to more than 500,000 - and new recruits overwhelmingly backing his leadership - he added: "The participation is even higher, and my majority is bigger, and the mandate is very strong. So let's use it to reach out. "With this huge membership, that has to be reflected much more in decision-making in the party." 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 }} Labour would scrap the Right To Buy policy in England if elected, the partys shadow housing minister has said. Right To Buy, which lets council tenants buy their homes at a substantial discount of as much as 103,900, has already been scrapped by the Welsh and Scottish governments. The policy, introduced by Margaret Thatcher in 1980, has been blamed for causing a shortage of social housing, with well over a million homes having been transferred to the private sector during its lifetime. Following the examples set by Wales and Scotland, we will suspend the Right To Buy. The right to buy can only make sense in a time of surplus; in a time of shortage it makes no sense at all, Theresa Pearce said in a speech to the Liverpool conference. The shadow housing minister also pledged that Labour would scrap the Governments so-called pay to stay policy, which substantially raises rents on council tenants with higher salaries. The previous Labour government substantially cut the discounts available under the Right To Buy scheme but never fully abolished it. The Conservatives, however, reinvigorated the policy in their first term in coalition, causing a further wave of sell-offs. Far from boosting home ownership, figures produced by the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee in February this year found that 40 per cent of flats sold off under the scheme were now in the hands of private landlords. In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent Show all 6 1 /6 In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties A "cosy" flat in an upmarket area of west London is available to rent for a reasonable 520 a month, provided the tenant doesnt mind showering under the bed In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties Located on Castletown Road, the advertisement on Zoopla boasts: "A cosy, single studio located in the heart of Londons fashionable and up-market area of West Kensington, this compact mezzanine includes not only a fully furnished living area including table, chair, wardrobe and chest of draws [sic] but also a personal shower and kitchenette complete with storage" In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties The property is recommended for "students, working professionals and those looking for a thriving London life at an affordable rate" Rightmove In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties A studio flat for rent in Kember Street, north London was advertised for 737-a-month Rightmove In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties The 'well-used' kitchen of a flat in Hoxton, which was on the market for 997 per month Zoopla In pictures: Tiny London flats to rent London properties For only 125 per week you could be the lucky owner of this single studio flat, complete with shower and kitchenette, located between Barons Court and West Kensington Zoopla With grant funding for social housing cut sharply and councils heavily restricted from borrowing to build, sold houses have not been replaced, despite a Government pledge to build one-for-one replacements. Department for Communities and Local Government data shows that local authorities in England begun building or had acquired just 422 homes, down from 715 in the previous quarter. Sales massively outstripped replacements, with 3,362 homes sold under the scheme a slight increase on 3,276 in the previous quarter. The National Audit Office warned last week that a fivefold increase was required in housebuilding to meet the one-for-one replacement target. Housing minister Gavin Barwell last week defended the scheme. From London to Leeds, Right To Buy plays an important part in building a country that works for everyone, helping thousands of people become homeowners for the first time, he said. And were determined to replace the additional homes sold on a one-for-one basis, nationally providing new affordable homes for rent for those who need them. 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 British Government is supporting a new oil well project that could put one of the worlds most endangered species of giraffe at further risk, environmentalists have warned. The project could see dozens of wells drilled in the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, which is home to one of the last remaining populations of the Rothschild giraffe. There are thought to be fewer than 1,500 of the animals, named after British zoologist Lord (Walter) Rothschild, left in the wild. A recent BBC documentary, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, followed the efforts of conservationists to relocate some of the giraffes to protect them from oil-drilling projects. British company Tullow Oil has been the subject of Government talks about providing UK taxpayer-backed loans and insurance for its operations in Uganda, according to leaked documents released by Greenpeaces Energydesk. Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: People will be wondering why the UK Government considered offering taxpayers money to a British firm drilling for oil in the heart of one of Ugandas oldest national parks. The project will breach international guidelines on conservation and could put an endangered giraffe species at risk." He added: Instead of backing risky oil exploration around the world, the Government should help cut our dependence on fossil fuels and support our partners abroad to develop sustainable energy sources. A spokesman for Tullow Oil told The Sunday Times: We have committed to protect a number of species throughout the development including the Rothschild giraffe. 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 surge in killing African elephants for ivory has led to the majestic animal's numbers falling by more than 100,000 in a decade, conservationists have warned. The rise in poaching over the past decade is the worst Africa has experienced since the 1970s and 1980s, and is the main driver for the most serious declines in elephant populations in 25 years. Estimates from a range of sources including aerial surveys and dung counts suggest numbers are 93,000 lower than in 2006, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said. But because the new figures include elephants from previously uncounted populations, the experts say the true population loss is closer to 111,000 in a decade. The figures come after the Duke of Cambridge spoke of his fears the African elephant will disappear from the wild due to poaching by the time his daughter Princess Charlotte turns 25. A report presented to an international conference on protecting wildlife under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) warned habitat loss also posed a long-term threat to the species. The findings are based on more than 275 new or updated estimates for individual elephant populations across 37 countries where they are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Overall there are estimated to be some 415,000 elephants in Africa, although there may be an additional 117,000 to 135,000 in areas which have not been systematically surveyed. IUCN director general Inger Andersen said: These new numbers reveal the truly alarming plight of the majestic elephant - one of the world's most intelligent animals and the largest terrestrial mammal alive today. It is shocking, but not surprising that poaching has taken such a dramatic toll on this iconic species. This report provides further scientific evidence of the need to scale up efforts to combat poaching. But she added: These efforts must not detract from addressing other major and increasingly devastating threats such as habitat loss. The new data comes as experts warn the illegal ivory trade shows no signs of decline. Analysis by wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic said the global trade continued unabated in 2015, with a continuing rising trend in large raw ivory shipments of 100 kilograms or more. Responding to the Traffic report, WWF's Ginette Hemley said: It's increasingly clear that despite unprecedented global calls to end elephant poaching, international crime syndicates are still shipping vast amounts of ivory out of Africa. She called for efforts to bring down trafficking kingpins, close domestic ivory markets and quash consumer demand for ivory, in order to save elephants. Wounded elephant rescue Show all 12 1 /12 Wounded elephant rescue Wounded elephant rescue Ben the elephant arrives looking for help Staff and guests at the Bumi Hills Foundation in Zimbabwe were surprised to see a wounded bull elephant seeming seeking help outside their window. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue A vet arrives Vet Dr Richard Hoare flew in from Harare to treat Ben. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Getting Ben on the ground It takes 12 people to get the tranquilised animal on the ground so his wound can be treated. They also gave him a tracking collar so they can see how he is doing in the future. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Ben's gunshot wound The elephant had a septic wound which was 4cm in diameter and 10cm deep. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Looking after a tranquilised elephant The team placed a stick in Ben's trunk to make sure he could breathe. They monitored his breathing throughout the procedure. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Looking for the bullet Workers at the foundation used metal detectors to locate the bullets, however none were found. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Cleaning out the wound The vet and the safari team set about treating the wound, cleaning it out with a probe. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Cleaning out the wound A incision was created below the wound to allow fluids to drain out. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Elephants need a lot of antibiotics Dr Hoare administered a staggering 120ml of long-acting antibiotics to Ben. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue In the wars The two bullet holes in Ben's ears show he has been a victim of poachers before. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Bumi Hills Foundation Helping Ben was a team effort by those at the foundation. Bumi Hills Foundation Wounded elephant rescue Ben's back on his feet A little unstable, but Ben managed to stand up a few minutes after the team were finished, and made his way tentatively back into the bush. Bumi Hills Foundation The IUCN's elephant status report said East Africa's population has halved, mainly due to a 60% decline in numbers in Tanzania. But elephant numbers have been stable or increasing since 2006 in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Central Africa's forest elephants have been hit by poaching for ivory since the 1990s, with the Democratic Republic of Congo's once significant population reduced to tiny remnants. Gabon, Cameroon and Congo's forest elephants have been affected by heavy poaching, while the savannah populations of Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic have also been hit. And Southern Africa is now seeing the emergence of poaching as a threat, with declines in Mozambique and some parts of Zimbabwe, while major populations in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are stable or increasing, the report said. On Thursday, William told an audience of campaigners and policymakers at Time For Change - an event organised by the conservation charity Tusk, of which he is a patron - that he was not prepared to be part of a generation that lets these iconic species disappear from the wild. 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 }} Theresa May has been told she must clarify the details of a post-Brexit Britain soon, or face an exodus of major US-based corporations who operate from the UK. Investors have reportedly warned the Prime Minister they could begin to move staff to other European countries before Britain leaves the EU if they are not given an outline of how trade negotiations will work in future. The warning was made to Ms May at a high-profile meeting with the heads of several multinational banks in New York, according to The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper said that big financial players such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock attended the meeting, at which Ms May reportedly did not disclose how Britain would negotiate its new relationship with the EU. Instead, the Prime Minister said she would pursue a deal in the national interest, an anonymous source close to the meetings told the newspaper. The source said: The message was clear from at least some of those present: if Theresa May cannot provide some early clarity about where the negotiations will end up, the only way to avoid that uncertainty would be a move towards Europe there will not be time to wait. Hedge fund manager made millions betting markets would collapse after Brexit Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, has also urged Ms May to begin the process of leaving the EU. During a visit to Downing Street last week, Mr Schulz said the European Parliament wanted Britain to have completed the exit process by early 2019. He argued it would be wrong for British voters to take part in EU Parliament elections in June 2019 while the negotiations were ongoing. The moment the Government triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, a two-year countdown begins during which negotiations would have to be complete. What experts have said about Brexit Show all 11 1 /11 What experts have said about Brexit What experts have said about Brexit Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond The Chancellor claims London can still be a world financial hub despite Brexit One of Britains great strengths is the ability to offer and aggregate all of the services the global financial services industry needs This has not changed as a result of the EU referendum and I will do everything I can to ensure the City of London retains its position as the worlds leading international financial centre. Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Yanis Varoufakis Greece's former finance minister compared the UK relations with the EU bloc with a well-known song by the Eagles: You can check out any time you like, as the Hotel California song says, but you can't really leave. The proof is Theresa May has not even dared to trigger Article 50. It's like Harrison Ford going into Indiana Jones' castle and the path behind him fragmenting. You can get in, but getting out is not at all clear Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Michael OLeary Ryanair boss says UK will be screwed by EU in Brexit trade deals: I have no faith in the politicians in London going on about how the world will want to trade with us. The world will want to screw you that's what happens in trade talks, he said. They have no interest in giving the UK a deal on trade Getty What experts have said about Brexit Tim Martin JD Wetherspoon's chairman has said claims that the UK would see serious economic consequences from a Brexit vote were "lurid" and wrong: We were told it would be Armageddon from the OECD, from the IMF, David Cameron, the chancellor and President Obama who were predicting locusts in the fields and tidal waves in the North Sea" PA What experts have said about Brexit Mark Carney Governor of Bank of England is 'serene' about Bank of England's Brexit stance: I am absolutely serene about the judgments made both by the MPC and the FPC Reuters What experts have said about Brexit Christine Lagarde IMF chief urges quick Brexit to reduce economic uncertainty: We want to see clarity sooner rather than later because we think that a lack of clarity feeds uncertainty, which itself undermines investment appetites and decision making Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Inga Beale Lloyds chief executive says Brexit is a major issue: "Clearly the UK's referendum on its EU membership is a major issue for us to deal with and we are now focusing our attention on having in place the plans that will ensure Lloyd's continues trading across Europe EPA What experts have said about Brexit Colm Kelleher President of US bank Morgan Stanley says City of London will suffer as result of the EU referendum: I do believe, and I said prior to the referendum, that the City of London will suffer as result of Brexit. The issue is how much What experts have said about Brexit Richard Branson Virgin founder believes we've lost a THIRD of our value because of Brexit and cancelled a deal worth 3,000 jobs: We're not any worse than anybody else, but I suspect we've lost a third of our value which is dreadful for people in the workplace.' He continued: "We were about to do a very big deal, we cancelled that deal, that would have involved 3,000 jobs, and thats happening all over the country" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Barack Obama US President believes Britain was wrong to vote to leave the EU: "It is absolutely true that I believed pre-Brexit vote and continue to believe post-Brexit vote that the world benefited enormously from the United Kingdom's participation in the EU. We are fully supportive of a process that is as little disruptive as possible so that people around the world can continue to benefit from economic growth" Getty Images What experts have said about Brexit Kristin Forbes American economist and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England argues that the economy had been less stormy than many expected following the shock referendum result: For nowthe economy is experiencing some chop, but no tsunami. The adverse winds could quickly pick up and merit a stronger policy response. But recently they have shifted to a more favourable direction Getty So far Ms May has publicly said she would not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016, though European Council President Donald Tusk has claimed she told him it would be implemented in early 2017. Following the result of the Brexit vote in June, US investment bank Morgan Stanley was rumoured to be moving 2,000 London jobs to Dublin and Frankfurt, but this was later denied. Financial services contributed 126.9bn to the UK economy in 2014, according to a government report around 8 per cent of the countrys total added value that year. 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 }} Officials in the city of Charlotte have buckled to mounting pressure and released video footage that shows the shooting by a police of a black man - an incident that has sparked nights of angry protest. Barely 24 hours after he said he would not release the footage as it could inflame an already tense situation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said on Saturday afternoon he felt able to release some footage captured on police cameras. Police also released photographs that included what police said was a gun that Keith Scott had in his hand. What we are releasing are the objective facts, he said. Im standing behind the facts. The footage has been taken from two police cameras - one attatched to a dash cam in a police vehicle and the second from a body camera being worn by a uniformed police officer who was present when Mr Scott was shot and killed on Tuesday. He said he will not be showing all the footage that police have. The footage released on Saturday showed Mr Scott get out of his car and walk backwards from officers. It is at that point that he was shot. CNN said the video contained repeated orders from police officers to "drop a gun" before he was shot multiple times. The time stamp on the video is 3.52pm. However, the footage does not show Mr Scott pointing a weapon. After he has been shot, it shows officers trying to provide him with first aid. He died at the scene. Police have conceded that the footage itself does not prove the probable cause that would have permitted an officer to shoot and kill 43-year-old Mr Scott. But he said he would also provide other evidence that would make clear why police had shot him. Today we are going to give you everything we can give you, he said. You have to put all the evidence together. Mr Putney said that Mr Scott was seen rolling a joint in his car. He was later seen picking up a gun. At that point, police decided to intervene. When you're in possession of marijuana and in possession of a gun, that is a public safety issue, he said. Police have claimed that Mr Scott was carrying a gun and refused to drop it when he was repeatedly told to do so by the officers. Yet Mr Scotts family has insisted he did not own a weapon and was sitting in his car reading a book as he waited for his daughter to return from school. Mr Scotts family has already seen the footage and disputed the claim by Mr Putney that he was pointing a gun at officers. They say the footage does not answer key questions and they do not know enough now to form an opinion on whether the officer who killed Scott should be charged. He doesn't appear to be acting aggressively to the officers on the scene Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the Scott family, told a news conference. Unfortunately we are left with far more questions than we have answers, Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said. It does not make sense to us how this incident resulted in the loss of life. Mr Dotch, who said that he himself is a member of the media, noted that much of the media attention has focused on what kind of person Scott was, whether he was a good person". Of course he was, Mr Dotch said, but added that that is not what truly matters. He was an American citizen who deserved better, he said. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts has also said the footage is not conclusive. Members of Keith Lamont Scott's family has disputed the police's version of events (EPA) On Friday, the family of Mr Scott released its own video footage of the incident that was taken by the mans widow, Rakeyia Scott. The video, which was released to NBC and the New York Times through the familys lawyer, does not show the moment of the shooting itself, and does prove whether the 43-year-old was carrying a gun, as police have claimed he was. But it does provide an insight into the chaotic moments before her husband was killed, as he sat in his car waiting for his daughter to get off a school bus close to their home, ten miles east of Charlotte. Dont shoot him. Dont shoot him. He has no weapon. He has no weapon. Dont shoot him, Mr Scott wife, Rakeyia, can be heard shouting. A police officer than yells: Dont shoot. Drop the gun. Drop the f***ing gun. Ms Scott can he heard shouting at her husband: Keith, get out the car. Keith. Keith! Dont you do it! Dont you do it! Keith! At that point, a series of shots follow in quick succession. Mr Scotts wife sounds increasingly horrified. F***. 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. 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 woman has been charged with sex trafficking and child sex abuse offences after police suspected her of trying to prostitute her own baby for crystal meth. Facebook messages between the mother and another man, both form Oklahoma, were used to discuss the supply of the drugs in exchange for giving up the baby. The woman allegedly sent at least three pictures of her six-month-old childs genitals when the man offered to get her drugs. Due to the severity of the alleged crime, secret service agents have taken over proceedings. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The pair have been on-off partners for a number of years but both have now been charged with numerous charges including conspiracy to manufacture child pornography, possession of child pornography and sex trafficking children. According to court documents, the man messaged the child's mother and asked if she remembered what he had wanted before". She then responded with the graphic pictures, the documents said. He then reportedly replied: So you wanna give that up? During an interview with investigators, the mother said she had sexually assaulted an 18-month-old child with the man on a previous occasion. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One man was killed and four others were injured in a pair of shootings on Sunday, including one which took place at a party on the University of Illinois campus. George Korchev, a Mundelein resident, was shot and killed after an argument broke out at a nearby apartment and carried out into the street. Mr Korchev would have started his new job as a registered nurse on Monday, authorities told reporters. "Our preliminary investigation completely points to an argument taking place at the party and the argument spilled out into the street and that's when a fight occurred," Champaign police spokesperson LaEisha Meaderds said in a statement. It's currently unclear exactly what provoked the fight. Gunshots were first reported to police at 12:40am and Mr Korchev was pronounced dead just 20 minutes later at the Carle Foundation Hospital. University Chancellor Robert J Jones soon announced that a student and a staff member were among the people shot and that a public vigil would be held on Tuesday night. "A life has been taken. Four others have had their own forever changed. The families and friends who know them are shaken. None of these victims was even involved in the incident or attended the party that started it all. They were bystanders caught in a senseless act of violence," Jones said in the statement. "We can all understand the grief and shock of those who knew the young man killed last night and the pain and fear of the others who were injured. We can offer them our support, our sympathy and our compassion." Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen announced that city and university police are pursuing all leads to hunt down the suspect. "This type of senseless gun violence is unacceptable in our community," the mayor said on Facebook 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 terrified toddler in the pink pyjamas prods, pulls and cries, but she is powerless to wake her mother. The 36-year-old mother, identified by news outlets as Mandy McGowen, lies unconscious in the toy aisle of a Lawrence, Mass., Family Dollar store, after an apparent drug overdose, police said. Even for law enforcement veterans such as Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick, the dramatic video shot by a store employee Sunday is hard to watch. Its heartbreaking to see a child in that situation, he said. We do see children in these kind of situations at times, and it shows you the power of addiction. The child has been removed from her mothers custody, officials said. In Massachusetts, officials say, tragic scenes like the one captured on camera have become almost commonplace. The state finds itself in the grip of a heroin epidemic so deadly that the states overdose rate is more than twice the national average, according to the Boston Globe. A substantial and spiking number of overdoses in Massachusetts involves both heroin and prescription drugs, something you rarely find elsewhere in the United States, the paper reported. According to Boston Magazine: Massachusetts saw an estimated 1,659 unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2015, according to the latest figures from the Department of Public Health. Twenty-two of them were in Lawrence, a city that officials say has become a waypoint for heroin trafficking through the Merrimack Valley to northern New England and Canada. Police say McGowen could have been another statistic if emergency responders hadnt rushed to the scene and given her two doses of Narcan, a prescription drug that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses overdoses. Fitzpatrick said police who responded to the scene found drug paraphernalia in a diaper bag belonging to McGowen, a resident of Salem, New Hampshire. An officer found baggies and straws with drug residue on them, Fitzpatrick said. She couldve been killed. Fitzpatrick said police plan to formally charge McGowen with child endangerment in the coming weeks, but they lack the evidence to bring drug charges against her. McGowens 2-year-old child was taken into custody by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), according to a statement provided by the department. On Sunday, the Department of Children and Families received a report on this situation and took emergency custody of the child. Due to state and federal confidentiality laws, we cannot provide any further information, the statement said. A DCF official told The Washington Post that the agency is investigating the incident captured on camera. State law allows the agency to take emergency custody of a child if the department has reasonable cause to believe a childs health or safety is in immediate danger from abuse or neglect and if the agency has reasonable cause to believe that the removal is necessary to protect the child from abuse or neglect, according to Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 119, Section 51B. McGowen, meanwhile, told WBZ-TV that Sundays overdose was her rock-bottom moment. She told the station that shed sniffed fentanyl, a narcotic, earlier in the day when she received a call to pick up her daughter. After picking up the toddler, she decided to purchase diapers at the Family Dollar store, but remembers nothing else. It shouldnt have happened period, she told the station. I shouldnt have taken anything or been where I was or who I was with. If I knew I was going to be like that I wouldnt have had my daughter with me, she added. Thats not what I want my daughter to see, her holding my hand trying to get me up and crying her eyes out. Now that she has lost her daughter, she told WBZ-TV, shes more determined to beat her addiction so she can regain custody of her child. Dont judge me. I had a 2-year-old there, and where I go people are pointing and it hurts, she said. Lawrence Police Capt. Roy Vasque, who leads the departments Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit, told the Eagle Tribune he wasnt particularly surprised by the video from Family Dollar. Increasingly, he told the paper, police are encountering heroin users who bring their children with them to purchase drugs or expose them to their addiction. To put a child in such a situation shows how strong the addiction is, he said. We certainly point that out to them, he added. Well say, Do you understand the danger you are putting your child in?" Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Finland against racism and violence under the slogan "Enough is enough" following the death of a man who was assaulted during a neo-Nazi rally. The demonstration snaked through the capital of Helsinki as participants and spectators held green balloons and signs reading "No to Nazism". A 28-year-old man died six days after hitting his head on the ground after he reportedly spat in front the Finnish Resistance Movement during a rally on 10 September. Participants and spectators held green balloons and signs reading "No to Nazism" during a demonstration against racism and far right movements in downtown Helsinki, Finland, 24 September, 2016 (Reuters) A 26-year-old suspect is being held on suspicion of assault and homicide. Neither the man nor the suspect have been identified by police. Elsewhere in Helsinki on Saturday, an anti-immigration counter-demonstration took place under the slogan "Close borders!" No confrontations were reported. Last year, around 32,000 asylum seekers travelled to Finland, mostly from Iraq. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A charity leader in the Calais 'Jungle' has said it is important to operate a "blanket ban" on volunteer-refugee relationships in the camp, despite news that a former volunteer and refugee who met there are getting married. Clare Mosely, founder of Care4Calais, told The Independent that although it is possible for genuine romances to develop between volunteers and residents of the camp, any such relationships must be strongly discouraged because of the damaging emotional impact it could have on the refugee. Ms Mosely was speaking after it emerged a British woman is to marry a Syrian refugee she met while volunteering in the camp. Sarah Gayton, a management consultant, is to wed Hamoude Khalil, a law student from Aleppo, after the pair struck up a romance in the camp last year while working together in a warehouse run by Auberge des Migrants, one of the largest charities operating in Calais. The pair are now both living in the UK after Mr Khalil was reportedly given leave to remain for five years after illegally entering the country in the back of a lorry, despite promising Miss Gayton he wouldn't. Miss Gayton spoke out about the relationship in the Sunday Times after it emerged there had been issues with sexual relationships forming in the camp, with some volunteers accused of sexually exploiting refugees, as revealed by The Independent. She told the paper there had been no objections raised by any of the charities in Calais over her relationship with Mr Khalil, and claimed those who saw them together knew it was for real. She said: From my point of view, we are both consenting adults and why shouldnt we be in a relationship? There was never anything said. Everybody saw us together happy, and there was not a concern about that at all. But Ms Mosely, who used to work with Miss Gayton at Auberge before she set up her own charity, has since told The Independent that although she believed the relationship was "genuine", no such romances should be allowed to develop within the camp because it risks having a damaging impact due to the "emotional vulnerability" of refugees. She said: I guess in this case its worked out, but the problem is that you cant know that. The refugees are emotionally vulnerable. Thats the problem. "That relationship started early on. The issues over the emotional well-being of refugees and their vulnerability have only been raised recently. When we first got here we didnt have time to think about anything. We were in emergency mode and were just throwing food and blankets at people for the first few months. "But as time has gone on the emotional and social problems that develop from living in the camp have become more of a factor. In our briefings we now have a section called 'No Promises', which says you shouldnt promise anything to a refugee, not just in terms of relationships, but anything. "So we have a blanket ban on relationships with refugees, Theres no other way around it." Ms Mosely added that despite the strict rules care4Calais has in place, any regulation was difficult to manage in the camp due to the quick turnaround of volunteers. She said: It's hard to keep things consistent when youve got a large number of volunteers who are changing every day. We have 20 to 60 people everyday, up to 20 of whom are new to the camp, especially at the weekends when you might have people who come for just one day. Ms Mosely has previously spoken to The Independent about the issue of sexual exploitation by volunteers against refugees in Calais, giving the example of a male volunteer was recently caught behaving inappropriately with female refugees, and said she was "pleased" the problems had been brought to light in our article. Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Show all 8 1 /8 Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' People gather outside the Eritrean church at the camp The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' Heavy rainfall has turned the camp into a 'swamp' The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project Calais refugee camp is at 'crisis point' A fire at the camp destroyed shelters for 180 people The Hummingbird Project A spokesperson for Auberge des Migrants also said it was a problem, citing a case where a British woman developed a "bad reputation" in the camp by sleeping with multiple refugees and stating the charity had "strict rules to prevent this sort of thing from happening". Auberge have not responded to a request for comment on Miss Gayton's relationship to Mr Khalil. Both charities said that while they brief their volunteers about the ban on sexual relationships with refugees, it is impossible to control the conduct of the people who come to volunteer independently - which applies for around 20 per cent of volunteers in the camp. The issue was initially raised after Brendan Woodhouse, a male volunteer, started a discussion on a Facebook group for Jungle workers called Calais People to People Solidarity, in a post that was seen by The Independent before it was later deleted by the group's admin. Mr Woodhouse raised the issue of sexual exploitation and its damaging and direct correlation to the provision of aid in the Jungle". He was subsequently subjected to a barrage of abuse from fellow volunteers accusing him of sexism and misogyny, but many agreed with him that exploitative volunteer-refugee relationships were a serious issue in the camp that should not be covered up. Mr Wooodhouse has since told The Independent a taskforce has been set up to tackle the problem, but added that it would be a complex process because there are "a lot of complicated issues to deal with". For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Iraqi refugee could be forced to leave Denmark after he was found to have celebrated the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks on Facebook. The 25-year-old was sentenced to three months in prison and given a conditional deportation order - meaning he will be forced to leave if he commits any more crimes - after he was found to have posted a link to a story about the terror attack in January 2015. According to Danish media reports, he captioned the post with a smiley face and a comment in Arabic that suggested God deserved the honour for the killings. Twelve people, including 10 employees of the magazine, were killed when jihadists stormed their headquarters during an editorial meeting. Two days later an accomplice of the two gunmen, Amedy Coulibaly, took hostages at a Jewish supermarket in the Porte de Vincennes district of Paris. He murdered four Jewish hostages and took 15 others hostage before police stormed the deli and killed him. The attacks, along with another separate terror attack on the city in November which killed 130 people, shocked the world with French President Francois Hollande declaring that the country was at war. The unnamed man attempted to justify the post saying he was merely expressing his faith. Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Show all 9 1 /9 Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Policemen outside Rouen's cathedral during the funeral of Jacques Hamel, the priest who was killed in a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray in Normandy on 26 July during a hostage-taking claimed by Islamic State group Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two jihadists, both 19, slit Hamel's throat while he was celebrating mass in an attack that shocked France as well as the Catholic Church Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Muslims place flowers and hold a minute of silence in front of the church if Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, western France, where French priest Jacques Hamel was killed on 26 July Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Two people hold each other by the new makeshift memorial in Nice, in tribute to the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack at the Promenade des Anglais Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the truck attack that killed 84 people in Nice on France's national holiday. Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, smashed a 19-tonne truck into a packed crowd of people in the Riviera city celebrating Bastille Day Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police work at a site where a Syrian migrant set off an explosive device in Ansbach, southern Germany, on 25 July, killing himself and wounding a dozen others Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis A Syrian migrant set off an explosion at a bar in southern Germany that killed himself and wounded a dozen others in the third attack to hit Bavaria in a week. The 27-year-old, who had spent a stint in a psychiatric facility, had intended to target a music festival in the city of Ansbach but was turned away because he did not have a ticket Friebe/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis Police officers walk along train tracks in Wuerzburg southern Germany on 19 July, a day after a man attacked train passengers with an axe. German authorities said they had found a hand-painted IS flag among the belongings of the man, an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, who seriously injured four members of a family of tourists from Hong Kong in his rampage Daniel Roland/AFP/Getty Images Terrorism in 2016: Terror attacks in Europe claimed by Isis German police killed a teenage assailant after he attacked passengers on a train in Wuerzburg, southerg Germany with an axe and a knife on 18 July, seriously wounding three people Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images He told Copenhagen City Court last week: I just praised Allah. I do that every day, Danish broadcaster DR reported. The Iraqi national was a former spokesman for the controversial organisation Called to Islam (Kaldet til Islam) which is said to advocate the introduction of Sharia Law in Denmark, according to Hate Speech International. It was also revealed in court that he had been previously sentenced for threatening to decapitate the chairman of the Danish Syrian Association over his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Isis. Recommended Read more 162 bodies recovered after boat carrying hundreds of refugees sinks Prosecutors had originally asked for five months imprisonment and immediate deportation. The man was prosecuted under Article 136 of the Danish Penal Code which forbids publicly approving of terrorist acts. It is punishable by up to two years in prison. His lawyer argued that the Facebook posts were private and only supposed to be read by his 50 friends. He also said the man had deleted the posts once a friend had pointed out how they could be construed. The lawyer immediately filed an appeal against the sentence on Wednesday, The Local reported. 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 }} Last year during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the stunning Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh was crowded with tourists from all around the world. During the same festival season last week, the beaches were half-filled, and hotel occupancy rates were low. At night, on the seaside promenade, restaurants and bars were largely empty. Some were closed. The ghost of Metrojet Flight 9268 still haunts Sharm el-Sheikh. Its bad, said Mohammed Adam, who scours the beaches looking for customers to sign up for snorkelling trips and other activities. Last Eid, this place was packed. But since the bombing, there have been a lot less people. Its been nearly a year since the Russian passenger plane was brought down by a bomb, killing all 224 people aboard, shortly after it left Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport. The attack, claimed by the Islamic States affiliate in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, raised questions about Egypts security at its airports. It prompted Moscow to halt all civilian flights to Egypt, while Britain and other nations stopped their airlines from operating routes to Sharm el-Sheikh, which accounts for a third of Egypts annual tourism revenue. Since then, the Egyptian government has tried to regain the worlds confidence. It hired consultants to audit security at its airports, and has campaigned hard in Russia, Ukraine and other countries to woo back the hundreds of thousands of tourists who once flowed to Egypts resorts. But with few signs of that strategy working, a sense of collective anger and frustration has built up among the tens of thousands of Egyptians whose livelihoods depend on tourism. They blame Western embassies for travel bans and the international media for damaging stories about terrorism in Egypt, insisting that their town is safe. Some blame President Abdel Fatah al-Sisis government for its deteriorating relationships with some European nations the source of many tourists over human rights and other concerns, adding grist to the mounting criticism of Sisis handling of the countrys troubled economy. Before the Russian airplane fell down, everything was perfect, said Mohammed Gamal, 32, the owner of two tourist shops on the promenade. The town was full, the hotels were full. Bars, discos, restaurants and coffee shops they were all full. Now, we have a lot of problems because we dont have Western tourists. The scene of the crash last year (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) Those problems are visible in Gamals shops. Last Eid, he was selling about 300 a day worth of locally made perfumes, spices and papyrus paper emblazoned with portraits of pyramids and the sphinx. This year, he was lucky if he made 15 a day. He has laid off all five of his employees. Many of the hotels and restaurants also have reduced staffing, an impact reaching far beyond the town. Workers here, from hotel receptionists to taxi drivers, hail from all over Egypt, often sending money back to their families. Tourism is an important source of foreign currency. To be sure, thousands of Egyptians and Arabs from around the region still come to Sharm el-Sheikh, though in lower numbers than last year. But for tourism operators, Westerners are the real prize because they spend more money at hotels, restaurants and shops, and hand out bigger tips. We wish to see more Russians, English and other Europeans, said Mina Nasiif, an employee at Trips House, which sells boat and desert excursions. His boss, Ahmed Ibrahim, said that terrorism is everywhere, in England, France, everywhere, but tourists are still going to London and Paris, adding that his business had shrunk by 70 per cent since the plane bombing. It is because of politics, he said. One glaring example is Italy. This year, bookings by Italians planning vacations in Egypt have dropped 90 per cent compared with the summer of 2015, according to a report released by the market research firm Reportlinker, citing Mohamed Abdel Gabbar, head of foreign tourism at the Egyptian Tourism Authority. The report offered three reasons: the plane bombing; the torture and murder of an Italian student, Giulio Regeni, in Cairo this year, which human rights activists say bore the hallmarks of Egyptian security services; and an incident in which Egyptian security forces mistakenly killed Mexican tourists in September 2015. Camels that used to give tourist rides are fed out of dumpsters in the Old Market district (Getty) (Getty Images) Whats most frustrating, according to people who work in the towns tourism sector, is that security is stronger than it has ever been in Sharm el-Sheikh. There are more than a dozen checkpoints along roads leading into the city where police look at identification cards. In the town, local and tourism police patrol the streets. History, though, inspires confidence. Sharm el-Sheikh recovered from previous shocks to its economy, including several deadly militant attacks along the Red Sea coast between 2004 and 2006. There are small signs of a turnaround emerging. Egypts tourism promotion authority is sponsoring a concert by well-known Ukrainian artists to attract Ukrainian tourists, according to local media reports. Turkish Airlines recently resumed flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, and some smaller European carriers are planning to follow suit this year. I hope the Russians, the British and other Westerners return by the end of the year, Gamal said. Or else youll see a lot more places close down. Washington Post For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A man who shot a Jordanian writer dead outside the Supreme Court in Amman has been identified as a local imam in his late 40s. Jordanian media reported the alleged shooters name and picture on Sunday, which was supplied to them by a police officer under condition of anonymity. The reports said Riad Abdullah is from Hashi, a poor neighbourhood of the Jordanian capital, and had recently returned from a trip abroad. No further details were given. Nahed Hattar, a prominent atheist Jordanian writer, turned himself into the authorities after a police investigation was launched into a cartoon he shared on Facebook. It depicted God in paradise, being treated as a servant by a bearded Arab man, who is smoking in bed with two women and calling for wine. Relatives said the cartoon was meant to illustrate what Hattar saw as the twisted religious views of Isis extremists. All physical depictions of God or the Prophet Muhammad, even respectful ones, are forbidden under mainstream Islamic tradition, and are illegal in deeply conservative Jordan. Witnesses and police said Hattar, 56, was preparing to enter the courthouse for a hearing on Sunday morning when the gunman shot him three times at close range. The shooter was arrested at the scene. Government spokesperson Mohammad Momani condemned the killing as a heinous crime. Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar shot dead But Hattars family criticised the governments response. The prime minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing, said Saad Hattar, a cousin of the writer. "Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them," a family statement said. Hattar has long been a controversial figure in Jordan. While born a Christian, he considered himself an atheist. He was a strong supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad and an outspoken critic of Isis and Al-Qaeda. His shooting was the latest in a string of deadly security lapses in Jordan. 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 }} Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has condemned Russias actions in supporting Bashar al-Assads government in the Syrian civil war, suggesting that the country could be guilty of war crimes. [Russian President Vladimir Putins] regime is not only handing Assad the revolver, he is using the revolver himself, Mr Johnson said on The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. Both the Russian and Syrian governments deny carrying out the Monday attack on a UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy near Aleppo that killed 20 people. Mr Johnson has previously said he believes the attack was carried out by Russian planes. Mr Johnson criticised the Wests response to Russian involvement in the five-year conflict as impotent, adding that there has been no appetite from Western governments to assemble a viable response to the horrific humanitarian situation in the country. The Syrian governments renewed attack on rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo is barbaric, Mr Johnson added. President Bashar al-Assads air force, backed by Russian jets, launched a ferocious air assault on East Aleppo this week after the breakdown of a US and Russian brokered ceasefire. Residents in the besieged city say theyve never experienced anything like the current wave of bombings. Aleppo residents plead for help as Syria fighting rages Approximately 250,000 people remain trapped in rebel neighbourhoods of the city. At least 52 people died on Saturday alone, including 11 children, the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, and two million people in government and rebel held areas are without running water. The local civil defence service said rescue efforts have been hampered by the intensity of the bombings, and two of their four operation centres are out of action thanks to targeted strikes. The death toll is expected to rise as so many remain trapped in rubble. A Syrian army source told state media this week that the air assault will be comprehensive and will last for some time, followed up by a ground offensive designed to oust rebel groups for good. Jeremy Corbyn questions appointment of Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary The Syrian army and an allied Shia Palestinian militia managed to capture the Palestinian refugee camp of Handarat from rebels on Saturday. There are reports of fighting between regime forces and rebels on several edges of the city. Speaking from the United Nations in New York on Friday, Mr Johnson said that the renewed attack showed that President Assad has no legitimacy any more. Look at what hes done to his people, his country he is overwhelmingly responsible [for the deaths of 400,000 people] in this odious conflict. Mr Johnson, who was appointed as Foreign Secretary when Theresa May took over as Prime Minister in July, is an advocate for a peace plan in Syria which involves an 18-month hand over to a transitional government, free elections, and the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power. The UK, US and France have called an emergency UN security council meeting on Sunday to address the escalating situation in Aleppo. 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 }} Britain's ambassador to the United Nations has walked out of an emergency session of the Security Council after accusing Russia of committing war crimes. Matthew Rycroft, alongside the French and US ambassadors, walked out of the sesson when Syria's ambassador was called to speak at an emergency meeting demanding a halt to the violence in Aleppo. The walkout on Sunday by Mr Rycroft, US envoy Samantha Power, and France's Francois Delattre demonstrated Western anger and frustration at Syrian President Bashar Assad's decision to try to take Aleppo after US-Russian talks failed to revive a ceasefire. In separate speeches to the council before the walkout, the three countries accused Russia of backing the Syrian offensive while talking about a cessation of hostilities. Mr Rycroft said it was "difficult to deny" that both the Syrian regime and its Russian ally were committing war crimes. In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Show all 19 1 /19 In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrian boys cry following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov speaks to the media in Moscow, Russia. Konashenkov strongly warned the United States against striking Syrian government forces and issued a thinly-veiled threat to use Russian air defense assets to protect them AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Syrians wait to receive treatment at a hospital following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Alepp Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov speaks at a briefing in the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia. Antonov said the Russian air strikes in Syria have killed about 35,000 militants, including about 2,700 residents of Russia AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Jameel Mustafa Habboush, receives oxygen from civil defence volunteers, known as the white helmets, as they rescue him from under the rubble of a building following Russian air strikes on the rebel-held Fardous neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo Getty In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civil defence members rest amidst rubble in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A girl carrying a baby inspects damage in a site hit by what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members look for survivors at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Civilians and civil defence members carry an injured woman on a stretcher at a site damaged after Russian air strikes on the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib, Syria Reuters In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Volunteers from Syria Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, help civilians after Russia carried out its first airstrikes in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria The aftermath of Russian airstrike in Talbiseh, Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Smoke billows from buildings in Talbiseh, in Homs province, western Syria, after airstrikes by Russian warplanes AP In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russian Air Forces carry out an air strike in the ISIS controlled Al-Raqqah Governorate. Russia's KAB-500s bombs completely destroy the Liwa al-Haqq command unit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia claimed it hit eight Isis targets, including a "terrorist HQ and co-ordination centre" that was completely destroyed In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A video grab taken from the footage made available on the Russian Defence Ministry's official website, purporting to show an airstrike in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria A release from the Russian defence ministry purportedly showing targets in Syria being hit In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Russia launched air strikes in war-torn Syria, its first military engagement outside the former Soviet Union since the occupation of Afghanistan in 1979. Russian warplanes carried out strikes in three Syrian provinces along with regime aircraft as Putin seeks to steal US President Barack Obama's thunder by pushing a rival plan to defeat Isis militants in Syria In pictures: Russian air strikes in Syria Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Navy firing Kalibr cruise missiles against remote Isis targets in Syria, a thousand kilometres away. The targets include ammunition factories, ammunition and fuel depots, command centres, and training camps A TASS/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis He said: "After five years of conflict, you might think that the regime has had its fill of barbarity - that its sick bloodlust against its own people has finally run its course. "But this weekend, the regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo." The UN's special envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said a fresh offensive take the corner of the city still controlled by rebels had unleashed "unprecendented military violence" on its residents and killed at least 213 people - many of them women and children. Mr de Mistura said there had been reports of bunker-buster bombs and incendiary weapons which created "fireballs of such intensity that they light up the pitch darkness in Aleppo as if it were daylight" being used. Ms Power accused Russia of "barbarism" and said the US knew they had "consistently said one thing, and done the opposite." She said Security Council members must "have the courage to say who is responsible for this and in a single voice tell Russia to stop". But she added the US also believes it must do "everything in our power to find a way to halt the violence" and will "continue to look for any way possible to restore the cessation of hostilities." The three days of relentless bombing meant many bodies were buried under the rubble of their destroyed homes and hospitals were overwhelmed with the wounded. Meanwhile the water supply to an estimated two million people was cut off following a strike on a pumping station. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The French Ambassador to the United Nations has said that war crimes are currently being committed in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Speaking at an emergency United Nations meeting on Sunday called to discuss President Bashar al-Assads escalating military offensive, Francois Delattre said that the Syrian government is targeting civilians in the northern city, where 250,000 people live under siege conditions. Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been under a renewed aerial onslaught by the Syrian and Russian air forces since the Syrian military announced a new campaign to retake the city on Thursday. Ground forces have succeeded in retaking the Palestinian camp of Handarat in the north of Aleppo from rebels, but have been repelled in other areas so far. At least 200 people have been killed in one of the bloodiest weeks in Syrias almost six-year-long war, monitors said, but it has been so difficult to document the numbers of wounded and casualties because of the intense bombing that the death toll is expected to rise. Whats happening now is annihilation, Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the local civil defence rescue service, told Reuters this week. Hospitals are full, so some people are receiving treatment on the floor or in makeshift clinics, doctors said. More than two million people in both rebel and government held parts of the city are also without water. Syrians await treatment at a make-shift hospital following air strikes on rebel-held eastern areas of Aleppo (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) War crimes are being committed here in Aleppo, Mr Delattre said in his speech to UN delegates in New York. They must not be unpunished and impunity is simply not an option in Syria. The Security Council meeting was called by the UK, US and France to address the unprecedented violence and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Aleppo. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also said that if the offensive was targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons, including incendiary weapons such as napalm, as reported by rebel groups on the ground, it would amount to a war crime. The situation in Aleppo on 23 September, with regime attacks and territory seen in red, rebels in green, Kurds in yellow and Isis in black (Liveuamap) The UNs envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura expressed fears that the regimes announced ground offensive will be a slow, grinding, street by street fight, over the course of months if not years. Several ambassadors attacked Russias actions in supporting the Syrian government. Russian representative Vitaly Churkin said that terrorists inside East Aleppo were to blame for using women and children as shields, and that every effort was taken to minimise harm to civilians caused by air strikes. All diplomatic peace-building efforts between Syria and Russia and the international community have now totally collapsed. Aleppo residents plead for help as Syria fighting rages The renewed attack on Aleppo and Russias apparent decision to abandon the latest efforts to reinstall last weeks ceasefire appear to signal that the Syrian regime is more determined than ever to crush all opposition in the country. If Assads forces succeed in retaking Aleppo, there will only be pockets of rebels left in sparsely populated areas in the far north and south of Syria. Isis still holds on to vast swathes of north-east Syria and Iraq and several Islamist groups are operating in the country. Kurdish militias have declared autonomy for themselves in the north of the country. The main rebel umbrella group said in a statement on Sunday they could not accept Russia as a sponsor of any new peace initiative because it was a partner with the regime in its crimes against our people. Assads fortunes improved a year ago when Russia began providing military as well as financial assistance. The president vowed to retake the entire country from terrorists on the eve of last weeks ceasefire. Speaking to delegates de Mistura urged an immediate cessation of hostilities in Aleppo, delivery of humanitarian aid, and evacuation of urgent medical cases, predicting that the unprecedented military violence would leave the ancient city once known as the jewel of Syria completely destroyed. 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 Jordanian writer who was arrested for posting a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam has been shot dead. Nahed Hattar was assassinated in front the Supreme Court in Amman with local media reporting he was shot three times in the head. The shooter has reportedly been arrested by security forces. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Hatter had turned himself in to authorities after the Jordanian Prime Minister, Hani Mulki, ordered an investigation into a cartoon he had shared on Facebook. The cartoon depicts God in paradise, being treated as a servant by an Arab man, who is in bed with two women and asking for wine. Saed Hattar, a relative of Mr Hatter, said the cartoon was posted to illustrate the twisted religious views of Isis extremists and was deleted after the post received angry responses. 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 }} The UK budget airline Monarch has denied rumours it is going bust, amid growing concerns among passengers that their bookings may be at risk. Speculation began to circulate on Sunday afternoon that the airline, a 48-year-old British aviation icon, was set to close. The airline continued to advertise holiday deals and take bookings for flights late into Sunday evening. These are the 20 safest airlines in the world And while nothing was sent out to the 113,000 followers of Monarch's verified Twitter account, the airline has begun replying directly to customers asking if the rumours are true. "Hi there, the rumours are not true. Please ignore them," the airline tweeted at a user Ashy Williams, who had said the speculation was "coming out of Manchester airport" and asked "what do we do about our flights?" Another user, Steven Bowie, asked why "are there aircraft coming to the UK for repatriation flights". Monarch said: "Hi Steven, this is nothing to do with Monarch Airlines, please ignore the rumours." That tweet was among a number which suggested the rumours stem from eagle-eyed flight spotters. Another asked: "Why are United Airlines covering the exact same flights and times as your routes." Best low-cost airline in Europe awards Show all 10 1 /10 Best low-cost airline in Europe awards Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 1. Norway Airlines Norwegian flies to over 126 destinations, and recently introduced long-haul flights to New York and LA Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 2. EasyJet Airlines British airline easyJet operates domestic and international scheduled services on over 600 routes in 32 countries. Getty Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 3. Germanwings Airlines Cologne-based Germanwings flies to destinations and airports across Europe Getty Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 4. NIKI Airlines Unlike many airlines described as low-cost, NIKI does provide free refreshments, newspapers and baggage on some services Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 5. AirBaltic Airlines Latvian low-cost carrier AirBaltic flies to over 50 destinations including Rome, St. Petersburg, and Prague Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 6. Wizz Air Airlines Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air serves 35 countries Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 7. WOW Air Airlines Iceland's low-cost airline operates flights to 16 destinations including London, Milan and Barcelona Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 8. Pegasus Airlines Turkish based Pegasus Airlines flies to 97 destinations Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 9. Onur Air Turkish based Onur Air operates flights to 80 destinations in 20 countries Best low-cost airline in Europe awards 10. FlyBe Airlines Devon-based Flybe operates over 180 routes to 65 European airports Asked directly by Adam Farmiloe - "Are you going bust tonight? Hope not, we have flights booked" - Monarch replied: "Absolutely not Adam. We hope you have a great flight, where are you off to?" Click here to compare flight options with Skyscanner Have a story idea or tip about something happening in the East Village? Or maybe a photo? Or several photos? Or video! We'd love to hear about it. Or see it. Or something. Please go here to submit a tip. 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 }} Why go now? Porto is a city on the rise, tempting travellers with its pretty old town, excellent wine bars and golden rooftops. This isnt a destination for those who want up-to-the-minute cool this is the spot for long, seafood dinners, slow strolls through sleepy streets and a white port and tonic as the sun sets. Its traditional Portugal at its finest, without the crowds of Lisbon or the tackiness of the Algarve. And with the addition of a new service from Monarch and a wealth of other budget flights available, its never been easier to get there. Get your bearings The rambling old town forms the heart of the city, with beautiful buildings adorned with tiles and sloping, cobbled streets. The Douro river underlines the city, with Vila Nova de Gaia just over the bridge. As both slope down towards the river, its not hard to find a great viewpoint of the terracotta rooftops and dreamy architecture. There are a few great spots further out of the city, but for the most part youll be fine exploring on foot. The tourist office (1) can be found on 25, Rua Clube dos Fenianos (00351 223 393472; visitporto.travel) and is open every day from 9am-7pm or 8pm in high summer. Day one Take a hike Start at Sao Bento train station (2), purely to take in its incredible interior. Inside, the walls are lined with illustrative blue and white tiles, depicting scenes of former battles and the history of transportation. From there, stroll up to Liberty Square (3), past the gorgeous facades of the surrounding buildings, and head up Rua das Carmelitas to Igreja do Carmo (4), another example of a stunning tiled facade. From there, hit up the Bombarda district around Miguel Bombarda Street (5), for cool street art, galleries, vintage shops and cafes (bearing in mind most wont open until midday). Porto is punctuated by the Douro river (Getty/iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Lunch on the run You cant leave town without trying a francesinha. This meat-laden sandwich is a kind of devils croque monsieur, filled with ham, sausage and steak, doused in melted cheese and slathered in a hot tomato sauce. The best place to pick one up (figuratively this is definitely a knife and fork job) is Cervejaria Brasao (6) (brasao.pt), a popular local spot. Book in advance, order a glass of Super Bock beer and stick to just a half portion (7.40) its more than enough. Window shopping Book lovers will adore Livraria Lello (7) (livrarialello.pt), one of the most visited bookshops in the world. You have to get a ticket (5.50, redeemable against purchase) to enter, and if you dont get in early youll be fighting the crowds, but its worth it. JK Rowling wrote the first few chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone when she lived in Porto, and you can feel the influence of this bookstore, with its intricately carved bookshelves and elaborate winding staircase. Youll find all the European high street shops on Rua de Santa Catarina (8), with cute delis and pastry shops down Rua Formosa. An aperitif Porto is stuffed with little wine shops that serve up glasses of excellent Portuguese vintages for a euro or two. But this is the city of port, so it would be rude not to indulge. Most of the port wine cellars are over the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, with beautiful views back to Porto. Head to the rooftop bar of Espaco Porto Cruz (9) (porto-cruz.com) and order a Cruz Rosemary (6) with white port, ginger, rosemary and tonic. Grab a francesinha, the ultimate sandwich (Getty/iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Dine with the locals Stroll back over the Luis I Bridge and youll find a parade of restaurants lining the riverside. FishFixe (10) (00351 917 625 408 facebook.com/FishFixe) has tables by the water and the higgledy-piggledy restaurant itself is more than charming. Unsurprisingly, its a fish-heavy menu, doling up local catches like sea bass alongside tapas-style starters. One of the hottest tables in the old town is Cantinho do Avillez (11) (cantinhodoavillez.pt) from hotshot chef Jose Avillez. Theres a global and slightly molecular feel to the menu, but the simple Hazelnut dessert is the showstopper, with creamy mousse, ice cream and a sprinkling of sea salt. Day two Out to brunch Porto is just turning on to brunch, but its not served everywhere. Try O Diplomata (12) (00351 960 188 203, facebook.com/odiplomatabar) for pancakes loaded with fresh fruit or melted chocolate. Alternatively, head into a confeitaria and pick up a custard tart or a pasteis de bacalhau (codfish fritter) to eat in one of the squares. For a caffeine kick, order a cimbalinho (espresso) and you wont be disappointed coffee here is taken very seriously. A walk in the park The Jardins do Palacio de Cristal (13) make for the perfect stroll, with beautiful views of the city from lookout points. The resident peacocks swanning around the gardens are a neat touch, too. Walk the whole loop and youll have a great view of Vila Nova de Gaia and the river, with manicured gardens in between. Porto is the birthplace of port (Getty) (Getty Images) Take a ride For the most part, youll hardly need public transport, as the old town and the city centre are compact and easily walkable. But if you want to explore further afield, the Metro (en.metrodoporto.pt) will get you where you want to go. Youll pay an initial 60c for a card, then rides cost between 1.20 and 2.75, depending on the zone. If you want to take in the local scenery, a river cruise will show off the length of the Douro try DouroAzul (douroazul.com), which offers hour-long river cruises from 9.30am-6pm every day (from 12). Cultural afternoon Take the metro out to Casa da Musica (14) (casadamusica.com) and take a tour of the concert hall and home of the symphony orchestra the innovative architecture is fascinating, and you might just catch a whisper of rehearsals. Tours in English run daily at 11am and 4pm and cost 7.50. Afterwards, take the 203 bus to the Museum of Contemporary Art (15) (serralves.pt) at Serralves. Get a ticket that combines the museum, the art deco Serralves Villa and the gardens for 16. In the summer, its open every day bar Tuesday from 10am-7pm (8pm on weekends). Visit Porto's futuristic-looking concert hall, Casa da Musica (Getty) (Getty Images) The icing on the cake The Yeatman (16) (the-yeatman-hotel.com) is one of the most highly regarded hotels in Portugal, and with good reason. Its not just for guests, either locals head over the river to enjoy a glass of wine and the view back over to Porto. If you can swing it, The Restaurant is the only spot in Porto with two Michelin stars, and dining there is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (dinner starts at 100 for four courses). Travel essentials Best time to book Getting there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from Gatwick (as well as Luton, Bristol and Manchester) from 25 one-way, and flights from Gatwick with TAP Portugal (flytap.com) start at 44 one-way. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from Stansted, Edinburgh and Liverpool year round, and Birmingham seasonally, from 19.99 one-way. The airport (17) is seven miles out of the city centre. The easiest way in is by Metro the purple line runs into the city centre every 20 minutes, and costs 2.55. A taxi will take 20 to 30 minutes and cost between 20 and 30. Staying there On one of the cutest streets in the city, the Mercador (18) is a charming, pastel-hued guesthouse with stylish rooms at a great price. Doubles from 101, B&B. porto.mercador.com.pt Check availability Smack bang in the middle of the city, Hotel Teatro (19) is a sleek, central option. Doubles from 150, B&B. hotelteatro.pt Check availability The Yeatman (16) has some of the best views in town (especially from the infinity pool) and an extensive, yet reasonably priced, wine list. Doubles from 315, B&B. the-yeatman-hotel.com Check availability Find more hotels in Porto Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Oklahoma officer Betty Shelby has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after she shot dead unarmed black man Terence Crutcher. While all evidence so far points to another unjustifiable killing, it begs the question why the treatment towards her, and the wording of the charges against her, appear to be different to that of her male colleagues most of whom walk free when they commit similar crimes. Her arrest and charges are significant for three reasons. First, it is very rare for an officer to face charge after killing a civilian in the line of duty. In most cases, officers are placed on paid administrative leave while a police investigation, a matter of routine, is carried out. The process typically concludes with a statement confirming the officer acted according to protocol. Second, the process leading to Shelbys arrest has been rather quick. At the time of writing, protesters are still pressuring police to release video footage of the death of Keith Lamont Scott, which happened just days after Crutcher was killed. For conclusions to be drawn so rapidly is highly unusual. Third, Shelby is a woman. If she is convicted of manslaughter of an unarmed black person, it will be one of the very few times a police officer has faced sentencing for the crime. As of 21 September, 844 people have been killed by police in the US this year. There is no official database of justifiable killings, but the numbers likely indicate that hundreds of mostly male officers are off the hook in 2016 alone. Why is Charlotte rioting? Donald Trump, an ardent supporter of law and order, exhibited an extraordinary turnaround when he criticised Shelby while speaking inside an African-American church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, this week. Did she get scared? Was she choking? What happened? But people that choke, maybe they can't be doing what they're doing, he said. Even the language used to charge Shelby in court documents appears to be an example of gender stereotyping. She has been charged with carrying out manslaughter in a heat of passion, and becoming emotionally involved to the point that she over reacted. Was the male colleague in the helicopter above Crutcher and Shelby speaking in a heat of passion when he called Crutcher, who was holding his hands above his head, a bad dude? When hundreds of people are dying every month in the hands of police, it can be easy for names of victims and accused officers to go unnoticed. On Friday, officers were accused of using excessive force when they were called to the home of 21-year-old black man Tawon Boyd in Maryland. Five police officers came to the house of one man who was 5ft 5in tall. They kept on grabbing on him and holding him down, and he started screaming, Grandma, Grandma, theyre going to kill me, Linda Burch told the Associated Press. None have been named. While very few officers are charged, even fewer are convicted. Of those, even fewer go to prison. White officer Randall Kerrick was accused of cold-blooded murder in 2013 when he shot college student Jonathan Ferrell 10 times as he was running away. The jury could not reach a verdict and the judge did not order a retrial. Instead, Kerrick reached a settlement whereby he resigned from his job and received a payout of almost $180,000. Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Show all 7 1 /7 Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers clash with protesters after police fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Charlotte REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Charlotte Police officers were searching the apartment complex for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they gunned down Scott. The victim was not the person they were originally trying to find REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte The shooting occurred at 4 pm on 20 September, a day after police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, released video showing the shooting death of Terence Crutcher by one of their officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Scott reportedly exited his vehicle at his apartment complex, but got back inside when he saw officers. The police report said Scott then re-emerged from his vehicle armed with a firearm and posed an imminent deadly threat to the officers REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police officers wearing riot gear block a road during protests REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Police identified two-year veteran Brentley Vinson as the officer who fired the shots. A law enforcement source told WBTV that Mr Vinson is African American REUTERS Police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott sparks riots in Charlotte Protesters demonstrate in front of police officers REUTERS One of the exceptions was the case of former officer Peter Liang, who shot dead Akai Gurley in the stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project in November 2014. He was convicted of manslaughter. His supporters said Liang was being scapegoated as an Asian American. Even then, Liang avoided prison and was instead ordered to complete 800 hours of community service. One of the few white male officers currently awaiting sentencing is Michael Slager, the cop who shot 50-year-old black man Walter Scott eight times in the back in April 2015. The 34-year-old is on bail and stands trial on 31 October. Commentators are right to condemn Shelby, but they seem to be forgetting about the hundreds perhaps thousands of mostly male officers patrolling the streets and towns of the US who have blood on their hands. 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 }} Yvette Cooper has called on Jeremy Corbyn to do more to curb the online abuse of Labour MPs after revealing that she had 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 and Labour leadership candidate, 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. 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. Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Show all 12 1 /12 Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn's reshuffle Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn and the Syria bombing vote Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn asks questions from the public at PMQs, meanwhile backbenchers plot to oust him Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn is unavailable to attend the Privy Council Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Conference rejects Corbyns call to debate Trident Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn At Labour conference Corbyn and McDonnell press for a Robin Hood tax Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyns hopes for a new politics look optimistic in the face of a media barrage Dave Brown on Jeremy Corbyn Corbyn enters Labour leadership race Dont 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 dont care where in the party this kind of abuse comes from, it has to stop, she said. We cannot allow a minority within our party to create a climate of hostility. Good people must not be driven away or silenced. We should defend our values together. In the incredibly complex world in which we live today, the observations of any one person are of limited value in explaining how things are changing and evolving. That, however, does not stop people from coming to conclusions about things based on little more than their own experiences. A common case in recent times is for people to observe that there are quite a few vacant retail units in a given area and then to conclude that there is no recovery taking place in the same locality. There are plenty of vacant retail units in my part of Dublin, but there is no way I can jump to the conclusion that the local economy is not doing better than it was three years ago. To know that I would need more detailed observations of a range of things. In other words, I would need data. It is hard to overstate the importance of data in understanding today's world. That is particularly true of inherently complex systems, such as economies. Knowing what is going on in the many markets that make up an economy is important. Knowing what is going on in volatile markets can be even more important. Good data on the volatile residential housing market is essential, for many reasons. The launch last week by the State's statisticians of a new, much more comprehensive data series on property prices is to be warmly welcomed. It provides lots of valuable data on the market that will help home buyers, businesses, planners, local government and national government make better informed decisions. Before last week the figures were based only on properties bought with mortgages - about half the total number of transactions in recent years. Information from the banks, made thoroughly anonymous, formed the basis for the CSO's property price figures. Now, sensibly, all properties are included. Tax data (ie stamp duty) from the revenue commissioners are just one, but certainly the most important underlying source of the new stats. The most surprising thing at first sight was the absence of a surprise. The old, much narrower series turned out to be very similar to the new, fuller dataset. In both series, property prices peaked in 2007, plummeted from early 2008, plateaued quite suddenly in 2012 and started rising again in 2013. The new figures show that the peak-to-trough fall was bigger than previously thought, but not by much: -54pc v -51pc. Nor has there been a big revision to the trend since the bottom was hit. The price increase from the trough to last July 2016 was a bit higher, at 43pc, than the unrevised figure of 37pc. All told, this points to the market having had an even wilder rollercoaster ride than previously thought. The new series is a great deal more detailed than the old one. Whereas the previous series only had indexed data, the new series has average prices of homes and the number of sales. Perhaps the biggest change is the geographic coverage. In the past, the only breakdown was Dublin and non-Dublin. Now, not only are detailed figures available by region and county, but also for each of the 128 eircode areas. Those figures show that prices are on the rise in all 128 areas of the country. As this column points out frequently (too frequently, for those who want to peddle the myth of no recovery in rural areas), there may well be different rates of increased activity across the country, but nowhere is being left behind. That is to be seen not only in price developments, but also in the numbers of properties being sold. The figures show that the market is normalising - the number of home sales almost tripled between the beginning of the decade and last year. Yet again, not a single one of the 128 areas for which figures are available failed to record a pick-up in turnover. At the extreme end of the scale was rural Bagenalstown in Carlow, which saw a near eight-fold increase in the number of homes sold over that period. Belturbet and Clifden, neither urban metropolises, were in second and third place respectively. At the other end of the scale was Lucan. In the five years to 2015, transactions increased by a 'mere' 25pc. Indeed, urban areas generally dominate this end of the table. As data on transactions only go back to 2010 it is hard to know if urban markets are recovering more slowly than rural ones, or if rural markets seized up by more in the crash and therefore had more normalising to do when things stabilised. Regardless, the reams of new data on residential property across the country show positive signs. It is to be hoped that the availability of much better data will help make the market less volatile in the future. ***** Some thoughts out of Brussels. The eurocrat in chief at the European Commission's Directorate General for monitoring national budgets has just published a rather interesting (and short) academic paper*. Marco Buti - who was closely involved in all the bailouts - writing with, a colleague is frank about the failings of the Eurozone during the crisis. And these decision-making failings persist. He believes "a consensus is eventually achieved, but often too late and at much higher costs. Not being based on genuine ownership, consensus proves difficult to sustain as soon as the market pressure abates." He touches delicately on the increasing dominance of bigger countries in pre-cooking outcomes that end up as faits accomplis. "The European Council, often in its eurozone formation and based on pre-agreement between some member states, defined not only broad policy orientations - which is the role entrusted to the European Council by the Treaties - but also detailed arrangements." Naturally enough, he advocates a greater role for European-level coordination, which in effect would mean more clout for his institution, but the paper is worth reading nonetheless. Also worth reading is Buti's colleagues' latest analysis of the Irish economy, published early last week **. They weigh in on the upcoming budget choices. The eurocrats in Brussels put it in their inimical dry way: "Calls for expansionary measures by various political forces and stakeholders would most likely have a negative impact on public finances". That is because, they continued, "it cannot be assumed that revenue outperformance will continue and discretionary changes to expenditure ceilings remain a feature of the Irish Budget process. "In addition, plans to cut personal income taxes and the suspension of water charges would absorb further resources and narrow the tax base." For good measure they complain about the retrograde nature of the latter two measures, saying, that they "represent an erosion of reforms introduced under the programme". Three steps forward; two steps back. *http://voxeu.org/article/europes-incompatible-political-trinities **http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/eeip/pdf/ip035_en.pdf Activist investors typically buy a minority stake in a targeted public company and agitate the board and management for changes they believe will boost shareholder returns (Stock picture) Irish listed companies are likely to attract activist shareholders in the short term, as executive pay draws an increasing amount of attention, according to industry experts. Peter Reilly, a senior research manager at shareholder advisory firm Glass Lewis said Brexit might provide new opportunities for activists. "The high 'against' votes we've seen in the UK have definitely translated over here. Investors are global now, the trends are across Europe. Deutsche Bank failed their remuneration vote, you've got two in Italy for the first time, Renault in France, now it's not isolated to the UK, you can see it right across the board," he added. Steven Balet, head of corporate governance and activist engagement at FTI Consulting's strategic communications arm, said Ireland's regulatory environment is "very permissive for an activist fund to get involved". "I know activist funds that are looking at the UK and Ireland, as well as Germany, the Nordic countries. I feel very confident in making a prediction that there'll probably be at least a contest or two within the next agm period going through to next August. And once that starts, what we've seen in the UK is that once you break the seal, then other activists start pouring in," he said. "The activists are slowly starting to say in our survey results that it's getting a bit tighter in the US market for them to operate. You're seeing more than one activist involved in a company, sometimes three or four. So they have to look abroad, and you've seen the first wave come in terms of Valueact [which has obtained a seat on the board of Rolls Royce] and Elliott setting up an office. "There'd be no reason for them to exclude Ireland. They're probably looking for the right company to make the first activist foray with, and also they want to understand the economy," Balet added. Activist investors typically buy a minority stake in a targeted public company and agitate the board and management for changes they believe will boost shareholder returns. Average CEO turnover was 16.6pc within a year for a firm without such an investor, and 30.9pc over two years, an FTI report published this week said, using a set of 2,500 companies. When an activist gained board seats, chief executives left their firms 34.1pc and 55.1pc of the time in those respective periods, according to the study. Even if the activist didn't gain board seats, their presence in a company had an effect: 28.5pc of the CEO positions showed turnover within 12 months, and 45.6pc departed within two years. Activist hedge funds settled for, or won, board seats in 46pc of the more than 300 contests monitored from 2011 to 2015, the report said. Additional reporting Bloomberg Launching a new brand into a very competitive market can be a daunting prospect for any marketer. Launching a new brand and effectively extinguishing two other well-known ones in the process is brave and ambitious. This is just one of several challenges facing Liz Rowen, head of marketing of Irish Life Health, the new kid on the health insurance block which officially launched last month. The new company, which employs 160 staff, was created following Irish Life's acquisition of Aviva Health and the 51pc of GloHealth it did not already own earlier this year. When both parvenu players entered the cut-throat health insurance market several years ago, they played a significant role in shaking it up by throwing down the gauntlet to the dominant and more established player, VHI. Now that both companies have been merged under the Irish Life umbrella, both the Aviva and GloHealth brands will disappear over the coming months as customers renew their annual cover. While the Irish Life Health brand may not trip off the tongues of consumers - just yet - the recently-merged entities give it a 21pc share of the health insurance market and a customer base of 425,000. Not bad for a new brand starting off. "We see ourselves as a challenger brand and while we are the smallest in the market with a 21pc market share, we are a significant third player behind Laya and VHI and we have big ambitions to grow this over the next few years," says Rowen, who was previously head of marketing at Aviva. The company is in the throes of a new brand awareness advertising campaign which was created by DDFH&B with media handled by Mediaworks, "The campaign aims to remind people how precious their life is and no matter what stage of life they are at, we are a health insurer that they can trust and we can help them choose the health insurance they want, so that they can get on with living," says Rowen. "We want customers to know that we understand them and they can trust us," she adds. Choosing to operate under the Irish Life brand was a no-brainer, although the company did toy with other names for the newly created business. "We did a lot of research into this and we tested other names but all the consumer and business research pointed to the recognition, reassurance and trust that the Irish Life brand stands for. Irish Life has over 75 years of brand equity built up and that counts for a lot," she says. With 44pc of the population signed up for health insurance and now just three players operating in the market, she expects competition to ramp up significantly over the coming months as annual policies expire and customers weigh up their options. "It's going to be good for consumers because in the case of Irish Life they will see a much stronger competitor with more experience, more resources and bargaining power and we are determined to make a serious inroad into the marketplace," With an aneurysm-inducing choice of over 350 different policies on the market, many with obscure names, one of the big challenges for all health insurers, including Irish Life Health, is to simplify and take the pain out of the selection process for customers. "It's a huge challenge," she says. "However, if one thinks about the thousands of scenarios for people to be covered, at the level they want, the hospitals and consultants they want and at the price they want, it does produce so many different options and variations. While simplicity is very important to us, we do offer a really comprehensive review to customers and we try to take the complexity out of it so they don't have to deal with it. But customers are also good at telling us what they want too," she adds. "But we have also spent a lot of time on research into understanding the needs of customers and what mattered most to them and as a result, we have been able to create products and services around these needs. One of the big things is that people want to get value from their health insurance, not just when they are sick but when they are well. So some of our plans have a range of different benefits and rewards that you won't get elsewhere." Although it is still early days, being part of Irish Life may bring with it opportunities to cross-sell or at the very least tap into the group's expertise, particularly in areas like data analytics. With over 1m customers on its books, it could make for a compelling proposition. "We are evaluating all the options at the moment but because we operate in a very complex regulatory environment in terms of what we can and can't do when it comes to accessing customer information and their permission to contact them. But anything that will benefit customers on either side will looked at including things loyalty initiatives and discounts," she says. Surprisingly customer loyalty in the health insurance market is quite strong when compared to other industries largely because of the emotional connection people have with their own health, says Rowen. "Retention levels in the market are generally quite strong. During the recession, people did shop around and switch but I think we have come full circle and people have realised they can cut costs but it means they lose benefits. But customer loyalty is important to us. and we are about to launch "Anything we do is all customer-led and customer-focused and if we could have innovation stamped on our foreheads, we would," she concludes. Investors in British property funds have been the worst hit since Brexit while investors in Chinese shares - which were ironically taking a battering this time last year - have done well. These are some of the findings of an analysis by this paper where we teamed up with the international stock market experts Morningstar and Irish stockbrokers, Davy, to track down some of the best - and worst - performing investment funds since Britain voted to leave the European Union. To make the findings of our analysis more relevant to Irish investors, Davy and Morningstar converted the returns made by funds into euro - where the base currency of the fund was not the euro. So three months on from Brexit, which funds have lost or won most money for investors? Winners Carnegie Global Healthcare 1A Up 24pc This fund invests in the shares of international healthcare companies - primarily, small-cap companies with a market capitalisation of less than $1bn. "These small-cap healthcare stocks have significantly outperformed their larger-cap counterparts over the last few months," says Keith Williamson, an investment analyst with Davy Private Clients. "The larger pharma names are suffering under the political spotlight and the continued drugs price scandal in the US." US Global Investors World Precious Minerals Up 20pc This fund largely invests in companies which explore, mine or process precious minerals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium and diamonds. Its large exposure to Canadian and Australian resource companies is one of the reasons it has done well - as these companies have broadly performed better than their US counterparts, according to Williamson. China Southern Dragon Dynamic Fund Up 19pc This fund, which invests primarily in Chinese and Hong Kong shares, has got a boost from the recovery on Chinese stock markets in recent months. China's stock markets have performed well since June - although some experts believe there is limited scope for further gains in Chinese shares. Another reason this fund has done well is its exposure to consumer discretionary stocks (shares in businesses that sell non-essential goods and services, such as luxury handbags and watches, top-of-the-range cars, clothes, travel and movies) - many of which have gone up in value in recent months - particularly automobile, media, and some individual tech shares, according to Williamson. Robeco Chinese Equities D EUR Acc Up 17pc This fund largely invests in the shares of companies which are based - or which conduct a lot of business - in China. The strong performance of this fund is largely due to the recovery in Chinese equities since Brexit, according to Ronald van Genderen, fund analyst with Morningstar. "Chinese equities have been having a bumpy ride since April 2015," says van Genderen. "They only started to recover in February of this year. This recovery accelerated just after Brexit." Henderson Horizon China A1 USD Inc Up 17pc This fund invests most of its money in securities listed in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. So it too was well placed to benefit from the uplift on the Chinese stock market. Its portfolio manager Charlie Awdry feels that Brexit may encourage global investors to turn back towards Asia - because of the uncertainty generated by Brexit in Europe. However, this fund is exposed to Hong Kong stock markets - which have been volatile over the summer. Losers Aberdeen Property Share A Down 15pc This fund invests largely in the shares of companies which make money from British property. It is a sterling-based fund and this is one of the reasons it has performed so poorly since Brexit, according to Brian O'Reilly, head of global investment strategy at Davy Private Clients. "The fall in sterling has had a big impact on whether a fund has done well or poorly," says O'Reilly. "Many of the funds which have performed poorly since Brexit are sterling related funds." This fund's exposure to British real estate is another reason it has lost money. "The companies that have suffered most since Brexit are British real estate companies because of concerns that a lot more money could be exiting that market with Brexit," explains Ben Yearsley, investment director with Wealth Club, a British-based investment advisors. Argo Pan European Alpha I EUR Acc Down 14pc This fund invests in the stocks of between 30 and 50 European companies, including British ones. Before Brexit, it had invested a lot of money in consumer cyclical stocks, according to Samuel Meakin, investment research analyst with Morningstar. These stocks typically do well when consumers are confident about their finances and happy to spend money - but the opposite arose when the Brexit referendum was passed. "Consumer discretionary stocks were affected by fears that Britain's decision to leave the EU would precipitate a recession," explains Meakin. "This fund also had underweight [less exposure than normal] positions in more defensive sectors like consumer staples, which fared better amid the uncertainty created by the referendum - as investors sought the perceived safety of such areas of the market." Schroder ISF European Eq (Ex UK) AH Inc Down 13pc Many European shares have taken a hit in recent months - because of the uncertainty triggered by Brexit. This uneasiness will have affected this Schroder fund as it puts most of its money into the shares of large or mid-sized European companies (apart from British ones). "European equities took heavy losses following the Brexit vote as the market started to extrapolate the result into the possibility of a breakup of the European Union," says O'Reilly. Jupiter UK Growth Fund Down 12pc "Many of the worst performing funds since Brexit were invested in small and mid-sized British companies," says O'Reilly. This fund has exposure to that sector as it largely invests in British companies, including Dixons Carphone and Talk Talk Telecom. Barclays UK Lower Cap A Acc Down 11pc This fund invests in lower-cap companies (typically, small companies listed on the stock exchange) that are based in, or have significant operations, in Britain. "This fund was hit hard as it is heavily exposed to more domestically-focused British companies that fell - given investor expectations that the British economy will suffer from Brexit," says O'Reilly. Ironically, many of the large British companies with a strong international exposure have done well since Brexit, according to O'Reilly. "The FTSE 100 [an index made up of the largest 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange] did well following the Brexit vote - the main reason for this is that the majority of companies in the FTSE 100 earn their profits overseas so a weaker sterling will help them compete for business overseas," explains O'Reilly. "However, the more domestically focused FTSE 250 did much worse - falling 14pc in the days following the vote." Going forward It's early days with Brexit and it will take years for it to play out - and to see which investments will be worst hit. "Specific assets such as British property could be hit by falling property prices as companies look to relocate to other locations in Europe," says O'Reilly. "There is a lot of supply due to come on stream in London. We are already hearing of firms looking in Dublin for property space as part of a contingency plan if they lose their European passporting rights." Should you have Irish shares, bear in mind that companies with a lot of exposure to the British economy - or which depend on British tourists spending money here, could lose money on the back of Brexit. The shares of the Irish Ferries operator, ICG, for example have fallen sharply since Brexit. So too have the shares of the DIY group, Grafton, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and which has operations in Britain. "There are concerns that Brexit could see fewer British tourists either travelling to Ireland on the ferry - or staying in hotels here," says Gerard Moore, head of research with Investec. The share price of some of the Irish REITs, including the Irish Residential Properties REIT and Hibernia REIT, have done well since Brexit. "A small amount of these [share price] gains may be coming from the view that Dublin will benefit from additional demand for property here if British firms and employees move here," says Moore. Infrastructure funds such as the First State Global Listed Infrastructure fund, as well as the shares of companies like CRH and Kingspan, may perform strongly as Brexit progresses, according to O'Reilly. "Brexit was yet another example of an anti-establishment vote," says O'Reilly. "As a result, I think you will see politicians starting to spend public money again. There are ambitious infrastructure projects under way worldwide. The companies that stand to benefit the most from this will have the capabilities to build everything from roads, bridges, airports, ports, railroads, water infrastructure, social housing, to schools and hospitals." The 26-year-old said she woke up in a strange house with cuts and bruises She believes her drink had been spiked on a night out in Sunderland The attack provoked far-right protesters to demonstrate in the city Police arrested six men from Iraq, Syria and Bahrain over the rape A mother-of-three has allegedly been drugged and raped by a gang of migrants sparking violent demonstrations. The 26-year-old said she woke up in a strange house with cuts and bruises, and believes her drink had been spiked on a night out before she was abducted and sexually assaulted. Police arrested and bailed six men - aged between 20-30 - from Iraq, Syria and Bahrain over the September 4 attack in Sunderland. Far-right supporters organised a protest six days in the city after the alleged attack which turned violent. Those on the march, including members of the Sunderland Defence League, met outside The Ivy Leaf Club at 11am on September 10. They smashed windows at the terraced house where the woman says she was attacked and clashed with a counter protest, led by members of the Asian community. Police rushed to control the demonstrations which was attended by dozens protesters. Two Asian men, unconnected with the alleged rape, were injured and five men, all from Sunderland, were arrested for offences including affray. Philip Hacker, 38, was charged with affray and possessing a controlled drug; Gary Hutchinson was charged with affray; Sean Ruffell, 25, was charged with affray and possessing an offensive weapon; Darren Kerr, 25, was charged with affray and Kevin Sayers, 30, was charged with disorderly conduct. Sunderland Central MP Julie Elliott last night called for calm. Southern Area Command Chief Inspector Paul Milner said: 'We know the woman had been in Sunderland City Centre on Saturday night before waking up in a strange address in Peel Street with cuts and bruises. 'She managed to leave the house and get to a family member's home at around 5am on Sunday morning. 'The victim believes her drink may have been spiked. 'This is obviously a very serious incident and something we know the local community will be concerned about and we will have officers on patrol to offer reassurance to anyone who may be concerned and answer any queries they may have.' The six men are on bail until October 17. Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The amount of money in a pension fund that a pension fund provider allows to be accessed without probate varies considerably from company to company (Stock picture) I am approaching retirement and want to make sure that my loved ones are provided for when I pass away. One thing I'm worried about is how quickly my wife - who has no private pension of her own - will be able to access my pension should I pass away before her. I have built up a very good private pension - but have heard that it could take months, perhaps a year, for my wife to be able to access my pension after I pass away. Is this correct - and if so, is there anything I could do now to ensure my wife can access my pension immediately? David, Naas, Co Kildare Your question raises a very important issue. Do you have your will written and is your wife named as the beneficiary? We strongly recommend that you have a will in place as the absence of one will cause unnecessary delays in settling your affairs. Working on the basis that you do have a will, then processing a death claim from a pension plan should not take too long - once all of the paperwork is in order. However, if you pre-decease your wife before drawing down you pension, your pension fund will become part of your estate and may be subject to probate. Should your pension fund become subject to probate, it could be several months before your wife can access the money in your pension fund as she will need to wait until the probate goes through. Depending on the pension provider, your wife may be able to access up to 150,000 in the pension fund - without having to wait for the probate to go through. The amount of money in a pension fund that a pension fund provider allows to be accessed without probate varies considerably from company to company. Some pension providers are unwilling to release any money before the probate goes through, most are willing to release between 25,000 and 60,000, and one company is willing to release up to 150,000, according to research recently conducted by ourselves. For the purpose of clarity, it would be a good idea for you to ask you pension provider exactly how much of your pension fund it would release to your wife before probate goes through (should you pre-decease her). It is also important that you carefully plan what you do with your pension fund on retirement. When you retire, you will have the option of taking 25pc of your pension fund tax-free (within Revenue Commissioner guidelines). These funds (in full or in part) will more than likely be further invested and we would strongly recommend doing this on a joint life basis so that your wife can have immediate access to the funds if required. You should also consider investing the remaining 75pc of your pension fund in an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) rather than an annuity. One of the main differences between an ARF and an annuity is that with an ARF, you own your retirement fund. This means that when you die, you can leave any remaining funds in your ARF to your wife or other beneficiaries. People often worry that if they died soon after buying an annuity, there may be no further pension payments made. Should you opt for the annuity route, however, buy a guaranteed annuity rather than an annuity without a guarantee. With a guaranteed annuity, your pension will continue to be paid to your estate for a certain amount of time - even if you die shortly after buying your annuity. Finally, as your pension fund is written on single life basis, it is important that your bank accounts are in joint names with your wife - as this will allow her access to funds if and when required. I worked in Britain for about 20 years and paid into a pension over there at the time. I moved back to Ireland about 10 years ago but left the British pension where it is. I am worried about the impact which Brexit could have on the value of my British pension - particularly given how weak sterling has become. Is now a good time to transfer the benefits built up in that pension back to Ireland - and if so, how would I go about doing so? Also, how else might I safeguard this British pension from any knocks it could take on the back of Brexit? Sean, Tralee, Co Kerry Brexit has left many Irish citizens with deferred British pension entitlements in a state of uncertainty as they consider the possible future implications of retaining their funds outside the European Union. As you left Britain over six years ago, you can transfer the funds to a buy-out-bond here in Ireland but you are relying on the British pension provider to fully cooperate with the transfer. There are a number of product providers in Ireland which allow you to transfer the funds to Ireland and keep the funds in sterling. This is of particular interest at this time, given the weakness of sterling at the moment. Under this scenario, you can continue to invest in sterling assets and make the move back to the euro when nearing retirement or when the rate improves. In terms of safeguarding against Brexit, that is not easy to answer as we don't know how Brexit will affect funds. It could be argued, for example, that it helps some Irish commercial property funds as British offices move their bases to Ireland. Obviously, in terms of equities, you have seen recent drops in the share prices of British banks. There are structured products available in Ireland which might offer soft protection against Brexit. If you leave your funds in Britain, then perhaps there are funds there that could also offer a safeguard. As this is a very complex area, it is imperative that you seek independent financial advice before making any decisions on either transferring funds or on your best investment options. The retirement age in my workplace is 65 and as I am 64, I will be retiring within the year. I will get a very small pension through work - which won't be enough to get by on. The State pension doesn't kick in until I'm 66, so I am worried about how I will get by financially in my 65th year. Will I be able to get the dole - even though I won't be "actively" looking for work. And is there any other way I could boost my income in my 65th year? Geraldine, Dundrum, Dublin 16 Your question raises an important dilemma which affects everyone in the workplace as the State pension age will be increased further over the years. Currently, the State pension is paid from the age of 66. From January 1, 2021, it will be paid from the age of 67 and from January 2028, it will be paid from the age of 68. However, in most occupational pension schemes, the normal retirement age is still 65. Some employers have and are allowing people to work on after the normal retirement age which is something to consider. To boost your pension funds, it is important that you maximise your Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs - pension top-up arrangement) as the transitional State pension (which was paid to those between the ages of 65 and 66) has been abolished from January 1, 2014. Having reached 65, in your wait to reach age 66, you may qualify for the Job Seekers Allowance - though there is no guarantee that you will get it. Email your questions to lmcbride@independent.ie or write to 'Your Questions, The Sunday Independent Business Section, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1'. While we will endeavour to place your questions with the most appropriate expert to answer your query, this column is a reader service and is not intended to replace professional advice. Cavan builder turned metal ceiling multi-millionaire Eddie McElhinney's 48-year-old business, SAS International, has carved out a profitable and highly-specialised niche. The firm is often the go-to designer when some of the world's leading architects, such as Richard Rogers and Foster and Partners, want the inside of the airports, train stations and landmark office buildings they design to look amazing. On a walkabout of his factory in Bridgend, near Cardiff in south Wales, one of several his company has in Britain, the normally low-profile 73 year-old native of Redhills, Co Cavan, describes the increasingly artistic nature of his ceilings business. Huge shiny rolls of steel are piled high in one corner of the factory and heavy duty machines stretch and flatten it out along a production line, before noisily but efficiently cutting it, then perforating, 1,000 holes at high speed in a square ceiling tile. The crates and trolleys we pass are full of tiles that all have the names of their destination labelled on them: Victoria Station in London, which is being redeveloped, and others in Paris and Manchester. Roughly half of what they make here is for the UK market, while the other half is exported. A staff of 350 people work on the factory floor - the biggest of its kind in Europe making ceiling tiles - with 50 in the office, and another 400 in several offices and factories around Britain. The perforating machines cost almost 2m each and it took a year for them to be made, but the investment means SAS should be able to take more market share. Here in Ireland, they're in Dublin Airport's Terminal 2, Kerry Group's new headquarters in Kildare, the new Central Bank HQ, NUI Galway's new human biology building and the former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Dublin's Baggot Street. The largest contracts are worth tens of millions. One is for the world's biggest train station, Kowloon in Hong Kong, featuring four levels underground, each with four platforms. Closer to home, a new office in London, for a well-known US-owned business that is set to open in late 2017, features a ceiling tile that incorporates an LED light and an integrated cooling system using copper piping. Working by convection - similar to home underfloor heating, it keeps large buildings within a two or three degrees celsius temperature range, is more energy efficient than air conditioning, and fits better with their modern design. "This has never been done before. The panel is shaped like a flower petal and looks amazing, and we have to make and rivet millions of these, using folded metal with slots in it. It'll take a year to complete, and our workforce is involved at every stage of the process, from the concept, planning and design right up to the end product. On some projects, we might be involved over a four or five year timeframe," McElhinney explains. "It's a multi-million pound job; one that none of our European competitors would be able to do. Nothing like it will probably ever be done again." Architects, given to outdoing each other for more and more visually striking designs, may increasingly turn to a niche player like SAS, given its track record. "We've developed a brand and gained respect and a reputation over time," he says. "My first breaks came working for consulting designers and engineers Arup - some of whose top people remain my good friends today - and then working on Richard Rogers' famous Lloyd's building in London in the early 1980s also helped put me on the map. The architects for Bangaroo South are also Richard Rogers' firm, so it shows that they haven't forgotten about us. "In modern airports and train stations, countries and cities want to make a statement about identity. The most spectacular ones we've done are Hong Kong airport and now the Kowloon train station. Another airport we're working on, Muscat, in Oman, will be even more striking." Since starting out on the tools in the building trade, McElhinney himself has become more like a designer or an artist in how he sees the world. "Everything about buildings is about form and shape, but I don't claim to have any artistic skills. I might go to a motor show [something of a petrolhead, he used to race TVRs and Porsches, and owns two Porsche 911 RSs, a Bentley, and a limited edition Land Rover Defender] and look at a car and then say to myself 'I could shape metal like that, but in a totally different way.' You don't necessarily have to be an originator of form and shape. You could look at the curve or design of a car and be inspired. "The Sistine Chapel's ornate ceiling is beautiful, but I always looked at the colour and shape of things, thinking how we might put our own twist on them to create something with its own identity. If you did that once a year, you'd be very successful. "Usually four companies in the world tender for the largest projects. We go for them all. We win some, we lose some. We each prototype a design for it, then you have to hope that yours is their favourite one. "Cathal McGuinness runs our business in Dublin, and every architect in Ireland would know him. They really appreciate products like ours. Pro-rata, Ireland is the best market for our work." In his first interview in 15 years, McElhinney describes the business as "quite profitable". Its most recent accounts put sales at 100m in 2014. The true profitability is hard to fathom, as the company has divisions in Australia, the Middle East and Hong Kong, as well as in Dublin, but the operating profits were about 30pc. "It's a bit of a complex picture, but I'd prefer not to give out our sales and profit figures," he says. This year's Sunday Independent Rich List placed him at number 177 out of Ireland's wealthiest people, with an estimated worth of 83m. But he declines to comment. The global ceiling market for all materials is worth about 20bn by value, according to industry analysts. And modern architectural trends seem to be leaning more and more to metal ceilings, putting the company in an enviable position. A large chunk of that market is in redevelopment and refurbishment work, he points out. "When people think of construction, they perceive it to be about new buildings. But the reality is that more money is spent refurbishing existing ones than building new ones. It's about a 70pc/30pc split across the industry as a whole, and for SAS, about 65pc of our work is on refurbishments and 35pc on new builds." Who are the firm's biggest rivals? "Our biggest competitor is a German business, Lindner, with which I'd say we have a good, even friendly relationship. There isn't anyone else in Europe, however. There's a Korean company, and a few Chinese manufacturers, as well - as you'd expect in a market of this size, but they're also big volume producers. "Many architects would say we're number one in our niche. We're the largest niche building product manufacturer up to a value of 100m in Britain. But we're the world's second biggest metal ceiling and related component manufacturer." Another factor that adds to the opacity of the company's profit figure is that it reinvested a lot of money into the business. "Our staff spend a lot of time exploring the physical properties of metals and other materials. In our latest tiles, you saw the copper piping for its integrated cooling properties, and aluminium has a role to play too. Some tiles are designed to convect heat, while others have a role in cooling. It's about creating a way of giving you a comfortable feeling. We're always trying to look at the efficiency of all the processes involved in doing this and how they can be improved." 3D printing has also been a boon to R&D. Previously, making a new part or component could take up to several months. With 3D printing, it can be made in several days. It's particularly helpful in prototyping new tile designs. We look at one which is for a new project in Qatar for which the firm is tendering. It takes inspiration from both a ship's sail and a leaf. The firm also has several machines for making its own tools, and this also helps to keep skills in-house. About 10pc of the employees have been with the company for more than 25 years. It has a flat management structure and its biggest challenge is hanging on to talented designers. As one of five sons of a dressmaker and a garda, "who also wasn't a very good carpenter", McElhinney left Cavan for London shortly after doing his Leaving Cert. He later bought a company he worked for, and built it up from the age of 25, and over the years he sold off various divisions of it. Its roots evolved from buying machinery of a Swiss company that supplied them but went bankrupt. He and his wife initially ran it from their home, and he learned everything he could about manufacturing and its machinery and processes. Part of it then evolved into ceiling contracting firm SAS Contracting, which had a turnover of 50m and was given to some of its management in 1995 in exchange for shares. Others who came through his firms over the years set up their own businesses and made their own fortunes. "They're among our best customers," he smiles. More recently, a distribution division that bought and sold building materials, CCF was sold to builders' merchants Travis Perkins in 2002 for about 50m. In March, a smaller specialist distribution division was sold off. "We decided to concentrate on what we like doing most" A bigger change in the company has been that after 48 years in the business and living in Berkshire in the London commuter belt, he has taken a back seat in the business, retaining just 5pc and a non-executive director role. He still takes a keen interest, however. He's a keen follower of ups and downs in the wider world of business too, including the many companies that are customers of SAS, and has invested modest amounts in the stock market, in companies that interest him. He gave the rest of his shares to his three daughters and son. His youngest daughter, Siobhan (42), left a corporate law career in the City to oversee the business, bringing in a new chief executive to work alongside her and lead the management team. She remains involved as the company chairman, representing the family's stake. Though protected by its strong exports, the business may not be without its challenges. Brexit looms large in these islands, as we all know. "I don't think the UK will leave in the way it thought it might. Siobhan and I got to know Theresa May a little over the years because she's our local MP, and she's always been very capable. But it's still all a relative unknown, as are the consequences for Ireland." Sales grew by 12pc last year, profit more substantially, with further increases in both figures so far this year, Siobhan adds. "Part of what I still do is encourage the company's export focus that underpins its survival. Europe is a big market, but so is the rest of the world," her father says. Eddie will also have more time to spend with his wife and grandchildren, as well as in his native Cavan, where he's renovating a house with some land. And he's treated himself to a John Deere tractor. "I'm more interested in that now than any of my cars," he laughs. Crowds cheering round a large Turkish flag which was made to celebrate the victory of Smyrna (modern Izmir). Given to Greece after WW I by the Treaty of Sevres it was reclaimed and seized by the Turks in 1922. A fascinating new book explores the cataclysmic power vacuums caused by World War I and the 27 violent revolutions that it sparked. When this reviewer was living in Paris in the 1970s, there was a university-organised trip to Rouen for students from all over Europe. During the afternoon, someone tried to engage a postgraduate student from Hungary about his country's regime when the Hungarian cut him off by saying: "I don't know how much you know about the history of central Europe, but central Europe is a very dangerous place." No one demurred, perhaps for politeness' sake. He did not specifically include the post-war period following World War I, but this book makes it clear that central (and eastern) Europe was, indeed, a very dangerous place during that period. The killings, tortures, skinnings alive and rapes referred to in this book make his remark an understatement. Even in France, the sequelae of the Great War was still evident - one of the first expressions that I learned there was les casse-gueules - World War I veterans with broken mouths, and by extension, mutilated faces from the mustard gas used. The author, Robert Gerwarth, is professor of Modern History at University College Dublin and director of its Centre for War Studies. In this book he shines a light on what is, from a western European point of view, a somewhat obscure and relatively short period of time. Gerwarth argues that the traditional understanding of the Paris Peace Conference and the post-war treaties have focused too much on the questions of war guilt and reparations. The greatest issue at stake was "the transformation of an entire continent previously dominated by land empires into one composed of nation states". He could have added, "in record time". This had tragic (and fatal) implications for millions. In addition to that, the final versions of the various treaties were compromises, "not between the victors and the vanquished, but between the key actors of the victorious Allies". The result was that all over central Europe, the new states had large minorities of other nationalities within their borders - minorities that were fearful and hostile. The author makes the point that within three empires - the Ottoman, Russian and Austro-Hungarian - there had been relative harmony among the diverse nationalities and religious sects living there. It is probably fair to add that a lid was being kept on the forces of latent nationalism, preventing the pot from bubbling over. When the senseless nature of the war became apparent to the now demoralised and angry veterans, and simultaneously a political vacuum was being created by the break-up of these empires, the pressure cooker could take no more. The author states that between 1917 and 1920 there were 27 violent changes of government, the most cataclysmic occurring, of course, in Russia. Expand Close The Vanquished: Why the First World War Failed to End, 1917-1923 by Robert Gerwarth / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Vanquished: Why the First World War Failed to End, 1917-1923 by Robert Gerwarth Churchill was at his imperialist and racist worst when he called these wars, "wars of pygmies", presumably because Anglo-Saxons and French were not involved. However, more than four million people died, more than the combined deaths of France, Britain and the United States in the war. The author begins and ends the book with the orgy of violence in the historic and then mostly Christian city of Smyrna, now Izmir in Turkey, in 1922. The Greeks had been encouraged by the British to invade Anatolia (Asia Minor) following the break-up of the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately for them, their generals were no match for Mustafa Kemal and his. Smyrna, among many other cities, paid the price - more than 30,000 slaughtered and raped over two weeks while British warships looked on from the bay. Hemingway, foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star, witnessed it and wrote about it. The author believes that the post-war chaos and incipient ethnic cleansing in the post-war period encouraged Hitler to embark on his campaign of death. The author doesn't include it, but Hitler at one stage said: "Who remembers the Armenians now?" The author examines, in turn, the consequences of the war on the four empires, the fourth being the Hohenzollern Empire, which was the smallest of the four as Germany joined the colonial banquet table relatively late. The wholesale slaughter, tortures, rapes and other atrocities committed in the name of the new nations in formation made many pine for the ancien regime. To illustrate this, the author cites a number of novels and books by people, particularly Jews, who were forced to flee in the chaos of that six-year period. These literary asides give the book a human dimension that set it apart from many other books written about the period. Author Joseph Roth in the novel Radetzky March, published in 1932, has a character muse: "As soon as the emperor says goodnight, we'll break up into a hundred pieces... All the peoples will set up their own dirty statelets... Nationalism is the new religion." Gerwarth's epilogue neatly ties in the post-war period with the prelude to World War II. Austria in 1938 got the Anschluss it had wanted (and needed) in 1918, not through self-determination, but through Hitler's dictat. The author uses an unfortunate turn of phrase when, referring the Spanish Civil War, he criticises "meddling" by Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. Video of the Day Apart from the inappropriate use of the word, the Spanish Republic fell precisely because Britain and France refused to "meddle", thus ensuring that the intervention by Germany and Italy would prove decisive in Franco's victory. One quibble is that the map of the intended break-up of the Ottoman Empire bears the names of Turkish cities in the modern form (Istanbul, Izmir, Canakkale, etc) but in the text, the former names are used (Constantinople, Smyrna, Chanak, etc), which leads to confusion for lay readers. Anatolia (Asia Minor) should probably have been delineated on the map as it is mentioned often in the text. From the scholar's point of view, the endnotes and bibliography run to 150 pages and provide many a door into further reading. From the layman's vantage point, it is so well written that it reads like a novel. Tragically, for the people killed, wounded and forced to flee from their homes, it is not. This book is well worth the read. Tim Fanning's new book paints a vivid picture of the string of Irish emigrants who left lasting legacies across the continent, from the 'Queen of Paraguay' to the founder of modern Chile. It is often forgotten that as Leopold Bloom walks the streets of Dublin and extols the virtues and vices of Irish life, he has in his back pocket a leaflet about the attractions of elsewhere, namely Palestine with its "orange groves and immense melonfields". As a Jew, Bloom would have been interested in the attractions of a new Jewish homeland, and in fact the Zionist aspect to Ulysses is one that is insufficiently explored. But the reality is that, through the centuries, many Irish people would have been aware of the attractions of settling somewhere more promising, with a fresh start in a sunny region rife with economic and political opportunity. Usually, we think of the United States or Australia, but in this unusual and valuable book, Tim Fanning tells us about the huge and significant migration to South America, from the early 1700s right down to the late 19th century. And the attractions were not dissimilar to those offered to Bloom. Generations of Irish immigrants to South America had seen the agricultural potential of the continent, and the perception, writes Fanning, was of "plenty of fertile land in a continent rich in all kinds of minerals, including gold, silver, tin and copper". What most impressed was how empty the continent appeared to be and like the pioneers and prospectors of the Old West, the Irish felt they could really make something of themselves there. In the 1830, for example, Daniel O'Leary dreamt of a "rural idyll where he would be far away from attacks of the intriguers and the ambitious who seek to bring about things I detest". In a letter to his wife, O'Leary wrote, "if I manage to get my licence and liberty, I will go to the South or to any remote province, and there on some piece of land I will hide away from the world, content and may be happy with you, my little ones and the daily chores". A handbill, just like Bloom's on Palestine, was distributed in Dublin in 1819 urging people to settle in Venezuela "in a country chiefly clear of wood, and immediately fit for the purposes of agriculture, or feeding of cattle; it abounds with game and livestock, such as cows, horses, mules, etc and grows sugar, cocoa, cotton, indigo, delicious fruits, etc". There was even to be a province of Venezuela called New Erin with its own government and a capital called New Dublin! Home Rulers must have been inspired. And the author has no doubt that the Irish national cause was greatly encouraged by the example, and success, of Irish settlers and leaders overseas and the forms of government that they shaped. By the early 19th century, independence movements had developed all over South America and attracted many Irish volunteers, eager for a new life and adventure - and a healthy parcel of land. This is ironic, as the main tradition of Irish migration to South America originally began with the Spanish conquest of the region. Such are the 'butterfly wings' of history. With the Williamite conquest of Ireland, the Wild Geese elite fled to Spain where they gained powerful positions in the civil and colonial services as imperial Spain explored and settled, often brutally, the southern American continent. This forms the first part of Fanning's book and he creates vivid and compelling stories of individual adventurers, soldiers and forceful eccentrics who left a serious and lasting legacy. In some of the countries, they became national heroes: men such as the soldier Bernardo O'Higgins, the creator of modern Chile, and William Brown, born in Foxford, Co Mayo, and the founder of the Argentine navy - his statue is opposite the Convention Centre in Dublin. Video of the Day Others include Bernardo's father, Ambrose O'Higgins, a Sligo-born clerk who became the Viceroy of Peru, then the most important post in region, and the extraordinary Eliza Lynch, the Cork woman who became the partner of the Paraguayan leader and the heroine of the people in that country's War of the Triple Alliance (1864 to 1870) against the combined forces of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Eliza Lynch was recently depicted in Queen of Paraguay, a movie starring Maria Doyle Kennedy as the imperious Eliza. With an impressive trawl through original documents in Europe and South America, the author has woven a compact and utterly absorbing story. Or a collection of stories, indeed, as he vividly brings to life a once unexplored natural vastness, suddenly playing host to war, intrigue and ambition. After the soldiers and adventurers came the merchants, farmers, diplomats and politicians, rarely unmindful of their Irish blood. ''Ireland gave birth to my father and Chile to my mother: I consider myself as belonging to both countries," said Bernardo O'Higgins. "I think there are no two countries better inclined to complement each other. The excessive population of one is the principal cause of its poverty, as its scarcity is of the other." This is a green light for migration if ever there was one. The Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez once said that South America was possibly the most exciting, but least reported on, continent, and this is also true from the perspective of Irish history. Fanning has truly rectified this and has given us some tales that could be straight out of the pages of that region's great magical realist. Even Leopold Bloom would have been tempted. history The Forgotten Irish Who Changed the Face of Latin America Tim Fanning Gill and Macmillan, hdbk, 280 pages, 28.49 The mum of a young boy (8) with cancer said she's "flabbergasted" after a car was donated to their family. Samantha Richardson from Nenagh in Co Tipperary made a plea to the public to help raise 3,000 to buy a car to bring her son for cancer treatment at Crumlin hospital in Dublin. The family currently use public transport to bring eight-year-old Alex to Crumlin for chemotherapy. Read More Within hours of the family's appeal they reached their goal of 3,000 and one generous man even offered the family a car. "We're absolutely over the moon. A man from Carlow donated a 2005 Seat. With all the donations we received we'll be able to fix the car up, get insurance and tax and be able to bring Alex safely to his treatment," Samantha told Independent.ie. "It's so mad how fast everything happened. One person donated 1,000 and another 500. They're huge donations from strangers. We can't thank people enough." Samantha said eight-year-old Alex is "delighted" with the attention. "He's been reading about himself and thinks he's famous now. We're so happy. It takes the pressure of us knowing that we have a car when we need it." Alex was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia in 2014, when he was just five-years-old. Six months ago the family's car broke down and they were forced to use public transport to get Alex to his treatment once a month. Samantha said: "Public transport is dangerous for Alex to be travelling on because a normal cough or cold could make him very sick. Its a lot more dangerous for Alex than a normal child because his immune system is very weak." Members of the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) say they have agreed to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for exploratory talks on Monday. However the NBRU insisted that work stoppages scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week are still going ahead as scheduled. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) intervened in the dispute on Sunday and invited unions and management to attend talks to resolve the on-going pay dispute. Dublin Bus has confirmed that it has accepted WRCs invite to talks tomorrow without preconditions. "Whilst the request to attend at talks without preconditions is something the trade unions have long been calling for, the fact is that our members are extremely angry that the inaction to-date by the company and the Department of Transport has caused severe disruption to commuters and staff alike, said NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary said. "The NBRU focus from the commencement of this dispute has been geared towards getting Dublin Bus to attend at discussions in order to address the fact that its own staff are deserving of a fair and adequate wage rise after eight long years of austerity enforced pay stagnation and pay cuts". Read More In a statement Siptu organiser Owen Reidy said: "[We] welcome this initiative from the WRC and will be in attendance. "We understand that the purpose of this initial meeting is to see whether there [is] the basis for a negotiation between the parties. "The decision as to whether the pending action on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week goes ahead or is cancelled will be made by the union committee based on the progress or otherwise at tomorrow's initial meeting." Trade union Unite, which represents craft worker in Dublin Bus, has welcomed the intervention. Unite Regional Officer Willie Quigley said: "Dublin Bus workers, along with the travelling public, have been frustrated by the failure of both Dublin Bus and their shareholder, the Government, to engage meaningfully to resolve this dispute. Not only have our members received no wage increase since 2008, and been denied an agreed wage increase they have also suffered a deterioration in their working conditions. Against that background, our members are determined to pursue their legitimate claims. We welcome the WRCs intervention, and look forward to engaging tomorrow without preconditions, Mr Quigley concluded. Transport Minister Shane Ross said: "I am pleased talks are due to take place between both sides at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), and we now need to give the relevant institutions space to formulate an agreement that is fair and workable for both sides." Thousands of commuters faced severe disruption across the weekend as staff at Dublin Bus went on strike for a fifth and sixth day as part of a campaign for higher pay. Union members are seeking a 15pc pay rise over the next three years, as well as a payment in lieu of an agreed 6 pc that was deferred in 2009. About 400,000 people have had their travel plans disrupted on each day of the strikes, according to management at Dublin Bus. Retail Excellence Ireland (REI) claims retail sales plunged by up to 60pc on Saturday due to the strikes action. This stoppages are due Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, while further into October there will be stoppages on 5th, 7th 10th, 12th, 14th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 26th and 29th. The shock has yet to subside among staff at the Bon Secours private hospital in Tralee, Co Kerry, but few want to put their heads above the parapet and say what they think. The news is still too raw and shrouded in conjecture. It is alleged that a medic working at the MRI and CT diagnostic department raped a female patient in his care there. The overseas national, employed by a third party - an international company that handles diagnostic scans in several Irish hospitals - is said to have attacked the woman after she was changing back into her clothes following a procedure. The incident happened on September 10, and was revealed in the Sunday World last weekend when it emerged that the man did not turn up to a follow-up meeting arranged with gardai. It is believed that he fled the country. In earlier contact with police officers, the married father-of-one claimed that he and the patient had had consensual sex. It's a claim strongly denied by the woman, who's in her early 60s, and a file has been sent to the DPP. Management at Bon Secours - which was named private hospital of the year in 2014 - have been tight-lipped this week with its PR consultant, John Drummey, insisting that "it has no comment to make at this time". The news has sent shock waves through the Irish health system and, according to Stephen McMahon, director of the Irish Patients' Association, the allegations make for sobering reading for those who place their trust in the medical profession. "Obviously, a crime like the one alleged can be perpetrated from any walk of life," he says, "but it's particularly alarming when it's carried out by someone from within the medical profession. These are people that we trust with our health, and hospitals are environments where we need to be taken of care in, so for an alleged rape to happen in that environment is especially disturbing." The third party, which is conducting an internal enquiry, says the worker in question passed two vetting checks in the past three years, but McMahon says an independent enquiry is essential. "I would call on (Health) Minister (Simon) Harris to open an enquiry into this case to alleviate public fear. As patients, we have to believe that no stone is left unturned when it comes to the recruitment of doctors, nurses and any other medical personnel." The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the largest employer in the state, responsible for over 100,000 staff. It says it employs stringent rules when it comes to the recruitment of medical staff, although as Bon Secours Tralee is a private hospital, the HSE has no jurisdiction over it. "The HSE requires hospitals to ensure that contractual provisions requiring employees to declare whether they are, or have been, the subject of any investigation by a medical registration or licensing body or authority in any jurisdiction with regard to their medical practice or conduct as a practitioner are fully enforced," says HSE communications director Paul Bailey. "Hospitals are also required to ensure that there are appropriate sanctions applied in cases where references are not obtained or checked prior to the doctor commencing employment." Non-consultant medical doctors (NCMDs) must be employed under NCHD Contract 2010 which stipulates that they sign a declaration prior to employment where the opening clause reads: "I declare I am not the subject of any investigation by a medical registration or licensing body or authority in any jurisdiction with regard to my medical practice or conduct as a practitioner. I have not been suspended from registration nor had my registration or licence cancelled or revoked by any medical registration or licensing body or authority in any jurisdiction in the last 10 years, nor am I the subject of any current suspension or any restrictions on practise. "In addition, I confirm that I am not aware that I am the subject of any criminal investigation by the police in any jurisdiction." Bailey says the HSE's National Recruitment Service applies "the same suite of checks - reference checks, occupational health clearance, garda clearance and other validation of medical registration and related documentation - as they do for NCHDs." The Irish Medical Council says it conducts extensive background checks before it allows doctors to be registered to practice in Ireland. It requires a passport as evidence of identity, a detailed career history, verified qualifications with all documents "notarised by a notary public or attested by a justice of the peace/commissioner for oaths/member of An Garda Siochana". It stipulates that documents signed by a police officer from another state are not acceptable. Read More: The council also requires a Certificate of Current Professional Status, to prove that applicants are "in good standing with no ongoing proceedings, conditions or findings against you and should be sent directly to the Medical Council from your previous regulatory authority". Qualifications from non EU-EEA member states are validated on behalf of the Medical Council by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates. "The Medical Council also uses the European Union's Internal Market Information system - a secure database - and can directly exchange information on an ongoing basis with other European regulators concerning qualifications, disciplinary histories and sanctions of individual medical practitioners," according to spokesperson Ailbhe Enright. "Doctors who graduate from Non-European Union countries or Switzerland may be required to sit one of the Medical Council's examinations known as the Pre-Registration Examination System (PRES)," she adds. "The exam is an Open Structured Clinical Exam-format which requires the active participation of the medical practitioner in a simulated medical environment." And yet, despite such measures employed by both the HSE and the Irish Medical Council, malpractice continues to happens in Irish hospitals. "You need only think back to the doctor who wasn't able to take a pulse to see that some people fall through the cracks," Stephen McMahon says. "She was hung out to dry to an extent, but what about those who employed her? What sort of process had taken place to ensure that that doctor had the competence to do the job?" The Romanian doctor in question, Asia Ndaga, had been employed by Letterkenny Hospital in 2011 but a subsequent enquiry revealed that she had virtually no experience in caring for patients. Her medical education was largely based on book-learning and university training rather than on any practical trainee work in hospitals. The Romanian doctors' register had no record of her name. A senior doctor who works in one of the big Dublin hospitals says the malpractice cases that are covered in the media make for sobering reading, but he says in all his years of hospital work, he has rarely come across medics who have given him cause for concern. "The language gap can be a problem," he says, "the communication skills can sometimes leave a lot to be desired - and you do hear of the frustrations of patients in that regard - but that's an issue that's not always confined to non-English speakers unfortunately. "Any fears I would have had about new recruits would be based around exhaustion - the long working hours juniors often have to do - rather than incompetence. "I read about the guy who confused an ankle and elbow and thought I'd never encountered any doctor who would have made such a fundamental mistake. I'd hate for the public to think that sort of thing happened a lot because, in my experience, it doesn't." The case the doctor refers to is that of Omar Hassan, who was found to have been responsible for 28 cases of professional misconduct, including misidentifying an X-ray of an ankle as an elbow. Hassan had managed to move between three Irish hospitals before his mistakes were uncovered. The same doctor had claimed to have passed the Irish Medical Council exams with "high marks". According to a leading recruitment consultant, stringent application measures and exhaustive background checks can only do so much. "Of course these steps will weed out the 'bad eggs' and raise red flags to any past questionable behaviour, but they can't predict future intent," he says. "What I'm saying is, someone could have an impeccable record but go on to do something highly inappropriate and illegal in the course of their employment." Meanwhile, the challenges faced by recruiters in the health industry are echoed in other professions, too, according to author and recruitment specialist Rowan Manahan. "It's getting harder in the private sector," he says, "because they are using multiple-stage selection processes with different interviewers coming at it from different perspectives. We've also seen a rise in platform tests and psychometric profiling. "But the public services lag behind on all of this. Not always, of course - I'm directly aware of a number of instances of multi-stage recruitment processes being used there. "But all too often it's a single-hit, 45-minute interview, for quite senior roles. "Time and again I have recommended conducting long-term audits or just simple follow-ups after a selection process; but I'm not aware of any being done." As the regulator for the more than 20,000 members of the medical profession practising in Ireland, the Medical Council fields all complaints from the public regarding a doctor's behaviour or performance. These complaints are first investigated in private by a preliminary proceedings committee. Only the most serious will proceed to a full fitness-to-practise inquiry. Just like a court hearing, both sides will present their case at an inquiry, before the fitness-to-practise committee retires to make its formal decision. Typically, doctors will hire a solicitor or barrister to defend them. If found guilty, doctors can face a range of sanctions, such as being removed from the Medical Council register, a hefty fine, or having specific conditions attached to their registration. The biggest portion of complaints refer to issues with clinical investigations or examinations, diagnosis, surgical procedures and/or follow-up care, although complaints regarding poor communications are on the increase. Last year, a total of 369 complaints were received by the council, an increase of 20pc on the previous year. Sixty of these were referred to the fitness-to-practise committee. Five doctors were struck off the medical register in 2015, while others received various sanctions, such as warnings or a fine. These proceedings are usually held in public, which has been a bone of contention amongst medics, although the council can decide to hold the hearing in private, or partly in private, if they feel this is more appropriate. This has seen a glut of staggering cases make the headlines in recent years. Earlier this year, a fitness-to-practise inquiry found Sudanese national Dr Mohamed Abdelrahman guilty of misconduct and poor professional performance on three counts, following claims he had falsified his application. Dr Abdelrahman worked in the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Letterkenny General Hospital, Co Donegal, for several months before admitting that he failed to inform the Medical Council that he had been refused registration by the British General Medical Council (GMC) on two occasions due to failing English-language competency tests. In one of the more implausible cases, in January an inquiry heard that a doctor was accused of mistaking an X-ray of an ankle for that of an elbow in 2014. It was also alleged that orthopaedic surgeon Dr Omar Hassan demonstrated "bizarre" behaviour including wearing inappropriate head gear and had not followed correct hygiene procedures during a spinal operation at University Hospital Galway (UHG). In total, there were 30 alleged examples of professional misconduct and displaying a lack of professional knowledge bordering on the "disgraceful and dishonourable" against Dr Hassan. He had worked at several Irish hospitals between 2012 and 2014, including the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise and Mayo General Hospital, as well as UHG, and was eventually suspended from practice pending the inquiry. During the 11-day hearing, orthopaedic surgeon Professor John McElwain commented that "to mistake an ankle for an elbow is a very, very serious matter indeed. You teach that to medical students... there is no similarity whatsoever". Dr Hassan was found guilty of misconduct and poor professional performance on multiple grounds, and suspended from medical practice until sanctions are imposed. Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat was found guilty of professional misconduct in 2014, when it was found that she failed to inform Tallaght Hospital there were restrictions on her practise of medicine when she applied for a post as a part-time locum consultant paediatrician at the hospital in November 2008. Dr Al-Zayyat, who was originally from Pakistan, had been told just months earlier that she was required to notify the GMC if she applied for any job outside the UK and to notify any prospective employer of the conditions and restrictions on her practise. These were imposed following her examination of the infant in the "Baby P" case in the UK in 2007. "P" was a child on the child-protection register who had unexplained injuries, and was found dead two days after an examination by Dr Al-Zayyat. Following the Irish inquiry, she was fined 5,000 and had further conditions attached to her practice by the Medical Council. Dr Etop Akpan, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, was found guilty on two counts of poor professional performance by the council in 2012 but cleared of professional misconduct. Nigerian-born Dr Akpan had defended 41 allegations relating to the case of Sharon McEneaney, who died in April 2009 following significant delays in her treatment for abdominal cancer. In 2012, another inquiry was shocked to hear that a senior house officer at Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise had tried to read a spinal X-ray while holding it upside down. Dr Vincent Osunkwo faced five allegations of professional misconduct or poor professional performance. It was also alleged that in March 2009 he had asked nursing staff if a patient's pulse rate reading of 165 beats a minute was high. British consultant surgeon Anthony Peel told the hearing that he was "almost speechless" in relation to this allegation, saying most members of the public would know this was high, as would any medical student. The inquiry heard that Dr Osunkwo had tried to cannulate (insert a tube) a patient using a scalpel to cut the patient's hand - a nurse was force to "snatch" the scalpel from him. "Dr Osunkwo had a scalpel in his hand. She (the patient) was crying he was about to cut into a vein, I said, 'Jesus what are you doing?" the nurse told the inquiry. "I didn't believe he was a real doctor." Melissa Luttrell got the idea from the film Tangled A young mum who tragically had a miscarriage last year has set up a heartwarming ceremony to remember babies who have died. Melissa Luttrell from Tallaght Co Dublin was heartbroken when she was sent home from hospital with just a booklet on miscarriage. Expand Close The event was held across the world / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The event was held across the world All I got was a little book. The night I had my miscarriage I set off a lantern as a way of saying goodbye to my baby. It was very beautiful, Melissa told Independent.ie. The event called Light Up the Sky was set up last year to help families talk about babies who died and to remember them. Families are invited to attend the event and release a lantern or balloon. There is nothing for men and women who lose a child so thats why I set it up. It raises awareness of infant losses in a heartwarming and beautiful way, said Melissa, who now has a one-year-old baby girl called Mia. This year the event took place in Dublin, Carlow, Australia, South Africa and Tenerife. We hope it will get bigger every year because it gives people a chance to talk about something thats never talked about. Its heartwarming to see people help each other get through it and have someone who understands what youre going through, said Melissa. Melissas dad Mark said that he has lost four grandchildren, three from stillbirth and one miscarriage. Its important for people to remember all our little angels. One woman who came to our event said it was the first time she said her sons name in years. People need to have a place to talk about miscarriages because nobody wants to hear about it, said Mark. Expand Close 'Tree of angels' is set up at St Maelruain's church in Tallaght / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 'Tree of angels' is set up at St Maelruain's church in Tallaght Like a lot of families I dont just want to go to a graveyard to remember lost children. Every Christmas a 'tree of angels' is set up at St Maelruain's church in Tallaght for those who have experienced infant loss. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has requested US President Barack Obamas help with a bitter row over transatlantic air services from Cork by a budget carrier. The Taoiseach also indicated that, if necessary, he will also raise the issue with President Obamas successor in the White House after the November elections. The revelation came as Mr Kenny pleaded for commonsense over the proposed air links between Cork and the US cities of Boston and New York by Norwegian Air International. Norwegian is tipped to slash average return fares on transatlantic services with a surge in tourist business expected between Ireland and the US. However, the airline has been unable to commence operations from Cork despite being granted a foreign carrier permit by the US Department of Transportation. The airline unveiled its route plans more than a year ago. Read More Norwegian has been unable to secure a permit to begin route operations as some US politicians including Hillary Clinton, backed by powerful US trade unions, have vehemently opposed the Norwegian services on labour grounds. The Taoiseach revealed he has personally raised the issue twice with President Obama and, if necessary, will raise it with his successor after Novembers US election. We have had discussions at a European level and at an American level. You cannot get any higher than the American president, Mr Kenny said. It is not politics that is holding this back. This is not a political obstruction and obviously now there is a claim for this to go to arbitration. The EU has formally sought arbitration on the basis the US delay in granting Norwegian a route permit is effectively a breach of the EU/US Open Skies agreement. If the matter becomes approved in the meantime, there will be no need for arbitration, the Taoiseach said. But it is a matter for common sense to prevail here - for a situation that is in compliance with the Open Skies agreement and that will have enormous beneficial results on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr Kenny said there was little doubt but that the entry of Norwegian to the transatlantic market could have a Ryanair-like impact. The opportunity for Norwegian to fly from Ireland to the States will have the capacity to do for long haul what Ryanair did for (European) short haul with enormous opportunities for both sides. Corks Sen Jerry Buttimer warned that the Norwegian service to the US was the crucial piece of the jigsaw in terms of a transport strategy for Irelands second city. We have simply got to keep the pressure on to secure this service. Cork has been working for 25 years to get a transatlantic service and it is critical that Norwegian is allowed to deliver it, he said. The row over the proposed Cork-Boston service by Norwegian is expected to be raised at a meeting in Canada tomorrow (Tuesday) between EU Transport Commissioner Violleta Bulc and US Transport Secretary Anthony Foxx. There is increasing speculation that the US will not resolve the permit row until after the US Presidential election. Norwegian has insisted it remains fully committed to the Cork-Boston and Cork-New York routes which the carrier had hoped to launch last summer. The routes are now unlikely to commence before May 2017. In the year since Norwegian announced plans for transatlantic routes from Cork, we have seen tremendous support from the public, Cork airport, the Irish Government, the EU and many others, a Norwegian spokesman said. It is frustrating therefore that ongoing delay by the US authorities is preventing Ireland from much needed new routes and the huge economic benefits they would bring. Norwegian said it is clearly entitled to a route permit from the US authorities and expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved. Last month, Norwegian dismissed as false and misleading suggestions by US Congressman Peter de Fazio that the carrier was attempting to use Ireland as a flag of convenience. US trade unions have vehemently opposed the entry of Norwegian to the transatlantic market amid claims the airline will undermine existing US crew and ground handler contracts. More than 1m worth of further damage is believed to have been caused in the latest outbreak of rioting in the country's only detention centre for teenage criminals. Youths at Oberstown Children Detention Campus in north county Dublin went on what sources described as a "drug-fuelled" rampage last Tuesday. And, it is claimed that embattled staff were told they could not restrain the rioters if they were 'only' causing damage to property. Staff are also prevented from searching inmates for drugs under the EU-inspired guidelines for detaining 'children' under the age of 18. Sources say the inmates are freely using smuggled drugs, including heroin in tablet form. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs, which has responsibility for the centre, declined to make any comment on the latest rampage, saying that it "does not comment on operational issues" at Oberstown. Unit 4, where last Tuesday's violence and damage took place, was previously damaged in rioting and only reopened after extensive repairs two months ago. In an attempt to boost the centre's image last month, management invited broadcaster Pat Kenny to visit during a period of calm. Repairs to Unit 4, which he visited, had just been completed. Staff say it is now "destroyed" again. Employees have warned that the current guidelines by the department over drugs searches will lead to a fatality. One said: "Young persons have bags of drugs and management will not sanction a restraint to remove them so they are taking drugs and staff wait to deal with an overdose." Taking to the streets: The Repeal the Eighth marchers make their presence felt on Merrion Square. Photo: Gerry Mooney Protesters predicted Fine Gael will lose seats in the next election because of the party's "dithering" over abortion - and branded the proposed Citizens' Assembly on the issue is "nothing but a whitewash". The stark warning came as thousands of pro-choice campaigners marched through the streets of Dublin yesterday demanding a repeal of the Eighth Amendment. Organisers expected an attendance of up to 20,000 - but a combination of poor weather conditions and the Dublin bus strike - affected on numbers. The demonstration was held as part of a series of similar protests planned for London, Berlin, Paris, and other cities. A number of pro-choice groups took part in the fifth annual 'March for Choice', organised by the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC). Linda Kavanagh of the Abortion Rights Campaign, said the demand for free, safe, legal abortion in Ireland will continue. She accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Fine Gael of "ignoring" the voices of women calling for a referendum on the issue. Expand Close Model Thalia Heffernan pictured at the start of Repeal The Eighth march yesterday. Photo: Mark Doyle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Model Thalia Heffernan pictured at the start of Repeal The Eighth march yesterday. Photo: Mark Doyle "I really don't see how a government, even a government as unstable as the current one, can ignore this matter any longer." She pointed out thousands of women are travelling abroad to avail of abortion facilities in other jurisdictions. "It is a political mistake to ignore this grassroots movement. They do so at their peril," she warned. Speaking to the Sunday Independent, she argued that up 87pc of the population now want a change to the existing abortion laws. "The Government needs to understand that this hasn't gone away - we're here to speak for the thousands of women who travel abroad for an abortion every year - and the thousands of women who will travel during the lifetime of this Citizens' Assembly." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Protesters with Repeal the Eighth banners. Photo: Gerry Mooney Protestors taking part in the Repeal the 8th march. Picture; Gerry Mooney. The Repeal the 8th march makes its way past the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street. Picture; Gerry Mooney Protesters taking part in the Repeal the 8th march. Picture; Gerry Mooney The Repeal the 8th march on Merrion Square Picture; Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters with Repeal the Eighth banners. Photo: Gerry Mooney Ms Kavanagh described the assembly as a "stalling tactic". She said "poll after poll" shows that women want the right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy. She also said it is important to ensure that women who have had abortions have their voices heard. The Pro-Life Campaign, meanwhile, held an "awareness event" yesterday calling for the retention of the Eighth Amendment which it says has saved countless lives. The group produced figures from a special study it commissioned which suggested that, since 1994, some 100,000 lives have been saved because of this amendment. It stressed that at the heart of the campaign for abortion is a "betrayal both of women and their unborn babies". Commenting on the findings of the study, Pro-Life Campaign spokesperson, Dr Ruth Cullen, warned of the dangers of "dismantling" the Eighth Amendment. "Realistically speaking, it is very likely that well in excess of 100,000 people owe their lives to this life-saving provision of our Constitution." She said pro-choice slogans ignore "fundamental realities" about what legalised abortion actually involves. There is no choice in abortion for the unborn child, she added, and evidence shows that what is presented as choice for the woman is really "pressure to abort". "You only have to look at what happens in England - where 90pc of babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome are now aborted. Abortion advocates clearly don't trust women with the truth about their baby and what happens in an abortion," Dr Cullen said. Gardai have struck a deal with the Department of Justice which could see pay increments return and result in new recruits receiving a lucrative rent allowance worth more than 4,000. The deal brokered late last Friday night includes a commitment by gardai to work additional hours and officially sign up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. It is understood the extra hours worked, which had been 30 a year under a previous deal, will be decided during consultations with the Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan. Sources familiar with the agreement said there will be "flexibility" around the number of extra hours gardai will have to work under the deal. A 4,017 rent allowance will be paid to new recruits in two tranches as part of the agreement. There have been months of negotiations between the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Department of Justice over the pay deal. The GRA recently balloted 10,500 members on their willingness to engage in industrial action despite legislation prohibiting gardai from striking. The secret ballot voting papers were sent to members earlier this month and the deadline for returning votes is tomorrow evening at 5pm. It is widely expected that gardai will have voted in favour of industrial action. The threat of a so-called 'blue flu' or all-out industrial action by gardai has hung over the country for months. Strike warnings came as gardai sought to clamp down on the worst gang wars in the country's history and followed a spate of crime in rural Ireland. However, after months of talks, it now seems a deal has been reached between the Garda representative body and the Department of Justice. The GRA will ballot its members on the new agreement after it is considered by the Association's 31-member Central Executive Committee tomorrow and a delegate conference on Wednesday. An internal message sent to members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) said negotiations which began on July 14 concluded last Friday night. "A draft agreement will be finalised over the weekend and will be available for presentation to the CEC on Monday morning [tomorrow]," it stated. "Having consulted with the general secretary a special meeting of the GRA CEC is to be convened for Monday the 26th of September to discuss same," it added. Gardai refused to sign up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement as they insisted the Government had not fulfilled commitments under the previous pay deal - the Haddington Road Agreement. The Department of Justice yesterday refused to comment on negotiations with the GRA. If the deal is agreed with gardai, it will mean the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) will be the only union continuing to refuse to sign up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Last week, Education Minister Richard Bruton called on the ASTI to sign up to the pay deal as the threat of industrial action continues to loom for secondary school students in the coming months. Mr Bruton told the teachers' union that pay and conditions could be discussed under the terms of Lansdowne Road. In a letter to the ASTI, the minister said deals were agreed with the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) after they signed up to the pay agreement. The ASTI has balloted 18,000 members on industrial action which will see teachers stop doing supervision and substitution work. If a deal is not reached with the union, strikes in October and November could result in school closures. The ASTI is seeking better pay for newly qualified teachers. Agriculture Minister Michael Creed and Public Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe have been asked to explain their role in the unprecedented reappointment of Horse Racing Ireland's (HRI) chief executive after calls were made for them to appear before an Oireachtas Committee. HRI chief executive Brian Kavanagh was reinstated as the head of the organisation this year after chairman Joe Keeling lobbied Government without notifying HRI's board. Mr Kavanagh has held the role since 2001. Under government guidelines, the CEO of a commercial State body should only serve a single term of seven years. Controversy has also surrounded Mr Kavanagh's 190,000 annual salary after it was revealed to be 26,000 above the specified range outlined by the Department of Agriculture. Fianna Fail's agriculture spokesperson Charlie McConalogue said it is vital Mr Creed and Mr Donohoe explain their roles in the reappointment. Both ministers told the Dail they endorsed Mr Kavanagh after seeing a business case submitted to them by HRI's board. However, the board has never seen this document and it was actually submitted by HRI chairman Joe Keeling. Minister Creed addressed the issue in a series of parliamentary questions last week. "The chairman of HRI made a case for an exceptional extension to the term of appointment of the CEO, based on a number of business imperatives," said Mr Creed. "The necessary ministerial consents were provided based on the case made and I understand the board approved the appointment on July 21 for a period of five years." However, Mr McConalogue said further clarity is needed. "It is my view that it is in the public interest that Ministers Creed and Donohoe along with HRI board representatives attend an urgent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine to account on all phases of the reappointment in question. "I have contacted the committee Chair to request this. It is imperative that all State guidelines that apply to bodies under the aegis of government departments pertaining to board appointments and related remuneration packages are complied with. "It is vital that absolute clarity is brought to all aspects surrounding the reappointment of HRI's CEO for a third term." Since news of the controversy broke, Mr Kavanagh has been told he will not be reappointed when the five-year contract extension he signed in July ends. By then he will have served 20 years at the helm of the organisation. The chairman apologised to the HRI board that the reappointment process had given rise to concerns because they did not have sight of the documents submitted to Government. New protocols will now be put in place at HRI. The Central Bank last night sent out a defiant pre-Budget message to the Government, dampening expectations of a loosening of the tough mortgage rules. The warning, by deputy governor Sharon Donnery, is a further sign of friction between Dame Street and the Department of Finance over fiscal control, with Ms Donnery telling the Department of Finance that adjusting home loan deposit rules could threaten stability in the financial markets. Ms Donnery defended the current rules, which mean first-time buyers who want to buy a 400,000 property require a deposit of 58,000 - 10pc of the first 220,000 and 20pc of the remaining 180,000. She said the rules were still in the early phase of a long-term cycle aimed at protecting the financial system as a whole. Adjusting these rules in response to "temporary and minor fluctuations" in the housing market would be unwise, she said. The department has already called on the Central Bank to modify mortgage lending rules to help first-time buyers as concern grows within Government that their inability to secure loans is worsening the housing crisis. Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) last week show residential property prices rose nationally by 6.7pc in the year up to July. Speaking in Wexford on Saturday night, Ms Donnery said the loan-to-value and loan-to-income mortgage rules were vital. "Learning from the crisis, the bank has taken clear and decisive action through the introduction of the mortgage measures," said Ms Donnery. "It would be unwise to seek to adjust the rules in response to minor and temporary fluctuations in the state of the financial cycle. Such a fine-tuning approach could actually aggravate financial instability if revisions proved to be unwarranted or badly timed." Proposals put forward by the Department of Finance as part of a Central Bank review would see mortgage lenders given greater flexibility to breach the lending rules. However, Ms Donnery said the benefits of the guidelines were "often unobservable" but that the costs of the measures can be immediately felt. "The objective of the measures is to enhance the resilience of both borrowers and the banking sector. "Stable rules are valuable for both households and mortgage lenders in eliminating avoidable uncertainty about the regulatory regime. "Even if systemic risks were not emerging in the financial sector, borrower-based measures may still be necessary." She also addressed the impact of the UK vote to leave the EU at the Dublin Economic Workshop Annual Economic Policy Conference, saying its impact on the Irish economy was uncertain but was likely to be negative. She added: "Ireland is the most exposed European economy to the potential effects of Brexit. "The UK accounts for a large percentage of Irish imports and exports. Labour flows and cross-border investment linkages are considerable and certain domestic Irish banks have large exposures to the UK." Finance Minister Michael Noonan has reassured his Fine Gael Cabinet colleagues that his latest health scare will not affect his ability to get October's Budget passed. Taoiseach Enda Kenny asked Mr Noonan for an update on his condition at a pre-Cabinet meeting of Fine Gael ministers last Tuesday after the Finance Minister was forced to take a week off work. Cabinet sources have told the Sunday Independent that Mr Noonan, who has gone through a series of medical procedures in recent years, insisted his health would not be an issue during Budget negotiations. A senior minister said: "Noonan came into the meeting and told us: 'I'm great and I had a good rest.'" Another Cabinet source said he told colleagues "it could be a while" before the skin condition heals and said he would continue to need treatment. The minister was diagnosed with cellulitis - a bacterial infection which leads to redness and swelling of the skin. Several senior ministers yesterday said Mr Noonan was in good health and was still the best-placed politician to control the country's purse strings. Expand Close Comments: Fine Gaels Kate OConnell. Photo: David Conachy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Comments: Fine Gaels Kate OConnell. Photo: David Conachy Last Monday, he did not attend a significant jobs announcement in his native Limerick, leading to further speculation about his health. But the following day, Mr Noonan made his first public appearance since his hospital stint when he gave a strong performance before the Budget Oversight Committee. Fine Gael colleagues were buoyed by the minister's composure during the hearing, with one senior figure insisting "he kicked Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein's finance spokesman) around the place". At a media briefing last week, the Taoiseach said the Finance Minister has always assured him of his fitness to work after receiving medical treatment. "He has said to me quite openly that if that wasn't the position he would inform me also and I trust him completely in that regard," Mr Kenny added. In an interview in today's Sunday Independent, Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell insists the Taoiseach would not keep Mr Noonan as Finance Minister if he was not "the right person for the job". She said: "It's too serious and I don't think Michael Noonan would be doing the job unless he thought he was fit for it." The rising Fine Gael star also calls for "fresh blood" in the party's senior ranks because she believes they are "at nothing if the same gang" who ran the last election campaign remains in place. Two weeks ago, Fine Gael colleagues noticed a swelling on the Finance Minister's face when he attended the party's annual parliamentary away day in Kildare. In the same week, he missed a crucial Cabinet meeting where the Government's position on the controversial sale of Nama's 1.6bn Project Eagle property portfolio was discussed and agreement reached to hold a statutory inquiry. At the meeting, the Taoiseach announced that Mr Noonan could not attend as he had suffered an insect bite in Bratislava, Slovakia, while on official State business the previous week. However, a senior Government source yesterday said it was "impossible" to say for certain that the skin infection was a result of an insect bite. It was also reported that Mr Noonan "took full part" in the Cabinet meeting over the telephone. However, several ministers in attendance insisted this was not the case and rather that he had private conversations with the Taoiseach by telephone. But a noticeable abrasion on the minister's face raised concerns among his colleagues about his health. At the pre-Cabinet meeting, which followed the committee hearing, Mr Noonan said he was in good health and joked he had time to read four books while hospitalised. "If there was something wrong with Noonan he would tell us," a Cabinet source said. Last Friday, he gave another strong performance when he appeared on international business television channel Bloomberg to discuss Brexit. He is also expected to appear at a jobs event in Limerick tomorrow. Mr Noonan has experienced a number of health scares in recent years, including a five-week course of radiotherapy after a cancerous mole was removed from his shoulder in 2014. Last Christmas, he was admitted to hospital to have his lungs drained after a fluid build-up on his chest required treatment. In January 2015, he received medical treatment for an eye condition and in 2007 he underwent a heart bypass. But he has always bounced back from his medical conditions and he is widely attributed as playing a pivotal role in bringing the country back from financial ruin after the economic crash. The prospect of Mr Noonan stepping down after October's Budget has been raised privately within Fine Gael but last week ministers were insisting the 73-year-old politician has the strength and energy to play a key role in the Government for some time. Ahead of the General Election, the Limerick TD said he hoped to continue as Finance Minister for two more budgets. He was reappointed by Mr Kenny following government negotiations, with Paschal Donohoe given the crucial Department of Public Expenditure and Reform portfolio. In recent weeks, Mr Noonan has told Cabinet colleagues Mr Donohoe holds the purse strings in this Budget. "He told us last week his bit of the Budget is only small and brief and Paschal is the man with the money to spend and he said it won't take him long to spend it," a senior minister said. However, several ministers in attendance insisted this was not the case and rather that he had private conversations with the Taoiseach by telephone. But a noticeable abrasion on the ministers face raised concerns among his colleagues about his health. At the pre-Cabinet meeting, which followed the committee hearing, Mr Noonan said he was in good health and joked he had time to read four books while hospitalised. If there was something wrong with Noonan he would tell us, a Cabinet source said. Last Friday, he gave another strong performance when he appeared on international business television channel Bloomberg to discuss Brexit. He is also expected to appear at a jobs event in Limerick tomorrow. Mr Noonan has experienced a number of health scares in recent years, including a five-week course of radiotherapy after a cancerous mole was removed from his shoulder in 2014. Last Christmas, he was admitted to hospital to have his lungs drained after a fluid build up on his chest required treatment. In January 2015, he received medical treatment for an eye condition and in 2007 he underwent a heart bypass. But he has always bounced back from his medical conditions and he is widely attributed as playing a pivotal role in bringing the country back from financial ruin after the economic crash. The prospect of Mr Noonan stepping down after Octobers Budget has been raised privately within Fine Gael but last week ministers were insisting the 73-year-old politician has the strength and energy to play a key role in the Government for some time. Ahead of the General Election, the Limerick TD said he hoped to continue as Finance Minister for two more budgets. He was reappointed by Mr Kenny following government negotiations, with Paschal Donohoe given the crucial Department of Public Expenditure and Reform portfolio. In recent weeks, Mr Noonan has told Cabinet colleagues Mr Donohoe holds the purse strings in this Budget. He told us last week his bit of the Budget is only small and brief and Paschal is the man with the money to spend and he said it wont take him long to spend it, a senior minister said. Enjoy caviar for charity sort of! Journalist Miriam Donohue recently returned from eight months spent volunteering in Kampala with Hospice Africa Uganda. The mission of the charity is to end the pain and suffering faced by thousands in Africa due to poor health services, and to ensure that seriously ill people there die pain free, in peace, comfort and dignity. Miriam's sister is Mag Kirwan of Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Co Kilkenny, which produces high-quality rainbow trout and trout caviar. You'll find Goatsbridge products - including delicious smoked and barbecued fish, which sell under the Eat Trout brand - in supermarkets and on the menu of some of Ireland's best restaurants. If you have never tried the caviar, you are in for a special treat and it would, incidentally, make a terrific gift for any Irish foodie. A few months back, Mag says that she opened yet another fish-recipe book that did not include rainbow trout in its index. "I felt," she says, "that it was time to stop moaning about it and do something, once and for all!" She decided to compile a fish-recipe book of her own to redress the balance, and to ensure that it contained almost nothing but trout recipes. The result is Fishwives, featuring a selection of recipes from women in Ireland and Uganda. Among the contributors are Darina Allen, Clodagh McKenna, Georgina Campbell, Lucinda O'Sullivan, Catherine Cleary, Suzanne Campbell... and yours truly. I'm in excellent company. My recipe is not a trout recipe and not even my own, but it is my absolute favourite fish recipe: Lucas Hollweg's smoked haddock gratin, which I guarantee is the most delicious fish dish ever, laden with cream, Parmesan, spinach... and calories. Goatsbridge is funding the entire cost of designing and producing the book, and proceeds from sales will go to Hospice Africa Uganda. The initial print run is 3,000 copies. The book will sell at 20 per copy and 15 from each sale will go to the charity. (The other 5 is the print cost.) Mag and Miriam have set an ambitious target to raise 40,000 for Hospice Africa Uganda, to be channelled through Hospice Africa Ireland, a board which fundraises and supports Hospice Africa Uganda. Fishwives is being launched at the Savour Kilkenny Festival on October 28 in the Parade Tower of Kilkenny Castle, but can be pre-ordered at goatsbridgetrout.ie. Aran Islands artisan produce The Dillisk Goats Cheese being produced by a herd of 100 saanen and nubian goats on Gabriel Fahertys family farm on Inishmore was a big hit at the Specialty Fine Food Fair in London earlier this month. For stockists see arangoatcheese.com Mushroom stuff Mycophagist, Bill ODea, is leading a mushroom hunt at Kilruddery House just outside Bray, Co Wicklow on Sunday, October 2. Tickets are 70 and include foraging, picking, instruction on mushroom identification, cooking and, most importantly, lunch. mushroomstuff.com Hatch & Sons Supper Club Septembers Supper Club at the Dublin spot is on Thursday 29. Its a barbecue with smoked mackerel pate, steak, butterflied leg of lamb and sea bream, with cheese to finish. The cost is 35 per head, to include food and all wine. Bookings: (01) 6610075 Clodagh McKenna at the farmers market in Port au Prince today "with these fabulous women who sell the fruits from the local farmers" Chef Clodagh McKenna shares the flavoursome local recipes that she learned on her trip to Haiti Creole Chicken with Djon Djon Rice Djon djon are a Haitian mushroom; you can substitute them with wild mushrooms. Serves 6 Expand Close Creole chicken by Clodagh McKenna / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Creole chicken by Clodagh McKenna Ingredients 12 boneless/skin on chicken thighs 2 tbsp tomato paste 2 scallions, finely chopped Expand Close Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in Ile-a-Vache / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in Ile-a-Vache 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 1 Scotch bonnet chilli, left whole For the marinade: 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 tbsp fresh flat parsley, finely chopped 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped Juice of 1 lime 1 tbsp of olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper For the djon djon rice: 250ml water 100g djon djon (dried black mushrooms) 1 tbsp oil 1 clove of garlic 2 shallots, finely chopped green pepper, diced 50g pigeon peas (or black-eyed peas) 1 clove 1 sprig thyme 1 pinch cayenne pepper 1 hot pepper, whole 100ml chicken stock 200g rice 50g butter Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Method Clean the chicken using the Haitian meat cleaning method: with lemon or sour orange juice and vinegar. Rinse in cold water. Make the marinade by mixing together the crushed garlic, parsley, thyme, lime juice, olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and sea salt. Rub the marinade all over the chicken, leave to marinate for a couple of hours, or if possible overnight. Once the chicken has marinated pop it into a large zip lock bag. Place a large saucepan filled halfway with water over a high heat and bring to the boil, then reduce to simmer. Place the chicken into the saucepan and leave to simmer for 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes, remove the chicken from the saucepan and the bag and set aside. Place a saute pan or skillet to a medium heat, and once hot brown the chicken on both sides. Add a half cup of water to the saucepan along with the tomato paste, scallions, pepper and chilli. Stew the chicken on a medium-high heat for 25 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until it is ready to serve. Meanwhile, soak the djon djon or other mushrooms in 250ml hot water for 30 minutes. Pass through a blender, then strain through a fine strainer. Keep the water and discard the residue. In a saucepan, pour in the oil, garlic, shallots, pepper and pigeon peas (black-eyed peas). Cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the black water from the djon djon and clove, thyme, a pinch of cayenne, hot pepper and stock. When the water begins to boil, add the rice and stir for 2 minutes. Cook uncovered until the total absorption of water. Add the butter. Finish cooking over low heat, covered, for 15 minutes. Serve with the creole chicken. Garlic Prawns with Mango Sambal Expand Close Garlic Prawns with Mango Sambal / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garlic Prawns with Mango Sambal Serves 4 Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp Dijon mustard 3 cloves garlic, minced Juice of 1 lemon Juice of orange 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped Splash rum (optional) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 12 prawns, peeled and deveined (3 each per serving) For the mango sambal: 50g cashew nuts (oiled, salted and roasted) 1 dsp fresh coriander, chopped 1 dsp fresh mint, chopped Juice of 1 lime 1 tsp sugar tsp fish sauce 2 tbsp olive oil tsp hot pepper sauce 1 mango, julienned (cut into thin matchsticks) carrot, julienned red pepper, diced red onion, diced Method In a glass dish, mix together the olive oil, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, orange juice, basil, parsley, rum and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the prawns, and stir to coat. Cover, and let marinate for 1 hour. To make the sambal, in a skillet or oven roast the cashews over a medium heat until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes; set aside. In bowl, whisk together the fresh coriander, mint, lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, oil and hot pepper sauce. Add the mango, carrot, red pepper and onion and toss to coat. Heat the grill to high heat. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until pink. Serve with the mango sambal. I really didn't know what to expect on the boiling hot day we landed in the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince. It normally would take 20 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel, but it took our minivan nearly two hours because of the amount of people and traffic packed into arteries of the city. The poverty is overwhelming. And it's very hard to take it all in. The roads are chaotic. Six years since the earthquake, you can still see rubble lying about. It is clear that the country was flattened. As our vehicle idled along, people were lining the streets, selling bric-a-brac, or banging on our windows trying to sell us bottled water, or plantain chips. The buses around us were overfilled, the people all squashed inside to be taken up the mountains to their homes, or back down to the city to their workplaces. What was beautiful about these buses - basically pick-up trucks - were the bright paintings on the sides, with images of Jesus or 'We are Blessed', or 'Thank you, Christ' in thick paint. For a country so stricken with poverty and a terrible natural disaster, the local people have an incredible faith. They are positive and hopeful. It was earlier this month when I travelled to Haiti with a group of Irish businesspeople. We were on what is called an Enterprise Trip, visiting different local projects and lending what support and mentorship we could give. I have been an ambassador with Haven Charity for four years and this was my first time seeing the country first hand. I could never have been prepared. Haven was launched in 2008, an NGO aiming to help Haitian people build sustainable livelihoods. Two years later, the earthquake struck, and Haven's work quickly became focused on emergency relief. The catastrophe, which left more than 217,000 people dead and left 2.1 million homeless, has really shaped the work Haven does today. The charity aims to provide water and sanitation, training and housing solutions for Haitian people. Its work involves empowering local women to make better lives, and farmers to support themselves sustainably - projects which lie close to my heart. The smells of Port-au-Prince are intense because there's no waste management system. All of the rubbish is lined up on the streets and people tread through it looking to find something of use. There is a canal running through Port-au-Prince which I would imagine was once very beautiful. Now it is completely filled with waste. In the evening, you see people sweeping the streets with bamboo and homemade brushes, then they burn the leftover rubbish on the street. Expand Close Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in an Ile a Vache, Haiti / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in an Ile a Vache, Haiti The temperature the day we arrived was in the mid-40s. It was intensely hot. I was lucky, walking into a Westernised pocket like the hotel we were staying in. The minute we got to our hotel rooms and felt the air conditioning I thought: "Oh, thank God!" But then I felt this terrible guilt. I'm sitting here in this air conditioning, and millions of people just a few miles away are sweltering in the heat. Port-au-Prince is a lawless and violent city, and as a white person you aren't advised to walk around the street alone. Your chance of being shot is high. But I wanted to see the city, so the bodyguards took me out, hoping to find somewhere safe to get out of the car. Once more, chaos: what should be a 10-minute drive took an hour. It seems like everybody is selling something in Port-au-Prince. Every inch of the streets is taken up with stalls, people trading anything from toothbrushes to avocados and mangoes to second-hand shoes and clothes. We soon found what I was looking for - a fruit and vegetable market. The covered wooden market was run by women: they had set up all the stalls and were selling ripe produce from local farmers. These crowds of wonderful, spirited women instantly came towards me showing me their beautiful baskets of fruit. Every woman had a different fruit - one had the best pineapples, another the best avocados, another the best papayas - inviting me to smell and feel the fruit, opening pieces up so I could taste them. In Haiti, every interaction is slower. You've really got to spend time chatting. Because you are so alien to their natural situation, it takes time to build up a conversation with a person. I'm lucky in that I was able to communicate directly with the women in French. I had the opportunity to speak to them about where the fruits were coming from, the time it took for them to arrive in my hands. They were so excited about the opportunity to sell this produce. I, of course, bought bags and bags and bags of it! I've never tasted anything quite like the mangoes in Haiti. Haiti should be famous for its mangoes in the way Amalfi is for its lemons. The Christine Farm Project is three hours from Port-au-Prince - again, the journey would be a third of that if the roads were regulated. The next day, as soon as we got out of the city and started driving south to this farm, the chaos simply disappeared and we found ourselves in a rich tropical landscape. There were fields of mango trees, avocado trees, sugar cane. I understood how people fall in love with Haiti. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in Ile-a-Vache Clodagh McKenna visits the Christine farm project, Haiti A fisherman on Ile-a-Vache repairs the nets which provide his livelihood and food source / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Clodagh McKenna at an orphanage in Ile-a-Vache We passed an enormous avocado farm, stretching on and on, with a young boy at the entrance at a wooden table selling fresh fruit. I called at the driver to stop the car and ran over quickly. I peeled the mango back like a banana and ate it - it was thirst-quenchingly juicy and so sweet, with a deep flavour. The most incredible mango I've had in my life! As we drew near the farm, one of the group asked the driver what his favourite thing about Haiti is. "The rain," he said. I thought I had misheard him. "The rain," he repeated - "because the rain is our future. It gives us our fruits and plants for our farms, so that we can eat and look after our families." What he said was very apt, just as we were arriving at the Christine Farm. In this place you really see hope for Haiti. The project was set up six years ago by Soul of Haiti, another Irish charity which has now joined forces with Haven. It is a model farm. Its aim is to create a centre of excellence for farming practices here. It has a commercial farm, research facility, training centre and seed bank. They teach how to do planting, crop rotation, irrigation and feeding. Students can also put their names down for funding to set up their own farm. I was so excited by what I saw that I set up a fundraising page and raised 5,000 to enable three families to set up their own chicken farms. This will fund 360 chickens, three chicken coops and enough chicken feed for six weeks. At the moment, Haiti imports more than a million eggs a day. This is madness, when producing eggs from their own chickens is something they could do for themselves. The more Haitian families that are able to sustain themselves and find their own source of income, the more Haiti can pull itself out of the past. They are good people, they want that. That evening we travelled to Ile-a-Vache, an island off the south-west coast of Haiti which was hit by flooding after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We were picked up by local men on motorbikes to take us through the island because there are no proper roads. About 12,000 people live on the island, but there is no electricity or running water there either. It's like going back to the very beginning. Cholera is rife in Haiti - this year alone there have been 17,000 cases of the disease so far - and access to clean water and sanitation is a priority for charities working here. I was keen to see Haven's boat-building project, which is part of its Income Generation Programme. This has supported fishermen by rebuilding boats that were damaged in floods, but also making boats from scratch. They've funded nearly 65 big fishing boats in this small island and repaired 51 more, benefiting some 350 fishermen. The programme supplies all the tools and materials to build wooden boats that look a lot like Irish currachs. The new boats they have built, in tandem with the fishermen, are bigger and safer than the traditional model, allowing fishermen to go further from the shore and find bigger catch. I sat with the fishermen on the waterfront and one man showed me how to mend the nets. He, and soon others, started telling me how this project had turned their lives around. They sell their fish mainly to Port-au-Prince, and keep enough to bring to their families. The fact that they have their own source of income, are able to look after their families, is very empowering. They were a happy community, and very proud. Because it's the Caribbean, the fish are very oily. Luckily I was able to taste some beautiful red snapper from the grill. The next day we put our bags on our backs and trekked across the island to see Haven's housing project. The charity gives $600 (537) towards supplying what a family needs for their home. The family themselves then lead all the building work. Many of the houses I saw needed a roof, or plastering, or a couple of walls. When I arrived there was a guy attaching a roof on to his home - one given from Haven. The charity has upgraded over 2,000 houses throughout the country. And Haven's volunteers have helped build homes and shelters for over 21,500 people. As we approached, people were coming straight up to say hello. The children wanted to touch my white skin. There was a very different atmosphere here to Port-au-Prince - the small community has been transformed and you can feel the hope. The houses, of course, are basic. Two rooms, no electricity, for families of four or five children, with wooden huts attached where people can cook on charcoal. However, the people are house-proud - putting up palm trees as hedging and painting the houses in beautiful, bright Caribbean colours. Some of the houses have solar panels for light, and they have systems installed to collect rainwater from the roof. I saw one woman my age sitting at the side of her little two-bedroomed house, hand-washing her clothes. She told me how grateful she was to have a home. From there, John Moore, Haven's country director in Haiti, took me to the orphanage on Ile-a-Vache. I am in awe of people like John - living in an underdeveloped country like Haiti is a massive commitment, it involves giving up so much of the life you knew. There are 80 children in this orphanage, and many of them were waiting for our visit with big smiles on their faces. They all knew John's name, and he knew all their names and all their stories. He had a little treat for everyone. They're forgotten children from families who can't afford to look after them, or abusive situations, or who have been left parentless. Half of those we saw were critically ill. When we arrived, many were just sitting around, outside, or on the floor inside. They had nothing to play with, they had no playroom. This was the most emotional experience for me. To see children, without a family to care for them, in such need - it's taking a while to process. I've been told that this was an OK orphanage; there are much worse ones. Yet what I saw was quite horrific. It was very difficult to leave, and to say goodbye to all the hopeful little faces. I know that Soul of Haiti/Haven have supplied much-needed materials to the orphanage, and built a pharmacy. But there is so much more to do and I won't stop until that orphanage improves. I will make sure that the welfare of those children are looked after. The next day I went to visit Cherprof in Port-au-Prince. The centre takes women off the streets and gives them skills and education that will enable them to work, and sets up work placements. It's run by 84-year-old Marie Carmel Lafontant. In Haiti, where tired gender stereotypes prevail, the women have a lot less chance than the men. It's like the Ireland of 40 years ago. Amid this kind of poverty and neglect, child trafficking and prostitution is a serious concern. UNICEF estimates that approximately 300,000 Haitian children are restavek (child slaves) and that 3,000 children are trafficked out of Haiti each year. Marie Carmel opened up her home to create Cherprof 40 years ago. It was lovely to see a place that was run by a Haitian person, developing skills for women. Cherprof had a learning centre on the second and third floors which was destroyed in the earthquake. Haven rebuilt the floors, and Digicel has sponsored new computers. Their kitchen is a very basic facility, so I'm looking to partner with a kitchen appliance company to improve the conditions for this fabulous centre. I gave a talk to the girls and women there, and afterwards chatted about the prospect of going on to work in hotels or restaurants. Many told me: "We want to get out of Haiti and come to your country." But my talk was all about how they can make a difference in their own country. This was how an intense four days came to an end. What most shocked me the most was the immense poverty I saw. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere - a quarter of its population live in what we would consider extreme poverty, existing on $1.25 per day. A feeling of loss and neglect is apparent in the capital. You see kids rummaging through the waste, and naked toddlers walking around on their own. At the beginning it was haunting. It takes a few days to register the scale of the poverty. When I was doing my final video diary for Independent.ie, I started to cry, and I found it hard to stop. But Marie Carmel said to me: "You must be brave, stop the crying, you have an important job to do." The locals couldn't stop thanking me for making people think about Haiti again. I got the sense that after the earthquake happened there was so much publicity and lots of charities working there. Now, so many of them have left and gone to different countries but Haven is stronger than ever. Now I have to think of what can be done. I've learnt to take the experience I've had and, as Marie Carmel said, be brave about it. And I'm going to channel it positively. There is not an hour that passes that I don't think about Haiti. It's constantly on my mind. Being an ambassador for Haven has made me want to be a better person. Havenpartnership.com n Clodagh was in conversation with Maggie Armstrong Premium Dan O'Brien Opinion While we catastrophise about Covid, we ignore risk of running out of cash We Irish view the world in an increasingly strange and unhealthy way. We catastrophise about Covid in a way other European countries do not. We focus on how bad the effects of the virus could get, on how many more restrictions might be imposed by Government and how helpless we are in the face of the virus. Premium Gene Kerrigan Opinion This time, we did the right thing The people act in solidarity. Children donate their pocket money and adults offer the use of a spare room. Refugee fundraising goes on in all the usual places, with the Late Late Show leading the way. When the Ukrainians needed help, we did the right thing. Premium Mary Kenny Opinion If men want to yammer on about sport, then let them it helps them connect emotionally I was travelling on a train from Dublin to Cork, and near me sat two Dublin men. Throughout the entire journey they managed to keep up a fluent dialogue about English football teams. From Aston Villa to Sheffield Wednesday, from Crystal Palace to Manchester City the conversation flowed eloquently. I was in awe at the minutiae of their knowledge and expertise. And if the topic of their discourse lacked a certain variety, it was nonetheless better than sitting in sullen silence, or glued to their phones. Not for nothing was Barbara Bush known as 'The Enforcer' Barbara Bush, tougher than her husband and known to her family as 'The Enforcer', is probably the most popular of all ex-US first ladies of recent times. Jackie Kennedy is remembered across the globe for elegance and tragedy, but she was not loved. Rosalynn Carter worked hard and was a noted campaigner on issues of mental health, but she has suffered in retrospect because of her bitterness at his defeat by Ronald Reagan, who is widely perceived to have been as great a success as Carter was a failure. The brittle Nancy Reagan was an essential support to her husband, but was thought to care little for anyone else. Hillary Clinton was loathed by those who thought her a careerist. The likeable Laura Bush did a lot of useful work but lacked her mother-in-law's commanding personality. And although Michelle Obama had rock-star status, that has diminished as she and her husband embrace luxury and celebrity. Betty Ford is probably the closest rival, having been far more effective and formidable than her husband Gerald, the 38th president, and still having a posthumous reputation for her prowess as a campaigner on addiction, not least because so many of the famous troop to the Betty Ford Clinic. CaitrIona Lucas worked for Clare County Library service from 2000 and was a dedicated, hard working and very talented person. She was originally recruited to work in Lisdoonvarna Library, but in time worked in both Ennistymon and Corofin branches. She was very talented artistically and brought this to all aspects of her library work. She was excellent with the public and to the fore in many programmes connected with children, literacy and reading in the library. She had just completed her first year of study for a BSc in Library and Information Studies, which would have given her a qualification in librarianship. She was dynamic and motivated and never once let aspects of her dual life interfere unduly with the other. One imagines Caitriona coming to work in the library after possibly dangling off a cliff edge an hour earlier, and then sitting down with a group of children for story hour or an art and craft session. She would rarely, if ever, have mentioned the previous episode and had a modesty and humility that was remarkable. Members of staff have paid the following tributes. Helen Flynn, of Milltown Malbay Library, said: "She was a great colleague and friend and someone you could always depend on. No matter what time of the day or evening, you would ring her with a query, you could be certain she would sort it out straight away. "In July 2014 she offered to come to Milltown Malbay library with one of her colleagues from Doolin Search and Rescue and give a water safety talk to children. On that day she brought along some of their equipment to demonstrate how it should be used and all the children got to try it. She did all of this on her own free time. Caitriona will be greatly missed by us all." Our children's librarian Patricia Fitzgerald of Library HQ added: "Caitriona delighted in celebrating children's books and reading with the younger members of the libraries where she worked. Her expertise in art and craft was shared with children during the October book festival and the summer reading programme each year. "She seized every opportunity to bring children and teenagers closer to books in planning activities to mark authors' birthdays and to celebrate Halloween, Christmas and Easter through children's literature. She began the first ever Lego club at Ennistymon Library and it was testament to her sense of sharing, the importance of working with others and having fun, that the club was oversubscribed on many occasions." Brian Doyle of Library HQ said: "I had the honour of training Caitriona for her new role as branch librarian at Lisdoonvarna, which opened in its current location in 1999. Nicknamed 'The Gingerbread Library' owing to its compactness and wooded location, it was a fitting location for her to work given its popularity with children. It suited the inner child in Caitriona. "The training process was effortless. From day one Caitriona was quick to learn, enthusiastic, organised and proactive, and her warmth with customers and staff was as natural as her ready smile; all qualities that Caitriona carried effortlessly through her short but inspiring life." Caitriona is a huge loss to our Library Service. We cannot even begin to imagine the loss being felt by her immediate family and the members of the Irish Coast Guard. Helen Walsh is Clare County Librarian The night is a bruise bulging over the city, making the palms of claustrophobes sweat. We arrive from Stansted on the bus, travelling apparently via Aberdeen, such is the length of the journey. Actually, it's via the social slaughterhouse of Hemel Hempstead, High Wycombe, Luton Airport. OOO EEE OOO. "OOO EEE OOO? What the?" asks my companion. "Luton Airport. OOO EEE OOO. Girl-band. Chart Hit. Cats UK. 1979." "Right," he says, reinserting wireless earphones blasting Buddy Rich. The exhaled response signalling 'don't pursue, this is the territory of doors blocking wi-fi, families of trees communicating, conversation with the dead'. The station in the university city reeks of invisible dog. Around the red-brick corner, five beauties hum, glisten under a makeshift shelter, their master keeping watch like a shepherd over his flock. He scans the near sky as if for threat. And finds it. Within hours the sky explodes. By dawn villages are under water, rail bosses and commuters under pressure. Since I'm surplus to academic requirements, I have the morning to myself. And my instructions. Get thee to a gallery, church, bookshop, coffee-shop. Paintings can be seen, candles lit, books bought, double-espresso drunk. We'll meet for lunch. Phone on? Yes. Glasses? On head. Sterling? Got it. In the two seconds since I was fixing a hat, tucking in hair, pulling pale-blue mittens through the sleeves of a red jacket, there's been a dramatic role reversal. In the famous invisibility cloak of the woman over 50, I'm gliding through the city, comfy, unseen. Except by the homeless. Young people blanketed, behatted in doorways, bags neatly hung or folded. Gaunt elderly men sharp-cheeked from chronic undernourishment, slack-jawed from shock, tiredness. This cold morning, their eyes are bright, streaming from the sudden wind, acute hunger, the realisation that winter is coming. One man, in a thin black coat, his head like a dandelion clock, is shaking. Before I get to him another man, around 50, with a guitar, asks politely for 10p. Thirty seconds behind us, the welcome crew from a college is setting up tables, parents swooping, flapping around them like carrion crows over a still-warm badger oozing along the M11. Across the city, young men and women are leaving, arriving, carrying boxes, clothes airers, gowns for graduation. Later, in the streets, drunk men in their 40s will sniff for fights as if they both own and hate world. All day, I spot the difference between the mother-tongue English students and those from the European mainland. How many of the former appear meek, almost over-awed, marshalled by their parents across Headington hardstone. Surprisingly and by contrast, the survivors of the continental, state-school system have a particular calm, battle-hardened for university by what they describe as five years of no hand-holding, no spoon-feeding, no mocks, no crammers, defend your thesis, think on your feet, study or don't bother, show up or stay home, sink or swim, do or die. At the talks, it's the English, Welsh and Irish mammies who make comments, ask questions. I wonder which degree they are taking. The European young adults look mystified, their silent parents bemused. In keeping with my instructions, I wander into a church. As was foretold, there are candles, the bonus of a statue of the Virgin. It's the Anglican church of St Mary Magdalen. Inside, an apprentice priest with a warm welcome and a shiny wedding ring starts chatting. It's lovely. Until he asks me if I worship. Worship? What a word. Quotidian, perhaps, to the Anglicans. But for an ex-Catholic who wouldn't now touch Catholicism with someone else's barge pole, it's a punch. 'Worship' is an almost-forgotten, yet haunting term, like state of, or sanctifying grace. Worship is redolent of stars, astronomers, Magi; angels and shepherds; false gods and goddesses, Ashtoreth, Baal, Dagon, Milcon; Lippi and his Egyptian Bull; worshipful companies of apothecaries, weavers, mercers, musicians. In the beginning was the word and it hunts me from the church to the realisation on the slimy, civic pavement of what I have not so much forgotten, as perhaps, forbidden. According to the dictionary, 'worship' comes from the Anglo-Saxon to render unto something its worth. For my purposes post-St Mary Magdalen's, the English definition is commodifying, diminishing, more suited to a standards authority or a transaction on the high street than any intimacy with the Divine. How do we calculate the worth of a god, measure his or her due unless we place ourselves equal to or above them? Surely a defeat of the very purpose? In an airport once I saw a Muslim woman around my own age, look for a quiet corner, check for the East, unfurl a mat, begin to pray. I was struck by the powerful physicality of her prayer, how in this public space, she prostrated herself in intimacy with her God. Her actions reflected the Greek for worship in the bible. Proskuneo implying falling to the ground to kiss a hand or feet. Latreuo suggesting 'service' or 'homage'. Sebo meaning 'reverence' or 'holding in awe'. Today, then, how do we worship? Do we worship at all? For some, Mozart, Mahler or The Doors might connect them to the Divine. Bowie, perhaps, being Divinity itself. For generation Z, is worship the hordes of young girls paying to use Kimojis, the 'religious' iconography of Ms Kardashian West? For politicians, favourable coverage, ultimately power? For the narcissistic, fragile or emotionally-needy more likes on Facebook, more followers on Twitter? For media, the slavish attachment to 'live' so 'news' is a series of 'nows' bereft of perspective or reflection? In Ireland, we're only beginning to recover from the tyranny of a religion that had less to do with Divinity than with the man-made demand for absolute subservience, the civic space included. Death had no dominion over its terror: it was only after we breathed our last, the real pain would be inflicted for our transgressions. Possibly, for all eternity. Generations blighted and exiled by what was not 'faith' but fetish, not 'worship' but codology, the iron control of vengeful men setting themselves before and above a loving God. A Pharisee caste. Are we wary then of worship? If we consider it at all, is it in terms of the Anglo-Saxon 'worth'? Even our attitude to learning and knowledge is, increasingly, one of commodification, purchase. For those who have the money grinds are bought, fees paid. Knowledge and its acquirement no longer have intrinsic value. Rather poems, plays, works of art are parcelled up for easy consumption, packaged and primped for the production of the necessary. On our curricula Latin, Greek, Classical Studies are widely considered 'worthless'. Even with Irish, there's the lamentation, 'what's the use, the worth'? With the STEM programme, educators are near-fanatic in their promotion of the sciences over humanities. Unless we measure the nail wounds, calibrate the depth of our fingers in the holes, we can't or won't believe. Or, perhaps, be allowed. That said my friend, a Benedictine, truly a man of God, says he came to the Divine through mathematics. In a post-modern life where we are distracted by trivia, mesmerised by the banal, voracious in our hunger for scandal and spectacle, is there room for worship beyond pragmatic 'worth' or the phenomenon of 'glory'? Who decides what is 'worthy' or 'glorious' and according to what measure? In social media, where we build 'community', the reactions frequently suggest the co-existence of ideas or opinions is verboten. The balance between the pack mentality and the hive-mind, even among the signalled-virtuous, is exquisite. Don't agree with us? You are flawed, pitiable, sexist, racist, bigoted, a misogynist or misandrist, antediluvian, outlier or mob-member, soulless or sky-faeried, execrable, mortifying, worthless. I'm going to practise worship beyond worth, see where it takes me. Whether we have to know the Divine to worship, or by daring to worship, the Divine reveals itself to us, I don't know. Whether the Anglicans have all the answers, ditto. But at the questions? In this case, they're better than Paxman. It's the economy, stupid. Bill Clinton's campaign manager in the 1992 US presidential election had that mantra pinned to his desk so that he never forgot what matters most in an election. It still holds true today. It's always about the economy. Look at the stories which are dominating Irish politics right now - the fallout from Brexit; alleged irregularities in the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland assets; the stand-off with the European Commission over Apple. Even the tension between Independent Alliance TD John Halligan and Fine Gael ministers comes down to a simple question of cash. In the good times, they'd have tossed some money Waterford's way to keep the locals happy. Now largesse is harder to come by. It's this ability to tighten and loosen purse strings which makes the Minister for Finance the most important person in Cabinet, and which puts the character and well-being of any individual who holds that position in the spotlight. That Michael Noonan's health has now become a matter of gossip in Leinster House may be unfortunate, but it's hardly unmerited. The 73-year-old recently spent time in hospital suffering from cellulitis, a serious skin infection. He also failed to appear at a major jobs announcement in his home county of Limerick. Minister of State Patrick Donovan went in his place. A spokesman denied poor health was the cause of his absence, but the rumour mill cranked into action. It's not only opponents who are whispering and speculating, but colleagues in his own party. Why wouldn't they? Noonan has been struck by a series of ailments in the last couple of years. In 2014, he underwent surgery and radiotherapy after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. In 2015, he had further treatment for an eye condition. Last Christmas he was hospitalised with pneumonia. A week before February's general election, he also missed what was described as a key meeting of EU finance ministers - again a spokesman denied that health was the reason even though the Taoiseach did make reference at the time to "some recent health challenges" faced by Noonan. In and of themselves, none of these incidents should undermine the Finance Minister's ability to do his job, and they clearly don't. He answered questions for nearly three hours before the Budgetary Oversight Committee earlier this week. The problem arises when it leads to speculation that there might be more to things than meets the eye; that the ailments are symptomatic of a deeper issue, which might impact on his capabilities in the near future. Being minister for finance is not a part-time position, after all. That would be serious because it's clear that Taoiseach Enda Kenny relies heavily on his senior colleague, and it's hard to think of another figure who could step effectively into the role of finance minister at short notice while emulating Michael Noonan''s exalted status in the party. It's not simply that finance is the most important job in government. The relationship between a taoiseach and his finance minister is crucial too. Kenny and Noonan complement one another, not least because the latter is big enough to take on huge challenges while also posing no threat to the former's leadership. Ministers of finance can be tricky to deal with because they must, of necessity, be heavyweights who might justifiably have one eye on the main prize. Of the six taoisigh since Garret FitzGerald, only one (Enda) had never been minister for finance beforehand. So the only person Kenny could appoint to the role would be a potential rival, and he has enough problems in that department already. That's why there's no point saying that the chatter about Michael Noonan's health shouldn't matter, or that it's personal, or that he has a right to privacy. He has no right to privacy if his health could imaginably affect the whole country. Admittedly, it's hard to tell how Noonan's feeling when he has a voice so downbeat that it would make Eeyore from the Winne-the-Pooh stories sound like the life and soul of the party by comparison; but comparing both his media appearances and those in the Dail side by side with those from two or three years ago, or even interviews he gave last October after delivering the Budget, it's not difficult to understand why concerns have been raised as to whether he has the staying power for the massive challenges ahead. There are important dates in his diary coming up, and not only that appearance at PAC, which he initially resisted, but a crucial Budget too. In the longer term, there's the Apple appeal and the Brexit negotiations which threaten to be both fractious and gruelling. There's no evidence that Europe is minded to take Ireland's specific needs into account in those talks. Irish representatives will have to battle hard for Irish interests. It would present serious complications if Michael Noonan's health was not sufficiently strong; but if he's not in the right physical condition to lead those negotiations, then he's not, and it's better to face it head on than let rumours fester, as Hillary Clinton learnt the hard way. For months, concerns were raised about Hillary's health, and supporters of the US presidential nominee consistently rubbished them. Then she was filmed clearly collapsing in New York two weeks ago. Still her representatives tried to brush it off, though describing what happened in euphemisms only added to misgivings. Over-compensating with bravado about this 68-year-old woman's capacity to "power through" sickness was even worse. It's the same here. When Noonan wasn't at Cabinet two weeks ago, joining the discussion instead from his hospital bed, Paschal Donohoe immediately denied there was anything to worry about. The Minister for Public Expenditure went so far as to say: "Rarely have I worked with any individual who has the level of vigour, expertise and energy in relation to the role." To listen to him, one would almost think that Michael Noonan could beat all his younger colleagues in a race, even if he gave them a head start. This bullishness was reminiscent of the bizarre medical report by Donald Trump's doctor, which declared "unequivocally" that "if elected, Mr Trump... will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency"; and it stands in stark contrast to the Government spokesman's reported statement that he couldn't and wouldn't comment on Noonan's health and that it was unwise for anyone else to do so unless they're a GP. Is Paschal Donohoe a GP now? If so, he's being far too modest in leaving it off his official CV. It could be that what happened to the previous minister for finance, Brian Lenihan Jr, still casts too long a shadow; but getting the response to Brexit right may arguably prove as significant to Irish economic prospects as the handling of the crash after 2008, and it needs someone who can devote the entirety of his energy to the fight. Launching today, the second phase of Vantage at Central Park in Sandyford, Dublin 18, with rents for one-, two- and three-beds ranging from 1,600 to 2,400. It may be at the high end of the scale but comes with luxe trimmings such as gym, cinema, catering facilities for events, playroom and games room. Up Limerick! The announcement this week of the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle by the local authority to deliver 500m of investment infrastructure over four strategic sites in the city is the most positive news for Limerick that we've heard for many years. The sites are located at Henry Street and Rutland Street in the city, Fernhill on the banks of the Shannon and Castletroy just outside the city. Over one million square feet of additional real estate space will be provided by 2021 and 5,000 people will be employed. According to Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O'Donovan: "This will take Limerick - a city already on the up - to new heights. The fact that it is 'plan led' as distinct from 'developer led' will mean the city and county are planned strategically and that the infrastructure and investment is exactly what is needed." For too long Limerick had been the butt of jokes as a result of some unfortunate criminal activity. Thankfully it would seem that these issues, by and large, are a thing of the past. Limerick, like many Irish cities, has been experiencing a real shortage in housing: since 2006, house commencements have declined from 2,543 to a low of 176 in 2015, a drop of 94pc. A typical three-bed semi-d starter home on the edge of the city currently costs from 170,000 to 200,000. A good part of the new initiative will be the provision of large numbers of well-located houses. Not before time. Budget wish list What can be done to assist the dysfunctional housing market? A key area is the investor market - 94pc of rental accommodation in Ireland is provided by the private sector. Very few potential landlords are currently entering the market despite favourable market conditions and rising rents. Why is this? Primarily, barriers to entry. The Government introduced measures six months ago to give tenants greater security of tenure - a move that included limiting rent increases to once every two years. Now, it needs to look at the pressures on the investor who needs to be encouraged back to the market. Simply put, if private investors, whether they're professional landlords or private individuals, stay out of the market there will continue to be supply issues and, as a result, higher rents. An immediate measure should be to reinstate full relief on the interest incurred on loans for rental properties. Other possible incentives include a reduction in Capital Gains Tax or a reduction in VAT. Whatever the method, the minister needs to introduce a measure to entice the largest supplier of rental properties - the private investor - back into the Irish market. US-style living One in every five residential units sold last year in Dublin went to the large equity funds, according to the RPPI. That is a staggering number. Professional landlords and specialists in purpose-built complexes have now become the key bulk providers of rental accommodation in the larger cities such as Dublin and Cork. Kennedy Wilson, one of the key players in this sector, today launches the next phase of Vantage, pictured above, at Central Park in Sandyford, Dublin. Given the shortage of rental properties, the 166 units will no doubt be in strong demand. However, prices ranging from 1,600 for a one-bed to 2,400 for a three-bed unit indicate that these are aimed at the upper end of the market. There are plenty of bells and whistles provided, including a gym, games room, cinema, playroom, and underground parking to name but a few. The development adjoins Leopardstown Racecourse, the M50 and Sandyford Industrial Estate. The Luas allows access to the city centre in 22 minutes. Good news for those seeking accommodation, but the market also requires the return of the smaller investor to return to equilibrium. Dates for the diary Despite the current challenges presented by our housing market, other sectors of the industry are performing strongly, including commercial, retail, office and student accommodation. For both the property professional and fanatic, there are a number of upcoming seminars and conferences taking place in Dublin which address all aspects of the sector. The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is holding its annual conference in Croke Park on October 6 with no less than two ministers addressing the audience, Paschal Donohoe and Simon Coveney. The SCSI annual conference will also be addressed by Minister Coveney, and is to be held in Croke Park on November 10. Finally the Commercial Real Estate Summit 2016 also runs on Thursday October 6 in the RDS. Where would we be without bricks and mortar? Rebuilding Ireland update When the Government launched 'Rebuilding Ireland' back in July, it highlighted that there were to be five key pillars to the plan including the rental sector, building more homes, utilising existing stock, accelerating social housing and addressing homelessness - an issue regarded by many as the most pressing. In fact, six ministers and the Taoiseach attended the launch this week of the plan to address homelessness. It was also an opportunity to give an update on progress. One of the initial proposals was the purchase of 1,600 homes by the Housing Agency for local authorities. In the two months since the launch, 171 have been secured and a further 145 are at various stages of negotiation, which is a positive start. A provision for 1,500 rapid-build homes by the end of 2018 also formed part of the plan. It was confirmed that 300 will be "under construction or complete by the end of the year". However, it is hard to justify their cost which is in excess of 330,000 per unit including site cost in the capital, higher than the cost of a traditional home. As well as this, 200 emergency beds, at a cost of 4m, will be in place by the end of the year. The Taoiseach confirmed that "housing and homelessness is the number one issue in the Programme for Government". Finally, some joined-up thinking. Now, let's keep the pressure on. Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (C) with children (L-R) Pax Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Knox Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt attend the World Premiere of Disney's "Maleficent", starring Angelina Jolie, at the El Capitan Theatre on May 28, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney) Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Actor Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' 'Salt' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 19, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Actor Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Salt" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 19, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 16: (R-L) Actor Brad Pitt, actress Angelina Jolie and son Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrive at The Board Of Governors Of The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' Governor Awards at Dolby Theatre on November 16, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) In happier times... Angelina Jolie (L) and actor Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Salt" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 19, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) The guns are out as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie go down the divorce route. The couple got together shortly after meeting on the set of 'Mr & Mrs Smith' and his divorce from actress Jennifer Aniston. Photo: Reuters Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with their son Maddox at the Oscars. Photo: Fred Prouser Brad Pitt urinated on the tarmac and crashed an airport truck following his bust-up with Angelina Jolie, a US radio station has claimed. Last week it was revealed that Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt following a potentially violent altercation on a flight. And now, an alleged eyewitness has come forward with further shocking claims about the actors behavior after their jet landed in Minnesota last Wednesday. Local station MyTalk 107.1 spoke to an International Falls airport employee who told them exclusively that workers could hear arguing from the plane even before the doors opened. Expand Close Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with their son Maddox at the Oscars. Photo: Fred Prouser / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with their son Maddox at the Oscars. Photo: Fred Prouser Radio hosts Bradley Traynor said the arguing spilled out onto the tarmac. He continued: At which point, Brad Pitt relieved himself on the tarmac! This is so bizarre. Clearly he was inebriated, under the influence. He was a hot mess! Mr Traynor insisted that Pitt (52) then proceeded to enter a fuel truck. Expand Close Actor Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' 'Salt' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 19, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actor Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie arrive at the premiere of Sony Pictures' 'Salt' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on July 19, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) He gets in and starts to drive, andthen ends up, according to our source, backing it up into another vehicle! The source allegedly told the hosts that police were not contacted about the incident. Video of the Day However, a source close to Pitt told Radar Online that the report is total nonsense. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce just days after the fight. The 'New York Daily News' reported that Pitt had got into a verbal argument with eldest son Maddox (15) on the flight. The FBI is considering whether to launch an investigation into the alleged incident. Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett spotted shopping at Brown Thomas and walking to a waiting car on Wicklow Street. Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett on the set of Showtime TV series 'Penny Dreadful' carrying the Tom Reiss book The Black Count. The actor was in period dress for scenes that were shot against green-screen at Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland - 30.10.13. Pictures: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Josh Hartnett Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett spotted shopping at Brown Thomas and walking to a waiting car on Wicklow Street. Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett seen walking on St Stephens Green with girlfriend Tamsin Egerton Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett spotted shopping at Brown Thomas and walking to a waiting car on Wicklow Street. Hollywood star Josh Harnett is back in Dublin for the second series of Penny Dreadful. The US actor was spotted out strolling the streets of the capital as he returned to begin filming the dark TV drama by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes. Expand Close Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett spotted shopping at Brown Thomas and walking to a waiting car on Wicklow Street. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hollywood heartthrob Josh Hartnett spotted shopping at Brown Thomas and walking to a waiting car on Wicklow Street. The next instalment of the Showtime gothic series, which will consist of 10 episodes, is expected to premiere on the small screen in 2015. It is understood that 35-year-old Josh will once again reside in the Shelbourne Hotel for the duration of the shoot. Expand Close Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett seen walking on St Stephens Green with girlfriend Tamsin Egerton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett seen walking on St Stephens Green with girlfriend Tamsin Egerton Read More The show, which is set in Victorian London and brings together characters from classic literature including Dracula and Dorian Grey, has gone down a treat with audiences. Expand Close Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett on the set of Showtime TV series 'Penny Dreadful' carrying the Tom Reiss book The Black Count. The actor was in period dress for scenes that were shot against green-screen at Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland - 30.10.13. Pictures: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Josh Hartnett / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett on the set of Showtime TV series 'Penny Dreadful' carrying the Tom Reiss book The Black Count. The actor was in period dress for scenes that were shot against green-screen at Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland - 30.10.13. Pictures: Cathal Burke / VIPIRELAND.COM *** Local Caption *** Josh Hartnett A number of Dublin landmarks also feature in scenes in the supernatural horror, including Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, and the Guinness brewery. Dozens of Irish were hired to appear in season one of Penny Dreadful and it was worth 33m to the economy. Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy is crowned by last year's winner Sacha Livingstone at the Mss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy with first runner up Aoife McGrane, left, and second runner up Leanne Gray, right, at the Miss Ireland 2016 final. Picture: Brian McEvoy Aoife McGrane, 1st runner up, Leanne Gray-2nd runner up and winner Niamh Kennedy at the Miss Ireland 2016 final. Picture: Brian McEvoy Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy on her first day as Miss Ireland 2016 at the Crowne Plaze Hotel at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy is congratulated by her brother Colin Kennedy and aunt Brid Morgan at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Newly crowned Miss Ireland Niamh Kennedy has opened up about losing her father to Alzheimer's. The 20-year-old ballerina, who was representing Tipperary at the national competition on Friday night, said her late father Liam would be "so proud" of her fulfilling her dream. "My dad passed away five years ago and he would be so proud. He was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's at 42 years old and my aunt and uncle were diagnosed within three years after him as well," she told the Sunday World. "If he was here, he would have been the first one on stage. I was really close to him." Expand Close Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy is congratulated by her brother Colin Kennedy and aunt Brid Morgan at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Miss Ireland 2016 Niamh Kennedy is congratulated by her brother Colin Kennedy and aunt Brid Morgan at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy Miss Kennedy said her father began showing signs of the disease when she was just five years old , but "his presence is still very much here". "This win really is for him as well," she added. Read More Miss Tipperary Niamh Kennedy beat out 33 other beauty queens from around the country for the coveted title in a glitzy ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry and she will now represent Ireland at Miss World in Washington D.C. on December 19, following in the footsteps of previous title holders Sarah Morrissey, Aoife Cogan and Aoife Walsh. Judges included talent agent Julian Benson, Bellamianta Tan CEO Linda Mc Namee, stylist Sonja Mohlich, Miss Ireland organiser Sean Montague and former winners Jessica Hayes and Anne Marie Gannon. Expand Close Winner Niamh Kennedy representing Tipperary at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Winner Niamh Kennedy representing Tipperary at the Miss Ireland 2016 final at Northwood, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy The pageant, which first began in 1947, is the longest running in the world and launched the careers of many of Ireland's top models. Michelle Rocca came in as second runner-up at Miss International 1981; Siobhan McClafferty was first runner-up at Miss World 1990; Olivia Tracey got into the Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985; Andrea Roche achieved the same placement at Miss Universe 1998; Rosanna Davison represented Ireland at Miss World 2003; and Emma Waldron was placed in the Top 5 at Miss World 2010. Video of the Day Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. =Sophie Gregorire, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend a meeting of senior Canadian Leaders at Governement House on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (L-R) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at Victoria International Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the Victoria International Airport for the start of their eight day royal tour to Canada in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, September 24, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Light Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport Prince George of Cambridge arrives at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at Victoria International Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) =Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. The Duke of Cambridge has said his children were beginning their own "lifetime of friendship" with Canada as Prince George took his first tentative steps in the country. Holding on to his parents' hands, the three-year-old future king of Canada walked down the steps of a military plane when they arrived, while Princess Charlotte was cradled by Kate. The family of four were beginning a highly anticipated eight-day visit to the Commonwealth country which is a homecoming for the royals as Britain's monarch is also Queen of Canada. During a ceremonial welcome in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, the Duke told a crowd of thousands gathered outside the imposing Legislative Assembly of British Columbia: "Catherine and I are delighted to be back in Canada. When we were here last time, we had been married only three months. Expand Close Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport "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. "That is why we are so pleased that George and Charlotte can be with us in Canada this time round, beginning their own lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country." All eyes were on the young prince and princess when they emerged from the Royal Canadian Air Force jet that had flown the Cambridges to Patricia Bay, the home of a maritime helicopter squadron close to Victoria. They are rarely seen in public together and the tour is 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. Read More George appeared a little hesitant as he walked down the steps from the plane and despite holding on to his father's hand he reached out for his mother's dress and she quickly took his hand. The future king was dressed in a jumper, shirt and shorts by Pepa & Co- similar to the outfit he wore when he was taken by William to see his sister soon after she was born - while Charlotte wore a floral dress, thought to be from M&H. Video of the Day Waiting at the bottom of the plane's steps to greet them was Canada's young charismatic leader prime minster Justin Trudeau, who last summer invited the Cambridges to visit, and his wife Sophie Gregoire. The politician's spouse looked stylish in a purple outfit and a trilby-style hat worn at jaunty angle and in the fashion stakes held her own with Kate, who wore a blue Jenny Packham dress, the Queen's diamond maple leaf brooch and a hat by Lock & Co. As William chatted to Mr Trudeau, Kate tended to a somewhat shy George, asking ''Are you OK?'' as she crouched down to hold his hand before lovingly stroking his hair and cheeks. During the formal welcome in Victoria the prime minister joked with William and Kate, saying: "As any parent travelling with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your family with you. Expand Close Prince George of Cambridge arrives at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prince George of Cambridge arrives at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) "I want to commend you and thank you for introducing our part of the world to Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Although let me caution you from my own experience, if they are anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge." At the ceremonial welcome in the centre of Victoria the Duke and Duchess were joined by dignitaries who had greeted them at the airport. They included Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon, the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Judith Guichon and Christy Clark, premier of British Columbia. When they first arrived William and Kate were directed to the Cenotaph war memorial, where, in sombre silence, they listened as a bugler played the last post before a minute's silence was observed. The couple then jointly laid a wreath holding hands briefly to steady the Duchess as they walked backwards down the steps. Expand Close Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron near Victoria international airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski-Pool/Getty Images) A card signed 'William and Catherine' read: "Never forgetting those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Canada." The couple then spoke with local dignitaries, asking them about their roles in Victoria and praising the event. Read More The Duchess also revealed how excited she was about the visit, saying: "Both of us love mountains and there seems to be a lot of them here. We can't wait to explore. There is a lot to do in a short period of time." Expand Close Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Proclaiming their stay at the Governor's House "perfect", she answered questions about her children, disclosing they had been: "Super excited about the fact they were going to sleep on a plane." Well-wisher Aurora Vandall, 36, from Victoria, said she had spoken to the Duke to welcome him to Canada: "He said 'I hope the children aren't tearing up the Governor's House right now'." George and Charlotte were "fast asleep" by the time their parents returned to Government House for meetings with the Trudeaus and the Governor General. "How about the children," asked Mr Johnston, as the couple sat down with him and his wife Sharon in the Drawing Room, "Are they fast asleep?" William replied: "It sounds quiet" and Kate told their hosts: "They had a very good tea." On Monday 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 emote 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.'' The Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau (left) watches after greeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, at Victoria International Airport, in Victoria, Canada, on the first day of their official tour of Canada. Prince George of Cambridge arrives at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (L-R) Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images) =Sophie Gregorire, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend a meeting of senior Canadian Leaders at Governement House on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. =Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Victoria Airport on September 24, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (C) kneels to talk to Prince George as his father Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, speaks with the Governor General David Johnston (R) and Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge (C) holds their daughter Princess Charlotte At three years old, Prince George has already met his fair share of world leaders. So Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was NBD to the royal toddler as he landed in British Columbia with parents Kate Middleton and Prince William and sister Princess Charlotte for the royal Canada tour. Trudeau, a father of three, immediately knelt down to introduce himself to the future King of England, who wasn't in the mood for a high-five...a low-five...or even a handshake. At least he tried. Watch the full video, here: The restaurant was praised for its food and atmosphere Taian Table/Facebook One of the first restaurants in China to be awarded a Michelin Star has been forced to close because of licencing issues. Taian Table, a Shanghia eatery, was praised for having innovative cuisine and featured in the first ever Michelin Guide to Shanghai, Chinas commercial capital. Neighbours of the restaurant had complained about the noise from the restaurant, local media reported. Our idea and concept was to build a small place to entertain our friends and to have some foodies and chef friends around to create new and imaginative dishes, said a statement by co-owner German chef Stefan Stiller. We certainly never intentionally planned to violate any rules, regulations and laws. The statement added that the owners had taken the decision to relocate in order to abide by regulations. However, the restaurant was in a residential building and not able to receive a catering licence, according to the Shanghaiist. "The restaurant is a nightmare for us all for months," a neighbour told the Shanghai Daily. "The hot air and big noise produced by the restaurant's central air-conditioning without any soundproof measures make me unable to sleep, and I have to close several windows to get rid of all these annoying things, which had little effect. "And the restaurant also emits odor of cooking oil and smoke, which seriously pollutes the air." Michelin have said that it evaluates restaurants solely on the basis of its food. Police are hunting for the man who set off a home-made bomb in Hungary targeting officers Police in Hungary are hunting for a man who set off a home-made fragmentation bomb, seriously wounding two officers in central Budapest. Police were the targets in the Saturday night blast near the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, national police chief Karoly Papp said. "We have established without a doubt that our police officers were the targets of the attack," Mr Papp said. "They wanted to execute my police officers." A 23-year-old female officer suffered life-threatening injuries while her 26-year-old male partner was also seriously wounded while they were on foot patrol. Both were recuperating in intensive care after surgery. Mr Papp did not say why the suspect wanted to harm police officers. But he did not rule out terrorism. He offered a 10-million-forint (29,000) reward for information leading to the capture of the suspect, believed to be 20-25 years old and around 5ft 6ins tall. "We will find the perpetrator and discover his motivation," Mr Papp said, adding that several hundred officers and investigators were working on the case. Several streets and an important avenue near the site of the explosion were still closed to traffic late on Sunday as investigators searched for evidence. AP A triumphant Jeremy Corbyn last night pledged to reward the mass membership of Britain's Labour Party with more power over the running of the party after he inflicted a thumping defeat on leadership challenger Owen Smith. Corbyn, who secured almost 62pc of the vote - an even bigger mandate than a year ago - said that his victory was a personal "vindication" that had increased his power and authority to create a mass democratic movement from the grassroots upwards. Smith secured 38pc of the 506,438 votes cast. Setting out his plans for phase two of his leadership after a year of bitter disputes with his MPs, Corbyn said: "I have been given the authority by the members and that is what I intend to deliver on." While he insisted he would now "wipe the slate clean" and offer a way back for rebel MPs who had plotted to remove him over the summer, he made clear that it was ordinary members - his power base in the party - who now had to be given a greater say in a remodelled Labour Party. "The participation is even higher, and my majority is bigger, and the mandate is very strong. So let's use it to reach out," he said. "With this huge membership, that has to be reflected much more in decision making in the party." Meanwhile, his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said that in a year's time, the party's total membership could reach one million. Corbyn made it clear that with a current total of well over 600,000 members, the grassroots needed far greater representation on key bodies, such as the National Executive Committee (NEC). Any hope that this second decisive Corbyn victory in a year would tempt senior figures who quit the shadow cabinet over the summer back into the fold were quickly dashed as several said they would return only if the leader allowed MPs to choose most of the members of his shadow cabinet. Corbyn said the issue of shadow cabinet election was open for discussion but refused to commit to the MPs' demands, saying it was part of a wider debate about how to increase democracy in the party. Smith, the former work and pensions spokesman, warmly congratulated Corbyn, but again ruled out returning to the shadow cabinet. "Jeremy has won the contest," he said. "He now has to win the country and he will have my support in trying to do so." The result left critics of Corbyn on the right of the party searching for a way forward after the attempted summer coup against the leader backfired spectacularly. The party now has to prepare for a possible general election as early as May next year. Corbyn called on MPs to join a campaign day next weekend against the Tories' plans to reintroduce grammar schools to show that the entire party can now unite. Observer A gunman shot dead Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar on Sunday outside the court where he was to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature seen as insulting Islam, state news agency Petra said. It said the gunman was arrested at the scene. Hattar, a Christian and an anti-Islamist activist who was a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was arrested last month after he shared a caricature that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and cashews. Many conservative Muslim Jordanians considered Hattar's move offensive and against their religion. The authorities said he violated the law by sharing the caricature. The state news agency quoted a security source as saying Hattar was killed by a man who fired three shots at him on the steps of the palace of justice in the Jordanian capital. "The assailant was arrested and investigations are ongoing," Petra quoted the security source as saying. Two witnesses said the gunman, bearded and in his '50s, was wearing a traditional Arab dishashada, worn by ultra conservative Sunni Salafis who adhere to a puritanical version of Islam and shun Western lifestyles. Hattar had apologized and said he did not mean to insult God but had shared the cartoon to mock fundamentalist Sunni radicals and what he said was their vision of God and heaven. He had accused his Islamist opponents of using the cartoon to settle scores with him. Police investigate the scene of a multiple shooting in Baltimore on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. A police spokesperson said none of the injuries are life threatening Police investigate the scene of a multiple shooting in Baltimore on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. A police spokesperson said none of the injuries are life threatening Baltimore police work at a scene where multiple people were shot and wounded in Baltimore, Saturday night, Sept. 24, 2016. The shooting erupted outside some rowhouses about 8:30 p.m. after the three armed men converged on the group from different points Baltimore police work at a scene where multiple people were shot in Baltimore, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Police said that none of the shootings were fatal Three gunmen have shot eight people including a three-year-old girl on an east Baltimore street. The Maryland city's police commissioner said the suspects fled and the victims were expected to survive. The shooting erupted outside some terraced houses about 8.30pm on Saturday after the armed men converged on the group from different points, Kevin Davis said at the scene. Mr Davis said it was a premeditated act of retaliatory violence in response to a Labour Day weekend shooting in which a person was shot dead and two others wounded, including a pregnant woman. He said the victims could have recognised the gunmen but authorities had not immediately been able to identify the suspects and were still searching for them hours later. One of the armed men emerged from an alley and two others ran down the street, stopping just short of the victims before they opened fire, he said. The 3-year-old girl and her father were standing away from the group and the child was not an intended target, Mr Davis said. Authorities tweeted that one man had a shotgun and the other two had handguns. Other victims were a woman and the rest were men. Aside from the girl, the ages of the victims ranged from 26 to 39, according to police. The shooting occurred just a street from where the city held a party earlier on Saturday for a special event. Police said the attack was unrelated to the party in which the city dedicated a project called Open Works, billed as an innovative work space. At the scene, police sealed off at least three streets and were keeping bystanders away as Mr Davis spoke to detectives at the scene. Nearby, police were seen using flashlights as they searched tall, overgrown grass in an alley near the shooting site. Police cars blocked a nearby junction and crime scene tape secured the area. This Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 frame from surveillance video provided by the Washington State Patrol shows the suspect in a shooting rampage at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash The man suspected of carrying out the Washington mall shooting that left five people dead was "zombie-like" when he was captured, the police officer who spotted him has said. Lieutenant Mike Hawley of the state's Island County sheriff's department said he saw Arcan Cetin in Oak Harbour, Washington, from a patrol car and immediately recognised him as the suspect. Lt Hawley told a news conference that his office had received information that Cetin, 20, from Oak Harbour, was in the area. He said Cetin, 20, was unarmed, adding: "He said nothing. He was kind of zombie-like." A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday night, killing four women and a man before fleeing. Expand Close Arcan Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor is seen in a Washington State Department of Licensing photo released by the Washington State Patrol after they announced his capture in relation to a mass shooting in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 24, 2016 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Arcan Cetin, 20, of Oak Harbor is seen in a Washington State Department of Licensing photo released by the Washington State Patrol after they announced his capture in relation to a mass shooting in Burlington, Washington, U.S. September 24, 2016 Read More Police staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic man wearing black. Expand Close An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington on Friday night / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington on Friday night Authorities had said that a rifle had been found at the shooting scene. The motive for the shooting at the mall, about 60 miles north of Seattle, was unknown. The FBI was assisting local authorities, but said there was no evidence pointing to terrorism. Expand Close An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An image taken from security video shows the gunman who opened fire in the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington Dozens of people attended a prayer service for the victims on Saturday night at Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The Rev Cody Natland lit five candles on a table in front of the church, one for each victim. One of the shooting victims was 16-year-old Sarai Lara. Her mother Evangelina Lara said she had survived cancer and was a happy student, according to The Seattle Times. Ms Lara said she was shopping at mall with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up, with Sarai going to Macy's looking for trousers. News of the shooting spread through the mall and Ms Lara tried to find her daughter but was unable to do so. It was confirmed at 2am on Saturday that Sarai was among the five people killed. Lt Chris Cammock of Mount Vernon Police Department said Cetin, who is expected to appear in court on Monday, was from Turkey but a "legal, permanent resident of the United States". Authorities said he had a previous arrest for simple assault. The suspect has a criminal record that includes domestic-violence assault charges, according to reports. The Seattle Times said Skagit County court records show three such charges for the 20-year-old in both Burlington, Washington, and Island County, with the victim identified as Cetin's stepfather. The newspaper reports Cetin also was arrested for drunk-driving. Court records show Cetin was told by a judge on December 29 last year 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". Emergency personnel attend the scene in which several people were killed at the Cascade Mall, Burlington. Photo: AP Police in Washington state were last night hunting for a gunman who opened fire at the make-up counter of a Macy's department store, killing five people. Reports that the gunman shouted a woman's name repeatedly before opening fire could not be confirmed by the police, who described the suspect as possibly Hispanic and being in his late teens or early twenties. He was captured on camera entering the mall in Burlington, 65 miles north of Seattle at around 7pm on Friday without a gun. But security footage from Macy's showed him 10 minutes later, entering the shop with a rifle. Four women were killed immediately and a man who was taken from the scene by helicopter died in hospital in the early hours. The victims were aged from "teen to senior", police said. "The lives of those families have changed forever," said Steve Sexton, mayor of Burlington. "The city of Burlington has probably changed forever. But I don't think our way of life needs to change. Expand Close The Macys store where the shooter opened fire. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Macys store where the shooter opened fire. Photo: AP "This was a senseless act and our community comes together in times of tragedy. I want everyone to know we'll get beyond this." Chris Cammock, from Mount Vernon police, said he had no idea if the gunman was still in the local area, but the police were not searching for anyone else. The FBI does not believe the attack is a case of terrorism. "We've been getting a number of tips and leads in, but we do not have an identity on the individual yet, and could benefit from the community's help," said Mr Cammock. Expand Close This video image shows a suspect wanted by police. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp This video image shows a suspect wanted by police. Photo: AP "Probably one of the most difficult moments for us was knowing that there were family members out there and we had to clear the mall. "At the same time we have to be able to reconstruct this crime scene in a way that when we bring this individual to justice, there is a fair and transparent case. We want to make sure we are careful, cautious and thorough." Authorities offered no information about a possible motive for the attack, which followed a series of violent outbursts at shopping centres across the United States, including the stabbing of nine people at a Minnesota centre last weekend. There was no indication from authorities that the rampage was linked to any previous attack, and none of the victims were identified. Witnesses said on Twitter that police and rescue workers had carefully worked their way through the mall, clearing stores and evacuating shoppers, some of whom locked themselves in dressing rooms. They also said police were searching for the shooter, who was last seen walking toward a nearby interstate highway. The mall is located 45 miles south of the border with the Canadian province of British Columbia. State police released a grainy photo of the suspect taken by a surveillance camera. It showed a young man who appeared to be in his 20s with short dark hair and a pale complexion and carrying a rifle. Local authorities searched throughout the night for the gunman, who is believed to be armed with a rifle, and warned residents to remain inside. Meanwhile, police in Charlotte, announced last night that they 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 downtown 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 quieten protesters, 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 didn't 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. Putney said that 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. Hundreds of protesters wound through the streets of Charlotte last Friday and yesterday under the eye of armed National Guard troops, led by demonstrators holding a banner calling on police to "release the tapes." There were no violent confrontations like those in prior nights, and police did not enforce a curfew. Chief Putney says officers were trying to serve a warrant on someone else but then allegedly spotted the dad of seven with a gun and drugs. A two-minute video, recorded by Scott's wife Rakeyia and released to US media outlets last Friday, showed the events leading up to the shooting, but not the shooting itself. In the video, the woman can be heard pleading with officers to hold fire as they confronted her husband in a parked car outside a Charlotte apartment complex. Scott's wife used her mobile phone camera when she saw police confronting her husband in a parked car outside her apartment. She can be heard on the video telling officers: "Don't shoot him! He has no weapon," as they shouted at Scott to "drop the gun". Scott's wife also can be heard shouting "Keith, Keith, don't do it," although it is not clear whether she is directing her comments to her husband or police. The footage captures the sound of four shots but does not show Scott being hit. It is also not clear from the footage whether he is in possession of a gun, as police have stated. The family originally contended that Scott was carrying a book, not a gun. 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 At least 23 civilians were killed in renewed government airstrikes on the contested city of Aleppo as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the spiralling violence in Syria. At the start of that meeting the UN's top envoy to Syria accused the government of unleashing "unprecedented military violence" against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syria's declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the five and a half year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons, including incendiary devices, may amount to war crimes. Medical workers and local officials reported airstrikes on areas throughout Aleppo's rebel-held eastern districts as an announced government offensive entered its fourth day. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 23 civilians had been killed by nightfall and said it expects the toll to rise. Ibrahim Alhaj, of the Syrian Civil Defence search and rescue outfit, said hospitals and rescuers have documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and medical workers are expecting many of the wounded to die from a lack of treatment, according to Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the opposition areas. "I've never seen so many people dying in once place," he said from a hospital in the city. "It's terrifying today. In less than one hour the Russian planes have killed more than 50 people and injured more than 200." The Observatory, which relies on a network of contacts inside Syria, said earlier in the day that 213 civilians had been killed by airstrikes and shelling on opposition areas in and around Aleppo since a US-Russian brokered ceasefire collapsed on Monday evening. Mr de Mistura, at the Security Council meeting, warned that if the Syrian government is intent on taking Aleppo, it is going to be "a grinding" street-by-street fight where all the infrastructure in the city will be destroyed, but it will not lead to victory. "A so-called military solution is impossible including in Aleppo," he stressed. He urged the US and Russia to go "that extra mile" and save the September 9 cessation of hostilities agreement "at the 11th hour". Prior to the start of the UN meeting, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia should be investigated for war crimes following an attack on a Syrian aid convoy that claimed 20 lives. Mr Johnson said that Russia's air force may have deliberately targeted the civilian convoy, though Russia denies involvement and instead suggests Syrian rebels or a US drone were responsible. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they don't pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Mr Ayrault said the emergency Security Council meeting on Sunday was a "moment of truth" for the UN. The meeting was requested by the United States, Britain, and France, as pro-government forces extend their bombardment of the contested city of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian air strikes. Rebels meanwhile shelled Masyaf, a government stronghold near the central city of Hama, for the second day in a row, according to the Observatory. Masyaf is home to a large number of Alawites, members of President Bashar Assad's sect. Mr Assad has rallied Syria's minorities behind his government behind fears of the Sunni-dominated rebellion. AP Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are meeting separately with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in sessions that could set the tone for relations between the allied countries during the next presidential administration. Earlier today Mr Trump met with Mr Netanyahu for over an hour at his residence in Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to Israeli and campaign officials. Mrs Clinton is expected to meet with the prime minister in New York tonight on the eve of the first debate between the candidates. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favoured Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump was private, but Mr Trump's campaign said in a statement that the men, who have known each other for years, discussed "many topics important to both countries", including "the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries". Among those topics: the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Islamic State militants, military assistance provided by the US to Israel and other security issues. "Trump recognised that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism," the campaign said in a statement. "He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbours, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State." Mr Trump also repeated his pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he's elected to the White House. "Mr Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel," the campaign said. That promise has been made in various forms since at least 1992. Congress three years later passed a law calling for the US embassy to be moved to Jerusalem by 1999, but presidents of both parties have always waived the requirement. George W Bush promised in 2000 to start the move "as soon as I take office," then did not. The pair also discussed "at length" Israel's use of a security fence to help secure its borders. Mr Trump has proposed building a wall along the length of the southern border to keep out people and illegal drugs and often points to Israel as an example of how such barricades can be successful. He also vowed "extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries" if he's elected. The one-on-one discussions follow what was likely Mr Netanyahu's final meeting with Mr Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky relationship between the leaders of the two allies. The Obama administration has opposed Israel's push to expand settlements in the West Bank while Mr Netanyahu has been a leading critic of the US nuclear agreement with Iran. More recently, Mr Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Mrs Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israel's security. The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 earlier this month that the Islamic State group was "rooting for Donald Trump's victory" and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Mr Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of "treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one". But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israel's commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didn't want to show any bias in favour of one side or the other. AP Destruction: Members of the Civil Defence rescue children after what activists said was an air strike by forces loyal to Syrias President Bashar al-Assad in the al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo. Photo: Sultan KitazY A humanitarian catastrophe is looming in Aleppo after two days of relentless Russian and Syrian government airstrikes left two million people without running water, the United Nations has warned. Hundreds of thousands of children in both the government-held western and opposition-controlled eastern parts of the city are facing a "catastrophic" outbreak of disease after bombs damaged one pumping station and another was switched off, Unicef 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," said Unicef. The warning came as Syrian government forces pushed into opposition-held parts of the city under cover of a ferocious Russian and regime aerial bombardment that killed more than 150 people. At least 60 people were killed by Russian and regime bombing yesterday, with the toll expected to rise. Friday saw 91 people killed in more than 100 air strikes. A large proportion of the victims were women and children. Residents reported neighbourhoods being hit by so-called bunker-buster bombs so powerful that they levelled buildings to the basement and left deep craters. If confirmed, it would be their first use in the five-year war. Attacks also appear to have targeted the civil defence volunteers known as the White Helmets, with three of the group's four shelters being hit by strikes on Friday. The group said it has just two fire engines left for all of east Aleppo which, like its ambulances, are struggling to move around streets strewn with rubble. Residents of eastern Aleppo enjoyed seven days of relative calm while the ceasefire brokered by John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, came into force on September 12. The truce quickly unravelled after the US errantly bombed Syria army positions last weekend and Russian aircraft bombed a UN aid convoy on Monday, in what Western diplomats believe was a revenge attack. Bashar al-Assad's government declared the ceasefire dead on Monday evening and minutes later their warplanes began bombarding Aleppo with a frequency and ferocity that shocked even its most beleaguered residents. As world leaders in New York tried desperately to revive the ceasefire, the Syrian military announced a fresh offensive to retake the city, making clear it had no intention of complying with any further ceasefire requests from the international community. The Syrian army yesterday captured the Handarat Camp, on high ground overlooking northern Aleppo, following heavy fighting. The capture of the strategic hill, which has for years been under rebel control, is the first significant move in an all-out offensive launched by Russian-backed Syrian forces to retake the city since a ceasefire collapsed last week. The move has raised fears of a massacre if the government unleashes a full-blown assault to capture the besieged opposition-held eastern side of the city, where 250,000 civilians are still trapped. "The only way to take eastern Aleppo is by such a monstrous atrocity that it would resonate for generations," one diplomat said speaking on condition of anonymity. "It would be the stuff of history." Talks between Mr Kerry and Mr Lavrov stalled on Friday, with both sides accusing the other of intransigence. Mr Kerry and other western diplomats have called for a suspension of all military flights over Syria in an effort to restore the truce. Russia has said such an arrangement "will not work" because it would require unilateral action from the Syrian government. Mr Lavrov said on Friday that a new ceasefire would depend on the US pressuring opposition groups to separate from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the al-Qaeda linked group formerly know as Al Nusra. The bombing of the convoy and the subsequent operation in eastern Aleppo were "clarifying" moments for the Americans, a Western diplomat closely involved with the talks told The Sunday Telegraph. "It forced a hard analysis of whether Russia intended to, or could, deliver enough to deserve the partnership with the US," he said. The Sunday Telegraph understands some American officials believed they had offered Russia an attractive chance to shed its pariah status by agreeing to work together with its former Cold War foe to target Islamist rebels and share intelligence from a joint control centre. While the deal has been billed as a "last chance," America has little other leverage should the Russians walk away from it. "This was our Plan A and we had faith in the plan. We don't have a Plan B," one US official said bluntly. Some believe Moscow was never serious about reaching a deal to end the conflict, not least because it has the advantage. Russia's support of Assad last year helped shift the balance of power in the president's favour, giving it the whip hand in negotiations. With the military backing of Russia, Iran and the Lebanese Hizbollah militia, Assad has never looked stronger. "The ceasefire was never going to last and the Syrian regime was always preparing for an operation to take rebel-held east Aleppo, and the Russians were supportive," said Faysal Itani, a resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Centre for the Middle East. The assault on Aleppo could be a turning point in the war, with Syria and Russia appearing more determined than ever to end the six-year rebellion by force. Capturing Aleppo would be a major victory for the government and a potentially knock-out blow for the opposition. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Nawazuddin Siddiqui might not be your conventional Bollywood actor but he has managed to make a mark for himself. His impeccable acting abilities and screen presence has made him bag some of the meatiest roles which have not only won him several accolades but even critical acclaim. bollywoodpapa.com Whats more this humble man has never let all this success go to his head. Keeping his humble roots close to his heart, he has been doing a lot of charity for the farmers. Last month, the UP government even appointed Siddiqui as the brand ambassador of Samajwadi Kisan Beema Yojna, which aims at providing insurance coverage to the farmers. Nawazuddin learnt about centre pivot irrigation technique when he attended the Cannes Film Festival, this year. Talking about what he learnt from those Frenchmen about farming, Nawazuddin Siddiqui had told media: "Almost every kind of crop in France was being irrigated using this cost-effective and water efficient technique called centre pivot irrigation. After Siddiqui got to know about the idea, he was curious about it and he couldnt wait for it to implement the same in his village. He even got a sample model fabricated and shipped to his village. Nawazzudin Siddiqui Instagram In an interview with Hindustan Times, he said that whenever he visits his home, he makes it a point to take out time for farming. "I have done farming for 20 years of my life. Whenever I get time, I take it up. It's our ancestral occupation. It gives me a lot of pleasure". He recently took to Instagram to post pictures of himself working on the farms. He can be seen ploughing mustard in the fields. Along with the pictures he wrote, Ploughing in my farm for Mustard, hopefully this will be irrigated by Centre Pivot System...!!! Ploughing in my farm for Mustard, hopefully this will be irrigated by Centre Pivot System...!!! A photo posted by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Sep 19, 2016 at 10:53pm PDT Despite being one of nine children of a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, 42-year-old Nawazuddin graduated from his village with a degree in chemistry. It was in 1999, that Nawazuddin made his first Bollywood appearance in Aamir Khans Sarfarosh after completing his training at National School Of Drama. After small cameos, Siddiqui went on to bag meatier roles in films like Gangs Of Wasseypur, Badlapur, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Kick among others. In fact, he has even starred in lead roles in Manjhi: The Mountain Man and Freaky Ali. 1. After Threats To Boycott ADHM, KJo Talks About Why India Needs Pak Artists Even After #UriAttack Filmmaker Karan Johar, whose movie is almost on the brink of being banned by MNS, all thanks to the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, finally broke his silence. He said, "I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was to put out a product out of love and nothing else." 2. He Might Be A Khiladi For Us But For Daughter Nitara, Akshay Kumar Is A Clown Extraordinaire! starsunfolded.com Khiladi Kumar posted a picture of himself with Nitara on her fourth birthday and captioned it: "Sometimes she makes me a crocodile sometimes she makes me her clown! The things we do, but that smile makes it all worthwhile. Birthday special." Sometimes she makes me a crocodile sometimes she makes me her clown!The things we do,but that smile makes it all worthwhile #birthdayspecial pic.twitter.com/eWTKLBwaon Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 25, 2016 3. After Spreading Magic On The Silver Screen, Nawazuddin Siddiqui Shows His Expert Farming Skills He recently took to Instagram to post pictures of himself working on the farms. He can be seen ploughing mustard in the fields. Along with the pictures he wrote, Ploughing in my farm for Mustard, hopefully this will be irrigated by Centre Pivot System...!!! Ploughing in my farm for Mustard, hopefully this will be irrigated by Centre Pivot System...!!! A photo posted by Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@nawazuddin._siddiqui) on Sep 19, 2016 at 10:53pm PDT 4. Salman Khan Gives A Spooky Twist To Bigg Boss 10, Turns Into Indiana Jones For Its Latest Promo We have to give it to them that out of all the promos till now, the current one ie the Indiana Jones one is the most entertaining. Colors Channel head Raj Nayak took to Twitter to tweet the latest promo: Aaao Bulaao people from near and far -switch to @ColorsTV to see the biggest reality show on #IndianTelevision 16th October @BeingSalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/Psm2Z4waG2 Raj Nayak (@rajcheerfull) September 24, 2016 5. Riteish Desmukh Reacts To MNS' Ultimatum To Pakistani Artists, Says That's Not The Solution Twitter Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh said that actors have always been the first ones to be targeted, no matter what 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 Deshmukh. Ever since the dastardly Uri attacks, Indians are burning in rage and rightly so. While India has increased troop deployment on the LOC and stepped up pressure on the UN platform, people back home are acting a tad bit weird. According to the latest reports, MNS has given an ultimatum to actors and artistes from Pakistan, such as Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, to leave India. A leader of the party issued a 48-hour deadline, after which he said MNS would "push them out". brecorder.in This move certainly comes as a big surprise and the social media websites are oozing with vast opinions. While some agree with the move others are openly criticizing it. Agreeing with the latter, Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh said that actors have always been the first ones to be targeted, no matter what 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 Deshmukh. telfie.com MNS has also announced that it would not allow the release of those Bollywood films which feature Pakistani TV artists or actors. This also includes Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and SRKs Raees since these movies star Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively. brandsynario.com Well, if we go by logic it is really unfair to blame creative people or artists for the disturbance between the two countries and such decisions do not just disrupt the creativity and art it also snubs talent. . The Los Angeles Police Department have denied reports that Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is being probed for child abuse and said they had received no allegations against him in this regard. Reuters "We have no report in our record for any filings for Brad Pitt, we are not having any investigations regarding Brad Pitt," police spokesman Lorenzo Quezada told AFP. The LA County Department of Children and Family Services also denied that it had confirmed to any media outlets the allegations against Brad. "Contrary to what's been published in several places, this office has not told anyone or confirmed that we are involved with any specific client as reported elsewhere," spokesman Neil Zanville said. He said his office was legally prohibited from discussing any ongoing investigations regarding any clients, celebrity or otherwise. Several media outlets on Tuesday reported that Brad had been verbally and physically abusive to at least one of his six children during an angry outburst that contributed to Angelina Jolie seeking a divorce. Reuters According to the celebrity website TMZ , Los Angeles police began probing Brad based on an anonymous tip received by the Department of Children and Family Services, as is systematic following any report of child abuse. The source reportedly told authorities that Brad began screaming and "getting physical" with his children on a private jet, possibly under the influence, and then continued ranting after the plane landed. The report came days after Angelina, 41, filed for divorce from Brad, 52, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking custody of their kids with visitation rights to Brad. "This decision was made for the health of the family. She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time," said Angelina's attorney Robert Offer in a statement carried by Reuters. Reuters Meanwhile, Brad gave an interview to People magazine and 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." Brad and Angelina adopted Maddox (15), Pax (12), Zahara (11) while Shiloh (10) and twins Knox and Vivienne (8) are their biological children. The split between two of the world's biggest stars spells the end of Brangelina, one of Hollywood's highest-profile celebrity couples." The A-listers married in France in August two years ago, but have been a couple since 2004. As the Indian Air Force (IAF) gets ready to celebrate 84 years of its foundation on October 8, the Jodhpur Flying Club (JFC), set up in 1931 by the then ruler of Jodhpur Maharaja Umaid Singh at a small airfield near his palace, is completing 85 years of its glorious history. An avid flyer who was bestowed the title of air vice-marshal, it was Singh's relentless efforts that made JFC Air Force Station the gateway to Far East by 1938, with three international airlines - Air France, KLM and Imperial Airways - frequenting the desert capital regularly. According to the director of Mehrangarh Museum Trust, Karni Singh Jasol, the aviation history was made possible by Umaid Singh who was keen to put Jodhpur on the global flying map. TOI "He first built a landing strip here in 1924 and then formed the JFC with Geoffrey Goodwin of Johannesburg, South Africa, who became the first instructor at the flying club. The first two aircraft to be purchased were T-ABX and VT-ABY (bought from Delhi Flying Club for Rs 10,896 each)," he said. JFC was the first institution to induct the Tiger Moth aircraft in 1932, the year the IAF was established. This vintage aircraft has been fully restored by an aircraft restoration company in UK and was showcased at IAF's 'Iron Fist-2013' exhibition at Pokhran. According to a defence spokesperson, the De Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth is a two-seat, single-bay biplane powered by a 145hp Gypsy Major four-cylinder inverted air-cooled engine. It was the primary trainer for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the World War II, and continued in the service of IAF from 1940. It was later replaced as a trainer by the HT-2. Though, the JFC started humbly with two Tiger Moths, it progressed rapidly by 1938 and was at the forefront of civil aviation in India. Jasol said that Maharaja Umaid Singh, who had a Level A flying licence, became a shareholder in India's first airways. During the Battle of Britain, he was in command at the Jodhpur base, which, as the focus moved to Burma and the Far East, came into prominence. In 1941, the Jodhpur facility became the 'No 2 Elementary Flying Training School' (EFTS). The RAF arrived a year later and the US Army and Air Force soon after. businesstoday.in "By 1938, there were 23 airfields throughout the state which became a part of the Umaid Singh legend, who would 'descend from the skies unannounced and unheralded' to inspect and supervise them," Jasol said. While Air Vice-Marshal H H Maharaja Umaid Singh died tragically in June 1947, his pioneering effort in aviation saw Jodhpur become one of the most strategic and largest airbases in Southeast Asia. AoC Air Commodore Narbadeshwar Tiwari said that this Air Force station has a strategically important role on the western border. "We are all prepared to deal with any eventuality. We have formidable capability and impeccable precision to fend off any sinister designs or advances of the enemy," he said. From being a base of Tiger Moth to advanced supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi, the Air Force station today celebrates the vision, commitment and dedication of its men through the years in the tradition set by Umaid Singh in Indian aviation. A five-month pregnant Dalit woman and her husband were allegedly assaulted by half a dozen upper caste men for refusing to clear a cow carcass at Karja village in Amirgadh taluka of Banaskantha district late on Friday evening. The woman, Sangeeta Ranawasia (25), and her husband, Nilesh Ranawasia (27), were later admitted to the civil hospital in Palanpur. In all, six persons including three Dalit women were injured in the attack. ndtv.com Police arrested six persons belonging to Darbar community on Saturday for assault, criminal intimidation, rioting and under various sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused were identified as Batvarsinh Chauhan (26), Manknusinh Chauhan (21), Yogisinh Chauhan (25), Babarsinh Chauhan (45), Dilvirsinh Chauhan (23) and Narendrasinh Chauhan (23), all residents of Karja village. The incident happened when Batvarsinh asked Nilesh and Sangeeta to clear a cow carcass from his field. The couple told Batvarsinh that they have stopped clearing animal carcasses. Angered by the reply, Batvarsinh and his accomplices attacked the couple and other Dalits. Nilesh who lodged the complaint, told police that about 10 persons attacked them."My wife Sangeeta is admitted at civil hospital as she was hit in her stomach," Nilesh stated in his complaint. While Sangeeta is still under treatment, Nilesh, who sustained minor injuries, was discharged Saturday evening. o.aolcdn.com Following the incident, police have increased patrolling in Karja village. They have also provided protection to the victims and their immediate family members. "We have provided protection to Dalit families in the village and doing our best to maintain peace and harmony in the village," said Neeraj Badgujar, district superintendent of police Banaskatha. "In view of rising concern over atrocities against Dalits it will be our priority to submit the chargesheet against the accused as early as possible," he added. Following the thrashing of four Dalits in Una town of Gir-Somnath in July for skinning dead cows, members of the community have stopped clearing animal carcasses across the state. However, there have been cases where Dalits were assaulted for refusing to dispose dead animals. In August, a 15-year-old Dalit boy was thrashed by two men from the upper caste in Bhavda village in Daskroi taluka of Ahmedabad after his father refused to dispose cattle carcasses. In the same month, two Dalits were thrashed in Mandal village of Rajula taluka of Amreli for refusing to dispose carcass of a calf on Sunday afternoon. Seven persons, including sarpanch of Mandal village were booked for assaulting Dalits. What an idea for an enterprise! The Indian Handwritten Letter Co. (TIHLC), that prides itself on being "your personal letter writer" enjoys writing love letters for the public. Relatively new in the market, this six-month-old company handwrites letters for other people's special someones. Kashif Masood/HT Photo People commission the writers to pen their letters for a fee and till date, the company has sent out nearly 2,500 letters! Who knew that writing personalized handwritten messages for others can be such an exciting venture! Apart from TIHLC, other ventures such as Letteramail and Callyally also operate with the same aim - to send out personal letters in languages like English, Hindi, Marathi, and Telegu, for a fee of Rs. 99 apiece. Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo Their clientele usually falls in the Delhi NCR region. All they do is type out a letter and email it to these companies, who in turn hand-write the messages and send it out to the concerned person. Anubhav, co-founder of TIHLC, told The Hindustan Times, "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. 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." Delhi Police Crime Branch apprehended an alleged high-profile interstate cheat Satish Chaudhary (56) who was a proclaimed offender and was on the run for last about eight years. His persona did not suggest anything untoward about him. However, his deeds were allegedly otherwise. thenewage.co.za/Represenatational image Taking a leaf out of Bollywood, he allegedly carried out a spate of cheating assignments against gullible people. He would target disputed large factories, which had defaulted in loan payments and were on the verge of being sold off by court-appointed liquidators. He would prepare the documents, which seemed more genuine than the original ones. He would assemble his team that was always different from previous one and arrange buyers for the property. He would also take the buyers to the actual sites, knowing well that such properties seldom have any security. Even if he found any guard, he would bribe and manage the pretentious inspection. After convincing buyers, he according to the police would take token amount which ran into several crores. He kept a low profile, although his political clout was such that he got his son to contest Legislative Assembly election. He deliberately as alleged did not own any property himself but invested in the names of his family and close associates so as to prevent proclamation of the same. newsview.in During 2008-2009, said the police, several complaints were against Chaudhary and his associates in Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police wherein it was alleged that he along with his associates had prepared forged documents of several industrial plots/factories showing himself and his associates as actual purchasers from Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT). Believing Chaudhary and his associates as the actual owners of the impugned properties, the complainants the police said agreed to purchase the same and paid token money, which ran into several crores. Later, the deal could not be finalised as the documents prepared by him were found to be forged. indianexpress.com/Represenatational image After inquiry, cases of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy were registered against Chaudhary and his associates. During investigation of these cases, efforts were made to trace him, but he deliberately avoided joining the probe and evaded arrest. He was declared a proclaimed offender in three cases of Delhi. He is accused in 24 cases filed in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, said Ravindra Yadav Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). The arrest was made on secret inputs received by Crime Branch regarding Chaudharys movement in Saharanpur, Yamuna Nagar, Chandigarh and Jagadhri. Acting on specific information, a team of officers nabbed him on September 18 near Sadaura in Haryana. Accused Chaudhary is a school dropout. He has a long criminal record and had been booked in several police stations of Saharanpur, UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Post the attack at Uri last Sunday in which India lost 18 soldiers, the escalation between India and Pakistan has once triggered a global fear that the two nuclear armed neighbours might go for war once again. Since 1947, the two countries have fought four wars and each war has given birth to new strategy or doctrine which eventually led to another war. A 'War doctrine' is how military forces contribute to campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements. It is a guide to action, rather than hard and fast rules. Doctrine links theory, history, experimentation, and practice. Its objective is to foster initiative and counter the move of the enemy. It also includes long term strategies devised to achieve long terms goals. AFP Here are five major doctrines India and Pakistan have exercised or have been exercising presently which can lead to possible escalation and that too a nuclear one this time. 1. The doctrine of superiority Pakistan was created on the religious lines in 1947 and since its inception Pakistan has contended that its forces are way superior to India's despite Indians being superior in numbers. indiandefensenews Pakistan believed that since Muslims have ruled for over 800 years and since Pakistan is created on the lines of being an Islamic country, India which is Hindu-majority country can't face them in the battlefield. They believed that the history of repeated losses of Hindu Rajput armies against the Muslims would affect moral of Indian forces. But modern warfare was different ball game altogether which later became Pakistan's fatal flaw. Also Read: US Tells Pakistan: Limit Nukes. Pakistan Says 'No Way'! Till 1965, Pakistan establishment believed that one Pakistan soldier is equal to ten Indian soldiers who are Hindus in majority. wikipedia Before the war of 1965, with an overflowing hubris, Ayub Khan, the then president of Pakistan egged by Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, sent a top-secret order to his army chief General Mohammed Musa. Also Read: Pakistan Reportedly Preparing For War - Readies Operational Plans And Selects Targets In India As a general rule, Hindu morale would not stand for more than a couple of hard blows delivered at the right time and the right place. Such opportunities should therefore be sought and exploited," had said Ayub in letter. But whatever happened during war and after is history and world knows how Pakistan was humiliated in Tashkent. 2. Zia-ul-Haq's Bleed India Through A Thousand Cuts It wasn't rhetoric at all and Zia-ul-Haq, perhaps the strongest military dictator Pakistan has ever seen or will see did a lot of damage through the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan especially in Kashmir. wikipedia General Zia's period saw Pakistan getting stronger militarily and economically because Pakistan allied with the US against former USSR in Afghanistan. The concept of Afghan Jihad was coined under General Zia and though the war between USSR and Afghans was fought in Afghanistan, Pakistan especially Peshawar became the breeding ground of jihadists. During USSR's presence in the region, Peshawar was known as 'University of Jihad'. Also Read: A Day After Attacking India, Pakistan Goes To Talk Kashmir And Peace At UN General Zia used money given by the US against India by starting a proxy war in Kashmir. The militancy and infiltration in Kashmir was the result of Zia's 'Bleed India Through A Thousand Cuts' doctrine. HT Some experts also believed that this was the period when Pakistan created majority of its nuclear assets, right under the nose of the US which allowed Pakistan to exploit the aid it gave because the US was in thick of cold war against the former USSR. Pakistan lacked ability to beat India in conventional warfare which resulted in Pakistan losing East Pakistan which is now Bangladesh in 1971. General Zia knew this and that's why devised the strategy of proxy war through jihadists while keeping the main resources safe, sound and gearing up for main war. 3. Sundarji doctrine General Krishnaswamy Sundarji, the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1986 to 1988 coined the Sundarji doctrine as an answer to General Zia's doctrine. The Sundarji Doctrine was made up of seven defensive "holding corps" of the Indian Army and deployed near the Pakistani border. wikipedia Mainly, it was devised to curb the proxy war unleashed by Pakistan in form of militancy in Kashmir in which they directly weren't involved, but trained the fidayeens to attack the Indian army in the valley. By this theory, Pakistan wasn't only waging a relatively invisible yet effective war against India, it also was immune to any direct loss of assets like men and armoury. Also Read: In A World Going Mad, A Pakistan Air Force Pilot Set An Example And Helped IAF Pilot Nachiketa Escape Torture! K Sundarji talked about possessing limited offensive power, the holding corps' with primary responsibility to check a Pakistani advance or infiltration. India's offensive potency was derived from the "strike corps," and Sundarji advocated for keeping these strike corps based in central India, a significant distance from the international border. So that during the war, once after the holding corps halted a Pakistani attack, the strike corps would counterattack, penetrating deep into Pakistani territory to destroy the Pakistan Army's own strike corps through deep sledgehammer blows' in a high-intensity battle of attrition. But limitation of Sundarji doctrine got exposed with Indian Parliament was exposed in 2001 when Indian Parliament was attacked. It took the Indian strike corps three weeks to get to the international border. During that time Pakistan was able to counter-mobilize and allow for intervening powersthe United States in particularto become an intermediary to the conflict. 4. Cold Start Cold Start doctrine is devised by Indian Armed Forces to overcome the loopholes exposed in Sundarji doctrine after attack on Parliament. Though it's logical extension of Sundarji doctrine. but its main emphasis is on to the retaliatory strike back and causing significant harm to Pakistan before international community could intercede. AFP But the doctrine also talks about that attack should be unleashed with restraint as it's should be so severe which would possibly prompt Pakistan to think that it's only left with one option-nuclear attack. Cold Start Doctrine says that battle groups will be well forward from existing garrisons. India's elite strike forces will no longer sit idle waiting for the opportune moment, giving Pakistan the luxury of time. 5. AfPak Although AfPak has nothing to do with India and it's a foreign policy derived in the US around 2009. The doctrine talks about to designate Afghanistan and Pakistan as a single theatre of operations since region of Afghanistan and Pakistan as having a single, dominant political and military situation that required a joint policy in the War on Terror. Although the doctrine is believed to coined around 2009, but majority of its implementation took place post the assassination of Al Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden by Navy SEALs in Abbottabad. AFP Especially the attack on Salala, Pakistan's border with Afghanistan when in 2011, NATO forces attacked Pakistan at two Pakistani military check posts along the AfghanistanPakistan border which resulted in killing of 28 Pakistan soldiers. Although Afghanistan doesn't have any direct involvement of India, but certainly gives India some respite as now Pakistan counters the US which till a few years back was Pakistan's biggest source for money that it used to instigate proxy war against India in Kashmir. The world's three richest men have come together to launch an ambitious $100-million project to find alien life on a distant Earth-like planet. Physicist Stephen Hawking, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Russian entrepreneur Yuri Milner had teamed up earlier this year to locate signals on a planet, that is four light-years away from the Earth. Reuters The project, called Breakthrough Listen, will use the most powerful telescope to scope out messages from the extraterrestrials, who are possibly lodging at the Proxima b planet. Proxima b is supposed to be closest to the Earth. Hawking believes that we can find aliens before they get a chance to spot us. Reuters Hawking is known to have stated, at several occasions, that we are not alone in this universe - that extraterrestrial life does exist. Reuters The team supporting the Breakthrough Listen project has already collected data on several star systems with the help of Green Bank Radio Telescope in West Virginia and Automated Planet Finder in California. A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has described Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) as ignorant, after the senior lawyer accused him on Saturday of unlawfully doling $7 billion of Nigerias reserves to banks as loan. Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the amount was never recovered. The former CBN boss, however, dismissed the allegation blatant lies and demanded evidence or an apology. I largely ignore such ignorant commentaries, he said in a statement. However, Femi Falana is one of the Nigerians I deeply respect, and I am sure many Nigerians also hold him in very high esteem. I was therefore shocked beyond belief that someone like him could fabricate and peddle blatant lies. Falana had urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged criminal diversion or withholding of government funds by the CBN, under Mr. Soludo and his successor, Lamido Sanusi. According to the lawyer, Sanusi, who is the current Emir of Kano, gave another unrecovered N600 billion as bailout to the same banks. He also accused Mr. Sanusi of illegally paying N2.5 trillion instead of N245 billion to fuel marketers as subsidy. The Emir, in a statement late Saturday, denied the allegation and said he was ready to face investigations over his tenure as governor of the apex bank. Mr. Soludo, who left the CBN in 2009, said throughout his tenure, Nigeria never lost one penny of the reserves. From the above quotation, Falana alleged that I removed $7 billion from Nigerias external reserves and gave same as a loan to 14 Nigerian banks in 2006, and apparently such a loan has not been recovered. This is a blatant lie and I challenge Falana to publish the details of such a loan, which remains unpaid or as a person with honour, publish a retraction and unreserved apology immediately, the former CBN chief said. Mr. Soludo said one of the legacies of his tenure as CBN Governor was the highest rate of reserve accumulation in Nigerias history as well as its effective and efficient management. On assumption of office, I met exactly $10 billion in foreign reserves. With average monthly oil price of $59 during my tenure, we accumulated reserves to all time high of over $62 billion. Even after paying off Nigerias external debt with $12 billion and facing unprecedented global financial and economic crisis, I still left $45 billion upon leaving office in 2009, he said. Throughout my tenure, Nigeria never lost one penny of the reserves. It is particularly important to note that even during the global financial crisis of 2008/2009 when major international banks collapsed and some countries lost some of their reserves, our prudent management ensured that Nigeria never lost a penny but earned returns on the reserves. Given the powerful interests that I fought during the consolidation of banks and even since I left office, one can only imagine the international headlines that would have been made if just one penny of the reserves was unaccounted for. That under the provisions of the CBN Act as well as the guidelines for the management of foreign reserves, it is impossible for anyone to remove any sum of money from the reserves and give out as loan to commercial banks in Nigeria. To qualify as foreign reserves such reserves are held in foreign currency abroad as deposits with banks or in sovereign instruments such as the US treasury bills, he said. Mr. Soludo declared readiness to respond to any question regarding his stewardship at the CBN any time he is called upon to do so. I have come to terms with the fact that part of the burden one bears for having held public office in Nigeria is that one has to endure all kinds of uninformed and sometimes mischievous attempts to malign ones character, he said. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend said the State was gradually emerging as the choice destination for investors, assuring that his administration would continue to work round the clock not only to become a shining example for Africans in Diaspora but retain the State as investors haven. The Governor, who spoke at the 2016 International Forum on African Leadership, where he received an award for Best Performing Governor in Nigeria, organised by the African Leadership Magazine and held at the Regis Hotel, New York, USA, said since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, efforts have been geared towards creating a conducive and friendly environment for investors and for businesses to thrive. Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, apologised for his absence to receive the award, but said that he acknowledged the importance of the event hence his decision to send a powerful delegation including Durosinmi-Etti; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; his Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass; and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, to represent him. The Governor, in his remarks shortly after receiving the award, said the security and judicial reforms which he initiated at the commencement of his administration and the creation of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment were part of efforts to reduce the burden of bureaucracy and security concerns for would-be investors. While stating that the State is open for business, Governor Ambode assured would-be investors that government would continue to invest in security, job opportunity and infrastructure which are the tripod upon which his administration was built. He said that Lagos is also playing a leading role in the Nigeria economy, and as such must not shy away in ensuring that it takes the lead as Nigeria restrategises to restructure its economy for greater prosperity. Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa is like a country and with the momentum with which the State is moving, it might soon emerge as the biggest economy in Africa. It is home to almost every religion, tribe and colour and accommodates the largest pool of black people all over the world, including Africas richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is from Nigeria and has a home in Lagos, the Governor said. Earlier, in his opening remarks, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of African Leadership Magazine, Mr. Ken Giami while thanking participants for finding time to honour the occasion, said the focus of the Forum was for good governance and how it could impact on the African continent. We have to connect, build bridges and cultivate both intra and inter African interests and connection, continue discussion and conversation on how to move Africa forward. A continent that has all the natu at the lowest ebb in the rank of other continents, needs trade and investment because there are many opportunities that abound in Africa. This is the time for countries ahe time for countries all over the world to explore the resources that abound in the continent to make the world a better place for us, Giami said. Other recipients of the African Leadership Awards at the event include the President of Malawi, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika; President of Burkina Faso, Mr. Roch Marc Christian Kabore; Vice President of South Sudan, Mr. Taban Deng Gai, among others. Ahead of the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to use the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to manipulate the election. The National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, pointed out that the statement credited to the Deputy Director General, Obaseki Campaign Organization, John Osakue to the effect that PDP was working to rig the election was false, misleading and totally in keeping with the APC principle of propaganda over no substance. The statement noted that the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state was part of the agenda to rig the Edo guber polls, adding that APCs plot includes colluding with INEC staff to access the commissions remote servers to disrupt and manipulate the e-collation process. PDP said: 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. It is also on record that we have since raised the alarm over the plans of the APC 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; using the national security apparatus to rig the election and intimidate voters. It stressed that in furtherance of this agenda, the APC-led federal government has changed the Commissioner of Police in Edo State for an unprecedented 3rd time in 3 weeks. The opposition party said that Mr. Osakues comments was a smokescreen designed to deceive Nigerians and were made to distract people from plans perfected by APC to rig the Election. It added that 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, the party said. The Bayelsa State Government and Chairmen of the existing Local Government Councils in the State, again, yesterday extended the olive branch to the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva following last weeks judgment by the Court of Appeal which upheld the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal on the election victory of Governor Seriake Dickson. Recall that the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, had said that though the state received the decision of the appellate court with cheers, the State Government extends a hand of fellowship to the few APC followers remaining in the state and Mr. Sylva, to come join hands with the administration of Gov. Dickson and contribute their own quota. The Local Government Chairmen through the Chairman of the Brass Local Government Council, Hon. Bello Bina, again, pleaded with those in the opposition party especially former Governor Sylva, to join hands with Dickson to move Bayelsa forward, as this has become imperative. There appears to be a rift in the ranks of the leading All Progressives Congress (APC) following the governorship primaries in Ondo state. Although Rotimi Akeredolu was declared winner, many of the partys officials were dissatisfied with the result and claimed that the delegates register was tampered with. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has now called for the resignation of the partys National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun in a communique issued today. The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance, is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party but never of it. From the partys inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realized that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed. If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation. In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken. Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyeguns conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help. Oyeguns comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named. Having faith in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived. As a democrat, one must face the possibility of defeat and accept such as outcome with as much grace as one would embrace victory. One of the few bright spots during the conduct of the primaries was Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. He chaired the primary convention with decorum and impartiality. He was unaware that a tampered list had been slipped into the process. Indeed within hours of the announcement, news began to filter in that gravely disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled the waters. The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do. The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error. The alteration was wilfully executed that the primary would be directed toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common with the will of most state party members. A cunning few had tried to deceive the many into believing they were outnumbered. A conspiracy to steal the Ondo primary had been uncovered. Fortunately, the grand deception afoot had been unable to cover its tracks fast enough. Truth began to cry for justice. Several candidates filed petitions contesting the result. The party established an investigative board to review the evidence. In a two to one decision, the panel found the delegate roster had suffered tampering. The panel recommended that a new primary should be held using the valid delegate list. This recommendation was tabled before the National Working Committee (NWC). After many hours of deliberations spanning several days, a final vote was held by the NWC. Before hand, NWC members agreed that the decision of the majority would become the stance of the party. Such is the way of democracy. The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary. For a moment, it seemed the party would restore its integrity by giving democracy a chance. However, those who sought to scam an entire state would not let the vote of 11 people spoil their enterprise. After the NWC vote, a noticeably agitated Chairman Oyegun proposed the NWC engage in prayer before concluding the meeting. Adhering to this chairmans request, NWC members began to pray. Seeing that the others had taken his bait, Oyegun used the prayerful interlude to secretly excuse himself from the meeting. Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud. Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party. Truth has finally come to light. There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded. They joined the APC because it was the best ride available at the time. Now they want to guide the party into the ditch. They want to turn the party into a soulless entity incapable of doing good, just like they are. When such a person tastes power, they shed all good restraint. They come to abuse the trust given them as if they are the owners of that trust and not its mere custodians. These people did little to build the party but now will do much to wreck it. Our party was to stand for change. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length. They are the cohort of Unchange. The APC wants to guide Nigeria into a better tomorrow. Oyegun and the cohort of unchange want to pull Nigeria back into the past where rigging and vote stealing were the old and new testaments of politics. They want the people to think that there is no alternative to their reactionary system of skewed politics and imperious government. Thus, they seek to turn the APC into a factory of the very political malpractices the people soundly rejected in the past election. To choke the APC in this manner is to kill the chance for progressive reform for the foreseeable future. Much more than the Ondo primary is at stake. Oyegun has revealed his teams game plan: It is the destruction of progressive politics and governance on behalf of the people. As party chairman, Oyegun was supposed to protect our internal processes and be an impartial arbiter, a person in whom all had confidence. Instead, he donned the garment of a confident man, duping the NWC, the party, and INEC in one fell blow. He has robbed APC members in Ondo State of the chance to pick in a fair manner who they believe is the best candidate. As such, he has broken faith with the party and probably has broken a few laws Oyegun has done the irredeemable. His coup is an insult to party and to patriot, to reason and to the reform agenda of this government. To remain silent would be to admit the defeat of the reform and progressive change many have labored to bring forth. While the forces resistant to change and reform are strong, Tinubu dare not submit to them. Tinubu encourages all party members not to submit to them. If we acquiesce in this wrong, the one greater than this shall cascade upon us. Oyeguns transgressions are a warning. He is but the mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways. If they get away with this infraction, no telling what or whom they will undermine tomorrow. Much is at stake. On the chopping block, lies the future of the political party in which the majority of voters had placed their confidence. To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time. If Tinubu is to choose between John Oyegun and progress toward a better Nigeria, the choice has already been made. For those who care about the party, who care about Nigeria and its chance for a better tomorrow, now is the time to stand against this brewing evil before it grows to encompass all we have built and all we hold dear. Eleven people died during cross-border clashes between Boko Haram insurgents and Chadian Troops. Four were Chadian soldiers while the other seven were Boko Haram militants. A security source said Sunday that the clashes erupted a day earlier after Boko Haram militants launched a raid from Nigeria on a Chadian military post near the border with Niger. Around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday night, Boko Haram members attacked the Djoroye border post near the Niger border in the Lake Chad region killing four of our soldiers, said the sources, adding, The Chadian army killed seven Boko Haram fighters. Chad is a member of a multinational task force combating Boko Haram across its border with Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon. The force has been created with the aim of preventing a spillover of the militancy to those countries from Nigeria. Boko Haram militants launched a similar cross-border raid on members of the Niger army two weeks ago. Officials in Niger said five soldiers and 30 militants were killed in the clashes that ensued on September 14. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Chief Alexander Mwolwus, has described the defection of Senator Joshua Dariye from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a sham and an attempt to escape prosecution by anti-graft agencies. Dariye, a former Plateau governor, had last Thursday announced his defection to APC in a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the Senate. The senator representing Plateau Central had in the letter, hinged his decision to defect to tge governing APC on the protracted division at the national level of the PDP. He is currently standing trial on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of N1.2billion ecological funds while he was governor of Plateau State between 1999 and 2006. However, Mwolwus, a former Special Adviser to former Governor Jonah Jang on Political Affairs, in a chat with journalists in Jos, the state capital yesterday, described Dariyes excuse as flimsy and out of tune with realities. According to Mwolwus, who had lost the PDP primaries for the Plateau Central senatorial seat to Dariye, he is only looking for a soft landing and escape from the anti-graft agencies, which are investigating and prosecuting him. The public is aware that Dariye, who is our former Governor under the platform of PDP, is facing trial for some of his activities while as Governor of Plateau from 1999-2007. But the unfortunate thing is that, this action cannot save him; APC will not, by his decamp, forgive him all the rot, because they claimed to be fighting corruption. I am sad and worried for him (Dariye) especially his political career; I could sense that he is descending politically by that wrong action he took. The PDP chieftain further described the ex-governors action as very shocking and surprising to the people of his constituency, Plateau Central Zone and the entire people of Plateau. According to him, Plateau Central Zone, which Dariye represents, had been the most formidable force in the politics of Plateau, but he has disappointed it. Nobody that had ruled Plateau would behave the way Dariye had done; jumping from ACN to LP to PDP and now to APC, which I am sure, will definitely think twice about him. You must have a genuine reason to leave a party; as for us in PDP here on the Plateau we are a family without any problem within and among us, Mwolwus assured Investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have revealed that aside five choice properties, including a N5billion hotel in Abuja linked to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, seven additional properties believed to be owned by her have been discovered. It would be recalled that the EFCC deployed some of its detectives to Port Harcourt (Rivers State) and Yenagoa (Bayelsa State) last week in a bid to establish whether four properties in the two cities, allegedly acquired by Mrs. Jonathan, truly belong to her. The detectives, however, discovered that seven more properties including the former Customs Officers mess in Port Harcourt and a plot of land under construction, were allegedly acquired by the former First Lady. Others in the Rivers State capital are: two duplexes at 2/3 Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; three Luxury apartments of 4-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel on airport road. Those in Yenagoa are: two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway which serves as office of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa along Sani Abacha Expressway. Following the discovery, the anti-graft agency may invoke Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 on the affected properties after due verification, sources said yesterday. The EFCC investigators are already back in Abuja to continue their assignment. A highly placed source said: The ex-First Lady is allegedly linked with the acquisition of the former Customs Service Officers mess in Port-Harcourt. We also identified three luxury apartments of four-bedroom each believed to be owned by Mrs. Jonathan. The apartments are tastefully furnished with the state of the art accessories. After verification of these assets and completion of our investigation, we may seek the order of the court to place the affected assets under Interim Forfeiture. Permission will be sought to ask the ex-First Lady to explain some of the sources of her wealth in line with Section 7 of the EFCC Establishment Act. As a First Lady, there was no appropriation for her office and she was not on salary. The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has declared his readiness to face investigations into his tenure as former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The emir made the comments in response to a call by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged diversion of government funds by the CBN, under Mr. Sanusi. The senior lawyer also called for the probe of Mr. Sanusis predecessor, Prof. Charles Soludo. Mr. Falana, in a statement on Saturday, said 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. He further said: 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. In his response, the emir 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 also described Falanas 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 immediate past governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advised the Umar Ganduje administration in the state to desist from erasing Kwankwassiya inscriptions on public structures, saying the exercise was a waste of resources and time. The Kano House of Assembly had last month ordered the immediate removal of all Kwankwassiya inscriptions on all public buildings in Kano metropolis and other local government areas of the state. Kwankwassiya inscriptions can be found on public buses roofs of public buildings pedestrian interlocks, parameter fences, schools etc in Kano State. Reacting to the move to erase the name of his political movement from all public inscriptions, the former governor, who spoke yesterday, said instead of squandering the states scarce resources on a futile exercise, the government should use such funds to revitalize the education sector, which is deteriorating. Kwankwaso, who spoke through an aide, Muhammad Tajuddeen Usman, during an event organized to empower women, also urged his supporters to remain calm. The Kwankwassiya movement can never be erased from your minds. This is why I am asking the state government to desist from erasing our symbols on public structures because it is a total waste of resources and time. They should instead channel the funds to reviving education which they have allowed to deteriorate, he said. He added that if the government insists on deleting all Kwankwassiya logos in the state, then they should be prepared to establish a whole ministry to carry out the exercise because it is an impossible task. You should remain steadfast in your belief in Kwankwaso; they cant take that away from you. The time will come when your votes will be more than dollars. That is when we will ask you to follow a certain direction to change your destinies, he said. On his part, Chairman of the Kano Project Protection Agency (Kano PRO-PA), Mahmoud Sani, who organized the event, said about 75 women were re-empowered with about N800,000 as a reward for utilizing an earlier empowerment benefit given to them four years ago. President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the programme of events lined up to commemorate Nigerias 56th Independence Anniversary, which comes up on October 1, 2016. Details of the low-key programme were contained in a press statement issued on Saturday by Bolaji Adebiyi, Director (Press) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The statement said an Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Church Service open to all will hold on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 4.00 pm at the National Worship Centre, Abuja. A Public Lecture and Jummaat Prayers come up Friday, September 30 at the National Mosque, Abuja. It said also that a Presidential Change of Guard will hold at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 3.00 pm; this will be strictly by invitation, the statement added. There exists a Local Government Area (LGA) in Nigeria which doesnt have a secondary school. But not anymore in the coming months as it seems. Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State Governor, laid the foundation for the construction of the first secondary school in Gudu LGA, Sokoto. The Governor laid the foundation for the school in the town of Balle, Gudus headquarters. Tambuwal while speaking at the event said his administration 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. We have decided to make it a unity school and will attract students from all parts of Nigeria and neighbouring Niger republic. Students of the school would be taught in both English and French, he said. According to him, the contractor had since been paid the required 30 per cent as mobilisation fee. He said the project would be completed in the next four months, while the work commenced about two months ago. 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 boys and girls in the state. As the adage goes, when you educate a girl, you educate the society but when you educate a boy, you educate only an individual, he added. Tambuwal called on the contracting firm to complete the work on schedule, warning that compromise by supervising engineers would not be condoned. Present at the event were development partners, and religious and traditional rulers from within and outside Sokoto. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, while speaking at the event commended the state government for embarking on the project. Abubakar stressed the need for all children to have equal opportunities to education. He described illiteracy as a disease which forces people to follow others blindly, and decried street begging by some children, saying such act was unIslamic. The Sultan urged wealthy individuals to provide scholarship to the children of less privileged. SEE ALSO: Sokoto Govt Shuts 20 Illegal Schools Dr Chidi Lloyd, a former Rivers House of Assembly member, has called on security agencies to protect his life and that of his family members that were allegedly in danger. The Rivers Police Command have confirmed arsonists attack on the village home of the former House of Assembly Leader in Akpabu, Emohua Local Government Area. Lloyd told reporters in Port Harcourt on Sunday that his family was in the peril because of his political beliefs and association. He said that the unprovoked attack on his residence had consumed his personal belongings such as library and other valuables. I have tried to imagine what might have been the cause of this unwarranted attack but cannot readily think of any. The only thing is, since the 2013 crises that engulfed the Rivers House of Assembly in which I participated, I have been living in great awe, the ex-lawmaker said. Lloyd said that he was arrested, detained and charged to court for attempted murder but the trial was discontinued by the then Attorney-General of Rivers, Mr Worgu Boms. When the former attorney-general in the exercise of his constitutional powers took over the prosecution, he discontinued the trial because the police authorities then made it impracticable for trial to continue. This was because the complainant approached the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, seeking for an order to stop the police from releasing the case file, he alleged. According to Lloyd, the current Rivers Attorney-General, Mr Chinwenwo Aguma, in May 2016, filed criminal information in the Rivers High Court, before Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikaran, seeking to review the nolle prosequi entered by his predecessor. The trial is currently going on with an interlocutory order to the police to produce me to take plea even when no process was served on me. In spite of the pendency of the matter at the Court of Appeal, Justice Iyayi-Lamikaran, has refused to stay proceedings in the matter, he alleged. Lloyd also alleged that on Sept. 21, at about 10 a.m., Aguma was boasting in open court that they would produce me without the police. Since the police, a non-party in the matter had refused to produce me, they, the prosecution will ensure my appearance in court to take plea their own way. Just six hours later, my house was razed. I have painstakingly drawn this analogy so it will be clear to the world who my tormentors are, he said. Lloyd said that in spite the efforts to frustrate him from excercising his constitutional right, he had appealed the order for police to produce him in court and also written a petition to the Chief Justice of the Federation. Source: Vanguard A Nigerian based in Togo has been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, after wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine, were discovered in the collar of his jacket. The arrest was made shortly after the suspect disembarked from the aircraft on his way from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 31-year old suspect, Agwu Samuel, confidently wore the jacket containing the drugs but by dint of hindsight and experience, the drugs were discovered by NDLEA officers at the airport. This is the first discovery of cocaine inside the collar of a jacket by the anti-narcotics agency. In his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.), described the suspects action as desperately crafty and cunning. According to him, the cocaine was detected by officers notwithstanding the crafty and cunning mode of concealment. The agency has taken some strategic measures aimed at disappointing the tricks employed by drug trafficking syndicates. We remain committed to exposing criminal plots through superior counter-narcotic intelligence. This operational success is commendable and a demonstration of our alertness to detect drugs. Abdallah vowed that NDLEA will continue to invest in capacity building programmes for its officers. Shedding light on how the suspect was arrested, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that Samuel was arrested during routine check on passengers. Ten wraps of cocaine weighing 110 grammes were found inside the collar of his jacket during screening of passengers on a South Africa Airline flight from Brazil through Johannesburg. The drug, which was carefully hidden inside his jacket, tested positive for cocaine and investigation is ongoing, he said. Samuel, a shoe seller in Togo, who claimed to have attended Technical Secondary School in Ohafia, Abia State, in his statement, said that he went to Brazil in search of greener pastures but resorted to drug trafficking due to frustration. According to him, I use to sell shoes in Togo until I lost goods worth N3 million. This negatively affected my business and made me to travel to Brazil in a desperate search for greener pastures. After a fruitless search for job in Brazil for four months, I decided to smuggle drugs to get some money to start my shoe business. I thought the drugs will not be detected inside my jacket but I was caught and I am very sad. President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the Country from the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. The President arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 5 oclock Sunday morning, NTA reported. On his arrival, he was received by his Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin , Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Burutai ,Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Acting EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Magu and other senior Government officials. Here are the photos of his arrival: Photo credit: NTA SEE ALSO: Why Are President Buharis Daughters Part of Nigerias U.N Delegation? The Police in Kaduna State has apprehended seven armed robbery suspects who terrorized Godogodo town in Kafanchan Local Government Area on Sept. 24. The State Police Spokesperson, ASP Aliyu Usman, made this known to newsmen on Sunday in the state capital. According to him: The contingents of policemen deployed for Operations Maximum Safety along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway received a distress call about the blockage of the road by suspected armed bandits, on Sept.24. The policemen attached to the area successfully arrested seven suspects while others fled and also recovered three motorcycles during the operation. The seven suspects have been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation while efforts are on to ensure the arrest of the remaining suspects, he said. The police PRO added that criminals left three victims they kidnapped while fleeing. ASP Usman, however, assured the residents that the security agencies would stop at nothing to ensure normalcy returned to the affected area. The police is determined to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state, he added. He therefore, urged members of the public to volunteer useful information to security operatives for arrest of criminal elements. President Buhari arrived Abuja today, September 25, after his participation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Here are some photos from his engagement at the world event. Image credit: Bayo Omoboriowo Nel terzo trimestre del 2016 il prodotto interno lordo, espresso in valori concatenati con anno di riferimento 2010, corretto per gli effetti di calendario e destagionalizzato, e aumentato dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente e dello 0,9% nei confronti del terzo trimestre del 2015. Lo sostiene lIstat. La crescita congiunturale e la sintesi di un aumento del valore aggiunto nei comparti dellindustria e dei servizi e di una diminuzione nellagricoltura. Dal lato della domanda, vi e un contributo ampiamente positivo della componente nazionale (al lordo delle scorte), in parte compensato da un apporto negativo della componente estera netta. Nello stesso periodo il Pil e aumentato in termini congiunturali dello 0,7% negli Stati Uniti, dello 0,5% nel Regno Unito e dello 0,2% in Francia. In termini tendenziali, si e registrato un aumento del 2,3% nel Regno Unito, dell1,5% negli Stati Uniti, dell1,1% in Francia. Nel complesso, il Pil dei paesi dellarea Euro e cresciuto dello 0,3% rispetto al trimestre precedente ed dell1,6% nel confronto con lo stesso trimestre del 2015. I dati Istat sul Pil sono in linea con le stime del governo ha commentato il ministro dellEconomia, Pier Carlo Padoan, arrivando alla Camera per lincontro con il gruppo Pd sulla legge di Bilancio. ll titolare di via XX Settembre in un tweet, poco prima, aveva sottolineato come i dati Istat confermano che leconomia e sulla strada giusta e le stime di crescita sono affidabili. Ma occorre spingere per accelerare Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., commonly known as Edward Jones in the industry, is a financial services company. It has $1.8 trillion in client assets under management (AUM), which the company calls assets under care, as of the end of 2021. Among its businesses, Edward Jones is a full-service brokerage firm and a registered investment advisor (RIA). Founded in 1922 in St. Louis, the company has expanded dramatically during the past century. One of the largest broker-dealers in the United States, it now has nearly 19,000 financial advisors, more than seven million clients, and branches throughout the United States and Canada. Edward Jones offers customers a broad selection of asset classes in which to invest, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). But the company does not publish information on its website on how many or which mutual funds and ETFs are available to customers who open Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs). Edward Jones also declined to respond to Investopedias formal request for information on the number and variety of fund offerings that the company provides to customers. The company also declined to confirm specific ETFs or mutual funds that it offers. However, it is safe to assume that Edward Jones offers a selection of broad-based stock and bond funds similar to every other major broker that offers investments in individual funds and ETFs. For example, Edward Jones likely is likely to offer low-cost S&P 500 Index funds and broad total stock market funds, as well as bond funds tracking the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index. Also, keep in mind that Roth IRAs are just one of the multiple tax-advantaged retirement accounts available to U.S.-based investors. In addition to Roth IRAs, there are traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and Roth 401(k)s. The biggest distinction to keep in mind when deciding between a traditional and Roth IRA is that your pretax income is placed into a traditional IRA but taxed when it is withdrawn. By contrast, you can only use after-tax earnings to deposit into a Roth IRA, but withdrawals are tax free. Key Takeaways Edward Jones is a full-service brokerage with $1.8 trillion in assets under management (AUM). The company does not disclose how many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds, or what specific funds, it offers to investors opening Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs). When making a retirement account, most investors would be well served to start with a broad-based, low-cost stock index fund and a similar bond index fund. These two funds can serve as a foundation for advanced investors to build a more complex portfolio, or as the primary portfolio for newer investors looking for simplicity. Roth IRAs allow you to avoid paying taxes on investment returns by investing after-tax income now. VTI and SPAB are good options for your starting stock and bond funds, and are likely to be representative of the kinds of funds offered by Edward Jones. Expense Ratio: 0.03% Assets Under Management: $295.0 billion One-Year Trailing Total Return: 14.0% 12-Month Trailing (TTM) Yield: 1.33% Inception Date: May 24, 2001 VTI is a stock index fund that tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index. With 4,070 holdings, VTI has exposure to a wider number of stocks than its main broad-market ETF competitors. This breadth is especially helpful if you want your portfolio to be as simple as possible and only want one stock fund. If you want a more complex portfolio with more specific control of your exposure to different parts of the market, you may want to start with a S&P 500 index fund that focuses exclusively on large-cap stocks. Investors can then complement the S&P 500 Index fund by purchasing a large-cap or midcap ETF to fine-tune levels of exposure to the areas of the market that they want. VTIs holdings tilt heavily toward large-cap equities. It has 66.4% of its holdings in large-cap stocks, 15.3% in midcap stocks, and 8.4% in small-cap stocks, with the remaining 9.9% in intermediate categories. The weighted median market cap for stocks in the fund is $129.6 billion, meaning that stocks with half of the funds assets have a market cap above that number, and half below. VTI is managed by principal portfolio manager Gerard C. OReilly and portfolio manager Walter Nejman. The two have managed the fund for 21 years and six years, respectively, and have a combined 44 years of management experience. Expense Ratio: 0.03% Assets Under Management: 6.7 billion One-Year Trailing Total Return: -4.3% 12-Month Trailing (TTM) Yield: 2.16% Inception Date: May 23, 2007 SPAB is a bond index fund that tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. This index covers the entirety of the investment-grade bond market, allowing investors to get broad exposure to virtually the whole U.S. bond market, except for municipal (muni) bonds and high-yield bonds. The funds holdings include 39.5% Treasury bonds. 28.9% mortgage-backed securities (MBS), 25.2% corporate bonds, and 1.4% agency bonds. With its broad exposure to the U.S. fixed-income market at a very low price, if you just want one bond ETF, SPAB is a good option to look at. If you want a more complex portfolio and are interested in more advanced fixed-income investing, consider looking into adding a muni bond ETF or a high-yield bond ETF to add exposure to those areas left out by SPAB. When looking at what percentage of assets to put into the two funds presented above, the broad rule is generally the 60/40 rule60% of assets in stocks, 40% in bondsor invest a percent of your assets in stocks equal to 100 minus your age. There is considerable debate as to whether these old rules still hold up. Today, many investment firms are moving toward a higher allocation for stocks. Exact numbers aside, it is certain that, as a broad asset class, stocks are comparatively riskier than bonds and have higher returns. In addition, as you generally get closer to retirement, you likely want to have a less risky portfolio. Thats because the point at which you may need to start drawing on your retirement savings is getting closer. The exact percentages will depend largely on how close you are to retiring, how close you are to your retirement savings goal, and what your risk tolerance is. Does Edward Jones offer Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs)? Yes, Edward Jones offers Roth individual retirement accounts (Roth IRAs). What are the fees for a Roth IRA at Edward Jones? Edward Jones has account charges of $40 a year for Roth IRAs. What is the Roth IRA five-year rule? The Roth IRA five-year rule states that you cant withdraw the earnings from your Roth IRA tax free until five years after you began contributing to your Roth IRA. This rule applies no matter what age you are. You can, however, withdraw the direct contributions that youve made at any time. Second, while the 10% early withdrawal penalty that applies to traditional IRAs doesnt apply to Roth IRAs, if you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you have to wait five years until after the conversion to withdraw the money converted from the traditional IRA without penalty. The Bottom Line When creating a Roth IRA, its very hard to go wrong by starting with a low-fee, broad-based stock fund and a similarly broad and inexpensive bond index fund. They can serve as your whole portfolio if you want simplicity. They also are an excellent jumping-off point if you want to become an advanced investor seeking to complement these funds with other investments. As mentioned above, Edward Jones provides no specific information on how many funds it offers or what specific ones. But VTI and SPAB are widely offered funds in the industry and good examples of funds that are likely offered by Edward Jones. An inspirational mother is hoping to use her sense of style to help thousands of refugee children. Diane Duffy, from Belfast, has been so moved by the plight of those stranded in camps across Europe she has organised a huge fashion event in the city to raise vital funds. The mother-of-one who volunteers with the Northern Ireland Community of Refugees & Asylum Seekers (Nicras) said: "I had wanted to go to Calais or Greece to do something practical, but with a young baby that was just not possible. "But, the more I saw or read about displaced children living in these dire conditions and dying trying to get into the UK to other relatives, the more I felt compelled to do something." The Fashion Conscious event at RBG Park Inn, Belfast, on Thursday October 6, will include a fashion pop-up shop, where dozens of donated designer clothes, shoes and bags will be up for grabs for just a few pounds. Money raised will go to humanitarian charities Help Refugees and the Greek-based group Project Hope 4 Kids, which are delivering crucial aid to those caught up in the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. Mrs Duffy added: "I just cannot imagine, as a mother, having to put a child on to a boat to cross the Mediterranean Sea or having to go into a boat while being pregnant or with a baby. "It is just mind-blowing that the only option these people have appears to be death or risk of death. Their situation is hopeless no matter what way you look at it." The conflict in Syria has created almost five million refugees. According to the UN's refugee agency, so far this year 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe and more than 3,200 have died or gone missing. Tens of thousands are struggling to survive in appalling conditions on the borders of Greece, Italy and France. Last week, hundreds of people took part in a rally at Stormont demanding a better international response. Mrs Duffy, whose daughter Arabella is just 19 months old, said: "Obviously this is a huge global crisis but everyone can do their bit to help. If I can help just one family then it will be worth it." Tickets for Fashion Conscious are priced 10 and are available online. Entry can also be paid at the door. More details can be found on their community Facebook page. 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. 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. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. PLANNING officers have come down in favour of a controversial plan to locate a homeless hostel in the middle of Palmers Green shopping centre. Arima Leisure Ltd wants to convert the first floor of the former Court's furniture store into a hostel for 26 people. Tonight Enfield councillors will decide whether to accept their officers' recommendation that planning permission should be granted. The council has received 27 letters and a 35-signature petition objecting to the plan. Prominent objectors include Southgate MP Stephen Twigg, his Conservative rival for the seat John Flack, and senior Labour councillor Bambos Charalambous, who represents Palmers Green ward. Green Lanes Business Assocation says the development would undo years of work to regenerate business in the high street. And the council's head of regeneration has warned that the development would lead to loss of valuable retail space, and 'could undermine retail confidence in the town centre.' However in a report to the planning committee, council planning officers dismiss the objections. They say worries over loss of retail space are 'not sustainable', as the premises have not been used for trade for some time. The application for the hostel at 316-320 Green Lanes, including a first-floor rear extension, is the second to be submitted. The first was rejected by the council last year, and the applicant made changes to its proposals. These include scrapping a plan to turn the building's flat roof into a terrace for hostel residents. But the changes have not been enough to convince residents and traders. In a letter to councillors, Costas Georgiou, chaiman of Green Lanes Business Association, said: 'Four years ago we had many empty shops and Palmers Green was in the doldrums. 'Since then with much hard work on the part of all sections of our association the area has almost 100 per cent occupancy with wide retail coverage. 'To allow a hostel to be sited in the main core of our retail centre is clearly an intrusion into all we have worked for. 'We cannot find one person among the 116 members of our association, or the residents of accommodation over the shops, who supports the application.' The application will be decided at tonight's meeting of Enfield Council planning committee in the Civic Centre, Silver Street, Enfield, at 7.45pm. The public can attend. By Michael Mullen mmullen@london.newsquest.co.uk High noon for high street hostel scheme Plan icould undermine confidence in town centreI RALEIGH Duke Energy Corp. has agreed to pay a $6 million fine for a big spill that coated the Dan River with liquefied coal ash in 2014, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality said Friday. The fine holds Duke Energy accountable for violations of federal waterprotection laws during and after the countrys third-worst spill of the residue left behind after burning coal, the DEQ said in a statement. The spill coated 70 miles of the river on the North Carolina-Virginia border in more than 30,000 tons of sludge after a pipe burst at a holding pit at Duke Energys now-closed power plant near Eden. Coal ash can contain toxic chemicals, including arsenic, chromium and lead. State officials originally fined Duke Energy $6.6 million for the Dan River spill, but the company contested it. We are accountable for what happened at our retired Dan River facility. This agreement is another important step in bringing the accident and its aftermath to a close, the company said in a statement. Duke Energy also challenged the DEQs attempt last year to impose an unprecedented $25 million fine for persistent groundwater pollution at its closed Sutton power plant in Wilmington. The DEQ later reduced that fine to $7 million and agreed that it would cover groundwater contamination at all 14 coal-burning Duke Energy plants in North Carolina. Environmental groups called that a sweetheart deal for the company where Republican Gov. Pat McCrory had worked for nearly 30 years. The DEQ said it had to reduce the fine because of a policy adopted under McCrorys Democratic predecessor, Bev Perdue, that favors offenders taking corrective action over paying fines. North Carolina officials began pursuing stronger coal-ash regulations and enforcement after the Dan River spill. State legislators approved a law requiring Duke Energy to clean up its unlined coal-ash pits by 2029. New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules that took effect last year are expected to force similar cleanup at coal-ash pits around the country. Reddit Email 0 Shares By Clark D. Cunningham | (The Conversation) | Fear of hackers reading private emails in cloud-based systems like Microsoft Outlook, Gmail or Yahoo has recently sent regular people and public officials scrambling to delete entire accounts full of messages dating back years. What we dont expect is our own government to hack our email but its happening. Federal court cases going on right now are revealing that federal officials can read all your email without your knowledge. As a scholar and lawyer who started researching and writing about the history and meaning of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution more than 30 years ago, I immediately saw how the FBI versus Apple controversy earlier this year was bringing the founders fight for liberty into the 21st century. My study of that legal battle caused me to dig into the federal governments actual practices for getting email from cloud accounts and cellphones, causing me to worry that our basic liberties are threatened. A new type of government search The federal government is getting access to the contents of entire email accounts by using an ancient procedure the search warrant with a new, sinister twist: secret court proceedings. The earliest search warrants had a very limited purpose authorizing entry to private premises to find and recover stolen goods. During the era of the American Revolution, British authorities abused this power to conduct dragnet searches of colonial homes and to seize peoples private papers looking for evidence of political resistance. To prevent the new federal government from engaging in that sort of tyranny, special controls over search warrants were written into the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. But these constitutional provisions are failing to protect our personal documents if they are stored in the cloud or on our smartphones. Fortunately, the governments efforts are finally being made public, thanks to legal battles taken up by Apple, Microsoft and other major companies. But the feds are fighting back, using even more subversive legal tactics. Searching in secret To get these warrants in the first place, the feds are using the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, passed in 1986 long before widespread use of cloud-based email and smartphones. That law allows the government to use a warrant to get electronic communications from the company providing the service rather than the true owner of the email account, the person who uses it. And the government then usually asks that the warrant be sealed, which means it wont appear in public court records and will be hidden from you. Even worse, the law lets the government get what is called a gag order, a court ruling preventing the company from telling you it got a warrant for your email. You might never know that the government has been reading all of your email or you might find out when you get charged with a crime based on your messages. Microsoft steps up Much was written about Apples successful fight earlier this year to prevent the FBI from forcing the company to break the iPhones security system. But relatively little notice has come to a similar Microsoft effort on behalf of customers that began in April 2016. The companys suit argued that search warrants delivered to Microsoft for customers emails are violating regular peoples constitutional rights. (It also argued that being gagged violates Microsofts own First Amendment rights.) Microsofts suit, filed in Seattle, says that over the course of 20 months in 2015 and 2016, it received more than 3,000 gag orders and that more than two-thirds of the gag orders were effectively permanent, because they did not include end dates. Court documents supporting Microsoft describe thousands more gag orders issued against Google, Yahoo, Twitter and other companies. Remarkably, three former chief federal prosecutors, who collectively had authority for the Seattle region for every year from 1989 to 2009, and the retired head of the FBIs Seattle office have also joined forces to support Microsofts position. The feds get everything U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Its very difficult to get a copy of one of these search warrants, thanks to orders sealing files and gagging companies. But in another Microsoft lawsuit against the government a redacted warrant was made part of the court record. It shows how the government asks for and receives the power to look at all of a persons email. On the first page of the warrant, the cloud-based email account is clearly treated as premises controlled by Microsoft, not by the email accounts owner: An application by a federal law enforcement officer or an attorney for the government requests the search of the following property located in the Western District of Washington, the premises known and described as the email account [REDACTED]@MSN.COM, which is controlled by Microsoft Corporation. The Fourth Amendment requires that a search warrant must particularly describe the things to be seized and there must be probable cause based on sworn testimony that those particular things are evidence of a crime. But this warrant orders Microsoft to turn over the contents of all e-mails stored in the account, including copies of e-mails sent from the account. From the day the account was opened to the date of the warrant, everything must be handed over to the feds. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Reading all of it In warrants like this, the government is deliberately not limiting itself to the constitutionally required particular description of the messages its looking for. To get away with this, it tells judges that incriminating emails can be hard to find maybe even hidden with misleading names, dates and file attachments so their computer forensic experts need access to the whole data base to work their magic. If the government were serious about obeying the Constitution, when it asks for an entire email account, at least it would write into the warrant limits on its forensic analysis so only emails that are evidence of a crime could be viewed. But this Microsoft warrant says an unspecified variety of techniques may be employed to search the seized emails, including email by email review. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York As I explain in a forthcoming paper, there is good reason to suspect this type of warrant is the governments usual approach, not an exception. Former federal computer-crimes prosecutor Paul Ohm says almost every federal computer search warrant lacks the required particularity. Another former prosecutor, Orin Kerr, who wrote the first edition of the federal manual on searching computers, agrees: Everything can be seized. Everything can be searched. Even some federal judges are calling attention to the problem, putting into print their objections to signing such warrants but unfortunately most judges seem all too willing to go along. What happens next If Microsoft wins, then citizens will have the chance to see these search warrants and challenge the ways they violate the Constitution. But the government has come up with a clever and sinister argument for throwing the case out of court before it even gets started. The government has asked the judge in the case to rule that Microsoft has no legal right to raise the Constitutional rights of its customers. Anticipating this move, the American Civil Liberties Union asked to join the lawsuit, saying it uses Outlook and wants notice if Microsoft were served with a warrant for its email. The governments response? The ACLU has no right to sue because it cant prove that there has been or will be a search warrant for its email. Of course the point of the lawsuit is to protect citizens who cant prove they are subject to a search warrant because of the secrecy of the whole process. The governments position is that no one in America has the legal right to challenge the way prosecutors are using this law. Far from the only risk The government is taking a similar approch to smartphone data. For example, in the case of U.S. v. Ravelo, pending in Newark, New Jersey, the government used a search warrant to download the entire contents of a lawyers personal cellphone more than 90,000 items including text messages, emails, contact lists and photos. When the phones owner complained to a judge, the government argued it could look at everything (except for privileged lawyer-client communications) before the court even issued a ruling. The federal prosecutor for New Jersey, Paul Fishman, has gone even farther, telling the judge that once the government has cloned the cellphone it gets to keep the copies it has of all 90,000 items even if the judge rules that the cellphone search violated the Constitution. Where does this all leave us now? The judge in Ravelo is expected to issue a preliminary ruling on the feds arguments sometime in October. The government will be filing a final brief on its motion to dismiss the Microsoft case September 23. All Americans should be watching carefully to what happens next in these cases the government may be already watching you without your knowledge. Clark D. Cunningham, W. Lee Burge Chair in Law & Ethics; Director, National Institute for Teaching Ethics & Professionalism, Georgia State University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Related video added by Juan Cole: Newsy Tech from last winter: The Broad, Warrantless Reach Of National Security Letters Newsy Reddit Email 0 Shares Maan News Agency | BETHLEHEM (Maan) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hoped US President Barack Obama would not seek to establish a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Saturday. In an interview aired on Israels Channel 2 on Saturday, Netanyahu was asked if Obama had promised him that he would not seek to establish a state of Palestine without Israels cooperation before the end of his term in January. If youre asking if he spoke to me about this, the answer is no, The Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying. If youre asking me if I am hoping that he wont do this, the answer is yes. The interview came two days after Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made speeches at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, during which they exchanged heated accusations regarding Israeli settlement building, the Balfour Declaration, and each others commitment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Over the past several months, France has been leading renewed peace efforts between Palestine and Israel with the aim of solving the decades-long conflict between the countries. However, Netanyahu staunchly rejected the multilateral French initiative in April, saying the best way to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestinians is through direct, bilateral negotiations without Palestinian preconditions. While Russia reportedly expressed interest in conducting bilateral negotiations earlier this month, Netanyahu had welcomed Egypts bilateral efforts through restarting the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The Palestinian Authority has repeatedly expressed support for the French initiative, and in April shelved the submission of a new anti-settlement resolution to the UN out of fear that doing so could thwart progress of new French proposals, causing outrage among various Palestinian political factions. Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman and Netanyahu issued a joint statement in May expressing their support of reviving the Arab Peace Initiative for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which called for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory in exchange for full normalization of ties with Arab states. Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine at the United Nations Riyad Mansour slammed the announcement by Netanyahu and Lieberman this month at a UN Security Council meeting in New York, saying that Israeli leaders were belittling the initiative and failing to reciprocate time and time again and obstructing the revival of a political horizon. All past efforts towards peace negotiations have failed to end the decades-long Israeli military occupation or bring Palestinians closer to an independent contiguous state. The most recent spate of negotiations led by the US collapsed in April 2014. Israel claimed the process failed because the Palestinians refused to accept a US framework document outlining the way forward, while Palestinians pointed to Israels ongoing settlement building and the governments refusal to release veteran prisoners. While members of the international community have rested the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the discontinuation of illegal Israeli settlements and the establishment of a two-state solution, a number of Palestinian activists have criticized the two-state solution as improbable, unsustainable and unlikely to bring durable peace, proposing instead a binational state with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. Reddit Email 6 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) Summer of 2016 was not only hotter than any summer on record, i.e. since 1880. We have enough proxies for global average temperature to know that it was hotter than any summer since at least 1016, when Genoa launched a campaign against Muslim Sardinia and Norway not only got a new king but it mattered in global affairs. But that at least is a trick. Eminent climate scientist Michael Mann says there is tentative but compelling evidence that it was hotter this past summer than it has been at any point in 100,000 years. In 100,000 before present, the great human migration out of Africa of 60,000 years B.P. had not yet occurred. (A few small bands went to the Middle East in the 90,000s B.P. but they promptly died out, leaving the world to the Neanderthals for another 40,000 years). Homo sapiens sapiens the wise, wise humans were still just hanging out in Kenya and South Africa, hunting gazelle and making stone tools. This year for the first time in human history, atmospheric carbon dioxide has stayed above 400 parts per million. The last time CO2 was that high was some 3.6 to 2.2. million years ago! And during that period late Pliocene and early Pleistocene) the temperature was much warmer than today and we had much higher seas. If were again at 400 ppm of atmospheric CO2, why are we colder than in the late Pliocene? Because we have put up the extra 130 ppm in only 200 years, faster than ever in the history of the universe, and the earth hasnt caught up yet. Oceans are very cold and very slow-moving. But given them some time and they do heat up. The extra 130 parts per million of CO2 is like a nuclear time bomb that has already been set and is ticking away. It will make things really hot over time. And at present there is no known inexpensive way to wash the CO2 back out of the atmosphere. The oceans and igneous rock will do that over 100,000 years but by then we could be both cooked and drowned. Arctic ice levels this year were the second-lowest in recorded history. And heres what is scary about this summers unusual warmth.. Human beings evolved into existence sometime in the past 120,000 to 200,000 years, during an era when it was relatively cold. For much of our existence we were living through an ice age (that helped us get around when some of us left Africa for China and Ireland, since during ice ages the seas fall and open up new land bridges). Average atmospheric carbon dioxide was 260 to 270 parts per million. Can we survive the new conditions, which will make some kinds of agriculture much harder and may produce megastorms? We like living on the coast and fishing but the coasts will be covered in water and 50% of the fish will die from extra acidity in the ocean cause by absorbing carbon dioxide. In other words, it is not clear that we can survive big temperature increases like 6 and 10 degrees C. - Related video: Newsbeat Social: U.S. Sees Some of the Hottest Summer Nights on Record Reddit Email 0 Shares By Fawaz A. Gerges | ( Project Syndicate ) | LONDON Donald Trumps recent claim that his opponent in the US presidential race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and President Barack Obama founded the Islamic State is vicious nonsense. But it is also an ironic charge for Trump to make: if anyone in the United States is helping ISIS, it is he. In a recent speech on foreign policy, the Republican Partys presidential nominee laid out a supposed plan for defeating ISIS that, in classic Trump fashion, overflowed with contradictions and inconsistencies, even as it failed to provide specifics and facts. While offering utterly unworkable recommendations such as making immigrants from Muslim countries take an ideological screening test before entering the United States he attempted to present himself as a realist, and the only person who can save US foreign policy. Central to Trumps realistic approach is the use of far more military force in Syria than the Obama administration has employed. Trump declares that this approach would crush and destroy ISIS. In fact, such a military intervention would amount to pouring gasoline on a raging fire. Of course, Trump doesnt understand that. Despite his self-satisfied declarations that he knows more about ISIS than Americas generals do, he is utterly oblivious to the complex dynamics of todays institutional fragility, creeping sectarianism, and proxy wars in the Middle East, fueled by the rivalry among regional and global powers. And, as his claims about Clinton and Obama show, he has no idea how or from where ISIS emerged. The truth is that ISIS is the result of a clash within Islam, not between Islam and the West. This is not to say that Western and, in particular, American foreign policy hasnt played a key role. The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq ruptured an already fragile Iraqi society, destroyed local institutions, including the army and the ruling Baath party, and unleashed a violent sectarian power struggle. In effect, it created space for jihadist groups first Al Qaeda in Iraq, and now ISIS, an extension of Al Qaeda with a more effective military apparatus led by former Iraqi army officers. Something similar happened in Syria, after popular protests erupted in 2011 against President Bashar al-Assads Shia-affiliated minority Alawite regime. Inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings in countries like Tunisia and Egypt, Syrians took to the streets, undoubtedly hoping for more freedom and Sunni representation in government. But Assad, enjoying Irans unwavering support, refused to back down, and tried to suppress the uprising with brute force. Syria descended into a civil war that demolished state institutions and deepened the sectarian divide. Sunni Islamist jihadists seized the opportunity to expand their ranks by targeting an angry, desperate, and relatively young population, largely from rural areas, for recruitment. Exploiting this deepening Sunni-Shia divide, ISIS recruiters and leaders present themselves as defenders of all true Muslims against Islams supposed ideological and religious enemies, including the West. Trump seems to have fallen for that rhetoric. By characterizing the fight against ISIS as a Cold War-style ideological struggle between radical Islam and the West, Trump not only reduces a complex crisis to a binary narrative; he recites from the same script that ISIS recruiters are using to attract support. Unsurprisingly, ordinary Muslims, who wholeheartedly reject ISISs nihilistic ideology, are condemning Trumps simplistic rhetoric, which fuels Islamophobia. But, for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISISs self-appointed emir, and his associates, Trumps campaign is music to their ears. It gets worse. By comparing the fight against ISIS to the struggle against the Soviet Union, Trump elevates the terrorist organization to the status of a great power. This contributes to perceptions that ISIS is much more potent than it actually is, again playing into the hands of ISIS recruiters. Trump has also expressed his interest in cooperating with Russia to take down ISIS, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Russias involvement in Syria is focused on propping up Assads regime. Such a partnership could lead Trump to make a deal with Iran, which is more than willing to fight Sunni radicals in Iraq and Syria. Iran is now permitting Russian long-range bombers to using one of its air bases to strike Syria, complicating Obamas already-strenuous effort to reach an understanding with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the civil war. Trump has also voiced an interest in working with Assad to defeat ISIS. Efforts by external actors to keep Assad in power infuriate many Syrians and other Sunni Muslims, creating even more fertile ground for ISIS recruiters. If the US began forging closer cooperation with the countries leading that charge (Russia, Iran, and now China, which has begun training Syrian forces), the situation would deteriorate further, because such a course would undermine Americas relations with its allies and partners in the Middle East. Fawaz A. Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, is the author of ISIS: A History. Via Project Syndicate Related video added by Juan Cole: PBS Newshour: Comparing Hillary Clintons and Donald Trumps approaches to ISIS On October 30, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt approved $1 billion in wartime aid to the Allies under the Lend-Lease Act. America did not formally enter World War II until December of 1941, but the U.S. Government nonetheless provided crucial aid to the Allied Powers from the passage of the Lend-Lease Act in March of 1941 through the end of the war. The Lend-Lease Agreement between the U.S. and U.K. was formalized the following year. Learn more about the Lend-Lease Act. Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge [official profile] of the Missouri Supreme Court announced [text] at the joint annual meeting of the Missouri Bar and the Judicial Conference in Lake Ozark on Thursday new mandatory standards of practice and procedure for municipal courts within the state. The new mandatory standards are being imposed as a response to the many accusations levied against the municipal courts. The Chief Justice made specific references in this regard to media headlines concerning violations of civil rights and disparate treatment between individuals of different levels of income, race or both. The Chief Justices own personal observations during unannounced visits to the various regional courts revealed, among other things: that courts had been closing every weekday much earlier than the required hours of operation; prohibition against entry of children into courtrooms; inadequate separation of powers between the police and staff members of the courts; and inappropriate seating of prosecutors behind the bench with the judge during proceedings, raising concerns of conflict of interest. The Chief Justice stated: I experienced first-hand what citizens in our state must encounter every day. I felt frustrated and angry. The Chief Justice announced minimum operating standards [order, PDF] requiring municipal courts to: 1) ensure that individuals detained are so held in custody in strict compliance with the principles of due process of law; 2) permit individuals to present any information on their capacity or lack thereof to pay court costs and fines; 3) not condition access to judicial hearing or probationary grant on payment of fines and costs; 4) not collect unauthorized fines, costs, or surcharges; 5) lawfully select authorized, educated, qualified and adequately prepared and trained judges; 6) operate municipal divisions in a manner reasonably convenient to the public; 7) operate municipal division in such a manner as to uphold the constitutional principles of separation of powers and the integrity of the judiciary as a separate and independent branch of government; 8) operate the municipal divisions in accordance with the constitutional principles and legal requirements of open courts and open records; 9) notify litigants and other concerned individuals of their appropriate rights; and 10) maintain appropriate oversight of municipal divisions through the circuit court presiding judges of the respective judicial circuits. The minimum operating standards also require adherence to various other subsets of rules both within and outside of the standards mentioned above. Acknowledging that some of these standards may be unpopular, the Chief Justice expressed hope that they can affect meaningful improvement in court practices. [JURIST] US President Barack Obama [official website] on Friday vetoed [press release] a bill that would have allowed 9/11 victims and their families to sue Saudi Arabia, citing concerns that it would open US diplomats and servicemen to suit abroad. Congress overwhelmingly approved the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) [text] earlier this year, with support from both parties for the bill that would allow federal suits against foreign nations determined to have had a hand in terror acts. In rejecting the law, Obama stated: 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. First, [I cannot sign the bill because] 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 foreign policy professionals and placing them in the hands of private litigants and courts. Second, JASTA 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. Both major presidential candidates criticized Obamas veto decision that put him at odds with Congress, which is expected to overrule his veto in the near future. The White House Press Secretary Paul Earnest announced earlier this month that Obama intended to veto the bill, shortly after the bill was approved [JURIST reports] by the US House of Representatives. The Act was approved [JURIST report] by the Senate in May. In 2012 a US District judge dismissed a motion [JURIST report] to reinstate Saudi Arabia as a defendant in a civil compensation lawsuit by victims against the perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The claim against Saudi Arabia was dismissed in 2008 by a US Appeals Court due to insufficient evidence that the Kingdoms princes has actual knowledge that their money was going to be used in the attacks. In 2005 Judge Richard Casey dismissed [JURIST report] Saudi Arabia, its defense minister and its ambassador to the UK as defendants in litigation stemming from the terrorist attacks, ruling that all had sovereign immunity [Cornell LII backgrounder]. Nestle is close to formally completing the acquisition of Garoto, 14 years after it first struck a deal to buy the Brazilian chocolate maker. Liberato Milo, general director of Garoto, told the local website G1 that the sale will be formalised soon. Nestle moved to buy Garoto, the owner of brands including Baton and Talento, in 2002 but, two years later, Brazils anti-trust body, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade), prevented the deal from going through, saying it would hit competition in the domestic chocolate market. However, Nestle has been able to keep investing at the Garoto production site in Vila Velha in eastern Brazil, although it has had to keep management separate. Milo said Garoto is working closely with Nestle and Cade which has had its representatives visit the Brazilian firms operations- to reach a deal. When contacted by just-food, Nestle said it had nothing to add to Milos statements to G1. A spokesperson said: We acquired Garoto in 2002. There has been an anti-trust case ongoing since 2005 whose details we do not comment. However, we have always expressed our willingness and commitment to find a common agreement to solve this antitrust case, and we are awaiting Cades decision. The spokesperson added Brazil had had new competition rules in place since 2012 and insisted it is only natural that open cases under the prior law should be solved. LEXINGTON An Oconto woman has been found guilty of embezzling $43,000 from a Cozad church. Valeria L. Hendricksen, 51, entered a plea of no contest to a Class III felony charge of theft by taking Tuesday in Dawson County District Court. A no-contest plea neither admits nor denies guilt. A Class III felony carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison or a $25,000 fine. Following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, Hendricksen was charged with theft in April 2013 for embezzling funds from the American Lutheran Church in Cozad where she worked as a secretary from 2009 to 2011. The investigation revealed that more than $43,000 was taken during that time. Hendricksen is scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. June 16. She remains free on bond. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form 1K Shares Share On my last day of internal medicine residency, as I finished my senior grand rounds presentation, I came out to my colleagues and confessed the deep dark secret I had been hiding since medical school: I have fibromyalgia. A few jaws literally dropped, and there was an awkward silence, then polite applause. Afterwards several of my colleagues came up to talk with me privately and were offended and/or curious as to why I had never mentioned my health in the three years we had worked together nearly every day. And I told them all the same thing: Fibromyalgia still has a powerful stigma to it, which is why I refer to it, only half-jokingly, as the F-word of medicine. As a third-year medical student struggling with muscle pain and fatigue, I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut. One day during teaching rounds, my senior physician authoritatively announced, Fibromyalgia does not exist. At clinic, I vividly remember when one of my fellow students picked up a big, thick patient chart and said: Guess what this patient has? Fibromyalgia, of course! This was greeted with sympathetic chuckles from the other students and doctors in the room. So I told no one about my illness. Even when I took a year-long medical leave, only my dean knew about my shameful diagnosis. Thankfully, that year I stumbled onto a few alternative medicine treatments that helped me recover enough to get back to school and finish residency. That was 15 years ago, and things have changed for the better. Most doctors do now accept fibromyalgia as real, and with ICD-10 it now has its own diagnosis code. But there is still a stigma. A patient of mine recently described her surprise at how well she was treated by her medical team once she was diagnosed with breast cancer, compared to the care she experienced for fibromyalgia. Why is fibromyalgia still a second-class diagnosis? Is it gender bias, as it primarily affects women? Is it due to its orphan status, claimed by no specialty but awkwardly straddling the fields of rheumatology, neurology, and pain medicine, but with management left to the time-strapped PCP? Or is it because we still dont have any objective diagnostic tools, and the standard treatments we have are marginally successful at best? I think it is primarily the latter. A century of arguments about whether it is a real illness means research has lagged far behind other diseases. It is hard, and incredibly frustrating, to treat an illness that is poorly understood and for which there is little to offer. While doctors do try to help their fibromyalgia patients, most simply do not have the time, expertise, or tools to do it. And even if primary care providers had the time to learn more about fibromyalgia, where would they? Since 1987, only one fibromyalgia study has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This is for an illness that affects 10 million Americans! Attitudes are slowly changing. Of course, there are still the doctors that still roll their eyes about fibromyalgia patients. The physician assistant who recently joined my practice has been surprised by the dismissive and cruel remarks from some of her former colleagues about her new career direction. But for the most part, the is it real controversy has been quieted by the discovery of objective abnormalities in pain processing seen on functional MRIs. When I used to give talks about fibromyalgia they would be attended sparsely by a few apologetic nurses or clinic staff, the doctors having sensibly run for the hills. But twice over the last year local primary care clinics have invited me to talk to their providers and to my shock both sessions were well attended, by doctors who were voluntarily spending their lunch break learning about fibromyalgia! That is when I knew the tide was really turning. Now the challenge is how to get effective, comprehensive treatment strategies filtered down from research into the front lines. A patient of mine recently moved to a small town and established care with a new primary care doctor. She sent me an email to report that the first thing her new doctor said to her as he walked into the exam room was, I hope you dont expect me to manage your fibromyalgia, because I have no idea how to do that. Ginevra Liptan is the author of The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor. She blogs at her self-titled site, Dr Ginevra Liptan. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 241 Shares Share When it comes to social media, oversharing is the new norm. When #flu season comes around, everyone on Twitter becomes inundated with talk of runny noses, strangers sneezing on their morning commute bus ride, and avoidance of the airport. People update their statuses on their interactions, frustrations, struggles and even locations. When a friend is not feeling well, they may post about it on social media and get an instant influx of well-wishes, commiserations and treatment recommendations in return. Some may search the Internet for their symptoms when they start feeling poorly. Some turn to Yelp or other online review website to share their personal health troubles like food poisoning after their visit. As physicians, we may frown on that type of patient behavior, especially those patients who scour the Internet for a diagnosis. However, we shouldnt. These kinds of tweets, status updates, reviews, and search queries may help predict and monitor diseases across the country. Think of a traditional outbreak scenario. An individual comes into contact with an infected person, and subsequently, develops symptoms, and likely see a doctor. The doctor would then examine the patient, performing a history and physical, and eventually, obtain a blood sample for the laboratory to test and confirm the diagnosis. Once confirmed, sometimes taking days to weeks, the positive laboratory test is reported to local health authorities. The information is typically sent along through some sort of hierarchical structure. Local health authorities then report the results to the next appropriate health facility. The diffusion and transfer of information from the initial health visit to the central health authority for decision making and then to the public can take weeks to months. The use of digital data can speed up this sometimes lengthy process. The analysis of digital data, such as Google search queries, has been used to monitor communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as mental health, illegal drug use, health policy impact, and behaviors with potential health implications. In fact, the United States alone generates 8 million search queries for health-related information daily. As an easily approachable, highly cost-effective and interoperable system, social media provides real-time online data that can be systematically mined, aggregated and analyzed to inform public health agents and a real-time source of epidemic intelligence. Several studies have confirmed the potential of this epidemiology of online information or infoveillance to improve epidemic intelligence. Case in point: HealthMap, a program that mines social media, local news reports, and government websites to search for evidence of disease outbreaks, identified a mystery hemorrhagic fever in Guinea, almost two weeks before the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the Ebola epidemic. Similarly, in 2003, another system called Global Public Health Intelligence Health Network (GPHIN), detected SARS more than two months before the first publications by the WHO. Here is a closer look at how some are handling the new streams of Internet data: When someone is ill, it is not rare for someone to turn to Google, WebMD, or Wikipedia for more information about their symptoms or diagnosis. Analyzing the frequency of search terms, by location, for example, can give potential signals for disease. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory use the behavioral tendency to look online for answers as a foundation to predict outbreaks of influenza, Dengue fever and more. In addition, they claim that their algorithms that connect Wikipedia searches with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could lead to disease predictions in real-time. Sickweather combines self-reported information with geolocated data from sites like Twitter to provide information on the spatial spread of disease, overlaid on a map. In 2011, McHenry County in Illinois was hit with an outbreak of whooping cough, starting with the high school cheerleaders, athletes and band members. Students, families, and citizens began talking about the illness on Facebook and Twitter. Sickweather LLC spotted the surge in comments online, identifying a potential outbreak, about two weeks before an official health statement was released on the whooping cough outbreak in that area. A night on the town may prove to a night in the bathroom and then eventually on the business review website Yelp to share the experience. Last October, when a shigella outbreak at a San Jose, California, seafood restaurant sickened dozes, right alongside public health officials were Yelp reviewers. PLEASE DO NOT EAT HERE!!!! Pauline A. wrote in her Oct. 18 review of the Mariscos San Juan #3 restaurant. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law along with his parents ate here Friday night, and all four of them ended up in the hospital with food poisoning!!! Later that day, Santa Clara County Public Health Department shut down that restaurant, and two days later, officials announced that over 80 patrons of the restaurant had become severely ill, with 12 requiring intensive care. Some 10 percent of all reviews of restaurants on Yelp are related to food-borne illness. That can serve as a powerful tool for health departments, allowing them to plan inspections of restaurants that seem to have a great number of customers falling ill. This line of thought made the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene look into utilizing Yelp as a means of detection. Additionally, the public health agency of Chicago has an app called Foodborne Chicago which automatically sends information to the health agency when Twitter users complain of food-poisoning. There have been around 50 digital surveillance systems, dubbed Event-Based Internet surveillance systems, created over the last 15 years. They use information on events impacting human health or the economy from Internet sources, instantaneously incorporating diverse streams of data. However, the use of this data isnt without limitations, such as how to reduce online noise to deduce a signal, and the moral and ethical dilemmas of using such data and privacy implications. Yet, these systems are meant to supplement existing public health initiatives, not replace them. So, the next time you have a patient that comes to your office with a Wikipedia found diagnosis already printed in hand, or a friend shares on Facebook their recent bout with the flu, think twice before rolling your eyes; they may actually be helping track an outbreak. Jesse OShea is an internal medicine physician. Image credit: Twin Design / Shutterstock.com 271 Shares Share Upon starting medical school, I remember feeling amazed to learn just how many of my classmates had physician parents. I felt like I was in the minority, not having any family members of my own who were doctors. This made me realize: Physician parents tend to breed physician children. But why? I soon discovered that the answer may lie in the genetics of personality. The academic study of personality has grown extensively over the course of the past century. Moreover, the topic has captured public attention as well, and a current Google search for personality shows over 331,000,000 results. Personality traits also play a critical role in understanding human behavior and decision-making. Accordingly, current research suggests there may be a substantial heritable component to personality traits. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines personality as a set of distinctive traits and characteristics that relate to a particular person. These traits are stable across time, as the structure of personality traits shows consistency across different groups of people in various cultures. Large, well-conducted studies have indicated genetic contributions to personality and human behavior. Scarr and McCartney have even been suggested that personality driven by genotype determines the choices we make. Adoption studies have also been useful in studying personality, as in the case of parents who have biological as well as adopted children and provide the family environment for both types, yet share genes only with the biological. Loehlin analyzed data from three adoption studies in which children were adopted away at an early age and where adults and grown-up children were given the same personality scale, namely the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and Inventory. Loehlin found that children resemble their biological parents but not their adoptive parents. In other words, personality was found to be heritable. Additional research has found evidence for a heritable component in personality. Bouchards summary of data from Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart suggested broad heritabilities of big five personality dimensions ranging from about 30 percent for agreeableness to about 50 percent for neuroticism. Moreover, Plomin and Nesselroade suggested that heritability of personality changes over development, with higher heritability at older ages. Personality research has even infiltrated molecular genetics, and there now appear to be correlations between novelty seeking and variations at the D4 dopamine receptor gene. Furthermore, a link has been found between neuroticism and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Medicine is known to attract competitive and overachieving personality types. Though many can successfully argue that physician parents create an environment in which their children are likely to become interested in medicine, the role of genetics should not be discounted. Ultimately, a strong body of evidence suggests that personality is heritable, and this may explain why so many physician parents tend to have physician children, as similar personalities are likely to be drawn to similar careers. Perhaps Beatrix Potter was on to something when she said, I hold that a strongly marked personality can influence descendants for generations. Robert Dorfman is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com A leading policy document on dementia was launched at the Kilkenny Age Friendly Seniors' Forum at the Ormonde Hotel last Thursday. Chairperson of the Seniors Forum, Mary O'Hanlon welcomed the Minister for Older People and Mental Health, Helen McEntee along with other public representatives to the day-long event. There was a large attendance from all corners of the county at the forum. Outgoing chairman, Nickey Brennan described the Memory Matters policy as 'a very significant piece of work'. Mr Brennan said that the Alliance was in the process of updating their next strategy and were looking at the use of outdoor spaces and buildings. He commended the local authority for their work in relation to the upgrading of footpaths and provision of seating. He also said that the Alliance is working with the Manager of St Luke's Hospital, Anne Slattery in relation to a number of initiatives including making St Luke's an age friendly hospital. The Alliance are also developing Age Friendly Businesses at Mac Donagh Junction Shopping Centre. Mr Brennan told the attendees that he was stepping down as chairperson and the role would be filled by CEO of Kilkenny County Council, Colette Byrne. Minister Helen McEntee thanked the Age Friendly Forum for inviting her to speak. I think very highly of Age Friendly Ireland both locally and nationally. We have a growing, aging population and the figures for dementia will only grown. It is incumbent on us to learn more about it, she said. The Minister also spoke about the fear and stigma about growing older. People can live at home with dementia. Over 63% of people with dementia live at home. We have to work out how to make it happen that people can live in their homes and come up with a person-centred plan. It is so important that people get an early diagnosis and that people get the right care package. It is about raising awareness and reducing stigma, she said. There are a lot of challenges from an aging population but there are also a lot of good points. Growing old should not be seen as a burden to society but it should be celebrated. The Minister described 'Memory Matters' as 'a fantastic policy document'. Patricia McEvoy , Manager of Older Person's Services in the HSE in Carlow and Kilkenny and the Project Lead in Memory Matters said that the project was about building a better health service for people living with dementia in the community. The project is co-funded by the Genio Trust and reveals that there are 1536 living with a diagnosis of dementia in Carlow and Kilkenny. The report shows that 807 people aged 85 years or over have dementia while 18 people in the 30 to 59 age bracket are also living with the disease. The key objectives of the project are inclusion of the person with dementia, supporting individuals with complex card needs, providing flexible person-centred home care packages, provision of assistive technology, provision of dementia specific awareness programme and having an ongoing media campaign. Ms Debra O'Neill, who worked as a consultant on the project said that 104 people were referred to Memory Matters and 67 were approved and consented. Nine participants were over 90 and some of these people were been cared for at home by an older spouse. 38% of participants continued to live alone while 34% lived with their spouse, who is their main carer. 88% of carers were family members. The report also showed that 18% of people had advanced dementia and complex care needs. The report showed that 49% of the participants were over 80, 67% were female and 33% were male. Before the project 18% of participants had not accessed Home Help, while 62% had never accessed Respite Care. 21,024 Home Help hours have been delivered to participants of the project by the end of April and 175 Home Helps across Carlow and Kilkenny received project specific Memory Matters dementia training and training was also provided to 154 Health Care Professionals. In total project participants remained living at home for an additional 14,353 collective nights. 38 dementia specific Telecare packages were provided to 34 homes. These monitored telecare packages supported independence, safety and reduced carer's stress. CAIRO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Egypt's spending on petroleum subsidies dropped by 28.7 percent in the 2015-16 financial year to compared to one year earlier, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla said on Sunday, a greater decline than previously announced. Egypt has been trying to wean itself off costly energy subsidies that eat up a large portion of the state budget. Tarek al-Hadidi, head of state oil company EGPC, told Reuters in August that the subsidies had fallen by 23 percent, to 55 billion pounds ($71.36 billion) for the 2015-16 financial year, which ended in June. Molla said on Sunday that the figure was actually 51 billion pounds. In 2014 the government cut spending on energy subsidies, causing domestic prices of natural gas, diesel and other fuels to rise by as much as 78 percent, but has delayed further cuts amid low energy prices that have kept spending down. The state's 2016-17 budget aims to reduce subsidy expenditure further, targeting 35.04 billion Egyptian pounds. Egypt made 38 new petroleum discoveries in 2015-16, including 24 for crude oil and 14 for natural gas, Molla added. ($1 = 8.8799 Egyptian pounds) (Reporting by Ehab Farouk; Writing by Eric Knecht; Editing by Louise Heavens) By Ayla Jean Yackley ISTANBUL, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said U.S. federal attorneys took aim at him in their prosecution of a Turkish gold trader accused of helping to violate sanctions against Iran, Turkish media reported on Sunday. U.S. authorities arrested Reza Zarrab, a dual Turkish-Iranian national who has ties with high-ranking Turkish officials, in Miami in March on charges he helped Iran process millions of dollars of transactions when it faced U.S. sanctions for its nuclear programme. The 33-year-old businessman, who lived in Turkey, remains in custody in New York. He has pleaded not guilty. U.S. Attorney for Manhattan Preet Bharara's office included in its indictment a corruption investigation in Turkey that targeted Zarrab, cabinet ministers and members of Erdogan's family in late 2013. That probe had subsequently been dropped and prosecutors and investigators in the case re-assigned or sacked. Private broadcaster NTV quoted Erdogan as telling a group of reporters he had raised Zarrab's detention in talks with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, whom he met in New York last week after speaking at the United Nations general assembly. Erdogan said U.S. prosecutors were trying to implicate him by including in the indictment Zarrab's donations to an educational charity called Togem that is linked to the president's family. "They are not pursuing the law, but are after a network of relationships. It's interesting that the indictment refers to my wife setting up Togem and my ties with that association. My wife and I are not among the founders of that association. "The effort to mention our names in court proves there are ulterior motives," he said. Erdogan also accused U.S. officials involved in the case of travelling to Turkey as guests of a religious movement led by Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey now classifies the movement, dubbed FETO, as a terrorist organisation that it blames for a failed military coup in July that killed hundreds. "The U.S. Department of Justice is being represented by people who were wined and dined by FETO. I told Biden this and he said he was unaware," Erdogan said. Zarrab's lawyers last month filed a motion asking the federal judge, Richard Berman, to recuse himself due to comments he made about Zarrab's prosecution in Turkey at a 2014 conference they said was sponsored by lawyers charged in connection with the coup attempt. Berman's chambers and a spokesmen for Bharara did not comment. Turkey wants the United States to arrest and return Gulen, who resides in Pennsylvania, to Turkey. Gulen, once a close ally of Erdogan, denies involvement in the coup attempt. Erdogan, whom U.S. prosecutors have said has "close ties" to Zarrab, has also cast the 2013 graft probe that included Zarrab as a coup attempt organised by the Gulen movement. Turkey's justice and economy ministries had already investigated Zarrab and determined he was innocent, as had Iranian authorities, Erdogan said he told Biden, adding he would not remain "indifferent" to the detention of a Turkish national in the United States. The arrest of Zarrab, a frequently photographed figure among Turkey's jetset, sent shockwaves through Turkey and cheered Erdogan's opponents who viewed the U.S. case as a blow to the Turkish leader, in power since 2003 as prime minister and, since 2014, as president. Separately, newspapers on Sunday reported that Zarrab's wife, Turkish pop star Ebru Gundes, had filed for divorce last week. (Editing by Clelia Oziel) As Navy Corpsman Michael Marchante recites the Pledge of Allegiance, his daughter Summer, 2, plays with his ribbons, and his new medal. He was awarded the Bronze Star with combat aVa at Naval Hospital Bremerton Friday morning. He was recognized for rescuing a solider from the Republic of Georgia in Afganistan in 2011. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN SHARE Naval Hospital Bremerton executive officer Maureen Pennington, center, applauds Corpsman Michael Marchante, who was awarded the Bronze Star Friday morning. He was recognized for rescuing a solider from the Republic of Georgia in Afganistan in 2011. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN Naval Hospital Bremerton commanding officer Capt. Chris Quarles, center, looks over at Corpsman Michael Marchante, right, as he is congratulated for being awarded the Bronze Star with combat aVa at Naval Hospital Bremerton Friday morning. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN As Navy Corpsman Michael Marchante, right, is congratulated his daughter Summer, 2, wants to be part of the handshake too. He was awarded the Bronze Star with combat aVa at Naval Hospital Bremerton Friday morning. He was recognized for rescuing a solider from the Republic of Georgia in Afganistan in 2011. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON After watching an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan explode near a soldier, Michael Marchante did what he says any Navy corpsman would do. He ran across a mine-laden area under heavy machine gun fire and saved the guys life. For that and similar actions during the seven-month deployment, Marchante received a Bronze Star Medal with Combat V Friday during a ceremony at Naval Hospital Bremerton, where hes now assigned. I cant tell you how proud of you I am today, said Rear Adm. Forrest Faison III, commander of San Diego-based Navy Medicine West, via video conference. Because of you, people are alive today and families will celebrate the holidays together. The Bronze Star Medal with V device is the United States militarys fourth-highest decoration for valor. The V denotes being exposed to personal hazard involving direct participation in combat operations. On July 19, 2011, Marchante was sitting in an armored vehicle in Helmand province, where his unit was attached to the 33rd Georgian Light Infantry Battalion. The quick reaction force was returning from a patrol when, 300 yards across the desert, Marchante saw an IED explode under one of the soldiers feet. He ran across a known IED field to the badly wounded man, applied tourniquets to each leg and pressure dressings to stop the rapid blood loss. With complete disregard for his own safety, he shielded the casualty using his own body as he continued to provide lifesaving medical care, the citation states. Undeterred by the enemy fire, he successfully stopped the blood loss. Marchante carried the soldier back to the truck. I did what any other corpsman wouldve done, he said. I went out and performed my job. At the time I wasnt thinking about anything else but getting him out of there. Looking back, Im sure it seems a lot scarier. The soldier, a platoon commander, survived. Marchante hasnt heard from him. During the deployment, Marchante conducted more than 100 combat patrols and 50 convoys in support of soldiers from the Republic of Georgia. Working out of a patrol base, he provided first aid on the battlefield to 18 other fighters, said his supervisor, Hospital Corpsman Chief Philip Nacionales. Marchante, 26, has been here working on the labor and delivery deck for about a year, and never mentioned his heroics. Hes one of the most humble guys, Nacionales said. He didnt say anything. Marchante reports directly to Hospital Corpsman 1st class Ashley Flanagan, who was unaware of the Afghanistan details. I knew he was a war hero, but I never heard the story, she said. Hes my superstar. Capt. Chris Quarles, Naval Hospital Bremerton commander, pinned the medal on Marchante. It is individual commitment to a shipmate that makes a person a hero, and you are standing next to one, he said to a couple hundred sailors dressed in khaki and black service uniforms. Marchante, of Riverside, Calif., was joined by wife Samantha, son Alex, 6, and daughter Summer, 2, as a good percentage of hospital staff stood in a receiving line to shake his hand. MICHAEL C. MOORE | KITSAP A&E Cathy (Ashley Roy) and Jamie (Ty Brillhart) look at their relationship in two completely different ways in "The Last Five Years." SHARE By Michael C. Moore, mmoore@kitsapsun.com PORT ORCHARD There are many, many good things to tell you about Western Washington Center for the Arts' production of "The Last Five Years." Jason Robert Brown's chamber musical about the deterioration of a relationship, told from the points of view of its two components, is tremendously sung, beautifully accompanied and generally well executed. It's a durn-near perfect show for WWCA's intimate environment and for musical director and orchestra-of-one Bruce Ewen's symphonic keyboard-and-computer renderings. So it's going to be difficult for me to explain to you why I didn't like it rather more than I did. Truth be told, I'm having a hard time explaining it to myself. Director Rebecca Ewen's mounting of Brown's emotionally high-octane, structurally high-concept musical infamously based on his own failed marriage takes advantage of the cozy venue, two sets of strong performers (I saw Ty Brillhart and Dalton Alden-Welfl in the first of their six performances; they alternate with Taylor Herbstritt and Ashley Roy), attractive but efficient setting, props, lighting and wardrobe, and the gorgeous, multilayered instrumentals provided by Ewen's dad, which run the gamut from honky-tonky piano to string quartet, and buttress the vocal performances without ever getting in the way. Short story short, there are an awful lot of things that are right about the show, and not very much at all wrong. The unconscionably slack house for the performance I saw were treated to a show that looked good and sounded great, and reacted accordingly. But I still had a hard time with it, and it took the whole drive back to The Sungeon following the Sept. 24 performance (Brillhart and Alden-Welfl perform on even days, Herbstritt and Roy on odd days), and then some, before I realized why: I missed "the gimmick." "The gimmick" of "The Last Five Years" is that within its opposite-directions construct, its two players are almost completely separated. It follows Jamie (Brillhart/Herbstritt) through his five-year relationship from beginning to end, at the same time as we see Cathy (Alden-Welfl/Roy) experience it from end to beginning. As Brown conceived the show, the only time the two lovers actually appear on stage at the same time the only confluence in the storytelling is right in the middle. The rest of the time, they alternate songs, working in opposite directions. In WWCA's take, though, you don't get that. Instead of giving them every other song off, director Ewen uses the non-singing cast member as props, and tweaks the placement of some of the show's spoken-word passages. It gives the featured player someone to play to, but it robs the proceedings of the contrast the simultaneous happy-to-sad and sad-to-happy that gives the show its edge and the tension it provides. I actually found it confusing, as both Alden-Welfl and Brillhart had to go back and forth between Happy Jamie/Sad Jamie and Sad Cathy/Happy Cathy every few minutes. For me, it really messed with the whole linear vs. reverse-linear aesthetic. If you're going to see their reactions to each other, instead of just imagining them or feeling them yourself, you might as well just see the thing played out in straight linear fashion For me, it was like trying to watch two ping-pong matches being played at once, on the same table. That isn't meant to take anything away from the performances of Brillhart and Alden-Welfl, who both were in wonderful voice and brought a fine sense of restraint to the show's abundant pathos admirably, they largely avoided overwrought acting and over-singing, and were both all the more effective for it. Audiences who see Herbstritt and Roy will be just as well treated, I expect. It's interesting to watch Brown's construct and the way his narrative seems to be at times either confessional or self-damning as it tells the same story from two completely different points of view. That separation is necessary. And it's the only thing you don't get in a WWCA production that is otherwise rich, musically lush and consistently entertaining. Chances are, if you appreciate those things, you might never even notice the absence of "the gimmick." REVIEW 'THE LAST FIVE YEARS' Who: Western Washington Center for the Arts What: Musical by Jason Robert Brown Where: WWCA playhouse, 521 Bay St., Port Orchard When: Through Oct. 16; 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 5 p.m. Sundays except 3 p.m. Oct. 16 Tickets: $18-$15 Information: 360-769-7469, wwca.us You can now donate to Kiwiblog Stuff reports: After years in the doldrums, Wellington has emerged as the most optimistic part of the country. The latest Westpac McDermott Miller regional economic confidence survey saw the capital unseat Bay of Plenty as New Zealands most upbeat region, with a net 39 per cent of residents expecting good economic times in the year ahead ahead. Westpac industry economist David Norman said Wellington was now at its most optimistic in nine years. Wellingtons regional economic confidence has been inexplicably weak in recent times, but it appears that residents are beginning to acknowledge the strength in the local economy, with expectations that the region will be better off in a year, Norman said. The population is growing, house prices are surging, and the region enjoys some of the highest incomes in the country. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries celebrated hunting season with their annual National Hunting and Fishing day at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Rifle Range in West Monroe. Each year, Wildlife and Fisheries invites families out for food, games, and even alligators. There's also a shooting range so you can test out your shooting skills. Plenty of people came out to enjoy the event - a sign of strong support according to Dana Norsworthy, wildlife biologist for LDWF, who says Louisiana isn't called "Sportsman's Paradise" for nothing. "It's important to be able to get the kids out from behind your video games and the tv's, and show them what Louisiana has to offer as far as that Sportsman's Paradise, [and] what we have in nature that's available for them," Norsworthy says. KNOE is a proud sponsor of the annual National Hunting and Fishing Day. Louisiana State Police took part in "National Seat Check Saturday" by holding an event free to the public to have their child's car seat checked for safety. They held the event to explain to drivers that car seats can only last for so long... and can easily be installed incorrectly. Several officers were on hand for the event in the parking lot of Toys-R-Us and McAlister's Deli by Pecanland Mall in Monroe. "This is something that we do yearly, [and] all the time. We have technicians at the troop. I'm the regional coordinator for our area, so we went to Tallulah last month and did some seats. We did like 17 or 18 seats in one day over there. So, we try to get out of Ouachita Parish and help our rural communities too," says Louisiana State Trooper, Major Michael Reichardt. Reichardt says if anyone missed the event and would like their child's car seat checked, they are welcome to make an appointment with Louisiana State Police at their office on Hwy. 562 in Monroe. If there was any disagreement about whether the financial markets are intentionally misleading and unnecessarily complex, that question was settled as the details of newly discovered Wells Fargo Bank fraud emerged. Among the more than 1 million Wells' victims were a number of the company's own employees. The system is so complex that not even bankers could tell they were being cheated. The Wells fraud is just the latest known scandal in a long list of misdeeds in the financial-ish industry, dating back to the money changers in the temple. The dirty secret is that most of the deceit in the financial industry is both perfectly legal and never discovered. I have long been convinced that more money is "stolen" via decades of exorbitant, hidden fees than by all of the Bernie Madoffs combined. The Wells Fargo fraud, however, is peanuts compared to the investor abuse the Department of Labor is trying to curtail. In 2015 customers willingly purchased more than $100 billion worth of annuities that were so egregiously structured that a new Department of Labor regulation prohibits their use in account types over which it has regulatory jurisdiction. The sales of both variable and fixed annuities have already begun to plummet (an expected 20 percent or more this year) in anticipation of next year's implementation. House and Senate Republicans are almost unanimously against the measure, instead favoring an abusive status quo that is so complex that industry insiders fall prey to its corruption. Rather than abide by a regulation that requires them to act in their clients' best interests, most annuity salesmen have or will abandon the IRA industry. Nothing prevents them, however, from selling the same garbage to victims with accounts over which the Department of Labor has no jurisdiction, namely individual, taxable accounts. Political grandstanding notwithstanding, the problems in the financial industry are not fairly attributed to some nebulous boogeyman such as capitalism or unbridled free markets. Free markets require the free flow of information, a supposed goal of securities regulations. Disclosure in the investment industry is generally so obfuscated as to render it practically worthless. Purely coincidentally, I am sure, is that the Wells Fargo board includes a former Federal Reserve Board Governor, along with former secretaries of Labor, Transportation and Energy. The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau fined Wells a $185 million, or about two-tenths of its 2015 revenue. A member of Congress recently told me that the only feedback he had received about the labor department prohibition was from people objecting to the rule because they could no longer sell certain products. Actual customers don't express opinions on regulatory matters like this because they generally have no idea when they are being cheated. If Wells' own employees don't know when they are being screwed, the rest of us don't have a prayer. A special rock band will join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for the News Sentinel Pops Series concert, Pet Sounds Live: A Beach Boys Celebration. SHARE A page from the St. John's Bible reproduction at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. Opera Goes to Church on Oct. 2 The eighth annual Knoxville Opera Goes to ChurchA Celebration of Talent! will feature the Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir, local soloists, and international Knoxville Opera guest artists. The free concert, one of Knoxville Opera's 85 annual community-education activities, will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Overcoming Believers Church, 120 South Bell Street in East Knoxville. Knoxville Opera Maestro Brian Salesky will host the concert and accompany the opera artists. The lineup of soloists includes Knoxville Opera's international guest artists Claire Coolen, Jenni Bank, Joshua Kohl, Sean Anderson, and Robert Orth along with local soloists Evelyn Jack, Yolanda Johnson, Michael Rodgers, and Ernest Woods. The program will include Gospel classics as well as excerpts from "The Wiz" and Knoxville Opera's 2016-2017 productions of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance," Puccini's "La Boheme," and Donizetti's "Mary Queen of Scots." Pops concert recalls Beach Boys music The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will present Pet Sounds Live: A Beach Boys Celebration with conductor Jeffrey Reed as part of the Knoxville News Sentinel Pops Series at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Tennessee Theatre. Pet Sounds Live: A Beach Boys Celebration brings the album to life with an eight-piece rock band, vocalists and full symphony orchestra. After presenting the album, Reed and the band present the Beach Boys' greatest hits, including "Good Vibrations," "Barbara Ann," "Little Deuce Coupe" and surfer songs like "Surfin' USA." In May 1966, the Beach Boys released their 11th studio album, Pet Sounds. It was a departure from the group's usual records about surfing, girls, and fast cars. Lead songwriter Brian Wilson created a concept piece with a larger instrumental palette and production detail. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Pet Sounds as the second greatest album of all time (The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was ranked first). Tickets may be purchased by calling 865-291-3310 or visiting http://www.knoxvillesymphony.com/ Queen's scribe to open art gallery Donald Jackson, scribe to Queen Elizabeth II, Crown Office, is the featured speaker when Carson-Newman University opens the Lynn and Lyndsey Denton Gallery, home to the University's Saint John's Bible at 7 p.m. Oct. 6. Carson-Newman is one of a limited number of institutions worldwide to house a rare, full-size artistic reproduction of The Saint John's Bible. Jackson oversaw the original work, which was commissioned by Saint John's University and Abbey. The bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible to be commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey since the invention of the printing press more than 500 years ago. Each volume is two feet tall by three feet wide and weighs 20 pounds. The intricate combination of scripture and art has been called "one of the extraordinary undertakings of our time," by Smithsonian Magazine. Located on campus in the Stephens-Burnett Memorial Library, the Denton Gallery was a gift by Knoxville residents Clark Denton, a 1992 alumnus, and his wife Suzanne in honor of Clark's parents. The state-of-the-art space houses not only the seven volumes of the Saint John's Bible, but also The William Hild Collection of Biblical Antiquities and The William J. Viel Artifacts. The collections include such items as a large amphora from the Bronze Period III to Roman glass artifacts. The event will be in the sanctuary of Jefferson City's First Baptist Church. Following the celebration, a reception and viewing of the Denton Gallery will be held. Jackson will also lead "A Day with Donald Jackson: Secrets of the Scriptorium" on Saturday, Oct. 8. The daylong calligraphy workshop is $150 per person. For information call 865-471-3437. To register for the workshop visit: cn.edu/sjbevent A1Labarts hosts 'Diptych Project' The exhibit "The Diptych Project" opens 5-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at A1Labarts, 23 Emory Place. The exhibition showcases works by 24 members of A1Labarts. The artists were randomly paired to exchange works of art this summer so they could create works in response to their partners' shared art. Artists will also exhibit individual works. SHARE Becker to speak at Carson-Newman Carson-Newman University's Appalachian Cultural Center will host "An Evening with Kimberly L. Becker" on Monday, Sept. 26. Becker, who is of Cherokee, Celtic and Teutonic descent, celebrates her heritage through her literary works. She is the author of "Words Facing East," and "The Dividings." Becker was included among featured readers at The Florida Review's "Native Writers in D.C." at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Free and open to the public, the 7 p.m. event will be held at Carson-Newman's Appalachian Cultural Center in Jefferson City. Seating is limited. The Center is located on Russell Ave. on the University's campus. Mtn. Writers host memoir workshop Joseph Bathanti, professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., will conduct a one-day workshop on memoir writing on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the United Way of Anderson County office, 161 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. The event is the Fall Workshop of the Tennessee Mountain Writers. The workshop is designed to get participants thinking about specific episodes that in some way exemplify their identities as citizens of a place (however one identifies/characterizes place) and how that very decided identity has influenced them. Writers of all levels and all genres will benefit and are welcome. Bathanti, the former Poet Laureate of North Carolina, is the author of nine books of poetry. He has also written three novels, a book of stories, and a nonfiction book. His new book of personal essays, "Half of What I Say Is Meaningless," is the winner of the Will D. Campbell Award for Creative Nonfiction. The workshop will run from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a break for lunch. The registration fee, which includes morning refreshments and lunch, is $85. Registration deadline is Oct. 14. Participants will be limited to 20. To register, go to www.tmwi.org, or contact Sue Richardson Orr at theorrs@usit.net. Greene, Maxwell to read at UT series Novelist Tawnysha Greene and poet Kristi Maxwell will read from their work at the University of Tennessee on Monday, Oct. 3. The event is part of the university's Writers in the Library reading series. The public is invited to this free reading at 7 p.m. in the Lindsay Young Auditorium of UT's John C. Hodges Library. Greene received her Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee where she currently teaches fiction and poetry writing. Her work has appeared in PANK, Bellingham Review, and Weave Magazine. Her first novel, A House Made of Stars, was released from Burlesque Press in 2015. Also an alumna of the University of Tennessee, Maxwell's most recent books of poems include That Our Eyes Be Rigged and PLAN/K. She is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Louisville. Visit http://library.utk.edu/writers for a complete schedule of Writers in the Library readings for the 2016-2017 academic year. That's it? A 30-second TV sound bite? Five years of flame-fanning, innuendo-dripping, race-baiting "birther" hokum are dismissed in the same time allotted for a used car commercial? No way. Since 2011, Republican presidential wannabe Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States. No amount of records and documents to the contrary would assuage him. Indeed, Trump's birther nonsense played a significant role in propelling him to the front of the GOP pack. Then during a brief portion of his Sept. 16 campaign appearance, Trump blew off the whole thing. In the course of half a minute, he set the record straight, accepted no hint of responsibility and even accused his opponent of creating the issue. Amazing. But not unexpected. This is textbook Trump modus operandi: Stir up a hornet's nest with lies, half-truths and damning suggestions like "some people say," then walk away from the resulting disaster with a straight face. If by some weird twist of fate Trump does get elected, don't be surprised if one of his first acts is to cancel that wall along the Mexican border "because the Mexicans won't pay for it, as promised by Crooked Hillary Clinton." In any other election cycle, Trump would have so many flip-flop albatrosses dangling from his neck, he couldn't stand erect. Think how John Kerry's 2004 bid for the White House was irreparably damaged after his nonsensical pronouncement of being "for the war in Iraq before I was against it." But this is not any other election cycle. Did you ever think you'd live in an era of American history when a presidential nominee referenced the size of his penis? Made criminal allegations against the father of an opponent based on 50-year-old "facts" from the National Enquirer? Tagged a war hero as "loser" because he was captured and held POW? Besmirched the family of an American soldier killed in the line of duty? Buddied up to the Russian president while accusing the current U.S. prez of founding a terrorist organization? Demanded transparency from everyone else, yet refused to release his own finances? Made veiled death threats against his opponent? The Donald does all that and then some. The more outrageous and illogical his stunts, the more his followers shrug "So?" and cheer louder. In a perverse way, I admire the guy. Any politician who can make a claim on Monday, reverse himself on Wednesday and blame someone else on Friday is quite a magician. Trouble is, parlor trick skills aren't a qualification for office. Sam Venable's column appears in the Features section Sunday and Tuesday. Contact him at sam.venable@outlook.com. SHARE Bradley David Frey By Travis Dorman of the Knoxville News Sentinel When Debra Russell went to visit her boyfriend in jail, he made an unusual request. He asked her to deliver 40 steroid pills to a corrections officer, she said. "I had no idea they were illegal," Russell said. "I didn't know it. He just asked me to take them up there. He said, 'Can you believe I'm selling stuff to a police officer?' " That conversation in the jail was recorded by agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Russell said, in a probe that resulted in the indictment of her boyfriend and Bradley David Frey, 27, a Knox County Sheriff's Office corrections officer. Frey faces three charges of official misconduct. He bought the Dianabol steroid pills, worth less than $100, in the transaction set up by inmate Robert Charles Murray, TBI spokeswoman Leslie Earhart said. Frey appeared in Knox County Criminal Court on Tuesday, and a status hearing on his case is set for Nov. 8. Frey was fired on Aug. 28 by Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones after he failed to respond to a letter demanding an explanation for his behavior, which Jones called "immoral, unethical and disgraceful," according to Frey's personnel file. Records show Murray, 47, has an extensive arrest history that includes theft, vandalism, repeated DUIs, and nine domestic and aggravated assault charges. He was serving his latest stint in jail after he beat Russell unconscious on June 18, leaving her disoriented with her right eye swollen shut and her face red, swollen and cut, according to the arrest warrant. Russell continued to talk and visit regularly with Murray even after the assault, and she agreed to deliver the steroids to help him. "Because he needed money, and because I love him," she said, laughing. "Love is sick." After Russell agreed to deliver the steroids, TBI agents confronted her, she said. "They told me I'd go to jail if I didn't tell them everything I knew," she said. "I said, 'All I know is that I took them to the guy and sold them to him like I was asked to. That's all I did. I couldn't even remember his name, didn't know his name. He was in a black truck. I called him, he threw the money in the car, I handed him them (the pills) and I left." TBI officials wouldn't give specifics on the probe of Frey and declined to comment on Russell's story. Court records show Russell, who hasn't been charged so far, testified before a Knox County grand jury, and Frey was indicted on Aug. 24. He turned himself in on Aug. 30 and was booked into the same jail where he used to work on a $5,000 bond. Murray was transferred to the Tennessee Department of Correction to serve a sentence on a prior conviction, Earhart said. He faces charges of selling and delivering a Schedule III drug in the deal with Frey, according to the TBI. SHARE Ryan Haynes Mary Mancini By Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News Sentinel NASHVILLE The Tennessee Republican Party has cited the theft charges filed against Hamblen County's Democratic Party chairman in a news release that declares "misbehavior by Democratic officials has become a theme in 2016." The Tennessee Democratic Party has cited domestic violence charges filed against Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold, already facing trial on federal corruption charges, as an another example that "Tennessee Republican corruption goes all the way to the core." The Morristown Citizen-Tribune reported last week that Timothy Wayne Woodard of Talbott, Hamblen County Democratic chairman and a member of the county election commission, has been indicted by a grand jury on nine misdemeanor counts of theft and illegal removal of documents from the Circuit Court office where he once worked. The newspaper quoted an investigator as saying there were actually 57 files missing from the court office and all were recovered 55 from the lawyer's office where Woodard now works and two from his brief cases. The TNGOP news release cites "the criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton" and the conviction of former state Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, on a felony charge of filing a false tax return as other examples of misdeeds bearing the Democratic label. "They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that's true, Hillary Clinton has to be overwhelmed by the efforts of Tennessee Democrats who are doing their best to follow her criminal lead. Add the Hamblen County chairman to the growing list of Democrats who feel they're above the law and clearly prove their party should be nowhere near the levers of responsibility in this state," says state GOP Chairman Ryan Haynes in the news release. The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro reported last week that Arnold, a Republican, has been accused of domestic violence against his wife, Megan Arnold, following a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe triggered by "rumors" that sheriff's deputies had failed to file a report after being called to the Arnold home on Labor Day. The TBI report, included in court documents and reported by the newspaper, says Megan Arnold told investigators the sheriff, intoxicated and having taken a sleeping pill, pushed her to the floor and punched her, then "grabbed a belt and wrapped it around Mrs. Arnold in an attempt to drag her out of the room without leaving marks on her body." Arnold already faces a U.S. District Court trial at Nashville in February on charges that he, an uncle and a sheriff's department employee conspired to personally profit from selling items to inmates at the county jail, which Arnold operates. Most charges in the 14-count indictment involve electronic cigarettes sold to inmates in a facility where smoking is prohibited. Federal prosecutors contend the domestic violence charge indicates Arnold violated conditions under a bail agreement that allowed him to remain free pending trial and filed a petition asking a judge to order Arnold taken into custody. Tennessee Democratic Chair Mary Mancini said in a news release that Arnold is "the same man the Tennessee Republican Party was promoting as a rising star just a short time ago" and "has already been charged with multiple offenses, including fraud, bribery, extortion and tampering with a witness." "From Washington, D.C. to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Republicans' corruption goes from the top all the way to their roots," said Mancini in the release. "Tennesseans are tired of Republican corruption at every level of government and they will show their dissatisfaction at the ballot box next month." She also cited complaints filed against U.S. Sen. Bob Corker for failing to report some of his investments on disclosure forms and related matters, which Corker has described as an innocent mistake but Mancini depicts as an "insider trading scandal." And she cited Gov. Bill Haslam "awarding no-bid contracts to his friends," a reference to various controversies over the governor's efforts to privatize state services all of which Haslam has declared were motivated by a desire to save taxpayer money and unrelated to his personal interests or friendships. Insofar as state legislators go, Mancini has focused on former state Rep. Jeremy Durham of Franklin, who was expelled from the House recently for what an attorney general's report described as inappropriate "sexual interactions" with 22 women; while Haynes has focused on Armstrong, who avoided an expulsion vote by resigning from his seat following his federal court felony conviction. and who was praised afterwards by Mancini for his accomplishments in a long legislative career. Last week, Mancini also held a news conference to criticize House Speaker Beth Harwell for saying the Durham expulsion had appropriately ended a painful period in state legislative history. Mancini contended further investigation is needed into issues raised in the attorney general's report on Durham, including an unidentified legislative staffer who lost her job as aide to an unidentified legislator who was friends with Durham. "We want the speaker to stop taking victory laps and taking credit and to immediately identify and hold accountable the unnamed representative who fired her assistant because she reported sexual harassment," Mancini said. ASSOCIATED PRESS Pedestrians pass a shattered storefront window on W. 23rd St. in Manhattan last Tuesday in New York. The window was hit by shrapnel from the bomb that exploded across the street the evening of Sept. 17. An Afghan immigrant wanted in the bombings was captured Monday after being wounded in a gun battle with police. SHARE In the last few weeks, we've allowed ourselves to indulge in the quips and quibbles of the presidential race, obsessing over things like whether Hillary Clinton lied about her health or whether Donald Trump told the truth about his role in the birther movement. It's a shame that it took a series of terrorist attacks to bring us back to serious business. Last weekend's bombings in New York and New Jersey, as well as a separate stabbing incident in Minnesota, reminded us of what's really at stake in this year's presidential election. We all know by now that the greatest threat to our national security isn't someone trained by a foreign terrorist network flying a plane into a skyscraper in a major U.S. city. Orlando, Florida, and San Bernardino, California, have shown us that the newest wave of terrorists are home-grown and often radicalized over the internet. There are people living among us who want to bring our country down, and one of the most important qualities we need in a commander in chief is someone who's smart enough to figure out how to keep that from happening. Over the last few days, Clinton and Trump have provided us with two different road maps for fighting terrorism. Neither candidate said anything we haven't heard before, but it's been interesting to watch them talk about their strategies under pressure. It's clear that both of them need to rethink their approach. Trump's response has been nearly juvenile, revealing once again his chilling dearth of experience in foreign and domestic affairs. Clinton, on the other hand, has come off sounding like a lifelong bureaucrat who is more concerned about spouting policy than convincing Americans that they will be safer under her watch. Each technique is designed to appeal to a certain constituency. And neither is sufficient to pull anyone over from the opposing side. At least Trump gives it to us straight, though his message is unfiltered and often premature and factually incorrect. His anti-terrorism platform is centered on capturing our emotions. He plays to our patriotism, prodding us to release our fear in angry bursts, targeting our neighbors who likely are no more terrorists than we are. Clinton, on the other hand, presents a cooler, more controlled image. She cautions us to wait before jumping to conclusions and trust that she has the experience to address any situation that may arise with dignity and resolve. Even with her broad experience, a recent CNN poll shows Clinton lagging behind Trump on the issue of fighting terrorism. Fifty-one percent of registered voters said they trust Trump to better handle terrorism if elected, compared with 45 percent who said they trust Clinton. It is easy to understand why Trump came out ahead. He lays out the problems in a simplistic way and offers solutions that a 5-year-old could understand. Void of political jargon, and often without real substance, he promises to fight terrorism by giving control to the people, rather than relying on others to come to our rescue. Many Americans find his ideas repulsive. But to the folks who want to protect our country by any means necessary, even treading on the civil rights of other Americans, Trump's plain talk is just what they want to hear. Trump would have us believe that our immigration system is largely responsible for the terrorism. The more limits we place on who can enter our country, he says, the more likely we are to keep terrorists from setting off bombs on U.S. soil. Certainly, we can't expect anyone to actually tell us that he wants to enter the country in order to kill Americans, so we would have to rely on his "extreme vetting" to weed those people out. To do that essentially would mean probing the minds of everyone who tries to come to America from what he calls "terrorist nations." Trump has mentioned requiring some sort of "ideological test." I wonder if that's anything like the old literacy tests African-Americans used to have to take in the South as a means of denying them the right to vote. Trump also apparently thinks that our police officers are wimps. He says the police in New York know who the terrorists are but are afraid to do anything because they don't want to be accused of racial profiling. "You know in Israel, they profile," Trump said in an interview Monday on Fox News. "They've done an unbelievable job as good as you can do. They see somebody that's suspicious. They will profile. They will take that person in." Never mind that racial and ethnic profiling is against the law in New York and most other states. Whether Trump's ideas are practical, or even effective, is beside the point. Those who listen to him are looking for something concrete, something in plain English that they can point to and say, "Look, we're stamping out terrorism in America." Clinton's ideas for fighting terrorism are more esoteric. And quite frankly, they frequently sound like political garble. Unlike Trump, who preys on our fear and anger, she tries to appeal to our strength by reminding us that we aren't a nation of cowards. That's not a bad thing. But she never really explains how we're going to stop lone-wolf terrorists from shooting up a nightclub or walking up to shoppers in a suburban Minnesota mall. On her website, she lays out three areas that she would focus on as president. First, she would take out the Islamic State's stronghold in Iraq and Syria, in part, by resolving civil and sectarian wars taking place in those countries. So far, our track record hasn't been too good in that area. Next, she would work with our allies to dismantle global terrorism. Even while she was secretary of state, that didn't happen. Third, she would harden our defenses at home. She's on to something here by promising to support our first responders, law enforcement and intelligence officers with the right tools, resources, intelligence and training to prevent attacks before they happen. But some folks would like to hear more about what those tools would look like. Trump's supporters are very clear about where he stands, though he likely won't be able to do any of things he has promised if elected. Those of us who like Clinton might not understand exactly what she's saying, but we trust that she knows what she's talking about. Gerald McCormick's decision to step to the sidelines in the legislative theater probably will add another bit of drama to a developing political play over leadership of the Tennessee General Assembly, but it may not be as entertaining as some of the Chattanooga businessman's past performances. "You're a disgrace to this state, pal," McCormick told then-Rep. Kent Williams on the House floor back in 2009, just after then-Republican Williams had teamed with Democrats to be elected House speaker. Just a couple of weeks ago, then-Rep. Jeremy Durham declared in an eight-page letter to legislators that McCormick had during a "heated phone conversation" used some rather explicit language to suggest that Durham had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior. The letter was a prelude to the House floor vote expelling Durham from his House seat, a move in which McCormick was otherwise instrumental. McCormick announced last week he will not seek another term as majority leader, a position held since 2011 and one second only to Speaker Beth Harwell in the House power hierarchy. In personal life, he runs a commercial real estate operation and recently took on a new role in investment banking. While keeping his seat in the House, McCormick says he needs to leave leadership to spend more time at work and with the family. In the years between denouncing Williams and denouncing Durham, former Democrat McCormick has often been controversial and always refreshingly candid in his commentary while regularly displaying a lot of common sense. The same could be said for forever-Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, who announced awhile back that he's leaving the Legislature while arguably at the peak of his power. In the Senate, the script appears already written for replacing Ramsey as speaker. Senate Finance Chairman Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, has no announced opposition to taking the gavel in January. Not so in the House, where Harwell is being challenged by Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City, for the star leadership role. Matlock seems widely viewed as an underdog in the House Republican Caucus voting, which will come after the November election, but he has enough support to make for a show. There's a growing list of prospective successors to McCormick as majority leader. Rep. Shelia Butt, R-Columbia, a sometimes combative conservative, was the first to announce. In a letter to colleagues, Butt suggested she had been contemplating a challenge to McCormick before his announcement because "we need better communication in every aspect from our leadership." Asked about this, McCormick quipped to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press that he hadn't heard of "any credible candidate who had a chance of beating me" if he had decided to seek another term. Others said to be eyeing a run for majority leader include House Republican Caucus Chairman Glenn Casada of Franklin, whose current position makes him No. 3 behind McCormick in the House hierarchy; Assistant Majority Leader Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland; and Health Committee Chairman Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. The list could grow, but given the GOP factions in play, that lineup might give Casada an edge at the starting point. Generally speaking, Butt is probably tops in appealing to the most staunchly conservative legislators, Sexton to the more moderate members, while Brooks floats somewhere in between. McCormick has been somewhere in the moderate middle of GOP internal squabbling, staunchly loyal to Harwell and supportive of Gov. Bill Haslam agreeing to sponsor Insure Tennessee, for example, when his counterpart in the other chamber, Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, got cold feet as many Republicans denounced Haslam's Medicaid expansion plan as an endorsement of Obamacare. Norris, of course, is eyeing a run for governor in 2018 or maybe for Senate speaker after McNally serves a term or two or three. Harwell, who dodged taking a position on Insure Tennessee, is also eying a run for governor. McCormick, by stepping aside from leadership, has perhaps shown once again that he cares less about political wind shifts than others. Presumably, he'll be offering commentary from the sidelines as the various coming dramas unfold. It would be out of character for him to be quiet. But you have to figure that the political audience will not be paying as much attention. Read more from Tom Humphrey at "Humphrey on the Hill:" SHARE Need an explanation for Donald Trump's rise? Look no further, many pundits are saying, than a popular new book, J.D. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy," a memoir chronicling the author's journey from a struggling childhood in Appalachia to earning a degree at an Ivy League law school. "What many don't understand is how truly desperate these places are," Vance told an interviewer, "and we're not talking about small enclaves or a few towns we're talking about multiple states where a significant chunk of the white working class struggles to get by." The problem, Vance says: Neither Democrats nor Republicans have offered much to help such people out. What to make of Vance's book? How should Democrats and Republicans respond? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk, the RedBlueAmerica columnists, debate the issue. JOEL MATHIS Liberals have some amends to make. We haven't always been kind to the people Vance affectionately calls "hillbillies," and when we've used that word, there's generally been little affection. Vance complains that Democrats offer his folks "smug condescension" and he's not entirely wrong: President Barack Obama famously suggested rural whites "cling to their guns and religion," and Hillary Clinton's recent "basket of deplorables" statement seemed to confirm the problem. But if there's been a breakup between the once-solidly Democratic white working class and the Democratic Party, it's been a two-way street one that Vance, it seems, takes pains to avoid acknowledging. Why don't these folks like Obama much? According to Vance, it has its roots in the president's Ivy League education. "He is brilliant, wealthy, and speaks like a constitutional law professor which, of course, he is," Vance writes of the president. "Nothing about him bears any resemblance to the people I admired growing up: His accent clean, perfect, neutral is foreign; his credentials so impressive that they're frightening; he made his life in Chicago, a dense metropolis; and he conducts himself with a confidence that comes from knowing the modern American meritocracy was built for him." You know who else that paragraph describes: Franklin D. Roosevelt, a rich, Ivy League-educated New Yorker with a patrician accent to end all patrician accents and also, according to Vance, a hero to his underclass family. What's the difference? Race is unavoidably part of the estrangement between Democrats and the white underclass. Vance also says his people don't want "handouts," but the truth is that government is critical to his own rise in the meritocracy. He first escaped his roots by joining the Marines which calls to mind how government jobs, like those at the post office, have been a ticket to the middle class for many African-American families. At Yale Law, he received need-based financial aid. The choice isn't between handouts or hard work. Vance used both to rise above his station. Let's hope that path is available to others who would try to follow. BEN BOYCHUK Trump's name appears nowhere in Vance's book. But to read the 31-year-old Vance's memoir is to understand better why the billionaire real-estate mogul has won the hearts (and likely votes) of millions of American sons and daughters of the soil. Without question, white working-class voters have suffered under the past two presidential administrations. While Clinton dismisses many of them as "irredeemable" racist, sexist and the usual litany of offenses against left-wing pieties Trump speaks to them like no other politician in recent memory. Globalization and the great recession helped hollow out the economy, driving out good businesses and solid blue-collar jobs and replacing them with pawnshops and cash-for-gold establishments, welfare and food stamps, drug addiction and suicide. And beyond that? The story Vance tells is largely one of self-inflicted wounds. "We purchase homes we don't need, refinance them for more spending money, and declare bankruptcy, often leaving them full of garbage in our wake," he writes. "We talk about the value of hard work but tell ourselves the reason we're not working is some perceived unfairness." Vance doesn't profess have any profound answers. "But," he writes, "I know it starts when we stop blaming Obama or Bush or faceless companies and ask ourselves what we can do to make things better." The answer, in part, boils down to keeping families intact and fostering a culture that values education, perseverance and hard work. Vance partly grew up without his mother and father. What he had instead were a tough "Mawmaw" and "Pawpaw," who were often quick-tempered and violent but who also helped set him on the right path. A president is neither a "Mawmaw" nor a "Pawpaw," which is why placing too much hope in the upcoming election is folly. Not that Trump could fix any of the problems afflicting the white working class. And besides, the "hillbilly vote" is far too small to propel Trump into the White House. But Trump seems to understand their plight better than the Democrats do. They aren't "deplorable." They're just desperate. SHARE Justice has finally been served for De'Ossie Dingus. Because he was a Sunni Muslim, the Knoxville native suffered discrimination pretty much from the day he signed on with the Tennessee Highway Patrol more than a decade ago. During the training academy, his roommates didn't want to bunk with him because of his religion. He was mocked because he didn't eat pork. Other recruits began calling him "Nation of Islam." The solution a supervisor suggested: Join Christian prayer meetings so his co-workers would like him better. Dingus declined, and after he graduated he was given an isolated assignment handling the weight scales in west Knoxville. Although he already had passed a psychological evaluation to get the job, Dingus later was ordered to take another one. The evaluator ruled him "unfit for duty" and, in 2006, he was fired. An administrative law judge overturned the ruling, however, calling the psychological evaluation fundamentally flawed. Dingus was awarded his job back in August 2009. Then, during a training class later that year, Dingus complained about a video on the radicalization of children that was supposed to teach troopers how to recognize weapons of mass destruction. Based on that complaint, military liaison Maj. Kevin Taylor accused the Muslim trooper of being disruptive and belligerent during class and confrontational afterward. None of the 35 other troopers in the class backed up that claim, however. Most said they'd never even heard Dingus mention his faith. THP commanders concluded Dingus was a terrorism threat anyway and fired him in 2010. Their decision was based on a psychological evaluation drawn solely from Taylor's opinion. Dingus sued, and the evidence that emerged in court showed that officials including now-retired Safety Commissioner David Mitchell, THP Col. Mike Walker, staff attorney Deborah Martin and human resources staffer Kerri Balthrop started the process of firing the veteran trooper even before an internal investigation of his supposed terrorist tendencies was concluded. Dingus won his lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell found the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security guilty of violating his First Amendment right to freedom of religion. He was awarded $154,000 in back pay and benefits and took early retirement. But the judge added only $1 to the award for psychological and medical damages. The judgment acknowledged Dingus's suffering, but the amount was merely symbolic because he had not sought counseling or other psychological treatment. In appealing that decision, Dingus's attorney, Arthur Knight III, argued that his client should not be denied damages just because he has "a very strong constitution." "Dingus shouldn't be punished because he didn't run to a psychiatrist and cry and talk about everything wrong with his life since then," Knight argued. The 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed, stating: "In light of the egregious nature of the conduct, the $1 award of damages for Dingus's mental anguish and emotional distress is wholly inadequate." We couldn't agree more. "For De'Ossie, I don't think he ever said anything about money," Knight said. "You have a guy who is an American citizen who served in the armed forces, who was honorably discharged. It's a heck of a thing in this day and age to be called a terrorist because somebody says you are and then they railroad you out of the Department of Safety I don't know what amount of money (should be awarded) for that, but you need to come up with something." This week, the lower court did, awarding Dingus $100,000 in compensation for what the Tennessee Highway Patrol put him through. Justice took a while, but better late than never. SHARE While the 53 legislators who are trying to get involved in a same-sex divorce case are correct that the issue is one of religious freedom, they are completely wrong in how they apply that principle. Quite a number of Christian denominations, not to mention the conservative branch of Judaism, accept same-sex marriage. Any practice allowed by a mainstream religious group cannot be prohibited or inhibited by government action. Thus, the Constitution not only requires that the state recognize same-sex marriage, it also demands (on the grounds of religious freedom) that such marriages be treated in all respects as "traditional" marriages. Anything less would be a violation of the First Amendment. The fact that the marriage in question occurred in another state is irrelevant (Article IV, Section 1). Lee Wittenberg, Knoxville OCharleys teams up with the Folded Flag Foundation to provide scholarships to military families OCharleys has partnered with The Folded Flag Foundation, an organization that provides scholarships and educational support grants to families of fallen soldiers. O'Charley's and its 200+ restaurants have committed to raise up to $75,000 for the United States military and their families by donating $0.25 for every 22oz. beer sold now through Veterans Day Weekend (November 13) to The Folded Flag Foundation. One hundred percent of all donations given to the Foundation go directly to the families of U.S. soldiers who have died during combat operations, in the form of scholarships and grants. In the past 25 years, more than 7,000 men and women have died while deployed in the combat zone, leaving behind thousands of spouses who struggle to support themselves and their childrens education. While government assistance programs exist, they do not provide enough to cover education costs for the soldiers children. For these families in need, The Folded Flag Foundation is making a difference by ensuring the children of our service members are on a successful path towards college. Thanks to the organizations hard work and generous supporters, the Folded Flag Foundation awarded 44 educational grants for the 2016-2017 academic year, totaling $365,000 in scholarships to students in need. We are so grateful to OCharleys for recognizing our cause and helping us make a difference in the lives of military families, said John Coogan, Executive Director at The Folded Flag Foundation. We want to thank OCharleys for their generous donation and for all that they do to support our military and their families. OCharleys has a longstanding history of honoring our military and their families and encouraging community involvement thanks to initiatives like its Hometown Hero program which has honored more than 160 military individuals to date. During this partnership with The Folded Flag Foundation, the restaurant will provide guests an opportunity to join them in support by providing an opportunity to donate on their individual check. The Folded Flag Foundations mission is one that is important to OCharleys, Eddie Hall, OCharleys president, said. We understand the sacrifice not only these fallen soldiers have made for our country, but their families as well. We are committed to giving back to the military and we know The Folded Flag Foundation is something our guests will be honored to support. In addition to this partnership, OCharleys will celebrate Veterans Day by once again offering veterans and active duty service members a free meal on Veterans Day (November 11). Additionally, OCharleys offers a 10 percent discount to military all year long. To find an OCharleys location, view the complete menu, or join the email club, visit www.ocharleys.com. Published September 24, 2016 top image Its not easy to reach Brandon Straub these days. The 32-year-old doesnt own a cellphone, let alone a landline, and recently, his days revolve around finding buyers for the belongings he's selling on Craigslist. With $30,000 in student loans, among other debts, hes planning to file for bankruptcy. Straub, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, is one of nearly 40,000 students affected by one of the largest collapses of a for-profit college. On September 6, ITT Technical Institute abruptly closed. Straub and his classmates became collateral damage of the schools drive to increase enrollment and profits as it sought to take advantage of slackening federal regulations. Now living in the Toledo, Ohio, suburb of Northwood, Straub collects disability payments for injuries he suffered during his service. He's attempting to provide a stable life for his six children and fiance, and his enrollment at ITT was supposed to be his ticket out of poverty. Instead, hes saddled with an associate's degree hes not sure is worth anything. Straub was especially looking forward to his graduation ceremony on October 4. "I wanted my kids to be there so I can show them you can still go to school no matter how old you are you can still get a degree. Give them a little bit of inspiration, you know?" he told Business Insider. With ITT's doors locked, that ceremony will never take place. ITTs collapse is a stark example of an industry that grew to be worth about $35 billion, largely fueled by federal loans and aggressive marketing to poor, minority, and veteran students like Straub. From the Air Force to ITT BShugsson Before Straub decided to head to ITT, he served in the Air Force from 2004 to 2013. His time spent working on jets there left him with several injuries. His neck is full of titanium plates. His pain is chronic. His back hurts, as do his knees. And emotionally, he experiences symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Story continues "I went to the VA. They told me I didnt have PTSD," Straub said before explaining his disability payments do cover relief for clinical depression and anxiety. He relies on these payments from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a substantial portion of his income. He knew they wouldnt be enough to support his family, though. So he began to think about his next steps in civilian life. Straub has built every computer he's ever owned. So, while living with his parents after the service, a commercial for ITT Tech caught his eye. It touted its computer trade program. After attending the Community College of the Air Force, he was nine credit hours shy of completing an associates degree in mechanical sciences before being discharged. He wanted a less physically demanding tech profession. The ITT ad worked. Straub called the school. He was told his credits from the Air Force would transfer, so he made the decision to enroll at ITT Tech-Maumee in December 2014. Because of his credits, he said his recruiter told him he could finish a network administration program in less time. That wasn't true. He completed the program in one year and nine months the same as everyone else in his class. His credits did not transfer. He feels he was lied to. Federal investigations show he's not alone. In the '90s, the American Masonry Institute, a for-profit school in California, bussed homeless people in from other cities and convinced them to sign up and take out loans to pay for their enrollment. Twenty years later, similar tactics came to light when Corinthian College, then the second-largest for-profit chain, collapsed in 2015. Recruiting at ITT came under scrutiny years before its closure. In a disclosure to investors, the school revealed that 18 separate state attorneys general filed subpoenas requesting information on recruitment, among other areas like financial aid, accreditation, and rates of graduation and job placement. David Halperin, an attorney who writes about the for-profit-college sector, explained that for-profits often target specific types of students with aggressive marketing: The first in their families to attend college, single moms, returning veterans, and immigrants. "They are literally calling students 12 times a day, and the message is: 'Youre a loser. Your life is a failure. Youre letting down your kids. Youre making your parents ashamed. Until you sign up for our college youll have nothing,'" Halperin told Business Insider. ITT was running ads that evoked similar emotions as recently as a few months ago. At ITT specifically, recruiters went all over, setting up booths at local high schools, military bases, and even county fairs. "It was just kind of overall sometimes uncomfortable," Stephanie Sayre, former director of career services and community relations at ITT Tech-Maumee, told Business Insider. She was also Straubs career-services contact. "ITT is first and foremost a business and second a college, and my director was fully aware of that and thats how he [operated]," she said. For-profits often say that they provide students with more flexibility. They say they offer more online programming and night and weekend classes for students with full-time jobs. Some colleges have convenient locations, like inside a mall. BI Graphics_ITT Tech Quote But community colleges could make a similar argument, if they had the marketing budgets. In the last couple of decades, they started providing online learning as well as a host of vocational programs, all for a fraction of the price of a school like ITT. Consider Owens Community College, Straubs local public college. In addition to typical program offerings such as computer science, nursing, and general arts Owens offers vocational programs, too, like welding, plumbing, pastry making, and John Deere tech. Halperin and other experts contend the biggest reason students choose for-profits over community colleges is a lack of information about other options. For-profits, not community colleges, have the massive marketing budgets. Their ads are ubiquitous. One Miami-based for-profit called FastTrain College used strippers as admissions representatives, according to a federal lawsuit. Still, many of the recruiters, often Sayres friends, say they "did their best" for students but faced pressure to hit enrollment targets. "I tried not to say very much to the admissions representatives because that was their job, to get people in the door and enrolled in school," she said. Paul Wehrum, the facility director of the northwestern ITT facilities, oversaw 14 different campuses. While he denied there were financial incentives for recruiters, "performance management standards of promotional opportunities based on performance conduct" did exist. An average recruiter at one of his ITT campuses would be expected to help 38 individuals start school during the year. BI Graphics_ITT Timeline "I think thats one of the biggest misconceptions about the process," Wehrum said. "There were no individual incentives for representatives." Straubs tuition was $6,055 a quarter for full-time enrollment. Using those numbers, a recruiter who enrolled 38 students into an associates degree program would pull in $1,840,720 for the school, if they all graduated. The 'binge' In actuality, Straub didnt pay ITTs $6,055-a-quarter tuition out of pocket. The US Veterans Affairs Office paid on his behalf using post-9/11 GI Bill benefits that cover up to 36 months of higher education for former service members. The VAs $21,084.89 annual cap, however, fell short of the $24,220 it cost Straub to attend ITT each year. To supplement the rest, Straub took out about $30,000 in federal loans with the intention of continuing his education to earn a bachelors degree. Now he faces bankruptcy trying to pay those back, along with his other debts. While taxpayer money doesnt subsidize for-profit tuition, as it does with public colleges and universities, for-profits are eligible to accept federal student aid. That wasnt the case before 1972, when the Higher Education Act (HEA) was reauthorized to allow "proprietary institutions," which include for-profits, the benefit of receiving federal loans from students. With the help of that money, the number of for-profit institutions increased 266% and enrollments increased 59% between 1989 and 1999, compared to a 7% increase in enrollments in traditional higher education during same period, A.J. Angulo wrote in "Diploma Mills," his book on the topic. "The for-profit sector went on a binge," Barmak Nassirian, director of federal relations and policy analysis at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, told Business Insider. After that, schools began adding distance learning, or online courses, which are harder to monitor for fraud and abuse, while simultaneously working to increase their profits for investors and shareholders. "The two really lethal ingredients of our recent experience with for-profit rip-offs have been the advent of distance education and the advent of publicly traded corporations," Nassirian explained. BI Graphics_ITT Tech Chart Consider, again, Owens Community College in Straubs town. A full-time student at Owens pays about $1,836 a semester or $3,672 for the year, compared to $24,220 a year at ITT Tech. ITT can charge almost seven times more than Owens, in part because the for-profit targets students eligible to receive federal aid, like the poor and veterans. In fact, for-profit colleges especially covet enrolling veterans because of a federal provision within the HEA called the "90-10" rule. The law mandates that for-profit colleges cannot receive more than 90% of their revenues from federal student aid from the Department of Education (ED). In whats often referred to as loophole, GI Bill benefits, provided by the VA, dont count as part of the 90%. In theory, if a for-profit receives the full 90% from the ED and the remaining 10% from the VA, it could operate entirely on federal money. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has proposed to close that loophole. In fiscal year 2015, the VA spent more than $150 million on tuition and fees for students studying at ITT Tech campuses, according to a VA spokesperson. In fact, ITT Tech ranks third among colleges and universities nationally in the amount of GI Bill money it collects annually, according to a 2014 US Senate committee report. Although regulations of for-profits relaxed through the 90s and early 2000s, the government has recently kick-started its oversight. ITT Tech filed for bankruptcy mere weeks after the ED imposed heavy sanctions on the school. Further signaling a lack of confidence in for-profits, the ED moved to strip ITT Techs accreditor, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), of its authority in late September. The decision could affect about 250 colleges. A spokesperson for ACICS told Business Insider it's been "very busy the last few days" and could not respond to questions before publication. 'A file that's 13 years outdated' Brandon Straub Before Straub enrolled at ITT, he knew of the schools dicey reputation. "I got warnings before I actually went to ITT tech that it was a scam and that it was a joke of a school," he said. Hearing a few success stories about ITT graduates assuaged his fears. While these anecdotes may have been valid, the government has launched investigations and levied fines against for-profit educators that placed deceptive ads about the likelihood graduates will find job placement in their fields of study. For Straub, his fears returned in the classroom. One instructor sent him a computer file from 2003. "I asked him, 'How do you want me to use a file that's 13 years outdated?'" he said. "'Shouldn't this have been updated at least every couple years?'" As director of curriculum design and development at ITT Tech, Sandi Owens job was to ensure courses were standardized across all campuses. "The network administration degree was actually on the docket to be completely revitalized for the March term because we knew it was outdated," Owens told Business Insider. Despite the challenges, Straub worked hard and did well in his classes. Sometimes he'd see students doing a fraction of the work but continuing to pass. That was frustrating. "I would do my work, and then it seemed like some of the guys that weren't doing their work were still passing through the class," Straub said. "If the teachers didn't have enough passing students per quarter then they weren't allowed to teach anymore, and they would get fired." Sayre, Straub's career-services contact, confirmed that. Wehrum, who oversaw 14 other campuses, but not Maumee, said that wasn't what happened in his experience. As Straub attempted to make the most of his program, Sayre, meanwhile, struggled in her role. "There were some students that you knew had no business being there and that was unfortunate," Sayre said. "I hate to admit it, but there were some students I hoped wouldnt graduate because I knew that I couldnt place them." Instead of a job, some students hope to use their for-profit college degrees as a stepping-stone to more education. Straub, for example, wanted to continue on to a bachelors degree in network administration. 1024px ITT_Technical_Institute_campus_Canton_Michigan.JPG Transferring credits from a for-profit college elsewhere isnt easy, though. In fact, its sometimes impossible. The individual school makes the decision to accept transfer credits based on the original institutions accreditation essentially a review of courses and programs to ensure a school meets the educational standards of the accreditor. ITTs accreditor, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), is a national accreditor. Owens Community College will not accept Straub's credits from ITT or any school with similar accreditation. It's like for-profit and nonprofit colleges exist in different worlds. Their classes aren't compatible. That's why Straub believes he'll probably end up at another major for-profit college, University of Phoenix. "That's basically my only option right now," Straub said. Its unclear whether thats true. ITT students who hadnt completed their degrees or left the school without finishing up to 120 days before its closure are eligible for a 100% refund of their loans. Straub finished his associates degree but re-enrolled to begin taking classes toward a bachelors degree. When ITT Tech closed, he hadnt started classes yet. After it was shut down, no one responded to Business Insider's emails asking for more information. They wouldn't respond to Straub, either. Aside from Straubs uncertain status, there are questions about University of Phoenix, too. State attorneys general have already investigated the school for many of the same tactics seen at ITT and the rest of the sector. And last year, the Department of Defense suspended the school from recruiting military students. University of Phoenix did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. But they will accept Straubs credits, and with every email, call, and message from its recruitment office, he leans closer to enrolling with them. To make matters worse, Straub said he never knew his GI Bill money would have fully covered a degree from Owens Community College. The irony is that now that ITT has closed, he cant transfer his credits there. Now what? Brandon Straub For all the questions surrounding ITT Tech, its closure came as a shock. Straub had no warning. Students showed up to locked doors on September 6. Wehrum, the regional director, had no warning, either. He received an email at 9:00 a.m. the same day. "That's how I had my notification that my position was eliminated," Wehrum said. Weeks after the closure, Straub still doesnt know what to do. Not only did he spend a year-and-a-half of his GI Bill tuition payments on a degree from ITT, when the school closed, he lost $1,000 a month of basic allowance housing from the VA. "I didn't expect this getting out of the military," Straub said. "I thought it would be a little bit easier, and I feel like I got out of the military and went straight to living in poverty." But the loss is more than just financial. Straubs graduation from ITT was supposed to be a bookend as he moved past military service and proved to his family that education is attainable at any age. He returns again and again to the fact that he paid extra for a sash to wear over his gown, proudly displaying his membership in a national honor society. "I turned in my paperwork, and I paid $35 to get into the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS), and I got fitted for my cap and gown and everything, and now it's just gone," he said. Straub emailed NTHS multiple times to ask if the organization would host a graduation ceremony for ITT Tech students but hasnt received a response. The school may be gone, but he still wants to wear that sash. NOW WATCH: Former Princeton admissions director reveals the biggest mistakes applicants make More From Business Insider SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, talks with Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing Sun Zhengcai during their meeting at Yuelai International Conference Center in Chongqing, China, Saturday. / Courtesy of SK Group By Nam Hyun-woo SK Group said Sunday that its chairman Chey Tae-won visited the Chinese city of Chongqing and discussed plans for business cooperation with ranking officials of the city. In a meeting with Chongqing's Communist Party Secretary Sun Zhengcai, Mayor Huang Qifan and 20 other officials, Saturday, Chey said the group will be "devoted to in-depth research on how SK and Chongqing can meet each other's demands and plans for mutual prosperity." "I will do what I can for Chongqing to create a success such as with our SK hynix factory in Wuxi and ethylene plant in Wuhan," Chey was quoted as saying. Secretary Sun is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and widely noted as a leading candidate for membership of Politburo Standing Committee. Also, Mayor Huang, who is considered an economic expert, has led Chongqing to top other Chinese municipalities in terms of GDP growth for eight consecutive quarters. "Chongqing has an increasing demand for chemicals and semiconductors, but the supply cannot meet this," said Sun. "This provides a niche to cooperate with SK Group, which has leading technology in those fields." Huang echoed: "SK is a company which can enjoy a great synergy when it cooperates with Chongqing. I hope there will be more chances to work together." In 2014, SK hynix built a flash memory chip factory in the southwestern Chinese city. The plant assembles and tests NAND flash chips made at the company's plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. During his stay in Chongqing, Chey paid a visit to the factory to check the production line and was briefed about semiconductor market moves in China. "The meeting bears significance because it established a framework for long term friendship between China and SK by networking with China's next generation leaders," said an SK Group official. By Kim Tae-gyu Kwon Young-soo LG Uplus vice chairman and CEO LG Uplus, the country's smallest mobile carrier, is striving to snap up a cable TV operator to achieve "economies of scale," Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo told a press conference Friday. "When the relevant regulations are streamlined, we will consult with authorities to forge ahead with the idea of acquiring a cable TV operator," said Kwon who took the realm of LG Uplus last November. His remarks garnered attention because LG Uplus' bigger competitor SK Telecom failed to purchase CJ HelloVision, a business bellwether in the pay TV market, in the face of opposition from the anti-trust watchdog. Kwon did not specify candidate companies but observers say LG Uplus would want to buy one of the top four brands CJ HelloVision, D'Live, Hyundai HCN and T-Broad. The Cable TV industry once savored a heyday in the 2000s but has struggled to find its feet of late with the advent of Internet-enabled TV. From the perspective of LG Uplus, however, their big customer base would be attractive according to observers. Kwon noted SK Telecom failed to take over CJ HelloVision because "the company did not follow the right procedures." In addition, Kwon said that it would expand the business horizon of LG Uplus to such areas as the Internet of things (IoT) and business-to-business segments. "We do not regard overseas telecom companies as our competitors. Rather we will be able to carry out global businesses under partnership with telecom firms in China, Japan and the United States," he said. "We also plan to find our next-generation growth engines through investing in venture start-ups in countries like Israel and the U.S. We recently decided to invest in two firms with expertise in artificial intelligence." The LG lifer expressed his goal of making LG Uplus a market leader ahead of its larger rivals of SK Telecom and KT. "The telecom market is complicated and difficult but it has great potential. Along with our employees, we will become a leader by nurturing the willingness to be the top player," said the CEO who joined the LG Group in 1979. Kwon took the reins of LG Display in 2007 to enable the struggling company to make a major rebound. He moved to head of LG Chem. in 2012 where he led the firm's jump in the battery business for electric cars. The Seoul National University graduate has iterated that he would incorporate "first-grade DNA" into the blood of LG Uplus employees so that the firm will really become a top player. This is second in a series of interviews with leaders of ASEAN and its member states to highlight the importance of strengthening relations with the 10-member bloc following the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) ED. Smaller firms advised to invest more in ASEAN nations By Kim Jae-kyoung Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak SINGAPORE Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that his country is seeking to take its cue from South Korea to make its economy more "productive and innovative." In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Razak said that he is keeping a close watch on Korea's economic development to see how Korea has been in transition toward a knowledge-based, high value-added economy. "We take great interest in and are closely following the development of your creative economy model, with continued innovation serving as the backbone of Korea's economy," he said. "We hope to learn from Korea in this respect." Razak's zeal for emulating Korea's economic model is based on his three principles that have underpinned the development of Malaysia's economy sustainability, inclusivity and innovation. "A sustainable economy is one in which we take care of our environment while developing the country," he said. "Inclusivity is ensuring our people have the right skills by investing in training." According to him, as Malaysia is strengthening its knowledge-based sector, the country has to reduce its dependency on foreign labor and focus on raising the level of education and skills in its country, so that growth and higher wages come from increases in productivity. "Lastly, we are trying to introduce a real focus not just on innovation, but on commercializing innovation," he said. Rajak, who took office in 2009, said that the relations between Korea and Malaysia will be further enhanced in the coming decades on the back of strengthening business cooperation. "We are pleased with the significant role played by investors from Malaysia and Korea in enhancing the economic cooperation between both nations," he said. In particular, Rajak, who has made two official visits to Korea in April 2011 and December 2014, believes that education exchanges will provide the impetus for the further development of the ties. Shinhan Bank's Myanmar employees serve customers at the bank's Yangon Branch last Tuesday. Shinhan is the first Korean bank to start operations in the Southeast Asian country. / Courtesy of Shinhan Bank By Yoon Ja-young Shinhan Bank started operation in Myanmar, Sept. 20, opening the first Korean bank branch in the Southeast Asian country. The branch in Yangon adds to Shinhan's global network of operations in 20 countries, bolstering its Asian financial belt linking the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Shinhan has been expanding its global financial reach. On top of Japan, China, Vietnam and Cambodia where it has been operating successfully, it advanced into Indonesia which boasts a 250 million population and Myanmar, an untapped market for Korean banks. It added Australia to the list, expanding its scope to the Pacific region. Amid rapid changes in the financial world, the country's banking industry has been in need of diversifying profit sources as well as securing new growth engines. Since his inauguration in March last year, Shinhan Bank CEO Cho Yong-byoung has been stressing global expertise for Shinhan to make a leap forward as a world class player. Globalization has been one of the keywords in Cho's leadership. Along with the traditional strategy of seeking "organic growth," the bank is considering diverse options such as mergers and acquisitions in emerging markets or markets with long-term growth potential, as well as equity investment and strategic partnerships. On top of advancing into new countries, the bank has expanded its previous network through localization. Shinhan's overseas network has more than doubled since Cho's inauguration, from 72 in 16 countries to 147 in 20 countries. In Vietnam, for instance, it is scheduled to open four more branches to pull up the total number to 18, which will make Shinhan the foreign bank with the most extensive network in the country. Localization is the most important strategic keyword in Shinhan's global business. It aims at providing the best financial service to local customers, and launching country-tailored products and services on top of diverse local marketing activities. Among such localization efforts is Shinhan Bank Vietnam's credit card business. Four-and-a-half years since its launch, the business has 140,000 card holders, making it one of most notable success stories of a Korean business there. Nine out of 10 customers are Vietnamese. The localization of human resources is also accelerating, with local employees taking key roles. Shinhan started off with Asia where it has a competitive edge. In addition to numerous Korean businesses which are potential customers, Shinhan benefits from cultural similarities. Now, it plans to go beyond. Shinhan plans to continue expanding channels in regions other than Asia, such as Mexico and Australia. "Based on Asia, we plan to make a leap forward as a global bank in the mid- to long- term. We will make 20 percent of our profit from the global business by 2020," Cho said. Global business made up 10.5 percent of Shinhan's profit in 2015, a jump from 2.9 percent in 2010. By Nam Hyun-woo A series of strikes are feared to hit the Korean economy, with little public support for the walkouts. Following the strike by financial union members in opposition to the merit-based pay system Friday, railway unions will launch a strike from Tuesday to protest the government's push to introduce the system within their industry. The strike will be led by the affiliates of Korean Public Services and Transportation Workers' Union (KPTU), including the Korean Railway Workers' Union (KRWU) and Seoul Subway Labor Union. The strike will be the first in 22 years with both subway and train union members joining forces. The KPTU has 62,000 members. The KRWU said in a statement Friday that the Korea Railway Corp. (KORAIL) board's unilateral decision to accept the merit-based pay system was a blatant violation of the Labor Law and it will give it until Tuesday 9 a.m. to reverse the decision. According to KORAIL, it will make utmost efforts to contain the fallout of the strike. It estimated a 100 percent operation of the KTX and other commuting trains, while a 60 percent operation rate for other slower trains such as the Saemaeul and Mugunghwa. Cargo trains will be running at some 30 percent of the usual level. Industry insiders expected that the participation rate will not be high because the intended strike is about a broad labor issue, not a specific one such as wage negotiation. On Wednesday, Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union will launch a strike also in an opposition to the merit-based pay system. The strike will be joined by union members at public and private hospitals. On Thursday, Korea's two largest umbrella unions, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, will hold a rally in Yeouido, Seoul, to protest the merit-based pay system. Some 60,000 people are expected to participate. However, their moves are garnering little support from the public and industry insiders. According to the government's tally, 20,000 participated in the financial unions' strike, falling short of the Korean Financial Industry Union's estimate of 70,000 to 90,000. The participation rate of union members at four major banks KEB Hana, Shinhan, KB Kookmin and Woori Bank remained lower than 3 percent. Union leaders reportedly had to give hundreds to thousands of lunchboxes they bought for participants to nearby charities as the number of participants was smaller than expected. Industry insiders attributed the tepid participation rate to the lack of appropriateness in the cause of the walkout. "The wide perception is that financial workers enjoy high wages," said a Seoul-based bank worker asking not to be named. "And the strike may be deemed as selfish, as well as drawing negative sentiment toward financial workers." KORAIL CEO Hong Soon-man echoed this view. "The country's economy is struggling due to a debacle stemming from the Hanjin Shipping crisis. If unionists continue taking the public hostages and stage strikes, the people will turn away from them." Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, left, presents the Kuala Lumpur declaration to ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh in the Grand Ballroom of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia, on Nov. 22, 2015. The declaration, signed by the leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states, detailed the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community. / Courtesy of ASEAN Secretariat By Kim Jae-kyoung Malaysia will play a leading role in the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by pushing for more reforms and liberalization in the region, according to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. "Our aim is not simply to talk about measures that have to be taken, but to lead by example and deliver on the actions we are asking our fellow member states to take," Razak told The Korea Times. "If you look at Malaysia's record, we have been one of the most proactive states in terms of creating the right environment for the private sector to operate in a free and competitive market." He said that Malaysian people are believers in the liberalization of the economy and are taking steps in this regard, including the introduction of various reforms. "We want to see these measures duplicated across ASEAN, not only at the state level, but across our community," he said. "This will allow, for instance, a business in Indonesia to consider investing in Malaysia and vice versa. The fact is that the broader economy benefits when this happens." The AEC, launched at the end of last year, is an agreement among 10 ASEAN member nations to create a single market with a free flow of goods, capital and skilled labor in the region by 2025. Through liberalization and reform drives, the prime minister aims to make Malaysia join the league of developed economies by 2020. To that end, he vowed to place top priority on making its economy more competitive on a global scale by creating a more business-friendly environment. "2015 has been a year of unprecedented challenges for our country. As such, strengthening the resilience of the economy, managing the impact of external vulnerabilities and safeguarding the interests of the people are the government's core priorities for 2016," he said. "However, looking ahead, it is our vision to become a developed country by 2020," he added. "Since assuming office in 2009, my administration has introduced several measures aimed at making the economy competitive." Between 2009 and 2015, Malaysia's gross national income has increased by nearly 50 percent. Foreign direct investment has been growing at more than 22 percent per annum. Malaysia, the third-largest economy in ASEAN, is now one of the fastest-growing countries in the region, with its economy growing 4.9 percent in 2015 despite slowing global economy. Last year, Malaysia rose to 18th out of 140 countries in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report. The World Bank ranked Malaysia as the 18th easiest place to do business out of 189 economies in 2015. It was listed the fourth in the world for Investor Protection by the World Bank Doing Business Report 2016. "The above statistics and achievements are the result of our economic plan and of the government's continuous efforts to make Malaysia a business-friendly environment," he said. "They are the result of our strong commitment to strengthen, liberalize and open up our economy," he added. "The figures show that the international community continues to have confidence in Malaysia." The following is an excerpt from the interview. Q: AEC made its debut at the end of 2015. What would the implications of the AEC be to the world and Malaysia? Korea's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kang Ho-in, right, shakes hands with Tan Sri Dr. Ali bin Hamsa, the chief secretary to the government of Malaysia and chairman of MyHSR (High Speed Rail) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 15, after having talks over the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed railway project. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport More companies use Malaysia as bridgehead for ASEAN expansion By Kim Jae-kyoung South Korea has a small, open economy with heavy dependence on external trade. Over the past decades, its economic growth has been powered by robust exports to China, Korea's largest trading partner. However, with China losing growth momentum, Asia's fourth-largest economy is seeking a breakthrough in the ASEAN region as the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) brings huge infrastructure opportunities for Korean firms. As the first step, Korea is paying keen attention to the multibillion-dollar Malaysia-Singapore high-speed railway project before an international tender early next year. In July, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the 350km line. Since the $15 billion railway deal is the first mega-size project in the region following the AEC launch, whoever wins the lead role will seal an advantage to strengthen a foothold in the growing market. "The Malaysia-Singapore high-speed railway project is now a top priority for the Korean government," Korea's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Kang Ho-in, said in a recent interview. The HEMU-430X is a Korea's next-generation high-speed train developed jointly by the Korea Railroad Research Institute and Hyundai Rotem. The train has a maximum speed of 430km per hour. / Courtesy of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport "President Park Geun-hye has a keen interest in the project. That's why the government has taken the initiative to get the contract and our consortium has been joined by various state and private enterprises." According to sources, Park personally plans to have direct talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Rajak on the project, which is scheduled to start in 2017 and be completed by 2022. In June, Kang had a four-day visit to Malaysia with a Korean delegation to pitch Korea's strengths safety and advanced technology. Korea plans to transfer key technology and know-how if it wins the railway project. As a child growing up in Florida, Alfonso Albaisa heard endless tales about his relatives in Cuba: A great-aunt had been married to Jos? Mart?, considered a national hero; a grandfather had been a governor at the time of the revolution; and a great-uncle was an important architect. In August 1962, two years before his birth, his parents fled the -island on a secret night flight, paid for with his father's Rolex and Edsel sedan. "My only experience of Cuba was through my family's stories and photos," says Albaisa, Infiniti corporate vice president and design chief. So with restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba loosening, this summer Albaisa visited his family's homeland for the first time. And with Infiniti's blessing, he brought with him his latest effort, the new Infiniti Q60 coupe, making it the first time a new car from the U.S. had entered Cuba in 58 years. Photograph by Lisette Poole for Fortune In a four-day whirlwind tour, Albaisa met a cousin; visited a onetime Havana estate of his grandfather, the former governor of the province of Camag?ey; and saw for himself the clean-lined, mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio. Photograph by Lisette Poole for Fortune Borges-Recio masterminded Club N?utico and the legendary '50s hotspot the Tropicana Club, among other iconic Havana -structures--all of which influenced Albaisa as a designer from the time he was a young boy studying family snapshots of the sites. The flowing rooflines, fender flares, and wheel arches of Albaisa's own automotive work echo the curved forms of Borges-Recio's buildings. Photograph by Lisette Poole for Fortune Story continues But the last night of the trip, when Albaisa unveiled the Infiniti at a private art gallery, was a highlight for him. About 150 Cuban designers, architects, and artists showed up to meet Albaisa, and a few students told him that they, too, wanted to design cars. "From the passion in their eyes, I could see that DNA-wise, we are the same," he says, adding, "If my family could escape the island and I could end up designing luxury cars in Japan, then they can do great things too." Read more: The Rarest Cars on Earth Right Now A version of this article appears in the October 1, 2016 issue of Fortune with the headline A Visit to the Cuban Homeland. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com A screen of a video introducing future transportation and traffic system in Seoul is on display at the Smart Mobility Exhibition held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. The exhibition runs through Oct. 2. / Korea Times photos by Yun Suh-young By Yun Suh-young Seoul Design Week 2016 opened Thursday the third annual event since the first in 2014 and will be held through Oct. 2 at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Hosted by Seoul Design Foundation, this year's theme is "Smart City, Smart Design, Smart Life," and explores smart design which can lead to a smart life and hence, a smart city. The theme aims to identify the roles and responsibilities of design in a changing era and explore smarter solutions for citizens' convenience and for the sustainability of the city itself. The event explores the theme in four different tracks Seoul Smart Mobility International Conference and Exhibition, Universal Design Seoul Exhibition, Seoul Crafts Fair and Crafts Free Market, and AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale) SEOUL 2016 offering a variety of programs. A multi-person transportation vehicle introduced by the Korea Railroad Research Institute at the Smart Mobility exhibition In line with Seoul Design Week, the Korean capital was selected as a guest city to Beijing Design Week 2016 which will be held from Sept. 26 to Oct. 6. Seoul will have its own exhibition booth there with the same theme as Seoul Design Week 2016. Opening the festival, the first two days of the Seoul Design Week was dedicated to the Seoul Smart Mobility International Conference with renowned guests in the mobility field invited as speakers. The two-day conference was an opportunity for experts, design students and ordinary citizens to discuss the future of mobility and transportation systems in Seoul. "Moving in the digital era, future mobility solutions will be shaped by public involvement in the design process," said Matteo Conti, a professor of vehicle design from the Royal College of Art, during a speech at the conference. A participant drives on a simulator at the DDP exhibition. "Seoul's challenge is moving 11.8 million people. Commuters need to move but they also need more personal space. Alternative services for improved urban mobility are needed. And this will require an inclusive design process focused on human centered design. We need to co-design to exploit ICT and a new social mindset." In his presentation, Paul Snyder, Chair of Transportation Design at the College of Creative Studies, introduced "Double Street," a multilayered transit system where new pod-type vehicles operate underneath ordinary passageways turned into eco-friendly public spaces. Lim Bum-suk, CEO of Trans Lab based in Shanghai and professor at the Art Center College of Design, said people will need transportation to carry them from door to door. A messaging function in a concept car displayed at the exhibit "We will need personal vehicles to make smooth transition from roads to public transportation. There must be a seamless transition the experience has to be continuous," said Lim. "Mobility design cannot be separated from the public. This challenge will open a brand new opportunity to which we don't yet have a solution but many companies will come up with them." A program to take particular note of is the "Smart Mobility Exhibition" taking place as part of the design week event which will continue through Oct. 2 A one-person pod introduced in a "Double Street" project The program is a must-visit exhibition especially for those interested in future transport and urban design. The fascinating exhibition shows a variety of projects conducted by design schools and vehicle companies worldwide imagining the future of Seoul's transportation modes such as personal mobility vehicles and the future traffic system. Visitors can watch project videos, see physical prototypes displayed, and also experience riding futuristic vehicles. A variety of personal mobility vehicles including those from Segway and Ninebot group are available for visitors to ride. An electric car exhibited at the Smart Mobility exhibition at DDP The videos played as part of the exhibit are worth watching from beginning to end as these innovative projects will be an eye-opener to spark inspiration. Another program to take note of is the "Appcessory" exhibition presenting smart design products that provide convenience in everyday lives. The exhibit also plays videos of these projects which turn on when placing a cube onto a small box on a table. The products introduced have expanded features from smart devices, suggesting a smarter way of life. Visitors at the Smart Mobility exhibition try riding personal mobility vehicles at the iWheel booth. / Courtesy of Seoul Design Foundation Another interesting exhibit is the "Universal Design" exhibition which offers a variety of items that are made to be "universal" to make everyone's lives more convenient, especially making it accessible for the socially underprivileged, the handicapped, elderly and children. Seoul Design Week's exhibitions are free of charge and the event also offers workshops for design students. For more information, visit www.seouldesignweek.or.kr or call (02) 2153-0000. Fruit picking circa 1920-1930 By Robert Neff It isn't clear when apples were first introduced into Korea but we do know that in the late 19th century Americans residing in the country imported apples from the United States. Some of the earliest apples imported were Red Astrachans (also known as Abe Lincolns), yellow Early Harvests and Red Junes. Some of the best apples were grown in Wonsan and apples grown there were sold in Vladivostok for $25 a barrel a princely sum considering the average Korean laborer only earned about 25 cents a day. Pyongyang also had a small apple orchard that was a frequent target for the adventurous Korean neighborhood children who often slipped in to pilfer a few apples, an activity not unknown to this writer in his own youth. In summer 1925, C. A. Haysmeir, a Seventh Day Adventist medical missionary from Minnesota, decided to put an end to this petty thievery. On July 15, while walking through the orchard, he encountered 12-year-old Kim Myoung-sup, a Korean boy living in the neighborhood. Haysmeir later claimed the boy was stealing apples but Korean newspapers reported the boy was merely in the orchard without permission and ran because he was afraid of the American missionary. What followed next was a horrendous act that marred not only the image of missionaries in Korea but also the face of the young boy. According to Ransford S. Miller, the American Consul-General in Seoul, after Haysmeir caught the boy, he summoned the boy's mother, Yoon, to the orchard. She begged Haysmeir not to summon the Japanese authorities, and he agreed not to but was insistent that the boy had to be taught a lesson. He had one of the nurses bring him some caustic soda (acid) and then used it to write dojeok' (thief) on the boy's cheeks. He then proceeded to lecture the boy for over an hour and cautioned the crying boy to never steal again. But that is not how it was reported in the Korean newspapers. According to the DongA Ilbo: Kim fled into the orchard but was quickly caught by the missionary who brought him back to the compound and hung the boy [from the arms?] high from a peach tree and then branded him as a thief with the acid on his cheeks. The boy remained for some time hanging from the tree before he was allowed to leave. The following day, his parents, horrified and angered at the abuse the boy had received, sought out the missionary who calmly instructed them that he had done so to teach the boy a lesson. The parents could do nothing and returned home. As time passed, the scars on the boy's cheek became more prominent and resulted in him no longer being able to attend school. The American newspapers claimed that it was the result of the teasing he received from his peers but the DongA Ilbo claimed he was expelled because the word thief' was too visible. When the Korean public became aware of the nefarious act, protests were held. The Japanese authorities made it clear that if any attack was made on the Americans there would be repercussions. A Korean delegation was sent to meet with the missionary board and formal complaints and demands were made. Amongst the demands were for Haysmeir to offer compensation so that the scars could be corrected and that he publish an apology in every newspaper. According to historian Donald N. Clark, "the Seventh Day Adventist Mission put up a weak defense of Dr. Haysmeir, pointing to his otherwise spotless record as a doer of good." Korean newspapers, however, reported that the Mission agreed to the demands and offered to provide the boy with free education including secondary school. It also assured the representatives that Haysmeir would be sent back to the United States if the Korean community desired. According to DongA Ilbo, just after midnight on July 1, 1926, Haysmeir went to the boy's house and tried to negotiate a settlement with his mother. She suggested that she would consider the matter closed for a sum of 10,000 yen ($5,000) but Haysmeir refused and countered with an offer of 420 yen as compensation and 200 yen for treatment for a total of 620 yen ($310). Eventually Haysmeir did pay the 620 yen and offered an apology in the newspapers in which he claimed that he thought the boy would suffer no permanent damage and that the scar would fade after a few weeks. Haysmeir was found guilty and ordered to pay the 620 yen to the family and was sentenced to a three-year prison term. There were probably a number of Koreas who thought he got off to lightly. After all, he was a missionary from a "civilized country" who had treated a poor boy so inhumanely. As Prof. Donald N. Clark noted in his book Living Dangerously in Korea the Western community was not only outraged over Haysmeir's self-righteousness and disproportionate punishment of the young boy but also surprised that he was prosecuted and punished in Korea. That surprise was probably short-lived. The sentence was appealed which allowed the Seventh Day Adventist Mission to "hustle Dr. Haysmeir out of the country." Robert Neff is a historian and columnist for The Korea Times. He can be reached at robertneff103@gmail.com. Actress Choi Ji-woo, second from right, stands with other cast members of the MBC's new legal romance drama "Woman with a Suitcase," during a press conference at MBC headquarters, western Seoul, Thursday. By Park Jin-hai Actress Choi Ji-woo, the iconic "Winter Sonata" heroine who stirred the first K-drama craze in Asia in the early 2000s, has returned to the small screen in a legal romance drama on MBC. In "Woman with a Suitcase," which will premiere tonight and airs Monday and Tuesday, Choi plays a successful career woman Cha Geum-joo, a manager at an attorney's office, whose life goes into free-fall after she is framed and serves time in prison. Written by Kwon Eum-mi, who previously wrote the romance drama "Royal Family" (2011) and crime thriller "Gap-dong" (2014), the new drama tells the story of Cha rising again to realize her dreams. "I really wanted to play a bright but tough character," said the actress during a press conference at MBC headquarters, western Seoul, Thursday. "There's a combination of romance and mystery. I understood my character as a person who acts kind of silly sometimes, but is lovely. It was a little complex to depict her, but I did my best to portray her as an attractive person." Unlike other legal dramas, "Woman with a Suitcase" will be lighter, spending more time out of the court. Instead of focusing on trials, the MBC drama will concentrate on the legal staff and other elements such as rampant social networking, websites-based rumor mills and paparazzi media. Kwon said she wanted to that show the perspective that those who don't have "licenses" can do a better job than the licensed. "I thought that a legal drama shedding light on the ordinary people inside the legal circle, rather than lawyers, would be different and new," said Kwon. "I wanted to show that those unlicensed professionals can do better than those licensed lawyers and I also wanted to raise the question of whether those licenseholders are doing their duty correctly." Choi's love interest will be played by Joo Jin-mo, who takes on the role of paparazzi news agency K-fact's chief Ham Bok-geo. "As an outsider, my role is to reflect the voices of the viewers each episode I appear in and to deliver punch lines." Asked about the difference from the recently ended tvN's legal drama "The Good Wife," a Korean adaptation of the popular CBS series with the same name that starred Cannes-winning actress Jeon Do-yeon and was directed by Kang Dae-sun, Kwon said that apart from the courtroom set, the new drama shares almost nothing. "Our main sets are the public seating area in the courtroom and outside the court, since the protagonist runs to investigate outside. In terms of mood, if The Good Wife has been painted in a calm manner, ours will be more light and cheerful," she said. Civic group members protest the autopsy of Baek Nam-ki, a farmer who died Sunday following 317 days in a coma after being hit by a police water cannon during an anti-government rally on Nov. 14, in a press briefing in front of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul. They claim the prosecution's plan to carry out an autopsy is aimed at diverting the cause of his death to underlying diseases rather than the police's improper use of the water cannon. / Yonhap Family opposes prosecution's autopsy plan By Kim Bo-eun A farmer who went into coma after being knocked over by a police water cannon during a rally last November died Sunday. The bereaved family members, however, are opposing the prosecution's request for an autopsy, saying it is an attempt to divert the cause of the death to other illnesses rather than the improper use of the water cannon. Baek Nam-ki, 69, took part in a massive anti-government protest jointly held by farmers, unions and civic groups in downtown Seoul, Nov. 14 last year. At the site, the farmers' union member was knocked down by a water cannon operated by police and lost consciousness. He was taken to Seoul National University Hospital's emergency room and underwent four hours of surgery but remained in a coma for 10 months until his death. The bereaved family and members of a civic committee helping them said police violated safety guidelines when using force at the rally, striking Baek with a stronger water pressure than recommended, which the police later acknowledged. Video footage of the scene also showed police continuing to spray him even after he fell. The prosecution, however, has maintained that they may carry out an autopsy on his body to clarify what caused Baek to lose consciousness. According to the law, prosecutors can order an autopsy without the bereaved family's consent if they have been investigating the case. "Doctors' notes and documents sufficiently show that Baek fell unconscious because of the shock caused by the direct spray of the water cannon," Lee Jung-il, a legal representative of Baek and a member of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said in a press briefing in front of the hospital. "We cannot see the prosecution's move to conduct an autopsy as a proper exercise of public authority." Doctor Jun Jin-han, a member of the Association of Physicians for Humanism, said, "Due to long-term hospitalization and surgery, Baek's condition now may be different from when he was first transferred to the hospital. We suspect the prosecution wants an autopsy now to claim Baek became unconscious because of other underlying diseases he had." Lee demanded the prosecution swiftly proceed with investigations and punish those responsible, and enable the bereaved family members to hold Baek's funeral with dignity. After the incident in November, his relatives filed a complaint with the prosecution against seven individuals including the then-chief of the National Police Agency Kang Sin-myeong alleging attempted murder. They also filed a damages suit against the government and police officials, demanding 730 million won in compensation. The prosecution questioned the individuals for the first time in June, but Kang and former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Goo Eun-soo did not appear. "The prosecution is still conducting an investigation 10 months after the incident, which is sufficient time to have indicted those responsible. It is dereliction of duty," Lee said. "We will call for a probe by an independent counsel." The National Assembly held a hearing about the case earlier this month, but failed to make progress in clarifying who should be held accountable. "We failed to make any progress during the hearing, Sept. 12, because the requested data was not submitted," said Rep. Park Joo-min of the opposition Minjoo Party of Korea. "The investigation by the prosecution is also slow. If this situation continues, we will have no choice but to request an independent counsel's investigation." By Kim Hyo-jin The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday it refused to issue a passport to a Korean male as he is suspected of having the intention of joining the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. "We were informed of a man in his twenties suspected of having collected information about IS by the related authorities," a foreign ministry official said. "We refused to issue a passport to him after a ministry's commission discussed the case in April." It was reported that earlier this year the National Intelligence Service (NIS) handed over the information about the suspect, who planned to enter Syria after gathering the information about the IS on the Internet, to the foreign ministry. The terrorist group has established a stronghold in Syria's Ar-Raqqah Province since July 2014. Concerns have grown here that more Koreans are willing to join the group. According to the NIS, an 18-year-old Korean man surnamed Kim was confirmed to have received training with the IS group in February, 2015. Kim went missing in Turkey in January 2015 and was reported to be the first South Korean to join the extremist group operating in Syria and northern Iraq. Rep. Lee Cheol-woo of the ruling Saenuri Party, the head of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, said in November 2015 that there were more Koreans who publicly expressed their support for the terrorist group. "There were 10 more people who aligned themselves with an IS group," he said during a press briefing. "Apart from Kim who was confirmed to have joined IS, authorities banned two more people who were to fly to Syria from leaving the country." Park Joo-sun of the opposition People's Party said based on the report submitted by the foreign ministry that the two who attempted to join the IS group last year are in their twenties and one of them was female. New Zealand Ambassador to Korea Clare Fearnley, fifth from left in the front row, poses with Gender Equality and Family Minister Kang Eun-hee, fourth from left in the same row, ambassadors and lawmakers as well as female leaders from Korea and other countries during a reception to celebrate women's leadership at her residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Sept. 5. / Courtesy of New Zealand Embassy in Korea By Yi Whan-woo New Zealand has been a pioneer in women's rights, becoming the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote in national elections in September 1893. It set another pioneering example 123 years later, this time in Seoul, by hosting a reception for diplomats, legislators and other working women from Korea and abroad as part of efforts to enhance women's leadership globally. "This sort of wide invitation to women from all sectors is the first time we've done something like this," New Zealand Ambassador Clare Fearnley told The Korea Times during a meeting at her residence on Sept. 5. She added that around a dozen women ambassadors and female leaders in Seoul met only in smaller groups in the past. The participants at the reception included Adalgisa Maria Soares Ximenes of East Timor, Dato Rohana Ramli of Malaysia, Emma-Francoise Isumbingabo of Rwanda and Manisha Gunasekera of Sri Lanka, as well as Signe Poulsen, the representative of the U.N. Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner in Seoul. From the Korean side were Gender Equality and Family Minister Kang Eun-hee and Korean Red Cross President Kim Sung-joo, who also serves as the chairwoman of fashion house Sungjoo Group. Junior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) were also present at the reception. "There are a lot of young foreign service women here from our own embassy, from other embassies and from MOFA. And we want to support young women to connect with each other as they begin their careers," Fearnley said. She also anticipates that the meeting will facilitate exchanges of ideas among the participants concerning their careers, such as how to overcome challenges they face as female professionals. "Every country has something to learn from every other country," she said. The envoy cited that New Zealand has the lowest gender pay gap, the difference between men and women in their earnings is 5.6 percent among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member-countries. She also pointed out that women account for 64 percent of the lower house of parliament in Rwanda a far higher percentage than in any other nation. Kang said, "Gatherings like this are important because we can discuss what steps women leaders should take to be one step ahead of our work and also enhance and strengthen our bonds with each other." Kim feels strongly that encouraging each other at the reception will help the women enhance their strength in their workplaces and make further contributions to society. "In the information society, combing women's strengths and perceptions with men's is critical to make our society grow, and this meeting can lay the groundwork for such a goal," she said. ASEAN ASEAN countries promote ecotourism The Korean-ASEAN Centre organized a seminar from Sept. 21 to 23 in Seoul to discuss ways to develop ecotourism in CLMV, a group of four ASEAN countries named after the first letters of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Under the theme of "Policies, preservation and partnership in ecotourism," the delegates from each member of the CLMV participated in the lectures and discussions to share thoughts to boost cooperation among the public and private sectors, and also to learn Korea's policies on sustainable development. The delegates also visited the Marine Ecological Tourism Village of Daebu Island in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 23. The Daebu Island was designated as the ecotourism site by the Ministry of Environment and has been picked as the host of "Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference in 2017." "The ASEAN member states have been continuously promoting their ecotourism sites to improve the well-being of its people and seize the growing market share of international tourism," the Korean-ASEAN Centre said in a statement. DENMARK Photo exhibition displays happiness The Embassy of Denmark in Korea has been running a photo exhibition on Nami Island, a resort island in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, to show what characterizes Denmark as the world's happiest country. Beginning Sept. 2, the exhibition, titled "Happy Danes," has been displaying scenic photographs of Copenhagen, a photo wall of the city's Nyhavn canal street, its iconic Christiania Bicycle and other photos under the themes of "strong democracy," "high level of trust" and "social security" among others. The show will run through Nov. 2. The exhibition attracted several dignitaries on its opening day. They included Danish Ambassador to Korea Thomas Lehmann, Korean Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund Kim Kyung-hee and Nami Island Foundation President Lee Kye-young. The participants were invited to join a reception where they served Danish food and drinks. Visitors to Nami Island will be free to enjoy the exhibition. For more information, visit Nami Island's website at https://namisum.com/en/events/happydanes_201611 or call the Nami Island Foundation at 031-580-8015. Denmark was ranked top on the World Happiness Report 2016, a measure of happiness published by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network. INDIA Cultural festival runs across Korea The Embassy of India in Seoul kicked off its annual cultural festival across Korea, Sept. 22. The Sarang Festival is underway in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Seosan in South Chungcheong Province, Nami Island and Youngwol in Gangwon Province. It will run through Oct. 9. The festival is aimed at promoting a wide range of Indian cultures, including food, music and movies. Dancer Swathi Sinha plans to perform Kathak, one of the ten major forms of Indian classical dance. Classical instrumentalist Abhijit Pohankar is scheduled to play classical fusion songs. Popular Bollywood films will be available at the Korean Film Archive in Mapo-gu, Seoul and the Busan Cinema Center. Renowned Indian chef will be invited to the Indian Food Festival at the Millennium Seoul Hilton and the Park Hyatt Busan. Cafe RIS in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, displays 1,000 action figures. / Yonhap By Lee Jin-a A coffee shop that opened last month with about 1,000 rare action figures has emerged as a popular meeting spot in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. Cafe RIS is near Mokpo Bukhang port. Its collection of action figures is the biggest in the province, according to collectors. Figures include characters from movies, games and cartoons, including Batman, Fantastic Four and Transformer, international celebrities such as Wayne Rooney and Michael Jordan, life-sized Gunmetal Iron Man and miniatures of Batwing (from Batman) and Son Goku from Dragon Ball. Cafe RIS in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, displays 1,000 action figures. / Yonhap Park Young-wook, who owns the cafe, said he had spent 300 million won ($272,000) since 2008 collecting the figures on display. The most expensive item is Doctor Doom from Fantastic Four, one of five in the country, each costing 6 million won. For information, contact 061-278-2211. Botswana vice president Mokgweetsi Masisi says his country has cut diplomatic ties with North Korea. / Yonhap By Hong Dam-young Botswana has cut diplomatic ties with North Korea, condemning the North's systematic human rights violations. The African country's vice president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, condemned North Korea's recent nuclear missile tests, carried out in defiance of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. He made the announcement during a keynote address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Friday, "We officially ended ties with this evil nation," he said. Botswana and North Korea established ties in 1974. In a draft of the speech issued beforehand, Botswana linked "human rights violation in North Korea" with the decision to terminate relations. Although Masisi did not mention the link in his actual speech, the North's military provocations and human rights abuses are assumed to be behind the Botswana move. It is unclear when Botswana made the decision, but U.N. members are assuming it happened after the North's fifth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 9. Masisi also harshly criticized the North for disregarding U.N. Security Council resolutions. "Along with Syria, which inflicts its people with long-standing civil war, North Korea also doesn't deserve to be a U.N. member for abusing the human rights of its own people," he said. Botswana is the first country other than South Korea to discuss publically removing North Korea from the U.N. for posing a constant threat to international society. By Stephen Costello Several historians and political observers here have claimed that the US presidential election on Nov. 8 is the most important in a generation. They may have a point in that the election of Donald Trump would be a multi-level disaster for the US and many other countries. However, two points should be noted that will determine the election's importance in northeast Asia. One is that Donald Trump would probably re-establish a list of Republican Party policies and beliefs that have been gaining support for about 40 years. Any other Republican would do much the same. It might seem like a long time ago to younger voters, but the region experienced the results of these approaches just recently. That experience was the Bush years, from 2001 to 2009. Among the disasters that resulted from that election was the willful destruction of this region's hard-won but working multilateral agreements on pacification of the North Korean nuclear programs. The US election of 2000 also prevented expansion of North-South Korean cooperation, since the North logically prioritized normalization of relations with the US over the ROK, and the US had changed its interests. President Obama, surprising many observers, embraced the Bush policies toward Korea in 2009, leading to a worst-of-both-worlds bipartisanship. So Korea and the neighborhood know how these devastating sixteen years have affected them. A Trump presidency couldn't make US policy much worse than what we have now. The talk of Korea paying more for US protection is mere hot air. The second is that Hillary Clinton may behave as an Obama-but-more-aggressive president. There are many indications of this. But the fact is that we don't know. Ms. Clinton has not had the freedom to chart her own course on matters as big and strategically important as the US approach to China, Japan and the two Koreas. As Senator she primarily served her state of New York. As Secretary of State she primarily served her somewhat inexperienced and naive president, who has not delegated authority very well. Unless she is more knowledgeable and bold than Obama, and has translated her wide experience into valuable lessons learned, a Clinton presidency will probably continue on the same unhelpful path. So for Americans the election is a big deal: do we go back to the Bush years, but this time with even less responsibility and ability to solve problems, if that is possible? Or do we hope that Hillary's experience will make her able to organize, delegate, and seize opportunities rather than make things worse in the region? The choice is clear, but the outcome is not.For Koreans, the US election may not lead to much change. The Korean election in 15 months, however, could lead to progress on the Peninsula and in the region. As soon has he or she begins to plan the next four years, the next US president will confront a wall of confusion, deeply rooted ideology, partisanship and misinformation when the subject of Korea comes up. And it will come up very quickly, as we have seen in past months. This confusion will not stop at the White House fence. Senior officials have for a decade and a half carried all of its resulting contradictions and impediments to progress into government. If that president is to change the doomed trajectory of US policy toward Korea, several myths will have to be confronted. These five seem most important. Myth 1: China has the most leverage to change or force DPRK leaders to negotiate away their nuclear weapons. Following the fifth test of a nuclear device by North Korea on 6 September, journalists and experts everywhere declared this. Actually, the US has had the most leverage to change the North's course for 20 years. This is not difficult to discover, and it is logical for North Korea's leaders. The fact that the past two US presidents have refused to use this leverage is a function of their limits, not the tools available to them. Myth 2: Demanding human rights improvements in North Korea removes the requirement that advocates should have realistic goals, or that they should understand the history of diplomacy. The policy that had the most positive impact on the human rights of North Koreans was the North-South engagement policy of 1998-2008, followed by the US Agreed Framework of 1994. Far more might have changed for more North Koreans had those agreements remained in force. The idea that human rights can be improved while diplomacy and negotiations are frozen is a fantasy. The UN has failed to play its role here. Perhaps the next UN Secretary-General will be more ambitious and independent. Koreans should hope so. Myth 3: The US, under its new president next January, will have to decide which way to approach the worsening relationship with North Korea, and that will determine the fate of the region for years. As noted, the next US president has some choices to make regarding Korea policy. But South Korea can have a great deal to say about how the North is approached. The election there in December 2017 will be just as important and consequential for Korea as November's election is for the US. More than the US, Korea's election will impact both Koreas and the immediate region. Myth 4: North Korea will never give up its nuclear weapons, so there is little reason to negotiate with them. This has become a crude test of seriousness and analytical ability when seeking information or fresh thinking about the nuclear issue. The many writers who confidently claim they know the position of the DPRK can't possibly do so. There are regular indications, from North Koreas, scholars and experienced specialists, that the North's strategic and security needs can only be really identified through serious, credible talks. There are solid reasons why the nuclear program, missile production, human rights and other issues will be on the table when negotiations resume. Myth 5: South Korea is not strong enough to defend itself against the DPRK, or against China, and therefore must accept whatever direction comes from the US. To add to #3, above, there is near hysteria in several places, including Seoul and Washington, that the only reaction to North Korea's continued drive to perfect a deliverable nuclear weapon is to escalate the crisis and acquire more advanced weaponry. Domestic military structures and systems can be upgraded, but military chest-beating will not address, much less solve, basic needs. The country is strong enough now to resume creating its own middle power diplomatic identity. Stephen Costello is a producer of AsiaEast, a web and broadcast-based policy roundtable focused on security, development and politics in Northeast Asia. He writes from Washington, D.C. He can be reached at scost55@gmail.com. By Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu The crisis period between Turkey and Russia finally ended. The two sides prepared a long-term normalization process to fulfill a regional partnership and to heal the economic wounds which appeared during the crisis period. A Russian Su-24 all-weather aircraft violated the border of Turkey by at least 2 km and was shot down by two Turkish F-16s on the Turkey-Syria border in November 2015. After several harsh speeches, Russian officials decided to implement sanctions in some specific areas. Several months later, the meeting of Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 9 can be accepted as a turning point for regional politics. After Turkey's successful "Apology Diplomacy," the West suddenly started to criticize Turkish foreign policy directions after the normalization process with Russia and the military coup attempt on July 15. Now they are sharing concerns about so-called "Eastern move" of Turkey. The Turkey-Russia convergence can be viewed as a new chance for regional security, especially after current relations worsened over the Syrian issue. Turkey and Russia are important players in this area, and the West should expect much more than a convergence in the coming future. Firstly, trade and energy relations in the region will be normalized. The lack of investment in the Russian "near abroad" have spelt a disaster for the region, as both sides' economies went downhill in a short period of time. This situation has triggered local conflicts in the Caucasus and Central Asia. During the first month of the Turkish-Russian conflict, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan offered Turkey use of the Caspian route for the export of its goods. It was not a good solution, but it was an important example that highlights the concerns of regional states. On the energy side, the Turkish Stream and other collaborations have to continue. Russia knows that the location of Turkey is an advantage for Russian energy supplies to the West. President Erdogan's "izvinite" diplomacy ("apology diplomacy") worked, and Moscow has declared that the two sides are ready to normalize relations. What should the West do? In my opinion, the West should support this process. The outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, the annexation of Crimea and the Syrian war has put the brakes on Western initiatives in the region. In this environment, there remain several conflicts and frozen normalization attempts in the region including the Turkish-Armenian normalization process which Russia and Turkey cannot solve without Western support. In this regard, the Turkish-Russian convergence should be welcomed as an opportunity to breathe new life into efforts to stabilize the region. What does Turkey plan for the future? Turkey takes seriously the importance of realpolitik. It is not logical to give up the Western alliance which has a deep cooperation background with Turkey. Turkey will follow the balance policy since state relations are based on interests. But the East is also attractive for Turkish foreign policy. Especially a new type of cooperation with Russia, China and India should be main priorities for Ankara. The geopolitical location of Turkey causes new necessities for a balanced policy. It is too early to talk about a radical change in Turkish foreign policy. But an image of Turkey which is surrounded by the West is not an acceptable option. Deceptive approaches of the European Union to Turkey on migration cases created long-term problems in the region. Still, the EU is not aware of the desires of Turkey which is hosting up to 3 million Syrian migrants. Thus Ankara should follow a profitable way. Turkey now faces Western propaganda about an axis shift. The situation is similar to that of decades ago. In 1964, U.S. President Johnson wrote a harsh letter and warned Turkey that it would not get NATO help against a possible Soviet invasion if Turkey liberated Cyprus. Turkish Prime Minister Ismet Inonu reacted to this letter and said: "If conditions change and events make a new world order necessary, Turkey will certainly find its place in this new world order. The writer is a Turkish analyst and journalist of Asia Journalist Association in Seoul. Write to oztarsu@gmail.com. By Tong Kim South Korea and the United States have failed miserably to stop North Korea from developing a nuclear weapon and the delivery system for it, particularly during the past seven years and eight months under the Barack Obama presidency and the two conservative South Korean presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Seoul and Washington are trying to "enhance and expand U.N. sanctions" against the North in the wake of Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test of Sept. 8, which was assessed to be the strongest so far. Focusing on sanctions, it is highly unlikely that there would be any chance for dialogue with the North, either for containment or dismantlement of the North Korean nuclear arsenal during the remainder of Obama's term in office. The Seoul government, since before the fifth nuclear test, has excluded the term dialogue in its vocabulary on North Korea, focusing on sanctions and retaliation against continuing provocations that would lead to "self-destruction." Seoul's prime minister told the National Assembly last week that it was not the time for dialogue but for sanctions and pressure. A few days later, President Park ruled out any possibility for Pyongyang's return to dialogue. The U.S. administration still keeps the door open to "a credible and authentic talk," meaning if the North is serious and shows credible evidence that it is committed to denuclearization and if it is ready to discuss the authentic subject of denuclearization, the United States will then meet the North Koreans. By talking the talk, Washington maintains the semblance of a long-held three-pronged policy of deterrence, sanctions and conditional dialogue. While Washington says whether or not it will engage in dialogue still depends on changes in North Korean behavior, few senior officials in Washington or Seoul believe that the North will change. In short, the prospect for dialogue is slim before Obama leaves office. On Sept. 18, the foreign ministers of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo met in New York to discuss tougher implementation of the existing sanctions and adding new measures "to restrict further revenue sources for the North Korean nuclear and missile programs," on the sidelines of the 71st U.N. General Assembly. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated that Washington would engage the North, if the North is willing to discuss the issues of denuclearization and nonaggression. The ministers from Seoul and Tokyo, while echoing Kerry's call for stronger sanctions, were silent on dialogue. A joint statement issued after the trilateral meeting mentioned the offer of conditional dialogue, which obviously was included to reflect the U.S. narrative. On Sept. 13, U.S. North Korea Policy Representative Sung Kim made a similar comment at a press conference in Seoul. Not surprised but more alarmed by the DPRK's fifth nuclear test and advancing missile technology, prominent figures on security issues are speaking out about what the next U.S. president should do. For example, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mike Mullen and former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn jointly wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Sept. 15, stating that "the next president will have to sharpen the choice: greater benefits for cooperation and promise greater costs for continued defiance." They made four recommendations to be implemented in parallel: First, the U.S. and China tackle the North Korean threat as a first-burner issue and the U.S. offers a new dialogue on the future of the Korean Peninsula, including the disposition of U.S. forces. Second, "new and genuine incentives be offered for substantive talks" to make a comprehensive deal, including denuclearization, a peace treaty and normalization of relations. Third, increase sanctions to restrict funding sources, create a multilateral mechanism to coordinate implementation of U.N. sanctions and "prevent the spread of nuclear and missile materials and technology." Fourth, strengthen a joint deterrence profile by expanding U.S., South Korean and Japanese cooperation. Expand naval capacity to detect submarine activity. The authors do not support "a policy of inducing a collapse of the North Korean regime" and conclude that the U.S. and China have "a shared interest in preventing war or chaos on the Korean Peninsula. And the time to act on that interest is now." Retired admiral Mullen was quoted last week as saying that "a preemptive strike on the North would be one of several options," if the North comes very close to attacking the United States. In the meantime, there was a rising voice among conservative circles in the South calling for developing South Korea's own nuclear weapon. These conservatives are strong supporters of the alliance with the U.S., yet additional protection by the THAAD missile battery deployment or Obama's reassurances of "extended deterrence" are not enough for them. Washington believes that with the ROK forces, the U.S. is sufficiently capable of deterring and defeating North Korean threats, using cutting-edge American war assets readily available, without South Korea's own nukes or without deploying tactical nuclear weapons in the South. The U.S. military is capable of launching a counter nuclear attack from sea, air or land, if necessary, without using its bases in Korea. Recent flights of B-1B bombers over the peninsula must be serving as a warning to the provocative North and as an assurance of the U.S. defense commitment to the uneasy South. Sanctions did not slow the North's nuclear and missile programs, although they had an impact of varying degree on the North, making it more difficult for it to develop its economy. The U.S. and its allies are determined to close loopholes in the sanctions and to add more sanctions, including prohibition of remittance of cash to Pyongyang from North Korean workers abroad estimated to be more than 56,000 in number. Washington hopes Beijing, which strongly opposes Pyongyang's provocative nuclear program, will join in the efforts to impose more sanctions on the North. We have learned that sanctions and deterrence alone are not enough to change the North. What's your take? Tong Kim is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Korean-American Studies. He can be contacted at tong.kim8@yahoo.com. By Shin Sung-won On Sept. 9, North Korea conducted its fifth underground nuclear test, producing a more powerful explosive yield than the North's previous detonations, and indicating that the country was making progress in its efforts to build a nuclear warhead. The same day the North's nuclear weapons institute issued a statement saying that a final check on the explosive power and other characteristics of a nuclear warhead had been carried out and that it has been standardized to be able to be mounted on ballistic missiles. North Korea's fifth's nuclear test is ominous not only because the country is mastering atomic weaponary, but because it is making headway in developing missiles that could hurl nuclear warheads halfway around the globe. Military experts say that by 2020, Pyongyang will most likely have the capability to make a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile topped by a nuclear warhead. By 2020, North Korea may have accumulated enough nuclear material to build up to 100 warheads. Intelligence analysts now judge that North Korea can miniaturize a nuclear weapon, place it atop a missile and fire it at the United States. The intelligence officials have in recent years tracked the country's progress by studying carefully vetted imagery from satellites, and of North Korea itself, of the growing number of missile firings and engine tests. The experts track how far and fast the missiles travel, and the color of their plumes. Recently, analysts said one set of plumes became much cleaner, indicating the successful use of advanced propellants. Specialists about North Korea noted the grim implications of a test-firing on land that featured the debut of a powerful new engine. Pyongyang obtained its first wave of Russian rocket technology in the 1980s giving it the ability to make Scuds, short-range missiles with engines that burn kerosene and emit smoky exhaust. Soon, the collapse of the Soviet rocket industry brought North Korea a second wave of far more potent technology. The collapse began late in the Cold War as arms agreements led to deep cuts in both Soviet and American nuclear forces. It accelerated when Russia was unable to create a private industry for putting commercial satellites into orbit. In 2009, North Korea was developing the new generation of missiles powered by a much more advanced engine. At a military parade in late 2010, Pyongyang unveiled its R-27 spinoff, giving substance to years of American intelligence warnings. The smaller missiles displayed that day were transported on trucks and could be hauled on country roads through forested regions or kept in tunnels, making them easy to hide and, as a target, difficult to find and destroy. The engine was being developed to power a new missile known as the Musudan, named after Pyongyang's main launching site. The Musudan turned out to be 5 feet wide and 40 feet long _ remarkably small compared with North Korea's large missiles. The greater thrust of its single engine translated into greater range. Analysts warned that the missile's warhead might fly for up to 3,800, far enough to hit the American base at Guam. Western intelligence analysts were alarmed to discover that the new engine derived from the R-27, a compact missile made for Soviet submarines that had carried a nuclear warhead. The engine's increased heat, thrust and range, therefore outpacing the Scud engine. And its propellants were more energetic than the old kerosene fuels. Pyongyang also used the R-27 engine design as a building block to make compact missiles that could fire warheads between continents. The KN-08 missile was powered by two of these advanced engines. Analysts said its range was intercontinental and might send a warhead hurtling down on the West Coast of the United States. The KN-14, a longer version of the KN-08, appeared able to send one of Pyongyang's nuclear warheads crashing down on the East Coast. Today, the KN-08 and the KN-14 are widely seen as the most threatening missiles in North Korea's developing arsenal, especially given the land test in April, 2016, of the potent engine that apparently powers them. Still, experts note that North Korea is some years away from deploying a reliable long-range missile. For instance, it has yet to master the technology needed to protect a nuclear warhead from the searing heat generated as it plunges from outer space to a fiery re-entry. Experts also do not see North Korea as being capable anytime soon of building a much more destructive hydrogen warhead, capable of destroying large cities. Innovative solution How the Republic of Korea should respond to such a difficult situation remains to be seen. It is unlikely during the Obama administration to introduce short-range tactical nuclear weapons to South Korean territory because President Obama's most important foreign policy agenda since he assumed office in 2009 has been making "a world without nuclear weapons." To deploy nuclear weapons in South Korea is seen as a failure of his visionary foreign policy agenda. In addition, the reason why the Obama administration has said that there is no need to deploy short-range nuclear weapons in the South Korean territory is because the US forces in Korea and Japan as well as the arsenal in Guam are more than enough forces to defend South Korea from the nuclear threats of North Korea. Korea should delve into how West German government responded to the Reagan administration's request to deploy nuclear missiles against the threats of Soviet nuclear weapons. In spite of serious protest and demonstrations, the West German government respected the U.S. request to deploy nuclear weapons to the West German territory against the Soviet nuclear weapons' threats. The defensive weapon system of THAAD is a minimum measure to defend South Korea from the North Korea's nuclear missile threat. To cope with nuclear threat from North Korea, the Republic of Korea should strengthen the R.O.K.-U.S. alliance in many ways. In addition, Korea should reinforce security cooperation with Japan. Through the U.N. Security Council Resolutions, international community puts pressure on the North Korean regime weakening its ability to make nuclear weapons and missiles, while at the same time strengthening the cooperation with China and Russia to find diplomatic solutions for the impending North Korean problem, employing multiple channels of strategic dialogue as well as economic cooperation. Shin Sung-won is director-general at the Department of international Economy and Trade Studies, Korea National Diplomatic Academy. By Yoon Sung-won The launch of new flagship smartphones Apple's iPhone 7 and LG Electronics' V20 are heating up the premium handset market, with Samsung Electronics seeking to rejoin it soon with Galaxy Note 7 replacements. Expectations are high over the winner of the market competition slated for next month as all three models have their own pros and cons. "It is likely that the launch of new iPhones in October will intensify competition of premium handsets," an industry source said. "As of now, the result may vary because all three smartphones have their clear strengths and weaknesses." LG Electronics will roll out its V20 on Sept. 29. The nation's second-largest smartphone manufacturer launched the V10 in October last year and was expected to release the V20 in the market a year later. But the company has moved up the launch date of the new handset, aiming at securing market presence with an early debut. LG Electronics has stressed that the V20 is focused on multimedia features such as audio and camera. It has collaborated again with Danish premium audio brand B&O Play to introduce an advanced digital-to-analog converter and sound tuning technologies, and adopted wide-view cameras both in the front and rear for the first time in the world. Globally, the company said it will concentrate on certain markets such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States to meet the demand for large-screen models. V20's price 899,800 won ($815) in Korea is likely to be a sticking point for its success. The price has clearly gone up from its predecessor's 799,700 won. Apple is likely to launch the iPhone 7 series here early next month. Though the U.S. smartphone giant has not officially announced when it will ship the iPhone 7 and larger iPhone 7 Plus to the Korean market, expectations are its success will be the key point in the competition of the three flagship handsets here. When Apple unveiled the new iPhones on Sept. 16 in the United States, it was criticized that the new handset was "not innovative." Its bold challenge to remove the 3.5-millimeter analog socket for wired earphones has drawn doubts both from critics and users. The new handsets have even been embroiled in controversies over hardware defects after multiple reports about the inadequate waterproof feature and a "hissing" sound when the handset is overloaded. Despite all the negative issues, the iPhone 7 series is selling well, especially in the U.S. market. Major U.S. telecom companies such as T Mobile and Verizon said they have received four times more pre-sales orders compared to those for the iPhone 6 series. In particular, they said there is a shortage of iPhones with the new Jet Black finish. Samsung Electronics is seeking to make a challenging comeback by providing the Note 7 with its battery problem fixed. The world's largest smartphone company said it plans to complete shipment of some 400,000 replacement Note 7s for the domestic market and restart selling Note 7s here, Oct. 1. According to a telecom industry sources, Sunday, more than 200,000 customers have participated in the recall program to replace the Note 7 from Sept. 19 to 24. Though Samsung Electronics has not officially released the number of customers who have requested a refund, around 5 percent of buyers have chosen it, according to sources. About 429,000 Note 7s have been sold in the Korean market. Meanwhile, the electronics company said about 50 to 60 percent of customers have participated in the recall program in the United States, and some 10 percent of the participants chose refunds instead of replacements. With many lawmakers chomping at the bit to return home to campaign for reelection, its hard to believe there is any serious talk about another government shutdown. Congress is rushing to complete work on a large stop-gap spending package that would keep the government operating until at least December 9 well past the November election and the start of a new fiscal year. Republican and Democratic negotiators are also trying to put the finishing touches on a number of other essential measures as part of that package, including $1.1 billion to help combat the dreaded Zika virus in Florida and Puerto Rico, and $500 million in disaster relief for flood-ravaged Louisiana. Related: The Senate Dithers Again as Zika Virus Continues to Spread But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) are butting heads with Democratic leaders in the two chambers over a number of other unrelated legislative matters that have hung up the talks and now threaten to trigger a repeat of the last government shutdown in October 2013. Political analysts are highly skeptical that either party would risk a government shutdown so close to the election, although stranger things have happened. With so much on the line for both parties, a government shutdown could become a runaway train, one highly embarrassing for both parties. Logic would suggest no shut down, but logic doesn't apply in the midst of this dysfunction, said Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar with the American Enterprise Institute and sharp critic of the Republican-controlled Congress. Late last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructed federal agencies to begin planning for a possible halt in funding beginning midnight September 30 in the event the negotiations between the Republicans, Democrats and the White House collapse. And White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest warned that President Obama was willing to go to the mat to block an unacceptable stop-gap spending measure. Story continues Related: Trumpification of the Congressional Agenda Begins The President does not believe that a short-term budget measure that only exists because Congress hasnt done their job in the first place should be used to pass ideological riders in the law, Earnest told reporters. And the President is not going to be a part of any effort to sign those kinds of ideological riders into law when they're attached to a short-term spending bill. The last thing that McConnell can tolerate at this point is political brinksmanship on the budget, either in the Senate where the Republicans hold a modest 54 to 46 seat majority, or in the House where Republicans hold a much larger majority but where Ryan has trouble controlling dozens of far-right conservatives who make up the Freedom Caucus. On Thursday, McConnell introduced a new continuing resolution relatively devoid of controversial riders -- and urged the Senate to quickly resolve their differences. There have been broad requests for a clean continuing resolution, so thats what Ive just offered, McConnell said on the Senate floor while filing for cloture. Its the result of many, many hours of bipartisan work on both sides of the aisle. But Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other Democrats refused to budge and are holding out for major concessions before they go along with the new CR. Among the Democrats demands: Adding $100 million in assistance to Flint, Michigan, to deal with lead contamination in that citys drinking water, as a companion to the Louisiana flood assistance strongly favored by Republicans. The Democrats are also furious with a poison pill amendment added by the Republicans that would prevent the Securities and Exchange Commission from requiring corporations to publicly disclose their political spending. Related: Congress Does It Again Plays the Blame Game Over Funding to Prevent Zika McConnell has fumed that the Democrats have intentionally held up action for their own political purposes although the Republicans were the ones who decided to recess Congress for seven weeks over the summer -- and noted that the Republicans already have made a number of important concessions. Arguably the Republicans biggest concession was dropping an amendment to the Zika funding that would have prevented ProFamilias clinics in Puerto Ricco, an ally of Planned Parenthood, from using any of the funds to treat pregnant women infected by the mosquito-borne virus. The Senate will resume the debate on Tuesday, but that will leave only four more days in which to negotiate a final settlement before current funding runs out and the federal government will begin shuttering many of its department and agencies, national museums, parks and monuments. The crisis comes as the nation approaches one of the most significant presidential and congressional elections of modern times elections that will determine whether Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump will succeed President Obama and whether Republican can retain control of the Senate. If the history of government shutdowns dating back to 1995 is any guides, Republicans typically get blamed more than the Democrats for these sorts of governmental crises. If the shutdown is a few days, it will be forgotten by November, said Larry J. Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist. But if this turns into a real stalemate, it would almost certainly hurt Republicans since they are in the majority in both houses. Related: Congress Is Taking an $18 Billion Gamble With the Pentagons War Fund A government shutdown similar to the one in late 2013 would discontinue all but the most essential government services, send millions of non-essential federal workers home without pay, and cause headaches and inconvenience for millions of Americans and businesses. Individuals and businesses rely heavily on the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Commerce Department and other agencies that provide important direct services to the public. Moodys calculated that the economy lost more than $20 billion as a result of the last government shutdown, while the loss in Gross Domestic Product was estimated at up to 0.5 percent. Republicans have struggled at times to make the case that they are effective stewards of the Congress and the White House. They face a difficult challenge especially amid a raucous campaign in which Trump repeatedly denounced the GOP controlled Congress, the Republican political establishment and even the past Republican administration of George W. Bush for incompetence. Trump could use a government shutdown as another reason to advocate for change and why Washington doesnt work, said Ron Bonjean, a Washington policy adviser and former Republican congressional aide. Senate Democrats could also use it against the Republican majority to make their case about why they should be in charge. Related: Outraged Americans Want Immediate Action on Flint Water And yet Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other Democratic leaders must be careful not to overplay their hand or be seen as attempting to instigate another crisis by being intransigent. Ross Baker, a Rutgers University political scientist and expert on Congress, said in an interview that there is little doubt the Republicans would be blamed for another government shutdown. They have much more control over the process than Democrats, Baker said in an interview. And although the Democrats clearly are delighted, I think, in the prospect of a shutdown for which the Republicans are blamed, they themselves are not blameless. An exasperated McConnell has repeatedly tried and failed to win Democratic support to move ahead with a continuing resolution, but has been thwarted at every turn by the Democrats who are digging in their heels on a number of issues. Related: Congress Fumbles Again on Funding for the Flint Water Crisis The Democrats have been pretty good about pinning the blame for all of these extraneous riders on appropriations bills, but the Democrats have riders of their own, Baker said. I do believe that a shutdown would hurt Republicans a little bit more, but it is not entirely clear cut, added Ornstein of AEI. Utter ineptitude in Washington plays to Trump's strength-- how could you even he be worse than what we have now? But for Republican incumbent in Congress, a shutdown is not a great argument for maintaining their majority. And to some degree the political dynamic depends on how a shutdown is framed. Is it Democrats filibustering a CR, or is it Freedom Caucus radicals demanding purity? Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Dear Liz: In January, I used financing to buy a used car, and now I have about $8,000 left to pay off. I recently received a windfall and can pay off that debt in full. Is there any reason to not go ahead and do that? This car loan is my only current debt. However, I do anticipate buying a home and thus getting a mortgage in the near future. Additionally, would paying off the car loan help lower my auto insurance payment? Answer: Having an open installment loan showing on your credit reports can help your scores, according to credit expert Barry Paperno, who used to work for leading credit scoring firm FICO. But paying it off shouldnt hurt you much if at all. By contrast, paying off revolving debts such as credit card balances can give a real boost to your scores. Paying off the loan should save you some interest and eliminating the payment could help you qualify for a bigger mortgage. Those are real advantages. Still, there may be better uses for your windfall. Are you taking full advantage of your 401(k) match, if your company offers one? If you dont have a workplace retirement plan, are you contributing to an IRA? Do you have an emergency fund? A paid-off car doesnt automatically qualify for lower insurance rates. You can consider dropping collision and comprehensive coverage on older cars, since youre no longer required to carry that coverage, but make sure that youre comfortable with the risk of not getting anything from your own insurer to repair or replace your car if, for example, you cause an accident and your car is damaged. Social Security benefits for children Dear Liz: My husband was 51 when our last child was born, meaning that our son was only 15 when my husband turned 66. Because I was working full time and we had sufficient income, we adhered to the traditional advice of delaying my husband's Social Security payment. However, when he filed this past year at age 69, we learned that our son is eligible to receive a considerable monthly amount. Fortunately, the Social Security office was able to backdate my husband's application for six months, but nevertheless we lost out on several thousand dollars by not filing when my husband was 66. Although his monthly payout would have been lower, the accumulated difference would have been considerable with our son's payment. Therefore, although most retiring people do not have minor children, I believe that all financial advisors should be aware of this option and that those parents should plan carefully to maximize their payout. SIGN UP for the free California Inc. business newsletter Answer: More than 4 million children receive Social Security benefits because their parents are disabled or deceased or have reached retirement age. A child can receive up to half the parents disability or retirement check. If the parent dies, a childs survivor benefit can be up to 75% of the parents basic benefit. (Theres a limit to how much a family can receive, though, which ranges from 150% to 180% of the parents check.) Benefits typically stop at age 18, although they can continue until two months past the childs 19th birthday if the child is still in high school. Benefits can continue indefinitely if the child is disabled. Childrens benefits can be subject to the same earnings test that reduces Social Security retirement checks if the parent claims early and continues working. So it often makes sense to wait to start benefits until the parent is full retirement age, currently 66, when the earnings test no longer applies. Youre right that delaying beyond that age may not make sense when the child is young enough to receive benefits, since they can considerably boost a familys total benefit. Having minor children at retirement age definitely complicates the calculation of when to take benefits. Many free Social Security claiming calculators dont let you include minor children in your calculation, so if youre in this situation it can be worth paying $40 to get a customized claiming strategy from calculators such as MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com. Changing the executor of a will Dear Liz: You recently wrote about a stepmom who dismissed her deceased husbands son as an executor. Sometimes a will provides that someone such as the surviving spouse can alter the executor pattern. This is done to keep the children in line. Answer: Thats certainly a possibility. But if thats the case, the stepmother could simply show at least that portion of the will to the other children to allay their fears. The fact that she hasnt shared the will, which should be a public record at some point, is reason for concern. Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the "Contact" form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. MORE BUSINESS NEWS Self-driving trucks threaten one of America's top blue-collar jobs Can homeowner association boards hold frequent 'emergency' meetings? Snapchat to sell Spectacles, sunglasses with an embedded camera Among the members of a committee that advises the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on consumer issues, there are a handful of professional consumer advocates, an academic and executives from a few financial firms. And then theres Arjan Schutte. Hes the founder and managing partner of Hollywoods Core Innovation Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in financial technology companies with the goal of making financial services less expensive and easier to access for lower-income and average Americans while also making solid returns for his investors. That makes Schutte, 46, something of a man in the middle among the advisers to the CFPB, a federal agency created after the financial crisis that made headlines this month with its biggest-ever enforcement action: a $100-million fine levied against Wells Fargo & Co. over its fake-accounts scandal. Advertisement Like committee members from Citibank and lender Oportun, Schutte is in the business of making money. But like representatives from the California Reinvestment Coalition, the National Consumer Law Center and other advocacy groups, he also has a social mission in mind. Bridging that gap is familiar territory for Schutte, who has invested in companies that serve the same market as payday lenders but at lower rates, while also penning a recent op-ed arguing that Googles ban on payday loan ads was bad policy. Schutte spoke with The Times about his investment philosophy, his dual role as advocate and investor and what advice he hopes to offer the CFPB over the next three years. Here is an excerpt of that conversation. How did you intend to navigate your role as a man in the middle on the committee? Companies are going to represent their best interests. Advocates will represent theirs. Id like to think my voice is a mix and one that can perhaps provide a different point of view in how we think about consumer advocacy. Some advocacy groups argue that any loan with a rate higher than 36% is bad. You have invested in firms that lend at rates higher than that, and in your op-ed argued that Googles ban on ads for those loans will hurt well-intentioned lenders. Why stand up for such expensive financial products? I dont believe in rate caps. I try to see things in a nuanced way. Its a gray world. I was tremendously excited that Google would bother and that they went to the effort to do this. But I was disappointed that they drew such a hard line, which makes it really difficult for innovators to get there. The practical reality of subprime consumer lending is its really hard to do a loan at 36%. Those who do it are saying no to a lot of people. You also said youd like to see Google separate good lenders from bad ones. Isnt looking at the rates charged a simple, effective way to do that? The efficacy, the goodness, the fairness of credit isnt primarily wrapped up in the annual percentage rate. Its primarily wrapped up in the structure of the loan, which is a more complicated thing to talk about. The cost of rolling over a payday loan five times is much more economically devastating than the $20 you spend to get the first $100. Everyone can afford the $20, but its when that turns into $100 or $120 to get $100 that things get [messed] up. We look very carefully at product structure, making sure there are clear disclosures, flexible terms and that consumers have the ability to repay. Whats your general take on the CFPB and what it has done in its first five years? Overwhelmingly, the CFPBs existence is good and has been good for consumers. And of course there are plenty of examples of unintended consequences of good intentions. In some cases, much to my delight, CFPB has recognized that and has been willing to change their position once they realize theyve made a mistake. Now that youll be advising the CFPB, is there anything specific youd like the bureau to do? If theres one thing I wish I could do there, it would be to 10x Project Catalyst. Its part of CFPB that works with innovators and entrepreneurs to give them tools and safe harbors. Theyll allow innovators to pursue new ideas. Catalyst has a one-man team who makes regular visits to Silicon Valley and has office hours. They should have 10 more. When Core started out, you talked a lot about the underbanked people who dont have or are not well served by banks. But now you talk more about everyday Americans. Whats behind that shift? Ive been playing with words and trying to find what feels right what suggests the right thing. Its not just the underbanked who are vulnerable. Its not just people who are homeless, but people who live in McMansions who are totally struggling as well. What are some investments youve made that speak to that wider focus? One is Mirador its not even consumer finance. Its small and mid-sized business finance. One big focus in our second fund is on how to generate more income for people. Small and mid-sized finance seemed like a powerful way to do so. And small and mid-sized business finance is kind of like subprime consumer finance. Its very expensive. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - A gunman shot dead Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar on Sunday outside the court where he was to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature seen as insulting Islam, witnesses and state media said. The gunman was arrested at the scene, state news agency Petra said. A security source said he was a 39-year-old Muslim preacher in a mosque in the capital. Hattar, a Christian and an anti-Islamist activist, was arrested last month after sharing on social media a caricature depicting a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and clear his dishes. Lebanon's powerful Shi'ite Hezbollah militant group mourned Hattar as a "brave and vocal voice" against the Takfiris, a derogatory term used to describe hard-line Sunni fundamentalists such as Islamic State. Many of Jordan's conservative Muslims considered Hattar's move deeply offensive. Still, such politically motivated assassinations are rare in the U.S.-backed Arab kingdom, whose relative stability has distinguished it from war-ravaged neighbours such as Syria and Iraq. Hattar, who was also Jordan's most vocal supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was charged with contempt of religion and sowing sectarian tensions. The country's highest official religious fatwa authority criticised Hattar for what it said was the "insult to the divine entity, Islam and religious symbols". "The assailant was arrested and investigations are ongoing," Petra quoted a security source as saying, adding that the killer, who held a degree in civil engineering, had fired three shots at Hattar. Two witnesses said the gunman was wearing a traditional Arab dishashada, worn by ultra conservative Sunni Salafis who adhere to a puritanical version of Islam and shun Western lifestyles. "This killer drew his weapon from his briefcase, or the bag he was holding, and shot Nahed Hattars chest, causing Hattar to fall to the ground. He then shot at him again, a second, third.., said Mohammad Jughbeir, who was standing close to Hattar at the time of the attack. While many Jordanians thought Hattar had crossed a red line with the caricature, some of his secular and liberal supporters said his arrest was a breach of freedom of speech. "Hattar's killing is a direct result of lack of commitment to freedom of expression by Jordanian authorities," said a statement from Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa coordinator for New-York based Committee to Protect Journalists. Hattar had apologised on social media and said he did not mean to insult God but had shared the cartoon to mock fundamentalist Sunni radicals and what he said was their vision of God and heaven. He had accused his Islamist opponents of using the cartoon to settle scores with him. Hattar was a controversial figure whose calls for depriving Jordanians of Palestinian descent their political rights had won him many enemies in a country with a large Palestinian population. The Jordanian government condemned the attack. "The law will be strictly enforced on the culprit who did this criminal act and will hit with an iron fist anyone who tries to harm state of law," government spokesman Mohammad Momani said. The moderate Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group also warned against a flare up in religious and sectarian tensions in a country where Christians are a minority but wield wide political and economic influence. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut; Editing by Clelia Oziel) Jane Pauley is back on the morning shift. Charles Osgood is handing the CBS Sunday Morning baton to the former Today co-host, who will be the new anchor of the news program. The move was announced at the end of Osgoods final appearance as host of the program he took over 22 years ago. Pauley will be just the third anchor in the 37-year history of the program known for its soothing tone and literate storytelling. Osgood took over for Charles Kuralt, the programs first anchor, in 1994. Osgood, 83, announced in August that he is retiring from CBS News after 50 years at the network, although he will still be heard on CBS Radio. The bow tie he wore on his last CBS Sunday Morning broadcast is being donated to the Smithsonians National Museum of American History. Advertisement For Pauley, 64, CBS Sunday Morning will be her first regular anchor role on a news program since she left NBCs Dateline in 2003. She spent a year as the host of her own syndicated talk show in 2004 and did mostly specials and occasional segments on NBCs Today in the 10 years that followed. Pauley joined CBS News in 2014 as a contributor to CBS Sunday Morning and became a frequent fill-in for Osgood. It has been widely anticipated that she would be his successor as permanent anchor. She will take over Oct. 9. Jane Pauley is the ideal host for the most wide-ranging news program on American culture, our beloved CBS Sunday Morning broadcast, CBS News President David Rhodes said in a statement. Charles Osgood is a television news legend and so is Jane Pauley. Pauley has a long network TV track record that goes back to 1976 when she was a 24-year-old Midwestern local news anchor who succeeded Barbara Walters as the co-host of NBCs Today alongside Tom Brokaw. Teamed with Bryant Gumbel on Today in the 1980s, she became one of televisions most popular personalities. She left Today in 1989 and became co-anchor of Dateline in 1992. Pauley had her three children during her run on Today, which raised the countrys awareness of women balancing motherhood with a career. She is married to Doonesbury cartoonist Gary Trudeau, whom she met through Brokaw. Pauley is joining a franchise that has seen its ratings grow in recent year while the rest of the broadcast TV business has faced audience erosion. CBS Sunday Morning finished the 2015-16 season with an average of 5.92 million viewers, an increase of 1% from the previous year and its largest audience overall in at least 28 years according to Nielsen. Follow me @MeredithBlake ALSO Samantha Bee says Jimmy Fallon and NBC tacitly condoned race-baiting demagogue Donald Trump Following criticism from NBC chairman, Donald Trump will visit Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this week Jimmy Kimmels confident Emmys performance was in sync with TVs new bold age The California Highway Patrol said 12 people were injured when a tour bus carrying Chinese teens struck a tree near Yosemite National Park and went down an embankment. Sgt. Michael Schwab told KFSN-TV that two of the injured were flown to a hospital with head trauma after Saturdays crash on Highway 41, south of Fish Camp. Schwab said 22 people were on the bus, most of them 12- to 15-year-old Chinese students and their adult chaperones who were heading to their hotel in Fresno after visiting the park. Advertisement Schwab said the bus was operated by A Top Line Tours, based in Monterey Park. A call to the company had not been returned. Follow @lanow for breaking news. ALSO Pasadena police arrest man after six stabbed at party Man who said he did his childhood friend a favor by killing him is sentenced to 10 years Three adults found dead in Fullerton home after child calls police; missing teen sought In nearly three years, Dominic Walker rarely looked another human being in the eye. Except for showers, he left his cell at Mens Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles only once a week, to exercise in a small cage resembling a dog kennel. His conversations were typically shouted through cell bars to other inmates in his row. It makes you feel like nobody. Im here, the walls are closing in. It makes you hallucinate, said Walker, 34, who was released in June after prosecutors dropped his armed robbery charge. Advertisement More than 300 inmates in the antiquated jail live in near-total solitude, deprived of meaningful human contact either because they have misbehaved behind bars or because officials believe they must be kept away from others for safety reasons. Another 100 or so, including women, are doing their time in solitary units officially called restrictive housing at jails elsewhere in the county. Throughout the nation, state prisons have come under intense scrutiny because of concerns that inmates who are deprived of social contact in solitary confinement can suffer serious psychological damage. Last year, spurred by hunger strikes and a lawsuit, the California state prison system reduced the population of its Solitary Housing Unit by thousands of inmates, joining states such as Colorado, Mississippi, Maine and North Carolina that have made similar changes. But long-term isolation in county lockups, where most inmates are awaiting trial or serving short sentences, has largely remained a hidden issue. The majority of these inmates, they want to be out, to have the interaction, the freedom. Its healthier. Capt. Joseph Dempsey In Los Angeles County, the average stay in restrictive housing is more than a year shorter than the decades that some state prisoners spent in solitary but still plenty of time to experience debilitating psychological effects, according to mental health experts. The symptoms, which include paranoia and hallucinations, can continue even after an inmate goes home. A silent damage of jail incarceration is that people spend time in solitary, said Terry Kupers, a psychiatrist who is an expert on solitary confinement and has researched the treatment of mentally ill inmates in the L.A. County jails. Late last year, sheriffs officials embarked on a series of changes designed to reduce the solitary population and provide more social contact for those who remain, making L.A. County one of the few jail systems in the country to do so. According to the officials, the conditions at Mens Central Jail do not amount to true solitary confinement. The gaps between cell bars, they say, offer limited interaction with neighboring inmates, even if the men cannot see one other and must yell to be heard. Still, they acknowledge that the shift is partly for humanitarian reasons and is in line with a general push to give inmates more time out of their cells and more access to educational classes. They cite an increasing national focus on the mental health effects of solitary confinement and a recognition that the tide is beginning to turn against the practice. They also hope the jails will be easier to run when inmates have more interaction with others and face the threat of losing the privilege if they misbehave. The majority of these inmates, they want to be out, to have the interaction, the freedom. Its healthier, said Capt. Joseph Dempsey, who is in charge of Mens Central Jail. It makes them act better during the week, before they get it. Death row inmates hang out during their free time at the Mens Central Jail restrictive housing unit. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) On the 3000 floor of Mens Central Jail on a recent day, a seven-by-nine foot cell was crammed with a bed, toilet, phone and a shelf filled with books, leaving barely enough room for a man to turn around. Reading glasses and a Bible rested on a small table. A makeshift mirror, fashioned to help an inmate see who was coming down the narrow walkway, was perched on the green bars that fronted the cell. Until recently, the tier was filled with the cacophony of men shouting to be heard above blaring television sets, which are mounted on the corridor walls and shared by several adjoining cells. The decibel level decreased after the inmates received wireless earpieces to pipe in the TV audio and could speak to each other in quieter voices. Some also communicate using written notes, or kites, which are passed by extending an arm in front of a neighboring cell, using other inmates as messengers, or dangling a string weighted by a heavy object, such as a bar of soap. Some of the 4,800-man jails most dangerous and disruptive inmates, including high-level gang leaders, live here in the restrictive housing unit, which is known informally as K-10, with the K standing for keep-away. Another term, high-power, also alludes to the threat jailers believe these inmates pose. But not all K-10s are violent. Some live in isolation because they need to be protected from other inmates. This category includes celebrity inmates or those accused of high-profile crimes, like gangsta rap mogul Suge Knight and the Grim Sleeper serial killer. The countys euphemistic lexicon for solitary confinement has helped keep the issue out of the public eye, said Mark-Anthony Johnson, director of health and wellness for the jail reform group Dignity and Power Now. The way K-10 is talked about is, We need to keep these people away from the population, and thats where the conversation around their rights gets lost, Johnson said. Contrary to the assertions of sheriffs officials, the conditions at Mens Central Jail fit the definition of solitary confinement, according to some experts. Were not talking truly about sensory deprivation but about meaningful, anchoring stimulation, said Stuart Grassian, a psychiatrist who has served as an expert for plaintiffs in lawsuits opposing solitary confinement. In a recent article in the Prison Journal, UC Santa Cruz psychologist Craig Haney called solitary confinement in local jails among the least studied components of the entire criminal justice system. Haney, who provided a scathing critique of solitary confinement in the California state prison lawsuit, cited a United Nations-appointed expert who contended that solitary confinement of more than 15 days can amount to torture. As state prisons across the country have changed their practices to reflect mental health and human rights concerns, jails have been slow to follow. In November 2015, the Prison Law Office sued on behalf of two Santa Clara County jail inmates in solitary confinement who allegedly were not taken outdoors for seven months. One plaintiff, Brian Chavez, said he became easily irritated and preoccupied with fears of dying alone in his cell, the lawsuit said. The other plaintiff, Brandon Bracamonte, alleged he could no longer concentrate and became so anxious that he paced back and forth in his cell, hyper-vigilant to noises. Donald Specter, the plaintiffs lead attorney, said he is negotiating a settlement with Santa Clara jail officials that he hopes will require improved conditions for inmates. Jails statewide need to take a look at this issue, he said. Jails statewide need to take a look at this issue. Donald Specter In Texas, solitary confinement is widespread in jails, said Diana Claitor, executive director of the Texas Jail Project. Vulnerable inmates, such as those who are mentally ill or pregnant, are sometimes put into solitary as a quick fix, she said. Rikers Island in New York City is among the few jails that has drastically reduced its use of solitary housing. Since a package of reforms was instituted in January 2015, the solitary population has dropped from over 500 to about 160. ** Sitting at a round cafeteria table, the three middle-aged men conversed animatedly. Each had spent decades on death row before his conviction was overturned and he arrived at Mens Central Jail to await a new trial. Because of their common experiences, they would likely hit it off, jail officials decided. Cleamon Johnson, 48, and Michael Allen, 43, were co-defendants in the 1991 homicides of two alleged gang rivals and had been back in the solitary unit for about four years. The third man, who would not give his name, was a 58-year-old from the Antelope Valley who was sentenced to death for a killing in 1998. Before Johnson began gathering with the others once a week, he was not allowed to touch another human being not even to shake hands, he said, grasping the hand of his goateed, bespectacled 58-year-old friend to demonstrate. Johnson, whose street name was Big Evil and who is thought by authorities to have had a hand in more than 20 murders, made his first trip to the K-10 unit when he was 18. In those days, he said, it made the wild, wild west look like Disneyland. You couldnt look them in the eye and have a conversation, as opposed to sitting at a table and having a decent dialogue, said Johnson, who has a shaved head and an earnest expression. K-10 was extremely chaotic. The only thing you could look forward to was participating in chaos. Now the three men spend their brief time together discussing world affairs and legal issues. They also attend classes on critical thinking and anger management. The long hours alone in their cells are easier to bear when there is something to break up the monotony. Until recently, it was nearly impossible to get out of solitary: Once an inmate was classified a K-10, he remained a K-10, even on subsequent visits. Jail officials are now evaluating each inmate to see who might be ready to socialize with others. The small groups are carefully selected based on who is likely to get along. In addition to congregating in day rooms every week or so, some inmates now do their exercise time with other inmates. They can choose from a small menu of educational classes and religious services. Those who are prone to lashing out violently can be strapped into chairs so they can sit together in groups. More social interaction may calm troublemakers who used to act out by throwing feces or attacking people with homemade spears, sheriffs officials said. Since the recent changes, some former K-10s have been integrated into the general population, and the unit has shrunk from 450 inmates to roughly 350. About 200 or so K-10s have the weekly day room hours. The rest 150 or so men have as little human contact as traditional K-10s. There have been only two major fights. One happened when some inmates in the exercise yard came to blows over whether pork is the other white meat. We had staff who were adamant: They will kill each other. Im not putting my name to it, said Deputy Barry Poltorak, who works on the new program. But we see the benefits. Guys want it, are asking for it. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj Esther Lim, the jails project director at the ACLU of Southern California, called the changes long overdue. The ACLU will be monitoring the Sheriffs Department to make sure that the only inmates in solitary are those who genuinely need to be separated from others, she said. For some, the limits on solitary confinement come too late. Aubrey Berry, who was found not guilty in 2010 of murdering a rapper at the Beverly Center, was never the same after spending a year in solitary at Mens Central Jail, said his attorney, Howard Price. Berry withdrew from family and friends not a typical reaction for someone who has been exonerated, Price said. I have no doubt that the incarceration of Aubrey Berry altered him permanently for the rest of his life, Price said. He was always complaining about how the time passed so slowly. Every day was the same. There was nothing to think about or do. ALSO Another kind of drought: Inmate fire crews dwindle as wildfire season grows ever longer Illegal drugs are flowing into Californias most guarded prisons and killing death row inmates ACLU wins access to 12,000 pages of internal prison documents on Californias plans for lethal injection More than 50 employees working inside Los Angeles Countys juvenile lockups received promotions despite a history of disciplinary problems or criminal arrests under a deal county leaders quietly cut earlier this year. The workers had previously been denied promotion for actions ranging from mistreatment of children in custody to off-duty drunk driving. The rules were part of a larger effort to reform the Probation Department, which has faced years of scrutiny for mistreatment of children and spent a decade under monitoring by the U.S. Department of Justice. The county softened the policy after the union representing the employees filed a lawsuit challenging the denial of promotions. A judge ruled in favor of the county. But when the union appealed, the county decided to settle the case and create a new policy allowing more employees with discipline records to receive promotions. Advertisement Cal Remington, the interim probation chief, said the county softened the rules in an effort to improve relations with employees. Even though the county won [the lawsuit], we still had a big mess in terms of employee relations. Right or wrong, that was my feeling, Remington said. I mean, its tough, because some of these people are going to work 30 years for us. Weve got to have some process so you can overcome the mistake youve made. One beneficiary of the new policy was an officer who was disciplined for excessive force after slamming a boys head into a bed frame. Officials gave him a 15-day suspension, according to a county official with access to his file who requested anonymity because California law prohibits the disclosure of peace officer discipline. After the rule change, he was promoted earlier this year, helping to raise his pay by more than $9,500 above last years total compensation of $95,000, county officials said. Remington acknowledged that the officers actions were serious, but he stood by the rule change. Excessive force. Slamming a kids head. Yeah, I dont like that, he said. I didnt look at any of the specific cases. You just had to meet the new policy, and he must have. The change in the promotions rules capped several years of battling between the probation officers union and the county. Former probation chief Jerry Powers established the policy of delaying promotions to staff who had been disciplined for misconduct. The union, AFSCME Local 685, filed unfair labor practice complaints with the county employee relations commission and sued the county in 2013 over the issue, arguing that the department should have negotiated the policy with labor representatives. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled against the union in April 2015. The union dropped an appeal of the suit under the settlement reached in May with Remington, who took over the department after Powers stepped down in December. The union felt that promotions should be based on seniority, and there shouldnt be a component to the process that included discipline, and obviously we disagreed strenuously, Powers said in an interview. In most instances, employers dont discipline employees for behavior that doesnt impact their job. Esteban Lizardo, an attorney representing AFSCME in the case, said the union had objected to the fact that Powers and the department had unilaterally implemented a new promotions policy without negotiating and without explaining what the new standards were. The union was not against the idea that past performance in the form of past discipline could be a consideration in promotions, he said. Negotiations to reach a settlement had begun under Powers, but went nowhere, the former chief and union representatives said. Remington said that when he took over as interim chief of the department, the countys five elected supervisors expressed concerns about the state of relations between management and the probation union. The overall labor contract between the county and probation officers says seniority should be the deciding factor in who receives raises and promotions. The new policy dealing with the role of discipline in promotions was based on a policy used by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department but is more lenient when it comes to when officials who faced discipline can get promotions. Consideration of job attendance and performance evaluations should not be a factor in promotions, the labor contract states, as long as the most recent report shows the worker was at least competent. Under the new policy, a history of minor discipline is no longer considered, and the policy shortened the time that other employees would have to wait for a promotion by starting the clock at the date of the misconduct rather than when discipline was imposed. Lizardo said that in the majority of cases, such low-level discipline involved non-repeat behavior issues such as absenteeism or off-duty incidents, and that holding employees back from promotion would hurt morale and reduce productivity. And he argued that because of the amount of time it takes for cases to work their way through the civil service process, it was unfair to count from the date of discipline. The settlement was finalized without any public disclosure, and attorneys working for the Board of Supervisors denied a public records request for a copy of the agreement, citing attorney-client privilege. The Times obtained the document, however, along with a list of the 57 officers to be promoted They included one worker who was disciplined in 2012 for putting his hands around a juveniles neck, in 2013 for injuring another juvenile, and in 2014 for abusive language, dishonesty and failure to perform his duties, according to a source with access to his file. Another worker had been disciplined in 2011 for misuse of force for striking a juvenile, according to a source with access to his file. A third had been given a 20-day suspension in 2012 for failure to properly supervise and failure to exercise sound judgment. That arose from a 2010 incident in which she was on duty in a dormitory at one of the juvenile lockups and one minor was assaulted by another and sustained a serious jaw injury. The departments investigation found that the officers on duty allowed the dormitory to remain in a chaotic state with virtually no supervision. An additional 18 probation employees, some with more serious misconduct, are currently being considered for promotion, Remington said. abby.sewell@latimes.com Twitter: @sewella Therolf, a former Times staff writer, is a reporter at the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley and Common Sense News. On a crisp autumn day in a small hillside church, Levi Shirleys remarkable journey from suburban Denver to the battlefields of Syria came to an end. The Rev. Rebecca Brown recited a poem by Robert Frost: Two roads diverged in a wood and I I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. It was a fitting tribute for a young man whose desire to be a part of something bigger than himself led him from washing dishes at a local Red Robin restaurant to battling some of the most dangerous militants in the world. Advertisement Shirley wanted to be a Marine, a dream thwarted by his poor eyesight. So he found another path to service one that ran through the Kurdish rebels battling Islamic State in Syria. He joined up and was quickly in the thick of the fight. On July 14, during intense urban combat in Manbij, a city of 100,000 in northern Syria, Shirley, 24, was killed by an improvised explosive device. It took nearly two months to get him back home. His body and that of fellow Coloradan Jordan MacTaggart, 22, killed in the same battle, arrived by train Sept. 16 in Denvers Union Station. They were among a small number of Americans who have volunteered to fight against Islamic State with Kurdish forces. Saturday marked the end of his long goodbye. Inside the Church of Christ the King, Shirleys ashes were draped in the yellow flag of the YPG or the Peoples Protection Units, the Kurdish militia he fought with. His father, Russell Shirley, 70, had served three combat tours in Vietnam. He sat alone in a pew before the service steeling himself for what was to come. When he first learned that Levi had gone to Syria, a sense of dread swept over him. At the time, he said, he recalled a nightmare he had 24 years earlier that seemed to foreshadow his sons fate. The day Levi was born I had a dream I was holding him in my arms and he was killed by a mortar round, he said. I screamed, God Almighty, is there no mercy! Shirley went to Syria twice. When he came home the first time he and his father had dinner at an Outback Steakhouse. They talked about war. Russell Shirley tried to set him up with a waitress. It was the last time he would see his boy alive. If I would have known that, I wouldnt have ever let go of him, he said. Susan Shirley, 58, who sells books online, still struggles to believe any of this is real. She waits for the mistake to be discovered, for her son to walk through the door wearing his big grin. Going forward I dont know how I will deal with it, she said. A group of Marines showed up in their dress blues. They recalled Levi Shirley working out with them at the recruiting station, how he kept trying to get in the corps even after he was rejected. We wrote letters of recommendation for him, said Cpl. Jaelene Wilson, 23. One day he messaged me and said, Im going to Syria. I wasnt surprised. He wanted to find a way to serve. Porter Goodman, 28, stood quietly among the crowd. The former YPG medic from Utah was the last person to see Shirley alive. The two of them went inside a building looking for documents, passports or other Islamic State intelligence. Shirley had just finished covering the medics as they evacuated the wounded. We walked through the doorway and thats the last thing I remember, Goodman said. The next thing I know I woke up in a hospital. Shirley had triggered a booby-trap planted in the wall. The blast killed him instantly. It blew off Goodmans flak jacket and filled his back and legs with shrapnel. I came here to honor Levi. He didnt just talk about doing something; he went and did it Porter Goodman on Levi Shirley I came here to honor Levi, he said. He didnt just talk about doing something; he went and did it. During the service, Rev. Brown talked about Shirleys childhood: his fascination with all things on wheels, from Tonka trucks to front-loaders. Then came his fixation on Star Wars, the Chicago Bears and his beloved Marines. As a teenager, Shirley used to help serve community dinners at the church. He was unfailingly polite and respectful of everyone who came through the door, she said. He had a gift for finding the absurdity in often difficult situations. The cause of the Syrian Kurds fighting ISIS caught his heart and changed his life. He found a place where he felt needed and wanted. A pianist played John Lennons Imagine. Then everyone stood. Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Levi a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, the Rev. Brown said. Amen, the mourners replied. A bagpiper whose son had been killed in Iraq played Amazing Grace. And the crowd filed out in silence. Kelly is a special correspondent. ALSO Manhunt underway for gunman who killed 5 people at mall in Washington state Charlotte police release videos of fatal shooting of black man Keith Lamont Scott: A troubled man whose death ignited a city 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. Liz in Newport Beach posed a good question about commas. Consider the following two sentences. Days are usually great, but, when they arent great, they still pass in 24 hours. Every word should bring something to the table and, if it doesnt, it should be chopped out. MORE: Read more of Junes columns >> In both examples, a conjunction is connecting independent clauses. In the first, that conjunction is but. In the second, its and. But the but has a comma before it and the and does not. What, Liz wants to know, is the right way to handle these? The rules for commas seem, at first glance, to be pretty clear. They state that when any of the coordinating conjunctions and, but or so connects two clauses that could stand alone as sentences, put a comma before the conjunction unless the whole sentence is short, simple and poses no danger of confusion. In other words, use a comma before the conjunction or dont. Thats why both these sentences are punctuated correctly. Its also why you could change your mind about both removing the comma after great and inserting one after table and still be correct. Punctuation rules are full of gray areas where you can call the shots. In fact, the rules can be so subjective that when I was writing a book about punctuation a few years ago, I recruited a panel of professional copy editors to answer the question What would you do? in different situations not clearly covered by the rule books. The most interesting of their answers involved the sentence She lives with her husband, Tim, her dog, Bruno, and two cats, Bella and Charlie. Technically, the rules call for commas after husband, dog and cats (and would probably involve some semicolons in the sentence, too). Without a comma before Tim, you imply that she has more than one husband. Without the comma before Bruno, you imply that she has more than one dog. This subtle point about commas is easier to understand if we talk about brothers. If I have just one brother, I could say My brother will attend without any confusion on which brother Im talking about. If I threw in his name, My brother, Joe, will attend, that in no way narrows down who Im talking about. It just adds some supplemental information: a name. But if I had two brothers, a name would perform a very different function. It would add specificity to the noun brother, narrowing down its meaning. So if I happened to have two brothers, the sentence about Joe would be written My brother Joe will attend. Nonessential, parenthetical information gets set off with commas. Restrictive information, like a name that adds specificity, does not take commas. Thats the basic rule. In our Tim and Bruno sentence, we can presume that the woman has just one husband and just one dog. Their names dont narrow down our list of possible husband and dog suspects. So technically, the names Tim and Bruno are nonrestrictive and should be set off with commas, as I did above. But many copy editors feel that too many commas turn a sentence into such an eyesore that theyre not worth it. When theres no danger of confusion, editors sometimes break the rules in the interest of paving a smoother path for the reader. So its no surprise that most of the copy editors who weighed in for my book said they would omit the commas around Tim and Bruno in that sentence. Yes, commas have some very inflexible rules. But they have some flexible rules, too. And even in the most clear-cut instances, professional publishers might defy any of them in the interest of creating an smooth ride for the reader. -- JUNE CASAGRANDE is the author of The Best Punctuation Book, Period. She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com. The names are confusing, but Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is part of Californias Redwood National Park, and its a great place to feel small among redwoods standing tall. In fact, it is believed to be the home of the tallest tree in the world, but rangers dont disclose the location for fear of vandalism. In the neighboring meadows at Gold Bluffs Beach, elk are often spotted. Head for the visitor center at 127011 Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Orick ([707] 465-7335). Fern Canyon is one of the most popular trails, but the Big Tree Loop Trail is easier to reach. Advertisement READ: Californias redwoods: In the land of the giants In honor of this years National Park Service centennial, the Travel section is posting 100 park travel ideas and tips based on trips staff travel writer Christopher Reynolds has taken, along with photo-op advice from Times photographer Mark Boster. Well post one per day through Dec. 31. Follow Reynolds on Twitter: @MrCSReynolds See travel videos by Reynolds from around the world. A pregnant Sudanese woman who refused to renounce her Christianity was sentenced to death by hanging Thursday in a Khartoum court, provoking outrage from human rights groups. Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, who has a young son and is married to a Christian from South Sudan, violated Islamic sharia law, the court said. She insists she was raised Christian, not Muslim. The court also ordered Ibrahim to be flogged for having sexual relations with her husband, since her marriage is not recognized by officials. Advertisement Ibrahim refused a court order Sunday giving her several days to renounce her Christian faith, which resulted in the sentencing Thursday. Amnesty International issued a statement describing the sentence as abhorrent and called for Ibrahims release. The fact that a woman has been sentenced to death for her religious choice, and to flogging for being married to a man of an allegedly different religion is appalling and abhorrent, said Manar Idriss, Amnesty Internationals Sudan researcher. Adultery and apostasy are acts which should not be considered crimes at all. It is flagrant breach of international human rights law, Idriss said in the statement. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which includes the freedom to hold beliefs, is far-reaching and profound; it encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or belief. Ibrahim was charged after being reported to authorities last year by a member of her family because of her marriage to a Christian, according to her supporters. In February, the court added a charge of apostasy based on her 2012 marriage in a Christian church and the fact that she insisted in court that she was Christian. Her mother, an Orthodox Ethiopian Christian, married a Sudanese Muslim who was never at home as Ibrahim grew up, according to the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, a network of 80 civil society womens organizations based in Khartoum. Ibrahim, currently jailed with her son, will be allowed to give birth and raise her second child until the age of 2 years but then faces execution. Sudanese authorities refuse to allow Ibrahims son to reside with her husband because the husband is Christian. SIHA has called for an urgent global campaign by activists to pressure Sudanese authorities over Ibrahims death sentence. Two witnesses testified in court that they had seen Ibrahim pray in a Christian church in the past, the group said. Sudans legal system has often displayed a pattern of selective enforcement of the law and has frequently singled out women, ethnic minorities, and activists with punishments often disproportionate to alleged crimes committed, a SIHA statement said. The fact that Meriam stands to lose her life over specious charges makes this case of utmost urgency and demands a unified advocacy and outreach efforts by human rights defenders across the globe.' At least 26 civilians were killed in renewed government airstrikes on the contested city of Aleppo, Syrian activists said Sunday as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the spiraling violence in Syria. At the start of that meeting the U.N.'s top envoy to Syria accused the government of unleashing unprecedented military violence against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syrias declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the 5-year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. Advertisement He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons, including incendiary devices, may amount to war crimes. Medical workers and local officials reported airstrikes on neighborhoods throughout Aleppos rebel-held eastern districts as an announced government offensive entered its fourth day. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 26 civilians had been killed by 7:30 p.m. and said it expects the toll to rise. Ibrahim Alhaj of the Syrian Civil Defense search and rescue outfit said hospitals and rescuers have documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and medical workers are expecting many of the wounded to die from lack of treatment, said Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the opposition areas. Ive never seen so many people dying in one place, he said from a hospital in the city. Its terrifying today. In less than one hour the Russian planes have killed more than 50 people and injured more than 200. The observatory, which relies on a network of contacts in Syria, said earlier in the day that 213 civilians had been killed by airstrikes and shelling on opposition areas in and around Aleppo since a U.S.-Russian brokered cease-fire collapsed Monday evening. De Mistura, at the Security Council meeting, warned that if the Syrian government is intent on taking Aleppo, it is going to be a grinding street-by-street fight in which all of the infrastructure in the city will be destroyed, but it wont lead to victory. A so-called military solution is impossible, including in Aleppo, he stressed. He urged the United States and Russia to go that extra mile and save the Sept. 9 cessation of hostilities agreement at the eleventh hour. Prior to the start of the U.N. meeting, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia should be investigated for war crimes following an attack on a Syrian aid convoy that claimed 20 lives. Johnson said Russias air force may have deliberately targeted the civilian convoy on Sept. 19. Russia denies involvement and instead suggests Syrian rebels or a U.S. drone were responsible. NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they dont pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Ayrault said the emergency Security Council meeting Sunday is a moment of truth for the U.N. The meeting was requested by the United States, Britain and France as pro-government forces extend their bombardment of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian airstrikes. Rebels, meanwhile, shelled Masyaf, a government stronghold near the central city of Hama, for the second day in a row, according to the observatory. Masyaf is home to a large number of Alawites, members of Assads sect. Assad has rallied Syrias minorities behind his government with fears of the Sunni-dominated rebellion. The U.S., Britain and France are aligned on the Security Council against Russia and China, which back Assad in the countrys protracted war, now in its sixth year. But a broad coalition of Syrian rebels denounced international negotiations for peace as meaningless earlier Sunday. The statement released jointly by 33 factions called on the government and Russian forces to halt airstrikes and lift sieges on opposition areas. The U.N. estimates that 600,000 Syrians are trapped in various sieges enforced by the government, rebels and the Islamic State group across the country. Negotiations under the present conditions are no longer useful and are meaningless, the statement said. The factions said they would not accept having Russia mediate any negotiations, calling it a partner to the regime in the crimes against our people. The statement was signed by some of the largest factions from across Syria but did not include the powerful, ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham nor the Al Qaeda-linked Front for the Conquest of Syria. Rebels Sunday retook an area in Aleppo that fell to government forces the day before, extending a punishing stalemate in the contested northern city. The observatory says rebels seized Handarat, a largely uninhabited former Palestinian refugee camp, early Sunday a day after it was lost to government forces. The camp has changed hands multiple times and is largely devastated and abandoned. The area is near Castello Road, a vital supply route to the citys besieged rebel-held areas. Government forces seized the Castello Road this year, besieging rebel-held districts where about 250,000 people reside. Yasser Yousef, a spokesman for the Nour al-Din al-Zinki rebel faction, says rebels seized Handarat late Saturday night. MORE WORLD NEWS Colombias rebels have survived war. Can they survive peace? We need to be clear-eyed and vigilant: A look inside Chinas national spy museum In Spains Tordesillas, Pelado the bull encounters both anger and pleasure tied to his fate UPDATES: 5:10 p.m.: Updated with death toll rising to 26. This article was originally posted at 10:15 a.m. trump clinton split The New York Times reported in August that Hillary Clinton's campaign brought in psychology experts to help her prepare to debate Donald Trump. Which is weird, because that's not really what psychologists do. Here is the relevant part of the Times' article (emphasis mine): Hillary Clinton's advisers are ... seeking insights about Mr. Trump's deepest insecurities as they devise strategies to needle and undermine him ... at the first presidential debate ... Her team is also getting advice from psychology experts to help create a personality profile of Mr. Trump to gauge how he may respond to attacks and deal with a woman as his sole adversary on the debate stage. They are undertaking a forensic-style analysis of Mr. Trumps performances in the Republican primary debates, cataloging strengths and weaknesses as well as trigger points that caused him to lash out in less-than-presidential ways. There's not a tremendous amount of information here, but it's enough to work from if we want to find research relevant to the work these psychologists (or "psychology experts") are reportedly doing. The strange part is that there isn't much to find. If you have somebody who's narcissistic you want to threaten their ego. But I guess you and my grandmother probably knew that, right? Psychology has long been interested in the nature and structure of personality. But as for studies of "trigger points," strategies for needling and undermining people, or systems for predicting how a man with a misogynist past might betray his true feelings in the future there isn't much to be found. David Silber, a professor emeritus of psychology at George Washington University, told Business Insider that while he considers Trump a "narcissist," he's not aware of any particular science that might help Clinton take advantage of the Republican candidate's alleged personality disorder. (The American Psychiatric Association has a rule, known as "The Goldwater Rule," which prohibits psychiatrists from offering any diagnoses or opinions as to the mental of public figures who they have no personally examined. I have not asked any researchers psychologists in this case, not psychiatrists to break it. All three who I spoke to for this story used the word "narcissist" unprompted.) Story continues Another researcher, Scott Lilienfeld, who studies and teaches the psychology of personality at Emory, told Business Insider he also could not point to any particular advice psychologists could offer Clinton in taking on Trump beyond what he called "the obvious thing." "If you have somebody who's narcissistic you want to threaten their ego," he said. "But I guess you and my grandmother probably knew that, right? You find out what they're insecure about and you hound them on that. You go for the person's weakness." Brent Roberts, who studies and teaches personality psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, broadly agreed. Though he suggested some clinicians might have enough less-than-empirical, clinical experience with narcissists to offer more specific suggestions. Lilienfeld was less optimistic that there might be a cohort out there with the skills to dismantle Trump. "If they did, I would have thought that they'd have been able to stop Donald Trump by now," Lilienfeld said. He said it's worrying to hear that psychologists might be consulting the Clinton campaign. "I say this without knowing what these experts are saying it's possible they're working some magic I'm not aware of," he said. "But I worry a little bit about psychologists over-claiming expertise as though there's some well-established body of psychological science that says, 'Oh you should really do X as a candidate.' I'm just not aware of any along those lines." If I can talk to you, why wouldn't I be able to talk to a presidential candidate? If politics was within the domain of psychology, he said, there'd have to be controlled trials and peer-reviewed studies before anyone was qualified to offer advice. They'd have to show that Trump voters or independents, presented with a particular kind of message, were significantly more likely to vote for Clinton three months later. As for research into how to induce bad behavior on a debate stage? Both Roberts and Lilienfeld offered that it might be difficult to get an institutional ethical review board to approve that kind of work. Lilienfeld also said that he thinks there are dangers to psychologists consulting with politicians. "I think our job as psychologists is to better inform and educate the public, and I think there's a real danger in allowing ourselves to get too entangled in politics," he said. "I think it can tarnish the reputation of psychologists." Roberts was less concerned. "If I can talk to you, why wouldn't I be able to talk to a presidential candidate?" He said there are no specific ethical guidelines to prevent psychologists from offering bad advice, and that psychological consultants do so all the time noting the example of personality questionnaires offered to businesses to help evaluate their employees. That said, he allowed that there are "questions" about the validity of any claims about how Trump might behave if they're purported to emerge from empirical findings. Lilienfeld said he wishes psychologists would just stay out of it. "I would prefer psychologists better help the public to evaluate information. And become better critical thinkers, and learn how to become more resistant to misleading, false persuasion on the part of political candidates. That I think would be a much better use of psychologists' time." Hillary Clinton's campaign did not return a request for comment. NOW WATCH: 'Is this the president we want for our daughters?': Clinton's new ad is a brutal recap of Trumps insults against women More From Business Insider When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added Maryam Monsef to his Cabinet last year, his government touted her as the countrys first Afghan-born member of Parliament. President Obama also singled out her story when he addressed the Canadian House of Commons in June. Monsef herself made her Afghan roots a key part of her narrative when she ran for a seat in Parliament in 2015. She was born in Herat, Afghanistan, she said, and came to Canada as a refugee at age 11 with her widowed mother and two younger sisters. But last week, it emerged that the lawmaker was actually born in Iran, raising questions about the validity of Monsefs Canadian citizenship and ability to hold office. She is the minister of democratic institutions. Advertisement The Globe and Mail newspaper published a story Thursday saying that Monsef was born in Mashhad, an Iranian city with a large Afghan population about 124 miles from the Afghanistan border, and spent most of her early childhood there. In a statement, Monsef said that she was shocked at the revelation, and that her mother, Soriya Basir, only told her that she was born in Iran after the newspaper contacted Monsef for the story. Because I know my story has resonated with many Canadians, I wanted to take the time today to clear any misconceptions this may have unintentionally caused, Monsef said in the statement. My sisters and I asked my mother why she never told us we were born in Iran. She told us she did not think it mattered. We were Afghan citizens, as we were born to Afghan parents, and under Iranian law, we would not be considered Iranian citizens despite being born in that country. An estimated 3 million Afghans live as refugees in Iran, although approximately only 1 million are documented. The first waves of Afghans crossed into Iran during the Soviet occupation of their country in the 1980s, which unleashed an insurrection by Afghan rebels, financed by the United States and other Western powers to undermine the Soviet Union. A biographical timeline provided by Monsefs office noted that a child born in Iran only gains citizenship if the father is Iranian. If Basir told Canadian immigration officials that Monsef was born in Afghanistan, it could be grounds to revoke the ministers citizenship, said Ontario Conservative Member of Parliament Tony Clement, who is running for the leadership of the Official Opposition Conservative Party of Canada. The question is, should a Cabinet minister or an MP get more favorable treatment than the average citizen? Or should we revise the Citizenship Act? said Toronto immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann. Because when it applies to the average Joe whos made innocent mistakes on a citizenship application, it hurts them considerably and it ultimately results in them losing their citizenship. The original asylum claim hasnt been made public, and it is not clear what country Basir listed as her daughters birthplace. Monsefs Canadian passport says that she was born in Herat, Afghanistan. Jean-Bruno Villeneuve, Monsefs press secretary, said she would be correcting that information. He said that Monsef has been very forthcoming about her personal story based on the recent revelations from her mother. Villeneuve said Monsef was traveling and unavailable to comment. There is disagreement about whether Monsefs Canadian citizenship could be in jeopardy, even if it turns out that her mother misrepresented her birthplace on the asylum claim. Whether or not she was born in Iran is irrelevant, Peter Showler, former chair of Canadas Immigration and Refugee Board, told Macleans magazine. The only country for which she had citizenship was Afghanistan, and that is the country from which she feared persecution. In her statement, Monsef said that her parents moved to Mashhad after Herat became too dangerous to live in shortly after their marriage in 1982. The town was severely damaged by war and thousands were killed, she said in the statement. Monsef and her sisters were born in Mashhad and lived there until she was nine, according to the timeline from the ministers office. Her father, Abdul Samad Monsefzadeh, who sold car parts, was killed in 1988 while trying to save a cousin at the Afghan-Iranian border either, Monsefs mother recently told her, by bandits or by Soviet troops. The family traveled back and forth between Afghanistan and Iran after his death. But after the Taliban took control of Herat two years later, Basir sought to join her brother in Canada. In early 1996, the family began a four-month journey traveling by foot, donkey and motorcycle back to Mashhad, then by bus and camel to Islamabad, Pakistan, and eventually flying to Canada by way of Jordan. They arrived in Montreal and sought asylum in May of that year. The family settled in Peterborough, an Ontario city about 75 miles northeast of Toronto, and which Monsef now represents for the governing Liberals in the House of Commons. Although Clement, the conservative MP, acknowledged that Monsef is an upstanding citizen, he said her case illustrates gaps in the Canadian vetting process for immigrants and refugees, and the screening process to determine her suitability to serve in the federal governments Cabinet. Clement also expressed skepticism that Monsef wouldnt know facts surrounding her early childhood, and cast doubt on her revised biography. It doesnt ring true in terms of plausibility, he said. He called for Monsef to step aside from her ministerial duties until an investigation could be completed. Dean Del Mastro, the former Conservative MP for the federal district in Peterborough that Monsef now represents in the House, wrote on Facebook on Thursday that he had known the truth regarding her birthplace as well as many other things as yet unreported for several years through a former close personal friend of Monsef. Del Mastro later removed the comments. Patti Peeters, a former Peterborough city councilor who ran against Monsef when they both unsuccessfully contested the citys mayoralty in 2014, said that she and other candidates were brown enveloped with information that indicated Monsef was born in Iran. It was common knowledge, said Peeters, a former Liberal Party of Canada supporter. This is only the tip of the iceberg, and shes using her mother as a scapegoat and I absolutely resent that. Guly is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Shashank Bengali contributed reporting from Mumbai, India. ALSO Jordanian journalist shot to death on courthouse steps after posting controversial cartoon to Facebook Heres why the death of a 68-year-old farmer set off bitter protests in Seoul Bombing campaign leaves Aleppo hospitals overwhelmed as U.N. meets over Syria It was Sunday morning, the start of the work week after the long Eid al-Adha holiday, when residents of the Jordanian capital, Amman, woke to reports of the killing of Nahedh Hattar. A journalist and commentator, Hattar was long known for his controversial secularist views and vocal support of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The killing made Hattar, 56, the most recent casualty in a country-wide duel between Islamists and secularists, clashes that threatens to rock the stability of the perennially fragile kingdom, which has been a key U.S. ally in the region. Advertisement Hattar, according to local media outlets, was killed on the steps of Ammans main courthouse, where he was set to go on trial on charges of inciting strife and insulting Islam. Weeks earlier, he had enraged Muslims across the country by posting a cartoon, The God of Daesh, on his Facebook page. Daesh is the Arabic acronym of Islamic State, and is considered pejorative by the groups adherents. The cartoon depicted a bearded man, presumably an Islamic State militant, lying in bed with two women while asking God to bring him wine and cashews. The man also asks God to have someone clean up the mess, install a door for his tent and to knock before entering in the future. In Islam, those who die in combat in the name of God are rewarded with Hoor, beautiful women with lustrous eyes, and can enjoy rivers of wine. The cartoon portrayed the militant as taking that to ridiculous extremes, and also broke a taboo by portraying God. In the ensuing backlash, some conservative Muslims called for his execution. Hattar quickly took the cartoon down, saying that he was merely mocking the terrorists and their depiction of God and heaven. But he was soon arrested. The government said it had imprisoned him for his own protection, but Prime Minister Hani Mulki also said he would not allow the crossing of red lines when it came to holy issues and would deal firmly with the incident. The government also issued a gag order, a tactic it has frequently used in the last year in what critics say is a method of stifling necessary debate. Hattar was released on bail earlier this month and was to appear in court on Sunday. As he arrived, a gunman walked up to him and shot him three times, according to Petra, the state news agency. Security officials nearby quickly arrested the attacker, the agency said. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani condemned Hattars killing as an ugly crime, adding that the law will be firmly applied to the perpetrator, according to Petra. Momani added: The government will respond with an iron fist against anyone who tries to use this crime to spread hate rhetoric in our society. Video taken by a bystander and posted on social media depicts the aftermath of the shooting. It shows Hattar lying on the ground, ringed by security officials while people shout frantically for an ambulance. The killing comes at a contentious time in the country, which, although stable, has long been thought to be a tinderbox of extremism. A significant portion of its citizens have snuck into neighboring Syria, to take up command positions in the Al Qaeda-affiliated Front for the Conquest of Syria (formerly called Al Nusra Front) and its one-time ally turned nemesis, Islamic State. Jordans population, overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, is deeply conservative. In June, the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism released a report saying that, although Jordan had sought to confront and weaken the violent idea that underpins [Islamic State] and other violent extremist organizations, anti-extremist programs remain under-resourced and staffed, and that its leaders are reticent to acknowledge domestic radicalization, including self-radicalization. In years past, the government has toughened its anti-terrorism laws, hauling in hundreds of Jordanians for the slightest connection to Islamic State, including spreading or liking its propaganda on social media. Yet its critics accuse it of turning a blind eye to extremism and allowing Islamists to take over vital government ministries, including the Ministry of Education. Hattars family also blamed the government for his death, saying it had informed the Ministry of Interior of the death threats and that the government had done nothing. This rat who killed Nahedh represents the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in its entirety. Who killed Nahedh Hattar was the prime minister on the first day when he put Nahedh on trial, Hattars brother Majed said in a statement to a local news outlet, Khaberni. The family refused to receive the body and hold a funeral, he added, until Mulki, the prime minister, is fired and put on trial. Later in the day, Mulki offered the governments resignation, in what was framed by government officials as a procedural move following parliamentary elections held on Tuesday. King Abdullah, Jordans ruler, asked the outgoing government to continue in a caretaker capacity until a royal decree approves the new government, according to Petra. A prominent blogger, Naseem Tarawneh, said in a post on Sunday on his blog, the Black Iris, that the government had to do more to counter extremisms raging fire. It is no longer enough for the King to give a speech about national unity, or for the Queen to send out a tweet, or for the government, political parties, the Jordan Press Association, the Senate, and every other State entity to come out and merely condemn this, he wrote. Bulos is a special correspondent. ALSO Maryam Monsef was hailed as Canadas first Afghan-born member of Parliament. Then news broke that she was born in Iran Bombing campaign leaves Aleppo hospitals overwhelmed as U.N. meets over Syria Heres why the death of a 68-year-old farmer set off bitter protests in Seoul Update - September 24, 2016 - 2:30 p.m. ET: On Wednesday, September 21, Mr. Fidencio Sanchez finally received a check for $384,290 - money that was raised on GoFundMe after thousands of people donated for the purpose of supporting the 89-year-old and his wife and their cause to retire. It was closure to the almost two weeks that took place since the photo of Mr. Sanchez was first shared on Facebook by passerby Joel Macia Cervantes. The photo of the stooped paletero pushing his popsicle cart proved to touch people's heart and was soon shared multiple times spreading like wildfire. In less than one week it had sparked interest from national and international media. Upon receiving the check Sanchez shared his gratitude towards the multitude of people that heard his story and decided to contribute to the fund. He also thanked Joel for sharing the photo and opening the Go Fund Me account. He finally thanked God. "I'll never forget this, thank you everyone for supporting and most of all I would like to thank God," were the words of the Chicago resident. Sanchez and his wife will finally be able to retire after 23-years of selling popsicles in the streets of Chicago. He had actually retired before but after his daughter passed away last year he had no choice but to return to his business. A "thank you" party was held on Friday, September 23rd to express the gratitude to all those people who participated in the fundraiser campaign. Let's hope Mr. Sanchez can now continue his life with more comfort. MORE: 15-yr-old orphan Sets Up a GoFundMe Page After Mom Shot Dead By Stray Bullet in L.A. Bus Stop ---------------------------------------- Update - September 16, 2016 - 10:26 a.m. ET: As of today the campaign has raised $369,236 with more than 16,000 people participating. ----------------------------------------- The life of "paleta" vendor, Fidencio Sanchez, took a sharp turn when a photo of the 89-year-old man selling popsicles in the streets of Chicago was posted on Facebook last week. The man in charge of posting the photo, Joel Cervantes Macias, was driving by when he noticed the elderly and stooped man struggling to push his popsicle cart down the street. The scene prompted Macias to step out and snap a picture of Sanchez. Moved in his heart, Macias bought 20 popsicles and later shared the photo on his Facebook timeline with the following caption: "I respect this man to the fullest! #workflow #dyingbreed #mexicano #migente". Little did Macias know that his photo would not only go viral but would touch the heart of many people which in return drew the attention of several media companies who ultimately reported and shared Mr. Sanchez's story. Soonafter the photo and story spread, a Go Fund Me Page was launched with the goal of gathering $3,000 initially. However, as of Monday evening, just three days after the page was up, it had raised more than $200,000 by strangers chipping in. In total, close to 10,000 people have made donations with donations as large as $2,000. Story of Fidencio Sanchez Macias was also in charge of launching the Go Fund Me Page after getting the idea from Joe Loera, and according to Macias (who is now emerging as the good samaritan figure in this heart-touching story) Mr. Fidencio Sanchez and wife recently lost their only daughter and were still heartbroken about the situation. This was the story Macias posted on the Go Fund Me Page: "Mr. Fedencio Sanchez and his wife recently lost their only daughter and are still heartbroken about the situation. His elderly wife was selling paletas also to help pay bills, but she fell ill and can't work anymore. We're trying to raise money to help him with whatever we can. Anything helps. Let's all pitch in and help make life a little easier and brighten both of their day.His elderly wife was selling paletas also to help pay bills, but she fell ill and can't work anymore. We're trying to raise money to help him with whatever we can. Anything helps. Let's all pitch in and help make life a little easier and brighten both of their day." Sanchez has been pushing the cart now for 23 years and with the money raised, it may be a good time for him to retire and spend his days taking it easy. Macias on the other hand will be releasing the funds later this week. In an updated post on the Go Fund Me Page, the Chicago native but now Wisconsin resident wrote the following: "Just so people know. We are not dispersing the funds till later in the week. We will let everyone know. We are leaving it up for a few more days because people still seem to be donating. The Sanchez family really appreciates all the love and support that they are receiving from people from all around the world. Joe Loera and myself appreciate all the kind words that we are receiving. It was all a team effort. I'm really trying to respond to every single kind message that I am receiving in my inbox and on Facebook. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to all the people who tag me and have nice things to say. I wish I can respond to every single one of you. I'm trying. Lol! GOD IS GOOD." Several media outlets have shared the story and in this embed, we can see Macias and the other outlets covering the story from where Mr. Sanchez normally starts his day. If you are interested in supporting Mr. Sanchez and wife, visit the Go Fund Me Page by clicking here. This is Joel Cervantes Macias: Towns, cities located along the Cedar River in eastern Iowa are bracing for the river waters to rise and flood the area as more rainfall is expected throughout the weekend. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second largest city with approximately 130,000 residents, preparation for the flood has been visible with crowds coming together to prepare for the Cedar River waters to jump its banks. According to the city's website, "the Cedar River continues to be projected to crest at 24 feet on Monday, Sept. 26, into Tuesday morning inundate the area." Cedar Rapids Evacuation Area In light of this projection, the areas that are immediately along the Cedar River in some parts of the city including downtown will start evacuation at 8:00 p.m. local time Sunday, September 25. The following is the evacuation area-map issued from the city: The city has in addition issued the following along with the evacuation map: We are asking for residents and businesses in affected areas to evacuate by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. Evacuation plans are drawn for a 28 feet inundation area. Detailed maps of the area, as well as address lists are available on the City website: www.cedar-rapids.org. If your home or business is on that list, we ask that you secure your possessions and leave your property by that time. Along with the evacuation, we will also be enacting and enforcing a curfew in evacuated neighborhoods from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. The police department will be patrolling the neighborhoods. Evacuations in Palo, Iowa Evacuations for other communities have already begun along the Cedar River. The town of Palo which sits just seven miles northwest of Cedar Rapids has already seen at least 100 homes near the areas most likely to be affected evacuated. Other cities and towns such as Waterloo, Charles City, Cedar Falls and Independence have also seen rising waters. Here is a screenshot of the inundation maps for the cities as of Saturday 7:00 p.m., September 24. Most cities are seeing slight flooding, although the city of Cedar Falls has seen the highest level of flooding with the river cresting. Inundation Maps: Independence Cedar Falls Cedar Rapids Charles City Waterloo Where to Observe These Online Maps People can head to the IFIS (Iowa Flooding Information System) website for comprehensive flooding information. IFIS is provided by the Iowa Flood Center. Source: Getty Images The numbers at the heart of the scandal at Wells Fargo (WFC) are staggering. Over 5,300 employees were fired for creating millions of accounts without customers permission, under intense corporate pressure to meet high sales targets. Zoomed out to a massive scale like this, and with lawmakers focused on finding and chewing out the higher-ups who might be responsible, its easy to forget this fraud ensnared actual human beings. Yahoo Finance spoke to a few of them to get their stories about their relationships with Wells Fargo, and how they learned they had accounts created without their knowledge or permission. We also learned about what it was like to deal with credit bureaus to make sure the bogus accounts didnt blemish their credit reports. A surprise $30,000 line of credit Take Micheline Maynard, a journalist and author based in Boston, one of the millions of Wells Fargo victims. The only contact Id ever had with Wells Fargo was when the bank briefly owned the mortgage on the house that I was selling, Maynard told Yahoo Finance. Unbeknownst to her, she said, that brief interaction with Wells Fargo had resulted in a $30,000 line of credit created in her name. When she was in the financing process of relocating to Boston from Michigan, her mortgage broker called and said one of the underwriters had raised concerns over the amount of outstanding lines of credit in her name. It was the first Id heard of it, she said. After this shock, Maynard calmed down and went to action, doing all the right things. First, she checked her credit report to see for herself. Sure enough, there was a $30,000 line of credit in her name. She called Wells Fargos customer service department, which apologized and closed the account. Then, she followed up with the credit reporting agencies, asking them to include notes explaining the situation. Besides illustrating the textbook way you should handle this type of situation, Maynards experience shows the most insidious part of this whole story: This can happen to customers who had the most limited interaction with Wells Fargo, not just to long-time Wells Fargo customers with multiple accounts. Story continues Even if you only had minor contact with the bank, its possible you have account in your name. Why is the onus on me to prove this wasnt my account? The story is much the same for Frank W., a digital marketer from Minneapolis who asked that we not use his full name. In 2014, he opened an account for his daughters Girl Scout troop, whose policy mandated the bank be Wells Fargo. Two years later, when taking out a mortgage, he discovered a credit card in the his name. Favoring the simplest explanation, he assumed his wife had opened the account without telling himnot that the bank had opened it without asking. After an argument with her, he discovered what had really happened. I come to find out with a little more digging its one of the fraud accounts, he says. But when Frank contacted Wells Fargo on Twitter, the only response he got was to call the number on his card or statement, which he cant do. I dont have [a card or statement], he says. Because I was never given anything. Eventually he found an 800-number to call. Again, however, he didnt know what account number to say, not having received any card or statement. Normally this might not have been a problem, since Social Security numbers are connected to bank accounts, but Frank doesnt feel comfortable giving that critical information to a bank that betrayed hundreds of thousands of customers. I really want them to give them my Social, he says, sarcastically. Its really frustrating to call. Frank gave up on Wells Fargo and went directly to the credit bureaus make sure a note was added in his reports. But it was a frustrating experience because of the time, effort, and stress he put in trying to figure this out. Why is the onus on me to prove this isnt my account? he says. If Wells Fargo was able to identify the 5,300 individuals, why didnt they come to me and send me a letter? To date, Frank says, Wells Fargo has not acknowledged the situation with him, and the accounts may still be open, although the credit reporting bureaus have letters from him. Reached for comment, a Wells Fargo spokesperson noted that people who had one or more of the 115,000 unauthorized accounts that had been charged a fee had been notified and reimbursed by a check or a credit to an existing account. However, like Frank, many of the owners of the approximate 1.9 million other accounts have not yet been notified. Wells Fargo plans to contact deposit customers beginning in October, and according to the spokesperson, is currently reaching out to all the credit card customers who were part of the 2 million accounts to confirm if they need and want their credit cards. Would someone actually accept a credit card created in their name and without their permission? Not Frank, at least, who called the idea laughable at best. At this point, I dont want them to touch the account, but instead let me get it pulled off by the bureaus, he says. I dont want their closing it to adversely affect my score. Fortunately for consumers who do make contact with the bank, Wells Fargo confirmed with Yahoo Finance that it would not only ask customers whether they would like the unauthorized cards closed, it would also work with the credit bureaus to make sure peoples scores wont be hurt. However, Wells Fargo may not be able to make its customers whole simply by refunding fees and annulling unauthorized accounts. While fees may be refunded, unauthorized credit cards and deposit accounts that were overdrafted due to the fees could have raised red flags with lenders long before the public learned of the scandal. If theres one useful thing that can come out of the ordeals created by the unauthorized 2 million accounts, its that it serves as a good reminder for consumers to check their credit report on a regular basis. Checking your credit report is good hygiene, just like going to the dentist, says Sean McQuay, a credit card and banking expert at NerdWallet. And, just like going to the dentist, you should do it about twice a year. Are you a Wells Fargo customer who was impacted by the unauthorized accounts? Email us at yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance focusing on consumerism, tech, and personal finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Read more: Amazons review-for-free-stuff policy wrecks its reviews This four-letter word will get you better customer service on the phone Heres why nows a great time to switch banks Americans dont understand premium gas, and its costing them billions 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . The 180-year old mental health ward in St Fintans Hospital Portlaoise, recommended to close five years ago by the Mental Health Commission, has instead got a 660,000 upgrade. The renovation of the outdated Ward 6 is however a temporary measure, until a modern 40 bed psychiatric unit is built. Funding is not yet allocated for the new 6m unit. The Victorian era psychiatric ward can now accommodate 26 patients. Many of them are elderly and living there for some years. The HSE confirmed the upgrade which gives patients more privacy and cheerier surroundings. Ward 6 works are completed and occupied. This renovated facility can accommodate up to 26 long stay mental health residences. The renovation works cost approximately 660,000, a spokesperson said. However the HSE said it is merely an interim measure until the new building opens. The renovated ward is in line with recommendation of the Mental Health Commission under the consideration that this is a interim facility until the new unit is complete, the HSE said. In 2011 a report by the Mental Health Commission ordered the expeditious closure of the ward, noting that it was the only old psychiatric institution still increasing bed numbers in Ireland. The planned new 40 bed residential unit for elderly patients with psychiatric illness is expected to cost 6 million to build, with the money still not approved. The new 40 bed Mental Health residential unit on the lands of St Fintans Hospital in Portlaoise is under consideration for inclusion in the HSEs Capital Programme 2017 2021 and is subject to the availability of funding. The proposed unit has been granted Planning Permission and we are at current working through pre-tender design and cost plan, the HSE said. It was first expected to be built and opened by 2015, on the expansive St Fintans campus on the Dublin road in Portlaoise. Britain faces a challenging time in the next few years. We can meet these challenges if we are the best Britain we can be: open in our minds and hearts, tolerant and united. I am one of those who believes that history has much to teach us about ourselves and the present. Past and present are not the same. But by studying the mistakes of the past we have a greater to chance to do better in future. My 3 years as a history student have formed my mind as much as 13 years as a working lawyer or 18 years as an active Liberal Democrat. In 1940, France faced an existential military crisis. The crises that Britain may face in the next few years are more likely to be environmental or economic. Arthur Koestlers book Scum of the Earth published in London in 1941 concerns the failure of France to meet the challenge of 1940. It has given me pause to reflect on where our country is now and where we are going. Arthur Koestler was one of the most important, albeit controversial, writers of the mid-twentieth century. He was originally a Hungarian Jew but by 1940 was in France as a freelance reporter for British newspapers. As a young man he had been a Zionist then he became a communist, as many idealistic young people did in the 1930s. He fought in the Spanish Civil War, as well as acting as a war reporter for Fleet Street, then captured and sentenced to death by Franco. He became moderately well known in France and Britain. By 1939, he had rejected communism because of the murderous nature of Stalins regime and the requirement to say a lake is a table if the party says so. He became an opponent of totalitarianism of all kinds, a moderate humanist and defender of democracy. When war broke out he tried to leave France with his English girlfriend and wished to volunteer for the British Army. Visas to travel to the UK were taking months so he volunteered for the French Army. He was refused and interred as a foreigner. He escaped and remained in France, on the run from the Gestapo and Vichy French police until the autumn. His account, from a journalists eye view, of France before and after surrender to the Nazis on 17 June 1940 is fascinating, moving and surprisingly relevant to today. In 1940 France was republican and democratic, with a vast empire and alliance with Britain. On paper, defeat to Germany should have been avoidable. Koestler describes 1940 as national suicide or collective nervous breakdown. He describes France as divided, pessimistic, afraid, intolerant. National suicide was not only surrendering to Germany but also, in the unoccupied part of France, the installation of a proto-Fascist regime, who replaced Liberty, Egality, Fraternity with Work, Family, Country and surpressed all expressions of French democracy, the Rights of Man and republican values. The roots of national suicide that Koestler describes are: First, division between young and old. When France surrendered a significant number of young people, including young army officers, wanted to fight on. There was a real sense that surrender to the Nazis was a decision by the old that robbed the young of their chance to fight for freedom. Refusal by old generals to adopt new strategy and tactics advocated by De Gaulle and a new generation (mobile armoured units, rather than static defence) was what led to the inability of France to defend itself in Spring 1940. Second, huge political and class division. Left and Right in France loathed each other, distrusted each other and had rarely found common ground to move the country forward. There was huge appetite on both sides for salacious propaganda. People liked to share outlandish claims rather than real political facts. Third, a failure to give people hope. Whereas Hitler went to war promising the German working-class everyone they could want, Frances conservative establishment promised nothing to anyone. The Right was afraid of communism and thought Hitler was a gentleman. The Left was influenced by the Soviet-Nazi pact and was lukewarm about supporting capitalist Britain against the Nazis. The part of the Left that was against appeasement was cast as war mongers by the tabloid press. Fourth, xenophobia was rife. Koestler describes the casualness of racist comments and attitudes in high and low places. People blamed problems on foreigners. Jewish politicians were blamed for the war and were prominent among guilty men executed by Vichy for having declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939. Fifth, an obsession against plutocrats and tendency to blame problems on rich men, especially in Britain and the USA. Sixth, a further obsession about decadence and belief that too much freedom was making society weak. Seventh, poor morale. All of these attitudes produced soldiers and people who at the outbreak of war had poor morale, poor equipment and limited appetite to fight. Peasant soldiers had nothing to defend. Too many middle class officers had not belief that immigrants in France rather than Germany were the real enemy. Eighth, most of all France had a rabid press that drove home anti-immigrant, anti-jew, anti-war messages while being at best lukewarm that parliamentary democracy had much to offer. The parallels to Brexit Britain seem clear. Today, we have diverging views between young and old, who tended to vote differently in the recent referendum and who polls show are more polarised in which political parties and policies they support. Our main Left and Right parties are distant from each other, advocating policies where they know there is no common ground to be found with the other side. In the referendum, Leave promised much, Remain promised nothing. Xenophobia is a problem we are all aware of. The obsession with plutocrats is matched by Leaves inane/insane claims that the EU is a conspiracy by the super-rich. The obsession with decadence has some parallel in beliefs held by some that this countrys ills warrant reduced human rights, conscription or to bring back hanging. I hardly need say anything about the existence of an anti-immigrant press. France in 1940 was unable to meet a national crisis. It was closed-minded, intolerant and divided. We have the capacity in Britain in 2016 to be better. * Antony Hook was #2 on the South East European list in 2014, is the English Party's representative on the Federal Executive and produces this sites EU Referendum Roundup. AN Irish company specialising in renewable energy has lodged a planning application for a 30 acre solar farm in county Limerick. The plans of RenGen Technologies would bring a wry smile to the face of the late Frank McCourt, who famously wrote in Angelas Ashes of the interminable rain in the city. Permission has been sought for Annacotty Solar Farm at Grange Upper, Annacotty close to the R506 and 500m south of the business park. Regarding how a solar farm works in an area not known for its blue skies, a RenGen spokesperson said solar energy comes from the sun and solar panels collect heat from sunlight. Photovoltaic (PV) energy is one form of solar energy and is the system used in this solar farm. It is a non-mechanical device system using semi-conducting silicon only panels. Sunlight on a solar panel generates direct current (DC), a solar inverter converts it into alternating current (AC). Cloudy skies and fog does reduce effectiveness but will produce electricity at a reduced rate. Panels are positioned to maximize exposure for the effective generation of electricity, they said. The benefits locally will be cheap electricity to the grid and help to provide increased control over Irelands electricity supply and costs, they add. It provides a stable income to the farmer on whose lands it is situated. Local contractors and service providers will be incorporated where possible into the plan, said the spokesperson of the Ennis-based company. It will contribute to limiting carbon emissions and assist the country in meeting binding EU electricity targets from renewable resources, the spokesperson added. However, residents in the local community have expressed major concerns regarding the proposed development. Around 50 attended a meeting in Ahane GAA clubhouse last week and afterwards issued a statement to the Leader. Residents in the immediate area are concerned with the absence of appropriate information, communication or any public consultation prior to the lodging of a planning application with the local authority. Residents have serious reservations about the extent of the solar farm project which has a clear impact on homeowners living adjacent to the development. Also, there are possible impacts for the neighbouring areas of Annacotty, Ballysimon and Castletroy arising from glint and glare reflections associated with solar farm developments. Householders in these areas have not been considered or consulted on these matters. We will be calling a further public meeting to establish the views of residents, to scrutinise any new application to the planning authority and to take whatever advice is appropriate, reads the statement. Regarding concerns about solar farms, the RenGen spokesperson said solar farms are an immense resource for generating clean sustainable electricity. There is low visual impact, no noise, waste or toxins generated. It is environmentally friendly and supports wildlife. Natural habitats can flourish and biodiversity levels can increase. Maintenance is low and land use is reversible within an agreed time frame. The solar farm will not affect the integrity of any local populations of plants or animals. There are no priority habitats identified on this site and best practice work methods will be deployed. No dwellings will experience reflections from panels. Negligible glint and glare effects are predicted for road users with the maturation of landscaping screen on the western side of the site boundary, they say. It is one of a number of sites chosen by the company throughout Munster to provide clean electricity generation and if granted planning the energy generated will be fed into the national grid. Maximum energy generation by the panels will be limited to 5MW. The solar farm will be used for a maximum of 25 years before the land is returned to its owner in the same condition in which it was first received. If granted planning there will be two phases of activity construction and operational. The construction phase will last from eight to 10 weeks and will be carried out by a specialised team. Very careful work methods will be deployed in the preparation and construction of the facility. The construction of a solar farm involves the placing of panels on steel framing anchored to the ground with minimal ground disturbance. Once the solar farm is commissioned and operational, the panels installed will convert the suns energy during daylight hours into clean electricity. There is minimal maintenance with the monitoring and performance of plant done remotely. RenGen intends working with an Irish company in the construction phase of this and other sites, maintaining up to 10 jobs for the period of the construction. The on-going operation of each site will require engineering and ground maintenance sustaining two to three full-time and long-term positions, concluded the RenGen Technologies spokesperson. THE film The Siege of Jadotville, which hit Irish screens this week, has been given the ultimate thumbs up by a man who fought and lived through it: Tadhg Quinn from Purt, Abbeyfeale. It was brilliant, Tadhg told the Limerick Leader after the premiere in Dublin attended by the films star, Jamie Dornan. He had been anxious about it beforehand, he admitted, worried that it would stray too far from the truth. But, he said with satisfaction: It was straight to the bone. The film tells the story of how, in September 1961, a 157-strong Irish company, the A Company, 35th Battalion on a UN mission to keep the peace in newly independent Congo, found itself surrounded and under attack by 3,000 Katangan rebels. Tadhg Quinn was a corporal in that company, having joined the Irish Army the year before. Jobs were non-existent. It was either that or England, he told the Limerick Leader. But he also had a fascination with guns and was trained in small arms, in submachine guns and in mortars. He can still recall the heat and the misery on the ground when he found himself in the Congo. It was sub-Saharan conditions. We were based in Elizabethville but were sent down to Jadotville because somebody somewhere decided that the Belgians in Jadotville needed protection. There were a few skirmishes, he recalled, but led by Comdt Pat Quinlan, the company dug in and prepared in the six or seven days before the siege began. I was coming off guard duty when the fighting started about 6.45am, Tadhg recalled. I knew, we all knew, straightaway we were in deep. We werent going to get out of it so easily. But he described his commanding officer Comdt Pat Quinlan. absolutely brilliant. He was responsible for bringing us all home safe. Quinlans understanding of their situation, and the tactics and strategy he employed were superb in Tadhgs opinion. We had trenches. We were prepared, he added. The intense fighting lasted for four solid days and into the fifth. We knew we were up against it. The only difference was that when you were firing shots in Ireland, nobody fired back at you. Of the 3,000 rebels ranged against them, some 300 died in the fighting. But by early on the fifth day, the Irish battalion was in trouble. We were out of ammunition, food and water. Water was a massive problem. Our commandant had arranged a ceasefire but they didnt abide by it. They knew we had no water food or ammunition. There were two attempts made to get re-inforcements through but the rail bridge was blown up and the road bridge was mined. They couldnt get across the river. We were cut off completely, recalled Tadhg. Their opponents were in and around the Irish position, waiting for men to start dying. There was no option but to hand in their arms. Comdt. Quinlan made that decision in order to preserve the lives of his men, Tadhg said. And their opponents could not believe that the Irish side had suffered no fatalities. What followed were five weeks in captivity before an exchange of prisoners was organised. A few of the men were roughed up a bit, Tadhg said but they were well treated for the most part. Even then, their Congo mission was not over. Following their release, the men were re-armed and deployed elsewhere in the Congo. Tadhg himself was due to head home at the end of October but further fighting erupted and it was late afternoon on Christmas Eve before he finally hit home to Abbeyfeale. What followed, however, was worse than any fighting. We were ignored. That was bad enough. But the name-calling was worse, said Tadlg. lThe men were taunted for having given up their arms. There was more blood spilled than during the fighting. If you were called a coward there was only one way to sort that out. Their treatment was absolutely brutal, he said. It came from the very top down. But it was nothing to what Comdt Quinlan put up with. He was totally ignored. They were not properly equipped going into the fight, Tadhg reckoned. And they were short on rations. Tadhg spent another four and a half years in the army and even served on another UN mission to Cyprus. But for a great many years after, he never talked about his experience at Jadotville to his family. The sense of having been wronged, however, lived on among the men of A Company but it took over 40 years and a campaign by some of the men before their service and bravery was officially recognised and a plinth erected with their names, number and rank. And like other veterans, Tadhg credits former Minister for Defence, Willie ODea for making it happen. We thought that was the end of that. I was happy with that, Tadhg said. But then the idea of making a film emerged and became real. Tadhg believes that it was the film that prodded the Department of Defence into marking the 55th anniversary at a ceremony last Saturday at Custume Barracks, Athlone where a Presidential Unit Citation was presented. He described the wording on the scroll as pitiful, with no number, rank or name.It was a bloody insult, Tadhg said with feeling. His family, however, who attended the ceremony with him, was proud that his service was, finally, recognised. GARDAI are warning of a clampdown on the sale of alcohol to minors at off-licences across the city and county. A number of prosecutions have been initiated arising from test purchasing operations which have been carried out by gardai since the beginning of the year. The head of the Limerick garda division, Chief Superintendent David Sheahan, told members of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) this week that 45 different premises were targeted and that eight prosecutions are currently before the courts. In each case a youth, aged under 18, was recruited to buy alcohol with gardai covertly observing the transaction as it was carried out. Chief Supt Sheahan told members of the JPC another operation is being planned at present and that further test purchases will carried out in the coming months. Off-licences convicted of selling alcohol to minors face a fine and the prospect of being ordered to close for up to seven days. We have done 45 test purchasing operations across the city and county since the start of the year and in those 45 we have found eight places to be in breach and those cases are progressing through the courts, he said that in a number of cases staff were subjected to disciplinary action by their employers. Chief Supt Sheahan insists the operations are not about catching people but about changing behaviour. Im not really trying to catch people out but what Im trying to say to them is they need to remind their staff of good vigilance when they are on their premises so that if people do come into to them they are conscious that if there is someone underage Im not allowed to sell to them and if they get that message out to their staff they shouldnt have anything to fear, he said. While non-compliant premises have been prosecuted in the courts, premises which were compliant have been informed of their compliance. We have gone back to them and informed them and they have been very thankful for the fact that their staff have not been found wanting, said Chief Supt Sheahan. May 3, 2021, 6 AM Despite 1917 United States Post Office Department changes in the regional handling of dead-letter mail for various states, there continued to be an active Dead Letter Office in Washington, D.C. This Aug. 21, 1920, envelope from the Dead Letter Office corr By Tony Wawrukiewicz A major change in the Dead Letter Office (DLO) process occurred in early 1917. Effective March 1, 1917, first-class matter previously sent to the Washington, D.C., DLO from certain states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont) now went to the branch of the DLO at New York City, while similar mail from other states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) was directed to the branch of the DLO at Chicago. Also, effective May 1, 1917 (see Postal Bulletin 11323, April 17, 1917), San Francisco became the DLO branch for first-class matter from certain western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Territory of Alaska, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Connect with Linns Stamp News: Sign up for our newsletter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter In the past, I had made an assumption that was in error: that Washington, D.C., no longer remained a Dead Letter Office/Dead Letter Branch. However, as one looks carefully at the 1917 list of states serviced by these three new branches, one sees that certain states (for instance, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the southern states) are not listed. And, in fact, a few months ago I found Washington, D.C., DLO Branch return envelopes to Ohio and Pennsylvania, one of which is shown in the accompanying illustration. Before I discuss this envelope, it is important to note that effective May 20, 1920 (Postal Bulletin 12263), a further change was introduced: that when letters were returned from the Dead Letter Office to the writers, a fee of 3 cents shall be collected at the time of delivery. The fee of 3 cents for the return of letters to writers was to be collected under the provisions of section 39 of the PL&R by means of postage due stamps to be affixed by postmasters to such letters before delivery, and the amount to be charged will be indicated on official or penalty envelopes before dispatch to post offices from the Division of Dead Letters or its respective branches. The illustration shows an Aug. 21, 1920, Washington, D.C., DLO Branch envelope correctly returning a dead letter to a writer in Bethlehem, Pa. Factors indicating that this is an early example from this time period are the use of the penalty overprint on the 3 prestamped envelope indicium, the blackout of return information in the upper-left corner, and the Aug. 21, 1920, date that is early in the DLO return fee period. By the way, the black triangle, the most commonly seen dead-letter marking, was used to identify items that were Returned to Writer (RTW) by the DLO Returning Division. This division returned all the dead mail containing a legible address but with no apparent value. Because no postage due stamp was placed on this return envelope, I assume that the dead letter enclosed in it was not returned to the writer. From various annual reports of the postmaster general that I have read, this was not an uncommon occurrence. Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. The third edition of the domestic book is now available from the American Philatelic Society, while the international book may be ordered here. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. 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. Hawking observes the Big Bang that created the universe, visits the monster black hole at the center of the Milky Way, journeys to Gliese 832c and tours Saturn in Earth's own solar system. Then, he makes a final stop in Santa Barbara, California, which Hawking calls "my home away from home." "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. 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 Audio statement from Iyad Ag Ghaly, the leader of Ansar Dine, as seen in the video Ansar Dine, a largely Tuareg front group for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has released a video showing spoils captured by one of its battalions in the central portion of Mali. It is among the first video releases for the jihadist groups relatively new Al Rimaah Media outlet. The jihadist group says that the video shows the spoils captured by its mainly ethnic Fulani Macina Battalion (also known as Katibat Macina), which is also known as the Macina Liberation Front, after an ambush on Malian troops near the town of Teninkou on Aug. 7. A statement in the video released in Arabic, French, and English states that the Macina Battalion ambushed the troops, then captured a vehicle, weapons, ammunition and other gear before retreating from the area. Based on the video contents, two Kalashnikovs, one PK machine gun, a DShK machine gun, one rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) and copious amounts of ammunition were captured in the ambush. Additionally, an audio statement from Iyad Ag Ghaly, the emir (leader) of Ansar Dine, is included in the video. The video makes clear that the spoils captured were taken on Aug. 7, earlier this year. However, a day later, a similar event near the area of Teninkou was also reported by Malian media. Katibat Macina is also suspected of being behind that ambush, as well. This is not the first video showing Ansar Dines Macina Battalion. Earlier this year, a low quality video produced by the battalion itself was released by jihadist channels. The video shows the aftermath of an attack on a southern Malian town in June of last year. Other scenes in the video show fighters speaking to the camera in a victorious manner before it shifts to a speech from one of the commanders of the battalion. (See LWJ report, Ansar Dines branch in southern Mali releases first video.) The commander is identified as Sheikh Yahya. However, Yahya was arrested by Malian authorities in July. In addition, Malian authorities also claimed to have captured a Burkinabe leader of Katibat Macina in July near the border with Burkina Faso. After a large-scale attack on a Malian military base in central Mali, Ansar Dine released a video showing five Malian soldiers that were taken hostage by the group. The video did not indicate that the soldiers will be executed and it is likely Ansar Dine will use, or is currently in the process of using, these soldiers to negotiate a prisoner swap for its captive leaders. (See Threat Matrix report, Ansar Dine shows captured Malian army soldiers.) Katibat Macina is one of two Ansar Dine battalions that operates in the southern half of Mali. It and the Khalid bin Walid Battalion have been responsible for dozens of attacks in central and southern Mali since last year. This includes two attacks near the borders with the Ivory Coast in southern Mali. (To find more information on al Qaeda attacks in Mali, see this map made by The Long War Journal.) Katibat Macina, or the Macina Liberation Front, was formed last year as an ethnic Fulani front for Ansar Dine to coordinate actions and operations in central and southern Mali. Ansar Dine itself, of course, is already a front for al Qaeda. The katibat is believed to be led by Amadou Kouffa, a loyal ally of Ansar Dine leader Iyad Ag Ghaly. Kouffa fought with al Qaeda in 2012 and led several offensives to capture the northern portion of Mali and the central city of Konna. The establishment of this ethnic battalion fits with al Qaedas general strategy by allowing the jihadist group to exploit local ties and connections, as well as to appear as a local movement while masking ties to the international organization. The Khalid bin Walid Battalion, which does not appear to strike as frequently as Katibat Macina, was formed in 2013 by Suleiman Keita, another loyal ally to Iyad Ag Ghaly. According to Sahara Media, the battalion has around 200 fighters and is primarily based south of the Niger River. Keita was arrested by the Malian military earlier this year. While most al Qaeda attacks occur in Malis north, the jihadist group and its mainly affiliates and branches in the country retain the ability to strike in central and southern Mali and even in its capital Bamako. According to data compiled by The Long War Journal, there has been at least 167 al Qaeda-linked attacks in Mali and neighboring countries so far this year. At least 34 of these have occurred in the southern half. Screenshots from the video: 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. For the second time this month, the US military targeted an Islamic State chemical weapons facility in northern Iraq. The Islamic State has pursued a chemical weapons program in both Iraq and Syria, which has been targeted by the US since it launched its air campaign in the summer of 2014. On Sept. 23, US warplanes bombed an ISIL [Islamic State] chemical weapons factory near the town of Qayyarah, US Central Command, or CENTCOM, reported. Iraqi forces gained control of Qarrayah and the nearby Qayyarah Airfiled West, or Q-West, from the Islamic State in mid-July. The Qayyarah chemical factory is the second chemical facility targeted by the US military in the past two weeks. On Sept. 14, US warplanes targeted an ISIL chemical weapons storage facility and destroyed a rocket system, a rocket rail, and a mortar system, near the Iraqi town of Huwayjah. In addition to targeting chemical facilities, the US military has focused on key leaders and experts in the Islamic States chemical weapons program. On May 18, the US military announced that it killed Abu Sufyan, who was described as a senior chemical expert who staged chemical attacks in the Euphrates River Valley in Anbar province, Iraq. In February, the US military announced that it captured Sulayman Dawud al Bakkar, the Islamic States emir of chemical and traditional weapons manufacturing, during a raid in Iraq. His capture removed a key ISIL leader from the battlefield and provided the coalition with important information about ISILs chemical weapons facilities, production, and the people involved, the US military noted at the time of his capture. In January 2015, US forces killed Abu Malik, an Islamic State chemical weapons engineer, in an airstrike near Mosul. The US militarys pursuit of the Islamic States chemical weapons program in Iraq has become even more important after US forces based at Q-West were targeted with a shell containing a sulfur-mustard blister agent, General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Arms Services Committee on Sept. 22, according to USA Today. Al Qaeda in Iraq, the forerunner of the Islamic State, has used crude chemical weapons against US forces during the occupation. The Long War Journal has recorded 12 chemical attacks, mostly with chlorine gas, in Baghdad, Anbar, and Diyala provinces during 2007. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. SUNDAYS WORD is lectionary (lek-shuh-ner-ee). Example: The pastor read from the Book of Matthew this morning, preaching about the Sermon on the Mount. FRIDAYS WORD was hinky (hing-kee). It means dishonest or suspect. Example: When the caller started talking about making millions through the sale, the offer started sounding a little hinky. Breakfast Club meets Henry Countys Parks and Recreation Services will hold its Senior Services Breakfast Club Tuesday at Clarences Steak and Seafood Restaurant, 6636 Greensboro Road in Ridgeway. The club meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. and all seniors 50 and older are welcome to come. Book Bingo The Collinsville Library will have another edition of Book Bingo on Tuesday, running from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Theres no cost to play, but if people want to donate books, they can do that either at the library, 2540 Virginia Ave., Collinsville, or at Henry County Parks and Recreation Senior Services. Community meal Chatham Heights Baptist Church, 1235 Chatham Heights Road, will hold a free community meal on Thursday. The meal will run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. featuring macaroni and cheese, pintos, turnip greens and cornbread on the menu. Uptown Rotary meets The Martinsville Uptown Rotary Club will meet this Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Avenue. The guest speaker will be Angela Tallman, emergency services director with Piedmont Community Services. Anyone is welcome to attend. Martinsville Fire Open House The Martinsville Fire Department and EMS will hold their first open house Oct. 1, in celebration of the groups 125th anniversary. Firefighters will be on hand providing Fire Safety Education, free popcorn, balloons and a bounce house for kids. Sparky also will be on hand to meet people, along with the departments fire engine from 1934. Forum coming up The Martinsville-Henry County Voters League will sponsor a forum for the city council candidates Oct. 6. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Mount Sinai Church, 7 Peters Street. Parking lot still closed Just a reminder that if you need to park in uptown Martinsville the next few days, it might be a good idea to avoid the Bridge Street lot. The city of Martinsville closed the Bridge Street parking lot on Saturday for repairs. Construction crews resealed the parking lot Saturday and will be performing restriping Monday and Tuesday. Construction should be finished by Wednesday. TRIVIA QUESTION: Local parks are just a way of life now, but it wasnt always the case. Which city came up with the first public park and why? The answer will be in tomorrows Stroller. FRIDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: U.S. presidents serve for a four year term before stepping aside. Why is that term set at four years and not five or three? For that, we go back to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Originally it was proposed that the president have a six year term and then not be eligible for re-election. The idea was to make sure this president would not be able to become a king, able to reign indefinitely. The founders reached a compromise by looking at how Congress was designed. The House representatives serve for two years, with the Senate serving for six. A four year term for the president was deemed as a good balance in between those two. BOSTON Six people were stabbed in a fight as bars in the Tremont Street theater district closed Sunday morning. One of the injured is in critical condition, police told the Boston Globe . According to police reports, a fight was reported on Tremont Street near Emerson College as patrons were leaving area bars at closing time. At about 2:15 a.m. officers found several people bleeding from what they believe are stab wounds from a knife and from broken bottles. One person was rushed into surgery immediately upon arriving at a local hospital and is listed in critical condition, police said. Emerson College sent out a warning to its students, saying at least two suspects were at large. But police say they believe one of the injured is a suspect in the other stabbings. Police Commissioner Bernard O'Rouke said the man escaped the area via Charles Street South. He, too, had been injured in the melee, O'Rouke said. NARRAGANSETT, R.I. The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday that it had suspected its search for a Connecticut mother and son after six days. The Coast Guard said it was searching for Linda Carman, 54 and her son, 22-year-old Nathan of Middletown, Conn.,in waters between Block Island and the canyons off New York. The two had set out from Point Judith in Rhode Island, Saturday, September 17 in a 31-foot fishing boat named Chicken Pox. The Coast Guard was called when the two did not arrive back Sunday evening. The search for the pair encompassed some 62,000 square miles, approximately the area of the state of Georgia, with no sign of the boat or debris. WEST SPRINGFIELD - Sunny skies and cool temperatures are drawing large crowds to the Eastern States Exposition this weekend. As of about noon on Sunday, traffic was backed up over the Memorial Bridge and past Bondi's Island. Fairgoers were also causing gridlock on Park Street, over the North End Bridge and onto Route 20 in Springfield, Police Sgt. Nolan Ryan said. "It is still early and there is a lot of congestion," he said, adding traffic tends to get worse in the early afternoon. The problem was the same on Saturday when Big E traffic was backed up on Interstate 91 into Connecticut by early afternoon, he said. Currently Route 57 is clear for people heading to the fair from Agawam and Connecticut. Route 5 south is also one of the easier ways to reach the fair now, he said. The traffic jams are typical for a weekend day of the Big E. Multiple West Springfield Police work all fair to direct traffic and move people into parking lots as quickly as possible, he said. The middle weekend of the fair tends to be busiest with a lot of people coming from out-of-town to attend the Big E, said Noreen Tassinari, marketing director for the Eastern States Exposition. This year Big E officials hired traffic engineers and are taking a number of steps to reduce traffic jams for the fair, she said. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Black history officially has a new, prominent place in America's story. With hugs, tears and the ringing of church bells, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors Saturday to help this nation understand, reconcile and celebrate African-Americans' often-ignored contributions toward making this country what it is today. President Barack Obama, the nation's first black president, wiped away a tear as he formally opened the Smithsonian's 19th museum with an impassioned 31-minute speech on the National Mall. His audience included two former presidents, leaders from all branches of the federal government, and first lady Michelle Obama, whose lineage has been traced back to slaves in the South. She too shed a tear as her husband spoke. Obama noted one artifact in the museum: a stone marker from a slave block where Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay spoke in 1830. This item, Obama said, chronicles not just the fact that two powerful men spoke, but also that multitudes of slaves were "bought and sold, and bid like cattle." "This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are," Obama said. "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." Ground for the $540 million museum was broken in 2012 on a five-acre tract near the Washington Monument, and construction was completed earlier this year. Millions of donors, known and unknown, contributed $315 million in private funds ahead of the opening. "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. The names of some big donors are on prominent spaces inside: the Oprah Winfrey Theater; the Michael Jordan Hall: Game Changers; and the Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center, named for the CEO of investment firm Vista Equity Partners after a $20 million gift announced Monday. With exhibits ranging from the glass-topped casket used to bury lynching victim Emmett Till to a fedora owned by late pop superstar Michael Jackson, the museum helps to complete the American tale by incorporating highs and lows, triumph and trauma experienced by black Americans since the first African slaves arrived on this continent almost 400 years ago. "We're not a burden on America, or a stain on America, or an object of pity or charity for America. We're America," Obama said. "And that's what this museum explains, the fact that our stories have shaped every corner of our culture." Obama was joined on stage by his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who in 2003 signed legislation establishing the museum, and John Lewis, a veteran civil rights activist and longtime Democratic congressman from Georgia who co-sponsored the bill. Bush, accompanied by his wife, Laura, 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 its history," Bush said. "It faces its flaws and corrects them." Lewis, who is featured in the museum, said he could feel the weight of history around the museum, with slave voices whispering of escape and church choirs singing of freedom. "All their voices, roaming for centuries, have finally found their home here, in this great monument to our pain, our suffering and our victory," Lewis said. After the speech, Obama hugged the congressman as he returned to his seat. Also on hand were former President Bill Clinton, Chief Justice John Roberts and House Speaker Paul Ryan; celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Robert De Niro, Will Smith, and Angela Bassett; and thousands of Americans who just wanted to witness the museum's opening firsthand. "I'm just elated and can't express how much joy and gratitude I have to be here today and witness history," said Master Sgt. Donald Sparks of Houston, who just finished a yearlong deployment in Iraq. The honor of helping Obama open the doors went to Ruth Bonner, 99, daughter of a Mississippi slave who escaped to freedom. The president and first lady joined Bonner and her family in ringing 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 organized entirely by black people, acquired its Freedom Bell in 1886. It will be returned to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. The 400,000-square-foot museum, designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye, strikes a unique shape on the Mall with its three-tiered bronze exterior panels inspired by an African wooden column. The exterior 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. The museum's opening "finally marks the place and time where we're finally recognized ... and it's about time," said Shenise Foster of Alexandria, Virginia. NEW YORK, NY With the unsealing of indictments in a New York federal court Friday, the Drug Enforcement Administration revealed a long-term operation to trace and disrupt the flow of heroin from Mexico to central Massachusetts. For more than 18 months "Operation Dirty Dope" accounted for the arrest of over 25 cartel members, and the confiscation of 33 kilos of heroin, 2 kilos of fentanyl and smaller quantities of cocaine, all with a street value of more than $13 million. Started in April of 2015, the operation accounted for the arrests of dealers in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona and New Jersey, the Beacon Hill Patch reported. According to the indictments, heroin produced in Mexico traveled to Tucson, Arizona over the national border. Cars with specially constructed compartments were driven to transport the drugs to the Northeast. then distributed by networks in New York City, Pennsylvania and on into Leominster in central Massachusetts. From there the drugs moved east into the Boston area. The operation also detailed some of the cartel's business decisions.Wiretaps recorded cartel members discussing what types of fillers could be used to stretch the heroin, chicken anesthetic, nail polish remover, roach killer, fentanyl and other products, that could bulk up and extend pure heroin and make it more profitable. Allegedly, the cartel members used human heroin addicts as guinea pigs to test out various fillers with little regard for the lives of the addicts. "Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in Massachusetts," DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson said in a press release. "The DEA is committed to aggressively pursuing drug trafficking organizations who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison across Massachusetts in order to profit and destroy people's lives and wreak havoc in our communities." . Wells Fargo chairman and CEO John Stumpfs testimony last Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee on the fictitious-accounts scandal at his bank raises disturbing questions for the bank, the banking industry and affected consumers. Earlier this month, the company said its subsidiary Wells Fargo Bank will pay $185 million in settlements over admissions that its employees had created fictitious customer accounts without the parent firms knowledge over the past five years. They had created about two million such accounts, ostensibly to meet sales targets and earn bonuses. Peter Conti-Brown and Lisa Cook Full Story: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/160922a_kwradio_conti-brown_cook/ Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte are both campaigning on promises to improve the states public schools, but their visions of what needs to change and how to make it happen differ greatly. "Itll be in line with what he has done over the last three and a half years, which has been to ensure that all students have access to a great public education wherever they are in the state," Bullocks education adviser Siri Smillie said. "Ensuring that students are prepared for college or career starts before students enter kindergarten, with preschool." JAYME FRASER Independent Record Full Story: http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/candidates-for-governor-lay-out-differing-priorities-for-public-education/article_75fc63ef-0704-5335-83c8-25fa1dcb9094.html 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. Learning how to control inflammation could have huge implications for the treatment of many diseases. Breaking research discovers how macrophages turn mitochondria into toxic chemical-producing inflammation-promoters. Share on Pinterest The role of the macrophage in inflammation is complex and wide-ranging. Inflammation plays a significant role in a number of serious medical conditions. Efforts to understand and control it are ongoing. Inflammation is the bodys attempt to protect itself from harmful stimuli. For instance, after a knock to the knee, inflammation helps prevent further damage; it has evolved to become an essential part of our immune system. However, during disease, the inflammatory response can go awry and cause damage to healthy tissue; it is a powerful mechanism that must be tightly controlled. For instance, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, and septic shock all involve high levels of poorly controlled inflammation. In fact, inflammation can actually cause diseases and conditions to occur, such as hay fever, periodontitis, and some cancers. Macrophages and inflammation Macrophages (meaning big eaters) are a type of white blood cell that engulf and digest cellular debris and foreign substances. These biological dustbins maraud within and between cells throughout the body, destroying pathogens as they roam. Alongside their taste for microbes and other invaders, they play a substantial role in orchestrating the immune response. Macrophages stimulate the immune system and help to call it to action when necessary. As part of this role, macrophages are known to promote inflammation. However, once the time has come for the inflammation response to stop, they switch roles, suppressing inflammation and busying themselves with repairing damaged tissue. A team of scientists from the Inflammation Research Group at Trinity College Dublin in the Republic of Ireland joined forces with researchers based at the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit in the United Kingdom. These two institutions linked up with another seven across Europe to take a fresh look at the role of macrophages in inflammation. Advertisement "We were pleased to find that using an approach that adds a psychological care component to treating concussions and providing coordination of care in areas of the patient's life significantly improved outcomes," said Dr. Cari McCarty, a psychologist and researcher at Seattle Children's Research Institute who led the study. "This new approach aims to improve the quality of life for patients who were otherwise left to deal with unrelenting concussion symptoms."Carmen Einmo, 16, loves to ride horses. In November 2014, she fell off her horse and broke her arm. At first, she didn't complain of typical concussion symptoms, but after a few weeks it became clear something was amiss."I developed really bad headaches and became very sensitive to light," Carmen said. "I started having memory issues and would forget words in the middle of a conversation."As her symptoms persisted over a couple months, Carmen's doctor at Seattle Children's, Dr. Elaine Tsao, suggested she sign up for McCarty's study. The family was excited to have found another treatment option to pursue."A lot of Carmen's schoolwork had to be done on an iPad, and spending long amounts of time on it hurt her eyes and head," said Diana Einmo, Carmen's mom. "Some of the teachers didn't understand that Carmen couldn't spend a lot of time on an iPad, and they didn't know what to make of how long her symptoms had been going on."Carmen's grades had started to slip and she worried about how the persistent symptoms got in the way of schoolwork."I entered my second year of high school ready to start off strong, but the concussion set me back," she said. "My PE class was especially challenging because I couldn't run, so I would walk, and I got penalized for it in my grade."As a participant in the study, Carmen got support from a research team member that created a coordinated care plan for her. The researcher worked with the school and family on a plan that would allow Carmen to continue school with accommodations as she recovered. The plan included a homework priority list, allowing her more time to finish work and access to another room if she became tired from light and sound in class.In addition, Carmen received cognitive behavioral therapy that involved her parents and sister. "Cognitive behavioral therapy involves changing both behaviors and thinking patterns," McCarty said. "In our study that included relaxation techniques, teaching coping skills and offering pain management. We found that incorporating a psychological care component improved health outcomes and quality of life for these kids."Only 13% of patients who received the coordinated care and psychological intervention in the study reported high levels of post-concussive symptoms after six months, compared to 42% of patients who received standard concussion care. In addition, 78% of patients who received the specialized care reported reduction in depression symptoms, compared to just 46% of patients who received standard care.Carmen is feeling more like herself now and has been cleared to ride horses again. She and her mom say one of the most important things they learned during this experience was to take concussions seriously, especially because the effects and symptoms might not be apparent right away."It's especially challenging when a teenager gets a concussion because it's hard to tell if a change in behavior is because of a concussion, or because a teenager is going through a growth and development phase," Einmo said. "We found the therapy to be especially helpful in figuring some of this out."Carmen adds that having a plan and realistic expectations with school helped immensely. "I would tell young people struggling with a concussion to stick up for yourself and what you need," she said. "Take it one day at a time and do your best, and ask for the help you need."Source: Newswise Advertisement Building on this research, University of Minnesota computer science and engineering Associate Professor Chad Myers, along with Professors Brenda Andrews and Charles Boone from the University of Toronto's Donnelly Centre, have created the first complete genetic interaction network of a yeast cell, one that begins to explain how thousands of genes coordinate with one another to orchestrate cellular life."Even though many common diseases are thought to be caused by many different loci in the genome, we don't really understand the basic principles for how multiple genes combine to have effects," Myers said. "Our comprehensive study of double mutant combinations in yeast establishes a set of first principles that we expect to apply in many different species, including humans."Biking without brakesThese findings suggest that most genes within our genomes are "buffered" to protect the cell from mutations and environmental stresses. Cells contain backup systems to ensure the essential functions of life keep working properly, even when one part is damaged. To address this buffering property, scientists had to ask if cells can survive upon losing more than one gene at a time, and they had to test millions of gene pairs.Andrews, Boone, and Myers led the pioneering work in yeast cells by studying cell survival in the context of double mutants. To do so, they automated yeast genetic analysis, and they used robots to construct and examine almost all of the 18 million pairwise double mutant combinations.The global genetic interaction map catalogues the pairs of genes that provide back up for one anotherif the gene function of one is lost, the other gene in the genome fills its role.Consider a bicycle analogy: a wheel is akin to an essential gene a part without which it would be impossible to ride. Front brakes? That depends, because you could ride just fine as long as the back brakes are working. But what if you were to lose both sets of brakes? Without back brakes, the front brakes become essential, and vice versa.Geneticists would call the relationship between front and back brakes as "synthetic lethal," meaning that losing both, but neither by themselves, spells doom. Synthetic lethal double mutant gene pairs are relatively rare, but when they are found, they reveal important information on gene pairs that work together to control essential functions.Guilt by associationWhat's more, the global map shows that synthetic lethal gene pairs are more likely to control the same biological process in the cell. This way, scientists are able to predict what a gene actually does in the cell simply based on its genetic interaction patterns, a process referred to as "guilt by association".If most genes in the human genome have one or more backup genes, then instead of searching for single genes underlying diseases, researchers now must look for gene pairs. This poses a huge challenge because they must somehow examine on the order of 200 million (!) possible gene pairs in the human genome that are associated with a disease.Fortunately, with the know-how from the yeast map, researchers can now begin to map genetic interactions in human cells, and even expand it to a number of different cell types."Technology to manipulate human genomes on a large scale exists now," Myers said. "Our work in yeast provides a blueprint for how we can learn about the human genome through systematic manipulation in cell lines."The concept of synthetic lethality is already changing cancer treatment because of its potential to identify drug targets that exist only in tumor cells. Cancer cells differ from normal cells in that they have scrambled genomes, littered with mutations. If scientists could find the highly vulnerable back-up genes in cancer, they could target specific drugs at them to destroy only the cells that are sick, leaving the healthy ones untouched.This work was primarily supported by the National Institutes of Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, RIKEN Strategic Programs for R&D, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Kakeni Grants, and the National Science Foundation.Source: Newswise Alternate Minister for European Affairs, N. Xydakis, received today the outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Greece, Kerim Uras, in a farewell meeting, during which the refugee and migrant issues as well as visa-free access for Turkish citizens were discussed. On the refugee and migrant issue, the Alternate Minister expressed his satisfaction for the fact that the EU-Turkey Statement is still in force, although refugee flows are not down to zero, particularly after the coup. The Ambassador of Turkey, for his part, stated that we must convince the refugees that the agreement is in force, which, as a result, would signify they are staying in Turkey. As to visa liberalisation, Mr. Xydakis told the Turkish Ambassador that Greece is ready to provide all sorts of possible "know-how" so that Turkey eventually meets the criteria. Mr. Uras expressed his satisfaction about the continuation of the pilot program granting visa-free travel access to citizens of Turkey to the islands of the N.E. Aegean during the summer tourist season. Mr. Uras successor will be the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, Halic Cevik, who had previously been posted in Athens and has also served as Director General for Political Affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the framework of the 71st Session and the high-level Week of the UN General Assembly in New York City, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met today, Wednesday September 21, with the Foreign Minister of Libya, Mohamed Taha Siala. The two Ministers looked into ways to further develop their bilateral relations and discussed the reopening the Greek Embassy in Tripoli. Lastly, they discussed prospects for Foreign Minister N. Kotzias to visit Tripoli shortly, as well as EU-Libya relations. His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, is the prelate of love and simplicity. Today, we had the pleasure of meeting with him in his ancient See, to discuss the entire range of issues and needs of the Patriarchate, which acts as a beacon of hope for Orthodoxy and Hellenism through its missionary, humanitarian and educational actions. His Beatitude and I, share the conviction,, that Africa is the continent of the future and that, in deepening our relations with African nations, the Church of Alexandria is instrumental as is the positive presence of representatives in the respective states along with the multivariate contribution of local dioceses. For our part, Greece is making an effort to be there and to help the Patriarchate meet its needs so that it may continue to perform its great work in an unhindered manner. REPORTER: Where are we today with regard to Cyprus? Are we close, as it appears, to finding a solution? . KOTZIAS: The first four chapters have been negotiated and there has been agreement on many issues. Quite a few others are still open, such as the rotating presidency, and there are the issues of territory, guarantees and security that have yet to be thoroughly discussed between both sides. Nonetheless we have been testing out (for a long time) ideas on possible solutions or even compromise. REPORTER: What is the position and the role of Greece? . KOTZIAS: On the chapter of security, Greece has a say, too. Personally, as of the very first time that I came over to the USA, on a visit, back in April 2015, I made it clear that we needed to put an end to the System of Guarantees as it is anachronistic. An effort is being made by both the Greek-Cypriots and us to create a system for cooperation and friendship, so that Cyprus may cooperate with the two, by now former, I would say, guarantor powers without them having any right to intervene. REPORTER: What is the stance of Turkey? . KOTZIAS: At this point, Turkey is still in a thought-ripening process. I have had many meetings with Mr. Cavusoglu, during which we discussed this topic. We have not come to an agreement yet. At the meeting with President Erdogan, here in New York City, we said we would meet again soon to discuss it further. I have drafted a long document on those issues, which the Cypriot government is also aware of and we have agreed it will be the basis on which we shall proceed. REPORTER: Obviously, Turkish troops must leave. Will it happen immediately? Or will it happen over time? . KOTZIAS: Turkish occupation troops will have to leave. It is absolutely obvious, and from a practical point of view they cannot go overnight. Yet, what the Cypriot President is pursuing -with the full support of Greece- is to have most of the troops ready to go the day after, as the Turkish-Cypriots will be reaping immediate benefits from the unification and evolution of the Republic of Cyprus, whereas the same does not apply and still needs to be ensured for the Greek-Cypriots, and that in turn involves the withdrawal of occupation troops, the return of territory and overall agreeing on the core issues. Therefore, most of the troops must go immediately and, subsequently, there will be a retreat procedure unfolding over reasonable time, within a deadline. REPORTER: Will there be a small number left? . KOTZIAS: No, there will be none left. REPORTER: How many are bound to remain over a certain period of time and how long will that be? . KOTZIAS: This is subject to negotiation by the Cypriot government: the main idea is to have most troops leave on day one and the rest over a period of time, to show that no more occupation troops are left in Cyprus. REPORTER: You met with Vice-President Biden. What about the role of the United States? . KOTZIAS: The Americans would be pleased to see an end to the juxtaposition of Greece and Turkey over to the Cyprus issue. That is their primary concern. Then, they wish for a compromise solution to the problem. In the US Establishment and the Administration there are many positive views about Cyprus, and there are others that are not so positive and which are being appropriately addressed. REPORTER: What did you talk about with Mr. Erdogan, as to the refugee issue? . KOTZIAS: The Prime Minister talked with Mr. Erdogan about certain parameters that have emerged while dealing with the refugee issue and need to be handled. The two leaders assigned us, Foreign Ministers, to work on them. REPORTER: Which particular points are we talking about? . KOTZIAS: They are relevant to refugees for whom there is not enough room on the islands and due care for them must be provided by the Greek side. Also those who will not be granted asylum and will have to be returned to Turkey. REPORTER: Greece is in favour of visa-free access for Turkish citizens as long as Turkey upholds its commitments. . KOTZIAS: We want what has been agreed upon to materialise, i.e. what Turkey has committed to with regard to controls and refugee returns and what Europe has promised on financing and the visa regime. REPORTER: Have they so far failed to deliver to the extent they should? . : There are certain member-states which would like to see the agreement fall through, especially due to the second segment, and thus what Greece and Turkey, but also the European institutions, must make sure of, is that the agreement is being implemented. REPORTER: Did you discuss Greek-Turkish relations and differences? . KOTZIAS: Discussion on Greek-Turkish affairs was limited. There is a communication channel between the two Ministries, in which Mr. Sinirioglu, the former Deputy Minister who is now the Ambassador of Turkey to the UN, had an important role to play and we are currently waiting for the other side to appoint his successor to go ahead with fact-finding, contacts, confidence-building measures and dialogue at the level of ministries. REPORTER: Did the representatives of Jewish organizations that you met raise the issue of the trilateral cooperation with Palestine? . KOTZIAS: No, they were not interested in that. It was not brought up. We want to establish a new regional security architecture for S.E. Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. It is in this context that we have put in place, in conjunction with Cyprus, trilateral arrangements with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and now Palestine, i.e. all players in the region, thus acting as a vehicle for understanding and working together with everyone in the Eastern Mediterranean. Secondly, we hosted a meeting in Rhodes, on September 8-9, among six European and six Arab countries, to inaugurate a cooperative structure. Third, we aspire to formulating an overall positive, not a negative, cooperation agenda, encompassing a wide range of issues. You know, whenever there is talk of the Middle East in bilateral meetings and multilateral forums, there is always mention of conflict and warfare. We are opting to rather move towards a positive agenda consisting of cooperation items, be they cultural, economic, educational and so on. Fourth, there is the proposal I made two weeks ago at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Potsdam, where I suggested that, just as we did when we came up with a security structure for Europe during the Cold War, and decisions were made in Helsinki on the Accords that eventually led us to the setting-up of the OSCE, today we ought to be looking into a similar security setup for the Eastern Mediterranean. Moreover, we took the initiative to have the GC9, an alliance of the oldest civilizations of the world that are still playing a role as we speak. In this framework we are planning a meeting in Athens, at the end of the year, whith the participation of Iraq, Iran, China, India, Italy, Egypt, Mexico and Bolivia. REPORTER: By way of conclusion, and since we are in the USA, to what extent is the outcome of the US election expected to affect Greece? . KOTZIAS: What I make sure of is to establish communication channels with everyone. This is imperative for our national interests and it is exactly what I do. Given that point of view, I capitalized on my presence here, in New York, and met with people from the teams of both H. Clinton and D. Trump. The latter are not really sought after by many foreigners, which in my opionion is wrong. They were all appreciative of our interest to see them. You know, Greece draws no benefits from siding with one or the other. No matter who wins, I believe we will still be in a position to work together with the new Administration effectivly. REPORTER: Will there be mobility as concerns Skopje? You saw Mr. Poposki. . KOTZIAS: Yes, I saw my counterpart, Nicola Poposki. I expect that, after the end of the electoral process on December 11, many sides will definitely be urging for a solution to the "name issue". As a result, after the elections, this issue will have to be subject to deliberations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and not be left over to third parties, and certainly always with the aid of mediator Matthew Nimetz. REPORTER: Are your Confidence-Building Measures initiatives bringing us somewhat closer to finding a solution? . KOTZIAS: We will see. CBMs have really helped a certain false image of Greece in Skopje deconstruct, one suggesting that we supposedly wanted that state to disintegrate and dissolve. We believe it is good that FYROM exists and we want it to survive. This is, after all, the reason I exercised the right to veto during the discussion the EU was having on possible sanctions. REPORTER: Do the neighbours understand that? . KOTZIAS: Like I said, the CBMs have contributed to that end. The problem is that the godfather of this state made a mistake with its name. REPORTER: What sort of support did the Prime Minister ask Vice-President Biden for as to the debt? . KOTZIAS: There has to be an end to the policy of austerity which is keeping the debt ratio elevated and is the source of problems for the Greek society. Problems leading to an impasse not only our own economy but that of Europe, as a whole. As far as this is concerned, the Americans, whose economy is the biggest in the world, are very supportive and believe the Greek debt has to be adjusted in a way to make it sustainable. This is a view they not only subscribe to in private, they also hold and promote it in public. REPORTER: Are they willing to exercise their influence on certain partners? . KOTZIAS: The Americans are trying to influence their partners but, as you know, this is a time when allies and partners are not always heeding the United States, and that must be taken into account by Greece in its foreign policy. Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias completed a round of contacts and meetings during the High-Level Week of the 71st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, which took place in New York, between September 17 and 23, where he accompanied Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The Minister of Foreign Affairs had a series of bilateral and trilateral meetings and also took part in debates, discussions and high-level events, as well as in Ministerial Meetings organized by international and regional organizations. Indeed, Foreign Minister Kotzias had a number of peer meetings, i.e. with Korean Minister Yun Byung-se, Bolivian Minister David Choquehuanca Cespedes, Libyan Minister Mohamed Taha Siala, Qatari Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Iraqi Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, FYROM Minister Nikola Poposki, and, moreover, met the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj. He also met with Espen Barth Eide, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus, Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Furthermore, he participated in the very first trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Palestine, as well as in the trilateral meeting of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. In addition, he took part in the second quadrilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. Minister Kotzias took part in the EU Foreign Ministerial Dinner and the Transatlantic EU-NATO Foreign Ministers Dinner and met with representatives of the PanMacedonian Association, the Cypriot Diaspora and major Jewish-American Organisations. The Foreign Minister presented the positions of Greece on major regional issues during a speech he made for the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank, and in the ensuing discussion, while he attended the annual Ministerial Dinner on the Middle East hosted by the International Peace Institute. The Foreign Minister accompanied Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the meetings he had with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, US Vice-President Joe Biden, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 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. CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. Post Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, Refrigerated Retail, and BellRing Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal and hot cereal products. It serves grocery stores, mass merchandise customers, supercenters, club stores, natural/specialty stores, and drug store customers, as well as sells its products in the military, ecommerce, and foodservice channels. The Weetabix segment primarily markets and distributes branded and private label RTE cereal, hot cereals and other cereal-based food products, breakfast drinks, and muesli. This segment sells its products to grocery stores, discounters, wholesalers, and convenience stores, as well as through ecommerce. The Foodservice segment produces and distributes egg and potato products in the foodservice and food ingredient channels. It serves foodservice distributors and national restaurant chains. The Refrigerated Retail segment produces and distributes side dishes, eggs and egg products, sausages, cheese, and other dairy and refrigerated products for grocery stores and mass merchandise customers. The BellRing Brands segment markets and distributes ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and supplements. It serves club stores, food, drug and mass customers, and online retailers, as well as specialty retailers, convenience stores, and distributors. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; prepaid programs and management services; commercial credit and debit payment products and solutions; and payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts. It also provides value-added products and services comprising cyber and intelligence solutions for parties to transact, as well as proprietary insights, drawing on principled use of consumer, and merchant data services. In addition, the company offers analytics, test and learn, consulting, managed services, loyalty, processing, and payment gateway solutions for e-commerce merchants. Further, it provides open banking and digital identity platforms services. The company offers payment solutions and services under the MasterCard, Maestro, and Cirrus. Mastercard Incorporated was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York. 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. It didnt take much last winter for the Pirates to re-sign utilityman Sean Rodriguez, who inked a one-year, $2.5MM contract after a poor season. Considering Rodriguez has drastically improved his output this year, Pittsburgh wont be able to bring him back during the offseason at such a low cost, which general manager Neal Huntington knows. Wed love to have Sean remain in a Pirate uniform, Huntington told Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Given what hes done this year, we would fully anticipate that theres going to be quite a market out there for him. Rodriguez has lined up everywhere but pitcher and catcher this season, though he has spent the lions share of his time at first base, the middle infield and right field. Offensively, the 31-year-old is amid a career campaign, having slashed a terrific .264/.345/.518 with 18 home runs through 320 plate appearances. Rodriguezs overall line and homer total are easily personal bests since he broke into the majors with the Angels in 2008, and the longtime Ray has helped his cause with a 10 percent walk rate. Thats significantly better than the 2.1 percent mark Rodriguez posted in 2015, when he logged one of his worst seasons. In assessing Rodriguezs value, Huntington said, Seans just done a remarkable job. The defensive versatility and the impact, its hard to measure. Rodriguez hit an uninspiring .228/.295/.371 across 2,093 PAs entering this season, but he could seek a multiyear deal worth around $5MM per annum on the heels of a strong 2016, writes Biertempfel. That would likely price him out of Pittsburgh, per Biertempfel, who notes that the club has potential in-house replacements in Adam Frazier and Alen Hanson. Frazier seems especially likely to take over for Rodriguez, as the 24-year-old has spent time at multiple infield and outfield positions and slashed .311/.361/.432 in his first 144 major league trips to the plate. 20536675-standard.jpg Lions running back Ameer Abdullah is feared to be out for the season after tearing a ligament in his foot, according to ESPN. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- Ameer Abdullah and Ezekiel Ansah won't play Sunday against the Packers. And that could be just the start of the bad injury news for both Detroit Lions players. Abdullah has a torn ligament in his foot, according to ESPN, and the Lions believe he won't play again this season. He's already undergone surgery and was placed on injured reserve. Teams can now bring back one play from IR after he's missed at least eight weeks, but it appears Detroit is not expecting that to happen with Abdullah. Abdullah is Detroit's leading rusher, with 101 yards on 18 carries. Theo Riddick will start in his place against Green Bay, and rookie Dwayne Washington will move into the No. 2 role. Zach Zenner, inactive the last two weeks, is expected to be dressed today and work as the No. 3 back. As for Ansah, he's already been rule out against Green Bay because of a high ankle sprain, but ESPN is reporting he's not expected to play next week against Chicago either. Ansah suffered the injury on the third snap of last week's loss against Tennessee. Kerry Hyder is expected to start for him against the Packers. ANN ARBOR, MI - The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area is hosting a forum on Tuesday, Sept. 27, to help voters get to know some local candidates running for public office in the November election. First, the candidates for Ann Arbor Public Schools board of education will introduce themselves and answer questions. Eight people are vying for three four-year terms. The candidates include: Jeff Gaynor, retired AAPS teacher with 38 years experience in education, and his two daughters attended AAPS; Jeremy Glick Rebecca Lazarus Simone Lightfoot Deb Mexicotte Harmony Mitchell, mother of four children who attend AAPS; Hunter Van Valkenburgh, former teacher with two children attending AAPS; and Don Wilkerson Gaynor, Mitchell and Van Valkenburgh are running together. Current board secretary Andy Thomas' term expires in 2016, and he is not running for re-election. Current board treasurer Donna Lasinski is running for the 52nd State House of Representatives seat, and she will maintain her role on the AAPS board in the meantime. The school board candidate forum will begin at 7 p.m. at CTN Television Studios, 2805 S. Industrial Highway, suite 200. At 9 p.m., the forum will shift to the two candidates for Ann Arbor City Council, Ward 5. Democratic incumbent Chuck Warpehoski and David A. Silkworth, who does not have a party affiliation, are competing to represent Ward 5. At 9:45 p.m., the League of Women Voters will present information on the Ann Arbor ballot proposal to increase the term of office for the mayor and city council members. The proposal is to increase the terms of the positions from two years to four years. The public is welcome to attend the forum, which also will be shown live and taped for subsequent viewings on the public access channel. The League is hosting other candidate forums starting at 7 p.m. at CTN Television Studio - unless otherwise noted below - on the following dates: Oct. 4 - Washtenaw Community College trustees and Washtenaw County Commission District 2. Oct. 5 - State House Representative for District 54. This event will be held at the Ypsilanti District Library, 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti. Oct. 10 - Ann Arbor District Library board, Washtenaw County Sheriff and Washtenaw County Commission District 9. Oct. 11 - State Representative for District 52, State Representative for District 53, State Representative for District 55 and Washtenaw County Prosecutor. Oct. 13 - U.S. Congressional District 12. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Conor O'Neill's Celtic Room, 318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. The last day to register to vote for the November election is Oct. 11, and the general election will take place Nov. 8. ANN ARBOR, MI - Imagine stepping off a train just north of downtown Ann Arbor and being able to grab lunch at a new riverfront restaurant next to the station, and then going for a walk through a new riverfront green space. If you happen to work in one of the new offices next to the station, you could step off the train and walk a short distance to your job. Or if you're coming into town for an overnight stay, you could step off the train and check your bags at a new hotel next door and then walk downtown. Those are all future scenarios DTE Energy imagines possible if the city goes with Depot Street over Fuller Park as the location for a new Amtrak station. DTE owns the vacant 14-acre property known as the MichCon site next to the Broadway bridges, directly across the tracks from the existing Amtrak station on Depot Street. The MichCon site abuts Amtrak's longterm parking lot, which sits across the tracks from station. DTE spokeswoman Randi Berris confirmed on Friday that DTE still has big plans for a mixed-use redevelopment of the riverfront property at 841 Broadway St., and the company sees potential for synergy with a new train station. "Our development is happening regardless, but it would certainly strengthen the development to have the train station there and be a part of it," Berris said. "We envision it becoming a destination location in Ann Arbor, especially with both our development and the train station there." DTE has been working with a private developer and architect to come up with plans for a development including a riverfront restaurant, hotel, office space and significant green space open to the public. At this time, there's no indication it would include any kind of a residential housing. "Our goal is to develop a very special mixed-use development that benefits the community and takes advantage of the riverfront location," Berris said. "Incorporating a new train station could be an important part of that. And we really hope a decision on the rail station will be made as quickly as possible." One of the design alternatives for a new train station elevated above the tracks at the existing Amtrak location on Depot Street in Ann Arbor. The rectangular blue area is where parking facilities would go using part of the MichCon site. The city's leadership historically has favored Fuller Park, in front of the University of Michigan Hospital, as the location for a new Amtrak station. While that remains an option, the Federal Railroad Administration is having the city give further consideration to Depot Street options, including building a new station at the existing site. That would entail using a portion of the MichCon site. Another option the FRA has asked the city to further consider is returning the Michigan Central Railroad Depot building on Depot Street, built in 1886, to use as a train station. It currently houses the Gandy Dancer restaurant. From DTE's perspective, building a new and expanded Amtrak station at the existing location at 325 Depot St. would help invigorate the area along with DTE's development planned for the MichCon site. DTE also sees potential for sharing of parking between a new train station and a neighboring development on the MichCon site. DTE is hoping the city and FRA will make a decision soon about where the new train station will go so the designs for the MichCon site can be finalized to take into account whether there will be a new train station there. Berris said the uncertainty around the train station project has caused DTE to go back and look at its plans and different scenarios. "We want the development to be thoughtful and we want to get it right, and that uncertainty makes it hard to finalize any plans," she said. The MichCon site at 841 Broadway St. is the location of a former coal gasification plant operated by the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company. According to information provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, MichCon and its predecessors operated a manufactured gas plant at the site from about 1900 until the late 1940s. Consumer gas was produced on the site using a process that mixed coal and petroleum. During the manufacturing process, coal tar and other impurities were removed. Some of the industrial waste byproducts still contaminate the area. In the late 1950s, the plant was decommissioned and the site was converted into a MichCon service center by the early 1960s. Those operations were discontinued in 2008 and the main service center building was demolished between late 2009 and early 2010. In 2012 and 2013, DTE completed a major environmental cleanup on the portion of the site along the south bank of the river. Other parts of the site still are polluted. It's expected additional remediation could happen as part of the future redevelopment. The city is inviting members of the public to give feedback on remaining options for a new Amtrak station at two meetings Monday, Sept. 26, at the downtown Ann Arbor library, 343 S. 5th Ave. One session runs from 4-5:30 p.m. with a presentation at 4:30 p.m. and the other runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with a presentation at 7 p.m. Both sessions will take place in the lower-level multipurpose room. After those meetings, the city will be working to prepare another report that will go to the FRA, identifying a preferred option. The city is hoping to get the FRA to sign off on a preferred option yet this fall. A citizens group called Protect A2 Parks, which has created the website AllAboardOnDepotStreet.com, has been lobbying the FRA, making the case for a station on Depot Street instead of Fuller Park. In a recent letter to the FRA, the group laid out the differences between the Depot Street and Fuller Park locations, noting the existing location allows passengers to walk to and from downtown in less than 10 minutes and provides easy access to commerce, governmental services, shopping and transportation routes. "Our assessment is that Fuller Park provides the best value to our community as green infrastructure that can be best improved upon by reducing impervious surfaces within the park boundaries," wrote Rita Mitchell, a Fifth Street resident and member of Protect A2 Parks. "Community multimodal transportation needs can best be served at the existing location of the Ann Arbor Amtrak Station on Depot Street, which is centrally located in the city." Others, including some city leaders, have argued a station in Fuller Park could serve people coming and going from the U-M Hospital. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Owner Santa Valdez in his shop, Quality Shoe Repair, 818 Saginaw St. in Bay City on Sept. 22, 2016. BAY CITY, MI -- When Santa Valdez moved from Chicago to Bay City more than three years ago, he came with a suitcase full of clothes and a dream of calling a business his own. "I can say that I came here with empty hands," said Valdez, the cobbler who owns Quality Shoe Repair, 818 Saginaw St., in downtown Bay City. "Everything I have today was grown here." And it's about to become bigger. Proving that the American dream is alive and well, Valdez, a native of Mexico, has scrimped and saved enough money to pay cash for a portion of the former Fabric Fair building next door to his existing location with plans to double in size and open a retail shop where he sells custom-made shoes and other handmade leather products. The deal, which included his existing location, closed earlier this month for $68,000. "It's the biggest check I've ever had to write," said Valdez, 56. "But this has been my goal and I couldn't be happier that it's finally happening." While repairing a clasp on a woman's wallet on Thursday, Sept. 22, Valdez said the shoe repair business has paid the bills, but making shoes is his passion. In the coming weeks, crews will start renovating the space he acquired previously occupied by the Fabric Fair. That business closed in July. His shoe repair building will remain the same. He plans to fill the new retail side with everything from work shoes to belts. "I can do any type of shoe," he said. "I'd also like to do law enforcement equipment, like cuff holders and holsters." Owner Santa Valdez wears custom leather shoes that he wove for himself at Quality Shoe Repair, 818 Saginaw St. in Bay City on Sept. 22, 2016. He said it takes him about three hours to manufacture a basic pair of work shoes. He works at a rate of about $40 per hour, so custom-made shoes could run $120 on up, depending on special features, like steel toes. He can also make more artistic footwear, similar to the brown braided leather sandals he was wearing on Thursday. He plans on hiring an employee to help with the retail side of the business and to train with some basic shoe repair tasks. A name to brand his custom-made shoes is still in the works, Valdez said. The cobbler, one of 14 children, is the third generation of his family to be in the shoe repair business. He has more than 100 relatives, including cousins, who have worked in the industry. While in Chicago for 25 years, he worked for someone else's shoe repair shop. His brother, Jesus Valdez, who owns two shoe repair shops in Ann Arbor told him about an opportunity to buy a business in Bay City, previously owned and operated by Ramiro Facundo. His wife Luz still runs a grocery store in Mexico. Valdez said he plans to visit her around Christmas. The couple has three children, two daughters who live in Chicago, and a son who's currently attending the University of Mexico. Even at 56, retirement isn't on his mind. He said the support he has received from Bay City motivates him to keep working. One of his regular customers, Margret Schneider, popped in Thursday to have Valdez repair a wallet clasp. "Look at the detail," she said, pointing to the stitching on the wallet. "He's the absolute best." Valdez said it's those little interactions that helped turn his dream into a reality. "All of the money that's going into this business was raised here in Bay City," he said. "The support of the people made this happen. That makes me happy." WYOMING, MI -- Police are seeking the public's help to identify a man who was killed after running in front of a car this weekend. Around 10:35 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, a 25-year-old Grand Rapids woman struck a male pedestrian who police say ran in front of her vehicle as it drove west on 28th Street. The man, who was not carrying a form of identification, was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical examiner. He is described by police as approximately 20-30 years old, possibly Hispanic, about 5-foot-4 or 5-foot-5, weighing 130-140 pounds, with dark hair and mustache. The man was wearing blue jeans, and a blue hooded sweatshirt with blue and orange high-top shoes. Anyone that can assist in identifying the victim is asked to contact the Wyoming Department of Public Safety and speak with a dispatcher (616) 530-7300 or Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345. Wyoming Public Safety personnel continue with their investigation into the crash. At this time police do not believe alcohol is a factor in the crash. A second person was also killed yesterday in a three-car collision that caused an SUV to roll on its side on Buchanan Avenue SW. SUMMIT TWP., MI - David Stanton was asleep on the couch when his wife came to inform him she believed she had heard gunshots. He went to investigate and found a tiny bullet hole in a front bedroom window of their home on 17th Street. A bullet, he discovered, was on the bed, a short distance from where she had been lying. He found it "a little scary" to confirm his wife's belief, and was shocked by the bullet's location. "We really didn't sleep good the rest of the night," David Stanton said Saturday, hours after he said he called police to inform them of the shooting. Jackson County Sheriff's deputies had gone about 3:25 a.m. Sept. 24 to the area of 18th Street and Carlton Boulevard to check on the welfare of a veteran who was said to be suicidal. His last known address was on the street. As they approached a home, a series of shots rang out from a nearby wooded area, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. Deputies took cover and requested assistance from surrounding departments. The area was cordoned off and searched, but police did not find a shooter. In addition to the Stanton home, there were bullet holes in a vehicle. No one was hurt, the sheriff's office reported. "We don't know if the deputies were the target or whether they interrupted some crime in progress," Undersheriff Chris Kuhl wrote in an email. "We are keeping all possibilities open at this time." The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, providing the 18th Street address, had asked the county to check on the veteran because the administration hotline had fielded a call about the man being suicidal, according to the sheriff's office. Police eventually found the man, unharmed, at his current residence in Blackman Township. He had not requested any help, a detail verified by witnesses. Kuhl said deputies were trying to determine what hotline records exist in an attempt to identify the caller. Stanton did not know much about the situation. Police did not give him specifics. His wife heard four to five shots, he said. "She was a little shaken last night." Other neighbors also reported hearing what they thought were several shots, or maybe firecrackers. Some heard nothing. No one seemed to have any clear information on the source of the shots. Stanton took some comfort knowing his home, a small structure surrounded by other homes and businesses on a tree-lined street, was not an intended target. The bullet was said to be a stray projectile. The hole it left was barely visible an upper pane of the window on the north side of the house. He seemed calm. He said a mission trip to El Salvador, where he saw armed guards in stores and much barbed wire, made him realize Americans take their security for granted. Despite Saturday's incident, he knows his family is safer in the United States. Such an event has never previously occurred, he said, taking a break from yard work. "We love our quiet little neighborhood." Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office detective bureau at 517-768-7931 or the sergeant's desk at 517-768-7901. MUSKEGON, MI - Plans for a new 79-unit senior housing development in the heart of downtown Muskegon are a "go." The Berkshire Muskegon will be developed at the corner of Clay Avenue and First Street by General Capital Group of the Milwaukee area. Financing for the nearly $16 million project has been lined up and building plans are being finalized, said Sig Strautmanis, a development specialist with General Capital Group. Bids are expected to be sought later this year with construction starting early next spring, Strautmanis said. Construction will take about a year, he said. The design of the building is the first to conform to Muskegon's new "form based code" that calls for commercial space on the ground floor, residential units on upper floors and limited sidewalk setback. Parking will be behind the building and underground, which also conforms to the city's development standards. Tanglewood Park, the senior citizen service center in Norton Shores, is considering a satellite location in the ground-floor commercial space of The Berkshire, Strautmanis said. The project received a big boost when the Michigan State Housing Development Authority approved $1.4 million in low-income housing tax credits this summer. Developers sell the low-income housing tax credits to investors to raise money for construction projects. The Berkshire Muskegon location is an empty lot next to the 297 Clay apartments and once was the site of a parking garage. It's across the street from the ongoing Heritage Square Townhouses development. General Capital Group has built several other Berkshire housing developments in Wisconsin. 2016 Great Lakes Bay AIDS Run/Walk The 2016 AIDS Run & Walk for the Great Lakes Bay Region will take place Saturday, Oct. 1, in downtown Bay City. (Courtesy | Sacred Heart Rehabilitation) BAY CITY, MI -- A 5K run planned for Saturday, Oct. 1, will raise funds for HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention services in the region. It's the 12th annual AIDS Run and Walk organized by the Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, and will take place at Wenonah Park in downtown Bay City. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Saturday, with an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. and the run and walk set to begin at 9 a.m. "We are very excited to expand this year's event to include an officially timed 5K run and walk," said Tom Brubaker, Sacred Heart community relations coordinator. Funds raised provide support services for nearly 180 clients as well as free, confidential HIV/AIDS prevention education and testing services at several locations in the Great Lakes Bay region. "Thanks to our donors and sponsors we can provide client support and education meetings, a client emergency fund, personal care items and HIV prevention education and testing services," Brubaker said. This year's event also features music and free food provided by Starbuck's Coffee Company and Meijer, just two of 24 event sponsors. Lead sponsors include Macy's, My 96.1 WHNN, WNEM TV5 and Medwin's Specialty Pharmacy. "We are very grateful for the outpouring of support from the people of the Great Lakes Bay Region," Brubaker said. "We would not be able to provide any support services for our clients without the donations we raise during this event." The run and walk will be officially timed by Gault Race Management of Flushing, Michigan. Medallions and trophies will be presented to individuals in recognition of fundraising and race timing." To register for AIDS Run & Walk, visit Sacred Heart's website at www.sacredheartcenter.com or go directly to the race registration page. The event is open to the public. Registration is $25 for runners and $10 for walkers, both of which include official timing and an event T-shirt. In addition to AIDS care services, Sacred Heart provides substance use disorder treatment services at 10 locations in Michigan. Film Director and Actor Kwadwo Asare Bediako, has lauded actor cum musician Alexander Kofi Adu known on showbiz as Agya Koo for throwing his weight behind the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ahead of the December polls. Asare Bediako, who is a member of the Ashanti Faithfuls for Mahama , told Kumasi-based Ashh FM, the ''king kong'' of Ghana movies has every right to associate with any political party of his choice. He pleaded on other celebrities who are for John Mahama to accept Agya Koo's opinion and desist from launching verbal attacks on him. "for me I don't see anything wrong with Agya Koo's decision to endorse the NPP but my worry is we shouldn't also attack other celebs who are also for JM, he added. Asare Bediako speaking on Ashh fm National Agenda a day after Agya Koo, Matilda Asare, Mary Afriyie Forson, Ama Boahema and others endorsed the candidature of the NPP flagbearer. According to him, ''agya koo's decision has been a welcome news for us because it has open a flap gate for those who are for the NDC to come out boldly to throw their weight for President Mahama''. He told host of the show Odeefour Kwasi Kay that, there are heavyweights in the industry who are for the NDC and President Mahama . ''Agya Koo is not the only person who pulls crowd in this industry ,so very soon we will hold a massive press conference to introduce other bigwigs who are for the NDC to the general public.'' Asare Bediako further stated that, Agya Koo and Matilda Asare's decision to join the NPP campaign trail beautifies democracy in Ghana. I recently heard a few songs from upcoming artiste Starboy LA, and I was instantly blown away. His track with Epixode is truly a dancehall banger, and the collaboration he did with Luther is a proof that hiplife is alive and well. Starboy has all the makings of a superstar artiste, and he is definitely the artiste to look out for in 2017. You read it here first. I caught up with him to find out more. How did you begin your career as an artiste? L.A: I started my dream to have a career in music from childhood, where I used to sing along any song I heard. I used to hit the table to make beats and create a melody from it. I started recording my own songs in 2007 when a friend and I set up a small studio in his room. After recording, I would play it to people. The response was a great motivation for me to move to a bigger studio. So, I stepped it up and kept pushing to the next level. What are some of the challenges youve faced in your career? L.A: Some of the challenges I am facing now include the DJs. Some of them wont play your song until you pay something. Sometimes, even when you pay, they just play it once or twice and stop. How will the fans know that Starboy LA has dropped a dope tune when you dont promote me on your station? They will constantly play foreign songs and say Ghanaian musicians are not selling, when they are not supporting our own. Also, when you want to feature a top artiste and you approach them, the kind of money they charge you is shocking. However, when you do a song that becomes a hit, then they want to jump on the remix. Its certainly not easy for upcoming artistes these days. There are not enough platforms in place to help grow our careers. Its a struggle. Where do you get your inspiration from? L.A: I get my inspiration from God, my daily life and the stuff I hear and see around me. I have a song titled 'Life Of A Hustle'. I was in a car going to the studio, and saw one woman carrying her baby at her back under the hot sun, working. I felt so bad for her, so I asked the taxi driver to stop. I walked to the woman and had a chat with her. I gave her some money, got the inspiration and started writing that song. Its really about what I see in my daily life, or what I feel like writing about. How would you describe your music? L.A: I will describe my type of music as Afro-pop, but I can do all kind of songs. I dont really like to label my music a certain genre, because I can do different types. I recently did a song with Epixode titled 'Frienemy', which is a dancehall song. There is no genre of music I believe I cant do. I take pride in being as versatile as I can. I love music too much to be pigeon-holed. I do enjoy making Afro-pop and hiplife songs though. What are you working on currently? L.A: Im working on my album and still promoting the song I did with Luther titled 'Ossemia'. Im also working on some new songs with some of the top artistes out there right now. The rise to the top is not easy. Its all about grinding and pushing until you make it. Even after you make it, you need to keep pushing or you will eventually fall off. What do you hope to achieve through your career? Money? Fame? L.A: Well, of course, I want to be rich; everybody wants to be rich because life is really terrible when youre broke. In showbiz, its the fame first and then money will follow. When God blesses your work, you definitely go higher! The money and the fame are all part of the package. Where do you see yourself in the not-too-distant future? L.A: I see myself at the top of the music food chain. I also want to be able to change peoples lives through my music. I need to make an impact in peoples lives. I want to break records. My music should be remembered long after Im gone. I want to even win a Grammy!! Everything is possible once you believe, and work hard!! What advice would you give to upcoming artistes reading this? L.A: What I can tell them is that they should never give up, and they should be humble. Understand that God has plans for everybody. Eventually, everyones time will come, so keep believing. You need to work hard. Dont expect the doors to be opened for you all the time. Sometimes, you need to break the doors down when they dont want to let you in. A message to your fans? L.A: To my fans all over the world, I say thank you for all the support. Keep the support coming, and I will keep dropping the good songs you know me for. I will never let you down. Add me on Facebook: Starboy La or email my management for business on: [email protected]/ [email protected] God bless you all!! A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) put Africa's total elephant population at around 415,000, a decline of around 111,000 over the past decade. By Tony Karumba (AFP/File) 25.09.2016 LISTEN Johannesburg (AFP) - Africa's elephant population has suffered its worst drop in 25 years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Sunday, blaming the plummeting numbers on poaching. Based on 275 estimates from across the continent, a report by the conservation group put Africa's total elephant population at around 415,000, a decline of around 111,000 over the past decade. It is the first time in 25 years that the group's African Elephant Status Report has reported a continental decline in numbers, with the IUCN attributing the losses in large part to a sharp rise in poaching. "The surge in poaching for ivory that began approximately a decade ago -- the worst that Africa has experienced since the 1970s and 1980s -- has been the main driver of the decline," said IUCN in a statement. Habitat loss is also increasingly threatening the species, the group said. IUCN chief Inger Andersen said the numbers showed "the truly alarming plight of the majestic elephant". "It is shocking but not surprising that poaching has taken such a dramatic toll on this iconic species," she said. The IUCN report was released at the world's biggest conference on the international wildlife trade, taking place in Johannesburg. Thousands of conservationists and government officials are seeking to 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). The plight of Africa's elephants, targeted for their tusks, will be one of the most debated topics at the meeting which will consider several proposals on whether to tighten or ease controls on the trade in ivory. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. By Dennis Peprah/Christopher Tetteh, GNA Abesim, (B/A), Sept. 24, GNA - The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority in Brong-Ahafo Region has exceeded its revenue target for 2016, raking in GH5,293,741 as at the middle of the year. Assistant Commissioner Malik Mahama, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Commander of Customs, said the figure represented 23.80 percent of the year's revenue target of GH4,280,000.00. He was speaking at a tax education forum organised by the Division for staff, exporters, importers and other stakeholders in the sector at Abesim, near Sunyani. The forum was on the theme: "Honouring tax obligation is a sign of good citizenship". Assistant Commissioner Mahama commended officers and staff for their dedication to duty and expressed the optimism that the Division would rake in more than 60 percent of the revenue target for the year. He said tax evasion and smuggling are serious offences punishable by law and urged importers and exporters to ensure that they adhere to all clearance procedures. GNA By Philip Tengzu, GNA Wa, Sept. 24, GNA - The Satellite Peace Centre in the Upper West Region has commemorated the World Peace Day with a peace walk to intensify the message on the need to need safeguard the prevailing peace in the country. The walk which brought together children from some schools in the Wa Municipality was supported by the Centre for Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies (CECOTAPS) based in the Northern Region and operating in the three northern regions. Carrying various placards with inscriptions such as, 'We want peace', 'Wage peace', 'Vote peacefully' and 'Your thumb is your power' among others, the participants and marched through some principal streets in the municipality. Reverend Father Aloylious Nuolabong, Director of the Center, after the walk, said political parties and politicians should be mindful of their activities and avoid fomenting violence. He urged all politicians to ensure that the peace that the country was enjoying remains intact before, during and after the December 7 polls. 'Ghana is a country with one people and with a common destiny, therefore, whoever emerges as winner should be accepted and regarded as the leader of the country', he said. He urged the youth to preach peace wherever they found themselves and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to incite violence. Mr Emmanuel Danyonah, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Peace Council, urged political parties and individuals to desist from using indecent language on political platforms. GNA By D.I. Laary / Deborah Apetorgbor Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched an electoral guide for political party candidates and their agents to help them understand the country's electoral process ahead of the December 7 polls. The 28-page guide seeks to help potential party candidates and agents understand the nomination and balloting processes as part of efforts by the commission to enhance transparency and integrity in the 2016 elections. The booklet also spells out responsibilities of candidates and electoral officials overseeing the conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections that have garnered high level of local and international interests. Mrs Charlotte Osei, the Chairperson of EC, said at the launch that 'for a democratic political system to be truly representative, voters need an electoral process that is imbued with integrity She said in order to guarantee integrity and build trust in the country's electoral process, voters and election officials ought to perform their obligations in accordance with laws and policies. 'Ensuring integrity in the electoral process demands candidates, agents, voters and the electoral management body all conduct their activities in with laid down law and policies,' she said. 'Achieving a free, fair, credible and transparent election is not only the responsibility of the EC but of the candidates, their appointed agents as well as the general public'. She expressed the hope that candidates and polling agents would play their roles well and in good faith to ensure that the country sails through a peaceful electoral process. The guide, developed with the support of the United States Agency for International Development, is divided into four parts, with the first giving detailed information about political party candidates. It explains issues such as who becomes a presidential or parliamentary candidate and collection, submission and processing of nomination forms as well as symbols of candidates and withdrawal of nomination in addition to terms of office of elected aspirants. The second part describes polling agents and their qualities as well as roles in the electoral process. The third part looks at general information about temporary election officers, polling station lists, determination of winners and official declaration of results as well as challenging validity of election and election offences. The part four deals with the use of biometric technology in the electoral process which includes biometric verification registration, biometric and manual voter verification. GNA Mahatma Gandhi will always be remembered as long as free men and those who love freedom and justice live (Haile Selassie 1, Emperor of Ethiopia). Gandhi must be forgiven these prejudices in the context of the time and the circumstances (Gandhis grandson and biographer Rajmohan Gandhi attributes this quote to Nelson Mandela). Here are some notable comments by some Ghanaians concerned with the Gandhi Statue (BBC): PETITION OBJECTIVE (COURTESY OF PROFESSORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA) How will the historian teach and explain that Gandhi was uncharitable in his attitude towards the Black race and see that we're glorifying him by erecting a statue on our campus? Better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super-power. Some harm has already been done by erecting the statue. We have failed the generation that look up to us, namely our students...Why should we uplift other people's 'heroes' at an African university when we havent lifted up our own? PROF. KOFI ASARE OPOKU (CHAIRMAN OF THE KWABENA NEKETIA CENTER FOR AFRICAN STUDIES) However great Gandhi is; he may be great for the Indians, but for us we have our own heroes, men and women in African history that we dont know about them. So we need our own heroes because they are the ones who can inspire usif you take foreign heroes you would always think that greatness is reserved for foreigners; but we have our own great people here whom we must revere and honour to become a source of inspiration for our young people. DR. OBADELE KAMBON (A RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA; A MEMBER OF THE FIVE PETITION CREATORS) Ideally, in its place or elsewhere, statues of classical, traditional and modern African heroes could be erected to enhance levels of self-knowledge, self-respect and self-love. DANIEL OSEI TUFFUOR (A FORMER STUDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA) Ghanaians should be confident in themselves and seek to project our own heroes and heroines. There is nothing peaceful about the activities of Gandhi. Anyone who claims to uphold peace and tranquillity but promotes racism is a hypocrite." RAJMOHAN GANDHI (GANDHIS GRANDSON AND BIOGRAPHER) He was undoubtedly at times ignorant and prejudiced about South Africa's blackGandhi too was an imperfect human being... the imperfect Gandhi was more radical and progressive than most contemporary compatriots. COLIN KAEPERNICK (US BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTER) In the long term, however, we would like to be part of the global movement towards self-respect and pride that we see in the removal of the Rhodes statue in Umzantsi (South Africa)...At the end of the day, we need images of ourselves for our own psychosocial well-being and not images of those who called us savages... May Gandhi fall that Africa may rise! BOAFO BANSAH (STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF GHANA) Gandhi, himself took part in the wars which led to white minority rule of South Africa. "Gandhi showed no repentance for his racial views during his life time nor did he recant any of them after age should have taught him of the inherently ignorant position he had taken by placing one race above another... It is both counter-intuitive and fervidly weird for the University of Ghana, at the time when everyone is throwing their garbage out, to be bringing some in. There are countless statutes of Ghanaians who did this nation and Africa proud, countless statutes of Whites who stood against the status quo of the time to fight for African liberation and equality. SOME GENERAL REMARKS Gandhis racism was not a product of the times. Racism is racism regardless. In other words it still exists even though Gandhi is not here with us today. Also time does not heal certain wounds such as those from racism (and ethnocentrism). For instance, pain from the Rwandan Genocide (Tutsis versus Hutus) is still there in Rwanda in both overt and covert expressions. Thus, time merely conceals certain acts of racism under the guise of canonization or sainthood as in the case of Gandhi, Junipero Serra, or Jesuit Missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet. Though time may be external to the progressive atrophying of the existential potential of human beings, its power of mediation and intrusiveness in human affairsthoughts and actionsis only matched by the eidetic memory of the universal mind. Man is but transient, temporary, a shadow of dead light in the existential ambience of time-continuum, yet his deeds are infinitely, endlessly memorialized in the universal mind of the living. Certainly man dies, passes on, if you will, though the illusion of time grants him and his deeds a continuity of existence in the universal mind of the living. This may be why Gandhis racism is alive today as it was yesterday. That is, Gandhi is more alive today than he was yesteryear, namely dying or passing on yesterday. Therefore, the anonymous auctorial authority of Shakespeare got it only partly right when he had Antony say in Julius Caesar (Act 3, Scene 2, Page 4): The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones. Again, this is far from universal truth. Actually, the evil and the good men do are both interred with their bones. These bones are indelibly engraved on the universal mind of the living. Memory drives and sustains the universal mind of the living. Memory is such a powerful instrument of human consciousness. It is therefore sad, even unfortunate, that while Prof. Ampofo moralizes a good cause in solid defense of Africans dignity and humanity, Prof. Oquaye politicizes it in his heartless soul because he essentially sees black South Africans as a different species of homo sapience from the African stock. No wonder one of his major idols, political philanderer K.A. Busia was in bed with Apartheid, a stunning revelation that would cost Cameron Duodu his job as the editor of the Daily Graphic. Read (Zakariah Ali): The members of the government pretended to care about press freedom but made it impossible for any paper with contrary opinion to be published. Dr. Busia and his government kept in place all the powers and restrictions that the Nkrumah government instituted against free press and free speech. As an example of their hypocrisy, the editor of the Daily Graphic wrote an editorial piece that heaped praises on the Prime Minister. He was so pleased with the praise that he went to his office on a Sunday and sent a congratulatory telegram to the editor of the paper, Cameron Duodo. And a few short weeks later when the same editor wrote an unflattering editorial comment about the government, he was fired. Clearly Prof. Oquaye is among those Eurocentric, intellectually and culturally de-centered Africans Gandhi called Kaffir. These Kaffirs opposed Nkrumah and everything he stood for, including the question of self-determination for the Gold Coast and the African Personality, and the de-colonization of Africa. In fact, he harbors so much hatred for Nkrumah that this hatred now borders on a psychotic obsession with the worlds Africas Man of the Millennium. Here, listen to him again with his usual unsophisticated yet dangerous, uninformed canards about Africas greatest personality, a purely partisan political concoction of half-truths and blatant lies: Nkrumah was an honest man, even when he was wrong. Nkrumah was not a thief, and I am saying it authoritatively upon researchNkrumah was wrong in giving out monies to countries like Guinea in pursuing a wrong policy of socialismI admire his vision for education, his [establishment of the] Tema Harbour and many other things. What has Prof. Oquaye, an intellectual conman, said about Nkrumah that has ever been based on authoritative research? Absolutely none! It will surely be a complete waste of our time trying to refute these half-truths and blatant lies being passed off as genuine outcomes of authoritative research efforts. Of course we concede that he is an intellectual fraud at best, and will simply leave it at that! It is best to ignore his brand of sicko intellectualism which is the enemy of the kind of Africa Nkrumah envisioned, a memory borne of African-centered consciousness. But that part of the universal mind which is the memory of Africa is in bondage, which is that that memory is forced into bondage by the curse of Eurocentrism. Africa cannot think, neither can it put its memory to good use. African leaders like Prof. Oquaye are part of the problem if not the problem itself. One, one cocoa full a basket, Bob Marley sang on Wake Up and Live. Unfortunately, if not ironically, Prof. Oquaye has been sleeping, ever sleeping, neither awake nor living. His memory is a basket case that can only accommodate the cocoa of Eurocentrism and partisan politics and not the water of Afrocentric consciousness. Every day the bucket a-go a well, one day the bottom a-go drop out, cried Bob Marley on I Shot the Sherriff. A tipping point is nearing. A breaking point is nearing. A boiling point is here. Bob Marley may have been talking about the ideas of social-political uprising, critical mass, revolutionary change in the status quo. Yes, this was a man who practiced/rehearsed his lines at a Kingston cemetery in the wee hours of the morning just so he could overcome the specter of stage fright. Such a man, Bob Marley. The bucket that goes to the well every day will certainly never get full. Rather, its bottom will drop out. In other words, public anger against such wicked and lying politicians as Prof. Oquaye has a threshold beyond which a critical mass will descend on them and show them what coldness is all about. Let Prof. Oquaye support the removal of the Gandhi statue before the bottom of the bucket of public anger drops out upon his wicked head, his wicked soul. CONCLUSION Indeed, Professor Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo is wiser! In reality, Prof. Ampofo is the wiser and more prudent one because she and her like-minded colleagues will not allow the racism of Gandhi and the ignorance of Prof. Oquaye to oppose the maturation of the African Personality. It is quite interesting to hear Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, at the unveiling of the Gandhi statue on June 16, 2016, strongly advise the Ghanaian youth to emulate and concretize the ideals of Ghanas first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Indias Mahatma Gandhi, adding that doing so meant a right direction towards development, according to the website of the University of Ghana. Prof. Let us then say that Oquaye sees ultimate goodness in the Gandhi statue per the Mukherjee speech but quickly ignores the Nkrumah part. Rather strangely, though, Prof. Oquaye and his ideological idols, including his father, opposed and undermined every progressive efforts Nkrumah initiated in the days of yore and, today, he is re-enacting that shameful past in the theatre of ideological and diplomatic buffoonery where his kind take solace in their inferiority complexes. Perhaps Prof. Oquaye has to take a look at Edward Saids Orientalism which takes on Western colonial racism towards Asia and offers serious, dialectic critiques of writers from Rudyard Kiplings Kim to his The Jungle Book, to mention but two literary works by a colonial-imperialist British author, with collateral support from prominent Indian academics such as the computer scientist, mathematician, educator, physicist and historian Chandra Kant Raju, whose works expose and critique the historical racism of the West towards India among others. Prof. Oquaye should closely read B.R. Ambedkars speech The Annihilation of Caste (1936) and also Arundhati Roys commentaries on Gandhi and the Dalits. We have no doubt in our minds that Prof. Oquaye will oppose the progressive projects Drs. Ama Mazama, Molefi Kete Asante, Kofi Kissi Dompere, Theophile Obenga, Chinua Achebe, Abdias do Nascimento, Toni Morrison, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Cheikh Anta Diophad undertaken to get the African world back to its rightful place in human civilization and history. On the other hand while we are not taking away his right to independent thought or the pursuit of alternative policy positions in this serious matter regarding the Gandhi statue, we are more than appalled by the emotional childishness and moral stupidity of his diplomatic excuse against the petition, by his immature hatred of Nkrumah, racial equality and the Afrocentric project, and by his love for Eurocentric racism and imperialism and black inferiority complex. If he will not fight against or resist racism, then he will also not fight against or resist ethnocentrism. If Prof. Oquaye endorses the Gandhi statue, then he will also endorse those whose ethnocentric actions gave birth to the Rwandan Genocide. Where does that leave ethnocentrism in Africa then, Prof. Oquaye? REMINDER End of four-part series! REFERENCES Mohan Megha. BBC Trending: Ghanas Problem With Racist Gandhi. September 21, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37430324 Ghanaweb. Nkrumah Wasnt A ThiefMike Oquaye. September 22, 2016. 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/ Boafo Bansah. Gandhi in Legon? P-LEEEEEEEEEEESE!June 16, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.legonconnect.com/gandhi-in-legon-p-leeeeeeeeeeease/ Zakariah Ali. (2012). Walk With The Devil: My Endless Struggle Against The Cunning And Traps Of The Devil. Book publisher XLBRIS. Ghanaweb. UG Must Honor African Heroes, Not GandhiProf. Opoku. September 23, 2016. Researchers have converged in Accra for a two-day national research dissemination forum to discuss the theme: Evidence based decision making-the role of operations research. The forum seeks to bring to the fore the contribution of research findings to policy decisions, and their potentials for the implementation of health interventions, and offers the much needed opportunity for researchers and potential users to interact and deliberate on generated information and also explore areas for further research work and collaboration. Professor Irene Akua Agyapong, Specialist in Public Health at the Research and Development Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said research plays an important role in influencing Evidence Informed Policy (EIP) formulation for national development. She said notwithstanding this critical position, researchers must be able to contextualise their recommendations taking into account the political, social and historical backgrounds of the health sector. This, she said was important as there exist complex adaptive structures and systems within the health sector, which were interconnected and could therefore not be easily isolated. Prof Agyapong said going forward to overcome the challenges to a systematic approach to translating health research findings into actions, researchers must carefully select research topics that would inform policy and they must also understand and factor social science and political models into their thinking. She said additionally researchers ought to revise their expectations accordingly, and factor into their projects timeliness as a matter of importance. She urged them not to be easily discouraged over a lack of immediate uptake of their work, but to pursue awareness and use of windows of opportunity. Multi-disciplinary research and making room for the social sciences, saying answering question of feasibility, legitimacy and social support among other things matter just as much as answering effectiveness questions, therefore there is no fixed gold standard of research methodology and evidence in EIP. We therefore need to balance our research methodology biases and preferences, and also ensure a healthy relationship building with decision makers and implementers, as well as an understanding of their world and perspectives, she said. Prof Agyapong said evidence could be subjective, objective or both and in their expectation of decision makers to translate health research findings into action, must be meticulous in the kinds of evidence they present them with, as they would be justified, depending upon the kind of evidence they present them with, to necessarily expect a decision based solely or predominantly on that evidence. Dr Linda Vanotoo, the Regional Director, GHS, said research was critical to quality health outcomes, but with current resource constraints globally, it was good to do things in a targeted manner. Dr Abraham Hodgson, Director of Research at the GHS, said the Research and Development Division was one of the 10 section under the GHS mandated to undertake research into health problems facing Ghanaians and make recommendations to inform policy decisions. He said the Department intended to hold annual dissemination forums as a way of sharing and communicating research information, but has been resource constrained and the current programme marks the fourth in the series since it was instituted in 2003. He said the studies to be presented cover a wide range of areas including health system strengthening, health financing, health information systems, service delivery, communicable and non-communicable diseases and disease surveillance, maternal, neonatal and child health as well as sexual and reproductive health, after, which the GHS Research Agenda would be launched. Dr Owen Kaluwa, the WHO Country Representative, the current health situation in the African Region calls for a decision-making approach that was firmly grounded on the best available scientific evidence from all the other sectors which influence the social and environmental determinants for health. He said WHO recognises and places a lot of importance on health research, because evidence provides the foundation for setting priorities, defining strategies and measuring results, and affirmed WHO commitment to supporting efforts in strengthening health research. Timbuktu (Mali) (AFP) - Timbuktu's residents still recall with horror the sight of jihadists waging a campaign of destruction against the fabled Malian city, but now some say they are ready to forgive an extremist whose trial in The Hague they see as a rare moment of justice. On Tuesday, Ahmad Al-Faqi Al-Mahdi will be sentenced on war crimes charges for his role in the destruction of nine of Timbuktu's holy shrines as well as the door of a revered mosque in 2012. "The pardon that he's asked for, for every Muslim it is right to accept it, regardless of the bad things he has done," said youth leader Salah Maiga. "We are ready to accept his apology and to forgive him." Mahdi, himself from the Timbuktu area, has pleaded guilty to the charge of cultural destruction constituting a war crime by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and has begged for the community's forgiveness. His lawyer said he "lost his way" as head of Al-Qaeda-linked group Ansar Dine's "Hisbah" brigade, which enforced the group's strict interpretation of Islamic behaviour. "We were there with these barbarians, these lawless people without religion, who claim to speak in the name of Islam," Maiga said, recalling the day when Ansar Dine descended on the UNESCO world heritage site. Speaking at the unveiling of the restored door of the Sidi Yahia mosque that was damaged by Mahdi's men, Maiga added that he was hoping for a "fair trial for someone who destroyed something that belonged to the whole of humanity". City of saints An armoured personnel carrier of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on a patrol in Timbuktu Revered as a centre of Islamic learning during its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries, Timbuktu in northern Mali is also known as the "the city of 333 saints" for the number of sages buried there. For several months now, inhabitants have once again begun openly appealing to saints buried in tombs for help, believing they are capable of divine intervention. Mahdi was well known for his belief in a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law that was not widely supported in the community but which Ansar Dine sought to impose when they took over the city. Mahdi and his men considered the worship of saints un-Islamic. "I know exactly who he is," said jeweller Youba Maiga, who also witnessed the destruction at Sidi Yahia and remembered the curly-haired jihadist on patrol with his band of morality police. "We even spoke once: they said they were just coming for sharia, so that sharia could be applied. I said 'Before you do that, you have to check with everyone'," he added. Ahmad Al-Faqi Al-Mahdi faces sentencing on war crimes charges for his role in the destruction of nine of Timbuktu's holy shrines in 2012 Muslims in Mali are better known for practising a Sufi version of Islam, which is more pluralistic and incorporates some elements of mysticism. The jeweller said his own Islamic beliefs meant he had "no problem" forgiving Mahdi. "We just want peace here and we want justice to be done," he added. Ansar Dine was allied with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and a third local group until it was ousted in a French-led intervention in January 2013. Large swathes of the country remain lawless and for some Malians Mahdi's case is a rare example of justice being carried out. "We think that you have to make an example of someone, even if that person represents a single, weak link in the whole chain of predators and criminals," writer and activist Ismaila Samba Traore told AFP in the Malian capital, Bamako. "There are criminals who are still out there, people with hands covered in blood," he said. "There has been so much violence during this crisis that a huge number of victims are awaiting a result that will deliver justice." Small fish El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, who oversaw the reconstruction of Timbuktu's damaged sites with UNESCO assistance, said that Mahdi's trial itself was a "teachable moment" and more important than the prison sentence of up to 11 years that he could face on Tuesday. "The process has to be useful for something, showing to everyone that in the same way that we cannot kill another person with impunity, we cannot just destroy a world heritage site with impunity either," he said. But others fear the trial has netted a small fish while the real perpetrators remain at large. "It's good that justice will be done. But it shouldn't be the case that this creates injustices: we catch the weakest and let the strongest go," said a Timbuktu resident who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. "The ones really responsible are still out there." Johannesburg (AFP) - Reclusive, gentle and quick to roll up into a ball, pangolins keep a low profile. But they are also the world's most heavily trafficked mammal, and experts at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference this week are ringing alarm bells over their survival. Demand for pangolin meat and body parts has fuelled a bloodbath, and driven the scale-covered, ant-eating mammal towards extinction. More than a million pangolins are believed to have been poached from the wild in the past decade. Most are used to supply demand in China and Vietnam, where they are highly regarded as a delicacy and an ingredient in traditional medicine. At the CITES meeting in Johannesburg, conservationists will discuss moving pangolins into the highest protection category, which bans all international trade. "The pangolin today is regarded as the most heavily trafficked mammal in the world," CITES chief John Scanlon told AFP. Indonesian police display some of 657 dead and frozen pangolins seized in Surabaya, East Java "There has been a massive surge in the illegal take of the pangolin for its meat and for its scales." Currently CITES allows for trade in pangolins but under strict conditions. "Existing laws are clearly failing to protect pangolins from the poachers. A complete international trade ban is needed now," said Heather Sohl, WWF-UK's wildlife advisor. There are four species of pangolin in Africa and four in Asia. Watchdogs say those in Asia are being eaten to extinction, while populations in Africa are declining fast. Research published in the early 2000s estimated populations in China to have declined by up to 94 percent, said Dan Challender, pangolin expert at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Curl into a ball Pangolins are covered in overlapping scales, and have pink, sticky tongues almost as long as their bodies. When physically threatened, they curl into ball, making it easy for them to be picked up by hunters and put into a sack. About the size of a small dog, they are solitary, mostly nocturnal and cannot be farmed. A rescued pangolin rests in a cage as another hangs outside at the customs department in Bangkok "Pangolins are notoriously difficult to keep in captivity -- they only feed on wild ants and termites, and they are extremely prone to stress and dehydration, so they die," Ray Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, told AFP. In Chinese traditional medicine, pangolin scales are ground into a powder believed to cure conditions from headaches and menstrual cramps to nose bleeding and lack of virility. The scales are sometimes even used as guitar plectrums. In traditional African culture, some people believe in keeping a scale in their pockets to ward off evil. Zimbabweans used to present the mammals to President Robert Mugabe during his early years in office, but the practice has been discontinued. "In Shona and Zulu culture, a pangolin is regarded as the greatest gift you can bestow on a chief, statesman or an elder," said Jansen. Pangolin fat, blood and bones are also highly valued in African traditional medicine. According to Jansen, in South Africa a pangolin can sell for anything between 10,000 rand ($730) to 80,000 rand ($5,800) depending on the client. India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Senegal and the United States are co-sponsoring the proposal to impose a total ban on pangolin trade. The CITES treaty, signed by 182 countries and the European Union, protects about 5,600 animal and 30,000 plant species from over-exploitation through commercial trade. The 12-day conference started Saturday and will sift through 62 proposals to tighten or loosen trade restrictions on some 500 species. JCS Investments Limited has introduced unto the Ghanaian market the first locally manufactured solar kiosk in Ghana. The Solar Kiosk, which is a German technology, is one of many kiosks to be produced for small scale businesses. The Solar Kiosk is fully powered by solar energy; and would be placed in rural and peri-urban areas of Ghana. Currently, Solar Kiosk operates about 10 kiosks in different locations across Ghana. The kiosk can produce about 2 kilowatts of energy; and serve as an outlet for solar products. At the launch of solar kiosks at Jamestown in Accra on September 8, Andreas Spiess, Chief Executive of Solar Kiosk, said the smart green start-up is an innovation that will impact businesses positively. The range of solar products to be sold out largely for the benefit of rural folks, are solar cookers, bulbs, fridges, deep freezers and fans, to enable rural and deprived communities have an alternative source of power, and save the national electricity grid from excessive pressure. Brekusu in the Central Region, is the first of five communities in Ghana which is benefiting from the pilot project. Patricia Safo, MD of JCS Investments and Solar Kiosk, said her company views renewable energy as being very important to providing alternative power to Ghanaians and empowering rural communities. We are very proud that within a period of six months we have been able to provide Solar kiosk in five different communities in Ghana and that is not an easy task. We hope we can continue to provide more to a lot more communities in the coming years, she said. She said though solar products are quiet expensive, it saves money in the long term, and that was the reason why the company was targeting deprived areas. To her, since Africa has abundant sunshine, solar energy is the future of the country. Andreas Spiess, Chief Executive Officer of Sola Kiosk, based in Berlin, Germany, said the company is present in six Africa countries apart from Ghana. Though Solar Kiosk is a German company, Mr. Spiess said Africa currently is the most promising continent, and he wants to be part of its development process. According to him, even though Germany has less sunshine as compared to Ghana, 10% of their power supply is from solar. Africa has lot of sunshine. It is the sunniest place on earth, and yet most in need of energy. He added that Sola Kiosk is in the country to contribute its quota towards improving energy in Ghana and the African Continent as a whole. By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana About 1,500 residents of Adabraka and its environs in Accra, have benefitted from a free health screening exercise organized by Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) in partnership with the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL). The exercise comprised free dental screening, eye care, general medical screening and Hepatitis B and C screening, as well as vaccination. Some beneficiaries of the exercise under the age of 18 as well as those above 60 were registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The annual event, according to the Finance Director of Accra Brewery Limited, (ABL), Graham Lurie, fulfils the company's objective of helping to create a thriving world where incomes and quality of life grows. Mr. Lurie added that, ABL will continue to support the acceleration of growth and social development through its value chains with such health interventions. Health is an essential component in the development of every community. At Accra Brewery, creating a thriving world also means, investing in people but most importantly it is investing in physical well-being which fosters prosperity for all he affirmed. Mr Lurie assured the Adabraka community of ABL's continuous support and thanked its partners in the exercise Graphic Communications Group Limited, as well as Voltic (GH) Limited, for donating natural mineral water to refresh the beneficiaries. The Hepatitis B Foundation and the Accra Diamond Lions Club also provided free services. ABL and Graphic officials interact with an eye specialist, Dr. Sylvia Boamah. The Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited, Kenneth Ashigbey, expressed his appreciation to the community for creating a peaceful atmosphere for his company to thrive, noting that, the free healthcare is an expression of gratitude to the people of Adabraka for being a kind host. Over the past years, ABL has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at supporting health care delivery in the Ghana, in its quest to augment government's efforts to attain the nation's Sustainable Development Goals. The company has been investing in an annual free HIV/AIDS screening for residents of Agbobloshie. It has for the third year running, been engaged in a campaign to prevent alcohol consumption among pregnant women in a campaign aimed at reaching 5000 women this year. This is the eighth collaborative health intervention between ABL and Graphic Communications Group Limited, for the Adabraka community and its environs. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana Police at the Tafo Moro Market in Kumasi in the Ashanti region have arrested the managing director of a nursing training school in the area after he allegedly assaulted one of his students for rejecting his love proposal. According to the victim, the jealous director of the cc, Owusu King, pounced on her after he spotted her talking to one of her male colleagues at school Friday night. The victim who is currently receiving treatment at the emergency unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital said Owusu got even more provoked when he realized that she was recording his assault on her. She told Ultimate FM's Isaac Bediako Justice that parts of her ribs and face have been fractured as a result of the number of slaps and punches she received in the attack. Father of the victim who also spoke to Bediako Justice said the family will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. He said his daughter had nothing amorous with the suspect. Meanwhile, the special aide to the Manhyia Chief of Staff Kofi Boadu has revealed that the palace has no association with the school in spite of the fact that it IS named after the Ashanti Queen mother. -starrfmonline Fadi Dabboussie 25.09.2016 LISTEN The Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) is reportedly holding a Ghanaian-Lebanese pilot and author for making offensive statements against President John Mahama. Fadi Dabboussie was arrested around midday on Friday upon arrival from an Egypt Air flight from Lebanon. He was picked up from the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and driven to the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) headquarters in Accra. This was on the invitation of the Director of BNI, Yaw Donkor according to Mr. Dabboussies lawyer, Hassan Tampuli. I have been to the office of the BNI and I was denied access to him. I was told the officer responsible for the case was not in the office and that I can only have access to him on Monday, Mr Tampuli told Joy News. Mr Dabboussie is believed to be a sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). He is also the author of a book titled '59 years of Ghana to Nowhere: The future is Now,' a book said to critical of President Mahama. The story first broke on social media, where it was claimed that Mr. Dabboussi's house has been ransacked and all copies of his books taken. Some opposition NPP sympathizers and human rights activists have condemned the act on social media. -myjoyonline The presidential nominee for the Progressive People's Party in the upcoming general elections, Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum has chastised the John Mahama led NDC for rewarding Ghanaians who voted him into power in 2012 with untold economic hardship. He said, Ghanaians voted the NDC with the hope of a life free of chronic diseases, erratic power supply, malaria and joblessness but the opposite is what the NDC has offered. Speaking at the launch of the PPP's parliamentary candidate for the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency in the western region, Dr. Ndoum noted that we voted for candidate Mahama in 2012 to bring good things to the people. But, what has been offered? Ghanaians have had to be slapped with unclean drinking water, chronic diseases like cholera and malaria, bad road networks in and around Prestea, four years of dumsor, unemployment and all kinds of things. That is what your vote for Mahama and his NDC brought. Today, your electricity bill is as much higher than your rent. It is the person you voted for in 2012 that has brought unemployment upon yourselves. It is what has denied you of decent jobs. If you vote them again, you are wasting your vote. Dr. Ndoum urged the electorate to vote the Progressive People's Party into office on December 7 to provide jobs because we have our undisputed track record of job creation throughout the country. The PPP, he said will work at improving road network in resource producing communities such as Prestea, because, Prestea still looks as old town as I have known it despite its gold production and contribution to the state. We will also work on your water issue to provide clean drinking water for you. Vote the PPP to transform this country. Dr. Ndoum is headed to the Central region after touring the Tarkwa Nsuaem, Prestea Huni Valley and the Jomoro constituencies over the weekend in the Western region. Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election-related stories By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana Thirty-five-year old Alima Yakubu is a mother of six. When she gave birth to her first five children, she did not practise exclusively breastfeeding. After breastfeeding them for a month, what I do is to add water and other baby foods to the breast milk I gave them. I wanted them to be satisfied and grow healthy, she said However, Alima added that the childhood of her first five children was characterised with frequent sicknesses which left her spending most of her time at the hospital because they often had diarrhoea and vomited. I was a frequent visitor to the clinic because they easily got sick some to the point of losing their lives, she said. But things changed when she gave birth to her sixth child. Her neighbour was practising exclusive breastfeeding prior to her delivery and she had noticed that her neighbour did not go to the hospital as often as she did when she delivered. My neighbour did it with her child, so I decided to try it too, Alima said while nursing her seven-month-old son. I've noticed a big difference. He has never been sick and I've never had to take him to the clinic, she added. Alima and all the mothers in her community have been encouraged to practise exclusive breastfeeding as part of Ghana Health Service Baby Friendly Health Initiative. Health workers and midwives in rural health posts, as well as community activists in villages and communities are helping to educate women on the benefits of breast milk in order to increase its practice in the country. Breastfeeding is the single most effective strategy for child survival due to its numerous advantages. It protects the child from many of the dangers that a baby and a young child face, Eunice Sackey, National Coordinator of the BFHI said. Dr Pricilla Wobil, Health Specialist, MNH UNICEF, quoting from the LiST analysis, disclosed that exclusive breastfeeding can save over 800,000 under five deaths (more than any other single intervention) and 20,000 breast cancer deaths every year. She indicated that, however, in low and middle income countries, only 37 percent of children younger than six months are exclusively breastfed. The rate of prolonged breastfeeding in the poor populations is decreasing, she said sadly. Ghana's 21st Century Breastfeeding Trend Giving a national picture of the situation, Dr Wobil said that early initiation of breastfeeding in the country has been wobbling since 2003. She indicated that in 2003, it was 52 percent, it came down to 35 percent in 2006, and stabilised at 46 percent from 2008 to 2011 and then went up to 56 percent in 2014. The trends in exclusive breastfeeding is not different, the country started on a good note from seven percent in 1993 to 31 percent in 1998, 53 percent in 2003, 54 percent in 2006 hitting its highest percentage of 63 percent in 2008. But, then again, it dropped to 46 percent in 2011 and gradually rose to 52 percent, Dr Wobil said. The UNICEF health specialist said while 52 percent of babies breastfeed exclusively in the country, 19 were given complementary foods in addition to breast milk while, 28 percent were given breast milk plus other milk or other non-milk liquids and one percent not breastfeed at all. WHY EXCLUSIVE BEASTFEEDING IS IMPORTANT Dr Wobil stated that the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding span populations living in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries. It saves women's lives and contributes to human capital development through improving the survival, health, and development of all children, she said. First, the little money I get from selling my 'koko', I used it to buy medicine for my children but with this my son I do not buy medicine because he does not often get sick, Alima stated. Alima added that exclusively breastfeeding her son has helped her increase her income from selling porridge because she hardly spends on clinic bills. Dr Wobil said there is 88 percent chance of survival among children who exclusively breastfeed, according to the 2016 Lancet Series On Breastfeeding, adding that scaling up breastfeeding universally will substantially contribute to the attainment of the newborn targets by 2018 and the SDGs by 2030. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months results in a seven times lower mortality than those not breastfed, it also has a 44 percent reduction in neonatal mortality with early initiation, according to the 2016 Lancet Series, she said. Apart from the health benefits of breastfeeding, the 2016 Lancet Breastfeeding Series also found that breastfeeding consistently has been associated with higher performance in intelligence tests in children and adolescents with a pooled increase of 3.4 IQ points. Dr Wobil explained that according to the paper, 72 percent of the effect of breastfeeding on income is explained by the increased in IQ. Prolonged breastfeeding duration increases intelligence resulting in higher educational attainments and higher incomes, she said. On the other hand, she said increasing delay in initiation of breastfeeding after day one was associated with a 2.6 fold increase in infection-specific mortality, while partial breastfeeding was associated with a 5.7 fold increase in mortality. Dr Gyikua Plange-Rhule, Paediatrician at the School of Medical Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), disclosed that despite the benefits of breastfeeding, funding for breastfeeding campaign was decreasing. One analysis showed that USAID funding for breastfeeding promotion increased from $83 million in 1989 to $166 million in 1999, and subsequently decreased to $133 million in 2003 and $23 million in 2005, she said. CHALLENGES AND BOTTLENECKS Alima said practising exclusive breastfeeding was not easy for me in the first month. When he cried, I thought he was hungry and I was tempted to give him additional food like I did with his older brothers and sisters because I thought that my breast milk was not enough for him. But following the advice of the health workers and putting him to my breast anytime he cried, I got used to it. Alima said by the second month she began seeing the improvement in her son's development as compared to his older brothers and sister when they were his age and that encouraged her to continue breastfeeding despite pressure from her family to add supplementary foods. Dr Plange-Rhule said nearly all women are biologically capable of breastfeeding. She said at the personal level, breastfeeding intentions are generally established by the third trimester. However, the practices, she said, may be affected by a wide range of historical, socio-economic, cultural, and individual factors Within families, the practices, attitudes and experience of female relatives affect the incidence and duration of breastfeeding, including the work the women do, she mentioned. Dr Plange-Rhule also mentioned that poor breastfeeding positioning and latching as well as inadequate support, especially in the first weeks after birth, and anticipation of breastfeeding difficulties are common reasons for abandoning breastfeeding. Mothers who do not successfully breastfeed are less likely to attempt breastfeeding in subsequent pregnancies. Infant crying or fussiness, perceived hunger, and the inability to settle her infant often cause a mother to assume that she has insufficient milk and to introduce breast milk substitutes, she stated. Compounding the already fragile situation is the formula advertisements portray formula milk to be as good as or better than breast milk or a lifestyle choice rather than a decision with health and economic consequences. Promotion and marketing have turned infant formula, which should be seen as a specialised food that is vitally important for those babies who cannot be breastfed, into a normal food for any infant, she said. Call For Action Dr Plange-Rhule proposed a six-point action for addressing the challenges of breastfeeding. Top among the suggestions is the recognition of breastfeeding as a powerful intervention for health and development that benefits children and women alike. The second action point she said is the fostering of a positive societal attitudes towards breastfeeding. Negative societal attitudesas shown by inadequate maternity leave, lack of opportunity to breastfeed or express milk at the workplace, and restrictions on breastfeeding in public are all too common. Paid-break guarantees for at least six months were associated with an 89 percent point increase in exclusive breastfeeding. Maternity leave and provisions at the workplace for nursing mothers may improve breastfeeding rates but do not cover women in the informal sector who may need to be targeted differently, she highlighted. The third action is to show political will. She said politicians need to demonstrate they appreciate that breastfeeding promotion saves lives and money. Democratic governments are entrusted to protect and promote well-being in the communities that elect themthis includes breastfeeding, she stressed. The fourth is to regulate the breast milk-substitute industry. Breast milk substitutes are a multi-billion-dollar industry, the marketing of which undermines breastfeeding as the best feeding practice in early life. The fifth action point is to scale up and monitor breastfeeding interventions and trends in breastfeeding practices. The sixth and final action point is for political institutions to exercise their authority and remove structural and societal barriers that hinder women's ability to breastfeed, she stressed. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 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 wasnt the only one scores of my schoolmates from Kyebi Government School and the rival State Primary School, congregated on the Birems 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 in 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 wasnt 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 it has begun to attack ones 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 galamsey has so threatened the Birem that even though there is a water-pumping and treatment plant at Kyebi, the water that is 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 hasnt 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 fontomfrom drums (which always describe that River as Tanoh 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 peoples 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. Ghanas 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. Golls 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 in order 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 wont 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 Chinas shoulders, a responsibility that devolves wholly on my own government. But Chinas 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 again to have no qualms about putting in its oar to save Ghanas threatened water-bodies. Before it is too late. By Cameron Duodu www.cameronduodu.com The chiefs and people of Ejura in the Ashanti Region are preparing feverishly to mark this year's Annual Yam Festival that would be characterised by parade on the streets and singing of traditional songs. The Yam Festival, which is to be held under the theme: 'United for Development,' is celebrated to mark the beginning of a new year on the traditional calendar. Nana Osei Kwadwo Ansebie II, Nifahene of the Ejura Traditional Area, said at a press briefing in the community on Wednesday that this year's event would be celebrated with a large contingent of business executives, government officials and dancers from the Kingdom of Swaziland. The people of Ejura started eating yam after a hunter saw Potamochoerus Porcus (bush pig) eating the tuber without dying. It would be held in line with the objectives of Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II to lead the united people of Ejura to prosperity. This year's Yam Festival will be unique and memorable because it will be used to raise funds for the establishment of a Nursing and Midwifery Training School, according to him. It would be the first tertiary institution in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipal Assembly, Nana Osei added. He disclosed that free medical screening, bicycle competition, puberty rites, fashion show, traditional food fair (yam dishes) and peace concert have been lined up beginning from 15-23 October 2016. From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi Some pilgrims who embarked on this year's pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and had returned home became disappointed when thieves invaded the Hajji Village in Tamale, Northern Regional capital, and made away with some luggage belonging to them. DAILY GUIDE gathered that there was a brief ceremony organized to welcome the first batch of pilgrims at the Village at about 7:30 pm Thursday while other pilgrims from some parts of the region were preparing to leave the place for their various destinations. The thieves reportedly presented themselves as persons who could help carry the heavy luggage of pilgrims but ended up running away with some of them. A number of the suspected thieves were said to have been given a hot chase by security personnel at the Village but they managed to escape with most of the pilgrims' personal effects. A victim, Hajia Mariam, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, said she was very happy to see her family members after the trip, but was shocked when her luggage was stolen right in front of her. According to her, most of the things that were stolen belonged to a friend who gave her some money to buy jewelries and some other items for her to be stocked in her shop. Law enforcement officers at the Hajj Village have since beefed up security to ensure that the next batch of pilgrims is secure when they arrive. They advised pilgrims to adhere to laid-down rules so that they could go through the process smoothly and protect their properties. The pilgrims were welcomed by a high-powered delegation comprising the Northern Regional Minister, Abubakar Abdulai; Agric Minister, Alhaji Muniru Limuna and the Northern Regional Chief Imam. FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale An Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Eaash, has ordered the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to hold parliamentary primary in the Kwesimintsim Constituency of the Western region after it upheld the position of one of the contestants, Joseph Mensah that he was unjustifiably disqualified from the primary that involved the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Joe Baidoe-Ansah. The court therefore directed the party to allow Mr Mensah to take part in the primary and any other future elections in the constituency because his disqualification was against the tenets of the constitution. The courts ruling yesterday for the holding of fresh primary in the Kwesimintsim Constituency comes just a week before the filing of nominations on September 30 which means that the primary could be held by Wednesday, September 28 to enable the winner file his nomination. The Vetting Committee of the constituency disqualified Mr Mensah on the basis that he was not a member of the party in the constituency and that his party ID cards were fake. It also disqualified him on the basis that he was also a former cadre who worked with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) under former President Jerry John Rawlings and that he was also working in the interest of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). He appealed against the decision of the Vetting Committee of the constituency at the national Appeals Committee, which also upheld his disqualification, forcing him to take the matter to court. The case has been running for the past one and half years. The steering committee of the party was said to have advised that the primary be held but the incumbent MP, Joe Baidoe-Ansah declared that once the party had disqualified Mr Mensah, he remained the only candidate to be acclaimed as the partys parliamentary candidate. An elated Joseph Menash, who was accompanied by a few supporters, told the media that he was satisfied with the courts ruling, adding that all the allegations leveled against him were completely false. On his part, Mr Baidoe-Ansah, who was also in the company of some of his supporters, said he had accepted the ruling of the court and was prepared to contest in the primary. He expressed optimism that the delegates, who have worked with him for some time now and know his achievements for the party, would elect him again. The lawyer, who represented the NPP in court, said as a law-abiding party, it would act in accordance with the ruling of the court. By Thomas Fosu Jnr The annual Odwira Festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region will not take place this year due to the death of the Okuapemhemaa, Nana Dokua, who was expected to install a new paramount chief to succeed the late Okuapemanhene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III. DAILY GUIDE gathered that the elders of the Akropong Traditional Council took the decision because preparations were underway to install a new queen mother who would also nominate a new Omanhene for the paramouncty before the late queen mother could be buried. Even though the residents and revelers would be allowed to mark the festival, the chiefs, who would not hold any durbar, would perform the annual traditional rites. When DAILY GUIDE visited Akropong on Thursday, scores of residents and revelers were busily preparing for the celebration. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patrotic Party (NPP), among other dignitaries, on Wednesday stormed the chief's palace to mourn with the traditional council following the death of Nana Dokua, who passed on a few weeks ago. Sources close to the palace confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the traditional council was putting measures in place to nominate and install a new queen mother per the customs, who would also choose a royal candidate that would be accepted by the kingmakers before he would be installed as a paramount chief. Battle Of Chiefs Currently, there is controversy in the area over who should become the next Omanhene, as some aggrieved parties want to choose a new person to lead the Sakyibea Royal House. The issue went before the Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong, who brokered peace between the warring factions. As a result, the Asonahene was appointed and mandated to ensure the installation of a new paramount chief. Abusuapayin of the Sakyibea royal families, Nana Obuobisa Newman, resigned his position during the reign of the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III. Soon after the death of the paramount chief, he came back to claim that his resignation was not accepted by the late chief so he was still at post. After the meeting in Koforidua, the Akuapim North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) George Opare Addo, again met the parties at Akropong and reappointed Nana Obuobisa Newman and asked him to take immediate steps to solve the problem. The move reportedly did not go down well with some of the family members since the acceptance of the resignation of the Abusuapanyin by the late Okuapenhene was documented at the traditional council. Some family members accepted the re-appointment for peace to prevail. He subsequently pleaded with the Aburihene to convene a meeting. The Aburihene, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi II, who is also the Adontenhene of the Okuapeman Traditional Area, an Aduana, attempted to bring an end to the Abrewa Tia saga in the Sakyibea royal family which is part of the Asona clan. The Aburihene chose a new person, one Lilly, as part of his efforts to ensure peace. The former Abrewa Tia, Madam Georgina, who served under the late Okuapeman Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa lll, accepted the appointment in good faith to pave the way for the process. Otobuor Gyan Kwasi told Abrewa Tia to consult other elderly ladies in the family and avoid unilateral decisions. The new Abrewa Tia and another old lady announced the name of a candidate- Kwasi Ohene Kessieh, 32 but five people rejected the nominee on the grounds that they also have a candidate by name Kwasi Akuffo, 65. This didn't go down well with Abrewa Tia Lilly since Kwasi Akuffo is the son of the Abrewa Tia Georgina, who served under the late Okuapenhene. The old ladies then asked for a vote on the issue but Abrewa Tia Lilly rejected the proposal because she believed they would prevail. From Daniel Bampoe, Akropong-Akuapem 25.09.2016 LISTEN Health regulations to save the lives of present and future generations from the scourge of tobacco use have still not been adopted by Parliament since four years now. This is affecting the implementation of Part six of the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851) Tobacco Control Measures, which was passed by Parliament to ban tobacco smoking in public. Ghana is a party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and has since ratified it in 2004. The treaty enjoins the country to take administrative, legislative and any other means to curb the incidence of smoking and reduce the hazards associated with it. A statement by the Coalition on Tobacco Control signed by Mr Labram Musah, the Programmes Director of the Vision for Alternative Development, a member, therefore called on the government for the immediate passage of the Legislative Instruments (LIs) on the Tobacco Control Measures. It said the passage of the LIs would save the people from the devastating economic, social and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure. The Coalition said globally, countries are formulating policies that would effectively control the use of tobacco, especially among the youth. Research has shown that women and children are the most affected by tobacco. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases. 80,000 to 100,000 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco every day. It said according to the World Health Organisation, tobacco-related death would be around one billion in the 21st century if the current smoking patterns continue. The Coalition observed that tobacco products are the cheapest on the Ghanaian market and goes for as low as 0.15 pesewas and that a ban on the single sale of tobacco product would reduce the use by minors and the poor. The statement said currently, in Ghana, 50 men get killed by tobacco every week and this number is expected to grow if urgent action is not taken, adding: Even more troubling is that 32,500 boys and 21,000 girls smoke cigarettes in Ghana each day. The Coalition said it was encouraged by the initiatives of the Ministry of Health, Foods and Drugs Authority, Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Subsidiary Legislation to swiftly adopt the draft Tobacco Control Relations when Parliament reconvene in October. Civil society organisations (CSOs) advocated the passage of the Public Health Act of 2012 (ACT 851), which included the Tobacco Control Measures and this was achieved through the support of government and parliament. The CSOs over the past four years have engaged government on the development of a draft Tobacco Control Regulations, which when adopted would reduce tobacco deaths, heart diseases, infertility, lung cancers and disabilities resulting from tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. It further causes extreme poverty and research has proved that in developing countries, heads of families spend 10 to 15 percent of their household income to buy tobacco products, which deprived families of basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, school fees among others. The Coalition expressed support to the Ministry of Health and Parliament in their determination to ensure the adoption of yet another comprehensive Tobacco Control law. It expressed happiness for including in the Regulations key provisions of pictorial health warnings, covering 65 per cent at the top of the front and back of the tobacco products packages, banning the sale of single sticks of single sticks of cigarette/tobacco products and banning a pack of tobacco products containing less than 20 sticks. The others are comprehensive smoke-free interventions ensuring indoor public places/areas are smoke-free, provisions on tobacco industry interferences on public health policy. This provision is to ensure that, any interaction with the tobacco industry is made public so as to ensure transparency, and provision on a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the WHO in 2007 urged countries, which have taken measures to protect the people from tobacco use to do so immediately by passing laws requiring all indoor workplaces and public places to be 100 percent smoke-free. N'Djamena (AFP) - Nigeria's Boko Haram jihadists have killed four Chadian soldiers in a cross-border raid in the volatile Lake Chad region, a security source told AFP on Sunday. "Around 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday night, Boko Haram members attacked the Djoroye border post near the Niger border in the Lake Chad region killing four of our soldiers," the source said. "The Chadian army killed seven Boko Haram fighters," the source said. The military did not comment, refusing to confirm or deny the attack. Boko Haram, which wants to establish a caliphate in northern Nigeria, has been waging an insurgency since 2009. Their battle has spilled across the borders of neighbouring countries which, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, have formed a regional force to fight back. Folks, we are of the opinion that a good politician should know how to ditch his opponents, especially when given a head-start advantage by institutions shaping the public discourse on general elections to self-project, to blow his own horn and be heard loud and clear for his good at the polls; not so for the NPPs Akufo-Addo who cant see things unfolding right in front of him to latch on to. The Presidential Debate forum arranged by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is a golden opportunity for him to stand tall in the field of contestants; but his posture, attitude, and reaction indicate that he prefers remaining a shrimp, even when the IEAs platform for him to stand on is still in place. Or..? What a pity! Our monitoring of the efforts by the IEA to allow the main contestants in Election 2016 to sell themselves indicates a lot to make us laugh ourselves lame at this point that there is no assurance that the forum is still active. Two Presidential candidates have already been featured. The NDC has boycotted the forum, taking the shine out of it and leaving the NPPs Akufo-Addo in the lurch to prove his worth; but he has also given cause for the IEA to postpone the encounter twice already. The NPP isnt forthcoming on why its candidate isnt participating nor has the IEA itself clarified matters. Nothing exists to show when the forum will be held. Na who cause am? The main problem that has undercut the IEA itself is that it is perceived as politically biased, which made the NDC turn against it. The IEA has discounted such an allegation; but the dirt still sticks. In its absence, there is nothing else to bring the candidates together. In other countries (the United States of America, for instance), there is a Commission for Presidential Debates, established and resourced by the tax payer to do whatever is necessar4y to bring the Presidential candidates together for the exchange of ideas on governance. Can we do so too in Ghana where the Commission will not be determined by anything or anybody but the Constitution of the country? Such a forum is imperative. In the case of this problem between the IEA and Akufo-Addo, we see a lot wrong, especially in terms of who at all is afraid of what? Is it the IEA itself that is making it difficult for the NPPs Akufo-Addo to appear at the forum to give Ghanaians reasons why they should elect him? Or is it Akufo-Addo himself who is running away from the forum? What for? We tease out some salient aspects of this hide-and-seek game of sorts being played by the NPP and the IEA. Here is the underlying problem that emerges for Akufo-Addo in this situation. By failing to take advantage of the NDCs absence from the forum to project himself and his partys plans, intentions, and purposes for the country, he has established himself as lacking drive, initiative, and purposefulness. It is damning because it reflects negatively on him. Which politician, knowing very well what caused his defeat at two previous polls and not wanting to suffer the same fate will not grab every opportunity that lends itself to him to win voter support? The IEA forum isnt a childs play thing! It matters; but Akufo-Addo hasnt approached it with the seriousness that it deserves. He lacks drive, initiative, and purposefulness as such. Not good for his political quests. Lack of drive because he hasnt seen the advantage given him by the NDCs boycott of the public forum to stand on his feet to advertise himself. He is not being the one to take the first step to prove that he is worth what his followers are saying about him. In effect, he isnt proactive. A proactive politician will quickly cash in on the miscalculation by his opponents to boycott such a public forum to make himself big in the eyes of the electorate with his plans for national development. After all, once President Mahama wont participate in the forum, it means that the entire floor belongs to Akufo-Addo to use without any hesitation or fear of being countermanded there and then by his nemesis. But he lacks the drive to put himself in front. Lack of initiative because he hasnt been able to take advantage of the IEAs forum to say what will either force the NDC to regret boycotting the forum or to rescind its decision. It might all depend on how Akufo-Addo could use the forum to make Ghanaians see his viewpoints as strong enough to bend the NDCs back. But he has failed to act properly when given the opportunity to have a head-start advantage in marketing himself. If the IEA is the cause of the hitch, what cant he do to change the situation for his own good? He cannot do so because he lacks what it takes to do so. Of course, his participation in the forum preceding Election 2012 helped his cause, even if he ended up being defeated. Having gone round bad-mouthing the incumbent, nothing could be more advantageous to him than using the IEA forum to reiterate his partys stance that Ghana in the hands of President Mahama is doomed. Then, he could tell us how he hopes to make the difference; but because he lacks initiative, he cant do so, even when the IEA has given him all the chances in the world to project himself in the absence of his nemesis. Why should Akufo-Addo run away from the challenge? Lack of purposefulness because he cant connect with the IEA on matters of concrete policy initiatives. He hasnt indicated anything other than the impulsive approach to governance that has characterized his campaigns all these years. A purposeful politician will not act as erratically and capriciously as Akufo-Addo is doing. Just a few examples here. In his interactions with the electorate wherever he goes, he speaks about issues that are commonplace but not really worth the emphasis he places on them. Then, he is quick to make promises that worsen his credibility problems. All that he is promising turns out to cast serious clouds/doubts on him. The point, then, is that he doesnt have any well-thought-out agenda for national development and is waiting for the people in areas he visits to come out with requests only to turn such requests into strings of promises to do this and that if voted into office. His begging to be tried on his third attempt at the Presidency is demeaning. Coupled with the impulsive promises that he gushes out, he comes across as too desperate. Why so? Not because he wont be in office to steal Ghanas money or to take bribesas he self-righteously annoys us withbut because he is leading the NPP on an All-die-be-die crusade to empower those who claim to be the real owners of Ghana to be in power (Recall Yaw Osafo-Marfo here) . There is a lot behind this desperation that is scary. Even then, if he seriously wants to be in power, why wont he use every forum given him to market himself instead of running away as he has done with this IEA one? I dont think that the problem is the IEA. After all, it has already created the forum and put parameters in place to host Akufo-Addo. The problem is Akufo-Addo who cannot use the forum. Why? Simply because he doesnt have anything worth saying at the forum. So, how does he expect to be perceived by the electorate, running away from the golden fleece dangling in front of him that he is afraid to grab? It is not as if the IEA forum is the be-it-all-and-end-it-all for Akufo-Addo or those politicians who have already been featured there or those repudiating it for all that they think it is. The politicians can do without it and still make their presence felt. And as the NDC rightly pointed out, it doesnt need any validation from the IEA to win elections in Ghana. But the IEA has already set the precedent with its Presidential Debate forum, implying that it is regarded as a credible avenue for the politicians to expound their ideas for governance. Previous encounters generated much interest, even if some political fronts expressed misgivings about underhand manouevres or bias and mischief in the IEAs handling of affairs. The NDC has been particularly critical of the IEA, portraying it as a surrogate of the NPP seeking to use the forum to embarrass its Presidential candidate(s), a reason that was used for ex-President Mills to abstain from the debate for Election 2008. President Mahama would have done the same for Election 2012 but changed his mind; and he performed very well at the forum only for his political opponents to deride him that he had been given the questions in advance by a member of the team of moderators (Dr. Jane Opoku-Agyemang) who was rewarded with a Ministerial appointment thereafter. Such damaging comments hurt the IEA itself. Thus, it cant persuade the NDC that its hosting of the forum for Election 2016 would be devoid of such acrimonious vibes. The NDC chose to snub the forum and went ahead to do its own thing, using President Mahama to give a foretaste of the highlights of its manifesto before going ahead to launch the manifesto itself in Sunyani to unsettle the NPP camp. Instead of telling Ghanaians what they have to best the NDCs manifesto, they are running around in circles criticizing it or foolishly claiming that the contents were plagiarized from the NPPs version. Here, then, comes the main headache for Akufo-Addo on account of his inability to use the IEA forum to advantage. Is it because he has no manifesto to guide his utterances at an IEA forum or because there is nothing in hand with which to undermine the NDC? Even so, can he not see the advantage that the IEA forum offers him so he can use it to project himself? Folks, we have been looking into the inability of the IEA to host Akufo-Addo after it had already done so for two Presidential candidates and given the impression that Akufo-Addo was in line to tell Ghanaians what he has up his sleeves to outdo President Mahamas administration. Having already postponed the encounter twice, there is no indication when again Akufo-Addo will feature in the programme or whether the IEA has scrapped the programme altogether. What is what now? Regardless of the hiccups, we are tempted to think that if the IEA is no more interested in hosting Akufo-Addo, then, it should tell us and justify its stance. On the other hand, if it is Akufo-Addo who is running away from the IEA, then, he has a lot to explain to Ghanaians. Why should he do so? In the final analysis, we are persuaded that even if the IEA isnt keen on hosting Akufo-Addo, he should have been the last person to let this opportunity slip by. The IEA forum is highly recognized for all that it adds to the discourse on our politics. So, an astute politician, knowing very well the windfall to reap from it, should be the first to press forward to have his day. That Akufo-Addo isnt doing so is intriguing. Will he see things as we do so he can plug that hole in his electioneering campaign stunts? The absence of his main rival (President Mahama) should be seen as an advantage to exploit; but Akufo-Addo is running away. Why? I shall return E-mail: [email protected] Join me on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mjkbokor to continue the conversation. By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 The Auditor General has called on Ghanaians to liaise with the National Blood Bank (NBB) to promote voluntary blood donation to replenish the Bank. Richard Quartei Quartey said an effective collaboration between the two bodies would be a national exercise that would help to support the NBB at all times and not only in crises. He also called on social clubs to include and address issues of blood donation in their programmes as that would also contribute extensively to the provision of blood to the bank. Mr Quartey made the call on Friday in Accra when the Audit Service held a blood donation exercise as part of activities making this years Annual Accountability Lectures, aimed at sharing knowledge with stakeholders. He said over the years, the Audit Service had been organising the annual lectures with concentration on good governance and accountability issues and Management thought it is wise to make the seventh edition a landmark in terms of the blood donation exercise. This is our first time of undertaking this initiative and hopefully, we will add another initiative to increase the visibility of the Audit Service in the society in subsequent years, he said. Director of the Public Affairs Unit of the Audit Service, Reverend Joseph Kingsley Ghunney, said the exercise formed part of the institutions corporate social responsibility and a preparatory event aimed at supporting a worthy course. Every strong person must see it as a duty to donate blood when the opportunity is given to save mankind as everybody is subject to human failings, he said. Rev Ghunney said the target was to get 100 voluntary donors to make the exercise a success with 100 units of blood also being targeted. Mrs Akosua Brefowaa Okyere-Keelson, the Blood Donor Organiser of the NBS at Korle-Bu, lauded Management and Staff of the Service for the kind gesture. Mrs Okeyre-Keelson said: Blood is life and could not be manufactured and so the donation exercise was appropriate. On the public perspective towards blood donation, she said the NBS is trying to erase the myths concerning blood donation through education and sensitisation among the public and it is yielding positive result especially when the public contribution had been extensive. And with time they will get to understand that a blood donation is an act of giving, she said. Mr Asiedu, the Deputy Auditor General said the exercise that is opened to the public to help raise awareness and bring people to donate. Mr Akuamoah Asiedu, the Deputy Auditor General in-charge of Finance and Administration thanked the donors for the patronage saying: This is a life-saving activity that wipe tears from the eyes of sorrowful families. 25.09.2016 LISTEN The Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) has return books reported to have been seized from a Ghanaian Lebanese pilot and author Faddi Dabbousie to his residence, Joy News has learned. His lawyer, Hassan Tampoli said on Sunday at about 5:45 am, operatives of the BNI returned to the residence of Mr Fadi without a search warrant but they were given access to the property. "All they did this morning was to return all the copies of the book they took away although they still have in their possession the diary, pen drives and other valuables that they took away," he said. Fadi is been held by the BNI headquarters after been picked at the Kotoka international airport on Friday. He is the author of a book 59 years of Ghana to nowhere; the future is now. Joy News security sources say he has made some offensive comments about President Mahama. Mr Tampoli confirmed this to Joy News and says he is yet to have access to his client noting he will go to court to compel the BNI to produce him. I have been to the office of the BNI and I was denied access to him. I was told the officer responsible for the case was not in the office and that I can only have access to him on Monday, he told Joy News on Saturday. He said he would go to the offices of the BNI on Sunday to see if he would be given access to his client whom he said is on some sort of medication and they need to check up on him to see if he has his medication. According to Mr Tampoli, he has not been told why his client has been arrested and he has not bee allowed to speak to any "responsible officer" at the BNI office. "They should not err on the side of the law they should allow me access to him so I can hear his side of the story and the reason for his arrest. The 48 hours rule applies and it expires midday today [Sunday, September 25]," he said. The lawyer is questioning why the BNI says it does not work on weekends yet they were able to go to his client's house to return the books. Mr Tampoli said he would seek a court order on first thing Monday to compel the BNI to release him or arraign him before the court. M r Dabboussie is believed to be a sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some party sympathisers and human rights activists have condemned the act on social media. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected] 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA Kumasi, Sept 22, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has scaled up the effort to substantially reduce maternal deaths through increased supervised delivery. This is being done together with the Population Council under what they are calling 'Task sharing initiative'. It involves training of selected community health nurses and enrolled nurses as midwife assistants to make up for the inadequate midwives across the districts and communities. Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director of Family Health of the GHS, speaking at the launch of the initiative said they would be taken through a six-week intensive training programme in five district hospitals to efficiently supervise child delivery. He said although Ghana had made significant progress by way of improvement of access to maternal healthcare over the last one-and-a-half decades, more could have been done. Maternal mortality reduced from 760 per 100,000 live births in year 1990, to 319 per 100,000 live births in 2015, while 97 per cent of pregnant women now attend antenatal clinic at least once before delivery. Dr. Kuma-Aboagye indicated that the situation could have been better if there were adequate midwives, especially in rural communities. He described the initiative as a stopgap measure to shore up the number of midwives in the system to stop women, dying when giving birth to babies. Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director General of GHS, underlined the vital role midwives played in the fight against maternal deaths and said deliberate efforts must be made to get more of them. He spoke of the determination of the Service to find innovative ways to ensure maternal mortality became a thing of the past. He said they were going to post midwives to the Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) compounds to help prevent maternal deaths. They were working hard to make sure that all the 6500 electoral areas had at least one CHPS compound to achieve that goal, he added. Dr. Alexis Nang-Beifubah, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health, said the initiative would save the lives of mothers and their babies. Dr. Placide Tapsoba, Country Director of the Population Council, commended Ghana for its innovative interventions in the health sector and pledged the Council's support, to improve the health of the people. GNA By Alexander Nyarko Yeboah Tema, Sept. 22, GNA - Mrs Eunice Baabu, Chief Executive Officer, Safe Child Ghana, has called on government to fully foot the medical bills of violated children as part of measures to rehabilitate their young and fragile lives. "We need to, for instance, incorporate the cost of medical tests and medication of child rape victims into the NHIS system to ease off the financial burden on parents",she said. Mrs Baabu was addressing the second Tema Child Safety Conference in Tema. The conference is Safe Child Ghana's initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, World Health Organisation (WHO) Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES). Organised on the theme, "Safe Children, Safer Communities", it created the platform for stakeholders to evaluate child protection issues discussed at the first Tema Child Safety Conference in 2014. Mrs Baabu asked political parties not to use children for advertisement and campaigns lest their innocence would be exploited for partisan and divisive political gains. Mr Emmanuel Nartey, Co ordinating Director, TMA, called for a more aggressive policy to protect children in Ghana. 'Ghanaians have cultures that sweep a lot of vices and crimes against children under the carpet, but which have lingering effects on their development,' Mr. Nartey observed. According to him, some of these vices, such as acquaintance rape, 'marginalize and psychologically scar the child for ever and society would have to pay for it the hard way in future as such victims could become rebellious and unforgiving' Mrs. Victoria Natsu, Head of Human Trafficking Unit, Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, a representative of the sector minister at the conference, cautioned against the excessive use of mobile phones by children. She indicated that even though the device has some good uses, there were some functions on them that could harm children if not properly managed. She also advised the children who were drawn from the St. Pauls Methodist and the Adjei Kodjo Junior High Schools within the Tema Metropolis, to watch less foriegn soap operas aired by almost all Ghanaian television stations as they mislead the child on the true realities of life. Rev. Dr. P.E.T. Sefogah, the Presiding Bishop, A.M.E Zion Church, Tema, and the Chairman for the occasion, advised all to team up to protect children. He advised the children to "make your parents and teachers your first point of getting information and not your friends and focus on your vision for life." In its plan of action, the forum demanded the need for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly to collaborate with the Police, Environmental Health Service and Social Welfare Departments to rid the streets of mental patients who pose as threats to children within the Metropolis. Tema was also to be included in the road signs and markings exercise by the National Road Safety Commission as a way of making our roads safe for children. "There is the need to intensify education at club levels in the various schools to enlighten mostly the adolescent concerning issues relating to HIV, teenage pregnancy, personal hygiene, etc. Safe Child Ghana is a registered non governmental organisation committed to the protect of children from abuse, injury and the promotion of child development through advocacy, empowerment, research and education. GNA President Mahama has been rated F' in his attempts at fighting corruption in the country by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). A US-based policy think tank,The Heritage Foundation in its 2016 economic freedom index, earlier observed that although Ghana had made significant progress in areas such as rule of law, the country was still struggling with the fight against corruption. Speaking on the findings, Manager of the Nana Addo 2016 Campaign, Peter Mac Manu, told Citi News' Sixtus Dong Ullo that President Mahama has to do more to fight the canker. I think that as a Ghanaian my level of living is going down so if you tell me that we are above Ivory Coast and Ivory Coast having come out of war , their level of living is getting better that is the issue. Everybody wants to live a better life. It is not the indexes we are talking about.I think President's Mahama's rating in the fight of corruption is F. Fight against corruption is a process E.T Mensah But a leading member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), E. T. Mensah in a rebuttal indicated that the fight against corruption cannot be easily won. The Ningo-Pramprah Member of Parliament, it will require a collective effort from all to fight the canker The fight against corruption is a process, it is not an event. It started from somewhere and it is still going on and governments have come and governments will go and come and this will continue. Like President Kufuor said sometime ago. Corruption days from Adam so for me like President said sometime ago, corruption days from Adam. We just need to ensure that all of us fight corruption at all levels and we should see it as a process and not an event. Ghana is 63rd most corrupt country In 2013, Ghana was ranked 63rd out of 177 countries surveyed in the year's global corruption perception index (CPI). The index released by Transparency International, said the country scored 46 out of 100 on the scale from zero to 100. Ghana was ranked 64th out of 174 countries surveyed in 2012 and 69th in 2011 in the CPI. 'Ghana must take corruption ranking seriously The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International had counseled government to take seriously the nation's ranking on the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Ghana moved two places from 63rd in 2013 to 61st in 2014 out of the 175 countries which were surveyed worldwide. Despite this marginal improvement in the 2014 ranking, the GII is of the view that the nation must not rest until corruption is drastically reduced or eradicated if possible. By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana President John Mahama has been touting his government's achievement in improving food production at a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme event. Speaking as the co-host of the event themed, Pathways to Zero Hunger in New York, USA, alongside Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbe, President Mahama was keen to note the strides Ghana had made in crop production over the last eight years. During his address he said, I have made a lot of progress in increasing crop production. In all the sectors; cereals, tubers crops, we have seen significant instances in production. Rice production has doubled over the last eight years from slightly above 300,000 metric tonnes to 641,000 metric tonnes. He also noted that Ghana produces about 60 percent of our total meat requirement and about 40 percent is imported from elsewhere. Ghana is one of the heights consumers of fish products and one of the many problems that we face is over-fishing in our waters thus he said we are supplementing production by investing in a strong aqua culture industry. Addressing some challenges in the agriculture sector however, President Mahama highlighted the threat of dumping from Europe and South America where he said some products were brought in and sold at ridiculously cheap prices, making it difficult for local poultry farmers to compete. He thus suggested that, opening up the market in West Africa will give a boost to agriculture where we are able to exchange agric products so that our farmers have a bigger market than they currently have. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Algiers (AFP) - The world's top oil producers "must take a decision" to stabilise prices, Algeria's energy minister said on Sunday ahead of an OPEC meeting on Wednesday in Algiers. Oil prices are already depressed after two years of oversupply amid deep disagreements between members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Failing to agree on a production freeze could push prices even lower, Noureddine Boutarfa told reporters in Algiers. "Every state in the organisation agrees on the need to stabilise prices, it just remains for us to find a format that pleases everyone," he said. "The best solution would be a (production) freeze", he said. Oil prices collapsed from peaks of more than $100 a barrel in mid-2014 to near 13-year lows below $30 in January. As a result, OPEC members are losing between $300 and $500 million a day, Boutarfa said. "No (oil) company will be able to withstand it if prices remain under $50 a barrel," he said. Hopes of a deal to limit production pushed prices above $46 a barrel last week, but they slid to $44.48 on Friday as investors' optimism waned. Venezuela and Iraq, which have been hard-hit by low prices, support the idea of a production freeze to boost prices. But an attempt in April to reach a deal, led by OPEC linchpin Saudi Arabia, fell apart when its political arch-rival Iran refused to play ball. Iran said it needed to bring its production back up to the level it enjoyed prior to Western sanctions over its nuclear programme which have since been lifted. Algeria's cordial ties with OPEC members across the board mean it is well-placed to push for a deal. "We are able to bring together states with political differences around a single table," Boutarfa said. OPEC's 12 member states produce around a third of the world's oil, and their production decisions have a global impact on prices. Boutarfa said Wednesday's summit would be a "first step" towards stability in the market. "The Algiers meeting will not fail," he said. "Either we reach an agreement, which would be good, or we reach an understanding on the elements of an agreement, and that would also be good." The presidential nominee for the Progressive People's Party in the upcoming general elections, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom has chastised the John Mahama led NDC for rewarding Ghanaians who voted him into power in 2012 with untold economic hardship. He said, Ghanaians voted the NDC with the hope of a life free of chronic diseases, erratic power supply, malaria and joblessness but the opposite is what the NDC has offered. Speaking at the launch of the PPP's parliamentary candidate for the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency in the western region, Dr. Nduom noted that we voted for candidate Mahama in 2012 to bring good things to the people. But, what has been offered? Ghanaians have had to be slapped with unclean drinking water, chronic diseases like cholera and malaria, bad road networks in and around Prestea, four years of dumsor, unemployment and all kinds of things. That is what your vote for Mahama and his NDC brought. Today, your electricity bill is as much higher than your rent. It is the person you voted for in 2012 that has brought unemployment upon yourselves. It is what has denied you of decent jobs. If you vote them again, you are wasting your vote. Dr. Nduom urged the electorate to vote the Progressive People's Party into office on December 7 to provide jobs because we have our undisputed track record of job creation throughout the country. The PPP, he said will work at improving road network in resource producing communities such as Prestea, because, Prestea still looks as old town as I have known it despite its gold production and contribution to the state. We will also work on your water issue to provide clean drinking water for you. Vote the PPP to transform this country. Dr. Nduom is headed to the Central region after touring the Tarkwa Nsuaem, Prestea Huni Valley and the Jomoro constituencies over the weekend in the Western region. Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election-related stories By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana 25.09.2016 LISTEN Two weeks ago we commenced series of write ups meant to showcase contributions of notable Islamic personalities towards advancement of the religion in Ghana. Our first two write ups emphasized forcefully the peace Ghana is currently enjoying as partly due to good Islamic practices laden with neighborliness, being promoted in the affairs of the nation as directed by Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) 1400 years ago. As was expected, many people accepted points made in the articles but a few people who had the opportunity to read the pieces on line, for no known reasons, have begun raising doubts about the credibility of my claims that Muslims in Ghana led by the National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and other Islamic leaders are largely promoters of peaceful coexistence in the country .It is true that Ghana is touted as one of the most peaceful nations of the world with a tag of its citizens being very hospitable. This situation has been achieved with the contribution and support of all including Muslims in Ghana. However in view of the worldwide phenomenon of emerging radical groups in Arab nations wanting to overthrow the existing governance systems to establish Islamic states, many are those who are expressing doubts that we in Ghana may soon give in to the operation of extremists who would wreak havoc on moderate Muslims, Christians and the government that the jihadists consider western oriented. What is more frightening is the emergence of BOKO HARRAM operating close to Ghana in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroons and some North African countries like Somalia and Libya. The fear has been that the activities such as suicide bombings and attacks on government installations like oil pipelines as happening in Nigeria may soon occur in Ghana. Some of the readers went on to say that the only stock in trade of Muslims is to convert people to Islam through force by waging war on innocent people. But Ghanaians together with the Muslims dotted in all parts of the country in the Zongos will disappoint the doubting Thomases. Since the bombings of the twin towers in new york in the US ON 9/11 Some jihadists have tried over the years to enter and use Ghana as their center of operation without success because they could not find willing allies in Ghana. Ghanaian Muslims are wide awake and therefore will not tolerate extremists and terrorists. As time goes on we shall open up to explain this situation in our reports to Ghanaians and the world at large. Yes it is true that nasty conflicts are occurring in Ghana over a period of time between Muslim factions and conflicts involving Muslim settlers against non-Muslims leading to loss of lives and injuries as happened at old Tafo near Kumasi the Ashanti Regional Capital recently over a portion of cemetery land. We have been experiencing chieftaincy, partisan and land disputes. However we do not believe the situation in Ghana can deteriorate to the level reached in Nigeria, Syria, Libya and Somalia. The reason is that religious leaders and education authorities are good at counseling their followers using texts of their religious books. Muslim leadership in Ghana in particular will not give in to the infiltration of radical Muslim bodies such as Alshabab, BOKO HARRAM, the Talibans and Islamic jihad. The Muslim leadership in Ghana has been embarking on teachings of Islam for Muslims to fight in the way of Islam but would not go to the extent of urging them to use arms to exterminate many people in the name of Islam. Instead the Muslim leaders and the entire people in Muslim settlements in Ghana have given in to using friendly means of persuading non-Muslims and Muslims with different beliefs to understand Islam. This is done through regular preaching in mosques and open spaces and in books and articles and on radio and television programs throughout the country. Muslims are closely linked to Christians together in communities, markets, workplaces and schools where they live and work together peacefully as one people in one nation with a common destiny. During festivities of Muslims and Christians everyone in Ghana joins in celebrations especially as the Christian and Muslim festivals are declared holidays. During these periods food and other gifts are exchanged freely between Muslims and non-Muslims. Due to the good relationship existing among Muslims and Christians in Ghana, they do not allow conflicts that occur to fester into violence between them. The National Peace Council (with the help of the National Chief Imam and other religious leaders) has always acted swiftly to deal with any emerging conflicts in the country. One thing that seems to be helping matters is that the constitution of Ghana does not allow political parties to be formed on the basis of religion, ethnic or regional groupings. For that matter all political parties in Ghana consist of all ethnic and religious groups. To ensure peace at all times the civil society groups working through Center for Democratic Governance (CDD), Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) and Institute of Economic Affairs ( IEA) together with religious groupings including Muslims have been working together as coalitions to assist in peaceful elections and in all national matters .Having achieved a great deal of success so far it is our belief that Ghanaian Muslims working throughout Ghana with their Christian counterparts will continue to work for orderly development of the country. The other nations of Africa that are involved in unending wars must have to come over to learn from Ghanas example of peace neighborliness peaceful coexistence, hospitality and love for strangers. Nigeria and other countries must know that the situation in their countries is due to the unending religious and ethnic conflicts being stretched too far. If they continue this way they will continue to destroy their nations infrastructure, especially in Nigeria where the avengers are destroying oil pipelines as they fight for regional power for Biafra. In the northern Nigerias Borno state for example members of BOKO HARRAM are busy wreaking havoc by killing people in towns and markets in their attempt to create an Islamic state. We learn that the government of Nigeria under General Mahamudu Buhari has dealt a blow to BOKO HARRAM and is likely to defeat them. We pray that these wicked people would be routed out permanently to salvage the girls captured in Chibouk School now being kept in the Sambisa forest in Nigeria to bring lasting peace to Nigeria and its neighbors that include Niger Cameroon and chad and Ghana. Divisive tendencies are also responsible for the catastrophes in Libya, Syria, Iraq and Somalia where many people are losing their lives and millions are getting displaced. Apart from the desire by the extremists to rout out the existing political systems to create Islamic states what is more damning is that the raging conflicts in these nations is due largely to infiltration by money bags that do not have anything to do with Islam. Most of the people fighting to institute Islamic states in Nigeria and other nations of Africa have been found to be non-Muslims. Though they cannot read the Quran to be able to offer prayers as Muslims do, they are hired by some war mongers to fight to overthrow legitimate governments for them. According a news story captured in Nigeria on line most of the BOKO HARRAM terrorists who were captured recently were found not to be Muslims. According to the Nigerian military forces that captured them they were found not to be Muslims for they could not read the Quran nor recite the opening sura of the Quran al Fatiha. When the training centers of the terrorists were captured no Qurans, hadiths or Islamic literature were found. Instead arms, ammunitions, drugs, charms, condoms and all sorts of drugs like sex enhancing drugs were found on them. With this information at hand the time has come for the government of Nigeria and those in Cameroon, Chad and the North Africa and Middle East to team up to investigate the backgrounds of all infiltrators with the view to dealing with them once and for all. The contributions of Muslim leaders past and present are responsible for the good situation in which we find ourselves in Ghana. We thank all these leaders and pray that God gives them the much needed strength and energy to push on. Allah bless them Some of The personalities mentioned above some of who are who alive are but a few of those we need to remember, study and follow their pious steps taken to provide leadership for Muslims in Ghana. It is our candid opinion that Muslims leaders must consider combining their efforts to take the following steps as done in some nations: Call for papers or biography on all Muslim leaders especially those who are no more with us. Those men and women should include Chiefs Imams preachers and leaders of all the recognized bodies With the information gathered we would be able to have biographies of Muslims and a who is who book for Muslims. This is being done in other advanced countries We can also use the information gathered on the past leaders to push through programs to follow their footsteps We may also institute days in the year to remember these men This way we would succeed in remembering the contributions of our heroes or living legends. TO SUCCEED IN OUR PROGRAM to honor our living legends WE HAVE OPENED A CHANNELL FOR PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS GATHERING INFORMATION ON MUSLIMS GENERALLY THROUGH OUR CONTACTS: No contribution is too small or too big. Contact and contribute to us on 0274853710 or 0264370345 Executive Director EANFOWORLD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 0244 370345 (Airtel)/ 0274853710 /0208844791 / [email protected]/[email protected] Lawyers of Fadi Samih Daboussi have indicated that they will take legal action against the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for the unlawful detention of their client. The Ghanaian writer and journalist, was reportedly arrested at the Kotoka International Airport last Friday for allegedly publishing a book which many say contains offensive comments about President John Mahama. Subsequently, the BNI is said to have ransacked his home. Lead Counsel for Mr. Daboussi, Hassan Tampoli told Citi News he has been denied access to his client for the past forty-eight hours. He has not been released. I have not been given access to him. They won't let me see him, they won't let me talk to him. They won't give me any update about his condition. They simply are holding him incommunicado. They will not even tell him what exactly is his offence. They won't tell me who the complainant is and they will not tell me the offence for which reason they still holding him custody. We shall approach the court with a writ of habeaus corpus for the court to compel the BNI to release him The BNI is yet to give reasons for the Mr. Daboussis arrest but critics say his arrest is politically motivated. Meanwhile, a group calling itself Ghana Must Know has threatened to stage a mass action at the premises of the BNI, if it fails to release Mr. Daboussi by midnight. We are occupying BNI as early as 5am to demand the release of our brother. We are not going to do anything that will breach the peace of this country. We are only going there to demand for his immediate release. If they are not doing that then maybe it will follow with a mass demonstration across the country, Convener of Ghana Must Know, Hopeson Adorye told Citi News. By: Caleb Kudah & Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana The recent press statement by the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) regarding the issues of accreditation, promotion of university lecturers in Ghana, and the publication of academic work by university lecturers does not only smack of a compromised position of UTAG Executive Council but it also reveals how some labor unions can be hijacked by their leaders and be used to advance positions that are at variance with the ethos of the organizations they represent. For a professional association which is supposed to be the citadel of knowledge and critical thinking, one would have expected that UTAGs press statement would be based on a critical analysis of the issues raised in the researched article and subsequent rejoinders, based upon which they would have drawn valid conclusions, in support of the article or against the article. But that was not the case; the press statement was a partisan misnomer from an academic association. It is troubling for us to read the National President of UTAG, Dr. Harry L. K. Agbanus pathetic support for unscrupulous members of UTAG, the compromised NAB and the corrupt administration of UPSA. We are particularly surprised that Dr. Agbanu did not mention anything about the various university teachers who are alleged to have acquired and or purchased doctorate degrees from unaccredited universities such as the SMC and University of Nicaragua and using such questionable credentials to pollute the minds of our innocent students. At least, the President of UTAG should rather have expressed concern about the revelations in the research article and assure the general Ghanaian public that they, as university teachers in Ghana, will investigate the allegations and if found to be true, bring the perpetrators to book. Dr. Agbanus concern should have been to make sure that fraudulent doctorate degree holders do not find their way into the education system in Ghana. That is what is expected from a great leader with good organizational skills and competencies. We are sure that Dr. Agbanu and his section of the UTAG are aware of the attributes and requirements of a professional teacher. This would definitely include academic honesty, law-abiding, integrity, and sincerity, among others. If Dr. Agbanus section of the UTAG cannot police itself and ensure that its members possess the right doctorate degrees from accredited institutions, published in credible academic journals to earn their promotions, based on the contributions they make to knowledge, then they are failing Ghanaians just as the institutions that have come under intense scrutiny. We are aware that the leadership of UTAG are being influenced by individuals and authorities involved in the fraudulent acts reported in our investigative report. Why would UTAG only issue this pathetic partisan press statement after Joshua Alabi bussed them to a secret location to deliberate on issues currently under debate? Is UTAG not an independent association even though Joshua Alabi and some of the corrupt professors are members? Has UTAG consulted its membership across the university campuses in Ghana before issuing such an outrageous press statement? Just like the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and the UPSA Student Representative Council (SRC), one wonders why the UTAG and other stakeholders have all been silent all along on this serious and disgraceful national issue. From the previous press statements issued by the Alabi-led administration, it became clearer to us that the Alabi-led administration lacks understanding of some of the issues at stake. We did not know that such lack of knowledge is so pervasive that it permeates even the top echelons of what is supposed to be an erudite union of scholars. No wonder the Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Mawutor Avorke, strongly underscored the fact that about 61 percent of lecturers in Ghanaian tertiary institutions are unqualified to be teaching in these institutions. Even though we have been careful not to be considered as individuals who are up against the so-called enviable records of the Alabi-led administration at UPSA, it is clear that some of such assertions can be informed by the lack of knowledge regarding academic processes, standards, and outcomes. Thus, as this discourse drags on, and the Minister responsible for education in Ghana continues to pay deaf ears to the issues involved, we will continue to dig further and further to educate the general public, including even academics and students who may lack understanding of these issues. At this juncture, we would like to turn the searchlight on (Dr.) John K. Mawutor, Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies, UPSA, who is also a graduate of the SMC, regarding his publications that must have earned him the position of a Vice-Dean as pertains in the academy. (Dr.) Mawutor displays 13 published papers on his profile. Out of the 13 papers, one does not have to look very hard to discover that seven of them are published by journals with questionable reputation. Some of these journals are: International Journal of Education (based in Bangladesh and hosted by Deepark Kuma Biswas and published by Contemporary Research Center, falsely trading on the good name of Australia. Accessible at: https://scholarlyoa.com/2015/04/16/fake-peer-review-more-documentation/ ), Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, and Research Journal of Accounting and Finance (these two journals are published by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education, which is listed as a predatory publisher with questionable review processes. Please follow the following links to conduct your own evaluation: https://sites.google.com/site/fakeresearchjournalpublishers/home http://www.scamadviser.com/check-website/iiste.org ). Readers can now follow the link to the public profile of the Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies, UPSA, to conduct their own interrogation (Link available at: http://upsa.edu.gh/history.php?page=10#openModal10 ). Now, these are the questions: 1. What do we do with a Vice-Dean who has used publications that have failed the litmus test of a rigorous review process to earn promotion into an important office of Vice-Dean of Graduate studies? 2. With over 70 percent of these papers in journals with questionable reputations, are these the sort of publications the Ghanaian taxpayer is funding through research allowances for lecturers? Let us be reminded that (Dr.) Mawutor is not alone. We are quite certain that by now many academics in our noble institutions have begun examining the background of journals they publish their work with, so that their academic toils do not go to waste. On a lighter note, recently, a friend of ours alluded that people who published articles in online sources such as ghanaweb.com, myjoyonline.com, etc., should have been promoted to the rank of a professor long ago. This statement only underscores the lack of understanding in some circles regarding the academic process. There is, therefore, the need to keep educating the general public via the media to appreciate the dark side of the academy. Returning to the Alabi-led administration, we would like to point out that instead of the Alabi-led administration and its Council apologizing to the Ghanaian public, accepting their lack of knowledge on how the academic processes have been compromised or corrupted by all kinds of journals and institutions that are unqualified to publish even opinion pieces, let alone academic articles, the Alabi-led administration and its Council are using manipulative processes to dare us to continue to expose things that we should be discussing behind closed doors to determine how these issues could be handled in ways to save the entire academic enterprise at UPSA. It is our goal that by the time this discourse is over, the practice where the taxpayer is funding dubious accolades will be reduced to the barest minimum if not eradicated completely. As we discuss publications, we would once again appeal to the Alabi-led administration to publish the so-called 60 academic articles published by its Vice-Chancellor in waiting, so we can help the Alabi-led administration and its Governing Council to identify some of the papers that have been published with predatory journals, hijacked journals, and predatory standalone journals with misleading metrics. It is unfortunate that the Alabi-led administration, its Council, and, now, UTAG, are all of the erroneous impression that anything foreign is authentic. In fact, we are aware they are not alone. It is a serious problem that confronts many developing countries, particularly Sub-Saharan African countries, where our cultural values undermine the asking of critical questions. In Sub-Saharan Africa, when people ask critical questions, we tend to label them as oppositional, green-eyed monsters, and as people who do not wish us well and must be assailed. Let it be known to Universities and their Governing Councils across the African continent that some of these questionable journals even list the names of renowned professors as editors and reviewers of their journals, but in fact these renowned professors may not even be aware that their names have been listed in such dubious roles. Our university professors, administrative officers at university registries, and university council members must all be trained to spot these issues quickly and deal with them before they become acceptable practices that will continue to dilute and undermine the quality of education in Africa and the developing world generally. It would interest the reading public to learn that because of this unpopular action by some members of UTAG and its leaders, the association now has a divided front. We are appealing to the level-headed members of UTAG to come out to strongly condemn and disassociate themselves from their self-serving leaders who have been hijacked by the Alabi-led administration. And it gets more interesting. It would interest readers to learn that the so-called Vice-Chancellor of SMC, Dr. Ted Sun, is an external evaluator for promotions at UPSA! Currently as we write, Dr. Sun is in Ghana making his rounds trying to do damage control and to continue to promote SMC products to unsuspecting UPSA lecturers, senior lecturers and associate professors. We are yet to confirm deep throat rumor sources that Dr. Sun has also infiltrated the NAB. However, we hope the public will remember the conflict of interest issues we highlighted involving Prof. Paul Buatsi, who is an NAB Board member and at the same time the country representative of SMC in Ghana. Readers can now interrogate the profile of Dr. Henry L. K. Agbanu (Please follow his profile here: http://www.ug.edu.gh/religions/staff/harry-lawson-kwaku-agbanu ). Clearly, it took Dr. Henry L. K. Agbanu from 1999 to 2011 to obtain his PhD. We wish to leave it with Dr. Agbanus colleagues at UTAG and the general public to find out how Dr. Agbanu could convince himself that someone in Ghana, UPSA for that matter, could obtain an MPhil, two doctoral degrees, an Associate Professorship, Professorship and be elected by a Council to the high office of the Vice Chancellor of a public university under 6 years. This individual must be the African version of Albert Einstein! To conclude, we would like to point out to Dr. Agbanu and his executives that evidence abounds that NAB, UPSA, and even Dr. Agbanus section of the UTAG have failed to conduct their duties diligently, especially beyond the known conventions of verification. In this case, public spirited individuals, including us, have the right to question the professional aptitude of the individuals who lead the institutions under discussion. We have no misgivings if the executives of UTAG, in cahoots with the Alabi-led administration, choose to display their lack of knowledge regarding the issues under discussion. We will, however, not allow the hijacked executives of UTAG to impose their erroneous opinions (as stated in their second point) on the generality of Ghanaians. Dr. Prosper Yao Tsikata Assistant Professor of Communication Valdosta State University Dr. A. Kobla Dotse Director, Chemical Research and Development The 2016 La kpee Homowo/Anniversary celebrations lived up to its hype as the capacity attendance showcased our rich cultural heritage amid pomp and jubilation. Indeed it was a breath of fresh air as many forgot their sorrows in the past year as they enjoyed the festivities and had a spectacular time as Lakpee UK and Gamei supported by their friends turned out in their numbers to thank God for witnessing another edition of the festival and also affirm that though many of the sons of the land had left home, they have not forgotten their roots. Diplomats as well as royal dignitaries showed up as a proof of their solidarity and goodwill. The special guest of honor Nii La, Nii Kpobi Tettey TSuru the Paramount Chief and over lord of La traditional area was represented by Nii Leshie Yemo,Divisional chief of Leshie La. Nii Yemo in his speech said he was so impressed by the event that he called on La authorities and citizens to document it and package it as an international festival. The function was under the chairmanship of Dr. Eric Boye who handled the program excellently. In his speech he said the location of the University Of Ghana, the Airport and the Burma camp to name a few were lands donated by La, it is reasonable therefore that whilst the indigenes make effort to construct a library government should as well chip in to make it a reality as a reciprocation. He said though the association has the welfare of Lamei in Uk as its main objective the main Mission of the association, is a broader commitment to the interests of the La Township especially in education. No wonder this silver jubilee year, we have adopted a library project as our contribution to enhancing the culture of knowledge in the youth of La and its residents. It was indeed a time for the people to thank God for his blessings and protection over the last year in a wonderful burst of colour. Our authentic rich culture was on display and lots of good and delicious Ghanaian food not least kpokpoi was in plentiful as evidence of the of the bumper harvest after the famine and the celebration of the new year Afi which is the end of the work circle and the beginning of a new one. For instance, the talking drum music which heralded the entry of Nii La and the royal dignitaries was spectacular. Those of us inside the banqueting hall were awoken by a short and sudden burst of sounds and rapid rolls followed by a sustained sound raptures and the wailing of the women followed by a retinue of royal dignitaries resplendent in their royal costume. The fusion of our wailing women who accompanied the entry of the royals interwoven within the dense structures of talking drums provided a richer density to the of the atmosphere African music, from the communal nature of African society, is marked by the simultaneous sounding of two or more pitches. Melody and rhythm are interwoven within this dense structure of various instrumental and metric combinations. Ornamental devices, either vocal or instrumental, are commonly used to create additional layers, providing a richer density to the texture. Another important feature of African music is its related movements or body percussion, such as hand clapping, foot stamping, and dance. Body movement is strongly encouraged by this type of music that means audience participation which we had in abundance. It is a pride to see how these cultural drummers and performers had preserved the rich cultural heritage in our music genre .While traditional drumming or dancing connoisseurs of each style of music picked up by our cultural groups will see some dissipation in the nuances of their tribes music, the versatile performances of these talented drummers and dancers, the Mii Shejeloi led by Nii Boye Owoo was breathtaking and impressively diverse. The dances performed by the culture groups are a form of story-telling, often documenting important historical events or recounting ancestral folk tales. The dancers and drummers, for instance, express communal desires, values, and collective creativity. The drumming represents an underlying linguistic text that guides the dancing performance, allowing linguistic meaning to be expressed non-verbally. In all, those who were there were full of praise for the cultural groups who entertained the audience and may their efforts to keep our culture vibrant and alive live on. It was a harvest and cultural festival and that was what they gave us in plentiful. The rituals and libation ceremony was performed by Nii Ashaley Asuku 11Head of the Nii Tetteh Kpeshie we of Sempe who traced his ancestry to La.The elegance and delivery of his incantations whilst explaining the rationale behind some of the ceremony held us spell bound like a master teacher who had captured the rapt attention of his students. In fact it was worth been there to learn from the master himself the meaning of some of our ceremonies and their implications in our Ga culture. The festival itself is highlighted at varying times by different quarters of the Ga tribe. The Ga-mashie group of the tribe celebrated theirs' a little earlier than the La group.The Homowo festival recounts the migration of the Gas and reveals their agricultural success in their new settlement. According to Ga oral tradition, a severe famine broke out among the people during their migration to present day Accra. They were inspired by the famine to embark on massive food production exercises which eventually yielded them bumper harvest. Their hunger ended and with great joy they "hooted at hunger" this is the meaning of the word HOMOWO hooting at hunger to say no never again. In her remarks the Chairman of La kpee Mrs. Mabel Doku thanked the invited guest and all those present to make the occasion a grand affair. She said the present La Kpee of U.K. and Ireland was formed as an umbrella body of the community based organization, the La Mansaamo Kpee (LMK), which was established by the youth in the town of La to mobilize community resources for community development. La kpee U.K. was formed in the autumn of 1995, initially to be the UK mouthpiece of La Mansaamo kpee before changing its name to a kpee to give enfaces to the welfare of Lamei in UK in line with our objectives.aShe said during a holiday to Ghana, Mr Gans Lartey met the late Mr Trebi Kumah Ollennu the then chairman of La Mansaamo kpee, who advised that an umbrella organization be formed in the U.K and Ireland to help promote the interest of La and to mobilize resources for development of the La township. As a result of that meeting Mr Gans Lartey approached Mr Charles Ashitey Ollennu on his return from his trip from Ghana, who then approached Mr Abeka Gogo who in turn on the recommendation of Niifio Sowate introduced the group to the late Dr Ashie Okpoti.This was the beginning of the formation of what has come to be known as the La Kpee of U.K and Ireland. She said Lakpee Uk,is one of the best organize associations in the Uk and is proud of its members and acheivements. The founders of the association Joe Gans-Lartey,Charles Ollennu,Abeka Gogo,the late Dr.Ashie Okpoti and Niifio Sowatey were presented with a commemorative plague as an appreciation for their pioneering efforts. She again thanked everybody for making the festival grand and hope to look forward to repeating same next year. 2016-09-25 193754 2016-09-25 193808 Residents of Nsukwao, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern Region are calling for the immediate dredging of the Nsukwao River, which is now the main drainage system in the town. This follows the flooding of almost the entire community after a 30-minute downpour Sunday, which reportedly killed one person and destroyed property worth millions of cedis. The deceased, a woman said to be in her late 40s, was returning from church together with three others in a taxi when the incident happened. The taxi was swept off the road into a big gutter as all the principal streets got flooded. Although officers from Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were at the scene, they were unable to rescue the occupants of the taxi. According to Adom News reporter Maxwell Kudekor, the Fire officers who could not swim said they did not have ropes to throw into the water to help the drowning occupants of the taxi. The reporter said a bystander braved the flood waters to rescue them. Although he was unable to save the lady by the time he got to her, he was able to rescue the other two men occupants of the taxi. The taxi driver who was feared dead was later found unconscious. Authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of the flooding but residents tell believe the unbridled development activities close to the river has negatively distracted the flow of water. Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com Lawyers of Fadi Samih Dabbousi, have indicated that they will take legal action against the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), for the what they call unlawful detention of their client. The Ghanaian writer and journalist, was reportedly arrested at the Kotoka International Airport last Friday for allegedly publishing a book which critics say contains offensive comments about President John Mahama. Subsequently, the BNI is said to have ransacked his home. Lead Counsel for Mr. Dabbousi, Hassan Tampoli, told Citi News he has been denied access to his client for the past forty-eight hours. He has not been released. I have not been given access to him. They won't let me see him, they won't let me talk to him. They won't give me any update about his condition. They simply are holding him incommunicado. They will not even tell him what exactly is his offence. They won't tell me who the complainant is; and they will not tell me the offence for which reason they are still holding him custody. We shall approach the court with a writ of habeaus corpus for the court to compel the BNI to release him The BNI is yet to give reasons for Mr. Dabbousis arrest; but critics say his arrest is politically motivated. Dabbousi is the author of the book 59 years to nowhere! The future is now! BNI returns Dabbousis books Meanwhile according to Accra-based Joy FM, the BNI has retured copies of the books reported to have been seized Dabbousis residence. His lawyer, Hassan Tampoli said on Sunday at about 5:45 am, operatives of the BNI returned to the residence of Mr. Fadi without a search warrant but they were given access to the property. All they did this morning was to return all the copies of the book they took away although they still have in their possession the diary, pen drives and other valuables that they took away, he said. Meanwhile, a pro opposition group calling itself Ghana Must Know, has threatened to stage a mass action at the premises of the BNI, if it fails to release Mr. Dabbousi by midnight of Sunday. We are occupying BNI as early as 5:00am to demand the release of our brother. We are not going to do anything that will breach the peace of this country. We are only going there to demand for his immediate release. If they are not doing that, then maybe it will follow with a mass demonstration across the country, Convener of Ghana Must Know, Hopeson Adorye told Citi News. The BNI has often been criticized for acting arbitrarily without recourse to the law. The state intelligence agency, has often been viewed as a tool used by every incumbent government to harass its critics. By: Caleb Kudah & Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana Libreville (AFP) - EU monitors said Sunday that Gabon's top court had failed to rectify vote-counting "anomalies" in fiercely-disputed elections in which President Ali Bongo extended his family's rule in the oil-rich nation into a fifth decade. The European Union's electoral observer mission said it "regretted" that Gabon's Constitutional Court, which on Saturday ruled against opposition demands for a recount, "had been unable to satisfactorily rectify anomalies observed during the count". Opposition leader Jean Ping had filed a legal challenge after Bongo was declared the winner by a mere 6,000 votes in the August 27 election. Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, had asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family where the president was declared to have won more than 95 percent of the vote, with turnout at more than 99 percent. The Constitutional Court in its ruling upheld Bongo's victory and put the winning margin higher at around 11,000 votes. A man shows a ballot paper during counting in a polling station at the Montagne sainte neighborhood in Libreville on August 27, 2016 UN Secretary general Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he had "taken note" of the court's verdict and welcomed Bongo's call for a national dialogue to defuse the situation. "Such a dialogue must be representative of all stakeholders towards national reconciliation, inclusive governance, and the adoption of consensual measures for peaceful and credible legislative elections in December 2016," it said. Ban also called upon both sides to "demonstrate maximum restraint and fully respect human rights and fundamental freedoms." Bongo's family has exercised a long grip on power in the oil-rich country of 1.8 million people. Ali Bongo took over from his father Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009. Gabon has abundant oil, minerals and tropical timber, and its per-capita national income is four times greater than that of most sub-Saharan nations. 'Interference is not good' But a third of the population of 1.8 million live below the poverty line -- a gap that has fuelled resentment towards a regime notorious for corruption. Violence erupted on August 31 after Bongo was declared the winner. Demonstrators set fire to the parliament and clashed violently with police, who arrested around a thousand people. People demonstrate against the confirmation by Gabon's constitutional court of President Ali Bongo's victory in the presidential election, on September 24, 2016 in Marseille Opposition figures say more than 50 people were killed in the violence. The government has given a toll of three dead. World powers have so far refrained from congratulating Bongo after his controversial win. Former colonial ruler France deplored that the court verdict clearing Bongo's victory "has not lifted all the doubts" about the process. Nor has the African Union yet congratulated the 57-year-old leader, who on Sunday struck a defiant note, telling Radio France Internationale that "we don't need people to speak about Gabon's problems". "Interference is not a good thing," Bongo added. Ping has made clear he believes Bongo has the constitutional court in his pocket, referring to it as "the Tower of Pisa that always leans the same way". Empowerment Aid, a Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) which focuses much on girl child education development has donated educational materials to Tabita government school in Eastern Region. Educational materials such as books, pens, pencils etc were given to the pupils in order to support their education. The pupils were motivated about the possibilities of better days ahead of them if they take education serious. An investment in education pays the best interest- Benjamin Franklin Mrs. Margaret Adoma Sarpong a member of Empowerment Aid who led the delegation assured them that the organization will continue to put resources into education because it is education that will help eradicate poverty in our society. The headmaster who received the donations on behalf of the school expressed his profound gratitude to Empowerment Aid and challenged the pupils to use what they have received into good use so that they will become asset to society rather than liability. He further on appeal to the organization to help assist them computers for their Computing education. The Assemblyman of the community thanked Empowerment Aid for their contribution to supplement government effort to improve quality education in the community. B3 Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has reiterated his call for a peaceful atmosphere going into the 2016 elections. He stressed law and order are paramount in such crucial exercise to ensure growth and development in the country. According to him, election is not about shedding blood, but a healthy competition for the development of the country. Addressing the chiefs and people of Larteh at a durbar to climax their Odwira festival, Mr Amissah-Arthur appealed to supporters of political parties to be circumspect in their utterances and behavior in order not to spark any violence. He assured the chiefs and people of Larteh that President John Mahama and the NDC stand for development so all their remaining infrastructural challenges will be addressed. He urged Ghanaians to jealously guard the countrys peace so that government can bring the needed development to the people. On his part, the Omanhene of Larteh, who is also the Benkumhene of Akuapem Traditional area, Nana Asiedu Okoo Ababio thanked Mahama for bringing development to the area. 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Bajin D. Pobia, GNA Wa, Sept. 24, GNA - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, has said the Catholic Church tops the list of organisations which has greatly contributed to the development of various activities in the region. He said besides the role played by government, the Church's contribution to the development of the Upper West Region is unsurpassed, which has culminated in the socio-economic development of 'our dear region'. Alhaji Sulemana said this at the Sixth Cardinal Dery Memorial Lecture held in Wa. The Lecture was on the topic: 'Cardinal Dery -Man of the Church'. He said through the influential role of Cardinal Dery, the Catholic Church initiated various activities in various sectors including education, medical care, art and culture and politics in the region. 'The church is therefore a worthy partner with government in the development of the region and its success story in the development of Northern Ghana cannot be delineated from the enormous contribution of the late Cardinal Peter Pourekuu Dery', Alhaji Sulemana said. Cardinal Dery, the Regional Minister said, exhibited good and visionary leadership during his life time and identified individuals with potentials to pursue various fields of endeavours in education, health and agriculture. 'With many medical officers and great men and women from the region, it was through his instrumentality and guidance that they attained where they are today', he said. Dr. E.N. Gyader, Member of Council of State, Dr Bacheyie, Mrs B.B. Batiir, Dr Dele, Dr Sorry, Dr Puoure Puobe Chiir, the Nandom-Naa and Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, all had their education at the Nandom Secondary School and these are just a few are some of those who benefited from Cardinal Dery's support and guidance, the Minister said. He said Cardinal Dery also understood the promotion of education as an important area of liberating the people from the drudgery of poverty and helped establish some educational institutions such as the Nandom Secondary School, Francis Xavier Minor Seminary and the Saint Francis Girls Secondary School at Jirapa. Alhaji Sulemana said Cardinal Dery was also one of the pioneers in the establishment of the University for Development Studies (UDS) where a hall had been named after him. Through his instrumentality, he helped to establish a number of health institutions in the region such as the Nandom and Jirapa District Hospitals, and vocational centres like Nandom Vocational School, Saint Anns Vocational School as well as Saint Clare Vocational Schools in Tumu. 'Cardinal Dery was a true pontific bridge as he encouraged inter religious and cultural relations among the people of the northern regions and he preached and lived the ideals of religious tolerance. 'No wonder, he was a peace advocate and helped established an Inter-Religious Peace Dialogue among the three regions of the north which necessitated the establishment of the National Peace Council in 2010', Alhaji Sulemana said. Cardinal Dery came from the fetish world and later moved to the Christianity world. His uncle, the chief fetish priest (Mwankurinaa) recognised Dery's deep religious spirituality, that something in him, which he himself felt, for which his uncle teased him as a 'witch'. No wonder, he took Dery and thoroughly trained him as assistant fetish priest. This training together with the toughening life of a shepherd boy, remained a lasting factor in the direction of his life and development of his Christian and priestly vocation. GNA "The refusal of some members of my Jewish and anglophone community to learn and live in French is embarrassing" "The failure on the French side to see the global and cultural benefits for their children to speak at least two languages -- including the world's working, business and Internet language -- is paralyzing the potential of generations of French Canadians." Mitch Garger ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree with Garber. Quebecers will win to increase their knowledge of English for practical reasons. Although that Garber forget to tell that Quebecers are the most bilingual people in the Canadian federation and among the most bilingual in the world. That said, I looked at the ethnic composition of Toronto. Asians account for about 13% of the population of Toronto. roughly the same as their demographic weight of Anglophones in Montreal. Honestly, forget for a moment your partisanship and your opinion about Quebec-ROC Relations ..... If Chinese language at Toronto became ubiquitous to the point that a large proportion of people came to use Chinese nearly exclusively at work and in all their dealings with the public in Toronto what would be your reaction? How would you feel if the Chinese became so used to that even Toronto for a waitress or a barber would become mandatory to know how to speak Chinese ? How would you feel if in many businesses we speak to you in Chinese. How would you react if immigrants from around the world chose to learn Chinese before English? Honestly .... how would you react? 25.09.2016 LISTEN By, Philip Tengzu, GNA Wa, Sept. 24, GNA - The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) says it is committed to supporting government to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). 'UNICEF will work within its capacity to help the government attain the outcome of sustained and equitable access to sanitation, hygiene and water supply services in the country', Mr Tamene Gossa, a WASH specialist at the Tamale office of UNICEF-Ghana, said. Mr Gossa said UNICEF was working in seven areas in order to help government to achieve the target. Improved access to sanitation for households, improved practices of hand washing with soap among households, household water treatment and storage, and improved access to WASH as well as appropriate hygiene education in schools among others, are some of the areas UNICEF is providing support. Madam Christiane Nare Kabore, the Chief Field Officer at the Tamale Office of UNICEF-Ghana, said despite the progress made in the implementation of the national sanitation agenda, there are still disparities in the response level among regions and communities. This, she said, did not adequately address the sanitation challenges facing the country and called for more efforts and new strategies if the country was to meet the huge task of meeting the SDG. She expressed optimistism that 'together we can find the new strategies, ideas and shift in focus that is needed to accelerate the strategies and overcome the challenges and make a difference for the next generation'. Mr Osman Mumuni, who is also a WASH specialist, urged the public to practice the household latrine system in order to reduce the high incidence of diarrhea infection among children less than five years since they are the most vulnerable group. He said diarrhea among children did not only have an impact on children's health, but also reduces their mental capacity. Mr Mumuni appealed to people in the communities to practice effective hand washing with soap to help reduce the diarrhea rate among children. The Upper West Regional Environmental Health and Sanitation Department with support from funding UNICEF organized the workshop which was attended by Municipal and District Assemblies and other stakeholders It was aimed at helping all stakeholders to understand the partnership between UNICEF and Civil Society Organisations and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to support accelerate the achievement of District Wide Open Defecation in their respective districts. GNA 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Samuel Akapule, GNA Bolgatanga, Sept. 24, GNA - The Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP) has rehabilitated 67 dams and dugouts in communities in the Upper East Region to assist rural famers to undertake dry season farming. Most of the rehabilitated dams were completely broken down but had been reinstated to an improved state. Activities undertaken on them included improvements to the earth embankments, rip rapping and planting of vertiva grass to protect the upstream and downstream slopes from erosion respectively, de-silting of the reservoir areas, widening and restoring spillway structures as well as repairs to irrigation structures. Mrs Adwoa Asotia-Boakye, the Regional Coordinator of GSOP, said this when she 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 short rainfall period, lasting about five months and a long dry period of seven months. Predominantly farmers, household food security becomes a major problem due to the unfavorable climatic conditions coupled with low soil fertility. 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. The Regional Coordinator of GSOP said it was to help address the above phenomenon that the Government through GSOP initiated the rehabilitation of the dams and dugouts. She said the rehabilitation of the dams, under the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) component of GSOP sought 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 the 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 said. She said 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 livestock, building and maintenance of local housing structures among others. 'Labour intensive methods of construction were used to engage 18,458 community members who earned a total of GHC 7,749,026 as wages over the past four years', Mrs Asotia-Boakye said. 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 to 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. Among some of the dam subproject sites visited were the Kayilo and Asunia dams both in the Kassena-Nankana West District. The chiefs and people in the beneficiary communities expressed their gratitude to the project managers, Government and the World Bank saying it would help contribute significantly to the improvement of the livelihoods of the people. GNA By Bajin D. Pobia, GNA Wa, Sept. 24, GNA - Dr Alfredina Kuupole, a Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, has described the late Peter Cardinal Pourekuu Dery as a saint. Cardinal Dery did ordinary things in an extra ordinary way and that is 'my definition of a saint'. Dr Kuupole said this at the Sixth Cardinal Dery's Memorial Lecture in Wa on the topic: 'Cardinal Dery - Man of the Church'. She said Cardinal Dery's mission was to reach out to the common man and his insatiable desire to provide education, healthcare and the most basic element of life - water to the underprivileged, especially those in the northern part of Ghana can never be forgotten. 'I still remember people describing him as the man with the magic divine stick that he could use to identify a water source, just like Moses in the Bible he could strike water', she said. The Catholic Church organised the lecture to commemorate Cardinal Dery, the first Dagaaba Priest, Bishop and Cardinal. Dr Kuupole said Cardinal Dery saw education as an important to his spiritual growth and personal uplifment and went to school at an adolescent age but with determination he was able to brave all odds and made it to the highest heights, both academically and spiritually. 'These days we talk about evidence based projects or programmes and I am sure some of us present here can attest to Cardinal Dery's Scholarship Scheme which went beyond the financial to include the spiritual', she said. Dr Kuupole said several people benefited immensely from Cardinal Dery's selfless generosity and so without his economic and spiritual encouragement, many people in various capacities, would not have come to the lectures to listen to the wonderful deeds of 'this Great Man of God'. 'If some of us have grown into productive individuals and are successful today, either in our religious, social, economic and even in our political lives, we know where our inspirations emanate from. We can say that Cardinal Dery did touch every facet of the lives of some of us', she said. Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, who was the guest of honour at the forum, said Cardinal Dery was an all-round person who probably was born before his time. He said the Cardinal was a colossus and it is not surprising that the Papacy is working towards the canonisation of 'this great man who was an icon'. Alhaji Sulemana appealed to people in the region to hold in high esteem the values Cardinal Dery stood for and ensure that they built upon them. He said the Cardinal bequeathed to people in the region a huge legacy as he was not just a Bishop for the Catholic Church but a Bishop for all people including Christians, Muslims and Traditionalists. Alhaji Sulemana said Cardinal Dery was truly godly and a principled person who was deeply concerned about not only providing for the spiritual well-being of the people but also their physical needs. 'The Cardinal stood for social justice and defended those at the periphery of life and wrongly accused and he considered everyone good until he was proved otherwise Alhaji Sulemana said human development was important to him as he established credit unions for financial independence. He also encouraged bullock farming and sought to bring out of the doldrums, the poor and change their standards of living. GNA By Caesar Abagali, GNA Yendi (N/R), Sept. 24, GNA - SEND-Ghana has organized a community forum in Yendi aimed at sensitizing the community members on anti-corruption laws as part of measures to help reduce corruption in the country. The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and other anti-corruption civil society organizations comprising SEND-Ghana and Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition (GACC) is implementing a USAID funded activity, known as, Accountable Democratic Institutions and Systems Strengthening (ADISS) in 50 districts in Ghana over a four-year period, spanning from September 2014 to September 2018. Five districts in the Northern Region namely, Tolon, West Mamprusi districts, The Savelugu/Nanton and Yendi Municipalities and the Tamale Metropolis are benefitting from the community durbars. The goal of ADISS is to increase government accountability by renewing and building upon ongoing anti-corruption efforts and increase capacities of anti-corruption CSOs to motivate citizens to apply pressure on policy makers to reduce corruption. Mr Joseph Azam Makido, the officer in charge of the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) under SEND-Ghana, speaking at the sensitization forum, said the citizen's participation in the fight against corruption was low hence the need to embark on such a crusade. He said there are some cultural practices that breed corruption and at the same time hinder the fight against corruption and expressed the hope that the project would help citizens to play their expected roles in the fight against corruption. Mr Makido used the occasion to educate the community members on specific anti-corruption laws as well as the main socio-economic practices that hinder the fight against corruption and informed them about available platforms for reporting corruption. He said GII and its consortium expected citizens to be more informed and understood the different socio-economic practices that hinder the fight against corruption in their respective districts, which would help the fight against corruption to succeed. He appealed to traditional authorities as well as community members to commit themselves in fight against corruption in their areas by reporting corrupt practices to the appropriate persons and institutions. Officials from the Yendi Municipal offices of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) took turns to educate community members on the aspects of the Criminal Code, impact of corruption and anti-corruption laws. GNA By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA Wa, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, has joined the people of the Upper West Region to embark on a peace walk to promote a free, fair and peaceful elections in December. The peace walk was organized by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Nandom Secondary School Old Boys Association (NASSOBA). Participants of the heavily attended peace walk include the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the National Peace Council (NPC), the Electoral Commission (EC), the Security Agencies, supporters of the various political parties and the media among others. They carried placards with inscriptions such as 'election is not about life and death', 'give peace a chance in 2016 elections', peace is victory for Ghana' and 'there are no winners in a war' among others. Addressing the participants at the forecourt of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), the Chief of Staff urged the people to give absolute commitment to peace before, during and after the elections. 'If you have a broken head or a broken nose by engaging in violence, are you sure you can even go to Accra to see the one you fought for to tell him or her that you fought for him and got injured?', he asked. Mr Debrah urged all to eschew any form of violence and join hands to promote peace in the coming elections, adding that government was committed to ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for the elections. Mr Emmanuel Danyomah, the Upper West Executive Secretary of the NPC, thanked the political parties for coming out to participate in the peace walk and urged them to continue to educate their people on the need for a peaceful election. Mr Awudu Issahaq, the National Youth Organiser of the People's National Convention (PNC) urged all political parties to go about their duties devoid of intimidation and violent tendencies. Mr Abdul-Samad Mohammed, the Regional Manager of the NRSC, said during the 2012 elections, the Upper West Region recorded 88 reported accident deaths. He said this reduced to 74 deaths and further to 54 in 2013 and 2014 respectively, adding that in 2015 the figure increased again to 60 deaths. Mr Samad said there was no peace for one who was lying at the hospital bed because of an accident and appealed to the people to always try and follow road traffic regulations to avoid needless accidents. The NRSC Regional Manager also advised motor bike riders to wear crash helmets anytime they were riding. GNA 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Samuel Akapule, GNA Navrongo (UE), Sept. 24, GNA - Inmates of the Navrongo Prison in the Upper East Region, have called on politicians to visit and educate them on their manifestos to enable them make informed electoral choices. The inmates made the call when the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) visited them to educate them on political tolerance, the rights of a voter, electoral offences and the steps of voting. Mr Ganvu Paul Kwame, the Municipal Director of the Kassena-Nankana Municipal, said the programme was part of the Commission's efforts to ensure all inclusiveness in the political process. Mr Joseph Kwaku- Yeboah, the Deputy Regional Director of the NCCE for Upper East, told the inmates that as Ghanaians they were major stakeholders in the election process, hence the need to participate fully in the upcoming general elections. He said voting was very essential since it enabled the electorate to hold politicians accountable and to also participate in the decision making process of the country. Mr Joseph Yeboah urged all the inmates and the electorate to uphold the culture of political tolerance during the forthcoming general elections to ensure peace. He called on the electorate to abide by all the electoral rules and also to vote correctly to minimize the incidence of rejected or spoilt ballots. The inmates were educated on the steps of voting and the dos and don'ts of elections. The Deputy Director, who also educated the inmates on the rights of the Ghanaian voter, said every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above and of sound mind had the right to vote and was entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections. 'I urge you all to vote with conscience and resist the temptation of accepting money and gifts from politicians', he said. The programme was funded by the European Union. GNA 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Samuel Akapule, GNA Bolgatanga, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr Thomas Akurugu, the People's National Convention Party (PNC), Parliamentary Candidate for the Bolgatanga Central, has donated 6,000 exercise books to pupils in basic schools of the constituency. Speaking to the media at separate functions organized to donate the books, the aspirant who expressed worry about the poor performance of students in the area, said education would be one of his topmost priorities. 'Organising free holiday classes for students and school pupils and paying allowances to teachers to teach them will be among my main agenda should I win the election', he said. Mr Akurugu said without good education they could not accomplish their goals in life and to contribute well to the socio-economic development of the nation. He urged them to be disciplined and to respect their parents and teachers saying they stood to become good future leaders if they did so. Speaking about his other development plans for the constituency, the aspirant said, he would provide one tractor to each farming group in the constituency and ensure that mechanize boreholes are situated in all communities. Mr Akurugu said form and empower women groups by sponsoring them to acquire skills that would help them undertake small scale businesses. He said he had worked with many donor funded projects in Ghana and also served as technical advisor to many Non-Governmental Organizations Projects and therefore had a better comparative advantage in lobbying for developmental projects for the constituency more than the other aspirants. The 44 year old aspirant who is a Grant and Financial Specialist, is a Charted Accountant and also holds Masters in Business Administration. He had worked with many donor funded projects in Ghana and also serves as technical advisor to many Non-Governmental Organizations Projects. In 2012 the Aspirant contested the Bolgatanga Central Constituency seat and lost by a controversial one vote. GNA Abetifi (E/R), Sept. 24, GNA - The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has advised the electorate to vote for candidates on their individual merit and not because they belonged to a particular political party. The Commission advised the electorate to vote for candidates who they think can bring progress and development to them and their community. Mrs Abigail Nkansah, the Kwahu East District Director of NCCE, was speaking on peace and democracy at a sensitization program at Abetifi. The event was organized by NCCE with support from the European Union (EU) to encourage eligible voters to participate actively in the December polls. Similar programmes have been organized for schools, churches, persons with disabilities, traditional and opinion leaders, women's group and other identifiable groups in the district to motivate them to come out to vote on the Election Day. She said the 1992 constitution of the country entrusted the power of governance to the people which is exercised through voting. Mrs Nkansah advised participants not to stay at the polling centers after casting their votes to avoid crowding and tension at the polling stations. She said the Electoral Commission(E/C) has amended the Constitutional Instrument(CI) governing the elections and now allows the electorates to thumbprint on the picture of their favoured candidates in order to reduce the high number of rejected ballot papers as it was witnessed in previous elections. Mrs Nkansah said it is against the electoral laws for one to wear party paraphernalia to polling centers. She called on political party activists to tolerate the views of their opponents and avoid politics of insults to ensure peace before and after the December polls. GNA By Amadu Kamil Sanah, GNA Accra, Sept 24, GNA - The Ga Dangme Muslim Council has installed and outdoored Nii Gamu I as the President of the Ga Dangme Muslim society. The installment was done during the inauguration and anniversary celebration of the Ga Dangme Muslim Council in Accra. The colourful event was attended by chief, opinion leaders, imams and Islamic scholars. Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Sultan Ahmed Nii Nortey Caesar, Founder and Director of the Ga Dangme Muslim Council, expressed displeasure about the way Ga Dangme Muslims stayed silent in all sectors of the Ghanaian Muslim communities. He said no one or group or tribe owns a franchise to Islam and as such the Ga Dangme Muslim Council shall and will not tolerate any disrespect on their land. 'Some perceived custodians of the Islamic religion on our land has given us the Ga Dangme Muslims a bad name and this would not be sustained. He called on the Ga Dangme Muslim Council to ensure that justice is served to all children of God and added that it will be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. Sultan Caesar, in a separate interview with Ghana News Agency, said the council advises, assists and collaborates with Ga Dangme chiefs and the people to promote their heritage which is unique and an essential part of the Ghanaian culture. On behalf of the Council, he expressed gratitude to all Muslims across the country and called on Ga Dangmes to contribute to the development of the cultural heritage of the people. The Council appealed to Ghanaians to ensure that peace prevailed before during and after December 7th Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. GNA By Ken Sackey/ Benjamin Mensah, GNA Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - An Accra High Court has cleared Mr Joseph Mensah, a primaries contestant in the Kwesimintsim Constituency in the Western Region to contest for a new primary to be organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). It said this is to be done to elect the party's parliamentary candidate in the coming general elections The Court, chaired by Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Eaash, gave this order. Judgement was made after the Court upheld claims by one of the contestants, Joseph Mensah that he was unjustifiably disqualified from contesting in the primary that involved the incumbent MP, Joe Baidoe-Ansah. The ruling of the Court was that the party should allow Mr Mensah to participate in the primary and any other future elections in the constituency because his disqualification was not lawful and was against the tenets of the Constitution. The Court's ruling for fresh primaries in the Kwesimintsim Constituency comes just a week before the filing of nominations on September 30 which means that the primary could be held latest by Wednesday, September 28 to enable the winner file his nomination. Mr Mensah was disqualified by the Constituency Vetting Committee on the basis that he was not a member of the party. The Committee claimed that the candidate's party identity cards were fake and he was also a former cadre who worked with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) under leader, Flt Lt J.J. Rawlings and that he was also working for the interest of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). After his disqualification, Mr Mensah appealed against the decision at the National Appeals Committee level, which also endorsed the disqualification by the constituency, forcing him to take the matter to court. Mr Baidoe-Ansah, who was accompanied by some supporters to the Court, said he accepts the ruling of the court and that he was prepared to re-contest for the Kwesimintsim Constituency. GNA "European Union laws require you to give European Union visitors information about cookies used on your blog. In many cases, these laws also require you to obtain consent." If you read this blog you will get cookies. 25.09.2016 LISTEN By Afedzi Abdullah, GNA Cape Coast, Sept. 24, GNA - Two women were on Thursday arrested by officers of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) for attempting to smuggle 39 parcels of dried leaves suspected to be marijuana and other prohibited items to inmates at the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison. Grace Kusi, 60, a resident of Winneba was visiting one Ali Umaru Fulani who was serving a 15-year sentence in hard labour while Mary Nyankah, 22, was also visiting Razak Abubakar, a convict serving 63-year jail term in hard Labour. Grace concealed 22 parcels of the dried leaves in a locally manufactured soap popularly called "azuma blows" together with five Samsung mobile phones, ten mobile phone chargers, eight earpieces, two Tigo sim cards and a miniature pair of scissors. Mary on the other hand, concealed 17 parcels of the suspected substance in similar soaps but luck eluded them as a thorough check by the prison officers on duty at the gate found the substances on them. Confirming the incidence to the GNA, the Central Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Prisons, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Daniel Machator said upon questioning, Grace claimed her husband, Fulani's friend at Yeji sent her to deliver the items to the inmate. He said Mary also alleged that her boyfriend, an employee of Tema Harbour sent her to deliver the items to Abubakar. ASP Machator said Mary told the officers that the supposed boyfriend accompanied her to the place but he did not enter the facility with her. He said the suspects had been handed over to the Elmina Command of the Ghana Police Service for further investigation. GNA By Cecilia A.K Diesob, GNA Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - The choral group of National Investment Bank (NIB) has marked its first anniversary with a musical concert dubbed: 'Promoting unity in the banking industry' in Accra. The occasion was graced by many choral music fans from the banking sector with other supporting harmonic groups coming from Bank of Ghana, Access Bank and Prudential Bank. Mr Gabriel Aheto, Music Director of the NIB Choral Group, expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the choir and the bank over the years. The anniversary celebration was to entertain and remove barriers between customers and bankers, and create a more business friendly environment for all parties in the sector. Mr Aheto said there is the need for other banking institutions to adopt NIB's initiative for using music to boost a congenial banking environment where customers receive services with comfort. He was of the belief that the move could create a platform for banks to share ideas to boost performances of the financial institutions as they forge towards a united front. The choir groups from Access, Prudential and Central bank as well as the host group, NIB Chorale Group, sang various harmonious hymnals and local choruses which got the audience dancing to their favourite tunes. Some guest choirs including the African Glorious Chorale and Mary Mother of Good Counsel Main Choir also performed at the ceremony. The anniversary was climaxed with the cutting of cake amidst cheers and Hallelujah chorus led by the NIB Chorale Group and a closing remark by the chairman Mr Kenneth Kafui, a music composer and a lecturer at the University of Ghana Music School. GNA By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA Nadowli (U/W), Sept. 25, GNA - Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin as a valuable asset that needs to be retained to help contribute to governance in the country. He said the NDC has invested so much in the Nadowli-Kaleo representative and that he had now become a precious asset not only for the people of Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency but also to the party, to parliament and to the entire nation. Mr Nketia said this while addressing chiefs and traditional rulers of the Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency at Nadowli in the Upper West Region as part of the six-day tour of the region by the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah. The NDC General Secretary noted that the party sat down and agreed that the decision of some of their Members of Parliament (MP) either to contest or not to contest should not be left to them but to the party. He said Bagbin was one of such MP's and urged the people to vote massively to retain him as their (MP). Mr Nketia also dismissed rumours that President John Dramani Mahama was sponsoring somebody against the veteran politician and warned such people to stop. Mr Dedrah, who is in the region to explain the party's policy in agriculture, added his voice to the call to retain the veteran parliamentarian, saying he was very good to the extent that he performed dual functions to perfection. He urged the people not to be deceived by anybody with selfish interests but rather think of the benefit that would be gained in retaining Bagbin to the people in the constituency, the party, parliament and the whole nation. Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, said if they like President Mahama, then they should like his MP's too because they were those who would support him to work and bring development. Mr Kuubabang Bafara Kizito, Secretary to the Nadowli-Kaleo Traditional Council, thanked government for the numerous development projects given to the district. He appealed to the government to work on the remaining roads in the constituency and extend the Nadowli small town water system as well as work on their market to make it conducive for revenue mobilization. He also called on the government to absorb the McCoy College of Education in Nadowli to reduce the full school fees burden on the students. GNA Ho, Sept. 25, GNA - Dr Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), has iterated the call for replacement of the 'simple majority local government system' with a 'proportional representation system.' He said the call for the change had become necessary to allow for a more effective local governance system with fair representation of women and other vulnerable persons in the decision making process. Dr Jonah made the call in Ho at a regional dialogues series on Democratic Devolution by IDEG and Civic Forum Initiative on the theme, 'Strengthening Democratic Development through multi-party based local government.' He called for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) directly by the people on tickets of political parties to make them accountable to the locals. Dr Jonah said the current system of appointing MMDCEs and 30 per cent of assembly members by the President had weakened the current local government system and prayed that changes were done before the next local government elections. Professor Kofi Quashigah, Dean, School of Law, University of Ghana, said a change of the system would make democracy and decentralization a reality in Ghana with better participation and accountability assured. The regional dialogues series, already held in the Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Central regions is to sensitize the citizenry on the proposed changes and pave way for a possible amendment of the constitution ahead of the next local government elections. GNA 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. business Many GST rates to bring administrative, legal problems: Frmr FM In today's edition of Indianomics, former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha outlined the politics of GST and said that too many GST rates will lead to administrative and legal problems and added that GST should be kept as simple as possible. September 19, 2016 RALEIGH When Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and his Democratic challenger, former state Rep. Linda Coleman, met on September 13 for their first and only debate broadcast statewide, their sharp differences of opinion on House Bill 2 were, not surprisingly, the primary focus of subsequent media coverage. But Forest and Coleman also disagreed sharply on another high-profile issue school choice that affects far more North Carolinians, as students, parents, educators, or taxpayers. As voters make their decision in a few weeks about the lieutenant governor race, I think they should take the candidates views on education policy into account perhaps more than any other. As was discussed at the debate, which was held at Barton College and co-hosted by the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership (IOPL) and the Wilson Chamber of Commerce, the office of lieutenant governor is not particularly powerful. Decades ago, when Democrats dominated the General Assembly, lieutenant governors werent just ceremonial presiding officers in the state senate. They actively controlled its operations. Not anymore. I would argue that because the lieutenant governor automatically serves on the State Board of Education, it is on education that he or she has a real opportunity to shape policy outcomes. Forest, an architect and community leader before being elected to the office in 2012, has championed parental choice and other school reforms in recent years. During the IOPL debate, he said the states recent expansion of charter schools would increase accountability for results. When a charter school fails, Forest pointed out, we can shut it down, but when public schools fail, we throw more money at it. The lieutenant governor further argued that students trapped in poor-performing public schools deserved other options. Forest asked this question: Why would we not give the poorest students, the poorest parents in the state of North Carolina, an opportunity to take out an opportunity scholarship and give it to a private school if it would better meet student needs? Coleman gave her answer. People should be able to send children to any school they want, she said, but I dont think it should be paid for with taxpayer dollars. She gave the example of Christian schools that, reflecting their deeply felt beliefs, do not enroll openly gay or lesbian students. Should students be eligible to spend tax dollars at such schools? This is a complicated issue. While it makes sense to minimize the extent to which taxpayers are forced to finance institutions or causes they might find objectionable, politicians are often inconsistent on this point. For decades, tax dollars have flowed to Catholic hospitals, liberal activist groups, fundamentalist churches that operate day care centers, and university professors who actively promote Marxism in their teaching, research, and activism. To the extent any subsidy of such beliefs or practices is incidental because taxpayer funds are specifically used to deliver services such as health care and education I think common sense, and arguably the First Amendment, should preclude discrimination on the basis of viewpoints or religious practice. As Forest argued during the debate, the need to address the educational challenges facing at-risk students is so compelling that we ought to focus on what gets results, not what makes us comfortable. North Carolinas embrace of parental choice and school competition has been one of the most significant policy shifts over the past four years. The state now ranks sixth in the nation in educational freedom, up from 22nd in 2012. My reading of the empirical evidence suggests that, over time, educational freedom will boost achievement, graduation rates, and post-graduation success. Its not all we need to do to improve schools. Forest and Coleman also discussed teacher pay, digital learning, and other important issues. But making progress on them need not involve walking back North Carolinas notable advances in school choice. Want to know more? You can find video of the IOPL debate online, as well as informative websites from the two campaigns. Dont overlook the race for lieutenant governor. Cast an informed vote. John Hood is chairman of the John Locke Foundation and appears on the talk show NC SPIN.You can follow him @JohnHoodNC. More than 16,000 Texas children are presently in foster care. However, this crucial safety net for thousands of the states most vulnerable residents has experienced challenges in recent years. Children are spending nights in offices and hotels because there arent enough places to stay, reports of ongoing abuse and neglect make headlines, a federal judge called the system broken and mandated changes, and it is difficult to keep caseworkers from quitting. The process of evolving the system in an innovative manner to better meet the needs of the affected young people at a critical juncture in their lives has begun, and it is important that we devote the resources required to make it happen as quickly as possible. While the primary consideration in any conversation related to transforming the foster care system must always be the well-being of the children and families who are affected, improvements also involve quantifiable economic benefits in the form of reduced social costs and increased earnings and productivity. Analyzing these economic benefits can help inform discussions of future strategic plans, particularly given the reality of tight budgets for social services. Earlier this year, we were asked to study the potential economic and fiscal effects of Foster Care Redesign. We found that redesign not only can improve the lives of Texas children, but also makes economic and fiscal sense. Successfully redesigning foster care in Texas not only can have immeasurable benefits for the individuals involved, but can also both increase the opportunities and future earnings potential of affected young people and decrease the quantifiable costs of child maltreatment through better safety and stability. Texas has one of the largest foster care systems in the United States. Administering the system from a central location in Austin has contributed to a number of challenges. In addition, complexities in oversight, payment, and other aspects of the process at times hampered the ability of the system to meet the needs of the youth of Texas. Foster Care Redesign changes the way the Department of Family and Protective Services procures, contracts, and pays for foster care and other services to children in foster care and their families. The key change is a shift from a statewide to a community-based model in which a single contracted entity, the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC), is responsible for ensuring the full continuum of foster care and other services for children in specific geographic areas (catchment areas) and is accountable for these children achieving positive outcomes while in foster care. About two years ago, Our Community Our Kids (OCOK) began operating as the SSCC for a six-county area including Fort Worth and counties to the west and southwest (the Region 3b service area as defined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services). Since that time, there have been notable improvements. Redesign can also reduce social costs associated with child maltreatment such as lost potential output from workers not available due to health issues and social dysfunction and the associated effects through the supply chain and reduced consumer spending. The vast majority of children who enter the foster care system have been subjected to some form of maltreatment, and foster care reforms have been shown to reduce the incidence of repeated child maltreatment and to mitigate the effects of earlier abuse in other areas, specifically with respect to some of the programs that are being successfully implemented by Our Community Our Kids. If Foster Care Redesign were implemented statewide and achieved the levels of success that have occurred elsewhere, the economic benefits associated with each annual cohort would include an estimated $3.6 billion in gross product as well as 41,008 person-years of employment. Economic activity associated with statewide implementation generates incremental long-term tax receipts to the State of an estimated $202.4 million, with another $97.8 million to local government entities as a result of each cohort. Although redesign efforts can initially be more costly, the long-term benefits in terms of reduced social costs and increased earnings and productivity of the affected individuals lead to sizable fiscal benefits over time. In fact, we estimate that every dollar of State funding required for Foster Care Redesign returns an estimated $3.44 in ultimate revenue or reduced costs to the State. The recently appointed head of the states foster care system, Commissioner H.L. Hank Whitman, said in a July letter to Governor Abbott that we must rejuvenate and aggressively expand our Foster Care Redesign program. Results from our current contract are impressive: placements are more stable; brothers and sisters are staying together; and the provider network is at an all-time high in both quality and quantity. I couldnt agree more. Better serving and protecting Texas children is, of course, the first and foremost reason for reforming the foster care system. However, improving outcomes through redesign can lead to increased productivity and earnings as well as reductions in social costs associated with child maltreatment. Implementing reforms in Texas large foster care system involves notable challenges. However, such initiatives are well worth pursuing, not only for the well-being of the children involved, but also for the ongoing economic benefits and long-term fiscal sustainability of the system. The more rapidly and effectively we fix the system, the better for the children who depend on it and the taxpayers who sustain it. Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com). He also serves as Institute Distinguished Professor of Economic Theory and Method at the International Institute for Advanced Studies. Some may be curious what a former Midland mayor is doing as one of the chairmen of the tax ratification election campaign. Education in Midland matters to Perry. He graduated from Midland High. His children are products of Midland ISD. As mayor of Midland, he saw firsthand how the level of education in a community transcends beyond the classroom. As a businessman, he said the quality of Midlands workforce matters very much. Perry sat down with the Reporter-Telegram to talk about the TRE and more. As he said, education reform is bigger than the Oct. 8 election (early voting started Wednesday and continues through Oct. 4). As a member of the Business Funders Initiative, he has worked behind the scenes with officials representing Midlands larger employers and foundations) to help make reform happen. He is certainly excited about the possibilities of an education turnaround. He knows as well as anyone that reform isnt optional. Midland Reporter-Telegram: Whats the significance of the election in the business community? Perry: Maybe that reform is just bigger than the election. The election is important to get us through this short-term deficit problem we have. I know people are looking at Robin Hood as the issue. I dont fault the Legislature because there are school systems worse off then we are. So instead of thinking about it like we are sending it to the state, I think of it as going to some school children who might need it. I feel like it is something that we need to get us through this year, and then moving forward we really focus on the reforms that are in place or starting to take place. MRT: Has it been hard as you are talking to people to get them to understand this is part of academic reform? Do you tie it together? Perry: (The election) might be an endorsement of the issue of reform. In my brain, this is supporting our teachers and principals in a way. If you look at it that they are doing this out of their hearts -- they obviously receive a pay check every month -- but they are not feeling supported by the community, then it is difficult for them to do their jobs. I think of it as a vote for them and to say we know you guys are on the front lines, we want to help you. This will show some of that support, but ultimately we will have to change a lot more. I am talking about culture, getting the right type of leadership; it is all of the above. If our goal -- and Im not sure it is -- is to have the best school system in the state of Texas, it will have to be the teachers, principals and vice principals. I see it as a vote of confidence for the people on the front lines. MRT: In his op-ed, Clarence Scharbauer III talked about leadership in the district not being where it needed to be. Has enough time passed between that statement and the election? Is the leadership where it needs to be? Perry: I think we are in an interim time. I have heard great things about Dr. (Rod) Schroder. I have heard good things from Amarillo (where Schroder came from). It buys us time to get the right person for Midland. We are at a crossroads in this transition of reform, if you want to call it that. (I look at it as) if this guy gets us through this period of time and gives us time to find that real change agent -- and we are all focused on what that candidate should look like. From what I know about Schroder is he can manage us through this. And the first board meeting he attended, it was clear he has looked through the data. It was remarkable and helpful to see that he understands the problem we are dealing with, and it is not just business as usual. I like that. MRT: Even when you were mayor of the city of Midland, you were talking about education being this citys No. 1 priority. Why was that? Perry: I could see it from an economic development perspective. When we started having conversations with potential employers to come into Midland for diversification, they would asking the question, What about your school system? It was embarrassing. It wasnt the entire reason (a company would or wouldnt come to Midland), but it did have an impact. If you are looking for an educated work force, or even just a good base, you have to have a good system. That is when it became apparent. Then it occurred to me if we were able to get a world-class educational system, diversification will take care of itself. In this world of distance, commuting, etc., people will move here to raise their children and to go to school. That would be a big draw. It is a bit of pipe dream, but why cant we? If we are serious about building a community that is family-oriented and entrepreneurial and hard-working and independent, that could help us build that, and we are not trying to find a business and write them a check. They are moving here on their own. Our 2022 budget has been thrown out ... GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here. SUEZ officials (Suez is the local water company) in Westchester are urging customers in Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester to voluntarily stop or limit outdoor watering. This includes using irrigation systems, sprinklers, and soaker hoses. Customers can continue watering activities using a hand-held hose for the time being. Any questions can be directed to SUEZ at 877-266-9101. Here is the full news release from Suez: SUEZ Westchester working in cooperation with town and city officials in Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester, as well as the Westchester County Department of Health, is requiring all customers to immediately cease all outdoor watering. This includes using irrigation systems, sprinklers, and soaker hoses. Customers can continue watering activities using a hand-held hose for the time being. Chris Graziano, Vice President and General Manager, noted that SUEZ purchases water for customers in its Rate District 2 water system (Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester) from Aquarion Water Company. On Friday, September 16, Aquarion implemented a mandatory ban for customers it serves in four Connecticut communities which use the same water supply. Aquarion noted that Connecticuts drought level has recently been upgraded to a severe drought for most of the state due to an extended dry spell, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). With below average rainfall and extremely high water demand, water levels in Aquarions reservoirs are continuing to decline, and are in a critical state. Aquarion also stated that in the last six months, their reservoirs have received six inches less rainfall than normal. The Greenwich reservoirs are currently at 33.3% of their capacity which is normally 70% this time of year. Aquarion further noted that their Putnam Reservoir is the primary source of supply for Greenwich and the Westchester County communities of Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester served by SUEZ. The Putnam Reservoir is at 25.3% of its capacity and has been dropping at a rate of 6% per week. Conservation is essential to ensure that we have an adequate water supply for everyday use and fire protection, said Graziano. Graziano noted that customers in the Rate District 1 water system receive their water from the New York City Water System which has a sufficient supply of water. Customers in New Rochelle, Eastchester, Greenburgh (partially) and the villages of Bronxville, Tuckahoe, North Pelham, Pelham Manor, Ardsley, Hastings on Hudson and Dobbs Ferry are not directly impacted by this request. However, SUEZ is reminding them to use water wisely. SUEZ serves about 146,000 people in Rate District 1 and 54,000 people in Rate District 2. Mylan Hicks, who was on the San Francisco 49ers roster in 2015, has been shot and killed outside a nightclub in Calgary. Police responded to reports of shots fired outside the Marquee Beer Market at about 2:30 AM Sunday. Hicks, 23, was found in life-threatening condition and later died at the hospital. Chris Carlson/AP Sonny Gray will make on more start this season, getting the ball Wednesday at Anaheim against the Angels. Manager Bob Melvin said Sunday morning that Gray will go one inning, possibly two, with Ross Detwiler coming in after him. 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. For over 60 years, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have supported the United Way nationally and locally. AT&T continued this legacy of support through a contribution of $5,000 to the United Way of Midland County. In 2016 alone, AT&T gave $5 million to 500 local United Ways across the country. The United Way of Midland County will use the contribution to support programs that create long lasting change in the local community. The United Way is dedicated to improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good, as is evident from the work the United Way of Midland County is doing in Michigan. For example, in the past year, the organization providing funding for the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan to help in the effort to promote and encourage independence for all people with disabilities. Congressman John Moolenaar, R-Midland, has been recognized for his support of housing by the National Association of Home Builders. The first-term congressman received the Defender of Housing Award, which recognizes courageous federal legislators who have demonstrated strong support for housing and NAHB positions on key issues facing the industry. Local Home Builder Associations are encouraged to consider the contributions their legislators have made in support of home building, remodeling, development, and submit an application on their behalf. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The rain did nothing to dampen the political hopes of the cadre of devoted Jill Stein supporters that gathered Sunday near the Galleria to rally in hopes of getting the trailing Green Party candidate into the presidential debates. Waving "#LetJillDebate" and "Jill Stein 4 President" signs, a group of about 10 people gave speeches and led a roadside protest at the corner of Westheimer and Post Oak, some even continuing their crusade during quick bouts of torrential rain. "If Donald Trump wins, it'll be a civil war and if Hillary Clinton wins, it'll be World War III," said one protester. The group voiced their support for Stein's drug policies, her emphasis on green energy and her anti-war stance. And - like some Bernie Sanders supporters before them - they decried what they see as an unfair and "rigged" electoral process. "The debates are part of a rigged system of the elite maintaining power in the duopoly," rallier Don Cook said. The 68-year-old toted a colorful sign emblazoned with a sunflower, which he put down as he laid out the reasons for his third-party vote. READ MORE: Green Party nominates Jill Stein for president "These are the most unpopular major party candidates ever. Would you vote for Hitler just because he was going to win? I wouldn't," he said, dismissing the idea that a vote for Stein is a wasted vote. In order to get their candidate the airtime they want, Stein's supporters are pushing for her presence on the debate stage - no matter how "rigged" it is. For most third-party candidates, though, that's a long shot. The Commission on Presidential Debates requires that candidate poll at 15 percent in order to step into the debate spotlight - and Stein's numbers are still coming in significantly below that. But for her supporters, it's about the principle. "For decades now the citizens of America have been spending money their children will have to pay off but now that their children can vote they should listen to what they have to say and they should let the children's candidate in the debate," said Johnathan Brohawn. The 21-year-old gymnastics coach started this election cycle as a Sanders supporter - but jumped ship when the populist pick endorsed Clinton, his erstwhile rival. "I was like, "Well, alright,' I guess we're going with Stein," he said. "It's about an idea, not a politician." Keri Blakinger Rallying next to him, 29-year-old Sarah Burnett said she also started supporting Stein after Sanders lost the nomination. "With all the election fraud, I didn't want to vote for Hillary," she said. Although Brohawn and Burnett both shifted to back Stein, that puts them in a minority of former Sanders supporters, according to some polls. In July, Pew Research found that about 90 percent of the voters who were Feeling the Bern leading up to primary season still said they would vote for Clinton in the general election. A CNN poll around the same time only 13 percent of Sanders supporters planned to back Stein. But clearly - with only a handful of people on the ground Sunday - numbers don't deter Stein's devotees. Despite fervid pockets of support, the third party candidate has lagged in polls, coming in well behind both major party candidates. One Public Policy Poll in Texas showed her tied with faux candidate Harambe, the gorilla killed at the Cincinnati Zoo. "Those were Texas polls, so those aren't surprising to me," said Jeremy Diemert, the 17-year-old who organized Sunday' event. Even though he's not old enough to vote just yet, Diemert is already spouting strong political views. "I don't see a big difference in foreign policy between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton - Donald Trump wants to ban Muslims and Hillary Clinton spent her whole career bombing them," he said. "If Hillary Clinton loses, it's her fault she didn't make a compelling argument." Clinton - and her GOP opponent - will get their next chance to make a compelling argument at Monday night's presidential debate, at Hofstra University in New York. NBC news anchor Lester Holt will moderate the on-air face-off. After an early October vice presidential debate in Virginia, the candidates for commander-in-chief will spar again in St. Louis and Las Vegas. All debates run from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates. A man who died after being pinned between a trailer attached to his pickup and a sedan on Thursday on a Southeast Side highway has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office. Robert Cornish, 32, had been standing behind his trailer inspecting it at about 5:30 p.m. when he was hit by a red Mercury Cougar, pinning him between the trailer and the car on the northbound shoulder of the 6000 block of Southeast Loop 410, according to the San Antonio Police Department. Cornish was freed by firefighters and EMS transported him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. A man who was found in a home on the Northwest Side after a chase and hourslong standoff was identified Saturday as a 32-year-old San Antonian with a lengthy criminal record. Stephen Larson, 32, is charged with evading arrest, criminal trespass and discharging a firearm in a municipal population. He also turned out to be wanted on two felony warrants, including assault of a public servant and theft of a vehicle between $15,000 to $20,000, according to the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Central Magistrates office. SAPD Chief William McManus said officers were investigating reports of a suspicious person about 6 p.m. near Liberty Bell Street and Independence Avenue when they spotted a man standing outside. As soon as the officer arrived, he broke running, McManus said at a news conference at the scene late Friday night. Police chased the man for several blocks in the Valley Forge subdivision. As he ran, McManus said, the man dropped a knife and other items from his pockets that were believed to have been stolen. Officers continued the chase for several blocks until the man ended up in the backyard of a home, McManus said. The man fired a shot at one of the pursuing officers, who was hopping a fence to reach him. The officer was not injured, but the man escaped, the chief said. After an extensive search of the neighborhood, police said, the man was discovered inside a duplex in the 5800 block of Liberty Bell, beginning a standoff that lasted several hours. Our goal is to make contact with him and get him out safely, McManus said during the standoff. At some point during the night, the SWAT team entered the home and found it empty. Shortly afterward, however, they found a man in the second half of the duplex. McManus said it appeared the man had gone through the ceiling of the first home into the other. This is the reason our SWAT team is world class for the work that they did here tonight, McManus said. They apprehended this suspect without injury to him or anyone else. Various items believed to have been burglarized from a home were also recovered by the SWAT team. Larson has been convicted of more than 15 crimes since 2001, six of them evading arrest, according to public records. Those crimes include unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; theft; possession of unauthorized weapons, switchblade/brass knuckles; and possession of marijuana. Staff Writer Jeremy Gerlach contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Fire Department sent as many as 11 units to combat a suspicious fire that began this afternoon at a North Side apartment complex. A fire started about 3:30 p.m. in the first floor of an apartment unit in the 9500 block of Lorene. Battalion Chief Wesley West said officials evacuated people from nearby buildings as smoke started building up in the room. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Thousands of bikers, walkers and runners are moving up and down Broadway for Siclovia, a biannual fitness event that shuts down a two-mile stretch of Broadway. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., along Broadway from Parland Place to McCullough Avenue, has created a "play place in the street," said local biker Ernesto Alvarez, 23. "They've got the road shut off, so it's just a completely safe area for people to move," Alvarez said. "San Antonio has gotten so much more bike friendly and fit over the last few years, and Siclovia has been a huge indicator (of that.)" Humans aren't the only ones moving today. Sisters Eva Green and Margaret Green, walking their two pugs near Lions Field, said the event is also pet friendly. "Dogs keep you moving, too," said Eva Green, walking alongside 2-year-old Bebe and 3-year-old Bubbles. "The pups are getting tired ... they're about to shut down, but we've been having fun so far." Early near the start of the event police scanner traffic indicated that a young man aged 20, with autism, was missing. Police were heard over the scanners giving descriptions of the man, last seen on a bike near the area closed off for Siclovia. The young man's parents were with police searching for him. About an hour after the initial report of his missing, police over the scanners reported that the young man's father had called in that the man had been found. Check back to mySA.com for more updates on Siclovia. Jgerlach@express-news.net Chris Quinn contributed to this report. For the past six months, Ive been studying smart city approaches in the United States and China as part of a Zhi-Xing China Eisenhower Fellowship. As part of my research, I often look to other cities around the world that are leading in this new wave of civic innovation. What a joy to see one of the most progressive perspectives on smart cities right here in Central Texas. Three cheers for Mayor Ivy Taylor for a level of foresight that goes beyond the easy headlines that gain quick applause. All critical systems of protection provide for redundancy in the various safety nets in our community. Unlike duplicative services, redundancy is expressed throughout power grids, medical care and child abuse reporting from doctors, school counselors, nurses, teachers and police officers. This runs parallel to other safety nets, such as police services, water testing and environmental protection. Every county has a sheriff. Why, then, are there municipal police departments? If municipal police and sheriffs cover all the bases and provide adequate protection in Texas, why do we have a state police organization, an Alcoholic Beverage Control, game wardens, a Child Protective Services, an Adult Protective Services organization, a Federal Bureau of Investigation, a Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security? We have state laws against murder, child abuse, wildlife protection, burglary, DWI and the distribution of drugs, all enforceable by police and sheriffs. Yet public safety is too fragile of a critical service, and is often spotty in its coverage and timely response to specific or generalized crimes. How often is 911 answered with a recording or a patrol response stating a 45 minute arrival? Why, then, do we have these seemingly duplicative sets of organizations providing the same basic service of public safety? It is simply because it is needed to provide these critical safety nets with chronically understaffed agencies. Its called redundancy to catch as much of the crime as possible and target specialized crimes; these are not duplicative services, which implies they are already being provided at a 100 percent effective rate for all calls for service. Constables are part of this same redundancy throughout Texas. Regardless of the best stated intent to beef them up by politicians, municipal agencies and sheriffs departments are chronically understaffed and overloaded. Constables remain at the ready to respond and have done so for many decades in Bexar County. Since 2013, 395 DWIs were taken off the streets by Precinct 3 deputies; the local police agencies and sheriffs were not there. This can also be said for the 3,090 warrants for aggravated assaults, DWI second offense and the other wanted fugitives arrested by Precinct 3. Constables are part of that system of redundancy in providing safety to your family and at almost no direct cost to you. Constables generally provide more than their costs; these are paid mostly by those who are apprehended violating the law. There is no duplication of services. Only a necessary redundancy in your families safety and if constables were not there, who would have stopped these criminals? How many fatalities were avoided, how many children were saved by constable patrols in schools? When was the last time you saw a sheriff or city officer in your area? The price to provide locally controlled and elected constables and their dedicated staffs are well worth these minimal costs compared to the alternative of potential harm to your family. Mark Vojvodich is constable of Precinct 3. Six contested district court races are on Bexar Countys fall ballot. The caliber of some of the candidates is troubling. Judging from the massive number of participants in the primary elections earlier this year, many less-than-qualified candidates filed in hopes of riding a partisan wave at the polls in November. In the race for the 131st District Court bench, which has a civil docket, we recommend Democrat Norma Gonzales. A former prosecutor, Gonzales, 56, has 31 years of trial experience and is well respected by her peers. An adjunct professor at St. Marys University School of Law, Gonzales has a strong background in family law, which constitutes the bulk of the caseload in this court. This post is being vacated by Judge John D. Gabriel Jr., who is retiring. In the race for the 175th District Court criminal bench, we recommend Democrat Catherine Torres Stahl, 49. Torres Stahl was a casualty of a Republican Party sweep in 2010. She lost the seat to Angus McGinty, who later resigned in disgrace after he got caught in a public corruption scandal. Torres Stahl has a solid resume, having served as a prosecutor and municipal court judge. She is employed as deputy director and general counsel for the Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, commonly referred to as the probation department. In the race for the 386th District Court, which specializes in juvenile matters, Republican Laura Parker, 51, is clearly the best choice. She has held the bench since it was created in 1999, and has established an outstanding reputation for competence and innovation. She is board certified in juvenile law and sits on the executive board of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, the agency that oversees juvenile justice in Texas. Her opponent, Arcelia Trevino, has never practiced in juvenile court. The taxpayers deserve an experienced judge with a proven track record. In the District 399th District Court, a criminal bench, we recommend Republican Jan Ischy-Prins, 51, who began her legal career as an attorney on the South Side and then served as assistant district attorney for 18 years before returning to private practice. Ischy-Prins has 25 years of legal experience in Bexar County. She also has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, teaching criminal law and procedure and other classes. Her opponent is Democrat Frank J. Castro, who recently moved to Bexar County from Corpus Christi and defeated incumbent Ray Olivarri for his partys nomination. Castros pop-up candidacy, and lack of local experience and involvement in the community are additional reasons to vote for Ischy-Prins. In the 408th District Court race, we offer no endorsement. Republican Leslie Sachanowiczs participation in a class-action suit filed by female attorneys seeking equal pay for equal work against an insurance company where he used to be employed gives us pause. He signed an affidavit stating he was a woman. Sachanowicz said it was never his intent to be deceitful, and he signed the paperwork without reading it completely. A judicial candidate who does not read the fine print sets off warning bells. The other candidate for the civil court bench is Democrat Angelica Jimenez, who will have been a lawyer only six years come Election Day. We strongly believe judges need at least least 10 years of legal experience. This bench is being vacated by Judge Larry Noll, who came to the bench with decades of legal experience. His retirement leaves a big void. For the 438th District Court, we strongly recommend Democrat Rosie Alvarado, 39, who has an extensive background in complex litigation, as well as experience in family law and other matters. While most cases heard on the civil court bench are family law, we need judges who are prepared to handle the more involved tort and personal injury cases. Alvarado has 14 years of legal experience and is well equipped to handle a diverse docket. The previous legal woes of her opponent, Frances Dunham, which include federal, state and local tax liens, bankruptcies and lawsuits from creditors, are of concern. This bench is being vacated by Judge Gloria Saldana, who is retiring. Some candidates are banking on voters unfamiliarity with the names on the ballot and on straight-party voting. We urge voters to avoid a single-party approach and research the contenders before heading to the polls. 1 Mexican march: Tens of thousands marched through Mexico City on Saturday in opposition to President Enrique Pena Nietos 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 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. 2 Netanyahu speaks: Israels prime minister said Saturday he hopes President Obama refrains from pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Benjamin Netanyahu told Israels Channel 2 TV that the issue didnt come up in this weeks 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. 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. #ThisFlag Movement leader and pastor Evan Mawarire has recorded a video in which he says Mugabe, though he must be forgiven, was an uncaring man who wiped away hope for a whole generation and killed many people during his tyrannical 37-year rule. Watch the video below: Breaking News via Email THE case by the now late Chief Zvimba to have the remains of the late former President Robert Mugabe exhumed from his rural graveyard in Kutama village in Zvimba and be interred at the National Heroes Acre in Harare has raised eyebrows. The Mugabe family is trying to stop the exhumation after appealing the traditional court ruling at the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court, but the appeal has been dismissed twice on a technicality. From the look of things, the case is far from over as the family is likely to appeal to a superior court because the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court was the court of first instance. But, what is all this fuss about the exhumation of Mugabes remains? The Bible in Ecclesiastes 38:23 says: When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his spirit is departed from him. So why not let Mugabes spirit rest peacefully at his rural home? Before he died, Mugabe made it clear while celebrating Heroes Day in August 2019, that he did not want to be buried at the national shrine, presumably because he was bitter with the way he was hounded out of office by his successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a military coup in November 2017. Mugabe never forgave Mnangagwa and Zanu PF until his death. Bob, as Mugabe was fondly known, died a bitter man. His family protected him, even in his death such that they shunned an offer from the State to have his remains lie in a mortuary while a mausoleum was being built for him at the national shrine. As Mugabes final resting place debacle dragged on for almost three weeks, his remains were kept at his Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale, Harare, under the watchful eye of his wife Grace. Initially, the family, under pressure from government, agreed for Mugabes remains to be interred at the national shrine before a last-minute somersault which saw him being buried at his rural home while Mnangagwa was away in Russia. However, government is still determined that Mugabes remains should be reburied at the National Heroes Acre. Exhuming Mugabes remains for reburial at the national shrine is against Christian tenets, cultural values and his deathbed wishes. There has been speculation that there were powerful forces behind the move to exhume Mugabes remains against his familys consent for personal gain. Widespread claims were that Mugabe, who ruled the country for almost four decades, was buried with a sceptre that enhances the powers of the leader of this country. It is alleged that when Mugabe was toppled from power, he never surrendered the sceptre. Surely, in this enlightenment age, how can we stoop so low to believe that a sceptre can possess powers to turn around the fortunes of the country? If that sceptre, whether it existed or not, had powers to bless leaders, why did it not protect Mugabe from the coup plotters? We urge those salivating for Mugabes remains to be exhumed to wear a human face, and spare us this stone-age drama and focus on more important national issues. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Economic turmoil has stained Zimbabwes image as a holiday trip for several years. In spite of this, the tourist industry is finally coming back to the nation, which has been on the decline for years. The majority of Zimbabwes greatest popular locations are located beyond the countrys urban centers, making them a lot more quiet and stable. As a tourist, youll find awe-inspiring natural wonders as well as an intriguing look at the pedigree of the land of Africa. Zimbabwe offers the sensation of setting foot on an entirely separate planet to its visitors. There are a great number of the coolest locations to see in Zimbabwe, and Zimbali accommodation options are also part of them, the other ones, in no particular order, are listed below: Chimanimani National Park Amidst the mountains near Zimbabwes eastern border, right next to Mozambique, is one of Zimbabwes most amazing sights. For wanderers who want to get lost in the wild while hiking, camping, and exploring the canyons, lush meadows, and towering mountains that make up the site, this is the ideal location. Thousands of feet Over two meters above sea level, the tallest peak is 2500m. There is extensive pristine woodland inside the southern parts of the resort, which offers habitat for evasive animals such as elk, leopard and blue duiker antelope. The Mountains are home to a diverse array of birds and free-ranging panthers. Smaller cat varieties from Southern Africa may also be seen here. Unplowed pathways, shared shelters, and primitive camping are all included in the resorts services. Additionally, camping inside the area is permitted without authorization. Mana Pools Situated further in the northern area of Zimbabwe, a national park resort called Mana Pools is known as being one of the nations most beautiful natural parks. Elephants, bison, leopards, and cheetahs are just a few of the animals that call this area home, which is why it has been designated as a site of world heritage by none other than UNESCO. There are big concentrations of Egyptian crocodiles and hippopotamuses in Mana Pools, as well. As the Zambezi River shifted its path to flow north, it produced four ponds in the resorts title: In the height of the dry period, the biggest of them is around four miles wide and offers a vital water supply. For birdwatchers, the availability of water in this area makes it the perfect location. It really is the ideal beautiful spot to go on a hiking expedition or a tented excursion where you can provide for yourself. Bulawayo City When Visiting the city of Bulawayo, one of the largest cities in the nation, You will get the chance to get a taste of a very unique way to metropolitan life. Ndebele monarch Lobhengula established the city during the mid-1800s, and it was taken over by the English in the War of Matebele. This has resulted in the city having a historical vibe, with broad, jacaranda-lined roads and a royal aspect to the citys structure. A great place to stay in Bulawayo is the Bulawayo Sun Hotel resort, where you can also play at a the Bulawayo Sun Casino, since Zimbabwe is one of 11 nations where gambling is legal in Africa, but before one visits the casino, they should learn how it goes at the best online casino. It is also located right next to the Zimbabwe international trade fair, which is a great tourist attraction for many visitors. Victoria Falls The Zambezi River divides Zimbabwe from Zambia in the countrys far west. Almost 400 feet high and 6000 feet wide are the dimensions of the cliff at Victoria Falls. If youve ever wanted to see a huge curtain of cascading water, here is your chance. During prime wet seasons (March through May), the spray mist may indeed be visible around 50km away from crashing waves. Mosi-oa-Tunya, or The Smoke That Roars, is the Falls native nickname in honor of this tremendous display. Toward the eastern side of the canyon, a trail meanders around the cliff face. Visitors may take in the dramatic views of the raging torrent and shimmering colors as they drift over the abyss from one vantage point to another. In spite of the overwhelming noise and the stinging mist, the sight and something that will never fade from memory. Harare City More than a third of Zimbabwes population lives in Harare, rendering it the countrys most populous and biggest community, and also the capital city. It definitely lives up to its name, perched on the highlands of Zimbabwes central region. The citys central business district (CBD) is the financial hub of the nation, and First Avenue and the commercial hub are bustling all day and night with commuters and consumers. Aside from that, tourists may take advantage of the lovely parks and jungle plants that line the streets. Breaking News via Email Girls Life vs. Boys Life? Magazine covers spark an uproar MPR News (Chuck L). From everything I can tell, gender role pressures are even stronger now than when I was a kid.and they were plenty strong then. Want to Slow Climate Change? Stop Having Babies Bloomberg (Jon M) Poor food risks health of half world BBC Poor Scientific Research Is Disproportionately Rewarded Slashdot Liverpool councillors call on shops to stop selling the Sun Guardian. From last week, still of interest. Jon M: If only this sort of corrective were more widespread Imagine town councils and shop owners refusing to peddle the NYT and WaPo and WSJ etc. for e.g. WMD war starting government-lie-spewing Google to invest $1m in YouTube Creators for Change Guardian. Resilc: Wow, a whole one million. How generous. Brexit Brexit warning: US bank bosses from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock threaten Theresa May with relocation Telegraph (Dan K). Too funny. This is misleading, and looks to be the Torygraph, which pushed Brexit hard, now trying to blame the US on highly predictable reactions. Theresa May went to the US to find out what Wall Street wanted. This as we noted in a post was really bizarre. Since when does Goldman have a vote? But since she acted as if she valued Wall Streets opinion, one should hardly be surprised that they took the opportunity to give her an earful.. Refugee Crisis Merkel Says No Aid for Deutsche Bank; Depositor Bail-In Coming Up? Michael Shedlock (EM). This is a frustrating post. On the one hand, its a good catch that Merkel is saying privately that there will be no aid to DB; this is consistent with what Ive heard from plugged-in contacts, that the hope is that the officialdom can kick the can down the road past the 2017 German elections. The fact that Merkel is also not planning to intervene with the DoJ isnt surprising, but again soft confirmation is useful. However, Shedlock is inaccurate in saying that the DoJ has imposed a $14 billion fine. The leaked story in the WSJ was clear in saying that the DoJ was seeking a $14 billion fine in settlement negotiations. The original article also stated that DB was expecting to pay only $2 to $3 billion. As we pointed out, the very next day DB came out guns-a-blazing and said no way was it paying $14 billion, meaning its posturing that it will see the DoJ in court instead. Ukraine/Russia Sanctions Against Russia Contradict Serbias National Interests Sputnik News. Chuck L: Its possible this is but the first break in the united EU front, however given Serbias long-standing close ties with their co-religionists who knows? Syraqistan Clinton E-mail Tar Baby Huge Scandal: Obama Used Pseudonym in Secret Memos on Hillarys Private Server Sputnik News (Chuck L). Huge scandal is overwrought, but this does not look good. 2016 Introducing The Clean Money Candidates Revolution! RT (Mason D) The Weed Industry Now Has Its Own White-Collar Crime Vice (resilc) The outrageous North Carolina law that could stop the public from seeing police shooting videos Vox Black Injustice Tipping Point Guillotine Watch The $1,000 date night: Has D.C.s tasting-menu culture hit a tipping point? Washington Post. Kokuanani: Best line: Many people in Washington arent even footing the bill; theyre taking clients out to dinner and billing their companies.' Class Warfare Antidote du jour (Lulu). A hyacinth macaw. See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. By Matthew Cunningham-Cook, who has written for the International Business Times, The New Republic, Jacobin, Aljazeera, and The Nation and has been a labor activist In a craven act of genocidal depravity, the US Senate voted Wednesday to approve yet another tranche of weapons sales to the far-right Wahhabist theocracy of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total to over $20 billion in sales since the Saudi war began in March 2015. Those weapons will be used in the Saudis campaign of extermination against the civilian supporters of the Houthis, a postcolonial-nationalist militia aligned with Tehran. Because of Saudi Arabias indiscriminate bombing of civilians, 14.4 million people in Yemen, out of 25.4 million, are food insecure, according to the World Food Program. On September 21 the BBC released a harrowing documentary on malnutrition among children in Yemen, all a direct result of the Saudi bombing campaign. Over 4,000 civilians have been killed by the Saudis bombing campaign, with likely countless more dead from ancillary effects of malnutrition. The region includes wartorn Somaliathe recipient of numerous US interventions and the site of ongoing drone strikes and US special forces presenceand the dictatorial, pro-US regime in Ethiopia that is also waging a campaign of mass slaughter and starvation, except against its Oromo ethnic plurality and rural villagers. All three countries sit at the center of the Mandeb Strait, a key strategic chokepoint that features around 7% of the worlds oil tanker transportation. Directly north is the fiercely independent nation of Eritrea, one of just two nations in Africa to not cooperate with the US military in its neo-colonial Africom project. What in particular concerns Washington and Riyadh is that a Houthi Yemen would align itself with Iran and Eritrea, forming a counter-hegemonic bloc at the epicenter of global oil transportation and production. That just cant happen. Hence the campaign of starvation against the Yemeni people. Its not without historical precedentthe British effort to head off anti-colonial disruption in Bengal by artificially raising the price of food in Bengal, leading to the starvation of over 4 million people, comes to mind. Despite the US medias painfully obvious Saudi sympathies, a few in Congressto their everlasting credithave waged a thus-far fruitless campaign thus far to raise the alarm about the US weapons industrysand the State Departmentscynical enabling of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), led the campaign for a rejection of the sale in the Senate, where 27 Senators voted against the sale on Wednesday. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), has introduced a companion resolution in the House, where it actually has a chance of passing. In June, another Lieu resolution to block the sale of internationally banned cluster munitions to the Saudis failed by just twelve votes, 216-204. A few more phone calls to members of Congress could change the equation this time, putting the Saudis on notice that their campaign of genocide against the Yemeni people is not tolerated by the world community. The Senate roll call is below. The House roll call from the cluster vote in June is here. I urge you to contact your members of the Senate to thank or castigate them for their vote on Wednesday, and to contact your member of the House to request that they vote for the Lieu resolution. YEAs 71 Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Barrasso (R-WY) Bennet (D-CO) Blunt (R-MO) Boozman (R-AR) Brown (D-OH) Burr (R-NC) Capito (R-WV) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Cassidy (R-LA) Coats (R-IN) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Coons (D-DE) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Cotton (R-AR) Crapo (R-ID) Cruz (R-TX) Daines (R-MT) Donnelly (D-IN) Enzi (R-WY) Ernst (R-IA) Feinstein (D-CA) Fischer (R-NE) Flake (R-AZ) Gardner (R-CO) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hatch (R-UT) Heitkamp (D-ND) Hoeven (R-ND) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johnson (R-WI) King (I-ME) Lankford (R-OK) Manchin (D-WV) McCain (R-AZ) McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Moran (R-KS) Murkowski (R-AK) Nelson (D-FL) Perdue (R-GA) Peters (D-MI) Portman (R-OH) Reed (D-RI) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Rounds (R-SD) Rubio (R-FL) Sasse (R-NE) Schumer (D-NY) Scott (R-SC) Sessions (R-AL) Shaheen (D-NH) Shelby (R-AL) Sullivan (R-AK) Tillis (R-NC) Toomey (R-PA) Vitter (R-LA) Warner (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wicker (R-MS) NAYs 27 Baldwin (D-WI) Blumenthal (D-CT) Booker (D-NJ) Boxer (D-CA) Cantwell (D-WA) Durbin (D-IL) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Heinrich (D-NM) Heller (R-NV) Hirono (D-HI) Kirk (R-IL) Klobuchar (D-MN) Leahy (D-VT) Lee (R-UT) Markey (D-MA) Murphy (D-CT) Murray (D-WA) Paul (R-KY) Reid (D-NV) Sanders (I-VT) Schatz (D-HI) Stabenow (D-MI) Tester (D-MT) Udall (D-NM) Warren (D-MA) Wyden (D-OR) 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. MASON CITY The North Iowa Area Community College Pappajohn Center and the Small Business Development Center are offering a free two-hour workshop designed for anyone who is considering starting a business. At Start Smart, participants will learn how to create a business plan, do market research, consider different types of business ownership and learn how to register a business. The class will be offered 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, in Room 117 of the NIACC Pappajohn Center in Mason City. The activities involved in starting a business fall under two broad categories: feasibility (the business plan) and administrative tasks. Start Smart focuses on the feasibility issue, but also provides information and the chance to ask questions on other topics including: Business registration. Doing customer research. How bankers evaluate business concepts and loans. Start-up costs. Business plan tips. After attending Start Smart, Small Business Development Center staff will be available to assist in reviewing business plans and to provide guidance with other issues. To register, contact Mary Spitz, SBDC office, at 641-422-4342, or spitzmar@niacc.edu. The Small Business Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. ST. ANSGAR At the Monday, Sept. 15, meeting of the St. Ansgar School Board, a public hearing was held regarding the proposed sale of the old elementary building and site. In recent weeks, the School Board decided to pursue a purchase agreement with the St. Ansgar Economic Development Commission for the purchase of the previous elementary building site. During the hearing, St. Ansgar resident Ashley Demaris asked about the boards plans regarding winterizing the building, especially the pipes. We want to ensure the building remains viable and useable in the event the town is able to find another use for the building and opts not to demolish it, she said. Demaris also asked about the wording in the current purchase and whether or not the School Board members would be able to change their minds regarding the building while it stood vacant, if a viable proposal were made to repurpose the building. School Board members assured her they would not allow the buildings pipes to burst and they would be looking into doing the minimum necessary to winterize the building, while still being mindful of their current budget. St. Ansgar Superintendent Jody Gray stated in order for the district to qualify for a grant to help with the demolition of the building, the building had to sit empty for six months. This would still allow time for alternate plans to be brought before the board and considered. In addition to Demaris, Judge Bryan McKinley also spoke regarding the memories associated with the building. He noted how it became obvious, as the school moved forward with the plans for the new building, the elementary school would eventually need to be dealt with. Ive followed the progress of the committee regarding the building and the issues cited regarding its size, the plaster, and windows as well as reports deeming it unsuitable for use as an elementary school any longer, McKinley stated. I realize most in the community are looking toward demolition but the School Board might be moving too fast. I urge them to slow down and consider other options. McKinley also presented a report from structural engineer Ken Howe, who, along with McKinley, conducted a visual inspection of the building, including exterior walls, boiler room, hallways, multiple classrooms, the kitchen, gymnasium, roof, frame and exterior walls. Howe described the building as structurally sound, showing no signs of structural deterioration, and remarked the condition of the building exceeded the expectation for a building of its age. He added that while the building may have outlived its ability to function as an elementary school, that did not imply that the building was not suitable for other purposes. McKinley also pointed out the difference between the demolition of the old courthouse in Osage, which had been declared as condemned, and the elementary school, in which no cracks in the foundation had been detected. He also reminded those in attendance of the patience that went into the Osage Seminary project and how that building, following relocation, is becoming one of the gems of the community. He advised the School Board to show the same patience and to allow the community time to reconsider the building in light of engineer Howes report. Copies of the report were provided to each of the School Board members. Discussion was also held regarding the purchase offer for the property made by the St. Ansgar EDC. At the time of the meeting, the districts legal counsel, Pat Rourick, advised not accepting the purchase proposal due to several changes that needed to be made. The board then voted to have Rourick revise and resubmit the proposal. Approval of the sale was tabled until a new purchase proposal could be presented and published for public review. CEDAR FALLS This is just the news the Cedar Valley was waiting for. The Cedar River at Cedar Falls reached a crest of 98.8 feet shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday according to the National Weather Service, and was expected to begin falling later in the evening. Flood stage is 88 feet. The rivers projected crest had been lowered through the day In Waterloo, which uses a different measuring system the river is expected to crest at 23.2 feet after midnight Sunday and crest after midnight. The river projected crest has been lowered through the day. Flood stage is 13 feet. Black Hawk Creek at Hudson crested at 14 feet, flood stage, and was expected to continue receding this evening. Lori Glover, Black Hawk County emergency management director, said the amount of rain forecasted for Saturday and Sunday wasnt anticipated to significantly affect stream levels here, with most of it draining south. Cedar Falls City Administrator Ron Gaines was cautiously optimistic at the news of the crest, as he and Mayor Jim Brown toured the flood levee and downtown with Congressman Rod Blum late Saturday afternoon. Theres still a lot of water going though there, Gaines said, but barring any fluctuations, I think we will focus on recovery efforts and where do we go from here, particularly for residents of the North Cedar area of northern Cedar Falls. Donations have come in, and we have to figure out what the needs are for people who are working to salvage their homes and businesses; a place to collect flood debris and damage, when to collect it, and just anything else we can do to help, Gaines said. With a large number of sightseers, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart pleaded for residents to stay away from downtown this weekend so city workers could do their jobs. However, it was clear many hadnt heard that appeal or ignored it. Downtown was busy with cars and pedestrians viewing the raging river, taking photos with their phone cameras. That was also the scene in downtown Cedar Falls, still closed to vehicle traffic but busy with pedestrians. Gaines observed a wedding party was posing for photos in the middle of the Main Street Parkade. Waterloo officials were assessing a situation with standing water emanating from storm sewers, but sightseer traffic was making that difficult. Gaines urged people to stay off the downtown Cedar Falls flood levee for safety reasons. Engineers are monitoring the saturated levee throughout the weekend. There are some other viewing locations, Gaines said. Downtown Cedar Falls was closed to vehicle traffic but some businesses had the option of reopening at 5 p.m. after being closed most of the day. Hart said a major area of concern remained the Cedar Terrace neighborhood along the Cedar River southeast of Crossroads Center, where volunteers had amassed a sizable flood wall. Were trouble-shooting and problem-solving at this point, Hart said. Staff has done an excellent job. Overall, theres some challenges, but so far so far were holding all right. City Engineer Eric Thorson said Friday afternoon staff would monitoring the flood control system through the weekend and address any potential leaks. The mayor was helping fill sandbags and monitoring the downtown and Cedar Terrace areas all weekend. The residents of at least one home surrounded by water had to be rescued by boat. Chris Smith, a truck driver who lives in Wellsburg but was born and raised in Waterloo, heard volunteers were needed and drove down Friday. He was the de factor organizer of Cedar Terrace sandbagging operations along Belle Street by Saturday afternoon. Its been a steady flow (of volunteers) since 9 oclock this morning, Smith said. They had gone through what Smith estimated to be 45 dump trucks full of sand, filling more than 8,000 bags. Those that were volunteering, Smith said, were strangers-turned-family. He estimated 300 to 400 people helped fill sandbags and build berms along the street. This is what makes me proud to be who I am, to be an American, to be an Iowan, Smith said. Most of these people are total strangers. When the call was made, they just came, and its awesome. In Cedar Falls, hundreds of volunteer sandbaggers worked through the night until nearly 2 a.m. and resumed at 7 a.m. Saturday until some 250,000 sandbags were laid as a precautionary measure to raise the levee above an anticipated worst-case crest. However, Gaines said the city was particularly worried about the north side of the Cedar River. We know that theres going to be some significant damage up there, and weve got to get up there and help those neighborhoods out as we recede, Gaines said. Gaines mentioned that sandbags, water barriers and large Hesco barriers heavy-fabric wire-mesh sand-filled bastions similar to those used for military fortifications in Iraq and Afghanistan, were put in place along much of the south side of the river. City officials emphasized they made many improvements to the citys levee system after the 2008 flood, including flood improvements around Cedar Falls Utilities. UnityPoint-Allen Hospital took in 54 residents of The Western Homes Martin Center near downtown Cedar Falls as a precaution against anticipated flooding and any subsequent power outage. Those residents returned home to the Martin Center Saturday afternoon as conditions improved, UnityPoint-Allen development official Jim Waterbury said. The American Red Cross-Iowa region opened an emergency shelter in Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa West Gym. The Salvation Army of Waterloo-Cedar Falls summoned an emergency mobile canteen from a sister operation in Davenport to help provide food and liquids to flood volunteers, as did other businesses and organizations. Firefighters notified mobile home parks and other residences in the North Cedar and Lincoln Street areas Friday in advance of rapidly rising floodwaters. Some left and others stayed. If it were me, I would make arrangements to leave, Cedar Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Mike Buhrow told one resident. At a certain point we arent going to be able to get out to you unless its a medical emergency until waters recede. Customers in Montana may have been exposed to Hepatitis A through a self-serve salad bar Accidental exposure to blood-borne illnesses is not uncommon (NaturalNews) An unknown number of residents living in Missoula, Montana, may have been exposed to Hepatitis A, a viral liver disease that may result in mild to severe illness, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).The possible transmission may have occurred due to an infected employee who was tending a salad bar at a restaurant called Good Food Store. The employee is reported to have prepared foods at the restaurant, which is a self-serve salad bar.While the worker went on sick leave once symptoms arose, health authorities are warning customers that they could be at risk, because the disease is considered highly infectious even before symptoms become noticeable."While the food service employee was excluded from work during most of the time that they had symptoms, there is a potential for customer exposure because Hepatitis A can be spread before a person has symptoms before they know they are infectious or ill," said the Missoula City-County Health Department.Anyone who ate at the Good Food Store salad bar between August 15 and September 13 could have been exposed to the virus, the department said.Symptoms of Hepatitis A include "fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, joint pain, abdominal cramping, jaundice and clay-colored stools," reportsAnyone with symptoms is encouraged to contact the health department at 406-258-3896, or see their healthcare provider right away.The Good Food Store said that it followed proper protocol regarding sick employees, and that is "has excellent policies, practices, and facilities for food handling and hand washing.""We appreciate the Good Food Store's cooperation and transparency on this matter and their efforts to mitigate any risk to public health," said the health department. "At this time there are no other known cases of Hepatitis A in Missoula and we will update the public as more information becomes available."According to the WHO, Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease like Hepatitis B and C do; however, it can result in debilitating symptoms and acute liver failure, which is often fatal.It is not uncommon for people to be unwittingly exposed to harmful diseases. In February, nearly 300 patients at Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield, Massachusetts, were possibly exposed to several blood-borne diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, after medical staff failed to properly disinfect instrumentation used during a procedure.Medical workers say colonoscopes, the devices used in colonoscopies, are complex and difficult to clean because they contain multiple components. Yet, the devices are reused for colonoscopies, as well as for other medical procedures.A separate but similar incident occurred at an Atlanta hospital, where 450 patients were potentially exposed to harmful diseases from unsanitized colonoscopes. Another case occurred in Seattle, Washington, where 35 people did in fact become infected from colonoscopy procedures. Say no to depression with Yoga Yoga, a wonder drug to treat depression China is becoming yoga's second home (NaturalNews) Since ancient times yoga has been practiced throughout India. It combines breathing techniques, exercise, and meditation to clear the mind and boost overall health . Nowadays this 5,000-year-old practice has become extremely popular among health conscious people in the West. It provides a retreat from their chaotic and stressful lives while strengthening and toning their body.Considering its popularity and proven effectiveness, China has recently jumped on the yoga bandwagon to fight the growing problem of depression and stress among Chinese students. Earlier this month a yoga campaign has been launched to introduce the ancient Indian practice in 100 universities across China, Zeenews.india.com reported.In association with Peking University, the 'Say no depression with Yoga' campaign was launched by Yogi Yoga, China's most popular yoga institute. It's run by the former editor of the Chinese-language edition of the international fashion magazine, Yin Yan, and her Indian husband and yoga teacher Mohan Singh Bandari.In 2003, Yin Yan and her husband founded Yoga Yogi and were able to convert their passion for the Indian spiritual art form into a commercial success with an annual turnover of over ten million dollars. They have yoga studios all over China and count over 20,000 students.Depression has become a major problem in China, especially among students. According to Yin Yan, over 90 million people in China are currently suffering from it. Hence the decision of the Chinese government, through the ministry of sports, to introduce yoga to universities to help students overcome depression and stress associated with the highly competitive Chinese education system.While regular counseling and medication will always be required for some, yoga has shown to be a wonderful cure for many people with a mild depression. According to multiple scientific studies, this low-cost, easy and enjoyable alternative to pills can boosts a chemical in the brain that is essential for good mental health and works as a natural anti-depressant.As reported by the, a recent study found levels of the amino acid GABA to be significantly higher in those who practice yoga. This amino acid is essential for a well-functioning brain and central nervous system. It helps promote feelings of inner peace and relaxation. Low GABA levels have been associated with depression and anxiety.Diffusing calming and relaxing essential oils throughout your home can also help to soothe your senses and support relaxation after a long day.Yin Yan said that they will implement a yoga program in the next 100 days in 100 universities to counter China's growing depression problem. She added that yoga classes will be held once a week starting from Peking University, where Yogi Yoga has also established a Yoga research center.Yogi Yoga, however, was not the first to bring yoga to Chinese universities. In 2014, the China-India Yoga College formally opened its doors in the Yunnan Minzu (Nationalities) University. As reported by, the college has become so popular, counting over 3,000 students who take part in free yoga sessions offered by the college.The establishment of the yoga college was one of 24 agreements reached between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Indian Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma, China has become yoga's "second home." He added that by bringing yoga to China, the college promotes cultural exchange while strengthening bilateral ties. A new research has revealed that the amount of atmospheric oxygen has dropped over the past million years or so. Is it something to be worried about? Scientists of Princeton University gathered some ancient ice core samples from Antarctica and Greenland to explain this drop. Their findings were published in the journal Science. In detail, the world has lost 0.7 percent atmospheric oxygen over the past 800,000 years. Even more alarming is the oxygen sink, processes that removed oxygen from the air, are even consuming bigger what the sources of oxygen have given out; 1.7 percent to be exact. According to the researchers, there are two possible reasons for this. First, it is because of the increasing amount of pyrite by either Neogene cooling or increasing Pleistocene erosion rates over the past years. Erosion exposes pyrite and other organic carbon into air. Previous studies have shown pyrite and organic carbon react with oxygen, causing it to be absorbed from the air. Another explanation is the increasing microbe activity of ocean-consuming organisms, as brought by a cooling ocean. "Alternatively, when the ocean cools, as it has done over the past 15 million years, before fossil fuel burning, the solubility of oxygen in the ocean increases. That is, the oceans can store more oxygen at colder temperatures for a given concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere," University geologist Daniel Stolper told Live Science. As a result, oxygen-dependent microbes in the ocean and in sediments (areas that are often with less oxygen) can then become more dynamic and their rates of consuming this oxygen will become ultimately high, leaving less of it in the atmosphere. Talking to Gizmodo, Stolper also said long term climate change could drive more cooling oceans. So, is this something the people depending on oxygen should be worried about? Stolper told Gizmodo although we are consuming oxygen at a rate a factor of a thousand times faster than before, we are still not running out of oxygen to breathe, noting in the study that the depletion of oxygen is comparable to riding an elevator to the 30th floor of a building. Sometimes, the biggest discoveries are found in the most unusual place, such as a frog's vomit. A newsant species, Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri, named after Bert Holldobler, a German ant expert, has been discovered on a devil frog's puke. The findings were described in journal ZooKeys. Lenomyrmex, often found only in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama, currently consists of six described species, which are only rarely collected. The single Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri found on the devil frog's vomit was already dead when it was found so there are no clues that could give light to this mysterious species other than it has mandibles that looked like forceps. According to the National Geographic, scientists used the ant-eating species as a tool to learn more about the elusive ants since they often hunt in places where human cannot penetrate, such as small crack and crevices. Devil frog (Oophaga sylvatic), also called diablito originated in Ecuador and can also be found in Colombia. According to New Scientist, devil frog is a member of the dendrobatid group of poisonous frogs. Unlike other frogs, it has its own bright colors to tip off predators. The more toxic a frog, the brighter and more noticeable it is. The diablito has an orange color. But these devil frogs do not produce their own poison, rather hey get eat from what they eat such as mites and ants. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, because of deforestation and pollution resulting from the spraying of illegal crops, they are classified as threatened. Thus, the scientist had to perform the experiment very carefully in order to avoid harming the devil frog. To flush out the stomach, scientists inserted a soft tube into the amphibian's mouth and gently filled it with water, until whatever's inside the devil frog's belly came out. After the flushing, the frog was returned to its natural environment. In 2013, European Space Agency (ESA) has launched the Gaia spacecraft to capture the most accurate map ever of the Milky Way. ESA has finally shared the spectacular map based on 14 months of observation, starting July 2014. According to Science Alert, Gaia has plotted some 1,142 million stars. Through the new revolutionary mapping technique, Gaia was able to pin down 20 times the number of stars captured by ESA's Hipparcos satellite, which was used between 1989 and 1993. National Geographic notes that of those numbers, 400 million were never before seen, implying that the milky way is in fact larger and wider than previously imagined. Gaia was able to spy on stars up to 30,000 light-years away. "Gaia is at the forefront of astrometry, charting the sky at precisions that have never been achieved before," says Alvaro Gimenez, ESA's Director of Science, in a press release. "Today's release gives us a first impression of the extraordinary data that await us and that will revolutionise our understanding of how stars are distributed and move across our Galaxy." According to ESA, Gaia is originally set to track down only one thousand million (one billion) stars in our Galaxy, but the number has been upgraded and revised upwards. Still, the detailed map of the milky way only represents about one percent of the Milky Way's stars. Floor van Leeuwen of the University of Cambridge, who manages Gaia's data processing, told The Guardian, "It looks very much like we underestimated the number of stars. We think we will see 2-2.5bn stars." The first release is just one of the planned five maps that will be released trough 2022. "The beautiful map we are publishing today shows the density of stars measured by Gaia across the entire sky, and confirms that it collected superb data during its first year of operations," says Timo Prusti, Gaia project scientist at ESA. DES MOINES Candidates across the state are knocking on doors and speaking at forums, seeking a seat in the Iowa Capitol for next years session of the Iowa Legislature. Critical election races will help determine who controls the agenda when legislators resume their work in January. Thats especially true for seats in the Iowa Senate, where, going into the election, Democrats occupy just two more seats than Republicans. With the Nov. 8 election in mind, here are some of the top issues that legislators will face in 2017. Water quality Legislators in 2016 were unable to agree on a way to fund water quality improvement projects, so the task falls on the next group to continue the effort. The state needs an estimated $4 billion to fully fund a plan to reduce pollutants in its waterways. The federal government has ordered the state to take action because those pollutants are flowing into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, where they are killing marine life. Adding attention to the issue is a lawsuit brought by a Des Moines water utility that claims it incurs extra costs to clean water for its customers because of pollutants introduced into the Raccoon River by drainage districts in three northwest Iowa counties. Gov. Terry Branstad made water quality a top priority during his condition of the state address to legislators prior to the 2016 session, but no action was taken after legislators could not agree on a funding mechanism. Branstad proposes splitting future revenue from the school infrastructure sales tax with water quality efforts. Republicans in charge of the House proposed shifting money from other sources to water quality projects. Democrats in charge of the Senate did not act on any proposals. Support from interest groups continues to build for a sales tax increase to fund a natural resources trust fund created by voter approval in 2010. The trust fund would be devoted to a variety of natural resources programs, including those designed to improve water quality. But strong opposition to a tax increase remains. Legislators have heard a growing uproar over the lack of action over drinking and recreation waters. Iowans want more than a drop in the bucket solutions. They want to see measurable water quality improvements, Ralph Rosenberg, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, said in an emailed statement. The council is among the groups calling for the sales tax increase to finance the trust fund. The trust fund provides sustainable funding to support Iowas diverse natural resources that is immediate and accountable, Rosenberg said. We cannot wait. Medicaid oversight Legislators will be involved in oversight of the new private management of the states $5 billion Medicaid program. In 2016, Branstad transferred management of the Medicaid program to three private health care companies, saying the move would provide better care options, more efficient service for recipients and save money for the state. Branstad maintains the transition has been successful, but some patients say they are losing services, and providers say they are not being adequately reimbursed. Well be talking about oversight because (the transition) has not gone smoothly, said Rhonda Shouse, an advocate from Marion. I think oversight is definitely the top thing we will be talking about (with legislators). Education funding More than half of the states general fund goes to funding for public schools, including K-12 schools and the states regent universities. And legislators in recent years have engaged in many a contentious debate over those funding levels. In addition to haggling over general funding levels, legislators will face other public school funding issues. Many school districts want legislators to alter the states school funding formula because of inequities in permitted per-pupil spending levels and transportation costs. Schools are set to start a summer reading program to help struggling readers catch up and avoid having to repeat early grades. Theres a bottom, baseline funding that affects all students across Iowa that has been insufficient, Tammy Wawro, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said about general state aid. And then theres our children who are in our most needy areas who need some extra help and extra support. School choice proponents in recent years have proposed increasing tax credits for tuition assistance and creating education savings accounts. And the board that governs the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa has asked for additional funding to help keep tuition from increasing. Medical cannabis Advocates for an expanded medical cannabis program in Iowa have put heavy pressure on legislators in recent years. That is likely to continue in 2017, when the current, limited program is scheduled to expire. Current law allows parents to possess cannabidiol, a medicinal byproduct of the marijuana plant, to treat children who suffer from epileptic seizures. But it is challenging for parents to acquire cannabidiol, because many states that produce the product do not allow sales to non-residents and it is against federal law to carry the product across state lines. Advocates for an expanded program want the state to permit the growth, production and sale of cannabidiol. They also want more medical issues to be covered by the law, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and others. Opponents say there is insufficient evidence to support cannabidiol as a medicinal product. We have to have something new to protect the kids with epilepsy that are already seeing great results. They obviously still need access, Sally Gaer, a West Des Moines advocate whose daughter suffers from epilepsy, said while calling for a more expansive program that treats more ailments and allows for the product to be produced and distributed in Iowa. Tax policy Tight state budgets have prevented much in tax policy changes since the landmark commercial and industrial property tax reform approved in 2013. Legislators in 2016 debated whether the state should tweak its tax laws to match changes made to federal tax laws. Ultimately, legislators did make the changes to state tax laws, which are known as coupling, and prevented an additional $95 million in taxes from being levied on farmers, small business owners and teachers who expected the tweaks. The coupling debate could return in 2017. Republicans in recent years have proposed broad income tax policy reform, including a simplified state tax code that would cut rates to 20 percent across the board or a two-tiered system that would allow taxpayers to file under the current structure or under a flat rate different proposals in recent years have been 4.5 percent and 5 percent with few or no deductions. Opponents to that brand of tax reform, mostly Democrats, cite a concern for the lost state revenue, which could affect program funding. The Iowa Taxpayers Association, in conjunction with the national Tax Foundation, this summer published a report that detailed other potential tax policy changes. Jeff Smith, president and CEO of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, said his group is aware of the states budget constraints and will suggest to legislators tax structure changes rather than tax cuts. Our focus is not so much on tax cuts, but more on tax structure, trying to make the code more simpler and more fair across the board, Smith said. Budget neutral, I think, at least initially, is going to be a key factor if any tax discussion is even going to be brought to the table. Children in Brisbane competed in the 10th annual derby on Saturday morning on San Francisco Street. The derbie cars were built for originality and speed, with kids getting up to 19 miles per hour on their rides. Noreen Leek, Brisbane's Recreation Manager, said the city originally hosted a derby race in the 60s. The event was revived a decade ago, she said. "We don't see other cities on the Peninsula that host derby," Leek said. "So it's kind of what makes Brisbane unique and special." Ty Alexander posing in front of his derby after winning his derby race. Congratulations, racers! ICYMI last night: https://t.co/JudaWw5zaM pic.twitter.com/WIhOZ1r7Ef Rebecca Greenway (@RebeccaGreenway) September 25, 2016 Brisbane's 30th annual "Day in the Park" followed the derby, complete with pie eating and dog dress-up competitions, dunk tanks and bounce houses. Community members emphasized the day as a special affair for family members and friends to get together and celebrate. [[244713321, C]] The San Francisco Civic Center and United Nations Plaza were evacuated Saturday due to a six-hour standoff with an armed man, who it turned out was carrying an airsoft gun, police said. The man, who surrendered peacefully around 6 p.m., was initially reported to be carrying a semi-automatic handgun that he did not fire, according to police spokesman Carlos Manfredi. The man had threatened to "use the gun on officers and on himself," Manfredi said. Fire officials later clarified that the man was carrying an airsoft or replica gun. The man, who Manfredi said is a San Francisco resident in his 40s, called 911 after 12 p.m. and reported that he had a weapon and was standing in the center of the plaza. Police were "assuming" the gun is "loaded," Manfredi said. Police evacuated people in a two-block radius and secured the perimeter, Manfredi said, but initial attempts to talk to the man were not successful so officers "took a step back." Crisis hostage negotiators were then called in and the SWAT team was also on scene, according to Manfredi. Negotiators were seeking a "good dialogue" with the man so they could better understand "what's going on," he said. "As long as we have time to talk to this person, we have hope," Manfredi said. Police believed the man may be suicidal because of some of the things he said, like wanting "to end his life" and "take out other people," Manfredi said. "We don't want that to happen," he said. The surrounding roads were blocked to traffic, and pedestrians and motorists were sked to avoid the area. The Federal Aviation Administration also instated temporary flight restrictions for two nautical miles around the Civic Center to ensure the safety of all involved. Police did not believe the standoff is terror-related, said Manfredi, who could not comment on whether the man is lucid or under the influence of any drugs. Berkeley police said they have increased patrols and investigations this week near Sacramento and Ashby streets in response to a number of recent shootings in the area. One took place at about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, injuring a 16-year-old boy who lives outside the city. Other shootings have injured other people, according to police. The shootings appear to involve two groups shooting at each other. Police did not name the groups. One of the shootings killed 22-year-old Alex Goodwin of Berkeley. Goodwin was shot to death last month near Burnett and Mabel streets. City officials are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects who killed Goodwin. A separate shooting Thursday evening killed 19-year-old Berkeley man Ignacio Francis Jr. Officers are still investigating whether Francis' death is related to the shootings near Sacramento and Ashby streets, police spokesman Officer Byron White said. Police are asking residents to quickly report any disputes especially if a gun is involved. Residents can also help in an investigation by providing surveillance video and additional information about damage to vehicles or buildings. Police said they suspect only a few people are involved in the shooting spree. Anyone with more information about the shooting that killed Alex Goodwin is urged to call the Police Department's homicide unit at (510) 981-5741. Seven people were killed and at least 39 more have been wounded in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening, including a man left in critical condition on a sidewalk near Millennium Park. The downtown attack happened about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe, where a 54-year-old man was walking with two other people when he got into an argument with another male who then pulled out a gun and shot him in the head, according to Chicago Police. He was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The shooter took off on a bicycle but was arrested nearby, police said. Detectives were questioning him Sunday. A person of interest is also in custody for the weekends most recent homicide, which happened about 4:30 a.m. Sunday in the South Side Calumet Heights neighborhood. A 28-year-old man was shot in the neck in the 9200 block of South Colfax and pronounced dead at Trinity Hospital at 5:04 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office. The shooting as thought to be gang-related, but police have not released details on the circumstances. Saturday evening, a 22-year-old man was shot to death in the Englewood neighborhood. He was outside looking at a vehicle in the 1500 block of West 56th Street about 7:25 p.m. when shots rang out and he was struck multiple times, police said. Authorities have not released his name. Early Saturday, a man was shot to death in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of a person down about 2:30 a.m. found the 37-year-old dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the 2600 block of West Wilcox, police said. His name has not been released. Less than 30 minutes earlier, a man was killed and a woman wounded in Gage Park on the Southwest Side. They were outside at 2:10 a.m. in the 2200 block of West 50th Street when a vehicle pulled up and a gunman got out and opened fire, hitting 20-year-old Jose Vizcarra in the head and a 24-year-old woman in the foot, according to police and the medical examiners office. Vizcarra, of the 400 block of North Hamlin, was dead at the scene, authorities said. The woman was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition. Friday night, a 19-year-old man was killed and a 20-year-old man critically wounded in another Englewood neighborhood shooting. A gunman walked up to them about 8 p.m. in the 5600 block of South Racine and opened fire, hitting Izael McKenzie in the head and the older man in the back, authorities said. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where McKenzie died at 8:44 p.m. He lived in the 5600 block of South Throop. The other man was in critical condition, police said. About 5:35 p.m. Friday, 21-year-old Joaquin Gonzalez was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene in the 2600 block of West Haddon in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side, authorities said. Police have not provided details on the circumstances of the shooting, but an autopsy ruled Gonzalezs death a homicide. He lived in the 7700 block of South Peoria. The weekends first fatal shooting came 10 minutes before that in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the South Side, where someone chased 56-year-old Carl Jackson into his apartment building in the 1000 block of West 77th Street and shot him repeatedly, authorities said. Jackson died at the scene. The most recent nonfatal shooting happened about 4:20 p.m. Sunday in West Englewood, where someone walked up to a 17-year-old boy in the 1900 block of West Marquette and shot him in the right shoulder, police said. He was taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. At least 35 more people have been shot in other city attacks since 4:15 p.m. Friday. One person was wounded in a shooting near Millennium Park in Chicago's Loop on Saturday evening, according to police and fire officials. Around 7:35 p.m., a 54-year-old man was walking with two women near the intersection of East Monroe Street and South Michigan Avenue when he got into a verbal altercation with another man, according to the Chicago Police Department. The altercation turned physical and the offender pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the head before fleeing on a bicycle, police said. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, fire officials said. A person of interest is in custody and being questioned, police said. Further details were not immediately available and authorities continue to investigate. Jennifer Margaret Thieman ANKENY Jennifer Margaret Thieman, 46, of Ankeny, Iowa, formerly of Marble Rock, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 19, 2016, at her home. A private family viewing was held and a Memorial Service with a Celebration of Life to follow will be held on Oct. 8, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the Walter F. Bohl Community Center, 520 College St., Marble Rock. Burial will be at a later date. Jennifer was born Nov. 4, 1969, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from RRMR in 1988, attended Wartburg College and later graduated from Upper Iowa University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Jennifer was an office supervisor/case manager with Proteus Inc. for 8 years and most recently Nationwide Insurance as a member service representative until the time of her death. Jennifer was always known for her love of music, family, friends, Judge Judy and The Golden Girls!! Her other passion in life was her 4-legged friends Charcoal and Bandit. Every day was a good day with them by her side. Jennifer always had a smile on her face, a joke to make you laugh and an encouraging word to make you look at the positive side. Her glass was always 1/2 full!! Jennifer will be missed for her contagious smile and ability to work a room. Survivors include her Mother Carol Thieman and her significant other Wayne Love; Siblings: Penne Thieman and Ryan Thieman, Sister-in-law, Kellie Thieman; and three nieces: Madison, Mackenzie and Morgan Thieman, all of Marble Rock; one uncle, Barry Rowe, of Marble Rock; two Aunts: Vicki Rowe, of Rockford and Bobbie Rowe of Nashua; many cousins, and many friends who were like family; two faithful canine companions, Charcoal and Bandit. Preceded in death by her Father, Bill Thieman; Uncle: Weldon Sult and Gary Rowe; Aunts: Toodles Sult and Susan Smith; Grandparents, Earl and Margaret Thieman and Earl and Lillian Rowe. Memorials may be sent to the Jennifer Thieman Memorial Fund, Box 134 Marble Rock, IA 50653. Arrangements have been entrusted to Retz Funeral Home, 519 N. First St. Greene, 641-823-4457, www.retzfh.com. Thousands in Simsbury had their eyes to the skies Sunday for the annual Simsbury Fly-In. The event first flew into Simsbury in the 1980s as a way to raise money for the local airport run by the Simsbury Flying Club. This year 350 airplanes and 400 cars were on display for a best in show competition. Visitors met with the owners to ask questions and get an up close look at everything from vintage aircraft to exotic cars. Its close-up aviation. You can smell it, you can see it, you can touch it. Its right in front of you, said Steve Sykes of East Granby. A former airplane mechanic who retired from the FAA, Sykes said he used the fly-in to get his aviation fix. His wife Debbie said they havent missed the event since they moved to Connecticut 15 years ago. Before we moved to Connecticut we never had the chance to see anything this up close, explained Debbie Sykes. The fly-in attracts an average crowd of 10,000 people. They come from all over. We get them from Florida, Maine, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, pretty much east of the Mississippi and sometimes west, said Simsbury Airport Manager Brad Griswold. Its a social event. Theres a lot of people here thatd Ive known, nice people that I meet, and then I get to talk to young people who are studying to be airline pilots, said Jim Hamilton of Lakewood, NJ. Hamilton said he was visiting the fly-in for the second year in a row. A former air force and commercial pilot, his aviation career became more of a hobby later in life. One of the planes on display was a Piper J5 which was used to train WWII pilots in the 1940s at Simsburys airport. Sometimes they ask, is this really the airplane, and Ill say ya, and theyll say, I learned to fly in that, said the planes owner Mark Horan of Windsor Locks. Brent Connelly learned to fly for fun ten years ago. He took his passion to new heights when he decided to build his own airplane. A newbie to the Simsbury fly-in the Hackettstown, NJ resident said was excited to trade tips with other experimental pilots. Im always interested in other aircraft so Ill walk around and take photographs and chat with the pilots, Connelly explained. As they shined up their planes hoping to win best in show, the pilots stopped to talk shop and answer questions from the eager onlookers. Some even offered to give visitors a ride. Among the 150 activities planned for the day, highlights included a powered parachute group, formation flying, and RC Aerobatic demos. 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. "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 night 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. 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 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 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. "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," she said. 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 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. 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!" The Johnson County Sheriff's Department says a Cleburne man shot and killed his father, then got into a shoot out with an officer. The department reported 48-year-old Omar Rodriguez is recovering from a shoulder wound at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Deputies responded the scene along Harriet Circle on Friday night after Rodriguez's sister called 911, claiming he had shot their father 72-year-old Manuel Rodriguez. The female drove her father to a nearby hospital where he died from the gunshot wounds. Omar Rodriguez fled to an adjoining home and refused to exit the residence when deputies arrived. JCSO said deputies believed Omar Rodriguez had committed suicide and entered the residence. They were met with gun fire from him. A deputy returned fire, striking Rodriguez in the left shoulder area. Police say a second Johnson County Deputy received wounds from flying debris from a wall that Rodriguez hit while firing at the deputies. That deputy was treated and released from Walls Methodist Hospital. Upon his release, the JCSO said Omar Rodriguez will be charged with the murder of his father and could also face charges of attempted murder of a law officer. What to Know A group of runners whose New Jersey race was canceled after a pipe bomb exploded on the route joined a New York City race Sunday The racers, wearing matching white T-shirts, were among the 30,000 participants in the annual Tunnel to Towers Run On Sept. 17, the pipe bomb went off on the course of the Semper Five charity 5K in Seaside Park, New Jersey A group of runners whose New Jersey race was canceled after a pipe bomb exploded on the route linked arms as they joined a New York City race Sunday, and said they had no fear at all about taking part. The racers, wearing matching white T-shirts, were among the 30,000 participants in the annual Tunnel to Towers Run, joining firefighters in full gear and wounded veterans. The run traces the route of off-duty firefighter Stephen Siller, who died after running from Brooklyn to the World Trade Center on 9/11. Proceeds go to building smart homes for wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. On Sept. 17, the pipe bomb went off on the course of the Semper Five charity 5K in Seaside Park, New Jersey. No one was injured. Robert Schenk, a Brick, New Jersey, resident who had been at the Seaside Park starting line, said he "didn't hesitate one second" to sign up for the Tunnel to Towers race and was "just nervous" to finish it, like any other race. "I feel fortunate given everything last weekend that I'm able to get up and do it," said Schenk, a 55-year-old program manager in communications for the U.S. Army. The Seaside Park bombing was one in a series in the New York-area last week. Bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami was taken into custody Monday and is facing charges in both New York and New Jersey, authorities said. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was at the race, said the group of Semper Five runners shows that terrorists "haven't stopped us." "I'm glad they came out because they showed what America is all about," Giuliani said. Hundreds of security officers were at Sunday's race, said Siller's brother, Frank Siller, who is the CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Security protocols were not changed by the bombings, he said. Since the first race in 2002, Tunnel to Towers has raised more than $70 million and built or designed 56 smart homes for wounded veterans, officials said. The end of the course was lined by hundreds of firefighters holding photos of first responders who were killed on 9/11. Susan Riggs, a 55-year-old Semper Five participant from Westfield, New Jersey, said it was "amazing." "I was really teary-eyed to know we were following in (Siller's) footsteps, and these guys are doing the same thing," she said. What to Know Mamadou Diallo was shot Saturday morning during a robbery attempt at the Jamaica deli he worked at He was found with a gunshot wound in his head by two patrons who walked up to the deli window Friends and neighbors say Diallo was a "nice guy" with a "beautiful personality" Police are searching for two men in connection to the shooting death of a Queens deli worker during a robbery attempt Saturday morning, authorities said. Mamadou Nassirou Diallo was shot just before 5:00 a.m. at the Sunshine deli where he worked near 170th Street and Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, police said. Authorities say two armed men came in through the back of the store at around 4:50 a.m. and stole money from the register before shooting Diallo. About two hours later, two customers approached the deli's street-side partition window and called police when they saw Diallo, 46, lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. Surveillance video released by police shows two suspects walk into the deli with hoods pulled over their faces. Friends laid flowers in front of Sunshine Deli to pay their respects. Neighborhood residents describe Diallo as a good man. "He was so humble and so down to Earth, this here has the whole neighborhood vibe and energy thrown off," said Eric Rodriguez, a Jamaica resident. Diallo's brother tearfully said that Diallo came to the states from Guinea 20 years ago in search of a better life. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene, police said. Melvin Pergande BRITT Melvin Pergande, 92, of Britt, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, at First Lutheran Church in Britt with the Rev. William Rosin officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery with military rites by the Britt Veterans Ceremonial Unit. A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Britt and will resume one hour prior to services at the church. Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt is in charge of arrangements. Authorities say a suspicious package was removed from outside a Bethlehem hotel while a Celtic festival was being held in the city. The Morning Call reports that police and the fire department's bomb squad were called about 8 p.m. Saturday after a package was found in front of the Hotel Bethlehem on Main Street. The street was cordoned off and people were kept inside the hotel until a member of the bomb squad removed the item. Questions about the suspicious package were referred to Police Chief Mark DiLuzio, who was could not be immediately reached for comment. The festival, called the Celtic Classic, was set to conclude on Sunday. A 10-year-old Trenton boy who went missing over the weekend was found safe Sunday. Shane Crawford went missing Friday around 10 p.m. in the area of Stuyvesant Avenue, said Mercer County Prosecutors. Officials announced Sunday he was found safe. A southeastern Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to nine to 20 years in state prison in the murder of a man during what authorities called a dispute about money related to drug deals. The (Pottstown) Mercury reports that 23-year-old Mariah Walton was sentenced Thursday in Montgomery County on earlier guilty pleas to third-degree murder and conspiracy. Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy said Walton chose "to enter the world of drug dealing and violence" but also noted her eventual cooperation with prosecutors and testimony against her former boyfriend, Richard Collins. He was convicted of first-degree murder in the March 2015 shooting death of 38-year-old Artie Bradley in Pottstown. Walton tearfully apologized to Bradley's family, saying she wished she had cooperated sooner while adding "But I did tell the truth." 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. Authorities said speed and alcohol were factors in a central Pennsylvania crash that killed two people, injured two others and sent one vehicle into the porch of a home, setting the porch on fire. Northern York County Regional police said a sport utility vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign in Paradise Township just after 5 p.m. Friday and collided with an eastbound sedan, then rolled several times, came to rest against the porch and burst into flames. Police said 98-year-old sedan passenger Carlton Jacobs died at the scene. A 71-year-old woman riding in the sedan and the 70-year-old man driving the sedan were taken to the hospital. The SUV driver, 32-year-old Kevin Shaffer, of New Oxford, was flown to York Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A two-vehicle crash sent a sport utility vehicle into the University of Pittsburgh bookstore, injuring three people, said authorities in western Pennsylvania. Allegheny County 911 supervisors told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the accident happened at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday on Fifth street. Public Safety spokeswoman said medics transported three patients to UPMC Presbyterian with minor injuries. Toler said the 22-year-old driver fled the scene on foot but eventually returned. University spokesman Joe Miksch said city police were handling the investigation and none of the people involved appeared to be affiliated with the university. The extent of damage to university property wasn't immediately clear. Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey draws on his own experiences while tackling the question of where America goes in the wake of deadly police shootings in Charlotte and Tulsa in a Op-Ed piece for the New York Times. "We need to focus on developing a national standard for how information such as police videos is released, and how prosecutors, politicians and law enforcement work together in a consistent and fair way," wrote Ramsey. "No one can be seen to be hiding information, or to try to cover up unflattering truth. "We also have to face the fact that while many of us encounter violence in our communities, it occurs disproportionately in poorer communities, which unfortunately happen often to be minority communities." Ramsey said he happened to be in Charlotte last week when violent protests broke out in response to shooting death of Keith Scott during an encounter with Charlotte officers. "People are angry," wrote Ramsey. "A lot of the anger is directed toward the police, though a lot of what causes that frustration and anger does not lie solely at the feet of the police." Ramsey, who since retiring has served as co-chairman of President Barack Obamas 21st century policing task force, drew on his experience leading the Philadelphia Police Department in suggesting that officers work with communities and get to the know they people they are tasked to protect. [[385949981, C]] "As police commissioner in Philadelphia, I sent recruits fresh from the police academy into the most challenging neighborhoods on foot patrol for six months to a year," he wrote. "They learned how to talk to people, something youre never going to get driving down the street at 40 miles per hour in a police cruiser. I wanted the young officers and the neighborhood folks to actually 'see' one another. At the end of the day, officers and citizens who interact on the streets should both be able to go home safe... "Police officers carry a lot of baggage. They have not always been on the right side of justice as we define justice today. In some cases, they were enforcing unjust laws of a different era. When I went into the Chicago Police Department in the late 1960s, it wasnt the most popular thing a young black kid could do. "There are consequences to that difficult history that will take time to repair. But this challenging moment is also a tremendous opportunity to make real improvements. I hope none of us squander it." Read Ramseys entire opinion piece on the New York Times. I'm not gonna lie ... It was a little bit toasty on Adams Avenue, but there was a nice breeze, great music and plenty of food and drinks to keep you from being parched. Head back today for amazing bands, including Sebadoh (OMG)! It's gonna be fun; just find yourself a wide brimmed hat or a parasol, and you'll be all set. The festival wraps at seven, so you can make it to Tegan & Sara if you were lucky enough to buy tickets in advance, or check out the stunning music of Delta Rae at Music Box. If you're up for an adventure, the Mekons are playing a special show at A Ship in the Woods, the not-so-secret artist enclave in Escondido, or catch Luke Sweeney at Soda Bar. For a bit of an industry jam, head to Whistle Stop where a bunch of your favorite locals will be performing Nick Cave jams. Hard to believe you can have all of this on a Sunday, but it's happening, so don't miss out on all of the fun. Sunday, Sept. 25: Adams Avenue Street Fair @ Adams Avenue, Normal Heights (FREE, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.) Art & Craft Show @ Old Town San Diego (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) The Crookes, Zipper Club, the Filthy Violets @ Casbah Tegan & Sara, Shura @ Observatory North Park (SOLD OUT) Delta Rae, Kristin Diable, Tolan Shaw @ Music Box The Mekons @ A Ship in the Woods Luke Sweeney, Ancient River, Ocelot, DJ Matt the Hoople @ Soda Bar Tim Mudd, Podunk Nowhere @ Sycamore Den Rat Sabbath @ Bar Pink O.A.R., the Hunts @ Humphreys Concerts by the Bay Nick Cave Covers feat. members of Lunar Maps, Hexa, Nylon Apts, Blood Ponies, Soft Lions, DJs Mario & Mitch @ Whistle Stop Rap Nite Presents: 2pac 20th Anniversary with Greyboy, Dimitri, Tramlife @ Blonde Electric Mud @ Winston's (5 p.m.) Adam's Avenue Street Fair with Raena Jade, Phili Villalobos, Courtney Preis, Jessica Bell, Andrew Barrack, Aaron Bowen @ Lestat's Neutral Shirt (Goodbye!), Spirited Away @ Che Cafe Adam's Avenue Street Fair @ Java Joe's Uptown Top Ranking Inside the Office with Tribe of Kings @ The Office Color Til Monday, Sever the Century, Hyper Active Slackers, Wolves of Eden @ The Merrow Matt Danger, Alex Kirk Amen @ The Bancroft Reggae Sunday @ U-31 Stellita @ Humphreys Backstage Live (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.) T. Fox @ Humphreys Backstage Live (7 p.m.) Franks and Deans, the Fink Bombs @ Tower Bar Country Night with Kin @ El Dorado Colour @ Tio Leo's Psilo @ Kava Lounge Adina Howard, DJ Lace, Shotta Crew, Lanee Ross, James Vaughn Rampage @ Spin Rosemary Bystrak is the publicist for the Casbah, the content manager forDoSD, and writes about the San Diego music scene, events and general musings about life in San Diego on San Diego: Dialed In. Follow her updates on Twitter orcontact her directly. Border Patrol agents arrested a 24-year-old gang member near the West Calexico Port of Entry last week. Agents apprehended the man as he was entering the U.S. illegally around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was taken to the Calexico Border Patrol station for processing, and after a records check was done, they discovered he is a member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal street gang. He had previously been deported in November 2012. The Border Patrol is committed to making our communities safe. The arrest of this gang member is a great example of that commitment, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David S. Kim, said. The man, a Honduran citizen, is being detained at the Imperial County Jail pending criminal prosecution. A hiker collapsed Sunday while climbing Cowles mountain. Despite the San Diego Fire Department attempting an open space rescue the man was pronounced dead at the scene. SDFD responded to an emergency call at around 7:30 a.m. and performed CPR on a fallen hiker while a rescue helicopter was en route. The helicopter lowered a medic down onto the scene where resuscitation efforts continued, but were ultimately unsuccessful. The hiker was identified Monday as Andrew Seth Lewis, 64, of San Diego. The cause of death is still unknown. AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Since 1985, Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin has been providing emergency and critical care veterinary services to pet owners in Austin and the surrounding areas. Both the north and south hospitals are locally owned and operated by a board certified veterinarian. EAHNWA feels that their 30 years of success stems from the in-house training program for their veterinary nursing staff, their state of the art facilities and a commitment to practice the highest quality urgent and critical care medicine at all times. Because of this, many of their teams dedicated staff members have worked at the hospital for over a decade, providing experience and quality emergency care to area pets. With two locations in North and South Austin, the veterinary hospital provides a range of around-the-clock emergency and critical care services. The north hospital was established in 1985 by a group of veterinarians who recognized the need for a fully-staffed vet facility to provide emergency and critical care services after hours. Dr. Scott Johnson, a board certified Criticalist, purchased the hospital in 1990. The South location was opened in 1995 inside the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital. In 2014, the north hospital welcomed Stacy Simmonds, DVM, DACVECC to their team and expanded their services to include an extended stay critical care center for pets needing intensive care support. I am honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin for more than 25 years, says Scott Johnson, DVM, DACVECC. Quite a few of our team members have also been with the hospital for many years; 25 have been here over five years. Its our years of combined experience that makes us stand out. The staff consists of licensed veterinarians, technicians and other professional staff members who provide a variety of diagnostic and critical care services including ultrasound, radiology, endoscopy, monitoring, oxygen therapy, transfusion therapy, in-house lab testing, critical care monitoring and soft tissue emergency surgery. Pet owners trust us with their pets during critical moments, Dr. Johnson states. Our practice owes its longevity and success to the perseverance, compassion, and dedication of our staff members who have helped us grow since the hospital first opened 30 years ago. About Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austin Emergency Animal Hospital of Northwest Austins north hospital is located at 12034 Research Boulevard in Austin and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The practices south location is located at 4434 Frontier Trail in Austin and offers after-hours emergency and critical care on nights, weekends and holidays. No appointments necessary. Call the animal hospital at (512) 331-6121 to speak with a knowledgeable veterinary professional. Additional details can be found on their website at http://www.eahnwa.com/. Sunday marks 38 years since the deadliest aircraft disaster to date in Californias history: the Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 crash over San Diegos North Park community that killed 144 people. At 9:03 a.m. the exact time the plane happened San Diego city leaders and those impacted by the tragedy gather at the site of the plane crash for an annual memorial, paying tribute to the victims who lost their lives. [G] Victims of PSA Flight 182 Crash Remembered The names of the 144 victims will be read aloud and a flower for each will be placed in a wreath. Their names will also be written on the sidewalk in chalk along with personal messages. On Sept. 25, 1978, PSA Flight 182 and a single-engine Cessna collided midair over North Park. A total of 144 people were killed in the collision, including 135 people aboard PSA Flight 182, two men aboard the Cessna and seven people on the ground. A total of 22 homes in the area were destroyed or damaged as the Boeing 727 hit the ground. The wreckage came to rest near Boundary and Felton streets. San Diegans are pushing for a new memorial in North Park to honor victims killed in the 1978 PSA Flight 182 disaster the deadliest aircraft disaster to date in Californias history. NBC 7s Omari Fleming reports. In 2014, residents involved in a PSA Flight 182 committee began a push for a permanent memorial to be erected at the site of the crash. Currently, the closest memorial is a plaque beneath a tree at the North Park library. Two men, including a United States citizen, were arrested after a shooting in Tijuana that killed one officer. Authorities say that the weapons used in the attack were brought into Mexico from the U.S. Two officers responded to reports of shots fire at the corner of de Coahuila and Constitucion in Zona Norte on Saturday morning, and were met with gunfire from a vehicle. One officer was killed in the shooting and two others suffered bullet wounds to the upper torso. The condition of the two injured officers is unknown. The two suspects fled the scene but were arrested shortly after and found in possession of two firearms. Authorities do not know if the U.S. citizen has ties to San Diego. 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. "Phenomenal." "Hopeful." "Exhilarating." Visitors were enthralled by their trips through the new National Museum of African American History and Culture on its opening day, describing the experience as inspiring, cathartic and phenomenal -- a word that came up again and again. Crowds lined up early for the new African American History Museums 2nd day. Visitors shared what they were most looking forward to seeing. New groups of eager visitors are lining up outside the newest Smithsonian on Sunday, sharing their thoughts on what they're most looking forward to seeing now that Washington, D.C.'s highly anticipated black history museum has opened its doors after more than 100 years in the making. 'Phenomenal': Visitors Share How They Feel After Seeing African American Museum "I think just being able to look at all the African American history in one set location, looking at Prince's jacket, Chuck Berry's Cadillac; I'm just excited about the whole thing," said Jennifer Kirby, who traveled with her family from Atlanta. "I'm just going to say Emmett Till's original casket, because I lived through that era," said visitor Vivian Favors. [NATL-DC]Thousands Attend Opening of National Museum of African American History and Culture With thousands of items occupying 85,000 square feet of exhibition space, the new Smithsonian is chronicling the complex relationship between the United States and a people it once enslaved, and telling the story of those who worked to make the necessary changes to bring the country to where it is today. Alexis Lennon, of Takoma Park, said she thought the museum did an "amazing job of telling our story." "It was life-changing for me to finally have a place that embodies African American culture," she said Sunday. Lifelong D.C resident Denise Evans said she jumped at the opportunity to visit the museum when a friend who couldn't make it offered her a ticket Sunday morning. Evans, 49, said the museum was "sort of heartbreaking," but also interesting and uplifting. "Unfortunately so many things are repeating itself and so it was a little bit heartbreaking to see that as far as we've come we are beginning to repeat those same patterns of discrimination," Evans said. "But I think because we can see the path from it then we can sort of being ourselves out of it again." Her favorite exhibit highlighted African American fashion. "Just really being able to see that we have our own style, that we can own who we are and that we really do have an impact on much of what the whole does... so much of that has been quieted, and so seeing it on display it's like, 'OK, right, we are pretty cool and we are creative and we are gifted,'" she said. "I'm still tearing up about it, because my grandmother did not get a chance to see this, but I'm very blessed." - Tonya Grice on #NMAAHC pic.twitter.com/MPNcveijgj Lexie Schapitl (@lexieschapitl) September 25, 2016 The museum is offering extended hours for its grand opening weekend. Sunday, the museum will stay open from 7 a.m. to midnight, but passes were snapped up almost as soon as they became available. Although admission is free, the museum is using a timed pass system to control crowds and alleviate wait times. Despite the lengthy lines both outside and inside the museum, visitors said the timed entry pass system is efficient, keeping wait times down. However, anyone heading toward the museum this weekend should be prepared for large crowds and heightened security. Freedom Sounds Festival Open to Public The museum's outdoor music festival is open to the public on the Washington Monument grounds, with no tickets required. The festival, Freedom Sounds, is celebrating the talent and creativity of African-American artists, with jazz, R&B, gospel and hip-hop artists throughout the weekend. The Roots, Living Colour and Public Enemy headlined Saturday night. Performances continue throughout the day Sunday, with another main-stage concert scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. A surprise special guest is slated to perform. People gathering and dancing at the Freedom Sounds Drum Circle #APeoplesJourney #NMAAHC pic.twitter.com/3VTF5gRqNa Stacy Schoonover (@StacySchoonover) September 25, 2016 Lylie Fisher and Meghan Collier are "enjoying sitting under a tree, with great food, great friends and fabulous music." #NMAAHC pic.twitter.com/FVy8nLOA3p Stacy Schoonover (@StacySchoonover) September 25, 2016 Dr. Greg Carr, associate professor and chair of the department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, discusses the the significance of the museum and what can people expect when they walk in. After 'Incredible' Experience, Museum Goers Plan to Return Lennon and Andres Rossy toured the museum for more than three hours Sunday, but said they would need much more time to see everything inside. "You definitely can't do it all in one day," said Rossy, of Takoma Park. "So we'll be back, but I had a great time." Margaret Baxter and her husband drove up from their home in Durham, North Carolina to visit the museum with Margaret's 71-year-old grandmother. As a fan of history, Baxter said she enjoyed the exhibits on slavery and segregation in America. "It would probably take you two to three days to see every single thing, but it's so well put together," she said. "It's incredible." 10 Things You Must See at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Her grandmother, D.C. resident Marthena Baxter, said she enjoyed seeing the exhibits highlighting "entertainers from back when," like Chuck Berry, Barry White and James Brown. Marthena Baxter said she plans on returning to the museum after crowds die down to "really take everything in." "The whole place was amazing, absolutely amazing," she said. "I will be back." Go inside the National Museum of African American History and Cultures Sweet Home Cafe with Executive Chef Jerome Grant. Saturday's Dedication Ceremony: "By Understanding this Story, It Binds Us Together" 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 Saturday morning as President Barack Obama officially dedicated the museum. Obama opened the museum Saturday 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. "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." 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. "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. Lexie Schapitl contributed to this report. For more information about the museum, check NBC Washington's full coverage here. 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." He called it the "Smithsonian national museum of American history, African-American art.'' In fact, the long-awaiting institution, which opened Saturday amid a renewed wave of racial strife in the country, is called the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The grand opening ceremony drew the attendance of both President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush, as well as a number of distinguished civil rights leaders and black celebrities. 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 hailed African Americans' "incredible contributions" to the United States. "African Americans have given so much to our nation, and sacrificed so much for this nation." The GOP candidate also blamed president Obama and Democrats for black struggle, and vowed to "fight to make sure every single African American in this country is fully included in the American dream." Trump on Saturday also declared school choice the "new civil rights issue of our time.'' Seven people were stabbed in a fight in Boston's Theater District early Sunday morning, according to Boston Police. Authorities said four people were transported from the scene, while three additional victims presented themselves as "walk ins" at local hospitals. Police spokesman Officer James Kenneally said Sunday afternoon the injuries appear to be non-life threatening. The incident occurred around 2:13 a.m. at 271 Tremont Street just as many bars in the area were closing. Police told the Boston Globe that some victims suffered wounds sustained from knives, while others had cuts from broken bottles. They also said Emerson College has sent an alert to their students asking them to report suspicious activity in the area. Boston Police are seeking the public's help in identifying an individual wanted in connection with a sexual assault. Around 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, officers responded to St. Elizabeth's Hospital to take a report that a woman was sexually assaulted in Brighton a couple hours earlier. According to investigators, the victim left Tavern in the Square on Brighton Ave after 12:30 a.m. and entered a dark-colored sedan- what she believed to be a rideshare service car. The victim said she was sexually assaulted by a passenger who is described as a black male in his early twenties with short hair, a 6'0" slim build, wearing a long sleeve flannel shirt. The Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 617-343-4400. Authorities in New Hampshire are investigating after they say a man was fatally wounded in an officer-involved shooting in Claremont on Sunday morning. Officers responded to a call at a home just before 5 a.m. Police said during a confrontation with officers, an adult man at the home was fatally shot. The man was identified as 25-year-old Cody Lafont. The New Hampshire Attorney General says Lafont was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck. His death has been ruled a homicide. Authorities said the circumstances that led to the shooting are under investigation by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office and state police. The shooting of a woman by a police officer in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on Sunday morning is under investigation. According to the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office, an officer arrived to a home King Avenue at about 11:30 a.m. after receiving a call from a frantic woman who said her daughter was trying to kill herself with a knife. Authorities said the officer was confronted at the door by a 46-year-old woman armed with the large knife. The officer backed away while the woman allegedly followed him, ignoring orders to drop the knife. Authorities said the officer then fired his weapon, striking the woman in the abdomen area. The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment and is being charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. The investigation is being handled by State Police Detectives from the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office. cuhmoon wrote: Hello Experts There are some subjects that could be singular or plural and I am confused how to identify them. Few examples: Consider the below sentence a) Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition are the latest initiative by the bank to stay competitive in the real estate market in which selling homes is not a easy task In this q -: Repairing the foreclosed properties is a phrase and treated as the subject of this sentence. The verb of the above sentence is "ARE". Since the subject is a phrase and phrases are singular, ccan we treat this as Singular thus making the verb "IS" ? In the same sentence, selling homes is a phrase and the subject here.. so here it is singular although we are talking about selling MULTIPLE HOMES. How is the verb singular "IS" ? b) Reading mystery books gives me thrill - Here - one is reading multiple mystery books - not just one.. So why is it SINGULAR gives ? Although give sounds awkward but by the subject refers to multiple books. c) Rising commercial real estate rates, a gauge used to determine the strength of the market, are likely to deter people from buying homes - In this sentence, Rising commercial real estate rates is a phrase and thus should be Singular.. So the verb should be IS and not ARE? Although multiple rates are rising but isn't a phrase singular just like Reading mystery books is Singular? This is confusing. Can someone please help explain how to identify singular or plural subjects especially when it comes to phrases. Thanks v much!! are All the examples you have mentioned consists of a gerund subject phrase - subject phrases with gerunds are ALWAYS SINGULAR !Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad conditionthe latest initiative by the bank to stay competitive in the real estate market in which selling homes is not a easy task... WRONG. The verb should be "is". Officials in the tiny town of Farmington say they're "grateful" that GOP presidential Donald Trump finally paid a bill for police overtime at a January rally. The Concord Monitor reports that Trump's payment for the roughly $9,500 bill came after months of silence. Farmington Town Administrator Arthur Cappello said that the Trump rally used up about 30 percent of the town's police overtime budget. The newspaper reported that Trump's campaign had informed the town's business administrator in January that police should bill the Secret Service, not the campaign. Trump's bill arrived in mid-September. Trump campaign representatives did not immediately respond to the newspaper's request for comment. Bethel leaders encourage atmosphere shift in Norfolk Bethel leaders encourage atmosphere shift in Norfolk On Friday senior leaders from Bethel Church in California kicked off a two day conference in Norwich called 'Shifting Atmospheres' with an inspiring morning of teaching designed to equip and empower delegates to change the spiritual atmosphere of the city and the county, reports Jenny Seal. A two day conference called Shifting Atmospheres is taking place on Friday, September 16 to Saturday, September 17 organised by Global Legacy East Anglia, held at Norwich Central Baptist Church with teaching from a team of senior leaders from Bethel Church in California. On Friday morning the conference began with powerful worship from a 7 piece band before Dave and Holly Elverson of Global Legacy East Anglia and Kingdom Life Church, Norwich welcomed delegates, declaring the meeting hungry for a greater revelation of who God is and who we are. Around half the 150 attendees of the morning session had come from within Norwich and Norfolk with the rest travelling from further afield. Dawna De Silva, the Founder and Co-Leader of Sozo Ministry, the international healing and deliverance ministry birthed at Bethel Church, led the first teaching session setting the scene on the conferences theme. Dawna (main photo) talked about finding the right balance of spiritual discernment, avoiding the two extremes that are often adopted of being overly fearful or simply blind to spiritual warfare. She encouraged and prayed for delegates to have a greater understanding of what was going on spiritually and how to take authority over it. She said: We should be shifting the atmospheres all around us, because we are the light and we are salt. And if you are not shifting the atmospheres to bring His Kingdom you are really not doing your job. Dawna described and gave examples of various ways to discern spiritual atmospheres such as through dreams, smells, headaches and physical sensations, and then talked about how to positively shift that atmosphere through worship, prayer, speaking in tongues and speaking the truth opposite to what is seen. She said: You will start to see things shift because you are in the room. You have authority Faith Blatchford, a Bethel minister and Regional Director of Sozo Ministry (pictured right with Dave Elverson), then led a session in Shifting Atmospheres through Prophetic Revelation. With a gift for comic delivery and a passion for revival, Faith highlighted the power that our words and our thoughts have in the role of shifting atmospheres. Faith pointed to the power of the words that Jesus spoke when he calmed the sea, when he raised Lazarus to life and when he blessed the five loaves and two fishes. She then testified to her awe inspiring experience of putting this model of prophetic declaration into practice. She told of how, before moving to Redding, California she had lived on an island in the Atlantic Ocean which acted as a barrier protecting mainland America from hurricanes. One day during a tornado warning she decided that she had nothing to lose but to speak to the storm. She commanded the storm to lift up and leave the area. Almost immediately it did just that. Faith said: It wasnt that there werent other people praying but that was Gods exclamation point to me that that your words have authority. So after that I began to use that same principle with hurricanes. Now its been over 13 years and there has never been a hurricane that has touched that island. Speaking about storms more figuratively she said: We have a lot of storms in the world not just tornadoes and hurricanes. And we, as believers, have a responsibility, an opportunity and the equipment to stop storms. And as more of us join together in doing this in faith the world is going to change. Faith encouraged the delegates to search their hearts for any self-harboured condemnation that could be making words powerless and causing a dilution of faith. She said: All that we are teaching you in Shifting Atmospheres is not just for you. It is for you, but then to flow through you for the sake of the world. We are not just shifting it so we can breathe better and not have demons around us. We want all of Norwich, all of Norfolk, all of the UK to experience Gods healing. Speaking to the conference along with Dawna De Silva and Faith Blatchford is Steve De Silva the retired Chief Financial Officer of Bethel Church. The three conference speakers are also staying in Norwich on Sunday, September 18 and will be speaking at three local churches: Gateway Vineyard Norwich, Fakenham Baptist Church and Kingdom Life. Unless you are a bad guy intent upon nefarious schemes to exploit technology in order to make money, you probably have a great amount of respect for security reporter Brian Krebs. The crimes, breaches and attacks he has exposed have been so stunning that it boggles the mind. If cyber thugs have a most wanted list, then Krebs is likely at, or very near, the top. Yet what kind of messed up world do we live in if criminals can exploit horribly insecure Internet of Things devices with such success that it can silence the voice of a journalist like Krebs? Krebs most recently ticked off allies of vDOS; he wrote about the DDoS-for-hire company, and the two teenagers allegedly behind it were arrested. Although its nothing new for his site, KrebsOnSecurity, to come under attack, like it did after his vDOS expose, nearly two weeks later, Krebs site was hit with the largest DDoS the internet has ever seen. 665 Gbps (gigabits per second). Some of the POST request attacks included the string freeapplej4ck, referring to one of the alleged teenage owners of vDOS. His site has been protected by Prolexic, which was acquired by Akamai. Yet after sustained attacks were hitting his site with about 620 Gbps of junk data, Akamai opted to stop providing Krebs with pro bono protection service; protecting his site was affecting the companys paying customers. Akamai, which Krebs does not fault for dropping him, claimed a sustained DDoS attack against Krebs site could have cost millions of dollars to mitigate. Akamai told The Boston Globe that the scale of attack on Krebs stunned its engineers because it was almost twice as much traffic as Akamai had ever seen in a previous attack. Dropped like a hot potato, given only a two-hour heads-up that Akamai would no longer protect his site for free, Krebs needed a new solution for the massive DDoS attacks crippling his site. Oh sure, he was offered DDoS mitigation, but the same level of protection he had under Akamai would cost him a jaw-dropping $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Thats hardly a sum any independent journalist could scrounge up by digging for pocket change in their couch. Krebs said, Ask yourself how many independent journalists could possibly afford that kind of protection money. Free speech in the age of the internet is not really free, Krebs told Ars Technica. We're long overdue to treat this threat with a lot more urgency. Unfortunately, I just don't see that happening right now. Yet Krebs needed to bring his site back up, so he opted for Project Shield, which offers free, unlimited protection. The service is built on Google Cloud Platform in order to protect news sites and free expression from DDoS attacks on the web. The free service claims: No matter the size of your website or the size of the attack, Project Shield provides free protection for news, journalist, human rights, and elections monitoring sites. In The Democratization of Censorship, the first post since Akamai dropped him and his site was down for days, Krebs wrote, Why do I speak of DDoS attacks as a form of censorship? Quite simply because the economics of mitigating large-scale DDoS attacks do not bode well for protecting the individual user, to say nothing of independent journalists. Krebs was not the only one under heavy attack via botnets exploiting compromised IoT devices last week, but he doesnt believe nation state actors are the ones learning to take down the internet. Regarding the massive attack responsible for the latest chaos and upheaval pointed his way, Krebs said the botnet of IoT devices include routers, IP cameras and digital video recorders (DVRs) that are exposed to the internet and protected with weak or hard-coded passwords. Most can be purchased for fewer than $100 and, for right now, criminals at the helm of these huge DDoS crime machines are content to use them to launch petty, yet costly, attacks against targets that suit their interests or whims. DDoS attacks leveraging millions of insecure-by-design IoT devices will only get worse, and something needs to be done to address this growing threat to free speech and ecommerce. Krebs added: Town holds event to welcomes visitors from six different countries NEWBURY was recently the scene of a major cultural event when 80 visitors from each of its six European Twin Towns gathered for an international reunion. The towns represented were Bagnols-sur-Ceze in France, Braunfels in Germany, Carcaixent in Spain, Eeklo in Belgium, Feltre in Italy and Kiskunfelegyhaza in Hungary. Each of the visitors stayed with local families, giving them a unique opportunity to be part of the local community and to see how life is lived in another country. Many had visited Newbury before and had the opportunity to renew old friendships, whereas others were visiting for the first time. Organised by Newbury Twin Town Association, proceedings began on the first day with a welcome from the Mayor of Newbury, Julian Swift-Hook, followed by a multi-lingual conference to discuss the future of the UK in Europe. At lunchtime, the market place was transformed into a European food-tasting event, when local food and drink was on offer from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Hungary and England which included a barrel of local beer. Later that day, a tour of Shaw House was organised, followed by traditional afternoon tea. The second day of the visit gave hosts and guests the opportunity to spend time together, visiting local places of interest, many travelling further afield to Bath, Oxford and Winchester. On the final day, all visitors and hosts gathered for traditional Sunday lunch at the Donnington Valley Hotel. Following lunch, there was an opportunity to visit Donnington Castle and walk through the woodland of Snelsmore Common. A farewell reception was held later in the evening at the British Legion Club. During the weekend, there was also an opportunity to view the Where I Live 2016 banners, which were displayed in Victoria Park. These were made up of photographs taken by members of each of the twin towns as part of a year-long project to illustrate life as is lived in each of the towns. gmat 640, what are my options? profile evaluation [ #permalink Hello, My name is Salik, I am from Pakistan, I wanted to know what are my options for b school applications. My profile summary is as follows: GMAT: I gave my GMAT today and scored 640 [Q=42(47 p),V=35(76),IR= 6(69p) ]. I want to apply to schools in round 2 this year, so in worst case I wont be able to retake my gmat. I have taken it thrice 640,590,640 gave my first attempt in march 2016.My quant score is low but I have had various mathematical courses during the university, few of them of advance level including physics, numerical analysis, calculus advance etc. I may also be able to request my recommenders to emphasize on their observations on my quant skills. Education: I did my BS of computer science from Institute of Business Administration, Karachi (Oldest and one of the top business schools in Pakistan). I graduated with a gold medal and a CGPA of 3.42. Experience: I work in IT department of Dawlance Group of companies. It is a market leader in home appliance industry in Pakistan since 1985. Recently, Arcelik has acquired the Dawlance to enter south Asian market. I have had 3 years of experience, got promotions every year and am currently the youngest Deputy Manager in the company's history. My latest responsibilities include managing IT team and initiatives in 2 of our manufacturing facilities in Pakistan. I have lead various cross functional teams and have completed projects requiring systems overhauls, change management, employee motivation analysis and operations automation.Also,I have been doing projects consistently with top executives/directors of my company, I have had projects that required me to interact with our vendors, low level employees and occasionally our consumers too. I has also awarded outstanding Mentee award under the internal program in our organization by the name of leadership without title. Social work: I have been an active social contributor, recently, I built a team in my city to run a plantation campaign in Karachi. Moreover, I did a social internship back in university. Where I lack is that I do not have a documentation proof of that.It was a recently concluded plantation campaign, I played my role in gathering a team to achieve a target of 100 plants in my area. Other than that, I have been involved in evaluating start up ideas for a course in my university as an alumni evaluator at various events and classes Ambition: My aim is to list myself in the list of world billionaires before turning 40. Also, build a start up around renewable energy for Earth and beyond.This part I have found to be the toughest to be honest. the progression of my career so far suggests me that I should aim at the CIO position in the long term. However, I feel strongly to work towards a for profit social start up. I don't have a prior experience with entrepreneurship other than an idea that I developed and worked through with a team but we could not execute it on the ground. I would really appreciate if you could tell me what are my options? I realize that top 10 may be too ambitious. but can you give me 1 from top 10 (I had Johnson in mind, even with slim chances), may be 2 from top 10-20 (said? tepper?) and may be few lower ranked school where I may actually stand a good chance? I am considering Michigan state university, its a top university for supply chain mba and has an avg gmat of 668, what do you think? Thanks! Champaign, IL (61820) Today Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 55F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. The American Academy of Family Physicians announced the recipients of its most prestigious awards this week at its annual meeting. Four family physicians from across the nation were recognized for their outstanding contributions to family medicine and the health of the public. Each of these awards recognizes family physicians who have made exceptional advances in furthering the health of their communities through service and education. Smith has served the citizens of rural Hoke County, North Carolina, for more than two decades. She provides the full spectrum of family medicine, from obstetrics to care for the elderly. "The Power of Touch: Spiritual, Physical and Emotional" are words she lives by, both in her clinical work and personal life. Despite running a bustling independent family medicine practice, Smith's care extends beyond the exam room to her family and community. Raeford is located in an impoverished rural area of the state where primary care physicians are in short supply. Smith invests heavily in her community, and in 2004, she built a state-of-the-art clinic to serve patients. This established her as one of Hoke County's most important and progressive health care providers. More than a decade ago, Smith's practice was one of the first rural, independent family medicine practices to simultaneously invest in technology such as interactive patient portals and kiosk-based check-ins. Smith has since earned a national reputation as a leading proponent, early adopter and expert in health information technology, such as electronic health records. She also is an aggressive promoter of computer literacy among her patient population. Gaus is founder and executive director of Andean Health & Development in Ecuador, based at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The mission of AHD is to provide quality, sustainable health care for rural Latin America. The hospital provides high quality secondary care to an extended community of 80,000 and also serves as a training ground for physicians, nurses and other leaders in the local community. After receiving a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Gaus traveled to Ecuador where he spent two years volunteering at an orphanage. The experience was life changing and led him to medical school, followed by residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He returned to Ecuador and soon discovered that rural hospital care was the country's greatest need. Working with Father Theodore Hesburgh, former president of Notre Dame, Dr. Gaus founded AHD in 1997. Their pilot project was a hospital in the underserved community of Pedro Vicente Maldonado. It opened in 2000 and by 2007 was financially self-sustaining. Even as doctors across America encourage their patients to share concerns about depression, anxiety and other concerns, so they can get help from modern treatments, a new study suggests the doctors may be less likely to seek help for those same concerns about themselves. Part of the reason lies in concern that due to stigma, others may doubt their ability to keep up with a demanding profession. But there's another factor: Many states require physicians to report any mental diagnosis - no matter how mild or treatable, or how far in the past - to their state medical licensing board. This leads physicians to fear that seeking help for depression or anxiety could lead to restrictions on their medical license. In a survey answered by more than 2,100 female physicians who are also mothers, nearly half believed they had met the definition for a mental illness at least some time during their career, but had not sought treatment. Two-thirds reported that fear of stigma drove them to keep their worries quiet. One in three of the women who answered the survey said they'd been given a formal mental health diagnosis since medical school. Many thought they could manage their situation on their own, including writing their own prescriptions or paying cash for visits to avoid having an insurance company record, says lead researcher Katherine Gold, M.D., M.S.W., M.S. of the University of Michigan Medical School. Only six percent of those who had ever been diagnosed had reported it to their state licensing board, as most felt their condition didn't affect the care they gave. More research is needed on this issue, to reduce stigma among physicians and to help physicians feel safe seeking care, says Gold. And, she says, state standards should be examined to ensure they focus on medical conditions which currently affect patient care, rather than requiring disclosure of old, mild, or stable and well-controlled problems. The study, published in General Hospital Psychiatry, surveyed the physicians anonymously via a closed Facebook group that acts as an informal career and parenting support network for more than 57,000 physicians who are mothers. A snapshot of a community Gold, a U-M assistant professor of family medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, started the study because of anecdotes she had heard from other female physicians who had advised others against seeking help for depression because of the professional consequences. Also, past studies have shown higher rates of suicide and suicidal thoughts among female physicians. But she found few studies of mental health diagnosis, barriers to care and response to state reporting requirements among practicing physicians of either gender. She started her research using the Facebook group because it includes a broad group of physicians across the country in various career stages and specialties. The resulting snapshot reveals wide variation in response to mental health symptoms. That same variation exists in state requirements for reporting, says Gold. For instance, some states ask if physicians have ever been diagnosed with a mental health problem, while others ask if they've had such a diagnosis in the last few years. Some ask if they have ever been hospitalized for a mental health reason. Most positive responses result in increased investigation by boards. "There has always been a stigma and a fear around mental illness, and that's what's reflected in many state licensing board questionnaires," notes Gold, who is a member of the U-M Depression Center. "There's a huge discrepancy between what states ask about physical conditions - such as whether those conditions affect their ability to practice - and what they ask about mental conditions, where the impact on their abilities is not asked about." And while studies have shown that substance use issues can have an impact on physicians' ability to practice, few studies have looked at whether and how non-substance-related mental health issues impair physician performance. In fact, Gold notes, some physicians report working even harder to keep their depression or other condition from affecting their patient care. Changes to come? Gold notes that challenges under the Americans with Disabilities Act to licensing requirements for other professions such as lawyers, may help to change the questions states ask physicians too. Since some mental health issues -- such as post-partum depression or anxiety related to a specific event - are self-limiting, the wording of a state's questions matters greatly, Gold says. Similarly, medication and psychotherapy can control symptoms of other conditions over the longer term. One option to help states modernize requirements around mental health might be to adopt the approach that hospitals use when deciding whether to extend credentials to a physician: requiring endorsements from a physician's peers or supervisors based on performance. At the same time, she says, medical schools, hospitals, physician groups and medical professional societies need to do more to help trainees and physicians understand that mental health symptoms can occur in anyone, especially in medicine which encourages high standards and perfection. They should also offer confidential, third-party options for physicians and other providers to seek help in a non-punitive way when they do experience symptoms. Gold and her colleagues hope to do further research on broader populations of physicians, including looking at the relationship of physician burnout or resilience to depression. She also hopes to study state management of self-reported physician mental health issues. The American Academy of Family Physicians today awarded its highest honor to Karen L. Smith, MD, FAAFP, of Raeford, North Carolina. Smith was named the AAFP's national 2017 Family Physician of the Year, which honors one outstanding American family physician who provides patients with compassionate, comprehensive care, and serves as a role model in his or her community and to other health professionals. She accepted the award during the AAFP's annual meeting, the Family Medicine Experience. Smith has served the citizens of rural Hoke County, North Carolina, for more than two decades. There she provides the full spectrum of family medicine from obstetrics to care for the elderly. "The power of touch: spiritual, physical and emotional" are words she lives by, both in her clinical work and personal life. Despite running a bustling independent family medicine practice, Smith's care extends beyond the exam room to her family and community. Raeford is located in an impoverished rural area of the state where primary care physicians are in short supply. More than a decade ago, Smith's practice was one of the first rural, independent, state-of-the-art family medicine practices to simultaneously invest in technology such as interactive patient portals, kiosk-based check-ins and electronic health records. This established her as one of Hoke County's most important and progressive health care providers. Smith has since earned a national reputation as a leading proponent of health information technology and is an aggressive promoter of computer literacy among her patient population. Many consider Smith's use of health information technology to be a model for rural family medicine practice. However, for Smith, technology is fundamentally a means through which she achieves two aims: providing better patient care and encouraging patients to engage in their health. She has a unique gift for leveraging technology to serve the needs of her patients. She also was an early adopter of patient advisory panels, using their input to develop strategies to help guide her practice. A trailblazer at heart, she has long used this approach to improve the depth, breadth and quality of service she provides. With her patients as partners, her whole community is better served. Alongside her practice, Smith also serves as medical director and supervising physician of the Hoke County Health Department. There she treats patients and works tirelessly to help train other health professionals and inspire them to continue serving in the area. On a broader community scale, Smith supports key social service efforts across the region addressing substance abuse issues, food-related health disparities, and working with local youth to deliver after-school programs and guidance. Smith is also a trusted public voice within community media, hosting a weekly radio program sharing timely health information. This has been especially beneficial for elderly patients in the region. Smith advocates for family medicine and its value to the health care system through her involvement with organizations such as the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, the North Carolina Medical Society and the North Carolina Medical Care Advisory Committee. She has been called upon to testify on Capitol Hill regarding the challenges and benefits of electronic health technology, and was named a Meaningful Use Vanguard Fellow by the Office of the National Coordinator in 2013. In addition, she has served as chair of the AAFP's Commission on Practice Enhancement and Quality, and is currently a member of the AAFP Commission on Governmental Advocacy. Through all of these roles, Smith's work has impacted family medicine and patient care in ways that extend far beyond North Carolina. Smith's investments in practice infrastructure, community health, and health care advocacy continue to pay big dividends through improved quality, increased access to care, greater efficiency, streamlined patient communication and more effective population health management. Her contributions and achievements are representative of who family physicians are and what they can aspire to be in similar places in the United States. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and her medical degree from the Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her residency at the Duke/Southern Regional Area Health Education Center Family Medicine Residency Program in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She went on to earn a post-residency certificate focused on preparing physicians to teach in residency and medical school education programs from the Duke University Faculty Development. Smith is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She has the AAFP Degree of Fellow, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians New Delhi: Congress chief ministers and finance ministers are expected to press for an 18 per cent GST cap at the meeting of the three-day GST Council beginning October 17 and stress that a higher rate would burden the common man. The party leadership has written to the chief ministers and finance ministers, asking them to firmly reiterate the capping of the GST rate at 18 per cent in the upcoming meeting. Congress rationale is that a higher rate will burden the common man and will defeat the very purpose of GST to create a common market and reduce the burden on both -- producer and consumer. The GST Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, at its first meeting last week, had decided to keep traders with annual revenue of Rs 20 lakh out of the new national sales tax regime that will subsume all cesses. The exemption limits for north-eastern and hill states have been fixed at Rs 10 lakh. The Council also agreed on the contentious issues of revenue threshold -- below which traders will be exempted from GST, and sharing of administrative powers. The all crucial GST rates will be decided in the meeting to be held from October 17. It was also decided that the state authorities would have jurisdiction over assesses with annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore. The traders with annual turnover of over Rs 1.5 crore would be subject to cross examination either by officers from the Centre or state to avoid dual control. Congress in its note to chief ministers insisted that the constitutional amendment on GST was only passed after the government and the party negotiated and reached an agreement on principal demands of Congress. The main demands were abolition of 1 per cent surcharge, compensation to states for revenue loss for 5 years, establishment of a dispute redressal mechanism and legal ring fencing of consolidated cap on GST rate. "It was agreed that the rate will be reflected in the GST law that will be recommended by the GST council. It is important that the government honours the same," the party said. Also the Council shall as per constitutional mandate establish a mechanism to resolve disputes that may arise from the implementation of GST law between the Centre and states or between states, it hoped. New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the murder of Hanif Kadawala, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, who gave an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt. The CBI has also registered a case against Chhota Rajan and his accomplices in connection with Kadawala's murder. The victim, who transported weapons used in 1993 blasts to Mumbai on the instructions of Tiger Menon, was killed on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. It was alleged that Kadawala along with another accomplice had hid the consignment of weapons used in the blasts in the garage of Dutt's house. Jamshedpur: Congress on Saturday demanded action against former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who was released from Bhagalpur Jail early this month after 11 years, with regard to a triple murder case pending in the local court for last 27 years. The East Singhbhum district administration should take appropriate steps to produce an eye-witness Barmeshwar Pathak, who was currently deputed as Sub-Inspector in Bihar Police, in the local court in connection with the triple murder case in the steel city here in late 1980s, AICC spokesman Ajoy Kumar said. Kumar, who had served as a Superintendent of Police in mid-1990s here and also represented Jamshedpur Parliamentary constituency, said it was not a difficult task for the district administration to find out Pathak and produce him before the local court to record his statement in connection with the killing of a scrap dealer Anand Rao, his aide Janardhan Choubey and the East Singhbhum district Youth Congress President Pradip Mishra. RJD strongman Shahabuddin was an accused in the case and was supposed to appear before the court here soon after his release from Bhagalpur jail in regard with the case, Kumar claimed. However, Shahabuddin did not turn up. If the district administration fails to locate Pathak and bring him for production here, it would mean the triple murder case accused was being shielded, he warned. The Deputy Commissioner of the district should also disclose whether he was under any sort of political pressure that prevented him from bringing Pathak for production, Kumar said. Apart from Kumar, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Sukhdeo Bhagat, former BPCC (Undivided Bihar) president and ex-minister Sarfraj Ahmed and former Jharkhand minister Dulal Bhuiyan were present in the press meet. Kozhikode (Kerala): Making a direct appeal to the people of Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he wanted to talk to them, and added the day is not far off when the Pakistani people will wage a battle against their rulers and against terrorism. In his first public speech since the Uri terror attack in which 18 soldiers were killed, Modi hit out at the "rulers" of Pakistan for "exporting terror" to the world and said he wanted to talk directly to the people of the neighbouring country. Modi spoke firmly in his speech at the public rally here during the BJP national council meeting and made it clear that the sacrifice of lives of soldiers during the Uri incident will not go waste. In a dig at the speech of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the United Nations General Assembly, Modi said "the world has no hope from leaders" who read speeches written by patrons of terrorism - referring to Rawalpindi - the Pakistan army headquarters which is widely believed to have written the script. "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 said he wanted to ask the people of Pakistan that their leaders had talked of waging a 1,000 year war with India." "Today there is such a government is Delhi. I am ready to accept your challenge," he said. "I want to tell the people of Pakistan - India is ready to fight a war you. Let's fight who is able to finish poverty first. Youth of Pakistan, let us fight to see if India is first able to end unemployment, or Pakistan. Let us see who wins the battle to end illiteracy," Modi said. Modi said there was problem of infant and maternal mortality in both India and Pakistan. "Let us see who wins (the battle against it"," he said. "Rulers of Pakistan listen, the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go waste. India has been successful in isolating you. We will accelerate (these efforts) and will force you to be left alone in the world. "That day is not far when people of Pakistan will take to streets to wage a battle against the rulers of Pakistan and against terrorism," Modi said. Miami Paramount Miami Worldcenter <strong></strong> <strong></strong> Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina Australia tightened its requirements Hudson Yards Lawyer Ronald Fieldstone spends 50% of his time dealing with EB-5 cases created in 1990 EU passport for 650,000 10,000 Annual limit for EB-5 visas, which was reached for the first time in 2014 Shutdown threat found $15.5bn Value of investments through the EB-5 scheme, which has created 84,400 Jobs Hotting up Developers A condominium development in Florida Getty China Eastern Airlines China Southern Airlines Hainan Airlines Eyes on Cuba 86% Proportion of applicants for EB-5 visas that were Chinese investors Regulation: Offshore marketing raises concerns on oversight Kozhikode: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India will ratify the Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. Speaking on the third and final day of BJP National Council Meeting in Kozhikode, PM Modi addressed the BJP on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of the former president of the Jan Sangh Deen Dayal Upadhayaya. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive meet here. PM Modi spoke on a range of issues including the Muslims and said, "Deendayal Upadhyaya ji said, Muslims should not be treated as substance for votes or looked down upon, they should be treated equally." While talking about life and contribution of Upadhyay, Modi quoted him as saying, "don't reward nor rebuke Muslims. Empower them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own." PM Modi - while talking about global warming - invoked Deen Dayal Upadyaya's legacy. "Today people discuss Global warming, but Deendayal Upadhyaya ji back then used to say that we should respect our resources," he said. PM Modi also used the opportunity to speak on the election procedure in India and said, "There is a need for a discussion to bring in a change in the procedure of elections in our country." In the UN climate change conference COP 21 in Paris, 195 countries adopted the first universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020. New Delhi: With the Cabinet approving the merger of Railway Budget with General Budget, the parliamentary panel on finance has decided to 'examine' the move along with its "ramifications thereof". Ending a 92-year-old practice, the Cabinet had decided to scrap a separate budget for railways and merge it with General Budget, presentation of which would be advanced to spur spending and boost the economy. The Committee on Finance has selected the "Budgetary Reforms including Merger of Railways Budget with General Budget -- Ramifications thereof," according to the Lok Sabha bulletin dated September 22. As part of a major overhaul of the budget process, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also decided to do away with classifications of expenditure into Plan and Non-Plan, making the exercise simpler. To facilitate early presentation of the Budget, the finance ministry had proposed that the Budget Session of Parliament be convened sometime before January 25, a month ahead of the current practice. The parliamentary panel, headed by the Congress MP M Veerappa Moily, will review all budgetary reforms. The panel move comes after the Congress termed the decision cosmetic, superficial and non-substantive. Besides the budget, the panel has also selected to review the disinvestment policy, banking sector in the country, Reserve Bank of India's emerging role and its framework. The committee will also review the performance of regulatory bodies -- Securities Board of India (SEBI), Competition Commission of India (CCI) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). Similarly, the performance of other bodies- Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd (SHCIL), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) - will also be reviewed. The panel will also evaluate the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Central Statistical Office (CSO) and streamlining of statistics collection machinery in the country. Palanpur: 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 on Saturday. Six persons were arrested under the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the police added. According to the FIR lodged by Nilesh Ranwasia, a group of around 10 people from the 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, the 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. Mumbai: Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday said artistes were beyond religion and country and there should be a difference between war and art. "Artists are only artists irrespective of their religion and country. They inspire others. I think there should be a difference between war and art," he said at an event to unveil the trailer of his biopic "Anna: Kisan Baburao Hazare" to a question on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's threat to Pakistani artistes working in India to return home within 48 hours. "We should not detest art. But if an artist is harming our country in some way, then definitely we won't tolerate that," he said. Condemning the recent killing of 18 Indian soldiers in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Hazare, who had seen action in the 1965 India-Pakistan war during his military service, said: "Being a neighbouring country, Pakistan should not do any harm to us. However, this is not the first time and repeatedly they are trying to damage our country. "If they don't want to hear, I think it's time to fight. Even I am 79, I am still ready to go to the border and fight." Hazare's biopic is directed by Shashank Udapurkar, who himself has portrayed Anna Hazare in the movie. Shashank, who has resembles the activist, has shot the film in Anna Hazare's native place, Ralegan Siddhi. The biopic delves into certain incidents from the childhood of the social activist and his fight against corruption. The film, also starring Tanisha Mukherjee, Govind Namdeo, Sharat Saxena and Rajit Kapoor, hits the screens on October 14. Los Angeles: 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. Kozhikode: BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday lambasted Pakistan and said that the government is determined to give a befitting reply to Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism, at the BJP National Council Meeting, BJP president Amit Shah also utilised the stage to hit out at Pakistan. "We condemn the attack on Uri where 18 soldiers were martyred. This is sponsored by Pakistan. Pakistan is supporting terrorism. India has been a victim of this," said Shah. Talking about the current crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, Amit Shah fairly and squarely blamed Pakistan. "Situation in J&K is also because of Pakistan. Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN shows that Pakistan is supporting terrorism since beginning, he glorified terrorist Burhan wani as a leader," he said. Amit Shah also urged all the political parties to join hands in this fight against terrorism. "We appeal everyone including other political parties to come together and help the Govt and Army in their fight against terrorism," he said. Shah also stated that no matter how long it takes, India will win the fight against terrorism and Pakistan will be exposed. Meanwhile, Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit denied any involvement of Pakistan in the Uri attack. "Pakistan has nothing to do with Uri attack. War is not a solution, war creates more problems," said Basit in an inyterview to an Indian newspaper. Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir, and criticised India for blaming Pakistan "without any evidence". Speaking on the last day of the two-day long BJP National Council Meet in Kozhikode, Kerala, Shah referred to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya - an RSS member and former President of Jan Sangha - as "an alternative thinker, who, when everyone was busy with communism, capitalism, came up with an ideology of 'humanism'". He thanked and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, who was present at the meet. Upadhyaya, a politician, philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist was born on September 25, 1916 in Uttar Pradesh. He served as the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1967 until his death in 1968. Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of irresponsible behaviour by making provocative statements that it was exporting terror, saying his remarks were part of a well thought out vilification campaign to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan foreign office said in a statement Modi in a public meeting in Kerala tried to malign Pakistan. "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable, the foreign office said. It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated by its forces in Kashmir against innocent and defenseless Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The atrocities in Kashmir intensified since the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistans reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sundays deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. 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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asias, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan foreign office statement alleged, In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands. The foreign office claimed that the international community has taken notice of these blatant human rights violations with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), the statement said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' on Sunday said the people of Kashmir want normalcy and that farmers there were worried for their crops. In his reference to the current unrest in Kashmir, Modi said People have begun recognising anti-state players there. "Farmers who had grown fruits were also worried to get their crops to the market," he said. Stating that administration has taken steps to maintain law and order, Modi also asked local authorities to stay cautious and restrain. "Our resources are their to give a peaceful life to the Kashmiri people," he said. Recalling last week's Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on said he is proud of the Army which does not speak but act. He added, "Army doesn't speak but shows valour through its act". "Recently our 18 bravehearts laid down their lives in Uri. Such a cowardice attack was enough to stir the nation. I am sure that our soldiers would keep foiling such acts in the future," Modi said in his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' address. Prime Minster Narendra Modi also encouraged people to buy products made of Khadi this Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) to support the poor. "I always encourage people to buy Khadi. Lets buy products made of Khadi to commemorate this Gandhi Jayanti which would contribute to the poor involved in this trade," PM Modi said "Peace, unity and goodwill are the keys to our problems and path to progress," the Prime Minister added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the third and final day of BJP National Council Meeting is addressing the people on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of RSS ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhayaya. PM Modi had on Saturday accused Pakistan of exporting terror around the world and said that the day is not far when people of Pakistan would revolt against the government. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here. In the run-up to its national council in neighbouring Kozhikode, the BJP has been raising the pitch on the political attacks in Kannur. But figures since 1991 show that of the 104 political deaths reported in Kannur, 42 victims belonged to CPM and 41 were from BJP-RSS. This heightened campaign has created a dilemma for the CPM state leadership which wants to have a good working relationship with the PMO. Recently CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had courted controversy by saying at a public funtion: "Anyone who comes to attack us should not go back in the same shape. For that we should give physical training to our youngsters. Political analysts like K A Antony holds both parties responsible for the violence. They are infamously called the Killing Fields of Kannur.In this northern district of Kerala, cadres occasionally settle political scores by cold-bloodedly hacking down their rivals with curved Malabar machetes right in front of their family or friends.Sometimes a mindless orgy of violence can last for days. The main players in this episodic blood-letting are the Marxists and the RSS-BJP. The CPM has a strong base in the Malabar region and the saffron party is desperately trying to gain a toehold.A team of party MP's headed by Bhupendra Yadav visted the state recently and called for an impartial probe into the political murders. And at the national council, party president Amit Shah accused the state government of "giving patronage" to those who attacked Sangh workers.But is there really a surge in the number of political deaths in Kannur since the Left Democratic Front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan came to power? And is that the reason why the BJP scaled up the issue at the national level?"In the CPM strongholds if someone joins our party they are being attacked. It has happened many times and most of the time we do not get justice from the state government," says former BJP state president V Muraleedharan who alleges the main problem is that the Marxists don't let others function in their strongholds.Most political analysts too aver that both sides are equally responsible for the violence. Behind the BJP national leadership's increasing focus on this region is the realisaton that if the party has to make dramatic strides in Kerala it has to take on the CPM directly.That is because in Kerala the CPM is essentially the Hindu party, with a strong base among the Ezhavas whom the BJP seeks to woo. The other reason is that the Congress is down because of internal bickering and this is the prefect opportunity to take some of the opposition space."The BJP is trying to play victim and trying to portray CPM as the one who supports violence. Before 2014 the BJP had not utilised this politically .But now they are trying to use this opportunity and target the vote base of the CPM," says political analyst J Prabash.As RSS-BJP ramp up their campaign in the red bastions, the CPM cannot be seen as compromising on aggro. Besides making the right political noises, they also have to make the right tactical moves - like, as per the quiet admission of a state committee member, giving the education ministry to a member of the majority community to blunt the Sangh campaign that the portfolio is always in the hands of Christians or Muslims.The BJP and the Congress saw it as an open call for violence. Political analysts say that even when BJP tries to play victim they are comfortably forgetting the fact that CPM workers are also being attacked and murdered.Last month a BJP-RSS worker, died in an explosion at his own house. Police say he was was handling explosives; either making country bombs or transporting them.While BJP leaders claim it's the increasing popularity of the party that is provoking red cadres, the CPM alleges rising tensions are because the BJP is attempting polarising tactics."They are trying to create their space in Kerala... For BJP to grow they need to create communal tension and the party sees CPM as its obstacle," says A N Shamseer, MLA and CPM's Kannur District committee member."Since CPM is in power here the BJP is trying to create and impression among the people that their cadre are not safe. It's trying to make more inroads in the state by next election," Antony says.Congress state president V M Sudheeran says, "Both parties are equally responsible for the politics of violence. As far as Kerala is concerned both CPM and BJP are a threat to the peaceful way of life of the people."In recent times police have carried out several raids and seized steel bombs and swords. But heightened action by law enforcement agencies alone cannot, as recent times have shown, end the culture of violence in Kannur.As the BJP continues to hack away at one of the last remaining red bastions in the country the political battles are likely to get increasingly bloodier. We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today The gay rights activist wearing a Hillary Clinton mask and a Star of David necklace sat behind a placard that read "Trump vs Tramp." Bob Kunst of Florida waved Saturday afternoon at fellow supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as they began to file into the Berglund Center coliseum in anticipation of a rally set for 6 p.m. Kunst, a self-described Democrat who said he once campaigned for Hillary Clinton, characterized the Trump supporters filing in as a "mish-mash crowd" of people who might not ordinarily hang out together. Yet even though there was a wide range of ages among those lined up for the rally, there seemed to be more similarities among supporters than differences. For one thing, the crowd in the early, sweltering afternoon was overwhelmingly white. Most people who were interviewed declared a history of voting for Republicans for president, although many described a disdain for politicians in general. A few people, including Robert Marra of Roanoke, playfully adopted the "deplorables" label uttered earlier this month by Hillary Clinton to describe half of Trump's supporters. Marra's T-shirt read, "I May Be Deplorable But At Least I'm Not Liberal." Another man wore a T-shirt that read, "Deplorable Lives Matter." Many who lined up to hear the business mogul voiced a distrust for the media and described the political process as corrupt. Time and again Trump supporters said they appreciated the candidate's candor and the lack of political correctness they said propels him to say things people are thinking but afraid to say about issues like illegal immigration and law enforcement. Annie Lin and her son, Jerry Wu, of Salem, were first to arrive Saturday to get in line for the rally. Lin said they lined up around 4:30 a.m. She said she supports Trump "because he said he can make America great." Roanoker Robbie Jones, along with Jacob, his 12-year-old son, and other family arrived around 6:30 a.m. to ensure a good vantage point for the rally. They were in the crowd for Trump's campaign stop at the Hotel Roanoke in July, when Jacob asked Trump about the wall he talks of erecting to discourage illegal immigration from Mexico. Robbie Jones said he believes Trump has a good chance of winning the election "as long as he stays on point." He said the candidate should avoid making personal attacks on Clinton. "People don't want to hear that anymore," he said. Yet Clinton bashing was alive and well amidst the T-shirts and other items for sale by non-campaign affiliated vendors lined up along Williamson Road. One T-shirt read, "Trump the B----." Vendor Ed Landmichl of Chicago sold a doctored photo of Clinton that read, "Hillary is the Devil." Landmichl noted that his wares were all made in America and that many of the T-shirts and caps sold by other vendors were not. Hats at one vendor's table that read "Make America Great Again" were made in China, according to the label. And T-shirts with the same message were made in places like Honduras, El Salvador and Dominican Republic. In line for the rally, Charlie Levier of Roanoke County wore a Trump T-shirt that read, "Finally Someone With Balls." Levier said he backed Trump because "he's not a politician and I'm tired of politicians." Levier and many others outside the coliseum, including at least three vendors who were black, disputed allegations that Trump is a racist. Vendor Rick Moss said, "He's a businessman. He's a capitalist." Moss sold a set of Trump shot glasses to one man, noting, "You'll be toasting real soon." Some people in line said they believe Trump will win in November because he has many thousands of supporters in the country who are wary of openly declaring their preference. Julie Ford, her husband and friends drove up from Nashville, Tennessee, for the rally. She said her vehicle had been vandalized in Nashville because it featured a bumper sticker that described Clinton as a liar. She said the sticker was partially torn off her vehicle, which she said also was "keyed" by the vandal or vandals. Dwayne Baxley of Salem said his support for Trump does not mean that he is antagonistic toward someone who is not. He said he favors Trump because he is struck by the candidate's enthusiasm and a message for the future that feels positive and hopeful. Baxley said he has two children in their teens and is worried about the world they will inherit. Tina Maxie of Roanoke said she works two jobs and believes that Trump will, in fact, make America great again. Maxie slammed President Barack Obama. "I really think he took the presidency to destroy America and he's doing a right good job of it," she said. "I think he's Muslim. I think he's a terrorist himself." Soon after the coliseum doors opened, which happened earlier than the 3 p.m. time predicted, Sam Gonzalez and his mother, Salome, arrived for the rally. They had traveled from New Jersey to attend. Sam Gonzalez said he supports Trump because the candidate is a businessman who he believes will avoid the traps that sometimes snare career politicians and divert them from doing their jobs. He said he does not believe Trump is a racist. "The media gets things wrong," Gonzalez said. A block away, at the busy intersection of Orange Avenue and Williamson Road, a modest gathering of anti-Trump protesters chanted and waved signs at passing cars. One young man held a sign scribbled with "Virginia is for lovers, not haters." Another woman toted a sign reading "Did you vote for George H. Bush? He is voting against Trump." The group was a mix of staunch Clinton fans and people who were still on the fence of what candidate to vote for, but they definitely didn't intend to vote for Trump. "Donald Trump is a disgrace," said Shelea Haskins. Rick Howell, a labor union member from Roanoke who intends to vote for Clinton, attended the last anti-Trump protest in the city when the presidential candidate held an event at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. "I don't intend to let him come to this city without a counter-rally," Howell said. "We have to respond, or evil will win." Staff writer Amy Friedenberger contributed to this report. Suspected Chelsea bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami may have learned how to make explosives thanks to instructions in al-Qaeda's premiere magazine. BuzzFeed got a look at a packet put together by the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Bombing Prevention which contains a spreadsheet comparing the four attempted bombing incidents he has been accused of perpetrating with several issues of al-Qaeda's Inspire magazine. While each one of the explosivestwo planted in Chelsea, plus one each in Seaside Heights and Elizabeth, NJ were constructed differently, all seemed to follow bomb-making tips given in the magazine. BuzzFeed writes: "Two of the attempted bombings involved pipe bombs and two were pressure cookers. Some used modified Christmas tree lights and cell phones, while one of the pressure cooker bombs used a binary explosive or two different chemicals that, alone, are not dangerous, but will ignite when combined." Rahami apparently praised Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda and ISIS in a journal that was found after his arrest. The Guardian also reported this weekend that Rahami spent three weeks at a religious seminary tied to the Afghan Taliban during a 2011 trip to Pakistan. After that trip, friends noticed a marked change in Rahami's personality and increase in religious devotion. Rahami has been charged with bombing a public place and using weapons of mass destruction. As of this weekend, he has not yet seen a lawyer, and a public defender in New Jersey says he was denied access to Rahami by a prosecutor. Investigators are still looking into whether Rahami had any help with the bombings: "To me, it seems likely that other people knew, given how open he was about this and he exploded a bomb in his backyard," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, who said Rahami's family is being closely checked. "But [investigators] havent come to a conclusion." He added that he doesnt think Rahami was encouraged by ISIS to carry out the attack: "Might he have been influenced by foreign terrorists? Yes. He might have been, but they have no evidence that he was urged to do this specific act at this specific time in any way," Schumer said. Woman: My Dad Was Serial Killer; I Helped Bury the Bodies in case you missed it advertisement Superheroes Keep Romance at Bay box office First They Found Her Sandals, Then a Bloated Snake in case you missed it advertisement Obama Heckled as He Talks About Political Civility video For 77 Years, Nobody Noticed It Was Hanging Upside Down in case you missed it advertisement Town Balks at $110M Mansion Teardown: 'It's Kind of Gross' IN CASE YOU MISSED IT State Watchdog Agrees With NTSB on Blame in Limo Crash updated advertisement Stampede at Halloween Event Kills at Least 146 in Seoul updated Airline Gets Creative in Getting Travelers to Take Middle Seat IN CASE YOU MISSED IT The Cardboard Box Just Got Political longform advertisement advertisement Sisters' Claim About Sacheen Littlefeather Raises Eyebrows IN CASE YOU MISSED IT advertisement (Newser) For the 15th time in a row, the New York Times is endorsing a Democrat for president of the United States, a predictable pick it acknowledges would be "an empty exercise" if it simply gave credence to Clinton supporters. Instead, it takes aim at those balking at voting for Clintonthose reluctant to vote for an establishment candidate, an establishment Clinton, or an establishment Democrat in an era of "an establishment that seems indifferent and a political system that seems broken"and makes the case for Clinton on her merits, because, as the editorial board writes, "the best case for Hillary Clinton cannot be, and is not, that she isnt Donald Trump." The board sees a candidate "defined more by incremental successes than by moments of transformational change," who "has evinced a lamentable penchant for secrecy and made a poor decision to rely on a private email server," and is perplexingly inept at laying out "the full pattern of her record." Still, the Times argues, Clinton's record is there and 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." Her dozen years as senator and secretary of state showcase "a reputation for grit and bipartisan collaboration," and "a command of policy and diplomatic nuance and an ability to listen to constituents and colleagues that are all too exceptional in Washington." She's "a realist who believes America cannot simply withdraw behind oceans and walls," and seeks the Oval Office at a time when we "are living in a world darkened" by terrorist threats. Concludes the Times, "Through war and recession, Americans born since 9/11 have had to grow up fast, and they deserve a grown-up president." The full piece is here. (Read more Hillary Clinton stories.) (Newser) Update: Kevin Dugar is out of prison for the first time nearly 20 years after a bizarre twist in his case. Dugar was convicted of murder, but he was released from Cook County jail in Chicago on Wednesday because his identical twin brother belatedly confessed to the crime, reports Fox News. Prosecutors say they think the brother, Karl Smith, falsely confessed because he was imprisoned for life anyway in a separate crime. However, Dugar's conviction has been reversed, and it was not immediately clear whether Dugar would be retried. Our original story from 2016 follows: Karl Smith took the witness stand last week in Illinois and dropped a bomb on a Cook County courtroom as the twin brother he hadn't seen in years looked on: "I'm here to confess to a crime I committed that he was wrongly accused of," Smith said. The part of the story that makes it especially dicey, reports the Chicago Tribune, is that Smith's identical twin, Kevin Dugar, has been jailed for the murder of a rival gang member since 2003. (The brothers have different last names because Smith adopted his mother's maiden name.) Authorities are skeptical, however. They say Smith is falsely confessing because he has exhausted his own appeal of a 99-year sentence for a 2008 home invasion and figures he may as well take the fall for his bother. Smith's "got nothing to lose," an assistant state's attorney says, adding that the confession doesn't mesh with eyewitness accounts. Smith, though, says he let his brother sit in prison because "I didn't have the strength to come forward" and because "I thought it was the job of the police to catch me." He contends that he decided to come forward after a religious conversion. A judge will decide if Dugar will get a new trial. Says Smith's mother: "He wouldn't lie about that." The bizarre nature of the case is drawing widespread attention, with coverage in the American Bar Association's ABA Journal and oversesa outlets including ITV News ("shocking") Australia's Perth Now ("stunning"). (In France, authorities struggled to figure out which twin was a rapist.) (Newser) Authorities say seven people have been injured in an apparent fight in Boston's Theater District, the AP reports. The Boston Globe reports that Bernard O'Rourke, police superintendent of the bureau of field services, said officers responded to a report of a fight about 2:15am Sunday in the district, where bars and restaurants cater to nightlife crowds and had just closed. Police say people were stabbed with knives or bottles. Four of the victims were transported to receive medical treatment, while the other three walked into hospitals on their own, a police spokesman tells the Globe. Another police spokesman on Sunday afternoon told the AP the injuries appear to be non-life-threatening; earlier reports had said one person was critically injured. O'Rourke has said a suspect has been IDedand per RT.com, that suspect was one of the wounded. Police are said to be seeking a second suspect. Emerson College, which has facilities in the area, alerted students to the incident in a Facebook post. The school has asked students to report any suspicious activity. (The accused attacker at a Minnesota mall was said to be "the most assimilated kid in the neighborhood.") (Newser) Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump set up Sunday meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the eve of their first big debate, the AP reportsand Trump, who met with Netanyahu first in New York City, made a big promise to the PM that would mark a "potential dramatic shift in US policy," as Reuters frames it. Although Israel refers to the city of Jerusalem as its capital, most other nations, including the US, don't, choosing to keep embassies in Tel Aviv instead. But Trump reportedly told Netanyahu all that would change if he makes it into the White House, noting that "Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3,000 years" and that the US, "under a Trump administration, will recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel," according to a statement from Trump's campaign, per Al Jazeera. Reuters notes that the Palestinians want to claim East Jerusalemwhich Israel nabbed in the 1967 war and annexed in 1980for themselves for when they eventually set up their own state next to Israel. But in the private meeting with Netanyahu, Trump is said to have noted that "Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism" and that "peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State." What Trump is using to back up his push: a law passed by Congress in 1995 that called for all of Jerusalem to be recognized as Israel's capital, though Al Jazeera points out no president from either major party has ever put the law into effect, as it would cut into the executive branch's sway over foreign policy. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Scattered flurries and snow showers. High 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low -2F. Winds light and variable. Police have identified a suspect in the fatal hit and run in Sheepshead Bay on Friday night that left 28-year-old Francis Perez dead. The suspected driver in the collision is Brian Young, a 47-year-old Brooklyn resident whom cops describe as being 6'0" tall, with blue eyes, brown hair and light complexion, and who lives around the corner from the fatal crash scene. Police told the Daily News that Young's car was found parked two blocks from the crash and that Young's mother identified the car as belonging to him. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then entering TIP577. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Saturday night said that Pakistans discourse has no takers in United Nations. Indias version stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was accepted by the world because it is the honest truth, said MoS MEA. Responding to question on Pakistans denial of proof of its involvement in Uri attacks, MJ Akbar said, Sure there are at least 1-2 scientists in Pak, if they examine DNA samples (of terrorists). They (Pakistan) will get proof of Pathankot and Uri attack. Pakistan can fool its own people but not the World, he said. Meanwhile, EAM Sushma Swaraj reached New York late on Saturday night. She will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. Swaraj is expected to present evidence of Pakistan's involvement in recent terrorist attacks on Indian soil to the assembly. Earlier on Thursday, MJ Akbar said, We cannot have prosperity without peace, and the principal threat to peace now is terrorism. The poor are the most vulnerable victims of terrorism, not least because conflict leads to devastation. Speaking at a high-level segment on Right to Development, he said the challenge of the 21st century is to seek peace in all its dimensions and there is no peace greater than peace of mind. Food, shelter and an economic future are fundamental human rights. They must become the new normal in every corner of the globe, he said. Akbar stressed that the developed world must help make global governance more democratic and equitable while nation states do all within their powers to bring education, healthcare, sanitation, housing, employment to their peoples, the international community, especially. He said there is need for new mechanisms such as a Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development to strengthen the work of the Human Rights Council on the Right to Development particularly in the context of 2030 Agenda with a view to strengthening international cooperation on this issue. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reached New York late on Saturday night. She will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. Swaraj will spearhead India's charge at the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to present evidence of Pakistan's involvement in recent terrorist attacks on Indian soil to the assembly. Leading Indias delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Also read: Watch: Pakistans discourse has no takers in United Nations, says MJ Akbar Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharifs UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. Indias strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining Indias focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Indias envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the primary concern for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here Friday that the whole world and the entire nation is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver Indias vision document for the 71st UNGA. We are all looking forward to that, he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swarajsaddress but said the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community. Swarup said one can also expect a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security. Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. NewDelhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he stated that the state will move an application before the Supreme Court on Monday seeking changes in the apex courts order of September 20 on the Cauvery issue. Siddaramaiah has informed PM Modi about the resolution passed by both the Houses of the Legislature on Friday. He stated that the petition will modify schedule of Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu. Earlier The Supreme Court, in its interim order on September 20, had directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu upto September 27. The state legislature on Friday passed a resolution directing that the state government should not draw water from the existing storage in the four reservoirs of the state, and save the water to meet the drinking water needs of the towns and villages in Cauvery basin and for Bengaluru. The letter also states that The government has no intention to disregard any of the orders of the Supreme Court,. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Senaas 48hour deadline for Pakistan actors to leave India will end at 12:30pm on Sunday. The party workers are planning to stage protests outside the office of Karan Johar and Farahan Akhtar, the producers of Pak actor starrer films aAe Dil Ha Mushkila and aRaeesa respectively.A The film workersa association of MNS on Friday aordereda all Pakistani actors working in India to leave the country in 48 hours. Our 48 hours ultimatum is over and there is no Pakistani artists in Mumbai right now: Amey Khopkar, MNS pic.twitter.com/I64kwLC8cd a ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2016 Party spokesperson Shalini Thackeray said if the artists continued to work in the city, athe MNS will stop their shoots mid-way. Moreover, the party activists will see to it that films starring Pakistani artistes are not released in Mumbai and in the state as well.a aWe gave a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or the MNS will push them out,a Amey Khopkar of the MNS Chitrapat Sena remarked. However, Mumbai police on Saturday ensured that Pakistani actors with proper papers will be provided security against the threat if required. aAll foreign nationals, who are in Mumbai on valid documents provided by the government of India, need not worry. We will provide adequate protection as and when required,a Deven Bharti, joint commissioner of police, Mumbai said. According to reports, none of the Pakistani actors are in India except one Pak comedian Shakeel.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Contacting aliens, especially those more technologically advanced than humans could be dangerous for humanity, warned British physicist Stephen Hawking in a new online film. The author of all-time international bestseller A Brief History of Time, Hawking equated humans first contact with an advanced civilisation to Native Americans first encounter with Christopher Columbus. Things didnt turn out so well, Hawking said. The film, Stephen Hawkings Favourite Places, takes viewers to five significant locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft - the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16 light years away. One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back, he said.They will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria, Hawking warned. As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone. After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out, he was quoted as saying by The Guardian. It is not the first time Hawking has warned about the prospect of hostile aliens. Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, last year Hawking had suggested that any civilisation reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans. The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking, he said, in the film that appeared on the online platform CuriosityStream. (With PTI Inputs) For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on his monthly show Mann ki Baat. During his speech, PM Modi paid tribute to Indian Soldiers who lost their lives during terrorist attack in Uri on September 18. The Prime Minster also acknowledged the achievements of Indian Paralympics medallists and participants along with success of Swachh Bharat Mission. Here are the 10 Highlights of PM Modis address in Mann ki Baat 1. On Uri attack: We salute Indian soldiers because they do not talk but take action. It is administration's duty to protect people of Kashmir. Will not spare Uri attackers. 2. On Kashmiris: Unity, harmony and peace are the ways to resolve problems and move towards development in Kashmir. People are looking forward to restore their normal life and business. I urge security forces to remember that laws exist to protect people of Kashmir. 3. On Patriotism: India is beaming with patriotic sentiments these days. Similar patriotic sentiments existed when Lal Bahdur Shastri led India to 1965 war, it is then Shastri gave 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'. Also read: Mann ki Baat by PM Narendra Modi: Uri attacks, Paralympics, Swachh Bharat Mission highlighted 4. On Rio Paralympics 2016: India Paralympics medalists have changed our view towards Divyaangs. Every Indian has developed an emotional attachment with players, it has highlighted our humanity. The medallists have defeated disability through games. 5. On Swachh Bharat Mission: 2.48 Cr toilets built in the rural areas and 1.5 Cr more will be constructed in next year. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala are inching closer to ODF status. 6. Helpline number and app: Every Indian can now know about the status of Swachh Bharat Mission in their area through number 1969 and Swachhta app. The number 1969 has been chosen because Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 and this mission is dedicated to him. 7. On peoples contribution in SBM: On October 2 this year, you all can join cleanliness drive. You can devote 2-4 hours for it. Wing commander Paramveer Singh swam 2800 kms, from Dev Prayag to Ganga Sagar in order to spread message of cleanliness. 8. On Deen Dyal Upadhaya: Paid homage to Deen Dyal Upadhaya on his birth anniversary. 9. On Mann ki Baat 2nd anniversary: Started Mann ki Baat on this day two years ago, I hope that it never becomes a political battleground. Thank Indians who listen in to Mann ki Baat and respond through participating with letters, suggestions and actions. 10. On Durga Puja: Let's make the festival of shakti Durga Puja a symbol of unity and peace. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on his monthly show Mann ki Baat. During his speech, PM Modi paid tribute to Indian Soldiers who lost their lives during terrorist attack in Uri on September 18. Pakistans High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit does not believe that India and Pakistan are at verge of war.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reached New York late on Saturday night. She will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. Here are the top 5 news at 1pm on September 25. 1. PM Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat: Top 10 quotes Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on his monthly show Mann ki Baat. During his speech, PM Modi paid tribute to Indian Soldiers who lost their lives during terrorist attack in Uri on September 18. Here are the 10 Highlights of PM Modis address in Mann ki Baat. 2. We are in tough place but not thinking in war terms: Pak High Commissioner Basit Pakistans High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit does not believe that India and Pakistan are at verge of war. Instead, he has urged both nations to find a diplomatic solution. Speaking to The Telegraph in an interview, Basit said, I strongly believe Pakistan and India do not gain anything from creating hype. War is not a solution, war creates more problems. I would strongly urge that the problems we have should be solved through peaceful means... We should not allow war hysteria to dominate our narrative. 3. Sushma Swaraj reaches New York, to address UNGA on September 26 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reached New York late on Saturday night. She will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 26. Swaraj will spearhead India's charge at the United Nations General Assembly and is expected to present evidence of Pakistan's involvement in recent terrorist attacks on Indian soil to the assembly. 4. Watch: Pakistans discourse has no takers in United Nations, says MJ Akbar Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Saturday night said that Pakistans discourse has no takers in United Nations. Indias version stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was accepted by the world because it is the honest truth, said MoS MEA. 5. MNS 48hour deadline to Pak actors ends at 12:30pm; Party claims no Pak artists in Mumbai right now Maharashtra Navnirman Senas 48hour deadline for Pakistan actors to leave India will end at 12:30pm on Sunday. The party has claimed that there are no Pakistani actors in Mumbai right now. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Five-month pregnant Dalit woman and her family were assaulted for refusing to dispose of the carcass of a cow in a village in north Gujarat on Sunday, Six persons are arrested in this matter. The woman, her husband and the other injured have been admitted to the civil hospital in Palanpur. The arrested people belong to Kshatriya community, have been booked under prevention of atrocity act, rioting, intimidation and other charges. According to details available, Natavarsinh had asked Ms. Sangeeta and her family members to clear the carcass of a cow from his field. But the womans family refused, saying they have stopped the practice of disposing of dead animals. Ever since Una incident, Dalit community members have asserted that they will not dispose the remains of dead animals in the village. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bhartiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Sunday appealed for a collective response from all political parties against terrorism, We appeal everyone including other political parties to come together and help the govt and Army in their fight against terrorism. Speaking at the partys national council meet in Kozhikode, the BJP president also blasted Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharifs address at United Nations, Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN shows that Pak is supporting terrorism since beginning, he glorified terrorist Burhan Wani as a leader. Shah also condemned Uri terror attack and said that BJP is taking the very incident seriously. We strongly condemn the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers lost their lives. BJP is taking this incident very seriously. he said. On NDA governments performance Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given birth to ambitions in Indian people. Shah lauded BJP-led NDA governments efforts. He said that Modi has been able to maintain a government which has no stains of corruption. NDA has been able to create and maintain a corruption free government under Bhai Narendra Modi Ji, in two-year rule of this government there is no allegation of corruption. Lashing out at former United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Shah said, Sonia-Manmohans UPA government did corruptions after corruptions for 10 years. On upcoming elections BJP president also asked the party men to pull up socks for 2019 Lok Sabha election and asked party leadership to have a list of its most promising candidates who will stand the partys big test in 2019. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over failure to prevent terrorist attacks, BSP supremo Mayawati on Sunday said while he is advising Pakistan to concentrate on welfare of its people, he should also introspect on the working of his government. It is good to advice Pakistani counterpart to concentrate on welfare his people. PM should also introspect of working of his government. There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack. People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident, Mayawati told reporters here. People of the country are upset with the BJP government due to terrorist attacks on soldiers and want such incidents to end, Mayawati said and lamented that PM has failed to give any assurance to people of the country that such acts will not be repeated and our borders are safe.., there will be no terrorist inflitration..and none of your soldiers will have to sacrifice their lives due to terrorism. This is failure of the Centre to fulfill aspirations of the people, she added. She said instead of framing any long term policy to counter such attacks, Modi government is misleading the people and trying to divert attention by advising Pakistan to fight unemployment, poverty, illiteracy. The PM should also see that his record is bad on the fronts of eradicating poverty, controlling price rise and fighting illiteracy, she said adding that due to failure of BJP to fulfill its promises it had to taste humiliating defeats in Delhi, Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On Jammu and Kashmir, Mayawati said that the situation there could not be controlled in past three months due to which the people of the country are concerned. Alleging that PM Modi was trying to emotionally blackmail people ahead of Assembly polls, Mayawati said advising Pakistan was a political conspiracy and people of UP and Punjab should be aware of it. Addressing a rally in Kozhikode yesterday, Modi asked Pakistans people to question leaders of their country as to why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorism despite getting Independence together. Lashing out at the neighbouring country, the Prime Minister said its leaders used to say that they will fight for 1000 years with India and wondered where they were 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. Accusing Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of failing to check spread of Dengue and Chikangunia, Mayawati said common man were facing hardships but Samajwadi party is busy in Grihyuddh (family dispute). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sangareddy (Telangana): The death toll in rain-related incidents has gone up to eight in Telanganas Medak district with a factory worker allegedly getting drowned in flood water following heavy showers. Three deaths were yesterday reported from Medak, even as the Army was deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations. Besides, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. Anjanayelu (30), a native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was last night going on his bike to his workplace. However, while trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, which was overflowing due to heavy inflow of water in Paspaleru lake, he got swept away along with his bike, police said. Hathnoora Police Sub-Inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated soon after getting information but the body was yet to be retrieved. Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy had fallen inside a swelled water tank in Aroor village under Sadasivpet police station limits after he lost balance while taking stock of the water level of the tank. In Narayankhed, a 30-year-old man was washed away in heavy flow while he was trying to cross a stream by walk. Besides, a 28-year-old man was killed after he lost balance of his two-wheeler and was washed away while traversing through a water body near a village in Medak. With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief. Following instructions from the CM, a National Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue operations, if necessary. Besides, four columns of Army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. A total of 17 NDRF teams comprising over 550 personnel have been deployed by the Centre in the flood-affected regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. The central force has also deployed about 60 boats and teams of paramedics to help those stranded after the heavy rainfall in the last few days in these areas. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Srinagar: Curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir today but restrictions on assembly of people remained in force in most areas as a precautionary measures. The entire Kashmir Valley is curfew-free today but restrictions are in place in many parts as a precautionary measure, a police official said. He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation yesterday. There were no reports of any untoward incident from anywhere in the Valley today. Shops and other business establishments remained closed due to separatist call for shut down for the 79th straight day while public transport remained off the roads. However, markets are expected to open at 2 PM as the separatist groups have announced a 16-hour relaxation in the shutdown till 6 AM tomorrow. As many as 82 persons including two cops have been killed and thousands of others have been injured in the ongoing unrest that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander BurhanWani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty is in limbo as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting on Monday with Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti & senior officials to discuss the matter after the Uri attacks. PM Modi and officials will discuss the pros and cons of the treaty. Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. Meanwhile, the officials of the ministries of Water Resources and External Affairs denied any such knowledge of a meeting being convened by the Prime Minister. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Burlington: 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. As the small city absorbed the news, critical questions remained, including the shooters motive. Island County Sheriffs Lt Mike Hawley said he spotted Arcan Cetin from a patrol car yesterday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, and immediately recognised 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 US 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. 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 suspects arrest capped a frantic search following the slayings of five people the day before. The first 911 call came in just before 7.00 PM (local time)on a busy Friday 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. The fifth victim, a man, died in the early morning hours yesterday 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 yesterday at a news conference. Authorities said it now appears the rifle was brought into the mall from the suspects vehicle that was there, Mount Vernon police Lt Chris Cammock said yesterday 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 tomorrow. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indias surprise decision to ratify the key Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2 was welcomed by US on Sunday. We welcome the news India will join the #ParisAgreement October 2, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said. Congrats Prime Minister @narendramodi for your leadership to #ActOnClimate, Verma tweeted. Earlier, in a surprise move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he said while addressing BJPs National Council meet in Kozhikode, Kerala. Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhis life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. During the Paris climate meet in December last, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Talking about the need to ratify the COP21 decision, Modi said there is a looming threat due to global warming to many coastal countries and cities. Even Kerala, where the conclave was being held, is also a coastal area. While Western countries, including the US, had been supporting an early ratification of the pact, India had been seeking more time to complete its national processes as it fears that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects. The issue of India ratifying the Paris deal had come up for discussion between Prime Minister Modi and US President Barack Obama on the side-lines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos earlier this month. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: There were reports on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting on Monday on Indus water treaty but there was no official confirmation of that. The reports said that the meeting will look at the pros and cons of the treaty signed 56-years ago under which India and Pakistan share the waters from six rivers. The officials of the ministries of Water Resources and External Affairs denied any such knowledge of a meeting being convened by the Prime Minister. There have been consistent calls in India that the government scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week. Under the treaty, which was signed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hundreds of residents joined local politicians on Saturday to protest a proposed school rezoning they say would unnecessarily divide an Upper West Side community that has sent its children to the same elementary school for half a century. Residents of Lincoln Towers, a community of eight buildings with roughly 9,000 inhabitants, demanded the NYC Department of Education abandon proposals to send students from two buildings, 165 and 185 West End Avenue, eight blocks away to PS 191 on West 61st Street, which had previously been deemed persistently dangerous by the states education department in 2015 (the school was later removed from the list). The entire Lincoln Towers complex currently falls within the catchment area of PS 199, which is a block away on West 70th Street, and was recognized with a Blue Ribbon Award from the federal government in 2013 as one of the nations top schools. The issue has upset residents so much that one man from Lincoln Towers was nearly thrown out of a recent meeting. While current students from 165 and 185 WEA will remain at PS 199, the proposals will affect new kindergartners in 2017, as part of a continuous attempt to address overcrowding at PS 199 (the DOE dropped one unpopular rezoning plan last year). Speakers at the rally, who included Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, State Senator Brad Hoylman and a representative from Rep. Jerry Nadler's office, said the combined number of new students from 165 and 185 West End Avenue is just six per year (DOE director of planning Sarah Turchin estimated the number at ten students in July). That number is not nearly large enough to justify dividing a community, according to protestors, who chanted Community yes! Gerrymander no! and Makes no sense! The demonstrators gathered in front of 165 and 185, just a few hundred feet from the proposed border, which runs through a Lincoln Tower playground behind the buildings. This is a gerrymander of ludicrous proportions. Whoever came up with these lines should be given an F, said Sen. Hoylman. Why would you draw a line through a playground? 185 West End Avenue resident Elyse Reilly addresses the demonstration while holding her three-month-old son Hudson. Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (L) and State Senator Brad Hoylman (R) look on. (Josh Keefe/Gothamist) The DOE has unveiled two possible rezoning proposals for the Upper West Side, and plans on releasing a third at a meeting on Wednesday, September 28th. Both scenarios place 165 and 185 West End Avenue in the PS 191 catchment area, apart from the rest of the towers, while moving the school to a new building. Scenario A would open a new school in the current PS 191 building, while Scenario B would move PS 452, currently on 77th Street, 16 blocks south. The two plans would also shrink the PS 199 catchment area and increase the number of students at the school eligible for free lunch from seven percent to between 15 and 25 percent, according to the DOE. Speakers at the rally said they agreed with the goals of lowering and diversifying enrollment in PS 199, which is currently at 140 percent capacity. But they argued that residents of the 165 and 185 buildings should not be removed from the school while future luxury developments, including 200 Amsterdam, which will be the tallest building on the Upper West Side when completed, are staying in the zone. The proposal is a strangely shaped T that appears heavily gerrymandered so as to add six full blocks and numerous super luxury buildings not currently within the zone, said Elyse Reilly, 33, a Lincoln Towers resident and mother of a three-month-old son who will attend PS 191 under the DOE proposals. Its mysterious that our buildings would be carved out when new developments are in, including one which has not even been built yet. The DOE will select a plan for the rezoning in November, ending a contentious year-long rezoning process that Assemblymember Rosenthal called unnecessarily confrontational and opaque. We have yet to see from the DOE analytics that predict where the new kindergartners are coming from, Rosenthal said. Try to get an answer out of them. Its very difficult. Residents of Lincoln Towers have been sending their children to PS 199 since the development was completed in 1964 as part of Robert Mosess Lincoln Square Urban Renewal Project. First opened in 1963, PS 199 became an award-winning elementary school because of the efforts of the Lincoln Towers community, said Rochelle Shereff, a retired teacher who has lived in Lincoln Towers for 48 years. PS 199 and the Lincoln Towers. (Josh Keefe/Gothamist) This is a community, its been like this and we want to keep it that way, Shereff said, adding the rezoning would be terrible. I think its foolish. None of us understand why they are doing this, Shereff added. While residents on Saturday assembled to demand the DOE keep together what they described as a uniquely tight-knit New York community, they also expressed frustration with the DOEs handling of PS 191. That school has problems and it should have been fixed a long time ago. I feel bad for the people who have been going there, said Emily Ramsay, a resident of 165 West End Avenue and the mother of a PS 199 graduate and current fourth grader at the school. Its not right, the DOE should fix problems, and they havent been. The Community Education Council 3 meeting of the zoning committee is Wednesday, September 28th, at 6:30 p.m., in the auditorium of PS 166 (132 West 89th Street). Finally, after months of interminable campaigning and political posturing, the first general election presidential debate is upon us. Hillary Clinton, who has been preparing for this moment her entire life through tireless public service, will face off against Donald Trumpwho believes preparation is a character defectMonday at Hofstra University in the first of three presidential debates. Despite, or perhaps because of, the fact these debates are more soundbite incubator than substantive policy discussion, they will inevitably help decide what is ashockingly, horrifyinglyclose race. So you need to watch it! Even if you already know which way you're voting, it is a citizens duty to bear witness to the potential crumbling of her once-proud democracy. Theres a couple ways to do this: you can sit at home and yell at the TV (or YouTube or Facebook or Twitter) by yourself. Or you can go to your candidates website and find all sorts of debate watching parties hosted by similarly-minded peopleif your candidate is Clinton, that is. The link to Trump's debate party page is basically a 404 message. Make of this what you will. Below, check out a few more options for watching, boozing and laughing your way through the debate. Let jokes fill that space between you and Trump's ideas. UCB EAST The East Village location of the Upright Citizens Brigade is bringing in a panel of comedians, including writers from John Olivers Last Week Tonight, as well as the guy who sold Abbi a dildo on Broad City, to deliver pre- and post-debate commentary. UCB also promises participatory drinking games, which are the most democratic of all drinking games. 8 p.m. UCB Theatre East Village, 153 East 3rd Street. Tickets $10 Q.E.D QUEENS But maybe for you, laughs before and after the debate just arent an immediate enough form of catharsis. Perhaps you need comedic commentary between and during the debate's exchanges. Luckily, back in the nineties, Mystery Science Theater 3000 invented a system for creating comedy out of unbelievable narratives with over-the-top villains. At Q.E.D in Astoria, they are applying that same system of live commentary to the debates, with MST3K alum Frank Coniff, standup Christian Finnegan, who you might remember as the white guy in the Chappelle Show's Mad Real World sketch, and Someecards Myka Fox. 9 p.m. Q.E.D Astoria, 27-16 23rd Ave, Queens. Tickets $10 Doesn't know how to read email (Getty Images) CAROLINE'S ON BROADWAY Carolines comedy club also has the debate with live commentary, but this performance is likely to be a bit more liberal and profane. The hosts of the cult podcast Chapo Trap House, who Paste Magazine called vulgar, brilliant demigods of the new progressive left, will do their thing live during the debates, along with a special guest. 9 p.m. Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway. Tickets $15 EASTERN BLOC For those who think laughter is an an insufficient cure for end-of-the-Republic anxiety, you can always dance for Hillary. East Village gay club Eastern Bloc is hosting "The Politics of Dancing," which features a dance party immediately following the debate. The night is a fundraiser for the Hillary Victory Fund, and includes a performance by David Raleigh. 8 p.m. Eastern Bloc NYC. 505 E 6th St. Tickets $20 APOLLO THEATER If you are one of those centered and rational people who seek to dispel anxiety and fear through understanding, then you might want to head to Harlem's Apollo Theater. Before the debate, there'll be an interactive panel discussion with editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise Derek Dingle, political analyst Amy Holmes, The American Conservative's founding editor Scott McConnell and Univisions Marielo Salgado. There will also be performances by soul jazz violinist/vocalist Charisa the Violin Diva and string quartet Diverse Concert Artists. 7:30 p.m. Apollo Theater. 253 West 125th Street. Free with RSVP This guy (Getty Images) HUMBOLDT AND JACKSON Youd be forgiven if this seemingly endless election has eroded your patriotism. If thats the case, then the best recipe for the "lesser-of-two-evils" blues might be a decidedly pro-American debate event at Humboldt and Jackson in Williamsburg. The debate will be played on the giant projector in the event room while the staff hands out free old school congressional white wigs. Raffles will distract from the horror, as will half-off American wines and beers and $10 cocktails. And after the debates, there will be a feel-good pick-me-up: a screening of Rocky. Drink specials begin at 6 p.m. Humboldt and Jackson. 424 Humboldt Street, Brooklyn. Free WOMEN'S NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CLUB As a serious journalist, I do feel that I need to present both sides of every issue. And since we did present at least two liberal leaning events, I feel it is my duty to present a conservative alternative. Turns out, it's really hard to find a Trump event in NYC (especially when the Trump website is broken). But I did find an option for conservative women, or anyone looking for a masterclass in cognitive dissonance. The Women's National Republican Club is holding a debate watching party at their Midtown headquarters. There's a dress code, so if you decide to go, dress to impress Ann Coulter. 8 p.m. 3 West 51st Street. Must email to register as a guest Also, Miles in Bushwick will be serving free Cheetos during the debate, in honor of the Mr. Trump's jaundiced hue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY The new Naugatuck Valley Community College campus in downtown Danbury is a reality. I was excited when I heard there was going to be a new campus, but I also thought that maybe it was just a myth. I wasnt sure what to expect, NVCC student Maritza Lamonaco said. This turned out great. It feels more like a college now with the extra space and student lounge and multipurpose room. Theres more of a college feel to it. Lamonaco, a Danbury resident who is in her fourth semester at NVCC, tapped on the keys of her laptop in the student lounge last week as her friend Joshua Belle-Rzeczkowski sat quietly across the table. A group of female students sat in plush chairs along the far wall and discussed started clubs at the college. Large picture windows offered sweeping views of Main and West streets. I love the windows. Every class I have here has windows. That wasnt the case at the old location, said Rzeczkowski, also a Danbury resident. Its more welcoming here. Moving day was Monday and the campus opened to students on Tuesday. The first two weeks of classes were held at Danbury Library as the college prepared for the move. The new location in the Pershing Building at 190 Main St. on the corner of West Street is across the road from the former location at 183 Main St. NVCC occupies the second and third floors of the historic art deco building. The 20,000 square feet of space is significantly larger than the former location, which was about 6,000 square feet. This is a thriving community and there was a need for this, Antonio Santiago, associate dean of the Danbury campus, said. The expansion just made sense in this area. We had a good school and good services before, but now we can offer it the way it should be offered. NVCC first started offering courses in Danbury in 2009. A total of 389 students took courses that year. The Danbury campus now has 1,229 students, including 600 full-time, and enrollment has increased each year since 2009. We couldnt fit any more students in the old place, NVCC President Daisy Cocco De Filippis said. That 1,100 students took classes there last year was a miracle of creative programming. The new location features 12 classrooms, one of which has seating for more than 50 students, three computer labs, student lounge, a multipurpose room, faculty offices, three conference rooms, health lab, biology lab and preparatory room for the lab. The security desk and small lobby are located on the first floor. In addition, De Filippis said she will keep weekly office hours in the new location. The former space had four classrooms, a computer lab, health lab and lecture hall. The expanded space allows NVCC to offer courses previously not available in Danbury. The school now offers computer-aided graphic design courses thanks to the larger computer labs. The new biology labs allow NVCC to offer classes in human biology, physiology and anatomy. We couldnt offer science-based courses that required a lab before. This is a boon for the campus. Those classes all filled up in a snap, Santiago said. Before, students had to take lab classes in Waterbury, which is not always easy for students. The college announced over the summer a partnership with Peter Pan bus lines to offer NVCC students transportation between the Danbury and Waterbury campuses for $2 each way. De Filippis said the growth of the college in Danbury and the building of the new downtown campus have been community efforts. The impetus for creating the Danbury campus came in 2008 when De Filippis met with then-president of Western Connecticut State University James Schmotter. We agreed that Danbury needed a community college, De Filippis said. In addition to Western and the Danbury Library, De Filippis noted strong relationships with Mayor Mark Boughton, Henry Abbott Technical High School and Danbury High School. The city has been so supportive and we will contribute to the revitalization of downtown in a significant way, De Filippis said. Were very proud and grateful. Weve received help from so many people. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Boughton and other city officials is scheduled for Oct. 14. NVCC in Danbury offers business management, liberal arts and general studies degrees along with certificates in administrative support and business management. This is a big upgrade from what we had before, Santiago said. Its a big space but there is still a sense of community here. cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 State Democrats, in their effort to re-elect Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in the tight 2014 campaign, played fast and loose with election laws banning supplemental support for his campaign, an analysis of Federal Election Commission documents shows. A field worker who was paid more than $2,300 for knocking on doors in Bridgeport in the weeks before the 2014 election told Hearst Connecticut Media he worked exclusively for Malloys campaign. FEC records show, however, he was paid from the Democratic State Central Committees federal account, which is reserved for U.S. House and Senate races and get-out-the-vote efforts. Other state Democratic staffers were paid tens of thousands of dollars from that same account. Joel Rosario, 29, of Bridgeport, said recently he had not been contacted by any federal investigators, as have other Democratic staffers who have testified before a federal grand jury that is meeting in New Haven to examine Malloys campaign spending. In the job Rosario was referred to by a cousin and held for only a few weeks before the election, he knocked on doors and gave out Malloy campaign literature on the East Side of Bridgeport. He also oversaw a handful of other campaign canvassers and directed them to do the same, he said. Rosario did not, he insisted, give out any literature for Jim Himes, the Democratic congressman who was seeking re-election at the time. According to the Federal Election Commission, Rosario was paid entirely from the DSCCs federal account. Printing out turf, giving them to canvassers, entering the data, Rosario said, referring to the neighborhoods and addresses assigned to the campaign workers. The payment from the federal account was in apparent violation of state election law, Washington and Connecticut-based election watchdogs said. State candidates are prohibited from accepting money from contractors who have business with the state, but the same banned contractors can donate to the partys federal account. A Hearst analysis last year showed that the banned contractors contributed $1.1 million to the partys federal account during the 2014 election cycle. The backdoor funding would have violated the pledge Malloy made to forgo outside money when he accepted a $6.5 million public-financing grant. Its likely a violation of Connecticut state campaign finance law an illegal in-kind contribution from the party to the Malloy campaign, said Paul S. Ryan, deputy executive director of the Washington-based Campaign Legal Center. After a year-and-a-half-long court battle with the DSCC, the State Elections Enforcement Commission reached a June settlement in which the Democrats paid a $325,000 penalty and agreed to abide by tighter rules going forward. Grand jury investigation It is unclear whether the tactic of supplementing Malloys campaign staff with the DSCCs federal fund is an area of interest in the active federal grand jury probe into the partys fundraising activities in the 2014 race. The investigation started even before the election was held and the federal grand jury has been meeting for months. Its disappointing, said Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, an election and governmental transparency advocate. I would hope that it would be part of the Department of Justice investigation. The Citizens Election Program seems to be working very well on the legislative side, but the charges that the extra money goes into the governors race is really problematic. Connecticuts 2005 election reforms, adopted in the wake of former Gov. John Rowlands pay-to-play conviction, included public financing for General Assembly and top-of-the-ticket statewide races. They have won nationwide acclaim, but U.S. Supreme Court rulings in recent years have allowed hundreds of thousands of dollars in outside funding into General Assembly campaigns and millions more to flow into gubernatorial contests, including multimillion-dollar efforts by the Republican and Democratic governors associations. Ryan said he doubts the Democrats funding tactics violated federal law, which, unlike state law, doesnt require federal account funds to be used in federal elections. Increased staff There are hundreds of payroll records for the DSCC, whose staff increased to close to 100 during the 2014 election cycle, listed as paid from the federal account. Hearst Connecticut Media visited the homes and called many of those staffers to ask about the nature of their work. Erik R. Jansen was paid about $18,000 from the federal account between August and the end of December 2014, working in the DSCCs finance and communications units. It is unclear whether his workday was devoted exclusively to the Malloy effort. My apologies, but Im not going to discuss the investigation with members of the media for the time being, Jansen, now a law student in Los Angeles, replied in an email to a request for comment. Other former staffers in recent weeks have also declined comment, including Jordan A. Hegel, who was recently questioned by the New Haven-based federal grand jury, according to sources familiar with the federal investigation. Hegel worked in the partys financial unit, entering data, and was paid $7,929 from the partys federal account between July and the end of November 2014. Two other former staffers, Sandra Lyon and Meghan Meehan-Draper, were recently interviewed by FBI agents in Washington, where they now live, sources said. They have also declined comment. Between February and November 2014, Lyon was paid $37,466 from the DSCCs federal account, while Meehan-Draper was paid $27,801 from June through November 2014. Strengthening the party Michael Mandell, executive director of the Democratic State Central Committee says the party abided by the complicated federal reporting requirements. They were absolutely working for the governor, Mandell said. They were working for everybodys election, including the federal election, Congessman Jim Himes, Get Out The Vote, voter registration, voter identification, enhancing the partys data set, and also strengthening the party for the long haul. I dont accept the premise that state law was broken. The state Democrats battle with SEEC started when Republicans complained that Democrats transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars from their federal account for a mailer in support of Malloy. We voluntarily changed activity going forward to avoid it ever happening again, Mandell said. We were following whatever guidance given to us from the FEC. This area has been existing for both Democrats and Republicans for the last few elections. Quickmire, of Common Cause, said she believes that the General Assembly has to wade into the issue next year and do what it can to limit outside resources from flowing into future campaigns through loopholes. Thats not supposed to be going on, she said. Intern Gili Lipman contributed to this report In a world thats constantly changing, its nice to have a few constants. One of them, however, is blue-green algae. The oldest fossil weve ever found is one of blue-green algae, Larry Marsicano, executive director of the Candlewood Lake Authority said at a forum last week on the recent rise of the algae in area lakes. It was 3.5 billion years old. Marsicano spoke at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, which this year began a collaboration with the lake authority to study the algae which in full bloom is messy and possibly toxic at town and state beaches at Candlewood Lake and Lake Zoar. What the work found was that while there may have been noticeable algae blooms at those beaches this year, none of them were as serious as they looked none actually met the state standard 15 parts of algae per billion in a milliliter of water that requires a beach closing. But theres also evidence that everything from the tardy progress of the annual drawdowns at Candlewood Lake to the effects of climate change may be fostering these little microbes and their potential to create future messes. Were doing cutting edge research for Connecticut here, Marsicano said. Clearly, theres a lot more research thats needed. Blue-green algae isnt really algae. Its a family of bacteria cyanobacteria that just looks and acts like algae. It is profoundly adaptive. It can thrive in fresh and salt water and on land. In water, it can thrive at lower depths with little light. It can regulate its own buoyancy, rising and sinking in the water column. During winter, some cyanobacteria nestle in lake and ocean sediments, providing the seeds for the next years blooms. This year the authority collected water samples from both a tow and state beaches, but also at greater depths at several spots in the middle of Candlewood Lake. Edwin Wong, an associate professor of biology at Western, then used those samples to analyze the DNA of the algae in the water. His work allowed the authority to let towns know that, while there were small algae blooms happening, none of them posed a risk to the public. Along with their unsightly appearance, serious blue-green algae blooms can release toxins. These, in turn, can produce skin rashes, gastrointestinal problems and even neurological and liver damage. There are now studies looking at whether long-term exposure to cyanobacteria can be linked to a higher incidences of liver cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Lou Gehrigs Disease. But Wong said at the forum that its important to understand that not all cyanobacteria release toxins. Even the bacteria with the ability to release the toxins dont always pull the trigger, he said. Wong said when the bacteria does release the toxins, it does so under stress, as a way of surviving in its environment. The nasty side effects arent intentional. Its not thinking, Hey, I can poison something, Wong said. What his research did show is that in at least two locations in Candlewood Lake this year in New Milford and Sherman he found cyanobacteria with the gene to produce toxins at a depth of about one meter. Deeper down, at a depth of about five meters, the bacteria lacked that gene. Wong said this could mean the bacteria living higher in the water column may need the toxin-producing gene to deal with the stresses of more sunlight and heat. But thats also the part of the water where we spend most of our time, he said. Marsicano is now studying the water quality records the authority has collected for more than 30 years to better understand the blue-green algae blooms in Candlewood Lake. These blooms were more common in the 1980s, declined in the 1990s, then surged back in recent years. One theory, he said, is that recent drawdowns in the lake which are completed later, in January, rather than December are allowing more cyanobacteria to overwinter more successfully. Ecologists studying the life of lakes have also said climate change may cause the water columns in lakes to stratify more severely warm water on top, cold water on the bottom in summer. That seems to be happening in Candlewood, Marsicano said. That stratification in turn, means more pronounced algae blooms. People have to understand. This isnt a Candlewood problem, Marsicano said at the forum. It isnt a Connecticut problem. Its a global problem. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com Sydney R1 Tramcar #1995 which was in service from 1951 to 1958 Everyone wants a look Menus and table settings at the bar counter Bar stool counter seating Negroni $18 and Side Car $16 cocktails Pickled mussels with cured cabbage, celery and parsley $16 Grilled queso fresco, burnt leek and salted lime vinaigrette $14 Tartare of wagyu rump, creme fraiche, rocket, bottarga, crispy eschalot $18 Wood grilled octopus, manchego cream, garlic and lemon potatoes, dill $26 Smoked pigs head sausage, soft and crispy potatoes, plum sauce $24 Pearl barley, nutmeg, custard tart $14 Ginger malt loaf and brown butter ice cream $12 Sticky ginger malt loaf with brown butter ice cream Shop 115, 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge, Sydney Tel: +61 (02) 8624 3133 Opening hours Monday to Thursday 12pm-11pm Friday to Saturday 12pm-11.45pm Sunday 12pm-10pm First there was Bodega . Then came Porteno and Continental Deli . Now restaurateurs Ben Milgate, Elvis Abrahanowicz and Joseph Valore have openedat the newly redeveloped Tramsheds at Harold Park.The Rozelle Tram Depot opened in 1904 before finally closing in 1958. The heritage-listed building has now been transformed into a new shopping centre with a dozen high profile eateries.Restaurants include Butcher and the Farmer by Jared Ingersoll, Flour Eggs Water by A Tavola, Osaka Trading Co by the folk from Japanese small bar Tokyo Bird , and Garcon by The Little Marionette.Crowd favourites Gelato Messina and Belles Hot Chicken are joined by Egyptian street food restaurant Bekya and Dust Bakery , milling Australian grains onsite for breads and pizzas.Since its official opening to the public last Thursday, the site has been swarmed by curious locals. It's an impressive site to explore. The cavernous building is cleverly swathed in natural light, and a restored tramcar offers a respectful nod to its historic past.Expect crowds and new restaurants still finding their feet over the coming weeks. The swarm of people through the site over its opening weekend was non-stop.We checked outfor lunch, pacing the area to make sure we nabbed a seat. Although the kitchen didn't open until midday, the bar opened at 11.30am for drinks. During the day, Bodega 1904 seemed to be the easiest place to get a seat at - probably because the menu is less kid-friendly than others. The number of prams and families roaming the site for lunch was phenomenal.A small dining room includes round timber tables and booth seating but our preference is to always sit at the bar. The padded bar stools at Bodega 1904 are incredibly cute. And comfortable. Although getting into the non-rotating stools involves some nifty legwork.The drinks menu includes two pages of wines from Australia and Spain. Nine Spanish sherries and five ports from Portugal are available by the glass. We went straight to the cocktail list, and in the absence of a bloody mary, ordered the negroni and the side car instead. Both were stirred lovingly with large ice cubes until chilled then spritzed with natural orange oil from a curl of orange rind in an impressive show.The food menu is broken up into tapas and large plates. All are designed to share. Theare a good place to start. Plump bivalves and a scattering of cabbage, celery and parsley have just enough acidity to get your tastebuds primed and pumping.A large round ofis seared on the grill much like haloumi. The slightly squeaky cheese is draped with sweet leeks and a zingy lime vinaigrette.Thegets a massive tick of approval from this raw beef lover. The hand-cut beef is soft and tender, tumbled over a slick of creme fraiche. Crispy eschalots provide crunch. A smattering of finely shaved bottarga gives an umami kick.Thick tentacles ofhave been transformed into gentle chewiness, paired with hunks of garlic and lemon potatoes. The real revelation is the manchego cream, adding a refined cheesy richness to everything on the plate.We all love a bit of carb-on-carb action but Bodega 1904'smight be the new king of kings. A lush dollop of Paris mash is garnished with a mountain of deep fried potato shreds. It's as good as it sounds. No. It's better.Themay end up playing second fiddle but it's a close race. The sausage is juicy and springy with just the right amount of caramelised tan. A plum sauce on the side provides some well-needed piquancy.Theis perhaps the only dish that doesn't win us over. The pearl barley crust has a wholemeal-like heavy graininess on the tongue and the custard filling is more creamy than eggy.Theis a real winner though, a warmed sticky treacle slice that has no hesitation in melting the quenelle ofon top.Bodega 1904 is a terrific addition to the neighbourhood. I can't wait to dig into more.How to get there:Catch the light rail to Jubilee station to avoid parking fees. If you are driving, make a purchase from Supermart (no minimum amount required) for 90 minutes free parking.Related Grab Your Fork posts Cats and dogs were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago to be pets and companions. Sheep, goats and other animals were domesticated for food. But there may be more to it than that. People who have tried to simply tame individual foxes often speak of a stubborn wildness that is impossible to get rid of. This suggests that foxes harder to tame than other animals. In the late 1950s, a Russian geneticist called Dmitry K. Belyaev attempted to create a tame fox population. Through the work of a breeding programme at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics at Novosibirsk, in Russia, he sought to trace the evolutionary pathway of domesticated animals. His test subjects were silver-black foxes, a melanistic version of the red fox that had been bred in farms for the colour of their fur. Belyaev died in 1985, but the project is still ongoing. It is now overseen by Lyudmila Trut, now in her 80s, who started out as Belyaevs intern. First, Belyaev and Trut travelled to various fur farms in the Soviet Union, from Siberia to Moscow and Estonia. There, they chose foxes to take to their own farm in Novosibirsk. They selected the animals based on how they responded when their cage was opened. About 10% of the foxes displayed a weak wild-response, meaning they were docile around humans. Animals that were friendlier and tolerant to human touch, even to a small degree, were picked out. Of those friendly foxes, 100 vixens and 30 males were chosen as the first generations of parents. When the cubs were born, the researchers hand-fed them. They also attempted to touch or pet the foxes when they were two to two-and-a-half months old, for strictly measured periods at a time. In each selection, less than 10% of tame individuals were used as parents of the next generation. As a result of such rigorous selection, the offspring exhibiting the aggressive and fear avoidance responses were eliminated from the experimental population in just two to three generations of selection, Trut wrote in a study published in 2009. BioEssays -Animal evolution during domestication: the domesticated fox as a model There was no domestication training. Only selection for breeding was used. Belyaev had one main goal at the beginning of experiment: to reproduce the process of historical domestication at the experiment, during a short time, says Trut. This goal didnt change. But during the experiment the understanding of evolutionary process changed. By the fourth generation, the scientists started to see dramatic changes. The cubs were beginning to behave more like dogs. They wagged their tails and eagerly sought contact with humans. They whined, whimpered and licked researchers just like puppies would. The process was surprisingly quick. By intense selective breeding, we have compressed into a few decades an ancient process that originally unfolded over thousands of years, wrote Trut in 1999. These foxes were called the elite of domestication, and as the generations passed the proportion of these elite cubs grew. By 2005-2006, almost all the foxes were playful, friendly and behaving like domestic dogs. The foxes could read human cues and respond correctly to gestures or glances. The vocalisations they made were different to wild foxes. The fox experiment showed that just by selecting for friendliness, all these other changes, including an increase in social skills, happened by accident. The domesticated foxes had floppier, drooping ears, which are found in other domestic animals such as dogs, cats, pigs, horses and goats. Curlier tails also found in dogs and pigs were also recorded. As of August 2016, there are 270 tame vixens and 70 tame males on the farm. In the 1990s, the institute supported itself by selling fox pelts. At the end of the 1990s, they started to sell the foxes as house pets. At present, a Florida-based company called the Lester Kalmanson Agency Inc imports foxes for those who want to keep them as pets. Each fox costs $8,900, because of the delivery costs. With the foxes now tame, the researchers are trying to identify the genes that change under selection for tameness. The main current goals are focused on molecular-genetics mechanisms of domestic behavior, says Trut. Could this be applied to Artificial Intelligence There has been considerable concern about the need to develop friendly AI. Could the personality of AI that is not more intelligent than humans be selected for friendliness first before the AI is developed for more intelligence ? SOURCES- BioEssays, BBC News Thomas Shugart at War on the Rocks makes the case that Chinas artificial islands in the South China Sea are not trivial. Thomas Shugart is a Senior Military Fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a submarine warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. China has three major islands Fiery Cross, Subi, and Mischief Reef which all have approximately 10,000 foot runways, deep water harbors, and enough reinforced hangars to house 24 fighters as well as bombers, tankers, and airborne early warning aircraft. China is also building other airfield support facilities. Range arcs depicting potential coverage of HQ-9 SAMs, YJ-62 ASCMs, and DF-21 ballistic missiles from Chinas larger South China Sea island bases. Three air regiments on the three islands would add up to a fighter division, a formation consisting of about 17,000 personnel. China can load up the islands with various missiles and defense batteries. They would have an interlocking and mutually-supporting SAM umbrella over most of the Spratlys, as well as ASCM coverage over the heart of the South China Sea. China would be able to strike, with either DF-21C land-attack ballistic missiles or CJ-10 cruise missiles, U.S. and allied facilities and airfields throughout the Philippines and even to Singapore. China could also build a large island base at Scarborough Shoal. Fiery Cross is hardly a little runway perched on a reef and is roughly the size of a typical mainland fighter base and it has a sizable harbor. Subi Reef is almost 50 percent larger again in area, and contains a massive enclosed deep-water harbor over two miles wide. A visual comparison of Subi Reef with Pearl Harbor shows what a huge installation the Chinese have created from scratch. Subi Reef (upper left), main portion of Pearl Harbors naval base (lower right, same approximate scale) Mischief Island is even bigger and comparable to the size of DC. Mischief Reef with the airfields of the other Spratly Island regional claimants: Thitu Island (Philippines), Spratly Island (Vietnam), Swallow Reef (Malaysia) and Itu Aba (Taiwan) (upper left), District of Columbia (lower right, same approximate scale). Chinas missiles are mobile systems and would be able to move and hide an sizable islands. China can also bury and harden facilities on the islands. With enough combat power brought to bear, Chinas new island bases would be vulnerable to being overwhelmed. Chinas goal may be to increase the costs beyond the level that the US would be willing to commit. SOURCES- War on the Rocks Business Here's how this free app turned amateurs into UAE's top professional stock market traders Going into business without first having some basic knowledge of how the market works and the tools at our disposal increases your risk of getting into trouble. Simulators provide learning platforms for people who want to start learning how to invest. Acting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked Nigerias former firstlady, Dame ... Acting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has asked Nigerias former firstlady, Dame Patience Jonathan to go clear her name before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC rather than resorting to under-hand tactics to arm-twist the anti-graft agency into doing her bidding.Frank in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja said the immediate-past firstlady is not above the law, describing as shameful, threats by a Niger Delta militant group and the protest at the Port Harcourt zonal office of the EFCC in support of Mrs Jonathan, over the freezing of her dollar account containing about $31.4 million.My candid advice to Mrs Patience Jonathan is to apologize to Nigerians for the current economic hardship which Mr Jonathans regime could have easily averted instead of sponsoring shameless protests against the government; anyway, Nigerians are still waiting for the apology, he said.The statement warned the youth to desist from such shameless act of defending politicians for a pot of porridge, adding that the present APC administration is fighting corruption so as to secure the future for them.Frank, a native of Bayelsa state, said it is surprising that Mrs Jonathan had such an amount of money in her custody while people from her region were dying from water-borne diseases, saying, it took President Muhammadu Buharis administration for example, to recently commission a water project even in Otuoke, Bayelsa state, the hometown of former President Goodluck Jonathan.The show of shame called protest at the Port Harcourt office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to demand the unfreezing of Mrs Jonathans dollar accounts was uncalled for and there is nothing wrong if the former first lady explains the source of $31.4 million to the anti-corruption agency.The country is at present going through recession as a result of the mismanagement of the economy left behind by Patience Jonathans husband-led administration which APC is working hard to correct as soon as possible.It should be made clear that there is nothing wrong for EFCC to invite Mrs Patience Jonathan for questioning if the organization suspects a foul play in accumulation of such big amount of money.Again, the era of being above the law is over. This is a change government of accountability where the rule of law is paramount.The number four citizen of this country today, Senate President Bukola Saraki, whose office is prominently recognized by the constitution is facing trial not to talk of one former first lady which the Nigerian constitution does not recognize.Again, we should also remind those who have forgotten that a national leader of APC, who was once the vice president of this nation, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was once investigated. So, why must Mrs Jonathans case be different? We call on the leadership of the EFCC not to feel threatened in carrying out its official duty and ensure that whoever is caught in the web is properly brought to book, he concluded. A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, hit back Saturday after a senior Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, accused... A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo, hit back Saturday after a senior Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, accused him of unlawfully doling $7 billion of Nigerias reserves to banks as loan.Mr. Falana said the amount was never recovered.The former CBN chief dismissed the allegation as ignorant and blatant lies, and demanded evidence or an apology.I largely ignore such ignorant commentaries, he said in a statement. However, Femi Falana is one of the Nigerians I deeply respect, and I am sure many Nigerians also hold him in very high esteem. I was therefore shocked beyond belief that someone like him could fabricate and peddle blatant lies.Mr. Falana had urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate alleged criminal diversion or withholding of government funds by the CBN, under Mr. Soludo and his successor, Lamido Sanusi.The lawyer said Mr. Sanusi, who is the Emir of Kano now, gave another unrecovered N600 billion as bailout to the same banks.He also accused Mr. Sanusi of illegally paying N2.5 trillion instead of N245 billion to fuel marketers as subsidy. Mr. Sanusi denied the allegation and said he was ready to face investigations.Mr. Soludo, who left the CBN in 2009, said throughout my tenure, Nigeria never lost one penny of the reserves.From the above quotation, Falana alleged that I removed $7 billion from Nigerias external reserves and gave same as a loan to 14 Nigerian banks in 2006, and apparently such a loan has not been recovered. This is a blatant lie and I challenge Falana to publish the details of such a loan which remains unpaid or as a person with honour, publish a retraction and unreserved apology immediately, Mr. Soludo said.Mr. Soludo said one of the legacies of his tenure as CBN Governor was the highest rate of reserve accumulation in Nigerias history as well as its effective and efficient management.On assumption of office, I met exactly $10 billion in foreign reserves. With average monthly oil price of $59 during my tenure, we accumulated reserves to all time high of over $62 billion. Even after paying off Nigerias external debt with $12 billion and facing unprecedented global financial and economic crisis, I still left $45 billion upon leaving office in 2009, he said.Throughout my tenure, Nigeria never lost one penny of the reserves. It is particularly important to note that even during the global financial crisis of 2008/2009 when major international banks collapsed and some countries lost some of their reserves, our prudent management ensured that Nigeria never lost a penny but earned returns on the reserves. Given the powerful interests that I fought during the consolidation of banks and even since I left office, one can only imagine the international headlines that would have been made if just one penny of the reserves was unaccounted for.That under the provisions of the CBN Act as well as the guidelines for the management of foreign reserves, it is impossible for anyone to remove any sum of money from the reserves and give out as loan to commercial banks in Nigeria. To qualify as foreign reserves such reserves are held in foreign currency abroad as deposits with banks or in sovereign instruments such as the US treasury bills, he said.Mr. Soludo said he would be at any time to respond to any questions regarding his stewardship at the CBN.I have come to terms with the fact that part of the burden one bears for having held public office in Nigeria is that one has to endure all kinds of uninformed and sometimes mischievous attempts to malign ones character, he said. A seven-man investigative team of the United Kingdoms anti corruption agency, the National Crime Agency, has arrived Nigeria to interro... A seven-man investigative team of the United Kingdoms anti corruption agency, the National Crime Agency, has arrived Nigeria to interrogate individuals suspected to be allies of a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.According to SaharaReporters, the NCA team are in the country to quiz several associates and accomplices of the former petroleum minister.The online medium reported that the British detectives, comprising of four women and three men, were in the country as part of efforts to build a solid case in order to begin the ex-ministers trial next year.It stated that one of the ex-ministers allies being interrogated by the UK detectives was Donald Chidi Amamgbo, a California-based lawyer and Jide Omokore, who is currently on bail after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested and charged him with fraud.Amamgbo was reportedly detained by the EFCC, and later granted administrative bail.The UK investigative team is also expected to interrogate several oil dealers who were close to Alison-Madueke, and who played one role or another in a web of international financial crimes during the former ministers tenure.Our source revealed that UK investigators were looking into close to 20 cases against Mrs. Alison-Madueke. However, the case that has the most traction has to do with how the former ministers alleged used of straw companies to launder billions of dollars. Some of the alleged laundered funds were used to purchase 17 properties in the UK and elsewhere, the online publication said.It added that the oil dealers under investigation reportedly offered large payoffs to Alison-Madueke for oil swap deals.The payoffs were said to have been wired to Amamgbo.Mrs. Alison-Madueke is currently in the UK undergoing treatment for cancer.The NCA had earlier confiscated some funds from the former minister, her mother, and the wife of a Ghanaian businessman, Kevin Okyere, who is also named in a series of shady deals involving Alison-Madueke. Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Wednesdays Edo state governorship election, says the present economic... Godwin Obaseki, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Wednesdays Edo state governorship election, says the present economic crisis is a good omen for Nigeria.Speaking in Benin on Sunday at a forum for student unions of tertiary institutions across the state, Obaseki said the recession will help Nigerians to think fast and secure a brighter future.To me, I will say the present economy crisis is a good omen for us. We need to think and act fast, he said.Spending more than $17billion on food importation yearly should not be for country such as Nigeria because we have the resources.We have the land and human resources that can produce same food we import, only if we can evolve policies that will make it for the youth to be effectively deployed to production.He said youths constitute the larger productive segment of the society, consequently necessitating the formulation of policies to engage them productively, in order to fight crime and improve the economy.Obaseki explained that he wanted to be the governor of the state to make the state better and improve the peoples standard of living.I am not in the race to acquire more wealth, because Im already blessed. I want to be successful by translating what I have attained to those who need it, he said.We are in a race against time. Population is growing rapidly but infrastructure is not growing in a corresponding way.There is need for us, as a state and people, to plan ahead before we are caught in the web. I want to be part of this plan, which accounts for the reason I m seeking to be governor of this state.To realise his governorship ambition, Obaseki will have to defeat a host of other candidates, particularly Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a pastor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed confidence in his principal, President Muhammadu Buharis ability to take Nigeria out of the p... Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed confidence in his principal, President Muhammadu Buharis ability to take Nigeria out of the present economic challenges. He said that the administration would surely rescue the country and take Nigerians across the red-sea into the promise land.The assurance was contained in Osinbajos remark at the 56th Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday.The Vice President charged the people not to be deterred by the economic recession, assuring that there would be light at the end of the tunnel. We are on our way out of the wilderness. We should not be like children of Israel when He took them out of Egypt and after few problems became grumblers-in-chief. As children of God we must declare this nation will prosper, we must be like our father who is the great encourager.Our message to Nigeria is be strong and of good encourage, do not be dismayed, every Nigeria will benefit from the new Nigeria. God saw our nation and decided to put this leadership in place, this leadership will take us across the red sea to the new Nigeria, Osinbajo said. In his message at the event, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, said that the countrys leaders needed divine revelation and wisdom to tackle the economic challenges. He reasoned that the country ought not have been in the quagmire if the previous administrations had saved for the rainy.He however admonished the government to look beyond the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and accommodate external opinions to realign the economy. He said: They were siphoning the resources for their pockets. We got into this also because of our inability to diversify. We killed our agriculture for oil. We are all responsible for the self-imposed trouble. There is hope, help will come from above for Nigeria.There is a way out in the mind of God if we seek Him. The CAN president also stated that the judgment of God was coming on all those that looted the economy which he said that put Nigeria on the difficult pedestal. When you have left office, what will you be remembered for? He queried Judgment of God is coming. The corrupt Nigerians that have not been apprehended will not escape the judgment of God, he said. He urged the government to restore religious studies and discipline in schools. The scriptures read included Isaiah 60: 9 to 20 and 1st Chronicle 12:32. The 1st scripture reading was taken from Ezekiel 37: 1 to 14 by a representative of the judiciary.The 2nd scripture reading was taken from Romans 8: 28 to 39 by the Chief of Defence State, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin. Intercessary prayers were offered for President Buhari, Osinbajo and other members of the executive arm as well as the Nigerian nation, security and economic challenges.The same were made for the legislature and the judiciary, peace and development of the country and the unity of the church. Dignitaries at the occasion included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, Bayelsa State Governor, Sarieke Dickson, former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, Senator Olurunibe Mamora, Senate President, Bukola Saraki was represented by Senator Bernabas Gemade. A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, on Sunday said he would not apologise to former Central Bank Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his allegationt... A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, on Sunday said he would not apologise to former Central Bank Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his allegationthat the ex-bank chief dolled out $7 billion government funds to bankers while he was in office.Mr. Soludo has denied the allegation, saying he acted right in his dealings as Central Bank chief.Mr. Falana, however, said he based his statement on facts made available by the Central Bank during Mr. Soludos stewardship.On October 3, 2006, the Central Bank of Nigeria under the management of Professor Chukwuma Soludo gave a loan of $7 billion to 14 commercial banks in Nigeria. The loan was confirmed by the Head of the CBN Corporate Affairs , Mr. Festus Odoko when he announced that deposits worth $7 billion representing the apex banks share of the foreign reserves estimated at about $38 billion has been released to the consortium of bankers. (The Guardian newspaper of 5/10/2006)Barely four days later, a respected economist, Mr. Henry Boyo challenged the illegal claim that the $7 billion was a share of the CBN in the nations foreign reserves. Since the funds belong to the three tiers of Government by virtue of section 162 of the Constitution Mr. Boyo rightly stated that the Senate and the House of Representatives would have defaulted in their constitutional duties if CBN is not invited to defend why $7 billion of our reserves should be given to 14 banks without oversight approval. (Vanguard newspaper of October 9, 2006).Having confirmed that the banks have failed to liquidate the said $7 billion loan I have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the illegality of the loan and recover same together with other huge funds which have been criminally diverted or withheld from the Federation Account. With respect, the denial of the $7 billion loan by Professor Soludo has supported the request for a thorough investigation of the allegations contained in my petition.However, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the controversial loan, Professor Soludo may wish to direct his demand for apology to Mr. Festus Odoko! President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he had a very successful outing during his five-day activities at the 71st Session of the U... President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he had a very successful outing during his five-day activities at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), in New York, United States.He gave the verdict while addressing the media to round off his visit to New York.In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President reviewed all his major and side events during the visit and highlighted the issues on which he sent a clear and direct message to world leaders.He said: 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 said that Nigeria is undeterred and has embarked on a wide range of reforms to diversify the 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 remained prime importance to his administration.The campaign, he said, is already yielding positive gains including significant stolen assets recoveries. Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Consultative Forum and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin... Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Consultative Forum and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark has condemned in very strong terms, the bombing of the Bonny Export( 48) inch pipeline on Friday by members of the Niger Delta Avengers.In a statement he signed and made available to Vanguard, the Elder Statesman who noted that there was no justification for the renewed bombing against the backdrop that the 60-day cessation of hostilities as articulated by Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Consultative Forum had not elapsed.Chief Clark said, It has come to the attention of the Niger Delta Royal fathers, Elders and leaders of thought that the Niger Delta Avengers have claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Bonny Export( 48) inch pipeline on Friday, 23rd September, 2016.We condemn in totality this il- motivated and Ill- advised rampaging in the bombing by the Niger Delta Avengers. Even though the Federal Government has not constituted its negotiating team as articulated by the Pan-Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders Consultative Forum, the 60-day cessation of hostilities has not elapsed. Therefore, there was no justification for further bombing, such as the one that took place last Friday.We repeat our appeal which was contained in our collective response to the summit on the Niger Delta convened by the office of the Vice President published at page 8 of leadership Newspaper of Saturday, September 24, 2016, and at page 9 of Saturday Vanguard of September 24, 2016 that all the armed agitators to continue with the cessation of hostilities and remain calm and peaceful, even in the face of obvious provocation. We shall maintain this position. Embattled ex- First Lady Patience Jonathan has denied any link with the militant group, Niger Delta Peoples Professional Volunteer Force... Embattled ex- First Lady Patience Jonathan has denied any link with the militant group, Niger Delta Peoples Professional Volunteer Force (NDPPVF), which threatened to attack the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) if she was ever arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).The militant group, in a statement by one Parkinson George-Amabo, had described the ongoing probe of the accounts the former First Lady laid claims to as a criminal act, saying an attempt to arrest her would ignite actions that would target the NNPC head offices in Abuja.But a member of Mrs. Jonathans legal team, Timipa Jenkins Okponipere, in a telephone chat in Warri yesterday said the former president and his family had nothing to do with the threat, noting that the family believed in the rule of law and would rather pursue the ongoing situation legally.Okponipere who had earlier threatened a N5 billion suit against the EFCC at the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in the Gambia if the anti-graft commission failed to back off from freezing the former First Ladys accounts in Skye Bank within 14 days, said NDPPVF was on its own as the former First Lady had never sought to use violence to get justice in her battle with the EFCC.He said: All I can tell you is that the Jonathans have nothing to do with violence; they dont support violence, they dont subscribe to violence so everybody was taken aback by that statement.Former President Jonathan is someone who believes in the rule of law, he believes that at the end of the day, by the grace of God, the matter will be resolved through the process of dialogue, through the process of the rule of law. I think that group was speaking for itself.As far as we are concerned, they are on their own. Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau released a new video to prove that he is not dead. Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau released a new video to prove that he is not dead.Read Transcript below:To the infidels of Nigeria, president Muhammadu Buhari and his likes, Idris Derby, the man with a sight like a goat. To the people of Niger Republic and the entire Africa and the world in general.You should listen, I am fine and alive but you should know if my day comes you will not have seen me, many people the world did not plan their death end up dying. Many again are alive despite plot to finish them on the surface of the earth.There is nothing that was not planned against our revered Prophet Mohammed but he succeed against all the plots. You should do all you can with your Benjamin Netanyahu, you should continue all you can with your John Kerry, you should continue plot with your Banki-Moon, do all your plot with your Geneva people, all your plans according to Allah are not up to a cob-web.This is what we are for, working for Allah and working hard to preach to the entire world. We are not working for the world or working with our wisdom; we are working for Allah. We are not sociologists; we are practicing Quranism.We are followers of the Hadith. We are not learned but knowledgeable according to Allahs injunctions. We are not wise but followers of Allah that is why we are above your bragging and human power.Stop all this your bragging before us, that you have planes, that you were in Iraq and killed mujahideens. You are just flying on the sky which Allah possess, is it with this that you will impress us?We are followers of Allah, it is Allah that we are serving, do you think democracy is Islam? You Hausas and Kanuri of Nigeria? You Miyyeti Allah? We will all triumph over you; only Allah is supreme.You Buratai (warning him in Kanuri local language ) we will crush you, and you heard our words in Kanuri because it is your mother tongue. You Buhari, you are worshipping the cow, you should worship Allah, you think you are wise and a Major General, you are not up to a cob-web. It's Quran and Allah that we know. Brethren wherever you are go back to the Quran and Prophet Mohammed.You should depend on Allah only; Prophet Mohammed has admonished us not to eat in a plate used by the Jews until it is washed. Prophet has stopped us from wearing clothes of the Jew, the same thing he warned us against denigrating one another, whether you are a Hausa or a Kanuri.We are close to you, all enemies of Islam, Allah knows the secret like he knows the sleep of the blind and reading of the deaf. This is what I can say according to what Allah said. And you call me Khawarji (those that come with beautiful preaching but evil deeds) why gossiping in the work of Allah?This is what Allah said; you are collecting aid from the people's hat you will free the girls, Buhari, Buhari, your own people will revolt against you because of your lies.You Buhari don't under-estimate me, it's Allah, I am preaching to you Buhari to repent and accept Allah. Buhari, fear Allah, Buhari, Buhari.People of Chibok, you have a long way to go. There is more of Bring back our girls, we will not Bring back your girls,' bring back our own brethren. Bring back our brethren.Bring back our brethren; this is Shekau; I am fine and healthy.You the people of Kano, you are in trouble if you don't follow Quran, you betrayed Usman Danfodio. People of Kaduna, Shiites you should repent, Tijjaniya, you should repent, this is the end. Rivers State Zonal head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ishaq Saliu claimed that over N1 billion was recovered fro... Rivers State Zonal head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ishaq Saliu claimed that over N1 billion was recovered from looters of public funds between January and September 2016, with 24 convictions.Saliu said this while addressing Niger Delta youths who yesterday staged a protest at the commission's office over the current investigations into the $15 million found in four company accounts linked to former first lady, Patience Jonathan.The youths alleged the investigation was selective."There is nothing selective in the cases of EFCC. We are professionals to the core. 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. Port Harcourt Zonal office alone, this year, has 24 convictions and recovered over a billion naira he said Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday attributed the significant influx of investors and tourists to ongoing aggressive upgrad... Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday attributed the significant influx of investors and tourists to ongoing aggressive upgrade of infrastructure, especially road construction and rehabilitation.Ambode, who spoke in Somolu Local Government at the climax of the inauguration of 114 roads constructed across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), said the infrastructure provided has further improved the status of Lagos locally and internationally.The governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Folarin Coker, said the infrastructure has further improved confidence of tourists and investors in the state.According to him: Construction of 114 roads not only gives access but further boosts the states economy, social welfare, creates employment and provides other benefits within the state.In Isolo LCDA, Ambode inaugurated Panada/Lafenwa Road off Mushin Road in a ceremony attended by the Oba of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja; Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale and party chieftains.Represented by APC South West Women Leader, Mrs. Kemi Nelson, the governor said that the construction of the roads across the 57 councils has made the Lagos economy the most viable in the country.He assured that no effort would be spared to make life more comfortable for residents.Sole Administrator of the council, Abimbola Osikoya, thanked the governor for the promise kept by the construction of the road, which she said would improve the economical pursuit of the residents of the area, especially because of its proximity to the popular Aswani Market.In Ikeja Local Government, Ambode who inaugurated Onilekere Street, where he was represented by Iyaloja- General, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, said Lagosians should expect nothing but a better and safer Lagos in the next three years. From shaggy to sleek, the Lewis and Clark Strutt Your Mutt Community Walk and Pet Fair on Saturday featured many of the Helena areas finest four-legged residents. More than 150 dogs and owners ventured to Pioneer Park Saturday morning to check out pet-related vendors, compete in various games and take a walk with proceeds going to the dogs and cats waiting for adoption. All the pledges go back to the shelter and back to the care of these animals, said Kelsee Dalton, LCHS development director. Attendees of the annual event purchase a $30 entry, which includes a shirt and the walk. Others raised money through pledges for the walk, which topped out at $510 for one particularly dedicated fundraiser. Along with the many dogs and owners, a collection of dogs available for adoption tugged volunteers through the crowd -- just a few of the many animals LCHS is hoping to find homes for. Our (dog) population is pretty good right now, Dalton said. Were always looking for homes. The population includes two remaining dogs from Korea that arrived in Helena in July after being saved from slaughter. The two pups will need a gentle and patient home, Dalton said. Offering information on an important service for pets was Spay Neuter Incentive Project (SNIP) Helena. The local chapter of Spay Montana and its new committee provides low-cost spaying and neutering events as well as vaccinations. Were here in the community of Helena trying to reach those folks that need spaying and neutering for their pets, and some people simply cannot afford it, said committee member Tabitha Stephenson. The shelter has had a lot to do with this in the past and providing volunteers because we see it as so important to keep our pet population in check. SNIP does not try to compete with veterinarians in offering services, but Stephenson sees the need among low-income pet owners for an affordable alternative. Events are offered about once a month with the next coming up on Oct. 30. More information is available at 459-4731. Among the attendees were Avon residents Linda Brander and Arlo, a red healer cross that might be mistaken for a fox. Brander and her 3-year-old companion proved their connection in taking first place in a game resembling musical chairs, where dogs must sit on command when the music stops and the last to sit is eliminated. I got him from the Humane Society and hes very good and very smart, she said. I come out to support this every year, and usually its Arlo that comes with me. Stacked beneath tarps in Lincoln are the logs that once constructed what is apparently the community's oldest structure. The logs that were once the Matt King home have been disassembled and stored until the day they are put back together. Erin Dey, the business manager for the towns newspaper, the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch, said the Lincoln Heritage Alliance obtained financing for the $40,000 purchase of the logs and three people, who were not named, are guaranteeing repayment. Had the 2-foot diameter logs not been purchased, they could have been resold by the company that acquired them. About $29,500 is left on the financing, Dey said. Last week, she met with the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council to update it on the status of the project. Council members voted to endorse the restoration/renovation of the building and to say the council would, to the best of its abilities, help fund that work. Members of the council also offered suggestions on possible sources of grant funds that could be used toward the work and to say that these funds could also be used as matching money for even larger grants. Jerry Burns, president of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society in May 2015, wrote to the Lewis and Clark County Commission and Pam Attardo, the countys historic preservation officer, to say King arrived at Fort Benton in 1869 and then went to Lincoln Gulch where he devoted his attention to mining for several years. While he lived other places, he settled in the vicinity of Lincoln where he operated a ranch. Speaking on behalf of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society, we would like to see this important piece of our history remain in the Lincoln area, his letter stated. The most ideal situation would be to purchase this building and reassemble it at another location to be used, potentially, as a museum and interpretive center, which would provide a cultural and economic benefit to the community as a whole. Construction on the structure by H.B. Chapman began in the 1880s, Dey said, and was completed in 1901. She showed the Heritage Tourism Council members a scrap of board taken from the structure when Sheetrock was removed from its walls. Inscribed in pencil on the board were Chapmans and Kings names and the date 1901. Reassembly of the building after the financing is repaid, she said, will involve a lot of volunteer time. Some local people may offer services for the reassembly and will be asked for assistance, she said. It shouldnt be that bad to put back up, Dey said and explained that the structure isnt complicated and each piece was tagged as the structure was disassembled. Just where the home will be placed hasnt been finalized, she said, and added that a Main Street location would be ideal. A potential site, next to the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch, is about 2.5 acres and has businesses located around it whose security cameras would be beneficial to the structures protection, Dey said. Other locations along Main Street are available but would cost $150,000 or more. Their secluded locations would mean less opportunity to monitor the building. Once land for the building is obtained, other historical structures now under the care of the Upper Blackfoot Valley Historical Society could be moved to the property, Dey said. While noting that moving buildings involves a significant amount of work, she said that if they arent currently getting enough public attention they could be relocated to the center of town. A more prominent location could result in greater attention, additional donations and more people to volunteer their time, she said. I just think itd be a great stopping place, Dey added. There are other buildings around town and I havent approached anybody yet because we dont have a plan where to put them or money to buy them. If anybody wants to donate one, thatd be cool. But weve got to start somewhere. She said she doesnt envision the buildings being operational, although one could be made to provide a temperature-controlled environment for the storage of the communitys historical documents. Lincoln is home to about 900 in the winter months and perhaps twice that during the summer, by Deys estimate. Assembling historic structures from the towns past in one location is seen as helping drive the communitys potential for tourism. The opportunity, Dey explained, is to bring commerce to town as people stop to see the two-story Matt King residence and the other buildings. I can envision it being pretty enough to have a wedding out there, she added. Theres a lot of potential, and Lincoln needs help. We dont have any industry. We dont have mining. We dont have logging; its pretty much gone." Tourism, she continued, may be whats kept the town going even as times changed and logging and mining no longer sustained the community. Fourth of July activities provide a significant boost to the towns economy, Dey said. Adding to the reasons for tourists to stop in Lincoln is the sculpture park, "Blackfoot Pathways: Sculptures in the Wild," that features both permanent and temporary artwork inspired by the communitys environmental and industrial heritage. The county budgeted money this year to improve the bathroom in Hooper Park and add a shower facility to help attract bicyclists who pass through each summer. A shower, it was noted during commission discussions, would give bicyclists more of a reason to spend a day or longer in Lincoln. Despite the lack of economic opportunity for the community, it has other and less measurable qualities that endear it to residents. I just love it there. Its calm, its relaxing, its far enough away from the city that you can run to town if you need to. Other than that its very quiet, Dey said. Dave Veeder hopes to restore Helenas Colonial Hotel to its glory days, and hes spending millions of dollars to do it. Veeder, an attorney who also owns a Marriott in Billings, estimates he and wife Lynn have put about $5 million into renovations at the 45-year-old hotel at 2301 Colonial Drive. The property the pair bought in 2012 was, he said, run down -- a pale shadow of the lodge opened to much fanfare by then owner and Gov. Tim Babcock in 1971. Babcocks name still graces a conference room, but nearly everything else about the place has changed. Lights, vents, wall coverings and floor surfaces from the hotel bar to the parking lot have been removed, replaced or refurbished over the past four years. Four of every five of the hotels rooms have undergone similar floor-to-ceiling renovations. The lobby has a new timber frame porte cochere, as well as a revamped lounge and restaurant. Roofs have been torn out and replaced and a new elevator is still in the works. The hotel, now part of the Minneapolis-based Radisson Hotels chain, expects to wrap up the facelift by next summer. Once completed, Veeder said a spiral staircase stretching from the 150-room hotels lobby will be about the only thing left intact from the original Colonial. Its no accident it was left untouched. Lots of folks have been married at the staircase, so we left it, said Veeder. Its a memory for a lot of people growing up in Helena, so thats a remnant we retained. The Colonial, along with the nearby Jorgensens Inn and Suites, has long served as a popular hangout for state lawmakers and a perennial host of rowdy conventions and election night parties. Veeder said he kept that political pedigree in mind while reworking the hotels banquet hall, conference rooms and audio-visual system. He said he also wanted to keep work on the Colonials overhaul local, relying on Helena-area contractors for much of the architectural, cabinetry and finish carpentry work. We couldve hired a contractor out of Texas or someplace, but we want (the hotel) to mean something to people, Veeder said. I put off marketing a lot of this stuff, because in my experience, Montanans dont want you to talk about it, they want you to do it. And now we have. In June, the Colonial hosted the Montana Democratic Partys platform and delegate convention. During the upcoming legislative session, hotel general manager Adrian Ambro expects it will host a steady stream of lobbyists and political consultants. Ambro said ongoing renovations havent hurt business. He said spending on some of those improvements, including custom-made conference room tables and light fixtures, far exceeded the investment needed to meet Radissons luxury hotel standards. Ambro expects the additions will be worth every extra penny. When this hotel was built, it was considered a luxury standard, he said. We want to bring those standards back, so people will associate it with a kind of unpretentious, upscale service. For more information on the Radisson Colonial, visit radisson.com or call 443-2100. Now, however, those customers are demanding cleaner sources of energy. That, and the availability of cheaper natural gas, is wreaking havoc on coal markets and threatening the communities and jobs that have been able to rely on coal for decades. Now that the sun is setting on coal, it is imperative we start looking for new ways to revitalize Montanas energy economy. It serves no useful purpose to sit around complaining about the changing energy markets. We cannot stick our heads in the sand and do nothing. We need to act. Now. Governor Bullocks leadership is helping pave the way for cleaner energy industries to both grow and thrive in Montana. Other states are interested in buying our wind and solar energy, and both businesses and families are saving money through efficiency measures. Governor Bullock is looking out for Montanas interests by realizing our energy climate is changing. This will help create thousands of jobs and bring in millions of dollars to our economy. Montanas next energy boom is already here, and its a boom that wont bust. Many thanks to you, Governor Bullock, for building the future for Montanas sustainable energy economy. 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. Nebraskas fall turkey hunting season opened last week. Turkey hunters are now in the field and there is no shortage of turkeys for hunters either. Did you know that, historically, turkey season was a fall activity? That is why, to this day, we associate turkeys with Thanksgiving. Spring turkey hunting wasnt even legal until the 1950s, when the Alabama Department of Conservation experimented with a spring gobbler season. As with anything new, many folks objected at the time. They felt that a spring season would disrupt the wild turkeys breeding season cycle and eventually hunting would eliminate too many males, thus threatening the species. Even then, field research showed otherwise. Today, 49 of 50 states and four Canadian provinces have a spring gobbler season. Alaska doesnt have a resident turkey population yet. Spring gobbler hunting has surpassed the fall season in popularity with over two million hunters each year. Fall turkey hunting has gained popularity as turkey populations grew. Most states have set fall seasons to expand hunting opportunities for hunters. Some states use the fall hunting period as a turkey population management tool. Nebraska needs to think about this option. In some areas, landowners are being overrun. Fall turkey seasons offer some advantages and opportunities that make it a great time to get into the sport of turkey hunting. First, most states that offer a fall season also allow both sexes to be taken, and that improves your chance of success. Secondly, there are more turkeys in the fall than any other time of the year. This means your chances of getting a bird are the best its going to get. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission surveys indicate that turkey populations are up 400-500 percent in the last decade. Third, it is a great time to introduce new hunters to the sport. Turkeys are very vocal in the fall. They constantly call among themselves to keep the flock together. That makes hearing birds more likely. Scouting flocks is a bit easier when you can hear them. Just listening can be a very successful tactic for scouting fall turkeys. Young or new hunters can easily get involved in this activity and become a part of the hunt. If I am hunting in canyon country, I try to get to the highest point of ground I can find for the last few hours of the day. As I said before, turkeys call to one another almost continually during the fall as the flocks move around. You can sometimes hear this talking from long distances. If there are turkeys in the area, you will certainly hear them when they fly up to their roosts for the evening. If you are hunting farmlands or river bottoms, you will learn where the birds move on their normal daily rounds. I like to get out on a sandbar in the middle of a river in a jumble of driftwood and debris and listen. This position usually puts me eye level with a turkey and I can see quite a ways up and down the river corridor and see birds that may cross. Most often I hear the birds before I see them. Binoculars really help with this type of scouting. Regardless of whether you are in the river bottoms or canyons, when you hear birds, sneak as close as possible by using available cover and try to determine their direction of travel. Once youve figured out where they are going, try to move to a point where you can intercept them as they move and feed. If you cant get there in time, dont worry. Note the time. Chances are they will be there the next day at about the same time. There is a debate on whether decoys are effective in the fall. I routinely put out several decoys when I hunt in the fall and I believe they help my chances. Many times I have watched a flock turn and move toward me when they spot my decoys. A few cluck calls from me can get the turkeys calling back as they approach. Once they start talking back, they will almost always try to join up with my decoys and decoys are always in range! One important note of caution: Since the birds are usually bunched up in flocks at this time of the year it is quite possible to hit more than one bird when you shoot. Take a few extra seconds to make sure that nothing is near or behind your intended target before you pull the trigger! Here are a few tips to prevent hitting more than one bird: 1. Know where your shotgun shoots and how it patterns at various distances. 2. Use different chokes/loads to create the tightest shot column for your gun. 3. Pick out a bird on the trailing edge of the flock. There is often more separation between birds at the rear of a flock than at the front. 4. Make sure that you have a clear lane of fire behind your target. 5. Watch for other animals as well. I had to wait several minutes on time for a clear shot because deer were feeding in the same area. MPCC Class If you enjoy watching wildlife, Mid-Plains Community College will be offering a Bird and Wildlife Watching class on October 13. Bird and wildlife watching is the second most popular outdoor activity in the country today. This is your chance to get in on the fun. This class will focus on the various types of optics available to the consumer and their features to assist attendees in determining what would be best type of optics for them. This session focuses primarily on binoculars and spotting scopes. The session will be from 7-9 p.m. at the MPCC South Campus. Cost is $19 per person. Call 308-535-3614 for more information or to register. The key talking points, injuries and judiciary news from the third weekend of the 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series. Sharks v Cowboys A brutal 80 minutes from a fresh Sharks outfit bundled the 2015 premiers out of this year's title race to book a place into a grand final 20 years after their last decider. The Cowboys simply had no answers for Cronulla's first half ambush. Injuries: No major injuries. Judiciary: No charges. Match report: Sharks smash Cowboys Sharks v Cowboys: Five key points WATCH: Match highlights Draw Widget - Finals Week 3 - Sharks vs Cowboys Storm v Raiders A brain explosion from Canberra Raiders fullback Jack Wighton midway through the second half has helped the Melbourne Storm to a 14-12 win to qualify for the 2016 decider. It ended two tries apiece, but the Storm controlled the bigger moments to enter another grand final. Injuries: Jarrod Croker (knee), Joseph Leilua (hamstring), Josh Papalii (ankle). Judiciary: No charges. Match report: Storm hang on to beat Raiders Storm v Raiders: Five key points WATCH: Match highlights 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. MISSOULA -- Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte are both campaigning on promises to improve the states public schools, but their visions of what needs to change and how to make it happen differ greatly. Itll be in line with what he has done over the last three and a half years, which has been to ensure that all students have access to a great public education wherever they are in the state, Bullocks education adviser Siri Smillie said. Ensuring that students are prepared for college or career starts before students enter kindergarten, with preschool. Many of Bullocks proposals, including a plan for voluntary, public preschool, are revived versions of initiatives that failed to pass the Legislature in the 2015 session. Bullock, who has the support of school unions, also includes school facilities in his infrastructure spending plan. He wants to further expand dual enrollment opportunities and touts recent funding increases for districts. Gianfortes proposals focus on doubling down on the use and instruction of technology in the classroom as well as reducing burdensome regulations, a theme carried throughout many aspects of his campaign. Education has been an extremely important area for me in most of my nonprofit work over the last 15 years, Gianforte said. I favor giving parents more options in education. Gianforte has suggested expanding the use of digital content delivery, adding computer science courses to more schools and revamping reporting requirements as part of a proposal to spend more money in the classroom rather than on administration or support services. In the past, he has supported school choice efforts through his nonprofit board memberships. As the state reports declining revenues, it is unclear how Bullock might fund some of his education proposals, which likely will face opposition from conservatives looking to fend off spending increases. Gianforte has said increases might not be needed to improve outcomes, suggesting that the current funding levels just need to be focused differently. He also said that spending on school facilities likely will have to wait until the states revenue collections improve. Education traditionally tends to be an advantage for Democrats, said Carroll College political scientist Jeremy Johnson. In the gubernatorial race, this is most evident from the endorsement of Bullock by MEA-MFT, the schools union group. We really like Steve Bullock. We think hes done well by us, President Eric Feaver said, noting that the Democrat has supported school funding increases, expanded state spending on continued education for teachers, and expanded the Montana Digital Academy that supplements courses already offered at schools statewide. There are still some things left undone. Infrastructure, obviously. Montana ranks near the bottom nationally for the state's share of funding for school construction and repair, according to U.S. Census figures on government finance. A 2008 state inventory tallied $360 million in needed repairs, a number that education advocates say has likely grown because the state has only spent a few million dollars a year on the problem. That figure does not include the cost of new construction to manage district growth. Bullocks infrastructure proposal, Build Montana, includes school facilities on the list of priorities, along with water and sewer improvements. He introduced a similar plan two years ago that did not advance out of committee. He fought for schools to be included in other bills, but the 2015 Legislature ultimately failed by one vote to approve any major infrastructure funding and did not pass measures to fund the Quality Schools Grant Program, effectively killing it and shifting the burden to local taxpayers. Gianforte, by contrast, has not included schools in his infrastructure proposal. He has said he is open to discussing ideas, but is skeptical that the state will have enough revenue to fund school projects given declining receipts from oil, gas and agriculture. The best way to fund education long-term is to have a strong private sector so we have a tax base that can pay for education, he said. The state of Montana spent about $6,000 per student in the 2014 academic year, while districts collected another $5,000 from local taxes, and federal officials funded about $1,000 per student, according to the most recent year of school finance data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. That puts Montana squarely in the middle of state rankings for per-student funding. According to the same data, the state also ranks 21st in the nation for the percentage of all spending that went toward the salaries and benefits of instructional staff, 60 percent compared with a high of 69 percent in New York and low of 54 percent in Oklahoma. However, Montanas starting teacher salaries, about $28,500, are the lowest in the nation and a little over half that of neighboring states. Gianforte said he would advocate for less federal overreach and seek ways to loosen state requirements that tie the hands of local school boards and potentially increase spending outside the classroom. We developed this inspect-and-report mentality that is consuming resources, he said. Were measuring the wrong things, too many things or too often. That needs to change. Thats more of a cultural issue that we can fix with new leadership. Gianforte has centered his education platform around technology. He proposes adding computer science courses to every high school and allowing coding courses to count toward foreign language requirements. A group of language teachers has opposed that second proposal, noting that such graduation rules are set at the local level and not part of state requirements. Gianforte also has called for an expansion of the Montana Digital Academy, which offers online courses to students in schools that do not offer those remedial or advanced courses. Citing a program in Darby as an example of technology innovating instruction, he suggested that schools could use online instruction to increase offerings and personalize the learning plans of students. Historically, weve had a teacher who is the primary deliverer of content and reviewer of performance, he said, noting that Darbys model is similar in philosophy to the self-guided education nonprofit Khan Academy. This changes the role of the teacher slightly and change is always hard. Im not saying its right for every school but we ought to make these tools available and then let local school boards decide whether to adopt them. When the states digital academy was first founded, many teachers were nervous that it was a move toward replacing them in classrooms. Today, some see Gianfortes proposal to significantly expand the academy as evidence of an agenda to privatize education. Greg Gianforte is an existential danger to public schools in this state, Feaver said. The union president highlighted several instances from Gianfortes philanthropic work that he said run counter to advocating for quality public education. He said Gianfortes contribution to a creationism museum in Glendive is evidence that he might tamper with science standards in schools, and said that his previous support of bills that would direct some public funding to help parents pay for private school could undercut funding for public schools. Feaver focused on Gianfortes support for a program that offers a tax credit for people who donate to scholarship programs for private schools. The law, passed in 2015, has been challenged in court because it indirectly reroutes tax dollars to religious schools in potential violation of the state constitution. He also noted that Gianforte serves on the boards of Petra Academy, a Christian private school in Bozeman, and ACE Scholarships, two groups that could benefit from the states new scholarship tax credit program. This is self-interest of the lowest sort, Feaver said. Gianforte has defended his work with education nonprofits as proof that he is committed to seeing all children reach their full potential and said that supporting private school options is not the same as opposing public schools. My opponent wants to condemn my Christian faith, he said in March when asked about his work at Petra and for other nonprofits that work to advocate for private schools, particularly those that are faith-based. I believe that parents should have more say in how theyre kids are educated. Republicans have called the critiques of Gianfortes school choice record as hypocritical given that Bullock, earlier this year, celebrated the Board of Educations approval of the states first two charter schools, which receive state funding but have flexibility on some state rules to implement alternative education models. Bullock, in turn, has previously pointed to those programs as evidence of his support for local control. How much the education proposals of Bullock and Gianforte will influence voters remains to be seen, said Johnson, the political scientist. I dont see Donald Trump talking about education nearly as much compared to other Republicans in recent years. Bush tried to talk about it, he said, looking at the broader topics driving campaigns nationwide. I dont think the electorate is at a place right now where this is as essential to the political discourse as it was in previous cycles. Colleges from multiple states crowded into the Portage High School cafeteria and commons as Portage hosted the 2016 College Fair. A total of 68 colleges, vocational, and military personnel appeared at Portage to hand out information to students and parents about their school. Brochures and posters detailed the majors offered at a given college. The colleges came from many different areas. While most were from Indiana or Illinois, many were from Michigan, with a few being even as far out as Missouri or Kansas. Senior Raquel McCafferty came to the fair to look at different colleges and majors offered. She said while not many of the colleges offered the major she was interested in, she still believes the College Fair is important. There were plenty of different colleges and majors covered at the College Fair. While there were big name schools like the University of Notre Dame and Butler University, there were smaller schools like Goshen College and Hanover College. McCafferty believes talking to the schools is important. It helps you interact with some of the people here, she said. It gives you really good information. Junior Gavin Richardson shared the same views as McCafferty. You get personal insight on experiences people have had at these colleges, Richardson said. They know more about them. Anyone interested in a school could sign up for newsletters and more information. Most colleges had postcards for students to write down their address to receive further information. Students who were not interested in a typical college setting still had reason to attend the College Fair. Several stands at the fair were focused on offering apprenticeships and teaching trades, such as the Regency Beauty Institute or Electrical Joint Apprenticeship. Richardson was one of the students looking for information on business. I found out theres several internships available in different schools and many opportunities, he said. Students even had the option to talk to three branches of the U.S. Military: the Army, the Marines, and the Navy. Senior Sam Rivera attended the College Fair after she decided to pursue joining the Army Reserves in addition to attending college after she discovered the Army will assist her with her college tuition. The College Fair helped give me a wider option of schools to go to, what the requirements are for going to that school and how to apply, Rivera said. After attending basic training, Rivera is going to attend Indiana University for a year then transfer to either Ball State University, Indiana University Bloomington, or Purdue University. She plans to study criminal justice in the hopes of becoming a police officer. HOBART Construction for a major project to address flooding concerns could get started next year. The Board of Public Works and Safety recently approved a $228,780 agreement to have Butler, Fairman & Seufert provide engineering services for the 3rd Street Bridge replacement project. Jake Dammarell, of the engineering company, said the design for the new bridge could be finished in spring 2017. Construction could start in the late spring or early summer next year. The new four-span arch bridge that will be built there will be longer than the current structure. Dammarell said the project looks to accomplish several goals, the most significant of which will address water restriction issues. The design of the bridge could reduce water levels by about 3 feet during flooding scenarios similar to the massive flooding that took place in 2008. The new bridge also will have architectural features that will fit with Hobart's historic downtown area. Dammarell said an estimated cost of the project hasn't yet been determined. Dammarell said Hobart will coordinate with the Lake County Highway Department, which is designing a separate project to replace the deck of the Wisconsin Street Bridge in the city. He said both bridge projects require permits from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Hobart and Lake County will collaborate to obtain one permit for the projects, and that could result in large cost savings, Dammarell said. The current plan calls for work to begin on the 3rd Street Bridge first. Dammarell said it could take about three to four months to build the new structure. Efforts will be made to prevent the construction schedules from overlapping and having the two bridges closed at the same time. Mayor Brian Snedecor said Lake County could make an investment in the 3rd Street Bridge project. Snedecor said he has had conversations with county officials about the matter, and they understand the importance of the project. They certainly support our efforts, he said. GARY The city is applying for another $4.5 million in federal money to continue its demolition program under the states Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program. The citys Redevelopment Commission is about to complete demolition of the last of the 379 blighted residential properties that it was originally scheduled to tear down with its initial allocation of funds from the program. The city was authorized to spend $6.6 million in funding to tear down that number of buildings, but will end up knocking down that many with only about $3.9 million of the allocation. Joe Van Dyk, executive director of Garys Planning and Redevelopment Department, estimates the city may be able to tear down another 250 or so vacant buildings with the remaining $2.7 million. The $6.6 million the city received came from a pool of $75 million in federal funds that the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority set aside for blight elimination in the state. The state has about $5.8 million remaining from that pool of money. Van Dyk said based on the citys past performance in using the Hardest Hit money, the development authority said the city was eligible to apply for $4.5 million and encouraged it to apply for that amount. Van Dyk hadnt anticipated the city would be able to get such a large share of the remaining money. In July, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Van Dyk were hoping to obtain about $3 million of these leftover dollars to continue with the citys demolition program I didnt expect that we would get 80 percent of the funding statewide, he said. Van Dyk said the city should find out in November if it is officially awarded that amount of money. He said the city may end up taking down more than 1,000 buildings with Hardest Hit money if it is successful with the latest application. The city also is working with MaiaCo LLC, a private development partner, on a budget for the coming year that could be released next month. MaiaCo will provide funding for the Redevelopment Commission to acquire additional Gary blighted property that is leftover from the county tax sale. Van Dyk said this will free up more of the commissions money to pay for demolitions. SCHERERVILLE No residents attended the first of three public hearings about the towns proposed 2017 budget at the Sept. 14 Town Council meeting. This is the first year we are not required to advertise the proposed budget, said Clerk-Treasurer Janice Malinowski as part of the public hearings agenda. The state Department of Local Government Finance now requires that municipal budgets be submitted online through Indiana Gateway for Government Units at least 10 days before the first public hearing. The 2017 Schererville budget was submitted on Sept. 2, meeting that requirement, Malinowski said. Town Council President Michael Troxell said residents would be given an opportunity to speak and called for oral or written remonstrance for or against the proposed budget. With no one in the audience, the public hearing was quickly closed. As submitted, the towns proposed 2017 budget is $26,981.521. The maximum estimated amount to be raised including through tax levies is $10,910,382, according to the submitted documents. That is about a 6 percent increase over the tax levy for the 2016 budget, which is $10,253,135. The council is slated to take final action on the 2017 budget at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St. SCHERERVILLE The Northwest Indiana Veterans Action Council hosts its third annual Veterans Honor Luncheon on Oct. 12 at the Halls of St. George, 905 E. Joliet St., Schererville. The luncheon is to honor those who served during World War ll, the Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm. The luncheon is free for veterans and a guest. To reserve a spot and for more information about the luncheon, call Kathy at (219) 545-1207. EAST CHICAGO In a newly released plan to move more than 1,000 residents from lead-contaminated housing, local officials described the relocation as aggressive, but added they believe it could be done with identified resources. A written plan outlining relocation assistance and tenants rights is typically required when a local housing authority applies for demolition of a property as ECHA did in July to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was learned in August the ECHA did not have a relocation plan but that officials were still crafting one. That document was submitted to HUD on Sept. 2 roughly one month after families first packed the neighborhoods community center Aug. 3 to learn more about the relocation process. Weeks prior, the citys mayor had sent letters to residents advising they relocate due to extremely high concentrations of lead and arsenic discovered in the soil. Some residents facing a time crunch to leave have reported trouble finding a new home, and initial research by the ECHA indicates all 332 families will not likely find housing options within the ECHA jurisdiction for relocation, according to ECHA documents. Twenty-five families who have had vouchers in hand for 30 days have reported limited progress in finding a unit, according to HUD. However, officials said they are in the initial stages of learning if residents are experiencing difficulty. We have to move Some residents, including Tamica Lewis, said the search for housing hasnt been easy. Lewis is among the 80-plus who have expressed a desire to port out of the ECHAs jurisdiction, meaning a different housing authority is handling her paperwork. I havent found anything. Its hard to find something when you have four kids. Two are teenagers. A lot of people dont like renting to people with teenagers, she said. Ive just been hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. After having little success in East Chicago and other communities in the Region, Lewis said she reached out to the Housing Authority of Cook County last week to set up an appointment. She is waiting on a call back. It hits you all of the sudden. We didnt know (about the lead). We found all this out, and (the Housing Authority) just hit us with all this paperwork, saying we have to move. Its hard, Lewis said. The ECHA recently came under fire from the Chicago-based Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, which filed a housing discrimination complaint alleging noncompliance with federal law to safely move residents. Kate Walz, housing justice director with the center, said improvements have been made since the initial complaint, but concerns remain about housing discrimination, unit availability and security deposits. Walz said the ECHAs willingness to only cover security deposits equal to one months worth of the fair market rent in the locality of the approved unit could limit options for low-income families. The ECHA board on Sept. 7 approved resolutions authorizing use of capital dollars to help residents move. That is money the housing authority had set aside for construction, renovations and other capital projects. Carla Morgan, the citys attorney and designated spokeswoman for ECHA, did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls seeking comment last week specifically about the draft plan, housing availability in East Chicago and elsewhere and the relocation process. The ECHA also is among the defendants listed in a recently filed federal lawsuit alleging a rushed relocation process could have been prevented, saying officials knew or reasonably should have known long ago that the site which sits in the footprint of the long-ago-demolished Eagle Picher lead smelter was contaminated. James Cunningham, HUDs deputy regional administrator in Chicago,said last week all but 10 of more than 300 families have received briefings. Nearly everyone had vouchers in hand as of Sept. 16, and eight families had found units, which are now in the inspection and approval phase, Cunningham said. Vouchers are valid for 60 days, but residents can request two additional 30-day extensions. However, an FAQ distributed to residents earlier this month states those deciding to leave East Chicago may not have the same flexibility. If a family is unsuccessful after 120 days, the ECHA has authority to initiate an emergency transfer to another public housing unit because of the sites imminent health and safety concerns. At least 180 families have received counseling. Counselors have set up shop at the 151st Street Recreational Center, 4925 Gladiola Ave. in East Chicago. Residents are being offered counseling, moving assistance and waived security deposits and application fees. Finding a lead-safe home HUD will test new units for lead in a limited number of cases, Cunningham said. After residents agree to terms with a potential landlord and turn in a request for approval, the federal housing agency will conduct a visual inspection. If a small amount of chipping or peeling paint is found, HUD will either require the landlord to make repairs and reinspect the unit or, if the area of damaged paint is larger, the unit will be subject to a clearance test, Cunningham said. During a clearance test, a certified lead inspector would visit the unit and ensure its safe after repairs are made. The more stringent tests will be required for families with children identified as having elevated blood lead levels and who are receiving case management services through the health department, Cunningham said. The East Chicago Health Department has opted to provide services to children with blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter, the federal Centers for Disease Controls level of concern, Morgan said. The state requires such services be provided at 10 micrograms per deciliter, but gives communities the option of using the lower standard if they have resources to do so. HUD will provide clearance tests for children with blood lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter or more, Cunningham said. If theyre identified and under case management as identified by the local health department, were going to follow the citys lead, he said. Officials strongly urge parents to take children to get confirmatory blood tests if preliminary tests have shown elevated lead levels, so they receive all the services available to them. To schedule tests, call the East Chicago Health Department at (219) 391-8467. Ariel Carter, a mother of two who is porting to the Gary Housing Authority, said it will be another two weeks before HUD can inspect units she has identified as possibilities. Her 2-year-old daughter has an elevated blood lead level, so the unit and grounds will be tested for lead. Its a lot of waiting. Thats all its been for the past two months, she said. The ECHA has budgeted just more than $1 million to move residents. HUD has allocated $1.9 million to ECHA for housing vouchers. DeShun Sanders and his family are porting to the Chicago Housing Authority. Sanders has a family of 10 including eight children so finding a place isnt going to be easy, he said. He said Chicago Housing Authority officials met with his wife late last week, and they are now waiting on paperwork to be finalized. They havent identified a place to move yet, he said. Breana Washington said she has searched listings on Craigslist and other websites. Some landlords have not returned phone calls, she said. On Thursday, Washington met with the Hammond Housing Authority. Her 6-year-old son Charles wants to stay in the East Chicago school system, but she doesnt believe there is enough housing in the city to make that happen. He finally met some friends. He realizes whats going on and doesnt want to leave, Washington said. Housing availability, resources According to ECHA, 221 of the 332 households identified for relocation from West Calumet need a three-, four- or five-bedroom unit. About 100 need one- or two-bedroom units. With limited housing options in East Chicago, the ECHA has partnered with other local housing providers to expand affordable housing opportunities to ensure comparable housing meets quality standards and is located in areas that are generally not less desirable than the West Calumet site, the draft plan states. Gina Gomez, community services manager for Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp., said NWICA administers the Housing Choice Voucher Program for several counties and communities in the Region, including all in Lake County except for East Chicago, Gary and Hammond. Those cities each have their own local housing authorities. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority extended NWICAs current contracted voucher allocations to accommodate the expected increase from West Calumet residents, she said in an email. There are 825 active voucher holders through NWICA, and in the last week, about 10 West Calumet residents have transferred to NWICA, she said. In a conference call last week with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Gomez was told a resident meeting is scheduled for Oct. 5 at the community building to provide updates to residents. IHCDA also is reaching out to local owners interested in renting their units out to Housing Choice Voucher Program participants to attend this meeting, Gomez said. Gov. Mike Pence in a letter Sept. 20 to HUD Secretary Julian Castro said he has concerns about housing options for larger families. Pence has been criticized by community leaders and residents for not personally visiting the complex. The Indiana governor asked HUD, in part, if the federal agency has a plan to help such harder-to-house families and if there is a plan to find solutions for families given the difference in price between federally subsidized housing and market rates. In a letter dated Sept. 14 to HUD Secretary Julian Castro, the Shriver Center expressed concerns about limited housing options for West Calumet families. A review of rental listings in East Chicago, Hammond and Merrillville at the end of August determined that only 92 units in these communities fell within the ECHA voucher limits, the letter states. Walz, the housing justice director for the Shriver Center, said in some cases, landlords in these online listings have spelled out strict, minimal income or high credit score requirements, further limiting housing availability for low-income families. Walz said the Shriver Center is still seeing some listings that refuse to take Section 8. And quite frankly, (were seeing) other sources of illegal discrimination that are illegal in Indiana and at the federal level, she said. The Housing Authoritys relocation plan states officials will provide families with information on how to fill out a housing discrimination complaint if such a practice is suspected. EAST CHICAGO An Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal dredging project that has resulted in the removal of almost 1 million cubic yards of sediment since 2012 resumed on Sept. 13. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers oversees the project that is a joint venture in which the Kokosing Construction Co., Inc. and O'Brien & Gere conduct the dredging and operation of a confined disposal facility. Natalie Mills, project manager for the Army Corps, gave an update on the project recently to the East Chicago Waterway Management District board. "That work is scheduled to continue through December, and that includes the federal and and the nonfederal work for a total of 270,000 cubic yards of material," Mills said. That number represents an increase from the 170,00 cubic yards of material that was expected to be removed this year based on information provided at a public meeting held by the Army Corps and the Waterway Management Board in June. At that time it was thought the dredging project was to resume in August. Mills said she did not know of any specific reason the dredging did not start until this month other than it depended on the contractor's schedule. While Kokosing and O'Brien & Gere will finish their contractual obligations this year, Mills said the Army Corps is currently evaluating proposals for a new five-year operations and dredging contract. "We're on schedule to award a new contract by the 30th of September," Mills said. According to a corps news release, the harbor was not dredged from 1972 to 2012 due to contaminated sediment and lack of a suitable storage place for it. That sediment is now stored at a confined disposal facility west of the Indianapolis bridge. The Army Corps release also said removing approximately 1 million cubic yards of sediment has reduced the amount of contaminants that had been flowing into Lake Michigan and has allowed for more efficient commercial navigation. CHESTERTON Continuing a tradition of many years, St. Francis Episcopal Church will have a Blessing of the Pets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the church grounds at 237 E. Porter Ave. The event is open to residents who want to bring their pet to be blessed by the Rev. David Pearson and presented with a St. Francis medallion. The pets should be appropriately leashed or confined. Helping provide this effort are St. Francis Church, Porter County Animal Shelter, Best Buddies Pet Pantry, Lakeshore Paws and American Greyhound Rescue. Donations to the shelter of canned dog/cat/puppy/kitten food will be accepted. Best Buddies provides nourishment to pets of individuals who are receiving state or federal assistance with the aim of keeping pets in the homes of their owners and not surrendering them to the shelter or abandoning them into the streets. Donations will be accepted to help keep the pantry filled during winter months. Its website is http://www.bestbuddiespetpantry.org. Lakeshore Paws, a volunteer-run, nonprofit animal rescue in Valparaiso, will have animals for adoption. Its website is http://www.lakeshorepaws.org. They accept monetary and item donations, see the Donate page on their web site. The American Greyhound Rescue is a not for profit corporation dedicated to finding homes for unwanted greyhounds, and will have greyhounds available for adoption. Its website is http://www.americangreyhound.org. Refreshments will be served for dogs, cats and their human companions. The blessing is held each year around the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century patron saint of animals. Contact the church at (219) 926-3497 or http://www.stfrancischesterton.org. VALPARAISO For the old-timers, it was a chance to reminisce. For youngsters, an opportunity to learn about the past. The 40th annual Fall Harvest Festival & Antique Equipment Show at Sunset Hill Farm County Park this weekend showcased old farming techniques, as well as vintage tractors, steam engines, cars and trucks. Presented by the Northern Indiana Historical Power Association, the festival continues through Sunday. NIHPA, which collects and preserves antique farm equipment, hosted its first steam show in 1977. They wanted to keep the old ways alive, NIHPA President Mike Andrews said. Among the highlights: steam engines, a shingle mill, saw mill, corn shelling and sorghum cooking. There also was a parade of power, a kiddie tractor pull, flea market, craft fair and wagon rides. Last year, the three-day show drew 10,000 people from throughout the Midwest. Don Artman, 80, of Kankakee, Illinois, has attended for many years and brought 17 tractors one year. Artman, who grew up on a farm, remembers husking corn by hand and being excited when his family was able to acquire a one-row corn picker. Todays pickers do about 16 rows, he said. When we got that one-row picker, we thought wed died and gone to heaven, Artman said. Hank Friday, 76, of Rolling Prairie, grew up on a farm near Chesterton. He brought two John Deere tractors to the show, including a 1954 model. Thats a tractor I spent my teenage years on, he said. This (festival) takes me back to when I was a young man. Across the field, NIHPA member Amanda Carter, of Hobart, was busy shoveling corn cobs onto a conveyor belt which funneled them into a corn crib to dry. Ever since I was little I wanted to be around farming life, Carter said. I think its nice to go back to the traditional way and escape the modern world for awhile. PORTAGE Its not going to be a regular ribbon cutting ceremony when officials open up the new fire and police stations to the public for the first time. Instead of ribbon in front of the doors of each building, the police will have a chain of handcuffs that officials will unlock to signify the facility is open. Just down the street at the new fire station, the traditional ribbon will be replaced by fire hose which will be uncoupled by Fire Chief Tom Fieffer and Mayor James Snyder, Fieffer said. The dual openings of the two new buildings will be held on Satruday. Fieffer said officials are asking residents to meet at the Amphitheater at Founders Square at noon. There will be remarks made and officials will then complete the ribbon cutting ceremonies at each building. Following the formal ceremony, There will be tours of both buildings with open houses continuing until 5 p.m. In addition to refreshments, visitors will be able to see both fire and police equipment, K-9 demonstrations, firearms training simulator, water rescue team demonstration and games for youngsters. The new fire station is replacing the station at City Hall. The $4 million building was constructed by The Pangere Corp., of Gary. Fieffer said they are likely to begin operations out of the new building sometime the following week or so. Portage police will move into their new headquarters on Oct. 3 and 4, Police Chief Troy Williams said. The $2.5 million project, which retrofitted the former University Center into the new police station, was completed by Gibson-Lewis of Mishawaka, Indiana. The new fire station features four bays in the 12,000-square-foot facility. The tower truck will be moved from station two on Old Porter Road to provide a more central location in the city. The remaining bays will be filled with an engine, rescue unit and division chiefs vehicle. The new station features four bays in the 12,000-square-foot facility. The tower truck will be moved from Station 2 on Old Porter Road, said Fieffer, to provide a more central location in the city. The remaining bays will be filled with an engine, rescue unit and division chiefs vehilce. The only administrative office in the new station will be for the division or turn chief. Seven personnel will initially work out of the station, but there will be room for growth. The new house can hold 12 personnel. And, yes, there is a fire pole. Technically the building is three stories, but the bays take up two stories of the building. The top floor contains bunk rooms for each apparatus crew, a commercial grade kitchen and a common area. The new 33,000-square-foot police station is nearly triple the size of the present building on Irving Street. Its size, said officials, provides the department not only the space needed for today, but will serve the city for the next 50 years or more. Contractors added a sallyport or garage to the northwest portion of the building. The enclosed area will allow officers to bring suspects into the station in a secure area and straight into the booking area or interview room. In addition to the first floor squad room and second floor detectives bureau, each specialty unit, from SWAT to K-9, reserves, crash team and animal control will have its own office. A century ago, the battle over the Indiana Dunes was intense. Industry was gobbling up the Dunes, and what we now know as environmentalists were trying to save what was left. This weekend's Dunes pageant is an echo of the one in spring 1917 that was staged to make the pitch for creating a national park in Indiana. Battles over the Dunes saw some milestones 100 years ago this month. The nation had the new National Park Service, created on Aug. 25, 1916, and its first director, Stephen Mather, was from Chicago. He immediately began pushing to create a national park in the Indiana Dunes. The Prairie Club of Chicago also wanted to see the Dunes saved. But not everyone was on board. The editor of the Chesterton Tribune blasted the park proposal. On Sept. 15, 1916, The Lake County Times subhead said, Chesterton Editor Mad As Wet Hen, Denounces National Dunes Park Plan. Ex-Senator A.J. Bowser of Chesterton, who is among those that believe that every sand hill in the 26 miles between Gary and Michigan City will within a short time hold a great steel plant, denounces the national park scheme in this issue of his weekly, the Tribune, The Times reported. The Times story said there was room enough in the dunes to pack a couple of hundred steel plants the size of the monster Gary works, an entertaining bit of hyperbole. In fact, there was a lot of wheeling and dealing going on then, with proposals being announced without actually coming to fruition. A lakeshore railroad that would have destroyed much of the dunes was proposed 100 years ago but never built. In fact, land was set aside for another steel mill that was never built. The Prairie Club members and other environmentalists were right to be concerned about the rate at which the Dunes were being gobbled up. The famous Hoosier Slide was gone by the 1920s, having been mined for glass being made by the Ball brothers in central Indiana. The Chesterton editor was distressed that the land not used by industry at that time would be protected from job-producing development. One of the efforts to promote the national park was the 1917 Dunes pageant. Today, a slick video would be created. But back before televisions were ubiquitous, live theater was all the rage for promoting social causes. And what a pageant it was. Held at Port Chester, about where Ogden Dunes is today, the pageant told the history of the Dunes in the setting the Prairie Club and others in the Indiana Dunes Pageant Association hoped to preserve. The aim was to show off the natural beauty of the Dunes and show its connection to American history. The booklet produced for the pageant gives a lot of background, along with the script for the pageant and credits for the many people involved in the production. Mather gives unbounded praise to the sand dunes as objects of scenic beauty and scientific interest, and estimates that from 9,000 to 13,000 acres of sand dune country should be included in the project, the booklet said. Buying a strip of land one mile wide and 15 to 20 miles long would cost $1.5 million to $2 million ($28.2 million to $37.6 million in 2016 dollars). The beauty of the trees and other plant life in their autumn garb, as I saw them recently, was beyond description. They constitute a paradise for the artist and writer, Mathers report to Congress stated. In my judgment, a large section of this dune region should be preserved for all time. Science and education virtually demand that it be safeguarded forever. The dunes are accessible to 5 million people and are ideally located in the center of population, Mather said. Through the use of whites dressed as American Indians the pageant wasnt exactly politically correct by todays standards and interpretative dance, the sales pitch for the national park was made. It wasnt a great success. The weather was terrible on May 30, 1917, the first day of the pageant. Disappointed and Disgusted Crowds Invade the Sand Dunes Nymphs Shiver as Rain Pours on Spectators Repeated Sunday, the subhead on the story read the following day. Thousands showed up, huddled under umbrellas, but actors voices were ultimately drowned out by thunder. The show was repeated the following weekend. The national park that was promoted by the 1917 Dunes pageant didnt materialize right away, but that didnt stop the Save the Dunes movement. Womens clubs managed to get the new Indiana Department of Natural Resources to create Indiana Dunes State Park, the site where the Dunes pageant was held, in 1925. The battle to create a national park waged for four more decades. Finally, in 1966, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore the national park for the Indiana Dunes was created by Congress. The law also allowed Indiana Dunes State Park to be added to the national park but only if the state agreed to donate it. The 1917 pageant, being reprised this weekend, is a charming but often overlooked part of the campaign to save the Dunes. Learn more about todays pageant events at https://savedunes.org/dunes-blowout/. LaPorte High School offers students (grades 9-12) the opportunity to earn a Work Ethic Certificate and to be recognized by the School Board and the entire school community. This certificate, awarded to any student who meets or exceeds the established criteria, validates for employers that the student has successfully displayed strong work habits that lead to success in the workplace and in college. Savvy students use the certificate to their advantage on resumes, college applications, and job interviews. Students in the program also develop a sense of awareness of the importance of being prepared for the demands of the 21st century workforce and higher education. Any LaPorte High students in grades 9-12 must first declare an intention to participate by signing a Student Intent to Participate form by early December. Students are provided with a packet of information that explains the criteria and the process of evaluation leading to receipt of the award. The certificate at LaPorte began in 2006 for juniors and seniors and was a joint partnership with the high school, the Department of Workforce Development and the Center of Workforce Innovations. After the statewide program ended in 2008, La Porte Community Schools not only continued the program but also expanded it to include freshmen and sophomores. The certificate was developed to respond directly to the needs expressed by employers in multiple business sectors in the region. Local employers were surveyed by the Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce and asked to identify necessary work skills they look for in their employees. In response to the survey input, LaPorte expanded the opportunity by incorporating the Work Ethic Certificate process into the Career & Technical Education curriculum, which has served to increase the number of students earning the award. This is very positive for students, employers, and higher education, as many CTE students move on to success in college and other educational programs. Award of the certificate is tied to a rigorous evaluation process. Ten criteria have been established by employers and educators to determine eligibility for the Work Ethic Certificate. These criteria are based upon attendance, unexcused absence, tardiness, discipline, community service, organization, punctuality, respectfulness, career readiness and teamwork. Four of the criteria require an evaluators signature to serve as evidence that the student displays those qualities on a consistent basis. Data for the evaluation are collected in the second trimester, between November and February, leading to recognition at the end of the school year. There are many advantages to participating in this program. The Work Ethic Certificate is a demonstration of character and dependability. Students who qualify for the certificate have excellent attendance, are punctual, and earn good grades. Additionally, these students express their compassion for others and concern for the community by performing community service. Colleges and employers alike are constantly seeking students/employees who display these qualities. Successful completion of the Work Ethic Certificate is also documented on the students transcript. When Work Ethic Certificates are presented to LaPorte students, each student also receives a $40 gift card to Barnes & Noble, thanks to the sponsorship by the American Licorice Co., a local employer and active member of the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board. The Workforce Boards Youth Employment Council has championed the use of the Work Ethic Certificate with schools and employers throughout the region. For more information, the coordinators of the LaPorte High School Work Ethic Certificate program are Assistant Principal Candace Schafer and College and Career Counselor Tami Maxey. It is getting increasingly important that we take in the three presidential debates that begin at 8 p.m. Monday. The same can be said for the debates between Democrat John Gregg and Republican Eric Holcomb, the two major candidates for Indiana governor. Those debates are Tuesday in Indianapolis, Oct. 3 in Indianapolis and Oct. 25 in Evansville. These debates essentially provide a different look at the candidates. Until now, weve listened to them talk about how they are going to do this and that without saying where they will find the money to pay for their proposals. Republican Donald Trump is calling for a massive infusion of money into the military, a substantial tax cut and reduction in the nation debt. There is a whole lot wrong with that picture, as any economist will tell you. Trump is hanging his hat on trickle-down economics that didnt work when first proposed by President Ronald Reagan. Hillary Clinton, too, has some explaining to do, particularly how she would pay for child care and reducing student loans. While the presidential candidates deserve some grilling, so, too, do the candidates for governor. Holcomb last week came up with a classic. He talked about spending billions of dollars on the states infrastructure, while at the same time maintaining the states more than $2 billion reserve fund. But when it came to paying for his proposals, Holcomb begged off. Actually, Holcomb said, Trust me. Rather than saying how he will come up with the money to finance his proposals, Holcomb essentially said he didnt know. That will come during the legislative process, Holcomb said. Well be discussing how were going to pay for it. The voters deserve a better answer. Its kind of like Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel last week failing to say how he will pay for the hiring of 500 new police officers next year. Unlike Holcomb, Gregg has been more specific in his plans to fund infrastructure improvements. Gregg has said he will dedicate more state revenue to roads and will use some of the states massive reserves, which essentially belong to the taxpayer. We are wrong if we allow politicians to get away with pie-in-the-sky promises without telling us how they will get it done. After all, they will be playing with our money. Saying trust me just doesnt get it. One Regions awards this month focused on quality quality of place and quality of individual. The honorees deserved being singled out for their efforts. Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority CEO Bill Hanna was one of three individuals given the Regional Contributor award. Hanna works diligently, often behind the scenes in Indianapolis and in the Region, to improve the quality of life in the Region. Hanna persuaded legislators in 2015 to commit $180 million to the extension of South Shore rail service in west Lake County. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District is moving forward with significant improvements along the existing line, including adding a double set of tracks between Gary and Michigan City. The RDA is assisting that project, too. Judges said Hanna exemplifies true regional collaboration by working with other leaders to drive transformative projects throughout the Region. Everyone in this room is required for us to be successful in our pursuits. When you see this evolution occurring with One Region, it really is a huge movement going on, Hanna said. Indeed, the Region is beginning to coalesce and collaborate. The RDA, under Hannas direction, is leading the way. Hammond, which has seen the benefit of RDA dollars, and Michigan City were each given the Quality of Place Award. Michigan City has worked hard in recent years to make itself a better place to live, work and play. The downtown and the lakefront are being transformed, drawing more people to the city. The Artspace Uptown Artist Lofts project not only saved an old building that had been vacant for years, but also gave low-income artists a place to work and live, enhancing the citys reputation as a haven for the arts. The new Promise Scholarships provide eligible high school students with $5,000 per year toward tuition at colleges and other post-secondary programs in Indiana. Its much like Hammonds College Bound program. The judges acknowledged Hammonds guidance to Michigan City, based on Hammonds College Bound scholarship program experience, in Michigan Citys creation of its Promise Scholarship. Thats true regional cooperation, the judges said. Hammond has seen an uptick in development. The site of the old, decrepit Riverpark Apartments, for example, now will see the first top-notch office space adjacent to the Borman Expressway in Northwest Indiana. Credit also should go to the city council for its plans to host a South Shore commuter rail gateway station. The Promise of the Future award recognized two leaders under age 21 who are making a difference in their communities. Three years ago, Justin Kiel and his mother became co-owners of the Westville Indicator and the Regional News (LaCrosse) while he was still a junior in high school. He is now publisher of both. At 18 years old, he took a seat on the LaCrosse Town Council and this year was elected its president. He also serves on a number of community boards. Emily Tezak, a graduate of the Porter County Career and Technical Education Center, became a certified nurse assistant there and is now pursuing a nursing degree in college. As a volunteer for the Health Occupations Student Organization, she visited nursing home residents and assisted nurses at elementary schools. Charlie Blum, recipient of the Special Recognition Award, turned Northwest Indiana into a concert and show business destination. As chief executive of the Star Plaza Theatre, he attracted top acts to the Region, including B.B. King, Red Skelton and Jerry Seinfeld. Judges praised Blum for impacting the quality of life in Northwest Indiana in a positive way and making it a top theater destination. Gary Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Charles Chuck Hughes received the Regional Contributor Award. Hughes is a founding partner of Community Civility Counts, which started as a partnership of the Gary Chamber and The Times Media Co. He is a constant cheerleader for Gary. Wil Davis, another Regional Contributor, operates the Gary Jet Center, an aircraft maintenance and refueling operation that has been Gary/Chicago International Airports linchpin business for a quarter decade. Judges said Davis dedication to regional collaboration is exemplified by his long-term commitment to the growth and success of the Gary/Chicago International Airport. BAGHDAD A triple suicide bombing against a security checkpoint north of Baghdad on Saturday killed at least 11 members of the security forces, a police officer said. 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 checkpoint near the town of al-Salam at the provinces northern entrance. Al-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. Almost at the same time, another group of militants on foot attacked a check point at the eastern edge of the province, killing four policemen and wounding two others, he added. One militant was killed in that attack, while the others fled the scene, he said. The governor of Salahuddin province, Ahmed al-Jabouri, accused the Islamic State group of being behind the attacks, vowing to retaliate for the martyrs by chopping off the heads of Daesh militants, using the Arabic acronym for the group. Al-Jabouri called on security forces to review their plans and on residents to cooperate with the authorities. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but IS 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 (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad. The attack came days after government forces recaptured the town of Shirqat, north of Tikrit, from IS 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 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, is the last major IS urban stronghold in Iraq. U.S. officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October. Protesters marched to the home of a Queens hotel owner Saturday over plans to convert one of his properties in Maspeth into a homeless shelter. Borough reporter Ruschell Boone has the story. After nearly six weeks of protesting a city plan to convert this Holiday Inn on 55th Road into a homeless shelter, these Maspeth residents are showing no signs of letting up. Rolling by the busload, they took their fight to the street again. This time to Bellerose and Floral Park to the hotel owner, Harshad Patel. "The shelter policies are wrong and it has got to stop." More than 200 people protested in front of two of Patel's businesses. Hotels that were converted into homeless shelters. Dozens of Bellerose, Floral Park and Long Island residents also joined in when the group marched to his home. "This group has been able to get a Holiday Inn to stop, but de Blasio is not going to allow it. He is digging in deep, but this isn't fair to the people here." Along the way, there were some tense moments when a protester was punched by someone who had joined in the march. Some have accused the group of racism, but organizers say their fight is with the mayor and City Hall. "He is creating the great divide and he kept on saying there is two cities," said Anthony Nunziato, Chairman of Maspeth Middle Village Task Force. "He forgot the third city, the middle class." "This is not a racial issue because the homeless comes in all different colors and ethnicities," said Robert Holden with the Juniper Park Civic Association. "We will accept a small facility; we will accept one and two family homes, affordable houses." A week ago the group also protested in front of the home of the head of the Human Resources Administration. On Saturday Steven Banks said the city wanted to protect the children who live at the shelters where the protest took place. "At these particular locations there are 80 children involved and today we wanted to take them to the Children's Museum of Manhattan in order to make sure that they had an opportunity to get some assistance and not have to be subjected to a protest," said Steven Banks, the city's Human Resources Administration Commissioner. Maspeth residents say they will continue to protest in front of the Holiday Inn Express, but they are also planning a protest at City Hall. Police are on the hunt for two men they say shot and killed deli worker during an attempted robbery in Queens. Investigators say the men seen here tried to rob 46-year-old Mamadou Diallo around 6:30 Saturday morning at the Sunshine Deli near 170th Street and Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica. Police say one of them shot Diallo in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the cash register was empty when they arrived, although it's not clear if the men took the money. A historic national ship sails home into Lower Manhattan. The Wavertree arrived at the South Street Seaport Saturday after undergoing 16 months of repairs. Built in Southampton, England in 1865, the 270-foot cargo ship circled the earth four times. After 35 years of sailing and four trips around the world, the Wavetree's career as a cargo ship came to an end after getting caught in a storm in South Africa. The Wavertree was eventually shipped back to be docked at the Seaport in the 1960s and is the world's only remaining wrought-iron ship. The city's Department of Design and Construction spent almost $13 million to restore the ship to its original condition. It will remain on display at the South Street Seaport Museum. Fall television is in full swing as three dramas Once Upon a Time, Secrets and Lies and Quantico return on ABC. Opera lovers can tap into the European scene with Eugene Onegin, streaming online from a performance in Britain. Whats on TV ONCE UPON A TIME 8 p.m. on ABC. This networks Sunday night lineup returns for a new season, starting with the fairy tale adventure Once Upon a Time. We last left Storybrooke in peril, threatened by the arrival of Hyde (separated from his better half, Dr. Jekyll). Now, the heroes must plan how to stop him. Secrets and Lies is back at 9 p.m. with a new mystery: Who killed Kate Warner? At 10 p.m., Quantico begins its second season; Alex is caught in a conspiracy, and you can expect to see new faces, like Russell Tovey of Looking. Uptown panhandling is causing a spirited dialogue among Butte business owners, who say that behavior from a small, identifiable group of individuals is hurting their bottom line. Things reached a boiling point Sept. 9 when Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Matt Vincent called a public meeting to discuss the issue. Business owners came to the meeting in full force, armed with impassioned statements outlining their grievances. Several spoke of urination and drunken behavior near their storefronts, while others outlined specific instances in which they felt harassed or threatened by panhandlers. Merchants and community leaders also spoke on the aesthetics of the situation, and how the behavior of about 6 to 10 individuals Uptown could potentially hurt Buttes efforts to revitalize the community. Vincent told The Montana Standard on Wednesday that he was sympathetic to the experience of Uptown business owners. Its a very personal issue. I mean, it involves people and their livelihoods, said Vincent. Whether your livelihood is selling antiques or baking cupcakes or trying to get the means you need to fuel an addiction. So obviously theres a lot of emotion brought to the table on this. Kelley Klamp of For Heavens Cakes bakery and coffee shop at 33 N. Main St. agrees for her its personal. She and business partner Lauren Barnes moved the business from Boulder to Butte in October of 2015 and arrived in the Mining City with high hopes, which they expressed to The Standard in a February story. In February they spoke about the joys of running a small business but also the struggles. In the end they proclaimed they were the epitome of two broke girls as The Standard snapped a photo of Klamp, smiling, holding what seemed to be an endless row of brightly colored cupcakes. But several months later, the mood seems to have changed at For Heavens Cakes. On Thursday Klamp told the Standard that her conflict with Uptown panhandlers started immediately at the Uptown bakery. At first, Klamp said, she gave a dollar here and there, but soon she realized doing so was drawing more and more panhandlers to her storefront. However, Klamp said once she made the decision to stop offering money, the panhandlers became aggressive. In one particularly tense moment, Klamp said, a woman raised her hand, gesturing as though she were about to hit Klamp. Klamp said the presence of panhandlers is negatively impacting her business and that she believes some people stay away from Uptown because of the activity. Klamp added that she enjoys being in Uptown Butte and wants to stay, but that she and Barnes have come up with an exit plan if things reach a crisis point. This is our dream and if this isnt the place for our dream, then our dream continues on, said Klamp. When asked what solutions she would be willing to support, Klamp said she would like to see more recreational areas for panhandlers to congregate, the installation of public restrooms, and an anti-panhandling ordinance. Rally for solutions An anti-panhandling ordinance similar to one in Missoula was discussed at length during a Sept. 14 public meeting, during which members from the Vagrancy/Panhandling Task Force gathered to discuss the issues at hand. The group adjourned with a few action items that they hope will curb Uptown panhandling. These included, among other things, increasing foot patrols in the Uptown area, plans for case managers to accompany officers on the Uptown beat once a week, and installing locks on select dumpsters along Main Street to prevent scavenging for alcohol. Representatives from the Human Resources Council and the Southwest Montana Continuum of Care were also there and provided information for business owners on how to de-escalate aggressive behavior. One group that wasnt present: The panhandlers themselves. On Tuesday The Standard met with Rocky Lyons, executive director for the Butte Rescue Mission, who facilitated a discussion outside the Knights of Columbus with a few members from Buttes homeless population. Twice a week advocates pass out food to people in need at the 224 W. Park St. location. Incidentally, many of the people who spoke with The Montana Standard said they agreed with business owners: aggressive panhandling is wrong. Jack Brown said he thinks panhandling is OK so long as its not aggressive. Theres yin and yang. I mean, it hurts when people are rude to us, said Brown. But I just walk past and say thank you and thats what everyone needs to do. However, Tanner Christian Lofton, 28, expressed frustration over what he sees as unfair labeling of all homeless people as aggressive panhandlers, adding that out-of-town homeless people are partly to blame for the aggressive behavior. They really put a damper on the people who really need it. Most of them are trying to get a drink or drugs, he said. When asked what he wanted the people of Butte to know, Lofton replied, Not all homeless people are drunks or druggies would be the main thing Some have just decided to go the wrong way and really need help turning around. Lofton says hes trying to turn things around. After serving five years in prison in Wyoming for possession of a deadly weapon, Lofton said hes had a hard time getting back on his feet. He said many employers wont hire someone with a criminal record and, whats more, his situation became even more difficult after someone stole his backpack, which contained his Social Security card and ID. After that you get labeled as a 28-year-old who's just out for no good, said Lofton. I dont have a Social Security card. I dont have a birth certificate. I dont have an ID. Theres no way I can prove myself to get a job, said Lofton. Lyons, meanwhile, said barriers like this are common among Buttes homeless. She said people can be homeless for any combination of reasons, which can include things like an unexpected illness, losing a job, substance-abuse problems, incarceration and a lack of life skills. She added that in a place like Butte, where nearly 20 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty line, its easy to find oneself a stones throw away from a life on the street. I think one thing that we really have to keep in mind is that in our current economic state any of us could be in the situation of being homeless at any given time, said Lyons. Very few of us have a nice little nest egg that we can fall back on. Were all living paycheck to paycheck and if something happens and that paycheck is gone, we can be in this very situation. Margie Seccomb, head of Buttes Human Resources Council, said often what separates a person from becoming homeless or not is access to a support system like family members or a group of friends. Seccomb said in the early 1990s her organization helped build Homeward Bound, an apartment building at 304 N. Main St. that provided transitional housing for homeless people. Today, she said, HRC is shifting its approach away from transitional housing and into a model known as rapid rehousing or housing first. Unlike a transitional housing model that usually involves communal living and sometimes a sobriety requirement, rapid rehousing is aimed at getting people off the street and into permanent housing, regardless of their barriers, Seccomb said. Seccomb said HRC transitioned to rapid rehousing last year, so the verdict is out on its success, but so far she likes the numbers that she sees. Between 2015 and 2016, she said, HRCs rapid-rehousing program served 170 households, while Butte also saw its homeless population drop from 164 to 95. Seccomb said its too early to tell whether there is a correlation between the new approach and the numbers, but that she hopes the homeless population will continue to decline. Both sides of the aisle Sheriff Ed Lester says for as long as hes been practicing policing in Butte, problems related to homelessness have been an ongoing debate in the Mining City. This is the most recent time that its reared its head, said Lester, who got his start in the Butte police department in 1989. He said that people who are experiencing aggressive panhandling should leave their contact details so that police can gather the information necessary to make an arrest. While sitting on a park bench or panhandling are not illegal offenses in Butte, what is illegal are things such as blocking a persons egress, public urination and extreme intoxication. Most of the behaviors that we see are covered in the disorderly conduct statute, said Lester. Lester said hes hopeful that the addition of service advocates on foot patrols will help his officers establish relationships with everyone involved. The spirit of community policing is to try to build rapport with everybody. Not just business owners or not just the transient population. But Heath Eisentrager has a less optimistic view. He said he worries increased foot patrols will equate to the harassment of homeless people and panhandlers. Furthermore, he said, he feels that many of the people causing the problems have probably already been through housing and mental-health services before. Eisentrager, 40, said hes been homeless by choice off and on throughout his adult life. He said wanderlust caused him to choose the lifestyle, and that hes traveled to nearly every state in the United States except Rhode Island and Delaware. When asked if he represented a majority or a minority of homeless people, he said that most people are not homeless by choice. I would say the vast majority of people dont intentionally put themselves on the street, he said. But he added that he doesnt believe homelessness is the real issue, but rather public intoxication and Buttes lack of a ban on open containers of alcoholic beverages carried on the street. Better path forward As for Klamp, she said she hasnt enjoyed the spotlight her business has been taking after the task force meetings. She maintained that while shes willing to fight for her business tooth and nail, shes sympathetic to the experiences of homeless people because she knows what its like to live on the street. During her teens, she said, her family was homeless for a period of time. But you have to get to the point where you dont want to do that anymore, she said, wiping away tears. The things that we have accomplished with this business alone are proof that you can come back from the worst downfall. She said she hopes more business owners will speak out about their experiences and join her at the task force meetings. Brown, meanwhile, who spoke with The Standard outside the Knights of Columbus Hall on Park Street, says he loves Butte just as much as any other resident. Although he was born in Billings, he said his Butte and Anaconda roots run deep. He said his grandfather worked in the smelter in Anaconda, and he had an uncle Larry who worked in the Butte mines and taught Brown the difference between real and fools' gold. As for a bus ride out of the city, Brown said he doesnt plan on going anywhere anytime soon. Weve got history, all of us, said Brown. I love Butte and I will never leave. Ill be buried here. I dont care where its at, whether its on the street (or somewhere else). This is where Ill live and Ill die. 2. Yielding to growing pressure, the Charlotte police chief released videos on Saturday of the fatal police shooting of Mr. Scott. Although they dont show everything that happened at the scene, the body and dashboard camera videos appear to show Mr. Scott exiting his vehicle and backing away from it with his hands at his side. The police said that they had recovered a loaded gun with Mr. Scotts DNA on it but did not reveal where they had found the gun. The video doesnt show whether Mr. Scott had one. Abra Metz-Dworkin, the daughter of Cathy S. Metz and Jeffrey Dworkin of Montpelier, Vt., was married Sept. 24 to Evan Wood Gogel, the son of Georgia Wall Gogel and Donald J. Gogel of New York. Leah Gogel Pope, a sister of the groom who received authorization to solemnize the marriage from the State of Vermont, led a ceremony incorporating Jewish and Unitarian Universalist elements at Riverside Farm in Pittsfield, Vt. The couple, both 28, met at Yale, from which they graduated, he cum laude. The bride, who will be keeping her name, is to begin working in October as an associate in the litigation department at Debevoise & Plimpton, the New York law firm. She also received a law degree with honors from George Washington University. Her father is a psychotherapist in private practice in Montpelier. Her mother works as an educational consultant at public schools in Central Vermont and the Burlington area with the Nine East Networks Vermont Deaf & Hard of Hearing Program. She is also the concertmaster of the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra Society in Vermont. The groom, 28, is a consultant focusing on marketing and sales at McKinsey & Company in New York. He also received an M.B.A. from Harvard. Alexandra Nicole Levy and Robert Anthony Richardson III are to be married Sept. 25 at Maritime Parc, an event space in Jersey City. Andrew J. Dolinsky, a friend of the couple who became a minister of American Marriage Ministries for the event, is to officiate. The bride, 25, will take her husbands name. She is a production associate in New York for CBS News, where she is part of a production team working on the program CBS This Morning. She graduated from Oswego State University. She is the daughter of Rosario Levy and Martin S. Levy of Selden, N.Y. The groom, 26, is a compliance specialist in Jersey City for the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a securities depository. He graduated from Marist College. He is a son of Patricia M. Richardson and Mr. Richardson II of Morganville, N.J. The couple met in September 2013 at a bar in New York. They were introduced by a friend of Mr. Richardson who had met Ms. Levy five months earlier on a bus from New York City to Albany. Hannah Elisabeth Wirfel, a daughter of June A. Eichbaum and Kenneth I. Wirfel of Westport, Conn., is to be married Sept. 25 to George Davenport Jones IV, a son of Mary-Elisabeth Jones and Mr. Jones III of Concord, Mass. Rabbi Devon Lerner is to officiate with the assistance of the Rev. William Eddy, an Episcopal priest, at the Wianno Club in Osterville, Mass. The couple both graduated from Trinity College in Hartford. They met through mutual friends in 2008, after Ms. Wirfel graduated. The bride, 32, is the head riding instructor at New Canaan Mounted Troop in New Canaan, Conn., a nonprofit that fosters leadership through horsemanship. Her father, a retired criminal-defense lawyer, is to become the chairman of Jewish Senior Services in Fairfield County on Sept. 28. Her mother, also retired, was a partner in Russell Reynolds Associates, the executive-search consulting firm in New York. The brides parents are also founders of the Cooke Center for Learning and Development in New York, a nonprofit school for children with developmental disabilities. Hibah Hussain and Timothy Hannon Grayson were married Sept. 24 at Riverside on the Potomac, an event space on a horse farm in Leesburg, Va. William Fox, a Virginia civil celebrant, officiated at a ceremony led by John S. Burnam, a friend of the groom, who incorporated some Bengali wedding traditions. The bride, 29, is a senior policy analyst in Washington at Google, where she works on international issues that affect the growth and development of the internet. She graduated magna cum laude from Carleton College, and received a masters with distinction in economic development and technology policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is the daughter of Yasmeen Kamal and M. K. Hussain of Wichita, Kan. The brides father is a professor of mathematics and statistics at Butler County Community College in Andover, Kan., and an adjunct professor in those subjects at Wichita State University. Her mother, a former vice principal at a school in Bangladesh, is a substitute teacher in the Andover School District. The groom, 28, works in Washington as an associate in the antitrust and competition practice of the New York law firm Skadden Arps. He graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin and received a law degree cum laude from Harvard. Kate Elizabeth Liberman, the daughter of Joni Levy Liberman and Jeffrey A. Liberman of Needham, Mass., is to be married Sept. 25 to Eric Robert Gershman, a son of Ellen Mendelsohn Gershman and Howard Gershman of Hopewell Junction, N.Y. Rabbi Carl M. Perkins is to perform the ceremony at Bet Am Shalom Synagogue in White Plains. The bride and groom, both 31, met in 2011 as graduate students at Yale, from which they each received both an M.F.A. in theater management and an M.B.A. Ms. Liberman, who will keep her name, is the managing director of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in Cold Spring, N.Y. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a 2006 Truman Scholar from Massachusetts and is now a director of the Truman Scholars Association in Washington. Her father is the director for technology and information resources at the public schools in Danvers, Mass., and is a director of the Massachusetts Educational Technology Administrators Association in Framingham, Mass. Her mother is a painter, illustrator and printmaker whose work is to be on display at Gallery Blink in Lexington, Mass., this week through mid-October. Katharine Elizabeth Planitzer, a daughter of Ruth G. Fleischmann of Manhattan and Russell E. Planitzer of Carmel, Calif., was married Sept. 24 to Michael Joseph Harper, a son of Theresa A. Horney and L. Frederick Horney II of Fair Haven, N.J. The Rev. Sarah Stewart, an Episcopal priest, performed the ceremony at St. James Church in Manhattan. Mrs. Harper, 32, works in Brooklyn as the director of purchasing and merchandising for Mouth Foods, a handmade and small-batch food, wine and liquor retailer. She graduated from Brown and received a masters degree in food studies from N.Y.U. Her father is a managing principal in Lazard Technology Partners, a venture capital firm in Manhattan. Her mother is on the board of the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan. The bride is a stepdaughter of Barrie A. Fiske. She is a granddaughter of the late Peter F. Fleischmann, the former president and chairman of The New Yorker, and a great-granddaughter of the late Raoul H. Fleischmann, who was a founder and financial backer of the magazine, as well as its first president, chairman and publisher. Tracy Suzanne Dansker, the daughter of Randi S. Ott of Hallandale Beach, Fla., and Lowell S. Dansker of Manhattan, was married Sept. 24 to Timothy Peter Sacks, the son of Judith K. Sacks and Dr. Michael H. Sacks of Manhattan. Cantor Nancy L. Bach officiated at the Roundhouse, an event space in Beacon, N.Y. The couple met in 2011 as administrators at Riverdale Country School, a prep school in the Bronx, from which both had graduated. Mrs. Sacks, 28, is the acting director of admissions for Riverdale Countrys upper school and is also the associate for middle-school admissions. She graduated from Rice University and received a masters degree in higher education administration from Harvard. The bride is the stepdaughter of Barbara V. Dansker. Mr. Sacks, 35, is the director of Riverdale Countrys lower-school admissions and also the dean of the lower school. He graduated from Bowdoin College and received a masters degree in studies in education at the Bank Street College of Education. The Gloaming By Melanie Finn 308 pages. Two Dollar Radio. $16.99. Pilgrim Jones, the woman at the center of Melanie Finns deeply satisfying second novel, is grieving and guilt-ridden. (The novel was published in Britain with the title Shame.) Shortly after her husband abruptly leaves her for another woman, Pilgrim is involved in a horrific accident in the Swiss town where she lives. Though not legally responsible for the accidents tragic results, she soon impulsively flees to South Africa (and later Tanzania) to escape reminders of her collapsed life. Ms. Finn is a remarkably confident and supple storyteller. She hops through time and between Switzerland and Africa in brief chapters, never losing the reader or her own footing along the way. A bit more than halfway through, the book shifts from Pilgrims perspective to chapters told through the eyes of other characters she has met, including a Swiss detective chief inspector, a village doctor and a racist mercenary. It also turns into a thriller of sorts, as we realize that someone may be on Pilgrims trail. Ms. Finn was born in Kenya and lived there until she was 11, and has since traveled the world as a journalist. Her portrait of Africa feels subtle and lived-in, never false or hokey. She sees her motley crew of locals and visitors gentle souls and sinister forces with equally clear eyes, and never denies the complexity of individuals or entire nations. Dont worry, one character in South Africa assures Pilgrim. When you understand this country, you know you cannot ever understand it. Ms. Finns novel, published here by Two Dollar Radio, a small press in Columbus, Ohio, deserves major attention. Image Intimations Stories By Alexandra Kleeman 218 pages. Harper. $25.99. Alexandra Kleemans novel, You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine, was one of the most promising debuts of 2015. She follows it with this uneven but often impressive collection of stories. On the evidence of her work so far, Ms. Kleeman finds just about every level of existence fantastical and unnerving cultural mores, the unspoken rules of interpersonal relationships, the very fact of having a body. In her most experimental stories, she conveys this alienation with the mad-scientist approach of classic postmodernists like Donald Barthelme. In Fairy Tale, the narrator finds herself seated at a very long table, and is told by her parents that shes announcing her engagement to a man shes never seen before. (Ms. Kleemans stories often feel as though theyre being told by someone who has suddenly become aware of being in a dream: All eyes turned toward me, and it was at this moment that I realized I was in my own house, and these things were my things.) More and more suitors begin to show up, until one of them announces hes there to kill her. The stories in the book are divided into three sections. Those in the middle are more conventionally structured and brilliantly executed, proving that Ms. Kleeman is adept at more than oddity. Reading her, you are left feeling dislocated by the worlds strangeness, and wondering if she and her discombobulated characters are really the sane ones. The new standard will also face competition from the Amazons and PayPals of the world, as well as from the credit card networks, all of which want to be the primary destination for payments, rather than just one option. But payment analysts are hopeful about the new effort because it will not require consumers or merchants to use a new method of payment. Instead it will be equally open to any existing card or payment app, and it will channel them into a single place that most consumers already use the web browser where everything can be stored and used. Instead of simplifying the world, we have been fragmenting it into a million apps, said Eric Shea, a payments consultant at Kurt Salmon Digital. If we can get back to that single integrated solution that everyone has on their phone and their desktop, that is the way to move forward and get adoption. Dave Birch, a consultant who has been working on electronic payments for over two decades, said the web browser stood the best chance of providing a unified and more secure portal for payments. Theres a convergence going on, said Mr. Birch, who currently works for Consult Hyperion. In the future you will have one experience it wont matter if you are at the store or on the phone. It will pop up on your phone, you will put your thumb on it and you will be done. The W3C project represents a challenge to PayPal and Amazon, the current giants of online payments. Both have gained business and fees with their more streamlined checkout processes. Neither company has participated in the current W3C effort and they are likely to continue to provide an alternative to customers who dont want to enter their details into their browsers. MISSOULA -- There was a certain irony at the Sept. 1 debate for Montanas sole seat in the U.S. House. Momentary confusion ensued after candidates Ryan Zinke and Denise Juneau took the stage at Petro Theater on the MSU-Billings campus, where three podiums were set up. One went left, one went right, until they were directed to stand side by side. The stand reserved for Mike Fellows remained vacant. Fellows, who died Monday night in a head-on collision on Highway 200 near Potomac, was the Libertarian candidate for the House seat for the ninth time in the past 10 elections. Hed called debate organizers earlier in the day to notify them he couldn't make it. He was in a Missoula hospital undergoing treatment for kidney failure. So many times in past years, Fellows was denied a place on the debate stage in Billings because he hadnt gained the required support in a poll by Lee Newspapers of Montana. In a 2004 debate in Great Falls, as Denny Rehberg and Tracy Velazquez duked it out on-stage, Fellows was introduced and videotaped the proceedings, but he wasn't invited to join the fray. He used to have to fight to get into debates, retired Lee statehouse reporter Chuck Johnson said in the aftermath of Fellows death. And he objected when they wouldnt let him. Theres a place in Montana politics for those who tilt at windmills. In the days following Fellows violent death in a crash that almost cost another her life and appears to have been triggered by his severe health condition, the man from the liberal bastion of Missoula was routinely identified as a perennial Libertarian candidate. Fellows was that and, of course, much more. He was the glue that held the Libertarian Party together for the last 20 years, the chairman of the state party for most of those and the national party's go-to man in Montana. Fellows was also a man who guarded his privacy even while doggedly stepping into the public limelight -- or as much a limelight as the public allows a champion of a third party that struggles to gain traction in mainstream America. Do I look like a fool running all the time? Fellows once asked his friend and fellow Libertarian David Merrick of Corvallis. I told him there are people whove been elected to major offices whove run and run and finally, by virtue of name recognition, got elected, Merrick said last week. I said, Youre not foolish. Youre doing us a great favor putting in the work you do for the party. Fellows, who was born in Lewiston, Idaho, and moved to Havre in 1975, was a fixture at every Montana parade and county fair he could get to, espousing the Libertarian point of view that he embraced early in life. It's the philosophy of live and let live, and people shouldnt have laws ordering them around and ordering them what to do, Merrick said. And so it was that Fellows, who lived alone on South Third Street West, did little campaigning on his own behalf but lived his life -- and ultimately gave it -- for the cause. He represented probably the most stamina Ive ever seen, and determination to help the Libertarian party stay on the ballot in the state of Montana, said Merrick, who was at the vanguard of the Libertarian creation movement in the early 1970s in California. For the party to place a candidate on the ballot without going through the signature-gathering process, its candidates are required to muster a vote total exceeding 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous election, Merrick explained. When Fellows became chairman of the state Libertarian committee, he took on the responsibility of making sure someone from the party was always running for governor, for secretary of state and for the U.S. House. The national Libertarian party kicks in for some of candidates, but a lot of times Mike paid [the registration fee] to get them on the ballot, said Merrick, who on Wednesday wrote a check for $1,740 to register Rick Breckenridge of Proctor as Fellows' replacement. That was his goal, it was his ambition, its what he did, Merrick said. Fellows was was 0-for-8 in Congressional races carrying the Libertarian flag, and he lost bids in 1996 for state Senate, in 1998 for the state House, and in 2012 for Supreme Court clerk. In 98 he simultaneously challenged Democrat Tom Facey of Missoula for the House District 67 seat and Republican Rick Hill and Democrat Dusty Deschamps for Hills congressional seat. (A statute passed by the 2003 Legislature prohibits dual entries these days.) Fellows garnered 20 percent of the vote against Facey -- and 2 percent against Hill and Deschamps. But always he was able to keep Libertarians on the ballot and their voices heard, muffled though they be. Montana has had its share of quixotic candidates, pointed out David Parker, a political scientist at Montana State University. The late Bob Kelleher, a Butte Democrat, ran for various positions over the course of more than 40 years, including president in 1975. Being a perennial candidate is not unusual, Parker said. Fellows switched gears in 2012, running for Supreme Court clerk and surprising himself and Democrat incumbent Ed Smith by garnering 43 percent of the votes, a nationwide record for a Libertarian. He carried 27 of Montanas 56 counties. Mike won with 89 percent in one precinct here in Ravalli County, Merrick remembered. He said, Oh, my gosh. I probably should have campaigned a little bit more and I might have won. In 2014 it was back to the congressional race against Zinke and Democrat John Lewis. And Fellows was back to garnering 5 percent of the vote again. He was an enigma, Johnson said. He never wanted to give us his birth date. I think he was concerned about potential privacy violation. Many a time Fellows would wait until the day of the filing deadline to show up at the Secretary of State's office in Helena, Johnson recalled. Hed kind of hang around, and I sort of had the feeling he was waiting to see if someone else filed in a race that wasnt covered. He was always alone, and he would often file with one or two minutes left. Illness intervenes True to his philosophy, Fellows doggedly refused medical treatment as his kidneys shut down. He had lost maybe 60 pounds, maybe 70, said Joel Baird, general manager of Missoula Community Access TV (MCAT). He went from 190 to 120, that kind of thing. Fellows was treasurer of the MCAT board and since 1992 produced some 1,000 Libertarian-espousing live TV programs. Baird said he came to recent board meetings in this absolutely alarming state. "He gets out of the hospital and he's out about two days and he goes down to Dillon for something and to Bozeman for something," said Merrick. In the heat of July, Fellows told Baird he was driving to Bozeman to make an appearance at the Gallatin County Fair. It seemed like such a bad idea," Baird said. Baird asked Fellows where hed be staying. With a friend, Fellows replied. Does your friend have air conditioning? Baird asked. Well, he hasnt built his house yet, Fellows said. That was kind of a Mike thing, simply telling me hes going to Bozeman and once he gets there hes going to camp out with a friend, said Baird. He was such a wild man. When I say that, I guess he seemed to have this single-minded vision about proselytizing the Libertarian point of view." Concerned friends at MCAT and elsewhere finally convinced Fellows to see a doctor. What I heard is they gave him four days to live, Baird said. Dialysis treatments -- three a week, each three hours a day -- began only in the past month or so. 'Free spirit' It was against his better judgment, and Merricks advice, that Fellows drove the 50 miles to Seeley Lake on Monday for a political forum hosted by the local community council. I kept telling him, Dont do this thing, Merrick said. It just didnt make sense to me. They didnt know who else was going to be there. It didnt look like (Juneau and Zinke) were showing up. But he said, Well, they invited me up so I guess I should be there. Reduced to a voice even raspier voice than usual, Fellows made it through the forum. Then he climbed into his older Lexus on which hed plastered placards espousing Vote Libertarian and Mike Fellows, U.S. House and headed down the Blackfoot highway. Authorities say at just after 9 p.m., less than a mile from the Potomac turnoff on Highway 200, the Lexus veered across the center line and into the path of a Subaru Forester. The driver of the Forester, a 58-year-old woman from Potomac, was hospitalized. Fellows was pronounced dead at the scene. Merrick, who is 76, said he talked to Fellows a couple of times a week, but he was surprised to see in news accounts that his friend was only 59. He would have guessed mid-60s but never asked. Ive known him for 15-20 years and didnt know if he had a religion or not, Merrick said. Just a year ago he said to me, Im Catholic. A 1988 University of Montana graduate in radio-television, Fellows worked for years as an orderly at Hillside Manor. He told Johnson in 2014 hed spent most of his life helping others in the nursing home business. He was also first vice commander at American Legion Post 27. Fellows said he served in the Army Reserves in 1982-83. He didnt really volunteer much about his life, Johnson said. As near as I can tell he was dedicated to one thing in life and it was the Libertarian philosophy. I felt so bad when I heard hed died, he added. Most candidates dont do their own driving for a statewide campaign. Its tough. You have to be on your toes for public appearances and debates and the like. Last Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. was to have been the next episode of Labor Vision, a twice-monthly show on MCAT that Fellows produced for 20 years. As the days passed after his death, word was slow in coming about funeral services. "Mike was a free spirit and probably wouldn't want a lot of fuss any way," said Roger Peterson, a long-time Missoula friend. "Maybe just beer and sharing of stories at the Union Club." By Thursday Baird and MCAT had hatched a plan for their own tribute. Itll be called the Mike Fellows Open House. From 5-8 p.m. on Missoulas next First Friday, Oct. 7, the MCAT studio will be open to anyone who wants to come in and share his or her thoughts and memories of Fellows on camera. Selections from the hundreds of hours of Labor Vision will be spliced in as well. The unique voice and steadfast passion of Montana's "godfather of third-party politics" isn't quelled yet. Q. What lessons did you learn from that experience? A. At the core, while people have similar reactions to most things, there are significant nuances in the way people communicate, in what they expect in the workplace and how they balance work and private life. My Dutch colleagues gave greater importance to family life; they had a different sense of fairness in an egalitarian society and were more direct in their communication. In England, family life often took a secondary position and the English are notoriously difficult communicators. The Dutch found dealing with the English frustrating, and the English viewed Dutch directness as extremely rude. After that experience, I became highly attuned to cultural differences in the workplace. Q. What prompted your move to New York? A. In 1998, when Francois Pinault acquired Christies, changes needed to be made in the North American operations where Christies was not a success story. I moved my family to New York and became managing director of Christies for the Americas. Shortly thereafter, all hell broke loose. My direct boss, Christopher Davidge, resigned as chief executive after becoming embroiled in an antitrust scandal that impacted both Christies and Sothebys. I stepped in as chief executive and had to steer the company through a particularly difficult inquiry by the U.S. Justice Department. It was a steep learning curve, but it also became a platform for me to implement changes so the company could be run in a more professional way from top to bottom. Q. What subsequent challenges did you face? A. Several developments transformed our business within a few years. The first was the rise of contemporary art as a dominant auction category. People forget that that was not the case at all in the 1990s. We had to realign the companys activities to move away from 18th-century expertise and the material associated with the grandeur of the past to fully embrace this modernism. The extraordinary explosion of wealth and art collecting in Russia and the Far East brought a rapid expansion of our client base in areas that had not been, until then, significant. Suddenly, Russian oligarchs were dominating the auctions, and an incredible wealth creation in China brought in new clients. Finally, the internet offered fantastic new possibilities in terms of communication, auction participation and the databases that made art prices readily available. Despite not endorsing Bernie Sanders for president, Mayor Bill de Blasio certainly has many things in common with the senator from Vermont a kinship that has led to several private meetings between the two, including a dinner in Vermont during a family vacation last month. Now the men have another thing in common: Mr. de Blasio has hired the senators digital fund-raising team, seeking to bring some of its small-donor smarts to his 2017 re-election campaign in New York. The consultant, Revolution Messaging, sent out an initial fund-raising email on Saturday, adding to the flood of solicitations for political donations that many New Yorkers are getting from the presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump. Mr. Sanders, an independent who ran for president as a Democrat, became a political phenomenon in part because of his ability to raise millions of dollars on the internet, much of it in small contributions. He was fond of saying that the average contribution to his campaign was $27. EATON, N.Y. For the first time in 80 years, a farm in New York State is legally growing cannabis. But no one could get high from these plants. The farm, JD Farms, roughly 230 miles north of New York City, is actually growing industrial hemp, which can be used to make everything from flour to building materials to clothes to plastic. Industrial hemp and marijuana are actually the same species, but they have bred and evolved to be quite different from each other, said Jennifer Gilbert Jenkins, a professor of agriculture at Morrisville State College, which has paired with JD Farms on a hemp research pilot program. Still, industrial hemp remains on the Drug Enforcement Administrations list of illegal Schedule I drugs, though its content of THC the chemical that gets marijuana users high is below 0.3 percent. Because of that status, JD Farms had to adhere to stringent federal regulations just to get the seeds to grow the crop. We had to jump through hoops to get a D.E.A. permit to import our seeds from Canada, Mark Justh, an owner of the farm, said. WASHINGTON When the Federal Communications Commission announced a plan this year that would free people from having to rent cable set-top boxes, the cable and television industries balked and lobbied hard to forestall the proposal. But it turns out the biggest threat to the plan, which the F.C.C. is expected to vote on Thursday, is a low-profile Democratic commissioner within the agency itself. Jessica Rosenworcel, a career telecom wonk whom President Obama appointed to the F.C.C. in 2012, has become the crucial swing vote on the cable box proposal. She is one of three Democrats of the agencys five rule-making members, which would normally be enough to carry a vote since commissioners typically act in line with their parties. But Ms. Rosenworcel has not fully embraced the cable box proposal like her two Democratic colleagues and instead has indicated her unease with the plan. Im going to be very candid here that I have some problems, Ms. Rosenworcel said in a Senate hearing this month when asked for her opinion on the cable box proposal. Berkeley Rep hit upon It Cant Happen Here about eight months ago, when an unexpected hole opened in its fall season. Lisa Peterson, who had signed on to direct a show for Berkeley Rep, Googled the phrase it cant happen here and stumbled across the Sinclair Lewis novel, which she was not familiar with; Mr. Taccone had read the book in high school and thought it would work. The novel is about a Vermont newspaper editor, Doremus Jessup, who opposes a demagogic presidential candidate, Berzelius Windrip; it is a satirical and melodramatic cautionary tale, in which Mr. Windrip wins the election, imposes martial law and seizes control of newspapers; his regime arrests and even kills his critics. Lewis, who had already won the Nobel Prize for literature, wrote the novel against an ominous backdrop: Hitler and Mussolini were in power in Germany and Italy, and Huey Long, a senator and former governor who wielded unusual power in Louisiana, was preparing to run for the American presidency. There are some striking similarities between the campaign pitches by the fictional Mr. Windrip and the real Mr. Trump both men were even nominated for the presidency in Cleveland. But there are significant differences: Windrip, among other things, is a Democrat (in the novel, the Republican nominee winds up fleeing to Canada to plot a rebellion) and prone to warnings against Jews; Mr. Trump, of course, is a Republican who has focused his concern on Muslims. In their new adaptation, Mr. Taccone and Mr. Cohen have sharpened the echoes. They wrote the campaign remarks by Windrip after watching stump speeches by Mr. Trump; they have one of their characters comment on the role of the news media (The more offensive his remarks, the more papers get sold); and, in a dig at Hillary Clintons reference to some Trump supporters as belonging to a basket of deplorables, a character explaining Windrips popularity says, Its not because theyre all stupid and prejudiced and deplorable. The novel was first adapted into a play and presented around the country in the late 1930s by the Federal Theater Project Lewis himself appeared in one production, in Cohasset, Mass., as the journalist Jessup. But Berkeley Rep deemed that adaptation unrevivable (its ghastly, said Susan Medak, its managing director), so Mr. Taccone and Mr. Cohen, with the blessing of the Lewis estate, set about writing a new one in unusually short time. Their encounter is Retro Reports main focus, notably the story line that swiftly took root. It held that Kennedy won on good looks alone, that against a light backdrop he appeared crisp and commanding in his dark suit while Nixon, recovering from an injury, looked pale and sweaty, his bearing hardly improved by an ill-chosen gray suit. Those who saw none of that and only listened on radio a far more common situation in 1960 America than today believed Nixon had triumphed. So the story went. Many scholars have debunked that narrative, among them David Greenberg, a professor of history, journalism and media studies at Rutgers University. In the Retro Report video, Professor Greenberg contends that Kennedys overall performance, not just his looks, won the day. He showed, as a senator, that he could hold his own again a sitting vice president. As for Nixons supposedly prevailing on radio, the evidence for that is skimpy because, Professor Greenberg noted, no scientifically rigorous surveys were done at the time. (Whatever the reality, Nixon felt burned by the experience and came to view television warily until he ran again for president in 1968, this time successfully, tutored in the art of the camera by a young producer named Roger Ailes. Mr. Ailes, ousted in July as chairman of Fox News, is once again a media mentor, for Mr. Trump.) When it comes to substance, and not just a stumble here or a clever line there, can a debate make or break a candidacy? Experts have long been divided. Some consider the debates decisive. That view was offered last month by Gary May, a University of Delaware historian, who wrote on the Daily Beast website, For good or ill, televisions laserlike eye reveals the candidates fitness for the presidency. Well, maybe not, suggests another academician, John Sides, an associate professor of political science at George Washington University. Writing in Washington Monthly in 2012, Professor Sides said, Scholars who have looked most carefully at the data have found that, when it comes to shifting enough votes to decide the outcome of the election, presidential debates have rarely, if ever, mattered. Even blunders may not be self-evident right away. Mr. Frankel acknowledged that he himself had not immediately recognized the damaging potential of Fords no Soviet domination remarks. Many other Americans also failed to see it until newspaper and television analyses shaped their consensus that a serious presidential slip had occurred. These days, voters no longer need to wait for received wisdom to form. They can get it, or at least what passes for wisdom, in real time by watching squiggly lines on their television screens that represent focus group impressions of the candidates, or by following an avalanche of opinions put forth by the commentariat on Twitter and other social media. WASHINGTON The pitched battle over President Obamas signature climate change policy, which is moving to the courts this week, carries considerable political, economic and historical stakes. Yet its legal fate, widely expected to be ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, could rest on a clerical error in an obscure provision of a 26-year-old law. That error, which left conflicting amendments on power plant regulation in the Clean Air Act, will be a major focus of oral arguments by opponents of Mr. Obamas initiative when the case is heard on Tuesday in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The initiative, known as the Clean Power Plan, which Mr. Obama sees as at the heart of his climate change legacy, gave the United States critical leverage to broker the landmark 2015 Paris climate change accord. If the plan is struck down, the United States, the worlds largest carbon polluter over the centuries, will lose its main tool to cut greenhouse gas emissions. If it is upheld, it will transform the nations electricity system, closing hundreds of coal-fired power plants and setting in motion a wholesale shift to wind, solar and nuclear power, as well as to improved electric transmission systems. Twenty-eight states and more than 100 companies and labor and industry groups are fighting to overturn the plan. Defending it are 18 states and dozens of environmental and public health groups that have joined forces with the Obama administration. Nearly 20 lawyers will take turns arguing the case before 10 judges much larger than the typical three-member panel. The judges have allocated four hours to hear the arguments, rather than the usual one or two. The chief judge of the court, Merrick B. Garland, who is also Mr. Obamas Supreme Court nominee, has recused himself. In June, Maina Kiai, the special rapporteur at the United Nations on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, cited Mr. Baeks case in criticizing what he called an excessive use of water cannons by the police and shrinking space for exercising the right to peaceful assembly under Ms. Park. In footage made available to the special rapporteur, the water cannon was used against largely peaceful crowds. In certain cases, lone individuals were targeted, a use difficult to justify, he wrote. The case of Mr. Baek Nam-gi is a tragic illustration of this. Mr. Baek was born in 1947 in Boseong in rural southwestern South Korea. He was expelled from Chung-Ang University in Seoul in 1971 for leading a demonstration against Mr. Parks deployment of troops on college campuses to intimidate student activists. He was later allowed to re-enroll but was soon on the run from the police for organizing protests against Mr. Parks constitutional revision aimed at extending his dictatorship. While in hiding in a cathedral in Seoul, he became a Roman Catholic. He was expelled again from school in 1975 but returned after the assassination of Mr. Park by his intelligence chief in 1979. Mr. Baek then led students in a march against Chun Doo-hwan, an army major general who seized power in a coup after Mr. Parks death. Mr. Chuns martial-law troops arrested Mr. Baek during raids on school dormitories in 1980. He was expelled from school a third time and was later sentenced to two years in prison. He was freed in 1981. The ancient Jewish community of Kaifeng, in central China, was experiencing a cultural and religious revival until a recent government clampdown, which has brought a ban on collective worship and forced out foreign Jewish groups. Moshe Yehuda Bernstein is a researcher based in Perth, Western Australia, who has studied this revival and written a coming book, Globalization, Translation and Transmission: Sino-Judaic Cultural Identity in Kaifeng, China. In an interview, Mr. Bernstein explained the background to the recent revival and official restrictions. When I told people I was working on a story about the Jews of Kaifeng, some asked whether theyre really Jews. Im sure youve been asked the same. How did you become interested in them, and how do you answer that question? Fifteen years ago, when I was director of Jewish studies at Carmel School in Perth, I was invited to lecture on Jewish topics at Nanjing University, where one of the first Jewish studies departments in China had been launched a few years earlier. At the final lecture, Xu Xin, the professor who hosted me, gave me his book The Legends of the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng. Until then, I had never heard of the presence of Jews in Kaifeng or their synagogue that endured for seven centuries. This sparked an interest in learning more about this community. As well, the enthusiasm of Chinese students towards Jews and Judaism made me want to learn more about Chinese culture. In 2009, I made my first visit to Kaifeng to research how Jewish culture survived for almost a millennium in spite of assimilation and language shifts. I was amazed to see this small group of Chinese people learning Hebrew, studying the Torah, celebrating the Shabbat and yearning to return to the land of Israel. As their ancestors had intermarried and practiced patrilineal descent, the Jewish descendants of Kaifeng understand full well that they are not considered Jewish according to Jewish law, where identity is determined by the mother. Their Jewish self-identification, however, is linked to their Chinese identity in which Confucian tradition honors ancestors. Emulating the customs and heritage of their forebears is the Chinese way of paying them respect. Other parents in the area have been more welcoming. The principal of the school in Filippiada and some parents there said the letter sent by the parents in that area did not reflect their views. In Oraiokastro, Alexandra Hapsi, 41, has two children in school. She said she had cooked food and donated clothes for refugees living at the sprawling camp at Idomeni, farther north, which was shut this year. In Europe, no one is taking in refugees, and they call us racist, she said, adding that she also wanted reassurances that the refugees attending local schools had been vaccinated. Asterios Batos, whose children attend the same school as Ms. Hapsis, leads the group representing the parents associations of all 41 schools in the broader region. This image of a racist municipality is unfair, he said, referring to the broader region. Were not racists. Were concerned about whether all the right precautions have been taken. The plan calls for the migrant children to attend school in the afternoons. Initially, they would be kept in classes separate from Greek children, but they would eventually be merged into the general student population. In comments to Greek television last week, the education minister, Nikos Filis, said the program for the induction of refugees into schools included vaccinations. The lessons will be in Greek, math and English, or another language, depending on where the refugees plan to travel on to. Steve Gibson is running for the Montana House of Representatives from HD84 which includes East Helena, East Valley, East Gate, and most of Southeast Helena south of Broadway and east of Montana Avenue. Steve has served this district before and did an excellent job. Steve knows the district well and also knows the functions of the Legislature and operation of state government. I had the privilege of working with Steve and was able to observe his job performance close-up. He always placed his constituents and the needs of his district above all else. His keen insight into the working of state government and the budget process and his reasoned approach to handling difficult problems was well recognized by his peers who sought his council on key issues. He always took time to listen and respond thoughtfully. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saad Hattar, Nahed Hattars cousin: Well, I feel that his death is a huge loss to the nation, to the country, to the voice of Jordan, because he is a public figure and his loss is a huge loss to the country and to the pan-Arab cause. SOUNDBITE: (English) Saad Hattar, Nahed Hattars cousin: This is a group of political parties, politicians, former officials, tribesmen and women are gathering here to voice the dismay and anger and disappointment regarding this terrorist act in plain daylight, they want the responsibles (those responsible) on this act to be accountable and measures to be taken against them from government officials down to the one who triggered (fired) the shot. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dima Tahboub, MP and spokesperson of the Islamic Action Front led-Coalition bloc in the parliament: We totally condemn this crime, this assassination, we send our condolences to the family of the victim, we send our condolences to all the Jordanian people because Jordan is known as a country of safety, security and prosperity, it celebrates unity between all its members, so this is an alien crime, we have never known this in Jordan, we should condemn the perpetrators, send them to law, and discuss, an extended royal discussion. What are the reasons of this crime, why has it happened, how can we protect the Jordanian people from such happenings in the future? SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bargham Halaseh, friend of Nahed Hattar: The government isnt taking any measures in this direction. Video threats were published, articles were published on social media, the newspaper Sabeel specifically threatened him. Up until right now his speech was considered a crime. When the Prime Minister (Hani al-Mulki) issued an arrest warrant on Friday from the Ministry of Interior for Nahed Hattar, I expected this wouldnt end well. Today were confronted with a crime... Yes of course it was expected. I expected others will be killed. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bargham Halaseh, friend of Nahed Hattar: At 8 oclock (0500 GMT) this morning we stopped in front of the Jordanian high court and when Nahed entered, this criminal fired four shots from behind and killed him. In my estimation, he died because the governments inability to understand the Jordanian psychology and the lack of action towards extremism since in Jordan we have a community, not a small one, mind you, which plays an influential role as sleeper cells for Daesh (the Islamic State group). BEIRUT, Lebanon Make life intolerable and death likely. Open an escape route, or offer a deal to those who leave or surrender. Let people trickle out. Kill whoever stays. Repeat until a deserted cityscape is yours. It is a strategy that both the Syrian government and its Russian allies have long embraced to subdue Syrian rebels, largely by crushing the civilian populations that support them. But in the past few days, as hopes for a revived cease-fire have disintegrated at the United Nations, the Syrians and Russians seem to be mobilizing to apply this kill-all-who-resist strategy to the most ambitious target yet: the rebel-held sections of the divided metropolis of Aleppo. The killing and destruction in Syria, of course, has stupefied much of the world over the past five years. But it could pale in comparison with a military assault to retake all of Aleppo, once Syrias largest city and still home to about two million people, roughly 250,000 of them in rebel-held territory. The East Alabama Medical Center Auxiliary provided grant funding to buy equipment for three patient-care departments. "The staff was very excited about receiving the funds to purchase their requested items: an EVA walker for the Progressive Care Unit, an OTTO ostomy model for the Skin Care Management department, and a pediatric scale for the Pediatric Unit," the auxiliary said in a press release. "The EAMC Auxiliary takes great pride in aiding in the mission of East Alabama Medical Center: to provide high quality, compassionate health care." With fundraisers such as the Masquerade Jewelry Sale, the auxiliary is able to donate to EAMC and benefit the patients living in east Alabama. Members passed a motion in June to grant the funds to make the purchases. In the Progressive Care Unit, the EVA walker helps with the early mobilization of ICU patients on ventilators, and mobilizes ICU step-down patients. These are recovery processes that a regular walker cannot accomplish. It is an adjustable walker with padded, molded arm pads and hand grips that are forward-facing to aid in supporting the weight of the patient. The OTTO ostomy model is a model of the human ostomy in relation to the small intestine, the colon and the entire gastrointestinal system. This model serves as a visual educational tool for patients and staff. The accessory parts allow teachers to individualize the ostomy type and type of surgery to meet the needs of the patients and/or staff being taught. The model will allow the wound treatment teams to advance their level of teaching with patients who undergo this type of surgery, and will also benefit the staff in the bi-monthly wound/ostomy class, the release said. In the Pediatric Department, the new pediatric scale will help staff members by enabling them to weigh toddlers who are often unable to stand on a traditional stand-up scale and are too large to fit on the infant scale. It is accurate enough to weigh neonates, but has a large enough capacity to weigh pediatric patients. For more information about the East Alabama Medical Center Volunteer programs, visit the EAMC Foundation website, www.eamcfoundation.org, or call 334-528-5923. William Williams Foard September 11, 1924 - September 6, 2016 William Williams Foard (Will) was reunited with his beloved wife Kat in the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Will was born September 11, 1924, to Catherine Davis Williams and Henry Gilbert Foard in East Orange, NJ. Several years after Will's father died and his mother had moved the family back to their home city of Wilmington, NC, she married Frank Y. Blackwell. They moved to Marion, SC, where Will attended high school. He spent a year at Castle Heights Military Academy before entering Clemson University in 1943. When Army Air Corps recruiters came to campus, Will joined, and became a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot, flying combat missions from RAF Leiston with the 357th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force. He named his plane "Swamp Fox" after Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War hero. Being stationed in England, Will saw the humor in painting the name "Swamp Fox" on his P-51, the British military's nickname for Marion in 1775. His three brothers and stepfather were also on active duty during WWII. His older brother Gilbert, tail gunner on a B-17, was killed in action on April 1, 1945. Will stayed in the Air Force Reserves after WWII, and retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. After the war, Will graduated from Clemson with a degree in mechanical engineering. He specialized in designing HVAC systems for the textile industry (Burlington Industries and other companies) and large facilities such as hospitals and malls. Will married the love of his life, Julia Katherine Littlejohn, in 1949, and they had five children (listed with spouses): Julie and Lou Toffaletti, Meg and Jimmi Accardi, Bill Jr. and Betty Foard, Libby and Mike McKee, and Ginny Foard. Their grandsons and their families are: Jason, Taura, and great-granddaughter Posey Toffaletti; David and Stephanie Toffaletti; William Foard III; Matt McKee; and Stuart McKee. Will's legendary sense of humor made him fun to be around. His favorite activities were music and boating. He sang, played guitar and banjo, and played trombone in bands from high school through college -- and traveled to play for dances with the Brigadiers Orchestra while at Clemson. Will built several sailboats over the years, and he and Kat spent a winter sailing in the Bahamas. He also designed and built (with the help of Frank Ipock) a trawler named "Swamp Fox," and he and Kat enjoyed cruising the Intracoastal Waterway. The Robert Dickson family restored a P-51 and named it "Swamp Fox" after Will's plane. It was a tremendous honor, and Will and Kat thoroughly enjoyed attending air shows where the Swamp Fox flew. The Dicksons, members of the Air Force (active and retired), and others devoted to the remembrance of "the greatest generation" gave Will so much recognition and pleasure during the past several years -- and we, his children, are greatly appreciative! The family wishes to thank the many relatives, friends, and medical and Hospice personnel who have blessed and supported Will and Kat, especially in the last few years. Will's memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC. An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com. When Bruxie debuted six years ago in Old Towne Orange, the retro food stand generated big buzz over its waffles used instead of bread for gourmet sandwiches. Fans craved the bold fold sandwiches filled with everything from beef patties to Nutella. Bruxie was credited for launching a waffle frenzy, spurring copycats across Southern California. The waffle concept in 2011 was Yelps No. 2 most popular restaurant in the country, leading the company to expand into Brea, Rancho Santa Margarita, Chino Hills, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Santa Monica and Las Vegas. But in a major shift in strategy, the Anaheim-based chain is recasting another American staple as its next menu star: fried chicken. Its always been the No. 1-selling sandwich by a long shot, co-founder Kelly Mullarney said of Bruxies fried chicken and waffle sandwich. The rebranding comes amid other changes in recent months at Bruxies seven Southern California and Las Vegas locations. More fried chicken entrees are on the menu, several salads have been eliminated, skillet dishes have been added and the waffle presentation has been gussied up. We are trying to elevate the experience, said Anthony Smith, who replaced co-founder Dean Simon as CEO this year. Starting Monday, Bruxies Irvine restaurant is testing new menu items including a classic fried chicken sandwich, fried pickles, a buffalo sauce-infused macaroni and cheese side dish and chicken tender platters served with a bacon and cheddar waffle biscuit. In coming months, Smith said, restaurants will move away from red and yellow colors commonly associated with fast food. Seating and paint colors will be contemporary, with warmer wood tones. A new logo is also in the works. REBOOTING AFTER CLOSING RESTAURANTS Bruxies redirection comes after a few stumbles in recent years. In 2013, the company closed its Rancho Santa Margarita location because of a landlord dispute. Last year, two other locations, in Colorado and Costa Mesa, closed. In a 2015 interview with the Register, Mullarney said the Costa Mesa eatery on 17th was too close to the chains other restaurants in Irvine and Huntington Beach. Thats when Bruxie made another strategic move to stick to premium locations. Its last two restaurants to open were in Las Vegas and Santa Monica. While Bruxie keeps a razor-sharp focus on chicken, expansion is now on hold for the next 18 to 24 months, Smith said. Despite recent closures and halting new locations, the CEO maintains the company is performing well. Nothing was really broken with (Bruxie). It just needs to evolve, Smith said in an interview about the companys future. Though he didnt provide specifics about the privately held company, he said overall sales are up. However, Smith said, same-store sales are down a tick, but we are currently seeing a good sales trend. The latter is a key indicator of a companys fiscal health, because it compares sales at restaurants open at least a year. By focusing on fried chicken, Smith hopes to generate more foot traffic at all locations. We want to be in their once-a-week rotation, Smith said of diners. FRIED CHICKEN FRENZY Bruxies focus on fried chicken comes as no surprise to industry watchers. In 2015, chicken industry sales rose 8 percent compared with 2014, according to market research firm Technomic in Chicago. That growth is expected to remain the same in 2016, led by chains such as Raising Canes Chicken Fingers. In Southern California the fried chicken phenomena is playing out in all sectors from fast-food to premium dining. Raising Canes entered the Southern California market last year and is earning rave reviews for its inexpensive menu of chicken tenders and Texas toast. It has three restaurants in Orange County and one in Downey. In late August, Costa Mesa-based El Pollo Loco countered the Caniac excitement by adding fried chicken tenders as a limited-time menu item. In January, Danny Meyers wildly popular New York burger chain Shake Shack added a crispy fried chicken sandwich to its U.S.-based menus. The fast-casual chain, modeled after roadside food stands, has locations in West Hollywood and in Las Vegas near Bruxie. At upscale venues, savvy restaurateurs are making fried chicken the guest of honor on Sunday supper menus, including Grits in Fullerton and 370 Common in Laguna Beach. A family-style fried chicken supper at 370 Common commands $41 per adult. At Grits, Chef Cody Storts knows firsthand the zeal local diners have for fried chicken. Last year, he launched a weekly Sunday fried chicken dinner at his Fullerton restaurant. It was served a la carte or all-you-can eat. On the first day, 350 people showed up. It was crazy, said Storts.I had a line out the door. We fried so much, the deep fryer caught on fire. Loyal customers have asked him to add a chicken-and-waffles dish to the daily menu; so far, Storts has not given in. Instead, he offers a whimsical play on the dish: pancake balls and fried pork cutlets. In a risky move, hes scaled back the fried chicken supper to the last Sunday of the month, starting today. Demand is there, but Storts said he wants to give his fryers a break so he can experiment with other Sunday specials. I think if I got rid of it completely, Id have a revolt, he said. ALL IN ON FRIED CHICKEN At Bruxie, theres no hesitation about fried chicken. Since taking over as CEO in March, Smith has made swift changes to spotlight chicken. For example, the No. 1 fried chicken-and-waffles dish was previously buried on the menu. Now, its prominently displayed along with other fried and grilled chicken dishes including a new spicy Nashville-style fried chicken. New knife and fork chicken tender skillet dishes (served without waffles) also are a new food option. Salads have been trimmed to 3 from 8 as part of an effort to shrink the menu by 20 percent, Smith said. Signature non-chicken sandwiches such as the Bruxie Burger, Roasted Turkey Club and the Prosciutto remain on the menu. But some ingredient tweaks have been made. The burger has a new remoulade sauce and Swiss has replaced the less familiar Gruyere as the cheese on the Prosciutto sandwich. The Gruyere-to-Swiss switch is one example of how Bruxies avante guard menu has confused customers over the years, Mullarney said. As a result, Bruxie restaurants employ an ambassador position someone charged with explaining the menu to customers waiting in line. Smith said having to explain your brand is not a great business model. What doesnt confuse people? Sandwiches and fried chicken. Thats what people understand, Smith said. Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com He refused to wear makeup. Sweat glistened on his chin as he spoke solemnly to the camera on that fateful day 56 years ago. Richard Nixon mopped his face with a handkerchief, and modern politics as we know it was born. Pundits say that presidential debates broadcast for the first time on Sept. 26, 1960, between Nixon and the handsome upstart John F. Kennedy cant win a candidate an election, but they certainly can lose him one. Theyve become an integral part of the American electoral process equal parts spectacle, theater, substance and circus but critics say only Democrats and Republicans need apply. It really is a rigged system, said retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, the vice presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party in 2012. If only people understood, this is really big stuff. Third-party candidates use words like collusion and conspiracy to describe their systemic shutout from the political Greatest Show on Earth. So Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Gray are pressing a long-shot federal antitrust lawsuit against the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates, as well as the Republican and Democratic national committees. Their goal? To crack open the enormously popular debates to outside voices, once and for all. Its too late to make a difference this time around. But they hope thats not yet true for the next election cycle. On Monday, Democrat Hillary Clinton will square off against Republican Donald Trump in the first of four televised presidential debates (including one vice presidential debate) featuring the the general election candidates. Some say it could be the most consequential event in a riotous 2016 election season. But voters eager for a none of the above voice will not find one. The commissions rules make it extremely difficult for third-party candidates to qualify, and Johnson and Stein were excluded this year because neither is polling above 15 percent. Gone, according to Johnson, Stein and Gray, is a vital opportunity to speak directly to the American people and influence the national discussion. To be excluded from the debates is an electoral death sentence, their suit says. There are no alternative means for candidates to acquaint themselves to the American public that even approaches the exposure provided by the presidential debates. Exclusion from the debates guarantees marginalization. In 2012, the three faceoffs between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney attracted enormous audiences 67.2 million viewers for the first debate, 65.6 million for the second and 59.2 million for the third, the suit says. Expectations for Monday run closer to 100 million viewers. In the lawsuit, the third-party candidates argue that the illicit objective of the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates is to control the multimillion-dollar market related to organizing, promoting, sponsoring and fundraising for the forums; to artificially advantage the Democratic and Republican Party candidates by excluding all rivals; and to impair competition in the marketplace of ideas and the marketplace of the candidates themselves. HOODWINKING First, some history. From 1976 until 1988, the presidential debates were run by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters. The organization wasnt averse to third-party voices, to the apparent annoyance of the majors. In 1980, the league invited independent presidential candidate John Anderson to join President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan on the debate stage. Carter refused to debate with Anderson; Reagan refused to debate without Anderson; and when the lights came up on the stage in Baltimore on Sept. 21, 1980, the president was missing. Carter was excoriated, and you may remember what happened next. Not long after that, the heads of the Republican and Democratic parties Frank J. Fahrenkopf and Paul Kirk began to wrest control of the debates from the league, the suit says. In 1985, Fahrenkopf and Kirk signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Presidential Candidate Joint Appearances, stating that future joint appearances should be principally and jointly sponsored and conducted by the Republican and Democratic National Committees. The League of Women Voters challenged the move, arguing that putting control in the hands of the two dominant parties would deprive voters of one of the only chances they have to see the candidates outside of their controlled campaign environment. Nontheless, in 1987, the RNCs Fahrenkopf and the DNCs Kirk created the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates. At a news conference, Fahrenkopf said debates were not likely to include third-party candidates, and Kirk said he believed they should be excluded. At first, it appeared that the commission and the league might cooperate: The commission would sponsor the first presidential debate of 1988, and the league would sponsor the last, they agreed. But two weeks before the leagues show was slated to air, the campaigns of George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis delivered a 16-page list of debate conditions that were negotiated between the two parties behind closed doors, in the leagues words. That list demanded that the campaigns control everything from the selection of questioners to the composition of the audience to access for the press. The league balked, calling the demands outrageous. Never in the history of the League of Women Voters have two candidates organizations come to us with such stringent, unyielding and self-serving demands, league President Nancy M. Neuman said at the time. The League of Women Voters is withdrawing its sponsorship of the presidential debate scheduled for mid-October because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter, she said. The parties aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and honest answers to tough questions. The league has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public. Over the intervening 28 years, there has been one commission-organized debate that included a third-party candidate: Ross Perot in 1992, with Bill Clinton and the senior Bush. That was allowed to occur because both parties thought Perots inclusion would ultimately help them, but that may have backfired, the suit contends: Perots public support nearly tripled after the debate, from 7 percent to 19 percent. It hasnt happened again. The commission is the alter ego of the RNC and the DNC, the suit says. The admitted goal of the commission at its birth was to create and maintain a monopoly, and sole control, over the presidential debates, and maintain monopoly control over the presidential debates market, the presidential elections market, and the electoral politics market. DISMISSED The commission has faced similar suits before. It asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Johnson, Stein, Gray et al dont have legal standing to file because their alleged injuries are entirely speculative and not the result of any of defendants actions, and the court cannot fashion any remedy that would provide redress for their alleged injuries. Straining to cast its efforts as a violation of the antitrust laws is a novel, but deeply flawed, theory, the commission argued. Over the years, televised candidate debates have been magnets for lawsuits brought by candidates with very modest public support who seek to litigate their way onto the debate stage with candidates who enjoy far greater public support, it argued. While such plaintiffs often cast themselves as guardians of the public interest, typically, as here, the plaintiffs urge that the law happens to require an approach to debate invitations that would result in their (but not all candidates) inclusion in the debates in question. It does not advance the public interest in robust debates for the law to be used as a blunt instrument to compel an overly-inclusive approach to issuing debate invitations, the commission argued. A debate sponsor faced with the prospect of cacophony on the one hand, and liability for not inviting enough candidates on the other, might choose not to hold a debate at all. U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer agreed with the commission, dismissing the suit on Aug. 24. (B)ecause plaintiffs have no standing and because antitrust laws govern commercial markets and not political activity, those claims fail as a matter of well-established law, she wrote. Plaintiffs alleged injuries are wholly speculative and are dependent entirely on media coverage decisions. The alleged injuries failure to receive media coverage and to garner votes, federal matching funds, and campaign contributions were caused by the lack of popular support of the candidates and their parties sufficient to attract media attention . Plaintiffs have not alleged a concrete injury traceable to the commission, and thus they lack standing. On Sept. 1, Johnson, Stein, Gray et al asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reverse that decision. This charade will have to stop, Gray said. People think that these debates are neutral, but they arent. Its all about money and power. Contact the writer: tsforza@scng.com Voit Real Estate Services, based in Irvine, has completed the $15.4 million sale of Arrow Business Park, a seven-building, 136,806-square-foot multitenant industrial/flex business park in Rancho Cucamonga. Frank Geraci and Juan Gutierrez of Voits Inland Empire office and Mike Bouma of Voits Orange County office worked together to represent both the buyer, Focus Real Estate, and the seller, Essex Arrow, in the transaction. The business park consists of 69 units ranging from 240 to 12,650 square feet in size. JLL in early September successfully negotiated the sale of two industrial properties located in Orange County for a total value of nearly $8 million. DMZ Management has acquired a 31,500-square-foot industrial building at 530 N. Puente St. in Brea from Sharon L. Six for $5 million. JLLs Garrett McClelland represented the buyer. The seller was self-represented. SSM&M Partners acquired a 16,068-square-foot industrial building at 1961 E. Petra Lane in Placentia from Peairs Real Estate for $2.8 million. JLLs McClelland represented the seller. The buyer was represented by Cameron Jones and Greg Ashwill of Ashwill & Associates. Morgan Skenderian Investment Real Estate Group in Newport Beach has closed several building sales in recent weeks, including: A 13-unit apartment complex in Long Beach, to ShaeGem LLC for $1,678,000. The complex, at 184 E. Artesia Blvd., was owned by the estate of George A. Weseloh Jr. Rick Applebaum and Doug Rodermund represented the buyer and seller. Another 13-unit apartment complex in Long Beach sold to Marcus Lynch for $1,595,000. The complex, at 729 Lime Ave., was owned by Pacific Shoreline Properties. Peter Gillin and John Heard represented the seller and buyer. A four-unit apartment complex located in La Habra sold to New Vision Management for $880,000. The complex, at 1331 Burwood St., was owned by Carolyn XD Vu & Michelle Nguyen. Rick Applebaum represented the buyer and seller. A 12-unit apartment complex in Lakewood sold to Sperry Fiola Real Estate Services for $2,856,500. The complex, at 4108 Deeboyar Ave., was owned by the Fred & Belen Cordova Family Trust. Doug Rodermund and Grant Hahn represented the buyer and seller. PEOPLE IN REAL ESTATE Michael Mahon has joined Irvine-based First Team Real Estate as its president. Most recently, Mahon served as president and broker of record at HER Realtors in Ohio. Mimi Nguyen has been promoted to executive vice president of underwriting at KBS in Newport Beach. KBS also named Robert Durand executive vice president of financing. Nguyen will oversee a team responsible for the underwriting, due diligence and closing of acquisitions nationwide on behalf of KBS REIT, pension fund and sovereign wealth fund clients. Durand will be responsible for overseeing the KBS financing team, developing lending relationships, and structuring and negotiating the financing for KBS real estate assets. KBS Realty Advisors is a private equity real estate company founded in 1992. NEW HOUSING Brandywine Homes has closed out sales at Covington, a 5-acre urban infill community with 51 townhomes in Yorba Linda, across from the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum. The Craftsman-style townhomes, which range in size from 1,842 to 2,100 square feet, were designed by Theron Pate of Pate Smeall Architects in Newport Beach. The units include energy-efficient tankless water heaters, recessed lighting, state-of-the-art communication and networking systems, master suites with oversized soaking tubs and walk-in closets, and gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and maple cabinetry. Covington includes a pool, recreation center, central barbecue and gathering area. Send real estate-related promotions, transactions and milestones to sgowen@ocregister.com. If people were clocks, the world would run like clockwork. Were not, and it doesnt. Still, somebodys always trying to fix the mechanism so it runs more like a Swiss watch and less like a smashed Timex. This year, reformers in California have tinkered with legalizing marijuana for recreational use and with reforming the death penalty, either by abolishing it or accelerating it. These complicated projects will go before voters on Nov. 8. Proposition 64 would make marijuana for recreational use into a legitimate business, but remember one thing: It would turn it into a legitimate California business. And California has already killed off so many businesses that a Martian landing in Sacramento would quickly deduce that making money is a death penalty-eligible crime. Although criminal penalties will go away, legalizing marijuana in California will spawn an entirely new species of laws to enforce. At this very moment, the California Department of Food and Agriculture is devising the new seed-to-sale system that will track every single plant thats commercially grown in the state. The new industry will also have to deal with with fees, fines and regulations from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Department of Consumer Affairs, CalOSHA and the tax-collecting folks at the Board of Equalization. Even with all that, marijuana will still be illegal under federal law, and cities will also have the option to ban sales of the drug, which may actually turn them into drive-through pot shops as buyers and sellers seek to evade local taxes. Legalization in California wont run like clockwork, unless were talking about cuckoo clocks. A different clock may be ticking for capital punishment in California. Proposition 62 would repeal the death penalty, changing the sentences of the roughly 750 people currently on Death Row to LWOP life without the possibility of parole. A rival measure on the November ballot, Proposition 66, would reform death penalty procedures with the goal of speeding up executions and clearing the Death Row backlog. Whether this is or isnt a good idea is hotly contested by knowledgeable and serious people on both sides. Prop. 66 would change the procedures for appeals in death-penalty cases so the first habeas petition on whether a defendant received a fair trial and all constitutional rights is heard in the lower state courts first, and then by the California Court of Appeal. Currently the first habeas petition begins in the state Supreme Court. But the lower courts are stretched thin and starved for funds. Would clearing the backlog this way affect justice for other defendants, possibly innocent, who are awaiting trial? Prop. 66 tinkers to fix problems: it tries to make more defense lawyers available, to set a five-year goal to complete state appeals, and to end multiple appeals on procedural matters while including an exception for cases where actual innocence is claimed. But speeding up the death penalty without addressing broader issues of criminal justice reform, or abolishing it without acknowledging the concerns of police, seems risky at a time when cities across the country are exploding in rage over violent incidents between police and citizens. We have so much work ahead of us, and everybodys going to be too high to do it. Susan Shelley is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. Reach her at Susan@SusanShelley.com and follow her on Twitter: @Susan_Shelley. After a lengthy political and activist career supporting school choice, former California State Sen. Gloria Romero, also a former columnist at the Register, is taking on the education bureaucracy. Romero has co-founded a new charter school in the heart of Santa Ana. The charter, Scholarship Prep Charter School, opened last month with a total enrollment of more than 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Romero says she had been thinking about the possibility of starting a school for quite some time, reaching back as far as when she was term-limited out of the state Senate in 2010. The recent launch of her school has highlighted the red tape and challenges in trying to actually start a charter school in California. People were telling me, Youre always trying to reform schools; why not start your own? Romero says. [The school] was probably years in the making. After seeing many charter schools launch in California and succeed, she decided to partner with Jason Watts of CharterBoost to help start her own. The process took months, requiring her to complete the necessary 300-page petition and to hunt for a facility for the school (they ended up in a church). Romeros knowledge of the public school system helped her navigate its complexities. Rather than attempting to get approval for the charter school from the Santa Ana Unified School District, given that individual school districts are sometimes hostile to charters, Romero went to Orange Countys Department of Education. This helped her bypass an approval process where local resistance by entrenched public school interests (like teachers unions) can very much influence school board votes. Scholarship Prep Charter School was approved unanimously. But thats just a small part of the challenge. Charter schools are publicly funded schools, but Romero notes theyre funded as though we really are the little stepchildren of the public education system. The school has been awarded a $500,000 start-up grant, but as of the start of the school year, theyd only received one check for $84,000. Romero has been putting some expenses on her own credit card and says theres now a niche market developing to provide short-term loans for charter schools as they wait for the money theyve been promised. You get caught up in the bowels of the Sacramento educational bureaucracy, she says. You have to try to navigate around a system that is set up financially to choke it until it fails. Those are issues that the traditional public schools will never have to face. And even though the school has just recently opened, Romero is already preparing for the expected efforts by unions and/or the school district to shut it down, something nearly every charter school must face. She said shes already been dealing with false rumors about the school, with some claiming that the teachers arent actually credentialed (they are) or that the school will start charging students next year (they wont, thats not how charter schools work). But shes confident that as long as the school serves its customers by providing a quality education to students and communicating with parents, they will be supportive of the school and it will withstand any outside criticism from the usual opponents of charters. Romeros school is focused for lower-income students in Orange County, specifically targeting children in foster families. Experiments and innovations like Scholarship Prep should be supported by Orange County residents as ways to provide more choices and better education opportunities to the most vulnerable children in the community. Public school officials watching charters lure away their students should consider responding by raising their game and improving their schools. Theyre in a competition for students now, and parents demand better. Scott Shackford is associate editor at Reason magazine and Reason.com. The homeowner of 2050 wont park her car in the garage after returning from work. Because of Uber and Lyft, she doesnt need a car, and theres no garage either. Instead, the owner will stroll directly to the front door, touch an app on her smartphone and say, Arrived. The door unlocks. The lights come on. The air conditioning starts to whirl. And the stereo launches a favorite playlist. The house of the future is taking shape today at a factory in Cypress, the brainchild of Los Angeles-based KB Home, Irvine-based KTGY Architecture, and Washington-based Builder Magazine. Called the KB Home ProjeKt, the 1,790-square-foot concept home is being built for the upcoming Greenbuild International Conference scheduled for Oct. 5-6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Produced in conjunction with Hanley Woods Builder Magazine, the home is the latest in a long line of concept homes the magazine has sponsored at homebuilding conventions over the past 15 years. Past homes sought to demonstrate new ideas in building materials, designs and energy efficiency. A concept house that Irvine-based TRI Pointe Homes built for the International Builder Show in Las Vegas last year looked at new designs for millennial homebuyers. Taylor Morrison is designing a house for active senior citizens for Januarys show in Orlando. ProjeKt seeks to depict todays cutting-edge technologies while providing a vision of the home of 2020 and 2050. Its overall goal is to show developers how to build a home thats both environmentally sustainable while still keeping costs at affordable levels. What is the house of the future? We filtered the ideas, said Jacob Atalla, KBs vice president of sustainability initiatives. What we came up with ideas that are scalable because thats how you get costs down. Ideas such as a rooftop landing pad for the Amazon drone. Or Tesla backup batteries to store energy from the homes solar and fuel cell power generators. And ideas such as factory construction of modular sections that can be removed and replaced almost as easily as you change a light bulb or a water filter. The house of the future will have movable walls and rotating panels so you can reconfigure it making the home more amenable to use for vacation rentals. And it will be watching so that it can anticipate your wants and needs. Sensors are going to be more abundant in our home, and the living place becomes more of a service to us, said John McManus, editor of Builder Magazine and a participant in the project. The home becomes a place that learns from us. The KB Home concept is the latest of myriad attempts to design homes meeting net-zero energy standards mandated for 2020, meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes. It has been under construction for the past five weeks at the Premier Displays and Exhibits factory in Cypress. Soon, it will be dismantled and shipped to the L.A. Convention Center, where it will go on display for the Greenbuild conference. Here are five highlights: Modularity The house of the future will be prefab and modular, said KBs Atalla. To get future building costs down, components will be built in a factory and assembled at the home site. Additionally, walls containing components in the kitchen, the bathroom and the fireplace will be assembled as interchangeable cartridges so future remodeling projects will be quick and less expensive. Elements like the kitchen cabinets and appliances or the plumbed sections of the bathroom are factory built in cartridges and are completely self-contained, explained the homes designer, architect Manny Gonzalez of KTGY Architecture. All you have to do is plug them into the foundation and turn them on. As factory built products, the quality control is improved, waste is reduced or eliminated, and construction time can be greatly improved, Gonzalez said. Movable walls on tracks allow occupants to reconfigure a home to add a room or collapse a room to enlarge the great room for entertaining. The television can be mounted on a rotating wall panel so two rooms can share it. Innovative materials The house uses a variety of new materials to create a more affordable and sustainable home. Among the products: Durable fiber cement siding, counters made from recycled materials, mineral wool for sound insulation, and thermal memory metal awnings that set their own positions to shade windows. Vacuum-insulated panels that is, insulation thats compressed with a vacuum to make it thinner (and cheaper) but as effective as wider insulation. Energy and sustainability All the usual features of a green home are included: Insulated windows and doors, non-polluting, low-volatile organic compound paint, a tankless water heater, solar panels, and water-conserving and energy-efficient appliances. The starting point for achieving net-zero is the size of the home, Gonzalez said. The flexibility of the movable cartridges results in being able to get all of those functions in a much smaller house. That in turn reduces energy consumption. Other features include: Tesla wall-mounted storage batteries for use at night or when there are power outages. A BlueGen fuel cell unit that produces electricity by passing natural gas over ceramic fuel cells rather than combustion. Health and wellness Health-inducing light and an indoor grow wall for fruits, vegetables and herbs are designed to create a more healthful environment. For example: Circadian rhythm lighting is aimed at promoting wellness. For example, a command to switch to bed-time mode causes bedroom lighting to switch to a warm-yellow glow that gradually fades as its occupants drift off to sleep. A sun lamp simulating the health benefits of natural sunshine. Gee-whiz features To securely store FedEx and UPS packages arriving when nobodys home, the house has a delivery door. Not included, but envisioned, is a rooftop landing pad for Amazon drones. The drone would signal a trap door to a small freight elevator, that would lower the packages indoors. Smart home system: KB used the Savant Systems product to demonstrate how future homes will control the front door lock, lighting, music, shades and ventilation. Voice commands change settings for dinner, parties, bed and relaxation, Atalla said. Thats how the tankless water heater communicates with the lighting, he said. Its through the umbrella of Savant. Contact the writer: jeffcollins@scng.com New-home construction in Orange County is on track this year to hit the highest level in 11/2 decades, a new forecast and new building permit data show. And theres a huge appetite among buyers for all those new houses, townhomes and condos. Sales also are at a 10-year high-water mark. A forecast by the California Homebuilding Foundations CIRB report says developers will take out 11,300 building permits in 2016 for new houses, condos and apartments, the most for any year since 2002. In addition, the data show builders received permits for 8,106 units during the first half of 2016, the most for that six-month period since 1989, and double the number four years ago. New-home sales for January through June were up 146 percent from four years ago, CoreLogic figures show. By comparison, sales of existing homes were up just 5 percent in that period largely because the number of new homes for sale has been increasing while the existing home supply has been sub-par for at least four years. Whereas the existing home market cannot add supply, the new home market can, said Mark Boud of San Clemente-based Real Estate Economics. Weve increased permits dramatically, and theres a pent-up demand for that. As new homes are built, sales go up. Improved features, designs and floor plans also have made new homes a better value despite decreased lot sizes, added Brea real estate consultant Pat Veling of Real Data Strategies. Theyre building amazing houses now with features and square footages that people would like, Veling said. The builders have gotten really smart, and theyre building houses that people want. An influx of foreign buyers also has contributed to the new-home sales surge, particular for those priced at $1 million or above, according to a recent report by John Burns Real Estate Consulting of Irvine. The report noted also that Orange County had a 31 percent increase in developments now selling new homes, the highest gain among the nations 33 largest markets. Slowdown expected CIRB teamed up with the California Economic Forecast, a Santa Barbara consulting firm, to produce its three-year outlook. Highlights include: After hitting the highest level since 2002 this year, Orange County residential building permits are projected to decrease, falling to 11,000 units in 2017 and 9,800 in 2018. New-home sales during the first half of 2014 and 2016 were tied for having the highest tally since 2005, CoreLogic figures show. Statewide, meanwhile, building permits are forecast to rise 18 percent this year to 116,003 units, up from 98,233 last year. And statewide construction is expected to keep climbing, the forecast shows. CIRB predicted permits will climb to 121,640 units in 2017 and 123,505 units in 2018. Running out of land Boud disagreed with the forecast about when homebuilding in Orange County will start tapering. He thinks construction will peak in 2017, but he agrees homebuilding will slow after that. On one hand, homebuilding will continue at the current pace for years at the Orange County Great Park and at South Countys Rancho Mission Viejo. But the other, large projects around the county will sell out in the next few years. They reason that (homebuilding) slows is a lack of developable land, Boud said. During the past few years, multifamily construction has dominated: 72 percent of the building permits issued this year so far have been for condos and apartments, while they averaged 48 percent of the permits during the past 29 years. Boud said for-sale condo construction is starting to become dominant in the multifamily market after several years in which most multifamily units were apartments. Single-family construction also is on the rise, CIRB figures show. During the first half of 2016, developers pulled permits for 2,199 new single-family units, the highest number since 2006. But current construction levels still are anemic compared to prerecession highs and compared to amounts needed to keep home prices from climbing. For example, statewide construction peaked at 314,500 permits issued in 1986. A 2015 report by the state Legislative Analyst Office also determined California needs to add 200,000 to 240,000 new homes each year to keep up with population growth. Orange County homebuilding peaked at 44,656 units in 1986, and the LAO said the county needs about 17,000 new units a year to keep up with growth. Contact the writer: 714-796-7734 or jcollins@ocregister.com PASADENA A 21-year-old man stabbed six people early Saturday at a California house party, lashing out after he bumped into someone and a fight erupted, authorities said. Two people were critically injured and four others were hospitalized in stable condition, police said. Arriving officers said they found suspect Aaron Hong Te in front of the Pasadena residence where about 200 people were attending the party. Te was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, authorities said. It was unclear whether he had an attorney. Phone numbers for Te and his family could not be immediately located. Investigators said Te had bumped into someone at the party and a fight quickly broke out. It sounds like he just started stabbing people around him, Pasadena police Lt. John Mercado said. The victims were all men ranging in age from 21 to 25. Neighbor John Ebersole, 67, said he left his home after hearing a steady stream of sirens and found his usually tranquil street filled with ambulances, fire trucks and police cars. He saw two men being carried on stretchers. Both were bare-chested and one had a small towel draped across his stomach. An officer stood watch over a man sitting on the curb in handcuffs. To have something happening in this neighborhood in general was very surprising, especially at that scale, Ebersole said. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department. At a time when technology and public opinion should be expanding the boundaries of innovation and self-expression, we appear to be entering a new era of ever greater economic and political centralization, Wendell Cox and I suggest in a new paper. The trend to a more centralized economy is particularly evident in the information and media sectors, once hotbeds of entrepreneurial opportunity but now dominated by a handful of leviathan firms who gobble up competitors and often control markets at will. This trend is also evident in Washington, which increasingly regulates all aspects of our life, under an unprecedented welter of presidential and regulatory decrees, often bypassing the legislative process. But nowhere is the centralist leviathan being incubated more than in the once fiercely individualist state of California. President Obamas centralizing can be at least partially justified by the antics of an obstructionist Congress which has shown little desire to work across party lines. But thats not the case here in California, which functions largely as a one-party dictatorship of crony business oligarchies, an aloof and arrogant bureaucracy, the green lobby and public-sector unions. From Small is beautiful to Letat, cest moi In his quirky first term, Jerry Brown was skeptical of central control and an open adherent of the decentralist, small is beautiful philosophy of the late British philosopher E.F. Schumaker. Now he seems to be enamored with creating a coercive state that would have fit better during the reign of Frances Sun King, Louis XIV. California already leads the country in imposing state regulations and laws on everything from gender rights, to cow flatulence, to fair pay, to new licensing requirements for a never-ending panoply of professions. This huge extension of government has already reshaped the cost of such essentials as energy, particularly on the states impoverished, heavily Latino interior, and seems likely to escalate already inflated property values to even more absurd levels. Critical to the California regulatory tsunami is the unraveling of any semblance of local authority. Browns bureaucratic phalanx, led by the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Planning and Research, and the California Natural Resources Agency, has recently advocated a new state-directed planning policy that essentially all but prohibits new greenfield development, something generally required for keeping housing costs down. In the process, the state is poised to seize control of the most basic local functions such as zoning potentially under the auspices of new, unelected regional governments that would be as remote from local concerns as the European Unions increasingly detested autocrats are to many residents of the continent, and, before Brexit, to the United Kingdom. Another centralizing bill, by Santa Monica Democratic Assemblyman Richard Bloom, would deprive local municipalities of the right to review and oppose high-density projects. This reflects the states latest climate-change driven obsession, although such developments are widely opposed in many affected communities in California. This approach rejects essentially all grassroots solutions to pressing environmental challenges. There is little or no interest in internet-based solutions like dispersed work, or telecommuting despite the fact that in Southern California more people already now work at home than take transit, according to the recently released American Community Survey data. The problem, perhaps, is that people who work at home dont hand over big contracts to engineering construction firms or provide the rationale for real estate speculation. Over our live bodies? These policy agendas likely do not reflect public opinion or preferences. Most Californians, like their fellow Americans, overwhelmingly prefer local control. And they dont show much enthusiasm for the dense environments that are being imposed on them. Between 2000 and 2012, population growth in the Los Angeles metropolitan area urban core was all of 9,500 people, while the surrounding inner ring added less than 14,000 residents. In contrast, the suburban and exurban areas added well over 675,000 people. Ultimately, the attempt to impose state planning amounts to nothing more than social engineering by a centralizing elite who want to change the way most Californians live, including those who continue unashamedly to live large. Centralization is already spawning a backlash, mainly focused on forced densification in communities like Marin County, Los Angeles and Assemblyman Blooms Santa Monica, which are as blue as indigo. But community groups, even if well organized, are often no match for the power of regulators, the green lobby and what The Nation contributor Zelda Bronstein calls real estate Democrats. In a healthy political culture, such controversial policies would be altered by popular demand. But in one-party California, where the Republican presence is largely vestigial, those hurt by such moves, particularly blue-collar workers and prospective homeowners, are routinely sold out by their representatives, often funded by green billionaires like Tom Steyer. With no organized alternative in one-party California, there is no recourse to punish legislators. Many traditional industries, from energy to homebuilding, which might be expected to speak out, are increasingly powerless or intimidated by the threat of inciting centralized bureaucratic and gubernatorial wrath. As a result, California, once seen as the fount of innovation and individuality, is beginning to resemble something of a bizarre mix between crony capitalist concentration and taxpayer-funded socialism. The nightmarish consequences could mean the continued ascendency, and not only here, of an ever more centralized and authoritarian state. Joel Kotkin is the R.C. Hobbs Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University in Orange and executive director of the Houston-based Center for Opportunity Urbanism (www.opportunityurbanism.org). UNITED NATIONS Syrias top diplomat told the worlds nations Saturday that his countrys 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 Lebanons Hezbollah fighters. Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem 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 Islamic State and al-Qaida. The Syrian government in turn has been accused by the U.S. 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 U.N. General Assemblys annual ministerial meeting after frantic but unsuccessful efforts by the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers to revive a cease-fire that came into effect on Sept. 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 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. meeting on reviving the cease-fire. As of Saturday, rebel-held parts of the city of Aleppo had come under a blistering wave of airstrikes that residents said was without precedent in the 51/2-year conflict that has killed more than 300,000 people and driven half the countrys 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. U.N. 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. 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. As happens so often, two recent Smarty Pants quizzes were based on whatever was related to a common subject. In their case, the answers had "bar" involved somehow. (You were assuming that some sort of logic had to go into the sewing of the Smarty Pants, yes?) One of the connections to "bar" was Barbie, the doll you either love or love to hate. The Plastic Princess has, in her 57 years, been lauded as a path to women's career possibilities or a roadblock to overcoming stereotypes. However you look at her, Barbie's got an intersting backstory. The story goes that Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel Inc. with her husband, noticed that her daughter wasn't too interested in playing with baby dolls but she liked paper dolls of women. Meanwhile, Germans were enjoying Lili, a doll that was based on a comic strip character. Handler had Mattel buy the rights to Lili and named the American doll after her daughter, Barbara. In 1959, the 11-inch-tall blonde debuted and was quite a hit. Ken came along in 1961, named, naturally, for Handler's son. Barbie's best friend, Midge, came on the scene in 1963, and Barbie's little sister, Skipper, joined them a year later. It took until 1980 for an African-American or Hispanic model to come out. There must still be quite a few collectors of Barbie items. One of them descended on my recent rummage sale, snapping up a good-sized box of dolls, clothing and accessories. The firestorm over Barbie's improbable figure has been thoroughly covered over the years. It is unfortunate Mattel took so long to acknowledge that her shape could shape at least some little girls' impression of what they should look like. In recent years, the company has responded with "tall," "petite" and "curvy" models. I haven't read much about how critics feel about that. Then, the "other side of the coin" was that Barbie opened up the idea of various occupations for little girls. Sure, flight attendant (yes, they called them "stewardesses" back then) was a modest beginning, but the doll became ambitious after that. She's explored being a doctor, pilot, astronaut, Olympic athlete and even presidential candidate. You'd have to give Candidate Barbie some thought: she's more lifelike than one of the real-life contenders. ANAHEIM A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, robbery and pimping in connection with an assault on a female, according to police. Deandre Henderson was arrested Thursday by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, Anaheim police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said in a statement. On Sept. 17, Anaheim officers responded to the 1400 block of South Manchester Avenue for a partially clothed female being chased by a man with a handgun. Officers found a 21-year-old woman, who told them that Henderson and an unknown female, who remains at large, entered her motel room and began assaulting her, Wyatt said. Police believe Hendersons motive for assaulting the woman is connected to his pimping of a second female, who was identified and rescued. Wyatt didnt give out further details to protect the womens identities. Investigators with the task force found Henderson at his mothers home in the 13000 block of Myford Road in Tustin, Wyatt said. He refused to come out for more than an hour, but was arrested without incident, Wyatt said. Henderson is being held in the Orange County Jail on $500,000 bail. Staff writer Tomoya Shimura contributed to this report. SACRAMENTO As Yee Xiong prepared to leave the sentencing hearing for a man who 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 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 a way for Her to continue to harass my family and me. 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. 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 theyre 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. Neither Her nor his attorney, David Collins, responded to requests for comment. 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 postings, which have since been taken down. The case divided the 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. 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 register as a sex offender, and complete sex offender counseling. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has become a hot topic over the last few months. It has been hotly debated by political pundits and presidential candidates, and dissected and discussed in newspaper editorials and letters to the editor. And, unfortunately, most of the rhetoric around TPP is negative. But as nearly any farmer will tell you, with harvest already under way and farmers grappling with the third straight year of plummeting commodity prices, opening new trade markets would be anything but negative. Rural America has a lot to grain from the agreement, but it wouldnt be the only beneficiary. For consumers like you, free trade means greater choices and lower prices. If you bought a television in 2012, you paid 86 percent less for it than you would have paid in 2002. During the same time period, the price for a personal computer fell 75 percent. The savings are thanks to our ability to import goods from other countries. Policies that increase trade and foreign investment in the U.S. save the average American family more than $10,000 per year. For small business owners, farmers and non-farmers alike, trade agreements like TPP can be a boon for business. In 2014, more than 11,000 Illinois-based companies exported goods to TPP countries. About 90 percent were small- and medium-sized companies. And the benefits arent limited to companies that make products. The service sector also would benefit under TPP, including people who work in information and communication technologies, finance, insurance, marketing, architecture and engineering. And, of course, large Illinois-based companies stand to benefit, too. Companies like John Deere, Caterpillar, Pilkington North America and Archer Daniels Midland all create well-paying jobs by exporting their products. But its farmers who are quick to recognize the greatest benefits of TPP. After all, for them, the stakes are even higher. Essentially, TPP would help level the playing field for American farmers by requiring trading partners to reduce tariffs on U.S. agricultural and other exports. Additionally, it would boost demand for U.S. agri-food products among the 500 million consumers in the 11 Asian-Pacific partner nations in the agreement. And leveling the playing field is especially important for Illinois farmers trying to combat low prices by selling to new markets, especially when you consider that 33 percent of Illinois farm income is attributable to agricultural exports. In Illinois alone, the fully implemented trade agreement would add $300 million per year to agricultural cash receipts and $127 million per year in net agricultural exports from Illinois. Whats more, TPP would actually help to boost job growth in the states. Ninety-five percent of the worlds population lives outside of the U.S., and 70 percent of the worlds purchasing power lies beyond our borders. When other countries lower tariffs on U.S. goods, our exports are more competitive. We benefit by access to new markets, demand for our products, American jobs and economic growth. In a nutshell, TPP would give U.S. agriculture greater access to some of the fastest-growing markets in the world at a time when market expansion is badly needed. Bewtra break-in At 2:16 p.m., someone tries to break into the home of Dr. Chhandra Bewtra. She and her family are not home, but the intruder is spooked by the Women are fueling the red-hot auto industry, long dominated by men. They influence more than 80 percent of automotive purchases and drive more than 50 percent of autos sold annually in the U.S. Since 2012, women held more drivers licenses than men. Now more than ever, women hold great sway over the auto industry, from the features in how cars are designed to the other end of the car-buying spectrum at the dealer relationship. General Motors CEO Mary Barra broke an automotive glass ceiling, and the recognition of woman as driver of the auto industry instead of mere accessory is a long way from the 50s when Dodge patronized women with a car replete with pink paint, custom purse, umbrella, and cosmetics case called La Femme. Promotional materials called it the first and only car designed for Your Majesty, the modern American woman. It would not fly today, said Brandy Schaffels, editor of AskPatty.com, which provides automotive advice to women. It worked then, but the mindset was different. Women were expected to be domestic goddesses. For a man to give his wife a car that was uniquely hers was appropriate at the time. Recent research highlights how much female drivers have changed since then. Women are prudent shoppers, according to a recent study by Jumpstart Automotive, a division of Hearst Magazines focused on shopping trends. The study included one-on-one interviews plus 1,014 respondents online. Women want more practical features, said Libby Murad-Patel, Jumpstart analyst. Few (female car buyers) just want a change in style or performance. They trade because of vehicle age, mileage, having children or are growing out of children. Theyre looking to get through a life stage with the current vehicle. Jumpstarts study also found that women are more willing to switch from new to less expensive pre-owned vehicles and they place value on comfort, seating and safety. Women focused on a specific budget; men were more interested in style and performance, Patel said. Women place greater emphasis on purchase price and monthly payment, whereas men look at cost of ownership as a bigger factor. And while men like to show off their engines, women have different priorities. We want safety, we want performance, we want confident power, Schaffels said. Its not the size of the engine, but how you use it. Were not likely to sacrifice fuel economy to boast about horsepower. We want comfort. Women also love technology like lane keep assist and accident mitigation; they get distracted by whats happening in the back seat. Anything that makes us better drivers is a plus. Patel points out that while women are practical shoppers, they reward themselves later in life with luxury cars. It seems women and men arent really that different after all. Women place emphasis on sales approaches that are ethical, low-pressure and respect their time. Authentic language and voice speaks to them, Patel said. Listen and respond to their needs. Dont try to sell me what vehicle youre trying to push off your lot. Identify features that would make their lives more convenient. In advertising, we want to see how the vehicle is used in everyday life. Seeing a car go down Californias Highway 1 is nice, but not practical. And advertising shouldnt have 20 caveats. Women are more likely to value unbiased opinions, relying more on independent research and reviews. They do their homework online and are more likely than men to consult Consumer Reports. They also look to their social network for advice and scrutinize the credibility of journalists. How women negotiate also differs. Women are very loyal relationship buyers, Schaffels continued. Men like the conquest, to know they got a great deal. If a female feels safe, shes not necessarily digging for the best deal. Women look for a more consultative selling experience and reach to social media to tell peers about her experience. Auto dealerships are taking notice. To think women arent involved, salespeople are fooling themselves, said Gabe Greene, general manager of Ed Martin Acura in Indianapolis. We try not to focus on gender, but rather saving the customer time and providing value. We have a play area for kids and a business center shut off from noise. Recognizing mothers are busy, we have free service loaner cars and extended hours for sales and service. During the New York Auto Show last March, Lexus and Be Car Chic hosted a panel discussion among female auto journalists to discuss how dealerships can be more female-friendly. Want to know what really peeves a female buyer? Salespeople who wont speak to her or speaks only to the man, Schaffels said. Dont talk down to her; dont assume she doesnt know. Women are naturally more inquisitive. Dealerships must be ready to answer questions, willing to listen, or she will shut down communication. Dont give us a know-it-all attitude. Of men and women, Schaffels said, Were really not that different. We share so much responsibility of the household. Female-friendly features benefit everybody features like storage, large glove compartments, a place to put a purse where it will be safe, grocery bag holders. My son uses the makeup mirror for his hair. Men are toting around kids these days. It works both ways. LINCOLN Twice this year, Nebraska college students have been left stranded when their schools abruptly shut down. In mid-April, it was the 160 or so students attending Wright Career College in Omaha who found the classroom doors locked one day. The college filed for bankruptcy and closed all five of its campuses, including ones in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Earlier this month, about 340 students were left in the lurch when ITT Technical Institute in Omaha closed. They were among about 40,000 students nationwide affected by the schools decision to shut down its more than 130 campuses. In both cases, the students could turn to the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education for guidance in figuring out what to do next. But Mike Baumgartner, the commissions executive director, believes Nebraska can do more to protect students financially when colleges close. We cant do much except counsel students, he said of the commission. Baumgartner last week recommended that state lawmakers expand Nebraskas tuition recovery cash fund and surety bond requirements to cover institutions that offer four-year bachelors degrees and above. The tuition recovery fund would be able to repay students if a college closes midterm, leaving them without the course credits for which they paid. The bond would provide repayment if a school closed before making its full contribution to the tuition recovery fund. Nebraska already has both protections in place for students at private postsecondary career schools, those offering no more than associate degrees. Among them are schools of cosmetology, coding, real estate and shoeing horses. They are regulated by the State Department of Education, although some also are regulated by other state agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services. All are required to pay into the tuition recovery fund for five years. Brad Dirksen, director of the private postsecondary career schools program, said the tuition fund and surety bond system has never been put to use in Nebraska. All the schools that have closed closed in a responsible nature, and we havent had damages, he said. However, the system remains in place to help if students are hurt by a future closure of a private career school. Dirksen said it is large enough to handle the closure of a couple of schools. There is no similar protection for students at private colleges offering bachelors degrees and above. The postsecondary commission oversees those schools. The category includes Creighton University in Omaha and Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. It also includes the now-defunct Wright Career College, ITT Tech and Dana College in Blair, which closed in July 2010. Dana shut down after financial troubles forced the 126-year-old college to be put up for sale. The sale fell through because the new investors were unable to transfer the colleges accreditation. Ken Smith, an attorney with Nebraska Appleseed, called for Nebraska to expand its tuition recovery fund and surety bond system to include schools offering bachelors degrees. He said some states already use similar systems to cover both groups of schools. But he said those systems typically are available only for students at for-profit colleges. Such a limit would leave out students from Wright and Dana, which were nonprofit institutions. Nebraskas current system covers students at both for-profit and nonprofit schools. Only public colleges and nonprofit schools that do not promote their education as leading to some career objective are exempt. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, who introduced an interim study resolution about higher education issues, said she is considering legislation to expand the Nebraska system. She also plans to look at whether the tuition recovery fund and surety bonds are large enough to cover the increased costs of tuition. The goal is to make sure Nebraska students are protected if something happened to their college, she said. Baumgartner said the postsecondary commission staff have been helping students from Wright and ITT Tech get their transcripts and search for other colleges where they can finish their program of study. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a school that will agree to transfer a students credits, which could force the student to retake some classes. We dont have the ability to make their transfer process particularly smooth, he said. What we try to do is present options. Students at ITT Tech were left in a better position than those at Wright. ITT Tech closed between academic terms. Wright closed in the middle of a term. Commission staff also help students figure out their financial aid and student loan situations. In some cases, students at schools that close can get federal loans forgiven. Baumgartner said arrangements have been made to provide diplomas to students who had finished their programs of study but were without a diploma. As required by state law, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will maintain student records from the closed schools. Fundraisers: Cues-A-Palooza, an outdoor fundraising event, sponsored by the CUES Young Professionals Group, welcomed 175 guests to help raise money for All Saints School. The event was held Sept. 16 at the Cabrini Parish Center parking lot, located at 1248 S. 10th St. The event raised more than $5,000 dollars for All Saints School. >> Come see Drew and Jonathan Scott, hosts of HGTVs Property Brothers, live and in person at the Omaha Design Center,1502 Cuming St., at noon on Thursday as part of the Rebuilding Together Omaha fundraising luncheon. They will share their entrepreneurial story and provide expertise on finding and fixing your perfect home. Tickets are available at rebuildingtogetheromaha.org. Grant: Partnership 4 Kids has received a $10,000 grant from the Lincoln Financial Foundation in support of the agencys high school group mentoring program, which directly serves low-income and at-risk ninth and 10th grade students. The program provides mentor support, leadership development, college access and career exploration. P4Ks ultimate goal for program participants is to motivate them to graduate and pursue some type of higher education. Breast cancer: The Omaha Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 385, is launching an initiative with Project Pinkd, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mind, body and spirit of those diagnosed with breast cancer. The initiative encourages Omahans to Light It Up Pinkd by purchasing a pink light bulb or flood light for their homes exterior and keeping it lit throughout October. The public is encouraged to take photos alongside the lit bulbs and share them on social media with the hashtag #OmahaPinkdOut. For every photo shared using that hashtag during the month of October, the Fire Union will donate $1 back to Project Pinkd. Bulbs are available for purchase through Oct. 1 at the Union Hall, 6005 Grover St., for $5. T-shirts are also available for $15. All profits will be donated to Project Pinkd, which reinvests funds into local programs that helps breast cancer survivors thrive. Businesses that are interested in lighting up pink for the month of October can contact Melissa Rowlet at 402-516-4998 or melissarowlet@projectpinkd.org. Help out pets: A production all about mans best friend will help shelter animals find new homes. The University of Nebraska at Omaha Theatres first production of their 2016 to 17 season, Shakespeares Dog, will raise funds for the Nebraska Humane Society. The play tells the story of young William Shakespeare through the eyes of his dog. UNO Theatre will have information on pets currently available for adoption from the NHS at each performance and will raise funds for the organization after each final curtain. Audience members will be encouraged to take a photo with their adoptive pet and post it on social media with the hashtag #ShakespearesDog4NHS to help spread the word. Shakespeares Dog is a fun and farcical tale of William Shakespeares family and pets. It will run Wednesday to Oct. 1 and Oct. 5 to 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weber Fine Arts Building on UNOs Dodge Street campus. For tickets, go online to unotheatre.com. CARBONDALE From the turnip that falls off the truck to the yucky stuff we scrape off our plates, food waste in the United States accounts for 30 percent to 40 percent of the food supply. Thats about 133 billion pounds of food or approximately $161 billion annually. Ruplal Choudhary, a bioprocess engineer and associate professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems, and other researchers at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale are working at several stages of the farm to table (and beyond) cycle to find ways to reduce waste without sacrificing nutrition and taste. Infrared light Choudhary began looking at uses for infrared light in food processing when he was still a graduate student. Near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopes are becoming more common to determine fats, proteins and carbohydrates in nutritional analysis, but Choudhary also uses the spectroscopes to determine the phytochemical, antioxidant and carotenoid protein make-up of the produce. Phytonutrients are health-boosting qualities of food occurring naturally in plants that have particular health effects. For example, glucosinolates, a class of phytonutrient, appear in cruciferous (green leaf) vegetables and give those vegetables their odor and flavor. Research suggests that glucosinolates are useful in slowing or stopping the development and growth of cancer. Recently he was part of a research team funded with an Illinois Department of Agriculture specialty crop block grant to study Asian greens. Other researchers focused on growing 35 different varieties, including bok choy, bekana and Komatsuna, to determine which greens will grow best in southern Illinois and which would prove most appealing to the local palate. Choudhary and a team of graduate student researchers handled the phytonutrient and antioxidant analysis of the greens. Hes building a database of known analyses to train the spectroscopes in his lab. As the database grows, use of the spectrometer becomes more efficient. In addition to the spectroscopes, he uses a camera to record the color and texture of fresh produce. Together with the spectroscope, he can even predict taste qualities such as sweetness or crispness. He hopes that the technology hes using in his lab will find its way to food processing, making sorting fresh produce more efficient. In a study conducted with Alan Walters, professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems, he used the spectroscope in the nutrition lab to help the research team determine how harvest-time affects the nutritional value of produce. The team harvested produce at various stages of ripeness and found that the more ripe the fruit or vegetable when harvested, the better its nutritional value. In addition, the team checked nutritional levels after harvest at same day, next day, and after a week. They found that post-harvest nutritional levels declined over time. This study clearly indicates that for optimum nutritional value, produce should not be harvested early nor should it sit around for a long time in storage. However, thats a problem for major retailers of fruits and vegetables. It takes time to harvest produce and ship it which is why some produce is harvested early and allowed to finish ripening post-harvest. In addition, for a grocery store, quantity and choice is part of marketing but that can contribute to fresh produce staying in the store longer than a day, two days or even a week. The problem goes beyond declining nutritional benefits. The longer produce sits, the more likely it is to spoil. And that contributes to food waste. Chaudhary is part of a team of SIU researchers that is seeing a different kind of light when it comes to preserving food freshness. Ultra-violet light Ultra-violet light seems an unlikely ally in the quest to preserve the freshness of fruits and vegetables. However, UV sterilization or UV irradiation can kill a list of things that lead to food spoilage, including viruses, bacteria, molds and yeasts. Ultraviolet light is classified by wavelength. UV-C has the shortest wavelength and is germicidal. It deactivates the DNA of pathogens, which prevents them from multiplying and spreading disease. Irradiation is already a common application to disinfect and sanitize drinking water and even to disinfect the air and food contact surfaces. Food processors have been applying UV-C lights to reduce dangerous pathogens in food and beverages as well, particularly in dairy products and fruit juices, for some time. Researchers are finding applications with a wide range of other foods, including fresh produce. UV-C light, which kills E. coli and salmonella among other well-known bacteria, can also contribute to preserving freshness. However, the technology can be costly and the research is far from complete. Choudhary and Dennis Watson, associate professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems, are working now on cost-effective smart technology ways to implement UV-C irradiation at the retail level for fresh produce. Theyve tested the effectiveness of UV light on blueberries and strawberries and they know it works to kill the bacteria and germs that lead to fruit spoilage. But theres a problem UV light is hot. Using UV light to keep berries fresh ends up cooking or drying them. The team began working on a cooler that would use UV light to keep the produce fresh but also neutralize the heat the light generates. To make the cooler more energy efficient, Watson is working to build in smart technology. High humidity makes it easier for bacteria and other food nasties to grow. Watson wants the cooler to chill extra when humidity is high, and to take it easy when humidity is lower. Hes working on a humidity and temperature sensor that will automatically adjust cooling in relation to humidity. Choudhary and Watson hope this combination of UV light and smart cooling will eventually be available to grocery retailers to use in their storage areas. If they can keep food fresh longer, certainly that ought to contribute to a reduction in food waste. And if the technology works well enough to allow for later harvest, consumers wouldnt miss out on the enhanced nutritional value of in-the-field ripening. Meanwhile, Choudhary is exploring natural phenolic compounds to use with the UV light for freshness. In an experiment with strawberries and blueberries kept fresh longer under UV light, he also used limonene, a citrus-based compound that works as a natural anti-microbial. The limonene discourages fungus-growth on the post-harvest berries. With the UV light and limonene combination, the team kept berries fresh for two weeks and edible with some shrinkage for three weeks. This compares favorably to the one week of freshness for non-treated berries that is typical. Choudhary hopes to see the UV light coolers and natural food treatments applied to large scale grocery store short-term food storage. He may be able to assist artisan food producers now. Choudhary said he has helped local food producers meet FDA labeling requirements with proper nutrition analysis. For 35 years full time, and two years part time, Emilie Deeds made it possible for Bellevues elderly and handicapped to shop for groceries, visit the dentist, attend their workplaces or consult their physician. Neither snow nor rain nor heat, nor freezing, icy windshields in the depth of 35 Nebraska winters stayed her from depositing her charges at their appointed times and then returning them safely home. She was a driver all those years in the City of Bellevues Specialized Transportation Service. The service consists of three buses that transport the elderly and handicapped to locations in Bellevue or Omaha. Appointments must be made, and the cost is $4 round trip within Bellevue and $8 round trip to Omaha locations south of Dodge Street. Each bus contains eight seats and space for two wheelchairs. Deeds, 77, switched off the engine for the last time Aug. 26 after rotator cuff surgery mandated a lengthy absence from work. Born and raised in South Omaha, she attended high school at the Notre Dame Academy at 35th and State streets and then St. Josephs School at 16th and Center streets. She came to Bellevue in 1963 with her husband, Tom, who worked as a bricklayer and then for many years as the custodian at Bertha Barber Elementary School before his death five years ago. Her work, Deeds said, allowed her to get to know people and to help them function, which more than compensated for 35 years of rising at 5:30 a.m. and scraping snow and ice off windshields. The work day was 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Deeds said she was reluctant finally to give it up, even at the age of 77. I like to meet people, and I have always liked to drive, she said. I always was interested in finding out how people landed in this little town of Bellevue. I once had two German ladies who told me all about growing up in Germany. Interesting, some of these people. In return, she said, she would tell them all about Bellevue, its buildings, its places and its changing nature. Retirement for Deeds means more opportunities to pursue walleye fishing in northern Minnesota, where as her photo album demonstrates many a magnificent fish has made her acquaintance. Like every good mother, and despite the thousands of people she has transported over the years, Deeds declines to name a favorite. They were all my favorites, even the grumpy ones, she said. You treat them with respect and dignity, the way you would like to be treated. Four candidates have emerged for Bellevues city administrator position. The finalists were selected from a field of 22. Bellevue is replacing Dan Berlowitz, who was fired in August. The four finalists are: Brett R. Baker, TIF building project coordinator of the League of Nebraska Municipalities. He served as city administrator and economic development director in Seward, Nebraska, from May 2011 to December 2014, and held similar posts from January 2006 to May 2011 in Hickman, Nebraska. He is a Lincoln resident. David R. Forrest, housing inspector for Heartland Family Services in Omaha. Prior to taking that job in May, he was city manager from March 2013 to January 2014 for Canandaigua, New York, and municipal administrator in Norristown, Pennsylvania, from May 2007 to March 2013. He is an Omaha resident. Joseph A. Mangiamelli, city administrator in Columbus, Nebraska, since 2005. He held several positions for the City of Omaha, including executive assistant to the mayor (1999-2001). He was on the Bellevue Planning Commission from 1995 to 2005 and Sarpy County Planning Commission from 2000-03. He is a Bellevue resident. Allen May, city administrator of Coal Valley, Illinois, from 2015 to March. He was a planning, economic development and management consultant in Des Moines from 2009-14 and director of community development in Grandview, Missouri, from 2006 to 2007. He is a resident of Urbandale, Iowa. John Kottmann has spent the better part of his career working on Thompson Creek in La Vista. Ask him specifically how long, and hell chuckle. I started working on the Thompson Creek in 1984, he said. Most recently hes spearheaded a highly visible, at-times controversial effort to rehab a portion of the creek that cut through backyards and flooded city streets during summer rainstorms. That undertaking, the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration Project, won The World-Heralds 2016 Master Conservationist Award in the community category. The project, along with the agriculture category winner, will be honored at the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts conference Monday evening in Kearney. The awards are presented by The World-Herald and the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources to recognize outstanding stewardship of Nebraskas land and water resources. La Vistas work shifted the channel, stabilized the stream banks and reconstructed the flood plain for a creek with western headwaters that begin at 90th Street and extend to 66th Street near the Big Papillion Creek. Perhaps most memorably it called for the city to purchase and demolish 24 homes. Except for some landscaping work in 2017, the six-year, $6 million project is nearing completion. Its certainly some relief to see it come to a point where its manageable now, Kottmann said. Kottmann credits a slew of individuals who have worked with him on the creek restoration project. But La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig said Kottmann was integral in pulling it off. The scope of this project was just absolutely huge, he said. And without a doubt John was a part of every bit of it and was a leader of it for the city. Kindig said Kottmann is ready to take on any task at any time. Hes an over-worker, he said, producing a tremendous amount of high-quality work on a daily basis. Kottmann worked with the city for many years while employed by Thompson, Dreessen & Dorner Inc., an engineering firm. Five years ago he became city engineer and assistant public works director for La Vista. Were so fortunate to have him because of his experience, Kindig said. La Vistas Thompson Creek woes go back even further than Kottmanns work on them. Starting in the 1970s, he said, the creek would overflow and flood street crossings during rainstorms. Erosion of the creek bank also led to problems. Utility and power lines, as well as the occasional backyard shed, would fall into the creek. And the city lacked the access to make needed improvements. That led to the purchase and demolition of 24 homes in 2010 and 2011. It was very controversial and difficult, Kottmann said. After that it took a couple of years to apply for grants to proceed with work on the creek. The Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District were important funding partners, Kottmann said. Amanda Grint with the NRD nominated Kottmann and the project for the award. The project uses a holistic, sustainable design, the application says. Its building on past efforts and investments to improve water quality and reduce flood risk. La Vista Public Works Director Joe Soucie called the project pretty unique. It was the first time the city had done home buyouts and the first project that required multiple funding sources, he said. It also was highly visible, as it was near major thoroughfares. That meant increased scrutiny and attention from residents. He said the project should allow the city to avoid additional repair work on the creek for a while, and theres now an access point when work is needed. The project also expands the citys park and trails system. John is definitely deserving of (the award), Soucie said. That is for sure. He has gone above and beyond. Kottmann said hes glad the project is getting positive attention. Im certainly appreciative of the recognition on behalf of the city, he said. There was a time, many moons ago, when Ken Seims neighbors thought he was crazy. The Chapman, Nebraska, farmer wasnt watering his crops as much as everyone else. What is he doing? they asked. Hell lose a crop, they thought. But losing a crop was not in the cards for Seim, who was monitoring soil moisture on an almost daily basis to determine when fields needed watering. These and other cutting-edge irrigation techniques during the past 25 years are why Seim is no longer thought to be crazy but rather an admired leading conservationist and researcher. Seim won The World-Heralds 2016 Master Conservationist Award in the agriculture category. Ken is locally known as the master innovator, his nomination application says. If he decides to test a new idea or concept, rest assured it will be given a thorough testing and evaluation. Seim and his family use irrigation techniques designed to conserve water. They converted their operation to center-pivot irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation. They have irrigation sensors and flow meters allowing them to monitor ground moisture and irrigation wells. The farm also utilizes cover crops, which create a buffer for Seims seed corn fields as well as add wildlife habitat. The award came as a total shock to Seim, who didnt know hed been nominated by Tom Schleif, a resource conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Marcia Lee, an information and education specialist with the Central Platte Natural Resources District. I was humbled beyond anything I could imagine, he said. None of what we do is to win an award. What we do as conservationists is try to be better at what we do. Conservation is ingrained in Seim. The third-generation well-driller was raised to recognize waters significance in central Nebraskas economy. And todays evolving technologies have allowed him to test and develop new methods. We have seen the declines (in the aquifer), and its going to take water management to sustain our future, he said. Were going to have to be stewards. Seim credited the Central Platte NRD and the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a wealth of knowledge and resources that have helped him to be the conservationist he is today. And Seim is not resting on his laurels. We still have a lot more things that we want to accomplish, he said. And we maybe dont know what those things are for the future yet. Dick Hoff of La Vista spent 33 years in the Air Force a fair amount of it lying flat on his belly. Hoff, 85, spent most of his career as an in-flight refueler, wielding a long, narrow boom while prone on the floor of an Air Force tanker. He would guide aircraft speedy fighters, hulking B-52 bombers and everything in between to the end of his hose and fill them with fuel at rates up to 1,000 gallons a minute. They called themselves boomers. It takes skill on both ends, Hoff said. It was a very exciting job. Hoff is one of about 30 Cold War-era boomers who gathered this week at Omahas Magnolia Hotel for the annual reunion of the Inflight Refueling Association. The association rotates its reunions to different parts of the country, said Dick Thomas of Marshfield, Missouri, the groups chaplain and the events chief planner. This is the first time it has been held in Omaha. Thursday, members toured the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum near Ashland, and on Friday they went to the Durham Museum and Boys Town. Saturday night, retired Brig. Gen. Reg Urschler of Bellevue, a former commander of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Offutt Air Force Base and a friend to many of the boomers, spoke to the group. During the Cold War, boomers were part of a four-member refueling team that also included the pilot, co-pilot and navigator. It was a busy duty: Besides refueling other aircraft, they served as the aircrafts loadmaster and observed the stars to guide the plane on long flights in the era before inertial navigation systems. Everybody looked up to boom operators, said Thomas, who served from 1959 until 1981. It was the best job in the Air Force, bar none. Boomers have a historic tie to Omaha because refueling wings once fell under the leadership of the Strategic Air Command, based at Offutt. We were all SAC, Thomas said. Most of us have been here at some point either stationed here or dropping people off. Hoff, a Montana native, enlisted in 1951 and was a gunner aboard B-29 bombers during the Korean War. After the war, though, many B-29s were retired, and he needed to find a new Air Force job. Air refueling was coming on strong, Hoff said. I was thrilled to death to stay on flying status and enter this brand-new career field. In his early years he flew on KB-29s, KB-50s and KC-97s, all piston-engine aircraft. But for most of his career he flew on KC-135 Stratotankers, which were introduced in 1957 and remain the backbone of Air Force refueling. They are still flown in Lincoln by the Nebraska Air National Guard. Most of the boomers at the reunion served during the Vietnam War, when the KC-135 fleet literally fueled the air war from bases in Okinawa, Guam, Thailand and the Philippines. There were always several tankers orbiting South Vietnam, he said. It was an in-the-air gas station. Hoff spent 13 years stationed at Offutt, including 10 years on the SAC command crew, a tanker converted for the use of the SAC commander. He said he is one of several boomers who retired in the area, along with George Brtek, Bill Chaffee and Benny Benson of Bellevue, and Don Perkins of Papillion. Thomas said the crews were exceptionally close-knit, and some of the boomers at the reunion have known each other for decades. Im closer to the guys I flew with than my own brothers and sisters. I spent more time with them, Thomas said. Its a great profession, unlike any job in the Air Force. 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. 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 press 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. Charlotte police also released a narrative of what they say happened in the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Scott. The department said in an update released late Saturday that says 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, which 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. Vinson is 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. Justin Bamberg, attorney for Scott's family, told reporters on Saturday night that the dash and body camera footage leaves more questions unanswered than it provides clarity. He also said that Scott's delay in getting out of his vehicle doesn't justify his death. 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 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. Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Update, 12:30 a.m.: Authorities say the suspect in the deadly Washington mall shooting had a previous arrest for simple assault and had immigrated from Turkey. At a press conference Saturday night, Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said 20-year-old Arcan Cetin was a "legal, permanent resident of the United States." ****** Update, 11 p.m.: Authorities say the captured suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting is 20-year-old Arcan Cetin. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis said via Twitter that Cetin was a resident of Oak Harbor, Washington. *********** BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five dead is in custody, authorities said Saturday. The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management said via Twitter Saturday evening that the suspect had been captured. No other details were immediately available. A press conference was set for Saturday night. A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic male wearing black. 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 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. 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 don't 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 identity of the shooter and his motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. 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, 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," Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. Earlier Saturday as police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city about 60 miles north of Seattle 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 in a region where agriculture is king, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. 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. "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." 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. 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. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's stores, among other shops, restaurants and a movie theater. Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Its been an exhausting year, politically speaking, with never-ending controversies, Twitter wars and puffed-up pundits blowing through copious amounts of oxygen. And its all coming to the end. In a little over six weeks, voters will have the final word on the historic 2016 presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. To get a better understanding of where voters stand and how they view the race, The World-Herald is asking a series of questions over the coming weeks. Todays question: What in your life has shaped your political views? Explain how those views relate to your presidential choice. Gabriel Gutierrez Age: 25 Occupation: high school teacher Home: Omaha Registered party: Democratic Candidate: Hillary Clinton Several things in my life have played an integral role in shaping my current political views. One of those things has been my parents instilling in me from a very young age that you should treat all people with dignity and respect regardless of who they are, what they believe or look like. This belief has made me a strong advocate for social justice. In regards to the current presidential election, this core belief passed down from my parents has made my choice for president very easy. In the current race the only candidate to share this belief with me is Hillary Clinton. Secretary Clinton has consistently shown throughout the campaign that as president she will represent and treat all people regardless of gender, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or age with dignity and respect. Hillary Clinton has shown to be the only candidate capable of uniting people rather than intentionally attempting to divide the country. Randall Bradley Age: 62 Occupation: restaurant owner Home: Papillion Registered party: Republican Candidate: Donald Trump The freedom to make of myself whatever I can has shaped my views. Starting in food service management at age 20, working six days and 60 hours a week, I moved on up the corporate ladder. At age 35 I opened my first restaurant. After spending 35 years working 60-70 hours a week, I am now semi-retired and working 30 hours a week. I did all of this without a college degree because I was willing to work that hard. I am afraid of my grandchildren growing up in an America that does not provide the same opportunities I had: the freedom to go as far as your ambition, talents and willingness to sacrifice can take you. Hillary Clinton has made clear that she intends to extend government control over our lives as far as possible, and to increase the size of entitlement programs that are already scheduled to go bankrupt. President Barack Obamas policies have damaged America, both domestically and in foreign policy, and Hillary promises to not only continue, but to extend those policies. I am fearful of what this will mean to my dear grandchildren. Although Donald Trump was nowhere near my first choice, I will vote for him because Hillarys America is not my America. Mary Vallecillo Age: 24 Occupation: assistant manager Home: La Vista Registered party: Democratic Candidate: Hillary Clinton Growing up I saw a bunch of injustice being done to women around me and in my family. From telling her whats best for her body, to women being afraid of leaving an abusive relationship because of what her family would think of her. ... Voting, for me, has always simply been voting for the Democratic Party. Hillary Clinton will be able to ensure better progress for women, plus will be a great leader for our nation with her background. The experience she has put in since she was a young lady is far more than other candidates running against her. Amber Peleska Age: 34 Occupation: business analyst Home: Omaha Registered party: Independent Candidate: Hillary Clinton When I turned 18, I registered as a Republican because thats how my family voted. I voted for President George W. Bush in 2000 and again in 2004. My voting choice then was based on the fact that he was a Christian and was anti-abortion. That was all I cared about. There were several events that took place that made me question the Republican Party during President Bushs time in office; however, I think the biggest turning point for me was when President Bush vetoed the Childrens Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. This bill would have provided insurance to children across the United States. He vetoed it. I began to wonder why a party would be so concerned with a baby while its in the womb but not be willing to help the child after theyre born. His veto shed light on the true hypocrisy of the Republican Party at that point in time. I realized that most of my ideals did not line up with the Republican Party, so I registered as an Independent in 2008. I no longer vote based on party affiliation; I vote based on who I think is best suited for the job. Nichole Small Age: 33 Occupation: health insurance claims supervisor Home: Bellevue Registered party: Democratic Candidate: Hillary Clinton by default I think after the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry I became more politically aware, if that is even a saying. ... I started to pay more attention to politics at the local, state and federal levels. As I got older and started to have a family, I realized I needed to pay more attention because, based off what issues were arising (education, health care, economy), the issues would impact my family in some way. I share some of the same views with Hillary. I dont see eye to eye with her on everything, but I know she is the smarter choice for my children and this country. Greg Miller Age: 41 Occupation: social studies teacher Home: Seward Registered party: Republican Candidate: undecided Many things in my life have shaped my political views. I grew up on a farm near Potter, Nebraska, in a Christian, conservative, Republican-leaning home. Through discussions and lessons learned from my parents, my pastor and my LCMS churchs doctrine, my political views took shape as I grew up. In high school, the 1992 George H.W. Bush/Bill Clinton/Ross Perot election was the first time I began to truly pay attention to politics and the issues therein, which molded my own views quite a bit. As I went to Concordia College in Seward, my views became even more my own as my faith and life experiences shaped my thoughts on what the role of the government should be. Since then, Ive been blessed to become the father of four children, and my political views focus on what I think is best for not only them, but the future of America as well. Im a registered Republican, and Im honestly not sure if I can/will vote for Trump. Hes got a long, long way to go to convince me to vote for him. Overall, Im rather surprised that in America, were down to these two candidates? Id definitely consider myself unsure of who to vote for. Honestly, I dont like any of my choices. In the primary, I wrote in Ben Sasse because hes actually someone who overall represents my thoughts, beliefs and values. I know thats throwing away my vote, but in principle I cant really support either main candidate at this point. Derek Laney Age: 47 Occupation: social services director Home: Papillion Registered party: Independent Candidate: undecided Fifteen years ago I received a call at work telling me to find a television. We pulled one from a closet and watched. And then we flipped the CLOSED sign and went home to our families. My wife and I stood in the front yard, holding our girls and watching jets come and go from Offutt Air Force Base. Then the sky emptied. No planes, nothing for days. It took time to understand just how much the world had changed, but we could feel the change beginning there in the yard. I was an active Democrat on September 11, 2001, who had voted Democratic in every election at every level. Though Im conservative by temperament, there remained room for me in the party, if a little off to one side. But in the months and years following al-Qaidas attack, that space shrunk. What affected me as a call to American unity, affected my party affiliation differently. Democratic Party treatment of President George W. Bush turned mean-spirited and sometimes cruel. Party behavior became irrational. And as the Democratic Party stopped making sense of Islamic terror, their clarity drifted on other things. Self-criticism replaced self-confidence. Identity politics overwhelmed freedoms of speech, association and religion. And in a few short years the party platform lurched left, which is not to say more liberal. What was the party of free speech and debate became home to speech codes and safe spaces. I cant say the 9/11 attacks solely motivated my exit from the Democratic Party. There were other causes, small and large. But it was that moment when distinctions became clearer to me. And in this election, had the GOP nominated anyone other than Donald Trump, my choice would be easy. As it is, maybe Ill write in George W. Bush. Or Harry S. Truman. Cheryl Finch Age: 61 Occupation: homemaker, volunteer Home: Omaha Registered party: Republican Candidate: Donald Trump As a youth I was interested in politics and completely devastated when Bobby Kennedy was murdered. I also voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976. I had been influenced by my heavily Democratic family my father was a union carpenter. As I became a mother and had a family of my own, I completely switched gears and am now a conservative. I value logic above emotion when choosing a candidate, and I value honesty above all else. I truly believe that our country has been going down the wrong path for years, and I feel it is time for a new kind of candidate, someone who is not a career politician. I like Donald Trump because he has experience in the business world, which is sorely needed. I believe him when he says he will negotiate and re-negotiate trade deals to better serve our citizens. Mr. Trump appeals to my logical side when he talks about how illegal immigrants are treated better than our veterans. That is a disgrace! I also credit him with starting the discussions about immigration, sanctuary cities and the criminal element among the illegals flooding our country. We are a country of rules and laws, and I believe that he is the right person to lead our country forward. We need to learn a lesson from our brothers and sisters in Europe, whose economies and infrastructures are being severely strained by the mass of immigrants at their doorstep. We must turn our country around and improve life for our citizens first. I definitely believe in helping those who are less fortunate, but our rules and laws must be obeyed if our country is going to remain in existence. Z Carlson Age: 52 Occupation: homemaker and part-time call-center employee Home: Bellevue Registered party: Republican Candidate: undecided; leaning Trump I am an Army brat. I was born overseas and went back to my birth country (Germany) twice. I attended 10 schools in 12 years in four different time zones. I grew up with four siblings and parents who were born in the deep South during segregation and the tail end of the Great Depression. My mother worked as a maid, and my father was a sharecropper. There were signs that we were a Democratic-leaning family in that we had the obligatory pictures of JFK and RFK in our homes. The news wasnt watched often until my father stopped being sent to Vietnam. (My mother was afraid wed see my father wounded or dead.) We moved to Memphis in 1977 when I was 13. Until then, politics and government were a nebulous concept at best. When I was 14, I saw what Jimmy Carters welfare program did up close and personal. A friends two sisters were planning to have babies, out of wedlock, to get a bigger check from the government. I asked why they would deliberately do this, without being married, and the answer was, Why should I work? I can make more doing this! That has stayed with me all these years. I voted Democratic for a long time, but I saw no real reason to support the party. It seemed to me (and still does) that the Democrats want to take care of the voters with free programs and money without making them earn it. I am of the mind-set that you work for what you want and dont wait around for somebody to give you something. My parents instilled that into us, and I passed it along. I will not vote for Hillary Clinton. I cannot entrust her to do the job. If there were a more qualified female, I would still do my homework and not vote with my gender, nor because of my skin color. I will continue as I have been and do research, then make an informed choice, of the candidate of MY choice, and not because of a perceived hive mind concept. MATTOON -- Jerry Groniger's family farm received the designation as a Centennial Farm by the Illinois Department of Agriculture in 1995. The Groniger farm is the lone state-registered Centennial Farm in Coles County's LaFayette Township. Jerry, 82, after working in sales for more than 40 years, continues to manage the farm in retirement. The farm, where he grew up, is located on the northeast side of Mattoon. The Groniger family has been in Coles County for more than 160 years, he said. "My grandfather (Alvin Hugh Groniger) bought the farm in 1894," he said. Alvin, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Groniger, was born on March 16, 1852, in Pickaway, Ohio, near Circleville and also 20 miles south of Columbus. The couple had six children -- four girls followed by the birth of two sons: Lymon and the youngest, Alvin. When Jacob died around 1870, his will stated that the farm in Ohio should be sold and the proceeds divided among the children. His wife Liz filled up a wagon with furniture and their belongings and -- with two oxen pulling the wagon -- headed to Pana. He said he assumes the others rode horses. They were only in that area for about year, Jerry said. Lymon and Alvin formed a partnership and bought a farm near Cooks Mills in Coles County and later acquired another 320 acres in LaFayette Township. The farm near Cooks Mills was sold at auction in 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression, Jerry said. The LaFayette Township farm when purchased was in a swampy area. So when the Groniger sons purchased it, they, along with a hired hand, spent a year digging trenches and laying tile. The drainage settled to the north and formed Riley Creek. Jerry said his grandfather Alvin died in 1898 and his Great-Uncle Lymon managed the farm after that. When Lymon died, he left the farm to Alvin's children, Harlan and Florence, with each of them receiving 160 acres. Harlan is Jerry's father. And this is the farm where he was raised. He can remember his father having 16 milking cows and especially remembers growing tired of the arduous task of milking twice a day. They had nine sows and one boar. He said he can remember feeding more than 100 piglets. It was his job to feed them three bushels of corn. "When I was a kid, I had a pony," he said. The pony was kept in the barn. But, he said, one day under his watch the pony got loose. The pony went to the hen house where there were 200 hens and the pony started eating their feed. He said it ruined their feed. By 1960, he said, the Groniger farm no longer had dairy cows, pigs or chickens. It was strictly a grain farm, as it is today. Jerry said his dad, Harlan, who died in 1972, shared a memory of the May 26, 1917, tornado that hit Coles County and how it knocked down the farm house and barn at the Groniger LaFayette Township farm. Harlan was standing in the lobby of Byer's Hotel, which sat on the southeast corner of Broadway and 17th (where Progress Square is now) in Mattoon, when the winds started. He started seeing through the windows Model T cars flying down the street. Once the winds died down, he ran to his home on Marshall Avenue at the time and checked on his mother Jesse and his sister Florence. Fortunately, they hadn't been hurt. He then ran to the farm, where the farm house and barn lay flattened. Along with his brother Lymon and a hired hand, Harlan rebuilt the home and the barn on the remaining foundations. Harlan had a heart attack in 1968, Jerry said, and the farm house only had a restroom on the second floor. His doctors told him he wouldn't be able to go up and down the stairs. So he moved to town and bought a house on 14th Street. Jerry remodeled the house and lives there today. Jerry said he is proud of the Centennial Farm designation. It was a process to complete all the paperwork, but he is proud of the family farm legacy. The Illinois Department of Ag started recognizing Centennial Farms, those farms that have been in the same family for more than 100 years, in 1972, according to their website, www.agr.state.il.us/. To date there are more than 9,500 Centennial Farms registered with the department and there is at least one Centennial Farm in every county, according to the website. Champaign County has the most with 200, the website states. Coles County has more than 100 registered as Centennial Farms and six registered as Sesquicentennial. Sesquicentennial Farms registered statewide exceed 600. To earn the designation of Centennial Farm, a farm that has been in the same family for at least 100 years, or the Sesquicentennial Farm label of 150 years, an application process (including a $50 fee) is required. Farms receiving the designation receive a plaque and a certificate with signatures of the governor of Illinois and the director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, according to information on Centennial Farms listed at www.agr.state.il.us/. Some teachers are first generation. Others, it seems, are born with a genetic predisposition to the profession, what we might call DNA+. Vanita Jarmons mother was a teacher so were her aunts and uncles. Ive been surrounded by education all of my life, she says. I knew right away it was going to be a job of hard work. I watched my mom work long hours The greatest reward, I knew, was that I was going to make a difference. More than 30 years after taking her first job as a first-grade teacher at Omahas Central Park Elementary, Jarmon is as passionate as ever about impacting young lives. Only today she does it from the principals office at Conestoga Magnet School, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraskas Adopt-A-School partner for more than 15 years. Were really excited about what were seeing, she says. Now in her second year as principal, Jarmon has made it a priority to empower teachers and honor their instructional time by working to eliminate school day distractions a move that is paying big dividends. Our kids are just soaring. Achievement is going up, she says. Were seeing it in their reading fluency. Were seeing it in their comprehension and in their math computation. And their writing is really coming along. Momentum. Energy. A collaborative approach to education. It was all on display at Conestogas recent Back to School Night, an event amplified by live jazz performed by a school parent, PowerPoint presentations by teachers, and ice cream all around. A banner, provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and decorated with employees inspirations, introduced the schools theme for the year: "Walking the Heroes Trail." We gave out decals that said Conestoga parents, the first heroes because we really want to lift up our parents and tell them how much we appreciate their contribution to their students success and how we need them to walk alongside us, Jarmon explains. Another key to success, she says, is having a very intentional plan and a highly-motivated team. Our staff (last year) really took time to make sure we were all on the same page when it came to our mission and vision. If you come into our building, youll see it plastered everywhere . . . We tell our kids every morning on our announcements: We are Conestoga. We respect. We learn. We grow. We succeed. The winner of a 2004 Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, Jarmons fearless commitment to student success has been a theme throughout her evolving career: 20 years at Central Park Elementary, five years at King Elementary (academic data representative), four years at Jefferson Elementary (assistant principal) and now, Conestoga. Its so rewarding to see students being successful, especially if you have someone whos struggling and you can have them see their potential and that they do have a future that can be incredible. Outside of the school building, Jarmon is devoted to shaping and inspiring young lives. She runs the vacation Bible school at her church. She also sings in the choir and serves as a deacon. I have a very strong faith, she says. My faith keeps me grounded. Her tireless passion helps students soar. Im living my dream. Faces of Fearless is a storytelling series in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraskas Live Fearless campaign celebrating people living their very best lives and inspiring others to do the same. Big changes are coming to the way Midlands livestock producers purchase and administer antibiotics to their animals, starting Jan. 1. Producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers need to use these remaining months to prepare fully for the change. Its good to see the educational outreach efforts on this complex issue through industry associations, Extension services and the national association for veterinarians. The new federal regulations will limit livestock antibiotic use to disease treatment only. Producers will no longer be allowed to add antibiotics to animal feed to promote weight gain or feeding efficiency. Rather than make traditional over-the-counter purchases, producers will need formal permission from a veterinarian before using any animal antibiotic that has links to human health. These changes by the Food and Drug Administration will mean a big increase in required paperwork and record keeping. Greater planning and coordination will be needed among producers, veterinarians and feed suppliers. Nebraskas $7.4 billion cattle sector alone has 4,570 cattle feeding operations and 6.1 million head of cattle. The change is being made to safeguard human health. Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are on the rise, with drug-resistant infections taking the lives of an estimated 700,000 people each year, Bloomberg News reports. Scientists say one way to tackle the problem is to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock raising. About 80 percent of antibiotics in the United States are fed to livestock. Upcoming months will be pretty crucial for us to get everybody on the same page, says University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator Rob Eirich, director of Nebraskas beef quality assurance program, a partnership of UNL, Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Beef Council. The key need for producers, Eirich told The World-Herald, is to come together and have a working relationship with their veterinarian and make sure they plan out their animal health program for their operation. Under the new rules, the producer-veterinarian relationship must be formalized through an official, standardized document. Without it, the veterinarian wont be able to grant antibiotic usage in a timely fashion. Producers are urged to look ahead to their production year and work with their veterinarian to anticipate their likely antibiotic needs as much as possible. Probably the ones who are going to be challenged the most are producers without a large operation, Eirich says. Dustin Loy, a UNL ag-science professor with a background in animal vaccination, notes that policy development on this issue has been in the works at the federal level for decades. Disease has a huge economic impact on livestock production, he says. Bovine respiratory disease alone accounts for more than $1 billion in production losses annually in the nations cattle sector. Proper planning and coordination between producer and veterinarian will be crucial to maintain timely protection for livestock under the new arrangements, Loy says. Nebraska producers who dont have a relationship with a veterinarian need to establish that connection now. The new year will be here before long, but with proper preparation, Midlands livestock producers should be able to make a successful transition to the revamped system. Ralstons white elephant We Ralston residents have learned that Standard and Poors downgraded the Ralston Arena bond rating from A+ to BB, aka junk (Ralston debt downgrade may cost taxpayers, Sept. 22 World-Herald). Since the arena has been built, the city leaders have scrambled trying to figure out how to pay for it. They have mismanaged Keno proceeds, created a new consumer tax and increased property taxes. This failure of fiscal responsibility may cost Ralston residents in the future with higher-risk bonds for city improvements. It appears that the mayor and the City Council will be hosting their own version of the Junkstock festival at the Ralston Arena 365 days a year. Terry Wieczorek, Ralston Repeal the Legislatures mistake In 2015, the Nebraska Legislature abolished the states longstanding death penalty law. In November, Nebraskans must vote to repeal this unfortunate and disrespectful law and put the death penalty back on the books. Vote to repeal. Ruth Lienemann, Papillion An ordinance that could save lives Three blocks from my home is an empty lot. I recall, with a heavy heart, the boardinghouse that used to be there. On Dec. 23, 2014, the large house at 4805 S. 22nd St. caught fire. Most of the tenants from the 22 units were able to escape, but two people werent so fortunate. Two courageous firefighters fought their way into the basement and rescued 37-year-old Demetria Sanchez and 27-year-old Eddie Valentine. They were taken to area hospitals, where they died. Demetria was a loving mother and grandmother. Eddie had a sweet heart and loved playing music. All of the other residents were forced to find new places to live. The Omaha Fire Department investigation concluded that improperly discarded smoking materials from an adjacent unit caused the fire. Improperly discarded smoking materials and use of grills are the leading causes of apartment fires. The Bellevue City Council is considering an ordinance that would ban smoking and gas grills in multifamily living units, including balconies and decks. Designated use areas outside could be established. With all my heart I look forward to the day when such ordinances will be enacted everywhere. Individual rights must not trump the common good in this case, the safety of our first responders and apartment dwellers, their pets and property. Mary Ann Krzemien, Omaha Lets not be wasteful with water As I drive through my parts of the city, I am saddened and frustrated by the negligence of various businesses and private residences that are wasting a precious resource water. They flood the streets with their lawn sprinkler systems with broken sprinkler heads, lengthy run cycle times, leaking valves and misadjusted spray patterns. I have to avoid massive puddles by driving around them or taking a different route entirely. I used to live in Denver, where water was not taken for granted, even to the point of rationing, for the purpose of lawn care. My goal in writing this letter is to bring attention to this issue. I urge everyone to maintain their irrigation systems. Dave Townley, La Vista Trump excels at selling Trump We know that Donald Trump is a mediocre businessman at best. Wed have a clearer picture of that if he would allow us to see his tax returns. But what is painfully obvious is that he is quite talented at self-promotion and talented at using other peoples money for his self-promotion and enrichment. Welcome, Joe Ricketts, to the United Scams of Trump (Ricketts money now backs Trump, Sept. 21 World-Herald). David Davies, Omaha Congress isnt military Don Bacons military experience has not adequately prepared him to serve in Congress. When serving in the military, one either takes commands or gives commands. Theres no discussion, no compromising, no give and take. In the military, you do what youre told and thats it. Congress doesnt work that way. Im sure that Bacon has had a long and illustrious career in the military, and were he still in the military, he would continue to prosper. But Don has spent his entire career giving orders and receiving orders. That kind of experience is worthless in Congress. We need an effective voice representing Nebraskas 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. We cant afford to wait for Don Bacon to learn how to be a congressman. Renan Rieur, Omaha Looking for authenticity in a candidate During the 1968 Democratic presidential race, Sen. Robert Kennedy was called the last of the great believables. In the 2016 campaign, the two major-party nominees strain believability. Republican candidate Donald Trump is so bombastic that even when he seems sincere you cant believe it because you suspect he is only concerned about self-promotion. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton could be believable, except she wasnt honest about what the FBI director actually said about her private email server. So who do we vote for? I remember hearing people say they voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976 because he had named Sen. Walter Mondale as his running mate. Maybe we should consider voting for Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, because he selected former two-term Massachusetts Gov. William Weld as his running mate. It might be a dramatic step, but it might also enable our public servants to become believable again. Phil OBrien, Omaha Founders intent is clear The U.S. Constitution does not grant basic human rights. It merely acknowledges and affirms the already existing human rights that everyone is endowed with by birth from our creator. Nor is it an international document. Its enumerated civil liberties were never intended to be afforded to non-American illegal immigrants and foreign nationals. The Constitution was designed to act as a bulwark against government tyranny, hamstring government overreach and safeguard freedom. It was the intent of our Founding Fathers for the private citizenry to have access to the very same armaments as the federal government, so as to effectively dissuade tyranny. Any casual reading of the Federalist Papers as it pertains to the Second Amendment should leave a reader no other avenue of conclusion. Jim Shook, Omaha A shocking statement of truth Mona Charens assertion that the differences between men and women are not simply cultural feels revolutionary (Dont get panicked over the M-word, Sept. 19 World-Herald). Is she hinting that perhaps there is something deep in the DNA that is unique to each biological sex? Maybe even something immutable, impervious to changes in culture or external anatomy? George Orwell is sometimes credited with writing, In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. Its sad when the obvious needs to be stated: Men and women are not fully interchangeable. Thank you, Mona Charen. Alice Wood, Bellwood, Neb. Buffett must act Is business ethics an oxymoron? The newly exposed, shameful, predatory behavior of Wells Fargo is, alas, no surprise. The surprise is that Berkshire Hathaway, which owns around 10 percent of the bank, did not intercede. Berkshire Hathaway has stood above the tumult of Wall Street due not only to its acumen is finding honorably managed businesses at true value, but to Warren Buffetts stellar stature as a paragon of probity. He has said that he wont comment on much until after the election, but if Berkshire can retain its squeaky noble status, he should come down hard on Wells Fargo, whether its divestiture or an executive bloodbath or both. And it should happen now. Berkshire is one of our few remaining rocks of rectitude. Roger duRand, Omaha Sharp eye stops an email scam I received an email from Netflix advising me that I needed to give additional information on my credit card ending in **** because there was a problem with the billing. I called the number listed on the email. A cheerful voice answered Netflix. I told her about receiving the email and then told her I have my Netflix monthly dues taken out of my bank account not via credit card. Nice try, scammers. Louise Douglas, Omaha In India terror down by 34%, civilian deaths by 90% since Art 370 scrapped: Shah Lack of development in J&K for decades was one of the reasons behind rise of terrorism: Rajnath Singh 25K aspirants turn up to serve as SPOs in Kashmir India oi-PTI Srinagar, Sept 25: Defying militant threat and the separatists' call, thousands of youth across Kashmir have turned up to fill 10,000 posts of Special Police Officers (SPOs) despite the ongoing unrest which has claimed 82 lives. "We have received over 25,000 applications from the aspiring candidates willing to serve as SPOs from across the 10 districts of the Valley," a senior official supervising the recruitment process said. On September 22, the Centre had approved the recruitment of an additional 10,000 SPOs with immediate effect to strengthen the Jammu and Kashmir police particularly in view of the unrest in the Valley. There are already 25,000 SPOs in the state, engaged on a monthly honorarium of Rs 6,000. The official said the highest number of applications at 8,600 were received from north Kashmir's Kupwara district followed by Budgam (4,000), Baramulla (3,853), Anantnag (2,400), Ganderbal (1,600), Kulgam (1,258), and Bandipora and Srinagar (1,000 each). While 800 applications from aspiring candidates were received from Pulwama district, 500 youths applied for the job in Shopian district, he said. The official said the fitness test of the aspiring candidates has already been conducted in various districts which saw encouraging turnout of the youth ignoring the call of separatist leaders and the militant threats. Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, in the last week of August, had issued a threat, warning the youth against joining police as SPOs. "Whosoever gets appointed as SPO should also be ready to face the consequences," Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naik had said in a video circulated through social networking sites on August 30. Terming the recruitment of SPOs as a "ploy" of the government, Naik had said, "India wants to weaken our freedom struggle and wants us to fight with each other." Separatists, on the other hand, had asked the youth to ignore the "enticement aimed at breaking their ranks", alleging that the government by absorbing the youth as SPOs was trying to revive "Ikhwan Militia" of 1990s to crush the "freedom struggle". "The fresh recruitment drive is nothing but to revive the notorious Ikhwan culture in the state which in mid 90s wiped out almost a whole hatchery of freedom loving people throughout the Valley," hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani had said in a statement on August 7. Kashmir Valley is on the boil since July 9 following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces a day earlier. The widespread clashes left 82 people including two cops dead, and thousands injured. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, September 25, 2016, 9:47 [IST] Doctors divided over debate on chikungunya deaths in Delhi India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sep 25: Amid debate over chikungunya deaths in the city, opinion of doctors seem to be divided with some asserting only 0.1 per cent people run the risk of dying due to its complications while other medical professionals attribute the fatalities to the vector-borne disease. "1 out of 1,000 people, i.e., 0.1 per cent run the risk of dying due to chikungunya complications and that too if the patient has co-morbid conditions. Chikungunya is otherwise non-fatal," AIIMS Head of the Department of Medicine Dr S K Sharma said. At least 15 fatalities due to chikungunya complications have been reported at various city hospitals, including one at AIIMS, while over 2,600 people have been affected by the mosquito-borne fever this season. "If one analyses the deaths, attributed to chikungunya, being reported in Delhi, you would realise that most of them had co-morbid conditions, like hypertension or diabetes or kidney or other renal problems. Chikungunya as such cannot cause death," AIIMS Director Dr M C Misra said. But doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH), where nearly half of these deaths have been recorded, say it was chikungunya that precipitated the death. "Yes, most of these patients were old and had co-morbidity, but why are people finding it hard to believe that chikungunya cannot cause death. There are six crore diabetic people in Delhi, nearly 15 lakh suffer from blood pressure problems, they weren't dying earlier. "The seven persons, who died here, were elderly people and suffered complications triggered by chikungunya and succumbed. Why are we so embarrassed to admit that these deaths were due to chikungunya? As per WHO reports, chikungunya outbreak in France and the US and South America have caused deaths," Chairman of Department of Medicine at SGRH, Dr S P Byotra said. Among the remaining fatalities, five of them were reported at Apollo Hospital, one each at AIIMS, Hindu Rao Hospital and Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute. Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant in Department of Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospital, says, while a debate over the fatality issue is fine, "doctors should not get dogmatic that chikungunya cannot lead to death." "Out of the five patients who died at Apollo, while four of them were old and had some kind of co-morbid conditions, a 31-year-old man from Noida, did not have it, and died within a day of admission. His death has puzzled all of us doctors here," he said. Besides, a 22-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest triggered by chikungunya complications at Hindu Rao Hospital. Most of the deceased belong to Uttar Pradesh, including the one at AIIMS, who hailed from Muzaffarnagar, and died of multi-organ failure. PTI Bank holidays in November 2022: Here is the full list of non-working days Happy Chhath Puja 2022: Wishes, quotes, Facebook status, WhatsApp messages to share with your loved ones Caught on camera: 17-year-old teenager stabbed to death for protesting sister's harassment in Delhi Hindu outfits hold protest in Karol Bagh India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sep 25: 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. PTI Indian professors held captive by IS for a year return home India oi-PTI Hyderabad, Sep 25 Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad yesterday. "I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...it was horrible," Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, "The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned." Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, "I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad." Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. "It is God's grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me," Balram told PTI. Balram aid that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balram's wife Sridevi said, "It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...the feelings cannot be expressed in words." Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying "MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident." PTI No talks with those who don't believe in Indian Constitution: Amit Shah India oi-PTI Kozhikode, Sep 25 In a clear message to the Kashmiri separatists, BJP President Amit Shah today said the central government will not have talks with those who do not believe in the Indian Constitution but those who consider themselves Indians. Acknowledging that the situation in the valley has been worrisome for last few months, he said if anybody thinks that Kashmir could be separated from India, then it is nothing but a daydream which will never come true. In his inaugural address at the party's National Council meeting here, he also invoked the partys garib kalyan agenda, saying the central government has been dedicated to the development of the poor since Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister. He said the next one year will be observed as 'garib kalyan year'. With the Prime Minister and other senior leaders listening, Shah devoted most of his speech to the saffron partys ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, whose 100th birth anniversary fell today, and his concepts of 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and integral humanism. Touching upon the Kashmir unrest and Uri terror attack, the BJP chief asserted, "Kashmir is an unbreakable part of India and no force in the world can separate it from us." The BJP-led government "is willing to discuss all paths to peace but the talks will be held with those who consider themselves Indians No talks will be held with anybody who does not believe in the Constitution, he said. This is a clear message to separatists who are insisting that talks cannot be held within the Indian Constitution. Referring to the Uri attack, Shah said BJP will not tolerate terrorism and the party and its government stand for "zero tolerance" to it. Heaping praise on Modi, he compared him with noted freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, saying he had infused hope and aspiration among masses with his Gujarat model during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and later with his work in the same way Tilak gave voice to the nations discontent with the colonial rule with his call for swaraj (self-rule). BJP governments in 13 states besides the Centre are now working to unlift and empower the poor following the Upadhyays concept and that is why its dispensations in many states have been re-elected on the basis of performance, he said. PTI Officers to undergo training on using social media India oi-PTI New Delhi, Sept 25: The Delhi government, known for its social media presence with the most active face being Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself, has decided to provide training to its officers on how to use Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. Information and Technology Department of the Delhi government has been directed to design the training course on social media which the officers will soon undertake. A senior government official said the move is intended to provide platform to officers so that they get in touch with ministers on social media frequently. Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues - Manish Sisodia, PWD, Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Water Minister Kapil Mishra, Labour Minister Gopal Rai and Environment Minister Imran Hussain are most active on social media and they also often express their views through Twitter and Facebook. The official said earlier this month when a CD surfaced purportedly showing former Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar in a compromising position with a woman, Kejriwal had announced his sacking on Twitter. The issue came to the fore when Deputy CM Manish Sisodia recently held a meeting with the Information Technology Department where he was informed by the officers that the department at present provides basic computer training - MS Power Point, MS Excel and Microsoft Word. "At the meeting, the Deputy CM had observed that the department should also give training on use of social media to officers working with the Delhi government as part of the existing computer course," an official told PTI. The official said that most of government employees do not know how to use WhatsApp. The official also cited an instance when the Deputy CM was recently scheduled to go to an event and asked an officer to send him location of the event on his WhatsApp, he was not able to send the same. In the past too, Kejriwal had directed his ministers on Twitter on several occasions whenever people complained to him through micro-blogging site. PTI What does the US actually want in Syria? Attacks on civilians in Aleppo 'breach' humanitarian law: EU International oi-PTI Brussels, Sep 25: The attacks on civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo amount to a "breach of international humanitarian law," top EU officials have said, 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 yesterday. 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." 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." A truce deal negotiated between Moscow and Washington brought a few days of respite in Aleppo earlier this month, but no humanitarian aid before its total collapse this week. PTI The Illinois Corn Growers Association is funded through membership dues and the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. The ICMB collects the checkoff dollars for education purposes from corn sales in the state. My group is charged with lobbying. I have been asked to discuss some of the main issues ICGA is working this year. One of our biggest concerns is the topic of water quality. ICGA worked with over 30 partners in putting together a program called Precision Conservation Management. We were able to convince the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release over $5 million to fire up this project. Precision Conservation Management is designed to prove voluntary conservation measures used on farms keeps nutrients out of rivers and lakes while making sound financial business sense. Government overreach is also a concern. We have a couple of issues which concern the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We have been focusing on its attempt to take away the licensing of the herbicide Atrazine. The product has been proved in over 7,000 tests to be safe for the environment, including tests conducted by the EPAs own scientists. Atrazine is used in many tank mixes to combat difficult weed species. Atrazine in our toolbox helps keep costs lower for the farmer as well as the consumer. Our second issue with the U.S. EPA is its use of outdated data concerning the carbon footprint of corn ethanol. Contrary to what the American Petroleum Institute has been saying in its huge advertising campaign, ethanol is actually quite friendly to the environment. We have provided studies showing corn ethanols tremendously improved sustainability score with the efficiency of new ethanol plants and improved sustainability of corn production. While on the topic of ethanol, ICGA has tried to convince Springfield to change the tax incentive from E10 to E15. If gasoline hits $3.50 a gallon, this move would provide $110 million extra dollars to the state government annually. Guess they dont need the money? One perpetual project we push is the updating of the Upper Mississippi Locks and Dams. The locks along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers were built in the 1930s and '40s during the Works Progress Administration. The importance of this river system is generally under-estimated. Yes, grain transportation does account for a large percentage of the products moved by the Upper Miss (approximately 50 percent), but coal, aviation fuel, and concrete materials are also part of the mix. We finally have the bill passed in Washington, D.C., but engineering funding is now a problem. ICGA will continue to push this issue. One interesting fact: 50 percent of the money collected for these lock improvements will be used for ecological projects ensuring environmentally friendly construction. These ecological pieces to the project would include some extra wetlands for aquatic life, since the river projects would take away some shelter for the fish. The current 2014 Farm Bill ends in 2018. We are beginning to talk with legislators on the ag committees about subject matter in the new 2018 farm bill. Budgets will be tight, so we discuss ways to use funding to get the best bang for the buck from federal dollars. We in agriculture need to do our part, but want to make certain that a proper safety net is in place in the event of natural or world events that threaten producer existence. Farming is a wonderful way of life, but there are many hurdles to profitability. The ICGA is here to help Illinois corn farmers continue to produce a safe and sustainable product for now and for future generations. Pan-Aadhaar linking deadline: Why you must do it before March 31 PAN-Aadhaar linking last date today: What happens if you miss the deadline? Hospitals in India to collaborate for pan-India services International oi-PTI Singapore, Sep 25: Small specialised hospitals in India are planning to collaborate among themselves to expand services across the country by pooling medical expertise for maximum efficiency, Indian doctors said here at a conference. "Collaboration is a very good way of working across the country with medical professionals offering top range services in southern and northern India coming together," said Dr Chandandeep Singh Sandhu, who runs Chandan Hospital in Mohali. Investors have also seen the potential of this small segment of the medical sector, according to doctors who met in Singapore at 'Icons of Healthcare, Celebrating Innovation in Patient Care' conference held over the weekend. A number of private equities have studied the potential of these small hospitals offering specialised treatments in a market of 1.3 billion people, the doctors said, adding that financing expansion was not an issue but pooling expertise was a challenge. "The Indian healthcare is in the transformation phase, which is happening at every level," said Dr P R Ashwin Vijay, a Consultant Orthopaedician and Arthroscopic surgeon who is also a director of 'Strength India Movement' in Chennai. "We have strong investment backing as investors have seen us working and recognised our performances with patients. We have planned expansion to increase to 1,000-bed facilities, from the current 108-bed hospital in Bangalore," said Dr Anil S Mehta, MD of Bangalore-based Nandana Healthcare. "An average of Rs one crore per bed investment is required to set up a good-grade hospital. Such high cost investment is essential to set up an international standard hospital and be part of the global medical tourism sector," he said. Mehta has started one-stop-hospital concept by pooling medical expertise, saying there was a need to maximise efficiencies for the "high demand genuine services and counselling" for patients before their illness worsen. "Cardiology has become very commercialised in the recent years, (but) there are non-invasive methods of treatments. We need to make people more aware of these low-cost early treatments," said Dr Sandhu. "There is a demand for quality practice but there is no sustainable orthopedic plan," said Dr Vijay, a Key Hotel Specialists, who has started collaboration talks with medical centres in Karnataka as part of the pan-India expansion. Vijay has set a target to reach 50 per cent of the population by setting up 100 centres in Tier-I, II, and III cities. The summit ended with recognition awards for healthcare sector by Singapore-based Business Excellence and Research Group. PTI Swaraj arrives in New York for UNGA address tomorrow on Indo-Pak International oi-PTI New York, Sep 25: External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj arrived here to address the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, with all eyes and ears set on her speech tomorrow which is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived yesterday afternoon and will address the UN General Debate tomorrow morning. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UNGA speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, New Delhi's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here on September 23 that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however did not elaborate on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the external affairs minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security". Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambler had said, "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan as "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbors. PTI Fact Check: Did Trump thank Musk for welcoming him back to Twitter Warren says Trump, GOP 'making hate OK' International oi-PTI Nashua, Sep 25: Massachusetts Sen Elizabeth Warren accused Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans of "making hate Ok" as she campaigned for Hillary Clinton today. "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. "Is that really what your word is worth, Ted Cruz?" she asked. PTI Sky News 30 Oct 2022 South Korea's president has declared a national period of mourning over a stampede during Halloween festivities - as the number of.. ASSUMPTION Caleb Corzine has been around farming as long as he can remember, so it's something he's been interested in doing for a living. Yet, while starting a family of their own with his wife, Tarcie, Corzine knows farming needs to make sense economically for him to continue as a fourth generation farmer or he would need to work in the types of off-the-farm jobs like he has in the past. With volatile commodity prices, Corzine, like other farmers, is looking to diversify their operation near Assumption as traditional corn and soybean growing might not be enough. In order to do that, the Corzines are turning to a new approach for raising hogs. This will help us stay on the farm, Corzine said. I grew up around it. I was with my dad every day since I could walk. I always looked up to him. Tarcie is supportive of the plan, as it will allow her to be a stay at home mom. She grew up showing pigs but this will still be a new experience for her. Starting with their first set expected to be delivered last week, 2,400 hogs will be rotated through a newly built barn about every 6 months. I've never been around anything this big, Tarcie said. Caleb Corzine said constructing the barn on 2.5 acres was a better alternative than using more land. This is prime farm ground, he said. This livestock is a new adventure for us. The operation can have a far reaching impact, said Nic Anderson, livestock business developer with the Illinois Livestock Development Group. An operation the size of the Corzines can produce 320,000 pork chops every year and about 5 million slices of bacon annually, Anderson said. They feed not only Illinois, but the world, Anderson said. There are opportunities to participate in the livestock business. The pork industry contributes an impact of over $1 billion to the state's economy, said Jennifer Tirey, executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. We want to provide strong economic development to Illinois, Tirey said. Being able to remain economically viable is a concern for young farmers, said Troy Uphoff, who works with the Shelby County Farm Bureau. It's always a plus to bring a young farmer back to the farm, Uphoff said. More farmers need to diversify to improve their economic bottom line. The Corzines are contracting with The Maschhoffs Inc. hog producer network to market the animals that will be raised. The pigs will enter the building weighing about 12 pounds and be kept there until they reach market weight of approximately 280 pounds. The family-owned company, which is based in Carlyle, has 550 independent farm partners with hog production sites in nine states. Farmers become dedicated to what they're doing despite the challenges of raising animals, said Bradley Wolter, president of the Maschhoffs hog production business. It's a way of life, Wolter said. They find meaning in raising the animals. There are new challenges with every set of pigs. As the company expands its operations, Wolter said it wants community members to understand where their food might be coming from. As our operations do have an impact on the communities in which we operate, we aim to have that be positive, Wolter said. Science and technology continues to advance in order to allow farmers to do their jobs, Wolter said. Much of the equipment for the Corzine barn was produced at Grain Systems Inc. facility in Taylorville where products for its Automated Production Systems, or AP, line are made. The automatic feeding system ensures the feeders are full at all times and the pigs never go hungry, said Alan Hays, who works in technical support for AP. The heating and cooling system regulates the temperature inside no matter what the weather conditions are outside, Hays said. It allows the pigs to be in a good environment, Hays said. They grow at the best rate they can. The Corzine facility was built near what is becoming a cluster of similar operations in the area. R.D. and Jill Waddington, who live nearby, jumped back into the pork production business in 2013 after not having pigs on their family farm for 15 years. They became interested in adding to that part of the operation as a way to save on input costs, such as for fertilizer. DECATUR The murder of Decatur mother of three Kimberly Starr Reed is now 20 years in the past. But her brutal strangulation feels like as if it happened yesterday for those who are left to mourn Reed's loss every day, moment to moment. This is the toughest time of year, said Reed's oldest daughter, Fallon Reed, who is 29 now but was just 9 when the killer entered the family's apartment and strangled her mother with the electrical cord from a fan in the early hours of Sept. 14, 1996. And you realize it again, the pain, when your mother is not there to see you accomplish things or meet certain milestones in life like graduations or having kids, stuff you want your mom to be present in. She is no longer there for us, and that is what makes it so hard. Fallon Reed and her younger sisters O'Neka, 27, and Felicia, 26, were all in the apartment during the apparently motiveless killing of their mother at the hands of, the family suspects, by someone she knew. The three orphaned children were raised by Starr Reed's devoted sister, Tonya Reed, and have gone on to rebuild their lives and have children of their own. Their mother would now be a grandmother 12 times over, had she lived. While the family has moved on, it can never forgive or forget the crime that robbed their mother of her life. The Reeds want justice and a resolution. So does the Decatur detective who has never stopped working the case and says he won't give up. Joe Patton had made detective just a year earlier when he was assigned to the murder in 1996. There was a lot of activity, a lot of leads, as police processed the crime scene in the 600 block of East Decatur Street and gave the murder probe every effort. But those leads didn't pan out, suspects were eliminated, and time went by. The police had good DNA evidence and had it punched into the crucial databases that could cross-link any suspect with the right match. But no name ever came up. Asked if he was surprised the case hadn't been cracked by now, Patton said: Yes, I am a little. I honestly thought we would have gotten some kind of a DNA hit or a tip that would have led us to the offender. I've been here 21 years, and I've resolved every one of my homicide cases except this one. I'm not giving up. He's also got a solid track record of reaching back into the past to pull out some remarkable cold case results. Patton, 48, was part of the detective team working with the Illinois State Police crime lab that used enhanced DNA techniques to resolve another heinous Decatur homicide: the killing of Sherry Gordon, 12, and her 9-year-old cousin Theresa Hall. They were sexually assaulted and strangled in an empty apartment while trick or treating on Halloween night in 1984. Twenty-five years later, in September 2009, Decatur police had announced a DNA match that meant they could finally name the murderer as Melvin Johnson, 45, a sexual thrill and serial killer who had died of cancer accelerated by AIDS in 2003 in Texas after a lifetime spent in and out of prison. He was also linked by DNA to two other Decatur murders in 1985 and 1988. So we've solved some cold ones, and we're hoping to get this one, too, said Patton, referring to the Starr Reed case. Patton remains convinced somebody out there somewhere knows something that could help, even if it's only to give the name of a suspect who is now dead. We can exhume the body, get a tissue sample, and get the DNA to compare with and confirm it, and then we'd know, he said. But what worries him is the idea the killer is still alive, still at liberty, and still capable of killing again. It's one of my concerns, he added. And a concern, too, for Starr Reed's family. Tonya Reed, 49, who raised her sister's three girls as well as three children of her own, says that prospect still sends shivers down her spine. You look up at some male's face in the store or something, and you think 'Could it be him?' she said. You don't know, and it's something we've all lived with since that night. But she also has faith in the police and the detective she talks to regularly and who refuses to concede defeat. It's my hope we will find out who murdered my sister, and not just because my family deserves to know, but also because it will be peace of mind for the community, Reed added. A lot of people knew and loved my sister. DECATUR The Decatur school board met with staff, community and the FACES committee last week for an update on the proposed plan for utilization of district buildings. The Facility Advisory Committee for Exceptional Schools last met with the board several months ago, when scenarios for more efficient building use were created. No decisions have been made nor are any imminent, said Sam Johnson of BLDD Architects, and the gap between the last meeting and this one on Sept. 22 was because of the change of leadership in the district when former Superintendent Lisa Taylor left. Though some scenarios for reconfiguring building use were developed in April, the committee did not offer any recommendation at that meeting or this one. It was instead a review of the various methods architects and school personnel use to determine a building's viability and the economic factors used to determine whether renovation or replacement is indicated. I'm feeling some frustration with this process, board member Fred Spannaus said. I don't recall the board telling you to hold up because of a change in leadership. When are we going to move forward? If the change in leadership is the reason, there'll be another one after the election in the spring. We need to bring this to some conclusion. Johnson asked for the board to provide a timeline and a goal for when the process should be complete and a recommendation ready. Before making a recommendation, he added, the committee would want to get input from the community, particularly families whose children are enrolled in Decatur schools. Changing building configuration is challenging, he said. We need enough time for the conversation to be thorough. The data provided at the meeting were from the last time an extensive study was done, 10 years ago, and Johnson said several of the buildings have had upgrades since then, most notably the two high schools, Dennis School, French Academy and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. What hasn't changed are that Johns Hill Magnet School is one of the oldest buildings with the most need for an upgrade or replacement; Stephen Decatur Middle School, originally built for a high school and adequate to hold 1,000 students, is underutilized with only about 300 students; programs at Johns Hill and Garfield Montessori School have long waiting lists but no space in the respective buildings to admit those students. About half the district buildings have air conditioning and the others do not. Additionally, some buildings are full while others are not, when there is adequate capacity to even out class sizes districtwide. One major consideration, said interim co-Superintendent Michael Dugan, is that transportation was once adequately reimbursed by the state and isn't any longer, making busing kids a more expensive proposition. Long bus rides are not ideal, either, making boundary changes a challenge. The waiting lists and the desirability of some programs over others is a concern for board members as well. Johnson and committee Chairman Bruce Jeffery both spoke of planning for the future needs of the district as far out as 2025. We have students who have needs now, said board member B.A. Buttz, who added that he would prefer that every school in the district was desirable and provide equal opportunities to all students, as well as equal facilities. What is it in those buildings that we can make available for all students and all teachers? 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Listen to this 2015 concert from the dearly departed Stanley Dural, Jr., recorded just a year before his death. NPR 22 Jul 2021 In a statement emailed to the Skagit Valley Herald, the mall pinned its demise on "the closure of anchor department stores.. Seattle Times 11 Jun 2020 Rumble 11 Oct 2022 Just outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a football player is making a name for himself, not because of his skills, but because of his.. Rumble 18 Sep 2022 The UN is to be reformed shortly. That is why the war with Ukraine was started and Biden was selected as President for this time... DECATUR When Jett, a 5-year-old, 170-pound black Newfoundland, showed up at Fairview Park, you might have thought he was the reincarnation of Elvis. A small crowd rapidly encircled him, yearning to stroke his soft fur. Jett's best friend, Chloe, a 7-year-old Shih Tzu/cocker spaniel mix, didn't seem to mind the attention that was heaped on her enormous companion. Matt and Marcy York of Decatur, who accompanied their canines to the Fido Scurry event Saturday morning, welcomed the adulation, which comes with the territory of owning a Newfie. He loves children, and children love him, Marcy York said. He feels like a pillow, said one young lady, after running her fingers along Jett's back. The Yorks have owned three Newfoundlands altogether, a breed best known for making remarkable rescues in water. With webbed feet and thick tails they use like oars, Newfies have a reputation for amazing feats of bravery, even jumping out of rescue helicopters to save drowning people. But the thickly furred creatures are challenging pets. They're a lot of work, Marcy York said. They're more prone to hip dysplasia, they shed a lot and slobber a lot. Newfoundlands, originally from the eastern Canadian province from which they derive their name, located roughly as far north as Alaska, are also difficult to keep cool. On a gorgeous morning by human standards, Shirley Stanley, president of the Decatur & Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation, said she believed there were more dogs in attendance Saturday than in any of the previous 15 annual events. It's a giant dog party, Stanley said. It's a celebration of the unique bond between people and animals. People welcome activities they can do with their dogs. The activities at Fido Scurry included walks and runs, with or without dogs, 5K and one mile, a pet parade and costume contest. The theme for the costume contest was My All American Dog. When the Yorks led their charges on the Scurry walk, they had to take a shortcut back to the pavilion when Jett began panting wildly, his normal sign of heat distress. If it was below zero, we could walk the whole park, Marcy York said. At home, he lies in an air-conditioned room with a powerful fan blowing on him. He prefers temperatures in the 60-degree range, but that clashes with the family budget regarding the power bill. His favorite pastime is to lie in the snow until he is forced back indoors. In the winter, he will not stop barking until we let him outdoors, Matt York said. Jett showed that he is not an absolutely perfect peacemaker, when he let loose with a short barking barrage at a nearby dog, which shocked the innocent medium-size pet and the Yorks. Jett was soundly scolded and appeared to be remorseful. Marcy York had said earlier that Newfoundlands are protectors if they thought we were going to be hurt. But the main function of Newfoundland dogs is to rescue people who are in distress in the water. They will even jump into the water to rescue people, especially children, who might be in perfectly good shape, if they incorrectly sense that they are in trouble. They're just obsessed with rescuing, Marcy York said. What's Trending 29 Sep 2022 With the US midterms coming up and the ever crucial vote on same-sex marriage potentially happening after, this years political.. WJZ Baltimore 27 May 2021 Two Baltimore residents were arrested and charged Wednesday with attempted first-degree murder in connection with a shooting May 5,.. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more India is alarmed at the first Pakistan-Russia two-week joint military exercise which began Saturday, September 24. Around 70 Russian soldiers and officers along with some 130 Pakistani counterparts are taking part in the war games called Friendship 2016. The Russian Television (RT) said the name is a symbolical reference to the old Cold War tensions between Moscow and Islamabad, which the two capitals are now trying to overcome. Moscow and Islamabad were on opposite sides during the Cold War. The Friendship 2016 exercise is going ahead despite speculation that they may be canceled, which surfaced after tensions between Pakistan and India escalated in the wake of the September 18 attack on Indian troops stationed in Uri, a town in the disputed province of Kashmir. Eighteen soldiers were killed in last Sunday's attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir, which was the worst of its kind to hit the divided Himalayan region in more than a decade, increasing hostility between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Earlier, CNN-New18 TV had reported on Monday that the joint military exercise was called off by Russia following the Uri attack. The channel had also shared the news on Twitter, saying, "Russia calls off joint military drills with Pakistan." India's Ministry of External Affairs had also reportedly urged Russia to reconsider its decision to hold joint military drills with Pakistan. Following the Uri attack India embarked on a policy to diplomatically isolate Pakistan in the international community for what it called sponsoring terrorism. Moscow informed New Delhi of the scheduled joint exercise with Pakistan and is certain that they should not concern India, considering that they are conducted far from the disputed territories, Zamir Kabulov, the chief or Russian Foreign Ministry's Middle East department told RIA Novosti. The exercise was first announced in January and is a signal that "Moscow and Islamabad are interested in deepening military-to-military relations," Pakistan's ambassador to Moscow Qazi Khalilullah told TASS. "This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation," he said. Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any friction with Washington. Its relations with the US soured recently when the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan was blocked by US lawmakers. Over the last 15 months, Pakistani military chiefs have travelled to Russia. The flurry of high-level exchanges between the two nations resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad. Pakistan is also exploring buying Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. Russian military cooperation with Pakistan has been gaining pace over the past few years, making a turn from the past, when Islamabad was a key supporter of the Taliban insurgency in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. In 2014, Moscow lifted a longstanding ban on sale of arms to Pakistan. Sergey Chemezov, head of Russian state-run technologies corporation Rostec, announced on June 2, 2014 that Russia has lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan. Last year the two countries signed a deal on four Russian Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters, which are meant to replace Pakistan's aging US-made AH-1 Cobras Delhi-based Rajeev Sharma, writing on Russian TV website, argued: "Russia and Pakistan have had a rather cold relationship, despite the latter's sustained attempts over recent years to mend the ties. Reasons for the Russian coldness toward Pakistan are not difficult to see. It is the India factor. India clearly does not favor Russia cozying up to Pakistan and Russia could not have afforded to annoy the Indians. Why, after all, Russia should play a zero-sum game in South Asia when it is having the best of relations with India, a sworn enemy of Pakistan? 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). 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. Industrial Solvents Market : Volume Share by Application, 2014 and 2020 (USD Million) Industrial Solvents Market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/industrial-solvents-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/industrial-solvents-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/industrial-solvents-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Industrial Solvents Market (Hydrocarbons, Acids, Esters, Glycols, Aromatics, Alcohols, Ketones, Ethers and Other Products) for Dissolution Agent, Cleaning and Degreasing, Paints and Coatings, Applications in Printing Products and Cleaning, Cosmetics, Printing Ink, Adhesives and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 2021 According to the report, global demand for industrial solvents market was valued at over USD 26.50 billion in 2015, is expected to reach above USD 31.60 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of slightly above 3.0% between 2016 and 2021.Get sample report click hereSolvents are mainly used to dissolve any solid, liquid or gas. Industrial solvents are the substance that melts another substance in it. They are mostly used in cleaning, formulating and processing. They are majorly utilized in paint industry, pharmaceutical industry, adhesives, and printing industry.Rapid industrialization in emerging economies has led to noteworthy demand for industrial solvents market. Surging demand of industrial solvents in adhesives, paint industries, and printing drives the industrial solvents market. However, rising concern for environmental issues caused due to solvents may hamper the growth of this market. Nevertheless, escalating infrastructure sector in the developing countries couple with ongoing research for untapped uses is likely to open new opportunities for the industrial solvent market in the coming years.The industrial solvents market can be segmented on the basis of products into hydrocarbons, acids, esters, glycols, aromatics, alcohols, ketones, ethers and other products. Hydrocarbon solvent is the leading segment owing to high demand from the end users due to its organic properties. Some of the applications of industrial solvents are dissolution agent, cleaning, and degreasing, paints and coatings, printing products and cleaning and others. Among all, dissolution agents dominated the industrial solvents market with around 48% of the share of the overall market. Paints and coatings segment is likely to experience a high growth in the forecast period owing to rising demand from infrastructure and automobile industry.Inquiry before buying report click hereIn North America and Europe, the industrial solvents market is mature and has reached to its saturation point. Therefore the market in these regions is expected to grow at the steady pace. Yet, Asia Pacific and Latin America is anticipated to show the highest growth of market owing to rapid industrialization. The Middle East and Africa is likely to grow at the decent rate due to increasing development and abundant raw resources.BASF SE, Daicel Chemical Industries, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Lyondell Basell Industries N.V., Eni S.p.A., Arkema S.A., Nippon Refine Co., Ltd., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, The Dow Chemical Company, SK Innovation Co., Ltd., Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., Sinopec Corp., JX Holdings, Inc. and BP PLC among others are some of the key players in the industrial solvents market.This report segments the industrial solvents market as follows:Industrial Solvents Market: Product Segment AnalysisHydrocarbonsAcidsEstersGlycolsAromaticsAlcoholsKetonesEthersOtherBrowse the full report atIndustrial Solvents Market: Applications Segment AnalysisDissolution agentCleaning and degreasingPaints and coatingPrinting products and cleaningOthersIndustrial Solvents Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAbout US:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:4283, 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 Hot Melt Adhesives Market : Volume Share, by Product, 2014 and 2020 (Kilo Tons) (USD Million) Hot Melt Adhesives Market http://bit.ly/23H8nk3 http://bit.ly/2dj8kXI http://bit.ly/2cUCYW7 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/hot-melt-adhesives-market.html http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic adhesive known as hot glue. Hot melt adhesives has the property to get melt and become liquid after heating as well as it also get contract and become solid stable when it is exposed to low temperature. Therefore, it provides the sturdy adhesion to the surface, this reason make hot melt adhesive popular in the market and it is extensively used in the large range of applications. Thus, this factor is expected to drive the market of hot melt adhesive on global level.Request Sample Report:Hot melt adhesives market is primarily driven by increasing demand for polyolefin and polyurethane product segment is also anticipated to further boost the market growth in the year to come. Increasing industrial activities in fields of electronics, energy, transportation, building & construction and industrial in China and India are expected to boost hot melt adhesives market in the region. However, volatility in raw material price and fluctuating economies trends are the major restraints of the global hot melt adhesives market.On the basis of product the hot melt adhesive market has been segmented as EVA, styrenics block copolymers, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyamide and others. EVA was the largest product segment in terms of volume. The global hot melt adhesives market has been segmented based on application that includes packaging, non-woven, pressure sensitive, construction, bookbinding and other applications. The packaging industry was the largest application segment globally and is expected to dominate the demand for hot melt adhesives during forecasted period.Do Inquiry before buying:The report covers forecast and analysis for the hot melt adhesives market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on volume (Kilo Tons) and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the hot melt adhesives market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the hot melt adhesives market on a global level.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the hot melt adhesives market, we have included a detailed value chain analysis. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the hot melt adhesives market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments and application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Request TOC (Table of Contents) of this report:The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for hot melt adhesives based on individual applications in all the regions and countries.Browse report at:Some of the leading industry participants in the global hot melt adhesives market includes, Henkel AG, The 3M Company, H.B. Fuller, Sika AG, Dow Corning Company, American Chemical Inc., Ashland Inc., Avery Dennison Corporation, Beardow Adams Ltd., Bostik smart adhesives, Nordson Corporation, Evans Adhesive Corporation Ltd, Hexcel Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, Jowat AG, Toyobo Co. Ltd, H E Wisdom & Sons Inc. and Worthen Industries, NH.The global hot melt adhesives market has been segmented as follows:Hot Melt Adhesives Market: Product Segment AnalysisEVAStyrenics Block CopolymersPolyolefinPolyurethanePolyamideOthersHot Melt Adhesives Market: Application Segment AnalysisPackagingNon-WovenPressure SensitiveConstructionBookbindingOthersHot Melt Adhesives Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Global Environmental Catalyst Market : Volume Share by Product & Region 2014 and 2020 Environmental Catalyst Market http://bit.ly/2dt50fZ http://bit.ly/2dqE39T http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/environmental-catalyst-market-for-light-duty-z37349 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Environmental Catalyst (Mobile Emission) Market for Light Duty Vehicles, Heavy Duty Vehicles, Motorcycles and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast 2014 2020. According to the report, the global environmental catalysts market was valued at approximately USD 6.5 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach around USD 9.0 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 5% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global refinery catalysts market stood at approximately 1.90 million tons in 2014.Request Sample Report atEnvironmental concerns about industrial emissions to air and water have been continually growing. Environmental catalysts and technologies help reducing emissions from stationary sources and industrial processes. Catalyst can be divided into two types such as homogeneous and heterogeneous substances. Heterogeneous catalyst mainly used to eliminate environmental pollutants includes carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and other organic compound as its applied to industrial process. Furthermore, catalyst significantly contributed to prevent the air pollution generated by vehicles and emission from power plants & boiler.The demand is of environmental catalyst increasing with increasing awareness among the end users regarding global warming and its adverse effects on the environments. Emissions from vehicles are the major source of air pollution. Automotive sector is rapidly growing across the world. This is expected to increase air pollution in the years to come. Various environmental regulations are being introduced by different countries and their regulatory institutes for effective emission control to safeguard the eco system. This is expected to propel the growth of environmental catalysts market. Catalysts are highly consumed in environmental remediation and to prevent pollution.Do Inquiry before buying atOn the basis of application environmental catalysts market can be segmented as light duty vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, motorcycles, others (industrial emission reduction catalysts). Light duty vehicles accounted for the largest share of the global environmental catalysts. In 2014, light duty vehicles accounted for over 60% share of the total volume consumed in 2014. Others segment is expected to post fastest growth rate during the forecast period. Environmental catalysts are mainly added to fuels such as diesel, petrol, gasoline, etc. Emission control catalysts are mainly applied in the three-way catalytic converters (TWC), diesel particulate filters (DPF) & diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), stationary & mobile NOx removal by means of SCR (selective catalytic reduction) and oxidation catalysts for volatile organic compounds (VOC).Browse the full report atAsia Pacific accounted for largest market share of the global environmental catalysts market in 2014. It accounted for around 30% share of the total volume consumed in 2014. Asia Pacific was closely followed by North America and Europe respectively. Asia Pacific is also expected to be the fastest growing market for environmental catalysts owing to rapidly growing automotive market. North America and Europe accounted for significantly large share of the global environmental catalysts in terms of volume consumption. Stringent environmental regulations in the regions have been remained major market driving force for the environmental catalysts market.Some of the key industry participants in global environmental catalysts market include CRI, Axens, BASF SE, ECT, Applied Catalyst, EmeraChem, Treibacher Industrie AG, Johnson Matthey, etc.This report segments the global market as follows:Environmental Catalyst Market Application Segment AnalysisLight Duty VehiclesHeavy duty VehiclesMotorcyclesOthers (Industrial emission reduction catalysts)Environmental Catalyst Market Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: LOS ANGELES Researchers have undertaken a three-year experiment to learn whether police prevent hate crimes by monitoring racist banter on social media. British researchers working with the Rand Corp. will monitor millions of tweets related to the Los Angeles area to identify patterns and markers that prejudice-motivated violence is about to occur. The researchers then will compare the data against records of reported violent acts. The U.S. Department of Justice is investing $600,000 in research by Cardiff University Social Data Science Lab, which has been at the forefront of predictive social media models. Cardiff University professor Matthew Williams said the research is designed to enable authorities to predict when and where hate crime is likely to occur and deploy law enforcement resources to prevent it. The insights provided by our work will help U.S. localities to design policies to address specific hate-crime issues unique to their jurisdiction and allow service providers to tailor their services to the needs of victims, especially if those victims are members of an emerging category of hate-crime targets. His labs previous research in the United Kingdom found that Twitter data can be used to identify areas where hate speech is occurring but where no hate crimes have been committed. This can be useful, researchers said, in neighborhoods with many new immigrants, who are unlikely to report such crimes because of fear of deportation. In 2012, an estimated 293,800 nonfatal violent and property hate crimes occurred in the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. About 60 percent of those were not reported, the Justice Department found. Predictive policing already is in use at the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies. The LAPD uses a predictive policing algorithm to deploy officers to locations where prior crime patterns strongly suggest that similar crimes may occur. As crime during the past two decades has dropped significantly across the nation and in Los Angeles, police commanders are increasingly looking for any edge they can get in cutting crime. L.A. County is particularly useful because a huge volume of social media produces huge data sets that increase the accuracy of predictive models over traditional crime analysis and trend-chasing, said Pete Burnap of Cardiff Universitys School of Computer Science and Informatics. Predictive policing is a proactive law enforcement model that has become more common partially due to the advent of advanced analytics such as data mining and machine-learning methods, he said. Traditional predictive police modeling has paired historical crime records with geographical locations, and then made a probable calculation to predict future crimes. But Twitter and social media-based models work in real time. The algorithms look for particular language that is likely to indicate the imminent occurrence of a crime. British researchers began looking at online hate after the killing of British Army soldier Lee Rigby by Islamic extremists on a London street in 2013. Analysts collected Twitter data and tested a text classifier that distinguished between hateful and antagonistic responses focusing on race, ethnicity and religion. The British researchers are building a new hate-speech algorithm designed specifically for Los Angeles. They said thats necessary because of the linguistic and cultural difference L.A. and London. As part of the effort, they will feed 12 months of Los Angeles Police Department hate-crime data, Williams said. Global Ceiling Tiles Market Volume Share by Product & Application 2014 and 2020 Ceiling Tiles Market http://bit.ly/2cQbBSL http://bit.ly/2d5853o http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/ceiling-tiles-market-z37351 http://bit.ly/2cVwnhA http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Ceiling Tiles (Mineral Wool, Metal, Gypsum and Others) Market for Commercial, Healthcare, Educational, Industrial and Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast 2014 2020. According to the report, the global ceiling tiles market was valued at USD 14.8 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 30.0 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 9% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global ceiling tiles market stood at 990 million tons in 2014.Request Sample Report atCeiling tiles, also known as ceiling panels are lightweight construction materials which are used to cover a ceiling area. These lightweight tiles are used in the interior of buildings, placed in an aluminum grid. Ceiling tiles provide tiny thermal insulation but are usually designed to improve the acoustics of a room. Ceiling tiles made up of mineral fiber are prevalent in the market. However, some other materials are also used in production of ceiling tiles include fiberglass. Gypsum and mineral wool are the key raw materials used in the manufacture of ceiling tiles. Ceiling tiles are generally useful in retail store, offices, hospitals, building perimeter, drywall grid systems, hotels and transportation terminals.Strong growth of building & construction industry across the world has been remained major driving force for the ceiling tiles market. Construction is major application market for the ceiling tiles. The demand for construction in housing as well as commercial sector is growing due to several factors which include urbanization, rising per-capita income and spending and GDP growth among others. Revival in global economy coupled with increased construction activity in Asia Pacific region is expected to propel demand for the ceiling tiles during the forecast period. Another significant demand driver is associated with the logistics of waste management such as the reduced carbon impacts regarding waste material transports and extraction/processing of raw materials to manufacture new ceiling tiles. Ceiling tiles manufacturing process consumes vast amount of energy. Energy requirement for the manufacturing of ceiling tiles is mainly generated using crude oil. Continuously fluctuating crude oil prices is expected to present major challenge for the manufacturers of the ceiling tiles.Do Inquiry before buying atMineral wool, metals, gypsum and others are the key product segments of the ceiling tiles market. The global ceiling tiles market was dominated by the mineral wool product segment with around 40% share of the total market in 2014. Mineral wool ceiling tiles are most widely used across different end application markets such as retail stores, hospitals, schools and offices. Gypsum is the second largest product segment of the ceiling tiles market and is expected to exhibit fastest growth rate during the forecast period.Ceiling tile market is segmented based on its applications such as commercial, healthcare, educational, industrial and others. With around one third shares, commercial segment accounted for the largest share of the global ceiling tiles market in 2014. It is also expected to be one of the fastest growing end application market ceiling tiles. Ceiling tiles market was led by North America with large share in volume consumption. Asia Pacific is expected to post rapid CAGR owing rising construction activity in the region.Browse the full report atSome of the key industry participants in Ceiling tiles market include Knauf, Armstrong Worldwide Industries Inc., OdenwaldFaserplattenwerk GmbH (OWA), LLC, Saint Gobain SA, ROCKFON , Chicago Metallic Corporation, Shandong Huamei Building Materials Co., Ltd., Foshan Ron Building Material Trading Co., Ltd., Haining Shamrock Import & Export Co., Ltd., HainingChaodi Plastic Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Tital Commerce Co. Ltd. and SAS International.Ceiling Tiles market: Product Segment AnalysisMineral woolMetalGypsumOthers (Wood, plastics, etc.)Read full Table of Content atCeiling Tiles market: Application Segment AnalysisCommercialHealthcareEducationalIndustrialOthersCeiling Tiles market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: "Global Water Soluble Fertilizer Market Volume Share by Application, 2014 and 2020 (USD Million) " Water Soluble Fertilizers Market http://bit.ly/2dg8h2A http://bit.ly/2d0sXdf http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-water-soluble-fertilizers-market-z37352 http://bit.ly/2dt5hiO http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Water Soluble Fertilizers (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphate and Others) Market for Fertigation and Foliar Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 2020. According to the report, the global water soluble fertilizers market was valued at USD approximately USD 2.60 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 3.80 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over 5% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global water soluble fertilizers market stood at approximately 10.0 million tons in 2014.Request Sample Report atWater soluble fertilizers release essential plant nutrients at the root which can be easily absorbed by crop and used elsewhere in the plant system. Water soluble fertilizers can be delivered within the irrigation water through fertigation method by the drip system. Liquid and water soluble fertilizers are delivered using this method. Water soluble fertilizers can be effectively delivered at root zone of crops and from there it can be absorbed and evenly distributed to all the parts of crop. Thus use of water soluble fertilizers can achieve 80 to 90 percent efficiency. Water soluble fertilizer contains various nutrients with different properties including Nitrogen, potassium, phosphate and others. Nitrogen, potash and urea are the major water soluble fertilizers. Water soluble fertilizers can be applied by using both methods fertigation as well as foliar.One of the major driving forces behind growth of water soluble fertilizers is increased crop yield. Use of water soluble fertilizers helps achieve efficient uptake of nutrients from soil and as result higher nutrient use efficiency being one of the most important among them. Owing their higher solubility in water, water soluble fertilizers achieve this by releasing essential plant nutrients at the root zone from where they are readily absorbed and used elsewhere in the plant system. Secondly, shrinking arable land and rapidly growing population of the world is forcing countries to increase their farm yield. Increasing use of drip and sprinkler also expected to drive demand for water soluble fertilizers. Moreover, applying water soluble fertilizers through drip or sprinkler help farmers avoid over fertilization and subsequent adverse effects of it.Do Inquiry before buying atNitrogen, phosphate, potassium and others (secondary+micro) are the major product segments of water soluble fertilizers market. Nitrogen is the largest product segment of global water soluble fertilizers market. It accounted for over two third shares of the total volume consumed globally in year 2014. Potassium and phosphate are another important product segment of the water soluble fertilizers. However, potassium is expected to exhibit fastest growth CAGR during the forecast period. Fertigation and foliar are the two important methods used to deliver water soluble fertilizers. Fertigation method dominated the global water soluble fertilizers method with around 70% share of the total market in 2014. It is also expected to be the fastest growing segment for the water soluble fertilizers during the forecast period.Asia Pacific dominated the global water soluble fertilizers market with over 55% share in total volume consumption in 2014. Asia Pacific is home for over two third population of the world. Rapid growth in the population has been resulted into growing demand for food. Thus increase in crop yield is a need of the day. Moreover, use of different irrigation method such as drip and sprinkler is growing in the region owing to scarcity of water available for farming. Growth of the water soluble fertilizers can be attributed to above factors. It is further expected to keep driving demand for water soluble fertilizers at moderate pace during the forecast period. Latin America, North America and Europe are other significant regional markets for the water soluble fertilizers.Browse the full report atSome of the major participants in the Water Soluble Fertilizers market include Yara International ASA, Israel Chemical Limited, Agrium Inc., The Mosaic Company, Haifa Chemicals Limited, Compo GmbH & Co. KG, Coromandel International Ltd., Hebei Monband Water Soluble Fertilizer Co., Ltd., K+S AG and Sociedad Quimica Y Minera SA (SQM).This report segments the global market as follows:Water Soluble Fertilizers Market: Nutrient Segment AnalysisNitrogenPotassiumPhosphateOthersRead full Table of Content atWater Soluble Fertilizers Market Application Segment AnalysisFertigationfoliarWater Soluble Fertilizers Market Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Global Paints and Coating Market Volume Share, by End-User, 2014 and 2020 Paints and Coatings Market http://bit.ly/2dec1xs http://bit.ly/2cheif5 http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/paints-and-coatings-market-by-product-segment-z37356#ReportDetails http://bit.ly/2d4DNQ1 http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Paints and coating are mainly used for protection and decoration of a surface. Paints and coatings are used to enhance appearance of a surface in architectural sector. Paints and coatings provide better surface resistance from rust and weathering and strengthen the structures.The global paints and coating market was valued at approximately USD 110 billion in 2014 and expected to reach approximately USD 145 Billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 5.0% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global paints and coating market stood at approximately 35.5 million tons in 2014.Paints and coatings are widely applied in building & construction as well as automotive industry. Paints and coatings helps to increase durability of the surface on which it is applied. Paints and coatings are mainly classified as solvent-borne, waterborne, radiation cured and powder coatings.Request Sample Report:Paints and Coatings Market by Product Segment (High Solids/Radiation Cure, Powder Coatings, Waterborne Coatings, Solvent Borne Technologies and Others) For Automotives & Aviation, Medical & Healthcare, Residential, Commercial and Other End-users: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast 2014 2020Paints and coatings are mainly used for decoration and protection of buildings, automotives, etc. The decorative paints and coatings subsector depends heavily on the performance of the building & construction sector, whereas protective paints and coatings are linked closely to the automotive, major appliance and industrial equipment sectors. Architectural coatings include interior and exterior house paints, primers, sealers, varnishes and stains. They are sold to contractors and the general public through retail and wholesale outlets as well as direct to large commercial accounts. Industrial coatings include automotive paints, can coatings, coil coatings, furniture finishing and road-marking paints. Most of these products are sold direct to the end user.Do Inquiry before buying:The paints and coatings market in mainly driven by strong demand from building and construction and automotive industry. Strong building & construction activities especially in Asia Pacific has contributed to the growth of this industry. With revival in economy, automotive industry in Asia Pacific is also expected to witness rapid growth in the years to come. This also expected to boost the demand for paints and coatings. Paints and coatings manufacturers are expected to face major challenges such as raw materials price volatility and environmental regulation. Large volume of paints and coatings are manufacturers using crude oil as a feedstock. Consistent ups and down in prices of crude oil has been remained major concern for the manufacturers. Additionally, environmental concerns associated with the use of solvent-borne paints and coating is likely to hold the growth of this market.Solvent-borne, waterborne, radiation cured and powder coatings are the major product segments of paints and coatings industry. Waterborne paints and adhesives is one of the leading product segments of paints and coatings market. It accounted for around 40% share of the total volume consumed in 2014. Waterborne paints and coatings are in great demand owing their low VOC emission potential. With increasing awareness among the end-users regarding environmental concerns, demand for waterborne paints and coatings is expected to go up. Further, it is expected to exhibit moderate growth rate during the forecast period. Solvent-borne is another important segment of the paints and coatings market. However, owing stringent regulations it is expected to witness slight decline in its market share during the forecast period.Browse detail report at:Building & construction (residential and commercial), automotive, medical & healthcare, and others are the key end-user industries for paints and coatings market. Building & construction accounted for large share of the total paints and coatings volume consumed in 2014. Building & construction segment is dominated by residential application. Residential and commercial applications collectively accounted over 55% share of the market in 2014. Strong growth in construction industry across the world is likely to surge demand for paints and coatings. Automotive is another important outlet for paints and coating industry followed by medical & healthcare.Asia Pacific is emerged as a manufacturing hub of the world. With strong growth prospectus of building & construction and automotive industry in the region is expected to boost consumption of paints and coatings. This growth has been contributed by emerging economies such as India and China. Moreover, developed economies such as Japan and South Korea also have significant contribution in growth of the industrial segments in the region. Asia Pacific accounted over 38% share of the total paints and coating volume consumed in 2014. Asia Pacific is followed by Europe and North America respectively.Some of the key players operating in this industry include AkzoNobel N.V., PPG Industries, Sherwin-Williams Company, Diamond Vogel Paints, Berger Paints, Asian Paints, Dow Corning, KCC Corporation, Axalta Coatings System, BASF SE, The Valspar Corporation, RPG International Inc and others.Paints and Coatings Market Product Segment AnalysisRadiation curedPowder coatingWaterborne coatingSolvent-borne technologiesOthers (including specialty coatings, etc.)Read Report TOC:Paints and Coatings Market End-user Segment AnalysisAutomotives & aviationMedical & healthcareResidentialCommercialOthers (including other industries, special purpose, etc.)Paints and Coatings Market Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Global Textile Chemicals Market Volume Share by Region, 2014 and 2020 (USD Million) Textile Chemicals Market http://bit.ly/2d8WnTf http://bit.ly/2ccJRVz http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/textile-chemicals-market-z37357 http://bit.ly/2dt7aMh http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Textile Chemicals (Coating & Sizing Chemicals, Colorants & Auxiliaries, Finishing Agents, Surfactants, Desizing Agents, Bleaching Agents and Yarn Lubricants) Market for Home Furnishing, Apparel and Industrial & Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast 2014 2020. According to the report, global demand for textile chemicals was valued at USD 20.5 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach USD 25.5 billion in 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 4% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, the global textile chemicals market stood at above 9,500 kilo tons in 2014.Request Sample Report:Textile Chemical is an indispensable part of textile industry. Textile industry requires large number of chemicals right from pretreatment to finishing. Textile chemical includes compounds, intermediates and chemicals used in processing and manufacturing of textiles. Textiles industry requires the chemical compounds for handling and reproducing fabric. Textile chemicals are used to assists to reinforce and surge the reproduction, thereby imparting excellent characteristics to the end product. Textile chemical industry is highly fragmented market with different types of chemicals used for different applications. Some of the important types of textile chemicals include dyeing chemical, fabric whitener, bleaching chemical, textile colorants, starching, printing, fabric softener, finishing chemical, textile coating chemical, preparation chemical, textile pigments, and others. Growth of the textile chemicals market is mainly driven by strong growth of apparel market across the world.Different chemicals are used at different levels of textile manufacturing to attain desired appearance and characteristics in the final product. On the basis of product type textile chemicals can be segmented as yam lubricants, surfactants, colorants, auxiliaries, coating and sizing chemicals. Coating and sizing was most dominating product segment of the textile chemicals market that accounts for over 30% share of the total market share in 2014. Auxiliaries is the one of the important chemical used in every single step during the production process of textile. Thus, it is expected to be fastest growing product segment of textile chemicals market during the forecast period. Finishing agents are used to attain soothing & sober effects and outstanding texture to the end-product.Do Inquiry before buying:The textile chemicals market has been segmented based on applications that include home furnishing, apparel and industrial & other applications. Home furnishing is one of the largest applications for textile chemicals. It accounted for over 35% share of the textile chemicals market. However, apparel is expected to be one of the fastest growing end-user industry for textile chemicals during the forecast period.Asia Pacific dominated the global textile chemical market with over 50% share of the total volume consumption in 2014. It is also expected to be one the fastest growing market for textile chemicals. Strong demand for textile in Asia Pacific region owing huge population is the major driving factor for this industry. Strong growth of industrial sectors such as home furnishing and automotive which are leading end markets for textile are growing at a rapid pace in the region. Moreover, increase in disposable income as a result of growing industrial activity and economical activity in the region leading to growth of this industry. Asia Pacific was followed by North America and Europe respectively.Browse the full Textile Chemicals Market for Home Furnishing, Apparel and Industrial & Other Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast 2014 2020 report atThe key players in textile chemical includes Huntsman Corporation (Singapore), BASF SE (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Bayer Material Science AG (Germany), and Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.), Lonsen (China), Archroma (Switzerland).Textile Chemicals Market - Product Segment AnalysisCoating & Sizing ChemicalsColorants & AuxiliariesFinishing AgentsSurfactantsDesizing AgentsBleaching AgentsYarn LubricantsRead Report TOC:Textile Chemicals Market - Application AnalysisHome FurnishingApparelIndustrialOtherTextile Chemicals Market - Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout us:Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@SyndicateMarketResearch.comWebsite: Updated: 10:40 p.m. Authorities say the suspect in the deadly Washington mall shooting had a previous arrest for simple assault and had immigrated from Turkey. At a news conference Saturday night, Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said 20-year-old Arcan Cetin was a "legal, permanent resident of the United States." Cetin was apprehended in Oak Harbor, Washington, about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said at the news conference that Cetin had been arrested for simple assault last year. No other details were provided. Initially the suspect was described as Hispanic, but Hawley said that was based on initial witness statements to the Friday night shooting at a mall in Burlington, Washington. Five people were slain. Cetin is expected to appear in court on Monday. The shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, left four females and a male dead. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect. 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 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. 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 don't 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 identity of the shooter and his motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. 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, 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," Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. 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, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. 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. "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." 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. 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. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's 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. -- Associated Press -- Oregonian staff contributed to this report Shooting at Mall North Of Seattle Leaves 5 Dead Lt. Mike Hawley, the arresting officer from the Island County Sheriff's Office, looks on as Washington state Governor Jay Inslee shakes hands with Steve Sexton, Mayor of Burlington, at a press conference on Saturday in Burlington, Washington. Officials announced the gunman was caught in Oak Harbor, Washington and is in custody. (Karen Ducey, Getty Images) OAK HARBOR, Wash. -- Investigators on Sunday tried to piece together information on the 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shootings who was apprehended after a nearly 24-hour manhunt. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Mark Francis said Sunday morning that authorities were searching an apartment tied to Arcan Cetin and searching his vehicle. Francis said authorities don't yet know who is on the apartment lease or how long Cetin may have lived there. Cetin was arrested Saturday evening in Oak Harbor. He said nothing and appeared "zombie-like" when he was taken into custody, authorities said. As the surrounding community absorbed the news, critical questions remained, including the shooter's motive. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted Cetin from a patrol car 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, authorities said. He had been arrested once before in the county for assault, Hawley said. "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. Arcan Cetin 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 in Burlington, Washington. 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," Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton said Saturday at a news conference. Authorities said it now appears the rifle was brought into the mall from the suspect's 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 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." Attempts to reach suspect's family and friends for comment by phone and social media late Saturday night weren't immediately successful. A man who came to the door Sunday morning at an Oak Harbor address believed to be where Cetin's stepfather and mother live asked an Associated Press reporter to leave the property. Neighbor Jon Johnson, 26, said he believed Arcan still lived at the house. "He lives directly behind us," Johnson said. "We've seen him." Johnson said when the suspect was first arrested "we were all like, 'We're pretty sure that's him,' and ... it ended up being him." Johnson said they have had many disputes with the stepfather. "Two years ago on the Fourth of July we were having a function with our friends and (the stepfather) set tires on fire in the backyard," he said. Oak Harbor is a city of 22,000 on Whidbey Island. Many military families make their home in the city as Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is nearby. Oak Harbor is about 30 miles west of Burlington. Initially the suspect in the mall shooting was described as Hispanic, but Cammock 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. 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 not immediately released. Earlier Saturday as police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city of Burlington, about 60 miles north of Seattle, 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 and other stores and businesses. "It's too scary. It's too close to home," said Maria Elena Vasquez, who attended a gathering in a city park Saturday with her husband and two young children. The Seattle Times reported one of the victims is a 16-year-old girl. Sarai Lara's mother said she had survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Authorities say another victim was a probation officer. The Snohomish County District Court in a statement identified Belinda Galde as an employee with the court since 1989. The statement says the 64-year-old Galde "was an amazingly kind and caring individual" who helped thousands of probationers find a better way to live. -- The Associated Press Oregon-Gubernatorial Debate Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Republican challenger Bud Pierce participate in the first governor debate at the Riverhouse in Bend on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Joe Kline/The Bulletin via AP) BEND -- The Republican candidate, a man with no political experience who says his private sector background can bring new vision to government, squared off in an inaugural debate against his Democratic opponent, a woman deeply steeped in politics. However, this debate Saturday evening wasn't Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton. It was GOP nominee Bud Pierce vs. Gov. Kate Brown. And it was probably a whole lot nicer than Monday's debate between the presidential candidates will be. The encounter here highlighted stark differences in how the two candidates want to solve Oregon's problems. Brown, for example, supports ballot Measure 97, which would see companies that do more than $25 million in businesses paying a tax. "Our budget is facing a $1.3 billion shortfall," Brown said at the packed conference room at a hotel in Bend. "That's why I support Measure 97." Brown said the money is needed to help fund education, health care for senior citizens and other critical services. "It's time corporations pay their fair share," she said. Pierce said the measure would increase the cost of living for every Oregonian and that instead state government should learn to live within its means. A theme Pierce hit repeatedly was his contention that Democrats create more government programs with more bureaucracy instead of redirecting resources. Brown said Pierce wants to cut social programs. The enthusiastic crowd seemed fairly evenly split between the candidates, judging by the applause each received after responding to questions from a panel of journalists. The debate was organized by the Oregon Territory chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brown was secretary of state when she ascended to the state's top post when Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned amid an influence-peddling investigation. Pierce is a Salem-based oncologist who runs several clinics. They are competing to fill the remaining two years of Kitzhaber's term. One journalist on the panel asked about a proposal to make the remote and scenic Owyhee Canyonlands in southeast Oregon a federally protected monument. A county sheriff has already warned that armed outsiders might come if President Barack Obama creates the monument, with families suspicious of the federal government and what restrictions on ranching it might impose. Pierce said many locals oppose the proposal, and he asked, "Do you trust the people who live on the lands who manage the land for many years, or do you trust people from the outside, people who have a political agenda?" Brown said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has told her that the department is unlikely to move forward on a monument designation unless there has been a process where voices both pro and con have an opportunity to be heard. Pressed further, Brown would not be pinned down on whether she herself supports the monument designation. Pierce has said the federal government has mismanaged the huge swaths of land it controls in the West and that he would fight for more state and local control. Asked how he would do that, Pierce said he would propose changes with the federal government in which 5 percent of land per year is transferred to the states and counties over a 20-year period. Brown said such a goal is unrealistic and spoke of a "good neighbor agreement" she signed with the U.S. Forest Service in which parties would work collaboratively to thin the forests for fire prevention. "It's a win because it puts Oregonians back to work in our woods and it also creates healthy forests," she said. She said these efforts boosted timber harvests on federal land by 15 percent in 2015 in eastern Oregon. Before the debate, the audience was told that they could applaud but that jeering was forbidden. "There's enough mean-spiritedness in politics today," said John Sepulvedo of the SPJ. "We can keep it out of here." The candidates stayed polite, without interrupting each other. Forced grins appeared to be pasted on their faces. The worst it got was when Pierce scoffed at a reply from Brown, calling it a nonanswer. Brown then said Pierce's own reply "also was a nonanswer." After it was over, Pierce told The Associated Press that he wanted the debate to be lively because the public seems "disengaged" from politics, but that he didn't want the acrimony displayed in politics on the national level because "it's not edifying." "I hope Monday's debate goes like this one," he said, referring to the upcoming debate between Clinton and Trump. It was one thing both he and Brown agreed on Saturday night. "Obviously, this was a respectful and courteous debate, and I hope that our federal candidates will act the same way," Brown told the AP. "Given Donald trump's track record, I'm not optimistic about that, however." -- The Associated Press Michael Scott Hoven, 45, was shot to death Friday in a Southeast Portland home, Portland Police Bureau announced Saturday. The bureau hasn't made any arrests in the case and is asking for the public's help. Hoven is believed to have lived where he was found dead, in the 1700 block of Southeast 162nd Avenue. Police officers have said they've been called to the house before. A bureau spokesman said the home may have been the site of a marijuana grow in the past. Police have asked that anyone with information about the shooting Detective Bryan Steed at 503-823-0395 or Detective Michele Michaels at 503-823-0692. -- Fedor Zarkhin 503-294-7674; @fedorzarkhin -- Samantha Matsumoto Lee Rigby British researchers began looking at online hate after the killing of British Army soldier Lee Rigby by Islamic extremists on a London street in 2013. Analysts collected Twitter data and tested a text classifier that distinguished between hateful and antagonistic responses focusing on race, ethnicity and religion. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images ) LOS ANGELES -- Researchers have undertaken a three-year experiment to learn whether police prevent hate crimes by monitoring racist banter on social media. British researchers working with the Rand Corp. will monitor millions of tweets related to the Los Angeles area to identify patterns and markers that prejudice-motivated violence is about to occur. The researchers then will compare the data against records of reported violent acts. The U.S. Department of Justice is investing $600,000 in research by Cardiff University Social Data Science Lab, which has been at the forefront of predictive social media models. Cardiff University professor Matthew Williams said the research is designed to enable authorities to predict when and where hate crime is likely to occur and deploy law enforcement resources to prevent it. "The insights provided by our work will help U.S. localities to design policies to address specific hate-crime issues unique to their jurisdiction and allow service providers to tailor their services to the needs of victims, especially if those victims are members of an emerging category of hate-crime targets." His lab's previous research in the United Kingdom found that Twitter data can be used to identify areas where hate speech is occurring but where no hate crimes have been committed. This can be useful, researchers said, in neighborhoods with many new immigrants, who are unlikely to report such crimes because of fear of deportation. In 2012, an estimated 293,800 nonfatal violent and property hate crimes occurred in the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. About 60 percent of those were not reported, the Justice Department found. Of course, there is a big difference between someone spouting off on Twitter or Snapchat and an actual hate crime. "It is a great idea in the abstract. But it is not the panacea you might think," said Brian Levin, executive director of Cal State San Bernardino's Center on Hate and Extremism. "The problem is the correlation and reliability. ... There are many different forms of social media." Levin, who has tracked Middle Eastern terrorist groups and local neo-Nazi organizations, also noted that some hate groups don't advertise their work on social media. "Local tensions may arise to fly and be absent from social media," he said. "Some segments of the community shun social media ... so examining social media as a predictor can be a bit like having one screwdriver and sometimes it doesn't work." Predictive policing already is in use at the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies. The LAPD uses a predictive policing algorithm to deploy officers to locations where prior crime patterns strongly suggest that similar crimes may occur. As crime during the past two decades has dropped significantly across the nation and in Los Angeles, police commanders are increasingly looking for any edge they can get in cutting crime. L.A. County is particularly useful because a huge volume of social media produces huge data sets that increase the accuracy of predictive models over traditional crime analysis and trend-chasing, said Pete Burnap of Cardiff University's School of Computer Science and Informatics. "Predictive policing is a proactive law enforcement model that has become more common partially due to the advent of advanced analytics such as data mining and machine-learning methods," he said. Traditional predictive police modeling has paired historical crime records with geographical locations, and then made a probable calculation to predict future crimes. But Twitter and social media-based models work in real time. The algorithms look for particular language that is likely to indicate the imminent occurrence of a crime. British researchers began looking at online hate after the killing of British Army soldier Lee Rigby by Islamic extremists on a London street in 2013. Analysts collected Twitter data and tested a text classifier that distinguished between hateful and antagonistic responses focusing on race, ethnicity and religion. The British researchers are building a new hate-speech algorithm designed specifically for Los Angeles. They said that's necessary because of the linguistic and cultural difference L.A. and London. As part of the effort, they will feed 12 months of Los Angeles Police Department hate-crime data, Williams said. "We know that official reports of hate crime from police probably underestimate how common hate crime really is--but we don't really know by how much, or which types of hate crimes are most seriously underreported," said Megan Cahill, senior researcher at Rand Corp. said: "Using Twitter data from Los Angeles County as a test case, this research will help create better knowledge about hate crime. And, we hope it will ultimately contribute to more hate crime prevention by police and other agencies alike." -- Los Angeles Times Before Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump even take to the debate stage Monday evening, theres a debate over the debate. Should the moderators serve as a truth squad a version of the Crowley effect for moderator Candy Crowleys 2012 debate performance in which she corrected Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney? Or should they stick to asking questions and not intervene? Debate veterans say its best for the questioners to stay on the sidelines and let the two candidates do the sparring themselves. Fact checking is best handled outside the context of the moderator, said Alan Schroeder, whose book, Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High-Risk TV, studied the history of the national events. But, he said, moderators should provide the candidates every opportunity to call out each others inconsistencies and dubious statements. The audience bears some responsibility as well, Schroeder said: Youre not just watching a game show and when its over you change the channel; were talking about a civic experience that requires follow-up and contextualizing. Chris Wallace of Fox News, who will moderate the third and final presidential debate on Oct. 19, said he wants the candidates -- not the moderators -- to call each other on falsehoods. Thats not my job. I do not believe it is my job to be a truth squad, he told his own network. Its up to the other person to catch them on that. He wouldnt rule out fact checking, but said moderators who inserted themselves risked turning a debate between two candidates into a news conference. Hed rather have the two candidates speaking to each other than speaking to me. Trump doesnt want a repeat of what Republican strategist Karl Rove calls the Crowley effect. Thats when Crowley, during a 2012 debate, corrected Romneys claim that President Barack Obama had not immediately used the words act of terror to describe the consulate attack in Benghazi. Clinton wants to avoid a situation like Matt Lauers decision not to challenge Trump during the Commander-in-Chief Forum earlier this month. Lauer remained silent when Trump said falsely that he had opposed the war in Iraq. Clinton ally David Brock unsuccessfully called on the Commission on Presidential Debates to reconsider the choice of Wallace, citing his uninterest in fact checking and the fact that former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes is said to be advising Trump. He inaccurately told Fox News earlier in the week that Lester Holt, who will moderate the first debate, is a Democrat. New York state voter registration documents show Holt has been a registered Republican in the state since 2003. Trump said Thursday that he was opposed to a repeat of Crowleys intervention. That was a very pivotal moment in that debate and it really threw the debate off, and it was unfair, Trump said on Fox & Friends. You have to have somebody that just lets them argue it out. Clintons camp wants the moderator to play a more active role. The moderators need to ask substantive questions, factual questions and keep them on an even playing field, said Clintons communications director, Jennifer Palmieri. Clinton thinks the moderators should play a role in making sure that the audience knows the truth, Palmieri added. Veteran moderators, though, say its the candidates role to pounce when their opponents twist the facts. It is the responsibility of the moderator to make sure the truth gets out, but the chief fact checker should be the candidates themselves, Bob Schieffer, who moderated debates in 2004, 2008 and 2012, said at a recent forum on presidential debates at the University of Notre Dame. The role of the moderator is to be a referee; its not to be a judge. Still, Schieffer said moderators occasionally do need to step in, particularly because there is so much distorted and totally false information out there. He noted that a significant number of voters still wrongly believe that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya, an assertion that Trump now says he no longer believes. Fact checkers have been particularly critical of Trump: of the more than 250 Trump statements reviewed by Politifact, 180 were found to be either mostly false, false or Pants on Fire, the sites worst rating. Of the 255 Clinton statements reviewed, 70 were found to be mostly false, false or Pants on Fire. My rule has always been to give the other candidate the first chance to be the fact checker and if he doesnt pick up on that, then you call the guy on it, Schieffer said. You have to correct the misinformation, but youre being unfair to both candidates when you dont give the other one a chance to correct it first. Former moderator Jim Lehrer said at the same discussion that the sparks should fly between the candidates and had Clinton and Trump appeared together at the Lauer-hosted event, she would have had the opportunity to challenge Trump on Iraq. Lauer would have said, Sen. Clinton? And she wouldve called him a liar or words to that effect, Lehrer said. The moderator would never have had to intrude, both sides would be covered and the audience can decide, he said. 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 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. 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," and 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. Midland certainly has had an influential musical history over the years. Here is a sample of scenes from various concerts and of musicians over the years. The earliest photos we have published include scenes from an August 1969 concert. Looking to take advantage of the vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and rusts of the fall colors in Michigan? Why not take a day trip enjoying the color? Or maybe extend it to three or four days? Before heading out, your first stop should be at Pure Michigan: michigan.org/fall The website provides 27 different tours from the western tip of the Upper Peninsula all the way to both southern corners of the Lower Peninsula. Each tour also suggests different stops along the way. Visitors may sign up for weekly fall color reports and updates on the Pure Michigan website. Close to home, the Midland - Harrison - Remus tour begins in Midland, travels up M-30, over to Beaverton, north to Gladwin and west on M-61 to Harrison. The route turns south to Lake George and southeast on M-115 to Farwell where it then heads to Barryton, south on M-66 and back to Midland. Along the 160 mile trip, stop at one of the many lakes or enjoy the different rivers. If the family is along, the Wild Pumpkin in Beaverton may be an enjoyable spot where everyone can gather pumpkings, eat donuts or get lost in a corn maze, all for a low-budget price. Or, if its food that excites you, the Doodles Sugar Bush outside of Blanchard provides maple syrup and other maple delicacies. Robaires Bakery in Mount Pleasant might be an option, or take a detour into Clare for a stop at Cops & Doughnuts. Peak time for this tour is from early to mid-October. Saginaw - Bay City - Bad Axe - Frankenmuth Another possibility is the 230 mile trip through Bay City on M-25, hugging the coast of Lake Huron. At Harbor Beach, begin your return trip right through the heart of the Thumb by turning west on M-142 through Bad Axe onto M-53, M-81 and M-24, up to Millington and Frankenmuth. If you enjoy lighthouses, stop in Port Hope or Harbor Beach. Frankenmuth needs no promoting and can be a day trip all by itself. The best time for this route is early to mid-October. Ironwood - Silver City - Wakefield If you are going to the western Upper Peninsula, its imperative that you not delay making plans. UP Travel reports that the peak season is expected to hit the first week of October. A trip to the UP is always a pleasurable and relaxing venture, especially when it includes the scenic Porcupine Mountains and the Lake of the Clouds. The 100-mile route includes breathtaking vistas, country roads, waterfalls and a chance to walk on the Lake Superior shore. While there why not head up the Keewenaw Peninsula through Houghton, Eagle River and Copper Harbor? Mackinaw City - Petoskey - Charlevoix This trip can be accomplished in one long day. However the scenes will be well worth the time, especially as you enjoy a quick trip through the Tunnel of Trees when the leaves are at their peak. The 100-mile circuit can begin at either Mackinaw City or at the intersection of U.S. 131 and M-32, just west of Gaylord. But, the highlight is the Tunnel of Trees along M-119 from Cross Village to Harbor Springs. Arguably the most spectacular drive in all of Michigan, the 20-mile section twists and turns under a canopy of trees as it follows the cliffs above Lake Michigan. Oscoda - West Branch - Tawas City Not to be forgotten, Michigans Sunrise Coast provides a 190-mile scenic drive along Lake Huron. But, its when you venture inland and along M-65 that provides the brilliant color. Dont forget to take the 22-mile River Road National Scenic Byway, which travels along the Au Sable River and provides stunning vistas. Weve given you four tours to provide some inspiration. However, there are plenty more. Below are some other websites worth checking out before packing the car for your trip. UP Travel Peak fall color season is typically the last week of September and the first two weeks of October. UP Travel provides timely updates at: uptravel.com/fall-color-reports-56/ Traverse City The best time to visit this area will likely be from Oct. 8-22. Visit: tcwebguide.com/fall/index2.html for reports. Cadillac Usually the second and third week in October provide the best views. For updates, visit: cadillacmichigan.com/fall-color-tours-72/ Southwest Michigan Have you ever passed through southwest Michigan on your way to Chicago or other places west of Michigan, but never stopped? Why not take a trip to the Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, South Haven area? Besides the leaves, enjoy the coast of Lake Michigan and visit the many wineries. For an itinerary, visit: swmichigan.org/plan-your-trip/itineraries/2657-fall-color-tour-3-days.html Sentences may vary based on previous offenses committed by the defendant. Some sentences include other fees imposed by the state. Unless otherwise noted, defendants are from Midland. The following people were sentenced recently in Midland Countys 42nd Circuit Court by Judge Michael J. Beale or Judge Stephen P. Carras: Kyle Richard Baldwin, 27, Saginaw, was sentenced for larceny in a building. The offense occurred on Oct. 6 in Midland. Beale sentenced Baldwin to 339 days in prison to be served at the same time as another sentencing with credit for time served, and $30.77 restitution. Wayne Emmett McKimmy, 45, Haley Street, was sentenced for accosting a child for immoral purposes, and three counts of child distribution of obscene material. The offenses occurred from October 2014 to July 2015 in Midland Township. Beale sentenced McKimmy to between 58 months and 15 years in prison for the first offense, and to between 76 months and 15 years in prison for the remaining offenses. Beale granted credit for 239 days. McKimmy is subject to lifetime registration on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. Amanda Katherine Phillips, 25, West North Union Road, was sentenced for controlled substance delivery. The offense occurred on Nov. 30 in Midland when Phillips delivered fentanyl. Beale sentenced Phillips to $1,250 fines and costs, $130 restitution, three years probation and driver license sanctions by the state. Michael Joseph Pnacek, 25, Letts Road, was sentenced for domestic violence and aggravated assault. The offense occurred on May 17 in Larkin Township. Beale sentenced Pnacek to 93 days in jail for the first offense, and to six months in jail for the second offense, to be served at the same time as two other sentencings with credit for 121 days each, and six months probation. Diane Lynn Sullivan, 56, Kent Court, was sentenced for third-offense drunken driving. The offense occurred on Feb. 12 in Midland. Beale sentenced Sullivan to 60 days in jail with credit for two days, $1,250 fines and costs, two years probation, as well as one year monitored by an alcohol tether. Sullivan previously was convicted on drunken driving on Feb. 22, 1995, and Feb. 23, 1998, both in the Midland County District Court. EDITORS NOTE OWI means operating while intoxicated. DWLS means driving while license suspended. (MC) is for Judge Michael D. Carpenter. (L) is for Magistrate Gerald Ladwig. (SC) is for Circuit Judge Stephen P. Carras. Sentences may vary based on previous offenses committed by the defendant. Some sentencings include other fees imposed by the state. Auburn Timothy Jake Marshall, 35, DWLS on June 27, two weekends in jail, $600 fines and costs (MC). Beaverton David Michael Sohlden, 27, allowing DWLS on Aug. 18, $600 fines and costs (MC). Midland Cory Allen Aldridge, 33, South Homer Road, marijuana possession on April 2, 90 days in jail to be served at the same time as a Saginaw County sentence at Tri Cap, $175 costs (MC). Devyn Michael Bare, 25, West Sugnet Road, OWI on June 4, 90 days in jail with credit for 37 days (MC). Matthew Jeston Burton, 26, Victoria Court, aggravated assault on April 14 and assault and battery on June 17, one year in jail for the first offense and 93 days in jail for the second offense with credit for 16 days each, $939.48 restitution (MC). John Michael Dallessandro, 22, Joann Street, marijuana possession on April 29, one year in jail with all but 60 days held in abeyance and credit for one day, $1,475 fines and costs, two years probation, driver license suspended as required, substance abuse program, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol or be in the company of anyone who does, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed, may not use medical marijuana, must find a job upon release from jail (MC). Kristin Marie Foor, 24, North Dublin Avenue, improper transportation of medical marijuana on May 20, $450 fines and costs (MC). Fred Claire Fyvie Jr., 43, North Merritt Road, marijuana possession and DWLS on April 26, 2012, $2,000 fines and costs (SC). Ua Van Ho, 44, Noeske Street, no valid license on Aug. 17, $200 fines and costs (MC). Joni Sue James, 54, Darthouth Drive, no proof of insurance on July 8, $210 fine (MC). Ronald L. Last, 53, North Merritt Drive, DWLS on Aug. 12, five days in jail with credit for two days, $600 fines and costs (MC). Linda Renee Nalewyko, 53, North Five Mile Road, impaired driving on May 16, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for two days, $400 fines and costs, nine months probation, attend substance abuse program and mental health counseling, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars except for work purposes, attend counseling as directed (MC). Savon Makal Thomas, 20, North Saginaw Road, DWLS on April 30, $375 fines and costs (MC). Scott Tracey Walter, 53, West Wackerly Street, illegal entry on April 22, 90 days in jail held in abeyance, $975 fines and costs, nine months probation, not to be involved in any assaultive, threatening, intimidating, violent, aggressive, disorderly or abusive behavior toward any person, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screenings, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed, sentence delay granted (MC). Audrey Michelle Westendorf, 34, East Ashman Street, no proof of insurance on Aug. 13, $210 fine (MC). Erica Danielle Wolfe, 20, Universal Drive, marijuana possession on July 20, 62 days in jail with credit for time served, driver license suspended as required (MC). Tyler James Wright, 28, East Price Road, allow drug or alcohol consumption by a minor on May 27, $200 fines and costs (MC). Stephan Allen Yoder, 58, Holland Drive, driving without insurance on April 20 and contempt of court, two days in jail with credit for time served, $200 fine (MC). Mount Pleasant Thomas Matthew Dixon, 25, illegal entry and disorderly conduct on April 5, 90 days in jail held in abeyance, $200 fines and costs, nine months probation, attend substance abuse program and mental health counseling, no contact with the victim, may not go to the victims address, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed, obtain full time employment (MC). Ricky Leroy Laughton, 42, domestic violence on June 14, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for three days, $400 fines and costs, one year probation, attend anger management, not to be involved with any assaultive, threatening, intimidating, violent, aggressive, disorderly or abusive behavior toward any person, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). Taylor Marie Trepanier, 20, second-offense DWLS on Sept. 5, 14 days in jail with credit for two days, $600 fines and costs (MC). Rosebush Troy Justin Davis, 32, driving with a high blood alcohol content on June 25, 93 days in jail with credit for one day (MC). Saginaw Michael Lee Braeutigan, 32, DWLS on Sept. 4, three days in jail with credit for time served, $250 fines and costs (MC). Charles Edward Byrd, 69, recreational trespass on June 6, 90 days in jail held in abeyance, $200 fines and costs, three months probation, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars or fish in any prohibited area, three month delay of sentence granted (MC). Michael Anthony Hall, 33, marijuana use on Sept. 29, 2015, 14 days in jail with credit for two days, $200 fines and costs, driver license suspended as required (MC). Devell Davion Hooper, 25, DWLS on May 31, 14 days in jail with credit for two days (MC). Don Allen Jelks, 72, recreational trespass on June 6, 90 days in jail held in abeyance, $200 fines and costs, three months probation, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars or fish in any prohibited area, three month delay of sentence granted (MC). Eladio Rios Jr., 42, DWLS on Aug. 18, $250 fines and costs (MC). Christopher Bernard Scott, 31, impaired driving on May 16, 15 days in jail with credit for one day, $600 fines and costs (MC). Alejandro Teneyque, 22, DWLS on Aug. 3, five days in jail with credit for time served, $500 fines and costs (MC). Sanford Karrie Lynn Medlin, 39, second-offense second-degree retail fraud on June 22, 60 days in jail with credit for two days (MC). Shepherd Kimberly Sue Shanks, 38, illegal plate on April 28, $100 fines and costs (MC). Elsewhere James Clayton Lancaster, 44, Lansing, OWI on June 12, 93 days in jail held in abeyance with credit for one day, $775 fines and costs, six months probation, may not use or possess drugs or alcohol, subject to random drug and alcohol screening, may not enter bars, attend counseling as directed (MC). William Joseph Mastaw, 18, Kincheloe, allowing DWLS on Aug. 14, $250 fines and costs (MC). Dion Lee Slabic, 42, Kalkaska, driving without insurance and DWLS on Sept. 12, 10 days in jail with credit for two days, $200 fines and costs (MC). A 41-year-old Rhodes man has been sentenced up to 20 years in prison in a case of methamphetamine possession. Jason Daniel Fenstermaker was charged after a January investigation by the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team. Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Beale recently sentenced Fenstermaker to between 20 months and 20 years in prison, with credit for 239 days. The term is to be served at the same time as a sentencing of 242 days to three years in prison on a charge of fourth-degree fleeing police. Fenstermaker was arrested by the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team after the team received a tip that detectives could buy meth at a Mills Township home. As a result of the tip, detectives bought $40 worth of meth 0.5 grams at the home, court documents state. On Jan. 21, officials conducted a search warrant at the home, at 6356 N. Swede Road, and located methamphetamine in plain sight inside a shed on the property. A woman at the home told detectives she lived there for about a month and was forced to clean the components used to produce the drug, and that Fenstermaker was the main cook, court documents state. Fenstermaker originally faced counts of delivery or manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of meth and maintaining a drug house, as well as an habitual second offender in the drug case. The second case against him is based on a police pursuit that occurred Jan. 1 in Mills Township involving the Michigan State Police. Fenstermaker previously was convicted of possession of meth in 2012 in Gladwin County, and of resisting and obstructing police in 2002 in Bay County. Beaverton, with a population of just under 1,100, earned big city honors recently with the receipt of Michigan Municipal Leagues most prestigious award. The award, which recognizes innovative solutions taking place in Michigans cities, villages and urban townships, is for a volunteer-driven project that has had a huge impact on the Beaverton community. Volunteers led an effort to save an old, vacated two-story school building and turn it into the now-vibrant Beaverton Activity Center, which has become a focal point for activities. The building has hosted new cultural events and sporting activities for youth and adults. It created meeting rooms that were nonexistent. It is a place to exercise and hold childrens and adult programs and classes. Its also a library, fitness center, health center, coffee shop, heritage center, preschool, after-school gathering place, summer recreation location, place for worship and historical society. Wow! Were a small community and what we were able to accomplish from the standpoint of bringing an entire project to fruition using all volunteers and making it happen is an inspiring story, said former Beaverton mayor Scott Govitz, now president of the Beaverton Activity Center. (Its) also something other communities can replicate. Beavertons peers around the state thought so, too. Representatives from the Leagues top vote-getters in four categories The Final Four presented their projects at the Leagues annual convention this month on Mackinac Island. After hearing the presentations, the 500-plus convention attendees voted for their favorite project, with Beaverton receiving the most votes. Well done, Beaverton, well done. One of the oldest truisms agriculture offers is the simple, rock-solid advice that the time to close the barn door is before the cows get out. Closing the door afterward, as everyone knows, is pointless because the cows already are long gone. Everyone, except of course, the U.S. Congress which, on Sept. 20, hosted a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Consolidation and Competition in the U.S. Seed and Agrichemical Industry. It arrived just one week after Bayer announced its $66 billion buy-out of Monsanto. A better time to have had a congressional hearing on Big Agbiz competition would have been a year ago before the worlds remaining seven ag-chem cows began to pair off and leave the barn. First out the door last December were DuPont and Dow in what they described as a merger of equals as if anything worth $130 billion has an equal. Next went Syngenta and ChemChina which locked horns, then eyes, in February for $43 billion. Then, in mid-September, Monsanto finally allowed Bayer to take the lead and out the door they went, head to tail, into the brave new world of what Diana Moss of the American Antitrust Institute calls the Big 4Bayer/Monsanto, Dow/DuPont, ChemChina/Syngenta, and, last and truly least, BASF. Together those formerly seven, now just four, firms have a virtual stranglehold on the global ag-chem market, combining for $67 billion in sales (2014 figures). Two of the biggest, however, Bayer/Monsanto and Dow/DuPont, command 70 percent of the world market, Moss said in Senate testimony Sept. 20. If any of Mosss worrisome antitrust numbers troubled the hearings participating senators and panelists, most whistled right past that graveyard to get to their promised land how American corporate taxes are too high, its regulations too heavy, and its overall business climate too spiteful for any company to survive long in this beloved, star-spangled land. Indeed, griped North Carolinas Republican Thom Tillis at one point, its a miracle any business survives given this nations regulation and tax policy and ideas like WOTUS, GMO labeling and EPA regulation. Its really survival of the unduly regulated, he finally opined. What does the controversial waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, rule have to do with congressional action and American reaction to consolidation and competition in the global ag-chem market? Not a cotton-pickin thing, of course, but politicians and farm groups love to flog it like a rented mule to deflect serious questions into complex issues they dont want to talk about. For example, several senators at the judiciary hearing attempted to link todays ag-chem merger fever with an American tax code filled with what they see as anti-corporation potholes. Time and again, however, when asked directly about uncompetitive American corporate taxes as a key factor in the moves, company officials explained that their deals were not based on any kind of tax maneuvers. The direct, straight-up replies made no difference; the senators, after all, werent after answers. They were after votes. In between all this sudden Capitol Hill antitrust concern, some facts did emerge. Moss, the only antitrust expert invited to the hearing, explained how the two giants of these deals, Bayer/Monsanto and Dow/DuPont, are likely to adversely affect competition in three ways. First, they will eliminate head-to-head competition in markets for certain crop seed and chemicals, she noted. Next, these marriages will eliminate competition in agricultural biotechnology innovation markets and reduce opportunities for pro-competitive collaborations. And, finally, (T)he combinations would create substantial vertical integration between traits, seeds and chemicals. These platforms will likely not interoperate with rival products. All this evidence, testified Moss, points to less innovation, higher agricultural input prices and less choice for farmers, and higher food prices for consumers if these deals go through. Overwhelming odds favor just that, though; nothing was said in the Senate hearing to indicate even a hint of a hurdle for any of them. Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 65-year-old male who has enjoyed running on a regular basis for most of my life. I'm not an exercise fanatic by any means, usually running 4 miles three to four times per week. My resting heart rate normally has been in the 50s, which has never created any problems for me. But this past year, my heart rate has been consistently in the mid-40s. I suspect that my bradycardia is the cause of a particularly bothersome symptom that I've been experiencing for the past several months: Almost every time I stand up after having been sitting for any length of time, I experience noticeable lightheadedness and weakness in my legs. Twice I have lost consciousness for a few seconds and fallen to the ground. My systolic blood pressure has always been in the 100-115 range, but occasionally has been in the 90s. I can't say what happens to my BP when I experience fainting episodes, since they last such a short time. My family doctor suggested that dehydration might be the cause, but increasing my fluid intake has not had any effect. My medication list includes Synthroid (100 mcg) for hyperthyroidism, and Pravachol (40 mg) for high cholesterol. I have no other medical issues. Is there a medication that would help with my problem, or am I in need of an implanted pacemaker? T.M. A: "Bradycardia" comes from the Greek roots for "slow" and "heart," and it is defined by a heart rate below 60. Many athletes have heart rates below 60, and as long as they aren't having any symptoms, they don't require any treatment. However, I agree with you that your recent symptoms of lightheadedness and even fainting upon standing are likely to be related to your slow heart rate. In emergencies, we use medication for short-term increase of heart rate. For long-term use, a permanent pacemaker is the definitive treatment. A cardiologist (some of whom specialize in rhythm disturbances) may elect to do further testing, or may recommend a pacemaker, based on your clinical evaluation. Your doctor should make sure that your thyroid level is normal, since very low thyroid can cause a slow heart rate, though I doubt that is your issue. The booklet on heart attacks, America's No. 1 killer, explains what happens, how they are treated and how they are avoided. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach, Book No. 102, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. Clavicle size Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 62-year-old female in good health, except for having high cholesterol and being overweight. About six months ago, I noticed that my right clavicle is larger than my left. Recently I was visiting my primary physician and showed it to him. He checked it and could see that there was a difference in the two sides, but due to the fact that I didn't have any other symptoms, he wasn't concerned. He did order an ultrasound, and nothing was found. It concerns me that there is such a difference in the two sides. I'm not usually alarmed, but would like some type of explanation. B.B. A: I see this fairly frequently. We all are slightly asymmetrical, and this may seem to get worse over time. Changes in muscle (including muscle spasm), posture and in the spine can accentuate the appearance of asymmetry. I have checked X-rays a few times in people where I, too, noticed a difference in the appearance of the clavicle and have yet to find anything seriously wrong, so my experience suggests that this is unlikely to be a problem. Check the height of your shoulders when looking in a mirror. A significant difference could indicate scoliosis, which can happen in older adults. Sign-up is under way for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for livestock producers. EQIP is a government assistance program administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Illinois. Contact your local USDA service center for information. JOHN F. PENN of Bloomington has been re-elected for a second full term as vice president of the Laborers International Union of North America. Penn has served as an international vice president since 2008 and was elected to his first full term in 2011. He is Midwest regional manager for LIUNA. Penn joined LIUNA Local 362 in Bloomington in 1965. EDGE INSURANCE EDUCATION has launched a course registration portal at EdgeInsuranceEducation.com that allows insurance license candidates to register for Illinois pre-licensing seminars in property and casualty and life and health lines, along with ethics training. Bloomington-Normal Mickell Duncan; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-noon Sat., through Oct. 31, IAA Credit Union lobby, 808 IAA Drive, Bloomington; paintings; free. ISU University Galleries; noon-4 p.m. Mon., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., Uptown Station, 11 Uptown Circle, Normal; rotating exhibits in three galleries; free; 309-438-8321. Wonsook Kim: Lines of Enchantment; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; cast bronze outlines, paintings, prints and drawings. Placelessness: Marissa Lee Benedict & David Rueter and Sarah Rothberg; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; interactive installations. Beyond the Norm: International Juried Print Exhibition; through Oct. 16, ISU University Galleries, see above; works by 54 artists. And There's the Humor of It: Shakespeare and the Four Humors; through Oct. 29, IWU Ames Library ground floor; six-panel touring exhibit exploring role of four humors in Shakespeare's work; free. IWU Merwin and Wakeley Galleries; school hours, noon-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 7-9 p.m. Tue.; 302 E. Graham St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits; free; 309-556-3391. Functioning; through Sept. 29, IWU Merwin Gallery, see above; ceramics by Tim Kowalczyk. Everyday Romances; through Sept. 29, IWU Wakeley Gallery, see above; paintings by Ryan Richey. McLean County Arts Center; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Sat.; 601 N. East St., Bloomington; rotating exhibits, sales, rentals, art classes and lectures; free; 309-829-0011. 40 Years NEW; through Oct. 22, McLean County Arts Center, see above; 40th anniversary retrospective of ISU's New Editions Workshop. Behind Every Print; through Oct. 22, McLean County Arts Center, see above; works by ISU faculty and Normal Editions Workshop staff. McLean County Museum of History; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Tue.), 200 N. Main St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits; adults $5, seniors $4, students, children under 12 and members free; 309-827-0428. Challenges, Choices and Change: Making a Home; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit exploring experiences of people from around the world who made McLean County their home. Abraham Lincoln in McLean County; McLean County Museum of History, see above; new permanent exhibit on Lincoln's life in Bloomington. Prairie Aviation Museum; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thu.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Sun., 2929 E. Empire St., Bloomington; permanent and rotating exhibits and displays with aerial history themes; adults $5, ages 6-11 $3, 5 and under free; 309-663-7632. Central Illinois U of I Krannert Art Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Thu. during fall and spring semesters), 2-5 p.m. Sun., 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign; paintings, porcelain, historical artifacts, traveling art exhibits; $3 donation suggested; 217-333-1861. Borderline Collective: Northern Triangle; through Dec. 22, U of I Krannert Art Museum, see above; installation featuring art works and historical documents. Amity Township Museum; 1-3 p.m. first Sun. of month or by appointment, 510 Main St., Cornell; displays and artifacts relating to history of Cornell and Amity Township; free; 815-358-2973. Eureka College Burgess Hall Art Gallery; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on weekends, third floor of Burgess Hall, Eureka College, Eureka; rotating exhibits; free; 309-467-6866. Simpkins Military History Museum; 1-5 p.m. Tue., Thu., Sat., or by appointment; 605 E. Cole St., Heyworth; permanent and rotating military history exhibits; free (donations accepted); 309-473-3989. The Vietnam War 50th Anniversary; through Nov. 30, Simpkins Military History Museum, see above. Dickson Mounds Museum; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 10956 N. Dickson Mounds Road, Lewistown; displays, special exhibits; free; 309-547-3721. Lincoln Heritage Museum; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat., Lincoln Center at Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln; Lincoln-era items, audio-visual displays, tours, exhibits, more; adults $7, children/tours $4; 217-735-7399. Contemporary Art Center of Peoria; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat., Riverfront Arts Center, 305 S.W. Water, Peoria; rotating exhibits in two galleries; free; 309-674-6822. Building Space: The Objects of Adam G. Perschbacher; through Oct. 21, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; geometric abstractions. Under, Above, Everywhere; through Oct. 28, Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, see above; paintings by Deborah Barlow, photographs by Kay Canavino, ceramics by Ramah Commanday. Peoria Art Guild; Foster Arts Center, Harrison and Washington streets, Peoria; rotating exhibits, gift shop; free; 309-637-2787. Peoria Riverfront Museum; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sun., downtown riverfront Peoria; permanent and rotating exhibits, planetarium shows, Giant Screen Theater and events; $8-$11; 309-686-7000. Changing Perspectives: The Landscapes of Harold Gregor; through Oct. 16, Peoria Riverfront Museum, see above; paintings. Museum of the Gilding Arts; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., April-Oct., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Sun., Nov.-March, 217 N. Mill St., Pontiac; displays, history and hands-on exhibits dedicated to the art of gilding and gold beating; free (donations welcome); 815-842-1848. Pontiac Community Art Center; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 103 W. Madison St., Pontiac; rotating exhibits; 815-844-5831. Jane Diaz: The Artist That Knows Where to Draw the Line; through Sept. 30, Pontiac Community Art Center, see above; paintings. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sun., 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield; Lincoln-themed exhibits, historical displays, special events, more; adults $12, seniors and students $9, ages 5-15 $5, under 5 free; 217-558-8844. The 2016 election cycle has brought the truth and who is or isn't telling it front and center. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have repeatedly accused each other -- and in Trump's case, the mainstream media -- of lying to the American public. "I wouldn't say it's the most negative campaign ever, but I think both candidates have chosen to emphasize dishonesty or corruption in the other," says Brian Gaines, a professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "The negative messages are dominating the positive ones, and they're pretty similar. The untrustworthy theme has been coming at the voter from both sides." Part of the reason the candidates are using trust to attack each other is evidence suggesting that neither Clinton nor Trump is telling the truth all the time. Data from political fact-checking website PolitiFact shows that 22 percent of all statements attributed to Hillary Clinton have earned a rating of "true," which PolitiFact defines as "accurate and there's nothing significant missing." Two percent of all statements attributed to her are classified as "pants on fire," or wildly inaccurate. Trump, meanwhile, is credited with 4 percent of his statements being "true," and 18 percent as "pants on fire." "Donald Trump is off the scale when it comes to lying," says John Murphy, an associate professor of communication at the University of Illinois who has studied the history of political rhetoric. "There's simply no comparison between Trump and all other candidates now or in recent history, according to nearly any fact check site that exists. And, since he is often correctly accused of lying, he figures, as most politicians do, that the best defense is a good offense, so he accuses Hillary Clinton of lying." So does that mean politicians, in general, stretch the truth more than the rest of us? "Politicians must communicate with multiple audiences more than most people, and these audiences may have different attitudes, beliefs and expectations," says Matt McGlone, an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied the role that language has on deception and persuasion. "Politicians and public figures are recorded more than most people, thus increasing the evidence base for finding their deceptive inconsistencies." "Surely politicians have a lot of incentives to lie," adds Bella DePaulo, a visiting researcher at the University of California at Santa Barbara who has extensively studied the communication of deception. "They want to say what will please their constituencies, and sometimes, if they told the whole truth, that wouldn't do the trick." Not only are politicians being recorded more often than ever before, they're also facing an increased amount of scrutiny from third parties, with the number of fact-checking outlets having doubled in the past year, according to the Poynter Institute. "In the modern era, I think trust (in politicians) is at a new low," Gaines says. "Other than the reflexive 'I trust my own party more than the other one,' people are pretty likely to tell you there's no politician you can really trust all the time." Just because politicians are frequently caught in lies doesn't mean we're becoming less trustworthy as a society. Researchers say that when it comes to building your level of trust with politicians, the key is not to treat them in the same fashion that you would a member of your own inner circle. "There is a big difference between taking a politician at his or her word and taking a friend or family member at theirs," says Leonard Jason, a professor of psychology at DePaul University. "People often take politicians at their word when they have not done anything to earn that trust." "We should always wonder about the basis on which something was said, and the identity of the speaker, and the location of the material we encounter, including the motives," adds Susan Blum, a professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. DePaulo says the proliferation of communication channels, such as social media, text messaging and the internet might make it seem that lying, in general, is becoming more common in today's society than ever before, even if that's not necessarily the case. "With technological innovations and so much posted online, there are so many new ways to get caught lying and so many possibilities for people who have detected liars to make their discoveries known," she says. When it comes to whether a person is going to tell a lie, McGlone says there are generally two motivating factors -- avoiding punishment or gaining a reward of some sort. "Judging whether to trust people or not should be based on both the truthfulness of their statements and the nature of their goals," he says. And while lying can lead to mistrust, in some cases, lying can actually be a good thing for both parties involved. SPRINGFIELD A judge issued a ruling this month that reads as a scathing indictment of the way his state funds and oversees public education. To keep its promise of adequate schools for all children, the state must rally more forcefully around troubled schools, the judge wrote, later adding, The distance between the rich and poor students in this state is great enough to remove any doubt about the importance of being careful to send money where it is most needed. Its a message that may sound familiar to anyone whos been following the debate over public school funding in Illinois for the past several years, but the words were written by Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher. At the end of an 11-year legal battle, Moukawsher gave his states Legislature 180 days to overhaul many aspect of its education system, including the way it distributes money to local schools. The Kansas Supreme Court, which previously ruled its states funding scheme unconstitutional, heard arguments last week in an ongoing lawsuit, and the high courts in Pennsylvania and Washington each heard similar cases in the prior two weeks. The Washington Supreme Court ruled that states funding plan unconstitutional in 2012. Aside from the court proceedings, these states have something in common: They all do a better job than Illinois of balancing funding for low- and high-poverty school districts. Illinois has the widest gap between total state and local money spent per student in its poorest districts compared with its wealthiest, according to a 2015 study from The Education Trust. As a bipartisan commission that Gov. Bruce Rauner assembled works on a proposed funding overhaul, these court decisions offer a glimpse of what could be in store for Illinois if the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the Republican governor fail to reach an agreement. I think you would only logically come to the conclusion that Illinois is primed for that type of a decision, said state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, a leading voice for Senate Democrats on education funding reform. Because if its bad in Kansas, its awful in Illinois in the eyes of a court. Thats why we ought to try to proactively address the issue as a Legislature. The possibility of a court decision in Illinois isnt purely hypothetical. A lawsuit from the Chicago Urban League challenging the funding formula has been pending since 2008 in Cook County Circuit Court. But members of the governors commission, including Manar, say the group has been finding common ground on an issue that can divide lawmakers along both partisan and regional lines. Whether or not this translates into an actual piece of legislation remains to be seen, Manar said. But I think there is broad consensus that distribution of state funds the formula should recognize the unique needs of every school district, which we dont do today. And recognition of that is a victory. State Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, a leader on education funding for Senate Republicans and another commission member, said he sees broad agreement forming around the so-called evidence-based model, which would use measures such as class sizes and the number of students who require special education services to determine how much money each district receives. The group also seems to recognize the need to pay special attention to districts with high concentrations of poverty, Barickman said. If you can have an agreement as to what the model is and how youre going to handle issues like poverty, then you move to, really, the tougher policy choices, he said, such as whether student performance will be part of the funding equation and how local property tax revenue should be factored in. The commission met Wednesday and reviewed the various funding proposals that circulated in the Legislature this spring and the plan that was ultimately approved, which kept the current formula but pumped in more than $600 million in additional funding to give a boost to high-poverty schools and make sure that no district received less than it did the previous year. The group is slated to take up property taxes at its Oct. 5 meeting. One topic the commission, composed almost entirely of lawmakers, has yet to delve into is the politics of passing a school funding overhaul, including provisions that prevent school districts from losing money as a result. But Beth Purvis, the Rauner education secretary whos heading the commission, said that the time for that conversation will come. Ignoring the political components of the discussion sort of defeats the purpose of having a council that is overwhelmingly members of the General Assembly, Purvis said at Wednesdays meeting. Meanwhile, Rauner said last week he hopes the commission can beat the Feb. 1 deadline he set for it to complete its work. Id like to have that be part of our grand compromise, if we can, on a budget, Rauner said. I think that would be the right time to do that. BLOOMINGTON After almost four years, LaRonn Carroll still struggles with the loss of his best friend, an agony that runs so deep that sometimes he wishes it would have been him who took the bullet and not the 16-year-old he considered a brother. Hardest to escape in Carrolls darkest moments is the reality that he was holding the gun when it accidentally fired, killing Kuantrae Massey. The two teens were hanging out with a group of friends on Jan. 21, 2013 when Carroll pulled a handgun from the couch at Masseys house and pointed it at the others. The weapon fired, hitting Massey in the chest. Accepting Carroll's contention that the shooting was an accident, a jury acquitted him of murder, but convicted him of involuntary manslaughter. Carroll was released from prison in October after serving 10 months of a 5 1/2- year prison sentence. His term was reduced by credits for his time in the county jail and day-for-day good time while in prison. Now living at home with his parents in Normal, the 21-year-old is working to rebuild the life put on hold when he was arrested at age 17. Somedays, I still have coping problems. Im wishing it was me and I could trade places with Trae. Thats how much I miss him, said Carroll, who is attending Heartland Community College. The tragedy also will be forever on the minds of Carrolls parents, Larry and Raquel Carroll, who also considered Massey a member of the family. We understand their loss and what they went through. None of that has been forgotten, said Raquel Carroll. For Larry Carroll, helping his 17-year-old son navigate the adult court system was a challenging, new experience. You have to grow up real fast, said Carroll, a program assistant at Normal's Hammitt School for children with behavioral disorders. Three months in Stateville Correctional Center, a complex that houses the states reception center for new inmates, is an experience the young Carroll never wants to repeat. He also spent seven months at the minimum security prison at Robinson is southern Illinois. Carroll's short term at the facility precluded him from services available to other inmates, including educational classes. He received his high school diploma through a correspondence course after he was released. He said strong family support has been key to his efforts to rebuild his life. "Without them, I wouldn't be on this path," he said. The months of waiting for a trial and the hours spent in the hallway outside the courtroom waiting for a verdict were stressful for the Carrolls and their supporters. Raquel Carroll never accepted the possibility that her son could be locked up for decades. "I wasn't prepared for that. I wasn't prepared when they took him out of the Bloomington Police Department to jail," she said. Larry Carroll relied on his faith. "I just knew that God would give us a decision on what he felt was best for our son. I was ready for that decision," he said. The family is realistic about the hurdles La'Ronn will face with his felony record. But looking back at how far they have come in the past 12 years including being homeless because their paychecks fell short of what it took for rent in Chicago the Carrolls take it in stride. Education is the first priority, then helping others. "I want him to finish school and be able to be a positive role model to the younger kids," said Racquel Carroll. NORMAL Rachel A. Zehr, 79, of Normal, passed away at 4:44 p.m. Sept. 14, 2016, at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa. Her inurnment will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mennonite Church of Normal-Ropp Cemetery, Normal. Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Mennonite Church of Normal with Pastor Tim Schrag and Pastor Jane Roeschley officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home, Bloomington, is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, the Mennonite Church of Normal or to Goshen College for the American Sign Language program. Rachel was born Aug. 8, 1937, in Foosland, a daughter of Harold and Alma Unzicker Zehr. Surviving are her two sisters, Hazel Yoder, Normal, and Lila (Ron) King, Harrisonburg, Va.; three brothers, John Zehr, Urbana; Jay Zehr, Goshen, Ind.; and Allen (Carol) Zehr, Bedford, Ind.; and 18 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Edith; and one brother, Dean. Rachel graduated from Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., with a bachelor of arts in education. After several years of teaching elementary school children, she attended Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she received her master of arts in education for the hearing impaired. She received additional education in this field from University of Illinois and Illinois State University. Rachel supervised teachers of the hearing impaired education programs, with her central headquarters in Peoria. After retiring, she screened elementary school children for hearing and vision for McLean County Health Department. She was active in the Mennonite Church of Normal, serving on many committees over the years, as well as teaching Sunday school. Rachel enjoyed volunteering, especially reading stories to Heartland Head Start children and working at Crossroads Global Handcrafts. The family would like to thank Meadows Mennonite Retirement Communtiy for the tender and attentive care given to Rachel during her stay there. Condolences and memories of Rachel may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com. Ah, the good old days when all fathers were breadwinners and all mothers were homemakers. Well, those days were never so simple, nor were they so good, at least for the many working class families whose mothers had to earn a living outside the home. Although it may come as a surprise to many traditionalists who yearn for an American past that never was, the lack of daycare for working mothers was an issue that goes back more than a century. Locally, such a need led independent, reform-minded women to establish Bloomingtons Day Nursery (what we would call a daycare center today) on the citys working-class west side. Back then the west side included the Chicago and Alton Railroad Shops and the McLean County Coal Co., both of which employed a large number of foreign-born men. And many of their wives and other working-class women had factory floor jobs at local candy maker Paul F. Beich Co., also located on the west side. The day nursery, which opened in early 1908, provided a safe, professionally run and low-cost daycare center for working mothers. From its very beginning the nursery also doubled as a settlement house, a type of social service center patterned after Progressive Era reformer Jane Addams Hull House in Chicago. The Bloomington Day Nursery and Social Settlement Association (as it became known) eventually offered immigrant and neighborhood families a wide range of programs. In addition to childcare, there were cooking, sewing, physical culture (exercise), art and folk dance classes. Other services included a branch of the public library and an employment bureau that matched west side residents with requests for help from the east side. (These usually entailed calls for domestic work housekeepers, nannies, chauffeurs and the like.) During its formative years no one was more closely associated with the day nursery than Jane Jennie Lynd Thompson. Mary McDowell, a contemporary of Addams who ran the University of Chicago Settlement House on that citys south side, was known as the Angel of the Stockyards. Keeping that in mind, one could just as well call Jennie Thompson the Angel of Bloomingtons West Side. The day nursery was first located in a small, wood-frame residence on the 1200 block of West Mulberry Street. Five years later the nursery moved into roomier quarters a block west on the same street, and two years after this former single-family home was substantially remodeled and enlarged. Remarkably, the house is still there today looking much as it did nearly 100 years ago, though its now back to serving as a residence. In order to meet growing expenses, day nursery supporters established the Womens Exchange in downtown Bloomington. This enterprise involved local women selling cakes, pies and various baked goods, as well as needle and other fancy work, with profits going to nursery and settlement house operations. Many area women took understandable pride in the fact that both the day nursery and Womens Exchange were managed and operated entirely by the supposedly fairer sex. Miss Jennie, as Thompson would be called by a generation of west side children, was a beloved figure in the Twin Cities. Neighborhood women valued her know-how, patience and temperament as they came to depend on her uncanny ability to smooth over the many wrinkles in their working-class lives. The West Mulberry Street center eventually included a health clinic, though they called it a dispensary, with local physicians and nurses volunteering their time. Patients were charged a nominal fee, based on ability to pay, or nothing at all. Minor surgeries were even performed there, including many tonsillectomies. The Day Nursery and Social Settlement Association was established at a time of de facto segregation in the Twin Cities. Black residents and visitors were not allowed to stay at downtown Bloomington hotels or eat at downtown restaurants, and were directed to separate seating areas in local theaters. By the end of World War I the locally run homes for orphaned and neglected children were even segregated by race black children were sent to the McLean County Home for Colored Children while their white counterparts resided at the Girls Industrial Home or Victory Hall in Normal. That being said, African Americans had access to some (though apparently not all) nursery and settlement house services. In her 1915 report, Thompson called for the establishment of a parallel day nursery to meet the needs of working African-American mothers. It wasnt until the 1940s, though, that the day nursery could promise black working-class families a welcoming place in which no color line is drawn. Too often day nursery backers, many of whom were well-intentioned middle- and upper-class mainline Protestants, adopted a patronizing tone when referring to working-class west side residents, many of whom were foreign-born or Catholic or both. English is making individuals out of these foreigners, declared settlement house language instructor C.F. Schreiber in early 1909. The foreigner lives in groups and he has a group thought. As soon as he learns enough English words to dare to venture into a conversation with an American and gets into our sphere of thought, then he becomes an individual Let us see how many Americans we can make out of these immigrants. Many programs were designed with such Americanization goals in mind, especially during the super-patriot agitation of World War I and the reactionary politics of the early 1920s. The day nursery was even home to a chapter of the Children of the Republic, a Boy Scouts-like organization established by the Daughters of the American Revolution. This group aimed at inculcating in the children of immigrant parents patriotism, the creed of the flag, the meaning of the salute and other lessons tending to make them true Americans when they grow up. The day nursery remained in operation on West Mulberry Street until 1968. That year the nursery relocated to 315 N. Stilwell St. and became known as the Day Care Center of McLean County. In 2008, it was renamed the Milestones Early Learning Center and six years later a new home was opened on Six Points Road. One hundred and eight years after its founding the old day nursery is still helping those in need! Jennie Thompson passed away on Jan. 13, 1924, at the age of 63. Her death was called a bewildering blow to the day nursery, so great was her worth in her special line of settlement work and so rare and beautiful her character. It was fitting that her earthly remains laid in state at the West Mulberry Street nursery and settlement house, where hundreds of west side folk could say their final goodbyes to Miss Jennie. They knew that more than any east side do-gooder philanthropist, Thompson had played an instrumental role in making the day nursery an outpost of humanity, radiating love, help and encouragement. Thompson is one of eight characters featured in the McLean County Museum of Historys annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk. This popular event, which has become an autumn tradition for many area residents and families, will be held the weekends of Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 8-9. For information and tickets, contact the museum at 309-827-0428. Editor's note: This series on juvenile justice is supported through a fellowship provided by John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Center on Media, Crime, and Justice and the Tow Foundation. Reporter Edith Brady-Lunny is a current fellow with the center and attended a symposium in June in New York on the topic, "Children and the Law." BLOOMINGTON In his three decades working in juvenile probation services, Randy Macak has developed his own system for measuring the success of youth who have contact brief or extended with the criminal justice system. Recidivism is not the only measurement. Sometimes, youve bettered their lives in some way in the course of working with them. And that means they may have made another mistake, but theyve also finished a GED, said Macak, deputy director of McLean Countys juvenile court services. Macak sees little distinction between troubled youth and youth in trouble. In most cases, the problems extend beyond youths to their families. Our officers take on the role of social workers, said Macak, helping with everything from utility bills to issues at school. A probation officer with a caseload of 40 children also is dealing with 40 families. The goal, said Macak, is to keep youth out of the countys juvenile detention center and in community-based services. In 2014, 183 youths between the ages of 10 and 17 were held in McLean County, a detention rate of 10.8 per 1,000 youths, according to the Center for Prevention Research and Development at the University of Illinois. The state average is 8.8 percent per 1,000 youths. McLean operates one of 16 juvenile county detention centers in the state. Like most of those facilities, McLean also provides temporary confinement for youths from neighboring counties. In the fist seven months of 2016, the county admitted 139 youths to the facility, with 54 percent coming from other counties. Youths 10 years or older can be held in detention under Illinois law. In 2014, 46 children between the ages of 10-11 and another 722 between 12-13 were held across the state as part of 12,000 who were admitted to county facilities. When a child is taken into custody, a detention hearing must be held in court within 40 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays. The rule that keeps youth in custody for several days because of weekends and holidays means children wait longer than their adult counterparts who must be brought before a judge within 48 hours regardless of the calendar. Elizabeth Clark, president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative based in Evanston, supports legislation that would remove the weekend and holiday delay for youths. We believe juvenile detention is a broken system in Illinois and we want to find ways to improve things," said Clark, contending the animal rights movement has seen more progress than whats been accomplished for childrens rights. Far more difficult to resolve are the racial disparities reflected in statistics in Illinois' juvenile detention system. Statewide, 77 percent of all detention admissions were non-white in 2014, according to a new report from the Juvenile Justice Initiative. White youth represent 76 percent of the youth population in Illinois, but the rate of detention admissions for white children was about 10 percent in 11 of 102 counties with only Perry County showing a rate of more than 15 percent for white children. Our nation is facing a national crisis of confidence in the justice system, and these profound disparities call the legitimacy of the entire justice system into question, said the study. In four counties, black children represent less than 20 percent of the youth population but more than 80 percent of the juvenile detention population in those counties. In McLean County, African American youths represented 68.3 percent of the juvenile census, compared to 2.4 percent for white youth in 2014, based on data in the U of I report. Single parents Research by Macak of the youth seen by probation officers in the past 11 months supports a finding that children from single family households often become entangled in the criminal justice system. Of the 91 new cases, 86 percent came from a home with a single parent or guardian. Of the 50 African American probationers, 88 percent came from a one-parent household, said Macek. Having two parents allows the family to share the stress and the work that needs to be done to help the child, said Macek. As with adults, mental health issues also are a common challenge for juveniles involved with the courts, said Patrick Keenan-Devlin, executive of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy. The Evanston-based non-profit clinic helps low-income children and families. If you look at the jail populations across the U.S., mental health issues are a uniform factor. We use our detention system as a form of institutionalization for the mentally ill, said Keenan-Devlin. Upwards of 90 percent of the minors who receive help from the Moran Center have emotional or learning issues, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, said Keenan-Devlin. A social worker is part of the team that works with a lawyer to address a range of issues, he said. Children who have an outside advocate at school can prosper more than those who face their challenges alone. Community-based legal clinics bring advice to children and families before situations become serious, he added. In McLean County, the Center for Youth and Family Solutions partnered with court services to help minors stay on the right track after a mistake that has legal consequences. Those efforts ended in July when the county ended its participation in the state's Juvenile Reploy Program but court services hopes to restore the assistance with a proposed grant through the McLean County Board of Health. Clark and other supporters of juvenile justice reform are encouraged by changes the state has seen this year, including a requirement that minors who are suspects in homicide and sexual cases have a lawyer with them during questioning by police. Another change keeps youths younger than 16 in juvenile court unless they are charged with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault or aggravated battery with a firearm. Small changes also can make a difference, said Keenan-Devlin. A state rule that requires youth leaving juvenile prisons to request and pay $1 for an identification card when are released is something the state could easily erase by providing the identification, he said. NORMAL Despite his dad's job, 3-year-old Sawyer Hollenkamp still loves the bright red color of a fire truck. He loves fire trucks, even though I am a police officer, his father, Jason, said. Thats OK. He likes them both. Im not jealous. Sawyer was one of hundreds of children who had up close and personal looks at Normal police vehicles and fire trucks during Saturdays Worldwide Day of Play in uptown Normal. The 10th annual event encourages children and parents to turn off the television and play; educational opportunities included talking to Normal firefighters and police officers. We are just letting people know what we do and how we do it, said Normal firefighter Dave Polley, one of several responders who visited with children and adults. Its really interesting to spend this much time with the kids and talk about what we do. Normal Police Department Community Services Officer Greg Leipold agreed. This is the best part of my job, he said. Everyone wants to push the siren on the police car, which is a lot of fun for them. But you can also tell they want to hear about the job and what types of other things we do. The Worldwide Day of Play was created by Nickelodeon. Locally, the Childrens Discovery Museum and YWCA McLean County partnered to host the event, which featured activities at the YWCA, the museum and in uptown Normal, where a block party included more than 40 booths of free activities such as live music and bike rodeo. This event exposes families to activities and organizations throughout the community that will aid them in adopting a healthy lifestyle, said Childrens Discovery Museum Interim Manager Shelly Hanover. Laura and Brian Miller of Lincoln brought their 2-year-old son, Hudson. We heard about this and thought it would be something he would enjoy, Laura Miller said. He seems to enjoy the fire trucks a lot. For 9-year-old Evan Tegenkamp of Normal, sounding the siren on one of Normals police cars was the highlight of his day. It made people jump if you did it right, he said. Activities at the YWCA included a bounce house, hula hoops, jumping rope, tumbling mats and physical education activities. The goal is to get outside and do something fun, said Mary Arbogast of Normal. On a day like this where its nice and warm out, there is no reason to be inside. Cold weather will be here before you know it, so I think it sends a positive message to enjoy the outdoors and do something as a family. Most of us have the luxury of collecting a paycheck on a regular basis. We put in our time doing the jobs we do and every week or two our employers give us a check or, in many cases, electronically transfer the cash to our accounts. Then there are the farmers of the world. These folks toil in the spring to get their crops in the field and spend the next five months hoping Mother Nature and the commodity markets play nice so they can reap some financial rewards for their efforts. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case in recent years as the two previously mentioned players team up with higher costs for everything from equipment, seed, chemicals, land, labor the list goes on and on to diminish the return on investment. Why should you care? The farmer chose to do this for a living, after all, and knew the risks going in. Do you like to eat? Do you like having a job? Do you like being able to go to things like the Decatur Celebration? If you answered yes to any of these, you need to care, and you need to thank a farmer. Consider these facts from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Illinois has 74,300 farms that cover nearly 27 million acres about 75 percent of the state's total land area. The marketing of Illinois' agricultural commodities generates more than $19 billion annually, with billions more from ag-relate industries. Illinois, with 2,640 food manufacturing companies, leads the nation with $180 billion in processed food sales. Illinois ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries. Illinois is the nation's second leading exporter of soybeans and feed grains and related products. But agriculture goes beyond the dirt, some aspects of which are highlighted in the Farm Focus special section in today's Herald & Review. Without our local farmers, we wouldn't have companies like Archer Daniels Midland Co., Tate & Lyle, Growmark Inc. and Nestle in our back yards to employ our residents, pay property taxes and to contribute to community charities and events. Without these large companies, smaller companies hired to keep those factories going and transport their goods might be much smaller or not exist. Without them, auto dealers, restaurants and stores would have no reason to locate here. Somewhere along the line the company you count on for your paycheck could disappear. The message is simple. A strong local economy depends on a strong farm economy. Elon Musk is reportedly set to reveal details of his plans in colonizing Mars in the next decades. The SpaceX CEO will deliver a speech dubbed as "Making Humans an Interplanetary Species" on Sept. 27 at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) which will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Musk's speech is expected to detail the technologies he intends to employ in order to transport humans to the Red Planet. It is also suggested that the speech will cover a number of issues, including the long-term plans necessary to sustain the permanent presence of humans on Mars as well as his architecture plans in colonizing Mars. It can be recalled that Musk foresees that people could reach Mars in 2024 if the Red Dragon mission would be successful. In the Code Conference held in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Musk announced that his Flying Dragon 2 rocket is intended to bring astronauts to the International Space Station. Additionally, he also plans to send an unmanned rocket to Mars in 2018. Furthermore, more rockets are expected to follow every 26 months if there is an open opportunity, NBC News reported. The SpaceX chief reportedly plans to launch the Red Dragon mission to the Red Planet's surface through the new technology called "supersonic retro propulsion." However, while Musk sees that the Flying Dragon 2 could transport people to Mars, he revealed that the rocket can no longer go back to the Earth. Meanwhile, NASA is also paying an important role in Musk's Mars mission by purportedly giving them "very specific areas of expertise," Inverse reported. In a teleconference with NASA's director of commercial spaceflight development Phil McAlister, it has been revealed that NASA is acting as a consultant to SpaceX. In return, NASA will be given access to the information collected by the SpaceX from the moment it lifts off until it reaches Mars, Nature World News reported. Musk's SpaceX Red Dragon mission is reportedly slated to start as early as May 2018. The mission is set to launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. Watch Elon Musk discuss how he wants to build the future. "Vikings Season 4" Part 2, anticipated to be the farewell for star Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), will continue to prove if the History series cast had been successful ambassadors of the old Scandinavian culture. With "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 marking the transition from Ragnar Lothbrok as leader and star onto his successors, the History series is set to prove its strength. History cites an interview with "Vikings" creator Michael Hirst on the choice to develop the series based on Scandinavian lore and history. Before the advent of Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok, Clive Standen as Rollo and Katheryn Winnick as shieldmaiden Lagertha, the Vikings were largely unpopular based on Western historical accounts. The support for Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo and Lagertha in the "Vikings" series reportedly birthed a surprising change in public perspective of the ancient Norse. With the "Vikings" series, the viewing public became more intimately acquainted with Scandinavian heroes such as Ragnar Lothbrok, Rollo, Lagertha and Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) - their struggles, hopes, victories and defeats. Never forget those you have lost. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/cIdAon9a1B Vikings on HISTORY (@HistoryVikings) 13 September 2016 With History set to unveil "Vikings Season 4" Part 2, the popularity of Ragnar Lothbrok and old series favorites will be tested. Parent Herald cites reports where Michael Hirst highlights that "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 will now go into the explosion of Viking venture into England, Europe and the Mediterranean. "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 will now face head on the chapters of Scandinavian history that clashed with Western accounts and turned the likes of Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar The Boneless (Alex Hogh Anderson) into villains. With "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 bringing the tale closer to home, will fans of Ragnar Lothbrok, Lagertha, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar The Boneless continue to root for them? Among Scandinavians, "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 may continue to strike a chord as the History series has been touted as an intelligent account of Norse history according to Michael Hirst. The Swedish source whom Michael Hirst consulted on the "Vikings" series did qualify that the tales of Ragnar Lothbrok and company may have inaccuracies given that the period covers the Dark Ages. However, with the "Vikings" series, personalities in Scandinavian lore and history as Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar The Boneless ceased to be the caricature that Western accounts painted them to be. Fans will now see with "Vikings Season 4" Part 2, if Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar The Boneless are genuinely successful ambassadors for the Norse culture. History will air the "Vikings Season 4" Part 2 premiere on Nov 30. Are you looking forward to seeing the arc on Ragnar Lothbrok wrap up in "Vikings Season 4" Part 2? Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo are not left alone with rumors as a lot of fans want them together. While there may be some indications that the two are in a secret relationship but a possibility of them announcing their relationship may not be that far behind. According to rumors, Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo have been secretly seeing each other even after their "Descendants of the Sun" is over. While one speculation of why Joong Ki has not revealed his relationship with Hye Kyo is because of their age difference. But fans, though, do not think much about their age difference as most fans fell in love with their perfect tandem in "Descendants of the Sun." And, it is because of the Song-Song' couple's popularity that they got nominated for best couple APAN Star Awards. So, why does these two hide their relationship? Beside from the possible small age gap, announcing their relationship may just put pressure on them. Just like what happened to "Twilight" stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, announcing their relationship publicly will leave them vulnerable to more possible rumors. "My dating style is not that special," Song Joong Ki said when asked about his love life. "But I have no plans to go public if I get into a relationship. I will do my best to preserve the emotion for the person that I like but I also want to keep it a secret for that person." Little traces of their rumored relationship can even be dated back when they were still in "DOTS" and mostly after that. Hye Kyo and Joong Ki wore the same bracelet before Joong Ki went to China. They were even pictured together having lunch after Joong Ki returned from his tour in China and Hong Kong. And of course, the coffee and food truck that Hye Kyo sent Joong Ki while on film indicate their close bond. And while there may be a lot of rumors regarding Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo's secret relationship, the Song-Song couple will definitely stay quiet regarding their rumored relationship and probably would just reveal their relationship if the rumors die down. Will "God Of War" 4 from Sony Santa Monica and creative director Cory Barlog show more Kratos at the 2016 Sony PlayStation Experience? Excitement over the "God Of War" reboot and the new Kratos is understandable given a well-received unveiling by Sony at the E3 2016 on the new "GoW." What gave "God Of War" 4 a strong showing at E3 demo unveiling was, among other things, a new take on Kratos as a protagonist in a Norse mythology map. Although "GoW" fans and the media popularly call the new Sony offering "God Of War" 4, Cory Barlog explained to Venture Beat why the number four was omitted from the official title. According to Cory Barlog, "God Of War" 4 is essentially a new era in the Sony franchise that takes "GoW" fans from Greek to Norse mythology. Kratos, as the protagonist in the previous "God Of War" games, serves as a bridge into the new "GoW," which changes the story over to Norse mythology. Cory Barlog highlighted that the one thing he and the team at Sony do not wish to happen is for "GoW" fans to view the new "God Of War" as a simple sequel. "God Of War" 4 is anything but a sequel. Nonetheless, "God Of War" 4 and Kratos will not feel completely strange to "GoW" fans. "God Of War" 4 will retain much of Kratos' old characteristics, only this time the "GoW" protagonist will battle against the worst of them - foremost being his rage. Join Kratos and his son on a journey with us to create the next #GodofWar, we're hiring https://t.co/GAoAKVoxRk pic.twitter.com/fEckj2c4TT Santa Monica Studio (@SonySantaMonica) September 20, 2016 Whereas the Kratos of the old "GoW" iterations had been much a slave to rage, "God Of War" 4 players will see Kratos' internal struggle and his attempt to change the cycle of his existence. Interestingly, Cory Barlog told Venture Beat that Kratos in "God Of War" 4 is similar to Wolverine's Old Man Logan. We're on the hunt for new creatives to join our #GodofWar team https://t.co/mkaVSLyXpm pic.twitter.com/pDwIRb2WbK Santa Monica Studio (@SonySantaMonica) September 23, 2016 Needless to say, "GoW" fans are excited to know more, even see more, of "God Of War" 4 with Kratos and his son. Gaming Bolt cites a social media post from Cory Barlog, which indicates that the "God Of War" 4 director and Sony are uncertain if the new "GoW" will show up at the 2016 PlayStation Experience. @DatBoi33018331 dont know, the mountain of work we are under is massive, so we are taking things one day at a time. Cory Barlog (@corybarlog) September 21, 2016 Given the massive work involved in delivering "God Of War" 4, the earliest date that Sony Santa Monica and Cory Barlog are expected to be ready with the new "GoW" is late 2017. "God Of War" 4 will be released as exclusive PS4 title. Patna: With all the tell-tale signs of the return of the 'Jungle Raj' in Bihar despite strong denial by the Nitish administration, criminals in Patna under Fatuha police station shot and killed a police sub-inspector and escaped with the victim's service revolver. Ram Raj Chowdhary, the 55-year old ASI, was on his motorcycle going towards Fatuha railway station when unidentified criminals opened fire at him. Chowdhary was hit at least one time in the neck and died on the spot. The criminals then stole his service firearm and escaped before a crowd could gather at the crime scene. His body was found lying between the Patna-Bakhtiarpur four-lane divider. Chowdhary, a native of Manihari in Katihar district, was posted at Telhara police station in Nalanda district. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manu Maharaj and other senior officials visited the crime scene and gathered evidence that they hope would lead to the arrest of the killers. Incidentally, this is the second police officer to be killed in Bihar in the last six months. A third one was also shot in Nalanda district last March but he survived. As we get closer to the Championship, see how the action will take place! A Democrat has won California in every presidential election since 1988, and thats not likely to change this year. But could history be made in Orange County, a symbol of Republican politics that hasnt gone to a Democrat in 80 years? And can Hillary Clinton carry Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where Donald Trump might find a more receptive audience? The candidates are in a tight race nationally, but California is safe ground for the Democratic Party, which controls all statewide elected offices, a majority in the state Legislature and most of the states congressional seats. Statewide, 45 percent of registered voters are Democrats, compared to 27 percent for the GOP and 23 percent who are unaffiliated with a political party. The percentage of Republican voters in California has dropped in recent years. Californias most populated areas are deep blue. Barack Obama won 70 percent of the vote in Los Angeles County and 84 percent of the San Francisco County vote four years ago. Forty-one percent of San Bernardino County voters are registered Democrats compared to 33 percent for Republicans. Orange County still has more Republican voters than Democrats, but its just a 5 percent gap. In 1990, the margin was 22 points. Earlier this year, the number of registered Democrats in Riverside County eclipsed Republicans for the first time in recent memory. Democrats currently hold a 1-point edge in the countys voter registration. Riverside Countys shift to blue coincides with a rise in the countys Latino population; Latinos tend to vote Democratic. Forty-seven percent of county residents were Latino in 2014, up from 34 percent in 2000, census numbers show. No matter how Californias 58 counties vote individually, all of the states 55 electoral votes will go to the winner of the statewide vote. A Field Poll released last week showed Clinton leading Trump among likely California voters by 17 points, a 7-point drop from July. REAL TOSS-UP Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 was the last Democrat to carry Orange County. But a political science professor at Chapman University in Orange thinks this year will be different. I think (Clinton) will take Orange County, Fred Smoller said. She will get the base of Democrats and she will get a good chunk of independents Orange County Republicans will go for (Libertarian presidential candidate) Gary Johnson. Trump does not appeal to Orange County Republicans, who tend to be libertarians or social conservatives, Smoller said. More Orange County votes were cast for Democratic presidential candidates in Californias June 7 primary than Republican ones, he added. Orange County, where Trump has made campaign stops, is a real toss-up, said Marcia Godwin, an associate professor of public administration at the University of La Verne. It went Republican in the last two presidential elections, but not by huge margins less than 40,000 votes in 2008 and by about 70,000 votes in 2012. If no party preference voters go for Clinton and some Republicans vote for Johnson, then Trump loses (Orange County), Godwin said. Communities like Brea and Yorba Linda to the north and Orange County coastal cities still are Republican strongholds, she said. However, the so-called Surfer Republicans are giving way to millennial Democrats in other parts of Orange County. Irvines recent shift to having a narrow Democratic advantage may be a tipping point. Smoller sees the countys increasing ethnic diversity as helping Democrats, something Orange County Republican Party Chairman Fred Whitaker disputes. The voting in the primary had everything to do with the Bernie Sanders phenomenon and very little to do with changing demographics in Orange County, Whitaker said. Sanders was still challenging Clinton for the Democratic nomination while Trump had the GOP bid sewn up by the time Californias primary took place. Voting in the general election will be much different, Whitaker said. There just is no enthusiasm among those in the center, or those struggling to make ends meet, for a third Obama term. Even worse for the Democrats, there is no enthusiasm among their most loyal voters for Hillary Clinton. Voters of all demographics and parties want a change, so the enthusiasm gap in November will be the exact opposite of June. Orange County will stay solidly Republican. Orange County Democratic Party Chairman Henry Vandermeir said the enthusiasm gap is on the Republican side. A lot of (Republicans) tell me theyre not voting for Trump, he said. That said, it will take a perfect storm, with Democratic turnout matching the primary, for Clinton to win Orange County, Vandermeir said, adding hes cautiously optimistic about Clintons chances in the county. INLAND VOTE Obama carried Riverside and San Bernardino counties in 2008 and 2012, although it was a narrow Riverside County win over Mitt Romney four years ago. Riverside County GOP Chairman Scott Mann believes Trump has a strong chance of winning his county. He points to a SurveyUSA poll conducted earlier this month that showed Clinton with a 2-point lead over Trump among likely Inland voters. That said, Mann said battleground states back east are the priority for making phone calls on behalf of the Trump campaign from Riverside County. The second priority is to run up the score in Riverside County. Were doing what we can to help with that effort. Riverside County Democratic Party Chairman Howard Katz said that while he expects county voters will be more enthusiastic about Trump than they were about Romney, I dont think that enthusiasm is enough to win Riveside County. Robert Hansen, a vice chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party, said Trumps chances in his county are better than many may think. He thinks a lack of enthusiasm among Clinton supporters and two competitive local races the 40th Assembly District and the 31st Congressional District will boost turnout for Trump. People want some change. Theyre tired of being unemployed and under-employed, Hansen said. Thats a pretty compelling issue in the Inland Empire and San Bernardino County. Thats definitely something that favors a pro-business candidate like Donald Trump. The unemployment rate for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area was 6.6 percent in August and 5.6 percent statewide, according to state figures. San Bernardino County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Robles said that Trumps mouth is the best (get out the vote tool) we have. I have had so many conversations with Republicans in the county and theyre just frustrated with the candidate that theyre saddled with, Robles said. Hes a liability, especially in this county with a large Latino population and large African-American population. Roughly 51 percent of San Bernardino County residents are Latino and 10 percent are black, according to 2014 census figures. Clinton enjoys a sizable lead over Trump among minority voters. Trumps base is white voters without college degrees, and the Inland Empire has more of those than other parts of California. Just 30 percent of whites 25 and older in Riverside County 35 percent in San Bernardino County hold an associates degree or higher compared to 51 percent statewide, census figures show. Inland whites may be more culturally conservative and more likely to vote for Trump than Republicans in coastal areas, said Loren Collingwood, a UC Riverside assistant political science professor. That said, a high Inland Latino turnout favors Clinton, he said. http://cdn.thinglink.me/jse/embed.js Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@scng.com A garage fire displaced people at a Jurupa Valley home Sunday, Sept. 25, authorities said. The fire was reported at 10:40 a.m. in the 9400 block of Hastings Boulevard, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release said. Firefighters contained the blaze in 25 minutes, before it spread to the rest of the home, the release said. Help from the American Red Cross was requested for those displaced. Linda Krupa pulled her phone from her purse and scanned a code on the side of a streetlight post on California Street in Hemet to take a survey about the recently installed LED bulb. The amount of light is just right? Mildly agree. I feel safe/visible with this light? Mildly agree. The light is better than what we have now? Strongly agree. I want this light in my community? Strongly agree. I like the color of the light? Strongly agree. The routine was followed three more times Thursday as the Hemet City Council member toured a portion of the Streetlight Demonstration Area set up by the Western Riverside Council of Governments to see how to best light neighborhoods in the region. LED streetlights have been installed in five areas of Hemet so members of the public can view and comment on a variety of new technologies. The poles with new lights have a white tag with a code that can be scanned from a smartphone to link to the questions. Or notes can be taken and an online survey completed later. There were pluses and minuses along the route, which Krupa toured with a reporter and a photographer. The lights were all bright and appeared to be an improvement over the yellow that glows from most streetlights in the area. And the survey was simple to access and complete. Krupa especially liked a lamppost on Florida Avenue, west of Sanderson Avenue, where its also the 74. This really lights up a main street nicely, Krupa said. I could see this all along Florida Avenue. But some light poles in the test area are not easy to access. A couple along Sanderson and Florida are in no-parking zones. Also, the tag was as high as 7 feet up on some posts, and on the street side as opposed to the sidewalk side, putting observers close to traffic. Anthony Segura, a staff analyst with WRCOG, said those issues will be corrected. We will lower the tags where they have been placed too high, he wrote in an email. We will add additional pole tags to the sidewalk side of each pole. WRCOG has received more than 20 survey responses since the program started two weeks ago. We anticipate to receive more input in the upcoming months as WRCOG will be promoting the demonstration area via social media and community events, Segura said. There have been concerns about LED lights in other communities, especially when it comes to brightness and the affects on sleep patterns. New York City officials replaced some LED bulbs because residents complained that they were too bright. The American Medical Association issued a warning in June stating improper LED technology can have adverse consequences on health. The association adopted guidelines for communities to minimize potential harmful human and environmental effects. LED technologies have progressed significantly even in the last few years, Segura said. Many LED manufacturers are producing softer illumination bulbs. One of the foremost reasons for the demonstration areas is to display lights from an array of manufacturers so that members of the public can have real-life opportunities to experience, compare and comment on which lights they prefer and/or which they do not care for. Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@scng.com If you didnt get enough hot weather this summer, more heat is on the way. Fire danger also will peak Sunday, Sept. 25, officials say. The Inland valleys are under a heat advisory through Monday evening, as temperatures are expected to reach near or into triple digits Sunday and Monday. Theres also a wind advisory, in effect through 4 p.m. Sunday, which warns that Santa Ana winds could produce gusts up to 45 mph in the Inland valleys and coastal foothills, and up to 55 mph below the Cajon Pass and through the Santa Ana Mountains. Additionally, a red flag warning is in effect until 3 p.m. Monday. The most critical combination of heat, lowest humidity and strongest winds is expected (Sunday), the National Weather Service reported. The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index, which predicts how rapidly a fire could spread if one were to break out, says the threat is moderate Sunday and marginal Monday for the Inland area, along with Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Forecasters say temperatures will be lower Tuesday and will continue dropping throughout the week. By Saturday, highs are expected to peak in the mid-80s. The cooldown will also come with cloudier skies and a slight chance for sprinkles or scattered showers, meteorologists say. SPRINGFIELD A judge issued a ruling this month that reads as scathing indictment of the way his state funds and oversees public education. To keep its promise of adequate schools for all children, the state must rally more forcefully around troubled schools, the judge wrote, later adding, The distance between the rich and poor students in this state is great enough to remove any doubt about the importance of being careful to send money where it is most needed. Its a message that may sound familiar to anyone whos been following the debate over public school funding in Illinois for the past several years, but the words were written by Connecticut Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher. At the end of an 11-year legal battle, Moukawsher gave his states legislature 180 days to overhaul many aspect of its education system, including the way it distributes money to local schools. The Kansas Supreme Court, which previously ruled its states funding scheme unconstitutional, heard arguments last week in an ongoing lawsuit, and the high courts in Pennsylvania and Washington each heard similar cases in the prior two weeks. The Washington Supreme Court ruled that states funding plan unconstitutional in 2012. Aside from the court proceedings, these states have something in common: They all do a better job than Illinois of providing equitable funding for high-poverty school districts. Illinois has the widest gap between total state and local money spent per student in its poorest districts compared with its wealthiest, according to a 2015 study from The Education Trust. As a bipartisan commission that Gov. Bruce Rauner assembled works on a proposed funding overhaul, these court decisions offer a glimpse of what could be in store for Illinois if the Democratic-controlled General Assembly and the Republican governor fail to reach an agreement. I think you would only logically come to the conclusion that Illinois is primed for that type of a decision, said state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, a leading voice for Senate Democrats on education funding reform. Because if its bad in Kansas, its awful in Illinois in the eyes of a court. Thats why we ought to try to proactively address the issue as a legislature. The possibility of a court decision in Illinois isnt purely hypothetical. A lawsuit from the Chicago Urban League challenging the funding formula has been pending since 2008 in Cook County Circuit Court. But members of the governors commission, including Manar, say the group has been finding common ground on an issue that can divide lawmakers along both partisan and regional lines. Whether or not this translates into an actual piece of legislation remains to be seen, Manar said. But I think there is broad consensus that distribution of state funds the formula should recognize the unique needs of every school district, which we dont do today. And recognition of that is a victory. State Sen. Jason Barickman of Bloomington, a leader on education funding for Senate Republicans and another commission member, said he sees broad agreement forming around the so-called evidence-based model, which would use measures such as class sizes and the number of students who require special education services to determine how much money each district receives. The group also seems to recognize the need to pay special attention to districts with high concentrations of poverty, Barickman said. If you can have an agreement as to what the model is and how youre going to handle issues like poverty, then you move to, really, the tougher policy choices, he said, such as whether student performance will be part of the funding equation and how local property tax revenue should factor in. The commission met Wednesday and reviewed the various funding proposals that circulated in the legislature this spring, and the plan that was ultimately approved, which kept the current formula but pumped in more than $600 million in additional funding to give a boost to high-poverty schools and make sure that no district received less than it did the previous year. The group is slated to take up property taxes at its Oct. 5 meeting. One topic the commission, composed almost entirely of lawmakers, has yet delved into is the politics of passing a school funding overhaul, including provisions that prevent school districts from losing money as a result. But Beth Purvis, the Rauner education secretary whos heading the commission, said that the time for that conversation will come. Ignoring the political components of the discussion sort of defeats the purpose of having a council that is overwhelmingly members of the General Assembly, Purvis said at Wednesdays meeting. Meanwhile, Rauner said last week that he hopes the commission can beat the Feb. 1 deadline he set for it complete its work. Id like to have that be part of our grand compromise, if we can, on a budget, Rauner said. I think that would be the right time to do that. Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has advised the youth not to risk their lives for politicians. Speaking to young people at a peace walk organised in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Saturday 24 September, Mr Debrah asked: If your candidate becomes president, are you sure you can move from Wa and go and say that sir: Im the one that they used stones to hit my head; Im the one that they punched my eye, so, the food that your wife prepared, let me eat some. Can you do that? The walk, organised by NASSOBA in collaboration with the National Road Commission and the National Youth Authority saw five political parties including the NDC, NPP and PNC participating. It was used to foster unity ahead of the December 7 polls. Mr Debrah told the youth that: "President John Dramani Mahama has stated on countless occasions his commitment towards protecting the peace and unity of Ghana. I am here to also amplify that government is desirous of safeguarding the country's peace beyond the 2016 elections. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Monkeys play by sizesI am establishing the fact that our benchmark as the NDC is the astounding performance of Kwame Nkrumah says Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of Transport. Fiifi Kwetey who also doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ketu South constituency, contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold explained their benchmark as a party are the achievements of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Jerry John Rawlings and not the non-performing eight years of the NPP. Setting the Records Straight The NDC re-launched its Setting the Records Straight forum at the partys headquarters in Accra on Thursday. The forum which was led by Fifi Kwetey addressed various issues including claims from the opposition New Patriotic Party. However, the MP for Ketu South said the forum was not to react at all to the lies that are being told (by the NPP); but to show the competence of its candidate, John Mahama Weve also noticed with some amount of amusement and not so much shock the typical reaction that has greeted the press conference coming from the NPP. Typically what the NPP does is when issues are raised.they go for personal attacks; they try to insult you and some way somehow they feel that when they do those things, you will back off and not be able to continue speaking the truth but theyve got the wrong candidate. Personal attacks have never bothered some of us and it will never do because when you are on the side of truth you never worry of personal attacks. We have the issues on our side he added. 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 The Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) has return books reported to have been seized from a Ghanaian Lebanese pilot and author Fadi Dabbousi to his residence. His lawyer, Hassan Tampouli said on Sunday at about 5:45 am, operatives of the BNI returned to the residence of Mr Fadi without a search warrant but they were given access to the property. "All they did this morning was to return all the copies of the book they took away although they still have in their possession the diary, pen drives and other valuables that they took away," he said. Fadi is been held by the BNI headquarters after been picked at the Kotoka international airport on Friday. He is the author of a book 59 years of Ghana to nowhere; the future is now. Joy News security sources say he has made some offensive comments about President Mahama. Mr Tampoli confirmed this and says he is yet to have access to his client noting he will go to court to compel the BNI to produce him. I have been to the office of the BNI and I was denied access to him. I was told the officer responsible for the case was not in the office and that I can only have access to him on Monday, he said on Saturday. He said he would go to the offices of the BNI on Sunday to see if he would be given access to his client whom he said is on some sort of medication and they need to check up on him to see if he has his medication. According to Mr Tampoli, he has not been told why his client has been arrested and he has not bee allowed to speak to any "responsible officer" at the BNI office. "They should not err on the side of the law they should allow me access to him so I can hear his side of the story and the reason for his arrest. The 48 hours rule applies and it expires midday today [Sunday, September 25]," he said. The lawyer is questioning why the BNI says it does not work on weekends yet they were able to go to his client's house to return the books. Mr Tampoli said he would seek a court order on first thing Monday to compel the BNI to release him or arraign him before the court. Mr Dabboussie is believed to be a sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and some party sympathisers and human rights activists have condemned the act on social media. Source: Myjoyonline.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 Police in Washington State have arrested the suspected shooter responsible for the deaths of five people in a Burlington shopping centre. Washington State Patrols Sargeant Mark Francis took to Twitter to announce 20-year-old Arcan Cetin, the alleged gunman behind Friday nights shooting at the Cascade Mall, is now in custody. OFFICIAL: Here is a DOL photo of the suspect: Arcan Cetin, 20-yr-old Oak Harbor resident. pic.twitter.com/fypj6aBBJ2 Sgt. Mark Francis (@wspd7pio) September 25, 2016 Cetin had previously been involved in an assault case, and was ordered to take a mental health evaluation last year. Its not yet known what the motive for the attack was. The FBIs Seattle branch said yesterday there is currently no evidence linking the shooting to terrorism. Four women were shot dead during the attack, which took place in the cosmetics department of a department store. A man was also shot, and later died in hospital. The youngest victim is believed to have been a 16-year-old cancer survivor. Lacey Shoemaker, who is overseeing the Red Cross disaster mental health outreach in the region, said its hit the community on a very emotional level. Its a very small, tight-knit community. Its just kind of unbelievable something like this would happen here. I think theres a lot of mixed emotions Its weird when it happens in your own back yard. It digs a little deeper. RIP. Source: New York Times / Seattle Times. Photo: Karen Ducey / Getty. Yall remember yesterdays wonderful, if unexpected, team-up between former Aussie Prime Minister Julia Gillard and none other than Rihanna herself? We wont give up until every child is in school and learning. Welcome to the @GPforEducation team, @rihanna! https://t.co/kHnIBPpTc2 pic.twitter.com/Cy0QIdNDLT Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) September 23, 2016 Well, the pair of em have built on their newfound power partnership with showings at New York Citys ha-yuuge Global Citizens festival, with the goal of promoting a massive new push to ensure educations for vulnerable kids in developing nations worldwide. Appearing alongside the Prime Minister of Norway and the former Prime Minister of Tanzania, Gillard told the massive crowd education is the best investment we can make for a prosperous, peaceful, equitable, and future-ready world. She called for attendees to back the Global Partnership for Educations massive new funding drive, before announcing a new partnership to ensure every child experiences a great education. Beaming with pride quite rightly, tbh Gillard said GPE is joining forces with Global Citizen, the Clara Lionel Foundation and its founder, our new global ambassador Rihanna. That piccy flashed on the massive backdrop, and the crowd went wild: RiRi herself hopped on stage not long after, telling the crowd I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally. She then went ahead and crushed a set, because of course she did: It wasnt just those two killin it, though: Kendrick Lamar, Eddie Vedder, Chris Martin, Major Lazer, Metallica and stacks more were on deck to throw their support behind the initiative. If you want to check out that huge lineup and why wouldnt you you can stream the entire event riiight here. Oh, and have a peep at the GPE here, too. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Theo Wargo / Kevin Masur / Getty. Lets get one thing straight: the Royal Family of the United Kingdom are a group of leeches merely counting down the days until their ossified, necrotic institution is cast into the sands of time and forgotten. But until that happens, they still hold a bit of flex in Commonwealth countries. Prince Williams family is currently visiting Canada, and the big yarn to come out of that is that baby Prince George, destined to rule as a cruel despot over the British Isles, simply refused to high-five Canadian PM / lowly peasant Justin Trudeau. Look at this. Whatever your feeling about Trudeau, he is a democratically-elected leader that this little shorts-wearing boy-king sees fit to snub. Bah! Guards! Take him away! Look at this kid. You just know that he wishes he still had the royal power to behead people: Despite the snub, Trudeau seems keen that the Royal Family is visiting. I want to commend you and thank you for introducing our part of the world to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, he told the Duke and Duchess. Although let me caution you from my own experience, if they are anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge. Ban the Royal Family. Source: TIME. Photo: YouTube. A study from the University of Melbourne has found out that theres actually only one electorate in Australia that has a majority opposing same-sex marriage. ONLY ONE. IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY! Dont get us wrong; theres a helluva lot that have a big percentage of NO voters, but one place can say that over 50% of their voters oppose marriage equality. One of the researchers, Shaun Ratcliff, said that the poll showed that most Australians support change. Based on our data and other polling, it appears a plebiscite would pass easily. All the data came from the 2013s ABC Vote Compass, the online tool which you most likely used when trying to figure out who to vote for in the Federal Election. Maranoa, which is in rural Queensland and held by Liberal MP David Littleproud, is the only electorate with a majority NO vote. The list of states most opposed to marriage equality are as follows: Maranoa*, QLD (LNP, David Littleproud) Groom, QLD (LNP, John McVeigh) Flynn, QLD (LNP, Ken ODowd) Hinkler, QLD (LNP, Keith Pitt) New England, NSW (Nationals, Barnaby Joyce) Kennedy, QLD (Katters Australian Party, Bob Katter) Grey, SA (Liberal, Rowan Ramsey) Barker, SA (Liberal, Tony Pasin) Parkes, NSW (Nationals, Mark Coulton) Braddon, TAS (Labor, Justine Keay) *The only seat where a majority was opposed. Comparatively, these are the 10 electorates that are the most supportive of marriage equality: Sydney, NSW (Labor, Tanya Plibersek) Melbourne, VIC (Greens, Adam Bandt) Grayndler, NSW (Labor, Anthony Albanese) Wentworth, NSW (Liberal, Malcolm Turnbull) Melbourne Ports, VIC (Labor, Michael Danby) Wills, VIC (Labor, Peter Khalil) Gellibrand, VIC (Labor, Tim Watts) Batman, VIC (Labor, David Feeney) Higgins, VIC (Liberal, Kelly ODwyer) Brisbane, QLD (Liberal, Trevor Evans) Theres a clear difference in voting between metropolitan and rural areas; the study found support for change was below average in most rural areas, but above average in inner city seats. While theres only one electorate that definitively opposes SSM right now, a bunch of seats could end up opposing if undecided voters followed the majority and voted NO. E.g. Groom, Flynn, Hinkler in QLD, and Barnaby Joyces seat of New England. Regardless, the Vote Compass data in the study showed that the majority wanted the change, and most Australians would vote YES. There has been a majority in favour of same-sex marriage for quite a long time now. I dont think anythings inevitable but suspect on this particular issue were going to see same-sex marriage legalised. Its just a matter of when, said Ratcliff. Source: The Age. Photo: Pacific Press / Getty. Londons Metropolitan Police Service say that they have taken a man into custody in connection with the hacking incident that saw more than 3000 photos stolen from Pippa Middletons iCloud account. Late on Saturday, police said that they arrested a 35-year-old man from Northamptonshire, in central England. The man is at a South London police station, and is being held on suspicion of offences against the Computer Misuse Act. British newspapers The Sun and The Daily Mail say that an anonymous man contacted them and offered to sell them images of Pippa at a wedding dress fitting, and nude photos of her fiance, financier James Matthews. The Sun say that the man contacted them via encrypted messages, using the nickname Crafty Cockney. Both papers claim that they received messages on Friday afternoon, and that the anonymous seller was demanding an amount no less than 50,000, to be paid within two days. This isnt (sic) an auction it will be a simple process of the highest bid, said the man. I guess technically that makes it more of a tender process of some kind, but were probably splitting hairs at this point. Middleton plans to marry Matthews next year, and famously served as a bridesmaid at her sister Kate Middletons wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011. The cache of stolen photos is believed to include images of the royal family, although there has been no official comment from Kensington Palace. Source: CNN. Photo: Dave M Bennett. Earlier this week, Marion Cotillard issued a calm and measured response to the rumours of an affair with her Allied co-star Brad Pitt, wishing Brad and Angelina peace in this tumultuous moment, and reaffirming her commitment to partner Guillaume Canet. Canet and Cotillard have been together for a number of years they have a son and are expecting a second child soon and overnight, he took to Instagram, albeit in more fiery fashion, to blast rumours of an affair. Under a red and black danger symbol, the actor wrote: I dont usually make it a habit to comment on rumors made about us. I also dont usually talk about my private life, which, until now, I have always attentively protected. But the fury of the tabloids, the venal stupidity of some people calling themselves journalists, the internet trolls who feel braver behind a keyboard, drive me to speak of the pride, love, respect and admiration I have for Marion staying strong and intelligent in the face all these stupid and unfounded accusations. I think were all living with much more important things at the moment and now its time to move on and raise the bar a bit. Even if thats a lot of work for some, I want to be positive. And as Marion said so well, I hope you get better and aspire to something more in your life than constantly sending shit! Yes, daddy. Or should I say oui papa? The full post in its original French is below, and its probably even more authoritative-sounding if you read it like that: Source: Entertainment Tonight. Photo: Tony Barson Archive / Getty. CHAMPAIGN (AP) - One man was killed and four other people were wounded in a pair of shootings early Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. Police believe the two shootings in the eastern Illinois city of Champaign may be related. They say the first apparently stemmed from an argument shortly after midnight at an apartment party on Green Street, the commercial heart of the campus. "Our preliminary investigation completely points to an argument taking place at the party and the argument spilled out into the street and that's when a fight occurred," Champaign police spokeswoman LaEisha Meaderds said, adding the reasons for the fight aren't clear yet. Shots were fired as the fight escalated, striking four people, she said. One of those shot, 22-year-old George Korchev, was killed, Meaderds said. She said Korchev, who was from the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, wasn't involved in the fight and wasn't a University of Illinois student. He just happened to be walking by when the shots were fired. The other three were taken to a hospital for treatment of what police called non-critical gunshot wounds. Less than half an hour later, police received a report of another shooting a few blocks west of campus. Officers found a victim, who was taken to a hospital and treated for a non-critical wound. Police are searching for a suspect or suspects in the shootings and for the driver of a vehicle that struck someone who was running away from the gunfire at the first scene. That person's injuries were minor. It isn't clear how many people were at the party because many ran when the gunfire began, Meaderds said. Police are hoping to find and speak to as many as possible. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen said in a statement Sunday that city and university police were working together to aggressively pursue all leads. Three local television stations have brought home Emmy Awards for their news broadcasts, including one for the Best Evening Newscast. Following the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards presentation in Philadelphia Saturday, WHTM ABC 27, WHP CBS 21 and WGAL-TV were among those to win awards that honor excellence in television news, programming and individual achievement. Among the winners, WGAL won the Best Evening Newscast in a medium television market award ABC 27 brought home five awards, including General Assignment Report and Crime News. Philadelphia-based NBC 10/Telemundo 62 led the night with 10 Emmy awards. CBS 3/CW Philly received five awards, including four individual achievement awards. Philadelphia's NBC 10's Jim Rosenfield took home an award for Best News Anchor. Pittsburgh's WTAE-TV and KDKA-TV both received four awards, with KDKA receiving Best Newscast for its 5 p.m. newscast and WTAE winning an Overall Excellence award. A total of 86 Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards were awarded in 78 categories. The breakdown of local awards includes: Newscast Evening, Medium Markets, WGAL, General Assignment Report within 24 Hours for "We Got Him Home," ABC 27, Crime News, Single Story or Series, "Hidden Epidemic," ABC 27, Environment/Science, News Single Story or Series, "Cow Power," WGAL, Health, News Single Story or Series, "Bringing Back Bruce," CBS 21, Human Interest, News Feature, "Shopper Chopper," ABC 27, Politics/Government, News Single Story or Series, "Don't Mind If I Do," ABC 27, Public/Current/Community Affairs Program/Special, "Life After War," WGAL, Photographer, News, Kyle Cooper CBS 21, Writer, News/Commentary/Short Form, Jason Bristol, CBS 21. Talent, General Assignment Reporter, Susan Shapiro, WGAL, Video Journalist, Chris Davis, ABC 27. Awards out of Philadelphia include: Newscast, Morning, "Deadly Derailment May 13, 2015," NBC 10, Spot News, "Deadly Derailment Breaking News," NBC 10, Continuing Coverage, No Time Limit, "Deadly Derailment: From Breaking to Investigating," NBC 10, Investigative Report, Single Story or Series, "Generation Addicted," NBC 10, Feature News Report, Series, "Generation Addicted: Struggle and Response," NBC 10, Arts Program, Special, "The Left Hook Legacy," Comcast SportsNet, Historic/Cultural Program/Special, "El Papa Del Pueblo," Telemundo 62, Human Interest Program Feature/Segment, "Remembering Stan Hochman, Philadelphia's Legendary Scribe," Comcast SportsNet, Sports, News Single Story or Series, "Honorary Eagle," NBC 10, Sports News Feature, "Path of a Cyclone," Comcast SportsNet Sports Daily or Weekly Program, "Breakfast on Broad: Eagles Tailgate," The Comcast Network, Sports Interview/Discussion, "The 700 Level Show: Kobe and The Evster Reunited," Comcast SportsNet, Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment, "The Road to Victory - Dominic Zaffino," Eagles Television Network, Promotion -- News, Program, PSA Campaign, "News Branding Campaign," CBS 3, News Excellence, NBC 10, Interactivity, "Generation Addicted: #Addiction Is," NBC 10, Editor, Program, Justin Krapf, Comcast SportsNet, Rachel Sophia Stewart, History Making Productions, Editor, News, Bill Rohrer, Fox 29, Talent, News Anchor, Jim Rosenfield, NBC 10, Talent, Sports Anchor, Pat Gallen, CBS 3, Talent, Features/Human Interest Reporter, Walt Hunter, CBS 3, Talent, General Assignment Reporter, Greg Argos, CBS 3, Talent, Specialty Assignment Reporter, Jim Donovan, CBS 3, Talent, Sports Analyst Play-by-Play Marc Zumoff, Comcast SportsNet, Sports Photographer, Brad Nau, Comcast SportsNet, Video Journalist, Bill Rohrer, Fox 29, Awards out of Pittsburgh include: A Lebanon teen has been charged as an adult after police say she threatened her father with a knife. Miranda Feliz-Garcia, 17, is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and terroristic threats. According to the Lebanon City Police Department, the incident occurred like this: Around 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Feliz-Garcia and her father got into a fight at the 300 block of N. Partiridge St. She threatened him with a knife, stabbed a door and assaulted him. Her father came away from the incident with minor injuries. Due to the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, police charged her as an adult. She was incarcerated at the Lebanon County Prison in lieu of $1,000 bail. TRUMP CLINTON MONTAGE 2.jpg By Tony May Hillary Clinton faces a formidable enemy in the first Presidential debate of the 2016 General Election. Tony May (PennLive File) That candidate's name is Hillary Clinton, the reviled one; the one Donald Trump calls "Crooked Hillary;" the person who has broken the ultimate glass ceiling but keeps getting her feet cut on the broken glass scattered across the floor. To be fair, Donald Trump will be there too, basking in the knowledge that moderator Lester Holt of NBC News has bought the Trump agenda, hook, line and sinker. Holt has made announced he's divided up the focus of questions for the 90 minute debate into three segments focusing on the key areas featured in Trump's campaign mantra - America's Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. With the agenda clearly focused on Trump's turf, his main objective will be to avoid appearing to be a bully, particularly towards a female opponent, while conveying a Presidential demeanor, whatever that might mean. He's already demonstrated in his visit to the President of Mexico that he can toady up to almost anyone without blushing. So he won't be an easy target for Clinton to goad into bluster, over-reaction on bullying tendencies he is wont to display at solo rally appearances. Clinton, for her part, will need to avoid picking on Trump lest she underscore an oft-voiced criticism that she can become shrill and combative. Which brings us back to Hillary's real enemy being the Hillary conjured up by her enemies. Clinton is marginally ahead in the polls but something is holding her back from blowing the orange buffoon slated by the GOP out of the water. Lester Holt might be suggesting that it's about America's direction or lack of prosperity or fear of terrorism. It's more about people - even those that respect or admire her and her accomplishments - not liking her. Clinton and Trump share miserable favorable/unfavorable ratings in the polls (According to Real Clear Politics, Clinton's favorable/unfavorable rating stands at 41.2 percent favorable/54.6 percent unfavorable while Trump's is an almost identical 41.9/54.6.). Clinton would do well to spend part of her debate prep time watching the 1984 film, "Places in the Heart," for which Sally Field won her Oscar, leading to her memorable acceptance speech where - commenting upon her career of acclaimed and panned roles, exulted, "You liked me; you really liked me!" It would be instructional to her to remind herself that it's about more than the simple content of your resume. It's about how people perceived your performance. In the movie, Field plays the widow of a murdered Texas sheriff who enlists the help of a black sharecropper and a blind war veteran in saving the family farm from the clutches of the greedy local banker. It's not simply about whether she prevails, but how she prevails. Clinton is enough of an adult to know she has to be aware of prejudices in an effort to prevail over them. S he needs to project the image of a strong, unflappable leader who is confident enough to speak softly and forcefully, bringing her audience closer to her - to contrast against Trump's bombast and harshness. She needs to use the scheduled three topics to circle back and underscore her own successes of the past. What has she done to chart America's direction already - as First Lady, as Secretary of State and at the Clinton Foundation? What in her life's work underscores the drive for prosperity for a wider and wider circle of Americans? And what about "securing America?" And what, beyond that, about security for the world at large because if there is one thing that stands out about global terrorism it is that it strives to ignore normal national borders? This is the initial debate of three, a first face-off. There's a temptation to want to set a trap for Trump or encourage him to cross the line as he is wont to do but a better time for such a gambit would be the second or third debate. In this outing, the goal should be (1) secure the base, (2) set the stage to reel in fence straddlers and (3) win the likability sweepstakes. Once again, Prince George steals the show! All eyes were on the eldest child of Prince William and Princess Kate as the royal foursome touched down in Victoria, Canada, on Saturday to begin the familys official royal tour. Holding hands with his parents as he deplaned (with Kate holding onto adorable Princess Charlotte), George wore a blue knit sweater with wooden buttons over a traditional blue and beige plaid shirt, teamed with navy blue wool shorts, all from the Spanish brand Pepa & Co. Once again, I feel honored that the Duchess of Cambridge has selected our brand of Spanish clothing for Prince Georges outfit on his arrival in Canada Pepa Gonzalez, founder of the Fulham-based brand tells PEOPLE, adding: I love how the whole family are color coordinated in shades of blue they look adorable. While the traditional checked shirt which retailed for $50 has already sold out, the winter shorts which cost $49 are still available and the cozy knitted jumper at $54 is available on a four-week waiting list. The Prince George effect hit the brand back in July when the three-year-old wore a Breton whale jumper from Pepa & Co for his official birthday portraits hundreds of orders were placed within days. Back in his signature Amaia knee-high socks which retail for just $10, his look was classic, understated and elegant and notably included some rather grown up footwear. Wearing the John in navy from the British brand Start-rite the $71 design have already sold out in many sizes. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. The look was reminiscent of the blue ensemble he wore when he first met his baby sister after Kate gave birth. However, back then, George wore a blue Amaia cardigan and light blue shorts. Related Video: Prince Georges $100 Cardigan Sells out Overnight But Saturday wasnt just about George. Charlotte looked equally adorable in a white and blue floral smocked dress with blue leather shoes. The little princess was dressed in her usual traditional style (signature Amaia hair bow firmly in place). Prince George has his royal wave down, but he may need some more practice on those high fives. The elder child of Prince William and Princess Kate got a little shy when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau knelt down and tried to give George a high five when he landed in Victoria, Canada, on Saturday. In a video, the little royal shakes his head as Trudeau tries high fives, low fives and a handshake to no avail. However, Prince George did wave to those assembled on the tarmac when the Royal Canadian Air Force jet the royal family arrived on for their tour of Canada. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. Kate wore a royal blue Jenny Packham suit with a matching hat and Queen Elizabeth IIs diamond maple leaf brooch as Princess Charlotte, on her first official tour, clung to her mother in a light blue dress with a matching bow in her hair. George was also decked out in blue, wearing a knit sweater with wooden buttons over a traditional blue and beige plaid shirt, teamed with navy blue wool shorts, all from the Spanish brand Pepa & Co. He also donned blue knee socks. Related Video: Prince Georges $100 Cardigan Sells out Overnight The family will be based at Government House in Victoria, and the couple 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.) 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, 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. Princess Kate and Prince William have made their latest stop on their Canadian tour: meeting with Syrian refugees. After visiting Sheway, a pregnancy outreach program located in downtown Vancouver, the couple visited the Immigrant Services Society, a charity that provides targeted programs for refugees as well as immigrants. While at the Immigrant Services Society, the couple met with Syrian refugees who were relocated through the UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. The couple were met outside by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, who had greeted the royal family when they arrived on Saturday. (Unfortunately Prince George is not a fan of Trudeau!) Once inside, the royals met with refugees and families to hear about how the center had helped them adjust to their new life in Canada. The royal couple departed from Victoria, Canada, on Sunday morning by taking a seaplane from the Victoria Harbor to their next destination Vancouver, which is about 70 miles north of the capital of British Colombia. In Vancouver, they were scheduled will meet with dignitaries from the city before moving on to a series of engagements, including this meeting. Kate wore a white and red Alexander McQueen dress for the afternoon while William kept things simple with a black suit. Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. Prince George and Princess Charlotte did not join Will and Kate for their short day-trip in Vancouver. The royal couple will reunite with their little ones on Sunday night when they return to their home base at Government House. The royal foursome arrived in the country on Saturday to kick off their seven-day tour of western Canada. They were greeted on the tarmac by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie and were met with massive crowds in Victoria. They are slated to leave Canada on Oct. 1. There is a strong willingness to strengthen and accelerate the strategic partnership between our companies to give more patients access to proton therapy across the globe, said Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer at IBA. All the achievements reached during the last two years demonstrate the benefit of the relationship between the two organizations in staying at the forefront of innovation in cancer treatment. Our aim in oncology is to improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life, combined with the best possible patient experience, said Ronald de Jong, Chief Market Leader at Royal Philips. With our combined technologies and services for informed, confident decision making, imaging, precision planning and targeted patient-specific therapy, IBA and Philips can help to make this possible. We are delighted with the progress we have made in bringing advanced proton therapy to more people. We look forward to continuing our joint innovation efforts and making a real difference in cancer care. IBA and Philips offer unique integrated solutions for proton therapy and molecular imaging centers. They are currently installing state-of-the-art proton therapy solutions at three compact proton therapy centers in the UK, one compact center in the Middle East, and one large proton therapy center in India. Depending on the proton therapy center, the installed solution can include IBAs proton therapy systems, such as the ProteusONE* and ProteusPLUS*, and Philips imaging and clinical informatics solutions, such as Philips Big Bore CT and PET CT systems and Philips Pinnacle3 Treatment Planning System. *ProteusONE and ProteusPLUS are the brand names of the Proteus235. ** Pinnacle3 version P14 Vive La Vie, the association created by Tito Tomasi and his wife after his first trip to Nepal in 2015. It was one year after the terrible earthquakes and the life conditions were tough. But how to help? What to do?Tito first decided to talk about Nepal and show the country to the mountain bikers, showing that the adventure is still possible and more than ever Nepal definitely needs tourism back. So Tito and Oqamy shot a video, with the support from Mavic. Though the reports are going worldwide, it's a cool thing, but with the association Tito wanted to help the people directly. From the contacts he had during the trip Tito has met people from the orphanage 'Buddhas Helping Hands,' and decided to stay focused on it.The donations are opened for the orphanage on www.vive-la-vie.org but what's really going to catch your attention is the auction. Because this time when you help the people you can also get very cool stuff for you too! Great mountain biking champions have joined the association and given one of their jerseys.The name list is prestigious: Damien Otton, Loic Bruni, Jerome Clementz and Fabien Barel! So have a look to the eBay online store and place your bids to pick up your champion's jersey and do good! You can also get an Urge helmet hand painted by Tito, M size, varnished and ready to go!Thank you for all your interest and support. Namaste.VIVE LA VIE is proudly supported by POSCA, Urge, and Mavic. A huge thanks to Loic, Damien, Jerome and Fabien for your help.Tito Sombrio Noble 3/4 sleeve jerseys use a self-cooling fabric. Prototype Valley jerseys. Vista 3/4 sleeve jerseys. The Chinook windbreaker comes with a full back panel ventilation, half lid compatibility, and packs into it's own pocket in the hood. A touch of retro in the Sombrio patch. The draw cords have been dipped in silicon - a nice touch for wet conditions. Burst DH jerseys Robson Jean shorts and Silhouette riding shirt. Kask Launch Koo The Rex helmet and the new Koo 'Open' glasses. Koo 'Open' glasses Kask is very proud of the fact that all of their products are made in Italy. Even the German Zeiss lenses are constructed in one of their Italian factories. They 'Open' are available in 12 different colorways so you can coordinate with your KASK helmet like a baller. The 'Open' sunglasses will be available with 2 different lenses for $239 USD. A photocromatic lens will be available to buy separately. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Koo Open Glasses Add to Favorites Added to Favorites Views: 631 Faves: 1 Comments: 1 The Rex, was introduced this year as Kask's first ever mtb specific helmet. For 2017 there will be a massive, 15 colors available. The Rex as an Octo-Fit retention system, leather chin strap, multi-position visor, goggle clip, and a removable action-cam mount. Pearl Izumi The XProject Elite shoe is a high-end lightweight race shoe that has toe flex built in to make hike-a-biking a little easier. Pearl Izumi claim that there should be absolutely no power transfer loss due to the flexi toe. The sole has a co-molded layer of rubber on top of the plastic lugs, which adds to the walk-ability of the shoe. XProject elite shoes weigh in at 324 grams for a size 40 and retail for $275 USD. Launch 3/4-sleeve jersey and Launch shorts. Launch short-sleeve jersey and Launch shorts. The 3d Tour liner is neatly color coordinated with the Launch shorts. Summit gloves are a lightweight option that you could use in the bike park or our for an XC rip. There is a neoprene layer on the knuckles to provide a bit of added protection, should you decide to punch any trees on your ride (known to happen). Summit's will retail for $35 USD. Terry Terry Topo saddle Bell Bell's Joyride helmet range. Zoic Zoic Navaeh shorts come in a wide variety of colors. Some of the many combo's you can make with the Zoic range: the Jerra Jersey with Navaeh shorts, the new Rhoam women's riding shoes on the left, plus the new Zaia short sleeve jersey next to the 7-inch-inseam version of the Navaeh short. This one's for the mtb shredders girls out there who want to look like mom, Zoic's got you covered. Preeetty cuuute... Zia short-sleeve jersey (left) and Milos 3/4-sleeve jersey (right). The JuJu shorts have been updated this year with a breathable gusset. Hi Aaron Gwin, and bye from the show. Each year, the crew at Sombrio draw inspiration from their beautiful British Columbia coastal mountain surroundings and incorporate them into their line. For 2017, ocean spray, surf waves, dirt roost, rock pools, hand-drawn acorns, a touch of retro, and the work of BC-based photographer Margus Riga, all make an appearance. Let's take a look at some of the women's highlights:The Noble jersey replaces the Pedigree jersey for 2017. The Noble is still a 3/4 sleeved garment that comes with a panel of Chill Mesh technology material across the upper shoulders, back and chest. Chill Mesh is a very light, breathable fabric that incorporates Xylitol - a cooling, fresh ingredient found in gum - that makes the material feel chilly the touch when you begin to sweat. The Noble will retail for $65 USD.The Valley jersey is fully constructed out of Chill Mesh material. This jersey felt extremely light and soft to the touch, and is intended for those hot, hot summer ride days. The final product won't include the breast pocket pictured here, Instead, they will come with a small stow pocket for lightweight storage.The Vista jersey combines a classic 3/4 raglan style sleeve with Chill Mesh panels on the back and under the arms. The jersey on the left features all of the colors used in the entire collection in tiny hand drawn acorns. The jersey on the right is part of Sombrio's Forest collection, which features the work of renowned BC mountain bike photographer Margus Riga which as been sublimated into the Cool Wik material.The DH-oriented Burst jersey comes with a slightly revised narrower neckline this year and the wrist cuffs have also been narrowed down a touch. The Burst jersey is meant to be roomy enough to wear armor, and is articulated around the elbows to help accommodate pads. The Drift shorts have had a fun color update, but remain structurally the same as last year.The Silhouette riding shirt gets a color update and, if you're not a super fan of this palette, the men's version will be available in smaller sizes to suit women. The new Robson Jean Shorts are made from stretchy "Action Denim." And, while maybe not best-suited for mountain biking, they should be a solid choice for those beach and bar cruising days. The Drirelease fabric helps push moisture out of the shorts to keep you comfortable and dry, and the short has a mid-rise front with a higher-rise back so when you are on the bike, there should be no gaping view of your under jams. With an in-built U-lock loop and six pockets, the Robson shorts seem like a good summer go-to.Italian helmet manufacturer Kask have been making high-end helmets since 2004, and have now branched out into the sunglasses market with the launch of their new brand 'Koo'. Their first product is the new 'Open' sunglasses which are constructed of polycarbonate and include Zeiss lenses, a unique folding pivot, and removable and interchangeable lenses. The glasses also come with what Koo are calling an Airflow Active System which means you can tilt the lenses to three different angles to suit your face and the weather conditions.Last year, Pearl Izumi gave their mountain bike lineup a huge overhaul, and they were very proud of the fact that they started by updating the women's line. This year, a number of small additions and changes have been made to the line.The Launch jersey is a 3/4 sleeve, V-neck, breathable jersey that was released this year. For 2017, a few color updates have been made which can be matched with the new Launch shorts. These are meant to be a durable pair of shorts that feature a 12-inch inseam, belt loops, and a zippered cargo pocket. The Launch jersey also comes in three short-sleeve options and three long-sleeve options. The Launch short-sleeve jersey retails for $60 and the 3/4-sleeve for $70. Launch shorts are $135 USD.Gorgena Terry started making bicycles over thirty years ago and branched into saddles ten years after that. The Burlington, Vermont, based company have a long history of making popular saddles for women, but a mountain-bike-specific option has been out of the mix for some time - until now. The Topo takes its design cue from the company's best selling Butterfly. Changes include a lower profile, a raised rear and a decrease in the width of the saddle. The graphic on the saddle is actually a topographic map of Vermont's Kingdom trails, a favorite riding spot for the staff at Terry. The Topo will be available in January, and will retail for $99 USDBell had great success this year launching their Bell Joyride campaign which saw eight women in Canada and the USA start regular social MTB rides for women in their home towns. The program is back for 2017 and Bell will be granting Joyride sponsorships to five more women across North America. Anyone looking to apply, or to find out more, should go here The accompany the program, Bell also launched the Joyride helmet range, which takes popular models from Bell's helmet line and gives them a specific look for women. Two of those helmets, the Super 3R and the Super 3, have been updated this year with a revised fit and a new retention system, and will be available in Matte Cobalt/Pearl and Matte Emerald colorways.We hear a lot of feedback on Pinkbike about limited color options for women's clothing. Zoic offer their popular Navaeh short in 13 different colors and patterns. With muted grays, earth-toned camo's, brighter shades, and bold patterns, Navaeh's are worth checking out if you are on the hunt for a new pair of riding shorts and haven't found a look to suit your preferences.The Zaia is a new short-sleeve riding jersey that will come in three options. The Milos jersey has one rear zip pocket, 3/4 raglan-cut sleeves, a half-zip in the front, and is made from either a lightweight fabric, or a "Deep Fusion" heavier-weight fabric option. All of the jersey's in the line are designed to mix and match with all of the colors of shorts in the line, but if you want to get matchy match, you can also go with the Navaeh's. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print By Emily Stephenson WASHINGTON (Reuters) Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday proposed raising taxes on inherited property to 65 percent for the largest estates as she bolstered plans for tax hikes on the wealthiest Americans. Known by conservative opponents as the death tax, the estate tax, levied on property such as cash, real estate, stock or other assets transferred from deceased persons to heirs, currently is imposed only on inherited assets worth $5.45 million or more for an individual. Clintons plan, posted on her campaigns website, would raise the estate tax from the current 40 percent to 45 percent, the rate that existed in 2009. But the biggest estates would face rates of up to 65 percent for property valued at more than $500 million for a single person or $1 billion per couple, under her proposal, an update of an earlier plan. Clintons proposed top rate of 65 percent would be the highest estate tax since the 1980s, and is in line with a proposal made during the Democratic primaries by her former rival for the partys presidential nomination, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Her campaign said the boosted estate tax and a change in the rules to tax capital gains associated with inherited assets would help pay for other proposals to benefit middle-class people, such as expanding a tax credit for working parents. Clintons campaign said the plan would hit only the wealthiest people. Hillary Clinton has made a commitment throughout this campaign to make sure there is a plan to pay for the progressive policies we have laid out, said Mike Shapiro, an economic adviser to Clinton. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group focused on budget issues, said Clintons new tax proposals including the estate tax changes, taxes on capital gains of inherited assets and other provisions would together raise $260 billion in revenue over a decade. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, a wealthy real estate developer, wants to eliminate the estate tax. Clintons proposal prompted criticism from conservatives ahead of her first debate with Trump on Monday night at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Jason Miller, a Trump spokesman, issued a statement decrying Clintons dramatic hike in the death tax. Republicans want to eliminate estate taxes altogether because they believe the system penalizes families who want to pass down businesses, said U.S. Representative Kevin Brady, chairman of the tax-writing House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. Brady said in a statement that Clintons plan was dead on arrival. The nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said this month that only the estates of the wealthiest 0.2 percent of Americans, about two out of every 1,000 people who die, currently owe any estate tax because the first $5.45 million per person is exempt. Clinton would lower that exemption to $3.5 million. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson, Steve Holland and Amanda Becker; Editing by Will Dunham) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trumps nonsensical reply to Hillary Clintons stated intent to raise the estate tax on the wealthiest Americans is that she lost herself the support of all Republicans. Trump tweeted, Hillary Clinton just lost every Republican she ever had, including Never Trump, all farmers & sm. biz, by saying shell tax estates at 65%. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2016 Never mind the proposed tax hike would affect only those whose inherited assets are $5.45 million or more. In other words, the very rich, not farmers or small businesses. As Reuters reported earlier, Clintons plan, posted on her campaigns website, would raise the estate tax from the current 40 percent to 45 percent, the rate that existed in 2009. But the biggest estates would face rates of up to 65 percent for property valued at more than $500 million for a single person or $1 billion per couple, under her proposal, an update of an earlier plan. The average Trump supporter would obviously not be affected by the tax hike, nor would the vast majority of Americans, Republican or Democrat. On the other hand, Trump does plan to raise taxes on millions of Americans, and under Trumps tax plan, many voters will suffer. If Trump thinks voters will reject Hillary Clinton because she plans to tax the 1 percent, but vote for him when he plans to raise their taxes, he is deluding himself. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Sen. Bernie Sanders made the choice for millennial voters by listing four important reasons why younger Americans should support Hillary Clinton. Video: Transcript via Face The Nation: DICKERSON: Welcome back to the FACE THE NATION. Were here with former presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator, I want to start with millennial voters. They represent now about 30 percent of the voting-age population. Thats about the size of baby boomers. That was a group you were very strong with. Hillary Clinton is having trouble with that group of voters. Why is that do you think? SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: Well, Im not sure, but I think the antidote is that she has got to make it clear to not only the millennials but every American the difference that she has, not just on personality issues, which is what the media focuses on, but the real issues impacting the middle class and working families of this country. When you talk about the economy, Donald Trump wants to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest people in this country. Clinton understands that at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, the people on top are going to have to start paying their fair share of taxes. John, young people are very concerned, appropriately so, about the crisis regarding climate change. Clinton has a pretty strong program which says we have got to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energies, like wind and solar. You know what Donald Trumps position is on climate change? He thinks its a hoax. And that is really frightening for the future of this planet. One more really important issue that I think has got to be talked about a whole lot, Clinton has said that she will appoint Supreme Court justices, nominate Supreme Court justices who will overturn this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision which allows people like Sheldon Adelson last week to put $45 million into the political process to buy elections. Billionaires should not be buying elections. Clinton wants to stop that. Trump will appoint more conservatives to the Supreme Court. In terms of the issue of bigotry, and the younger people are more than any generation I think, John, in American history, are sick and tired of discrimination and racism. On that issue, I think the points of view of Clinton and Trump are pretty clear. Trump is running his campaign, the cornerstone of his campaign is bigotry, is dividing us up. That is certainly very different from what Clinton believes. So I think if she focuses on the issues, she will do just really well with the American people and certainly with younger people. Sanders gave four important reasons why millennials should support Hillary Clinton, the economy, the environment, Citizens United, and her stance against discrimination and racism. I would add Clintons free college tuition plan, and her plan to deal with student loan debt as two other very large reasons. Plus, Clintons plan on healthcare would make it easier and cheaper to get coverage, while Trump intends to throw Americans under age 25 off of their parents health insurance. There is no contest on the issues for younger voters, and once they see their options side by side on the debate stage, the choice should be an easy one for millennial voters. Sen. Sanders has been true to his word, and his doing his part to help get Clinton elected, but it will be up to the candidate herself to close the deal. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Trump campaign has accelerated their war on the First Amendment by putting forward the idea that reporters should never at any time fact check Trump. Here is Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway declaring war on fact-checkers: .@KellyannePolls rejects "campaigns thinking it is the job of the media to go and be these virtual fact-checkers." https://t.co/ZbagpKZTuB ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 25, 2016 On ABCs This Week, Conway said: So Hillary Clintons casual relationship with the truth is well known to Americans. Im sure well see it on full display tomorrow night. And I really dont appreciate campaigns thinking it is the job of the media to go and be these virtual fact-checkers and that these debate moderators should somehow do their bidding. They picked on Matt Lauer after the commander in chief debate forum. We thought he did a great job but they didnt like the fact that Hillary Clinton was asked about her e-mail server and her route in Iraq. Thats not Matt Lauers fault. And Lester Holts hes a hes a respected, brilliant newsman. Hell do a good job tomorrow night as a moderator. Its not his job Conway said something that escalated the Trump view that moderators should fact check to a belief that no media should fact check. The belief that fact checking is wrong is the foundation of Trumps media criticism. When Trump claims that a reporter or network is unfair to him, his basis for the claim is that they fact-checked him. Trump views the role of the free press as to cover everything his says and praise him. His belief that the media should be a megaphone instead of a reality check is why Trump has been camping out exclusively on Fox News for weeks. The one thing that is never seen on Trumps Fox News programs of choice is a fact check of his statements. Donald Trump is an opponent of press freedom. It would be easy to see a Trump White House intimidate fact checks out of existence by targeting reporters and outlets who fact check the president for retribution. A press that cant criticize or fact check a president is not free, which is exactly what Donald Trump wants. To every problem, there are a variety of possible solutions. The people willing to imagine those solutions are possibilitarians. The word possibilitarian was first coined by author and minister Norman Vincent Peale . It describes someone who recognizes and creates new possibilities. Peale thoughtfully advised, "Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities always see them for they're always there." I recently encountered two possibilitarians. First, Perry. Justin and I met Perry while checking out the downtown Rochester PlaceMakers Prototyping Festival. Perry and his PlaceMakers team identified several creative solutions to deal with the city's excess rainwater. Perry, an engineer, showed Justin and I how small, inexpensive parts can lead to cost-effective solutions for existing water-related concerns. His enthusiasm for solution-finding was contagious. It was as if he saw the whole world through a lens of limitless possibilities. As he spoke, I began to imagine myself as an idea engineer, too. The next possibilitarian I encountered was Mel Duncan. Mel gave a 1-hour presentation on the Nonviolent Peaceforce at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in town. The evening event was co-sponsored by Assisi Heights Spirituality Center, the First Unitarian Universalist Church, Pax Christi Peace Group, and Southeastern Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers. ADVERTISEMENT Nonviolent Peaceforce was built on the idea that there is immense value in prioritizing nonviolent ways to approach global conflicts. Mel shared examples of times when teams of unarmed peacekeepers around the world have been able to create safe spaces for dialogue. He shared the following quote by R. Buckminster Fuller during his presentation: "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." Listening to Perry and Mel talk about water reclamation and peace building helped me realize that there are walls in my mind where perhaps I'd be better off with a window. I want to install more internal windows; the kind that can be easily opened to let in new possibilities. It is not hard to find problems in our personal lives, communities, workplaces, and across the globe. We can all point out the things that are inefficient, annoying, and incomplete. But while naming problems certainly has value, the story can't end there. It's also worthwhile to tap into the part of our brains that imagines possible solutions. The New Testament was first written in Greek. One of the Greek words for "possible" that shows up in the original form of the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is dynamos. Jesus says that all the things that seem impossible are actually possible (dynamos) with God. In saying this, Jesus expands the creative imaginations of his listeners. We, too, crave the expansion of our creative imaginations. We, too, delight in "dynamos" living a dynamic approach to life that makes space new ideas and solutions. Where might you benefit from tapping into your inner possibilitarian? In what part of your life are there solutions you haven't yet imagined? How might you reframe the elements of a problem into sources of nourishment and hope (like in the case of excess rainwater used to hydrate plants)? There are a range of possibilities to every problem. The challenge is to make time and space to imagine them. I'm grateful for the possibilitarians among us paving the way. Congressional candidate Jim Moylan will not let truth or distortions stop him from saying anything to get elected. It is up to political analy Read morePolitical ploys at the last part of election? John Kerrys Syria cease fire agreement was a farce from its inception. Even optimists of ordinary intelligence realized it was dead when a Russian (or conceivably a Syrian) jet attacked a U.N. convoy near Aleppo earlier this week and Syria declared the agreement over. But John Kerry insisted otherwise. He declared that the agreement is not dead, and called for more talks with Russia. Kerry got more talks; Aleppo got bombarded. Not just ordinary bombardment, but attacks that residents called the worst they have seen in the five years of fighting. According to the Washington Post, wave upon wave of planes relentlessly struck neighborhoods in the rebel-held east of the city on the first day of a new offensive announced by the government. Bombs, said the Post, rained down like never before. I have called John Kerry the village idiot, but thats too kind. The village idiot might negotiate a cease fire agreement destined not to hold. Only a world class idiot negotiates a cease fire agreement that is followed within two weeks by the worst bombing in five years. After Kerry proposed the deal, I wrote that it is based on a profound misreading of Russian intentions in Syria. Russias interest, I argued, is in enabling the Syrian regime to conquer key parts of the country that ISIS does not control. A lasting cease fire is antithetical to that interest This was no great insight on my part. It was obvious to anyone willing to see the world as it is. With the cease fire in tatters, Washington Post reporter Liz Sly acknowledges that pursuing it was a fools errand all along. In an article with the understated headline A ferocious assault on Aleppo suggests the U.S. may be wrong on Syria, she writes: [T]he launch of the offensive called into question the entire premise of the agreement painstakingly negotiated by Kerry and Lavrov over the past eight months: that Russia shares the Obama administrations view that there is no military solution to the conflict. On that basis, U.S. officials have explained, Moscow would be willing to pursue a negotiated settlement in return for a cease-fire and the prestige of eventually conducting joint military operations in Syria alongside the United States against terrorist groups. At a news conference in New York, Lavrov offered a starkly different point of view. He said it is the United States that needs to come around to the idea that President Bashar al-Assad is the only viable partner in the fight against terrorism, calling his army the single most efficient force fighting terror in Syria.. . . His comments, alongside the events of the past week, suggest that Russia and Syria still believe the war can be won outright, without recourse to negotiations that the United States has said offer the only way out of the Syrian tragedy. Like I said, Kerrys approach is based a profound misreading of Russian intentions in Syria. For purposes of assessing the cease fire, it doesnt matter whether Russia is justified in believing that the war can be won. Even if Kerry is right that it cant be, there will be no true cease fire as long as Russia thinks otherwise. But Kerry isnt right. Its true that the regime is very unlikely ever to control all of Syria again. However, as the Posts Sly points out, the main goal of Assad and Russia is to gain control of what they call the useful Syria the parts where most of the population lives. The regime is slowly succeeding in this effort. Sly reports: communities that had held out for years have been gradually surrendering, most recently al-Waer, the last neighborhood of the once-rebellious city of Homs to give up the fight. Aleppo, a city of massive significance, has continued to hold out. Now, it may fall. If so, says Sly (quoting diplomatic sources), the[] revolt against Assads rule becomes a rural insurgency contained within the countrys border provinces. That sounds like Assad winning, no? Ah, friends once more: Ted Cruz endorses Trump, who says he is honored. With this headline (in the paper edition), the Washington Post signals its disgust with Sen. Cruz for saying he will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. The headline is stupid. Cruzs tepid endorsement of Trump by no means suggests that he is friends once more with the obnoxious tycoon. Rather, as Cruz explained, though he has areas of significant disagreement with Trump, he cannot stand the idea of Hillary Clinton becoming president. The NeverTrump crowd seems even more unhappy with Cruz than the Post. Didnt Cruz say hes not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father? Yes he did. But Cruz finds the idea of a Hillary Clinton presidency unacceptable. Thus, hes willing to vote to stop her even though it means voting. as he ordinarily wouldnt do, for a candidate who insulted members of the Cruz family. Cruz ought not be criticized for this reasonable decision. Indeed, it might be easier to criticize him if he let his anger over Trumps insults to family members override his view that Hillary Clinton must not become president. However, I wouldnt criticize Cruz either for voting for Trump or voting for neither candidate. Both options are defensible. Cruzs decision to announce that hell vote for Trump may well be based in part on an assessment of his political interests. Post reporter Katie Zezima reports that Cruz is under pressure form donors to back Trump and that the prospect of a primary challenge in 2018 may increase if he does not. Cruz ought to be criticized for allowing political calculation to influence his decision to vote for Trump and his public announcement of that decision. Why shouldnt Cruz why shouldnt any Republican try to minimize the personal political fallout created because the GOP took (temporary?) leave of its senses and nominated Trump? Will Cruzs endorsement help Trump? I think so. Many conservatives are struggling, as Cruz was, to decide whether to vote for Trump. Many of those struggling have a high regard for Cruz. More than a few are likely to take their cue from the stalwart conservative Senator. I believe its precisely because the endorsement helps Trump that both the Washington Post and the NeverTrumpers are so unhappy with Cruzs decision. Brian Mast, one of our six Picks for the 2016 cycle, is running for Congress in Floridas 18th District. The seat is open, as incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy is leaving the House to run against Marco Rubio for the Senate. Mast beat five other Republicans in a primary to win the nomination, and is now facing Randy Perkins, an undistinguished wealthy liberal. Mast is a 12-year veteran of the Army, where he served in the Joint Special Operations Command as a bomb disposal expert, saving his fellow troops from IEDs. In Afghanistan, he defused one bomb too many. The last one exploded and cost Mast both of his legs. In the course of his service, Mast was awarded the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Since his discharge, he has continued to work as an explosives expert for the Department of Homeland Security, served alongside the Israeli Defense Force, and earned a degree from Harvard. Masts positions on the issues are here. He is a solid, mainstream conservative. You can tell he is a good conservative because an ad for his Democrat opponent calls Mast dangerously extreme and likens him to former Congressman Allen West and the extremist, frightening radio host Mark Levin. Brian Mast is the kind of inspiring, capable candidate that conservatives around the country need to get behind. Please go here to donate to his campaign. Dont think you need to be a big hitter for your contribution to be worthwhile. Experience in recent years has shown the power of the grass roots. Give $100 or more if you can, give $10 or $20 if that is what you can afford. We need men like Brian Mast in Congress. Nearly lost in the controversy over the events leading to the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a black police officer in Charlotte is the killing of another black man during the ensuing protests. The victim was Justin Carr. Mr. Carr had wanted to tell his grandmother, who marched with Martin Luther King, that he took part in the protest. Who shot Carr? Relying on video evidence, the police have arrested Rayquan Borum, Who is Rayquan Borum? According to the Charlotte Observer, hes a 21 year-old Charlotte resident with a criminal past. What is the nature of Borums criminal past? According to this report, which cites, among other sources, North Carolina Department of Public Safety records, Borum has been booked on accusations ranging from possessing a firearm as a felon to carrying a concealed weapon to drug offenses. (It appears, though, that Borum didnt use the weapon during the drug offense which, to the Obama administration and other supporters of sentencing leniency, means hes a non-violent, low level offender.) In 2011, Borum was convicted as a felon for breaking and entering and larceny. Reportedly, he served only three months in prison and was released in 2012. Borum also faces at least two pending weapons charges in another county. Last year, Borum was arrested for resisting a public officer, possessing a stolen firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a firearm by a felon, possessing marijuana paraphernalia, and possessing marijuana. With a record like this, Borum should have been in prison. Our criminal justice system is broken, all right. Finally, why did Borum shoot Carr? We dont know. However, there is speculation that the intended target (or targets) was a rival gang member in the crowd of protesters. As I argued here, the Charlotte protests/riots provide a revealing glimpse into the challenges of patrolling crime-ridden neighborhoods. Officers who patrol them must deal regularly with the people who, among other acts of vicious lawlessness, hurled stones at cars driving along the interstate; tried to throw a reporter into a fire they had set; and assaulted en masse a bystander in a parking garage. They must also deal with the likes of Rayquan Borum and the gang members whom, if the speculation is correct, he wanted to kill. Its the inherently dangerous nature of patrolling neighborhoods where one encounters these dangerous thugs, not police racism or malevolence, that explains why police officers occasionally shoot black men in such neighborhoods. Walter Russell Mead assesses the statesmanship of Barack Obama versus that of Benjamin Netanyahu in the American Interest post The real Middle East. The subhead provides this precis: Precisely because he has a colder view of international affairs than Obama, Netanyahus leadership has made Israel stronger than ever. In the heart of this post he writes: There is perhaps only one thing harder for the American mind to process than the fact that President Obama has been a terrible foreign policy president, and that is that Bibi Netanyahu is an extraordinarily successful Israeli Prime Minister. In Asia, in Africa, in Latin America, Israels diplomacy is moving from strength to strength. Virtually every Arab and Middle Eastern leader thinks that Bibi is smarter and stronger than President Obama, and as American prestige across the Middle East has waned under Obama, Israels prestige even among people who hate it has grown. Bibis reset with Russia, unlike Obamas, actually worked. His pivot to Asia has been more successful than Obamas. He has had far more success building bridges to Sunni Muslims than President Obama, and both Russia and Iran take Bibi and his red lines much more seriously than they take Obamas expostulations and pious hopes. The reason that Bibi has been more successful than Obama is that Bibi understands how the world works better than Obama does. Bibi believes that in the harsh world of international politics, power wisely used matters more than good intentions eloquently phrased. Obama sought to build bridges to Sunni Muslims by making eloquent speeches in Cairo and Istanbul while ignoring the power political realities that Sunni states cared most about like the rise of Iran and the Sunni cause in Syria. Bibi read the Sunnis more clearly than Obama did; the value of Israeli power to a Sunni world worried about Iran has led to something close to a revolution in Israels regional position. Again, Obama thought that reaching out to the Muslim Brotherhood (including its Palestinian affiliate, Hamas) would help American diplomacy and Middle Eastern democracy. Bibi understood that Sunni states like Egypt and its Saudi allies wanted Hamas crushed. Thus, as Obama tried to end the Gaza war on terms acceptable to Hamas and its allies, Bibi enjoyed the backing of both Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a successful effort to block Obamas efforts. Israels neighbors may not like Bibi, but they believe they can count on him. They may think Obama has some beautiful ideas that he cares deeply about, but they think hes erratic, unreliable, and doesnt understand either them or their concerns. Obama is an aspiring realist who wanted to work with undemocratic leaders on practical agreements. But Obama, despite the immense power of the country he leads, has been unable to gain the necessary respect from leaders like Putin and Xi that would permit the pragmatic relationships he wanted to build. Bibi is a practicing realist who has succeeded where Obama failed. Bibi has a practical relationship with Putin; they work together where their interests permit and where their interests clash, Putin respects Bibis red lines. Obamas pivot to Asia brought the US closer to India and Japan, but has opened a deep and dangerous divide with China. Under Bibis leadership, Israel has stronger, deeper relationships with India, China and Japan than at any time in the past, and Asia may well replace Europe as Israels primary trade and investment partners as these relationships develop. Its been a parlor game for a while to decide what apocalyptic scare environmental doom mongers would come up with once climate change settles down into a normal problem. Ive been nominating the weakening of the polar magnetic fields, which would be a Really Bad Thing for life on the planet. Sooner or later some environmentalist will blame mankinds electrical grid for this potential calamity. (Think of the cell phone radiation and high voltage power line scams, persisting despite ample debunkings.) Its an even better excuse than global warming to demand that we all return to cave dwelling lifestyles. So far no takers, though. But I think Ive spotted another potential apocalypse this week. From Science Alert: Earths atmosphere is slowly leaking oxygen, and scientists arent sure why Dont panic, but researchers have discovered that oxygen is (very) slowly draining out of Earths atmosphere, and right now, theyre not sure why. By analysing air bubbles trapped inside ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, a team from Princeton University has found oxygen levels have dropped by 0.7 percent in the last 800,000 years, and figuring out why could be crucial to predicting our planets future. . . Getting the answer isnt going to be easy though oxygen on our planet is constantly being recycled by humans, animals, plants, and even silicate rock. Right now, ice cores are among the best ways we have of getting fixed readings of how much oxygen is present. Now just wait for it. . . wait for it. . . Yes! Another possible cause is long-term climate change over the last few million years, weve seen a slight overall drop in global temperatures, even though Earth has been rapidly heating up over the past half a century. . . While the rate of oxygen decline is nothing to worry about just yet, Stolper does have a warning about the last 200 years since the industrial revolution started, data which isnt included in the new report. We are consuming O2 at a rate a factor of a thousand times faster than before, he told Gizmodo. Humankind has completely short-circuited the cycle by burning tonnes of carbon its yet another indication of our collective ability to do what happens [naturally] on the Earth, yet so much faster. Oh, I imagine Al Gore will figure out a way to panic over this. Stay tuned. I have said it one million times, I dont and will not, and cannot write for Nigerians. Nor do I write for the West. I believe that fiction should speak to no one, and by so doing, speak to all. The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma is a metaphor for the Nigerian State. It portrays the author as a multi-tasked artista painter of vivid images of his environment; an historian narrating events of 1993 to 2003 in Nigeria; and a story teller recounting the experiences of a people, issues of economic inequality, political instability, as well as the resilience of youth. A first book from author, Chigozie Obioma, an Assistant Professor of literature and creative writing at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who has been described by New York Times as the heir to Chinua Achebe, and one of 100 Global Thinkers of 2015 by Foreign Policy magazine, The Fishermen has been translated into 25 national languages, and won about a dozen distinguished international awards. Some of these include the New York Times Sunday Book Review Editors Choice and Financial Times/Oppenheimer award for fiction from Africa and the Middle East, etc. Set in Akure, South-West, Nigeria, and centered on the family of Mr. Aguwu and his four sonsIkenna, Boja, Obembe and Benjamin, it tells of how their lives are shaped by a fathers quest for economic sufficiency. This is until their encounter with a mad man, Abulu, and the ensuing of conflicts, which spawn a series of deaths. The Fishermen is largely metaphorical, with most of its characters represented by animals, equally hinging the fatalism that becomes operative in the experiences rendered. Between Abuluthe Leviathan and the rebounding vitality of youthsthe Egrets the essential enactment of the narrative plays out. While themes in The Fishermen meander through a canvass of violence, injustice, bravery, deceit, political instability and hope, the author places redemptive hope on the shoulders of Nigerian youths. In The Fishermen, Chigozie Obioma joins many other Nigerians to advocate for change in Nigeria. He is not shy to challenge political leaders to the virtues of good governance, accountability and sincerityvalues he sees as militating against the development of Nigeria. In this interview anchored for PREMIUM TIMES, Wealth Ominabo Dickson and Contributing Editor, Chiedu Ezeannah, engage author, Chigozie Obioma, on his art and craft, and what motivates these. PREMIUM TIMES: Most debut novels almost predictably reveal an abundance of facts and situations from the authors lived experience: would you say that your first novel, The Fishermen is an exception to this tendency? Chigozie: No, in fact, they always say when writers set up to write novels there is this tendency to write what they know, that much is true of The Fishermen. But fiction in itself is in many ways a kind of collage of many things: some fragments of true life and lived experience; others are just fictional. So, you mould things in such a way that those who could have recognised wont easily recognise it. To an extent I can agree that my book is working in that mode as well. PREMIUM TIMES: So how much of fiction is in The Fishermen? Chigozie: its probably eighty percent fiction. But Id like to say that Akure itself is represented in the book as I remember when growing up. There are certain aspects of life then when I was a child, like the 1993 election. Abiolas campaign was very ubiquitous. Everybody heard about it; it was all over Akure at the time. Things like that were replicated. Of course, the boys meeting with Abiola has been invented. The character of the father is in many ways from that of my father; he was a very eccentric man. PREMIUM TIMES: For literary scholars, there is this notion of faction, which is a blend of facts and fiction in a literary work. Can we say that you have also made an attempt at this in The Fishermen? Chigozie: No. People have done this, even in the writing of autobiographies. AKE by Soyinka, for example, is written in the third person when it is actually his own story. So there is a long tradition of that. What I mean by eighty percent fiction is that I could take this restaurant, for example, which in your own word is a fact, but people it up with abstract characters that dont exist. So I could substitute those of us here with other characters; then it becomes fiction. This becomes just the setting for the fiction. Of course Ararome Street exists, M.K.O Abiola existed and Akure exists. Also, what happened to those boys could happen to anyone. PREMIUM TIMES: What is the significance of animal figures in your novel? There is a consistent usage of animals to describe characters. Also, every chapter starts with the introduction of a new animal. What is about this style? Chigozie: I wanted to write something I have never read before. I wanted tell a story in a new way; in the way that memories work, especially for children. So, I came up with two things: if a child wants to understand the world at a young age, especially at eight or nine, most of the time he or she does so through associationsomething that she recognises and knows very well, and imports the qualities of that thing into a newer thing. A child who loves comics, if bullied by a big guy, would probably say this guy is like superman. Benjamin, in the novel, loves animals and that is how he is able to understand the world. For example, he calls his father an eagle; he knows that eagles go out to look for food and understands why his father goes away every day. That is the concept behind the structure of the novel. PREMIUM TIMES: How does this help, in the development of the plot of the novel? Chigozie: In many ways it doesnt allow for a kind of linear narration of the story, even though at the end I hope a kind of coherence is achieved. Each chapter tells the story of a metaphorical figure. What some of those critics dont get is, we do not believe in the same politics. They probably have bought the idea of Nigeria as a viable state, I havent. Thats the whole point of The Fishermen. I think Nigeria is a Western idea that needs to be rethought and turned into an African construct to be viable. PREMIUM TIMES: Why so many deaths in the novel? Chigozie: It is a very violent book. I dedicated it to my brothers and they asked, why dedicate to us? This book is very bloody. It was inspired by anger; indeed I am an angry man. You know when I became angry? I woke up one day and I told my Dad that I wanted to study literature; that I want to read all of these great books and study them. He kept discouraging me but then woke up one day and told me that if I must study literature then I must go to where people really appreciate literature. I was to go to the UK but had issues with the visa, so I ended up in Cyprus. When I got there, I was so shocked at this desert with just one million people that has everything that Nigeria does not have. Every day, I would wake up and ask myself: How come? How did we fail? What is the reason for this? So I kept thinking. And thinking. It was after like two years that I came to the conclusion that it was because of the British incursion into Nigeria; that the incursion is at the very source of this problem. Not that the country is essentially wrong, but that Western civilisation is incompatible in many ways with what we have, and we have been struggling to understand it, and that is why we have been failing. Let me give you an example: One of the major problems of corruption in Nigeria is cronyism, as you must be aware. That was an aspect of Igbo culture middlemanisim. Its about how dare you go and talk to a girl that you want to marry her. You have to go through somebody first. Even if you want to buy a land you have to go through somebody first, who will now mediate for you. So once we got into Western civilisation, we imported some aspects of our culture into it. The mismanagement of western civilisation is what we call corruption. So if this phone, for example, is corrupted it means that it is not functioning the way that it should function. That is the problem. It is because we lost some part of our culture; our identity, and we are trying to live the way some other people are living which we dont understand. So, that is the whole idea about my book. These boys were living well, their lives were good; one wanted to be a doctor, another a lawyer, and one day a mad man told them you are going to live like this. The same thing the British did to us. That is why it is so tragic because there is nothing good about the story of Nigeria. PREMIUM TIMES: So the many deaths in the novel have nothing to do with poetic justice? Chigozie: No. I call it an Igbo tragedy because it is a different kind of tragedy. It is not working in the same way the Shakespearean or Grecian tragedy works. It is our own kind of tragedy my own form of tragedy. PREMIUM TIMES: Commitment is a vital ingredient in all literary works, in the context of The Fishermen, what are you committed to? Chigozie: It is multi-various. But one, it was inspired by anger, my trying to understand the reasons why we failed so much. So, it is depicted as the intervention that disrupted our unique African civilisation. Am not trying to provide an answer. The Fishermen was written as an inquiry: Why did we fail? It is political in many ways. I have this theory that a novel should be able to work on one of at least three levels. It should be able to work on the level of the personal, which could be that it is a family story; that is about some boys, a family drama. That is at the primary level. The second level would be the philosophical one, which is the political angle; and the third is the conceptual level, which is the structure that just described. My novel works on these three levels. PREMIUM TIMES: I see that Abulu is very significant in the development of the story; the plot revolves around the prophecy of Abulu. What is the place of history in this text, as well as the role of Abulu? Chigozie: The thing with The Fishermen is that the books I love are always very complex; they unravel themselves in different ways. One thing about this book is that I have tried to describe the development of Nigeria within an attempt into the inquiry of why we fail. The novel begins technically in 1993, during the campaign of Abiola, and ends in 2003 when the character, Benjamin is freed from prison. It is a perfect decade: When Nigeria attempted after a very long time of military rule to gain a democratic system of government and failed; when Abiolas attempt was subverted, to when we had the first civilian-to-civilian handover. Everything in the novel is intended as it is; there is nothing coincidental in the structure of the novel, which is why you have all these history. And I try to make sure that some time markers like Abiola are there. By 2015, when it was first published in Britain, I had rushed to get a job because I had thought it was something that would just come and then disappear, and that I would maybe sell a few copies. But I was shocked at what happened. Now we have it in about 25 languages. The book is a metaphor for the development and foundations of Nigeria. As I mentioned earlier, in the beginning these boys were a happy familyone wanted to be a lawyer, another a doctor, but this man (Abulu) comes in and destroys their lives. Lets use the Igbo as an example: Prior to the coming of the British, we had a socio-political system that was egalitarian. In terms of progressiveness and liberalism, it was more sophisticated than what the British had in the 19th Century. They had a monarchical system, although it was not a dictatorship; a woman was ruling them. We didnt have any one person that was ruling us. We had a complex sophisticated system of government until the British came and dismissed it as nonsense; as inferior and barbaric. And they told us, live this way, and we have been living their great life; we have adopted their results. That is what Abulu didthat person who destroys the unity of anything. In Yoruba thought and even in Igbo thought, as found in Akure where I grew up, if we are having a meeting and someone crashes in and starts making noise, the first instinctive thing the Yoruba would say is, were! madman! That is where Abulu comes from: Anything that disrupts the unity of another thing, be it a family system or something else. It is such a figure. PREMIUM TIMES: In the book, the boys father thanks Benjamin for trying to eliminate Abulu. What is the significance of the statements made, in line with what you have just explained? Chigozie: Well, they wanted to solve the problem of the madman. Some Western critics have called my book an allegory, which I fought against because once you make something an allegory, it dulls the agency and everybody looks out for symbols: So what does this symbolise? I would rather say it is a metaphor. Not everything is symbolic. But as I have said, there are three levels upon which The Fishermen is working: the personal level is the primary levela coming of age story. It is a family drama, and once that family has been destroyed, the father, of course, wants to avenge the man who did this to his children and that is why he said you guys have tried by trying to take him out, even though he would have love to do it by himself. PREMIUM TIMES: What has your publishing experience been as a first book author? Chigozie: Once The Fishermen was about to be published, I sold the right in 2013. We had it in about six national languages then, which was surprising. By 2015, when it was first published in Britain, I had rushed to get a job because I had thought it was something that would just come and then disappear, and that I would maybe sell a few copies. But I was shocked at what happened. Now we have it in about 25 languages. We have also gotten a stage dramatisation right sold. It has won three awards and has been nominated for eleven others. I have been very encouraged by the reception. Even here, apart from a blog post, actual reviews have been enthusiastic. PREMIUM TIMES: For the interest of many readers who are not aware, can you please mention some of these awards? Chigozie: I dont think it sounds good for me to mention the recognitions that my book has received without specific contexts. But I will say that the book has been successful, and surpassed my expectations by a great deal. But for the sake of those who will slander, I will mention the Financial Times/Oppenheimer award for fiction from Africa and the Middle-East, and which was judged by three Africans and others. PREMIUM TIMES: The NLNG prize for literature is one of Africas biggest prizes. It is surprising that you didnt enter for the award. What could have informed your reason for this? Chigozie: First, there is a personal reason, which is my skepticism about the Nigerian literary establishment, and my reluctance to be a part of it in the sense of participation. But more because I feel that we have too many problems in terms of ethics in this country that not just myself, but many other writers, will skip stuff like that. Look at the awards history and lists; you will notice that some of the big names arent always there. It isnt just me. Also, Im not sure the prize merits the hefty sum it is allotted, given that, to quote our realist president, Nigeria is now a poor country. Not to think that the publishing industry in Nigeria is not in a great form, nor is the reading habit of the public. I also have ambivalent feelings about the oil industry in Nigeria, especially how much destruction they have wrecked in the Niger-Delta, amongst my people, and their lands, and when the people rise up to protest, they are violently dismissed. It bothers me. Plus, The Fishermen, after having won more than three big awards, and received more than 11 other nominations, I dont think needs more lift. PREMIUM TIMES: What are your views about the administration of literary prizes in Nigeria and across Africa? The point is, there are many of them all over the place do they really matter? I have said it one million times, I dont and will not, and cannot write for Nigerians. Nor do I write for the West. I believe that fiction should speak to no one, and by so doing, speak to all. Chigozie: I hope they do, really. But I dont follow closely, to be honest. I do not engage, even, except for the African Book Fund prizes for African writing, which is run by Kwame Dawes, my colleague at the University of Nebraska. I will soon be joining the team, and I feel excited about that. PREMIUM TIMES: Even the most cursory reader of The Fishermen would point out immediately two major literary influences: Chinua Achebe for the story telling flair and the precision and depth of the prose, and Amos Tutuola, for his macabre realism. Do you agree? Chigozie: Indeed. I like to say that Tutuola was the writer who first showed me that large-human stories could become books. I also got introduced through himand in concert with writers like Homer, Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, Melville and othersto the mythic element of fiction writingthat which, in its deep-soil planting, can lend transcendence to a work of fiction, or poetry. PREMIUM TIMES: Some other literary critics have dragged Tolstoy into the matter. Who are the other culprits that have inflicted enduring wounds on your creative and novelistic consciousness that the reader feels so palpably on every page of The Fishermen? Chigozie: Wound? Ha, Id rather steer clear from such a violent metaphor. I will say that I have not read much of Tolstoy, and that it is very interesting when I hear my writing being compared to writers of that scale and magnitude. PREMIUM TIMES: The Fishermen seems to have provoked some controversies from Nigerian in the social media; mainly about your use of some linguistic registers. Whats your attitude to the mostly hateful responses to your person? Chigozie: There is a herd instinct that social media helps create; it has the essential effect of logrolling. It might be, in my opinion, bad for any human being to engage deeply in that stuff. So, the Nigerian literary social media community is not an exception. One person has an opinion, and, without thinking, everyone else follows it. We also have an inflated sense of pride in Nigeria, even though we have a failed country. Elites, who live in New York or elsewhere in the West, sit over their computers and feel insulted by representations of Africa they dont approve of. They try to censor writers; thisthey sayis how you should write. Seeking, as a result of their ego or their vested interests, to turn the writer into a slave, or establish arbitrary hierarchies (writers who live in Nigeria are better than those who live abroad); If you italicise molue, you are writing for the West. And, writers are constrained. While others from other places, like my friend Eleanor Catton, or Eimeer McBride are writing shape-shifting novels, we are worrying about meaningless trivialities, and affirmative action/activist writing. Listen, I have said it one million times, I dont and will not, and cannot write for Nigerians. Nor do I write for the West. I believe that fiction should speak to no one, and by so doing, speak to all. What some of those critics dont get is, we do not believe in the same politics. They probably have bought the idea of Nigeria as a viable state, I havent. Thats the whole point of The Fishermen. I think Nigeria is a Western idea that needs to be rethought and turned into an African construct to be viable. So, why then should I write for the people of an arbitrary construct? If there are any people that I would write for, it would be the Igbo people, but then, I was born in Akure, and see myself also as a Yoruba personby birth and grooming at least. So, you see? It doesnt make sense to write for any particular group. But the establishment, feeling a sense of ownership of the discourse, and empowered by some writers, continue to exert this ridiculous discourse. It is a massive waste of time and energy to engage in veneer-shaping representation of Africa in fiction. Write what comes to you as honest. Yes, there is stark poverty in Nigeria; write it so. Forget about making it look good. If your writing is not honest, your readers will knowat least the percipient ones. It is not braveas some of these folks will have us believeto write dishonestly, for the sake of receiving the plaudits of this clipped group. Nor is it brave to adorn your writing with tasteless provincial prose, or, where needless, native languages, or corrupted forms of English. If the work demands it, do it. If it suits your need for the work, do it. And if your aimlike mineis to take the English language to the best possible place and write the kind of prose you love to read in the writers you love (Nabokov, Hardy, Melville, etc.) then write that way. Let the establishment bark on twitter or Facebook or blogs till they tire. You will be rewarded by honesty, and your reward would be genuine. PREMIUM TIMES: The Nigerian literary scene seems to be exciting at the moment. Just a while ago you said you have followed modern Nigerian poetry. Have you also dabbled into writing poetry? Who are the contemporary fiction writersNigerian, African and worldwidethat you are familiar with? What you think of their works? I get depressed every time I visit home, which is always once a year at least. I am disheartened, really; very bothered by the failure. Chigozie: I do, of course. I like Okey Ndibes Foreign Gods Inc. very much. But theres Chimamanda Adichies Half of a Yellow Sun, a necessary novel in my opinion. But Ben Okris The Famished Road stands tall in my mind. And very recently, I called Tadunos Song by Odafe Atogun an original, and it is. PREMIUM TIMES: Your recent essay titled There Are No Successful Black Nations, published on Foreign Policy speaks to the Africans worldwide and Nigerians. Can you give a brief recap of your arguments there? Chigozie: That we need to wake up, push aside the passive posture of the partridge, the we-cannot-succeed-because-of-colonialism argument and form a sustainable nation, without which weblack peoplecannot have dignity in the world. PREMIUM TIMES: Your novel The Fishermen is seen in most quarters as a political novel, hence many readers see you as a writer that is committed to political change in Nigeria. What is your take on the political happenings in Nigeria? Chigozie: I get depressed every time I visit home, which is always once a year at least. I am disheartened, really; very bothered by the failure. PREMIUM TIMES: It is in the air that your second novel is already in the press. Is this true? What is the title? And when should your readers expect this new offering? Chigozie: It is not yet in the press, but I have completed it. I think we will make an announcement in a short time. You can be on the look out for it. The head of the main union of oil workers in Nigeria said on Saturday that his members could not afford to embark on strike now because it would increase the suffering of Nigerians. Achese Igwe, the President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, stated this while addressing journalists on Saturday at the end of the unions 3rd Quarter Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Meeting in Asaba, Delta. He said the union must consider its actions at this challenging time for the country. I tell you if NUPENG should go on any industrial action, we will be creating more hardship for Nigerians. I tell you, when the need arises that we must take some necessary actions in putting things in proper perspective, we will react, he said. The president, however, warned that the union would not hesitate to resist policies that would frustrate hopes of common people. According to him, the union will resist any attempt by the government to increase the price of petroleum products. It would not be right for the government to contemplate increase in price of petroleum products in an environment where nothing was working, cost of goods are high and the exchange rate fast tumbling, he said. On concession of government companies and refineries, the NUPENG chief said the country was not ripe for it and that the right policies and necessary measure must be put in place first. Mr. Igwe said the union would continue to encourage the government to create the enabling environment for Nigerians to start investing in refineries. He said all over the world, the private sector invests in the building of refineries, gas plants, extraction among others. The NUPENG president said that government must ensure that all its investments and agencies in the country are functioning effectively. He said that government must make the refineries to work and secure the pipelines. He added that there was no cabal, criminal, institution that was greater than the government. On issues of privatisation of our refineries, the answer is no and I have no doubt in my mind and from the last meeting I had with Mr President, his position over the issue of refinery showed that he is determined to make our refineries work. But should government decide to sell the refineries, I will tell you obviously that we will resist it by the Grace of God Almighty, Mr. Igwe said. (NAN) The National Council on Finance and Economic Development, NACOFED, 2016 conference, which opens in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Tuesday, will examine options available to government to improve its revenue streams especially in a period of low earnings from crude oil. The conference, which is being hosted by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has been themed: Enhancing Revenue Generation and Obtaining Best Value for Money in Expenditure. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the event will attract a diverse group of participants including Ministers, Governors, Commissioners of Finance and Budget from the 36 states of the Federation, as well as captains of industry from the private sector. NACOFED was created as a forum for members to discuss current socio-economic issues, and proffer a way forward for the Nigerian economy on fiscal and monetary policies. The conference will be declared open by Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. According to the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, the policy thrust of the current administration informs the theme for this years conference. She said the Federal Ministry of Finance has continued to discharge its numerous functions through well-articulated initiatives and policies to improve revenue generation, blocking leakages, tackling wastage and obtaining best value for money in government expenditure. Some of the topics to be treated at the all-important event include: The non-oil sector as a sustainable alternative in enhancing revenue generation to be delivered by the Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi. Others include Harnessing Customs and Excise Duties for Improved Revenue Generation, to be delivered by the Comptroller General of Customs, Hammed Ali (rtd); and Tax as a Source of Improved Revenue to the Federation Account, to be led by the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler. Business executives and economic analysts expected at the event include Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank, Segun Agbaje; Group General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, M.K. Baru; Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited;. Bismarck Rewane; former Director General, Budget Office, Bode Augusto; among others. The forum serves as an avenue for sharing ideas that will lead to the streamlining of activities in the finance ministries at the federal and state levels as well as other financial institutions of relevance, including government parastatals. It is expected to enhance the ability of states to align with the Federal Government on various issues of economic concern in order to ensure policy consistency and effective implementation. Last week, Wahab Shittu, a counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and a Senior lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, spoke on Channels Televisions flagship breakfast show, Sunrise Daily. He spoke about the $20 million money laundering case involving former First Lady, Patience Jonathan. He said the EFCC had not embarked on a witch-hunt of the former first family. PREMIUM TIMES Ben Ezeamalu transcribed the interview. Tell us about this case because the way it does appear, there were those who were surprised that in a corruption case, you get to court, and you find people pleading guilty. They thought, wait a minute, what actually happened? Shittu: I think the starting point is to recognise there are procedures in court and we should be guided about making comments in respect of matters that are subjudice. Secondly, and most importantly, is to also state the fact that Im not here holding brief for EFCC. Because Im not authorised by EFCC to speak on this matter. But speaking as a lawyer, I listened to the gentleman speak, if he is a lawyer to the former first lady, I think he should be making his advocacy in court since the matter is already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction. Most of what he said there are hearsay, he has no proof that he has the authority of the former first lady. There is also no proof that he was a witness to what transpired at the time the accounts were opened. So, all what he told the Nigerian public is hearsay, simplicita. But I think, speaking as an officer in the temple of justice, the former first lady stated that she is a housewife, so it is important for us to have records of the provisions of the law. This is a country that is governed by law. We have the provisions of the EFCC Act, so what the EFCC is doing is acting in line with its mandate. The EFCC is created by statute. If you look at the EFCC Act, particularly Section 17 and 18, EFCC is entitled to proceed and locate the origin of funds. If you look at Section 19 (5) of the EFCC Act, if you are in possession of funds or resources, pecuniary resources, that is disproportionate to your income, you have a duty to explain. So if the first lady is saying the money belongs to her, this is a democracy where rule of law is recognised. She has a duty to come and furnish details and particulars to establish the ownership. Part of the statements credited is that, she has said yes this money belongs to me, but the commissioner never invited her to come forward, speak up, or defend herself for this case. Shittu: That invitation is still open. It has always been there. But have they she said. Shittu: (Cuts in) No no no no. The Commission. We must recognise the fact that EFCC under the present leadership of Magu is an institution that places a high premium on respect for the rule of law. I recall I was in a session with the chairman of the EFCC three days ago, and journalists asked him pointedly questions relating to this matter and his response was that he would not make comments, that they are still investigating the matter and the matter is in court. That is to show you a man who has respect for the rule of law. Because hes conscious of the need to respect the rights of the former first lady. When the former first lady said the money belongs to me, thats a categorical assertion. The law expects you to be able to explain your source of income, how you came about the money. How can they ask her to explain the source of income when theyve not directly invited her as she says? Shittu: But she has been invited. And the facts of the case even lends itself to direct invitation. Even if EFCC has not invited her as she is claiming, then she should invite herself. If allegations are being made against me and Ive not been invited. And those allegations touch on my integrity, Ill make myself available and explain. She owned up herself, that this money belongs to me. They didnt say that well, we have found money that belongs to you, could you come forward and explain, so thats where it appears a little different. Shittu: No. An application was filed in court. Affidavit was deposed to, not by the first lady, by some other person claiming to represent the interests of the first lady and attributing the ownership of the funds. We are not talking of N5, we are talking of $20 million, $5 million, thats what we are talking about. Have you looked at the provisions of the Money Laundering Act? Section One, for instance, when you are in possession of funds beyond a certain threshold, it comes within the ambit of money laundering. You were talking about the Money Laundering Act, could you tell us, if you say one is an accessory to crime, people then ask how come you can go ahead and prosecute the accessory but are they supposed to say, well, this is actually the main crime of which this person is an accessory? Shittu: The provisions of the law, the Money Laundering Prohibition Act and the EFCC Act, they all recognise principal offenders as well as those who facilitate the commission of crime, either by being accessories or aiding or even assisting in the process. From what EFCC had done through diligent investigation, they recognised the fact that certain accounts were opened. But if you.you just said principal offenders and those who are aiding and abetting, so can you go for those who are aiding and abetting without getting the principal offender? Shittu: As far as the records of Skye Bank show, all those who are connected have been arraigned. As aiding and abetting. What about the principal offender? Shittu: But those who laundered the funds have been arraigned in court. Those who are alleged to have laundered the funds. We are talking about the former first lady Shittu: (Cuts in) The former first lady Are you making a case for the invitation of the former first lady? Let me read a quote here which we have. Its a statement that was put out by her media aide, Yemi Akinbode, who says the former first lady was quoted to have said this is an irony. I was the one who went to court for the repatriation of my confiscated money when I realised the EFCC and her co-travellers were playing politics with this issue after I had come out publicly to say that the said money belongs to me and that I have all evidence to prove the sources of my money. Up till this very moment, EFCC has refused to interrogate or invite me for questioning while the agency has continued to detain Dudafa under heavy armed security guards. Shittu: That, clearly, is an assertion. The matter is still being investigated. There are other aspects of the matter under investigation. When investigation is being carried out, you proceed to court on the strength of materials available to you in the interim that you can use to establish the degree of involvement of persons. From what you have seen, those who are arraigned in court were either linked with the companies that opened the accounts and some of them have even pleaded guilty. There were some of them who pleaded not guilty. Which is strange, because people say to themselves, wait a minute theyve not seen these before, how people who on a 15 count charge get to court and immediately plead guilty Shittu: (Cuts in) When the evidence is overwhelming. And, dont forget, the second part of that is that, she then says through her counsel that these chaps, EFCC just brought them to disguise. In fact, they said pointedly they are working for the EFCC. Shittu: Those who make these kinds of assertions are perhaps unaware of the integrity of the present leadership of EFCC and by extension the integrity of the present administration. We are all concerned about the scourge of corruption. This country is faced with the issue of recession. This is an era where all hands must be on deck to recover all ill-gotten money in order to bring the economy on track. Without saying the money is ill-gotten at this stage, I want to recognise the fundamental rights of those who are involved. So I will not sit here and make categorical pronouncements. The door is still open for those who have been accused to defend themselves. Once you are accused of being in custody of certain pecuniary resources, you can at least justify how you came about it. The EFCC had said the first lady wasnt its target initially, but you did say that some of the principal actors usually use their aides, especially domestic staff, to open accounts. Were there any suspicion that the principal staff in Aso Villa could have used their aides to open accounts when at the same time they said the first lady is not our target? Shittu: Well, arising from the volume of the money involved, thats the key thing you must look at first, do you get involved in such transactions without presenting yourself directly or acting through some of your aides? For instance, the clear facts in the public now is that those accounts were opened through the instrumentality of the special adviser on domestic affairs. Now will you say the special adviser on domestic affairs did not have the authority of the former first lady to open those accounts? Now, if he acted without the authority of the former first lady, what steps did the former first lady take before now to change the narrative? We are talking of accounts opened between 2013 and 2014. One of those being investigated, perhaps the direct target of the EFCC, was the former first lady. Shittu: Those are insinuations. You are aware that the special adviser to the president on domestic affairs was under investigation. And these revelations came about as a result of those investigations. It was discovered in the course of those investigations that certain accounts were opened. And you now want to find out, you ask certain questions, those companies belong to who? Who are the directors? Are there no documentations in the custody of Skye Bank about those who opened the accounts? If you look at the entire circumstances, it raises a lot of suspicions. And EFCC is concerned with those suspicions. When you are in custody of resources far beyond your limits, that ought to pass through financial institutions, that ought to be subjected to some degree of documentations. And you dont see those documentations, you dont see solid explanations, are you saying the EFCC should fold its hands? Two things: she has said shes willing to come forward, they have not invited her. She says shes got full documents to prove that these monies belong to her. And she also said through her counsel that those companies for which those people pleaded guilty, shes not a director, shes not a CEO, nothing to those companies. Shittu: Im saying as a lawyer, that the invitation is still open to the former first lady. When you freeze an account. (Cuts in) Mr. Shittu, we know in this country if the EFCC is after certain investigation, you will see most times they would invite you. Most times they will invite you Shittu: (Cuts in) Nooo. Technically like Ive told you. But isnt it strange that people who are being investigated, someone is offering that look Im here, Ive got details, invite me and Ill come. What we usually see is people just stay below the radar and not be seen. Shittu: What I have said and which is the correct position is, if certain allegations concerning you are made, do you just fold your hands? You invite yourself. EFCC offices are open. We have zonal offices everywhere and the headquarters. Today, if the former first lady can go to the EFCC to furnish particulars, details showing how the ownership of the funds involved. A prima facie case is established that those funds are laundered, it is for the former first lady to approach the agency with cogent facts, details of how she came about the money. Having regards to that she is an housewife and as a public servant from Bayelsa State, she can only earn legitimate income through farming. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns todaysassassination of controversial Jordanian writer, Nahed Hattar, outside an Amman court, where he was facing charges of insulting religion in connection with a cartoon he shared on Facebook, according to news reports. Relatives at the scene apprehended his killer, the reports said. Jordanian officials last month toldCPJ that they had detained the journalistwho was taken into custody August 13 after he shared a cartoon depicting a bearded man in bed with two women in heaven, ordering God to serve him wine and foodfor his own protection. Following Hattars arrest, a public prosecutor issued a gag order on reporting on the case. Hattar was released on bail in early September, but afforded no protection by the government, despite threats to his life, news reports said. Nahed Hattars killing is a direct result of lack of commitment to freedom of expression by Jordanian authorities, said Sherif Mansour, CPJs program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. We call on the government to bring the killer to justice and to change its approach to freedom of the press to foster openness and protection for critical voices. While the gunman has not been identified, some social media accounts of conservatives in Jordan and elsewhere celebrated Hattars death and said he deserved it for blasphemy, Al-Jazeera reported. On a mission to Jordan in August, CPJ found overt censorship by Jordanian authorities as well as self-censorship by journalists fearing reprisal for their work. Officials defended the role of the government as an arbitrator of public debate at a time when the country is facing challenges, including the fight against terrorism and a flood of refugees arriving from neighbouring countries. By Akinwale Goodluck Dear Editor, I have followed with great interest the allegations of plagiarism made against Lai Mohammed the Minister of Information and Culture, and the rebuttals made by his office. I am constrained to write in respect of same with a view to setting the records straight having had privileged knowledge and information about the conception of the Change begins with me campaign. I watched the launch of the Change Begins With Me campaign by President Muhamamadu Buhari, PMB, and silently chucked to myself that the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, had finally been able to launch it. It was almost with a sense of dejavu as I listened to PMB launch what Mr. Mohammed had started to conceptualise even before his swearing in as the Minister for Information. I was therefore shocked, surprised, bemused, most concerned and puzzled when I read online allegations and strong claims of plagiarism that the Change campaign was the brainchild of other people and that the minister has stolen their idea and concept. I recall very clearly that I met with Lai Mohammed on the morning of the November 10 in his hotel suite at the Hilton in Abuja. It was a day before the swearing in of the cabinet. I had called Lai Mohammed seeking a meeting with him primarily to congratulate him on his nomination as a minister and also because of speculation that he was going to be Minister for Information and Communication. Lai Mohammed was pretty confident that morning that he was going to be assigned the information portfolio but said nothing about communication. I also recall that I had the pleasure of meeting his wife and sister who were also in the suite. After exchange of pleasantries and rubbing minds on the state of our Nation and expectations of the new cabinet, Mr. Mohammed gave me a detailed breakdown of his strategic and tactical plans to re-orientate our people to achieve the required paradigm shift and new thinking to take Nigeria to the promised land. His discussion was centered around change and how it needed to be implemented. He was very clear about the critical role social media would play and he promised that as soon as he settled down he would seek my assistance to meet with the mobile operators to explore how technology and social media will help propagate the change message and re orientation of our values. Truth be told I was initially skeptical as it sounded like WAI all over again but as he espoused more and more I understood very clearly what he wanted to achieve and the direction he was going. He was very emphatic and it was the first time I heard Change begins with me. I committed to helping him and also undertook to rally the mobile industry to support in propagating the change message as I was part of the leadership of the Association of Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria ALTON and a senior Executive of MTN Nigeria at the time. After the swearing in on November 11, 2015, I again met with the minister in his office on November 17, 2015 this time in the company of my then boss, Michael Ikpoki, the immediate former Chief Executive officer of MTN Nigeria. It was a courtesy visit late in the evening at the Ministry of Information. The Minister reiterated the Change initiative and again sought the cooperation of the mobile industry. Shortly after this meeting I separated from the services of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited. The minister remained in touch and we continued to brainstorm on the Change campaign. Sometime in January 2016 I met with the minister at his home on Isaac John street, GRA Ikeja early on a Saturday morning. His son, Folajimi, also joined us as we did more brainstorming on how best to achieve his objectives. The minister then requested that I prepare a submission for him on how we could deploy technology and social media to drive the change campaign with focus on the youth population. We continued to speak and on the February 22, 2016 at 11.12 p.m., I sent a deck of slides to aid his engagement with mobile operators for the propagation of the Change begins with me Campaign. On February 23, 2016, the minister requested via SMS that I forward the slides to two of his aides, Segun Adeyemi and Adeleye Williams. Electronic communications leave an indelible trace. It is therefore very surprising that anyone would suggest that the Change begins with me campaign was not the brainchild of the minister. I state without any equivocation that Lai Mohammed had discussed the Change begins with me campaign extensively as early as November 10, 2015. It is therefore impossible that the idea of the Change begins with me campaign was first proposed to the minister at a meeting in December. Absolutely impossible. I have no doubt that the Minister is the subject of unending unsolicited proposals as anyone in a position of authority in Nigeria can testify. Best practice is to have a policy for managing unsolicited proposals. I have elected to state the above for the records because I believe its the right thing to do. Thank you Akinwale Goodluck The Nigerian Army and the State Security Service are yet to release 10 journalists and officials of a media organisation arrested five days ago at a hotel in Benin, their editor said. Taiye Garrick, publisher and editor of Watchdog News, said his staff were also denied access to their lawyers. Tony Abulu (Production Manager), Richard Hasley (Reporter), Opara Uche (Reporter), Handy Romeo Eze (Reporter), Kelvin Toryila (Video Editor), Lanre Ogunleye (IT associate), Balogun Ehigie (IT ), Kenneth Danpome (Head, IT), Mathew (Logistics Manager) and Joe Epi (Driver) were arrested at a hotel in Benin on September 21. The soldiers, in a joint operation with SSS operatives, carried out the arrests at Douban Hotel in Benin, the Edo State capital. They were in Benin to carry out a survey of voters and report on early preparations of INEC and other stakeholders ahead of the gubernatorial election holding there on September 28, Mr. Garrick told PREMIUM TIMES. The Army in a statement the following day said the journalists were arrested based on credible security reports. The Army denied brutalising them. In the statement, signed by its spokesman, Sani Usman, the Army said the reporters were caught with quite a number of incriminating items including INEC sensitive materials. Neither the Army nor the SSS has explained why the reporters have not been charged to court despite still being in detention. But Mr. Garrick emailed pictures to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday showing his staff in their office in Abuja and on the field in Benin before their arrest. One of the staff, Kelvin Toryila could be seen working in the Watchdog News offices in Abuja; and recently while on a field assignment in Benin. Mr. Garrick said Mr. Toryila and his colleagues remained confined at the SSS field office in Benin as at Saturday evening . He said he has been receiving threat calls and invitation from anonymous persons asking him to report at the SSS office in Abuja or elsewhere. The Army spokesperson, Mr. Sani, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES requests for comments Saturday. The Nigerian government has intensified clampdown on journalists in the past year. This has seen over a dozen reporters and bloggers arrested and brutalised. A blogger, Jamil Mabai, is still in detention after he was arrested last Monday for a blog post criticising Katsina State governments expenses. The Presidency has received the appeals of 22 senior officers of the Nigerian Army who complained they were wrongfully laid off, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm authoritatively. In our series of investigations on how the Army compulsorily retired 38 officers, some unjustly, we reported the riddle surrounding the governments handling of the letters of the affected officers who sought redress. The affected officers later complained that the Minister of Defence was blocking their appeals from reaching the President, a claim defence officials denied. Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, also declined comment on the letters. However, our investigation revealed the Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, handed the appeals of the aggrieved officers to President Muhammadu Buhari in compliance with the revised version of Paragraph 09.02(e) of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Services for Officers, 2012 (Revised). Your Excellency, I wish to most respectfully intimate the President, Commander-in-Chief on the appeals arising from the recent retirements of some senior army officers by the Army Council, wrote the Defence Chief in a July 5 letter seen by this newspaper. In view of the aforementioned, I respectfully forwarded their prayers for Mr. Presidents consideration and further directive, your Excellency, he added. Of the 38 officers compulsorily retired, a total of 22 sought redress. While only one is pleading for voluntary retirement, 21 others are demanding reinstatement, having complained they were arbitrarily dismissed without query or indictment by any panel. The only person seeking conversion from compulsory retirement to voluntary retirement is Ohifeme Ejemai (N/8340), Major General. The reason for his forced retirement, the Defence Chief told the President, was fraud and money laundering. Family members however said the allegations against the general was untrue. He was never accused of any wrongdoing before his retirement, a family member said. And he was never involved in any wrongdoing. Although it is now confirmed the appeals have been transmitted to the Presidency, it is not certain when Mr. Buhari would act on them. I have confirmed the Chief of Defence Staffs letter with the appeals attached has been received by the Chief of Staff to the President, a source said; adding however, but I cant say the President himself has received the appeals. Court documents seen by this newspaper showed that one of the affected officers approached the National Industrial Court, seeking mandamus that would compel defence authorities to show evidence of transferring the appeals to Mr. Buhari. Mr. Olonisakins lawyer rejected that plea. It will amount to absurdity and encouraging insubordination for the applicant who was a junior officer to the 1st respondent (Chief of Defence Staff) to demand the performance of a duty of reporting to him, the applicant, the performance of a duty not imposed by law, said J.S. Okutepa, legal representative of the Chief Defence Staff. While officers who feel unjustly retired or dismissed can appeal within 30 days, there is no stipulated time frame within which the president must communicate his decision, our review of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers showed. At least 22 members of the Boko Haram were killed after the insurgents attacked a military formation, the Nigerian Army said on Sunday. The Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the attack occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Sunday along the Dikwa-Gambarou road in Borno. He said four soldiers were killed and another two soldiers injured from the clash. Sundays clash occurs three days after Boko Haram fighters attacked another military formation in Borno State. The attack on soldiers in Abadam village led to the death of two soldiers and 15 insurgents, the Army had said. Sundays attack also occurred few hours after the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a video threatening more attacks on Northern Nigerian cities like Maiduguri and Sokoto. Mr. Shekau also said his group would not release the abducted Chibok girls unless his members held in various Nigerian prisons were released. On Sunday, Mr. Usman, a Colonel, said troops have reinforced the location attacked by the terror group. Read Mr. Usmans full statement below. At about 1.00am today, Sunday 25th September 2016, some suspected remnants of Boko Haram fighters numbering about attacked our troops location of at Logomani along Dikwa-Gambarou road, Borno State, in a 3 waves attack using 36 Hand Grenades and Rocket Propelled Launchers. Our troops fought gallantly and repelled the attack which lasted for about one hour. At the end of the fierce encounter, the troops counted 22 dead bodies of Boko Haram fighter. They also recovered 2 AK-47 Rifles, 1 FN Rifle, 1 G3 Rifle and some 36 Hand grenades. Unfortunately, we troops lost 4 soldiers and their rifles as a result of the effect of Boko Haram use of Rocket Propelled Grenades, while 2 soldiers were wounded in action. The wounded in action have been evacuated for further medical management. The location have been reinforced and replenished while the troops have continued their clearance operations. You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your esteemed medium. A former Governor of Lagos State and leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has called on the chairman of the party, John Oyegun, to resign from office. Mr. Tinubu said Mr. Oyegun is amongst those who have managed to remain within the party because of what they could benefit rather than the sacrifice they could make. Mr. Tinubus comment came in the wake of a major dispute that followed the conduct of the partys primaries in Ondo State earlier this month. Mr. Tinubu said Mr. Oyegun had betrayed the tenets of APC and had been a willing tool in efforts to derail the APC agenda. Oyeguns transgressions are a warning. He is but the mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways. If they get away with this infraction, no telling what or whom they will undermine tomorrow. Much is at stake, Mr. Tinubu said. The APC was formed through an alliance of some opposition political parties and a power bloc in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party. The party rode to power following the general elections last year during which it won both the presidency and majority in both chambers of the National Assembly. Mr. Oyegun did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request for comment. When contacted, Mr. Tinubus spokesperson, Sunday Dare, told PREMIUM TIMES that the former Lagos governor authored the message. Read the full statement by Mr. Tinubus office below: OYEGUNS ONDO FRAUD: THE VIOLATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE APC The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance, is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party but never of it. From the partys inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realized that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed. If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation. In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken. Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyeguns conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help. Oyeguns comportment regarding the Ondo state primacy will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named. Having faith in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived. As a democrat, one must face the possibility of defeat and accept such as outcome with as much grace as one would embrace victory. One of the few bright spots during the conduct of the primaries was Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar He chaired the primary convention with decorum and impartiality. He was unaware that a tampered list has been slipped into the process. Indeed within hours of the announcement, news began to filter in that gravely disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled the waters. The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do. The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error. The alteration was wilfully executed that the primary would be directed toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common with the will of most state party members. A cunning few had tried to deceive the many into believing they were outnumbered. A conspiracy to steal the Ondo primary had been uncovered. Fortunately, the grand deception afoot had been unable to cover its tracks fast enough. Truth began to cry for justice. Several candidates filed petitions contesting the result. The party established an investigative board to review the evidence. In a two to one decision, the panel found the delegate roster had suffered tampering. The panel recommended that a new primary should be held using the valid delegate list. This recommendation was tabled before the National Working Committee (NWC). After many hours of deliberations spanning several days, a final vote was held by the NWC. Before hand, NWC members agreed that the decision of the majority would become the stance of the party. Such is the way of democracy. The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary. For a moment, it seemed the party would restore its integrity by giving democracy a chance. However, those who sought to scam an entire state would not let the vote of 11 people spoil their enterprise. After the NWC vote, a noticeably agitated Chairman Oyegun proposed the NWC engage in prayer before concluding the meeting. Adhering to this chairmans request, NWC members began to pray. Seeing that the others had taken his bait, Oyegun used the prayerful interlude to secretly excuse himself from the meeting. Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud. Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party. Truth has finally come to light. There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded. They joined the APC because it was the best ride available at the time. Now they want to guide the party into the ditch. They want to turn the party into a soulless entity incapable of doing good, just like they are. When such a person tastes power, they shed all good restraint. They come to abuse the trust given them as if they are the owners of that trust and not its mere custodians. These people did little to build the party but now will do much to wreck it. Such a man is Oyegun and those who conspired with him to sabotage justice and democracy in Ondo. Our party was to stand for change. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length. They are the cohort of Unchange. The APC wants to guide Nigeria into a better tomorrow. Oyegun and the cohort of unchange want to pull Nigeria back into the past where rigging and vote stealing were the old and new testaments of politics. They want the people to think that there is no alternative to their reactionary system of skewed politics and imperious government. Thus, they seek to turn the APC into a factory of the very political malpractices the people soundly rejected in the past election. To choke the APC in this manner is to kill the chance for progressive reform for the foreseeable future. Much more than the Ondo primary is at stake. Oyegun has revealed his teams game plan: It is the destruction of progressive politics and governance on behalf of the people. As party chairman, Oyegun was supposed to protect our internal processes and be an impartial arbiter, a person in whom all had confidence. Instead, he donned the garment of a confident man, duping the NWC, the party, and INEC in one fell blow. He has robbed APC members in Ondo State of the chance to pick in a fair manner who they believe is the best candidate. As such, he has broken faith with the party and probably has broken a few laws. The consequences of what he has done are more expansive than a man of his scope can fathom. There must is a powerful and sinister arm at work to compel a man of Oyeguns age to steal the decision of the party in a manner so crude that it would embarrass even the commonest thief. With strong expectation, we await a response to Oyeguns wrongdoing from those who clamoured so long and loudly about Tinubus alleged role in the Ondo primary. Leading into the primary, a prominent lawyer from Ondo published lengthy missives alleging that Tinubu was a malicious hand intent on rigging the primary. His letters spoke of his great love for democracy and justice. Though Oyegun has assaulted democracy in a most public and vulgar way, this lawyers prolific pen will remain stilled. He dare not publish a word about this travesty. His silence will be sign for all who care to decipher its meaning. The plan was to point the accusing finger at Tinubu. With everyone focused on Tinubu, they would have distracted all attention from the heist they had set in motion. As fate would have it, the trickery they hoped to conduct in the shadows has come to light. Thus, Oyegun was forced to undertake his desperate fraud in broad daylight in order to salvage the wrong initiated under the lamp of darkness. Those who so actively attributed imaginary wrong to Tinubu now stand dumb and mute in the face of confirmed impropriety. They remain silent for reasons they cannot divulge. Oyegun and his ilk turn out to be gangsters adorned in the tunic of party authority. Oyegun has engaged in the strange math where five is greater than six. This smacks of how the PDP conducted its affairs and orchestrated its own downfall. Tinubu disparaged such malpractice when it was not in his party. Tinubu surely disowns it now that it has invaded the party he helped bring to fruition. Tinubu has consciously refused to hold any official position with the party to avoid the perception that he was trying to control all and sundry. Tinubu has even kept his peace for some time despite many things that happened within the party that were not quite right. He exercised this forbearance because the party is young. A collective endeavour cannot avoid the mistakes and errors of organizational newness and evolution. Yet, the wrongs Oyegun committed had nothing to do with newness or the mistakes occasioned by the path of reform. His actions are in the nature of the old wrongs that have afflicted our national politics much too long. If Oyegun wants to walk backward into the past, he has every right to it. However, he has no right to drag the party or any of us with him. Against our choosing. The informal title of national leader of the party was given to Tinubu at the onset which he accepted it as a sign from those who wished to recognize my contributions to the partys formation. It is an honorific title which he has been proud to wear until today. I would rather not have any title yet reside in a party that honours democracy than hold a title in a party that says it honours me but that treats justice with indecency. I find greater honour and comfort where democracy and fairness are found and respected. Oyegun has done the irredeemable. His coup is an insult to party and to patriot, to reason and to the reform agenda of this government. To remain silent would be to admit the defeat of the reform and progressive change many have laboured to bring forth. While the forces resistant to change and reform are strong, Tinubu dare not submit to them. Tinubu encourages all party members not to submit to them. If we acquiesce in this wrong, the one greater than this shall cascade upon us. Oyeguns transgressions are a warning. He is but the mercenary of forces that seek to return the nation to the old ways. If they get away with this infraction, no telling what or whom they will undermine tomorrow. Much is at stake. On the chopping block, lies the future of the political party in which the majority of voters had placed their confidence. To rescue the party, Oyegun must go. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time. If Tinubu is to choose between John Oyegun and progress toward a better Nigeria, the choice has already been made. For those who care about the party, who care about Nigeria and its chance for a better tomorrow, now is the time to stand against this brewing evil before it grows to encompass all we have built and all we hold dear. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has announced the resumption of academic activities on October 3, weeks after the school closed indefinitely following students unrest which resulted in the destruction of properties. The head, Directorate of Public Relations of the University, Emi Alawode, said in a statement on Saturday that the senate ordered the resumption. The Senate also directed that all students must pay N5, 000.00 as fine for the damage done during the unrest. The school called it reparation fee. Senate, at the end of its emergency meeting held recently, has approved Monday, October 3, 2016, as the resumption date for normal academic activities. The students, who have been on mid-semester break, are now to resume after the consideration of the report submitted by the committee that was set up to look into the students unrest, the statement said. The Senate also approved the establishment of a police station near the school. It said that aside the usual security measures that had been put in place, university and police patrol vehicles would now be stationed at a strategic location, from 6pm to 6amdaily, to swiftly attend to any distress call. Hostel owners are to provide at least four security personnel for each hotel, to work with the security personnel stationed at a strategic location. The school said it was making effort to provide more hostels. Students of the university went on rampage on August 18 in protest of the state of security in the school. The protest followed a robbery incident in one of the out-campus hostels. The students destroyed property worth millions of naira. They also set a police post and number of vehicles ablaze, prompting the authorities to shut down the school. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged the Federal Government to the Federal High Court in Lagos asking the court for leave to apply for Judicial Relief and to seek an order of Mandamus directing and or compelling the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against former first lady Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies accounts. The organization is also asking the court for such order or other orders as the honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance. The suit with number FHC/L/CS/1318/2016 dated September 23 was filed on behalf of SERAP by Adetokunbo Mumuni. SERAPs suit is coming against the background of the request last week by Mrs. Jonathan for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to defreeze her accounts and offer her a public apology within 14-days. SERAPs suit brought under Order 34, Rules 1 (1) (a); 2, Rule 3 (1) and (2) (a), (b) and (c) of the Federal High Court Rules, 2009 and Inherent Jurisdiction of the Court reads in part: The Attorney General of the Federation has a duty to prosecute intentional illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income. By virtue of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the Attorney General of the Federation is constitutionally empowered to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person in Nigeria in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National assembly in superior courts in Nigeria. The Attorney General of the Federation has failed, neglected and or refused to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in her accounts. Obedience to the rule of law by all citizens but more particularly those who publicly took oath of office to protect and preserve the constitution is a desideratum to good governance and respect for the rule of law. In a democratic society, this is meant to be a norm; it is an apostasy for government to ignore the provisions of the law and the necessary rules made to regulate matters. Mrs. Jonathan is a politically exposed person under anticorruption standards. She is also covered under the definition of public officials contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Under article 2 of the convention, public officials include Mrs. Jonathan or any other family members of the former President Goodluck Jonathan who exercised official duties while he was president. This matter is presently generating a lot of public concern and discourse and is presently in the front burner of national discourse thus germane to Nigerians and that the alleged crime is in our society at the moment regarded so serious as to be a bother on daily life. By the nature of the case, it ought to be heard urgently. It is in the interest of justice to grant this application. SERAP is asking for: A DECLARATION that the failure of the Respondent to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies accounts is unconstitutional and unlawful as it contradicts and in conflict with the duties and obligations of the Respondent under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 AN ORDER OF MANDAMUS compelling the Respondent to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies accounts. Nigerian laws allow for criminal penalties and forfeiture if in the course of an investigation there are reasonable grounds to believe that a corruption offence has been committed, that is, the failure to explain the origin of the $15m given present or past emoluments, and other relevant circumstances. By a letter dated September 13, 2016, requested the Attorney General of the Federation to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against one Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan over $15m unexplained wealth frozen in four companies accounts. But since the receipt of the letter, and up till the filing of this suit, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has so far failed, refused and/ or neglected to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan. Mrs. Jonathan has admitted that the four accounts belong to her and that she is the sole signatory to these accounts. The four Companies and their directors have since pleaded guilty to the commission of the offence. The fact that the $15 million found in the four accounts belong to Mrs. Jonathan raises serious suspicion or at the very least a prima-facie case of unexplained wealth/illicit enrichment, and imposes a duty on Mrs. Jonathan to explain and justify the source(s) of the $15 million. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Among Nigerias numerous national challenges, which do you think the next president should focus on first? Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) October 5, 2022 Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all. Donate TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999 Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The communities affected by the July and August earth tremors in Rivers and Bayelsa have appealed to the Federal Government to investigate the incidents. The people made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Yenagoa on Sunday. The earth tremor was reported to have occurred around oilfields operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in Bayelsa and Rivers between July and August. Abel Shadow, the traditional ruler of Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers, said the two vibrations beneath the ground caused panic among his subjects. Mr. Shadow said that the occurrence of the two incidents in quick succession was worrisome, adding that the intervention of government was required, with a view to tackling the problem. He said that the community was so much in panic, especially when the incident recurred in August as the people gathered outside their houses in despair. The incident sent shockwaves down the spine of everyone in Mbiama. I was having a meeting in my palace when the earth started vibrating. We initially thought the vibration was caused by a machine at a nearby construction site. To our greatest surprise, we discovered that no machine was working anywhere around, the monarch said. The traditional ruler said that he suspected the incidents might not be unconnected with seismic activities in the oilfields. Mr. Shadow who expressed doubt on the safety procedures at the oilfields in the Niger Delta, called on government to audit the safety records of the companies in to preserve human lives and the environment. Iboh Umor, a resident of Mbiama, recalled that she was in a hair-salon when the tremor occurred. She said she initially thought the vibration was a result of seismic activities by oil firms in the area. She said the incident caused panic in the town as people rushed out of their houses in confusion. Victor Idiedo, a resident of the affected Igbogene community in Bayelsa, also called on government to investigate the incidents. Mr. Idiedo noted that the occurrence of the earth tremor within the space of one month was disturbing and federal and state governments should make efforts to know why it has happened. According to him, there have been prior predictions of possible earthquake in Bayelsa and other states in the Niger Delta, expressing worries that the August incident occurred around 4 p.m., exactly one month after the first one. Asueize Arugu, an indigene of Okarki, said the people heard a loud sound which they thought was caused by dynamites used by oil firms operating in the area. When contacted, Precious Okolobo, the Media Relations Manager of SPDC, declined comments on the development. (NAN) As the Niger Delta Avengers called off their ceasefire, and blew up an oil pipeline in Bonny, Rivers State, some youth leaders in the region have begged the group and other militants to stop further attacks. The youth leaders, under the aegis of the Grand Council of Niger Delta Youth Leaders, met on Saturday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to assess the current situation in the region, after the Friday night bombing of the Bonny pipeline. As much as we agree that the issues being agitated for are salient, and we identify with the genuine agitations of our brothers, we however condemn in totality the ongoing bombing of oil pipelines, as we believe that this is akin to shooting ourselves in the foot as these activities are counter-productive, the groups leader, Clement Awakessien, surrounded by more than a hundred youth leaders, told journalists in Uyo. Mr. Awakessien said the Nigerian economy was already in serious trouble and that so much was needed to revive it. He begged the militants to drop their arms and use dialogue to achieve their goals. The group, which said they subscribed to non-violent approach to addressing the Niger Delta problem, advised the federal government to urgently work on the broken down federal highways in the region, and also revive the Delta steel company, Ovwian aladja. The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari administration to revisit the new Maritime University at Okorekoko, Delta State, the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas project, Ondo State, and the Brass LNG which they said have been abandoned. As the economy improves, which we very much believe that your administration is capable of turning the economy from recession to prosperity, we humbly request that your administration open up the Niger Delta by commencing work on the proposed costal road and development of a railway line (Costal corridor) that will run from Lagos to Calabar, they said to the president. This will open up the creeks. To open up the creeks have numerous advantages, ranging from easy movement of goods and people, to exposing the world to the tourist potentials of our creeks which will boost the economy and reduce crime generally. The youth leaders declared support for President Buharis anti-corruption war, and expressed satisfaction in his nominees Nsima Ekere, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and others for the Niger Delta Development Commissions top job. They asked other youth in the region to give peace a chance, for development to take place. Collective good for all can only be achieved through the subjugation of our individual interests and the propagation of positive, general ideals and policies geared towards holistic and overall development. Antagonism and aggression only aids in further eroding our sensibilities and cohesion as an indivisible entity, they said. The Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSE, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Safety and Industrial Hazard Bill before him into law. The engineers said over 80 per cent of the Nigerias industries are operating below safety requirements. They said the safety law is needed to strengthen the industries operational capabilities. Speaking as guest lecturer during the inauguration of the newly elected executive of the Kano NSE, and induction of newly elected corporate members on Saturday, Professor Adamu Alhaji of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, said there are insinuations that most industries in Nigeria are operating below safety requirements. Mr. Alhaji said the bill can be seen as a stringent penalty for defaulters which might result in the closure of many substandard Industries. The don said the industrial safety bill was passed by the Senate in 2012. He said pressure from industries on the former President Goodluck Jonathan prevented him from signing the bill. But we are confident that Buhari, who is said to have Industrial blueprint, will assent this bill into law, he said. The university don said Nigeria currently relies on a factory Law of 1978, amended in 1999 and 2004, as the closest to industrial safety law. He said the current law had less stringent penalty on defaulters of safety standards. Mr. Alhaji said construction companies were the most guilty of violating safety standards. He said the bill before the president provides adequate compensation for victims of poor standards by industries. In his speech, the newly elected Chairman of the Kano NSE, Rabiu Haruna, said his administration will create more branches of the association in the state. He said he will strive to ensure a sound relationship with the state government. Apart from Mr. Haruna, some other members of the 11-person Kano NSE executive include Dayyabu Tijjani, General Secretary; and Lawan Usman, treasurer. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, UI, Idowu Olayinka, has asked the Federal Government to allocate special funds to the university to improve research and infrastructure. Mr. Olayinka made the request in the universitys bulletin signed by the Registrar, Olufemi Olukoya, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria. He said that the special funding will enable the institution to do more to compete favourably with the worlds best universities. He noted that the latest ranking of universities by Times Higher Education (THE) placed UI among the top 1,000 universities in the world. UI was ranked 801 in the rankings. Olayinka described the ranking as a welcome development, noting that it showed that UI was the only Nigerian university that made it among the top 1,000. He said that the university was blessed with dedicated world class scholars, and urged that Nigeria must engaged them effectively to solve its problems. In spite of the underfunding by the Federal Government, the University of Ibadan has finally been ranked among the 1,000 best universities in the world, he said. According to him, the latest ranking was based on teaching, research, and citations of scholarly publications, industry income and international outlook. The truth of the matter is that the Times Higher Education is one of the elite global ranking bodies. It is a thing of joy that we have a respectable position in comparison to peer universities in Africa. This is a message to the Federal Government of Nigeria that we need funding to improve our research and infrastructure to enhance productivity. We congratulate all faculties, staff and students who have made this feat possible. The Federal Government should learn to use research output from the University of Ibadan to solve problems facing the country. We cannot have world class scholars in Nigeria and rely on those who have never conducted researches on our problems to come and solve our problems, he said. (NAN) Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 46-year-old man who allegedly inserted wraps of narcotics into his anus on his way to Italy. Innocent Anazodo was found with the wraps which tested positive to cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the NDLEA said in a statement Sunday. The agency said it also arrested Samuel Agwu, 31, who concealed wraps of narcotics in the collar of his jacket on his way from Brazil. Anazodo Innocent was found with seven pellets of cocaine weighing 375 grammes inserted in his anus while Agwu Samuel had ten pellets of cocaine weighing 110 grammes concealed inside his jacket, said Ahmadu Garba, NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport. Both arrests were made during routine check on passengers. Agwu was nabbed during inward screening of passengers on a South Africa Airline flight from Brazil through Johannesburg. The second suspect, Anazodo was caught during screening of passengers on a Royal Air Maroc flight while going to Milan, Italy. The NDLEA said Mr. Agwu confidently wore the jacket containing cocaine after he disembarked from the aircraft on his way from Sao Paulo. This is the first discovery of cocaine inside the collar of a jacket by the NDLEA. The suspects have owned up to the crime and are cooperating with investigators, said Mr. Garba. In his reaction, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, described the suspects action as desperately crafty and cunning. The cocaine was detected by officers notwithstanding the crafty and cunning mode of concealment, said Mr. Abdallah, a retired colonel. The agency has taken some strategic measures aimed at disappointing the tricks employed drug trafficking syndicates. We remain committed to exposing criminal plots through superior counter-narcotic intelligence. This operational success is commendable and a demonstration of our alertness to detect drugs. Mr. Agwu, who sells shoes in Togo, said he went to Brazil in search of greener pastures but resorted to drug trafficking due to frustration. I use to sell shoes in Togo until I lost goods worth N3 million, the NDLEA quoted Mr. Agwu, who attended Technical Secondary School in Ohafia, Abia State, as saying. This negatively affected my business and made me to travel to Brazil in a desperate search for greener pastures. After a fruitless search for job in Brazil for four months, I decided to smuggle drugs to get some money to start my shoe business. I thought the drugs will not be detected inside my jacket but I was caught and I am very sad. Mr. Anazodo, who is also a trader selling shoes, said in his statement he regretted getting involved in drug trafficking adding that it was a mistake. I made a mistake and I am regretting my action, Mr. Anazodo said, according to the NDLEA. It is true I had financial challenge but I should not have smuggled cocaine, said Mr. Anazodo, who hails from Anambra State and was allegedly promised 2,000 to smuggle the drugs to Milan. The NDLEA said the suspects will soon be charged to court. A senior lawyer, Femi Falana, on Sunday said he would not apologise to former Central Bank Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his allegation that the ex-bank chief dolled out $7 billion government funds to bankers while he was in office. Mr. Soludo has denied the allegation, saying he acted right in his dealings as Central Bank chief. Mr. Falana, however, said he based his statement on facts made available by the Central Bank during Mr. Soludos stewardship. Read Mr. Falanas full statement below: On October 3, 2006, the Central Bank of Nigeria under the management of Professor Chukwuma Soludo gave a loan of $7 billion to 14 commercial banks in Nigeria. The loan was confirmed by the Head of the CBN Corporate Affairs , Mr. Festus Odoko when he announced that deposits worth $7 billion representing the apex banks share of the foreign reserves estimated at about $38 billion has been released to the consortium of bankers. (The Guardian newspaper of 5/10/2006) Barely four days later, a respected economist, Mr. Henry Boyo challenged the illegal claim that the $7 billion was a share of the CBN in the nations foreign reserves. Since the funds belong to the three tiers of Government by virtue of section 162 of the Constitution Mr. Boyo rightly stated that the Senate and the House of Representatives would have defaulted in their constitutional duties if CBN is not invited to defend why $7 billion of our reserves should be given to 14 banks without oversight approval. (Vanguard newspaper of October 9, 2006). Having confirmed that the banks have failed to liquidate the said $7 billion loan I have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the illegality of the loan and recover same together with other huge funds which have been criminally diverted or withheld from the Federation Account. With respect, the denial of the $7 billion loan by Professor Soludo has supported the request for a thorough investigation of the allegations contained in my petition. However, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the controversial loan, Professor Soludo may wish to direct his demand for apology to Mr. Festus Odoko! Participants at a conference in Texas, USA, have insisted that a Biafra referendum be held to determine the peoples willingness to continue being a part of Nigeria. According to a communique issued at the end of the meeting in Houston, the groups unanimously agreed that mechanisms and strategies be put in place to achieve the referendum. That referendum is the ultimate solution to the agitation and unrest in the southern part of Nigeria, to be conducted peacefully without loss of life or destruction of property, read the communique signed by J.O.S Okeke and Chiwuikem Ihediwa. The groups also demanded that the Nigerian government release without delay the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who is still in detention over his involvement and agitation for self-determination. Those at the conference included representatives of the Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra; Biafra Government in Exile; Igboezue Cultural Advancement Association Worldwide; and Igbo Peoples Congress, Houston. Others were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra; Biafran Memorial Group; the Great Igbo Debate Group; and a representative of Middle Belt Congress. Calls by Igbo groups for a Biafra referendum reached a climax after the recent Brexit, where Britain voted to withdraw its membership from the European Union. One week after the June 23 referendum, the IPOB launched a campaign it tagged BIAFRAEXIT, to canvass support for a Biafra referendum. Last week, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra made an appeal to the UN to arrange and conduct a referendum on Biafra. At the just concluded UN General Assembly in New York, President Muhammadu Buhari called on the campaigners for a Biafra referendum to form a political party that would represent their interest within Nigeria. The Nigeria Police, Kaduna State Command, has arrested seven armed robbery suspects who allegedly invaded Godogodo in Kafanchan Local Government Area of the state on September 24. The Commands Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Usman, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Kaduna. The contingents of policemen deployed for Operations Maximum Safety along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway received a distress call about the blockage of the road by suspected armed bandits, on Sept.24, he said. Mr. Usman, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that police officers attached to the area successfully arrested seven suspects while others fled. The seven suspects have been transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation while efforts are on to ensure the arrest of the remaining suspects, he said. Mr. Usman also said the police recovered three motorcycles used by the suspects during the attack. He said the suspects left three victims they kidnapped while fleeing. He gave the assurance that security agencies were on ground at the affected area to ensure return of normalcy. Mr. Usman said that the police were determined to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state. We will trail them and make sure they face the law, he said. He urged members of the public to volunteer useful information to security operatives for arrest of criminal elements. (NAN) A former Rivers House of Assembly member, Chidi Lloyd, has called on security agencies to protect his life and that of his family members. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Rivers Police Command confirmed arsonists attack on the village home of the former House of Assembly Leader in Akpabu, Emohua Local Government Area. Mr. Lloyd told NAN in Port Harcourt on Sunday that his family was in the peril because of his political beliefs and association. He said that the unprovoked attack on his residence had consumed his personal belongings such as library and other valuables. I have tried to imagine what might have been the cause of this unwarranted attack but cannot readily think of any. The only thing is, since the 2013 crises that engulfed the Rivers House of Assembly in which I participated, I have been living in great awe, the ex-lawmaker said. Mr. Lloyd said that he was arrested, detained and charged to court for attempted murder but the trial was discontinued by the then Attorney-General of Rivers, Worgu Boms. When the former attorney-general in the exercise of his constitutional powers took over the prosecution, he discontinued the trial because the police authorities then made it impracticable for trial to continue. This was because the complainant approached the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court, seeking for an order to stop the police from releasing the case file, he said. According to Mr. Lloyd, the current Rivers Attorney-General, Chinwenwo Aguma, in May 2016, filed criminal information in the Rivers High Court, before Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikaran, seeking to review the nolle prosequi entered by his predecessor. The trial is currently going on with an interlocutory order to the police to produce me to take plea even when no process was served on me. In spite of the pendency of the matter at the Court of Appeal, Justice Iyayi-Lamikaran, has refused to stay proceedings in the matter, he alleged. Mr. Lloyd also alleged that on September 21, at about 10 a.m., Mr. Aguma was boasting in open court that they would produce me without the police. Since the police, a non-party in the matter had refused to produce me, they, the prosecution will ensure my appearance in court to take plea their own way. Just six hours later, my house was razed. I have painstakingly drawn this analogy so it will be clear to the world who my tormentors are, he said. Lloyd said that in spite the efforts to frustrate him from exercising his constitutional right, he had appealed the order for police to produce him in court and also written a petition to the Chief Justice of the Federation. (NAN) Theres good news for the generation that adored the American Girl dolls known as Felicity, Kirsten and Molly all of whom were retired from store shelves over the past six years: Their stories live on, and next month will be center-stage in the Overture Centers Playhouse Theater. Felicity, Kirsten and Molly along with fellow historical characters Kit, Josefina, Addy and Samantha are the main characters in The American Girls Revue, being brought to life Oct. 8-23 by Childrens Theater of Madison. The musical kicks off CTMs new season and is meant to mark the 30th anniversary of the American Girl doll, born in Madison, that has become a cultural phenomenon. It seemed like it would be a great season opener, said CTM artistic director Roseann Sheridan, who is directing the show. Its very celebratory, she said. It very much revolves around the story of empowering young girls to do the best they can do, to be brave, to imagine themselves in another time and place. CTM last mounted The American Girls Revue in 2011, when American Girl hit the quarter-century mark. The show is faithfully based on the books written about classic American Girl characters, each of whom faces the joys and challenges of childhood in a different American era. Those books were key to the success of American Girl, founded in 1986 as the Pleasant Company in Downtown Madison by Pleasant Rowland. Rowland, a former teacher, TV reporter and textbook writer, created a line of characters living in time periods stretching from the Revolutionary War period to World War II. Their accompanying stories, while fictional, were grounded in painstakingly researched fact. In 1998 toy giant Mattel bought the company, now headquartered in Middleton, for $700 million; Rowland went on to establish the Rowland Reading Foundation and, along with the company she founded, has become one of the most recognized philanthropists in present-day Madison. Dane County nonprofits focused on arts and environmental education for children have benefited from $11 million from the American Girls Fund for Children. The annual American Girl Benefit Sale has raised more than $22 million for the Madison Childrens Museum. Rowland herself has given millions to the arts. Even Overture Center itself, where The American Girls Revue will be performed, was a gift of Rowlands husband, Jerry Frautschi, and paid for from the proceeds of the companys sale to Mattel. The American Girls Revue was created for theaters formerly housed at the original American Girl Place retail stores in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. CTM is the only full-time theater to get rights to the show, Sheridan said. American Girl even passed along the well-made costumes from the original shows, which are now part of CTMs costume collection. Its not something you can go to another city or childrens theater company to see in their repertoire, Sheridan said. The director admits she was at first hesitant to stage The American Girls Revue five years ago, for fear that it might feel commercial, she said. But when she read the script, I realized that this is really true to the (American Girl) books its based on, authored by Valerie Tripp, Janet Shaw, Connie Porter and Susan Adler, she said. The play was written by Gretchen Cryer, with music by Nancy Ford. To prepare for the 2016 production, Sheridan read a lot of the original books again, she said. And theyre really wonderful with great stories for each of the characters storylines. The writers of the books collaborated with the creators of the play, and Pleasant Rowland was intimately involved with the creation of this particular production. The show starts out with a group of girls playing, and acting out some of the stories theyve read. Its a lot about friendship and using your imagination, Sheridan said. In the opening song, they all say, You have to imagine what it would have been like. Imagine if you were this person living at this time. The show doesnt get into a lot of psychological depth like a lot of dramas, she said. But there are little things in there where you see the girls are dealing with different things in their lives. It also has that layer of history and its womens history. These are girls who grew up at a particular time, and each one of those stories has something that the girl is facing. Early 20th-century Samantha, for example, is torn between the ideas of her traditional grandmother and those of her aunt, a compelling suffragette. Then theres this young girl whos caught in the middle with her grandmother, whom she loves and respects, and this aunt with a new idea, saying Things could be different. A live ensemble of piano, cello, winds and percussion will perform at the CTM show, which features a cast of eight girls and four adults. Saskia den Boon, a sophomore at West High School, played a younger sister in CTMs 2011 run of The American Girls Revue, and returns this year to take on the roles of Hallie, Felicity and Kit. Other cast members include Emma Dias, Olivia Foght, Laetitia Hollard, Audrianne Kieler, Eliza Marcus, Malea Niesen and Alice Wenzlow. Adult roles are played by Jake Caceres, Bria Cloyd, Wendy Jones Hill and Eva Nimmer. Other CTM productions in the 2016-17 lineup include the perennial A Christmas Carol, based on the Charles Dickens tale; Seussical the musical, based on the works of Dr. Seuss; To the Promised Land, a play for young adult audiences by Milwaukee playwright-actor Jonathan Gillard Daly; and A Year With Frog and Toad, the Tony-nominated musical for ages 3 and up. The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers, has called on security agencies to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of assault and arson against its members and their property. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Rivers Police Command had confirmed the arsonists attack on the residence of Chidi Lloyd, a former leader of Rivers Assembly and chieftain of APC. Davies Ikanya, APC chairman in the state, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday that members of his party were being assaulted daily. Mr. Ikanya said that the burning of Mr.Lloyds house was a new angle to the intimidation of APC members in the state by the opponents. He said that leaders and members of his party were being arrested, detained and charged to court on trumped-up charges before the State High Court in Port Harcourt by the Rivers government. According to Mr. Ikanya, the Rivers government is setting precedence by revisiting a `Noelle Presque entered in 2013 to discontinue a trial against Lloyd. This is the first time a Noelle Presque entered is being revisited. It is purely a move to get the former leader by all means. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the state is not willing to wait for proper investigation by the Nigeria Police, or follow the law on issues involving APC members, he said. Mr. Ikanya further alleged that a landed property of APCs State Women Leader, Caroline Nagbo, was invaded and vandalised by suspected political thugs that were on the run. He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, and Director General of the State Security Services, SSS, Mammam Daura, to check the madness in Rivers. We call on the Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice promptly, he said. The APC urged aggrieved youth in Niger Delta to desist from worsening the national economy in the face of recession through bombings and destruction of pipelines. (NAN) The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend said the state was gradually emerging as the choice destination for investors, assuring that his administration would continue to work round the clock not only to become a shining example for Africans in Diaspora but retain the state as investors haven. The Governor, who spoke at the 2016 International Forum on African Leadership, where he received an award for Best Performing Governor in Nigeria, organised by the African Leadership Magazine and held at the Regis Hotel, New York, USA, said since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, efforts have been geared towards creating a conducive and friendly environment for investors and for businesses to thrive. Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, apologised for his absence to receive the award, but said that he acknowledged the importance of the event hence his decision to send a powerful delegation including Mr. Durosinmi-Etti; the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde; his Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Ademola Abass; and his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, to represent him. The Governor, in his remarks shortly after receiving the award, said the security and judicial reforms which he initiated at the commencement of his administration and the creation of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment were part of efforts to reduce the burden of bureaucracy and security concerns for would-be investors. While stating that the State is open for business, Mr. Ambode assured would-be investors that government would continue to invest in security, job opportunity and infrastructure which are the tripod upon which his administration was built. He said Lagos is also playing a leading role in the Nigerian economy, and as such must not shy away in ensuring that it takes the lead as Nigeria restrategises to restructure its economy for greater prosperity. Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa is like a country and with the momentum with which the state is moving, it might soon emerge as the biggest economy in Africa. It is home to almost every religion, tribe and colour and accommodates the largest pool of black people all over the world, including Africas richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who is from Nigeria and has a home in Lagos, the governor said. Earlier, in his opening remarks, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of African Leadership Magazine, Ken Giami, while thanking participants for finding time to honour the occasion, said the focus of the Forum was for good governance and how it could impact on the African continent. We have to connect, build bridges and cultivate both intra and inter African interests and connection, continue discussion and conversation on how to move Africa forward. A continent that has all the natural resources but still at the lowest ebb in the rank of other continents, needs trade and investment because there are many opportunities that abound in Africa. This is the time for countries all over the world to explore the resources that abound in the continent to make the world a better place for us, Mr. Giami said. Other recipients of the African Leadership Awards at the event include the President of Malawi, Arthur Peter Mutharika; President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kabore; Vice President of South Sudan, Taban Deng Gai, among others. PHILADELPHIA Infant Margaret Brown wont remember the moment. But her mother will never forget it. As Pope Francis passed by the 10-week-old baby from Somers Point en route to Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, he turned, looked at the girl being held at the gate in the crowd and made the sign of the cross. From yards away, the childs mother, Eileen Brown, watched and cried. Im overcome with joy, said Brown, as she wrapped her arms around the infant, the youngest of her four children. Catholics from all over made the trip to Philadelphia on Sunday. Some, like Brown, had tickets to the Mass. Others just took a chance that they could catch a glimpse of the pontiff. Its a faithful journey, said Gabriela Andrade, who brought her teenage son, Kyle Steele, to the Atlantic City train station from their home in Parsippany on a whim. I dont have a ticket, Im not even familiar with Philly, she said. Im just going to have to take a plunge. That she didnt end up seeing the pope didnt deter her. Its not so much that I didnt see him, but more the fact I was present with many faithful, and my teenage son, she said. Im so excited, said Lauren Pham, who also was traveling with her family sans ticket. The Mays Landing woman, her husband and 9-year-old son decided the pope was too close not to give it a try. We cant go see him in Rome, said Paul Pham. Hes right there. We dont have tickets, but we hope we can see something. They spent most of the day waiting in a security checkpoint, but Paul Pham said he still saw great things. I saw people give away food and water, what a beautiful thing to do, he said. Rosy Vu and her family traveled from Portland, Oregon. Since there were no rooms in Philadelphia, they stayed overnight at Caesars Atlantic City, then took the train. It was a search for faith that brought Jacqualyn Fanelle and her husband, Joseph, to Philadelphia from Millville. The couple decided to volunteer since both are medical professionals at Inspira Medical Center in Vineland: Hes a radiation oncologist and shes an anesthesiology nurse. I thought it might be a springboard to my faith, Jacqualyn said. Added Joseph: I just wanted to see the pope. And after? We both felt uplifted by his presence, Joseph Fanelle said. Mario Gallo, 37, his wife and his six children came from Newark to Atlantic City and took the train on to see Pope Francis and the Mass. The Mass is everything we can hope for. Its a sign in these times for the love of God for society as a whole, Gallo said. The family is made up of us all. Its important to us and the children to keep the model for time to come. Our children are the future. Staff Writer Tyler Tynes contributed to this report. Contact: 609-272-7257 Twitter @LyndaCohen BRIDGETON Groups of teenagers walked up and down streets wearing matching green-and-white shirts throughout the summer. They walked along the cracked sidewalks and uneven pavement in the heat, and zig-zagged between streets clutching fliers in the rain. They werent selling anything or collecting money. About 20 Bridgeton High School students were getting families to sign up children for summer feeding programs. When school is out, families can struggle with reliable access to nutritious food for their children, also known as food insecurity. Organizers of the Bridgeton teen program said it got more children into summer feeding programs this year while encouraging leadership and hunger awareness among young people. It is successful because our word is getting out there and the children are coming, so I feel as though we are doing our job, said Jacrue Davis, 15, of Bridgeton. Children can get free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches through the state Department of Agriculture. But in the summer, many of those programs are limited or nonexistent. Food banks, feeding programs fight stigma Chester Nick Bondiskey remembers the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Egg Harbor Townsh Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly said the city had just 9 percent of eligible children participate in summer feeding programs in previous years, even though Cumberland County as a whole has one of the highest food-insecurity rates among children in the state. It grew to 18 percent last summer, but he said that still left many possibly hungry children in the city. The mayor said he thought participation looked like it was increasing this summer after seeing more children attend each of the feeding sites. He attributed part of the increase to the work high school students were doing through the new Bridgeton Youth: Helping to Feed, Learning to Lead program. Black students went to Hispanic neighborhoods, Hispanics went to white neighborhoods. They learned more about their community and the people here, Kelly said. The program was funded by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant given to Gateway Community Action Partnership in Bridgeton, and the teens got paid. On a July afternoon, about 12 high school teens sat at tables in between small children while they ate sandwiches, fruit cups and milk for lunch at Bethany Grace Community Church on Pearl Street. Josue Ruiz, 19, of Bridgeton, joked around with them. His friend and fellow program teen Dan Cruz, 15, of Bridgeton, said he immediately took the opportunity to work with children in the summer and help families with food. When we first started, we figured out that during the summer, many parents waste about $300 on food, so were almost like an angel for them, Cruz said. Were helping them out because sometimes the parents are not there to feed them in the morning and afternoon. Teens spent time with kids, helped feed them breakfast and lunch at several sites in the city and played games with them, like Thumbs Up, Seven Up. The teens mapped out sections of the city and covered areas in groups of two or three students to knock on doors. Davis and Taviaus Wilson, 17, of Bridgeton, knocked on the door of a white duplex, announcing they were part of the Bridgeton teen feeding program. After no answer, Davis left program fliers inside the screen door and moved on to the next house. Meanwhile, Leslie Ann Huerta, of Bridgeton, spoke to a woman in Spanish in the doorframe of her home while two small children came to see who was calling. There are a lot of people here in the community who speak Spanish, so I can tell them about the program and how we offer free meals and translate the information for them, she said. Wilson just recently started his senior year of high school. Even though he didnt know all the Bridgeton program teens last year, he now recognizes more familiar faces in the halls between classes. The program was different from anything he had done before, he said. How volunteers feed thousands of hungry South Jersey children with just leftovers Connie Skvir walked through rows of tomato plants at Fernbrook Farms in Burlington County, f I feel as though it taught me a lesson about how many people need help with feeding in the summertime, he said. It also made me grow as person, too, and to learn about the people in my community. Contact: 609-272-7022 Twitter @ACPressNLeonard Chester Nick Bondiskey remembers the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in Egg Harbor Township as a drab facility providing no help as to what he and his family should eat. Bondiskey now goes to what the food bank calls its choice pantry, gets a shopping cart and strolls the aisles of a building redesigned to resemble a supermarket. A volunteer helps Bondiskey select foods that he, his girlfriend and two daughters would actually want for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Inside the pantry is a bin of corn that clients pick themselves. Shelves are lined with soups, meals in a can, whole-grain breads, vegetables, soft drinks and water. Its much better now, said Bondiskey, 53, an Egg Harbor Township resident who can only work part time because of a disability from a motorcycle accident. The food bank began its choice pantry program two years ago, joining other pantries, school lunch programs and organizations trying new ways to reduce the stigma of poverty. Experts say that stigma leaves many too embarrassed or ashamed to get food their families need. The stigma of being poor is very pervasive in American society, said Joan Maya Mazelis, assistant professor of sociology at Rutgers University in Camden and an author on the subject. We tend to elevate the individual and responsibility for ones own self. When someone asks for help, (Americans) wonder why theyre not making it on their own. It does prevent people from asking for help. A matter of choice Richard Uniacke, vice president of the food banks Southern Branch, said some people wont visit a food pantry in their community for fear of being seen by someone they know. The goal of the choice pantry is to serve clients in a dignified way and to empower them to make their own choices, said Kimberly Arroyo, director of agency relations and programs for the Southern Branch. Betty Thomas, 64, of Egg Harbor Township, walked the aisles of the food bank on a recent Wednesday with a pantry volunteer. Thomas was trying matzo ball soup for the first time. They let you choose, Thomas said. I like that they remodeled it, and it makes it so much easier to do things. The shopping is a change from the way most pantries operated, with clients getting pre-prepared boxes of food, Arroyo said. They (now) get the experience of going to a grocery store and picking out the items that they want within the guidelines of what we have available, she said. The effort seems to be working: The food banks pantry serves about 2,500 people a month, and the agency saw a 10 percent increase in use, in part because of the choice pantry, but also from increased need. Uniacke said the impact could be greater, but a person can only use the choice pantry once a month, by appointment. They can only handle a limited number of people each day, he said. Researchers say there is still more work to be done to overcome the stigma of poverty. People in poverty commonly blame themselves for their plight, even when their predicament is from something beyond their control, like losing a job, Mazelis said. That includes those struck by the economic downturn in 2008, when more people found themselves having to ask for help, she said. Children arent immune from that condition, according to a study released in August by the Urban Institute, an economic and social policy research group, and Feeding America, a national network of food banks. Adults frequently overlook the food insecurity plight of teenagers because teenagers ashamed of revealing their situation make great efforts ... to hide their hardship, the study shows. Hungry teenagers frequently invite themselves to friends homes for dinner, when it may be the only way theyll get a decent meal that day, the study shows. Bridgeton teens spent summer getting kids fed BRIDGETON Groups of teenagers walked up and down streets wearing matching green-and-white shirts throughout the summer. In the schools The National School Lunch program subsidizes meals for more than 30 million children a year in the U.S. More than 500,000 of those children are in New Jersey. School officials have known for years that many eligible parents were too embarrassed to apply for the federal free or reduced-fee school meal program. High school students were especially less likely to participate so as not to be publicly identified as needy. Thats changing as more schools switch to a debit card or PIN system. Only the cashier can see their status, said Teresa Smith of Sodexo, the Atlantic City school districts food service company. Almost 85 percent of students in Atlantic City are eligible for the program. Smith said the volume alone reduces the stigma, although its still difficult to get some families to register. We send the application form home with every child, she said. We dont always get it back. Last year, only about 50 of the 950 students in the Wildwood school district werent registered for the meal program. And even then I knew there were families that were eligible but were just too proud to apply, Superintendent J. Kenyon Kummings said. The district now participates in the Community Eligibility Program, which allows districts with a high percentage of students eligible for the meal program to provide free meals to all children. Smith said Atlantic City is also investigating the program. What it means to grow up hungry in South Jersey Galloway Township is a large municipality on the northern border of Atlantic County. Personal experiences Joanna Cruz works the late shift at a deli in the Salem County community of Penns Grove, making just enough money to support herself and two children. The 32-year-old Cruz once lived in a Philadelphia home with no functional plumbing and worked a seasonal $10-an-hour job at the citys zoo. I kind of grew up that way, she said. Its what I knew all my life. Cruz is one of more than 100 members of Witnesses to Hunger, part of Drexel Universitys Center for Hunger-Free Communities. Those witnesses are mothers and caregivers of children who speak openly about their experiences with poverty and hunger to foster social change and reduce the stigma of poverty. Theyre putting a human face on poverty with their own words and experiences, said Michelle Taylor, program manager for Witnesses to Hunger. Nobody is (currently) speaking for them. Nobody is trying to construct a narrative. Sometimes they say things that are making people uncomfortable, and thats what we want. Cruz said shell keep talking about the plight of the impoverished as long as she can. Im not doing the greatest, but Im stable, Cruz said. I shouldnt feel ashamed because Im down on my luck. Contact: 609-226-9197 Twitter @ACPressBarlas Contact: 609-272-7241 Twitter @ACPressDamico Contact: 609-272-7202 Twitter @ACPressJackson One year ago, Pope Francis was greeted by hundreds of thousands of people when he celebrated Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Brigantine resident Madeline Harvey volunteered to distribute communion and came away with a unique souvenir an umbrella with the papal seal. So its become something in Brigantine that everyone enjoys, said Harvey, who displays it in the front window of her home. I still find myself hardly believing that I had that honor. The experience of the papal visit, which took place last September as part of the World Meeting of Families, is still fresh in the minds of many South Jersey Catholics who saw the pope. Area priests say they recognized changes in their parishes, and lay attendees have recognized changes in their personal lives. The experience with all the other faithful is what Ill remember, said Nina Giacona, 56, of Northfield. Mike Walsh, a spokesman for the Diocese of Camden, said since the popes visit to the region, diocese officials have noticed a greater increase in family activities. A number of parishes are creating programs that expand family participation to grandparents, aunts, uncles and other relatives, he said. You see that structure really focusing more on the day-to-day lives of people, Walsh said. Not just people working within families, but families working with (other) families. You get the sense that (the pope) really wants us to talk to each other more. For some South Jersey parishes, the popes visit didnt stimulate church attendance or donations. But some say it did cause more Catholics to take an in-depth look at their faith and neighbors. One of the Holy Fathers concerns is that the lack of respect for human life is one of the greatest problems, said the Rev. Paul Olszewski, pastor of All Saints Parish in Millville. I believe my parishioners have a greater understanding of how important they can be. Olszewski said that feeling prompted parishioners to begin planning a special ministry for state and federal prisoners. The ministry is still in the planning stages, but its hoped it can start in the federal prison in Fairton, Fairfield Township, he said. We want (prisoners) to know that there are people praying for them, Olszewski said. Cumberland County is home to three state prisons. About one third of all state prisoners is held in these facilities. Olszewski said hes also seen an increase in donations of food, clothing and other goods. Parishioners said they have noticed the church promoting the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, a year of forgiveness and charity declared by Francis, who stressed mercy in his public addresses in Philadelphia. Almost every week there is something mentioned in each Mass or even entire focus of the Mass on the year of mercy, said Bryan Williamson, 21, of Egg Harbor Township. Monsignor John Burton, pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Vineland, said his parishioners are taking a broader look at issues that arent quite so clear anymore. Burton called that introspection the Francis effect. He said its created a sort of openness for Catholics on a variety of issues. That includes the issue of homosexuality and church doctrine, he said. It kind of shifts the focus on whats right and whats wrong, Burton said. You have, on one side, the law of the church. On the other side of the coin, (theres) a persons individual conscience. Burton said he and other priests believe Francis visit did more to create a change of attitude than it did for things like church attendance. Its not like 9/11, when you had one horrific event and everyone was going to church, he said. Giacona said shes been reminded of her trip to the World Meeting of Families in recent days. My Facebook all the memories are coming up, she said. Harvey, a member of St. Thomas the Apostle in Brigantine, said she has been invited to a special anniversary Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. I still keep in touch with the group that served, she said. South Jersey pilgrims attend pope's closing Mass PHILADELPHIA Infant Margaret Brown wont remember the moment. But her mother will never fo Some who traveled to Philadelphia a year ago felt the experience changed them on a personal level. Williamson, a law student at the University of Pennsylvania, said going to Mass with Pope Francis helped him gain a different perspective and deepen his faith. Things can be very, very busy, he said. But going to that Mass really, really reaffirmed why Im Catholic. Contact: 609-226-9197 Twitter @ACPressBarlas Contact: 609-272-7411 Twitter @ACPressTomczuk NORTH WILDWOOD The pipes run in P.J. Corrys family. Corrys son and niece took part in an impromptu bagpipe session Saturday evening on Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood. Their troop, from Binghamton, New York, played with a group from South Philadelphia. 'Irish' pop-up stands take over North Wildwood NORTH WILDWOOD Theres a science to being a successful pop-up shop on Olde New Jersey Aven My dad was from Ireland, Corry, 54, of Binghamton, said. He loved the pipes at all the parades and events. Hes carrying on the tradition, Corry added, referring to his 21-year-old son Colin. The Irish Festival, which kicked off Thursday and runs until Sunday, features dozens of mostly Irish-themed bands playing at outdoor stages and popular North Wildwood bars. Perhaps the most iconic instrument associated with traditional Irish music is the bagpipe. And its not the easier instrument to master. Ive played other instruments and this is by far the most hardcore, said bagpiper Ryan Coy, 32, of Montrose, Pennsylvania. Several bagpipers at the Irish Festival said they were introduced to the instrument through their familys association with the fire department. I come from a family of firefighters, Coy said. Corry said he was a firefighter for 25 years before retiring. He said his son, now a student at the University of Albany, started playing the instrument when he was 15. Corry is a seasoned Irish Festival veteranWeve been coming down foreverbut Coy was attending the event for the first time. His initial impressions were favorable. Its an awesome time, Coy said. Security a priority for South Jersey's weekend events The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security is working with South Jersey law enforcement to t Corrys nephew, Corry Owen, whose sister was playing the bagpipes alongside Colin, was also participating in the festival for the first time. He said he came to Wildwood with family for summer vacation but never for the Irish Festival. Im pretty impressed, Owen, 25, of Edison, said. Everyones here for the same causetrying to enjoy the heritage. Its a nice halfway point between now and Saint Paddys day, Owen added. The Irish Festival continues Sunday, with a Mass at St. Annes Church at 10:30 a.m. followed by a procession and a parade marshaled by local Olympian Joe Maloy at 12:30 p.m. beginning at 20th and Surf avenues. Terrorism has emerged once again as the central issue in the presidential campaign - but not in a way anyone expected. In the wake of attacks last week in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have accused each other of being the candidate Islamic terrorists prefer. Clinton started it - this week's round, at least. She came out swinging on Monday, saying Trump's rhetoric made him a "recruiting sergeant" for Islamic State. "The language that Mr. Trump has used is giving aid and comfort to our adversaries," she said. ("Aid and comfort" is part of the Constitution's definition of treason.) Trump, who earlier accused President Obama and Clinton of being the "founders" of Islamic State, fired back. "Terrorists all over the world are hoping and praying that Hillary Clinton becomes president," he said. "They want her so badly to be your president, you have no idea," he added later. "It will be a field day." It's dangerous to call anything unprecedented, but I can't remember a presidential campaign in which the candidates accused each other of being in league, wittingly or not, with the nation's worst enemies. During the Cold War, Republicans sometimes accused liberal Democrats of being soft on communism - but usually painted them as dupes, not co-conspirators. When many Americans are gripped by fear of terrorist strikes in city streets or shopping malls, this is pretty rough stuff. It should go without saying that neither Islamic State nor any other terrorist group has endorsed either candidate. (If they did, the result could be dramatic.) But on the facts, Clinton has the better of this argument. This spring, spokesmen for Islamic State celebrated Trump's proposals to temporarily ban Muslim immigration to the United States apparently because they believed it would sharpen the clash of civilizations the extremist group wants to provoke. "I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump," one wrote. That's why former CIA director Michael Hayden, a George W. Bush appointee, has criticized the GOP nominee on this issue. "When Trump says they all hate us, he's using their narrative," Hayden told the Guardian newspaper. "He's feeding their recruitment video." Contrary to what Trump said, there's no record of any Islamic State spokesmen saying they want Clinton to win. The GOP nominee claimed that the terrorists prefer Clinton's policies to his, but there's no evidence of that either. Trump's argument is that Clinton, as secretary of state under President Barack Obama, shares responsibility for allowing Islamic State to rise. "We've been very gentle" to Islamic State, he said on Monday, seemingly ignoring the almost 12,000 airstrikes U.S. forces have carried out against the group since 2014. "We're going to have to do something extremely tough over there," he told Fox News. "Like what?" a Fox anchor asked. "Like knock the hell out of them," Trump said. That's about as specific as he gets. Trump has offered two more proposals: He wants to increase ethnic and religious "profiling" to identify possible terrorist sympathizers in the United States. (He claims profiling isn't used now, but he's wrong about that; federal policy explicitly allows it in terrorism cases.) And he wants to impose "extreme vetting" on foreigners entering the United States. (Clinton later called for "tough vetting.") Here's the political surprise in this brawl: Clinton could come out ahead. It's not at all clear that terrorist attacks, and the fears they sharpen, automatically produce votes for Trump. That's not what happened after the attack on an Orlando nightclub in June, where 49 died. After that incident, the polls moved only a little - and in some surveys, Clinton's standing improved. Indeed, Clinton's quick offensive on this issue revealed how she wants to frame the voters' choice: Which candidate do you want to put in charge of the armed forces? In normal election years, most voters say they think the Republican candidate, with the GOP's hawkish history, is better qualified to deal with terrorism. But this isn't a normal year. In a Fox News poll released last week, more voters said Clinton would do a better job dealing with terrorism than would Trump, by 47 percent to 46 percent. Although those numbers are within the poll's margin of error, they still mean the GOP has lost its usual advantage. Other surveys have shown similar results. Clinton's argument is that Trump - with his ill-considered, self-indulgent, hair-trigger responses - is too erratic to be president. She's doing her best to keep the words "commander in chief" in the air. In a focus-group discussion with undecided voters last week, several said that issue was weighing heavily on their minds. "I really dislike Hillary," said Cameron Scott, a retired bus driver from Alexandria, Va. "But he's just plain scary. I can't vote for him." Email Doyle McManus at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com. Christie deserves credit for syringe swap support Kudos to Gov. Chris Christie for releasing some funds to support syringe exchange programs. South Jersey AIDS Alliance COO Georgett Watson has done a remarkable job operating the program on a shoestring budget. Retired health officer Ron Cash was a tireless advocate of syringe exchange and supported the AIDS Alliance as best he could, given Atlantic City's financial situation. At the federal level the ban is still in place, which prohibits the use of federal dollars for syringe exchange programs. As far back as 1993, the Centers for Disease Control released studies that proved the efficacy of syringe exchanges to fight blood-borne pathogens. We will see if the next president tackles this problem. Gene Brunner Atlantic City Walls don't work well Walls have played an important part in human history. Even now one is proposed along the U.S.-Mexican border. The Great Wall of China is visible from outer space and is a monument to human ingenuity and engineering. It was made to keep the Mongols out. But it didn't work. Army movement was confused and outflanked by horsemen. The Berlin Wall was of a different type. It was built to keep the people in, not to keep them out. It fell of its own weight. "The Iron Curtain" is rust and dust. Walls are made to keep people out: a fortress. Others are made to keep people in: a prison. Neither type works very well, so why would America not embark on a massive project with such a long history of failure? Actually, Donald Trump says it will be the Mexicans who pay for the wall. I guess it would be on their side of the border to keep the gringos out. It would be hard to believe that Mexico would spend their money on our infrastructure. Barbed wire down the middle of the Rio Grande? Trump calls his opponent "lying Hillary Clinton." As Atlantic City contractors can attest, Trump's lie is "the check is in the mail," and his income and taxes are secrets. Bob Filipczak Linwood Clinton campaign a threat Hillary Clinton is dangerous to freedom and the United States. If she wins, it will be the end of our votes. She will do or say anything to get a voting block. She lies to blacks and does nothing. She'll let anyone come into the country for future votes, which also hurts border security. She takes money from places that have no respect for women, yet women back her. No matter what party people are for, they should vote for the U.S. George North Forked River Employee didn't deserve firing for old minor crime Regarding the Sept. 7 story, "10-year-old misdemeanor costs lauded Cumberland graduate": As a retired educator from a family of retired and current educators, I was dismayed to read about Jeannie Garcia. It seems that a person who has made such positive changes in her life should be able to expect to retain the good will and accolades she earned. I find it hard to believe that Cumberland County College, which says it doesn't "give up on our students," was able to do just that. If there is a seven year statute of limitations for felonies, I can't understand why a 10-year-old misdemeanor charge can cause an institute of higher education to give up on a very deserving individual. I know she didn't reveal the charge, but perhaps at the time she didn't feel that a 10-year-old mistake was relevant. After all, society talks about people being able to learn from their mistakes and move forward. Isn't that what this person has done? Letitia Steward Little Egg Harbor Township A Janesville man was arrested on tentative fifth OWI after almost causing a collision Saturday night, the Janesville Police Department said. An officer saw 55-year-old Edward Strzyzykowski "violate a traffic control signal" at Highway 51 and West Delavan Drive at 9:05 p.m., which almost led to a collision, police said. He was soon pulled over by the officer and refused to do field sobriety tests or take a breath test, according to police. Strzyzykowski was arrested and started to become uncooperative and to make "threats to harm the arresting officer," police said. He was taken to Rock County Jail where his uncooperative manner continued, according to police. A blood sample was attained through a search warrant, and the results are pending, police said. Strzyzykowski was also arrested on tentative charges of reckless driving, battery/threats to law enforcement, driving with a revoked license and driving without insurance, according to police. Police arrested a 67-year-old man on a tentative charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide following a stabbing Saturday in Sun Prairie that injured a man and a woman, Sun Prairie police said. Jose Campa Gomez was being held at the Dane County Jail on Sunday. The victims, a 41-year-old woman and 69-year-old man, were taken to a hospital to undergo surgery after police responded to the 200 block of Broadway Drive at 6:40 p.m. for a report of a victim with a stab wound, according to police. The victims know the arrested individual, and the incident is believed to be isolated, said Sgt. Larry Moen. "Police have no reason to believe there is any danger to the public as a result of this incident," he said. The alleged assailant was arrested and is expected to be booked into Dane County Jail on tentative charges of first-degree intentional attempted homcide, Moen said. 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. EDINBURGH, Scotland, September 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Edinburgh-based online booking specialist, Appointedd, has been selected by one of the world's largest serviced and virtual office networks to enhance the digital support offering for 500,000 customers across its global portfolio of 700 serviced offices in 52 countries. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411365 ) The unique deal will see Appointedd power online appointment setting for Live Receptionist clients of Alliance Business Centers Network (ABCN), and the two companies will partner to streamline service provision through online booking and deliver additional value for ABCN's 500,000 customers across the world. The partnership means ABCN's virtual office company, Alliance Virtual Offices, has added a new receptionist service for clients in the form of real-time appointment-setting -- a first for the Alliance brand. The deal, which is Appointedd's largest to date, represents a potential US$15-20million in revenue for the companies over the next three years. Appointedd's disruptive software delivers a comprehensive set of features including online booking, customer relationship management and marketing automation. The software revolutionizes processes for businesses in a range of sectors, from service companies to global business development agencies. Appointedd's system stood out due to its unique multi-timezone booking functionality, an innovation they credit with establishing a global market for their technology. Appointedd's founder and CEO, Leah Hutcheon, said: "It is so wonderful to work with an organization that cares so much about its customers. ABCN is dedicated to empowering the businesses that use its services and this deal will give them access to technology that will help them to thrive in the modern workplace. "Frank and his team are innovators and they are passionate about giving their customers the best tool for the job. The management team at ABCN have been unrelenting in their search to find the best in class technology platform to run their business on, and we are delighted that Appointedd has been selected to underpin the fantastic service they already provide for their customers." ABCN's CEO and Chairman, Frank Cottle, said: "ABCN works with 700 offices across 52 countries, so it was important we could scale any software platform globally. It was important to us that we found the right solution for our varied customer base, which ranges from freelancers to multi-national corporations, each using a great variety of software and applications. After considerable research, we found that Appointedd is the most rounded online booking platform. Appointedd's multi-timezone functionality is the only system in the world that would enable our users to book appointments in multiple timezones seamlessly." Hutcheon said: "We are extremely proud of our technology - we are the world's only multi-timezone online booking platform. This enables us to deliver seamless online bookings across multiple timezones at once, a service that is revolutionizing the way international business is done. Our technology not only allows freelancers to travel the globe, it's the solution to support global companies. Whether it's a large multinational organization, or a digital nomad who travels often, Appointedd's software enables businesses to be booked 24/7, even if they are located across several timezones." ABCN was founded in 1992 by Frank Cottle, who formerly owned a leading business center brand. Today, Alliance is the largest global network of serviced offices in the world with more than 700 locations in 52 countries. Combining the best of people, place and technology, Alliance provides solutions to mobile workers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and corporates. Appointedd has attracted investment from a wide range of investors, including Gareth Williams, founder of Skyscanner, and Marie Macklin CBE, founder of Macklin Enterprise Partnerships. The company has been growing steadily month on month since it launched in 2014, and this deal represents a step change in its potential scale. http://www.appointedd.com Ends Further enquiries: Appointedd Callum Spreng Spreng Thomson +44 (0)141 548 5191 +44 (0)7803 970103 callum@sprengthomson.com ABCN Mike Sullivan Chief Marketing Officer msullivan@abcn.com SOURCE Appointedd and Alliance Business Centers Network New Additives for Drilling Fluids Build on Proven Track Record of FLC 2000 HOUSTON, Sept. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Impact Fluid Solutions, a premier provider of specialty additives for oil and gas drilling, cementing and completions, today announced the expansion of its FLC line of Wellbore Shielding and stabilization solutions. A series of new FLC products will build on the success of Impact's industry-leading FLC 2000 additive for drilling fluids, while offering broader capabilities to meet specific well parameters and requirements. Designed for depleted and mechanically weak formations, FLC additives act as shielding agents, forming a tough, impermeable barrier at the fluid-rock interface. This "shield" minimizes fluid and pressure invasion, stabilizing and strengthening the wellbore. For over a decade, leading operators, oilfield service providers and fluid companies have trusted Impact's FLC 2000 to reduce non-productive time, preserve wellbore integrity and improve ultimate recoveries in basins worldwide. Compatible with water-, oil- and synthetic-based fluid systems, FLC 2000 seals fractures up to 250 m. The newest FLC additives are specifically designed for today's oil and gas environment, as operators are challenged to reduce well costs and improve production. The expanded FLC product line will help operators succeed in a wide variety of difficult drilling conditions by offering increased capabilities to provide fit-for-purpose solutions. "FLC 2000 has enabled our customers to prevent fluid loss, formation damage and lost circulation incidents in over 3,000 wells around the world," said Rod Uchytil, President and CEO of Impact. "However, every drilling program is different. This exciting expansion of our FLC product line will enable our customers to solve a broader range of wellbore stability challenges while optimizing mud weight and solids in the fluid system." In addition to FLC 2000, the expanded FLC product line includes: FLC Fine Seals fractures up to 150 m while the smaller particle size improves solids control management, reducing maintenance costs without compromising performance. Seals fractures up to 150 m while the smaller particle size improves solids control management, reducing maintenance costs without compromising performance. FLC Supreme Seals 500 m fractures with a broad sealing range that does not require bypassing the shale shaker systems. Seals 500 m fractures with a broad sealing range that does not require bypassing the shale shaker systems. FLC Extreme Seals 500-3,000 m fractures at high differential pressures, offering a comprehensive range of sealing capabilities while still allowing the continuous use of shale shaker systems. Seals 500-3,000 m fractures at high differential pressures, offering a comprehensive range of sealing capabilities while still allowing the continuous use of shale shaker systems. FLC Max Seals 250 m fractures; engineered specifically for oil- and synthetic-based fluid systems, with enhanced lipophilic properties to accelerate sealing, reduce HPHT fluid loss and spurt loss, improve oil phase dispersibility and reduce maintenance costs. Impact will formally launch the expanded FLC line at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, taking place September 26-28 in Dubai, UAE. Attendees can visit Impact at Stand No. 6156 to view FLC presentations and product demonstrations. About Impact Fluid Solutions Impact (impact-fluids.com) is a premier fluid solutions provider to oil and gas operators, service companies and fluid companies worldwide. The Impact team combines advanced chemistry with extensive oilfield expertise to deliver products purpose-built to solve real and complex wellbore challenges. The company provides best-in-class additives for drilling, cementing and completions, including Impact's flagship FLC 2000 for Wellbore Shielding and stabilization. Proven in basins worldwide, Impact is trusted by industry leaders and smaller independents alike to improve performance, predictability andultimatelyproduction. Related Links http://impact-fluids.com SOURCE Impact Fluid Solutions Doctors are working round the clock to try to save them, but children are dying on the floors of hospitals due to critical shortages of basic medicines and equipment, including ventilators, anaesthetics and antibiotics. Severe cases need to be transferred out of Eastern Aleppo for treatment, but all roads are blocked. The information they have provided paints a picture of unimaginable violence and suffering for children and their families, as the UN Security Council meets for an emergency session on Aleppo. Dr. Abu Rajab, who works at a hospital in the besieged enclave, said that of 67 injured patients that came in yesterday, 29 were children. Five children died because the hospital did not have enough ventilators to treat them. This morning (information received at 7 a.m. EDT), 17 more patients had come in. Dr. Abu Rajab said (click for full interview): "The field hospitals where we work are completely full with injured people and casualties, the majority of them women and children. The patients are on the floor, with no ventilators for the ones who need oxygen. We have to take the ventilators from one patient to save another. We have severe shortages [of medicines and equipment] and exhausted medical staff who are working above human ability, 24 hours a day." "Through you, we are calling for immediate help, calling all humans around the world. We demand, through the Security Council's platform, to stop the airstrikes on Aleppo city the airstrikes which are causing all of this." Aid agencies estimated there were at least 100,000 children trapped in eastern Aleppo when the siege was first imposed in June. Sonia Khush, Save the Children's Syria Director, said: "We are witnessing an appalling atrocity being perpetuated against the children of Aleppo in front of our eyes today. The failure to protect them and children across Syria will haunt the international community for decades to come. "The UN Security Council has a chance to right the wrong and prevent more suffering when it meets today in New York. They cannot leave the room until they agree an immediate ceasefire, with roads opened to allow us to bring desperately needed food, clean water and medical supplies in. "There must also be accountability and justice for what has happened. We support calls for an independent investigation into the attack on the UN/SARC aid convoy last week. That investigation should also have the remit to look at whether there have been other breaches of International Humanitarian Law and war crimes committed in this latest escalation." Click here for full transcripts and audio clips of Dr Abu Rajab's interviews from hospital today. For interviews and further information, please contact [email protected] or call +90 5311038201 (Caroline, Antakya) / +44 7831650409 (Simon, London). About Save the Children Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In 120 countries around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children every day and in times of crisis transforming their lives and the future we share. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Media Contacts: Caroline Anning, [email protected], +90 5311038201 Jordyn Linsk Machotka, [email protected], 475-225-3160 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160925/411514 Audio - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/411511-Audio-clip-1-from-Dr-Abu-Rajab.mp3 Audio - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/411512-Audio-clip-2-from-Dr-Abu-Rajab.mp3 Audio - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/411513-Audio-clip-3-from-Dr-Abu-Rajab.mp3 SOURCE Save the Children Related Links http://www.savethechildren.org VANCOUVER, Sept. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Equicare Health Inc. announces that the company will demonstrate their oncology patient engagement software at the ASTRO Annual Meeting in Boston starting today. As part of the focus on patient engagement, Equicare has partnered with local non-profit, The Samfund, to investigate approaches to survivor engagement within the oncology community at ASTRO. Equicare will support The Samfund, which provides financial support to young adult cancer survivors, by donating $25 to the organization each time visitors complete the survivor engagement survey within their exhibit booth. ASTRO visitors are encouraged to visit Equicare in booth #9051 during exhibit hours, Sept 25 27, 10AM - 5PM to complete the patient engagement survey and support The Samfund. "ASTRO is always an excellent showcase of the best of oncology technology and we are pleased to demonstrate the benefits of our patient engagement software here. This year, however, we're especially proud to step beyond a demonstration to do something positive and practical for cancer survivors through The Samfund and our survivor engagement survey," states Equicare CEO, Len Grenier. "The data collected in this survey will provide valuable insight into the challenges faced by oncology professionals, and will help us better understand the interactions between providers and cancer survivors," adds Samantha Watson, CEO of The Samfund. "The financial contribution from Equicare is, of course, hugely beneficial to our organization. We are grateful for their support and hope to see many ASTRO attendees at their booth." Equicare is also proud to support the ASTRO Survivor Circle program. The Survivor Circle honors cancer survivors in the cities where ASTRO's Annual Meeting is held, and this year The Samfund is one of two organizations receiving the Survivor Circle Grant, along with Boston Cancer Support. About The Samfund The Samfund, a national non-profit organization, supports young adult cancer survivors in the United States as they recover from the financial impact of cancer treatment. Through direct financial assistance and free online support and education, The Samfund helps young adults move forward towards their personal, professional, and academic goals. For more information, visit http://www.thesamfund.org. About Equicare Health Inc. Equicare Health is the industry's leading provider of comprehensive care coordination solutions. Equicare's flagship solution EQUICARE CS (ECS) is a web-based software tool that facilitates patient engagement, patient navigation, survivorship care, and adherence to standards including Meaningful Use & the Commission on Cancer. ECS enables cancer centers to influence clinical outcomes for patients, optimize revenue streams, and increase operational efficiency. www.equicarehealth.com SOURCE Equicare Health Inc. Related Links www.equicarehealth.com The Madison School District and the city may have reached an agreement that will keep a uniformed police officer in each of Madisons four main high schools. After a difficult negotiation process, the School Board and citys Board of Estimates are scheduled to vote Monday on a new three-year contract. The main difference between this contract and the contract approved for 2013 through this year is an opt-out clause. According to a revised version of the contract posted by the School Board, either party can decide to remove the Educational Resource Officers, or EROs, after two years, so long as they provide written notice. City Council President Mike Verveer said the revised contract comes after negotiations between representatives of both the city and the board. He said headway was made in the past week. The city team is comfortable with the new language, Verveer said. The School Board voted to pass a 45-day extension to the previous contract after negotiators were unable to agree on terms, with the board wanting a shorter contract than the city was willing to give. That extension is set to expire next month. According to the revised contract, written notice would need to be given to the other party by April 1, 2018, to be effective Aug. 15 of that year. The School Board meeting will be held Monday in McDaniels Auditorium in the Doyle Administration Building at 545 W. Dayton St. at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. The Board of Estimates will also meet publicly on Monday, but it left open the possibility of a closed session for discussions of the contract. It meets at 4:30 p.m. in room 260 of the Madison Municipal Building at 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Verveer said he believes there is enough support from both the board and the council to approve the contract, but ultimately, it is up to the elected officials. Monday could be the School Boards final decision, but if the contract passes the Board of Estimates, the full council will need to vote to approve it at their next meeting on Oct. 4. 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 Washington, Sep 25 : US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday thanked Senator Ted Cruz, his main rival in his party's primaries, for the "wonderful surprise" of his support. "The @SenTedCruz endorsement was a wonderful surprise. I greatly appreciate his support! We will have a tremendous victory on November 8th," the New York magnate posted on his Twitter account. Cruz made the surprise announcement on Friday that he intends to cast his vote for Donald Trump after refusing to lend him his support until now, not even when he spoke from the podium at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July after the multimillionaire had landed the Republican candidacy, EFE news reported. "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," the Texas senator announced on Facebook on Friday. Cruz's support is important for the magnate because the senator has a solid base of ultra-conservatives who instinctively distrust a presidential candidate in his third marriage and who in the past has been fairly ambiguous about where he stands on abortion. Washington, Sep 25 : The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced on Saturday that it will release several videos of the shooting by officers of an African American man, an incident that has sparked major protests in the city. At a press conference, Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney said that Keith Lamont Scott, 43, was definitely holding a gun when he was shot by a black police officer last Tuesday, although the videos to be released -- police dashcam and body-camera videos from officers at the scene -- do not show the gun actually in his hand. "Our practice and our protocol is to release as soon as we can, to inform," EFE news quoted Putney as saying, adding that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation had assured him that releasing the videos would not adversely impact its investigation into the matter. The release of the videos comes a day after Scott's widow released a cellphone video she recorded during the incident and on which she can be heard telling officers -- prior to him being shot -- that her husband did not have a gun, had just taken his medication and was not a danger to them. Officers can be heard on that video shouting for Scott to "drop the gun". Putney said that his decision to release the police videos did not come in response to the release of the video made by Scott's widow, EFE news reported. The chief said that his agents had accosted Scott in a parking lot, finding marijuana and a weapon in his vehicle. Shortly after shooting Scott on Tuesday, police said that he had refused to drop the gun he was holding and thus posed a deadly "threat" to the officers, but the victim's family members have said that he did not have a gun. Charlotte police released a photo of a pistol they said Scott had when he was shot, along with photos of an ankle holster they said they had removed from Scott's leg and what they said was a marijuana joint. The plainclothes officer who shot Scott, Brentley Vinson, was not wearing a body-camera at the time of the incident, but other officers on the scene were. Since early Saturday morning, demonstrators have gathered peacefully in downtown Charlotte without police making any arrests, without any incidents or causing any damage to public property, however protests over the past four days have, at times, turned violent. The protesters and black community leaders have been demanding the release of police videos. New Delhi : I had the Muzaffarnagar riots of February 2013 at the back of my mind when I drove towards Pedda village on the Bijnor-Najibabad Road where three Muslims had been shot dead by Jats who fired with guns and pistols from the terraces of their homes. Trouble began when two Muslim girls were harassed at the bus stop. When their men folk protested, the economically stronger Jats decided to teach them a lesson. Muslims in Pedda have for generations been "dhobis" or washermen. In Sir Saiyyad Ahamd Khan's framework, these are "arzals" or "menials". Above them in the caste/class hierarchy are "Ajlafs", weavers, and "Ashraf", the genteel lot, the ones for whom the Aligarh Muslim University was initially opened. That Yasmeen and Farheen are college-going girls is not a negligible detail: it is a glimmer of hope in a picture of unrelieved gloom which envelopes the community. Jats are prosperous farmers but socially static on issues like gender and are still bound by Khaps. The man-woman population ratio is eerily adversarial to women. In the Muslim hovel, there is economic want, not social regression. Arrogance of economic power bristles at the sight of the lowest strata crawling upwards. This explains some of the accelerated violence against Dalits and Muslims. Caste and communal prejudice converge in such instances. The gram pradhan or village head of Pedda, Anis Ahmad, is a short, dark man with a well trimmed beard and a mandatory skull cap, headgear which defines all Muslims from Madrasas. He has gone through the drill at the Deoband seminary, a stint as a tailor in Kuwait and now a dress designer (believe it or not) for "fashion shows". He is not free of the usual Mullah hypocrisy: "I don't touch female bodies; I tailor clothes for mannequins." With the advent of washing machines, Muslim washermen in villages like Pedda have diversified as tailors, barbers, fruit and vegetable sellers, automobile mechanics, handy men of all sorts. The Pradhan takes me into the house where three men were shot dead on the terrace of their home. Below, in a dark verandah, women wail. Outside, across the lane, is the fortified house of Pedda's most powerful Jat, Sansar Singh. He hid in another village five kilometres away, but has since been arrested along with eight others involved in organising the violence. A dozen or so policemen are snoozing outside Sansar Singh's house, their weapons on their laps. This is the scene outside every Jat house in the lane up to the highway where a large number of policemen keep vigil. "Look," Anis Ahmad points his finger, "they are protecting only Jat houses." At Bijnor's police headquarters, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Dharam Veer Singh thumps his table gently. "Yes, we are protecting Jat houses. If police were not posted as a deterrent, angry Muslims may retaliate against Jat women and children." Theoretically, Singh has a point but do Muslims in their current state of demoralisation ever retaliate? The two local journalists, Naresh Sharma of Swatantra Awaz and Jalil Ahmad of a local TV channel, India Voice, are crouching on Singh's table, symbols of watchfulness. Singh smiles: "Please give the police some credit for having prevented riots from spreading." Why did these riots not spread? He cites geography as a roadblock to communalism. "The Ganga flows between Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor -- the communal wave that overwhelmed areas the other side of the Ganga some years ago weakens crossing the river." There are other reasons for weakened communalism in Bijnor. BJP President Amit Shah's very determined presence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli three years ago made the difference. Trumped-up stories of "love jihad"; fake video from Pakistan's northwest circulated as Jats being lynched by Muslims; Maha Panchayats of weapon-wielding mobs and Amit Shah's famous refrain, "Yeh badley ka election hai" (We go into this election to seek revenge) -- all augmented the incendiary atmosphere. Today, there is saffron in the air, true, but not murderous saffronisation. In Bijnor, Muslims as well as the administration (even some Jats) have praised the local MLA, Ruchi Veera of the Samajwadi party, who was present in the village round-the-clock for the duration of tension. In fact, she was able to extract Rs 20 lakh from the government in Lucknow by way of relief within days of the violence. Assessments of damage are being made for more. District Magistrate Jagat Raj is flanked by City Superintendent of Police M.M. Baig and Senior Superintendent of Police Umesh Kumar Srivastava to address about 60 print and TV journalists around a giant oblong table. Seldom have I heard media being so lavishly thanked for having exercised restraint. On my return, when I cross the barrage on the Ganga, I remember SP Dharam Veer Singh's words: rivers block communal waves. Before reaching Meerut, I see road signs to Muzaffarangar. I have horrible memories of that pogrom. Past Meerut is Maliana, the site of the notorious 1987 massacre. The police had separated 42 Muslim young men, lined them up by the nearby canal and shot them. P. Chidambaram was Rajiv Gandhi's Minister of State for Home. He knows that incident like the back of his hand. He is now a columnist. May be some day he will give us the inside story on why the case drags on into its 29th year? Approaching Ghaziabad, I see signs to Dadri where in September 2015 Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by cow protection vigilantes. His family is still implicated in unproved charges. As lights of Delhi shimmer, the villainy of Pedda recedes. Nastier memories surface. (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) New Delhi, Sep 25 : Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj arrived in New York on Saturday night for the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA) Session. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," said ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a tweet. Her visit has come at the heel of a strident denunciation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Pakistan on Saturday. It is being expected of Sushma Swaraj also to give a befitting reply. Bangkok, Sep 25 : Thai police found the dismembered body of a foreign man in a freezer in capital Bangkok during a raid to nail an alleged passport forgery and drug trafficking gang. The police raided a four-storey building in Phra district on Friday and discovered the body cut into six pieces wrapped in black plastic. Guns and drugs were also found. A police officer was reportedly injured during the raid, the Bangkok Post reported. The police official said "We found a big freezer in which the body was chopped into different parts and was concealed in many rubbish bags." The official said the equipment believed to have been used to dismember the body was also discovered. The police detained a British national, two Americans during the raid and on Saturday requested the judicial authorities to send the suspects to 12 more days into the custody. Deputy Police Chief spokesman Col Kissana Phathanacharoen said all three men were charged with offences including concealment of a body, obstruction of justice and possession of fraudulent passports. "They are charged on five counts including attempting to kill an official on duty, resisting arrest, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, forging official documents and concealing a corpse," a police official added. New Delhi, Sep 25 : Even as tensions between India and Pakistan are at a high following last week's terror attack on the Indian army base in Uri, industry body Assocham said on Sunday that trade relations between countries remain "abysmally low". "India-Pakistan trade relations are abysmally low accounting for less than half a per cent of India's total global trade involving both exports and imports," the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) said in a release here. "Out of India's total merchandise trade of $641 billion in 2015-16, Pakistan accounted for a meagre $2.67 billion," it said. "In all, trade with Pakistan was equivalent to 0.41 per cent of India's global merchandise commerce," Secretary General Assocham D.S. Rawat said in the statement. "Thus, the MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status, or no MFN, has not made much of a difference on the bilateral trade," he said. "While India has granted Pakistan the MFN status, Islamabad had not responded. But even with the MFN status, Pakistan's exports to India remained less than half a billion dollars," he added. Rawat noted that for political reasons, businesses have not been cultivating interest in each other's country. "Going forward, as things stand today, it is almost no movement seen in the immediate future. Even the symbolic presence of Pakistan exhibitors at the annual India International Trade Fair (IITF) in November in New Delhi is not expected whether or not formal ties are snapped or not, given the present state of affairs," he said. The chamber said "India Inc. is fully behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi for steering India's interest in the best possible directions." "India's strategic decisions are fully the domain of the government, which enjoys the full backing of the nation," Rawat added. New Delhi/Srinagar, Sep 25 : Are militant training camps across the de facto border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir located at a striking distance from India to allow the armed forces to carry out surgical strikes and dismantle them? No, say surrendered militants who have spent months in Pakistan receiving arms and explosives training for a separatist war in Jammu and Kashmir that began in the late 1980s. And the claim was corroborated by a top Jammu and Kashmir Police intelligence official who has been involved in counter-terrorism operations for over a decade and a half. IANS spoke to two surrendered militants who gave a detailed account of militant camps in Pakistan, particularly at the height of the insurgency in Kashmir. They said no training camp ever existed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, parts of which, of course, acted as base or transit camps for militants before and after their military training, which is mainly given near the border with Afghanistan. The former militants had crossed over to Pakistan through the Line of Control (LoC) -- the de facto 740-km border that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan -- in the early and mid-1990s. They were top leaders of the pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen and Al Umar Mujahideen outfits. "The common perception about these training camps that they are located just across the LoC is absolutely wrong," said Majeed, refusing to give his second name. The former Al Umar commander used to go by his nom de guerre Tariq Jameel. He surrendered in the late 1990s and is now running a small business in Srinagar after spending some years in prison. Majeed said he went to Pakistan in 1993 to receive training with a group of eight men from across the valley. On reaching the densely-populated Muzaffarabad in Pakistan, some 70 km from the border town of Uri in India, Majeed's group was lodged at a rented accommodation in the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. "We were also under the impression that Muzaffarabad will be full of these tent houses where militants would be seen receiving arms training and occasionally offering namaz in a group. But that happens only in movies," he said. During a week in the rented Muzaffarabad house they would occasionally be visited by senior militant commanders to brief them mainly about jihad and some military theories. "But informally," he said. They were then sent to an area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border -- an 8-to-10-hour drive from Muzaffarabad. "We were trained in the use of AK-47 rifles, grenades, explosives and shoulder-fired rockets at these camps located near the Afghan border. The training lasted for about a month. Military instructors would be either Pakistan Army officers or Afghan mujahideen commanders," said Shafeeq, another Pakistan-trained militant who too did not want to give his second name. Shafeeq was a Srinagar commander with the Hizbul Mujahideen and now owns a shoe store in an old city area in Srinagar. He had received a bullet injury on his left hand in a border shootout when he made an attempt to return from Pakistan but was spotted by the Indian Army on the LoC in Kupwara. The injury led to the amputation of one of his fingers. He remained an active militant for about five years before he was arrested and then released on court orders. The former militants said after arms training in Pakistan, they would return to Muzaffarabad and stay at the rented accommodation paid by the outfit they belonged to. They would be then sent in small groups of four to five each and given arms and ammunition near the LoC before crossing over to India. The account of the former militants was confirmed by the police intelligence officer. "There is no terror camp in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It doesn't happen that way. Muzaffarabad or other parts of (Pakistani) Kashmir act as base camps or launching pads. They act only as transit sites," the officer said. He said militants who cross over from this side of Kashmir would be lodged in madrassa hostels, hospital inns or mosque rooms on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad where "brainwashing sermons on jihad" were given to them. They would later be sent near the Afghan border for arms training. "All the talk about surgical strikes and special operations in the areas across the border is trash. You cannot, because there is no terror camp located near the LoC." The intelligence officer said even the camps near the Afghan border are not permanently situated. "They keep moving them and operate on makeshift arrangements." (Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at sarwar.k@ians.in) New Delhi, Sep 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday acknowledged the nation-wide anger after the Uri terror attack that killed 18 soldiers and vowed that the perpetrators of the "cowardly" act would not be spared. Modi, however, refrained from naming Pakistan in his monthly radio broadcast "Mann ki Baat" even as the government has said the four attackers who struck at the army base in Jammu and Kashmir had come from across the Line of Control (LoC) -- the de facto border that divides the state between the two countries. "Recently, we lost 18 bravehearts in a terror attack in Uri. I salute and pay my tributes to these martyrs," the Prime Minister said, opening the address that was aired on the state-run All India Radio. "This cowardly act was enough to shake the nation. There is sorrow and deep resentment in the country," Modi said. "This is a loss not only for those who lost their sons, brothers and husbands. It is a loss for the entire nation. And that is why I reiterate today what I had said on the day of the attack: The culprits will be punished for sure," he said. Modi hailed the Indian Army and expressed his confidence in the armed forces in battling terrorism. "We have full confidence in the Indian Army and are proud of them. While politicians speak, military acts to show valour. They speak through their bravery," the Prime Minister said. India has said the militants who attacked the army camp in Uri near the LoC had come from Pakistan. Islamabad has denied the allegation even as New Delhi says it has incriminating evidences to prove that the four attackers, who were killed in the Uri gunfight, belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and had come from Pakistan. The Uri assault has plummeted the already frosty India-Pakistan ties to a new low amid apprehensions it may even trigger an armed conflict between the two nuclear-powered neighbours. But Modi chose to calm the tempers and urged the nation to channelize the anger into a positive and constructive nation-building approach. He said a Class 11 student named Harshvardhan who was disturbed by the Uri attack had written to him saying he wanted to do something for the country. The Prime Minister said the youngman took a "resolve that he would study for three extra hours daily, be a good citizen and serve the nation". Modi said the "healthy" and "constructive" thinking of this young man was inspiring for all to take the "nation to new heights". The attack at the army base and subsequent souring of the ties between India and Pakistan came as the Kashmir Valley continues to battle the deadliest unrest in six years that has left 90 people dead since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Normal life remained disrupted for the 80th day on Sunday. Schools, colleges, offices and other businesses have remained closed due the turmoil and there are no signs of a respite from daily protests and shutdowns called by separatists. Modi referred to the hardships being faced by Kashmiri people because of the unrest and said people of the valley have begun recognizing "anti-nationals" and walking the road to peace. "Every (Kashmiri) parent wants schools and colleges to open as soon as possible. Farmers also want that their produce, ripened fruits etc, should reach the markets of entire India. Economic activities should work normal. For the past few days, trade activities have begun functioning normaly." He said he was hopeful that a "solution to every problem (in Kashmir) can be found together". "We will find the ways. We will together find the greatest path for the future generations of Kashmir," he said, assuring the people of Kashmir that their security was the "responsibility of the administration". A young woman named Raven, new to town and pregnant, begs for food and panhandles on State Street. She became homeless only weeks ago, one of the thousands here enduring indignities for the first time or still suffering after months or years. The challenge is unrelenting, and Madison, so accustomed to being atop best-of lists, is not keeping up. Each day, the communitys phone line for the newly homeless gets about 25 calls, most from families being evicted. Dane Countys prioritized waiting lists for homeless people in dire need of housing has swelled to 770 single adults and 561 families, the latter representing 1,801 adults and children. Fifteen hundred Madison students showed up for class homeless last year, a doubling of the number in eight years. A nine-month reporting project by the Wisconsin State Journal found tangible progress on many fronts, but also glaring gaps that call into question the communitys progressive reputation and the states commitment to the vulnerable. Without a dynamic response, the suffering will continue and the human and monetary costs will mount. There is, at the local and state levels, growing attention to this daunting problem that has intensified in recent months. Today, in the final installment of the project, we turn to the path ahead and whether this new momentum can keep occurrences of homelessness rare and brief. To find Madisons homeless, look to the guests on a single day at a Far East Side motel. On Aug. 25, law enforcement officers knocked on the doors of everyone staying at a Motel 6 off East Washington Avenue, the third and largest Operation Giving Hope, an effort to assist the homeless led by Madison police and Project Respect and supported by community donations. Local, state response evolves on sex trafficking During Operation Giving Hope, the effort to help the homeless by knocking on doors at a Far At the motel, officers contacted 66 homeless adults, some coming from a nearby motel because word spread. The adults had connections to 91 homeless children, including 25 under age 3 and a dozen not registered for school. Thirteen women were identified as sex trafficking victims. Guests received clothes and food. Children got enrolled to Head Start and school. People were referred to housing. Weve been struggling homeless for about five years now, said Dazzle Bowsky, 38, who began raising her children in the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project in Chicago and was at the Motel 6 with three teenage daughters and a five-month old grandson. I just need a place to stay. As need persists, city and Dane County leaders are directing more attention, focus and commitment to preventing homelessness and strengthening the safety net. And at the state, some officials are exploring new strategies as the budget looms. Were at a point where the community awareness has happened, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said. People are focused on this issue and want to do something about it. Now the nuts-and-bolts solutions have started to come together. In Madison, halting progress In recent years, as a homeless encampment rooted on the front steps of the City-County Building, local leaders have moved unevenly to more cooperation on homeless issues, with the biggest advances in housing. The city, with county investment, is using its Affordable Housing Fund to help get millions of dollars in federal tax credits to create 1,000 units in five years. The communitys biggest Housing First project, the $8 million Rethke Terrace project on the East Side with 60 units for chronic and veteran homeless, opened in late May and is already full. Two more projects could be opened in 2018. We have to keep replicating Rethke, Mayor Paul Soglin said. Its going to be a slow, deliberate process that will lead us to permanent housing for as many people as possible. After failing at several sites, the county is spending $2.7 million to buy and renovate the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce building, 615 E. Washington Ave., for a homeless day resource center expected to open next summer and be the most comprehensive ever offered in the community. Catholic Charities Madison will run it, with the county, city and United Way also contributing to its $480,000 annual budget. Due to tight finances, city and county operating budgets may not have much new money for homeless services, according to preliminary presentations to the Dane County Homeless Services Consortium board, a collective of agencies and service providers. The county gets no state or federal funding to address housing or homelessness, so anything the county does in those areas must come from local tax revenue, said Lynn Green, the countys human services director. That includes funding a homeless services manager, added in 2014 under Parisi. The county also has invested heavily in housing for formerly incarcerated people and in emergency shelter for domestic abuse victims and the homeless. Soglin said he intends to propose spending in the six figures to make permanent a professional street outreach team that identified tenants for Rethke Terrace, and is working on other initiatives, including an effort to help veterans with dishonorable discharges so theyre eligible for benefits that can lead to housing. But the mayor looks with dismay at homeless encampments that have overrun liberal cities like Seattle, and despite criticism said he wont budge from his posture of compassion with rules including pressing his proposed restrictions on sleeping on sidewalks that were rejected by the City Council last week. Yet in recent weeks, hes been meeting with advocates, such as the volunteer Friends of State Street Family. I think we need an office to end homelessness with paid staff whose job is to coordinate agencies, said Torrie Kopp Mueller, housing director for the YWCA and chairwoman of the Homeless Services Consortium board. They can look at performance measures, provide training, identify priorities and needs, and keep us all focused on our work. Soglin and Parisi are now exploring such a structure and looking at other communities and their outcomes. Any change wouldnt happen in the coming 2017 budget, but could occur in 2018, Soglin said. Movement at state level Created just 21 months ago, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Homelessness this summer offered specific policy and budget recommendations, including a stronger interagency council led by the governor or lieutenant governor and including department heads, and at least tripling the states direct funding to address homeless issues from $3.3 million to $10 million. That figure still would be far behind neighboring states such as Minnesota. An interagency council is the highest priority, said Joseph Volk, the coalitions director. Its a mechanism that works uniquely with the issue of homelessness because homelessness hits so many departments. To move forward, you have to get out of silos. Its a long-term strategy. The council would set priorities, order a much-needed state plan to end homelessness, and could be served by a new office to end homelessness, Volk said. The state should at least double the current $1.2 million in funding for emergency shelters, add money for support services for permanent housing, which would help secure federal housing funds, and add at least $4 million in funds to help prevent homelessness, he said. There needs to be huge conversation on the states role in housing, Volk said. Soglin applauds the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, which uses federal tax credits to create housing for the homeless and low-cost units. But its not state investment, he said, adding, Wisconsin is one of the worst examples of a state government ignoring its housing crisis. Parisi said that if you look at what the county and others have done locally in the last few years to address homelessness, that type of effort has been completely missing at the state level. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, a Republican, has publicly made homelessness a priority and spent months studying the issue and meeting with Volk. She is refining proposals, focusing on collaboration, coordination and performance standards. Kleefisch was cool to some of Volks key proposals, including the interagency council and new funds. I dont think appointing people with bigger titles is the answer here, she said. Its less about dollars because we have a lot of dollars devoted to programs that touch this demographic. However, the way these dollars are allocated are sometimes not the most effective. Were right in the middle of budget briefings, she said. Were not at the point of unveiling the big document. But there are discussions were having because Im passionate about this. Parisi argues its imperative to look at the wage side of the equation so that people can afford housing. He wants the states minimum wage to reach $15 an hour over time. Kleefisch batted down the idea, pointing to studies hotly disputed that an increase in the minimum wage will cost jobs. State lawmakers from both parties are speaking out more than in the past. The state provides homeless services through a lot of different agencies. We may be better off looking to directing all the different agencies into a single entity, said State Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna. Id like to see an interagency council thats more effective. (But) I dont want to be overly prescriptive. I would challenge anyone who thinks the status quo is working. Steineke has not yet crafted specific legislation and is looking at several aspects of homelessness. His interests include helping avoid evictions, mitigating risks for landlords, and helping WHEDA create more housing. Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, supports much more state funding, support for WHEDA, boosting the minimum wage, rethinking tenant-landlord laws, and changing the states CCAP online court records system, which has become an anchor to people looking for housing. I think the best way to improve the organizational aspect of fighting homelessness would be to have a central clearinghouse like they have in Minnesota, she said. A state office could help create standards, metrics, staffing and a more cohesive system. State Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said the state can do more to partner with local communities, increase funds for emergency shelters and expand access to affordable housing. The Legislatures standing committees on housing issues should hold public hearings, listen to community members, explore solutions and work to advance policy changes. Steineke believes change is coming. Obviously, there are differences between the parties, but the overall idea is one we can get behind, he said. Im committed to helping. We have to make it a priority if something is going to happen. Political clout, organization To bring change locally, The Homeless Services Consortium needs to have people with power on their board, said former Madison Ald. Brenda Konkel, an outspoken advocate for the homeless. The City-County Homeless Issues Committee needs to have some power it is merely advisory and ignored. City and county leaders could become consortium board members to provide leadership and direction in our efforts, said Karla Jameson, associate executive director for Porchlight Inc., which provides shelter, housing and services to the homeless. Kopp Mueller, chair of the consortium board, said: I think we need to be more strategic with where funding is awarded. I think we can do a better job of holding agencies accountable to perform well. Advocates and service providers also want more resources for outreach and case management, which are critical to identifying the homeless, helping them and making sure they enter and keep housing. Tyler Schueffner of Briarpatch Youth Services, which offers outreach to housing, added, Skilled people need to do this work and should be recognized for their skills, education, training and commitment to helping. Renee Moe, president and CEO of United Way of Dane County, said reducing homelessness will continue to be a huge priority for the organization. It has been a community catalyst in addressing homelessness with a focus on research-based strategies like Housing First and is spending a little more than $3 million of its $18.8 million in community investments this year on direct efforts to decrease homelessness. Almost all of the money comes from local businesses and residents. Key business leaders, the citys three hospitals and the Madison Community Foundation say they support tangible solutions to homelessness and are open to new ideas and initiatives. Access to housing For some, addressing homelessness must start with people taking full responsibility for their behaviors. Paying bills on time, working hard and obeying laws are character traits that people need to be taught if they lack them, said Madison landlord Josh Gierach, who has tightened screening at Orchard Village Apartments on the Southwest Side, leading to high turnover among tenants and homelessness. Some would say society has failed the homeless, Gierach said. I would push back and suggest that it is the other way around in many of the cases I have seen. Either the homeless do not want a home, or have flat-out failed society. The solution has to start with the hearts and minds of those who are actually homeless to help them get past their individual struggles, said Gierach, adding that his opinions are evolving and have room to grow. Michelle McNeal is among those hoping to change the minds of landlords. She and her son, a freshman at Madison East High School, have been homeless for more than a year. They were staying at the Motel 6 during Operation Giving Hope, paying a weekly rate of $336.97. A modest two-bedroom apartment in Dane County typically rents for around $940 a month, including utilities. McNeal, 41, works 80 hours a week at two full-time jobs shes a restaurant hostess during the day and a convenience store cashier at night both paying $9 an hour. Yet her past impedes her. She has two prior evictions and a misdemeanor conviction in 2013 for disorderly conduct. She does not think these factors should forever preclude her from rental housing, a stance that highlights the often wide gulf between how renters and landlords view acceptable risk. Im working this hard to show people Ive changed, McNeal said of her long hours. Give me a month-to-month lease so I can prove it to you. Advocates and providers say helping people understand why their neighbors become homeless is an essential part of attacking a ceaseless and destructive problem. Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 25 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India will ratify the 21st Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) National Council meet here, noting Gandhi lived his life with a minimum "Carbon footprint". It was also on October 2 last year that India had submitted its action plan, called the 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution', to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which eventually led to a deal at COP 21 in Paris in December 2015. Modi also noted Jan Sangh founder and ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had said that "we should exploit natural resources only to the extent which does not cause imbalance in the nature else its cycle will be destroyed". Expressing concern over climate change, he said the whole world is endeavouring to keep the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius as provided in the Paris agreement. "Such was the perception of other nations that India is being a spoilsport...but at CoP21 the whole world praised India saying it played a forward and positive role (in allowing the negotiations at CoP21 go smoothly)," he added. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) was held in November-December 2015 in Paris, where 191 parties, including India, adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal, out of the total 197 parties to the convention. India, along with 190 others, signed the Paris Climate Agreement at the UN in New York to create an 'Environment Democracy' in commemoration of the 46th 'International Mother Earth Day' on April 22. Out of 191 signatories, 60 -- contributing 47.79 per cent of global emissions -- have already ratified the CoP21 protocol, which is due to come into force in 2020. At least 55 countries, and signatories accounting for 55 per cent of the world's harmful emissions, needed to ratify the agreement before it comes into effect. While this country criterion has already been fulfilled, the emissions target - even after India's ratification - would still outstrip the required figure by 3.11 per cent. China and the US have both ratified the accord. China is responsible for 20.09 per cent emissions, followed by the US at 17.89 per cent. The European Union, which is yet to ratify the agreement, accounts for 12.10 per cent while India stands at 4.10 per cent. To cut down its emissions, India has pledged to increase its clean energy share - solar and wind - by 40 per cent by 2022 to 175 GW. Its solar programme - aimed to achieve 100 GW by 2022 - is one of the fastest growing in the world. Visakhapatnam, Sep 25 : The 21st edition of India International Seafood Show (IISS) will be organised in Goa in 2018, it was announced here on Sunday. "The coastal state of Goa, knowing for its scenic beauty, sandy beaches and thriving ports, would host the next edition of the IISS," said Marine Product Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) Chairman A Jayathilak at this year's event in Visakhapatnam, which is soon going to be the "aquaculture hub of the world". The biennial event, first held in 1973 in Mumbai, is the largest seafood fair in Asia in which sea food importers and exporters of marine products, processors, manufacturers and other sectors gather under one roof to help boosting the countries marine industry. The three-day, 20th edition here was jointly organised by the MPEDA, a statutory body under the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry, and Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) with the theme of "Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture" to project the quality of aquaculture. It was inaugurated by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and was also attended by Union Urban Development Minister Venkiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Babu among other dignitaries. Sitharaman, while inaugurating the event on Friday, announced that a separate agency for development and management of aquaculture and fisheries will be set up under MPEDA in all coastal states of the country. With India being world's seventh largest sea food producer, the event aimed to boost value addition to marine products and promote sustained small scale aquaculture through empowerment of farmers. This year, the IISS was a huge success with a number of positives for all the stakeholders of the seafood industry in India and abroad. The event saw the participation of nearly 30 countries and more than 2,000 delegates to boost the country's aquaculture industry with the US, EU, Southeast Asia, Japanand China as major seafood partners. Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 25 : BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said the Uri terror attack last week was not a "result" but the beginning of India's war against terrorism, and added that ultimately the country will succeed in this fight. Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meet here, Shah also issued a statement on the Uri terror attack, condemning Pakistan and vowing to win the fight against Islamabad-sponsored terrorism. "Lambi ladai hai jo hum par hamare padosi desh dwara thopi gayee hai. Uri hamla padav matra hai, parinaam nahi. Antim vijay hamari hogi (This is a long fight, foisted upon us by our neighbouring country. The Uri terror attack is but a stage (padav) and not a result. The final victory will be ours)," Shah said in the statement. The statement was unanimously adopted by the National Council without any discussion. Shah said the BJP has taken this attack very seriously. "The country is determined to give a befitting reply to the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism," he said. "During last eight months, 117 terrorists were killed, our soldiers foiled 17 attempts of infiltration and the Uri attack was a result of their frustration," Shah said. Supporting the government's actions to isolate Pakistan internationally, he said that Islamabad has been isolated internationally. "Howsoever long the fight against terrorism would go, we are ready to fight and we will win it," Shah added. Dubbing terrorism as a threat to democracy and humanity, Shah said terrorism itself is an offender of human rights. "If terrorism becomes state policy of any country, it is not less than a war crime. Pakistan today is supporting terrorism openly as its state policy and is also sponsoring it," he said, adding that India has been a victim of this policy of Pakistan since long. "We have faced many such terror attacks. Pakistan has also supported the separatist movement in Kashmir." Shah affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and no one can separate it from India. "For peace, we are ready to hold discussion with everybody but not with those who have no faith or belief in the Indian Constitution. Peace talks can't be held with those who don't believe in our Constitution," he asserted. The BJP President's statement described Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the United Nation General Assembly as open proof that the neighbouring country openly advocates terrorism. "The world was taken aback when he (Sharif) dubed a Hizbul terrorist as a peaceful youth. Pakistan prepares terrorists by investing crores of dollars and sends them around the world for spreading terrorism. It has emerged as a centre of global terrorism." He said the BJP and NDA government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against terrorism, and appealed to the people of the country and all political parties to extend support in this battle. Queensborough National Bank & Trust will be partaking in the Life After 50 event at The Augusta Chronicle Senior Expo on September 27 from 10 AM to 2 PM. This free event is a compilation of services and information targeted to help senior citizens learn about finance, fitness, travel, cuisine and more. Life After 50 will feature speakers Dagan Sharpe, Troy Breitmann and Shannon Neal of Queensborough National Bank & Trust and will take place at 725 Broad St, Augusta, GA. The Life After 50 event will be presenting valuable information that will benefit seniors as they approach the second half of their life. Queensborough National Bank & Trust is proud to take part in this event, specifically presenting information on finances. The Queensborough members who will be presenting include Dagan Sharpe, Senior Vice President, Troy Breitmann, Trust Officer, and Shannon Neal, Financial Consultant from Invest. When discussing the importance of this event, Senior Vice President Dagan Sharpe says, Not having enough for retirement is a major concern but so is our health so that we can enjoy our later years. This event will look to support and project these aspirations to help ensure our later years are our best years This event will teach the impacts financial stress can cause, the issue causing the highest amounts of stress, how to best manage and prepare for financial stressors and protect from them. Queensborough National Bank & Trust is proud to offer expert services and resources for those older than 50. About Queensborough National Bank and Trust Queensborough National Bank and Trust Company continues to evolve to meet the needs of its personal banking and business banking customers. Our promise was great service and uncomplicated banking. You could say we were a bank AHEAD our time. Today, we have convenient locations across Georgia, but our customers can bank with us from anywhere using their smart phones. Some of our convenient services include online and mobile banking, checking, savings, credit and debit cards, personal loans, wealth management, and trust services. Contact For further information, please contact Amy Jones at 478-625-2021 ext223 or visit http://www.qnbtrust.com. Friends and family of the Parenting Journey and Bright Horizons Foundation for Children joined together on September 9, 2016, to celebrate the rededication of Sonias Place, a Bright Space created in 2009 in memory of Sonia Belcher, a former colleague. Yvonne Lynch, Vice President of Client Relations at Bright Horizons said, "Sonia's life, tragically cut short at the age of 32, was dedicated to supporting children and families, and this Bright Space is a fitting tribute to her legacy." In May 2016, Bright Horizons employees came together once again to add a fresh coat of paint and refurbish the much-used and well-loved Bright Space that includes an infant space, toddler and pre-school room, a tween room and craft space. Many of the families we serve have little room in the budget for toys, crafts or Crayons. When children come to Parenting Journey with their parents, they are coming to have fun, and they get to plan and learn in a warm, enriching area, said Parenting Journey Senior Director Noel Twigg. The improvements made by the Bright Horizons team make the world of difference to the children that walk through our doors on a daily basis. You can see it in the way their faces light up with a smile and by listening to their laughs while they play. Bright Horizons is committed to supporting families through strong partnerships and nurturing each and every childs unique qualities and potential, said Bright Horizons CEO David Lissy. With our Home Office Staff from Watertown volunteering to refurbish the Bright Space at the Parenting Journey in Somerville, we see those core values in action as our employees create a warm and enriching environment that will make a difference in the lives of families and children in need. By transforming a room into a Bright Space, we can use our knowledge to create a place where children can play, learn, and have fun. About Parenting Journey Parenting Journey, a nonprofit agency headquartered in Somerville, MA, offers powerful programs that help parents build safer, stronger families and trains professionals nationwide to implement its high-impact approach. More than 1,700 facilitators have received training and 52,000 parents raising almost 151,000 children have benefited from Parenting Journeys unique curriculum. Parenting Journey programs have been replicated in nearly 500 locations throughout Greater Boston, New York, Florida, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Parenting Journey, please visit our website http://www.parentingjourney.org. About Bright Horizons Family Solutions Bright Horizons Family Solutions is a leading provider of high-quality child care, early education and other services designed to help employers and families better address the challenges of work and life. The Company provides center-based full service child care, back-up dependent care and educational advisory services to more than 900 clients across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and India, including more than 140 FORTUNE 500 companies and more than 80 of Working Mother magazine's 2014 "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." Bright Horizons is one of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" and is one of the UK's Best Workplaces as designated by the Great Place to Work Institute. Bright Horizons is headquartered in Watertown, MA. The Company's web site is located at http://www.brighthorizons.com. ### Students learn more about sign production and career opportunities in the sign and visual communications industry at Ramsay Signs in Portland, Ore. in 2015. "This day launches a year-round effort to raise the visibility of the great career options in our industry. Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. Sign Manufacturing Day 2016 is poised to be larger than ever, with a record 41 participating companies opening up 47 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Sign Manufacturing Day 2016 will be Oct. 7. The Fourth Annual Sign Manufacturing Day, hosted by the International Sign Association in conjunction with the National Association of Manufacturers, brings high school, technical and community school students to local sign manufacturing facilities to learn more about careers in the industry. Companies participating in previous years have hired students who attended tourshelping combat a critical skills gap in the industry. Sign Manufacturing Day has grown into an amazing event for the sign, graphics and visual communication industry, ISA members and ISA, said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. But even more important is the relationship that participating companies have built with local educators, one that pays off throughout the year. This day launches a year-round effort to raise the visibility of the great career options in our industry. Companies scheduled to participate in 2016 include: Advance Sign Group, Columbus, OH Advantage Signs, Fort Saskatchewan, AB APCO Signs, Atlanta, GA AGS, Exton, PA City Neon, Inc., Morgantown, WV Colortec Creative Print Solutions, Burnaby, BC Cummings Resources, Dothan, AL Cummings Resources, Colton, CA DaNite Sign Company, Columbus, OH Datronics, Brookings, SD Erie Custom Signs, Saginaw, MI ESCO Manufacturing, Watertown, SD Federal Heath Sign Company, LLC, Racine, WI Federal Heath Sign Company, LLC, Euless, TX Federal Heath Sign Company, LLC, Oceanside, CA Green Sign Company, Greensburg, IN** Hansen Signs, Moncton, NB Howard Industries, Fairview, PA Impact Signs, Awnings, Wraps, Sedalia, MO Lauretano Sign Group, Terryville, CT Les Enseignes Amtech, Joliette, QC Lewis Sign, Buda, TX Mattatall Signs, Ltd., Dartmouth, NS North American Signs, South Bend, IN Nova Polymers, Bryan, OH** ORAFOL Americas, Inc., Black Creek, GA Ramsay Signs, Portland, OR Ruggles Sign, Versailles, KY** Serigraphics Sign Systems, Inc., Golden Valley, MN Sign-Age of Tampa Bay, Clearwater, FL SignArt Company, Inc., Eau Claire, WI Signs by Crannie, Inc., Flint, MI Signs Plus, Bellingham, WA SIGNSTAR, Tampa, FL Signtech Electrical Advertising, Inc., San Diego, CA Sleek Advertising Ltd, Regina, SK Steel Art Company, Norwood, MA Stone's Signs, Saint Charles, MO Twilight Signs and Neon, Bolton, ON Vantage LED, Onatrio, CA Warren Sign Company, Arnold, MO Weitz Sign, Dubuque, IA World Wide Sign Systems, Inc., Bonduel, WI World Wide Sign Systems, Inc., Shawano, WI World Wide Sign Systems, Inc., Carson City, NV World Wide Sign Systems, Inc., Atlanta, GA Ziglin Signs, Inc., Washington, MO ISA has developed a number of resources designed to help sign, graphics and visual communications companies reach out to students on Sign Manufacturing Day and throughout the year. All are linked on the ISA Career Center web page, http://www.signs.org/careers. ** These companies have adjusted event dates due to area school schedules. About ISA The International Sign Association (ISA) represents manufacturers, suppliers, and users of on-premise signs and sign products from the United States and 60 countries around the world. ISA and its Affiliated Associations work to support, promote, and improve the worldwide sign and visual communications industry. ISA and its Affiliated Associations work to support, promote, and improve the worldwide sign and visual communications industry, which employs more than 200,000 American workers and has an economic impact of $37.5 billion. Homeless in Madison | A City Challenged has opened our minds and challenged our assumptions. Much has been communicated, and much can be done because the issues, concerns and challenges are out in the open. The faces and places of homelessness are visible. We see them. Can you? So now what? While the State Journals special report concludes today an effort that uncovered the harsh realities of homelessness in a series of four installments generated from nine months of reporting these stories must fuel a spirited and sustained community response. Our editorial board pledges to lead the community conversation on three goals in the coming year: Reducing the number of Madison school children who are homeless. The district has identified 1,500 homeless students, which is 5.5 percent of the student body. That number has been rising for a decade. It needs to go down. More units for homeless families will help. So will easing the financial risk to landlords who avoid evictions. Family planning and child care services need more attention. Building a modern emergency homeless shelter. The Salvation Army hopes to do just that, though it needs more funds and approval. Well champion the efforts of other groups, as well, seeking better facilities that steer users to self-reliance. Coordination among governments. Madison and Dane County need a central office that oversees joint efforts to combat homelessness. The state needs a single entity, too, with new money tied to performance standards. Our community is engaged with enough information and insight to make real progress. We challenge our leaders to renew and expand their commitment to tackling this devastating, costly and growing problem. And thats an endeavor worth seeing to the end. Our Wine Club members are the heart and soul of the Coopers Hawk brand. They are re-defining the food and wine lifestyle for their generation, and are committed to forging their own path into Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurants, a leader in modern casual dining, known for their award-winning wines, announced today it has reached a significant milestone in its growth story the 200,000th member of their Wine Club. The member count represents the largest wine club in the country, and the club has become a platform for a new generation of enthusiasts who think about wine differently than previous generations. Coopers Hawk Wine Club members are not beholden to the traditions of Old World wine, and are eager to try new blends using fruit from different regions of the world. In addition, they are a group that is attracted to the stories of the individual winemakers and wine-growers, and are looking to be part of the conversation that brings them to life. When we opened our first restaurant in Orland Park nearly eleven years ago, we could only dream of having created such a large and engaged community of Wine Cub Members, says Tim McEnery, Coopers Hawk Founder and Chief Executive Officer. Today we have nearly 22,000 members in Orland Park alone, and the group continues to grow. Members at each location have a special connection, and that sense of belonging is palpable at Wine Club events across the country. The Coopers Hawk Wine Club provides members access to people and places that shape the food and wine industry with trips to wine regions around the world and dinners with celebrated culinarians such as Fabio Viviani and Gail Simmons of BRAVOs Top Chef. Membership also includes a customizable monthly wine program, along with a variety of anniversary and birthday gifts. The company feeds their Wine Club members desire to try new products by creating a unique blend from varying origins every single month. The goal is to expand members palates and inspire them to learn and grow as wine enthusiasts. The tasting rooms that front each Coopers Hawk restaurant are a place for Wine Club members to gather to share and explore the nearly 50 varieties of wine that the company offers. With a state-of-the-industry winemaking facility at its epicenter, Coopers Hawk blends, ferments and ages wine from some of the best vineyards across the globe. This approach enables Wine Club members and guests to try classic domestic varietals, as well as those from countries like Chile, Argentina and Italy all at a reasonable price point. Coopers Hawk has won over 300 wine awards, including a recent 99-point win for its Lux Pinot Noir at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition in San Diego, California. The winery is also known for their more exotic selections, such as their Double Gold Ice Wine and their 94-point Gewurztraminer. Our Wine Club members are the heart and soul of the Coopers Hawk brand, says Tom Koenigsberg, Coopers Hawk Chief Marketing Officer. They are re-defining the food and wine lifestyle for their generation, and are committed to forging their own path into that world. Coopers Hawk was first opened in Orland Park, Illinois in 2005. Operations have since expanded to 24 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Five new locations will be opening through 2017. The company has garnered nearly 400 awards for their wine from various national and international wine competitions. About Coopers Hawk: Redefining the modern casual dining experience, Coopers Hawk is an unparalleled combination of restaurant, winery, Napa-style tasting room, and artisanal retail market. The innovative concept partners with some of the best grape growers in the world to craft the award-winning Coopers Hawk wine collection. Additionally, Coopers Hawk boasts one of the countrys largest Wine Clubs, a life-style driven monthly affiliation offering exclusive wines, events, and privileges. More: Website: http://www.chwinery.com Twitter: @chwinery Instagram: @chwinery Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coopershawk 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. 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. "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. BURLINGTON, Wash. (AP) The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five dead is in custody, authorities said Saturday. The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management said via Twitter Saturday evening that the suspect had been captured. No other details were immediately available. A news conference was set for Saturday night. A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic male wearing black. 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 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. 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 don't 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 identity of the shooter and his motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. 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, 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," Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. 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, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. 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. "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." 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. 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. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping mall that opened in 1990. It features J.C. Penney, TJ Maxx, and Macy's 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. 10:15 p.m. The ambassadors of the United States, Britain and France walked out of the U.N. Security Council when Syria's ambassador was called to speak at an emergency meeting they called for in order to demand a halt to the Syrian offensive in Aleppo. The walkout on Sunday by U.S. envoy Samantha Power, Britain's Matthew Rycroft and France's Francois Delattre demonstrated Western anger and frustration at Syrian President Bashar Assad's decision to try to take Aleppo after U.S.-Russian talks failed to revive a cease-fire. In separate speeches to the council before the walkout, the three countries accused Russia of backing the Syrian offensive while talking about a cessation of hostilities. Power said the U.S. knows "that Russia has consistently said one thing, and done the opposite." But she said the U.S. also believes it must do "everything in our power to find a way to halt the violence" and will "continue to look for any way possible to restore the cessation of hostilities." ___ 9:15 p.m. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is "appalled" by the current spike in violence around the contested Syrian city of Aleppo. As an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council continued on Sunday, Ban said the city is facing "the most sustained and intense bombardment since the start of the Syrian conflict." He focused in particular on reports of the use of so-called "bunker-busting bombs" that are designed to target underground structures. Ban said, "Let us remember: the fighting has forced hospitals and schools to operate in basements. These bombs are not busting bunkers; they are demolishing ordinary people looking for any last refuge of safety." Ban urged all parties involved to "work harder for an end to the nightmare." ___ 8 p.m. The International Committee for the Red Cross says it has delivered food, medical supplies, and other supplies to a set of four besieged Syrian towns that have been inaccessible to aid organizations in nearly six months. The organization said Sunday it was reaching 60,000 residents trapped in the towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foua, and Kafraya. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which is managing the convoys jointly with the U.N. and the ICRC, says 53 trucks have reached Madaya and Zabadani, besieged by pro-government forces, and 18 trucks have reached Kafraya and Foua, which are besieged by rebels. Government forces and rebels have so far blocked the U.N. from establishing regular aid access to besieged areas in Syria. The U.N. estimates 600,000 Syrians are trapped in different sieges. ___ 6:30 p.m. Syrian activists say several civilians have been killed in renewed airstrikes on opposition areas in the contested city of Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 23 people have been killed in presumed government or Russian airstrikes on various neighborhoods in rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Sunday. Ibrahim Alhaj of the Syrian Civil Defense search and rescue operation says the group has documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals in the city are reporting that they are overwhelmed with casualties. Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the opposition areas, says he expects many of the most badly wounded will die from insufficient treatment and facilities. "I've never seen so many people dying in once place," he said from a hospital in the city. ___ 6:20 p.m. A top U.N. envoy is accusing Syria at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council of unleashing "unprecedented military violence" against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syria's declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the 5 1/2-year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons including incendiary devices may amount to war crimes. De Mistura said U.S.-Russian talks on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's ministerial meeting failed to reinvigorate the Sept. 9 cessation of hostilities, and the offensive has left two million people in Aleppo without water. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, delivery of humanitarian aid, and evacuation of urgent medical cases. ___ 6 p.m. Russia's Foreign Ministry is taking a slap at Boris Johnson for his suggestion that Russia has committed war crimes in Syria. Following the British Foreign Minister's comments, Russian ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova quickly responded on Facebook Sunday, saying: "The foreign minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson said in a broadcast of the BBC that Russia is guilty of protracting civil war in Syria and, possibly, of committing war crimes in the form of air attacks on convoys with humanitarian aid. All this is right except for two words: Instead of 'Russia' it needs to be 'Great Britain' and instead of 'Syria,' 'Iraq.'" ___ 5:45 p.m. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says Russia should be investigated for war crimes following an attack on a Syrian aid convoy that claimed 20 lives. Johnson said Sunday that Russian air power may have deliberately targeted the civilian convoy on Sept. 19. Russia denies involvement and instead suggests Syrian rebels or a U.S. drone were responsible. Johnson said the West had been "too impotent in its response" to aggression by Syrian President Bashar Assad and his Russian backers during Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year. He said Russia is "guilty of protracting this war, of making it far more hideous. And yes ... we should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets. That is a war crime." ___ 5:30 P.M. France's foreign minister says Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they don't pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Jean-Marc Ayrault said an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting Sunday is a "moment of truth" for the U.N. He said Assad's regime "has clearly made the choice of a military escalation. I am calling on Russia and Iran to pull themselves together and show responsibility, by putting a stop to this strategy. ... If not, Russia and Iran will be accomplices in war crimes committed in Aleppo." The U.S, Britain, and France sought Sunday's meeting, as pro-government forces continued their intense bombardment of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian air strikes. ___ 3 p.m. A monitoring group says Syrian rebels have retaken an area in Aleppo that fell to government forces the day before, extending a punishing stalemate in the contested northern city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which maintains a network of local contacts, says rebels seized Handarat, a largely uninhabited Palestinian refugee camp, early Sunday. The area is near Castello Road, a vital supply route to the city's besieged rebel-held areas. Government forces seized the Castello Road earlier this year, besieging rebel-held districts where some 250,000 people reside. Yasser al-Yousef, a spokesman for the Nour el-Din al-Zinki rebel faction, says rebels seized Handarat late Saturday. The Observatory says 213 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and shelling on rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo since a cease-fire expired Monday. There is disturbing news from Belgium: A 17-year-old minor was recently euthanized under the provisions of Belgiums amended euthanasia law. Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002. In 2014, the country amended the 2002 law to allow physician-assisted death for children of all ages. The Belgian law, as amended, specifies that minors must be conscious and able to make rational decisions when they request death. Parents must give their permission, and psychologists or psychiatrists must be consulted. The Belgian law also specifies that the minor must be in a terminal situation with constant and unbearable physical pain which cannot be assuaged and that will cause death in the short term. Belgium (along with the Netherlands, Luxemburg and Columbia) allows death by lethal injection. For example, a couple of years ago in Belgium, a person requested and received a lethal injection after botched sex-change surgery. The injection was given by the same physician who was involved in the deaths of deaf twins who feared they were going blind. In contrast, Oregons Death with Dignity Act, which has became the model for other states that have legalized physician-assisted suicide in this country, does not allow death by lethal injection. It only allows physicians to prescribe lethal medications, which must then be taken by the suffering individual herself or himself. This is an important firewall which prevents the slippery slope that we are seeing in Belgium and some other countries. Some might argue that the requirement of the Belgian law that the suffering individual must request lethal medication is an adequate safeguard. This is open to question, particularly in the case of minors, the vast majority of whom lack the maturity necessary to make rational decisions amidst pain and suffering -- or even in situations in which pain and suffering are not factors. Did the framers of the Belgian law really believe that a 5-year-old with constant and unbearable physical pain is capable of making rational decisions about life-and-death matters? That strains credibility. There is, it should be noted, an opposing viewpoint on this matter. A letter signed by a group of Belgian pediatricians supporting the right of children to choose their own fate, states, Experience has taught us that in cases of serious illness and imminent death, minors develop a great maturity very rapidly, to the point where they are sometimes more able to reflect on life and express themselves than adults in good health. I remain unpersuaded that this is the case. My even greater concern is that allowing physicians to euthanize suffering individuals by lethal injection, regardless of age, is a very slippery slope. Take, for example, the Groningen Protocol developed at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. It allows euthanizing newborn infants in certain situations. (For more on the protocol, see the article by Dr. Eduard Verhagen and Dr. Pieter J.J. Sauer in the March 10, 2005, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.) A 2014 statement issued by the American College of Pediatricians makes reference to a study of all 10 Dutch neonatal intensive care units and notes, Most of the medically stable children euthanized for presumed poor future quality of life were diagnosed with spina bifida. This condition may present a wide variety of clinical manifestations, most of which are treatable. The statement observes, The competent practice of medicine aspires to improve the quality of life of patients by improving health and wellbeing. It is untenable for the physician to predict poor future quality of life and practice euthanasia on the basis of this prognosis. The American College of Pediatricians is right about this. 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. SPRINGFIELD -- Sometimes smart people do really stupid things. And sometimes good people do things that they wish they hadnt. None of us is perfect. Ive learned that in the 30 years Ive been in the news business. When people make mistakes, if a public trust isnt violated, sometimes mercy rather than judgement is the best response. Thats why my heart goes out to former state Rep. Ron Sandack. Hes a good man who got caught up in something awful. The Downers Grove Republican apparently is the victim of an extortion ring based in the Philippines. According to a Downers Grove police report, Sandack had a conversation on social media with a woman and later they communicated over a video conference. The woman threatened to make a video of the conversation public unless he wired her money. He did. But she wanted more. And then more. Faced with this blackmail, Sandack resigned from his seat in the Illinois Legislature on July 26 citing cyber security issues. Last week, police released a partially redacted report explaining what transpired. Ive known Sandack for several years. Ive found him to be a bright, articulate and effective public servant. His political career now is over. But that isnt keeping a chorus of reporters, lawmakers and other political insiders from shaking their heads and clucking their tongues. In this era of gotcha journalism it doesnt matter that public trust was not violated. Reporters saw a salacious story and went with it. I spoke with Sandack briefly on the phone. He told me it was a rough time for him and his family. After all, his wife and kids didnt do anything to deserve this kind of derision but they are hurting. For that matter, Sandack didnt break any laws or fail to fulfill his obligations as a lawmaker. He just showed poor personal judgment. In a prepared statement Sandack said, I was the target of an international crime ring targeting high-profile individuals luring them to engage in inappropriate online conversations to extort them and I fell for their bait hook, line and sinker. But nonetheless, I was a victim. Poor decisions on my part enabled me to be a victim. Hes owned up to his mistake. But I found his final words in the statement haunting: Im human. I made a mistake for which I am remorseful and ashamed; especially because I have hurt my family and there is no greater self-inflicted wound than that. Isnt that the truth? 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! RT, September 19, 2016 Up to eight policemen have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of US airstrikes, officials told media. The US has confirmed one airstrike, but insists the assault was in response to a threat. An initial airstrike killed one policeman late Sunday, while a follow-up strike targeting first responders killed at least seven others, said Rahimullah Khan, commander of the reserve police unit in Uruzgan, according to Reuters. Afghanistan's ToloNews also reported that the eight Afghan National Police (ANP) officers were killed at their checkpoint in central Uruzgan province. "The enemies were far, about 800 meters from our check posts and their flags were up and they were coming and bombing the police. It seems that it was ordered or they made a mistake. Anyone who was involved in this should be punished," an anonymous official told the news outlet. One of the soldiers who survived the attack, identified as Torjan, said: "I was at my check post. The first attack killed our colleagues and while we were trying to pull-out our colleagues from the check post than another attack happened." The US military command in Kabul has confirmed its warplanes conducted an airstrike in the area, but said those targeted were individuals firing on, and posing a threat to Afghan national security forces. "We don't have any further information on who those individuals might have been or why they were attacking ANDSF [Afghan national defense and security forces]," US military spokesman Brigadier General Charles Cleveland said in a statement. "US, coalition, and Afghan forces have the right to self defense and in this case were responding to an immediate threat," Cleveland added as quoted by Reuters. Afghan officials said they are investigating the attack and communicating with the US-led coalition. Afghan security forces, with the support of US airstrikes and international advisers, continue to battle Taliban militants in the country. The group has been fighting a 15-year insurgency against the Western-backed government. This comes after an airstrike by the US-led coalition in Syria killed 62 government soldiers and injured 100 others amid a fragile ceasefire on Saturday. The US military admitted it may have unintentionally struck Syrian troops while carrying out a raid against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants. 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 Property details: Hello and thank you for visiting this fabulous auction! OWN YOUR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE! We have for sale 2 incredible parcels located in the beach community in the most gorgeous area of the Central Texas Gulf Coast known as Alamo Beach. These two prime 25 ft. x 150 ft. lots (50 ft. x 150 ft. total land, or 1/6th of an acre.) are located on San Jacinto Street just two blocks west of the main entrance road, Washington Avenue. All the lots in the subdivision are flat and very build able. The... Price: $ 4,800 Seller State of Residence: California Property Address: San Jacinto St. Lots 16 and 17 Block #89 City: Alamo Beach Zip/Postal Code: 77979 Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential State/Province: Texas Location: 904**, Santa Monica, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Texas A familiar name is coming to Chico. Homeless housing advocate Lloyd Pendleton, who's been busy since his trip to Redding in February, will speak next month, a presentation being sponsored by the Greater Chico Homeless Task Force. The date is Oct. 10, 1 to 3 p.m. at Bidwell Presbyterian Church. Admission is free. The talk is being billed as "A Solution to Homelessness." It will be interesting to hear what feedback Pendleton's Chico talk gets and whether Chico decides to move forward with Housing First. Pendleton's model puts chronically homeless people into housing with few strings attached. They pay minimal rent, but they're not required to have a job, be clean and sober nor participate in programs to stay in housing. Redding said no to Pendleton's model after much discussion. In a 3-2 vote in March, the City Council rejected a challenge from Pendleton to house five homeless people. I recently caught up to Pendleton by phone. I wanted to get his reaction to Redding's decision. While he understood, in the context that every community has a right to decide what it believes is best for its citizens, he was "saddened." "I was hoping they would move forward. When you set those kinds of goals and have that kind of pilot program, it changes the dynamic of the discussion," Pendleton said of his challenge. Other communities, though, are answering Pendleton's call. Pendleton spoke in Everett, Washington, last November. Everett is moving forward with what it calls a "low-barrier" housing facility and has a website (http://bit.ly/2d4t1rv) for more information. Wenatchee, Washington, is another city that hosted Pendleton. He visited the central Washington community in May, and Pendleton told me the area also is moving forward with a pilot program. Meanwhile, California has legislation that would create a state homeless coordinating committee, much like the one in Pendleton's home state of Utah. Pendleton has been working with state lawmakers on the plan. "I have a call with them (legislative proponents) to help them walk through the process," Pendleton said. If not for Redding, Chico might not be hosting Pendleton next month. "They picked up and saw the stuff that you published in Redding," Pendleton said. What will Chico do? CAPITOL DISPLAY GETTING UPDATE In August, I wrote in this space about a trip our family went on to Sacramento, which included a tour of the Capitol. Among the displays inside the Capitol are the 58 county dioramas that give visitors a snapshot of the particular region. I wrote that Shasta County's display is in desperate need of an update. It looked like it had not received any attention since George Deukmejian was governor in the 1980s. That's about to change. A committee has formed to finally update Shasta County's capitol display. Members include representatives from the Economic Development Corp. of Shasta County, Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, Redding Convention & Visitors Bureau and the county. Laura Baker, of the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, told me the group is working on a call for design. I asked Baker if any themes or attractions will be encouraged to be incorporated into the display, the Sundial Bridge, for example. "They didn't want to be specific about what should be in it because they want to give the designer the freedom to design a vision for the whole community," Baker said. Stay tuned. HAWAIIAN BBQ COMING TO REDDING Benny Chen opened the Grand Buffet in Redding nearly 10 years ago. Now he's ready to bring his next concept here. Niu Hawaiian BBQ is expected to open later this year in the Safeway-Lowe's shopping center at Churn Creek Road and Cypress Avenue. Niu is coconut in Hawaiian. Chen's new restaurant is in the former Togo's space, next to Starbucks. Togo's closed last September after 12 years in the center. Chen also has Hawaiian BBQ restaurants in Ventura, Oxnard, Moorpark and Santa Maria. He describes his menu as a fusion of American, Asian and Hawaiian food. Togo's had developed a small pub menu for Fall River Brewery, which has a tap room a couple of doors down in the shopping center. READY FOR TENANTS After many years of neglect, the vacant, three-story office building on South Bonnyview Road is being marketed for tenants. I last reported on the building, once called Point West, after the owners were fined $1,000 in January for code violations. The city had declared it a nuisance and blight. But the owners have been working to finish the shell and clean up the property. "They are very close to having it presentable," said Ken Miller of Northstate Commercial Partners, who is listing the building. It's been a long road to completion. Construction on Point West started in 2007, but the building sat idle for about two years before framing started in early 2009. The building then sat marooned as the economy and legal battles delayed completion. "We have been told to get busy finding tenants," Miller said. Watch out for emergency room billing surprises There was a time in my life I absolutely hated surprises, particularly ones that put me at the center of attention. I am not proud of the fact that I once walked out on a surprise party that was thrown for me. I have grown up a bit since then. However, when an individual is hospitalized and later finds out that some of the doctors who provided treatment during the hospital stay are not covered because they are not in the network; that is not a fun surprise. When an individual starts receiving all the bills and insurance company explanations of benefits (EOB) following a hospital stay, they are often overwhelmed. There are bills from providers that they never remembered seeing, let alone asking if they were PPO providers. This happens most often in an Emergency Room (ER) encounter. If it is truly an emergency, there is likely some stress around the event. So the patient and family are proud of the fact that they remembered to choose a network hospital as they were speeding to the ER. The first shock they will have is when they realize that the ER bill will likely be in the thousands of dollars. They may have waited hours to see a doctor, then longer for the tests. But actual time with the doctor is often rather short. One of my favorite stories is from a client who took his son to the ER for stitches after the young man had sliced his hand with a knife. His wife had insisted they need to go to the ER. When they received the $3500 ER bill, he went a little bit crazy. This man is accustomed to suturing his livestock and tending to all manner of little emergencies on the job, as he is a fireman as well. He simply could not grasp the concept of charging so much for so what her perceived to be so little. He swore next time he would suture any wounds himself! Fortunately for him the physician was a "preferred provider" in his plan's network! Emergency room physicians' charges have been some of the biggest issues with this type of problem. As stated in Legislative Counsel Digest regarding this bill: Existing law requires a health care service plan to reimburse providers for emergency services and care provided to its enrollees, until the care results in stabilization of the enrollee. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan from requiring a provider to obtain authorization prior to the provision of emergency services and care necessary to stabilize the enrollee's emergency medical care, as specified. It's critical to understand the Emergency room is typically staffed and equipped to handle advanced trauma, so they charge accordingly. We advise our clients to avoid the ER if at all possible. But back to our inpatient stay. Let's first assume this is not an emergency stay. You have done your homework. Your hospital and surgeon are both PPO providers. But, you get a bill from the anesthesiologist and find out she or he is not a network member. You never even thought about checking that out. You are not alone. As agents, we are typically the ones who assist clients with this type of issue. Whether the claim was an emergency or you simply had no idea the provider was not in network, you do have recourse such as filing an appeal. Our professional association, CAHU (California Associate of Health Underwriters) has worked for nearly 16 years to have legislation that will protect clients in this situation. Finally such a law has been passed and is on the desk of Governor Brown. AB 72 is bi-partisan consumer protection legislation aimed at helping protect you from unexpected balance billing if you are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility. While the intent of this column is not political, I think it's important to inform you of legislation that is important to you. In this case, I am asking that you write to Governor Brown and encourage him to sign it. You can do so at http://bit.ly/2bo4fRJ. If signed, it will be effective July 1, 2017. One important caveat in the law allows you to sign away this right. It reminds me of the situation we have with colonoscopies here in town. So make sure you read the fine print when you sign the hospital admission papers to be sure you are not signing away your rights to be free from balance billing! The Washington Monument is framed by a window at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) SHARE By ERRIN HAINES WHACK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) When the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture opens this week alongside the Washington Monument and the National Museum of American History, it will firmly and finally anchor the black experience in the nation's narrative. "In 1915 . they say, 'There should be a monument. There should be a memorial that honors our contribution,'" said Michelle Wilkinson, one of the museum's curators. "Not just a pile of stone, or a shaft. It needs to be a museum." Fifty years after the end of the Civil War, black citizens in Washington, D.C., formed the National Memorial Association with the purpose of "erecting a beautiful building . suitable to depict the Negro's contribution to America." It would be, they said, "a shrine for posterity." It has taken a century for their dream to be realized in Washington, a place visited by more than 20 million people from around the world who want to learn about the United States. During that time, other monuments and museums celebrating the stories of other Americans were proposed and built in the nation's capital. On Saturday, the long wait is over: America's first black president and first lady will preside over the museum's opening. Thousands are expected to attend the museum's inaugural weekend, and millions more will virtually experience the milestone via social media. The imposing space on the National Mall likely will set visitor records. And in an era informed simultaneously by the historic election of President Barack Obama and a succession of killings of unarmed black men at the hands of police, it is a building that will affirm for many that black lives matter. Its facade is unlike anything else in Washington. The building's outward design known as the Corona features walls reaching skyward, evoking the resiliency, faith and hope that has sustained black Americans since they were brought to the country in bondage. Its three-tiered shape is inspired by a symbol from the Yoruba people of West Africa featuring a crown. The 3,600 bronze-colored panels surrounding the building are a tribute to the 19th-century ironwork created by slaves in New Orleans. "The structure itself is imbued with meaning," said Phil Freelon, the lead architect for the museum. "All these things are subtle. That's intentional. It has a certain sense to it that is African-American, in the way that our culture is expressive in other areas. We believe architecture can evoke those sorts of emotions." It is a building that fulfills the original vision of the association members. In a letter addressed to state representatives across the country, the group pled their case for a national memorial, saying, "General memorials do not make the average American think of Negroes. Therefore, the failure to erect a special memorial may and probably will be interpreted as meaning that Negroes have made no great contribution to American advancement in war or in any other field." They went on to say: "It would be a splendid idea if all this could find a place in a public building in Washington where it would reflect the greatest possible good throughout the country." Washingtonians have watched the building rise from nothing on a grassy knoll at the bustling intersection of Constitution Avenue and 15th Street. Construction on the museum began in 2012, the same year Obama was re-elected to a second term. It will open four months before he is set to leave office. Standing five stories high with 60 percent of the building below ground, the 400,000-square foot structure attempts to hold four centuries of black history. Visitors begin by descending to the basement and then walk up a series of ramps winding through the origins of slavery, to the bonds of Jim Crow, to an integrated society. Exhibits on the upper floors highlight the unique contributions of blacks to areas of American life, including the military, sports, music, the visual arts, film and television, business, the news media and religion. Artifacts large and small fill the space, sure to evoke feelings of pain and pride from the collective memories of black visitors. There are the ankle shackles that would have been used to restrain people who became slaves after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the African continent to the Americas. A bill of sale for an enslaved 16-year-old girl named Polly, who was sold for $600 in Arkansas in 1835. A segregated Southern Railway passenger car that would have passed through Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Glass shards and shotgun shells from the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, where four little girls were killed in a racist bombing in 1963. There also is a biplane used at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute to train black pilots for Army Air Corps service during World War II. A vintage red Cadillac from rock-and-roll legend Chuck Berry's personal collection. Harriet Tubman's hymn book, circa 1876. Michael Jackson's fedora. Visitors can eat at a cafe featuring authentic black cuisines from four regions of the country: the agricultural South, the Creole coast, the North states, and the Western range. Dishes include Brunswick stew, shrimp and grits, an oyster pan roast, and rainbow trout stuffed with mustard greens. Marcia Morris, a 12th-grade English teacher who lives in nearby Fairfax, Virginia, has closely followed news reports as the museum acquired rare treasures and opening day approached. "The closer it came to completion, the more real it became," she said. As construction progressed, Morris thought often of her deceased grandparents, who lived during segregation. "A museum just dedicated to the history of black people? That was not in the realm of (my grandfather's) thought process," she said. "They weren't educated. I know the things my grandparents went through. I think we owe something to that generation." Tickets to the museum are free, but visitors must make reservations for timed tours. Weekends already are booked through early December, and the museum has extended its hours to accommodate the increased demand. Morris ordered tickets next month to coincide with her daughter's 16th birthday, which she finds a fitting way to mark the occasion. "They have a black president, people on television are black, black is cool to them and their friends," Morris said of her daughter and son. "I don't want them to ever not know what black people have gone through." When Dianne Washington travels south from Harlem to visit the museum at the end of October, she said will be making a trip that is overdue. "We have contributed so much to this country, free of charge," she said. She is overjoyed that the moment is finally here. "Everything was built on our backs," she said. "Our ancestors suffered so much. Something should be in place to honor them and their story told properly. Why not us? I can't wait." In this undated image released by FunnyorDie.com, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, appears with actor-comedian Zach Galifianakis during an appearance for the online comedy series, "Between Two Ferns." (FunnyorDie.com via AP) SHARE By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) Hillary Clinton fielded oddball questions on power ties, pant suits and the Scott Baio vote on the online comedy program, "Between Two Ferns." The interview with comedian Zack Galifianakis appeared on the Funny or Die website Thursday. Among Galifianakis' questions was whether she ever watched Donald Trump and thought, "I should be more racist." Clinton just shook her head, smiling. "I really regret doing this," Clinton deadpanned at one point during the tongue-and-cheek interview. Galifianakis' popular online program generated more than 35 million views when President Barack Obama appeared on it in 2014 while he was encouraging young people to sign up for the Affordable Care Act. The latest interview comes as Clinton has been courting young voters in her campaign against Trump. During the five-minute exchange, Clinton and Galifianakis riffed about what Trump should wear to the first debate. Clinton said: "I assume he'll wear that red power tie." Galifianakis replied: "Or maybe a white power tie." The actor said he wanted to meet the person who makes Clinton's pant suits because he wants to go as a "librarian from outer space" for Halloween. Looking back, Clinton denied she had any regrets over losing the support of Baio, the 1970s and 1980s sit-com star who spoke at the Republican National Convention. Delving into her time as secretary of state, Galifianakis asked Clinton how many words per minute she could type. And whether Obama liked his coffee, "like himself weak?" He also asked the potential first woman president who is 68 if the nation would be "stuck with Tim Kaine for nine months" if she became pregnant. Ending the interview, Galifianakis referenced her use of a private email server, asking, "What's the best way to reach you? Email?" Clinton stared at him and didn't respond. If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans. Old people used to say that when I was a child. I never knew what it meant, but I do now. I said it myself this morning. I've been making plans both good and bad for most of my life, only to see them fall apart. It has happened so often you might think I'd have learned not to bother planning at all. If you think that, think again. I keep making plans, partly because it's fun, but mainly because a lot of things worth doing won't get done without a plan for doing them. Also, it gives God a reason to laugh. Take this past week. I flew home on Monday after three days in Montana, visiting my youngest and his family. It was a great visit. I was tired, but happy, ready to start checking off a long list of things I needed to do before leaving again a week later for some speaking engagements in Redding. What was on the list? Usual stuff. Get my hair done. Go to the doc for a check-up. Float in the pool with my husband. Have lunch with my friend Linda. Write a column and finish working on the talks I'd be giving. Unpack, do laundry, repack ... all good things. Then, Monday night, my husband yelled from the garage: "You gotta come see this!" I hate it when he says that. It's never good. Sure enough, our water heater was leaking. Picture a 50-gallon sieve. He shut off the water and gas. It kept leaking. We stood there watching it drip, scratching our heads, the way you do when you don't know what else to do. Finally, we piled towels around it to soak up the water and started making phone calls. And so it began. I spoke to our home warranty company. They sent a plumber the next morning, who said, in effect, "Whoa. It's bad." The leak had soaked into the walls. In the garage. And the kitchen. And the dining room. Not only did we need a new water heater. We needed "water removal specialists." I spoke to our insurance agent, who sent a team from Stanley Steemer to rip out soggy sheet rock and set up giant turbine fans to dry the wet walls. It sounded like a fleet of fighter jets preparing for take off. We considered moving to a motel. Intead, we wore ear plugs. We couldn't hear the doorbell, the phone, the TV or each other. It was like a silent retreat, without the silence. Also, no hot water meant no taking showers or running the dishwasher or doing laundry. Luckily, after two days, the plumber set up a new water heater temporarily, to give us hot water while the work is being done. Then he'll do a final installation. I might kiss him. The "drying phase" lasted five days. And nights. Then the guys from Stanley Steemer took away the turbines, hallelujah, and told us to call a contractor. We did. He's coming soon to give us an estimate on the repairs. I'm hoping the work will start the day I leave for Redding, and end before I get back. Meanwhile, I've checked off a few things on my long list. I have two days to finish it up. The important stuff will get done, the rest won't matter. Maybe I should have that carved on my tombstone? This morning we awoke to two glorious gifts: Silence and hot water. My husband, bless him, brought me coffee, and set it on the nightstand. It's a lovely way to wake up, sipping coffee and being thankful. I had big plans for the day and was almost ready to get started. But as I reached for the coffee cup, it slipped from my hand and bounced across the floor. And coffee rained about the bedroom to the far ends of the Earth, sloshing a power strip, splashing across my desk and dripping off my nose. Seriously? Somedays I think I was born just to keep God in stitches. Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com. In this photo taken Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016, actor Francis Kagoro pulls a face for the camera while showing posters of previous movies, at the "Wakaliwood" studios in the Wakaliga slum of Kampala, Uganda. Deep in this Kampala slum at a tin-roofed collection of houses known as Wakaliwood, is the engine of Uganda's tiny film industry and the source of $200-budget movies and a glimmer of fame. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera) SHARE By RODNEY MUHUMUZA, Associated Press WAKALIGA, Uganda (AP) Deep in a Kampala slum, young men kick each other while a stout man with a salt-and-pepper beard watches them, sometimes nodding in approval. With luck, a stylish blow could become a stunt in the latest action movie to emerge from this tin-roofed collection of houses known as Wakaliwood, named after this Wakaliga neighborhood. Here is the engine of Uganda's tiny film industry, the source of $200-budget movies and a glimmer of fame. Later this month, the Wakaliwood film "Bad Black" premieres at Fantastic Fest, which calls itself the largest genre film festival in the United States. Its organizers call the film an "exuberant DIY extravaganza" from an industry whose "reckless abandon manages to inspire more heart, grit and soul than a thousand Hollywood blockbusters." "I love that this is a cinema born out of a community of film lovers," said Peter Kuplowsky, a programming director who also has screened Wakaliwood films in Toronto. He likes Uganda's practice of watching films with live commentary by "video jokers" who help make plots more relatable. A former brick layer who taught himself to direct, Isaac Nabwana is responsible for "Bad Black" and scores of the action movies that he sees as uniquely Ugandan. Young people and even some foreigners have found their way to his studios in search of roles. Dozens have signed a "Wakaliwood Wall of Fame," often because their characters died in a film, staggering dramatically as condoms filled with fake blood spattered in a hail of mock bullets. "They have watched so many action movies from all over the world. When they come here, they know that appearing in a Wakaliwood movie will make you a star," the 44-year-old Nabwana said. He has been making films spanning various genres since 2005, but it is the action flicks that have captured the people's imagination. "I like Chuck Norris," Nabwana said. "I think the other guy was Clint ... Clint Eastwood?" With the help of an improvised green screen and digital editing tools, Wakaliwood actors can take aim at the Eiffel Tower or drop from the sky into the middle of New York's Times Square. "I thought it was genius, but I did not understand it also," said Alan Hofmanis, a long-haired New Yorker who came to check out Wakaliwood in 2011 and stayed to help promote the movies overseas. Wakaliwood DVDs, T-shirts and posters are now sold online . Hofmanis recalled the day when a friend in a Manhattan bar showed him a trailer for one of Nabwana's films. He was astonished. "If you are in America and you have no money, you make a film of two people talking," he said. "You don't make a war film." Now, Hofmanis is also a part-time actor who eats and sleeps with the Ugandans here, surrounded by poverty. A canal with stagnant sewage is nearby. The toilet is a hole in the ground. He sees potential for something big. "There's a studio already, just no electricity or plumbing," he said. Nabwana said he spent less than $200 to produce "Who Killed Captain Alex," the 2010 film whose trailer inspired Hofmanis. The film follows a loose plot as the military battles a violent gang. Nabwana called the movie the "first action movie made in Africa, by Africans, on a low budget" an extraordinary claim considering the presence of Nigeria's long-established and equally raucous film industry, Nollywood. Still, Moses Serugo, a long-time film critic in Uganda, said he gives Nabwana high marks for innovation and for making movies about the East African country and starring Ugandans. Now he hopes the films can break away from Hollywood-style plots. "It has got to come down to us telling our own stories," Serugo said. Although Ugandans have been making more films, and more serious ones, since a local film festival launched in 2013, Wakaliwood's action films remain popular because they are "crazy, fascinating," said Dominic Dipio, a professor of literature and film studies at Makerere University. "You can see imagination, fantasy going on rampage without any clear direction," she said, smiling. "There is no evidence for me that this is scripted." Everything is improvised. A former mechanic uses scrap metal and other materials to fabricate all the props, including a small-scale helicopter and machine guns. Nabwana's children perform as an orchestra in one of his movies, holding water bottles as microphones and saucepans as drums. No matter their cinematic value, Wakaliwood movies have given hope to some young Ugandans who might otherwise be adrift. One actor, an 18-year-old cosmetology student named Ritah Namutebi, said she had discovered her passion in Wakaliwood after dreaming as a child of becoming an actor. She spends some days here practicing her kicks on young men who share her goal of earning roles in Nabwana's films. "What I wanted was action, and I got it here," Namutebi said. "I think if all goes well and the Ugandan film industry starts paying, why would I go anywhere else to look for a job?" SHARE FILE - This illustration released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a group of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria. The image was based on scanning electron micrographic imagery. In 2016, for only the fourth time in its 70 year history, the United Nations is holding a special meeting devoted to a health issue: This time, on the rise of untreatable infections that is being propelled by the way we over-use and misuse drugs in both people and animals. (Melissa Brower/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP) By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer WASHINGTON (AP) Parents know the frustration of trying to get that gunky pink antibiotic into a tot screaming from an ear infection. A one-time squirt of special ear drops one day might replace that ordeal. It's only been tried in animals so far chinchillas, to be exact. But researchers report Wednesday that an antibiotic gel coated the animals' eardrums and slowly seeped inside to do its job for a week, clearing up an infection that usually requires a 10-day course of oral antibiotics. "It's always a full-contact martial art" to get youngsters to swallow today's liquid antibiotic several times a day, said senior researcher Dr. Daniel Kohane of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. A pediatrician and anesthesiologist, he studies novel ways to deliver drugs and says when he describes the experimental ear gel, "people with kids get this right away." Easier dosing is just one goal. And importantly, if the approach pans out when tested in children, it also could help prevent development of antibiotic-resistant infections. Too often, parents stop treatment once their youngster starts feeling better, allowing lingering bacteria to bounce back stronger. "If we can deliver the right antibiotic directly to the middle ear using a one-time dose, it is likely that we will have more effective therapy, with fewer side effects," said Duke University pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Coleen Cunningham, who wasn't involved with the new research. "Further studies need to be done before we know if that is a possibility but the reported study is very encouraging." Middle ear infections what doctors call otitis media prompt at least 12 million visits to the doctor each year, and they're the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics to children. Doctors have long sought a topical solution. Yet the eardrum has a tough outer layer that keeps drugs from penetrating. Until now, antibiotic ear drops have proved useful for middle ear infections only in children who have ear tubes that can route the drug past that barrier, Kohane said. Now his team has packaged an antibiotic together with chemicals used in skin-penetrating drugs to temporarily open channels in the eardrum's outer surface so the germ-killing ingredient could get inside. A doctor would squirt the drug deep into the ear canal, where it would harden into a gel, sort of like extra earwax, to stay in place as it slowly released the antibiotic. The experimental drug doesn't contain the antibiotic used in that common pink liquid but a newer one called ciprofloxacin. Researchers gave the antibiotic gel to 10 chinchillas they have a human-like ear structure and hearing range infected with a common bacteria. All 10 animals had their ear infections cured within a week, compared to five of eight chinchillas given regular ciprofloxacin ear drops as a control, they reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Researchers couldn't detect the antibiotic in the animals' blood, suggesting it wouldn't cause typical antibiotic side effects such as diarrhea. Moreover, the gel melted away within three weeks, and the chinchillas' eardrums appeared normal afterward. Kohane hopes to begin initial human studies in about a year. Duke's Cunningham cautioned that researchers will need to study whether an antibiotic gel causes short-term hearing issues of its own. Another question is whether the gel would make a thicker human eardrum as permeable as an animal's, and if there's any resulting toxicity, added otolaryngologist Dr. Diego Preciado of Children's National Health System, where researchers are working on a different approach for topical delivery of an ear-infection drug. But "overall, incredibly promising work," Preciado concluded. Che Kylin Tallant Date of birth: Jan. 4, 1992 Vitals: 5 feet, 9 inches; 170 pounds; brown hair, green eyes Charge: Termination of probation SHARE Jessica Mae Stotts Date of birth: Aug. 7, 1989 Vitals: 5 feet, 1 inch; 126 pounds; blond hair, blue eyes Charge: Transporting a controlled substance Marina Colleen Monarrez Date of birth: March 13, 1974 Vitals: 5 feet, 5 inches; 170 pounds; brown hair, brown eyes Charge: Robbery James Daniel Rickard Date of birth: Oct. 3, 1966 Vitals: 5 feet, 9 inches; 150 pounds; brown hair, green eyes Charge: Vehicle theft Aaron Dana Liles Date of birth: Oct. 21, 1985 Vitals: 6 feet, 4 inches; 180 pounds; brown hair, brown eyes Charge: Burglary By Staff Reports Shasta's Most Wanted, featured in the Record Searchlight in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, targets people who have failed to show up in court for sentencing after being convicted. Authorities say they have seen an increase in criminals failing to appear in court since the onset of Assembly Bill 109. Also known as prison realignment, the state program shifted certain state prison inmates to county supervision. Redding Police Chief Robert Paoletti said court appearances have gone up since the rollout. Five new people are added each week. Those caught will be held until at least their next court appearances. Shasta County Secret Witness is offering a reward of up to $250 for information leading to an arrest. Tips can be provided anonymously at 530-243-2319 or at www.scsecretwitness.com/home/submit-a-tip. Anyone with information also can call SHASCOM at 245-6540. The feature appears Sundays in the Record Searchlight's Northern California section and on Redding.com. SHARE James Thornton Deputies find teen dead on tracks The Shasta County Sheriff's Office said Joseph Christopher Seraquiel, 18, of Shasta Lake was found dead Friday night on railroad tracks in Shasta Lake. It appeared that Seraquiel was hit by a northbound train just north of the west end of La Mesa Avenue and south of Shasta Dam Boulevard, sheriff's Sgt. Logan Stonehouse said. Deputies were told that a person was possibly hit by a train at 8:08 p.m. Friday and they later found the teen's body. The death is being investigated by the Shasta County Coroner's Office. Missing teenager found unharmed A 14-year-old girl was found unharmed Saturday after she was reported missing by her family, according to the Red Bluff Police Department. Mikaila Michelle Souza was last seen about 10 p.m. Friday at the Tehama District Fair and family members called to report that she was missing, according to police. The teen was found unharmed at a residence in Orland just after 6 p.m. Saturday and was returned to her family, police said. Police thanked Red Bluff citizens who provided tips and shared information about the girl on social media. Crews extinguish Happy Valley fire A vegetation fire that started on the side of Happy Valley Road on Saturday afternoon was contained by firefighters about a half-hour later. The fire was reported at 4:24 p.m. following a traffic accident at 3805 Happy Valley Road. The fire was at 2 acres when crews arrived. Firefighters said they had it contained at 4:56 p.m. with a hose lay around the fire's perimeter. Happy Valley Road was closed while crews battled the fire. An air tanker and a helicopter were used to help extinguish the flames. Police arrest graffiti suspect Redding police said they arrested James Thornton, 26, of Redding on Saturday on suspicion of spray-painting graffiti in east Redding. Police had taken reports the past several weeks of someone spray-painting "LOST DR3" on the walls of a number of businesses and other structures, causing more than $2,000 in damage. Officer Chad Gross investigated the vandalism and did a probation search at Thornton's residence. Officers discovered evidence linking Thornton to the graffiti, police said. He was arrested and booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism and for probation violation, police said. James Thornton SHARE Redding police said they arrested James Thornton, 26, of Redding on Saturday on suspicion of spray-painting graffiti in east Redding. Police had taken reports the past several weeks of someone spray-painting LOST DR3 on the walls of a number of businesses and other structures, causing more than $2,000 in damage. Officer Chad Gross investigated the vandalism and did a probation search at Thorntons residence. Officers discovered evidence linking Thornton to the graffiti, police said. He was arrested and booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism and for probation violation, police said. SHARE By Nathan Solis and Jenny Espino of the Redding Record Searchlight Efforts to create a unified strategy on homelessness have blown up into infighting that has more to do with ego and personality than with solving a community problem, sources directly involved in the behind-the-scenes discussions have told the Record Searchlight. Redding Councilwoman Kristen Schreder, who initiated the plan and has convened dozens of meetings and raised more than $126,500 to fund independent studies, stands at the center of the debate. Her initiative has plowed ahead without waiting for established providers and government officials to come on board, leaving opposing contingents of people who applaud her for acting and then those who believe she has ignored the voices of hard-working people closest to the problem. Some have suggested that existing efforts are sufficient and should not be disrupted. Issues of county versus city control and the most effective use of limited money have also created division. After months of activity, the plan has sputtered. Schreder herself voted against the compromise worked out by the city and county's top executives at a recent council meeting, saying it had become too watered down. The debate has become personal. County Supervisor Les Baugh lambasted Schreder on Facebook, and her efforts have been sharply and publicly criticized by a county employee who serves on the Continuum of Care. "Who's in charge?" Baugh asked in a lengthy statement posted to Facebook Sept. 13. He accused Schreder of trying to appoint herself a "homeless czar" for the county. Randall Hempling, retired chief executive of Shasta Regional Medical Center and board vice chair and chair-elect of the Partnership HealthPlan of California, defends Schreder. "Everybody wants to do something about the homeless, but nobody wants to get their feet wet," he said. Critics also complain that funding for the strategic plan studies has taken money out of the community that providers could have used to deliver services. "When people say things like that, that is an excuse for not doing anything. It's called inertia," Hempling said. High hopes, established interests Schreder's efforts to address homeless issues began in earnest while she was running for Redding's City Council more than two years ago. While fellow council newcomer Brent Weaver focused on the development of a Blueprint for Public Safety, Schreder has doggedly pursued homelessness. Unlike the Blueprint, though, she did not work through official channels. Schreder chose to create her own nonprofit and raise money for an independent study of the situation in the community and possible paths forward. That meant efforts to include, but not to depend on or wait for, many key players who were already doing the work. Schreder says the strategic plan has been the subject of more than 65 community meetings since June 2015. Homeless service providers in Shasta County are loosely affiliated through a county-administered body called the Continuum of Care. Its executive board includes the participation of city and county housing officials. Most close observers of homeless services in Shasta County agree that the Continuum of Care board was relatively inactive when Schreder's efforts began. But its member organizations, such as the Redding Veterans Resource Center and Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS), work with the homeless throughout the community. Like most counties, Shasta has a Continuum of Care in part because bringing together local agencies to submit a single application is the only way to secure funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. At a basic level, the CoC is the conduit for that application and for the data (such as the "Point In Time Count" of homeless people) that support it. But Schreder's strategic plan, backed by input from community members and the recommendation of consultant HomeBase, would mean a much stronger and more active CoC that more tightly coordinates the community's efforts and relies heavily on new techniques for collecting and sharing data. The plan called for peeling the CoC off from the county and having it managed by a nonprofit. In August, Shasta County and city of Redding officials said they would take over the initiative to overhaul the CoC. They agreed to fund a full-time director, but not to move oversight out of the county. Acrimony breaks into open Schreder's push for change, and the way it developed, has drawn strong opposition from those who would be most disrupted at the county and at individual service providers. Jonathan Anderson, executive director of the Good News Rescue Mission, applauded Schreder for engaging people who previously had no involvement in the issue. But he said many longtime service providers have been left watching from the sidelines. "That is the largest voice that is missing in all of this," he said. "If you are going to revamp the CoC and you want their buy-in, they need to be present. Otherwise, you are just dictating to them." The Rescue Mission was invited to a majority of the planning meetings, but Anderson said he knows of other providers who did not get invites from the beginning and as a result have had little to no participation. Anderson said he would like to see the strategic plan written by HomeBase, the consultant hired by Schreder's coalition, tailored specifically to providers. Although he endorsed the plan in July and suggested a three-day retreat for providers to get behind it, he now says the process lacked clear communication. And he says he did not see a copy of the report until a week before it was presented to the public on July 13. Some key points brought up in the report were not discussed during the process, he said. The building tensions burst into the open at a Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting when Baugh asked why he was receiving an email for a workshop on the strategy for unified data collection. Baugh pointed out that both the county and city had agreed to first find a full-time director for the CoC before delving into the data issue. "Is it Ms. Schreder (in charge) or is it now the county and city? I would say the county and the city were authorized on the path forward." Baugh threatened to remove any support for a plan that was referred to as a path forward for the CoC. Then he went on Facebook, with a bluntly worded post that said Schreder should not be viewed as the local "homeless czar." His Sept. 13 post was shared on the pages of several large anti-crime groups. The county employee who oversees homeless data collection also got involved. Torri Cardilino said on Facebook Schreder's actions over the past year in gathering input and data from the community on homeless services stalled the actions of the CoC and even drove away its former coordinator. "It has all been disrupted over the last 16 months! It is time for her to walk away and let those in charge handle it!" Cardilino, a housing and community program specialist with the county, wrote under Baugh's post. Cardilino had previously posted to Facebook her opposition to the idea of "housing first," a Utah model for dealing with homelesness which Schreder had supported in concept. Jessica Delaney, who had a part-time contract with the county to coordinate the CoC, said she believes Schreder is responsible for her losing the contract. She has since moved on to other work. Schreder said if she caused any disruption it was meant to jumpstart the CoC, which was only meeting the minimum HUD requirements. "I don't think we were doing enough before," she said. "People offer on Facebook that my work has stirred up the work of the CoC and I should leave it alone. I can say that the work before was not going well, no matter what people might think," Schreder said. Housing director Bobbi Sawtelle with NVCSS said Schreder's efforts started a public conversation about homeless services. The CoC board, of which Sawtelle is a member, was invited to every workshop and meeting, she said. That did not mean, however, that the CoC was guiding the process. "In essence the CoC was a participant just by nature that stakeholders were involved. (Schreder) involved the businesses, service providers, mainstream services and all the community members who had an interest or a stake in reducing homelessness," said Sawtelle. "The CoC meetings had not been as frequent," she said. "I think there is value in what has been accomplished. It is hard to get through something like this and make everyone happy." Disagreement on data In addition to the Continuum of Care, the debate has focused on data. Right now, the application for federal funding is driven by a single "point in time" count that attempts to quantify who is homeless in the community. It has been beset with problems. Brad Long, a CoC executive board member and director of the Veterans Resource Center in Redding, said information gathered in the counts has been unreliable. "Because it was all volunteer, it's difficult and some of those volunteers don't understand what it means to count a veteran on the street," he said. The count itself isn't the only issue. The database used to track homeless services also has known shortcomings. The system the county uses is the lowest rung, County Executive Officer Larry Lees said. But he added it would be worth looking at how that data is being entered into the system before the county purchases a new one. The HomeBase plan commissioned by Schreder called for an overhaul. She says federal grantmakers are putting more emphasis on metrics. As a professional education grant writer, she knows applications backed with data attract more grant money. "I am trying to make sure we are competitive for the future. That's my competitive nature," Schreder said. Money "doesn't come to those who wait." The upgrade she suggests for the homeless management information system wouldn't just include counts of the homeless. It would roll out software to as many as 15 service providers that they could use to keep track of individuals receiving help. Hempling, the retired hospital CEO, calls it a critical need. "If a person goes to the mission and they tell them they need to go to the county for social services, what tracks them that they actually do that and who follows up that they did do that and then what is the next place they go?" he said. "We just need to get everyone to calm down and get them to go with the process. Let's get the HMIS fixed to determine who is out there and what kind of help is needed." The Partnership HealthPlan of California, which Hempling will chair, is a nonprofit company that administers health care programs to 565,000 Medi-Cal recipients in 14 Northern California counties, including Shasta. Its $11,000 grant to Schreder's Redding Area Homelessness Coalition Project is funding an evaluation of the county's homeless data system. But that doesn't sit well with everyone. Baugh and Long have both criticized Schreder for trying to continue pushing forward on the data revamp even as the city and county have decided, against her recommendation, to hire a county-employed director for the CoC. The email that set off Baugh was an invitation for a workshop hosted by the consultants of Decipher HMIS. Long, too, didn't understand why Schreder was getting ahead of the new hire. "I would prefer we get a coordinator first and then we examine our current (HMIS) system," he said. Then there's a simpler question: Is data collection just a waste of time and money when there's so much real and immediate need? Councilwoman Francie Sullivan said she talked to several providers, particularly the major ones in the community who use computers to track their services. "It's not that in a perfect world it wouldn't be helpful. It's just that not everyone agrees that's what's needed," she said. When it comes to applying for funds, however, many of those critical of Schreder's approach are willing to use it for leverage. "It is understood that to better serve the community and increase opportunities for future funding, a more robust HMIS is needed," reads a section of an application submitted by the CoC last week to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and reviewed by the Record Searchlight. The 254-page document submits as evidence the meetings held over the past 18 months to develop a strategic plan and a partnership between her and the CoC in studying software using private funds. Stepping on toes Ellen Pfeiffer, the volunteer who coordinated the Point In Time count this past January, shakes her head. She said she spent more than two years regularly attending Continuum of Care meetings and hearing people ask for the things that they now object to. "People were unhappy and there was a lot of talk that the executive board of the CoC was nonexistent. They were saying we need a strategic plan and a stronger board. There was recognition we needed a new HMIS, but it was unknown how to go forward," she said. "Some of the questions have been answered to some degree. The board is a stronger organization. We have the beginnings of a strategic plan." Pfeiffer said she hasn't always agreed with Schreder on how she has proceeded. "But things would not be happening now if it had not been for her," she said. Apparently, though, she stepped on some toes, Pfeiffer said. "Maybe some of those whose toes were stepped on didn't know that we'd come this far." Meetings listed This link lists all the meetings that Kristen Schreders coalition has held since last year. SHARE By Jenny Espino of the Redding Record Searchlight Cathy Rahmeyer sees a need to pool resources together to create programs for the homeless. So on Friday, Rahmeyer, who works as an independent consultant in Plumas County, was in Redding for a workshop attended by service providers and community groups. The meeting's purpose was to introduce Teddie Pierce, a consultant who will be evaluating the effectiveness of Shasta County's homeless management information system (HMIS). After she makes her determination, it will be up to the Redding/Shasta County Continuum of Care's executive board, made of city and county officials, nonprofits and other homeless service providers, to decide whether to keep the software system or replace it. The issue has come to the forefront as part of a strategic plan by the Redding Area Homelessness Coalition Project, which is led by Councilwoman Kristen Schreder. Federal changes are putting more emphasis on results for providers receiving housing subsidies. The meeting was attended by 44 people, including five members of the County Continuum of Care's executive board and six CoC members who stayed for the entire three-hour presentation. Other counties represented were Lake, Lassen and Mendocino. "We have the same homeless issues as everybody else," Rahmeyer said of her home county. "But we don't have shelters and don't have access to the same funding streams that urban counties have. So it makes the problem harder." Nonetheless she was upbeat. "We have a larger voice when we are a bigger group. The homeless in Northern California are no less important than the homeless in San Francisco," Rahmeyer said. "We just have to think harder outside the box and be more creative." Twenty agencies are entering their information through the current HMIS. Each pays $1,100. It's a number that has been growing over the past year, said Richard Kuhns, housing and community action programs director for Shasta County. "Like anything, they are starting to see the validity in it and it is starting to grow. This type of discussion is going to help that." Still to be determined is where the money will come from if the CoC decides to go with a software upgrade, whether it stays with its current vendor, Bell, or a new one. "More than anything else, I am looking forward to seeing what the public and the community feels the need is because with that, that could generate some movements toward helping fund it," Kuhns said. "Because that is the issue: How are we going to fund it?" SHARE Even as he runs for another four-year state senate seat, Ted Gaines is almost certainly already eyeing his next job on the state's Board of Equalization in two years. He all but admits it, and notes that a special election would be held for his Senate seat if he abandons it. Given his lock on the party's support and the level of representation he provides, that can't come soon enough. Gaines is a Republican with strong ties to leadership and money in the bank. He is not vulnerable to defeat, and even his Democratic challenger, Rob Rowen, acknowledges that. The next state senator from our district will almost certainly be a Republican. So until Gaines gets out of the way, we're stuck with his absenteeism. It borders on contempt. During a recent conversation with this editorial board by phone, of course, because Gaines had no specific plans to be in this part of his district even while supposedly running for re-election here Gaines displayed a shockingly vague grasp of the problems his constituents face. The biomass crisis in Burney provides a great example. Burney Forest Power is going out of business, and may take Shasta Green, a next-door mill closely tied to it, down as well. Biomass doesn't just provide jobs it processes the fuel coming out of our overloaded forests and offers one of the only reasonable methods of inoculating them against the massive wildfires we've come to expect each year. Brian Dahle, our state assemblyman, has worked hard to fix the broken system in California that considers wind and solar to be renewable and leaves biomass out. Without the "renewable" classification, biomass can't get the subsidized higher rates and can't compete with other forms of power. Dahle's bill, AB 590, made it through the Legislature last year but was never signed. Gaines? He says it's a "critical issue" and it "aligns with problems we have in our forests." Has he been to Burney to talk to the people affected? Well, no. "To date, I haven't had time." He does, however, serve on the Senate's Energy Committee. "I'm new to it," he said. "Been to a few meetings, coming up to speed on it." In fact, Sen. Gaines said, he was calling from Bakersfield. He was down there learning about energy issues that he'll need to understand on that committee. It's interesting that he had time to travel to Bakersfield, but not to Burney. Especially when he finds the size and shape of his district so taxing, you'd think he would have little time to jaunt outside it. "I'm working very hard throughout the district," he told us, noting he must represent 1 million people in 11 counties. "I'm doing the best I can in very large district." The fact is, Gaines is mostly a reliable vote for conservative principles in a state where liberal Democrats dominate. He supports 2nd Amendment rights, opposes higher taxation and votes against measures he believes are weak on crime. It's good that we have someone in Sacramento who represents the position of this conservative district. The problem is he'll lose every one of those votes, every time. So what are we left with? An absent "representative" who seems to represent nothing but his own political ambition and can't be troubled to come and ask for your vote in person. That's a shame. The Lahore high court has dismissed a writ petition by Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing "the matter raised by the petitioner is not justifiable before the court and falls within the domain of politics". The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeed's counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed will challenge the verdict in the intra-court. In the petition Saeed said India had been "committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions". He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Saeed, who carries a $10 million bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said "(former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir. However, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking". Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. "Indian army is killing innocent Kashmiris, but Pakistan government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements," Dogar said. Criticising the LHC verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. "It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect," he said. 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 with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. Photograph: Reuters The home ministry has lodged an FIR in connection with the missing documents related to the controversial Ishrat Jahan 'fake encounter' case, a move that might escalate political slugfest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. An under secretary serving in the home ministry has filed the FIR at the Parliament Street Police station in New Delhi under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of the Indian Penal Code asking police to probe "why, how and under what circumstances" five documents related to the case went missing. The move came after an inquiry panel, headed by an Additional Secretary, concluded that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September, 2009, a period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the home minister. Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went missing from the Home Ministry was found, said the inquiry panel, which submitted its report on June 15 after a three- month-long investigation. The inquiry panel, however, made no reference to Chidambaram or anyone in the then UPA government. The FIR was lodged under "stolen" category of police station register on September 22 following a communication sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner on August 26. Based on the statements of 11 serving and retired officers, including the then Home Secretary G K Pillai, the 52 -page inquiry panel report had said the documents went missing between September 18-28, 2009. The second affidavit, which was different from the first one, and filed before Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009, had said there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ishrat was an LeT operative. The papers which went missing and listed in the FIR are office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then home secretary to the then attorney general on September 18, 2009, office copy of another letter sent by the then home secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009, draft further affidavit as vetted by the then AG, draft further affidavit "as amended" by the then home minister on September 24, 2009 and office copy of the further affidavit filed with the Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009. The paper which was retrieved from a computer hard disk was the letter sent by the then Home Secretary to the then AG on September 18, 2009. The lodging of the FIR is expected to escalate political slugfest between BJP and Congress as the former had accused the latter of lowering the fight against terror by filing the second affidavit during UPA regime. The Congress had hit back in the past by saying the BJP-led government was politicising the issue after assuming power in 2014. Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. Gujarat Police had then said those killed were Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Sources said in his statement to the Ishrat inquiry panel, retired IAS officer Deverakonda Diptivilasa had reportedly said the documents were part of the file which he sent to the seniors during the deliberations before the second affidavit related to the alleged fake encounter case was filed. However, the five documents were not found in the file when it returned, Diptivilasa, who was the then joint secretary (internal security) in the home ministry, was learnt to have told the panel. Sources said home ministry officials have detected about the five missing documents in 2013, when the UPA was in power but it was never flagged as the fair copies were intact then. The one-member panel was constituted after Home Minister Rajnath Singh had disclosed in Parliament on March 10 that the files were missing. The first affidavit was filed on the basis of inputs from Maharashtra and Gujarat Police besides Intelligence Bureau where it was said the 19-year-old girl from Mumbai outskirts was an activist of Lashkar-e-Taiba but it was ignored in the second affidavit, Home Ministry officials said. The second affidavit, claimed to have been drafted by Chidambaram, said there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Ishrat was a terrorist, the officials said. Pillai had claimed that as Home Minister, Chidambaram had recalled the file a month after the original affidavit, which described Ishrat and her slain aides as LeT operatives, was filed in the court. Subsequently, Chidambaram had said Pillai is equally responsible for the change in the affidavit. Photograph: PTI Photo Pakistan has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "irresponsible behaviour" by making provocative statements that it was exporting terror, saying his remarks were part of a "well thought out vilification campaign" to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi in a public meeting in Kerala "tried to malign Pakistan". "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable," the Foreign Office said. "It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated" by its forces in Kashmir against "innocent and defenseless" Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The "atrocities" in Kashmir intensified since the "extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader" Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistan's reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it on Saturday in his first public address after last Sunday's deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain while all out efforts will be made to isolate Pakistan globally. "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 public meeting on the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia are working to make the 21st century Asia's, Pakistan is engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement alleged, "In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands." The Foreign Office claimed that the international community has taken notice of these "blatant human rights violations" with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. "The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas)," the statement said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing public rally at the BJP National council meeting at Kozhikode on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo India has hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir, saying the "use of alibis" by him is not going to work anymore. "The use of alibis which are so blatantly and obviously wrong did not work in New York, it's not going to work in London and it is not going to work, we all can say with some confidence, even in Islamabad," Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar said in New York. Akbar made the remarks in response to Sharif's comments in London that the Uri attacks could be the result of the people's "reaction" to the tense situation in Kashmir. "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 had told reporters on Friday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Akbar, who has attended a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session, said it was in an "extremely receptive manner" that the most important and powerful nations accepted India's "rationale and reasonable positions, our efforts to working through problems with cooperation, our efforts at saying that the true objective should be the elimination of the scourge of poverty and development". He said there is strong support among nations for India's key focus that the greatest benefits of growth should go to those who need it most. Underscoring that the biggest enemy of human rights is terrorism, he said the "enemy of development is terrorism and we must end this scourge". IMAGE: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif addressing the general debate of the General Assembly's 71st session. PHOTOGRAPH: UNPHOTO External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly on Monday with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs tirade on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived on Saturday afternoon and will address the UN general debate on Monday. Leading Indias delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York, ministry of external affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharifs UN General Assembly speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. Indias strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining Indias focus for the UNGA session, Indias envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the primary concern for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters on Friday that the whole world and the entire nation is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver Indias vision document for the 71st UNGA. We are all looking forward to that, he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swarajs address but said the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the external affairs minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community. Swarup said one can also expect a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security. Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. The suspected shooter who killed five people in a mall north of Seattle on Saturday was arrested. Arcan Cetin, 20, was identified by law enforcement officials to KOMO News. Cetin was taken into custody by Island County Sheriffs Office 30 miles southwest from Cascade Mall, in Burlington, Washington, where the shooting took place. He will be turned over to Skagit County Sheriffs Office, the Seattle Times reported. Cetin has no police record or history of crime in the state of Washington, according to KOMO News. Washington State Patrol announced the capture of Cetin on their Twitter account. According to his Facebook, Cetin is lives in Oak Harbor, Washington, but is originally from Adana, Turkey. As his capture was announced, two of his victims' identities were revealed. Sarai Lara, 16, was a cancer survivor who battled the disease as a young child. She attended Mount Vernon High School and had just entered her sophomore year. Another victim is believed to be 52-year-old Shayla Martin. Along with Sarai Lara and Shayla Martin, two more 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. The gunman - who was described as Hispanic, in his early 20s and wearing all black - walked into Macys and opened fire in the makeup department of the store about 7pm local time. During a press conference, authorities said the man was seen entering the mall without a gun about 10 minutes before he started shooting in the Macys. 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. Image: Washington state police have identified the shooter as Arcan Cetin who lives in Oak Harbor, Washington. Photograph: Washington State Police Shania Twain coming to Indianapolis on first tour in nearly five years McCoy's promotions McCoy's Building Supply has announced that Trisha Richardson and Troy Clawson have been promoted to assistant managers at its Abilene location. Farmers Insurance agent recognized Farmers Insurance has named James Peters, of Abilene, as a Topper Club Agent in recognition of achievement and customer service. Peters attended the company's annual Topper Club event on Sept. 7 in Anaheim, California. Business workshop Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct a workshop, 'How to Start a Business,' from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300. Mock gas line strike The Big Country Damage Prevention Council will present a mock gas line strike from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the West Central Council of Governments, 3702 Loop 322. Speakers, refreshments and door prizes will be available. Training credit will be available for emergency service providers. For more information, call 214-364-1929. I could not find my Shiner T-shirt, purchased at that little ol' brewery in Texas, so I grabbed one Saturday that read 'Obey the Beard.' It should've read 'Obey the Beer-d,' because my afternoon destination was the annual Abilene Beer Summit at Frontier Texas! Everyone, it seemed, was obeying the call to drink to beer. Now, the call for the upcoming election is a different story. What mixes better than beer and salty foods? Beer and politics, though one volunteer pourmeister said given a choice of beer and politics, he'd pick beer every time. Which may be consumed in record amounts Nov. 8 and the days after the way the presidential election is playing out. Attendance on a muggy afternoon was not light but stout. Staci Benavides, who was on the planning committee, saw a 'good mix of people from different generations.' It was an eclectic group, many of whom were wearing their favorite beer T-shirt, that had one thing in common: They like beer. John Adames of Sweetwater was there for the first time and when asked his favorite, he pondered the question before answering, 'Everything.' He then singled out the Oskar Blues booth, where Casey McGovern said a brand called Beerito, a Mexican lager, was 'all the rage. It has a great flavor, nice and easy drinking.' McGovern. A name from politics past. This being the last Beer Summit before we elect a new president (or reject his or her main opponent), it only seemed right to do a poll. I toured the 43 booths that ringed the outdoor courtyard and asked someone at each stop these two questions: If the four best known candidates were to show up at the Beer Summit, which would you most like to drink a beer (or more) with? And what style of beer would be that candidate prefer? This was a chance for Beer Nation, Texas, to make its voice known. We don't need no stinkin' Bud Light Party. I thought about this while walking to what has become our annual Septemberfest from the newspaper office. Here's what I was thinking about preference: Donald Trump. A stout. What other kind of wall would he build? Hillary Clinton: Pale ale. Did you see her after she got pneumonia? Gary Johnson: A lager. Unless, of course, he thinks that's the guy who cut down all the trees in Aleppo. Jill Stein: Green beer. The Green Party gal has as much of a chance of winning as a leprechaun. Joe Six-Pack, the voter? Anything, as long as you're buying. Before we start with the results of this highly scientific, ground-breaking poll, let's be clear that Trump told Esquire magazine, 'I've never had a glass of alcohol.' This being the age of political spin and mistrust, that could mean he drinks his beer from the bottle or can. But for the sake of fun, let's say he enjoys a brewski, a longneck, a cold one after a long day of making America great again. The immediate leaders in my poll were Trump and Johnson. Running a strong third was 'none of them, please.' Despite Stein having a great beer name, she trailed Clinton. Out of the blue, two votes went to Vermin Supreme, the guy who looks like Gandalf meets Dumbledore in a dark alley and wears a boot on his head. He promises that if elected, every American would get a pony. His running mate is Supreme Pizza. In the final tally, 17 said they'd drink with Trump, 11 with Johnson, five with Clinton and two with Stein. Five said drinking beer with anyone of those four would be the last thing on their bucket list. One person refused to play along and accused me of being with the media. Now, don't read too much into this poll. Seriously. Many who chose Trump did so just for the chance to sit down with the guy and let it rip. 'I mean, what tha hell, right?' one guy said. They'd want to hear him say something outrageous, as if a few beers in him could top anything he has said to this point, they added. One Clinton responder said she wanted to face down Clinton: 'I have questions.' Get in line. One Trump fan said the ideal Beer Summit ticket would be Trump and Samuel Adams. 'Two patriots,' he said. Could you even have a conversation with Trump, it was asked? The thinking being 'he'd do all the talking.' Most thought Trump would prefer light beer, one guy reasoning he's stuck in the past and wouldn't try something hip. Unlike Vermin, who'd go 'totally exotic.' Johnson fans thought he'd drink closer to the edge and want some hip in his hops. One believed the Libertarian would even 'smoke a bowl' with him. And no, he wasn't from Colorado. Austin. One Clinton detractor said she'd probably try to be hip in her choice of beer, just to win the young vote. Another said she'd choose whatever wimpy beer was offered, another an overly fruity flavor. 'Like Michelob Ultra,' someone else said. 'That's not even beer!' The pourguy at a booth where a beer called Arrogant Bastard was sampled said it was perfect for Trump. No one listening in disagreed. A woman filling sample glasses nearby said the perfect beer for all voters was 'All Call,' which goes well with lots of foods and first-responders. A Stein fan said her candidate probably knows how to 'party hard' and might 'shotgun' her beers with her. Just before I spoke with her, a guy asked me, 'Stein ... who's that?' One lone beer fan mused it would've been fun to hoist one with Bernie Sanders. Ol' Beernie. Did we get a handle on the Nov. 8 election with this poll? Hardly. One person said Clinton would prefer a bold beer. The next person said Trump would go bold. The good news is that after a few more beers Saturday, most forgot they 'voted' in my poll. And after a few more, they forgot about the election entirely. Twitter: @GregJaklewicz Close up of metal handcuffs SHARE Incident reports released by the Abilene Police Department on Saturday: Disorderly Conduct, North 14th and Shelton streets, Friday Police arrested a 37-year-old man after responding to a disturbance call. Upon arrival, they found the man attempting to incite a fight between his father and brother. Public Intoxication, 3500 block of North 6th Street, Friday Police discovered a 34-year-old man after discovering him passed out next to a pole in a parking lot. Upon contact, the man became belligerent with officers. He was arrested Public Intoxication, 1300 block of Barrow Street, Saturday Police arrested a 24-year-old man after discovering him sitting on the hood of a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the road. The man refused to leave the scene with his girlfriend, so police arrested him. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 2100 block of Russell Avenue, Saturday Police responded to a disturbance call and found a 35-year-old man man who appeared from the bathroom in possession of a straw and light bulb with residue inside. On further questioning, the man admitted to having use meth. Possession of Marijuana, 2400 block of Dub Wright Boulevard, Friday Police arrested an 18-year-old man after a routine traffic stop. Suspecting marijuana usage, police called for a K-9 search, which resulted in a positive alert. Driving While Intoxicated, 700 block of Pine Street, Friday Police found an 18-year-old man after responding to a call from a bank officer who observed the man, and suspected he was intoxicated. Upon arrival, the man consented to a field sobriety test, which he failed. He was arrested. Driving While Intoxicated, 4000 block of Concord Drive, Saturday Police arrested a 39-year-old man after he called 911 dispatch and told them he was "drunk and driving home." Investigation led officers to the man's residence, where they found him in his car, and the car still running. Public Intoxication, 1300 block of South 7th Street, Friday Responding to a disturbance call, police discovered that 36-year-old woman had broken the windows on her boyfriend's truck. She admitted to officers that she had consumed a significant amount of alcohol. Driving While Intoxicated, 4300 block of South 1st Street, Thursday Police arrested a 19-year-old woman after observing her vehicle speeding. After getting her to pull over, officers suspected she was drunk and asked her to perform a field sobriety test. She refused, but agreed to give a breath specimen. After being transported to jail, she refused a Breathalyzer test, so the court ordered her to give a blood test. Burglary, 1200 block of Jeanette Street, Friday A 36-year-old man reported to police that his house had been burglarized by unknown individuals. The victim's back door had been kicked in. Cases such as Edward Snowden's are precisely the reason the president's constitutional pardon power exists. Historically, outgoing presidents have often invoked this power in the last days of their terms at times on behalf of people who've committed reprehensible acts under the premise that mitigating circumstances outweigh the rationale for punishment. President Barack Obama now has the opportunity to use this power proudly, in recognition of one of the most important acts of whistle-blowing in modern history. Since Snowden first disclosed documents in 2013 detailing the National Security Agency's mass surveillance programs, we've seen an unprecedented global debate about the proper limits of government spying. This debate has had a transformative effect: on privacy laws and standards, on the security of the devices we depend on to communicate with one another and store sensitive information, and on how we understand our relationship to the institutions that govern us. There is wide consensus that these developments have benefited our democracy and our security. Snowden's influence cannot be overstated. In response to an ACLU lawsuit, a federal appeals court found the NSA's mass phone surveillance program illegal. Congress passed an intelligence reform bill restricting the NSA's authority for the first time in 40 years. Polls have shown a sea change in how the public views online privacy. Tech companies such as Apple and Facebook are now devoting significant resources to safeguarding their customers' security through encryption. This helps protect private consumers, American companies, and the government from malicious actors looking to exploit weaknesses in our communications infrastructure. The journalism produced from Snowden's disclosures has been awarded almost every prize imaginable, including the Pulitzer Prize for the reporters at The Washington Post and the Guardian, and an Academy Award for Laura Poitras' documentary 'Citizenfour.' Yet the young man behind these historic reforms remains in exile, with decades in prison hanging over his head. Lately, Snowden's critics have tried to curtail the nascent pardon movement. Several members of Congress sent a letter to Obama last week arguing that Snowden is 'not a whistleblower' or 'a patriot' but 'a criminal,' and contending that he should have availed himself 'of the many lawful avenues to express legal, moral, or ethical qualms with U.S. intelligence activities.' That letter, and the report accompanying it, are filled with falsehoods that Snowden has already rebutted persuasively. It's worth noting here, however, that the House committee failed to acknowledge that as a private contractor, Snowden was not entitled to the protections afforded to federal government employees. Further, previous whistle-blowers such as Thomas Drake, who should have been protected, were met with career-ending retaliation when they tried to sound the alarm about NSA overreach. It's frankly laughable to pretend that if Snowden had only used 'lawful avenues' to express his 'ethical qualms,' anything would have been done to change programs and practices approved at the highest level of government. Critics have also insisted that Snowden should come home and make his case to a jury. Unfortunately that's impossible under the draconian and unjust Espionage Act. If prior district court rulings are any guide, all of Snowden's defenses would be considered irrelevant and inadmissible in court. The jury would never hear his patriotic motivation: to inform the American public about what the government was doing in secret, without their knowledge or consent. The jury would never hear that his disclosures did not harm national security, or that they led to reform in Congress. The jury would not hear about the surveillance programs that were ruled illegal. For Snowden to be convicted under the Espionage Act, the only thing a jury must find is that he gave 'national defense information' to people not authorized to receive it. Since Snowden has already admitted this, the only question that remains is the length of his sentence which could likely amount to decades or even life in prison, with little to no contact with the outside world. This is no way to treat the most influential whistleblower since Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the so-called Pentagon Papers. Obama has prosecuted more whistle-blowers than any other president in U.S. history. Pardoning Snowden won't undo that legacy, but it will help affirm the critical role whistle-blowers have always played in helping our country correct for government overreach. It will also signal that citizens must have a seat at the table in deciding how we run our democracy. Anthony Romero is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. The new Oliver Stone movie on National Security Agency leaker-extraordinaire Edward Snowden has clunked into theaters and drew tepid crowds. At the same time, the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have launched what they bill as a major effort to persuade President Barack Obama to pardon Snowden. The Snowdenites hope that the fawning movie will spare their hero from espionage charges. To gin up some urgency, the pardonsnowden.org website countdown clock is ticking off the days, minutes and seconds until Obama leaves office. The Snowden apologists evidently realize that President Hillary Clinton or President Donald Trump wouldn't risk the political backlash if they were to go easy on Snowden. Our capsule review of this effort: Two thumbs-down. Snowden has suggested that he would like to return to the United States if his lawyers could negotiate a plea deal. Presumably Snowden has grown weary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's hospitality and, we're guessing, the intense scrutiny under which he undoubtedly finds himself. Snowden says he would consider serving a prison term as part of a plea bargain arranged before he leaves his Russian sanctuary, The New York Times reports. How magnanimous. As we said in 2014 when Snowden supporters first dangled the issue of amnesty: Come home, Ed. We'll welcome you with open arms and a pair of handcuffs. We can show you all the damage you caused. And maybe we'll let a judge and jury decide your fate. Then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder took the right approach in 2014: He rejected amnesty for Snowden but did not rule out the possibility of plea negotiations, if Snowden returns. 'If Mr. Snowden wanted to come back to the United States and enter a plea, we would engage with his lawyers,' Holder said. Two years later, we would support the same deal: No amnesty, no pardon. Snowden should return to the U.S. and face whatever charges the Department of Justice levies. If his lawyers think they can limit those charges in return for his surrender, they're welcome to try. It's a free country. (The U.S., that is.) Snowden's actions caused immense damage to America's national security interests. A day before the movie's release, a House Intelligence Committee report debunked the myth of Snowden The Noble Whistleblower who did more good than harm. 'Snowden's actions did severe damage to U.S. national security, compromising the Intelligence Community's anti-terror efforts and endangering the security of the American people as well as active-duty U.S. troops,' the committee said. American intelligence officials still don't know the full extent of the harm, the report says. Some of the damage may not be known for years. The government has, however, spent hundreds of millions of dollars and eventually will spend billions to clean up the mess and 'mitigate the damage' Snowden caused. The 22 House committee members sent a unanimous, bipartisan letter to Obama urging him not to pardon Snowden. Bulletin: Democrats and Republicans agreed. 'Edward Snowden is no hero he's a traitor who willfully betrayed his colleagues and his country,' Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the committee chairman, said in a statement. Snowden's argument that he acted to defend Americans' privacy were 'self-serving and false,' said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., ranking member of the committee. 'While those disclosures did spark a useful public debate, the collateral damage has been extraordinary.' Three years ago, a self-satisfied Snowden declared victory. 'For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission's already accomplished,' he told The Washington Post. 'I already won.' That victory may not be so sweet any more. Not when the reward is a permanent address under Putin's thumb. Snowden stole and released thousands of pages of documents that endangered likely still endanger U.S. lives. He exposed secrets whose impact he could not possibly comprehend. That's what he calls winning. To us, that doesn't sound like a whistleblower who should be celebrated. That sounds like someone who should be in a U.S. prison. Come home, Ed. Make your case. Chicago Tribune SHARE Constitution Day is a national observation each Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution by 39 founders in 1787 to conclude the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, the date passed with little publicity. Constitution illiteracy is widespread and worrisome. Knowledge is gained only through independent educational, historical, governmental, judicial or legal sources, not from unqualified history deniers and revisionists with self-serving religious or political agendas who freely express opinions but rarely exhibit knowledge of the document. Here is a summary of its historic truths: The Preamble states six secular reasons for our national establishment. The Constitution is the original legal document creating our secular form of government, its organization and operation. The first 10 Amendments, our Bill of Rights, provide individual liberties. Seventeen amendments have been added since. The Constitution provides for three separate and equal government branches. The legislative branch enacts law (Article I), executive branch executes law (Article II),and judicial branch interprets law with the exclusive power to decide all cases arising under the Constitution (Article III). When the Supreme Court decides a Constitution case, it becomes settled law and all government branches, states and people must comply. The judicial doctrine stare decisis (decision adherence) applies and the decision becomes legal precedent seldom re-litigated. This ensures American law is consistent and reliable. There are two ways to amend the Constitution: (1) constitutional convention requiring two-thirds of state legislatures to convene, agree and enact the amendment, then ratification by three-fourths of 50 states; or, (2) amendment enactment by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, then ratification by three-fourths of 50 states. It cannot be amended by public petition. The original 1782 national mottoes created by our founders are secular : E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many One), Novos Ardo Seclorum (New Order of the Ages) and Annuit Coeptis (Undertakings Favored). The Declaration of Independence, which is not law, uses only universal terms ("Laws of Nature," "Nature's God," "Creator" and "Divine Providence") not exclusive to any particular religion. Separation of church and state is a fundamental liberty of free people keeping public government out of private religion and private religion out of public government. It is the intent of our founders as confirmed by the Constitution and its First Amendment, indisputably documented by countless historic records, publicly acknowledged by every president since Thomas Jefferson, continuously confirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, and firmly embedded in the long established law of our land. The Constitution expressly provides "no religious test " shall e be required as a qualification to any public office or public trust (Article VI). The First Amendment provides three religious liberties for all Americans: Freedom from religion. Our government is prevented from "respecting" an establishment of religion (favoring a religion). It is our right to be free from religion imposed by the government or its representatives. Freedom of religion. Our government is prevented from "prohibiting" free exercise of religion. It is our right to practice a religion or no religion, provided it doesn't violate others' rights. Freedom to speak about religion. Our government is prevented from "abridging" freedom of speech. It is our right to speak publicly about religion provided it does not violate the rights of others. It is fact, history and law that we were not created as a religion-based nation. This question was permanently settled in 1797 by the Treaty of Tripoli, a publicly recorded one-page international legal document located in the Department of State historical archives, that boldly declared to the world "...The United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion...". It was negotiated during President George Washington's first administration, unanimously ratified by the Senate, and signed by second President John Adams. The U.S. consul to Algiers, Joel Barlow (a Washington appointee and American Revolution chaplain), negotiated the treaty, co-authored the Arabic version signed in Tripoli during Washington's presidency, and authored the English version ratified and signed during Adams' presidency. It is significant that the eagle was selected as our national symbol. Eagles are independent and fearless, much like our patriotic and courageous founders. You find them one at a time and, unlike submissive sheep, they do not flock or follow. John Compere is a fourth-generation Abilenian; retired Army airborne officer, Texas lawyer and U.S. judge, disabled Vietnam-era veteran and a rancher. The definition of legal is 'permitted by law.' The definition of illegal is 'prohibited by law.' A law is 'a rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.' Laws are enforced in our country sometimes with harsh penalties and punishment if they are not kept. There is one specific law that has been ignored and overlooked from the 1930s on. Immigrants who illegally come across the U.S. border (especially from Mexico) have been granted an exception, for the most part. I am assessed a penalty and fine for illegally overstaying my place in a parking spot in the downtown area of my community. I am simply fined because I broke a law. Period. It is easier for illegal immigrants. And though I am a United States citizen who believes in adherence to the laws of our country, I see much hypocrisy in an 'all of a sudden' movement to enforce the laws regarding illegal aliens in a mass deportation type of way. The law has been overlooked, ignored, and treated as a mere suggestion rather than a part of our legal system. It would be quite hypocritical to adhere to the law because we 'finally got around to it.' Most 'visitors' I know are, without fail, hard-working, loving parents who want better lives for themselves and their children. I have come to know and love many of them. I never ask if they are here legally but sometimes they will volunteer their status to me. My grandfather, a rancher, employed a family from Mexico when I was a child in the '60s. The parents' names were Maria and Tio. Their teenage son was named Alfredo. I was mesmerized many evenings as I sat there listening to Alfredo play his guitar and sing many beautiful Spanish songs. The whole family was so kind and tender as we sat on their porch those star-filled nights. Conversely, I have seen a rancid YouTube video of children whose parents are here illegally singing a hate-filled song filled with English curse words that no child should ever be allowed or encouraged to say. The message of the video is, 'We are here. We are not leaving. We have a right to be here!' This sense of entitlement and 'in your face' taunting really angers me. I cannot imagine how an attitude like this is born. I would suspect the lack of enforcing the law for decades plays much into this sense of entitlement and a militant spirit. Non-enforcement has been a mixture of mercy, kindness, laziness on the part of the lawmakers and other things I cannot quite determine. But, this is where we are. It is past time to do something to protect our borders. It is a different world filled with all kinds of terroristic evil. Couple that with criminals who have murdered, raped, dealt in drugs in the United States while here illegally and any objective person would agree. One only has to think of Kate Steinle's family and ask them how they feel. An immigrant here illegally murdered this 32-year-old woman on United States soil in July 2015. A broad plan: Deport all illegal immigrant who have committed felonies after they serve their time. 'Illegal' means illegal. Vet any person coming in even on work visas to make certain they have no felony convictions. Allow a path for citizenship for those who are here already. Each would have to voluntarily let it be known they are here illegally with an understanding that any who do not inform INS within the a specified time period would be subjected to immediate deportation. Any who are found to here illegally via any means after this grace period would be subjected to immediate deportation without fail. My heart still aches for a wonderful couple in my church with eight children. They are from Rwanda, forced out because of genocide, and became refugees in Kenya for 14 years. Their story is beautiful and sad. They were told 'no' every year by the U.S. government before their request was granted. Their persistence paid off and they have been here legally since 2008. They are productive fellow U.S. residents now. And, they are so very grateful. This is what makes the inscription on the Statue of Liberty come alive! For, In its purest form, (legally) it is so beautiful and as it was intended. 'Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses, yearning to breath free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.' Justin Holloway is a grandfather of six, praise and worship minister, former school board president and founder of Sacred Lives Foundation. He lives in Abilene. At the height of the 18th century, Muslim pirates (the 'Barbary Pirates') were the terror of the Mediterranean and a large part of the North Atlantic. They attacked every ship in sight and held the crews for exorbitant ransoms. Those taken hostage were subject to barbaric treatment and wrote heart-breaking letters home, begging their government and family members to pay whatever their Muslim captors demanded. These extortionist of the high seas represented the North African Islamic nations of Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco and Algiers collectively referred to as the Barbary Coast and presented a dangerous and unprovoked threat to the new American Republic. Before the Revolutionary War, U.S. merchant ships were protected by Great Britain. When the U.S. declared its independence and entered into war, the ships of the U.S. were protected by France. However, once the war was won, America had to protect her own fleets; thus the birth of the U.S. Navy. Seventeen years before becoming president, Thomas Jefferson became Minister to France. That same year, the U.S. Congress sought to appease its Muslim adversaries by following in the footsteps of European nations by paying bribes rather than challenging them in war. In July 1785, Algerian pirates captured American ships and demanded an unheard-of ransom of $60,000. Jefferson was vehemently opposed to any further payments. Instead, he proposed formation of a coalition of allied nations, who together could force the Islamic states into peace. A disinterested Congress decided to pay the ransom. Sound familiar? In 1786, Jefferson and John Adams met with Tripoli's ambassador to Great Britain to ask by what right his nation attacked American ships and enslaved American citizens, and why Muslims held so much hostility toward Americans. The two future presidents reported that Ambassador Sidi Hail Abdul Rahman Adja answered: 'Islam was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Qur'an that all nations who would not acknowledge their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could, be head all others and that every Muslim man slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.' Despite the stunning admission of premeditated violence on non-Muslim nations and the objections of many notable Americans, including George Washington, for the following 15 years the American government paid the Muslims millions of dollars for the safe passage of American ships or the return of American hostages. Shortly after being sworn in as the third president of the United States in 1801, Jefferson received a note from the pasha of Tripoli demanding the immediate payment of $225,000, plus $25,000 for every year forthcoming. That changed everything. Jefferson let the pasha know what he could do with his demand. The pasha responded by cutting down the flagpole at the American consulate and declaring war on the United States. Tunis, Morocco and Algiers immediately followed suite. Jefferson dispatched a squadron of frigates, armed with U.S. Marines, to the Mediterranean to teach the Muslim nations of the Barbary Coast a lesson he hoped they would never forget. When the pirates, who were accustomed to American cowardice and acquiescence, saw the newly independent United States had the means, will and right to strike back, they quickly abandoned aggressiveness. The bravery of the U.S. Marine Corps in these wars led to the line' ... to the shores of Tripoli' in the Marine Hymn, and they would forever be known as 'leathernecks' for the leather collars of their uniforms, designed to prevent their heads from being cut off by the Muslim scimitars when boarding enemy ships. President Jefferson's greatest fear was that someday this brand of Islam would return and pose an even greater threat to the United States. This should concern every American! That Christians, Jews and Hindus have been banned from serving on juries where Muslim's are the defendant; piggy banks and Porky Pig tissue dispensers have been banned from workplaces, ice cream has been discontinued at certain Burger King locations, and public schools are removing pork from their menus, all because they offend Islamists sensibilities, and on and on and on. It's death by a thousand cuts and most Americans have no idea that this invasion of American values, traditions, liberties and freedom is being practiced across America daily. The United States is cutting its own throat with a politically correct knife. Where is today's Thomas Jefferson and Gen. George Patton? Scotty Daniel lives in Rotan. Authorities in Azerbaijan are holding a referendum on September 26 over changes to the country's constitution that are expected to strengthen the grip on power of President Ilham Aliyev and his family. Here's what's at stake: The Questions Facing Voters The referendum includes a whopping 29 proposed amendments to numerous chapters of the Azerbaijani Constitution, which went into force after a 1995 popular vote and has been amended twice since, in 2002 and again in 2009. Voters won't have to say "yes" or "no" to the whole package, but instead may choose to approve or reject individual amendments. So it is a potentially confusing array of choices. The most important of the proposed changes is an extension of the president's term of office from five to seven years. The current head of state, 54-year-old Ilham Aliyev, has been in office since taking over from his ailing father in 2003, paving the way for hastily organized elections; his current term is slated to end in 2018, but a presidential term limit was scrapped in 2009. Another amendment seeks to create two vice-presidential posts, both of whose occupants would be appointed and dismissed by the president. The first vice president would become the country's No. 2 official and presidential powers would devolve to him or her in the event that the president becomes incapable of discharging his duties -- rather than to the prime minister, who needs to be approved by parliament. Only if the first vice president is similarly incapacitated would presidential powers devolve to the prime minister. A further proposal empowers the president to schedule an early presidential election and dissolve parliament if twice in one year legislators pass no-confidence measures in the government or reject presidential nominees to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, or the Azerbaijani Central Bank's governing board. The minimum age for presidential candidates, currently 35, would also be abolished and the age for election to the legislature lowered from 25 to 18. Another proposed amendment would restrict the right to free assembly to make it contingent on "public order and morality." The proposal comes amid accusations that Azerbaijan's government has escalated repression against its critics, marking a deterioration of an already poor rights 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. A further proposed change would grant officials greater power of eminent domain to expropriate privately owned land in the interest of "social justice and effective land use." Such a passage invites fears that officials who already possess considerable discretion over property issues might abuse even greater leverage. Authorities in the capital, Baku, and elsewhere have tangled with residents en masse in the past, including earlier this month when protesting residents complained of being tear-gassed and then seeing their homes demolished without notice or compensation. In addition, Azerbaijani citizenship could be withdrawn "in accordance with the law." 'Stability And Democracy' Azerbaijan's ruling officials have defended the proposals contained in the referendum on stability and democracy grounds, while opposition and other critics argue that it is an authoritarian grab for further power. Central Election Commission Chairman Mazahir Panahov said the referendum was "aimed at protecting stability," in part ostensibly because the country "is developing rapidly and people's living standards are improving." Deputy Prime Minister Ali Ahmadov said the amendments could improve the "political system and governance." Parliament deputy speaker Ziyafet Asgarov said the referendum was important to help "reinforce state authorities, and ensure human rights and freedoms at a higher level." Ruling New Azerbaijan (Yeni Azerbaycan) Party official Siyavush Novruzov argued that extending presidential terms makes sense to avoid staging elections in three consecutive years in 2018, 2019, and 2020. 'Status Quo Or Worse' But critics claim the government's proposal of the amendments -- coming immediately after a failed coup in neighboring Turkey -- is intended to consolidate and prolong Aliyev and his family's grip on power. Ali Kerimli, chairman of the Popular Front Party (AHCP), described it as "an attempt to provide a constitutional foundation for the existing de facto unlimited family power [and] strengthen authoritarianism." "This referendum only serves to strengthen the president as an institution and weaken all government branches," said former lawmaker Iqbal Agazade, who heads the independent Hope (Umid) political party. "It looks like the current regime does not see existing legislation as authoritarian enough, or sufficient enough to establish a monarchy," said Arif Hacili, head of the opposition Equality (Musavat) party. "This is why it has decided to change the constitution." Past As Predictor Of Future Behavior? There has been speculation that the post of first vice president is being created for President Aliyev's wife, Mehriban, who is a New Azerbaijan Party deputy chairwoman, or for their 19-year-old son, Heidar. In the past, Azerbaijan has organized constitutional referendums marred by fraud that directly benefited the Aliyev family. In 2002, then-President Heidar Aliyev called a referendum on constitutional amendments that included a stipulation that the powers of the president devolve to the prime minister if the head of state resigns or is incapacitated. Soon after, the elder Aliyev, who had been in power for a decade, appointed his son to the premiership and thus facilitated the transfer of power to Ilham. And Ilham Aliyev in 2009 initiated the referendum that scrapped the two-term limit on presidents, enabling his 2013 reelection for a third term. Intensified Crackdown Human rights groups accuse Azerbaijani authorities of unleashing a new wave of repression to silence critical voices following July's failed coup in Turkey and ahead of the referendum. A number of activists have been harassed, detained, arrested, and/or fined -- allegedly for campaigning against the vote or for suspected links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of organizing the coup attempt in Turkey. "We fear that we are now seeing the beginning of a new wave in the crackdown on civil society and opposition in direct relation to the referendum," Ane Tusvik Bonde of the Oslo-based Human Rights House Foundation said in an August 16 statement. At least three opposition groups' members have been targeted by law enforcement as recently as August. Republican Alternative movement (REAL) Executive Secretary Natiq Cafarli was arrested on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power before being released on September 9, and two REAL activists were sentenced to administrative detention on charges of resisting police. Meanwhile, pro-democracy youth movement N!DA's Elgiz Gahraman was charged with drug possession and ordered into four-month pretrial detention. Several members of the opposition Popular Front -- including Fuad Ahmadli, Gadim Bakirov, and Faig Amirov -- were put in pretrial detention or held in administrative detention. Authorities also harassed political activist Baxtiyar Haciyev, who was fined 100 manats ($61) on charges of "minor hooliganism" and prevented on September 18 from leaving the country to attend an OSCE conference on human rights (due to what officials would later describe as a technical error). Sport for Rights, an international campaign drawing attention to human rights violations in Azerbaijan, says it considers the charges against the activists to be politically motivated, and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. The new crackdown "occurs against the backdrop of a dire overall human rights situation in Azerbaijan," an August 18 statement said. "The media remains completely dominated by the state, and critical journalists operate in a climate of fear," the campaign added. "Excessive restrictions remain on civil society, severely hindering the ability of independent NGOs to operate." There have been minor gatherings in Baku at which demonstrators have called for the cancelation of the referendum and for democratic reforms. Police have detained some of those protesters. Bosnian Serbs have voted overwhelmingly to maintain a Statehood Day holiday on January 9 in a controversial referendum held in defiance of a high-court ruling from Sarajevo. Authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovinas autonomous Bosnian Serb entity said that with more than 70 percent of ballots counted in the September 25 vote, 99.8 percent supported the holiday. Turnout was between 56 and 60 percent. Republika Srpskas nationalist President Milorad Dodik said the vote would go down in history as the "day of Serb determination." "I am proud of the people of Republika Srpska, of all those who came out and voted," Dodik said in the town of Pale, near Sarajevo. January 9 is 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. The 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 Republika Srpska as one of two constituent states within Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dragan Lukac, interior minister in Republika Srpska and its electoral commission head, speaking earlier on September 25 in the city of Banja Luka, said "everything was 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, Bosnias Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court banned the referendum, ruling that the January 9 holiday illegally discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats. The Bosnian Serb entitys president has pushed for it to go forward. Dodik, speaking in the town of Laktasi after casting his ballot, said it was an "important day, a solemn day." "The days ahead will bring something [new], but we will see in what way," he also said. Asked what his response would be to the Sarajevo-based Bosnia-Herzegovina 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." Dodiks critics accuse him of trying to set the stage for a future referendum, possibly in 2018, on whether Republika Srpska should secede from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Such a move would effectively mean the end of the Dayton accords, which brought a formal end to Bosnias 1992-95 war. Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosnian Muslim member of Bosnia-Herzegovina'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 "no one is more prepared to defend this country than we are, to defend its constitutional order and territorial integrity." Dodik has insisted that secession is not part of his short-term plans for Republika Srpska. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, speaking on September 24 in Belgrade, said the "most important thing is that peace and stability are maintained in the region, including Bosnia-Herzegovina." He added that "Serbia respects the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina and of Republika Srpska." Earlier this month, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that "Serbia is and will always be behind Republika Srpska," adding that "anyone who thinks that they can overrun 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 had 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-Herzegovina, 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-Herzegovina. The U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo earlier 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, had also 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-Herzegovina 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, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax Facing possible extradition to Russia, dissident artist Oleg Vorotnikov plans to apply for asylum in the Czech Republic. He was released from custody in Prague on September 21, and promised not to leave the Czech capital as authorities decide whether he should be sent to Russia to face charges of hooliganism. As a founding member of the art collective Voina (War), Vorotnikov was involved in a series of high-profile stunts challenging Russian authorities. (YouTube: Voina, Reuters) Events in Uzbekistan are moving more quickly than expected since former President Islam Karimov was officially declared dead on September 2. Since being declared "acting president" by parliament on September 8, Shavkat Mirziyaev has been very active, and in the process, provided some insight into his policies should he be elected president, as is widely expected, in the December 4 election. To look at what we've seen and learned about Uzbekistan's acting leader in his first weeks in power, RFE/RL assembled a Majlis, a panel, to discuss Mirziyaev's actions since September 8. Moderating the discussion was RFE/RL Media Relations Manager Muhammad Tahir. From Exeter University in Britain, senior lecturer David Lewis, formerly Central Asia director at the International Crisis Group, took part. From New York City, Sukhrab Ismoilov, a legal expert and head of Uzbekistan's independent Expert Working Group rights organization, joined. In Prague, the director of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, Alisher Sidik participated. I threw in a comment or two also. Ismoilov noted, "He [Mirziyaev] is already feeling and acting like a president, even we still have three months until elections." On September 13, Mirziyaev changed one of his deputy prime ministers and the education minister. He also expanded the powers of two other deputy prime ministers. On September 16, Mirziyaev headed to his native Jizzakh Province. On the eve of his arrival, the provincial prosecutor-general was dismissed, as were some other officials after Mirziyaev showed up. Mirziyaev also reshuffled officials in Tashkent's Ulughbek district, the same district Mirziyaev was in charge of during most of the first five years of Uzbekistan's independence. Friends And Enemies The acting Uzbek president is also bringing some people back. Abdullo Aripov is one of these people. Aripov was involved in the communications business since the early days of the country's independence, becoming deputy minister of communications in 2002. In 2012 he was removed amid a brewing scandal involving the Russian telecommunications company MTS and bribery that would eventually spread and include former President Karimov's eldest daughter, Gulnara. In one of his first moves as acting president, Mirziyaev appointed Aripov deputy prime minister in charge of youth policies, culture, information systems, and communications. Ismoilov explained, "Abdulla Aripov might have been one of the closest men to Mr. Mirziyaev." And shortly after Mirziyaev became acting president, it was reported that Interpol had removed Gafur Rakhimov from its wanted list. Rakhimov is allegedly a powerful organized crime leader. The U.S. Department of the Treasury put financial sanctions on Rakhimov in 2012, saying in its statement, "Rakhimov is one of the leaders of Uzbek organized crime with a specialty in the organized production of drugs in the countries of Central Asia." Rakhimov had already fled Uzbekistan in 2010 and is believed to have been living in Dubai. Sidik said now that the Interpol warrant has been withdrawn, Rakhimov, also apparently an acquaintance of Mirziyaev, is expected to return to Uzbekistan. Sidik added, "Apparently they are either his friends or previous acquaintances, or previous foes, which, at this point, he's dealing with." Mirziyaev also visited some of the regions adjacent to Tashkent Province. As mentioned, he was in Jizzakh but he also visited the Angren. Lewis explained, "He clearly now needs to consolidate his power base and that includes back in Tashkent, in his hometown in Jizzakh, and as much as possible in the regions." But Sidik said, according to information Ozodlik is still working to confirm, during Mirziyaev's trips to the regions "he's not using the security of the previous president, the regular presidential security service, he's using private security, which allegedly was hired from Russia." So it might be the case that Mirziyaev is not firmly entrenched as Uzbekistan's leader yet. Lewis suggested, "behind the scenes, not quite sure that this is completely resolved as we might expect, which would explain the speed really with which the acting president is moving forward." While Some Things Change... Some policies have certainly not changed. Local authorities mobilized students and others to clean up Jizzakh and Angren ahead of Mirziyaev's visits. Sidik said the cotton campaign was under way again, and while children were not reported to be forcibly sent into the fields, many adults still were, or were forced to pay local officials to avoid conscription into the annual cotton-harvesting campaign. In terms of foreign policy, Lewis said that Mirziyaev had "already repeated the sort of mantra, there'll be no foreign bases on Uzbek soil and so forth" and also noted Mirziyaev did not attend the September 16 CIS summit in Bishkek. But in a possibly hopeful sign, the panel took notice of some positive overtures Tashkent has made toward neighboring Kyrgyzstan since Mirziyaev took charge. On September 18, Uzbekistan removed its forces that occupied a mountain in Kyrgyzstan in late August and not long after an Uzbek-Kyrgyz team started reviewing their common border with an eye toward the long-standing problem of demarcation. Sidik said Mirziyaev might seek better ties with eastern neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, but he added, "What he needs from neighbors, from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan [is] water, because he is a cotton guy." None of the panel members put much importance into the upcoming presidential election. Ismoilov said, "There is no difference from the previous election preparations under former President Karimov and we can already see the same faces nominated by the four political parties in Uzbekistan." Once again, only the four registered political parties, all pro-presidential, are able to nominate candidates. The Adolat party is forwarding Nariman Umarov, and the People's Democratic Party selected Khotamjon Ketmonov, the same candidates the parties ran in the 2015 election against Karimov, who took, respectively 2.05 percent and 2.92 percent of the vote. The Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party nominated Sarvar Otamuradov, a first-time candidate. Karimov's favorite party, the Liberal Democratic Party, nominated Mirziyaev as their candidate. Sidik described the upcoming December 4 president election as "just a formality," with Lewis commenting, "The election is nonsensical, it's a ritual as it was in Soviet time of public showing support." The panel delved deeper into these topics and also discussed Mirziyaev's likely policy toward Russia and the inevitability that he will move against some of the top officials in the Uzbek government several months after being officially elected president. You can listen to the full discussion here: Listen to or download the Majlis podcast above or subscribe to Majlis on iTunes. Three Pakistani Taliban leaders have reportedly been killed in joint Afghan and NATO air strikes in eastern Afghanistan, Pakistani security sources say. Sources told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal on September 25 that Raees Khan, also known as Azam Tariq, a spokesman for the Khan Said group of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, was killed in the air strikes late on September 24. The air strikes targeted the Laman area of Afghanistan's Paktika Province, along the volatile border with Pakistan's lawless tribal areas, a hotbed of various extremist groups. A senior official with Khan Said confirmed to Radio Mashaal that Tariq had been killed. Sources said Tariq's son and two other Taliban leaders from North Waziristan were also killed in the attack, but did not give their names. Afghan authorities confirmed the air strikes and said three Al-Qaeda commanders and six other members had been killed. Mohammad Radmanish, deputy spokesman for the Defense Ministry, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on September 25 that Tariq was likely among the dead. Nabiullah Pirkhil, a spokesman for Paktika Province's governor, told Radio Mashaal that among the dead were members of Al-Qaeda and the Haqqani network, a radical wing of the Afghan Taliban that is based in Pakistan's tribal areas. The Khan Said faction in 2014 severed ties with Mullah Fazluallah, the current TTP leader, saying it would operate independently from North Waziristan. Afghan and NATO forces have increasingly targeted Islamic State, Haqqani network, and Pakistani Taliban positions in eastern Afghanistan. In Pakistan, the army has conducted large-scale operations to root out militants from the tribal areas since 2014. But Kabul has accused Islamabad of targeting only Pakistani Taliban fighters, who are fighting to overthrow the Pakistani government, and giving free rein to other militant groups fighting Afghan and NATO forces in neighboring Afghanistan. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and Radio Free Afghanistan After spending nearly nine decades forgotten in a Moscow storeroom during the Soviet era, some relics of Russian Orthodox St. Serafim of Sarov should soon be circling the globe aboard the International Space Station (ISS). When the next mission to the ISS blasts off, a box containing a tiny relic of Serafim's body will be strapped to the chest of the commander of the Soyuz rocket, cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov. Russian Andrei Borisenko and American Robert Kimbrough will fill out the mission's crew. "Many cosmonauts are believers," Father Aleksy Pestretsov, a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church's metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod, told military channel Zvezda TV on September 16. "And when a believer sets out on a long journey -- and space is definitely a long, very difficult, and serious journey -- such a person wants somehow to brace himself physically and also spiritually." St. Serafim's relics will perform what church officials are calling a 155-day "krestny khod," or religious procession, around the entire planet. The saint's remains were transferred to the Zvyozdny Gorodok (Star City) cosmonaut training center outside Moscow on September 18. Liftoff from the Russian-rented Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan was initially scheduled for September 23, but the launch has been postponed at least until mid-October following a short circuit on the spacecraft. The relic will spend 155 days orbiting Earth in a specially designated place aboard the ISS. When it returns to Russia, it will be given a place of honor at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration at Star City. "For us cosmonauts, this is a holy event that will strengthen our spirit," veteran cosmonaut Sergei Zalyotin told journalists during the September 16 handover ceremony. "To some extent, it will help Russians get over the period of militant atheism and return us to the true faith." Reversing Soviet Atheism The influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country's political and social life has grown markedly in the 15 years since President Vladimir Putin came to power. But the church's intrusion into the realm of space exploration has particularly raised eyebrows. The space program was one of the great achievements of the communist and atheist Soviet Union. A Soviet slogan of the 1960s hailing the first man in space, Yury Gagarin, said, "Gagarin flew into space -- and didn't see God." It was a truism of Soviet ideology that the country's scientific and material progress was only possible after the Soviet people broke free of "religious superstition and dogma." "During the Soviet period, we lived for a fairly long time under an absolute cult of science, progress, and reason," Gasan Guseinov, a professor of humanities at the Higher School of Economics, tells RFE/RL's Russian Service. "Though it wasn't always real science. Therefore, together with our successes in natural sciences, mathematics, and so on, ideology itself was also touted as a science. We had 'scientific communism.'" Guseinov fears that the influence of the church in science might well go too far. "Orthodoxy is stepping into a role of some power, even becoming equivalent to science, to technical calculations, and so on," he says. "This is completely unacceptable. What if it comes to the point where we have to ask whether a cosmonaut has undergone some religious ritual or is being advised by a priest on when to fly or even if a priest is deciding that someone else should fly who has greater spirituality?" Science, Guseinov says, "is a world that must be completely free of all sorts of cults and mythologies." Aleksandra Arkhipova, who researches popular culture and folklore at Russia's Presidential Academy of Economics and State Service, is also concerned. Arkhipova draws parallels between Serafim's "krestny khod" and a World War II legend that Soviet dictator Josef Stalin flew over Moscow with an Orthodox icon as Hitler's army was on the verge of taking the city. In late 2013, when three suicide bombings in the southern city of Volgograd killed about 40 people, a rumor quickly spread among locals that Putin had performed a similar ritual in a helicopter. "Such rituals traditionally arose in the face of a real danger. The Germans are threatening Moscow. Terrorist acts in Volgograd. A house is burning. Cattle are falling ill. A village has the plague," she tells RFE/RL. "That is, there is a real danger from which people need protection. But here [in the case with Serafim] there is no essential danger. This is not being done to protect us from some real misfortune. The flight of the relics of Serafim of Sarov is a symbolic expansion of Orthodox values. Those values are circling the planet." Sarov's Symbolism It has become traditional for Orthodox priests to bless Russian space missions and other technological achievements. About a decade ago, cosmonauts began the tradition of visiting Russia's most important monastery, Trinity-St. Sergius, before setting out into space. Serafim will not be the first Orthodox saint whose relics have experienced weightlessness. In 2008-09, a relic of St. Sergei Radonezhsky spent 178 days in space. In 2009, a cosmonaut took a piece of wood believed to be fragment of Jesus Christ's cross to the ISS. The next year, relics of Saints Fyodor Stratilat and Fyodor Tiron made the journey. In 2011-12, relics of Saints and former Moscow Metropolitans Filipp and Pyotr visited the ISS. Most recently, in 2013, a relic of St. George the Victorious was taken to the ISS. St. Serafim's fate is symbolic of Russia's 20th-century transformations. He lived in the late 18th and early 19th century, joining the Sarov monastery at the age of 19. He lived most of his life as a hermit under conditions of extreme asceticism. Later in life, he became a celebrated confessor and believers from across Russia made the pilgrimage to see him. He is said to have died while kneeling before an icon that is now in the personal chapel of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill. Serafim was made a saint in 1903 in a lavish ceremony that was attended by the Russian royal family. Tsar Nicholas and his wife donated a coffin for his relics, which were venerated in a church in Sarov, near the city of Nizhny Novgorod. Ironically, legendary Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the father of the Soviet space program, published his landmark paper on the theory of rocket flight the very same year. In Soviet times, however, Sarov became a closed scientific city, devoted to the development of nuclear weapons. The Sarov monastery was closed in 1923 and the saint's remains were moved to a storage room in the Museum of Religion and Atheism in Moscow. They were rediscovered in 1991 and taken by foot in a major Orthodox ceremony to the Diveyevo Monastery near Sarov. Patriarch Kirill gave a reliquary with some of Serafim's relics to Pope Francis earlier this month as a sign of goodwill following the successful meeting of the two religious leaders in Cuba in February. The ISS is a $150 billion joint project of five international space agencies, headed by the United States and Russia. The United States and its European allies say it is up to Russia to bring about a cease-fire in Syria, warning that patience with Moscow was "not unlimited." The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States and the EUs foreign-policy chief issued a joint statement after meeting in New York on September 24. "The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities, allow unfettered humanitarian assistance, and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of UN-led talks about a political transition," the statement said. The ministers also pressed the UN Security Council to "take urgent further steps to address the brutality of this conflict," particularly the military escalation in the northern city of Aleppo. The Security Council is due to meet later on September 25 in New York at the request of Britain, France, and the United States. A weeklong cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia ended on September 19, and efforts to revive it have failed. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa Prosecutors in Tajikistan have called for lengthy prison sentences for two human rights lawyers in the Central Asian country, the latest in the series of government moves that have drawn international condemnation. Prosecutor Rustam Takdirzoda accused the lawyers -- Buzurgmehr Yorovand Nuriddin Mahkamov -- of inciting ethnic enmity, among other charges, and asked a Dushanbe court to sentence them to 25 and 23 years in prison, respectively. "How is it possible that two well-known lawyers have been turned into two extremists?" their defense counsel, Muazzama Kodirova, told RFE/RLs Tajik Service. The charges appear to stem from Yorovs legal work for 13 members and leaders of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikstan (HNIT). The party was once a significant player in Tajik politics, born out of an agreement reached to end civil war in the 1990s. But the party was declared an extremist organization last year, under President Emomali Rahmon, and outlawed, as Rahmons government has moved to tighten control over civil society and impose new restrictions on independent religious groups. Dozens of party members have been arrested. Yorov and Mahkamov are among at least five right lawyers who have been targeted by authorities for their legal work, prompting Human Rights Watch and others groups to call for their immediate and unconditional release. Earlier this month, HNIT leader Muhiddin Kabiri was added to Interpols wanted list at Dushanbe's request. With reporting by RFE/RL's Tajik Service Turkmenistans authoritarian leader has paved the way for potential lifelong rule, signing off on constitutional amendments that will allow him to run in future presidential elections regardless of his age. The amendments, signed by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov after approval by the rubber-stamp parliament and the Council of Elders on September 14, scrap a rule that barred anyone over the age of 70 from presidential ballots in the tightly controlled Central Asian country. They also extend future presidential terms to seven years from the current five. Gas-rich Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in the world and has never held an election that was deemed fair and democratic by monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Rights groups say dissent is not tolerated, government critics are routinely jailed or placed in psychiatric hospitals, and the country has no independent media. The 70-year age ceiling was the only legal obstacle preventing Berdymukhammedov, 59, from running for office as long as he lives. The former Soviet republics constitution places no limit on the number of terms he can serve. A dentist by training and a former deputy prime minister, Berdymukhammedov was appointed president by Turkmenistans security council in an opaque process following the death of eccentric autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov in December 2006. He is now serving his second term and is all but certain to win by a landslide if he runs, as expected, in the next presidential vote in 2017. Berdymukhammedov, who led a commission that drafted the amendments, said after signing them that there will be alternatives in the election next year. "Three political parties will participate in them -- the Democratic party, Agrarian party, and the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs," he said in a televised speech. Turkmenistan is the second country in former Soviet Central Asia to amend its constitution this year to strengthen the presidents grip on power and potentially extend his rule. Tajikistan changed its constitution to allow President Emomali Rahmon -- who has been in power since 1992 -- to run for an unlimited number of terms. Tajikistan also lowered the minimum age for presidential candidates from 35 to 30, a move that would enable Rahmons 28-year-old son Rustam to run for president in a 2020 election. Adoption of the amendments in Turkmenistan came after the autocrat who ruled neighboring Uzbekistan since before the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, Islam Karimov, was declared dead by the government on September 2 following a stroke. The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, has been in power since the Soviet era and there is no limit to the number of terms he can serve. With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, AFP, and Turkmenistan.ru Turkmenistan has opened a new $2.3 billion air terminal at Ashgabat International Airport as the former Soviet republics tries to become an international transport hub in Central Asia and reduce its dependence on revenues from natural gas exports. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said during the opening ceremony on September 17 that Turkmenistan has all the opportunities to become a transport bridge facilitating economic cooperation between Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and South Asia. The government in Ashgabat has taken part in a railroad project connecting Central Asia to Iran. It also is building a $2 billion port on the Caspian Sea and is involved in a project to build a railway through Afghanistan. Turkmenistan has a strict visa policy and only attracts about 100,000 tourists a year. But authorities there say they hope higher numbers of foreign visitors when Ashgabat hosts the Asian Indoor Games in 2017. With reporting by Reuters 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." U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his final speech to the UN General Assembly on September 20, urging international leaders to move away from policies that foster intolerance, authoritarianism, and isolationism. Obama warned Russia against "interfering in the affairs of its neighbors" and stoking "nationalist fervor" at home. (Reuters) John Cary killed more than his girlfriend when he shot Juanita R. Burnley execution style 15 months ago. He killed a family, John R. Burnley, her father, testified at Cary's sentencing hearing today. Cary, 28, was found guilty of Juanita Burnley's November 2007 murder last May after Richmond detectives broke the alibi he had constructed with the four men who saw the killing and the woman he went to sleep with a few hours later. Yesterday, Circuit Court Judge Clarence N. Jenkins Jr. sentenced Cary to 33 years for second-degree murder, use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. That was the sentence the jury recommended. Cary's father, younger brother and a first cousin all asked Jenkins to sentence him to less time. "That's not who he is, he loves kids. I know he was good to his girlfriend and her son. He's a good man," father John White said. Burnley said his grandson, Quentin, 9, wakes up every night crying and saying he just wants to talk to his mother. He said it is often 2 or 3 in the morning before Quentin finally slips off into sleep again. "We don't have a life any more," Burnley testified, trying not to sob. "We just never feel like going anywhere because Nita is not there any more." Burnley said he sometimes hears his wife talking to herself. "She says: 'Why did Nita have to leave us?' . . . I miss her every day. Sometimes, I can be driving down the street and I just have to pull over and pray," he said. "I just keep crying." A 41-year-old Richmond man who was shot early Saturday in Gilpin Court has died, Richmond police said. At 1:08 a.m. Saturday, an officer patrolling nearby heard gunfire in the 1000 block of St. Paul Street. There, the officer found Anthony D. Mack suffering from a gunshot wound. Mack, who lived in the 3200 block of Enslow Avenue, was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. We urge residents who may have seen or heard something suspicious to come forward with any information they may have, Major Crimes Lt. Donald Davenport said in a news release. If you see something, say something. Information from the community will lead us to the individual who committed this crime. Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call Major Crimes Detective Edward Aeschlimann at (804) 646-3351 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Citizens also can text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the keyword iTip followed by the tip, or submit a tip at www.7801000.com. You also can submit about people illegally possessing guns by texting Crime Stoppers at 274637, then using the keyword GUN250 followed by the tip. Rewards of up to $250 are possible. A Floyd County Sheriff's Office deputy was flown to the hospital Saturday night after being shot during a response to a domestic situation at a residence, the agency announced on its Facebook page. The sheriff's office, which has yet to release a name and exact condition, said the male deputy sustained non-life threatening injuries. The suspect, also unidentified, was taken into custody. The incident occurred a little after 8:30 p.m. The sheriff's office is directing questions related to the incident to Virginia State Police, which is now investigating the case. The Times-Dispatch invited the eight candidates for mayor of Richmond to the Library of Virginia for a two-hour debate on the evening of Sept. 15. All the candidates accepted and an overflow crowd turned out for the event, our 66th Public Square. Today, in a special, expanded Commentary section, we present a transcript of the debate to help voters prepare for the election, which is Nov. 8. In the interest of accuracy, none of the remarks of the candidates has been edited or shortened. Nor have any of the questions been edited. Times-Dispatch Publisher Tom Silvestri served as moderator. RTD journalists Andrew Cain and Michael Martz posed questions to the candidate, including those submitted by members of the audience. *** Tom Silvestri: ... Asking the questions tonight are two outstanding journalists. Please welcome my newsroom colleagues Andrew Cain Andrews taking a break as the political editor from covering the Presidential campaign now. ... And to his left, Michael Martz. Michaels a long-time Richmond reporter and state house reporter, who has covered extensively the issues of Virginia and its people. We shared our format in advance with the candidates. It takes into account that the Richmond Times-Dispatch, in video and a continuing series of stories, and in the Commentary section this past Sunday, has covered the basics of the campaign. So you should know the fundamental issues that they face. And also, who they are. So the format tonight is, well start with a first round of questions from Andrew and Michael. Theyll pose specific questions tailored to each candidate. We will allow three-minute responses. Then, we will ask a follow-up question and allow a two-minute response. ... Next, well introduce a second round of questions. Here, each candidate gets a chance to ask another candidate a specific question. ... Well leave about 30 minutes for that portion. In the final round, well ask questions submitted in writing by the audience. ... Well leave about 30 minutes for this portion of the program. And well ask the candidates to keep their answers brief. And finally, at the end, well give each candidate two minutes to make closing remarks. If you add that up, hopefully well be out of here by midnight. So, are we ready? OK. Andrew, first question. Thank you. *** Andrew Cain: Again, thank you all for being here. Mr. Baliles. You have the advantage of a well-known political name. But how have you proved yourself, and your ability to lead city government? Jon Baliles: I grew up in a family dedicated to public service, and learned a lot from that time. And anybody that knows me well, knows that when I was 15 and 16 years old, I swore it off more than life itself. I didnt want to go into the family business. And what happened along the way was, I bought a house in the Museum District when I was 27. And I got involved in my neighborhood association. And then I got involved working for the United Way, and finding out what was going on around town. And then I got involved in what was going on when Mayor Wilder got elected, to try to change the culture it City Hall, and trying to reverse decades of all kinds of problems in the city. And what happened was, I ended up working for Mayor Wilder. And then later for planning staff for four years. And then I got elected to council in 2012. Ive seen it all, from a citizen-outsider to a staffer on the inside to a legislator trying to do things like create better opportunities for people; fund more money for schools; stop dangerous projects that cost the city a lot of money, like the Shockoe baseball stadium. Ive seen it all. Theres nothing I havent seen. I bring an outsiders spirit with insiders knowledge to a position we need a strong mayor in this city. A lot of people we were at the retirees luncheon today. And they said, Is it the form of government? Should we go back to the old form, or should we keep the new form? And its not the form of government. Its the people that we elect in it, and who lead it and who run it. Can you trust them to make the right calls, and to put the city first? Or are they gonna deliver more of the same? More of the same deals that have held the city back for years. Its been going on since I was a kid. Everybody knows what Im talking about. Its not news. But nows the time to fix it. Theres a lot of great things going on in Richmond. One of the things I said the other day a rising tide lifts all boats. But not everybody in Richmonds in the boat yet. Weve got to put people in the boat, so everybody rises together. Some of us are ahead of each other, and some of us are ahead of others. But we know that we need to fix the schools. We need to make neighborhoods safer. My knowledge on the inside, and my independence on the outside, is important for the next election. You know, some people call me a politician. And the reason I know Im not a politician is, a couple years ago, I was offered a bright political future if I supported baseball in Shockoe Bottom. And I did what was right, because Im a public servant, and Im not a politician. If I had been in it for myself, I would have taken the deal. Anybody would have. And it wasnt good for the city. And two years, two and a half years later, we all know that now. Thats why my experience in government and my upbringing to be respectful and listen to people, and understand each others problems, goes a long way, I think, to why I should be elected to be mayor. Michael Martz: Mr. Baliles, youve mentioned several times the your opposition to the baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom. Youre also associated with an alternative proposal by a private developer from Midlothian to develop a stadium and ancillary development on the city-owned property where The Diamond is located. What happened with that proposal? Why was it not able to move forward? What has your solution been, as a member of City Council, to that issue? Baliles: Well, Id like to clarify one thing. I never sided with anybody. I didnt side with the mayor, I didnt side with the people that proposed the private development. I said we should look at options. Because we know that the mayors plan is gonna cost $80 million of city money. This private plan wouldnt. Should we look at it? Why wouldnt we? And so I looked at OK, lets look at options. Maybe there are other options out there. And so in that sense, I didnt side with the developers. I just leaked the information. They had met with almost all of council, and I leaked the information, because we had a budget decision to make on May I think it was May 1, 2014. We could allocate money for Shockoe infrastructure improvements related to the stadium, or we could put money into the riverfront plan, buy simple pedestrian infrastructure, education, schools, capital improvements, and public works. And thats what we ended up doing, by a five to four vote. After that, I explored several options. Look at buying the land in Shockoe Bottom that the EDA, the Economic Development Authority, wanted to lease back to the developers. That went nowhere. I and thats I mean, we we passed a resolution asking the EDA to do it, and they didnt. You know, theres not much we can do there. We tried multiple options, and kept I kept my options open. And I think thats what you need to do in government. You cant wed yourself to one plan and then ignore the voices of everybody else. It just doesnt work. And it didnt. And here we are, two and a half, three years later. Weve wasted God knows how many hours. Weve wasted a million dollars, tons of staff time, and not one shovel of dirt has been turned on the Boulevard to promote economic development. And nothings been done in the Bottom. So my my job is to explore options. And Ill continue to do that as mayor. *** Cain: Mr. Berry. You were the face of private-sector support for the Shockoe stadium. And behind the scenes, you kept pushing for it for a year after Mayor Jones dropped the idea. How do you assure voters that once in office, you wont pursue similarly unpopular projects? Jack Berry: I supported the downtown ball park, OK? Make no mistake about it. Ive seen it be successful in lots of cities all over the country. I thought it could be successful here. I thought it was an opportunity to bring jobs to to a part of town that needs a lot of jobs. It was an opportunity to bring a grocery store, a hotel, residential I just thought it would work. You gotta remember that I am the guy in Richmond for the last 18 years whos been responsible for promoting downtown Richmond. Thats my job. Thats what they paid me to do: Every day I got up and went to work and promoted the economic development of downtown. Ive tried to make downtown more vibrant. Ive tried to and the Folk Festivals a good example, and the other events that we do downtown. The marketing weve done. Weve tried to make it clean and safe. Weve promoted residential development downtown. My job is to promote downtown Richmond. And I think weve done a pretty incredible job of doing that. But the one thing that was missing, always I thought was missing downtown I mean, we had the bars and restaurants. They had the civic and cultural opportunities downtown, the office and residential. But the one thing that was missing was families and children downtown. And I just thought that we could follow the lead of other cities, and have a family-friendly entertainment venue downtown that would bring children. It blew up. It blew up for a whole lot of reasons. Citizens didnt embrace it. They never even acquired the property. The Squirrels didnt support it fully. People were concerned about parking. People were concerned about historic resources. And the public, in many, many meetings and I attended, you know, all of em, I think spoke. And they dont they didnt want it there. They want it to stay where it is now. And so Ive heard the community about that. And even though I love downtown and I want to make downtown as strong as it can possibly be, because economic because downtown is the economic engine of our whole city. Thats what produces so much of the taxes, it pays for our schools. Even though Im a downtown-centric person, and have been that way for 18 years as part of my job, Ive heard the community. And Im not going back there. Were not having anything to do with that project again. I dont want to get the city tied up in knots for the next four years on any project thats as divisive as that. I learned my lesson. I learned that you need to listen to the community, and you cant exert so take so much energy out of the community, on one project thats divisive. We need to focus more on things that unite us. Weve certainly got to do that in the area of schools. But I think theres a big opportunity to now pivot, and do the project on the Boulevard. It could be on the ABC warehouse site, it could be on the citys 60 acres. But theres a real opportunity now to give it the Squirrels the kind of home they deserve on the Boulevard. The Boulevards an incredible opportunity. Its not just the 60 acres that the city has. Its several hundred acres of undeveloped, or underdeveloped, land in the area. This can be our midtown. This can be an enormous economic development engine for the city. And a ballpark could be part of it. But what I will say also is that we cant use our precious debt capacity for a ballpark. Thats got to be reserved for schools. And weve got to make sure that its paid for by the Squirrels, VCU, private sector, and the counties, as well as the city. Martz: Mr. Berry, you mentioned your years as executive director at Venture Richmond. In many ways, that organization is directed by corporate leadership through the city. Theres the perception that it is responsive particularly to that corporate leadership. What would you do as mayor to help the least among us, and deal with the issues of poverty in the city, both as it affects daily life and in the school system? Berry: Yeah. Venture Richmond is a public-private partnership. Its made up of the city, its made up of community leaders, and its made up of a lot of business leaders. And theyre all concerned about downtown. If one thing together that all of us have been able to agree on over the last 20 years, its focusing on downtown. Because downtown is everybodys neighborhood. So its natural to have an organization of business leaders and city government leaders that focus on downtown. Most every city has one. And yes, theres a lot of business interest there. And I think Ive been very good at pulling resources from the business community for worthwhile projects that have benefitted the community, including the Folk Festival. Which weve made free for everybody. Now, the job that the job of the mayor is to make sure that everybody participates in the economic rebirth of our city. Every district. All nine districts. Every neighborhood. And thats not been happening. Theres an incredible disparity in services and outcomes in various neighborhoods. And what I want to do is bring the community on that. And bring the resources of the community together, to work on poverty issues. The resources wont come if they think that the organization that theyre gonna be working with is dysfunctional and full of cronies, and cant get anything done, and is always fighting. But they the money will follow good ideas and good execution. So I want to strengthen the Mayors Office of Community Wealth Building, which brings together a comprehensive set of resources, from transportation to job creation, to education. I want to strengthen that issue. I want to work on mixed-income housing. Weve got six public housing developments in our town that are concentrations of the poorest among us. I want to work on that. And I want to work on school issues that can help our kids come out of school with opportunities to succeed. I think the whole communitys ready to pull together on schools. And the whole communitys ready to pull together on working on our poverty neighborhoods. I certainly am. I mean, Im not running to try to make rich people richer. Im running because Im 62 years old, and Ive had a wonderful career. And I want to take my skills, and I want to take my experience in city government and in the community and in the nonprofit world, and on the board of the Metropolitan Business League of Richmond. And focus on the places in Richmond that need the help. *** Cain: Mr. Junes. Your main credential is that you worked for Henrico County Parks and Rec. How does that qualify you to run the city of Richmond? Bobby J. BJ Junes: Do we need to move the mic, or can everybody hear me? Are we okay with the mic? OK. Certainly. Very, very good question. And this was kind of played off a little bit earlier this afternoon when I was at another interview forum. Maymont Park Foundation has been trying to, over the past two years, to expand into a parcel, which is in Byrd Park. Now, the city owns both parks. But Maymont Park Foundation is really the management firm that the lease had gone out to. Coming home one afternoon, I stepped into a meeting. Crowd wasnt this large, but about half this size. And the residents were really concerned about what was going on. What could happen. I was in the back of the room. And I stood up at the end of the meeting and said, Look, gang. Ive been recreation parks commissioner for 10 years. Thats 120 meetings, mitigating between what the residents wanted, and really, what the municipality in that case, it was the county. It could just as easily be the city. After that initial meeting, I had a chance to meet with Mr. Burns, who at that time was the executive director of Maymont Park Foundation. After three discussions with him, and after 14 board meetings planning commission meetings, not board meetings. Planning commission meetings. And after my guess is it had to have been at least 30 or 40 individual residents stood up in opposition to the plan at least 25 to 30 local organizations, associations, and nonprofit groups stood up, did not want the plan. The planning commission, after 14 months, approved the set of plans for Maymont Parks Foundation. After that, I said, Wow. All this time, effort and energy, and the city hears these people talking. So I decided weve got to connect the city government to what the local city residents want. The city residents want. So if thats the case, if I could see it happening with the planning commission and the planning departments, my only thoughts were, its on a larger, much larger scale, and spread out. Since that point in time, my goodness. This afternoon, we had the retirement account. And we were looking at the retirement system board. And what happened there? Theres a big discrepancy. Sixty-four percent funded, and 80 percent is the threshold that theyre trying to shoot before theyll even consider any raise increase to the people who are members. Wow. And then Ive been looking at the police and safety of the citizens. Past two or three years, the crime rate has really been down. But this year, the crime rate is starting to spread up. Doesnt mean that its going to continue up. But its certainly something that we have to stop and take a look at. We need to be conscious. If all these different fields and areas are starting to step up or out of control, we need to stop and see what the citizens want. Martz: Id like to reverse the question a little bit. One of the big issues, one of the problems that has plagued the Jones administration, has been a difficulty in regional cooperation with the surrounding jurisdictions. In your case, you worked with one of the jurisdictions. How would you assure the citizens of Richmond that you would represent the citys interests first in dealing with Henrico and the other counties on matters of regional interest? Junes: Well, Im very open, and very excited about what can be produced by re-energizing the cooperation between the city of Richmond, Henrico County, and Chesterfield. This is a case that, in Louisville itself, it was a city with separate counties. Well, what happened? They got together, and after a period of time, all the entities came together. And now, its no longer the city of Louisville. Its the metropolitan area of Louisville. Theyve all jumped on board to the same plan, and everybodys going in the same direction. After 120 board meetings at Henrico, I feel like I know the Board of Supervisors fairly well. And fortunately, Ive begun to meet a lot of my compatriots here, who are already City Councilmen, and have served with City Council. I think once Henrico knows that they can come in and theres someone in the city or leading the city, that their interests will not be unsurmised. Or at least thats the way, sometimes it appears, even though that may not be the case. I think if they see a solid link, theyll be more than happy and open to sit down. And we start with small projects. We dont have to start with big projects. Lets do some small projects, one at a time, and lets start to rebuild. And Chesterfield certainly will be open-minded. The main issue is education. And that comes from the number of students that are in poverty in the city. And believe me, Henrico County and Chesterfields numbers arent quite as high as the citys. I think the citys at 38 percent. Think Chesterfield and Henrico are approximately 22, 25 percent of the students that come from impoverished conditions. *** Cain: Mr. Morrissey. Youve made what some would call some questionable decisions in your personal life. Why should voters expect anything different if youre elected Richmonds mayor? Joe Morrissey: First of all, Tom, thank you for inviting all of us here tonight. And I also want to thank the staff of the Library of Virginia for their good work. Andrew, theres no questions I have had some trials and tribulations, and that Ive stubbed my toe on more than one occasion. Ive asked people to look at my body of work. That whole body of work includes starting two private businesses that take care of intellectually challenged adults. I ran that business for almost 12 years. A lot of people dont know about that. I had a similar business that provided services, day support services, for that same group of people who are intellectually challenged. Ive been the managing partner of two law firms. Not only do I try a lot of cases, but I also keep the trains on track. When I was elected to the House of Delegates, I was there 18 months. And then the minority leader tapped me to be the minority whip, to lead debates on the house floor for Democratic colleagues. I think my legacy in the House of Delegates was constituent service. Responding to people, and doing it very timely. I led efforts with restorative justice issues. The environment. And I worked across the aisle. I might be the only Democrat in the House of Delegates that sponsored a bill with Ken Cuccinelli. (LAUGHTER) I ran a state agency when I was 32 years old. Always under budget. I think Im the only candidate who has represented contiguous counties. Represented 80,000 Henrico citizens, people in Hopewell and Charles City County. I understand regional cooperation. So with that I think that and Im not excusing stumbling but Ill tell you this: I tell young folks and I speak to them all the time youre not going to be defined by your setback. By your failure. Rather, youre going to be defined by how you respond to that. And I think Ill leave it at that. Martz: Mr. Morrissey, one of the calling cards of your political career, beginning as commonwealths attorney in the city, has been your willingness to fight for clients and constituents. And its the fighting mentality that you have claimed as a virtue. Does that temperament work for you or against you, however, when youre dealing with governance issues, and youre having to work with other people across party lines, as you say, across adversarial lines? Or is that temperament a liability? Morrissey: Thats a great question. I think it has been a liability in the past, and I think it can be an asset. I participate in two different endeavors that many would consider a contact sport. One is being a trial attorney. Ive tried almost 280 jury trials. Its a competitive business, and it can cause some flamboyancy that Ive been accused of and is probably accurate. And I think that Fighting Joe moniker has certainly helped me in that capacity. Ive also been involved in politics. I served almost 12 years as an elected official. And again, politics can be a contact sport. And you have to have a certain amount of thick skin. And I do. But Ill say this. Theres no question that when you are working with boards of supervisors, with city council folk, with folks that have significant stakes and agendas and legislation that youre coming forward, you have to be able to work with them and compromise. I dont think that my party would have nominated me and appointed me to be minority whip unless I can work with those people. So and I would also say this. Ive gotten married recently. I have two beautiful children. My wife seems to be in the paper as much as I am. And I think that perhaps maybe Ive tempered things a little bit, being a father and a husband. *** Cain: Ms. Mosby. Michelle Mosby: Yes, sir. Cain: Youve been the president of a city council that has generally supported Mayor Jones, whos leaving the City Hall with what some would say is a great deal of dysfunction. How would you operate as mayor, particularly to repair the citys finances? Mosby: Well, thats a very good question, and a very easy one, for me. We have already, at this point we were a part of the hiring of our new CAO (chief administrative officer), which is Selena-Cuffee Glenn. As mayor, I would keep her. She is absolutely fabulous. She knows what shes doing. With that, she has hired Lenora Reid (in finance). And I believe that we have to have a mayor, which would be me, that knows how to put systems in place. I know how to allow our CAO we work together. In my first hundred days, she and I are going to sit down and determine who stays and who goes. And so its about putting systems in place so that things work. We have, as a council, put monies into our finance department, and they were able to hire the 30 staff workers that they needed, so that the reporting can go out on time. Begin to put some things in place so that we can begin to collect the revenues that are necessary to run our city. And so some of those things, as a council, as council president, in these last two budget cycles, we have already begun to put in place. And so I would continue to enhance them as mayor. It sounds complicated. But if you have the right leadership, it is not as complicated as people make it to be. It really is not. And I believe I can push it forward. Martz: ... This would be the third mayor under the new form of government. Mosby: Yes. Martz: As president of the council, did you see council as a co-equal body under the new city charter? And push the interests of City Council in contrast to that, the desires of the mayor, the proposals of the mayor? Or did you feel that your job was to work with the mayor? And how would you treat City Council if the roles were reversed? Mosby: As president of council, I walked in knowing that in order to get anything done in this city, you have to have a workable relationship with everyone. And so I cant walk in and say, You know what? Not really feeling Mayor Jones today. Im not going to work with him. And think that were going to get things done. It doesnt work. To think that I am going to work with eight other council members and decide that what theyre saying is not important, and Im not going to work with them, doesnt work. And so I have been able to, as president, bring everyone together. We dont were never going to agree. And if anyone up here wants this body to believe that theyre going to become mayor, and theyre never going to have disagreements, I beg to differ. And they think that youre naive. My mother tells me that tongue and teeth fall out. And so what Im saying to you is, when you have a mayor and you have 18 other elected officials that you have to deal with, you have to have a gift to work with people. And I have a gift. No, it is not about going against the mayor, or going against the council. Its finding a common ground. And that is what I have been able to do, on council. I have been able to bring that that mayor that people talk about, and this school board that people talk about, and this council that people talk about Ive been able to bring that group in a room. And that had not happened in 11 years. Im not touting about four years. Im talking about a year and seven months as the president of council, Ive been able to bring us together. And weve been able to have conversations. From those conversations, weve had a task force that has talked about dedicated source of funding. Weve had Mr. Baliles to put in papers in reference to dedicated sources of funding. Weve been getting things done. It isnt always pleasant, but we get things done. And I believe that it is because I am the president of council. (APPLAUSE) Silvestri: Please refrain from clapping. Mosby: But thank you. (LAUGHTER) *** Cain: Mr. Stoney. You have no experience in municipal government, and youre fairly new to the city of Richmond. How are you qualified to serve as the citys mayor? Levar Stoney: Well, you know thank you, Andrew, for the question. And thank you, Tom, for having us at this forum this evening. You know what I think that being the next mayor of the city, is its a little bit more than just qualifications. Youve got to be able to, youve got to have some background in knowing the people of the city. And also feeling the shoes that many of the people in the city walk in. And my connection is, like many of the children in the city, I know what it feels like to want. Im the first of my family to graduate from high school. The first of my family to go to college, and the first of my family to graduate from college. And I grew up on Free and Reduced Lunch. And I was able to pull myself up. And like many of the children of the city, there are a lot of folks who count them out. And when Im the next mayor of the city, Im not gonna count them out. By pulling myself up, I became the first at age 26, I ran a multimillion-dollar organization, the Democratic Party of Virginia, tapped by what I believe will be the next vice president of the United States, in Tim Kaine. At age 26. Hired, recruited top-tier talent. I worked the budget, and had to fire people at times as well. At age 26. And we created transformative results, and we won Virginia for President Obama that year. And then at age 32, I was sworn in as the secretary of the commonwealth. And was the youngest member of the governors cabinet. And there, I also handled a multibillion-dollar budget. Hired, recruited top tier talent. In an office which was the largest office in the governors cabinet. And I actually handled 3,000-plus people and services every single year. For me, I think the underused components of the mayoral job, is this: The mayor should be someone who drives the agenda, drives the narrative, and drives the culture inside of City Hall. Inside and outside City Hall. Also, the mayor should be the person whos considered the grand convener. So, who can bring people to the table to get something done? So as the next mayor of the city, I will work with City Council. I will work with the School Board. And I will work with the superintendent to get something done for our children. We need to start putting them first. For far too long, we have not told them that they actually matter. We think about the city, 40 percent of our children are currently living in poverty. Forty percent. Now, project that out over the next ten, 20 years. And what kind of city would we be in the next 20 years? Thats what were thinking about. But also, when I think about the future of the city, I think about us. What I call chasing the line. And that means for far too long, weve been chased by defeatism, by doubt, and I think its about time, in order to solve the problems that weve had for so many years, we cannot afford the status quo. We cannot afford more of the same. You dont get better with more of the same. You get better with new. Martz: Last fall, long before you declared your candidacy, former Governor and Mayor Doug Wilder had some choice things to say in an op-ed article about the next mayor. And he questioned the propriety of you dispensing patronage, as he said, on before of the McAuliffe administration, while you were preparing for a potential mayoral run. How would you youve raised a sizable amount of money for this campaign. How do you reassure the citizens that if you are elected, you will not dispense patronage to those whove supported you through campaign contributions and other means of support? Stoney: My job as secretary of the commonwealth was one of many. That is, I did assist the governor with the appointments of individuals to boards and commissions. The key word there is assisted the governor in appointments of boards and commissions. I also restored the rights of over 18,000 individuals, while working for the governor. For those individuals who have contributed to my campaign, which many of them live in the area of Richmond, in the Richmond area. The people who have, they believe that the capital city of the commonwealth is the front porch of Virginia. And I also believe that it takes new leadership to take the city to the next level. If we want to compete with the Nashvilles, with the Charlottes, with the Atlantas, were not gonna have, were not gonna be able to run government the same way weve run it for the last 20 years. And the people who support my campaign believe that. And so for me, a person, whoever works in City Hall, it will always be about merit. Thats what its all about. Its all about merit. If you can do the job, no matter how you look, no matter where youre from, if you can do the job for the citizens of Richmond, youll work in City Hall. But however, you cant get the job done, you cannot meet the results, you wont work in City Hall. And we cant accept more of the same. *** Cain: Mr. Tyler. Youre running based on your business experience and your knowledge of the citys budget. Why did you support the Redskins deal, which cost the city $500,000 a year, and why did you support the transfer of the Westhampton property? Bruce Tyler: Well, first of all, the deal that actually was started that came to City Council was a far worse deal than what was seen in its final form. Three individuals, Councilmen Marty Jewell, Chris Hilbert, and myself, we sat down and actually crafted a deal that is the deal thats now in place today. The big piece thats missing in this conversation, that doesnt come out and I dont know why it hasnt been reported. But at the end of the day, the Redskins park, the development of that building, will be somewhere around 30 to 40 percent paid for. And that is a significant amount of dollars on the table, that nobody talks about. So when you look at it in balance, youll understand that the deal is not as bad as has been portrayed in the public. The other aspect of it is that we together, by renegotiating the deal, put a million dollars into Richmond public schools. And what my thought process was, because of my business background, I knew you needed to get about $2 a square foot for the land on a rentable basis over the life cycle of the lease. And at the end of the day, when you put the numbers together, youll see that million dollars actually falls into that position. So unfortunately, I think a lot of times partial information gets put out, and no one really gets into the details. And in this case, I think at the end of the day the Redskins park will be not a negative to the city of Richmond. Martz: A number of economic development deals, including the Redskins park, the Stone brewery and restaurant and others, were handled through the Richmond Economic Development Authority. There were a number of questions raised about the lack of transparency, and how decisions were made, the costs were whether the public knew what the costs would be, the terms of the agreements. Do you support the way, the approach that Mayor Jones took with the EDA? Tyler: Well, I dont support it at all. Because quite frankly, were in a situation where we have not negotiated the best deals that we possibly could. And let me give you an example, something that no one on council was involved in, or anyone for the last 20 years. You remember the parking deck over top of the RMA? When I got on council, it was still $19 million owed on that deck. But yet the developer had bought and sold the building two or three times over. And as a result, had pulled out the cash. We can no longer continue to do those kinds of deals. Any time we put in money, we need to actually get a return on our investment, not just a tax payment. The other aspect is, is weve got to move the funding from the EDA out of the general fund, and into its own funding sources. Now, I believe and again, I havent studied the Stone brewery. But based on the information that Ive seen, at the end of the day, the Stone brewery is gonna bring a large amount of dollars back into the EDA. And that will be an excellent way for us to continue to do economic development, without competing with all the other aspects of the budget. Particularly when it comes to Richmond Public Schools. Because at the end of the day, were gonna have to put more dollars there. And we need to stop having this competing interest in the general operating fund. *** Cain: Mr. Williams. You keep running for office, but you havent come close to winning. Why do you keep running? (LAUGHTER) Lawrence Williams: I appreciate that question. (LAUGHTER) Cain: Im glad you do. Williams: One of the reasons that Im running is, most of you dont know me. Theres not a lot of name recognition, but theres a lot of service. And I want to run a campaign that is not based on political patronage. Its not based on name recognition. Its not based on the amount of money that you raise. Its based on the qualification. Politics today seems to be based on patronage and seniority. And its been 30 years now, and the public housing is still there. So, you ask me why I run. I am from the Church Hill area. I went to Richmond Public Schools. I also went to U.Va. and Harvard and am a registered architect. So as a result, Ive seen both sides of our society. And I from a professional point of view, as I walk my neighborhoods that Ive lived for 30 years, theres a deep concern of how we really want to change. Now, with my background and Im 63, so I probably have more experience than most of these individuals here. Ive got master plans older than some of these fellows up here. (LAUGHTER) And as a result, I want to emphasize, in terms of qualifications, that whenever council as far back as (former Mayor) Henry Marsh you know, who did you call for advice on planning and community issues, from Randolph to Fulton to the new homes on North Avenue? It was Lawrence Williams. When neighborhood housing services needed a person, when a Southside community development person needed advice on how to start a community development corporation, Lawrence Williams was called. And so I understand the nuts and bolts of this city. Id like to think that I am the continuity of all the things that were good from a just and civil rights point of view, in terms of leadership in this city. And we have to be careful that we are sensitive to that. So again, whew. Ive raised a good family. I have two kids that graduated from U.Va. and VCU, and theyre up in northern Virginia and New York. And they have extremely good jobs. And so Ive done well with my family. I come from a good Church Hill family, Mount Tabor Baptist Church. But most importantly, I have the ability to also work with an individual in Windsor Farms, or a lady in public housing. And the key issue here is, one, youve got to understand the infrastructure of this city. Youve got to understand how that building works. A courthouse and that building are two separate mechanisms. If youre running a courthouse, its nothing like running City Hall. And so Ive had time on every floor in that building, serving on the Richmond Tomorrow advisory board under Robert Bobb and (former Mayor) Walter Kenney. And also, working and yes, I did work with Mr. Jones and others. And I have the confidence of all of City Council. I have the confidence of all of School Board. Im an architect. So all I want to do is facilitate community meetings. I want to make things happen. And my last comment is: Harvey Gantt, of Charlotte, was an African-American architect. And he changed Charlotte in the 1980s. Because you need somebody thats hard-wired to care about physical planning issues. And I think I represent that. Martz: Youve mentioned before your experience with Mr. Bobb as city manager, and others. But that was a different era in city government. And this is a new era, with, as I referred to it earlier, with the charter for the strong-mayor form of government. You have the legislative branch now, as a counterweight to the executive branch. What sort of political skills do you bring to this job in order to accomplish anything? Williams: Political skills oftentimes represent: How do I get people to believe in what I believe in? And I think I am a great facilitator. Many of the small, subtle projects that you see around the city, Im the one that instigated a few of those projects. So sometimes a mayor is good, but if a mayor doesnt understand how to communicate a vision, hes not a good mayor. Lyndon Johnson was probably the best mayor of Im sorry, the best president of all time. And, you know, he was a one-on-one person. And I think most of council and most of the School Board know me as a one-on-one individual, to get things done. So I think weve discovered that politics is not all its cracked up to be. (LAUGHTER) Silvestri: Are you ending on that note? (LAUGHTER) Williams: Thirty years, and Richmonds always doing something we could do much more. Have to be positive as your new mayor. *** Silvestri: OK. That concludes round one. Now for something completely different. These candidates have been taking questions from our journalists, and as you compose your questions, remember, the candidates did such a great job of staying within the time. It looks like we might have some extra time to answer questions from the audience. Again, if you have a question on your card, kind of wave it, and a Times-Dispatch representative will come down and pick it up, and then give it to our journalist to ask the question during that time period. So its 7:18. Were allowing 30 minutes for this second portion, in which we allow the candidates individually to ask one of the other candidates a question. Ill try to keep score, so its only one per. Help me out, journalists. Who wants to go first? Youve been so orderly in going alphabetically. Well throw it off to whoever wants to go first. One question, ask another candidate. Mr. Berry has punched the buzzer first. *** Berry: So, Ill ask a question of the president of City Council, Michelle Mosby. In order to get transformational change, youve got to get people alive. Youve got to unite the community, and in particular youve got to unite the leaders of the community. Youve talked a little bit about how youve done that as a council president. But how would you unite the School Board and the council, and the mayor and the superintendent, to move our schools forward, when weve had so much fighting over budgets and school consolidations? As mayor, what specific steps are you going to take as mayor to unite the council and the school board? Mosby: As mayor, I will it gives me a great opportunity to expound on what Ive done as president. Once again, I say, 11 years, nobodys meeting, nobodys talking. But yet we all have the charge to make sure that our educational system works. And so that doesnt work. Brought them together. I went, I had a monthly meeting with our chair of the School Board. We met, we talked about the issues of schools. From there, we birthed the, How can we have everybody in room? We went from there to: Schools, we need to know exactly what your needs are. From there, they gave us three years, it took but we began to get the facilities task force from schools. From there, it became meeting with council and School Board. Having the conversation about: How do we get to a place of, this is what your task force says. How can schools and council agree on what youre asking for? From there, I went in as president of council to Mayor Jones and said, Mayor Jones, you are the mayor. I need us to begin to have a conversation with schools and council, so that we can begin to have a dedicated source of funding. Because I have a relationship with the mayor that I met in 2012, but have decided that the only way you move forward is to move forward when dealing with people. He said, Get my staff. Put the date on the calendar. Ill be there. And they were there. From there, a task force has been put in place. And there have been recommendations that came from the administration in reference to how we began to move forward, with dedicated sources of funding. Once again, Mr. Baliles came up with another group of recommendations. But with all that being said, in this last budget cycle I need us to be clear this council found $40 million over the mayors proposed budget. On the last two days that we were in our budget cycle, we couldnt figure it out. We couldnt figure out how we could do some things. I said, Hey. Lets reconvene. Lets do this again tomorrow. Eight other council members said, OK. Everybody left. At 11:30, 12:00 at night, Im on the phone with our CAO, having conversations, trying to find the money for decompression for our teachers. The next day, were still up. Were talking to the assessor, were talking to the administration. Because I have a relationship with this particular mayor, he gives me the autonomy to talk to his administration, to be able to figure some things out. We came back the next day, and what we had found was how we could begin to do the teacher (salary) decompression. Then we had to go to this mayor, get him to sign off on what we had found. What Im saying to you is, Ive been able to pull things together. Sometimes youve just got to have somebody that can pull it together. It is not as complicated as we want to make some things be. We have had eight council members that have worked with me. Everybody said this is what we want to do. Hey, yall, do we want to do teacher decompression? The answer was, yes. So at that point, nobody asked for anything for their districts. Everybody decided that the first dollar we found was going to schools, and then the last dollar we found went to schools. And that is because you have a great leader that is leading. And that is what Ill do as mayor. *** Silvestri: First question from a candidate to candidate. Next question. Mr. Baliles. Baliles: My question is for Mr. Stoney. The last eight years have been evidence of what a part-time mayor does for this city. We lose focus. We dont focus on the issues at hand. About three or so years ago, the mayor was asked to be the Democratic Party leader, and it was about the same time the Shockoe baseball stadium was going through. It was about the same time our financial reporting system was collapsing. It was about the same time that the Democracy Party headquarters was considered up for sale as part of the Shockoe baseball deal. And Mr. Stoney, last week you told the Richmond Democratic Committee that you wanted to not only be mayor, but a great party leader. Doesnt Richmond deserve a mayor whos gonna focus full-time on the city, given the problems that we face, and less on the politics? Stoney: I think the city deserves a progressive leader. And thats what the city of Richmond and its residents will get when Im the mayor of this city. Someone who believes in giving a voice to the voiceless, and someone who believes in righting the wrongs. And I think when you are at the table, in a leadership position like mayor, you have to ensure those individuals whove never been included get a voice. I got involved in public service and politics a long time ago because for far too long, voices were not at the table. And I believe if youre not at the table, you are on the menu. And for far too long, Richmond has been on the menu. And in me, youre gonna get a champion. A champion for children, ensuring that they get a foundation for success and a ladder to opportunity. And thats why in this campaign, Im the only person on this stage whos actually rolled out a comprehensive plan on how we improve the quality of life of the children of this city. No one else here has done that. And I talk about how the mayor can be a champion for the children, an advocate, but also a partner with the School Board, the City Council, and the mayor. As a party leader, I made the the values that I agree with. Im a Democrat. I dont shy away from that. I ran the Democratic Party of Virginia when I was 26 years old. I will never shy away from that. That means electing the first black president? Guilty. That means ensuring that Ken Cuccinellis not the governor of Virginia? Guilty. But I will always fight for the children of this city, the families of this city, and the citizens who deserve premium services from the city, and they have not gotten that thus far. *** Silvestri: Two questions down, six to go. Whos next? Mr. Tyler? Tyler: In many of the meetings, Ive been talking about on-demand transit as a possible solution to the GRTC issue, and BRT, that weve been talking about. Im wondering if you would if you were mayor if you would in fact initiate a pilot program to do on-demand transit, and transform our transportation system in the city of Richmond? Berry: I dont know enough about on-demand transit to really answer that question. Its an idea that weve heard from, from Bruce, that I mean, just doesnt really resonate with many people Ive talked to. I think the real issue in Richmond is to make sure public transportation is as good as it can be. And to focus on our GRTC transit system for the transit-dependent riders in our town, and to make its so good that choice riders want to ride on it as well. Weve got a long way to go in our transportation system. Weve got to have our transit system reach into the counties. Weve got to work with Chesterfield to encourage regional transportation so that our folks can get to jobs in the county. And for Chesterfield folks to be able to get to jobs in Richmond, which I hope in the future theres gonna be more transportation in that direction than outward. I think all the resources need to be put on our transit system, making sure that the routes connect properly to the new BRT system. Making sure that everybody has access to jobs. So no, I wouldnt put my efforts into on-demand transit, whatever that is. Id focus on the basics. Id focus on GRTC. *** Silvestri: Mr. Junes? And we have an order here, where each candidate has asked another candidate, and leaving nobody behind so far. So. Junes: Certainly. This question is to Mr. Morrissey. Im just curious how you view the governors most recent acclamation. And it was blanket coverage. Im certainly open to the idea with allowing those who are felons to regain some of their rights. And also, very open that this after a period of time, its like a good driving record, that these things get eliminated when you go submit your employment. What I found with lots of people Id speak to and with who have been, for one reason or another, a nonviolent felon, has a very difficult time being able to acquire a job. Morrissey: First of all, the idea of either automatically restoring the felons rights or blanket restoration was a good idea. In fact, I suggested to my friend Levar Stoney in 2013 that he follow Gov. Charlie Crist, when he restored the rights of 50,000 Floridians. Heres the problem. The idea was great. The rollout was horrible. And it smacked of political opportunism. Heres what would have, could have happened. The governor could have said, I am going to restore the rights of 200,000 convicted felons, but Im going to do it on November 9th. Take effect on November 9th. If you had done that, it automatically would have eliminated the political nature of what occurred. And then look at the rollout. The rollout occurred without the secretary of the commonwealths office notifying all of the registrars. The registrars throughout the commonwealth complained bitterly about not having any advance warning. The data base of convicted felons, and the data base of the state Board of Elections were not in sync. Indeed, there were some 133 people-plus that were still incarcerated. And then every day, there was another article about another group of people who should not have had their rights restored. So the idea was fantastic. It was good. And those folks rights should be restored, no question about it. And we all know that the reason felons in Virginia had their rights extinguished, and you could only get em restored by the governor, was because of Jim Crow laws in the 50s. So great idea, but rollout, horrible. Thank you. *** Silvestri: All right. Four down and four to go. Who hasnt had a chance to ask a question? Go ahead. Stoney: My questions for Mr. Berry. Earlier, quote-unquote, you said, Citizens did not embrace it. And I personally believe that the next mayor of the city has to be someone that we trust. My question to you is, how can we trust that you will listen to the Richmond community in your decisions as mayor, when your track records show you campaigned vigorously for a baseball stadium the people did not want? Berry: I campaigned vigorously for a ballpark in Shockoe because I believed in it, and I thought it would be good for the city. And it was an idea that the mayor had put out there, and I wanted to be supportive of my mayor, and supportive of downtown, as I explained earlier. I listened to the community, and the community judged otherwise. There was a period during that process where lots and lots of people were for it. Lots of business organizations, lots of community organizations were for it. A lot of people were trying to make it work. Members of council were interested in it, trying to make it work. So a lot of people thought that this was a good idea. And over time, it became clear from the meetings that it didnt enjoy support. And Ive heard it loud and clear. And I dont want to pursue a project that people dont want. But I do want a mayor thats strong enough to put ideas on the table, and try to move the city forward and not stand still and get stuff done. But certainly, I will listen to the community about all of these issues, and try to do things that everybody wants. And unite the community, to move our community forward. *** Silvestri: Next? Mr. Williams? Sure. ... Williams: Mr. Morrissey. If I am a CAO, and I have to answer to my board, which are the voters of the city of Richmond, or my people in Church Hill and the underserved in the community, Ive seen where we have high-rises with tons of lawyers on Main Street. And Ive looked at your resume. And you really dont have that much civil service experience. You know, Ive looked at your resume, and, you know, I would like to hire you. But I cant recommend you to my board, because of your minimal resume in terms of working in the City Hall. So my question to you is: You have been very active in the African-American community. However, some voters feel that its more of an exploitation of the black community, and very little service to the majority community. Maybe you found a niche. But again, when you have a large number of African-American lawyers and Im a small business person and you impact other lawyers in town. My question to you, again, is very precise. Do you what would you say to many of the voters who feel that you have exploited the African-American community? Morrissey: Can you repeat that last sentence? Williams: Mr. Morrissey. Many voters or potential voters have said, and weve all walked the streets of Richmond, have said that what would you say to convince them that you have not exploited the African-American community, with very little civil service or pro bono work, but more related to large fees? Also working to getting some of the drug dealers, etc., back on the street? Again - Morrissey: I think I understand the question. Williams: OK. Morrissey: Thank you, Lawrence. With regard to exploitation, I respectfully disagree with your premise. The NA (CELL PHONE INTERRUPTION). Lawrence, recently Marty Jewell said of all of the lawyers in the city of Richmond that the NAACP turns to, to do pro bono work, they dont turn to anybody more frequently than Joe Morrissey. I have devoted more free hours of pro bono work representing people that have come to me by the NAACP so I simply dont understand the premise of that question. With regard to civil service, I believe Ive served 12 years in elected office. And I think its more than every other member here on this dais combined. With regard to being asked by other entities to do work you know, there was a recent fiasco down in Petersburg, dealing with water rates. Lawrence, do you know what law firm they turned to to straighten that out? Morrissey and Goldman. WIlliams: Were you successful, sir? Morrissey: I think were on the way. Then additionally, when the National Slave Museum had some trouble, and Doug Wilder turned to somebody, he turned to me and my law firm. I made 14 trips up with the governor up to Fredericksburg to work that out. Williams: Were they successful, sir? Morrissey: I think its still ongoing, Lawrence. The point that you said is that Ive been requested by a lot of different folks to represent them. So I respectfully disagree with your premise, but thank you for asking it. Williams: Are you taking work away from African-American lawyers, sir? Morrissey: Im sorry? Williams: Are you taking work away from small business African-American lawyers? Morrissey: Well, let me just say this, with regard to African-American lawyers. When I became commonwealths attorney, a quarter of a century ago I think that was before you began running for office there was one African-American in the Richmond commonwealth attorneys office. It was the largest I was 32 years old it was the largest commonwealth attorneys in the state. I hired eight African-American attorneys to assist me. I nominated the first deputy commonwealths attorney who was African-American. In my law office, I have Ive run two successful law firms we hire African-American lawyers. With regard, do I take away business from folk? I imagine every time somebody hires me and doesnt hire another attorney, I necessarily take business away from them. But such is life. Williams: Yeah. I meant (Richmond Commonwealths Attorney) Mike Herring, and you can ask Mike Herring. *** Silvestri: Were down to two other candidates who have not asked a question? Mr. Morrissey? Morissey: Thank you, Tom. This is for Levar. Levar, you and I have known each other for about four or five years. Ive always considered you a friend, and we got along very well when I was in the House of Delegates, and you were the first time I met you, I told folks that he is a very pleasant, professional young man. I still feel that way. And my question Im about to ask you, I say it as respectfully as I can. During the Q&A from the journalists, they asked about your experience, and you said, You need more than just experience. But experience does count. As I look down the down the dais, Lawrence and Bruce are principles in architecture firms. Michelle owns a small business. Jack has tremendous amount of budgetary experience. Bobby was a director or commissioner. Jack was very much involved in economic development. But in all candor, youve never owned a business. Youve never signed the front of a check. Youve never taught school. Youve never cast a vote. You never developed a budget, supplemented a budget, amended a budget. You did youve done a masterful job of being, as you your own words a political operative. Do you not believe that you need some body of experience before you become the chief executive officer of the city of Richmond? Stoney: Mr. Morrissey, I told you earlier that at age 26 I was the executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Executive director means I was the chief executive officer. I hired, I fired, I inspired from the top down. I signed checks. You should know this, Mr. Morrissey. When I was a child, 10 years old, I wrote the checks out for my grandmother. Since I was a kid. So, I know how to keep track of the money. And I was secretary of the commonwealth. An agency of 35 people. I was the executive officer of that agency. I managed the budget. I hired the individuals who worked in that office. Three thousand people a year go to that office for service. You should know, because you used to write me letters as well, sir. What I think the next mayor of Richmond should be is someone we should all be proud of. Someone who youre not gonna see on the front page for anything thats controversial, anything thats gonna take our city back. Anything that gives our city a black eye. Im gonna be a mayor that our children can be proud of, and a mayor that people can look up to. And thats my commitment. *** Silvestri: One final question. Ms. Mosby, you close out this section. Mosby: Well, all right. (LAUGHTER) Im trying to make sure I dont get any black eyes. (LAUGHTER) Silvestri: Good luck. Mosby: Jon, when you vote this is for Jon. Jon. When you voted for me as president, did you know on the charter that if something if the mayor took another job that I could be mayor? Baliles: Yes, I did. And you would be an improvement. Mosby: All right, then. (LAUGHTER) (APPLAUSE) *** Silvestri: That concludes round two! (APPLAUSE) Note to future debate organizers: You might want to have the candidates take over. OK. Weve got a number of questions from the audience. Ill turn to Andrew and Michael to ask them. We have about 20, 25 minutes before we turn it over to the final part, which is the two-minute closing remarks. What have we we got, Andrew? *** Cain: OK. Were gonna need to keep our answers short, so that we can get through a few of these questions. Our first question comes from Larry Olanrewaju, a candidate for City Council. And you can each answer this in turn, but please keep your answers brief, about a minute or so. He asks, If schools are a priority, will you support a referendum for voters to decide whether they will support an increase in debt or taxes to finance school construction if that is the option? Mr. Baliles? Baliles: At this point, theres no reason to raise taxes to help fund school construction. Ive got a plan on my website that counters what the mayors proposing, which is raising real estate tax, property tax, the meals tax and the emissions tax. If we do a better job of collecting revenue thats owed to us, following the auditors recommendations there are about two-thirds of those that are not followed and refinancing debt like Henrico County did. Henrico County, over the last four years, refied debt at these historically low interest rates, and they are issuing a new referendum, mostly to fund schools, some parks, some libraries this year. So there are other options to do that. I think a tax increase is the absolute last resort. Berry: I agree that a tax increase is not needed. Our economy is strong. We should be able to find the resources that are necessary for schools. Ill have a five-year financial plan in my first 60 days of office. Well have a plan for renovating schools as well. Citizens expect their leaders to lead. They expect for their elected leaders to go to bat and do their jobs. And unfortunately, that hasnt been happening. And so parents have been really frustrated, and come to City Council meetings to save their schools. And rightfully so, and Im glad they did. But we really need our leaders to lead, and get us out of this mess, and figure out a plan going forward for our finances. And Ive got the experience to do that with colleagues on City Council and School Board, and the superintendent. Junes: Im very much open to a public-private tax, which means when youre a state organization, or a nonprofit, partnerships up with a private entity that they would be subject to real estate tax. Not across the board, but for that particular site where these events would be held or functions would operate, whatever it may be. And it would not incur more than what the real estate tax would be for that facility to begin with. And third, realistically, if it is break-even nonprofit position, or it hits that financial mark, thats when it kicks in. So lets say you just break even, or youre not making funds on this project or research. Then the plug gets pulled. You would not be subject to any additional real estate tax. I would call it public-private real estate tax. Morrissey: Andrew, recently when the mayor suggested that were gonna increase the debt capacity by $243 million, he said, Increase the real estate tax a nickel, personal property tax by 10 percent, the meals tax and the admissions tax. I dont agree with that. I wouldnt raise the taxes. We can raise the money for the new schools, and we can do it, I think, in three significant ways. No. 1, historical tax credits that have been used to develop Manchester or downtown Richmond. Thats a game-changer. No. 2, a dedicated stream of revenue from our real estate taxes, with a lock box like they do in the General Assembly, so that those few pennies on that dollar go directly to school consolidation, rehabilitation, rehabbing, construction. Also, stop giving away tax abatements. The recently retired assessor said were giving 25 percent away. And then last, stop spending money on what are otherwise private-sector endeavors. We should have learned our lesson with Sixth Street Marketplace, Main Street Station. But we havent. With the current administration, weve doubled down. Redskins stadium? $14 million. And what do we get out of it? The right to pay them another $500,000 a year. $33 million for the brewery. And you know what? Thats guaranteed by the city, redeemable at taxpayer expense. Were on the hook for it. So Ive given you avenues of raising money, and Im telling you now, one of those is not to raise our taxes. Mosby: I dont believe that we have to raise taxes, as well. Once again, because I am president of council, I am privy to real information. And so with that being said, there are things we can do. We talk about the tax abatement. However, that same tax abatement will allow a certain amount of money to come back online. And itll be online within the next year. And so with that, well be able to begin the process of building the facilities. Renovating and/or building the facilities for schools. However, that when I took the information to the mayors administration for the task force, it was with a campaign to transform Richmond. And with that, Baltimore has done it. South Carolina has done it. Their dollar amount was a billion dollars. That is not our dollar amount. Right now, our dollar amount is about $563 million that the schools are saying that they need. And so if we do the as mayor, I plan to do this campaign. And with that, Ive been lobbying with our General Assembly so that we can begin to get federal, state, local, public-private, nonprofits all on board so that we can raise the dollars needed to begin to do what we need to do as far as our facilities. As mayor, it is not your job to roll out an educational plan. I need us to be clear. There is a law that says that the School Board, that is their responsibility. As far as wrap-around services, theyre going to tell you what they need in their budget plan. And you as a mayor are supposed to provide the resources for that. I need us to not get wound up in what sounds great. I need us to know what is practical, what is real, and so we can move from there and have a leader thats going to take us there. We can in five years have what we need for our schools and moving forward to a 21st-century education. And this is not information that I heard. This is information that I can show you, and it is real. This is information that I received from our superintendent, from the School Board members that are currently there. I have the real information from the real people that are already working in this government. Stoney: First, Ive got to begin by saying that President Mosby, I totally disagree with you. There it may not be in the qua it may not be in the responsibilities of a mayor that they should not be a leader on public education. But there is a role for the mayor to play. And we have not seen that, currently. And there is a role for the mayor to play. And it breaks my heart that you disagree that the mayor can lead on education. That should be the No. 1 responsibility of the mayor, to ensure that the children of this city are getting the best education possible. Because guess what? When families leave this city for the counties, they take their tax dollars with them. And instead of spending money in Carytown, theyre spending money in Short Pump. And that tax base allows us the flexibility to do the things we want to do. Like invest in our children. Mosby: I hear you. Stoney: And so I do believe I just, I gotta disagree with that. So, before we start raising taxes, before we have that discussion, the mayor, the City Hall has to do a couple things, for me. No. 1: lets collect the dollars that were actually owed. We have a 96 percent tax-collection rate in this city. While the standard across the commonwealth is 98 percent. Thats $5 million were leaving on the table. Imagine if we collected 100 percent. Thats $10 million that we could invest in public schools. No. 2: we have a city filled with thousands of blighted and tax delinquent homes. How about we roll those back on the rolls and actually put some tax dollars back on our books. No. 3: Im the only person in this campaign whos called for a comprehensive performance audit and review of every single department in City Hall. I think we all can agree that City Halls not worked well for a lot of us. And so its a little swollen. So, how can we get it working better? We have to uncover those who are the high-performers and those who are the under-performers. And you know what? If we can restructure, reorganize, and strengthen some of our internal controls, we can invest those dollars back into public education. We have to fight for our fair share from the state 15.5 percent lost in funding since the recession. City Hall has overcompensated, probably. But we havent been able to get their dollars from the state. So weve got to fight for our fair share. Lastly, theres a federal government 100 miles north of us. We should be fighting for every single pilot program, every single grant, right here back in the city. You know what? If we stop infighting all the time, maybe we could actually get the private sector to invest in us. Nobodys gonna invest we have to give the private sector confidence to invest in our city. And no ones going to invest in conflict. Tyler: First of all, we dont need to raise taxes. I find it interesting, and I dont know how many people know this. But the FY 14 budget general operating budget, general fund budget, was $645 million. The budget that was passed by council this year, FY 17, was $709 million. Thats a 10 percent increase in four years, over four years 2.5 percent a year, roughly. So the dollars are coming in. There are two things that we need to do. We dont need well, a couple things. First of all, we dont need to raise taxes. Because we have a lot of inefficiencies in government. And the first thing we need to do is implement, enmeshed with the laws, reports. They are guidelines to how to become efficient. How to be a better city. And its time for us to do that first. The second thing is, is that the Commonwealth of Virginia puts out an audit report, on all the localities. And it tells you whether or not you are spending more than other localities or less in each category. The city of Richmond, 35 percent above the mean average in administrative cost. We can start right there. In order to fund our schools, and particularly the renovation, the first-phase projects, we need about $14 to $16 million a year in additional capital, to actually do to fund those schools. And thats about one and a half, two percent of our budget. The current budget. So when you begin to look at it this way, we can find the money by just doing what we should have been doing all along. Williams: Yes, I agree that we do not need to raise taxes. Especially real estate taxes. And not taxes on the elderly. In terms of bonding capacity, especially in terms of building new schools, were kind of low now. The previous mayors built our schools and used quite a bit of our bonding capacity. So were at $5 million or so. Now, we had talked earlier about $5 million here or $5 million there. Our school system needs serious money. We need a budget of $400 million or $500 million, not a onetime fix, but annually. And I want everyone here to go home and do their homework, and look up the composite index. If were gonna solve the city of Richmonds problems, its not gonna take a cultural change. Its not gonna take just a simple a new superintendent of schools. Its gonna take real, serious money. So the composite index, lobbying for that over the legislature, is a parallel track that we have to take as citizens and the media. Again, Chesterfield County pays 35 cents on the dollar, and we have to pay 47 cents. Now, that was great when Chesterfield had to build their schools, because of white flight and other things of that nature. But were all a new city now. Were all a new region. And we have to change that, and make certain that at least ours is as low as Chesterfield, at 35 percent. Forty-seven percent versus 35 percent, thats serious money. The Chesterfield County school budget and someone help me here. It may be $500 million now, $600 million. $688 million. Were at $175, $200 million at the most. Thats why our schools have problems. Thats why our teachers are frustrated. Thats why our children dont get any a third meal at dinner, so that they can participate in athletic programs. Thats why everyone in our city school system is tired, frustrated, in poverty, and need help. And I think its important that we as a people begin to emphasize that weve got to look at the composite index and regional equity from the legislature. *** Silvestri: All right. Next question? Martz: This question is from Emily Griffey: The child poverty rate in RVA is almost 40 percent. We must break the cycle, and connect the next generation to opportunity. What will you do to make sure our youth are workforce ready? And again, no more than a minute. Silvestri: Lets start on the other end, so that we have some symmetry here. ... Williams: Ah, good question. All right. As a mayor and a minority business owner, I am very concerned and again, I live in the Church Hill area. So on a daily basis for the last 30 years, I see what low employment and low capacity of our population causes. So, this mayor is hardwired to care about the fellow on the corner. One simple answer is, the school system is supposed to track kids after they graduate, to see their success rate. Any corporation wants to know if their product was good. With that success rate, up until 25 and we dont do that. So the key program, one of them, would be to make certain that we track our kids, our young males, to make certain that they have counseling, they have job-training programs. And thats important because thats why were hearing the gun shots. Tyler: I dont know if anybody saw the paper this morning. But I think it pretty well laid it out. More schools in Richmond fail state tests. Were obviously going in the wrong direction. The only thing thats been successful in Richmond public schools since Ive been involved in politics and lived in this city for 40 years seems to be the elementary schools and the high schools. We lose our children at middle schools. And quite frankly, quite frankly, not one middle school is accredited in the city of Richmond. Fully-accredited, based on what I saw today. Its time for a change. And heres the change. Lets start with K-through-8 education, as opposed to K-through-5. Lets keep our children in an environment where they have a possibility for success. At least nine of our elementary schools are accredited. And think about it: We need to build upon that, as opposed to taking away from it. Our middle schools have failed this city, and that is why as I sit here today I watch moving vans back up to houses and move to the counties, because they dont people in this room do not feel like they can educate their children, K-through-12. Its time to fix it. Stoney: Well, yesterday I received the endorsement of the Education Association here in the city, and its because of my plan I laid out on how we can improve the quality of life of a child here in the city. No. 1, we have to start telling our children they matter again. How do we actually start providing their schools with high-quality teachers? There are many there, but they need to be paid, because of what they do every single day for our children. But also, lets give them the best principals possible, as well. The number of schools Ive actually visited, and four or five principals in five years? Thats not called stability right there. That doesnt give confidence for parents to raise their children in the city. We also have to start on the front end as well. How about starting a pre-K education, making sure every child has access to a high-quality pre-K education? But also, how about every child in the city has access to a high-quality after-school program? Elementary school, middle school, high school. Giving them a meal after school. Giving them high enrichment. Working with their homework and their tutoring. But also, where they can actually get some recreation, as well. And lastly, weve got to make sure in high school years, that they get the skills to actually compete in this 21st century economy. A plumber. Electrician. Not everybody is gonna go to school. But they deserve the schools that compete. Mosby: I believe that the best way to fight poverty is to provide opportunities. I will call myself the opportunity mayor. Its about helping parents be able to have a job, a workforce to go to. You can have a parent that cant work, and they dont have a place to live and you think that youre going to be able to educate their children? Impossible. And so we have to provide opportunities for people with the workforce. We have to work with our career tech education. Thats why I became the chair, to ensure that our children were lined up with businesses. These are the things that are going to be able to pull us out of poverty. I got on the Greater Richmond Partnership board and partnered with the chamber, because we have to provide opportunities. That is why Stone (brewery) was important to me. That is why the Virginia Port Authority, and bringing those jobs, was important to me. Because at the end of the day, the only way that were going to alleviate poverty is to be a place of opportunity. Morrissey: Andrew, I think that question first dealt with what we can do to alleviate poverty, and then juxtaposed that with education. So Ill try to answer your question. First of all, I would expand the Mayors Youth Academy. We have 500 approximately 500 students in there. With a budget of $1.4 billion, a general operating general fund of $714 million, all of those vendors who do business with the city of Richmond ought to be providing an internship, one, two, three jobs in the summertime for these kids. Theyre getting business from the city. Let them give something back, in the form of a summer job. I would expand the Mayors Youth Academy almost threefold. Second, what can we do with regard to schools to help poverty? We need to think outside the box. Heres a couple of ideas. I dont guarantee theyll be successful, but theyve been theyve worked in other countries. How about uniforms? Lets start a pilot program with our public students wearing uniforms. How about this? Instead of being labeled as challenged because they cant see, give vision screening for pre-K through third grade. Early onset of diabetes testing for that same group of people. Classroom coaches. Junes: Certainly. When I was younger, I got involved with an organization called CARITAS because of the discrepancies on the streets. I would walk around, there would be mothers with children on the streets, no place to go. No employment, no food, no clothes. Came on as a rookie. We took the concept, we wanted to create a program where people with no clothes, no job, and mothers could have a place to go seven days a week, 24 hours a day. I can flip that to people in poverty. Cause one step up from being homelessness and unemployed, is actually to be in poverty. So whats the key link, to keep people out of poverty? I look at it being proper education. Housing unit. And employment. How do we deal with the proper education aspect? Your proven programs that you can put in place where people who are in poverty can be retooled such that they can come back and actually become productive members, or be very open to want to become integrated into the society today. ... But youre really asking the teachers, the current teachers, to provide an additional role, in addition to what theyre already teaching the students. Instead of math, English and science, now they have to sit down and retool the child so hes thinking socially, inclination, and want to become a member of our society. Berry: Theres nothing we want more than for our children to be successful. And the mayors job and my job will be to bring the resources from the community, both financial and community resources, together to unite the community in support of our schools, in support of our children. Im gonna mobilize the community to surround our kids. To surround our most vulnerable children with caring adults. Everything from coaches to mentors to teachers. We need to show these kids the world. We need to show them the opportunities that are out there in front of them. Because a lot of these kids dont get to see those opportunities. They cant imagine what those opportunities are, because theyre confined in a poor neighborhood, without role models, and dont get to see the river. They dont get to see a museum. They dont get to see a workplace. And we need to get the adults in this community to show these kids the opportunities that are out there. Give them hope. When they have hope, they set higher expectations for themselves. These kids can succeed, I know they can, if we can show them the world. Thats our job as adults. We need to do our job for our children. Baliles: I think, first of all, we fix the finances so we know where the moneys coming from, and where its going. We put it towards things that matter, and stay away from things that dont. Education is one of those things. It reduces poverty, it lowers crime, it promotes economic development. And it promotes better long-term health outcomes. All those things are critical. Weve got to protect housing, and provide more of it to people in these neighborhoods. And not be running them out, but be protecting the neighborhoods and making sure that neighborhoods grow with good, stable family units. The Office of Community Wealth Building, one of the mayors successes. We need to enhance that, so parents can learn new skills and get new jobs, better jobs. And raise their families up while their kids are getting a better education. Theres an army of people in this city ready to do good and lend a hand to make it better. And we have to embrace that and encourage it. *** Silvestri: I have time for one more question, because each of the candidates has been pledged to have two minutes in closing remarks. Can I have a question in which the answer is a headline? Cain: You stumped the journalists. All right. So, were getting another question. Silvestri: Short answer, headline. Go. Cain: Heres a simple question that everybody who lives in the city cares about. How many potholes are you gonna fill per week? Ballies: All of em. Silvestri: We got all. Berry: All of 'em. Junes: Im Im very open. (LAUGHTER) To getting all of them. I no longer drive my car, to boot, OK? No. Im very open to seeing that nonviolent felons and prisoners could actually reduce their time based on good behavior. And that good behavior would mean community service. So they give back such that the city can actually pick up some additional employees. Perhaps a dollar a day, or $8 a day, something like that. Silvestri: Thats not a headline. You have a program. Mr. Morrissey? Morrissey: Kurt Schmoke was a great mayor of Baltimore. He had a neon sign in City Hall: Total number of potholes, total fixed yesterday, total to go. Well have one of those over in City Hall. Mosby: I do plan to have a pothole team. Ive said it many times, everybody knows that thats my thing. Pothole team. Stoney: I agree with Jon on all of em, but I think we need to embrace technology and encourage innovation. And we can track a lot of this with GIS. And I think that people would actually be able to relate to that. Tyler: You know, I began my campaign about potholes, you know, at the mayoral debate. I mean, Im tired of folks driving into the city, and four blocks in they know theyre in the city because theyve hit a pothole. I want em to only know theyre in the city because theyve in fact read the sign. So, every potholes gonna be fixed. And also, every sidewalks gonna be fixed. Williams: First of all, Id like everyone to visit my web site. On it, long before Stoneys educational initiative was out, I had a ten-point revitalization plan for the city. And in it, it says - Silvestri: The question is about potholes. Williams: Im getting there, Im getting there. In there, I said and I talked with staff, Selena Selena doesnt know this, but - Silvestri: The question requires a headline. Its 8:10. Williams: OK. On my website, and its been agreed with, with powers that be, that in my first 100 days I can get 2500 potholes filled. *** Silvestri: Thank you. Now its time for the final round. Thank you very much. Well save the questions, and we will get them to The Times-Dispatch newsroom, and The Times-Dispatch editorial department. And well do our best to get answers to the questions that you were so kind enough to give us. Now, time for the final round, in which weve asked the candidates to provide two minutes of closing comments. Youve seen our order moving from right to left and left to right. But given the pothole metaphor, were going to start in the middle. Would the two middle candidates, Mr. Morrissey and Ms. Mosby, starting either way and then alternating each side. Two minutes, Ill keep time. Closing comments. And once again, thank you very much for appearing tonight. *** Morrissey: Thank you, Tom. And Michelle suggested I go first. Im not jumping in there. First of all, I want to thank all the audience for listening tonight. Its been a great audience. Several hundred people, this is amazing. Let me tell you why Im running, and I think I hope Ive captured some of it tonight. There are two very different Richmonds living side by side. One is very public and visible. The other is very hidden, and often dismissed. One is successful and hopeful. The other lives in abject poverty, and theres a degree of hopelessness. One Richmond feels safe at night. Another listens to sirens, gunshots, and violence. And one has the great opportunity to go to terrific private schools, with almost unparalleled resources. Others go from public housing projects, and they go to schools where 17 of 45 are unaccredited. Where theres mold and mildew. Where theres falling ceiling tiles, and buildings that are 55 years old and filled with mold. I think I am a candidate that has addressed those issues during the campaign. Second thing I want to leave with you is this: Through my entire career, sometimes causing headlines, Ive spoken the truth. Truth to power. Ive called out nepotism, Ive called out cronyism, Ive called out waste. Like bringing your executive protection unit with you to Italy. Like putting somebody in your church in a $148,000 position, because he is in your church. Spending money on wasteful programs. Last night, our Monday Night Football, Richmond was on Dance Cam in FedEx Field, the only municipality to do that. Its a waste of money. And the last thing is this. I do what I say I will do. Ive never quit, Ive never given up. I learned as a 17-year-old that I won a state wrestling championship on a very damaged knee you just dont quit in life. And as your mayor, I will be a full-time mayor, 24 hours a day. Thank you. My name is Joe Morrissey. *** Mosby: Once again, thank you all for coming today. I really appreciate it. It gives me an opportunity to express the reason why I would like to be your next mayor. Weve talked about not just in this forum, but in many about being transparent. Weve talked about honesty. Weve talked about effective, efficient, experienced. And a lot of times, the word progressive comes up. And what I say to you is: I embody all of those. We have a candidate that will be your business candidate. We have your education candidate. We have the fighting candidate. And so what I say to you is, Michelle embodies all of those things. I am experienced, I have been on council since 2012. I have forged forward and got a lot of things done in the Ninth District, that was on the agenda from previous council members. But Ive been able to make those things happen. When we talk about progressive, many of the things that have been mentioned here today, they are already happening. Were already in process of putting things in place to deal with our blight. The things that we talk about, as far as making sure that we have the right computer systems, we are already putting (them) in place, so that it does what it needs to do. When we talk about making sure that the school plan works, well, lets be clear: Thats what the old did. Mayor Jones tried to propose a school plan, and they fought forever, because it wasnt his job. The task force for resources was his job. When we talk about things such as putting all of these different things in our schools what Im trying to say to you all is this: A lot of that stuff sounds really, really great. We tried to do it as a council. We tried to add a whole lot of wraparound services. It is what caused the problem. Everybody needs to know whose role is whose. And Im saying to you: You need a mayor that can be all of these things that everybody up here Im gonna fight for the people. Because those people that Joe just talked about, theyre my friends. My friends are in those schools. And so Ill fight for all of the people. *** Junes: I come on board as a team player. Im certainly not running because I want to run. What I have discerned over the past two years, especially working on this recent case with Maymont Park Foundations expansion: too many missteps. I want what the citizens of Richmond want. And what Ive heard since my campaign has really been in swing, Id say since the first of April, is that the citizens of Richmond are very interested in education to be the priority issue. Thats the priority issue Im hearing, and thats the priority issue that I will stick to and with. *** Stoney: Well, thank you everyone for having us this evening, and thank you for coming out and engaging in the process. I think all of us will agree that Richmond is on the rise. But we truly find ourselves at a crossroads. In this election, I think were electing more than a strong mayor. Were electing more than someone who can just keep the trains running on time. Were electing someone who we can be proud of. Someone whos not gonna take us back. Were electing someone that is new, not the same status quo weve seen for many, many years. My vision, after four years in office, that this is a city where families can live here long-term, and put their kids into quality K-through-12. And also receive the premium services that they deserve. This is a city, that were no longer the cautionary tale when it comes to governance. That we become the model. A model that can be a triple-A bond-rated city. And also, a city thats mentioned in the same breath as the new South cities that are rising, like Charlotte, like Nashville, like Atlanta. But you only get that, though, with something new. Not with more of the same. For far too long, we have left too many children in this city behind. Its time to get a mayor who tells our children they matter, tells our families they matter, and tells our citizens they matter. And if you agree with that, I ask that you join this campaign. Thank you. *** Berry: Richmonds on a roll. Population is up, investment is up, more moving vans coming in than going out. Neighborhoods are stronger. Were making the lists of great cities in America, right? We have this incredible food scene, this incredible arts scene, this incredible craft beer scene. The citys just on fire, its just amazing whats happening in our town. The city is not the problem. The city government is the problem. Weve got some neighborhoods that are just getting left out, and some people are being left behind. But most importantly, we have a city government thats not keeping up. Thats not doing its job. Thats characterized by dysfunction. Its characterized by deficits and an inability to provide essential services really well. Thats what we demand from our government. All of you have gotten a utility bill that was wrong, or had trouble getting a building permit, or a tax bill that was wrong. Its not that they made the mistake. Its how difficult it is to get the mistake corrected that frustrates us so much. We need a capable city government. A government thats strong, that can be strong enough to provide the foundation to work on our schools and our poverty neighborhoods. The candidates mostly agree on, you know, basic services in schools, and they can all talk about it really well. Many of them are politicians. We need somebody thats a proven leader. Somebody thats done it before. Ive spent 20 years in local government, 18 years in the nonprofit sector. Ive been successful as the deputy city manager of Richmond. Ive been successful as the county administrator of Hanover. Ive been successful at Venture Richmond, where we brought you the Folk Festival and the RVA branding campaign. Ive been successful in doing this. We need a proven leader. Because we can truly make this place I mean, Im convinced of it we can make this place a magnet of opportunity for young people, for millennials, for young professionals. For families that care about their schools and their kids. And we can make this a more hopeful place for folks that have been left behind. Just give me four years. Give me four years, I promise you I can get this place on the right track. Please join me in this campaign for mayor. My name is Jack Berry, Im running for mayor. *** Tyler: Well, first of all, thank you for being here. Its always good to be in a room with concerned citizens, because this is how we can move our city forward, with all of us being together. You deserve a mayor that is gonna be honest and trustworthy. You deserve a mayor thats gonna be a purposeful leader, not for just one, but for all. You deserve a mayor thats gonna work with the CAO to insure that we hire the right people in the key positions for our city. You deserve a mayor that will ensure that all the financial reports are on time, so that you know where the money is being spent. And you deserve a mayor thats gonna work with Chief Durham to make sure that all our neighborhoods are safe, so that you can allow your children to play, and you can stay. And you deserve a city thats not falling apart, where the infrastructure is crumbling underneath your feet. You deserve a city where the roads are fixed. But most importantly, you deserve a city that, the education system is the best urban education system in the city in the nation. Were in a situation in the city of Richmond, for 40 years, Pat and I have lived here, raised our family here. Weve had our businesses here. And the one consistent thing that weve seen over these 40 years is that our educational system has failed our children. You deserve to have an educational system that is second to none, so that you can educate your children, K-through-12. That is why Im running for mayor: so that we can make this city great. I thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight, and I look forward to your support. Im Bruce Tyler, and Im running for mayor. *** Baliles: Thank you, Mr. Silvestri, and thanks to the RTD and Andrew and Michael and all of you all for coming out. Running a city is serious work, and it takes a strong mayor to get it done. And I believe Im the person for the job, because I know the city, I love the city, and I listen to the city. I think we dont need a city hall that goes to the highest bidder, or to somebody running up the ladder, or to somebody looking for a trophy case for a street fight. We want somebody thats open and honest. We havent had it, and we need it. Its clear as day. My vote on council, I thought my vote on council over the last four years was enough. And one of the things Ive learned during this campaign is, its not. My voice should have been louder on other issues. And thats why Im speaking up. Because this election is too important. Twelve years ago, the theme of the campaign was to fix the corruption to fix the cesspool of corruption and inefficiency. And guess whats happened? Somebodys playing plugged the drain and its back. We need to get somebody into City Hall that knows City Hall. There are a lot of good people like you in this city, that are in this room and across the city. There are a lot of good people in City Hall. Theyre not political. They dont want to be treated politically, they dont want to be beholden to politics. They want somebody that can get in there with a hazmat suit and clean it up. That is my job. Ive always had an independent streak. As I mentioned earlier, Ive got outsider spirit with insider knowledge. But the one thing that you can remember about me is that I can work with anyone. I listen to everyone. But Im beholden to no one but the people of Richmond. And thats what Ill do as mayor. My names Jon Baliles, and I appreciate your support on November 8th. Thank you. *** Williams: Well, its been a pleasure to sit here and and look at the crowd, and know we have so many concerned citizens. What I would like to do as your new mayor and this is important to me is, I really want to work with civic associations. I really want to work with each neighborhood. And again thats what I Im very good at. Working with civic associations, to the point where we can work through City Hall, develop master plans, new schools, and new commercial development in your neighborhoods. You need a mayor that understands economic development. I think weve had one and a half mayors that actually werent well-versed in economic development. And so its illustrating now politics has moved on. Its beyond politicians. We need professionals running our schools and running our City Hall. So I represent that. I also represent a continuity of what was good and great and honest and fair and just in this city. And yes, weve had past mayors, five mayors back. Ive had the opportunity to work with each of those. Baliles has had the ability to be inside of City Hall, inside the palace. I have as well. Ive had the ability to be inside of the Free Press newspaper, and for five years and I understand how Richmond works. I was a member of the chamber of commerce, president of the South of the James Business Council. Established several community organizations. And so I bring a certain real nuts and bolts knowledge. You have to understand the nuts, and you have to understand A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Dr. John Herr, the enterprising University of Virginia reproductive biologist who invented the home male fertility test and led the search for a male contraceptive, died suddenly on Saturday afternoon. Herr, 68, died of a heart attack just hours after participating in a 10K run for charity at Meriwether Lewis Elementary School in Albemarle County. Since coming to the UVa School of Medicine in 1981, Herr who headed the Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health has been involved in several high-profile projects. In recent years, his work on developing a male birth control drug grabbed the most attention. In April, his laboratory announced it had reached a milestone in that search it had discovered an enzyme found only in developing sperm cells. Herr believed that targeting these cells could be the key to a male birth control treatment that does not tamper with hormones. The treatment would have fewer side effects than current contraceptive methods geared toward women. The need is for a wider range of contraceptives that have fewer side effects and to have a gender balance in their use, Herr told The Daily Progress in April. Herrs research covered a wide range of topics. His laboratory named more than 35 genes in the human genome. At the time of his death, he also was working on a new cancer treatment targeting a protein found on the surface of certain types of cancer cells. But Herr is remembered by his colleagues as not just a researcher, but as an inventor. Before translational research became a buzzword among UVa administrators, Herr was looking for ways to convert his research into products that could be used by the public. John has always done discovery science, but he was always trying to think of how the discoveries hes made might be useful to the general public, said Dr. Erik Hewlett, professor of infectious diseases and international health at UVa. He was very enthusiastic and very hard-working in making his science head in useful directions, Hewlett said. Colleagues said his most notable invention was SpermCheck, the first FDA-approved male home fertility test on the market. The test measures sperm samples for SP-10, a biomarker discovered by Herrs lab. In 2015, Herr co-founded the company Contraline with Kevin Eisenfrats, a former student of his. The company is working on a different type of male contraceptive procedure a reversible implant that blocks sperm and is placed non-surgically. Eisenfrats said Herr was an expert on the business, as well as the science, of contraception. Herr could not only develop a device drug, but steer it through the FDA approval process, get a patent and help sell it to consumers. We talked every day about the science and technology, the business operations behind Contraline, and the social impact the contraceptive could have Eisenfrats said. He was my partner in crime through this project. Herr founded several other biotechnology companies around his ideas, including Humagen, a manufacturer of microtools used for in vitro fertilization and laboratory research; Neoantigenics, which specializes in cancer research; and Ovastasis, a company dedicated to developing female contraception with no hormonal side effects. That work will continue in Herrs absence, said Eusebio Pires, a UVa biologist and one of Herrs proteges. The only thing we have to work on [is determining] the priorities, Pires said. Basically, were going to go ahead as planned. Pires, whom Herr recruited in 2008, stumbled on an important discovery last year. The two scientists were conducting research on SAS1B, a protein found in developing eggs in the ovaries, which they believed could lead to a new form of female contraception one with fewer side effects. They found the protein in a database kept by the National Cancer Institute, which showed the protein is present in uterine cancer. Further research found it was expressed in several other types of cancer, as well pancreatic, breast, melanoma, ovarian, bladder and renal cancers. Neoantigenics was founded to develop a drug that could use the protein to target cancer cells, and provide a less-toxic alternative to current cancer treatment. His ideal was to get basic lab research to the clinics, Pires said. That was the goal it has to be brought into the clinics so mankind can benefit from it. Herr helped transform the culture at UVa by sharing his entrepreneurial know-how with other faculty members. He was on the board of the universitys Licensing and Ventures Group, which helps researchers put their findings into practice, for about 10 years, and taught a graduate course on technology development. In the past, people would make a discovery and write a paper and move on, said Hewlett, who chairs the LVGs governing board. There was no thought to how we could use that. Now its a criterion for recruiting new faculty members, Hewlett said. Behind Herrs shrewd scientific and business instincts, said Eisenfrats, was a passion for helping others. He was ambitious about changing peoples lives, Eisenfrats said. He would be thinking about what people want in the product [hes] developing. Herrs family is planning a memorial service from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at the University Chapel. The service will be open to the public. "Millennial consumers have distinctive preferences, which in many ways diverge from previous generations," said Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Ashley Wallace in a research note last June. "They tend to be more value conscious, more concerned with sustainability and ethical production, and often value unique and individual products versus items that are standardized and mass-produced." Wallace further argued that the millennial consumers were also marrying later. According to Pew Research the median age for millennial women to marry was 27 and 29 for men. Unnamed industry analysts cited by CNBC noted that when they do marry, some consumers were opting for more gemstone engagement rings, such as sapphires, or fashion jewelry with lab-grown diamonds. Synthetic diamonds can cost 30 percent less than mined diamonds. "Millennials don't want what all their friends have and don't want what they've been told to have," Jewelers of America spokesperson Amanda Gizzi was quoted as saying. However, De Beers revealed that it was optimistic about the millennials in its latest diamond insight report. It noted that globally, millennials were the largest consumer market for diamond jewellery a generation which will soon reach its maximum earning potential. Everyone is talking about the millennials because of the considerable size of this age cohort and the fact that this generation is due to reach its most affluent life stage in about 10 years time, it said. The ageing population is a significant demographic trend in all major diamond markets, except India, the proportion of people aged over 34 in the overall population has increased, while the 1534 age group has lost share over time. Across the top four diamond markets combined, millennials made up 34 per cent of the total population in 2015, compared with 40 per cent back in 1990. De Beers said in 2015, millennials spent nearly $26 billion on diamond jewellery in the largest four markets combined, representing 45 per cent of the total retail value of new diamond jewellery acquired in these markets. Demand for diamond jewellery from millennials in the US alone rose from $10 billion in 1999 to $16 billion in 2015. Despite experiencing less favourable economic conditions than preceding generations and progressing more slowly along the traditional life path, Millennials do express strong desire for diamonds when they reach financial and demographic maturity, it said. Millennials share of the total diamond jewellery value was particularly high in China at 68 per cent; in India it was 47 per cent, in the U.S 41 per cent and it was the lowest in Japan at 29 per cent. This, it said, highlights that millennials in these markets contributed a greater share of sales value than the share of population that they represent. The belief that younger generations are turning away from diamond jewellery stems from the fact that, despite being on average better educated than people of the same age were in previous decades, lower proportions of Millennials find themselves employed, said De Beers. Strong connection with diamonds De Beers raised five key insights that showed that the millennials connection with diamonds remain strong. Firstly, it said millennials place diamonds in the top four most desired high value gifts. The stability in share of demand for the 1834 age group in the US over the past couple of decades is grounded in the undiminishing desire this age group holds for diamonds as a gift, it said. Diamonds rank high on the list of most-desired gifts, with only overseas holidays, weekend getaways and personal electronics being more valued. Foreign travel has always held the greatest allure for US consumers, with overseas trips ranked first back in 2003. In the intervening 13 years, short holidays and personal electronics have become more desirable for Millennials, who prioritize experiences over material goods, but still desire smart electronic devices due to their need for interconnectedness. De Beers said in Japan, diamonds were more desirable as gifts to millennials than they are to the older generations. It said among Chinese millennials, diamond jewellery was the most desired fine jewellery item to own, with 52 per cent placing it at number one, compared with 43 per cent for older generations. In India fine jewellery far outweighed other luxury or experiential categories in terms of desirability: 63 per cent of millennials wish to buy it for themselves and 46 per cent hope to receive it as a gift, it said. Secondly, millennials grow into the diamond category, according to De Beers. It said introducing young people to diamonds early in their lives was a strong driver of millennial long-term engagement with the category. Diamond jewellery ownership among Millennials is high in the US, with 62 per cent owning at least one piece of diamond jewellery, said De Beers. That figure jumps from 48 per cent of 18 24 year olds to 72 per cent of 2534 year olds, comparing favourably with the 76 per cent seen among older consumers, and suggesting that diamonds are maintaining relevance for the young who grow into the category. On average, US millennials who own diamond jewellery own 5.3 pieces, while 15 per cent of them own eight pieces or more. Diamond ownership levels in the other main markets were lower than in the US, but in India (10 per cent) this is in line with ownership among the older generations, and in China (20 per cent among all Millennials) it peaks among the 2534 year olds (29 per cent), said De Beers. Japan is the only market where Millennial ownership is considerably lower (31 per cent) than older consumers ownership (66 per cent). Thirdly, De Beers said millennials acquire diamonds more than the older generations. It said the proportions of diamond jewellery-buyers among millennials, with the exception of India, were significantly higher than among those aged older than 35, with the 25 34 age group most active of all. This can be explained by the fact that a very high proportion of bridal acquisitions fall within the Millennial segment, as discussed in more detail later in this chapter, it said. Fourthly, the group said self-purchasing of diamond jewellery was an important and growing acquisition route among millennials While the Bridal category has provided stability in markets where there is an established and growing diamond engagement ring tradition, non-bridal acquisition delivers the greatest growth opportunity for Millennials, it said. Self-purchase of diamond jewellery among 1834 year olds has increased to deliver a sizeable proportion of non-bridal diamond jewellery retail volumes in the US and India. Self-purchasing in the US has increased more among Millennials than older consumers recently, growing from a quarter of all non-bridal pieces acquired in 2013 to 31 per cent in 2015. Those same figures are 34 per cent and 37 per cent respectively for older consumers. Lastly, De Beers said gifting from parents and grandparents to millennials was a powerful opportunity for the diamond industry Another important acquisition route for millennials is gifting from relatives other than partner or spouse, it said. In the US, a diamond gift from parents and grandparents accounts for 15 per cent of non-bridal acquisitions by millennials, but in the youngest age group of 1824 it is as high as 31 per cent. De Beers concluded in the report that millennial consumers were a large and important cohort for the diamond industry despite the strong headwinds they still experience in terms of financial constraints in mature markets, the overwhelming noise of competition for their discretionary spend and a declining share of population in many markets. Millennials deliver volume and value growth underpinned by stable bridal consumption and potent desire for diamonds as gifts, it said. There are powerful opportunities among this generation to expand the non-bridal diamond acquisition. Self-purchase, acquiring for celebration of the individual and familial gifting are growing ways in which millennials are accessing the market. It said diamond marketers need to understand the specifics of the lifetime values and preferences of millennials to unlock this potential market. While millennials dream about diamonds, more needs to be done to make diamond jewellery a top of mind category and nurture a deeper emotional connection, so that diamonds become more relevant day to day, and that millennials will, in turn, seed the love affair for future generations, it said. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished By SA Commercial Prop News The proposed R100bn development of a dugout port at the old Durban International Airport. The old Durban International Airport (DIA) has been handed over to Transnet to meet the demand for container capacity in Durban. Speaking at an official handover of the DIA site from ACSA to Transnet, for the development of a new Dig-Out Port on Thursday, Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba said the demand for container capacity was estimated to grow from 2.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) to 12 million TEUs over a 30-year period. Once transformed, the DIA will drive industrialisation through investment in the port and related sectors such as construction. It will become home to 16 container berths, five automotive berths and four liquid bulk berths. It is expected to create 20 000 direct and 47 000 indirect jobs during the construction phase. Once operationalized, it will employ 12 000 people directly and another 16 000 indirectly through the value chain of suppliers. Transport Minister Dikobe Ben Martins, said the ceremony was an example of co-operation between government departments and enterprise in pursuit of the common goal to accelerate infrastructure development in South Africa. The new port will have a positive impact on the national economy, and contribute to regional integration in Southern Africa. In addition to its direct impact on the movement of goods, the port will also contribute to the development of the maritime industry. The Department of Transport is working on a strategy to industrialise the countrys maritime heritage, Martins said. Gigaba further added that in Cape Town, Transnet was planning to grow the port capacity from 700 000 TEUs to 2.5 million TEUs in 30 years, with Port Elizabeth and Ngqura expected to become a core transhipment port, with a capacity of 6 million TEUs in 2042. The minister highlighted governments national infrastructure plan intended to transform the economic landscape of South Africa and create a conducive environment for state-owned companies to pursue initiatives expected to build new skills capacity, create decent jobs, enterprise development and support the integration of African economies. Above all else, this integrated infrastructure programme must and will lead to the industrialisation of our economy and thus will move our economy to a higher trajectory where we can shift away from exporting primary commodities and importing manufactured products, and begin ourselves to develop a vibrant manufacturing sector in South Africa and to export value-added goods. This infrastructural development is within the Strategic Integrated Project 2 (SIP2), which is under the leadership of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC). The countrys infrastructure rollout plan consists of 18 strategic integrated projects that will cost about R4 trillion that must come both from the public and private sectors, Gigaba said. A first-of-its-kind journey along India and Pakistan border What binds the two most talked about nations - India and Pakistan together? What makes the 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. The highest number of trainees to advocate for gender equality through the economic empowerment of nofotane women, was recorded during the 6th training session for the Aana Alofi constituencies for the U.N. Women Fund for Gender Equality (U.N. Women F.G.E.) and S.V.S.G.s project currently underway. A total of 43 S.V.S.G. village representatives including village mayors, village council members, church leaders and womens committee leaders from Faleasiu to Satapuala took time out from their busy schedules, to be trained on how to effectively advocate to the village, church and women leaders in their respective leaders, on the economic empowerment of women. This is part of the U.N. Women F.G.E. and S.V.S.G. project addressing gender equality through the economic empowerment of nofotane women. While there continues to be mixed views on the role of the nofotane (married women living with husbands family) in comparison to that of the faiava (married man living with wifes family), what these mixed views share, are the contribution of Christianity and culture to the necessary changes to realize gender equality. These changes however, should address gender equality issues faced by men and women, rather than changing any cultural aspect of the status of either a nofotane or a faiava in the village hierarchy. According to Apulu Faatasiga, S.V.S.G. village representative for Faleasiu, stated that in the Bible, there is no such thing as a nofotane woman as it only mentions God creating a woman, a helper for Adam. Says he, Poo ai le toeaina ma le loomatua na faavaea le upu lea o le nofotane ma le faiava, aua i le Tusi Paia, o Eva o le fesoasoani o Atamu, ae leai se upu faapea o le nofotane. S.V.S.G. President once again acknowledge the support from the community leaders towards the project, and for this 6th training session, Reverend Eric Mulitalo & the C.C.C.S. Congregation of Fasitoo-tai for hosting the training at the C.C.C.S. Hall. 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. 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. Dear Editor Re: Minister outlines why P.A.C.E.R. Plus a must I support PACER-Plus. My reading of the deal is that it allows an unprecedented opportunity for our exporters to get through the brick wall that NZ and Australia have put up for so long on the premise of their strict biosecurity protections. Biosecurity and quarantine laws is another way for rich countries to basically stop exporters from developing countries entering the markets without huge costs and paperwork. These trade barriers require huge expense and effort just to get through. It is protectionism under another heading. PACER-Plus aims to get through that brick wall. The downside is that it opens up our country for more imports from NZ/Australia from companies who have a technological and financial edge over our home grown companies. It wouldn't be a level playing field if this happened tomorrow. We already have a huge trade imbalance (we import way more than we export). However, my humble amateur reading of what is being proposed is that there are protections in PACER-Plus to try and address this downside in 2 ways: 1) Our customs duties in the relevant products will only gradually decrease over time to allow our local businesses to still compete but adjust gradually over time. 2) NZ and Australia will assist in "development aid" to (I hope) fund the necessary expensive equipment to assist our industries to get through the strict biosecurity and quarantine barriers. I don't know why this wasn't a key part of their previous aid package before. Surely that would've been "teaching samoa how to fish" instead of simply giving Samoa the fish but oh well that is in the past now. From my reading, the Fijians object to Australia in particular requiring "Most Favoured Nation" status for certain imports into Fiji but the Fijians don't want to give "MFN" status just to Australia alone. They also want to give it to other countries in possible future trade deals (e.g.: Indonesia). Fiji has some pretty big industries that it would be keen to protect - e.g.: the huge garment industry run out of Suva (mostly run by Fiji-indians). Samoa does not have anything like the huge garment industries that Fiji has and we don't do much trade with ASEAN nations like Indonesia so Fiji's objections are not relevant to us. Most of our trade is already with NZ and Australia and other pacific islands. Samoa is aiming for China and possibly the EU for potential future trade deals (as long as the Germans' stupid attitude to kava doesn't come back). Samoan companies are also heavily investing in import substitution to counter the trade imbalance with imports. From my perspective, Samoa (and other forum countries) need to fight hard to get taro into Australia (where uncooked / unfrozen taro is banned). Australian objections to taro are draconian and ridiculous when New Zealand, with just as strict biosecurity laws as Australia, allows taro into their country. Anyway, PACER-Plus is crucial to Samoa's trading future, especially if we want Samoa to be an export-led economy. I think the potential pitfalls can be managed. PS Jeffery The good things in life arent always right. That is the opinion of Toleafoa Matuavao Ainea Poasa, 69 years old from the village of Tulaele. Toleafoa told the Village Voice yesterday that good is always associated with evil in this life. Where there is good, the devil is always there as well. So doing something good, doesnt mean that its the right thing to do as well. Most people are happy when they do something good, but it does not mean that it is the right thing. And what is the right thing to do? Anything that pleases the Lord, said Toleafoa. Living a good life isnt also the right way to live our lives. And what is the right way to live our lives? Love one another as you love yourself. This is the golden way to live our lives. If you want others to treat you well, its just right for you to treat them well too. How can we get it right? Put God first in all that we do. Get it right with Him and lean onto Him to take control of our lives. He is the only one that can set our paths straight. Asked about how life in Samoa is for him, Toleafoa said he see a lot of changes in Samoa nowadays, socially and culturally. He said, The Samoan lifestyle is starting to fade away. But everything begins at home and families. A good village is made up of good families, and a good society is made up of good families combined together. From the beginning, our forefathers have set a path for all of us to follow. Back in the days, every family had a matai who led the family and made all the decisions for the family. And the whole family listened to the matais. And thats why everything was easy back then and also because there was a strong sense of unity within our families and communities back then. But that has changed over the years, said Toleafoa. There have been a lot of changes in our culture and way of life. Our country is founded on God, he added. But that is no use if people are killing other people and there is a lot of trouble nowadays. And I believe this is because of the numerous changes we have in our society. Moreover, Toleafoa believes that a lot of trouble nowadays are a result of the absent of corporal punishment in our society. The parents duty is to constantly remind their children about the right way to live their lives. Back in the days, Samoa had a lot of different teachers to help raise our children. We had salulima (broom), fusipau (belt), and laupapa (piece of wood). Some thought that they used those because they didnt love their children. But the children turned out well, in fact, they have become better people with the help of those teachers. Those were the teachers who helped Samoan children back in the days. And they were very obedient and very smart. They did that out of love. They didnt use those things because they didnt love their children. They really wanted their children to grow up in the right way and do well in school. But we dont have that anymore and thats why we have so many troubles nowadays. Apart from being a matai of his family and also a strong member of his church, Toleafoa is also a teacher to the young children of the village of Tulaele. He told the Village Voice that one of his habits is spending time with the children of the village and teaching them how to read and write. He also teaches them about our Samoan culture and also tells them stories from the bible. The reason why is because I want children of this village to grow up in the right way and it makes me happy that they are here learning about important things rather than doing something else. I have readings every day here at my house for the children of the village. Asked about his opinion on what makes a good matai? He replied saying that a good matai is someone who shows his family the right way to live. I didnt finish school, because I saw that my mother used to do everything back in the days when they were church ministers. So I thought to myself, whats the use of me going to school and being smart when my mother is at home doing all the chores? So I made the decision to stay home and help out my mother and look after my family. And from the beginning, I never learned about how to be a matai and my father never taught me any oratory. The only thing he asked me to do was to serve. He said as a matai, you need to lead the family and show them the right way to live their lives. And thats what I did. I didnt become a matai and then just sit around and do nothing. I had to show my family through my service. My dad told me that my place should be always at the kitchen and serving the family. For the village of Fasitoo-uta, it was reason to celebrate last week with the provision of storage for one of lifes basic necessities. On Friday, the Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy to Samoa, Mr. Wang Xuefeng presented 28 water tanks worth WST$28,375 donated by the Government of the Peoples Republic of China to the village. The Speaker of the House, Toleafoa Aiono Faafisi, high chiefs and orators of the village and the womens committee,+ were present at the handover ceremony. Ambassador Wang said that he was delighted to be able to help the people of the village of Fasitoo-Uta through the donation of the tanks. Its my pleasure to donate the water tanks, to my dear friends from this village, said Mr. Wang. The Honorable Speaker is my good friend and like an older brother. Several months ago, when I met Toleafoa in his office, he told me that in his village, there are many families who need water and he wanted to help these families. So he made the request to the Embassy on behalf of the village. So after that, we started working together, and this morning, I am very happy to see that the water tanks have already arrived here. Ambassador Wang highlighted how vital water is in life. Water is life, and without water, there is no life. I am very happy to be able to help out the people of this village. The tanks represent the love and friendship of the Chinese people towards Samoa. In accepting the water tanks, Toleafoa spoke on behalf of the village and the government of Samoa to thank the Ambassador for fulfilling their request. Ambassador Wang, I am honored and very grateful to express our sincere thanks on behalf of the chiefs and orators of the village of Fasitoo-Uta as well as the government of Samoa for your ongoing support and help. Your government and the people of China have done a lot for the people of Samoa in all different areas. I believe that without your support, we could not afford to fulfill our needs especially with the development of Samoa. This will be a great benefit for us and our families. And I believe that we will take good care of these tanks. Phillipa Toleafoa was given the honor of cutting the ribbon and Reverend Uta Muaulu of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa at Fasitoo-Uta blessed the new water tanks. Lawyer Unasa Iuni Sapolu will appear in the District Court on the 3rd October next week to answer to two charges. She is facing one charge of assault and one of insulting words against her younger sister, Tasalaotele Sapolu. As a result of the charges, Unasa says that she will sue the Ministry of Police in general and she will sue the arresting constable, Michelle Arasi Mulitalo as an individual. The senior lawyer confirmed that she was approached by Police on Monday and that after accompanying them to the Police station, she had been detained for several hours. She said she told the female constable Michelle Arasi Mulitalo that she drove to court and her daughter who accompanied her to court did not have a local drivers license and asked for a police officer to accompany her to the station. However, she said she was told by Michelle that she could drive to the station and they would meet her there. I am so grateful that day to lawyer Dr Iopu Tanielu, because I asked him to accompany me to the station to be a witness when I was interviewed and by the time I got there, he was already there, she said. Unasa said there was never an interview that day. She said she was formally informed of the charges against her filed by her younger sister, Tasalaotele. According to Unasa the incident leading to the charges occurred on the 5th August 2016 after she had represented her older sister, May Sapolu in court in a case against her sister Tasa. And on that day outside court, she said Tasa was making accusations to the Police. Unasa claimed that she had suggested to Tasa that whatever had happened, she should learn to forgive. I also asked her not to go to the Samoa Victims Support Group and tell them that my son is illegitimate as are my daughters, but I dont care whether they are, they have the same rights as legitimate children. Unasa said that was when Tasa grabbed her phone and called for the police to arrest her in front of more than 30 people at court. However, the police did not arrest her on that day because she said, they saw that she hadnt done anything wrong. The Fijian Prime Minister hosted a reception to farewell and congratulate, Fijis former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson as he assumes his new role as President of the United Nations 71st General Assembly. The reception saw the Prime Minister thank those countries, in particular the Pacific Small Island Developing States that came to Fijis assistance and bid for candidacy to the U.N.G.A. President post. Pacific Islands Heads of States and Heads of Government joined the Prime Minister to congratulate him on his new role and to thank him for his assistance over the years in his former post as Fijis envoy to the U.N. Tonight is a proud moment for Fiji as we honour one of our own the first Fijian to assume the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, said Prime Minister Frank Bainmarama. Never before has our nation had a stronger presence in New York, presiding now over the deliberations of the community of nations. Never before has a Pacific island country attained such a lofty position in the U.N. system. It is, in many ways, a coming of age not just for Fiji but for the entire region. And cause for immense satisfaction and pride. It is an inspiring story of how the small guy in global affairs came through the pack and with perseverance and determination, broke through. This achievement wasnt bestowed on us. We had to earn it. We had to fight for it. We had to convince the nations of the world that we were worthy. We had to patiently secure the votes of 192 other nations in a campaign over many months to win their confidence. And we had to endure a nail biting finish and a winning margin that was extremely tight. Just four votes in the secret ballot of 193 member states. I also know that Peter will be the first to say that this was a team effort Team Fiji coming together to get our man across the line. Our diplomats across the world using every opportunity to press Fijis case. Our ministers using every formal meeting to ask their counterparts to back our candidate. And we are extremely grateful to those governments that gave us their support. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, theres a lesson here for all of us about the importance of persistence. Of nations such as Fiji never assuming that just because you are small, you cannot have a shot at greatness. Its the mindset that fired up our Rugby Sevens world champions last month to bring back our first Olympic Gold medal from Rio. And what has also produced this gold medal winning diplomatic performance in New York. Ill never forget being in Port Moresby the week before the vote and being told that we mightnt make it. I realised that there were some very important potential votes all around me in the form of my fellow leaders at the EU- ACP summit. So I systematically set out to lobby them by turning on the famous Bainimarama charm. I dont think anyone has ever laughed so loudly at other peoples jokes. And my smile was so wide for a couple of days that it hurt. I admit it was a high risk strategy. But I like to think it made a difference, just as the effort by so many others in Team Fiji helped get us across the line. Vinaka vakalevu, Peter, for doing our nation proud. Many people may not realise that you are a fifth generation Fijian on your mothers side. Your family and mine have had a long history together stretching back to the 1960s when your father was Commissioner Western back in Fiji and my father ran the Natabua Prison. I know your father and mother would be very proud of your achievement and I am certain they are with us in spirit tonight. Because we have all worked hard over the years to fulfill the promise we always knew that Fiji had to be a nation among the worlds best. A promise that is symbolised by this wonderful achievement. I want to pay tribute to your wife, Marijcke, for the strong support that I know she has provided to you in your six years in New York and will also be giving you as General Assembly president over the coming months. I especially want to warmly thank my colleagues and our ambassadors of the Pacific Small Island Developing States. Because they worked in unity with Fiji as we pursued this goal and our victory is as much a victory for them and their governments as it is for us. The voice of the Pacific coming through louder and clearer in New York than at any other time in the five decades since we began to take our places here as independent nations. As we all know, it is not a moment too soon. Because only by speaking with one voice can we get the world to pay attention to the great challenges that face us all climate change, sustainable development, the health of our oceans, the position of our women. All those issues that deserve a greater place on the global agenda. As Fiji assumes the Presidency of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, we have never been in a better position to put our collective agenda forward. And Im sure than everyone in this room joins me in wishing our former Permanent Representative well as he assumes this high office and brings great honour to our nation in the process. MEXICO CITY (AP) A missing Mexican priest was found shot dead off the side of a highway in western Mexico days after he was kidnapped from his parish residence, state prosecutors said Sunday. He was the third Roman Catholic priest to be slain in Mexico in the last week. The Michoacan state Attorney General's Office said in a statement that the Rev. Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen's body was found Saturday night in an area called Las Guayabas on the highway between Puruandiro and Zinaparo. Lopez was kidnapped last Monday, the same day authorities in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz found the bodies of two priests who had been abducted from their parish residence the previous day. They also had been shot. Their deaths brought to at least 31 the number of priests killed in Mexico since 2006. The Michoacan prosecutor's office said an autopsy determined Lopez had been killed about five days before his body was found. The Archdiocese of Morelia didn't announce Lopez's abduction until Thursday, and Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, head of the archdiocese, pleaded for the priest's safe return in a video message. Lopez's car was found wrecked Tuesday. On Sunday, the archdiocese reported Lopez's death through its social media accounts and called on authorities to solve the crime. "We lament these violent acts and the insecurity in our state," the statement said. "We hope that authorities solve this crime." The state prosecutor's office said its search for the priest began Wednesday after a relative reported Lopez was missing. According to the office's statement, Lopez was last seen Monday night when he ordered a delivery of four portions of food that arrived at 9:30 p.m. at the church in the town of Janamuato. Also Monday, Lopez sent a message to a woman who cooked for him telling her that she would not be needed to work Tuesday, it said. The statement said that when Lopez was not seen by his secretary Tuesday, it was thought he was visiting his family. But when he still did not show Wednesday, Lopez's brothers were called to check. They found his quarters locked, but items were strewn on the floor and two vehicles were missing. No one received a ransom demand for Lopez's return, the statement said. CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council is scheduled to meet in special closed session at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, to discuss litigation and security procedures. In open session at 6 p.m., the council will consider a resolution approving the contracts, plans and specifications for the Aviara Community Park Phase II Construction and the Poinsettia Community Park Phase III Construction and seeking public bids. The council will also hold hearings and introduce resolutions to: approve a permit for an indoor shooting range and retail gun store at 2717 Loker Ave. West within the Carlsbad Airport Business Center; deny an appeal by a four-lot single-family residential lot subdivision; allow Abstract Ale Works to have a brewery tasting room at 6350 Yarrow Drive; and allow an amendment to the Carlsbad Oaks North Specific Plan to allow light industrial use for property at Faraday Avenue and El Fuerte Street. The council will also hear a report on north beach-area public safety issues. ENCINITAS Advertisement The Encinitas City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Council Chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., when it will consider a resolution regarding maintenance of ficus trees in downtown Encinitas; a proposal from the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project to donate public art to the city for the Marine Safety Center; and a proposal for a contract with EC Constructors, Inc. to build the Moonlight State Beach Marine Safety Center, for a total not to exceed $3,194,618. The council will also hear a solar assessment report and will be asked to approve recommended sites to enable the city to become a net zero energy city. The council will also consider final reading and adoption of an ordinance changing the citys density bonus ordinance, and will consider the creation of a new Open Space and Recreational Trail Commission. ESCONDIDO The Escondido City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session for labor negotiations at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Council Chambers, 201 N. Broadway. In open session at 4:30 p.m., the council will consider converting two-hour parking to three-hour parking on Grand Avenue (Centre City Parkway to Valley Boulevard) and on Orange Street, Maple Street, Broadway, Kalmia Street, Juniper Street and Ivy Street between Valley Parkway and Second Avenue. The council will also consider a one-year pilot program creating a resident-preferred parking district in the Rose to Foxdale neighborhood, with resident and guest parking permits at $40 each and restrictions for on-street parking, and a $10,000 budget adjustment for appropriate parking district signs and resident/guest parking permits. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive, when it will consider approving funds to participate in the Next Gen Regional Communications System; will introduce an ordinance amending the 2016 California Fire Code; and will hold the third public hearing on changing the citys method of electing city council members from at-large to by-district elections. The council will then go into closed session to discuss litigation. SOLANA BEACH The Solana Beach City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers, 635 S. Highway 101, to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In regular session at 6 p.m., the council will conduct a hearing on whether to allow reconfigurations of antennae at a wireless communications facility at 200 Marine View Ave.; will hear a presentation on the upcoming Breeders Cup event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the possibility of the city participating in Breeders Cup Festival Week; and will host Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins for an address and legislative update. The city will also review a design proposal for the Solana Beach North County Transit District train station. VISTA The Vista City Council is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive, to consider applying for a $262,846 SANDAG TransNet Senior Transportation Grant to fund the Out & About program of the Gloria McClellan Adult Activity & Resource Center for fiscal year 2017/18; to approve its annual consolidated performance and evaluation report to the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and to approve a lease agreement with Valcenters LLC for the roughly 17,000-square-foot city-owned property south of University Drive, north of Highway 78, to build a monument sign to display the names of businesses in the North County Square Shopping Center. The city will also consider whether to buy a property at 501 S. Santa Fe Ave., next to city-owned parcels, for $642,000 in order to develop the entire tract as part of the citys revitalization efforts. SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEL MAR The Del Mar Union School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at Del Mar Hills Academy, Performing Arts Center, 14085 Mango Drive, and in open session at 5:45 p.m. ENCINITAS The Encinitas Union School District board has scheduled a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the district office, 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road. In closed session, the board will discuss personnel matters in regard to a principal; in regular session, the board will discuss new job descriptions for the business services department and the coordinator of enrichment programs, as well as other policy and regulation updates. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 2111 Mission Ave., to discuss litigation, personnel and labor negotiations. In regular session at 6 p.m., the board will be asked to certify that it has sufficient educational materials, as required by the state; and will consider various contracts with outside agencies for services to students and teachers. POWAY The Poway Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in special session at 6 p.m. Monday at the district office, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, to discuss the process and timeline for hiring a new superintendent. Three headlines that you cant miss. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council met Tuesday and heard a staff presentation on the status of the Climate Action Plan implementation, and also approved $1,946,133 in funding for the NextGen Regional Communications System. DEL MAR Advertisement The Del Mar City Council met in special closed session Monday to discuss litigation. In open session, the council heard public comments for and against Measure R, a resolution that will allow public approval of certain development projects; and a report from Dr. Sunita Cooke, president of MiraCosta College, including information about an upcoming bond election. The council also approved broadcasting additional upcoming Ad-Hoc Design Review Process Citizen Advisory Committee meetings. The council also asked residents to contact them if they learn of potential illegal voter registration in the city, and noted that the district attorney has already been notified about the matter. The council discussed a report on changes to parking code requirements, which will return for two public hearings. In regard to short-term vacation rentals, the council directed the city manager to look into potential costs and consultants to continue gathering information. ENCINITAS The Encinitas City Council met Wednesday to receive a report on an Emergency Coastal Development Permit that authorized a temporary trailer housing an emergency generator. The council also agreed to allow the city manager to execute memoranda of understanding between the city and providers of major events such as the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project and Cardiff Kook Run. The city issued a proclamation announcing the annual Oktoberfest from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at El Camino Real and Mountain Vista Drive. An item scheduled to discuss the distribution of educational information and materials related to the Housing Element Update (Measure T) was removed from the agenda. ESCONDIDO Escondido residents attended a town hall meeting Wednesday where they asked Mayor Sam Abed about the water treatment plant at Ash and Washington, as well as traffic in Harmony Grove and other matters. The meeting was videotaped and will be rebroadcast at 6 p.m. today and Monday on Cox Channel 19 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside City Council met Wednesday to discuss labor negotiations, litigation and property negotiations. In open session, the council authorize release of community SDG&E data for a feasibility study for a Community Choice Aggregation (energy) Program. The council also approved a permit to allow rooftop decks on a condominium at 514 Morse St., and introduced an ordinance to amend zoning in regard to adult-oriented and tattoo shops. The council approved a resolution opposing Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Initiative, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot. An item regarding a revision to a policy on retaining recorded tapes of official meetings was pulled from the agenda. POWAY The Poway City Council met in special closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation. In open session, the council decided to continue to Oct. 18 a hearing on a variance for a home on Frame Road to pave more than half of the front yard. An appeal on a mural at Wrench on Wheels on Poway Road was deferred until the Poway Road Corridor committee could also review the matter. The council received information on a proposed building for Cox Communications and gave positive feedback on it. A potential partnership with the YMCA was also discussed. SCHOOL DISTRICTS ESCONDIDO The Escondido Union School District board met in closed session Wednesday to discuss litigation and personnel matters. In regular session, the board heard updates on the districts Proposition E bond program and on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) activities. FALLBROOK The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board met in closed session Monday to discuss litigation. In open session, the board approved various contracts with outside agencies for services to special-needs students, and reviewed revised board policies on the Local Control and Accountability Plan, Chronic Absence and Truancy, Immunizations, Student Use of Technology and Education for English Learners. RAMONA The Ramona Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss personnel, litigation and labor negotiations. In open session, the board heard a presentation on the 2016 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress; certified the sufficiency of instructional materials, as required by the state; heard a presentation on a utility conservation proposal; and authorized a request for proposal to sell roughly 40 acres of vacant land on San Vicente Road near Hanson Lane. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos Unified School District board met Tuesday and approved various resolutions dealing with the sale of $7,485,000 in special tax refunding bonds; and authorized seeking bids to upgrade technology at Carrillo Elementary, Richland Elementary, San Elijo Middle, Woodland Park Middle and Twin Oaks High schools. The board also agreed to support Proposition 55: The California Childrens Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016. The board also learned that Knob Hill Elementary students will be heard singing at 8 a.m. Tuesday on KSON radio, at 97.5, 92.1 or streaming at www.kson.com. Three headlines that you cant miss. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com Shortly after 9 a.m. on Sunday, at a quiet intersection in North Park, more than 100 people gathered to remember a tragedy they will never forget. Thirty-eight years earlier almost the minute, 144 people were killed in what was then the deadliest aviation disaster in the countrys history after a Pacific Southwest Airlines jet collided with a small Cessna. Friends and family members of the victims, police officers and firefighters who helped that day, and others met at the intersection of Dwight and Nile streets to read the names of the people who were killed, place a wreath, and put flowers into a bouquet to honor the victims. They reminisced about a flashbulb memory where fine minutia that usually fades away is never forgotten. Advertisement Some things just get burned into your memory banks, said Herb Smith, chaplain for the San Diego Police Department. Back in 1978 he was a recruit in the police academy, still sweaty after a morning workout when he and other students were told that a plane had crashed. They were still training for careers in law enforcement but they were going to help. They got showered, put on uniforms, and took a bus to the wreckage. Just the carnage, the smell, diesel fuel, burned flesh, Smith said. A Cessna airplane and PSA Flight 182 collided mid-air as the jetliner approached San Diego International Airport. The collision destroyed the small plane on impact, but also caused the Boeing 727 to crash in North Park, damaging or destroying 22 homes. All 135 on the commercial flight were killed, as were two people in the Cessna. Another seven on the ground perished. The recruits kept bystanders at bay so investigators could document the disaster, and later they helped removed the victims remains so they could be sent to a makeshift morgue. All the hospitals were put on alert to expect a huge trove. But nobody came, they were all killed, Smith said. It changed him and it changed San Diego, and it prepared he and the city for a string of high-profile tragedies over the next seven years, Smith said. This was the first one that was of national proportion, and it was a harbinger of things that would come for the next seven years, he said. It was before they were married, but Tim and Vickie Jordan were both there. Tim Jordan was finishing up a night shift transporting prisoners for the Imperial Beach Police Department when the crash occurred. It sounded like someone had filled up a paper bag with air and clapped it between their hands, he said. He looked up and saw the Cessna already broken into pieces, and the 727 began its descent. He drove toward the scene, only stopping to pin his badge to his street clothes along the way. Other off-duty cops showed up to help, but they couldnt give much assistance to the victims. All of us felt absolutely worthless, there was nothing we could do, he said. Vickie Jordan was working in Kearny Mesa when she heard a report that a plane had crashed in North Park, just a few blocks from her then-home. From a distance it looked like a huge brush fire, she said. Nearly four decades later she can point out where bits of the planes and debris had landed, what houses were completely destroyed, which ones were merely damaged, and how crews spent weeks clearing the wreckage. Luisa Lococo was 14 and pulled from her school classroom when the plane crashed. At the time she didnt know about the disaster, and thought that her mom had returned home early from a trip. It wasnt until later that she learned that her mother, Rosalia Lococo, was on the 727. It was the first time her mom had ridden in an airplane, and she only decided to take the trip at the last minute after a friend gave her a ticket. Luisa Lococo, center, whose mother died in the crash, places flowers in a vase for each name of a victim read out loud during a memorial ceremony marking the anniversary of the PSA Flight 182 crash in 1978 in North Park on Sunday. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune ) It just changes everyone and everything, your whole life on a daily basis, Luisa Lococo said. While the tragedy was something that had a profound impact on Lococo and her family, she and other members of the PSA Flight 182 Historical Memorial Committee are trying to find a permanent way to honor those who were killed and an important event in San Diegos history. They want something more impressive than the plaque that was placed at the North Park library on the 20th anniversary of the crash. We just want to make it more beautiful than it already is, Lococo said. She wants to see something humble, low-maintenance with the names of the victims. Its been 38 years from the crash, and a memorial is overdue, she said. I still cant believe that nothing has been done, she said. Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina is rescinding his August proclamation welcoming migrants to the city. The retraction, sent out by email Friday, was prompted by significant community backlash during a City Council meeting Sept. 21, and an open city government forum a day later. The proclamation, introduced during the Aug. 17 council meeting, read in part: the City of Imperial Beach is a vibrant and thriving community with significant racial, religious and ethnic diversity and...is committed to recognizing the diversity and the diverse contributions of both immigrants and native born residents... Advertisement Imperial Beach has roughly 5,400 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, which represents nearly one of four residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Dedina said while the proclamation was made with the best of intentions, in hindsight he sees the cause for concern. I take responsibility for not having the council pass it as a full resolution, he said. When I look back its something I should have done. City Manager Andy Hall said proclamations arent often vetted because they are simple statements of support. At Wednesdays meeting, the City Council read presentations of two proclamations, one for the Tijuana River Action Month for October and one recognizing national breast cancer awareness month. The City Council reads between two and three proclamations on average per council meeting, Dedina said. Many of the 19 public speakers at the council meeting argued the proclamations inclusiveness of immigrants, refugees and those seeking asylum was not properly vetted and poorly executed. Imperial Beach resident Michelle Huffman commended Dedina for his humanitarian efforts and said she was from a family of immigrants, but she asked for the retraction for the future safety of the community. I am fully Hispanic, my parents came to this country wanting a future for themselves, a safe future, somewhere they can call home and invest in their communities, Huffman said. But were not in the same place anymore. We cant just trust anyone, she said. And we are I believe opening a can of worms when we make a proclamation like this. Kyle Edwards, an Imperial Beach resident and homeowner, came from the perspective of a combat veteran. Ive spent nine years working on combating terrorism, he said. I would ask that you rescind this proclamation because its been very poorly executed and I dont think it was democratic at all. Not everyone was against it. I am totally in support of this initiative, said Ruth Cole, who has lived in Imperial Beach for 30 years. I know the reason that you did it is because its the right thing to dowe all are from immigrants. After public comment at Wednesdays meeting, Dedina asked the city attorney to clarify proclamations to the audience. City Attorney Jennifer Lyon said its not an official action by the City Council. Its not a resolution, its not an ordinance and its not binding on the city, she said. The effect of it is that it didnt create any new laws, it didnt create any obligations on behalf of the city. Dedina is the son of a European immigrant, a fact he states often during speeches at city events. We had a really contentious and robust discussion, he said Friday. Apart from all the contention, what really came through was some thoughtful feedback and I agree with it. I think people made fair comments about process. The Big Tujunga Wash, among Southern Californias most powerful and least developed rivers, is at ground zero of a growing political battle over the route the California bullet train would take as it enters the Los Angeles basin. The wash carries more than 5 billion gallons per year along a section that has endangered species, protected habitat, parks and equestrian trails. In big winter storms, giant boulders roll down the river bed, attracting spectators to its banks. It is here at the junction of Shadow Hills, Lake View Terrace and other small enclaves of the northeast San Fernando Valley that the California High Speed Rail Authority may build a quarter-mile-long elevated viaduct, allowing trains to exit a long tunnel through the San Gabriel Mountains as they head toward a future station in Burbank. Advertisement But the plan is attracting growing scrutiny by government boards and local citizen groups, who are urging the state to eliminate the route from consideration and instead continue developing an alternative plan that would have the trains approach Burbank in a continuous long tunnel. The Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School District in the last week have taken initial steps toward adopting motions and resolutions opposing the route, known by the authority as the E2 route. The actions follow a resolution earlier this summer by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to formally oppose the E2 route. The bullet train project, which plans to someday connect Los Angeles to San Francisco with 220-mph trains, has always faced a tough problem with getting a rail line into Los Angeles. In its business plan adopted earlier this year, it punted the problem down the road and said it would be the last segment it would build, if it can find a source for about $43.5 billion that it does not now have. The journey from Bakersfield in the Central Valley to Burbank will require about 36 miles of underground passage, the most challenging tunneling project in the nations history. The San Gabriel and Tehachapi mountains are geologically complex, consisting of billion-year-old rocks that have been folded, fractured, tumbled and metamorphosed. They are laced with faults capable of generating powerful earthquakes. And aquifers can deliver high water pressures through fissures in the rock. The rail authority is boring five exploratory wells through the rock above the San Fernando Valley in an effort to understand the challenge, and community groups and cities are urging the state to put more of the route underground to avoid impacts in developed neighborhoods. The state abandoned the aboveground E3 route last year. But the remaining E2 route, some of which is also aboveground, is just as controversial. The route would reverse the citys costly efforts to restore natural habitat to the Los Angeles River system, displace a couple hundred businesses, remove as many as 100 homes and impact half a dozen schools, opponents say. Los Angeles is spending billions of dollars to restore other sections of the river that will never be as pristine as the Big Tujunga Wash, and putting a large concrete structure across it would be moving in the entirely wrong direction, said Karo Torossian, director of planning and environment for City Councilman Paul Krekorian. Krekorian authored the motion opposing the E2 route and was seconded by Council President Herb Wesson. We are spending billions of dollars to restore the river in areas that will not be nearly as nice as this part of the river, Torossian said. Meanwhile, Los Angeles school board member Monica Ratliff introduced a resolution that would oppose E2, in part because it would pass within 1,500 feet of four public elementary schools and two high schools. In an interview, Ratliff said she is concerned about noise and dust during years of construction, as well as the noise from future operation of the trains through the community. She singled out Brainard Elementary, a small school in Lake View Terrace that had relatively poor tests scores but has shown dramatic progress in tripling the percentage of students meeting standards. I do not believe the school would survive the negative impacts of the E2 route, she said. The school board is scheduled to vote on the resolution next month. It is not likely that the rail authority is going to easily back down. Spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley asserted that the authority is not facing opposition. The California High-Speed Rail Authority has a very good working relationship with the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, the L.A. City Council and the mayor of Los Angeles, she said. But the authoritys handling of the E2 route is generating some distrust. Part of the controversy involves whether the rail authority openly disclosed that one of its two sites for a Burbank station actually is in the city of Los Angeles. Though the passenger terminal is in Burbank, the 1,400-foot train platform where passengers enter and depart trains would be mostly in the city of Los Angeles. The rail authority granted Burbank a nearly $1-million station-planning grant. Now, Krekorian in his motion wants the rail authority to sign a station-planning grant with Los Angeles that would cover engineering, planning and environmental costs. In an email, Alley, the authority spokeswoman, disputed that the station is in Los Angeles, apparently referring to the passenger terminal. In addition, Alley notes that the rail authority has other cooperative agreements with the city. Krekorians staff, which learned about the location in Los Angeles only in the last few months, insists that the platform is the essential part of any station. The discrepancy was discovered by the group Save Angeles National Forest for Everyone and raised at a community meeting. It was absolutely a political blunder by the rail authority, said David DePinto, one of the groups cofounders. They didnt disclose it until they were asked. This is par for the course with these guys. The continuing problems with finding an acceptable route are leading to proposals that the rail authority simply use the existing Metrolink corridor, which has a twisty right of way from Burbank to Palmdale. The best bang for the buck is to stick with the existing Metrolink right of way, said Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian, who is a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board and the Metrolink board. The existing plan is very expensive for a project that is already financially burdened. Such a plan would put Southern California on par with the Bay Area, which succeeded in defeating the rail authoritys intent to build separate tracks through the wealthy peninsula communities of Silicon Valley. The compromise meant that future trains will have to share tracks at slower speeds with commuter trains. The rail authority has said it would select a route by next year, a decision that will undoubtedly depend to some extent on Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has said little publicly on the matter. ALSO The battle over a rock fest that Joshua Tree locals say will rattle wildlife and the desert towns chill vibe No touching. No human contact. The hidden toll on jail inmates who spend months or years alone in a 7x9 foot cell Another kind of drought: Inmate fire crews dwindle as wildfire season grows ever longer The California Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate donations made to the California Democratic Party by privately owned utilities and other energy interests. The action was prompted by an August report from the Santa Monica advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, which focused on the political influence of companies that rely on fossil fuels. Despite the reports heavy focus on Gov. Jerry Brown it was entitled Browns Dirty Hands the commission did not see fit to investigate the governor himself. Advertisement The decision not to broaden the investigation speaks for itself, said Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Brown, declining further comment. The report by Consumer Watchdog tallied almost $10 million in political contributions and compared their timing to decisions made by Gov. Jerry Brown and his appointees. In some cases, donations were made within days of regulatory decisions that benefited the donors. This is to notify you that the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission will investigate the California Democratic Party for alleged violations of the Political Reform Acts campaign reporting provisions resulting from information contained in your sworn complaint, the commission wrote to Consumer Watchdog. The commission stated that it was not investigating the other persons identified in your complaint at this time. A spokesman for the state Democratic Party said the organization is aware of the investigation and cooperating fully with the probe. Jamie Court, president of the consumer advocacy group, said he was pleased with the commission decision, but said investigators need to look deeper than the state Democratic Party. Its impossible to investigate a dirty laundry machine without looking into the owner of the dirt, he said. If you have dirty laundry, its hard to imagine you have clean hands. In accepting the complaint for investigation, the Fair Political Practices Commission said it had made no determination about the validity of the allegations in the complaint. Less than one month after his death, Ranchipur, the 50-year-old Asian elephant, was entering the next stage of the San Diego Zoos circle of life. Ranchipurs new chapter was unfolding inside San Diego Zoo Globals Beckman Center for Conservation Research, where cells from the 10,000-pound elephant were bound for a tank filled with liquid nitrogen and a future that we cant even imagine yet. The elephant was about to become a resident of the Frozen Zoo, where the end of life can be the beginning of a whole new journey. Advertisement We told the keepers, If it helps, a piece of him is living in the Frozen Zoo, senior researcher Marlys Houck said of the cells from the elderly elephant, who was euthanized at the zoo in August. We dont know what (the cells) will be used for in the future, but they are a source of DNA. So when we get them, we bank them. The time to bank is while the species is abundant. The pressure when its down to the last one is just so much. Located just up the road from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido, the Frozen Zoo is home to more than 10,000 living cell cultures, sperm and other genetic materials representing nearly 1,000 species and subspecies. Inside six tanks filled with liquid nitrogen kept at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit are genetic materials from massive elephants, Oustalets chameleons and the last poouli, a bird native to Maui that went extinct a decade ago. A matching set of tanks (and their contents) is housed at a second undisclosed location, just in case something goes awry at the main site. 1 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant uses a pair of tongs to hold up the frozen sperm of Angalifu, the last viable northern white rhinoceros male that died in 2014. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant holds a vial of frozen sperm from a box containing frozen sperm, eggs and other reproductive tissues from mammals, birds, and reptiles. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant places the lid back on a tank of liquid nitrogen used to freeze sperm, eggs and other reproductive tissue from various species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant uses tongs to pick up vials of frozen sperm, eggs, ovarian and testicular tissue, from various species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 12 Dr. Oliver Ryder at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research in Escondido. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 12 Senior Research Associate Carly Young stains the eggs of a deer species in preparation of viewing under a microscope. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 12 Senior Research Associate Carly Young looks at the eggs of a deer species through a microscope. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 12 Senior Research Associate Carly Young looks at the eggs of a deer species through a microscope. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant holds a slide containing the eggs of a deer species as she prepares to look at the eggs under a microscope. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 12 The image from a microscope of an egg of a type of deer species, which was frozen, is shown on a monitor. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 12 Sperm from a sika deer, which was frozen, as seen through a microscope. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 12 Dr. Barbara Durrant uses a microscope to look at the eggs, seen on a monitor at left, from a type of deer species. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) The samples in the genetic bank come from the Zoo and the Safari Park, as well as from other zoos and institutions all over the world. They are taken during routine health exams or after an animal has died. No animals are sacrificed for the sole purpose of populating the Frozen Zoo. The materials have been used to inseminate Bai Yun, the zoos beloved giant panda, and to reproduce the endangered Chinese monal pheasant. The Frozen Zoos vast collection is a big contributor to the Genome 10K project, a worldwide effort to sequence the genomes of 10,000 species. It is also a key player in the fight to save the critically endangered northern white rhino from extinction. Then there are the uses no one has discovered yet. Because unlike its icy collection, the Frozen Zoo is fluid. No one knows where it might be going next, including the people who know it better than anyone else. Every day, we have less genetic diversity on the planet than we had yesterday, said Barbara Durrant, San Diego Zoo Globals Henshaw endowed director of reproductive physiology. If I collect semen from a gorilla now, I may not have a plan, but we may need that sperm in the future. The idea is to capture what we have today and use it at the most appropriate time in the future. The Frozen Zoo was the brainchild of Dr. Kurt Benirschke, a UC San Diego pathologist and geneticist whose keen interest in human genetics led him to study reproductive issues in animals. In 1975, he and former zoo executive director Charles Bieler persuaded the board of trustees of the San Diego Zoo to establish the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, which would become the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Bernirschke began collecting frozen cells and reproductive material in the 1970s. Finding a purpose for this genetic stash and waiting for the technology that would make using it possible would take awhile longer. Oliver Ryder, San Diego Zoo Globals Kleberg endowed director of genetics, is shown at the Beckman Center for Conservation Research. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune ) Around that time, Oliver Ryder was working on his doctorate in biology at UC San Diego and pondering the problem of endangered species. He was introduced to Bernirschke, who proceeded to change Ryders career plans, along with the rest of his life. I walked into his office, and I remember saying to him, Is there anything a molecular biologist can do to save species?, said Ryder, now San Diego Zoo Globals Kleberg endowed director of genetics. And he said, Yes, but you will have to figure it out. A few key scientific discoveries helped on that front. In 1996, scientists in Scotland cloned Dolly the sheep. It was the first time a mammal had been successfully cloned, a breakthrough that quickly expanded the horizons of what could be done with genetic materials. Another key milestone came in 2006, when Japanese researcher Shinya Yamanaka discovered that mice skin cells could be reprogrammed into immature stem cells, the kind of master cells that can grow into different types of cells within the body. Five years later, Ryder and his genetics team collaborated with Jeanne Loring at the Scripps Research Institute to generate these all-important stem cells from the frozen skin cells of the critically endangered northern white rhino and an endangered African drill monkey. We realized that the Frozen Zoo was possibly the worlds largest collection of stem cells, Ryder said. This collection is going to be useful for more things than we can possibly imagine. Just as the animals represented in the Frozen Zoo range from the exotic Przewalskis horse to the ubiquitous domestic cat, the work being done by the genetics and reproductive teams is all over the scientific map. Genetic studies have helped improve the care of animals by identifying reproductive issues in pandas. Amphibians are suddenly dying off at an alarming rate, and the Frozen Zoos large collection of hard-to-gather amphibian materials will help researchers find out why. Sequencing the genome of Swazi, the matriarch of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park elephant herd, contributed to the Human Genome Project. And the cat testes and ovaries the facility regularly receives from the Feral Cat Coalitions spay and neuter clinic have helped Durrant and her staff perfect the sperm and egg freezing techniques they have then used with cheetahs. Other uses for the Frozen Zoo sound like the stuff of science fiction. In the early 2000s, cells from the Frozen Zoo were used to clone two endangered cattle species, a gaur and a banteng. The cloned gaur died of an infection within two days. The banteng, a male named Jahava, survived and went on display at the zoo in 2004. He was euthanized seven years later after breaking a leg. If cloning represents the outer limits of what the Frozen Zoo could do to save endangered species from extinction, the slow and steady work happening at the Safari Parks Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center is no less groundbreaking. The plan is for the centers six female southern white rhinos to act as surrogates for a hybrid rhino. The hybrid would be created from frozen sperm from the nearly extinct northern white rhino and eggs from the southern white, whose conservation status is the less-scary near threatened. Researcher Barbara Durrant uses a pair of tongs to hold up a container of frozen sperm from a northern white rhinoceros. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune ) In the next phase, which could be 10 to 15 years away, Durrant and her team hope to use Frozen Zoo cell lines from Nola, the much-loved northern white rhino who died at the Safari Park last year, to help create a northern white embryo that would be carried to term by a southern white surrogate. The ultimate goal is to have a population of northern white rhinos living in the wild. Habitat loss and poaching have reduced the current northern white population to three animals living on a preserve in Kenya. Whether it is through cloning or surrogacy, when you talk about creating new animals in a lab, animal-rights activists and other skeptics wonder if it is something humans should be doing. What is the point of keeping a species alive if the animals have to live in zoos? Why spend so much time and so many resources on one subspecies? The scientists say humans have an obligation to intervene when the extinction is a result of climate change, poaching and other man-made causes. We broke it, so we need to fix it. The phrase that comes up a lot in these debates is the idea that we are playing God., said Andy Lamey, assistant teaching professor of philosophy at UC San Diego, where he has lectured about the ethics of cloning extinct animals such as the woolly mammoth. A certain amount of extinction is normal, but that is based on how it occurs. Historically, most extinctions were not due to thoughtlessness on the part of our species. But when we talk about extinction today, we are overwhelmingly talking about people encroaching on an animals area. And even if you spend a lot of time trying to save one subspecies, the lessons you learn there could save a lot of species. The samples in those liquid nitrogen tanks are small enough to fit in your hand, but the lessons being learned at the Frozen Zoo could change the future for animals of many stripes. Those samples are small enough to fit in your hand, but their impact could be bigger than our human minds can imagine. So when something happens with one of the Frozen Zoos liquid nitrogen tanks a change in the nitrogen level, a power surge, a power failure an alarm goes off and researcher Houck gets an alert text. The minutes she spends waiting for security to report on the source of the problem can be excruciating. Because if something happened to the Frozen Zoo, the flood of loss would be felt far beyond this one small room. It can definitely keep you awake at night, but this is extremely rewarding, Houck said. This is going to outlive all of us. What we are doing today will be here long after were all gone. WAKHAN, Afghanistan (AP) In a picturesque corner of Afghanistan, a unique conservation effort has helped bring the elusive snow leopard back from the brink and given hope to one of the poorest and most isolated communities on earth. The leopards range across the snowy mountains of a dozen countries in Central and South Asia, but their numbers had declined in recent decades as hunters sought their spotted pelts and farmers killed them to protect livestock. Now they appear to be thriving, thanks to a seven-year program and a newly declared national park. Scientists who have been tracking the shy leopards estimate there are up to 140 cats in the Wakhan National Park, established two years ago across 1 million square hectares (4,200 square miles). Stephane Ostrowski, a specialist with the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, says thats a healthy and sustainable number, and indicates that other species like the Siberian ibex and golden marmot the leopards main prey are also doing well. Advertisement The WCS believes global leopard numbers could be much higher than a previous upper estimate of 7,500, after data gathered by Ostrowski and others showed there could be more than 8,000 in just 44 percent of the animals known range. The World Wildlife Fund lists the species as endangered. His findings are the result of research carried out in one of the most hard-to-reach places on earth. The Wakhan corridor is nestled high in the Hindu Kush mountain range and cut off by snow for most of the year. The 15-year-old war with the Taliban rages 30 kilometers (18 miles) to the south, and the nearby borders with Tajikistan, Pakistan and China are usually closed. The United Nations Development Program funds and oversees all the WCS activities in the Wakhan, and will provide $3 million for the snow leopard project over the next two years. Ostrowski and the other foreign and Afghan scientists camp in yellow tents in the Sarkand Valley for months on end, monitoring and maintaining a far-flung network of cameras and traps. In just one year, they collected around 5,000 images of 38 individual cats. They managed to capture four leopards one of them twice and were able to fit them with collars and track them with GPS. They hope to catch another two by the end of the year. Theyve learned that snow leopards range widely. Like house cats, they mark their territory by spraying and scratching the ground, but unlike their distant relatives, they dont mind getting wet. These cats can cross big rivers and swim in extremely cold water, Ostrowski said. One female crossed the Amu Darya river into Tajikistan, stayed a couple of weeks and then returned. The snow leopards have benefited from conservation programs going back to 2009, when the WCS began building enclosed corrals with mesh roofs to protect the sheep, goats and cows that are the backbone of the local economy. It was the first step toward bringing modern conservation techniques to Wakhan, where the population of around 17,000 lives off of subsistence farming. In one of the poorest regions of one of the worlds poorest countries, the leopards had long been seen as a menace. Hassan Beg says he lost 22 sheep and goats in one night a few years ago when a snow leopard got into his uncovered corral, and his cousin Saeed said he was attacked by one late at night. Hassan has since built his own roof over the enclosure using tree branches. We cant kill them, he said, so I just make sure it wont happen again. A presidential decree banning all hunting countrywide was issued in 2005, but the scientists recently found a carcass with a bullet in its head. Some 400 kilometers (250 miles) to the southwest, at a crowded market in the capital, Kabul, a shopkeeper discreetly produced a snow leopard pelt with a long cylindrical tail and a face distorted by crude taxidermy. He wanted $1,800 for it. We receive reports from all of the provinces where hunting is going on illegally, whether it is because of poverty, whether it is for hobby, whether it is for selling it at a higher price in the market, said Mostapha Zaher, director general of the National Environment Protection Agency. But back in Wakhan, the conservation efforts appear to be catching on. At Qala-i-Panja High School, where students say theyve never heard of the internet, theyve embraced modern notions of wildlife preservation. A snow leopard cub stares down from a poster affixed to the otherwise bare walls. Since the ban on hunting was introduced, the numbers of wild animals are increasing here and that is attracting foreign tourists, said Simah, a 17-year-old who like many Afghans has no surname. That can be good for the economy of Afghanistan. The snow leopard is the national parks star attraction, even if most visitors are unlikely to see one. But the region also boasts wolves, brown bears, red foxes, and the long-horned Marco Polo sheep named for the 13th century Italian explorer who spotted one on his journey to the Far East. Only around 100 visitors reach Wakhan every year, most entering from Tajikistan during the summer months. Wakhans poverty and isolation has insulated it from decades of war, but has also deterred all but the most adventurous travelers. Frenchman Jocelyn Guitton, an EU diplomat, arrived in August with plans to trek to the corridors northeast and visit Kyrgyz nomads. He allows that its off the beaten track, but says he hopes tourism can bring visibility and good practices to the region. Since declaring the national park two years ago, the government has been holding public meetings known as shuras throughout Wakhan to cultivate local support for the idea and to reassure residents who initially feared they might lose their land. Its a new concept for these people and its a new concept for Afghanistan, so it takes time, said Ashley Vosper, a landscape expert at WCS who has taken part in the meetings. Vosper says the park actually provides brilliant protection to residents by ensuring that no one else can use their land while bringing economic development to the region. It can be a nice two-way balance, he said. Zaher hopes that Wakhan can one day rival Afghanistans only other national park, in the central Bamiyan province, which attracts thousands of tourists each year to the crystal blue lakes of Band-i-Amir. When peace returns to Afghanistan and it will, as no war lasts forever Wakhan has great potential for ecotourism, for people who are interested in archaeology, anthropology, researchers interested in Afghanistan, people interested in glacial melt, mountaineering, the environment. Google's highly anticipated Pixel/Nexus 2016 smartphones have been making up the headlines for quite some time now. Google has already sent out invitations for its October 4 event where the tech giant is expected to unveil its new range of Pixel 2016 smartphones, possibly dubbed Pixel and Pixel XL. As the Google Pixel/Nexus 2016 release date is just round the corner, more and more rumors about the handsets possible design, specification, features and price details are floating ablaze. Recently, Pixel XL, codenamed Marlin, was found listed on Geekbench with the new Pixel moniker, reported Softpedia. The benchmark listing was first spotted by Roland Quandt. First time I've seen the name Google Pixel XL mentioned in full on a benchmark site: https://t.co/TnifHSZgfo Roland Quandt (@rquandt) September 23, 2016 As per the listing, the Google Pixel XL will come with a Qualcomm octa-core processor clocked at 1.59GHz, 4GB of RAM and run Android 7.1 Nougat which will bring in the new Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant as well as Google's DayDream VR platform. The handset scored 1561 points in the single-core test and 4176 points in the multi-core test. Among other specs, the Google Pixel XL is rumored to feature a 5.5-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor coupled with Adreno 530 GPU, a 3450mAh battery, a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. The Google Pixel handset is expected to come with a 5-inch full HD display, a Snapdragon 820 chipset along with 3 GB of RAM and 2,770 mAh battery. According to Android Police, the Google Pixel/Nexus 2016 smartphones will be IP53 dust and water resistance certified. This means that the handsets will not be completely water resistant. Furthermore, there are also reports which claim that the Pixel smartphones will come with Google's latest messaging app, Allo, pre-installed as the default messaging app. Both the handsets will reportedly be manufactured by Taiwan's HTC. As far as Google Pixel/Nexus 2016 smartphones pricing is concerned, the Pixel XL is expected to come with an expensive price tag of around $650. Don't forget to catch up with SWR for more updates and latest news on Google Pixel/ Nexus 2016 smartphone specs, price and release date. While, Microsoft has remained tightlipped about Surface Phone 2016, tons of rumors about the handset's release date, specs and price details have flooded the internet. A leaked picture of the highly anticipated Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 surfaced on the popular Chinese website Baidu. The alleged picture shows the handset as well as reveals some details about the Surface Phone specification. As per the leaked image, the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 will come with a 5.7 inch screen, 2K resolution, a 20MP rear camera and the Snapdragon 830 processor. It is to be noted that the authenticity of the picture, which was posted back in May, has not yet been proved. Microsoft Australia also recently posted a picture on its Twitter account which showed a rectangular silhouette along with the Surface Book laptop and Surface Pro 4 tablet. The silhouette is expected to be of the Surface Phone 2016. The image had a caption "New One in Surface family!" Considering the fact that the picture had the Microsoft official logo and the same came via one of Microsoft's official regional Twitter page, tech enthusiasts are expecting the picture to be a legitimate one. Talking more about the Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 rumored specs, the smartphone is expected to come with a number of impressive hardware configurations and features in three different variants. The low end variant is rumored to feature 3GB of RAM and the midrange variant is expected to come with 6GB of RAM. The high-end variant is reported to get a massive 8GB of RAM and 512GB of built-in storage. There are reports which claim that the Surface phones will run either Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 830 processor or Intel's newest Kaby Lake chipset along with Microsoft Windows 10 mobile OS. The handsets are expected to get a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a 20-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera, a fingerprint reader, Surface Pen functionality, USB Type-C connectivity, continuum support and liquid cooling technology. Price range of the Microsoft Surface Phones 2016 is expected to be around $700-$1100. Don't forget to check with SWR for more updates and latest news on Microsoft Surface Phone 2016 release date, specs and price details. FLORENCE, S.C. Law enforcement agencies across the Pee Dee are receiving thousands of dollars in grant money from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety to fund body-worn cameras for their officers. After state legislation was passed in June 2015 requiring law enforcement officers to wear body cameras, agencies were able to apply to the Public Safety Coordinating Council for funding for cameras as well as maintenance and storage fees. Of the 169 agencies that applied for funding, 165 were approved to receive money. According to Sherri Iacobelli, communications director for the Department of Public Safety, the amount of money an agency received was based on the number of officers expected to use the cameras, the size of the agency itself and storage and maintenance requests. Nearly $5.8 million was disbursed to agencies across the state, including a number of agencies in the Pee Dee. The Sumter Police Department received more than $300,000 from the Public Coordinating Safety Council more than any other agency that applied. Chief Russell Roark said the amount is helping the department build its body camera system from scratch. We did not have cameras before the grant, Roark said. We were very lucky to receive that amount of money. Now we have enough cameras for everyone in the agency depending on the function of the officer. Other local agencies used the funding opportunity to be reimbursed for the cameras and storage they had already purchased. The Hartsville Police Department, for example, has been using body-worn camera technology since 2010. Lt. Mark Blair said the $10,800 Hartville police received will help offset maintenance and replacement costs. We were coming down the line to replace our servers for body cameras and in-car cameras, Blair said. Every five years, the technology reaches end of life and you have to replace it. The (cameras) we have now are far away better than what we had then. The Hartsville Police Department has bought 14 cameras at around $600 per camera which equips almost half of its officers. The Florence Police Department has cameras for all 93 of its full-duty officers, but at a much steeper price. Chief Allen Heidler said the cameras cost approximately $1,200 each, but the department has been able to save money by applying for other grants and using its pre-established data storage systems. We had multiple servers in place already that we were able to utilize and reduce costs, Heidler said. Were using some thats really high quality, high resolution. We asked for reimbursement for money already spent out of our budget. The Florence Police Department received $29,083 in funding. The Florence County Sheriffs Office, however, chose not to apply for funding from the South Carolina Public Safety Coordinating Council. Maj. Mike Nunn said the sheriffs office is testing and evaluating different camera and storage systems to decide which is best suited to its needs. We are working diligently to decide which type of body-worn camera works best for our agency, Nunn said. Once we settle on a system and provide concrete numbers as to its cost, we will submit our application and then move forward. Funding was always an obstacle for the sheriffs office when discussing body-worn cameras. In July 2015 just after the legislation was passed mandating body cameras, Sheriff Kenney Boone called funding a major issue and said the department would take a look at the policies, apply for some grants and go from there. Nunn said that at the time grant money was being requested earlier this year the sheriffs office did not have an amount proposal ready that could sufficiently fund body cameras for the 175 deputies in the sheriff's office. Nunn added that the legislature did not distribute enough money for funding to start with and that the $5.8 million being shared was just simply not enough money to go around. We knew we would not get full funding, Nunn said. We want to submit an accurate number that made sense that would be what is necessary for us to implement our policy. We just didnt have the information. We certainly will apply for those grants next year. The Darlington County Sheriffs Office also did not submit a funding request for its body-worn cameras for similar reasons. Sheriff Wayne Byrd said his department was also still testing and evaluating camera systems at the time the Department of Public Safety was receiving applications. The plan is to apply in the next round, Byrd said. Were getting everything ready to roll. There is no reason to apply for something youre not ready to use. If youre relatively new to the state or under age 50, you might not know the story of Esau Jenkins. But you should. And now, the world will know more about this incredible Johns Island civil rights leader, thanks to a permanent exhibit in the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture that opened Saturday. The exhibit displays Jenkins' motto Love is Progress, Hate is Expensive on the back panels of a Volkswagen microbus that ferried people on the sea islands to work, school and the voting polls. Jenkins, born into the Jim Crow South in 1910 when blacks on Johns Island were poor, uneducated and mired in poverty, had an entrepreneurial, charismatic gift of inspiring people to seek justice, education and a chance for something better that they were so long denied. He first farmed vegetables, learning enough Greek to sell to Charleston merchants in the Depression. In 1948, Jenkins started The Progressive Club as a small cooperative store on Johns Island. It blossomed into a center for political, social, educational and recreational activities for the areas black residents. What began in that co-op was a citizenship school to teach blacks on Johns Island how to qualify to register to vote, recalls grandson Abe Jenkins. Later, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) spread that program throughout the South. That one class in the co-op became thousands of classes in churches, schools and homes. In 1962, the SCLC brought in other groups that later formed the Voter Education Project (VEP). Between 1962 and 1966, VEP trained 10,000 teachers for Citizenship Schools, and 700,000 black voters registered throughout the South. By 1970, another million black voters had registered. Johns Island businessman Bill Saunders, 81, is the only surviving original member of the club. He remembers how Jenkins was involved in an array of initiatives, all of which were focused on lifting up people of the sea islands. He was one of the ones (across the nation) who really stood out and started looking at the real bad things that were going on in our country people not having the right to vote. Where I live on Johns Island, all of the black men used to run when they heard the police coming at night. Jenkins, who completed only four years of school, rubbed shoulders with social justice giants at places such as the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee and luminaries at the United Nations. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Lowcountry, Jenkins was a step away. At a ceremonial send-off in Charleston for the Jenkins family to commemorate the museum opening, writer Damon Fordham of Charleston urged students to learn more about Jenkins. Learn how he spoke to those in power and taught those without power to take control of their own lives. Learn of how he stood up to the powerful and stood up for the powerless, he said. Learn of how his friend Dr. King referred to him in 1962 as one of the true heroes of the South. And when you learn, you will see that through his example, you will learn that no matter how weak you think you are, no matter how small you think you are, no matter how poor and unimportant you think you are, you, too, can rise up and reach down within yourselves to make a difference. Jenkins holds a special place in the heart of Columbias Bud Ferillo, whose film Corridor of Shame continues to affect public policy. As a high schooler in the 1960s, Ferillo learned about organizing from Jenkins. In 1967, Jenkins pressed a brass cross into Ferillos palm before he left to serve in Vietnam. He told the young soldier to wear the cross, made before the Revolutionary War by a slave, with his dog tags to keep safe. Ferillo recalled trying to give back the cross after returning safely from the war. But Jenkins told him to keep it, because there was more work to do. Ferillo closed his remarks at the send-off with this: Let us keep on keeping on so Esaus faith, love and progress for freedom will live on for he still has more work for us. Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com. AURORA, Colo. -- Here on the High Plains, where the deer and the antelope once played, Denver's suburbs roam toward the Rockies' front range, and the nature of today's polyglot politics is written in the local congressman's campaign schedule. One day last week, Republican Mike Coffman went from a Hispanic charter school in a strip mall to another strip mall for lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant with leaders of the Ethiopian-American community, then to a meeting with the editor of the largest of two Korean-language newspapers serving more than 3,000 Korean-Americans in the metropolitan area. Coffman was elected to Congress in 2008 with 61 percent of the vote, replacing Tom Tancredo, a firebrand who that year ineffectually ran for president as a scourge of illegal immigrants. Coffman's thinking was somewhat congruent with Tancredo's. Then, however, the political market aka democracy began to work, with an assist from Democrats, who inadvertently made Coffman a better politician and person. After he was re-elected with 66 percent in 2010, his district was gerrymandered to make it more Democratic 20 percent Hispanic, with a generous salting of other minorities. He won in 2012 with just 48 percent of the vote. In 2014, national Democrats recruited a formidable opponent, a Yale graduate who had taught, in Spanish, in Central American schools. So, Coffman learned Spanish well enough to do an entire debate in the language and today banters in Spanish with the children at Roca Fuerte Academy. The pastor who founded it in 2008 says this charter school is anathema to, and underfunded by, the local school district, which is obedient to the teachers union, which dislikes charters that are not obedient to it. The district's schools have just a 61 percent graduation rate. Roca Fuerte Academy does better. Some of the academy's pupils in their school uniforms are antecedents of the pronoun in Donald Trump's four-word immigration policy: "They have to go." They were brought here by illegal immigrants. Trump wants to send them "home" to countries they do not remember. Coffman has co-authored legislation that would provide legal status and a path to lawful permanent resident status to those who came before age 16, have lived here five consecutive years, and who have been accepted to a college or vocational school or have demonstrated an intent to enlist in the military, or have a valid work authorization. At the Nile restaurant, Coffman's cowboy boots go beneath a table groaning under the weight of trays laden with Ethiopian food that is eaten without utensils, scooped up with bits torn from rolls of bread as thin and flexible as fabric. Coffman sits next to an Orthodox bishop who is wearing a cassock and a glittering pectoral cross. As guests arrive, several kiss a crucifix he holds. He speaks scant English but draws 1,500 to Sunday services. Many of those around the table have been in America for at least a decade and are citizens and small-business entrepreneurs. Ethiopians are Colorado's second-largest immigrant community and are grateful for Coffman's attempts to pressure Ethiopia's authoritarian government to stop using violence against protesters. Coffman attends the annual "Taste of Ethiopia" festival here in America's Mountain West and "Ethiopians for Coffman" might matter in November. As might the Korean-American community, which continues to honor those Americans who, like Coffman's father, fought in the Korean War. Coffman, 61, enlisted in the Army before receiving his high school diploma, which he earned while serving. After leaving the Army and graduating from the University of Colorado, he went to Marine Corps officer training. When he left the Corps he became a state legislator until called back into uniform in 1991 for the Gulf War. In 2005, he resigned as state treasurer to serve a tour of duty with the Marines in Iraq. There he helped organize elections in a place where diversity is rather more problematic than in Colorado's 6th Congressional District. His opponent this year, who dislikes charter schools and school choice, does not speak fluent Spanish and, unlike almost all candidates challenging incumbents, does not seem to want many debates she even declined the Denver Post's. Coffman thinks she does not want anything to distract from her theme, which is: Trump is a Republican and so is Coffman. In early August, however, Coffman acted pre-emptively with a television ad that began: "People ask me, 'What do you think about Trump?' Honestly, I don't care for him much." Spoken like a Marine who does 10 sets of 50 pushups daily. George Will's email address is georgewill@washpost.com. How did prehistoric Britons manage to move Stonehenge's stones? Each rock weighed an average of 25 tons and stood as tall as 30 feet, and the first tractor was still five millennia away, so clearly they must have endured great pains to build the monument, right? Much of the mystery around the site comes from the questions of how Stonehenge was built and why. A recent experiment by archaeologists at University College London provides a hint to that first part anyway. As back-breaking a task as building a monument of dump truck-sized stones without the aid of modern machinery might seem, the demonstration held in London's Gordon Square suggests it wasn't that difficult at all. Superhenge Found Buried Near Stonehenge: Photos Last week, University College London doctoral candidate Barney Harris put out a call for volunteers to see how many people it would take to pull a stone about half the size as the smallest rock at Stonehenge, which is about one metric ton. Harris anticipated it would take a team of at least 15 people to move the stone, and as many as 40 to 50 to lift it. Instead, 10 people were able to get the stone going at a rate of roughly 10 feet (3 meters) every five seconds, or around one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour. A team twice the size would be able to move a small piece of Stonehenge. Devoting the kind of human capital needed for what may appear to be a frivolous effort for a Neolithic society isn't all that far-fetched considering settlements in the area at the time numbered in the thousands, so there were plenty of other members of the society to carry on with the more life-sustaining activities, such as farming, hunting or child-rearing. Video: Could a Bronze Age Skeleton Solve a Stonehenge Mystery? Made of rope, a wooden track and a sycamore sled, the design of the rig used in the experiment mirrors others found throughout the ancient world. "We know that pre-industrialized societies like the Maram Naga in India still use this kind of sledge to construct huge stone monuments," Harris told The Telegraph. "And similar y-shaped sleighs have been found dating back to 2000 B.C. in Japan which we know were used to move megaliths." Recreating even at a small scale how the rocks used at Stonehenge were transported can provide researchers an estimate of how long it took to complete the entire site. Beginning around 5,000 years ago, the first stones were lain at Stonehenge. The monument was built in two phases with two different kinds of stones. The largest stones are called sarsens, a local sandstone, placed around 2400 B.C. The circle of rocks at the center, known as bluestones, were erected 500 years earlier, around 2900 B.C. Giant Rock Sphere Linked to Mysterious Civilization? Neolithic people quarried the slabs of bluestone in Preseli hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The builders then transported the rocks 140 miles (225 kilometers), through steep and uneven terrain, to the site of the monument in Wiltshire, England, reported a separate University College London study last year. The system devised in the most recent experiment works well over these rough patches and without the aid of livestock. Knowing how ancient builders could have constructed Stonehenge does take a little mystery out of the site. But if nothing else, Stonehenge still stands as a marvel of ancient ingenuity, erected by people smart enough to make the effort as easy on themselves as possible at the time. Representatives from the world's most powerful economies met in September 2016 at the annual G20 Summit, held in China for the first time. The international forum includes 19 countries, plus the European Union. But interestingly, it does not include the nations with the world's fastest-growing economies. As Trace Dominguez explains in today's Seeker Daily report, the countries with the highest GDP growth in a given year are typically not among the world's powerhouse economies. Growth rates are notoriously volatile and big swings are more likely for countries with smaller and less stable economies. Here are your top three finishers in 2015 GDP growth rate, according to those dedicated number crunchers over at the CIA's World Factbook: RELATED: What Are the World's Fastest Developing Cities? The bronze medal goes to Papua New Guinea, a small independent state just north of Australia. Mineral deposits of copper, gold and especially natural gas have fueled economic growth in recent years, along with agricultural exports of palm oil and coffee. Papua New Guinea's GDP has averaged 8 percent growth over the past three years, but the wealth is trickling down to the little guy: Nearly 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. The tiny nation of Palau -- not far from Papua New Guinea, actually -- takes second place in our GDP sweepstakes. Interestingly, it's tourism that's vaulted Palau onto the leaderboard. In 2014, China began offering charter flights to Palau, which is comprised of around 250 separate islands. Palau welcomed roughly 125,000 foreign tourists in 2014, and more than 160,000 in 2015 -- nearly half of whom were from China. If those numbers don't seem like much, consider that Papau's native population is around 18,000 people. And now we present our winner: The fastest growing economy in the world, as of 2015, is Ethiopia, which has sustained an average GDP growth of 10 percent over the past decade. The influx in wealth is primarily a result of a growing manufacturing industry, investments in infrastructure, and a consistent demand for the country's agricultural exports. Unfortunately, much of the money ends up in the hands of corrupt officials, and the region's recent drought has worsened conditions for the poor. -- Glenn McDonald Learn More: Wall Street Journal: G-20 Closes With Call for More Efforts to Boost Global Growth CIA Factbook: GDP Comparison ABC Online: Energy Companies Eyeing Papua New Guinea Expansion Bam eyes protection for PH freelancers With freelancing now a growing sector in the country's labor force, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to protect the rights and welfare of freelancers. "With more and more freelancers in the country, we are confronted with an urgent need to protect this new sector and empower them with ease of doing business," Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No 351. According to Sen. Bam, the bill gives freelancers the power to demand from their employer what they are rightfully due under their agreement. If an employer refuses to pay a freelancer for services rendered, the latter can file a complaint to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which can impose a penalty of up to P250,000 on the non-compliant party if found liable. "Further civil penalties will also be imposed for every day that the employer refuses to compensate the freelancer. The aggrieved party has the option of filing a civil case against his or her employer," said Sen. Bam. The measure also makes it easier for freelancers to register in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and mandates that they be exempted from tax payments for the first three years. "Let us waste no time in ensuring that they are not inconvenienced by red tape and that they are protected from difficult, even fraudulent clients," said Sen. Bam. The bill was referred to the Committees on Labor and Ways and Means. Senator Gatchalian Calls for Judicial Reforms to Strengthen Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign On Sunday, Senator Win Gatchalian called on President Rodrigo Duterte to work with the judiciary on implementing reforms which will strengthen the government's anti-illegal drug campaign through the speedy disposition of drug-related cases. The first priority, according to Gatchalian, should be ensuring that the judiciary receives the budget appropriations needed to hire personnel and funds judicial operations at all levels. The judiciary had asked for P40.4 billion for 2017 budget, but only P32.5 billion has been allocated - a 19.5 percent shortfall. "We cannot win the War on Drugs unless the judiciary is equipped with the resources it needs to efficiently bring drug offenders to justice. Appropriating more public funds to the judiciary will help the scales of justice work more smoothly," said Gatchalian. Gatchalian also called on the judiciary, led by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, to institute internal reforms which will speed up the hearing of drug cases, such as the creation of new dangerous drug courts and the promulgation of more efficient trial procedures. "The executive and judicial branches of government must work hand-in-hand to make ensure victory in the War on Drugs. After all, while it is up to the executive branch to catch the bad guys, ultimate it is the judiciary which will make sure that the bad guys will be convicted and put behind bars," said Gatchalian. Press Release September 25, 2016 GORDON SAYS KILL DRUGS, NOT TO KILL PEOPLE While supporting President Duterte's stand to ensure that the proliferation of illegal drugs is stopped, Senator Richard J. Gordon stressed that there is no need to kill people with impunity which is why he wants to ensure that law enforcement agencies will go by the rules and that the Rule of Law shall always be followed. During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights last Thursday on recent and rampant killings, the first hearing that he conducted after taking over the committee, Gordon said that there is a need to eradicate illegal drugs or a day would come when drug lords and drug pushers would be more heavily armed than law enforcers and cited Mexico and Colombia as examples. Nevertheless, this cannot be used as an excuse to flout the law and kill people indiscriminately. Hence, Gordon said the hearing would lead to amendments to existing laws or to entirely new legislation. "Kill drugs, not kill the people. Hindi pwedeng patay ka ng patay ng tao para lang makuha yung mga drug addicts. We do not throw the Rule of Law book out of the window. In getting rid of drugs, we have to go by the Rule of Law. Sir Thomas More, one of the two recognized patron saints of Catholic lawyers, once said, 'Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?... Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide?' the senator pointed out. Gordon said that the committee would focus on creating new laws or injecting amendments to correct flaws in existing laws to prevent incidents like convicts being released to kill people in the same way that his father was assassinated by a convict who was allowed to leave to assassinate his father and then was returned to prison, to ensure that policemen will strictly follow the rules of engagement, and ensure that more crime laboratories will be established, and that policemen shall be continuously trained, among others. "The resolution covers the recent and rampant killings in our country. Nakatuon tayo doon para makagawa tayo ng legislation kung sakaling makitang may kinakapos doon, lalagyan natin ng legislation 'yan. Hindi ito trial na may hinahanap tayong pumatay ng tao o mga mamamatay tao. Maaaring lalabas sa imbestigasyon 'yan. Pero ang tinutukoy nito ay 'yung mga bagong legislation na dapat gawin. This hearing is conducted in aid of legislation," he said. Gordon also underscored the need to conduct the hearing by the rules, which is why he firmly imposed rules that ensured an orderly hearing. This gained approval from both the senators who attended and the public who watched the proceedings live or on television. These included asking committee members to stand and use the two lecterns set up when it was their time to question witnesses. This prevented unruly behavior when the proceedings tensed a bit and got out of hand such as what happened in other hearings. Senator Leila De Lima commented that Gordon was very firm and fair in conducting the hearing and that he was in command and in control of the proceedings. Even netizens had only high praise for the way Gordon conducted the hearing. "Yan ang Chairman... Fair lang... hindi na one sided at kampi sa Sinungaling na Witness... kung Sabagay!!! Birds with the same feathers? Are the same birds... another Big Salute to You Senator Gordon," a netizen commented. "What I like about the way Sen. Gordon being the chairman is that he is not biased, instead he is looking at all aspects of the cases no judgment being done during the hearing," another one said. "Congrats Sir Richard Gordon. Great job as the new chair of Justice and Human rights committee. That is how the chairman should handle the committee hearings. Very organized and very professional," one netizen also remarked. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Just past noon on a broiling Central Valley day, the strain on Californias electrical grid is rising with the temperature. Inside the control room that runs the grid, on the outskirts of Folsom, a yellow line on a glowing wall of data squiggles steadily higher, then hits a stable plateau. It marks the amount of renewable electricity surging onto the system as the fierce sun fires up solar power plants scattered across the state. More than 27 percent of Californias demand for electricity at this moment is being met by renewable sources primarily the sun, the wind and the Earths own heat. Just a few short years ago, that would have been considered astonishing. Now it happens on a regular basis. Next summer, the percentage will be even higher. State law requires that California get 33 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020 and 50 percent 10 years later. Its remarkable what we can do, says Eric Schmitt, vice president of operations for the California Independent System Operator, as engineers immersed in the control rooms data screens monitor grid conditions. Think about it were sitting here right now, and theres 7,000-plus megawatts of solar on our system. Thats eight nuclear reactors worth of electricity on our system just from solar. Tuesday will mark 10 years since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger committed California to stopping climate change. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle With the San Francisco skyline behind him, the Republican governor signed AB32, a law requiring California to cut its greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. Although the state had already starting trying to curb emissions, AB32 became the centerpiece of Californias climate fight. A decade later, much has changed probably more than most Californians realize. Progress has been neither quick nor steady. Some emission-cutting technologies touted with great promise 10 years ago biofuels from yeast or algae, cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells have never quite borne fruit or are just now entering the marketplace. And yet, 1.7 percent of new cars registered in California last year ran solely on electricity, not gas. In the territory of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the states largest utility, another family installs a rooftop solar array every seven minutes. Solar power plants capable of generating enough electricity for entire towns have spread across the state, from the Central Valley through the Mojave Desert. And the states emissions have fallen almost every year since 2007. Theyve dropped 9.5 percent since their absolute peak, in 2004. This month, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law, SB32, that set Californias next goal, slashing emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The decarbonization of the economy has barely started in much of the country. In California, its well underway. People dont realize how much its changed, said state Sen. Fran Pavley, who wrote both AB32 and its 2016 sequel just signed by Brown. I think theyd be shocked. Although broadly popular with the public, the effort still has critics. Oil companies spent more than $8 million trying to suspend AB32 with a 2010 ballot measure, only to be shot down by voters. Some of the states biggest business lobbies insist the war on emissions is slowly piling costs onto California companies that their competitors elsewhere dont face. If we want to do something about climate change, its important to get other states on board, said Dorothy Rothrock, president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. If California cant keep its manufacturing jobs while fighting climate change, other states arent going to join.. At the same time, however, Californias climate policies during the last decade have attracted and nurtured companies focused on renewable power and sustainability. Many most notably Fremonts Solyndra, maker of tube-shaped solar panels flamed out, leaving burned investors in their wake. But some survived and thrived. Michael Noble Jr. / The Chronicle 2016 Less than 2 miles from Solyndras factory, Tesla Motors builds luxury electric cars for export around the world. Other electric-vehicle startups have set up shop in Silicon Valley, drawn by the nations largest market for plug-in vehicles and a pool of talented engineers. And the American solar industry has turned the Bay Area into its home base. Those policies have made us what we are today, said Tom Werner, CEO of SunPower in San Jose, one of the countrys largest solar manufacturers and power plant developers. Without them, I think wed exist. But we wouldnt be based here. Formally known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, AB32 passed at a time when the politics of climate change had not grown as polarized as they are today. The Republican Schwarzenegger in 2005 had declared the debate about climate science over and vowed action, issuing an executive order that called on California to cut its emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. Pavley, a Democrat from the Los Angeles suburbs, had already authored a 2002 law forcing automakers to improve the fuel efficiency of their cars, curbing emissions in the process. Schwarzeneggers order, she thought, wasnt enough, since future governors could easily discard it. Executive orders are fine, Pavley said, but as a legislator, I want policies to stay in place. Signing the climate law gave Schwarzenegger, running for re-election in 2006, a way to appeal across party lines in deep-blue California. And while only one Republican legislator voted for AB32 Shirley Horton, from Chula Vista (San Diego County) the law had virtually the same level of support among the states Republican and Democratic voters, with roughly two-thirds backing it. California wasnt starting from scratch. In 2002, another law had ordered the states utility companies to start buying more renewable power. It set off a boom in wind farms and large-scale solar power plants, some using mirrors to concentrate sunlight, others employing the same photovoltaic solar cells that homeowners slap on their roofs. Not everything worked quite as planned. Ethan Miller/Getty Images From a distance, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System looks like a shimmering lake in the middle of the desert, punctuated by three tall towers whose tops are blindingly bright. Drivers on nearby Interstate 15 sometimes call it the Eye of Sauron, in a nod to the menacing figure from the Lord of the Rings. Designed by Oaklands BrightSource Energy and financed with help from Google and the U.S. government, the $2.2 billion plant was for a time considered the future. Ivanpah and similar solar thermal plants can churn out large amounts of electricity by focusing sunlight to produce heat for steam turbines. An earlier generation of plants had been quietly generating power in the Mojave Desert near Edwards Air Force Base since the 1980s. Ethan Miller/Getty Images But Ivanpah, which opened in 2014, didnt produce as much electricity as expected. And solar thermal plants found themselves facing another threat the plunging price of photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. As late as 2010, many experts were convinced solar panels would remain too expensive to use for large-scale power plants. But panel prices tumbled 82 percent during the last 5 years, changing the equation. Photovoltaic solar plants started popping up throughout the state. Now many analysts consider Ivanpah and other solar thermal plants white elephants in the desert. They looked like the best bet at the time, said Matthew Freedman, staff attorney with The Utility Reform Network consumer group, who worked on the 2002 renewable power law. The conventional wisdom changes every few years about what the futures going to look like. Ivanpahs co-owner and operator, NRG Energy, says it always expected that ramping the plant up to full production would take four years. The plants energy output last year rose 50 percent, according to NRG, and the company expects another 20 percent improvement in 2016. Michael Macor/The Chronicle The hope that I have for NRG, and the hope that I have for Ivanpah, is that the project turns out to be a good investment, and that we and a whole bunch of other people learn from operating the plant, said Craig Cornelius, head of NRG Renewables. To see Californias largest source of greenhouse gases in action and glimpse a possible solution look no farther than the Nimitz Freeway on a weekday morning. 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. Rows of idling cars pump exhaust into the sky. For decades, local governments in this car-loving state promoted development that separated housing from shops and offices a recipe for sprawl. Today, transportation accounts for 36 percent of Californias emissions. But look to the far left lane of the Nimitz. The carpool lane has turned into a parade of electric vehicles, from Nissan, BMW, Fiat and yes, Tesla, whose factory lies just east of the freeway. Their drivers have obtained a coveted perk a small sticker from the state that gives them the right to drive solo in carpool lanes. Michael Macor/The Chronicle Even as the state pushed to make gasoline-burning cars more efficient, it also badgered automakers into offering cars that dont use gas at all. Regulators at the California Air Resources Board took a pollution-cutting program that dated back to 1990 and used it to force automakers to sell zero-emission vehicles in the state or buy credits from companies that do. It says, Thou shalt build this kind of car a zero emission vehicle, said Diarmuid OConnell, Teslas vice president of business development. If you want to sell your gas guzzlers here, youve got to make some EVs. Thats helpful. Sales have not been brisk. Since the current crop of electric vehicles hit the market at the end of 2010, Californians have bought or leased 123,773 pure-electric vehicles and 107,709 plug-in hybrids, according to the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative. Thats 47 percent of all battery electrics and plug-in hybrids nationwide, but its still less than 1 percent of all cars registered in the state. And yet, Californias nascent EV market has triggered its own wave of businesses. The Bay Area is absolutely the epicenter of electric vehicle technology thats what drew us here, said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. His company, which makes electric buses, started in Colorado and opened its first factory in South Carolina. But California held the potential to be Proterras biggest U.S. market, as cities throughout the state drafted their own plans to cut emissions. And thanks in large part to Tesla, the company could find in the Bay Area engineers with EV experience, Popple said. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Proterra moved its headquarters to Burlingame in 2015 and will open a new factory in the Los Angeles area next year. Our policies have had two really important outcomes: our air is getting cleaner, and were winning the jobs, Popple said. Gauging the full economic impact of Californias climate fight, however, remains difficult. Supporters of the effort, including the governor, note that Californias economy has grown even as its emissions have shrunk. And several studies, such as one released this year by the Advanced Energy Economy business group, have found roughly half a million Californians working in green or advanced energy jobs. But critics have often pointed out flaws in which jobs those studies do and dont count. They also dont factor in jobs that may have been lost due to the states climate policies, said UC Berkeley energy economist Severin Borenstein. Some individual climate policies have specific costs to consumers that can be counted. For example, Californias cap-and-trade system, which forces companies to buy permits for each ton of greenhouse gases they emit, adds about 11 cents to the price of every gallon of gas sold in the state. Another policy that forces oil companies to cut the carbon intensity of their fuels, by using more biofuels or offering hydrogen for fuel-cell cars, adds an estimated 3 cents per gallon. But how much has the expanded use of renewable power cost? PG&E offers a general estimate, saying the drive to add renewables has pushed up electricity bills about 1 to 2 percent per year. It is frustrating, Borenstein said. When you try to extrapolate to the effect on the overall economy, thats when you end up in la-la land. Californias efforts to stop climate change, while extensive, are just getting started. Most analysts expect the state to reach AB32s target of returning to 1990s emission level, 431 million metric tons, in 2020. But cutting emissions 40 percent by 2030 will be harder. And Californias long-term goal, not yet set into law, calls for an 80 percent reduction by 2050, down to 86 million tons. We can be pleased with our success and be proud of it, while still recognizing its a drop in the bucket in terms of what we need to do, said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, which runs most of the climate policies that sprang from AB32. The fact is that, globally, emissions are continuing to go up, not down. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF Gasoline is cheap in California compared to a year ago. But its nowhere near as cheap as it could be. Californians currently spend 49 cents more per gallon than the national average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. For most of the last year, that difference exceeded 60 cents. Several times last summer, it topped $1. California routinely has some of the highest pump prices in the United States, the result of high taxes and the use of a pollution-reducing gasoline formula not sold elsewhere. But the premium we pay historically hovered between 25 and 35 cents per gallon. Relatively new expenses related to Californias fight against global warming have added about 15 cents to that premium, but it cant explain the elevated prices that have persisted for 18 months. By one estimate, the unusually wide gap between Californias gasoline prices and the national average has cost the states drivers more than $10 billion. A panel of fuel-market experts convened by the state government has tried for months to pinpoint causes for the high prices. It will meet again Tuesday. But despite exploring a number of possible answers, including the role and pricing power of refineries, the panels chairman says he and his colleagues may not be able to prove any of them. Doing so, he said, would likely require far greater legal authority than the panel has. We have no subpoena power, we have no investigative power all we can do is ask people to come talk to us, said UC Berkeley energy economist Severin Borenstein, chairman of the states Petroleum Market Advisory Committee. If someone is going to really dig in, its going to take more power. California Attorney General Kamala Harris has a representative on the committee, and in June, her office reportedly issued subpoenas to several oil companies, seeking information on gasoline supplies and pricing. (A spokesman for the attorney general declined to comment.) But her office has investigated Californias gasoline market before and come away empty-handed. And Borenstein fears that most state officials are ignoring the problem. There seems to be almost no interest among policy makers, and the reason is that prices are low, he said. Given that were talking about billions of dollars, I think itd be a good idea for California to make a bigger effort to find out going on. The Western States Petroleum Association did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. Even in the best of circumstances, Californians pay more for gasoline than most Americans. Taxes on gasoline in the Golden State tend to be among the countrys highest. Federal, state and local taxes and fees add more than 50 cents per gallon for California drivers, according to the American Petroleum Institute 9 cents more than the national average. The states cap and trade system for reining in the greenhouse gases behind climate change tacks on another 11 cents. A regulation that requires oil companies to lower the carbon intensity of the fuels they sell in California adds an estimated 4 cents. The California Energy Commission includes both expenses and several others under distribution and marketing (see accompanying graphic). But the state also suffers from having a market largely cut off from outside suppliers. California uses its own gasoline blends, designed to fight air pollution. Other states use different blends, so most of Californias fuel comes from refineries located within the state. If mechanical problems hobble one or more of those refineries, bringing in extra supplies from outside the state can take weeks. No pipelines connect California to the refineries on the Gulf Coast, so any imports must come by ship, traveling either from Asia or through the Panama Canal. In February 2015, part of a Los Angeles County refinery then-owned by ExxonMobil exploded, and did not return to normal operations until May of this year. Gasoline prices jumped after the explosion, eventually hitting $3.44 for a gallon of regular, according to GasBuddy.com. The national average, in contrast, was $2.46. But in the months that followed the explosion, the difference between Californias prices and the national average never returned to normal, even though the price spike from a refinery outage is expected to be short-lived due to requirements that the refinery owner find alternative supply to fulfill its contracts. At one point in mid-July, 2015, the states average for regular reached $3.89, at a time when the country on average was paying $2.77. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Rather than rising to meet the occasion, gasoline imports to the state slowed dramatically in July and August. Oil industry representatives later told the Petroleum Market Advisory Committee that there had been a shortage of U.S.-flagged ships available to bring fuel from the gulf to California. A nearly century-old federal law requires that only U.S.-flagged ships can ferry cargo from one U.S. port to another. In addition, since making and shipping the fuel can take weeks, traders were hesitant to bring in gasoline tankers for fear that the price premium would shrink by the time the ships arrived. The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog calls those explanations excuses. The oil industry, its says, was deliberately starving the state of gasoline to keep prices high. The group even cited a U.S.-flagged tanker that ExxonMobil had parked in Singapore for two months during the height of the price spike. The ship eventually sailed to Los Angeles with a cargo of fuel but didnt unload it, taking it to Florida instead. ExxonMobil replied that the ship had been undergoing maintenance at a Singapore dry dock. The fundamental problem is weve got too much market power in too few hands, said Jamie Court, Consumer Watchdogs president. Four refiners control 80 percent of the market. ... That creates the ability to artificially reduce supply and artificially inflate prices. Courts group also said the oil companies charged significantly higher wholesale prices to owners of branded gas stations than the prices the same companies charge to independent stations. Gas stations affiliated with a specific brand must, by contract, buy their wholesale gasoline from that brand. Borenstein isnt convinced that the oil companies have tried to starve the California market of gasoline. He points to Exxon in particular, noting that the Torrance refinery which the company has since sold was the companys only refinery in California. While repairs were under way, Exxon had to buy replacement fuel to fulfill the refinerys supply contracts meaning the company had to pay elevated prices itself. The view that, Oh, this is just a logistical problem, or the view that the major players are exercising market power to keep prices up neither has been really born out, he said. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF In response to recent items about Colin Kaepernicks taking a knee while the national anthem is played, Sayre Van Young emailed about the Berkeley City Council practice. That body always begins its first post-summer meeting by reciting the pledge of allegiance. At this years session, on Sept. 13, the roll was called, council members stood and faced the flag. Mayor Tom Bates told the assembled attendees that it was OK to stand or sit, and that the pledge could be ended with the appended words some day. And all the Berkeley neighborhood activists, union members, issue mongers and the slightly deranged solemnly recited the pledge, says Van Young, in unison (many going silent on under God, but thats another issue) ending with liberty and justice for all ... some day. Jeffrey Toobin, whose new book, American Heiress, is about the Patty Hearst case, was guest of honor the other day at a book party hosted by his old friends John and Tina Keker and the law firm Keker and Van Nest. Toobins first book, Opening Arguments: A Young Lawyers First Case United States v. Oliver North, was published in 1991, and Keker, chief prosecutor in the Iran-Contra case, was a major figure in it. Theyve been friends ever since and that was reflected in the warmth of this gathering, which took place in Kekers office around a table heaped with homemade food. There were lawyers a-plenty, and people who had played important roles in the Hearst case, including Lowell Jensen, district attorney of Alameda County when Hearst was kidnapped, private investigator David Fechheimer, who worked on the case for the family, and lawyer Patrick Hallinan, who had turned down the chance to defend Hearst because his busy schedule had no room. Toobin, who has been doing many book appearances a City Arts & Lectures conversation with David Talbot, a guest gig on Michael Krasnys Forum, NPRs Terry Gross show and others around the country has polished his answers to a sheen. Talking, for example, about trying to get Patricia Hearst to participate in the book, he told an anecdote about their one conversation, which had followed many overtures. He was able to procure her phone number, and he called and said, Hi, Patricia, this is Jeff Toobin. She said, Oh, God, and then there was a click. So I was getting all these mixed signals from her, joked Tobin. The line and its presentation were so perfect I expected to hear a drummers rim shot. That said, he knew what details would be piquant the judge was obsequious to Hearsts family and gave them a courthouse parking spot for the duration of the trial and that made for an entertaining presentation. The people who made the recent O.J. Simpson series have taken an option on the book, copies of which party guests were snapping up. P.S.: Carol Pogash, a former San Francisco Examiner reporter, was in the City Arts & Lectures crowd the other night when David Talbot interviewed Toobin about the book. Pogash recalls that when covering the Hearst kidnapping, reporters were banned from calling the Hearst house in Hillsborough a mansion; nor were we permitted to call Patty an heiress. The African-American Shakespeare Company has announced it is leaving the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art & Culture Complex in the Western Addition. The companys Cinderella will be at the Herbst Theater in December; other productions are scheduled at the Marines Memorial and Taube Atrium in the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera. The company had been at the Buriel Clay Theater for 13 years. The official reason for the performing space move (the companys offices will remain in the complex): In order to implement a plan that will see it expand its audience as well as scope. In fact, there were disputes over such matters as the amount of rehearsal time the company used in the theater. Eric Kujawsky, director of the Redwood Symphony, says freeway-driving musicians are taken with the sign, In A Minor Crash? Pull to Shoulder. Bill Clark of Sacramento even wrote a four-measure ditty in A minor, of course using the words. Open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @leahgarchik Public Eavesdropping Id never buy a piece from an artist playing John Denver in his stall. Woman to friend, browsing at the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival and overheard by Roger Thornhill It took soldiers and guns to force integration in the South. The Chronicles front page from Sept. 25, 1957, covers the attempted entry of the students known as the Little Rock Nine into their school amid a military presence. President Eisenhower ordered 1,000 federal troops into Little Rock today to force compliance with court-ordered integration of the citys Central High School, the story read. Mr. Eisenhower authorized use of the regular Army troops in an order that also called the Arkansas National Guard into federal service to quell further riotous obstructions of the school desegregation order handed down by Federal Judge Ronald Davies at Little Rock. The vitriol from the Southern segregationists was given legitimacy when Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus issued an order to block the nine African American students from entering the school. Eisenhower, however, would have none of it. The president, telling the nation why he sped federal troops to Little Rock, said tonight that mob rule there menaced the very safety of the United States and the free world, the story read. Cough, cough : A front-page story from the East Bay is enough to make a parent sick. Nearly half the students in the Pleasant Hill High School near Walnut Creek were home ill yesterday as an outbreak of what was believed to be Asian flu swept through the Mt. Diablo Unified School District in Contra Costa County. Well stay home, thanks. See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspapers history. More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. Chronicle Covers highlights one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken and producers Kimberly Chua, Michelle Devera and Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim O'Rourke is the executive producer of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke A battle over capping how much California pays for prescription drugs is shaping up to be one of the most expensive ballot propositions in state history, with the pharmaceutical industry expected to dump close to $100 million into the fight by election day. Proposition 61 would bar state agencies from paying more than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for drugs for roughly 4 million Californians, including some state employees, prisoners and Medi-Cal recipients. Under federal law, the VA gets a 24 percent discount off average drug prices from manufacturers. Proponents say the initiative could set a standard for lower drug prices across the country at a time when skyrocketing costs have spurred outrage. The potential for California to drive a trend, supporters say, is exactly why drugmakers are fighting so hard to knock down the measure. Thats what the drug companies are worried about: We get this passed in California, and it will make a huge difference, and then other areas will say, Why not us? said Malinda Markowitz, president of the California Nurses Association, which stands with the AARP among the largest supporters of the proposition. A handful of elected officials, including senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, have come out in favor. But its not just Big Pharma looking to defeat the bill. The most vocal opponents are consumer advocates, including veterans organizations that worry drugmakers would respond to the bills passage by increasing VA prices. Some groups with a history of criticizing drug prices have been reluctant to back the measure, questioning whether Prop. 61 is the right tool. We completely agree with (supporters) that drug pricing, particularly for people with chronic diseases, is a very substantial issue. We have done extensive work negotiating the price of pharmaceuticals with manufacturers and trying to do things to control cost, said Dana Van Gorder, executive director of Project Inform, a patient advocacy group that works primarily with people with HIV and hepatitis C. Were just not convinced that this is the right mechanism, he said. It might be a little ham-handed approach. Prop. 61 would not directly apply to the bulk of state residents the 20 million people who have private insurance, usually through an employer. It also would not apply to 10 million people covered by Medi-Cal managed care plans. But California pays about $3.8 billion in drug costs each year for people who get health care through the state. The measure would affect about 4.2 million people in all, most of them on Medi-Cals fee-for-service plans. Ideally, supporters say, the measure will have a ripple effect, leading to wider price cuts. As of last week, pharmaceutical companies had donated about $87 million to fight the proposition, while leaning on nonprofit consumer groups to speak out against the measure. The industrys main lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, would not agree to a phone interview. The group has serious concerns about this poorly written measure because of the negative impact it will have on Californians, said spokeswoman Priscilla VanderVeer in an email. We are opposed to Prop. 61 because it is flawed, and we share the concerns that have been highlighted by the more than 150 groups who are opposed to the measure. Its unintended consequences will only hurt patients, veterans and taxpayers. The measure is being backed primarily by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Los Angeles, which has contributed the bulk of the $14.5 million supporting the campaign including $5 million last week. The foundation is run by Michael Weinstein, whos known, primarily among HIV and AIDS advocacy groups, for his tendency to run roughshod over his peers in policy work. Many leaders in those groups privately blame Weinstein for the propositions perceived weaknesses. But that may not matter. Supporters are counting on a national climate of frustration with Big Pharma. Companies have been sharply criticized for recent price demands notably the $1,000-per-pill cost of a hepatitis C medication, the 5,000 percent increase of a little-known antiparasitic drug, and the spike to $600 for EpiPens, used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. Other bumps have affected insulin, blood pressure medications and drugs to treat cancer and HIV. Earlier efforts to combat price increases have fallen flat, including a bill by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, that wouldnt have directly touched prices but required drugmakers to report the costs and profits of their most expensive products. More traditional routes to control drug prices havent worked, Prop. 61 supporters say, because the pharmaceutical industry has too much sway among elected officials and government agencies. I believe this measure is the last resort we have as Americans to address skyrocketing prices, Chiu said. The buck needs to stop with California voters. But worried critics say the states system of drug purchasing is too complex and varied to be revised with one over-arching measure that could bring negative complications. And theres no guarantee the measure would actually decrease costs. A report from the state Legislative Analysts Office found potential for drug cost reductions for the state, but noted major uncertainties about how the measure would be implemented and whether drug companies would cooperate. Instead of seeing price relief, say groups critical of the bill, some consumers could pay more for prescriptions if companies raise VA prices or increase prices for private insurers to offset reductions given to the state. Or the state could lose access to certain drugs altogether if their makers simply decide not to sell them at lower prices, critics say. Prop. 61 could result in higher prescription drug costs to the state, and lack of access. It could invalidate contracts the state has with manufacturers, said Alexandria Felton, senior director of health policy with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents tech companies including a handful of drug manufacturers. This is a case where we have more questions than we have answers. Theres little doubt, at least, that the pharmaceutical industry is scared, said Richard Scheffler, a health economics and public policy professor at UC Berkeley. The barometer of how scared they are is measured by how much theyre spending, he said. I think theyre actually afraid of this one. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday Usually, presidential debates do little more than solidify a candidates core support. But like everything else in this years campaign, Mondays throw-down between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be different in an unpredictable way. With Clinton clinging to a two-point lead in national polls, according to RealClearPolitics, and Trump closing the gap in swing states hes taken the lead in Ohio the first one-on-one debate between the major party candidates will be influential in shaping the homestretch of the campaign. There are apparently still some American citizens who dont know who they will vote for and yes, thats odd to me, said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, where she is a professor of communication. Not only that, Bystrom said, the more tenuous supporters of Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson (polling at 9 percent nationally) and Green Party nominee Jill Stein (polling at 3 percent) will be watching to see whether either Clinton or Trump is a remotely palatable second choice. Peeling off their support could swing a close race. Micro-analyzing their every breath Monday will be an expected record audience estimates approach Super Bowl levels of 100 million TV viewers. It will be carried live by all the major broadcast networks and cable news channels and streamed on nearly two dozen websites. Fact-checks, commentary and memes mocking the evenings stumbles will swamp Twitter during the 90-minute event at Hofstra University in New York, and haunt the candidates until the next debate on Oct. 9. The answers to these questions will shape the debate and its impact: Matt Rourke/Associated Press Who will benefit most from the format? This debate is more open-ended than in the past, with moderator Lester Holt, anchor of NBCs Nightly News, opening each of the six 15-minute segments with a question. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond, then they can respond to each other. That means that Trump must offer more policy than glibly saying, We will get it done. Believe me. This limited number of topics will demand a more thorough explanation of the issues, and that could play against him. said Alan Schroeder, author of Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail. You have to speak with some degree of sophistication about the issues, and thats his challenge. But Bystrom said the topics Holt has chosen for the debate Americas Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America are so vague that it is really going to be on the moderator to ask really sharp, pointed questions and follow up with them. Its going to to be on Lester Holt. If he doesnt, then Trump could actually do well with this, if theyre more free-form. Not to be underestimated: As a reality TV star who steamrolled through the GOP primary debates, Trump is a master of the medium. Mark Wilson/Getty Images Will the moderator fact-check the candidates? Probably not. Foxs Chris Wallace, who will moderate the third debate on Oct. 19, said the candidates should fact-check each other. CNNs Jake Tapper said the referee shouldnt step in unless theyre correcting a small, easily verifiable point of fact, such as misrepresenting the poverty rate among African American youth, as Trump has done. Because if theres a question about whether (Holt) is right, then everybody starts arguing about the moderator was the moderator right or was he wrong? instead of about what the candidate said, Schroeder said. Its a distraction. I think the moderator has to get out of the way of the candidates and let the professional fact-checkers and journalists who are not moderating handle that. What version of Trump will show up? This is the operative question of the night, because it will determine how Clinton will react. Will it be the free-wheeling, haymaker-throwing Trump who traded penis jokes with Sen. Marco Rubio during a GOP primary debate or will it be the comparatively sedated version of recent weeks? Bystrom thinks it will be a version of what she calls Teleprompter Trump, the muted version of the candidate who, particularly in the past few weeks, has read speeches off of a teleprompter instead of riffing unscripted. The only problem with that for him is Teleprompter Trump is so boring, Bystrom said. Schroeder disagreed. I think it is going to be very difficult to sustain a packaged version of yourself for 90 minutes, Schroeder said. We all know that what hes really comfortable being is being unscripted. That Teleprompter Trump doesnt ever hold up long. Will Clinton be playing offense or defense? If Clinton spends the evening defending her use of a personal email server or the Clinton Foundation, then that will make her appear more defensive, which goes to the heart of the issues of trust and likability that a lot of voters have with her, said Mitchell McKinney, director of the Political Communication Institute at the University of Missouri. She has to find a way to transcend that, so that voters can listen to her and say, Yes, she is likable. Her biggest challenge will be to condense her command of wonky policy into soundbites that voters can understand, without sounding like the trained litigator that she is. She cant sound legalistic, Bystrom said. She has to sound down-to-Earth. And depending on what version of Trump shows up, She needs to be ready to throw out her game plan, Schroeder said. You know shes going to be prepared. The danger is that shes too rigid coming in. Can Trump remain focused and engaged? Trump dispatched 16 GOP primary opponents, largely through debate performances where he eviscerated them with a combination of quips and insults Little Marco, Lyin Ted, Low-Energy Jeb. But since Trump was facing at least three other contestants in those primary debates, he could hide out for a while then resurface when he had a good zinger, Schroeder said. He cant do that with just one opponent. Remaining focused for 90 minutes is going to be his biggest challenge. By contrast, Clinton has participated in 10 one-on-one presidential primary debates five against President Obama in 2008, five against Sen. Bernie Sanders in this cycle plus three against Rick Lazio when she ran for Senate in New York in 2000. Another twist Monday that will make focus more crucial: No commercial breaks. Can Clinton avoid Al Gore Syndrome? In their 2000 debate, nobody doubted that Vice President Al Gore knew more about policy and government than Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Especially Gore. His exasperated sighs when Bush was talking dominated postdebate chatter, because it made him seem petty, McKinney said. Similarly, McKinney said, since it will likely be up to Clinton to fact-check Trump, on every turn, she runs the risk of sounding scolding. And that will work against her likability. Its going to be a fine line to walk. The scope of Clintons potential task is daunting: Of the 158 Trump statements examined by fact-checkers at nonpartisan Politifact through June 29, 78 percent were rated as mostly false or worse. Will viewers be able to ignore the unequal expectations? The double standard goes like this: Since Clinton is a professional politician with extensive debate experience and is conversant with policy details, she is supposed to ace this test. Meanwhile, the evening will be considered a success for Trump, the political outsider who has never done a one-on-one debate, if he gets through it without a gaffe and knows that Poland is east of Germany. That double standard is wrong, analysts said. Voters cant grade the future president of the United States on a curve. We expect her to not make mistakes, and when she does, its a sign of flawed character, said McKinney. If she turns in a stellar debate performance, theres no positives out of it for her because you expect it. But if he is able, for 90 minutes, to deliver a rational, reasonable performance, it can really serve him. Theres much less room for her to look good. Thats not right. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Debate details Moderator: Lester Holt, anchor of NBCs Nightly News. When: 6 p.m. Monday. Scheduled for 90 minutes. No commercial breaks. Where: Hofstra University in New York Format: The debate will be divided into six segments of 15 minutes each. Holt will open each segment with a question, then each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The candidates may then respond to the others questions. Holt may use the balance of time to explore the topic in more depth. Questions: Holt and NBC will select them. On TV: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Univision, PBS, C-SPAN, CNN, CNBC, Fox News and MSNBC. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One of China's most lauded culinary experiences suddenly closed Thursday, one day after receiving a Michelin star. Shanghai's Taian Table, which has only been open for six months, was awarded a Michelin star on Wednesday for its "excellent ingredients and clever recipes." Neighbors, however, found it less than clever that the loud, busy restaurant was built in a residential building not zoned for catering. As such, Taian Table has been forced to shutter due to licensing issues. The restaurant will have to relocate to another building with a proper catering license. "Our idea and concept was to build a small place to entertain our friends and to have some foodies and chef friends around to create new and imaginative dishes," co-owner German chef Stefan Stiller said in a statement. "We certainly never intentionally planned to violate any rules, regulations and laws." According to Shanghai Daily, neighbors have been calling the restaurant a nuisance for some time. From the article: Residents living in that building said they had had a clash with the restaurant and have been endeavoring to have it closed for a long time due to concerns of smoke, noise, and safety issues. They blamed the business for producing "unbearable problems." "The restaurant is a nightmare for us all for months," one of them said. Representatives from Michelin told Shanghai Daily that "the job of Michelin inspectors are tasting and judging food, and they never ask for any materials from restaurants. Michelin guide is just restaurant recommendation, and anything related with restaurants' operation is none of our business." What was supposed to be a weekend of revelry and excitement for two friends in town for San Franciscos Folsom Street Fair turned ugly Saturday night when five assailants attacked the men with pepper spray for no apparent reason other than they are gay. The violence was particularly shocking for Neil Frias and Jeff White, both 28, because they were assaulted in a city lauded for its progressive values and broad acceptance of the LGBT community. Im trying to make sense of it, Frias, who works as a publicist in Manhattan, said Sunday. I would think what happened last night would happen somewhere else, not here. The friends were visiting from New York for the weekend festivities surrounding Sundays Folsom Street Fair, a world-famous leather-themed street party in San Franciscos South of Market neighborhood packed by fetishists celebrating the citys kinky subculture. Frias and White said they were attacked at about 9 p.m. outside a McDonalds at Golden Gate Avenue and Fillmore Street in the citys Western Addition. As Frias left the fast-food restaurant, he said five men pulled up in a blue minivan. They were saying, You fags are destroying family values, Frias said. I said I didnt want any trouble, and one of them got out of the van. I thought he was going to take a swing at me, but he sprayed me across the face. Frias said he was hit with the unmistakable searing sting from the pepper spray as a second man came at him with another can of the aerosolized weapon. A third assailant, he said, attacked White, who crawled into a ball to protect his face from the painful blast. I was completely vulnerable, he said. I thought they were going to start beating me. A nearby woman shouted that she was calling the police, prompting the mob to jump back into the minivan and speed away. Police and paramedics responded to the attack, and the two victims returned to their Union Square hotel. The thing that was the most remarkable about the situation is how unprovoked it was, White said, still reeling from the encounter Sunday morning. I was literally tying my shoe when they came at me. Its mind-boggling. Officers at the San Francisco Police Departments Northern District station said they were aware of the attack and were searching for surveillance video that may have captured the incident. We take these crimes very seriously, said Officer Carlos Manfredi, a San Francisco police spokesman. If anybody feels they can attack someone based on their sexual preference, were going to go after them and hold them accountable. Frias said part of the reason he comes to San Francisco is because of its major influence on LGBT rights. But hate crimes are an all-too-common reality even here and especially during events that celebrate the LGBT community. San Francisco police reported at least two hate crimes targeting the LGBT community during Junes Pride festivities. Emmanuel Morancy, 50, was arrested and charged with attacking two gay women during the Pride Parade, police said. Earlier that morning, an unidentified assailant yelled an antigay slur before firing a pellet gun at a 25-year-old man. Such hate crimes, though, are notoriously underreported to police, according to experts. A 2014 survey of more than 400 LGBT people, conducted by the San Francisco LGBT Center, found 45 percent of people had experienced physical violence and 70 percent of people reported being harassed due to their sexual orientation. Frias and White, who say they have both dealt with violence and bullying on various levels, were determined to not let Saturdays violence define their trip to San Francisco. The physical pain from the attack had subsided by Sunday, as the two geared up for the fair. Im mad that I didnt get to go out last night, White said. Its Saturday night in San Francisco Folsom week. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky A 1,500-acre wildfire fueled by hot temperatures and blustery winds grew quickly Sunday in rural Sonoma County, firefighters said. The Sawmill Fire started around 11 a.m. about 10 miles east of Cloverdale near The Geysers geothermal field between Highway 101 and Highway 175. By 6 p.m., it was 10 percent contained. Residents of 36 homes near Cloverdale were ordered to evacuate as the flames grew Sunday afternoon, officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. A Red Cross evacuation center was providing water, food and shelter at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Healdsburg. Cal Fire / / In addition, the Aidlin Geothermal Power Plant, one of 14 Calpine plants at The Geysers, was evacuated as well, officials said. Our remaining plants at The Geysers continue to operate normally, and our team is constantly assessing the situation and will take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of employees and the preservation of our facilities, said spokesman Brett Kerr. We can also confirm that all of our employees are safe and accounted for. While only homes outside of Cloverdale were evacuated, those in town said they were watching the situation closely. Mike Stok, 51, lives in San Francisco but spends his weekends with his wife at their home in Cloverdale. He said he first noticed smoke from the fire Sunday morning, smoldering over a ridge to the east of town. By the afternoon, what first looked like hazy smog had become a thick, dark plume of smoke. Stok and his wife said they were not notified about any possible evacuations from their home in the center of town Sunday. As he watched Cal Fire air tankers make passes over the burn area from his front porch, he hoped the flames stayed on the other side of the nearby ridge. Its pretty scary. On warm and windy days like this, you see a fire and you hope the forces keep it from spreading, but the conditions are robust, he said. Life is going on as normal in the middle of town, but its pretty obvious theres a fire burning nearby. The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning and a heat advisory for the area for Sunday and Monday. Gusty winds and low relative humidity made for critical fire weather conditions, forecasters with the weather service said in the alert. The fire is burning just west of a region of Lake County thats been devastated by wildfires over the past two years. This years Clayton Fire eviscerated the small town of Lower Lake about 30 miles northeast of the Sawmill Fire. The Valley Fire of 2015, which started about 10 miles east of The Geysers, destroyed much of Middletown on its way to becoming the third-most-destructive wildfire in state history. Chronicle staff writer Jill Tucker contributed to this report. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky BAGHDAD An unlikely array of forces is converging on the city of Mosul, lining up for a battle on the historic plains of northern Iraq that is likely to be decisive in the war against the Islamic State group. The tacit alliance Iraqi troops alongside Shiite militiamen, Sunni Arab tribesmen, Kurdish fighters and U.S. special forces underscores the importance of this battle. Retaking Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city, would effectively break the back of the militant group, ending their self-declared caliphate, at least in Iraq. But victory doesnt mean an end to the conflict. In a post-Islamic State Iraq, the enmities and rivalries among the players in the anti-Islamic State coalition could easily erupt. The battle, expected near the end of the year, threatens to be long and grueling. If Islamic State fighters dig in against an assault, they have hundreds of thousands of residents in the city as potential human shields. And as residents flee, they fuel the humanitarian crisis in Iraqs Kurdish region around Mosul, where camps are already overcrowded with more than 1.6 million people displaced over the past two years. The biggest prize captured by the militants after they overran much of northern, western and central Iraq in the summer of 2014, Mosul has been vital for the Islamic State group. The reserves in its banks provided a massive cash boost to the group, and the citys infrastructure and resources helped the Islamic State as it set up its caliphate across Iraq and Syria. If Mosul is retaken, it would be a nearly complete reversal of the jihadis 2014 sweep. The group would be left with only a few pockets of territory in Iraq. Islamic State fighters have already responded to battlefield losses by reverting to guerrilla-style tactics or retreating into neighboring Syria to defend the groups territory there, which is also rapidly eroding. U.S.-led coalition forces have sped up training for Iraqi troops and Kurdish fighters, condensing courses that once took more than two months into just four weeks. In July, the Pentagon announced that 560 more U.S. troops would deploy to Iraq to transform Qayara air base, south of Mosul, into a staging hub for the final assault. Still, Iraqs military is thousands of soldiers short of the estimated 30,000 troops needed to launch the assault, and the existing forces are stretched thin trying to hold other recaptured territory. The rivalries within the alliance are already starting to show and are likely to come to a head once the Islamic State falls. The Kurds, who seized large swaths of territory during the fight against the militants, want to keep it. Iranian-backed Shiite militias demand recognition for the political and military strength they have garnered during the war. The Sunni minority is deeply worried about Shiite domination and discrimination, and those fears are likely only to grow as the community tries to recover from Islamic State rule and return to their homes. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said all forces will participate in the Mosul operation, but he also said Iraqi military decisions must respect the delicate ethnic balance in Nineveh province. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray said that hotels, gyms, and theatres should remain open till 5 am in the morning. By Mayuresh Ganapatye: In 2013 Aditya Thackeray had proposed a plan of night life in which licensed hotels, malls, coffee houses, theatre's should remain open 24x7 so that Mumbaikars can enjoy food any time. "Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. People from different walks of life work round the clock here. If someone wants to enjoy the food with family late night they have very limited options. But such night stalls will give them good option at late hours too," said Aditya Thackeray. advertisement When Aditya had proposed this night life plan it received lot of flak from BJP and other political parties as this plan is only for big hotels. Local Marathi Manus who wants to start his small eatery were likely to not benefit from this. THIS SCHEME IS FOR ALL Rubbishing this allegation Aditya Thackeray saying that "those who made such comment doesn't know Mumbai. This scheme is for all." Aditya's night life plan had received a go ahead from then Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria. Locations were decided to start food streets in non residential areas of Mumbai like BKC, Dockyar and Nariman Point. Backing Yuva Sena chief's night life plan Shiv Sena ruled BMC had also passed a resolution in past. "Recently centre has also passed a new bill mentioning exact point of my night life plan. So now we are waiting for state government to pass it," said Thackeray. CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REVENUE GENERATION Aditya also explained how night life can boost employment and tourism for city which can ultimately contribute in revenue generation of state government. Aditya also told hoteliers gathered at Night Life Convention and Award event that BMC is working on a draft where a single window will be available to renew licenses and to obtain permissions for eateries and hotels. Also read: Slap Aamir row: Aditya Thackeray says Shiv Sena has nothing to do with it --- ENDS --- Akshay 'Khiladi' Kumar had to turn clown and crocodile for the birthday of his daughter Nitara who turned four on Sunday (September 25). By India Today Web Desk: Mr Funnybones Akshay Kumar turned a clown as well as a crocodile for his daughter Nitara's birthday on Sunday (September 25). Nitrara is now four years old. ALSO READ: Numbers don't lie; Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are 2016's box office superstars ALSO READ: How has Akshay Kumar survived over the years in a Khans' world advertisement The Khiladi star posted a photo on Sunday morning of himself and his daughter and it was as cute as it could get. Kumar shared the photo with the caption: 'Sometimes she makes me a crocodile sometimes she makes me her clown!The things we do,but that smile makes it all worthwhile #birthdayspecial'. Sometimes she makes me a crocodile sometimes she makes me her clown!The things we do,but that smile makes it all worthwhile #birthdayspecial pic.twitter.com/eWTKLBwaon Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 25, 2016 Nitara's mother, Twinkle Khanna, shared a photo of her husband with Nitara as well. Akshay is seen enjoying with Nitara in a swimming pool. Nitara makes Daddy a crocodile on her birthday #happy4th pic.twitter.com/4qXY12N763 Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) September 25, 2016 Akshay Kumar is known for being a sporty person and he never loses an opportunity to spend time with his kids outdoors because as someone trained in martial arts himself, he knows the importance of physical activity. On the film front, all his films released in 2016, Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom, have grossed more than Rs 100 crore. He will soon be making his Tamil film debut in Shankar's 2.0 where he is playing the antagonist opposite superstar Rajinikanth. --- ENDS --- Fifteen-year old Sahil Hussain and 16-year-old Yasin Khursheed have been identified as residents of PoK. Sahil Hussain and Yasin Khursheed have helped 12 to 18 terrorists to successfully infiltrate into India. By Ashraf Wani: The Indian Army and BSF personnel yesterday (on Saturday) arrested two guides of terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed at Gawatha in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri. Fifteen-year old Sahil Hussain and 16-year-old Yasin Khursheed have been identified as residents of PoK. At the time of arrest both the youth were unarmed but India Today has learnt through sources that they were acting as guides for terrorists and were helping them sneak into the Indian territory. advertisement ALSO READ | Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources According to sources, these two boys helped at least 12 to 18 terrorists to successfully infiltrate into the country. "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. From India Today magazine | How to punish Pakistan "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. Now, the army is investigating whether these boys helped the four Jaish terrorists who attacked the Uri military base on Sunday (September 18, 2016). ALSO READ | Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, will isolate Pakistan: Modi in Kozhikode Top Army sources have confirmed to India Today that the attack on the Army Brigade headquarters was planned earlier this year on 15th of August, when PM Modi was addressing the nation from the Red Fort. The terror attack was foiled by the Army after killing all four members of the Fidayeen squad of Jaish-e-Mohammed near Uri in Mayan area near LoC. ALSO READ: Lashkar, Hizbul collecting money to finance terrorism in Kashmir, intelligence agencies tell MHA Lashkar bomb-maker was to join Islamic State attack on Paris: CNN --- ENDS --- Baloch activists have started a week-long protest outside Chinese Embassy in London against the Pakistan-China nexus. By Mayank Pratap Singh: Free Balochistan Movement is starting a week long sit-in protest campaign against Chinese and Pakistani expansionist designs in Balochistan. The protesters will sit in front of Chinese Embassy for 24 hours every day from September 25 till October 1. On October 1, there will also be a demonstration in front of Chinese Embassy in London from 2 PM to 5 PM. advertisement In latest offensives today, Pakistan army lay siege to Gerdank area of Buleda; residents including women beaten and were robbed off valuables. Canadian Civil Society including Indian community held a demonstration in Toronto today against Pakistan's atrocities on civilians across Balochistan. The protesters also chanted slogans; stop war crimes in Balochistan stop Baloch genocide, down with Terrorist Pakistan. Also read: Baloch nationalists protest outside Pak mission over terrorism Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti to file for asylum in India --- ENDS --- By PTI: From Neelabh Srivastava Jessore (Bangladesh), Sep 25 (PTI) With India looking to completely seal the Indo-Bangla border in Assam soon, a top Bangladeshi security commander has said his country has decided to erect a barbed wire fence along the border with India and Myanmar. Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladeshs border guarding force, Major General Aziz Ahmed told a visiting group of Indian journalists here that his government has already approved a project to have a 282 km road along the border it shares with India and Myanmar. advertisement While India borders Bangladesh from three sides (4,096 km), it shares a small 271 km border with Myamnar on its eastern flank. "Our government, in principle, has agreed to have barbed wire fencing along the borders with India as well as Myanmar. In principle, it has also been decided to have link roads all along the border like India is having which facilitates BSF activities and those of the Myanmarese border guarding forces," the BGB chief said while speaking via video-link at the headquarter of BGBs south-west region here from his office in Peelkhana in Dhaka. He said it was "unfortunate" that these "two basic needs" of having a barbed wire fence and roads has not been developed on the Bangladeshi side till now. Ahmed said these projects are under "active consideration" of his government. Ahmed made the remarks while replying to a question where he was asked what was Bangladeshs response to the India which had recently said that the Indo-Bangla border in Assam will be fully sealed by June, 2017 and later all along. "You would understand that all these things require huge amounts of money...but the government has already approved a project for 282 km where roads along with barbed wire fence will be erected and possibly that will start from the Myanmarese side," Ahmed said. He said as India has already raised fence along 79 per cent of the Indo-Bangla border, it "indirectly helps" his country in checking cross-border crimes. The DG stated that in a large number of cases where BSF approaches them for construction of fencing along the border, they give a "prompt consent" except in few instances where the construction is very close to the zero line and there are issues involved. "After all, Indian fencing helps us too," he reiterated. The top commander said the two border guarding forces are also working to create a database of habitual offenders active along the Indo-Bangla frontier as he accepted that this was a "weak" point in ensuring effective border security and trans- border movement of terrorists and criminals was a "serious concern" for them. PTI NES ASK AKJ ASK --- ENDS --- advertisement At a recent rehearsal for Seared, which is set in the kitchen of a small but fancy restaurant, Brooklyn writer Theresa Rebeck asked actor Rod Gnapp to try something different with a line late in the first act. Can we just try really landing on Goddamn it? she asked. Rereading the scene with fellow performer Larry Powell, Gnapp popped the line out like a gunshot. Thats how the profanity often flies in the works of this celebrated writer of stage, television and film. In Seared, a world premiere commission opening this week at San Francisco Playhouse, many lines dispense with punctuation altogether, the better to capture the relentlessly breakneck pace of high-end food preparation. A sample line from the first page of the script: I dont know Harry you just do it wheres the balsamic? I started writing things, and the punctuation felt wrong, Rebeck says during a break in rehearsals. Sometimes, like if you go Oh really, and you put the comma and the question mark in, the actor will incorporate that into his or her instrument in some way, and sometimes you just dont want them to do that. It seems to confuse people. But sometimes those are people whose relationship to the text is to the text on the page. Im more interested in the text as a road map toward a four-dimensional reality. The four-dimensional reality in Seared is a restaurant on the brink of change. Having been the subject of a laudatory review, it finally has the potential to make a profit. But thats only if its head chef, the obdurate Harry (Brian Dykstra, who knew Rebeck when they were both students at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and for whom this role was written), can stomach some changes to his routine and some challenges to his authority not just from his partner Mike (Gnapp), but also from Emily (Alex Sunderhaus), an outside consultant. Many (though by no means all) of Rebecks works center on the workplace or on high-stakes transactions. Shes written about the attempted sale of a very rare stamp in Mauritius; an architecture firm in What Were Up Against; the backstage competition and cooperation among theater people in The Understudy and in the short-lived but controversial TV series Smash; and the cloying desperation of writing students in a private class led by a renowned author in Seminar, which San Francisco Playhouse also produced, in 2014. Rebeck conjures the worlds of work, of wheeling and dealing, in a way that makes her stories feel as though they have high stakes automatically (when of course that urgency is the product of great care and skill). Shes drawn to those sorts of narratives, she posits, because shes perturbed by issues of capitalism and corporate culture and how that informs life in America. The public world increasingly intrudes upon the private world, and that feels like a very modern phenomenon. The way culture tries to tell us who we are that bothers me on a deep level, she says. I dont think billboards should be telling me that Im insignificant. Rebeck says she knows she sounds like a crazy liberal sometimes, but she doesnt care. I just want to say to everybody, We used to be citizens, and now were consumers. Thats not OK. We need to reclaim an identity that is about being a human on this Earth, not about how much money you make. This issue has been on Rebecks mind for a long time in large part because she started writing for television early in her career, working on NYPD Blue, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Third Watch, among many other series. When I was quite young, she says, I was already interacting with corporate issues around storytelling, asking herself questions like, Do you alter the story because somebody in power wants you to alter the story? What is more important, power or story power structure or what your instrument is telling you is the authentic version of the story? Those questions were perhaps never more pronounced than when Rebeck got fired from Smash, the show she created. Im proud of the work I did on that show. Im moved, how much it meant to people. It had a big fan base all over the world. I personally regret that the politics got so crazy, but it was a situation beyond my control. I still think the first season was sensational, she adds. I dont think they should have fired me. But generally no one thinks they should get fired. Rebeck is by no means done with television; shes working on a show with Gail Berman that will be set in the Hamptons. In film, she just finished writing and directing Trouble, which stars Julia Stiles, Bill Pullman, Anjelica Huston and David Morse. While writing for TV, film and theater are very different tasks, Rebeck says because of the editing room, the power of close-up and how writers must use language differently as a result she also sees similarities in writing for television and theater in particular: They really are powerful ways to tell stories about psychology and human interaction, in contrast to the giant, epic landscapes and explosions that are possible in film and novels, which Rebeck also writes. One of the things I go to television for, Rebeck says, is a great scene between a couple of actors. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Seared: By Theresa Rebeck. Directed by Margarett Perry. Begins previews Tuesday, Sept. 27. Opens Oct. 1. Through Nov. 12. $20-$125. San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., Second Floor, S.F. (415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org. To see a video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbakOPSVSXc This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Election day is still more than a month away, but three supervisorial candidates are already looking ahead to their first terms. On Monday, Sandra Fewer, Hillary Ronen, Kimberly Alvarenga who are running in Districts one, nine and 11 will announce a joint plan to advance certain issues if elected to the Board of Supervisors. Their proposal includes identifying three affordable-housing sites in each of their districts, launching a universal preschool program for 4-year-olds and prioritizing an east-west artery for BART. We had been talking to each other about how frustrating it is with how divided things are at City Hall, Ronen said Friday. Given the serious problems we are facing as a city, we need to work together. I dont know any candidates who have ever done this across districts before. The candidates, all mothers, said the focus was to concentrate less on ego and more on policy. There is this urgency to get to work right away and to work collaboratively with people, Fewer said. We all agreed that there is no time to waste. We dont want to get embroiled in personality conflicts. Lets just get to work. And if one of them doesnt win the election? We would still continue with our platform, Alvarenga said. We have to make it possible. Its not about individual politicians, its about preserving the heart and soul of San Francisco. We want to roll our sleeves up and get to work. Lizzie Johnson Look on the bright side: By definition, political consultants are born optimists, the type of folks who would dig though a 10-foot pile of horse manure, confident theyll find a pony in there somewhere. Which brings us to Bill Carrick, the chief strategist for Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchezs Senate campaign. Almost from the day her campaign against state Attorney General Kamala Harris began, she has been the Joe Btfsplk of California politics, a living representation of the character in Al Capps Lil Abner cartoon strip who walked around with a storm cloud of misfortune over his head. Offends American Indians by giving a stereotypical war whoop days after entering the race? Check. Badly loses her endorsement bid at the state Democratic convention? Check. Finishes second to Harris in the June primary by 21 percentage points? Check. Angers black voters by suggesting that the reason President Obama endorsed Harris is because She is African American, as is he. Check. And through it all, Carrick kept looking for the pony. Well, with the most recent Public Policy Institute of California poll, he may have found it. While just about every other poll has Harris up by 15 percentage points or more, the PPIC survey shows her up by only 7 seven percentage points. Brushing aside all those other less-than-glowing polls of recent months, Carrick was quick to put out a campaign memo arguing that political times have finally changed. The race is tightening, he said. It is tightening because voters are starting to pay attention to the candidates. And when voters pay attention, theyre bound to back Sanchez, he said, never mind what all those other pesky surveys and the PPICs 7 percentage point deficit are suggesting. Loretta will represent all Californians, Carrick said. She is of the people, not the establishment. As voters hear that, he added, they are moving to Loretta and away from Harris. At least until the next set of poll numbers come out. John Wildermuth Berkeley boost: Berkeley City Councilman Jesse Arreguin, a left-leaning candidate in an all-Democratic mayoral race, has clinched support from the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. The endorsement, along with others, from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Alameda Labor Council, will help bolster Arreguins campaign against another city councilman, Laurie Capitelli, who is departing Mayor Tom Bates preferred successor. Capitelli, meanwhile, has backing from several key figures in the East Bays political establishment, including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, state Sens. Loni Hancock and Nancy Skinner, and UC Berkeley professor Robert Reich. To date, the race has drawn in eight candidates, including three city councilmen, a public policy graduate student, a homeless man, a retiree and an indigenous elder. Rachel Swan Cheap airfare: For just $3, you and a friend can join Donald Trump and his campaign team as we crisscross America firing up crowds and spreading our pro-borders, pro-jobs, pro-security message during the final home stretch of this campaign, the GOP presidential candidate said in one of his latest fundraising emails. Its not just anyone who will get this chance, he said. While Hillary Clinton spends all her time with liberal elites at closed-door fundraisers, Trump said in the email, I am out and about with the hard-working and patriotic Americans who are the backbone of our country. That includes you. This chance to see the country aboard Trumps private jetliner is strictly limited, of course, because, as Trump said, Next year I will be flying on Air Force One. John Wildermuth A kid thing: There are all kinds of voter guides out there, but a new one out last week from San Franciscos Common Sense Kids Action appeals to an audience rarely addressed directly: families and children. Plus, the new organization that produced it an offshoot of the 14-year-old powerhouse Common Sense Media is taking the whole voter guide thing a step further. The guide explains the predicted impact of and rate Californias 17 ballot measures with either a For Kids, Against Kids or Neutral rating, and the group has already planned 100 meetings around the state to discuss the ratings. This guide is the first step in Common Sense CEO Jim Steyers plan to build a long-term mass army for kids that would advocate for childrens issues. With 62 million people worldwide now using Common Sense Medias content, the organization has grown from its original mission of providing reviews of TV, movies and video games into creating a media literacy education curriculum used in more than 107,000 schools. Joe Garofoli Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com, jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com, jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lizziejohnsonnn, @jfwildermuth, @joegarofoli, @rachelswan WASHINGTON War crimes investigators collecting evidence of the Islamic State groups elaborate operation to kidnap thousands of women as sex slaves say they have a case to try the groups leaders with crimes against humanity but cannot get the global backing to bring current detainees before an international tribunal. Two years after the groups 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 Islamic State 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, said. 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 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 administrations ambassador at large for war crimes last year, says the administration should have moved early to help secure evidence of Islamic State 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. Its been profoundly disappointing, because the idea of accountability has been such a low priority. 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. The war crimes commission says it would need about $6.6 million and about six months to get the trials going. New Zealand's trade deficit widened to the biggest monthly gap since September 2014 as dairy and meat exports slumped in August. The deficit of $1.27 billion in August was larger than the deficit of $351 million in July and $1.09 billion in the same month a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said. Exports sank 8.7 percent to $3.39 billion from August 2015, outpacing a 3.1 percent fall in imports to $4.65 billion. The country's two biggest export commodities dropped by more than a fifth in August, with milk powder, butter and cheese exports down 22 percent to $475 million in August, and meat and edible offal exports sinking 26 percent to $317 million. Fruit exports, which have been propped up by record sales of kiwifruit, fell 11 percent to $241 million. Logs, wood and wood articles helped offset the decline, rising 24 percent to $399 million. "The large fall in export value this month comes off the back of high export volumes in the June quarter," international statistics senior manager Stuart Jones said. "Logs are the only major commodity to continue high volumes and values through to August." New Zealand's exporters have come under pressure from a resurgent currency in recent months, with the New Zealand dollar climbing 6.4 percent on a trade-weighted basis since the start of June and making local goods more expensive on international markets. The biggest falls in milk powder, butter and cheese products exports were to China and the United Arab Emirates, while the biggest drop in meat exports was to the US and UK. The decline in monthly imports was led by a 17 percent fall in capital goods such as transport equipment and machinery to $967 million and a 38 percent slump in crude oil to $175 million. Imports of vehicles, parts and accessories rose 13 percent to $767 million last month from August 2015. ASB Bank economist Jane Turner said the deficit was much larger than the market expected, though August is typically a weaker month for New Zealand's agricultural exports. "The key driver of the surprise for us was weaker exports (in particularly dairy), but imports were significantly stronger than the market was expecting as well," Turner said in a note. "Over the coming year, we expect declines in dairy export volumes as NZ production falls." On an annual basis, annual exports slipped 0.5 percent to $47.8 billion and imports fell 1 percent to $51.93 billion to post a trade deficit of $3.13 billion. China was the country's biggest trading partner, accounting for about 19 percent of two-way trade. Despite taking less milk powder, butter and cheese, China bought more exports in August, up 2 percent to $634 million, and was just one of three of New Zealand's biggest export destinations to increase their purchases from a year earlier. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: October 31st Morning Report SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct Milford Asset Management portfolio manager Mark Warminger was under pressure from the firm over the performance of funds he managed at the time of his alleged market manipulation, the Financial Markets Authority has said at the start of its High Court case in Auckland. Warminger, who has been on extended leave from his position as a portfolio manager at the firm since last year, is fighting alleged breaches of the Securities Markets Act 1988 relating to sharemarket trading carried out between December 2013 and August 2014. Justin Smith QC, acting for the FMA, said Warminger is accused of misusing his privileged position with an institutional investor by placing trades in stocks in one direction to move the price so he could later transact significant off-market sales, known as cross-trading, at a greater profit. Hes also accused of placing trades in companies to set artificial prices. The activities were in contravention of the act which prohibits trading that is not for a genuine commercial purpose and creates an artificial appearance in the market, Smith said. Smith said Milfords former managing director Anthony Quirk and director Brian Gaynor had meetings with Warminger in 2014 over performance issues because the funds under his management had not delivered the expected returns. In one example, shares in A2 Milk had dropped 36 percent which had caused a decline in fund performance over the previous six months. That had put him under a certain amount of pressure, Smith said. Warminger made the trades through brokers knowing they represented prohibited market manipulation. Even if he didnt know, lack of knowledge about the prohibition is no defence, Smith said. The way in which he placed the trades allowed him to have anonymity in many cases, he said. Warminger is said to be a highly experienced equities trader, having worked in New Zealand and overseas for several global firms and he had autonomy at Milford to buy and sell New Zealand traded equities without adequate oversight, Smith said. As 31 August, 2014, Warminger had $669 million of assets in several funds under his management, including funds invested through a mandate at the time with the NZ Superannuation Fund. Warminger could face a penalty of up to a $1 million a trade if any of them breached market manipulation rules, which he has denied. Milford Asset Management has paid a $1.5 million fine under an agreement with the FMA following a year-long investigation. It also committed to introducing new governance and trading controls as recommended in a PwC review. Last week Milford played down its role in the case which is only the second market manipulation trial in New Zealand. In a note to clients, Milford said there was likely to be media coverage of the case and that its only role was through background evidence to be provided by executive director Brian Gaynor. It said the issues were not clear-cut around how the relevant law applies to trading practices. Warminger still has a 1.5 percent shareholding in the 13-year-old firm which has more than $3.5 billion of funds under management, mainly through KiwiSaver, and 20,000 clients. BusinessDesk.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: October 31st Morning Report SKO - FY23 Interim Results Announcement Date - 23 November 2022 Downer awarded $490 million road maintenance contract SKC - 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND TRADING UPDATE TCL - Result of AGM TradeWindow secures U.S. footprint with FoodChain ID October 28th Morning Report October 25th Morning Report Mainfreight Investor Day / Market Update GFI - Greenfern - Offer closes 27th Oct The children, after being rescued from the van, were treated at a nearby clinic and taken home safely. By Rohini Swamy: Eight schoolchildren had a narrow brush with death as their school bus caught fire, but a good Samaritan rushed to the spot, broke open the rear windshield and helped the children to safety. BUS CATCHES FIRE DUE TO FUEL LEAK The incident took place near Puttenahalli when their private school van caught fire due to a fuel leak. According to sources in the police, the driver of the van reportedly stepped out to call in a mechanic and left the children in the van to fix the fuel leak. advertisement Suddenly, the van caught fire and four of the children stepped out, but the others were stuck inside. That is when Pradeep Kumar noticed that the eight children who were seated in the middle and rear were shouting for help and unable to get out. Kumar broke the rear windshield and rescued the children. The cushions had caught fire and the children were in a state of shock. The fumes were also making it difficult for Pradeep and the children to get out of the van. CHILDREN TREATED FOR INJURIES, TAKEN HOME SAFELY The children were treated for their injuries at a nearby clinic and later taken home safely. Pradeep too was treated for the cuts on his arms which he had sustained after he broke the windshield. Deputy commissioner of police (South division) Sharanappa told India Today that a case of accidental fire has been registered at the Kumaraswamy Layout police station. He further said that if a case of negligence is filed by any party, they could initiate action against the driver of the vehicle. Also read: Tamil Nadu: School bus' rear wheel breaks off mid-way, children escape unhurt --- ENDS --- By Brijesh Pandey: The occasion was National council and to celebrate birth centenary Deendayal Upadhyay but the dominant mood here was clearly anti Pakistan. And true to expectation BJP party president after giving platitudes to Deendayal Upadhyay's Ekatm Manvatavad, launched a scathing attack on Pakistan. Calling terrorism the biggest challenge to democracy, he said, If terrorism becomes the official policy of a state, it should be treated as war crime. advertisement Calling Pakistan a state that uses terrorism as it's official policy, shah said that on the last one and a half decade India has suffered several terror attacks on its soil. He said that the speech given by Pakistan Prime Minister at the United Nations is a clear proof that Pakistan advocates terrorism. The way Pakistan pm took name of Hizbul terrorist and called him a peace loving person has shocked the whole world. ZERO TOLERANCE ON TERROR Saying that India has zero tolerance on terror, he said that the party and the government strongly feels the sentiments of People on Uri terror attack. He laid out in detail about the kind of action taken against terrorist and said that in last few months armed forces have thwarted 17 terror attempts and has killed 117 terrorist. Amit Shah also said that the government has been successful in isolating Pakistan internationally, he stressed that though it's a long haul, in the end India will emerge victorious. The BJP had come under severe criticism from all quarters after the Uri attack. Even in its bastion, the social media it has become difficult for it to match its pre Lok Sabha election rhetoric. At a time when comparisons are being made between action and talk, BJP is training its guns on Pakistan. Also read: Don't reward or rebuke Muslims; empower them, says PM Modi at BJP conclave Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty --- ENDS --- By PTI: Kochi, Sep 25 (PTI) If the old adage about too many cooks spoiling the broth is the rule, Sunday proved an exception with the international cooking competition-?the centrepiece event of the Spice Route Culinary Festival-?laying out a bevy of delectable dishes. Envisaged as a fresh beginning to the ambitious Spices Route project-?an initiative of Kerala Tourism in association with UNESCO and the Tourism Ministry, the festival has proved to be that and more. advertisement The international competition was kick started by S Sharma MLA, Vypeen, with the lighting of a traditional lamp at Bolgatty Palace and Island resort in the morning. He had invited the 15 participant countries to explore and discover not just the cuisines, but also the cultures of the Spice Route, according to a release here. The inauguration was attended by Alphonsus Stoelinga, Ambassador of Netherlands to India, Shigeru Aoyagi, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives,Nepal and Sri Lanka, Moe Chiba, Culture Head at UNESCO India and U V Jose, Kerala Tourism Director. "Food is a part of culture and helps to connect people. The Dutch government welcomes this wonderful initiative and will support efforts to promote the heritage shared by the countries of the Spice Route," the Dutch Ambassador said. Noting that chefs are transmitters of culture, Aoyagi said "The Spice Route initiative celebrates not only our common legacy, but also our differences." Jose thanked the chefs and dignitaries for being part of this unique event and said the culinary festival is a great beginning to the Spice Route initiative. "It is the first step to realising the true potential of Spice Route as a viable tourism offering for the state. Let us now take this forward through similar projects," he said. Leading chefs from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Oman, Turkey, Qatar, Netherlands, France, Malaysia, Italy and Japan poured their cooking talents into three dishes -?an entrAe, main course and dessert-?within the three-and-half hour allotted period. With all-star judges-?noted chefs Vijay Nagpal, Debraj Bhaumik and Montu Saini,executive chef to the President?-doing the rounds, teams had to pull out all the stops to stand out. The first place team gets a 15-night holiday voucher, second prize is a 10-night holiday voucher and third, a seven night holiday voucher. Winning teams will all receive two airline return tickets, a memento and certificate for each member. The Turkish team first tabled their appetiser-?an Ottoman Almond Soup-?setting off a chain reaction of raised hands and shouts from contestants to draw the judges attention. advertisement The question of who will come out on top will be known at an award ceremony ahead of valedictory function tomorrow. Before that, the finals of Kerala Chef competition-?an initiative to promote local culinary flavours and talent--will round out the mornings proceedings. PTI TGB APR SMJ --- ENDS --- After the 'Chetan Bhagat is back! This time, as a girl' promotional debacle, comes another video where the novelist talks about getting waxing done to understand what an 'Indian woman' goes through. And people on social media lost it. By India Today Web Desk: For his ninth novel 'One Indian Girl', author Chetan Bhagat has been flooding social media with promotional tweets, contentious excerpts from the book and videos. Last month, his unfortunately phrased promotional stunt, "Chetan Bhagat is back! This time as a girl" took Twitter by storm. Now, the author of Two States has come out with another video where he shared his experience to understand women better. He took the plunge and got some waxing done. Excited to partner with Indias biggest bookstore on @amazonIN for my latest book pic.twitter.com/sxs5umo0G8 Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 17, 2016 advertisement In the book, which is slated to release on October 1, Bhagat writes from the point of view of the main protagonist Radhika Mehta, who according to his blog, is an 'Indian girl who is intelligent and successful, because of which she finds it difficult to get love.' Happy to share that my next book is called "One Indian Girl"! The teaser is here! https://t.co/tLizrZd5lq #OneIndianGirl Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 19, 2016 In an interview on his blog, the novelist said, 'I often found women mysterious, particularly in the way they think. I felt it would be interesting to get in their head. I wrote on feminism because it isn't an equal world for women, and most men (and even several women) don't even realize it. As a writer, I want to highlight issues in society that affect a lot of people. Feminism affects us all.' And in his latest promotional video, the author literally got waxing done 'to get in a woman's head'. "Obviously, it's not easy to figure out girls as a man, so some really unusual things I had to do. One of those things was waxing and all I have to say is- girls, lot of respect! Because when I got it done, it was really really painful. And to think that girls do this regularly, maybe, like every month, was quite an experience for me," he said in the video. But he faced the wrath of social media, 'Child birth is more painful than waxing' wrote one user. Here's what people had to say: --- ENDS --- A case has been registered against Chhota Rajan and his associate Guru Satam under Section 302 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act in connection with Hanif Kadawala's murder. Chhota Rajan, once a confidant of Dawood Ibrahim, parted ways with him after the Mumbai serial blasts. By Shivendra Srivastava: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started probe into the murder of Hanif Kadawala, a key conspirator in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Kadawala had reportedly given an AK-56 rifle to actor Sanjay Dutt. The agency has taken over the probe into the murder after a reference from the Maharashtra government. A case has been registered against Chhota Rajan and his associate Guru Satam under Section 302 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Arms Act in connection with Kadawala's murder. advertisement WEAPONS' TRANSPORTER It is alleged that Kadawala transported weapons to Mumbai on the instruction of Tiger Memon that were used in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The blasts killed 257 people and left more than 700 injured. Kadawala was murdered on February 7, 2001 in his office by three men. After the initial probe, the Mumbai Police suspected that the killing was a handiwork of Rajan. Chhota Rajan, once a confidant of Dawood Ibrahim, parted ways with him after the Mumbai attack. According to an investigation, Kadawala dumped the weapon consignment, used in the blasts, in Sanjay Dutt's garage, who was later arrested under the Arms Act. Kadawala was arrested on April 16, 1993 under TADA but was released on bail five years later. KILLERS ACTED ON RAJAN'S ORDERS In 2001, it was alleged that a person introducing himself as Yusuf repeatedly sought appointment with Kadawala regarding some business tie-ups. In February 2001, three persons entered his office in Bandra and killed him. During the investigation it was found that the killers were acting on the orders of Chhota Rajan. Rajan was arrested at the Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25 last year and deported to India. He is an accused in around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the 2011 J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all these cases to the CBI. --- ENDS --- STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Christian Egyptians opened their doors to kick off the annual Egyptian Festival hosted by Coptic Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael and St. Mena this weekend and next. The Great Kills Church served as the site for the free event that was open to the public. It was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2. The festival serves as a way for the community to learn and experience the culture of the Coptic community. Visitors will enjoy the experience through clothing, traditional food, people and culture. "It's to enhance our integration into the community," said Dr. Sherif Farag, a member of the church. "We would love for people to be part of our services." Visitors could buy from a variety of Mediterranean foods including baklava, shish kebabs and Egyptian and Middle Eastern desserts. Egyptian goods were purchasable and flu shots were available. The festival also featured plenty of rides and games for kids including blow-up bouncy houses and slides. Volunteers helped set up the indoor and outdoor eating areas and spots to mingle for the festival. Revenue from the event will help fund and support the church, located at 4095 Amboy Road. For more information, call 718-966-5278. BURLINGTON, Wash. -- 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. "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 the suspect's 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 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. 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. By PTI: Chandigarh, Sep 25 (PTI) Suspended AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi took today potshots at Navjot Singh Sidhus Awaaz-e-Punjab for deciding against forming a political party but claimed AAPs ex-Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur has extended support to his "regional political front". Informing that Bains brothers - Simarjit and Balwinder, who are part of Awaaz-e-Punjab, were invited to the meeting but did not come, Gandhi said he did not invite Sidhu as he was not "available". advertisement Representatives of Chhotepur and rebel Akali MLA Pargat Singh attended the round-table conference of "pro-Punjab" personalities and leaders held by Gandhi for formation of a fourth regional political front, which he had announced last month. Through this platform, like-minded parties will jointly fight the Punjab assembly elections next year. To a question on whether this front will support Awaaz-e-Punjab, Gandhi said, "Where is Awaaz-e-Punjab? They have banded and disbanded themselves. They no more exist. Sidhu said that he is not going to form a party. Nothing concrete has come from him." "I do not think they are serious on this. When they talk concretely on our political agenda then we will see, let them come forward. Chhotepur sent his representatives and he will be the part of this grand platform," he said. Asked whether Pargat Singh attended the meeting as a representative of Awaaz-e-Punjab, Gandhi said, "Pargat Singh also came. But he came as Pargat Singh." Representatives of Swaraj Party Punjab, Apna Punjab Party, Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Party Punjab, Amritsar Volunteer Group, Bahujan Sangharsh Dal, Bahujan Samaj Sangthan also attended in the meeting, he said. "A manifesto committee will be formed soon to give final shape to the front. We are hopeful that through this platform the parties will fight the election jointly and for this modalities are being worked out," the suspended AAP MP said, but ruled out the possibility of him contesting in the polls. Asked as to why not this front form a political outfit, representative of Swaraj Party Punjab, Manjit Singh said, "It is difficult for small parties to amalgamate into one. That is why as a contingent plan we will have a political front." Former Akali MLA Harish Dhanda was also present in the meeting and said that he was not here for contesting the polls. PTI CHS VJ NSD RG NSD --- ENDS --- By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree The world celebrates September as the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. But how much do we in India know about the disease or the children suffering with cancer? By Shreya Biswas: When Abhi Sharma was only a few months old, his parents noticed a spot in his eye. In the dim light of lanterns - as Abhi's father describes - the family or even the doctors in their village in Uttar Pradesh, where electricity is a rare sight, could not quite understand what was wrong with the baby's eye. But as Abhi's pain worsened, the village doctors voiced their suspicion and asked his father to take the boy to the city for further tests. The doctors turned out to be right. Abhi had retinoblastoma; a cancer of the eye. And despite his family's efforts, Abhi, now two years old, lost his eye and is still suffering in the grip of cancer. advertisement This is not the story of just one child. In India, nearly 50,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. What's worse is that 70 per cent of such children die due to lack of awareness about cancer and its available treatment. Also read: This 10-year-old is a cancer survivor, a published author and of course, an inspiration In an effort to irradiate this lack of awareness, September is being celebrated all around the world as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Source: CanKids/ Facebook In India, Delhi-based NPO CanKids KidsCan has been spearheading a campaign to light up the Taj Mahal golden this month to raise awareness and to show the world that "India cares about children with cancer and their families." Like pink is for breast cancer, golden is the colour to represent childhood cancer. "Why gold? Because our children are priceless and precious," says CanKids Chairperson Poonam Bagai, who herself is a cancer survivor. "About two years ago, on an international level, we started an international tribute lighting program," Bagai toldIndia Today. "The idea was to light up monuments, offices etc. in gold." Though the Archaeological Survey of India refused to permit the Taj Mahal being lit up in gold, the campaign is still up and running to hold a cancer awareness exhibition in the monument's premises today. Also read: After losing 8-year-old daughter to cancer, mother shares haunting photo to raise awareness Set up in January 2014, CanKids KidsCan assists cancer-ridden children like Abhi and their families to deal with the crisis, in form of monetary support, medical help as well as palliative care. While the children undergo treatment in Delhi's AIIMS hospital, they are provided with shelter and other kinds of support at this NGO, which has its own palliative care centre complete with a beds and a nursing staff. CHILDREN OF CANCER To know how resilient children can be, one must meet the children residing at Cankids' palliative care centre. Two-year-old Anamika, another patient of retinoblastoma, welcomes everyone into the TV room by taking off her cap and then bursts into laughter. In another room, 12-year-old Amit, who has just had lumps removed from his back, smiles shyly and whispers 'Namaste'. "We have 24x7 nursing staff, two doctors on call, I too stay close by," says Sister Hanife MacGamwell, the honorary general manager of the Pediatric Palliative Care Program at CanKids. "It's all to make them have a quality of life." Anamika playing with Sister MacGamwell. Anamika playing with Sister MacGamwell. advertisement Even though 85 per cent of the children here are terminal, as Sister MacGamwell points out, hope and cheerfulness still bobs around the brightly decorated care centre. And why shouldn't there be? Most of the volunteers at CanKids are cancer survivors themselves, who at some point battled the vicious disease and now stand strong as symbols that cancer can be beaten. Now an activist with CanKids and a published author, 25-year-old Ritu Bhalla, suffered from cancer twice as a child. But despite the sufferings of the chemo sessions and endless jabs of giant needles, Ritu quite literally sand her way through the pain. "My first experience of chemo was really bad," Ritu tells India Today. "The doctors were not being able to draw liquid from my spinal cord, which meant the medicine wasn't going in. It had been over an hour and I was coming to. It was excruciating." "Even then, as I woke up and heard one of the doctors shouting 'Kya kare!', I started singing Kya Kare Kya Na Kare," Ritu laughs. However, Ritu adds that needles and surgeries are not the only painful part in the journey of cancer. advertisement Due to the lack of awareness, cancer patients - even children - face much discrimination in the society. Ill-informed parents ask their kids to stay away from children with cancer; schools are often reluctant about taking them in. Even at hospitals at times, children cancer patients do not get the special care they require due to the same reason. Which is why, apart from the cause of helping children with cancer, awareness should be raised to remove such misconceptions from the society. Hence, even if the Taj does not go gold, let there light in the minds of people and in the lives of children with cancer. Source: CanKids/ Facebook --- ENDS --- Much is made about the dangers and pitfalls of social media, but one Canberra mother is convinced Facebook helped save her daughter's life. Late one Friday night last year Ellie Miller received the results of her daughter Asha's MRI scan and was horrified. Trysh Logan Jones and Asha Miller support each other with Chiari Malformation as they raise awareness this month. Pictured with them is Asha's mother Ellie (right) Credit:Elesa Kurtz It found Asha was suffering from Chiari Malformation, a rare neurological condition in which the bottom of the brain descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine. Symptoms include severe headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and even severe pain felt when laughing or sneezing. If left untreated, it can cause paralysis, permanent disability and, in some cases, death, But perhaps no message is quite as special as the one from everyone's favourite furniture man. In a short video posted on his Facebook page on Sunday night, Franco Cozzo had nothing but well wishes for the team of the mighty west. "Forza Bulldog! You are the champion," he says in the video, raising his hand for emphasis. "You will win for sure!" And then, of course: "Come on, Foot-a-scray!" The Nazis had many targets, the Jews, Gypsies, the handicapped, political opponents and gay men among them. They even gave us our own special concentration camp badge, The Pink Triangle. They knew the power of words and imagery and in particular cartoons. They basically invented and perfected propaganda to effectively deliver a message of hate; they played on people's fears and their prejudices. They had it down pat. A simple glance back at history will tell you that same-sex attracted people were the targets and victims of the Nazis. They were required to wear pink triangles and sent to death camps. Worse, after the war many were re-imprisoned because they'd technically broken the law for their life and love akin to laws in place in the liberating powers. The tactics of a few fringe radicals on both sides of this debate is setting a toxic tone for a debate that should be about bringing people together. As decent people we need to call this out; we need a sense of perspective and respect. The weight of history is huge on all of us, but it's what we learn from history that matters most. Hate and vilification will always get a run. Pandering and fuelling to people's fears has always worked and it's working now. Many people were offended by the Bill Leak cartoon in The Australian on September 21 because, in a bizarre parallel, it compared the actions of some Marriage Equality advocates as akin to the Nazi Waffen SS. That cartoon needs to be put in its correct historical context. They were in no doubt about what they were going to do and the law gave them the cover to do it and some very talented if not evil cartoonists put their agenda into a populist and easily digestible format. Does this sound familiar? Don't underestimate just how important cartoons were for the Nazis in spreading their message, playing on people's fears, their prejudices in the most base and clever way. It worked a treat for them; it's worked a treat for all other extremists of the right and the left then and now. It's still working a treat now. No one really thinks about how this will impact the young, the marginalised, the scared, and certainly the cartoonist who draws it and the people who originally publish it will cry "freedom of speech". Today it's no different; this is not about freedom of speech, this is about respect. It's about respect for the past and wanting a future for all of us, not just those who think they are the arbiters of what's right and what's not. There's a debate going on in Australia right now about marriage equality, the key word here is equality and that means every single Australian no matter who or what they deserve to be treated equally under our laws. Parliament makes our laws, that's what we elect it to do and that's what we expect them to do we don't do it by opinion poll. When we allow that crucial component of democracy to be set aside the consequences can be deadly. This is not about me, it's about my partner, my friends, my family, my community and our right to live in peace and to love in peace and to share our lives together, to raise our children, to care for our partners and to receive the respect and protection that the laws of the land must deliver to all of us without discrimination. I am not saying that anyone in the debate about marriage equality is a Nazi, but using the Nazis tools obviously has some appeal. Nor am I saying that a plebiscite is 100 per cent a bad thing. What I am saying is that a plebiscite is not the way we make laws in our country, nor should it be. It certainly shouldn't be a compulsory vote for the electors and an optional vote on whether our elected parliamentarians support the outcome in the parliament. It should be the experience of a lifetime. Staying with an Australian family, getting a taste of Aussie life and improving your English in return for some childcare duties and light housework. But for some young foreigners, working as an au pair in Australia can be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Underpaid, overworked, sexually harassed and, in some cases, abandoned without income or accommodation in an unfamiliar city: as we report today, some young travellers who have signed up to work for Australian families have been badly mistreated. Scarce, inflexible and expensive childcare options make au pairs increasingly attractive to Australian parents. Demand has almost doubled in the past five years, the Cultural Au Pair Association of Australia says. But the sector is lightly regulated. There is no legal requirement for agencies to do background checks on families or au pairs, although the good ones do. Dodgy agencies, especially those registered overseas, put all participants at risk. Christian Porter's "moral imperative" is deeply personal for me. The Social Services Minister is using actuarial data to identify the budget costs of people who, being among the most at risk of systemic exclusion from employment, need the most social support. He intends to use this data to revamp the way social security payments are made, to whom and under what conditions. As he said during his press club speech this week: "The future foundation measure of success must be whether we can improve individual prospects for a better life, made meaningful by employment, community contribution and self-reliance." Minister for Social Services Christian Porter wants to revamp the way social security payments are made, to whom and under what conditions. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen I am one of those people who relied on social security. It is possible I might have even fitted under the largely undefined and widely bandied-about Orwellian term "welfare dependant". I relied on youth allowance in my teenage years to keep me in school, fed and clothed. Without rent assistance I'd likely have been homeless. I was on such small payments and so afraid of a life without employment that there were many times I nearly dropped my studies early to go into work. Eventually there was a job offer to sell computer equipment at Harvey Norman with the proviso "You can do this job, Ben. You'll probably be good at it. It'll be great for me to have you in the team. But you really have to ask yourself 'is this what I want to do with my life?' because I'm not sure it really is. Think about it and I'll call you tomorrow." It wasn't. And while I've met some lovely, happy salespeople I don't think I'd have cut it in the long run, and I've always been thankful for that man's guidance. Her majesty, like her daughter Princess Anne, is said to have a mouth on her. The Americans would call it a "potty mouth," which is kind of disgusting. At the very least, it would be a royal chamber pot. According to a pair of journalists lurking in the woods of Windsor Castle hoping to catch Lady Di with her betrothed, a familiar scarfed woman suddenly loomed in their paths. What followed was reportedly a most colourful blast of the Queen's English. As Mel Brooks said, "I've been accused of vulgarity. I say that's bullshit." Prince Philip would concur. Well-known for his sailor's lingo, the 94-year-old was recently caught on camera at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain telling a photographer "just take the f---ing picture." The Queen was probably amused. Coming from a polite home where the worst word we ever heard was damn, I realise some people may occasionally be taken aback by my vocabulary. The fact is, however, it's not what you say. It's who you say it to. One person's idea of vulgar is another's shopping list. When a friend announced that she was going to stop swearing, I assured her I had no intention of joining her. Not only is it good for the health, but as Lenny Bruce once said, life is a four-letter word. One can only imagine the scene when Princess Anne's bull terrier, Dotty, killed her mother's favourite corgi, Pharos. We all have our limits. Once, while filming a documentary about the porn industry in the USA, I spent a lot of time on set watching the action. On a "high end" production being filmed by the business's biggest player, the producer turned to us and said. "You know what really disgusts me?" I stared at the scenes of debauchery being acted out around us, and wondered what on earth could be worse than this. But her attention was focused on the yet-to-be unclothed actors waiting for their cue to undress. "When their labels stick out of their clothes," she snarled. "It turns my stomach." Contrary to belief that swearing is a sign of low IQ or deficiency of vocabulary, a British (who else?) study claims that it is in fact a rich emotional and creative language a coping mechanism which makes us feel more resilient. Testing the theory that it acts as an analgesic, participants in an experiment were handed a glass of water filled with ice, and split into two groups. One group was instructed to swear and another told to keep quiet. I doubt Ladbrokes was giving odds on who held on longest. In the history of experiments, it wasn't the most exciting or revelatory. Anyone who has witnessed a woman in labour could have told them that screaming a few choice words is the way to go. Indeed, the scientist conducting the experiment was inspired by his own wife's birthing experience. Presumably in real life he had never heard her telling anyone to stick it where the sun don't shine in such an unladylike way. Unlike Russia, where President Putin has reputedly just outlawed cursing in the arts, Australians are given a pretty long leash with their speech. One of the most endearing qualities of the politicians here is their frequent reference to bloody this and that, things being stuffed up and buggered. Queensland, Victoria and NSW, however, all have laws regulating offensive language. Public swearing is a summary offence and may send you to the slammer for six months. Johannesburg: The number of elephants in Africa has dropped by 111,000 in 10 years to just 415,000 today. The 20 per cent drop between 2006 and 2015 is because of a surge in ivory poaching, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said in a report. Swiss-based IUCN is regarded as the most authoritative source on wild fauna populations and the report's release at a UN conference on the global wildlife trade will lend a sense of urgency as some countries seek to keep the global ivory trade shut while others want to reopen it. "This is yet another set of data clearly indicating that governments must take all necessary actions to address the crisis," said Susan Lieberman, head of international policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The IUCN, which drew on a range of estimates and census data, said it now had a fairly accurate count of 415,000 elephants in Africa in the areas where extensive surveys could be taken, down from over 500,000 in 2006. A spell of rain on Sunday was expected to clear for a breezy, fine spring day in the capital for Canberra's Family and Community Day. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted tops of about 15 degrees and lows of about 3 degrees for the Monday public holiday. A clear, cool day is expected for the Canberra public holiday. Credit:Daniel Charron "So a little bit cooler than what we've seen ... we got up to 18 degrees at about 2.20 [Sunday] afternoon," senior forecaster Sarah Chadwick at the Bureau of Meteorology said. "There might be a little bit of fog about in the morning, otherwise it should be a pretty fine day." China has started searching for signals of extraterrestrial life in a project with the help of its largest radio telescope. Beijing has poured billions into such ambitious scientific projects as well as its military-backed space program, which saw the launch of China's second space station earlier this month. (Photo: AP) By AP: The world's largest radio telescope began searching for signals from stars and galaxies and, perhaps, extraterrestrial life today in a project demonstrating China's rising ambitions in space and its pursuit of international scientific prestige. Beijing has poured billions into such ambitious scientific projects as well as its military-backed space program, which saw the launch of China's second space station earlier this month. advertisement Measuring 500 meters in diameter, the radio telescope is nestled in a natural basin within a stunning landscape of lush green karst formations in southern Guizhou province. It took five years and $180 million to complete and surpasses that of the 300-meter Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, a dish used in research on stars that led to a Nobel Prize. The official Xinhua News Agency said hundreds of astronomers and enthusiasts watched the launch of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, in the county of Pingtang. Researchers quoted by state media said FAST would search for gravitational waves, detect radio emissions from stars and galaxies and listen for signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life. "The ultimate goal of FAST is to discover the laws of the development of the universe," Qian Lei, an associate researcher with the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told state broadcaster CCTV. "In theory, if there is civilization in outer space, the radio signal it sends will be similar to the signal we can receive when a pulsar (spinning neutron star) is approaching us," Qian said. Installation of the 4,450-panel structure, nicknamed Tianyan, or the Eye of Heaven, started in 2011 and was completed in July. The telescope requires a radio silence within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius, resulting in the relocation of more than 8,000 people from their homes in eight villages to make way for the facility, state media said. Reports in August said the villagers would be compensated with cash or new homes from a budget of about $269 million from a poverty relief fund and bank loans. CCTV reported that during a recent test, the telescope received radio signals from a pulsar that was 1,351 light-years from Earth. The radio telescope has double the sensitivity of the Arecibo Observatory, and five to 10 times the surveying speed, Xinhua said. China has also completed the construction of tourist facilities such as an observation deck on a nearby mountain, reports said. Such facilities can be a draw for visitors - the one in Puerto Rico draws about 90,000 visitors and some 200 scientists each year. advertisement Earlier this month, China launched the Tiangong 2, its second space station and the latest step in its military-backed program that intends to send a mission to Mars in the coming years. In August, the country launched the first quantum satellite experts said would advance efforts to develop the ability to send communications that can't be penetrated by hackers. --- ENDS --- Public support for world-leading, federal government-level action on climate change has bounced back, according to a new poll, as people perceive environmental impacts around them and support a larger role for renewable energy production. According to the Climate Institute's Climate of the Nation poll, 65 per cent of Australians want their country to lead the world on finding solutions, a significant increase since the time of divisive debates about the Gillard government's carbon tax. The research, conducted by Galaxy with 2000 participants, also found 77 per cent of people now accept that global warming is happening and 60 per cent agree with the science that it is caused by human activity, both notable increases from the organisation's previous figures. CEO John Connor says this return to public sentiment last seen strongly in 2008, when there was broader political support for strong climate change action, is a result of a combination of factors. Weirder still when the Trump camp then uninvited Ms Flowers! [Fairfax] And that's showbiz aka American politics, kidz! 2. Conference season in the UK Jeremy Corbyn MP gives the thumbs up to supporters after being announced as the leader of the Labour Party on the eve of the party's annual conference at the ACC. Credit:Getty Images It's been a huge weekend in Britain after Jeremy Corbyn re-won the leadership of the Labour party and then some. Corbyn increased his grip on Labour, winning 61.8% of the vote compared to the 59.5% he secured in last year's vote. The fallout: Corbyn is promising more power for his socialist activist supporters. [BBC] The "vast majority" of MPs who opposed him should not fear deselection, meaning some rebel right-wing Labour MPs are headed for the chopping block. [Joe Watts/The Independent] Corbyn ally Dianne Abbott says otherwise. A decision on whether Shadow Cabinet elections will be reinstated has been put off until November 22. [Sky News UK] A Jewish Labour peer has quit, saying Corbyn has failed to condemn anti-semitism as strongly as a leader of a party wanting to govern should. [Ned Simons/Huffington Post UK] So put simply, nothing is resolved and there is clearly much more to come. [Bloomberg] While Corbyn's victory is good for the Conservative party, the revelations spilling forth from what looks to be a sensational tell-all diary from David Cameron's former spin-man Craig Oliver certainly are not. Cameron says current Prime Minister Theresa May, who as then-Home Secretary only gave one (very lukewarm) speech supporting remaining inside the European Union, was MIA so much (13 times to be exact) they called her "Submarine May". They say she stood by and let Cameron and his campaign fail. [Daily Mail] Former cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith hit back, defending May, saying Oliver's book was just another "foolish attempt" to shift the blame for the referendum's failure. [BBC] All of this is being played out at party conferences: Labour's is currently on in Liverpool, the Tories' is next week in Birmingham (where I'm headed!) 3. International community hardening stance on Russia over Syria A UN humanitarian aid convoy in Syria was hit by airstrikes on Monday. Credit:Aleppo 24/AP A week after the bombing of the UN aid convoy which killed 20 workers, the international community is hardening its language, with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson leading the way, calling the attack a "war crime" and pointing the finger well and truly at Russia. [Bloomberg] At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said Russia had told outright lies over its conduct in Syria and accused Moscow of "barbarism". [BBC] 4. Same-sex marriage dead until next decade Attorney-General George Brandis. Credit:Andrew Meares Attorney-General George Brandis is warning that same-sex marriage could be delayed until the 2020s if Labor does not agree to hold a plebiscite in February 2017, at which polls suggest the public would endorse change. It comes ahead of a critical crunch meeting between the government and Labor today. After Bill Shorten shamelessly invoked the threat of teen gay suicides as a reason to uphold his preferred political strategy for having gay marriage approved in parliament it is looking incredibly difficult for the opposition to go back on its criticisms and back a public vote. Conservative Senator Eric Abetz says the plebiscite is dead if public funding for the Yes/No sides is dropped. [Sarah Martin/The Australian] The strongest argument for opposing the plebiscite is actually the position put forward by the gay Liberal Senator Dean Smith: that parliament should not outsource the difficult decisions to a popular vote because that would set a dangerous precedent for other social issues think euthanasia, stem cell debates, abortion, etc etc. But this ignores the political reality, that the Liberal party is overwhelmingly represented in its branches and parliament by people who do not accept gay marriage under any circumstances. And this is at the heart of what George Brandis is trying to underline and why it's all at stake if the plebiscite goes down. [James Massola/Fairfax] These days, we journalists receive multiple press statements from different splinter groups purporting to speak for the gay community advocating different positions about what next. The last time my inbox was flooded rival organisations split down purist vs practical reality lines where general consensus existed within the community was the 2008/9 debate over carbon pricing. And look where that got us! Higher electricity prices would seem to be at least one answer to the above. Energy policy and electricity costs are in the news following a report from the Grattan Institute which says the dearth of national climate policy means power bills are set to rise, unnecessarily, and Australia won't even reach its miserly carbon reduction targets to boot. [Chris Uhlmann/ABC] Engie is helping build a small, self-contained power grid on Semakau Island to demonstrate the usefulness of hydrogen gas Credit:Chris Hopkins Similarly, the planned closure of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria is also threatening to push up power prices. But federal environment and energy minister Josh Frydenberg says the duplication of renewable energy schemes between the states and the commonwealth is the problem. [Mark Ludlow/Financial Review] Holding the portfolios of environment and energy, Frydenberg is in pole position to sort this out. 5. Boeing to expand in Australia Inside the Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner. Some good news in the manufacturing space. Boeing wants to grow its Australian operations and workforce, already the company's largest outside the United States. CEO Dennis Muilenburg's "agility" and "innovation" schtick could be lifted straight out of Malcolm Turnbull's talking points, but interestingly he does not say the planned expansion is the result of the PM's "innovation statement". Nor does he put a figure on by how much Boeing will expand in Australia. [Michael Smith/Financial Review] 6. Vodafone back up after Vodafail Photo: Nic Walker Credit:Nic Walker Customers began reporting problems accessing the network after 6pm on Sunday night. At 10.30pm the telco confirmed the "intermittent" disruption and said services were fully restored around 2.30am. Vodafone cited an "issue" but did not say what it was. [Fairfax] In a scathing and bizarre piece of writing, a British newspaper columnist has dismissed Emma Watson's speech at the UN summit in New York last week as "whining, leftie, PC crap". Referring to Watson's role in the Harry Potter movies, The Sun columnist Rod Liddle began his wrap of her address in Friday's paper with "Hermione Granger has been addressing the United Nations General Assembly. Nope, not kidding." Liddle continued, "Anyway, instead of telling them all the rules of quidditch or how to turn someone into a frog, she bored them all rigid with whining, leftie, PC crap. "Just like all actresses do if people are stupid enough to give them the chance." Need There's a particular brand of pathetic desperation known only to those searching for a phone charger in darkness. Native Union's fumble-proof Night cable ($90) rests easily on its marble base where it stays... and waits. nativeunion.com.au. Want It's hard not to feel like a glam rock god crashing post-show when you relax into Fenton & Fenton's bling-tastic gold beanbag ($120). Made from soft, leather-feel "oscar" material, you'll need to mix your drink before you sink in. fentonandfenton.com.au. Dog owners are urging Georges River Council to stop work on a $1.5 million shared cycle and pedestrian path at Lower Gannons Park in Peakhurst, fearing their dogs will chase cyclists. The council has started building a three-metre wide concrete pedestrian and cycle path which will run through an off-lead dog area as part of the Gannons Park Landscape Masterplan, approved in April 2012. The council has started building a three-metre wide path that runs through an off-lead dog area. Credit:Andrew Darby Resident Amanda Mullington said the council had not given dog owners any prior warnings that work on the masterplan had resumed four years after it was approved. "We noticed there were some conveyors down there measuring up and marking out lines and thought 'What the hell is going on', and we talked to the workers and it turns out they've gone ahead with the plan," Ms Mullington said. Mel McFadden with her boys Dom (left) and Seb in their Canberra home. Credit:Andrew Meares "The amount of paperwork was pretty overwhelming. I had to put everything in writing and then chase up supporting documentation from doctors, the school, counsellors and gather up all of that. "I have a business background so this type of bureaucracy isn't totally alien to me but I do wonder how people who don't have that sort of background would be able to do it without support. That said, once I got it organised and got the application in, the funding came really quickly, and that opened a whole new world for us." Disability service provider My Supports was founded by two men with disability, Jim Cairns and Terry Mader. Jordanne's support package, worth $30,000 a year, covers the cost of support workers and specialists as well as activities which help her engage with the wider community, make friends her own age and develop life skills. The NDIS is aimed at giving people with disability greater choice and control on what kind of services they receive and who provides them, a radical shift from the previous rationed system. Jordanne and her mother engaged the Nepean Area Disability Organisation (NADO), a community-based charity which serves their local area. "It is important to her to have friendships and that's what her plan has allowed her to do," Debra says. "With NADO, she's been to Disney on Ice, they go to movie nights, they went into Sydney to see Vivid. She's made loads of friends which is what she wanted and what I hoped for. "I just want her to be able to be a teenage girl who has places to go and things to do and friends to see, all the things that we take for granted. If she is going to develop and be part of the community, that's the kind of interaction she needs." The ability to hire a support worker to supervise Jordanne has also freed up Debra to spend time with her other children and "just be a mum" to Jordanne rather than her carer. "Previously my days were all about doing what Jordanne is doing," she says. "Jordanne has the benefit of the funding but I think the whole family has benefited." While Jordanne has only been in the scheme since April, Debra has already noticed an improvement in her daughter's confidence and independence. "I'm not going to be around forever to do everything for her so she needs to be able to develop these life skills and express what she wants," Debra says. "The possibilities that have been opened up are endless." One of the goals of the NDIS is to boost workforce participation and Jordanne is now thinking about what she'd like to do when she finishes high school, considering the possibility of becoming a childrens' dance teacher. PLANNING YOUR PLAN Community service organisation Uniting is one of the local area co-ordinators for the NDIS in NSW, providing a link between potential participants and the scheme and then helping eligible applicants devise their plan and choose supports. Uniting NSW/ACT director Anita Le Lay says the transition to the scheme can be both terrifying and life-changing for participants and their families. "There is a lot of anxiety upfront, lots of fear and lots of worry," she says. "Once they have got their plan and got their funding, they work out what they want to do and you see that uncertainty lift. "The power in that has been quite incredible, particularly where families have put up with average services in the past or no support at all. They can say, 'That's not good enough and I am going to try something new'." Before signing up to the NDIS, Mel and Grant McFadden endured a revolving door of support workers for their two sons Seb, 9, and Dom, 8, who have complex medical and developmental needs. "We had 55 different support workers in our home in five years," Mel says. "We had no control over who it was coming into our home. Some were a fantastic fit and some were absolutely not a great fit." The McFaddens live in Canberra, one of the early trial sites for the scheme which they joined last year. They have used the boys' plans to sign up with a new provider, Hireup, an online portal which allows people to employ support workers directly rather than through an agency. "When we transitioned to the NDIS we could have continued using our existing agencies but I wanted to try some new services," Mel says. "I was quite happy to get rid of one agency in particular because the service was inconsistent, it wasn't very well co-ordinated. I felt like we were paying for something we were locked into that didn't suit our needs. "It's just so much better now. We choose who comes into our home, we choose when they work, we choose the level of training and qualifications they have, we choose what they do." In the past 12 months Mel has employed a swimming teacher for Seb, who was anxious around water, as well as an occupational therapist who is teaching circus skills to Dom. "We call it fun occupational therapy," she says. "It meets all of his sensory needs as well as enabling him to socialise with kids his own age. We never could have done this without the NDIS." NEW PLAYERS Hireup, founded by sibling disability advocates Jordan and Laura O'Reilly last year, is one of a number of new providers entering the market in response to the NDIS. Jordan O'Reilly says his personal experience with the services assigned to his late brother Shane, who had cerebral palsy, inspired him to start the company which operates nationally. "Growing up with a brother with a disability made us all aware of some of the challenges around getting the right support," he says. "We had many wonderful experiences with services but a lot of experiences where the system let us down. We thought the NDIS was a great opportunity to create some innovative solutions to some of the problems we experienced by connecting individuals directly with workers who suit them and their needs." Another new player is My Supports, founded by two friends Terry Mader and Jim Cairns, who have paraplegia. My Supports, which was established in Western Australia in 2014 but launched in NSW and Victoria in August, provides a range of disability services within local communities. The company also makes a point of employing people with disability. "The NDIS will create thousands of new jobs, and we see no reason why a good portion can't be for people with a disability passing on their skills and experiences," says Mader, who has a background in investment banking. "The NDIS really opens up things up if the NDIS was not around we would never have been able to start." BIG BUSINESS The NDIS will be fully rolled out across Australia over the next three years, eventually supporting 460,000 people, many of whom have not previously received funded services. The National Insurance Disability Agency, which administers the scheme, is predicting a huge increase in demand for services as the NDIS expands. According to the NDIA's market position statement, the scheme will create up to 30,000 jobs in the disability sector in NSW and up to 18,000 in Victoria over the next three years. The disability services market in NSW will more than double from $3.4 billion to $6.8 billion a year and in Victoria it will grow from $2.6 billion to $5.1 billion. The number of people with disability receiving funded support in NSW will increase by 60,000 over the next three years and by 27,000 in Victoria. "This is the biggest transformational change since Medicare," says Uniting's Le Lay. "It will change the lives of thousands of people." How to access the NDIS 1. Check your eligibility. 2. Consider supports you will need and who will provide them. Focus on your child's needs rather than the funding, and make a draft plan. Loading Asked if superannuation funds should consider investing in urban renewal in Brisbane, Ms Trad was open to the idea. "I reckon if we make sure that the agreement is structured right, and there's a really good rate of return, then I think that's a good way of putting to use capital that needs a long-term investment profile, so that they can get a rate of return that's not just sitting there doing nothing." The $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project would link Dutton Park to Bowen Hills across 10.2km, but is yet to be fully funded. The state has pledged $800 million towards Cross River Rail, but the Commonwealth has yet to commit to the project. The government announced a statutory Cross River Rail Delivery Authority earlier this year to "help take the politics out" of the project. Doctors are urged to be on alert this summer for a very rare but deadly brain disease in children that is contracted by swimming in lakes and rivers. The warning follows the death of a 12 month-old boy at Townsville Hospital, Australia's latest victim of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. PAM is caused by a brain-eating amoeba found in warm fresh water, such as lakes and rivers. Credit:Brendan Esposito From a nearby west Queensland cattle-farming area, the baby boy was unable to breathe on his own within 18 hours of leaving home with a persistent high fever and lethargy, and died in 2015. PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba - a type of organism - found in warm fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, hot springs and poorly maintained municipal water supplies. Scientific research into how polyester pants affect the sex life of rats, what it's like for a human to live like a goat and the perceived personality of rocks were all honoured at this year's Ig Nobel spoof awards. The awards also took a dig at Volkswagen, lauding it in chemistry for its ability to engineer its vehicles to produce fewer emissions just "whenever the cars are being tested". Thomas Thwaites, left, accepts the Ig Nobel prize in biology from Nobel laureate Eric Maskin while wearing his goat exoskeleton. Credit:AP The prizes, which aim to honour accomplishments in science and humanities that make one laugh, then think, awarded for a 26th straight year at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by a group of real Nobel Prize winners. Each year since 1991, the Ig Nobel awards have been handed out a week ahead of the real thing. The Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm in the week beginning October 3. Indian Amy had a faceoff with Chinese Army between Theneya and Plum. (Image for representation) By Manjeet Negi: The Chinese Army reportedly intruded in Anjaw of Arunachal Pradesh on September 9 and subsequently had set up camp at some 45 kilometres inside the Indian territory. According to high level intelligence sources, LAC which is 94 km away from Chaglagam, the last circle of Anjaw district. A place called 'Hadigrah Pass', the end point of border in Indian territory has been intruded by PLA and reached up to 45 Km point at Plum inside the Indian territory where they have built up a temporary camp. LONG RANGE PATROLLING advertisement Sources said that earlier the Indian Army had Long Range Patrolling (LRP) on September 5 which lasted up to Theneya some 52 km from Chaglagam where unexpectedly the Indian Amy had a face-off with Chinese Army between Theneya and Plum-Plum point on September 9. At Kapapu the Chinese Army has built up Maul track, log and wooden bridge etc and drive out the Indian Army up to Najong 23 kms point near Chaglagam. To defuse the intrusion and tension inside the Indian Territory, a Flag Meeting was held on September 14 at Damai in China some three kms away from the LAC between PLA and Indian Army unfortunately PLA was reluctant to retreat from the Indian Territory claiming their stand strong. However, the Indian Army told India Today that the transgression by PLA patrol and the subsequent face-off with an Indian Army patrol was resolved through the existing joint mechanism on September 9. Also read: China says India not our biggest threat, haven't deployed stealth fighter J-20 in Tibet --- ENDS --- Unprecedented dying with dignity laws could pass the Victorian Parliament with support growing across all sides of politics for assisted dying legislation. Earlier this month Health Minister Jill Hennessy declared her support for some sort of assisted dying regime, prompting a cascade of ministers to also affirm their backing for the practice. Health Minister Jill Hennessy is leading the government's response to a ground-breaking multi-party inquiry that recommended Victoria adopt assisted dying laws. Credit:Amy Paton Ms Hennessy is leading the government's response to a ground-breaking multi-party inquiry that recommended Victoria adopt assisted dying laws. A Fairfax Media survey of MPs from all sides of politics has found there is likely to be enough support for assisted dying legislation, as long as the laws were robust and clearly defined with sufficient protection from abuse. Controversy surrounds a $25.6 million deal to sell Australia's oldest Irish club to a skyscraper developer, with claims hundreds of people were prevented from voting over the proposal. Members of the Celtic Club have voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling their premises at 320 Queen Street to Malaysian company Beulah International, which plans to build a 48-level apartment tower. The building that hosts the Celtic Club is 140 years old. Credit:Vince Caligiuri But debate over the deal has caused bitter ructions within the club. Those opposing the sale claim that about 300 membership applications were deliberately stalled in the lead-up to the vote, while Celtic Club president Brian Shanahan said those opposing the deal were "mad". London: The war of words over Syria has escalated with the UK's foreign minister, Boris Johnson, saying Russia should be investigated for war crimes in Syria, and the United States calling Moscow's actions "barbarism". The heated exchanges come as Moscow's envoy to the United Nations told a meeting of international diplomats that ending the war "is almost an impossible task now" as Syrian government forces, backed by Moscow, bombed the city of Aleppo. A week ago there was hope a high-level Security Council meeting presided over by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key would help quell the hell that has crumbled Aleppo, but on Sunday another 85 people in the city were reportedly killed and 300 others injured by bombs. Other reports tallied the death toll in the city the past 72 hours at 139. The one-room home where Rogie Sebastian was shot dead in Tondo District during a police drug operation. Credit:Kate Geraghty "I am furious and not afraid because what they have done is wrong," she said. Mr Sebastian, 30, had been working and took an afternoon nap as his wife and their one-year-old daughter Rogielyn and two year-old son Rogie were watching television. A neighbour comforts Ruth-Jane Sombrio at the funeral home where her husband is being held in Binondo District, Manila. Credit:Kate Geraghty Ms Sombrio said that two police wearing plain clothes burst into the room. She screamed at them to leave, telling them they needed a warrant and were at the wrong house. A relative of Rogie Sebastian holds his ID card. Credit:Kate Geraghty "We just want to talk with Rogie," one of the policemen told her before she was pushed to the doorway, clutching her daughter and pulling her son. Ms Sombrio said she was standing at the doorway when she heard a gunshot and her husband fell to the floor. The police report for the shooting incident of Rogie Sebastian. Credit:Kate Geraghty She said three more shots rang out after a masked man wearing gloves went inside. She said she saw the assassin give the thumbs up and down sign to other police as he emerged from the shack, before she fainted in shock. When she became conscious she confronted a policeman. "Why did you kill my husband you son of a bitch," she screamed. "How can I feed my children now." Ms Sombrio and several of her neighbours told Fairfax Media that police mistook Mr Sebastian for the owner of the shack who sold shabu, the highly addictive poor quality form of crystal methamphetamine. A sign inside the building reads that drugs would not be sold to addicts, only users. The owner, who also lived there, has not been seen since the shooting. The family had only been renting a room in the shack for three months. Ms Sombrio said addicts often came to the house to buy shabu but that her husband had nothing to do with the trade. She said a Tondo district official had suggested that her husband surrender to police and admit he was a user under a nationwide program demanded by Mr Duterte. "But Rogie said 'I am not a killer. I'm not a drugs lord' and refused," she said. Police claimed in an official report into the shooting that Mr Sebastian was a "notorious" drugs pusher on Tondo's San Miguel Road who was shot dead in the shack during a buy-bust sting operation with an uncover policeman called Carlos at 4.30pm on September 19. Mr Sebastian had pulled out a .38 calibre revolver after he became suspicious of Carlos, the report said, and was then shot dead. A revolver, used ammunition, 200 pesos ($5.50) of marked money and a small amount of shabu were found in his possession, the police report said. But multiple witnesses who were in the alleyway that afternoon told Fairfax Media that about 10 policemen had surrounded the shack before two plain clothes men and the masked gunman went inside before a total of four gun shots rang out. Ms Sombrio said Rogie never owned a gun or the drugs and the money wasn't his. She said a homicide squad officer shook his head while holding a list of names of people on a list of drugs suspects, indicating he was not on it. More than 3500 Filipinos have been killed in the crackdown since July 1, half of them in police killings and the rest by unidentified assailants. Mr Duterte, who is known as The Punisher, claimed last weekend that his critics have failed to understand that his actual directive is for police to shoot criminals only if they resist arrest or police believe their lives are in danger. But human rights activists say police have been given the green light to kill drugs suspects without fear of prosecution. Men drink beer and read the newspapers in one of the alleys of Tondo district in Manila, Philippines. General crime rates have dropped in some barangays in Tondo since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs campaign started. Credit:Kate Geraghty Addicts leaving Manila In Tondo, where people live in shacks built from scavenged timber, plastic and iron and there is no running water, drug use has fallen as much as 90 per cent and 20 per cent of users and addicts have left for the provinces, fearing for their lives under the crackdown, district chiefs say. "I support the president's campaign. Some pushers still come in here but drug use and crime, which is almost all drug related, is well down," said Bong Parce, the 46-year-old chief of one district with 65,000 residents. "I only ask the president, 'What is next?' There must be follow-ups like programs to provide work for people, to give them some hope for their future," he said. Police colonel Amante Daro told Fairfax Media that for the first time in memory crime has dropped to almost nothing in poor districts of the sprawling capital. "You can see people feel safer. People can talk on their mobile telephones without fear of them being snatched. We even see people playing Pokemon Go. Amazing," he said. A man sleeps on a makeshift bed in one of the alleys in Tondo district in Manila, Philippines. Credit:Kate Geraghty You can still see emaciated addicts curled up in Tondo's alleyways which have been notorious for crime and drugs over decades. Most residents seem to support the crackdown although they spoke to Fairfax Media in the presence of district officials. "I think the president is doing a good job but the killings are going too far," said Norma Roxas, a 49-year-old store owner near the shack that Mr Sebastian rented with a government subsidy. Nice Poro, a former shabu user, with his wife and children in his home in the Tondo district of Manila. Credit:Kate Geraghty Nice Poro, a 57-year-old fisherman and father of 10, surrendered to police and admitted he was a user of shabu in August. "For me it has finished my drug use. At the start I was afraid of being killed. But it is good for me," he said. "I don't want my children to copy what I was doing. I was not a role model for them. I want them to finish their studies and be something in life." Ms Sombrio said without any money to care for her soon-to-be-born and two other children she will be forced to return to her family's coastal village in Mindanao, in the country's troubled south. The first reports that Gibson had found a possible part of the plane met with scepticism. Other pieces of suspected debris have been stumbled on by chance. But how could one private citizen succeed in finding a piece of the plane where a multi-government, multi-million-dollar search had failed? Answer: There is no official search being conducted, beyond that of the 120,000 square kilometres of seabed southwest of Australia calculated to be the crash site. But the triangular panel stencilled "no step" that Gibson found on February 27 has been confirmed as almost certainly a horizontal stabiliser 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 Californian 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. Manila: The Philippines and the US have scheduled military drills next month in the South-East Asian nation, the US embassy in Manila said, days after President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged that his country did need American troops in the South China Sea. About 1400 US servicemen based in Okinawa, Japan, and 500 Philippine Armed Forces personnel will conduct an amphibious-landing exercise and live-fire training in multiple locations on the main island of Luzon and in Palawan, according to a statement on the embassy's website on Saturday. The nine-day drills, aimed at making troops better prepared to operate together during a natural disaster or armed conflict, are to start on October 4. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Credit:AP Mr Duterte has sent conflicting messages about Philippine foreign policy and the nature of his nation's links with overseas partners since he was sworn in late June, sowing confusion at a time of rising concern about China's claims to most of the South China Sea. The former mayor last week acknowledged that his country needed American troops after earlier calling for the end of joint patrols in the strategic waterway. The US alliance with the Philippines has for decades been a bedrock of American influence in the region. "Exchanging expertise and cultivating our longstanding security alliance provides a cornerstone for security and stability in the region, and has for decades," Brigadier General John Jansen, Commanding General, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, said in the statement. Beirut: Syrian and Russian warplanes have launched a fresh blitz on the rebel-held city of Aleppo as government troops pressed a major offensive to take back the city. In the rebel-held eastern suburbs, residents said scores of civilians had been killed or injured, pushing doctors to work 24-hour shifts and treat patients on bloodied floors when beds ran out. A Syrian man carries his son to a field hospital after Syrian and Russian army carried out airstrikes in Aleppo. Credit:Getty Images The attacks have shredded a cease-fire deal hailed by the United States and Russia as a rare chance to push the war toward peace talks and its eventual conclusion. Under cover of airstrikes, Syrian government troops captured a rebel-held area on the edge of Aleppo, tightening their siege on opposition-held neighbourhoods in the northern city after what residents described as the heaviest air bombardment of the five-year civil war. The 20-year-old suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing and appeared "zombie-like'' when he was arrested nearly 24 hours into an intense manhunt, police say. Island County Sheriff's Lieutenant Mike Hawley said he spotted Arcan Cetin from a patrol car on Saturday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, and immediately recognised him as the suspect who killed five people at the Cascade Mall in nearby Burlington. Lieutenant Hawley said at a news conference police had received information that Cetin, of Oak Harbor, was in the area. Cetin, who immigrated to the US from Turkey, is a legal permanent resident who has been living in Oak Harbor, authorities said. By PTI: From Lalit K Jha Washington, Sep 25 (PTI) Hillary Clinton would paint her "positive" vision of the US, her running mate Time Kaine said today on the eve of the crucial debate in New York between the Democratic presidential nominee and her Republican rival Donald Trump. "What I expect her to do tomorrow is certainly defend herself from what Trump may say, but, at the end of the day, paint this positive vision (of the US) that really is what is animating her to run for president," Kaine told CBS News. advertisement He acknowledged that this would be tight race. Recent polls reflect a dead heat between Clinton and Trump. "I think this thing is going to be close right up until the end. We have got to make our case every day. The debates are a great way to do that," he said. Kaine said the 68-year-old former secretary of state has a long track record of service in public life. "You can look at that. I tell the story about her being first lady of the United States, when the effort to get Hillary Clinton done failed, and that was a tough, tough, bitter loss, but then it tested her as a leader. And she worked together with Democrats and Republicans to get health insurance for eight million low-income American children in the CHIP programme," he said. Kaine said according to him, the measure of character in somebody in public life is whether they have a passion for somebody other than themselves and whether they keep after that passion whether they are winning or losing. "Hillary has demonstrated that again and again. "I think thats a sharp contrast to a Donald Trump, whose only recognised passion in his life has been for himself. No great president in this country has been primarily a me-first person. The great presidents are people who watch out for others, and thats who Hillary Clinton has been, thats who she is, and thats who she will be," he said. On the other hand, Kaines Republican counterpart Mike Pence said Trump has been preparing for the debate all his life. "I think Donald Trump has been preparing for this debate for his entire lifetime," Pence said at the same Sunday talk show. "Hes built a great business. Hes travelled the country, and particularly in this campaign. Donald Trump has been out among the American people. I think hes given voice to the frustrations and aspirations of the American people like no American leader in my lifetime since Ronald Reagan," he said. advertisement He reiterated that the moderator should not do fact-check during the debate. "We all had the experience a few years ago of Mitt Romney being interrupted and being challenged on an assertion that he made. I believe it was about the tragedy in Benghazi. And it turned out the moderator was wrong. I think the important thing is, is that the American people hear from these two candidates. The choice in this campaign could not be more clear," he said, adding that in Trump, "we have a leader who literally embodies the American spirit". PTI LKJ SAI --- ENDS --- When I presented "intro to the semantic web" slides in TopQuadrant product training classes, I described how people talking about "semantics" in the context of semantic web technology mean something specific, but that other claims for computerized semantics (especially, in many cases, "semantic search") were often vague attempts to use the word as a marketing term. Since joining CCRi, though, I've learned plenty about machine learning applications that use semantics to get real work done (often, "semantic search"), and they can do some great things. Semantic Web semantics To review the semantic web sense of "semantics": RDF gives us a way to state facts using {subject, predicate, object} triples. RDFS and OWL give us vocabularies to describe the resources referenced in these triples, and the descriptions can record semantics about those resources that let us get more out of the data. Of course, the descriptions themselves are triples, letting us say things like {ex:Employee rdfs:subClassOf ex:Person} , which tells us that any instance of the ex:Employee class is also an instance of ex:Person . That example indicates some of the semantics of what it means to be an employee, but people familiar with object-oriented development take that ability for granted. OWL can take the recording of semantics well beyond that. For example, because properties themselves are resources, when I say {dm:locatedIn rdf:type owl:TransitiveProperty} , I'm encoding some of the meaning of the dm:locatedIn property in a machine-readable way: I'm saying that it's transitive, so that if {x:resource1 dm:locatedIn x:resource2} and {x:resource2 dm:locatedIn x:resource3} , we can infer that {x:resource1 dm:locatedIn x:resource3} . A tool that understands what owl:TransitiveProperty means will let me get more out of my data. My blog entry Trying Out Blazegraph from earlier this year showed how I took advantage of OWL metadata to query for all the furniture in a particular building even though the dataset had no explicit data about any resources being furniture or any resources being in that building other than some rooms. This is all built on very explicit semantics: we use triples to say things about resources so that people and applications can understand and do more with those resources. The interesting semantics work in the machine learning world is more about inferring semantic relationships. Semantics and embedded vector spaces (All suggestions for corrections to this section are welcome.) Machine learning is essentially the use of data-driven algorithms that perform better as they have more data to work with, "learning" from this additional data. For example, Netflix can make better recommendations to you now than they could ten years ago because the additional accumulated data about what you like to watch and what other people with similar tastes have also watched gives Netflix more to go on when making these recommendations. The world of distributional semantics shows that analysis of what words appear with what other words, in what order, can tell us a lot about these words and their relationshipsif you analyze enough text. Let's say we begin by using a neural network to assign a vector of numbers to each word. This creates a collection of vectors known as a "vector space"; adding vectors to this space is known as "embedding" them. Performing linear algebra on these vectors can provide insight about the relationships between the words that the vectors represent. In the most popular example, the mathematical relationship between the vectors for the words "king" and "queen" is very similar to the relationship between the vectors for "man" and "woman". This diagram from the TensorFlow tutorial Vector Representations of Words shows that other identified relationships include grammatical and geographical ones: The popular open source word2vec implementation of this developed at Google includes a script that lets you do analogy queries. (The TensorFlow tutorial mentioned above uses word2vec; another great way to get hands-on experience with word vectors is Radim Rehurek's gensim tutorial.) I installed word2vec on an Ubuntu machine easily enough, started up the demo-analogy.sh script, and it prompted me to enter three words. I entered "king queen father" to ask it "king is to queen as father is to what?" It gave me a list of 40 word-score pairs with these at the top: mother 0.698822 husband 0.553576 sister 0.552917 her 0.548955 grandmother 0.529910 wife 0.526212 parents 0.512507 daughter 0.509455 Entering "london england berlin" produced a list that began with this: germany 0.522487 prussia 0.482481 austria 0.447184 saxony 0.435668 bohemia 0.429096 westphalia 0.407746 italy 0.406134 I entered "run ran walk" in the hope of seeing "walked" but got a list that began like this: hooray 0.446358 rides 0.445045 ninotchka 0.444158 searchers 0.442369 destry 0.435961 It did a pretty good job with most of these, but obviously not a great job throughout. The past tense of walk is definitely not "hooray", but these inferences were based on a training data set of 96 megabytes, which isn't very large. A Google search on phrases from the text8 input file included with word2vec for this demo shows that it's probably part of a 2006 Wikipedia dump used for text compression tests and other processes that need a non-trivial text collection. More serious applications of word2vec often read much larger Wikipedia subsets as training data, and of course you're not limited to using Wikipedia data: the exploration of other datasets that use a variety of spoken languages and scripts is one of the most interesting aspects of these early days of the use of this technology. The one-to-one relationships shown in the TensorFlow diagrams above make the inferred relationships look more magical than they are. As you can see from the results of my queries, word2vec finds the words that are closest to what you asked for and lists them with their scores, and you may have several with good scores or none. Your application can just pick the result with the highest score, but you might want to first set an acceptable cutoff value so that you don't take the "hooray" inference too seriously. On the other hand, if you just pick the single result with the highest score, you might miss some good inferences, because while Berlin is the capital of Germany, it was also the capital of Prussia for over 200 years, so I was happy to see that get the second-highest score therealthough, if we put too much faith in a score of 0.482481 (or even of 0.522487) we're going to get some "king queen father" answers that we don't want. Again, a bigger training data set would help there. If you look at the demo-analogy.sh script itself, you'll see various parameters that you can tweak when creating the vector data. The use of larger training sets is not the only thing that can improve the results above, and machine learning expertise means not only getting to know the algorithms that are available but also learning how to tune parameters like these. The script is simple enough that I saw that I could easily revise it to make it read some other file instead of the text8 one included with it. I set it to read the Summa Theologica, in which St. Thomas Aquinas laid out all the theology of the Catholic Church, as I made grand plans for Big Question analogy queries like "man is to soul as God is to what?" My eventual query results were a lot more like the "run ran walk hooray" results above than anything sensible, with low scores for what it did find. With my text file of the complete Summa Thelogica weighing in at 17 megabytes, I was clearly hoping for too much from it. I do have ideas for other input to try and I encourage you to try it for yourself. An especially exciting thing about the use of embedding vectors to identify potentially previously unknown relationships is that it's not limited to use on text. You can use it with images, video, audio, and any other machine readable data, and at CCRi, we have. (I'm using the marketing "we" here; if you've read this far you're familiar with all of my hands-on experience with embedding vectors.) Embedding vector space semantics and semantic web semantics Can there be any connection between these two "semantic" technologies? RDF-based models are designed to take advantage of explicit semantics, and a program like word2vec can infer semantic relationships and make them explicit. Modifications to the scripts included with word2vec could output OWL or SKOS triples that enumerate relationships between identified resources, making a nice contribution to the many systems using SKOS taxonomies and thesauruses. Another possibility is that if you can train a machine learning model with instances (for example, labeled pictures of dogs and cats) that are identified with declared classes in an ontology, then running the model on new data can do classifications that take advantage of the ontologyfor example, after identifying new cat and dog pictures, a query for mammals can find them. Going the other way, machine learning systems designed around unstructured text can often do even more with structured text, where it's easier to find what you want, and I've learned at CCRi that RDF (if not RDFS or OWL) is much more popular among such applications than I realized. Large taxonomies such as those of the Library of Congress, DBpedia, and Wikidata have lots of synonyms, explicit subclass relationships, and sometimes even definitions, and they can contribute a great deal to these applications. A well-known success story in combining the two technologies is IBM's Watson. The paper Semantic Technologies in IBM Watson describes the technologies used in Watson and how these technologies formed the basis of a seminar course given at Columbia University; distributional semantics, semantic web technology, and DBpedia all play a role. Frederick Giasson and Mike Bergman's Cognonto also looks like an interesting project to connect machine learning to large collections of triples. I'm sure that other interesting combinations are happening around the world, especially considering the amount of open source software available in both areas. Claim: Researchers have found a simple cure for cancer, but major pharmaceutical companies are not interested because it isn't patentable. Rating: About this rating Mostly False What's True Preliminary research indicated dichloroacetate (DCA) might show promise for treating some forms of cancer. What's False DCA is a not a proven "cure" for cancer, nor is it being spurned by pharmaceutical companies because it is not patentable. Advertisment: Canadian researchers find a simple cure for cancer, but major pharmaceutical companies are not interested. Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada have cured cancer last week, yet there is a little ripple in the news or in TV. It is a simple technique using very basic drug. The method employs dichloroacetate, which is currently used to treat metabolic disorders. So, there is no concern of side effects or about their long term effects. This drug doesn't require a patent, so anyone can employ it widely and cheaply compared to the costly cancer drugs produced by major pharmaceutical companies. Canadian scientists tested this dichloroacetate (DCA) on human's cells; it killed lung, breast and brain cancer cells and left the healthy cells alone. It was tested on Rats inflicted with severe tumors; their cells shrank when they were fed with water supplemented with DCA. The drug is widely available and the technique is easy to use, why the major drug companies are not involved? Or the Media interested in this find? In human bodies there is a natural cancer fighting human cell, the mitochondria, but they need to be triggered to be effective. Scientists used to think that these mitochondria cells were damaged and thus ineffective against cancer. So they used to focus on glycolysis, which is less effective in curing cancer and more wasteful. The drug manufacturers focused on this glycolysis method to fight cancer. This DCA on the other hand doesnt rely on glycolysis instead on mitochondria; it triggers the mitochondria which in turn fights the cancer cells. The side effect of this is it also reactivates a process called apoptosis. You see, mitochondria contain an all-too-important self-destruct button that can't be pressed in cancer cells. Without it, tumors grow larger as cells refuse to be extinguished. Fully functioning mitochondria, thanks to DCA, can once again die. With glycolysis turned off, the body produces less lactic acid, so the bad tissue around cancer cells doesn't break down and seed new tumors. Pharmaceutical companies are not investing in this research because DCA method cannot be patented, without a patent they cant make money, like they are doing now with their AIDS Patent. Since the pharmaceutical companies won't develop this, the article says other independent laboratories should start producing this drug and do more research to confirm all the above findings and produce drugs. All the groundwork can be done in collaboration with the Universities, who will be glad to assist in such research and can develop an effective drug for curing cancer. In 2007, medical researchers at the University of Alberta reported that dichloroacetate (DCA), a relatively simple compound, had showed promise for treating cancer in rodent models, and the university's DCA Research Team announced they would begin clinical trials of DCA on human patients in the spring of 2007. One of the members of that research team, Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, expressed concern that because DCA was not patented, the potential profit margins in marketing it would likely be small, and thus it might be difficult to obtain funding for DCA clinical trials from private investors: The DCA compound is not patented and not owned by any pharmaceutical company, and, therefore, would likely be an inexpensive drug to administer, says Michelakis, the Canada Research Chair in Pulmonary Hypertension and Director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program with Capital Health, one of Canada's largest health authorities. However, as DCA is not patented, Michelakis is concerned that it may be difficult to find funding from private investors to test DCA in clinical trials. He is grateful for the support he has already received from publicly funded agencies, such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), and he is hopeful such support will continue and allow him to conduct clinical trials of DCA on cancer patients. Unfortunately, this preliminary information soon led to hyperbolic claims that a "simple cure for cancer" had been found but a lack of interest on the part of pharmaceutical companies was preventing it from reaching cancer patients, prompting some desperate cancer sufferers to seek it out for themselves from unscrupulous vendors: Note that there were two assumptions about the study [in 2007]. First, these bloggers and pundits assumed that the cell culture and animal work were definitive evidence that DCA might be a "cure" for cancer. Second, the assumption was that, because the drug was out of patent and very cheap to make, neither the government nor pharmaceutical companies would be interested in funding it, thus condemning thousands, maybe millions, of people to die of cancer unnecessarily. Unfortunately, [articles] featured headlines to that effect and quotes by the investigator Evangelos Michelakis lamenting how he had had difficulties finding funding to do the next step, clinical trials in cancer. As a result of these sensationalistic stories, unscrupulous "businessmen" sought to bring DCA to the masses. A frenzy of sorts was unleashed, with desperate cancer patients scrambling to find DCA. Despite investigators' concerns about potential difficulties in obtaining funding, DCA studies have been undertaken, and in 2010 the substance was in the news again after researchers published a paper reporting their results with testing DCA on glioblastoma tumors: The researchers looked at the impact of DCA on tumor cells from patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, which generally does not respond well to treatment. They performed some very sophisticated lab experiments which demonstrated the impact of DCA on the tumor cells from 49 patients with this cancer. The experiments generally support the effectiveness of DCA at altering cell behavior. The investigators also treated five patients who had glioblastoma with DCA. The only side effect they found was a reversible change in peripheral nerve function. No other side effects were described. Of the five patients, three had progressing disease despite prior treatment and two were newly diagnosed. Those two patients were treated with different protocols. The results of the treatments were variable as were the approaches to treatment. Nonetheless, the report shows some MRI pictures pre and post treatment which show regression of the cancers in two patients. As Dr. J. Leonard Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society, wrote of that last study in 2010, DCA studies appear to be worth pursuing, but the substance is still far from being proved an effective treatment for any type of cancer, much less a cancer "cure": How would I characterize this report? Simply stated, the science is intriguing and I believe is something to be pursued both in the lab and in the clinic. BUT, and this is a big but, it is not a cure for glioblastoma or any other cancer based on these results. My concern is that this paper is going to be transformed like the last one into something that it is not, namely that this is definitive evidence that DCA is the magic bullet for cancer treatment, particularly in glioblastoma (which is a cancer that has a very poor prognosis). This research still needs lots of work before we know whether it works or doesn't work, and whether it is really safe or not when given to patients with cancer under a variety of circumstances. If that sounds overly cautious, so be it. I have seen too many dashed hopes in my medical career which make me a bit cautious about reports like this. That's not to say I don't think it could work it could, as I mentioned above but I want to see evidence in well done trials that prove the point that DCA is effective in the treatment of which cancers under what circumstances. In the case of DCA, internet traffic zoomed with reports of its purported success in curing cancer in lab animals. Clinics sprung up, and are probably still active. The risk is that we are going to see a resurgence of this now that the new report has been issued. We shall see how this progresses. Hopefully, clinical trials will proceed appropriately. And I stand by my skepticism, while encouraging further research to answer the fundamental question whether or not DCA really works in treating cancer. In the meantime, caution is advised. Don't become the victim of a cancer scam. The scamsters are sure to follow this report as night follows day. As New Scientist noted as recently as July 2016, dichloroacetate still has not lived up to the potential ascribed to it several years ago: The murder of religious organisation leader Sasikumar has led to riots in Coimbatore. The murder of Hindu Munnani leader Sasikumar has led to widespread riots throughout Coimbatore. (Photo: PTI) By Pramod Madhav: A major riot broke out in Coimbatore following the murder of a religious organisation's leader. The city was almost in flames as mobs went berserk after Sasikumar, media spokesperson for Hindu Munnani, was brutally murdered on Thursday. Workers of the religious outfit hit the streets demanding the arrest of the culprits behind the murder. Rioters have attacked places of worship as well as people of another community. Numerous stone-pelting incidents were recorded, one of which resulted in the injury to a police constable. advertisement STORE RANSACKED, PETROL BOMBS HURLED CCTV footage has gone viral showing rioters breaking and entering a mobile phone shop and ransacking it. Eyewitnesses claim these mobs were on a looting spree and were destroying property even as policemen stood as mute bystanders. In another incident, petrol bombs were hurled at RSS activist Karthik's shop in the city on Sunday morning. The alarmed people of the neighbourhood immediately put out the fire and prevented damage. The police confiscated the CCTV footage from the shop's surveillance camera and have initiated an investigation. POLICE INEFFECTIVE IN CONTAINING RIOT? Vasantharajan, a BJP worker who owned a shop next to Karthik's shop said, "Some people came on a bike and threw petrol bombs at Karthik's shop around 3.45 AM. Luckily we prevented any damage. This looked totally pre-planned and the goons had the audacity to attack a shop so close to a police outpost. They should be immediately arrested. Lack of police's ability to take action against such thugs is only giving them more courage to indulge in such activities." Following the riot, close to 270 people were arrested and an investigation has begun. Even with 1,500 policemen deployed to maintain law and order in the city, various political leaders have raised concerns over the failure of the police department in controlling the riot. WATCH: Also read: Coimbatore: Tensions rise as Hindu Munnani leader hacked to death --- ENDS --- When and where to Trick-or-Treat? South Bend and area times listed local By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 24 (PTI) Congress today squarely blamed the Modi government over Russias decision to go in for a military exercise with Pakistan for the first time, terming it as a "failure" of Indias 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. advertisement 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 Russias 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 Russias 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 governments tilt towards USA is resulting in countries like Russia distancing from India. PTI SPG IKA RG IKA --- ENDS --- Authorities on Sunday imposed curfew in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town due to escalated tensions following the arrest of three youths. By Indo-Asian News Service: Authorities on Sunday imposed curfew in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town due to escalated tensions following the arrest of three youths. Police arrested the three late Saturday night on charges of trying to violate the law and order in the town. Announcements from mosques on Sunday morning called on civilians to protest against the arrests. The three youths were recently released after they served their term of detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). advertisement "They have been picked up for their anti-social activities," police said. The PSA is a law applicable in Jammu and Kashmir only under which a person can be detained without a judicial process. The detentions can only be challenged in the state high court. ALSO READ: Army and BSF jawans arrest two Jaish guides in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri Defiant Pakistan's show of bravado: Our army is fully prepared, says General Raheel Sharif --- ENDS --- The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. Geneva, September 25, 2016 (SPS) - Participants to a workshop on Western Sahara titled Occupation and Humanitarian Law organized in Geneva (Switzerland) called on the international community to speed up its decisions concerning the Western Sahara conflict said Friday. The Sahrawi delegation participating in the works of the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva organized on Thursday, a workshop on the conflict in Western Sahara titled Occupation and Humanitarian Law and thus, in collaboration with the American association of human rights activists and British organizations Liberation, and IVOR. During this meeting, the professor of international law at the University of Geneva, director of the department of international law, Marco Sassouli, reviewed the practices of the Moroccan occupier on one part, and international law on the other part, while calling on the international community to speed up its decisions concerning the conflict in Western Sahara. The 33rd session of the Human Rights Council is taking place for the second consecutive week, in Geneva, and continues until the end of September with the participation of a Sahrawi delegation representing the occupied territories, the refugee camps and the Sahrawi community abroad. (SPS) 062/090/700 Brussels, September 25, 2016 (SPS) The European Union expressed readiness to support and facilitate the implementation of any political solution that allows the self-determination of Sahrawi people, and reiterated its concern over the "long duration" of the conflict in Western Sahara and its consequences in the region. In the event that a political solution to the conflict would be reached, the EU would take measures to support and facilitate its implementation, said the Council of Europe in reply to Euro-deputies, including Gilles Pargneaux and Rachida Dati on the EU's action at the United Nations for the promotion of a political solution in Western Sahara. In this regard, the Council of Europe, which represents 28 EU Member States, said that the EU supports the ongoing efforts of the UN Secretary General to help the parties to the conflict to find a "just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, allowing for the self-determination of Sahrawi people, in accordance with the principles of the UN charter. The EU also hailed the efforts of the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy Christopher Ross and the United Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), whose mandate has been extended until 30 April 2017 by the UN Security Council's resolution 2285 (2016). (SPS) 062/090/700 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD The University of Connecticut maintains its headquarters upstate, but its brand is quickly growing in the states southwestern corner. The launch last week of a Stamford conference for businesswomen shows that university officials are intent on expanding UConns presence in the city through more programming and closer ties with the local business community. Business leaders have embraced this strategy, as they cite the university as an important partner in the areas economic development. The debate about UConns role in the city now centers not on whether it belongs in Stamford, but the extent and speed at which the local campus should grow. My own view is this will be a major regional campus, said Joe McGee, vice president of public policy for The Business Council of Fairfield County. It can grow to meet the needs of Fairfield County and the rest of the state. It has an enormous opportunity to provide the creative juices that are part of a new economy. Established presence UConns downtown campus has emerged in recent years as one of the citys most prominent institutions. In the past 10 years, undergraduate enrollment has grown by 18 percent, while the graduate ranks have increased by 33 percent. Stamford stands as the highest-enrolled of UConns five regional campuses, with about 1,500 undergraduate students and 600 graduate students taking classes this summer. More Information Student growth Enrollment during the fall at the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus has grown significantly in the past 10 years. Undergraduate degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking enrollment 2006 1,281 2007 1,270 2008 1,314 2009 1,294 2010 1,318 2011 1,275 2012 1,377 2013 1,363 2014 1,485 2015 1,564 Graduate degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking enrollment 2006446 2007474 2008 475 2009 492 2010 515 2011 484 2012459 2013428 2014464 2015535 2016 595 2016 1,507 See More Collapse As the universitys population has grown, its programming has expanded. Many of the new programs launched in recent years focus on business, as the university seeks to tap into the emergence of Stamford as an economic powerhouse in the region. The city campus now offers undergraduate business programs in administration, data analytics, financial management and digital marketing and analytics and MBA degrees through the universitys business school. UConn has also ramped up its outreach to the neighboring business community. The Xcite conference, a new initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and innovation among Connecticut businesswomen, was held last week at the Stamford Crowne Plaza hotel. The conference attracted some 200 professionals, academics and students. Stamford is the perfect location because they already have demand for high-level human capital such as programming on highly innovative practices and participation from thought leaders in various industries, said David Noble, the conferences director and an assistant professor-in-residence in the UConn business school. Were able to deliver the supply, and it fits with our mission and how we see ourselves. UConn-Stamford business students accounted for many of the conference attendees. Going to things like this is invaluable for our early careers, said Laura Spelling, who works in financial services and is pursuing an MBA. The conferences speaker list showed the pull of university-sponsored programs in the city for corporate leaders. Kathryn Friedrich, head of global monetization at YouTube, gave the keynote speech. Margaret Keane, CEO and president of the Stamford-based consumer financial-services company Synchrony Financial, delivered the conferences opening speech. I think these types of events really are so fruitful, Keane said in her speech. It actually gives a lot of courage to women in this room who are trying to build out their businesses and be entrepreneurs. Growth of the Stamford campus proves that the university belongs downtown, McGee said. UConn formerly based its Fairfield County center in North Stamford, before the university opened its downtown complex in 1998. Initially, UConn-Stamford was viewed as a feeder: You would start here and then move on to Storrs, McGee said. Thats changed over the last 25 years. Now you have four-year degree programs here that can attract a student body that will go to school here for four years. Room for growth UConn is moving ahead with some of its most ambitious projects to date in the city. The Stamford campus first residential hall, which would house about 300 students, is scheduled to open in time for the start of the 2017-18 academic year. University administrators and professors are also aiming to expand the reach of their local programming. The Xcite conference is set to return next year, said Noble, the events director. He wants to grow the attendance to more than 250 in 2017. We proved that the concept will work, Noble said. And now we have a year to see if we can really grow it here in Stamford. Tony Peters, a business adviser with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center based on the Stamford campus, also sees more opportunities to forge closer relations between the university and local business community. Among them, he is exploring how a program that gives local companies access to consulting services from graduate business students could serve as a model for a similar program involving undergraduate students. There are number of small business clients that want and need help with marketing efforts, Peters said. We can increase the UConn resources available to small business people. Ive been thoroughly impressed with the students. They have a great deal to offer. Given the campus importance to southwestern Connecticut, the university should consider further expanding its Stamford enrollment, McGee said. Its about talent, all about attracting talent and having access to talent look at GE moving to Boston, McGee said. Talent tends to grow where there is a strong university presence. Theres huge potential for UConn in Fairfield County, and the university is moving in the right direction. But the velocity is not fast enough. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Stamford Police Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Stamford Police Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Stamford Police Show More Show Less 5 of 5 STAMFORD Three city residents have been accused of attacking and robbing a 23-year-old West Side man as he jogged to work last month. Jamique Gracie, 19 and Theron Brown, 18, both of High Street, and Rudi Gonzalez, 26, of Travis Avenue, have each been charged with single counts of second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. By India Today Web Desk: Remo D'Souza's Dance Plus 2 that premiered on July 2, finally came to an end today with a sparkling grand finale, that also had Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and Olympics Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik gracing the event, apart from judge Remo, host Raghav Juyal and the three mentors--Punit Pathak, Dharmesh Yelande and Shakti Mohan. And the most important part of today's episode was of course, the announcement of the final winner. Any guesses? If you have watched today's episode, you already know the name--Tanay Malhara, the 14-year-old teenager from Jalgaon Maharashtra, has won Dance Plus 2! He took home the prize money of Rs 25 lakh and the very special Dance Plus 2 trophy. Tanay had earlier participated in DID L'il Masters Season 2. The teenage genius impressed everyone with his flexible dance moves from the very first day. advertisement See pics: Dance Plus 2 grand finale pics: Ranbir Kapoor, Sakshi Malik and all the best moments The winner was chosen through viewers' vote from the final four contestants. Telephone lines were open for two hours from 8pm to 10pm on Saturday. The grand finale was graced by Ranbir Kapoor--who made the episode even more memorable with his dance performance--and Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, and they were left impressed with the dancing talent on the show. Also read: Dance Plus 2: When little Tanay melted Remo D'Souza's heart to make it to Top 8 Sakshi told Remo that after seeing his performance she felt so charged up that she felt like doing her training. The wrestler also pressed the red button to give Remo a plus. The ace choreographer was of course touched by her gesture and said that he's got a plus for the first time in the history of Dance Plus. In Saturday's episode, all the four finalists were seen putting their best foot forward. Piyush Bhagat, who performs in ghetto style delivered a powerful performance and wowed all the judges. He was also praised for the drastic improvement in his personality over the time on the show, since he first performed on the stage. Wild Ripperz Group from Nepal, who perform in Hip hop and B-boying style also put up a splendid performance. The group got the biggest surprise of their life, when after getting compliments from judges, their mothers turned up on stage to give them Double Plus. The emotional reunion had everyone in tears. Sushant Khatri from Nepal charmed everyone yet again with his performance. One of the highlights of the Saturday episode was Sushant and Piyush's dance off. Remo was visibly overwhelmed with their performance together. Last but not the least, Tanay, who performs in contemporary style bowled over everyone with his thoughtful performance. Not a single person was left unimpressed with his power-packed performance. Dance Plus 2 was judged by Remo D'souza and hosted by Raghav Juyal. Choreographers Punit Pathak, Dharmesh Yelande and Shakti Mohan were the mentors. The show that wrapped up today with the grand finale aired on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm on Colors. advertisement Congratulations Tanay! Bye bye, Dance Plus till we meet again, next year. --- ENDS --- T wo south London brothers have been jailed after they stabbed and robbed an elderly man as he washed his car in a despicable attack. Bobby Baker, 27, and Darren Dean Baker, 21, were jailed for a total of eleven years after attacking the 79-year-old as he stood in his driveway outside his house in Thornton Heath. The two Bakers and a third man, one of whom was armed with a knife, approached the pensioner and assaulted him, punching him and knocking him to the floor. He was left with stab injuries to his hand. The robbers fled from the scene on foot, making off with the elderly victims phone, wallet and watch. An ambulance was called and the victim was rushed to hospital. Detective Constable Emma Crowley, from Croydon CID, said: "This was a despicable crime against an elderly victim who was just going about his usual business at his home address. "I am happy all three men involved in the robbery have now been brought to justice. "I hope that these convictions and sentences act as a deterrent to others and shows that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit robbery, arrest them and put them before the courts to answer for their crimes." Bobby Baker was jailed for six years and Darren Dean Baker for five years following the robbery in September last year. The two men, both of Norbury Avenue, Thornton Heath, were found guilty of robbery at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, September 16. The third man involved was sentenced to four years imprisonment on October 7 last year after pleading guilty to robbery. A heroic London ambulance worker came to the rescue of a woman being mugged by two men on a moped after hearing her screams. The medical technician intercepted the two men and scared them away as they tried to snatch her phone and purse. Sandy Gibb was on a coffee break when he heard a woman screaming in a car parked at a petrol station. He ran over and jumped out at the two thieves and grabbed their moped from under them before they fled the scene. Mr Gibb said: I jumped out and one of the men ran away. I grabbed the moped and the other man came off. Attempted mugging: The incident happened at a petrol station on Swandon Way He dropped the phone and purse and I rushed over to seize the keys from the bike. He also then ran off. The incident at the petrol station in Swandon Way, left Mr Gibb with a sprained arm but he said it was instinct that made him act. I couldnt stand back, my instinct took over. I know I needed to help her and I would do the same again, he said. Assistant Director of Operations Graham Norton said: I commend Sandy for his courage. Our staff are incredibly caring and compassionate and Sandys actions show how brave they are as well. They go above and beyond for Londoners every day. The victim bought Sandy a big box of chocolates to say thank you. The incident, on Friday evening, comes after a spate of moped-enabled thefts and muggings in the capital. In response to the rising number of thefts, City of London police and the Met have launched Operation Attrition, a joint enforcement and engagement approach aimed at tackling bike and moped thefts in London. Any witnesses or anyone with any information that can assist police should call 101. To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org. A man was rushed to hospital last night after he was stabbed in south east London. The 45-year-old suffered stab injuries in the knife attack which happened at around 7.40pm in Eltham, near Greenwich. The Met Police said they received several calls reporting the attack at Middle Park Avenue. This morning a police spokesman said the man's injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing. The London Ambulance Service were also called to the scene. A funding drive to help repatriate the body of a Czech businessman killed after a row in a London chicken shop reached its 10,000 target today. Well-wishers have donated thousands of pounds to the fund set up in memory of Zdenek Makar, 31, who was pronounced dead in the street near All Saints DLR station in Poplar on Wednesday night. The online page set up by his friends to support his family and raise funds to return his body home has been flooded with tribute donations and smashed its target in just 24 hours. His housemate, Roman Blazovic, told the Standard that the amount raised is testimony to the amount of friends Mr Makar had. He said: 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. Killed: Zdenek Makar died after he was attacked on Wednesday He text his girlfriend saying he was going to get chicken on the way home and then this. We are very shocked." Several other friends posted heart felt messages to the page alongside their donations. Wendy Botarde said: He was a great man with big dreams and big heart. He deserved to live his life and wanted to more than anything. 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. Businessman: Zdenek Makar worked in London / Met Police 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 received almost 500 donations. Target: The funding drive has raised more than 10,000 / GoFundMe Police believe Makar 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. The stricken Czech national, who lived nearby, was found by a passing cyclist who gave him CPR in a failed attempt to save the mans life. A post-mortem examination on Friday revealed he died from head injuries and Mr Makar's next of kin has been informed. Two men, aged 19 and 29, and the 16-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to east London police stations for questioning. By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Delhi governments, Chunauti 2018, has entered a new phase this week as the entire school machinery geared up to meet 100 percent Ability to Read target set by deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. A baseline assessment done as part of Delhi governments education reforms had shown that 74 per cent students in Class 6 could not read their own textbooks. advertisement On the occassion of Teachers Day on September 5, Sisodia who also holds education portfolia, had administered a pledge to teachers that all children studying in Class 6 to 8 should be able to read by Childrens Day, November 14. "The government has constantly worked on improving infrastructure and teaching conditions in government schools of Delhi. Improving learning levels of children is also a priority for our Government. The 100 per cent Ability to Read initiative will go a long way in helping children learn better and faster in schools," Sisodia said. Chunauti 2018--is a plan to provide special support to children who are not able to read their textbook. Students from the "Nishtha" level, who have till now achieved reading skills and basic mathematical abilities will be now transitioned to their grade appropriate syllabus over the remaining academic year. Those students who are still non-readers will be given special support and attention to ensure that by November 14, they acquire the ability to read with comprehension. Under the campaign, one hour a day is being set aside for reading based activities, and a special teacher has been assigned for every set of 30 non-readers to provide them with extra support. The Directorate of Education is monitoring the progress of children through such activities. Each Saturday, the teacher has to conduct a review of the class reading levels using assessment tools designed by SCERT. Regional Directors of Education also holding weekly review meetings, along with the Deputy Directors of Education, Heads of Schools and Mentor Teachers, to monitor the progress of the "Every Child Can Read" campaign. School Management Committees (SMCs) of some schools will be organising Reading Melas where local children will come with their parents and participate in fun reading activities in a community area. PTI BUN MNL SMJ --- ENDS --- A 29-year-old man was today charged with the murder of a London businessman who was allegedly killed after a row at a chicken shop. Raymond Sculley, of Sherman House, is accused of killing Zdenek Makar, 31, who died after he was attacked in the street in Poplar, east London. Mr Makar, a Czech national, was pronounced dead at the scene near to All Saints DLR station, late on Wednesday. Sculley is set to appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Monday. Two others arrested on Friday a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been released on bail pending further enquiries. Both are due to return to an east London police station on dates in early October. Mr Makar had enjoyed an evening at the pub and stopped off at the Perfect Fried Chicken shop in East India Dock Road on his way home before he was killed. Close friends have paid tribute to him as a great man with a big dreams and a big heart. A funding page to help repatriate his body has raised more than 12,000 in just 24 hours. H undreds of activists dressed as mermaids flooded the British Museum today for an environmental protest. Police assisted with the theatrical splashmob protest, which featured performers in costume and a giant sea monster. Campaigners launched the demonstration at 2pm to call on the museum to drop oil giant BPs sponsorship of its exhibition, Sunken Cities. Pictures of the crowd of protesters inside the museums Great Court emerged on social media. One activist Sophie McNab tweeted: Anti-BP #splashmob is huge! We are an ocean, here to wash #BP out of our culture, out of our @britishmuseum #sunkencities. Campaigner Danny Chivers, who took part in the protest, said: A Sunken Cities exhibition sponsored by BP is almost beyond parody. He added: By letting BP sponsor the sunken cities of the past, the British Museum is helping to create the sunken cities of the all-too-near future. A British Museum spokeswoman said: We respect other peoples right to express their views and allow peaceful protest onsite at the Museum as long as there is no risk to the Museums collection or visitors." Activists from environment campaign group Greenpeace sparked a mass evacuation of the museum in May after scaling the columns outside to protest against the same issue. The group climbed the pillars and decorated them with banners in a bid to urge the museum to abandon its BP sponsorship deal. P olice are searching for the family of an 82-year-old Londoner who is fighting for his life in hospital after he was hit by a car. Alan Gerald Thomas, from Edgware, north London, was out walking in Tout Hill, Dorset when he was struck by a blue Toyota. Emergency services raced to the scene outside Monkey World at about 3.45pm on Friday. He was rushed to Southampton Hospital in a life-threatening condition where he remains. Officers are desperately searching for Mr Thomas's next of kin to inform them of what has happened to him. Police Sergeant Fern Graham said: "We have made a number of enquiries to find Mr Thomas's next of kin but have so far been unsuccessful. "We believe he has a sister but he has not been in contact with her for some time and we don't know where she lives. "I am hoping that by releasing Alan's photo that someone may be able to give us some information about his next of kin." Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 23:305 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111. P rince Charles has paid tribute to police officers killed in the line of duty in a memorial service at St Pauls Cathedral. The National Police Memorial Day service, commemorating those who have served in the UK, was attended by 2,000 people, including relatives, colleagues and dignitaries. The Prince of Wales led the service and spoke of the importance of police when amid security challenges of today. Family members who lost loved ones offered prayers and lit candles in their honour, and the names of those who have died in the past year were read aloud to the congregation. St Paul's: Police officers stand to attention outside the service to commemorate National Police Memorial Day / PA Charles, who is patron of National Police Memorial Day, paid tribute to those he said had "paid the ultimate sacrifice while safeguarding our families, our communities and our liberty". In the order of service he wrote: "For many of us, the security challenges of today further underscore the importance of the Police and their ongoing commitment to protecting us all, despite the inevitable risks that they face on a daily basis." Memorial service: A flypast takes place over St Paul's Cathedral / PA Among those to be specially remembered was Pc Dave Phillips who was knocked down and killed by a teenage car thief in October last year. His eight-year-old daughter Abigail lit a candle to remember the 34-year-old who died after he set down a tyre-puncturing stinger device in a bid to stop a stolen vehicle during a police pursuit in Wallasey, Merseyside. Memorial day: Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, top right, attended the service / EPA Relatives of other officers killed in the line of duty represented Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as they too lit candles, while prayers were offered by family members including Paul Bone, father of Constable Fiona Bone, who was murdered by one-eyed gangster Dale Cregan four years ago. Inspector Joe Holness, QPM, founder of National Police Memorial Day, said: "This is a proud day that means so much to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. "National Police Memorial Day unites the country in national recognition of officers who have given us their all. It is a significant day of remembrance to ensure our fallen officers must not, and will not, be forgotten." S adiq Khan today vowed to protect London's historic buildings from developers with new planning rules. The Mayor said he is planning regulations which mean developers building flats near existing venues will be responsible for soundproofing sites. It comes after more than 25,000 people signed a petition to save Mayfair's historic Curzon cinema, regularly used for film premieres, from being shut down over a noise dispute. Developers 38 Curzon ltd, who are converting office space above the cinema into luxury flats, have complained of noise from films shown there. Sadiq Khan: The first 100 days They, and the owners of the building, Vevil International, say they want the cinema to stay in its current location but insist it is in breach of the terms of its lease and must remedy matters to deal with the noise affecting other parts of the building. The Curzon says soundproofing work would cost 500,000, which it cannot afford and would never obtain approval for as the auditorium and surrounding walls are listed, according to director of cinema development Rob Kenny. Rules plan: Mayor Sadiq Khan / Alex Lentati The deadlock has resulted in a legal action for forfeiture, meaning the cinema faces surrendering its lease and vacating the building. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: I intend to protect venues like the Curzon Mayfair by introducing an Agent of Change rule into the next London Plan. The first 100 days: Sadiq on progress and challenges so far That would mean developers building flats near existing venues will need to ensure that residents are not unduly affected by sound from the venue, and that may include paying for soundproofing. Im very pleased to hear that Westminster Council included this principle when the planning application was first submitted in 2013, and are taking the necessary steps to protect a cinema which makes a significant contribution to the character of the area and is a real cultural gem. Curzons CEO Philip Knatchbull has appointed a London law firm to fight the eviction but still expects the dispute to reach court. The petition, which calls on Mr Khan to take action, has been shared widely on social media, with local residents, film industry leaders and magazines all giving it their backing. Left-wing film director Ken Loach and UKIP's London mayoral candidate Peter Whittle have both called for the developers to back down. The petitions founder Pancho Lewis, of the West End Labour Action Team, told the Standard: It is clear this attack is merely the latest in an onslaught on arts and culture in the West End and London. Too many developers are all too willing to close down much loved cultural venues to make a quick buck. As the Curzon CEO put it, it may sound dramatic but this is a story of David and Goliath - with communities pitted against wealthy developers who frankly show no qualms with acting as total bullies. A 38 Curzon Ltd spokesperson said: The discussions between Curzon, leaseholders throughout the building and the landlord have been ongoing for a year. There are a number of complex negotiations taking place as a result of the lease that Curzon has with the landlord, who is absolutely committed to protecting a cinema and the listed screen. "We do need the operator, Curzon, to communicate with both the leaseholders and landlord. There are a number of outstanding complaints from a number of leaseholders, including existing residents on the third floor, and health and safety issues, and a remedy for volume and vibrations needs to be found. "Up until now Curzon have simply refused to address the problems which are their responsibility. No changes to the fabric of the cinema have been suggested and no investment has been demanded. Indeed, we have no idea where the earlier reported figure of 500,000 has come from." * An earlier version of this article did not specify that the 500,000 cost of soundproofing work was an estimate supplied by the Curzon Cinema. Vevil International and 38 Curzon Ltd say they have not demanded any investment by the cinema. 11/10/16 B oris Johnson dodged the question of whether he has forgiven former ally Michael Gove for "knifing" him in the wake of the Brexit referendum. Appearing on the BBCs Andrew Marr show this morning, the foreign secretary avoided Marr's question asking whether the pair had since spoken. Former justice secretary Mr Gove caused shockwaves when he announced his surprise bid for the Tory leadership in June, ending Mr Johnson's own hopes for the PM job. Mr Gove then issued a "savage" statement denouncing Mr Johnson as incapable of becoming Prime Minister because he lacked the leadership skills required. In an interview with Mr Johnson aired on BBCs Andrew Marr show today, the broadcaster asked Mr Johnson: "During the summer your reputation was brutally and publicly assassinated by Michael Gove. "Have you had a conversation with him since and have you forgiven him for that?" But Mr Johnson replied: Im very happy to be doing the job Im doing and I think what people want us to do is get on and deliver the agenda that Theresa May and the government have. Mr Marr interrupted him and said: Not my question. But Mr Johnson continued: I think people are, if I may say so, probably more interested in the tragic plight of people in Aleppo than in the microcosmographia of Tory party infighting." The interviewer also challenged the politician on whether ambition still burns in the Johnson breast for the top job of PM. But Mr Johnson replied: The ambition that burns in the whole government is to get on and deliver for the people of this country." Speaking about Brexit, the foreign secretary also warned the government cannot allow the process of opening formal negotiations for Britain to leave the EU to drag on. He said there was a "lot of work" to be done before ministers were ready to invoke Article 50 of the EU treaties But he indicated that he would like to see the negotiations - which can take up to two years - wrapped up before the next set of elections to the European Parliament in May 2019. He refused to repeat his claim made last week that the government would trigger Article 50 in the early part of 2017 after Downing Street pointedly refused to endorse it. E xcavation work will begin on the Greek island of Kos on Monday as part of the investigation into the disappearance of missing toddler Ben Needham. Bens mother, Kerry Needham, has been told to prepare for the worst as the dig begins in the search for the 21-month-olds remains. South Yorkshire Police suspect the toddler may have died in an accident 25 years ago and are following a new line of inquiry. It suggests Ben may have been crushed to death by a digger near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating in July 1991. Digger driver Konstantinos Barkas, also known as Dino, was clearing land with an excavator close to where Ben was playing on the day he vanished and may be responsible for his death, a friend of the builder has reportedly told police. The driver reportedly died of stomach cancer last year, months before detectives from South Yorkshire Police arrived on the island for a renewed investigation. But Mr Barkas's widow Varvara strongly dismissed any suggestions her late husband had killed Ben in an accident. A variety of theories on his fate and reported sightings have arisen since his disappearance and Ms Needham had been holding out hope that she would one day be reunited with her son. South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that its team, led by Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, will begin searching a specific site on Kos, starting on Monday. But they warned progress could be painstaking, with the first dig expected to last up to 12 days. Detectives are said to have carried out initial inquiries at the site, with experts testing soil and surveying the area with drones. Last week, Mr Fenwick said: "There will be planned operational activity at two locations on the island that have been identified as areas of interest to the investigation. "We continue to keep an open mind and have updated Ben's family about certain lines of inquiry we're currently exploring." Earlier this year, South Yorkshire Police received extra funding from the Home Office to help in the search for Ben. Ms Needham has been forthright in her support of Mr Fenwick's investigation. In May, she jumped to the defence of the investigation team when they were pictured on the front page of a national newspaper drinking in the sunshine during a visit to Kos. Mr Fenwick was called back from the island but a lawyer for Ms Needham wrote to the chief constable saying: "Ms Needham trusts the officers involved, believes they are working to the highest standards operationally and professionally and wishes there to be no disruption." T he new royal family - William, Kate, George and Charlotte - stepped off the plane together as they arrived in Canada for their official tour. Prince George, wearing navy shorts, held his dads hands as he walked down the steps while his little sister was carried by their mum. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a blue Jenny Packham suit with the Queens Diamond Maple Leaf brooch, which she also wore for the visit in 2011, and a matching hat by Lock & Co. Her outfit picked up the maple leaf detailing just as a similar red one did five years ago. Hold tight: the Duchess of Cambridge carries Princess Charlotte as they arrive in Victoria, Canada / PA WIRE The welcome party waiting on the tarmac included Canadian Prime Minister and wife Sophie, Governor General David Johnston and wife Sharon, British Columbia premier Christy Clark and her son Hamish and Judith Guichon. As the royals got to the bottom both children waved with Charlotte appearing to wave in the direction of the plane and George, three, appearing more interested in the Sea King landing behind but managing a wave for the assembled journalists. He also gave a little yawn. Confident: Prince George holds on to his father's hand / PA WIRE At one point Charlotte cuddled into her mum as Kate stroked her back before bending down to talk to George. George and Charlotte are rarely pictured, so the fact they are on tour is sure to create plenty of interest. Their parents went to Victoria's parliament where thousands of Canadians were waiting for them. Relaxed: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an official welcome ceremony at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia / PA WIRE The two children were dropped off at Government House to be cared for by their nanny. They will not be travelling around with their parents. This is Princess Charlotte's first official royal visit. Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Canada with their children 1 /12 Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Canada with their children Arrival: the Royal Family touch down in Canada PA WIRE Hold tight: the Duchess of Cambridge carries Princess Charlotte as they arrive in Victoria, Canada PA WIRE Confident: Prince George holds on to his father's hand PA WIRE Relaxed: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an official welcome ceremony at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia PA WIRE The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at an official welcome ceremony during the first day of their Royal Tour in Canada PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet well-wishers PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph during an official welcome ceremony PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau PA Arrival: the Royal Family touch down in Canada Canada, a realm, is part of the Commonwealth of which the Queen Elizabeth is head of state. On their eight-day visit they will have about 30 official engagements, in which they will pay tribute to veterans of the Afghanistan conflict, visit pregnant women struggling with addiction, and meet First Nations communities, as well as Canada's prime minister and his family. A new poll from Forum Research Inc. shows the favourite royal for Canadians is the Duke of Cambridge, who touches down in Victoria on Saturday for a tour of B.C. and the Yukon with the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and their cherubic kids. The poll found Prince William is the most admired member of the Royal Family the Queen wasnt offered as a choice while nearly 40 per cent of respondents said theyd like to see him take the throne as the next King of Canada. A man suspected of shooting five people dead at a US shopping centre has been arrested. Arcan Celtin, 20, is being held by police after four women and a man were killed in the rampage inside a Macys department store near Seattle. Police hunted for the suspected gunman for over 20 hours after reports of rifle shots fired at the Cascade Mall in Burlington on Friday. The arrest of suspect Celtin comes as one of the victims is named as 16-year-old cancer survivor Sarai Lara. Fatal shooting: Police at the scene outside the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington / AP Her mother Evangelina Lara said her daughter was a happy student, according to The Seattle Times. Ms Lara said she was shopping at mall with Sarai and her younger sister, but they split up, with Sarai going to Macy's looking for trousers. News of the shooting spread through the mall and Ms Lara tried to find her daughter but was unable to do so. Four women were killed in the shooting / AP It was confirmed at 2am on Saturday that Sarai was among the five people killed. Following the shooting, authorities said they found a rifle at the scene before capturing Cetin, of Oak Harbour in Washington. He is being held in custody. Officials: 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. / AP The motive for the shooting at the mall, about 60 miles north of Seattle, was unknown. The FBI was assisting local authorities, but said there was no evidence pointing to terrorism. Dozens of people attended a prayer service for the victims on Saturday night at Central United Methodist Church in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. The Rev Cody Natland lit five candles on a table in front of the church, one for each victim. P ub giant Wethespoons is to scrap its traditional Christmas dinners this year, it has been reported. The overhaul will see turkey and trimmings taken off the menu and replaced with dishes including the yuletide beef burger, turkey pie abd vegetarian Wellington. The controversial news comes just months after the pub chain decided to axe its roast dinners from its menu. Customers have expressed outrage at the Christmas plan, which will affect diners across the companys 950 restaurants in the UK and Ireland. The Christmas buffet for work parties will still be available but will include options like turkey salad wraps or turkey and bacon paninis. Wetherspoons will not be serving a 'traditional dinner' in its pubs, 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 people took to social media to complain at the company's decision. James Belshaw said on Twitter: Wetherspoons ditching its Christmas dinner???? That means Ive got to think of six other dinner choices for December 2016. Kenny Jaymes said: "What the hell are Wetherspoons playing at? This is frankly insulting. Photos of the Wetherspoons dinner taken on Christmas dinner last year show the traditional turkey with roast and mashed potatoes, yorkshire puddings, peas, brussel sprouts, carrots and cranberry sauce. For others on social media, there was no love lost. Colin Hardinge said on Twitter: In my opinion, theres one day to have Christmas dinner, ideally at home, cooked by Mrs H. Most bought ones are poor. Robert Allan Jones said: Wetherspoons no longer doing Christmas dinner. Good. I'm glad they realise most of us want to eat 'other' food rather than a roast 4 xmas. Delhi Police arrested four persons in connection with the armed robbery in Kalyanpuri of Delhi. By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police arrested four dacoits involved in the shooting incident in Kalyanpuri locality. The accused had robbed a shop and fired several rounds injuring four persons. The police have recovered two firearms and recovered few live and used cartridges and a motorbike used by the accused. The arrests have also solved the recent incident of robberies in New Ashok Nagar and Parivar Park by unidentified armed man. advertisement According to the police, all the criminals were involved in similar cases in the past. Sources said that the conspiracy was hatched by the accused in Bhondsi jail. September 18, an incident of robbery and firing took place in Kalyanpuri where six armed robbers robbed two shops on gun point near Khichripur. The robbers opened fire after the locals intervened. The four accused were arrested after the police received a tip off regarding their whereabouts in Sector 12 of Noida. Following the information, the police conducted a raid and arrested the accused. While two were arrested from the spot, two others were arrested from Chaura village. Also read: Policemen turn robbers, loot Rs 3.5 crore hawala money in Coimbatore Gold bar robbery case accused re-arrested in another case --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Following Senator Ted Cruz's endorsement of Donald Trump for the United States presidency, the latter thanked his main rival in the Republican Party's primaries for the "wonderful surprise". Trump, the US Republican Party's presidential candidate, took to Twitter on Saturday to thank his 'foe-turned friend' for the support. "The @SenTedCruz endorsement was a wonderful surprise. I greatly appreciate his support! We will have a tremendous victory on November 8th," Trump tweeted. advertisement A TIMELY MOVE Cruz's endorsement is a complete turnaround from his earlier stand and once again shows that in politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends. The two were locked in a bitter rivalry since the past few months with the Senator even refusing to back Trump during his speech at the Republican National Convention in July. ALSO READ: Trump says Black Lives Matter protesters were under influence of drugs Cruz made the surprise announcement on Friday that he intends to cast his vote for Donald Trump after refusing to lend him his support until now. This comes just days before the crucial first presidential debate between Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Trump on September 27. ALSO READ: Trump is totally unfit and unqualified to be US President: Clinton "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," the Texas senator announced on Facebook on Friday. WILL IT HELP? Cruz's support is important for the business tycoon as the senator has a solid base of ultra-conservatives who instinctively distrust a presidential candidate in his third marriage and who in the past has been ambiguous about his stand on abortion. However, it remains to be seen if Cruz's supporters, many of whom criticized the senator for backing Trump, will eventually vote for Trump. ALSO READ: In war over wives, Ted Cruz calls Donald Trump a snivelling coward --- ENDS --- Through a powerful poem, Shamir Reuben sheds light on the psyche of those people who choose not to share their problems with others and this poem, will shake you and move you to tears. By India Today Web Desk: 'Life is a bed of roses', someone rightly said. For some people, the thorns are harder, sharper and wound them for a lifetime. What helps humans heal is the ability to communicate, sometimes through spoken words, sometimes through the silence. But there are some who choose not to share their problems, and in the long run, with this habit, they tend to consider their sorrow, their pain, both physical and psychological, as a very 'subjective entity when you put the grievances of their loved ones before their own'. advertisement Shamir Reuben's poem titled 'Everything is fine' begins with him narrating how a friend was deeply hurt by the fact that he doesn't share anything with her, and constantly trying to push her into believing that 'everything is fine'. She is saddened and upset about him lying to her that he is okay, leaving her behind in that friendship worrying what's bothering him. He then tells us the reason behind his silence, the reason behind him keeping everything to himself, putting up a mask with a smile and saying 'everything is fine'. Watch the poem here: This slam poetry performance was uploaded by Kommune, a collective that 'seeds, funds and nurtures creative performance art ideas', on their YouTube channel. --- ENDS --- Nebraska Game and Parks officials had barely finished creating a deep pool on a private portion of Long Pine Creek when the trout moved in, eager for a place to rest away from the surging current. Thats good news for fishermen and members of the stream team who did the work. Now theyre gearing up for a similar project on another part of the creek at Pine Glen Wildlife Management Area, using what they learned from their first endeavor. We want to make them angler friendly, so theyre easy to fish, said Jeff Schuckman, the northeast district fisheries manager. A lot of streams dont have deep pool habitat. Those projects on Long Pine Creek and similar work on the Snake River are the first since Game and Parks recently released its Cool Water Stream Management Plan for 2016 to 2020. Its a comprehensive plan that addresses the needs of not just trout, but other species such as the endangered minnows that share those streams. In the opening statement of the 120-page report, it states: The purpose of the Cool Water Stream Management Plan is to identify goals for stewardship of cool-water stream resources in Nebraska, and to develop specific, attainable and measurable action items for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff to implement to achieve the vision. Work is being financed by a three-year, $300,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Members from all sections of Game and Parks and multiple partner agencies made up the committee that produced the plan, which inventoried streams in the state, the fish and flora that live in and around them, including at-risk species, trout information and threats to the streams, such as climate change. It also includes what Schuckman calls a cookbook list of how to correct any problems that have been found. Technical things like log and rock vane and rock vortex structures. Cool-water streams make up about 28 percent of Nebraskas 16,000 miles of flowing water. Most are located in the northern half of the state. Its definitely a unique resource, not one you typically think of in Nebraska, said Alicia Hardin, the assistant division administrator in the wildlife division. They are beautiful. Its all about keeping them beautiful and healthy. Two stream teams, headed by Schuckman and Scott Wessel in the northeast and longtime stream veteran Al Hanson and Matt Steffl in the northwest, will tackle projects large and small, on both private and public land. First, theyll assess what needs to be done and then recommend a course of action. Grant money will help private owners finance the required work. On Long Pine Creek, the premier trout stream in the state, work involved lots of heavy equipment and 400- to 600-pound boulders that deepened the pool from 2.5 feet to 5 to 6 feet, creating a resting habitat for trout. Schuckman said the landowner was pleased with the work. He was thrilled that it withstood recent heavy rainfall with minimal damage. Now theyre in the process of getting permits and identifying what needs to be done in the Pine Glen area, with that work likely starting in the spring. Well take what we learned on the first one and make it a good angling experience for the public, he said. While his stream team picked a big project to start on, Schuckman said others could take just a few days or require minimal effort. The goal is to help as many as possible in the next few years, with the teams learning what works best as they move from job to job. There is still a learning curve. This whole plan is in its infancy, Schuckman said. Each stream will have its own set of criteria we need to look at. By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 25 (PTI) Filling up of vacant faculty positions, improving quality of research and enhancing student-centric measures are among the issues to be discussed during Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekars meeting with the vice chancellors of central universities next month. Apart from these, the agenda of Javadekars first comprehensive meeting with VCs of around 40 central universities, scheduled on October 6 in Varanasi, includes strengthening internal resource generation of these varsities. advertisement "The number of vacancies in central universities is quite large and that is one of the top items on the agenda as it is directly linked to improving the quality of education, which is the governments priority area," a senior official told PTI. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry had last December told Parliament that 1,310 posts of professors were vacant in various central universities. While the ministry is keen on filling the vacancies, the numbers are still quite substantial, the official said, adding that filling up key positions like those of registrars, finance officers and controllers of examination would also be discussed during the meeting. Several student-centric measures, including checking the status of setting up of complaints committee on gender-based complaints, setting up of SC/ST cells, equal opportunity cells will also figure during the meet to be held at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Another area, which is high on the priority during the conference is generation of greater resources for the universities besides government aid. "While the universities get central assistance, they can raise additional funds through consultancy work. Various ideas will be generated," the official said. Discussions will also be held focusing on improvement in research works. Among measures that would be looked at include setting up of start up or incubation centres and industry academia link in research. 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To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. To report a broken link or other problems with the website, please include the URL. Thank you for visiting state.gov. Mooresville High's Class of 1966 met for its 50th anniversary on Sept. 17. Our class had several mini-reunions before this and Judy - also MHS Class of 1966 -- and I had attended several of these. Leon Cash said it took only one question from Dr. Ronald Adams to get his attention. He asked (if) I want to see my grandchildren grow up, Cash said. The question made Cash, an air conditioning and refrigeration repairman, get serious about controlling his Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Cash already tried the traditional route, taking metformin and trying, sometimes unsuccessfully, to watch what he ate. Adams offered a totally new approach. Instead of medication, Adams told Cash exactly what he needed to do, from supplying a shopping list to explaining in detail what diabetes was doing to Cashs overall health. The approach worked, Cash said. In three months, he dropped his blood sugar averages from around 150 to the 95 range and his overall sugar, called A1C, went from 7.9 two years ago to an average of 5.5 today. And within a few months, he dropped from 263 pounds to 219. Cash said he was surprised by his own reaction to the new regime. I never got hungry. I never went without food. I ate six times a day, he said. Even though his weight crept back up, thanks to an affinity for Milky Way candy bars, he quickly got back on the program. He dropped the weight again and has finally sworn off the chocolate. Now Cash said he feels and acts younger. Cash found Adams and his different approach to treating diabetes through a friend, who went to Adams for a different problem. She told me about how he helped her and that she had good results, he said. Cash said Adams' down-to-earth approach and explanations of how to fix his medical issues was something he could understand. Im a fixer by trade so I want to understand whats going on, he said. The new food regime was something his wife, Sarah, also adopted. Although not facing diabetes or hypertension, Sarah Cash has a family history of arthritis and resigned herself to dealing with the disease herself, Leon Cash said. By following Adams recommendation, he said, his wife eased her arthritis symptoms and lost 30 pounds. She got back into her wedding dress, he said. Adams said the key to his practice of functional medicine is to treat the person, learning what triggers the issues and treating that problem instead of looking at symptoms only. Adams said his interest in medicine began as a child when he experienced an unexplained illness. He was losing weight, suffering from migraines and other ailments. His parents took him to doctor after doctor in search of an answer. His grandfather finally took him to a chiropractor who was practicing an early form of functional medicine. After a head-to-toe exam and a complete series of blood work, a nutritional deficiency was identified and within a few weeks he was gaining weight and the other symptoms either disappeared or were mitigated, he said. After high school and a stint in the Air Force, Adams decided to go to medical school and ultimately became a chiropractor. His interest in functional medicine began when he was treating a patient with a variety of health issues, including diabetes. By adopting the more non-traditional approach his chiropractor did many years before, the patient lost weight and within a few months was no longer suffering from health issues, Adams said. Adams went back to school and graduated from the American Functional Neurology Institute in 2012 and the Carrick Institute in 2013. Like Cash, he said, he has a love of fixing things, first as an airplane mechanic in the Air Force, and now as a doctor. Its my passion, he said. 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The central force has also deployed about 60 boats and teams of paramedics to help those stranded after the heavy rainfall in the last few days in these areas. advertisement "Nine flood rescue teams comprising 309 rescuers and equipped with 32 inflatable rubber boats and communication equipment have been pre-positioned at various rain-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh. "While three teams are pre-positioned at Peduguralu, Narsarapet and Amravati areas of Guntur district, one team each is pre-positioned at Hyderabad and Vizag and two teams each are pre-positioned at Srikakulam and Nellore districts," the National Disaster Response Force said in a statement. Similarly, it said, five flood rescue teams comprising 158 rescuers and 16 boats have been deployed at various flood prone areas of Telangana. "One team each is pre-positioned at Medak and Nizamabad and three teams are pre-positioned at Hyderabad," the NDRF said. In Karnataka, three teams comprising 84 rescuers have been deployed in Bidar, Kalaburagi and Bengaluru districts. "In addition to these, 17 flood rescue teams are also pre-positioned across other states for quick response to flood-like situations. "NDRF teams are in touch with local administration and monitoring the situation round the clock," it said. PTI NES IKA RT IKA TRK --- ENDS --- A large Illinois levee district north of St. Louis accused of building its Mississippi River levees too high has until next month to give the state a plan to mitigate flood impacts on its neighbors. The action from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is the latest from government agencies who say the Sny Island Levee and Drainage District hasnt complied with state and federal rules meant to manage flooding and levee districts along the river. The Sny stretches from Quincy to Belleview in Illinois. For years, officials with the politically and financially powerful agricultural levee district have argued about levee heights with regulators who have struggled to enforce their rules. Residents across the river in Missouri worry the Sny is illegally pushing floodwater onto their communities, but Sny officials have denied they raised levees above authorized levels. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates the Sny could push an additional 2.5 feet of water onto some areas in the Missouri counties of Marion, Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles. According to an IDNR letter to Sny superintendent Mike Reed dated Aug. 23, the Sny Island Levee and Drainage Districts work to maintain its height after flooding in 2008 was done without a state permit. The department gave the levee district until Oct. 15 to submit a plan and a schedule to fix what it says are unauthorized levee modifications. Except for a permit issued in 1996, no work has been authorized on the Sny levees in recent years, the state letter says. Sny attorney Karin Jacoby of Husch Blackwell said in an email that the district is firm in our conviction the Sny acted in accordance with applicable regulations. The sharing of preliminary, inaccurate or incomplete information, particularly concerning impacts of the Sny on others, has generated much unnecessary confusion, Jacoby wrote. Its not just Illinois that has raised issues with the Snys management of its huge levee. The corps has said the Snys levees are built above authorized levels, something the Sny denies. River advocates worry the Sny isnt alone and that theres little enforcement or incentive for levee districts to follow the law. Its really, really shocking to us to see such blatant activities, by the Sny levee district in particular, to just ignore state and federal rules at the peril of the neighbors across the river in Missouri, said Olivia Dorothy, associate director of Mississippi River management at advocacy group American Rivers. While the corps has authorized the nearly 60-mile-long Sny District to maintain 50-year flood protection, the district has managed to win 100-year protection from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA accreditation means the farmers who own the fertile 115,000 acres of floodplain protected by the Sny levees dont have to buy flood insurance. Its not entirely clear how the Sny attained 100-year accreditation from FEMA despite being authorized for 50-year flood protection from the corps. FEMA representatives have said documentation the Sny submitted to them indicated it met the agencys standards, and the corps has said it assisted with engineering work despite not authorizing higher levee heights. The Sny just made the modifications without telling anybody, Dorothy said. Were not quite sure what broke down to allow that accreditation to happen, because they should have been required to provide to FEMA all necessary approvals for that accreditation. A FEMA representative didnt immediately return a call and email requesting comment. A corps spokesman said theres little the agency can do to enforce its rules beyond making the district ineligible for federal flood repair funds, an action it took last year. Our final authority would be to remove them from that program, corps spokesman Allen Marshall said. Mike Klingner, an engineer who does work for the Sny and is board president of a group representing flood control agencies in the region, said IDNR appears to have misplaced permitting documentation for the Sny work. Its quite clear they dont have all the information, he said. The Sny plans to present more information at a meeting with the state in October, Klingner said. Based on the information Illinois has now, it appears the Sny will have to mitigate its flood impact somehow, said Loren Wobig of IDNRs water resources office. It could purchase flood easements or engineer its levees so certain areas store water, which would allow the Sny to maintain levee height at other locations. Theres still options for them, Wobig said. The number of old people is steadily growing in the United States at the same time more Americans are gaining access to health insurance. Both trends are helping drive a need for physicians, and thats posing some challenges for policymakers. Currently, the only way to become a practicing doctor in the U.S. is to complete a residency program after medical school. The problem is that for the past two decades there has been a cap on the number of residents funded by Medicare, which is the primary source of payment for residents. That cap has limited the expansion of some residency programs, which play a significant role in ultimately shaping the medical workforce. Residents also are key to helping academic medical centers meet the need to treat the poor and uninsured. Health care experts fear that the system is nearing a point where the country will have more medical school graduates than available first-year residency slots, said Len Marquez, director of government relations for the Association of American Medical Colleges. Without additional federal funding, were not going to be able to continue to grow at the rate society needs us to grow, said Dr. Julie Gammack, associate dean for graduate medical education at St. Louis University. Executives at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the main teaching hospital of the BJC HealthCare system, say the caps are a big problem. Currently, Barnes-Jewish is funding 146 residents without any federal help. Its unlikely theyll be able to add residents or make further investments in programs without an additional source of funding, said Dr. John Lynch, chief medical officer at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. But its not just a problem for the hospitals, said Steve Lipstein, chief executive officer of BJC HealthCare. Missouri has some real challenges in terms of physician manpower, Lipstein said. Predominantly, the big trend that is worrisome is the aging of the physician workforce in key specialty areas. More physicians are nearing retirement at the same time an aging population is adding demands on the health care system. To address the problem, some health systems have turned to interesting ways to increase their lot of residents. In one local instance, a hospital recently inked a deal to effectively lease slots to another, larger academic medical center. Lawmakers also are getting involved. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., last week said she is adding her name to a bill that would increase Medicare-funded residency slots for hospitals. The bill, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, would add 3,000 new slots each year from 2017 to 2021, for a total of 15,000 new slots. Weve got to get more well-trained doctors into the workforce, in the specialties that need them most, and we cant do that without residency programs to train them, McCaskill said in a statement provided to the Post-Dispatch. Raising the caps on Medicare-backed residents means giving hospitals and health centers the tools to address looming shortages, lower wait times for patients, and harness a pipeline of qualified professionals to tackle serious public health emergencies like the growing opioid crisis. However, Marquez said the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has been introduced before and because it requires more funding it faces a gridlock in Congress. There are 105,341 residents training at hospitals across the country during the 2016-2017 school year, according to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Missouri has 2,288 residents, almost half of who train at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in partnership with Washington University and St. Louis Childrens Hospital. During the 1995-1996 school year, there were 98,035 residents, according to a previous report from Council on Graduate Medical Education. The caps reflect how much Medicare is willing to help financially. You can train as many doctors as you want, but Medicare will only support a certain number at your hospital, Marquez said. About 20 years ago, legislators decided to limit the number of residents Medicare helped subsidize to curb costs. And the number of residents a hospital was teaching at the end of 1996 is the cap that a teaching hospital is limited by today. Medicare is the largest source of funding for residents. That funding pays for the care provided and covers the salary and other overhead costs to teach residents. However, Medicare doesnt cover the entire cost to train new doctors; it just pays a portion. Its months and months before you can see a primary care physician and thats in the city; can you imagine in the rural areas? said Dr. Joan Shaffer, chairman of graduate medical education for Mercy St. Louis. Shaffer said Mercy already train 10 residents per year over the cap, meaning they receive no federal funding to train those 10 residents. Mercy would like to add more residents for primary care and more to start a palliative care training program. But thats not likely without more funding. Leasing residency slots Because of the long-standing caps there are some interesting ways area health systems have gone about increasing their lot. For example, St. Alexius and SSM Health renewed a deal this summer that industry experts say is somewhat rare compared with their peers around the country. St. Alexius has agreed to effectively lease its 74 residency slots to St. Louis University Hospital annually for $5.2 million for three years, according to St. Alexius Hospital CEO Michael Motte. While it allows for St. Louis University medical students more training opportunities, it provides a lifeline for St. Alexius. The hospital is able to invest in capital upgrades thanks to the funding from the deal. The hospital is currently replacing its roof and will soon upgrade the operating room. And those St. Alexius residency slots were actually inherited from Forest Park Hospital when the two merged to operate under the same license in 2010. Forest Park later closed. Now St. Alexius sees the slots as a way to generate additional revenue, and, in a sense, have turned them into a commodity. When the McKinley Bridge reopened in 2007 after being closed for six years due to its bad condition, high hopes abounded that it would spur an economic rejuvenation in long-struggling Venice and nearby cities. The bridge connects north St. Louis, about 10 minutes north of downtown, to the Madison County town of about 1,900 on the other side of the Mississippi River. The bridge was heralded in celebrations as a phoenix rising out of the ashes of the Rust Belt when it reopened. The then-mayor of Venice drove an open convertible across it on a cold December day to mark the occasion. A sculpture was built near the bridge called A Salute to Steel, with three interlocking rings representing Venice, Granite City and Madison. Officials were hopeful the bridge would bring new gas stations, restaurants and other businesses, and turn the rerouted Illinois Route 3 into a commercial corridor. Such a rebirth hasnt happened in Venice, but the span has benefited nearby Granite City. I knew it wasnt all hip, hip, hooray. I didnt see where it would make a tremendous impact on the town, said Venice Mayor Tyrone Echols. Since 2009, he has been mayor of the poor town that is predominantly African-American, his second time in the position, and said the sought-after economic development has fallen short of what was predicted. I didnt see how the golden goose they predicted would arrive, he said. In his town, it hasnt. One new gas station has been built in Venice in recent years, he said, and he doesnt think that had anything to do with the bridge reopening. Other businesses along Broadway, the towns main drag, are shuttered. A couple of taverns are open, as are scrap yards. A Chinese restaurant is expected to reopen soon. The closest grocery store is in Granite City. Drivers on Route 3 seldom stop in town, Echols said. Still, the city is collecting more sales tax dollars since traffic began crossing the McKinley again about $25,000 in the last fiscal year, up from the roughly $20,000 brought in following the bridges reopening, according to state figures. Thats not enough for some. Its sad. We dont have anything out of it, said Celestine Williams, a Venice alderman for about 20 years who had been optimistic that the bridge would spur development. She and Echols mourned the loss of jobs from when Venice owned the bridge and charged tolls. Now, the span where 17,500 vehicles cross each day belongs to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The agency did not have statistics on the economic impact of the bridge, nor did the states department of commerce. Messages left with the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority were not returned. And while Venice hasnt reaped the benefits of the bridge reopening, the nearby Americas Central Port in Granite City has. We would have loved to have seen the McKinley come back as a four-lane bridge. But getting the two lanes back that we did is huge, said Dennis Wilmsmeyer, the ports executive director. He attributes the reopening of the bridge to helping attract more than $350 million in investments on the port property, including $275 million by Abengoa Bioenergy for an ethanol plant. When the bridge was closed, it was difficult to market its warehouse space to potential tenants. Now that the bridge is open, the ports south entrance is just one mile from Interstate 70 a key selling point, Wilmsmeyer said. James Amos, Granite Citys economic development director, didnt have numbers to show the economic effect of the bridge, but echoed the importance of the McKinleys location. Its a direct impact in the sense that how we market ourselves in Granite City is that were so close to the industry on the north side of St. Louis and to downtown, Amos said. Composer John Adams has had a connection with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra from the time he conducted the orchestra in fall 1999. Since David Robertson became the SLSOs music director, that connection has become tight and multifaceted. Adams turns 70 in February, and orchestras and other classical music institutions are celebrating the occasion. In St. Louis, Robertson and Co. will perform four Adams works this season, starting next weekend with the Violin Concerto, performed by Leila Josefowicz. On Friday, the SLSOs recording of Adams Scheherazade.2, recorded last winter at Powell Hall, will be issued by Nonesuch. Josefowicz is the soloist; the Violin Concerto will eventually be paired with it. It makes for an impressive list of connections. We spoke with Adams about those ties. Q Lets start with talking about your bonds with Robertson and the SLSO and how theyve developed. A I conducted the orchestra back in the era of Hans Vonk, and I had a really wonderful time with them. I did a big piece of mine, Naive and Sentimental Music. I actually cant remember how I came to dedicate the Doctor Atomic Symphony to David. I knew about how fabulous things had become with the orchestra with his arrival. I remember (coming to) St. Louis to hear it. To that point, Id only heard that music coming out of the opera pit. Hearing that music, full-blown, played by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, really knocked me sideways, it was so wonderful. Weve had a lot of other great experiences. Q The SLSO won a Grammy with your music almost two years ago. A Its basically become my orchestra of choice for making recordings. Not that there arent other wonderful orchestras that regularly do my music, but the union agreement that exists for the musicians in St. Louis makes it possible to record with them, whereas many other orchestras have an exclusivity (clause), or they have their own label. This is just a great place to go. My producer in the last couple of recordings has been a German man, Friedemann Engelbrecht. I met him because hes (conductors) Gustavo Dudamels and Daniel Barenboims producer in Germany and Los Angeles. He recorded The Gospel According to the Other Mary for (Deutsche Grammophon) with the LA Phil. I asked him if he would be willing to come to St. Louis and record City Noir and the Saxophone Concerto. He agreed to it, but I could tell when he arrived that he didnt know anything about the St. Louis Symphony. I think he was a little puzzled about why I would want to record there. But the moment he heard the orchestra, he looked at me, and went, Ah, so! Like me, he loves Powell Hall. Hes returning to record the Violin Concerto. Q This season, the orchestra is doing four pieces of yours: The Violin Concerto, On the Transmigration of Souls, The Chairman Dances, which theyll play on their Spanish tour in February, and Other Mary, which theyre also taking to Carnegie Hall. Thats impressive. A I feel very humbled by their devotion to my work. If I had to choose two artists in whose hands I could entrust my work, it would be David and Leila. Q There just seems to be a real connection. A You know, its funny. I just returned from conducting three concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic. In many ways, it really is the worlds greatest orchestra. But when I got there, I was astonished to see that the musicians were really nervous. They had even elected to add a whole extra day of rehearsals because they realized that theyre not familiar with the kind of rhythmic language that I have in my music. It took them time to absorb and get it into their system. In St. Louis, they just lock into those things so naturally. I think its an American language that picks up pulsation issues a lot quicker than European orchestras do. I did Scheherezade.2 and the Doctor Atomic Symphony last fall with the (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra). They needed nearly twice as many rehearsals as St. Louis did to nail it. Its a very American thing. The Lahore High Court today dismissed a petition by terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed asking Pakistan government to raise Kashmir issue at UNSC. By Press Trust of India: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a writ petition by JuD chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing "the matter raised by the petitioner is not justifiable before the court and falls within the domain of politics". advertisement The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeed's counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed will challenge the verdict in the intra-court. INDIA COMMITTING ATROCITIES ON KASHMIRIS In the petition Saeed said India had been "committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions". He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Also read: Hafiz Saeed provokes India again, asks Pakistan Army chief to send troops to Kashmir Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said "(former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir, however, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking". COURT CAN INTERFERE IN POLITICAL, FOREIGN ISSUES Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. "Indian army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistan government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements," Dogar said. Also read: Protests in Valley after Wani's detah were fuelled by LeT, says Hafiz Saeed Criticising the LHC verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. DUTY OF SUPERIOR COURTS TO ENFORCE PROVISIONS "It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect," he said. 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 with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. Also read: Pakistan 'silently' lifts ban, Hafiz Saeed appears on TV pushing Kashmir agenda --- ENDS --- advertisement This past weekend paired two completely different concert programs at Powell Symphony Hall. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performed a Music You Know evening on Friday night, followed by a somewhat more conventional subscription program on Saturday and Sunday. Music director David Robertson usually has a clear conceptual thread in the music he chooses, something that ties together a program. This one wasnt as clearly delineated as they usually are, but with three classics and a challenge, it was all worth hearing. Robertson and the orchestra opened Saturday with a bright and effective reading of the Overture to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozarts Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), a familiar piece that started the evening off well. The piano was already on stage when the concert began, a sensible measure that saved a lot of time. Pianist Yefim Bronfman, a frequent Robertson collaborator and a familiar figure at Powell Hall, lumbered out to perform the first in the SLSOs new season-long cycle of Beethoven piano concertos. This was No. 3 in C minor, and Bronfman approached it authoritatively. His is a big sound, to go with his bearlike physique, but hes capable of matching that strength with delicacy. There were times in the second movement when his playing wasnt as smooth as it might have been, but was more articulated than called for in the score. The final movement was fast and powerful, played in the sometimes-overwhelming Russian style. Robertson and the orchestra were in perfect sync with the pianist, for an artistically consistent whole. Not in sync was a round of fireworks outside in Grand Center. Announced for 9 p.m., it went off a half-hour early, to the detriment of the music; its not clear if the poor timing was accidental or just inconsiderate. As he did on opening weekend, Robertson scheduled a small-scale contemporary piece right after the intermission. This time, it was Viola, Viola, by George Benjamin (b. 1960), played by the wife-and-husband team of principal viola Beth Guterman Chu and assistant principal viola Jonathan Chu. Its a challenging work, a dialogue between two instruments that are sometimes on the same track and sometimes startlingly at odds. Like Pierre Boulezs Dialogue de lombre double, its a work more intellectually than musically involving, and perhaps better suited to a smaller venue. The Chus gave it a superb, even definitive, performance, both fully engaged with the music and one another, for a remarkable whole. They returned to their places in the orchestra for the evenings finale, Joseph Haydns tuneful 1795 Symphony No. 102 in B-flat major. Once a year, I flip through the pages of my moms old Bible. It sits in a wooden case on a shelf next to the television in the living room. The Bible was given to her when her father died. Our deepest sympathy, United Steelworkers of America, Local Union No. 3029 is embossed in gold lettering on the back. I got it after she died. Usually its October when I take my walk down memory lane. My mom kept death notices from all of her relatives, going back two or three generations, tucked into the pages of the Bible. Once a year, in remembering her, I remind myself where I came from. Disturbing news caused me to pull the Bible off the shelf early this year. About a week ago, a Somali immigrant who had moved to the United States as a baby stabbed 10 people in a mall in St. Cloud, Minn. The man, a Muslim, was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer at the mall in the city northwest of Minneapolis. The FBI is investigating to determine if the man had ties to terrorism. In the wake of the killing the same week a bomb exploded in New York the large Somali-American population in St. Cloud faced bigoted backlash. As a child, my mom lived in St. Cloud. But she was born south of there, on a farm near Butterfield. Her father came from a family of Mennonites. I didnt know this until she died, when I first flipped through the Bible and saw relatives all buried at the First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake. There was Diedrick Harder, born in 1905. He shelled corn and drove a truck. His mom, Mrs. John D. (Anna) Harder, was born in 1877, the daughter of Diedrick and Anna Seamons Heppner. She grew to womanhood on the family farm and in 1897 was baptized and upon confession of her faith received into membership of the First Mennonite Church, says her death notice. She lived to be 92 years old. The Mountain Lake Mennonites, like the Somalis of today, were refugees who came to Minnesota seeking a better life. Their route to America was a long one. According to various histories of the Mountain Lake area, nearly all the Mennonites in Mountain Lake started in Holland, and left to live in the Crimean region of Russia when they faced religious persecution. Things changed in the early 1870s when Czar Alexander II sought to press the Mennonites into military service. They were pacifists. So they fled Russia and ended up in Minnesota. Their story here is the story of immigration in America. They came to farm, and faced fear and disdain from the local population early on. Over years and decades, they became part of the regions fabric. There are still Harders in the Mountain Lake region today. To the north, in St. Cloud, there is unrest. A business owner posted a Muslims get out sign on his restaurant. Somali-Americans have complained of increased harassment. As it is across the country, including in St. Louis, there is tension between those who were here previously, and those who seek the latest opportunity. Once it was Anabaptists and Mennonites. Then Catholics, Italians and Irish. Now its Muslims, and, of course, the nations growing Latino population. Fear of others is driving a national narrative, fueled by the candidacy of Republican Donald Trump, that to make America great again, the nation has to drive out its most recent immigrant populations and put up a wall to keep them out. Its a naked betrayal of our shared history. Immigrants have always fueled economic growth in the United States, while adding to the countrys rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Its why St. Louis business leaders are cheering news in the most recent Census Bureau reports. St. Louis has shown the largest percentage increase of immigrant population of any major metropolitan area in the nation in 2015. The region benefited from the influx of more than 10,000 new foreign-born residents last year, an 8.9 percent growth rate. Until after my mom died, I never thought much about my immigrant past. I was a typical American mutt, born to the daughter of a Mennonite farm family and the son of a Colorado clan that included an early railroad engineer. But we all come from somewhere. Thats the lesson buried in the back of a Bible put back on the shelf for another year. DELLWOOD The Sweetie Pies soul food restaurant here opened on time Sunday despite a suspicious fire that damaged the roof hours earlier. The store was the first of a group of several Sweetie Pies locations that were featured in a national TV series on the OWN network. Noting a burglary there in July, manager Janice OBannon said, If its someone who did this, why are you picking on us? Police bomb and arson investigators took samples from the scorched flat roof of the one-story building but did not give an immediate opinion of whether it was arson, OBannon said. A detective with knowledge of the case was not available for comment. OBannon led a reporter to the roof, where there was no obvious cause for the blaze. The flames were quickly extinguished by firefighters after a passer-by called police about 4 a.m. Chief Floyd Renner of the Metro North Fire Protection District said arson investigators were called because we didnt see any reason for the fire to occur. He also said there was no broken glass found on the roof that might have indicated a Molotov cocktail firebomb. The restaurant, at 9841 West Florissant Avenue, reopened in May after being closed for more than two years. The closing pre-dated civil unrest that included arson and looting in the area after a police officer in nearby Ferguson shot Michael Brown in 2014. On July 24, someone smashed a window and took an undisclosed sum of money. OBannon said that crime remained unsolved. Its so amazing to me that the incidents are happening, OBannon said Sunday. Gosh, where does it stop? She lauded firefighters for doing minimal damage when they forced their way in. We were so blessed they came in so gently. She also thanked whoever spotted the fire so quickly. As kitchen manager Sedrick Blocker prepared for Sunday customers, he said, People keep trying to take us out, but we keep on going. The reopening earlier this year was praised by Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones as a signal to not just Dellwood but to North County that the city is coming back from the rest. Its a chance to celebrate something positive in our community. If you are a black man in America, exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms can be fatal. You might think the National Rifle Association and its amen chorus would be outraged, but apparently they believe Second Amendment rights are for whites only. In reaching that conclusion I am accepting, for the sake of argument, the account given by the Charlotte, N.C., police of how they came to fatally shoot Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday. Scotts killing prompted two nights of violent protests that led Gov. Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency. This month, police in Tulsa, Okla., shot and killed Terence Crutcher an unarmed black man and the two incidents gave tragic new impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement. Scotts relatives claim he was unarmed as well. But lets assume that police are telling the truth and he had a handgun. What reason was there for officers to confront him? North Carolina, after all, is an open-carry state. A citizen has the right to walk around armed if he or she chooses to do so. The mere fact that someone has a firearm is no reason for police to take action. This is crazy, in my humble opinion. I believe that we should try to save some of the 30,000-plus lives lost each year to gun violence by enacting sensible firearms restrictions and that the more people who walk around packing heat like Wild West desperados, the more deaths we will inevitably have to mourn. In its wisdom, however, the state of North Carolina disagrees. We should continue to lobby for tighter gun laws and hope that someday the voices of reason are heard. But at the same time, we should demand that current laws be enforced fairly even if we dont like them. Scotts death is the second recent police slaying to suggest that laws permitting people to carry handguns apparently do not apply to African-Americans. In July, police killed a black man named Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., after pulling him over for a traffic stop. When officers approached the car, Castile told them he was licensed to carry a handgun. I can only assume that Castile made this declaration so that the officers would not be surprised upon seeing the gun. But rather than assure them that he was a law-abiding citizen exercising his constitutional right, Castiles announcement had the opposite effect. The horror that ensued was live-streamed on Facebook by Castiles girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds. Her cellphone video and calm, composed narration were chilling, especially to those of us who frequently commit the offense of driving while black. One of the officers shot Castile several times, and Reynolds watched as he slumped next to her, his life bleeding away. Did Castile reach for the gun? Reynolds maintains he was merely reaching for his wallet to get his drivers license, as the officer had ordered. But we have seen many times, including in the recent Crutcher case, that any perceived sudden movement by a black man under arrest, even if he is not known to have a weapon, can be seen by police as a deadly threat. Disclosure of the gun, meant to avert potential tragedy, seems to have invited it. Afterward, it was confirmed that Castile did indeed have a legal permit to carry a gun. He was not guilty of any crime. He was just 32 and, incredibly, had in his brief life been stopped a total of 52 times for nickel-and-dime traffic violations. That qualifies as harassment. I know many black men who have been pulled over for some trumped-up excuse and felt threatened by police. This has happened to me. In the Scott case, according to a Charlotte police department statement, officers said they went to a neighborhood looking for someone else and saw Scott inside a vehicle in the apartment complex. The subject exited the vehicle armed with a handgun. Officers observed the subject get back into the vehicle at which time they began to approach the subject. If all they saw was a man with a gun who got out of a car and back in, what illegal activity did they observe? Why did they approach the subject instead of going about their business? Did they have any reason to suspect it was an illegal gun? Are all men carrying guns believed to be carrying guns illegally, or just black men? Our gun laws should be changed. Until then, however, they must be enforced equally. Does the NRA disagree? By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Sep 25 (PTI) Several projects, including a school, constructed with Indian assistance of 85 million Nepalese rupees in northwest Nepal near the border with Tibet have been inaugurated, officials said today. Indias Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae inaugurated the projects during a five-day visit to Mustang and Lo Manthang. Rae inaugurated three projects constructed with Indian grant on Friday at Tukuche, Kagbeni and Jharkot in Mustang district, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy here. advertisement The two-storey building for Yogendra Higher Secondary School at Tukuche has been constructed at a cost of NRs 44.39 million while the second River Training Work project in Kagbeni on Kali Gandaki river has been built at a cost of NRs 30.72 million. During rainy season, the swollen Kali Gandak threatened the residents of its catchment area and the historical Buddhist Monastery Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling. Rae also inaugurated a renovated community hall at Jharkot in Muktinath, a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists. The renovation was completed with Indias assistance of NRs 528,000 under its Small Development Project scheme. The hall will benefit more than 17,000 locals and pilgrims visiting the Muktinath shrine. Yesterday, he inaugurated the Purangaun drinking water supply project in Muktinath. The project has been built at a cost of NRs 10.20 million. PTI SBP ABH AKJ ABH --- ENDS --- So my question is, if the department is defunded, and low pay continues, what will happen the next time the police are desperately needed and only a handful of them are available? When Diana Lee Craig cast off on the Oceania Rivieras 10-day Eastern Caribbean cruise, there were no surprises. The ship left Miami as scheduled, stopping in San Juan, St. John, Punta Cana and Nassau, before returning to Florida. The shock came after she returned home. Gradually, the mailbox of her Sonoma, Calif., winery began to fill with unwanted brochures. First, there was a glossy Oceania flier promoting sailings in Alaska, the Mediterranean and Asia. But soon more arrived from other cruise lines and tour operators all vying for her future business. Now I receive the brochures almost daily, she complains. I have no intention of going on a cruise ever again. Whenever cruise trips come up in social conversation, this these brochures seem to be a huge problem. Oceania automatically adds customers to its mailing list after they book a cruise. A cruise line representative said most passengers enjoy receiving the pamphlets, and that it leads to repeat business. Guests can certainly opt out of our mailings at any time, either via the website or by contacting us directly, said Oceania spokesman Jason Lasecki. After I contacted Oceania about Craigs case, the company deleted her name from its mailing list. But Craig will almost certainly continue to receive brochures. The reason: Other parties, such as her travel agent, may have sold her mailing address to a third party. Shes probably on everyones mailing list now because she lives in affluent Sonoma County and is tagged as a hot prospect for booking a luxury cruise. While there are several ways to remove your name from these lists, they take time and effort. Her case, and others like it, highlight the inadequacy of federal laws and voluntary compliance by an industry that sometimes doesnt seem to know when enough is enough. Jay Acunzo, a Boston marketing consultant, says the assault on Craigs mailbox is a sign of the times. Marketing has a long history of convincing itself that non-marketers actually enjoy marketing, says Acunzo, who is the founder of Unthinkable.fm, a podcast and radio show exploring creative intuition in marketing. Thats simply not true. Travel companies that automatically add clients to their lists are betting theyll get their repeat business by carpet-bombing them with offers. This only works for a small percentage of customers, but thats still enough to make it worthwhile to advertisers. Although the American Society of Travel Agents, a trade organization, has a clause in its code of ethics that prevents agents from disclosing any information without permission of the client, unless required by law, its relatively easy for customers to inadvertently opt in online. No one reads the fine print on those terms and conditions, anyway. That allows a travel adviser to freely share or sell a clients address to a third party. (An ASTA spokesman said he could not recall any guidance on email marketing from the organization.) Transmitting unsolicited email messages is restricted by federal law, but sending brochures through the U. S. Postal Service isnt. We have no control over the selling of mailing lists by other organizations, says Darleen Reid-DeMeo, a Postal Service spokeswoman. According to Ken Kosky, the promotions director for Indiana Dunes, a popular vacation area on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, there is an unspoken industry standard on this issue. People must opt in and request our information, he says. And even when someone asks for information, theres a limit. Our organization only does one additional mailing beyond the initially requested one the second mailing comes the next year, he adds. Apparently, though, the standard is not widely embraced. There are steps consumers can take to avoid unwanted mailings. The Direct Marketing Association, a trade group, allows you to opt out of all mailing lists at its site, DMAchoice.org. (It also reminds readers, before they opt out, that direct mail is critical to the economic well-being of communities, representing more than $686 billion in sales and supporting jobs at more than 300,000 small businesses across the country. So noted.) Senny Boone, DMAs general counsel, said companies that ignore the opt-out list face enforcement actions from the organization, which may include publishing the offending organizations name in a report. A consumer should be able to make a choice about direct mailing, she says. But, she adds, DMA doesnt support regulating the industry or moving to an opt-in rule because it would limit their members ability to market to Americans, which would have an impact on the economy. Consumers dont necessarily agree. I dont think any company should be able to give your name to any mailing lists, says Marjorie Yasueda, a retired travel agent from San Francisco. She recommends two steps for getting off the lists: First, call the companys 800 number and opt out. Typically, these requests take about a week to process, and you may receive an errant brochure or two in the meantime. Second, use Catalog Choice, an opt-out service run by a nonprofit organization thats dedicated to stopping junk mail. Theres no charge, and its most effective when used in tandem with the DMA service, she says. Then theres Carlos Vargas. A retired small-business owner from Chicago, Vargas says hes inundated with brochures, mostly from cruise lines. Thats not including the often-daily email newsletters they send him. I wonder why they waste so much money in the digital era? he said. His own behavior answers that question. Vargas has booked dozens of cruises through Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Princess and Celebrity. And for all the perceived waste, he hasnt asked to be removed from the lists, at least not yet. In other words, the brochures may annoy some recipients but they work. But does that make them OK? Should customers like Craig and Yasueda have to take extraordinary steps to keep their mailboxes uncluttered, or is the burden on travel companies to ask for permission to send them brochures? The bottom line: Junk mail, a problem that goes far beyond the travel industry, is almost entirely unregulated. Maybe that needs to change. A national flag flies behind a security camera outside the Ecuadorian Embassy where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is taking refuge, in London, Britain September 16, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls By Hugh Bronstein UNITED NATIONS (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. Asked what Assange does with his time, Long said, "You'd have to ask him. But he seems to be very busy." (Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) By Edward McAllister and Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE (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 mobilized". "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 canceled 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. (Additional reporting by Mathieu Rosemain in Paris and Madjiasra Nako in N'Djamena; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Andrew Bolton and Matthew Lewis) The flag of diversity flutters at the U.S. Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, as a show of support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Costa Rica, June 3, 2016. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide within weeks whether to hear a major transgender rights case for the first time, a dispute involving which bathroom a Virginia high school student can use, but the justices have reasons to duck the issue. The case involves a 17-year-old transgender student named Gavin Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male and is mounting a legal challenge to gain the right to use the boys' bathroom at his public high school in Gloucester County, Virginia. The local school board is asking the justices to hear its appeal of an April 19 ruling by the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found that transgender students are protected under U.S. laws that bar sex-based discrimination. If the high court refuses to hear the case, the justices would leave in place the groundbreaking appeals court ruling in favor of transgender rights that Grimm could use the bathroom of the student's choice. If the justices hear it, it would be one of the biggest cases of the 2016-17 term that opens Oct. 3. The Supreme Court remains shorthanded with eight justices, split with four liberals and four conservatives, following the Feb. 13 death of Antonin Scalia. Legal experts say the court may have an incentive to dodge the issue, the latest front line in the battle over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The high court so far has shown an inclination for its new term toward taking up technical, narrow cases, such as several on intellectual property rights, while it remains down one justice. This may be because the court is eager to avoid issuing 4-4 deadlocked rulings, which happened on four occasions after Scalia's death. The Republican-led Senate has refused to consider confirmation of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee to replace Scalia. There are several reasons why the court could turn away the appeal, including the fact that there are other cases on the same issue pending in lower courts, meaning the justices could weigh in at a later date. In one of those cases, a U.S. district court judge on Aug. 22 issued a nationwide injunction sought by Texas and 12 other states preventing the Obama administration from enforcing guidance telling schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. The Supreme Court often lets novel legal issues like transgender bathroom rights percolate in lower courts before taking a case, as it did with gay marriage before ruling in 2015 to allow it nationwide. The Supreme Court also frequently refuses to take cases in which the various regional federal appeals courts have not issued conflicting rulings. The ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the first of its kind. Steven Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the case "doesn't meet any of the traditional criteria" to warrant the court hearing the school board's appeal. The ACLU represents Grimm. Conservatives who want the Supreme Court to hear the appeal point to the high court's action last month when it voted 5-3 to temporarily block the appeals court decision from going into effect, a move that prevented Grimm from using the boys' bathroom when the new school year began while the case remains under appeal. "My gut is there's a good chance they will take this one," said Matt Sharp, a lawyer with the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom. But Justice Stephen Breyer made clear that he cast the decisive vote to grant the school board's stay request merely as a courtesy to his colleagues. If the court were to hear the case, many think Breyer would vote with his fellow liberals, meaning the court could split 4-4 and leave in place Grimm's appeals court victory. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) In 2015, Anurag Kashyap and Ridley Scott along with Google asked Indians to shoot a day in the life of India they inhabit and send it across. 1.6 lakh Indians submitted videos. Today, it is India In A Day. By Suhani Singh: An auto driver whose vehicle is equipped with a phone, chocolates, newspapers and a Wi-Fi router. A restaurant in which the transgendered run both the kitchen and the cash counter. A quiet family of farmers in Dehradun observing India change rapidly. A single mother unable to find time for her dreams. A man who is both a cheeky husband and a naughty father. A maid who wishes she could keep her home as clean as those of her employers. A kid working in a crematorium. These are just some of the stories that make an appearance in India In A Day. advertisement On October 10, 2015, Anurag Kashyap and Ridley Scott along with Google asked Indians to shoot a day in the life of India they inhabit and send it across. One lakh and sixty thousand Indians submitted videos, some as long as 15 hours. It left filmmaker Richie Mehta along with his team of 14 to view 400 hours of footage which they did over a period of three months. Finally, work from 330 filmmakers made it to the 80 -plus minute final feature, which came together after four months of editing. "It was a very laborious process," says Mehta about the process of arriving at the final cut. "We started on a blank slate. There was no set agenda on what to present. We were responding to what people had given us, and look at India with a neutral gaze." ALSO READ: Why Placebo is a film every Indian parent, teacher and student should watch ALSO READ: Chauthi Koot, based on the turbulent Punjab of 1984, is unlike any contemporary Indian film Ultimately, India in a Day presents India as seen through the eyes of its citizens from all corners of the country. There is a video snippet from Andaman & Nicobar Islands in which a woman who has never been to mainland India shares her impressions of what the place could be to an person entering from Mizoram. Invariably, one gets to see both the beauty and the filth, and the serenity and the chaos of India. The documentary starts off with presenting the more lighter and fascinating stories of India with a few more sombre ones such as a family living off the streets. "I was surprised for the entries reflected the sense of humour the Indians have," says Mehta. This includes a father irritating his child by asking her to give more from the packet of chips to a man who is out to impress Anurag Kashyap by shooting an intimate video. Many of these glimpses could easily fit in India's Funniest Videos as filmmakers let viewers into their personal spaces often to the annoyance and embarrassment of their family members. In some cases, the subjects are ignorant that they are shot with the filmmaker providing a funny commentary. These make for the more natural and universal moments. advertisement But to stay true to India means the mood can't always be uplifting. So Mehta intersperses stories about fraught livelihoods and broken dreams into the video collage. Towards the end, the film becomes poignant and introspective with a soliloquy, which compared to the amateur shooting style of most footage, appears a tad too rehearsed. This sudden change can be too jarring and make the film a tad protracted. Mehta explains he is following a tried-and-tested rule in Screenwriting 101 in which the aim is to get the viewers initially "hooked" by making the film "enticing and fun" and after establishing the trust moving on to the more weighty bits. When asked what he'd like audiences to take from the film, Mehta said that he hopes the viewers wonder about "what direction are we going in as a society and as a country, whether it is good or bad and who we're leaving behind in the process". This is best illustrated in the story of the family of the farmers in Dehradun who talk about rising food prices and how agriculture is no longer seen as a viable profession by their own kids. India In A Day certainly makes for a more inviting viewing for outsiders but there is enough varied voices here for Indians to keep viewers engaged. Mehta and his editor stay away from stereotypes so much so that even when a cow on a street makes an appearance. it is with a story. that will surprise you as much it moves. advertisement India in Day is running in selected theatres in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore. (The writer tweets as @suhani84 ) --- ENDS --- United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan delivers a speech during a visit at the Louvre museum in Paris, France, July 5, 2016. REUTERS/Christophe Petit Tesson/Pool UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday Iran had wasted no time in undermining regional security since it sealed a nuclear deal with world powers last year. "Against all optimistic expectations, Iran wasted no time in continuing its efforts to undermine the security of the region, through aggressive rhetoric, blatant interference, producing and arming militias, developing its ballistic missile program, in addition to its alarming designation as a state sponsor of terrorism," UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed told the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. (Reporting by Yara Bayoumy and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks made at BJP conclave at Kozhikode in Kerala on Saturday, that Pakistan was exporting terror to the world, has ruffled Islamabad. Mann Ki Baat By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maligning its image in the wake of Uri terror attack, which was carried out by terrorists from across the Line of Control. Modi's remarks made at BJP conclave at Kozhikode in Kerala on Saturday, that Pakistan was exporting terror to the world, has ruffled Islamabad. ALSO READ | Mann Ki Baat: PM pays tribute to Uri attack martyrs, says committed to peace in Kashmir advertisement Reacting to PM's charge, Pakistan Foreign Office said that Modi's statement was part of "well thought out vilification campaign." ALSO READ | Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty "It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable," the Foreign Office said. It further said that the prime minister was "trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated" by its forces in Kashmir." Pakistan again called slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a youth leader. MODI LIKENS URI ANGER TO 1965 Earlier in the day, addressing the nation through his monthly radio programme, 'Man ki Baat', prime minister Narendra Modi likened the anger in the country over Uri attack to that witnessed during 1965 war. He read out a message of an 11th standard student, who had expressed anger over the Uri incident and had the desire to do something over it. After lot of thinking, he had resolved to give extra three hours to studies every day as his contribution to the country. ALSO READ | Pakistan's state policy of terrorism is a war crime, says Amit Shah at BJP conclave Appreciating the school student's "constructive thinking", the PM said, "There is a lot of value to the anger that people of the country have. This is a symbol of the country's awakening. This anger is of the kind of 'do something'. When 1965 war (with Pakistan) broke out and Lal Bahadur Shastri was leading the country, similar was the feeling, anger in the country. There was fever of nationalism." 'SOLDIERS ACT, DON'T SPEAK' The PM on Sunday maintained that those responsible for the terror strike would surely be punished. Paying tributes to the 18 soldiers, who lost their lives in Uri attack on September, 18, Modi said, "This cowardly act was enough to shake the entire country. There is mourning as well as anger in the country." ALSO READ | Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, will isolate Pakistan: PM Modi advertisement In his monthly radio programme, the prime minister said, "We are proud of our army. People and politicians get opportunities to speak and that's what they do. But the army does not speak. The army displays its bravery." He also sent out a message to the people of Kashmir, saying that "peace, unity and harmony" are the ways to resolve problems and expressed confidence that all issues can be addressed through discussions. ALSO READ: India, Pakistan get battle-ready at Line of Control --- ENDS --- With increased hostility between the two nations after the Uri attack, India and Pakistan are increasing their military presence in the eventuality of a war-like situation. By Mail Today Bureau: India and Pakistan have increased military presence both on the ground and in the air near the Line of Control with both sides taking pre-emptive action in case the other decides to strike first. TENSIONS RISE ACROSS BORDER From F-16s circling Islamabad skies to a steady flow of unverified reports about reported military movements in India, people on either side of the border have been living under war clouds since last Sunday, when 18 Indian army soldiers were killed in Uri and New Delhi promised retaliation. Highly placed sources in New Delhi said the government is well aware of the mood in the county as the next move of Modi government, which had promised a strong retaliation, is awaited by people who are frustrated by the frequent terrorist attacks by Pakistan. advertisement INCREASED MILITARY ACTIVITY The military activities have increased on either side. Pakistan air force is conducting exercise "High Mark," during which its fighter jets practiced landings on motorways between Islamabad and Lahore. Indian Air Force too carried out a test of the newly acquired MICA missiles. IAF's Tigers squadron flew the upgraded Mirage-2000 fighter jet which tested MICA (beyond visual range missile) in the eastern sector on Thursday. Events that were unrelated to post Uri developments were also linked to the current atmosphere, including the contract India signed for the purchase of 36 new French Rafale jets and UAV Indian Air Force lost after it crash landed in Jaisalmer on Wednesday. Across the border an F-7 combat jet of Pakistan air force crashed in Khyber agency, resulting in the pilot's death. Also Read: 2 Pakistan nationals acting as terror guides for Jaish-e-Mohammad arrested in Uri: Indian Army Indian Army's Corps of Signals scripts two world records at Signal Training Centre today --- ENDS --- The watch affects Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty north west of Tauranga: Through to Sunday night with 100mm possible in 24 hours. Auckland, mainly north of the city and Great Barrier Island through to late Sunday morning with 70mm of rain possible in 12 hours. Isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and early evening could also produce localised heavy rain. McLaren Falls today. Photo: Alice Campbell. People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts in case part of this watch is upgraded to warning. A complex low lies slow-moving to the west of northern New Zealand. An associated trough moves southwards across the upper North Island during Sunday, bringing widespread rain with some heavy falls. At 10am Metservice issued a heavy rain warning for Gisborne. Rain is expected to become heavy tonight. In the 30 hours from midnight Sunday to 6am Tuesday, 120 to 140mm is forecast to accumulate in the hills and ranges of Gisborne with lesser amounts down to sea level. Heaviest falls are expected north of Tologa Bay. Rainfall rates of 15 to 20mm per hour possible. A trough is moving slowly southwards over the upper North Island preceded by easterly winds and a band of rain. Rain is expected to become heavy over the Gisborne region tonight and continue into Tuesday morning. During this time 140mm of rain may accumulate about the hills and ranges of Gisborne, particularly north of Tologa Bay. The heavy rain is expected to cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly and may cause slips and surface flooding. UPDATE 6.15pm: SunLives readers are reporting numerous road hazards as heavy rain lashes the region. Police are urging drivers to stay off the roads amidst multiple closures and delays. Major potholes have developed in the northbound passing lane heading from Waihi to Paeroa, according to Leanne Drake, who saw a number of people nearly crash as they lost control when hitting the holes at speed. She says there is a lot of surface flooding and slips through the gorge. "The river is raging about one to two feet from the road." She says she was driving at 60km/h maximum yet other motorists were passing at around 100km/h or more. One motorist says he lost a tyre due to the conditions. Samuel Luckman-Finlay reports a near miss, and he wasnt even going fast. Helen Wilson at Waikino says the river is high but isnt flooded yet. In Whitianga, Carl Gubb posts that one lane is now open as the tide recedes. NZTA says SH25 closed south of Tairua. Heres an update of TCDC roads that are closed or have issues reported, plus an update on some Thames Valley communities water supplies as of 6:30pm Sunday. NZ Transport Agency says SH25 is closed at the intersection with Hikuai Settlement Road. Check the NZTA website for the latest updates on state highways in the Coromandel: www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic District roads: Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding. Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed. Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring. SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips on road. Contractors are clearing. Tapu-Coroglen Rd - Open, but slips reported. 309 RD - Open. Was closed earlier due to tree down. Kennedy Bay Rd - Open. Closed earlier due to slip. Water supplies: Hikutaia and Omahu Valley Rd should be receiving water by early tomorrow. Some supply from Puriri being diverted but this will take time to come through. Puriri will experience low water pressure while some supplies are diverted. A valve is blocked and can not be reached because of high river levels. Matatoki now has no water. Crews cant reach the water intake to investigate the problem because a bridge is flooded. No ETA on resolution. The weather forecast: The heavy rain is expected to continue until Monday morning, potentially bringing another 100mm of rain on top of whats already fallen on Sunday morning. The message from Civil Defence is watch for rapidly rising waters, avoid waterways and if travelling take extreme care as there is debris on roads from lots of minor slips. Delay travel plans until Monday to reduce risks. UPDATE: 6pm. Police ask motorists to avoid unnecessary travel in the Coromandel Peninsula today due to extreme weather conditions. Emergency services have assisted multiple drivers with removing their cars after they have got stuck trying to drive through flooded waters. State Highway 25 is closed near the intersection of Hikuai Settlement Road due to flooding, and no diversions into Pauanui are available. There is also a slip on State Highway 3, Mokau River, and another on State Highway 2 on Karangahake Gorge, causing significant delays. Many other roads are flooded, including Kopu-Hikuai Road and the Kauaeranga Valley Road, so all unnecessary travel should be avoided. During this poor weather, Police remind motorists to exercise caution keep speeds down, maintain a safe following distance, and avoid driving through any flooded areas. Earlier: Flooding and slips are ravaging the Coromandel Peninsula, with a report of a vehicle caught is rising stream waters on the Hikuai Settlement road near Pauanui. No one is believed to be in danger. The New Zealand Transport Agency is also reporting flooding and slips on SH 25. Metservices Bay of Plenty rain radar at 3.13pm shows the area can expect persistent rain for some hours. High tide at Whangamata was 3.40pm. The Duck Creek road is closed. UPDATE 5pm. Heres the TCDC roading update: A few roads have been closed on the Coromandel because of flooding or slips. With rain forecast through the evening and night, be very careful if travelling. Here are the roads we know are closed or that have a weather-related issue as of 5pm Sunday: Kennedy Bay Rd - we hear this is now open. Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring. SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips covering road. Contractors notified. There is stop-go control on SH25 between Prescotts Garage and Tairua because of flooding on the highway. Some vehicles are being allowed through. Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding.Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed SH25 at Onemana/Opoutere - Wharekawa River very high at SH25 bridge. 309 RD - was closed due to tree down, now open. No water in Hikutaia and Omahu Valley Rd area. Valve blocked and unreachable because of high river levels. No ETA on resolution. The heavy rain is expected to continue until Monday morning, potentially bringing another 100mm of rain on top of whats already fallen on Sunday morning. The message from Civil Defence is watch for rapidly rising waters, avoid waterways and if travelling take extreme care as there is debris on roads from lots of minor slips. The mid-afternoon high tide is making low-lying coastal roads prone to flooding. Delay travel plans until Monday to reduce risks. Theres flooding at Hikuai. Photo: NZTA. A mix of youth and experience earned Team New Zealand a top-20 result at the weekends 70th annual Motocross of Nations in Italy. Veteran Motocross of Nations team rider Cody Cooper led by example at the big annual event, often referred to as the Olympic Games of Motocross, at Maggiora, north-west of Milan, on Sunday. Recent reports have shown burglaries to be on the rise across the country, including in the Bay of Plenty. With school holidays here, SunLive spoke to Community Constable Ian Searle about keeping safe and secure. The year to June 2016 saw a 31.5 per cent increase in breaking and entering crimes, while there were almost 5000 thefts and related offences. Ian says its about taking preventative steps in order to avoid becoming a victim of crime. People still leave their goods in their car, such as their purse, phone, or laptop, he says. They should lock their vehicle and have their goods hidden in the car, or preferably taken out to avoid someone walking past and seeing it. Offenders are still taking the opportunity if it presents itself. So its a matter of people taking that opportunity away by securing their house and their car. That includes putting away any goods they might keep out the front of their property in view of the street. He also stresses the importance of people securing their properties before they go on holiday. If you get on well with your neighbours, talk to them and let them know when youre going away. Its always ongoing with burglaries, but when people have nothing better to do and they see an opportunity, they tend to take it. Ian says there are no suburbs more or less susceptible to crime. What Ive seen recently is no particular pattern to burglaries. Offending tends to be spread over a wide area. United States has welcomed India's decision to ratify the climate change protocol this year on Gandhi Jayanti. By Smita Sharma: Speaking at the Kozikhode rally Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that that on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, the government will ratify the decisions that were made during COP21. Welcoming the move, US envoy to India Richard Verma tweeted their affirmation and congratulated PM Modi for his leadership. Verma in his tweet stated that the US welcomed the news of India joining the Paris Agreement on October 2 this year. We welcome the news India will join the #ParisAgreement Oct 2. Congrats Prime Minister @narendramodi for your leadership to #ActOnClimate Rich Verma (@USAmbIndia) September 25, 2016 advertisement France welcomed the decision too. French Energy and Ecology minister and President of COP 21 Segolene Royal tweeted to congratulate PM Modi. Congratulations to @narendramodi , PM of India for ratification #ParisAgreement on 2 oct. Bravo et merci.Urgence clim pic.twitter.com/pAm2LLrfVN Sgolne Royal (@RoyalSegolene) September 25, 2016 Welcome decision by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi that India will ratify #ParisAgreement on Oct 2, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi @PMOIndia Ambassador Ziegler (@FranceinIndia) September 25, 2016 Earlier contrary to expectations India had indicated that ratification of the climate deal would be linked to India getting a permanent membership of the 48 member elite Nuclear Suppliers's Group. A seat on the NSG would help India expedite supplies of its nuclear energy requirements as it would facilitate nuclear commerce with the major powers in a stable fashion. While India's bid for a NSG membership was dashed against the Great Wall of China at the NSG plenary session at Seoul, hopes are still alive for a special plenary to take up India's case in near future. Indian and Chinese bureaucratic interlocutors are now talking on the issue bilaterally even as countries like South Korea and Argentina are believed to be pushing for the Indian application behind the scene. What the ratification essentially means: India will formally comply with Paris climate change agreement. Countries representing 50 percent of global emissions are on board for compliance. India is world's third largest emitter after China and U.S. India's inclusion will mean nations representing 55 percent global emission ready to comply. India's readiness to submit legal paperwork to UN for compliance will make Paris pact binding. This will help ratify the Paris agreement towards limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Once the Paris Pact enters into legal force, no country can legally withdraw for four years. So even if Donald Trump comes to power in the US,he will not be able to cancel off deal as he has suggested in his campaign. Climate change and Nuclear Disarmament and Security have been pet projects of outgoing US President Barack Obama. Also read: Don't reward or rebuke Muslims; empower them, says PM Modi at BJP conclave --- ENDS --- advertisement Syracuse, NY -- A 12-year-old boy accused of recklessly killing his siblings Sept. 1 in a overnight fire set paper ablaze in a bedroom, according to the Syracuse fire department. No one has suggested that the boy, who has not been publicly identified, intended to kill his younger brother and sister in the second-story fire at 419 Pacific Ave. But officials had never said how he started the fire. The boy used a lighter to set some kind of paper on fire, such as a magazine, newspaper or writing paper, according to the fire department incident report. The fire then spread to the house itself, helped along by fabric nearby, the report states. The report was released this week to Syracuse.com based on a Freedom of Information request. The boy is not charged with intending to set the house on fire, only the paper. The boy's 8-year-old brother died of burns and smoke inhalation while sleeping in the bedroom. His 4-year-old sister died while sleeping in another upstairs bedroom, the report states. The identities of the children, Vinroy "VJ" Baddal, Jr., 8, and Chyna Baddal, 4, were released by fire officials at the time of the blaze. Their parents, Vinroy and Kiya Baddal, were home, as well as Vinroy's mother, Millicent Wallace, police said. Three other children -- including the accused -- also survived. Two firefighters reported injuries at the scene: one took a break for heat exhaustion and the other suffered a back injury but continued on his shift, the report states. The boy cooperated with authorities and was sent to Family Court on charges that, if he were an adult, would have constituted second-degree manslaughter (recklessness) and arson. His fate will now be decided by a Family Court judge. The boy's maximum possible punishment, if found guilty, is 18 months in juvenile detention. (Detention can be extended if the juvenile acts up.) mall.jpg Washington State Patrol on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, released surveillance camera images of the suspect in the Cascade Mall shooting in Burlington. He fired multiple rounds, mortally wounding five people, before escaping. The weapon has been recovered. (Washington State Patrol ) BURLINGTON, Wash. -- The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five dead and sparked an intensive, nearly 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, Washington. Authorities said Cetin said nothing when he was apprehended. Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted Cetin Saturday evening in Oak Harbor from a patrol car and immediately recognized him as the suspect. Hawley said at a news conference that his office had received information that Cetin was in the area. Hawley said Cetin was unarmed: "He said nothing. He was kind of zombie-like." Authorities announced earlier that the suspect had been apprehended and released a mugshot. OFFICIAL: Here is a DOL photo of the suspect: Arcan Cetin, 20-yr-old Oak Harbor resident. pic.twitter.com/fypj6aBBJ2 Trooper H. Axtman (@wspd7pio) September 25, 2016 , Washington, 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 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. 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 don't 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 shooter's motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. 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, 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," Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. Earlier Saturday as police scrambled to find the shooter, the small city about 60 miles 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, said Linda Jones, president of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. 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. "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," she said. 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. She says Sarai went to Macy's looking for pants. 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. The rescue operations were halted due to heavy rains and low cloud. The rescue workers were trapped in the flood-hit Edupalaya village in Telangana. By Manjeet Negi: Indian Air Force rescued 23 construction workers trapped in the flood-hit Edupalaya village in the Medak district in Telanaga. The rescue operation by two Chetak helicopters was carried out today morning for more than an hour. The trapped construction workers were airlifted and moved to safer places. Despite turbulence in the weather, the rescue operation was successful in airlifting the workers and the helicopters landed back within hours at 8:51 this morning. The IAF was on a standing by for the last two days and was only able to start a rescue operation, after two failed attempts yesterday due to heavy rains and low clouds. IAF is on a stand by to undertake rescue operations in view of forecast of more rain in the next couple of days. (Photo: PTI) advertisement READ| Jolted by crash, IAF promises safety beacons on AN-32s 'on priority' The operation was undertaken from Air Force Station Hakimpet in Hyderabad and was coordinated by Wing Commander P Surendran, the chief operations officer at Air Force Station Begumpet. IAF is on a stand by to undertake rescue operations in view of forecast of more rain in the next couple of days. TRAINS CANCELLED FOR 3 DAYS AS RAINS DAMAGE TRACKS IN GUNTUR Meanwhile, several trains have been cancelled for three more days due to the damage the railway tracks suffered after the heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district. The trains have been cancelled ot diverted from this section of railway track till September 27. Also read: PM Modi-led committee all set to approve 36 Rafale fighter deal today Also read: How IAF's air warriors helped turned the tide of the Kargil war --- ENDS --- Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg want a disease-free world by the time this century ends and they're about to spend $3 billion to make sure it happens. At an event in San Francisco, Facebook's chief executive and his wife announced that they will spend $3 billion periodically over the next decade, hoping to aid scientists and engineers in curing, preventing and managing all diseases in a program called Chan Zuckerberg Science. In late 2015 Zuckerberg vowed to donate 99 percent of his shares to charitable causes. Sure enough, Zuckerberg stuck to his his word he and his wife put their Facebook shares in and started the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), valued at $45 billion. The purpose of the initiative is to "advance human potential and promote equality in areas such as health, education, scientific research and energy." "As a pediatrician I've worked with families at the most difficult moments of their lives," said Chan on stage, tearfully recalling a harrowing incident in which she had to inform parents that their child had an incurable disease. Her stint as a pediatrician brought on similar painful experiences, and collectively, they're a huge part of why she's determined to work with scientists to achieve a disease-free world by the end of the century. "[We want to] make a better future for our children," Zuckerberg chipped in, taking the stage after his wife's remarks. In Dec. 2, 2015, Zuckerberg published a letter addressed to his daughter Maxima, expressing that she represents to him and his wife hope for the world, and hope for Max's generation to head for a future where children won't suffer from any kind of disease. "When our daughter was born, we wrote a letter about the hope she gave us for the future. It's a hope I know so many of us feel that we can make a better future for our children and generations to come," Zuckerberg said. Zuckerberg presented the core health problems plaguing the world at present and how the program will address the said problems. It intends to tackle leading causes of death: heart disease, infectious disease, neurological disease and cancer. He said that no single breakthrough in medicine can extinguish these, but that investment in creating new tools and research will further let us understand how to move in the right direction to expedite the process of eliminating them altogether. Additionally, he presented a three-part roadmap of the program. First on the list is to bring scientists and engineers together. Second is to build tools and technology. And third is to grow the movement to fund science. Zuckerberg opined that the typical academic grant model is inefficient in coming up with breakthroughs. He wants to retool that model, opting instead to fund long-term initiatives, a change that can boost scientific discoveries. Cori Bargmann later came out to explain how the $3 billion will be parsed across elements in the program to ensure the lifespan of the initiative. Bargmann is a neuroscientist from The Rockefeller University and the CZI's newly-appointed president of Science. BioHub As part of the investment, CZI is funding a $600 million to BioHub, a medical science research center which acts as a nexus, bringing in researchers from Stanford, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), with a common goal to undertake extensive scientific research in order to find new ways to treat diseases. UCSF's Joe DeRisi and Stanford's Stephen Quake will lead the BioHub. DeRisi and Quake are professors who are biophysics and bioengineering experts. All output to be produced in the BioHub will be readily available to doctors and researchers. "The Biohub will allow researchers at leading institutions to collaborate and accelerate the development of breakthrough scientific and medical advancements, applications and therapeutics," said Jennifer Doudna, a member of BioHub's Science Advisory Group and a UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology and chemistry. DeRisi explained that BioHub will stockpile on researchers and equipment on-site to readily procure solutions should unexpected viruses or health hazards begin to plague the world. This way, more time is spent on actual and scientific remedies instead of stranding progress in an endless surfeit of political dialogue. Focusing On Transformational Technologies The program will also focus on finding "Transformational Technologies" that will center on conceptualizing new tools to find much better perspectives in treatment and prevention. Zuckerberg is confident that Artificial Intelligence is one of these so-called transformational technologies. He said that AI software can help with brain imaging to advance understanding of neurological diseases. He added that machine learning can aid analysis of large databases concerning cancer genomes. He also introduced the idea of a chip that can identify and possibly diagnose any disease. Continuous bloodstream monitoring is also one of the ideas he has in mind that AI can pave the way to. If realized, this type of monitoring can immediately notice any potential health problems occurring within the body before it gets worse. One of BioHub's first projects will be the creation of a cell atlas, which is a broad and extensive database that will contain every location of all the cells in the human body. "It's amazing that no one really knows how many types of cells are in the human body," Quake said. If a cell atlas is indeed developed successfully, it could change and improve treatment of severe diseases such as cancer or diabetes. Uniting Experts With Challenge Networks Finally, the program will launch Challenge Networks, which is essentially a virtual counterpart to BioHub. The purpose is inherently similar in that both undertakings purposefully try to extract the best solutions to the world's very immediate health concerns. Challenge Networks will be composed of virtual institutes that will unite health professionals and experts globally to collaborate amongst one another in the event of a very urgent situation. The Challenge Networks will act as a comprehensive communication channel between top doctors, engineers and field experts, allowing them to facilitate an exchange of research, ideas and studies the goal is to understand causes of problematic diseases and further investigate. CZI is prepared to reward these professionals through incentive structures set up by the organization, enough reason for these people to commit to Challenge Networks as a legitimate career. Before the event closed, a familiar face took to the stage to offer some last remarks. Bill Gates, who needs no introduction, gave his due praise for the CZI. "It's a magical time to bring this group together to tackle these problems," Gates said. He added that the most fun out of his and his wife's philanthropic efforts are the people they meet who are optimistic that problems Chan and Zuckerberg presented can be solved. "They are inspiring a whole new generation of philanthropists to do great things." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The series of exploding Galaxy Note 7 units hit Samsung hard, but according to the company, it received 26 false reports. Considering the markets affected by the recall, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise, and it's a safe bet to assume that in such events, there are almost always going to be a couple of unscrupulous consumers who are out to stir the pot for the heck of it, get a cash settlement from a lawsuit or a free smartphone, at the very least. The False Reports Of The Exploding Galaxy Note 7 As mentioned earlier, there are 26 false reports in total. In seven of those cases, Samsung couldn't reach the alleged consumers; in another seven of those, the customers said they got rid of their devices or canceled their reports; and in 12 of those, the South Korean manufacturer couldn't find any defects on their units. For the origins of said reports, nine came from the United States, three from South Korea, two from France, one from the United Kingdom, one from Canada, one from Singapore, one from Philippines, one from Turkey, one from Vietnam, one from Croatia, one from Romania, one from Iraq, one from Lebanon, one from the Czech Republic and one from the United Arab Emirates. To give a little more info, the Canadian user is said to have sent Samsung a picture of a damaged Galaxy Note 7 that they got online and tried to pass it off as their own device. Meanwhile, the Singaporean user purportedly threw out their device from a car when it burst into flames, but they couldn't provide proof. It's also worth mentioning that the global recall for the Galaxy Note 7 didn't include China, as the units there use batteries from a different manufacturer ATL as opposed to the Samsung SDI subsidiary, which produced the faulty cells. The news comes from none other than ZDNet's Cho Mu-Hyun, bringing the details to light and outlining the cases that Samsung stated. 500,000 Safe Galaxy Note 7 Units Hit Storefronts In the United States, 1 million phablets were recalled, and to start things off, Samsung shipped out 500,000 non-exploding Galaxy Note 7 devices across the country. Are you one of the unlucky owners who needs a replacement Galaxy Note 7? If so, feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know about your experience in turning your faulty device in. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Yahoo will have a slew of legal actions waiting for it, as the company recently admitted that personal data belonging to more than 500 million users was stolen during a hack. The lawsuits are accusing the company of gross negligence failing to secure customer data that led to the data breach from 2014. The latest complaint was filed on Friday, Sept. 23, in federal court in San Jose, California. According to the plaintiff, Yahoo failed both to establish and deploy elementary data security protocols. This caused "personal information [to fall] in the hands of criminals and/or enemies of the U.S.," The New York resident who began the legal action aims to transform it into a class-action status where other Yahoo users are also represented. Cases of the same nature were filed to courts in San Diego and Illinois. Details about the magnitude of the data breach come at a truly poor time for Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo. This is because Verizon Communications Inc. is currently in the process of purchasing the company in a deal that will cost Big Red $4.8 billion. The transaction is set to close at the beginning of 2017, but the data breach scandal might give Verizon second thoughts about the price it is willing to pay for Yahoo. Mayer helmed the company through some pretty rough times, and many have blamed her for the notorious lack of vision that Yahoo showcased in the later years. The e-mail service was pelleted with complaints that caused a myriad of users to migrate to rival services such as Google. Charles Stewart, the spokesman for Yahoo, did not comment on the San Jose complaint. Compromised Accounts Plaintiff Ronald Schwartz wants the court to force Yahoo to deliver compensations to users who suffered any damages resulting from fraud. He also asks that Yahoo take the appropriate measures to identify and safeguard compromised accounts. Schwartz chastised the company for its sluggish approach that caused it to unveil the 2014 data breach only a few months ago. "[Yahoo's] misconduct ... allowed unauthorized and malicious access to plaintiff's and the class's personal information," reads the complaint. The fact that the unhindered malicious access kept going for two years makes matters even worse, Schwartz points out. The complaint also underlines that security experts usually detect such security issues three times faster than Yahoo did. This week, Yahoo confirmed that the hijacked information may include names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, encrypted passwords, dates of birth and even security questions and answers. Yahoo vouches that the attacker is no longer in the network and points out that its internal investigation does not support the fact that payment card data or bank account information theft occurred. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google has just released the latest version of its image captioning system as an open source model in TensorFlow. The new iteration is capable of providing image captions that are 93.9 percent accurate. According to Google, the new release brings forth significant improvements. The system is much quicker to train and can produce more accurate and detailed image descriptions when compared to the original. "Today's code release initializes the image encoder using the Inception V3 model, which achieves 93.9 percent accuracy on the ImageNet classification task," says Chris Shallue, a Google Brain team software engineer. "Initializing the image encoder with a better vision model gives the image captioning system a better ability to recognize different objects in the images, allowing it to generate more detailed and accurate descriptions." Google first taught its machine learning system to provide images with accurate captions back in 2014. The system became an entry in Microsoft COCO 2015, an image captioning competition where it bested other algorithms in terms of producing accurate captions for images. The original 2014 system utilized the Inception V1 image classification model, which was 89.6 percent accurate based on the ImageNet classification task. The image classification model was replaced with Inception V2 in 2015. The enhanced vision component that came with the V2 boosted the system's accuracy by more than 2 points, which equals 91.8 percent accuracy. Google also added a fine-tuning phase to the image captioning system. It allows for better descriptions of identified objects within the image. For instance, the image classification model will identify a train and train tracks. The fine-tuning phase will not only provide the train's color but will also explain how the train relates to the train tracks. Hence, instead of just describing the image as "a train on the tracks," the image captioning system, with its fine-tuning phase, would come up with "a blue and yellow train travelling down the train tracks" as the image's caption. The whole system is trained using captioned images that number in the hundreds of thousands. The captions in the training images are written by humans. The system records these human captions and is likely to use them when presented with similar images. Google says that the image captioning system doesn't just reuse captions; it actually understands objects within an image and how each of those objects relate to each other. More precisely, the system has the ability to produce new and accurate captions when presented with new scenes. The system also didn't need any further language training for natural-sounding phrases aside from the captions. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vikings are popularly portrayed as tough seafarers who raided and traded across Europe between the late 8th and late 11th centuries, but these people have also likely kept Viking cats when they sailed ships. Analyses of ancient cat DNA have revealed that thousands of years before they became one of the most common pets in American households, cats hopped continents as they were brought along by farmers, ancient mariners and even the hardy Vikings. For the new study presented last week at the International Symposium on Biomolecular Archaeology in Oxford, UK, Eva-Maria Geigl and colleagues from the Institut Jacques Monod in Paris sequenced DNA from 290 cats coming from over 30 archeological excavations in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The study also included cat remains that were found in a Viking grave in Germany. Genetic analysis of the ancient felines' remains revealed that cats likely spread out in two waves. Remains from a 9,500-year-old grave in Cyprus suggest that the first wave likely happened with the earliest farmers in eastern Mediterranean, which showed that man's relationship with felines dates back to the early days of agriculture. The second wave happened when cats from Egypt spread to Asia and Africa, as hinted by remains of cats from Turkey, Bulgaria and Africa. The second wave of expansion was associated with ancient seafaring people including the Vikings. The cat remains from a Viking grave in northern Germany were found to have the same maternal DNA common in Egyptian cat mummies. The animals were likely brought on board ships during sea voyages. Mice and rats can be a problem with long voyages at sea and having cats on board can help keep down the number of these pests. Kristian Gregersen, from the Natural History Museum of Denmark, said that people commonly used cat skins by the late Viking Age. "We are sure that there were domestic cats then, because of their size." Gregersen said, adding that these cats did not have the same size as the wild cats. Christian Koch Madsen, from the National Museum in Nuuk, Greenland, said that archeological evidence also shows that cats have made it to Greenland. Madsen said that these furry and intelligent creatures with the ability to understand laws of physics must have arrived aboard Viking ships. Figures from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) show that between 74 to 96 million cats are owned in the U.S. Up to 37 percent of American households have a cat. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google recently rolled out Allo, a chat messenger app that can tap into machine learning and AI to offer mobile users a slew of interesting options. We pitted the messaging app against big names in the market, such as Snapchat, Facebook Messenger and iMessage so you know which brings the best advantages to its user. Let's take a closer peek at what each of the messaging apps can do. Regardless if we're looking at Google Allo, Apple iMessage, Facebook Messenger or Snapchat, all allow multimedia messages. Where voice calls are involved, FB Messenger gives its users this possibility, while Google Allo, Snapchat and iMessage are keeping their focus on texting. However, Snapchat and FB Messenger allow video calls. Meanwhile, Google Allo and iMessage do not provide this feature. You can send audio messages in Google Allo, FB Messenger and Apple iMessage, but are unable to do so in Snapchat. While Snapchat and FB Messenger do not require your phone number, Google Allo and iMessage ask users to input theirs. Security buffs should know that Snapchat offers no end-to-end encryption, while Google Allo allows users to tap into an incognito mode for sensitive conversations, making end-to-end encryption optional. FB Messenger and iMessage, on the other hand, feature end-to-end encryption throughout. Speaking of confidentiality, FB Messenger does not feature any form of expiring/incognito messages, but Snapchat and Google Allo do. iMessage had an attempt to emulate the discretion feature, but it's safe to say that are other apps better suited for this purpose. Group chatting is available in all four messaging apps, and so are stickers. When looking at special features, Google Allo's artificial intelligence and Google Assistant clearly stand out. Snapchat can tap into augmented reality and iMessege just got a slew of new features in iOS 10. The iMessge now packs app integration, which allows users to open up apps such as Yelp, Venmo and Fandango, while remaining in the same texting window. Of the four apps, Google Allo, iMessage and Snapchat lack web support, leaving FB Messenger as the only one that can act identically from a mobile device or from a desktop computer. Location tracking is a must for Google Allo, presumably to help Google Assistant in its suggestions to the end user. Neither FB Messenger, Snapchat nor iMessage asks for the user's location. Conclusion The apps are rather similar when looking at basic features, such as messaging and media sharing. It is worth mentioning that Allo delegated the voice and video calling to the Google Duo app. Google also relies on the Hangout app to cater to productivity. Keep in mind that Allo has a slight edge over its rivals thanks to its AI, because users can keep the conversation going and still plan a route through Google Maps or review the restaurants in their area. To summarize, Google made Allo so you have a search engine inside a chat window, something that resembles the app integration in iMessage. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By PTI: Hyderabad, Sep 25 (PTI) Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libyas Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad yesterday. advertisement "I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...it was horrible," Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, "The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned." Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, "I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad." Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. "It is Gods grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me," Balram told PTI. Balram aid that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balrams wife Sridevi said, "It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...the feelings cannot be expressed in words." Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying "MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident." PTI VVK GK RT --- ENDS --- With the determination to lead the search for alien life, China has begun operating the world's largest radio telescope on Sunday, Sept. 25. Hundreds of astronomers and science enthusiasts gathered at the launch of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) at noon, according to the country's official news agency Xinhua. Nestled in the mountainous region of Guizhou Province, the $180 million FAST observatory demonstrates the country's pursuit of scientific prestige, particularly in the field of astronomy. Installation of the radio telescope's 4,450-panel reflector was finished in July this year, but it took five years for engineers to complete the entire project. In Search Of Extraterrestrial Life FAST will allow China to look further into the depths of space than any country has done before. More specifically, the gigantic dish would search for gravitational waves, listen for signs of alien life and detect radio emissions from distant galaxies and stars, Xinhua News said. "The ultimate goal of FAST is to discover the laws of the development of the universe," said Qian Lei, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories (NAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which was behind the project. Qian said that in theory, if an alien civilization exists in space, the radio signal it emits will be similar to the signal scientists receive when a pulsar is approaching. Zheng Xiaonian, deputy director of the NAO, says FAST not only dwarfs the next biggest dish in the world, which is the 300-meter (984-foot) Arecibo Observatory located in Puerto Rico, but it is also 10 times more sensitive. A Game Changer In Science Joseph Taylor, an astronomer from Princeton University who was awarded with the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics, believes the FAST dish will bring more people into science. "[It] will certainly generate enthusiasm," Taylor told Xinhua News. Taylor says he expected the construction of FAST to be a productive project, even if he is unsure whether it will lead to a Nobel Prize. Meanwhile, Qian says FAST has had a great start. In a recent observation, FAST received a set of high-quality electromagnetic waves from a pulsar that is 1,351 light years away. It was highly successful. Douglas Vakoch, president of an organization that promotes messaging outer space from Earth, says FAST is a game changer in the search for alien life. The radio telescope will soon "churn through the cosmic static, looking for the telltale signs of intelligence, added Vakoch. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. IoT botnets and IoT malware are becoming a huge concern Everything from cars to home appliances, watches and even childrens toys are being connected online. As a result, anything connected to the Internet can be hacked and so is the Internet of Things (IoT). Due to poor security measures implemented by their vendors, the market fragmentation of IoT devices is a security nightmare. Also, malware targeting IoT devices is becoming more and more widespread, with new families discovered every month, all working in the same way. Typically targeting various Linux flavors used to power these devices, IoT malware is seldom seen as danger to the people or companies behind these devices, but everyone else. In the past two years, all IoT malware discovered have been found to be doing the same thing. The infection begins with a cybercriminal or automated service trying to guess thousands of username-password combinations to get into the IoT devices admin password by using brute-force attacks. Default device passwords help IoT botnets grow Cybercriminals usually get access to the device after a few seconds when the users havent changed their devices default credentials. At this instant, the malware makes changes to the device by adding special code to converse with one of its command and control servers, trapping it into a worldwide botnet, mainly used to execute DDoS attacks, transmit proxy traffic for cybercriminals, and brute-force other IoT devices. In August, Kaspersky had found out that Linux-based botnets had become the most popular DDoS botnets on the market. You will notice someone using an IoT device as a pivot point inside a network only in targeted attacks. But, in general, IoT devices are used as bots for DDoS attacks in most of the cases. This is further made simple by device owners who do not protect their devices with custom passwords. According to Symantec, the table below shows the most encountered passwords in IoT devices worldwide. As one can see from above, many of them are easy guesses and standard passwords for equipment running on Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi platforms or others. According to Symantec, several IoT malware that are found today comes with cross-platform support, and can target all major IoT hardware platforms such as x86, ARM, MIPS, and MIPSEL platforms. In some cases, there were malware families that went further than these popular platforms and also targeted PowerPC, SuperH and SPARC architectures. Modern IoT malware can spread on its own Attackers using tools like Shodan and automated brute-forcing scripts seldom have to infect IoT devices manually anymore, even though there are cases where this is still required. Latest malware such as the Ubiquiti worm has wormable features that allow it to spread to other devices. IoT malware with self-replication features can help cybercriminals develop huge botnets, some going over 25,000 bots, and in some cases attaining over 120,000 infected devices. There are over one million compromised IoT devices available online, as indicated by Level 3 estimates. In order to launch various types of DDoS attacks on their targets, these botnets are often combined. Brian Krebs, infosec journalist reported a DDoS attack this week that clocked at 620 Gbps after revealing a DDoS-for-Hire service. Early pointers indicate this was the work of a huge botnet of IoT devices, Krebs said. The most popular IoT malware families, according to Symantec are, Linux.Aidra (Linux.Lightaidra), Linux.Ballpit (aka LizardStresser), Linux.Darlloz (aka Zollard), Linux.Dofloo (aka AES.DDoS, Mr. Black), Linux.Gafgyt (aka GayFgt, Bashlite), Linux.Kaiten / Linux.Kaiten.B (aka Tsunami), Linux.LuaBot, Linux.Moose, Linux.Pinscan / Linux.Pinscan.B (aka PNScan), Linux.Routrem (aka Remainten, KTN-Remastered, KTN-RM), Linux.Xorddos (aka XOR.DDos), and Linux.Wifatch (aka Ifwatch). Besides the aforementioned, you can also add Linux.BillGates, Linux.BackDoor.Irc, Mirai, and Rex. The IoT landscape is troubled with unprofessional vendors Several devices are located in the U.S. (28 percent) and China (34 percent), according to the telemetry data. In most cases, the blame usually depends upon one company. For instance, the 25,000-strong botnet mentioned earlier was triggered by a Chinese company that sold white label DVRs, for which it failed to issue a firmware update. The DVRs were bought and sold by 70 other companies, who put their own logo on top. When the users found out that their DVR was not safe and wanted to patch their devices, they couldnt do so, as their seller was and is still waiting on the Chinese company to fix its errors. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Fire in Aircraft Incident: Indian Aviation Regulator Issues Advisory to Note Series Users [VIDEO] By Som Patidar, | September 24, 2016 A Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone caught fire on a flight from Singapore to Chennai. Indian civil aviation regulator has advised passengers who own a unit of the Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone not to use the device on flights. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued a strong warning to passengers against the use of Samsung Galaxy Note series handset on flights. Advertisement Like Us on Facebook "We advise flyers to exercise caution while flying with Samsung Note devices," a DGCA representative said. "They should either keep these devices switched off or not travel with them." The latest DGCA advisory came a few hours after a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphone caught fire in an IndiGo-operated aircraft at Chennai airport. The airline in a statement confirmed the incident saying that some passengers traveling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai had noticed the smoke in the cabin and immediately alerted the cabin crew, who had to use a fire extinguisher to douse it. "Taking the precautionary measure, 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 in the overhead bin," IndiGo said. Samsung said that it is in touch with Indian authorities to gather more information about the incident. India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation summoned Samsung officials to discuss the issue. DGCA has already banned the use of the Galaxy Note 7 handset on the flight. Samsung is recalling 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 handsets which are equipped with faulty batteries. 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 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 BAS --- ENDS --- Arthur Munoz was 6 years old when his family left Mexico and immigrated to the United States. He started first grade in California speaking al An FIR has been filed by Under Secretary, Government of India, in the Sansad Marg Police Station in New Delhi under Section 409 of the IPC. By Arvind Ojha: The Ministry of Home Affairs today filed an FIR with the Delhi Police to probe how, why and under what circumstances crucial files related to Ishrat Jahan encounter case went missing. The move comes months after the home ministry conducted an internal enquiry into the missing files case. An FIR has been filed by Under Secretary, Government of India, in the Sansad Marg Police Station in New Delhi under Section 409 of the IPC. advertisement According to the home ministry, the following documents have been missing: 1) Office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by then home secretary to the then Ld AG on September 18, 2009 2) Office copy of another letter sent by the then home secretary to the Ld AG on September 18, 2009 3) Draft of further affidavit as waited by the Ld AG 4) Draft of affidavit as amended by the then home minister on September 24, 2009. Ishrat, a teenage girl from Mumbra near Mumbai, her friend Pranesh Pillai alias Javed Sheikh and two others were gunned down by city crime branch officials allegedly in a fake encounter on June 15, 2004 on the outskirts of the city. A special investigation team (SIT), constituted by the Gujarat High Court, had concluded that it was a "fake" encounter and handed over the case to the CBI. The first chargesheet named seven police officers as accused, including IPS officers PP Pandey, DG Vanzara and GL Singhal. However, police's contention was that Ishrat and others were on a mission to kill Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat. On February 11, 2016, Lashkar terrorist-turned-approver David Coleman Headley on Thursday told a Mumbai special court that Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar operative. ALSO READ: Ishrat encounter case accused cop Amin gets one-year extension of tenure Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar operative, says David Headley --- ENDS --- Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission It says something about this falls election for the 2nd Congressional District that the incumbent is already looking to his next contest, even though hes being challenged by one of the regions major figures in this one. Wait, what election, you may be wondering? Good question. Back in July, East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden signed up to run against U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans to represent a district that spans both cities. On paper, that sets up a potentially epic showdown between two successful and ambitious politicians, and also between the states two biggest population centers. But Richmond, who has held the seat since 2011, is apparently confident enough in his prospects this November that hes quietly putting together a campaign to be the next chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. BuzzFeed reports that a battle is brewing between Richmond and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York for the prestigious post. The jockeying is playing out behind closed doors, and the operatives and members the news site quoted said efforts are underway to avert a public showdown between the two well-liked, up-and-coming politicians. Clarke confirmed that shes launched a preliminary campaign, while Richmond didnt comment, the report says. That Richmond isnt concerned about the Holden challenge doesnt really call for comment, because its obvious on its face. Holden, term-limited after 12 years as mayor, signed up two months ago to run against Richmond but has done almost nothing to show hes serious about it since. Richmond started off with a massive fundraising advantage, but while campaign finance reports showing activity since qualifying arent out yet, theres scant anecdotal evidence that Holden is even trying to make up the gap. Richmond also has the endorsement of the state party, which gives him an additional institutional advantage and tells us plenty about how seriously the insiders who tend to be involved in campaigns view their two fellow Democrats. And as his bid for CBC chairman suggests, Richmond can make a strong case that hes well-positioned to push the districts interests in Washington an important concern given that the state, already hurting for power players, is about to lose its senior senator at least two other House members. Richmond has been an active, enthusiastic campaigner for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, so hed surely be on the White Houses radar should she become president. Hes also formed productive partnerships with some of his Louisiana Republican colleagues, specifically House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a friend from their days in the state Legislature, and Garret Graves, with whom hes worked to craft criminal justice legislation following the racially charged Alton Sterling police shooting this summer. Holdens best hope to counter all those advantages is to focus on the regional divide, to paint Richmond as a creature of New Orleans who gives the less-populous Baton Rouge part of the district short shrift. But if his plan was to run as a more attentive advocate for the state capital and its voters, Holdens behavior during a rapid-fire series of difficult local challenges the Sterling shooting, the murder of three police officers and the devastating flood has seriously undermined his case. In fact, Richmond has often been more visible during Baton Rouges summer of crisis than Holden has. Holden has also kept a low profile in the nations capital. Hes traveled to Taiwan and Panama in recent weeks, but has not been a lead player in the states intensive efforts to wrest a flood recovery package from Congress despite his contention back when he announced his bid in May that one of his main qualifications was a record of lobbying success in Washington. Holden actually blamed Richmond for freezing him out during a joint lobbying trip that he skipped earlier this month when several Republican mayors were invited to testify alongside Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, but he was not. "I am a firm believer that Congressman Cedric Richmond had a hand in this, and the governor should have stood up and said, 'We are all in this together,'" Holden said at a later news conference. Richmond responded that Democrats were given the opportunity to choose one witness, and that he and his colleagues quickly agreed on Edwards. Thats about what has passed for debate so far during the campaign. And that itself paints a pretty accurate picture of whats going on here, and what's not. German discount supermarket Lidl is applying for trademarks covering hundreds of products, stirring speculation the retail giant is seriously looking into opening in Australia. As well as holding talks with the Victorian government recently, as reported by Fairfax Media, Lidl is also believed to have reached out to suppliers. While Lidl has applied for thousands of trademarks since the year 2000, around the time its German rival Aldi set up in Australia, in 2016 alone it has applied for dozens of trademarks. These include Sir Edward Tea, Oatilicious and Sweet Corner. Last year, Lidl applied for dozens more trademarks including Lidl Phone, Lidl Connect and The Crafty Brewing Company. Outdoor clothing and camping equipment retailer Macpac claims it is growing faster than its larger rival Kathmandu, and plans to rev up store openings and more than double sales under its new private-equity owners. New Zealand-based Macpac plans to increase its Australian store numbers from 17 to 20 this year, by opening stores in Chadstone and Westfield Doncaster in Melbourne, and Westfield Warringah in Sydney. Macpac hopes to scale heights in the Australian retail market. Credit:James Davies But that would ramp up considerably as Macpac sets a target of opening 10 Australian stores a year from 2017 at the same time as its major rival Kathmandu plans to slow down store openings and focus on same-store sales. Macpac chief executive Alex Brandon said the company had always been profitable in Australia since opening seven to eight years ago, and Australia would grab the lion's share of new store openings in coming years. A judge in Parioli, Rome, order a convicted paedophile to buy 30 feminist books for the minor sex worker he had hired. By India Today Web Desk: After a 35-year-old man was convicted for hiring an underage prostitute in Parioli, Rome, the judge ordered him to purchase 30 books on feminism for the 15-year-old victim. Apart from serving two-year jail sentence, the convict will have to give the young girl novels written by Virginia Woolf, poems of Emily Dickinson and Anne Frank's Diary, and also copies of two feminist films, ordered judge Paola Di Nicola. The Independent reports that judge Di Nicola said she hopes these books "would help the 15-year-old girl to understand the damage that had been done to her as a woman, and instilling feminist values". advertisement On the other hand, author Adriana Cavarero, who was on the judge's list for feminist writers, disagreed with the ruling. She told Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra, "Adolescence is not the time for reflection. What he did was much worse: an adult who, knowingly, paid for sex with a minor". The verdict came after a three-year investigation which involved two girls, aged 14 and 15, being victimised in a paedophile ring in Parioli. --- ENDS --- It would be a sad day for this nation if the policy of appeasement being advocated by some within the Turnbull government towards Pauline Hanson and her followers resulted in an attempt to limit Muslim immigration. Such a possibility cannot be ruled out in view of repeated statements by senior Liberals that the views of Hanson and her supporters deserve to be respected and the publication of an opinion poll on Thursday indicating almost 50 per cent of respondents supported a ban on Muslim immigration. It does not appear as if that survey, whose results were so unexpected the organisers, Essential Poll, ran it twice, was unduly influenced by Ms Hanson's most recent maiden speech in which she claimed it was now Muslims, not Asians, who were overrunning the country. That claim, incidentally, rings a tad hollow given there are currently more One Nation voters in Australia [593,013] than there are followers of the prophet, who make up just two per cent of the population. The ACT general election is drawing near, with health and education proving to be issues strongly weighing on the minds of Canberra's voters. A recent public Q&A session featured the three health spokespeople for the major parties: Indra Esguerra for the Greens; Jeremy Hanson for the Liberals; and Chris Bourke for Labor. The Q&A was ably facilitated by the ever-present Michael Moore and held before an audience of very engaged Canberrans bringing their experience across the ACT health sector and beyond. The three candidates fielded questions without notice, although there might have been one or two "Dorothy Dixers". Good general practice is the linchpin of community health. Credit:Andrew Quilty Two things stood out on the evening. Firstly, and least importantly, there was the typical and unedifying niggling going on between the candidates. It gave a worrying impression that the individuals thought they were more important than the issues, but that's politics. Most importantly, there was very little mention of general practice. This apparent policy vacuum is a big concern, because good general practice is the linchpin of community health. While politicians and the media obsess about public hospital waiting lists, general practitioners are busy trying to keep their patients out of hospital. A scene called for her to throw a Bible at him; he had filled it with confetti. The following night he nailed it to the table, making it impossible for the actress to pick up. She improvised and threw a vase at him instead. One of the productions she remembered most fondly was A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney, no accident since she was playing opposite Frederick Parslow, whom she married in 1961. She dazzled audiences with her command of the stage and her beauty. But her ambitions lay elsewhere. As director of the National Theatre Drama School in St Kilda for about 30 years, she hounded the best out of her students. Many were intimidated by her, misreading her theatricality for something domineering. In private, with her beloved Fred and son Justin, she was a nurturing force. When I was living in a Fitzroy Street flat with no income and no prospects, she regularly called by with plates of food. She employed me as a stage manager, and later as a director at the NTDS. Her innovative and progressive engagement with young people was a beacon across an industry that too often expects its "talent" to arrive fully formed. Many of the students who spent time at the NTDS did not emerge as actors, but as administrators, stage managers and writers. Many past students had caught Harris's enabling bug. While floodwaters continue to rise in Forbes, Sydney is set for a dry few days before rain returns on Thursday. A low pressure system from the south-west brought lightning to the Illawara on Sunday afternoon, and Weatherzone's Graeme Brittain said there were thunderstorms over Sydney's north shore and Mascot. More heavy rainstorms are on the horizon, according to climate scientists. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Mr Brittain said there was the chance of another storm on Sunday night but he thought it unlikely. He said rains would ease off into the sea, leaving a mostly dry night. But wetter weather is on the way, with a low pressure system affecting south-east Australia set to arrive on Thursday. Same-sex couples could be left waiting until the 2020s to get married if Labor blocks the plebiscite proposed for February next year, Attorney-General George Brandis says. In a blunt warning to the federal opposition, which is all but certain to oppose the national vote, Senator Brandis suggested the political will to change the law could dissipate if the plebiscite is not held in this term of parliament and same-sex couples could be forced to wait well beyond the next election, due in 2019. That could mean the law change was pushed back until the next decade. Just one electorate in the country has a majority of voters opposed to same-sex marriage, according to new research that suggests MPs and public debate significantly trail voters in backing change. The University of Melbourne-led study found opposition to changing the Marriage Act ranges from 40 to just over 50 per cent in a handful of rural Queensland and northern NSW seats to less than 10 per cent in inner-city electorates in Sydney and Melbourne. Maranoa, in outback south-western Queensland and held by the Coalition's David Littleproud, has just over 50 per cent of voters who do not want a change to allow same-sex couples to wed. A small collection of seats Groom, Flynn and Hinkler in Queensland and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce's base in New England could oppose same-sex marriage if undecided voters opted for the status quo. Who knew death could be so lucrative? An apparent turf war has erupted over the right to cremate the state's bodies, with some private funeral operators wanting Victoria to follow other states and allow them to build and operate crematoriums. In Victoria cremations can cost more than double the amount charged in other states. Credit:iStock In Victoria only non-profit cemetery trusts, which are government regulated, can conduct cremations, meaning a cremation can cost more than double the amount charged in other states and some Victorian funeral homes have been sending bodies interstate to be cremated. One funeral company director said the lowest cost of a cremation in Melbourne was about $800, while there were options in South Australia for less than $400. Stephen James Boney is led by police to Moree Local Court after being charged with rape in April 2000. Credit:Andrew Meares "You should have heard her," he said. Mr Sweeney also knew the rapist. But that would come later. Ms Knight sold her childhood home in Cowper Street, Wee Waa, after the assault. By April 2000, the investigation had stalled, so police asked the men of Wee Waa aged between 18 and 45 to volunteer a mouth swab to be tested against DNA left at the scene. There had been a similar exercise undertaken in Western Australia in the 1990s, but in the year 2000, mass screening was still new. The murder of Tracy Connelly, pictured with her partner Tony, remains unsolved. It created somewhat of a divide in Wee Waa, but most there saw the screening as worthwhile given its potential to solve the crime. Out of the 500 men who fit the broad profile, police said fewer than 20 refused. "I didn't actually match the profile," Mr Sweeney said, "I wasn't even in the town on New Year's Eve, I was actually in Brisbane." A candlelight vigil is held for Ms Connelly a month after her murder. Credit:Wayne Taylor But even then, he was cautious about an unqualified acceptance of the mass DNA screening and spoke out against it. "It wasn't an answer to say, 'I've got nothing to fear, I've got nothing to hide so why should I care about a DNA swab?' Everyone has a right to privacy," he said. Tributes to Ms Connelly were tied to a fence near where she was killed. Credit:Rebecca Hallas He remembers a local coming up to him "You're an idiot! The whole town thinks you're an idiot!" while he was talking to reporters who were in Wee Waa for the story. He shrugged it off. "I don't know, people might have bitched about me behind my back, but on the other hand, people crossed the road to congratulate me," he said. Melbourne University professor Jeremy Gans, who has researched mass screens across the globe, said testing is most often a tactic to flush out targets. "Most of the time they do these things because they've got their eye on people and it's the pressure," Dr Gans said. It worked in Wee Waa. Ten days after providing a swab and before it could be processed, 44-year-old farm labourer Stephen James Boney walked into the local police station and confessed, saying he buckled to the inevitability of his capture. "I knew the guy very well ... It came as a complete surprise that he was the person," Mr Sweeney said. St Kilda isn't the same-sized fishbowl as Wee Waa and, while many knew sex worker Tracy Connelly (she was known for watching-out for the younger women on the beat), they are less likely to know her killer. Ms Connelly, 40, was also attacked in the place she called home; a van she shared with long-term boyfriend Tony Melissovas. Mr Melissovas found her beaten body inside the white Ford Econovan in Greeves Street on July 21, 2013. Police believe she may have been killed by a client in a robbery gone wrong. The screening that has recently begun is aimed at testing the DNA of 600 men in what police say is the largest screening in Victoria's history. The men asked for a swab may have been in the area at the time, or had been a client of Ms Connelly's. They could also be men who have had a history of violence against sex workers but have not offended so seriously that their DNA has been taken before. The testing is unlikely to cause the same public angst as it did in Wee Waa. The men being sampled are more likely transient and laws in place in Victoria stipulate voluntary samples may only be used for that case and that case alone before being destroyed. Sally Tonkin was the chief executive of the St Kilda Gatehouse, a haven for sex workers, at the time of Ms Connelly's murder. "She's still very much talked about and remembered," Ms Tonkin said. "We are so encouraged with the step that has been taken, that it's being pushed to this extent ... For the community, it's really concerning when someone's out there who's capable of this." Mr Sweeney left Wee Waa four years after the screening to start his own firm. From his office in Sydney, Wee Waa is a fading memory. "I had a great time there. The friends I made are friends for life, I raced around [as] a bushman when you're a city bloke," he said. If all four of Meralyn and John Klein's children were running in next month's local government elections, together the family will have held all but one councillor position on Nillumbik Council. Still, the couple and two of their children, Jaclyn and Mark, are running. If all four win, the family will control the seven-person council in Melbourne's outer north-east. Meralyn and John Klein (centre) with children Mark and Jaclyn, at home in Research. All four are running for Nillumbik Shire Council. Credit:Joe Armao "But we wouldn't vote as a bloc," says Mrs Klein reassuringly. She was elected to Nillumbik four years ago and is running again, making her one of 2135 people standing at next month's elections. Her 2012 run for Nillumbik came about over concerns for environmental policies in the shire, which takes in built-up suburbs such as Eltham but is 85 per cent rural and semi-rural. The swearing in ceremony will be held on September 26 at 11 am and it is likely that George will get back his portfolio of Bangalore city minister. It has been just a week since the Criminal Investigation Department gave a clean chit to George. By Rohini Swamy: Former minister K J George is all set to be re-inducted into the Siddaramaiah government on Monday. It has been just a week since the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) gave a clean chit to George after being allegedly accused of being involved in DySP Ganapathy's death. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on September 26 at 11 am and it is likely that George will get back his portfolio of Bangalore city minister. He will be sworn in as a Cabinet rank minister. George will fill up the one vacancy that is left in the Siddaramaiah cabinet which remained empty after George was forced to step down pending inquiry into the DySP's death. With the maximum size of the Ministry at 34, there would be no vacancy after the induction of George in the Council of Ministry. BACK GROUNDER advertisement The CID had filed a B report on September 17, 2016 in the Madikeri magistrate court clearing George's involvement in Ganapathy's death. Deputy Superintendent of Police Ganapathy, committed suicide on July 7, 2016 and in a video message named K J George, and two senior IPS officers AM Prasad and Pronab Mohanty responsible for his death and alleged harassment by them. The CID which probed the death of the DySP on September 17, submitted a 'B' Report to the Madikeri court giving a clean chit to the George as well two senior IPS officers accused of abetting the suicide. The video note had forced K J George who held the Bangalore minister portfolio to resign from his post till the CID enquiry was complete. ALSO READ: Karnataka cop suicide: CID questions former town planning minister KJ George --- ENDS --- It looks like that's it for Melbourne Express this morning. Thankfully, there was no maddening traffic debacle that needed tending to. But back to our first post about the weather: It is going to be a very wet week. And this afternoon there is a forecast for wind, thunderstorm and hail at about the time most people knock off from work ... A motorcyclist has died north of Melbourne following a collision with a caravan. The man, believed to be in his 30s, had been riding near Flowerdale on Sunday afternoon when his motorbike collided with a caravan being towed by a vehicle, a police spokesman said. Another motorcyclist has been killed on the state's roads. Credit:Seven News Paramedics were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. It's believed he was riding with a number of other motorcyclists at Strath Creek, but no one else was injured in the crash. Amman: A Jordanian Christian writer and journalist who was facing blasphemy charges was shot dead outside a courthouse in the country's capital on the weekend. The writer, Nahed Hattar, 56, was shot three times, and a suspect was arrested near the scene, according to Petra news agency. Mr Hattar, a Christian, was arrested in August and charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam after sharing a cartoon on Facebook that showed a bearded man in bed with two women ordering God to bring him some wine and cashews. Relatives and friends of prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar hold pictures of him and chant slogans against the government during a sit-in in the town of Al-Fuheis near Amman on Sunday. Credit:Raad Adayleh/AP His post was widely denounced on social media, and he removed it shortly after. He deactivated his Facebook account and released an apology that said he "did not mean to offend anyone". The apology, using another name for the Islamic State, also said the cartoon "mocks ISIS terrorists and their concept of heaven". He was released on bail earlier this month. He had gone to the court for the trial when he was shot. Annan: A gunman has shot dead Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside the court where he was to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature seen as insulting Islam, witnesses and state media said. The gunman was arrested at the scene, state news agency Petra said. A security source said he was a 39-year-old Muslim preacher in a mosque in the capital. An ambulance transports the body of Nahed Hattar to a medical facility after he was shot dead in front of a courthouse. Credit:AP Hattar, a Christian and an anti-Islamist activist who was a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was arrested last month after he shared a caricature that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and cashews. In the cartoon, the man also asks God to clear his dishes and put a door on his tent and knock before entering. A Must Read: Edwin Black's Non-Fiction Book THE PLAN - Review Now that gasoline prices are heading back over $3 per gallon and it has become painfully obvious that Barak Obama and his administration has done virtually none of the things he promised to make America energy independent, we are republishing this review of Edwin Black's important book. Only read this book if you want to understand the energy crisis and find a solution. If you want to remain ignorant, selfish, and in support of American-hating foreign oil producers and rapacious domestic gasoline companies you should avoid Edwin Black's THE PLAN. First published September 22, 2008 By Marc J. Rauch Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher If youve been watching television, reading newspapers or magazines, or are a regular visitor to automotive and political websites, youve heard about T. Boone Pickens plan to help move America away from its dependency on foreign oil. The Pickens Plan calls for the substitution of foreign oil with domestically produced compressed natural gas and wind power. As much as I admire Boone Pickens and support The Pickens Plan, compared to the proposition laid out by Edwin Black in THE PLAN, its merely one narrow lane of Blacks all-encompassing super-highway proposal (to use an apt metaphor). I dont know if Boone Pickens and Edwin Black have a personal relationship, but if their altruistic intentions for advancing their respective plans-of-salvation can be trusted (and theres no reason why they cant be) then the two should get together; theyd make a formidable team. I first met Edwin at the 2006 Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica, California*. He was scheduled to speak in the middle of two days of noteworthy lecturers and industry spokespersons, such as former CIA Director James Woolsey, California Cabinet Secretary Terry Tamminen, Actor/activist Ed Begley, and incoming California State Senator Fran Pavley. As informative and inspiring as the other speakers were, Edwins presentation HOW WE BECAME ADDICTED TO OIL AND HOW TO BREAK THE ADDICTION RIGHT NOW was all that, and more: it shocked the audience. It shocked because he talked about historical episodes that, frankly, I hoped wasnt true. Information that sounded on the face of it as anti-American, anti-business rhetoric; and if Im anything, its pro-American, pro-business. As the presentation went on, and detailed reference sources were revealed, it became clear that like-it-or-not, I was hearing the truth. Later, after I had the chance to do some fact checking on my own, and find out more about Edwin Black, I realized that hes neither anti-American nor anti-business, hes just a damn good investigative journalist. Moreover, his revelations are not intended to destroy America or cherished business folklore but to illuminate the past and warn of a future that we may face, if we dont take care now. Edwin Blacks latest book, THE PLAN, sets up a realistic scenario in which the west and America must confront a catastrophic crisis (versus the mere escalation of oil prices to oppressive levels) in which foreign oil is cut off due to petropolitical design or terrorism. According to Edwin, the United States has no comprehensive plan of dealing with this kind of an emergency, other than buying our way out by agreeing to whatever economic and political demands are made by the antagonists. THE PLAN spells out how and why catastrophe could occur, and it lays out who the global players are, both past and present. Remarkably, we learn that many of the most significant players were (until now) unknown, even to other significant global players. Edwin and his team has amassed incredible statistics and details that illustrate the alarming depths to which past and present government and corporate conspiracies have enslaved us to oil (foreign and domestic) and outmoded transportation vehicles that wont allow us to escape from oil. Over the past few years, when I have had occasion to write about the insane rise in oil and gasoline prices, I often received criticism from someone who thinks that its just the laws of supply and demand at work. I guess they took an economic class in high school. When you read THE PLAN you realize that its not supply and demand to blame for high prices, it is manipulation and greed. The historical data contained in the first three chapters alone make the book invaluable because this one-stop repository of information would be virtually impossible for anyone with less of a research staff to compile. Beginning with Chapter 4, Edwin proposes the plan to get America out of a catastrophic oil crisis. The plan is a multi-stage deployment of actions, which, as the author readily admits, are not without severe restrictions and societal limitations. However, he points out that weve had to endure many of these same restrictions, in one way or another, during other times of emergency and that weve always come out to the better. Purchase the book by CLICKING HERE The plan recognizes the importance of American natural gas, as an immediate answer to rising gasoline prices, to staving off a catastrophic event from ever occurring in the first place, and as the primary bridging fuel source should a catastrophe occur. And like the comments made by Boone Pickens during his keynote speech at The Future Is Green Conference last week (when he stated that hes for all solutions to the problem, as long as theyre American solutions), THE PLANs plan envisions using all fuel and mechanical solutions, with consideration given to regional availability, as long as the solutions free us from foreign oil dependency. Other than the incredible intellectual benefit from the content in THE PLAN, there are three things that I really like about the book. First, its non-partisan: As far as I can tell, the book blames neither the Republicans nor Democrats more than the other. As an aside, I think theyre both at fault and should be equally horsewhipped along with their industrial co-conspirators. THE PLAN offers no prediction as to which party would do a better job at implementing the suggestions, so regardless of which candidate is elected in November, either could adopt the plan without the stigma that hes using the other guys program. Second, the solutions set forth in THE PLAN are not magical or unattainable. Theyre really just good common sense suggestions (as the author himself states). Moreover, most of the plan could and should be put immediately into play by the new President (during the traditional Congressional honeymoon period), regardless of who wins and regardless of whether we have entered the catastrophic stage of the energy crisis. It would be far better to do it now before were counting the days until the foreign oil in our storage tanks runs out. And the third aspect of THE PLAN that I thought was terrific is its timeliness. Owing to modern publishing methods, books no longer have to be finished many months in advance, with their information becoming stale. THE PLAN is not only hot-off-the-press, some of the information is now, literally written just a few days ago. THE PLAN includes developments in the auto and energy industries that just occurred. The Plan Trailer Play Medium Quality (670Kb/s) Play High Quality (3300Kb/s) Click PLAY to watch discuss this issue Click PLAY to watch Edwin Black's presentation to the Western Automotive Journalists' meeting SIDE NOTE: The future of the world depends on how we handle the energy situation. Im not talking about the environmental perspective, although that gives us enough reason to address the issue. We must confront the energy problem because of economic concerns. The world is in an economic slump as a result of the DotCom bust. The bust happened because there were just too many idiotic companies sucking up investor dollars, and then paying out unrealistic salaries to inexperienced employees (that in turn fueled the housing boom and later the housing crash when millions were thrown into unemployment or under-paying jobs under-paying compared to the previous unrealistic salaries - and they couldn't afford their mortgage payments). We need the BOOM of the DotCom era without the BUST. Finding and actually producing cheaper fuel sources, and the production and distribution of all the mobile and stationary machines that will utilize the new fuel sources will create millions of new jobs and business opportunities. Even with the inevitable idiotic start-up companies that will be in the mix, this boom wont bust after four or five short years, itll last for two, three, or four decades. *To explore The Auto Channels Press Pass Coverage of past alternate fuel expositions and events click on the links below: By Press Trust of India: Filmmaker Karan Johar says his heart bleeds for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack and he understands the anger in the country but boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism. Johar's comment comes after MNS threatened Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India, failing which the shooting of their films would be stalled. Fawad stars in Johar's upcoming film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which is slated to release this Diwali. advertisement ALSO READ: Raj Thackeray's unrequited love for Bollywood, Mumbai and Karan Johar's films "I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it," the director told a news channel. "But this is not a solution. I don't believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art." The 44-year-old filmmaker said he feels "vulnerable" while speaking about it publicly. "I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was to put out a product out of love and nothing else." When asked how he will deal with these threats, Johar said, "I don't know... I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let's look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer." The director said sometimes creative people feel so frustrated that they just want to "fold hands and say 'Leave us alone'. I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in that scheme of things. I am just a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel, I am a vulnerable soft target. I have faced it, felt the repercussions of it in the past and I have constantly combatted that. "Sometimes, you just want to fold your hands and say, 'We are creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions in the world, in our country who are happy with the work we do, allow us that...' I think we should not be those soft targets anymore. We don't matter in the scheme of things but we can make things happier and better," he said. --- ENDS --- advertisement New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for New York Community Bank. 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Prince George demonstrated he has the right stuff to be King today, showing a promising mastery for one so young at the art of the royal wave as he arrived with his mother Kate Middleton, father Prince William and sister Princess Charlotte at the Canadian city of Victoria this afternoon. The blonde three year old, smartly dressed in a navy blue sweater, shorts and his customary knee-high socks, stole the show as he greeted the waiting media who had been waiting on the tarmac for several hours behind a cordon - with enthusiastic and unabashed semaphore. The family landed shortly after 4pm local time (7pm EST) and were greeted by a group including Canadian prime minster Justin Trudeau, and his wife, Sophie. Kate was wearing a blue Jenny Packham dress with a matching hat by Locke and Co, and the Queens maple leaf brooch. Princess Charlotte, making her first public appearance as a toddler, wore a dress of pale blue and was carried in her mothers arms. The royal family will be touring Canada for the rest of the week, returning back to the U.K. a week from today. The presence of the two youngest royals on the Canada tour, looks set to make the tour a headline grabbing royal PR exercise. The social media profiles for the alleged killer in a Burlington, Washington shooting spree depict a young man fascinated by guns, video games, and serial killers. Police arrested 20-year-old Arcan Cetin on Saturday night, after he allegedly opened fire in a Macys cosmetics department in a mall north of Seattle, killing four women and one man. Investigators have not announced a motive and say they have no evidence to suggest the shooting was an act of terrorism. But Cetins social media and court records suggest a long-held interest in guns, one which grew increasingly troubled within the last year. Security footage from the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington appears to show Cetin entering the mall twice on Friday night: once unarmed, then approximately 10 minutes later, when he returned with a rifle. Witnesses told local media that they heard the gunfire approximately 12 times. Four women died on the scene, while the male victim died later in the hospital. Cetin had access to guns since childhood, his social media profiles indicate. In a series of undated MySpace photographs uploaded before March 2014, he shows off a series of guns. In one picture, a young Cetin holds his uncles M16, a rifle similar in make to the AR-15, a weapon with a dark reputation as a favorite for mass-shooters. Two other pictures, which appear to have been taken at a later date show him holding another rifle and a handgun. Cetin, who posted frequently about video games and sometimes live-streamed Call of Duty Games, was also apparently interested in a career in the armed forces. He tweeted about his friends in the Reserve Officers Training Corps, and a high school classmate confirmed to The New York Times that Cetin had been active in the military training program. References to guns and Cetins apparent fixation with Russia also made their way into his Tumblr, where he posted under the username arcanmotherrussiavodkaandak47. Truth is: You are a very odd character, a former classmate wrote in 2012 on Cetins now-deleted Facebook profile. You were always going on about being Russian and stuff like that, but under that you really supported America (or so it seemed to me) and I always thought that was really cool. Maybe we will have ROTC together again next year! :D even if we dont, try to keep up with the Mother Russia thing! But Cetinwho as a child immigrated to the United States from Turkey, not Russiahad an increasingly troubled record, one that showed on his social media profiles as well as court documents. On Tumblr, Cetin liked and reblogged multiple posts about serial killers, including a picture of a four-year-old Ted Bundy smiling on a sled, and a list of murders who collected souvenirs from their killings. Court records obtained by the Seattle Times reveal a drunk driving arrest, and charges of three domestic violence assault against his stepfather. During a December 29 court appearance for his domestic violence charge, a judge ordered that Cetin would not be allowed to possess firearms. Cetins stepfather argued in Cetins favor, asking the judge to forgo a no-contact order, adding that Cetin was going through a hard time. While the alleged shooters motives remain unknown, law enforcement officials told Washingtons KING 5 television station that the Cetins ex-girlfriend had worked at the Macys until recently, adding that Cetin appeared to have stolen the guns from his father. On Facebook, a number of Cetins female classmates accused him of sexism. I fucking went to high school with this perverted piece of shit, wrote Uhlaine Finnigan, a former classmate who said she nearly went to the mall the night of the shooting. His name is Arcan Certin, a fucking degenerate. He'd grab and slap my friends and I's asses and even caressed my friends chest, along with other women. Has been known to be violent towards girls too. This was a target against women. Rot in hell. Multiple women, allegedly former classmates, echoed Finnigan in the comments. Holy shit dude I met him in 4th grade, one wrote. And even then he was sexually harassing my friends and I. What the fuck. New York is no stranger to explosives. Over the past century the city has endured bombings carried out by lunatics, extortionists, and extremists of all stripes. In the first decade of the 20th century, the criminal organization known as the Black Hand terrorized successful Italian immigrants, bombing their homes and shops if they did not pay protection money. In 1904, the NYPD founded the Italian Squad under Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino to combat this evil. This was the genesis of the Bomb Squad. The city was and continues to be a battleground for political strife. For a hundred years, groups espousing a range of radical causes or special interest grievances have targeted sites in New York in their quest for justice, or revenge. Broadly speaking, we can identify three periods of terrorist activity in the city: the 1910s, with anarchists and labor radicals attacking symbols of capitalism; the 1960s and 1970s, when young self-styled revolutionaries and black radicals assaulted the establishment, and ethnic and racial pride stirred others to commit acts of terror; and the attacks by adherents of radical Islam since the 1990s, a conflict that offers no end. What each has in common is that youthwith few exceptions terrorists are youngembraced an ideology and carried it to its illogical end. If the cause is just, then any actions can be justified, or in the words of Malcolm X, by any means necessary. I much prefer the words of Ralph Waldo Emersonthe ends preexist in the means. The first age of terror lasted but a few years, and the anarchists detonated very few bombs, but the state saw in them a great threat. After all, an anarchist had assassinated President William McKinley in 1901. One group of anarchists blew themselves up in a Manhattan tenement on July 4, 1914 while assembling a bomb intended for John D. Rockefeller. Members of the International Workers of the World exploded a bomb in St. Patricks Cathedral and another in the courtroom of the judge presiding over the trial of I.W.W. members. An undercover officer infiltrated the group brought about their arrest. How did they expect planting bombs in a church would advance their cause? The most dramatic incident was the still unsolved bombing outside the headquarters of the J.P. Morgan Company at 23 Wall Street, across from the New York Stock Exchange, on September 16, 1920. At 12:01 p.m., a bomb left in a horse-drawn wagon and packed with pieces of metal exploded, killing 30 people. The most likely suspect was Mario Buda, a member of the anarchist circle in Massachusetts that Nicola Sacco and Bartelemeo Vanzetti belonged to. Sacco and Vanzetti had been arrested for murder and robbery only five days before. Five flyers were found in a mailbox a two-minute walk from the scene, deposited prior to the 11:58 pickup. One said: Remember we will not tolerate any longer. Free the Political Prisoners or it will be death for all of you. Anarchist fighters. Buda fled to Italy. Visit the site and you will see evidence of the bombing in the buildings granite base. For the following 40 years, New York experienced no significant acts of terrorism. But that changed in the mid-1960s as the city became a battleground for various groups advocating racial justice, national independence, ethnic pride, and revolution. For more than two decades, the city was the scene of jetliner hijackings, attacks on police and other arms of government, and many, many bombings, several of them resulting in death and serious injury. Some New Yorkers today are inclined to romanticize the political idealism and fervor of those years. Largely omitted from that idealized narrative is any consideration of the widespread violence perpetrated by radical groups, often acting in the name of racial or ethnic justice. To protest the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union, young American Jews planted bombs in the offices of companies doing business with USSR; a young woman was killed by one such blast. Croatians hijacked airliners, took over the Yugoslav consulate at gunpoint, and planted a bomb in LaGuardia Airport that killed 11 and wounded 75. Members of the Weather Underground blew themselves up in a Greenwich Village townhouse while preparing bombs to plant at a dance at Fort Dix. The Black Liberation Army robbed banks and assassinated police officers on the streets. Perhaps the most dangerous, and secretive, group was the F.A.L.N. Seeking independence for Puerto Rico, they planted bombs across the city in a campaign lasting years. Between 1974 and 1983, they were responsible for an estimated 114 bombings across the nation. Their most notorious act was the lunch hour bombing of Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan in January 1975, killing four and injuring 53. The bomb maker, Willie Morales, was later badly maimed by one of his own devices. He escaped from jail and is now living in Cuba. On the right, Anti-Castro Cubans carried on their own terror campaign, targeting the consulates of governments that recognized Castros government, companies doing business with Cuba, and individuals seeking to normalize relations. They bombed a Soviet freighter in the harbor, Lincoln Center, Grove Press, and union halls, and they assassinated opponents. Today all memory of their actions has seemingly faded. Despite the hundreds, literally hundreds of bombings in the city during these years, and despite the targeting of police, especially by the Black Panthers and the Black Liberation Army, law enforcement strove to identify the specific individuals involved and did not demonize a wider population. The courts demonstrated serious concern for the rights of the accused and were always alert to the possibility of police entrapment. In many cases, juries were reluctant to convict. One of the lasting legacies of this era is the 1985 consent decree known as the Handschu Agreement. In 1971, Barbara Hansdchu and fifteen other plaintiffs, Abbie Hoffman among them, sued the police department over its practice of infiltrating and monitoring political and religious groups. Handschu prohibits the department from investigating any political or religious group unless there is specific information that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. The NYPD petitioned to modify Handschu after the 9/11 attack to foster investigation of terrorists, and in April 2003, the United States District Court approved the modified guidelines. Looking back from a post-9/11 perspective, the earlier episodes of terror and the response of law enforcement, the courts, and the general public, belong to another world. Today, an individual of questionable mental stability mumbling a vague threat to an undercover operative is sentenced to decades in prison. Then, individuals caught with dynamite and blasting caps received a suspended sentence, if they were even convicted. For many New Yorkers, it seemed, the bombings were just another indication of urban decay, rising criminality, and social instability. New York enjoyed only a brief respite from Sixties-era terror before the specter of a new, seemingly open-ended age of terror announced itself. The first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 seemed to come out of nowhere, but in fact there had been earlier acts of Islamic terror in the city. In 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie for publishing his novel The Satanic Verses. After that the major bookstore chains removed the volume from their shelves, but not an independent shop in the Bronx. The Riverdale Press ran an editorial against censorship stemming from fear titled The Tyrant and His Chains. Soon after the papers office was firebombed, and a caller claimed it was in response to the fatwa. Local newspapers across the country then reprinted the editorial, and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan entered it into the Congressional Record. In April 1990 a pipe bomb exploded in Uncle Charlies, a gay bar in the Village. Initially the police did not believe it was a hate crime (resulting in angry demonstrations by gay activists), but suspicion later fell on a certain El Sayyid Nosair, an Egyptian immigrant. Seven months later Nosair assassinated Meir Kahane, founder of the Jewish Defense League, and from his prison cell he participated in the World Trade Center bombing conspiracy. Osama bin Laden contributed to Nosairs defense fund. The clues to that terror cell were there, but law enforcement did not put them together. The attacks on the World Trade Center in 1993 and 2001 were entirely different from the domestic terrorism of the 1970s. In the 1970s, many Americans were sympathetic to the causes and grievances of the radicals, even if they rejected their terrorist methods. Today, few Americans support the cause of militant Islam or the nations who back them. Also different is the response of the police. Since 9/11, New Yorkers have been subject to more intrusive surveillance, and the police have shown less tolerance for the creative energy and quirkiness that made the city so dynamic. The zero tolerance approach to civic disorder and low level crime has made more New Yorkers subject to aggressive policing. This is in sharp contrast to the previous age of urban terrorism. Police then tried to target the radicals without limiting the traditional freedoms of the city. Then too, the legal system was wary of police entrapment, the involvement of agent provocateurs, and the infringement of individual rights. Today, juries have readily convicted Islamic terrorists of conspiracy and judges have rendered long sentences. On the one hand, the criminal justice system has dealt sternly with the plots, but on the other, the public is subject to police controls far more extensive than even the most aggressive tactics of that earlier war on terror. Still, the fact remains that New York City will be an inviting target for terror. In the past, terrorists clearly identified their cause (as muddy their thinking may have been), and their motives were understood from their own statements. The FALN demanded independence for Puerto Rico; the Weathermen sought a Marxist revolution. Why do we persist in seeking the motives of bomb making terrorists or assassins today who announce allegiance to strains of radical Islam? It benefits no one to deny the nature of our attackers by labeling their motivation as violent extremism as President Obama does, or the scandalous statement of Mayor de Blasio calling the Chelsea bombing an intentional act. Jeffrey A. Kroessler is an urban historian and librarian at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. And we are here as on a darkling plainSwept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,Where ignorant armies clash by night. Deeply depressed by the rise of Donald Trump and fearful for our nations future, I recently found myself reciting the last lines of Matthew Arnolds Dover Beach, first published in 1861. Arnold was somewhat premature in imagining the worlds descent into chaos and strife. But the poems chilling metaphors return to us now as an augury of Americas political crack-up. What makes the poem even more illuminating for these dreadful times is that Arnold was convinced that the clash of ignorant armies would be brought about (at least in part) by bad education. In addition to his standing as one of Victorian Britains greatest poets and cultural critics, Arnold was also a serious education reformer. For 35 years he held a day job as an inspector of schools, eventually rising to the position of Chief Inspector of Schools for all of Britain. He went on extended visits to several European countries to study their education systems. In his influential education reports and in some of his critical essays he scorned the individualistic, child centered, and haphazard pedagogy prevalent in British schools at the time (championed by, among others, John Stuart Mill.) Instead, Arnold proposed that government schools be required to teach a core curriculum of liberal, humanistic studies similar to the French schools he had come to admire. The primary aim of education in an industrial democracy, Arnold believed, was to introduce all childrenrich and poor alike to the achievements of western civilization and culture, which he famously defined as the best which has been said and thought. Yet there was nothing elitist about Arnolds approach to learning. With the rising demands for equality and full civic participation of the working classes, Arnold was confident that the masses were capable of mastering Britains rich cultural heritage. He feared that without this shared national spirit the English people would be unable to overcome narrow sectional and economic interests and support the common good. Modern democracy might then degenerate into violence, confusion and the clash of ignorant armies. The political problem that Arnold wrestled with all his life now haunts America. Truth is the first casualty of this years presidential election from hell; loss of respect for the nations republican heritage is the second. Heres one example among many: At a raucous campaign rally in South Carolina last February Donald Trump was riffing on one of his favorite themeshow he would defeat Islamic terrorism overnight if elected president. In that context he brought up General Jack Pershings success in suppressing the 1903 Moro rebellion in the Philippines. But Trump falsely claimed that Pershing ordered the execution of dozens of Muslim prisoners with bullets dipped in pigs blood, thereby slandering a great American soldier as a war criminal. Trumps story was subsequently proven to be a big fat lie by fact checkers and historians of the period. Never mind, forget facts, this is morning in America circa 2016. At a campaign rally in California two months later Trump repeatedalmost verbatimhis narrative about General Pershings execution of Muslim prisoners. Trumps supporters erupted with wild cheers and bellowing. Ignorant armies, indeed. If he were with us now, Matthew Arnold would have minced no words about this spectacle. And he might have asked what had gone wrong with American education, which he admired in his own day. Heres the answer to Arnolds hypothetical question: A half century ago there began a pedagogical upheaval in the nations schools, a revolution from the top carried out by self-described progressives, that eventually succeeded in stripping away any semblance of a coherent grade-by-grade curriculum. Professional educators (most of them at least) reclaimed romantic theories of child development dating all the way back to Rousseau and powerfully reinforced in the 1930s by the American philosopher John Dewey. Henceforth the nations Ed schools instructed prospective K-12 teachers that children were capable of constructing their own knowledge. The classroom teacher should be a guide on the side, instead of a sage on the stage. In many American public schools it was now deemed more important for children to learn how to learn rather than to accumulate mere facts and useless knowledge. The resurrection of the child-centered pedagogy that Mathew Arnold railed against in his own lifetime turned classroom instruction upside down, disrupting the transmission of civic values and traditions from one generation to the next. Noting the old adage about the inmates taking over the asylum, the writer David Solway recently mused that in the era of progressive education it is the children [who] have taken over the creche. Three decades worth of test surveys conducted by the National Assessment of Education Progress, considered the gold standard of student assessments, and other testing agencies have amply demonstrated one of the consequences of the progressive education revolutionthe astonishing ignorance of history and civics by younger and older Americans alike. By the end of the 1990s, two thirds of high school seniors were unable to identify the 50-year period in which the Civil War was fought; half didnt know in which half century World War I took place. More than half could not name the three branches of government. A majority had no idea what the Gettysburg address was all about. Fifty two percent chose Germany, Japan or Italy as U.S. allies in World War II. Several years ago Newsweek asked a sample of 1000 voters to take the same test that new immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship must pass. One third of the respondents couldnt name the vice president and half didnt know that the first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights. Only one third knew that the Constitution is considered the nations highest law. We cant say we werent warned about this looming debacle for the political process. Indeed, the first alarm bells sounded even before the ink was dry on the signatures attached to the first copy of the U.S. Constitution. The story has it that as Benjamin Franklin came out of Convention Hall in Philadelphia he was approached by a woman well known in local society circles. Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy? the lady asked. A republic, if you can keep it, Franklin replied. The founders feared that a struggle among the former colonies competing economic and regional interest groups might undermine the delicate constitutional framework they had just created. To counter the threat of factionalism, they established a system of checks and balances. But they also advocated for a national curriculum that would teach future generations the historical knowledge needed to keep the new republic. Such a system of schooling was necessary, said Thomas Jefferson, so that childrens memories may here be stored with the most useful facts from Grecian, European, Roman, European and American history. (For Jefferson there was no such thing as mere facts.) Constitutional delegate Benjamin Rush from Pennsylvania penned an essay proposing a curriculum for all elementary schools in order to create republican machines and maintain the common good. A half century later, with the union under threat of being torn apart by sectional rivalries, Abraham Lincoln called for the nations schools to renew their commitment to a common republican curriculum. In his Lyceum speech, the future president assigned schools the task of teaching children the American credo of solidarity, freedom, and civic peace above all other principles. Let these values, Lincoln said, be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in collegeslet it be written in Primmers [sic], spelling books and almanacs. In 1987 the scholar E.D. Hirsch Jr. issued an eloquent prophesy about the consequences of allowing the curriculum to go off the rails. Like Matthew Arnold, Hirsch was a literary critic turned education reformer. His first education book, Cultural Literacy, warned that the abandonment of teaching essential knowledge in the schools would be disastrous for Americas well-being and cultural cohesion. Cultural Literacy became a surprise best-seller that year, appearing on the New York Times list for 26 weeks. One reason for the books instant popularity was that it arrived at a perfectly opportune moment. Four years earlier, the Reagan administration had released A Nation at Risk, a widely publicized report documenting the mediocre education that most American children were receiving. The report set off shock waves among parents. Many now saw Hirschs call for restoring a coherent grade-by-grade curriculum as a possible answer. Hirsch put the blame for the meltdown of the schools squarely on the education progressives, including John Dewey. The great philosophers mistake, according to Hirsch, was to assume that early education need not be tied to specific content and too hastily reject[ing] the piling up of information. This error was particularly tragic for poor and minority children. By encouraging an early education that is free of `unnatural bookish knowledge and of `inappropriate pressure to exert hard effort, Hirsch wrote, progressive education virtually ensures that children from well-educated homes who happen to be primed with academically relevant background knowledge which they bring with them to school, will learn faster than disadvantaged children who do not bring such knowledge with them and do not receive it at school. Amazingly, 1987 produced yet another prophetic and best-selling education book, The Closing of the American Mind by Alan Bloom, a previously unknown University of Chicago professor. Blooms book, subtitled How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Todays Students, exposed the unraveling of academic standards at American universities. Eventually it sold more than a million copies, an astonishing number for a text full of references to philosophers such as Plato and Rousseau. A million customers didnt buy The Closing of the American Mind for its insights into Plato. Blooms opus went viral on the literary lists because it constituted a passionate Jaccuse from inside the academy about the betrayal of the ideals of the American university by cowardly professors and administrators. As Hirsch did for K-12 education, Bloom spotlighted the evisceration of the core curriculum and the subsequent crisis in the humanities. Survey courses in philosophy, literature and American history were disappearing from course catalogues, which meant that young people were now graduating from prestigious universities without any familiarity with, say, the works of Shakespeare, Rousseau or the Founding Fathers. Even the most select students, Bloom wrote, know so much less, are so much more cut off from the tradition, are so much slacker intellectually that they make their predecessors look like prodigies of culture. The appearance of these two widely popular books at the same time led to some hope that the dumbing down of American education might finally be stanched. One promising sign was that Hirsch was able to create the Core Knowledge Foundation, located in Charlottesville Virginia, home of the University of Virginia, where Hirsch was an English professor. The foundation created a knowledge based curriculum that was soon adopted by over one thousand schools (public and charter) around the country. Parents also purchased a series of the foundations guides outlining what children should have learned by the end of each grade. Nevertheless, Hirsch could not have anticipated the level of vitriol directed at him when he crossed the border separating the universities and their ed-school affiliates and dared to criticize the education professors for the wrongheaded training they were providing to K-12 teachers. The ed-school establishment turned on Hirsch as an interloper, branding him a reactionary, an elitist, and a defender of white privilege. (Actually Hirsch wasand still isa liberal Democrat.) The official journal of the American Educational Research Association, the professional organization representing the nations education professoriate, published an unprecedented 8,000 word diatribe attacking Hirschs work, which included this remarkable accusation: Hirsch minimizes a history of racial and gender bias as factors in differential educational and economic achievement. He dismisses complex theories of social class reproduction, and he demotes the importance of pedagogies that encourage the construction and negotiation of meaning across communities of difference. He insists that teachers and the texts are the proper bearers and students the proper recipients of meaning and refuses to understand the importance of meaning as a negotiated product in a multicultural society. Assuming this passage could be translated into standard English, it would actually prove that everything Hirsch had written about the disgrace of the Ed schools was correct. Blooms book on higher education also stimulated some informed debate for a while, including a pushback by alumni shocked by his revelations about the lowering of academic standards. A few brave faculty members fought a rear guard action to preserve universalism, western civilization and high academic standards, but they were soon marginalized and denounced as racists and fascists by their colleagues, many of whom were veterans of the destructive 1960s radicalism. Bloom too was viciously attacked by an army of offended liberal and leftist professors for his alleged elitist and anti-democratic ideas. In Harpers the political theorist Benjamin Barber called Bloom a philosopher despot. Through these attacks, the mandarins of progressive education were able to maintain control of the academic content (that is, no academic content) in both the K-12 schools and the universities. Those of us who thought that American education had finally reached its nadir by the end of the 1990s hadnt seen anything yet. We had focused our critical attention almost exclusively on the unforced errors committed by teachers, school administrators, and ed-school professors. We werent prepared for the coming of the millennials, a generation like no other. We werent paying enough attention to the lifestyle changes young people were now experiencing because of the new world of social media and the internet. The baleful effects of this digital-age revolution on young minds was entirely independent of the quality of the formal schooling they were receiving. The Dumbest Generation, by Emory University English professor Mark Bauerline, brought us up to date with reams of depressing data. Along with the works of Hirsch and Bloom, Bauerlines 2008 book is essential for understanding the stupid election of 2016. The books title is no mere epithet. The Dumbest Generation is a thoroughly researched examination of the intellectual habits and tastes of the millennials, revealing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the countrys education collapse has reached a new and even more dangerous level. According to a host of objective national surveys, these young people have not only been shortchanged of essential cultural literacy in the schools, like previous generations, but they now disdain intellectual curiosity and the culture of books altogether. For this generation theres no need to read any serious historical and cultural texts, since anything worth knowing can always be Googled. Bauerline makes us see that when the distractions of digital age social media were added to the breakdown of the curriculum in the schools the results for our society and our democracybecome doubly toxic. No cohort in human history has opened such a fissure between its material conditions and its intellectual attainments. None has experienced so many technological enhancements and yielded so little progress, Bauerline writes. This is the paradox of the dumbest generation. For the young American, life has never been so yielding, goods so plentiful, schooling so accessible and liberties so copious. The material gains are clear But its a shallow advent. As the survey research shows, knowledge and skills havent kept pace, and the intellectual habits that complement them are slipping The mental equipment of the young falls short of their media, money, e-gadgets, and career plans. Even the objective surveys cited by Bauerline cant quite capture the everyday reality of this fracture. Something more personal and up close with the millennials is needed. So consider this observation by David Gelernter, a prominent professor of computer sciences at Yale University: Im lucky to be at one of the best colleges in the world. Our students are as smart as any in the world. They work very hard to get here My students today are much less obnoxious, much more likable than I and my friends used to be, but they are so ignorant that its hard to accept how ignorant they are. You tell yourself stories; its very hard to grasp that the person youre talking to, who is bright, articulate, advisable, interested, and doesnt know who Beethoven is. Had no view looking back at the history of the 20th centuryjust sees a fog, a blank. Has the vaguest idea of who Winston Churchill was or why he mattered. And maybe has no image of Teddy Roosevelt . They know nothing about art. They know nothing about history. They know nothing about philosophy. Is it any wonder that the millennials described by Professors Bauerline and Gelernter overwhelmingly supported a 74-year-old self-proclaimed socialist who got them to believe that making a new American revolution with goodies for all would be as easy as pie? The chickens have now come home to roost from the progressives halfcentury assault on teaching knowledge and academic content in the classroom. The obliteration of the past, the rejection of the hallowed American idea that there exist self-evident truths, has inevitably left us with a presidential election as a fact-free zone and a voting public less knowledgeable than ever. This is a tragedy for the country. It will soon turn out to be particularly concerning for Americas conservative movementwhats left of it after this horrific campaign. I have admired the NeverTrump conservatives and neoconservatives bravely calling out Donald Trump and his minions for their lies, cynicism and betrayal of American values. In a very dark time, I have found some consolation in being able to praise writers such as John Podhoretz, William Kristol, Kevin Williamson, George Will, Bret Stephens and many othersplus the conservative magazines Commentary, the Weekly Standard and National Reviewfor continuing to tell the brutal truth about the Trump campaigns underlying barbarism and anti-Americanism. Nevertheless, I would fault the NeverTrump conservatives in one area. It is that they havent yet fully explored how much this years political debacle has been influenced by the meltdown of American schooling. They must know that a true American conservatism can only be sustained with citizens and voters who understand our past and appreciate the historic traditions of the republic. And those habits of mind can only be taught in the schools through a planned curriculum. Its understandable that these conservatives would have qualms about suggesting that those voting for the wrong candidate are dumbwhich can then be seen as intellectual snobbery. There has also been an unpleasant tradition in western thought, exemplified by Nietzche and his American epigone H.L. Mencken, which has used the alleged stupidity of the masses as an excuse for abandoning democracy altogether. While being aware of that danger, there is still no escaping the connection between lowering a democratic societys intellectual standards and lowering the expectations for those vying for its leadership. Our founding fathers understood this connection. Matthew Arnold understood it all too well. He knew that without immersing future generations in the best that has been said and thought many will be tempted to choose leaders who represent the worst that has been said and thought. With this peculiar situation, Karnataka may be facing a major crop failure, one because of flooding and the other due to inadequate water for irrigation. By Rohini Swamy: Rains have wreaked havoc in the Hyderabad Karnataka and Bombay Karnataka regions, causing huge losses to life and property. Karnataka is facing a peculiar situation where the northern part of the state is facing heavy rains and the southern part of the state is faced with drought. BRIDGES SUBMERGED, ROADS CUT OFF Several roads and bridges have cut off many villages from the cities due to heavy inundation. In Bidar district, vehicular movement came to a standstill as the bridges in Dadagi, Kalawadi and Inchur were submerged. Several roads connecting Bidar to Kusunoor, Bhalki and Humnabad were cut off due to heavy rains. advertisement The flood situation in Kalaburagi district is also grim with the major reservoirs in the district were overflowing and the rivers crossed the danger mark. Several hectares of crops too were destroyed in the talukas of Chittapur, Sedam, Chincholi, Afzalpur taluks. NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE AIDING IN RESCUE Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which were stationed in Hyderabad have been rushed to Kalgburagi and Raichur to help in rescue and relief operations. Three boats available in Kalaburagi district have been stationed at Sedam, Chandrampalli Dam in Chincholi taluk and Harsur Dam across Bennethora River in Chitapur taluk to take up relief and rescue operations in emergencies. KARNATAKA FACES MAJOR CROP FAILURE With this kind of a situation, the state is heading towards a major crop failure, one because of flooding and the other due to inadequate water for irrigation. This means the burden on the state has doubled and farmers are ones who would be facing the heat. The agriculture minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said that the disaster management department will be assessing the damage in the various districts and submit their report to the revenue ministry. Also read: North Karnataka rivers in spate, several villages in Bengaluru inundated --- ENDS --- Kenneth Baer, a former Obama Administration official, runs Crosscut Strategies; Jeff Nussbaum is a partner at West Wing Writers. Together, they oversaw the speechwriting operation at the 2016 Democratic convention and were once speechwriters for Vice President Al Gore. Baer tweets at @KennethBaer. Nussbaum, at @JeffreyNussbaum. How can Hillary deliver the knockout punch Monday night? She needs to follow the lead of a 76-year-old former amateur boxer, and hit Trump where it hurts: his pocketbook. A little over a week ago, that ex-pugilist, Senator Harry Reid, leveled a blistering attack on Donald Trump as a scam artist who rips off working people and is hiding his tax returns, playing footsy with Vladimir Putin, and running a fake charity all to enrich himself. Trumps response? Silence. Its amazing to think that theres anything that will quiet Trump, but after examining the political campaign to date, its clear that Donald Trump is well aware of what attacks hurt him, and which ones dont. Trumps tell is simple: he ignores the attacks he cant parry, the ones that could open a conversation that would hurt him with the voters who (currently) support him most strongly. Since the general election began in June, Trump has consistently ignored attacks on his business record and economic policies. He even has made outlandish statements to affirmatively shift the debate and 24-hour-a-day cable TV coverage away from these attacks precisely because they are his Achilles heel with the constituencies at the heart of his coalition: the white working class. Look at the most sustained critique of Trump to date, the Democratic convention held in July, and how Trump reacted. Senator Cory Booker exposed how Trumps Atlantic City bankruptcies allowed him to walk away with an incredible amount of money, but devastated workers and small businesses. Trumps tweeted response: If Cory Booker is the future of the Democratic Party, they have no future! Senator Elizabeth Warren defied anyone to find an example of a time that Donald Trump helped working people. Trumps response, Pocahontas bombed last night. Vice President Joe Biden ripped into Trump for being blind to the needs of the middle class. Trump responded by calling Biden not very bright. When Queens Congressman Joe Crowley, who lost a cousin in the 9/11 attacks, pointed out that Trump found a way to take a tax credit intended to help small businesses affected by the attacks (Trump isnt, and wasnt) get back on their feet, Trump was silent. The same was true for attacks on Trumps outsourcing, his belief that the federal minimum wage is too high, his eponymous university ripping off veterans, or his debt-ballooning tax cuts that largely benefit the extremely wealthy. But when the Muslim-American father of an Army officer killed on the battlefield in Iraq questioned his patriotism and knowledge of the Constitution, Trump pounced. At the time, commentators saw this as a massive mistake as the furor dominated the coverage coming out of the Democratic gathering and resulted in Trump being denounced even by some Republicans. Yet, as strange (and odious) as it may seem, it was vintage Trump. It was his opening to move the conversation away from his business record and his economic policies, and onto cultural identity issues that resonate with his base. Recent polling shows why this makes sense for Trump. According to the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, only 27 percent of those surveyed said that Trumps language and comments about women, immigrants, and Muslims is a major concern. Moreover, 82 percent of voters who would consider voting for Trump according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation/CNN poll say Muslims immigrants to the United States increase the risk of terrorist attacks, and 62 percent of Trump supporters said that Latino immigrants take jobs away from Americans. Trump supporters are also profoundly alienated from the political establishment. A whopping 93 percent of them say that they feel poorly represented in Washington. They see Trump as an honest outsider who is on their side and whose success in business will transfer to the management of the economy (whose current state they also see as negative and for which they overwhelmingly blame the federal government). Therein lies the power in the Reid punch. If one can paint Trump as dishonest, an insider who plays the system to benefit himself and also will do nothing for the white working class just as they perceive the rest of the political establishment, then the bottom will fall out of the Trump candidacy. Despite the tightened horse-race numbers, there are signs that this is happening. In the NBC/WSJ poll conducted in June, Trump held a 10-percentage-point lead over Clinton on who people preferred on the economy; in the latest poll; that lead is now down to 5 points. Similarly, Trumps 16-point lead on being seen as honest and straightforward is now down to 10 points (41 to 31 percent) in the latest NBC/WSJ poll. Some of this may be attributed to the paid media the Clinton campaign is running virtually unanswered that does jab Trump on the economy. This includes an ad running in seven swing states featuring a U.S.-based shirt manufacturer blasting Trump for making his branded clothes overseas as well as one that features her economic plan. As the candidates head into Monday, though, Clinton needs to follow Reids lead, and lean into the argument that Trump is a fraud and not on the side of the working class. As we have seen so far, that is the left hook that will lay Trump out on the on mat. In the fall of 1953, the fortunes of the Vietminh Communists looked brighter than ever in their seven-year war against Vietnams erstwhile colonial masters, the French. General Vo Nguyen Giap, chief architect and strategist of the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN), had succeeded brilliantly in dispersing the French Expeditionary Force widely throughout Vietnam and Laos, sapping the strength of its scarce mobile units, and wearing down public support for the dirty war in metropolitan France. The schoolteacher-turned-general, who had learned his craft from books and in the bush, had shown audacity and flexibility, as well as a striking ability to control the momentum of a war Frances best generals had anticipated winning before 1950. The percentage of the population under the sway of the Communists shadow government in northern VietnamTonkinhad been growing steadily, month by month, and now hovered around 70 percent. As the senior leaders of the Vietminh met at their command post in a small bamboo house in Thai Nguyen Province in October 1953, a fateful consensus emerged after considerable debate: Their new offensive would not be directed against the well-defended Red River Delta, where the bulk of north Vietnams people dwelled, but in the remote northwest of Vietnam and northern Laos. There, explained strategist Truong Chinh (meaning Long March in Vietnamese), The enemys dispositions are relatively weak and exposed, but they cannot abandon these areas . . . If we launch an attack in the Northwest we will certainly force the enemys strategically mobile force to disperse to defend against our attack . . . The enemy may only be able to bring in supplies and reinforcements by air. If we can overcome the problems with logistics and supplies, our forces will have many advantages, and we will be capable of attaining and maintaining military superiority throughout the campaign . . . We may be able to win a great victory. As Giap prepared to move the bulk of his regular divisions toward the northwest, he had several options: He might seek to annihilate the big French base at Lai Chau, the last island of French military power in the area. He might undertake another invasion of Laoslast years incursion had succeeded beyond all expectation, and this time the Vietminh could very well succeed in installing a pro-Communist government there. Another possibility: Wait for the new French commander, Gen. Henri Navarre, to deploy a significant offensive force somewhere in the northwest, and then close in, isolate the enemy garrison with superior PAVN forces, and wipe it out. On November 20, three battalions of crack French paratroops drifted down into the remote valley of Dien Bien Phu ten miles from the Laotian border, forcing the small detachment of Vietminh troops there into the hills. Quickly Navarre reinforced the paras by dropping in several additional infantry battalions, engineers, and artillery. The French were building an aeroterrestrea fortified airbase that could serve as a staging area for mobile offensive operations, or as a defensive bastion to block another PAVN invasion into Laosor so it appeared. Both Giap and Navarre were well aware, as Giap would later write, that Dien Bien Phu was a strategic location of the first importance. This heart shaped valley surrounded by rolling hills and 6,000-foot-high mountains contained a key road nexus leading north to China, south to Laos, and to the huge PAVN supply depot at Tran Giao to the northeast. He who controlled Dien Bien Phu held the key to the entire northwest of Vietnam, and the gateway into Laos. As the French reinforced their position at Dien Bien Phu, Giap responded definitively: he ordered three divisions, including the 351st heavy division of artillery and engineers, to invest the hills surrounding the valley. Soon after French intelligence picked up on the movement of the PAVN divisions, Gen. Navarre ordered his top commander in Tonkin (northern Vietnam) on December 3 to accept battle in the northwest and to center his defense on Dien Bien Phu, which must be held at all costs. Neither Giap nor Navarre realized it at the time, but they were laying the foundation for the Second Indochina Warthe tragic struggle the Americans fought against the Vietnamese Communists to preserve a pro-Western state in South Vietnam. The FEF garrison was quickly brought up to its full complement of 12 battalions of 10,000 men, including a strong contingent of Foreign Legionnaires and elite paras. Ironically, all of Navarres senior commanders in Tonkin argued vehemently against mounting Operation Castor at all. They didnt think the FEF had the necessary assets to build the base, let alone mount offensive operations there while simultaneously defending the population centers in the Red River Delta from increasingly aggressive guerrilla attacks. As the senior air force officer pointed out, even if he had every transport plane in Indochina at his disposal, he could not meet the daily needs of 10,000 men in combat at Dien Bien Phu. Navarre dismissed the naysayers. He was confident Giap could never overcome the logistical problems inherent in supplying a multi-division combat force in so remote an area with limited motor transport and no air force whatsoever. The bulk of the evidence suggests Giap learned of Navarres decision to stand and fight at Dien Bien Phu almost immediately. In any case, around December 6, Giap decided to fight the major set-piece battle he had studiously avoided for the past two years, as he built up PAVN strength, and refitted and retrained his peasant army with a formidable array of artillery and antiaircraft weapons from Communist China. Many of the PAVNs new artillery pieces were captured American 105mm howitzers from the Korean War. To defeat a division-size encampment like the French base at Dien Bien Phu, Giap reckoned it would take four or five infantry divisions and virtually all the artillery, engineer, and anti-aircraft assets the Vietminh possessed. He would have to deploy about 45,000 troops, plus 100,000 porters to transport war materiel from depots as far as 500 miles away in southern China. All-weather roads would have to be built and maintained against attacks by the FEF air force, and 300 tons of ammunition would need to be stocked in place at the front before commencing the attack. By early January PAVN infantry had flooded the valley and FEF reconnaissance patrols outside the perimeter of the French fortress routinely came under withering small arms and mortar fire after progressing a mere 200 or 300 meters. By this point, FEF engineers were just finishing the construction of their fortifications in the valley: the main center of resistance (MCR) consisted of five tightly clustered strongpoints around the main air strip, most of the French artillery, and the underground command post. Ringing the MCR were four widely dispersed satellite strongpoints meant to repel an attacking force from penetrating to the vitals of the base. The French fortress was a formidable defensive position to be sure, but it suffered from serious deficiencies: Not a single pound of concrete was available for bunker construction. Wood was scarce. Thus, the earthen fortifications were vulnerable to destruction by the PAVNs 105 mm howitzers. The French artillery was left partially exposed to PAVN artillery fire, on the arrogant assumption that the PAVN cannons would be quickly located and knocked out of action by counterbattery fire before they could do any real damage. Giap and his Chinese advisers had planned to launch their initial attacka massive two-division human wave assault meant to sweep over the northwest satellite strongpoint and punch through to the very center of the MCRon January 25. But as the day approached, Giap grew increasingly worried that the Chinese swift attack, swift victory strategy they had agreed to employ would result in massive casualties and a collapse of his troops morale on day one of the battle. The French defenses had grown considerably stronger since the decision to launch the human wave assault had been made. Moreover, his own artillery was not yet fully in place. And so he abandoned the swift attack, swift victory for a strategy more in keeping with his own protracted warfare philosophy: steady attack, steady advance. Many students of the battle, including this one, think his decision probably averted outright disaster. Giaps rationale for the slow squeeze approach is indeed compelling: If we attack in stages, we will reinforce our positions with each stage. We will keep the initiative, attacking when we want, where we want. But we will attack only when we are ready, and we will only occupy the positions we have taken when necessary. We will exploit the enemys essential difficultyits supply lies. The longer the battle lasts, the more wounded he will have. Supplying the garrison will grow more difficult . . . The enemy is surrounded on the ground, and if its air supply is hampered, it will encounter insurmountable difficulties . . . By the time the last of Giaps divisions had marched into the hills surrounding Dien Bien Phu in early March, having returned from a successful diversionary operation in Laos, the PAVN had completed one of the most impressive feats in the history of military logistics. It had taken three months to position five divisions and their support troops and more than 150 artillery pieces in and around the valley. Giap and his engineers had created a vast, efficient logistical network, improving several hundred miles of roads from southern China, to the main PAVN bases in central Tonkin, to the very edge of Dien Bien Phu. And they had done so while under constant bombardment from the French air force. More than 10,000 coolies and construction workers, including several thousand women, used wooden shovels, picks and straw baskets to repair daily damage to the supply network. The lethal 105mm cannons came down from China via truck as far as Na Nham, six miles from the rim of the valley. Moving these guns from Na Nham to their casements in the rocky hills proved to be a feat of superhuman endurance rarely rivaled in the history of modern warfare. They had to be hauled all of a piece over newly cut mountain trails by 100-man teams using oxen, block and tackles, and ropes. It took a team about a week to get a single gun in position, working in shifts, 24 hours a day. The initial assault came on March 13, exactly where the French expected: against Beatrice (all the strongpoints were given womens names), the northernmost satellite fortified position, and topographically the most difficult to defend. At 1700 hours, after a heavy artillery barrage, six PAVN battalions attacked along three axes, bugles blowing. For five hours, 700 Legionnaires put up fierce resistance against almost 3,000 Vietminh. During the last two hours of the melee, much of the fighting was hand-to-hand. Fewer than 200 Legionnaires managed to make their way to neighboring strongpoints after Beatrice fell. A French counterattack against Beatrice broke up under deadly accurate PAVN artillery fire the next morning, and in the early evening of March 14, two regiments from Giaps 308th Iron Division, his best, fought a blistering engagement against a tough Algerian battalion dug in on strongpoint Gabrielle. Attack followed counterattack, with the PAVN prevailing by morning after suffering horrendous casualtiesmore than 1,000 dead and 1,500 wounded. The loss of Gabrielle, writes the renowned historian Bernard Fall, had a devastating effect on the morale of the [French] garrison. Indeed, on the night of March 16, the Tai tribesman forming the backbone of the defense of the final satellite strongpoint north of the MCR, Anne Marie, slipped away from their positions and headed for the mountains. Their French officers had to withdraw to the MCR, and Anne Marie was quickly occupied by PAVN troops. Meanwhile, Col. Charles Piroth, the artillery commander whod had promised before the battle to silence the Communist artillery before it could do any damage, felt so dishonored by his failure that he committed suicide with a hand grenade. Still, among the cadre of para and Legionnaire officers who were leading the French fight, a strong sense of optimism remained. Giap had lost well over 2,500 men killed taking the satellite positionshe would have a much tougher time of it trying to wrest the strongpoints of the MCR from the defenders. After the fall of Anne Marie, a lull fell over the battlefield. From March 18 until March 30, PAVN troops took up picks and shovels, and under the direction of Chinese engineers, constructed a massive network of trenches and tunnels all around the French encampment. As PAVN soldiers dug day and night under makeshift covers of wood and beams, the trenches approached the French positions, wrote an American correspondent, like the tentacles of some determined, earth-bound devilfish. By this point in the siege, PAVN artillery had rendered the airstrip too dangerous for landing reinforcements. The last flight carrying the wounded out of Dien Bien Phu departed on March 26. About that time, the French chief of staff, General Paul Ely, arrived in Washington, where he set in motion intensive discussions between France, the United States, and Britain regarding the impending fate of the garrison at Dien Bien Phu, and indeed, the entire French position in Vietnam. The pressing questions before the house: If the PAVN threatened to overwhelm the garrison, would the Americans intervene directly in the battle? Would they intervene unilaterally, or would a coalition need to be cobbled together? Or would Frances allies stand by and let the battle run its course, and leave the fate of Indochina in the hands of diplomats from all the interested parties slated to attend the peace conference at Geneva in early May? At precisely 1700 hours on March 30, following the usual blizzard of artillery fire, six or seven PAVN regiments jumped out of their trenches with the objective of seizing five key hills in the eastern sector of the MCR. Two hills were immediately overrun, and a third hill was almost seized. Had it fallen, so too might have the main headquarters bunker and the French commander, Col. Christian de Castries. Disaster was averted at the last minute when a battery of French artillery on a neighboring hill lowered its muzzles and fired directly into the PAVN assault waves, cutting down hundreds of Giaps men in the vanguard, and forcing a disorderly withdrawal by the follow-up waves. By dawn of March 31, the French position was extremely perilous, but a series of aggressive counterattacks in the first days of April by a reinforced French garrison marginally improved the defenders prospects. The grueling pattern of attack and counterattack continued through the grueling days and nights of early April, as Vietminh regiments ripped into beleaguered French companies, many of which were reduced to the size of mere platoons. By mid-month, fears of asphyxiation gripped the entire French garrison. By the last week in April, the FEF was compressed inside a circular perimeter only a mile in diameter, greatly diminishing the numbers of reinforcements and the tonnage of supplies that could be dropped in by air. But the Vietnamese were having their own problems. PAVN casualties were so great6,000 dead and 11,000 wounded, with almost no medical treatment availablethat PAVN officers had to force demoralized troops to leave their trenches at gunpoint. Giap organized an intensive indoctrination and remolding program right on the edges of the battlefield to reinvigorate fighting spirit. The end of April brought monsoon rains to the valley, flooding the dilapidated French tunnels and bunkers. The French were low on ammunition, particularly for the artillery, fighting on half rations, and hanging on by a thread. After a lull of several days to replenish ammunition and rest the assault battalions, Giap launched the final phase of assaults in dramatic form: at 1700 hours on May 1, the entire 312th and 316th divisions stormed over the shambles of the MCR from the east, while elements of the 308th slammed into the dying fortress from the west. In nine hours of desperate fighting, more than 300 French troops died. Col. Pierre Langlais, who had become de facto commander of the garrison when Col. Christian de Castries fell into a dysfunctional depression, radioed Hanoi: No more reserves left. Fatigue and wear and tear on units terrible. Supplies and ammunition insufficient. Quite difficult to resist one more such push by Communists. . . And yet resist they did. For six more days the agonizing, close-in fighting continued among the stench of hundreds of unburied, bloated corpses. The end finally came at 1730 hours, May 7, when a specially selected assault team under Captain Ta Quang Luat overwhelmed the last French defenders, burst into the command bunker, and took Col. de Castries prisoner. All resistance ceased. French casualties totaled 1,600 dead and 4,800 wounded. The Vietminh lost almost 8,000 killed and 15,000 wounded. Of the 8,000 FEF prisoners of war taken after the battle, fewer than half returned to France alive. Until the very last days, Paris had held out hope that the United States would intervene with massive airpowerperhaps even tactical nuclear weaponsto save France from a defeat the Eisenhower administration well knew was sure to bring down the government in Paris, and in all likelihood, lead France to shed its colonial empire in Indochina once and for all. The United States, which had bankrolled Frances war in Indochina to the tune of more than $2.5 billion between 1950 and 1954, found itself on the horns of a dilemma. Eisenhower was deeply troubled by the Cold War ramifications of a French exit from Southeast Asia, but he was dead set against unilateral American intervention on the grounds that it would taint the United States with the stigma of French colonialism, and might well provoke the Chinese to intervene directly in the war. Thus, with Dien Bien Phu on the verge of falling, the Eisenhower administration engaged in harried negotiations with Britain to put together a coalition of Asian allies to intervene, but the British were adamant that diplomacy, not military intervention, should determine the future of Vietnam, along with the rest of Indochina. And so the great fortress in the valley of death finally fell, leading rapidly to the fall of the French government, and ultimately, to the decision by a new leftist government in Paris to withdraw from Indochina entirely. Ironically, it was at the height of the diplomatic crisis prompted by impending French defeat at Dien Bien Phu that Ike put forward for the first time the core rationale American policymakers would use for defending a free Vietnam against Communism or the next two decades. Asked about the consequences of French defeat, Ike remarked, You have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the falling domino principle. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one [Vietnam], and what will happen to the last one is the certainty it will go over very quickly. So you could have the beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound consequences. So it was that Dien Bien Phu came to form a fateful bridge between the end of the French war in Indochina and the beginning of the American war there. Flush from victory at Dien Bien Phu, the Vietminh delegation at the Geneva Conference had high hopes for a favorable negotiated settlement. Because both Russia and China were anxious to court favor with France and the United States for their own reasons, the Vietnamese Communists got less than they might have, given the strength of their position on the battlefield, and the complete collapse of French support for continuing the war at home. Vietnam was temporarily divided into two regimes: the Communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam north of the 17th parallel, and a pro-Western state under Emperor Bao Dai in the south, soon to be known as the Republic of Vietnam, i.e., South Vietnam. A vaguely worded Geneva declaration unsigned by either Bao Dai or the United States called for free elections to unite the country in two years under one government. The Geneva accords didnt so much establish a lasting peace as set the stage for another war in Vietnam. Just a few months after the diplomats had departed from Geneva, Hanoi sent orders to the 15,000 clandestine Vietminh political agents who remained in South Vietnam (in violation of the Geneva accords) to begin a subversion campaign against the Bao Dai administration. Meanwhile, the National Security Council in Washington called for the use of all available means to undermine the Communist regime in Hanoi, and to make every possible effort . . . to maintain a friendly noncommunist government in South Vietnam. As 1954 drew to a close, a CIA team under Col. Edward Lansdale had begun to implement a clandestine subversion program against Ho Chi Minhs government in North Vietnam. The American crusade against Communism in Vietnam had begun in earnest. In the minds of the architects of Americas new war, the French defeat in Indochina had very little to do with the strategic prowess and tenacity of the enemy, and everything to do with a lack of political will in Paris, and French military lassitude and incompetence in the field. In retrospect, its astonishing how little respect was paid by American decision makers to Ho Chi Minh and Giaps brilliant protracted war strategy against Franceto the deft integration of guerrilla warfare, conventional operations, the methodical buildup of a shadow government in the countryside, and a worldwide propaganda campaign against Western imperialismas their commitment deepened. There were, of course, a number of reasons for failing to give the Vietnamese Communists their due. Prominent among them was the arrogant and misguided belief that a new American way of war based on air mobility, heavy firepower, and cutting-edge intelligence-gathering and targeting technology would render irrelevant the Communist strategy Ho and Giap had developed over more than a dozen years of fighting for their country. How wrong the architects of the U.S. war proved to be! For in the end, Giap employed essentially the same highly flexible strategy and force structure to defeat the Americans that he had used to vanquish the French, albeit on a larger scale. When it comes to moderating a presidential debate, as NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will discover on Monday night, its always tight-sphincter time. So says former CNN anchor Bernard Shawone of American democracys more notable debate moderators of the past three decades. The role of the moderator is to maintain law and order, said Shaw, who presided in October 1988 over the second and last debate between then-vice president George H.W. Bush, the Republican, and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, the Democratand posed, as history now reckons, the killer question to the Democratic nominee. (More on that in a moment.) Remember, the moderator is operating under rules and conditions set by the candidates lawyers and representatives, and as a moderator, my role is to enforce those rules, Shaw continued. When I say law and order, I mean maintain decorum and not tolerate or brook any interference from partisans in the audiencewhich Shaw did in 1988, warning the candidates that the seconds spent on outbursts from supporters would be subtracted from their speaking time. Former PBS anchor Jim Lehrerwhose combined moderating experience with Shaws goes back seven presidential election cyclesadvised: The first thing to do is to stand in front of the mirror and say, This is not about me, this is not about me, this is not about me. Once you get that out of your system, then you can function as a moderator. Lehrer, who holds the all-time record as the moderator of 11 presidential debates and one vice presidential debate since the 1988 general election campaign, added: Its enormous pressure, and I always remind myself that this is not a television show, this is a vital event in the most vital thing we do as citizens, which is to elect a president of the United States. Every moderator must keep this in mind. No, youre not auditioning for a better job. Youre not trying to show how tough you are. This isnt about you, Billy Bob. Youve got to remember who this is forthe people watching who are going to make a choice. It keeps you focused. As NBCs Holt prepares to preside over Mondays 90-minute televised faceoff between Donald Trump and Hillary Clintonthe political equivalent of Godzilla meets Mothra, before a U.S. viewership likely to exceed 80 million, to say nothing of additional millions around the worldShaw, 76, and Lehrer, 82, shared their impressions and insights with The Daily Beast. Both agreed that the clock is the most oppressive tyranny in a situation in which minutes and topics are rushing by and its up to the moderator, nobody else, to ensure that each candidate gets equal time. Nor is it the proper role of a producer or director in the control room to kibitz on questions via an earpiece, they said. And both Shaw and Lehrer insisted that the moderators job does not, repeat not, include fact-checking the candidates. It is not my role to correct a candidate. The record will do that, and the record is there, Shaw said, noting that there will be no shortage of real-time fact-checking, not only by the dueling campaigns but by independent groups such as PolitiFact. These candidates are creating a record as they respond to questions during the debate. Its not my role to be a curator of factsInformed voters will be aware of what the facts are. Shaw added that a moderator risks justifiable criticism when he or she leaps into the fray to support the factual assertion of one side or the other, as CNNs Candy Crowley famously did in the October 2012 foreign policy debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, when she informed the Republican nominee that contrary to his claims, the president had promptly called the attack on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi, Libya, an act of terror. That is tantamount to interference in the debate, Shaw said, and when a moderator interferes, it inflames supporters of the candidate. I know there are differing opinions about this, but thats my attitude. Crowley left CNN in December 2014, and efforts to reach her this past week were unsuccessful, but she told The Daily Beast at the time: I was trying to move the conversation along. They got stuck on this. Concerning the complaining Republicans, she added: Im sorry theyre upset, but tomorrow theyll be upset about something else, as will the Democrats. While Shaw and Lehrer politely declined to offer specific advice to this campaigns debate moderators, they shared their general philosophies of moderatingwhich may or not be helpful to Holt and the other TV journalists chosen by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates to act as middlemen, facilitators and occasionally interveners during the coming weeks confrontations: CBSs Elaine Quijano for the Oct. 4 vice presidential candidate debate, CNNs Anderson Cooper and ABCs Martha Raddatz for the Oct. 9 town hall in which voters will question the presidential candidates, and Fox Newss Chris Wallace for the final Oct. 19 presidential confab. Lehrer pointed out that presidential candidates and their campaigns have far less influence on the choices of moderators, formats, locations and dates of the debates, than they did in 1988when the debate commission was created, supplanting the League of Women Voters; these days the commission largely sets the agenda. The job of the moderator is to help facilitate revealing who these people are, said Lehrer, whose book Tension City (the title steals Bush the elders memorable description of debate anxiety) is an entertaining chronicle of the behind-the-curtain machinations surrounding modern polemical combat. Remember, were already into September and a lot of voters have already made up their minds, Lehrer said. Its a very small percentage of undecideds, and although theyll want to take the measure of these folks, its less about issues and positions. Theyre going to be looking at the candidates for the way they move their hands, the way they frown or smile, and for the first time Clinton and Trump will be right up next to each other. Shaw agreed, saying: Atmospherics are very much a factor in these debates. Television is a very cool medium and how you conduct yourself impresses viewers positively or negatively. And its serious. Shaw acknowledged that Trump might present this years moderators a special challenge as a reality television billionaire who has won his partys nomination by operating well outside of traditional political norms. But he insisted: The rules are the rules. Lets say Donald Trump has 90 seconds to respond to a question, and if he uses those 90 seconds to filibuster instead of responding directly to the question, viewers and listeners and readers of transcripts will see it for what it is. Shaw added: Presumably. In the end, Lehrer said, the voters assessing the candidates will be watching how they interact with each other, reacting or attacking or explaining a difference in policy or criticizing the other, because the bottom line for citizens will be: Oh my God, I cant see this person sitting in the Oval Office deciding about sending kids into harms way. Oh my God, Im not sure this person has the temperament to react properly to the unexpected. Because presidencies are all about the unexpected. Mike Dukakis surely didnt expect Bernie Shaws first question during the October 13, 1988 skirmish in Los Angeles, a fastball aimed at his head which Politico columnist Roger Simon calls the most controversial [question] ever asked at a presidential debate. Under the ground rules negotiated by Bush campaign chairman James A. Baker III (later Bushs secretary of state), Shaw was restricted to posing only a single query to each candidate, with the rest relegated to a panel of reporters. He asked Dukakis the following: Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" Dukakis gave a wonky, bloodless, robotic answerNo, I dont, Bernard, he began, almost breezilythat reaffirmed his long-held opposition to the death penalty, ignored that Shaw was talking about the rape and murder of his wife (!), and played into the Bush campaigns insinuations that the Massachusetts liberal was a devotee of ideological abstractions, divorced from the concerns of real people and real emotionsa caricature that Bush himself lampooned as The Ice Man. He never gave the question any thought, Shaw recalled. I dont think two seconds existed between the end of my question and the beginning of his response, and when he started, I thought to myself, Governor, thats not the right answer. Shaw, who name-checked Kitty Dukakis over the objections of his fellow debate panelists (all women), was the target of condemnation from many Democrats, though not the governor, as it became clear that Dukakiss tepid response was likely to be punished with a political death penalty. I didnt like the attention, Shaw recalled. If you dont like to be criticized, dont be a debate moderator because that goes with the territory, said Lehrer, who himself was savagely panned by some partisans and journalists for alleged passivity during the first October 2012 debate between Romney and Obama, in which both candidates wandered off topic and ignored Lehrers attempts to enforce discipline. I promise you, all five of these moderators in the 2016 debates will catch flack from somebody about what they did or didnt do. Theres just no way to avoid it. When things go wrong, the handlers of the candidate are not going to blame the boss, theyre going to blame the moderator. Shaw, meanwhile, said hes been perfectly happy in the 15 years since he retired from CNN, where he was present at the creation in 1980 as the cable outlets first lead anchor: Im enjoying life. Im enjoying my family. I dont miss this cycle at all. LOS ANGELES Tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the Pacific, just past the McMansions of the Pacific Palisades, lie the decaying, graffiti-plastered remains of what is believed to have been a 1930s compound for Nazis in Los Angeles. A few years ago, I first hiked out to Murphy Ranch, the abandoned compound, after hearing about it (ironically) from an Israeli friend who was obsessed with L.A.s weird side. After returning a couple of times, I went again this summer because the city of Los Angeles, which owns the land, announced this past spring it was tearing down some of the structures. After parking the car alongside the neatly manicured lawns off Capri Drive in the Palisades and beginning the walk along the road that hugs the dusty mountainside, past the mega-mansions being built into the hillside and a semi-buried pickup truck, I eventually came to what used to be the entrance to the ruins. A few years ago an ominous set of black gates with crumbling flagstone wallsnow torn downmarked the entrance to the site. Now a person just has to hope they go the right way, following the path until they find the first of the ruins famed sightsthe 500-odd concrete steps leading down a terraced landscape to the compound. In 1933, the property that now makes up the ranch was bought by one Jessie M. Murphy. This name is believed to be a front, historian and head of the Palisades Historical Society Thomas R. Young told the Los Angeles Times. (Young did not respond to Daily Beast requests for an interview.) The property was really bought, he says, by the heiress Winona Stephens and her husband, Norman, while under the influence of a German who claimed to have supernatural abilitiesHerr Schmidt. Under his influence, Young told the Times, the Stephenses sunk roughly $4 million into the property. Herr Schmidt had convinced them that Adolf Hitler was going to take over the world and that the U.S. was going to collapse, so Nazi sympathizers needed a stronghold for when it was time to emerge and take control. While it is believed the couple ran out of funds before they could build their planned four-story mansion (designed by, no joke, the famed African-American architect Paul Williams, whom they hired to replace another famed architect, Welton Becket), the $4 million they did spend resulted in a terraced mountainside for agriculture, a sprinkler system, a 20,000-gallon fuel tank, a power station that could support a small town, a 395,000-gallon concrete water tank, and of course, those long concrete stairs. The concrete stairs (there are actually multiple sets) lead down to the famed power station of Murphy Ranch. Before it was filled in this spring, the remains of the concrete water tank were set 30 feet in the ground and filled with magnificent graffiti, but unfortunately the city got sick of rescuing trapped graffiti artists and it was filled in this year. But the piece de resistance of the ruins was always the power station. It sucks, it just sucks, lamented Jaleel Sampay, a 24-year-old amateur photographer exploring the site with his friends when I returned this summer. Its kind of sad. When I was here last time I was able to go inside. The power station was boarded up this spring, and while its graffitied shell is still a sight to behold and is usually surrounded by photographers trying to capture the ultimate ruin porn, its interior was jaw-dropping. Pieces from a broken mirror lined part of the floor, reflecting and refracting the kaleidoscopic array of graffiti adorning the walls. Inside, each time I went, young Los Angelenos would be hanging out, playing music, the air pungent with pot. Some reclined on the multi-level platform at the back of the station, perfect for the Instagram photo-op. A doorway out the back led to an area with higher ground, providing easy access to climb on the roof. In all likelihood, the current boarding up of the windows is unlikely to be much of a deterrent for long. And further down the path, the fence surrounding what resembles the decaying remains of a stable has already been cut and one can get inside. It makes sense that Herr Schmidt did attract a following in the area. The now-deceased California historian Gloria Ricci Lothrop told the Los Angeles Times that the region was a hotbed of activity for Nazi sympathizers. The Silver Shirts, an underground fascist organization, which had a nationwide membership of between 15,000 and 50,000, had a handful of chapters in the greater Los Angeles region. But the Germanic takeover was not to be, and Schmidt's dreams came to an early end the day after Pearl Harbor in 1941, when federal agents raided the compound. Schmidt, Young told the Times, was arrested as a spy. The Stephenses remained on the compound until it was sold in 1948 to the Huntington Hartford Foundation, which turned the land into an artists colony. Hartford had Lloyd Wright build cottages on the land, which housed everybody from Edward Hopper to Arnold Schoenberg. From there it eventually ended up under the purview of the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (which did not return a request for comment) where, luckily for us, it has mostly languished. While some may find it distasteful that the remains of a Nazi utopia still sit in the hills overlooking Los Angeles, Ive always found something reassuring about watching stoners and Mother Nature take over and slowly destroy a comically inept real-life attempt at The Plot Against America. On the second Monday of October, many businesses in the United States will be closed for a federal holiday officially known as Columbus Day. Businesses in the entire state of Alaska, however, will be closed for Indigenous Peoples Day, after Gov. Bill Walker renamed the holiday last year. The city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, will also celebrate its first Indigenous Peoples Day, after the City Council voted unanimously in June to change the name of a holiday whose namesake, they decided, was not worthy of celebrating. Most recently, a student petition at nearby Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts has called on the administration to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, as a growing number of local governments and universities have done in the past few years. Brandeis Provost Lisa Lynch has agreed to consider a resolution passed on to her by the Student Union, which stresses that the legacy of Christopher Columbus is one of imperialism, genocide, torture, enslavement, and long-term systematic injustices which conflict with Brandeis Universitys core principles of social justice. Many cities have cast off the traditional holiday named for Columbus, the Italian explorer whose accidental arrival on American shores in 1492 led to the extermination of native populations. Berkeley, California has been honoring those native populations since 1992, when the city celebrated its first Indigenous Peoples Day. Seattle has celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day since 2014, the same year that Minneapolis decided to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day (there is, as the New York Times noted last year, some disagreement about whether and where an apostrophe belongs in the renamed holiday). As of last year, the second Monday of October in Portland and Albuquerque is known as Indigenous Peoples Day, and as Indigenous Peoples Day in the cities of Carrboro, North Carolina and San Fernando, California. Brown University, which had called the holiday Fall Weekend since 2009, will celebrate its first Indigenous Peoples Day this year. Brown is the only Ivy League school to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, though students at Cornell University--which has a fall break that weekend--called on the administration to do so this past spring. Harvard is the only Ivy that continues to officially observe Columbus Day (though several communities within the school refer to it as Indigenous Peoples Day instead), while the remaining five Ivies hold classes that day. Washington and California are among 22 states that dont recognize the second Monday in October as a paid holiday, according to the Council of State Governments. Hawaii celebrates the neutral Discoverers Day, while the holiday has been known as Native Americans Day in South Dakota since 1990. A number of other cities have altered Columbus Day celebrations, holding unofficial community gatherings in honor of Italian-American or indigenous populations. Columbus, Ohio hasnt held its annual Columbus Day parade since the 90s, and marchers in the Columbus Day parade in Denver, Colorado, have been targeted by protesters wielding fake blood and dolls with missing limbs in recent years. Congress has not taken up the issue, but in a year that has seen so many symbolic name changes at universities, other schools will surely follow Brandeis University in the coming weeks ahead of the contested holiday. In Hentai Kamen 2, the second film adapted from a manga whose title translates, more or less, to Pervert Mask, the Japanese give tired superhero cliches a kinky twist with the heroics of a panty-sniffing deviant who gains superpowers by slipping womens underpants over his headthe Spider-Man of sleaze, the perverted Peter Parker. Tony Stark has his Iron Man suit. Batman has his cape and cowl. In these everyman fantasies the clothes make the superman, projecting inner desires into external armor. In this special saga its lady pantiesused, of coursethat unleash the latent powers ingrained in the DNA of an extraordinary hero dubbed Hentai Kamen, a meticulously manscaped crime-fighter in a cock sock. The first Hentai Kamen, released in 2013, introduced audiences to twerpy teenager Kyosuke Shikijo (Ryuhei Suzuki), a nervous nerd who discovers that pulling girls panties over his head transforms him into an uber-confident superhero fueled by his taboo sexual desires. Like many a reluctant hero, hes a classic Chosen One, his birthright to become a masked vigilante who simultaneously saves and repulses the normative masses of society, a pair of tighty-whities stretched over his shoulders. Hentai Kamen 2, the first of hopefully many sequels to the original manga adaptation, finds Shikijo in college: a little older, not much wiser, and still wrestling with the great responsibilities that come with his great and unusual power. And lets be honest: The world has more than enough heroes in fancy flying suits and alien gods on Earth saving humanity every year. What superhero movies need is a hero who fights evil by striking peacock poses, clenching his perfectly toned buttocks, and taunting criminals with his overstuffed package and high-pitched power scream. The horny sequel finds Shikijo newly sworn off the superhero game to appease his girlfriend, the adorable Aiko (Fumika Shimizu), a good girl troubled by her boyfriends all-consuming panty obsession. But true heroes cant just turn off their yearning for justice; while at work delivering pizzas one day, Shikijo cant help but shirk his minimum wage duties to nab a band of robbers by sniffing a pair of Aikos underoos, morphing into the masked hero to vanquish the bad guys by shoving their faces into his crotch. A fed up Aiko demands her powerful panties back, triggering a crisis of self in the frazzled Shikijo, who struggles to suppress his most natural unnatural desires in order to live a normal life. Meanwhile, he finds himself in the sights of a sexy biology professor who makes comical attempts to seduce him with her own favorite pair of panties. Unfortunately for Shikijo and the entire unsuspecting nation, an insidious evil is afootand its intent on destroying Hentai Kamen by stealing all the panties in Japan. The plot wears thin and scenes start to drag, but the genius of Hentai Kamen 2 lies in its unabashed simplicity and willingness to push one pervy gag after another. Its a film that knows itself and the limits of its ridiculous premise, even if it exhausts its momentum halfway through. And yet: Movies about flawed but moral superheroes have never been this fun or as self-awarea charming quality established early on in an opening title crawl clearly cribbed from the Marvel Studios playbook. The Spider-Man 2 references fly fast and furious, culminating in a sequence of cheap VFX work in which Hentai Kamen swings through the Manhattan skyline like Spidey, flinging from building to building on high-flying bondage ropes. When panties start disappearing from girls locker rooms and underwear drawers, the culprit is revealed to be a Doctor Octopus knockoff baddie with tentacle-like arms made of vacuum hoses. Hentai Kamen 2 also works in a Venom subplot with a pair of cursed panties and a new nemesis in Dynoson, a classmate and rival for Aikos affections who transforms into a giant half-man, half-crab intent on devouring all the used panties in Japan in order to deprive Hentai Kamen of his power. You have no idea how to use panties correctly, Hentai Kamen scolds when they come face-to-face in a high school gymnasium. Hentai Kamens big bad enemy is a familiar one: a once-vanquished foe who returns as a decapitated head with a new bodya body that happens to be a spindly-limbed metal robot spider. Tsuyoshi Muro steals his scenes as the demented supervillain who twirls his braided pigtails like a mustache and delights in exacting punishing revenge in the most ridiculous ways. But Hentai Kamens greatest foe, of course, is himself. Denying the source of his own power leads to his true undoing, and he learns he can only harness his supreme potential by embracing his aberrant fetishes, taboo as they may be, and leaning into the only force more powerful than lust: true love. Hentai Kamen 2 screened this weekend at Fantastic Fest alongside such eclectic genre delights as The Dwarves Must Be Crazy, a 90s-style slapstick actioner about a Thai village of little people possessed by butt-munching demons, and Arrival, the Amy Adams sci-fier angling for Oscars. Written and directed by Yuichi Fukuda, this action-satire succeeds most surprisingly by reminding us of what we never get in American blockbusters, and probably never will: A superhero with a socially taboo character quirk and a penis that can stop bullets. Suzuki plays his dual roles with committed panache, particularly since as Hentai Kamen he spends all of his screen time in a barely-there banana sling skimpier than the one Borat wore on the Croisette. He plays the nervous student Shikijo with straight-faced neuroticismeven more so in scenes with the over-the-top mother who, he explains in matter-of-fact voice-over, is a professional dominatrix. He shines as the flamboyant Hentai Kamen, even with his face obscured by underwear, giving a full-bodied physical performance laden with flair and unapologetic bombast. The films big climax, a set piece involving a cackling kaiju robot and a spinning-top penis power move, ratchets up the action. But its at its best when Hentai Kamen takes center stage, finding power in his preening, striking flamenco pin-up poses while issuing devastating crotch blows with piercing screams of ecstasy. As Marvel and DC look for exhaustive ways to keep their blockbuster spandex wars marching on into eternity, Hollywood should take a cue from the folks who are really putting a fresh new musk on the superhero genre. Youre not just a pervert, one character tells Shikijo just when hes lost all confidence in himself, the fate of the world in the balance. Youre a pervert for justice. President John Quincy Adams once said, If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. The popular enthusiasm surrounding the papacy of Pope Francis is, in part, a testament to his highly collaborative leadership style and inclusive tone. This Francis Effect is exerting a powerful influence in the American Catholic church, particularly at the local level, amplifying unprecedented changes already underway. This capacity for genuine inclusivity and authenticity is something I have experienced in my own parish. After twenty-five years at St. Monicas in Santa Monica, California, I can attest Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson has a tremendous ability to make people feel at home. He tends his sheep while also forging ties in the broader communities of faith. I have met people active in the local Jewish community who have said to me, That monsignor over there, hes incredible. He goes all over; the guy is unstoppable. And he was almost solely responsible for converting my wife to the Catholic faith. At the time she told me, Honey, I want you to know one thing: it had nothing to do with you. It surely was God and Monsignor Torgerson. Through the research undertaken by Parish Catalyst, an organization I founded four years ago to strengthen Catholic parishes, we found there are many Monsignor Torgersons out there. In 2013, we conducted 244 ground-breaking interviews with pastoral leaders of flourishing parish communities across the United States. We then spent a year analyzing this interview data. Based on the thoughtful, candid responses to our open-ended questions, we were able to ascertain the most prevalent strengths and persistent challenges pastors experienced in their parishes. From this research, I wrote a book, published this week, Great Catholic Parishes. While there is no silver bullet for doing great parish ministry in the Catholic church today, our study revealed that vibrant Catholic parishes have four essential practices in common: - Shared leadership: Their pastors understand that by deploying all the human resources available to the parish they are better equipped for the complex realities of parish life today. Practicing various forms of shared leadership, they take pride in their strong professional staffs and volunteers. - Spiritual growth: Vibrant parishes dont take the spiritual development of parishioners for granted. They understand that spiritual growth is an ongoing dynamic that needs to be continually reevaluated and updated to satisfy the spiritual hunger living in all of us. - The Sunday experience: Great parishes understand that for the person in the pew, their Sunday experience is the key driver of spiritual growth and engagement. These parishes excel at it, which requires careful planning of hospitality for adults and children alike, the best music they can afford, a commitment to excellent homilies, and a physical environment that speaks of warmth and community. - Facing outward: Thriving parishes understand that their community must go beyond itself. They are intentional about inspiring, training and providing opportunities for people to serve. At first glance these practices appear deceptively simple. But these particular parishes are thriving at a time when many people no longer find value in organized religion, and we wanted to know how and why. The responsibilities resting on lay shoulders have grown considerably, and will likely increase as the number of priests continues to decline. The laypersons historic script -- pray, pay and obey -- has altered radically in recent decades, and the doors have swung open to lay leadership. Today, many of the roles that used to be performed exclusively by priests are the work of highly-trained lay professionals and volunteers: parish administration, sacramental preparation, liturgical planning, spiritual direction, faith formation, catechesis, even limited preaching. Listening to advice from lay leaders means making communication a two-way street, which helps pastors maintain a balanced vision of parish life. Moreover, many pastors rely on parishioners for expertise they may lack. No pastor is good at everything, and in healthy parishes the strengths of the leadership team complement each other. Pope Francis admonition that his priests should be shepherds with the smell of sheep on them has inspired pastors to lead from the middle. Although we asked no questions about the Pope in our research protocol, one third of our pastors brought his name up spontaneously, and their remarks were uniformly positive. They welcomed the Popes less hierarchical leadership style, and encourage parishioners to consider leadership roles as part of their spiritual development. Helping people discover and use their strengths can produce a profound impact on parish life, especially at a time when the Francis Effect is having a symbiotic influence on the Catholic community as well as resonating with people who are not Catholic or even religious. His openness to conversations about tough topics offers many Catholics a route to freedom from shame in the wake of scandals from which the church is still healing. Pope Francis is nourishing spiritual hunger, and his paradigm shiftfrom welcoming seekers and new believers as they trickle in to pursuing them more activelyresonates at a time when parish affiliation and Mass attendance cannot be taken for granted. So there is much to celebrate as parishes seek to address the needs of todays world. Leadership opportunities abound for those who want them, and important and meaningful work is being done every single day in American parishes by pastors and lay leaders alike. William E. Simon, Jr. is the author of Great Catholic Parishes: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive (Ave Maria Press, 2016). They're young, liberal, LGBTQ+, pro-choice, feminist, science loving, climate change accepting, and immigrant welcoming. They're evangelicals. No, this is not a report from an alternate universe, where history took a different turn. This is about a growing rift in the evangelical continuum, one with significant uncertainty about its future. Its about a tribe within a tribe within a tribeoutcasts on the inside. Its a internal divide thats forced some progressive evangelicals to part ways with the name. Just this week, co-founder of the progressive Red Letter Christian movement, Tony Campolo, told Premier that A lot of people who are evangelical in their theology, do not want to be called evangelicals anymore. Being evangelical in the United States means you're anti-gay, you're anti-women, you're pro-war, he adds. With the evangelical public reputation now seemingly wedded to Donald Trumps Gospel of the Wall and Alt-Right talking points, why would anyone, especially progressive Millennialsa minority that could find a new home on the mainlineremain in the movement? Almost nothing could push me to give up the word evangelical, insists the 24-year old Brandan Robertson, a progressive, bisexual Christian activist, and author of Nomad: A Spirituality for Travelling Light (2016). I really do love the word, he insists, ...and cling to it so tightly because it really embodies the core of my spiritualityI am a person of good news. In fact, the moniker, evangelical, finds its origins in a Greek word for good news, and this continues to be an important part of the evangelical identity, though the exact theological emphasis is different depending on how conservative or liberal one is. Robertson accepts evolution, climate change, the reality of systemic racism, and that black lives matter. Hes somewhere in the middle of the pro-life/pro-choice debate. He longs for the end of gender binaries and patriarchy; he also hasnt been afraid to make his progressive evangelical spirituality known. His activism has garnered attentionhes spoken at the White House Summit on Bullying, been interviewed on NPR, and has bylines in TIME, The Washington Post, and Religion News Service. But it hasnt been all smooth-sailing for him; he once lost a book contract when his evangelical publisher asked him to disavow his bisexual identity and his work for marriage equality. There are Christian distributors who have blacklisted his name. Hes lost friends and was called a heretic in college. Brandan is representative of a small and less-explored demographic of religion in America; one that is currently overshadowed by prominent, straight conservative evangelical leaders who openly oppose progressive, liberal thinking. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, for example, is pulling few punches over liberalism during his Decision America Tour. The tour takes Graham through all 50 states, includes prayer rallies, and calls to stand up for the things of God and his Word. The enemy is not the British today, Graham insisted on Facebook during his Boston stop, but godless secularism and people who call themselves progressives who are undermining the morals and the God-given biblical foundation that our Founding Fathers gave this nation. These foundations are under attack, and the election coming up is so critical for America's future. Similarly, in a recent Briefing, President Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary offered his critical take on the liberal Christianity of pastor, activist, and progressive evangelical icon, Brian McLaren, asking why individuals now want to repackage what he sees as the failed theological liberalism? He believes they ultimately want an alternative to biblical Christianity, one preferred...by many people in the culture who want to have the sexual revolution but continue to have some form of Christianity as an ongoing part of the culture. If the liberal Christianity wins the day, he says, it may turn into something significant. But whatever that is, it wont be Christianity. Currently, white evangelical Protestants make up 76 percent of the movement in America, with only 28 percent accepting anthropogenic climate change, 80 percent saying abortion should be illegal, and only 27 percent favoring same-sex marriage. Within evangelicalism there are some differences of opinion, with just over half (51 percent) of evangelical Millennials saying that homosexuality should be accepted by society. For some comparison, among evangelicals only a third of Boomers and a fifth of the Silent Generation agree. Even with some differences of opinion by generation, however, the majority of evangelicals still cling to conservative ideals. In fact, according to some polls, 78 percent of white evangelical voters are tossing their hat in with Trumps bid for the presidency. In other words, being a progressive evangelical is currently a life in the margins. While Brandan continues as a confident evangelical, a social cross-section of others remain, howbeit, hesitantly. As Marie (full name withheld) has discovered, being a progressive evangelical in the Mennonite world can mean a loss of friends and awkward family relationships. When I am with my evangelical family, I often feel like I am two people, she says. In her world, evolution and climate change arent controversial, but other issues are. I am very progressive on LGBT issues, she adds. Im also attracted to women myself. I'm pro choice, though that's a somewhat recent development. She says she feels like she doesnt fit in among evangelicals because she doesnt share their prescriptive rules. It sucks to be a queer Christian. Over the past few yearsas Ive been in the process of coming to terms with my own sexual identity and coming outthe deepest spiritual experiences Ive had and the times Ive felt closest to Jesus, is when Im worshipping with other queer Christians. In that context, Marie adds, I feel like Im allowed to bring all of myself into the presence of God, instead of just having to hide a piece of myself or having to pretend, even to myself, that this piece doesnt exist. In the meantime, this friction has led her to stop attending church, though she still gives money to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she once served as a student representative for several years, and remains a prayer partner with them. I am a very orthodox believer; I simply do not have the same certainty. And this leaves her future in the evangelical world unwritten. Like Marie, Daniel Willson, senior pastor of Williamsburg Baptist Church (Virginia), epitomizes the difficulties of being a progressive within evangelicalism. Hes a member of the local NAACP chapter, involved with Black Lives Matter, and regularly promotes racial justice and economic equality in his sermons. I started an annual tradition of having a Science Sunday, where we honor those in the congregation who work in scientific fields (its very pro-evolution), he says. His congregation is now beginning to look for ways to respond to climate change. I'm interested in our church providing a fuller welcome for LGBTQ people, Daniel Says. We're a pretty open-minded bunch, but we're in the process of moving from a position of tolerance toward a culture of belonging, where human difference is fully celebrated. After the Pulse shooting, for example, he organized a Service of Remembrance at William & Mary, with over 200 attendees from the community. Raised a fundamentalist, he graduated from Pensacola Christian College; his wife graduated from the equally conservative Bob Jones University. His strongly fundamentalist world saw even mainstream, but still conservative evangelicalism, as a move to the left. We had to undergo a distinct theological and social paradigm shift just to become evangelicals! Now hes not only evangelical, but also progressive, and that comes with a real cost. Hes lost evangelical friends, job opportunities, and there's family friction. I feel like a black sheep in many contexts, he admits. But it's worth it. I feel like I'm realizing my faith more now than ever. I value the people who have befriended me more than the esteem of those who have left. So while he hasnt abandoned the evangelical world entirely yet, he can see it as a possibility. I think that once there are no more evangelicals who would own me or work with me, I would finally relinquish the name for good. Relinquishing that name may not be a necessity, after all, as there are signs of a different future for evangelicalism, one that reforms the movement from within. Deborah Jian Lee, journalist and author of Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women and Queer Christians are Reclaiming Evangelicalism, is no longer an evangelical, but continues to report on it, finding hope in this burgeoning progressive direction. I was raised non-religious, converted to Christianity at a Chinese immigrant church in high school, and was deeply in the evangelical movement in college as a student leader at one of the largest campus ministries, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, she says. It was here she first experienced the evangelical culture wars. The evangelical litmus test included what youd expect: opposing choice, opposing equality for the queer community, focusing almost exclusively on personal faith, piety and conversion with very little regard to the pressing issues of authentic racial justice, gender equality and equal protection and inclusion of the LGBTQ community. Her liberal thinking made for conflict and eventually pushed her out of the evangelical world, leading her to look for a church without fundamentalism. Her faith was questioned by her Christian friends and she found herself moving away from labels. Her work as a journalist, however, provided her a chance to meet progressive groups across the country who were working to rewrite the evangelical script. She interviewed the secret society, Biola Queer Underground (now Biolans Equal Ground), which formed to create a place of refuge for LGBTQ students and to change the conservative university culture into a welcoming one. She discovered Evangelicals for Justice, which she says is working to dismantle white power structures in the church, and working to bring conservative white evangelicals to support racial justice work, like Black Lives Matter. What excites me about the progressive evangelicals that I reported on, she adds, is that instead of running from evangelicalism (like I did), they are reclaiming it, staying within their communities and changing them from within. The difficulties faced by evangelical progressives is one of connection. The sea of conservative evangelicalism can amplify ones feeling of being an island. Alternative voices to evangelical far right are emerging. The newly formed group, Public Faith, for example, is composed of both conservative and liberal leaning Christians. They oppose climate change, racial injustice, and poverty, but remain traditional on issues of abortion and gay marriage. While Public Faith shares some of these concerns with progressives, it nevertheless appears to be a more moderate voice at this point. It's not that there aren't big progressive names promoting the cause, like Brian McLaren or Jim Wallis, founder and president of Sojourners Magazine. And it's not that there aren't small organizations and groups pushing for change; its that these tend to remain siloed. Enter the OPEN Network, a collective of post-evangelical and progressive evangelical leaders founded in 2015 by Doug Pagitt and Michael Kimpan. (Deborah Jian Lee is among their growing list of speakers for their first annual conference.) Evangelicalism, says Michael, has been hijacked, and needs and ought to be reclaimed, reposted, and reoriented towards its original meaning of a declaration of good news. Like so many, Michaels journey to progressive evangelicalism came after years of grappling with what he believes it means to be a Christian and discovering that he was no longer conservative. Also like others, his new worldview was costly. In the past, hes been under church discipline, called a heretic, and lost friendships. He was recently disinvited to an annual family vacation because of his political perspective. Theres a more beautiful world my heart knows is possible, and any good God would want it, says Michael. Finding others who not only believe the same, but strive to live out a more just and generous expression of Christian faith has been life-saving. You could even call it salvific. He wants other progressives to know that they are not alone, and OPEN is the project to deliver that message. One of the values of OPEN is to resource the groundswell of people, churches, and organizations who identify as both progressive and evangelical. Many dont even know there are others like them! Yet we are manyand there are enough of us out there to make a difference. With the future of evangelicalism up for grabs, these young progressive leaders are looking to transform it into what they imagine as the best version of itself. Many understand their work as evangelicals as part of the Protestant heritage of reforming Christianity. Jesus caused the faithful of his day to question everything they held to be fundamentally true and progress beyond their religious doctrines and dogmas, says Brandan Robertson. And I believe Christ is calling us to do the same in our day and age. Thats what makes me progressive. Children from economically backward classes reportedly are using whiteners and nail polish removers and becoming addicts the Karnataka Food Commissionerate observed. By Rohini Swamy: Following the footsteps of the Haryana government, Karnataka also has moved for partially banning the production and sale of nail polish removers and whiteners in bottled form as they claim that it is being misused by children to get a high. Children from economically backward classes reportedly are using whiteners and nail polish removers and becoming addicts the Karnataka Food commissionerate observed. advertisement Submitting an order to the government, the Food commissionerate said that the ban will be on bottled whiteners. The Joint Director,(food commissionerate) Dr Shivakumar told India Today that the move is to reduce the addiction among children and adults. "Whiteners have chemical components which give a sense of euphoria when it is inhaled. ONLY TO GET A "KICK" When those using this inhale it, they get a "kick" and they get addicted. The lower socio-economic people are the ones who use it largely. This may not be as serious as other states, but as a precautionary measure we have notified it. " 'The reasoning behind taking these products to be used in tubes it will help in reducing the usage as smaller quantities will come of the tubes. As these products are not easy to be banned completely as they are used extensively as stationary, the move is only to curb the use in bottles for now. A Mumbai based company called Kores which produces whiteners has been asked not to produce the product in bottles, and have been instructed to package them in tubes. The order will come into effect immediately. ALSO READ: Prisoners use drone to smuggle drugs into a Greek jail, but police catch them in the act --- ENDS --- A disgruntled flyer sued Emirates airline saying that his nine-hour flight was "ruined" by an obese passenger seated next to him. By India Today Web Desk: An Italian lawyer has sued the Emirates airline after he 'suffere'd' being next to an 'obese man' for a nine-hour flight. Giorgio Destro. a lawyer, said that his flight from Cape Town to Dubai was ruined by the passenger whose body 'spilled' into his seat on the Boeing 777, reports Mattino Padova. The report states that Destro, who is a "gold member" flyer with Emirates, has demanded a whopping EUR 2,759.51 (approximately Rs 2,06,000) as a refund for the flight. advertisement The lawyer who has previously worked for the Italian Consulate in South Africa, snapped a selfie at the time with passenger who according to him was occupying too much of his space. He told Mattino Padova,"for nine hours, I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free, and in the final phase of flight resign myself to suffer the 'spillover' of the passenger at my side." "Emirates is unable to comment on this particular case as it is an ongoing legal matter," said an Emirates spokesperson. The hearing has been scheduled for October 20 in Padua. Obesity is a growing problem in flights abroad with overweight passengers booking double seats to avoid confrontation with co-passengers. On April 6, New Jersey bookstore manager was kicked out of his United Airlines flight on Tuesday for being overweight. The man who weighed 385 pounds was asked to get off the plane after a co-passenger complained about sitting next to him. In another incident similar to the Emirates case last year, the Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad was sued by a man who complained about being seated next to an overweight passenger, reports CNN. --- ENDS --- New designs strengthen WGS brand's visibility This years TFWA World Exhibition and Conference sees William Grant & Sons refining its global travel retail portfolio with new and refreshed packaging in key collections. The Glenfiddich Cask Collection, which remains exclusive to global travel retail, has a new look to strengthen the collections visibility on-shelf and enhance the premium cues of the range while reinforcing its contemporary appeal. Drambuie Scotch Liqueur also has an upgraded presentation. In addition, new 50cl packaging will be introduced for Tullamore D.E.W Cider Cask Finish Irish whiskey and Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Irish whiskey both exclusive to global travel retail. Constantly reviewing and refreshing the portfolio is absolutely necessary if we are to ensure the total offer is right for our travel retail partners and - in turn - their customers. The changes and additions this year sit alongside our most recent collections, such as Grants Elementary, a GTR exclusive range, and brands such as Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, House of Hazelwood, Monkey Shoulder and Hendricks Gin, which create a compelling and undeniably must-stock offer. says William Grant & Sons GTR MD Ed Cottrell. Equally important is bringing brands to life and visitors to the WGS can experience two current highly engaging activations at first hand: Monkey Shoulder welcomes new drinkers into Scotch with its legendary drinks trolley serving up contemporary pre-mixed cocktails and playlists; while the Master Serve O Matic bicycle delivers the perfect slice of cucumber to accompany a Hendricks gin and tonic. 25 September 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor Jeanette and Lee Freeman celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by reaffirming their vows at St. Joseph Catholic Church and enjoying a luncheon with family. They also celebrated with an eight day Alaskan cruise. The couple met at the Queen theatre in downtown Bryan where Jeanette's Mom sold tickets and Lee sold concessions. They quickly knew they had a special relationship and a long future together. They would later realize that there could not be two more compatible nor more in love people on this earth. In 1963 Lee joined the Navy which forced the couple to have a "long distance relationship". Eight months before being honorably discharged from the service, Lee and Jeanette were married at St. Joseph Church. They soon headed to Newport R. I. where Lee was stationed. At the time they didn't have much but knew as long as they had each other they would be fine. In 1967 Jeanette and Lee returned to Bryan. They both went to work full time, Jeanette at News Office Supply and Lee at the Bryan Police Department. Over the years Jeanette obtained undergraduate and master's degrees from Texas A&M University and Lee obtained a BS degree from Sam Houston and graduated from the FBI National Academy. Jeanette retired from BISD after teaching at Crockett school for 28 years. Lee retired from the Bryan Police Department after 34 years, serving as Chief of Police during his last 8 years. Between working full time jobs, numerous part time jobs, including at The Eagle and Pictorial Press and going to school, Lee and Jeanette raised two fine sons, David and Lee Jr. David and wife Kelly are the parents of Jordan, Courtney, and Tim. Lee Jr. and wife Fritzie are the parents of Logan and Ailee. Jeanette and Lee are so blessed and thankful to have each other and all their family helping celebrate their special day. It is hard to view the deaths of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, with anything other than sadness and anger. Both men died at the hands of police -- and neither had to happen. We don't know all the facts in either case and, perhaps, never will. That hasn't stopped many of us -- black and white -- to reach conclusions that may or may not be warranted. The sadness comes at the loss of a human life. The anger stems from the uncertainty about the shootings and the possibility that police acted recklessly. The deaths of Crutcher and Scott are the latest in a series of similar events. The Washington Post says that 173 African Americans have been killed by police so far in 2016. Obviously, many of those deaths were justified, but too many questions remain about others that feed into the belief widespread in the black community that police are inherently prejudiced against African Americans, shooting first and pausing to answer questions later. Indeed, blacks are killed at some 2.5 times the rate of white people. Yes, there may be many times when police acted appropriately, but not always. In fact, prosecutors in Tulsa have charged Police Officer Betty Shelby with first-degree manslaughter in Crutcher's death. At the same time, we can't forget the 38 deaths of police officers this year, including five in Dallas and three in Baton Rouge. Law enforcement is a dangerous job at best. Police officers risk their lives every time they make a traffic stop and every time they respond to a domestic disturbance. The deaths in Dallas came as police officers escorted a peaceful protest. We are thankful for our police officers and so glad they are on the job protecting all of us. We are convinced that the vast majority of law enforcement officers are good, decent people who do their job as required. But we also believe that the vast majority of Americans are good and decent folks, African Americans included. And yet, the races look with suspicion on the other. We all have our own individual biases, including racial prejudices, but we must work hard to erase those inherent bigotries. More than 150 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, we Americans still are separating ourselves in large part by the color of our skin. If we ever are to live up to the full potential of this great nation, we must look beyond such simplistic measures of each other. That said, it is understandable for people to gather together in peaceful protest of, well, anything, but specifically the deaths of African Americans by police. Peaceful protest is one of our most cherished rights in America. What isn't acceptable, however, is violence and looting and burning, as we witnessed last week in Charlotte. How does that respect the lives lost and the effort to prevent future deaths? Part of the problem in Charlotte is the refusal by Police Chief Kerr Putney to release official police videos of the events surrounding Scott's death. He said his department does so only "when we believe there is a compelling reason." Perhaps the police videos won't answer the important questions we all have about the terrible event, but in the absence of seeing them, wild speculation, unanswered rumors and raw emotions only continue to grow and spread and magnify. Look at Tulsa, where videos of the death of Crutcher was released quickly, and while they doesn't show clearly what happened, they at least stamp down much of the rumor mill surrounding such incidents. In this day of phone cameras and other devices, invariably video of such deaths surface, as they did in Charlotte, where we hear Scott's wife plead with officers not to shoot her husband -- and we heard her beg her husband to step out of the car. And we hear police officers tell Scott repeatedly to drop his gun. We understand Charlotte Police Chief Putney's concern when he said, "If you think we should display a family's worst day for public consumption, that is not the transparency we're speaking of." At the same time we understand the need for the people of Charlotte and, indeed, America to learn everything they can about Scott's death. For decades, black Americans talk about being stopped for "driving while black," that law enforcement officers routinely pull over cars -- particularly nice cars -- being driven by an African American. We've heard it so often, there must be something to the claims. It is incumbent on police departments to know the way their officers feel about race relations and other aspects of life in America today. Regular reinforcement on acceptable white-black relationships should be held. At the same time, black Americans must show police officers the respect they not only deserve, but need in carrying out their duties. Let us all look inside ourself to ferret out the prejudices that harm American and drag this country down. We're getting you the cash instantly all you have to do is have your phone ready to ring! By PTI: On the drug menace in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "We have to On the drug menace in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "We have to curb this and once it is done there would be a dire need of employment for rehabilitating youths." He said the business community could help by giving jobs to such youths so that they dont get astray again. advertisement Earlier, on his visit to Jalandhar by road from Amritsar, Congress women wing protested against him showing placards and black flags. They were protesting against alleged misgovernance of the Delhi government which has been held responsible for dengue chickenguniya deaths. During his visit at Beas, Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and partys Sangoor MP Bhagwant Manna. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also visited Beas in March this year, while Senior BJP leader L K Advani had gone there in 2014 and attended the morning discourse by Dhillon. PTI VJ TIR RG TIR --- ENDS --- By Shardul Pathak/Mail Today: Africa is pristine. It is clean, green and fresh, especially if you are used to living in some of the more polluted cities of India. My travel diaries in Africa began with Zambia which shares a border with Zimbabwe. Pre-independence in 1964, Zambia and Zimbabwe were known as Rhodesia, based on the Victorian explorer Sir Rhodes, who toured over this resource-rich nation. advertisement There a million things to do in Zambia: there are game parks where one can walk with the lions, pet a cheetah or go on a safari. There are lodges, on the banks of the many lakes, where one can sit on their balcony, sip coffee and enjoy the sunset. But this is about Livingstone, a town sharing its border with Zimbabwe, settled on the banks of the river Zambezi that houses the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. GETTING THERE: Livingstone is about 500 km from Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. Zambia is readily connected with the world. There are three flights to the Lusaka International airport--one operated by Kenya Airways, two daily flights operated by Emirates and one by Ethiopia Airways. Also read: This guy quit his job, bought a truck, and used it to travel around Africa for 19 months! Once in Lusaka, you can either take a 45-minute flight to Livingstone in a 24-seater Cessna, which is operated by a local airline three times a day, or rent a car and drive in five hours to Livingstone. My recommendation is the latter, because on the way you can begin with 120 km/h and touch up to 180 km/h. STAY: If one wants to stay in Lusaka for the night, there many international chains to chose from--there is the Taj Pamodzi, Intercontinental, Sun Village or the Radisson Blu to name a few. My recommendation is the Taj, as it suffices our Indian taste buds. In Livingstone, there is the option of two flagship hotels--the Sun Zambezi or the Royal Livingstone, both of which are located in the wild life reserve. You can spot a zebra from your room if you are lucky enough. You can spot a zebra from your room if you are lucky enough. Prices range from $60 (Rs4000) to $300 (Rs20,014) a night for these hotels. There are also cheaper lodges, but my recommendation is the Sun Zambezi, because it isn't every day that you open your room curtain and spot a zebra grazing two feet from you. The Sun Zambezi also gives you a private access to the Victoria Falls. Your rooms are provided with disposable raincoats, which must be carried while visiting the Falls to prevent being drenched or being exploited by the local vendors who rent raincoats for $10 (Rs667). advertisement THINGS TO DO: The star attraction in Livingstone is the Victoria Falls. You are treated to 200-ft high clouds of mist the moment you enter the municipal limits of Livingstone. The Falls can either be explored on foot, navigating one's way through narrow paths: some carved by human and others by nature. Or, one can rent a helicopter for the bird eye's view. The Victoria Falls can be explored on foot or on a helicopter ride. The helicopter ride takes you into Zimbabwe, the pilot flies you over the Falls and then low over the Zambezi River for you to spot your shadow or if you are lucky enough, a group of hippos crossing the river. The helicopter ride costs about $100 per person (Rs6,671), and depending on the size of your entourage, you can either rent the 3 or 5-seater. At the end of the joy ride, one also has the option of buying a video of the whole flight. The motor powered cruise takes you up stream on Zambezi river. advertisement Also read: A tour of Africa's animal kingdom, from the Masai Mara to Serengeti Another star attraction is the river cruise. For $50 per person (Rs3,335), you are taken on a motor powered cruise up stream on the Zambezi River. All the food and drinks are included in the cover charge, and you get a cabin boy to cater to your every need. River cruise on Zambezi river. My recommendation is to take the 5 pm cruise because that takes you to the vantage point where the river splits to flow into the Falls or carry onwards into Zimbabwe. For the adventure junkies, there is bungee jumping on the bridge joining Zambia and Zimbabwe. If standing in two nations at one time isn't adventurous enough, you can jump off the bridge for a free fall of over 100-ft before being bungeed up! --- 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 PTI: Aizawl, Sep 25 (PTI) Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana today said that a magisterial inquiry would be instituted to inquire the incident at Lunglei town in Mizoram where a mob attacked district court buildings, offices and a residential building on Thursday. Lalzirliana told PTI that the state government would take stern action against those people found guilty in the inquiry. advertisement Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh had said that the law enforcement mechanism had "failed immensely" in Mizoram resulting in hooligans trespassing the court buildings and ransacking the court offices and residence of court officers by a mob in Lunglei. In a letter to state Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Friday, the Chief Justice said that he was shocked at the untoward incident which could not be accepted at all and was a slur on the administration, reflecting the immense failure of the law enforcement mechanism. He said that unless a stern action was taken immediately, the incident would encourage future similar adversities. Earlier, the Gauhati High Court withdrew all the judges in Lunglei district and attached them with the District and Sessions Judge, Aizawl district following the mob violence in Lunglei district court premises. The order for withdrawing the judges came after a mob belonging to Zohnuai locality of Lunglei attacked district court buildings with stones and bricks and also ransacked the official residence of the Civil Judge. Local people of Zohnuai gathered in front of the district court demanding to see the face of Stephen Lalchawiliana (26) who was to be produced before the court for allegedly killing C. Lalsawmliana (33) of Zohnuai locality of Lunglei on August 27. The crowd turned unruly after learning that the accused was already remanded to judicial custody for further period by holding a camp court inside the District Jail. PTI HCV MM IKA KKB --- ENDS --- NORWALK For a quarter century, the North American Racing Team dazzled Ferrari enthusiasts from Le Mans, France, to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The racing team was formed in 1957 to drum up interest in the Italian Ferrari brand among Americans. This Wednesday evening, the New England Auto Museum will host at Stepping Stones Museum for Children a special one-night celebration on the eve of the 60th anniversary of NARTs foundation. The celebration will include film presentations on the Ferrari teams Bonneville speed record attempts in 1974 and the development of the Ferrari NART Spyder. In the late 1960s, Luigi Chinetti Jr., son of Ferrari legend Luigi Chinetti, called for the production of 10 convertible 275 GTB4, 12-cylinder Ferraris. The vehicle was known as the NART Spyder, according to N.A.R.T. A Concise History of the North American Racing Team 1957 to 1983 by Terry ONeil. Roger Colson, a NART team member who now lives in New Canaan, remembers the Spyder well. I was involved in servicing it as a mechanic during the 12-hour race in 1967 at Sebring, Colson said. The car appeared in the Thomas Crown Affair movie for only a few minutes with Faye Dunaway driving it. Steve McQueen ordered another car after the movie. The NART celebration is set for Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the Stepping Stone Multimedia Gallery in Norwalk, 303 West Ave. Tickets will be $20 per person and can be purchased at neautomuseum.org. Space is limited to 150 people. Weather permitting, the actual Ferrari 512M that went to Bonneville will be on display in the museums courtyard. The goal of the celebration is to raise money for New England Auto Museum. The non-profit organization is hoping to make Riverview Plaza at 24 Belden Ave., the home of its future museum and educational facility. In September 1974, Chinetti Jr. and NART took two Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytonas, one Ferrari 512M Le Mans prototype a pit crew to the Bonneville Salt Flats in an attempt to break several long-standing speed records. Two-time Formula One world champion Graham Hill, actor Paul Newman and then-current NART driver Milt Minter were the drivers. They succeeded in making the history books save for 24-hour record, which remained unbroken, according to ONeils history of NART. In addition to the film presentations, the celebration will include a panel of former NART members sharing their memories on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the racing organizations formation in 1957. Colson and fellow former NART mechanic Francois Sicard will be among the panelists. Jerry Cotrone, ex-Chinetti Motors employee and curator of the Malcolm Pray Achievement Center in Bedford, N.Y., will emcee the celebration. Both major-party candidates in the current presidential campaign present thoughtful voters with the worst choice in recent memory. According to polls, the election could be characterized as an unpopularity contest. Trump is widely regarded as a narcissistic, incompetent blowhard, while Clinton has achieved an unparalleled reputation for untrustworthiness. Having created the Trump monster, the mainstream media like modern day Frankensteins are now struggling to deconstruct their nefarious creation; at the same time, pundits battle in vain to present Clinton as a commendable candidate. Alas, neither can be done. While trying to present herself as someone who talks campaign finance reform, Hillary runs not walks through the vaults of big banks and Wall Street to fund her campaign. Unlike Bernie Sanders, who solicited small donors exclusively, she prefers sell herself to high rollers who expect a quid pro quo. Hillarys supporters say she gets things done, and I agree. But some are very bad things. As a senator, she voted for war with Iraq which spread the poison of Al Qaeda and ISIS throughout the Middle East. As secretary of state, she organized a right-wing coup in the Ukraine risking war, instead of making Russia a useful trading partner. She engineered another right-wing coup in Honduras and urged military intervention in Libya, which endangered our interests instead of safeguarding them. As a diplomat, she has repeatedly made things far worse, not better. As a candidate-to-be, Hillary made sure that her 2008 campaign manager became the head of the Democratic National Committee. Once in the cat birds seat, Chairwoman Wasserman-Schultz did her best to hobble Bernie Sanders until she was forced to resign in disgrace. Now a presidential candidate, Hillary again is spreading her hawkish wings, threatening the doves of the world with her own brand of hubris. She wants us to police the world so as to impose her personal concept of right and wrong, even at the risk of destroying the planet with a nuclear cataclysm. By exchanging government emails on a private unprotected server, she put our national Security at risk. The Democratic Party was immensely fortunate to have Bernie Sanders revive its moral compass and pull hundreds of thousands of new members into its ranks. But while polls consistently showed that Sanders was far and away the better candidate to beat Trump, the Democratic establishment urged the rank and file to vote for Clinton. The suggestion that we now must opt for the lesser of two evils is appalling and particularly reprehensible given the unlawful manner in which the establishment handled the primaries. Hordes of lifelong Democrats are leaving the party, many intending to vote for Jill Stein, the Green Partys candidate who made her reputation leading The Physicians for a National Health Program and as a candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. They dismiss the lesser of two evils argument, believing that any degree of evil is bad for our country. Abraham Lincoln won as a third-party candidate in a four-way race, and helped give us a new birth of freedom. It can be done. For the sake our beloved country, it must be done. Scott Kimmich is a resident of Norwalk. The family of the late Donald Beery Jr. is upset that only Bernard Schaeffers side of the story is being heard at Schaeffers mitigation hearing. Schaeffer, who was found guilty of killing Beery in 1977, spent seven hours testifying Monday in a Hall County District Courtroom. Schaeffer, now 56, was given a life sentence without parole. The Beery family believes that Schaeffer, who has a chance to get out of prison, was not completely honest as he recounted his life before the murder and his subsequent years in prison. The family describes Schaeffers testimony as a self-serving account of events that often conflicted with what he said previously. Schaeffer has every right to say what he wants and most of his testimony was probably rehearsed and presented in favor of his position, the family wrote in a statement this week. This does not make it accurate. He is a convicted murderer that has attempted to kill at least three other men and has had a wide variety of other infractions while being incarcerated. The mention of attempting to kill other men refers to disputes Schaeffer has had while in prison. Beery was killed on his 28th birthday. Schaeffer, who was 16 at the time, has admitted to shooting the Ace Hardware manager 17 times at Baxter sand pit near Grand Island. A friend of Schaeffers, George Lanzendorf, was present at the killing, but did not take part. Lanzendorf is no longer in prison. Release from prison possible For 35 years. Beerys family believed Schaeffer was behind bars for good. We were told he would never get out, said Denise Pascoe, one of Beerys three siblings. That changed, though, in 2012, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case called Miller vs. Alabama. The court ruled that keeping people in prison for life, beginning when theyre juveniles, without any chance of parole violates provisions against cruel and unusual punishment. Schaeffer is among many inmates nationwide who are being resentenced. Hall County District Judge Teresa Luther will announce Schaeffers sentence Jan. 3. Its possible Schaeffers life sentence will continue. But thats highly unlikely, Pascoe said. Mondays hearing was a continuation of an abbreviated session in July. More than 50 Beery supporters attended that hearing. Schaeffers mitigation hearing will resume at 10 a.m. Nov. 22. Schaeffer is being represented by Lincoln attorney Jeff Pickens, who is chief counsel for the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy. Pickens is handling six such cases around the state. Purpose of hearing The mitigation hearing is an opportunity for Schaeffer and his attorney to show mitigating circumstances in his life. Its not an opportunity for the state to present aggravating evidence, Pickens said in an interview. Beery supporters would be allowed to speak only if they could rebut something that weve presented, Pickens said. Prosecutors have an opportunity to put evidence in the presentence report. What matters is whether a judge believes the defendants testimony, Pickens said. If prosecutors have evidence suggesting the defense isnt truthful, they can also present rebuttal evidence. The victims family is allowed to provide victim impact statements, which Beerys survivors are making. Those letters are included in the presentence report. Nebraska law permits a representative of the victims family to read a statement aloud. Some members of the Beery family fear that Jan. 3 is too late for a judge to properly consider a familys statement. The best way to determine whether a person is telling the truth is for the opposing party to cross-examine the witness, and thats occurred, Pickens said. Schaeffer was cross-examined Monday by Deputy Hall County Attorney Sarah Carstensen. The mitigation hearing is being held in the same courtroom where Schaeffer was sentenced in 1977. Beery grew up in Grand Island. Since the murder, his wife has remarried. Now Edith Soper, she continues to live in the house she shared with Beery. Looking back at first trial Beerys family has copies of court records from the 1970s. They said Schaeffers testimony Monday differed from the version of events he gave after the murder. For instance, Schaeffer said Monday that he attacked Beery after the manager exited the rear of the hardware store. In the 1970s, Edith said, Schaeffer said Beery came out the front door. On Monday, Schaeffer said he hit Beery in the front of the head. Following the murder, he said he hit Beery in the back of the head. Also Monday, Schaeffer said Beery remained silent. In his original testimony, he said Beery asked for a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his head. Schaeffer said many times throughout the day Monday that he was not trying to be difficult or evasive. He wanted to remember some things better, but regretted that he couldnt, he said. Edith was 26 years old when her husband was killed. Sarah, their oldest child, was 5. Donovan, the only boy, was 2 and a half. Amanda, the youngest, was 9 months old. She walked the week of the funeral, her mother remembers. Losing their brother is still difficult today, said Carol George, who lives in Grand Island, because you never know when the tears are going to come. Growing up without a dad The three Beery kids never had a chance to get to know their father, Pascoe said. Sarah has only about two memories of her dad. Grand Island residents have always been kind to the Beery family, Edith said. The statement written by the family this week thanks Grand Island and the many people who have been involved in our lives over the years. Don was loved in this town and the support shown for him has been appreciated. But although they value the support, You didnt always want to have to talk about it, George said. Sarah also appreciates the kindness of others. But it was hard growing up in Grand Island, she said, because everybody knew the story. Donovan is the only one of the three kids who now lives in Nebraska. Beerys family feels its important to represent his memory. His life did count, and he is still missed, Pascoe said. Her brother, she said, was a happy person. Ive never heard anyone say anything bad about Don, she said. Lets not forget Don Beery Jr, the familys statement says. He was a husband, father, son, brother, nephew, grandson and friend. The statement adds that he was a hard worker, devoted to family and an upstanding citizen. His life was cut short, the statement reads. We do not seek vengeance but rather, justice for Don. Still, the family harbors resentment toward the man who killed him. Hes had 39 years to apologize to our family and he never has, Pascoe said. By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the Centre has proposed to set up an expert committee to look into the Mahanadi water issue but the state government rejected it as it did not stop construction on the river in Chhattisgarh. Two-days ago the state government received a letter from the Union Water Resources Ministry stating about setting up of an expert committee to look into the Mahanadi issue without instructing Chhattisgarh to stop construction, Patnaik said in the Assembly. advertisement "We have rejected the proposal of the expert committee as it does not stop construction by Chhattisgarh government and the helpless Union Government," Patnaik said as treasury bench members hailed the decision. Such panels will not protect the interest of Odisha and therefore there was no meaning of sending a representative to the expert committee, Patnaik said in a reply to the two-day debate on the Mahanadi water dispute issue in the Assembly. The Chief Minister lambasted the previous UPA government and the present NDA regime at the Centre. "The present NDA Sarkar for obvious political reasons is blatantly taking sides with the BJP led Chhattisgarh government. These narrow political consideration in the sensitive inter-state issue jeopardise the interest of Odisha," he said. Patnaik said he had put forth the demand to stop construction by Chhattisgarh on upstream of Mahanadi at the November 17 meeting at Delhi but unfortunately the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh did not agree and Union Minister Uma Bharti did not support it. He said the Mahanadi problem has been created by the then UPA government at the Centre and BJP government in Chhattisgarh. Alleging that the UPA government failed to discharge its federal responsibility causing great injustice to the people of Odisha, Patnaik said central funding of some of these projects has made the matter worse. Both the UPA and NDA governments both financed and approved projects of Chhattisgarh and Pollavaram. Terming the statement read out by the Chief Minister as "unfortunate", both Congress and BJP members walked out of the Assembly. PTI AAM NN AJR --- ENDS --- The headline over the lead story in The New York Times was stunning in its directness: Donald Trump Clung to Birther Lie for Years, and Still Isnt Apologetic. Those words, and many more like them, could mark a turning point in the medias treatment of Donald Trump. Journalists are increasingly willing to call him what he is: a lying bully who appeals to the darkest strains of racism and xenophobia in the American character. This is an important step that carries considerable risk. If the media goes beyond the facts and appears to be pursuing a partisan vendetta against Trump they will undermine their own credibility. But not acting allowing Trump to trample the truth with relentless disdain carries large risks as well. Remember Edward R. Murrow. The CBS broadcaster devoted his whole program on March 9, 1954, to exposing Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin, who trafficked in the same kind of scurrilous fearmongering Trump has persistently employed. This is no time for men who oppose Sen. McCarthys methods to keep silent, warned Murrow. There is no way for a citizen of a republic to abdicate his responsibilities. Murrow took a huge chance, but he is revered as a man of great courage who helped save the country from a dangerous threat to its core values. Even many Republicans believe Trump represents a similar threat today. We dont accept the liberal theory that the mainstream media has been so intimidated by conservative critics that its bending over backwards to be unfair to Hillary Clinton, spreading a false narrative that she is untrustworthy and dishonest. Clinton has acquired her reputation the old-fashioned way: Shes earned it. Her repeated evasiveness on a series of issues her emails, her family foundation, her health fits into a long-running storyline that both Clintons play fast and loose with the truth. But there is simply no comparison between the two candidates when it comes to veracity. Trumps contempt for the truth is woefully and demonstrably worse. PolitiFact, the highly esteemed, independent fact-checking operation, rated 53 percent of Trumps statements it reviewed as either false or pants on fire (particularly egregious). Clintons dishonesty score was 13 percent. Its perfectly fair, within the tenets of professional journalism, to say that since Trump lies much more often, he should be subject to greater scrutiny. But thats been true for a long time. The media, particularly television, has been slow to confront Trump for one simple reason: ratings and revenue. He might be an amateur politician, but he is a highly professional TV performer who attracts the audiences the networks desperately need. As Les Moonves, the head of CBS, admitted last February: The moneys rolling in and this is fun. ... It may not be good for America, but its damn good for CBS. Now there are discernible cracks in that crass calculation. When NBCs Matt Lauer failed to correct Trumps serial untruths during a televised town hall recently, many journalists were truly appalled. A press conference Trump held in Washington turned into an infomercial for his new hotel, carried live on cable TV. Then he used the platform to advance two of his most insidious lies: that Hillary Clinton was actually responsible for the birther conspiracy that questioned Barack Obamas citizenship, and that he, Donald Trump, was the one to end the controversy. As a Washington Post editorial put it: Mr. Trump has revealed his own facility with fraud and deceit, and he has also exposed how vulnerable democracy is when confronted with a charlatan-celebrity, bereft of principles and willing to say anything to grab headlines. The biggest reason why the media is facing a Murrow Moment is that the polls are tightening. Trump might win. And as any candidate gets closer to the Oval Office, the spotlight on his or her record will and should shine much brighter. Will it make any difference? There is no Murrow around today who can dominate the airwaves. And McCarthy was especially vulnerable because he needed TV to communicate with his followers. Trump commands countless social media channels to evade the filters and fact-checkers of the mainstream press. Moreover, his core supporters display a cultlike resistance to any criticism or contradiction of their Dear Leader. But there are still some undecided voters out there. And there is still time for professional journalists to provide those voters with the truth about the candidates. Murrow is remembered 62 years later because he chose not to cower in the face of a charlatan-celebrity. WASHINGTON Of all the absurdities in Donald Trumps 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, were 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 Trumps use of the words radical Islamic terrorism as a counterterrorism victory are engaged in magical foreign policy thinkingthe 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, Thats 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. Trumps 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 wouldnt 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. Bushs 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. 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 todays 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 Charlestons 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 nations 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 McLeans 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 canals 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 Americas East Coast, and take American goods abroad. More than 6 million square feet of warehouse space is being built to enlarge the Greenville-Spartanburg areas role as a distribution center for imports, and for exports from throughout Americas Southeast. Upstate South Carolina suffered when, beginning in the 1970s, Asian imports devastated the textile industry. But in that decade, Charlestons 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 todays 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 Carolinas 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 Charlestons 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 Carolinas 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 presidents 2018 budget and will be delayed for a year, with radiating costs inefficiencies and lost opportunities. This 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. 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. He claims he has a secret plan to destroy the Islamic State. He does not. He said crime across the country is at record levels. It is not. 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. The Grow Grand Island Executive Committee and the city of Grand Island have worked out a very good process for seeing that a portion of the proceeds of the citys food and beverage tax is used for Grow Grand Island projects. A funding agreement that was discussed last Tuesday at a city council study session will be going before the council for approval soon. The two-year agreement, with a two-year automatic renewal clause, would commit at least $500,000 of occupation tax receipts to Grow Grand Island initiatives, with the payment made each Nov. 1. The projects would have to meet the criteria outlined in the ballot language that voters approved in the May primary to renew the 1.5 percent food and beverage tax. They would also have to meet the Nebraska Constitution and state statutes governing how municipal dollars can be spent. On Grow Grand Islands part, it has a clear process it is already using to receive and consider requests for funding. A grant funding application is available at growgrandisland.com. Applications are considered by the appropriate Grow Grand Island committees and then advanced to the Grow Grand Island Executive Committee, which votes on whether to fund each project. The initiative also has several projects that are ready to be funded once the contract between the city and Grow Grand Island is approved. One of those is improved horse stalls for Fonner Park, with a project cost of $450,000. Cindy Johnson, a member of the Grow Grand Island Executive Committee, told the city council Tuesday that installation of the horse stalls could generate big returns for the city because they would make it possible for Fonner Park to host more horse shows. For any project Grow Grand Island wants to fund with tax receipts, according to the deal the city council is considering, it would forward the proposal to the city administrator and city attorney, who would ensure that the project meets the ballot criteria and state statutes. Any project Grow Grand Island submits that does meet those criteria could be funded at that point without city council approval. Its important to note that city occupation tax funds arent the only source of funding for Grow Grand Island. It has become a 501(c)3, nonprofit corporation that can receive tax-deductible contributions. It also will be seeking grants as they become available. Working out the details and signing this contract is a big boost for efficiency for the city council. Once it delegates use of that portion of the occupation tax proceeds to the Grow Grand Island Executive Committee and gives another $500,000 to the Nebraska State Fair, it will be able to focus on using the remaining $1 million or more in annual tax proceeds for city quality-of-life projects. This is an exciting prospect for city officials, community boosters and all Grand Island residents that goes back to the voters forward-thinking support of the occupation tax ballot measure last May. We all will see the benefits of that tax each year as these projects are carried out. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has dared Karan Johar from taking a Pakistan artist in his movie, if he does, he will get an answer in proper MNS style, they say. By Saurabh Vaktania: A high level meeting of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) took place today where strategy to decide future course of action against Pakistan artists in Mumbai was discussed. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray was also present in the meeting. THE 48-HOUR DEADLINE IS OVER The MNS came down heavily on Karan Johar after he pledged support to Pakistan artists in Mumbai. The party has dared Johar that if any Pakistan artist works in his films, he will be given a proper answer in MNS style. advertisement The 48-hour deadline of MNS got over today afternoon. Speaking to India Today, Amey Khopkar MNS senior leader said, "Deadline is over and I can assure you that there is no Pakistan artist right now in Mumbai. Everyone left after our ultimatum. However if we find any Pakistan artist in Mumbai, we will throw them out." MOVE TO BAN FILMS FEATURING PAKISTANI ACTORS The party has written to distributors and multiplexes and claims they have got positive response from them. If anyone even than goes ahead with releasing the movie which has Pakistani actors, it will have to face music in MNS style. MNS senior leader Shalini Thackeray said, "We won't allow films to release which have Pakistani actors in it. It is an order from MNS chief Raj Thackeray and it has to be followed. We are even getting very positive responses from local people and people on social media." A MESSAGE TO KARAN JOHAR Recently filmmaker Karan Johar came out in support of Pakistan artists and said that art should not be brought in politics. To this MNS leader Khopkar said, "We dare Karan. Let him take a Pakistan artist, see what we will do then." Another senior leader Shalini Thackeray said, "Karan should not forget that he is first an Indian citizen. These Pakistani actors work here in Mumbai, they get fame and money and these people do not even say a word for our soldiers who are getting killed by Pakistani people. Even after this, if he wants to make movies with Pakistani actors, then he should go to Pakistan and make movies there with their actors. We will see if he is successful in making movies, such are the conditions in Pakistan. Bollywood fraternity has to understand that this is for our country and not politics." MNS LASHES OUT AT BJP INACTION Shalini Thackeray even lashed out at the BJP government both in the state and Centre. She said, "I am surprised why they are not doing anything. This initiative should have been taken by them and they are not doing anything." Thackeray claimed this is nothing to do with upcoming elections. She said that if any distributor and multiplex owner does not stop the release, they will have to face the music, "If they don't do it, then we will make them do it in MNS style." advertisement POLICE ASSURES SAFETY Meanwhile, the Mumbai police claims that it will give security to Pakistan nationals in Mumbai who have valid documents. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ashwini Sanap said,"We are taking this matter seriously. Proper security will be given to all the artists in Mumbai. They need not worry." --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 25, 2016 The Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) is set to return for the fifth time from Oct. 5 to 8 in Magelang and Yogyakarta, Central Java. This year, the event will feature scientific discussion about ancient scriptures that relate to eroticism and religiosity, specifically Serat Centhini, a 12-volume work created by Pakubuwono V of the Surakarta kingdom and three court poets. It will also offer other events, such as photo and painting exhibitions, workshops, arts performances and a discussion between writers and the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) with the aim of creating an Indonesian writers association. To me, the BWCF reminds us that Indonesia not only has mountains with tamarind, but also 'salty' seas, festival advisor Mudji Sutrisno said at a press conference on Thursday, referring to a proverb that highlights the various elements of the country's culture. (Read also: Festival highlights importance of film preservation, restoration) We want to give something that could be developed into various forms, added festival director Yoke Darmawan, noting the possibility of ideas forming after the discussions on cultural works. Regarding the unique theme, Yoke commented, We dont go for the sensation of eroticism, but we seek to learn from the journey written in volumes 5-9 of Serat Centhini. The director of Samana Foundation also noted that there were many metaphors in the works and in many acts of worship, including Javanese rituals. And so, what is the effect of religiosity in Javanese culture? That we have to see, she said. (Read also: Island focus: Museum employees future in limbo) Meeting of the minds: Festival curator Seno Joko Suyono (from left to right), festival advisor Mudji Sutrisno, Bekraf head Triawan Munaf and festival director Yoke Darmawan speak at a press conference in Jakarta on Sept. 22. (JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri) Meanwhile, Bekraf head Triawan Munaf expressed his agencys stand in the festival. By digging, appreciating the past works, I want the younger generations to be able to extract what exists here, to monetize it for our welfare together, he said, noting the richness of Serat Centhini, which includes its architectural, design and culinary aspects. He was also hopeful the festival would help to expand the usage of Indonesian culture in the future. Other highlight of the festival is Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan, an award given to those who have greatly contributed to the study of Indonesian culture and history. Festival curator Seno Joko Suyono announced that this year's recipient would be the late Kartono Kamajaya for his contribution in translating Serat Centhini from its original Javanese script into Indonesian language, and Halilintar Latief for his contribution in helping to preserve the Bissu, the transgender Buddhist monks of the Bugis ethnic group. The BWCF is expected to draw around 300 attendees, including writers, cultural observers, academics, historians, archeologists, clerics and more. (kes) (Read also: Festival held to conserve migratory birds at Limboto Lake) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 25, 2016 A Bunch of Caffeine Dealers (ABCD) School of Coffee will join forces with monthly weekend market organizer HYPE Pantai Indah Kapuk to hold Jakarta Coffee Week (Jacoweek) 2016 on Oct. 15-16 in Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta. According to organizers, the event will celebrate the coffee phenomenon in Indonesia. Aside from opening coffee shop booths and holding workshops and cupping events, the festival will also host two coffee competitions, the ABCD Latte Art Showdown 2016, which will feature 60 Indonesian latte artists, and the Battle of the Brewers-V60, a coffee brewing competition using a V60 dripper. The latter will feature 80 Indonesian coffee experts. We initiated Jacoweek 2016 so it could be a place for coffee enthusiasts to take part in developing Indonesian coffee, founder and chief trainer of ABCD School of Coffee Hendri Kurniawan said in an official statement. (Read also: Festival highlights challenges faced by Flores coffee) Willy Kurniawan, chief executive of HYPE Pantai Indah Kapuk, said he hoped relations between roasters, baristas, coffee owners and supporters of Jacoweek 2016 can produce good results for the advancement of Indonesian coffee. Organizers listed the importance of coffee to peoples daily lives and how people enjoyed visiting coffee shops as the two main reasons behind the creation of Jacoweek 2016. Indonesia was the worlds fourth-largest coffee producer in 2014, according to data from the International Coffee Organization. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 25, 2016 Nearly 60 million people in Indonesia are still experiencing a scarcity of clean water, especially in East Sumba where the supply of electricity remains a problem. Set to improve the locals' standard of living by providing the most basic necessities, Light + Water = Life is a campaign by Yayasan Waterhouse Indonesia (Waterhouse Project) that is collaborating with a Singapore-based non-profit organization called the Sendalight Project. We plan to help 500 families who live in Pambuatanjara village in East Sumba, Waterhouse Project co-founder Thanya Ponggawa told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. We will use a solar water pump to pump the water down the hill and up to their village through an underground channel, said Priska Ponggawa, Thanya's sister, who co-founded the project alongside Eunice Salim and Cindy Angelina, adding that most of the villages in Sumba were located in the hills. Meanwhile, Sendalight will distribute solar-powered lanterns to families with no electricity. The lanterns can be charged under the sun for six hours and they can last for 12 hours. Last month we already distributed the lamps to 200 families in Pambuatanjara village, which is the first phase of the campaign, said Thanya. Prior to having the lanterns, the locals used traditional kerosene lamps. [Kerosene] lamps only give a glimmer of light; they are also fire hazards and their smoke is dangerous for the lungs. (Read also: Bajo water tribe choked by water crisis) We are overjoyed when we saw this progress report picture! Change is a collective effort, together we can win this war against the water crisis. #IndonesiabantuIndonesia A photo posted by Water House Indonesia (@waterhouse_project) on Sep 21, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT According to the Waterhouse Project, the scarcity of clean water in Pambuatanjara had made a bad impact on various essential aspects of local lives, such as health, education and their work as farmers. The residents, especially mothers and children, usually have to often go back and forth to the water source. [The water source) is actually not that far, but the water replenishes slowly, thus it is named mata air menunggu (waiting for the water), said Thanya. The situation will get severe between September and December when the dry season comes. They have to buy water for Rp 250,000 [US$19.13] per tank, while they only earn Rp 500,000 per month." For the first phase of the campaign, the Waterhouse Project cooperated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with several other parties, including Ling Ling restaurant where a charity dinner and art auction was held on Wednesday. The foundation plans to help another four villages next year. Those who are interested in participating in the charity may visit the organization's Instagram account. (kes) 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. 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 Bambang Pramono (The Jakarta Post) Sat, September 24 2016 With only drums and guitar, Jakarta-based instrumental band Ghaust, the duo of Uri Putra and Edward Edo Pedrico, was able to produce a singular and distinctive sound, something that less skillful bands could only achieve with an army of guitarists and hundreds of hours in the studio and behind the mixing board. Ghaust produced a genre-defying instrumental music which, to the untrained ear, could be mistaken as post-rock, long, moody compositions that evoke sadness, gloom or, at best, melancholia. Uri tuned his guitar to the sound of industrial rock band Godflesh, but he carefully chose keys that could amplify the grungy sound of the metal, so that many in the scene consider the duo as playing post-metal. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Semarang Sun, September 25, 2016 Bank Indonesia (BI) projects Indonesia's household consumption will maintain positive economic growth in the country in the third quarter of 2016, although at a lower level than the central banks initial estimation. BI economic and monetary policy director Yoga Affandi said household consumption and investment, which contribute about 80 percent to the nations gross domestic product (GDP), would uphold the economic growth. "We saw an improvement trend in the third quarter. We estimate the growth will be about the same as in the second quarter, but slightly better," he said in Semarang, Central Java on Saturday. In the second quarter, Indonesia's economy grew 5.18 percent on an annual basis, faster than that in the previous quarter, when it grew at a rate of 4.91 percent. Yoga explained the increasing contribution of household consumption to the economy could be seen from the relatively stable retail sales performances and the positive sales of motorcycles. Bank central data showed a jump in motorcycle sales in August, following negative growth from April to July. Likewise, sales of household equipment and clothing also recorded a positive trend while communications and the food sector experienced a decrease. "Meanwhile, non-construction investment had not shown improvement. Imported transportation equipment and machinery still contracted, although the contraction is getting smaller," Yoga said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rod McGuirk (Associated Press) Canberra Sun, September 25, 2016 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. 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. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Phuong Le, Gillian Flaccus (Associated Press) Washington Sun, September 25, 2016 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. "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. (ags) PM Narendra ModI announced that India will ratify the Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the second day of his visit to Kerala today addressed the cadres of his party at the BJP National Council Meet. Modi evoked the principles and ethos of Bharatiya Jan Sangh stalwart Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. ModI also announced that India will ratify the Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. advertisement "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive meet here. READ: India is vilifying us, says Islamabad after PM Modi exhorts Pakistani people to stand against terror In the UN climate change conference COP 21 in Paris, 195 countries adopted the first universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020. HIGHLIGHTS: Tolerating violence, is promoting it. I wish this land which inspired Upadhyay inspires us. We hope to do better serve the poor, farmers and the citizens: Modi While having meal today I met a cadre who was attacked and was struggling for life for three months. Is it because we have a different ideology? This is not acceptable in democracy: Modi There is a need for a discussion to bring in change in the procedure for elections in our country: Modi The commitment of the cadre gives us the confidence that social schemes to the poor: Modi BJP is a party full of zeal, passion for good work: Modi A country such as ours - full of young people, should have youthful dreams and youthful pace: Modi BJP's original character is based on principles of welfare of people. We have never compromised on our ideals: Modi Other parties might have good people but we have more good people than them. All our senior leaders made us what we are today: Modi Deendayal Upadhyaya ji said, Muslims shouldn't be treated as substance for votes or looked down upon, they should be considered equal: Modi Deendayal Upadhyaya has said, 50 years back, "Don't reward Muslims, don't rebuke Muslims, empower them": Modi Our government is committed to the welfare of the last person in the society: Modi Today people discuss about global warming, but Deendayal Upadhyaya ji back then used to say that we should respect our resources: Modi On Mahatma Gandhi birth anniversary (October 2), we will ratify the decisions that were made during COP21: Modi Our party was formed for poor section of society and all our initiatives today are focusing on down trodden people only: Modi Paying tributes to Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, Modi asked if politicians today can change Indian politics by following his ideals. "Through our thinking and conduct, can we change people's perception towards politicians? Can we become symbols of the ideals of Pandit Deendayal?" Modi said in his address at the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Council meeting here. He said that Upadhyaya gave the mantra that the Indian politics should be rooted in Indian culture. ALSO READ Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty Pakistan's state policy of terrorism is a war crime, says Amit Shah at BJP conclave Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, will isolate Pakistan: PM Modi India, Pakistan get battle-ready at Line of Control (With inputs from IANS) --- ENDS --- Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mark Stevenson (Associated Press) Mexico City Sun, September 25, 2016 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. "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. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editor (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 25, 2016 The more, the merrier and on Friday there was nobody merrier in town than incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, especially after seeing his rival coalitions split and go their separate ways by nominating their own candidates. Angered by the unilateral move taken by the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in prematurely nominating Sandiaga Uno and obscure PKS politician Mardani Ali Sera as their ticket in the poll, a coalition of the Democratic Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) decided to field former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono to top the ticket, thus living up to the name given to the political grouping, the Kinship Coalition. As his running mate is Sylviana Murni, a career bureaucrat at City Hall, whose last position was assistant to Ahok in charge of tourism and cultural affairs. Agus, who will have to resign from the Army in order to contest the election, is a surprise choice given his utter lack of experience in practical politics. Meanwhile, after doing the math and discovering that a Sandiaga-Mardani ticket would be a tough sell, Gerindra and PKS shuffled the cards and pulled out an ace in the form of former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan. Mardani has been given the consolation prize; being named the tickets campaign team head. The prospect of a three-horse race might please Ahok. In a two-way-tie that pit him against Anies-Sandiaga, Ahok, and his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat, would certainly face a tight contest, as a number of public opinion polls have found that the gap in electability between the Ahok-Djarot ticket and Anies-Sandiaga is within the margin of error. Given the untested quality of Agus and Sylvia, we may have doubts over their ability to get a significant amount of votes, but even that might be enough to take votes from the Anies-Sandiaga ticket, improving the incumbents prospects in the Feb. 15, 2017 race. Things, however, could turn hairy for Ahok, especially if the other two tickets prevent him from getting an initial majority of votes and a second round is needed to find a winner. And that is when the real battle begins, a time when the major players in national politics could be forced to get their hands dirty and decide the election result. President Joko Jokowi Widodo certainly does not want to see his candidate, in this case Ahok, lose the election, a humiliation that could complicate his bid for reelection in 2019. For Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, the Jakarta gubernatorial election is the conduit for his personal vendetta after his defeat in the 2014 presidential election. The Kinship Coalitions decision to nominate Agus might appear baffling to many, but Yudhoyono has his eye on building a political dynasty and he may be testing the water by allowing his son to join the race. The stakes have never been higher in the Jakarta election. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nilar (Myanmar Eleven/ANN) Naypyidaw Sun, September 25, 2016 Myanmar is due to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia to export 500,000 tons of rice a year until 2019, according to Myanmars Commerce Ministry. There is a new minister of commerce in Indonesia and it has requested to postpone the deal for the time being. We are scheduled to visit Indonesia this month to sign the agreement, said assistant secretary of the ministry Khin Maung Lwin as quoted by Myanmar Eleven on Sunday. About 90 percent of rice exports currently go overland to China, but the Myanmar Rice Federation is looking to increase sales to Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan. The Indonesian government initiated a plan to import rice from Myanmar in December 2015, saying that importing rice from Myanmar would serve as backup in case rice imports from Vietnam and Thailand were not adequate to stabilize local prices. In May 2016, the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry reported that 15,000 tons of Myanmar rice had entered Indonesia, but was halted at Tanjung Perak Port, Surabaya, East Java. Then-trade minister Thomas Lembong refused to comment on the problem behind the rice import initiated by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).(ags) ---------- Editor's note: The last paragraph has been revised as suggested. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Associated Press) Mexico City Sun, September 25, 2016 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. The Rev. Pat Murphy, director of Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, said 90 percent of the people who have come to his shelter in the last six weeks are Haitians who moved to Brazil after the 2010 earthquake. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Associated Press) New Delhi Sun, September 25, 2016 A Samsung Note 2 phone emitted smoke and sparks on a flight from Singapore to southern India, the airline said. The phone was found in the bag of a passenger in an overhead bin after other passengers reported smelling smoke in the plane, IndiGo said. It said there was no fire but sparks and smoke were coming from the phone. The crew used a fire extinguisher and then placed the phone in a container filled with water in a lavatory, the Indian airline said in its statement. (Read also: Garuda Indonesia bans Samsung Galaxy Note7) The aircraft made a normal landing at the Chennai airport and all passengers deplaned normally, it said. The phone will be examined to determine the cause of the incident, the airline said. The company said it had been informed of an incident in India with the Samsung Note 2, which uses a replaceable battery and was released in 2012. "We are in touch with local authorities to gather more information and investigate whether there were any external factors involved," the company statement said. Samsung has recalled 2.5 million newer Note 7 phones after dozens of reports of battery fires attributed to a manufacturing flaw. Authorities in several countries have banned their use in aircraft. By India Today Web Desk: Africa had begun to open up to me as I rode through Namibia. As much as I loved the raw energy of the continent, there were silent dangers which I was to soon encounter. One sunny morning as I scraped through a warm bowl of oatmeal, I looked at my half-packed motorcycle to move further down the road for the day. Almost everything was back in place in my panniers except for my tent, which was sitting in a patch of grass in the camp ground outside the town of Opuwo in north-western Namibia. advertisement I picked up my tent and immediately felt a jolting pain in my left middle finger. My initial reaction was that I had probably cut it on a sharp blade of grass. But almost immediately my finger went numb. This was no blade of grass. flipped the tent over and there sat the culprit--a small, brown scorpion with a fat tail full of venom. The numbness quickly moved to my wrist. I realised the venom would move to my arm without treatment. If it reached my heart, I thought I might die. Also read: This guy quit his job, bought a truck, and used it to travel around Africa for 19 months! I rushed over to my only neighbours on the camping ground, an elderly German couple who were packing their Toyota Hilux pickup truck. The couple said they would drive me to the town and told me to get my papers. I grabbed my passport, phone and money pouch. The scorpion was still there on my tent and I quickly took a few photographs of it. When we reached the clinic, I showed the doctor the photo of the scorpion and his eyebrows rose. He said the fat tail meant that the venom was very strong and I better rush to the nearby government hospital. The venom had travelled to my elbow by now. The doctor injected a local anesthetic into my finger and soon we were again off in the pickup truck to try and save my life. After the frantic driving, we reached the hospital but the guard was unwilling to let us in, and only when we convinced him that it was "life or death" situation, did he let us into the hospital. I ran past the empty lobby and burst into the Casualty Room. I quickly explained to the head nurse what had happened, and she, sitting at a desk by the window, slowly raised her head and asked me for my passport. I was bewildered. "Are you serious? You want to do paperwork first before saving my life?" I asked almost losing my temper. I though knew my life was in the hands of the nurse, so I kept my passport on the table and to my amazement, she just rolled her eyes and laughed. "No, not this. Where is your health passport?" advertisement "I don't have a health passport! I only have an Indian passport!" I told her. She then proceeded to open a register and started filling it in. I was amazed at this bureaucracy and also scared that I might meet a meek end in a faraway land. Once the nurse was satisfied with her paperwork, she directed me to the treatment room and brought two vials containing an anti-inflammatory drug and a steroid. She gave me the shot and the relief was immediate. The numbness started subsiding and I sighed, "Live to ride another day?" --- ENDS --- Apparently Remain never used this poster in their campaign because they felt it was too personal. pic.twitter.com/lULMPiiP9I David Videcette (@DavidVidecette) September 24, 2016 (Philip Toscano/PA) Yes it's personal, but I have to say this poster that Remain never used is rather brilliant - and I suspect may have kept Britain in Europe pic.twitter.com/ZtjA4lpPDH amol rajan (@amolrajan) September 24, 2016 @amolrajan @lordbonkers Indeed - just what the #Remain camp was missing to persuade the British people - a poster containing sexual innuendo Arthur_S (@allanholloway) September 24, 2016 In America attacking your opponents is a matter of course. Just see Hillary Clinton going for Donald Trump.And Trump on Clinton.However, attack ads are much less common in British politics, where many people think its an own goal to get personal with your opponents. This is perhaps why David Cameron rejected a series of racy Saatchi & Saatchi posters made for the Remain campaign. One poster shows Nigel Farage in bed (in what looks like a post-coital position), with the words Dont wake up to something youll regret.According to, Camerons chief spin doctor Craig Oliver deemed it too toxic. While attack ads arent unheard of in Britain just think of the hugely successful poster showing Ed Miliband in Alex Salmonds pocket for the 2015 general election this one was thought to be just that bit too far.This wasnt the only ad that Cameron vetoed. He also decided not to run one aimed towards Boris Johnson, showing a scruffy picture of Londons former mayor with the caption Be careful what you wish for. These revelations come as part of the former Times political editor Philip Websters new book Inside Story. Some pundits on Twitter think it would have been a very effective ad.Whereas others are less convinced that it would have made much of a difference to the outcome of the referendum. Sai International's Suswet and Chinmay became the first finalists of News Wiz but they faced good competition from Delhi's Tagore International School and St Patrick Matriculation Higher Secondary School from Puducherry. By India Today Web Desk: In episode 10 of the nation's first and the biggest news quiz, News Wiz, three school teams tested their knowledge and ability to handle pressure in the first of the semifinals. At the end, Sai International School from Bhubaneshwar won and entered the final of the popular quiz show, hosted by Rajdeep Sardesai on India Today Television. advertisement Sai International's Suswet and Chinmay became the first finalists of News Wiz but they faced good competition from Delhi's Tagore International School and St Patrick Matriculation Higher Secondary School from Puducherry. Former Union Cabinet minister Shashi Tharoor and renowned Aaj Tak news anchor Anjana Om Kashyap were the special guests on the show. At the end of the first round of News Cluster, Sai International scored a perfect 400 points while Tagore International and St Patrick's managed only 250 points. SAI INTERNATIONAL MAINTAINS LEAD The second round- Top Story- was tough for all the school teams. While Sai International maintained its lead with 500 points, Tagore International gained ground to move to second place with 400 points. St Patrick of Puducherry finished the round with 300 points. The third round of Match Time brought out the best from every team. St Patrick played brilliantly and secured 500 points in this round to grab second place even as Tagore International bagged 250 points and slipped to third position. Sai International maintained its lead of the previous two rounds and ended the third round with 850 points. They were now closely followed by St Patrick with 800 points. In the crucial fourth round called News Buzz, Tagore International Delhi answered one question to secure 100 points but also lost 100 points for failing to answer the question after pressing the buzzer. It finished third at 650 points, the same score as the third round. For St Patrick and Sai International, it boiled down to the last question. St Patrick boys were at 900 points and Sai International had scored 950 before the final question. It was touch and go. When it mattered the most, Sai International boys took their chance and got the answer right, emerging winner of the first semi-final with 1050 points. WATCH THE EPISODE HERE: READ READ: News Wiz Episode 9: Springdales School Dhaula Kuan walks away with easy win News Wiz episode 8: Katrina, Sidharth say Bar Bar Dekho as Jamshedpur boys edge out Hyderabad, Mumbai rivals --- ENDS --- New documents published by the FBI reveal that US President Barack Obama used a pseudonym in some of his email exchanges with Clinton when she served as his Secretary of State. By India Today Web Desk: As the US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton continues to face the heat over using her private email server for official communications, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released another set of papers, likely to kick up a fresh controversy. According to the documents released by the FBI on Friday, US President Barack Obama used a pseudonym in some of his email exchanges with Clinton when she served as his Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. advertisement CLINTON AIDE WAS 'AMAZED' The second batch of documents, comprising 189 pages, is part of the agency's two-year investigation into Clinton's use of a private e-mail server during her time as Secretary of State. ALSO READ: WikiLeaks to release 'significant' Hillary Clinton campaign data Among other things, the documents include the FBI's interviews with Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin. Abedin, in an interview conducted on April 5, 2016, was shown an e-mail correspondence between Clinton and another person believed to be President Obama. Abedin had said that she couldn't recognize the person or his designation. "Once informed that the sender's name is believed to be (a) pseudonym used by the President, Abedin exclaimed: 'How is this not classified?'" the report stated. "Abedin expressed her amazement at the President's use of a pseudonym," the documents stated. She asked if "she could have a copy of the email". CARELESS BUT NOT CRIMINAL Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans, ahead of the US Presidential election, have been demanding that the FBI makes more material from the investigation public. The FBI investigation, led by Director James Comey, concluded in July and didn't recommend criminal investigation into the case. The FBI, however, did find Clinton "extremely careless" in handling classified documents and information. ALSO READ: Thousands of Clinton emails released, 125 contain classified info The Clinton camp downplayed the revelation. Brian Fallon, National Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton's campaign, said the new documents go on to show why the Department of Justice believes that there is no ground to pursue the case. (with inputs from IANS) --- ENDS --- Automatic camera fines for not wearing helmets to launch in Phuket PHUKET: Traffic Police are already counting down the days to switching on cameras at five locations across Phuket that will automatically send fines for motorcyclists and their passengers not wearing helmets to the motorcycles registered owner. transportaccidentsdeathpolice By Tanyaluk Sakoot Sunday 25 September 2016, 08:00AM A father and daughter wait at traffic lights near Phuket Town with a helmet sitting idle in the basket. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The contract for the installation of the intelligent-camera system was signed on Sept 7, Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch, Vice President of the Phuket branch of the Thai Road Safety Network, confirmed to The Phuket News on Wednesday (Sept 21) at a meeting of officials to discuss details of the cameras deployment. The cameras will take four months to install, hence the countdown of 120 days began on Sept 7, Dr Wiwat explained, setting a launch date for the system for Thursday January 5, 2017. The system costs B16,176,367, with the funds provided by the UK-based Safer Roads Foundation, Dr Wiwat noted. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen told The Phuket News that the five locales chosen were the main intersection in Thalang; a major intersection in Kathu; the intersection of Thepkrasattri Rd and Komaraphat Rd in Phuket Town; Kwang Rd in Wichit; and a major intersection in Kamala. Signs will be installed at the five locations so that motorists have no excuse that they didnt know the law was being applied there, he added. Each location will have three cameras, and the system will be first used for issuing automatic fines for motorbike riders and passengers not wearing helmets, Gen Teeraphol said. The cameras and the combined system have the ability to read license plates of cars and motorbikes, he said. The system also has face-recognition image capability, and can identify motorbike riders regardless of whether they are wearing helmets or not, but at the initial stage the cameras will not be linked to the national ID database, Gen Teeraphol explained. The cameras can also sense vehicles that cross stop lines at intersections, so if a motorist crosses a stop line while the light facing them is red, we will be able to automatically fine them running a red light, he said. For this, I have ordered police in all areas to ensure stop lines are painted clearly at major intersections in their areas, and I have asked all local government municipalities to do the same, he added. The system even has the ability to sense and take clear images of people riding or driving the wrong way against the flow of traffic, a habit known locally as ghostriding or ghostdriving, Gen Teeraphol noted. In issuing the fines for not wearing helmets, the system will compare the license plate captured in the photo or image with the database of registered vehicles kept at the phuket Land Transport office (PLTO), he said. Tests have shown that it takes only about 10 minutes to get a positive match, then the system will print the fine as issued by the police and send it directly by mail. If the fine is not paid within within seven days, we will request the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) to revoke the registered owners drivers licenses. The PLTO has agreed to do it, he warned. Gen Teeraphol noted that people who objected to the fine or having their license revoked can file a formal complaint with the PLTO, as that is the correct department respsonible for enforcing traffic laws. Fines will be issued to companies, including car and motorbike rentals agencies, Gen Teeraphol said, but added that it had yet to be confirmed what action would be taken against repeat offender companies. Dr Wiwat noted that the intelligent-camera system was only one of nine projects underway in Phuket by the Safer Roads Foundation. The main goal of the foundation is to reduce the number of people killed in road accidents in Phuket to less than 50 people per year by the year in 2020, he said. Dr Wiwat noted that 148 people died in road accidents in Phuket last year alone, the same year that Dr Wiwat revealed that Phuket had the worst per capita road-fatality record in the country. (See story here.) Adding to Phukets deplorable road-safety record, the United Nations World Health Organisation last year rated Thailand as the second-worst country in the world for road safety. (See story here.) Last week, Phuket Provincial Police Station was given two speed cameras with the budget provided by the Safer Roads Foundation, and two more cameras with funds provided by the Phuket Provincial Office. Those four speed cameras were donated to the Phuket City Traffic Police, Dr Wiwat explained. Last year, the Safer Roads Foundation donated B2,398,500 to build a traffic circle at the intersection of Surin Rd and Narisorn Rd in the old government quarter in Phuket Town, a notorious blackspot where five people were killed and dozens more were injured in traffic accidents in one year alone. (See story here.) The foundation in August last year also provided B1,143,000 for 39 breathalysers issued to Phuket Provincial Police. (See story here.) D-Day for Phukets Sam Kong Underpass finally set PHUKET: Phuket Highways Office Project Engineer Chalermpon Wongkietkun has set a final yes, final completion date for the long-awaited Sam Kong Underpass as October 15, though there will be no fanfare or official opening ceremony for the project. transportconstruction By Tanyaluk Sakoot Sunday 25 September 2016, 10:00AM Traffic lights have been installed and are now regulating traffic flow though the intersection. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot The completion date has now been set for October 15, 2016 if the weather, especially heavy rain, does not affect construction in the meantime, Mr Chalermpon told The Phuket News on Friday (Sept 23). There will be no grand opening, he said bluntly. Mr Chalermpon noted that only the final finishing touches to the underpass needed completing. Street lights have already been installed and traffic lights are now regulating traffic flow through the intersection, he said. Only the last of the road surfacing and the painting of lane markers remain to be done, he added. One lane southbound past Tesco Lotus has been surfaced and is now open to traffic while workers complete surfacing of the second lane there. With that southbound lane open, and with the installation of traffic lights at the junction, motorists heading east from Kathu can now turn right onto the bypass road and continue south towards the Darasamut Intersection, Mr Chalermpon explained. Previously, for months, they had to turn north onto the bypass road, make a u-turn more than a kilometre down the road, then come back. Similarly, traffic coming from Phuket Town heading west to Kathu can now safely pass directly through the intersection as the traffic lights will signal for other vehicles passing through the junction to stop and give way, Mr Chalermpon said. Traffic heading southbound can still turn right towards Kathu at the junction, but now must wait for the traffic lights, he added. Meanwhile, Mr Chalermpon called on drivers to obey traffic law and not risk their lives while driving through the roadwork zone. Please, dont drive in wrong direction at the work site, he said. I dont want people to be hurt, especially from their own wrongdoing, and if you break the traffic law, you will have a problem with the police. Construction of the beleaguered underpass began three years ago, but has since encountered delay after delay drawing much criticism from high-ranging officials and is now set to be complete more than 18 months behind schedule. Explore: Chillva brings the cool to Phuket's market scene Phuket has many markets that might interest a visitor, the most popular is certainly the weekend market, which is open Saturday and Sunday nights at Wat Naka, south of Phuket Town. But it has plenty of competition now. The Indy Market opened a few years ago in the Phuket Old Town area and is popular with young people. The excellent Lard Yai Walking Street market on Thalang Rd in the heart of Phuket Old Town on Sundays is definitely worth a look. Sunday 25 September 2016, 02:00PM If you want a real working market you know, vegetables, fish, meat, fruit and fresh food Id suggest visiting the main fresh market in Phuket Town or maybe the Kathu fresh market, but I think what people want is a mix of food, restaurants, bars and stalls selling clothes and arty things. The Sunday market in town is probably my favourite, but its only on Sundays! The weekend market is an experience, but can be too busy for me, but now theres something new! The Chillva Market officially opened at the end of April this year, with the aim of being a bit more cool and trendy than your standard market. Chillva has a mix of shops, market stalls, bars, restaurants, food stalls and often has live music too. Some of the shops and bars are open every evening, but the main market is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting late afternoon and closing around 11pm. Best to visit from about 6pm.My last visit was at about 5pm and that did seem too early, it was very quiet. It gets much busier after dark and has quickly become popular. Chillva is located in Samkong, which is in the north end of Phuket Town. Its between the Tesco Lotus store and the Bangkok Hospital Phuket, close to the Chinese shrine in Samkong. I avoided the market for a few months mainly because between our house and Chillva is a big messy roadworks where an underpass has been built and its taken a lot longer to complete than planned. We should be able to drive straight from Kathu to Samkong, but for a long time weve had to make a big detour down the bypass road and u-turn back towards town. That is now almost complete. The market occupies a fair slice of land and has quite a large car park too, although one time when we visited the car park was full and roadside parking there was like gold dust. You could park in Tesco and walk about 500 metres. Motorbike parking is less of a problem. As its quite new, it is currently one of the local hotspots. The various markets do pretty well at not clashing with each other, or are located a fair distance apart, like the weekend market on the opposite side of Phuket Town. So, what do we have at Chillva market? Well, first of all (on Thursday, Friday, Saturday) you have the market lots of stalls selling clothes, arty things, and quite a lot of food stalls. Its not a huge place like the weekend market (where you can easily lose your way) and is open air, so its not too hot after dark. There are also a fair number of restaurants, selling anything from burgers to Thai noodles, with outdoor tables, plus a seating area for eating food from the stalls. Aside from the market area, there are some more permanent shops, mostly selling clothes. My daughter found one she likes selling earrings. There is a bit of nightlife here too. In fact, every time I have been there was some live music, usually just local musicians playing but on one visit there was what looked like a school talent show going on. There is also a little street of trendy bars where you can sit up on the roof with a drink and watch the scene below. When someone asks me which is the best market to visit, I find it hard to answer. These places are more for locals than tourists, but Id say try this one and the Sunday walking street, or the weekend market if you want the big one. As a local, its good to have these options now, as a few years ago the weekend market was on its own. Jamie Monk works at liveaboard dive specialists Sunrise Divers. For more information call: 084 626 4646 or visit: sunrise-divers.com You can read more about Phuket on Jamie's Phuket Blog or follow Jamie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Flickr. Somalia introduces khat ban SOMALIA: The rattle and honk of trucks carrying bales of the leafy narcotic khat have not been heard in Mogadishu since the government recently announced a surprise import ban. drugshealthpoliticsculture By AFP Sunday 25 September 2016, 11:00AM Khat also known as miraa is a red-stemmed, green-leafed plant that has a mildly amphetamine-like effect when chewed, akin to one too many espressos. Photo: Zacharias Abubeker/AFP Users, vendors and traders have been left bemused and angry by the unexplained government directive. You cant just say khat is banned without giving reasons or offering alternatives for people who depend on the trade, said Naciimo Abdiweli, a mother of five who sells the herbal stimulant at one of the many stalls dotted around the Somali capital. Khat also known as miraa is a red-stemmed, green-leafed plant that has a mildly amphetamine-like effect when chewed, akin to one too many espressos. Among Somalis it has long had social, cultural and religious uses but it is also frequently abused. Traditionally, chewing was an afternoon activity for men, but increasingly they are also chewing in the morning, evening and throughout the night. Addicts commonly spend all their money on bunches of leaves and waste hours in a stupor, green drool trickling from between brown-stained teeth. Doctors in Somalia have linked dependency to psychosis and paranoia. Somalias government has also banned aeroplanes that are carrying khat from entering Somali airspace. While it is enjoyed in Somalia, khat is grown in neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya, both of which have large farming communities relying on its export for their livelihoods. Somalias transport minister Ali Ahmed Jama Jangeli recently refused to give any reason for the ban. No explanation has been offered by any other government officials, leaving traders like Abdiweli at a loss. Weve been told the government stopped flights bringing khat from Kenya and the market is empty now, but we dont know the reason, she said. The Somali decision has upset Kenyan growers too. This is a big loss to us, said Dave Muthuri, chairman of the Kenya Miraa Farmers and Traders Association. Farmers are crying because of the loss they are incurring. It caught everyone off-guard, he added. Their crops which must be transported fresh before the leaves wilt have languished in sacks in Meru, where it is grown in Kenyas centre, and at the nations Wilson Airport from where it is flown to Somalia. Muthuri said no khat had left Kenya since Sept 7 and that dozens of tonnes of the plant were going to waste. In Mogadishu, at the receiving end of the khat supply chain, business has ground to a halt. We are sitting on empty tables at markets waiting for news, but it seems the government does not want to talk to us openly about why theyve stopped this business, said Ahmed Ugaas, a khat trader. But while some are concerned by the social damage done by khat, others believe it helps keep the volatile city calm. I believe that khat consumption played an important role in maintaining tranquillity, said Mohamed Abdisalam, a grocer. Most of the gunmen go and sit chewing every day from 11 in the morning, can you imagine what they will do when they dont have khat? They will go onto the streets and cause havoc! he predicted. Khat is banned in the US, Canada and most of Europe all places with large diaspora Somali communities. But no government or authority has ever succeeded in banning it in Somalia, not the military dictatorship, the warlords nor the Islamic extremists. Its a matter of days and then business will be back to normal, said Zakariye Mohamed, a regular khat consumer untroubled by the interruption in his supply. The military regime [of Siad Barre] was mightier than this government but they could not succeed in banning it. Even Al-Shabaab, who kill people, could not stop it, he said. This thing is very tricky. 11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals high-school-sports The silent march by the OBC community will be held in Bhujbal's stronghold Nashik on October 3 to appeal for the release of Bhujbal. By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: After the massive rallies by Maratha community, the OBCs have planned a similar silent march to demand release of OBC strongman Chhagan Bhujbal. Bhujbal is currently in Arthur Road jail for his alleged involvement in a money laundering case. The silent march will be held in Bhujbal's stronghold Nashik on October 3. Appeal is being made by the Mali Mahasangh, a body of the Mali caste to which Bhujbal belongs, to leaders from the caste and other OBC castes to attend the march in large numbers. advertisement "This silent march is not by any political party or has any political support. These are supporters of Chhagan Bhujbal from the OBC community and appeal to the judicial system and the government to release Bhujbal", said Anil Mahajan, President of the Mali Samaj Mahasangh. "The matter is still subjudice and no charges have been proved against him. Similar cases have been filed against people from upper castes, but they have got bail. But Bhujbal saheb is still in jail for over 6 months. The OBC community through this silent march will request to grant bail to Bhujbal considering his age and fragile health," added Mahajan. The mahasangh has also appealed not to politicise the rally. Political observors however beleive that this rally will be seen as an effort to polarise the OBC community on the backdrop of the massive maratha morchas in the state. Recently BJP leader and Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde met an ailing Chhagan Bhujbal at the JJ Hospital in Mumbai, where Bhujbal was admitted after the leader was diagnosed with viral fever. The meeting had raised eyebrows in political circles. Pankaja's father Late Gopinath Munde and Chhagan Bhujbal were always seen united on the common platform of OBC cause. --- ENDS --- After prime minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah slammed Pakistan for its policy towards terrorism. By Brijesh Pandey: A day after prime minister Narendra Modi castigated Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism, BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday slammed the neighbouring country for disturbing regional and global peace. Speaking on the last day of the BJP national council meet at Kozhikode in Kerala, Amit Shah said, "If a country makes terrorism its state policy, it's nothing less than a war crime." advertisement READ: Mann Ki Baat: PM pays tribute to Uri attack martyrs, says committed to peace in Kashmir 'PAKISTAN ADVOCATES TERRORISM' Lashing out at Pakistan's prime minster Nawaz Shari for his much criticized speech at UNGA, the BJP president said that Pakistan had been brazenly supporting and sponsoring terrorism. "Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at UN is the solid proof that Pakistan advocates terrorism across the globe. The whole world is surprised at Sharif's blatant attempt to paint self-proclaimed commander of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani as a peace loving youth," Shah said. READ: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan 'PAKISTAN BEHIND UNREST' Terming Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism, Shah said that Islamabad spent billions of dollars to train terrorists and send them across the globe. Shah also blamed Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley. "Pakistan has encouraged the separatist extremists in Jammu and Kashmir," the BJP president said. Paying respect to the martyrs, who laid their lives during Uri terror attack, Shah said that the government was committed to give a fitting reply to Pakistan sponsored terrorism. He appealed to all the political parties to bury their differences and support NDA government to strategize a comprehensive policy in fight against terrorism. ALSO READ: India, Pakistan get battle-ready at Line of Control Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK? --- ENDS --- Slamming NDA government over repeated terror attacks in the country in the past several months, BSP president Mayawati asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introspect his own rule instead of advising Pakistan how to govern the country. By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have made an impassioned speech at BJP conclave delivering a strong message to Pakistan, but it has not impressed BSP chief Mayawati. The former UP chief minister lashed out at the Modi government for recent terror attack at Uri army base. Mayawati termed PM Modi's speech at Kozhikode on Saturday as an attempt to divert attention of the public from government's failures. "Centre has been unable to stop terror attacks," she said. advertisement "Our 18 soldiers were martyred at Uri. We need to take concrete action against Pakistan to ensure that such incidents are not repeated," Mayawati said in Lucknow during a press conference. 'DON'T ADVISE, ACT' The BSP chief criticized the Pakistan policy of the Modi government saying, "People of the country are fed up with the statements of the PM. There is no definite Pakistan policy of the government." "People expect concrete assurance and effective action from PM to check recurrence of such an incident," Mayawati told reporters Mayawati said, "There is anger among people of the country after the killing of 18 armymen in Uri attack." She lamented that Modi government "has not been able to build trust among people that such incidents will not be repeated." 'FIND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS' The Rajya Sabha MP urged the prime minister on Sunday to chalk long-term solution to the problems that the country was facing. She took a jibe at Modi reference to the problems of unemployment, poverty and illiteracy in Pakistan. "Instead of giving advice to Pakistan, PM Modi should look at his own government. There has been no development under their rule," Mayawati said before adding that it was time for Modi to "introspect his government's record till date." "Whether his government has done enough to advise someone else," Mayawati asked. WHAT DID MODI SAY Earlier on Sunday, Modi had exhorted the people of Pakistan to stand against their government's pro-terror policies. He had advised Pakistan to fight poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. Modi had said that despite attaining independence at the same time, India went on to export software to the world while Pakistan's major export was terrorism- a taint for the country. ALSO READ: India is vilifying us, says Islamabad after PM Modi exhorts Pakistani people to stand against terror Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty --- ENDS --- Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. He demanded India takes strong action against Pakistan similar to what United States did with Osama Bin Laden instead of indulging in talks. Yadav slammed Pakistan for not learning a lesson despite losing battles at the hands of India four times in the past. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav has suggested uniting the state of Jammu-Kashmir with Himachal Pradesh for a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem. WHAT PAPPU WANTS Speaking to the media today, Pappu Yadav said India should raise the issue of Pakistan occupied Kashmir issue more aggressively on international platforms just like Pakistan who has been immensely vocal about the Kashmir conflict. advertisement "Uniting Jammu-Kashmir and Himachal appears to be the most viable solution to the Kashmir conflict. India should also extend support to Balochistan citizens who are demanding freedom from Pakistan and want a separate country", said Pappu Yadav. He demanded India takes strong action against Pakistan similar to what United States did with Osama Bin Laden instead of indulging in talks. He added,"Despite problems with constitutional provisions, efforts must be made to solve the Kashmir problem". Yadav slammed Pakistan for not learning a lesson despite losing battles at the hands of India four times in the past. "Despite losing four battles to India, Pakistan continues to provide political patronage and encourages terrorism in the region", said Yadav. He demanded that the Central government should adopt a clear policy towards Pakistan and act strongly against it for a permanent solution to Kashmir issue. --- ENDS --- With party under pressure on the issue of terrorism in the aftermath of the Uri attack, BJP President Amit Shah today said that the party felt the anger of the people and stressed that a strong reply was being given to Pakistan for supporting and sponsoring terrorists. Making a separate statement on the Uri attack after his presidential speech at the National Council meeting of the BJP in Kozhikode, Shah said he was doing so in view of the widespread anger among the public and the party workers. Attacking Pakistan, he said that the neighbouring country was openly sponsoring and supporting terrorists. "For more than one and a half decades, we have suffered terror attacks sponsored by Pakistan. The extremist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir are also being supported by Pakistan," he said. Shah said that the terror attacks were nothing less than a war crime perpetrated by Pakistan. Picking up the thread from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech yesterday, he said Pakistan has emerged as the centre of global terrorism. He said both the BJP and the Modi government had a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. "They made 17 unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate terrorists, and these efforts were thwarted. The Uri attack showed their frustration," Shah said. He said Uri was not the final word, and finally, India will emerge victorious in the fight against terrorism. Shah appealed to the people as well as all political parties to join hands with the government in its fight against terrorism. Earlier, in his presidential speech before the National Council, he pledged that Kashmir was an integral part of the country and that no one can take it away. "If anyone is day dreaming that they can take away Kashmir, they should remember that this is a BJP government and we will not let it happen." Indicating that the government would not engage with the separatists in Kashmir, he said, "The government is ready to talk to anybody, but only with those who consider themselves Indian and those who believe in the Indian Constitution." In a move that is expected to create another political storm in the coming days, the union home ministry registered an FIR in the Ishrat Jahan missing papers inquiry case. The MHA has registered an FIR in the Parliament Street police station after its complaint to the Delhi police in which it has said that the 'documents and valuable securities (affidavit) have been stolen'. The case has been registered against unknown persons after the Delhi police took cognisance of the complaint from the home ministry . The inquiry panel which submitted its report in June this year had concluded that the papers were removed 'knowingly, unknowingly or misplaced' in September 2009 , in the period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the home minister. Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in, what was then described as allegedly staged, encounter with Gujarat Police in the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. The Gujarat Police had claimed that those killed were LeT terrorists who planned to assassinate the then chief minister Narendra Modi. The affidavit in the court submitted by the home ministry under the UPA government had first said that Ishrat had links with the terror group LeT, but later, in a revised affidavit, removed the reference to the terror outfit saying it was merely based on intelligence inputs and hence cannot be treated as conclusive proof. Home minister Rajnath Singh had said that the inquiry panel into the missing papers was not set up to implicate anyone but to recover the missing documents . A pregnant dalit woman was attacked by a few people belonging to upper caste 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. 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 was abused by the six accused. "The moment we came to know of the incident, we got into action and arrested all the accused and are questioning them," Amirgath Police Sub-Inpector K.Y. Vyas said. "They abused me and thrashed me before entering my house and beat my pregnant wife Sangita on the abdomen 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. As the country mourns the death of 18 soldiers in a deadly terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, the families of the victims have got a philanthropic support from a British resident. Niti Rao | Image source: Twitter/ANI_news Niti Rao, a UK resident, has decided to extend assistance from her salary and pocket money to the children of the slain soldiers. Eighteen troopers were killed as militants attacked their camp near the de factor border with Pakistan on September 8. Army killed four militants in the ensuing gun-battle. Niti said she would send around Rs 25,000 every year to the children of the victims, according to a tweet by the ANI. She further said that she would sponsor their studies if they came to London. A foundation is going to reward me with Rs 5 lakh in London; this amount too will be dedicated to kids of Uri terror attack martyrs, Niti was quoted as saying by the news agency. The Uri attack has escalated the tension between Indian and Pakistan with New Delhi accusing Islamabad of facilitating infiltration of militants across the Line of Control. After Prime Minister Modis strongly worded speech against Pakistan, Pakistani author and analyst Tarek Fatah said for Islamabad such speeches are just empty threats until it directly feels the heat. It is encouraging that he (Prime Minister Modi) has brought it up one more time, but it depends whether it is having any effect on the Pakistani military government or not. I dont think Pakistan takes anything seriously because from their perspective, these are just empty threats, Fatah said. He said unless the government of Pakistan feels the heat directly, there will not be any change in their attitude. This can only happen if India acts in the Indus Act treaty and takes the first step at ensuring that Pakistan feels that Prime Minister Modi means what he says. He alleged that Pakistan uses the policy of blackmail and exporting terrorism. It is just Pakistan that relies only on blackmail, exporting terror and blackmailing the United States, China and the European Union through funding from Saudi Arabia to carry out terror, said Fatah, adding, The people of the land are very unfortunate that a certain group of Punjabi military mullah mafia is controlling the destiny of the Balochs, the Sindhis and the Pashtuns. Reacting on Modis comment to fight war against poverty, Fatah said, For Pakistan, poverty is essential because how else can the upper class enjoy the exploitation of the poor. The ruling class there does not want poverty to end, because if poverty ends, the power ends. On Sunday, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, the prime minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, and said the people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and our country is exporting terrorists. He said India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. He also challenged Pakistan that if it wants war it should fight against poverty and other evils in its society. By PTI: Chennai, Sep 25 (PTI) Unidentified miscreants today hurled petrol bombs at a police station here damaging nine two-wheelers parked in the station premises, police said. The incident occurred in the early hours today when the group targeted Kannagi Nagar police station which has recently witnessed protests over an alleged custodial death of a robbery accused. Following damage to the vehicles in police station, a criminal case under Section 436 of the Indian Penal Code for causing mischief by fire or explosive substances with intent to destroy house has been registered, they said. advertisement Efforts are on to nab the culprits, police said. PTI SA ROH BN AYP --- ENDS --- The following is via News12: A Garrison man is being held at the Orange County jail after he allegedly made terrorist threats in the Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel while wearing tactical body armor. Frank Zebzda, 30, was arrested following the incident Friday, during which he claimed to be a member of the Sovereign Nation movement as he allegedly threatened and intimated residents. He is now facing six charges, including a felony regarding the threat of terrorism. News 12s cameras were rolling as he was taken to his arraignment in Monroe. He said he was absolutely not a terrorist and added that he loves America. Asked why he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, he said, Because youre allowed to by the Second Amendment. In court, Zebzda pleaded with the judge for freedom and claimed to be mentally ill. He also said he wants to represent himself because he knows the Constitution very well. Several social media posts apparently written by Zebzda discussed mental illness. One post talked about mental illness being a black cloud, and read in part, Though we angrily lash out, we have no way to cope or express how to feel better in that moment. Other writings include references to the Black Lives Matter movement, Sept. 11 and the terror attacks in France. At least once comment was directed toward the hacktivist group Anonymous, from which Zebzda apparently sought help in getting his own organization, titled the 13th Agenda, off the ground. Zebzdas social media posts are now under investigation, News 12 is told. Zebzda was ordered held on $150,000 cash bail. He is expected back in court on Monday. (Source: News12) 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 Trumps 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 hes leaving behind. Dubbed The Trump Tombstone, it first appeared last spring in Central Parks 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 wasnt mentally ill, he said. Along with hate mail he received from right-wing publications, I was terrified, he said. With the help of an attorney who pushed authorities to release Whiteleys 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 Brooklyns Bushwick neighborhood where its on display through Oct. 9. Then it will be moved to a gallery in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood. Its very Trumpian, said Whiteley, who contends that the candidate is an egomaniac who loves putting his name on stuff even a tombstone. (AP) The fedora, the bomber jacket and the consuming quest invite comparisons to Indiana Jones. Blaine Gibson, though, hasnt matched the film heros triumph in finding the legendary chest containing the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. Not that he didnt try. The Ark of the Covenant, I did not find it. However, I do believe that its 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. He is the first person searching for the plane whos actually found any trace of it and says he wont 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 dont 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 Malaysias 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 Malaysias behalf. Warren Truss, a former deputy prime minister who oversaw the search until retiring from politics in February, expects more of Gibsons 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 its 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, hes 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, hes 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 theres no other explanation, its 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, were not just going to disappear, he added. (AP) An Israeli official has confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on Sunday. Netanyahu is in the United States, where he met with President Barack Obama and addressed the U.N. General Assembly this week. Israel is a close ally of the U.S. 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 Sundays meetings. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement. (AP) There is a renewed push to pass a statewide law that could affect the turf war between the Town of Monroe and its Orthodox Jewish neighbors in Kiryas Joel. Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed legislation last year that would give more oversight to Orange County, but now local lawmakers are calling on him to reconsider. Lawmakers have put forth another Annexation Oversight Bill that would affect future annexations, including the Kiryas Joel deal, if for some reason it should fall through. The annexation of hundreds of acres of Monroes land to be used to build multifamily housing is currently on hold due to a pending lawsuit. Cuomo has until Oct. 1 to make a decision on the annexation bill. The governor had received $250,000 in campaign donations from donors with ties to Kiryas Joel after vetoing the first bill. (Source: News12) Israels 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 Israels Channel 2 TV that the issue didnt come up in this weeks 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. The Israeli official provided no further details on Sundays meetings. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official announcement. (AP) On Sunday morning, September 18th, Agudath Israel of Maryland held its second annual benefit brunch at the Baltimore home of Susie and Matt Schoenfeld. The event drew a capacity crowd of 140 community leaders and activists who came to show support for the vital community organization and to celebrate its numerous accomplishments. Featured speaker Senator Joe Lieberman engaged the audience with a moderates political perspective on the 2016 presidential elections. Throughout the event, a theme emerged of Agudath Israel representing the Jewish community in the halls of government and to the outside world, and modeling what it means to live as a Torah Jew. This theme began with Rabbi Shmuel Silber of Suburban Orthodox Congregation, who introduced Senator Lieberman. In Rabbi Silbers remarks, he thanked the organization and specifically Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, director of Agudath Israels Mid-Atlantic region, for his tireless and selfless efforts on behalf of the community, Rabbi Sadwins work, he said, doesnt just benefit the Orthodox Jewish community; it benefits the collective Jewish people. Senator Joe Lieberman continued this theme, reminiscing about his interactions as a young senator with Orthodox Jewish community leaders of the past, such as Rabbi Moshe Sherer, legendary president of Agudath Israel of America, and Rabbi Herman Neuberger, the venerable late president of Ner Israel Rabbinical College. The senator referred to them as tremendous representatives of Torah Jewry who became his great friends and advisors. He noted the rising population of Orthodox Jews within the larger Jewish community. With these numbers, he said, comes a new power, but also a responsibility to represent the Jewish community to the non-Jewish community, to the government, and within the Jewish community itself, guided only by the words of Torah. He urged those present to be more active within elected government even running for office or campaigning for politicians. Senator Lieberman discussed how his own Orthodox faith was an asset. I never felt that being an Orthodox Jew was a barrier to anything, he said. His refusal to attend events on the Sabbath did not hurt him. Once they understand why youre doing it, and that youre doing it consistently, theyre very respectful. I got to the point where being an observant Jew was a plus for me politically. Senator Lieberman then delivered a fascinating and frank presentation about the upcoming presidential election, followed by a robust discussion with the attendees. Rabbi Sadwin thanked the hosts of the event and its numerous sponsors and patrons, especially Honorary Chair, Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman. Several elected officials attended, including Maryland State Delegates Samuel Rosenberg and Shelly Hettleman, City Council Member Rochelle Rikki Spector, Baltimore County Council Member Vicki Almond, and Democrat Nominee for Baltimore City Council Isaac Yitzy Schleifer. Rabbi Sadwin concluded, Rabbi Silber and Senator Lieberman inspired the attendees by their message: As Jews who live by the Torah, we can have great impact on our communities as advocates for the needs of those around us. (By Judith Dinowitz / YWN World Headquarters NYC) One day after Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump, the Republican nominee whom he once accused of being a pathological liar and sniveling coward, the Texas senator was still explaining himself. He called the decision agonizing. He revealed that he did not ask Trump to apologize for insults to his wife and father. And he told Evan Smith, the founding editor of the Texas Tribune, that Hillary Clintons threat to the Supreme Court and the country was enough to move him off the fence. You think a serial philanderer and pathological liar should be president? asked Smith. Cruz paused. I have had many, many disagreements with Donald, he deadpanned. The audience, in one of the biggest rooms at the annual Texas Tribune Festival, was loaded with Cruz skeptics. He drew only scattered applause when he discussed his Senate initiatives and his work to keep the Republicans in control of the upper house; he drew boos when he suggested that critical coverage of police-involved shootings was leading to more crime by preventing police from doing their jobs. (Black lives are being lost because cops are pulling back, he insisted.) But Cruz held his ground, telling Smith and a succession of hostile audience questioners that he had wrestled with the decision and come out supporting Trump. What I said in Cleveland was that every voter needs to follow his conscience, said Cruz, recasting a Republican National Convention speech that was interpreted (and intended) as an invitation not to vote for Trump. It was the latest in a series of awkward-but-necessary explanatory interviews, with more to come, including a Monday talk with Glenn Beck. The first came after a Cruz appearance in conservative Tyler, Texas, where he told the Tribunes Patrick Svitek that his family was getting past Trumps venomous primary attacks. All three of us have decided to forgive the past, and my focus in making this decision was on trying my best to do the right thing for the country, he said. That comment came after an event with supportive Republican activists. The Tribune sit-down held on the campus of the University of Texas was something entirely different. Smith, who has covered Cruz throughout his career, read back the harshest things Cruz had said about Trump and recalled the morning of the Indiana primary, when Cruz unloaded on Trump over months of personal attacks culminating in a false accusation that Cruzs father was linked to John F. Kennedy assassin. You looked like your head was going to blow off your neck, said Smith. Cruz admitted that he had taken the family attacks personally, and struggled to get over them, but that Trumps targets were not as angry as hed been. Both Heidi and my dad they are strong, independent people, he said. When those attacks came, they both laughed out loud. Asked how he could move on when Trump had not even apologized for the attacks indeed, Trump had once said hed reject it if Cruz ever endorsed him Cruz said that he had not asked for an apology. On Friday, after he published a Facebook post explaining the reasons he would support Trump, Cruz talked to the nominee and focused on the need to appoint conservative judges and Supreme Court justices. When I got the ask, I said: Give a commitment that matters to me, Cruz recalled. Give a commitment to something meaningful on the Supreme Court. Cruz added that Republican Party activists, and many supporters of his presidential campaign, had wanted him to get behind the nominee. Hed seen that firsthand after his RNC speech, when he got hostile feedback at a breakfast with Texas delegates. The drumbeat had grown louder since, with political allies like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) saying that Cruz was hurting his career and the movement if he refused to back Trump. But Cruz handed more credit to the partys activists. They were tearfully begging me to support the nominee, said Cruz. They trudged through the snow; they made phone calls. Their view was that they were horrified by a Hillary Clinton presidency. Listen: If people from Washington are smacking me with a stick, I dont care. It usually means Im doing the right thing. But when you hear the voices of the grass roots who believe with all their heart their voices move me. Inside the Tribune Festival, Cruz was confronted with some entirely different voices. The first audience question came from a Muslim student, who asked if Muslims can feel comfortable with a candidate who has been outwardly xenophobic. Listen, that is a question you are going to have to ask yourself, said Cruz. But shes asking you! said Smith, as the crowd booed. The scourge of radical Islam is dangerous, said Cruz, and many of the victims of it are Muslim. Look, ISIS is murdering fellow Muslims as well as murdering Christians. We are seeing Muslim presidents being torn apart by jihadists. My hope is that we have a president who brings people together to combat that, including Muslim nations. Cruz went on to describe exactly how that president could build alliances, prompting Smith to ask for a clarification: Was he talking about Trump? Between the two choices of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, I believe that Hillary Clinton will do a great deal of damage to this country, said Cruz. You are a straight shooter, but Ill note that you did not say yes, said Smith. Next, a member of the audience asked how Cruz, a father of two daughters, could support a man who made misogynist comments. After the applause died down, Cruz recounted how hed told Caroline and Catherine about Trumps April retweet of a fan whod mocked their mothers looks. They know already, he said. When he said that about Heidi, we sat down and talked about it. Cruz pivoted to the court issue, telling the skeptical questioner that freedom of speech was at risk if Clinton won the election. If Hillary Clinton is elected president, we will see one, two, three, maybe four Supreme Court justices added to the court, he said. I think the court will be lost for a generation. That will mean my daughters rights will be lost for a generation. Like the right to choice? asked the questioner. There was more applause, and then more booing, when Cruz explained that Clinton favored abortion without legal limits. But when a new questioner came to the microphone, Cruz was asked if he agreed with Trump that Vladimir Putin is a stronger leader than our president. Finally, Cruz informed the audience that in the weeks before a general election, when there is a binary choice, he would not be re-litigating the issues with Trump. I have no intention of defending everything that Donald Trump says and does, he said. I dont think it is beneficial for me to be criticizing the nominee. If yall invite me to do it, I will decline the invitation. (c) 2016, The Washington Post David Weigel Congress criticises the BJP-led government, calls it the weakest. PM Modi's 'peacenik' act fails to convince the Opposition. By Anindya Banerjee: If Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister called then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as the 'weakest prime minister', in almost a reminder of sorts Congress party today called his government the 'weakest government ever'. "This is the weakest government ever. Russia is exercising with Pakistan, Iran taking about Chabar with Pakistan, China is investing," said Manish Tewari. advertisement This comes within 24 hours of Modi's high voltage reply to 'people of Pakistan' asking them to wage a war against poverty and within hours of his Maan ki Baat where he reiterated Uri martyrs lives will not be forgotten. MODI PORTRAYED HIMSELF AS ALEXANDER "Modi portrayed himself as Alexander but turned out to be just another person. Invoking war on poverty is proof of a peacenik," said Sandeep Dikshit while speaking to India Today. Manish Tewari said the country wants action, not words. "I don't want to raise 56-inch issue or red eyes. But surprised to see PM Modi teach development to people of Pakistan. Looks like he will fight next election from Pakistan," said Tewari commenting on PM's statement. At a time when the government is battling a perception war on how serious it is to avenge the deaths of 18 martyrs in Uri, this latest onslaught by the principal opposition party will surely make things a bit more tough for the government and BJP alike. Also read: Don't reward or rebuke Muslims; empower them, says PM Modi at BJP conclave Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty India is vilifying us, says Islamabad after PM Modi exhorts Pakistani people to stand against terror --- ENDS --- The state is appealing last weeks parole board decision to release Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto from prison early due to his illness as he continues receiving chemotherapy for his cancer. The rabbi was serving a one-year sentence as a result of a plea bargain agreement and asked to be released after seven-months due to his declining health. He was expected to be released on Sunday, 22 Elul. The state however was given until Sunday to appeal and it decided to exercise this right in the hope of blocking the rabbis early release. The appeal requests delaying his release until the decision on the appeal is rendered. The state maintains that despite his health, the parole board did not give sufficient weight to the facts in the case, the severity of the crimes of which he was convicted, bribing a senior Israel Police official. The state adds the parole board simply ignored classified information it received and ruled to release the rabbi nevertheless. The decision was made to honor the request to delay the ravs release and a hearing on the appeal is scheduled for Monday, 23 Elul, at 10:00AM in the district court. That hearing will be heard by court President Justice Avraham Tal. It is pointed out that if the rabbi emerges successful in the appeal, it is possible or likely the state will appeal again to the High Court of Justice, further delaying the rav release ahead of Rosh Hashanah. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The Seret Vishnitzer Rebbe Shlita on Friday arrived in Carmel Hospital in Haifa after complaining of chest pains. The Rebbe was taken for a number of immediate diagnostic procedures and it was decided to perform a catheterization. The procedure was done without complications BH. Unfortunately, the Rebbe remained in the hospital for Shabbos and SUnday, and was unable to lead his Chassidim in the first night of Selichos. A small Minyan of family members made a Minyan in the hospital room of the Rebbe for Selichos. The Rebbes name for Tehillim is Yaakov ben Chaya Tzirel. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Channel 1 correspondent Amir Bar-Shalom met with Jonathan Pollard in New York and spoke with him. Pollard was released from a US Federal Prison ten months ago and is still compelled to wear an electronic bracelet and reports to officials to check in twice daily. In fact, he did not arrange to meet with the media but he was spotted by Bar-Shalom walking on a street with his wife. Bar-Shalom asked him a number of questions, but Pollards response remained no comment as he is forbidden to speak with the media. I honestly cannot comment on everything he explained. Channel 1: Why, it will jeopardize your parole? Pollard: I cannot even comment on that. He then does speak a bit. One sees the troubled look on Mrs. Pollards face, adding in Hebrew This is very dangerous for him, each word that he says, however, Pollard does speak a bit as seen in the video. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The incident began on when soldiers manning a checkpoint near Shechem heard screaming from a vehicle that drove off. The incident was reported to higher-ups and the decision was made to establish roadblocks and shut down the area. This led to soldiers entering PA (Palestinian Authority) occupied Shechem and a search continued for hours fearing an Israeli had been abducted into the PA autonomous area. Eventually, military commanders were satisfied that there was no abduction, calling off the alert and the search. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) The Jerusalem Magistrate Court Justice Shmuel Herbst on Sunday morning 22 Elul sentenced Sheikh Omer Abu Sahrah to eight months in prison. The sheikh has been found guilty of incitement, calling on Muslims from Har Habayis to slaughter Jews. A complaint was filed against Sahrah two years ago by attorney Chur Nitzri on behalf of Honenu in the name of now MK, Yehuda Glick. Following the complaint, the sheikh was detained and questioned. In his address on Har Habayis the sheikh shouted I say here today to the Jews, the time has come to slaughter you, the time has come to fight you, the time has come to murder you and we are willing with gods assistance, we the righteous MuslimsWe wait for the moment the slaughter will beginwhen that day will come Honenu praised the court for handling the case and deciding to sentence the sheikh to prison but laments the fact the sentence is only eight months. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) [PHOTOS BY @BarakRavid IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] Donald J. Trump met privately today with Prime Minister Netanyahu for over an hour at Mr. Trumps residence in Trump Tower. The two have known each other for many years and had the opportunity to discuss many topics important to both countries. Mr. Trump and the Prime Minister discussed the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries. The topics of military assistance, security and regional stability were addressed. Mr. Trump agreed that the military assistance provided to Israel and missile defense cooperation with Israel are an excellent investment for America. Mr. Trump said that under a Trump administration, there will be extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Trump recognized Israel as a vital partner of the United States in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism. They discussed at length the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against ISIS and many other regional security concerns. Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed at length Israels successful experience with a security fence that helped secure its borders. They discussed Israels burgeoning hi-tech and biotech economy and how it has made stunning advances improving and saving lives around the world. In particular, Mr. Trump noted Israels emergence as a world leader in cyber defense and security and its cooperation with the United States in this regard. Mr. Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism. He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State. Finally, Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel. The meeting concluded with both leaders promising the highest level of mutual support and cooperation should Mr. Trump have the honor and privilege of being elected President of the United States. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The Rashtrapati Ashiana, built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the President's Bodyguard is being revived by the President after long years of disuse. By Manjeet Negi: President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the renovated 'Rashtrapati Ashiana' of Dehradun on 27 September. He will also stay in the building for the entire duration of his visit to Uttarakhand from September 27 to 29, 2016. The Rashtrapati Ashiana, built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the President's Bodyguard is being revived by the President after long years of disuse. KR Narayanan was the last President who stayed here in March 1998. advertisement WHY IS THE RASHTRAPATI ASHIANA SIGNIFICANT? The President's Bodyguard first established its summer camp in Dehradun in 1838 for summering of horses and remounts. The Commandant's Bungalow was built in 1920 and then, renovated as well as re-designated 'Rashtrapati Ashiana' during 1975-76 to provide a suitable summer retreat for the then President of India, Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed as alternative to Shimla. THE 'NEW' RASHTRAPATI ASHIANA The Ashiana has been now renovated once again as per advice of the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) which conducted a site survey in May, 2015 and suggested methods of retrofitting including provision of earthquake resistant features. Based on the advice of CBRI, retrofitting was done by providing horizontal and vertical seismic bands. Wire mesh has been fixed on the surface of masonry before the replastering. Landscaping of Ashiana has been also done with new lawns, planting of hedges, ornamental plants comprising flowering trees and shrubs to enhance aesthetics as well the greenery. The old irrigation system using canals has also been revived. The Ashiana situated on Rajpur Road of Dehradun comprises of the main building, Annexe, Swimming pool, Upper Stables & Lines and Lower Stables and Lines with associated roads and pathways. The Ashiana is surrounded by a fruit orchard of litchi and mango trees. Also read: Pranab Mukherjee urges students to study constitution, understand democratic process READ: Universities must be the bastions of free speech and expression, says President Pranab Mukherjee --- ENDS --- Chris Martin mistakenly addressed Katrina Kaif, Katrina Kaif Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra just didn't know how to react. Watch it here. By India Today Web Desk: The Global Citizen Festival held at Central Park in NYC was a huge hit and no wonder it made headlines in India as well thanks to our desi girl Priyanka Chopra; yes you read that right, the now global superstar co-hosted the charity music festival on Saturday. Backstage madness @thehughjackman Deborra Lee A video posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 24, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT advertisement Although the videos and pictures of artists performing at the event started doing the rounds on the internet soon after the fest started. But what caught our attention was a video that featured Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and our very own PeeCee. Martin was announcing the names of the celebrities attending the Indian edition of the same festival on November 19 in Mumbai. It was all fine, till he reached Katrina Kaif's name in the list. Also read: Watch: Priyanka Chopra totally slayed it at the Global Citizen Festival in NYC Chris reading out the names on mic said, "I'm so happy to see all of you, with so excited to go to India on November of 19th with Jay Z and most of other people who I have on the list. Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif Kapoor, AR Rahman, Farhan Akhtar..." Priyanka didn't know how to correct him so instead she let out an 'Oh!' Check out what happened next. A clip of Chris Martin briefly speaking about Global Citizen India on stage at the #GlobalCitizenFestival - Sept 24 pic.twitter.com/vb2GWqzGEg Coldplaying (@coldplaying) September 24, 2016 --- ENDS --- OGE Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy and energy services provider that offers physical delivery and related services for electricity, natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. It provides retail electric service to approximately 879,000 customers, which covers a service area of approximately 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas; and owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered, and solar-powered generating assets. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned and operated interconnected electric generation, transmission, and distribution systems, including 16 generating stations with an aggregate capability of 7,207 megawatts; and transmission systems comprising 54 substations and 5,122 structure miles of lines in Oklahoma, and 7 substations and 277 structure miles of lines in Arkansas. Its distribution systems included 350 substations; 29,494 structure miles of overhead lines; 3,365 miles of underground conduit; and 11,125 miles of underground conductors in Oklahoma, as well as 29 substations, 2,795 structure miles of overhead lines, 349 miles of underground conduit, and 662 miles of underground conductors in Arkansas. The company was founded in 1902 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ag Growth International Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes grain and rice handling, storage, and conditioning equipment in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers storage equipment comprising grain and bolted bins, hopper bins, smooth wall bins, temporary storage equipment, unloads and sweeps, water tanks, fuel tanks; and conditioning equipment, such as mixed flow dryers, fans and heaters, aerations, airaugers, aeration floors, vents and exhausters, stirrings, and accessories. It also provides portable handling equipment, such as portable augers, conveyors, grain vacs, post pounders, seed treaters, and accessories; and permanent handling equipment, including bucket elevators, chain and belt conveyors, enclosed belt conveyors, distributors, feed handling equipment, screw feeders and conveyors, and spouts and connections. In addition, the company offers towers, catwalks, ladders, all-steel buildings, flat storage buildings; batch blenders, bulk scales, declining weight blenders, vertical blenders, micro-dosing systems, mixers, milling equipment; and controllers, hazard monitoring equipment, monitoring and automation equipment, sampling solutions. Further, it provides cleaning and destoners, rice milling and processing equipment, bin unloads, blending and control systems, Liquid and dry fertilizer blending and conveying equipment, turnkey design and build construction solutions for seed and fertilizer facilities, and farm management software. The company markets its products under the AGI, Airlanco, Batco, Brownie, CMC, Compass, Danmare, Ezee-dry, Frame, Grain Guard, Grainmaxx, Hi Roller, Hutchinson, Improtech, Junge, Keho, Mayrath, Milltec, MMS, Neco, PTM, REM, Sabe, Sentinel, Storm, Suretrack, Tramco, Twister, Westeel, Westfield, Wheatheart, and Yargus brand names. It provides its equipment for agricultural commodities. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada. PNM Resources, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electricity and electric services in the United States. It operates through Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) segments. The PNM segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The segment generates electricity using coal, natural gas and oil, nuclear fuel, solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources. As of December 31, 2021, this segment had owned or leased facilities with a total net generation capacity of 2,168 megawatts; and owned 3,426 miles of electric transmission lines, 5,751 miles of distribution overhead lines, 5,765 miles of underground distribution lines, and 250 substations. The segment also owns and leases communication, office and other equipment, office space, vehicles, and real estate. The TNMP segment provides regulated transmission and distribution services. As of December 31, 2021, the segment owned 983 miles of overhead electric transmission lines, 7,297 miles of overhead distribution lines, 1,408 miles of underground distribution lines, and 113 substations. The segment also owns and leases vehicles, service facilities, and office locations throughout its service territory. The company serves approximately 806,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and end-users of electricity in New Mexico and Texas. PNM Resources, Inc. was incorporated in 1882 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With her style and swag, Priyanka had the crowds roaring as she hosted the recently held Global Citizen Festival in New York City. By India Today Web Desk: Priyanka Chopra is at it again. Our very own Desi girl co-hosted the Global Citizen Festival (GCF) with Hugh Jackman, Neil Patrick Harris and Salma Hayek in NYC on Saturday night and totally slayed it! GC Festival is a high-profile music festival that made its debut in 2012 and was established to mark United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals that are broadly aimed at ending global poverty by 2030. So this is who #priyankachopra wants to marry???? #globalcitizen #GlobalCitizensFestival #Metallica A video posted by Coolchitra (@cool_chitra) on Sep 24, 2016 at 9:35pm PDT advertisement The festival's lineup comprises performers like Kendrick Lamar, Metallica, Rihanna, Major Lazer, Usher, Ellie Goulding and Selena Gomez among many more. Rihanna and Demi Lovato also performed at the event. Picture courtesy: Instagram Coldplay's frontman, Chris Martin, who is the festival's creative director for the next 15 years, also made an appearance at the do. Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram account to share some videos from the event, in which she can be seen hanging out with none other than Hugh Jackman and Deborra Lee. Backstage madness @thehughjackman Deborra Lee A video posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 24, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT Making the most of it, the Quantico actress also took the opportunity to talk about gender equality and shared some backstage videos of Demi Lovato and Metallica performing at Central Park. - My Queen ???. - #priyankachopra A video posted by @beex.khan on Sep 24, 2016 at 10:13pm PDT - ???? ?? ?? ?? ?????. - #priyankachopra A video posted by @beex.khan on Sep 24, 2016 at 10:15pm PDT Priyanka having a blast with Salma Hayek and Jada Pinkett Smith. Picture courtesy: Instagram/beex.khan Global Citizen Fest will make its debut in India on November 19. The event will also feature stars like Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif and Ranveer Singh, among others. PeeCee with BJP MP Poonam Mahajan and Chris Martin. Picure courtesy: beex.khan Watch the video here --- ENDS --- The Clorox Company manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Health and Wellness, Household, Lifestyle, and International. The Health and Wellness segment offers cleaning products, such as laundry additives and home care products primarily under the Clorox, Clorox2, Scentiva, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Tilex, and Formula 409 brands; professional cleaning and disinfecting products under the CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare brands; professional food service products under the Hidden Valley brand; and vitamins, minerals and supplement products under the RenewLife, Natural Vitality, NeoCell, and Rainbow Light brands in the United States. The Household segment provides cat litter products under the Fresh Step and Scoop Away brands; bags and wraps under the Glad brand; and grilling products under the Kingsford brand in the United States. The Lifestyle segment offers dressings, dips, seasonings, and sauces primarily under the Hidden Valley brand; natural personal care products under the Burt's Bees brand; and water-filtration products under the Brita brand in the United States. The International segment provides laundry additives; home care products; water-filtration systems; digestive health products; grilling products; cat litter products; food products; bags and wraps; natural personal care products; and professional cleaning and disinfecting products internationally primarily under the Clorox, Ayudin, Clorinda, Poett, Pine-Sol, Glad, Brita, RenewLife, Ever Clean and Burt's Bees brands. The Clorox Company sells its products primarily through mass retailers; grocery outlets; warehouse clubs; dollar stores; home hardware centers; drug, pet and military stores; third-party and owned e-commerce channels; and distributors, as well as a direct sales force The company was founded in 1913 and is headquartered in Oakland, California. Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. operates as a savings and loan holding company for Flagstar Bank, FSB that provides commercial and consumer banking services to consumer, commercial, and government customers in the United States. It operates in three segments: Community Banking, Mortgage Originations, and Mortgage Servicing. The Community Banking segment offers various products, such as checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, consumer and commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, home builder finance loans, and warehouse lines of credit. It also provides other financial services, including consumer and corporate card services, customized treasury management solutions, merchant services, and capital markets services, such as loan syndications, and investment and insurance products and services. This segment serves consumer, business, and mortgage lending customers through its branch banking, business and commercial banking, government banking, and warehouse lending. The Mortgage Originations segment originates, acquires, and sells one-to-four family residential mortgage loans through mortgage branches, call centers, the Internet, and third-party counterparties. The Mortgage Servicing segment offers services and subservices mortgage and other consumer loans; and services loans for its loans held-for-investment and loans held-for-sale portfolios, as well as noninterest-bearing escrow services. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 158 full service banking branches; and mortgages through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in 50 states, as well as 83 retail locations and 3 call centers in 28 states. Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Saifeena, will reportedly, fly to Dubai to spend some quality time before the couple become parents in December, this year. By India Today Web Desk: Before Kareena Kapoor becomes a mother in December, if reports are to be believed, the begum is flying off to Dubai for a babymoon with hubby Saif, very soon. SEE PICS: Saif's daughter Sara Ali Khan's sexy abs stole the show at Kareena's birthday bash SEE PICS: Saif-Kareena's dinner date with Riteish-Genelia ALSO READ: Kareena Kapoor is pregnant and her sister Soha-Ali-Khan can't contain her excitement advertisement According to a report in The Times of India, Saifeena will be trave l ling to Dubai, where they have plans to enjoy in the beach, get some spa experience, and of course, do some shopping. The couple will reportedly return to India before mid-October. Kareena Kapoor Khan has been making appearing in a lot of places recently and her thoughts on pregnancy and mother have been inspiring to many to-be-moms. Ever since the news of Bebos pregnancy broke, B-Town and her fans have all been going crazy for every bit of news about her. And the actor has not let her fans down. She has always been a trendsetter, either by way of her fashion, her style or her films. On the film front, Kareena, will be seen in Veere Di Wedding next year, alongside Sonam Kapoor. Meanwhile, Saif will soon be seen in Vishal Bhardwaj's Rangoon opposite Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor. --- ENDS --- The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Arrow Electronics: A.E. Petsche Belgium BVBA, A.E. Petsche Canada Inc., A.E. Petsche Company, A.E. Petsche Company Inc., A.E. Petsche Company S De RL, A.E. Petsche SAS, A.E. Petsche UK Limited, ACI Technology, AKS Group Nordic AB, ARROWECS Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal, ARROWECS Sociedade Unipessoal LDA, ARW Electronics Ltd., ARW Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., ARW Portugal Unipessoal LDA, ASI Dedicated Services LLC, ASI Electrical Services LLC, ASI Managed Services LLC, ATM Electronic, ATM Electronic Corp., ATM Electronic Corporation (HK) Limited, ATM Electronics Hong Kong Limited, ATM Electronics Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Addex Distribution AS, Adilam Pty. Ltd, Aiqi Xinxing (Beijing) Information Technology Co. Ltd., Altimate Belgium BVBA, Altimate Group, Altimate ND Belgium BVBA, Altimate Netherlands B.V., Annuity Systems Pty Ltd, Arrow (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Altech Distribution (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Altech Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Arrow Argentina S.A., Arrow Asia Distribution Limited, Arrow Asia Pac Ltd., Arrow Brasil S.A., Arrow Capital Solution BVBA, Arrow Capital Solutions Inc., Arrow Capital Solutions Nederlands BV, Arrow Capital Solutions SAS, Arrow Capital Solutions UK Ltd, Arrow Central Europe GmbH, Arrow Central Europe Holding Munich GmbH, Arrow Chip One Stop Holdings GK, Arrow Componentes ACCR S.R.L., Arrow Components (M) Sdn Bhd, Arrow Components (NZ), Arrow Components Mexico S.A. de C.V., Arrow Components Sweden AB, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow Denmark ApS, Arrow ECS (Ireland) Limited, Arrow ECS (NI) Limited, Arrow ECS AG, Arrow ECS ANZ Limited, Arrow ECS ANZ Pty Ltd, Arrow ECS Asia PTE. Ltd, Arrow ECS Australia, Arrow ECS B.V., Arrow ECS Baltic OU, Arrow ECS Brasil Distribuidora Ltda., Arrow ECS Canada Ltd., Arrow ECS Central GmbH, Arrow ECS Denmark A/S, Arrow ECS FZCO, Arrow ECS Finland OY, Arrow ECS GmbH, Arrow ECS Internet Security AG, Arrow ECS Internet Security S.L., Arrow ECS Kft., Arrow ECS Ltd., Arrow ECS New Zealand Limited, Arrow ECS Nordic A/S, Arrow ECS Norway AS, Arrow ECS Pty Ltd., Arrow ECS SA/NV, Arrow ECS SAS, Arrow ECS SPA, Arrow ECS Sarl, Arrow ECS Services Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Singapore Pte. Limited, Arrow ECS Sp.z.o.o., Arrow ECS Support Center Ltd., Arrow ECS Support Center Morocco S.A.R.L.A.U, Arrow ECS Sweden AB, Arrow ECS a.s., Arrow ECS d.o.o., Arrow Eastern Europe GmbH, Arrow Electronice S.R.L., Arrow Electronics (CI) Ltd., Arrow Electronics (China) Trading Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Jersey) Limited, Arrow Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics (Sweden) KB, Arrow Electronics (Thailand) Limited, Arrow Electronics (U.K.) Inc., Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd., Arrow Electronics ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Asia Limited, Arrow Electronics Australia Pty Ltd., Arrow Electronics B.V., Arrow Electronics Canada Ltd., Arrow Electronics China Ltd., Arrow Electronics Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Arrow Electronics Czech Republic s.r.o., Arrow Electronics D.O.O., Arrow Electronics Danish Holdings ApS, Arrow Electronics EMEA Group GmbH, Arrow Electronics EMEASA S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Estonia OU, Arrow Electronics FC B.V., Arrow Electronics Funding Corporation, Arrow Electronics GmbH & Co. KG, Arrow Electronics Hellas S.A., Arrow Electronics Holdings Vagyonkezelo Kft, Arrow Electronics Hungary Kereskedelmi Bt, Arrow Electronics India Ltd., Arrow Electronics India Private Limited, Arrow Electronics International Holdings LLC, Arrow Electronics International Inc., Arrow Electronics Italia S.r.l, Arrow Electronics Japan GK, Arrow Electronics Korea Limited, Arrow Electronics Labuan Pte Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ltd., Arrow Electronics Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Arrow Electronics Norwegian Holdings AS, Arrow Electronics Poland Sp.z.o.o., Arrow Electronics Russ OOO, Arrow Electronics Services S.r.l., Arrow Electronics Slovakia s.r.o., Arrow Electronics South Africa LLP, Arrow Electronics Taiwan Ltd., Arrow Electronics UK Holding Ltd., Arrow Electronics Ukraine LLC, Arrow Elektronik Ticaret A.S., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Inc., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions India Private Limited, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions Ltd., Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions S.A., Arrow Finland OY, Arrow France S.A., Arrow Global Asset Disposition Inc., Arrow Global Supply Chain Services Inc., Arrow Holdings (Delaware) LLC, Arrow Iberia Electronica Lda., Arrow Iberia Electronica S.L.U., Arrow International Holdings L.P., Arrow International Holdings Limited, Arrow Nordic Components AB, Arrow Norway A/S, Arrow S-Tech Norway AS, Arrow SEED (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow Systems Integration Inc., Arrow UEC Japan KK, Arrow United Holdings LLC, Arrow United International Holdings LP, Arrow Value Recovery ApS (fka Greentech Denmark ApS), Arrow Value Recovery Belgium BVBA, Arrow Value Recovery Czech Republic sro, Arrow Value Recovery Denmark ApS, Arrow Value Recovery EMEA BV, Arrow Value Recovery Finland Oy (fka Greentech Finland OY), Arrow Value Recovery France SAS, Arrow Value Recovery Germany GmbH, Arrow Value Recovery Netherlands BV, Arrow Value Recovery Norway AS (fka Greentech AS), Arrow Value Recovery Sweden AB (fka Greentech Sweden AB), Arrow Value Recovery UK LTD, Arrow eCommerce B.V., Arrow/Artlink Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Arrow/Components (Agent) Ltd., Arrow/Rapac Ltd., Artlink Technology Co. Ltd., Aspen Labs LLC, Aspencore China Investment LLC, Aspencore LLC, Aspencore Media GmbH, Aspencore/IDG China Investment LLC, Asplenium SA, Asset Recovery Corporation, B.V. Arrow Electronics DLC, Beijing AIQI Technology, Beijing Arrow SEED Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Canon Advertising Co. Ltd., Broomco (4184) Limited, COMPUTERLINKS, COMPUTERLINKS (UK) Ltd., COMPUTERLINKS Belgium BVBA, COMPUTERLINKS Denmark A/S, COMPUTERLINKS Nederland B.V., COMPUTERLINKS S.A., CSS Computer Security Solutions Erwerbs GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Holding GmbH, CSS Computer Security Solutions Ltd., CT3 Europe Limited, Centia Group Ltd, Centia Ltd., Channel Support Pty Ltd, ChiWan Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Chip One Stop, Chip One Stop (Hong Kong) Ltd., Chip One Stop (Shenzhen) Ltd., Chip One Stop Inc., Commtech Solutions (UK) Limited, Components Agent (Cayman) Limited, Components Agent Asia Holdings Ltd., Components Distribution Business - Achieva, Conrac Asia Display Products Pte. Ltd., Conrac MENA FZE, Converge, Converge (Shanghai) International Trading Co. Ltd., Converge Asia Pte Ltd., Converge Electronics Trading (India) Private Ltd., Converge France SAS, Converge Netherlands BV, Converge Scandinavia AB, Cross Telecom, Data Modul, Data Modul AG, Data Modul Electronics Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Data Modul FZE, Data Modul France S.a r.l, Data Modul Hong Kong Ltd., Data Modul Iberia S.L., Data Modul Inc., Data Modul Italia S.r.l., Data Modul Ltd., Data Modul Shanghai Ltd., Data Modul Suisse GmbH, Data Modul Weikersheim GmbH, Diasa Informatica, Dicopel Inc., Distribution Business - Seed International, Distribution Central (MY) Sdn. Bhd., Distribution Central HK Pty Limited, Distribution Central Limited (NZ), Distribution Central Pte Limited (SG), Distribution Central Pty Limited, E-InfoChips KK, EC America, EDN Asia Advertising Pte Ltd., ETEQ Components Pte Ltd., Electronics Products Technology Co. Ltd., Embedded Developer LLC, Erf 211 Hughes (Pty) Limited, Eshel Technology Group Inc., Eurocomponentes S.A., Excel Tech, Excel Tech Inc., Firewall Systems Pty Limited, Fusion Distribution FZCO, Gates - Arrow Distributing, Gates - FA Distributing, Global Link Technology, Greentech Holding AS, Gross Telecom, ICC Global Media GmbH, IP Vista A/S, IPVista A/S, ITM USA Enterprises Inc., Intechra Holdings, Intex-semi Ltd., KeyLink Systems Group, LED Franchise LLC, LED Source Holdco LLC, LED Source LLC, LOGIX S.A., License Central Pty Ltd, Lite-On Korea Ltd., Marubun Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun Arrow (Thailand) Co Limited, Marubun Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun Arrow Europe Kft., Marubun Corporation, Marubun USA Corporation, Marubun-Arrow Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Marubun/Arrow (HK) Limited, Marubun/Arrow (M) Sdn. Bhd (Malaysia), Marubun/Arrow (Philippines) Inc., Marubun/Arrow (S) Pte Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow (Shenzhen) Electronic Product Consulting Company Limited, Marubun/Arrow (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Marubun/Arrow Asia Ltd., Marubun/Arrow USA II LLC, Marubun/Arrow USA LLC, NIC Components Asia PTE Ltd., NIC Components Corp., NIC Components Europe Limited, NIC Eurotech Limited, NUH Electronics India Private Limted, Networld Systems Pty Ltd, Nextworth Solutions Inc., Nu Horizons Electronics, Nu Horizons Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Asia PTE Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Hong Kong Ltd., Nu Horizons Electronics Malaysia SDN BHD, NuHo Singapore Holdings LLC, Observatory Crest, Openway Group SA, Openway SAS, PCG Parent Corp., PCG Trading LLC, PT Marubun Arrow Indonesia, Pansystem S.r.l., Pax8 Inc., Power and Signal Group GmbH, R.D. Trading Limited, RDC, RF Wireless & Power - Richardson Electronics, Rack Systems Pty Ltd, Red Education Pty Ltd, Redemtech, Renewal Systems Pty Ltd, Richardson RFPD (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Richardson RFPD (Thailand) Limited, Richardson RFPD Australia Pty. Ltd., Richardson RFPD Canada Inc., Richardson RFPD Electronics Trading (China) Co. Ltd., Richardson RFPD France SAS, Richardson RFPD Germany GmbH, Richardson RFPD Hong Kong, Richardson RFPD Inc., Richardson RFPD Israel Ltd., Richardson RFPD Italy Srl, Richardson RFPD Japan KK, Richardson RFPD Korea Ltd., Richardson RFPD Netherlands BV, Richardson RFPD Singapore, Richardson RFPD Spain SL, Richardson RFPD Sweden AB, Richardson RFPD Taiwan, Richardson RFPD UK Ltd., Richey Electronics, San Systems Pty Ltd, Schuylkill Metals of Plant City Inc., Seneca Data, Seneca Data Distributors Inc., Shared Technologies, Silicon Frameworks LLC, SiliconEgypt Technologies LLC, SiliconExpert Holdings LLC, SiliconExpert Technologies, SiliconExpert Technologies Inc., Sphinx CST Limited, Sphinx CST Networks Limited, Sphinx Group, Sphinx Group Limited, Sphinx Professional Services Limited, Spoerle Hungary Kereskedelmi Kft, Sun Chain Technology Corp., TLW Electronics Ltd., TechTurn, Titan Supply Chain Services Limited, Titan Supply Chain Services Pte Ltd., Trafomo AB, Trafomo ApS, Transim Technology, Transim Technology Corporation, U.S. Micro Operating Company LLC, UBM Tech Electronics Network, Ultra Source Electronics (SZ) Co LTD, Ultra Source Technology Corp., Ultra Source Trading Hong Kong Limited, United Technical Publishing Division - Hearst Business Media, Universe Electron Corporation, Verical, Verwaltungsgesellschaft Arrow Electronics GmbH, Wireless and Infrastructure Business Unit - Waching Company, Yongming Xincheng (Beijing) Technology Co., e-InfoChips, e-Infochips Private Limited, eInfochips, eMedia Asia Limited, immixGovernment Inc., immixGroup, immixGroup Inc., immixSolutions Inc., and immixTechnology. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. 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Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. Read More White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides insurance and other financial services in the United States. The company operates through five segments: HG Global/BAM, Ark, NSM, Kudu, and Other Operations. The HG Global/BAM segment provides insurance on municipal bonds issued to finance public purposes, such as schools, utilities, and transportation facilities, as well as reinsurance protection services. The Ark segment writes a portfolio of reinsurance and insurance, including property, marine and energy, accident and health, casualty, and specialty products. The NSM segment operates as a managing general agent and program administrator for specialty property and casualty insurance to various sectors comprising specialty transportation, real estate, social services, and pet. The Kudu segment provides capital solutions to boutique asset and wealth managers for generational ownership transfers, management buyouts, acquisitions and growth finances, and legacy partner liquidity, as well as strategic assistance to investees. The Other Operations segment offers insurance solutions to travel industry through broker channel and on a direct-to-consumer basis; and manages separate accounts and pooled investment vehicles for insurance-linked securities sectors, including catastrophe bonds, collateralized reinsurance investments, and industry loss warranties of third-party clients. White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. By PTI: Mumbai, Sep 25 (PTI) To protect securities markets from cyber threats, regulator Sebi is looking to further beef up its policy framework on this front and plans to appoint a chief IT security officer to head these initiatives. While Sebi has already asked stock exchanges and other market entities to put in place necessary framework to safeguard their systems, networks and databases from cyber attacks, the regulator is now looking at ways to further strengthen these mechanisms, a senior official said. advertisement Sebi will appoint a Chief Information Technology Security Officer, who will be responsible for strengthening its regulatory policy framework in the area of cyber security. The Officer would oversee implementation of these regulatory policies across security markets and also help enhance capacity building at Sebi and various market participants with respect to cyber security. Sebi would also develop stress testing mechanism to mitigate risk arising out of cyber-attacks, while necessary framework would be put in place for taking corrective measures and prudent response in case of cyber attacks at the regulator or market participants. Sebi has invited applications from eligible persons for the post of Chief IT Security Officer, who will need at least 10 years of experience in IT industry, preferably in cyber security and IT systems audit, and a minimum five years as head of a large unit of an IT company or IT unit of a bank, financial institution or market infrastructure institution. The Officer would also observe developments in cyber technology and security space and prepare inputs for regulatory policy development. In a recent interaction, Sebi Chairman U K Sinha raised concerns about growing cyber security threat for markets. "We have some guidelines in place but there is a need to revamp them. We are working with experts to address the gaps and appropriate action would be taken soon. "There are some government agencies also looking into the aspects of cyber security from the perspective of national security and they have also given us some inputs," he said. Earlier, Sinha had said cyber attacks are now occurring in a more sophisticated manner, while he had also raised concerns about state-sponsored cyber attacks from abroad. "We are worried over state-sponsored cyber attacks. There are worries that the vulnerability in markets are increasing. We need to create a framework for future plan of action on securities market resilience," he had said. Last year, Sebi had asked all exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories to put in place a robust cyber security framework for systemically critical functions of trading, clearing and settlement in securities market. Sebi has also asked Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) to restrict access controls, whenever necessary. "No person by virtue of rank or position should have any intrinsic right to access confidential data, applications, system resources or facilities. advertisement "MIIs should deploy additional controls and security measures to supervise staff with elevated system access entitlements (such as admin or privileged users)," Sebi said. PTI BJ ABM JMF --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Shah Rukh Khan has really been the star of Instagram after he began shooting for Imtiaz Ali's The Ring. He's been sharing interesting things from the sets inlcuding philosophy, pictures of his son AbRam and his love for the city of Amsterdam. However, this post of a fan really takes the cake which show King Khan is holding a toddler. advertisement ALSO SEE: Shah Rukh Khan wraps up the Amsterdam schedule for Imtiaz Ali's The Ring It just melts everyone heart to see the side of an affectionate father to a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan. Everyone knows he madly loves his children Aryan, Suhana and now AbRam. So much that even in his hours of madness where he gets only a couple of hours of sleep, he still wakes up in time to drop his children off to their school. Shah Rukh is currently shooting for Imtiaz Ali's The Ring where he will be seen romancing Anushka Sharma. This will be SRK's and Anushka's third collaboration after Aditya Chopra's Rab ne bana di jodi and Yash Chopra's Jab tak hai jaan. Shah Rukh has an interesting bunch of films coming up with Imtiaz Ali's The Ring, Rahul Dholakia's Raees, Aanand L Rai's next and also Aditya Chopra's next. We look forward to all of them. --- ENDS --- Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Mark Hallum Queensborough Community College has announced the addition of a Stratasys J750 3D printer a rarety in the academic world to its Engineering Technology 3D Lab. The state-of-the art printer will help students to learn the latest manufacturing techniques. The printer will teach students to how to manufacture dental molds, anatomically correct models of hearts and arms, architectural models, robotics parts, set designs, props and costumes. According to a QCC release, it can even print sushi. Whether or not the sushi is edible is another matter entirely. The addition of the J750 to the engineering lab makes QCC, located at 22-05 56th Ave. in Bayside, one of seven educational institutions in the world to have this piece of equipment, according to QCC. The Stratasys website boasts that the J750 has the ability to automatically map 360,000 colors from design software for photorealistic models, the ability to load six materials into the machine to create any combination of rigidity, flexibility or transparency to objects being built, and produce extremely fine details by layering with a minimum thickness of 0.014 millimeters. The majority of the materials used by the J750 are plastic and rubber. We want our students to become Workforce Ready graduates. One way to accomplish that is to give our students access to industry-level technology, said Michael Lawrence, a lecturer in the Engineering Technology Department. The Engineering Technology 3D Lab is funded by the CUNY2020 grant, whose goal is to assist local businesses by offering training in the manufacturing capabilities available with 3D printing technology. The program arms students with this knowledge to give them an advantage upon entering the workforce. The momentum of 3D printing to transform manufacturing means industries will need employees who understand how to use the new technology. The grant will support the students as they train to become highly skilled at using 3D printers and computer drafting software, said Stuart Asser, professor of engineering technology. The lab also teaches students on the Fortus 450mc 3D printer, which is designed to print highly durable production parts. 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. Shweta Tiwari, who's expecting her second child in November, is spending some quality time with her husband Abhinav Kohli these days. By India Today Web Desk: Shweta Tiwari, who shot to fame as Prerna in Kausauti Zindagi Kay, is looking resplendent these days, thanks to her pregnancy glow. In her third trimester right now, Shweta is spending some chilled moments with her loved ones, including husband Abhinav Kohli. In one her Instagram snaps, Shweta looks at peace with herself, as she holds her husband's hand, while taking a walk. advertisement Also read:Shweta Tiwari has the cutest baby bump ever; see pic Just ?? @abhinav.kohli024 #athome #nomakeup A photo posted by Shweta Tiwari Kohli (@shweta.tiwari) on Sep 23, 2016 at 7:52am PDT ???? @abhinav.kohli024 A photo posted by Shweta Tiwari Kohli (@shweta.tiwari) on Sep 21, 2016 at 9:05am PDT She also posted a cute picture, holding a teddy bear with hubby Abhinav. Honestly, words will fall short describing the picture. Shweta is making the most of her pregnancy, be it hanging out with friends, spending time with family or clicking some carefree selfies. The actress is expecting her second kid, with husband Abhinav Kohli in November this year. Shweta, has also wrapped up her TV soap Begusarai. Shweta tied the knot with Abhinav on July 13, 2013 after 4 years of courtship. The couple fell in love in 2009 on the sets of Jaane Kya Baat Hui. --- ENDS --- SHARE The Obama administration has aggressively used regulations to change the lives of millions of Americans. For the oil and gas industry, those changes will be massive if the courts uphold the federal government's attempts to take over regulation that is traditionally conducted by the states. On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments from 28 states, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, that have sued the Environmental Protection Agency because of federal overreach. Originally, nine judges were scheduled to hear the case, but on Thursday Judge Cornelia Pillard, appointed to the appeals court by President Obama, was added to make a total of 10 judges. The court did not say why Pillard was added. States rarely sued the federal government before Obama instructed the heads of each agency to target fossil fuels. Texas has sued the federal government 32 times since Obama took office in 2009. The cornerstone of EPA's regulatory machine is the Clean Power Plan, which will be heard by the Appeals Court. The states believe the Clean Power Plan calls for federal regulation of the states' natural resources, which historically has been the duty of each state. The states also object to new regulations under the Clean Air Act, which aim to reduce air emission requirements to a level that cannot be attained currently. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said he sees the Clean Power Plan as a form of federal "coercion and commandeering" of energy policy. He said states should have sovereignty to make decisions for their own markets. Another lawsuit recently developed when EPA issued its final rule on new emission standards for new, reconstructed, and modified oil and gas facilities. The regulation, which has become known as the methane rule, was originally filed by the state of North Dakota; Texas and other states quickly followed. "The rule, for the first time, also establishes emission limitation on greenhouse gases, specifically methane, and creates new categories of oil and gas facilities," Paxton said. "Not only is this a gross demonstration of federal overreach, but the EPA has failed to consider the steep cost of this rule on the existing industry." Even though the U.S. House has passed legislation to prevent implementation of the regulations, it is unlikely that Congress could override a presidential veto. This legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan appears to be the final challenge to these federal regulations, which if implemented will have long-lasting impact on everyone. SHARE photos by Patrick Johnston/Times Record News J.R. "Puck" Mello (right) tries to line up his motorcylce for his child passenger to place a soft baseball on top of a cone during the motorcycle rodeo at the Guardians for the Children Falls Town chapter's first Kruze for Kidz on Saturday afternoon at the Red River Harley Davidson. Mello (left) and Cameron "Hitman" Goodwin compete in a slow race during the motorcycle rodeo at the Guardians for the Children Falls Town chapter's first Kruze for Kidz on Saturday afternoon at the Red River Harley Davidson. A member of the Guardians of the Children Falls Town chapter created these custom trophies for the winners of the car and motorcycle show at the first Kruze for Kidz on Saturday afternoon at the Red River Harley Davidson. By Patrick Johnston, pjohnston@gannett.com For child victims of neglect or physical or sexual abuse, court can be a very daunting place to tell their recollection of what happened to them. Children, already confused by why it happened to them, are often forced to talk with attorneys as their offender sits in the same room. Their parents are often sequestered in another room under a witness rule that prohibits them from being present for other testimony in the case. So, a group of bikers have stepped up to be a face that child knows in the room when non-offending family members can't be. "We go to court with those kids and stay in the courtroom with them," said J.R. "Puck" Mello, vice president of the Falls Town chapter of Guardians of the Children (GoC). "Usually ... that child has to sit in a courtroom that has not a single familiar face. We're that familiar face. "We go in and take up those front rows, so they have someone to focus on while they tell their story instead of being intimidated by the perpetrator sitting there next to his attorney and staring them down." While many might feel intimidated by the tough-looking group, Mello said the children see right through them. "I'm 6-2, 250 pounds and covered head-to-toe in tattoos," he said. "My wife laughs every time, because when I walk in the children say, 'Oh! There's Puck!' The kids see through that and it's a security blanket for them. They now know they have someone that's going to back them up and they don't have to be scared." The 501(c)(3) nonprofit started locally in September 2012 but is part of a larger organization currently in 20 states and Canada, according to its website. From the moment the case of abuse is reported, GoC works to be a support structure and help point the family and child toward resources like Patsy's House Child Advocacy Center. GoC sets up at various events to get their name out there and bring awareness to their cause. On Saturday, the group hosted their first event, Kruze for Kidz, at the Red River Harley Davidson. "Because of laws and privacy acts, (Child Protective Services) can't walk up and tell the families to call us," Mello said. "...Unfortunately we don't get near the response we'd like to get. That's the legalities of things though. "It's events like this to get us out into the public to let people know what we do. Then, next time you know somebody that has an issue, you can let them know to check us out." When GoC is approached by a child victim, they host an "adoption" event and welcome him or her into the family. The group shows up en mass and holds a ceremony for the child, giving them a vest with their road name and a plaque, as well as a pillow case signed by all of the members. "We also give them a stuffed teddy bear or animal at every adoption," said Cameron "Hitman" Goodwin, president of the Falls Town chapter. "Whoever is at that adoption, all the members hug that bear and fill it full of hugs. "...If that kid ever feels that stuffed animal has run out of hugs, then they call us up and we schedule a meeting to fill it all back up with hugs to give them another security blanket to hold on to and know we're right there." They also get assigned a member of the chapter who will serve as their liaison with the group. "That point of contact is supposed to check with them once a week, every other week whatever that kid needs," Mello said. "They are available 24/7 for that phone call in reverse. If that kid needs to call someone and wants to talk about something, pick up that phone and call." For anyone who needs to get in contact with a member of the Falls Town group, they have a Guardians of the Children Falls Town public Facebook page, as well as a website (bit.ly/FallsTownGoC) with the names and email addresses of the group's board members. Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Volunteers work to place a teddy bear, blanket, the basic necessities, coloring book and crayons inside a duffel bag Saturday evening. Over 325 sweet cases were purchased for the foster children of Wichita County through the Precious Cargo campaign. SHARE Patrick Johnston/Times Record News A volunteer places a fully-packed sweet case onto a stack of duffle bags Saturday evening. Over 325 sweet cases were purchased for the foster children of Wichita County through the Precious Cargo campaign. Patrick Johnston/Times Record News Tammy Rice, president of the Wichita Falls Police Officers Association, left, and about 50 other volunteers helped pack over 325 sweet cases for the foster children of Wichita County Saturday evening. By Patrick Johnston, pjohnston@gannett.com When Lori Johnston first learned foster children were given black trash bags to gather what few belongings they had, she was appalled. "It's our responsibility as a community to reach out to some of the most vulnerable members of society to let them know they are valued and they are loved and we have their back," Johnston said back in April. In response, Johnston organized the Precious Cargo campaign in partnership with Together We Rise, a national nonprofit that is trying to change the way children experience the foster care system. She sought to raise money to provide the foster children of Wichita County with a "sweet case" a small duffel bag with a teddy bear, blanket, basic toiletries, a coloring book and crayons, "basic items that most children probably take for granted," Johnston said. Her goal was to have about 300 bags one for each child currently in foster care in Wichita County, plus enough hopefully to supply them to children entering the system for the rest of 2016. Individual donors began to trickle in as Johnston shared it out on her social media to raise awareness about the campaign. Then, the Wichita Falls Police Officers Association, Wichita Falls Professional Firefighters Association, Wichita County Bar Association, Red River Optimist Club of Wichita Falls, Colonial Church and University United Methodist Church's Angel Wings ministry stepped up with donations, as well. "It's an honor for us to be able to do something to help the community," said Tony Ramirez, a board member with the police officers association and a financial crimes detective with the WFPD. "The association is very proactive in the community. This is one is very heartfelt and nice to be a part of for us." By the end of the campaign in early June, $8,558.37 had been raised enough to provide over 325 sweet cases. "Honestly, the first feeling I had was I felt proud," Johnston said. "This idea of doing this for the children and seeing it come to fruition was incredible. It will impact the lives of so many children. We were able to accomplish our goal and then exceed it." As a criminal defense attorney, Dustin Nimz gets to see many sides of the foster care system, which is why he wanted to support the campaign and helped pack the bags Saturday evening. "This isn't about CPS (Child Protective Services) or foster care this is just about the kids. That's what we really wanted to support," Nimz said. "...Having a little piece of home and having a little something new when they are going through a really tough transition is very important to a kid. "Just to take a little bit of the edge off a very difficult situation is something that's great for us to be able to do." Nimz was one of about 50 people to show up to assemble the sweet cases and get them ready to be delivered to children currently in foster care, or as they are being removed from a home. While Johnston thought it would take several hours, the group was finished in around 15 minutes. The bags were then packed into a vehicle to be taken to the CPS office, from which they would be delivered to the children. "If it weren't for CPS stepping up to take the lead in making sure each child currently in foster care receives a bag and that each child being removed from their home gets a bag as they are being removed, this entire campaign would be for not," Johnston said. "They were instrumental in the success." Johnston, looking back on the campaign after all the bags were packed, found peace of mind knowing she played a part in replacing the black trash bags with a duffle bag and a few basic items to take with them. "It comforts me to know now that in that difficult situation where they are being taken from everything they know they have something to call their own," Johnston said. "They have a teddy bear and blanket they can cling to and find security and safety in." Claire Kowalick/Times Record News RIGHT: Wichita County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Derek Meador reviews jail reports Friday morning. Meador said lengthy wait times to get drug tests results has been an ongoing problem and leads to higher jail population. SHARE By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News While many people have experienced the frustration of waiting for medical laboratory test results, few may be aware of the intensely more complicated system when a test is part of a criminal investigation. During a meeting with state representatives Wednesday, Wichita County Judge Woody Gossom, county commissioners and essential staff discussed areas for improvement. The substantial wait time for drug-test results to return from Department of Public Safety labs was news to several at the meeting. When a substance is part of a criminal case, the drug and/or paraphernalia must be sent to a certified DPS lab to be tested by a well-trained chemist. Certain protocol must be followed by the book in order for the result to be admissible as evidence during a trial. "When an agency has seized what they believe to be drugs they have them tested at DPS because doesn't cost county money. If it results in a plea bargain, we seek reimbursement for the testing through that plea bargain in the paperwork," Wichita County District Attorney Maureen Shelton said Friday. The state has 13 DPS labs that test all the drugs across Texas. "Most agencies will send it to DPS because it is free, and because it has to be certified, and they testify very well, and they do a good job at what they do. The problem is there are not enough technicians to test at DPS," she said. The length of wait time for test results depends on which agency is seeking them. The DPS takes priority with results coming back as soon as two months. Average wait time in Wichita County, Shelton said is nine months to one year. "So the case sits until we get drug results back because we are not going to proceed without drug results. I think some counties did that about 15-20 years ago and got in big trouble for that, so we always wait for our drug results," Shelton said. Field tests, tests conducted at a scene or soon after, are presumptive tests and are not admissible in court. "For example you might have something test positive for amphetamine and when it gets to the lab it's methamphetamine. So it's a different structure and in our indictments we have to allege whether it is methamphetamine or amphetamine, there's some distinction there. So the court says it's a presumptive test that is good enough for probable cause, but it's not admissible at the court level," Shelton said. "With all the drug cases throughout the state of Texas, they (lab chemists) are just inundated with it. They work really hard, they are great at what they do, at testifying - there are just not enough of them," she said. Shelton said DPS labs can bump a case to the front of the line if there are serious circumstances and the county needs to move someone through the process quickly. "For example, if there is dangerous drug dealer that we want to keep in jail, we make a telephone call and ask them to put it at the front of the list, they usually will. But we don't want to make too many of those calls because it's not fair to the other agencies in the state," Shelton said. Shelton said recent discussions have been productive and she is hopeful that the legislature will consider more funding for additional DPS lab chemists or more labs in the state. In the North Texas area, most samples are sent to the Abilene DPS lab which serves more than 40 surrounding countries. There are 12 other labs around the state which offer forensic services including expert witness testimony at no cost to the counties. Even if an inmate charged with a drug crime chooses a plea bargain and decides to plead guilty, they still can wait a month or more for the drug test results to return. Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Derek Meador says this is not the only reason the jail is full to capacity most of the time, but it is a contributing factor. "It's a criminal justice system and until they get that back (lab test results), we can't finish out reports to get them (inmates) through," Meador said. "You know if you have someone that doesn't have resources, which we have a lot of, and they are waiting for their tests to come, they are just going to sit in jail and wait. I think that's one of the many contributors to jail population," he said. Meador said it is not the only issue in the jails, but is part of a larger problem. "There is not really an answer to jail population. There is no one thing to cut the population in half, just a series of small things," he said. A possible starting place for the spike in drug offenses began in the 1990s. At the height of this crackdown on drugs, one in three inmates was in prison on drug charges. Drug-free zones were established and together with tougher sentences for drug crimes, the prison population tripled in 10 years. According to the U.S. Department of Justice statistics, prisoner numbers peaked in 2010 at about 173,000. The last few years saw a dip in population and total state prisoners in 2014 was about 162,000. Meador said in the county, the state jail commission recommended more space for the book-in area and a holding area for inmates who are in and out within 72 hours. Meador said that alone could possibly keep 50-60 inmates out of the general jail population. Once in the system, an inmate costs the county more than $50 per day. A few years ago, Gossom said there was enough state money to build a lab near Fort Worth. The lab is there, but is empty because there was not funding for staff and equipment. Gossom said the county offered to pay more than $100,000 for certified staff, but the state said it would still need to cough up an addition $300,000 for equipment. Even then, the county was told that there is no guarantee Wichita would get any favoritism over other counties on the waiting list. Shelton said it certainly is frustrating, but she feels the labs are doing the best they can with the staff they have available. The lengthy part, she said, is the time it takes to get the items tested. There are also travel expenses because each agency must hand deliver the drug evidence to the lab and drive back. After testing, the chemist (technician) who did the actual testing must physically travel to Wichita Falls to present the evidence and findings. The chemist must then be available for cross-examination by the defendant. Finding the funding, right location, and qualified staff for expanded or more lab locations is no easy task. DPS certified chemists must have a pre-existing medical license and go through DEA testing and extensive training. During the talks with state leaders, this problem was one of the most promising areas for change and the three representatives present at the meeting U.S. Senator Craig Estes, and state representatives Drew Springer, District 68, and James Frank, District 69, seemed genuinely shocked by the problem and said were certainly going to look into the issue further. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany A home health aide who used a tire iron to bludgeon a defenseless 79-year-old man and slashed his throat was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum 25 years to life in prison as the victim's devastated family members asked that she never be set free. "Only God can take a life. Who gave you the God-given right?" asked Sonya Rose, the elderly sister of victim Richard Englander, as she sat in a wheelchair addressing his convicted killer, Sara Moore, in Albany County Court. "What possessed you to steal and to murder? It's unconscionable ... I hope you never see the light of day." Moore, 36, of Wynantskill, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder before Judge Stephen Herrick on Sept. 15. At the time she faced first-degree murder, a charge that carries life in prison without the possibility of parole upon conviction. Several family members and the judge blasted Moore, telling the killer she could have simply stolen from him and walked away but instead viciously took his life. "We never got to say goodbye," said the victim's son, Scott Englander. Moore attacked Englander as he sat on his recliner inside his townhouse at 40 Woodside Drive in a quiet part of Albany off New Scotland Road. She later told a probation officer conducting a presentencing report that she thought Englander was going to give her "hard time" and she "just had to get high," Herrick said. Moore, who wiped away tears as Englander's relatives addressed her, apologized to his family and to her own. "I was wrong. I regret what I did," she told the judge. "I will share my story and try to help people with similar problems. And may God have mercy on my soul." Herrick reminded Moore that she was hired to care for Englander but almost immediately after being hired she neglected him and stole from him to fuel her drug habit. Moore took a tire iron from Englander's garage, repeatedly struck him and then cut him with a kitchen knife in a "sawing motion," the judge said. "I apologize to the family, but I want this on the record," Herrick said. "It was horrific. I've been a judge for 20 years. Rarely have I seen such (violence) ... he was totally defenseless. You brutalized him." Albany police arrested Moore Feb. 7. That day, phone calls from Englander's bank led police to the discovery of his body. Investigators said Moore attempted to cash a personal check of Englander's at a TD Bank in Colonie. Bank workers called police, who went to Englander's home and found the front door ajar. After police arrived, bank employees called again and reported that Moore had returned with another of Englander's personal checks. The bank refused to cash it. Moore was quickly apprehended. Englander, a father of three grown children, suffered from multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair. He had been cared for the previous two years by a trusted health aide. That aide stopped working for Englander when her mother broke her hip and needed her help. In February, he placed an ad on Craigslist. Moore quickly responded and moved in. Her compensation was room and board. Mimi Englander, the victim's daughter, said Moore asked what kind of person Englander was. Moore was told he was kind, respectful of others and a gentleman, the daughter recalled. "The very last thing I said to her was, 'Please take good care of my dad.' Four days later she brutally murdered him by her own admission," the daughter said. She said two days after Moore moved in, she woke up Englander and asked him for $50. He did not have cash but loaned Moore his credit card. "That was my dad," said. "When you lose a parent, you should be able to look back and remember the happy memories. What dominates my thoughts is the pool of my dad's blood and broken glass where she brutalized him. I'm haunted by imagining the terror and the fear he felt as she attacked him, the pain he suffered lying there all alone when she left to try to steal from him again." Herrick described Englander as an exceptional person. He said Englander, who was first lieutenant in the Army, got MS as a result of handling plutonium-tipped artillery shells. He ran Albany-based Architects Hardware & Specialty Co., which specialized in high-end door and furniture fixtures. Friends said he was known for his generosity. In 1993, when Arbor Hill Community Center was about to close because it owed the Internal Revenue Service nearly $10,000, Englander covered most of the debt despite having no connection to the facility. rgavin@timesunion.com 518-434-2403 @RobertGavinTU The contestants can start making their applications from the September 26 and the application can be withdrawn by October 6. By Akshaya Nath: The local body elections in Tamil Nadu is scheduled to be conducted in two phases. The dates have been announced as 17th and 19th of October, and the counting will be on 21st of October. The state Assembly election was conducted On May 16, this year and the results were on the 19th of May. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's party AIADMK had won the state assembly polls and the party is hoping for a similar win in the local body polls. advertisement The announcement about the local body polls comes at a time when the state chief minister is admitted in the hospital. CM Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo hospital after she complained of high fever and dehydration on Thursday. Hundreds of party cadres have come from different parts of the state to visit their party supremo. The party which regards itself as a military party, which follows only the instructions of the party leader - J Jayalalithaa will face a tough time in the upcoming polls in her absence. The contestants can start making their applications from the September 26 and the application can be withdrawn by October 6. --- ENDS --- Albany Opponents of a pipeline being proposed along a nuclear energy complex in the Lower Hudson Valley protested the construction outside the governor's mansion Sunday evening, citing environmental, health and public-safety concerns. A "Climate Justice Vigil" was held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 138 Eagle St. in Albany in an effort to urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take action to stop the Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline. Sponsored by Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline, the event drew 21 people to the sidewalk outside the mansion. Many took turns speaking over the course of the hour, including a Buddhist monk, members of several anti-fracking and anti-pipeline groups and an Eagle Street resident who wandered over, curious, then lifted a sign and joined in. Last year, Cuomo called for a halt in the construction of the pipeline pending a review by state agencies of its safety and environmental impact. Of particular concern was the line's proximity to Indian Point, with parts of it going within 105 feet of structures that are part of the nuclear complex. A pipeline rupture could cut off power to the plant and endanger nearby New Yorkers, protesters said. But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission turned down Cuomo's request. While states can hold up gas lines by withholding permits related to wetlands or other environmental issues, the federal agency is considered the main regulator for interstate pipelines. "We're here today to urge the governor to be more aggressive in getting federal help to stop this project," said Christine Macpherson, a board member of Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline. While the group did not expect Cuomo to be in the mansion Sunday evening, she said, they hoped to raise awareness and express solidarity with downstate activists protesting outside the governor's home in Mount Kisco. Proposed by Houston-based Spectra Energy, the AIM project runs along the existing Algonquin line that carries gas from New Jersey and points west to the Boston area. Once running, it would bring hydrofractured gas from Pennsylvania through New York and on to Canada for export. Spectra says it would increase the reliability of supplies in the region and would use gas from the Appalachian region. Paula Clair, a protester from Garrison, noted that the AIM pipeline is due to be operational Nov. 1. "That's a little more than a month from now, so this is an urgent situation," she said. Area residents recently banded together to protest the Pilgrim Pipeline, a proposed line that would transport crude oil under the Hudson River between the ports of Albany and Rensselaer and 170 miles along the state Thruway. It would be a dual pipeline, one carrying Bakken crude south from the Port of Albany to New Jersey refineries and the other carrying refined oil north back to the Port of Albany and then through dual pipelines under the river to storage tanks on the Rensselaer side. afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the relationship of the Standish Family Fund with the Community Foundation. Colonie J. Spencer Standish, who led Albany International Corp. during a period of tremendous growth and matched his business success with philanthropy across the Capital Region, died Friday. He was 91. Standish went to work for Albany International in 1952 when his father, John, was the company president. The company made felt coverings for machines used to make paper. As a young man, Standish learned from the ground up how the business worked. When he became president and CEO of the company, he believed in management by direct contact. "He gave me a tour, and in the time we walked through the plant, we must have talked to 300 people. He knew everyone by name," said George R. Hearst III, publisher and CEO of the Times Union. Albany International was once a dominant employer in the Capital Region, making equipment used in paper mills. However, as the paper industry moved to higher-growth locations in Asia and South America, Albany International also moved operations out of North America and the Capital Region. Over the years, the company invested in advanced material manufacturing for the aerospace industry, and moved its headquarters to New Hampshire to be closer to that business unit's main operations outside of Boston. Standish retired from Albany International in 1998. In 2002, Worth magazine named him Albany's wealthiest individual, with a net worth of about $185 million. In 2003, Standish and his wife, Patricia, created the Standish Family Fund at the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region with a gift of $4.6 million. Since then, the fund has granted more than $2.5 million to nonprofit organizations, and now has a value of more than $6.5 million. Standish also served on numerous nonprofit boards and was the first president of the University at Albany Foundation. "When the foundation was searching for an identity, Spencer became a spokesman," said Fardin Sinai, executive director of the foundation. "Having his name associated with the life sciences building gave us an endorsement that brought other leaders to the university." The Standishes gave substantially to UAlbany, most recently in 2013, when a $1.5 million gift helped create three faculty positions. They also gave $1.5 million to The College of Saint Rose in 2015 and pledged $1 million to Albany Medical Center Hospital to build a patient pavilion. Despite their wealth, the Standishes did not live extravagantly. Times Union reporter Paul Grondahl, who helped Standish write his biography, "From Myles to Spencer: An Informal Family Memoir," said Standish believed in living simply and shepherding his wealth a trait his parents taught him in order to make it last. He was an unassuming, quiet man who was deeply proud of his business and his family history. He was a descendant from Myles Standish, who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Standish's philanthropy was rooted in his partnership with his wife, Patricia. "Whenever I met with him to talk about a donation, he would say, 'let me talk to Pat and get back to you,' " Hearst said. The couple had two children and have several grandchildren. Standish served on Siena College's Board of Trustees from 1986 to 1996. He took a year's leave and came back to the board from 1997 to 2004. He was a trustee emeritus until his death, according to the college. Both Standishes received honorary degrees at the college's commencement ceremonies in May 2004. He received the Honorary Doctor of Science. She received the Honorary Doctor of Letters. "Their example of service not only to our College but to the entire Capital Region is a fine example for all of the Siena community," Siena President Ed Coughlin said in a statement. "The news of his passing brings us great sadness, but as we reflect on his accomplishments as a businessman and supporter of so many educational and cultural endeavors, we also feel pride that we had such a strong association over the years with this exemplary individual." Services and other details were not immediately available. lhornbeck@timesunion.com 518-454-5352 @leighhornbeck Burlington, Wash. The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that left five dead is in custody, authorities said Saturday. The Skagit County Department of Emergency Management said via Twitter Saturday evening that the suspect had been captured. No other details were immediately available. A news conference was set for Saturday night. A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Wash., Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect, initially described by witnesses as a young Hispanic male wearing black. 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 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. 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 don't 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 identity of the shooter and his motive. The FBI said terrorism was not suspected. 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, 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," Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. The savagery of deadly caretaker Sara Moore will be known far beyond Albany. The convicted murderer who in 2014 bludgeoned defenseless patient Richard Englander, 79, and slashed his throat inside his Albany townhouse will be the subject of the show "Deadly Women" on the Investigation Discovery Channel at 9 p.m. Friday. Moore, 37, formerly of Wynantskill, will be one of three killers profiled in the episode, titled "The Vulnerable." The show will include interviews with Albany County Assistant District Attorney Shannon Sarfoh, who prosecuted the case and heads the Special Victims Unit, as well as with Law Beat, which is quite familiar with the case. Moore faced so much damning evidence that her plea bargain still carried 25 years to life, the prison sentence most killers convicted at trial get. Englander, a father of three grown children, had multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair. A trusted health aide had cared for him for two years but stopped when her mother broke her hip and needed assistance. In February 2014, Englander placed an ad on Craigslist. Moore responded and moved in her compensation was free room and board at Englander's home at 40 Woodside Drive. Two days after Moore moved in, she woke up Englander and asked for $50. The former first lieutenant in the Army, who was known for his generosity, loaned Moore his credit card, unaware he was being cared for by a violent drug addict. Moore attacked Englander in his recliner because she thought he was going to give her a "hard time" and she "just had to get high," she said. Moore took a tire iron from Englander's garage, struck him and slashed his throat with a kitchen knife in a "sawing motion," according to Judge Stephen Herrick. "I apologize to the family, but I want this on the record," Herrick said. "It was horrific. I've been a judge for 20 years. Rarely have I seen such (violence) ... he was totally defenseless. You brutalized him." For years, Englander ran Architects Hardware & Specialty Co. in Albany, which specialized in high-end door and furniture fixtures. "The very last thing I said to her was, 'Please take good care of my dad,'" Englander's daughter, Mimi, said at Moore's sentencing in October 2014. "Four days later, she brutally murdered him by her own admission." Moore tried to cash a personal check of Englander's at a TD Bank in Colonie. Bank workers called police, who went to Englander's home and found an open door and a deadly crime scene. Bank employees called again and reported Moore was back with another of Englander's personal checks. The bank refused to cash it. Police quickly arrested Moore, who confessed to her butchery. "I was wrong. I regret what I did," Moore told Herrick at the sentencing. "I will share my story and try to help people with similar problems. And may God have mercy on my soul." Moore is in Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison for women in Westchester County. By being profiled by "Deadly Women," she joins an eclectic list of female murderers that includes Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos (depicted in the 2006 movie "Monster"), Andrea Yates and Susan Smith, both of whom drowned their children, and MaryBeth Tinning, the Schenectady killer who smothered her 4-month daughter Tami Lynne with a pillow and was suspected of killing her eight other children. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Cop ordered to remove vest Attorney Michael Feit successfully cried foul in Albany County Court last week after an Albany police officer began watching the start of a drug trial while wearing a vest that bore the words "POLICE" in large letters. Feit complained that, given the nature of the trial faced by his client, ex-Black Panther Robert Vickers, and the defense of police entrapment, the attorney said the officer's vest to be "distracting" and "objectionable." Feit asked that the vest to be taken out of the view of the jury. Assistant District Attorney Jasper Mills objected, saying it was no different than sheriff's deputies wearing uniforms in the courtroom. Lynch, citing case law, agreed with Feit. "It is my order that everyone in this courtroom is welcome. Everyone in this courtroom has a right to be here. But I am directing you, officer, to remove the outer vest from the visuals of the jury," Lynch said. The judge said it was "to avoid any appearance of an impropriety or any kind of subliminal messages coming from individuals who are in the courtroom effectively testifying without testifying by wearing signage like 'POLICE.'" The officer was left wearing a Motley Crue T-shirt. There were no complaints about subliminal messages. rgavin@timesunion.com 434-2403 @RobertGavinTU This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Troy For those of you who know and love Troy, this won't be an easy read. That's especially true if South Troy is your neighborhood of choice. Virginia Eubanks is with you. She hates having to talk about this. She calls South Troy the world's best neighborhood, without irony, and feels fortunate to live there. But she believes its future is threatened. Reason No. 1 is climate change. Reason No. 2 is the resulting spike in flood-insurance costs. More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse "We will probably be the last owners of our house," Eubanks said. "It breaks my heart to say that." I asked to meet with Eubanks after reading her upcoming article about Troy in The Nation magazine. (The piece is already online.) Together, we took a walk around South Troy, that scrappy neighborhood of brick rowhouses bordered by the Hudson. Troy is the water and the water is Troy. And so floods are an unfortunate part of the city's history. They are likely to be an even bigger part of its future, given that a warming climate is expected to produce more powerful storms. Quick note to climate-change deniers: Let's not do that here, OK? At this point, arguing over whether warming is happening is like debating whether the moon is made of cheese. It's silly. In any event, the National Flood Insurance Program has long been an affordable buffer to economic damage from flooding. Yet as floods have become more costly, and arguably more frequent, the federal government has responded by hiking premiums. In a way, that's perfectly rational. We can all agree, I think, that taxpayers shouldn't subsidize protection for million-dollar homes perched at the edge of the sea. But Eubanks argues that rising premiums are devastating for working-class city neighborhoods near water, like South Troy. Rising insurance costs rob lower-income families of the equity accumulated in their homes, she says. Since lenders make flood insurance a mortgage requirement in areas deemed risky, higher premiums also raise housing costs, forcing many potential buyers to avoid floodplain neighborhoods entirely. Eubanks calls all this "climate redlining" which references the federal government's racist refusal to back inner-city mortgages from the 1930s to the 1960s, a policy that fueled white flight and created urban slums. Cities have only recently begun to recover. And actually, this is generally an optimistic time for cities, as evidenced by the wave of reinvention happening in Troy's downtown. But you may have already surmised that Eubanks' article drags Troy's renaissance narrative into a back alley and gives it a good beating. Yes, downtown is thriving ... but the neighborhoods? Eubanks, 44, and her partner live about mile south of downtown, on Ida Street. The property backs up to the Poestenkill, which makes the possibility of rising water even more of a threat. In fact, a good chunk of her magazine story recounts the harm done in 2011 by Tropical Storm Irene and how the neighborhood barely dodged catastrophe. As we walked, Eubanks, a writer who has taught at the University at Albany, said her flood insurance premiums have been increasing about 10 percent per year. Many of her neighbors who don't have mortgages are simply taking their chances and going without the protection. We crossed the Poestenkill at First Street and headed toward the river, which you can forget is even there in South Troy, given that it's hidden behind an industrial zone. The only access point is the little fishing pier at the end of Madison Street. When we got there, Eubanks pointed to the city's seawall, which helps protect central Troy from rising water but may enhance the risk elsewhere. "Because we're beyond the seawall, North and South Troy are extra vulnerable," Eubanks wrote in her story. "The wall stops water from entering downtown, by pushing it, like the prow of a ship, to either side, turning our neighborhoods into sacrifice zones." As we walked, Eubanks and I passed my old apartment on Third Street. As sentimentality overwhelmed me OK, not really Eubanks told me the property is outside the floodplain, evidence that the neighborhood is unevenly impacted by higher flood-insurance costs, at least for now. I asked Eubanks if she worried that publicizing the neighborhood's situation might intensify the disinvestment she fears. She said she wrestled with that question, but ultimately decided ignoring the problem posed a bigger threat. Eubanks' difficult conclusion about her own house that it will never have another owner is based on her belief that buying it will make less and less sense as the climate warms. The house is becoming valueless. That's financially devastating for her family. But it's the potential death of her neighborhood, Eubanks said, that brings the most sorrow. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Troy For those of you who know and love Troy, this won't be an easy read. That's especially true if South Troy is your neighborhood of choice. Virginia Eubanks is with you. She hates having to talk about this. She calls South Troy the world's best neighborhood, without irony, and feels fortunate to live there. But she believes its future is threatened. Reason No. 1 is climate change. Reason No. 2 is the resulting spike in flood-insurance costs. "We will probably be the last owners of our house," Eubanks said. "It breaks my heart to say that." I asked to meet with Eubanks after reading her upcoming article about Troy in The Nation magazine. (The piece is already online.) Together, we took a walk around South Troy, that scrappy neighborhood of brick rowhouses bordered by the Hudson. Troy is the water and the water is Troy. And so floods are an unfortunate part of the city's history. They are likely to be an even bigger part of its future, given that a warming climate is expected to produce more powerful storms. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. Quick note to climate-change deniers: Let's not do that here, OK? At this point, arguing over whether warming is happening is like debating whether the moon is made of cheese. It's silly. In any event, the National Flood Insurance Program has long been an affordable buffer to economic damage from flooding. Yet as floods have become more costly, and arguably more frequent, the federal government has responded by hiking premiums. In a way, that's perfectly rational. We can all agree, I think, that taxpayers shouldn't subsidize protection for million-dollar homes perched at the edge of the sea. But Eubanks argues that rising premiums are devastating for working-class city neighborhoods near water, like South Troy. Rising insurance costs rob lower-income families of the equity accumulated in their homes, she says. Since lenders make flood insurance a mortgage requirement in areas deemed risky, higher premiums also raise housing costs, forcing many potential buyers to avoid floodplain neighborhoods entirely. Eubanks calls all this "climate redlining" which references the federal government's racist refusal to back inner-city mortgages from the 1930s to the 1960s, a policy that fueled white flight and created urban slums. Cities have only recently begun to recover. And actually, this is generally an optimistic time for cities, as evidenced by the wave of reinvention happening in Troy's downtown. But you may have already surmised that Eubanks' article drags Troy's renaissance narrative into a back alley and gives it a good beating. Yes, downtown is thriving ... but the neighborhoods? Eubanks, 44, and her partner live about mile south of downtown, on Ida Street. The property backs up to the Poestenkill, which makes the possibility of rising water even more of a threat. In fact, a good chunk of her magazine story recounts the harm done in 2011 by Tropical Storm Irene and how the neighborhood barely dodged catastrophe. As we walked, Eubanks, a writer who has taught at the University at Albany, said her flood insurance premiums have been increasing about 10 percent per year. Many of her neighbors who don't have mortgages are simply taking their chances and going without the protection. We crossed the Poestenkill at First Street and headed toward the river, which you can forget is even there in South Troy, given that it's hidden behind an industrial zone. The only access point is the little fishing pier at the end of Madison Street. When we got there, Eubanks pointed to the city's seawall, which helps protect central Troy from rising water but may enhance the risk elsewhere. "Because we're beyond the seawall, North and South Troy are extra vulnerable," Eubanks wrote in her story. "The wall stops water from entering downtown, by pushing it, like the prow of a ship, to either side, turning our neighborhoods into sacrifice zones." As we walked, Eubanks and I passed my old apartment on Third Street. As sentimentality overwhelmed me OK, not really Eubanks told me the property is outside the floodplain, evidence that the neighborhood is unevenly impacted by higher flood-insurance costs, at least for now. I asked Eubanks if she worried that publicizing the neighborhood's situation might intensify the disinvestment she fears. She said she wrestled with that question, but ultimately decided ignoring the problem posed a bigger threat. Eubanks' difficult conclusion about her own house that it will never have another owner is based on her belief that buying it will make less and less sense as the climate warms. The house is becoming valueless. That's financially devastating for her family. But it's the potential death of her neighborhood, Eubanks said, that brings the most sorrow. Preet did not disappoint. No one does theater of the indictment, in this case pre-indictment, better than the federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York, and always with a powerful moral message worthy of the Greeks. The wages of systemic political corruption are thus. Even though we all knew it was coming, he managed to shock us anyway. Who could have predicted that Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, the brilliant, colorful guru of the state's nanotechnology ascendency and the one bright note in upstate redevelopment, would be caught in the double crosshairs of both Preet Bharara and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman over not one but two alleged schemes to defraud? Or that key prosecution informant Todd Howe, who we knew about in some detail, had already pleaded guilty to a host of corruption-related charges? The only thing missing in the bombshell criminal complaint accusing eight of corruption were all the dots connecting misdeeds to the governor himself, but patience people, patience. Because the fun is only beginning. Cuomo won't skate from this because the culture he has created will be under indictment as well as the people he's picked to do his business. He owns the corruption whether he admits or not, or whether he's indicted. Preet delicately stepped around the Cuomo corruption connection. At this moment, said Preet, "there are no allegations of any wrongdoing or misconduct by the governor, anywhere in this complaint. That's all I'm going to say." He's a lawyer, remember. So we need to look carefully at what he said. "At this moment" speaks for itself. The 80-page criminal complaint he refers to is essentially a sworn narrative by Deleassa Penland, a veteran criminal investigator with the U.S. Attorney's office, serving as an instrument of probable cause that the alleged crimes were committed. The complaint explicitly states it does not include all the details, or evidence gathered. Even so, Penland's narrative is a humdinger and well worth the time and that extra cup of coffee. It's engrossing. It could easily serve as a solid treatment for maybe a six-part TV series on corruption in the statehouse and how it works out in the field when the conspirators aren't that bright, and feel fully protected from accountability. Something along the lines of The Sopranos do Trenton, or Albany, or whatever. Nor does Penland leave a lot to the imagination as to who benefits most in the pay-to-play culture repeatedly underlined throughout the complaint. Ladies and gentleman of the public jury, I direct you to pages 62 and 63 of the complaint, where Penland recounts how contractors in Syracuse and Buffalo were shown how best to leverage significant campaign contributions to the governor's re-election campaigns for maximum effect in terms of getting lucrative state contracts. Even down to Buffalo contractor Louis Ciminelli being told by Howe that a proposed fundraiser for the governor that Ciminelli said would bring in $175,000 wasn't good enough, because the contractor had earlier promised $250,000. So $250,000 prevailed. The fundraiser was held during the time his company was under consideration as a preferred developer for the Buffalo Billion. He got the contract, If there is a more blatant example of pay-to-play, I'd like to see it. And while it's true this does not mean the governor himself solicited the contribution, Howe was hired for advice by Ciminelli and the others because of his close ties to the governor. Howe himself said he spoke for the governor's office. Then again, Howe has been turned by the feds, has pleaded guilty to a number or the crassest corruption charges imaginable but has yet to be sentenced. What is his credibility? Still, at the end of the day, who benefits from $250,000 in Andrew Cuomo's re-election campaign account? How could he not be aware? Howe, and his questionable credibility, are instrumental to the federal case against "Dr. K," Alain Kaloyeros. Tailoring requests for proposals leading up to a contract in such a way as to only support one bidder while discouraging the others, considering the host of prying eyes from the governor's office, Empire State Development, and a couple of oversight boards, is some trick I want to see explained in court. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. And there, at trial, is where we can expect high mirth and enlightenment, and the characters revealed in detail from Cuomo on down. Recall how stupefying the actual testimony was during the first Joe Bruno trial as to how he ran his state office as if it were a private business? Well, that will be the Teddy Bear's Picnic compared to what we'll hear under oath from those doing business with the state and now caught in Preet's theater, and from all the governor's office personnel, past and present. No state administration has been more opaque, more hostile to those who disagree with them than this Cuomo administration, and now that comes to roost when revelations can be most unflattering. The public is not predisposed in Cuomo's favor, with good reason. As vulnerable as Kaloyeros' outsized ego, big salary and perceived arrogance has made him to the public pinprick, so has Cuomo's coldness, disdain and "I am the Government" arrogance, which trumps that of Dr. K. What we yearn for is a trial, or, better yet, two or three of them. Preet feels the same way, "so that all New Yorkers can see in gory detail what their government has been up to." Rest assured whether Andrew Cuomo is an actual defendant or not, he will be on trial. He already is. And he will be judged. flebrun@timesunion.com 518-454-5453 By PTI: Ahmednagar (Maha), Sep 25 (PTI) A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 53-year-old man at Mohari village in her house at Pathardi tehsil in the distict today, police said. The accused, Ashok Sadashiv Valekar, has been arrested, they said. "The victim, who is a slow learner, was alone at home. Her mother had gone to Ahmednagar for the medical treatment of her elder daughter and her father was working at the farm. Taking advantage of the situation, Valekar entered the house and raped her," police said. advertisement The villagers caught the accused and brought him to Pathardi police station. Villagers sought immediate legal action against the accused. People left the police station only after an FIR was registered, police sources said. Assistant Police Inspector of Pathardi police station Vikas Ghanwat said the accused was arrested and booked under IPC section 376 (rape), 452 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and the POCSO Act. In July, Ahmednagar district was rocked by the gang rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi village which had sparked protests across the state. The girl who belonged to Maratha community was gangraped and tortured to death. As a fallout of the incident, the community members started carrying out silent marches across the state for their demands, including strict action against Kopardi culprits. PTI CORR NP AAR BAS --- ENDS --- Cashel Cllr Tom Wood has been told a number of issues need to be addressed before overcrowding can be eased at South Tipperary General Hospital (STGH) in Clonmel. At the September meeting of the Regional Health Forum held in Cork last Thursday Cllr Tom Wood tabled an official question asking to urgently address overcowding. He requested that the 40-bed Modular Unit, at an estimated weekly cost of 60,000 and regarded as an interm solution to relieve the trolly situation at South Tipperary General Hospital - be in place before the onset of winter as expected by the Consultants who met with Minister Harris earlier this summer. In a written response he was advised: Currently STGH is working with the HSE procurement and HSE Estates on a number of options to address the capacity issue in the hospital. This includes assessments of cost benefit analysis, procurement issues, planning and construction issues in relation to the options identified. Following appraisal the most suitable option is likely to proceed. In parallel the HSE is currently examining the patient hotel type service. At present it is unlikely that this 40 bed modular unit will be in place at the onset of winter. However work regarding all options is currently in progress. In responding to the reply, Councillor Wood said that while numerous options are being considered, Hospital Consultants and Oireachtas members are convinced that the modular unit was going to be built following discussions last June with Minister Harris. He understood the Health Minister was due a visit Clonmel soon and it was expected that he would be the bearer of good news. When asked by Councillor Wood what the projected capital cost of such a unit would be and if it was presently budgeted for, Mr Gerry O Dwyer, CEO, said that while it was too early yet to know what the overall cost would be, money for such a project was included in the winter programme. Would you like to share a recipe and savour a memory in a new cook book in aid of the Thurles Community Hospital of the Assumption? If so, read on. Following on from the wonderful success of her first book 'Food for Thought', Thurles lady Eileen Coffey has come up with another innovative concept which will encourage people to submit a recipe for Recipe Memories and dedicate that recipe/memory to somebody. It's as simple as that, and the hope is that funds from the book will be handed over to the Thurles Community Hospital of the Assumption which does such fantastic work in caring for people from all over mid and north Tipperary. The aim is to have the book ready and available for Christmas so that people can give it as a gift to somebody if they so wish. By submitting a recipe or memory, you will be supporting the hospital as well as perhaps keeping the memory of a loved one alive and vibrant, Eileen told The Tipperary Star this week. Eileen's first book 'Food for Thought' featured well known people from all over Ireland and they submitted their recipes and thoughts. The book went down a real treat and Eileen handed over 18,200 to Suir Haven Cancer Support Centre in Thurles - one of the biggest single donations to the centre. This, Eileen says, is a tribute to the generosity of people and once again she is appealing to that generosity to help with the Hospital of the Assumption, where, among other things, a new minibus is required in the near future. All you have to do is select a favourite/special recipe including the ingredients and method of cooking. Dedicate the recipe to somebody special and write a short paragraph on your reason for submitting the recipe/memory. Submissions can be sent to eileencoffey21@gmail.com and in order to get the ball rolling a 10 deposit to cover printing can be organised through AIB, Thurles Sort Code: 93-53-01 Account Number: 22627074. (Please your name a reference when transferring money). Alternatively, you can submit your contribution directly to Eileen Coffey in the Ursuline Secondary School Thurles. The closing date for receipts of recipes/memories is October 21st and any enquiries can be made to Eileen at 087 9673283. I always knew after the last book that there was another one to be done featuring local people from the community, rather than high profile celebs. The last book was a great success and I am delighted to be doing something for the Hospital of the Assumpion with this project. But, as I always say, I am just the one organising this - it is the people who submit the pieces and buy the book who are the real supporters, because without them, this could not happen, said Eileen who added that any businesses wishing to get involved as sponsor or co-sponsor would be more than welcome to do so. It is envisaged that the book will take a very similar format to 'Food for Thought' and hopefully it will be equally as successful. The Community Hospital of the Assumption enjoys a magnificent reputation for care of patients and the warm and welcoming atmosphere generated by each and every staff member is a real tribute to the prevailing ethos of generosity of spirit. Staff constantly go above and beyond the call of duty and it is because of this that the hospital is so highly regarded and the beds so sought after. This is your chance to remember somebody or dedicate a recipe to somebody, and at the same time support the Community Hospital of the Assumption in a really meaningful way. So, get out the pen and paper immediately, jot down the recipe and send your thoughts to Eileen Coffey now. This is a real opportunity to get involved, in a very tangible way, of remembering and dedicating. Briggs: Elkharts RV workers are only essential until a recession RV sales are great for job security in Elkhart, yet horrible for human bodies. Modi also hit out at Lalu Prasad for not acting against his party leader Md. Shahabuddin. By Rohit Kumar Singh: Former deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi has said RJD President Lalu Prasad's both sons Tej Pratap and Tejaswi were following their father's footsteps. Raising the issue of Rs 800 crore fodder scam in which Lalu has been convicted, Modi hit out at Lalu Yadav saying both his sons are also repeating their father's deed. advertisement "Tej Pratap has been issued notice by the Supreme Court for providing patronage to Md. Shahabuddin's sharp shooter Md. Kaif and his deputy CM son Tejaswi has been criticised by the Patna High Court for illegally transferring an engineer of the building construction department", said Sushil Modi. Modi also hit out at father Lalu Prasad for not acting against his party leader Md. Shahabuddin and also continuing to keep him in the national executive of the RJD. "Lalu suspended his party MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav after rape charges were levelled on him but it is shameful that Lalu is silent over Shahabuddin. The former RJD MP is still in the national executive of RJD", said the BJP leader. Modi alleged that entire Lalu's family was out to protect Shahabuddin who has been involved in several murder cases. "In the last 25 years, Lalu's family has governed Bihar for 17 years and it was in Lalu's regime that image of Bihar was badly tarnished. However, Lalu's family was still showering praises on Shahabuddin", said Modi. --- ENDS --- By PTI: Hyderabad, Sep 24 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said the state government will work towards getting Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore loan to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for the integrated development of the city to make it global city. Reviewing the situation emerged out of incessant rains for the past three days in the state, Rao said he is happy with the rains as most of the reservoirs of medium irrigation projects received water in full and overflowing. advertisement "The city (GHMC) needs integrated development. We (the state government) will try to get Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore for that purpose. We will stand guarantee for that (loan). Hyderabad cannot become global city just like that. It takes at least 5-6 years," Rao told reporters. He also warned that the government would sternly deal with illegal constructions and demolish them. Blaming opposition Congress and Telugu Desam party for the present crisis, Rao alleged that those parties, when in power, allowed illegal constructions on drainages. He the government would soon prepare a report on the loss or damage caused due to rains, to Centre and seek financial help. According to him, Hyderabad city received rainfall of 462 mm so far against the average of 84 mm. "The city received 448 per cent higher rainfall. It is the highest after 1908. The length of the roads in the city is 9,000 km. We received reports that only ten per cent of it got damaged due to continuous rains. Once these rains stops, we will allot Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore to GHMC for taking up roads," KCR said. He said there were no casualties in the city due to the rains and also advised media not to create panic among people with "exaggerated and excessive" reporting of rains. PTI GDK NP AJR BAS --- ENDS --- After a somewhat peaceful weekend, gunfire rings out on Sunday and threatens a local neighborhood with another killing in broad daylight.Here are the best reports with suspect and vehicle description . . .Again, this is the 85th murder so far compared to 75 at this time last year and still what some report as a. . . The Citizens Anti-Violence Commission is slated to release their initial findings on the local murder trend this month after one of the bloodiest years in recent local history.Developing . . . Four Greek artists will exhibit their work at the Belgravia gallery in Mayfair in London Four Greek artists will exhibit their work at the Belgravia gallery in Mayfair in London, a place that has hosted other Greek artists in the recent past. Specifically, last year Harikleia Papapostolou had a solo exhibition at Belgravia, while earlier Maria Filopoulou had presented her work there. The exhibition will run from October 3 until October 31, but the official opening will be on October 5. Eva Apostolatou, Katia Varvaki, Leda Kontogiannopoulou and Vicky Stamatopoulou, will present a series of paintings. The four artists work in a wide range of performing arts. Vicky Stamatopoulou paints landscapes with trees and quiet colors. Katia Varvaki does landscapes too, but this time the colors are magical and bright. The works of Leda Kontogiannopoulou are still lives mixed with objects and maps. Eva Apostolatou paints landscapes with emphasis on the sea horizon. The curator of the exhibition is George Stathopoulos, a well-known art collector who has coordinated the Poseidon project at George Washington University in Washington D.C. I believe that these four Greek female artists will offer something different and exciting to the art lovers of London. They will present an interesting picture of Greek art and artistic trends that exist in todays Greece, he said. 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 Cretan Police have arrested a man, his wife and their minor son, calling the operation the biggest and most important drug trafficking arrest in recent years Cretan Police have arrested a man, his wife and their minor son, calling the operation the biggest and most important drug trafficking arrest in recent years on the island. The 42-year-old man, with the collaboration of his 37-year-old wife and their minor son, has been considered by police the biggest cocaine dealer in Crete, moving huge quantities of the drug in the past few years. The Narcotics Department of Heraklion Police and the Organized Crime Group of the Hellenic Police started an operation five months ago and spent thousands of work hours to close in on the cocaine racket, according to Crete Police. The 42-year-old was a farmer, but in the last 10-15 years his neighbors had noticed that he started living a rich and luxurious life. Twelve years ago he was arrested in Italy carrying a kilogram of cocaine. In 2012 the Heraklion Narcotics Department arrested him with 100 grams of cocaine in his possession. Policemen watching the family activities noticed that the mans son was often carrying cardboard boxes of cans and potato chips. They believe that the underage son had an active role in moving the drugs. Policemen also had to dig for more than eight hours in his farmland to find 3 kilograms and 224 grams of cocaine that were buried very deep. According to Crete Police, the 42-year-old man was ready to emigrate to the Netherlands, from where he was getting the cocaine he was then selling in Greece. Police officers refused to give details about the mans underage son, but said they arrested him at the Heraklion airport where he drove to pick up his father without having a drivers license. Police also arrested the 79-year-old father of the drug dealer for firearm possession without a permit. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report The Dalai Lama nailed it when he mimicked Trump's weird poof of hair with his hand and shriveled his lips to resemble Trump's tiny mouth. By India Today Web Desk: The spiritual leader made headlines this week after his hilarious impersonation of Donald Trump, during an interview with the Good Morning Britain host and CNN anchor Piers Morgan, went viral. His holiness might be poised and calm almost all the time, but the world also knows about his amazing sense of humour. His impersonation of the Republican Presidential candidate proves this fact. advertisement During an interview with Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, the Dalai Lama made fun of Trump's weird hair and his "small" mouth. His holiness placed his hand over his head and mocked Trump's hair and then made a gesture to his mouth, saying "his mouth...small" and that he 'chatters' too much. We have to say, we're pretty impressed by the @dalailama's impression of Donald Trump!@PiersMorgan pic.twitter.com/LAot1UP1XY Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 22, 2016 Despite the Trump mockery, however, the Dalai Lama said he 'would go' to a meeting with the Republican nominee if invited. --- ENDS --- Leading suppliers and procurement specialists from the residential and commercial segments of the Middle East will be in Doha, Qatar, for the inaugural edition of Rescom Summit-Middle East which opens on Tuesday (September 27). The three-day event is likely to draw more than 300 global experts, said the event organiser IDE, a global procurement consulting firm. Suppliers at the summit meet the demands of the upcoming real estate projects of the region. This is our USP as we offer a one stop shop where supply meets demand, remarked Ganesh Babu, the IDE director (India & Middle East). Rescom Summit - Middle East will see major participations from companies from over 27 countries including Eagle Hills, Al Tayer Real Estate, Al Mashariq, Asyad Qatar, Diwan Al Emara, Gemini Property Developers, Health Planners and Design Managers (HDP) Overseas, Cayan Group, Meraas Holding, Orascom Hotel Management, Aces Holding besides the suppliers like Kumkang Kind from South Korea, Vado from UK, Godrej & Boyce from UAE, Aydinlik Lighting from Turkey, Credo Trading from Qatar. Babu pointed out that the Middle Easts changing real estate and construction market dynamics and the volatile world in which the industry functions require constant information updates and relearning. Seasoned real estate professionals will introduce complex yet innovative ideas that would help the participants in the summit to gain a competitive advantage, he noted. According to him, the summit will bring into focus latest developments and challenges in the constructional, architectural, interior design, engineering and technology segments of the real estate industry in the Gulf and the wider Middle East. "It is a matter of great pride that the event is part of Rescom Summit series. Qatar Airways has signed up as our official airline partner and Colliers International is the knowledge partner. Our association partner is AIA Middle East, sustainability partner is Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) while the leadership partner is Forbes Middle East," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Global brand consultancy Industry has appointed Abdullah J Wallace as the strategic advisor for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, based in Bahrain. Prior to this, Wallace was an advisor to the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) and started The Bahrain Banker, a quarterly publication promoting the kingdom as a regional banking centre. He has over 45 years of experience in publishing and consulting industry throughout the Middle East, specialising in economic development, business, banking and Sharia-compliant finance, said a statement from the London-headquartered company. Wallace was publisher and editor-in-chief of Meed magazine and a major shareholder until he sold the group to pursue other interests. He also worked as the Middle East editor for BBC TV news and Middle East and Europe editor for United Press International (UPI). Under the Meed banner, Wallace organised and ran the Gulfs first international banking conference, which was held in Bahrain in the early 1970s, said the statement from Industry. His most recent book, A Guide to Islamic Banking & Finance, is generally regarded as a must read for all those interested in this complex subject, it added. Welcoming the appointment, Robert F Johnson, the director of Mena at Industry, said: "This reflects our continued commitment to building a strong and highly experienced international team." With regional offices in the Middle East and Australia and partner offices in New York and Singapore, the consutancy brand boasts deep expertise in running global brand transformation programmes for financial and professional services, property, government and industrial clients. On his new role, Wallace said: "I am delighted to have joined Industry which brings a robust and strategic focus to the branding process." "I am excited at the opportunity to work with such a dynamic international team who are quickly developing a strong reputation in the region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service 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. 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. Reuters A fire broke out on an oil tanker of Mexican state oil company Pemex in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, forcing all the crew to be evacuated in the latest accident to plague the struggling firm. The blaze on the tanker "Burgos" occurred off the coast of Boca del Rio in Veracruz state and all the crew were safe, Pemex said in a tweet. Mexico's Navy said there were 31 crew members and that all had returned to port. Images tweeted by Pemex showed the vessel giving off plumes of smoke as another boat hosed the tanker. Early on Saturday evening, Pemex said that firefighting teams were still working to put out the blaze. The tanker was carrying diesel and Magna gasoline and it was not clear what caused the fire, Pemex noted. The fire follows a series of other mishaps at Pemex, which is coping with major losses, increased competition at home, sharp budget cuts and lower revenue due to the oil price rout. In April, more than 30 people died and dozens were injured in an explosion at a petrochemical plant in southeast Veracruz state, a joint venture between Pemex and another firm. In 2013, at least 37 people were killed by a blast at Pemex's Mexico City headquarters, and 26 people died in a fire at a Pemex natural gas facility in northern Mexico in 2012. A 2015 fire at a Pemex platform in the Bay of Campeche affected oil output and cost the company up to $780 million. Marine Traffic, a website that tracks vessel movements, showed the 11-year-old tanker en route to the port of Veracruz from Coatzacoalcos in the southern part of the state. Reuters Iraq's North Oil Company extinguished a well fire at the Bai Hassan field near the northern city of Kirkuk which had been raging for more than six weeks, the oil ministry said. The August 10 bombing of Well 34 by Islamic State was one of a string of attacks on oil installations in the area, which is controlled by Kurdish peshmerga forces, since the ultra-hardline jihadists overran a third of Iraqi territory in 2014. The group has been pushed back off half that territory in the past two years with the help of air strikes from a US-led coalition. -- Reuters 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 Close to 1 million visitors from Saudi Arabia entered the UAE last year, a report said citing Saudi Arabia ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Bishr. According to Al Bishr, such visits were prompted by the social relations, common traditions and customs between the two peoples, as well as services and safety provided by the host, whether in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, WAM report. 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". By Indo-Asian News Service: The New York Times 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. advertisement 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: NYT 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. ALSO READ: Donald Trump does it again! Hints at Hillary Clinton's assassination --- ENDS --- United Kingdom did not "vote to turn inwards," United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May told the United Nations as it backed Brexit, according to BBC. Mrs. May said in her statement that they must never forget that they stand in the United Nations as servants of men and women that they represent back in UK. In line with this, the Prime Minister announced to the public that United Kingdom will help combat the al- Shabaabjihadists in Somalia and hundreds of their British troops will be sent and added that Britain played a leading role in this matter. Mrs. May also mentioned that a new United Kingdom headquarters is bound to set up in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. 30 training teams, involving 70 troops at a time will be sent to help combat the al- Shabaab jihadists. The government also planned about providing a 7 million fund which will be used solely to improve the skills of the Somali and African Union mission in Amisom forces. She also said that globalization has affected them. She stated, "And as we do so we must recognize that for too many of those men and women the increasing pace of globalization has left them feeling behind." The Prime Minister also mentioned that global institutions such as the United Nations must remain responsive to the people that they serve and show that they are capable of adapting to the demands of the 21st Century. She said that as an international community, it is very vigorous that they continue supporting countries in the region for contributing thousands of troops, and continue building and improving the capacity of the Somali security forces. "Since 2010, with huge support from across the region, and critically the commitment of Somalis themselves, al-Shabaab has been driven from all the major cities it used to control," Mrs. May added. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 A lawyer from Padua in Northern Italy named Giorgio Destro expressed his great dismay over his nine hour flight via Emirates Airlines. The reason for his disappointment was being seated next to an overweight man whom he accused of taking much of his seat space. Destro, who was a former Italian Consulate in South Africa, claimed to have told the plane attendants that he wanted to change seats which cost him 759. 51. However, the UAE airline advised him that all the seats for the particular flight were already taken, as reported by Independent News. Apparently, to add insult to the injury, Daily Mail shares that the airlines' staff offered no apology or empathy. The lawyer from Italy took his thoughts to social media and even posted a selfie sitting next to the overweight man as proof of his inconvenience. In the photo, Destro is seen distraught about how he could get through the whole fight, while the man next to him lounges with one arm taking up extra space from his co-passenger's seat. From Cape Town to Dubai, Destro tells the news site, he kept on trying new ways to make himself feel better despite the situation. He apparently told Mattino Padova that he tried standing on the plane aisle, sitting on the seats for cabin crew when they weren't around, and just resolve to staying in his original 'annoying' seat situation as the flight was about to end. Aside from refunding his ticket fee, Destro is asking for more compensation about the problem he experienced, Destro is asking for 2,759.51 pounds, and an additional 2,000 euro in damages. As of the moment, An Emirates spokesperson communicated with MailOnline that the company has made no release of statement regarding the issue as he said the matter was on a legal platform. However, the case hearing on October 20th will address the issue of how to arrange terms with overweight airline passengers. The hearing will be held in Padua. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 By PTI: New York, Sep 25 (PTI) Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, a day before the much-anticipated first presidential debate of the 2016 general election, and told him that Israel is a "vital" partner in war against radical Islamic terrorism. During the meeting, at the Trump Towers here, the two discussed the "special relationship" and the "unbreakable bond" between their countries, Trumps campaign said. advertisement The topics of military assistance, security and regional stability were addressed, it said and added that the US under a Trump administration will accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognise Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. "Trump said that under a Trump administration, there will be extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries. Trump recognised Israel as a vital partner of the US in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism," it said in a statement. Trump agreed that the military assistance provided to Israel and missile defence cooperation with Israel are an excellent investment for America. According to the campaign, the two leaders discussed at length the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Ialamic State group and many other regional security concerns. "Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed at length Israels successful experience with a security fence that helped secure its borders," it said. The two leaders also discussed Israels burgeoning hi-tech and biotech economy and how it has made stunning advances improving and saving lives around the world. In particular, Trump noted Israels emergence as a world leader in cyber defence and security and its cooperation with the United States in this regard. Recognising that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long due to Islamic terrorism, Trump agreed with Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbours, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish state, the campaign said. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for more than 3,000 years. Netanyahu is also expected to meet Trumps Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region. PTI LKJ ABH --- ENDS --- Im your black-Jewish-Irish-Catholic-Jehovahs Witness dean! a smiling Aaron Dworkin told an audience of incoming freshmen at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The kids laughed and clapped. The orientation session last September was a transitional moment for Dworkin, too. The U-M music grad (bachelors 1997, masters 1998) had been in the schools top job less than two months. Im a little nervous, like you guys, he told them. Dworkin, forty-five, had no background in academic administration. Until returning to Michigan, hed spent his entire professional career at the Sphinx Organization, the Detroit-based nonprofit he founded while still a student in 1996. At Sphinx, he had ten full-time employees and a $4.4 million budget. As music school dean, he oversees 150 permanent faculty, 101 staff, and a budget of $49 million. Nationally respected in the world of classical music, Sphinx is best known for its annual Sphinx Competition, which offers large cash awards and performance opportunities to young minority musicians. Started in Dworkins home and now based in the Renaissance Center (courtesy of General Motors), Sphinx hosts two in-house orchestras, offers a summer academy, and provides some free violin instruction to urban elementary schools. A survey showed that in a recent ten-year period, every African American hired at a top-tier U.S. symphony had some Sphinx connection. Dworkins spacious North Campus office holds not a single book or, as far, as I can tell, a sheet of paper. A laptop rests on a handsome desk behind the small conference table where we are seated. Tall, with narrow glasses, Dworkin creates a California effect. His short-sleeved blue shirt and tan pants are natural fabric; he sports an ear stud and a necklace composed of narrow silver bars. (In more formal settings, he favors silky, dark suits, but no ties.) A couple of people told me meetings with him are typically brief and extremely focused, and hes squeezed me into a summer schedule that includes several weeks in London and Paris with his family, but he appears unhurried. Dworkins chic is matched by an easy, flowing enthusiasm. As a U-M violin student, he caught the attention of dean Paul Boylan, who encouraged him in launching what became Sphinx. Learning that James Wolfensohn, then president of the World Bank, was an amateur cellist, Dworkin wrote to ask for a donation; Wolfensohn responded with a check for $10,000. When he opened the envelope, Dworkin writes in his 2011 autobiography, Uncommon Rhythm, I started crying. That donation was soon followed by others, including $40,000 from the U-M presidents office. By 1998, Dworkin and his then-wifein the book, he gives her the pseudonym Sherriehad cobbled together enough funds to launch the first Sphinx competition. Dworkin swiftly built Sphinxs reputation, lining up support from famous musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, and soon was giving interviews to national media. Framed newspaper and magazine articles about him adorn his offices waiting room. In 2005, he was awarded a $500,000 genius grant from the MacArthur Foundation. (Though he and Sherrie had divorced by then, he gave her 10 percent of the award.) The year after that, Newsweek named him one of fifteen people who make America great. The force of his personality and passion made the organization stand out on a national level, says Dworkins friend Rick Sperling, who runs the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. He has lived the experience he is promotingclassical music has had such an incredible impact on his life. While opinions vary on why blacks and Latinos have been slow to break into the top ranks of classical music, Dworkin insists the largest single factor is that orchestras have not treated diversity and inclusion as a priority. He says that while every major corporation has a diversity officer, there isnt a single orchestra that has one. With a slight smile, the dean recalls how, when he used to lecture people representing orchestras or universities about the importance of diversity in music, they would respond, Easy for you to say! Now hes in their position himself: I am at the big institution! With 15 percent underrepresented minorities, SMTDs student body is already diverse. To keep it that way, Dworkin has hired its first diversity inclusion officer, lawyer Freyja Harris. Dworkin is a rock star among deans at the U-M campus, says University Musical Society president Ken Fischer, a Sphinx board member. Former dean Christopher Kendall built SMTDs strength in chamber music. Dworkin shone a spotlight on it by creating a chamber music competition called M-Prize with an unheard-of $100,000 top award. M-Prize drew 172 entries and caught the attention of the New York Times. Twenty-nine groups came to Ann Arbor this past May for the competitions two-day finale, and a fifteen-member panel crowned the Calidore String Quartet the winner. The up-and-coming group from New York returns for a UMS concert in February. Though U-Ms music school is well respected, its not at the same level as Juilliard, Oberlin, or the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. But Dworkin says that his ambition is to make it the most relevant school of the performing arts in the world. No one measures universities relevance, but the implication is that the SMTD will become hotter now that he waves the directors baton. For Dworkin, relevance also means preparing music students for jobs other than professional symphony musician or music professor. Snaring a full-time symphony job was never easy, but in these days of shrinking funding and dwindling audiences, Dworkin says, only one-half of 1 percent of music grads can expect to land one. With this in mind, he launched a program called EXCEL (Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Career Empowerment & Leadership) to teach students management skills, fundraising techniques, and grant writing. The schools magazine recently celebrated grad student and flutist Ashley Stanley, who got seed money from the school to commission six composers to write music inspired by the state of Michigan. EXCEL has completely changed the culture of the school! she told the magazine. Dworkin displays a stylishly disassembled violin in a frame on his office wall. At last years orientation, he told the students the the violin has been the one constant in my life. In his memoir, he recalls how, as a young boy, he listened to his adoptive mother play the instrument and yearned to be able to speak in the voice of the violin. Dworkins diverse persona began with his birth in New York City in 1970. His unmarried parentsshe Irish Catholic, he an African American Jehovahs Witnessgave him up for adoption soon afterward. His adoptive parents were a Jewish couple, both neuroscientists. Though they were glad to pay for his violin lessons, his memoir describes them as lacking emotional warmth and sometimes using severe punishments. When he stole Ding Dongs from a newsstand, his father beat him with a beltdrawing on his scientific training to inflict maximum pain. Asked about that incident now, Dworkin remarks that corporal punishment was pretty routine in the early Seventies. He and his parents were estranged for many years, but in the book, he relates how the couple eventually reached out, and they had a wonderful reconciliation. Still, he says, his feelings about them remain complex. When Dworkin was ten, the family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania. Usually the only black child in his classeskids teased him by grabbing his Afrohe won respect for his musical talent, becoming concertmaster of a regional youth orchestra. Still, he was much happier when his parents let him transfer to the Interlochen Arts Academy in northern Michigan. There werent many black kids there, either, but he loved his classes and made close friends through their mutual love of the arts. The years after high school were tough. He and Sherrie, who is white, became a couple at Penn State. Her parents were so upset that they stopped paying her tuition. They would eventually accept Dworkin, but in the meantime his parents, unhappy with his grades, cut him off, too. Struggling financially, the couple moved to Lansing, then to Ann Arbor. They returned to school at U-M in 1996, married soon after, and had a son, Noah, in 1999. But even as Sphinx grew and their professional lives stabilized, Dworkin writes, years of stress took their toll on the relationship. They separated when Noah was a toddler, and subsequently divorced. At about the same time, Dworkin reconnected with his biological parents. They had an emotional reunion and have stayed close. In 2005, Dworkin married Afa Sadykhly. Born in Moscow, and raised in Azerbaijan by a Muslim mother and a Jewish father, she, too, is a Michigan-trained violinist. Theyd known each other as students, and she was Sphinxs first paid employee. The groups executive and artistic director when he stepped down last year, she succeeded him as president. They have a son, Amani, and recently moved from Ann Arbor Township to a condo in downtown Ann Arbor. Dworkins complex personal and professional history might seem like the material for an epic identity crisis, but he emerged from it with an infectious confidenceboth in himself and in the transforming power of the arts. Dworkin says he was definitely not looking to go anywhere when Michigan approached himI had said no a number of times to multiple institutions. But he felt a deep affinity for the universityand also a need for me to have an impact in higher education. Deans are appointed for five-year termsoften renewed onceand Dworkin has acknowledged feeling some urgency to make his mark. Kendall, his predecessor rebuilt the schools physical plant; Dworkin wants to build its financial strength. He hopes to find an angel with a love of the performing artsand pockets deep enough to justify renaming the school in his or her honor. Such a naming gift, Dworkin says, could really transform the financial support were able to provide for our students. Former dean Paul Boylan believes there is a pretty high chance Dworkin will find that angel, describing him as a fantastic fundraiser. Dworkin also is committed to shaking up music education, which, one U-M faculty member says, was designed to produce students that can reproduce/re-create from the western European, classical model. The faculty member, who asked not to be named, says he supports the deans visionbut not all his colleagues do. Dworkin acknowledges getting some pushback on his initiatives. Thats to be expected, he says, given peoples natural aversion to change. But he believes he was hired to breathe fresh air into the school, and hes determined to do so. Its not a matter of me getting used to Michigan, he says calmly. Its a matter of Michigan getting used to me. Pregnant Dalit woman and husband beaten up by six men from an upper caste community in Gujarat for refusing to remove cow carcass. A pregnant Dalit woman and her husband were assaulted in Gujarat's Banaskantha. (Photo for representational purpose) By India Today Web Desk: With the flogging of Dalit youths in Una still fresh in people's minds, a pregnant Dalit woman and her husband were allegedly assaulted by people belonging to an upper caste community in Gujarat's Banaskantha district. All the six accused have been arrested, the police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night when the accused barged into Nileshbhai Dhunabhai Ranavasia's house after he refused to dispose of the carcass of a cow from the fields. advertisement THE INCIDENT AS IT HAPPENED On Friday night, the accused, who belong to a dominant upper caste community in Mota Karja village, asked Ranavasia to go to the fields and remove the carcass of the cow. He refused, and said he would take up the work the next morning. At this, the six men barged into his house and thrashed him and his pregnant wife Sangitaben. ALSO READ: Una Dalit flogging: CID says cops turned skinning of dead cow into case of 'beef being found' "They abused me and thrashed me before entering my house and beating my pregnant wife on the abdomen with sticks," Ranavasia alleged in the complaint. The accused also hurled casteist remarks at them. Ranavasia alleged that the men also threatened to kill his wife if he doesn't go the farm immediately and remove the carcass. SWIFT ACTION "The moment we came to know of the incident, we got into action, and arrested all the accused persons. We are questioning them," Amirgath Police Sub-Inpector K.Y. Vyas said. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Deesa, immediately took over the investigation "and within a few hours nabbed all the persons named by the complainant", District Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar said. All the arrested accused belong to one family and have been identified as Batwarsinh Chauhan, Maknusinh Chauhan, Yogisinh Chauhan, Babarsinh Chauhan, Dilgarsinh Chauhan and Narendrasinh Chauhan. Sections of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have also been invoked in the case. ALSO READ: MP: Dalit man forced to cremate wife outside his home while Parliament debates Dalit atrocities (with inputs from IANS) --- ENDS --- Uran terror scare in Maharashtra deems fit as an example of how rumours and false information can spread panic in the country. By Saurabh Vaktania: While the police are still on the lookout for the suspects in the Uran terror scare in Maharashtra, the incident once again shows how rumours and false information can spread panic in the country. RUMOUR MILLS ON AN OVERDRIVE Besides dealing with numerous cases of crime, law and order, the Mumbai police is now dealing with endless calls from anxious people 'informing' them of possible terror plots everyday. Rumours on terror attacks on messenger services such as WhatsApp have added to the police's headache, with some claiming to providing specific details. For instance, a message doing the round on WhatsApp says that several terrorists have entered Mumbai and are planning to strike places of importance in south Mumbai. advertisement TOO MANY FALSE ALARMS Two days after two school children in Uran reported sighting armed Pathani-suit clad men, three men were detained by the police on Saturday in Navi Mumbai on the grounds of suspicion. On questioning, the police found that all three of them work for a local businessman and belong to Kashmir. Further, two of the men had family members working with the Jammu and Kashmir police. Earlier on Friday, Mumbai Police got a tip-off that suspected terrorists, seen in Uran, were hiding inside a building in Sewri. The Mumbai Police along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)carried out a massive two-hour search operation at the building, but found nothing. YOUR CITY IS SAFE, SAY POLICE Mumbai Police is trying to calm people down and assure them that their city is "safe". "I want to assure Mumbaikars that their city is safe. We are taking all necessary precautions. Check points have been put up at several places. There is no need to panic and don't believe in rumours," a senior IPS officer made an impassioned plea today. Police in Navi Mumbai, meanwhile, has issued a notice stating the search operation is still on. "In the Uran case, the search operation will continue till anything specific is found. Anyone with any information should immediately inform the police." --- ENDS --- Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 25 Thousands of passengers were inconvenienced as many trains on AmritsarDelhi and AmritsarJammu route were delayed after members of the protesting Kisan Sangarsh Committee blocked railway tracks near the railway station in the city today. As farmers protest entered seventh day today they shifted to rail lines to block movement of trains. Earlier, they were holding protest against the government outside the office of Deputy Commissioner. The police also thwarted their earlier attempt to shift their agitation outside the residence of Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia at the posh Green Avenue area. Till the filing of this report the blockade of railway lines continued. A heavy posse of policemen has been deployed around protesting farmers. Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam, officials of the district administration and Amritsar Police Commissionerate visited the spot to engage farmer leaders into dialogue, but it did not give desired results. Meanwhile, the railway administration after finding the agitation lasting for longer hours diverted all trains via Tarn Taran. Trains like Amritsar-Chandigarh Superfast, Jabalpur Express, Chhattisgarh, Howrah Mail, Howrah Duplicate and many others went out of Amritsar via Tarn Taran. Trains arriving from Delhi-Amritsar route, which terminated and resumed their journey at Manawala, include Shatabdi, Swarn Shatabdi and Shan-E-Punjab. A passenger, Rajbir Singh, said he came from Delhi on Shatabdi. He said like all other passengers he alighted at Manawala railway station. Many of them had to walk to reach the GT road to get another transport like local buses and autos in the hot and humid afternoon to reach Amritsar, he added. He said there were not enough rickshaws or other transport to drop passengers in the city, which is about 10 km from Manawala, a small station. Meanwhile, farmer leaders gave fiery speeches against the SAD-BJP government at the protest site. Several attempts by the district administration to convince them to lift agitation failed. The Kisan Sangarsh Committee president, Satnam Singh Pannu, said their demands include waiving off loan of farmers, 10 marla plots to landless farm labourers, Rs 10 lakh to the family of the farmer, who commits suicide. He said the economic condition of farmers in the state was deplorable. Seventy per cent of farmers owned less than five acres, he added. He said these farmers were under Rs 69,000 crore debt. Of this, Rs 54,000 crore was sourced from financial institutions. He criticised the ruling SAD-BJP combine for its failure to take stock of deteriorating economic condition of farmers. He said the BJP had failed to implement the MS Swaminathan report, which it had promised in its manifesto. Another farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said although Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal always fancied projecting himself as a champion of farming community, he had not attempted to prevail upon the Saffron party to fulfil its poll promises. WASHINGTON, September 23 Yahoo on Friday faced pointed questions about exactly when it knew about a cyber attack that exposed the email credentials of 500 million users, a critical issue for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover by Verizon Inc. The internet company has so far not provided a clear, detailed timeline about when it was made aware of the breach announced on Thursday. Yahoo blamed the incident on a "state-sponsored actor" but has not provided any technical information supporting that claim. "We don't know a lot. We don't know how the bad guys broke in. We don't know when Yahoo first found out," said Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy for SentinelOne and a former information security officer at Yahoo. In a September 9 regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Yahoo stated it did not have knowledge of "any incidents of, or third party claims alleging ... unauthorised access" of personal data of its customers that could have a material adverse effect on Verizon's acquisition. Verizon, which said Thursday it learned of the breach within the past two days, agreed in July to pay $4.83 billion for Yahoo's core business. If the hacking prompts customers to leave Yahoo, the company may see its value erode. Yahoo was sued Friday in a California federal court by a user who accused it of gross negligence in its handling of the massive hacking. The suit, filed on behalf of all Yahoo users in the United States who had their personal information compromised, sought class-action status and unspecified damages. Some lawmakers swiftly called for close scrutiny of what the company knew and when. "As law enforcement and regulators examine this incident, they should investigate whether Yahoo may have concealed its knowledge of this breach in order to artificially bolster its valuation in its pending acquisition by Verizon," Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic senator from Connecticut, said. Verizon declined to comment on how the breach might affect the deal. Sources familiar with the transaction say Verizon and its advisers are still examining the situation before determining what actions if any might be taken. The Financial Times reported Thursday that embattled Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer knew of the breach in July, citing a person briefed on the matter. The FT article did not specify if Mayer was aware of the hack announced Thursday or of a separate incident, in which a hacker calling himself Peace took to the dark web this summer to claim he was selling hundreds of millions of Yahoo credentials. "Yahoo has never had reason to believe there is any connection between the security issue disclosed yesterday and the claims publicised by a hacker in August 2016. Conflating the two events is inaccurate," said a Yahoo spokesperson who declined to be identified by name, adding that Yahoo's investigation was still ongoing. Sources familiar with the Yahoo investigation said that the company learned of the theft of data which included encrypted passwords, names and emails but not banking information only after probing the claims made by Peace, which Yahoo determined were meritless. Joseph Cox, a reporter with the technology news site Motherboard, said he emailed Yahoo on July 30 to ask if the company was aware that Peace was attempting to sell Yahoo data. Motherboard published a story on August 1 stating Yahoo was "aware" of the hacker's claims. Reuters MK Bhadrakumar FOLLOWING the Uri terrorist attack, attention has turned to India-Pakistan tensions, with the government mulling over options. The government hopes to mobilise the international community to pile pressure on Pakistan and isolate it as a state sponsoring terrorism. In reality, though, the crisis in J&K has only become more complicated. The diplomatic bid to pressure Pakistan depends crucially on an improvement in the ground situation in J&K. But the upheaval shows no sign of abating. Even if the security forces manage to establish some degree of dominance, how durable it would be depends on the governments success in opening a political track. However, getting a credible Kashmiri interlocutor to talk to the Modi government in the current circumstances is easier said than done. Meanwhile, investigating agencies are yet to gather conclusive evidence of the Pakistani hand behind the Uri attack and the government has admitted that like in the case of the Pathankot attack, there have been serious security lapses. These factors, no doubt, hamper our diplomats ability to present a compelling case to the world community. None of the major world powers has finger-pointed at Pakistan. On the contrary, they continue to engage Pakistan. Last week alone in New York, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif has had friendly exchanges with his Chinese counterpart, presidents of Turkey and Iran, US Secretary of State, among others. Russia and Pakistan are, at present, conducting their first-ever military exercise since 1947. Sharif handed over a dossier to the UN Secretary General containing details of alleged Indian atrocities in Kashmir and demanded that the world body should depute a fact-finding mission to J&K. He spoke of Pakistans intention to begin sounding out the Security Council members. The situation in the Valley has already figured in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Evidently, Pakistan is not facing the cold blast of isolation and is in diplomatic offensive. India faced a somewhat similar situation in the early nineties when Pakistan instigated the insurgency in J&K, accused our security forces of committing atrocities and attempted to put India in the dock internationally. But the main difference today is that the unrest in J&K is not in the nature of a Pakistan-sponsored insurgency but takes the form of an indigenous uprising, somewhere between civil disobedience and an Intifada, attributable almost entirely to the present governments failings to push forward a genuine reconciliation process although the ruling party is in power in Srinagar and Delhi. The Indian diplomacy will be hard-pressed to brand the upheaval as a manifestation of cross-border terrorism. Our diplomats can say, at best, that Pakistan is fuelling the anger in the Valley. The western press coverage of developments underscores that there arent many takers for the thesis that what India faces in J&K is terrorism. Indian diplomacy finds itself on the back foot. In the early nineties, India actually found it to its advantage to allow fact-finding missions by western diplomats based in Delhi to visit J&K and witness that an insurgency with Pakistani backing was challenging the Indian State and threatening our countrys democratic foundations. Today, the government simply cannot countenance exploring any such ingenuous ideas to cultivate international opinion. Alas, the use of so-called pellet guns turns out to be the proverbial albatross around Indias neck, bringing disrepute to rule of law, which will haunt our countrys image internationally. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has bluntly pointed out that an impression has arisen already that India has something serious to hide. All we could say in response was that Pakistan too has skeletons in its cupboard in Balochistan or elsewhere. Such infantile argument doesnt wash. The government could have followed up the visit by the all-party delegation to Srinagar by nominating a team of parliamentarians to start political dialogue. If only such a political track were working today, diplomacy would have been far more credible. The New York Times quoted the prominent figure in the US strategic community, Ashley Tellis, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as estimating that nothing short of restoring Article 370 of the Constitution in letter and spirit to its original intent will help matters in todays circumstances, but then, the RSS cannot be expected to approve any such bold policy on Kashmir. Tellis is an influential voice as an India hand and his opinion would be a fair reflection of establishment thinking. In fact, the US readout of the meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and Sharif in New York last Monday contains their consensus opinion regarding Kashmir: The Prime Minister and Secretary Kerry expressed strong concern with recent violence in Kashmir particularly the (Uri) army base attack and the need for all sides to reduce tensions. Clearly, Washington links the Uri incident to the upheaval in the Valley and advises Delhi to engage Islamabad in an effort to restore normalcy in J&K. This is consistent with a series of recent statements by the US state department spokesman distancing the Obama administration from the Modi governments claims as regards the situation in the Valley and India-Pakistan tensions. Therefore, the governments decision to launch a diplomatic offensive to isolate Pakistan can be seen as diversionary tactic, which is unlikely to be productive. The government rhetoric of having phenomenally transformed India-US relationship stands exposed. It was sheer sophistry to have created silly notions over Modis excessive foreign tours. Diplomacy is not grandstanding; it is a long, patient grind. Pakistan was indeed rather isolated in the international opinion in the decade of UPA rule. But effective diplomacy today is hampered because the peace in J&K has steadily dissipated during the past two-year period due to lack of leadership in Delhi to consolidate our gains. This brings the focus back on Kashmir problem, which Pakistan highlights is the root cause of terrorism in India. Simply put, Pakistan seized the high ground. Indeed, Pakistan will keep the Kashmir pot boiling until the Modi government is frogmarched by the international community to the negotiating table. On the other hand, it is hard to see the RSS allowing Modi to drink from such a chalice of poison Kashmir talks under duress which would make the laughingstock of Sangh Parivars rhetoric of Akhant Bharat. Meanwhile, the governments core constituency is clamouring for a robust response consistent with the self-cultivated image of the RSS and Modi being Pakistans nemesis. There is danger that buffeted by cross-currents, India may skid into war with Pakistan. The writer is a former ambassador (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Vikram Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, September 25 While inhabitants of the violence-plagued state of Jammu and Kashmir are anxiously waiting for the nationalist BJP to devise a comprehensive strategy during its national council meet in Kerala to deal with anti-national elements in the Valley, a majority of saffron party leaders have found enough time to visit beaches and enjoy scenic beauty of the state. A Facebook picture post uploaded by senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi, who is the husband of a BJP minister in Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government, flashed pictures of BJP leaders posing for a photo-shoot at a scenic beach in Kerala. Facebook, which is presently the most used social media, is a household commodity these days which quickly exchanges news and views posted by people to larger domain, making its outreach quite broad. Sethis post of BJP leaders enjoying a day off on a Kerala beach having taken a sensitive Kashmir mission to the national executive meet for a solution has exposed the partys seriousness towards its governance in the state. Over 85 youths have been killed in the Kashmir unrest so far, with no inclusive solution produced by the state or Centre to defuse the turmoil. The BJP cadre, including its ministers in the coalition, have already shown their incompetence. Also, the gruesome attack by terrorists at the Uri Army camp, that left 18 soldiers dead, seems not to have deterred the saffron leaders love for photo-shoot session, which they have posted with broad smiles on all their faces, said one social site user. The leaders in the Facebook post include big political names like MP Shamsher Singh, PHE Minister Sham Chaudhary and general secretaries Narinder Singh and Sethi. The photo post is gathering abhorring views from Facebook users, who term it as complete surrender of the state BJP to its own incompetence and demand their ouster from governance. How can such a political bunch of ministers and MPs enjoy picnic on beaches when the youth are bleeding on the streets and terrorists are trying all means to intrude into the state to break it down? They have turned out to be the most disgusting lot of leaders that Jammu ever had, said Satish Kumar, a Facebook user. Srinagar, September 25 Markets across Kashmir opened on Sunday and there was heavy rush of customers thronging shops as curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir. Shops and business establishments which had remained closed for 79 days due to separatist call for shut down opened today after 2 pm. There was heavy rush of customers thronging shops as markets opened. Traffic jams were witnessed in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk here and in adjoining areas of the city while other district towns also witnessed movement of large number of vehicles. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The separatist groups have announced a 16-hour relaxation in the shutdown till 6 am tomorrow. A police spokesman said the situation across the Valley remained normal and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the Valley. "The entire Kashmir Valley is curfew-free today but restrictions are in place in many parts as a precautionary measure," the official said. However, miscreants attempted to create disturbances in Anantnag and Sopore, he said. At Sopore chowk and KP road in Anantnag, miscreants in their attempt to create disturbances pelted stones on shopkeepers when they were opening their shops today, the spokesman said. Police and security force deployments immediately reached the spots and chased away miscreants and defused the situation, he said. Police, during past 24 hours, arrested 39 more miscreants who were wanted in the offences of harassing shopkeepers, creating disruptions in traffic movement by stone pelting and by placing obstructions on roads and lanes, he added. He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation yesterday. The ongoing unrest started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. PTI 'Pakistan has terrorists to do what their army would want. In this situation especially we will not take a chance,' said a jawan. By Jugal R Purohit: As the single lane road took us farther from the Kashmir of bandh calls and beyond the reach of those pelting stones, a new scenario emerged. Congested, built-up areas vanished, sparsely populated villages and majestic mountains appeared. Small shops were open, transacting as they usually would. Uniformed men walked purposefully - a far cry from when they'd simply park themselves in a locality through the day in order to quell violence. The road was abuzz with the hum of army and BSF trucks, taking men and material to and out of what India calls the Line of Control (LoC).\ advertisement READ: How to punish Pakistan when a war is ruled out Ask a trooper if there is the shadow of conflict and the reply, in all likelihood, will be in the affirmative. Havildar Sanjay Singh (name changed) goes a step further, says, "We can be more lethal than these jihadi terrorists who keep hitting us". Without divulging a detail, he draws in closer and says, "We have made what preparations were to be made. But I doubt if the government is going to allow us". Army positions fortified following the Uri terror strike. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) On the surface, not much has changed post Uri. Security in the hinterland remains tightly controlled. Those residing in villages close to the LoC did not report heightened troop activity. We met personnel from the army and BSF who were proceeding on leave, as scheduled. READ | Modi calls Islamabad sole exporter of terrorism; asks people of Pakistan to fight against poverty Yet, there is a difference, insist insiders. The LoC runs between posts located at altitude of 5,000 feet to those located at over 15,000 feet. "At most of such posts, troop positions have been reinforced following Uri. We are carrying out a review of all Pakistani positions, held by their army, along the LoC to mark them in case we want to target them using small arms and artillery. Our own positions, which are known to them are being fortified and newer supply lines are being created to maintain the element of surprise," said a senior officer. Also being reviewed are key requirements of ground commanders. Lists are being prepared and long-pending tasks are likely to get cleared, say those involved. Soldiers were seen destroying vegetation which was likely to aid the entry of infiltrators. READ | Sacrifice of 18 soldiers will not go in vain, will isolate Pakistan: PM Modi Army's 12th Brigade headquaters in Uri. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) Troops on ground were also seen preparing to thwart sabotage attacks on critical infrastructure like bridges. "Pakistan has terrorists to execute tasks their army would want done. In this situation especially we will not take a chance," explained a jawan. advertisement Then there are multiple conferences taking place with senior commanders. A few of them require them to travel whereas most are done via secure communications network in which both army representatives as well as those from the BSF take part. Little known outside is the fact that most posts along the LoC are manned jointly by the army and the BSF. Any travel by road is unlikely to be permitted in areas which are located closer to the LoC. We came across several such army posts from where we were asked to return. "We are doing what we have been asked to do, that is to step up. This, by itself, is no surety that there will be a conflict. The government will take an overall view," said a source. READ| Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources Locals remain resolutely opposed to any escalation. "Since the last three months, even rations are not reaching us because of the crisis in the valley. If hostilities break out, we will be squeezed out of our existence," says a local sarpanch in the Naugam sector. In the heart of north Kashmir's apple belt, sentiments are equally glum. Mohammed Ramzan, an orchard owner from Nachipora said, "Earlier we would earn about Rs 1000 per peti (box) but since the floods of 2014, followed by the disturbance this year, losses have piled up. We are selling raw apples, which fetch less because we are out of money". Kashmir's apple industry, according to a 2013 study supports over 1.2 million jobs and has a turnover of Rs 2000 crore. Data provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government says that there are 590 villages with a population of over half a million which is located between 0-5 km from Line of Control & International Border (IB) in the Jammu region itself. These will be the ones who'd be vulnerable to Pakistani shelling in case of an escalation. advertisement Then there is the aspect of cross-border infiltration which needs to be tackled before India can finalise her response. Locals going about with their routine lives in conflict-hit Kashmir. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) In December 2014, Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had declared that of the approximately 800km-long LoC, the army had fenced about 734km. Still, the army deploys at least three layers of personnel to ensure no terrorist can sneak in. Defence ministry's data from 2012 shows that till September 2015, at least 854 terrorists had made an attempt to breach the LoC of which 300 had succeeded while 140 were killed and 414 returned to PoK. "This time around, terrorists are not simply sneaking in, many within like Burhan Wani have been inspired," said a source. Army's own appreciation places the number of terrorists currently operating at 409 (315 in Kashmir valley & 94 south in Pir Panjal range). This year, the army has killed 119 and apprehended 20 at a loss of 36 personnel. advertisement READ| Mann Ki Baat: PM pays tribute to Uri attack martyrs, says committed to peace in Kashmir Estimates wary between the agencies operating on ground however there is consensus that about 100 additional terrorists may have sneaked in using the chaos following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. "About 200 are waiting at their launchpads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)", said a source. Would Pakistan use the fog of war, assuming it were to descend, to insert more is anybody's guess. "Will war happen?" asked the taxi driver. (WRITER IS A SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WITH INDIA TODAY) ALSO READ: India, Pakistan get battle-ready at Line of Control Uri attack: What stops PM Modi from calling an all-party meet over Pakistan policy, asks Congress Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists --- ENDS --- New Delhi, September 25 The Congress on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "playing politics" with national security and said he was offering "platitudes" to Pakistan as if he is going to fight elections in that country instead of understanding the anger of people in India. Congress leader Manish Tewari said, "Prime Minister has suddenly started lecturing the people of Pakistan about its new developmental imperatives. It seems Narendra Modi would be fighting the next elections in Pakistan rather than understanding the depth of anger which is there in the people of India." "...He has tried to change the goalpost by talking about malnutrition and other development indices like poverty and unemployment. These are battles India won far back." Addressing a massive gathering at a BJP meet yesterday in Kozhikode, Modi challenged Pakistan to go to war against poverty and unemployment. He said, "I want to say that India is ready for a war India is a ready for a war on poverty. Let both countries fight to see who would eradicate poverty first...I want to tell the youth of Pakistan, let's have a war on ending unemployment. "...I want to call out to the children in Pakistan, let's declare war on illiteracy. Let's see who wins. Let's declare war on infant mortality and maternal deaths." Tewari termed as an "attempt to hide the government's failure on securing the country", the Prime Minister's talk of a war on poverty and unemployment between the two countries. "Here is Prime Minister of India who rather than walking his talk is now indulging in platitudes to cover the embarrassing failure of his own government to address India's national security imperatives," the Congress leader said. Asked about Modi quoting Deen Dayal Upadhyay that "Do not reward nor rebuke Muslims, empower them", he slammed him saying his "track record of empowering Muslims and other minorities in Gujarat was not forgotten by the country." "The PM has a very illustrious track record of empowering Muslims and other minorities. The Gujarat program is not forgotten by this country. It is rather rich when the PM indulges in such sanctimonious homilies of neither rewarding nor rebuking but empowering (them). "The PM should reflect on his own track record, on the track record of his government as a PM, on the track record of him personally as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, when so many people were slaughtered on his watch," Tewari said. He also alleged that in the last two years, India's social cohesion has been ruptured and disharmony is the order of the day. "In the last two years India's social cohesion has been ruptured. Disharmony is the order of the day. Every attempt has been made by his government to brow beat the minorities and try and impose a majoritarian ethos in the country. And, after all this, if the PM talks about empowering the minorites, it sounds absolutely pathetic and laughable." PTI Hyderabad, September 25 Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libyas Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad on Saturday. I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...it was horrible, Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned. Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad. Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. It is Gods grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me, Balram told PTI. Balram said that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balrams wife Sridevi said, It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...the feelings cannot be expressed in words. Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident. PTI New Delhi, September 25 India is in talks with South Korea, known for its maritime technology prowess, for long-term partnership to develop its rivers to drive economic growth. Earlier this year, Parliament has enacted a legislation to convert 111 rivers across the country into National Waterways, a move that would boost movement of goods and passengers via rivers and reduce transportation cost substantially. We are in talks with a Korean government company to develop our rivers, Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. We have offered them to select out of 111 rivers and develop these. Once we start getting profit, we can return their investment in 15-20 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened a mega Maritime India Summit earlier this year with Korea, a world leader in shipbuilding, as the partner and has promised to personally handhold investors for a safe, secure and satisfactory berthing so as to transform the countrys 7,500-km long coastline an engine of growth. Gadkari said waterways unfortunately had taken a backseat in India, with only 3.5 per cent of trade being done through the mode here as against 47 per cent in China, 40 per cent in Europe, 44 per cent in Japan and Korea and 35 per cent in Bangladesh. According to the minister, if developed properly, inland water transport, which is an environment-friendly and cost-effective mode of transport, will reduce the high logistics costcurrently at 18 per centand boost the economy. Gadkari said that if all the 111 rivers are developed as waterways, it will revolutionise the Indian economy. Maritime development is high on the priority list of the government as it has the potential of opening a new era of foreign investment in ship-building, repair, ship breaking, inland water transportation, cruise shipping and hinterland connectivity, to name a few. Maritime logistics is considered as a key component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of export-import trade by volume and 72 per cent by value. He said a total of one billion tonne of cargo is being handled by over 200 ports, including 12 major ones, in the country and is expected to grow to 2.5 billion tonnes by 2025. Talks are also on with Singapore for development of cruise shipping in the country. The maritime summit was held on April 14-16 this year and was billed as a flagship event to harness Indias immense natural maritime advantages with a 7,500 km coastline and 14,500 km of navigable and potential navigable waterways. PTI Tribune News Service Kozhikode, September 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India will ratify the Paris climate deal on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," he said while addressing BJP's National Council meet. Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhi's life was an example of minimum carbon footprint. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) During the Paris climate meet in December last, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Talking about the need to ratify the COP21 decision, Modi said there is a looming threat due to global warming to many coastal countries and cities. Even Kerala, where the conclave was being held, is also a coastal area. Maintaining that the BJP is a cadre-based party, Modi called for turning the 11-crore members into cadres. He asked BJP leadership to connect with the grassroots and increase the foot print of the party. Read: Pak an epicentre of global terrorism, says BJP The PM also pitched for electoral reforms. During the coming year discussion should be held on the issue. I think this is time to bring about electoral reforms. In the centenary year of Jan Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, we can organise seminars across the country on electoral reforms," Modi said. "At least we should start brainstorming the issue, and we will see what amrit (nectar) will come out of this churning," he said. He said that even members from other political parties have been asking him to bring about electoral reforms, but it would be better if changes emerged after thorough brainstorming. This is at least the third time in as many months that the Prime Minister has called for electoral reforms, including simultaneous parliamentary and state assembly elections, in the country. He asked the media to take up alleged incidents of human rights violation in Kerala. The way RSS-BJP cadres are being targeted in Kerala should also be discussed by the BJP leadership in respective states, he said. Modi also stressed the need for creating an alternate politics as advocated by Deen Dayal Upadhyay who had always suggested that no section of people should be left neglected or considered as tools to garner votes. Citing the "vikrut paribhasha (distorted definition)" of secularism propagated in the country, he recalled that long back, Upadhyaya, founding father of the Jan Sangh -- the predecessor of the ruling BJP -- had said Muslims should not be mere tools to garner votes nor neglected. Deen Dayal had said Muslims should not be treated as "substance of vote market", said Modi. It is in this context, we have launched our developmental programmes based on the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," Modi said. We have always tried to uphold his principles and today we again pledge ourselves to rededicate for the cause of such inclusive development," he said. With agencies Islamabad, September 25 Pakistan on Sunday rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modis assertion that it was exporting terror, saying the remarks were part of a well thought-out vilification campaign to distract attention from Kashmir. Pakistan Foreign Office, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi at a public meeting in Kerala tried to malign Pakistan. It is unfortunate that Indian leadership continues to indulge in a well thought-out vilification campaign against Pakistan by making provocative statements and baseless accusations. Such irresponsible display of behaviour at the highest political level is regrettable, the Foreign Office said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) It is evident that, as an act of desperation, India is trying to distract world attention from the atrocities perpetrated by its forces in Kashmir against innocent and defenseless Kashmiris, including children and women, the statement said. The atrocities in Kashmir intensified since the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiri youth leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani in July this year, it said of the slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Pakistans reaction came after Prime Minister Modi launched a blistering attack on it yesterday in his first public address after last Sundays deadly Uri terror attack. Modi said the sacrifice of 18 soldiers would not go in vain while all-out efforts would be made to isolate Pakistan globally. 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 public meeting at the Kozhikode beach held on the sidelines of the BJP national council meet. He said while countries in Asia were working to make the 21st century Asias, Pakistan was engaged in a conspiracy of causing bloodshed across the continent by sponsoring terrorism and killing innocents. The Pakistan Foreign Office statement alleged, In the last seventy-five days, Indian occupation forces have brutally martyred more than 100 Kashmiris, blinded hundreds and injured thousands. The Foreign Office claimed that the international community had taken notice of these blatant human rights violations with concerns expressed by several countries as well as UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also accused India of continuing to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan through state apparatus. The arrest and confession statements of a serving Indian Navy officer and intelligence operative, Kulbhushan Jadhav, reveal beyond a shadow of doubt as to how India fuels terrorist activities in various parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan and FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), the statement said. PTI Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service Kozhikode, September 25 Taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modis strong message to Pakistan, the BJP on Sunday said Kashmir was an integral part of India and no one can take it away. Seaking at the BJP's national council meeting here, party president Amit Shah said the government is ready to talk to anybody but only with those who consider themselves as Indians. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "Anyone who day-dreams of taking away Kashmir should keep in mind that this is a BJP government and it will not allow this to happen," Shah said. The BJP always has zero tolerance towards terrorism, he added. Warning Pakistan, he said: This is a long war. If anyone thinks Uri is a conclusion, let me tell that the fight is on. The BJP is with the government and the final victory will be ours. The party understands the anger among people of the country towards perpetrators of the Uri terror attack. This anger is not just a reflection of those feelings but also of our neighbours continuous mischievously and cowardly attempts. Let me assure that the BJP-led government has always had zero tolerance towards terrorism, Shah said, adding that an appropriate reply will be given to the mischievous activities of terrorists and Pakistan. The BJP appealed to all political parties to join hand in the fight against terrorism. Shah said the statement by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly was a strong proof of Pakistans open endorsement of terrorism. Sharif terming a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist a peace-loving youth has left the world baffled. Pakistan is spending billions of dollars to prepare terrorists to launch into the world. This is the reason Pakistan, over the past few years, has emerged as an epicentre of global terrorism, Shah said. Lahore, September 25 The Lahore High Court has dismissed a writ petition by JuD chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan Government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing the matter raised by the petitioner is not justifiable before the court and falls within the domain of politics. The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeeds counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed would challenge the verdict in the intra-court. In the petition Saeed said India had been committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions. He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Saeed, who carries a $10 million bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said (former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir, however, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking. Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. Indian Army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistan Government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements, Dogar said. Criticising the LHC verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect, he said. 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. PTI London, September 25 Pakistan-born actor Marc Anwar has reportedly been fired from Coronation Street after posting racially offensive tweets about Indian people over the Kashmir issue. The 45-year-old actor, who plays Sharif Nazir in the long-running soap, was dismissed after the Sunday Mirror informed the ITV network bosses about his racist tweets. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Mirror published a screenshot of the alleged tweets from the actors account, attacking India over Kashmir and calling for Pakistani actors to stop working in the country. The paper also quoted an official statement from ITV. We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect, the statement read. PTI Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service Kozhikode, September 25 Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah has asked his partys units to strengthen the party at its weakest points the mostly elusive South before the next General Election. With two-and-a-half years to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Shah has told his party leadership to have a list of its most promising candidates who will stand the partys big test in 2019. The message is particularly meant for three states Karnataka, where the BJP last had a government until May 2013, and the two elusive states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Although the three states together account for 87 seats in Parliament, they elected only 18 BJP members in 2014. In Kerala, which dominated by the bipolar politics of Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led left and Congress-led United Democratic Front, it drew a naught. But a seat in the Assembly election earlier this year and a substantial headway in vote share has made Shah confident of doing better in the next general election. A consolidation of Hindu votes in NDA favour lost Congresss UDF as many as 26 seats in the state, party leaders say, although the increase in vote share from a 6.3 per cent in 2011 to close to 16 per cent this year primarily benefited the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front. It is this that Shah intends to turn in the BJPs favour. And although the BJP may still not be able to target the CPI (M)s stronghold the northern parts of Kerala the sources say the aim is to emerge as a strong opposition and an alternative to the Congress-led UDF. New York, September 25 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly on Monday with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs tirade on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived here on Saturday afternoon and will address the UN general debate on Monday morning. Leading Indias delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharifs UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. Indias strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining Indias focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Indias envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the primary concern for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here on Friday that the whole world and the entire nation is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver Indias vision document for the 71st UNGA. We are all looking forward to that, he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swarajs address but said the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community. Swarup said one can also expect a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security. Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharifs long tirade about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, the worst violation of human rights is terrorism. When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistans long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region, she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan a terrorist state which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. PTI According to the statement, a 20-year-old was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, a city about 28 miles southwest of Burlington. By Indo-Asian News Service: The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that killed five persons dead was caught, police said. The Washington State Patrol said in statement that on Saturday evening at around 7.15 pm, the gunman who opened fire on Friday in the Cascade Mall, Burlington was in custody. A lock down was in effect following gunshots reported in a Macy's store. (ANI photo) advertisement The patrol said more details of the gunman would be released later, NBC News reported. According to the statement, a 20-year-old was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, a city about 28 miles southwest of Burlington. Five victims - four females and a male - were killed after a gunman described as wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts opened fire inside a Macy's department store in the mall. Four female victims were pronounced dead on Friday night. Security footage showed the man entering the mall. In additional footage from about 10 minutes later, he "entered Macy's with a rifle and fired multiple times", police said. The four female victims were pronounced dead on Friday night, and the male victim was taken to a hospital where later succumbed to injuries. ALSO READ: Washington: At least 4 killed in Cascade Mall shooting, search for armed man underway --- ENDS --- Sangareddy (Telangana), September 25 The death toll in rain-related incidents has gone up to eight in Telanganas Medak district with a factory worker allegedly getting drowned in flood water following heavy showers. Three deaths were yesterday reported from Medak, even as the Army was deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Besides, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. Anjanayelu (30), a native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was last night going on his bike to his workplace. However, while trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, which was overflowing due to heavy inflow of water in Paspaleru lake, he got swept away along with his bike, the police said. Hathnoora Police Sub-Inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated soon after getting information but the body was yet to be retrieved. Yesterday, a 14-year-old boy had fallen inside a swelled water tank in Aroor village under Sadasivpet police station limits after he lost balance while taking stock of the water level of the tank. In Narayankhed, a 30-year-old man was washed away in heavy flow while he was trying to cross a stream by walk. Besides, a 28-year-old man was killed after he lost balance of his two-wheeler and was washed away while traversing through a water body near a village in Medak. With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief. Following instructions from the CM, a National Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue operations, if necessary. Besides, four columns of Army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. IAF rescues 24 labourers The Indian Air Force (IAF) today rescued 24 labourers who were caught in floods in Medak district since Saturday. The rescue operation, which was aborted Saturday evening due to heavy rain, resumed on Sunday morning. Two Chetak helicopters pressed into service airlifted the labourers stranded in Manjeera river at Yedupayala, officials said. The migrant labourers from Madhya Pradesh and Odisha were engaged in construction of three bridges in the area. Telangana assemblys Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy and Medak District Collector D. Ronald Ross had sought help from the IAF after the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team informed them that it cannot undertake rescue operation with boat due to boulders in the river bed. Agencies Simran Sodhi Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 25 The most recent militant strike in north Kashmirs Uri became the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modis radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday. A day after his diatribe against Pakistan for exporting terrorism at the BJPs National Council Meeting in Keralas Kozhikode, Modi reiterated that the perpetrators of the Uri attack would not go unpunished. As calls for action against Indias neighbour rose, Modi on Sunday called the attack an act of cowardice. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "Recently, 18 bravehearts laid down their lives in Uri. Such a cowardly attack was enough to stir the nation. I am sure that our soldiers would keep foiling such acts in the future," Modi said in his monthly radio address. "While politicians speak, military shows bravery. " He mentioned young Harshvardhan, who wrote to him after the attacks saying he was troubled. Some gunmen attacked a military camp in Uri last Sunday, killing 18 soldiers. India blames the Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, for the attack. 'Kashmiris want normality restored' He spoke about the recent unrest in Kashmir in which nearly 80 people were killed and thousands injured, but claimed people wanted the state to return to normal. Read: Mann ki Baat on, to Pak "Farmers who had grown fruits were also worried to get their crops to the market," he said, adding that the state administration had taken measures to maintain law and order, but that local authorities should remain to stay cautious and exercise restraint. "They want their life to get back on track. All of us know that peace and unity is the only solution to our problems." "Our resources are there to give a peaceful life to the Kashmiri people," he said. "Peace, unity and goodwill are the keys to our problems and path to progress." Proud of Paralympians He made a special mention of Indias paralympic contingent, which brought back two golds, a silver and a bronze in the recently concluded Paralympic Games in Rio. Paralympians have made India proud, he said, as he praised their spirit and courage. I came to know that some of these paralympians equaled and sometimes broke the records held by normal athletes. I want to tell the country through the 'Mann ki Baat' that my government will empower these paralympians. Clean India As the NDA governments 'Swachh Bharat' mission completes two years, Modi announced a new helpline number1969 for feedback and to petition for starting new projects. Modi said 2.48 crore toilets have been built in the rural areas while 1.5 crore will be built in the next year. (With inputs from agencies) Hyderabad, September 25 Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday reiterated his demand for separate Vidarbha state and said two new states should also be carved out of Uttar Pradesh. During agitation for separate statehood to Telangana, we supported it. And now separate Vidarbha state should be formed at the earliest. Our party and people are demanding for a separate state, he said. Similarly, two new states should be carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (A), said here. He alleged, There is no development in Vidarbha, whether it is industrial, irrigation or power (sector). We want separate Vidarbha state...Hindi speaking states have been divided and Telugu speaking states have been created so why not in Maharashtra. (Maharashtra) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari are from Vidarbha. My party is also supporting the demand for separate Vidarbha state, he added. On the ongoing reservation demand by various communities, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said that Marathas, Patels, Jats, Rajputs, Gujjars, Brahmins, Lingayats and others are demanding reservations but he favours quotas on the basis of the economic status. As the leader of RPI and the Minister of state for Social Justice, I support reservation for the economically backward sections among them, he said adding, a constitutional amendment should be made to provide 25 per cent quota to the poor among the upper castes. I will discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all other political parties in this regard. There will be no problem if a law in passed in Parliament taking overall reservation to 75 per cent, he said. The minister also said there was a need to encourage inter-caste marriages in order to bring an end to casteism in the country. PTI 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? Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, September 23 A white pigeon with an Urdu inscription on its wings landed in a house in Mukerian sub-divisions Motla village yesterday. The owner of the house handed it over to the police. It was being suspected that it could be a bird being used for spying or sending some coded messages from Pakistan. Naresh Kumar of Motla village told the police today that the pigeon had landed in his house last night. He picked it up in the morning and spotted something written on its feathers. A police team from Mukerian reached there and found someone who could read Urdu. It was found that the names of days were written on it. The police are trying to ascertain if it was some kind of coded message. The Army is also being contacted to look for someone who could decipher the code. The bird was sent for an X-ray to verify if something was hidden inside, but nothing suspicious was found. Chandigarh, September 25 Suspended AAP MP Dharamvir Gandhi on Sunday took potshots at Navjot Singh Sidhus Awaaz-e-Punjab for deciding against forming a political party but claimed AAP's ex-Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur has extended support to his "regional political front". Informing that Bains brothers Simarjit and Balwinder, who are part of Awaaz-e-Punjab, were invited to the meeting but did not come, Gandhi said he did not invite Sidhu as he was not "available". (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Representatives of Chhotepur and rebel Akali MLA Pargat Singh attended the round-table conference of pro-Punjab personalities and leaders held by Gandhi for formation of a fourth regional political front, which he had announced last month. Through this platform, like-minded parties will jointly fight the Punjab assembly elections next year. To a question on whether this front will support Awaaz-e-Punjab, Gandhi said, "Where is Awaaz-e-Punjab? They have banded and disbanded themselves. They no more exist. Sidhu said he is not going to form a party. Nothing concrete has come from him." "I do not think they are serious on this. When they talk concretely on our political agenda then we will see, let them come forward. Chhotepur sent his representatives and he will be the part of this grand platform," he said. Asked whether Pargat Singh attended the meeting as a representative of Awaaz-e-Punjab, Gandhi said, Pargat Singh also came. But he came as Pargat Singh. Representatives of Swaraj Party Punjab, Apna Punjab Party, Jai Jawan Jai Kisan Party Punjab, Amritsar Volunteer Group, Bahujan Sangharsh Dal, Bahujan Samaj Sangthan also attended in the meeting, he said. "A manifesto committee will be formed soon to give final shape to the front. We are hopeful that through this platform the parties will fight the election jointly and for this, modalities are being worked out," the suspended AAP MP said, but ruled out the possibility of him contesting in the polls. Asked as to why not this front forms a political outfit, representative of Swaraj Party Punjab, Manjit Singh said, It is difficult for small parties to amalgamate into one. That is why as a contingent plan we will have a political front." Former Akali MLA Harish Dhanda was also present in the meeting and said he was not here for contesting the polls. PTI Tribune News Service Jalandhar/Amritsar, September 25 Aam Aadmi Partys national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the party would put an end to raid raj in what appears to be a jibe at intensified tax raids by the income tax department. Speaking at a gathering at the Aggarwal communitys Agrasen Jayanti Samaroh celebrations, Kejriwal said industrialists of the community had the potential to provide employment to those who have undergone drug rehabilitation. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) Several AAP leaders from the state, among them Sanjay Singh, Parliamentarian Bhagwant Mann and state convener Gurpreet Ghuggi attended the event. Meanwhile, Congress activists held protests against Kejriwal on Sunday as he made his way to Jalandhar to attend the celebrations. Several members of the Congress womens wing, including state head Mamta Dutta, were injured in the protest held on the Airport Road near Amritsars Raddisson Hotel as police tried to push back protesters to allow Kejriwals cavalcade to pass. The women protesters later demanded action against the policemen for manhandling them. Congress activists also held protests in Jalandhar. Comprising 11 per cent of Punjabs population, the Aggarwal community wields influence in most of the Malwas towns and other places, including Bathinda, Mansa, Rampura Phul, Barnala, Sunam, Sangrur, Patran, Samana, Raikot, Dhuri, Nabha, Gidderbaha, Jaitu and Ludhiana. However, with only four lawmakers in the state assembly, it does not wield much power politically. Delhi CM meets Radha Soami sect chief at Beas Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also met Radha Soami sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at Beas in a bid to broaden AAP's base in the state where assembly polls are slated early next year and the sect has a considerable following. Kejriwal met Dhillon at Dera Radha Soami, also known as Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, and spent over 30 minutes with him. Kejriwal took blessings from the sect chief and discussed the political scenario of Punjab in view of the upcoming assembly elections, an AAP spokesman said. AAP Punjab convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and MP from Sangur Bhagwant Manna were also accompanying Kejriwal. Earlier, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had also met the Radha Soami sect chief at Beas in March this year. BJP leader L K Advani had also visited Beas in 2014 and attended the morning discourse of the sect head. With PTI inputs Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Fatehgarh Churian, September 25 Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Sunday the recent incidents of sacrilege were handiwork of disruptive forces which were out to destabilise the state in an election year. The Chief Minister was here to attend the first death anniversary of Sawinder Kaur Kahlon, wife of former Speaker NS Kahlon. We have earned peace in Punjab the hard way. We will never let anti-national forces, which are working at the behest of vested interests, disturb this peace. We are duty bound to curb such incidents. For nine years we have maintained peace. We will not let it go so easily, Badal said. Speaking about the impending visit of AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the state, he said his visit would hardly affect the electoral combinations. The people of Punjab are politically mature to understand the difference between friends and foes. They know that it is only the SAD which is the true custodian of the interests of the public, particularly the poor and people belonging to the rural areas. Kejriwal is free to come to Punjab but it is not going to help his party in anyway as people have decided to vote for the SAD-BJP alliance, he said. TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our livesIf we remember those times and placeswhere people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we dont have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory. --Howard Zinn I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to accept the idea that the "isness" of man's present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts him. --Martin Luther King Jr. True religion consisted in an inward life, wherein the heart does love and reverence God the Creator, and learns to exercise true justice and goodness...I found no narrowness respecting sects and opinions, but believed that sincere, upright-hearted people, in every society, who truly love God, were accepted of him. --John Woolman Love each other as I have loved you.. I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father. --Jesus in John 15: 12-15 ...Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. You have answered right, said Jesus, do this and life is yours... Who is my neighbor? Jesus replied with the Parable of the Good Samaritan [heretic, outsider, enemy]. --from Luke 10:27-37 Religion has been emphatically embodied, not in speculative theories, but in practical righteousness, in active virtues, in reverence to God, in benevolence to man- the latter being the only sure test of the former. --Thomas M'Clintock ...It is safer to approach God through the Holy Spirit than through the door of theology. We can identify the Holy Spirit whenever it makes its presence felt. Whenever we see someone who is loving, compassionate, mindful, caring, and understanding, we know that the Holy Spirit is there. --Thich Nhat Hanh Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 25 Addressing a gathering of members of the Aggarwal community during the Agrasen Jayanti celebrations here today, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said if voted to power, AAP would put an end to the "raid raj" being perpetrated in the name of recovery of income tax. He asked the Centre to "go after the big fish rather than troubling small traders". He said: "If voted to power, we will stop this practice." Projecting himself a champion of the rights of traders and industrialists, Kejriwal said: "I have heard the Centre has started income tax raids across the country. Their targets are not being met. I appeal to the government to stop targeting small traders. To meet targets of bringing back black money, I ask them to nab people like Vijay Mallya." "The Aggarwal Samaj has the most number of traders and industrialists. I believe excessive raids only profit the inspectors. Earlier people in Delhi termed the BJP as the party of baniyas and industrialists, but now they say AAP is the party which takes up their cause," the Delhi CM said, adding that AAP would bank on traders to ensure employment for the rehabilitated youths. Member of the Vaishya Federation from various states took part in the event, which saw a participation from AAP cadres in huge numbers. Party MPs Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh, convener Gurpreet Ghuggi and leaders Sukhpal Khaira and Sanjay Singh were present. Protest at AAP rally venue Jalandhar: Ahead of Kejriwal's arrival at the venue, a protest was held by activists of the District Mahila Congress led by its president Dr Jasleen Kaur Sethi. The activists raised slogans and held placards reading "go back Kejriwal" and "Delhi ko barbad kiya, Punjab nahi" amid a heavy police presence. The activists alleged that the police manhandled them in an attempt to stop them. Tense moments were witnessed after AAP volunteers countered the Congress protest with sloganeering. TNS Delhi CM visits Beas dera Later in the evening, Kejriwal visited Dera Baba Jaimal Singh of the Radha Soami sect at Beas. He was accompanied by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann and state party convener Gurpeet Ghuggi. The Delhi Chief Minister met the sect head, Gurinder Singh Dhillon. Notably, Kejriwal visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar during his previous visit to the city earlier this year. Meanwhile, ticket seekers had put up huge posters at the AAP rally venue in Jalandhar, apparently to impress the party national convener. London Iceman Otzi, the 5,300-year-old well-preserved mummy found in the Austrian Alps, was likely shot and murdered by a treacherous acquaintance while enjoying a hearty meal, a new study has claimed. An arrowhead discovered in 2001 in Otzi's left shoulder suggests that he was murdered. To understand the circumstances surrounding the crime, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Italy commissioned Chief Inspector Alexander Horn of the Munich Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the Otzi Murder Case using the latest criminological methods. Horn interrogated archaeologists from the museum who had been looking after Otzi for years, or experts from forensic medicine, radiology and anthropology. The results of this investigation were that Otzi probably did not feel threatened shortly before his murder, because the situation at the Tisenjoch location where he was found indicates that he had been resting while enjoying a hearty meal. In the days prior to the murder he had incurred an injury to his right hand, probably as a result of defensive action during the course of a physical altercation. No further injuries could be found, and this might serve to indicate that he had not been defeated in this particular conflict. The arrow shot, which was probably fatal, seems to have been launched from a great distance and took the victim by surprise, from which we may infer that it was an act of treachery. Further medical findings suggest that the victim fell and that the perpetrator used no further violence. The perpetrator probably did not wish to risk a physical altercation, but instead chose a long-distance attack to kill the man from the ice. As valuable objects such as the copper axe remained at the crime scene, theft can be excluded as the motive. The reason for the offence is more likely to be found in some sort of personal conflict situation, in a previous hostile encounter "a behavioural pattern which is prevalent even today in the bulk of murder crimes, Horn said. Scientists from all over the world presented these and other new insights, at the recent International Mummy Congress held this month in Bozen-Bolzano to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Otzi's discovery. Researchers also believe that copper used to make Otzi's axe blade did not come from the Alpine region as had previously been supposed, but from ore mined in southern Tuscany in Italy. Otzi was probably not involved in working the metal himself, as the high levels of arsenic and copper found in his hair had, until now, led researchers to assume. His murder over 5,000 years ago seems to have been brought about due to a personal conflict a few days before his demise, and the man from the ice, despite his normal weight and active life-style, suffered from extensive vascular calcification. PTI Jotirmay Thapliyal Tribune News Service Dehradun, September 25 Quite contrary to the notion that wild animals were preying on livestock in villages alongside wildlife areas, 65 per cent of the total livestock lost annually in the protected area of Askot Conservation Landscape in Uttarakhand was due to diseases, such as foot and mouth disease. Only 35 per cent of the livestock were killed in carnivore attack incidents. Man-animal conflict continues to be a big challenge in a forest predominant state like Uttarakhand, where most marginal forest dwelling communities depend primarily on agriculture and livestock rearing for subsistence living. Amrita Laha, while working with villagers of Askot Conservation Landscape, got to know that a majority 65 per cent of livestock were lost to diseases annually, whereas 35 per cent was lost due to wildlife predation. Even among those lost due to diseases, 75 per cent were lost to foot and mouth disease. She is working as part of National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem. Amrita said crop depredation and livestock predation by wildlife were often identified as more overpowering in comparison to loss of the same due to environmental factors or disease. A total of 40 Van Panchayats were surveyed and 500 interviews were conducted using an in-depth mixed questionnaire. Amongst varied socio-demographic aspects, different factors of crop and livestock loss were identified and assessed by Amrita. She said there can be many factors of crop and livestock loss and predation by wildlife is just one amongst them. She, however, held that conservation managers needed to have a strategy to minimise even the existing wildlife loss by establishing synergies with other developmental agencies so as to mitigate potential human-wildlife conflict. Goma (DR Congo), September 25 Thirteen persons 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 on Saturday. Eight persons 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 persons were killed in Beni on August 13, a gruesome slaying that touched off mass protests against the central government in Kinshasa. AFP Toronto, September 25 An elderly Canadian couple who gained international sympathy when they were forced to live in two different nursing homes after 62 years of marriage has been reunited after a heartbreaking photo went viral. Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk, 83 and 81, were sent to live in different nursing homes in late August after space ran out at the home where Wolfram was being treated for lymphoma. The couple was captured in a heartbreaking photo wiping their tears before they parted ways. Now the two have been rejoined in the same Surrey, British Columbia nursing home, their granddaughter, Ashley Bartyik said. Thursday our family joyfully witnessed the reunification of Wolfram and Anita Gottschalk. Wolfram has finally been moved to the same facility as Anita at the residence at Morgan Heights, she wrote on Facebook. The joyful couple appears in a video celebrating their reunion, touching each others faces, smiling and sharing a kiss. The reunion saw tears of joy for all involved. They can now be under the same roof for their remaining years, and we couldnt be more grateful, Bartyik said. Bartyik blamed backlogs and delays by the Canadian health care system for the separation of her grandparents. The tearful photo of their separation was shared more than 3,000 times. Bartyik thanked everyone around the world that liked, shared or discussed their story and credited the international attention for their reunion. Bartyik says the couple will now spend their final years together, The Canadian Press reported. She says the family will continue to advocate for other couples experiencing similar challenges of separation. PTI Beirut, September 25 The Syrian government and rebel forces battled for control of high ground on the Aleppo outskirts on Saturday as warplanes bombed the citys opposition-held east relentlessly in a Russian-backed offensive that has left Washingtons 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 2,50,000 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. US 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 Syrias 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 Russias 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. Assads 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 Assads 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 governments 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 Shiite 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. childrens 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 governments 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. The human suffering being caused is 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 said in a joint statement. Reuters Washington, September 25 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 pm (local time), 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 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. IANS Three debates: Understanding the candidates The first presidential debate will be held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. It will begin at 9 pm on Monday (6.30 am IST on Tuesday) and run through 90 minutes. The second 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. 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. Will third-party candidates participate? Green Party nominee Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson will not join Trump and Clinton on the debate stage on Monday. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced earlier this month that Johnson and Stein failed to meet the 15 per cent threshold in polling support needed to earn a debate spot. How will it be structured? The debate will be divided into six 15-minute-long segments focusing on the major topics. The moderator will open each segment with a question, to which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. Candidates will then have the opportunity to respond to each other The moderater NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt has been selected to serve as moderator for the first of the three presidential debates. The topics The first presidential debate is expected to focus on three major subjects: America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. The topics, however, could be subject to change Tours (France), September 25 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. Hollandes 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 Hollandes four-year-old presidency. But he has been forced to take a visible stance on the issue, under pressure from his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozywho is hoping to make a comeback as presidentand far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Each are promoting platforms of security, patriotism and national interest in early campaigning for next years 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. AFP Amman, September 25 A gunman shot dead Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar on Sunday outside the court where he was to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature seen as insulting Islam, witnesses and state, media said. The gunman was arrested at the scene, state news agency Petra said. A security source said he was a 39-year-old Muslim preacher in a mosque in the capital. Hattar, a Christian and an anti-Islamist activist who was a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was arrested last month after he shared a caricature that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women and asking God to bring him wine and cashews. In the cartoon, the man also asks God to clear his dishes and put a door on his tent and knock before entering. Many conservative Muslim Jordanians considered Hattar's move offensive and against their religion. The authorities said he violated the law by sharing the caricature. The state news agency quoted a security source as saying Hattar was killed by a man who fired three shots at him on the steps of the palace of justice in the Jordanian capital. "The assailant was arrested and investigations are ongoing," Petra quoted the security source as saying. Two witnesses said the gunman was wearing a traditional Arab dishashada, worn by ultra conservative Sunni Salafis who adhere to a puritanical version of Islam and shun Western lifestyles. Some secular and liberal supporters of Hattar said his arrest last month was a breach of freedom of speech but other Jordanians thought the caricature's publication had crossed a red line in a Muslim country where it is a taboo to attack God or the Prophet. Hattar was charged with contempt of religion and sowing sectarian tensions. The country's highest official religious fatwa authority criticised Hattar for what it said was the "insult to the divine entity, Islam and religious symbols". Hattar had apologised on social media and said he did not mean to insult God but had shared the cartoon to mock fundamentalist Sunni radicals and what he said was their vision of God and heaven. He had accused his Islamist opponents of using the cartoon to settle scores with him. Hattar also supported restricting the rights and privileges of Jordanians of Palestinian descent. The Jordanian government condemned the attack. "The law will be strictly enforced on the culprit who did this criminal act and will hit with an iron fist anyone who tries to harm state of law," government spokesman Mohammad Momani said. The moderate Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group also warned against a flare up in religious and sectarian tensions in a country in which Jordanian Christians are a minority but wield wide political and economic influence. Reuters Los Angeles, September 25 Authorities have arrested a Turkish-born man suspected of shooting five people dead, including a teenaged cancer survivor, at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington. State Patrol spokesman Sergeant Mark Francis named the suspect as Arcan Cetin, a 20-year-old resident of the nearby town of Oak Harbor, saying he was arrested about 24 hours after the killings. There were no other suspects. Police had initially described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s. A Facebook page that appeared to belong to Cetin said he was born in Adana, Turkey, went to Oak Harbor High School and had worked at a grocery store on the town's Whidbey Island. In February, he posted a link to a Call of Duty first-person shooter videogame practice session, in an eerie foreshadowing of real world violence he was to perpetrate. YouTube users posted lewd comments on that page and Cetin's Twitter page yesterday in response to the mall shooting. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The shooter later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 110 km north of Seattle. "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." The youngest victim was named as Sarai Lara, 16, who survived cancer as a young girl. Relatives named another victim as 52-year-old Shayla Martin, who worked as a Macy's makeup artist. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) "We're really having a tough time right now," her sister Karen Van Horn told The Seattle Times. It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. AFP 09251225 NNNN Roanoke (US), September 25 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump tried to make the case that he'd do more to help women from the White House than Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, a lifelong champion of women's rights who would become the nation's first female president. "My opponent likes to say that for decades she's been fighting for women, that she's been fighting for children. Why, then, are 70 million American women and children living in poverty or on the brink of poverty in our country?" Trump asked a rally crowd in Roanoke. "For years she's been doing this and she's done nothing." The appeal came hours after Trump threatened on Twitter to invite a woman who'd had an affair with Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, to sit in the first row at Monday's presidential debate. The Clinton campaign had invited Mark Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Trumps rival, to the debate. "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 said. Trump's campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday, and it remained unclear whether Flowers would actually attend. Clinton's campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri responded: "Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people's lives". She added: "It's not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path." Trump has been criticised throughout the campaign for crass comments he has made about women in the past, including insults about their physical appearance. Clinton's campaign has tried to capitalise on those comments, including with a new add that features images of adolescent girls looking at their reflections as audio of Trump's comments play. The tweet on Saturday underscored the challenges Trump faces as he attempts to close his deficit among female voters, whom polls show favour Clinton by significant margins. Trump had all but ignored issues like child care and maternity leave until the Republican National Convention when his daughter, Ivanka, suddenly said her father would work to provide affordable childcare for women. Clinton, on the other hand, released a policy a year ago and has spent much of her life advocating for women and girls. After graduating from law school, Clinton worked for the Children's Defense Fund. She also 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." As secretary of state, she stressed the importance of women's rights in of US foreign policy. AP Quick action by authorities and relationships built in the wake of the 2012 Good Friday shootings helped keep the peace this past week, some prominent black Tulsans say. So did the strength of black churches, the influence of neighborhood leadership and maybe a few strands of what one called community DNA. But the peace is combustible. Emotions continue high on all sides, throwing off sparks capable of igniting the sort of explosion that engulfed Charlotte, North Carolina, in recent days. And while talk and good intentions are appreciated, they only go so far. Black Tulsans say what they really want is no more men like Eric Harris or Terence Crutcher gunned down by law enforcement officers. Some of the work we have done has been very helpful, except we continue to get these incidents involving law enforcement that indicates law enforcement is not paying attention, said Julius Pegues, chairman of the John Hope Franklin Center, an organization that has endeavored for more than a decade to improve racial understanding. Foundation of cooperation The Sept. 16 fatal shooting of Crutcher by Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby came less than 18 months after another unarmed black man, Harris, was killed by Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Robert Bates. Many people, black and white, believe those deaths fit into a national pattern of excessive deadly force against black men. There is a difference in the way African-Americans, and males particularly, are treated, said former state Sen. Maxine Horner. We have a ways to go to resolve it, but we do seem to have leadership striving to find solutions. Those interviewed credited Police Chief Chuck Jordan and Mayor Dewey Bartlett for responding quickly to the current situation, and for building and maintaining relationships with black Tulsans, especially during and after the Good Friday shootings. Three black Tulsans were killed and two others wounded on April 6, 2012, when Jake England and Alvin Watts went on a shooting spree in north Tulsa. Local authorities promised a quick resolution to the crimes and delivered with the arrest of England and Watts a few days later. Both men are now serving life in prison without parole. Before the shootings, Bartlett and his wife, Victoria, were regularly visiting black churches on Sunday mornings. Bartlett believes the relationships formed then helped the city get through the crisis. A lot of contacts are more political, but real true, bona fide friendships are there for your entire life, Bartlett said. You can talk. You can trust each other. Bartlett said he and Jordan agreed years ago that in the event of a situation like the current one, they would be as upfront and open as possible. The Rev. Anthony Scott of First Baptist Church North Tulsa said, I really do think, going back to the Good Friday shootings, the meetings weve had allows us to know each other and know how to respond to each other. Scott said last Mondays press conference, which included Bartlett and Jordan, was important because officials treated Crutcher as a human being and didnt turn the event into a way to defend the police department. You could see Chief Jordan was stressed out, said former state Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre. People said some pretty hard things, but he allowed them to talk, and when it was over I think most of them shook his hand. A Tulsa law officer since 1969, Jordan has acknowledged the TPDs failures during Tulsas 1921 race riot, and some officers participation in it. More recently, he spoke at a community event related to race relations. Those kinds of actions matter, even in times of stress, McIntyre said. Lessons of the past Ultimately, though, black Tulsans themselves are the ones keeping the peace. As angry as some have been, they have not resorted to violence not last week or last year or any time in memory. Somewhere in our DNA is something telling us we dont want to go down that road, McIntyre said. Some of it, she said, is a matter of religion. North Tulsa is full of black churches, all or most led by strong pastors. We are real religious, McIntyre said. My mothers generation, if someone says, Burn it down, they say, No, lets pray about it. Weve been very fortunate to have had We the People, the clergy, the Crutcher family, whove urged that this be done in a peaceful manner, Horner said. There is also, at some level of consciousness, the specter of the 1921 riot that destroyed so much of black Tulsa and left dozens of people dead. The riot happened long ago, butrenewed discussion of it over the past two decades has impressed it upon the minds of most Tulsans and led to many prolonged discussions of race. We endured that once; we dont want to go through that again, Pegues said. What (black Tulsans) would like is to pursue meaningful dialogue that leads to something meaningful, in lieu of burning down their part of town or burning down the other part of town. Scott said Tulsa has become a place where minority voices can be heard, but perhaps not fully understood. He knows many whites do not really comprehend or believe he is treated differently when he is dressed in a white shirt and tie than when hes wearing a T-shirt and ball cap. He knows many whites cannot fathom black Americans fear and distrust of law enforcement. For generations, law officers were the instruments of a social and political system that explicitly relegated black Americans to less than full citizenship. That memory does not fade easily. The police turned water hoses on the civil rights marchers, Scott said. The police turned dogs on us. Rightly or wrongly, many hear echoes of past eras in todays policing. Even in situations where a young black man might not be in full compliance (with a law officers instructions), its not a matter of them not complying, Scott said. Its more like I think you stopped me unjustly and thats reflected in the body language. Tulsa officials say they are trying to earn that trust, but its a tough sell. Its a situation that has to be addressed, Pegues said. With the social media we have, and how fast word travels, the stuff (police) used to do and get away with, they can no longer do. They need to recognize the eyes of the city, the country and the world are on them. US Ambassador John L. Estrada (Left) and Finance Minister Colm Imbert signing agreement with U.S. Embassys Department of Homeland Security Attache Arthlyn Samuel and Minister of National Security Major General (Retd) Edmund Dillon, looking on. The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A Craig McLachlan is the first to admit he is a close ally to the gay community. Many friends in his inner circle are gay. I am the best straight gay man they know! People say theyve always been in touch with their feminine side, but clearly Ive always been in touch with my gay side, he reveals. To be absolutely honest with you, the closest male friendships that I have nurtured over the years are pretty much all gay men. Theyve been wonderfully supportive of me when things have been tough. Yet despite having played Rocky Horrors own Dr. Frank N. Furter for more performances than he cares to remember, little prepared him for what was to come in SBS drama Deep Water, as bar manager Kyle Hammers. Hes a piece of work. He carries a lot of hatred with a really sinister agenda and black history. The scripts are really confronting but really saying something. I read the character and thought Holy shit! So it was challenging. But in the producers hands it was also a joy to do. It was as if people didnt care enough. The four part contemporary drama is based on gay hate murders in Sydney in the 80s and the 90s. A topline cast is led by Yael Stone and Noah Taylor, with William McInnes, Danielle Cormack and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. Deep Water depicts brutal murders and references the cases of dozens of gay men whose deaths went largely ignored, simply because of their sexuality. Im old enough to remember that stuff in the news, McLachlan recalls. I can remember the coverage in the newspapers about these dreadful acts was pretty scant. It was almost like Do we really want to report on this? Its just awful and frightening to think those crimes were perpetrated. It was as if people didnt care enough. McLachlan worked with Blackfella Films on Redfern Now and was determined to team up with producers once more. They called him for Deep Water, but despite the grim role it was an important story. I just felt strongly it was a project well worth doing, he continues. Even though I was immersing myself in this horrendous world it was a joy to work with Noah Taylor, and Id never had the chance to work with him before. Yael was amazing. I cant say enough about her. Clever, clever gal. Like most people Id seen her in Orange is the New Black but she is just a dynamo. I was so naive. I found myself in situations without even realising. Many gay murders also resulted in a diminished conviction for the perpetrators, known as the gay panic defense. A defendant could claim they acted with temporary insanity if it was linked to a homosexual advance. It has since been banned in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, but yet to be repealed in both Queensland and South Australia. During his pin-up boy days in the 80s McLachlan says he used humour in situations where flirting was uninvited (he even reversed it by flirting with male casting agents himself). I just treated it with humour, he says. I was so naive. I found myself in situations without even realising. One early modelling agency was keen to give the surfer from the Central Coast a shot at fame. I can remember ringing my mum to say The boys running the agency are so sweet. To save me going back up and down the coast wasting my money on train tickets, I can just stay with them! he laughs. So mum said Come home and have a talk!' On another occasion McLachlan found himself linked in tabloid stories in which Jason Donovan was suing UK magazine The Face, for suggesting he was gay. I thought it was riotous, he recalls of seeing his name linked. I went to the Logies and won a Silver Logie and during my acceptance speech I said I only just flew back into Australia and you can imagine my surprise when I read in a Sydney newspaper that Jason and I were gay? In fact I said to Jason in the shower before the ceremony, can you believe it? For days it haunted me that such hatred was directed at a friend of mine But there were other experiences much darker, including watching a gay friend being harassed in a London cafe. Its hard to grasp such a simmering of vile hatred if it isnt inherently part of your personality, he says. A bunch of young men filled with booze took one look at him and of course it was on with insults. I thought This could go either way here and with any attempt I had to say knock it off, they were very quick to turn on me. For days it haunted me that such hatred was directed at a friend of mine because he looked a little bit different to everyone else in the cafe. Deep Water will air in 4 parts, with SBS also set to screen a feature-length documentary Deep Water: The Real Story hearing from police, advisors, victims and families of actual murders during the 80s and 90s. With fears the looming same-sex marriage plebiscite could incite further homophobia and hatred, SBS will raise thought-provoking questions during a sensitive climate. Intolerance is still out there, lets not forget. Deep Water begins 8.30pm Wednesday 5 October and continues Thursday 6th on SBS. Deep Water: The Real Story airs Sunday October 16 at 8.30pm on SBS. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018. * IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014. * Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013. * Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011. 2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100. * Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010. * Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010. * Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010. * Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll. Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008. Malcolm believes that democratic leaders are too eager to believe the notion that Rouhani is a moderate, leading them to make the Nuclear Deal in 2015, allowing billions of dollars to flow into Iran without obtaining concessions on human rights abuses or guarantees of termination to their military aggression in the region. According to reports, Iran used this money to assist the Assad regime with the war in Syria, rather than using it to benefit the people of Iran. Like every other corrupt tyrant at the United Nations, Rouhani received the royal treatment. He was given a platform to lie and misrepresent his own government, writes Malcolm. A short walk from the the UN takes one to a large protest hosted by Iranian human rights activists seeking to present a very different side of the Iranian regime. These protesters have gathered to condemn Rouhani and demand justice for those killed in the 1988 Massacre by the Iranian regime, where some 30,000 political prisoners were executed during a few short months of summer. The regime rounded up political prisoners, most of them members or supporters of a dissident group, and systematically mass murdered them. Malcolm spoke with Geoffrey Robertson, a human rights lawyer and former appeal judge at the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone, at the protest. Robertson pointed out that killing prisoners of war is the worst kind of war crime, noting that Irans massacre was the worst since WWII. There has been no reprisal, no retribution, unlike the other (similar) atrocities, said Robertson. The people who ordered it, most of them, are still in high command in Iran. Rouhani himself was a senior official in the government that oversaw the massacre. Joe Lieberman, former U.S. Senator, Vice Presidential candidate and lifelong Democrat, also spoke at the protest. He condemned the Iranian regime, calling it a brutal dictatorship. Malcolm interviewed Lieberman, who told her that the international community should treat Iran with the disdain as we treat North Korea, noting that there is more blood on the hands of the regime in (Irans capital) Tehran. Rouhani should not be treated as if he was a respectable world leader. He should be treated like Kim Jung Un would be treated if he came here. said Lieberman. The international community welcomed Rouhani, instead. On Twitter, Canadas Global Affairs Minister Stephen Dion noted that he met with the regime to discuss the status of their relationship and consular cases. Dion failed to note any discussion on human rights, terrorism or justice for those killed in the 1988 massacre, notes Malcolm. The United Nations was founded in the after World War II as a means to prevent another such conflict. The UN is supposed to identify, condemn and stop world leaders who commit crimes against humanity, says Malcolm, adding, This week, instead of identifying and condemning Iran for its wicked crimes, the United Nations looked the other way and gave a seat of honour to the worlds most despicable leader. Nepalese Charas seized in Bihar Raxaul, Sep 25 (UNI) Dry Bihar continues to face the problem of smuggling of narcotics from Nepal and other states as Sashastara Seema Bal (SSB) jawans seized 3 kg Nepalese Charas from a peddler near Indo-Nepal border under Raxaul police station area in East Champaran district. Acting on a tip-off, the SSB sleuths nabbed the smuggler on National Higway near transport colony here, when he was carrying the consignment on foot, late last evening. When SSB jawans thoroughly frisked the peddler, 10 packets of charas weighing 300 gm each were recovered from his possession. Not to neglect towards silent morchas of Maratha community: Rane Kolhapur, Sep 25 (UNI) Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led government should take seriously note of huge silent morchas, which were taking out at various parts of the state in very peaceful manner for their demands, including reservation and to take stern action against Kopardi rape accused, otherwise the BJP government would collapse from the power, warned former Chief Minister and Congress senior leader Narayan Rane. Talking with media persons at Keswhvrao Bhosale Natyagrah after publication function of a book "Shivaji, the Great", written by Dr Balkrushna and edited by Indrajeet Savant, Mr Rane said that there was a big strength in these morchas, which could change present government rule in the state and warned that if the government fails to pay attention towards various demands of Maratha community, then the peoples would became aggressive for their demands with slogan "Har Har Mahadev" as like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had acted while beginning an expedition. Mr Rane said that Congress government had constituted a committee under his chairmanship to study Maratha reservation issue and he had prepared a 129 pages report with survey of 18 lakhs Maratha community peoples and recommended to give reservation as per constitution's section 15-4 and 16-4, without took away any Sony is gearing up to launch its new flagship Android phone in the US just a couple of days before Google launches its highly lauded Android flagship phones - a sheer case of bad timing? Most probably, yes. The Japanese company has just announced that US customers can buy the Xperia XZ for an unsubsidized price of $699.99. Amazon and Best Buy, the participating retailers will also stock Xperia XZ's sibling, the smaller X Compact, which hits the store shelves on Sunday, September 25 for a price of $499.99. Sony's handsets will come with support for GSM networks, which means AT&T, T-Mobile, and their MVNOs, but not Verizon or Sprint, TheVerge reported. The Xperia XZ's arrival could be deemed as too late in the year in many respects. The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. It relies heavily on its camera performance to catch the eye of buyers; however, those who handled the camera during IFA weren't quite impressed. Even if Sony's imaging manages to live up to the company's high billing, it would only position the XZ up to the same level as Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which currently lead the Android pack. Earlier this week, Sony Xperia GB official Twitter account posted a test video for the Xperia XZ showing exactly how good the smartphone's camera is. In this 36-second video footage, the company tests whether or not the XZ can capture shots without blur, but not under normal circumstances though, instead while plunging 160ft at 60mph. However, the 4.6-inch Xperia X Compact seems to be more intriguing of Sony's two new handsets, and at $500 its also likely to grab attention of the budget conscious buyers, unlike its bigger sibling, the 5.2-inch Xperia XZ. Interestingly, the X Compact isn't quite a direct shrinking of the bigger handset. Aside from sporting the same design and camera system, there are several differences between the two devices. For instance, the X Compact doesn't come with the same metal back, and is powered by a lower-class Snapdragon 650 processor. Nevertheless, it promises to be one of the handful options in the category of small Android devices as the holiday shopping season closes in. Sony Xperia XZ Coming To India Sony is slated to launch its new flagship phone, the Xperia XZ, in India next week; however, the handset's smaller sibling, the Xperia X Compact may not be launched in India at the moment, according to reports on IndiaToday. The Xperia XZ is follow-up to the Xperia X Performance, which also didn't hit the store shelves in India. The imminent phone features a unique loop surface design; in other words, the phone is designed with surface that appears to be seamless, winding around the device in an extended flow giving a sharp look, per Sony. Moreover, the XZ features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port for data syncing and charging. The phone comes with water-resistance capabilities as well. Would you buy a device that comes with months-old hardware and software, or rather invest into Google's in-house flagships? Share your thoughts in the comment section below! Times Higher Education recently released the World University Rankings (WUR) 2016-2017 and for the first time in the 12 year history of the list, a non-American university takes the top spot. The University of Oxford bumped Pasadena-based California Institute of Technology (CalTech) to second place. According to the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine who ranked 980 universities around the globe, based on 13 calibrated performance indicators that provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available. Millions of books and research output also examined. Phil Baty, ranking editor at the THE said, "WUR tends to focus on research, counting metrics like the number of citations and publications by a university's scholars and the amount of research funding attained in a given year. The list also takes reputation into account by surveying some 20,000 leading scholars to identify top schools." THE also used the services of independent audit firm PricewaterhouseCooper (PWC) to ensure correct calculation of the rankings. The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1096. Oxford's exceptional research income, about 522.9 million or roughly $679 million for the academic year 2014-2015, together with its global reach and collaboration boosted the university's performance. Oxford Vice Chancellor Louise Richardson said, "Industry, charities, health organizations and many other funders are all keen to invest in Oxford research." CalTech, a small private school founded in 1891 have been ranked as number 1 five times in a row. The university is known for its world class research and is funded by government agencies such as NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy and Human Services and the Department of Health. The university also manages a number of observatories and science centers and has produced an impressive roster of internationally recognized alumni. Apart from the switch at the top of the list, everything that follows is pretty much the same. While U.S. no longer holds the top spot, American universities continue to dominate the list with Stanford University coming in at third place followed by another famous university founded in the middle ages, The University of Cambridge came in fourth. Massachusetts neighbors Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University at fifth and sixth places respectively. The top 10 list is completed with Princeton University at the 7th place, Imperial College London at 8th, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at 9th, and tied at the number 10 spot is the University of California Berkeley and the University of Chicago. It's worth mentioning that Asian universities have performed really well in this year's rankings, some of them overtaking prestigious universities in the U.S. and Europe. Universities from China, Hong Kong and Singapore have all made it to the top 50. The highest-ranking Asian university on the list is the National University of Singapore (NUS) placed at number 24. NUS outranked Ivy League Brown University which came in at 51 and the London School of Economics and political science. In a study done with Workers' Educational Association (WEA), Oxford University's Department of Experimental Psychology studied individuals attending adult education classes for a period of 7 months. Their overall finding is that all participants reported having more satisfaction in their lives and they had improved mental and physical health at the end of their respective courses. "The students reported benefits including increased self-confidence, a greater feeling of control over their lives and more willingness to take on new challenges. Some said the classes made them more motivated to be more active, despite the classes not specifically involving physical activity." Disclosed Dr. Eiluned Pearce who headed the study. In an earlier report, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said that, "education promotes sustainable development, healthier societies, better jobs and more active citizenship." Apart from the activities, participants were also able to expand their networks through their groups and found a sense of belonging that also improved their wellbeing. Howard Croft, WEA's Regional Education Manager noted that, 'The findings reiterate the feedback that we have had from our students over the years: learning is a fantastic way to boost your self-esteem and confidence. Also of note, is its therapeutic effect. For many students, creative courses are a means of finding a new outlet for expressing their feelings. This can be of immense help during times of personal difficulty or emotional upheaval, such as divorce or bereavement. Simply going to a course can offer much-needed respite." The studies conclude that music has a positive effect and acts as an ice-breaker making it easier for the participants to connect with one another and it also makes them bond faster. "While much of our previous work has demonstrated the importance of music, it is likely that the most socially bonding activities are always those that are personally chosen and enjoyed. This research adds to growing support for the relevance of creative activities in creating happy communities and improving health and well-being, with consequent benefits for public services and society." Dr. Jacques Launay, a co-author of the study adds. While there is definitely room for more inquiry on this topic, we can conclude that the community built from these classes has a positive effect on the participant's wellbeing regardless of their activities. The engine cranked on as vibrations coursed through the cargo bay. Outside the small windows, he could see the propellers spinning into action as his C-130 taxied out for departure from the 136th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas. Secured to one side of the bay, he acclimated to the constant hum of the aircraft and as they took off, he braced and prepared for the bumpy ride to destinations unknown. For the rest of the aircrew, this occurrence was a regular day at the office, but for Airman 1st Class John Karley, 136th Maintenance Squadron propulsion technician, this was all a first. Members from the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard, pose for a group photo after landing at the Wake Island Airfield during temporary-duty assignment in July 2016. (U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class John Karley is on left end of back roll.) The crew traveled to Hawaii, American Samoa, Australia, Wake Island and Guam. (Texas Air National Guard courtesy photo) Karley had worked on C-130's for more than two years with the Texas Air National Guard, but until now, had never actually flown in one. More than that, he had never left the country. But as they lifted off at seven that morning, that would change. During an eight-day deployment with his unit, Karley would visit Hawaii, Australia, Samoa, and Guam. I was honestly in awe the entire time, said Karley. I'd never really thought I would have an opportunity to go anywhere with the Air Force, besides maybe a Middle East deployment. Initially, when they told me about the trip, I thought it was just a training exercise. I definitely didn't expect to go to the places we did. I'd only been to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri in my entire life. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a secluded child, but we weren't big travelers as a family. After a quick refueling stop in San Diego, his initial escapades took him on a brief overnight to Hawaii and then the crew made their way to the second stop, American Samoa. During the course of the flight, Karley got called to report up to the flight deck. He thought there was some type of engine malfunction, but was relieved to know that the issue wasn't an aircraft problem at all. When I got up to the flight deck, our commander tells me we are about to cross the Equator, Karley said. I was excited, and at that moment realized how far I truly was from home. I didn't know there was more to it though, when the commander informed me of a tradition in the Air Force that the first time you fly over the equator, you have to put all your clothes on backwards. I thought he was joking around with me, until I saw two other crew members beginning to turn their shirts around. It was fun and a great experience, I was just glad to be part of it. The crew arrived in Samoa around 9 p.m. The small group of islands rest in the South Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and New Zealand. He didn't see anything until the next morning, but when Karley woke up, he arose to a humid climate and beautifully scenic mountain range. Having never been out of the central time zone, this new scenery was beyond anything he could have expected. On extended trips the C-130 crews take an engine mechanic along with them, so in the event of an aircraft issue they have someone proficient who can analyze and fix the problems effectively. Karley, along with one other technician, maintained regular inspections of the aircraft throughout the trip. After fixing a few maintenance glitches, he was able to explore the local area before they departed the next day. Every moment I was there I kept thinking, I can't believe I am halfway around the world, he said. Samoa was definitely my favorite stop on the entire trip. The people were great and it was just a gorgeous place. Then the next day we headed out for Cairns, Australia, and had to cross the International Date Line. That was crazy for me because we took off Friday morning and landed in Australia Saturday night. Calling family, it was kind of hard to comprehend the time difference at first. On top of that, being in another country was so much to take in. In Australia, the accents, and the people driving on the other side of the road was so interesting for me. July 8, 2016 - U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class John Karley, 136th Maintenance Squadron propulsion technician, Texas Air National Guard, takes a photo of the scenery in Cairns, Australia, outside of the back of the C-130H2 Hercules aircraft, during a temporary-duty assignment. The crew traveled to Hawaii, Australia, American Samoa, Wake Island, and Guam. (Texas Air National Guard courtesy photo) Thirty minutes south of Cairns was Townsville, Australia. They would stop here and pick up a load of equipment before traveling to Guam and Wake Island. Karley was able to explore the World War II historical land mark, and then as they made their last stop back in Hawaii before heading back to mainland America, he was able to take in more of the island and enjoy his final day on the beach swimming and staring out at the crystal blue water. After eight days, the crew touched back down in Fort Worth, in the 105 degree Texas heat. I'll never forget that experience, literally being on the opposite side of the world, Karley reminisced. It's not something you can just take in and go on with your life. Texas is beautiful, but that was completely different. The scenery, the water and beaches, and the mountains. It was unforgettable, and I am so thankful that I got a chance to go. It gave me a new perspective on the world and my aircraft, and now I'm excited about the next trip. Anywhere I can go, I'll take it. Learn more about Texas Air National Guard By Texas Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Kristina Overton Provided through DVIDS Copyright 2016 Comment on this article Downtown Las Vegas now offers authentic Northern Chinese cuisine at Red Mansion. Artfully and freshly prepared, Red Mansion features Beijing-style dishes, handmade noodles as well as expertly prepared house-made dim sum. The dishes are creative, healthy and beautifully plated, using only the freshest ingredients. Red Mansion is helmed by Master Chef Li Yu, formerly of Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace. Chef Yu is renowned by both guests and food critics for creating menus that feature unique noodle dishes, dumplings, soups and specialty items. Among the menu offerings Chef Yu and his team serve are Yang Zhou style fried rice with shrimp, pork, eggs, carrots and peas; pork or shrimp and chive dumplings; scallop and asparagus with X.O. sauce; Sichuan twice-cooked pork, bell pepper with onions; seafood in clay pot (shrimp, scallop, fish fillet, crabs, mushrooms and Napa cabbage in chicken broth) and Ma Po tofu with minced beef or pork. Chef Yu has been perfecting the art of noodle making and preparing Chinese cuisine for more than 30 years. His love of food began with his mother, who inspired him to become a chef. He studied at Beijing Culinary School, where he graduated at the top of his class. After graduation, he worked at the Hwa-Tian Food and Beverage Group for 22 years as the Chinese culinary association director. During this time, at the special request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, Chef Yu was charged with creating diplomatic banquets for the Prime Minister of China. He eventually moved to Las Vegas, where he opened Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace as its executive chef. Friday night Ian Anderson, lead vocalist, flautist and instrumentalist of British rock band Jethro Tull put on an incredible show titled Best of Jethro Tull featuring Homo Erraticus, referring to Andersons newest release (Photo credit: Edison Graff). Photo credit: Edison Graff. The first half of the show showcased songs from Homo Erraticus including Doggerland, Enter the Uninvited and The Engineer before a brief intermission and a second half featuring Jethro Tull hits such as Aqualung, Living in the Past and Locomotive Breath. Photo credit: Edison Graff. Throughout the show, Andersons energetic performance was complemented by video segments and other theatrics. Photo credit: Edison Graff. This week, The Angry Butcher, a contemporary take on the classic American steakhouse at Sams Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, celebrated its grand opening (Pictured: Boyd Gaming Executive Chairman Bill Boyd and President and CEO Keith Smith are joined by The Angry Butcher). The Angry Butcher has an authentic and comfortable environment and features an eclectic menu of rustic steakhouse fare paired with signature side dishes. The Angry Butcher is the latest in a series of debuts at Boyd Gaming properties nationwide, including Alder & Birch Cocktails and Dining and Ondori Asian Kitchen at The Orleans; California Noodle House at California Hotel and Casino; Briggs Oyster Co. at Suncoast Hotel and Casino; and many more. Ben & Jerrys 34th Annual Free Cone Day, held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the District at Green Valley Ranch and Sunset Station Hotel & Casino Scoop Shops was a great success, giving away more than 6,500 free cones (Pictured above: FANTASYs Koree and Tracey with Country Superstars Cody Collins Photo credit: Ben & Jerrys). Photo: Scott Harrison/ RETNA/ www.harrisonphotos.com. Each year, the Henderson shops enlist the help of local celebrities to scoop ice cream to benefit childrens charities, and this year, the Lied Discovery Childrens Museum and St. Judes Ranch for Children earned more than $2,000 in combined donations over the course of the days event. Photo credit: Ben & Jerrys. The District at Green Valley Ranch Scoop Shop welcomed a star-studded scooper lineup including the members of Recycled Percussion, Steph MacKenzie and Chris Foxx from 97.1s Foxx and MacKenzie in the Morning, Kyle and Nate from Chippendales, Jersey Boys Travis Cloer and Deven May, hypnotist Marc Savard, Kristi Holden and Kristin Hertzenberg from PHANTOM: A Las Vegas Spectacular, Thunder From Down Under blokes Leigh, Marcus and Matty, FANTASYs Tracey and Koree, Cody Collins (Country Superstars), BMX pro Ricardo Laguna, and Davey D and Lady G from Hot 97.5s Morning Show. Photo: Scott Harrison/ RETNA/ www.harrisonphotos.com. Some of Nevadas pageant royalty stopped by to help assist St. Judes fundraising efforts: Mrs. Nevada-America 2012 Kristie Jelinsky, Little Miss Nevada Princess 2012 Adajah Milam, Young Miss Nevada Princess 2012 Nicola Timmons, Pre-Teen Nevada Princess 2012 Jia Bleu Harris, and Teen Nevada Princess 2012 Chelsea Williams. Photo credit: Ben & Jerrys. Additionally, the District at Green Valley Ranch location featured a DJ, face painting and balloon artists and welcomed back GAMES2U, a mobile unit featuring a variety of interactive games and activities. At the Sunset Station scoop shop, Lied Discovery Childrens Museum had an interactive display and a visit from Curious George. Photo credit: Ben & Jerrys. About the Charities For 21 years, Lied Discovery Childrens Museum has been Las Vegas favorite family fun and education destination. Located at 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North in downtown Las Vegas, the museum features more than 100 interactive exhibits based on science, art and culture for children and families. For more information, visit www.LDCM.org or call 702-382-3445. St. Judes Ranch for Children, located in Boulder City, serves all abandoned and neglected children and families, creating new chances, new choices and new hope in a safe, homelike environment while working to break the vicious cycle of child abuse and provide help and hope to children and families. For more information, please call 702-294-7100 or visit www.stjudesranch.org. Photo credit: Ben & Jerrys. On Saturday, June 2, KGB: Kerrys Gourmet Burgers at Harrahs Las Vegas celebrated its second anniversary with Chef Kerry Simon and special guest Sammy Hagar (Photo credit: Cashman Photos). Photo credit: Cashman Photos. Guests enjoyed specialty cocktails made with Sammy Hagars Beach Bar Rum throughout the day and had the opportunity to meet and take photos with the legendary rocker. Joe Satriani, famed guitarist and member of the band Chickenfoot, was also in attendance. Photo credit: Cashman Photos. Photo credit: Cashman Photos. Japan has given many things to the world that I cherish, but few of them have an unofficial holiday that gives me the excuse to celebrate them. Every October first, along with sake lovers all over Japan and around the world, I get to observe Nihonshu no Hi, also known as Sake Day. Like wine, no one knows exactly when sake first made an appearance. In a similar fashion to grape wine, the knowledge that fermented rice eventually yields an alcoholic beverage was probably discovered in accidental and then later deliberate stages, as innovative and curious folks explored ways of getting drunk. Sake production and demand is likely to have peaked in Japan the mid 19th century when a law was passed allowing anyone to become a brewer. As many as 30,000 breweries were opened in the year of the laws passing, though that number dwindled as taxes on sake and its raw materials increased through the end of the century. Despite ups and downs, and not being anywhere near its 19th century production levels, sake is seeing a major renaissance around the world, and that is worth celebrating for any sake lover. More and more excellent sake is leaving Japan and making its way abroad. All of which means that in early October youll not only have something to celebrate but, some really good stuff to celebrate with, should you care to partake in the 11th Annual Sake day celebration put on by San Franciscos own True Sake store. As in past years this celebration is a benefit for the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, who direct funds to many good causes. Sake Day is an opportunity to taste an assortment of sake, eat some good Japanese food, and listen to a little music in a casual atmosphere. Various tasting stations will be set up that will allow attendees to compare different styles of sake, blind taste some varieties, as well as explore flaws like heat damage. If youre looking for a way to learn about sake, youd be hard pressed to find a better occasion to experience a number of them than this little event. 11th Annual Sake Day Celebration Saturday, October 1 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM SF Armory 1800 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103 (map) Tickets are $75 and should be purchased in advance online, as the event may sell out. A valid photo ID will be required for entry. A word of caution for those used to wine tastings. Spitting is not normal at sake tastings, and consequently, spittoons arent usually available. For those who want to taste without getting wasted, I recommend bringing an empty water bottle into which you can surreptitiously spit. Stakes are as high as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump head into their first debate just six weeks before the election. (AFP/Paul J. Richards) Stakes are as high as they get since there are just six weeks until the November 8 election. Polls show a close race, with Clinton, 68, enjoying an edge. As many as 90 million Americans, some estimate, will be glued to their television to catch the showdown. Many analysts say debates usually don't win a candidate the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence, or the slightest slip, can do serious damage. Plenty of American voters will have made a decision by now, to be sure. Most have. But nine per cent by some estimates still don't know who to vote for, after a long campaign in which bitter attacks have often replaced substance. And this year has been like none in the past, with Trump, 70, using social media around the clock in combative fashion, while often making mistakes, misstatements and blunders without troubling his base. CLINTON CRAM SESSION On Saturday, the New York Times endorsed Clinton, who ahead of the debates has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practicing with relatives playing Trump. She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can't control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs. If he reacts by attacking, Trump also risks losing women's votes; he already has a harder time with women voters, and they make up 53 per cent of those who turn out. And any slip is sure to be a TV news sound bite. Clinton's campaign released a long list of lies it attributes to Donald Trump ahead of the debate. Trump in turn says preparations are "going very well," trying to at least appear relaxed. Friday he won the endorsement of former conservative rival Senator Ted Cruz. Trump took Friday to prepare, and still had to work Sunday on the debate. But he continues with campaign rallies on other days, including Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia. Trump seems unwilling to train with a Hillary stand-in. But he has watched videos of his opponent in previous debates. Supporters in Roanoke said they hoped Trump could keep his cool. "I expect him to be more presidential but still tough," said Amanda Phillips, 36, and a social worker. She said she was "not 100 per cent for the wall (with Mexico), and hopes Trump will be "more humane and not too hardcore." 'BE YOURSELF' Clinton, making her second presidential bid, is an old hand at debates and considered solid. In some ways, she may have more to lose. After almost 40 years of public service, she is very well versed on the issues, and 88 per cent of Americans believe she is smart. But 65 per cent say they do not find her honest. And 52 per cent have a negative opinion of a woman they see as cerebral, distant or cold. Her image has been sullied by Trump attacks over her email scandal, the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-to-play donations, and her ties to Wall Street. "Be yourself and explain what motivates you," President Barack Obama suggested to his former secretary of state, who as president would carry on the legacy of his two administrations. Runningmate Tim Kaine has said of Clinton: "When the spotlights are at the brightest and the pressure is the most intense, that's when she brings her A-plus game." Trump has not yet experienced a presidential debate: 90 minutes of intense questioning, with only one opponent and a moderator, who on Monday will be NBC news anchor Lester Holt. But that does not worry the former reality TV star. He is good on his feet, and unpredictable, more comfortable in the limelight than on issues. He has promised to be "very respectful" with Clinton. Trump is still perceived more negatively than Clinton: 61 per cent of Americans have a negative view of him, many saying they are put off by his personality and aggressiveness. Workers process pineapple at a local firm. The customs sector recommends that the authorities review policies for export processing enterprises to assure business equality. - Photo baodansinh.vn Decree No 29/2008/ND-CP, dated March 14, 2008, defined these enterprises as either companies operating in export processing zones or firms operating in industrial and economic zones and exporting all the products that they manufacture. Decree No 24/2000/ND-CP, issued on July 31, 2000, reiterated that these enterprises must export all their products. However, the latest Enterprise Law and the Investment Law, which came into effect in mid-2015, do not stipulate the types of export processing enterprises or regulate the percentage of goods they are to export. The slackening regulations result in almost no difference between export processing enterprises and normal firms, although the export processing enterprises enjoy preferential treatment, the customs sector said. Specifically, Circular No 219/ 2013/TT-BTC, issued by the finance ministry on December 31, 2013, stated that normal domestic enterprises which sell goods to export processing enterprises will enjoy value-added tax (VAT) rate of zero per cent. The same goods, if traded between normal domestic enterprises only, will bear VAT rates of 5-10 per cent. The customs sector said it was necessary for the authorities to maintain the regulation requiring export processing enterprises to export all their products and reconsider preferential policies to assure business equality. The sector suggested that the VAT incentive applied in case domestic firms sell goods to export processing enterprises should be abolished. The incentive should only be applied when export processing enterprises imported goods from foreign countries. An official from the management board of industrial zones in southern Dong Nai Province told Dien dan Doanh nghiep on condition of anonymity that because of the lack of regulations on export processing firms under the enterprise and investment laws, the board is quite hesitant to certify the companies. Managing the firms also embarrassed the Dong Nai Department of Customs, which reportedly said many of them did not meet production facility standards, as required under Decree No 114/2015/ND-CP issued last year on export processing, industrial and economic zones. Fifteen out of more than 90 export processing enterprises licensed by the board did not qualify, the department said. Sustainable development is an inevitable trend and is increasingly popular in the business community, both globally and in Viet Nam. - Photo baodansinh.vn 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 employee's 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. Big shot Hanoi buyers are looking to spread the wealth to the provinces A range of real estate projects have been introduced to Hanois market from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Danang and Nha Trang. The projects include The Charm, Sunrise City, Ocean Villas, Hyatt Regency, Olalani, Fusion Alya, Azura and Blooming Park. Talking with VIR at a recent road show to introduce Sunrise City, located in Ho Chi Minh, in Hanoi, Novaland Joint Stock Company marketing deputy director Huynh Du An said many units were sold to Hanoians and those from northern provinces. Meanwhile, a range of other central and southern projects have been rushing into Hanoi. Setia Becamex launched Binh Duong provinces Ecolakes My Phuoc in the capital late last week, a week before TD Group introduced the Costa Nha Trang to Hanoians. This week Singapores Guoco Lands Canary, located at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Binh Duong province, will be unveiled to northern customers. Bringing Ecolakes My Phuoc to Hanois market is one of our key marketing strategies. Hanoians are paying more attention to higher standards of living and are interested in ecological housing, said Khoo Teck Chong, general director of Setia Becamex. VIR was told that for many projects in the central and southern parts, roughly 70 per cent of customers were from Hanoi and other northern provinces. Matthew Koziora, sales director of VinaCapital - developer of the Azura in Danang, said the first 60 units, out of 225, were launched in Hanoi recently. Out of the 40 units sold, 90 per cent of the buyers had come from Hanoi. Hanoi has, according to Koziora, proven itself to be a key market for most new projects in Vietnam, given the demographics of these immediate catchments. While condominium offerings will always be available in Hanoi due to previous pent-up demands, we can see that not all projects will enjoy a healthy sell-through, as was seen 12 months ago. We do see, however, given the price differentials between house and land packages in Hanoi versus Ho Chi Minh City, that this market will be better received in the current marketplace and over the next six months as opposed to condominium project offerings at this time, Koziora said Ngo Huu Truong, managing director of a real estate agency in Ho Chi Minh City, said many customers from Hanoi and Haiphong had come to Ho Chi Minh City to find out information about new projects there. Demand is real and many projects investors have realised this trend and they are coming to Hanoi to promote their projects, Truong said. He also said the jury was still out on how effective the promotions were. I think that these developers [who bring their projects to Hanoi] have at least seen their target to raise their image and brand names in northern customers, Truong said. Suspected U.S. airstrikes in southeastern Afghanistan are believed to have killed a top commander of the extremist Pakistan Taliban and several of his partners. The overnight attack took place in Bermal district of the Paktika province adjacent to the Pakistani border. Rais Khan, also known as Azam Tariq, of the so-called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, the TTP, and his son were among those reported killed in an overnight attack, according to militant sources. The U.S. military Sunday confirmed to VOA it carried out two airstrikes in the area, but refrained from discussing details for operational security reasons. We can confirm that U.S. forces conducted two air strikes recently in Bermal district on September 24 and 25. I can tell you that one air strike was conducted under counter terrorism authorities and the other airstrike was conducted in defense of friendly forces, it said. The Afghan Defense Ministry said national forces conducted operations in Bermal late on Saturday, killing nine militants. It said the dead included two al-Qaida commanders, adding security forces also have seized weapons, suicide vests and communication equipment. TTP has been waging a deadly insurgency on the state of Pakistan for over a decade. Most of it leaders and a large number of fighters fled to Afghanistan two years ago when the Pakistan military launched a major ground and air offensive against them in border areas. The counterterrorism operation mainly focused on North Waziristan, once condemned an epicenter of international terrorism. Pakistani authorities allege TTP extremists use Afghan sanctuaries with the help of the neighboring countrys spy agency for staging and plotting cross-border deadly attacks on civilians as well as security forces. Kabul, which has long blamed Islamabad for covertly supporting the Afghan Taliban, rejects the charges. The Pakistani Taliban is blamed for the killings of thousands of people in Pakistan during the past decade in terrorist attacks. But the military says its offensive near the Afghan border areas has eliminated terrorist infrastructures and killed more than 3,500 militants, which has significantly reduced the violence. Days after a police officer fatally shot a man in Charlotte, North Carolina the community continues demonstrations calling for justice. The family of the deceased released cellphone video of the moments surrounding his death, and while some expected the city to erupt, protests have remained peaceful. And those people out publicly supporting the demonstrators have grown more diverse. Arash Arabasadi reports. Until Saturday afternoon, uptown Charlotte, often called Queen city, and its parks, which served as meeting points for protesters every night this past week, were largely deserted before sundown. That is except for a few Charlotte residents who periodically dropped off cases of bottled water, vinegar, and masks for demonstrators who would be marching later in the night to protest the fatal police shooting of a man last Monday. Charlotte residents who arent marching are also helping out. Every night this week, unorganized individuals have taken it upon themselves to pick up those cases of water bottles and hand them out to protesters, to journalists and to each other. We just had to come out, we couldnt keep sitting at home in our white privilege, said Abraham Murray, a longtime Charlotte resident. Its true! his wife Chelsea chimed in. Weve been posting on Facebook at least to start a conversation, you know, baby steps. If youre not comfortable coming out its cool, but at least do something. Its much better than saying nothing. Despite riots that left many windows broken and one protester dead Wednesday, protests since then have remained calm and peaceful. Everybodys being really peaceful, so I think that should be rewarded with our support, said Abraham. Were here to stand with them, just handing out water so they can keep going. Chelsea and Abraham were far from the only ones. As protesters left Romare Bearden Park to continue marching uptown Thursday, some people stayed to pick up empty water bottles and abandoned signs. Many others were offering medical help to protesters. Joy, who preferred to be identified only by her first name, was quietly walking by herself behind protesters for hours Friday night with a small cardboard sign that read MEDIC. I have medical training, Im here to offer it if anyone needs it, and I support this cause, she said. Its important. And if anybody needs medical help Im here to provide it because I feel its my responsibility. Joy, who proudly boasted that she was born down the street and stayed here ever since, stopped just minutes later to help a protester who was severely dehydrated. Many of Charlottes police officers showed compassion and their love of their city during the protests. Captain Mike Campagna of the Charlotte Mecklenburg police department, the same department coming under fire over the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, approached individuals with first aid kits Friday night. Are you medical help? he asked. Heard someone complaining about a headache ... can you tell people to drink up, avoid dehydration out here? Thanks. Self-proclaimed bike crews also circled protests, carrying water and snacks, ready to get supplies or help for whoever needed it. Though a midnight curfew was announced as the city of Charlotte was in a state of emergency since Thursday, police did not arrest protesters marching peacefully after midnight. The curfew is a tool that we will use to keep the peace, Major Gerald Smith of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said. "And right now we have a peaceful protest." Many protesters have also opposed the presence of the National Guard in Charlotte, and multiple activists have called for their removal from the city. But when it comes to individual National Guard officers, many of them are Charlotte natives themselves, saddened to see their city receiving so much national attention for a tragedy. To express their appreciation for the officers, many protesters were handing them flowers throughout the night. Its heartbreaking, said Rickey Dixon, a Charlotte native and Staff Sergeant of the North Carolina National Guard. It could have been a lot worse, but the city has acted quickly. Dixon said he believed deeply in the spirit of his city, its commitment to peace and justice, and to welcoming all those who visit it. Its still the queen city, Rickey said. Well continue to take care of it. Threatened by Islamic extremism, Christian and Jewish groups in Turkey are growing more fearful amid increasing terror attacks and the governments state of emergency following a failed coup attempt, representatives of the minority communities told VOA. Christian and Jews represent about two-tenths of one percent of Turkeys mostly Muslim population of 79 million. But pro-government media outlets as well as some government officials have accused them of playing a role in the July coup attempt and have stepped up the rhetoric against Christians and Jews. At a Democracy and Martyrs rally in August, a pro-government, million-strong anti-coup demonstration in Istanbul, three of the speakers linked religious minorities to coup plotters, calling them seeds of Byzantium, crusaders, and a flock of infidels. Christian and Jewish leaders, some of whom denounced the coup attempt, were in attendance at the rally in attempt to show solidarity with the government. Turkey has been in a state of emergency since the coup attempt and tens of thousands of Turks have been jailed for investigations. Scapegoats Turkish human rights lawyer Orhan Kemal Cengiz told VOA pro-government media have embraced an alarming narrative of scapegoating Turkeys religious minorities and connecting the coup plot to them. Particularly pro-government media outlets have taken an anti-U.S. and anti-EU attitude, which I can call a xenophobic attitude, in which they attempt to demonize the West and accuse it of the coup attempt, he said. And this narrative targets and harms non-Muslims in Turkey. Scholar Rifat Bali, who has written several books on Turkish Jews, says that even though the report of minority ties to the coup have no foundation, Christians and Jews are being targeted. The nonsensical, so-called news reports that claim that some religious minorities in Turkey are behind the coup attempt are not surprising, he said. They are actually quite expected. In an environment where conspiracy theories are commonplace and prevalent, looking for foreigners behind everything becomes normal. Historic threats Christians and Jews, who have been living in parts of what is now Turkey for centuries, have been exposed to violent attacks in Turkeys history. The 1934 anti-Jewish pogrom in eastern Thrace, and the 1955 anti-Christian pogrom in Istanbul, forced tens of thousands of non-Muslims to flee Turkey. The spread of Islamic State (IS) terror in Turkey in recent months has shaken Christians and Jews. According to news reports, IS cell members have plotted terrors attacks on churches and synagogues in Turkey. IS sees Christianity and Judaism as an enemy to its radical Muslim ideology. Foreigners, including European Christians and Israeli Jews, have died in terror attacks in Turkey linked to IS. Threats against Christians and churches on social media by Islamist extremists in Turkey have intensified. Some people have sent death threats to the mobile phones of 15 pastors, said Umut Sahin, the secretary-general of the Union of Protestant Churches, an umbrella organization for Protestant denominations in Turkey. They used the same terms and arguments as IS in their text messages, said Sahin, a pastor in Izmir. They sent the pastors propaganda videos of IS. There are about 10,000 Protestant Christians in Turkey. Protestant church leader Ihsan Ozbek said some churches have canceled Sunday services because of fears of an IS attack. This has created deep fear and panic in our community, he said of continuing terror from IS. Creating more refugees Some Turkish Assyrian Christians, whose brethren in Syria have faced killings and kidnappings at the hands of IS, are finding safety abroad. The number of Assyrians immigrating to Western countries is also on the rise, said Erkan Metin, an Assyrian human rights lawyer in Turkey. Some have left Turkey and many others are preparing for that. There are about 25,000 Assyrians in Turkey who live mostly in the southeast. Many Assyrians from Turkey are also citizens of Western countries, said Tuma Celik, the Turkey representative of the European Syriac Union (ESU) and the editor-in-chief of the Assyrian monthly newspaper, Sabro. Those Assyrians used to spend part of the year in Turkey, he said. But as threats of IS are on the rise and the purges of the government are getting increasingly commonplace and violent, many of them have not come to Turkey this year. But most of Turkeys 18,000 Jews, who live mainly in Istanbul, are quietly staying put. Synagogues have taken tight security measures. British media reports, citing intelligence officials in Turkey, reported in the spring that IS was plotting attacks on Jewish institutions in Turkey. There is a continued war environment both inside and outside of Turkey, said Isil Demirel, an anthropologist from Turkey who writes for the online newspaper Avlaremoz, which covers Jewish-related topics. And the fact that the war is perpetrated by a group called the Islamic State in the name of religion further intensifies the fears and concerns of people about their lives and future, he said. Two Turkish synagogues were bombed in 2003 by Islamist terrorists. So the Jews in Turkey have learnt required lessons from these attacks and are doing their best to take precautions to prevent potential ones, Rifat Bali, a prominent Jewish scholar based in Istanbul, told VOA. Time is running out for Congress to keep the U.S. government open and fully functioning. Federal spending authority expires at midnight Friday and, so far, Democrats and Republicans have been unable to agree on a temporary funding extension, much less yearlong appropriations for the new fiscal year that begins October 1. In what has become an annual Washington ritual, lawmakers are squabbling as a partial government shutdown looms. The immediate goal: a stopgap spending bill, or continuing resolution. We are talking about passing a CR [continuing resolution] here that takes us to December 9, said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican. We will reconvene after the election and decide how to deal, finally, with the funding bills for next year. Lawmakers fighting for reelection in November have a clear incentive to conclude Congress work promptly and return to the campaign trail. Republicans control both houses of Congress and are defending more seats than Democrats. We want to get our work done, said House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. We do not want to have high drama around here at this time. Democrats maintain, even if a short-term spending bill passes, there is much Congress has left undone. Republicans are like schoolkids begging for an early recess, said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. Republicans would rather be out asking for peoples votes than doing the peoples business. Closed-door negotiations reportedly have forged an agreement to combat the Zika virus. But differences remain on other thorny topics, like funding to fix one citys contaminated drinking water. This is a highly irresponsible Congress, said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. The people that we are fighting for here are invisible to the Republicans, and they are indifferent to their needs. But Republicans argue that Democrats are to blame for bottlenecks in passing legislation, having used procedural blocking maneuvers to stymie appropriations and other bills in the Senate. The minority has tools they can use at their disposal to tie us up, and thats what they chose to do, Ryan said. For now, no one is panicking. I think we are close to finalizing an agreement, McConnell said last week. Even if a shutdown is averted, a piecemeal approach to government funding is not without cost to the Pentagon and other federal entities that do multi-year planning. Budget instability undercuts stable planning and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, often in ways taxpayers cannot even see, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Senate panel last week. It baffles our friends, and emboldens foes. It is managerially and strategically unsound, and unfairly dispiriting to our troops, their families, and our workforce. But stopgap spending is better than none at all. On Friday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest urged Congress to avoid another shutdown cliffhanger. As thousands of migrants and refugees flee the African continent for Europe and beyond, some are looking for new ways to make peoples lives better on their home continent. More than 50 countries including United States, Britain and European countries made a financial pledge to support nations that are large sources of refugees and migrants. Together, they have pledged to increase contributions in 2016 by $4.5 billion, including $1 billion from the United States. The commitments were made during the Leaders Summit on Refugees, convened by U.S. President Barack Obama during the U.N. General Assembly. This commitment signals a shift from a purely humanitarian response, which is typically used to address refugee movements, but doesnt get to the root cause of the problem, said Jenifer Fenton, the public information officer at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This is a broader systematic [response], she said. So its sustainable and that involves rallying not only member states and the humanitarian actors, but also developmental agencies, international financial institutions, private sector, civil society, so host communities [are involved] from the outset. Investment One example of a commitment made to change the lives of refugees and migrants was made by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The bank which is run by the European Union was approached by the government of Ethiopia with a proposal to build four integrated agro-industrial parks during the next three to five years spread across different parts of the country and offer jobs to refugees. The EIB has pledged to provide $200 million and an additional $300 million in funding will be provided by the European Commission, European Union, the World Bank, and the United Kingdom. Patrick Walsh, the deputy director general of Global Operations Outside the EU for the EIB said the parks will allow entrepreneurs shared access to resources like roads, water and electricity. "The big advantage of these industrial parks, in this case agro industrial parks, is that you equip together a number of companies in different sectors and you provide common services which really makes it easier for companies and entrepreneurs to come together, he said. Ethiopia has prioritized the building of industrial parks for several years and the country has seen growth in its exports of leather, coffee, textiles, cut flowers and other products. The country has identified 17 possible areas for agro-industrial parks and has created an Industrial Parks Development Corporation to oversee the plan. Ethiopia has a stated goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2025 and becoming the hub of the light-manufacturing on the African continent. Jobs A stipulation of the EIB funding for the parks is that they offer job opportunities for refugees. The parks are expected to offer 30,000 jobs to refugees out of the 100,000 jobs created. Ethiopia is home to more than 700,000 displaced people from surrounding countries including South Sudan, Somalia and Eritrea. We see our role there as contributing, helping the governments to create jobs so that people dont have to take these dangerous migratory journeys outside of their countries, Walsh said. If done correctly, the EIB and other stakeholders hope this could be a win-win, both boosting Ethiopias economy and decreasing the flow of migrants to Europe. We know that Ethiopia is for many a stopping point before making the dangerous onward journey to final destinations in Europe, said EIB President Werner Hoyer. Initiatives and projects like this provide people with a choice to stay closer to home and an opportunity for economic growth as well. U.S. presidential candidates met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday on the eve of their first presidential debate. The talks were private, but the campaigns for Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump each issued a statement describing their sessions. Clinton stressed the importance of a "strong and secure Israel." She said she remains committed to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians that comes from direct negotiations and not an outcome imposed by the United Nations or other outsiders. The former U.S. secretary of state also pledged to enforce the international nuclear agreement with Iran, which Netanyahu has sharply criticized. Trump's campaign said he and Netanyahu discussed "at length'' Israel's use of a fence to help secure its borders, an example Trump frequently cites when he's talking about the wall he wants to build between the U.S. and Mexico. Trump also promised to recognize Jerusalem as "the undivided capital of the State of Israel." Such a move would be a major reversal of U.S. policy since the founding of Israel in 1948. The status of Jerusalem is a highly contentious issue between Israelis and Palestinians. The U.S. has its embassy in Tel Aviv, and officially does not recognize Jerusalem as a part of any country. The meetings will help serve to showcase the candidates' expertise in foreign policy ahead of their first debate Monday night in suburban New York, six weeks before election day. Conflicts over land in Colombia are likely to increase following a peace deal to end half a century of war as once no-go areas in the Andean country open up for business and development projects, land rights experts said. The government and rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are due to sign a peace accord Monday to end Latin America's longest-running conflict, which has killed 200,000 people. The war, which began as an uprising by the Marxist-inspired rebels over unequal land distribution, has forced nearly 7 million people from their homes, leaving Colombia with one of the world's largest displaced populations. The peace accord pledges to address unequal land distribution, bridge the urban-rural divide and foster development in neglected, rural areas hit hard by violence. Land bank Under the accord, landless and displaced farmers will be entitled to credit and farmland through a land bank that aims to redistribute 7 million hectares of land over the next decade. Luis Fernando Arias, head of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, said indigenous groups would vote in favor of the peace deal in an October 2 plebiscite, which recent polls indicate will pass, paving the way for 7,000 FARC fighters to demobilize. But he expressed concerns that peace would send more oil and mining companies into Colombia's unexplored frontiers and jungle areas, particularly in former rebel strongholds in the south. "There is a lot of territory in Colombia that multinationals have not reached because of the presence of the FARC," Arias told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview. "Now with the FARC gone, they will come in without those security concerns." Failure to consult Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities say companies operating in Latin America's fourth-largest oil producer have often failed to consult properly with them about projects on their lands, which threaten their water resources and the environment. "We will face more pressure from the multinationals and big projects from the government that want to exploit our lands. There are huge economic interests at stake," Arias said. "We know that the conflict will now be in terms of social and environmental conflicts." Under the accord, the FARC would hand in its weapons and eventually become a political party. But this leaves the door open for other organized criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining, along with another rebel group the National Liberation Army (ELN) to replace the FARC and fight over the spoils, analysts said. "It's clear that land conflicts will continue in Colombia," said Carlos Guevara, coordinator of We Are Defenders, a Bogota group that campaigns to protect human rights activists. 51 activists slain So far this year, 51 land and environmental activists have been killed in Colombia, many by unidentified gunmen, he said. The government says it will move quickly to try to stop other crime gangs from expanding their operations. Another factor fueling land disputes is the lack of a proper land registry system, according to Daniel Paez, head of the Urban and Regional Sustainability Studies group at Colombia's Los Andes University. "The government does not have the ability to develop the land bank because it does not know who owns the land and who is on it. We are ahead of ourselves," Paez said. It could be the defining moment of the 2016 campaign. Mondays first presidential debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump may draw, by some estimates, 100 million viewers, who will be able to take the measure of the candidates for the first time on the same stage together. The stakes for both contenders are enormous. Viewers will not only be paying attention to what is said, but how its said and how the candidates react to one another. Which Trump will show up? The debate will be a key moment for Trump, who has closed the polling gap in recent weeks against Democrat Hillary Clinton in part because he has presented himself as more disciplined than he has in the past. He has also focused on his central theme: We will make America strong again. We will make America safe again, and we will make America great again! Trump told supporters at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, one of the critical swing states where he has drawn even with Clinton in recent polls. For her part, Clinton looks to the debate to reassure her supporters and to push her message of wanting to build a more inclusive economy, as she did during a recent rally in Orlando, Florida. We are all of value. In the United States of America, the greatest country in the world, we believe everyone is created equal! Intense scrutiny amid tightening polls The first of the three debates, traditionally the most watched, comes at a potentially game-changing moment, said Matthew Dallek of George Washington University. Right now the election is closer than a lot of people anticipated, and so it matters a great deal for both of them. WATCH: Young voters at Hostra University ahead of the debate Televised presidential debates began in 1960 with Richard Nixon and John Kennedy. Since then, the debates have had an impact on some but not necessarily all presidential elections. In a normal year, the debates are one of the only ways to move the needles after the conventions. They are the moment where more people tune in and watch, said George Mason University associate professor of government Jeremy Mayer. Prepare or just wing it? Trump and Clinton appear to be prepping for the debates in different ways. Clinton has spent a lot of time in debate practice, including mock face-offs with surrogates portraying Trump. Trumps advance work has been reportedly less time-consuming and intense. He also took a swipe at Clinton during a rally in Pennsylvania. Well, they say she has been practicing for the debate. Some people think shes sleeping. Democrats hope a more reckless version of Trump shows up in the first debate, more in keeping with his past performances in some of the Republican primary debates. But Trump's new campaign staff seems to have had some success of late in keeping him focused and less distracted by the temptation of launching personal attacks. Different audience Both Trump and Clinton performed well in their respective party primary debates earlier this year. It is possible to argue that Trump won the Republican nomination by making the most of his debate performances and his slashing attacks on rivals like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. But Trump will be playing to a different audience in the debates with Clinton. He will be seeking to improve his image with moderate Republican voters and undecided independents who likely wont be swayed by the kind of partisan attacks he launched in the primary debates. Clinton will also be able to call on her experience in the primary debates with her main challenger, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Clinton generally was able to hold her own in a number of the debates with Sanders and often put him on the defensive by raising questions about the practicality of some of his proposals. But Clinton has her challenges as well. Polls show a majority of voters don't trust her. The controversial way she handled questions about her use of a private email server while secretary of state continues to dog her in the final weeks of this election campaign. Trumps unpredictable nature also presents a challenge for Clinton as she prepares for the first debate, said Georgetown Universitys Stephen Wayne. The thing about Donald Trump is that he is not as disciplined as Hillary Clinton. If you get under Donald Trumps skin, he is apt to react in a very personal way. Opportunity and risk Both contenders suffer from high disapproval ratings from voters, and the debates represent both opportunity and risk. What a debate can do is give a candidate a second chance to make a different impression or cement a negative impression, said Jeremy Mayer. In recent years, presidential debates may have been less consequential to election outcomes than they were early on. We can think of two presidential debates in American history, the first between [Democrat John] Kennedy and [Republican Richard] Nixon (1960) and the second between [Republican Gerald] Ford and [Democrat Jimmy] Carter (1976), where mistakes were made or appearances didnt look right that seemed to have an impact on the outcome, said Georgetowns Stephen Wayne. There will be a total of three presidential debates and one face-off between the two vice-presidential candidates, Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence. A 20-year-old suspect arrested in connection with the shooting spree at a mall in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington is being held without bond Sunday and faces five counts of first-degree murder, according to jail records. Arcan Cetin of Oak Harbor, Washington, was apprehended Saturday, nearly 24 hours after the massive manhunt began. The Turkish immigrant was mistakenly described after the shooting as a man of Hispanic origin. Washington State Patrol Sergeant Mark Francis said Sunday that in addition to going through the Oak Harbor residence tied to Cetin, investigators also are searching his vehicle looking for what might have motivated the shooting. Officials say Cetin was arrested as he walked down the street near his home in Oak Harbor, Washington, by a sheriff who had received a tip that Cetin was in the area. When officers confronted him, he did not run, said Lt. Mike Hawley of the Island County Sheriff's Office. Instead, he froze and complied, Hawley said. Cetin was not armed at the time of his arrest. "He said nothing," Hawley said. (He was) "Just kind of zombie-like." Cetin is scheduled to make a court appearance Monday. Cetin shot four women and one man in a Macy's store inside the Cascade Mall in the city of Burlington, about 100 kilometers north of Seattle. The women died at the scene and the man later died after being transported to a hospital. Eyewitnesses to Friday's rampage said people started running out of the shopping mall soon after gunfire rang out. Over the next few hours, police officers swarmed the area and methodically cleared the mall, then set up a search for the gunman. The Cascade Mall is an enclosed shopping center, featuring department stores, restaurants and a movie theater. A gunman has killed a prominent Jordanian writer in front of the courthouse where the writer was facing charges that a cartoon posted on his Facebook page was offensive to Islam. Nahed Hattar was shot and killed Sunday in front of Amman's Palace of Justice. The shooter was arrested, state new agency Petra reported. Hattar, who was a Christian, said the cartoon was intended as a mockery of jihadists. The cartoon showed an Arab man with two women, asking God to bring him a drink. Russians often call San Francisco the most Russian city in America, even though the city's population of Russian-speaking people is smaller than that of New York City. A crew from VOA's Russian Service recently walked around San Francisco to explore its Russian connection. Russian Hill one of the highest points in San-Francisco is the place where the future city was born. "This is the center of the city," said historian Andrew Zabegaylin. He said it was here that a small cemetery was discovered in the mid-19th century during the Gold Rush days. The cemetery was believed to be the final resting place for sailors and traders from the Alaskan Russian American Company. Years later it was moved to a different location. There are many other symbolic places in the Paris of the West, as Russians sometimes call San Francisco a city built on countless hills. If you look this way, you will see the The Holy Virgin Cathedral, also known as "Joy of All Who Sorrow, the largest Russian Orthodox place of worship on the U.S. West Coast. And here, at the Holy Trinity Church, the future Russian Patriarch Tikhon once ministered to a parish. The bells were donated by the Russian Emperor Alexander the Third himself. "This is the first Russian church in San Francisco, founded in 1857, the year that played a critical role in the first wave of Russian immigration, and the next wave after 1917," said Zabegaylin. The Russian immigrants who came to San Francisco Bay brought a new surge of creative energy. Many stories of these immigrants are told at the oldest Russian Center in the city. The local director of the largest museum of Russian culture in the Western Hemisphere, Yves Frankien, said this museum reflects the history of multiple generations of Russians. "It is a national museum, to which many Russian immigrants from around the world donated their personal and family artifacts. This is a museum which reflects Russian life before and during the Bolshevik revolution and reflects the life of San Franciscos Russian colony since the 1920s," said Frankien. Today, there are tens of thousands of Russian speakers in San Francisco. This generation is not just about the past but the future. We organize events that focus on the youth, said Zoya Choglokova of the Russian Center San Francisco. The Russian center also offers a kindergarten, gymnastics, folk dance and ballet classes where not only Russian-speaking residents bring their children, but also their non-Russian speaking neighbors. This place arguably can be a true reflection of the spirit of a big American city open to all cultures and to the ocean breeze. Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber has blown himself up in Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding 19. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast Sunday in the Iskan neighborhood, a mostly Shi'ite district. However, Islamic State a Sunni group considers Iraq's Shi'ite majority to be apostates and regularly targets them with bombings in crowded areas of Baghdad. Iraqi forces, backed by coalition airstrikes, have been fighting Islamic State militants since they captured large parts of Iraq more than two years ago. Southeast Asian nations have tried for years to establish a code of conduct for shipping, fishing and exploring for oil in the South China Sea. The idea is to avoid a conflict in the disputed, and potentially lucrative, waterway. But some regional experts say such a code may be pointless. Collin Koh Swee Lean, a maritime scholar at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said thats because most countries with overlapping claims in the region believe their military buildups there are justified. Koh said recently this militarization has become more nebulous in recent years. From pirates to fishermen, nearly everyone can be implicated if nations clash over ownership of the islands and waters in the South China Sea. Youll find that its very difficult to define exactly what militarization is, he said at a seminar hosted this week by the Saigon Center for International Studies in Ho Chi Minh City. Civilian fishing vessel or military patrol? China has rejected an international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines over Beijings claims to most of the South China Sea. Other governments claiming parts of the waterway are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have airstrips, cargo planes, and surveillance aircraft in these waters, Koh said, and all but Vietnam have fighter jets there. China is the only country to have bombers available. He said governments traditionally beefed up their militaries by deploying troops or arms. Now they are blurring the lines and investing in other ways, such as coast guards units. As countries tussle over this territory, Koh said just about everything can be militarized. States build housing for their fishermen all across the South China Sea, as well as piers where they can refuel -- both of which can serve soldiers. Helipads, which might be intended for search-and-rescue missions, can be used to launch weapons. In another sign that lines are blurring, Koh said fishing boats have attracted suspicion for being painted like navy patrol vessels. What if, he said, fishermen get drawn into the maritime nationalism and take on the role of vigilantes? Some of the smaller countries hope Washington could limit Beijings reach if Asian neighbors ever come to blows. But historian Edward Miller of Dartmouth College suggested that could be difficult with the more recent focus on coast guards and fishing fleets, rather than traditional projections of military force. They are moving the conflict into an area in which the United States cannot directly participate, said Miller, who has written on the U.S.-Vietnam relationship. Koh described a Malaysian program in which the government asks citizens to report potentially criminal behavior at sea. On the surface, that could just mean fishermen reporting signs of piracy, smuggling or illegal fishing. But it also could get civilians entangled in military affairs. Weighing utility of code of conduct In this context, South China Sea claimants are unlikely to agree on rules of the road, which would be hard to enforce, Koh said. My personal thought of a binding code of conduct is, its useless, he said. Still, such a code could give smaller nations the benefit of strength in numbers, said Nguyen Khac Giang, a senior researcher at the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research. For example, he said, if they write a document that clearly forbids building artificial islands, these countries would have a reference when complaining to China for doing just that. Southeast Asian countries prefer an international approach in the South China Sea because its easier for them to discuss with China in a group, within international law, Giang said. China has resisted discussing the South China Sea dispute in multinational gatherings, and says it will negotiate only bilateral agreements with individual states. Koh doubted the value of this approach. He said nations have swifter military resources these days and can deploy weapons on short notice. So if theyre accused of violating the code of conduct and using force in the South China Sea, they can say the actions are temporary, rather than outright militarization. The U.N. Security Council held urgent talks Sunday about the deadly surge of violence in Aleppo as Syrian and Russian jet fighters bombarded the rebel-controlled eastern sector of the Syrian city. "The Assad regime is explicit: it believes only in a military solution," U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power told the U.N. Security Council. "It says it is going to conquer militarily every last square inch of Syria. And it does not care whats left of Syria in pursuing that military solution." The United States, France and Britain called the emergency session to pressure Russia to control its ally Syria to end the attacks on the 275,000 people trapped in the city. The assault missile strikes, barrel bombs and artillery fire has flattened buildings, leaving streets filled with debris and chunks of concrete. The U.N. says some 213 people have been killed in the offensive. U.S. Ambassador Power said more than 150 air strikes had hit the city in the last three days, accusing Russia and Syria of conducting an "all-out offensive" to retake Aleppo. "Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals, and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive," she said. "Russia should be creating, not destroying, the conditions necessary for the resumption of political talks," British ambassador Matthew Rycroft said. "If it does not take these steps, and more, Russia will only confirm its status as an international pariah." "War crimes are being committed here in Aleppo," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre, who compared what is happening to the ancient city to battles in Sarajevo in Bosnia and Guernica during the Spanish civil war. He said Aleppo has become a "martyred city." The territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this, said Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin. U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura gave a bleak update on the situation, saying it is impossible to count the air strikes. Sources on the ground tell us they no longer have the capacity to count them accurately, he said. We heard the words unprecedented in quantity and also in scale and type, in the types of bombings." He urged that the cessation of hostilities not be "buried under the dust of Aleppo's rubble" and called on the Security Council to press for a stop to the violence, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and institute weekly unconditional 48-hour pauses to get humanitarian aid in and the seriously wounded out. Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar al-Ja'afari also addressed the meeting, vowing that the Syrian government will recapture all of Aleppo. The U.S., French and British ambassadors walked out when the Syrian envoy delivered his statement. Late Saturday, foreign ministers from the United States, France, Italy, Germany, Britain and high representatives of the European Union pushed Moscow to support humanitarian assistance, stop bombings on Syrians, and renew truce efforts. The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities, allow unfettered humanitarian assistance and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of U.N.-led talks about a political transition, the statement said. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC that Russia is "guilty of protracting this war and making it far more hideous" and suggesting that Moscow was possibly guilty of war crimes in the bombing of a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo last week that killed 20 people. The allies maintained their commitment to dismantle the Islamic State group and asked Russia to focus on al-Qaida-affiliated groups in Syria. In Pictures: Airstrikes on Aleppo 'Fight against terrorism' As the Russian-backed Syrian military pressed its Aleppo offensive 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 notably, 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 reinforced Western concerns that the Assad government is seeking a military end to the conflict, not a politically negotiated one, and that Russia supports that goal. The United Nations said intense airstrikes against rebel-held areas of Aleppo had left 1.75 million people without running water, days into one of the heaviest sieges of the war. Aleppo, the country's largest city, has been divided among government troops, rebel militias, Islamic extremists and Kurdish fighters since 2012. Syrian opposition media called the latest airstrikes over the city the "worst fighting" of the Syrian conflict. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump face off in the first of three nationally-televised debates Monday in Hempstead, New York. The Clinton-Trump showdown is likely to be one of the most-watched events of the U.S. presidential campaign and could have an impact on the outcome of what has become a close race for the White House. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has a preview from Washington. Zimbabwe's president said Saturday that the African Union was planning to form a splinter group with countries such as Russia, China and India if the U.N. Security Council did not include members of his continent next year. President Robert Mugabe said the African Union was still concerned that it had no permanent seats on the Security Council. Upon arrival in Harare from New York and this year's U.N. General Assembly late Saturday, the 92-year-old Zimbabwean leader told ZANU-PF supporters that the African Union wanted to be on the Security Council if veto powers of the five permanent members China, France, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and Russia were not removed. "It is not all permanent members being tough. It is Britain, France and [the United States of] America," he said. "If they remain adamant, they must not cry foul when we agree to form our own organization with countries like China, India and other Asian countries. This is what we want to do next year in September, when we have made a commitment." During his 30-minute speech, Mugabe did not refer to calls made Thursday by his Botswana counterpart, Ian Khama, to step down and allow fresh blood to improve Zimbabwe's economy. Reducing Violence, Restoring Access and Establishing the JIC The Russian Federation and the United States (hereafter - "the Sides") intend to undertake joint efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria, with special measures for the Aleppo region. 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. The Sides will designate a date and time at which the following measures will go into effect (designated as Day "D). 1. On Day "D," all parties to the cessation of hostilities (CoH) in Syria will recommit to the CoH and honor its terms in full, as set forth in the February 22, 2016 Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the United States, for a 48 hour period. In particular, these terms include: ceasing all attacks with any weapons, including aerial bombardments, rockets, mortars, and anti-tank guided missiles; refraining from acquiring or seeking to acquire territory from other parties to the CoH; allowing humanitarian agencies rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained access throughout areas under their operational control and allowing immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need; employing proportionate use of force (i.e. no greater than required to address an immediate threat) if and when responding in self-defense. The Sides will agree and inform all parties as to the date and time for "Day D." 2. On D+2, if the CoH in Syria has continued to hold to the mutual satisfaction of the Sides, they will extend it for a mutually agreed upon period of time. Subsequently, the Sides may decide to extend the CoH indefinitely, under the same terms. The Sides will use their influence with the parties to fully honor the terms of the CoH. 3. Special measures will also go into effect for the Castello Road area in Aleppo (as defined by mutually determined coordinates), specifically: a. Beginning Day D, and even prior to the establishment of checkpoints on the Castello road, humanitarian assistance will be delivered consistent with the terms of the CoH and established UN procedures, and in coordination with relevant UN representatives. At the Turkish border, the UN Monitoring Mission (UNMM) will continue to inspect and seal the trucks designated for delivery of humanitarian assistance via Castello Road to Eastern Aleppo. The seals will not be broken and the trucks will not be opened by any authority between the point of their review and sealing in Turkey and the point of their unloading at UN and its partners warehouses in east and west Aleppo. b. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) (or another agreed upon third party) will operate as soon as possible two checkpoints (at agreed upon locations) to verify that, until the UNOPS (or another agreed upon third party) checkpoints are established as clearly described below in this paragraph, only trucks inspected by the UNMM are transiting the road, and that the seals have not been broken. A small detachment of no more than twenty armed personnel per shift provided by, and mutually acceptable to, the government and opposition forces, will provide security for the SARC personnel at the checkpoints on the western and eastern ends of the Castello Road, respectively. The UN will monitor (by physical presence or remotely) the activities of all personnel at the checkpoints. These SARC-manned checkpoints and physical security for them will be handed over to independent, international personnel under the direction of UNOPS (or another agreed upon third party), as soon as they can be deployed. These internationally-managed checkpoints will provide for the phased-in unrestricted movement of all humanitarian, commercial and civilian traffic on Castello Road, as well as the non-use of the road for the transport of weapons (in accordance with procedures to be developed). Phasing will proceed as quickly as possible, when those managing the checkpoints assess, in consultation with the UN and the Sides, that they have the capabilities to accommodate the traffic in a safe and orderly manner. c. Simultaneous with the establishment of the SARC (or another agreed upon third party) checkpoints indicated in 3(b), pro-government forces and opposition units will pull back simultaneously from Castello Road, and the vacated area will be considered a "demilitarized zone." Specifically, pro-government forces will: Pull back heavy weapons such as armored fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles (other than BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM), tanks, artillery, and mortars, to a distance of 3,500m north of the road; Pull back crew-served machine guns, BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM to a distance of 2,500m north of the road; Pull back all personnel, other than those present at two observation posts, to a distance of 1,000m north of the road armed with only small arms or light machine guns; On the south side of the road, pull back all personnel, weapons and equipment to a distance of 500m from the road; Establish up to two observation posts no less than 500m north of Castello road. The locations will be mutually agreed upon, depending on terrain, with a staff of up to 15 persons equipped with small arms only for self-defense and observation equipment; Not impede any humanitarian, civilian and commercial traffic transiting Castello Road; and Not occupy areas that opposition groups vacate or set up positions in the demilitarized zone, other than the observation posts. Opposition forces will simultaneously undertake the following actions: On the eastern end of Castello Road on the agreed-upon map (to be determined), the opposition will operate depending on the actions of the Kurdish militia units: if the Kurds are present north of Castello Road, the opposition will remain in place; if the Kurds pull back 500m south of Castello Road, the vacated area will be considered to be demilitarized and the opposition groups will pull back 500m north of the road; On the western end of Castello Road (on the line of contact extending north from the Castello shopping complex), the opposition pullback will be conducted analogous to the withdrawal of pro-government forces enumerated above. Opposition groups located in the 31/15 quadrant of the Russian-provided map, to the north of the Castello shopping complex, will: Pull back heavy weapons such as armored fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles (other than BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM), tanks, artillery, and mortars, to a distance of 3,000m north; Pull back crew-served machine guns, BTR-60 and BMP-1 without ATGM to a distance of 2,500m north; Pull back all personnel to a distance of 1,000m north with only small arms or light machine guns; Along the portion of the road that runs from the Castello shopping complex to near the Layramoun Circle, the opposition groups will pull back personnel and weapons to 500m north of Castello Road. This mirrors the pullback of pro-regime forces to 500m south of the Castello Road between those points; Not impede any humanitarian, civilian and commercial traffic transiting Castello Road; Will not occupy areas that pro-regime forces vacate or set up positions in the demilitarized zone, other than the observation posts; and The opposition will make every effort to prevent Nusra forces from advancing into the demilitarized zone from opposition-held areas adjacent to it. d. Any Syrians can leave Aleppo via Castello Road, including armed opposition forces with their weapons, with the understanding that no harm will come to them and they can choose their destination. Opposition forces leaving Aleppo with weapons must coordinate ahead of time with UN representatives as to the time they will be using Castello Road and the number of personnel and weapons and military equipment departing. It is also understood that no harm will come to civilians or to opposition forces who abide by the CoH and who choose to remain in Aleppo. e. Any reported violations of the demilitarized zone by any party will be addressed by the United States and Russia. In the event of a penetration of the demilitarized zone by fighters from Nusra after the JIC has been established, the United States and Russia will act in accordance with the provisions of the JIC Terms of Reference (ToR). f. On Day D, both pro-government forces and opposition groups in the Ramouseh gap will provide safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access to eastern and western Aleppo. They will also facilitate unrestricted movement of all commercial and civilian traffic on the Khan Tuman Road in the Ramouseh Gap in coordination with the UN and establish a monitoring mechanism to be agreed to by the Sides and the UN as soon as possible to ensure access is unimpeded. For this purpose, technical teams from the Sides and the UN will convene by D+4. The delivery of humanitarian assistance will be consistent with the terms of the CoH and established UN procedures, and in coordination with relevant UN representatives. Neither the opposition groups nor pro-government forces will launch attacks within the area indicated in the attached map, and according to the corresponding geo-coordinates (hereinafter referred to as the "area"). Neither the opposition groups nor pro-government forces will attempt to acquire new territory from the other in the "area." 4. The Sides will confirm to each other that the Syrian government and opposition have agreed to adhere to the applicable obligations in the JICs ToR, including with respect to the Designated Areas (per geo-coordinates agreed upon by the Sides) where Syrian military aircraft cannot operate, except for agreed non-combat flights, and where the Sides will develop targets for action against Nusra. 5. The Sides will announce the establishment of the JIC, on the basis of the ToR and Designated Areas agreed by the Sides, once measures in paragraphs 1-4 above (with exception of the deployment of UNOPS checkpoints and associated movement of commercial and civilian traffic on the Castello Road and the implementation of the monitoring mechanism referenced in paragraph 3(f)) have been implemented to their mutual satisfaction, including at least seven continuous days of adherence to the CoH. Ref A - Annex The Sides will commence preparatory work for the JIC, beginning Day D. These preparations will include initial discussion and sharing of information necessary for the delineation of territories controlled by Nusra and opposition groups in the areas of active hostilities for the purpose of the ultimate operation of the JIC. The more comprehensive process of delineation will be conducted by experts once the JIC is established. Preparations for the JIC will also include: identifying suitable interim and long-term premises; determining necessary working procedures, consistent with the already agreed Terms of Reference (TOR); and determining if there are mutually agreeable adjustments that should be made, consistent with changes on the ground, to the already agreed map of the Designated Areas, so that the JIC can be fully functional as soon as there are seven continuous days of adherence to the CoH and access to Aleppo as per the terms of this understanding. In the period between Day D and the establishment of the JIC, the Sides will each develop actionable Nusrah and Daesh (ISIL) targets so as to be in a position to share them in a way that allows strikes to commence on the day the JIC is established. Simultaneous with U.S. or Russian strikes on targets agreed to within the JIC, all Syrian military air activities - fixed and rotary wing - will be halted in the agreed designated areas pursuant to the agreed ToR. On Day D, the government and opposition groups that are parties to the CoH shall confirm to the Sides their commitment to the CoH. Any violation of the CoH before or after the JIC is established will be dealt with in accordance with the terms for the CoH agreed to in the Joint Statement of February 22, 2016 and the Standard Operating Procedures to Support the Cessation of Hostilities of March 28, 2016. The Sides commit to expedite the deployment of UNOPS on Costello Road as agreed in paragraph 3(b). Day D will commence at 19:00 Damascus time on Monday, 12 September, 2016. Each Side reserves the right to withdraw from this arrangement if they believe the terms have not been fulfilled. Dont worry if you didnt attend a house of nerd worship this weekend, because the universe has conspired to deliver unto you a nerd experience of transcendental proportions. Weird Al superfan Lin-Manuel Miranda popped in during Yankovics Radio City Music Hall concert last night, singing the chorus to the Kinks Lola parody Yoda. Determining that the Yoda rendition he saw in ninth grade was the best moment of his life, Miranda declared last nights concert a VERY close second. While you might have learned the Weird Al versions of every 80s pop song first, now your children can hear the creator of Hamilton singing Star Warsthemed Weird Al before he or she ever hears another human voice. Really, the only way to infuse this news with more nerdery is if there was some way to somehow incorporate Harry Potter into the and, oh, there we go: You guys I am just watching this footage of last night like Harry in the Mirror of Erised Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 25, 2016 The international chamber ensemble Trio Festivale will present a guest recital at 3 p.m. Sunday at Baylor Universitys Roxy Grove Hall. Formed in 2008 in Dublin, Ireland, Trio Festivale is composed of American flutist Sabrina Hu, Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine and Northern Irish pianist Cathal Breslin. For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/music or call 710-3991. Community forum Waco Parks and Recreation Department will continue its monthly Community Conversations Forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Dewey Community Center, 925 N. Ninth St. The forum will be a discussion with Interim Police Chief Frank Gentsch and Fire Chief Bobby Tatum. The town hall-style meeting will provide an overview of police and fire services, prevention strategies and how the community can get involved with public safety. For more information, call 750-5980. Waco NAACP meeting The Waco NAACP will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Education Center at the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum, 100 Texas Ranger Trail. The topic of discussion will be Texas voter ID law. For more information, call 733-5261. YMCA charity dinner A charity dinner to support the Livestrong at the YMCA program will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Auditorium, 100 Hillcrest Medical Blvd. The event will include a fajita dinner catered by Chuys, music by Jon Fox, a dessert dash, a balloon release and a silent auction. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at the Waco Family YMCA, 6800 Harvey Drive. For more information, call Crystal Hernandez at 776-6612, ext. 210, or email crystal.hernandez@ymcactx.org. Rotary Club of Waco Rotary Club of Waco will meet at noon Monday at the Lions Den, 1716 N. 42nd St. Guest speaker Brad Toben, dean of Baylor Law School, will talk about the U.S. Supreme Court. Cost is $10 for a catered lunch from Casa de Castillo. For more information, call 776-2115. Richfield class of 1971 The Richfield High School class of 1971 will have its 45-year reunion from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Georges Banquet Hall, 1925 Speight Ave. Cost is $35. Food and drinks will be served. For more information, call 855-2815. Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event. Troop 453 of Waco, chartered by St. Pauls Episcopal Church, had a group of nine Scouts and two adults travel to Northern Tier-Bissett, one of the Boy Scouts premier High Adventure bases, located in the town of Bissett, in Manitoba, Canada, during the summer. The trip featured canoeing in one of the remotest parts of North America. From July 13 to 23, the Troop 453 Scouts traveled by canoe for more than 80 miles through pristine Canadian wilderness. Highlights of the camp included being delivered to the groups departure site on a small float plane, fishing for walleye and Northern pike, surviving the grueling portage called Heartbreak, viewing ancient petroglyphs, and dealing with large swarms of mosquitoes. Unofficially regarded as the Most Extreme High Adventure in Scouting, the Northern Tier-Bissett Base is the most rugged and remote region paddled by Northern Tier crews. All crews enter the wilderness via a 20-minute flight by float plane to a canoe cache that is located at the heart of the combined 2.5 million acres of Atikaki Provincial Park and Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, an area which is paddled by only a handful of canoeists each year. ----- Robbie Barber photo Troop 453 Scouts and their adult leaders gathered for this group photo at the High Adventure base. Pictured are (front row, kneeling, from left) Carl Schubert, Robbie Barber, (back row) Ross Snider, Dale Barron, Oscar Salas, Dalton Collier, Layton Coker, Connor Wright, Will Hedges, Ellis Barber and Sam Barron. The number of McLennan County registered voters already surpasses the counts leading into the past two presidential elections, and local political parties arent slowing down their push to sign more up as the registration deadline approaches. Residents must register by Oct. 11 to vote in the election Nov. 8 to chose the president of the United States; members of Congress; and state, county, city and school district officials. I think its going to be something weve never seen before, McLennan County Elections Administrator Kathy Van Wolfe said of this years turnout. Van Wolfe said the elections office has stayed busy with individuals coming in to register. As of Thursday, 133,064 people had registered to vote in McLennan County. The November 2012 election, which included races for president, U.S. Senate, McLennan County sheriff and Precinct 3 county commissioner, fell short of 2008 figures. The 2012 election attracted 75,698 of the countys 128,686 registered voters, a turnout of 58.8 percent. More than 61.5 percent of the countys voters cast a Republican ballot, about 37.4 percent voted Democrat, almost 0.7 percent voted Libertarian, and almost 0.4 percent voted with the Green Party. In the Nov. 4, 2008 presidential election, 81,012 of the countys 130,428 registered voters, or 62.1 percent, cast a ballot. During that election, 54 percent of the countys voters cast a ballot as Republicans, 45.16 percent voted Democrat, and 0.8 percent voted with the Libertarian Party. Statewide, about 58 percent of registered voters cast ballots for president in 2012, down from 59.5 percent in 2008, according to the secretary of states office. Texas has added more than 1 million new voters since 2012. Mary Duty, chair of the McLennan County Democratic Party, expects local registration numbers to continue to grow up to the deadline. Weve been busting our butts, Duty said about registering residents. Anywhere people gather, were there with a table. Theres a tremendous concern surrounding the election and the available candidates, prompting more people to register to vote, she said. I think this year there are a lot of people looking at the choices in the election, and I mean theres no wiggle room for screwing this one up, Duty said. Weve got to get this one right. There are a lot of people that are deeply concerned about where the nations headed. Jon Ker, chair of McLennan County Republican Party, said party members have hosted phone banks and are encouraging residents to take part in their government. I can tell you from my perspective, we are privileged to be able to vote, and people look at it sometimes as, Well its not that important or, My vote doesnt count, which isnt true. The fact of the matter is since we were a group of colonies and fought our revolution that was one of the things we fought for to vote to govern ourselves, Ker said. We need to have a government run by the people, not the government running the people. Lauren Daugherty, Libertarian Party of McLennan County chair, said the local partys main focus has been educating residents that there is a third option in many races, including one for a McLennan County commissioner. Libertarian David Reichert is running for Precinct 3 county commissioner against incumbent Republican Will Jones, Daugherty said. Were doing everything we possibly can in trying to educate people they do have a third option. A lot of people just still dont know, she said. People are so desperate for more options. Early voting runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 4. Voter ID confusion Duty and Ker said the main concerns theyve heard stem from confusion over what form of identification is needed to vote. Everybodys confused about what kind of ID do I bring? because it changes every day, Duty said. Voters can present one of seven forms of ID: Texas drivers license, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas personal ID card issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS, military ID card with photograph, U.S. citizenship certificate with photograph or a U.S. passport. If a resident doesnt have one of the seven forms of ID, they can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the ballot and show a voter registration certificate, original birth certificate, copy of current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document with name and address. Duty said party members are working to empower voters by informing them about their rights. On Friday, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate the states voter ID law. Safeguarding the integrity of our elections is essential to preserving our democracy, Paxton said in a statement. Voter ID laws both prevent fraud and increase the publics confidence in our elections. Texas enacted a common-sense voter ID law, and I am confident that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately reinstate it. Paxtons petition wont affect the Nov. 8 election because a recent remedy was put into place after the 5th Circuit struck down Texas voter ID law, calling it discriminatory. The ruling did not completely scrap the voter ID law, which has been in effect since 2013, and the courts agreed to an interim remedy that allows the longer list of IDs, including the voter registration certificate. Both McLennan County party leaders said they could use more volunteers to serve as poll watchers. Any time that theres going to be an election, you want to have it observed so that rules are followed and things are done properly, Ker said. There is a training session. They dont go in blind. ----- Register to vote Deadline: Residents must register by Oct. 11 to vote in the Nov. 8 presidential election. Check registration status: teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do Where to get an application: McLennan County elections office, 214 N. Fourth St., Suite 300, in Waco Early voting starts Oct. 24. For more information, go to votetexas.gov, co.mclennan.tx.us/337/Elections, or call the county elections office at 757-5043. David McCullough, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and historian, will discuss the importance and the joys of history during a lecture Monday at Baylor Universitys Waco Hall. McCullough, 83, will present the annual Beall-Russell Lecture in the Humanities, followed by a book signing. His lecture is titled The Incomparable Advantage of Intellectual Curiosity. The main thrust of my talk will be the importance of history, McCullough told Waco Today. Why history? Why do we bother with it? Why do we need to know it? Not only the essential need that it fills, particularly for leadership, but for joy, the pleasure, the fulfillment of our curiosity that it provides. How can people wave flags and talk about how patriotic they are and all that and not know a thing about history? McCullough won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1993 biography of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States, and again for his 2002 biography of John Adams, the second president. HBO later adapted both biographies to film. We are so excited, said Kim Kellison, a Baylor associate history professor and co-chairwoman of the Beall-Russell Lecture Committee. Weve had so many enthusiastic responses, certainly from students. Its geared toward the public and faculty and staff, and we definitely want students there. Kellison said she is expecting attendees from Waco, Central Texas and beyond. Waco Hall holds 2,200 people. In 1977, McCullough won the National Book Award for History with The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal. He won the National Book Award for Biography in 1982 for Mornings on Horseback, which told the story of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president. Remaining tickets for the free lecture will be available at 2 p.m. at the Waco Hall Ticket Office. The lecture lasts from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. McCullough will sign books from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in Armstrong Browning Librarys Foyer of Meditation, where books will be available for sale. If you go What: Beall-Russell Lecture in the Humanities, The Incomparable Advantage of Intellectual Curiosity. Who: Author David McCullough. When: 3:30 p.m. Monday. Where: Waco Hall at Baylor University. Tickets: Available at 2 p.m. at the Waco Hall Ticket Office. Admission is free. LAST WEEK: Jon Ker grew up with a passion for all things military. After serving as a Green Beret in Vietnam, he joined the reserves in 1983. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he yearned to return to active duty. Other than Dec. 7, 1941, the day Pearl Harbor was attacked, no other date has been seared into the minds of Americans like Sept. 11, 2001. As in 1941, the events of 9/11 caught America completely off-guard, shocking the entire nation. Hewitt resident Jon Ker was no exception. Still active in the Army Reserves at 54, he was at Fort Gordon, northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, when word was received that planes were flying into buildings, he said. The base was immediately locked down. Ker still had connections to the 5th Special Forces Group Airborne from his service during the Vietnam War. He made contact with the Special Forces in Fort Bragg and let it be known he wanted to go with them to hunt for al-Qaeda. I knew with my experience I could help the young guys, he said. When he returned home, he began the training he needed to prepare for combat in Iraq. Once more unto the breach In 2003, in spite of his age, he officially left the reserves and returned to active duty with the objective of going to Iraq. I told (the Army): Im 56 years old and I can make coffee with the best of them, he said with a grin. He left the States in April 2003. Before reaching the Middle East, news of his impending arrival preceded him. When he reported in Jordan, the first person to spot him quipped, So . . . youre the old soldier, Ker said. Everyone else was younger by far, which didnt bother him in the least. Ker was sent briefly to Al-Jafr with the same outfit he had served with in Vietnam. It was like being on the surface of the moon, he said of Jordan. There wasnt a blade of grass anywhere. He worked in the control center as part of the staff that controlled action on the battlefield. While there, he received additional training to bring him back up to speed to prepare for invading Iraq. If you think about it, Id trained the entire time. Im always training, he said. But in the reserves, you only have a short time to train. So, when Ker reached Jordan, hard work helped him to get back into the mindset of, Hey were fighting here, he said. The extra work paid off almost immediately. When he went to Baghdad a short time later, he was fired upon by insurgents on his first foray into town. In Baghdad Ker served as liaison for all special operations forces to the commanding general of the ground forces, Gen. Ricardo Sanchez. The main mission objective was strategic reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering. There was, of course, direct action, but as an old soldier, Ker didnt get to go on active missions; instead, he served in a supportive role. I got to work on capturing Saddam Hussein, he said. However, the night the dictator was actually captured, Ker was in Jordan briefing the Jordanian high command. When Kers duty in Iraq was completed, the Army sent him to Germany to a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) school to train non-NATO officers as part of the Partnership for Peace program. He then returned to the U.S. and went back into the reserves. He attended the U.S. Army War College, completing a masters degree in strategic studies. His last position as a reservist was working at the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Return to private sector He retired from the reserves as a full colonel in September 2006 after 39 years of service. Over his career, Ker earned many awards. In addition to his Master Parachutist Badge he has over 250 jumps hes particularly proud of his Combat Infantrymans Badge Second Award. Other decorations include the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device, an Air Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. He has also been successful in his civilian career and personal life. Married for 31 years to Terri Anderson, he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech and still practices. The Kers have three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ker is proud to have served with the Special Forces and has no regrets. You cannot find a better fighting force than the Special Forces. They are that good, he said. He saw military service as his duty and gladly served when and where he was needed. The Army was good to me. It was good for me, he said. I would do it all over again. If the country needed me, Id go today. Voices of Valor, featuring stories about Central Texas veterans, publishes every Sunday in the Waco Trib. To suggest a story about a Central Texas veteran, email voicesofvalor@wacotrib.com. Voices of Valor is proudly sponsored by Johnson Roofing. The G20 summit of the worlds top economies held recently in Hangzhou, China, was a big show short on substance. But one important incident flew under the radar: How the Chinese treated the beleaguered president of the United States. Diplomatic norms mandate a respectful protocol for taxiing a presidential plane into place and providing the rolling staircase for dignified departure from the aircraft for heads of state. Yet Air Force One sat on the tarmac a while. Worse, the American president had to exit the plane from its back door rather than the front. Or as one Chinese official put it, through the ass of the plane. Some might see this incident as nothing more than an embarrassing miscommunication. But the excuse doesnt pass muster under the lenses of international relations. As I explained to my students in the international relations masters program at Texas A&M University-Commerce, in international relations context matters. How China treats the U.S. president sends a message. So was this mere miscommunication? I dont believe so. Is China sending a message to the United States? Almost certainly. Through its long history of dealings with the world, China has demonstrated a keen understanding of diplomatic protocols. So its perplexing to us in the West to watch such behavior exhibited by a country that not only prides itself on its image, prestige and status on the global stage but also remains sensitive to diplomatic niceties, especially when hosting global gatherings on its soil. The message this incident sends is troubling. It conveys Beijings subtle challenge to the United States. It tells us our days of leadership in the Pacific are numbered. Proof? Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not even issue an apology after the debacle on the tarmac. From Chinas perspective, the incident offers a pointed response to the U.S. stance on Chinas expansion in the South China Sea. Letting Air Force One cool its heels on the tarmac and forcing the U.S. president to exit the plane from the rear delivered payback to President Obama for his moving oratory about the need to adhere to international law, resolve disputes peacefully and respect other states sovereignty (for instance, neighboring Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, to name but a few). Chinas insult did not come in a vacuum. Other countries have been carefully watching for whether the United States words match its deeds. How many know that, in 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin kept Secretary of State John Kerry waiting outside his office for three hours before he was allowed in. And what of the latest harassment by the Iranian navy of U.S. vessels patrolling areas in the Persian Gulf? And what of Chinas ongoing construction in the South China Sea in defiance of the International Tribunal Courts recent ruling? These incidents have in my opinion convinced China that the time has come to challenge the United States diplomatically and overtly, even as nations such as Japan and South Korea look to us for leadership. As I argue in my forthcoming book, Volatile State: Iran in the Nuclear Age, it is a matter of time before Russia and China coordinate further efforts regarding the chaotic Middle East. I do not see how both would ever work with the United States to contain Iran. In the case of China, Beijing will not want to jeopardize its trade with the region, mainly Iran, following the lifting of sanctions on the latter. Further, Chinas establishing a naval base in Djibouti aims to increase its influence in the region. Amid a tumultuous U.S. election season brimming with insults, xenophobia and conspiracy theories, the Washington establishment must somehow consider the bigger picture. However paralyzed it may be from political infighting, it must draw on leadership from both political parties to put Americas strategic international interests before party. It must resolve to act or risk further humiliation as we lose while bickering among ourselves. For starters, the next U.S. president will be utterly mistaken to think that China will back down given the new geopolitical landscape one far more complex and daunting than many U.S. voters fully understand. David Oualaalou is a global affairs analyst, blogger, author and professor. A former international security analyst in Washington, D.C., he is a professor of political science at Texas A&M University Commerce. He is author of More Than a Handshake: The Ambiguous Foreign Policy of the United States Toward the Muslim World. He lives in Hewitt. Last week Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Texas will be withdrawing from the refugee resettlement program. The governors stated reason is one weve heard from lawmakers and media talking heads for some time now: that the program puts Americans at risk from attack by unvetted refugees who pose potential security threats. The governors claim is well-intentioned; the safety and security of the American people should be paramount. The only problem with this claim is that its not true. Not only can we conduct security screenings on refugees, the experts in our national security community do it every day. In fact, every refugee that the United States resettles has gone through an intensive investigation performed by the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Counterterrorism Center and the FBI that typically takes 18 to 24 months. This all happens before refugees step foot on American soil. Refugees are, bar none, the most heavily vetted people to enter the United States. Those allowed to come into our country desperately need its protection. They are victims of terrorist groups such as ISIS and repressive governments such as Syria. Perhaps some of the confusion stems from FBI Director James Comeys statements on the screening process for Syrian refugees. He cited a lack of information on individuals from that country. Well, Director Comey is right: we shouldnt resettle Syrian refugees we cant properly identify and vet. And we dont. Syrian refugees in particular undergo an extra level of screening. And if they dont pass, theyre rejected. The United States has resettled 784,000 refugees since Sept. 11, 2001. None of them have been convicted of terrorism. Our Department of Homeland Security agents and other national security officials have been vetting refugees for decades and theyve only gotten better at it. It would be truly bizarre (and tactically stupid) for extremist groups to see the refugee resettlement system, with its series of rigorous security checks, as a viable way to infiltrate the United States. Rather than buy into misinformation about our vetting process, Id rather put my trust in the expert security personnel who work hard to implement what former Department of Homeland Security heads Janet Napolitano and Michael Chertoff call a thorough and robust vetting system that will allow us to safely admit the most vulnerable refugees while protecting the American people. This year Texas took in 11,020 refugees. This is only 12 percent of the national total, and a tiny amount when you consider that there are more than 21 million refugees in the world. Under Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Charles Smith and Gov. Abbotts plan, we would shut out these heavily vetted and victimized women, children and families, signaling that the Lone Star State is unwilling to extend its famous hospitality or worse: that its been cowed by fear. That just isnt Texas. Im a proud Dallas native. Its where I volunteered to join the United States Marine Corps and its where I returned to continue my service as a high school science teacher with Teach for America. As a Marine, I saw the devastation that conflict brings. As a Dallas public servant, I saw that we can unite behind our values to bring about positive change in our community, our state and our country. This is why I think that Texas can, and must, lead the way again. We all know that as goes Texas, so goes the nation. Lets set the example by saying to refugees a few simple words: Howdy. Welcome to Texas. Joe Jenkins is a U.S. Marine veteran, former DISD teacher and leader at the Washington-based advocacy group Veterans for American Ideals, a project of Human Rights First. He is also a graduate fellow at the University of Texas LBJ Washington Center. Be silent no more! The silent majority needs to rise up. Im not talking about the conservative silent majority invoked by Richard Nixon in 1969, but the silent majority in the 21st century that doesnt vote. In 2013, Greg Abbott received 2,796,547 votes to become governor of Texas. Precisely 7,662,534 Texans did not vote. Dan Patrick received 2,724,493 votes for lieutenant governor. Meanwhile, 7,756,210 Texans did not vote. Bill Flores garnered 85,807 votes to become Wacos congressman. Yet 174,440 voters in the grotesquely gerrymandered 17th district did not vote. If the rhetoric of the 2016 campaign has you scared and disgusted, now is the time to crush it. Take that alt-right, hateful, racist, misogynistic sludge the GOP has released and bury it under a landslide of votes. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 11. Early voting starts Oct. 24. Cheryl Foster, Waco Tone-deaf on race From a Texas native visiting Waco this month, congrats on your exhaustive Sunday story exploring the All Lives Matter response to the Black Lives Matter movement. For me, the key point was mid-story in a quote from Wacos NAACP president. Its this: Those pushing All Lives Matter, including Sheriff Parnell McNamara and GOP state Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, are disingenuous in implying Black Lives Matter adherents are saying only Black Lives Matter. BLMs true message, as backed up by the fatality statistics in the story, is of course that Black Lives Matter too. All lives matter, not only in Waco but nationwide, is tone-deaf and must be called out on it. Jack Brennan, Cincinnati, Ohio Let em sweat! As a Christian ethicist, I pronounce shame on Texas state government for no longer help[ing] low-income families pay their electric bills. [Texas stops helping poor families pay electric bills, Sept. 4] This is another attack in our state governments ultra-conservative war on the poor. Electricity is not a luxury in Texas during the summer. Especially the elderly, the sick and the very young must have electricity. This decision by our state government reminds me of French Queen Marie Antoinettes response when told the people had no bread. I paraphrase her: They have no electricity? Let them fan themselves. Roger Olson, Waco Myers right I have been reading letters by Donna Myers for quite some time. She writes with a genuine passion, even if I find myself on the opposite side to her stance. Not this time. Im 100 percent behind her well-written, solidly grounded letter on the First Amendment and the need for deeper thought by Americans about the sacrifices of those who serve in our armed forces. She is obviously a patriot and I am glad we have this in common. Her parents raised her right! Dan Dayton, West YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski says there are huge potential and prospects for the development of agriculture in Armenia. In his speech delivered at the Annual Festival of Rural Life and Traditions", the EU Ambassador said EU believes Armenias agriculture has a bright future and can become the driving force of the countrys economy. The EUs ENPARD program was based on this very idea within the framework of which we will allocate more than 20 million Euros for assisting Armenias agricultural sector. Recently I have signed 7 million Euros agricultural support program, he said, reports Armenpress. He said the EU together with the Austrian Development Agency is planning to implement organic agriculture development program in Armenia for which nearly 3 million Euros will be provided. "Next year we are going to conduct another program, we will provide assistance to the development of agriculture in Armavir and Ararat provinces. That program will cost 10 million Euros, Piotr Switalski said. The EU Ambassador said the Armenian farmer deserves the assistance and support provided by the European Union. The EU will continue to be with you in the upcoming years as well, he concluded. Funeral services: 10 a.m. Monday, September 26, at St. John's Lutheran Church, south of Waco with Pastor Matthew Mau officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation: 1-8pm Sunday at Metz Mortuary, with the family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Hour or St. John's Lutheran Church. Condolences may be left at www.metzmortuary.com. Metz Mortuary, York, is handling arrangements. 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. 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. An inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary punched a staff member in the head Sunday morning before being physically subdued, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. The staff member was taken to a local medical facility with injuries that weren't considered life threatening, Corrections spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said in a news release. Other staff intervened during the altercation, using chemical agents and physical restraints on the inmate. Smith said the prison system will not release names of the inmate or staff member. 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. 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. 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. He was only 11 but big for his age, so the schoolmaster allowed him to cut classes and help with the harvest. That was important work in 1943, in the western lowlands of Scotland. Food was scarce during the war, most able men were fighting and there were families to be fed. So Archie Watt and two farmers were stooking the corn -- following along behind the binder, leaning the stalks against each other in little tipis, when the plane fell silently out of the sky. It just came in a whisper, only clipped the trees, Watt, now 84, said the other day from his home in Strathaven, about 30 minutes from Glasgow. It was a perfect landing. Perfect. The B-17 had lost an engine on its way to a U.S. base at Prestwick and then it lost what remained of its fuel when it was trying to divert to a Scottish airfield. The pilot had no choice but to aim for an open field, keep the landing gear up and slide to a stop, its propellers digging into the soft earth. It made Watt think of a belly flop. By the time he made it to the Flying Fortress, the crew of 10 U.S. airmen was already climbing out, mostly unscathed, as calmly as if they were stepping off a bus. Then the real harvest began. The bomber was resupplying the base, and it was full of fresh fruit that was just going to go bad in that field. Take it, the Americans said. Peaches and oranges and things we hadn't seen in a good few years because of the war, Watt said. Before long, the whole town knew about it. It didn't last, I'll tell you. The 11-year-old carried a sack home to his family. My mum was in the kitchen and I said, 'Do you fancy a peach?' And she said, 'Get out of here.' So I said, 'Maybe you'd like a banana?' She went absolutely berserk; she couldn't believe it. * * * Mearl Waswick was older than most soldiers, and had grown up with a fear of heights in the flatlands of eastern South Dakota, so his family thought it a little odd he ended up as a tail-gunner on a B-17. He survived the war but returned changed by it, making a living as a farmhand north of Sioux Falls and living with his sister's family. I knew he'd crashed and I knew he didn't talk about it, said his niece, Vicki Graham, who would end up raising three kids in Waverly with her husband, Barry, the VA's hospital chief of staff and then regional medical director. He'd say things like, 'That was a tough time.' She remembered her uncle emerging from his basement bedroom late one night. He couldn't sleep, he told her. He was thinking about all of the things he'd done in his life. Later, Graham learned that the month after the crash at Strathaven, her uncle grew too sick to fill his post as tail-gunner. Another man took his place, and their bomber was shot down. Mearl Waswick's crew was taken prisoner, his substitute killed. He was a lot younger than my uncle and I don't think he ever got over that, his niece said. I think that was a defining moment. Waswick died in 1999, but not before opening up a bit to his granddaughter, Callie. She was writing a report for school, and he told her the story of the crash, and how well the people of Strathaven had treated him, and he gave her a souvenir -- a British penny he'd picked up -- that she would wear as a necklace. Years later, Graham was playing around on Google. She searched for her uncle's crash and found a 2013 story in Scotland's Sunday Post: The day Strathaven was bombed by fruit. The blanks in her uncle's story started filling themselves in. She felt drawn to that field. I wanted to go and walk the ground, if I could. * * * This summer, when she and Barry were planning a trip to Glasgow to research his family, Vicki started thinking. She had no idea where the crash site was, but she at least wanted to visit the village, to see a little of what her uncle had experienced 73 years ago. She sent a note to Glasgow Taxis, explaining why she wanted to go to Strathaven and asking what the fare would cost. Nothing, she was told. Further, the company would research the crash, and get the couple as close as they could. The company's director called Strathaven's library. Yes, said the woman who answered. She knew about the day the B-17 bore fruit. Her brother Archie Watt had witnessed it. This was one miraculous thing after another, said Vicki, who now lives in Yankton, S.D. Last month, she stood next to Archie Watt, all of the time and the distance between them shortened to the moment a plane fell into the field. He told her how the crash was never publicized, not even in the local paper, and how the Americans had the B-17 dismantled and hauled away within two weeks. He pointed out the faint furrow in the field that only he can see, because he knows where to look, and the others from that day are gone now. And she told him about her uncle Mearl, one of the airmen who climbed out of the plane that day in front of the wide-eyed 11-year-old. It was more than I ever expected, to tell you the truth, she said this week. For someone to know his name, that's OK with me. When Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, the North American continent was already home to groups of people who had their own communities, their own cultures, their own languages. Now the City Council is considering honoring that history by declaring the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in Lincoln. That is also Columbus Day. The timing is right for this recognition, said Councilman Carl Eskridge, who is sponsoring the resolution. The state will recognize its 150th birthday on March 1, 2017. To have this celebration prior to that seems to be good timing, since Native Americans were here first, said Eskridge. The tribes who lived in the Nebraska area came to what is now Lincoln for its salt. And the same salt flats, in the Capital Beach area, also drew early settlers, said Eskridge. The idea for the resolution, which has a public hearing at Mondays 5:30 p.m. City Council meeting, came from leaders at the Lincoln Indian Center. The Indigenous Peoples Day will provide a forum to honor Native Americans in the city of Lincoln, said Clyde Tyndall, executive director of the Lincoln Indian Center. "And there are many examples, many professionals, attorneys, architects, who all had a hand in developing Lincoln, he said. The Indian Center leaders first talked with Eskridge and then brought the idea to the City Council during one of the councils open microphone sessions, which end meetings twice a month. Although the state sets aside Columbus Day as a paid state holiday for employees, Lincoln does not. And this resolution will not create a paid holiday for city workers, Eskridge said. Its just a day to give recognition to the people who were here before any of us were, he said. Indigenous Peoples' Day in Lincoln will be a positive celebration, celebrating the influence and the culture of the people who were here before the new world was discovered or settled, said Eskridge, who believes he has enough council support to pass the resolution. Eskridge said he expects the Indian Center will lead the celebration for that day. Columbus Day is a fairly modern invention. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Oct. 12 a national holiday honoring Columbus, at the urging of the Knights of Columbus, which was largely an Italian Roman Catholic organization at the time. Originally observed every Oct. 12, it was fixed to the second Monday in October in 1971. The resolution says it will be the city's policy to participate in the annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration and activities, encourage businesses and other public and private groups to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day and encourage the public schools to include the teaching of indigenous peoples history. The resolution also recognizes Lincoln is built upon the homelands and villages of this region's indigenous people and says that Lincoln values the contributions of indigenous people. In addition, the resolution says the city has a responsibility to oppose the systemic racism toward indigenous people which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating disproportionate health, education and social crises." Since 1990, South Dakota has celebrated Native American Day on the second Monday in October. And a number of cities have set aside the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day including Seattle, Washington; Grand Rapids and Traverse City, Michigan; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Anchorage, Alaska; Portland, Oregon; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Durango, Texas; Ashville and Carrboro, North Carolina; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Boulder and Denver, Colorado; and Berkeley, California. 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. By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 20, 2016 | 06:59 AM | PADUCAH, KY The theme for the 2016 Christmas Parade is Pictures of Paducah at Christmastime with music and lighting required for all entries. The deadline to submit an entry application at no charge is Thursday, November 10 at 5 pm. All entries received after 5 pm on November 10 will be subject to a $25 late fee. Entries will not be accepted after 5 pm on November 18. The entry form and parade rules are available at www.paducahky.gov or at the Parks Department office. The parade entries will be eligible for the judging contest which begins at 4 pm on December 3. Categories include themed float, non-float, religious float, school float, drill/dance teams, and bands. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entries at the December 6 meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners. For more information about the Christmas Parade and Paducah Parks Services, visit the Parks Services Department at 1400 H.C. Mathis Drive, visit the website www.paducahky.gov, or call 270-444-8508. The Paducah Parks Services Department is accepting entry applications for the 2016 Christmas Parade. The Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 3 at 5 pm in downtown Paducah. The parade follows Broadway starting at 14th Street and ending at 2nd and Monroe where it will disband. An Ugly Christmas Sweater and Crazy Socks Fun Run will be held on the parade route at 4:30 pm. The cost for the fun run is $5. Even with 5-0 lead, Verlander can't get 1st World Series win Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 25, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 25, 2016 | 07:34 AM | PADUCAH, KY Twenty years ago Robert Dafford was invited to come to Paducah to answer questions about the possibility of painting on the city's west-facing floodwall. Two decades later the answer is obvious, a very definite yes. Thanks to the support and encouragement of Bill Schroeder, businesses and individuals immediately came on board to make the idea of painting Paducah's past in giant images on the floodwall between Jefferson and Broadway, a reality. "We never had to go out and solicit sponsorships," says Ro Morse, project coordinator. "Bill's influence and belief in the importance of the project got the whole thing going and the momentum only grew as Robert and Herb painted each year. It's been such an asset to our whole community. Not only is it a big draw for visitors to downtown, it's become an interactive history lesson for students and adults alike. To see school age children stand in front of the giant images, and watch history literally come to life as they read the interpretive panels, has been a rewarding part of this 20-year adventure." During BBQ on the River, Paducah Wall to Wall set up a tent in front of the floodwall's Market House mural. Visitors from near and far stopped by to chat with Robert Dafford and Herb Roe who were in town for the 20-year celebration. Dafford and Roe signed t-shirts, books, postcards, colored in the new coloring books which Bill Ford illustrated and most importantly sketched out a concept for the ten empty panels behind the newly restored 1518 locomotive. Scrap books with photos and mementos from the 20-year project were available for all to see. "The stories we are hearing from locals are similar to what we experience each time we are here painting on the scaffolding," said Herb Roe. "People relate to the history we paint and I believe that's one of the reasons the murals are important to so many people here in Paducah." In 2014, AAA Trip Advisor named Paducah Wall to Wall the number one public art attraction in the state of Kentucky. Morse stated, "Each year since its origin, the project is featured in publications across the country. Dafford told the all-volunteer Paducah Wall to Wall organization that everywhere they paint, it's just a matter of time until large mural art starts appearing around town. That is certainly happening in Paducah now. How fitting is it that this hub for artists and history buffs now features such a magnificent 24/7 art/history attraction." Kentucky Colonel General Hal Sullivan made Dafford and Roe Kentucky Colonels Friday evening during the BBQ on the River Festival. Sullivan praised the muralists not only for their outstanding work and what it means to the community, but for being Paducah Ambassadors across the county when they paint. They spread the good word about Kentucky, not only Paducah but Maysville and Covington where they also paint giant murals. Mayor Gayle Kaler proclaimed Dafford and Roe Dukes of Paducah Friday evening when she surprised them with awards thanking them for the magnificent work they do and continue to maintain. She expressed the city's appreciation for their contribution to the community and their willingness to promote Paducah everywhere they go. Bill Ford spent time with Dafford and Roe during the three day celebration coloring with adults and children and photographing and sharing stories with his Facebook friends. "This is such fun. I feel like I've gotten to know these two amazingly talented artists. What they are doing here in Paducah is monumental. I listen to these stories people share and am amazed how so many relate to the images they paint. This has been a memorable opportunity and experience for me and I know for many others as well." Ford illustrated three coloring books, "Color PADUCAH Wall to Wall" with Bill Ford. The books are popular and selling well - every cent to fund future mural maintenance. Dafford gave Ford permission to illustrate the Dafford Murals for the books last fall. Each of the three volumes features one block of the project. Each page includes an image of the actual floodwall mural, description of the image and history and then the illustration to color. The coloring books are on sale throughout the community. Email rom4915@gmail.com or call 270-519-1321 to find locations to purchase. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 23, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 23, 2016 | 11:07 AM | PADUCAH, KY Seventeen college students recently graduated from a 10-week summer internship program with Fluor Paducah Deactivation Project, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) cleanup contractor at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Site. The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities to outstanding students who may be interested in careers that intersect with needs and positions at the DOE Site. "The internship program at the Paducah Site offers unique opportunities that introduce students to DOE's mission and operations," said Jennifer Woodard, Paducah Site Lead for DOE's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office. "Students gain a competitive edge when they combine their college education and their summer experience when applying for future opportunities." The interns also participated in community service programs which included delivering 125 backpacks filled with supplies to disadvantaged students in McCracken County, Paducah City, and Ballard County middle schools. The second project involved interns participating in the site-wide campaign for DOE's "Feds Feed Families" program. Interns and employees at the site donated food that the interns delivered to help stock local food pantries. "My second year as an intern provided many new experiences," said Caroline Washer, a senior studying electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky. "I enjoyed performing many practical engineering calculations, as well as helping to revise and simplify procedures. The intern experience has opened so many doors for me, and I am very fortunate to learn from some amazing people." "This is an excellent intern program where college studies are applied to real-world experiences," said Bob Smith, Fluor's Program Manager. "The interns have a unique opportunity to contribute and solve real problems that face DOE." By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 24, 2016 | 11:26 PM | MAYFIELD, KY The Graves County Sheriff Department reports that just after 7 pm, deputies responded to the intersection of Ballard Road and New Dublin Road near Mayfield for an ATV rollover accident. They say 41-year-old Richard W. Ballard of Wingo was operating an ATV on New Dublin Road and attempted to make a right turn onto Ballard Road when he lost control of the ATV, and it overturned onto him. Mayfield/Graves County EMS responded to the scene and took Ballard to the Air Evac helipad at Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield. Ballard was then flown to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for what the Sheriff's Department says are severe injuries to his head and chest areas. Deputies say alcohol may have contributed to the accident. A Graves County man has been hospitalized after an ATV accident Saturday night. By The Associated Press Sep. 24, 2016 | 06:04 AM | BURLINGTON, WA Authorities say the suspect in the deadly Washington state mall shooting said nothing when he was apprehended and was "zombie-like." Island County Sheriff's Lt. Mike Hawley said he spotted 20-year-old Arcan Cetin Saturday evening in Oak Harbor, Washington, from a patrol car and immediately recognized him as the suspect. Hawley said at a news conference that his office had received information that Cetin, who is from Oak Harbor, was in the area. Hawley said Cetin was unarmed: "He said nothing. He was kind of zombie-like." A gunman opened fire at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, Friday night, killing four females and a male before fleeing. Law enforcement staged a massive search over more than 20 hours for the suspect. Previous Story: Authorities say a fifth person has died following a shooting at a shopping mall north of Seattle. A spokesman for the Skagit County Emergency Operations Center says the unidentified male victim died early Saturday at a Seattle hospital. Four female victims died earlier following the Friday night shooting at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington. Authorities continue to search for the shooter. A Washington State Patrol spokesman says police were seeking a Hispanic man wearing black and armed with a "hunting-type" rifle last seen walking toward Interstate 5. By The Associated Press Sep. 24, 2016 | 04:58 PM | CHARLOTTE, NC 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.North Carolina. Gov. Pat McCrory says he supports the decision to release police video recordings showing the shooting. 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. A sea of thousands of Native Americans from over 200 indigenous nations has descended onto the Great Plains to stand at the forefront of a new but familiar battle against fossil fuels.Led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Hunkpapa Lakota Nation), these nations are fighting against the 1,172-mile Dakota Access pipeline, which would transport oil from the Bakken oil fields to pipelines in Illinois, and is set to come within a half-mile of the Standing Rock reservation, threatening its water supply.The fight is calling into question yet again the logic of fossil fuels and bringing to the fore age-old questions that this country prefers to forget: those of Native American sovereignty, self-determination, and treaty rights.The broken treaties fought over in the past are the same being invoked today. In 1868, the Lakota signed the Fort Laramie Treaty with the US government, creating the Great Sioux Reservation, which included all of South Dakota west of the Missouri River. The treaty protected hunting, fishing, and water rights in the surrounding area, including where the pipeline would traverse. These treaties have been the tool by which tribes exert their sovereignty and self-determination.The images from Standing Rock are both tragic and inspiring. They are the story of America.These images also remind us that resistance is part of America. The fight at Standing Rock is the largest gathering of indigenous nations in the United States in decades. This moment should remind us of the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee (site of the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre), when the American Indian Movement (AIM) and the Oglala Lakota people faced down the federal government in a 71-day standoff over treaty rights. At the Sacred Stone Camp, where todays protesters are headquartered, the AIM flag is still waved, and Dennis Banks, the founder of AIM and leader of the Wounded Knee occupation, has joined the fight.Even further back, in 1876, the Great Plains was home to the Battle of the Little Big Horn, where the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho united and defeated Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his Seventh Cavalry. The reason for that fight? Broken treaties.The Standing Rock Sioux Nation are the descendants of Sitting Bull, one of the resistance leaders at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Among the Lakota, one of the last tribes to be forced onto reservations, there is a great deal of pride in knowing and learning from this history of resistance.That resistance is integral to the current struggle for climate justice, which has seen an unprecedented degree of unity between Native and non-native peoples. This has broadened and deepened the movement, adding to the idea of conserving the earth basic questions of justice rooted in the founding of the United States.Whats happening at Standing Rock is a continuation of the same fight. Today, Natives and non-natives alike are seeing why treaty rights are a fundamental piece of the climate-justice movement, and a key tool in the fight against specific projects like the Dakota Access pipeline. Nobody knows how this standoff at Standing Rock will end. The fossil-fuel companies might very well have their way and push the pipeline through. But this moment has sparked something in Indian country and beyond that we havent seen in decades, and no matter what happens, the fight will continue. LOCAL NAACP ENCOURAGING NC TO EXPAND MEDICAID North Carolinas General Assembly took steps last year to improve the states Medicaid program, but Governor McCrory and the legislature still will not expand the program under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. The Henderson County NAACP held a press conference at mid-day this past Saturday at the Historic Courthouse to encourage legislators to sign on to the ACA and expand the states Medicaid program. The local NAACP President, Melinda Lowrance, told WHKP News that several dozen HendersonCounty residents died in recent years while being unable to get health care coverage. A movement is currently underway in North Carolina by the NAACP and other groups to persuade the governor and the legislature to re-consider and to expand the Medicaid program under the ACA which the groups say will make health insurance obtainable by more low income people in the state. The climate is changing in dangerous ways, and we are responsible for most of these changes. This is not a matter of conjecture or political opinion - it is the conclusion of the overwhelming majority of climate scientists, based on solid evidence that mounts each year. Rising sea levels, extreme heat, increased incidence of floods and drought, ocean acidification and expansion of tropical diseases pose an unacceptable level of risk to our descendants. So do many other climate-related threats. Business, scientific and technical leaders are responding to these threats by finding ways to adapt to climate change, increase our energy efficiency, and develop carbon-free energy sources. Political leaders here and abroad are creating policies that promote these advances. At the Paris climate conference in December, 195 countries adopted an historic climate agreement, whose main goal is to prevent the world's mean temperature from rising more than 2 degrees centigrade above its pre-industrial level. This agreement was the culmination of many years of efforts by governments and citizens. The negotiators of the agreement came together despite differences in forms of government, in responsibility for past emissions of greenhouse gases and in susceptibility to future climate change. But these efforts to reduce the risk to future generations are now being imperiled by a small yet vocal group that denies the validity of the evidence and of scientific expertise in general. Of special and immediate concern is the stated intent of the current Republican Party platform and presidential nominee Donald Trump to promote the extraction and use of the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels, to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement and to rescind President Obama's executive actions designed to reduce climate risk. We are deeply concerned about the serious long-term damage to our world that would result if the climate and energy policy goals of Trump and the Republican Party were to become our national policies, reversing decades of progress on energy, climate, clean air and clean water. These consequences would be borne by billions of current and future citizens of this planet. To address this concern, we - together with 373 other members of the National Academy of Sciences - have published an open letter Sept. 21 drawing attention to the serious risks of climate change. We state that "the problem of human-caused climate change is real, serious, and immediate, and that this problem poses significant risks: to our ability to thrive and build a better future, to national security, to human health and food production, and to the interconnected web of living systems." The letter also highlights the urgent need to reduce heat-trapping emissions as part of the Paris agreement. For the United States to withdraw now from the Paris agreement would undermine the world's ability to deal with climate change, diminish U.S. credibility internationally, and hobble U.S. economic competitiveness in developing and marketing clean energy sources. But where there is risk, there is also opportunity for creative problem solving. As the letter notes, "Nations that find innovative ways of decarbonizing energy systems and sequestering CO2 will be the economic leaders of the 21st century." We should not turn the clock back by regarding scientific ignorance as a virtue, or by embracing business-as-usual energy policies. It's time to unleash the renewable and limitless power of the mind, and to accelerate efforts to develop and implement clean energy sources. This is the leadership we need, and this is the only kind of leadership that will reduce the worst climate change risks to our children while presenting them with new and exciting economic opportunities. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/09/2016 (2226 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Paddy Gladden never met his father-in-law, Det. Sgt. James Sims, but every September, he joins his wife to honour the passing of the former Winnipeg police officer. The reason were here is my good wife, Joan Sims, now Joan Gladden, her father was killed while on duty, July 16, 1950, Gladden said. Thats why were here. Were here every year. Gladden was one of many civilians who joined police and peace officers from forces across the province for the annual memorial service inside the Manitoba legislature Sunday morning. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Janice Filmon, presides over the 2016 Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, Police and Peace Officers Memorial Service at the Manitoba Legislature Sunday morning. Gladden said it was important to his family to honour officers, like his wifes father, and what they do to protect their communities. Its one time of the year where you do reflect and youre happy that youre safe and sound, he said. Nearly 50 names were on the honour roll and read aloud, including Sims. The ceremony also included performances from the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band and the Winnipeg Police Service Choir, and prayer and scripture reading. It ended with Last Post, a moment of silence, Lament and Reveille. The service was one of many across Canada. As we gather here, a national memorial ceremony is being held on Parliament Hill to honour the police and peace officers from coast to coast to coast who have lost their lives, said Lt.-Gov. Janice Filmon during the service. They were neighbours, friends, relatives, people with personal connections to the cities, towns and provinces where they served. Carla Richmond was also in attendance with her 10-year-old daughter. She said she knows a few retired officers and brought her daughter to the service because she felt it was something she should see. Its very important to honour those that serve and protect us and I wanted to show my daughter the importance of doing such a thing. We have a friend here who was part of the ceremony so we wanted to support her in that as well. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Janice Filmon, presides over the 2016 Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police, Police and Peace Officers Memorial Service at the Manitoba Legislature Sunday morning. Richmond said people need to recognize that law enforcement does more than make sure people follow the rules. Too often they are seen as the enforcers, which they are, but theyre also there to help us and support us as we need it. Whether its helping in community centres, or helping to organize community safe spaces and showing the community how to do it for themselves and how to make relationships between officers and the public. bailey.hildebrand@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/09/2016 (2226 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Lets be honest: the world would be a better place if a revolutionary tribunal in the near future sent North Koreas Kim Jong-un and his henchmen to the gallows. Kims subjects are so malnourished North Koreans are notably shorter than their South Korean cousins. The states gulags are so large, you can see them from space. Survivors of those camps have testified fellow prisoners withered away from starvation. The United Nations high commissioner for human rights has acknowledged the horror. A 2014 report from that office states inside of North Korea, crimes against humanity have been committed as a result of the states policy. These include extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation. WONG MAYE-E / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES North Korean soldiers in a military parade vehicle carry packs marked with the nuclear symbol. Crimes against humanity generally cost a regime its legitimacy, if not its sovereignty. Yet, most American national security professionals would regard the collapse of the North Korean slave state as a calamity. The reason for this is simple: all the nuclear weapons and material. A 2015 study from the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies estimated North Korea possessed 10 to 16 nuclear weapons and will possess 20 to 100 such weapons by 2020. This says nothing of the highly enriched nuclear fuel the state has produced or the mobile rockets and longer-range missiles to launch the warheads. Trying to secure all this after a chaotic collapse or overthrow of the Kim regime would be a nightmare. Gen. Raymond Thomas, who heads U.S. Special Operations Command, called a regime collapse in North Korea a worst-case scenario at a conference hosted earlier this month by the Institute for the Study of War. In the event of the implosion of the region, wed have the loose-nuke dilemma on an industrial scale, the United States army general said, describing it as a vertical track meet between the Chinese and the South Koreans in terms of securing the nukes. In this sense, North Koreas nukes are the Kim familys insurance policy. Since the Clinton administration, the U.S. and the international community have been willing to extend the life of the regime in exchange for (ultimately broken) promises about its reactors and enrichment facilities. While the U.S. has also placed sanctions on North Korea at times, in the end, the goal of U.S. policy has been regime preservation. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry summed up this approach earlier this month. We have made overture after overture to the dictator of North Korea, he said, after the regimes fifth nuclear test. We have made it very clear to him that were prepared to talk about peace, about peace on the peninsula, about food assistance, about a normal relationship with the world, about a non-aggression pact I mean a host of different ingredients if he will simply acknowledge he is prepared to come to the table and talk about denuclearization and his responsibilities to the world not to us, to the whole world. The problem with this approach is its a suckers bet. If Kim will simply acknowledge hes ready to talk, the international community will lavish him with material support and unearned recognition. A far better use of American diplomacy is to quietly push China and South Korea to begin planning with the U.S. for the day the North Korean regime falls. Its a long shot. Thomas acknowledged earlier this month there are no channels between the U.S. and China on special operations. The U.S. has good reasons to mistrust China, an aggressive cyber-adversary that is unilaterally claiming territory through militarized artificial islands. Whats more, China and North Korea share an ideological attachment as two of the five remaining Communist states on the planet, along with Cuba, Laos and Vietnam. WONG MAYE-E / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. That said, North Korea is a time bomb for China as well as for the U.S. Beijing is worried about refugees coming over its border, and loose nukes would be as much a danger to China as to Americas East Asian allies. This year, Beijing supported UN sanctions against North Korea at the UN Security Council. None of this is to say the U.S. or North Koreas neighbours can or should topple the Kim regime. Popular uprisings are impossible to predict, and the hard work of persuading people to stop obeying their oppressors is best left to outside groups and not governments. But North Koreas rickety tyranny wont last forever. Even the most imposing dictatorships prove in the end to be hollow. Today, many North Koreans are gaining access to the outside world, including through smuggled USB sticks with South Korean soap operas and other illegal bits of outside culture. The liberation of these people should not have to open a nuclear Pandoras box. Today, the U.S. helps to prop up an open-air prison to protect the world from an apocalyptic arsenal built by its wardens. Its past time for the U.S. to begin planning for the day when its no longer obliged to honour this foul bargain. Columnist Eli Lake writes about politics and international affairs. Bloomberg Mary Johnson wanted the young man who killed her son to spend the rest of his life in prison. Then she met him. Johnson not only forgave Oshea Israel, who was 16 when he murdered 20-year-old Laramiun Byrd on Feb. 12, 1993 she adopted him as her spiritual son. Johnson and Israel now tour the country, sharing how they made peace with each other and how they came to live as neighbors in north Minneapolis. The pair will speak Monday at Saint Marys University of Minnesota 7 p.m. at Salvi Lecture Hall in Saint Marys Hall. I hated Oshea Israel and didnt want to forgive him, said Johnson, who described Byrd, her only son, as a good and smart young man. Byrd had read at a 12th-grade level when he was in sixth grade, she said, but dropped out of school and began selling drugs in the years before his murder. I wanted to talk to Oshea Israel, Johnson said. I wanted to hear his side of the story. You hear it in court, but you dont hear all of it. Johnson went first to a womens prison in Shakopee. Listening to the stories of the inmates, hearing about their lives and crimes, changed my heart, she said. It wasnt long before she walked into the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, where Israel was being held. It was difficult, she said, but now I talk to him like Im his mom. I am a Christian. I believe that God led me through it and told me what I needed to do. It took me 12 years, but I forgave him. Around that time, Johnson started From Death to Life, a faith-based organization that seeks to end violence and create reconciliation between perpetrators and the families of victims. She also runs Two Mothers, Two Sons, a healing group for families on both sides of violent crime. Israel, who had been charged with second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison, was released in 2010. He could never replace my son, Johnson said, but he is my spiritual son. For the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the St. Louis River estuary has been described as being as close to heaven as they could get. Its where the river slows and widens before emptying into the Lake Superior in Duluth. This was sort of a perfect place, a Mecca of sorts is what my uncle called it, said Thomas Howes, the bands natural resources director. Everything that one needed for a good life was provided by the environment here. That included wild rice, or manoomin in Ojibwe, a food that still plays a critical role in the cultural life of the tribes people. Decades of human activity almost eliminated wild rice from the region. But now, several agencies are partnering on a landmark effort to restore wild rice to about 250 acres of the St. Louis River estuary over the next five to 10 years. From the time a baby is born, to when we send people off to make their journey into the afterlife, there are ceremonies, and manoomin is a central component of those, Howes said. A lot of people say, that if we dont have that, then we cease to exist somewhat culturally as a people. Historically, the St. Louis River estuary may have sustained 2,000 to 3,000 acres of rice, one of the richest concentrations of rice in the region. But over the past 125 years, industrial development, pollution and logging nearly wiped wild rice out, leaving behind only a few isolated pockets. In the late 1800s logs were transported downriver so thickly lumberjacks could walk across them. Things got better for wild rice over time, though. In 1978, a wastewater treatment plant went on-line, greatly improving water quality in the river. Over the years, contaminated sediment has slowly been removed from the river bottom. Weve had such great improvements in water quality over the last couple of decades, that the time is right now to begin wild rice restoration because the water quality is high enough that we can bring the wild rice back, said Daryl Peterson with the Minnesota Land Trust. Petersons group, together with the Fond du Lac Band, Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR and other tribal agencies, is working on the current wild rice crop restoration project. Earlier this month, Charlie Nahgahnub, a technician with the Fond du Lac Bands Natural Resources department, fired up an air boat powered by a giant airplane prop. It was loaded down with 500 pounds of wild rice seed harvested from the White Earth and Leech Lake reservations. Nahgahnub piloted the boat into a shallow backwater called Duck Hunter Bay. As he steered back and forth, two volunteers scattered seed on to the waters surface. Its tedious, but its fun, said Danielle Yaste, with the Minnesota Conservation Corps, throwing the seed as if skipping stones. So with your wrist, flick it so it goes out as far as you can, but also spreads out evenly. So its not in clumps, and its not too heavy. That way it distributes evenly, she said, and settles to the bottom, where next year it will hopefully take root in the sediment. The Fond du Lac Band plans to seed around 12,000 pounds of wild rice into the river this fall. Thats on top of 8,000 pounds it planted last year. The band has been restoring wild rice waters on the reservation for 20 years. First, they cut and harvest invasive weeds that have taken over kind of like mowing the lawn before reseeding. Then they spread the seed in the voids they create, handful by handful. Theyre already seeing results. Darren Vogt, Environmental Director for the 1854 Treaty Authority, another partner in the effort, just finished monitoring last years plantings. Wild rice grew this summer in all five bays they had planted last year, he said. There was at least some success everywhere. So that was an encouraging sign, he said. These kind of restoration projects are usually a multi-year effort, we dont expect to seed once and be done with it, the goal is a self-sustaining population of rice. So it may take several years of seeding before things take well. While out on the St. Louis River, Nahgahnub pointed out where geese ate the rice just as it grew above the waters surface. Thats a big concern for the rice moving forward, along with carp, which also like to feast on young wild rice plants. Still, Nahgahnub hopes to someday harvest rice from the St. Louis River. Theres a whole generation that doesnt know how to do this, he said. It gives me hope, they want to revive it, restore it, to what it was. Donald Trumps supporters will be there for him regardless of what he says or does. Indeed, the more outrageous and unapologetic, the better, it seems. He is dishonest, and despite his ease at calling others nasty things he lies. He plays people. Hes all about himself. Recently this all was on disgusting display, when Trump conned the media with promises of a big announcement, and everyone showed up for the show. The first big announcement several minutes of it was about what a great facility everyone had gathered in. That would be his new hotel in D.C. Nothing like free advertising for the Trump brand, yes? There also was a stage full of decorated war veterans behind him to extol his virtues, and even a Gold Star spouse recognized in the audience, but those patriots probably still dont know that they, too, were played, props to help set up the big announcement. Then came the big announcement, all half a minute of it, before Trump escaped with no further questioning. President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period. Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. This is after years of saying loudly, the exact opposite. He was one for three. Barack Obama indeed was born in the U.S., which everyone has known, except birther movement people, led by Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton did not start the birther movement; that is undisputed by multiple fact-checkers. And Donald Trump did not finish it; President Obama finished it years ago, when the White House released a copy of his birth certificate, in response to the incessant prodding of Trump and his birthers. By the way, recent stats show that 41 percent of Republican voters still believe that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Interesting: isnt that about the same percentage of Republicans who have been staunch Trump supporters? So, my question: How can any kind of case be made to have a dishonest, manipulative, self-involved, unrepentant person like Donald Trump be president? And the more important question: are the people who support Hillary Clinton going to work extremely hard to get out the vote to ensure that Donald Trump is soundly defeated? The 35th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will honor four Wisconsin firefighters who died in the line of duty. They are among the 79 firefighters who died in 2015 and 33 firefighters who died in previous years who will be remembered at the official national service at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on Oct. 9. Firefighter Lawrence W. Millard will be among those honored. Millard, 56, of the Endeavor Moundville Fire Department, died after he was struck while directing traffic at the scene of a motor vehicle accident on Dec. 11, 2015. Others from Wisconsin include Firefighter Leslie W. Fryman, 58, of the Rosendale Volunteer Fire Department; Lt. Michael P. Miller, 45, of the Green Bay Metro Fire Department; and Firefighter Dale J. Wege, 59, of the Pine Lake Volunteer Fire Department. Their names will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial on the Academy grounds. The national tribute is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Fire Administration. Families will receive flags flown over the U.S. Capitol and the National Memorial. Members of the fire service, honor guard units and pipe and drum units from across the country will participate in this national tribute. For a complete list of fallen firefighters being honored, visit www.firehero.org. To make an appointment or for more information, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. All blood types are needed. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Donors 18 years of age or younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Letters from concerned students, staff and parents Following the suspension of University activities, Wits has received hundreds of emails and calls: The University has received hundreds of emails and calls from students and parents, the majority of whom are concerned, angry and anxious about the future of the University, and who want classes to resume. This is following the announcement that all University activities will be suspended until further notice. Many people are afraid to air their views publicly as they do not want to be harassed or do not want to put their children in harms way. We have published a selection of the responses below to provide an indication of the views of the silent majority. We have removed all names but have not changed the content of their responses. Feel free to share your views anonymously via vco.news@wits.ac.za |Also read the full response from the Senior Executive Team. LETTERS: 4th YEAR ACCOUNTING STUDENT I write this email to you as an extremely concerned 4th year Accounting Science student. After having received the last email from SET which states that there is a possibility that the university may be closed, I felt that I had to write you as the acting VC on behalf of all of the students who are not part of the FMF 2016 protest. Over the past, I have waited patiently for the protest to end and was careful not to infringe upon the rights of the students who want to protest to do so. However, it seems as though this protest could possibly lead to final exams not being written this year. I am in my final year of studies and as you can imagine, I cannot afford to not write my final exams this year and in a timely manner. I have to write my ITC (as per SAICA requirements) next year in January and SAICA will most probably not move the dates to accommodate Wits students as they have a set program. At this point, even though I feel ashamed to even request this of you, could you please ask for military intervention from the government to make sure that the academic program is re-instated as soon as possible. I am begging. I have to pass this year and start my training next year towards qualifying as a CA(SA) to make a better life for my family. As a young African female, I'm sure you understand that my family has sacrificed a lot in order for me to be at Wits for these past 4 years. I cannot bear to let them down now. Please do consider stricter police control or even military intervention if necessary. The academic program must be re-instated as soon as possible. 2nd YEAR BA STUDENT I wish to express my concern about the present situation at Wits and whether the academic activities will resume in time to complete the syllabus. My greatest concern however is for the final exams whether we will be able to write them in time as I live overseas with my parents, and need to book my tickets in advance. Please advise as to when academic activities will resume, and if not, as to whether we will be writing our final exams or not. 4th YEAR STUDENT I am one of the few students that cannot afford to lose this time due to the protests. I have worked 4 years to be where I am and I want to finish my degree this year. I want to do my honours but I fear this will hinder my chances. This is the last chance I have to do the best I can. I am willing to go to lectures or write tests and exams in company parking lots or board rooms if need be. I don't know if this has been considered but I am sure many companies wouldn't mind helping out for those who want to carry on. PART-TIME STUDENT I am a student, in the WitsPlus department, and would like to enquire about a petition for students who would like to return to classes. I am heartbroken by the destruction and violence on campus, and as a Witsie, who is proud to be part of such a prestigious university, I would like to encourage the university to spread a petition. I guarantee that the numbers would surprise you. I would love to return to the regular schedule, and to complete my year of study, as I am sure many other students would too. Please could we find a way to alleviate the stress and panic associated to these strikes, as many students who share my sentiments do not support the protesting students and their violence. I stand in full support of Wits University, and would love to continue my studies as soon as possible. And I would like to add that I know that I will be a proud member of the Wits alumni, and will uphold the university's name in the future. I stand with Wits! STUDENT Please consider some of us who want to make a better life for ourselves. This is detrimental to our education and future. STUDENT Well done to capitulating to the moband so the loud minority are set to get their way. A 1000 thugsclose down a campus of 30 000+Where is law and order @WitsUniversity? FIRST YEAR STUDENT I am one of the students who would really want the academic programme to continue as soon as possible. It is very sad to see our very own students going beyond a protest into an extremely violent environment. I hope that the University makes plans to ensure that the academic programme finishes on time and examinations run normally as well as re-assuring all the Wits students that the University and its workers are to be highly respected for what they hold as educators. Most of all, make the students aware of the fact that their current studies are important for their future regardless for the fight for free education. They also need to respect the tertiary education that they are being given at this time. PARENT My son is currently doing his third year and daughter a postgraduate degree at Wits University and I am deeply concerned that the continued student protests and threat of the university not reopening anytime soon, will negatively impact on them passing this academic year. I strongly believe that everybody has a right to express their views, however it should never be to the detriment of one else. Many students only have one opportunity to study and will never get this opportunity again. It is rather unfortunate that we do not have an effective and decisive leadership in this country, however the Constitution should still protect us even when leadership fails us. These students should not be allowed to infringe on the rights of others. Would there be a way to approach the public protector and if so, how can this be done? To date students and parents with opposing views have been rather silent and I feel that if we collectively stand up and say enough is enough, perhaps we could put an end to this nonsense. Education is the only way in which we can emancipate ourselves from the cycle of poverty and inequities of the past. These students should direct their anger and frustration where it is needed. PARENT I understand the reasons for the protest, but the manner of protest is unacceptable, and the Wits Executive must take equal responsibility due to their lack of appropriate response. For the violent mob breaking the law, every effort should be made to have them identified, arrested immediately, prosecuted, and receive a criminal record (which will follow them their whole life, affect their visits to foreign countries, deny them the potential of living in foreign lands), and possibly a jail term. This will discourage students from following the same violent action this time next year. They must learn that there are consequences to their actions! At the moment they can do as they please. Where in this country is it acceptable to assault citizens, speak hate speech, destroy property, intimidate and threaten individuals certainly at Wits. Why are these law-breaking protestors not being arrested? Why are they not being prosecuted? Why are these particular students immune to the laws governing our land? What about the rights of the remaining law-abiding students? Where is the protection of their rights, to peaceful protest, to an education, to write their exams this year, who have paid an exorbitant amount in fees, who want to graduate, who want to work next year? How can Wits allow their rights to be trampled? Why is the University capitulating to the dictates of a violent minority? Why is the response so weak? The University must be reopened immediately and the enforcement of the rule of law strictly applied. Advise protestors that if they break the law then they will be arrested, that Wits will lay charges, and that they may land up with criminal records, jail time, and how this will follow them throughout their life and to all corners of the world. The rule of law must be applied and be seen to be applied. PARENT I am writing in my capacity as a parent of two Wits students. I find the closure of the University extremely disappointing and disturbing. We are in the same position as last year where a violent minority are terrorising everyone else. I am very surprised that the University was not better prepared this year and that it is so simple for a few intimidating thugs to bring the whole University to a halt. Did we not anticipate another fees must fall protest? By capitulating so readily, we are promoting the culture of "break and burn". These students are learning to behave like spoilt children who throw tantrums to control everyone else. What happened to a mature University culture of tolerance and mutual respect? These students do not understand the idea of peaceful protest or permitting different points of view. They have learned to use violence to get their own way and we are letting them get away with it. The same people who were the instigators last year are at the fore front again. Why do we permit this? These individuals have learned to manipulate the whole situation for their own personal political ends. They are in no way representative of the vast majority of students, but because they are intimidating we all stand aside. It is very concerning to see how readily a few dozen can disrupt the whole institutionI trust that the situation will be resolved urgently and that Wits will have proper plans in place for the next round. PARENT/ACADEMIC What about exams? Our students need to write. How many of our 35 000 students want to finish? How can we suspend everything? How many students actually support this indefinite closure? Why is the University not canvassing students opinions through a survey? This news of indefinite closure is very perturbing and I write as a staff member and a concerned parent. PARENT As a parent (and an ex Witsie) I am deeply concerned for the "Silent majority". Most of the registered students are at university with the goal of obtaining a degree. They are keen to attend class, and would like to write tests and exams on the specified dates. THEY HAVE RIGHTS TOO - the right to attend class without fear of victimisation, the right to write tests and the right to support their own cause - which is to graduate Is there a plan in place for the exam sessions, as we would like to know when exams are going to be written? PARENT It is most important that you determine what percentage of your students are involved in the protest or alternatively are unhappy about the fees issue and consequently determine which percentage of students are happy and eager to proceed with their studies as is and is in fact fed-up with the protests of the minority. You must have all students cell numbers. Take a referendum with 2 of 3 simple questions to determine this figure. If it is indeed only a small percentage then take severe action against them for the good of the majority of students and the good name of Wits. If it is not a mere minority but indeed a large component of the students that are unhappy then you have a problem which you will have to manage accordingly. Response to letters and calls from concerned Wits community Here follows the response from the Senior Executive Team to messages from concerned students, parents and staff: We have been inundated with responses from staff, students and parents (read a selection of the messages) following the release of a statement indicating that Wits University will be closed until further notice. The academic programme can only continue once we can re-establish a safe and secure learning environment. Let us first address the issue of violence, which has been a common concern through all the responses. Let us be clear Wits executive management has always denounced violence, and all our recent communication has done the same. We condemn any form of violence and encourage all parties to engage constructively to find a long-term solution to these issues. Many have accused us of not anticipating the protests and not having contingency plans in place. In fact, we have been two steps ahead the whole of this year, and despite multiple attempts to close us down, we did not lose a single day. Even this protest was anticipated and, unlike many other universities, we resisted closing down. We remained open for the entire day on Monday, largely because of the deployment of private security. However, on Monday our security began to fracture. This is for two reasons: the police were not arresting the students, and when they did, they released them, which made things difficult. Secondly, the quality of the private security began to decline partly because all universities required them, and less trained security personnel began to be deployed. This then culminated in a situation where private security, after being provoked by students who stoned them, lost their discipline and started throwing stones as well. The throwing of stones by anyone is unacceptable and we are further investigating this incident. Following this incident, and confronted with the prospect of serious injuries, we suspended the University programme. Nowhere in the world does a university, when confronted with such challenges, have to address the problem on its own. In most societies, appropriately trained police will address the situation in a non-violent way. We cannot rely on the response of the police in our country and this is the primary problem. This matter cannot be resolved by vice-chancellors and higher education executives alone. We need the voices of ordinary citizens and students to be heard because when good people remain silent, the extreme political minority get carte blanche to determine the future of our institutions and society. We are extremely concerned about the willingness of some students and academics to sacrifice Wits and the future of our students for a political fight that is truly meant to be directed elsewhere. We would like to hear from all our staff, students, parents and members of the public. More importantly, we encourage you to make your voices heard publicly. Only collectively can we save Wits and the higher education system in a South Africa. Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. Everest Re Group, Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. If you see something, steal something. That ultra-cynical but oh-so New York motto may have saved some lives. The post-9/11 mantra, If you see something, say something, got turned upside down this weekend. According to media reports, two improvised explosives believed to have been built and left in separate locations by Chelsea explosion suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami were discovered, and one was disabled, by people rifling through the bomb bags for booty. According to law enforcement sources, two passers-by found a rolling suitcase on West 27th Street, examined the contents, then took a pressure-cooker bomb out and put it on the sidewalk before taking the bag. The move apparently disarmed the bomb, potentially saving lives. It also kept intact the cellphone attached to the bomb, helping investigators. This all happened less than a quarter-mile from the explosion on West 23rd Street that injured 29 people. In Elizabeth, N.J., Sunday evening, police say, a backpack resting on top of a trash can near a train station was taken by two people who, upon investigating the contents and finding five bombs, called the cops. Across the world, New York City and its neighboring environs have the reputation of being tough, street-smart places. But now it looks like evolution. Three hundred years of ever-increasing awareness of their surroundings has left New Yorkers with keen instincts for finding the terrifyingly dangerous, out-of-place element then disassembling it and stealing the good parts. WEX Inc. provides financial technology services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fleet Solutions, Travel and Corporate Solutions, and Health and Employee Benefit Solutions. The Fleet Solutions segment offers fleet vehicle payment processing services. Its services include customer, account activation, and account retention services; authorization and billing inquiries, and account maintenance services; credit and collections services; merchant services; analytics solutions with access to web-based data analytics platform that offers insights to fleet managers; and ancillary services and tools to fleets to manage expenses and capital requirements. This segment markets its products directly and indirectly to commercial and government vehicle fleet customers with small, medium, and large fleets, as well as with over-the-road and long haul fleets; and indirectly through co-branded and private label relationships. The Travel and Corporate Solutions segment provides payment solutions, including embedded payments; and accounts payable automation and spend management solutions. Its products include virtual cards that are used for transactions where no card is presented. This segment markets its products directly and indirectly to commercial and government organizations. The Health and Employee Benefit Solutions segment offers healthcare payment products and software-as-a-service consumer directed platforms for healthcare market, as well as payroll related and employee benefit products in Brazil. This segment markets its products through health plans, third-party administrators, financial institutions, payroll companies benefits consultants, software providers, and individuals. The company was formerly known as Wright Express Corporation and changed its name to WEX Inc. in October 2012. WEX Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Portland, Maine. 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 would like to issue a rebuttal to the editorial (Costco seems willing to work with neighbors, LJS, Sept. 19.) My main concern regarding the debate regarding the issue of Costco is that there seems to be a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding the actual facts pertaining to this proposed development. Some basic Information: While there are several commercial locations available in Lincoln, Costcos main interest is a piece of property at the corner of 14th and Pine lake Road. This stretch of land (which is currently zoned for agricultural use) sits directly between two of our schools -- Lincoln Southwest High School and Scott Middle School, which combined have over 2,900 children in attendance. Many of the residences that live in this area are concerned about traffic, pedestrian safety, and the overall level of chaos that Costco will introduce to this relatively quiet corner of the community. The editorial reported that engineers estimated a 300 car increase in traffic during peak after work hours. Engineers also indicated that those 300 cars, going to and from Costco, would actually result in an additional 600 trips along those roadways. Unfortunately, times relevant to traffic pertaining to the surrounding schools was not assessed, leaving us with really no idea how this retail giant will impact our schools. The editorial also referenced Costcos hours of operation. You are correct that Costco opens at 10:00 am, but the adjoining gas station will open much earlier and for longer hours that the actual store. The out-lot areas are still yet to be determined so that is another unknown factor that seems to be left unacknowledged. The comparison to the Costco in La Habra California is NOT a suitable example. You are correct in that the community and schools in that area are significantly smaller than in our own community of Lincoln but you have missed one very important fact. The Costco in La Habra California sits along a 6- lane Highway. This is hardly comparable to the corner of 14th and Pine Lake Road. Rezoning that land to allow for a business that will create a huge increase in traffic to the only stretch of property that sits directly between two of our schools seems unsightly, unsafe and completely irresponsible. Costco is submitting its plans to the city, along with seemingly attractive ideas for improving traffic and beautifying their property to accommodate the surrounding neighborhood. I am hopeful that as our city considers introducing this large scale intrusion into an otherwise quiet neighborhood that someone is paying close attention to the details in what they are presenting. I attended the first informational meeting at Scott Middle School. Just a few details I gathered from that meeting: - Traffic analysis for this location was conducted two years ago- in 2014. - Actual Costco traffic was NOT included as a point of reference for the analysis. Instead, the study utilized statistics from "similar warehouse style stores. Costco is the largest members-only warehouse retailer in the country; the biggest and busiest of the their kind. Any comparable warehouse traffic analysis would minimize the actual impact. There are several locations throughout the country so I find it curious that they would purposely omit their own traffic details and utilize information from stores that are not their own. - No consideration was given to the surrounding three schools or to those times specific to drop-off, pick-up or (open) lunch hour traffic. Costco representatives indicated that their busiest shopping times are between noon and 2:00 pm and that the average shopper spends about one hour in the store, suggesting that the largest portion of Costco traffic will coincide with after school traffic from Lincoln Southwest High School, Scott Middle School, and Adams Elementary, as well as LSWs open lunch hour. - Semi truck traffic will utilize Hazel Scott Road Every Morning between the hours of 4:00-9:30am., which is a seemingly enormous intrusion for an already crowded and disrupted flow of traffic as that street serves as a primary pick-up and drop-off location for Scott Middle Schoolers, not to mention the pedestrian and bike traffic. - Our city bike path and walking trail along Pine Lake Road will be disrupted in two separate areas to allow entrance to Costco. This little corner of our community includes many residences, Two relatively large schools, a library, YMCA, cemetery and a few small businesses This is NO PLACE FOR A WAREHOUSE RETAILER. I am sure Costco will be a great addition to Lincoln But it DOES NOT BELONG IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD! I am hopeful that dollar signs and false promises of community improvement will not cloud the judgment of our city planners in advocating for what is in the best interest of our children and for the greater good of our community. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in three segments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The Independent Living segment owns or leases communities comprising independent and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors. The Assisted Living and Memory Care segment owns or leases communities consisting of freestanding multi-story communities and freestanding single-story communities, which offer housing and 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living for the Company's residents. This segment also operates memory care communities for residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The CCRCs segment owns or leases communities that provides various living arrangements, such as independent and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing; and services to accommodate various levels of physical ability and healthcare needs. It also manages communities on behalf of others. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned 347 communities, leased 299 communities, and managed 33 communities on behalf of others. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. 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. Before this week, the 24th Congressional District race between U.S. Rep. John Katko and Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon was, shall we say, calm. The candidates weren't taking major swipes at each other. Katko, R-Camillus, has spent most of the month taking care of official business in Washington before the election recess. Deacon, D-Syracuse, hasn't held any media events, but has been criss-crossing the district to make appearances at community gatherings and meet with voters. And then Wednesday happened. Katko's campaign released its fifth television commercial an ad claiming Deacon has no plan to defeat ISIS. The ad uses a portion of a quote from Deacon's interview with WRVO's Grant Reeher in December to make it appear that she had no idea what the strategy should be. The selective editing led Deacon's campaign to accuse Katko's camp of lying. Later in the day, Deacon issued a statement criticizing Katko over a procedural vote Democrats say blocked consideration of legislation that would ban individuals on terror watch lists from buying guns. One day later, Deacon announced she has been endorsed by Americans for Responsible Solutions, a group co-founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly. Wednesday's events marked the first major spat of the campaign, which will likely get a bit more heated as Election Day nears. So far, outside groups haven't had much of an impact on the race. That will change in the next few weeks. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently started airing TV ads in the Syracuse media market. Expect the National Republican Congressional Committee to do the same. Other groups, including the Democrats' House Majority PAC, will be involved, too. The fun is just beginning in the 24th Congressional District race. COMING UP THIS WEEK I will publish interviews with four of the candidates running in two local state legislative races. I spoke with Assemblyman Gary Finch and Democratic candidate Diane Dwire about legislative pay and ethics reform. I also spoke with state Sen. Jim Seward and Democratic challenger Jermaine Bagnall-Graham about the same subjects. I'm also in the process of launching a new series you'll see leading up to Election Day. I'll make sure to promote it in the space. The goal is to give readers a chance to interact with candidates. I'll keep you posted. This election offers the voters real choice in terms of the political agenda that will drive our country in the future. A Donald Trump presidency would mean the appointment of constitutionalist Supreme Court judges. A Hillary Clinton presidency would mean the appointment of political activist Supreme Court judges, who are committed to redefining the Constitution to support the secular, far-left political agenda. A Trump economic plan would create jobs and increase income levels. A Clinton regulation-driven tax-and-spend economy would add to the national debt, limit job creation, depress wages and promote dependency on government. The Trump promise of good jobs coupled with his promise of safe streets and good schools for the inner-city communities across our country promises inner-city residents the opportunity to participate in the American dream. The consequence of a Clinton presidency for inner-city communities would be a continuation of rule by a infrastructure that forces dependency on government, high unemployment, crime and an education system with no parent choice. A Trump presidency would mean the replacement of incompetent bureaucratic leaders in government with competent professionals held accountable for their results. A Clinton presidency would mean continued government incompetence without accountability. A Trump presidency would result in the closure of our borders to entry by illegal means. A Clinton presidency would result in open borders facilitating continued entry of both illegal immigrants and improperly vetted legal entry applicants and would create a path of citizenship for all who attain such entry. A Trump presidency would put the United States back into its traditional international leadership where our enemies, fear us and our friends can depend on us. A Clinton presidency would extend the capitulation of our international leadership role, resulting in ongoing chaos in the Middle East, unchecked ISIS terrorism and continued Russian imperialism in the old Soviet Union regions. Kenneth Frost, Lincoln State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody; product accounting; daily pricing and administration; master trust and master custody; depotbank services; record-keeping; cash management; foreign exchange, brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loans and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors. It also engages in the provision of portfolio management and risk analytics, as well as trading and post-trade settlement services with integrated compliance and managed data. In addition, the company offers investment management strategies and products, such as core and enhanced indexing, multi-asset strategies, active quantitative and fundamental active capabilities, and alternative investment strategies. Further, it provides services and solutions, including environmental, social, and governance investing; defined benefit and defined contribution; and global fiduciary solutions, as well as exchange-traded fund under the SPDR ETF brand. The company provides its products and services to mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Bill Kintner stated he is still a good man with value even though he made a legal and moral mistake ("Kintner refuses again to resign," Sept. 3). I am glad he found grace and forgiveness; it can be a humbling experience. Being given grace shows us how to live gracefully, to view others as a being of value, even when they make mistakes. I pray he legislates with the same grace and stature he has allowed himself, that he sees how partisan politics separates us and how pledging loyalty first to party leadership, the American Legislative Exchange Council or an economic theory, fails not only our constitutional pledge to represent the citizens in your district but fails basic faith principals. Ignoring citizens voices, keeping electoral votes from counting and creating partisan redistricting plan to silence votes, along with pushing ALEC laws written by out-of-state corporate lawyers, fails to live out a faith based on treating others as you would yourself. Nebraska citizens demanded a nonpartisan legislature, where citizens work together solving problems instead of working for whomever controls the party leadership. The pledge as a legislator is to the people, not the party, creating fair law. That requires listening, reviewing long-held assumptions and compromise. Political parties require that we think as enemies, as if in war. Our faith requires that we live with humility, grace and peace and to treat others as we see ourselves. Laureen Greenwood, Lincoln China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha, District of Rhode Island, was on hand for a town-meeting-style forum on heroin and opioid abuse in historic Harris Hall on Wednesday. The forum was held in connection with the National Heroin and Opiate Awareness Week and sponsored by the Department of Justice. From left are Public Safety Director Eugene Jalette, Fire Chief Paul Shatraw, Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt and Neronha. Joseph B. Nadeau The TImes Johnny Lee Morris By: Feng Qian A man was arrested on charges that include kidnaping after he broke into a home and attempted to hide in a dryer. Police in Florida, were looking for the man as he was suspect in a robbery case. When a Miramar police officer tried to pull over the white Nissan Altima that 18-year-old Johnny Lee Morris was driving, he sped away. Morris and his 17-year-old passenger threw things out of the vehicle as they recklessly drove through a shopping plazas parking lot. The two men ran with the 17-year-old accomplice who was arrested a few minutes later, the report said. Morris ran into a house and tried to hide in an enclosed patio, the police report said. There he found a 4-year-old child. Police said that Morris picked up the boy and ordered the child to be quiet. However, the boy bit him, forcing Morris to drop him. The boys mother came outside and saw the suspect emptying the clothes from her dryer and attempting to get inside. When he realized that he was not going to fit, he tried to get into the home. When the woman blocked him, Morris ran away. He was arrested minutes later. Morris was charged with armed robbery, robbery, kidnapping, resisting arrest and reckless driving. His bail was set at $37,725. Alecia and Andrew Schmuhl By: Mahesh Sarin A couple will spend a long time in jail after they conspired to torture her boss for firing her. Police said that the woman worked at Bean, Kinney & Korman, which is a law firm in Virginia, where the victim is a partner. After Alecia Schmuhl, 32, of Springfield, was fired, she and her husband decided to take revenge against her former boss, Leo Fisher, and his wife Susan Duncan. Alecia was on the phone directing her husband as he broke into Fisheras home. According to Duncan and Fisher, Andrew Schmuhl rang their doorbell, and when he opened the door, he hit them with Taser darts. He then used zip-ties to tie them up and he dragged them to their bedroom. Prosecutors said that Andrew then Tasered, shot and stabbed the couple for three hours before fleeing from the home and leaving them to die. The couple managed to press their homeas panic button. They were rushed to a hospital. Police did not expect Duncan and Fisher to survive, but surgeons at the Inova Fairfax Hospital saved their lives. Both Alecia and Andrew were arrested on charges of abduction, aggravated malicious wounding, using a firearm and burglary. At the time of his arrest, Andrew was wearing only an adult diaper. Andrew told police that he does not remember the incident. His attorneys attempted to build a defense of ainvoluntary intoxication.a They claimed that Andrew was taking the painkillers Fentanyl and Dilaudid for a back injury that he sustained while he was serving in the army, as well as Xanax for insomnia and Clomid for low testosterone. They also claimed that Alecia was the amastermind of the attack,a and she directed him over the phone. Alecia reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, and she faces a prison sentence of 10 to 45 years. Her sentence is far less than that of her husband. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 98 years in prison after a lengthy trial. Nebraska's political party leaders will be watching with somewhat different expectations Monday night when it's showtime on the presidential stage with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton colliding in their first debate. Republican National Committeeman J.L. Spray sees the possibility of immigration emerging as a defining issue with Trump potentially scoring political points. Democratic State Chairman Vince Powers expects more of the same from each candidate, defining that matchup from his perspective as "Hillary giving reasoned and detailed responses regarding positions and policies" while Trump "continues to bad-mouth America" with criticism. But criticism of current immigration and refugee resettlement policy may be something that most voters agree with, Spray said. "Clinton advocates open immigration and pulling more refugees into the country," he said. "If Trump puts an edge on an issue like that, it could be significant." Powers and Spray, both Lincoln attorneys, spoke in separate interviews in advance of the much-anticipated first debate, a 90-minute, commercial-free encounter that begins at 8 p.m. It will be broadcast on all the major TV networks and cable news channels. Spray said he believes viewers will be asking themselves "is this person presidential?" and they'll be looking for some "sense of gravitas," even if it might be accompanied by what he described as some personal swagger. That might "score with popular sentiment," he said. Powers said the bar is set much higher for Clinton than it is for Trump in Monday night's debate. "But it was for Ginger Rogers too," he said, recalling the line that in her dance routines with Fred Astaire, the actress did everything he did, but she did it backwards and in high heels. "We'll see if the bar is set so low for Donald Trump that if he just shows up and doesn't have a meltdown on stage that many people will say he looks very presidential," Powers said. "He has not yet shown the ability to articulate any actual solutions to the numerous problems we face." Recent history suggests that the first debate often is the most important in shaping presidential races, Spray said. "It allows people to focus, to feel the moment," he said. "Some elections have turned on a debate or two." Powers said he's inclined to believe that Monday night's debate will be "significant, but not a game-changer." "My advice to everyone who watches is to immediately turn off the television set when it is over and make up their own minds rather than listen to commentators try to say what happened or didn't happen." Student (illustration) By: Tanya Malhotra (Scroll down for video) A teacher was arrested on a charge of assault after allegedly beating up a student and threatening to rape his mother because he spent $4,000 in cash instead of buying marijuana, according to police in New York. The New York Police Department said that they have arrested 48-year-old Kevin Pope of Manhattan, after being accused of beating the 16-year-old student in the street and stealing his iPhone, gold chain and wallet. Pope was charged with assault, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and robbery. According to the police investigation, Pope is a science teacher at the John V. Lindsay Wildcats Academy on Lafayette Avenue. The student told police that he and Pope had a verbal dispute over $4,000. The teacher gave the student the cash to purchase a large amount of marijuana. However, the student never bought the drugs because the dealer wanted $7,000. Instead of giving the money back to the teacher, the student spent the cash. On Wednesday around 5:00 p.m., Pope approached the teen and demanded the money back or the marijuana. When the student said that he had no money, the teacher punched him in the face several times. The teacher then ran away with the studentas iPhone, wallet and gold chain. The student suffered a laceration on his lip and needed staples to close wounds on the back of the head. In court, Popeas attorney Japel Filiaci claimed that the student stole the science teacheras briefcase containing approximately $5,000. Missing 14-Year-Old Kelsey Bodman Found Safe & Well in Manchester This article is old - Published: Sunday, Sep 25th, 2016 A teenager from Wrexham who had been missing for four days has been found safe and well in Manchester. 14-year-old Kelsey Bodman from Brymbo, was reported missing on Thursday 22 September. Kelsey finished school in Penley on the Thursday and travelled by bus back to the Brymbo area where she spent Thursday evening with friends. Later that evening she went to Asda in Wrexham where she tried unsuccessfully to exchange a $100 note. The last confirmed sighting of Kelsey had at 8.15 on Friday morning when she bought a bread roll from Tesco Express in Flint. Earlier today North Wales Police held a press conference with Kelseys father, Mark Hulme, who made an emotional plea for his daughter to come home. Just hours after the press conference Kelsey was found safe and well with reports surfacing around 6:45pm that she had made contact with friends and family. A statement released this evening, reads: Following this appeal, Kelsey has been found safe and well and is currently in the care of police officers in Manchester. North Wales Police would like to thank the public for their help and assistance in locating Kelsey. Police More And More Concerned For The Welfare Of Kelsey This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 24th, 2016 North Wales Police have issued a statement late this Saturday evening saying they are more and more concerned over the disappearance of 14 year old Kelsey Bodman. Update 10:15pm Police have said the the white Audi they had previously been looking for has been eliminated from our enquiries. In the statement released just before 10pm tonight Detective Inspector Arwyn Jones who is now leading the investigation said: We are becoming more and more concerned for the welfare of Kelsey. She has been missing for over 48 hours and has not made contact with any of her close friends or family in that time. Considerable resources are being employed on this enquiry, and detectives are currently speaking with her close friends. Locating Kelsey safe and well is our priority. Kelseys family too are understandably deeply concerned as to her safety and whereabouts. I would ask anyone who may have spoke or seen Kelsey over the last 48 hours, or who has any information that may assist locating her to contact 101 Police have said that there has been a confirmed sighting of Kelsey around 8am yesterday (Friday) morning in Flint. Previously she had been sighted at 4:15pm in Hightown on Thursday after getting off the school bus, and then later that evening around 11pm in Wrexham ASDA. Since the 8am Friday sighting she has not been seen since. Wrexham University & Denbigh College Team up For Groundbreaking Virtual Reality Project This article is old - Published: Saturday, Sep 24th, 2016 Giants of education in North Wales are immersing themselves in a ground-breaking new virtual reality project with a leader in world communications. Wrexham Glyndwr University computer scientists are working closely with Myddelton College in Denbigh to deliver innovative virtual and augmented reality scenarios in an education setting as part of the Microsoft Showcase Schools initiative. Also known as immersive multimedia or computer-simulated reality, VR is a computer technology that replicates an environment real or imagined and simulates a users physical presence and surroundings to allow for interaction. Andy Howard, Executive Headmaster at Myddelton College, says they aim to capitalise on the growth of systems such as Minecraft and Pokemon Go, which have captured the imagination of gamers all over the world. Our links with Wrexham Glyndwr University are immensely exciting and provide an opportunity to explore the potential of these modern technologies to make a huge difference to education, said Mr Howard, who is the only UK headmaster to sit on the prestigious Microsoft in Education Advisory Board. We look forward to sharing our experiences with other schools in our community and the world to continue finding innovative ways to equip our students with the proper tools needed for success inside and outside of the classroom. As a Showcase School, Myddelton will work closely with Microsoft to lead innovation in education and communicate a vision enabled by technology through the hosting and mentoring of other schools in the community on transformational educational practices. Vic Grout, Professor of Computing Futures at Wrexham Glyndwr, has been working with schools across north east Wales to strengthen their focus on ICT and was awarded a certificate of recognition of his work by the British Computer Society. He says joining forces with Myddelton College on the virtual reality programme will act as a catalyst for other education leaders across the UK. Professor Grout said: This is an exciting opportunity to work with a new educational provider and build something truly original from the ground up, said . Myddelton have the ambition, facilities and audience to showcase these new technologies and we clearly have significant expertise in immersive technologies and virtual reality to take full advantage of this. A number of projects, we already have in development, can be focused towards this new collaboration. Together we can revolutionise the educational provision offered to students in a number of areas. Anthony Salcito, Vice President of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, added: Microsoft Showcase Schools are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of school. These schools are truly transforming learning and providing more personalized education to students empowering them to achieve more. As well as being recognised on a global scale for their innovative approach to educating tomorrows workforce, Showcase Schools receive additional collaboration opportunities with other schools around the world, access to professional development opportunities, invitations to exclusive events, access to Microsoft Innovative Educators Experts (MIE Experts) on staff to help drive innovation and to support staff, peers and students, and more. For information, email n.j.roberts@glyndwr.ac.uk or a.howard@myddeltoncollege.co.uk. You can also visit Wrexham Glyndwr University open day on October 15 from 10am-2pm. MANDAN, N.D. An oil pipeline protester from South Dakota who inspired a rally after she was arrested and jailed in North Dakota has been moved to Nebraska to face another criminal complaint. Forty-two-year-old Olowan Martinez was arrested Sept. 13 for criminal trespass during a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline. Earlier this week, about 300 people showed up outside the Morton County Jail in Mandan to appeal for her release. They held up a large sign that read "Free Olowan." Some called out to her in the jail. The arrest in North Dakota triggered a warrant from Nebraska, where Martinez was wanted on charges of making terroristic threats, theft and criminal mischief. Martinez was released on $10,000 bond after making her initial appearance Thursday in Sheridan County, Nebraska. MOUNT PLEASANT A new sex therapy practice opens here Oct. 1. Jessica Ford, a licensed clinical social worker and certified sex therapist, is opening her private practice at Lakeside Family Services, 4810 Northwestern Ave. She will provide relationship psychotherapy to individuals and couples who experience challenges in their relationship and issues with sexual difficulties. Ford holds a masters degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Wisconsin and a masters degree in clinical social work, family systems from the University of Chicagos School of Social Administration. After living and working in Ontario, Canada, for 15 years, Ford recently returned to Wisconsin. She has two adult children, five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. For more information or to book an appointment, contact Ford through her website, www.jafordgroup.com, or call 262-726-4722. In an effort to derail Chief Justice Barbara Madsen in her bid for re-election to the state Supreme Court, charter-school proponents unhappy w RACINE A local businessman, charged with fondling an 11-year-old girl two years ago, may ask a local court to let an expert challenge statements the alleged victim and witnesses made to a Child Advocacy Center interviewer. George R. Stinson, 77, of Mount Pleasant, was charged on Dec. 19, 2014, with first-degree sexual assault sexual contact with a child younger than 13, after he allegedly groped the girls clothed breast on Nov.18, 2014. According to the criminal complaint, the victim and two friends her age had been at Battlefield Live, the laser tag business at 1325 16th St., which Stinson owned at the time the alleged assault occurred. The girls reportedly told law enforcement investigators, and later a forensic investigator with the Child Advocacy Center, that the girls had been in Stinsons office working on Bible study when Stinson, who had earlier given the trio money to play arcade games, asked them to pull up their shirts and show him their stomachs. The girls reportedly said no. Stinson then allegedly gave the victim a toy, the complaint states, grabbed her by the waist, pulled her back toward him, and asked her to be his girlfriend. She said no and that is when he reportedly grabbed the girls breast, the complaint states. When an investigator spoke with Stinson on Dec. 18, 2014, he said he probably made some inappropriate statements to the children, but denied touching any of them, the complaint states. While the girls Child Advocacy Interviews would typically be submitted to the court as evidence in trial, Stinsons defense attorney Mark Richards told Racine County Circuit Judge Emily Mueller last week that he wanted to hire an expert to review the interviews, with the possibility of challenging their admissibility. Mueller allowed the defense to hire an expert to review the tapes. However, whether the defense will ask to submit a motion asking for the interviews to be omitted remains to be seen. During last weeks status hearing, Richards said work on Stinsons defense had stalled for a few months, because Stinson was struggling to pay his legal fees. Richards was able to get back to work on the case, he said, after Stinsons bankruptcy freed up some of the defendants funds. Richards did not respond to an email requesting additional comments on the case. Prior to the laser tag business, Stinson owned and operated General Converters & Assemblers at the same address. It closed in 2012, leaving 58 employees out of work. Another status conference in the case has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 28. David Morales of Yakima, an attorney for the Northwest Justice Project in Yakima, gathers input during a breakout session at a forum on sexual harassment of farm workers Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Yakima, Wash. The state Commission on Hispanic Affairs organized the forum at Yakima Valley College. (MARK MOREY/Yakima Herald-Republic) At Sticky Budz, pot processing is serious business ZILLAH There are 96 security cameras monitoring all aspects of Sticky Budz, a marijuana producer and processor just west of town. Everyone wears an identification and security badge. All doors are kept secure with electronic locks. Each marijuana plant is tagged and tracked through production and processing by the company and the state Liquor and Cannabis Board. State inspectors visit the business monthly. All products and waste are weighed, documented and recorded. Everything out here has to be accounted for, owner Mike Muffett said at the business one recent morning. His son, Jamie Muffett, helps him run the operation. Situated on 3.5 acres, the business has some 5,600 plants in various growing stages, with smaller ones grown inside under heat lamps to larger ones in raised planter beds outside. Inside a large greenhouse, a man punches buttons on a large panel as he programs the climate controls. Plants are tested for E. coli, mold and mildew, said Jamie Muffett, company CEO. There are 16 full-time employees, with two tracking all production and processing, one devoted to sales and the rest overseeing the crop and processing. Were heavily regulated, Jamie Muffett said. Its not a party here its a business. Not only does the business produce smokable buds, but also marijuana-infused lotions that aim to soothe aching muscles and arthritis, said processing manager Jessica Clark. Throughout the entire business, inside and out, floors and grounds are exceptionally clean. Inside a processing room, two women work over stainless steel tables, packing butane hash oil marijuana. One woman breaks small pieces off what looks like a large cookie, fills small containers and weighs them. They are filled to one gram each. Nearby, the other woman places the small containers, about the size of what one uses to soak contact lenses, into plastic bags and seals them. Marijuana harvest usually begins at the end of hop harvest, so the Muffets are able to tap an already available labor force. Were trying to build an industry, Clark said. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. As a young man in search of adventure, Glenn Thiesfeld enlisted in the Marines. Following his time in the service and work in southern California, Glenn and his family moved to Yakima in 1970. (CALEB VALDEZ-COPELAND/Davis High School) McKenzie Jamieson attends West Valley High School and is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republics Unleashed program for teen journalists. The French delegation to the DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival, which has played host to some of the most famous and innovative companiessuch as Airbnb, Facebook, YouTube, and Uberis planning a 48-hour hackathon in which five French companies will square off against five Israeli companies. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The delegation, headed by French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, Axelle Lemaire, includes 250 participants, among them entrepreneurs, engineers, designers and investors such as BlaBla Car, Scality, Neatmo and Drivy whose combined values alone near $2 billion. Among the companies facing off in fields such as mobile technology are FinTech and IoT (Internet of Things). The companies will be competing over a grand prize of two CES packages including flights, accommodations and show access at the CES conference in Las Vegas. John Karpp, CEO and founder of BeMyAppthe French startup organizing the hackathonsaid: "We are delighted to play such an important part at the DLD Tel Aviv festival. The hackathon, essentially bringing together French entrepreneurs and the startup-nation's innovators, attracts attention, increases their reach and allows them to demonstrate their individual breakthroughs." Public workshops, conferences and exhibitions will take place at the delegation's venue at the HaTachana site. The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates is accusing Iran of playing "the greatest role in causing tension and instability" in the Middle East. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointed to Iran's "expansionist regional policies, flagrant violations of the principles of sovereignty and constant interference in the internal affairs of its neighboring countries." "Iran wasted no time in continuing its efforts to undermine the security of the region, through aggressive rhetoric, blatant interference, producing and arming militias, (and) developing its ballistic missile program," Al Nahyan said. Iran has been backing Syrian President Bashar Assad and Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the UAE minister said its interference in Iraq's internal affairs "has exacerbated ... division among its people." What are the chances that Michelle and Barack Obama will be Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu's guests at their home in Caesarea? One in a million? One in 2 million? Let's just say that the chances of it happening are about as likely of the chance that the Obamas will invite the Netanyahus to their private home. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter One can easily imagine the sigh of relief that escaped the American president's mouth after what is likely his last official meeting with the Israeli prime minister. If it were up to him, he would never meet him again. Obama and Netanyahu. Both are more concerned about those who are coming than about those who are going (Photo: AFP) The goal of Wednesday's meeting, which did not include a single second of intimacy, was not really to bid farewell to each other. The two leaders are more concerned about those who are coming than about those who are going. Obama was talking to Netanyahu but addressing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and Netanyahu was talking to Obama but addressing former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Netanyahu, we have known for years, has no problem faking emotions and nonexistent relations. He does it even better than Sally in "When Harry Met Sally." Obama finds it more difficult to do, but he also made an effort for what he sees as a sacred goalhelping Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton enter the White House, and this time he turned to the Jewish vote. Netanyahu, on his part, wants to prove to the Israeli publicbut mainly to one member of the public called Ehud Barakthat his frayed relations with Obama did not fundamentally damage Israeli-American relations or adversely affect America's military aid to Israel . Afterall, look at how friendly the American president was during our meeting. That is all these two leaders see before their eyes today. Obama is terrified by the possibility that Trump will take his seat and erase everything he has done in the past eight years. Netanyahu, by the same token, sees Barak travelling around the world, meeting political officials, writing articles, making occasional appearances on Israel's television screens and creating an illusion that there is an alternative. So if you thought that what you saw on the screen was a meeting between an American president and an Israeli prime minister, you were wrong. What you saw were their alternatives. RACINE For the second time in two years, the Racine County District Attorneys Office is asking for five more attorneys to cover its heavy caseload, including an increasing number of domestic violence and human trafficking cases. The request to Gov. Scott Walkers office and state lawmakers is part of larger plea from the State Prosecutors Office for 96 new assistant district attorneys throughout the state. The entry-level pay for an ADA is $49,254. Including benefits, the total cost per entry-level position is about $69,000. Although the agency request does not include a written narrative explaining the need for the new attorneys statewide, each district attorneys office makes its own pitch for why the need more staff. Racine County District Attorney Rich Chiapete said the need for new assistant district attorneys here in Racine County is evident there just arent enough lawyers in his office to efficiently handle the growing number of cases his office is responsible for prosecuting, he said. We are understaffed here, Chiapete said. Obviously the need is still there and I am asking for new positions in the upcoming 2017-2019 budget. Staffing and caseloads The Racine County District Attorneys Office has 18 attorneys. According to the last two caseload studies conducted by the state Department of Administration, the office is short about eight attorneys. Simply put, the staffing shortage is a community safety issue, Chiapete wrote in his budget request. That request notes the volume of cases the office sees each year: 4,500 to 5,000 criminal traffic and misdemeanor cases; 500-650 juvenile cases; 250-350 child in need of protection cases and termination of parental rights cases; as well as 1,700-1,800 felony cases. This year, the office is on pace to file 2,000 felony cases, which include everything from homicide and battery to burglary, sexual assault and larger thefts. Attorney staffing levels in the office have not changed since late 2003 when state budget cuts led to the number of attorneys being reduced from 19 to 18. Attorneys in the office are paid by the state. Support staff is paid for by the county. Areas of need If approved, the new attorneys being requested for Racine County would focus their energies on specific areas of need, but also would be available to cover cases that need to be picked up, Chiapete said. One of the key focus areas would be domestic violence, which the county has identified as an increasingly problematic issue. One of the new attorneys would coordinate and handle, from start to finish, all high-level domestic violence-related crimes and repeat offenders, Chiapetes budget request states, and would provide training to other members of the office and local law enforcement agencies. Another new attorney would be designated the chief prosecutor on the countys two specialty courts serving addicts and veterans, while also assisting with mental health diversions. We do not currently have an attorney who is solely responsible for these assignments, Chiapete writes in the budget request. Both courts are currently staffed by attorneys who carry full caseloads in other areas. This would allow a detailed, direct contact on all cases. The areas of focus for the remaining attorneys being sought would be: traffic and misdemeanor cases; felony drug enforcement and felony drunk and drugged-driving cases; and human trafficking. Pay or people Asked about the budget request, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he is sympathetic to the offices needs, but said there needs to be a discussion about the most effective way to ensure the offices run smoothly. He noted that when he was chairman of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Finance, he backed a plan that installed a pay progression for assistant district attorneys. At the time they told us that while the need for more ADAs was there, they really wanted to focus on increasing the pay of those already in the job to keep them longer, so they get better at the job and become more efficient, Vos explained Thursday. Lawmakers have increased the pay progression over the years, Vos said, to keep the pay competitive with the private sector. If it is more people, I am open to that. If it is continuing the pay progression, I am open to that, he added. I am definitely sympathetic to their needs, but there are an awful lot of needs. While fears have been raised as the wave of terror appears to be on the rise once again, the IDF is also aware that the latest series of attacks could have ended with far worse consequences with Israelis being killed or seriously wounded. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter One of the units responsible for thwarting the attacks thus far is the Nahal Infantry Brigade, particularly the 50th battalion, which has been stationed in Hebron for the last six months. Soldiers will remain in the areawhich has become particularly prone to terror attacksduring the High Holidays as well, before moving on with the rest of the brigade to training exercises for three months in the Jordan Valley. Nahal Brigade soldiers (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The vast majority of the training exercises will be devoted to simulating a Third Lebanon War, while the remaining portion will focus on the Gaza Strip. Joining the 50th battalion will be the brigade's reconnaissance battalion, as well as the 931st and 932nd battalions, who recently received distinction for operations in the Ramallah area. Nahal Brigade drills ( ") X "The events of the last days in the West Bank prove that we, as soldiers on the front, are not affected by intelligence or data which indicates a decline in terrorist activity," a senior brigade officer explained to Ynet. "A car that is racing towards a bus stop, like what happened last Friday at the Elias Junction, traveling at 120 km/h arouses the suspicions of soldiers from a distance, who act to neutralize the threat before people are hurt. These are sharp soldiers who know how to end an attempted terror attack quickly. The same is true for a soldier who is stabbed in the neck by a terrorist who approaches him with a piece of paper and fights with him until his comrades come and kill the terrorist, even though the knife is a centimeter from killing him. We were a step away from having dead Israelis in the last few terror attacks. These soldiers displayed operational understanding." Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit The same officer noted that even though many don't like to hear it, "I understand that killing a terrorist brings more that want to avenge him or her. I don't expect a soldier to empty a magazine into a stabber and I don't expect a soldier who identifies a threat from 5-7 meters away to kill when he could stop the attack with a kick, a warning shot or a bullet to the leg. Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit "We want to finish these incidents with the minimum loss of life on both sides. On the other hand, when there is danger to life, there is no question. If the soldier has to kill the terrorist, then he will kill him. I don't give a soldier a prescribed course of conduct; I just give him rules and principles that he needs to act in accordance with and an understanding that they may be examined after the fact. We are involved in life-threatening situations." The commander of the Nahal Brigade, Col. Amos Hacohen, reviewed the attacks with soldiers and was impressed that they acted "heroically, at point blank range." Overall, Nahal soldiers killed 20 terrorists during their deployment in the West Bank, while two soldiers were lightly wounded. Col. Amos Hacohen (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The soldiers will now have to change mindset and begin preparing for what Col. Hacohen calls the "Third Lebanon War." The brigade commander decided to expose the junior command structure to the IDF's official assessments of what the next war against Hezbollah will look like. The assessment includes thousands of rockets being fired on soldiers and civilians every day as well as infiltration attempts by Hezbollah's "Radwan" company into Israeli settlements. Drills will be held in villages in the Galilee with simulated enemy engagements in order to make it as realistic as possible for soldiers. "Gaza is relatively simple to maneuver, so we chose risk management more in the northern sector. The cognitive and mental strength of soldiers will be the biggest challenge." NEW YORK - Several weeks ago, Esther Pollard arrived on a visit to Israel with her heart full of hope. A US district court was about to rule on a request made by her husbandformer Israeli spy Jonathan Pollardto ease the terms of his parole after serving 30 years in prison. The couple dreamed of leaving the United States and immigrating to Israel, where they would buy a small house in a moshav in the north and live out the rest of their lives in complete anonymity. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter But then they had to face reality when, in early August, the judge rejected Pollad's challenge to his restrictive probation conditions, and now the couple doesn't know if their dream of retiring to the Holy Land would come true in the foreseeable future. The way things are at the moment, 10 months after Pollard's release from prison, the US government has very little incentive to make Jonathan Pollard's life any easier. Whether it's vengeance and pettiness or a legitimate concernit depends on whom you ask. Jonathan Pollard arrives at the district court in Manhattan (Photo: AP) 'They keep abusing him' When the gates of the federal prison in North Carolina opened late one night last November to let Jonathan Pollard out, he knew there was going to be a surge of media interest in him for a short period of time, and that it would take him a while to get used to simple things like crossing the street when the light turns green. The federal prison in North Carolina where Pollard served his time (Photo: AP) His life was not exactly normal even before he was caught, charged and convicted of comitting espionage and leaking classified information, and he knew life was not exactly going to be normal when he left prison. He did hope to carve out some semblance of a normal life for him and his wife, but quickly learned that would be impossible and that the country of his birth was not quick to forgetand was very rarely wont to forgive. Since his release, Jonathan and Esther Pollard have been living in a small one-room apartment in central Manhattanon the fifth floor, with no elevator. Pollard's day begins at 7am and ends at 7pm, because of the 12-hour curfew imposed on him as part of his parole. He could walk freely on the streets of Manhattan, but cannot leave its bordersnot even to Brooklyn, where the religious Jewish community is centered and where his main social circle are. Another result of his curfew is that he cannot attend morning or evening prayers at the synagogue. Pollard also can't attend prayers on Saturday morning, because of the electronic monitoring bracelet that is permanently on his arm. "The bracelet is linked to the GPS unit in his home," a close asscociate explains. "The farther away he gets from home, the faster the battery empties out. So if he goes to the synagogue, which is far from home, the battery will not last the entire Shabbat, and of course he cannot disconnect the bracelet under any circumstance. Pollard refuses to charge the battery on Shabbat, so he has to pray at home." Pollard faces the media in New York shortly after his release (Photo: AP) Pollard spends his evenings with his wife Esther at their apartment, with close friends occasionally dropping by to visit. He spends his days walking around the city, meeting with his attorneys, and visiting his doctors to treat a series of health issues that arose while he was in prison. Pollard's physical health has improved since his release. He suffered from a variety of problems having to do with his sinuses, his teeth, his diabetes and his eyesight. He's under constant monitoring by doctors from the ultra-Orthodox community, who treat him pro bono. "Obviously, his situation is much better today," says one of his close associates. "He eats properly, sleeps in his own bed, can breathe some airthe color's back to his cheeks. He really doesn't miss prison, but he's feeling very humiliated by all of these restrictions. A man like him should not be walking around town with a tracking device on his hand. He paid his debt, above and beyond; no one can understand why they keep abusing him like that." Jonathan and Esther Pollard in New York shortly after his release (Photo: Reuters) Due to the terms of his release, Pollard is not allowed to have a smartphone, and he has been using a simple flip phone. But the restriction that appears to make life hardest for him is having to submit his work computer to monitoring. This prevents him from securing a job in his profession, as an analyst in an investment firm. "Let's say your computer is connected to the newspaper's network, and the government could legally get access to it and see everything you're doing," says an acquaintance of Pollard's, "it means they can also see what's happening on the other computers in the network. What company is willing to employ someone who brings with him government access to its computers? No one could hire him, despite the fact many good companies would want to." Did he consider doing something that doesn't entail working with computers? "Jonathan is a Stanford graduate, a very smart and educated man, but he's not young and not very healthy. He can't work as a salesperson at a convenience store. It's also not fair that it is decided for him what job he could do in America." If he can't work, what are the Pollards living off of? "Charity, friends, the community that embraces them. Esther was a teacher in Canada and she has a pension, but Jonathan is a man with a great deal of pride. He wants to provide for Esther, not be dependent on charity." 'It's lunacy to release Pollard' Jonathan Pollard, at the time a young American-Jew working as a civilian analyst at the Naval Intelligence Command, was arrested by the FBI on November 21, 1985, after he sought political asylum at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and was rejected. Pollard before he was caught In June 1986, Pollard pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government. The prosecution claimed that for a year and a half, from June 1984 until November 1985, Pollard provided his Israeli handlers with massive amounts of top secret information. In 1987, as part of a plea deal reached in an effort to avoid a lengthy public trial that would embarrass both the US and Israel, Pollard was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Throughout these years, the affair had tremendous impact on Israel-US relations, but also on internal Israeli politics. The prosecutor leading the trial against Pollard was Joseph DiGenova, a rising star in the US Justice Department. He helped oversee the trial of John W. Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, and led other high profile investigations. A photo of Pollard taken while in prison (Photo: Reuters) DiGenova has always been very vocal in his opposition to Pollard's release, saying it would be "lunacy" and "insanity" to free the Israeli spy. "For the president of the United States to be considering, in the midst of the Snowden scandal, releasing somebody who was secretly given Israeli citizenship and secretly given an Israeli passport, is the height of idiocy," DiGenova said just a year and a half before the eventual release. Prosecutor Joseph DiGenova Nowadays, DiGenova is a private sector lawyer, as well as a respected and sought-after TV legal commentator, and is more tame in his comments about the decision to release Pollard, but less so when it comes to talking about the man himself. "I assume the considerations guiding President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch's decision to release him and place these restrictions on him were strictly professional," DiGenova says in a call from his office in Washington. "You have to remember that Pollard was an American citizen who betrayed the country in a way very few had done before him, and you also have to understand the level of anger at him. I think that if he was an Israeli doing something like this to Israel, you would have also given him a similar punishmentsend him to jail and throw away the key. That's what should be done to traitors." Jonathan Pollard arrives at the district court in Manhattan with wife Esther (Photo: Reuters) DiGenova, who probably knows the Pollard case better than anyone else, is not alone in these views. There is quite literally an ocean between the way Israel views the Pollard case and the American point of view. To the Americans, Pollard's actions are simply unforgivable. They see him as anything but an idealist. Throughout the years, whenever the possibility of a pardon for Pollard arose, it was met with a strong and sweeping objection from the American intelligence community. When President Bill Clinton showed willingness to release Pollard in 1997 as a gesture to Israel before the signing of the Wye River Memorandum, then-Director of the CIA George Tenet threatened to resign in protest. Pollard's story From disposable asset to national hero: The full Pollard spy saga Shimon Shiffer Jonathan was first seen as a perishable good before he turned into symbolic proof for Israel's right that the US harbored anti-Semitic sentiments. Will Pollard's release be the next chapter in the 30-year crisis caused by his actions? From disposable asset to national hero: The full Pollard spy saga A year later, when President Clinton was once again pressed to pardon Pollard, four former directors of the Naval Intelligence claimed in an article in the Washington Post that Pollard "offered classified information to three other countries before working for the Israelis and that he offered his services to a fourth country while he was spying for Israel." A group of 60 senators from both sides of the aisle sent Clinton a letter at the time, urging him not to commute Pollard's life sentence, as it would "imply a condonation of spying against the United States by an ally. It would also give credence to the claim that espionage is somehow less serious when Americans spy on behalf of a friendly nation with which they sympathize." A year later, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Seymour M. Hersh published an investigative report on The New Yorker titled "The Traitor." In his article, Hersh claimed that some of the intelligence Pollard provided Israel was then repackaged and given to the Soviet Union "in exchange for continued Soviet permission for Jews to emigrate to Israel. Other officials go further, and say that there was reason to believe that secret information was exchanged for Jews working in highly sensitive positions in the Soviet Union." A photo of Pollard taken while in prison (Photo: AP) In their depositions to the district court over Pollard's request to ease the terms of his parole, the US government repeatedly emphasized the level of risk it believes he still poses to national security. In a letter rejecting a previous request for early relase, the US Parole Commission stated that "the breadth and scope of the classified information that (Pollard) sold to the Israelis was the greatest compromise of US security to that date and included thousands of Top Secret documents to Israeli agents which also threatened US relations in the Middle East among the Arab countries." Pollard's story Jonathan Pollard: A war of spins and a history of failures Itamar Eichner, YItzhak Benhorin Why have all the attempts to release the Israeli spy from US prison failed, when did Israeli leaders come close to convincing the Americans to free him, and is there any chance that he will be received at Ben-Gurion Airport as a national hero? Jonathan Pollard: A war of spins and a history of failures Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson, Director of the Information Management Division at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said that "some of the sources and methods used to develop some of the intelligence exposed by Mr. Pollard not only remain classified but are still in use by the Intelligence Community today." Pollard is also believed to have gathered compromised information from human sources as well, which Hudson argued that even decades later could cause "significant harm to the source, his or her family, and his or her associates." Pollard's associates, meanwhile, are painting a different picture. "He didn't try in any way to harm the US," says one associate. "On the contrary, he wanted to help it protect itself by passing on information the US would not share with its most important ally in the Middle East. He only passed on documents regarding Arab countries, doing so out of a real concern both for the US and for Israel. They are intentionally twisting his actions and presenting it as something that never happened." Jonathan and Esther Pollard in New York shortly after his release (Photo: AP) The American intelligence community, however, is not convinced. "Most people familiar with this case did not and still don't believe that Pollard was truly motivated by idealism and a great concern for Israel," says a former American intelligence official. "They're convinced he did it mostly for the money. He loves luxury, had gotten accustomed to an expensive and prestigious lifestyle that costs a lot of money that he did not have. I understand that you want to believe this new version he's presenting, but it's simply not true." Still, 30 years have passed. What exactly, of the things he knows. could still be significant in such a way that he can't even leave Manhattan in 2016? "It's enough that he knows names of people who were young agents then and today could be important assets. The problem is not old documents; it's what's left in his head." So this isn't settling a score? "On some level, it might be. You have to understand, he wasn't just a spy, he caused immense damage. The fact he spied for an ally, which enjoys the US's blind support, only doubles and triples the anger. People don't forget and they don't forgive." Former prosecutor DiGenova is aware of how Israelis view Pollard. "I know it's easy to think he did what he did purely out of concern for Israel, but the truth is he had many motives, and money was very high on the list. He asked and received money, gifts and trips, and many other things. Even if I was willing to accept that his motives were strictly idealistic in nature, it wouldn't change anything. He was a US citizen, he can't divulge secrets to another country without there being any consequences. I remember the reaction from the American public at the time, there was a lot of anger then." Does this anger still affect the way he's treated today? "The intelligence community and the security services realize that everyone spies on everyone, but there are levels of espionage that you just don't reach when it comes to an ally, and the Israelis blatantly crossed a red line. So yes, there was a lot of anger within the intelligence community and I wouldn't be surprised if they're still angry." At a court hearing last month, Eliot Lauer, Pollard's attorney, claimed the US government had failed to cite any documents that Pollard supposedly once had access to that might be a national security risk decades later if information was released. "It's amazing," he told the judge. "You'd think they would provide some specific examples to the court." Jonathan Pollard arrives at the district court in Manhattan (Photo: Reuters) Assistant US Attorney Rebecca Sol Tinio said Pollard is still in the custody and under the responsibility of the US attorney general and the parole commission. "Mr. Pollard's crime was so grave that he has been in a prison a long time," she said. "He was given a life sentence. He's still serving his sentence." US District Judge Katherine Forrest decided to reject Pollard's request to ease the terms his parole and suggested he tried finding a different job, not necessarily as an analyst at an investment firm. 'Something is rotten here' Since his release, the only thing that truly makes Jonathan Pollard happy is the ability to finally live with Esther as a married couple. His first wife, Anne, was sent to prison along with her husband for being an accessory to possessing classified documents and served 40 months. Upon her release in 1990, the two got a divorce. Three years later, Pollard secretly married Esther at the prison in North Carolina. During their first 22 years of marriage, Pollard was in prison and the two never got to be together. Now, they don't leave each other's side. Jonathan and Esther Pollard shortly after his release. "It's a very big love," says a close friend of the couple. "They're everything the other person has and it's this love that kept him going for all of those years in prison." The Pollards take long walks together, always looking over their shoulder under the assumption they're being followed, and sit at his favorite cafe in Midtown Manhattan. She keeps on top of his many doctors' appointments, and in many ways still keeps his head above water. Assuming nothing changes, the 62-year-old Pollard still has four years to wait before he's allowed to leave the US. His attorneys have already filed an appeal on the latest decision to reject his challenge of his parole conditions, and will continue to fight so he could leave the US and move to Israel earlier. "Something is rotten here," says a source close to Pollard's defense team. "They claim this is about national security, but there isn't one person with eye in his head who would believe that. This is pure vindictiveness. This isn't just an exaggerated punishment; these restrictions are not legal under any interpretation of the American Constitution. The fact the Americans are still angry should not affect the court. Unquestionably, what they're doing to him is illegal." DiGenova dismisses this criticism. "The restrictions placed on him are basically minor, I think he should be grateful," he says. "Pollard and his handlers thought they were very smart, and it turns out they didn't really know what they were doing, and when he was caughtthey abandoned him. His anger should be directed at Israel, not at the country he betrayed. If he was so important, how come the Israelis wouldn't let him into the embassy right before we arrested him?" What do you remember about Pollard from that time? "I remember someone who thought he was the smartest guy in the world, and wouldn't believe it when it turned out that he wasn't. You have to understand: No one from our intelligence community has hurt the US more than Jonathan Pollard. At least not until Edward Snowden. Snowden caused immense damaged and it's a lot more fresh, so now Pollard is down to number two of the list, and I'm sure it tremendously hurt his ego." Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mashal announced Saturday night that he does not intend to run again for the organizations leadership. The announcement confirms the rumors which were circulating in the past by Hamas spokespersons. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Khaled Mashal (Photo: AFP) Just like Ishmail Haniyeh (Deputy Hamas leader) is a former prime minister, next year Khaled Mashal will be the former Chief of Hamas Political Bureau, said Mashal during a speech in Qatar on Saturday night. Local elections are expected to be held next year. Ishmail Haniyeh (Photo: AFP) A few months ago, Mashals close officials told Arab media of his intentions despite the leader himself remaining quiet until Saturday night. Mousa Abu Marzook (Photo: Reuters) The leading candidate expected to succeed Mashal is Haniyeh who will likely have to contend for the leadership with with senior official Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, who briefly headed the political bureau in the 90s. NEW YORK -- Yemen plans to complain to the UN Security Council over what it says are Iran's weapon transfers to Houthi allies fighting the internationally recognised Yemeni government, the foreign minister said on Saturday. The Iranian mission at the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest accusation. "There are new weapons coming from Iran," Mekhlafi said in New York where he was attending the annual UN gathering of world leaders. "It is impossible to hide that weapons-smuggling is still taking place from Iran. Some of these weapons have been found on the Saudi-Yemeni border and they are Iranian weapons," he said. AMMAN -- A gunman shot dead Jordanian Christian writer Nahed Hattar on Sunday as he was about to go to court to stand trial on charges of contempt of religion after sharing on social media a caricature that was seen as insulting God and Islam. Nahed Hattar, a prominent activist who was a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al Assad, was arrested after he shared a caricature that depicted a bearded man in heaven smoking in bed with women, asking God to bring him wine and cashews. Many conservative Muslim Jordanians considered it offensive and against their religion. The authorities said he violated the law by widely sharing the caricature. The soldier who was wounded during a March stabbing attack in Hebronshortly before Sgt. Elior Azaria shot the seriously wounded terrorist testified on behalf of the defense Sunday morning. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The soldier A. opened by telling the court that he sensed a threat of an explosive device, a line of defense which has been robustly pushed by Azarias defense team to justify his actions. Asked whether he believed that the terrorist could have been strapped with an explosive belt, A. responded unequivocally, yes. Sgt. Elor Azaria with the witness who was stabbed during attack (Photo: Yoav Zitun) The prosecutor immediately engaged in an exchange with the witness, challenging his testimony and pointing to contradictory evidence he previously provided during and investigation with the military criminal investigation division (CID). I immediately recognized the terrorist in white who was walking regularly with his hands out and the second terrorist was hunched over with his hands in his pockets, A. recalled. This immediately aroused suspicion and I immediately saw that something was not right. During the checks they did not stop at the metal detector. They went around it. They avoided it so that if they had a knife or a bomb it would not be apparent. Soldier A. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The witness went on to recount the details of how the incident unfolded. The second the commander told them to go back. I saw that something wasnt right. They stood and looked at each other. I put my hand on my gun, the terrorist in white pulled out a knife, ran at my platoon commander and tried to stab him twice, A. said. The platoon commanders gun jammed so he ran back. I loaded my gun and shot six bullets at the terrorist who fell. Then I thought, where is the second terrorist? Perhaps he is trying to detonate an explosive device or something? I felt two stabs from behind. I turned around and the terrorist pushed me. I shot while I was falling and the terrorist started to escape, he continued. I am still of the belief that terrorist constituted a threat, that he had an explosive on him or something that he did not yet manage to detonate. I began running after him. He stopped, looked at me and saw that I wasnt managing to work my gun and he ran at me again. Prosecutor: Your initial testimony is different Responding to the prosecutor's allegation that A. had previously provided contradictory evidence during a preliminary investigation by the CID, the soldier said: During the incident I was in shock. I had been stabbed. I shot both terrorists and I believed that both of them had been neutralized and didnt seem to constitute a threat. You never said during the time of the attack that you thought that one of the terrorists had a bomb on him, the prosecutor insisted, to which A. said the CID never asked him about his thoughts in the field. However, the prosecutor continued to press A. on the point. During your first testimony they allowed you to say everything that happened in the incident. You never said, at any stage, that you thought there was an explosive device on one of the terrorists. To this, A. replied, correct. The witness was asked why he never warned of the danger of an explosive device. I was in shock, he repeated. I was tending to my wounds. Everyone already knew that the terrorist was still alive so I didnt need to say. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Sunday with the two US presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump . He sees it as an achievement: They will flood the microphones with praise for Israel and with promises to support and strengthen the Jewish state. They will likely also have a lot of praise for its prime minister. There are elderly Jewish voters in Florida, the state which may determine the outcome of the elections. They will love every word of it, and so will we. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter And then we'll remember Netanyahu's alienated meeting with Barack Obama on Wednesday, a meeting in which the US president refused to speak to the Israeli prime minister privately, and the Israeli prime minister wouldnt dare raise the main question hanging between the two governments right knowwill the White House or will it not prevent a difficult decision on the settlements at the Security Council. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R), Sgt. Elor Azaria and his father. Outrageous comparison (Photo: Amit Shabi) That's how it starts, with a bang, and that's how it ends. That's the way it was and that's the way it will be. Last week, we saw this film in full, from the end to the beginning. In his fourth term, we are living under an upgraded Netanyahu. He sees himself not just as the only Israeli worthy of serving as prime minister, but also as the person outlining Israel's road in the coming generation, defining its borders, teaching its values. In his own eyes, he is also a global statesman, also a leader, also an ideologist and also a guru. This is a problematic combination in every democratic regime, but when it meets a politician who bases his decisions and comments on what he reads in the morning in a public opinion poll, it becomes dangerous. On Saturday evening, Netanyahu gave interviews to Israeli television channels from New York. These interviews, after a year and a half of a one-sided correspondence with the public, were a refreshing novelty. One of the issues raised during the interviews had to do with values. Netanyahu was asked if he regretted the phone call he had made to Charlie Azaria, the father of Sgt. Elor Azaria, who is on trial for manslaughter after being filmed shooting a seriously wounded Palestinian terrorist to death in Hebron. He replied that he had no regrets. Channel 2's Udi Segal asked him if he had telephoned parents of other soldiers who allegedly disobeyed the army's orders, and Netanyahu replied: "No, but I did call many parents who were in distress over the fact that their sons had been killed or had gone missing." The comparison between the parents of a soldier who is on trial for manslaughter and the parents of missing soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul is outrageous, not least because of the unbridgeable abyss between fighters who sacrificed their life for the state and a soldier accused of a serious crime. It is outrageous because of the abyss separating between the parents: The Goldin and Shaul families allowed the IDF to complete Operation Protective Edge although their sons' bodies were not returned. It wasn't easy and it wasn't simple, from every aspect. They were an example and model of patriotism. And it's outrageous because it offers Israelis in general, and those who serve in the army in particular, a distorted value system which must not be accepted. Soldiers are not children. They are adults, and the state puts a heavy responsibility on their shoulders. The tool in their hands can kill an enemy and can kill innocent people. It can cost NIS 500 or NIS 500 million. They are not pets in need of a hug and mercy. They are not children in a nursery who cling to their parents. They are adults. Last week, I visited the place where Elor Azaria did what he did, the compound overlooking the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Nothing in this story is reminiscent of the dilemmas Netanyahu is drawing from the time he served in Sayeret Matkal, the elite IDF unit. Nothing. And Azaria's parents were not part of the story, just like Netanyahu's parents had no part in his dilemmas as a soldier. There have been, and will be, mistakes in the IDF's activities in the territories, including mistakes which will lead to the death of innocent people. But the trial taking place in Jaffa is not about mistakes; it is about the actual existence of military authority, of combat values, of norms. It must not be turned into kitsch. Netanyahu says what he says because that's what the latest poll taught him. The people have mercy, the people embrace, the people weep. The people expect the prime minister, the father of the nation, to hug every soldier in pity. Whether a hero or a criminal, whether a fallen soldier or a felon, they are all good, they are all worthy. And there is no one to say to Netanyahu, enough is enough. ISTANBUL -- Turkey's foreign ministry says 60 security personnel belonging to the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq who were critically wounded fighting ISIS are receiving treatment in Turkey. The ministry said in a statement released Sunday that the security personnel and their escorts were brought to public hospitals in Turkey's capital, Ankara. Turkey is covering all transportation and treatment costs. AMMAN -- Russian and Syrian forces bombed a strategic camp on the northern edge of Aleppo on Sunday after losing control of it overnight, both rebels and the Syrian army said. Rebels said the army used more powerful weapons in an attempt to recover Handarat, a Palestinian refugee camp a few kilometres north of the Aleppo which is on elevated ground overlooking one of the main roads into Aleppo that had been in rebel hands for years. "We retook the camp, but the regime burnt it with phosphorous bombs ... We were able to protect it, but the bombing burnt our vehicles," said Abu al-Hassanien, a commander in a rebel operations room that includes the main brigades fighting to repel the army assault. 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. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter 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. Washington shooting suspect Arcan Cetin (Photo: Reuters) Hawley said at a news conference they had received information that Cetin, of Oak Harbor, was in the area. Cetin, who immigrated to the US 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. "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 at the Macy's makeup counter. Four people were killed at the scene and a fifth victim died in the early morning hours Saturday as police finished sweeping the 434,000-square-foot building. The shooter was last seen walking toward Interstate 5. 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, which authorities believe was brought into the store from the suspect's vehicle, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said. Initially the suspect was described as Hispanic, but Hawley said that was based on initial witness statements to the shooting at the mall. 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. As the small city absorbed the tragic news, critical questions remained, including the shooter's motive. RACINE An armored vehicle was parked on College Avenue in Downtown Racine, but there wasnt any particular problem. Instead, kids were exploring it, climbing in and out, and marveling at the vehicles size. Jason Baclawski, deputy sheriff for the Racine County Sheriffs Office, was helping a boy get down when the boy asked him, was this donated from the Army? Baclawski smiled and said yeah. Theyre more curious than anything, Baclawski said of the kids. They like seeing heavy equipment and stuff. The armored vehicle was part of touch-a-truck, a new attraction at the 14th annual Party on the Pavement on Saturday. Weve got some extra police and fire vehicles from the sheriffs department, said Devin Sutherland, executive director of Downtown Racine Corp. We actually have a lot more merchants participating than weve had in the past, so thats a real positive this year. Sutherland said one of his favorite places to eat during Party on the Pavement is Olde Madrid. I always pick the Downtown restaurants, Sutherland said. One of the new vendors at Party on the Pavement this year was Visioning a Greater Racine, a new local group looking to bring the community together to make improvements. We recognize Racine has great stuff going on. We also recognize we have some challenges, said Joan Roehre, project director. We want this community to be a place every person is proud to call home. Party on the Pavement has been a place where artists, both professional and amateur, can display their talents and attract budding artists. For the last six years the Spectrum School of the Arts and Gallery has brought spectators together to collaborate on a chalk version of two ducks swimming, one square at a time, on Main Street. We all have talents, said Denise Zingg, Spectrum director. Were all about including everybody. Sometimes they feel like they cant do it ... I think it helps people realize that its not that hard. Some of the local high schools have taken advantage of the annual event, too. Horlick High School raised money for its cheerleading team with a dunk tank, and Case High School raised money for its poms team with a pie-throwing contest. It gets Racine involved, said Stephanie Brown, whose daughter Tiffany is a sophomore on the Case poms team. You get the people who used to go to Case or ... they just stepped up because theyre having fun with their families. A broad coalition of Syrian rebels denounced international negotiations for peace as "meaningless" on Sunday, as the UN Security Council prepared to convene an emergency meeting about the spiraling violence in Syria. The meeting, set for 11 a.m. Eastern time, was requested by the United States, Britain, and France, as pro-government forces extend their bombardment of the contested city of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian air strikes. Rebels, meanwhile, shelled Maysaf, a government stronghold near the central city of Hama, for the second day in a row, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. Maysaf is home to a large number of Alawites, members of President Bashar Assad's sect. Assad has rallied Syria's minorities behind his government behind fears of the Sunni-dominated rebellion. A group of Christians recently made a trip many of them have done before, arriving in Israel to pick grapes at local vineyardssometimes for up to six months. They do this as a way to help local farmers, while they feel they are doing their share to bring about the land's redemption. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Every year, several hundred of Evangelical Americans arrive in Israel to help with the harvests and fruit picking, as times saving up to afford the trip. Evangelicals harvest grapes at an Israeli vineyard ( : ) X "The Bible talks about the vineyards coming back to the land and the Jewish people living here in the land, and we say, 'Hey, let's go help 'em, let's be a part of it. So we come here and we connect," said Kalem Walder, who arrived with his wife Kendra and their children from Tennessee. The Walders coming to pick grapes (Photo: Eli Mandelbaum) When asked about the reactions he has been getting from friends and families in the US who hear about his coming to Israel for the harvest, Rodney John from Missouri hides a smile that seems to say he has had this conversation before. "Well, it's kinda interesting. They want to know why I spend money to come to Israel to work in the vineyards with nothing in return. But I explain to them the same thing I said before: about the land being restored, (which) means a lot to me and my family. I just have to explain to them that it's about the world coming to a place where Israel and Jerusalem are the center of the world. I believe in that." Evangelicals believe in the power of being "born again" after accepting Christianity as a road to salvation, together with managing to convert others to Christianity. This last point has caused many rabbis to criticize their visits as missionary pilgrimages, going as far as refusing to accept any charitable donations from them. Other rabbis, however, have decided to show them hospitality and take them into their settlements during their time in Israel. This difference of perspectives between rabbis has devolved into a war of pasquil,s (wall posters in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods that often containing polemic texts), with some admonishing the Evangelical visitors and while others defend them. Walder and his friends, though, pay it no mind. He spoke of learning from rabbis about how Jews exist to share the good of the world with the rest of humanity. "We want to be a part of that," he said. "It think the world is in a search for good, you know?" said Kalem. "And when I came here and saw the Land of Israel and saw the vineyards here and saw the phenomenal products that were coming out of here, but more importantly, (When I) saw the power of life that was coming from the Land of Israel, I said 'This is something I'd give my life for.'" He continued that "I've been bringing my family here every year, we come for six months a year and we bring thousands of people here to participate in something that we believe is ultimately going to change the world." Among the different concerns surrounding the Evangelical volunteers was that since the women in the group dress so similarly to religious Zionist Jewish women, their presence in Israeli settlements might cause Jewish Israeli men to wish to pursue romantic relationships with them. Admitting to certain external similarities, Kendra Walder said,"We believe in the Bible, and we believe in the Torah, and we also believe in what you would call the New Testament, and we believe in dressing modestly, so we look very similar in some ways. But there are differences, for sure." Ya'akov Berg from Psagot Winery said that he is still stunned by the phenomenon of volunteer Christians who arrive at the vineyards to work for his company. "I couldn't understand it," he admitted. "But beyond the work itselfwhich assists us in picking the grapes on time, a great achievement in and of itselfwhat is important here is that this person returns to his home as a goodwill ambassador of Israel." Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be meeting separately with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in sessions that could set the tone for relations between the allied countries during the next presidential administration. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Trump met Sunday with Netanyahu for over an hour at his residence in Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to Israeli and campaign officials. Clinton also was expected to meet with the prime minister in New York on the eve of the first debate between the candidates. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012 The press was barred from covering the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, but Trump's campaign said in a statement that the men, who have known each other for years, discussed "many topics important to both countries," including "the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries." L: Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Kobi Gideon GPO) Among those topics: the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against ISIS militants, military assistance provided by the US to Israel and other security issues. "Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism," the campaign said in a statement. "He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State." Trump also repeated his pledge to move the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he's elected to the White House. "Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel," the campaign said. That promise has been made in various forms since at least 1992. Congress three years later passed a law calling for the US embassy to be moved to Jerusalem by 1999, but presidents of both parties always have waived the requirement. George W. Bush promised in 2000 to start the move "as soon as I take office," then didn't. (Photo: Kobi Gideon, GPO) The pair also discussed "at length" Israel's use of a security fence to help secure its borders. Trump has proposed building a wall along the length of the southern border to keep out people and illegal drugs and often points to Israel as an example of how such barricades can be successful. Trump also vowed "extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries" if he's elected. Netanyahu's office issued a statement saying that Israel's Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also participated in the meeting. "Prime Minister Netanyahu presented to Mr. Trump Israel's positions on regional affairs related to Israel's security and efforts to reach peace and stability in our region," said the statement. "Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Mr. Trump for his friendship and support of Israel. The one-on-one discussions follow what was likely Netanyahu's final meeting with Obama last week , capping what has been a sometimes rocky relationship between the leaders of the two ally countries. The Obama administration has opposed Israel's push to expand settlements in the West Bank while Netanyahu has been a leading critic of the US nuclear agreement with Iran. More recently, Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israel's security. The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 earlier this month that the ISIS was "rooting for Donald Trump's victory" and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of "treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one." But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israel's commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didn't want to show any bias in favor of one side or the other. Trump recorded a video endorsing the Netanyahu in 2013. The meetings will also come after the US recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel . Clinton said in a statement that it would help "solidify and chart a course for the U.S.-Israeli defense relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges." AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan's King Abdullah II has re-appointed his prime minister in what is largely a formality following Sept. 20 parliamentary elections. In a letter of designation from the king, Hani al-Mulki was asked to form a new government. Earlier Sunday, al-Mulki had tendered his resignation with the expiration his 28-member Cabinet's mandate. The king asked the resigning ministers to stay on until a new government is formed. Al-Mulki and his Cabinet were sworn in as a caretaker government on May 31 to oversee the parliamentary elections. He replaced the government of Abdullah Ensour, who served for four years. In his letter, the king instructed al-Mulki to continue working on political reforms and to support the Independent Elections Commission in conducting votes for both the municipal and governorate councils next year. Yossi Antebi, an 80-year-old resident of Tel Aviv, grew up in Aleppo, and is finding it hard to see his childhood home torn apart. "When I hear the reports, it pains me greatly. I see the places explode and know all the names," shared Antebi. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We lived in the center of the city; we had it good in Aleppo. But I was a Zionist; I wanted to immigrate to Israel. At the age of 18, I tried to run away, and I was caught in Lebanon, and in the end we immigrated to Israel nearly naked," recounted the Tel Aviv resident. Aleppo (Photo: AFP) "Sometimes, I'm sad that I left Aleppo, because there I knew which house belonged to whom. There was a yard that where everybody gathered every Shabbat. Here, I barely know the neighbors. I had Arab friends, customers who cried when we left. Because of this, it's very painful for me when I think of those people and how that dog, Assad, carries on." David Gindi, who also left the beleaguered city 58 years ago. "I'm sad when I see what's happening," he said. "I don't remember Aleppo well. As children, we had a lot of problems with the population; they would ambush us on the way to school, particularly after the establishment of the State (of Israel). When we immigrated to Israel, we just left everything." At its height, the Jewish community in Aleppo numbered 30,000. Of that number, only ten thousand immigrated to Israel. Today, only a few thousand emigrants from that community remain in Israel. We want to see the issue of Wisconsins highways and other roads addressed by our elected officials in Madison, so were open to new ideas on the matter. But one suggestion came up last week which is a non-starter for us: Using voter identification cards as a means to fund ransportation. Gov. Scott Walkers administration wants to stamp voting purposes only on the free IDs the state makes available, making it harder for people to use them for non-voting purposes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday. The Division of Motor Vehicles also wants the free IDs, born out of fears of voter fraud, to be cheapened in quality, with some fraud protections removed. State officials believe the changes would prompt more people to pay for IDs that can be used more widely, thus increasing transportation funding by nearly $1 million over two years. I dont think the elderly and low-income people who dont drive should be the states target for boosting revenue for transportation spending, said Jon Peacock, research director for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. He said the proposal would create confusion because the state would begin issuing two types of IDs ones that could be used only for voting and ones that could be used more broadly as well as drivers licenses. Do state lawmakers want a pharmacist to tell my 80-year-old uncle that he cant get his heart medication because he has the wrong kind of ID? Peacock asked. The voter ID law Walker signed in 2011 required people to show photo ID at the polls, but also made state IDs free to those who said they needed them for voting purposes. As a result, few people pay the $28 fee for state IDs these days, according to budget documents. Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force, said the free IDs have been helpful to low-income people who need them for a wide range of purposes, such as proving their identity when they pick up their children from day care. The only people who get hurt in this are poor people who dont have $28, she said of the proposal. More to the point, the proposal by the Division of Motor Vehicles is aimed at people who dont own or operate motor vehicles. The Department of Natural Resources does not charge those who do not hunt for a hunting license; the same principle should apply over at the DMV. As Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and other Republicans put it in a letter to the governor last week put it, conservatives believe in asking people to pay for the programs they benefit from. It was in reference to the possibility of user fees for roads, but it then stands to reason that Wisconsin should not be looking for transportation funding from people without drivers licenses. Wed suggest that Gov. Walkers administration and the Legislature try another route to solving the transportation funding issue. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Trump signs in her backyard. Trump magnets on her refrigerator. Trump buttons on her dining room table. Kathy Miller is the Mahoning County chairwoman for Donald Trump. While handing out Trump signs in June at a Republican headquarters just south of Youngstown, Ohio, she was approached by a woman in her late 80s, who said, I have never voted Republican in my life. Give me the biggest sign youve got. In economically struggling communities like Mahoning County where most steel mills have closed many white, working-class Democrats are voting for Trump, registration records and 2016 presidential primary results show. Theyre just all fed up, Miller said. It may be the economy for some, it may be the school systems, it could be health care, it could be immigration, education, it could be anything. Theyre just fed up with the direction of our country. Mr. Trump showed up at the right time. According to a November 2015 Public Religion Research Institute poll, 72 percent of Americans and 78 percent of white working-class Americans believe the country still is in a recession. A News21 analysis of the General Social Survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago also found that in 2002, the percentage of white Americans with hardly any confidence in the executive branch of the federal government was just under 20 percent; by 2014, that number was nearly 50 percent. The disenfranchised voter who has lost their job as a result of policies affecting the coal industry and other heavy manufacturing jobs are feeling very frustrated with Washington, said Rex Repass, founder and CEO of Repass, a national public opinion research and strategic consulting firm. Even though many are historically Democratic counties, they have become very red and very angry. University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Kathy Cramer also found discontent among Wisconsins mostly white, rural residents while researching her 2016 book, The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker. In April, Trump lost Wisconsins Republican primary to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Cramer attributed that to the influence of conservative Milwaukee talk radio hosts, who at the time allied with Wisconsins top GOP leaders against Trump. Counties reached by Milwaukee media went for Cruz, she said, the others for Trump. Although polls show Trump trails Democrat Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin, Cramer said the Republicans message likely will appeal to many rural Wisconsin voters. The thing that stuck out to me about the rural places is a sense that places like their communities are in particular getting a raw deal that politicians dont pay attention to their communities, public dollars aren't allocated to their communities, and the city people making the decisions dont have a clue about what is important to people in their communities or the struggles that they are facing, she said. Added Cramer: Trumps message seems to resonate because he is saying, in effect, 'You are right you are getting a raw deal, and some undeserving others are getting way more than they deserve. We need to make drastic changes so that those people stop getting money/respect/attention at your expense. Employment drops as jobs sent overseas In Tennessee, after a clothing factory outsourced jobs and operations to Mexico, a county that voted Democratic in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections went Republican in both 2008 and 2012. Mahoning County, Ohio, where Youngstown is the county seat, labors under the loss of the steel industry, and more than 6,000 voters have switched from Democrat to Republican this year. Similarly, frustration over closing steel mills and rising health care costs has swayed nearly 5,400 voters to switch parties in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. And in one Kentucky county where residents frustrated with the demise of the coal industry voted about 31 percent Republican in the 2000 presidential election, they voted more than 72 percent Republican in 2012, even though a majority of its voters remain registered Democrats. Factory closes, voters disillusioned Clay County, Tennessee, used to be home to four garment factories. One of the largest was OshKosh Bgosh, a Wisconsin-based company. The childrens clothing factory employed between 1,500 and 2,000 people from the 1950s to the 1990s. With a county population between 7,000 and 8,000, everyone worked there or knew someone who did. Just about everybody who wanted a job, if theyd work, they had a job at OshKosh, said Doug Young, director of the countys Three Star Initiative, a program focused on improving bringing jobs to the area. The OshKosh factory shut its doors in November 1996 and moved its operations to Mexico, taking advantage of the cheap labor options the North American Free Trade Agreement provided. The agreements purpose is to establish a free-trade zone in North America by lifting tariffs on a majority of goods the United States, Mexico and Canada produce and trade with one another. Almost overnight, unemployment spiked to nearly 30 percent as hundreds of northern Tennessee residents lost jobs. Racoe Inc., a military fabric cutting company, moved into the old OshKosh factory in December 1997. Only six people now work in the 66,000-square-foot building. Unemployment in Clay County, which is nearly 97 percent white, has evened out to a little more than 5 percent compared to the national average of 4.7 percent in May. Yet the county still has a 24 percent poverty rate, and voters who historically have been Democrats are switching to the Republican Party. In Marchs Republican primary, Trump won Clay County with 57.1 percent of the votes more than double the votes Clinton got. I think his popularity is (because) just everybody is mad, and he is saying what they feel, said Timothy Scott, the former Democratic chairman in Clay County. There will be a lot of Democrats voting for him. Steel country loses jobs, goes GOP In the Rust Belt of Ohio and Pennsylvania, steel was the dominant industry. But as those companies outsourced their labor to China, voters grew frustrated with the job loss. Forty years after its steel mills closed, the poverty rate in Youngstown, Ohio is just over 40 percent. The opportunities arent here, said Frankie Susany, 50, who grew up in the area and now owns a small business. What used to be a thriving city in Youngstown is brown fields, abandoned mills, abandoned buildings, abandoned factories. Trumps Make America Great Again message resonates with Susany, who said that when he grew up, young people who worked in the steel mills had great lives. They drove new cars and had their own places to live right out of high school. Thats what this election is about, he said. If we dont change it now, our grandchildren are never going to know the America that (people my age) grew up in. In the March 2008 primary, just under 14 percent of registered voters in Mahoning County where Youngstown is located voted Republican. During this years state primary in March, more than 48 percent of the countys registered voters voted Republican, and poll workers had to print additional ballots. More than 6,000 voters switched from Democratic to Republican this year. In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, which is 94 percent white with nearly a 10 percent poverty rate, 5,400 voters switched to the Republican Party to vote for Trump in the primary. The regions steel factories shut down in the 1980s, and residents remain bitter about the job loss, said Blair Adams, a third-generation owner of K-Castings Inc., a manufacturing plant. All these people that are in this manufacturing area are definitely shifting (parties) because they understand that their jobs are at risk, Adams said. For generations in Kentuckys coalfields, including in the town of Hindman, families spent most of their lives working underground in the mines. As those jobs disappear, some Democrats are looking to options outside their party for change and the chance for an improved economy. Meanwhile, the government put environmental regulations into place, encouraging states to switch from coal to natural gas as a power source. Kentucky residents such as Ballard Combs, an 81-year-old former coal miner from Knott County, see Obama as the face of these changes. I loved the mines, said Combs, who worked underground most of his adult life. Obama shut them all down. Nearly 90 percent of registered voters in Knott County, which is 98 percent white, are Democrats because its what their families have been for generations. But since 2008, the county has increasingly voted for the Republican presidential candidate. Both Combs and his father were Democrats, but hes voting for Trump. Knott County Clerk Ken Gayheart said registered Democrats come into his office daily to switch their registration to the GOP. When the coal companies left, Gayheart said no industries moved in to fill the vacancy. These old hills were never worth much, Gayheart said. We dont do anything, we dont make anything here in Knott County. Nearly 34 percent of the countys residents live below the poverty line. In May, the unemployment rate was 10.5 percent. Eastern Kentucky is in tough shape, but a lot of rural America is in a tough time, said Tim Marema, vice president of the Center for Rural Strategies in nearby Whitesburg. Something needs to change. Thats the point for the residents on the Trump side. Taylor Gilmore contributed to this report. This report is part of a project on voting rights in America produced by the Carnegie-Knight News21 program. The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism distributed this report. My niece Ashley was visiting with her 6-month-old baby, Crash. Sue and I, like most friends and relatives of new parents, had already had that discussion before she arrived the one about the baby's name. It always starts with the same question: What was she thinking? Whatever happened to using Biblical names, heroic names or family names? Now it's like there's a contest for parents to find the most unique name possible for a newborn like Toothbrush or Zanzibar. And it never seems to work. By the time Crash gets to school, there will be two other Crashes, a couple of Zanzibars and three Toothbrushes, plus a few Daeneryses, Lannisters and Podricks. "Game of Thrones" will be the gift that keeps on giving, in that department. There are plenty of worse things you could name a child say, Ebenezer or Pillowcase but I always wonder if these children feel as good about their names as their parents do. How many of them will come back from their first day of school saying, "Gee, thanks for naming me Zanzibar, Mom! I got teased and bullied all day." I suppose there have always been unusual names; they simply change with the times. If Cotton Mather and Rutherford B. Hayes could live with it, so can our children. But there's been another development in parenting that means, from now on, children will grow up in a significantly different world. It's hard to believe, but contrary to what parents have been saying forever, it turns out that the long-hallowed Five-Second Rule is a bunch of hooey. Apparently, despite our long-held beliefs, if you drop some food on the floor and pick it up within five seconds, it is not bacteria-free! Who knew? Actually, we all knew. At home, mom might be able to get away with picking up a piece of chicken she dropped on the floor, rinsing it off and putting it back in the pan, but would you ever go to a restaurant that adhered to that rule? Even if that restaurant was called "Mom's"? No way. Recently, a group of killjoy scientists released proof that it takes almost no time for bacteria to adhere to food dropped on the floor, or any other unsanitary surface. The proof is in the pudding. Literally. If you drop pudding on the floor, don't scrape it up and eat it. No matter what your mom says. That does not mean it will kill you, or even make you sick. It simply means it's disgusting. Then again, it may also be healthy. Some research says that keeping children too safe from dirt and common germs makes them weaker than children who are exposed to a wide variety of bacterial contact. It turns out that a little bit of dirt may be healthy. I bring this up because I think all of baby Crash's food seems to come from the floor as he crawls along. Or from the dog's dish. I suppose floor-crumbs and dog food haven't killed the dog yet, but that's setting a very low bar for healthy eating. After he crawls on the floor, Crash will stick his little fingers in his mouth and suck the dirt off. Then he'll stick every toy he has in his mouth before he does anything else with it. These are the same toys that all his tiny cousins have also stuffed in their mouths first. Still, he seems to be an amazingly healthy 6-month-old. You can hear him screech from across the street when the mood strikes him, and he can crawl out of sight faster than you can take another Xanax. One can only imagine how healthy he'll be once he gets into day care sharing germs from 10 or 20 different families, exposing himself to everything that's going around all day long. Spreading the joy of dirt. Sangareddy: At least eight people have so far lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Telangana's Medak district, with the army being deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations, even as heavy showers continue to lash parts of the state on Sunday. Heavy rains resulted in water logging and massive traffic jams in several areas in Hyderabad with water level continued to rise in the Godavari following continuous downpours in upper catchment areas. The rain water today entered the city's Holy Trinity Church premises forcing the visitors to vacate the place. A 30-year-old native of Jakkapally village in Narsapur mandal of Medak, was last night going on his bike to his workplace. However, while trying to cross a low-level causeway, near Reddy Khanapur village under Hathnoora police station limits, which was overflowing due to heavy inflow of water in Paspaleru lake, he got swept away along with his bike, police said. Hathnoora Police Sub-Inspector Balreddy said a search operation was initiated soon after getting information but the body was yet to be retrieved. Three deaths were reported on Saturday from Medak, even as the Army was deployed in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts for rescue operations. 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. Besides, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related mishaps in Medak on Friday. With heavy rains throwing normal life out of gear in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier ordered officials to set up control rooms in all the districts to reach out to the marooned people with necessary relief. Following instructions from the CM, a National Response Force (NDRF) team has been kept on standby in Hyderabad to participate in rescue operations, if necessary. Besides, four columns of Army had been earlier deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. Hyderabad: Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them. T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad yesterday. "I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...It was horrible," Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today. Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, "The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned." Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, "I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself. As of now I have no plans to go abroad." Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad. "It is God's grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me," Balram told PTI. Balram aid that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans. Balram's wife Sridevi said, "It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...The feelings cannot be expressed in words." Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying "MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident." Raipur: For the first time in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, three women commandos, who formerly fought against security forces alongside naxals, took part in an anti-Maoist operation in which two ultras were gunned down. Kosi, Phulo Markam and Kavita Kashyap, all assistant constables belonging to District Reserve Group (DRG), carrying automatic rifles, fought alongside their male counterparts against the armed cadres in the gun-battle yesterday, Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI. The three women were earlier active as naxals in Bastar and surrendered before police last year, expressing their willingness to join the mainstream. The two maoists were killed last morning in the encounter in Burgum police station area that lasted about an hour, with a joint squad of DRG, Chhattisgarh Armed Force and district force in restive Sanguel forest. "It was for the first time in Bastar district when women commandos accompanied forces in the operation conducted deep inside the naxal hotbed," he added. After the surrender the three joined police force and were enrolled with state's DRG - a locally raised force of personnel recruited from among local youths and surrendered naxals, for activities meant for countering Maoists. "If Maoists can have women in their ranks, why not the security forces. These women commandos have been given special training in combating insurgency," the SP said. About a dozen women personnel are working shoulder-to- shoulder with men in the DRG in Bastar. However, women DRG commandos have also been deployed in other districts of Bastar division (comprising 7 districts), the SP said without disclosing the exact number of such women personnel engaged in combat role in counter-naxal operations. These women commandos have been given advanced field crafts and tactics training at forces camps, the SP added. Citing operational benefits of deploying local women combatants in LWE (left-wing extremism) areas, Dash said these personnel can easily interact with local women and children, which help them get closer to locals. Besides, most of the recruits in DRG are surrendered naxals, having served with the outlawed CPI (Maoist), they are aware of the movement of ultras in forests, their schedule, habits and the operational pattern, he said. New Delhi: A 27-year-old Delhi Traffic Police constable was Sunday crushed to death by a speeding truck, police said. Police said the driver, identified as Pramod Singh, of Haryana's Bhiwani, was arrested from the spot. "The incident took place at 4 p.m., when the constable, Ravinder, a resident of Police Colony in Narela, was on routine traffic movement on his motor bike at Ashok Vihar's traffic circle. A speeding truck hit him from behind and crushed him. He was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him dead," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northwest, Vijay Singh. A case was registered against the driver in Mahendra Park police station. Jind: A section of Dalits from a village have threatened to convert alleging that the state authorities were dily dallying on taking action against some persons who allegedly 'illegally occupied' land given to them, by the state. A cooperative society formed under the Punjab Nazul Act 1956 alloted the land to the Dalits for their betterment. But between 2010 to 2014 a number of high-profile people including some who claimed to be from BJP had illegally grabbed 600 acres of Nazul land which also included 41 acres from Dhidwara village, they alleged. They claimed that despite making a complaint on July 13 last year, the police failed to act due to the pressure from BJP leaders. However, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar assigned his OSD Jagdish Chopra to look into the matter after some of the Dalit community members met him. Protesting in front of the mini secretariat for the last four days, the Dalit families have alleged that the police had warned them of "dire consequence" if they don't stop their protest. Congress state president Ashok Tanwar who came to support the Dalits alleged that since the BJP government came to power the atrocities against them have been on the rise. "The labour class and Dalits are targeted in the rule of BJP. The law and order situation in the state has become a joke since the day BJP came to power," he said. The villagers have asked for a CBI probe and demanded that their land be returned or else they will convert and migrate. Kozhikode: On the backfoot over Dalit issues as it heads into elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states, BJP on Sunday blamed Congress for the disparities faced by the community and pledged to work for promoting social harmony to achieve social justice for the marginalised sections. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Birth Centenary Year Resolution adopted at the party's National Council meeting pitched for realisation of objectives of social justice, saying all classes must get equal access to means, privileges and opportunities for individuals. It also spoke about a number of schemes launched by the party-run central and state governments to achieve social, food and energy security. Criticising the Congress, the resolution alleged that during its rule in the country, the weaker sections have been deprived of transparent allocation of basic amenities. The result was that poor have become poorer in rural areas whereas in urban areas dalits, backwards and economically weaker sections have been reduced to a life in the slums, it said. "Due to the policies of the Congress, we could not achieve our social goals even after 70 years of independence. "The reason for this is inability to end economic disparity for long. "Along with this, it is also unfortunate that in these seven decades, disparities faced by Dalit society could not be completely eradicated," the resolution said. The party said Deendayal Upadhyay used to believe that in the country, every individual shall have intimate bonding with the society. "To end all social disparities so as to establish an egalitarian society and to bring the SCs and STs into the mainstream development, the BJP will promote sense of social harmony this year so that social justice could be rendered to the marginalised sections," it said. The BJP has been facing dalit backlash, especially after the Rohith Vemula suicide row and incidents of cow vigilantes attacking the community. It has come as a setback to the party which is trying hard to woo the dalits especially as the community could play a crucial role in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. The party asserted that it continues to strive as per the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to ensure economic, cultural and spiritual freedom. "We must work to end discrimination and disparities among various sections of the society and infuse the sense of integrity in the whole nation," said the resolution proposed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and adopted by the Council. Lucknow: Controversy shrouds the expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav ministry on Monday with a social activist throwing a spanner by challenging before Governor Ram Naik the possible re-entry of tainted former Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati. The Governor is scheduled to administer oath of office and secrecy to some new ministers tomorrow, a Raj Bhawan communique said. With Prajapati's re-induction on the cards as part of a compromise formula to douse the flames in the Yadav clan that took the hue of a major political crisis recently, activist Nutan Thakur has petitioned the Governor against making him minister again. 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. Another probable swearing in could be that of Ziauddin Rizvi, who was not able to take oath in July when the cabinet was last expanded. He was abroad then. Nutan filed the petition before the Governor just 48 hours before the oath ceremony requesting him not to re-induct Prajapati. In her petition, she said Prajapati was removed as minister on serious corruption charges after the order of Allahabad High Court for CBI enquiry and the CBI report was presented before the court. She said a minister is removed from office under provisions of Article 164 of the Constitution when he loses the pleasure of the Governor. Nutan said when Prajapati was removed as minister, he had lost the pleasure of the Governor. Hence, he cannot be re- inducted in the Ministry unless the facts and reasons on which he had lost the pleasure of the Governor get removed. Prajapati began as Minister of State for Irrigation in February 2013 and was moved to the lucrative berth of mining, directly under Yadav who handled that portfolio. In July 2013, Yadav elevated Prajapati to MoS (Independent Charge) and in January 2014, he was made a Cabinet Minister. New Delhi: Upset by the Uri terror attack that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, former foreign minister and seasoned diplomat K.Natwar Singh on Sunday said converting the Line of Control (LoC) into the International Border (IB) is the only solution in sight to end the bitter rivalry between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. "There is no solution, as every method has been tried. Eventually, I am not saying today or tomorrow, we can take 10 years, 15 years or 20 years, but in my judgment as a private citizen, and (former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister) Farooq Abdullah has also said, eventually the Line of Control (LoC) will become the International Border, that`s all," Natwar Singh told ANI, adding that it is the only solution, as there is no other solution. "The most difficult problem we have in India is the Jammu and Kashmir issue, but it has now got involved into international affairs in the world and a lot of people have started taking interest in it. We have tried for 70 years, but nothing has happened; I am not saying today, it may happen in another 10-15 years, because there is no other answer. Especially, when they became a nuclear power, you cannot go for a war," said the former minister of external affairs, while ruling out war as a solution to this problem. "Our people were saying during the time of (former Pakistan President) Gen. Pervez Musharraf that there was a seven-point agreement, even though the citizens of India and Pakistan don`t accept even one point. So, the solution to this is when the time is ripe, we can look at this (converting LoC into IB)," said the veteran diplomat. When asked if he was confident that after converting the LoC into the IB there would be no problem from the Pakistani side, Singh said of course not, if everything is accepted and when your borders are there, breaching the IB would not be possible. He, however, rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's statement that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a reaction of the people to the situation in Kashmir, saying that the statements that come from Pakistan have been coming for the last 70 years, and he doesn't think that India should pay too much attention to them. "No, I don't agree, because the statements that come from Pakistan have been coming for the last 70 years, and I don't think we should pay too much attention to them. I will not say we should not pay any attention, because what had happened in Uri, everybody is concerned about it in India. Our 18 soldiers have been killed and the whole of India is agitated and concerned about these things," he said. "But this is not for the first time that this has happened, they have been doing all along. What they did in Bombay (Mumbai), more than 250 people died; what they did in Pathankot; what they have done in Uri; they did Kargil, but Kargil was serious, so we gave them a reply and they had to retreat in Kargil," he added. Singh further said "there is a compulsion for Nawaz Sharif to speak on these things for internal reasons", but public opinion has to be guided by the leadership. "The anger of our people is fully justified, but going to war is not an answer and I don`t think we will go to war," he added.Asked whether he thought that India had been successful in isolating Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he said, "Yes, we have been successful. When he (Sharif) made a speech at the UNGA, no country supported him, not even the Muslim countries as far as I know. "When asked if revisiting the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan was an option with India, Singh said, "No it`s not a serious matter, you cannot do it, and people who are talking about it are talking irresponsibly. You either go to war or talk to them. Both of us are nuclear powers, and thus, it is not that easy. When they were not a nuclear power, things were different, now we have to be very careful." Kozhikode: After hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s strongly worded speech delivered in Kozhikode, Kerala, the widow of one of the 18 slain soldiers has called on India to retaliate in a similar manner as Pakistan. Sepoy Dinesh Geri`s widow, Sarita, told ANI, "Every time a soldier is killed, his family is the one to suffer, not anyone else. I want to ask the Prime Minister that India should retaliate against Pakistan in a similar manner. Other people present at the rally echoed similar sentiments. Vijay Gupta said, "I am glad to say that Prime Minister Modi perfectly warned Pakistan for the Uri attack. The message to the people of Pakistan is very clear, correct, well narated and very specific. I call upon the people of Pakistan to come forward and fight a war that defeats unemployment, poverty, illiteracy first. Lets see who wins?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Pakistan on the sidelines of the Bharatiya Janata Party`s National Council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala. Delhi: In what could be a significant development, the government has called a meeting on Monday to discuss the Indus Water Treaty. As per media reports, officials from Water Resources Ministry and MEA will brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different aspects of the treaty. Earlier on September 22, India had made it clear that 'mutual trust and cooperation' was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion had come amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack. "For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. He had also noted that the preamble of the treaty itself said that it was based on 'goodwill' and had said that there were differences over its implementation between the two countries. Pressed further if India will scrap the treaty, he had refused to elaborate and had only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he had not said that the treaty was not working. Meanwhile, on September 24, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh had said the state would fully support whatever decision was 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 had said, as per PTI. "The state government will support whatever decision is taken by the central government on Indus Waters Treaty," he had added. Under the 56-year-old treaty, which was signed by Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. (With PTI inputs) Delhi: Historian and writer Ramachandra Guha has said that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi should retire from politics. He also said that Rahul should get married and that 'it would be good for him'. To quote from his interview to The Economic Times - "There are still very many people too many, I would say who think that the Congress can revive as a national political force. But my sense is that what we are probably seeing is the BJP emerging as the only national party in the foreseeable future. The BJP, in terms of its role in Indian politics not in terms of its ideology, will be like the Congress in the 1960s and '70s. There will be some challengers the Communists in Kerala, the Trinamool in Bengal and the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu but the BJP will be overall dominant. That was exactly how the Congress was the Communists came to power in 1957, the DMK in 1967, the Akalis became quite strong in Punjab but overall there was no national alternative." On a question on Congress' reinvention, Guha said - "...Outside the Congress echo chamber, there is a sense that the Gandhi family is useless. Rahul Gandhi is an object of ridicule and contempt by people who would otherwise be attracted to a liberal Congress point of view. There are intelligent, sensible people in the Congress but they are so dependent on the Gandhis. I have been struggling to understand this dependence. Is it a kind of infant-mother syndrome? Is it because they think only the family can help revive the party? Is it financial dependence do they control the purse strings? It is mystifying. It is possible that in the next general election, due to anti-incumbency, the Congress may go from 44 to 70 or 80 or even 100. But they can't become a major force again..." and added, "...It is a lingering death, it is a terminal illness. Rahul Gandhi should retire from politics, get married and start a family. That will be good for him. That will be good for India also..." At the same time, Guha pointed out that the 'BJP cannot think that it will be uncontested'. Kozhikode: Slamming Pakistan, BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday in Kozhikode said that Kashmir is ours and no one should dream of taking it from India. "BJP won't let that happen," Amit Shah added. Shah was speaking on the last day BJP National Council Meet in Kozhikode, Kerala. Also, Shah appealed to everyone including other political parties to come together and help the government and Army in their fight against terrorism. Strongly condemning Uri attack in which 18 Indian soldiers lost their lives, Shah said, "Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN shows that Pakistan is supporting terrorism since beginning. "Pak PM Nawaz Sharif glorified terrorist Burhan wani as a leader," the BJP chief added. Kozhikode: The Bharatiya Janata Party's three-day conclave at Kozhikode in Kerala will culminate on Sunday with the national council meeting. Here are LIVE updates:- - Union Minister Nitin Gadkari speaking at the BJP National Council meet - We appeal everyone including other political parties to come together and help the govt and Army in their fight against terrorism: Amit Shah - Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN shows that Pak is supporting terrorism since beginning, he glorified terrorist Burhan wani as a leader: Amit Shah - We strongly condemn the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers lost their lives. BJP is taking this incident very seriously: Amit Shah - BJP President Amit Shah addressing the BJP National Council in Calicut (Kerala) - PM Narendra Modi with other senior leader of the party at the BJP national council meeting - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Council will on Sunday adopt a resolution strongly condemning Pakistan for the recent Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. - According to reports, the Council will discuss all issues of national interest and concentrate on the party strategy in different states. -Birth centenary celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long birth centenary celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay this evening. - The Prime Minister has urged the former Jan Sangh and the new generation BJP leaders to fulfil the dreams of Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Earlier, on Saturday, describing terrorism as enemy of the entire humanity, Prime Minister Modi said Pakistani leaders are talking about a having thousands of years of war with India. He also asserted that he is prepared to take up this challenge and that the day is not far off when the people of Pakistan will come out to fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Modi also warned the Pakistani leadership that the Uri attack won`t be forgotten and that the sacrifice of 18 soldiers would not go in vain. He said India would mount an all-out offensive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically to expose its activities in exporting terror. Kozhikode: PM Narendra Modi speaking at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's centenary celebrations in Kozhikode, Kerala said that Muslims shouldn't be treated as vote bank. PM Modi said that Deendayal Upadhyaya, 50 years back, had said 'dont reward Muslims, dont rebuke Muslims, empower them'. "Deendayal Upadhyaya ji said, Muslims shouldn't be treated as substance for votes or looked down upon, they should be considered equal," PM Modi in his speech. Also, the PM reiterated that 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' is the commitment of his government. "Today people discuss about global warming, but Deendayal Upadhyaya ji back then used to say that we should respect our resources," PM Modi said. Also, PM said that his party (BJP) was formed for poor section of society and all our initiatives today are focussing on down trodden people only. "Our govt is committed to the welfare of the last person in the society," PM added. Praising BJP, the PM said, "Other parties might have good people but we have better people than them. All our senior leaders made us what we are today." Talking about elections, PM Modi said, "There is a need for a discussion to bring in change in the procedure for elections in our country." New Delhi: Maintaining that Pakistan's argument has no takers at the United Nation, Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar has said that Islamabad can fool its people but cannot fool the world on terrorism. "In the speeches at the UN it was all clear that Pakistan`s argument has no takers. No one even agrees to it. And our [India`s] word on terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said about it, Sushma Swaraj has said it, and you can see the results. Now the world understands all of it and says that whatever India is saying is right because we are saying it from faith," Akbar told ANI. Akbar insisted that whatever New Delhi has talked about on terrorism, it has been doing it on the basis of truth and proof, adding that India wants a world which is united and progresses rather than engaging in wars. On being asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s statement that India has no proof on Uri attack and is only accusing Islamabad for terrorism, Akbar replied, "I am sure there are at least 1-2 scientists in Pakistan, or someone who can understand about DNA samples. Nawaz Sharif might not have any idea on it but if we send the samples to them, they will get the proof of Pathankot and Uri attack. "On the Balochistan issue, Akbar said that the entire world now knows about the atrocities on the Baloch people. "Whatever European Union has said is very necessary. The entire world is seeing and knows about the real atrocities carried on the people and this is happening in Balochistan. This has been recognised across the globe and it will only increase. "Meanwhile, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reached New York last night.She will address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 26.According to sources, India would raise the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri region, in which 18 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives and highlight Pakistan`s alleged involvement. Sources further added that Swaraj will strongly emphasise on Pakistan's involvement in her speech.Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Modi had yesterday said that India would never forget the Uri terror attack and would make all efforts to isolate Islamabad globally. He also called on international community to join hands to defeat terrorism. He also insisted that India exports engineers all over the world, whereas Islamabad exports terrorists. New Delhi: India and the US will engage in more intense and complex military exercises in the coming days in tune with their "joint strategic vision", a media report said on Sunday. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), inked during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's visit to the US last month, will facilitate complex drills between the two sides. According to The Times of India (TOI), both sides are planning to go in for a major upgrade of their bilateral combat exercises. Citing a defence ministry sources, the report said that the aim is to "further increase the scope and complexity" of the military exercises and engagements "across the board". "But we can learn a lot from the high-tech US armed forces in the exercises, ranging from complex mission planning and execution to operating in an increasingly digitised warfare environment. Conversely, they can learn from our battle and insurgency-hardened forces. LEMOA will further boost the interoperability," TOI quoted an official as saying. The militaries of the two sides are also reportedly in discussions to upgrade their navy-to-navy engagements, particularly on anti-submarine warfare and maritime security. Also, the Yudh Abhyas drills between the two sides are going to "evolve" into "a more complex, combined arms, divisional-level exercise", the report said. The 12th edition of Yudh Abhyas is currently underway at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand. Infantry soldiers and Stryker combat teams from Fort Louis in the US are participating in the exercise. The focus of Yudh Abhyas is reportedly on counter-terrorism drills involving "a combined deployment at a brigade-level". Both sides are also planning to conduct exercises involving "air-ground integration, combined arms maneuver and targeting processes", according to the report. New York: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is set to address the UN General Assembly on Monday with all eyes set on her speech in which she is expected to deliver a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived here yesterday afternoon and will address the UN general debate tomorrow morning. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, India's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here Friday that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however had not elaborated on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the External Affairs Minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security". Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terror groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. New Delhi: Leading global fighter jet makers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Saab are all rushing in with offers to set up their production lines in India. These companies are even offering blueprints of future advanced combat aircraft which can be made in the country, a media report said. New Delhi is expected to announce another round of multi-billion-dollar air force order with a cluster of fleet set to retire soon. Citing analysts, the Wall Street Journal said that India may place an order worth over $10 billion next year in order to replace its ageing military jet fleet. The report said that the foreign manufacturers are encouraged by a recent law that allows 100% foreign ownership of local defense firms. And to avail this opportunity, manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin Corp., Boeing Co. and Saab AB are rushing in with offers to set up production lines. Efforts to give India unprecedented access to jet fighter know-how illustrate the countrys rising importance to the West as Chinas power increases, the report said citing analysts. Ties between India and the US have improved over the past decade. India has purchased military equipments from Apache helicopters, transport planes to artillery from the US. Today, the US is Indias second-biggest defense trading partner after Russia. The report said that industry experts estimate India needs over 300 new combat jets in the next 15 years. India has also reportedly relaxed foreign investment laws and defense procurement rules in order to equip its military. Since then, US manufacturers Lockheed and Boeing, and Swedens Saab, have proposed building jets with Indian partners, the Journal said. India has so far not purchased any fighter jets from the US as its air force have been preferring the European and Russian manufacturers, the report said. According to the report, Lockheed has proposed to move its F-16 production from Fort Worth, Texas, to India. Boeing wants to help India build F/A-18 fighters and develop jets in the long term, the report quoted Boeings India president Pratyush Kumar as saying. Saabs plan would have it build a second manufacturing plant in Sweden for its Gripen E jet type, train Indian technicians there, and then dismantle and ship the plant to India, the report said citing Saab's India head Jan Widerstrom. Were offering to set up aerospace capability in India for the next 100 years, he was quoted as saying. New Delhi: India and Afghanistan will set up an exclusive air corridor to boost bilateral trade after Pakistan turned down an Afghan request to use its land routes. According to the ANI news agency, both sides have reached agreement for establishing an air corridor for goods trade. We reached an agreement with India for establishment of an air corridor, to send Afghan goods through the air, the report quoted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying. Ghani during his two-day visit to India last week urged the Indian businessmen to use the air route for trade in a bid to help free his landlocked country from the constraints of those neighbours, who do not wish his country well. Earlier this month, he called upon Pakistan to allow Kabul to engage in trade with India through its land routes, a request turned down by Islamabad. The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan stood at less than $685 million in 2014-15. However, the trade relations can realize its true potential if the Wagah-Attari route is opened for bilateral trade with Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) has been restrictive in this aspect. The APTTA is a bilateral trade agreement between Islamabad and Kabul. It has been renegotiated several times. The treaty was signed in 1950 which gave Afghanistan the right to import duty-free goods through Karachi. The US has maintained that it would encourage Ghanis move of asking Pakistan to include India in the transit trade agreement for stronger trade relations between all countries of the region. Speaking at the daily press briefing, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Mark C Toner said, I would just say, speaking broadly, that we would support stronger trade relations within the region. And weve long said that its a priority for the United States at least, but it should be a priority for the countries in the region to all work more cooperatively and constructively together. And a trade agreement would be part of that. When asked as to what was his position on Afghanistan asking Indias inclusion in the transit trade agreement it has with Pakistan, Toner replied, I think we would encourage, as I said, stronger trade relations between all the countries of the region. Pathankot: Punjab Police and Border Security Force (BSF) on Sunday carried out a joint search operation and flag march in villages near Indo-Pak border, amid a heightened vigil in the wake of the Uri attack a week ago. The objective of carrying out search operation was to ensure safety, security and thwart any attempt by intruders coming from across the border, Pathankot police said. As many as 150 security personnel including SWAT team members also participated in the search operation with Pathankot SP (Operation) Hem Pushp leading the Punjab police team. The operation was carried out in 12 villages, situated near Indo-Pak border and Jammu and Kashmir, which fall under Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial police stations, police said. The villages where search was conducted included Bamial, Dhalotar, Plah Vadda and Chhota, Bhupalpur, Dhinda and Dostpur. After the search operation, a flag march was also taken out by the security agencies, police said. On September 18, an alert was sounded in Punjab's border districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur following the terror strike on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 soldiers. Earlier this year, terrorists who had sneaked in from across the border had attacked Pathankot air base on the intervening night of January 1-2 while Dinanagar in Gurdaspur was targeted on July 27 last year. The Pathankot attack had claimed the lives of seven security personnel while four terrorists were killed. Three heavily-armed terrorists wearing army fatigues had stormed a police station in Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district last year killing seven persons, including a Superintendent of Police, before they were gunned down during a day-long operation. Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday imposed curfew in Kishtwar district in Chenab Valley after an attempt to arrest some persons evoked widespread protests and clashes. Police arrested the three late Saturday night on charges of trying to violate the law and order in the town. Announcements from mosques on Sunday morning called on civilians to protest against the arrests. The three youths were recently released after they served their term of detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA). "They have been picked up for their anti-social activities," police said. The PSA is a law applicable in Jammu and Kashmir only under which a person can be detained without a judicial process. The detentions can only be challenged in the state high court. Notably, hundreds of people have been arrested in Kashmir valley during the current uprising while some were released on bail, other are still languishing in jails. Over 350 persons have been booked under 'lawless law' Public Safety Act. New Delhi: The Congress party said on Saturday that the Karnataka government needs to prove to the court that there is no intentional disobedience involved in not releasing waters of the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu, as the quantity of water available is not sufficient. After the Karnataka state assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Friday to only release water to meet the basic needs of people living in Bengaluru and those icinity of the Cauvery Basin, Congress leader and senior advocate KTS Tulsi said, "The Government of Karnataka can't produce water if there is any, and therefore, they will have to convince the court there is no intentional disobedience, but these are circumstances that are beyond their control. "Defending the resolution passed by the Karnataka state assembly, Tulsi said, "According to the information that has been given to the legislative assembly, only 27,000 metric tons of water is available for meeting the drinking needs of Bangalore, Mysore and other places in the Cauvery Basin and all reservoirs taken together, only 27.6 pmc is available. So, if the water is just not there, how will they release it, how can there be contempt?" The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from September 21 to 30, but the apex court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs from September 21 to 27 after Tamil Nadu pressed for water to save its Samba paddy crop. The Supreme Court had also directed the Centre to constitute within four weeks the Cauvery Water Management Board as directed by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its award. Backed by an all party mandate, the state cabinet had on Tuesday decided to defer the release of water to Tamil Nadu and convene a day's legislature session to discuss possible outcomes related to the escalating row between the two neighbouring states. Bengaluru: Former Minister K J George will be re-inducted into the state cabinet on Sunday, after the Karnataka CID gave him a clean chit in the case related to the alleged suicide of DySP M K Ganapathy. George will be sworn in by the Governor at Raj Bhavan around 10.15 AM, official sources said. George, who was the Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town planning, had resigned on July 18, soon after a court in Madikeri, Kodagu district directed police to register an FIR against him and two police officers in connection with the suicide of 51-year-old Ganapathy. Ganapathy was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he gave an interview to a local TV channel saying the Minister and AM Prasad (now Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety) and Pranab Mohanty (now on central deputation as Additional Deputy Director General of UIDAI) would be responsible "if anything happens to me." The court had issued directions based on a private criminal complaint by Ganapathy's son, Nehal, requesting it to direct police to take up investigation against the minister and the officers for allegedly abetting his father's suicide. Karnataka CID which investigated the case, on September 17 gave a clean chit to George and two senior police officers in its 'B' report, filed to a court in Madikeri. Following Ganapathy's death, the Government had come under attack from the Opposition, which had stalled the Assembly proceedings by staging a day-night agitation inside the House demanding a CBI inquiry, to which the government did not budge. Both opposition parties BJP and JD(S) have expressed their strong exception to the reinduction of George into the cabinet. According to sources, George who is considered to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is likely to retain Bengaluru Development and Town Planning portfolio. He had also served as Home Minister in the past. Earlier, Siddaramaiah on September 5 had expanded his Cabinet by inducting M Krishnappa into his Ministry, he was allocated Housing department. In a major revamp, the Chief Minister had sacked 14 ministers and inducted 13 members into his Council of Ministers on June 20 which had led to discontent within the Congress with several senior leaders openly coming out against the party's state leadership. Kozhikode: The BJP on Sunday called for the celebration of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay birth centenary year as the year of the welfare of the downtrodden across the country. The party also resolved to tread the path shown by Upadhyay and work towards realising the dream of a developed and just India, where even the poorest of the poor would be taken care of. Following is the resolution passed in BJP national council in Kerala: BJP calls for the celebration of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay birth centenary year as the year of the welfare of the downtrodden across the country. The party resolve to tread the path shown by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and work towards realising the dream of a developed and just India, where even the poorest of the poor would be taken care of. The party exhorts the central and state governments to wholeheartedly work towards the welfare of the poor as per the principles of Antyodaya in tune with the objectives of Ekatma Manav philosophy of Pandit Deendayalji. After the formation of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, while clarifying its programs and objectives, Pandit Deendayal had explained in his philosophy that the Jana Sangh was formed not just to fill the political vacuum but to comprehensively restructure the nation on the basis of cultural nationalism. As the successor of the Jana Sangh, the Bhartiya Janata Party has become the centre of nations politics, following the inspiring life and philosophy of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. Under the leadership of honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the Bhartiya Janata Party embraces this sense of responsibility with great humility. The party believes that in order to realise the objective of total reconstruction, the important primary goal should be to eliminate economic inequality, discrimination and disparities. In the slogan of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, besides development the spirit of equality, freedom and dignified life is also imbued, and to achieve those goals the party dedicates itself to celebrate this year as the year of the welfare of the downtrodden. The ideologies of Congress and the Left have completely failed in delivering a just and judicious governance in the country. Not only that; the country has squarely rejected them because of the gulf between their words and deeds. During the long years of Congress rule in the country the weaker and deprived sections have been deprived of transparent allocation of basic amenities. The result was that poor have become poorer in the rural areas whereas in urban areas Dalits, backwards and economically weaker sections have been reduced to a life in the slums. The BJP led governments in centre and states have taken unprecedented steps to achieve the targets for basic facilities like social security, food security, energy security, accommodation, drinking water, hygiene and toilet construction, health and education. This is the outcome of our committed implementation of BJPs Antyodaya policies. In order to achieve these targets in the realm of economic empowerment the central government has made transparent governance responsible on one hand, while on the other, it has created a positive atmosphere in the country by encouraging popular participation through countless programs like Ujwala Yojna, Deendayal Gram Jyoti Yojana, Swatchhata Yojana, Yog Diwas etc. Economic inclusion programs for poor and deprived sections like Jandhan Yojna and social security programs like insurance for all sections of the society designed under the leadership of honourable PM Naarendra Modi are turning to be milestones on the path of Antyodaya. In line with the thinking of Pt. Deendayal ji the central government has given utmost priority to targets like housing for all, work for every hand and water to every farm. The Government has taken several new initiatives in health sector, especially many programs were undertaken for securing the health of women from weaker sections. A draft new education policy for youth has been placed before the people for their consent and consensus. With a view to channelise the dynamism, commitment and energy of the youth of the country and promote job creation several programs like Start Up, Stand Up, Make in India, Digital India, Ease of Doing Business, Mudra Scheme etc have been devised. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay always gave prominence to clean politics in his political philosophy. This is the reason why BJP has prominently included the objective of Corruption Free Governance in its working system. This has resulted in enhanced prestige of the nation at the international fora and increased trust of the people in the government. For the realisation of objectives of social justice, all classes must get equal access to means, privileges and opportunities of individual and social upliftment. Pandit Deendayalji used to believe that in the country, every individual shall have intimate bonding with the society. He insisted on the significance of sense of duty for this. Pandit Deendayalji stated that all the ideals of India lay emphasis on cooperation and mutual assistance. Each of our social conception thinks about the completeness of the individual. Due to the policies of the Congress, we could not achieve our social goals even after 70 years of Independence. The reason for this is inability to end economic disparity for long. Along with this, it is also unfortunate that in these seven decades, disparities faced by the Dalit society could not be completely eradicated in the country. To end all social disparities so as to establish an egalitarian society and to bring the SCs and STs into the mainstream of development, the BJP will promote sense of social harmony this year so that social justice could be rendered to the marginalised sections. Bhartiya Janata Party continues to strive as per the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay to ensure economic, cultural and spiritual freedom. To link the economically weak - backward classes, farmers, Dalits and Tribal sections of society - with the mainstream of development, the BJP government has for the first time broken the historical hindrances existing in the country since long, through its commendable efforts. The motto of Pandit Deendayalji was Charaiveti Charaiveti, which was an inspiring call for those in politics to work for the nation. It combined the patriotic aspirations with resolve to work in the interest of nation, integrating the individual with the society and inspiring him to never stop in this endeavour. The Bhartiya Janata Party takes resolve on this centenary year that in place of clash between various ideas and classes in the country, an aspiration for equality shall thrive across the nation. Social discipline shall be popularised along with individual liberty. There shall be continuity of policies to achieve social justice along with the objectives of economic development. The idea of spiritual progress shall also be carried forward in the social life of the country along with physical progress. The party expresses its firm commitment towards ensuring the development of the country by achieving a balance between the Indian values and modern scientific and technological developments. The ideological mentor of BJP, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay inspired numerous activists to dedicate their lives in the service of the nation. The ultimate goal of the Bhartiya Janata Party has always been to sacrifice everything for the nation so as to carry forward its unified collective existence. Pandit Deendayalji believed that the Indian ideal of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam stood for nationalism with universal brotherhood. Bhartiya Janata Party calls upon that on this occasion, we must promote activities of international cooperation along with our national self-reliance. Bhartiya Janata Party calls upon its each and every member to make special efforts this year to take the ideals of the party to every nook and corner of the society. Communication with the public shall be maintained to tell them about the policies, programs and achievements of the government so as to ensure the formation of a prosperous society in the country. We must work to end discrimination and disparities among various sections of the society and infuse the sense of integrity in the whole nation. We must also work for the political ideal of making a positive environment in the country for women in education, security, honour, equality and dignified life. There shall be equal opportunities for all and the country shall escape the curse of poverty forever. Let us take inspiration from the life and works of Pt Deendayal Upadhyay and dedicate ourselves to the grand ideal of transforming India into a glorious and developed nation under the dynamic leadership of PM Narendra Modi. Kozhikode: Accusing Opposition parties for propagating a "distorted definition" of secularism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya to say that Muslims should not be treated as mere tools to garner votes nor neglected but should be treated as "own". Addressing the National Council meet, he vowed his commitment to his call for "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and also pitched for electoral reforms by advocating simultaneous elections of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. "At a time when 'vikrat paribhasha (distorted definition)' of secularism is being propagated in the country and even patriotism is cursed, what should be the way to see towards Muslims?" PM Modi asked and recalled that long back, Upadhyaya, founding father of the Jan Sangh -- the predecessor of the BJP -- had said that Muslims should not be mere tools to garner votes nor neglected. "Don't reward nor rebuke Muslims but refine them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own," Modi quoted Upadhyaya as saying. "It is in this context, we have launched our developmental programmes based on the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," Modi said, adding this was not a mere slogan for his government but a commitment. "When we talk of this idea, we talk about the last man standing in the queue... we need to empower them socially and economically. The union government is moving ahead with the vision and will now much be focussed towards it." Modi also stressed the need for creating an alternate politics as advocated by Upadhyaya who had always suggested that no section of people should be left neglected or considered as tools to garner votes. "We have always tried to uphold his principles and today we again pledge ourselves to rededicate for the cause of such inclusive development," he said. He said it was high time we extended a helping hand to the last man -- the poorest man in each corner of the country. Reissuing his call for electoral reforms, PM Modi said it was imperative to strengthen democracy. "I think this is time to bring about electoral reforms. In the centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, we can organise seminars across the country on electoral reforms," he said. "At least we should start brainstorming the issue, and we will see what amrit (nectar) will come out of this churning," he said. "To strengthen the roots of democracy, we will have to bring about electoral reforms, we will have to add a few new things, have to delete a few obsolete things from the electoral procedures," he said. He said that even members from other political parties have been asking him to bring about electoral reforms, but it would be better if changes emerged after thorough brainstorming. This was at least the third time in as many months that the Prime Minister has called for electoral reforms. Modi also announced that India will ratify the 21st Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2," he said, noting Gandhi lived his life with a minimum "Carbon footprint". It was also on October 2 last year that India had submitted its action plan, called the 'Intended Nationally Determined Contribution', to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which eventually led to a deal at COP 21 in Paris in December 2015. Earlier, paying tributes to Upadhyaya, the Prime Minister asked if politicians today can change Indian politics by following his ideals. "Through our thinking and conduct, can we change people's perception towards politicians? Can we become symbols of the ideals of Pandit Deendayal?" Modi said, adding that Upadhyaya gave the mantra that the Indian politics should be rooted in Indian culture. Kozhikode: Reissuing his call for electoral reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was imperative to strengthen democracy. "I think this is time to bring about electoral reforms. In the centenary year of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, we can organise seminars across the country on electoral reforms," said Modi in his address to the BJP's national council meeting here. "At least we should start brainstorming the issue, and we will see what amrit (nectar) will come out of this churning," he said. "To strengthen the roots of democracy, we will have to bring about electoral reforms, we will have to add a few new things, have to delete a few obsolete things from the electoral procedures," he said. He said that even members from other political parties have been asking him to bring about electoral reforms, but it would be better if changes emerged after thorough brainstorming. This is at least the third time in as many months that the Prime Minister has called for electoral reforms, including simultaneous parliamentary and state assembly elections, in the country. London: In a new online film, renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against revealing our presence to aliens. Hawking, who has continuously assured the world of extra terriestrial presence has stated that our first contact from an advanced civilization could be equivalent to when Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and things "didn't turn out so well." The film, "Stephen Hawking's Favourite Places", takes viewers on an intriguing journey of five significant locations across the cosmos, on his spacecraft the SS Hawking. In the film, Hawking performs a hypothetical flyby of Gliese 832c, a potentially habitable exoplanet located 16 light years away. "One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back," he said. Hawking has further warned that the aliens will be enormously powerful and may see us the way we see bacteria. "As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone. After a lifetime of wondering, I am helping to lead a new global effort to find out," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'. This is not the first time Stephen Hawking has been so outspoken against the existence of aliens civilization. Launching the Breakthrough Listen project, which will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, last year Hawking had suggested that any civilization reading our messages could be billions of years ahead of humans. "The Breakthrough Listen project will scan the nearest million stars for signs of life, but I know just the place to start looking," he said, in the film that appeared on the online platform CuriosityStream. (With PTI inputs) Bareilly: At least five persons were killed and three were left injured when a car in which they were travelling fell into a gorge in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. The incident took place on late Saturday, as per the report. All the injured were rushed to a nearby government hospital. Details awaited. Champaign (US): One man was killed and four other people were injured in a pair of shootings early on Sunday, including one that happened on the University of Illinois campus. Police believe the two shootings in the eastern Illinois city of Champaign may be related. They say the first apparently stemmed from an argument shortly after midnight at an apartment party on Green Street, the commercial heart of the campus. "Our preliminary investigations completely points to an argument taking place at the party and the argument spilled out into the street and that's' when a fight occurred," Champaign police spokeswoman LaEisha Meaderds said, adding the reasons for the fight aren't clear yet. Shots were fired as the fight escalated, striking four people, she said. One of those shot, 22-year-old George Korchev, was killed, Meaderds said. She said Korchev, who was from the Chicago suburb of Mundelein, wasn't involved in the fight and wasn't a University of Illinois student. He just happened to be walking by when the shots were fired. The other three were taken to a hospital for treatment of what police called non-critical gunshot wounds. Less than half an hour later, police received a report of another shooting a few blocks west of campus. Officers found a victim, who was taken to a hospital and treated for a non-critical wound. Police are searching for a suspect or suspects in the shootings and for the driver of a vehicle that struck someone who was running away from the gunfire at the first scene. That person's injuries were minor. It isn't clear how many people were at the party because many ran when the gunfire began, Meaderds said. Police are hoping to find and speak to as many as possible. Berlin: A leader of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party admitted on Sunday that it has a problem with sexism in its ranks, after a female politician spoke out about vulgar and belittling comments. Peter Tauber, general secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that remarks made public by Berlin CDU politician Jenna Behrends, 26, were not an isolated incident. "I hear about stories like these again and again, but without names. That makes it hard to do anything about it," Tauber said. "We need a new sensitivity in all areas of society because sexism is not just a problem in politics." Behrends made national headlines last week when she spoke out against gender discrimination within the CDU, saying that a member of the Berlin city-state's government had called her a "big sweet mouse" in front of a group of people. She said the same official asked another member of the party, using offensive language, whether he was having a sexual relationship with Behrends. She told Bild that she had received "a lot of positive feedback" for coming forward. Merkel shattered party conventions when she, as a childless, Protestant woman from the former communist East, became CDU leader in 2000 following a long line of Roman Catholic family men from the west. The chancellor, who has led Germany since 2005, on Sunday criticised German industry for failing to root out gender inequality on its own, in an interview with business magazine Wirtschaftswoche. Citing the example of a quota introduced this year requiring Germany's biggest companies to fill at least 30 percent of their supervisory board seats with women, Merkel lamented that executives in Europe's top economy had to be forced into fair treatment. "It is pathetic that in more than 65 years of the federal republic of Germany, it was not possible for the Dax-30 companies to get a few more women on supervisory boards on a voluntary basis," she said, noting she had long opposed statutory quotas. "But at some point there had been so many hollow promises that it was clear -- this isn't working." Merkel is expected decide by the end of the year whether she will run for a fourth term as chancellor in the 2017 general election. 5 people drown in separate incidents Five persons drowned in separate incidents in various parts of the country in the past 24 hours. District of Columbia: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are in a virtual dead heat in their bitter race for the White House on the eve of their first head-to-head presidential debate, a new poll showed Sunday. The Washington Post-ABC News poll found that Clinton's slim margin from last month has now vanished. Instead, the Democrat and her Republican rival tied at 41 percent support among registered voters, with Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson at seven percent and Green Party nominee Jill Stein at two percent. In a two-way match-up, Clinton and Trump each got 46 percent among registered voters. While some other national surveys show Clinton with a lead, poll averages show a low, single-digit margin. Gender, race and education were clear markers between the two candidates. Men back Trump by 54 percent to 55 percent of women who said they support Clinton, the poll showed. Some 53 percent of white voters back Trump, compared to 37 percent for Clinton, while non-white voters back her 69 percent to 19 percent for her Republican rival. Trump is ahead of Clinton by more than four to one among white men without college degrees, a gap that narrows for white women without college degrees and college-educated white men. Among college educated white women, Clinton leads Trump in the poll by 57 percent to 32 percent. The two candidates are still grappling with high negativity among voters. Around 39 percent of registered voters see Clinton favorably, compared to 57 percent who have an unfavorable impression. For Trump, 38 percent had a positive impression and 57 percent a negative one, a rating five points lower than it was prior to the two parties` national conventions in July. While voters find both candidates lacking in honesty overall, Clinton`s ratings were worse, with just 33 percent of voters finding her honest and trustworthy and 66 percent saying she is not. Some 42 percent of voters said Trump was honest and trustworthy, while 53 percent said he was not. Most voters (53 percent) who do not see Trump as qualified to be president, while 58 percent said he lacks the temperament to be an effective president and 55 percent said he lacked the world knowledge required for the job.Meanwhile, Trump threatened Saturday to bringing a former lover of Clinton`s husband Bill Clinton to the debate, one of a series of references he has made to the ex-president`s infidelities. His gibe came after billionaire investor Mark Cuban, a vocal Trump critic who backs Clinton, agreed to sit at the front of the audience for the televised debate, which is expected to shatter audience records with up to 90 million Americans watching. "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!" tweeted Trump, himself a billionaire real estate investor. Further complicating matters, a Twitter account linked to Flowers`s official website said she would attend the highly anticipated showdown -- and suggested she backed Trump. "Hi Donald. You know I`m in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!..." the tweet read, with a kiss emoji at the end. Bill Clinton had an infamous affair with Flowers during his tenure as Arkansas governor that he later admitted under oath. Tikrit: 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. Aleppo: Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded rebel-held east Aleppo on Sunday ahead of a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the worst surge in violence to hit the devastated city in years. Overnight, residents and a monitor reported heavy air raids on the besieged east of the city, which Syria`s army has pledged to retake. The UN Security Council is due to meet later Sunday in an emergency session to discuss the escalating violence, which UN chief Ban Ki-moon described as "chilling". Washington and its European allies meanwhile said the burden was on regime ally Moscow to save a truce that fell apart in the past week. At least 101 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syrian and Russian bombardment of eastern Aleppo since the army announced an operation to take it Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The monitor said at least 17 children were among those killed in the assault, which has included missile strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire. On Saturday night, residents said cluster bombs rained down on eastern parts of the city, where an estimated 250,000 people are living under a government siege. "All night long they were dropping cluster bombs. I couldn`t sleep until four in the morning," said 62-year-old Ahmed Hajar, who was out looking for bread in Al-Kalasseh neighbourhood. "Today the streets of my neighbourhood are full of unexploded cluster bombs. One person was killed when he disturbed one and it exploded," he added. "It tore him apart... it was an awful scene."In the nearby neighbourhood of Bab al-Nayrab, 30-year-old Imad Habush was baking bread in a small wood-burning oven outside his house. "None of the bakeries are open anymore because of the bombing and the shortages of fuel and flour, so people have started making their own bread," he said. "I don`t know why the regime is bombing us in this barbaric way. We`re civilians here, we`re not carrying weapons, and we`re besieged, we have no way to escape." Once Syria`s economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by war and roughly divided since mid-2012 between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. The eastern portion of the city has been under near-continuous siege since mid-July, prompting food and fuel shortages. A truce deal hammered out by Russia and the United States this month was meant to see aid trucked into the east of the city. But the ceasefire fell apart before any assistance was brought in, and the army and its Russian ally have since pounded the eastern neighbourhoods with a force that residents say is virtually unprecedented. More than 300,000 people have been killed and over half the country displaced since the war began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. Successive attempts to reach a political solution have failed, and the latest bid by Moscow and Washington has virtually collapsed, despite ongoing talks to save it.Ban said Saturday he was "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Aleppo, and Britain, France and the United States requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The meeting is scheduled for 1500 GMT, but it was unclear what results it could produce, with Moscow and Washington trading accusations over who is to blame for the ceasefire`s failure. The United States and its European allies said Saturday it was up to Moscow to save the truce. "The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts," read a joint statement from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and European Union. "Patience with Russia`s continued inability or unwillingness to adhere to its commitments is not unlimited," the statement added. But Russia has blamed Washington for the ceasefire`s failure, saying it did not uphold its commitment to ensure moderate rebels distanced themselves from jihadist groups like former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Syria`s foreign minister meanwhile said Saturday that his government was confident of "victory" with support from "true friends" including Russia, Iran, and Lebanon`s Shiite militant group Hezbollah. "Our belief in victory is even greater now that the Syrian Arab army is making great strides in its war against terrorism," he told the UN General Assembly. But on the ground, the army was pushed back from the strategic Handarat camp north of Aleppo city that they captured on Saturday, the Observatory said. Amman: A gunman on Sunday killed prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside a court where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam, state news agency Petra reported. Hattar was struck by three bullets before the assailant was arrested, said Petra. Witnesses told AFP that a man had opened fire in front of the court in Amman`s Abdali district. The 56-year-old Christian was arrested on August 13 after posting a cartoon mocking jihadists on his Facebook account. He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory. Lahore: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a writ petition by JuD chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed seeking to direct the Pakistan government to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council and other international fora. LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali dismissed the petition, observing "the matter raised by the petitioner is?not justifiable before the court and falls?within the domain of politics". The court announced the verdict on Friday which it had reserved last month after hearing arguments from Saeed's counsel A K Dogar. Dogar said Saeed will challenge the verdict in the intra-court. In the petition Saeed said India had been "committing atrocities on Kashmiris and violating the UN resolutions". He alleged that Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and had ruined their daily life. Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, further said India also did not give Kashmiris their right to self-determination. Dogar in his arguments said "(former Prime Minister) Jawaharlal Nehru had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN Security Council and announced that if Kashmiris wanted to go with Pakistan then India would not send its army to Kashmir, however, the Indian government later betrayed its undertaking". Citing different judgements, Dogar said if an issue involves public interest the court can interfere in political and foreign issues. "Indian army is killing innocent Kashmiris but Pakistan government is doing nothing practically except issuing statements," Dogar said. Criticising the LHC verdict, Dogar said the single bench in its dismissal order did not notice that the appellant was seeking enforcement of fundamental right to live with peace and security and without fear of another war with India. "It is the duty of superior courts to practically enforce the provisions of a fundamental right and issue directions to this effect," he said. 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 with both countries hitting out at each other including at the UN General Assembly. Riyadh: The Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen's government has killed a senior Yemeni rebel leader on the border, a source close to the coalition has said. Hassan Almalsi, head of Huthi rebel "special forces", was killed two days earlier "during an infiltration attempt along with his squad at Najran", which borders Yemen, said the source yesterday who asked for anonymity. He said Almalsi held the rank of rebel "major general". The Huthis are allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. In late 2014 they seized Yemen's capital Sanaa before moving into other parts of the country. Saudi Arabia in March 2015 formed an Arab coalition to begin air strikes and ground support for forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who fled to Riyadh. More than 30 civilians have been killed in rebel bombardments of the Najran area since the coalition intervention began. Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its Yemen air campaign. Baltimore (US): A shooting in Baltimore has left eight people injured including a three-year-old girl, police said, adding they are seeking three armed suspects who fled on foot. The shooting occurred Saturday night just a block from where the city held a party earlier yesterday for a special event. Baltimore Police Spokesman T J Smith said none of the injuries was life-threatening and that the victims included a father and his 3-year-old daughter. Smith tweeted that the suspects ran after the shooting and that one of them was armed with a shotgun and the other two had handguns. At the scene, police had at least three blocks cordoned off and were keeping away bystanders and reporters. Police Commissioner Kevin Davis could be seen at the site, talking with detectives. The shooting site is one block from where the city held a party earlier Saturday to dedicate "Open Works," which was described as a co-working space. Authorities didn't not immediately release other details of the shooting and how the injuries occurred. Geneva: Swiss voters approved a new surveillance law on Sunday, in a victory for the government which argued the security services needed enhanced powers in an increasingly volatile world. The proposed law won 65.5 per cent support across the wealthy alpine nation, final results showed. Switzerland's police and intelligence agencies have had limited investigative tools compared to other developed countries- phone tapping and email surveillance were previously banned, regardless of the circumstances. But the new law will change that. The government insisted it was not aiming to set up a vast data-gathering apparatus, similar to the one developed by the US National Security Agency that came into the public eye in part through former contractor Edward Snowden's revelations. "This is not generalised surveillance," lawmaker and Christian Democratic Party vice president Yannick Buttet told public broadcaster RTS as results were coming in. "It's letting the intelligence services do their job," he added. Swiss defence minister Guy Parmelin had said that with the new measures, Switzerland was "leaving the basement and coming up to the ground floor by international standards." Parmelin insisted the Swiss system was not comparable "to the United States or other major powers", who have struggled to find the right balance between privacy and security. Phone or electronic surveillance of a suspect will only be triggered with approval by a federal court, the defence ministry and the cabinet, according to the law. Bern has said these measures would be used only a dozen times a year, to monitor only the highest-priority suspects, especially those implicated in terrorism-related cases. The law was approved by parliament in 2015, but an alliance of opponents, including from the Socialist and Green parties, got enough signatures to force today's referendum. The poll was part of Switzerland's direct democracy system, in which votes are held on a wide range of national issues four times a year, and even more frequently at regional and municipal levels. Just 43 per cent of voters took part in today's poll, a slightly lower mark than recent referenda when flashpoint issues like immigration were on the ballot. United Nations: 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 Saturday 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." Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Afghan security forces have killed one of the top Pakistani Taliban commanders along with at least 10 other militants in a border area operation, sources said Sunday. Raeas Khan, also known as Azam Khan Tariq, had a 20 million rupee ($190,740) bounty on his head and was the fourth-highest ranking commander in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "I confirm the killing of Azam Tariq along with at least 10 other Pakistani Taliban in Paktika province," a senior commander loyal to Tariq told AFP, requesting anonymity. The nature of the operation was unclear, but three sources in the militant group said Tariq and his associates were killed in the Laman area of the Afghan province, which is near Pakistan`s South Waziristan region. Tariq worked as chief TTP spokesman from 2009 until 2013 and was a close aide to former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2013. In 2009 the Pakistani government offered $5 million for information leading to the capture of TTP commanders. Tariq was top of the list as three other commanders had been killed -- either in US drone strikes or in Pakistani military operations. He had been working as spokesman for the Mehsud faction of the TTP prior to his death. Pakistan has demanded that Kabul hand over fugitive TTP chief Maulana Fazlullah, who is reportedly hiding in eastern Afghanistan. Both nations have accused each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability. A sustainable Nepal Instead of relying too much on other countries, Nepal should devise policies to foster self-reliance Amman: Warplanes bombed a strategic camp on the northern edge of Aleppo on Sunday as Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, battled rebels for control of the city as the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the escalating violence. Russia`s support of the latest offensive by Syrian forces since an international ceasefire collapsed last week appears to have buried any hope for diplomacy. The rebels said any peace process would be futile unless the "scorched earth bombing" stopped immediately. Capturing the rebel-held half of Syria`s largest city, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped, would be the biggest victory of the civil war for President Bashar al-Assad`s forces. They have achieved their strongest position in years thanks to Russian and Iranian support and launched a fresh offensive for a decisive battlefield victory on Thursday. In the first major advance, they seized control of the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp, north of Aleppo. Rebels counter attacked and said on Sunday they had retaken the camp before the bombing started. "We retook the camp, but the regime burnt it with phosphorous bombs," said Abu al-Hassanien, a commander in a rebel operations room that includes the main brigades fighting to repel the army assault. The army, which is being helped by Iranian-backed militias, Lebanon`s Shi`ite Hezbollah militant group and a Palestinian militia, acknowledged rebels had retaken Handarat. "The Syrian army is targeting the armed groups` positions in Handarat camp," a military source was quoted on state media as saying. Planes also continued to pound residential areas on Sunday, flattening buildings, rebels and residents said. They say air strikes have intensified, with more powerful weapons, since the new offensive began. "The Assad regime and with direct participation of its ally Russia and Iranian militias has escalated its criminal and vicious attack on our people in Aleppo employing a scorched earth policy to destroy the city and uproot its people," a statement signed by 30 mainstream rebel groups said on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said at least 45 people, among them 10 children, were killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday. The army says it is targeting only militants. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the civil war and 11 million driven from their homes. Russia and the United States agreed on September 9 a deal to put the peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce and improved humanitarian aid access but it collapsed when an aid convoy was bombed killing some 20 people. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who hammered out the truce in months of intensive diplomacy, pleaded with Russia to halt air strikes. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia was guilty of prolonging the war in Syria and may have committed war crimes by targeting an aid convoy. "We should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets, that is a war crime," he said in a BBC interview aired on Sunday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called on Russia and Iran to stop the "dead-end strategy" in Syria, "otherwise, Russia and Iran will become accomplices of the war crimes committed in Aleppo". Sunday`s United Nations meeting was called by the United States, Britain and France. The rebels said in their statement they could not accept Russia, a member of the U.N. Security Council, as a sponsor of a new peace initiative "because it was a partner with the regime in its crimes against our people". It said Russian-backed Syrian forces were using napalm and chemical weapons without censure from the international community. U.N. investigators are looking into the alleged use of the incendiary weapons phosphorus and napalm in several cities. The war has ground on for nearly six years, drawing in world powers and regional states. Islamic State - the enemy of every other party to the conflict - has seized swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq. All diplomatic efforts have collapsed. World powers appeared to believe that neither Assad nor his opponents were capable of decisive victory on the battlefield. But Russia`s apparent decision to abandon the latest peace process could signal it now thinks that victory is in reach, at least in the western cities where the 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 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 said on Saturday rebels, including the jihadist Jund al-Aqsa group, had seized two villages in northern Hama province, an area that is 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. 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". Washington DC: Who is going to win? Who is going to choke? The pressure is intense for Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton -- phenomenally different candidates -- who clash in their first debate on Monday. Stakes are as high as they get since there are just six weeks until the November 8 election. Polls show a close race, with Clinton, 68, enjoying an edge. As many as 90 million Americans, some estimate, will be glued to their television to catch the showdown. Many analysts say debates usually don`t win a candidate the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence, or the slightest slip, can do serious damage. Plenty of American voters will have made a decision by now, to be sure. Most have. But nine percent by some estimates still don`t know who to vote for, after a long campaign in which bitter attacks have often replaced substance. And this year has been like none in the past, with Trump, 70, using social media around the clock in combative fashion, while often making mistakes, misstatements and blunders without troubling his base.On Saturday, the New York Times endorsed Clinton, who ahead of the debates has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practicing with relatives playing Trump. She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can`t control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs. If he reacts by attacking, Trump also risks losing women`s votes; he already has a harder time with women voters, and they make up 53 percent of those who turn out. And any slip is sure to be a TV news sound bite. Clinton`s campaign released a long list of lies it attributes to Donald Trump ahead of the debate. Trump in turn says preparations are "going very well," trying to at least appear relaxed. Friday he won the endorsement of former conservative rival Senator Ted Cruz. Trump took Friday to prepare, and still had to work Sunday on the debate. But he continues with campaign rallies on other days, including Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia. Trump seems unwilling to train with a Hillary stand-in. But he has watched videos of his opponent in previous debates. Supporters in Roanoke said they hoped Trump could keep his cool. "I expect him to be more presidential but still tough," said Amanda Phillips, 36, and a social worker. She said she was "not 100 percent for the wall (with Mexico), and hopes Trump will be "more humane and not too hardcore."Clinton, making her second presidential bid, is an old hand at debates and considered solid. In some ways, she may have more to lose. After almost 40 years of public service, she is very well versed on the issues, and 88 percent of Americans believe she is smart. But 65 percent say they do not find her honest. And 52 percent have a negative opinion of a woman they see as cerebral, distant or cold. Her image has been sullied by Trump attacks over her email scandal, the Clinton Foundation`s alleged pay-to-play donations, and her ties to Wall Street. "Be yourself and explain what motivates you," President Barack Obama suggested to his former secretary of state, who as president would carry on the legacy of his two administrations. Runningmate Tim Kaine has said of Clinton: "When the spotlights are at the brightest and the pressure is the most intense, that`s when she brings her A-plus game." Trump has not yet experienced a presidential debate: 90 minutes of intense questioning, with only one opponent and a moderator, who on Monday will be NBC news anchor Lester Holt. But that does not worry the former reality TV star. He is good on his feet, and unpredictable, more comfortable in the limelight than on issues. He has promised to be "very respectful" with Clinton. Trump is still perceived more negatively than Clinton: 61 percent of Americans have a negative view of him, many saying they are put off by his personality and aggressiveness. Washington: The suspect in a shooting at a Washington state mall that killed five persons dead was caught, police said. The Washington State Patrol said in statement that on Saturday evening at around 7.15 p.m., the gunman who opened fire on Friday in the Cascade Mall, Burlington was in custody. The patrol said more details of the gunman would be released later, NBC News reported. According to the statement, a 20-year-old was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, a city about 28 miles southwest of Burlington. Five victims - four females and a male - were killed after a gunman described as wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts opened fire inside a Macy's department store in the mall. Security footage showed the man entering the mall. In additional footage from about 10 minutes later, he "entered Macy's with a rifle and fired multiple times", police said. The four female victims were pronounced dead on Friday night, and the male victim was taken to a hospital where later succumbed to injuries. ACORAB inspects Radio Dhading building Representatives of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal (ACORAB) inspected the damaged building of Radio Dhading, a community broadcaster, in Neelkantha Municipality on Saturday. In a few short bursts of gunfire, Tamma Joyce lost contact with her family and her future. It was evening and quiet in a small town called Lainya in southwestern South Sudan. Suddenly, gunshots broke out. "People just scattered," the 19-year-old said. She was in town. Her parents were at the house a few kilometres away, close to the lush teak forests for which the area is known. "When I rushed home, I couldn't find them," she said. Frantic to flee the fighting, Joyce packed a small black backpack full of clothes, grabbed her little red cellphone and left her family home behind in early September. Calls to her parents' phones went unanswered. She didn't know whether they had made it safely into the bush. Whether they had been injured. Whether they were still alive. She still doesn't know. For three days Joyce walked along the dusty and bumpy Yei road, through forests, toward Juba, South Sudan's capital city. The road is known for its insecurity: buses are regularly ambushed, people robbed and sometimes killed. Joyce joined other people also fleeing the violence. Together, the strangers walked, eating nothing along way. Once in Juba, Joyce used the small amount of money she had with her to purchase a bus ticket to the Ugandan border. Despite a ceasefire agreement in July, attacks have continued in some parts of the country, particularly in the southwestern region near Yei and Lainya, sparked by fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer. Joyce is one of more than 100,000 people from South Sudan who have crossed into Uganda since then. It's estimated about 4,000 people a day are streaming across the border. Many of them head to the Elegu Collection Centre, run by the Ugandan government and the UN. It's a few metres from the bridge that divides the two countries. Those claiming refugee status are directed to the gates, where their belongings are searched for weapons. Then they are processed: medically screened, vaccinated, fingerprinted and fitted with plastic wristbands: usually white ones for those with special needs, such as those who are disabled, pregnant, or sick, and yellow for the rest. On days when supplies of wristbands are low, the code is reversed. Story continues The fingerprinting is part of a daily challenge to stamp out "recyclers" refugees who have already registered at a camp and are back at the border hoping to get more food and supplies for their families. In some cases, the recyclers are young children, sent by desperate parents hoping their son or daughter will be registered as an unaccompanied child and given food. Aid agencies overwhelmed The unexpected flood of refugees has overwhelmed the Ugandan government and the UN, as well as the agencies they contract to run services on their behalf. "The situation has drastically changed, particularly with the influx we have been observing the last few weeks," said Jesse Kamstra, country representative for Uganda and Burundi with the Lutheran World Federation's department of world service. Kamstra is in Ottawa this week to request more support from the Canadian government. The LWF provides supplies and services to refugees at the collection centre and in many of the refugee camps. That includes identifying and counselling people suffering from trauma, and providing items like sanitary pads, soap and the high-energy biscuits refugees receive on arrival. "The majority are coming by foot, having walked many days," he said. "The nutritional status of the people particularly those under five is becoming concerning." He's hoping Canada will double its contribution. He also wants Canada's government to advocate for an arms embargo and put political pressure on the two warring parties. Right now, the LWF is using $1.1 million donated by the Canadian government to provide refugees with supplies like jerry cans, basins, hand-washing containers, underwear and laundry soap, and to train them in farming and construction. The LWF also works to help refugees build shelters and latrines, especially for vulnerable households fostering orphans and for children who've been separated from their parents, like Joyce. 'I just hope we are reunited' She was studying in Kampala, about to finish secondary school. But without her parents, she can't afford the school fees. She has to drop out. Now, she's standing with other refugees waiting to board a bus to Bidibidi refugee camp. Before July, there was no camp in that part of northwestern Uganda. Now there are nearly 50,000 people there. Joyce will get a plot of land and tools to help her build a house of mud and sticks. The yellow wristband around her right wrist looks much like the kind a teenager in Canada would wear to attend a concert or visit an amusement park. But Joyce's bracelet bears the ID number 0964520 and the logo of the UN's refugee agency. For Joyce, it's a symbol her refugee application was accepted. Each day, she tries to call her parents. Her calls are directed to an automated message. She hopes they made it to another camp in Uganda. She hopes to spot them on one of the photo boards of refugees seeking their lost loved ones. She wants to find her family. She wants to go back to school. She wants things to go back to the way they were. "I keep hoping to see them," she says. "I feel very bad. I just hope we are reunited." Seoul (AFP) - Exploding batteries and an embarrassing recall of a flagship gadget during a controversial, closely-watched leadership transition -- it's been a bad year for Samsung, and analysts warn the trouble isn't over yet. With ever-fiercer competition in the saturated smartphone market, South Korea's biggest firm is desperate to avoid a full-blown disaster that could cost billions, hammer its reputation and taint its new leadership. Just weeks after the early roll out of the Galaxy Note 7 "phablet", the world's largest maker of smartphones was forced to recall 2.5 million units globally following complaints its battery exploded while charging. "Samsung appears to have rushed fast to roll out the Note 7 with the iPhone 7 in mind... and it is paying a hefty price now," said Greg Roh, analyst at Seoul-based HMC Investment & Securities. With images of charred phones flooding social media, the unprecedented recall was a humiliation for a firm that prides itself as an icon of innovation and quality -- and the timing of the crisis could not be worse. The Note 7 was meant to underpin growth this year as Samsung struggles to boost sales, squeezed by Apple in the high-end sector and Chinese rivals in the low-end market, as profit has stagnated. One bright spot this year was the flagship handset Galaxy S7, which earned rave reviews and boosted operating profit to a two-year high in the second quarter. The Note 7 was crucial to sustaining that momentum. The recall, currently underway in 10 nations, could cost the firm $3 billion in the long run, some analysts say, while Roh warned the fallout could significantly hurt profit for months. The crisis has also shaved $15 billion off its market value since late August, when the firm's share price hit the highest point so far this year. While unconnected, Samsung said last week it had sold shares in four technology companies to free up money, in a move it said was "aimed at focusing on our core business". Story continues - 'Crucial test' for new leader - Samsung and its sister firms have in recent years divested from non-core operations as the parent Samsung Group sought to streamline business amid a generational power transfer in the founding Lee family. The group wants to nurture public support ahead of the controversial, closely-watched handover amid lingering questions about the leadership credentials of the Lee family's scion and an overall lack of transparency in governance. Lee Kun-Hee, the head of Samsung Electronics as well as the parent Samsung Group, has been bedridden since suffering a heart attack in 2014 with his 48-year-old son, J.Y. Lee, presumed to take over. The junior Lee, currently vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was nominated two weeks ago as the firm's new board member, cementing his grip on power. Senior Lee is largely credited with turning the once-obscure firm into a global giant, but less is known about his son who has kept a relatively low profile while rising the ranks. "J.Y. Lee has a lot to prove as all eyes are on him, and the recall crisis would be a crucial test for him," said Wi Pyoung Ryang, analyst at the Economic Research Reform Institute in Seoul. Industry experts have criticised the Lee dynasty for controlling the vast group through a complex web of cross shareholdings, although they only directly own about five percent of total stocks. Samsung and other family-run conglomerates, or "chaebol," have played a major role in South Korea's stellar growth for past decades. But the families have come under growing public criticism for controlling and running their businesses with minimum scrutiny by investors or regulators. "It's a tough and crucial time for Samsung, and its new leader has his work cut out," Wi said. - Damaged goods - As the recall threatens to drag on, it is unclear how long the crisis -- and the risk of more explosions -- would plague the firm, said Lee Seung-Woo, analyst at IBK Investment & Securities. Since Samsung started rolling out replacements last week, half a million users in the US have exchanged handsets. About a half of 420,000 South Korean users reportedly have done so, but some are complaining of delayed delivery of new phones. While the financial hit will likely be huge, a bigger worry for the firm is the effect on the Samsung name, said Linda Sui, analyst at market research firm Strategy Analytics. "In addition to material loss by revenue and profitability, potential damage on brand image and consumer confidence is even worse and hard to fix up in the short term," she said. "The Korean giant is facing a tough time now," she said, warning of "falling fortune and tough competition" until it rolls out another flagship model next year. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sep 21, 2016) - Millennial Lithium Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ML), ("Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the filing on SEDAR of its NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report related to its Pastos Grandes Properties in Salta, Argentina (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report is titled "Technical Report on the Pastos Grandes Project, Salta Province, Argentina, Prepared for Millennial Lithium Corp." and dated September 14, 2016. The Technical Report references the Pastos Grandes Project which is strategically located within the Argentine portion of the "Lithium Triangle", which is host to some of the world's largest lithium resources. The Project is approximately 1200 hectares in size and ideally situated in the center of the Pastos Grandes Salar in Salta, Argentina. Previous work identified in the report indicates the Pastos Grandes Salar exhibits significant lithium and potassium brines. The report presents information on historical exploration results including surface geochemical sampling, Magnetolluric (MT) surveying, CSAMT, vertical electrical sounding (VES) geophysical surveying and 4 pumping wells testing and measuring brine flows in aquifers in the salar. This news release has been reviewed by Brent Butler, director, qualified person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101. MILLENNIAL LITHIUM CORP. Graham Harris Chairman NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 an applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$, fluctuations in the market for lithium, changes in exploration costs and government royalties or taxes in Argentina and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Israel Project today commended California Gov. Jerry Brown for signing a bill that combats discrimination. The bill, AB 2844, passed in the California State Senate on August 24th and in the State Assembly on August 30th with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation prohibits state contractors from violating civil rights through the boycotting of sovereign nations that are recognized by the United States. By signing this bill, Gov. Jerry Brown is upholding the civil rights laws that are the backbone of American society, said The Israel Project CEO and President Josh Block. We thank him for taking this stand and ensuring that prejudiced and hateful boycotts are not funded by taxpayer dollars. Similar legislation to ban discriminatory boycotting has been enacted in more than a dozen states around the country. About The Israel Project The Israel Project (TIP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization that provides factual information about Israel and the Middle East to the press, policymakers and the public. Founded in 2003, TIP works in multiple languages to provide real-time background information, images, maps, audio, video, graphics and direct access to newsmakers. To learn more about TIP, visit http://www.theisraelproject.org. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Engineers call off strike Engineers mobilised by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) in earthquake-affected districts to support the reconstruction works have called off their strike after the NRA decided to address their concerns. Hearing on Adhikari's murder case begins The District Court Chitwan began hearing on the case relating to the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Fujel, Gorkha, on Sunday. High returns lure many into cardamom farming High prices and strong export demand have attracted farmers of Sindhupalchowk district towards large cardamom farming. Hope against hope Nepals dream of development may materialise if major parties agree on national goals and priorities This blog is totally independent, unpaid and has only three major objectives. The first is to inform readers of news and happenings in the e-Health domain, both here in Australia and world-wide. The second is to provide commentary on e-Health in Australia and to foster improvement where I can. The third is to encourage discussion of the matters raised in the blog so hopefully readers can get a balanced view of what is really happening and what successes are being achieved. India has softened its position on Nepal India has softened its position on Nepal and the new constitution, indirectly welcoming the statute it had only noted a year ago, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said. Jeep carrying ex Home Minister Ghimire tumbles into Trishuli, 3 bodies retrieved A jeep carrying seven people including former Home Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire has plunged into the Trishuli river in Chitwan district at around 4 pm Sunday. Mahat meets UN chief Ban Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is attending the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, has met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the event in New York. Editors' pick: Originally published Sept. 23. It's not going to be easy for Deutsche Bank (DB) to tear up the recent $14 billion civil charges levied by the Justice Department: Its role in the never-ending "Big Short" saga is not as minor as some of its banking peers. The DoJ did not comment when asked by Real Money for details about the amount and did not yet put out a statement, so investors now have to rely what information is publicly available on the issue. In repudiating the DoJ's hefty penalty, the struggling German bank said last week that it has "no intent" to pay "anywhere near" the proposed figure for its part in issuing, distributing and securitizing residential mortgage-backed securities between 2005 and 2007. But a history of similar settlements suggests forming a convincing counteroffer will be difficult. Deutsche Bank insiders quoted by The Financial Times have said the bank hopes it will be treated like Goldman Sachs (GS) , which ended up paying only about $5 billion, a slap on the wrist compared to the $16.6 billion and $13 billion that Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan (JPM) were forced to shell out, respectively. (Citigroup (C) and Morgan Stanley (MS) also arrived at comparatively small settlements, of $7 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively.) The $14 billion punch could sure be crippling for Deutsche Bank shareholders, who've already seen almost half of the struggling bank's market cap vanish so far in 2016. After all, Deutsche Bank has put aside for litigation reserves only about 5.5 billion euros, or $6.1 billion, analysts with Toronto-based rating agency DBRS recently estimated. And the bank's total market cap is currently around just about $18 billion. Any attempt to get Goldman-like treatment could be tricky. In the pre-crisis housing market, Deutsche Bank appears to have been printing far more collateralized debt obligations. Deutsche created about $42.5 billion worth of the debt packages vs. about $25 billion by Goldman in 2007 alone, according to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, which cited data compiled by Thomson Reuters. (Meanwhile, according to the report, Bank of America and JPMorgan issued about $65.5 billion and $44.3 billion in CDOs, respectively, over the period.) CDOs are bundles of asset-backed securities, in this case by residential mortgages. Originally designed to spread and reduce risk, instead they contributed to the financial crisis because investors were unable to assess the underlying assets when the housing market turned downward. The fact that Deutsche Bank issued more of them than Goldman in the year when the credit crunch started seems to suggest a deeper role for the German bank. Deutsche Bank representatives contacted by Real Money did not comment. One of the striking similarities between the two banks is that they appear to have both allowed hedge fund billionaire John Paulson to bet against the housing market while promoting the market to clients. However, the Journal noted "a key difference" in their report: "Goldman told investors that the assets were picked by an independent third party; Deutsche didn't use a third party or give its investors any assurances." Both Goldman and Deutsche Bank were also market-makers for traders interested in shorting the housing market more broadly, as they acted in that capacity through the ABX credit-default index that was dramatized in both Michael Lewis's book The Big Short as well as the eponymous 2015 film, in which Ryan Gosling starred as a character based on the Deutsche Bank banker Greg Lippman, who helped establish the index. Other major investment banks that helped create the ABX index included Bank of America, Barclays (BCS) and Credit Suisse (CS) , among others. Another hurdle could be that Deutsche Bank is already under U.S. scrutiny, after having failed Federal Reserve stress tests, along with Santander (SAN) , in June, in which the central bank objected to "capital plans" because of "broad and substantial weaknesses across their capital planning processes, and insufficient progress these firms have made toward correcting those weaknesses." One way in which Deutsche Bank could end up paying less is if politics trumps business in this case. As Real Money's Antonia Oprita noted in a recent report, the fine could result in a U.S.-European Union political standoff that could ultimately result in a lesser DoJ penalty for Deutsche Bank. Editor's Note: This article was originally published at 3:07 p.m. EDT on Real Money on Sept. 22. Employees of TheStreet are restricted from owning individual securities. Cybercrime attacks are becoming increasingly rampant, especially in Singapore and Asia Pacific as a whole. This is largely due to the widespread use of digital banking Singapore reputedly the highest in Asia and the fact that many major multinationals have Asian headquarters in Singapore. Violence, housebreaking and other related crimes in Singapore dropped to a 20-year low in 2015, but online commercial crimes skyrocketed 95% to 3,759 cases, up from 1,929 cases. Additionally, a total of 33,608 cases were recorded last year, up from 32,315 cases in 2014, and this is despite many cybercrimes going unreported. According to Check Point, one of the biggest cyber-security firms globally, there has been a tenfold increase in Locky ransomware attacks, just one type of ransomware, on companies in Asia Pacific in just three months. This number jumped from 160 attacks in April to a whopping 1667 attacks in July 2016. Lawmakers have tabled a new cybersecurity law for Singapores Parliament in 2017. The proposed bill comes from the Minister for Communications and Information, Yaacob Ibrahim, and will primarily aim to ensure that critical information infrastructure is secured, and incidents are accurately reported by operators. The bill comes as part of a rising need to tackle more sophisticated attacks from faster and bolder aggressors. Speaking on the subject of direct cyber attacks on Singapore, Yaacob said, It is inevitable that Singapores critical information infrastructure will become targets. The interconnectivity in our networks also means that the effects of cyber attacks can be contagious. The Minister claims the new bill will work in tandem with the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act. That Act, which was revised in 2007, allows for simpler investigation and prosecution of those behind cybercrime. The new standalone cybercrime Act should help improve compliance and basic standards requirements, and bring Singapore more in line with Germany and the US, which have both passed recent legislation for critical infrastructure operators. Yaacob has stated that similar legislation (to that of Germany and the US) for Singapore would empower the relevant authorities to better manage cyber security, and obviously the enactment of such a bill would propel Singapore forward in its mission to become a Smart Nation. Earlier this year, Singapores Cyber Security Agency carried out its first practice exercise drill to coincide with the opening of its Cyber Forensics Laboratory. The drill involved staging a major cybersecurity incident including a security breach, data leak, and malware infection, all of which could potentially bring down multiple systems. More than 100 companies and a number of government agencies took part. Banking and finance were represented by key Singapore institutions ranging from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to DBS Bank. Telecoms is another sector especially vulnerable to cyber attack, and last month Singtel, Singapores biggest telecoms operator, announced they would be partnering with the Singapore Institute of Technology to train the brightest new talent in cybersecurity. This follows in the wake of Singtels acquisition in late 2015 of Trustwave, a provider of managed security. Clearly the widespread adoption of significantly enhanced cybersecurity measures is on the cards in Singapore. Earlier this year it was announced civil servants would no longer be able to access the internet from their work computers as of May 2017, owing to the current lack of cybersecurity in government offices. The controversial decision is now backed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as the head of the Smart Nation initiative, Vivian Balakrishnan. However, despite such drastic steps, the Singapore Government is keen to stress it has not fallen behind in its efforts to thwart cyber attacks. Rather, according to Yaacob, this is the first step in securing the necessary foundation for a successful digital economy." Given the recent massive data breach from the Office of Personal Management in the US, which resulted in the theft of social security numbers, mobile phones, and other data from an estimated 22 million people, perhaps the Singapore approach at this stage makes quite a lot of sense. Cybercrime is definitely a clear and present danger. (By Sarah Thorp) Related Articles - Cybersecurity: a high growth industry - Singapore data centres a bright growth spot - Singapore biopharma industry makes significant strides When he booked his tour, Swiss lawyer Rafael Studer hadn't seriously considered the option of jumping out of a Russian-made helicopter at 2,000 meters strapped to a North Korean soldier. "It wasn't really part of the plan," the 27-year-old admitted after landing his tandem parachute jump at North Korea's first aviation show held in the eastern port city of Wonsan. The two-day festival was part of efforts by the sanctions-strapped and diplomatically isolated country to boost hard-currency tourism in the Wonsan region. Coming just weeks after the North conducted its fifth nuclear test, triggering global condemnation and the threat of fresh sanctions, the show drew several hundred foreign aviation enthusiasts who paid for brief flights in Soviet-era aircraft. So it was that Studer found himself half-hanging out the door of a Mil Mi-8 helicopter, 2,000 metres above the newly-renovated and upgraded Wonsan airport, strapped to a North Korean military parachutist. "There was a 'what the hell am I doing moment' and then we jumped. Terrifying at first, but then surprisingly enjoyable," he said. Studer landed gently, unlike Dutch flight instructor Niels Linthout, who landed barefoot -- "I lost my flip-flops" -- and face down underneath his tandem partner, much to the amusement of the large crowd. A number of foreign professional skydivers took part in the show, including American Douglas Jaques, a 68-year-old veteran of more than 11,400 jumps. The US State Department strongly advises US citizens against travelling to North Korea in any capacity, citing a "serious risk of arrest and long-term detention." In March this year, an American student Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years hard labour for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from a hotel. Jacques said the travel advisory had given him "pause for thought" but the prospect of skydiving "in the most exotic location I could think of" had proved too shiny a lure. "It's like the warning on a drug label," he said of the State Department warning. "They have to cover the worst-case scenario." Story continues Jacques and fellow pro-skydiver Klaus Renz from Germany said the equipment used by the North Korean parachutists was generally high quality. "The canopy designs are copies, but they're good copies," said Renz. "They seem very well organised." Later in the day, a tour of air force fighter jets on the airport runway saw North Korean officials jostling for a photo-op with the country's two first women fighter pilots, Rim Sol and Jo Kum-Hyang, as they posed with an ageing MiG-21. The two women shot to national fame last year when leader Kim Jong-Un dubbed them "flowers of the sky" after watching one of their training sessions. The many guests of the event included representatives of the Vietnamese government, ambassadors of foreign countries, various business organizations, literati and the media. The chef behind all the Russian dishes was Anton Nosikov, who is also a personal chef to the Russian ambassador. Speaking at the opening of the event, the Ambassador of Russia to Vietnam, Konstantin Vnukov, noted that Russia is not only politically and economically strong but it also has diverse cultures and ethnic groups, each of which carrying a unique culinary tradition of its own. According to the agencys Tuesday report, up to 21 percent of Chinas loan pool is non-performing loans, (NPLs) which means debtors are struggling to make the repayments. At the same time, only 1.8 percent of loans were classified as bad ones by state authorities last June. Moreover, Beijings reliance on credit growth for providing near-term GDP increase could exacerbate existing problems, Fitch stressed, as it will increase the size of asset-quality problems in the financial system. "There seems a high likelihood that banks' NPL ratios will continue rising over the medium term, in light of this discrepancy, the report stated. There are already signs of stress, most obviously in the increased frequency with which banks are writing off or offloading loans, such as those to asset-management companies. MOSCOW (Sputnik) At least three people died and six were injured when a crossing bridge fell down on three cars in South Jakarta, Indonesia, media reported Sunday. Nine victims were taken to the hospital with three succumbing to their wounds, Jakarta Globe said, citing a report from the Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency. Fire brigades, police and ambulances have arrived on site with the police closing down the underpass and redirecting traffic. MOSCOW (Sputnik) No militant group has taken responsibility for the attack attempt. "The group had planned to launch a terrorist attack in Paktika province. Afghan National Security Forces confiscated one suicide vest, three AK-47 rifles, two pistols, five radio handsets, one explosives laden vehicle and some amount of light and heavy round of ammunition," the press release read adding, that at least nine militants were killed. Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with government forces fighting the continuing Taliban insurgency, while other extremist groups, such as Daesh terrorists have also expanded their activities both in the country and in neighboring states. NAC board okays plan to procure 2 wide-body jets The national flag bearer plans to add the first of the two proposed jets by Sept and another six months later Mending bilateral ties could be one of the high points of Mr. Dutertes visit to China. Despite the ongoing conflict in the South China Sea all the ten ASEAN countries are on good terms with Beijing and their leaders see closer ties with China as key to solving their countries economic and social problems, Professor Shen said. Moscow University expert Alexei Fenenko said that the territorial issue could take center stage during the Philippine presidents visit to Beijing. China sees the Philippines as one of its biggest adversaries in the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea, and I believe that during their meeting Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping will try to minimize the risk of a military confrontation between their two countries. Such a possibility was very high in 2013 and I believe that the Chinese president will be trying to make sure that Manila refrains from doing anything that could provoke a military showdown, Fenenko said. After the Philippines started buying advanced warships from the US Beijing started contemplating a preventive strike to destroy them, he added. Washington sees the Philippines as the main element of the anti-China alliance it is now cobbling together to offset Beijings rising clout in the Asia-Pacific region. Manila, for its part, is staking on military cooperation with the US in its ongoing territorial dispute with China. In early September Rodrigo Duterte called his US colleague Barack Obama a son of a bitch, after Obama spoke about the loss of over 2,000 lives during the war on drugs initiated by the Philippine president. Moscow-based political scientist Vladimir Yevseyev said that even though Barack Obama will leave the White House in November, the Americans will not forgive such badmouthing of their president. The US never forgives anything; it respects force and only force. Thats why, by accusing Washington of meddling with his countrys affairs, the Philippine president actually gave them a reason to topple him, Yevseyev said. He added that with bridges with America now all burned, President Duterte had no option left to him other than to seek help from China. I think the Chinese are already using their big leverage in Manila to gradually squeeze out the Americans. Now it all depends on how long [President Dutarte] is going to stay in power because the US will apparently be trying hard to destabilize the situation and get rid of him. This is why [Duterte] needs Beijings support, and I think this is why he is going to China, Vladimir Yevseyev emphasized. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) immediately denounced the deployment calling it a threat and saying it raises the stakes over a longstanding territorial dispute between the two countries. The BrahMos "missile with updated capabilities for stealth and mountain warfare could threaten Yunnan and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) provinces, located across the border from Arunachal Pradesh," said the Peoples Liberation Army in a statement while a state-run media editorial said the move was "beyond Indias normal need for self-defense. Playing tricks, they are bound to suffer the consequences." Also on Sunday, China conducted routine patrols in the so-called Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, which Beijing established in 2013. Upon flying into ADIZ any aircraft is supposed to identify itself with the Chinese authorities. To carefully monitor and judge the foreign military aircraft entering the zone, China began patrols in the area, so it could also respond to different threats in the sky and to protect national airspace," according to military. Regular long range drills in the Western Pacific and patrols over the East China Sea air defense identification zone were for the Air Force to protect China's sovereignty and national security, China's air force spokesman Shen Jinke said, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Defense website. The news comes as tensions over territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas are escalating. Some analysts suggest that Chinas latest drills is a message to Tokyo, which has recently declared it is ready to participate in patrols in the South China Sea. It is a warning from Beijing to Japan: if you are coming to meddle in the South China Sea, then Im going to flex my muscles at your doorstep, Macau-based military analyst Antony Wong Dong said to the South China Morning Post. Recently the relations between China and Japan soured because their standoff over the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which they both consider a sovereign territory. In April, major oil-producing states failed to reach an output-freezing agreement in Doha , Qatar. Saudi Arabia, which had previously said that it would freeze output only if Iran followed suit, cited Tehrans absence from the talks as a reason for not supporting an output freeze. The output freeze idea was floated as a means to counter the ongoing global oil oversupply which has caused prices to plummet from over $100 per barrel to less than $50 per barrel. Russia Has No Proposals From Oil Producing States on Decline in Production Russia has not received any proposals from oil exporting countries to decrease the oil production in order to balance the market, the Russian energy minister said. "Nobody has put forward such proposals to us. These are, probably, individual statements. We should gather all together and discuss it." The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reportedly wants to hold an informal meeting with non-OPEC oil producers, such as Russia, on how to stabilize the market. The offer price reached 106.75 percent from the issuance, which accounts for an annual yield of 3.9 percent. "The issuance was successful. Initially, 106 percent was expected but high demand allowed for improving the borrowing terms. By the time the order book was closed demand was six times higher than supply, reaching over $7.5 billion," Alexander Losev, CEO at Sputnik-Capital Management, told RBK. The bonds were issued exclusively for foreign investors. Market players noted that the ministry picked up a very lucky time for the issuance and offered a discount to attract more investors. "The ministry chose the right time to issue Eurobonds because currently the yield on Russian obligations is extremely low," Anton Kiryukhin from Rosbank said. Although the meeting in Algiers is being dubbed informal, the talks may be transformed into an extraordinary official session depending on the progress of discussion, since all 14 OPEC ministers will be present, Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa previously said. Thus, some sort of an agreement is possible to be reached, as many oil producers are rather desperate at the curent oil price levels, Imsirovic added. "I think this time it is more hopeful that they will come closer to freeze the production because Saudi Arabias output is already in record high and Iran is also closer to their pre-sanction level," Xiaoyi Mu, Senior Lecturer in Energy Economics at the Center for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, told Sputnik. However, the nature of the output-freezing agreement, which could last one year according to the OPEC chief, and its implementation would be more important than simply reaching the deal, Nakhle noted. "There are currently several strong forces at work in the global oil market which may limit the outcome of any potential deal in terms of shoring prices up: inventories are at record high, additional supplies are expected to come on stream including from within OPEC, then there is the US shale reaction, and on the demand side, the outlook is still rather shaky," she added. Nevertheless, with oil prices slightly recovering in 2016, the market is already balancing out and prices may increase with or without any agreement from OPEC and major oil producers, Imsirovic argued. Even if the IEF participants reach some kind of consensus on stemming oil production, it is doubtful to significantly impact the current oil prices, according to Xiaoyi Mu. "Depending on how you define 'stablize', the history has it that even when they agree to cut production, they may not follow. I am not optimistic that the price will be stabilized at a significantly higher level because of the deal," Xiaoyi Mu warned. BELGRADE (Sputnik) Serbia cannot be satisfied with the results of a migration summit in Vienna as no specific solutions have been voiced, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said Saturday. I cannot say that Serbia can be satisfied with the summit as we have not heard any specific solutions, Stefanovic said as quoted by the Tanjug news agency. According to the minister, Serbia has received less money to deal with the refugee crisis in comparison with other countries located along the Balkan route. Republika Srpska is one of the two autonomous entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the other is the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their relations are largely affected by the civil war among Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Croatians in 1992-1995. Republika Srpska does not agree to celebrate the national day of Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 1, for on that day in 1992 the Bosnian parliament proclaimed the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina without the presence of Bosnian Serbs. Republika Srpska believes that Bosnia and Herzegovina could block the decision of the referendum, which would be a violation of the Dayton Agreement that ended the Bosnian War. Bill Clark, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen, told reporters on the day: Sheep driving is a tradition rooted in more than 800 years of history. London Bridge was, in medieval times, the only crossing of the Thames and the sole route into the City for trading. As a Freeman of the City of London, you were not only allowed to trade without paying taxes but also granted the right to bring the tools of your trade into the City itself. These days, the City trades more in stocks and shares than lamb and wool, but todays event enables us to reconnect with the past, and underlines Londons historic and continuing preeminence in world trade," he said. Former Formula One Racing Driver Nigel Mansell told reporters: Having become a Freeman of the City last September, I am thrilled to be taking part in this unique event this year. I am looking forward to a somewhat slower paced drive than my career has previously provided! During the unique sheep crossing, ten sheep at one time walked across the bridge by successive groups of Freemen as well as their friends and family members. Many participants displayed fancy dress outfits including nursery character Little Bo Peep as well as being dressed up as shepherds and sheep themselves. There were a total of twenty real sheep that had been provided by a Bedfordshire-based farmer for the day, and people travelled from all over the UK to take part in the days celebrations. VIENNA (Sputnik) The explosion that hit center of Hungarian capital late on Saturday was directed at police officers, Hungarys national police chief Karoly Papp said Sunday. "Police patrols were the target of explosion, which occurred on Saturday on the Boulevard Teresa," Papp told journalists. The final incentive of the deed would be clear after the person guilty of explosion is captured, police chief added. NAMS senate decides to change name A senate meeting of the National Academy of Medical Sciences on Saturday decided to change its name to Manmohan Memorial National Academy of Medical Sciences (MMNAMS) in a move that could settle the row over the Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS). MOSCOW (Sputnik) With 41 percent of population having participated in the Sunday vote, 65.5 percent cast their ballots for the law that would sanction private communications surveillance, including mail and telephone, installment of "Trojan horse" computer programs, cameras and microphones as well as other measures. According to the Swiss authorities, the intelligence services would only be able to monitor and record private communications if they could properly justify such a necessity. The Swiss Federal Council had earlier recommended the citizens to vote in favour of the bill. The idea of the book was born when Casado started to perceive the contrast between the real Venezuela and its image presented by the media. According to Casado, the global media often distorts reality, presenting it as "truth" to most of the public. The expert explains this phenomenon by several factors. First of all, the analyst says that the ideological confrontation between the media and the idea of "socialism of the XXI century" is logical and inevitable, given the fact that "big media are companies, the main motivation of which is profit." MOSCOW (Sputnik) At least eight people are dead, nine suffered injuries as a result of Arab Coalition Airstrike in a Yemeni city Ibb, a local source said Sunday. "The planes of the Arab Coalitions hit a residential building in the Ibb province, resulting in the death of Mohamad Jamai, the chief of agriculture in the region of As Sabra, his wife, their three children and three neighbours with nine more people injured," the source said. According to the source, the area hit by a strike did not have any military targets and all victims were civilians. Many of them also expected that, led by reformers, an economically resurgent Iran would start mending fences with the West, stop looking for closer ties with Russia and would even take an openly anti-Russian stand on the international scene. A year on, and none of these expectations seems to have come true. Even though the lifting of the hard-hitting sanctions enabled Tehran to ramp up its oil exports and encouraged foreign investment, the government has still failed to build a solid basis for economic development as GDP growth hinges on positive expectations and remains extremely volatile. Moreover, state coffers remain empty due to the drop in oil prices and foreign investors are in no hurry to financially commit themselves, preferring instead to discuss future projects. The situation is compounded by rising unemployment, which has spiked to 11.7 percent from 10.6 percent in 2014. Because some of the sanctions remain in place, the country is still unable to borrow money abroad. The sanctions have laid bare fundamental structural problems existing in Iran since the 1979 revolution: rigid state control over the economy, a weak private sector, corruption, cronyism, religious constraints and bloated social spending. ALEPPO (Sputnik) Terrorists have retaken most of the Palestinian refugee camp Handarat in southeastern Aleppo from Syrian government forces and supporting militias, a representative of the Liwa al-Quds Palestinian militia said Sunday. "At night, terrorists attacked simultaneously from three sides after preliminary heavy mortar fire. We had to retreat from most areas of the camp," the representative told RIA Novosti. BAGHDAD (Sputnik) The attack reportedly targeted Shiite pilgrims preparing for religious celebrations. "The terrorist act was carried out by a suicide bomber with an explosive belt. He attacked a group of people in the Iskan district, six people died and 18 suffered injuries as a result," the source said. No group has taken responsibility for the attack. During the meeting, Moscow and Ankara agreed to establish a direct hot line as well as communication channels between the Russian and Turkish air forces to prevent incidents. "Work to accomplish the protocol continues at the highest level," a Turkish army source told the newspaper. If signed, the protocol will be an important step in building cooperation between Turkey and Russia on the Syrian battlefield. According to the source, the Turkish military has provided Russia with the coordinates of the areas where it is operating. In return, Russian warplanes will not enter those areas. "Our communication with Russia functions perfectly," the source said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a joint campaign of the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to liberate Mosul could begin on October 19. "Troops participating in the plan to liberate Iraqi cities, including Mosul, are purely Iraqi," the Defense Ministry official told Anadolu news agency. Mosul is Iraqs second-biggest city and capital of the northwestern province of Nineveh. It has been occupied by Daesh since June 2014 and declared the Iraqi capital of the so-called Daesh caliphate. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iraqi troops launched a large-scale offensive against Daesh militants last summer. In December 2015, they drove Islamists out of the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi, and then recaptured Daesh's stronghold in Fallujah. "Daesh attacked the town of Hit, shelled the area with rockets, mines and other weapons. Coalition's aircraft, national air force and artillery repelled the attack, killing 40 Daesh militants," Mohammadi told Alsumaria broadcaster. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkish army will move further south in the Syrian territory to create a "de facto safe zone" of 5,000 square kilometers in the Manbij region, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. "First we should go down at least 45 kilometers [30 miles] to close the Manbij pocket. And this area can be a de facto safe zone. It is around 5,000 square kilometers," Cavusoglu told France 24 broadcaster in an interview. On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of Daesh jihadist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries worldwide. Nepal Polices special bureau following Shah case The Special Bureau, a police agency that gathers information on terrorism, has taken up the case of Mahendra Jung Shah, who was deported by the Malaysian government charging him with abetting the terrorist group ISIS. The helicopters belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces were captured in a video by Hamza Suliman who posted the footage on his Twitter page. In July, a video was published showing Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters flying low over a beach in Latakia welcoming people who were on holiday. The helicopter maneuvers prompted delight amongst the spectators. Back in June, a video was released of combat helicopter Mi-28N of Aerospace Forces flying at ultra-low altitude along the beach in the Syrian city of Tartus. MOSCOW (Sputnik) "As I accept your Cabinets resignation following the achievements made, I hereby designate you to form a new government to continue fulfilling the national responsibilities outlined in the previous Letter of Designation,carrying on with the same spirit and approach you have been demonstrating," Abdullah II said in a letter to Mulki published by the Petra news agency. On September 20, the parliamentary election were held in Jordan. The majority of mandates of the 130-seat parliament were taken by politicians loyal to the king. According to reports, the Muslim Brotherhood extremist group won 16 seats. The Muslim Brotherhood members have returned to the country's parliament after years of boycott against the leadership of Jordan. The Muslim Brotherhood movement is an international religious and political association established in Egypt in 1928 and supported in a number of Arab countries. The association is outlawed in Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia and Iran should halt their strategy, leading to the deadlock in Syria crisis, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Sunday. "The Bashar Assad regime has clearly opted for military escalation, though, everyone knows that there will be no other but political solution to the conflict in Syria. I therefore appeal to its supporters, Russia and Iran, to pull themselves together and to demonstrate responsibility by halting this strategy, which leads to the deadlock. Otherwise, Russia and Iran will be complicit in war crimes committed in Aleppo," Ayrault said as quoted in the ministry's press release. It is up to the United Nations Security Council to push for an immediate cessation of hostilities, first and foremost in Aleppo, thereby allowing civilians to get access to humanitarian aid, according to the foreign minister. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) Dozens of women and children were killed in Aleppo since the beginning of the Syrian army's operation in the city, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Sunday. "Information received from sources on the ground, allegedly due to airstrikes on AOG-held areas, suggest the following numbers to date we cant verify them but these are the figures we are seeing at the moment: 213 fatalities in Aleppo province, 139 fatalities in eastern Aleppo, 74 fatalities in rural Aleppo, all including dozens of women and children," De Mistura said at the UN Security Council. On Sunday, the UN Security Council convened for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where the Syrian government forces are carrying out an offensive against Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front and the so-called armed opposition groups. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Syrian armed opposition groups see no point in continuing negotiations process as the bombardments by Damascus forces continue, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (SNC) and armed revolutionary groups belonging to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said Sunday. "The negotiations process, on its current basis, is meaningless in light of the ongoing bombardment, killing, and destruction which must be stopped fully and immediately in line with international resolutionsAny possible UN-sponsored ceasefire or cessation of hostilities agreement must ensure and end to all bombardments, killings, and forced displacements." the joint statement reads. The Free Syrian Army was Damascus' major challenger at the beginning of the conflict when it managed to unite nearly all opposition factions considered by the West to be the so-called moderate opposition. The group is overtly supported by the United Kingdom, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Turkey and France which sponsor the fighters with munition, arms and combat vehicles worth hundreds of US dollars. The meeting comes at a time when his rival Hillary Clinton leads among Jewish voters by an astronomical 42 points after the truculent tycoon suggested from the debate stage during the Republican primary that he would not offer Israel preferential treatment when dealing with the Palestinians instead saying that it was important that the US be a neutral arbiter. There are over 7.16 million people of Jewish heritage in the United States according to the latest statistics making it a must-win demographic group. Making inroads with the Jewish community is a must for Donald Trump who lags strongly behind previous Republican candidates who carried the demographic in recent years. According to the Swiss authorities, the intelligence services may monitor, record and analyze people's communications only under strict conditions. The new act is said to contribute to strengthening control over the intelligence service. The referendum comes amid fears that the intelligence services could be given sweeping powers to carry out blanket surveillance violating the privacy of Swiss citizens. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Warships from Russia's Northern Fleet have carried out cruise missile firing exercises during the final stage of the ongoing naval drills in the Barents Sea, Northern Fleet press service head Vadim Serga said Sunday. "During today's final stage of Northern Fleet forces exercises, the Pyotr Veliky heavy nuclear missile cruiser and a project 949A Antey cruise missile submarine have carried out combat firing exercises with underwater-launched cruise missiles," Serga said. The Pyotr Veliky is a Kirov-class battle cruiser and is capable of providing air defense and anti-submarine defense. It has a displacement of 25,300 metric tons and a crew of over 700. The gap between the F-16 and the Sukhoi PAK FA , also known as the T-50, is even more glaring. The cutting edge aircraft is the first operational aircraft in Russian service to use stealth technology. The PAK FA is currently undergoing testing and is expected to enter service with the Russian Air Force and the Russian Navy in 2018 The fighter jet is meant to replace Russia's aging Mikoyan MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-27s. PAK FA's "stealthy design will ultimately mean F-16s won't even detect their adversaries before they realize they are being targeted by beyond-visual-range guided missiles, launched by aircraft only visible on radar for the brief moment their internal weapons bay doors are open," the analyst noted. Kalashnikov is a corporation "of the past of which the Kremlin is proud," and the recent attempts to modernize it should help the arms manufacturer to "withstand the pressure of global competition," the article said. The Kalashnikov Concern was created in 2013 in the merger of two Soviet-era plants, Izhmash and Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, becoming Russia's largest producer of rifles and other weaponry. The company sells civilian firearms and combat weapons in over 27 countries, including in Europe, Africa and Asia. So far, the image of the famous arms manufacturer has been mainly based on the reputation it received during the Soviet era, with the corporation now being the "pale shadow of what it was in Soviet times," the article said. However, the military concern is setting new goals and has a good chance to improve its competitiveness on the global market, the newspaper wrote. Parliament endorses proposal on Nepal Medical Education Bill 2073 BS A meeting of the Legislature-Parliament on Sunday passed with a majority the proposal that the House consider the Bill related to Nepal Medical Education Bill 2073 BS. We werent involved in this, Carter said. I dont 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 [agencies], and I would refer you there. General Joseph Dunford reiterated this reality in his testimony before the Senate committee saying, "I am not trying to be evasive, but I dont know the details of that arrangement and it really was a political decision that was made to provide that money, and I dont think its appropriate that I comment on that." The statements made by top Pentagon officials directly contradicts the earlier Obama administration position laid out by State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner who said, "Theres always an inter-agency discussion around any decision like this, and every relevant agency weighs in." American officials accused Russia of bombing Aleppo causing "resentment and indignation" from the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Kremlin, in its turn, suggested Monday's attack on the humanitarian convoy in Syria was done by the United States. Wael al Malas, the representative of the Syrian branch of the Red Crescent, stated, "There is no evidence that it was an airstrike of either Russian or Syrian aviation on the humanitarian convoy in Syria," according to Russia's Izvestiya newspaper. Meanwhile, collapse of the Syrian ceasefire, aimed at US-Russian cooperation on airstrikes against Islamic State and al-Qaeda, is going to leave a worsening conflict to US President Barack Obama's successor. "As his presidency comes to a close, the fact is that Obama has little to show the world on Syria. With an estimated half a million deaths, the Middle East in flames and European allies destabilized by the impact of refugee flows, he will pass on a festering crisis to his successor," the Guardian reported Thursday. The Galician parliamentary election will see voters choose representatives to the region's 75-seat parliament. Candidates include members of the conservative People's Party of Galicia and the Socialists' Party of Galicia, which are the regional affiliates of the People's Party (PP) and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) , Spain's two leading political rivals. Together, the two parties won over half of the regional parliament's seats in the previous 2012 election. En Marea, which is linked to the left-wing Podemos party, as well as the Galician Nationalist Bloc and the Citizens party, are also competing. Most opinion polls, such as those conducted by Sondaxe, project the PP affiliate to gain over 40 percent of the votes, followed by En Marea with over 20 percent. Socialists are likely to drop to third place with less than 20 percent for the first time in over a decade, ousted by their far-left rivals. The nationalists are projected to take some five percent of the vote, while the Citizens are expected to receive the support of around four percent of the Galician population. "Obama had good reason to resent Russia's increasingly assertive foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to imagine it might backfire on its architect, President Vladimir Putin," journalist and historian Michael Petrou wrote for the National Post. "The US president clearly hoped an overstretched Russia would get its fingers burned in Syria and emerge chastened from its adventure in Middle East counterinsurgency." Policymakers in the US were in for a rude awakening as Russia's limited military engagement in the war-torn Arab nation turned into a success, enhancing Moscow's standing beyond Syrian borders. "Russia didn't get stuck in a Syrian quagmire. It applied a limited amount of military force to great effect, reversing the tide of the civil war and ensuring Assad will not go unless Putin agrees. From Moscow's perspective, the Kremlin's intervention worked out just fine," he said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Earlier in the day, Johnson told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that Russia was guilty of protracting the war in Syria as well as "making it far more hideous." Johnson also said that Russia might be guilty of war crimes if allegations of its attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Aleppo were true. "Everything is correct, except for two words: the word 'Russia' should be replaced with 'Britain,' and 'Syria' with 'Iraq,'" Zakharova said on her Facebook account. Currently Syria is seeing intensified fighting in the city of Aleppo, after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on Friday, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable. Mardasov noted that according to the agreement the US-led international coalition will support Syrian President Bashar Assad only if Syrian forces fight Daesh. In addition, the document read that the coalition can conduct joint airstrikes with Russia against al-Nusra Front and its allies. Attacks on al-Nusra Fronts allies would be an attack against some forces considered allies by Saudi Arabia, the expert said. "In fact, even representatives of al-Nusra Front appear on Saudi state-owned television channels. The US will not damage ties with the Gulf monarchies," Mardasov said. By classifying the agreement in the beginning, Moscow made a mistake, said Stanislav Tarasov, head of the Middle East-Caucasus think-tank. "Moscow should have made public at least the preamble to this agreement, including Washingtons stance towards Assad. As I see, the Americans recognized Assad and this is said in the document. Now, those opposing the deal will use its secrecy in their interests," Tarasov said. The analyst suggested that the Moscow-Washington deal has been opposed by some in the American establishment because the deal considers Russia as an equal partner in the Middle East. In addition, Tarasov suggested that Washington deliberately sabotaged the agreement. "The airstrike on the Syrian Army and allegations that Russia attacked the humanitarian convoy prove that some people in the US establishment dont want this agreement," he concluded. The choice of advisers "is a strong indicator that Clinton's national security policy will not threaten the post-9/11 national-security status quo that includes active use of military power abroad and heightened security measures at home," Zaid Jilani, Alex Emmons and Naomi LaChance observed Bruce Fein, a partner in the firm Fein & DelValle, PLLC, described Hillary Clinton's foreign policy views as "bellicose" and "jingoistic" in an opinion piece for the Washington Times. They confirm that her presidency "would bow to Mars (the God of War), not to Minerva (the Goddess of Wisdom)." Fein pointed out that Hillary supported Washington's military adventures in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya among other things. "If she had her way, we would also be at war with Syria," he said. Clinton's foreign policy record also prompted the analyst to warn that "Hillary Clinton is the 2016 war candidate who will fight wars with Russia, China and anyone else who refuses to play caboose to her locomotive." The fact that the United States was so quick to blame Russia for the attack proves that Washington wants to distract attention from the deadly attack on Syrian army positions in Deir ez-Zor by US-led coalition aircraft, Daniel McAdams, executive director at the Ron Paul Institute, said. "The US doesnt want to talk about the 62 Syrian soldiers that they killed a few days ago. And this very conveniently, perhaps coincidentally, completely changed the topic. [] It is a sort of an insinuation to plant the seed in everybodys mind, whereas in fact we have absolutely no idea at least at this point who did it and why," McAdams told RT. The expert underscored that there are no possible reasons why the Russian military or the Syrian Army could have conducted the attack. According to retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski, Russia is the first the State Department and the Pentagon blame for "just about everything." "The position of blaming Russia will be a continuation of what we have seen in the past weeks, she said. It looks like the rhetoric war. It is very clear that the Obama administration knows what it is doing in the rhetoric war and yet they do not have any idea what they are doing on the ground in Syria," she told RT. Commenting on the attack, the Russian Defense Ministry said that neither Russian forces nor the Syrian Army attacked the convoy. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Churkin emphasized that Moscow will no longer agree with unilateral steps on Syrian settlement. "There are hundreds of militant groups wielding across Syria. Country's territory is bombed by anyone who feels like doing it. Syria's return to peace has become almost an impossible task," Churkin said speaking at the UN Security Council. "Constantly new conditions [for cessation of hostilities in Syria] were put forward. We have always sought compromise, but ultimately this leads to the fact that the rebels and the armed groups carry out new attacks, then there was a requirement stating that the Syrian government had to unilaterally stop flights by its armed forces. And initially that was for three days and we did agree to that. Unilateral steps are something that we will not agree to any more." "A UNSC meeting on Syria initiated by Britain, France and the US is an attempt to shift responsibility for failures in the implementation of a Russia-US agreement on Syria," Klintsevich told RIA Novosti He noted that the situation deteriorated after the US-led international coalition attacked Syrian forces. This incident intensified terrorists activity. "What is more, Washington has done nothing to separate areas controlled by Daesh, al-Nusra Front and opposition forces and to separate rebel fighters from terrorists," the lawmaker added. According to him, a meeting in the UN Security Council is not an optimistic sign. "This is another information attack against Russia. The US always does this when the situation is out of Washingtons control. Of course, this meeting will not be positive for building Russia-US cooperation on Syria," Klintsevich said. However, he added that it would be premature to say that the agreement is a failure but there are numerous violations of the deal. Radio Dhading resumes broadcast Radio Dhading resumed its broadcast on Sunday, two days after the forest authority in the district ransacked its office built on an encroached land inside Amarawati Community Forest in Neelkantha Municipality. MOSCOW (Sputnik) According to Jaafari, the UN Security Council ignores facts proving use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups, including Daesh, against the Syrian Army and civilians. "The terrorist groups continue to prevent civilians from leaving Aleppo with a view to using them as human shields My country condemns the use of internationally prohibited weaponry and we stress that all military operations conducted by the Syrian army and its alliesuphold the UN Charter and international lawsWe denounce the fabricated accusations leveled by certain members of this [UN Security] Councilagainst the Syrian armyby alleging that we use internationally prohibited weaponry or we target deliberately citizens," Jaafari said addressing the UN Security Council. At the same time, Jaafari noted that Damascus welcomed the Russia-US attempts to settle the Syrian crisis, including a recently brokered ceasefire regime. Mrs. Clintons own past is so malodorous, so rife with crooked deals and lies that Mr. Trump shouldnt have to do much more than calmly question her credibility and then move on to better subjects, the newspaper reported. In addition, the Republican candidate could show voters that he has an optimistic and laid out plans about how to change the US. According to the New York Times/CBS poll, 48% of voters felt Mr. Trump could bring about real change in the US, while only 36% said that of Mrs. Clinton, according to the publication. Hence, by being positive, Trump would draw a stark contrast. However, the overwhelming focus of Clintons campaign has been its unrelenting charge that he is unfit to be president. Polls show this resonates with voters. A recent New York Times/CBS survey found that 47% of registered voters thought a Clinton presidency would be a safe choice for the country, versus 30% who thought that about Trump. Fifty-five percent said that Clinton had the right kind of temperament to be president, compared with 31% for Trump, Strassel wrote for the newspaper. On Monday voters will see how Trumps temperament holds up under stress on live TV. The Republican candidate is by contrast new to this and that could give him an advantage, in that he has the freedom and personality to be unconventional and unpredictable. It could give him new momentum toward the White Houseif he can get this first one right, the publication concluded. The first presidential debate of the 2016 election season is set for Monday night at Hofstra University in New York State. The US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 8. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) On Sunday, the UN Security Council convened for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where the Syrian government forces are carrying out an offensive against Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front and the so-called armed opposition groups. "No I am not [going to resign]. Because any sign of me resigning would be a signal that the international community is abandoning the Syrians, and we will not abandon the Syrians, and neither will you. We dont need that kind of signal that would make news for five minutes and then not only Syria would be abandoned by everyone but also the hope that the international community does believe that we want to get out of the conflict," de Mistura said addressing an UN Security Council meeting. The latest round of intra-Syrian talks collapsed in April in Geneva when members of the Syrian High Negotiations Committee walked away from negotiations, citing the failure of the Syrian government to commit to reconciliation process. UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) On Sunday, the UN Security Council convened for an extraordinary meetin g to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where the Syrian government forces are carrying out an offensive against Jabhat Fatah al Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front and the so-called armed opposition groups. "We outlined our position clearly. We need a serious process, without cheating, without people changing their stances every two days. The agreement was [achieved], and the only thing needed is its implementation instead of changing positions. If they continue doing this, it will be extremely difficult to have serious process," Churkin told journalists. The latest cessation of hostilities in Syria was brokered by the United States and Russia on September 9. After being implemented on September 12, the deal broke apart with repeated violations of the ceasefire. He added that the ground effect vehicle is primarily viewed by the Alexeyev Central Design Bureau as a civilian project, but if necessary, it could be converted for military use as well. This is a multirole craft, which can be used for high-speed transportation of cargoes and passengers, in search-and-rescue missions, and it can also carry arms, Dementyev noted, mentioning the great deal of domestic and foreign interest in this type of high-speed water-skimming aircraft. The ekranoplan is a high-speed transporter, a combination of a heavy-lift plane and a light motorboat. Designed by Rostislav Alexeyev and used by the Soviet and Russian navies from 1987 until the late 1990s, the ekranoplan flies using the lift generated by the ground effect of its large wings when moving less than four meters above the surface of the water. In an unprecedented act of terroristic reprisal the rebels shut off the water supply for 1.5 million residents in government controlled West Aleppo causing an almost unheard of humanitarian toll with UNICEF raising the alarm of an imminent danger of mass childhood fatalities if desperate families are forced to drink contaminated water. Despite the nuance of the situation, Samantha Power barreled in with accusations against Moscow saying, "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it is barbarism." "Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive," exclaimed Power. "It is time to say who is carrying out those airstrikes and who is killing civilians," Power said. "Russia holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. This is a privilege and it is a responsibility. Yet in Syria and in Aleppo, Russia is abusing this historic privilege." Britains UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft joined in the chorus saying that Russia would be excluded from the process of bring peace to Syria based on the recent intensification of fighting. In June, he refused to answer questions from the conservative group Judicial Watch that continues to examine the contents of Clintons emails. The FBI records also revealed that during the investigation senior State Department officials pushed to conceal the information about classified data to whitewash Clintons potential wrongdoings. An unnamed State Department staffer, who worked on the screening of the emails during the probe, told investigators that Clinton had correspondences stacking up to over 1,000 emails with David Petraeus, the director of the United States Central Command at the time. Only ten of them were made public, however, when the Pentagon released them last year. State Department spokesperson John Kirby denied allegations of official meddling in the screening process, saying he couldnt speculate about whether the Pentagon had discovered more classified emails. The email scandal has undermined Clintons presidential candidacy raising concerns over her ability to run the country. She acknowledges that the use of her a private email system was a mistake. A suspect in fatal Friday shooting of five people at a Burlington mall has been taken into custody, Washington State Patrol reported. Gunman captured tonight by authorities, Details forthcoming, Press Conference tonight at 1800 Continental Pl. Time TBA WA State Patrol (@wastatepatrol) September 25, 2016 The shooting occurred at about 07:20 pm local time on Friday (02:20 GMT on Saturday) at the Cascade Mall which is about 65 miles north of Seattle, Washington. On Saturday, the local police released the photos of the suspect . If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules . You will be able to participate again through:. If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The University of Illinois Police Department cancelled the state of emergency alert following a shooting involving casualties that occurred near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on Sunday. Illini-Alert. The emergency has ended. Check your email for more information. Illini-Alert (@IlliniAlert) 25 2016 . On Sunday, at around 00:38 a.m. (05:38 GMT) Champaign police officers received reports of shots fired near the University of Illinois. The police arrived at the scene and found people with gunshot wounds. "Four victims were located on-scene with gunshot wounds. The victims were transported to area hospitals, where one died from his injuries and three reportedly sustained non-critical injuries. A fifth individual who was running from the gunfire was struck by a vehicle on E. Green St. and received minor injuries," the police said. Saarc members to step up measures to counter terrorism All the member countries of Saarc have agreed to cooperate on capacity building by the way of sharing their expertise on the subjects related to suicide terrorism, counter radicalisation, drugs trafficking and cyber security. ALGIERS (Sputnik) The OPEC member states are expected to renew talks on a possible oil output freeze with non-member states at the September 26-28 International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algiers. "We are seeking to take a common decision, which everyone will support, whether it will be to freeze the level of output or reduce it. We are seeking to agree on the time frame of implementing the decision," Bouterfa said during a press conference. Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce its output by 500,000 barrels per day, he added, noting that OPEC members plan to discuss the offer as nobody wants to have a fruitless meeting. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Award's organizers said that they made this choice because the whistleblower "with courage, competence and reason has taken a conscience decision and put his past life and safety at stake for a bigger thing." Snowden, 33, who exposed the US global surveillance scheme, was granted temporary asylum in Russia for one year in 2013 and later received a three-year residence permit. His whereabouts in Russia are a closely-guarded secret. In the United States, he faces up to 30 years in prison on charges of espionage and theft of government property. Snowden repeatedly said he would return to the United States if Washington guaranteed him a fair trial. - Kenyans online recently tried linking President Uhuru Kenyatta's love for silk shirts to poverty - According to some Kenyans, the president wears them whenever planning to interact one-on-one with the common mwananchi - Kenyans have been closely monitoring the president's dress code especially when he's on unofficial business Maybe he just loves silk shirts and wears them whenever he gets a chance to be run away from a tie and a suit. But, a section of Kenyans online, however, now believe theres a correlation between President Uhuru Kenyattas silk shirts and his down-to-earth public appearances that he has been making lately. Kenyans online believe that whenever Uhuru wears a silk shirt, hes about to have a one-on-one interaction with poor people READ ALSO: Is this President Uhuru Kenyattas favourite trouser? (photos) According to social media, the president is always in these shirts when interacting one-on-one with the common mwananchi. In fact, they called the appearances "poor people's stuff". READ ALSO:Praise and worship sensation Eunice Njeri gets engaged; heres her lover and the hot ring (photos) This is might not be entirely true. It only happens that the president loves these shirts. Recently, social media also trolled him for wearing a particular shirt in too many events forcing the 54-year-old to flip his out-of-the-office swag. The president has launched a number of official events in this particular shirt. The analogy comes after Uhuru joined Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko, Nairobi Womens Representative Rachel Shebesh, Mathare MP Steven Kariuki and nominated MP Johnson Sakaja to eat at Kenyatta Market at Nairobis Central Business District yesterday, September 19. READ ALSO: Why Lilian Muli loves this particular signature hairstyle The president also surprised many after attending the Jubilee Party launch recently in a college jacket and a pair of jeans. Now that he knows Kenyans are watching his dress code, the president surprised many by appearing in a College Jacket and a pair of jeans at Kasarani Stadium. The only thing he missed was a pair of Air Jordans. Images: Courtesy Source: TUKO.co.ke 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) Its not often that Linda Lopez McAllister gets to be involved with a world premiere. Woman on Fire is the latest production from Camino Real Productions, and Lopez McAllister couldnt be prouder. This is quite a show, she says. Woman on Fire is a re-imagining of Sophocles Antigone set along the Mexican border in Arizona. It is written Marisela Trevino Orta and was commissioned by the Latino Playwright Initiative. The play tells the story of the ghost of a woman who died while crossing the border, which haunts the unwilling heroine Juanita, the wife of a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Juanita finds herself torn between the law of man and a higher law when she must decide whether to put her husbands career and their marriage at risk to give the restless spirit the proper burial it demands. Lopez McAllister says the play was one of three that were recommended to her. I liked the fact that it was on the subject on immigration and it was very much going to be in the limelight of this years election, she says. And its written by an extraordinary playwright. She was a poet. There are four characters, and they are written with such depth, and its quite amazing. Trevino Orta first read Sophocles Antigone in a philosophy class well before she found her way to playwriting. What always stayed with me about that play was the conflict between the law of man vs. a higher law, Trevino Orta says. At great personal risk, Antigone goes against the edict of the king to bury her brothers body so that his soul will find peace. In 2007, she was a fledgling playwright, finding her way to the genre after almost 10 years as a poet. Around the same time, my friends at El Teatro Jornalero! were developing a performance piece about deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically how the increased security after 9/11 led to a huge increase in deaths of immigrants trying to cross the border, Trevino Orta says. Woman on Fire was born out of that intersection of a classical play and present-day circumstances. I wouldnt call Woman on Fire an adaptation of Antigone, but Antigone is a bit of an inspiration a jumping-off point. Gathering a crazy quilt of styles, formats and mediums from 29 artists, Out of Many, One marks the University of New Mexico Art Museums first faculty show in 10 years. The 48 works crossing a medley of mediums and boundaries featuring portraits, installations, abstraction, mapping, still lifes and ceramics in a creative kaleidoscope of artistic range. Curators conducted extensive studio visits from the summer of 2015 through last spring to choose the objects. The exhibition will hang through Dec. 10. Photography professor Jim Stones Biker, Main Street ShowDown II, Espanola, New Mexico (2013) reveals a motorcycle owner whose dress coordinates with his tricked-out green dragon of transportation. His clothing and his body language added up to a code, said Stone, who also counts himself as a rider. Its all whole-cloth, he continued. His expression, his position on the bike. I think he saves that shirt for special occasions. Or he has hundreds of them. The bike seems to be exploding out of him. Theres a certain phallic quality. Andrea Pollis dangling glass spheres resemble a cross between global galaxy and a storm of bubbles. The professor of art and ecology incubated the installation at Vermonts Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park. The work melds art and science; Polli based her fanciful sculptural listening vessels on 19th century acoustic devices. Designed in the 1850s by the German engineer Hermann von Helmholtz, the gadgets were used to identify frequencies or pitches present in music or other complex sounds. Their shapes exploit the phenomenon of air resonance in a cavity. Polli designed hers to entice participants to playfully focus on the importance of soundscapes. They will resonate at different frequencies, she said. Of course, we didnt make them precise, but we made them look cool. Visitors can move a sphere to an ear; its like listening to the swish of air inhabiting a seashell. Polli included about 15 of the glass balls and tubes in the show. A lot of my art has been dealing with sound and the soundscape, so its just another way to explore sound, she said. Assistant professor of drawing and painting Raychael Stine paints wildly abstracted imagery of yows. A yow is a kind of a term for a spirit dog or the Hound of the Baskervilles, said Stine, the owner of three canines. Visitors can rarely detect the slope of a snout or the curve of an ear within her ravenous splashes and strokes of paint. Sometimes it makes people mad, she acknowledged. Her college professors taught her never to insert imagery into abstraction, a lesson she rejects. I think thats a bunch of crap, she said. Its only human to make references. I was kind of brought up in a world where I was a taught I wouldnt be taken seriously (as a woman) if I dealt with flowers or sentimental subject matter. I think its cheeky. Stine has been painting dogs since she was 3. Syria conflict: Russia 'may have committed war crime' - UK Foreign Secy Johnson UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested Russia may have committed a war crime in Syria if it was behind an attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo. Arif Khan migrated home to head the largest art collection in the state. The University of New Mexico Art Museums 35,000 works of art have been valued at $35 million, Dean of the College of Arts Kymberly Pinder said. Its platinum-framed names include Georgia OKeeffe, Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol, the Taos artists, Raymond Jonson, Agnes Martin, Paul Strand, Alfred Steiglitz, Clinton Adams, Marsden Hartley, Jim Dine and examples of Spanish colonial art. A first-generation American, Khan moved to Albuquerque with his family at age 2. His father, retired radiation oncologist Dr. Kutub Khan,is from India; his mother is English. His La Cueva High School art teacher encouraged a budding interest in photography. But Khans passion was more rooted in becoming part of an institution that houses art. His resume is a 14-year road map in museum administration, fundraising, exhibition development and museum education mixed with collections management and strategic planning. He always wanted to come home. He hopscotched from the Santa Fe Indian Market to the Governors Gallery, before leaping south to the Tamarind Institute and gliding east to the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston, W.Va. Khan majored in American history at Wisconsins Lawrence University, then returned to UNM for a masters degree in American studies. After a stint as a photo archivist at an Atlanta gallery, he crossed the ocean for his MBA at Sothebys Institute of Art in London. There he learned about insurance, shipping, marketing and the law. He led the Clay Centers art museum for five years. But he longed to return to New Mexico. Obviously, my family is here, and a lot of old friends, he said. This institution, being a former grad student, has some meaning for me. Since the museums 1962 inception, the director position has resembled an unmoored carousel. Three interim and two permanent directors have cycled through its offices since 2007, Pinder said. She waited two years before hiring Khan, acting as interim director during the search. Its been a lot of transition, she acknowledged. I think its a combination of personal situations (health issues), as well as the challenges of operating a museum within the university structure. The art museum falls under university restrictions and their attendant bureaucracies designed more for academics than a gallery, she said. When the university shuts down during holiday breaks, workers dim the lights and lower the heat to save money, Pinder said. But artwork can deteriorate from fluctuating heat and humidity. The job requires someone willing to negotiate and fight for the museum, she added. Candidates from private museums dont have to abide by those rules. Khan was one of four or five finalists, Pinder said. Arif was great because he had already been in this particular system at Tamarind, a division of UNM, Pinder said. And then his being from New Mexico and really wanting to come back here. He had maintained so many contacts with artists and curators everywhere he had gone. And all of these people loved Arif. The constant change has been very disruptive, she acknowledged. Its very important to have that stability for the museum to go forward. It makes me sad when I go up to Santa Fe and people dont even know we exist. Khan leaned back in his chair, his hands relaxed across his lap, the calm demeanor of a man who has found his place. Ahead stretch 2017 shows of photographs of Frida Kahlo (a traveling exhibition) and an exhibit of works from the permanent collection. Much of Khans position will revolve around interacting with museum newcomers unfamiliar with the works. A lot of my job is seeing new people who invest their time and their money, he said. When they see the end results of that work; when you see someone get it especially if its abstract work click on it, its great, he said. Its just that big smile on their face. Then they become ambassadors to your organization. Thats something I hope to bring to UNM. Forrest Fenn has sparked a lot of interest in the last few years in New Mexico over a hidden treasure. Those who truly know New Mexico realize that there is treasure thats not so hidden all around us. Its seen in the natural treasure that abounds: spectacular skies and a captivating landscape. Its also seen in the deep appreciation of the arts and diverse expressions of the arts in New Mexican colleges and universities. Many colleges and universities in New Mexico are actively supporting the arts and inspiring a new generation to create beauty, meaning and a celebration of heritage. Community college This treasure is clear to Randy Grissom, president of Santa Fe Community College. With the wealth of resources available in Santa Fe, Grissom believes Santa Fe Community College has a great deal to offer students interested in the arts. He pointed out that SFCC has the full gamut of programs with a range of arts programs. Of special note are the two galleries where students can be actively involved in either gallery management opportunities or displaying their artwork. The Red Dot Gallery is located on Santa Fes famed Canyon Road and the Visual Arts Gallery is located on the Santa Fe Community College campus. These endeavors are not strictly independent ventures. SFCC partners with other colleges in the area like IAIA and Santa Fe University of Art and Design when planning shows and displays of artwork. Further, the programs at SFCC are not limited to the two-dimensional arts. They offer programs in jewelry, wood and sculpture as well. While the community college may not have the cachet that a four-year university has, Grissom explains that SFCC appeals to different audiences. We have younger students who are getting their first two years completed and moving on to universities, as well as older students who are re-careering. For both young artists and older artists, there are additional options in film, media arts and fashion design. UNM offerings A multitude of opportunities for those interested in the arts can be found at New Mexicos largest school, the University of New Mexico. Dr. Kymberly Pinder, dean of Fine Arts at UNM, is enthusiastic about the varied offerings at UNM. We have a very large Fine Arts program and a diversity of programs music, dance, theater, art, art education, theory, ceramics, photography and sculpture are just a few of the many programs. One of the programs that has received national recognition is the photography program. Pinder says that it has been listed at the top of many rankings for many years. Founded in 1962, she describes it as a very competitive program that draws international students and is a core program in a very photo-centric state such as New Mexico. Pinder takes pride in drawing international students to UNM and the uniquely multi-cultural aspects of the state that drive their Fine Arts program. Citing the Native American, Latin American and Spanish Colonial imprints on the culture of New Mexico, she says students can plumb the richness of these influences in the Fine Arts programs at UNM. According to Pinder, the needs and interests of students are very important to UNM and student feedback has resulted in some innovative programs. For example, UNM offers a interdisciplinary programs because the university noticed that many students took a lot of classes in the arts but would leave the college when they wanted other types of studies outside of the arts. By offering these programs, students can have the best of both worlds. And UNM offers a culturally unique program: a flamenco program. UNM offers a rare dance program where students can receive a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Flamenco. In fact, every year the Department of Music and Dance helps host the International Flamenco Festival. Another innovative program is the Arts and Medicine program. Pinder marvels at the idea that a flagship university like UNM with an extensive health sciences center provides arts programming and therapy. With studies showing that the arts help patients heal faster, the linking of these two disciplines makes sense and is an idea that enriches the community. Native view The Santa Fe community and New Mexico are fortunate to have another school that highlights the treasures of New Mexico and Native American culture in the Institute of American Indian Arts. Charlene Teters, the Academic Dean of the College at IAIA, describes it as the flagship of arts and culture for Native people. IAIA offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and associate degrees in studio arts, museum studies, creative writing, performing arts and cinematic studies. Teters says, IAIA has had a significant impact on the local Santa Fe economy, as Santa Fe has emerged as the leading market for Indian arts in the world, and in turn, made it easier for Native American artists to sell their work. She also notes that while study programs include traditional elements, the school is different because it teaches from the Native American point of view. All levels welcome Teaching every level of student artists is a major focus at Central New Mexico Community College, according to Erica Volkers, dean of CNMs School of Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences. Volkers says that what sets CNM apart is the fact that they accept every student, no matter what their art background, or other academic preparation, and our instructors work with them from where they are to help nurture their skills. CNM has a Fine Arts degree with an Art Studio concentration and an Art History concentration. They also offer a Bench Jewelry certificate. In the arts programs, they offer courses in the areas of ceramics, painting, printmaking, drawing and jewelry. Of special interest is the partnership CNM has with the National Hispanic Cultural Center in establishing the National Hispanic Arts Institute and Workshop (NHAIW). Volkers says that one of the core purposes of this institute is to celebrate, preserve and grow traditional Latino art forms. The new NHAIW is tentatively scheduled to open in fall 2017. It is her hope that ultimately, this artistic space and the expertise it cultivates will generate economic activity, including being a tourism destination for art aficionados. Volkers says the NHAIW is designed to nurture, enrich and expand the artistic and entrepreneurial experiences of our communitys artists, and draw in local and national art aficionados, and art students, to build upon New Mexicos reputation as a national destination for artistic inspiration. Over the years, New Mexico has earned its reputation as a national destination for artistic inspiration and continues to strengthen that status with foundational, creative, and unusual arts programs at both community colleges, institutes and universities. Art students and art aficionados alike can find a multitude of treasures here with the riches of Native American, Latin American and Spanish Colonial influences that mark New Mexicos past and present. A search will continue this morning for a mountaineer from Corrales who has been missing in a Colorado mountain range since early last week. David Cook, 49, was reported missing on Tuesday after he failed to return from a climb of several mountains near Aspen. He had planned to climb Pyramid Peak on Monday, and Maroon and North Maroon Peaks on Tuesday. He was reported missing Tuesday night, according to the Aspen Daily News. A search was launched on Thursday morning, but weather has slowed the effort. The paper reported that high winds affected Thursdays aerial search and ground crews on Friday were hampered by heavy snow. Grant Jahnke, the incident commander overseeing the search for the Pitkin County Sheriffs Office, told the Journal that a search was called off about 5 p.m. Saturday with nightfall approaching. He said authorities plan to continue an aerial search for Cook today, weather permitting. Wed like to start in the morning, he said. The peaks, which rise to over 14,000 feet above sea level, are in the Elk Mountain Range near Aspen. They are some of the most difficult 14,000-foot peaks to climb in Colorado, according to a guide book. The sheriffs office said Cook, who served in the Marines, is an expert mountaineer. Steven Yarbrough, a friend of the family, said Cook has worked as a climbing guide and is attempting to complete ascents of all of the more than 50 peaks in Colorado that reach 14,000 feet above sea level. Yarbrough said a group of more than 20 friends and family members have traveled to Aspen while the search is taking place for the married father of three. Its not going well, but search and rescue hasnt given up, he said Saturday evening. Everyone is very fearful because its been a long time. But everyone is also very hopeful. Its Facebook official. Los Lunas will be the home of the companys massive $250 million data center. This is a big win for New Mexico, but it didnt happen overnight. Gov. Susana Martinez and the New Mexico Legislature worked together the past few years to dramatically improve the states business climate, paving the way for investments such as Facebooks. A few highlights of that work: Adoption of the 2013 tax overhaul package that stopped penalizing employers for investing in the state and hiring New Mexicans. Funding the Job Training Incentive Program, which helps new employees perform at their highest level. Dedicating $50 million to the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), a job creation program that helps New Mexico compete for economic development projects. In August 2015, Martinez led a team to the Bay Area to meet with Facebook, tell New Mexicos story, and ask them to consider the state for their next project. Among other items, the delegation explained the tax and regulatory improvements recently made to encourage investment and stimulate job creation. Facebook could have taken this new data center anywhere, yet we beat out 20 other states. Many, including Utah, are known for being very competitive. How did that happen? One Utah official may have said it best: [Utah] didnt roll out the red carpet in the way New Mexico did. Not only will Facebook invest at least $250 million in this project, theyre dedicated to buying locally and hiring local employees and subcontractors to the greatest extent possible. The first data center building will be 510,000 square feet, and there is the potential for additional buildings. The project will create between 30 and 100 high-paying permanent jobs, as well as hundreds of construction jobs for the next seven to 10 years. Thats welcome news to New Mexicos construction industry, which has struggled to rebound from the recession. In selecting New Mexico, Facebook sends a message to other employers that this is a great place for business. They were impressed with the states economic development tools and opportunities for renewable energy development, such as the fast-track agreement reached between PNM, Facebook and the Public Regulation Commission. These reforms have brought home some important wins. Facebook joins PCM, Safelite and Rural Sourcing Inc. among the latest newcomers to New Mexico. And homegrown companies such as Unity BPO and Skorpios are expanding and thriving. Over the past several months, thousands of new jobs have been announced and will be created in New Mexico. Just before leaving Facebooks office last year, the governor was led to the 50-foot-long Facebook Wall and invited to add a comment and her signature alongside those from hundreds of others who have visited the company. Her message was an invitation that Facebooks leadership decided worthy of pursuing: Come to the Land of Enchantment. NM True. Facebook discovered that the governor and Legislature crafted new policies that welcome investment and job creation. These were important and necessary changes for the state, and theyre working. New Mexico can now successfully compete against any state for world-class companies. Other employers are also taking a serious look, but for them to follow Facebooks path and commit to locating here, the Legislature needs to protect the important improvements it and the governor made in the past few years. Reversing course on these improvements during the special session or the regular legislative sessions to follow would seriously jeopardize the opportunities that are beginning to emerge. Recruiting Facebook was the result of many months of collaboration and negotiation. Fortunately, our work and that of our allies was supported by a strong foundation of economic development tools provided by the governor and the Legislature. To diversify our economy and improve our states outlook, we must ensure those tools remain in place for other employers considering New Mexico, and for those employers already here that are wanting to expand. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is currently reviewing a rate case in which the Public Service Company of New Mexico is requesting a 16 percent rate increase to recover costs associated with replacing the generation capacity that was lost when they were ordered to prematurely retire two coal-fired generating units and for dust pollution controls that the New Mexico Environment Department had previously mandated. The power being retired is on demand energy, which means that it is available day or night, including when consumer demand is high. Because the sun doesnt shine all of the time and the wind doesnt blow constantly, and because the ability to store electricity on a large scale does not yet exist, our only on demand energy options are coal, natural gas and nuclear. Despite this, opponents of traditional energy want all energy to come from renewable sources. The recent lightning strike outage that resulted in a few hours of darkness for 140,000 Albuquerque customers vividly demonstrates the importance of on demand energy. Until New Mexicans are willing to live without electricity when the sun isnt shining and the wind isnt blowing, no valid argument can be made for replacing on demand electricity with intermittent renewable energy sources. The PRCs hearing examiner has suggested that the PRC commissioners should deny PNMs request for compensation. The examiner is not suggesting that PNM is asking for too much compensation; rather, she is suggesting that PNM should get zero recovery. It seems to us that PNM will likely prevail in court if the PRC follows the hearing examiners advice, as the expenditures forced on PNM were far greater than zero. Is this really the direction that the PRC wants to take? If so, the commissioners are abdicating their responsibility and compelling the courts to make the hard decisions. We agree that a 16 percent increase seems high, but thats what happens when regulators impose these extreme renewable energy requirements on energy companies. Today, the average PNM customer pays 10 cents per kilowatt hour, while California Edison customers (who have a greater reliance on renewable energy) pay 30 cents per kilowatt hour, on average. Is this New Mexicos future a California-style 200 percent increase three times what we are currently paying? And, more importantly, have the citizens of New Mexico and the various regulators considered the cost of not having electricity when we need it? Were not just talking about the conveniences of lights, television, video games and computers; were talking about necessities like refrigerators, heaters, air conditioners and medical equipment. Finally, any apples-to-apples energy comparison would not be complete without mentioning that, unlike traditional energy sources, renewable energy does not contribute a dime of severance taxes. Severance tax revenues are what pay for our public schools and basic government services. Renewable energy activists think that their agenda should be the PRCs one and only priority, regardless of the consequences to New Mexico consumers and taxpayers. These activists have decided that it is easier to intimidate five PRC commissioners than to go through the proper channel of convincing a majority of 112 state legislators and the governor to get their desired policy changes. When it comes to energy, the PRC has two primary obligations: 1) to ensure that New Mexico consumers have reliable electricity, and 2) to keep that electricity as affordable as possible. If the members of the PRC believe that an activist agenda is of higher priority than reliable and affordable electricity, or they are simply too afraid to make difficult decisions, it might be time for the people to reconsider whether the PRC as an elected body is able to serve the best interests of all New Mexicans. Also signed by the following state representatives: James Strickler, R-Farmington; Sharon Clahchischilliage, R-Kirtland; David Gallegos, R-Eunice; Larry Scott, R-Hobbs; Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad; Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell; Larry Larranaga, R-Albuquerque; and Jim Townsend, R-Artesia. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Writer As 83-year-old Nicaragua native Rosa Amaya spoke the final words of her oath of allegiance to the United States officially becoming a citizen she let go of her walker and threw her fist in the air. Im proud to be a U.S. citizen, and I will defend this great country until my last breath, she shouted in Spanish at a naturalization ceremony last week in Albuquerque, one of many happening each month in New Mexico and West Texas amid a surge in citizenship applications. Advocates say that, over the past year, they have seen renewed interest among immigrants to cement their legal status in order to vote, motivated in part by years of record deportations under the Obama administration and months of anti-illegal immigrant statements from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Local advocacy groups have stepped up citizenship and voter registration drives over the past year as well. Applications for citizenship received at the Albuquerque U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office climbed 48 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 compared with the same April to June period a year ago, to 673 from 456. Applications at the El Paso USCIS office where many southern New Mexican immigrants file their paperwork surged 67 percent at the same time, to 2,220 from 1,328. The backlog of citizenship applications nearly doubled at both locations, comparing the three-month period year over year. This uptick has not happened by chance, said Neza Leal Santillan, spokesman for Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Santa Fe-based nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights. Its an intentional effort that immigrant families throughout the state have been working on. Nationally, the number of citizenship applications is trending up 14 percent so far this fiscal year after three straight years of growth, according to USCIS spokeswoman Arwen Consaul. She said she cannot say whether the recent rise in New Mexico is due to the political climate, but added, When I talk to people at naturalization ceremonies, I would say about half the people I talk to say its because they want to vote. In southern New Mexico, the Border Network for Human Rights has been working for nearly two decades to help immigrant families gain legal status or citizenship and register to vote an uphill battle for most of that time, said BNHR Executive Director Fernando Garcia. We were facing a number of challenges, he said. Some of these families did not trust the political system because they come from places like Mexico where the system is essentially broken. Once they got legal status or became residents, they didnt do the effort of becoming citizens because they didnt see the benefit. But that changed last year. Deportation fears Advocates say that immigrants have been facing an onslaught of policies current and proposed that threaten to divide their families and communities. Although the Department of Homeland Security has recently eased the pace of deportations, focusing on removing criminals and recent border crossers, more than 2.4 million people have been deported under the Obama administration from 2009 to 2014 including a historic record of 435,000 people in 2013, according to the Pew Research Center. Get-tough immigration proposals dominated the Republican presidential primary earlier this year, and Trump has built his campaign on promises to secure the border by building a great wall and deporting immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has promised comprehensive immigration reform that would include a full and equal path to citizenship for many immigrants living in the country illegally. Garcia said fears of family separation began to spark interest in immigrant communities to secure citizenship a costly, time-consuming process that can be especially difficult for immigrants in rural areas where legal help is nonexistent or expensive and USCIS offices are hours away in Albuquerque or El Paso. Then, starting last year, what really changed the conditions on the ground was this very aggressive rhetoric coming from the presidential election, where the promise for the future was build more walls and deport everyone undocumented in this country, Garcia said. People became really afraid, but they also got angry. Leal Santillan said Somos doesnt endorse candidates or political parties, but he said individual members say they are especially concerned with immigrant rights. Regardless of which candidate or party they support, they want to send a message to all candidates to say these are the issues they care about, he said. Legal permanent residents can apply for citizenship after three years if they are here on a fiances green card or after five years on any other green card. The filing fee costs $680 and the process for those who qualify can take six months, Consaul said. Applicants must show up to the field offices at least twice, for fingerprinting and an interview. Marina Pina, Somos organizer for southeastern New Mexico, said immigrants who belong to the Somos network began a concerted effort a year ago to help family and community members apply for citizenship and register to vote. Immigrant families decided to start reaching out to legal permanent residents to help them go through the process for citizenship, she said. Most of our families are mixed-status families. Some of us are undocumented or married to a U.S. citizen or have children who are U.S. citizens. Definitely we do expect to see a larger voter turnout. We have been working on the ground doing voter registration day in and day out in the areas of Roswell, Hobbs and Clovis. Many of our members who are doing the work cant even vote. Cant wait to vote Bertha Andrade, 70, lived in Hobbs as a legal permanent resident for 24 years before applying for citizenship, thanks to help from Somos. She took her citizenship oath in July, got certified to register others to vote and said immigration reform is on the top of her mind for November. My main concern is for all the workers in my community who havent been able to legalize and who want a better future, she said. At the Albuquerque ceremony, where 45 people took the oath of citizenship, a USCIS official called out country names, and one person each stood for China, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines and Yemen with most of the room standing when Mexico was called. Rosa Artiaga and Antonio Garcia, both from the Chihuahua state in Mexico, said they wanted to become U.S. citizens before the November election so they could vote. So did Honduras native Cesaria Fidelia Umanzor. Amaya, the woman from Nicaragua, shouted again excitedly as the ceremony ended: I want to vote. I cant wait to vote. Journal photographer Roberto E. Rosales contributed to this story. Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal In New Mexico, 1941 was the year it never stopped raining. Or at least thats the way it seemed. Flooding washed out bridges and roads; destroyed homes, businesses and irrigation ditches; forced people to share refuge with venomous reptiles; and severed a gas line so that some Albuquerque residents took to cooking over backyard campfires. On the final day of the 1941 State Fair, 8,000 fans braved a cold, driving rain to watch the horses races. And that year, 28 people died from weather-related causes, 24 of them in flooding. In 1941, New Mexico got a statewide average of 26.25 inches of rain, about twice the normal statewide average of 13.96 inches. It was the wettest year in New Mexico history, the standard against which every other wet year in the state is measured. It was a remarkable year, said Chuck Jones, a meteorologist with the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service. It is a year that will not be repeated, or maybe once every 500 years. On Sunday, Sept. 21, 1941, 75 years and a few days ago, a headline on the front page of the Journal trumpeted the opening of the fourth New Mexico State Fair. 20,000 Expected to Throng Grounds as State Fair Opens, it read. Back then, when much more of the state was rooted in a rural lifestyle, the opening of the State Fair was an even bigger deal than it is now. But, on this day, the fair story was dwarfed by a banner headline reading City Left Without Gas as Flood Breaks Pipeline. That story told about a flash flood north of Albuquerque that cut the line supplying the city with natural gas. Another headline on the front page that day shouted Carlsbad Menaced By Flood: Residents in Low Areas Ordered to Leave Their Houses. Rainwater barreling out of Hackberry Draw, and McKitric and Walnut canyons rumbled into south Carlsbad, forcing 1,000 residents to evacuate their homes. Intrigued by the phenomenal weather year, Albuquerque native Sharon Sullivan started work on an honors thesis about 1941s abnormal precipitation levels while she was an undergraduate at the University of New Mexico in 2013. There were deaths, a lot of property damage and snowfall in high amounts in some places, Sullivan, now a graduate student in atmospheric science at the University of Wyoming, said during a phone interview. September is the most variable month. It can be exceptionally dry, but also very wet. September 1941 is the wettest September on record in New Mexico. That September, the state got 5.48 inches of rain, 3.81 inches more than normal for that month. May was also exceptionally wet that year, soaking up 3.71 inches, or 2.66 inches more than normal. May 1941 was easily the wettest May (in state history), Jones said. March 1941 was the second-wettest March on record, with a statewide average of 2.20 inches. The wettest March was 1905 with 2.21 inches. Close. Actually, nine months got better-than-average rainfall in New Mexico in 1941. November was the only month that year that got less than normal rainfall totals. August and December were about average. According to a Journal story, heavy rains and spring runoff caused Elephant Butte Reservoir to fill up to the spillway at total of 1.83 million acre-feet of water on June 29, 1941, the first time that had happened since the reservoir was built in 1916. Flooding was the worst in May and September. Much of the state suffered washed out bridges and roads, ruined crops and damaged irrigation ditches. In her thesis, Sullivan writes that property damage that year was estimated at $3.5 million, which would be about $55 million in todays dollars. Most of the 24 people who died in floods lost their lives in the Carlsbad area of southeast New Mexico or along the Gila River in the southwest part of the state. The May 25 Journal reported Carlsbad Counts 5 Flood Dead; 300 Homes wrecked. A headline in the Sept. 30 Journal read Two Drown in Gila Flooding; Water Rises in Roswell. Death totals in both areas would rise as bodies were recovered. Every street in Roswell was washed away and many people, such as Mrs. Chase McReynolds, a member of a ranching family in Redrock in southwest New Mexico, experienced harrowing situations. According to a story in the Oct. 1 Journal, floodwaters from the Gila River forced McReynolds to climb into a tree, which she shared for 12 hours with three rattlesnakes. She said the snakes were in the tree before she was. She broke off a branch and knocked two of the snakes into the water when they coiled and struck at her, the story read. They promptly climbed back into the tree. McReynolds husband rescued her when he returned to the ranch. The story does not report what happened to the snakes. So what was it about 1941 that had usually arid New Mexico as soggy as an English marsh? Jones and Sullivan agree that finding that answer was a challenge because weather-gathering methods were not as extensive or sophisticated then as they are now. We did not have nearly as many weather stations in New Mexico in 1941, Jones said. We have about 200 around the state now, but maybe half as many back then. The bigger the sample, the more confident you are going to be in your results. Sullivan said upper-air data was not collected in 1941. So a determination of anomalous patterns was difficult, Sullivan said. But it was kind of fun trying to look at everything that was available. Old records at the National Weather Service in Albuquerque had monthly summaries by farmers and weather observers. What Sullivan determined was that there was no single cause for the highly abnormal weather. She said a teaming up of El Nino, a moisture-dense weather pattern created by warmer than usual sea-surface temperatures in the southern Pacific, and Pacific Decatel Oscillation (PDO), a similar pattern caused by warm sea-surface temperatures farther north in the Pacific, played a role in New Mexicos unusually wet year. It was a combination of PDO and El Nino, and also multiple independent high-precipitation storm events in the region and tropical storm remnants, she said. We are unlikely to see storm events like we saw in 1941 again. As Sullivan notes in her thesis: The year 1941 will forever stand out as a significant event in the climatological history for New Mexico. The 2016 Governors New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Awards has selected 11 individuals from throughout the state, plus a lifetime achievement family, to fete at a gala banquet Nov. 16 in Albuquerque. The event at the Marriott Pyramid North will feature celebrated Albuquerque Journal editorial cartoonist John Trever delivering a keynote address on his unique vision and perspective on the Land of Enchantment. Tickets are $75, or $750 for a table of 10. The program this year plans to give out a total of more than $60,000 in scholarship money to representatives of the states three research universities the University of New Mexico, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and New Mexico State University. The Lifetime Achievement Award is going to Joe and Christine Di Gregorio and family from the greater Gallup area. This years honorees hail from Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Roy, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Lea County, McKinley County, Edgewood and Albuquerque, and include a pair of law enforcement officers, plus perhaps the youngest ever recipient of this award. They are, alphabetically: Dr. John Andazola, Dona Ana County Patsy Cline (posthumous) of Lea County William and Aileen Garcia of Santa Fe Priscila Gonzales of Roy, and now Albuquerque Retired Deputy Robin Hopkins of Bernalillo County Ron Lovato of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Jim Ogle of Albuquerque Mary Ellen Pellington of Gallup Donovan Smith, 13, of Albuquerque State Police Officer Jeremy Vaughn of Edgewood The 47th annual awards program seeks out individuals to recognize not only for unusual contributions to public service, but also for exceptional contributions to the community. Developed by Dr. Albert Rosenthal, professor and director emeritus in public administration at the University of New Mexico, in the 1960s, it has raised tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships at three New Mexico universities. The program is chaired by Sherman McCorkle and Gov. Susana Martinez. It aims to promote public appreciation of the quality of people in public service and to encourage outstanding young people to seek careers in the public service. NM Public Service Awards banquet Copyright 2016 Albuquerque Journal Journal Staff Writer More University of New Mexico law graduates are failing a new national bar exam designed to prove their competence as attorneys a 13 percentage point drop from last year and among them is a disproportionate number of minority students and women. A UNM School of Law administrator said the adoption of a new test, the uniform bar exam now given in about half the states and first used in New Mexico in 2016, accounts for the lower test scores. But Erica Moeser, president of the National Conference of Bar Examiners, said the new test, which makes it easier to practice in other states that use the exam, isnt to blame. She noted that UNM has been using topics in the new exam in its courses. New Mexico adopted the new test in November and started using it this year. In February, 71 percent of first-time UNM grads taking the exam passed; in July, that number had fallen to 68 percent. Thats a 13 percentage point drop compared with UNMs July 2015 rate of 81 percent for first-time test takers. The overall pass rate for everyone taking the bar exam here in July 2016 including graduates from other law schools was 64 percent, according to the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners. In February 2015, nearly 90 percent of first-time test takers passed the test, as did 80 percent overall. By July 2015, the first-time test-taker rate had fallen to 76 percent, while the overall rate had dropped to 72 percent. New Mexicos pass rates are generally in the low 80s. Howard Thomas, chairman of the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, said its not clear yet why the pass rate for UNM students dropped so much. As always the Board continues to analyze the exam and engage in dialogue with the UNM School of Law and the larger New Mexico legal community, Thomas said in an email to the Journal . While UNM does offer assistance with the bar exam, its incumbent on students to take private courses to prep for the exam. The law school acknowledged the dropping test scores in a letter sent to alumni and others associated with the school. The letter signed by co-deans Sergio Pareja and Alfred Mathewson said staff will analyze the new exam and make changes as needed to get the first-time pass rate to 80 percent by 2018. They also want to develop a strategy to have 85 percent of students pass the bar within 18 months, also by 2018. When it comes to the new uniform bar exam, the deans letter said minority students fared worse than their white counterparts, and men performed better than women. The letter said 14 Native Americans took the test, but none passed. Michael Platero, the treasurer of the Native American Law Student Association, said news of the Native American pass rate shocked the group. As the February bar exam is just months away, we are taking direct action to work with faculty, staff and other student organizations at the University of New Mexico School of Law to develop solutions for current and future students, Platero wrote in a statement to the Journal . The Indian law program has long been a point of pride for the UNM law school. The UNM law schools co-deans noted in the letter that other states also have lower pass rates since adopting the new exam. But that doesnt appear to be the case in Arizona, which adopted the uniform bar exam in 2012. A spokeswoman for the Sandra Day OConnor College of Law at Arizona State University said the bar pass rate for its graduates had not significantly changed. And in Colorado, which adopted the new exam in 2011, the bar pass rate for state graduates didnt immediately change, according to a law professor at University of Denver Sturm College of Law. In 2012, it was 85 percent, but by 2015 it had dropped to 77 percent. Focus on fundamentals Rob Doughty, president of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, said UNM isnt the only school struggling with the new bar exam, but it is evident that we need to refocus on fundamentals. We need to be serving our students better from admissions to graduation, said Doughty, an attorney who earned his degree at the UNM School of Law. Denise Chanez and Leon Howard, the chairs of the state bars diversity panel, said the recent bar exam results were concerning. They said they are in the process of talking to professional groups for minorities, such as New Mexico Hispanic Bar and the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association, to find the best way to offer support for students. Our No. 1 mission is to ensure that the diversity of our profession is moving in the right direction, Howard said. Were waiting to get more information so we can definitely say what the root causes are for these test results. Chanez said theyre not trying to intervene with the law schools purview. Were just trying to figure out a way we can supplement what theyre doing and provide some support as attorneys for students, she said. Test changes In the previous test, New Mexico attorneys wrote three, or half, of the essay questions that focused on state law. The uniform bar exam abandons that material. Subjects like Indian law and administrative law, common principles in New Mexico, were included but are no longer testable subjects in the uniform bar exam, according to Heather Harrigan, an administrator at the UNM School of Law. The challenge is preparing law school students to practice in the state while addressing legal principles that are not as applicable here as they might be elsewhere. We need to remember New Mexico is unique in many ways, Harrigan said. Were going to have to find that balance. WASHINGTON When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump square off at Hofstra University in New York for the first presidential debate of the general election Monday night, the stakes and the television ratings will be sky high. The prime-time faceoff between the former Democratic U.S. senator and secretary of state, and the unorthodox Republican businessman marks the first time the two candidates will spar on a national stage in a formal debate. The moment is expected to draw the biggest television ratings for a debate since Ronald Reagan squared off against Jimmy Carter in 1980. NBCs Lester Holt will moderate the 90-minute debate, which begins at 7 p.m. MDT. Both candidates were busy prepping for the debate late last week as their surrogates sought to frame the event in terms favorable to their candidate. Sean Spicer, chief strategist for the Republican National Committee, issued a memo Thursday that aimed to lower expectations for Trump, who is making his first bid for political office. Clinton is a career politician who has spent years sharpening her debate reflexes and beefing up on public policy, Spicer wrote in the memo. Donald Trump is new to the format. Aside from the primary debates (which have lower levels of attention focused on them and many more participants), Trumps lack of formal, political, one-on-one debate experience gives Clinton a significant advantage. Trump hasnt been running for president for 24 years. Hes spent his career as a successful businessman. Meanwhile, Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri told reporters on a conference call Friday that Holt, the moderator, has a duty to call Trump out if he asserts falsehoods during the debate. For the moderator to let lies go unchallenged would give Donald Trump an unfair advantage, Palmieri said. We do believe it is the role of the moderator to call out those lies and to do that in real time. She (Clinton) will respond when he misrepresents her own record but, given the historic nature of how much Donald Trump lies, it cannot be only on her. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Trump has been gaining ground in several crucial battlegrounds, including Florida, Iowa and Ohio, over the past two weeks, though a national NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday showed Clinton with a six-point lead nationally, 43 percent to 37 percent. But Rasmussen Reports weekly White House Watch telephone and online survey last week found Trump with 44 percent support among likely U.S. voters to Clintons 39 percent. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee and a former New Mexico governor, was at 9 percent in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, while the Green Partys Jill Stein was at 3 percent. Johnson has been fighting for inclusion in the debates, but he did not meet the 15 percent polling threshold required to be included in the first matchup. His campaign said it is hopeful he can boost his polling numbers sufficiently before the next presidential debate Oct. 9. Lonna Atkeson, director of the Center for the Study of Voting, Elections and Democracy at the University of New Mexico, said Clintons most urgent challenge in Mondays debate is to appeal to younger voters, who have been persistently lukewarm about her candidacy. Clinton wants to connect with millennials, Atkeson said. So-called millennial voters were widely credited with helping President Barack Obama win election in 2008 and 2012, but that enthusiasm has not transferred to the current Democratic candidate. Atkeson also said Clinton, who recently suffered a bout of pneumonia and has battled persistent questions about her health, needs to appear robust. Its important for her not to look ill, Atkeson said. She said Trump, who is famous for bombastic and often angry outbursts, needs to keep his cool to come across as presidential. He just has to not lose it, Atkeson said, adding that the Hofstra University event Monday will mark the first time he has met a Democrat in a formal debate. Trump did participate in a long series of debates with Republicans earlier this year, but Atkeson said thats very different than a one-on-one debate. New Mexicans like many Americans will be watching the first of three presidential debates with great interest. The Clinton campaign is hosting debate watch parties across the state, with one in Albuquerque scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, 530 Jefferson St. NE. The Republican Party of New Mexico is hosting a watch party from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the GOP headquarters at 5150 San Francisco Rd. NE # A. A $5 contribution is suggested. (Adopted at the Fourth Session of the Sixth National People's Congress on April 12, 1986 Amended according to the Decision on Revision of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign-Capital Enterprises adopted at the 18th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on October 31, 2000) Article 1 With a view to expanding economic cooperation and technological exchange with foreign countries and promoting the development of China's national economy, the People's Republic of China permits foreign enterprises, other foreign economic organizations and individuals (hereinafter collectively referred to as "foreign investors") to set up enterprises with foreign capital in China and protects the lawful rights and interests of such enterprises. Article 2 As mentioned in this Law, "enterprises with foreign capital" refers to those enterprises established in China by foreign investors, exclusively with their own capital, in accordance with relevant Chinese laws. The term does not include branches set up in China by foreign enterprises and other foreign economic organizations. Article 3 Enterprises with foreign capital shall be established in such a manner as to help the development of China's national economy. The State may encourage the establishment of foreign-capital enterprises that are export-oriented or technologically advanced. Regulations shall be formulated by the State Council regarding the lines of business which the State forbids enterprises with foreign capital to engage in or on which it places certain restrictions. Article 4 The investments of a foreign investor in China, the profits it earns and its other lawful rights and interests are protected by Chinese law. Enterprises with foreign capital shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations and may not engage in any activities detrimental to China's public interests. Article 5 The State does not nationalize or requisition any enterprise with foreign capital. However, under special circumstances when public interests require, enterprises with foreign capital may be requisitioned through legal procedures and appropriate compensation shall be made. Article 6 The application to establish an enterprise with foreign capital shall be submitted for examination and approval to the department under the State Council which is in charge of foreign economic relations and trade, or to an institution authorized by the State Council. The authorities in charge of examination and approval shall, within 90 days from the date they receives such application, decide whether or not to grant approval. Article 7 When the application for the establishment of an enterprise with foreign capital is approved, the foreign investor shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving the certificate of approval, apply to the administrative department for industry and commerce for registration in order to obtain a business licence. The date of issue of the business licence of foreign-capital enterprise shall be the date of its establishment, Article 8 An enterprise with foreign capital which meets the conditions for being considered a legal person under Chinese law shall acquire the status of a Chinese legal person in accordance with law. Article 9 An enterprise with foreign capital shall make investments in China within the period approved by the authorities in charge of examination and approval. If it fails to do so, the administrative departments for industry and commerce shall have the power to cancel its business licence. The administrative department for industry and commerce shall inspect and supervise the investment situation of an enterprise with foreign capital. Article 10 In the event of separation, merger or other major change, an enterprise with foreign capital shall report the matter to and seek approval from the authorities in charge of examination and approval, and register the change with the administrative department for industry and commerce. Article 11 Enterprises with foreign capital shall conduct their operation and management in accordance with the approved articles of association and shall be free from any interference. Article 12 When employing Chinese workers and staff, an enterprise with foreign capital shall conclude contracts with them according to law, in which matters concerning employment, dismissal, remuneration, welfare benefits, occupational protection and labour insurance shall be clearly prescribed.@@page@@ Article 13 Workers and staff of enterprises with foreign capital may organize trade unions in accordance with law, in order to conduct trade union activities and protect their lawful rights and interests. The said enterprises shall provide the necessary conditions for the activities of the trade unions in their respective enterprises. Article 14 An enterprise with foreign capital shall set up account books in China, conduct independent accounting, submit the fiscal reports and statements as required and accept supervision by the financial and tax authorities. If an enterprise with foreign capital refuses to maintain account books in China, the financial and tax authorities may impose a fine on it, and the administrative department for industry and commerce may order it to suspend operation or may revoke its business licence. Article 15 A foreign-capital enterprise may, in adherence to the principles of fairness and rationality, purchase on both the Chinese and the world market the raw and semi-processed materials, fuels and other materials it needs within the approved scope of operation. Article 16 Enterprises with foreign capital shall apply to insurance companies in China for such kinds of insurance coverage as are needed. Article 17 Enterprises with foreign capital shall pay taxes in accordance with relevant State regulations for tax payment, and may enjoy preferential treatment for reduction of or exemption from taxes. An enterprise with foreign capital that reinvests its profits in China after paying the income tax may, in accordance with relevant State regulations, apply for refund of a part of the income tax already paid on the reinvested amount. Article 18 An enterprise with foreign capital shall handle its foreign exchange transactions in accordance with the State regulations on foreign exchange control. An enterprise with foreign capital shall open an account with the Bank of China or with a bank designated by the State authority exercising foreign exchange control. Article 19 The foreign investor may remit abroad the profits that are lawfully earned from an enterprise with its investment, as well as other lawful earnings and any funds remaining after the enterprise is liquidated. Wages, salaries and other legitimate income earned by foreign employees in an enterprise with foreign capital may be remitted abroad after the payment of individual income tax in accordance with law. Article 20 With respect to the period of operation of an enterprise with foreign capital, the foreign investor shall report to and secure approval from the authorities in charge of examination and approval. For an extension of the period of operation, an application shall be submitted to the said authorities 180 days before the expiration of the period. The authorities in charge of examination and approval shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving such application, decide whether or not to grant the extension. Article 21 When terminating its operation, an enterprise with foreign capital shall promptly issue a public notice and proceed with liquidation in accordance with legal procedure. Pending the completion of liquidation, a foreign investor may not dispose of the assets of the enterprise except for the purpose of liquidation. Article 22 At the termination of operation, the enterprise with foreign capital shall cancel its registration with the administrative department for industry and commerce and hand in its business licence for cancellation. Article 23 The department under the State Council which is in charge of foreign economic relations and trade shall, in accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation, which shall go into effect after being submitted to and approved by the State Council. Article 24 This Law shall go into effect as of the date of its promulgation. Syria conflict: UN chief 'appalled' by Aleppo escalation UN chief Ban Ki-moon is "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo, his spokesman says. What if when you placed an order for your business, you got a little something extra? Maybe a lot of something extra? For free. Like three cases of Ketel One vodka worth $377. Or a case of New Amsterdam vodka worth $196. Or lots of tasting samples and around $3,500 in free booze? One restaurateur in town says thats the way the liquor industry does business. But in a record settlement agreement, the state Regulation and Licensing Departments Alcohol and Gaming Division says handing out that kind of freebie is against the law if it undercuts the competition. On March 1 the divisions general counsel issued subpoenas to the benefactor passing out the free liquor, National Distributing Company, and to the recipients Scalo Northern Italian Grill, Vintage 423 Restaurant and Lounge and The Local Brewhouse. Less than two months after the demand for invoices, National paid a $205,000 fine to make the case go away. A May 26 agreement signed by Michael A. Thomas, executive vice president of National Distributing Company in New Mexico, acknowledged that Alcohol and Gaming Division Director Mary Kay Root and her staff have concluded that sufficient evidence exists that could sustain violations of the Liquor Control Act against (National, and National) wishes to resolve this matter without the filing of formal charges by the (division). The company strongly disputed it did anything wrong and did not admit wrongdoing, guilt or civil liability. Thomas only comment to the Journal came via email in which he said that in the interest of bringing these concerns raised by the Alcohol and Gaming Division to a rapid conclusion, the parties mutually agreed to resolve this matter through NDCs making a payment to the Division. Thomas said in his statement that the matter had been resolved to the satisfaction of the AGD; hence, NDC now considers this matter closed. Big deliveries The 28 batches of invoices provided to the Journal in response to an Inspection of Public records request show a whole lot of liquor being dropped off for no charge. The Local Brewhouse, on Unser in Rio Rancho, has the vaguest invoices, with 16 Tasting Sample line items along with a free keg of Big Sky Moose Drool Brown Ale (list price $129.99) delivered at no charge. Stephen Pitt, named in a subpoena as the registered agent for the bar, said in an interview he got like $3,500 worth of free liquor because his was a new business and new account. After working 15 years in the bar business, he says the subpoena and settlement were a bit of a shocker. I called the Alcohol and Gaming Division right away; they said you didnt do anything wrong. Joseph Cueto of the state Regulation and Licensing Department, which oversees Alcohol and Gaming, says its not against the law for the bars to accept the free liquor. But its against the law for alcohol distributors to give out free products meant to undercut competition. At Scalo on Central, the invoices show $00.00 charged for liters of Jameson Irish Whiskey ($35.39 a bottle), Hendricks gin ($39.50 a bottle), and lots and lots of vodka, including a case of New Amsterdam Vodka ($196 for 12 bottles). The tally of free booze adds up to around $650. Scalo owner Stephen Paternoster has been in the business for almost three decades and said in an interview free goods have always been used to get you to purchase something. You buy a case and get two bottles on the side. Its a pretty common occurrence in the industry. We would never take a chance with our liquor licenses (if we thought it wasnt legal); its not the way we do business. Liquor licenses are now going for around $300,000 to $350,000 each, he says, and because hes still paying off the loan on his, he is concerned the National drama could cause him problems. Its a big bucks business, he adds, and the freebies are enticements to make a big purchase and come from all the distributors, big and small, as well as manufacturers. I run a clean business, he says. I cant be cavalier with $300,000; its not something we mess with. Invoices for Vintage 423, on Paseo del Norte, are the most extensive, with liters of flavored vodkas, whiskeys, gin, proseco and wines, and several cases of Russian Standard Vodka ($155.36 list price) and Ketel One Vodka (3 worth $377.92) delivered at no charge. Invoices show Vintage 423 would buy a case of Russian Standard and get one free, six cases of Ketel One Vodka and get three free, eight bottles of Johnny Walker Black ($49.72 each) and get two more free, you get the idea. The invoices show Vintage received more than $4,300 worth of liquor at no charge, not counting whatever the two Tasting Samples were worth. Vintage and registered agent Rudy A. Guzman did not respond to requests for comment. Cueto says a tip from marketplace contacts led to the investigation into National Distributing Co., which ultimately led to fines. The Department will continue to enforce the law. As for freebies being the norm, Cueto says according to the Alcohol Gaming Division director, more than $5,000 in free product was provided to retailers by National Distributing Co. A fine was then levied equal to one days gross revenue loss, which amounted to $205,000. Any free products valued at more than $300 can be considered an inducement meant to undercut competition. New York case While the recent settlement here reflected the largest fine levied in state history, its likely a deal Nationals affiliate, Republican National Distributing, wishes it could get. RND is facing a 23-count federal indictment filed May 24 alleging a $9 million scheme to smuggle booze from Maryland to New York to beat New Yorks state excise tax, which is $7.44 on a gallon of alcohol for retail sale. (That tax is just $1.50 a gallon in Maryland.) The company and three employees are facing $250,000 fines and up to 20 years in prison. Last week New Yorks largest distributor, Empire Merchants, fired its CEO and filed federal fraud charges against one of its owners for alleged involvement in the interstate smuggling scheme. RND, the nations second-largest wine and spirits distributor, denies wrongdoing in a May news release and says it looks forward to our day in court and the indictment is a rogue effort by a federal agency to seize control of state regulation of liquor sales in violation of longstanding law. UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to assistant editorial page editor DVal Westphal at 823-3858 or road@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Jose Marrufo played the role of spoiler, and he proved that the outcome of his first fight with Albuquerques Josh Torres was no fluke. Marrufo won a majority decision in the headlining bout at MCM Elegante Hotel on Saturday night. Marrufo consistently outworked the popular Duke City boxer, winning by 78-75, 78-74, 76-76 on the judges cards. Two years ago, Marrufo and Torres battled to a draw as Marrufos volume punching clearly curried some favor with the judges. This time, the extra hustle paid off. It was a great fight, and Josh is a good boxer with a bright future, Marrufo said. Marrufo (10-5-2) eschewed the jab, and instead piled up the points with big rights and lefts to take a comfortable lead into the later rounds. I just had trouble getting my punches off, Torres said, who was not as disappointed as one might think after a defeat. Torres (15-6-2) started to let his hands go in the latter stages of the seventh round and had his best moments in the final round when he knocked Marrufo off balance, and scored a flash knockdown with less than 10 seconds in the fight. Unfortunately for Torres, it was too little, too late. I didnt box like I should have, Torres said. In the co-main event, Albuquerque junior middleweight Jose Sanchez (6-1) overcame several fouls from Arturo Crespin (13-8) to capture a decisive unanimous decision victory. Sanchez swept all three cards by 60-51 counts. I know I only had six fights coming in, but I had a lot of amateur fights, Sanchez said, speaking about the professional experience difference between him and Crespin. Sanchez found a home for his straight right and left hook to the body all night. Crespins only consistent answers to Sanchezs accurate punching were consistent fouls. Sanchez never lost his cool as Crespin had points deducted in the second and sixth rounds, and a knockdown of Crespin in the sixth sealed the win. Hard work just pays off, Sanchez said. Id like to get my rematch with Josh Torres. Earlier in the evening, Sanchezs younger brother, Jason, propelled his unbeaten career with a tougher-than-expected sixth-round knockout of El Pasos Juan Guillen. Jason Sanchez (8-0) looked to make quick work of Guillen, knocking the Texas native down twice in the opening round with hard body shots. To his credit, Guillen effectively counterpunched his way back into the fight. I didnt think it was going to last as long as it did, Sanchez said. I hit him with some good shots, but he kept coming forward. The end came at 1:17 of the final round when Sanchez staggered Guillen with a right uppercut, and after a volley of punches while Guillen was on the ropes, a hard left hook to the body sent Guillen (7-5-1) to the canvas for the final time. It was a good experience for this stage of my career, Sanchez said. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARD: In the opener, Albuquerque featherweight Jesus Pacheco (6-5) used effective body punching to earn a unanimous decision over late replacement Sergio Najera (11-27-2) of Tijuana, Calif. Pacheco dedicated the victory to his grandfather, who is currently in the hospital. Bosque Farms Katie Ramirez (0-1-1) and San Antonio, Texas Briana Gonzalez (1-0-1) battled to a four-round draw in the lone womens fight of the evening. In a heavyweight rematch from 13 months ago, Gallups Ronald Baca (8-3) duplicated his win over Manuel Otero (2-7), displaying crisp counterpunching to sweep the judges scorecards. Albuquerque featherweight Jose Osorio (6-3-1) picked up his third career knockout victory stopping Gabriel Braxton at 1:08. Osorio used a beautiful right-left combination to put Braxtons lights out. Albuquerque police are searching for two of three suspects wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in Northeast Albuquerque earlier this year. On June 20 police found Larry Sanchez, 49, dead after he was shot and pushed out of a car on the 6100 block of Casa Feliz NE near Academy and Moon, according to an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman. Officer Tanner Tixier said detectives believe Dakota Cook, 24, shot and killed Sanchez. Cook was later arrested on unrelated charges and is serving time in prison. Cook was shot and injured June 24 by Los Lunas police officers after a car and foot chase. He and another man had been suspected of stealing a Corvette in Edgewood earlier in the day. Cooks alleged accomplices in the Sanchez killing, Joe Ray Newson, 27, and Antoinette Martinez, 40, are still on the loose and police are searching for them, Tixier said Sunday. Newson and Martinez should be considered armed and dangerous, Tixier said. He said Newson was recently arrested while armed inside a carjacked vehicle, and he is also a suspect in an auto burglary in which shots were fired at his aunts residence. Should the public encounter either of these dangerous subjects they should call 911 immediately, Tixier said. Offer a personal message of congratulations... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each announcement. By sharing a positive thought you add happiness to the lives of those who are reaching a new life milestone. . . From a Guest Book, you may log in with a third-party account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. Dairy producers must look past headline milk prices and read the fine print in their contracts, the NFU has warned. As UK milk production continues to fall and the number of farmers keeps shrinking, some processors are beginning to offer new contracts in order to safeguard their output. The headline price that contracts are sold against will fluctuate, often lagging behind when market prices rise and matching the market more quickly when it drops. This makes knowing the smaller details and clauses within contracts of vital importance, putting producers in the best possible position to deal with contracts that are often unjust, unfair and unbalanced, NFU chief dairy adviser, Sian Davies told Farmers Weekly. See also: Milk contracts what farmers need to check If you are offered a higher milk price you are probably going to take it and not consider the contracts other terms and conditions, she said. It is vital that farmers understand the other terms of the contract and are happy with them. These include clauses such as 12-month notice periods, exclusivity rules and penalties and bonuses for constituent levels, Ms Davies added. But Nick Holt-Martyn, principal consultant at The Dairy Group, said most producers would not enjoy the luxury of multiple contract offers and, for them, headline price is everything. Prices may be creeping up by a penny or two but the reality is many producers are still struggling to make ends meet, Mr Holt-Martyn said. They will be looking to their headline price, the track record of buyers, and how theyve respected their suppliers in the past three or four years. But the reality is, dependent on where your farm is, theres rarely more than one processor you can feasibly sell your milk to anyway. Shanghai represents glitz and glam renowned for its futuristic skyline that encompasses architectural masterpieces, with traditional cuisine that persists at the core of its being. The most populated city in the world, Shanghai sprawls down the eastern coastline of China, attracting tourists with its elegant architecture, luxury shopping and riveting subculture. Things to do in Shanghai The Bund sits at the heart of Shanghai, comprising the majority of the citys economic infrastructure, including banks and trading houses. Simply stroll down by the waterfront and admire the collection of art deco buildings and unique juxtaposition of traditional and modern China. Looking for the citys best views? Stepping out onto the observation platform of the Shanghai Tower is sure to take your breath away. From the worlds highest sky deck, you can peer down on the Jinmao Tower and World Financial Centre below you. When youre done with your photographs, break for some retail therapy in the mall at the base. Escape the concrete jungle and visit The Yuyuan Gardens & Bazaar, located beside the City God Temple in the Old City. Enjoy the parks spread of pavilions, pine trees, and places to relax out of the sun, a perfect escape in the midst of a thriving metropolis. For a taste of art and Shanghai subculture, check out one of the galleries in the M50 art complex. Want to learn about the history of the city? The Shanghai Museum is a must-see, transporting you back in time through the Ancient Chinese Bronzes Gallery and the impressive Chinese Calligraphy Gallery. Getting around Shanghai The Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport provide for gateways in and out of the city, connecting you to the rest of the world.Shanghais extensive public transit system consists of metros, buses and taxis. For an entertaining change of pace, catch a ride on the worlds oldest trolleybus system. Berekelyside's editor-In-chief says homeless death is low priority news by News Junkie Roberto Benitas, a homeless Berkeley resident, died in his sleep. His body was found the next morning on September 18th. Frances Dinkelspiel, the editor-in-chief of Berkeleyside, was asked by a local reader why the death was not reported by the website, and the response was "people die all the time". Dinkelspiel continued by writing that the death was a low priority and didn't have as great an impact on the community compared to the stories they did cover. Berkeleyside posted a brief article on a vigil held for Roberto Benitas. Prior to the vigil, the website did not inform its readers that the event was going to take place. Members of the public were left uninformed that there was going to be a gathering, even though the website knew ahead of time. The website was able to send both a reporter and a photographer. After the article about the vigil was posted on Saturday, a reader asked in the comments section why Berkeleyside did not cover the death which took place a week prior. The reader also asked why information about the vigil was not posted so more of the public could possibly attend. Frances Dinkelspiel responded by posting "People die all the time", and added that Benitas' death "took lower priority" than other issues reported by the website. Dinkelspiel said that Benitas' death did not have a great impact on the community compared to other stories covered by Berkeleyside. According to Dinkelspiel, the staff at Berkeleyside was focused on big news stories that had great community community impact. Benitas died on on September 18th. On September 19th, there was no news story posted about his death. Instead, Berkeleyside reported on a semitruck which caught fire on I-80; no injuries were associated with this mundane event. Dinkelspiel claimed that Berkeleyside writers were busy on September 18th covering the shooting of a teenager in West Berkeley. The shooting actually took place 2 days before, on September 16th. Berkeleyside had already posted a news article about the shooting on 11:25PM on the night of the 16th. The article was only 11 sentences in length. No updates were posted in the following days. There is no indication that coverage of the shooting would have impeded any possible reporting on Benitas' death. According to the Dinselspiel, the resignation of the Berkeley police chief took priority from covering Benitas' death. The chief of police did not resign until September 21st, which was 3 days after Benitas was found in his sleeping bag in front of the UHaul building. It is not clear how the chief's resignation could have prevented Berkeleyside from writing about Benitas in the days before the chief made his announcement to step down. Other events such as a shooting on the 21st, and other crimes later in the week, happened days after Benitas was found. It seems like Berkeleyside could have made some mention of his passing. Berkeleyside didn't need to a write a biography on Benitas, but they could have posted a story that the homeless man was found dead. Clearly, at the time Berkeleyside would not have had access to Benitas' name, but Berkeleyside could have used John Doe as a place holder until a name was given by the coroner. The website, which had knowledge about the vigil before it occurred, could have easily given the public advanced notice so others could go in solidarity. Benitas was said to have died of natural causes. But the homeless population in the United States has a life expectancy of 52 years on average. For the homeless population, a death by natural causes can occur much sooner in life. Dinskelspiel wrote that "people die all the time", but some people die sooner than others. Some people die more alone that others. Some people die in a sleeping bag on the ground outside. Bentitas' death may have an impact, if we change the way we think about homelessness, and if people are driven to demand housing and services for those in need. - Allegations of "Judicial rascality" has been leveled against an Abuja Judge, Justice John Tsoho - Justice Tsoho is said to have ruled against judicial oath - The IPOB has written a petition against Tsoho An Abuja judge has been accused of committing judicial "rascality" over two different rulings given on the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB wants Nnamdi Kanu, its detained leader, released. The judge, Justice John Tsoho has been alleged to have given conflicting rulings on the same issue raised during the trial of Kanu. This is supported by true copies of the said rulings obtained by this newspaper.However, what is not in doubt is that the two rulings contradict each other and both rulings were made in the same court by the same judge. READ ALSO: MUST READ: President Buhari gives final verdict on referendum for Biafra In his petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Tsoho, the IPOB leader, has called for an investigation into the rulings of the court over the permission granted the Department of State Services to protect its witness in his trial. In the petition written by Kanus lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader said the conduct of the judge in the trial of his client is in fundamental breach of his judicial oath. Part of the petition read: "That on the 9th day of February, 2016, the defense was ambushed with an application filed on that day by the prosecution, seeking the court's endorsement for secret trial of the defendants. "The defense led by chief Chuks Muoma, SAN, promptly notified the court of our intention to oppose the application, pursuant to which it was thereafter adjourned to the 19th day of February, 2016, for the hearing of the application," the petition said. Kanu through his lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor had in various past interviews had said that such action by the judge can only be referred to as judicial rascality and shows that the judge was undoubtedly acting to a script or influenced by orders higher than himself. He also said because under the Nigerian judicial system, a court cannot alter it's own judgement without the benefit of an appeal to a superior court. READ ALSO: Boko Haram leader releases new video on Chibok girls The judge's action as evidenced by documents and the court's contradictory rulings at our disposal goes contrary to every code of judicial conduct and ethics known to law.In the petition, Kanu also called for a correction of the rascality made by the judge in accordance with the Oath Act. The petition also said that several attempts by the defense team to obtain court's rulings and proceedings of the court remained unsuccessfully until an intervention by the chief judge of the Federal High Court in the matter. "The rulings (of the court) were eventually given to us on Monday, the 25th day of April, 2016, barely two months and fifteen days after the ruling of 9th February, 2016, was delivered, two months and six days after the ruling of 19th day of February, 2016 was delivered and one month and 18 days after the ruling of 7th March, 2016 was delivered." It also said that Section 36(7) of the 1999 Constitution as amended allows a court or tribunal only seven days to keep its record in a criminal trial. It said: "That on the face of the application to stay further proceedings in the matter, pending the outcome of the appeal challenging the court's variation of its order, the court would have ordinarily been spurred to br expeditious in its attention to our request. Rather, his lordship remained firm in his resolve to frustrate the defense," the petition said. The petition noted that even the lead counsel in the matter, Chuks Muoma was shut out in an open court by Justice Tsoho from adumbrating his written brief in support of its application for stay of proceedings even when court rules allows for 20 minutes of oral argument. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Niger Delta Avengers bomb Bonny export line Some senior lawyers who spoke on the contradictory rulings said for a judge to deliver a ruling and sit on appeal over that same ruling in order to deliver another judgement beneficial to the prosecution is unheard of. The petition also highlighting series of events that occurred during the trial of Kanu stated that the judge who had earlier denied an application made by DSS counsel in what appears to be a breach of judicial oath, sat and heard an appeal against it and reversed it orders against Kanu. Justice Tsoho had on February 19, heard the application brought before the court by the prosecution. The Nigerian government through the DSS had applied to the court to seek a secret trial of Kanu among other things, where the government's witnesses can testify and give evidence against the three defendants Nnamdi Kanu, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwauwisi by wearing a mask or hiding behind a screen/curtain. This way nobody would know who they are or where they come from.The substance of the DSS appeal is to allow the court conduct a secret trial for the accused persons. Upon hearing the arguments from the government's prosecution team and the defence counsel Judge Tsoho ruled that the trial will not be in secret. The matter was quickly adjourned sought deals with secret to March 7, 8, 9 and 10 for commencement of full trial by the consent of the parties involved. At this point the public thought the trial will now be held in the open with witnesses coming to testify without a facial mask or hiding behind the screen. In the copy of the court ruling obtained, the order made by Judge Tsoho reads: It is noteworthy that both parties sought to make a case as to the demeanour of witnesses during trial. There is no gainsaying that the demeanour of witnesses is very crucial in judicial proceedings and it often helps in the evaluation of evidence. The Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary sixth edition defines demeanor as the way that somebody looks or behaves. The looks of a person (facial looks) undoubtedly constitute a vital aspect of demeanor. Therefore in a trial, the facial appearances or expression convey or reveal more about a witness than behavioral attitude. I therefore respectfully agree with the submission of Chief Muoma SAN, that demeanor is very important in trial proceedings and the demeanour of witnesses is better observed from their direct faces than behind masks." Regarding the fear expressed by the government's prosecution team, Kanu has gathered immense support especially from Nigerians from the South East and the international community. Judge Tsoho his ruling on this very issue said: One of the main grounds for this application is that the witnesses fear for their safety and that they have been receiving threatening calls. There has been no elaboration on this. The supporting affidavit blandly mentioned the fear of possible attack in its paragraph 4(e)."It is paragraph 4(b) and (c) of the further affidavit that has disclosed that the witnesses have complained of receiving threatening calls and that their lives along with those of their families are in danger. "If the witnesses are not protected as sought by the applicant (DSS), it is my respectful view that sufficient particulars have not been furnished in that regard. "In any event, I hold the humble opinion that the state which is prosecuting the respondents has all the means and capability to protect the witnesses, the judge ruled. However, upon resumption, of hearing on March 7 when Kanu with his team of counsels appeared before the court for commencement of the open trial as Judge Tsoho ordered, the prosecuting team verbally-not by written application as is normally the case - informed the court that the witnesses have refused to testify. The prosecuting team said the witnesses have said that unless the judge modifies the order he made earlier by to allow the witnesses testify secretly, they would not appear before the court. The prosecution said that the government would not proceed with the case unless the witnesses are granted the use of a mask or allowed to testify from behind a screen. This "mere" oral application to revert back to secret trial was granted by Judge Tsoho despite stiff objection by the defense team led by Chuks Muoma, a senior advocate of Nigeria. Meanwhile, it can be deduced from the charges against him that no guns were found on him.Thus arguments by several senior counsels on how he could be charged with treasonable felony without being in possession of guns or weapons. Also, senior lawyers have argued that treasonable felony as with the case of Kanu is a violent attempt to overthrow the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, which cannot be committed by one person. Nnamdi Kanu is currently facing trial on a three count charge of treasonable felony, management of an unlawful society and concealing goods in a container. Kanu was arrested by operatives of the DSS in Lagos upon his arrival from the United Kingdom on October 14, 2015. Source: Legit.ng Reports reaching Legit.ng have it that national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has asked the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to resign for derailing the party's agenda. Daily Independent reports that Tinubu made the demand on Sunday, September 25, 2016 in a communique from his media office. Asiwaju Tinubu is reportedly angry with Oyegun for sending Akeredolu's name to INEC The former governor of Lagos state allegedly accused Oyegun of sabotaging the will of democracy in Ondo state by sending the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the decision of the appeal panel that demanded for a fresh governorship primary election in the party for the forthcoming governorship election in the state. In the communique, Tinubu reportedly alleged that Oyeguns subversion of the will of the people proved that he must have been under the influence of a powerful and sinister arm at work. READ ALSO: Ondo Election: Oke, Boroffice, Abraham reject Akeredolu The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance, is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party but never of it. From the partys inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realized that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed. If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation. In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken. Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyeguns conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help. READ ALSO: Ondo Election: Oke, Boroffice, Abraham reject Akeredolu Oyeguns comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order. In early September, the state primary was held. A purported winner was named. Having faith in the ways of the party, Tinubu publicly accepted what he assumed to be a verdict honestly derived. As a democrat, one must face the possibility of defeat and accept such as outcome with as much grace as one would embrace victory. One of the few bright spots during the conduct of the primaries was Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar. He chaired the primary convention with decorum and impartiality. He was unaware that a tampered list had been slipped into the process.tinubu-oyegun. Tinubu and APC chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Indeed within hours of the announcement, news began to filter in that gravely disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled the waters. The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do. The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error. The alteration was wilfully executed that the primary would be directed toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common with the will of most state party members. A cunning few had tried to deceive the many into believing they were outnumbered. A conspiracy to steal the Ondo primary had been uncovered. Fortunately, the grand deception afoot had been unable to cover its tracks fast enough. Truth began to cry for justice. Several candidates filed petitions contesting the result. The party established an investigative board to review the evidence. In a two to one decision, the panel found the delegate roster had suffered tampering. The panel recommended that a new primary should be held using the valid delegate list. This recommendation was tabled before the National Working Committee (NWC). READ ALSO: APC national secretariat declares Ondo primaries legitimate After many hours of deliberations spanning several days, a final vote was held by the NWC. Before hand, NWC members agreed that the decision of the majority would become the stance of the party. Such is the way of democracy. The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary. For a moment, it seemed the party would restore its integrity by giving democracy a chance. However, those who sought to scam an entire state would not let the vote of 11 people spoil their enterprise. After the NWC vote, a noticeably agitated Chairman Oyegun proposed the NWC engage in prayer before concluding the meeting. Adhering to this chairmans request, NWC members began to pray. Seeing that the others had taken his bait, Oyegun used the prayerful interlude to secretly excuse himself from the meeting. Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud. Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party. Truth has finally come to light. There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded. They joined the APC because it was the best ride available at the time. Now they want to guide the party into the ditch. They want to turn the party into a soulless entity incapable of doing good, just like they are. When such a person tastes power, they shed all good restraint. They come to abuse the trust given them as if they are the owners of that trust and not its mere custodians. These people did little to build the party but now will do much to wreck it. Our party was to stand for change. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length. They are the cohort of Unchange. The APC wants to guide Nigeria into a better tomorrow. Oyegun and the cohort of unchange want to pull Nigeria back into the past where rigging and vote stealing were the old and new testaments of politics. They want the people to think that there is no alternative to their reactionary system of skewed politics and imperious government. Thus, they seek to turn the APC into a factory of the very political malpractices the people soundly rejected in the past election. To choke the APC in this manner is to kill the chance for progressive reform for the foreseeable future. Much more than the Ondo primary is at stake. Oyegun has revealed his teams game plan: It is the destruction of progressive politics and governance on behalf of the people. READ ALSO: Abraham moves to reclaim mandate, denies leaving APC As party chairman, Oyegun was supposed to protect our internal processes and be an impartial arbiter, a person in whom all had confidence. Instead, he donned the garment of a confident man, duping the NWC, the party, and INEC in one fell blow. He has robbed APC members in Ondo State of the chance to pick in a fair manner who they believe is the best candidate, the communique read. Source: https://tuko.co.ke/ Source: Legit.ng Getting a beautiful body - the French way and without hassle Contact Lena Borowitz ***@villadesplatanes.com Lena Borowitz End --, according to scientists. The bad news: It's genetic and it's just the way in which the body stores fat. The good news: something can be done about it and it's not necessarily expensive or very difficult.Parisian-based Villa des Platanes is a French concept of taking care of your body. Magda Kulpinska, its founder, is a model with 10 years of experience in the fashion industry and she knows exactly how frustrating it can be to feel unhappy in your skin.Let's face it, in this day and age we are constantly judged based upon our appearance. I don't think this is good, I don't think it should be that way but it is. The pressure that modern women face in society is immense."Of course not. What this pressure does to women is it deprives them of self-confidence and extravagance. They don't even try or they start out on a very steep gradient and they abandon because it's just too hard. The worst thing to do is to do nothing; if you spend just 10 minutes a day massaging the problem zones of your body, you will see results. Cellulite won't just magically disappear."I've noticed the skin got smoother and my legs less swollen. I do this about 5mins on each leg. I'm happy with the results and I recommend it to other users."To see the full review, click: Biologists of all stripes attest to evolution, but have debated its details since Darwin's day. Since changes arise and take hold slowly over many generations, it is daunting to track this process in real time for long-lived creatures. "We know that evolution occurs -- that species change," said Dee Boersma, a University of Washington professor of biology. "But to see this process in long-lived animals you have to look at generations of individuals, track how traits are inherited and detect selection at work." Boersma studies one particularly intriguing long-lived species, the Magellanic penguins of South America. She has spent 34 years gathering information about their lifespan, reproduction and behavior at Punta Tombo, a stretch of Argentine coast that serves as their largest breeding site. Boersma and her colleagues combed through 28 years' worth of penguin data to search for signs that natural selection -- one of the main drivers of evolution -- may be acting on certain penguin traits. As they report in a paper published Sept. 21 in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, selection is indeed at work at Punta Tombo. "This is the first decades-long study to measure selection in penguins, and only the second one for birds overall," said lead author Laura Koehn, a graduate student in the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences who worked with Boersma as an undergraduate. Like all penguins, the Magellanic variety are natural swimmers, where they feed on the bounty of the oceans. But once a year they return to the Argentine and Chilean coasts to mate and molt. Their "serial monogamy" -- fidelity to one partner per breeding season -- as well as a nagging preference to breed in the same general location each year make it possible to track individual birds over time, Koehn said. Boersma began the project, which is ongoing, in 1982. To keep track of individuals amid a colony that at its height held 500,000 birds, Boersma and her team attached unique metal bands to the flipper of each penguin they studied. Each breeding season, the scientists would search for tagged penguins that made it back to Punta Tombo, measure basic physical characteristics and tag new chicks to add to their tracking duties. advertisement "We chose characteristics that might be important to the success of individual penguins, like body size and bill depth," said Boersma. "And once we had generations of trackable data for individuals and their descendants, we could ask: do these traits change over time?" Through natural selection, individuals with traits that allow them to adapt and thrive in their environment can pass their favorable traits to their offspring. "Our question was simple: for these traits, do offspring resemble their parents?" said Koehn. By measuring an entire population -- like the Magellanic penguins at Punta Tombo -- Boersma's team could see if individuals with certain characteristics, for example a large body, were more successful at breeding over the years. Koehn and co-authors searched for signs of selection across 28 years of Boersma's data. She could detect selection in seven of the 28 years for both males and females. Selection is likely acting on these traits every year, but the highly variable conditions at Punta Tombo mean that the "direction" of selection on each trait may fluctuate too much to see over just 28 years, said Boersma. As the study continues, researchers may divine signatures of natural selection over additional years. advertisement For the seven years the researchers could detect natural selection in males, there was a clear trend. Larger males held an edge in lean years when resources are fewer. In females, they detected selection acting on traits such as foot size, bill depth and body size. But unlike males, they saw no clear trend on how selection was shaping the females of the species over time. "Those traits appear to be important for survival," said Boersma. "But if environmental conditions change rapidly then selection also constantly changes, and it's harder to see a clear trend over time." This is only the second time natural selection has been observed over 20 years or more for a bird species. Evolutionary biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant spent more than 20 years cataloguing traits in seed-eating finches on the Galapagos island of Daphne Major. These are some of the same Galapagos finches that inspired a young Darwin to come up with his theory of evolution by natural selection in the 19th century. The Grants detected signatures of natural selection at work on this island, correlating the changes with the influence of El Nino conditions. "Now we've been able to track natural selection in a second bird species thanks to these decades of observations at Punta Tombo," said Boersma. Encouraged by her team's findings with Magellanic penguins, Boersma intends to continue collecting data -- tracking traits and survival for even more generations and repeating this analysis. "This is only the beginning," she concluded. A teenager caught up in a double shooting in Florida that left his older brother dead has been quietly deported to Canada following a remarkable standoff between U.S. federal authorities and the state judge who sentenced him, The Canadian Press has learned. American immigration agents escorted Marc Wabafiyebazu from Miami to Montreal earlier this month where he was reunited with his mother, Roxanne Dube. Its done. Its done. Its done, Dube, a senior diplomat, said in an interview from Ottawa. He has his life ahead of him. Now 16, Wabafiyebazu is back home in Ottawa studying privately for his high school equivalency and reconnecting with family and friends as he relaunches his life shattered by the gunfire in March last year that killed Jean Wabafiyebazu, 18, and another teen. Although authorities never accused the younger sibling of shooting anyone, he nevertheless found himself facing a minimum 40-year prison sentence on charges of felony first-degree murder. Instead, in a plea deal rarely seen before, Wabafiyebazu pleaded no contest in February to reduced charges of felony third-degree murder. In exchange, Circuit Judge Teresa Pooler sentenced him to in-custody boot camp, house arrest, and a minimum five years probation to be served in the United States. What neither Pooler nor prosecutor Marie Mato seemed to have realized at the time is that federal immigration authorities would have no intention of allowing him to serve his probation in the U.S. They had not foreseen that at all, which created a very tense situation, Dube said, her voice choking. They were beside themselves. In late July, as Wabafiyebazu was completing boot camp with flying colours, immigration authorities went to pick him up. State authorities, however, refused to hand him over without Poolers consent. What followed were a series of court hearings at which Pooler and Mato made it clear they would never have signed off on the plea agreement had they known he would be deported immediately upon release. The court thought he would be serving five or 10 years of probation here, Wabafiyebazus lawyer, Curt Obront, said from Miami. The court and prosecutor were displeased that he was returning to Canada so quickly. Pooler and Mato also appeared to think Dube had perjured herself in February when she promised to supervise her sons probation in the U.S. Dube, however, insisted she had made her promise in good faith and had been fully prepared to stay in the country for as long as her son was required to be there. They felt that I had misled the court (but) I couldnt for the life of me understand where they were coming from. It was very much of a shock. To avoid further complications, Dube decided to return to Canada at the end of July, leaving her son in a state known for being extremely sticky about relinquishing its grip on foreign offenders. For several weeks, Pooler appeared to be exploring every legal avenue to keep the teen behind bars. On Friday, Sept. 2, however, she relented. Wabafiyebazu had adhered to the terms of his plea deal and federal laws took precedence over state laws. The court realizing that and having checked the law said, Well, good luck to you, and I hope you learned a lesson from this, Obront said. Ive been doing this 33 years and Ive never seen anything quite like this; the whole thing is surrealistic. Two days later, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement spirited the teen from prison to a secret location. He was flown back to Canada Sept. 6. Although his probation continues to run in Florida, Wabafiyebazu is free to pursue his life without restriction in Canada, although he remains inadmissible to the U.S. If his probation, which could be reduced to five years, passes without incident, he will have no criminal record. A violation could see him jailed for up to 60 years. The teen was not ready to speak publicly about his experience as he readjusts to normal life, but his mother believes the rigours of boot camp were good for him and he has grown as a person even as the six-foot-tall teen lost 50 pounds in the process. I really see a child or a young man who wants to make a contribution to society in a good way, said Dube, whos now Global Affairs director general of the Canadian Foreign Service Institute based in Ottawa. Its a case of someone who has gone through so much and who is more than able and prepared to be an example to other young people. SHARE: VICTORIAThe British media homed in on what one outlet described as an awkward encounter between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the young Prince George in reports on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Victoria. Several media outlets and newspapers focused on the brief appearance of the toddler and his 16-month old sister Princess Charlotte at Victorias airport on Saturday, described as a rare occasion by The Sun newspaper since the children are not frequently seen in public. The prime minister was among several dignitaries waiting on the tarmac to greet the royals when they emerged from their flight on Saturday. After shaking hands with Prince William and his wife Kate, Trudeau knelt down to meet three-year-old George, who was holding his fathers hand. Trudeau was seen lifting his hand, trying to high-five the young prince, who shook his head and did not accept the gesture. Videos and photos of the interaction were shared widely by British media. The Mirror wrote: Superstar politician Mr. Trudeau might have endeared himself to millions online through his outspoken feminism, support for diversity and willingness to embrace Internet memes, but it seems to take more than that to impress Will and Kates eldest. Similar reports were done by The Independent, with a story headlined: Prince George leaves Justin Trudeau hanging after he goes for a high-five. The Daily Mail shared a story with the headline: Sorry, one doesnt high-five with commoners. The Telegraph also took note of the incident with a story headlined: Prince George and Princess Charlotte revel in a little mischief on Canadian tour. The Duke and Duchess are on an eight-day tour of British Columbia and Yukon. Officials have said their children will not be accompanying them on much of the tour as the family makes Victoria their base for most of the visit. SHARE: Amid a continuing crisis in affordable housing crumbling public buildings and long waitlists Mayor John Tory says its long past time for the federal and provincial governments to step up and invest in housing. The mayor of Canadas largest city will announce Monday that hes convening a summit on housing this Friday, bringing municipal leaders including the mayors of Vancouver and Edmonton to the same table. The group has outlined key demands to the higher orders of government, details of which have been shared with the Star. They include earmarking pending infrastructure investments specifically to housing. There has been nobody there to be our partner, really, in any effective way . . . Theyll cite numbers and things theyve done, but I think it represents a declining participation, Tory said in a sit-down interview with the Star last week. Im disappointed that the new government in Ottawa, now being one year in, and the provincial government, being several years in . . . that they havent stepped forward with more. At the summit, the big-city mayors will be requesting that most of the available $20 billion in federal money for social infrastructure be dedicated to public and affordable housing. Toronto has received just $115 million for social housing so far in the first phase of the federal social infrastructure spending part of $640 million Ottawa has allocated to Ontario, of some $2.3 billion to be doled out nationwide. Premier Kathleen Wynnes government has not yet committed to a substantial investment, beyond the $42.9 million announced in April for energy retrofits for social-housing towers. But Toronto is facing a $2.6-billion backlog in social housing repairs for the portfolio held by its largest housing provider, Toronto Community Housing. That backlog has led to the closure of hundreds of units in the past five years and put thousands more at risk of being shuttered. By the end of the year, TCH will have spent $622 million on housing repairs, of the citys own $864-million investment. But neither of the other levels of government has come forward to match that money with the customary one-third share. Without it, repairs will stall and more units will have to be closed, TCH and city officials have warned. A spokesperson for federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi said in an emailed statement that affordable housing will be a key component of the second phase of infrastructure investment, which is expected to be announced before the end of the year. A spokesperson for Ontario Housing Minister Chris Ballard said the province is working with the city to increase the supply of affordable housing, make the social housing system easier to navigate and help achieve our goal to end chronic homelessness. The spokesperson also also cited other one-time programs, including a $3.9-million investment in portable housing benefits for survivors of domestic violence. We look forward to sharing information about further support to Toronto, at the summit, Ballard said in a statement. We will continue to work with all levels of government to achieve our vision that everyone in Ontario has affordable home to provide the foundation to secure employment, raise a family, and build strong communities. Tory said the pending investments are welcome, but stressed they must be based on need. In the case of the province, theyve done what Ill call the tiniest little kernel, he said. Some programs arent even actually focused right on social housing, but theyre this energy-retrofit stuff, which will be a little helpful, Tory said. But if you look at the numbers, its minuscule compared to what needs to happen. The citys housing advocate and chair of the affordable housing committee, Councillor Ana Bailao, said the federal government must also be clear about expiring operating agreements and about providing ongoing, stable funding for responsibilities that have been downloaded to the city and its taxpayers. That divestment will soon total $150 million annually in the citys budget. Youre going to have to explain to Canadians why its going to get to a certain point. Housing is not being built, units are starting to close . . . they have to respond to that, Bailao said. We need to do something that is actually going to translate into units and better housing for people. Social housing is just one part of the equation. The summit and participating municipalities will also be asking both the province and federal government to contribute surplus land and provide incentives for builders to create new affordable housing. Cities face an ongoing shortage. In Toronto, more than 170,000 people are on the waitlist for subsidized housing a number that continues to rise. The reality is, we cant do it on our own, Bailao said. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, who chairs Canadas Big City Mayors Caucus and who will be at the summit in Toronto this week, said the mayors agree the housing field is absolutely in a crisis that is only getting worse. Investments in housing proactively do have a very strong business case to bring down interactions with the health-care system and the justice system that are a result of homelessness or the result of housing insecurity . . . which is costing us billions and billions of dollars today, he said. Some provinces get that business case, others will need continued reinforcement. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said theres never been such deep alignment of mayors focused on affordable housing. That, he says, helps amplify the pressure on both higher levels of government. We have an affordable housing crisis in cities across Canada now with Vancouver and Toronto being the hardest hit, he said. The Trudeau government has made strong commitments to investing in social housing and addressing rental housing shortage. We just need to see that investment urgently. We need to see action, given the decades of neglect. Tory said fixing the housing crisis has become, next to transit, the issue for a generation. I really believe weve stepped up and we have done our part and its real money. Its not statements of good intentions . . . The right course is for these other governments to step up in a meaningful way, he said. I think were still getting the short end of the stick. Read more about: SHARE: A 17-year-old boy is in serious condition after a stabbing near Scarborough Town Centre on Saturday night, the second such incident there in 24 hours. As with the first incident, which happened Friday evening, Toronto police say they havent identified any suspects. We're the very beginning of our investigation, said Det. Jennifer Ryan, speaking to media at the scene. We're looking into everything. Both stabbings happened during skirmishes between young people near the large urban mall, and the victims were teenage boys. In both cases, the assailants fled the scene. Police said the victim of Saturday nights stabbing, who sustained serious stab wounds to his stomach, is expected to survive. Kareem Deerr, the 15-year-old victim from the night before , died later in hospital. Saturdays incident happened at a YMCA near Town Centre Ct. and Borough Dr., a short walk away from the Scarborough Centre bus station. The incident took place around 8 p.m., just as a nearby memorial for Deerr was coming to an end. Ryan said she didnt know if the two stabbings were connected, or if anyone whod been at the memorial was inside the YCMA during the incident. With files from Victor Biro and the Canadian Press. SHARE: BEIRUTAt least 26 civilians were killed in fresh government airstrikes on the contested city of Aleppo, Syrian activists said Sunday, as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on the spiralling violence in Syria. At the start of that meeting the UNs top envoy to Syria accused the government of unleashing unprecedented military violence against civilians in Aleppo. Staffan de Mistura said Syrias declaration of a military offensive to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo has led to one of the worst weeks of the 5 -year war with dozens of airstrikes against residential areas and buildings causing scores of civilian deaths. He said the offensive targeting civilians with sophisticated weapons including incendiary devices may amount to war crimes. Medical workers and local officials reported airstrikes on neighbourhoods throughout Aleppos rebel-held eastern districts as an announced government offensive entered its fourth day. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 26 civilians had been killed by 7:30 p.m. and said it expects the toll to rise. Ibrahim Alhaj of the Syrian Civil Defence search and rescue outfit said hospitals and rescuers have documented the deaths of 43 people so far. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties and medical workers are expecting many of the wounded to die from a lack of treatment, according to Mohammad Zein Khandaqani, a member of the Medical Council, which oversees medical affairs in the citys opposition quarters. Ive never seen so many people dying in once place, he said from a hospital in the city. Its terrifying today. In less than one hour the Russian planes have killed more than 50 people and injured more than 200. The Observatory, which relies on a network of contacts inside Syria, said earlier in the day that 213 civilians have been killed by airstrikes and shelling on opposition areas in and around Aleppo since a U.S.-Russian brokered ceasefire collapsed Monday evening. De Mistura, at the Security Council meeting, warned that if the Syrian government is intent on taking Aleppo, it is going to be a grinding a street-by-street fight where all of the infrastructure in the city will be destroyed, but it wont lead to victory. A so-called military solution is impossible, including in Aleppo, he stressed. He urged the United States and Russia to go that extra mile and save the Sept. 9 cessation of hostilities agreement at the 11th hour. On the sidelines of the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the Security Council to force a halt to the hostilities in Aleppo, and he condemned Russia and the Syrian governments alleged use of bunker-busting bombs, which are designed to penetrate underground facilities. Let us remember: The fighting has forced hospitals and schools to operate in basements. These bombs are not busting bunkers, they are demolishing ordinary people looking for any last refuge of safety, Ban said. International law is clear: The systematic use of indiscriminate weapons in densely populated areas is a war crime, he said. Prior to the start of the UN meeting, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia should be investigated for war crimes following a Monday attack on a Syrian aid convoy that claimed 20 lives. Johnson said that Russias air force may have deliberately targeted the civilian convoy on Sept. 19. Russia denies involvement and instead suggests Syrian rebels or a U.S. drone were responsible. Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Russia and Iran will be guilty of war crimes if they dont pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop escalating violence. Ayrault said the emergency Security Council meeting Sunday is a moment of truth for the UN. The meeting was requested by the United States, Britain and France, as pro-government forces extend their bombardment of the contested city of Aleppo. They are widely believed to be accompanied by Russian airstrikes. Rebels, meanwhile, shelled Masyaf, a government stronghold near the central city of Hama, for the second day in a row, according to the Observatory. Masyaf is home to a large number of Alawites, members of Syrian President Bashar Assads sect. Assad has rallied Syrias minorities behind his government behind fears of the Sunni-dominated rebellion. The U.S., Britain and France are aligned on the Security Council against Russia and China, which back Assad in the countrys protracted war, now in its sixth year. But a broad coalition of Syrian rebels denounced international negotiations for peace as meaningless, earlier Sunday. The statement released jointly by 33 factions called on the government and Russian forces to halt airstrikes and lift sieges on opposition areas. The UN estimates 600,000 Syrians are trapped in various sieges enforced by the government, rebels and Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, across the country. Negotiations under the present conditions are no longer useful and are meaningless, the statement said. The factions said they would not accept to have Russia mediate any negotiations, calling it a partner to the regime in the crimes against our people. The statement was signed by some of the largest factions from across Syria but did not include the powerful, ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham nor the Al-Qaeda-linked Fatah Sham Front. Efforts to revive the truce have floundered. An airstrike destroyed a UN-backed humanitarian convoy Monday inside opposition territory shortly after the Syrian military announced the agreement had expired. The UN says the attack could amount to a war crime if proven deliberate, though it has not assigned responsibility yet. The U.S. says it believes Russian jets were behind the strikes. Meanwhile, a set of four towns, two besieged by government forces and two by rebels, were reached by aid convoys for the first time in nearly six months, the International Committee for the Red Cross announced. The organization said Sunday it had reached 60,000 residents trapped in the towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foua and Kafraya. Government forces and rebels have so far blocked the UN from establishing regular aid access to besieged areas in Syria. The UN estimates 600,000 Syrians are trapped in different sieges. Read more about: SHARE: As symbols go, the schedule of the Harvesting Freedom Caravan that hit Toronto on Sunday could hardly have been better designed. Activists campaigning for an end to exploitation of migrant workers in Canada set out on Labour Day weekend from the Ontario town of Leamington, home to the largest concentration of agricultural greenhouses in North America. They aim to conclude in Ottawa where they say the problem must be addressed just before Thanksgiving weekend, when Canadians across the country will be preparing to chow down on what the caravaners describe as the fruits and produce of injustice. On Sunday morning, the caravan protested outside the Ontario Food Terminal. And in the afternoon, at Ryerson University, leaders attended a screening of director Min Sook Lees jarring documentary Migrant Dreams. It was all part of a campaign asking Canadians to consider where, how and by whom the food they enjoy is picked and packed. Lee spent three years on the film, and to have it be used as a tool for social organizing and political change now, as opposed to years down the road, is really extraordinary, she said. Its purpose, Lee said after the screening, is to start the conversation. Theres so many different issues that this (TPFW) program brings up in regard to labour, immigration, human rights, food production. This week, a Commons committee issued a report recommending major changes to the TPFW program, including ending requirements that work permits are tied to specific employers, and that workers be forced to leave Canada after four years. In the film, Lee followed migrant workers from Indonesia hired to work under the program in Leamington greenhouses. The workers said they were recruited by so-called agents some eventually charged with extortion to whom they end up paying fees of $7,000 and more from their minimum-wage earnings. They arrived in Canada with dreams of earning money to send home to support aging parents or provide school opportunities for the children theyd left in Indonesia. Heart-scalding moments showed the pain involved in such desperate bids for better lives. A gathering of women on Mothers Day, far from their own children. A Skype conversation between a woman worker here and her husband at home, wondering what had become of their lives. Some said that, in Canada, they were housed by the dozen in garages, or in cockroach-infested apartments. Others said they were forced to work with chemical-soaked plants without safety gear. While on the program, which brings them to Canada for eight months annually, they were tied to one job, one location and one employer practically living under surveillance. Complaints about working conditions or ill treatment even injury or illness that makes them unable to work can get them summarily fired and sent home. Always there was the fear that casual complaints while out in Leamington might make it back to an employers ears. People said this is a lawful country, one said. But where I work, it is just like it is in Indonesia. Tzazna Miranda Leal, of the caravan campaign, said 150 people picketed and held a pancake breakfast at the food terminal to highlight where food is shipped in Ontario before being dispatched to supermarkets, restaurants and household dinner tables. At the rally, farm workers including Gabriel Allahdua, a 45-year-old father of two from St. Lucia who works in Leamington spoke about the conditions they endure under the temporary foreign workers program. Allahdua, carrying protest signs shaped like pumpkins and apples, told the Star later that the problem is rooted in government laws and policies. In Canada, if you have no status you have no rights. And if you have no rights it means that you are vulnerable. And because we are vulnerable, we have been exploited. Critics say the federal Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program is 50 years old this year and long past due for wholesale reform or replacement. For half a century, producers have been profiting and Canadians have been dining out on the sweat and misery of migrant workers treated as disposable labour, caravan organizers said. We work to feed the nation, said Allahdua, who called for permanent immigrant status for migrant workers. Is the system being fair to us? SHARE: Dr. Kona Williams pulls on her crisp white lab coat and points to the number at the top of her locker: 007. She puts on plastic shoe covers and walks into the open-concept autopsy bay, sunlight streaming in through frosted windows. She is wearing large circular earrings Eight dollars at Shoppers Drug Mart, she laughs. After 14 years of post-secondary education, she cant lose the student quest for deals. She still buys bruised bananas. Its late afternoon at the Forensic Services and Coroners Complex near Keele St. and Hwy. 401, and the stainless steel tables are prepped for the next days work.Whiteboards have lung, spleen and brain in a place of permanence on the left, and blank spaces where the weights of these organs will be recorded as forensic pathologists look for clues in the cause of death. Ever since she was a little girl, Kona Williams has wanted to find meaning in lifes mysteries. Now, she looks for answers in death. She is Canadas first indigenous forensic pathologist, and shes hoping she can bridge the gap between an institution and community that havent always understood each other. Bugs and Band-Aids Williams was born in a blizzard in Ottawa 38 years ago, and named for the Cree word for snow koona. Her father is Cree, and her mother is Mohawk and Kona and her brother are Creehawks, her father laughs from his home in Orleans. Now retired, Gordon Williams spent his career working in provincial, federal and aboriginal governments, and the family moved across the country, often living in aboriginal communities, where his children saw how different tribes and families functioned. Kona always had a cat, and if it showed any signs of illness, shed apply a Band-Aid to its fur. She was the kid who scrutinized bugs to see how they were built and stared at the stars in the sky. It interested her that all of these heavenly bodies signified something which we know little about, her father says. She says the best summer of her life was when she was 8, living on a reserve in Morley, Alta., in the foothills between Calgary and the Rocky Mountains. Her family fed a collection of stray dogs that had been abandoned in the country, and the dogs returned the favour by following Kona around. Shed leave home early in the morning and hike through the foothills, where she saw wild horses, wolves and bears. Once, she poked a stick in a hole and a wolverine snarled back. She identified it from reading all those National Geographic magazines. She climbed a nearby tree and her dogs surrounded its base, keeping the animal away. Williams always though shed work with animals, but as she grew up, she found out she had allergies to dogs and cats. She switched her focus to humans (Im not allergic, as far as I know.) Studying medicine, she eventually gravitated towards pathology when a professor in medical school talked about the career. Williams remembers her first tour of a morgue, in 2005. It was her first month in medical school in Ottawa. Her professor suggested it would be a good idea to see organs she wasnt used to seeing. Williams thought it would be a have a look at this aorta kind of day. She was supposed to stop in a small room, but she kept walking. I just stopped dead, there were three forensic autopsies going on at the same time, and my eyes were the size of saucers because there was some trauma, she says. That can be really shocking to somebody who is not used to seeing something like that. The forensic pathologists told her what they were looking for. Take a deep breath, they said. Her shock was followed by a fascination that has never let up: this was where mysteries were solved. The chief resident brought her to the cafeteria for lunch, and apologized nobody expected shed see a forensic autopsy. She ordered spaghetti. I was inhaling it as I was listening to him, she says, and he looked at me and he said, I think youll be OK. This might be for you. Most people were supportive and interested when she decided to become a forensic pathologist. There are always the people who watch a little too much CSI and think she spends her time interviewing assailants and visiting crime scenes. She is part of the death investigation team, yes. But she does the autopsies. When she was finishing medical school she was interviewed by a television reporter about pathology. Dont you think thats such a waste? the reporter asked. We need all kinds of doctors, Williams says. The need is so high, and the demand is so high. And Im doing exactly what I want to do. Delicate balance with tradition When Williams began her career as a junior forensic pathologist, everyone had questions: would she solve specific murder cases? Would she have a role in Canadas missing and murdered indigenous womens inquiry? What was she going to do about all the missing children from residential schools? I said, whoa whoa whoa, I just started, I have to learn to be a good junior forensic pathologist first, she says. Williams went to medical school in Ottawa, and had a five-year residency in anatomical pathology, working at Ottawas General and Civic hospitals. She moved to Toronto in 2014 for a fellowship in forensic pathology and was hired in January as a junior forensic pathologist at the newly built Forensic Services and Coroners Complex. It was Ontarios chief forensic pathologist, Dr. Michael Pollanen, who first pointed out that Williams was the first indigenous person in Canada to hold this position. I anticipate that Dr. Williams will become an important liaison between the forensic medical community and the First Nations community, he says. I am working toward institutional arrangements to see that that becomes part of the way we do business. Williams says the relationship between First Nations people and institutions like Ontarios Forensic Pathology Service has been rocky in the past because of mutual misunderstanding, but its getting better. In aboriginal communities where Williams has lived, when someone dies, there is usually a wake that can last two or three days before the funeral, and someone from the community is with the body at all times. We believe in the spiritual part of ourselves, explains her father, Gordon. We all have a spirit and you dont want to abandon it because the physical is gone. When an autopsy is required in cases of criminally suspicious, unexpected death, or homicide it can disrupt that tradition. There is a history of people and institutions coming on reserve and taking people away. Consider the legacy of residential schools. For some, it is difficult to understand and appreciate what the police or death investigation team need to do to find answers. It can be difficult for people when we have to come in and take the body away, Kona Williams says. Ontarios Forensic Pathology Service tries to accommodate people of different faiths and backgrounds, and ideally, Williams would like to have a dialogue with indigenous communities before a death happens, to listen to people about what it is they would like from us, and how the pathology service can make the process easier. Williams wants to answer questions that a family may have about the process, and of course, about the cause of their loved ones death. Sometimes, its a matter of reassuring people who are already under stress: You will get your loved one back, Williams says. It takes someone with appreciation of cultural nuances in the community to bridge that gap, Gordon Williams says. Pollanen says the tension between Kona Williamss role as a doctor, a forensic pathologist and a member of Canadas First Nations community creates insights that he doesnt have. Thats something weve learned over time, that its all about collaboration and raising awareness and understanding that the leaders in this system dont have all the answers, he says. This is one of those perspectives that gives strength to our system. A typical day Williams wakes up at 5 a.m. and tries to fit in a run or a workout before arriving at the office at 7:45. (She has her second-degree black belt.) Once a week, she brings in food for her coworkers. It was poutine one week this August, with homemade gravy and cheese curds. The daily rounds in the morgue begin at 8:30 a.m. A more senior forensic pathologist like Michael Pollanen reviews the cases with the group of junior pathologists, medical students, fellows and international visitors. The group is quizzed how would you list the cause of death for this person? How would you explain this in court? Standing in the autopsy bay this spring, the days lesson about keyhole wounds was still on a whiteboard on the wall. It can look like both an entrance and an exit wound, Williams explains. At its root, her job is to find out why a person died. The autopsies start about 9:30 a.m., and the autopsy bays are usually bustling with people pathologists, students, fellows and police. She is usually in the morgue two or three days a week. On other days, she catches up on paperwork, goes to court, teaches, writes reports and reviews photos from the scene. There are also toxicology reports, CT scans and genetics to interpret. We can have a completely negative autopsy (no cause of death determined) but find one gene, and then we can send that back to the family, she says. If a person died of a cardiovascular disease that was unknown to the family, their relatives can then be tested, and hopefully that can prevent the same kind of death, or any disease that can occur from that particular mutation, she says. Occasionally, there are no answers. Sometimes, there are competing causes, and no determining factor. Williams estimates 3 to 5 per cent of cases have an undetermined cause of death. Williams likes to have the answers. Im very proud of her, says Pollanen. She is such a conscientious forensic pathologist and has huge insights and keenly feels a sense of social responsibility. Williams hopes that in 10 years she wont be the only indigenous forensic pathologist in the country. She mentors aboriginal med students and many are making their way into different medical professions. Its amazing that thats what I am, she says of the unique status, but you dont want to be that for long. SHARE: WASHINGTONAt least 60 nations have agreed to join the voluntary phase of a United Nations program that would require international airlines to buy credits offsetting their pollution. The program includes new commitments from major emitters like Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. The White House believes the new commitments provide critical momentum for the proposed deal heading into a conference beginning Tuesday in Montreal, where supporters hope to forge the first global climate pact governing a single industry. Aviation is currently responsible for 2 per cent of global emissions; if global aviation were a country, it would be the 7th highest carbon emitter in the world, according to the US.-based National Resources Defense Council. Brian Deese, a senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, said a diverse group of countries representing 80 per cent of global air traffic had now signed on to be early participants in the agreement. The new commitments in the days leading up to the conference bodes well for this smart, pragmatic approach moving forward next week, he said in an email. The Obama administration is particularly heartened by the nations decision to participate in the voluntary phase of the program, believing it will make it easier for other nations to join. The UAE, home to rapidly growing carriers Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways, is the third largest producer of international airline emissions. Japan Airlines Co. and ANA Holdings Inc. carried more than 16 million passengers on overseas routes last year. Thailand and Kenya have also signed on to participate in the early stages of the agreement, providing a practical and symbolic boost in Africa and Southeast Asia, developing regions that will be important to the success of the program. Under the proposed 15-year deal, airlines would be penalized beginning in 2021 for emissions on international routes that exceed 2020 levels. But the agreement relies on voluntary participation during the first six years, drawing the ire of environmental groups and raising concerns that countries might kick their obligations down the road. Some major emitters, including Brazil and India, have indicated they will not participate until the offsets become mandatory. Russia, whose flag carrier Aeroflot saw 19.7 million passengers in the first half of this year, has signalled resistance to emissions markets in the past and may cause tension as negotiators next week look to build consensus on the aviation deal. Administration officials say securing a wave of new countries as early participants ahead of the Montreal conference should encourage holdout countries to get on board. The commitments this week come after China, home to the worlds fastest-growing aviation industry, agreed to sign on during the G-20 conference earlier this month in Hanghzou, China, following meetings with top U.S. officials. The U.S. has leveraged Chinese participation to rally international climate agreements in the past, most famously last Novembers Paris climate accord, where countries agreed to limit overall emissions and provide assistance to developing nations. The proposed aviation deal would not force companies to lower their emissions rather, airlines would be required to buy credits supporting renewable energy development, forest preservation or other environmental efforts. That could prove expensive, with airline groups estimating the effort may cost them $23.9 billion (U.S.) annually by the end of the deal. Thats equivalent to 1.8 per cent of the industrys projected yearly revenue. But supporters of the deal have an unlikely ally: the airline industry. Carriers recognize that the sheer scope of plane emissions make them a ripe target for international regulators, and are eager for an international agreement instead of a patchwork of national regulations that could vary from country to country. I am optimistic that we are on the brink of a historic agreement a first for an industry sector at the global level, Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive officer of the International Air Transport Association, said in a statement. Airlines support it and urge governments to agree when they meet at the Montreal conference. SHARE: Filmmaker Martin Himel has spent 30 years tracking and filming some of the worlds most dangerous terrorist groups. But none alarmed him as much as Daesh. The revolutionary thing about Daesh is their global reach, he said. They can set off a terrorist blast anywhere in the world and put it up on their 24-hour channel with no censorship, as a recruitment tool. Its a social media world and all the rules have changed. So, in late 2014, Himel set up an ingenious sting to entrap the trappers: creating Internet avatars who would get close enough online to recruiters for Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL, to learn their tricks of the trade, without risking kidnapping and death. His experiment would turn into a 17-month film odyssey that ended with a startling denouement he could never have predicted. The result, titled Undercover in ISIS, will be aired on CBCs Documentary Channel tonight at 8 and repeated Monday. I had the idea that if Daesh spent so much time on social media, we could set up fake people and theyd talk, the New York and Canadian-based filmmaker said in Toronto on Thursday. I got in touch with some ex-security people I knew, from different countries, and they thought it was a cool idea. None of us thought it would go anywhere. To bait the trap, Himels consultants selected two academics who volunteered to join the project, and code-named them Sara and Theo. Both were very unassuming, ordinary sorts of people, Himel said. They werent glamorous and they had nothing in common with 007. But they had an important distinction: both were western nationals, Theo a Swede and Sara an Australian. One of the films advisers, a forensic psychologist, created profiles for them based on actual Daesh recruits. Their online characters were emotionally isolated converts to Islam who were looking for something more extreme than mainstream. In less than a month of trawling through responses from armchair Daesh wannabes, Theo had the first results. Pretending to be attracted by the romance of joining the jihad, he was contacted by a French man who called himself Rashid. After a number of Internet exchanges, he suggested that Theo go to Brussels to meet contacts who would help him go to Syria, six months before terrorist attacks rocked the Belgian capital. Instead, Theo asked for a Skype meeting in the hope of catching Rashid on film. But he failed to respond, and the trail went cold. Sara, meanwhile, spent two months without viable contacts, and Himel was ready to wind up the experiment. Then, she struck gold. A woman in Daeshs self-described capital, Raqqa, started an online conversation. What followed was a months-long cat-and-mouse game between the would-be recruiter and Sara, the bogus Daesh bride. The recruiter, a soft-spoken Swede who called herself Umm Hamza, was clever, wily and experienced. She sounded out Sara gradually, asked why she converted to Islam, why she wanted to come to Syria, and what nationality husband she was seeking. Sara opted for a European, and the stakes escalated suddenly when Umm Hamza offered her own son-in-law, Michael Skramo, a blond, blue-eyed Swede, as a prospective mate. Skramo is one of two most-wanted terrorist suspects in Sweden. A convert to Islam who studied as a chef and was once a vocal opponent of Islamophobia, he had become a dedicated jihadist who sent out bloodthirsty recruitment videos calling for the killing of non-believers, and fought on the front lines in Syria. He had five children with his wife, Amanda, but, Umm Hamza told Sara, she was OK with the second marriage. As negotiations deepened, Himel and his team had to keep one step ahead of Daeshs cybersecurity, using dummy phones connected with Sweden and Australia, and obeying instructions to use encrypted sites and Wi-Fi linked mobiles without traceable SIM cards. A departure date was set, and Sara was put in touch with Skramo, who used the nom-de-guerre Abdul Samad al Swedi. He told her how to evade detection after arriving in Turkey, and she received a map showing a simple route to Raqqa from the border. Meanwhile, Umm Hamza offered motherly advice and encouragement to the prospective bride, assuring her life in the caliphate would be wonderful. Sara went into this to con Umm Hamza, Himel said. But she was emotionally affected by her. She wasnt a professional spy and even though she knew the woman was a terrorist, and luring young women to marry jihadists, she was upset. Thats how recruiters work, through the emotions. The film might have ended there. But when the Documentary Channel extended financing, Himel went to Sweden for more background on Skramo and his family. Through contacts with terrorism experts and police, he received startling information. Umm Hamza in reality Ulrike Pape had returned to Gothenburg. It wasnt difficult to trace where she was, Himel said. But I wasnt expecting her to talk to me. I just wanted to get her voice, then the film would be locked. To his amazement, she let him in, along with his contact, who told her he was a journalist. Veiled, but seemingly relaxed, she admitted escaping from the caliphate with her two preteen children after allied bombing intensified. Her eldest, Amanda, remained in Raqqa. I was filming with a hidden camera, Himel said. I couldnt see what I was shooting, but I couldnt miss the opportunity. She had parrots everywhere in the apartment, in cages, as she did in Raqqa. It was like living confirmation of my story like a movie someone was playing for me. The film is finished, but the plot is still in play. In Sweden, Pape is free, but under surveillance, and Skramo who cant return for fear of arrest is in increasing danger from bombing, along with his family. Daeshs once-touted caliphate is under attack and shrinking in both Syria and Iraq. But says Himel, what he learned from the film convinced him that the threat of terrorist recruitment is real and may be growing. What Im worried about is not just Daesh. Its the ability of extremists to do two things: one is to recruit people all over the world through unrestricted social media. The other is their ability to get their hands on unconventional weapons. When you put them together, it adds up to a potent mix. Read more about: SHARE: NEWPORT, R.I.A Navy chief who died saving his shipmates during the attack on Pearl Harbor has been reunited, in spirit, in Rhode Island with the bell from his ship. The hall where the Navys senior enlisted-leaders study in Newport is named for Chief Peter Tomich; his picture and a Medal of Honor are displayed in the entryway of the Senior Enlisted Academy, part of the U.S. Naval War College. The bell from the ship on which Tomich served, the USS Utah, was recently put on display at the academy. One of the students who stopped to admire the new arrival, Senior Chief James Werner, said, I feel like its at home, where it belongs. The Utah was torpedoed by Japanese aircraft in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Though the ship was capsizing, Tomich stayed below deck to make sure sailors had left their stations and the boilers were secure. Another, Fireman John Vaessen, remained at his station to keep the lights running as long as possible. Sailors who were on the waters surface heard knocking from within the overturned ships hull and rescued another 10 men who were trapped within, the last being Vaessen, according to the Navy. Tomich was posthumously awarded the medal. The Navy says 64 men died and 461 men survived. The bell was likely removed from the ship before the war began, which is why it wasnt damaged, said Jay Thomas, of the Naval History and Heritage Command. It was common practice then to remove non-essential or valuable items from ships and store them. Years later, the Navy loaned the Utahs bell to the University of Utah for its Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps building. There are few artifacts associated with Tomich or the Utah, and the bell provides a connection with that story in a way that nothing else can, said Thomas, the assistant director for collection management. Tomich was born in 1893 in Prolog, in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the Croatian border. He immigrated to the United States in 1913 and enlisted in the U.S. army in New York. He became a U.S. citizen. After serving during World War I, he joined the Navy in 1919. The Utah has been called the forgotten ship of Pearl Harbor. It was moored on the far side of the island, away from the front-line battleships, because it had been converted from a battleship to a target ship for use in the practice of bombing operations with dummy bombs. The academys director, Command Master Chief Richard Curtis, said he envisioned having a ships bell to be displayed at the schoolhouse in October. He thought nothing would be more fitting than the Utahs bell, so he looked online and discovered it was in Utah. Curtis asked to borrow it so it could remind students what it means to lead and the sacrifices sometimes required. They should take pause at why that bell is standing there in front of the academy charged with teaching leadership, in a hall named after a man who gave his life to lead, he said. The bell and its steel bracket, weighing more than 500 pounds, were sent to Rhode Island in late August. The bell is on display until April, during which time more than 600 of the militarys senior enlisted leaders will see it, Curtis said. International service members also study at the academy. The bell will be sent for a conservation assessment before it is loaned back to the University of Utah. SHARE: WASHINGTONThe Los Angeles Times put an unprecedented headline in big type at the top of its front page on Sunday: Scope of Trumps lies unmatched. The U.S. media, and the Canadian media for that matter, has long been reluctant to call a top candidate a liar in their news coverage, much less a habitual liar. But the Republican presidential nominee is different than anyone who has come before so uniquely uninterested in the truth, so shamelessly inaccurate about such an unparalleled variety of things that he has finally prodded reporters and editors into a different kind of coverage. For the past week, the Star has been compiling a list of Trumps false claims. Between last Saturday and this Sunday, we counted 52 of them not including a bunch he repeated. Some of the judgments are subjective. The New York Times counted 31 whoppers between Sept. 15 and Sept. 21. Politico, adopting a stricter standard, counted 87 erroneous statements over five days. Regardless, its a lot. A number of them are big lies, like I was against getting into the war in Iraq (he supported the war) and You have illegal immigrants being treated better than our veterans in many cases (not even close). Some of them are tiny demonstrations of ignorance, like his assertion that Al Wilson wrote the song The Snake in the 1990s (Oscar Brown Jr. wrote it in the 1960s). Most of them are in the middle not significant enough to change an election on their own, but not really nothing, either. All together, they paint a picture of a candidate who lies for strategic reasons and no reason, sneakily and sloppily, but above all: frequently. Some of the false claims were wildly absurd statements. Ignoring everything from slavery to segregation to the crack epidemic, Trump declared that black communities are absolutely in the worst shape that theyve ever been in before ever, ever, ever. Ignoring all evidence, he alleged that opponent Hillary Clinton is proposing open borders and a total government takeover of health care. Many of the claims were exaggerations of figures. Trump said the trade deficit with China is $500 billion a year (it is around $300 billion) and said Clinton is outspending him on Virginia ads by a 50-to-1 ratio (it is closer to 11-to-1). Others were made-up non-facts. Trump said debate moderator Lester Holt is a Democrat (he is a Republican), that thousands of people were outside a Pennsylvania rally (nobody was outside), and that unbelievable numbers of jobs will be cut in Fords outsourcing of small-car production (no jobs are being cut). Several were self-aggrandizing. Trump claimed polls show a never-before-seen level of enthusiasm for him (Mitt Romneys supporters were just as enthusiastic) and that his poll numbers with black people are taking off like a rocket ship (they havent budged). And, as usual, several were about Muslims. Trump falsely claimed that the authorities are allowing jihadi magazines to be sold in America, knowingly taking back returning Daesh terrorists, and refusing to investigate known terror threats because they dont want to be accused of profiling. You can find a complete list at thestar.com/news/Donald-trump-quickfacts.html SHARE: Global Affairs Canada has confirmed to CTV News that a Canadian has been taken hostage in Libya. The news broke on Sunday morning, nearly a week after papers first reported that three foreign workers were abducted in southwestern Libya near the city of Ghat. The Associated Press reported that two of the workers were Italian, which was confirmed by the Italian Foreign Ministry. CTV reports that local government officials in Ghat have said that the workers were engineers, and that they were abducted by a small outlawed group not al Qaeda. SHARE: SEOUL- After fleeing North Korea to avoid extreme poverty and oppression, the young woman allowed a stranger to arrange a marriage for her with a rural Chinese farmer because she had nowhere to go. An even more painful decision came later. She said severe abuse by her husband, including once being tied to a post, and the constant fear police would send her back to the North to face torture and prison convinced her that she needed to flee to South Korea. She decided she had to make the risky journey alone, leaving behind the young daughter she had with her Chinese husband. My heart has been torn apart, the 35-year-old said of the daughter she left in the northeastern Chinese town of Longjing nearly 10 years ago, when the girl was 4. I heard from my Chinese husband that my daughter cried herself to sleep and searched for me until she turned 8. She asked to be identified only by her surname, Kim, out of fear that publicity about her past would destroy her life in the South, where she has remarried and has two other children. Kim has lost touch with her daughter and is afraid to return to China, but neither she nor other defectors in similar situations have given up. Deep shame and guilt about not seeing their children and worry about social stigma in the South kept them silent for years, but some have begun pushing publicly for international help to get back their children. Four defectors plan to travel to the United States next month to seek help from U.S. and United Nations officials. It will not be easy. Experts say Chinese authorities arent likely to accept the appeals because the women were illegal residents and their relationships were not legally recognized marriages. Their efforts to reunite with their children could be viewed as individual family problems, rather than human-rights issues requiring international intervention. Is there any female defector who had registered their marital status in China? said Yoon Yeo Sang, a co-founder of the Seoul-based non-profit Database Center for North Korean Human Rights. For China, they were the ones who were supposed to be repatriated, and I wonder if China would accept their common-law marital status and take necessary legal steps. Chinas Foreign Ministry did not reply to questions about whether it would help the women. The defectors say they deserve international attention because their plight was primarily caused by the Norths abysmal rights conditions and by Chinas policy of repatriating North Korean defectors who are caught hiding in the country. There are South Korean laws, Chinese laws and North Korean laws, but none of them can help us, said Kim Jungah, 40, a North Korean defector living in the South who was separated from her child in China. Now an activist, she will lead three other women on a trip to Washington and New York from Oct. 8-18. The 35-year-old Kim from Longjing had initially planned to go the United States as well but said she cancelled due to worries about the publicity. The market for selling North Korean women into marriage in China heated up after the North suffered a devastating famine in the mid-1990s thats thought to have killed hundreds of thousands. China has significantly fewer women than men, and the imbalance is particularly acute in rural farming areas because young women often migrate to big cities seeking better economic opportunities. Bride trafficking of North Korean women may have eased in recent years, but thousands of North Korean women sold to Chinese men are believed to still live in China, most illegally, according to activists specializing in North Korea affairs. In the early years of bride trafficking, most North Korean women were lured by brokers who promised food and jobs in China; some were abducted. But later on, many have volunteered to be sold as brides because they lacked money to sneak across the border and believed living with Chinese men would decrease the danger of arrest and repatriation, according to Ahn Kyung-Soo, a Seoul-based activist who has interviewed many defectors. Kim the woman who agreed to be identified only by surname said she slipped into China on her own and managed to stay at an orchard for a few days in 2002. The orchards owner proposed that she marry one of his Chinese friends, 14 years her senior. Kim accepted because she had nowhere else to go. She later found that the orchard owner had essentially sold her to his friend as a way to clear a 6,000 yuan ($900) debt. After arriving in China, many women are beaten or sexually abused before being sold to husbands. Park Kyung-hwa, who escaped from her traffickers in 2000, said she saw brokers grope other trafficked women many times. She said brokers kicked and beat her with wooden clubs for about 20 minutes when her first attempt to escape failed. Park said brokers tried to sell her twice to bars, although she asked to be sold as a bride. One bar owner in Shenyang examined her and two other North Korean women for 10 minutes before deciding not to buy anyone. If I was taller and a little prettier, I think I would have been sold, said Park, who now works for a Seoul-based shortwave radio station targeting North Koreans. She said she came to South Korea in 2002. Read more about: SHARE: VATICAN CITYPope Francis has voiced support for Mexican bishops and citizens opposing the governments push to legalize same-sex marriage. At his weekly Sunday blessing, Francis said he willingly joined their protest in favour of family and life, which in these times require special pastoral and cultural attention around the world. Tens of thousands of people marched through Mexico City on Saturday to protest President Enrique Pena Nietos proposal on marriage. Wearing white, they held banners warning against same-sex marriage and demanding parents right to control sex education in schools. Francis has opposed gay marriage and has railed against gender ideology, particularly as taught in schools. But he rarely intervenes publicly in national debates, preferring to let local bishops take the lead. Francis visited the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Mexico in February. Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTONDonald Trump. Hillary Clinton. Yelling at each other, for once, instead of about each other. The presidential debate on Monday is the first one-on-one showdown between two unpopular candidates who have tried to make the election about the abject terribleness of the other. With a record television audience expected, it offers each of them a critical opportunity to repair a tarnished image and reshape a close race. Heres what you need to know: The basics: Time: 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Location: Hofstra University, Hempstead N.Y. The format: Six fifteen-minute segments on topics chosen by moderator Lester Holt, two from each of the vague categories he announced last week: Americas Direction, Achieving Prosperity and Securing America. Holt will begin each segment with a question. Both candidates will get two minutes to respond. Then theyll get a chance to respond to each other. The moderator: Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News since last year, has been subjected to exceptional pressure from all sides. Clinton allies, seeing a chance to capitalize on the feeble performance of NBCs Matt Lauer at a forum earlier in September, have demanded that Holt intervene to correct Trump if he lies some more. Trump has called Holt fair and a good guy but also claimed Holt will treat him very unfairly. The audience: In Trump-ese: huge. There is a chance the debate will be the most-watched campaign event in American history. About 70 million people watched the first debate of 2012; a Fox News Channel executive told Adweek that he expects 80 million to watch this one. I think theres a lot more at stake here than in a normal presidential debate, said Alan Schroeder, author of Presidential Debates: 50 Years of High-Risk TV. The context: Clintons once-large national lead has shrunken to two points over the last three weeks amid broad concerns over her honesty and, to a lesser extent, her health. She leads in enough swing states to give her a victory, but now just barely, and she is underperforming with millennials. Trumps problems are numerous: a majority of the electorate thinks he lacks the knowledge and temperament to be president, non-white people overwhelmingly see him as a racist, and he, too, is widely seen as dishonest. How much it matters: Remember this during your hypothetical mid-debate and post-debate freak-outs: whatever happens, even if it seems big, is unlikely to be the thing that decides the election; political science research suggests that massive debate game-changers more or less do not exist, and there are two more debates to go. With that said, a standard shift of a couple points in the polls could be a big deal in a race separated by a couple points. And there are more votes up for grabs than usual: an unusually large percentage of voters about 20 per cent in some polls is still undecided, How they prepared: Like youd expect them to: Clinton exhaustively, Trump sporadically. Clinton cleared much of her late-September schedule to prep at her home in Chappaqua, N.Y., and she devoured briefing books, tested out attack lines, studied Trumps previous debates, and gamed out her approaches to the different Trumps that might show up, in the words of one senior aide. Her campaign even compiled a personality profile of Trump. Trump, various reports suggest, has refused even to do a formal mock debate or rehearse at a podium, preferring instead of spitball with allies on plane trips. I believe you can prep too much for those things. It can be dangerous, he told the Times. The expectations game: As always, both candidates have tried to pre-emptively spin the media. Clintons team has warned pundits against grading Trump on a curve. Trumps team has portrayed him as the worlds most clueless debating dilettante, possibly unable to execute even the task of standing still, and Clinton a grandmaster. Most of the public isnt buying it. Thirty-nine per cent think Clinton will do better, 27 per cent think Trump will do better, and 33 per cent dont know, a YouGov poll found. Trumps challenges: When Republican debates delved into policy, Trump often attempted to hide silently in the corner. He wont have that luxury in a two-candidate debate without commercials. Hes shown some evidence of not knowing policy as well as maybe we would like, so theyre going to test him, I think, on that. Hes got to be able to pass those tests, said Joseph Bafumi, professor of government at Dartmouth College. He will have to stay calm in the face of Clinton provocations, avoid accidentally offending any large population group, and avoid being seen to be sexist. Comfortable insulting male rivals, he struggled to navigate his exchanges with the one woman in the Republican field, Carly Fiorina. I think the gender dynamic will be something to watch, said Schroeder. Clintons challenges: She can sound evasive and irritable when pressed about her email scandal, reinforcing concerns about her personality. She can sound inauthentic when she delivers her rehearsed lines. And she will have to adjust on the fly to an opponent who has veered between soft-spoken Teleprompter-reading and threatening to attack her over her husbands sexual exploits. Shes in an incredibly difficult position because her opponent is so unpredictable, said Schroeder. She needs to be ready for anything. Five phrases you will probably hear from Trump: Believe me, Tremendous, We dont win anymore, I will fix it, What do you have to lose? Five phrases you will probably hear from Clinton: Tax returns, economy that works for all, rise together, dangerous, Ronald Reagan. SHARE: Three weeks ago, students across Canada begrudgingly woke up, dusted off their backpacks and headed to school, ending their summer vacations. This week, our federal members of Parliament did the same. As Parliament returns, there is no shortage of issues on its agenda. These include setting targets on carbon emissions, agreeing to potentially dangerous peacekeeping roles in Africa, changing Canadas approach to marijuana, decisions on the building of pipelines and on ratification of new free trade agreements, and the fundamental altering of the way Canadians vote in elections. Amid these important debates, it is often lost on us that we will be represented by 338 members of Parliament, each with a unique point of view, and each with his or her own careers, family and lived experience. On Oct. 19 of last year, a record number of rookie MPs were elected 197 out of 338 and they were thrown immediately into their roles. They opened offices and hired staff, got to know the media on the Hill, boned up on the issues and got down to the nations business. For new MPs, the first year is an utter whirlwind. They are idealistic and enthusiastic, and the change they can affect and the opportunities in front of them seem limitless. But soon, just as the freshness of any new government begins to wear off, new MPs face the reality that their scope and influence might not be quite what they had envisioned. It was Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus father who remarked, some decades ago, that backbench MPs were nobodies 50 yards off the Hill. Harsh, perhaps, and despite efforts by Pierre Trudeaus son to change that reality, the unfortunate truth that many MPs come to discover is that real influence and power is invested in just a few of the 338 MPs in the House of Commons. For many, their high hopes of joining the Privy Council as a cabinet minister are dashed. Others find themselves on Opposition benches they had hoped never to occupy. Nearly all face day after gruelling day filled with meetings on issues they had never cared or thought about, or in committee meetings filled with hours of testimony on policy minutiae. On top of that, after five days a week attending to hours and hours of parliamentary business, MPs are expected to return to their ridings every weekend to spend time with constituents, attending festivals, local meetings, and what seems like an endless march of parades and charity runs. Its all glamorous, until the MP finds themselves attending their seventh church strawberry social instead of watching their childs T-ball game. And so, just as MPs adjust to their new jobs as parliamentarians, they and their families also adjust to new and very different lives as well. When MPs move to Ottawa, they leave behind family and often the bonds of social restraint in the spirit of public service and personal ambition. In Ottawa, MPs once again live like students who have just moved out of residence and into their first apartments. In middle age, they often live with roommates, eat off mismatched dinnerware, leave pictures unhung. Their commitments, understandably, are to their own communities, not to Ottawa. And so with no families to come home to, every day becomes the same. After work, receptions and dinners fuel the makings of a toxic brew of power, exhaustion and a feeling that no one else understands our world. The grim, but too often unspoken, reality is that many politicians end up struggling. Marriages end. Relationships fray. Families suffer. Substance abuse issues emerge. Some MPs struggles make it to the front page but dozens more struggle in the loneliness of the shadows. As Parliament returns this week, we all should remember that these 338 people are not nobodies at all. Rather, they are wives and husbands, fathers and mothers, friends and colleagues of us all. Whats more, they are the ones we have chosen to represent us in the peoples house, the House of Commons. And agree with them or not, it is only decent of us to honour the sacrifice that they make every day to do their best for our country. Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. Read more about: SHARE: Progressive politicians, including former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Finance Minister Ed Balls, along with many others in Canada and the U.S., admit ruefully that voters lack confidence in their ability to spend prudently and effectively. Even their own voters support for action on issues they care about is undermined as a result. Whether it is a carbon tax or health spending, many voters who agree on the need for action on climate change or improvements in health care feel conflicted. The constant drumbeat of media coverage on wasted public dollars helps create broad and deep skepticism about the public sectors most basic levels of competence. On ensuring that public expenditure is well-monitored and that outcomes are fairly measured, there is a widening credibility gap between political promise, performance and public perception. Too many progressive activists sneer at this challenge as merely the product of right-wing attacks on the role of government and the waves of revulsion created by their conservative media chorus. They do have a case. Conservatives in power consistently fail to deliver better government performance and waste similar amounts of public funds. They just focus on different projects and then fail at them. Progressives failures on green energy and job creation are more than matched by Conservative defence boondoggles and their thinly veiled corporate welfare. Even the Harperites, despite their loud claims of fiscal rectitude, were pork barrel politicians of the first order, wasting boatloads of cash on everything from naval ships to public sector technology services. But heres the rub: in every case, progressives lose. Decades of opinion research confirm it is progressives who suffer when governments misspend even if they are conservative governments! So if progressive activists bristle at criticism of the efficacy of government spending, as merely right-wing sloganeering, they need to give their heads a shake. As it is the centre-left that believes in and campaigns on the essential role of government as agents of change on social justice or climate change, there is a real problem if even their own voters dont believe their governments are competent to deliver on that vision. Sadly, the evidence that their skepticism is not merely the product of conservative propaganda continues never stops coming. The Ontario Auditor-Generals investigators were savage in their assessment of the gap between the governments green promise and energy performance. Bonnie Lysyks team concluded that Ontario taxpayers have been unnecessarily dinged for an additional $37 billion dollars over eight years, and face another $133 billion in wasted spending over the next 16 years. Her predecessors were equally savage on the Harris government and Premiers BobRae, David Peterson and Bill Davis before them. Now this is a political gold mine for NDP leader Andrea Horwath and Consevative leader Patrick Brown in the short term, as the province heads into election season. But the governments evident fiscal incompetence as judged by their own Auditor-General has a deeper and more worrying and long-lasting consequence. It adds one more layer of suspicion to any reasonable voters doubts about whether to trust any politician to spend any money on anything! So flail away at the numbers, rile the troops in anger at Queens Parks profligacy, and harvest bushels of angry votes, if you are an opposition politician. But if you are a progressive a union leader, a politician or an activist dont then dismiss critics of the public sectors actual performance as dim bulb Fox News dumbos. Admit that voters have a right to be angry at such failures. Layout in credible terms how you would improve outcomes. Pledge to put your career on the line based on your delivery of that performance as assessed by the Auditor General. And make it clear to public sector leaders that there are consequences for incompetence, that impunity for failing to manage public revenues with due care will no longer be on offer. Let Patrick Brown bellow that the problem is government itself, but dont join him there. Force him to match your plan for better management with his own. If he offers the usual conservative pablum about cleaning up corruption, jump on him to prove it. Conservatives love to denounce conspiracy, corruption and cronyism in public spending. But as Napoleon sagely observed, Never credit conspiracy, what simple incompetence can adequately describe. Progressives need to convincingly disprove Ronald Reagans great aphorism, The most frightening words in the English language Im from the government, Im here to help. Progressive governments need to deliver, better. Robin V. Sears, a principal at Earnscliffe and a Broadbent Institute leadership fellow, was an NDP strategist for 20 years. SHARE: Re: Toronto has the recipe for innovation, Opinion Sept.16 Toronto has the recipe for innovation, Opinion Sept.16 The piece by Meric Gertler and Ilse Treurnicht is just the same old refrain from economic and professional elites: lets build an innovation economy based on the efforts of a few educational, financial and professional elites and everyone will benefit. This recipe has been tried time and again since Michael Porter published his seminal book Competitive Advantage in the late 1980s, over 25 years ago, pushing business clusters of the kind Gertler and Treurnicht are lionizing. Unfortunately this recipe has failed most of society everywhere. It has resulted in massive inequality and disaffection of large segments of society that are not in the neat innovation bubble that favours maybe 10 per cent of the population. So, if you are not in the University of Toronto, MaRS, the Martin Prosperity Institute, the Rotman School of Managment (virtually a separate university now) or one of the other hangers-on reliant on government largesse to bail them out (such as in the case of MaRS), you are out of luck. The movements that have given rise to Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn in the U.K. and similar phenomena across the developed world are a result of the elitist thinking represented by this piece. When will elites like Gertler and Treurnicht wake up to the fact that economic strategies are needed that benefit everyone, not the few? John Simke, Toronto With all due respect to Gertler and Treurnicht, the recipe for innovation is not to be found in further government handouts, nor does the use of all the popular innovation-related semantics (i.e. accelerators, incubators, innovation ecosystems, etc.) get us any closer to being world-class innovative entrepreneurs. MaRS has been a bust since the day it opened as exemplified by the number of CEOs that have tried to make it a success. The reality is that Canada is fixated on elaborate infrastructures that stifle rather than encourage free-wheeling entrepreneurism. What we need instead of bureaucratic directed facilities such as those outlined by Gertler and Treurnicht, are more angel investors and venture capitalists prepared to invest in individuals and teams who present them with exciting new concepts in any and every field. George Fleischmann, Toronto SHARE: NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Amazon.com (AMZN) were higher in mid-afternoon trading on Friday as Mizuho upped its price target on the e-commerce company's stock to $950 from $855, reiterating a "buy" rating, the Fly reports. The increase follows the firm's first survey of U.S. Amazon.com customers, which revealed that 50% of respondents belong to Amazon.com's Prime paid membership service. The Seattle-based company has more than 60 million U.S. Prime members, the firm estimates. Mizuho said that Amazon.com is in the "best position" to take an "out-sized" market share as retail shifts to online, the Fly notes. Additionally, Mizuho estimates that Amazon.com's voice-controlled Echo and Alexa products and services could generate "well over $11 billion" in revenue by 2020. (Amazon.com is held in the Growth Seeker portfolio. See all of the holdings with afree trial.) Separately, TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this articles's author. TheStreet Ratings rated this stock as a "buy" with a ratings score of B-. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income, robust revenue growth, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. We feel its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated. You can view the full analysis from the report here: AMZN 1 of 59 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The scene in Washington on the African American Museums opening weekend View Photos The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens its doors to the public. Caption The National Museum of African American History and Culture opens its doors to the public. Sept. 25, 2016 Crowds make their way toward the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the first full day of the museums opening. Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue. Here was Willie Brown, bouncing his son on his lap, as he waited in the National Museum of African American History and Culture for a literary film celebrating black culture to begin. He and his family were up at dawn and drove three hours from Southern Maryland to be in the new museum on its first full day open to the public. All around them, thousands of visitors filled every floor of the place. They came from rural Georgia, New York City, Silicon Valley and other parts of the nation. Most were African American. Mothers pushing their babies in strollers lined up at an elevator leading to the history gallery behind seniors leaning on their canes. Browns family was among the many who entered the museum with early-morning tickets but hung around past lunch. It was crowded, but they wanted to see everything. When they are older, they can come back, Brown said, pointing to his 3-year-old son and 9-month-old daughter. I wanted them to know that they were here when it opened. Now that dignitaries have had their turn, with an A-list soiree Saturday night and a series of receptions for donors, the museum belongs to the nation. On Sunday, when officials extended museum hours to meet intense interest, more everyday people had a chance to view the exhibits. Like other Smithsonian outposts, entry is free but passes though the end of the year are already gone, according to the museums website. A small number of day-of passes will be made available each day. About 2,000 people entered the museum per hour during peak times, according to Washington Post estimates. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) For the most part, they were people with a deep interest in black history and the resourcefulness to score a coveted ticket during the museums opening weekend. They sported opening-day pins handed out by museum volunteers and endured the long waits in lines hundreds at the cafe, hundreds at the gift shop, so many trying to view the history galleries that museum officials had to divert crowds to the upper galleries. (By The Washington Posts estimate, 2,000 people per hour were streaming in during peak times.) Even still, complaints about the crowds were tempered by exultation over the museums very existence. The building was packed but maintained the feel of a family reunion, reminiscing on a communitys heritage and celebrating the bold validation of a Smithsonian museum focused on its culture and history. Ill come back, Brandi Stevenson, who lives in the District, told her father, Lawrence, who came down from New York to see the new museum. Brandi sped through the history galleries while her father slowed down to read every panel and contemplate every word. I am forever changed, he said, reflecting on the experience of seeing his communitys history told on the Mall. As they prepared for this weekend, the museums leaders often said their goal was to make the ancestors smile. Had they succeeded? Sunday, the place had the feel of any other Smithsonian museum with an extra patina of pride. There were teenagers charging their phones in wall sockets and strollers pushed to the side. [Bridging past and present, the African American Museum opening is a dynamic celebration ] There was Nettie Hinton inching her walker up the sloping walkway in front of the museum. She paused to look up at the bronze-colored building. It seems my whole adult life was spent in this neck of the woods, she said, waving her finger around in the air. She turned to point at a building across Constitution Avenue. There, she had spent 25 years working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. She shifted around again, and pointed toward the Lincoln Memorial. And there, with Martin Luther King, she said. At 24, she was part of the March on Washington. Now the 77-year-old lives in San Antonio, but there was no way I was going to let this museum open and not be here, she said. Later in the afternoon, Archie Stewart, 23, strode through the culture gallery, with a crown on her head. Shes a beauty queen with the Miss Black U.S. Ambassador pageant. Oh, my gosh, she giggled as she passed through an exhibit on African American style through the years. I love all this ebony history. She had traveled to the museum from Birmingham., Ala., and was touring it along with a handful of other black beauty queens. There were somber moments, too. Tarneisha Peters photographed a passage from James Baldwin enshrined in the museum. It reads: The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. Tarneisha Peters, left, and Debra Smith reflect on what they've just seen after going through the newly opened museum. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Ian Wilson and Caroll Duncanson, both visiting from New York City, light up as they view the P-Funk Mothership. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) It explained what compelled Peters to fly from Florida for the museums opening weekend and why she believes the nation needs the museum right now. We are a part of our history and a product of our history, she said. Museum director Lonnie Bunch has projected the museum will draw 4 million visitors annually, placing it among the Smithsonians most popular stops behind the Air & Space, Natural History and American History museums. So, what comes next? The museum, which has already produced traveling exhibitions, held collecting events in 15 cities and published books about the African American experience, hopes to move quickly into its second phase: pleasing the public. Weve got to pivot right away into being the new iteration of this museum that people love already, Kinshasha Holman Conwill, the museums deputy director, said this summer. Weve already got 100,000 members. Weve already got . . . scores of founding donors. A huge number of African American families and individuals. Every major corporation, a majority of the main foundations that support arts and culture. The opening, in a way, is a culmination, but in another way its a beginning. As if to underscore its role as a gathering place for African American cultural leaders, the museum has already rolled out a slate of public events. Monday, the museum will host a viewing and panel event for the WGN America television drama Underground, about a group of enslaved people and their journey to freedom. Soon after, author Heather Ann Thompson will discuss her upcoming book, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy. [Descended from a slave, this family helped to open the African American Museum with Obama] If it is able to operate successfully, attracting crowds and building on its momentum, the African American Museum may create a path forward for other museums now being sought. Already, there is a push for a National Museum of the American Latino by two members of Congress. The National Womens History Museum started in 1996 now existing online and its leaders plan to build a physical museum with private funds. Backers of an effort to build a National Museum of the American People to tell every American ethnic and minority groups story about their journey to get here, and what they accomplished, are calling for a presidential commission in 2017. And, once curators of the African American Museum have time to catch their breath, curators have said they will dive back into expanding the museums already massive collection of artifacts. They have nearly 40,000 items and continue to be overwhelmed with calls and emails from people who have items to donate. Dannie Royal of Houston is a distant relative of Bill Pickett, a famous cowboy and rodeo show performer in the early 1900s. Better known as The Bull Dogger, Pickett was known for his ability to wrestle a steer to the ground by grabbing it by its horns, a technique called bulldogging. Royal, 67, whose great-grandmother was Picketts sister, still owns his home in Taylor, Tex., and has photos of him as a young boy. She says she wants to donate them to the museum one day. But she isnt quite ready to part with her personal piece of black history. Surrogates for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton on Sept. 25 weighed in on several controversies a day before the first presidential debate. (Bastien Inzaurralde/Video: The Washington Post/Photo: Melina Mara/Washington Post; Chris Goodney/Bloomberg) Surrogates for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton on Sept. 25 weighed in on several controversies a day before the first presidential debate. (Bastien Inzaurralde/Video: The Washington Post/Photo: Melina Mara/Washington Post; Chris Goodney/Bloomberg) We interrupt this political feeding frenzy for a tiny moment of appreciation and optimism. On Monday at 9 p.m., the nation will gather together about as much as we ever gather together perhaps 100 million strong. And well do it for something that matters even more, if you can believe it, than the Super Bowl, which is the other time we come together in such numbers. In fact, well gather three times, this being the first of three presidential candidates debates. For weeks now, the flak aimed at the presidential debates has been intense: They wont be probing enough, they will be full of Donald Trumps insults or Hillary Clintons sleep-inducing wonkiness. The moderators will fail to fact-check or they will be obnoxiously intrusive if they do. But in the long run, we cant do without these quadrennial spectator events. It goes without saying that the debates provide something distinctive: the candidates side by side, dealing with substantial issues, and for a significant amount of time. One way or the other, we get a bead on who they really are. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center, calls debates the single most valuable institutional form of communication in presidential campaigns more than speeches, news stories or ads. (She has led efforts to improve them, including the intriguing recommendation of a chess clock that would count down the minutes allotted to each candidate; the debate producers have an informal version of this behind the scenes.) Debates are worthwhile even for those who have made up their minds because the electorate cant say, I didnt know that, Jamieson said. We will have common evidence of who these candidates are. And the debates tie the campaigns to governance uniquely, providing a look at the issues as well as the candidates temperaments and their habits of mind. Better yet, they sometimes provide telling, even make-or-break, moments: Ronald Reagans disarming deflection of worries about his age; Michael Dukakiss flatline response to a hypothetical question about his wife being raped and murdered; Barack Obamas put-down in a 2008 primary debate (Youre likable enough, Hillary). Of course, its the undecided voters a mysterious group, to be sure whom the debates may serve best. For that 10 percent or so who have reserved judgment, one would hope they would say, This is my debate, said Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute. In fact, the debates belong to the public, Rosenstiel said, even going so far as to use the word precious to describe them. Rosenstiel thinks Lester Holt is a good choice for the much-discussed moderators job in the first debate, to be held at Hofstra University on Long Island. Hes the right combination of tough-minded and low-key. More a workhorse than a show horse, hes unlikely to make himself the focus of attention, but I hope hell be strong enough to maintain control. I doubt that hell let any obvious whoppers go by unnoted, as his NBC colleague Matt Lauer did a few weeks ago during his networks Commander-in-Chief Forum. Stand-ins appear on stage during a rehearsal for Mondays Presidential Debate at Hofstra University. (Andrew Gombert/EPA) Holt is the first African American solo nightly news anchor in a generation and is someone who assumed the anchor chair amid controversy, Rosenstiel said. (Holt took over last year after Brian Williams fell from grace for misrepresenting his coverage of the Iraq War.) So, Holt has been through a lot and hes done it by a just-the-facts kind of journalism, Rosenstiel said. His whole M.O. is low drama, high facts, small affect. And although Donald Trump recently complained that Holt is a Democrat part of why the debates will be, in one of his favorite expressions, rigged thats not true; Holt is a registered Republican. Janet Brown, executive director of the Presidential Commission on Debates, told me that candidates dont get to say who the moderators are, despite what many observers believe: They dont pick them. They dont approve them. The commission looks for three qualities, she said: A journalist whos well versed on the candidates and issues; one with substantial experience in live, hard-news television; and one who understands that the role is to be a facilitator, not a participant. The moderator, in short, is not on the ballot. But that doesnt mean Holt cant keep order and push for truth; especially given this fact-challenged campaign, he absolutely must. As for Trumps complaints about Holt or the others, thats pure manipulation, a form of either lowering expectations so that a loss might look like a win, or a way to try to influence how tough the moderators will be. (Working the refs has become the go-to phrase, and its apt.) Citizens ought to be skeptical of that kind of talk. Its disingenuous, Rosenstiel said. And moderators, of course, should ignore it altogether. Given the high stakes, and the personalities in play, Monday night is sure to be thoroughly critiqued both afterward and, in this multi-screen age, right while its happening. (Beware, though: Jamieson cites clear evidence that youll learn less if youre distracted by pundits tweets or your sisters texts.) In the end, this debate wont be perfect. The good news is that it doesnt have to be. Kindergartner Isabella Bjornson and her mother, Jo Ann, attend a school ice-cream social at Madison Manor Park in Arlington, Va. on Sept. 9. (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) Jo Ann Bjornson spent her early childhood in the care of babysitters until it came time for her to board the bus to school for half-day classes, an event that came with little fanfare. For her daughter Isabella, the days before kindergarten started this month included structured preschool, a bevy of summer camps and months of agonizing over whether the smart, sensitive 5-year-old was academically and socially ready to start school. Kindergarten, where children were once encouraged to play and adjust to the rhythms of the school day, has long been evolving. But many parents new to modern-day elementary schooling say they have been shocked to find their children in a pressure cooker of rigorous academics, standardized tests, homework and what seem like outrageous expectations. [For parents of rising kindergarteners, school choie can add options and stress] The nations earliest grade if you dont count pre-K now comes with packed orientation nights, school tours, Twitter chats, warnings to make sure children brush up on their skills and dress rehearsals. Some parents have come to view the first year of school not as a transition but as a make-or-break gauntlet that will shape their childs academic career. Many worry that their children are ill prepared for the more strenuous environment, that their kids, not far removed from their toddler days, will burn out. What if I make the wrong decision and I send her too early? said Bjornson, of Arlington, a vice president of human resources at Leidos. I dont want to screw my kid up for forever. Am I going to set her up for failure for the rest of her life? [Why I dont want my son to read in kindergarten] New research from the University of Virginia published this year confirmed the shift parents have been feeling: Kindergarten has grown far more academic, with an increasing emphasis on literacy and math and additional exposure to standardized tests in preparation for more later in their schooling. The study, based on teacher surveys from 1998 and 2010, found that kindergarten shifted dramatically in just those dozen years. More teachers were using worksheets and having children compose and write sentences. Fewer teachers had art, science and dramatic play areas or water tables. In 1998, 31 percent of teachers said they believed that most children should learn to read in kindergarten, but by 2010, 80 percent held that belief. Researchers were floored by how drastically kindergarten has shifted. To think that kids experiences in the early grades changed so much over such a short period of time is really surprising to us, said Daphna Bassok, an associate professor of education at the University of Virginia. Bassok said she believes the shift in kindergarten is rooted in a trickling down of accountability pressures, with schools under more demands to ready children for standardized tests that are used to evaluate teachers and schools. Bassok also pointed to the rise in the number of children attending preschool, which can create an early-achievement gap before kids even make it to elementary school. While children of past generations often entered kindergarten with a blank academic slate, many schools now hope new students will have mastered the basics of counting to 10 and reciting the alphabet by the time they enter the classroom. And by the end of the kindergarten year, many more teachers expect children to know how to read and master skills once reserved for first-graders. Jo Ann Bjornson, right, worried about whether she was sending her daughter Isabella, bottom right, to school too soon given the more strenuous environment. (J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post) At a packed information night in an Arlington high school auditorium in February, educators outlined what children should have before they enter kindergarten. Parents learned about the basic requirements: inoculations, birth certificates and proof of residency. But first they learned about how to prepare their youngsters for class: The children should be putting together puzzles, trying their hand at writing, and bolstering motor skills by zipping and tying things. Many parents now see high-quality preschool as essential to their childrens education and get them started young. Even preschools feel more academic than they used to. Kim Ngeh, a property manager in Arlington, moved her son Kaiden from home-based day care to Head Start, a preschool for low-income families, after a family advocate from Northern Virginia Family Service convinced her that preschool would be better if not essential. Its a very good program. It gets them ready for school, Ngeh said, adding that Kaiden, now 4, already gets homework that includes coloring and tracing letters. She said that it would be pretty important. For many children, kindergarten is the first introduction to school. Ana Bonilla-Galdamez, a social worker at Charles Barrett Elementary in Alexandria, said many children who enter as 5-year-olds have spent their childhoods in unstructured day care or in households with relatives who dont speak English. Many of the students who are classified as English language learners were born in the United States but have little exposure to English. The difference is so great in kindergarten, Bonilla-Galdamez said. You cannot expect all the kids to move at the same speed. As part of a school tour and orientation at Garrett Park Elementary in Montgomery County, Md., children were allowed to get on a school bus and hang out to get familiar with them. August Fitzgerald, 5, was thrilled and didn't want to get off. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Kate Martin started school in the same light-filled classroom at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School where she now teaches. And on its walls, she can trace the evolution of kindergarten. As a 5-year-old, Martin remembers the walls plastered with creative artwork, a special nook for snack time and a play area littered with blocks. Martins walls are covered with words and posters so that novice readers catch a glimpse of letters nearly everywhere they look. There are orderly tables and independent reading lessons academics that used to be reserved for first-graders that have been repackaged into interactive lessons for younger, squirmier students. [Kindergarten the new first grade? Its actually worse than that.] The U-Va. researchers who studied changes in kindergarten programming pointed out that the new emphasis on math and reading does not necessarily mean the fun has been stripped from kindergarten and replaced with rigorous academic instruction. In many cases, kindergarten teachers have found play-based approaches to teaching academic subjects to keep young students engaged. We do try to incorporate as much play and hands-on as we can, Martin said. She teaches children to be independent, allowing them to select their own books so they will be more motivated to learn to read. Martin said she has seen kindergarten getting more rigorous during the 15 years she has been teaching. Virginia has raised its expectations for what students learn in their first year of school in all subjects. In math, for example, the state in 2009 decided that kindergartners should be able to count to 100 by the end of the year instead of to just 30. Martin said her young students appear to be rising to the challenge. It helps, too, that most of her students attended preschool. Youll find that a lot of them say I want to learn to read. I want to learn to write, Martin said. They already have that motivation. During a science lesson last school year, children in Martins class built tiny boats out of aluminum foil and then set them in bins full of water. Then, they guessed how many pennies the boats could hold and dropped the coins in one by one until the boats sank, squealing and giggling as they watched their constructions slip beneath the water. It felt like play, but the children also practiced counting and learned about making hypotheses. Mike Favila, an Arlington parent who was educated at a strict private school in the Philippines, said he was worried his son would be missing out on play when he headed to kindergarten. I was a little concerned it was going to immediately throw him into this rat race of academics that was going to scare him all the way into adulthood, Favila said. But he was reassured when he visited schools and found the children to be relaxed not stressed and teachers mixing play with learning. His son Derek, 5, started at Claremont Elementary, a Spanish immersion school, this month, and he loves the experience, sometimes arriving home counting in Spanish. Izzy Lieberson, 5, watches his sister Sylvia as his parents work on the paperwork for his enrollment in kindergarten at Garrett Park Elementary School. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post) Jessica Lieberson took her child Izzy to visit their neighborhood school, Garrett Park Elementary in Montgomery County, in April for an orientation. She said she wants her son to learn to play and be part of a community in kindergarten. Social skills are more important than the rigorous academics, Lieberson said. Developing the skills to work with others is definitely the most important thing. Bjornson said she was confident her daughter could handle the academics but was worried about whether Isabella, who once upset easily, was emotionally prepared for the transition. On Isabellas first day of school she had her answer: She tore down the hall of their Arlington home screaming, First day of kindergarten! By the second week, Bjornson said Isabella had made friends, brought home art projects and excitedly recounted what she was learning in class. She raves about the songs in Spanish and the penguin dance in gym. Shes coming home happy and excited, Bjornson said. I think the decision was right. Why do we talk so much about state standardized tests? Report-card grades are a much bigger deal. They affect college admission, scholarships and family harmony in ways state tests do not. We usually respect grades as a measure of progress. We do not like it when schools mess with them. That is why parents and students in Anne Arundel County are fighting a grading system that appears to discriminate against students not enrolled in certain classes. Beth Plummer, who has two daughters attending South River High School, in Edgewater, Md., is one of many parents who have protested the higher grade points given to students in the districts STEM magnet program. The separation between the rankings of STEM students versus regular students becomes very apparent after sophomore year, she said. The STEM students take nine classes instead of eight, and the majority of their classes are weighted higher than standard and/or honors classes. Several South River students say they applied for the STEM program but did not win the random lottery used for admission. They say this has threatened their chances of being ranked high enough in their class to win the scholarships and college acceptances they seek. In response, school district spokesman Bob Mosier said, We offer rigorous academic programming for all students in Anne Arundel County. While some students are not admitted to the magnet program, he said, there is an equitable STEM-rich program of study offered for these students. That does not help their grade-point averages, students and parents say. Maureen Koziolek said her son would have ranked third in his class, but the STEM students pushed him down to ninth. At his University of Pennsylvania interview, he was asked if he was in the top 1 percent of his class. He had to answer no because of the STEM students, she said. The district has rejected requests by non-STEM students and parents to give STEM students a separate ranking. One student asked the district superintendent why she got fewer grade points for her top mark in Principles of Engineering than STEM students received for the STEM version of that course, even though both classes took an identical final exam. The official answer was puzzling: The STEM course required deeper investigation with curricular extensions and presentation expectations. The district eventually decided to award the same points to future classes but refused to raise retroactively the grade points already given to non-STEM students. The district has responded to complaints with an exceedingly complex slide presentation. It shows an intricate credit system beginning in sixth grade. The slides suggest that non-STEM students could catch up if they took more Advanced Placement courses. Parents say scheduling limits and prerequisite issues often bar that alternative. Programs that exclude good students, and deny them extra grade points in the process, do not make sense. One solution would be to open the STEM program to anyone who wants in, but Mosier said the district cant afford that. Perceived unfairness can have a disastrous effect on morale, an essential element of a good education. Allison Arslanian, a non-STEM student with excellent grades, said she applied for one of the parking passes given to students working at a math tutoring center where she had gotten an internship. Sorry, she was told. Passes for work at that center are only for STEM students. Arslanian said she notices STEM students referring to people like her as GenPops, shorthand for general population. Most Washington-area high schools admit anyone who wants to work hard into AP, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge programs, which offer college-level courses. They all have a shot at extra grade points in those classes, while Anne Arundel limits the STEM magnet opportunity to students who win a lottery. If you have a program you value, why not offer it to all students wanting to learn? That is the way challenging teaching has worked for most of this region for two decades. Rationing rewarding courses seems unwise. The beach in Ocean City, Md. Marylands governor has ordered the states school systems to start after Labor Day, in part to boost the economy. (Randy Mays/Randy Mays) Montgomery Countys school board pitched a calendar proposal for next school year in May, months ahead of its usual schedule. But as parents and teachers weighed in by the hundreds, the state delivered an unexpected jolt. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) issued an executive order Aug. 31 saying schools could not open before Labor Day and must end by June 15. So a Montgomery school board committee started anew this month, poring over six possibilities, asking about state waivers, pondering the unwelcome idea of intruding on spring break. Two of the three proposals the committee backed would set the opening of school just after Labor Day, on Sept. 5, in 2017. A third proposal includes an Aug. 28 start, a plan that is similar to what Montgomery does now. The option that complies with the Hogan decree would trim a day from Montgomerys typical 184-day school year. But it also stands to affect spring break. If 2017-2018 brings more than three snow days, spring break could be cut back by up to three days. Theres considerably less flexibility, said school board member Phil Kauffman, who serves on the committee. The full school board is expected to vote in October, but officials say there are many unknowns. Two of the plans would require state waivers, and districts dont yet have details about criteria. The Maryland State Board of Education will take up issues related to Hogans executive order when it meets next week, said Andy Smarick, board president. In the short term, I think the state board will, at minimum, want to provide guidance to local school systems on how to proceed, he said. Montgomerys efforts to grapple with the state mandate come more than three weeks after Hogans order, a summer-extending move that he said would benefit families and the economy. The action has upended school system calendar plans statewide. Many districts have said they might have to trim spring break or certain holidays to start after Labor Day and still end by mid-June. Patricia ONeill, chair of the Montgomery policy management committee that took up the issue, said she and others feel a sense of urgency. She said she has heard from many families in the suburban district of 159,000 students. People want to know, she said. It affects their families. They make vacation plans. They arrange day care. They sign their kids up for camps. Another twist on the issue is that the state attorney generals office said in a 24-page letter earlier this month that Hogan might have exceeded his authority with the order. [Maryland attorney general: Hogan may have exceeded authority with order on school start] Reacting to that letter, Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince Georges) said he would advise school systems to ignore the governors order and set a calendar that is appropriate to them and their students. How many school systems will embrace such an approach is unclear. In Montgomery, school officials are taking the order into account and will confer with school system lawyers as they proceed, said Michael Durso, school board president. It continues to be a very cloudy situation, he said. The order came as Montgomery was considering a proposal that would have pushed its school-year calendar in the opposite direction with an earlier-than-usual start date of Aug. 21 in 2017. [More school in August? First day of classes in Maryland district may come earlier in 2017] The public did not warm to the idea. A district analysis showed that 75 percent of the first 1,900 comments were negative about the Aug. 21 start date. That was cutting into summer and family plans, said school board member Rebecca Smondrowski, adding that she heard many objections. School board members scrapped the Aug. 21 idea almost immediately as deliberations began last week. In Maryland, students are off school for many state-mandated holidays including Thanksgiving and the following day; the period from Christmas Eve to New Years Day; Good Friday and Easter Monday; and federal holidays, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The state requires at least 180 school days each academic year. [When should school start? One Md. school system looks to create two calendars.] The full school board could change any of the calendar options that move forward, and state actions could have an effect before the October board meeting, too: Its possible, Kauffman said, that by then theres clarity on the process for waivers. Music teacher Maya Cunningham, one of two D.C. teachers named Fulbright recipients, in her classroom with first graders at Nalle Elementary on Sept. 22. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Maya Cunningham wants her music students at J.C. Nalle Elementary School to experience sounds and culture not traditionally found in the schools Marshall Heights neighborhood. So she is headed to Botswana. Cunningham will spend three months researching the music of the African country and plans to return to Washington and write a new curriculum for her music classes, aimed at expanding her students global perspectives. This neighborhood can feel isolated, Cunningham said. In Botswana, its a completely different culture. I want them to hear the sounds of the market, taste the food. I thought it would be a rich experience for my students. Cunningham was selected to travel to Botswana as part of the U.S. State Departments Fulbright program, aimed at giving teachers an opportunity to explore other countries to improve their teaching methods. She and Jennifer Pierson, another D.C. Public Schools teacher, are part of a group of 44 teachers selected to participate in the program this year. Cunningham, who has taught music since 2001, will be looking at ways that teachers in Botswana use music to help children foster a sense of pride and national identity. Music is a terrific platform to share the world with students, she said. What better way to do that than to get firsthand information through these experiences? Jennifer Pierson, an early-childhood education teacher at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School, will spend her spring semester in the Netherlands learning how to incorporate more play into her daily lessons. Pierson teaches prekindergarten, and she said parents of former students sometimes come to her concerned about how academic kindergarten is compared with her class. At the pre-K level, they get to play, but in kindergarten they are stressed from the expectation that they need to start reading, and students are sitting down for much longer periods, Pierson said. Pierson already uses games and other play activities to teach students language skills. Her students go around the classroom playing a version of hide-and-seek during which they search for materials with magnifying glasses. Its a strategy used to boost their vocabulary. But Pierson wants to learn from other educators in the Netherlands, a country that has embraced play in everyday instruction. Upon her return in May, Pierson wants to develop a pilot program that will use more play with kindergartners who are struggling with learning English. Children have fewer opportunities to play, Pierson said. Students are going to be less motivated if school isnt fun. Separate shootings Sunday in a small corner of Northeast Washington left one person dead and three others wounded, including a 93-year-old woman, police said. The fatal shooting occurred about 2:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Riggs Road NE. Police identified the victim as Marcellus Thomas, 22, of Northeast Washington. That evening, about 7:30, a man and two women who were on a street two or three blocks away were hit by gunshots fired from an automobile, police said. All were said to be conscious and breathing, including the 93-year-old, when they were taken to a hospital after the attack in the 500 block of Oglethorpe Street NE. Police said the elderly woman received a graze wound and was not seriously hurt. No connection had been established Sunday night between the two shootings. Interim D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham, who went to the scene, said he did not know whether the Oglethorpe Street attack could be considered random. D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) also went to Oglethorpe Street. She said there was only a vague description of the car. The 500 block of Oglethorpe is a residential street lined by two-story redbrick houses. Many of its residents are retired. One resident of the neighborhood told a reporter Sunday night that he had heard the gunfire, eight to 10 shots. The neighborhood is northeast of the Fort Totten Metro station and near Eastern Avenue. A car belonging to Rabbi Nehama Benmosche, which was emblazoned with a Star of David and decorative paint, along with promotional materials for her congregation, was allegedly vandalized in a New Carrollton commuter lot. (Nehama Benmosche/Nehama Benmosche) It was a night of prayer for those of Jewish faith, and Rabbi Nehama Benmosche, of Philadelphia, was in town to lead her D.C.-based congregation through Sunday programs. But when she arrived at her car, which had been parked at a New Carrollton commuter lot Saturday night, she was horrified at what she saw. A Star of David emblem had been ripped and promotional magnets for her congregation strewn across the ground. Vandals had erased message painted on the car, which also included a Star of David, she said. The message said, in part, take a magnet find a new home. Some lettering was visible but the star was completely erased. I guess they just rubbed it off with a shirt, she said. And then they took the magnets and ripped them in half. And ripped the rainbow Jewish star in half. Benmosches alien- green Kia Soul is dubbed #macharcar after her congregation: Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. The D.C.-based group promotes Jewish identity and cultural heritage, while practicing through a secular lens. Benmosche reported the incident to Prince Georges County Police, who filed a report. A police spokesman declined to comment on the case Sunday, however, citing a policy of only addressing breaking news on weekends. Benmosche wants the incident investigated as a hate crime. No other cars were targeted, she said, and the only magnet left intact was one with non-religious connotations-- a bee. The sight was especially devastating coming the night of Selichot, a time of prayer before the Jewish High Holy Day season, she said. Benmosche was headed to the Southeast Washington house she is renting when she noticed the magnets strewn on the ground. Its a sad night. I got to the parking garage tonight and this is what I found, she posted to Facebook. Im waiting for the police. Tonight, when many of my fellow Jews are in synagogues beginning the slichot prayers (prayers of forgiveness) I am waiting for the police. She also filed a report with the Anti-Defamation League, who could not immediately be reached for comment Sunday. Benmosche is the daughter of late-AIG Chief Executive Robert Benmosche. Her maternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors, she said. She was certain the attack was motivated by hate. I take this very personally, Benmosche said. I really feel like it was an attack on me as a Jewish person. . .. I feel like I didnt think in 2016 it was still okay to hate Jewish people publicly and apparently it is. Sunday morning, she changed her Facebook profile picture to the image of the ripped, rainbow-colored Star of David on her car. Metro board Chairman Jack Evans is so frustrated trying to lead the transit systems cumbersome, 16-member governing body that he would prefer to scrap it entirely and start fresh. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post) Metro board Chairman Jack Evans is so frustrated trying to lead the transit systems cumbersome, 16-member governing body that he would prefer to scrap it and start fresh. Have the president of the United States appoint five people to run this, none of whom can live in Maryland, D.C. or Virginia, Evans suggested. He conceded that would be extreme and it wont happen. But he said members of such a board would not be beholden to the local jurisdictions and thus could do whats best for Metro as a whole. How do you run an organization when you have that split loyalty, and you will always . . . err on the side of the jurisdiction you represent? said Evans, who feels the tension himself because he also serves as a D.C. Council member representing Ward 2. That is what I think has caused enormous problems at Metro over the years, he said. Divided allegiances at the top have hobbled Metro since its creation. The problem has arisen again as the board wrestles over cutting subway hours and studying how to raise billions of dollars in coming years to rebuild the system and cover pension costs. A consultant hired by Metro to recommend reforms in its governance structure echoed Evanss concern. Kevyn D. Orr, a prominent lawyer who helped lead Detroits municipal bankruptcy, told the board last week that it was critical to revise the agencys compact its founding document to specify that its members serve a single entity. [Metro hires top bankruptcy lawyer to advise the agency.] Orr said Metro was unique in his experience, because its board members are legally obliged to represent both their jurisdictions and the agencys overall interest. It puts an incredible burden on the board, Orr said. But no major changes will be forthcoming, members said. The board has dropped for now an initiative by Evans and some other members to clarify their roles and to reduce those of the eight alternate members in hope of making the panel more efficient. Instead, the board will consider less controversial proposals from Orr to make what board members called necessary but modest revisions in the bylaws and code of ethics. One, for example, would allow board members to participate in meetings remotely by electronic means. Resistance to change has come primarily from some board members who represent Virginia and Maryland. They said Evans and other critics exaggerate the damage from dual loyalties, and they worry about losing influence if the alternate members have a diminished role. They also warned that a debate over governance risked bogging down the board at a time when it needs to focus on more pressing issues. This, to me, is an unnecessary distraction, said board member Christian Dorsey, who also serves on the Arlington County Board. There is no magic change to bylaws or the compact that is going to effectively guarantee that we provide a safe system. Board member Michael Goldman, who represents Maryland, noted that the panel had studied the problem of split loyalties several years ago, and it proved controversial. I dont want to reopen that can of worms, he said. The Metro board is composed of four members each from the District, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government. Each delegation includes two voting members and two alternates. Evans, who has been Metro board chairman for eight months, worries that the agency is repeating earlier mistakes, which led to the current wave of concern over safety, reliability and finances. Hes unhappy that board members dont share his sense of urgency about the need to find more funding. They are desperate not to go back to their jurisdictions and ask for more money. Thats the problem, Evans said. [Metro board chairman warns of asking jurisdictions for up to $100 million each.] Referring to a famous warning from a general manager a decade ago that Metro risked entering a death spiral unless it invested more money in the system, Evans said, Here we are in the death spiral, and everybody is acting the same way. It just drives me nuts. Several board members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid offending Evans, said the chairman was too impatient. They emphasized that it would take time to restore Metros credibility and build public support for giving the agency more money. Board member Malcolm Augustine, who represents Prince Georges County, didnt fault Evans but emphasized that upcoming budget discussions will be very tough. He said they also will be time-consuming because, All the stakeholders are going to have to participate, including riders, unions, and federal, state and local governments. Most immediately, the problem of divided loyalty on the board is hampering the decision over whether to end late-night service or further reduce Metro hours. Board members, including Evans, are wary of reducing service and alienating their constituents, even though General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld says the cuts are needed to give workers more time to conduct critical maintenance. Evans said the issue is particularly hard for him because many of his council constituents are among those who would be most affected if Metro were to permanently end late-night service. About 50 percent of the D.C. businesses with liquor licenses and 70 percent of the citys hotels are in his ward. [As Metro proposes painful service cuts, board members ask: Is this necessary?] On the other hand, he noted, Metro got into this hole because some of his predecessors on the board had blocked previous general managers from instituting early closings to provide more time for maintenance. Evans and some other board members also say they think the panel is too large to be efficient. Orr, the consultant, considered proposals to reduce the role of the boards eight alternate members, or even abolish those positions. The proposals were scrapped, partly because of concerns from jurisdictions that alternates represent areas such as Arlington, Alexandria and Prince Georges. When it was originally proposed, the Virginia people went ballistic, Evans said. Alternates can vote at board meetings only when principal members from their jurisdictions are absent. They are allowed, however, to participate fully in board discussions and are active in committee work. Tom Bulger, one of the Districts alternates, said he doubted the board could handle its workload without them. When I saw the proposal to eliminate alternates, I said, Whos going to do the lifting? said Bulger, who is vice chairman of the boards finance committee. Its almost a full-time job. Such objections didnt satisfy Evans, who said his only satisfaction is that he tried to improve governance, even if he failed. I can say, We brought it up, we discussed it, and you all want to keep it just the way it is, Evans said. We had one of the best people in the country, Kevyn Orr, say its not a functional system, and you ignored him. An LED fixture, bottom, is displayed next to an older streetlight, top, in Las Vegas, Nev. on Aug. 3, 2011. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) If people are sleepless in Seattle, it may not be only because they have broken hearts. The American Medical Association issued a warning in June that high-intensity LED streetlights such as those in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Houston and elsewhere emit unseen blue light that can disturb sleep rhythms and possibly increase the risk of serious health conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. The AMA also cautioned that those light-emitting-diode lights can impair nighttime driving vision. Similar concerns have been raised over the past few years, but the AMA report adds credence to the issue and is likely to prompt cities and states to reevaluate the intensity of LED lights they install. Nearly 13 percent of area and roadway lighting is now LED, according to a report prepared last year for the Department of Energy, and many communities that havent yet made the switch plan to do so. LEDs are up to 50 percent more energy-efficient than the yellow-orange high-pressure sodium lights they typically replace. They last for 15 to 20 years, instead of two to five. And unlike sodium lights, the LEDs spread illumination evenly. [Blue light from electronics disturbs sleep, especially for teenagers] The Energy Department released this video in 2012 explaining the difference between various types of lightbulbs and the energy costs associated with each option. (U.S. Department of Energy) Some cities say the health concerns are not convincing enough to override the benefits of the first-generation bright LED lights that they installed in the past three to eight years. New York is one of them, although it has responded to resident complaints by replacing the high-intensity, white LED bulbs with a lower- intensity bulb that the AMA considers safe. Scott Thomsen, a spokesman for Seattle City Lights, which is responsible for the citys exterior illumination, dismissed the health concerns about bright-white LED lights, noting that they emit less of the problematic blue wavelengths than most computers and televisions. After a year and a half of discussion and sampling, Lake Worth, Fla., is replacing its sodium streetlights with about 4,150 LED lights with an amber glow. We found a color that made sense for the health of our city, and were proud of the choice weve made, Michael Bornstein, the city manager, said. Mark Hartman, Phoenixs chief sustainability officer, said the city might go with a mix of the intense lights for major intersections and ballpark areas that need very bright light and a softer light for residential areas. He said the city would consider the health arguments, although he, too, mentioned the glow from computers and televisions. Nobody says dont watch television or use your computer after 9 p.m. because of blue lights, he said. The first generation Almost as soon as outdoor LEDs were made available, the federal government encouraged states and municipalities to use them, calling LEDs highly efficient for such applications as traffic lights and exit signs. But critics say federal authorities were too quick to endorse LEDs. [What you need to know about OLED lighting] The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency put a lot of push into them, said Michael Siminovitch, director of the California Lighting Technology Center at the University of California at Davis. I call it a rush. Las Vegas replaced 6,600 existing lights with the new energy-efficient LEDs. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Siminovitch said the light from early-generation LEDs really negatively impacts peoples physiological well-being. Lighting is measured by color temperature, which is expressed in kelvin, or K. The original LED streetlights had temperatures of at least 4000K, which produces a bright white light with a high content of unseen blue light. Now, LEDs are available with lower kelvin ratings and roughly the same energy efficiency as those with higher ratings. They dont emit as much potentially harmful blue light, and they produce a softer, amber hue. When 4000K and 5000K LEDs were installed, they drew mixed responses. Police and traffic-safety officials and many motorists liked them because they created a bright light that sharply illuminated the ground they covered. But in many places, including New York City and Seattle, residents complained that the bright white light was harsh, even lurid. People described them as invasive, cold and unflattering. Even before the AMA warning, some researchers raised health concerns. Some noted that exposure to the blue-rich LED outdoor lights might decrease peoples secretion of the hormone melatonin. Secreted at night, melatonin helps balance the reproductive, thyroid and adrenal hormones and regulates the bodys circadian rhythm of sleeping and waking. As a species, we werent designed to see light at night, Siminovitch said. Meanwhile, the dark sky movement criticizes LEDs as a major contributor to what it calls the light pollution that humans cast into the night sky. Effect on sleep cycles In its warning, the AMA cited the melatonin issue, noting that studies have linked bright LEDs to reduced sleep time, poor sleep quality and impaired daytime functioning. It referred to evidence that exposure to high-intensity light at night might increase the risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. And it cautioned that intense LEDs have been associated with discomfort and disability glare, which might impair nighttime vision for drivers. [Nobel Prize in physics goes to three men who gave us blue LEDs] Finally, the AMA cautioned about the harmful effects of bright LEDs on wildlife, particularly nocturnal animals, birds and insects. These lights arent just bad for us, said Mario Motta, one of the authors of the AMA report, theyre bad for the environment, too. The AMA did commend LEDs for their energy efficiency and effectiveness, but it urged cities to minimize blue-rich outside lighting and recommended the use of LEDs no brighter than 3000K. Tony Dorsey, a spokesman with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said that the organizations environmental committee is studying the AMAs report but that association members havent seemed concerned about the use of 4000K LEDs on roadways. The Department of Energy said LEDs should be used with prudence but praised their overall performance. It said the AMA had added another influential voice to the issue. Others, including the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., said the lights pose less risk than the AMA suggests. The research center pointed out that the AMA report is based on extended exposure to high-intensity LEDs and said the blue-light hazard of LEDs is probably not a concern to the majority of the population in most lighting applications. Motta stood by the AMAs concerns about high-intensity LEDs and said there is no downside either in cost or efficiency to choosing a lower-intensity light. Sleeping in Seattle Some cities are satisfied with their higher-intensity LED streetlights. In Seattle, which has installed about 41,000 new lights since 2010, Thomsen, the spokesman for Seattle Light, attributed the early complaints to residents surprise at the sharp difference in brightness between the old sodium lights and the new LEDs. [What to order when youre buying new (and pricey!) eyeglasses] Light from the new fixtures is comparable to moonlight and provides excellent visual acuity for drivers, Thomsen said. Police especially like them, he said, because they enable people to distinguish colors at night. The police say they get much better witness descriptions, Thomsen said. Thomsen also noted that even though the Seattle LEDs are rated at 4100K, that is significantly lower than most computer screens, laptops and televisions. But Pete Strasser, technical director at the International Dark-Sky Association, said moonlight contains far less blue light than do high-intensity LED lights. A little more than a year ago, Gloucester, Mass., was on its way to replacing its sodium streetlights with 4000K LEDs. But then city planner Matt Coogan began reading about health and environmental warnings. He also had residents sample the 4000K lights against 3000K models. Next month, the city is expected to finish installing its LEDs, but they will be 3000K rather than 4000K. Coogan knows the debate over the health risks of LEDs rages on. But he doesnt want to be on the wrong side of history. I didnt want to get 10 or 15 years down the road and find out we had exposed our people to a health risk, Coogan said. Stateline Read more from health and science: Pain kept this young woman from eating for 5 years, and doctors didnt know why Were about to learn something exciting about Europa (even if its not aliens) That horrible morning sickness youre having? Its actually a good sign for the baby. A key part of Obamas climate legacy finally gets its day in court Riot police on Sunday stand near a protest as demonstrators gather by the police station to protest the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Things would change, city officials in Charlotte vowed three years ago, after a white police officer shot and killed a black man seeking help after he was injured in a car accident. There would be new training and community outreach designed to prevent encounters from escalating into police gunfire. But change has been slow to come to Charlotte and across the nation, since Jonathan Ferrell died in 2013. Last week, a black police officer shot and killed another black man, Keith Lamont Scott, triggering massive, sometimes violent protests. Police officials acknowledged that the officer had recently been trained on ways to de-escalate tense encounters with citizens, but he had not yet received mandatory training aimed at rooting out racial, gender and religious bias. [New style of training for police recruits emphasizes de-escalation techniques] Protesters who thronged the streets of downtown Charlotte for five straight nights after Scotts shooting said the lack of progress is palpable. Charlotte police, they say, continue to single out minorities and ignite rather than reduce tensions. Here we are again. This man is dead, and the police havent changed a bit, said Lonnie White, 32, an accountant who joined about a hundred people demonstrating outside police headquarters late Friday for the release of police video, which was made public Saturday evening but does not show whether Scott was holding a gun. 1 of 70 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Protests against police continue in Charlotte View Photos Authorities facing some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Caption In September 2016, authorities faced some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Sept. 25, 2016 People gather outside the football stadium as the Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings, to protest the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte. Mike Blake/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue. I am here because nothing has been fixed, White said. I am here because nothing has changed since they killed Jonathan Ferrell. Intense nationwide scrutiny on whether police wield fatal force too quickly and too often, particularly against black Americans, has prompted many departments to step up training, but the pace of deadly shootings has not changed. So far this year, 708 people have been killed by police; nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in 2015, according to a Washington Post database. In North Carolinas largest city, five have been fatally shot this year, compared with two last year. [See who has been killed and where in our database] The grim toll illustrates the challenges of reforming a police force and animates the fatigue and anger of communities demanding change over the two years since protests erupted in Ferguson, Mo., when a police officer shot and killed Michael Brown. The reforms are rolling out in a slow, scattershot fashion. There are about 18,000 police departments in the nation, many with their own training academies and unions, making it impossible for them to move in unison. Designing new programs also takes time. Often, as it was with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, community leaders, outside training experts and police unions work for months to reach agreement. And then it can take years to get officers through the new training, particularly in large departments such as Charlottes, which has about 1,800 sworn officers. Local politics often gets in the way, said Sam Walker, who has written and consulted extensively on police accountability. Half of U.S. mayors serve for two years or fewer; police chiefs three years or fewer. When the new guard comes in, they often dismantle reform programs from the old guard when they are still in their infancy, opting for new ones they can publicly tout as their own. Its like Hollywood, Walker said. You dont want to be in the middle of producing a movie when the head of the studio gets fired because the new head wont want to make it. [What the camera doesnt capture in those viral videos of police shootings] Citizen or civilian police-review boards set up largely to examine instances in which police officers are accused of using excessive force have also proved to be of little help. The boards are typically set up in communities after a controversial shooting, such as in Charlotte, when, in 1997, the City Council created the Citizens Review Board after the fatal shooting of three unarmed black men by white officers. Of the more than 200 such boards, fewer than a dozen have the power to independently investigate use-of-force cases and complaints against officers. None has the power to mandate changes to police training, said Walker, who is also an expert on the boards. Just two months after the Ferrell shooting, community activists attempted a massive overhaul of the board, hoping to give it greater powers. The panel of 11, appointed by the mayor and the City Council, now receives the full department file from any investigation of an officer accused of using excessive force. But it still has no authority to investigate, and its meetings continue to be held in private. Both factors have inhibited improvements in the relationship between police and the community, said Kyle Knight, who helped organize the reform movement. There has to be that trust between the officers and the people they are serving, and its just not there, he said. For some, there was hope that the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Ferrell on Sept. 14, 2013, would be a turning point. [The Charlotte shooting that hasnt gone away] A dash-cam video captured important details of the incident that began about 2:30 a.m., when a sober Ferrell crashed and totaled his Toyota Camry, escaped through the broken rear windshield and went looking for help. Ferrell knocked on the door of a nearby home, which frightened the homeowner, who called 911. When officers arrived, Ferrell ran unarmed toward them in the darkness. The only officer at the scene to draw his firearm was Randall Kerrick, who fired 10 shots into his chest. Within hours, then-Police Chief Rodney Monroe did something unusual. There were no long delays while the department investigated. He held a news conference, televised nationally, saying that Kerrick did not have the lawful right to discharge his weapon. He said the department was arresting one of its own. Community leaders said the prompt response gave them some hope for justice and change. But when the jury deadlocked in 2015 just weeks before the second anniversary of Ferrells death and a mistrial was declared the new police chief knew something more had to happen. There were tears, a lot of emotion, said Jibril Hough, who organized many of the demonstrations that followed. There was some rage, but there was no rioting, no looting. Still, the community had enough of waiting. Hough and a dozen other community leaders were asked by Police Chief Kerr Putney to be part of an external committee he created to give him feedback on what changes were needed. Putney also formed an internal committee filled with rank-and-file officers, lieutenants and sergeants. With both committees input, the department created programs to train officers in detecting racial and other biases, installing calm during tense encounters with citizens, and taking cover and talking to mentally ill suspects rather than using fatal force. Most were developed a year ago, said Capt. Demetria Faulkner-Welch, who runs the departments training academy. Hundreds still have not received some of the training. Management is required to go through a year-long program on cultural competency, a course that teaches them ways to identify and deal with biases, including ones that are racial and gender-based. So far, only 15 of the departments 150 lieutenants and sergeants have completed the program. Rank-and-file officers must take a much shorter course, of just eight hours. Eight hundred officers still have not received this training. The officer who shot and killed Scott, Brentley Vinson now on administrative leave from the department has not completed this course, Faulkner-Welch said. Vinson, who graduated from the academy in 2014, was also supposed to have been enrolled in a class shortly after graduation called Race Matters for Juvenile Justice Dismantling Racism. Because of a backlog in the training schedule, he also has not completed this course, Faulkner-Welch said. There has been greater success with getting officers through other new training programs. More than 1,000 officers have gone through training to learn better techniques to properly determine when someone is in the midst of a mental-health crisis and, when it is safe, calmly talk to the person so that they can take the person into custody. The department also has had higher completion rates with field-training exercises since it was able to modify existing programs. For example, officers are being trained in mock scenarios including ones modeled after the evening involving Ferrell where they are taught to respond to hostile encounters with unarmed suspects using batons, pepper spray and other less-than-lethal tactics. We incorporated more situations where you dont fire guns, Faulkner-Welch said. We are teaching them how and when to do this without compromising their safety. But after the shooting of Scott by Vinson who had gone through the new field-training exercises people such as Hough, who has organized demonstrations, say they think more reforms are needed. This is a new day. Its time to take things to the next level, Hough said. We need to get back to the table and do some harder work on rules of engagement. We are losing time. Every week, there is another killing in another city and with social media, it feels just like its happening in your own city. renae.merle@washpost.com Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Wesley Lowery and Adam Rhew in Charlotte and Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report. FOR 40 YEARS, Fairfax County elementary school students only had a half-day of instruction on Mondays. The practice made no educational sense but efforts to change it over the years always hit a brick wall. Too expensive and teachers didnt want to lose the planning time were some of the objections. Enter Karen Garza, who engineered a change a year after taking over as schools superintendent. We know the timeline is aggressive, but its still the right thing to do, Garza said at the time. Its good for children. Thinking of children and making things happen quickly they call it Garza time in Fairfax have been a hallmark of her tenure. So her decision to cut it short is regrettable. Ms. Garza announced Sept. 19 that she will be stepping down in December to become president and chief executive of Battelle for Kids, an Ohio-based education nonprofit group. Ms. Garza took over as superintendent on July 1, 2013, and recently signed a four-year extension of her contract, although she told the school board she wasnt sure how long she would stay. We figured she wouldnt stay for another four years but we hoped for a little longer, one clearly disappointed school board member said of Ms. Garzas decision to take what she describes as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That Ms. Garza had been recruited, and not just by Battelle but other school districts, is due to her high-profile successes in one of the nations largest school systems. In addition to abolishing half-day Mondays so that students could get critically needed instruction time, Ms. Garza pushed back start times for high school students, reorganized the leadership team and implemented anti-discrimination policies to protect gay and transgender students and staff. By engaging parents and the community in the budget problems challenging the fast-growing school system, she secured additional resources and sparked a discussion on the need to find new sources of county revenue. The school board now is faced with finding a successor, and no doubt the systems good reputation will be a help in attracting candidates. But its important that in looking for a leader, the school board focuses not on the systems successes but on its challenges the foremost being the achievement gap that separates low-income and minority students from their white peers. We hope the board finds someone who has Ms. Garzas sense of urgency and is willing to stay until the work is completed. DEMOCRAT HILLARY CLINTON and Republican Donald Trump will debate on national television for the first time Monday night, and the stakes could not be higher. The presidency and, by extension, the countrys future maybe the worlds could hinge on what they say and how they say it. Or so we have been told in breathless pre-event speculation about everything from whether the moderator, NBCs Lester Holt, will intervene to correct a candidate who strays from the truth, to whether one candidate or the other will be able to goad his or her opponent into a campaign-altering gaffe before an audience expected to reach 100 million. Permit us to dissent from this conventional wisdom, vigorously. Yes, Monday nights clash, and two additional debates to follow, will add drama to the election, and a bit more data to the massive pile of it already available to voters. In a fundamental sense, however, there is nothing much at stake, or shouldnt be, because there is not much more to learn: Mr. Trump has amply demonstrated his unworthiness to occupy the Oval Office. Its beyond his capacity in the upcoming 90-minute question-and-answer sessions to reverse or even substantially modify that conclusion. [Obamas campaign guru: Dont fret about polls. Clinton is winning, and she can finish the job tonight.] Suppose Mr. Trump keeps a cool head, conducts a respectful discussion with Ms. Clinton and Mr. Holt and even manages to avoid saying anything inflammatory or blatantly false. In other words, suppose he manages to conduct himself presidentially for an hour and a half. That could not undo the many, many instances, over more than a year longer if you start with the launch of his birther campaign in 2011 in which he has insulted, acted out, lied and countenanced violence beyond even some of the most rough-and-tumble precedents of modern American politics. Suppose, further, that he were to soften or even repudiate some of his most odious policy pronouncements; that, say, he opposes rather than supports the aggressive torture of terrorism suspects. That would be a backhanded form of progress, to be sure. But voters would still be left guessing as to which of his inconsistent statements they could trust. These six moments from the 2016 primary debates have the context you need before you see Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump go head-to-head in the first general election debate Sept. 26 (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) In short, the challenge for Mondays audience is to avoid the trap of thinking of this debate as yet another opportunity for the real Trump or even a new Trump to emerge, either stylistically or substantively. Its way too late for that. The real Trump has been before the citizenry ever since he announced his candidacy in a rambling jeremiad that blamed Mexico for sending rapists to the United States as illegal immigrants. It has been said that the true test of an ordinary persons character is how you behave when no one is watching. The corollary standard for a presidential candidate could be: how you behave repeatedly in public, before the one big night when everyone is watching. Even by that more forgiving standard, Mr. Trump has already flunked. ALMOST NO ONE is talking about it, but California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a hugely consequential bill this month. The law, SB 32, drastically ramps up the states landmark climate change law in the worlds sixth-largest economy. The world is watching closely: If Californias policy appears to be working, it will be copied in states and countries across the globe. Which makes it all the more important for state leaders to get it right. California is well on its way to meeting its first emissions goal, set a decade ago, to cut the states carbon footprint to 1990 levels by 2020. That transition has been driven in part by traditional, command-and-control environmental regulations and in part by a statewide cap-and-trade system, which makes polluters pay for the emissions they produce. Despite some early doomsaying, this hybrid policy has not smashed the California economy. In fact, the states economy has grown faster than the rest of the countrys in recent years, as have wages. So far, the states experience appears to show that a major economy can transition off carbon dioxide without destroying its economic prospects. The states new target, however, is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, which is dramatically more ambitious. The state is doing relatively easy things now. Experts warn that the deeper the cuts go, the harder and more expensive they become. Which means it is all the more important that the flaws in the policy be ironed out in coming years. Though Californias approach is multifaceted, it really only requires one major element the cap-and-trade system. This policy puts a hard ceiling on statewide carbon dioxide emissions and requires polluters to buy permits to emit greenhouse gases under that cap. The effect is to create a market for pollution credits and a price on carbon dioxide emissions. The price signal nudges companies and consumers to cut waste, invest in cleaner infrastructure, buy products that are friendlier to the environment and develop green technologies. Environmental considerations are now baked into the price of goods and services, which means that market forces, not regulators, determine how to green the economy. The policy is cheaper and more flexible than direct regulation. Other supposedly complementary state policies, such as mandates regarding renewable energy or transportation fuels, are, in fact, superfluous. The cap-and-trade program already sets a statewide emissions limit; additional regulations requiring that the state meet its carbon goals in particular ways are likely to raise costs for little additional benefit. As the state ramps up its ambition, it should rely more on its carbon market than on its carbon mandates. Other states, meanwhile, should do the same. If President Obamas Clean Power Plan clears the courts, each state will have to create an emissions-reduction program of some kind. The Obama administrations plan would allow states to band together and create cross-state carbon markets, which would be by far the most efficient approach. The larger the market, the cheaper the policy. California has already merged its carbon trading system with Quebecs. That market should get larger, and soon. The Sept. 22 Washington Post/ABC News poll is packed with data. Here are a few of its most interesting findings. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post; Photo: Jabin Botsford, Melina Mara/ The Post, AP) The Sept. 22 Washington Post/ABC News poll is packed with data. Here are a few of its most interesting findings. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post; Photo: Jabin Botsford, Melina Mara/ The Post, AP) Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will meet Monday night for their first debate in a virtual dead heat in the race for the White House, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, with the Democratic nominees August advantage erased after recent difficulties and the GOP nominee still facing doubts about his qualifications and temperament. Likely voters split 46 percent for Clinton and 44 percent for Trump, with Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson at 5 percent and Green Party nominee Jill Stein at 1 percent. Among registered voters, Clinton and Trump are tied at 41 percent, with Johnson at 7 percent and Stein at 2 percent. In a two-way matchup between the major-party nominees, Clinton tops Trump by 49 percent to 47 percent among likely voters, and the two are tied at 46 percent among all registered voters. Clintons two-point edge among likely voters, in both the four-way and two-way ballot tests, is within the surveys 4.5 percentage-point margin of sampling error. [ Read: Full Post-ABC poll results ] The findings underscore how much the presidential contest has tightened in recent weeks, after Clinton emerged from the two national conventions with a clear lead and with Trump on the defensive. In early September, Clinton led Trump by five points among likely voters. In early August, she led by eight points. As Clinton has run into some turbulence, Trump has worked to present himself as a more disciplined candidate in an effort to attract more support from voters who traditionally have supported Republican nominees. Some other national polls currently show Clinton with a slightly larger lead, but on balance, the pre-debate survey averages show the margin in the race in low single digits. The tightened race is a reminder of how much will be at stake Monday night at Hofstra University when the two meet at 9 p.m. before what could be one of the largest television audiences ever for a presidential debate. Eight in 10 voters say they plan to watch Mondays debate, and 44 percent expect Clinton to win vs. 34 percent expecting Trump to come out ahead. Expectations for Clinton are lower than they were for President Obama against Mitt Romney ahead of the 2012 debates, when 56 percent thought Obama would prevail vs. 29 percent for Romney. Although 17 percent of registered voters say the debate could change their minds, only 6 percent say there is a good chance of that occurring. Most Americans say they are following the campaign diligently, but a higher percentage of Trump supporters appear to be paying close attention than Clinton backers. Also, more Clinton backers say they are not registered to vote, which adds to pressure on her team to get them registered and to the polls. Another potentially worrying sign for Clinton is that she is getting a smaller share of voters who supported Obama in 2012 than Trump is getting among those who backed Romney. Obamas approval rating continues to be a potential boost for Clinton, however. His current approval among all adults is 55 percent, dipping from a high of 58 percent two weeks ago. But Clinton is facing a greater challenge reuniting Obamas winning coalition. Roughly 8 in 10 likely voters who supported him in 2012 currently back Clinton today, while Trump wins 9 in 10 of those who supported Mitt Romney. The race between Clinton and Trump continues to be defined along lines of gender, race and education. Men and women are mirror opposites in their preferences, with 54 percent of men backing Trump and 55 percent of women supporting Clinton. The racial gap is far larger. White voters back Trump by 53 percent to 37 percent; nonwhite voters back Clinton by 69 percent to 19 percent. [We simulated a Clinton-Trump debate, now you get to ask the questions] But educational attainment among white voters continues to be the critical indicator. Trump leads Clinton by more than 4 to 1 among white men without college degrees, and by a smaller ratio among white women without college degrees and among college-educated white men. Clinton leads Trump by 57 percent to 32 percent among college-educated white women. Trumps support among white men has increased, and one key to his possible success will be maximizing that support, among college-educated and non-college-educated white men alike, while making appeals to college-educated white women. Both candidates continue to be viewed negatively by the voters. Currently, 39 percent of registered voters have a favorable impression of Clinton, while 57 percent have an unfavorable impression. For Trump, the results are comparable: 38 percent see him positively, 57 percent negatively. That unfavorability number, however, is five points lower than it was just before the two parties national conventions in July. Both candidates are seen as lacking in honesty, although Clinton is in worse shape on this measure. Currently, 33 percent of voters say she is honest and trustworthy, while 62 percent say she is not. For Trump, it is 42 percent and 53 percent, respectively, an improvement since earlier this month. Trumps major obstacle still appears to be the fact that majorities do not see him as qualified to be president or possessing presidential temperament. On those qualities, 53 percent of registered voters say he is not qualified, 58 percent say he lacks the temperament to serve effectively, and 55 percent say he does not know enough about the world to serve effectively. Doubts about Trumps qualifications have softened somewhat since midsummer, when 6 in 10 registered voters said he was not qualified. White men are far more likely to say Trump is qualified (63 percent of white men vs. 43 percent of the overall voting public); to say Trump has the personality and temperament to serve effectively (54 percent vs. 38 percent); and to say Trump has sufficient knowledge of world affairs (57 percent vs. 41 percent). Trump has the support of 88 percent of registered voters who say he is qualified, which is a high in Post-ABC polls. Among those who say he is not qualified, just 5 percent support him, no higher than before. On most of those measures, Clinton scores positively, with 57 percent of registered voters saying she is qualified to serve as president; 55 percent saying she has the right temperament; and 68 percent saying she knows enough about the world to serve effectively. Majorities of Americans judge both candidates to be in good enough health to serve in the Oval Office, with 73 percent of registered voters offering positive assessments of Trump and 52 percent giving Clinton good marks Clintons health became a prime issue two weeks ago when she was seen in a video stumbling as she was helped into a security van leaving a memorial service for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York. Her campaign later disclosed that she had been given a diagnosis of pneumonia days earlier, and she stayed off the campaign trail for several days before resuming activity. Clinton was sharply criticized in some quarters for failing to disclose her condition at the time she received the diagnosis. But the Post-ABC poll found that more than 6 in 10 Americans said she was justified in keeping the diagnosis private until she became ill in public. Trump is given no such comfort on his decision not to release his tax returns. Asked whether he was justified in not disclosing his returns, more than 6 in 10 say he is not. When it comes to which candidate people trust on issues, Trumps clearest edge is on the economy, where 50 percent of registered voters trust him to do a better job compared with 43 percent for Clinton. Earlier this month Clinton had a 50-to-44 edge on the issue. The two are about even on trust to handle terrorism, ethics in government and immigration. Clinton has small edges on health care and looking out for the middle class. Her four-point advantage on the middle class compares with a 14-point margin in May and a six-point edge in July. Clinton has double-digit advantages on handling an international crisis (52-40) and on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage (54-33). Clinton was criticized recently when she said that half of Trumps supporters could be put into a basket of deplorables, by which she said she meant people who were racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and Islamophobic. She later said she regretted saying half but stood her ground that Trumps candidacy has appealed to many people with those prejudices. Clintons critique is not shared by most Americans, with more than 6 in 10 saying it is unfair to describe a large portion of Trump supporters as prejudiced against women and minorities. Still, almost 6 in 10 say Trump is trying to win support by appealing to peoples prejudices against groups that are different from their own. That includes 46 percent who say that he is making such appeals strongly. When asked the same about Clinton, the public was split, with 45 percent saying she, too, is appealing to peoples prejudices, while 46 percent say she is not. Jobs and the economy continue to top the list of issues influencing peoples vote, cited by 32 percent of registered voters. But 25 percent say terrorism is the most important issue in their vote, up from 19 percent last month. Terrorism-focused voters now support Trump by a 20-point margin over Clinton, up from 13 points earlier this month. Among economy voters, Clinton leads by a 35-point margin, also much larger than in the previous poll. The Post-ABC poll was conducted Sept. 19-22 among a random national sample of 1,001 adults reached on cellular and landline phones. The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points; the margin of error is four points among the sample of 834 registered voters and 4.5 points among the sample of 651 likely voters. Emily Guskin contributed to this report. Saeed Hamids restaurant is covered with touristic murals from Afghanistan blue-tiled shrines and aqua lakes, ancient Buddhas carved into cliffs, and an enormous scene of horses and riders scrimmaging on a muddy field, trying to capture the carcass of a goat. But Hamids nostalgia stops right there. His parents fled their conflicted homeland before he was born, and he grew up in Pakistans capital. He learned English, married and raised his own children here, and built a flourishing bakery and kebab house that employs 20 people and is packed every evening. So it is easy to understand his anxiety about the future. In the past year, more than 250,000 undocumented Afghan refugees have returned to their impoverished, insurgent-plagued country under pressure from Pakistani authorities. Now, the population of 1.5 million long-settled, registered refugees has been given six months to leave as well. No one has bothered us yet, but everyone is worried, Hamid said one recent afternoon, as the smell of newly baked bread filled his eatery. We are happy and busy here. If we had to go back, there would be nothing to do and no one to welcome us, only the Taliban and Daesh, he said, using the Afghan term for the Islamic State militants. For decades, next-door Pakistan has provided a safety valve for Afghans who fled successive periods of conflict and repression, hosting up to 5 million at a time. The reception has not always been enthusiastic, but it has been heavily subsidized by the United Nations, and most refugees have easily blended into the large population of ethnic Pashtuns that historically straddled the border. Mohammed Zikria, 19, an Afghan refugee, works in a bakery in Islamabad. (Pam Constable/The Washington Post) They have also been a headache for security agencies, who often complained that some refugee camps and communities harbored thieves, drugs and armed militants, and that it was impossible to police a population that flowed loosely across the border and in many cases held no official IDs. The refugee population has also become hostage to tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both countries accusing each other of harboring militants in the porous border regions. In late 2014, when terrorists invaded a Pakistani military school, killing 141 students and teachers and enraging public opinion, authorities vowed to start sending the refugees back. The push took many forms, from police harassment to a government publicity campaign, endorsed by officials in Kabul, that urged Afghans to return with the slogan, My home is my flower. After refugee leaders protested, departure deadlines were postponed several times, but the trickle of returnees swelled to tens of thousands early this year, especially after the United Nations added an extra cash bonus for each family once they resettled in Afghanistan. The surge intensified in June, when Pakistan erected a large gate at Torkham, the major border crossing near Peshawar, and announced that no Afghans could re-enter without a passport and visa. That was tantamount to social death for refugees used to visiting relatives back home, then returning to the safety and prosperity of Pakistan. Riots and shootings broke out at the border gate, but the passport policy stood. Torkham gate was the biggest factor. It sent out a very clear message that this was not going to be business as usual, said Imran Zeb Khan, Pakistans chief commissioner for Afghan refugees. He said the cash incentives, as well as public encouragement from Afghan diplomats here, added to the push. By early September, more than 260,000 Afghans had been formally repatriated. So far, most of the returnees have been undocumented refugees, those who had never registered with U.N. officials and lived in Pakistan illegally for years. Many were poor families without job skills and little to show for their years abroad; 70 percent were younger than 24, and 75 percent had been born in Pakistan. Of an estimated 1 million unregistered refugees, officials said 700,000 still remain here. One day last week, hundreds of Afghan men, women and children waited outside a government center near Peshawar, where officials registered them as refugees for the first time and approved them for repatriation subsidies. Some said they were reluctant to leave and fearful of what awaited them. Others said they had been harassed by police and pressured for bribes to cut their waiting time. Last month some of my relatives went back, and the Afghan government claimed it would provide them with rations and housing, but they are living in a tent, said Meera Jan, 89, who had waited in line for hours. They have urged me not to leave, but the police and other officials wont let us live here anymore. I am an old man and I can die in either country. What can I do? Officials at the center seemed overwhelmed, saying that the number of applicants was far higher than expected and that many were confused or had problems proving their identity. Even so, Shabbir Nawaz, a supervisor, said the center is handling about 700 people per day. We are trying our best, but most of them are uneducated and have no understanding of the process, he said. Faced with a raft of complaints and a crush of applicants, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already repeatedly extended the deadline for voluntary repatriation. Earlier this month, he ordered the latest departure date postponed from the end of November to next March. Afghans are our brothers and very dear to us, Sharif said in a statement announcing the reprieve. We will not allow Afghan refugees living in Pakistan to be terrified in any way. They are our guests. Sharifs gesture was small consolation, however, for hundreds of thousands of registered refugees, especially those who own property or businesses and believed their official status was a guarantee of permanence. Instead, they are suddenly vulnerable to financial cheating and pressure unable to get a fair price for a car, legally barred from selling a house and worried that they will be unable to collect on debts or investments. Khan, the commissioner for refugees, said the government is aware of such problems, as well as other family issues such as unfinished school semesters and college degrees. He said a meeting has been called with leaders of all Pakistani political parties to work out practical solutions. Individuals with special hardships, he said, are being allowed to apply for Pakistani identity documents. Meanwhile, though, longtime refugees such as Mohammed Rauf Derrighel, 63, are fuming. I was a child when I came here. Now I am an old man, and suddenly I am being told to go. I feel helpless, complained the burly, gray-bearded businessman, who was commiserating with a friend at his tailor shop in Islamabad. On the outskirts of the capital, hundreds of Afghans live in clusters of flimsy mud and straw-roofed huts, using car batteries to turn on light bulbs and tending goats among campfires. But despite such precarious circumstances, some are registered refugees with long-standing jobs or investments in industries such as scrap metal that they now fear could be lost. Babur Khan, who has lived in Pakistan since he was 2, squatted outside a hut one recent afternoon, listening as his brothers and cousins talked about their concerns. Suddenly he went inside and came back out with a folder of legal documents, signed and notarized several months before. They certified that he had invested $2,000 in a scrap-metal business and that the Pakistani owner would pay him a few pennies profit for each kilo. It was his entire savings, and he now wondered if he had made a mistake. Our dealings have always been smooth, but since the Torkham gate fight, everything has been disturbed, said Khans older brother Hassan. People were fair with us in the past, but now they know we have to leave, and they want to cheat us. We are like a flock of sheep. The owner kept us for 35 years, and then suddenly he went mad and threw all the sheep in a river. Aamir Iqbal contributed to this report from Peshawar, Pakistan. Read more Deadly attack in Indian Kashmir renews war of words with rival Pakistan Suicide bomber hits mosque in Pakistan, killing at least 24 Pakistani lawyers gather to reflect a month after shooting and suicide bombing Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world A relative of the Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar joins a sit-in near Amman, Jordan, after his killing. (Muhammad Hamed/Reuters) A well-known Jordanian writer and political activist was fatally shot Sunday morning as he headed into a courtroom in Amman to face charges over a cartoon he shared on his Facebook page that some deemed offensive to Islam. The writer, 56-year-old Nahed Hattar, was hit by three bullets on the steps of the courthouse in a prominent business and residential district in Amman, the capital, according to Petra, the state-run news agency. A witness told the Associated Press that the shooter was wearing a long gray robe and long beard characteristic of conservative Muslims. The assailant was caught by Hattars family and turned over to police, who have not released the shooters identity. [Post an Islamic State video on your Facebook page in Jordan? Prison might await.] Hattar, a secular Christian, was arrested in August for sharing a cartoon on his Facebook page titled the God of Daesh, an alternative name for the Islamic State militant group. The creator of the cartoon is unknown. The drawing showed a bearded man, lying in bed under sheets, smoking contentedly beside two women in paradise and jabbing his finger toward God, who asks, Do you need anything? The man replies, Yes, Lord, bring me wine, cashews and an immortal servant to come clean the floor. Hattar took the image down and tried to explain why he posted it. He said the cartoon was a depiction of the perverted beliefs of Islamic State militants and mocked how they imagine God and heaven, and does not insult God in any way. Some Muslims and the Jordanian government were nevertheless offended by the cartoon, in part because it depicted God. Hattar was arrested and spent two weeks in jail before being freed on bail. He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam. He was headed to court Sunday for a hearing. [Frustrated Jordanians raise banners for ISIS] Hattars relatives accused the government, including the prime minister and interior minister, of failing to protect the writer and of inciting the public against him. Jordan is ruled by King Abdullah II, a close ally of the United States, and it is a member of the coalition that has been mounting aerial attacks against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. In a statement, translated by the BBC, the Hattar family charged that many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lynching, and the government did nothing against them. Jordanian groups associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a conservative pro-Islamist force, condemned the killing of Hattar. Hattar has been arrested before, for insulting the monarch. He is also a strong supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by Reuters. Read more: Reinvention of Jordans Muslim Brotherhood involves women and Christians What to expect from Jordans elections New youth movement emerges in Jordan ahead of elections Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world The United States accused Russia of barbarism and war crimes in Syria on Sunday as Moscows airstrikes over Aleppo pushed a humanitarian crisis there to new depths. The nations sparred verbally at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting called to demand that Russia rein in its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and halt the blistering attacks on Syrias second city. Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war, said Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism. It is barbarism. A Sept. 9 cease-fire deal guaranteed by the United States and Russia was smashed a week ago by Russian and Syrian airstrikes on a U.N. aid convoy. Despite frantic diplomacy to get that truce back on track, Sundays Security Council meeting suggested that divisions between the two sides were deepening. Instead of helping get lifesaving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive, Power said. 1 of 41 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad Scenes from Aleppo View Photos The Syrian government has dropped two chlorine bombs in the past month on the besieged, rebel-held city. Caption Images from inside the Syrian city. Dec. 19, 2016 Syrians evacuated from Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shiite villages under rebel siege, are welcomed by pro-government forces as they arrive in Jibrin, on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo. George Ourfalian/AFP/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue. But Russias representative, Vitaly Churkin, instead blamed his American counterparts for the return to fighting and insisted Assads forces had shown admirable restraint. [10 new wars that could be unleashed as a result of the one against ISIS] I just need to explain what working with our American colleagues is like, he said, telling the 15-member council that Washington had failed to rein in violence by the rebel forces it backs in Syria. Bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now, he said. As the war of words unfolded in New York, Aleppos rebel-held eastern neighborhoods were being shaken by the most ferocious aerial attacks there in recent memory. A provisional death toll provided by local nongovernmental organizations suggested at least 85 people had been killed there since early Sunday. This is the worst day, said Abdulkafi al-Hamdo, an English teacher living close to the citys front line. The people here are psychologically broken. The latest attacks have appeared to target what resources the eastern neighborhoods have left. Branches of at least three rescue teams have been hit by airstrikes, and firetrucks and ambulances have been damaged or destroyed. Hamdo said Sunday that some rescue teams no longer had enough ambulances to reach families suffocating under the rubble of their homes. For Assad, Aleppo represents an important prize that would expand government control in the north and deprive opposition groups of one of their last strongholds. Home to an estimated 275,000 people, east Aleppos rebel-held neighborhoods have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. Residents say fuel and medical supplies are low, forcing doctors to turn off oxygen machines and operate by the light of their cellphones. Weve never seen anything this bad, Maher Saqqur, a Syrian neurosurgeon, said Sunday, speaking from a Canadian clinic where he consults with Aleppo doctors via Skype. [Inside ISIS: Quietly preparing for the loss of the caliphate] The doctors can do nothing but triage on the floor, and still the bodies keep coming. They dont even have time to take a sip of water. Were seeing massacres every hour, he said. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in east Aleppo over the past week. According to eyewitnesses, the arsenal raining down has included white phosphorus, cluster munitions, barrel bombs and bunker busters munitions so powerful that they can reach the basements where civilians try to shelter from attacks. U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura described the attacks Sunday as unprecedented in scale and type. He said his team had been notified of fireballs of such intensity that they light up the pitch darkness as if it was daylight. His words drew immediate condemnation from Iran a key force behind the Assad governments survival which insisted that pro-Assad forces were not using internationally banned weaponry. According to Save the Children, half of the casualties being pulled from the rubble or treated in hospitals are children. Saqqur said Sunday that a growing number of his infant patients were being brought to the hospital with the shrapnel of cluster munitions penetrating their brains. If the Syrian government is intent on taking Aleppo, de Mistura warned Sunday, it will face a grinding fight that destroys what is left of the city without any guarantee of victory. A so-called military solution is impossible, including in Aleppo, he said, urging the United States and Russia to go that extra mile and save the Sept. 9 cessation of hostilities agreement at the eleventh hour. But as darkness fell on Aleppo and the bombs continued, civilians there voiced deep skepticism over the prospects of an internationally brokered peace. The best thing the U.N. Security Council can do is stop their talking, Hamdo said. It makes no difference here. Sly reported from Beirut. Read more Why did they wait to kill us?: How the attack on the aid convoy unfolded A ferocious assault on Aleppo suggests the U.S. may be wrong on Syria How the Syrian revolt went so horribly, tragically wrong Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world The FBI is unlikely to proceed with an investigation into the allegations of child abuse against Brad Pitt, a source close to the situation tells PEOPLE. Pitt, 52, is accused of being verbally abusive and getting physical with son Maddox, 15, while he and wife Angelina Jolie were returning from France to their L.A. home on a private plane on Sept. 14. An investigation into the alleged incident has been launched by the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services after it was reported anonymously. It is ongoing. The case was also referred to the FBI under special aircraft jurisdiction, as the incident occurred mid-flight. A source with knowledge of the situation previously told PEOPLE that Pitt did not strike Maddox but rather, made contact with him in the shoulder area. There was absolutely no physical injury to him, the source explained. Pitt was allegedly drunk, and arguing with Jolie. The source told PEOPLE, There was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have. On Thursday, the FBI said in a statement to PEOPLE that they are continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued. A source close to the actor tells PEOPLE that it does not seem likely at this time that the FBI will be recommending further investigation into the matter. A criminal law expert agrees. I find it very hard to believe that they would take action with the facts that have been presented, given the fact that I dont believe the child received any injuries, David Kubiliun, chairman of Greenspoon Marders criminal law practice group tells PEOPLE. Kubiliun explains that As a parent, you can use certain types of punishment. Obviously, you cant push them to the extent that theyll sustain an injury or something in that nature. From the facts that I know, the child didnt sustain any injuries and he may have just pushed him away in the incident, so I dont think that would rise to the level of any kind of charges being brought, he adds. Not only by the federal authorities but the state authorities as well. Certified family law specialist Stephanie I. Blum of Reuben Raucher tells PEOPLE that DCFS is looking into the incident because they are required to investigate anything reported. She explains, A representative of DCFS will advise the individual of the complaints/allegations against him or her but will do so in such a way as to protect the identity of the reporting individual. A source previously told PEOPLE that Pitt has already been interviewed in connection with the DCFS investigation, and takes the matter very seriously. Blum said that DCFS typically meets with both the parents and children involved to determine if the claims of abuse are true. At the investigations completion, they will decide whether or not the allegations are true. If theyre determined to be unfounded, DCFS will completely close the case, said Blum. DCFS involvement into the couples divorce will complicate handling custody agreements, Blum speculates. Jolie requested sole physical custody of the couples six children when she filed for divorce in Los Angeles, Monday. It is not better for anyone, not the children, and not the parents to be in Dependency Court, which is where the case could end up if DCFS believes that a child/children is a victim of child abuse, Blum explains. Angelina and Brad (and their children) are far better off working through their custody issues between them (via counsel if necessary) or if they cannot broker an agreement, by letting the family law court decide custody. Reporting by KARA WARNER An Illinois man died and four others were injured after a fight at a party led to a shooting near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus early Sunday. Officials said George Korchev died in the shooting, which appeared to stem from an argument during an apartment party in Champaign located close to the campus, according to a police statement. A fight broke out after the argument moved outside. Korchev was not involved in the fight and was hit when shots were fired as he walked by the area, officials said. He was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries. Korchev, 22, was from the Chicago suburb of Mundelein and not a University of Illinois student, the Associated Press reported. Three others not involved in the fight were also shot and sustained non-critical injuries, the statement said. A car hit and injured a fourth individual who was running from the gunfire. About a half hour after the first shooting, police responded to another shooting in Champaign. One person was injured in the gunfire and taken to a hospital. Police said preliminary investigations suggest the two shootings may be related. Police are seeking a suspect or suspects in the shooting and the driver of the vehicle that struck the fourth victim. (Reuters) - The perfectionist in Pep Guardiola forbids him to get remotely carried away by Manchester City's 100 percent record this season even though they made it 10 wins out of 10 under their new Spanish manager on Saturday. Indeed, Raheem Sterling, who scored in the 3-1 win at Swansea City that stretched their lead at the top to four points, made a telling observation afterwards about the insatiable nature of Guardiola's stewardship. "He is not overly excited by this," explained the England striker, who is not the only player to have flourished since Guardiola took over at the Etihad. "His team talks and motivation is very good. He is a manager who demands more every game. He makes everyone hungry and wanting to keep running for him." To illustrate Sterling's point, Guardiola was quick afterwards to qualify his evident delight by saying that he expects more -- even from star striker Sergio Aguero, who had just scored twice to make it a sixth successive league win. "Sergio is quality. His first step, second step in the box is so good and that is why he is one of the best strikers in the world," Guardiola conceded. "But I want to help him improve his game." Guardiola is improving everyone's game at City, it appears, so that even on a day when they were not at their silky best, his men still had far too much quality for Swansea. Aguero had fired them ahead before Fernando Llorente's equaliser suggested it might prove an awkward afternoon for the leaders, who had been too wasteful for Guardiola's liking. "We missed a lot of final passes and that happened a lot of times in the first half," he noted. "You have to win the ball, use the ball and use the counter attack. It is the first time we have been at 1-1 at half-time and we spoke of how we had to be like a team and in the second half we played really well." His words evidently worked wonders. Aguero scored from the spot in the 65th minute following Mike van der Hoorn's elbow on Kevin de Bruyne and Sterling scored a fine third in the 77th after a typically swift, incisive counter. It meant Guardiola became only the second manager to win his first six Premier League matches, joining Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian went on to win the title with Chelsea after his brilliant start in 2009-10. The only thing to cloud Guardiola's day was an injury to De Bruyne, who limped off with what an apparent hamstring problem. He will be assessed on Sunday as the manager ponders his squad for Wednesday's Champions League match at Celtic. (Reporting by Ian Chadband, editing by Alan Baldwin) Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli prosecutor called Sunday for a 12-year jail term to be handed down to a Palestinian minor for stabbing an Israeli child in October 2015, his lawyer said. Ahmed Manasra, a 14-year-old Palestinian, was convicted in May this year of the attempted murder of two Israelis in a knife attack last October. He was 13 when he carried out the attack with his 15-year-old cousin Hassan Manasra. The two stabbed and seriously wounded a 20-year-old and a 12-year-old boy in the Jewish settlement neighbourhood of Pisgat Zeev in annexed east Jerusalem. Hassan Manasra was shot dead by security forces, while Ahmed Manasra was hit by a car as they fled. Manasra's lawyer Lea Tzemel told journalists after a hearing behind closed doors that her client had apologised "to the child he stabbed, who was present in court". After his conviction in May, she said Manasra "said he just wanted to scare Jews so they'd stop killing Palestinians". "The prosecution is demanding a 12-year prison sentence," she said on Sunday. "We have requested a procedure of reintegration, given that he is a minor and minors have more rights when it comes to reintegration into society," Tzemel added. Manasra, an east Jerusalem resident, was the youngest Palestinian to be convicted by an Israeli civilian court in the current round of violence. Early last month, Israeli lawmakers approved jailing children as young as 12 convicted of "terrorist offences" following repeated attacks by young Palestinians. Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count. Israel says most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks. Others were shot dead during protests or killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The court is to sentence Manasra on November 7. Whether you get your health insurance through your employer, Medicare, or one of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, theres a good chance youre paying more than you need to. According to a study last year by the National Bureau of Economic Research, 63 percent of the 50,000 employees at a Fortune 100 company selected a health plan that was not the most cost-effective option. Other studies have shown that most people pick a plan thats more expensive than they need. Why are so many people electing insurance plans that arent the best fit? Because its downright confusing, so much so that a 2015 study commissioned by the insurance company Aflac found that more people would rather scrub their toilets than research insurance plans. Despite recent announcements from major insurers including Aetna and UnitedHealthcare that they wont be participating in some ACA exchanges in 2017, consumers in large markets can still have as many as 50 plans to choose from. There are hundreds of Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans, and even employers may offer two or more choices. Making the right health insurance choice has never been more important because consumers are shouldering more of the rising cost of health services. (For example, average annual deductibles for people buying individual coverage through their employer have risen 255 percent in the past decade, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.) Autumn is the period for open enrollment, when most American adults have to choose their health insurance plan for 2017. Deadlines are Dec. 15 for ACA coverage that begins Jan. 1 and Dec. 7 for Medicare. Most employers have their open enrollment period in November. To help you navigate your way through all the offerings, we looked at four common mistakes people make when choosing insurance plans and provide advice on how to avoid them. So put down your toilet brush and follow these easy steps. The Big Mistake: Automatically Reenrolling Given the distaste for researching health-insurance plans, its not surprising that the Aflac study found that nine out of 10 (PDF) workers stick with the same benefits year after year. Other research shows that only 13 percent of Medicare users switch drug plans each year, despite the fact that they could save money by doing so. And just less than 60 percent of Obamacare enrollees stayed in the same plan in 2016, even though a 2015 Department of Health and Human Services analysis found that eight in 10 could find a plan with a lower premium that offers the same coverage if they switched. Story continues The remedy: Review all the offerings during open enrollment each year; plan benefits change frequently. Participating doctors are added and deleted, and drug formulariesthe lists of prescription medications a plan coversare revised. Other plan benefits, reimbursement rates, and premiums (the amount you pay each month for coverage) may also change from year to year. Insurance companies provide much of that information online and in the multipage packets your benefits department hands out. But talking with an informed source can be more efficient, informative, and pleasant than sifting through all that information on your own. People who are covered under the ACA can discuss their options with someone by going to localhelp.healthcare.gov. Medicare offers counseling through its State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (shiptacenter.org), and about 50 percent of companies offer one-on-one help to employees. The Rising Price of Health Insurance Average annual premium contributions paid by people in employer-provided insurance plans. Premiums for Affordable Care Act health insurance are projected to be higher next year, but tax subsidies will offset the increase for most people. The Big Mistake: Miscalculating Your Healthcare Needs You cant choose the most cost-effective coverage without knowing how much youre likely to spend on healthcare in the coming year. Only then will you be able to make an informed decision between, say, a plan with a high deductible and one with a low deductible. But few people take the time to calculate their medical spending or even know how to do it. A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that only about one-third of workers at a large firm could answer questions correctly about their own recent healthcare spending. The remedy: Of course, no one has a crystal ball to see into the future, but the amount you and other family members spent on healthcare this year is a good indicator of about how much youll spend next year, says Kim Buckey, vice president of client services at DirectPath, a benefit and compliance management firm. You can find your claims (including what you spent out of pocket) on your insurers website. Your pay stub will show how much you paid in monthly premiums, and your pharmacy will have a record of how much you spent on medication. After youve determined how much you paid last year, think about what could be different next year, Buckey says. Was someone in your family diagnosed with a health condition that requires new medication? Are you planning to start a family and make more visits to the OB-GYN? Are you finally going to get that surgery for your bunions? Talk with doctors about the cost, then see how much will be covered by the plans youre offered. The Big Mistake: Focusing on Low Premiums Its tempting to try to save money by choosing a plan with the lowest monthly premium, but that strategy can backfire. If you shop by premiums alone, you could spend a lot more in out-of-pocket costs than if you had gone with a higher premium plan, says Kev Coleman, head of research and data at HealthPocket, a technology company that compares and ranks health insurance plans. The remedy: In addition to premiums, consider the amount of the deductiblehow much you have to spend before the insurance company begins covering expenses. Remember: The cost of many preventive measures, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and cholesterol screening, are covered 100 percent before you meet your deductible and require no co-pay. Deductibles can range from about $500 to $5,000 or more, but among low-premium plans, the average today is closer to the high end of that range. Also look at co-pays (the flat charge you pay every time you go to a doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider) and co-insurance (the percentage of the bill that you have to pay for treatments). Youre responsible for co-pays and co-insurance for doctor visits and procedures even after youve met your deductible and until you hit your out-of-pocket maximum, which is yet another number you need to know. As its name suggests, the out-of-pocket max is the most you have to pay for covered services in one year. After youve reached it, the insurer pays 100 percent of the costs. That max counts deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance but not premiums or out-of-network services your plan doesnt cover. Generally, plans with lower premiums have higher out-of-pocket maximums and vice versa. If youre in a low-premium/high deductible plan and didnt come close to meeting your deductible last year, you might do fine sticking with it. But if you quickly hit your deductible (perhaps because of a chronic health condition that requires frequent doctor visits), choosing a plan with a higher premium and a lower deductible could save you money overall. Another way to ease the pain of high out of pocket costs is to use a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA) if your employer offers one. Seventeen percent of small firms and 74 percent of large firms offer employees the option of contributing to an FSA. One-quarter of employers offer an HSA with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) and among large employers with more than 200 workers, 51 percent offer HSAs, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's 2016 Employee Benefits Survey. HSAs and FSAs both allow you to set aside tax-free dollars to cover qualified out-of-pocket medical costs in the coming year. You decide whether to fund these during open enrollment. For more on how HSAs and FSAs can help you reduce your health care costs, go to this Consumer Report's piece. Medicare Advantage Plan Costs Vary Considerably By State Average monthly premiums for Medicare Advantage plans have dropped since 2010, but there are vast differences in how much you pay depending on where you live. The Big Mistake: Not Switching to Keep Your Doctor For many people, keeping the same doctors is more important than cost. Thats natural and important. If youre a parent, you may have a bond with the pediatrician who has treated your kids since they were infants. Or you have had the same trusted doctor for years. But just because your doctor is in your plans network doesnt mean the network offers the broad choices of specialists and hospitals you may want. The remedy: Focus on whats covered if you want to go out of network (to a well-known cancer treatment center or a top teaching hospital, for instance). Some plans provide no coverage for out-of-network nonemergency services, but others will provide some level of reimbursement. So even if your doctor isnt in the plan, you might be able to afford the cost. But if your plan offers little or no out-of-network coverage, youll be stuck with most or all of the bill except in emergency situations. When I choose a health plan, I look at whether the best hospitals in the area are included and if I have to go outside the state, will I have any of that care covered, Coleman says. Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the November 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Correction: In an earlier version of this article, an infographic on Medicare should have said premiums averaged more than $70 a month in seven states, not $70 a year. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. Posing for photographs Prince George knows just how to work the camera. "Prince George is always great fun to photograph, unpredictable, smiling, and in awe of so many of the exciting things he sees on Royal engagements," royal photographer Chris Jackson has said. Samir Hussein/WireImage Princess Charlotte is coming to North America! As the little princess prepares for her first overseas engagement, a trip to Canada with mom Kate Middleton, dad Prince William, and brother Prince George, the 1-year-old royal could learn a thing or two from her experienced big brother. Prince George's first tour abroad came when he was just eight months old in the form of an 18-day trip to New Zealand and Australia with his mom and dad, which he handled like a pro. Whether he was sharing toys with other tots or shaking hands of admirers, this young royal proved that he's already got the diplomacy thing down. VIDEO: The Many Adorable Faces of Prince George 5138454444001 As he's gotten older, he's only gotten wiser: Whether he is expertly posing for photographs or adorably thanking others for gifts, we can't get enough of this well-mannered prince. Here are eight things that he could teach his little sister as she embarks on her first trip abroad. Drive down I-81 from the nations capital, take the exit for Natural Bridge, make a few zigzags and you might think youve found another of those all-too-common stodgy memorials to the Civil War. Until you notice the dinosaurs. Thats right, Toto we arent in Colonial Williamsburg anymore. Welcome to the manic vision of Mark Cline, who combines Jurassic Park and Gettysburg to form Dinosaur Kingdom II. Its one of Americas most bizarre, and most loving, odes to roadside tourism, the collection of beloved oddities that propagated highways during the 60s and 70s but has declined since. People like me who build these things are helping to keep these things alive, says Cline. Mid-Atlantic residents are well-versed in his other creations, from Dinosaur Kingdom I, which burned down in 2012, to Foamhenge, a life-size replica of Stonehenge that has a 4.5-star rating on Yelp and is currently being relocated to northern Virginia. This is not your fathers dinosaur park, Cline says. Not everything is spelled out for you. Screen shot 2016 09 23 at 1.33.16 pm Mark Cline insists you will be able to feed the dinosaurs. Source Courtesy of Dinosaur Kingdom 2 Tickets are $10 a pop for teenagers and adults, $6 for dino-treats er, children. Thats true. Signs are scant, and while you start off in a train cart, the experience is decidedly more free-form once youre dumped off in an abandoned mining village the site of a terrible tragedy, as youll soon find out. Here, the Yankees have conscripted dinosaurs against the Confederates. And yes, the Northerners win the war. But they lose this particular battle, even with T. rexes on their side how embarrassing! If history is indeed always written by the victors, then the dino disaster of 1864 has conveniently been scrubbed from social studies books. Im telling the true story, Cline says. Screen shot 2016 09 23 at 1.31.06 pm Indeed, the whole park is about milking dinosaurs. Source Courtesy of Dinosaur Kingdom Thus starts a rollicking acid trip into selective memory, which wouldnt be complete without Abraham Lincoln fending off a pteranodon with the Gettysburg Address, and a somehow-still-living Stonewall Jackson (history buffs will recall he passed in 63) battling a spinosaurus with a mechanical arm. There are more than 30 sculptures in all, and tickets are $10 a pop for teenagers and adults, $6 for dino-treats er, children. Patty Williams, director of marketing at the Lexington and Rockbridge Area Tourism office, says the local industry has certainly benefited from the absurdist vision of Cline, although more accurate accounts of war-time Virginia can be found at the nearby Memorial Cemetery and the Virginia Military Institute Museum and via Lexington Carriage Company tours. Story continues Sure, attendance is down, and the launch of Dinosaur Kingdom II this July could have gone more smoothly it was delayed a month because of massive rainstorms but that wont dampen Cline. Hes already planning his pet projects future, including a section where hillbillies have crossbred with their dinosaur counterparts, and a piece de resistance, which he says no dinosaur park in the world has ever done. Youll be able to feed the dinosaurs, Cline boasts. When asked how, exactly, he declines to answer. Related Articles San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) - Regional elections in Spain on Sunday strengthened acting Prime Minister's Mariano Rajoy's conservatives and weakened the Socialists, under pressure to let him form a government and end a months-long political impasse. The country is being run by a government without full powers following inconclusive elections in December and June that saw Rajoy's Popular Party (PP) win without an absolute majority and other parties fail to forge a rival coalition. The polls in the northern regions of Galicia and the Basque Country have thus been seen as a possible game-changer, reflecting the public mood as an October 31 deadline looms. If no government emerges by then Spain, the eurozone's fourth largest economy, will face an unprecedented third election around Christmas. The PP renewed its absolute majority in Rajoy's northwestern home region of Galicia, a long-time party stronghold. And the party lost just one seat in the independence-minded Basque Country where its strong defence of a united Spain has never been popular. Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) won 41 out of 75 seats in the regional parliament in Galicia -- equal to its share in the outgoing assembly -- with over 95 percent of ballots counted. In the verdant Basque country in northern Spain, the PP came in fifth with nine seats in the 75-seat assembly, down from 10 seats in the outgoing assembly, after 99 percent of the ballots had been counted. The moderate nationalist PNV party was once again the most-supported party in the Basque region as expected, winning 28 seats, but without an absolute majority. In both regions, the Socialist party (PSOE) lost seats from previous elections four years ago and lost votes to new anti-austerity party Podemos, which is seeking to replace it as Spain's main party on the left. The PSOE finished fourth in the Basque region, behind Podemos, and was tied in Galicia with the En Marea coalition which includes Podemos with 14 seats each. Story continues "These results are not good for the Socialist party," said Cesar Luena, one of the most senior officials in the formation. "It is a negative result in both regions," he added. The Socialists' poor showing follows bad results in December's general election and again in the June repeat vote. It is expected to increase pressure on Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez to allow Rajoy to form a new government at national level. - 'Socialists have sunk' - Sanchez had voted against a Rajoy-led government in a parliamentary vote of confidence earlier this month. He is seeking to negotiate a leftwing coalition alternative with arch-rival Podemos. But a weak result could wreck this strategy, either forcing Sanchez out or pressuring him into allowing the rightwing coalition government through by abstaining in another vote of confidence. "The Socialists have sunk here and in Galicia and it should take note of the message of the ballot box," said former health minister Alfonso Alonso, who headed the PP's list in the Basque region. The Socialist will hold a leadership meeting on Saturday to decide their next steps in the national impasse in the light of their regional showing. Sanchez is unpopular among many so-called barons, or regional party leaders, who think the party should help end to Spain's nine-month deadlock by admitting defeat and allowing Rajoy to come to power. Poor results at regional level could re-open an internal leadership war. Spain has never had a coalition government since its return to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. This lack of experience has been blamed in part for the failure of talks to create a governing alliance. Voters, though, are starting to get frustrated with the political vacuum. "We are making fools of ourselves," said 61-year-old civil servant Mercedes Solana, as she cast her ballot in the fashionable Basque resort of San Sebastian. Mexico City (AFP) - A human rights group is urging the nearly one million US citizens who live in Mexico to vote in hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump out of the White House, organizers said Sunday. "We are going to mobilize the almost eight million Americans who live abroad, a million of them in Mexico, and we want them to vote to stop Donald Trump," said Joseph Huff-Hannon, a campaign leader at Avaaz, an activist organization for political, environmental and human rights issues. Under the shadow of Mexico's Angel of Independence monument, about 200 people gathered to register to vote next to a billboard-sized placard featuring an anti-Trump cartoon, one day ahead of the first presidential debate between Trump and his Democratic counterpart Hillary Clinton. Passersby posed with an effigy of Trump while a mariachi band serenaded them. The bureaucratic complications of registering to vote when Americans are abroad can discourage people from casting ballots and the Avaaz campaign is aimed at making the process easier. Trump has vowed to cut off billions of dollars in remittances sent by migrants to Mexico to make their country pay for a massive wall across the border. He has also called Mexican migrants "rapists." "Let's hope we never see this gentleman in the White House -- or the wall," Huff-Hannon said. "Don't forget that in 2000 George W Bush won the White House by something like 500 votes in Florida," he added. Trump has fervently ruled out any legal status for undocumented migrants. In practice this would mean an extension of a precarious limbo status for millions of migrants, mainly of Mexican origin, who have been waiting for years or even decades to come out of the shadows. Most Americans favor some sort of immigration reform. Johannesburg (AFP) - The number of African elephants has dropped by around 111,000 in the past decade, a new report released Sunday at the Johannesburg conference on the wildlife trade said, blaming the plummeting figures on poaching. The revelation, the worst drop in 25 years, came amid disagreement on the second day of the global meet over the best way to improve the plight of Africa's elephants, targeted for their tusks. With Namibia and Zimbabwe, wanting to be allowed to sell ivory stockpiles accrued from natural deaths to fund community elephant conservation initiatives, Zimbabwe's Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri rejected the "imperialistic policies" of opposing countries, branding them a "clear infringement on the sovereign rights of nations". Both Namibia and Zimbabwe boast healthy elephant populations and their desire to sell the stockpiles is supported by South Africa. "We need to be considerate as we make these decisions," Muchinguri told a news conference. "CITES should be there to facilitate us to succeed in our conservation programmes rather than these imperialistic policies," she added, saying she was speaking on behalf of the southern African region that is home to three-quarters of the savannah jumbo population. 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). Thousands of conservationists and government officials are in Johannesburg for the 12-day gathering, seeking to hammer out new international trade regulations to protect a vast array of different species, with several proposals on whether to tighten or ease controls on the ivory trade on the agenda. "We have been keeping this ivory for nine years and we're hoping this moratorium will be lifted so that we are able to sell this ivory or to produce jewellery, artefacts for the benefit of our people," Muchinguri said. Story continues "We have our sovereign right and we know best what to do, how to utilise our natural resources... we should not be punished, we should be rewarded (for good conservation practices)," she added. Based on 275 estimates from across the continent, the report released on Sunday by the IUCN conservation group put Africa's total elephant population at around 415,000, a decline of around 111,000 over the past decade. - 'Neo-colonialism' - It is the first time in 25 years that the group's African Elephant Status Report has reported a continental decline in numbers, with the IUCN attributing the losses in large part to a sharp rise in poaching. "The surge in poaching for ivory that began approximately a decade ago - the worst that Africa has experienced since the 1970s and 1980s - has been the main driver of the decline," said IUCN. IUCN chief Inger Andersen said the numbers showed "the truly alarming plight of the majestic elephant". "It is shocking but not surprising that poaching has taken such a dramatic toll on this iconic species," she said. Sue Lieberman, vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said the IUCN report was "yet another set of data clearly indicating that governments must take all necessary actions to address the crisis, including closing their domestic elephant ivory markets". "It is now up to the CITES parties to carry that momentum forward (and) support the majority of African elephant range countries who are calling for closure of domestic markets," she said. "Closing domestic markets will close off opportunities to launder illegal ivory." Stephen Mwansa, permanent secretary in Zambia's Tourism Ministry, however, earlier castigated the proposal to ban domestic trade in ivory. "How do you come and start regulating the domestic market? That will be extra-territorial," said Mwansa. "That's arrogance of the highest order. It's tantamount to neo-colonialism and that we can't accept it," he told reporters on Saturday. In 1989 CITES banned international trade in ivory by listing all African elephant populations in its appendix 1. In 1997 and 2000, however, elephant populations in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe were downgraded to a less endangered species status -- to allow two sales of ivory stockpiles to Japan and China in 1999 and 2008. San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) - Asian cinema dominated awards at the San Sebastian film festival, with veteran Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's "I am not Madame Bovary" taking the top Golden Shell prize while Fan Bingbing won the best actress gong for her role in the same film. In the satirical comedy, Chinese star Fan plays a cafe owner caught in the bureaucratic maze of the Chinese legal system after she is swindled by her ex-husband. It had attracted attention earlier this month at the Toronto film festival where it won the International Federation of Film Critics' prize, with the jury hailing "its ambitious rendering of a woman's Kafkaesque struggle as she takes on the Chinese legal system". Among the other awards Saturday, prolific South Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-Soo won 'best director' for his comedy "Yourself and Yours" about the adventures of a painter seeking to win back his girlfriend, a woman who while drinking tends to forget her flirtations. Spanish actor Eduard Fernandez took home the best actor Silver Shell for his role in "Smoke and Mirrors", about a real-life a Spanish spy, Francisco Paesa. The festival's "Latin Horizons" section on Latin American film honoured Chilean director Pepa San Martin's first feature "Rara" about the struggle of a lesbian judge who loses custody of her daughters because of her sexual orientation. The 64th edition of the festival held in the northern Spanish seaside resort saw 17 films in competition from China, Spain, Argentina, Chile, France, Britain, the US, Sweden, Iceland, Poland, South Korea and Japan. The Daily Beast Patrick Pleul/AFP via GettyJust days after he promised advertisers that Twitter would not become a free-for-all hellscape, Elon Musk used the platform he now owns to amplify a baseless conspiracy theory about the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosis husband by an intruder.There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye, Musk tweeted Sunday morning in reply to a tweet by Hillary Clinton blasting the Republican Party for creating a toxic environment that lays the gr The Backstreet Boys just announced their new Planet Hollywood residency in Las Vegas on Friday, and the next day, they were already making themselves at home in Sin City. The boy banders made a surprise appearance with Florida Georgia Line at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday night (Sept. 24) at T-Mobile Arena to perform Everybody (Backstreets Back). iHeartRadio Music Festival Day 2: How to Watch (Or Hear) Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Sting & More Live From Vegas The two groups already have some history: FGL and BSB teamed up for the song God, Your Mama, and Me from Florida Georgia Lines most recent album, Dig Your Roots. But on Saturday night, they teamed up for the 1997 Backstreet classic. Watch a clip below: BSB returned after Florida Georgia Line left the stage with their own mini-set, including I Want It That Way, As Long as You Love Me and Larger Than Life also the name of their upcoming residency. Florida Georgia Line have clearly been fans of the Boys for awhile. Back in March, they covered Everybody at a show, with Brian Kelley revealing onstage that his first concert was Backstreet Boys and Tyler Hubbard chimed in that they were his first album. Watch the lovefest below: By Tom Perry BEIRUT (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 kilometers 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 meters 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 centers 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 neighboring 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 centers". 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". "The human suffering being caused is 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 said in a joint statement. (Additional reporting by Ellen Francis and Laila Bassam and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Michelle Nichols and Yara Bayoumy in New York; Writing by Tom Perry and Peter Graff; Editing by Alison Williams and Matthew Lewis) By Michelle Nichols and Suleiman Al-Khalidi UNITED NATIONS/AMMAN (Reuters) - The United States accused Russia of "barbarism" in Syria on Sunday as warplanes supporting Syrian government forces pounded Aleppo and Moscow said ending the civil war was almost "impossible". A diplomatic solution to the fighting looked unlikely as U.S. and Russian diplomats disagreed at a U.N. Security Council meeting called to discuss the violence, which has escalated since a ceasefire collapsed last week. Rebels, who are battling President Bashar al-Assad's forces for control of Aleppo, said any peace process would be futile unless the "scorched earth bombing" stopped immediately. Capturing the rebel-held half of Syria's largest city, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped, would be the biggest victory of the civil war for Assad's forces. They have achieved their strongest position in years thanks to Russian and Iranian support and launched a fresh offensive for a decisive battlefield victory on Thursday. Residents and rebels say thousands have been killed in the new strikes. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter terrorism, it is barbarism," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the 15-member council. "Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get lifesaving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals, and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive." The French and British foreign ministers also took aim at Russia, saying it could be guilty of war crimes. But Russia defended its position. "In Syria hundreds of armed groups are being armed, the territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council. SCORCHED EARTH In the first major advance of the new offensive, Syrian forces seized control of the Handarat Palestinian refugee camp, north of Aleppo. Rebels counter attacked and said on Sunday they had retaken the camp before the bombing started. "We retook the camp, but the regime burnt it with phosphorous bombs," said Abu al-Hassanien, a commander in a rebel operations room that includes the main brigades fighting to repel the army assault. The army, which is also being helped by Iranian-backed militias, Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah militant group and a Palestinian militia, acknowledged rebels had retaken Handarat. "The Syrian army is targeting the armed groups' positions in Handarat camp," a military source was quoted on state media as saying. Planes continued to pound residential areas on Sunday, flattening buildings, rebels and residents said. "The Assad regime and with direct participation of its ally Russia and Iranian militias has escalated its criminal and vicious attack on our people in Aleppo employing a scorched earth policy to destroy the city and uproot its people," a statement signed by 30 mainstream rebel groups said on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said at least 45 people, among them 10 children, were killed in eastern Aleppo on Saturday. The army says it is targeting only militants. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the civil war and 11 million driven from their homes. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS Russia and the United States agreed on Sept. 9 a deal to put the peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce and improved humanitarian aid access but it collapsed when an aid convoy was bombed killing some 20 people. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who hammered out the truce in months of intensive diplomacy, pleaded with Russia to halt air strikes. U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura appealed to the Council meeting to come up with a way to enforce a ceasefire. "I am still convinced that we can turn the course of events," he said, adding that he would not quit trying to bring peace in Syria. However, Russia is one of five veto powers on the council, along with the United States, France, Britain and China. Russia and China have protected Assad's government by blocking several attempts at council action. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia was guilty of prolonging the war in Syria and may have committed war crimes by targeting an aid convoy. "We should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets, that is a war crime," he said in a BBC interview aired on Sunday. The rebels said they could not accept Russia as a sponsor of any new peace initiative "because it was a partner with the regime in its crimes against our people". It said Russian-backed Syrian forces were using napalm and chemical weapons without censure from the international community. U.N. investigators are looking into the alleged use of the incendiary weapons phosphorus and napalm in several cities. The war has ground on for nearly six years, drawing in world powers and regional states. Islamic State - the enemy of every other party to the conflict - has seized swathes of Syria and neighboring Iraq. World powers appeared to believe that neither Assad nor his opponents were capable of decisive victory on the battlefield. But Russia's apparent decision to abandon the latest peace process could signal it now thinks that victory is in reach, at least in the western cities where the 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 showing no sign of compromise. 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. (Additional reporting by Yara Bayoumy in New York; Writing by Anna Willard; Editing by Alison Williams and Adrian Croft) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India, the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, will formally join the Paris agreement on climate change on Oct. 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. The ratification by India, which follows that of the United States and China, the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters, will help accelerate the enactment of the landmark Paris agreement on climate change forged last December. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti, on October 2," Modi said, referring to the anniversary of the birth of Gandhi, viewed by many as the father of modern India. Modi said he chose Gandhi's birth anniversary as he gave an example of how to live with a low carbon footprint. COP21 refers to the Conference of Parties protocol that commits both rich and poor nations to rein in rising carbon levels and aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Modi was speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national meeting in Kozhikode, in southern India's Kerala state. In June, India indicated it would work toward joining the agreement on climate change this year. (Reporting by Malini Menon; Editing by Mark Potter) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India, the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, will formally join the Paris agreement on climate change on October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. The ratification by India, which follows that of the United States and China, the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters, will help accelerate the enactment of the landmark Paris agreement on climate change forged last December. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti, on October 2," Modi said, referring to the anniversary of the birth of Gandhi, viewed by many as the father of modern India. Modi said he chose Gandhi's birth anniversary as he gave an example of how to live with a low carbon footprint. COP21 refers to the Conference of Parties protocol that commits both rich and poor nations to rein in rising carbon levels and aims to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Modi was speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party's national meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala. In June, India indicated it would work towards joining the agreement on climate change this year. (Reporting by Malini Menon; Editing by Mark Potter) London (AFP) - Britain should not let its EU exit talks "drag on", Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Sunday, though he refused to repeat his previous claim the government would trigger the formal leaving process in early 2017. Johnson said Thursday that Britain would invoke Article 50, the official procedure for quitting the European Union, within months of the new year. But he was not subsequently backed up by Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office, which repeated her position that the provision would not be triggered this year. Johnson, who spearheaded the campaign to leave the EU in Britain's June referendum, said on Sunday Britain should exit before the next European Parliament elections in May 2019. "People will be wondering whether we want to be sending a fresh batch of UK Euro MPs to that institution which, after all, we are going to be leaving. So let's get on with it," he told BBC television. He was pressed three times about the timing but declined to repeat his previous assertion. "Obviously we are not going to do it (trigger Article 50) before Christmas and I think we've got to do a lot of work to get our ducks in order and that is going on. "But then after that, as the prime minister has rightly said, this process probably shouldn't drag on." Part of the negotiations will involve Britain's level of access to the European single market and whether it imposes controls on immigration from EU countries. Johnson also called for greater investment in youth skills and training. "For 25 years UK business and industry have been mainlining immigration like a kind of drug," he said. Meanwhile former prime minister David Cameron's communications chief said Johnson could not make his mind up whether to back Brexit or not in the June 23 referendum, sending Cameron conflicting texts in quick succession. "I am struck by two things: Boris is genuinely in turmoil, flip-flopping within a matter of hours; and his cavalier approach," Craig Oliver said in his memoirs, serialised in The Mail on Sunday newspaper. After plumping for the Leave campaign, Johnson told Cameron he expected to be on the losing side as Brexit would be "crushed". Cameron "says Boris is really a 'confused Inner', and their previous conversations confirmed that view to him," Oliver wrote. By Gordana Katana BANJA LUKA, Bosnia (Reuters) - Bosnian Serbs on Sunday voted overwhelmingly to keep their national holiday in a referendum held despite ethnically divided Bosnia's highest court ruling it illegal. Organizers in the autonomous Serb Republic part of Bosnia said that with 71 percent of the votes counted, 99.8 percent of voters had supported the Jan. 9 "Statehood Day" holiday, with turnout possibly as high as 60 percent. Most of the region's Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croatians oppose the holiday. It coincides with a Serbian Orthodox Christian festival and also marks the Serb territory's 1992 secession from Bosnia, which triggered a bloody three-year war. Serb Republic nationalist President Milorad Dodik, who has been accused of using the referendum to set the stage for a secession vote, said the vote would go down in history as the "day of Serb determination". "I am proud of the people of Republika Srpska, of all those who came out and voted," Dodik said in Pale, the town near Sarajevo which was the headquarters of Bosnian Serb wartime President Radovan Karadzic, convicted of genocide in the Bosnian war in April. Bosnia's international peace envoy Valentin Inzko said the referendum was an attack against Bosnia's constitutional order without precedent and that its results would not be legally valid. The Sarajevo-based Constitutional Court had banned the referendum after finding that the holiday itself discriminated against the region's Bosniaks and Croats. Western diplomats have warned that it violates the 1995 Dayton peace accords that ended the Bosnian war and could prompt sanctions or criminal charges against the organizers. While the United States, which brokered the Dayton treaty, and the European Union called on the Serb Republic to cancel the vote, fearing instability, Russia voiced support. Police said no incidents were reported during the vote. The region's government has said it would comply with the court's ruling on the "Statehood Day" and make changes to its law on holidays to ensure it was not discriminating against other peoples, but only after the vote. The Serbs celebrate the holiday by hanging out Serb flags and holding Orthodox Christian ceremonies in public institutions, which non-Serbs say is aimed at excluding them. Talk of a new war has increased ethnic tensions but both Serb and Bosniak leaders have dismissed such rhetoric. "There will be no war, nobody will destroy Republika Srpska," said Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosniak chairman of the country's three-man inter-ethnic presidency. But Izetbegovic said he believed that organizers of the illegal vote will be prosecuted, "it was just the matter of time". Dodik dismissed the possibility of criminal charges being filed against him. "Republika Srpska has nothing to fear," he said. (Additional reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic and Reuters TV; editing by Thomas Escritt and Jason Neely) Pale (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (AFP) - Serbs in Bosnia voted Sunday to keep celebrating a statehood day in January, a date tied to the divided nation's brutal 1990s war and a sensitive issue for other ethnic groups. The poll is the brainchild of Milorad Dodik, nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS), which partners the Muslim-Croat Federation in the fragile country. After three-quarters of the ballot had been counted, 99.8 percent of the votes were in favour of keeping January 9 the RS' "Republic Day," officials said. In staging the vote, Dodik flouted a veto by Bosnia's constitutional court, disapproval by the United States and the European Union -- and even the reservations of Serbia, RS' foremost ally. But his initiative was supported by Russia. "Now we know that the public has confirmed January 9 and we know that the public did not want to give up this date," a defiant Dodik told a press conference in the RS parliament in Banja Luka, northern Bosnia. The date of January 9 has huge emotional resonance in Bosnia, stirring memories of nationalist fervour, trauma and bloodshed. It marks the proclamation of a "Republic of Serb people" in Bosnia that took place three months before the inter-ethnic 1992-1995 conflict that claimed 100,000 lives. The founders of that "republic" included Radovan Karadzic -- sentenced in March to 40 years' jail for genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the war that also displaced more than two million people. Some 1.2 million voters were entitled to cast a ballot, and the voting passed off without incident. "I came to vote because every nation and every state has its own national holiday. Accordingly, our Serbian people must have their holiday," said Vojo Vujakovic, 60, at a polling station near Banja Luka. Bosnia's constitutional court had cancelled the referendum, ruling that the holiday is illegal for discriminating against non-Serbs, but Dodik pressed ahead regardless. Story continues Valentin Inzko, the international envoy to Bosnia, described the vote as "pointless" and declared it was void of "any legal consequences". "This referendum has sparked a lot of tension... but there won't be war," he added. - 'Playing with fire' - "The Republic is going into a referendum. It's a great day for our Republic and our people," Dodik said on Friday after a trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We have to show our dignity, that we are a democratic people and that we have the right to make our own decisions," he said. But Bosnian Serb opposition representative Mladen Ivanic denounced the poll as "adventurism" and vowed not to participate. The Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's war split the country into two semi-independent entities, the RS and a Muslim-Croat Federation. But analysts say that the institutional bonds between the entities remain weak and prone to instability. Some fear Dodik is warming up for a referendum on the independence of RS, which he has repeatedly threatened to carry out. Bosnian Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegovic reacted angrily on Sunday night. "This is a blatant exempt of a breach of the Dayton agreement, of obstructing decisions by the Constitutional Court, of violating the penal code," he said. "The only question is when there will be a reaction to this and the form it will take," he said, without elaborating. Izetbegovic had earlier accused Dodik of "playing with fire", and a wartime commander of Bosnian Muslim forces, Sefer Halilovic, accused him of "crossing the red line". But some commentators say a conflict is unlikely and suggest a crisis is being stoked to boost nationalists' chances in upcoming local elections. Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (AFP) - Serbs in Bosnia headed to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to mark their "national holiday", in a referendum that has placed the country's fragile institutions under pressure. The vote is the brainchild of Milorad Dodik, nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS). He has ignored a veto by Bosnia's constitutional court, disapproval by the United States and the European Union and the reservations of Serbia, RS' big ally. Some 1.2 million voters are entitled to cast a ballot on whether they want their "national holiday" to continue to be celebrated on January 9. Polls opened at 7:00 am local time (0500 GMT) and are to close at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT). "I came to vote because every nation and every state has its own national holiday. Accordingly, our Serbian people must have their holiday," said Vojo Vujakovic, 60, at a polling station near the Bosnian Serb capitol of Banja Luka. The date has huge emotional resonance in Bosnia, stirring memories of nationalist fervour, trauma and bloodshed. It marks the proclamation of a "Republic of Serb people" in Bosnia that took place three months before the inter-ethnic 1992-1995 war that claimed 100,000 lives. The founders of that "republic" included Radovan Karadzic -- sentenced in March to 40 years' jail for genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the war that also displaced more than two million people. Bosnia's constitutional court has cancelled the referendum, ruling that the holiday is illegal for discriminating against non-Serbs, but Dodik pressed ahead defiantly. - 'Playing with fire' - "The Republic is going into a referendum. It's a great day for our Republic and our people," Dodik said on Friday after a trip to Moscow, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We have to show our dignity, that we are a democratic people and that we have the right to make our own decisions," he said. Story continues The Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's war split the country into two semi-independent entities -- the RS and a Muslim-Croat Federation. But analysts say that the institutional bonds between the entities remain weak and prone to instability. Some fear Dodik is warming up for a referendum on the independence of RS, which he has repeatedly threatened to carry out. Bosnian Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegovic has accused Dodik of "playing with fire", and a wartime commander of Bosnian Muslim forces, Sefer Halilovic, has accused him of "crossing the red line." But some commentators say a conflict is unlikely and a crisis is being stoked to boost nationalists' chances in upcoming local elections. Anecdotal evidence points to strong support from the public for the vote. "We are all going to take part, to preserve our freedom, peace and dignity," Vida Kojic, a pensioner in Lukavica, a suburb of Sarajevo that lies in the RS, told AFP. Many roadsides in the RS had placards urging people to turn out and cast their ballot, and some signs portrayed Dodik along with the message, "The force of Srpkska." By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Halloween enthusiasts need not take fright over the state of this year's U.S. pumpkin crop. Supplies of the orange-yellow fruit are much more plentiful than last year, easing concerns of a possible shortage for carving jack-o'-lanterns and buying filling for pumpkin pies. U.S. store supplies of canned pumpkin have almost overcome the effects of last year's shortage, which was caused by damage to crops from heavy rains in parts of the Midwest. "We're rebuilding our inventory right now and as soon as we have enough pumpkin canned we'll begin releasing the 2016 Libby's pumpkin to our retail partners," said Roz O'Hearn, spokeswoman for Libby's, supplier of more than 80 percent of U.S. canned pumpkin. "So by end of the month, the 2015 shortage will be behind us." For Illinois farmer Mark Berg, who grows roughly 120 acres of pumpkins for Libby's, 2016 promises to be a pumpkin-palooza. Berg has just wrapped up his harvest ahead of schedule, averaging 30 tons of pumpkins per acre, well above his historical average of 25 tons and worth about $500 per acre. Last year, he harvested just two to three tons per acre and revenue fell short of $100 per acre. "You have to take the good with the bad. This year we're fortunate," said Berg, attributing his good fortune to sufficient rains and above-average heat this summer. Last year's U.S. pumpkin harvest totaled 754 million pounds valued at $90 million, the smallest crop since the U.S. Department of Agriculture began tracking the sector in 2000. Illinois, which typically produces about 90 percent of the United States' canned or processed pumpkins, last year harvested only 318 million pounds of pumpkin worth $12 million, according to USDA. University of Illinois plant pathologist Mohammad Babadoost said this year, Illinois' average pumpkin yields could be above 22 tons per acre. Nonetheless, with the harvest possibly stretching into November and vulnerable to weather, Babadoost remains cautious after heavy rains in 2015 spawned various diseases that robbed Illinois producers of nearly half their expected yield. Added Libby's spokeswoman O'Hearn: "So far, we appear to be in much better shape than we were in 2015." Harvesting for Libby's, a unit of Swiss-based Nestle SA, started last month. (Editing by Jo Winterbottom and Matthew Lewis) Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Saturday he was "appalled by the chilling military escalation" in Syria's battleground city of Aleppo where residents cowered indoors as air strikes toppled buildings and killed at least 45 civilians. The Security Council was set to meet Sunday to discuss the upsurge in violence since the Syrian army announced an offensive to retake the rebel-held east of the devastated city. Nearly two million civilians were left without water in Aleppo after regime bombardment damaged a pumping station and rebels shut down another in retaliation, the UN said. Ban warned the use of bunker buster bombs and other advanced munitions against civilians may amount to war crimes, after the army Thursday launched the offensive backed by Russian air raids that has cost around 100 lives. Top EU officials said that the attacks on civilians amount to a "breach of international humanitarian law," and called for intensified peace efforts. Washington and leading European powers said Saturday that "the burden is on Russia... to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities." A week-long ceasefire agreed between the United States and Russia ended on Monday and efforts to revive the truce failed. That same day, an aid convoy was hit by an air strike that US officials have said was carried out by Russian planes, although Moscow has denied responsibility. - 'Cease bombing women and children' - US Secretary of State John Kerry, who failed in talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to revive the ceasefire, earlier said: "What is happening in Aleppo today is unacceptable. It is beyond the pale." "If people are serious about wanting a peaceful outcome... they should cease and desist bombing innocent women and children, cease cutting off water and laying siege in mediaeval terms to an entire community," he said. Kerry had harsh words for Moscow's involvement in the conflict, in comments at a meeting with his European counterparts. Story continues "Russia needs to set an example, not a precedent - an unacceptable precedent, I might add, for the entire world," he said. Syria's regime said it was confident of victory, with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem telling the UN General Assembly that the army and its allies were making "great strides" in the conflict. He said a US-led coalition air strike that killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers on September 17 was intentional "and not an error, even if the United States claims otherwise". Rebel-held eastern districts of Aleppo came under intense air and artillery fire for a fifth night on Friday ahead of an anticipated ground offensive by the army to recapture the whole of the divided city. Muallem told the UN: "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," singling out Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Saturday's death toll of 45 in Aleppo city was expected to rise because people remained trapped in the rubble, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group. It said another seven people were killed elsewhere in Aleppo province on Saturday. "We were home when a missile crashed into our road," said one resident of the Bab al-Nayrab district who gave his name as Nizar. "Half of the building just caved in and our baby was hit on the head. He died on the spot," Nizar said, the body of his son on the ground wrapped in a blanket. - Massive destruction - Seven people were killed in a strike as they queued to buy yoghurt at a market in the Bustan al-Qasr district on the front line dividing the government-held west from the rebel-held east of the city. The attack left a pool of blood and body parts strewn across the site, said an AFP correspondent on the scene. Medics said they were carrying out many amputations to try to save the wounded, while supplies of blood and IV drips were running out. On Friday, at least 47 people were killed in heavy bombing, among them seven children, the Observatory said. There was massive destruction in several neighbourhoods, including Al-Kalasseh and Bustan al-Qasr, where some streets were almost erased by the bombardment. Residents and activists said one type of bomb had produced earthquake-like tremors upon impact, razing buildings right down to their basements where many residents desperately seek safety during attacks. Further south in the central city of Homs, a convoy of 36 aid trucks reached the rebel-held district of Waer, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. The denial of access to food, water and medicines has been used repeatedly as a weapon by all sides in the five-year war which has cost more than 300,000 lives and displaced over half the population. The approximately 250,000 people in east Aleppo have been under near-continuous siege since government troops encircled the area in mid-July. Victoria (Canada) (AFP) - Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate arrived in British Columbia on Saturday for an eight-day trip during which they will view spectacular nature sites and meet with refugees and indigenous Americans. William, holding his son George by the hand, and Kate, with daughter Charlotte in her arms, stepped off their plane at around 4:00 pm (2300 GMT). George, 3, more interested in a helicopter hovering overhead than by protocol, and his year-old sister, wearing a smocked dress for her first foreign trip, climbed aboard a car with their parents headed for a gorgeous Victorian home where they are staying for the visit. The royal family was received an hour later at a ceremony with military honors and a 21-gun salute under blue skies on the lawn in front of the westernmost Canadian province's legislature on Vancouver Island. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remarked that this visit would be quite different for the royals, now that they are parents of two young children, compared to their last trip to Canada five years ago. "As any parent who has traveled with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your family with you," said Trudeau, who has three young children of his own and joined many official visits when his father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister. "Let me caution you from my own experience, if they're anything like our kids, getting them back on a plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge." "As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary next year, we're excited to meet and interact with the young people who will lead this country into its next few decades," William said, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd. "And in the year of the queen's 90th birthday, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to thank the people of Canada for the warmth and generosity they've extended to my grandmother throughout her reign." Story continues After a children's chorus sang the Canadian national anthem, William and Kate exchanged greetings with locals. The duchess of Cambridge, sporting a blue dress and matching hat, her hair gathered in a bun, wore a brooch in the shape of a maple leaf, Canada's national symbol. - Nature and health initiatives - This time, the prince and his wife will take in the natural beauty of Canada's Pacific coast, heading as far north as the rugged Yukon territory, and will also meet with indigenous people. George and Charlotte will stay with their nanny in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Royal fever has taken hold in the city of Victoria, where the provincial parliament has been decorated to welcome the British couple. Accompanied by the Trudeaus, the royal couple will begin their trip in earnest on Sunday in Vancouver by visiting a shelter for refugees and a home for children with mental disabilities. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, will also go with Sophie Trudeau to meet with women living at a drug rehabilitation residence. Vancouver has seen a spike in overdoses involving the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. The rest of the visit will take William and Kate to the island of Bella-Bella for a traditional indigenous ceremony at the foot of a totem poll, then for a hike through a rainforest before heading north to the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon, a wild, mountainous territory with a sparse population. Then they will stop off in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley in the south of the province, near the US border. For their fans, William and Kate have set aside time at the end of the trip for a big festival at which residents of Victoria will be able to snap photos of them and their kids. The family will leave Victoria by seaplane on October 1, before returning to Britain on their official plane. Some Canadians -- mainly those who dislike the royal family's expensive lifestyle -- are complaining about the cost of the visit for taxpayers. The cost of the trip to British Columbia and the Yukon will be disclosed after it is over. But when the couple visited in 2011, two months after their wedding, the trip cost Canadians Can$1.2 million ($0.91 million US). He was in town, and she's always in town, so why not? Britney Spears welcomed G-Eazy to the iHeartRadio Music Festival stage Saturday night (Sept. 24) on the Las Vegas Strip, a day after he played the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Downtown Las Vegas. The pair performed their top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Make Me" before transitioning into G-Eazy's own "Me, Myself & I," with Spears handling Bebe Rexha's vocals. The performance ended with confetti raining down on the pair. iHeartRadio Music Festival Day 2: How to Watch (Or Hear) Ariana Grande, Sting & More Live From Vegas Watch a clip of the Sin City spectacle below: Confetti from the jump!? You know it's gonna be a big night! #iHeartFestival #iHeartBritney https://t.co/J1AS8Btckf pic.twitter.com/Q6sFOx6HKC - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 The duo played the same pair of songs at last month's MTV Video Music Awards, but this time, Spears led into the performance with a set of her biggest hits, including "Womanizer," "Toxic," "Drive Me Crazy" and "I'm Slave 4 U." Spears just released her album Glory last month and is still in residency at Planet Hollywood just down the Strip from the T-Mobile Arena. A Bronx charter school teacher who is being accused of beating a 16-year-old student over a drug deal gone awry, is now also being accused of threatening to have his mother raped to double-down on the revenge. According to The New York Daily News, Kevin Pope, a science teacher at John V. Lindsay Wildcat Academy in Hunts Point, issued the supposed threat while inflicting several blow to the teen, which resulted in him having to receive stitches. You better get my money, the 48-year-old teacher said to the teen after Wednesdays altercation. You know where I work. However, the threats didnt stop there. After Pope punched the 16-year-old in the face knocking him into a glass window of a local business, while on the ground, Pope then threatened the boys mother. Do you want to die? Pope allegedly shouted at the teen. You want to steal from me? I should break your arm I should get someone to rape your mom every day after work. Assistant District Attorney Gerard Donahue said the whole ordeal was captured on surveillance video. Pope was released without bail Saturday (Sept. 24) after his lawyer claimed the student stole his briefcase containing $5,000 in cash. Since Pope didnt receive his money back, the irate educator allegedly made off with the teens wallet, gold chains and iPhone during the brawl, police sources say. Bronx Judge Harold Adler issued an order of protection and ordered Pope to stay clear of the 16-year-old and his mom. Adler was also skeptical Pope randomly had $5,000 cash in a suitcase with while riding public transportation. When the judge asked what Pope planned to do with the money, Popes defense attorney Japel Filiacis claimed to never have inquired. He took the money out, maybe to transfer it, Filiaci replied. Pope has been charged with assault, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and robbery, By Edward McAllister LIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Gabon will return to normal after a bitterly disputed election, its newly re-elected President Ali Bongo said, as soldiers patrolled and military aircraft flew over a capital that has been bracing for another explosion of violence. The Constitutional Court late on Friday threw out a challenge against the election results by rival Jean Ping, enabling Bongo to extend his family's dynastic 50-year rule over the small, oil-producing central African country. Ping swiftly rejected the ruling as biased, and many Gabonese feared a return to the violence that killed at least six people - Ping's supporters say it was more than 50 - when the result was first announced at the start of the month. But in a nation that usually manages to avoid the massive bloodshed that afflicts other countries in the region, like Congo and Central African Republic, when power is contested, Bongo said he was confident of a peaceful resolution. "It is business as usual. We are not worried about this state of crisis," Bongo told Reuters in an interview late on Saturday. "I think that we will go back to normal ... Gabonese are peace-loving people." On Sunday, soldiers deployed along main roads and a helicopter hovered over Ping's headquarters. A fighter jet roared above the city. The red and white taxis that normally ply its palm-lined seaside avenues were mostly absent. "Things are not normal. The people's voice was stolen," Richard Obame, 46, an unemployed Ping supporter, said, after the jet noise had died down. "If it was calm, would we need the military presence on the streets and the helicopters above the house of Mr Ping?" And yet Ping, whom authorities have threatened to arrest for inciting violence, has so far refrained from calling people on to the streets. That raises the possibility of a peaceful resolution, although Ping insists that the will of the Gabonese people be respected. A statement from the office of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday said he "welcomes the call by the president-elect for national dialogue." "It is of utmost importance that all actors demonstrate maximum restraint," it added. "OPEN GOVERNMENT" 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 and to whom Ping himself was very close. "Bongo Junior", as he is nicknamed, is showing signs of wanting to handle opponents in much the same way his father did: by bringing them into the tent. On Saturday he called for members of opposition parties to come and join his cabinet. Communications minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze was quoted on France's Journal du Dimanche website on Sunday as saying that from next week there would be "an open government, with members of the opposition, civil society and independent personalities." Whether this will be "business as usual" for Gabon and the Bongo dynasty may partly depend on the international reaction. Gabon has never had a poll that international observers judged free and fair, and Western powers, especially ex-colonial master France, always looked the other way. But on Saturday France and the European union both expressed "doubt" about the poll, which swung it for Bongo on a province, Haut-Ogooue, that gave him 95 percent of a 99.9 percent turnout. Bongo pledged to address some of the issues that have fueled anger in the country of 1.8 million, like youth unemployment and over-reliance on dwindling oil revenues. "We want to move from just enjoying the profits of oil to an economy where we can also start producing," Bongo told Reuters. "Manufacturing is very important ... We are also inviting the national and international business community to invest. They want to find a country that is in peace and stable." (Additional Reporting by Gerards Wilfried Obamgome in Libreville and Michelle Nichols in New York; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Adrian Croft) TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada confirmed on Sunday it has become aware of a citizen taken hostage in Libya and is "diligently pursuing all appropriate channels to obtain more information." Libyan authorities said last week a Canadian and two Italians had been kidnapped in the country's southwestern desert, possibly by a criminal gang. The Canadian government then called the matter "unconfirmed." On Sunday, Global Affairs Canada, the country's foreign department, called the kidnapping "troubling," but declined to provide more details. "The Government of Canada will not comment or release any information which may compromise ongoing efforts to secure their release or endanger the safety of Canadian citizens," a spokeswoman said in an email. The three victims, who were working on airport projects, were abducted between the towns of Ghat and Tahala, near the border with Algeria, early last Monday, according to Ghat's mayor Gomani Mohamad Saleh. It is not immediately clear who was responsible or what the hostages' current circumstances are. Numerous criminal and armed groups are active in Libya's vast southern desert, and al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants have long had a presence across the border between Libya and Algeria. (Reporting by Ethan Lou in Toronto; Editing by Andrea Ricci) By Ethan Lou TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's Unifor union has set a tentative strike deadline of midnight October 10 for talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, the labor group said on Saturday as it prepares to vote on a related deal with General Motors Co. Unifor, which represents close to 10,000 Fiat Chrysler workers in Canada, said in a statement the strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. will stand if talks with Fiat Chrysler begin "immediately" after the union ratifies its contract with General Motors Co on Sunday. A four-year contract covering roughly 20,000 Canadian unionized workers of Fiat Chrysler, GM and Ford Motor Co expired on September 19. Unifor, which represents some 4,000 GM workers, reached a last-minute tentative deal with the company late on that day. Under a process called patterned bargaining, Unifor's tentative agreement with GM, if ratified by members, would be used as a template for talks with the other companies, which are expected to agree to similar terms. "Should the tentative agreement not be approved by the membership ... the union will move towards an immediate strike position," union spokeswoman Denise Hammond said. Unifor's deal with GM granted some job security, but less favorable pensions than before. The company agreed to renewed investment at its Canadian plants, while the union gave up defined benefits pensions for new hires. Unifor President Jerry Dias has said concessions were necessary to ensure GM continues operations in the province of Ontario, home to nearly all of Canada's once-thriving auto industry that has been losing out to the Southern United States and lower-cost Mexico. Under the new deal, GM's plant in Oshawa, just east of Toronto, will eventually perform final assembly work on at least 70,000 Silverado pickup trucks a year, according to two sources close to negotiations. Sales of the truck have been strong amid a recovery in the U.S. housing market and stable fuel prices. Analysts and company executives have said it is among the most profitable vehicles for Detroit automakers. GM's St. Catharines plant in southern Ontario will have new work in the form of engine production, moved from Mexico, according to Unifor. The union had agreed to a pure defined contribution pension plan for new hires, which unlike the plan held by current workers does not guarantee a set payout. For Fiat Chrysler, Unifor has said it seeks terms including an upgrade to an outdated paint shop at a plant in Brampton, west of Toronto. (Editing by Matthew Lewis) This new cast addition may have just connected the worlds of Thor and Jurassic Park and we are like whoa This new cast addition may have just connected the worlds of Thor and Jurassic Park and we are like whoa Jurassic Park fans who swoon every time Dr. Alan Grant says Theyre moving in herds. They do move in herds, will be thrilled to know that the actor behind the magic, the one and only Sam Neill, has stepped into a top-secret role in the upcoming Thor: Ragnorok. ed o Im not really allowed to say this and I cant tell you what it isI did a couple of days on Thor just before I came over here, Neill said in an interview with Shortlist, explaining that he had to sign all sorts of things. So if I say anything else, Marvels secret agents and they are lethal will come and get me and probably my children, as well. So how did Neill bag the role? Well, in addition to being a fixture of pop culture (Who WOULDNT want Sam Neill in their movie? Not a part for him? Write it!), Neill has worked with Ragnorok director Taika Waititi before, on this years Hunt For The Wilderpeople (Which is an A+ indie movie, we could not more passionately recommend this little gem). Another fun fact, Neill WILL be reuniting with his Jurassic Park co-star Jeff Goldblum. Dare we hope for a shared scene? Dare we hope upon hope for a Jurassic Park inside joke? jeff g Well find out when Thor: Ragnorok hits theaters on November 3rd, 2017. Until then, congratulations Sam Neill. Were sure you crushed that cameo like the T-Rex in Jurassic Park crushes basically everything. The post This new cast addition may have just connected the worlds of Thor and Jurassic Park and we are like whoa appeared first on HelloGiggles. Cedar Rapids residents filled sandbags on Saturday, September 24, as they prepared for the Cedar River to reach historic flooding levels. Areas of downtown Cedar Falls were closed to vehicles on Friday and pedestrians on Saturday, while police also urged businesses in the area to close. The Cedar River was expected to crest at 12 feet above flood stage. Other rivers in the area also have risen to flood levels. The Shell Rock River reached a historic flood level, triggering evacuations in Shell Rock, according to a report from the Desmoines Register. This video shows people filling sandbags in preparation for the flooding in Cedar Falls. Credit: Instagram/dmslproject By Robert MacMillan and Mike Blake CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Charlotte police released two videos on Saturday showing the fatal shooting of a black man that has unleashed days of protests, but the footage failed to settle the central question of whether shooting victim Keith Scott was holding a gun. Protesters who have gathered in Charlotte every day since the Tuesday shooting demanding that police release the body-cam and dashboard video marched again on Saturday evening, with many carrying signs protesting police violence. Both Scott's family and protesters have disputed the police statements that Scott was carrying a gun. The controversy over Scott's death has made Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city and a financial center, the latest flashpoint in two years of tense protests over U.S. police killings of black men, most of them unarmed. Before the release of the footage, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney acknowledged that the videos themselves were "insufficient" to prove that Scott held a gun. But he said that the totality of evidence, including eyewitness testimony, supported the conclusion that Scott was armed. There is no definitive visual evidence that he had a gun in his hand - you can see something in the hand - and that he pointed it at an officer. That I did not visually see in the video, Putney said. But what we do see is compelling evidence that, when you put all the pieces together, supports that." In a statement accompanying the video release, police said Scott was shot by Officer Brentley Vinson as he backed away from his vehicle. "Officer Vinson perceived Mr. Scotts actions and movements as an imminent physical threat to himself and the other officers," the statement said. Police released pictures along with the clips, including photos of a handgun and an ankle holster that authorities said Scott had been wearing at the time of the shooting. Police said that the gun recovered at the scene was loaded and had Scott's fingerprints and DNA. Story continues But Scott's family, which released its own video of the encounter on Friday, said the footage showed the father of seven was not acting aggressively and that the police shooting made no sense. The family video, shot by Scott's wife, was also inconclusive on the question of a gun. SCOTT "DESERVED BETTER" The family said neither of the police videos answered key questions surrounding the case, and left them with insufficient information to form an opinion on whether the officer who killed Scott should face criminal charges. In one of the police videos, a dashboard-mounted camera from a squad car showed Scott exiting his vehicle and then backing away from it. Police shout to him to drop a gun, but it is not clear that Scott is holding anything. Four shots then ring out and Scott drops to the ground. A second video, taken with an officer's body camera, fails to capture the moment of shooting. It shows Scott standing outside his vehicle before he is shot, but it is not clear whether he has something in his hand. The officer then moves and Scott is out of view until he is seen lying on the ground. Both videos show Scott moving at a measured pace with his hands at his sides. At least five people who appear to be police officers are seen in the bodycam video. Scott's family and family attorneys said the videos showed Scott walking away slowly from officers at the time he was struck by bullets. "He doesn't appear to be acting aggressively to the officers on the scene," Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the Scott family, told a news conference. Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said much of the media attention has focused on what kind of person Scott was. Although he was a "good person," Dotch said, what really matters is that "he was an American citizen who deserved better." Another lawyer for the Scott family, Charles Monnett, said, the family did not know enough of the facts to know whether the officer who killed Scott should face charges. Hundreds marched through the center of Charlotte on Saturday evening, including white and black families protesting police violence. Some carried signs reading Stop police brutality while some signs showed a picture of a bloody handprint with the phrase #AMINEXT. Some marchers angrily told media to leave the demonstration, but the city was less tense than on Friday night. Restaurants and bars were livelier, and many patrons came outside to watch demonstrators chanting "No justice, no peace, no racist police." (Additional reporting by David Bailey and Alex Dobuzinskis; Writing by Will Dunham and Peter Henderson; Editing by Mary Milliken and Leslie Adler) The winemakers of Chianti knew they were on to something good when rivals started copying them. By the early 18th century, the sale of counterfeit bottles to ever-thirsty England had become so rife that the local merchant nobles felt compelled to act. Three hundred years ago on Saturday, Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued a decree declaring that chianti wine could only be produced within a designated area between the Renaissance powerhouses of Florence and Siena. The world's first legally enforceable wine appellation had been born. The Medici duke's decree defined an area of 70,000 hectares (175,000 acres) that now produces 35 million bottles a year of chianti classico. Eighty percent of them are exported to some 100 countries and the region's reputation has been on an upward curve since the 1980s, making it a magnet for wine pilgrims. Sipping from a glass of classico riserva in the Enoteca Falorni wine bar and merchant in Greve in Chianti, Diya Khanna says her trip has been an eye-opener. "In Canada you think of chianti as one type of wine, but if you come here you learn what it's really all about. There is such a variety of styles," the Berlin-based Canadian tells AFP. "All of the classicos we have tried have had this soft velvety finish, like a smooth song that finishes off at the end really, really nicely." - Brand confusion - Chianti classico producers have long battled confusion among consumers about the difference between their sought-after, geographically restricted wine and the less distinguished simple chianti made in other parts of Tuscany. Up to 2010, a producer in the heartland area defined by the 1716 decree could produce both. But that practice was banned as part of measures to strengthen the classico brand and its trademark black rooster logo. Generally lighter and less expensive, ordinary chianti remains associated for many with the staple candle-holder of 1970s Italian trattorias - a bottle half-wrapped in a straw basket known as a 'fiasco'. Story continues It was from a fiasco that the popes of the 16th century enjoyed their chianti. But the rounded vessel was to become a symbol of the damage done to the region's international image by an export-driven boom in which quality was sometimes sacrificed for quantity. - Rugby-loving winemaker - The idea underlying the 1716 decree was that Tuscany's land and climate had combined serendipitously over centuries with local know-how to guarantee that a wine from chianti would be of a certain style and quality. Three centuries later, that idea still prevails among the eclectic bunch of characters now producing chianti classico. But there is also a new emphasis on variations created by particular soils, exposure and altitude -- something wine experts refer to as the "terroir" of a particular site. With his trim beard, gilet and smart suede boots, Marco Mazzoni looks like a gentleman farmer dressed by Giorgio Armani. But the owner of the small Corte di Valle estate outside Greve insists turning sangiovese grapes into attractive wine is no job for city dilettantes. "The ground is full of stones and rocks," he says. "The vines have to suffer to grow and thrive. It makes you sweat." At Querciabella on the other side of the valley, rugby-loving winemaker Manfred Ing's style is more shorts and walking boots as he oversees the harvest of encouragingly plump sangiovese berries: 2016 could be a vintage to remember, he says. Querciabella is in the vanguard of a push for a shake-up in the rules that would allow classico producers to label their single-vineyard wines as coming from specific micro-zones on the model of Burgundy in France. Like many of the top Burgundies, Querciabella is farmed organically and according to bio-dynamic principles. Even the use of manure is now eschewed at a property owned by vegan Sebastiano Castiglioni. "If we want to be still producing chianti here in another 300 years, this is the way to go," says South African-born Ing as he explains how winter crops such as rocket and wild mustard are used to replenish the vineyard soil in the absence of artificial fertilizers. - Pregnant patience - Once the preserve of men, another thing that has changed in 300 years is that some acclaimed chianti classicos are now made by women. "We are a small but growing club," says Susanna Grassi, who gave up the underwear business for wine in 2000 in order to revitalise the family farm. Grassi's nine-hectare estate, "I Fabbri" ("The Blacksmiths"), goes up to 680 metres (2,230 feet) altitude, close to the limit of where the heat-loving sangiovese will ripen. Grassi does not have the option of making powerful, structured wine. Instead the emphasis is on elegance and finesse -- a trend towards the expression of pure sangiovese that she thinks Tuscany's female winemakers are helping to drive. "I think women do have a different sensibility when it comes to wine," she tells AFP. "Maybe it is because pregnancy teaches us to wait, knowing that the final result will be "bello" (beautiful)." Moscow (AFP) - Pro-Kremlin activists who threw urine at pictures by US photographer Jock Sturges -- best known for nude images of adolescents and their families -- on Sunday forced its closure, a day after a government advisor condemned the images as "child pornography". Moscow gallery curator Natalia Litvinskaya told journalists the show had "nothing to do with paedophilia" but that she took the decision to close after receiving "threats from absolutely delusional people". The closure of the exhibition -- "Jock Sturges: Absence of Shame" -- came after influential conservative senator Yelena Mizulina on Saturday released a statement on her website calling it "a public demonstration of child pornography materials" and said it "must be closed urgently". Russia's children's ombudswoman Anna Kuznetsova then weighed in, condemning it on Facebook a few hours later as "child pornography". The exhibition, which opened on September 7 at the established Lumiere Brothers Gallery close to the Kremlin, is the first to show the California-based Sturges' work in Russia. Around 20 activists in matching uniform jackets and camouflage from a little-known group called the "Officers of Russia" on Sunday positioned themselves outside the doors of the gallery, as police watched, an AFP video journalist witnessed. The Officers of Russia describes itself as a patriotic association of former and serving military and "concerned citizens" with more than 100,000 members. One activist standing outside the gallery, 20-year-old Timofei Bendas, told journalists he had seen some photos from the show which he called "dirty, vile and disgusting". The organisation's leader Anton Tsvetkov, who also heads the security committee of Russia's Public Chamber, an advisory body made up of public figures, then viewed the exhibition with its organisers, before coming out and announcing its closure. Story continues "The organisers accommodated the Public Chamber and the exhibition is closed from today," he shouted from the gallery doorway to shouts of "shame!" from supporters of the show. He acknowledged however that the show included only "semi-naked" pictures of children. - 'Culture should be Russian' - Journalists were then allowed into the gallery where owner Eduard Litvinsky told them: "We took a joint decision to close the exhibition. "There was a public reaction and we can't do anything about this," he said. After he spoke, a man in a leather jacket who gave his name as Alexander poured a plastic bottle filled with urine onto some of the photographs as journalists watched. He shouted: "This should be the position of every Russian. Our culture should be Russian. We don't need European culture here." He was then handed over to police, RIA Novosti state news agency reported, although a police spokesman told AFP he could not immediately confirm the man's detention. Sturges was not immediately available for comment. The summary closure of the exhibition under pressure from conservative activists and without any legal procedures sparked wide debate online, with hashtags related to the exhibition trending on Twitter. "A non-governmental organisation supported by private security guards sets the rules in Moscow with complete lack of police intervention," radio presenter Alexander Plyushchev wrote on Twitter from the scene. "Hello, don't we have authorities in our country?" It is the second recent attack on a contemporary art exhibition in Moscow by conservative activists. In August last year, Orthodox activists from a group called God's Will damaged sculptures at an exhibition of non-conformist Soviet artists in the Manege arts centre, describing them as blasphemous. One activist is awaiting trial for damaging cultural objects and faces up to three years in prison. Condemnation of artists by officials lacking any specialist knowledge is reminiscent of the Soviet era, when Communist party chief Nikita Khrushchev visited a 1962 exhibition of abstract painting and called the artists "fags" and "bastards." Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will face off Monday, Sept. 26, in the much-anticipated first debate with the two U.S. presidential contenders an event that could draw close to a Super Bowl-size audience. The 90-minute confrontation between the polarizing political figures will be widely available on broadcast and cable TV, as well as via numerous online outlets including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Mondays debate, the first of three between Trump and Clinton, is set for 9-10:30 p.m. Eastern and will be moderated by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt. Heres how to catch the action, with several cable networks online services launching pre-debate coverage up to two hours before the main event at 7 p.m. ET. On TV Broadcast networks including ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS and Univision will carry the debate without commercial interruptions. On cable, the debate can be seen on CNN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Fusion and C-SPAN. Streaming services Facebook will exclusively carry ABC News live coverage of the debate, while other media are also expected to use Facebook Live to stream reports from the event. On YouTube, the debate will be live-streamed from PBS, Telemundo and the Washington Post. Twitter will stream Bloomberg TVs coverage at debates.twitter.com, including pre- and post-debate segments. Roku users can stream the debate via apps for ABC News, Bloomberg TV, CBS News, NewsOn, and CNNgo (participating pay-TV subscription required). Other websites and internet platforms featuring debate live streams include: ABC News, BuzzFeed News, CBS News, CNN, C-SPAN, Daily Caller, Fox News, Fox Business News, Hulu, Huffington Post, NBC News, PBS, Politico, Telemundo,Wall Street Journal, Univision and Yahoo. In addition, Snaps Snapchat will cover the debates on-site via a Live Story from the perspectives of students from the universities hosting the debates, as well as volunteers, media and others. And NBC News has teamed with AltspaceVR for a live virtual-reality environment for the debate, which can be access on Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR and HTC Vive headsets as well as through a desktop viewer for PCs. Story continues The first Clinton-Trump debate held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. will be divided into six segments of approximately 15 minutes each on major topics selected by Holt. Holt will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond; Trump and Clinton will then have an opportunity to respond to each other, and Holt will use the remaining the time in each segment for further discussion of the topic. In the weeks leading up to the debates, Facebook and Google have been providing data to the moderators about what internet users are searching for and saying about the candidates and the issues. The second presidential debate is set for Oct. 9 at Washington U. in St. Louis, in a town-meeting format moderated by ABC News Martha Raddatz and CNNs Anderson Cooper, and the third and final debate is Oct. 19 at UNLV in Las Vegas with Fox News Chris Wallace moderating. The Oct. 4 VP debate with Mike Pence and Tim Kaine, to be held at Longwood U. in Virginia, will be moderated by CBS News correspondent and CBSN anchor Elaine Quijano. Related stories Bruce Springsteen Calls Donald Trump a 'Moron,' Considers Campaigning for Hillary Clinton Ted Cruz Says He Will Vote for Donald Trump Bill and Hillary Clinton Buy House Next Door, Create Chappaqua Compound With signs of an ever-tightening presidential contest, the political world was abuzz with speculation and advice for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump Sunday on the eve of their crucial first nationally televised debate. Clinton, the former secretary of state and New York senator, must display her prowess as a national leader and policy maven while somehow allowing her warmth to show through, some are arguing. She will have to needle the unpredictable Trump to try to provoke him to make another outrageous comment or display his ignorance, but without coming across as a shrew. Related: Trump is Trouncing Clinton When it Comes to Running Up the Debt Meanwhile, Trump, who has made it this far on the strength of vicious personal attacks on his opponents, harsh anti-immigrant rhetoric and scary, dystopian portrayals of the U.S. in sharp decline, must somehow show he has the vision and temperament to lead the country. While Trump must continue to make the case that Clintons e-mail scandal and questionable judgment on Iraq, Libya and other foreign policy issues effectively disqualify her from serving as the next president, he must avoid making a major gaffe or glaring factual error that would reinforce Clintons assertion that he is woefully unfit to become commander in chief. Just 24 hours before Clinton and Trump face off on the campus of Hofstra University on Long Island in the first of three scheduled debates, the Sunday talk shows were dominated by tons of free strategic advice from political pols along those lines. Mark McKinnon, a former political adviser to Republican president George W. Bush, noted on CNNs State of the Union that body language is really important, especially with a split screen during the debates. Former Democratic Vice President Al Gore was seriously hurt during his October 2000 debate with Bush by his deep sighing and pained expressions while Bush was speaking. Related: In Trump/Clinton face-off on Monday, winning over women will be key Story continues People are going to be watching temperament and body language as much as they do the actual language itself, McKinnon told host Jake Tapper. David Axelrod, the former senior political adviser to President Obama who helped Obama defeat Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primaries, cautioned that while both sides no doubt are preparing sharp zingers and retorts for the debate, they would be better off finding ways for their candidate to make lasting, positive impressions on the TV audience. These debates, Jake, come down to moments, Axelrod explained. You dont get graded for 90 minutes, it comes down to revealing moments. And, yes, both camps are probably planning these exchanges and hoping to land lines that accentuate their message. In a fit of hyperbole, George Stephanopoulos, host of ABCs This Week, said the upcoming debate has been compared to the Super Bowl, the first Ali-Frazier fight, even mans landing on the moon. Related: Millions Could Lose Their Health Insurance Under Trumps Plan to Repeal and Replace Obamacare With a newly released Washington Post-ABC New poll showing Clintons post-conventions advantage virtually erased, the candidates top campaign aides sought to manage expectations heading into Monday nights debate. While acknowledging that Clinton is the far more experienced debater and should do well against Trump, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook fretted that the New York real estate mogul will be held to a lower standard and be allowed to get away with lying about his own and Clintons record. Media fact checkers have consistently rated Trump much higher than Clinton for misstating the truth. What needs to happen at this debate is the candidates need to present their capacity to serve as president and commander-in-chief, and we think Hillary Clinton is going to do that, Mook told Stephanopoulos. What were concerned about is that there might be some sort of double standard here. You know, Donald Trump cant lie on that debate stage and win, or even get a passing grade. Donald Trump cannot demonstrate that he doesnt have command of the issues and get a passing grade. Clintons camp is urging the debate moderator, NBCs Lester Holt, to call out Trump if he lies about Clinton or the issues, although there is a festering controversy within the media and among members of the national debate commission over whether the moderator should be the arbiter of truth or simply the referee in the debate. All that were asking is that if Donald Trump lies, that it is pointed out, Mook said. It is unfair to ask for Hillary both to play traffic cop with Trump -- make sure that his lies are corrected and also to present her vision for what she wants to do for the American people. Related: Five Debate Moments That Changed Elections Kellyanne Conway, Trumps campaign manager, fired back on the same show that it was Clinton who was having more trouble telling the truth, in light of the scandal over her mishandling of highly sensitive emails and government documents when she was secretary of state. A victory for Donald Trump tomorrow night is answering the questions and showing America hes ready to be president and commander-in-chief on day one, she said. As for Mooks concern about Clinton being subjected to a double standard, Conway replied that I think theyre really afraid that Hillary Clinton is not a very good candidate, and that a majority of Americans dont much like her . . . and dont trust her. So [Clintons camp] are worried about many things, she added. Hillary Clinton should be in a much better position. Shes not known for her abundance of self-awareness, for being nimble or resilient. They never saw Barack Obama coming in 2008. They never took Bernie Sanders seriously earlier this year, and he won 22 states and millions of voters. And they certainly never anticipated the Trump comeback that weve seen over the last few months. The new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that among likely voters, Clinton barely leads Trump, 46 percent to 44 percent, with Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson at 5 percent and Green Party nominee Jill Stein at 1 percent. Clintons much diminished lead since the Republican and Democratic national convention in late July falls within the surveys 4.5 percent margin of error. Related: How Trump Can Win the First Debate The 90-minute faceoff Monday night will draw one of the largest debate audiences in history, with upward of 100 million people watching it. Eight in 10 voters say they intend to watch the debate, according to the new poll. Some 44 percent of voters say they expect Clinton, with her decades of political experience, to win the debate, while 34 percent believe that Trump, a political outsider and novice, will prevail over Clinton. Both candidates continue to suffer from high negatives and distrust, with only a third of voters viewing Clinton or Trump in a favorable light, according to the poll. On the issues, voters trust Trump slightly more than Clinton in dealing with the economy and terrorism the top two major concerns -- while they trust Clinton more on immigration issues, health care, looking out for the middle class and responding to an international crisis. On that last point, voters say they trust Clinton more than Trump to effectively respond to an international crisis 54 percent to 33 percent. Related: U.S. presidential debates: from Kennedy-Nixon to Clinton-Trump Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Clintons vice presidential running mate, predicted during an appearance on the CBS Face the Nation that the race would remain close through election day Nov. 8. I encouraged Hillary to run for president in April of 2014, he said. And I told her, Dont believe any poll. Youre the underdog trying to do something thats never been done. Youre the underdog until they call you the winner. So I think this things going to be close right up to the end. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: SANAA (Reuters) - Arab coalition air strikes killed nine people in Houthi-controlled Ibb city in central Yemen late on Saturday, a hospital manager and residents in the area told Reuters. Abdul Malik Al-Sanani, the manager of the city's al-Thawra Hospital, told Reuters: "Nine civilians were killed, and another nine were wounded, treated and discharged from the hospital." Residents said the nine dead in the attack on several areas of the city and its outskirts included three children and their parents. A spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance of Arab countries could not immediately be reached for comment. The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians. U.N.-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 forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Yemen and Saudi Arabia - which intervened to prevent the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president from taking over - blame Shi'ite Iran for supplying weapons to the Houthis. Tehran views the Houthis, who hail from a Shi'ite sect, as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies accusations it supplies them with weapons. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari, writing by Hadeel Al Sayegh,; Editing by William Maclean and Alison Williams) Members of the 51st Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) listen to a lecture on the peace process between the Colombian government and their force at a camp in Cordillera Oriental, Colombia, August 16, 2016. Picture taken August 16, 2016. REUTERS/John Vizcaino After four years of negotiations, progress toward concluding Colombia's decades-long civil conflict has advanced quickly in recent months. Since signing a bilateral and final cease-fire over the summer, the left-wing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have promised to stop collecting "war taxes" and declared a permanent cease-fire. The group retired this month to their final conference in the country's southern jungles, giving the peace deal "unanimous backing" and planning to form a political party by no later than May 2017. FARC leadership and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos are to ratify the deal on September 26, and the deal will go before the public in a plebiscite vote on October 2. There are numerous hurdles that Colombia's peace plan will have to overcome for its implementation to succeed. In particular, the FARC and the Colombian government will have to overcome an ugly and violent legacy of failed political integration. An unholy alliance In 1984, Colombia reached a deal with FARC rebels that allowed the group and other leftist rebels to reenter Colombia's legitimate political sphere. The Patriotic Union (UP), a political party, emerged from this agreement, forming in November 1985. The UP performed well in Colombia's 1986 elections, but the backlash a violent campaign to eliminate the newly formed leftist party and its sympathizers soon started. Colombia politics patriotic union paramilitary violence In 1987, the UP's leader and presidential candidate from the previous year, Jaime Pardo, was gunned down by a 14-year-old with ties to a Medellin cartel member. Story continues Between 1986 and 1990, some 4,000 to 6,000 members of the UP were slain. In the party's first four years of existence, a member or supporter was killed once every 39 hours. Ahead of the 1990 presidential election, 70% of the center-left candidates were assassinated, including UP candidate Bernardo Jaramillo, according to Greg Grandin, a historian and professor at New York University. "I believe, and I say it with all sincerity and at times coldly, that I know they are going to assassinate me," Jaramillo said before he was killed. The effort to extinguish the UP was carried out by a brutal chimera of state security forces, armed right-wing groups, and drug traffickers most prominently members of Pablo Escobar's Medellin cartel. Leftist rebel groups had stolen from the cartels and kidnapped members of drug traffickers' families in the early 1980s, prompting the capos to form their own paramilitary groups. The newly enriched drug traffickers were also motivated by what they saw as a threat posed by the UP and the ascendent political left to their growing economic interests, particularly their control of land that had often been taken by force from civilians. There is a direct relationship between the emergence, activity and the electoral support of the Patriotic Union and the killing of its activists in regions where the presence of that party was interpreted as a threat to the maintenance of the privileges of certain groups, a 1992 report by the Colombian ombudsperson noted. FARC rebels Colombia peace plan demobilization These interests aligned drug traffickers with Colombia's elite social classes, who for economic and political reasons also wanted to combat the left-wing guerrillas, a desire that overlapped with the strong anti-communist bent of the Colombia's leaders and the US government at the time. For the US's part, officials, including the then-US ambassador to Colombia, charged that leftist guerrillas had been cooperating with traffickers, making them "narco-guerrillas," though the extent of their cooperation at the time has been questioned. The US government took a staunchly antidrug stance, even if it had proven willing to overlook trafficking for political reasons, particularly if those doing the trafficking were aligned against communism. The Reagan administration, according to Grandin, "provided no support for the peace process and no shelter for leftists who were trying to lay down arms and commit to electoral politics." Members of the nascent UP Party were thus targeted by members of paramilitary groups and other rivals in a violent campaign in which the Colombian government was often complicit. Colombia Alvaro Uribe president The bloodshed proved their success, and as a consequence, the FARC (which continued to grow during the UP's rise) returned to the scene as a rebel group in the 1990s, eventually assuming a larger role in the drug trade as the cartels broke up in the later part of that decade. The FARC's power was greatly diminished by a US-backed, Colombian-led offensive in the 2000s (led by then-President Alvaro Uribe, who opposes the current peace deal). And the UP, which lost official recognition as a party in 2002, had its legal status returned in 2013, though now it sees itself as a leftist party, rather than socialist or communist one. Yes vs. No In the current environment, there are still some unpleasant reminders for FARC rebels and those linked to them of the dark days in the late 1980s. The paramilitary groups that hunted UP members kept at it through the 1990s, eventually becoming full-fledged criminal groups. Those paramilitaries disarmed in the mid-2000s and thousands of former paramilitaries were killed after that demobilization as well but during and after that they forged ties to Colombian politicians, expanding their roles in organized crime. In recent years, hundreds of public officials have been arrested for ties to criminal bands descended from paramilitaries. Santos, the current president, has made assurances that right-wing groups and their criminal descendants will not have the same power they did after the FARC's earlier attempt to enter political life. Colombia paramilitary groups FARC rebels political violence "The lion's share of our armed forces, soldiers and police, have been concentrated in the war against FARC ... we've decided not to reduce our army or our police on the contrary we're strengthening it more, and all of these people will be concentrated in fighting these criminal bands, and they know that," Santos said at a Reuters event in New York City this week. "Only this year, we have captured or killed more than three-and-a-half-thousand members of these criminal bands; we have seized more cocaine than ever before, so we're just starting to do that, so they know that the future is not very bright," he added. But the Colombian government has a poor track record when it comes to protecting demobilized combatants. And while the military is better trained, the rule of law has improved, ex-paramilitary leaders themselves have given their support to the peace process, and international support will be available for the demobilization, signs of potential blowback against demobilized FARC members remain. FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono, better known by hs nom de guerre Timochenko, and leaders sing the anthem during the opening of ceremony congress at the camp where they prepare for ratifying a peace deal with the government, near El Diamante in Yari Plains, Colombia, September 17, 2016. REUTERS /John Vizcaino The fervent "No" campaign against the peace deal, led by former President Uribe who has been linked to paramilitary groups appears to have led to violence against peace-deal supporters. In the three weeks after the Colombian government and FARC rebels announced their cease-fire, 13 activists promoting peace were killed, according to Colombia Reports. Dozens of others have gotten death threats and at least one man has fled his city for the safety of the capital. "What is concerning is that in the majority of cases they were killed presumably for reasons related to the promotion of 'Yes,'" the Electoral Observation Mission, a civil-society group, said in a report about irregularities related to the vote. Many of those killings took place near places where FARC rebels are to gather to demobilize. And while those areas are to have buffer zones as well as have a security presence, such killings raise the specter of more attacks on rebels who are once again out in the open. NOW WATCH: Police in Colombia seized half a tonne of cocaine hidden in frozen strawberries More From Business Insider Liverpool (AFP) - Newly re-elected British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for unity Sunday in his deeply divided party, but risked antagonising his own lawmakers by promising more power to his grassroots supporters. The veteran left-winger was confirmed in his position on Saturday with 61.8 percent of the vote among party members and supporters, seeing off a challenger backed by most of his more centrist lawmakers, who believe he can never lead them into government. The main opposition party remains bitterly split between left-wingers and moderates, at a time of major change in Britain as Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government negotiates the country's withdrawal from the European Union. In his acceptance speech at the party conference in Liverpool, northwest England, Corbyn pledged to "wipe the slate clean" after accusations of bullying and fears of an irreparable breach in the century-old movement. The 67-year-old said Sunday he was "reaching out" to his critics -- but his proposal to give more decision-making power to party members risks being seen as an attempt to sideline MPs. "What I want is more power for members, more power for supporters, in order to ensure we get policies that do have support throughout the whole party," he told BBC television. "There's a lot of thirst for change out there, people want to see things done differently." Labour's membership has soared to around 600,000 since Corbyn became leader last September. His victory over challenger Owen Smith was driven by the new members, exit poll data shows. But their fervour is not reflected in the wider electorate. An ICM poll for The Sun newspaper put the Conservatives on 41 percent, Labour on 26 percent and the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party on 14 percent. A ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror found that 16 percent of voters thought Labour was likely to win the next general election under Corbyn's leadership, against 65 percent for May's Conservatives. Story continues Many moderate MPs publicly accepted Corbyn's re-election and backed his call for unity, but the anonymous briefings against him continued in Sunday's newspapers. In a sign of the entrenched divisions, Labour peer Lord Parry Mitchell resigned from the party saying it was a "lost cause" under its current leadership. He blamed Corbyn for being "lukewarm" about tackling anti-Semitism in the party and condemned his left-wing supporters. "Jeremy has no leadership qualities whatsoever -- his little group like him and they think he's the Messiah, but he will never become the leader and prime minister of this country," he told the BBC. - 'End of the party' - Corbyn said Mitchell's comments were "unfortunate" but that "actually the party is very united" on policy, citing its opposition to Conservative plans to bring back academic selection in schools. He urged MPs to "move on and discuss policies". But Corbyn did not rule out the possibility that some of his critics may lose their seats in a forthcoming redrawing of Britain's constituency boundaries, amid speculation that his supporters are planning to use the rejig to oust hostile MPs next time candidates are selected. Sadiq Khan, who as London mayor is Labour's most senior elected official, warned against any purge of moderates -- or indeed the establishment of an anti-Corbyn group within the party. "If the Labour Party splits, it could be the end of the party," he told The Sunday Times. More than 40 MPs resigned from Corbyn's shadow cabinet in a rebellion in June sparked by the Brexit vote, which critics said the leader should have campaigned harder to prevent. Reports suggest a dozen may now return to the front bench, although many prominent figures are likely to stay away. MP Lucy Powell, who had served as Corbyn's education spokeswoman, told The Observer newspaper that the party was "more divided than I have ever known". For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS. Corey Feldman is reaching out to Paris Jackson to address bullies and his memories with her father. Feldman made headlines when he gave a curious performance of his song Go 4 It on the Today show. Hes received a lot of support since the negative social media backlash, and even a surge on the Billboard charts. But now, the musician and actor, 45, took to Twitter to share a positive message with Michael Jacksons daughter Paris. @ParisJackson U dont deserve ANY of it! I hope 1 day we can talk, as Id LOVE 2 tell U + things about your father when he was a young man, Feldman said in response to a tweet he received from the 18-year-old model on Saturday. Jackson tweeted out to Feldman with the message, @Corey_Feldman anything you do that makes u happy, people are going to hate on it.. but if youre happy then it doesnt matter. hope ur well. Jackson has dealt with harsh criticism on social media, particularly when she was harassed for not posting a Fathers Day message honoring her late father in June. Earlier this month, Jackson shared a since-deleted Instagram video pleading fans to be more kind, according to TMZ. Jackson joins several others including his Stand By Me costar Jerry O'Connell and Kesha who has stood by Feldman, who tearfully expressed his agony over the negative comments about his performance. Feldman continued to talk about his experience on The Talk last Tuesday. I wanted people to see the real emotion I was feeling, he said. I wanted people to see, I am not fake, I am a real person and this affects me - I am made of flesh and blood and emotion. Dallas, TX / ACCCESSWIRE / September 25, 2016 / Every summer, we hear about tragedies involving the deaths of young children who are left in hot cars, says John Helms a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas. Texas is one of 19 states with laws specifically aimed at leaving children unattended in cars. Texas law applies regardless of whether the child is harmed and regardless of whether the car or the weather is hot. Section 22.10 of the Texas Penal Code makes it a class C misdemeanor if a person intentionally or knowingly leaves a child younger than seven in a car for more than five minutes unattended by someone at least fourteen years old. Again, it makes no difference whether the child was harmed in any way or whether the car or the weather was hot. As hard as it may seem to believe, there are some situations in which parents or caregivers accidentally forget that their young child is in the car. If the parent or caregiver truly does not mean to leave the child and does so purely by accident, this is a defense to this statute, but not necessarily to others, as explained below. If a child is "abandoned" (no specified time limit) in a car intentionally, and this exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of harm, the person abandoning the child can be charged with the felony offense of abandonment of a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.041(b). Whether the risk of harm is "unreasonable" will depend on all of the circumstances, but a prosecutor could certainly argue that there is an unreasonable risk of harm based on high temperatures and the amount of time the child is left adds criminal lawyer Helms. In situations involving an even higher degree of risk, a person can be charged if he or she intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence places a child in imminent danger of death or bodily injury. This describes the felony offense of endangering a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.041(c). In cases involving leaving a child in a car, whether there is an imminent danger of death or bodily injury again depends on all of the circumstances, including the temperature, the childs condition, and how long the child was left unattended. Story continues The crimes described above apply even if the child was not actually injured. If a child is left in a car and suffers bodily injury or serious bodily injury as a result of actions that are intentional, knowing, reckless, or criminally negligent, the person leaving the child can be charged with the felony offense of injury to a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.04. The seriousness of the felony depends on the seriousness of the injury and how badly the person acted in leaving the child. Prosecutors have a lot of discretion in deciding what crimes to charge when children are left in cars. The laws are complicated and full of terms that are vague as in "imminent danger" and "serious bodily injury." Sometimes, prosecutors may be overly aggressive in bringing charges, and anyone accused of leaving a child in a car should consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. In this type of case, a top criminal lawyer will investigate quickly to uncover all of the facts and circumstances that may be important for defending the case. 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 John Helms a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas 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. Media Contact Dallas Criminal Lawyer John Helms 214-666-8010 https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-helms-69172699 source: http://johnhelms.attorney/criminal-defense-lawyer-dallas-explains-laws-leaving-kids-hot-cars/ Dallas, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 25, 2016 / 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. Story continues 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. Contact John Helms (214) 666-8010 https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-helms-69172699 Photo courtesy of drewgstephens Source: John Helms Hostra University students playing the roles of the candidates and moderator go through a rehearsal for the first presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., on Sunday. (Rick Wilking/Reuters) On the eve of the first presidential debate of the 2016 election, Donald Trumps campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said on Sunday that she doesnt believe moderators should fact-check the candidates. And the head of the commission that puts on the debates agrees. I dont think its a good idea to get the moderator into essentially serving as the Encyclopedia Britannica, Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, said in an interview with CNNs Reliable Sources from Hofstra University, where Mondays debate, moderated by NBCs Lester Holt, will be held. I think its better for that person to facilitate and to depend on the candidates to basically correct each other as they see fit. Hillary Clintons campaign thinks thats unfair, given the Republican nominees frequent aversion to veracity. All that were asking is that if Donald Trump lies, that its pointed out, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said on ABCs This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. Its unfair to ask that Hillary Clinton both play traffic cop with Trump make sure that his lies are corrected and also to present her vision for what she wants to do for the American people. Conway said Team Clinton is running scared. Slideshow: Preparations for the presidential debate at Hofstra University >>> I really dont appreciate campaigns thinking it is the job of the media to go and be these virtual fact-checkers and that these debate moderators should somehow do their bidding, Conway told Stephanopoulos. I can understand why the Clinton camp is very nervous, because Donald Trump has got great present stature. Hes a brilliant debater. Hes like the Babe Ruth of debating, Conway added. He really shows up and swings and does a great job. Both Trump and Clinton agreed to the moderators and formats announced earlier this month by the bipartisan commission. Holt will moderate the first debate from the Hofstra campus in Hempstead, N.Y., on Monday. CNNs Anderson Cooper and ABCs Martha Raddatz will co-moderate the second debate, a town-hall style forum, in St. Louis on Oct. 9. Fox News Chris Wallace will moderate the third and final presidential debate in Las Vegas on Oct. 19. Story continues Wallace said that its not my job to be a truth squad. The commission asks independent, smart journalists to be the moderators, and we let them decide how theyre going to do this, Brown said. But I have to say, in our history, the moderators have found it appropriate to allow the candidates to be the ones that talk about the accuracy or the fairness of what the other candidate or candidates might have said. She added: I think, personally, if you are starting to get into the fact-check, Im not sure what is the big fact and what is a little fact? Related: Clinton campaign: Debate moderators should fact-check Trump The role of moderator as fact-checker became an issue at NBCs Commander in Chief Forum earlier this month when host Matt Lauer failed to challenge Trumps false assertion that he was totally against the war in Iraq, despite the fact that Trump told Howard Stern the opposite in 2002. Trump later said the harsh criticism of Lauers performance was proof that the upcoming debates would be rigged against him. Everyones saying that [Lauer] was soft on Trump, he said on CNBC. Well, now the new persons going to try to be really hard on Trump just to show, you know, the establishment what [they] can do. So I think its very unfair what theyre doing. What would be fair, then? I think we should have a debate with no moderators, Trump said. Just Hillary and I sitting there talking. Last week, Trump predicted that the moderators of the first two debates are prejudiced against him. By the way, Lester is a Democrat, Trump told Fox News Bill OReilly on Monday. Theyre all Democrats. Fact check: That is not true, at least in Holts case. As Time magazine noted, the NBC Nightly News host has been registered as a Republican since 2003. Categories Fashion Trends NYFW had Marc Jacobs rave-inspired runway show, and now Dolce & Gabbana is showing the fashion world how Italians like to party. And judging by the iconic labels Spring/Summer 17 show in Milan today, that means a beach bash of epic proportions. After a slew of stunning models including Hailey Baldwin cruised down the Tropico Italiano catwalk in especially youthful versions of the lush, vibrant florals and leopard prints weve come to expect from the label, the entire crew (clad in embellished mini skirts and D&G tees) shared the runway with some locals who turned the finale into an all-out tropical dance party. The Women's Fashion Show closes with elegant unity. Video by @fashiontomax. #DGSS17 #DGTropicoItaliano #DGFamily A video posted by Dolce & Gabbana (@dolcegabbana) on Sep 25, 2016 at 6:31am PDT The fact that she shows front row was studded with millennial social media sensations and celebrity offspring (including Sofia Richie, Dallas Cameron, and Sistine Stallone) was apropos considering the party vibe. And after attendees sipped from fresh coconuts and ogled the vibrant clothing and accessories (particularly notable were the fruity headpieces and ornamented, light-up sandals and flatforms), the celebratory vibe continued post-runway when Dolce & Gabbana shut down the citys seminal shopping street Via Monte Napoleone for an extravagant sit-down dinner. This is some seriously next-level eat, drink, and be merry business, but then again weve always been told that Italians do it better. An exquisite dinner table set up combining of fresh fruits and flowers highlighted with glowing candlelight from @dolcegabbana 's dinner thought Photo by @valibarbulescu X FASHIONTOMAX.COM #dolceandgabbana #SS17 #mfw A photo posted by FASHION TO MAX official (@fashiontomax) on Sep 25, 2016 at 12:21pm PDT The delectable @dolcegabbana Head piece featuring a handcrafted pomegranate fruit with ruby red seeds, sweet little cherries and amalfi oranges. Fashiontomax #dolceandgabbana #SS17 #mfw A photo posted by FASHION TO MAX official (@fashiontomax) on Sep 25, 2016 at 7:02am PDT By Giulia Segreti MILAN (Reuters) - Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana transported guests to a warm and busy Italian street setting for their spring/summer 17 catwalk show on Sunday, in one of the most flamboyant displays of Milan fashion week. A big red "Tropico Italiano" sign hanging from the ceiling, banana trees, coconuts and white sand contrasted the ambience of an Italian village festival as soon as lights went off and young street dancers hit the catwalk, moving to the beat of tarantella folk music. The loud and bright collection by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, known for their rich and embellished looks, carried all the typical elements of their style throughout the years, in a jubilation of gold, laces, embroidery, sequins, flowers, Madonnas, food, animal prints and lights. Skirts and dresses seemed more like canvases, with pasta, fish, tomatoes, bread as well as roses and sunflowers and drums, Italian flags, portraits of the Madonna and crucifixes. The brand has frequently resorted to Italian imagery for its clothes, accessories and communication, with the latest advertisement campaigns depicting Mediterranean looking models, including Italian actress Sophia Loren, in old Sicilian and Neapolitan alleys. One of the models wore a dress made out of a jute bag with a print resembling an old-style poster saying "True Italian peeled plum tomatoes, sweet and genuine, with basil". She was followed by one in a transparent embroidered black skirt and blouse, and whose face was covered by a small black veil, and another in a dress with a pattern of bunched spaghetti wrapped in red ribbons. The creations included a leopard print metallic suit, a torero-like bolero with a Madonna decoration paired with black short pants and t-shirts decorated with embroidered crucifixes. Models wore gold earrings, headbands made of pasta, roses and crowns, some made of lights, and on their feet high heeled sandals. The bright creations were alternated with elegant, black laced dresses and skirt ensembles, paired with red rose hair decorations. For the finale, models changed to short embroidered skirts and white t-shirts featuring a black D&G logo, and were joined by the street dancers in a vivacious closing dance. Milan fashion week ends on Monday. Also showcasing their collections on Sunday are Salvatore Ferragamo and Missoni. (Editing by Clelia Oziel) (NEW YORK) Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are meeting separately with Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in sessions that could set the tone for relations between the allied countries during the next presidential administration. Trump met Sunday with Netanyahu for over an hour at his residence in Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to Israeli and campaign officials. Clinton also was expected to meet with the prime minister in New York on the eve of the first debate between the candidates. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The press was barred from covering the meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, but Trumps campaign said in a statement that the men, who have known each other for years, discussed many topics important to both countries, including the special relationship between America and Israel and the unbreakable bond between the two countries. Among those topics: the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against Islamic State militants, military assistance provided by the U.S. to Israel and other security issues. Trump recognized that Israel and its citizens have suffered far too long on the front lines of Islamic terrorism, the campaign said in a statement. He agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Israeli people want a just and lasting peace with their neighbors, but that peace will only come when the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State. Readout of my meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:https://t.co/VHuyE65hgi pic.twitter.com/6KDPrQxSED Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25, 2016 Trump also repeated his pledge to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if hes elected to the White House. Story continues Mr. Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing Congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel, the campaign said. That promise has been made in various forms since at least 1992. Congress three years later passed a law calling for the U.S. embassy to be moved to Jerusalem by 1999, but presidents of both parties always have waived the requirement. George W. Bush promised in 2000 to start the move as soon as I take office, then didnt. The pair also discussed at length Israels use of a security fence to help secure its borders. Trump has proposed building a wall along the length of the southern border to keep out people and illegal drugs and often points to Israel as an example of how such barricades can be successful. Trump also vowed extraordinary strategic, technological, military and intelligence cooperation between the two countries if hes elected. Netanyahus office said in a statement in Hebrew that Israels Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner also participated in the meeting. Prime Minister Netanyahu presented to Mr. Trump Israels positions on regional affairs related to Israels security and efforts to reach peace and stability in our region, said the statement. Prime Minister Netanyahuthanked Mr. Trump for his friendship and support of Israel. The one-on-one discussions follow what was likely Netanyahus final meeting with Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky relationship between the leaders of the two allies. The Obama administration has opposed Israels push to expand settlements in the West Bank while Netanyahuhas been a leading critic of the U.S. nuclear agreement with Iran. More recently, Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israels security. The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israels Channel 2 earlier this month that the Islamic State group was rooting for Donald Trumps victory and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one. But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israels commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didnt want to show any bias in favor of one side or the other. Trump recorded a video endorsing Netanyahu in 2013. The meetings will also come after the U.S. recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. Clinton said in a statement that it would help solidify and chart a course for the U.S.-Israeli defense relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges. __ Associated Press writer Ian Deitch in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Gennifer Flowers, the woman who allegedly had an affair with Bill Clinton while he was governor of Arkansas and has called Hillary Clinton an enabler of her husbands sexual misdeeds, will reportedly be at Mondays debate as Donald Trumps guest. Trump threatened to bring Flowers to the debate in response to the Clinton campaigns decision to invite Mark Cuban, a billionaire reality TV star who has been critical of Trumps refusal to release his tax returns. Cuban is reportedly slated to sit in the front row. 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! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2016 Flowers tweeted back at Trump that she was a supporter and would definitely be at the debate. Trumps team on Sunday walked back the GOP nominees comments, saying he had suggested inviting Flowers as a joke. Trumps running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said on Fox News that Trump was mocking effort by Hillary Clinton and her campaign to distract voters by inviting Flowers. Trump campaign manager Kellyanna Conway said Flowers will not attend the debate. We have not invited her formally, and we do not expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign, Conway told CNN. The invitation signals Trumps willingness to dredge up 1990s-era scandals around Bill Clintons sex life in order to undermine Hillary Clintons reputation as a supporter of womens issues. Like the Cuban invite, its also an attempt to throw a rival off her game at a high-stakes moment for both campaigns. Trumps campaign also included a brief image of the Clintons in a 1992 60 Minutes interview about Flowers in a recent ad. Former Trump advisor Roger Stone told Newsmax Saturday that if Clinton went on offense at the debate Trump would be prepared to retaliate by bringing up her husbands sex scandals. Story continues For now, the Clinton campaign is saying she will focus on policy. Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that matter in peoples lives, said Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri in a statement. Its not surprising the Donald Trump has chosen a different path. Dubai (AFP) - Dubai prosecutors have dropped charges against a British-Australian man who used social media to highlight the work of an Afghan refugee charity, a local newspaper said on Sunday. Scott Richards, 41, was arrested on July 28 for allegedly breaching a new law on promoting foreign charities, but he was released on bail last month. "Dubai Public Prosecution confirmed that no criminal case will proceed," 7Days daily reported on its website. Richards grew up in Adelaide in Australia and then lived in London, before moving to Dubai about eight years ago, according to UK-based campaign group Detained in Dubai. He is married and has two sons aged 14 and three. Richards came across the charity during a visit to Afghanistan, where he worked as an economic development policy adviser for the government, according to his brother Brett Richards. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans extra-legal roundup of scores of presumed supporters of the failed July 15 coup against his government is quickly taking its place in modern history alongside Stalins purges and Chinas Cultural Revolution. This and Turkeys demands that the U.S. turn over the cleric-in-exile Fethullah Gulen for trial on charges that include terrorism further strains U.S.-Turkey relations. U.S. officials publicly stated that the spiral of repression weakens Erdogans long-term security. Related: Turkish Opposition Says Tens of Thousands Suffer Injustice in Purge The arrest and detention of judges, mayors, teachers, military personnel, civil servants, journalists and political opponents deepens not only Turkeys societal fault lines, but also global fault lines, separating Turkey from the West and bedeviling Western security policy for years to come. Turkey is one of just two Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East with a semblance of pro-Western democracy, making it pivotal to resolving the general crisis in the Middle East. It may be in Americas interest to shape the fate of the Turkish regime and to retain a military base within the republic, preserve access to Turkish airspace and guard entry to the Mediterranean from Russia but the U.S. is not the decisive stakeholder. That role belongs to Europe. Indeed, American efforts to exert influence in Turkey could prove futile at best. Erdogan rose to power, first as mayor of Istanbul and later as leader of the AKP, in 2002 and 2007, respectively. He was an economic reformer at a time when Turkey was recognized as a candidate for accession to the EU. Championing greater access to health care, public housing, infrastructure and transportation, he used the states power to build a loyal base among the formerly disenfranchised voters from the Turkish hinterland while gaining their support for greater integration in the global economy. Related: Turkeys Erdogan Cleans House to Form a More Perfect Islamic State Story continues Turkey was recognized as a candidate for accession to EU membership in 1999, but negotiations began to stall in October 2005. European reservations were twofold: First, the sovereign debt crisis emerging within Europe made the costs of integrating a poorer and larger neighbor more onerous, stifling resolve in the U.K., France and Germany. Second, the European Commission expressed concerns about Turkeys failure to meet European standards of economic governance in such areas as public procurement and budgetary transparency. By 2011, the Commissions progress report cited breaches in Turkeys compliance with judicial transparency and corruption controls, and requested additional reforms in Turkeys political institutions. Turkish sources blamed the negotiations stalemate on European efforts to transform the EU into a union of identity. Negative popular sentiment in both Europe and Turkey influenced the political calculations of leaders in each, triggering a negative cycle in which disaffection with Europeanization within Turkey reinforced European recalcitrance. Related: As US Clout in the Mideast Declines, Russia and Iran Muscle In Meanwhile, Europes declining economic prospects made EU membership less appealing and far less urgent for Turkey. The tragic result is that the lure of EU membership ceased to be a catalyst for further reforms. By late 2013 a massive corruption scandal encircled the Erdogan government. As the investigations led closer to the head of state and implicated members of his own family, Erdogan focused his counter-attack on his former partner in forming the conservative movement, the Gulen Movement and its founder, Muhammed Fetullah Gulen. As head of the largest and most influential religious organization in Turkey, Gulens backing was essential to Erdogans rise to power. But Erdogan turned on him, blaming him for instigating the investigation, and vowing revenge on his followers. Related: Erdogan Says US Should 'Not Harbor a Terrorist' Like Cleric Gulen Now that his government and the Justice and Development party (AKP) are without the religious legitimacy that they derived from association with the popular preacher, Erdogan has sought instead to portray the AKP as protector of the faith. The governments latest strategy is to strengthen its cultural legitimacy by stressing its differences with the West. It is essential for politicians in the West not to be distracted by this ploy to divert attention from the corruption eating away at the legitimacy of his government. Erdogan acknowledges the state to be secular while the person is devout. He recognizes the folly of trying to create a new caliphate on the shores of the Bosporus. If Erdogan shows one consistency of character, its that he is more concerned with maintaining public support than adhering to any ideology. In Erdogans Turkey, access to essential market opportunities and to the largesse of government contracts has been through channels operating at the discretion of political leadership. This has led Turkeys political elites to rely on central control to produce social change and economic participation, but it also opens paths for private enrichment of government officials. Related: Tensions Rise in Germany's Turkish Diaspora, Mirroring Splits in Turkey Western commentators lament that Erdogans ongoing purge is eroding judicial and legislative autonomy, and pulling Turkey further from Europe. But the reality is that a self-regulating rule of law, an independent judiciary and a legislature that ensures accountability have never flourished in Turkey. Enduring corruption at high levels has paved the way to the political impasse in which Turkey now finds itself. Corruption is both the source of the political crisis within Turkey and of Turkeys estrangement from its neighbors to the West. A dysfunctional Turkey that tears itself apart is not in the final best interest of Erdogan, Turkey or the West. Only accession to the EU can change the narrative of how Turkey sees its future in the world. Erdogan hurts Turkey when he suggests that it doesnt need Europe or when he uses the flow of refugees as a bargaining chip. Yet the fundamental impediment to real democracy in Turkey is the legacy of the strong state and it continues to be the underlying source of Turkeys differences with the West. Hilton Root teaches public policy at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government, is an affiliated senior scholar at the Mercatus Center, and authored Dynamics Among Nations: The Evolution of Legitimacy and Development in Modern States (MIT Press). Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By Ayla Jean Yackley ISTANBUL (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan believes U.S. federal attorneys had ulterior motives in including references to him and his wife in court papers related to their prosecution of a gold trader, Turkish media on Sunday quoted him as saying. Reza Zarrab, a dual Turkish-Iranian national, was arrested in Miami in March. He was charged with helping Iran process millions of dollars in transactions that violated U.S. sanctions against Tehran in effect at the time. The 33-year-old businessman, who lived in Turkey, remains in custody in New York. He has pleaded not guilty. In court papers, U.S. Attorney for Manhattan Preet Bharara's office included references to a 2013 corruption investigation in Turkey that targeted Zarrab, cabinet ministers and members of Erdogan's family which was subsequently been dropped. Private broadcaster NTV quoted Erdogan as telling a group of reporters he had raised Zarrab's detention in talks with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in New York last week. Erdogan said U.S. prosecutors were trying to implicate him by including in the indictment Zarrab's donations to an educational charity called Togem, according to NTV and other Turkish media. "They are not pursuing the law, but are after a network of relationships. It's interesting that the indictment refers to my wife setting up Togem and my ties with that association. My wife and I are not among the founders of that association. "The effort to mention our names in court proves there are ulterior motives," he said. Erdogan also accused U.S. officials involved in the case of traveling to Turkey as guests of a religious movement led by Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey classifies the movement, dubbed FETO, a terrorist organization that it blames for a failed military coup in July. "The U.S. Department of Justice is being represented by people who were wined and dined by FETO. I told Biden this and he said he was unaware," Erdogan said. A spokesman for Bharara declined to comment. Benjamin Brafman, a lawyer for Zarrab, declined comment. Zarrab's lawyers last month filed a motion asking the federal judge, Richard Berman, to recuse himself due to comments he made about Zarrab's prosecution in Turkey at a 2014 conference. Turkey wants the United States to arrest Gulen, who resides in Pennsylvania, and return him to Turkey. Gulen, once a close ally of Erdogan, denies involvement in the coup attempt. Erdogan said he told Biden that Turkey's justice and economy ministries have investigated Zarrab and determined he was innocent, as had Iranian authorities. He added that he would not remain "indifferent" to the detention of a Turkish national in the United States. The arrest of Zarrab, a frequently photographed figure among Turkey's jetset, sent shockwaves through Turkey and cheered Erdogan's opponents who viewed the U.S. case as a blow to the Turkish leader, in power since 2003 as prime minister and, since 2014, as president. Separately, newspapers on Sunday reported that Zarrab's wife, Turkish pop star Ebru Gundes, filed for divorce last week. (Addtional reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Clelia Oziel) Brussels (AFP) - The EU may have to delay the launch of a mission to train Libyan coastguard officers to stop migrant smugglers because of concerns over vetting, diplomats told AFP Sunday. The commanders of the European Union naval mission known as Operation Sophia had hoped to start training by the end of September or middle of October, but two European diplomats said the unity government had still to provide a list of 100 initial candidates to be vetted. "We are still waiting for the list," one diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that Fayez al-Sarraj's government faced a "complex task" as it did not yet have complete control over the strife-torn nation. Once the EU receives the list, it will take about 20 days to study the names of the proposed candidates and check them against available databases, one of the diplomats said. "These have to be loyal people, who are not involved in corruption, since they are going to be the multiplicators and will command operations on the Libyan side," one diplomat said. Consequently, it is hard to see how the training mission, which was approved by the 28 EU member states over the summer, could start before mid-October, the sources said. When asked about the likely delay, an EU official, asking not to be named, told AFP: "What I can tell you is that we are now arranging the last details with our Libyan counterparts and we will start soon." The EU launched Operation Sophia last year after hundreds of migrants died when their rickety boats sank off southern Italy, sparking popular outrage at their plight. This Central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives in recent months after the EU reached an accord with Turkey in March to halt an influx of more than a million refugees who crossed the Aegean Sea to reach Europe last year. Operation Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them, in international waters. Madrid (AFP) - Former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato stands trial Monday accused of overseeing a "corrupt system" that helped him and other executives misuse funds on hotels, parties and luxury shopping when he was a Spanish bank boss. Uncovered in 2013 by a journalist who saw a hacked email alluding to "black credit cards," the case threatens to land the former economy minister and onetime star of the ruling conservative Popular Party (PP) in jail and with a hefty fine. It is also another thorn in the PP's side after repeated failed attempts to form a government following two inconclusive elections, due to a lack of support that is in large part due to corruption scandals sullying the party. Rato will stand trial with 65 other former executives and board members at Caja Madrid and Bankia, whose near-collapse sparked an EU bailout of Spain's financial sector. They are accused of having paid for personal expenses with credit cards put at their disposal by both banks, without ever justifying them or declaring them to tax authorities. Altogether, they allegedly spent 12 million euros ($13.5 million) between 2003 and 2012 -- sometimes splashing out at the height of Spain's devastating economic crisis. According to the indictment, Rato maintained the "corrupt system" established by his predecessor Miguel Blesa when he took the reins of Caja Madrid in 2010. He replicated the system when he took charge of Bankia, a group born in 2011 out of the merger of Caja Madrid with six other savings banks. - Wider Bankia scandal - Now 67, Rato was economy minister and deputy prime minister in the PP government of Jose Maria Aznar from 1996 to 2004, and he then went on to head up the International Monetary Fund until 2007. His subsequent career as a banker in Spain was short-lived -- from 2010 to 2012 -- but apart from the case of the undeclared credit cards, it also led to another banking scandal considered the country's biggest ever. Story continues Thousands of small-scale investors lost their money after they were persuaded to convert their savings to shares ahead of the flotation of Bankia in 2011, with Rato at the reins. Less than a year later, he resigned as it became known that Bankia was in dire straits. The state injected billions of euros but faced with the scale of Bankia's losses and trouble in other banks, it asked the EU for a bailout for the entire banking sector and eventually received 41 billion euros. Rato and others were put under investigation, accused of misleading small investors in the listing of Bankia, which has since paid out 1.2 billion euros in compensation. - 2.6-million-euro fine? - As such, the trial on Monday is a separate, smaller part of a much wider scandal involving Bankia. But revelations that executives like Rato were spending millions of euros of the bank's money sparked an outcry in a country plunged into crisis since 2008 and forced into drastic austerity. With his undeclared credit card, Rato is accused of having spent 99,000 euros in two years on items such as luxury bags, five-star hotels and alcohol. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of four-and-a-half years and a 2.6-million-euro fine. Rato, however, has denied any wrongdoing and said the credit cards were for discretionary spending as part of the pay deal for executives. As head of Caja Madrid, Blesa -- who implemented the system -- is accused of spending 436,000 euros between 2003 and 2010, including more than 100,000 euros in restaurant bills. While many PP members are involved in the case, several union officials and people from left-wing parties are also among the 64 other accused. Rato, meanwhile, is the second former IMF chief to be dragged to court. His successor Dominique Strauss-Kahn was tried in 2015 on pimping charges in a lurid sex scandal, and was acquitted. And Christine Lagarde, who took over from Strauss-Kahn and is the current IMF chief, will be in the dock in December over a massive state payout to French tycoon Bernard Tapie when she was finance minister. By Robin Shobin for Charlottes Book Image via FaceGym From the ancient Egyptians (you guessed itanother Cleopatra trend) to the Chinese to the French, women have been working on their facial fitness for centuries. Its already a huge market in Asiain fact, Christiano Ronaldo endorses a facial fitness tool in Asian markets. But adoption of facial fitness into American skincare regimens has been slow, perhaps because of some healthy skepticism. That said, celebrity facialists from coast to coast swear by it (theres even a FaceGym inside Selfridges in London!). Is facial fitness really legit? Weve taken a closer look to see just how important it is to add more facercizes to your anti-aging repertoire. (Hot tip: even if you dont read this whole story, watch this video of Christiano doing facial exercises. It will make your day better. We promise.) Related: We Are Giving Away $2K Of Our Favorite Fall Cult Beauty THE PRESUMED BENEFITS Interval training. Toning. Sculpting. The words arent new, but now were talking about your face. Facial exercises predominantly target smile lines, the corners of your mouth, and neck line. Meanwhile, more traditional facial massage and lymphatic drainage techniques help to increase circulation, decrease puffiness, and therefore help reveal glowing, toned skin. Related: Selena Gomezs Trainer On How To Be A Bada$$ WHAT THE EXPERTS SAYFROM MDS, AESTHETICIANS + YOGIS Now, to be fair, there have not actually been any controlled studies we could find that prove or disprove anything related to facial fitness. But facial exercises and face massage have been touted by some of the best aestheticians and doctors in the business as a vital addition to skincare routines. Despite this, most women dont do them, even though theyre free and easy. Sure you might look crazybut if it works, isnt it worth it? Related: Mila Moursis Emmys Red Carpet Boot Camp Celebrity facialistshe treats Courtney Cox, Arianna Huffington, Christina Huffington (just to name a few!)and Charlottes Book expert Mila Moursi is a believer: Facial massage, both daily at home and during professional treatments, helps with skin rejuvenation to delay aging. Using the right technique to exercise the skin can be age preventative and firming while helping prevent muscle atrophy and sagging. Milas and her team practice facial massage at her namesake spa located in West Hollywood as well as their East Coast outpost in Barneys. Story continues But not everyone is convinced. In fact, some dermatologists and plastic surgeons believe these exercises can actually have reverse effects. Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel says, You dont get wrinkles from loss of elasticity in your muscles; you get wrinkles in your skin. A repetitive movement creates creases in the skin. Related: Charlotte Tilbury Breaks The Cardinal Rule Of Skincare Therein lies our one criticism of facial fitness, regardless of the validity of the muscle tightening and preventing muscles from atrophying: facial fitness can do nothing to stop the loss of collagen and elasticity in your skin. However, this doesnt mean facial exercise doesnt offer certain benefits. Your face has muscles, and similar to the theories behind microcurrent, facial fitness is exercising these muscles. We think its legit, and it makes sense. The problem? Most facial fitness experts, just like body fitness experts, say you need to practice regularlythree to five times a weekand usually 5-15 minutes per session, though opinions vary. Its a commitment, but if Mila Moursi believes in itso do we. Weve tried it, and were believers. If youre down for the commitment, heres the technique, straight from Mila herself. THE TECHNIQUES The face is home to at least 43 individual muscles that are responsible for a range of emotions. And just like any muscle, facial muscles tend to weaken over time. This can lead to wrinkles and drooping. Most exercises will target the area around your mouth and your jaw, but prescribed movements can range from lifting your eyebrows to tilting your head backwards. During treatments at Mila Moursi Skin Care Institute & Day Spa, the aestheticians use their signature dry contour massage technique, and then a sculpting massage with product. Weve tried it, its glorious, and we came out glowing. Milas team says these techniques create lymphatic drainage to combat inflammation/puffiness, and engage the muscles in the face for a facial workout to revive and lift skin. This microcirculation of the skin brings blood to the face, and creates a good base on which to perform other treatments. Cant visit Mila? Heres what she suggests at home: start with deep breathing for 5 minutes to oxygenate the body. Then exfoliate the skin so you have a clean palate (she suggests making a homemade scrub by mixing 3.5 grams rose powder or jojoba beads with .5 gram of oil, such as Rosewood, Almond, Apricot, or Avocado oil, add 8.5 grams of Rosewater or Orange Blossom Water, and a couple drops of essential oil of choice). Use immediately. If youre making a larger batch, add a couple drops of Vitamin E to extend the shelf life. Use a balm or oil to start the massage (we love Milas Nourishing Balm or our Mila Moursi Aromapure Oil). Start with little circles from the t-zone to the hairline on either side of the face to warm up the skin and allow the oil to penetrate the skin. Next go to the neck, and start from the middle and do overlapping strokes with your hands 5x to each side of the face, moving gently upward. Move up to the jawline, and again start at the middle, and use a sliding/ironing motion from mid-face to earlobe on each side 5x. Move up the t-zone/center of face and continue the sliding strokes on each side to the hairline. Next, we activate the muscles in the face. Use a small pinching technique along the jawlinethe pinching activates the muscles. You can also move up the face, along the next muscle line, pinching from mid-face to hairline. Do this daily for a few minutes. Mila also suggest using a dry brush to help in the lymphatic drainage. She says this speeds up the process of skin rejuvenation, leaving skin with a fresh glow. The manual exfoliation of the natural bristles drains away lymph congestion around the nose and eyes and combats puffiness. YOGI-STYLE FACIAL FITNESS In addition to some major fans in the aesthetic community, facial exercise is big with yogis too. And their suggested exercises are a bit more complicated than Milas: according to Danielle Collins, the self-appointed Face Yoga Expert, you need to do a combination of face massage, face exercises, face acupressure, and face relaxation. She suggests various facial acupressure points, like either side of your nostrils, which can help reduce undereye bags. Use your index finger(s) to hold each point for between 20- 50 seconds. Start with gentle pressure and then gradually build up. Then lightly massage this point in a clockwise direction for 20 seconds and then reverse the direction for 20 seconds. Other exercises like the famed Pufferfish are well known in the face yoga community and supposedly help with nasal labial folds and smile lines. Basically, you take a deep breath and puff the air out into your cheeks and hold your breath. DEVICESHAND-HELD FACIAL FITNESS TRAINERS If youre not a self-motivated type when it comes to fitness, personal trainers exist in the facial fitness world too. Manhattans Face Love Fitness is owned by aesthetician Rachel Lang, massage therapist Heidi Frederick, and personal trainer Kate Gyllenhaal. During a typical 15 minute workout, you wont look very poised: they use resistance bands and pilates rings on your face. Typical exercises require repeated movement, like lifting the eyebrows or pressing your tongue against the cheek. The basic workout is 15 minutes, but if you have the time the 30 minute workout is followed by jade rolling massage. Lang recommends weekly visits and daily at-home exercises. Workouts start at $45. And of course, theres always Christianos tool! READ MORE Fern Langhams specialty is thyroid yoga & loves kundalinithere are several crossover face-relaxing movements and breathing exercises. Curious about how microcurrent affects your muscles? Read this. FIND BEAUTY AND WELLNESS EXPERTS Learn more about aesthetician Mila Moursi: you can read client reviews, book appointments, and get expert advice. Only the best cosmetic doctors, skincare gurus, nutritionists, fitness and wellness professionals make it into our book. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - France's envoy to the United Nations asserted Sunday that war crimes were being committed in Syria's battered city of Aleppo, as the Security Council met for urgent talks on the escalating military campaign. "War crimes are being committed here in Aleppo," French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters, adding: "They must not be unpunished and impunity is simply not an option in Syria." The Security Council was holding urgent talks after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was appalled by the "chilling" air bombardments on Aleppo and warned that the use of advanced weaponry could amount to war crimes. "Just when we thought things couldn't get any worse in Syria, they have," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said. "The incendiary munitions that are dropping on Aleppo are indiscriminate and a clear breach of international law -- the barrel-busting bombs that are falling from the skies likewise," he said. The meeting was called by Britain, France and the United States to turn up the pressure on Russia to rein in its ally Syria and halt the intense bombing campaign on Aleppo. Residents and a monitor reported heavy air raids overnight and early Sunday on the besieged east of the city, which Syria's army has pledged to retake. At least 115 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syrian and Russian bombardment of eastern Aleppo since the army on Thursday announced an operation to take it, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. (Reuters) - French state-owned bank Caisse des Depots (CDC) is planning to sell shares worth hundreds of millions of euros in some of the country's largest companies, its Chief Executive Pierre-Rene Lemas said in an interview with the Financial Times. CDC has to reduce the number of companies it owns as it made "no sense" to keep many of its positions, Lemas said in the interview published Sunday. Some targets have already been identified while CDC is in the process of deciding which of its 16 subsidiaries the 200-year-old bank will sell, 65-year-old Lemas added. "Many of our companies are there for historical reasons." Lemas said he wanted CDC to add to the economy in ways beyond simply being a shareholder in large companies. "The CDC should be focused on supporting the French economy, promoting the energy transition towards renewables and helping with social housing in France," the paper quoted him as saying. The sale of stakes in large companies could yield hundreds of millions of euros that could be used elsewhere in France, added Lemas who has been CDC's CEO since mid-2014. CDC said on Friday it had sold about four percent of French water and waste group Veolia Environnement SA (VIE.PA) for close-to 456 million euros ($511.6 million), bringing the bank's total stake in Veolia down to 4.62 percent. CDC was not available for comment outside of regular business hours. ($1 = 0.8913 euros) (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The US accused Moscow of "barbarism" over the worsening carnage in Aleppo, as Syrian and Russian warplanes pounded the city in one of the heaviest bombing raids of the five-year war. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to demand Russia rein in its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and halt intense air strikes, Moscow and Damascus were repeatedly accused of war crimes. "What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism. It is barbarism," US Ambassador Samantha Power said at the Sunday session. Some 124 people, mostly civilians, have died since bunker-busting bombs and sophisticated weaponry were unleashed on residential areas in rebel-held eastern Aleppo after the army Thursday launched an operation to take it. "It is difficult to deny that Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, adding that the high-tech weaponry had inflicted "a new hell" on war-weary Syrians. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also warned the use of advanced weaponry against civilians could amount to war crimes, and French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the atrocities must not go unpunished. Britain, France and the United States had called for the urgent talks after days of intense diplomatic efforts to salvage a US-Russian ceasefire deal ended in failure at the weekend. Ban called on world powers to "work harder for an end to the nightmare" in Syria that has left more than 300,000 people dead and driven millions from their homes. To protest the attacks in Aleppo, the US, French and British ambassadors walked out of the Security Council chamber as the Syrian ambassador delivered his remarks. - Almost impossible peace - Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin conceded that the surge in violence over the past days meant that "bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now." Story continues Churkin again laid blame for the failed diplomacy with the United States, accusing Washington of being unable to convince armed opposition groups that it backs on the ground to distance themselves from the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and abide by the ceasefire. A US-Russian ceasefire deal that would have charted a way forward towards peace talks was broken by the "sabotage by the moderate opposition", he asserted. Churkin however said that reviving the ceasefire was still a goal that Moscow could pursue if it was part of a "collective" effort on all sides. Despite the recriminations, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said a "tiny window of opportunity ... still exists" for Russia and the United States to help Syria. He appealed for renewed efforts to allow Syria to "step away from the brink of more years of bloody conflict which risks to become even worse." Residents said cluster bombs rained down on Saturday night on eastern parts of the city, where an estimated 250,000 people are living under a government siege. At least 19 children were among those killed in the assault, which has included missile strikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery fire, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "All night long they were dropping cluster bombs. I couldn't sleep until four in the morning," said 62-year-old Ahmed Hajar, who was out looking for bread in the Al-Kalasseh neighborhood. - We're civilians here - In the nearby neighbourhood of Bab al-Nayrab, 30-year-old Imad Habush was baking bread in a small wood-burning oven outside his house. "None of the bakeries are open any more because of the bombing and the shortages of fuel and flour, so people have started making their own bread," he said. "I don't know why the regime is bombing us in this barbaric way. We're civilians here. We're not carrying weapons, and we're besieged. We have no way to escape." Air strikes were continuing on the eastern neighborhoods on Sunday, the Observatory said, with at least 25 civilians, including two children, killed since dawn. Once Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by war and roughly divided since mid-2012 between government control in the west and rebel control in the east. The eastern portion of the city has been under near-continuous siege since mid-July, causing food and fuel shortages. Syria's foreign minister said Saturday that his government was confident of "victory" with support from "true friends" including Russia, Iran, and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. US military chief Joe Dunford said last week that Washington was considering arming Syrian Kurdish forces ahead of an offensive to retake the Islamic State group's stronghold of Raqa. Turkey's foreign minister told France24 Sunday that the plan was "unacceptable". Ankara, a NATO member and member of the US-led coalition against IS, launched an unprecedented ground operation in Syria last month, sending dozens of tanks to back pro-Turkish rebels fighting Kurdish militias as well as jihadists. Mexico City (AFP) - A fuel tanker ship burned out of control Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico and started to leak, setting the water on fire, authorities said. The state-owned Pemex ship has been on fire for 24 hours just off the eastern port city of Veracruz. The 31-member crew has been safely evacuated. The vessel was carrying 80,000 barrels of diesel and 70,000 barrels of gasoline. Pemex, navy and other crews worked to put out the flames. "You can see fire on the water, and that is a sign that the fuel is leaking," said Antonio Chedrahui, a navy firefighting official. It took four hours to get special fire-retardant foam to the site of the fire, and Pemex was also slow in setting up floating containment barriers to prevent the spill from spreading, he added. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence said on Sunday that Gennifer Flowers, who had an affair with Bill Clinton before his 1992 presidential run, will not attend Monday night's U.S. presidential debate. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Twitter on Saturday that he was considering inviting Flowers to attend after Hillary Clinton's campaign had invited Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, one of Trump's most vociferous critics. "Gennifer Flowers will not be attending the debate tomorrow night," Pence told Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. "Donald Trump was using the tweet yesterday really to mock an effort by Hillary Clinton and her campaign to really distract attention from what the American people are going to be focused tomorrow night, which is on the issues, on the choice that we face," Pence said. (Reporting By David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci) Amman (AFP) - A prominent Jordanian writer was shot dead Sunday on the steps of a court where he was facing charges for sharing an anti-Islam cartoon on Facebook. Nahed Hattar was struck by three bullets before the alleged assassin was arrested at the scene of the shooting in Amman's central Abdali district, said the official Petra news agency. The assailant -- bearded and dressed in a grey dishdasha worn by conservative Muslim men -- shot Hattar, a 56-year-old Christian, as he made his way up the steps outside the court, a security source told AFP. Hit in the head, he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, the source said. The gunman, a 49-year-old resident of the capital, gave himself up to police at the court, the source added. Media reports said he was a former preacher in an Amman mosque. A judicial source later said the assailant was remanded for 15 days and charged with premeditated murder, meaning he could face the death penalty if convicted. The suspect, an education ministry employee, had acted alone and was not linked to any "terrorist" group, a source close to his interrogation said, asking not to be named. An AFP journalist saw blood on the steps of the building where police had cordoned off the area of the shooting. Mohammad al-Jaghbir, Hattar's friend, told AFP he had witnessed the killing. - 'Death threats' - "We were climbing the steps when a bearded man... got a pistol out of a bag he was carrying and fired at Nahed Hattar," he said. Hattar's family said the writer had no protection despite having asked for it after receiving death threats on Facebook and by phone. Hattar was a political commentator known for his antipathy towards Islamists including Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood and also his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The cartoon Hattar posted on his Facebook page featured an illustration of God under the title "God of Daesh", using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. Story continues It depicts a bearded man in bed smoking with two women lying to either side, addressing God as a servant. He asks for a glass of wine, cashew nuts and orders someone to clean the floor, before telling God to knock before entering next time. Any depiction of God is prohibited in Islam. Hattar removed the cartoon after it triggered outrage on social media. At the time, he explained on Facebook that the cartoon made fun of "terrorists and how they imagine God and heaven, and does not insult God in any way". He was arrested on August 13 and charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam, before being released on bail in early September. - Media blackout - The attorney general had imposed a blackout on media coverage of the case against Hattar, who was also known as a leftist. Prime Minister Hani al-Malki had ordered Interior Minister Salam Hammad to summon the writer and to initiate legal proceedings against him. On Sunday Hattar's brother Majed, who accompanied him to his trial, blamed the government for his death. "We hold the prime minister, the minister of the interior and the security services responsible for Nahed's killing," Majed said. "Nahed Hattar was killed in cold blood in front of the highest institution of justice in Jordan." The government denounced the killing as "heinous" and said the law would be "firmly applied to the person who committed the crime". The opposition Muslim Brotherhood and Dar al-Iftaa, the highest religious authority, also condemned the attack. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting IS in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was targeted in a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting IS jihadists and also hosts coalition troops on its territory. In recent years, extremists have attacked other publications for publishing caricatures seen as insulting to Islam, including in Europe. In January 2015, jihadists killed 12 people, including eight staff, in an attack on the Paris offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which published drawings purporting to show the Prophet Mohammed in 2006. Womens Health 4x3 On Tuesday, November 8, Americans will have the chance to go to the polls and elect the next president of the US. Women's health is usually a particularly divisive issue between Democrats and Republicans, but presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually agree on a few issues. There are others that they split on completely, however. Here's how the two compare on key issues, based on positions outlined on their campaign websites and public statements. Women's Health Abortion Clinton has come out strongly in support of reproductive rights and a woman's right to choose. She secured the endorsement of Planned Parenthood during the primaries and has continued to gain the support of a slew of reproductive-rights groups, like NARAL, which is heavily involved in repealing anti-choice laws on the books and Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers or TRAP laws. TRAP laws have been criticized by pro-choice groups for imposing undue legal burdens on doctors and medical facilities that provide abortions. hillary clinton women's rights are human rights un Clinton has criticized Republicans for attempting to defund Planned Parenthood, noting that it "would restrict millions of womens access to critical health care services, like cancer screenings, contraception, and safe, legal abortion," according to her official campaign website. "I am not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding," Clinton told Fusion in January. She has also promised to work to repeal the Hyde amendment, which pro-choice activists criticize for restricting access to abortion for lower-income women. Story continues And she expressed strong support for President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, which, among other things, "bans insurance companies from discriminating against women and guarantees more than 55 million women access to preventive care." Trump has expressed a strong opposition to abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's health is endangered. At a Republican presidential debate in February, Trump acknowledged that Planned Parenthood "helps millions and millions of women" who go for services like breast and cervical-cancer screenings. However, he also said that he would defund it because a portion of its services go toward providing abortions. The businessman has vacillated on his position on abortion in the past. In 1999, he told NBC's Tim Russert that he was "very pro-choice," and said he would not ban late-term abortions if he were president. In 2000, he said he changed his mind and would support a ban on late-term abortions. In 2010, he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that Stephanopoulos would "be very surprised" by his position on abortion; he did not elaborate. In 2011, Trump came out as pro-life. In 2015, he said he was pro-life, with certain exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother was at risk. In July of that year, he said he supported a 20-week ban. In March 2016, he told MSNBC's Chris Matthews that women who have abortions should face some sort of legal punishment, but quickly walked that claim back after facing backlash. Sexual assault Military sexual assault In the US, one out of five women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. For women in the military, 85% of those assaults go unreported. Clinton has proposed a number of ways to curb sexual assault, which include providing "comprehensive" support to survivors of sexual assault, like counseling and healthcare both of which should remain confidential and cooperative. She has proposed reforming the criminal-justice system and reporting systems across college campuses to ensure that the process is smooth, transparent, and fair to victims of assault. She also supports increasing sexual-violence-prevention programs across high schools and colleges to train students to identify and prevent sexual assault. Clinton has pointed to her previous work in curbing this issue, such as her support for the creation of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, her cosponsoring of the Violence Against Women Act in 2005, and her leadership on a UN resolution "that established guidelines for an international response to sexual assault in war-torn areas." Trump has not issued an official campaign statement on sexual abuse, but he has made a number of public remarks on the subject. In 2013, after the prevalence of sexual assault in the US military became a topic in the media, Trump issued a tweet that said, "26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?" NBC host Matt Lauer brought up the tweet at the Commander-in-Chief Forum September 7, and asked Trump if the only solution is to take women out of the military. "It is a correct tweet. There are many people that think that that's absolutely correct," Trump said. "Not to kick them out, but something has to happen. Right now, part of the problem is nobody gets prosecuted." Paid family leave donald trump ivanka paid maternity family leave The US is the only developed country that doesn't guarantee paid family leave, and both candidates want to change that. Clinton wants the federal government to require 12 weeks of family leave for both mothers and fathers to care for a new child or a sick family member, or to recover from a personal severe injury or illness. She plans to pay for the change by raising taxes on the very wealthy. "It's clear that there are so many challenges facing young families today that we have to come to grips with, and we have to work together to try to find the best menu of options," Clinton said at a campaign event in July. "Because there is just no 'one-size-fits-all.' People have different needs." Trump proposes six weeks of guaranteed paid leave only for mothers who have just given birth. Women would get the same amount of money they would get if they were on unemployment benefits, which is less than their full salary. He wants to pay for it by eliminating fraud in unemployment insurance. "Government policies are stuck in the past, and make already difficult choices regarding care arrangements even more difficult," Trump's campaign site reads."Outdated policies in many cases cause women to make choices that are not the best for either their families or the economy." NOW WATCH: 'Is abortion murder?' Watch Trump's latest garbled response More From Business Insider These cute clips show a group of Lemurs checking out their new toy at their zoo home - a GoPro camera. The Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute put the camera into the Lemurs enclosure for enrichment and captured footage of the curious creatures checking out their new tech. Curious - the footage shows the Lemurs checking out their new toy (Pictures: Facebook/Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute) The zoo released the video clips on its Facebook page, writing: Whos looking at you? Keepers gave our black-and-white, ring-tailed and red-fronted lemurs a GoPro for enrichment. After keepers smeared a dollop of yogurt on the case, the curious primates smelled, tasted, and investigated the novel device. Some even scent-marked it to claim it as their territory! MORE: Shock footage of mans death-defying leap between houses released by police MORE: London hosts first ever cat festival - but no moggies are allowed The footage, which was posted on September 23, has already been viewed 21,000 times, with many viewers commenting on the cuteness of the wide-eyed creatures. Earlier this year, the zoo announced the birth of three red-ruffed lemurs. Native to Madagascar, the creatures are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Prince George has his royal wave down, but he may need some more practice on those high fives. The eldest child of Prince William and Princess Kate got a little shy when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau knelt down and tried to give George a high five when he landed in Victoria, Canada, on Saturday. In a video, the little royal shakes his head as Trudeau tries high fives, low fives and a handshake to no avail. However, Prince George did wave to those assembled on the tarmac when the Royal Canadian Air Force jet the royal family arrived on for their tour of Canada. High Five, Low Five ... No Five: Prince George Leaves Justin Trudeau Hanging During Canada Visit| The British Royals, The Royals, Prince George Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. Kate wore a royal blue Jenny Packham suit with a matching hat and Queen Elizabeth II's diamond maple leaf brooch as Princess Charlotte, on her first official tour, clung to her mother in a light blue dress with a matching bow in her hair. George was also decked out in blue, wearing a knit sweater with wooden buttons over a traditional blue and beige plaid shirt, teamed with navy blue wool shorts, all from the Spanish brand Pepa & Co. He also donned blue knee socks. Related Video: Prince George's $100 Cardigan Sells out 'Overnight' The family will be based at Government House in Victoria, and the couple 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 couple's 12-strong entourage.) 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, 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 Canada's First Nations communities, its arts and culture, pristine and beautiful environment, and its compassionate and innovative charitable sector." India, the world's third largest greenhouse gas emitter, will ratify the Paris climate change pact next month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday, bringing the deal a step closer to reality. Modi said India will formally join the landmark accord struck in 2015 in Paris, through which countries commit to take action to stem the planet's rising temperatures. The accord needs ratification from 55 countries that account for at least 55 percent of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. "Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. I announce that India will ratify the decision on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," Modi said in a speech at a national meeting of his ruling party in the southern state of Kerala. Modi said he had chosen that date because Indian independence leader Gandhi had lived his life with a low carbon footprint. The treaty moved closer to taking effect earlier this month when a string of countries joined during the UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced confidence then that the accord would come into force by the end of the year. China and the United States, the two largest emitters, gave a major boost to the accord when they signed on during a summit earlier this month between presidents Xi Jinping and Barack Obama. After a meeting days later with Obama in Vientiane, Modi said India would formally join the agreement later this year. India has not agreed to cap or cut its carbon emissions outright like some countries. Instead it says it will hike its use of green energy and reduce its emissions relative to its gross domestic product by up to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels -- meaning emissions will continue to grow but at a slower rate. India, which relies heavily on coal-fired power plants for electricity, argues that stricter emissions targets would compromise efforts to boost living standards of more than a quarter of its 1.2 billion population which lives in poverty. This internet-famous dogs mysterious backstory was finally discovered and it will 100% make you cry This internet-famous dogs mysterious backstory was finally discovered and it will 100% make you cry If youre the type of person who cries at the end of movies like Homeward Bound, this story might trigger some serious waterworks. Captain Ron, a Great Pyrenees-Rottweiler mix, is a resident over at Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, a Tennessee-based home for elderly dogs thats become internet-famous thanks to its adorable and often-updated Facebook page. As documented by Buzzfeed, Captain Ron was taken in by Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary as a stray two years ago. Well, thanks to Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuarys internet fame, Captain Rons original owners spotted a photo of their long-lost pup and finally found out what happened to him. Captain Rons original owners had long given up on finding their beloved pet. He went missing about 2 years ago. I really thought he was dead. Every day I was hoping that I would hear about him returning, the original owner wrote in an email. I am so happy that he is being taken care of so well. The original owners shared Captain Rons story and some photos of him as a young pup with Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. They even revealed that his original name was Oscar! And hed lost his eye before coming to Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary, so hes been rocking a handsome pirate look for a while. Since Oscar/Captain Ron is pretty up there in age and his original owners now live in a different state, they decided that it wouldnt be fair to pull him out of the sanctuary. Instead, they are going to let him live out the remainder of his life surrounded by his new dog friends and family. The owners of Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary post pictures of Captain Ron all the time and joke about how grumpy he was in the beginning. Story continues Clearly, that was just a phase, because Captain Ron enjoys company and likes to sleep in doorways to block traffic. Everyone loves a good prankster! Its wonderful to see a beautiful dog enjoying his life, and hopefully more stories like this can come out of the wonderful work the sanctuary does. The post This internet-famous dogs mysterious backstory was finally discovered and it will 100% make you cry appeared first on HelloGiggles. VLONE designer A$Ap Bari @ his pop-up store in Milan. Photo: Courtesy of VLONE If you are A$AP Bari, aka Young Lord, aka Jabari Shelton, you are having a hell of a year. As a founding member of the rap collective A$AP Mob, you have launched VLONE, a streetwear line of reworked basics with the demand level of Hamilton tickets. You have performed with Kanye West on Saturday Night Live. You have made tabloid headlines for a Paris street brawl, whichaccording to Twitter, anywayyou seem to have won. You have collaborated with Virgil Ablohs Off White label, been compared to a Warhol Factory Superstar, andwhile in Milan visiting your pop-up storegotten an elaborate tattoo across your head. Two hours later, you are parked in a canvas beanbag chair on Via Pasquale Paoli, surrounded by Hypebeast junkies, employees, far-flung friends, and Yahoo Style. And this is what you say during your interview Yahoo Style: You could have a store anywhereespecially a place with more of a streetwear scene. Why Milan instead? A$AP Bari: Its mostly vibes. Its hard to explain, Its like, I mostly go upon vibes. And the vibe this time was Milan. But just as important, I think, is that its the kids! The kids have been waiting for this all around the world. Thats why I do VLONE pop-ups, because the kids reach out on the internet. They dont have credit cards; theyre too young to get them. So even if they save up all their cash, they still cant go online and buy it. A pop up means you can come straight here, shop, meet me, and be with VLONE in person. Does meeting all these international fans affect your own style? You mean, is that what inspires me? Their clothes? Yeah. But its not just the clothes. Its [their] energy. Theyre excited, and thats motivating, too. Are you going to any fashion shows? No, I didnt have no time. I was invited to the Gucci show but I was so busy working on this pop-up that I didnt have time to go. You skipped the Gucci show?! Im committed to this, and there was still so much to do. The work comes first, you know? Story continues I do. So all these kids coming to see you in Milan, is that your message to them? The work comes first? Its a new age, and you can become a lot of things. I was a lazy kid I was very lazy. And the work that you put into your life is the work that you receive back. You know what I mean? So the more work you put in, the bigger youre gonna be. That kid whos at home playing with beats, working his ass off trying to learn how to play every type of music in his house, hes going to be on the radio one day. That kid whos sketching and doing cartoons and graphic designs? Hell see them on billboards somewhere. You know? Anything that you work really hard on will come to light in some way. Inside the VLONE pop-up store which opened during Milan Fashion Week. Photo: Courtesy of VLONE How long did it take for your goals to start happening? I was like 21 when I started VLONE. Im 24 now. Its been about four years since I started this brand, and it started because I needed to be somebody. You see the people around you growing up. It made me want to grow up. I saw, Okay, [A$AP mob] has something big here. We have a following. We have people that really look up to us and want to live the lifestyle that we live. So it was like, This is my chance to make something for the kids to connect to. What do you think they connect to? Its the lifestyle. More than anything. Its not just about the brand, its about the life. The kids say, I know Young Lord is from Harlem, but Im seeing him in Europe. I see him in Russia. I see him in Asia. Its about that, and its also about kids tuning into somebodys life that theyre not a part of yet, but they want to be a part of. VLONE isnt for everybody, I know that, but for the kids that are into it, it becomes that connection. Its like a religion to them. VLONE is a collaboration between you and A$AP Rocky. Youve worked with Kanye West and Virgil Abloh, too. How do you work with friends without fighting? The number one thing? Dont let your ego get in the way of other peoples ideas. Number two, dont be afraid to work. Number three, dont be afraid to ask somebody for help. You know? A lot of people arent afraid to do something negative. But theyre afraid to do positive things. So, thats mostly it. A photo posted by V. lifestyle (@vlone) on Sep 20, 2016 at 4:21am PDT Your sweatshirts are about $300; Vetements cost double. Do you feel like luxury hoodies can go too far? Well, you know, clothes are not cheap to make! If youre spending a lot of money making clothes, then youve got to make all your money back. Thats business. It only works if the stuff is really good. If you like something, youre going to want to buy it. Youll figure out how, and youll work [for it]. But look, if your collection cheap to make, and youre selling it for a high price, then yeah. Thats a fuck over. Youve said that VLONE means live alone, die alone. But youre talking about joining a movement and a squad. Thats kind of funny. I think youre taking it too literal. We all start alone, and when youre a kid, youre a loner some of the time no matter who you are. And the kids that like us might look VLONE as their way of not as being alone, or they might just look at it as, This is cool and I like the clothes and [also] theres a meaning behind it. Kids connect to that meaning. I didnt make this clothing line for everybody to be like, Oh, I gotta be living alone, I gotta be dying alone. You know? Its not that. Its how you feel it. That kid who feels alone wears the hoodie and knows its special to them. It connects them to something bigger. Yahoo Style is live from #FashionMonth! Keep it here for your front row view of the best looks and buzziest moments from Fashion Month. Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, and Paul Dano are teaming up for a movie and you can bet well be watching Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, and Paul Dano are teaming up for a movie and you can bet well be watching While most of us think of Paul Dano as an actor first sighting his amazing character portrayals in films like Little Miss Sunshine and Swiss Army Man, his next adventure will be behind the camera. Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan have both signed on to be in his upcoming directorial debut called Wildfire. Scoring two Oscar-nominated actors for your first film isnt something to shake a stick at. Pretty amazing actually! mind bown The movie will be an adaptation of Richard Fords 1990 novel. Paul Dano and his partner Zoe Kazan found the source material and determined its perfect for a movie version as the story follows a boy dealing with the decay of his parents marriage after moving to Montana. An actors dream come true. With Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan co-starring in the film, Paul Dano has a lot less to worry about. Both actors are top-notch and will make the script soar with their performances. Hopefully we will get to see more projects from hungry artists and more diverse material coming from Hollywood. Paul is quoted saying in a Mashable article In Richards book I saw myself and many others. I have always wanted to make films and have always known I would make films about family. Since the topic of marriage and its effects on people is so relatable, we can assume that this will be an interesting watch. Here is hoping that it actually brings home Oscars for its two brilliant leads! The post Jake Gyllenhaal, Carey Mulligan, and Paul Dano are teaming up for a movie and you can bet well be watching appeared first on HelloGiggles. Jane Pauley has been named the new anchor of CBS Sunday Morning, succeeding Charles Osgood. Osgood announced last month he was retiring September 25, after 22 years as anchor of the award-winning broadcast and after nearly 50 years at CBS News. Pauleys first broadcast in the new role will be October 9, when shell become only the third anchor in the history of CBS Sunday Morning. Pauley joined CBS Sunday Morning in 2014 as a contributor. Since then shes been a substitute host and has delivered a steady stream of high-profile interviews and reporting to the broadcast. Charles Osgood set the standard for CBS Sunday Morning, Pauley said. And its a great honor to be given the chance to further our shows legacy of excellence. I look forward to bringing loyal viewers the kind of engaging, original reporting that has made the broadcast so irresistible for so long. Jane Pauley is the ideal host for the most wide-ranging news program on American culture, our beloved CBS Sunday Morning broadcast, said CBS News President David Rhodes. Charles Osgood is a television news legendand so is Jane Pauley. We first got to know Jane when we did a story about her, said Rand Morrison, Executive Producer of CBS Sunday Morning. Our viewers immediately responded by suggesting she belonged on Sunday Morning permanently. And as is so often the case, they were right. Shes a dedicated, experienced broadcast journalist. But every bit as important, shes a delight to work with. A worthy successorand a perfect fit. Pauleys work at CBS Sunday Morning included a profile of Hillary Rodham Clinton; an interview with 11-year-old Marquis Govan, who became a voice of reason in the aftermath of the Ferguson, Mo., shooting of an unarmed man by a police officer; the only TV interview with David Letterman about his retirement from late night television; and a report about a group of educators who lived through the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., now fighting to change gun control laws. Story continues Related stories CBS Nabs 'S.W.A.T.' Drama Inspired By Movie From Shawn Ryan, Justin Lin, Neal Moritz & 'FNL' Alum With Big Commitment Alan Cumming To Star In 'Dr. Death' CBS Crime Drama From James Patterson, Michael Rauch & Alex Kurtzman Thomas Gibson Gives His Side Of 'Criminal Minds' Firing Longtime TV news anchor and former Today Show host Jane Pauley will be the new anchor of CBS Sunday Morning, following Charles Osgoods exit. After the tenures of hosts Charles Kuralt (1979-1994) and Osgood (1994-2016), Pauley is the first woman ever to host the show on a permanent basis. Sunday was Osgoods final broadcast as host of the weekly show. Here is the announcement from CBS: CBS News President David Rhodes announced today that Pauley will succeed Charles Osgood as anchor. Osgood is retiring on Sept. 25, after 22 years as anchor of the award-winning broadcast and after nearly 50 years at CBS News. Pauleys first broadcast in the new role will be Oct. 9, when shell become only the third anchor in the history of CBS SUNDAY MORNING. Also Read: 'Sunday Morning' Host Charles Osgood to Retire Pauley joined CBS SUNDAY MORNING in 2014 as a contributor. Since then shes been a substitute host and has delivered a steady stream of high-profile interviews and reporting to the broadcast. Charles Osgood set the standard for CBS SUNDAY MORNING, Pauley said. And its a great honor to be given the chance to further our shows legacy of excellence. I look forward to bringing loyal viewers the kind of engaging, original reporting that has made the broadcast so irresistible for so long. Jane Pauley is the ideal host for the most wide-ranging news program on American culture, our beloved CBS SUNDAY MORNING broadcast, said Rhodes. Charles Osgood is a television news legendand so is Jane Pauley. Also Read: NBC, CBS Both Claim Victory in Sunday Morning News Ratings We first got to know Jane when we did a story about her, said Rand Morrison, Executive Producer of CBS SUNDAY MORNING. Our viewers immediately responded by suggesting she belonged on SUNDAY MORNING permanently. And as is so often the case, they were right. Shes a dedicated, experienced broadcast journalist. But every bit as important, shes a delight to work with. A worthy successorand a perfect fit. Story continues Highlights of Pauleys work at CBS SUNDAY MORNING include a profile of Hillary Rodham Clinton; a moving interview with 11-year-old Marquis Govan, who became a voice of reason in the aftermath of the Ferguson, Mo., shooting of an unarmed man by a police officer; the only TV interview with David Letterman about his retirement from late night television; and a report about a group of educators who lived through the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., now fighting to change gun control laws. Pauley is the recipient of multiple Emmys, the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding achievement and the Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television. Pauley is a member of the Broadcast and Cable Hall of Fame. Before joining CBS News, Pauley was a familiar face on morning, daytime and primetime television. She began her network television career in 1976 as a co-host of NBCs Today show. She spent 13 years on the morning broadcast, and a decade as the anchor of Dateline NBC, starting in 1992. She was the host of the syndicated daytime series, The Jane Pauley Show, in 2004. Pauley has written two New York Times bestsellers. A memoir, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue (Ballantine Books 2004), and Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life (Simon & Schuster 2014), based on her award-winning series on Today about people who are 50 and over starting different careers, learning new skills, making a difference or pursuing their dreams. A longtime advocate in childrens health and education, Pauley is also a highly regarded spokesperson in mental health. She and her husband, Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, are the parents of three grown children and are grandparents to two. CBS SUNDAY MORNING is broadcast Sundays (9:00-10:30 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Rand Morrison is the executive producer. Related stories from TheWrap: 7 '80s TV Themes That Obsessed Me as a Child 25 Highest Rated Broadcast TV Shows of 2015-2016 Season (Photos) Barbra Streisand Calls Donald Trump a 'Bigoted and Misogynist Reality-TV Character' In Op-Ed This Election Year, 'Designated Survivor' Is Most Topical Show on TV (Commentary) Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux had a date night in New York City on Saturday. The couple coordinate in black outfits, with Aniston wearing a tank top, pants and heels and Theroux wearing a vest, sweatshirt, suspenders and faded black jeans. The pair stayed close to one another as they stepped out for dinner at Smile in the Big Apple, where the Leftovers star is gearing up for a press tour for his latest project, The Girl on the Train. In the movie based on the best-selling novel, Theroux plays the ex-husband of Emily Blunts character, an alcoholic woman who thinks she sees clues from the window of her train about a womans disappearance. Theroux joined Aniston in New York earlier this week after flying from Australia where he was filming the third season of The Leftovers. Aniston also has a busy schedule for the rest of the year. The Friends star played the voice of Sarah Gardner in the recently released animated film Storks. Her films Office Christmas Party and The Yellow Birds are also slated to be released this year and are currently in post-production. Anistons outing came just five days after Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from her ex Brad Pitt. Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar was fatally shot Sunday morning outside the court where he was due to stand trial for sharing a cartoon that mocked Islam. Hattar, 56, was shot in the head three times as he arrived for a hearing over the cartoon. Earlier this year, Hattar posted a cartoon on Facebook that he claimed mocked ISIS terrorists and their concept of heaven, according to the New York Times. The Christian writer was arrested in August and released on bail in early September. The shooter, whose identity and motive have not been released, was immediately arrested, the Associated Press reported. Saad Hattar, a cousin, told AP that relatives and friends accompanying the writer to trial apprehended the killer. Hattars family called on the Jordanian government to hold accountable those who had incited against the writer. Many fanatics wrote on social media calling for his killing and lying, and the government did nothing against them, they said. Saad Hattar said the family held Jordans Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki responsible for the killing. The Prime Minister was the first one who incited against Nahed when he ordered his arrest and put him on trial for sharing the cartoon, and that ignited the public against him and led to his killing, he said. In a statement to the Times, government spokesman Mohammad Momani said, We will hold the perpetrator who committed this despicable act to justice and the government will respond with an iron fist to anyone who uses this incident as an opportunity to spread hate speech in society. Amman (AFP) - Jordan's King Abdullah II re-appointed Prime Minister Hani al-Malki on Sunday to form a new government following elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood made its return as a parliamentary force. "The king has accepted the resignation of Hani al-Malki's government and charged him with forming a new one," the royal palace said in a statement. Malki, 65, an engineer by training, was closely involved with the negotiations that led to Jordan signing a peace deal with Israel in 1994. He has held several ministerial posts and served as an advisor to the king. The elections last Tuesday saw the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic Action Front, which boycotted two previous polls, win 16 seats. As in past elections, most seats in the 130-member parliament went to businessmen and tribal figures close to the monarchy. The polls came as Jordan, a key ally of the West, wrestles with the spillover of wars in neighbouring Syria and Iraq and the burden of hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees. King Abdullah II can appoint and sack Jordan's military and intelligence chiefs, senior judges and members of parliament's upper house without government approval. Categories Celebrity Style The Middletons embarked on their first Royal Tour as a family of four today, so unsurprisingly, the Duchess of Cambridge brought her A-game. For her visit to Victoria, Canada, Middleton stunned in a mid-length blue dress and matching feathered hat by Jenny Packham. Naturally, the color-coordination extended to her adorable family, who all incorporated tones of blue in their wardrobe too. If you find yourself suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to wear the royal hue, youre not alone. We predict Princess Kates latest outfit move will send blue garments flying off the shelves. Word to the wise: stock up! TORONTO (Reuters) - Britain's Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, arrived in Canada on Saturday for their second official visit, received by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a military airport in the western province of British Columbia. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought their children, Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 1, on the week-long trip. It was the first time the couple have brought their children on an official visit to Canada. William and Kate were scheduled to attend a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, according to the Prime Minister's Office. William is the second in line to succeed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, who is also Canada's head of state. He and Kate last officially came to Canada in 2011. The couple is expected to travel the country to attend more than 30 engagements, including meetings with aboriginal communities. Their visit is scheduled to end on Oct. 1. (Reporting by Ethan Lou in Toronto; Editing by Matthew Lewis) By Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK (Reuters) - Libya's prime minister called for a national reconciliation initiative to repair the divisions in a fragmented country reeling from the turbulence that has followed the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Fayez Seraj also told Reuters in an interview that the battle against Islamic State militants in their former stronghold of Sirte was in its last stages, although bombings and booby traps still posed a challenge. Gaddafi's fall in 2011 brought chaos that splintered the North African country into rival armed fiefdoms. The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has been seeking endorsement for months as it tries to extend its authority beyond its base in Tripoli, in western Libya. "In the last five years, Libya has been through a very difficult and critical phase ... many political divisions," Seraj said in New York, where he was attending an annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "There was disintegration of the social fabric as a result of bloody conflicts. "So we need a real reconciliation between Libyans inside and Libyans abroad ... there will be no exclusion of any political faction," he said. "Reconciliation will provide political stability, which will give way for economic stability." Seraj said he expected to begin the drive before the end of the year but he faces an unenviable task. General Khalifa Haftar, who has been waging a military campaign against Islamists and other opponents in Benghazi and the east, and his backers in eastern Libya have been in a stand-off with the GNA for months. They have blocked a parliamentary vote to endorse the GNA and challenging the U.N.-mediated deal to unify Libya. Haftar also has resisted the GNA's efforts to integrate his self-styled Libyan National Army into the national armed force. The eastern-based parliament has twice rejected lists of ministers put forward by the GNA's leadership, or Presidential Council, which is meant to represent all sides of Libya's fractured politics. NEW GOVERNMENT The Presidential Council has struggled to win popular support and secure the loyalty of Libya's political and armed factions since they arrived in Tripoli from Tunisia in March. Frustration has mounted at its inability to tackle everyday problems including a liquidity crisis, frequent kidnappings, power cuts and a failing health system. "We expect within coming weeks to end negotiations on shaping a new government," Seraj said. "We have, until now, not received any official letter from the parliament to present again a newly reshaped government. Despite that we dealt positively with the results of the parliament ... (it) has to now bear its responsibility and carry out its duty," he said. Seraj has said repeatedly he was open to talks with Haftar, whose recent seizure of oil ports has risked deepening the long-standing east-west divisions and alarmed the west. "As a Presidential Council we are open to all political factions ... I have no reservations. Anything that helps solve the Libyan crisis and that can open bottlenecks, we are ready to meet anyone," he said. Seraj struck a conciliatory tone over the port seizures but warned that protection of the vital installations had be done by the internationally recognized government. "We would not have hoped that there would be escalation in the area but what happened has happened ... and we tried to deal with it with wisdom and calculation," Seraj said. "But we sent a clear message that oil installations must be protected and should not be damaged ... Whoever protects the oil must be under the umbrella of the Presidential Council," he said. Haftar's forces handed operational control to the National Oil Corporation (NOC), which Seraj said operated under the Presidential Council. Libya is heavily dependent on oil export revenues and needs to revive production to prevent economic collapse. (Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Bill Trott) South Korea and the United States will hold a joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers next month in the face of continued North Korean threats, a diplomatic source in Seoul said Sunday. The source said the two allies are working on further details of the meeting to take place in Washington, including specific schedules and topics for discussion. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Defense Minister Han Min-koo will sit down with State Secretary John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test earlier this month and tested a new rocket engine, which experts say proves the regime's significant progress in its missile program. Against this backdrop, the diplomatic source said the main focus of the upcoming meeting will be on strengthening extended deterrence against the North. President Barack Obama and Kerry have both discussed providing Seoul with extended deterrence, and the ministers this time are expected to put that commitment in writing in their joint statement. The four participants are also expected to discuss taking coordinated steps against additional North Korean provocations and strengthening sanctions on Pyongyang. (yonhap) By Zachary Fagenson MIAMI (Reuters) - Miami Marlins star Jose Fernandez, one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball and a hero to Miami's Cuban community, was killed in a boating crash early on Sunday in Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard said. He was 24 years old. Fernandez, who as a teenager survived harrowing conditions at sea as he fled Cuba to start a new life in the United States, was one of three men killed when a 32-foot boat collided with a rocky jetty off Miami Beach, the Coast Guard said. The team, which drafted the pitcher in the first round of the 2011 draft, canceled its Sunday home game against the Atlanta Braves but dozens of mourners still gathered at a makeshift memorial set up for Fernandez near the entrance to Marlins Park. Many wore his No. 16 jersey and brought flowers, teddy bears and pictures of themselves with the All Star pitcher. ""He was one of our game's young stars who made a dramatic impact on and off the field," Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. Emergency crews responded to reports of a boat overturned on a jetty near the Government Cut shipping channel and South Pointe Park at about 3:30 a.m. (0730 GMT), the Coast Guard said. Fernandez, who was born and raised in Cuba, tried three time to defect to the United States before arriving in the country at age 15 with his mother. Cuba's state-controlled media made no mention of Fernandez's death on Sunday, a standard practice for those who left the island-nation surreptitiously, even though its communist government restored diplomatic relations with the United States last year. Tony Diaz, a spokesman for the Cuban Baseball Federation, said the pitcher's death was "a big loss for global baseball. An already famous youth, he had a promising future. The right-hander, who made his major league debut in April 2013, was a two-time All-Star selection and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Fernandez compiled a 16-8 record this season for the Marlins and was second in strikeouts in the National League. Known for his overpowering fastball, he had already had a franchise season record for strikeouts with 253 this season, and his 12.49 strikeouts per nine innings was the best in both the National and American leagues, according to the MLB.com. At least two fellow Cuban-born baseball players, Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yoenis Cespedes of the New York Mets, paid tribute to Fernandez by hanging his team jersey in their dugouts before Sunday games. Fernandez, with his good looks and on-field charisma, was in many ways a hero to Miami's sprawling Cuban community. "His story was our story," said Miguel Garay, 78, who came to Miami from Cuba's Pinar del Rio. "There's such a great tradition of baseball in Cuba and he embodied it better than anyone." Havana-born Rene Nodarse, 55, said Fernandez stood out from other Cuban baseball players in Major League Baseball because of his clean-cut image. "He had so much passion and joy," he said. "Today it feels like our whole community has died." The bodies of Fernandez and the other two men, who were between the ages of 24 and 27, were found on and underneath the boat, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Lorenzo Veloz said at a news conference. The agency is investigating the cause of the incident. The identities of the two other victims were not released. The speed at which the boat was traveling was believed to have played a role in the crash but alcohol and drugs were not considered to be a factor, Veloz said. (Additional reporting by Laila Kearney in New York and Sarah Marsh in Havana; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Bill Trott) NEW YORK -- Rare is it for a team battling for a playoff berth to feel it gained momentum from a late-season loss. But most teams don't lose like the New York Mets did Saturday night. The Mets look to retain at least a share of the lead in the National League wild-card race Sunday afternoon when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the regular-season home finale at Citi Field. The Mets (82-73) and San Francisco Giants enter Sunday tied for the top NL wild card. They are a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals (81-73). New York won the first two contests of the four-game series against the Phillies on Thursday and Friday before falling 10-8 on Saturday. But the Mets felt pretty good about themselves after nearly coming back from a 10-0 deficit to win. Lucas Duda and Travis d'Arnaud stepped to the plate as the potential winning run in the ninth inning before popping out and grounding out, respectively. A comeback would have been the biggest in Mets history, exceeding an eight-run comeback in an 11-8 victory over the Houston Astros on Sept. 2, 1972. "Tremendous comeback," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I'm real proud of them." Collins was also feeling pretty good knowing the Mets should no longer have to rely on fill-in starters for their ravaged rotation. Ace right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who was scratched Friday from his scheduled start Saturday because of strep throat, had a successful bullpen session Saturday and starts Tuesday. Syndergaard and the Mets' other non-rookie starter, 43-year-old Bartolo Colon, could both pitch twice next week if necessary. "We've got seven left," Collins said. "You kind of like the pitching going forward right now." One of those pitchers the Mets will rely on is rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman, who is scheduled to make his sixth career start Sunday. Gsellman, who moved into the rotation in place of injured left-hander Jonathon Niese in August, is 1-2 with a 3.54 ERA as a starter and 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA overall. He made his first major league start against the Phillies on Aug. 28 and took the loss after allowing four runs over six innings in a 5-1 setback. Story continues The Phillies also send a rookie to the mound as right-hander Jake Thompson tries to provide the steady pitching Philadelphia has lacked during an eventful series in which it has been outscored 27-23. "Offense is coming alive," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "They've been swinging the bats well all week." The first three starters for the Phillies -- left-hander Adam Morgan and right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Alec Asher -- have combined to give up 13 runs (nine earned) in 14 1/3 innings while failing to pitch beyond the fifth inning. Philadelphia relievers have not been much better (10 runs, nine earned, in 14 innings). "Bullpen's been sputtering," Mackanin said. Thompson won his last two starts, a stretch in which he's allowed five runs over 11 innings. He earned the win Tuesday after giving up three runs over five innings in the Phillies' 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Thompson has never faced the Mets. Related Links: Further information regarding the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez in an early morning boat accident was revealed in a press conference held Sunday. Florida Fish and Wildlife spokesman Lorenzo Veloz confirmed the death of Fernandez, along with two other men between the ages of 24 and 27, and noted that as of now, while speed played a role in the accident, there is no evidence that alcohol or any illegal drugs were involved. Neither Fernandez nor the other victims were wearing life vests. Shortly after 3:00 am Sunday morning, a routine Coast Guard patrol came across a 32-foot vessel turned upside down on the rocks of a jetty near Miami Beach. Veloz told the assembled media that two of the three victims found were underneath the overturned boat while the third was in the water but did not confirm who was where. As of roughly 11:00 am Sunday, Fernandez is the only one of the three victims whose identity has been confirmed, as authorities attempt to reach the families of the other two victims. Veloz also said that the three victims were the only people on the boat and that while Fernandez was the only member of the Marlins or pro athlete, the other two men were personal friends of his. The boat belonged to one of the two other victims and hit the rocks while traveling north at what is believed to be full speed. Veloz noted that the jetty is not very visible at night and that there is severe damage to the bottom of the boat. There is no other word to describe this but horrible, Veloz said. The Marlins are also planning a press conference scheduled for 12:30 pm EST. Watch it here. (Via ESPN) Mindy Kaling posted a pic from the doctors office that has us worried about her Mindy Kaling posted a pic from the doctors office that has us worried about her Mindy Kaling might play a doctor on TV, but her real-life health scare is freaking us out! After posting a picture at the doctors office, the 37-year-old actress has us worried about her. On Saturday morning, The Mindy Project star and creator, rushed to the hospital after having eye issues. At first the photo she posted on Instagram seemed like a joke that Dr. Mindy Lahiri would play on her OBGYN friends, but when we took a second look at the pic, it was clear that this was no joke. Kaling shared a close-up selfie of her eye in the wee hours of the morning, clearly after sitting at the hospital for a while. She was wearing a sweatshirt and covering her right eye with a giant bandage and to say we were worried would be an understatement. Two eyes are overrated. #imfine #cornealabrasion #thatERlife #mindyrighteyekaling, Kaling captioned the scary photo. Two eyes are overrated. #imfine #cornealabrasion #thatERlife #mindyrighteyekaling A photo posted by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) on Sep 24, 2016 at 12:42am PDT The comedian later revealed that she was at Cedars Sinais ER in Los Angeles, California and that thanks to the great staff her eye would be okay. Kaling had a corneal abrasion, which is a scratch on her eye, and had to quickly tend to it, but she is all good now, according to her Twitter page. A huge thanks to Cedars Sinai ER staff for helping me, especially Dr. Lin. My corneal abrasion didn't stand a chance. Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) September 24, 2016 We understand that Kaling is used to dealing with medical issues and hospital speak, because of her show which returns to Hulu on October 4 but we were definitely panicking for a little bit. Fingers crossed the actress is healing quickly! The post Mindy Kaling posted a pic from the doctors office that has us worried about her appeared first on HelloGiggles. The New Hampshire mom who overdosed next to her two-year-old daughter in a store is speaking out about her battle with addiction. Mandy McGowen, 36, is reportedly trying to get help and regain custody of her daughter, who is now in the states care. Read: 4th Case of ODing Parents With Kid Nearby Is Latest Example of Heroin Plight Gripping America McGowen told WBZ-TV in an exclusive interview that she was in a car with a friend on Sunday and had already sniffed fentanyl when she got a call to pick up her daughter at her stepsons home. When her friend needed to go to Lawrence she decided to buy diapers at the local Family Dollar, but reportedly doesn't remember the rest. The whole scene, however, was captured on a cell phone video that has now gone viral. If I knew I was going to be like that I wouldnt have my daughter with me, McGowen said in the interview where she opted to hide her face. Thats not what I want her to see. She reportedly entered a local treatment program after the incident because she knows she hit rock bottom, but ended up having to leave due to lack of insurance. She told WBZ-TV that in the past year her addiction has spiraled out of control. I want to learn to love myself again, to look in the mirror and be happy, said McGowen. In the video, McGowens daughter tries to wake her mother up but she lays on the ground motionless as the child cries in the toy aisle. It shouldnt have happened period. I shouldnt have taken anything or been where I was or who I was with, she said. "Dont judge me. I had a two-year-old there and where I go people are pointing and it hurts. According to reports, Police are still considering child endangerment charges for McGowen, whose name police didnt release after the incident. Read: Police Care for Baby Found Next to Semi-Conscious Mother After Car Crash Story continues Lawrence police previously said the incident shows the darkest side of drug addiction that officers have seen. Its very disturbing to see someone like this. Its obvious addiction has overtaken them, to the point of not being able to care for their child, said Chief James Fitzpatrick. Watch: Grandma of 'Heroin Boy' From Controversial Photo Gets 6 Months in Jail Related Articles: Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. It was standing room only as family, friends, community officials and those simply wanting to pay their respects said their final goodbyes to 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. The services were held at Antioch Baptist Church Saturday (Sept. 24) a little over a week after he was gunned down. Crutcher became the latest unarmed black man to be killed by police. On Sept. 16, while experiencing car troubles on 36th Street North, near Lewis Avenue. Dash cam footage along with helicopter surveillance captured the fatal encounter. Officer Betty Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter and is now out on bail. The three-hour home going service was full of Gospel music and praise dancing. Several people spoke at the funeral including Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Crutchers family lawyer, Damario Solomon-Simmons and cousins Rev. A. Cortes Rex and Shea Seals. The New York Times reports, Crutcher was a preachers kid, and his parents were in the church when they learned the horrible news. Rev. Joey Crutcher and his wife Leanna were reportedly leading the rehearsal for Antiochs Baptist Churchs 57th anniversary. One of the first speakers was Solomon-Simmons, who matter-of-factly stated it couldve been his funeral or anyone who looks like him. It could have been me, he said because, just like Terence, Im 40 years old, and just like Terence, Im bald-headed, and just like Terence, some people think I look like a bad dude, but just like I am, Terence was not a bad dude. It seems like every day, there is a new story involving Muslim Americans being kicked off of planes, harassed online, assaulted on the street, or worse. With news of each new terrorist attack perpetrated by extremists in the United States and abroad, Islamophobia is on the rise. Donald Trump has made suspicion of American Muslims a pillar of his campaign, and discussions of blanket bans and religious tests for immigrants have become so regular as to be mundane. Muslims thus feel obligated to broadcast their all-American identity, whether by disguising their foreign-sounding names, changing their appearances, avoiding their native tongues, or obscuring their religious affiliations. Increasingly, Muslim Americans feel the need to make themselves appear as normal as possible by white, Christian standards. Whether through donning a hijab or appearing to speak Arabic, openly existing as Muslim has material consequences. Muslims thus attempt to combat Islamophobia by simply blending in. But true acceptance for Muslims will only come when those Muslims who wear their religious differences openly are seen as being just as American as those whose choices hew closer to the norm. Recommended: When Donald Meets Hillary: Who Will Win the Debates? There is a parallel between the situation of American Muslims and the standards of respectability often demanded of African Americans. In order to deter discrimination or even violence, some black Americans have sought to present themselves a certain way by dressing, speaking, or behaving in ways that put white people at easein other words, they go out of their way to try to command the kind of respect whites can expect by default. Many Muslims have been through this experience. Blacks make up one-third of the American Muslim population; they shoulder the double burden of prejudice based on both the color of their skin and their religious beliefs. But for black Americans, respectability politics have proven fruitless in tearing down the racism, both structural and personal, that they continue to face. Appearing respectable does not challenge society to actually reconsider its perceptions, it simply reinforces them. Prejudice persists, and the performance hinders black Americans ability to exist freely, encouraging not the abandonment of stereotype but the idea of exceptions to the rule. This experience should serve as a warning that Muslims efforts may be better spent elsewhere, rather than trying to adjust their behavior to suit their critics. Story continues A pair of videos provides a quick glimpse into what making Muslims appear normal often looks like, as well as the problems these efforts can create. The clips, from BuzzFeed and the filmmaker Tara Miele, feature diverse Muslim Americans describing themselves with declarations such as, Im Muslim, but Im not angry, Im Muslim, and I love dancing, I am a human, I am a mom, and I actually, like, really love Christmas movies. Recommended: The Four Donald Trumps You Meet on Earth While these clips may be designed to give Muslims a face and voice, they do so in a way that can undermine their aim.The videos include few traditional or conservative Muslims whose dress, accents, or descriptors are far from the norm. The implication that these Muslims are normal by American standards allows little space for Muslims who are not normaleven if that just means they dont like Christmas movies. The Americanness of Muslims should not be predicated on their ability to blend in. One of several response videos, which itself went viral, specifically critiques the mollifying aspect of these videos, preferring to assert political differences many Muslims may have. One participant sums up the response well: Im Muslim, but I dont need to prove my loyalty to you or anyone else. Partway through Mieles Meet a Muslim video, the participants speak about how fearful they have become. That can be a powerful motivation for wanting to appear normal to non-Muslims: At a time when hate crimes against Muslims are at a 15-year high, some feel they must employ all the tools at their disposal to protect themselves and those they love. Rather than attempting to expand the American norm to include Muslims of all stripes, the narrow standard for American normalcy is maintained. Muslim youth who have grown up in the shadow of 9/11 often make a point of highlighting the rappers, athletes, and other celebrities who share their religion. Amid the constant criticism and threats, they might see figures like Lupe Fiasco and Dave Chappelle as evidence that young Muslims have a place in American culture; its proof that their way of life is something someone cool or influential would buy into, and that they aren't weird. Muhammad Alis death last June had the thinnest of silver linings: For a moment, America remembered that a black Muslim man could be a hero, one who was unapologetic about the way his religion and race imbued his actions with purpose. Recommended: A College Is a Community but Cannot Be a Home Muslim women especially feel the burden to appear normal. Often, they are called upon to fit the Western image of a modern woman. With all the negative assumptions they face about their religion, they must actively assert their lack of oppression, rather than simply living it out in their daily lives. They may feel the need to minimize any complaints about their own Muslim communities so they do not add fire to accusations that Islam is uniformly hostile to women. The hijab, a veil worn by some Muslim women, is perhaps the most obvious symbol of Muslim identity, and can therefore lead to discrimination and even violence. The decision to wear a hijab places a target on ones back. Women like the Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, along with a plethora of fashion bloggers and Instagram stars, incorporate hijab into their daily, public lives, which will hopefully help to normalize the veil and reduce the risk other women face. A recent, high-profile attempt to normalize American Muslims came in July at the Democratic National Convention. Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of the Purple Heart recipient Humayun Khan, attempted to counter Donald Trumps Islamophobia by talking about their sons military service and death in Iraq. The gesture seemed to say, Muslims are Americans because they, too, will fight and die in our wars." Yet it is as American to join the army as it is to oppose and protest these wars. The Khans contribution was great and their platform deserved, but they cannot offer a standard for all American Muslims. If Trumps attacks on the Khans are any indication, the speech did little to truly normalize or humanize Muslims in the eyes of those whose minds have been made up against them. While many who are not usually particularly friendly to Muslims came out to support the Khans, surveys show that many Americans share Trumps suspicion of Muslims. In such a climate, even the ultimate sacrifice, and the ultimate display of American patriotism, managed to draw a backlash. That seems to be the fate of all Muslims efforts to blend in: rejection. These efforts can only bring exhaustion, along with the loss of distinctive elements of Muslim culture. Only by organizing politically, asserting themselves in the most American way of all, can they hope to make their true voice heard and eventually ensure their relative safety. They should not be afraid of displaying their customs, views, or practices that may appear different. Muslims should not shy away from the fact that their religion is different from the norm of their supposedly secular country. Rather, they must demand that their country accepts them as they are, for all the contributions they make, even if that means failing to look, sound, and act like what America has deemed normal. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologised Sunday after facing criticism for comments in which he seemed to compare a soldier currently on trial for manslaughter with troops killed in combat. In an interview broadcast on Saturday night, Netanyahu was asked if he regretted telephoning the father of Elor Azaria, on trial for shooting a Palestinian assailant in the head as he lay on the ground without posing any apparent threat. "Not at all," Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 2 television from New York, where he had attended the United Nations General Assembly, saying he told the soldier's father to trust the military and its judicial system. Asked if he telephoned other parents of soldiers accused of breaching the army's code of conduct, Netanyahu said "No". The premier, however, said that he "called many parents who were in distress after their sons were killed in action or had gone missing, or were killed in action and went missing." "The citizens of Israel are greatly distressed here," he said of the Azaria case. The front page of Sunday's Yediot Aharonot, Israel's top-selling newspaper and often hostile to Netanyahu, called it an "infuriating comparison". Netanyahu responded on Sunday. "I'm sorry if my remarks were misunderstood," Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page. "In no way did I intend on comparing between the pain of bereaved families, pain I'm very familiar with, to the condition of other parents in distress," wrote Netanyahu, whose brother Yonatan was killed while commanding a military operation. "There is no comparison, nor can there be any." Azaria's case has deeply divided Israeli public opinion, with top military brass condemning his actions and rightwing politicians arguing he has been unfairly treated. A military court in Jaffa was on Sunday holding a hearing in Azaria's trial, which began in May. A widely circulated video of the March 24 incident showed the Palestinian lying on the ground after stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier, according to Israeli authorities. Azaria, who was not at the scene during the alleged attack, then appears in the footage and is seen shooting him in the head without any apparent provocation. LAGOS (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. "A soldier was killed in action, while two soldiers were missing in action," said Usman. (Reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram and Tife Owolabi, in Yenagoa; Editing by Andrew Bolton and Hugh Lawson) brian chesky airbnb When it comes to startup founders, venture capitalist Jeff Jordan is looking for one quality in particular. Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky has it. Ben Silbermann, the founder and CEO of Pinterest, has it, too. And if a startup founder doesn't have it, it's harder to get funding, attract employees, or get attention from the press, Jordan says. So what is this mythical quality? Storytelling. "Every great founder can really tell a great story," Jordan, the former CEO of OpenTable who's now a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, told Business Insider. "Its one of the key things in a founder, that you can convince people to believe." Jordan describes Chesky as being "like P.T. Barnum" in his ability to tell the story of his company with emotional resonance. "Ive seen him get his entire company laughing and crying within five minutes," Jordan said. "Ben Silbermann has a very different style at Pinterest, but when he tells the story of what Pinterest is, it's very quiet and very unassuming. He did it to our LPs and theyre all leaning forward, trying to hear more." NOW WATCH: A Silicon Valley startup is using robots to make pizza More From Business Insider The suspect in the fatal shooting of five people at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, Washington, has been taken into custody, authorities announced late Saturday. Four women and one man were killed after a lone gunman opened fire inside the makeup department at a Macy's store inside the mall. Authorities launched a massive manhunt for the suspect, who could be seen carrying a gun through the store in surveillance footage. Authorities announced in a press conference that they had apprehended Acran Cetin as he was walking near his home in Oak Harbor, Washington, on Saturday night. According to Lt. Mike Hawley of the Island County Sheriff's Office, Cetin did not attempt to flee when he was confronted by authorities and was not armed at the time of his arrest. "He said nothing," Hawley said. "Just kind of zombie-like." Hawley said he recognized Cetin, 20, from the wanted posters and "did a quick turn" to confront the suspect. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? A "Click to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Authorities said Cetin immigrated from Turkey and was a legal permanent resident of the United States. According to authorities, he was arrested in Island County last year on a case of simple assault. It is not known what was the result of that arrest. As of Saturday night, authorities said they still did not know the motive behind the shooting but that they weren't ruling out the possibility of terrorism. However, they had previously stated that they had no indication that it was connected to terrorism. Authorities said on Saturday that Cetin's family have been in touch with police and have been cooperating with the investigation. In the press conference, authorities said that Cetin hadn't been formally charged yet and was being held at a jail while they reviewed the case. He is expected to appear in court on Monday. Los Angeles (AFP) - Authorities have arrested a Turkish-born man suspected of shooting five people dead, including a teenaged cancer survivor, at a shopping mall in the US state of Washington. Police named the suspect as Arcan Cetin, a 20-year-old resident of the nearby town of Oak Harbor, saying he was arrested late Saturday about 24 hours after the killings. The FBI office in Seattle said it had no evidence the shooting was terror-related. The gunman opened fire with a rifle in the makeup section of a Macy's department store late Friday, killing four women and a man, according to police. He later left the store on foot, triggering an intense manhunt. A weapon was recovered at the scene of the violence, Cascade Mall in Burlington, a town of about 8,000 people some 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Seattle. Police are still trying to establish a motive. The youngest victim was named as Sarai Lara, 16, who survived cancer as a young girl. Relatives named another victim as 52-year-old Shayla Martin, who worked as a Macy's makeup artist. "We're really having a tough time right now," her sister Karen Van Horn told The Seattle Times. - Details emerge on gunman - Authorities had initially described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late teens or early 20s. Members of the public called in with numerous tips that helped lead to the arrest, police said, adding that Cetin's family was cooperating. While Cetin was born in Turkey, he is a legal permanent resident of the United States, said Lieutenant Chris Cammock, criminal investigations chief for the Mount Vernon Police Department. He is due in court Monday. A Facebook page that appeared to belong to Cetin -- and which has since been taken down -- said he was born in the southern Turkish city of Adana. It also said went to Oak Harbor High School, which is about a 30-mile drive from Burlington, and had worked at a grocery store on nearby Whidbey Island. In February, he posted a link to a "Call of Duty" first-person shooter videogame practice session, in an eerie foreshadowing of the real world violence he is suspected of perpetrating. Story continues YouTube users posted lewd comments on that page and Cetin's Twitter page in response to the mall shooting. Police said Cetin had one prior arrest, last year, for assault. - 'Changed forever' - It was the latest chapter in America's epidemic of gun violence. 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. "We suffered a devastating loss of five treasured members of our community who had done nothing more than what we all would have done on any given day: gone to the shopping mall," he said. "It changed those families forever. And we keep them in our prayers. It changed our community, I'm afraid, forever." 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. "We are united in knowing that the status quo is not good enough when it comes to violence in our community," said Washington Governor Jay Inslee. "Passivity in the face of this scourge of violence is unacceptable." The shooter had walked in without a weapon, and appeared on security cameras about 10 minutes later with a rifle. The mall was evacuated, police swarmed the area and medics rushed to the scene after the mall was initially placed on lockdown. Local and regional law enforcement from up to 27 agencies responded to the scene, with about 200 officers on site at the height of the incident. Police took hours to clear the sprawling building. "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. 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." The mall was closed Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims. donald trump Donald Trump appears to be shrinking his deficit with Hillary Clinton in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, according to a poll of likely voters in the state released Sunday. The poll, conducted by Muhlenberg College and Morning Call, found the former secretary of state leading the Republican presidential nominee by 3 points in a head-to-head matchup, a 6-point drop from a similar survey conducted a week ago. Clinton still has a more significant lead in the state's aggregate. According to the RealClearPolitics average of recent reputable polls, Clinton has a 5-point lead over Trump. The Clinton campaign has focused much of its time and resources on Pennsylvania, a state whose 20 electoral votes are crucial to either candidate's path to securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. In the last several weeks, Clinton has deployed top surrogates to the state, including President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, populist firebrand Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and popular business leaders like billionaire investor Mark Cuban. Recent polls show the race tightening in several other key battleground states and nationally. A Washington Post poll of national voters found the candidates in a virtual dead heat heading into their first debate Monday night at Hofstra University. And a slew of Fox News polls released late last week found the real-estate magnate Nevada, North Carolina, and Ohio. After weeks of large Clinton leads, the RealClearPolitics average of each state now shows Trump with a slight edge in each state. NOW WATCH: DAVID CAY JOHNSTON: 'Donald Trump is literally making a profit off of his campaign' More From Business Insider Washington (AFP) - Pressure mounted on Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump Sunday as they head into their first presidential debate with a new poll showing them in a dead heat. Mind games were on display as Trump threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers, a former lover of Bill Clinton, to watch Monday's high-stakes battle of wits from a front-row seat. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said it was meant to show the New York billionaire had ways "to get inside the head of Hillary Clinton" but she told CNN there were no plans to invite Flowers. "It's a warning sign before the debate has even started about Donald Trump's lack of fitness, his bullying tactics that make him unfit to be president," said Clinton's campaign manager, Robbie Mook, on CNN. As many as 90 million people are expected to tune in when Trump and Clinton face off at Hofstra University in New York six weeks before the November 8 election. Many analysts say debates usually don't win a candidate the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence, or the slightest slip, can do serious damage. Clinton, 68, enters the fray with no cushion. A Washington Post-ABC News poll published Sunday found that her slim advantage from last month has evaporated. She is tied with Trump at 41 percent among registered voters, with Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson at seven percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at two percent, according to the poll. In a two-way match-up, Trump and Clinton were even at 46 percent of registered voters. The survey showed a statistical tie among likely voters as well. "I think this thing will be close right up until the end," said Clinton running mate Tim Kaine. "We have to make our case every day. The debates are a great way to do that." Plenty of American voters will have made a decision by now, to be sure. Most have. But nine percent by some estimates still don't know who to vote for, after a long campaign in which bitter attacks have often replaced talk of substance. Story continues And this year has been like none in the past, with Trump, 70, using social media around the clock in combative fashion, while often making mistakes, misstatements and blunders without troubling his base. President Barack Obama's former campaign manager David Axelrod called the debate Clinton's "final exam." "She will be facing an entirely different kind of opponent on Monday night," he warned in a New York Times opinion piece. - Clinton cram session - On Saturday, the New York Times endorsed Clinton, who ahead of the debates has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practicing with relatives playing Trump. She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can't control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs. If he reacts by attacking, Trump also risks losing women's votes; he already has a harder time with women voters, and they make up 53 percent of those who turn out. And any slip is sure to be a TV news sound bite. Clinton's campaign released a long list of lies it attributed to Trump ahead of the debate. Trump in turn says preparations are "going very well," trying to at least appear relaxed. On Friday he won the endorsement of former conservative rival Senator Ted Cruz. Trump took Friday to prepare, and still had to work Sunday on the debate. But he continued with campaign rallies on other days, including Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia. On Sunday, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and later issued a statement pledging to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital" if elected. - 'Be yourself' - Clinton, making her second presidential bid, is an old hand at debates and considered solid. In some ways, she may have more to lose. After almost 40 years of public service, she is very well versed on the issues, and 88 percent of Americans believe she is smart. But in the latest poll 66 percent say they do not find her honest. And 57 percent have a negative opinion of a woman they see as cerebral, distant or cold. Trump's negative numbers were virtually identical. Her image has been sullied by Trump attacks over her email scandal, the Clinton Foundation's alleged pay-to-play donations, and her ties to Wall Street. "Be yourself and explain what motivates you," Obama suggested to his former secretary of state, who as president would carry on the legacy of his two administrations. Trump has not yet experienced a presidential debate: 90 minutes of intense questioning, with only one opponent and a moderator, who on Monday will be NBC news anchor Lester Holt. But that does not worry the former reality TV star. He is good on his feet, and unpredictable, more comfortable in the limelight than on issues. He has promised to be "very respectful" with Clinton. Prince George rejected a high-five from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau upon arriving in the country with his parents and 16-month-old sister Princess Charlotte on Sunday. Trudeau greeted the royal family and knelt down to offer the shy Prince George, 3, his hand. The attempted high-five backfired when Prince George showed no interest in bonding with the prime minister. Trudeau joked with the family, saying, As any parent traveling with children knows, its a whole different experience when you bring your family with you. Sunday marked the first time the Prince William and Kate Middleton have visited Canada with their children. I want to commend you and thank you for introducing our part of the world to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Trudeau told the Duke and Duchess. Although let me caution you from my own experience, if they are anything like our kids, getting them back on the plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge. The royal family is on an eight-day tour of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Catherine and I are delighted to be back in Canada, Prince William said during a ceremonial welcome in Victoria, British Columbia. 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 usand we have never forgotten it. He continued, That is why we are so pleased that George and Charlotte can be with us in Canada this time round, beginning their own lifetime of friendship with this wonderful country. Victoria (Canada) (AFP) - Prince William and Kate arrived in British Columbia on Saturday for an eight-day trip during which they will view spectacular nature sites and meet with refugees and indigenous Americans. William, holding his son George by the hand, and Kate, with daughter Charlotte in her arms, stepped off their plane at around 4:00 pm (2300 GMT). George, 3, more interested in a helicopter hovering overhead than by protocol, and his year-old sister, wearing a smocked dress for her first foreign trip, climbed aboard a car with their parents headed for a gorgeous Victorian home where they are staying for the visit. The royal family was received an hour later at a ceremony with military honors and a 21-gun salute under blue skies on the lawn in front of the westernmost Canadian province's legislature on Vancouver Island. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remarked that this visit would be quite different for the royals, now that they are parents of two young children, compared to their last trip to Canada five years ago. "As any parent who has traveled with children knows, it's a whole different experience when you bring your family with you," said Trudeau, who has three young children of his own and joined many official visits when his father, Pierre Trudeau, was prime minister. "Let me caution you from my own experience, if they're anything like our kids, getting them back on a plane after a visit to our beautiful west coast will really be a challenge." "As Canada approaches its 150th anniversary next year, we're excited to meet and interact with the young people who will lead this country into its next few decades," William said, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd. "And in the year of the queen's 90th birthday, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to thank the people of Canada for the warmth and generosity they've extended to my grandmother throughout her reign." Story continues After a children's chorus sang the Canadian national anthem, William and Kate exchanged greetings with locals. The duchess of Cambridge, sporting a blue dress and matching hat, her hair gathered in a bun, wore a brooch in the shape of a maple leaf, Canada's national symbol. - Nature and health initiatives - This time, the prince and his wife will take in the natural beauty of Canada's Pacific coast, heading as far north as the rugged Yukon territory, and will also meet with indigenous people. George and Charlotte will stay with their nanny in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Royal fever has taken hold in the city of Victoria, where the provincial parliament has been decorated to welcome the British couple. Accompanied by the Trudeaus, the royal couple will begin their trip in earnest on Sunday in Vancouver by visiting a shelter for refugees and a home for children with mental disabilities. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, will also go with Sophie Trudeau to meet with women living at a drug rehabilitation residence. Vancouver has seen a spike in overdoses involving the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. The rest of the visit will take William and Kate to the island of Bella-Bella for a traditional indigenous ceremony at the foot of a totem poll, then for a hike through a rainforest before heading north to the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon, a wild, mountainous territory with a sparse population. Then they will stop off in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley in the south of the province, near the US border. For their fans, William and Kate have set aside time at the end of the trip for a big festival at which residents of Victoria will be able to snap photos of them and their kids. The family will leave Victoria by seaplane on October 1, before returning to Britain on their official plane. Some Canadians -- mainly those who dislike the royal family's expensive lifestyle -- are complaining about the cost of the visit for taxpayers. The cost of the trip to British Columbia and the Yukon will be disclosed after it is over. But when the couple visited in 2011, two months after their wedding, the trip cost Canadians Can$1.2 million ($0.91 million US). Mario Villasenor and his wife, Griselda Banales, say theyre pleased with customer response to their Senor Villa Mexican Grill & Bar restaurant, which opened two weeks ago in the former Jade Cafe location at 325 West Ave. N. in La Crosse. Its been really good, Villasenor said of customers comments. Thats because We have very reasonable prices, good food and a good environment for families, Banales said. The Mexican restaurant opened Sept. 11 after extensive remodeling. It has new furniture, flooring and kitchen equipment, and the interior has been painted in yellow, brown and coral colors. Villasenor said he and his wife have created a warm environment. Both are natives of La Piedad, Mexico. Theyve known each other since they were children, began dating in 1993 while both were attending McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and married in 1999. They have a son and a daughter. Villasenor also has a degree in business administration from Anahuac University in Mexico City. The family moved from Mexico to Eau Claire 10 years ago after being encouraged to do so by former La Piedad residents who owned a Mexican restaurant in Eau Claire. Villasenor had nine years of experience as a partner and manager at the restaurant, Cancun Mexican Grill on Clairemont Avenue, before deciding to sell his interest in the business and move to the La Crosse area to start his own restaurant. Here you have all the (college) students and its an area where people like to go out and eat, Villasenor said of La Crosse. I saw a great opportunity to come here and open this type of Mexican restaurant. The most popular menu items so far have been fajitas. Of those, the Fajitas Rancheras ranks as the biggest seller. Its made with grilled steak, chicken, shrimp and chorizo. Burritos also have been popular, especially the Senor Burrito. Its made with grilled chicken or steak and is topped with cheese sauce. Tacos have been big sellers as well, especially Tacos Pastor (marinated pork tacos topped with onion and cilantro), Tacos Carne Asada (grilled steak tacos topped with onion and cilantro) and Tacos Camarones (grilled shrimp tacos topped with lettuce, pico salsa and cheese). We also have very good seafood, Villasenor said. Theres a kids menu for children 11 and under. On Sundays, one child 11 and under can eat for free, for each adult in his or her group. Also, customers can have a free meal on their birthday. Patrons receive complimentary tortilla chips made at the restaurant, along with two types of salsa. The restaurant has a full bar. Senor Villa can seat about 140 people and has about 10 employees. Villasenor said the restaurants grand opening probably will be in six to eight weeks. Princess Kate and Prince William have made their latest stop on their Canadian tour: meeting with Syrian refugees. After visiting Sheway, a pregnancy outreach program located in downtown Vancouver, the couple visited the Immigrant Services Society, a charity that provides targeted programs for refugees as well as immigrants. While at the Immigrant Services Society, the couple met with Syrian refugees who were relocated through the UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency. The couple were met outside by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie, who had greeted the royal family when they arrived on Saturday. (Unfortunately Prince George is not a fan of Trudeau!) Video: William, Kate and the Trudeaus pic.twitter.com/B5hVEPeVPC a Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) September 25, 2016 Once inside, the royals met with refugees and families to hear about how the center had helped them adjust to their new life in Canada. TRH will meet this young family from Syria and hear firsthand how the services of @issbc have helped them settle in Canada. pic.twitter.com/arFYMfGr2b a Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 25, 2016 Prince William and Princess Kate Link Up with the Trudeaus to Meet Syrian Refugees in Vancouver| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William The royal couple departed from Victoria, Canada, on Sunday morning by taking a seaplane from the Victoria Harbor to their next destination - Vancouver, which is about 70 miles north of the capital of British Colombia. In Vancouver, they were scheduled will meet with dignitaries from the city before moving on to a series of engagements, including this meeting. Kate wore a white and red Alexander McQueen dress for the afternoon while William kept things simple with a black suit. Prince William and Princess Kate Link Up with the Trudeaus to Meet Syrian Refugees in Vancouver| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince William Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter. Prince George and Princess Charlotte did not join Will and Kate for their short day-trip in Vancouver. The royal couple will reunite with their little ones on Sunday night when they return to their home base at Government House. The royal foursome arrived in the country on Saturday to kick off their seven-day tour of western Canada. They were greeted on the tarmac by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie and were met with massive crowds in Victoria. They are slated to leave Canada on Oct. 1. Getty Bank of America Stadium Police in riot gear detain a demonstrator outside of Bank of America Stadium before an NFL football game between the Charlotte Panthers and the Minnesota Vikings September 25, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Protests have disrupted the city since Tuesday night following the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott at an apartment complex near UNC Charlotte. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Chanting No Justice! No Peace! as they converged outside Bank of America Stadium, about 100 people peacefully demonstrated the fatal police shooting of a black man. A heavy police presence surrounded the stadium, where officers dressed in black riot gear in preparation for a sixth day of protests following the shooting death of Keith Scott on Tuesday night. Any concerns that protests would keep fans from entering Sundays game between the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings were unfounded. As a field biologist, Lee White had spent years traversing some of West Africas most obscure rain forests, cataloging flora and tracking groups of chimps and gorillas. But all the while, he was hoping for a glimpse of something else: the rare forest elephants of the region. Smaller than the giant elephants we know, these pachyderms are famously elusive loners that prefer the cover of shaded forests to the open plains. But their ranks are dwindling, and today theyre found only in a few West and Central African countries. Theyre so difficult to spot that scientists count them by tracking their dung. Indeed, White had never come closer to them than their excrement until he arrived in Gabon in 1989. Armed with his trusty binoculars and GPS, he drove into the dense Gabonese forest, and within 10 minutes of maneuvering through the foliage, he spotted one: a female forest elephant, with its long, downward-pointing tusks and distinctive oval ears. The majestic creature was as surprised as White she charged his car. White was hooked. Gabon, he decided, was a paradise for biologists. Much has happened in the 27 years since that first fateful encounter. Once a mere science geek, White is now a modern-day conservationist armed, and a sworn officer of the state in charge of military police whose sole goal is to protect these gentle giants. Gettyimages 563449839 An African forest elephant basks in Gabons Loango National Park. Smaller and shyer than savanna elephants, forest elephants roam around in pairs, not herds. Source Rieger Bertrand/hemis.fr/Getty White, 51, is in title Gabons director of national parks; in practice, hes part scientist, part government official and part tourist impresario. Hes a zoological adventurer tasked with creating a business rationale for protecting Gabons wildlife, which means wooing travelers, playing politics and facing down poachers. So far, hes been able to implement a vision which has made Gabon one of the stellar conservation stories in Africa, says John G. Robinson, executive vice president at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Having someone with his skills and capabilities is a real bonus for the country. Story continues Whites is a major challenge. Elephant populations worldwide are plummeting, thanks to a cruel and profitable ivory trade operated by sophisticated global criminal networks. Of the 470,000 elephants remaining in Africa, around 90,000 are forest elephants. More than half of those live in Gabon. And theyre in even greater peril than previously thought: They reproduce three times more slowly than their savanna-dwelling counterparts, according to research published last month. It could take a century for their populations to recover from sustained poaching losses. Extinction is not unthinkable. Lee White, Head of Gabon National Parks Africa has lost 70% of its Forest Elephants in the last ten years #worthmorealive@kwskenya John Murton (@JohnMurton) April 29, 2016 Efforts to save these small-statured elephants are not unlike those required to save the rest of the environment. Forest elephants and their habitats are vital to maintaining the delicate balance of the planets ecosystems; a vast majority of the rain forest trees seeds will only germinate after passing through a forest elephants digestive tract. Tropical forests sustain a greater diversity of wildlife than any other environment some 80 percent of documented species and Gabons forests are part of one of the most critical systems: the Congo Basin, Africas Amazon. Gabon00048 Gabon is a hot spot for marine, freshwater and terrestrial biodiversity, says Marie-Claire Paiz, Gabon country director for The Nature Conservancy. Few other places in the continent have that overlap. Source Uriel Sinai The vast majority of equatorial forests vital carbon dioxide sinks are found in the developing world, where competing priorities like poverty reduction and economic growth often outshine conservation. Whites endeavor to change the landscape of conservation in Gabon exemplifies what is required to reorient a country around conservation: the convergence of science nerds, international funders, internal politics and armed forces. Already, Gabon is showing that the conservation payoff might be worth the price, perhaps enticing other developing countries to follow suit. After all, its the worlds least developed countries that will bear the brunt of climate change, stand to gain the most from conservation and may be least likely to tackle the challenge, knowing the cost. Gabon, a tiny nation sandwiched between Congo and the Atlantic, is jam-packed with rich zoological and botanical biodiversity. Some 88 percent of the country is covered in pristine rain forests, and in addition to shy elephants, is home to 35,000 chimps, 20,000 gorillas and groups of 1,000 mandrills (Rafiki from The Lion King) found virtually nowhere else on earth, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rwanda, by contrast, where Jane Goodall called home, is renowned for its gorilla population of fewer than 900. And Gabon has the ocean too. A fifth of the worlds humpback whales pass the shoreline, and its the only country in the world where elephants, crocodiles and hippos walk along the beach together, says White. The overcrowded rain forests make for a field biologists dream. White, for a long time more hard-core scientist than public-facing conservationist, completed many of the first national forest surveys himself. In the savanna, biologists count animals by car or overhead by plane, but Gabons forests are so dense in parts that one must trek on foot. And some animals, like pangolins and duikers, are seen only after dark. If youre feeling brave, you go out on a transect at night, says White. Its a bit like swimming in murky water while toting gear and wearing headlamps. One night, he accidentally stumbled upon a group of sleeping gorillas and startled them awake. Suddenly, a gorilla charged him from behind, screaming at the top of its voice. It was so dark the gorilla missed White by a meter he wouldve been crushed to death and kept running and yelling until White was left surrounded by only an eerie silence. *** Some melodrama is required to save animals and land that many would rather not spend resources on. There are those like British-born White, who play the political theater by canoodling up to the cradles of power White has befriended President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose recent re-election has been mired in allegations of fraud, and was responsible for convincing Alis late father, who ruled Gabon for three decades, of the necessity of conservation. In 2002, White joined forces with National Geographic explorer J. Michael Fay, who had just spent three years walking more than 2,000 miles from Congo through Gabon to raise global awareness about conservation. The two men presented Bongo the elder with Fays photos and Whites forest surveys. On the spot, White says, the leader created 13 national parks; White promised hed find a way to match whatever money the government put toward them. Eco guards 2 Eco-guards patrol the Oua river in North West Gabon. Rivers are often used as quick ways to export poached ivory and other bush meat out of the jungle. Source James Morgan In principle, convincing the government of an economically stratified nation to spend money on elephants should not be easy. But over the 18 years White was country director for Wildlife Conservation Society, he grew increasingly close with the government of Bongo the elder. He was actually playing both sides of the fence, if you will, says Robinson. Not every conservationist would take the same tack, especially while deploying large amounts of funding from donors like the United States. Eventually, White chose the government. Today, Whites as much a presidential adviser as an employee. (Representatives of the presidents office did not comment, citing Gabons electoral crisis.) Perhaps cozying up to a potential dictator-in-the-making is the price to pay for conservation success. When Bongo introduces White at events, he calls him the White Bantu, jokingly White has been a Gabonese citizen for a decade. Lees turned out to be a skilled politician, says Marie-Claire Paiz, Gabon country director for The Nature Conservancy. Yes, hes very close to the president, and hes able to build trust with the highest leaders of power in the country. But also, hes a trained scientist who understands the scientific realities and the ecology. That, she says, makes him credible. Gabon00087 Embattled President Ali Bongo Ondimba has made Green Gabon a key pillar of his platform. It aims to conserve the environment and boost tourism. Source Uriel Sinai Its almost as if White were groomed to play the continents politics. His father, a university professor, moved the family to Uganda when White was 3. Little White grew up fighting with then-president Idi Amins son in school Im gonna tell my dad to kill your dad was young Amins favorite threat, according to White. Outside the classroom, he became intimate with wildlife. His mom even adopted a chimpanzee White remembers her carrying his younger sister in nappies on one hip and the chimp on the other. But the familys time in East Africa was cut short when Amins Uganda became too crazy, White says. He was 9. White didnt stay away from Africa for long. With high school diploma in hand, he took a low-paying job heading up primate conservation on a tiny river island in Sierra Leone. Whites work helped turn that island into a community preserve that still exists. But being a scientist at heart, White pursued a zoology degree from the University of London, then a Ph.D. with a focus on tropical ecology, with fieldwork in Gabon. Between degrees he spent time in Nigeria, where he rediscovered a species of monkey that scientists thought was extinct and helped create the Okomu and Cross River National Parks. He remembers spending the weeks arresting poachers with the Nigerian police in the forest and the weekends listening to jazz at Fela Kutis club in Lagos. For White, those years in Africa werent time abroad; he was at home. When asked, he says he feels more African than anything else. His vision for his new home country is to use the national parks to make Gabon a luxury vacation destination, placing it in the fray with the safari worlds of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. His goals, set by the government, are lofty: 10,000 tourists by Year 5 and 100,000 in 15 years. (Still far behind Kenyas 1.2 million visitors to 100 lodges, but a moonshot for a country that saw barely a thousand foreign tourists last year.) Part of Gabons challenge is playing catch-up French colonialists didnt emphasize conservation the way the Brits did, and the schism lingers. Beyond language and science, Whites mission requires him to woo the worlds top luxury tour operators and lodges, which would grow Gabons nascent tour industry to international class standards. So far, hes signed two companies to open nine hotels and lodges. Today the countrys accommodations are run in an amateurish way, he says, with attendants sometimes forgetting to stock the bar with beer, wine and liquor. But none of that matters not his home, not the cushiest of cabins for his guests, not even the political instability in Gabon unless the elephants themselves have a home. And that is far from guaranteed. *** Whenever Whites phone rings, he looks to see if the callers number starts with 8816 the code that demarcates a satellite phone which could be terrible news. His breath catches in his chest. Someone may have died a ranger, a poacher or yet another elephant. Poachers used to retreat when park rangers arrived on a scene, but these days, he says they shoot Kalashnikovs and .458 rifles on sight. Earlier this year, White got the call: A ranger was shot in the lower leg in Gabons Minkebe National Park, where some 20,000 elephants have been killed in the last 15 years. He managed to get a helicopter into the remote forest, but it landed in a swamp and half sank. Eventually they flew the man to safety and he recovered, after nearly bleeding to death. I feel often like Ive fallen into a James Bond film, White says. To combat this increasingly armed and sophisticated threat, White is developing a force of highly trained rangers with help from U.S. Marines and British special forces who care enough to help with training because money from ivory fuels armed conflict and other illicit trades. The so-called eco-guards often face off against poachers hired by the Cameroonian military, according to White. If true, theres a cruel irony at work: The United States, after all, is backing the Cameroonian military in its fight against Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram. Whites frustration is palpable. Sometimes the poachers arent what youd expect: Two years ago, White was in Minkebe when park rangers arrested a young Pygmy boy, who looked about 12. The kid said hed been kidnapped-slash-hired (the line is not always clear) from a school in southern Cameroon by people from the local military base and made to help them with their dirty work. You can arrest one or 10 poachers, but for the trafficker, its nothing. He can recruit 20 more. So you have to arrest the trafficker, says Luc Mathot, founder and director of Conservation Justice, a Gabon-based antipoaching enforcement organization. Which is where Whites political efficacy may come in: Gabons maximum jail sentence for ivory trafficking or killing wildlife is six months, compared to 10 years in Burkina Faso, four in Congo-Brazzaville and life in Kenya. Just last month, Mathot and his team of undercover detectives nabbed a Gabonese forestry official with nearly 800,000 euros worth of ivory an inside job. The director of antipoaching within the Forestry Ministry resisted sending the man to jail. So Mathot did what he usually does, and WhatsApped White. They next day the matter was sorted and the accused went to jail. White is close with the president so he can make pressure, so thats how we work, says Mathot. And yet, victory will be short-lived: After six months, the official will likely take up his government post again. White says proposed legislation would punish poaching with a minimum of four years, and up to life, in prison. Of course, Whites job is as much about protecting people from elephants as it is protecting elephants from poachers that tension pervades wildlife conservation efforts the world over. Why, some locals ask, spend money to save the animals when you cant even save us? Elephant killings in the north are driving the creatures from forests into populated areas, encroaching on law-abiding Gabonese and trampling their crops. Many rural Gabonese feel theyre being punished for the deeds of foreign poachers, says White. So far, the park service installed electric fencing around vulnerable villages, but hasnt done much else to assuage the worries of farmers. And so, Whites elephants loomed large in the recent election. This month, White says, a mob attacked two park staff members with machetes and torched the national herbarium, filled with century-old plant specimens from around the country. The staffers survived and so did the most of the plants White managed to relocate them to his own office. But he still cant shake a certain rumor, rooted in a local myth, that powerful men can transform into leopards or elephants. White has been accused of destroying crops personally as an elephant. Related Articles JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - President Jacob Zuma has received the latest call for his resignation from his own brother, according to a media report, as the South African leader clings to power despite a string of scandals. Zuma's younger brother Michael urged him to quit or risk being killed, the Sunday Times reported. The president has survived accusations of corruption and even rape before he took office in 2009, showing no signs of leaving office before 2019 when he is required by law to step down after two five-year terms. "My brother is having a very difficult time and I have never seen such difficulty," said Michael Zuma, speaking from the family's rural home of Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province. "My brother has such difficulty in such a way that you fear that they are going to kill him," he said, without elaborating on any death threats. Presidential spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga said he could not comment on family matters, while State Security Minister David Mahlobo told Reuters he could not comment on Zuma's safety. "We never discuss any security details of the president," he said. The leader of Africa's most industrialised nation has faced calls to quit from several members of the African National Congress (ANC) after the ruling party suffered its worst losses in municipal elections in August. But the ANC's top echelons have backed the president. On Thursday, anti-apartheid campaigner Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a former first lady and wife of the late Nelson Mandela, said South Africa needed fresh leadership, but stopped short of asking Zuma to resign. The opposition failed in a bid to remove Zuma through a motion of no-confidence in parliament in April following a scandal over lavish improvements including a swimming pool and amphitheatre at his Nkanlda home. Zuma has since paid back the money spent on non-security features. (Reporting by James Macharia; Editing by Clelia Oziel) Every writer dreams of selling the movie rights to their work, all the more so when a famous actor is putting up the money. But when Stephen Elliott optioned his memoir The Adderall Diaries to the super-prolific indie star James Franco, the dream became more of a journey down the rabbit hole. The experience is reflected in Elliotts dream-like no-budget docu-drama After Adderall, in which the writer plays himself and slowly comes to the realisation that he hasnt just sold his story, he has also given away the rights to his life. Some scenes are exaggerated, some are invented, some are verbatim, but Elliott insists that its an extremely accurate depiction of the experience as he lived it. In a weird way, he says, fiction can get at the truth better than non-fiction. Shot in eight days for just $10,000, After Adderall has the look of a much more expensive movie, thanks in part to some well-known names in the cast (Elliott recruited Michael C Hall and Lili Taylor via friends in the literary world) and some experienced hands in the tech department, notably DoP Adrian Peng Correia and editor Michelle Botticelli. Interestingly, though, Elliott has no commercial plans for After Adderall, and aside from its current festival run, which ends in November in Key West, its unlikely that the film will see any form of distribution (Its basically a student movie, he jokes). Instead, Elliott sees his film as a creative experiment. Its a really, really literary movie, he explains. Its much more like a book than most movies are. Where did the inspiration for After Adderall come from? Id written a book called The Adderall Diaries after not writing for a couple of years. It was my seventh book. Id got involved in the murder trial of this guy that had girlfriends in common [with me]. Hed confessed to eight murders; it was a very sensational, crazy murder trial. In meantime, my father had also confessed to a murder in his unpublished memoir I had been looking into that for a long time and had not really been able to find out very much about it. The book was a combination of those two things, a very artful exploration of meaning and truth, and I was surprised when James Franco decided to option it. Although I didnt think too much of it, to be honest, because I figured these things get optioned all the time and nobody ever actually makes them. Did he say why he liked it? He told me that he had found my book because I gave a lecture about it in one of his classes [at Columbia]. But he wasnt actually there that day. Somebody had videotaped the lecture he had seen the tape of the lecture, and that was why hed bought the rights to my memoir. Which struck me as so bizarre: he bought it because he saw me talk about it. Not because he read it! What happened next? I asked James if I could write the script and he said, Yeah. So I wrote a script for him, and everybody on the team liked the script, and that was that. A couple of years passed and then I got a note from James asking me to meet and talk about The Adderall Diaries. I go to meet him and hes not there, instead there are these two graduate students. That was the beginning of the weirdness. How weird did it get? Well, a bunch of time passed, and they actually ended up making the movie. They shot the movie just a few blocks from where I was living. I went to go on set and they said no, I wasnt allowed on set. Then they started test-screening the movie, and I was hearing from friends who were going to these screenings. I asked if they wanted me to see an edit and give them my feedback, and they said, No, thats OK. Then I found out it was playing at the Tribeca film festival, because it was in the newspapers. They contacted me to ask me a question about the credits, and I said, Arent you going to tell me that youre playing Tribeca? They apologised and gave me tickets to the premiere. I was so inspired by the premiere, and the kind of absurdity and the surrealness of seeing your memoir, your life portrayed on screen by these famous actors, that it got me thinking about questions of identity. Who owns your story, and can you ever be authentic when telling your own story? So I wrote the script for After Adderall. How long did it take? It took me two weeks. It just flowed out of me. Id been working full time for a magazine called Epic and I had some money, so I decided just to make it. I shot it in eight days, on $10,000, and that was it. It was super easy. I didnt have contracts with any of the actors because I never had any intention of selling distribution or making any money from it. Nobody worried about being ripped off because we were all not making money together. We made it, and it turned out great. It was an amazing creative experience, because once you take the profit motive out of a project it becomes really, really fun. Does James Franco know about the film? Did you run it just past him? No, I didnt. Im sure he knows about it by now, its been around for a while and Ive certainly not been hiding it. Ive been promoting it. I havent talked to him in a long time and Im not sure what his feelings are. It seems like the kind of movie he would like, but I dont know, I dont understand him at all. I dont really know he feels about anything. At the same time, its not an angry film did you ever worry about people thinking you were bitter about the experience? I definitely did not want my movie to be about settling a score or getting revenge, or anything like that. It just inspired me, so [Francos] movie was a gift, in a lot of ways. It sold books and I got a chunk of money. Not crazy money, but $85,000 dollars is a lot. The biggest part was that it inspired me to write this movie, and inspiration is hard to come by. Writing is not easy for me. How have audiences reacted to the film? Its very easy to tell if its working or not, its very objective. If people laugh, it works, if they dont, it doesnt work. The response has been really, really good so far. Raindance is the first big festival that were playing at, so its the first time that any kind of real media information about the movie is getting out there. In all honesty, I dont see this movie ever being distributed widely. Maybe more of a cult film, a midnight showings kind of movie. I dont think Im even going to put it online. What do you hope for it? Ideally maybe somebody will see it and theyll ask me to act in their movie, or Ill get to write for some other media projects. Id love to do more film and television writing. Im such an outsider to these worlds, even in the literary world. Ive always just been an outsider I just do these things and hope for the best, really. Related stories Raindance Opening Weekend: Elliot Grove's Highlights - Shorts Programme, 'After Adderall' and 'A Plastic Ocean' Raindance Film Festival: UK-Ibero-American Co-Production Forum Offers 'A Friendly Space of Collaboration' Raindance Film Festival Widens Its Reach Credit: AKM-GSI When it comes to style, this Barbados native will never ever be accused of stepping out in anything that's less than 100% Rihanna. On Thursday evening, the Anti songstress visited one of her oft-frequented Manhattan nightclubs, Up&Down. Rihanna also celebrated her 2016 VMAs Video Vanguard Award at the West Village club in late August, where she schmoozed with rapper pal Drake, Jaden Smith, and Amber Rose. The "This Is What You Came for" diva arrived in style, showcasing her unique flair in what can be described as a pleated, off-the-shoulder sweat suit. RiRi complemented the heather gray ensemble with a gold chain-link choker, a gold and diamond Huckleberry Ltd. "Don't Trip" necklace ($5,000; huckleberryltd.com), ivory sunglasses, a Louis Vuitton handbag, and a pair of white Fenty x Puma lace-up boots with black racing stripes. Rihanna wore a bold red lip with the club-ready outfit, and topped off her look (literally) with a polished topknot. RELATED: Rihanna's Fenty Puma Collection to Debut at Paris Fashion Week--& Here's How to Watch It Live VIDEO: Favorite Rihanna Beauty Moments All hail the master of on-trend comfort and the queen of Drake's heart. Roy Nelson took out Antonio Bigfoot Silva on the main card at UFC Brasilia on Saturday night in Brasilia, Brazil. Nelson landed one of his notable right hands before applying the ground and pound for the knockout at 4:10 of the second round. RELATED > UFC Brasilia: Cyborg vs. Lansberg Live Results and Fight Stats As the fight started, Nelson looked to load up his notorious right-overhand punch to put the fight away early, but Silva did well to keep him at bay with kicks. The two would exchange punches when within close range, but none landed with significant damage. The first round ended with the two breaking away from a minute-long clinch. In the second round, Nelson began to find his spot with the right hand more and more. He threw a counter-fight uppercut that landed flush and sent Silva falling back and down to the floor. While there, Nelson pursued his fallen opponent and pounded away with punches to the head before referee John McCarthy stopped the contest. Following the stoppage, Nelson was visibly upset with McCarthy, throwing what appeared to be a shoving kick to the referee as the official was checking on Silva. Nelson said in his post-fight interview that he felt he already won and then questioned why McCarthy felt he should allow more punching to Silva when the downed fighter was already out. He's my friend, Nelson said his beaten opponent. He has to go home to his family. With the win, Nelson jumps back in the win column and picks up his 14th career KO/TKO. Follow MMAWeekly.com on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 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. 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 II's 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 George's 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 Royal Fab 4 Take Canada! William, Kate, George and Charlotte Touch Down for Their Big Tour| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte 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. A (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 couple's 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 A most likely to be a children's 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 couple's spokesman said at the palace briefing. Story continues Video: Super cute George waving for the cameras!! #RoyalVisitCanada pic.twitter.com/iH0qxlTktO a Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) September 24, 2016 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 Canada's First Nations communities, its arts and culture, pristine and beautiful environment, and its compassionate and innovative charitable sector." Soon after landing today, as George and Charlotte settle in for the night, the royal couple will head to British Columbia's Parliament Buildings, where they will officially open their tour by paying respects at Victoria's Cenotaph and will unveil a new plaque paying tribute to the veterans of Canada's involvement in the Afghanistan conflict. At the time, the official welcome to Canada will be made with an honor guard, with crowds of well-wishers expected on Victoria's waterfront close-by. Related Video: Hear from the Australian fan who dared to kiss Prince Harry This will be William and Kate's "chance to say hello to the people of Canada just hours after touching down in the country," the spokesman said at the briefing. This is the couple's second major tour of the year, following their visit to India and Bhutan in April. And the travel isn't over yet Kate is off to the Netherlands for a day next month, while William heads to Vietnam in November. Prince George and Princess Charlotte are getting their first look at Canada! Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children have officially touched down in Victoria, British Columbia, for their visit with our neighbors up north. The trip is their first family tour since welcoming Charlotte in May 2015. WATCH: Princess Charlotte Is Headed to North America on Her First Royal Tour! The family gracefully exited their plane on Saturday afternoon, adorably color-coordinated in shades of blue. Getty Images Kate wowed in a blue Jenny Packham suit with matching fascinator and Queen Elizabeth's diamond maple leaf brooch as she held 16-month-old Charlotte, who wore a baby blue dress and cute bow. Getty Images RELATED: Kate Middleton and Prince William Officially Announce Royal Tour of Canada in September -- Check Out All the Details! Prince George, 3, was adorably dressed in a blue sweater, shorts and knee-high socks, while his dad, Prince William, wore a classic navy suit and striped tie. Getty Images Getty Images The family of four was warmly greeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his fashionably-dressed wife, Sophie, as well as other dignitaries. Getty Images The royal family is set to be in Canada through Oct. 1, where they'll enjoy tours of Vancouver, Kelowna, Yukon, Victoria and Haida Gwaii and learn about mental health issues as well as the country's youth and indigenous population. WATCH: Prince William Gets Candid About 'Rewarding' Job as Emergency Pilot: 'I Am One of the Team' There will also be kid-friendly fun during the tour, as the royals are set to visit the Great Bear Rainforest on British Columbia's Central Coast on Monday and later attend a children's party at Government House. While William and Kate will be keeping their children close throughout the tour, they recently opened up about their fears as parents. See more in the video below. Related Articles Its owner has converted The Viking Inn supper club at 113 N. Main St. in downtown Viroqua to The Eatery Cafe, which made its debut Friday. Amy Jo Fischer bought The Viking Inn a year ago. She said last week that she found the business as a theme was a dinosaur. So she closed it in mid-August to redecorate and reinvent. The Eatery Cafe is a cafe and a coffeehouse, Fischer said, adding We have a world-class espresso maker from Italy and take our coffee very seriously. The coffee comes from New Morning Coffee Roasters in Appleton, Wis. The cafe has a kickback area with couches and games, where people can plug in their laptop computers, hang out, do homework or just enjoy coffee or a bite to eat, Fischer said. We changed the decor to a more family-friendly, fun diner-type atmosphere, and also sectioned off the bar area to be half coffee, half alcohol, she said. The cafe opens at 8 a.m. except on Tuesday, when it is closed. The kitchen probably will close at 8 p.m. except on Friday and Saturday when it will close at 9 p.m., Fischer said early last week. The breakfast menu includes bagels, breakfast sandwiches and organic oatmeal. The lunch and dinner menu includes such things as burgers, a variety of other sandwiches, steak, pork chops, broasted chicken, soup and pizza. Open mic nights will be on Wednesdays and possibly Saturdays. Fischer invites musicians to contact the cafe about performing there. For more information, call 608-637-7398 or visit www.eaterycafeviroqua.com or the cafes Facebook page. Joe and Rhonda Sexton, who operated Flowers by Guenthers at 310 Sand Lake Road in Onalaska from 2000 to 2013, plan to reopen the flower shop within a couple weeks. They had been leasing the building to a couple who operated the business until it closed a few weeks ago. We got it back, Joe Sexton said last week. The quicker we get it open again, the better. The Sextons recently moved back to the area from North Padre Island, Texas, where Joe had been a barber. The past two years, he had operated his own barber shop kiosk which he has moved inside the Onalaska flower shop. It looks like a big barber pole, he said of the shiny red, white and blue kiosk. Sexton said a couple prospects have expressed interest in buying the flower shop business. Even if the Sextons do sell it, he hopes to keep his Barber Joe kiosk inside and continue to cut hair there. Ill be a barber here until Im 100, Sexton joked. The barber kiosk might open before the flower shop reopens, he said. Hours for both the flower and barber businesses probably will be 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Sexton said. For more information, visit www.barberjoe.com or www.flowersbyguenthers.com. The latter website is being redone and will be up soon, Sexton said. Friday will be the last day for the Flair Hairstyling salon at 2412 State Road in the Village Shopping Center in La Crosse, owner Bill Freier said. Freier said he has decided to close his salon which hes owned since 1984 because of a shortage of hair stylists and because he will be 70 years old in February and wants to cut back and spend more time with family. He said he told his staff on Sept. 13 that he plans to close the salon, and within two days, five of its hair stylists had found jobs elsewhere and a sixth decided to retire. Freier said he has had difficulty filling hair stylist positions this year because stylists are in short supply. A total of 16 people work at the salon, and Freier said he believes most of them have found new jobs. Besides owning the salon, he is a massage therapist there. Ill probably continue with massage therapy by renting a space somewhere in the area, he said. For more information, visit www.flairhairstyling.com or the salons Facebook page. The new Ohana Yoga Studio at 126 S. Leonard St. in downtown West Salem will open with an open house from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2, and classes will begin Oct. 3. The new studio is owned by Tina Wehrs, Beth Foor, Sarah Allen and Kelly Nedvidek. Its in the former location of The Rusty Awning bistro and gift shop, which closed at the end of April. The studio will offer several types of yoga classes, and two massage therapists rent space in the studio. Wehrs said the yoga studio also will offer workshops and retreats in the future, both at the studio and out in nature. Yoga classes will be offered Monday through Saturday, and Sunday classes might be added in the future, depending on demand, Wehrs said. To sign up or for more information, visit www.ohanayogastudio.com. The studio also is on Facebook. Its new owner plans no major changes in the Days Inn hotel on French Island, the hotels new general manager says. Twin City Lodging LLC, which is based in Roseville, Minn., and owns several other hotels, bought the hotel Aug. 24, said Naresh Desai, who became its general manager the same day. Desai previously was general manager of the Days Inn Pittsburgh Airport hotel in Pennsylvania. The French Island hotel was sold by R&R Development LLC, a corporation controlled by the Cleary family of La Crosse. It opened in 1973 as a Ramada Inn. A Cleary family corporation bought it in 1990 and immediately converted it to a Days Inn. The hotel has 146 guest rooms and about 50 employees. Stone Works LLC has opened at 1415 James St. in Bangor. The business opened in May and is owned by Bob and Rose Diehlmann and Gerald Olson. It makes and sells cultured stone and concrete products. We manufacture our own stone, Bob Diehlmann said. We are not a dealer and can keep our prices lower than our competitors. We are unique in design and formulated to capture the look and feel of natural stone. Stone Works also makes concrete products such as lions, benches, tables, stepping stones and lawn ornaments. For more information, call 608-486-1529 or visit www.stoneworksbyrrg.com or the firms Facebook page. Michelle and Scott Schultz soon will open Growing Stars Child Development Center at 711 W. Montgomery St. in Sparta. Its in the former location of the Childfirst daycare center, which closed last December. The Schultzes bought the three-story building last spring and have renovated it. Some new features include new flooring, LED lighting and high-definition cameras. The 6,775-square-foot facility can accommodate up to 90 children. It will care for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Michelle Schultz has 20 years of childcare experience. Scott Schultz recently retired from the Army. For more information, call 608-269-2271 or visit www.growingstarscdc.com or Growing Stars Facebook page. LONDON (Reuters) - Russia is guilty of prolonging the war in Syria and may have committed war crimes by targeting an aid convoy, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said in an interview aired on Sunday. A 31-truck convoy was attacked on Monday night, killing around 20 civilians. U.S. officials believe Russian aircraft were responsible for the strike, but Moscow has denied involvement. "(Russia) are guilty of protracting this war and making it far more hideous," Johnson told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. "When it comes to instances such as the bombing of aid targets in Aleppo, we should be looking at whether or not that targeting is done in the knowledge that those are wholly innocent civilian targets, that is a war crime." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Mark Potter) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Reaching an agreement to stabilize global oil prices, including a possible deal to freeze output, is "non-critical" for Russia, its Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on Sunday. "For us, in principle, it's non-critical, but we believe that the process of market rebalancing could be advanced. It's beneficial for all," RIA quoted Novak as saying. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26-28, where they will discuss a possible output-limiting deal. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Mark Potter) AMMAN (Reuters) - Russian and Syrian forces bombed a strategic camp on the northern edge of Aleppo on Sunday after losing control of it overnight, both rebels and the Syrian army said. Rebels said the army used more powerful weapons in an attempt to recover Handarat, a Palestinian refugee camp a few kilometers north of the Aleppo which is on elevated ground overlooking one of the main roads into Aleppo that had been in rebel hands for years. "We retook the camp, but the regime burnt it with phosphorous bombs ... We were able to protect it, but the bombing burnt our vehicles," said Abu al-Hassanien, a commander in a rebel operations room that includes the main brigades fighting to repel the army assault. The army which is being helped by Iranian-backed militias, Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah militant group and a Palestinian militia, acknowledged rebels had retaken Handarat, whose capture on Saturday briefly marked the first major ground advance by the army in a new offensive to recapture rebel held Aleppo. "The Syrian army is targeting the armed groups positions in Handarat camp," a military source was quoted on state media as saying. The army announced on Thursday the start of a major new military campaign to regain Aleppo, intensifying strikes and use of powerful weapons that rebels said was an "shock and awe" campaign aimed at creating devastation and demoralizing them. Russian planes also continued their pounding of residential parts of Aleppo, with whole buildings flattened, according to rebels and residents. The assault on Aleppo, where more than 250,000 civilians are trapped, 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. Two weeks after Moscow and Washington announced a ceasefire that quickly unraveled, 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. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Editing by Mark Potter) Roughly a year after multiple food safety outbreaks at Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) hit the companys reputation and share price hard, the restaurant chain is still trying to lure back its lost customers. The latest data from TickerTags indicate that Chipotles most recent effort may have fallen flat. TickerTags monitors social media sites to identify trends by searching for words or phrases that appear together in social media content, such as tweets. Related Link: Twitter's NFL Streaming Debut Draws Positive Social Media Reviews On July 1, Chipotle launched its first-ever customer rewards program. Chipotia gives customers up to three free entrees for every increment of three to four entree purchases per month. Additional bonuses can be earned via more purchases. While Chipotle fans have been calling for a rewards program for years, social media data suggests the Chipotia program hasnt been enough to lure back lost customers. Social media mentions of Chipotle coupled with lunch, dinner, and line remain down 60 percent from their pre-outbreak levels. Not surprisingly, Chipotles stock remains down 43.3 percent from where it was a year ago as well. Just this week, CEO Steve Ellis appeared in a new video on Chipotles website to try a different approach to getting customers back: taking responsibility. Ellis said that the company let our customers down and failed to live up to our own food safety standards. In addition to a series of new food safety measures, Ellis also announced that an independent advisory council will continuously review the companys food safety performance. Full ratings data available on Benzinga Pro. Do you have ideas for articles/interviews you'd like to see more of on Benzinga? Please email feedback@benzinga.com with your best article ideas. One person will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon gift card! See more from Benzinga 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. By Ju-min Park and Tony Munroe SEOUL (Reuters) - From kicking out North Korean workers and ending visa-free travel for its citizens, to stripping flags of convenience from its ships, Cold War-era allies from Poland to Mongolia are taking measures to squeeze the isolated country. More such moves, with prodding from South Korea and the United States, are expected after North Korea recently defied U.N. resolutions to conduct its fifth nuclear test. North Korea's limited global links leave most countries with few targets for penalizing the regime on their own. Mounting sanctions over the years have made Pyongyang more adept at evasion and finding alternative sources for procurement, a recent paper by experts at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found. Nonetheless, South Korea has been especially active in pushing the North's allies for unilateral action in hopes of reining in Pyongyang's arms program. "If long-standing friends of North Korea continue to publicly curb their ties with the country, Pyongyang will have fewer places overseas where its illicit networks can operate unhindered or with political cover from the host capital," said Andrea Berger, deputy director of the proliferation and nuclear policy program at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). South Korean officials have declined to say whether they have made inducements to countries to punish North Korea. "Presumably in the course of that diplomatic interaction it is also being made clear to Pyongyang's partners that deeper trade ties with economies like South Korea will not be fully realizable" without taking steps against North Korea, Berger said. Angola, for one, has suspended all commercial trade with Pyongyang, banning North Korean companies from operating there since the U.N. toughened sanctions in March, a South Korean foreign ministry official told Reuters recently. Angola was suspected of buying military equipment in 2011 from North Korea's Green Pine Associated Corp, which is under U.N. sanction, according to a 2016 U.N. report. North Korea had also cooperated with Angola in health care, IT and construction, South Korea's embassy there said in December. Angolan officials did not respond to requests for comment, but the country told the U.N. in July it had not imported any light weapons from North Korea in recent years. North Korea's export of cheap labor has also been targeted. Earlier this year, Washington urged countries to curb the use of North Korean workers, who number roughly 50,000 and generate between $1.2 billion and $2.3 billion annually for Pyongyang, according to a 2015 U.N. report. Poland, which hosted as many as 800 North Korean workers, according to some estimates, this year stopped renewing visas, as did Malta. Travel restrictions have also increased, with Ukraine recently revoking a Soviet-era deal that allowed visa-free visits for North Koreans. Singapore, which has been a hub for North Korea-linked trade, will require visitors from the country to apply for visas starting next month, its immigration authority said in July. DE-FLAGGED The vast majority of North Korea's trade is with China, and experts warn sanctions will have limited impact without Beijing's backing. China condemns Pyongyang's nuclear program but is also its chief ally and is unwilling to pressure leader Kim Jong Un's regime too far, fearing a collapse that would destabilize the entire region. That means agreeing significantly tightened U.N. sanctions could be difficult. Some of the most tangible results of recent efforts to isolate North Korea have seen countries ban its ships from their registries. North Korean-owned vessels are suspected of using other flags to camouflage the movement of illicit cargo. Landlocked Mongolia, which is among Pyongyang's steadiest allies but also has close ties with Seoul, canceled the registrations of all 14 North Korean vessels flying its flag, according to a report it submitted to the U.N. in July, even though sanctions compelled it to act on just one of them. Cambodia, once the most popular flag of convenience for North Korea, ended its registry scheme for all foreign ships in August, although it did not single out North Korea. The flags of 69 North Korean ships, none of them on a U.N. blacklist, have been de-registered since the U.N. tightened sanctions in March, South Korea's foreign minister said last month. The North's merchant fleet is estimated by the U.N. at roughly 240 vessels. Still, one-off measures by various countries mean Pyongyang can simply shift its business elsewhere - a shortcoming of unilateral actions in general. China and Russia employ the bulk of North Korean workers and have publicly shown no inclination to halt the practice. This month, North Korea opened an embassy in the Belarusian capital Minsk, bringing to 54 the number of its diplomatic missions. Pyongyang has been known to use diplomatic personnel, several whom have been caught with large amounts of gold or cash, to procure banned equipment or fund illegal activities. China, experts say, remains the key. "Rather than being efficient, unilateral actions put psychological pressure on the North," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University. "But like criminal gangs, North Korea won't cringe much under psychological pressure." (Additional reporting by Herculano Coroado in Luanda and Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh; Editing by Lincoln Feast) Baghdad (AFP) - A suicide bomber killed six people in western Baghdad on Sunday, an Iraqi security spokesman said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. The bombing in the Iskan area also wounded 18 people, according to a statement from security spokesman Saad Maan. IS claimed the attack in a statement, saying it was carried out by an Iraqi national wearing an explosive vest who had successfully penetrated security measures. The Baghdad attack came a day after militants killed 12 people in gun and bomb attacks claimed by IS in the northern city of Tikrit. Iraqi forces are preparing for a push on Mosul, the last IS-held city in the country, after regaining much of the Iraqi territory the jihadist group seized in June 2014. But even as it loses ground, IS retains the ability to carry out deadly attacks in government-held areas. London (AFP) - A suspected hacker was bailed by British police on Sunday following reports that 3,000 photographs had been stolen from Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Prince William, and were up 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. The Sun said it had been asked for A50,000 (58,000 euros, $65,000) for the shots, after someone contacted the newspaper via the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. London's Metropolitan Police said on Sunday a 35-year-old man arrested a day earlier had been released on bail, to return to a police station in the British capital in late November. Police said the suspect, whom they did not name, was arrested in the central English county of Northamptonshire on suspicion of a Computer Misuse Act offence. Detectives received a report on Friday regarding the alleged hacking of a personal iCloud account, police said, without naming Middleton as the victim. Pippa Middleton, 33, is the younger sister of Kate and found fame after acting as bridesmaid at the 2011 royal wedding. She is engaged to hedge fund boss James Matthews and the couple are expected to marry next year. The allegedly hacked photos also reportedly included shots of her own wedding preparations. William and Kate and their two children started an eight-day tour of western Canada on Saturday. Question: My 13-year-old sons backpack weighs a ton (actually, 25 pounds, but it feels like a ton), and Im afraid hes going to hurt himself hauling it around. Youve talked about the dangers of overloaded packs before, but as far as I can tell, backpacks dont seem to be getting any smaller. I suggested that he get a wheelie backpack, but he just rolled his eyes and says its not cool. I want to talk to the school administrators about this problem, but need some facts to back me up. Please help. Answer: Every year, a month or so into the new school term, I get similar emails from parents all over the country who, like you, are worried about their kids backpacks. And, as youve pointed out, not much seems to be changing, which continually puzzles me, since more and more schools are switching to digital or cloud-based textbooks. Nevertheless, backpacks are still too heavy and kids are getting injured. How big is the problem? Consider this: Every year, backpacks contribute to between 14,000 and 22,000 dislocations, fractures, sprains, strains, and other injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. About 5,000 of those injuries are serious enough to land someone in the emergency room. As a result, many kids miss school or cant participate in physical education classes or after-school sports. Although most of those injuries are muscle- or skeleton-related, overloaded backpacks frequently cause short- and long-term nerve damage by pressing on the nerves that go through the head, neck, and shoulders, according to a recent study at Tel Aviv Universitys Department of Biomedical Engineering. The damage done by backpacks is sometimes so severe that it lasts a lifetime. Backpacks should weigh no more than 10 percent of a childs body weight, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. Unfortunately, more than 64 percent of kids 12-17 carry packs that are too heavy. Unless your son weighs 250 pounds, his 25-pound pack is way, way too heavy. So what can you do? Encourage teachers and school administrators to switch to electronic books. If they cant, suggest that they get additional copies of textbooks so that kids can reduce their schlepping by leaving one at home and one at school. If they claim theres no money in the budget, consider buying a second book yourself. You may be able to sell it to another family next year. Forget about the wheelie backpack. Cool or not, wheelies may do more harm than good. Because theyre easier to move around, kids often load them up with even more stuff. And despite the wheels, your son will still have to lift his pack to get it in and out of the car or to go up or down stairs. Most of the time, hell accomplish that with a one-handed yank, which is terrible for his arm, shoulder, neck, and back. Oh, and besides dinging up walls and scuffing floors, wheelies are also a serious tripping hazard. Check your sons equipment, form, and technique. The straps on his backpack should be wide and padded. If theyre not, replace the pack. And he should use both straps at all time. If the pack has a waist and/or chest belt, he should use it; doing so can distribute some of the load from the neck and shoulders to other parts of the body. The heaviest items in the pack should be closest to your sons back and he should be able to stand up straight while wearing it. Finally, practice proper lifting technique: bend the knees and lift the pack with both arms. Gothenburg (Sweden) (AFP) - Noted Syrian poet Adonis, whose name surfaces regularly as a top contender for the Nobel literature prize, says religious fanaticism is "destroying the heart of the Arab world", but sees salvation in poetry. The 86-year-old lives in exile and is equally scathing about the West's role in the conflict in his homeland which has claimed more than 300,000 lives over five years. "The Americans are not looking for solutions, they are seeking problems," he told AFP in an interview at the Gothenburg Book Fair. "The Americans do not have a coherent vision. Neither do the Russians, who are only driven by self-interest. The Arab world is strategic, an area of riches and the Arab people are just a means," to oil wealth, he said The poet, who is Alawite, the sect to which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad belongs, wrote to the leader in 2011 calling for a democratic transition. Now he sees hope in poetry. "Poetry cannot slit a child's throat, nor kill a man or destroy a museum," said Adonis, whose real name is Ali Ahmad Said Esber. Calling for a separation between the state and religion, he said poets could play an important role in bringing this about. "Arab poetry has always been against God," he said. There are no great poets in our history who were great believers like for example (Paul) Claudel in France." - 'Future lies in securalism' - "The future lies in secularism," he said. "I had said one cannot stage a secular revolution with people emerging from the mosque to demonstrate. A revoution is one thing and the mosque another." Adonis said poetry would never be stifled. "As long as death is there -- and death exists -- there will be poetry," he said. "Poetry will never be silenced." Adonis, who is also an acclaimed critic, painter and essayist, moved to Paris in 1985 and has been named a Commander of France's Order of Arts and Letters. Story continues He was Ladbroke's favourite as Nobel Literature Prize winner in the year of the Arab Spring in 2011. His name frequently comes up in the annual run-up to the top literary award but it has eluded him so far. Born to a farming family and with no formal schooling in his early years, Adonis has come a long way from the poor western Syrian village where he spent his early years. "I'd never seen a car, electricity or a telephone till I was 13. I always ask myself how I was transformed into this other person; it was almost miraculous," he had said in an interview a few years ago. San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) - Spain's Basque country and Galicia went to the polls Sunday in regional elections that may help unblock the long-lasting national political paralysis. The country is stuck in limbo, run by a government without full powers following two inconclusive elections which the conservative Popular Party (PP) won without an absolute majority, and which have seen parties unable to reach any coalition deal. As such, mainstream parties are watching the regional elections closely to see if they lose ground to upstarts or nationalist groupings, and none more so than the Socialist party (PSOE), which surveys predicted would fare badly. A poor showing -- following bad results in December's general election and again in a June repeat vote -- may prompt the party's dissenting "barons", or regional presidents, to push party leader Pedro Sanchez out. "If we don't have a good score, they will use that to try to overthrow Pedro Sanchez," a source close to the Socialist leader, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP. Parliament has until October 31 to produce a government or face an unprecedented third general election. Antonio Barroso, an analyst with political consultancy Teneo Intelligence, said the reaction in the PSOE in the event of poor results "will provide a signpost of whether there could be an internal revolt, possibly to get rid of Sanchez and change the party's position ahead of the October 31 deadline." Sanchez is unpopular among many "barons" who think the party should help put an end to Spain's nine-month deadlock by admitting defeat, allowing a right-wing coalition government led by acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to come to power. Sanchez, however, refuses to do so. The PSOE voted against a Rajoy-led government in a parliamentary vote of confidence earlier this month, and is attempting to negotiate a left-wing coalition alternative with arch-rival Podemos, the far-left anti-austerity party. Story continues But a weak result could put an end to this, either forcing Sanchez out or pressuring him into allowing the right-wing coalition government through by abstaining in another vote of confidence. - 'Domino effect' - Polls ahead of this weekend's vote indicated that in the northwestern region of Galicia, the Socialists would lose their second place to the En Marea coalition that includes Podemos, while the ruling PP is expected to win again. In the northern Basque country, the PSOE was forecast to lose ground to Podemos and possibly score its worst ever result in the lush green region on the Atlantic coast. The moderate nationalist PNV party is expected to win again in the region, though without an absolute majority, followed by the more radical, separatist EH Bildu grouping. Barcelona-based newspaper El Periodico said in an editorial that the polls would "have a domino effect on Spanish politics" and put an end "to the endless game of chess that the major Spanish parties are playing". Spain has never had a coalition government, and many voters expressed frustration at politicians' inability to reach a deal. "We are making fools of ourselves," said 61-year-old civil servant Mercedes Solana, as she cast her ballot in the fashionable Basque resort of San Sebastian. "No one reaches an agreement, everyone looks after themselves, they don't talk." "They have to fix it and quit politicking," added 32-year-old bank employee Mikel Garcia as he headed to the beach to read a book after casting his ballot for the PNV. Polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) and were due to close at 8pm, with the first significant results due an hour later. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Left-hander Cole Hamels and right-hander Yu Darvish were struggling before pitching gems in the first two games of the Texas Rangers' three-game series against the Oakland A's. Hamels pitched seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory on Friday night when the Rangers clinched the American League West title. Darvish blanked the A's for seven inning in a 5-0 win on Saturday afternoon. Both pitchers got back on track in what were likely their next-to-last starts before the postseason begins. On Sunday, right-hander Colby Lewis will try to regain his pitching groove when the Rangers go for a series sweep at the Oakland Coliseum. "He's a real important guy on our team, too," Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said of Lewis after hitting a pair of two-run homers. "He carried our team in the first half." Lewis will make his third start since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle in the back of his pitching shoulder. Lewis went 0-2 with a 5.06 ERA in his past two starts. In his last start, he gave up three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the A's. Lewis is 12-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 29 games, including 27 starts, in his career against Oakland. He has more career wins and starts against the A's than any other team. In his last start at the Coliseum on June 16, Lewis took a no-hitter into the ninth inning and settled for a two-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory. He improved to 6-0 with that win but has lost his past three starts. A's rookie right-hander Jharel Cotton will make his fourth career major-league start and try to pitch his fourth straight gem. He's 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and has allowed one earned run in each of his three starts. "It's been good," Cotton said. "My confidence is now higher, but the job's not done. I think I have one or two more starts to go and I want to go out there and give my team a chance to win and go out there and pitch the way I know how to pitch and have fun out there on the mound." Story continues Cotton joined John Henry Johnson and Rich Harden as the only pitchers in Oakland history to start their careers with three straight outings of at least five innings and one or fewer earned runs. A's manager Bob Melvin said what has stood out most about Cotton is the poise he has had from the minute he took the mound in his debut on Sept. 7 in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Oakland. "I know he was a little nervous in the bullpen, but once he got on the mound, he looked like he was really comfortable," Melvin said. "He's with a new organization, he's pitching at the big leagues for a first time. There's a lot of things that can unnerve you on the mound, and it didn't look like that was the case with him. "The stuff you see. The stuff is good, but I think the confidence that he had when he first took the mound probably impressed me the most. He's another guy that definitely we'll take a hard look next year in the rotation." Cotton is one of three pitchers the A's acquired from the Dodgers earlier this season in exchange for outfielder Josh Reddick and left-hander Rich Hill. Afghan security forces have killed one of the top Pakistani Taliban commanders along with at least 10 other militants in a border area operation, sources said Sunday. Raeas Khan, also known as Azam Khan Tariq, had a 20 million rupee ($190,740) bounty on his head and was the fourth-highest ranking commander in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "I confirm the killing of Azam Tariq along with at least 10 other Pakistani Taliban in Paktika province," a senior commander loyal to Tariq told AFP, requesting anonymity. The nature of the operation was unclear, but three sources in the militant group said Tariq and his associates were killed in the Laman area of the Afghan province, which is near Pakistan's South Waziristan region. Tariq worked as chief TTP spokesman from 2009 until 2013 and was a close aide to former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in 2013. In 2009 the Pakistani government offered $5 million for information leading to the capture of TTP commanders. Tariq was top of the list as three other commanders had been killed -- either in US drone strikes or in Pakistani military operations. He had been working as spokesman for the Mehsud faction of the TTP prior to his death. Pakistan has demanded that Kabul hand over fugitive TTP chief Maulana Fazlullah, who is reportedly hiding in eastern Afghanistan. Both nations have accused each other of allowing militants to shelter in the border regions and launch bloody attacks that threaten regional stability. kellyanne conway Donald Trump will not formally invite a woman who former President Bill Clinton admitted to having an affair with decades ago to this week's presidential debate, his campaign manager said on Sunday. The Republican presidential nominee on Saturday threatened to invite Gennifer Flowers to Monday's presidential debate at Hofstra University following Hillary Clinton's decision to invite billionaire investor and Trump-agitator Mark Cuban to the debate. But in an interview on "State of the Union," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said the Trump campaign had not formally invited Flowers to the debate in Long Island, New York, and mocked the Clinton campaign for being "baited" into responding to Trump's threat. "Basically, Mr. Trump was saying look, if Mark Cuban is going to send out these texts saying 'The Humbling at Hofstra,' and 'This is his big downfall,' then Mr. Trump was putting them on notice that we can certainly invite guests that make it into the head of Hillary Clinton," Conway said. She added: "But we have not invited her formally, and we don't expect her to be there as a guest of the Trump campaign." Clinton's campaign criticized Trump on Saturday for inviting Flowers, with whom former President Bill Clinton admitted having "sexual relations" with at least once when he was attorney general of Arkansas during the 1970s. "Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people's lives. It's not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path," Clinton Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement. Flowers, who is supporting Trump, previously told The New York Times that she would be at the debate, though it was unclear whether she had received a formal invitation or was simply responding to Trump's tweet. For his part, Cuban has proved deft at getting under Trump's skin. After Trump slammed the Dallas Mavericks owner and threatened to invite Flowers to Monday's debate, Cuban fired back with background information on a private call between the two outspoken businessmen. Story continues Donald. Remember when you told me on the phone we were "Bobbsie Twins" and I laughed ? #truestory https://t.co/m8y4K2DK87 Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 24, 2016 NOW WATCH: CRUZ CAVES: Endorses Trump for president despite a long list of personal attacks More From Business Insider By Alana Wise WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Sunday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that if elected, the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the campaign said, marking a potential dramatic shift in U.S. policy on the issue. During the meeting that lasted more than an hour at Trump Tower in New York, Trump told Netanyahu that under his administration, the United States would "recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the State of Israel." While Israel calls Jerusalem its capital, few other countries accept that, including the United States. Most nations maintain embassies in Tel Aviv. Palestinians want East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, as capital of the state they aim to establish alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. During the closed-door meeting, the campaign said that Trump agreed with Netanyahu that peace in the Middle East could only be achieved when "the Palestinians renounce hatred and violence and accept Israel as a Jewish State." According to a readout of the meeting from the campaign, the two discussed "at length" Israel's border fence, cited by Trump in reference to his own controversial immigration policies, which include building a wall on the U.S.- Mexico border and temporarily banning Muslims from entering the country. Other regional issues, including the fight against Islamic State, U.S. military assistance to Israel -- "an excellent investment" -- and the Iran nuclear deal, which both parties have criticized, were also discussed. (Reporting by Alana Wise; Editing by Bill Trott and Sandra Maler) New York (AFP) - Republican candidate Donald Trump pledged to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital if he is elected president, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Hillary Clinton also met that evening. Netanyahu met privately with Trump at his residence in Trump Tower on Sunday, a day before the New York billionaire faces off against Democratic rival Clinton for their first presidential debate. "Trump acknowledged that Jerusalem has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people for over 3000 years, and that the United States, under a Trump administration, will finally accept the long-standing congressional mandate to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the state of Israel," his campaign said in a statement. Israel captured the Arab eastern half of Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and annexed it in 1980, declaring all of Jerusalem Israel's unified capital. The United States -- and most other UN member countries -- do not recognize the annexation and consider Jerusalem's final status to be a key issue to be resolved in peace negotiations with the Palestinians. The US Congress passed a law in October 1995 calling for an undivided Jerusalem to be recognized as Israel's capital and to authorize funding for moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But no US president -- Democrat or Republican -- has implemented the law, regarding it as an infringement on the executive branch's authority over foreign policy. - 'A vital partner' - Netanyahu's office issued a statement about the roughly hour-long meeting but made no mention of Trump's pledge on Jerusalem. "Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed with Mr Trump issues relating to Israel's security and its efforts to achieve stability and peace in the Middle East," it said. The Trump statement said he promised Netanyahu that the United States would provide Israel with "extraordinary strategic, technological and military cooperation" if he is elected. Story continues "Mr Trump recognized Israel as a vital partner of the United States in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism," it said. "They discussed at length the nuclear deal with Iran, the battle against ISIS and many other regional security concerns." The campaign also said the two discussed Israel's experience with its security fence used to wall off Israel from the West Bank. Trump has made building a wall along the US-Mexico border a signature campaign promise. - 'Strategic interests' - Clinton met privately with Netanyahu at the W Hotel in New York, where the Israeli leader has been attending the UN General Assembly. In a campaign statement the White House hopeful stressed "overarching strategic interests" between the two countries and affirmed her support for a robust military aid deal the US recently promised Israel. The statement underscored that the two nations would work in tandem to "enforce and implement the nuclear deal with Iran," US President Barack Obama's signature diplomatic initiative, which Israel has fiercely opposed. Clinton also promised Netanyahu to help Israel confront regional "terrorist threats," according to the campaign. "The Secretary reaffirmed her commitment to work toward a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiated directly by the parties," the statement read. It would guarantee "Israels future as a secure and democratic Jewish state with recognized borders and provides the Palestinians with independence, sovereignty, and dignity." In recent weeks Washington has toughened its criticism of Israel's accelerated building of settlements on occupied land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, warning that it could destroy hopes for peace with the Palestinians. Roanoke (United States) (AFP) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is seeking to shore up support among black voters, has stumbled over the name of the new Washington museum on African American history. The new museum is a "really beautiful place," Trump told thousands of supporters in Roanoke, Virginia, on Saturday. He called it the "Smithsonian national museum of American history, African American art." In fact, the long-awaited institution, which opened Saturday amid fresh racial strife in the country, is called the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Trump, who has been accused of racism toward several minority groups, hailed African Americans' "incredible contributions" to the United States. "African Americans have given so much to our nation, and sacrificed so much for this nation." While noting that some African Americans have been very successful, Trump acknowledged that "too many African Americans have been left behind and trapped in poverty," he said. Trump blamed President Barack Obama's Democrats for black travails in the United States. Obama is the nation's first African American leader. Obama earlier inaugurated the striking 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) bronze-clad museum before thousands of spectators gathered in the US capital to witness the historic opening. African American voters largely support Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. "I will fight to make sure every single African American in this country is fully included in the American dream," Trump said. Trump recently visited a black church in Detroit, Michigan, promising more jobs. On Thursday, he suggested that drugs were a "very, very big factor" in sometimes violent protests in Charlotte, North Carolina after a police officer shot to death an African American man. ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey wants to join the United States in a military operation to push Islamic State from its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, as long as it excludes Kurdish rebel forces, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Sunday. NATO member Turkey, part of the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State, is backing Arab and Turkmen Syrian rebels who seized the Syrian town of Jarablus from the jihadists a month ago in an operation it has dubbed "Euphrates Shield." But Ankara is wary of the U.S.-allied People's Protection Units (YPG) and its political arm, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syrian Kurdish groups it sees as extensions of Kurdish militants who have waged a three-decade insurgency on its own soil. "Our foreign minister and military authorities are in talks with the United States discussing the matter of Raqqa. We shared with them our conditions," Erdogan told reporters on his plane returning from New York, where he spoke at the annual United Nations general assembly and met U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. "Taking a joint step is important for us," he said, according to private broadcaster NTV. "If the United States does not insert the PYD and YPG into this business, we can fight this battle with the United States." Turkey has focused much of its energy during the six-year war in neighbouring Syria on its desire to oust President Bashar al-Assad rather than fighting Islamic State. Its recent push into northern Syria came after steady advances by the YPG. But Erdogan said Turkey had exhibited "the most effective struggle against Islamic State, despite the disinformation." Senior U.S. military officials said last week they were considering arming Syrian Kurdish fighters and acknowledged the difficulty of balancing this with the relationship with Ankara. Erdogan said he asked Biden about weapons shipments to Kurds and that the vice president said he was not aware of any such deliveries. (Reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Mark Potter) Q: My high school-aged daughter and son have been assigned to watch C-SPAN and political shows about the presidential election. She supports Hillary Clinton. Hes for Donald Trump. They end up screaming at each other. Ive had to warn my son to stop using disrespectful, offensive language and my daughter to stop throwing things at the TV. This is crazy. Help! A: Ill say this for their teachers: They arent backing away from teaching this election as some have said they are. A Texas history teacher (who asked that her name not be used) wrote me to say, I love teaching the presidential election, but this year Im scaling back because the administration warned teachers to stay objective. I work in a diverse school. I would not be able to let the divisive, anti-immigrant rhetoric go unchallenged. Instead of class discussions, I assign online games from iCivics.org because students can work through them thoughtfully and be held accountable for their views. For decorum at your dinner table, two teachers whove taught three decades of elections offer this advice: Since the kids have gone all Lord of the Flies on Mom, adopt the pass the conch technique from the book, says Newton, Mass., educator Marj Montgomery. Choose any object. No one may speak without that object in hand. No one. If they havent read Lord of the Flies, do so with them. Enjoy the discussions it prompts. Illinois educator Kevin Pobst suggests not allowing them to watch programs together if they cannot conduct themselves with civility, period. Break the rule and the TV goes off. Then they suffer the consequence of not getting the assignment done. Discuss what their goal is when they argue. Do they want to persuade each other, or are they just expressing their preference to insult? Pobst asks. Vicious, yelled, personal arguing is not persuasive. Its mutual offensiveness. No one persuades by offending. You persuade by making a rational, fact-based case for your ideas, not an emotional rant. Montgomery suggests using debate and mock trial techniques. After they make a case for their candidate, have them switch sides, she says. That turns down the volume. Daughter speaks for Trump, son for Hillary. Nothing comes out of eithers mouth without checking the fact with an unbiased fact-check site. Mom can even sound an obnoxious noisemaker when any statement is found to be false. (See factcheck.org, politifact.com and the Fact Checker at washingtonpost.com.) For a meaty discussion (and history lesson), make a short list of successful presidents. Ask them to figure out what the job description really is, says Montgomery. Discuss demonstrated skills and personality traits. As for your son and daughter, Pobst says, Their own relationship will, God willing, go on for another 60 to 70 years, while electoral preferences are time-bound. They shouldnt fall into a pattern of talking to each other in ways that will undermine their relationship or turn each other into cartoon characters. While these election-driven arguments are clearly frustrating you as parent, Montgomery says, Rejoice that your kids are involved in the political process noisy and uncomfortable as it is. Its way preferable to the teenage shrug, followed by the mantra, Whatever. PARIS (Reuters) - French police arrested two young women from the city of Nice in mid-September for suspected ties to Islamist State militant Rachid Kassim, the Paris prosecutors' office said on Sunday. Aged 17 and 19, the teenagers used the Telegram encrypted messaging system to communicate with Kassim, who is suspected of having participated in several attacks or attempted attacks in France, a spokesman said, confirming an earlier report by newspaper Le Parisien. "They were incited to commit an attack on specific targets in retaliation for the recent death of the Islamic State's spokesman (Abu Muhammad al-Adnani)," a source close to the investigation told Le Parisien. The two teenagers admitted considering the attack, before abandoning the idea, the daily reported. At least four other teenagers, all suspected of having plotted to kill in the name of the Islamic State, were arrested in about 10 days in early September by the General Directorate for Internal Security, a French intelligence agency, which spotted the suspects on social networks. All were in contact via Telegram with Kassim, who is currently located in the Syrian-Iraqi region, according to police and judicial sources. (Reporting by Gerard Bon; Writing by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Mark Potter) (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to meet at 11 a.m. (1500 GMT) on Sunday to discuss a recent escalation of fighting in Aleppo in Syria, diplomats said. The meeting, which will be public, was requested by the United States, Britain and France, diplomats said. 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. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide within weeks whether to hear a major transgender rights case for the first time, a dispute involving which bathroom a Virginia high school student can use, but the justices have reasons to duck the issue. The case involves a 17-year-old transgender student named Gavin Grimm, who was born female but identifies as male and is mounting a legal challenge to gain the right to use the boys' bathroom at his public high school in Gloucester County, Virginia. The local school board is asking the justices to hear its appeal of an April 19 ruling by the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that found that transgender students are protected under U.S. laws that bar sex-based discrimination. If the high court refuses to hear the case, the justices would leave in place the groundbreaking appeals court ruling in favor of transgender rights that Grimm could use the bathroom of the student's choice. If the justices hear it, it would be one of the biggest cases of the 2016-17 term that opens Oct. 3. The Supreme Court remains shorthanded with eight justices, split with four liberals and four conservatives, following the Feb. 13 death of Antonin Scalia. Legal experts say the court may have an incentive to dodge the issue, the latest front line in the battle over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The high court so far has shown an inclination for its new term toward taking up technical, narrow cases, such as several on intellectual property rights, while it remains down one justice. This may be because the court is eager to avoid issuing 4-4 deadlocked rulings, which happened on four occasions after Scalia's death. The Republican-led Senate has refused to consider confirmation of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee to replace Scalia. There are several reasons why the court could turn away the appeal, including the fact that there are other cases on the same issue pending in lower courts, meaning the justices could weigh in at a later date. Story continues In one of those cases, a U.S. district court judge on Aug. 22 issued a nationwide injunction sought by Texas and 12 other states preventing the Obama administration from enforcing guidance telling schools to allow transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice. The Supreme Court often lets novel legal issues like transgender bathroom rights percolate in lower courts before taking a case, as it did with gay marriage before ruling in 2015 to allow it nationwide. The Supreme Court also frequently refuses to take cases in which the various regional federal appeals courts have not issued conflicting rulings. The ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the first of its kind. Steven Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the case "doesn't meet any of the traditional criteria" to warrant the court hearing the school board's appeal. The ACLU represents Grimm. Conservatives who want the Supreme Court to hear the appeal point to the high court's action last month when it voted 5-3 to temporarily block the appeals court decision from going into effect, a move that prevented Grimm from using the boys' bathroom when the new school year began while the case remains under appeal. "My gut is there's a good chance they will take this one," said Matt Sharp, a lawyer with the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom. But Justice Stephen Breyer made clear that he cast the decisive vote to grant the school board's stay request merely as a courtesy to his colleagues. If the court were to hear the case, many think Breyer would vote with his fellow liberals, meaning the court could split 4-4 and leave in place Grimm's appeals court victory. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) cyborg1 UFC/FOX Sports 1 The UFC returned to Brazil for the first time since UFC 198, and the Brazilians came up big, winning nearly every fight at UFC Fight Night 95. Of course, Cris Cyborg won again (could you expect anything else?), and all was right with the world. Main Card Catchweight (140 lbs) Cristiane Justino def. Lina Lansberg via utter destruction (TKO) (round 2). Yep, this went as you expected. Check out the replays here. Theyre worth checking out just for the smile Lansberg gives after the fight. Renan Barao def. Phillipe Nover via unanimous decision. Renan Barao does not look to be himself. He looked pretty good against Philipe Nover, someone who probably shouldnt be fighting him in the co-main event of a UFC Fight Night. In other words, this was a showcase fight, and Barao, towards the end looked gas and nothing like the killer he was a few years ago, even without the weight cut. This was his second fight at 145, and Im wondering where we go from here. Props to Nover who was a game opponent, but Barao shouldve run through him. Now were seeing replays of signature Barao takedowns. Roy Nelson def. Antonio Silva via KO (round 2). This was as hard-hitting as you would expect, and it devolved into Roy Nelson beefing with Big John McCarthy once again. You should watch the replay of the whole situation here. Francisco Trinaldo def. Paul Felder via TKO. The fight was stopped due to a cut over Felders eye, but this was as one-sided as it gets. Good win by Trinaldo, who has a 7-fight win streak in the lightweight division. Thats one win less than Tony Ferguson, and one more than Khabib Nurmagomedov. Story continues Eric Spicely def. Thiago Santos via rear naked choke submission (round 1). This was not supposed to happen. The eye test alone tells you Santos was going to kill Spicely, who doesnt even have a wiki page. Spicely was likely to be cut with a loss, but he fought his heart out and finally, after multiple submission attempts, sunk in the rear naked choke off a gorgeous transition. What a fight for the 8-1 underdog. Heres the replay minus the best part about the whole finish. Eric Spicely locks in a rear naked choke and gets the finish! Huge upset! #UFCBrasilia https://t.co/GvQNMiQmQ7 FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 25, 2016 Godofredo Pepey def. Mike De La Torre via rear naked choke submission (round 1). This was a rock em sock em match that just happened to end via submission, and Brazil wins again. Godofredo Pepey kicks off the main card with a 1st round rear naked choke! #UFCBrasilia https://t.co/fnyKIJ6tQP FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 25, 2016 Prelims Michel Prazeres def. Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision. This was a hard-hitting fight by two lightweights who look like light heavies. Woof. Rani Yahya def. Michinori Tanaka via unanimous decision. Jussier Formiga def. Dustin Ortiz via unanimous decision. Erick Silva def. Luan Chagas via rear naked choke submission (round 3). You have to see this replay. Silva continues to be the most entertaining fighter who will probably never crack the top 8. Erick Silva ducks the head kick Matrix style and drops Chagas on the way back up! #UFCBrasilia https://t.co/DJusbbMx8E FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) September 25, 2016 Fight Pass Prelims Alan Patrick def. Stevie Ray via unanimous decision. Vicente Luque def. Hector Urbina via KO (round 1). Urbina fights out of Muncie, Indiana, so yeah. This didnt go well for Jerrys favorite fighter. jerryparks_7024 NBC Gregor Gillespie def. Glaico Franca via unanimous decision. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's parliament must be kept fully informed about the government's strategy for leaving the European Union, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, said on Sunday. Prime Minister Theresa May has said parliament would play a role in Britain's exit from the EU but that she will be leading the negotiations and will make the final decision on what deal the country gets. Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr whether that was democratic, Corbyn said: "I don't think it's democratic and I don't think it's sustainable at all." "This is a huge political issue, it's the most significant economic issue facing Britain in my or your lifetime and I think at the very least parliament should be fully informed." He said Labour had set up a Brexit team to demand information from the government and also get involved in talks. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, Editing by Kylie MacLellan) A Pakistan-born actor has been sacked from Britain's most popular television soap after posting what broadcaster ITV called Sunday "entirely unacceptable, racially offensive" comments about Indians on social media. Marc Anwar, 45, joined "Coronation Street", the world's longest-running TV soap opera, in 2014 as a member of the show's first Muslim family. The Sunday Mirror newspaper published screenshots of the messages posted on his personal Twitter account. The posts hit out at India over the Kashmir dispute and suggested Pakistani actors should refuse to work in the country. "Indians killing our Kashmir brothers and sisters," he wrote. He called Indians "b*****ds" and used other insulting terms. An ITV spokeswoman said: "We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar. "We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to 'Coronation Street' with immediate effect." His character, love cheat gym boss Sharif Nazir, will still appear in scenes that have already been filmed for upcoming episodes. The actor has appeared in Hollywood films including "Captain Phillips" and "51st State". Famed for its cobbled streets and wistful big-band theme tune, "Coronation Street", which began in 1960, became the longest-running soap opera in the world in 2010. Set in a fictional suburb of Manchester in northwest England, it remains one of Britain's most-watched programmes with around eight million viewers. It has also been syndicated in dozens of countries around the world. Guest stars have included Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne. Um, Stephen Colbert was a hot dog vendor at a Cubs game because hes seriously awesome Um, Stephen Colbert was a hot dog vendor at a Cubs game because hes seriously awesome We all know Stephen Colbert is awesome, but he just upped his awesome/amazing/hysterical persona by posing as a hot dog vendor during a Cubs game, reported NBC Chicago. I mean, whats not to love about him?! A few days ago, he and First Lady Michelle Obama hung out in a pillow fort, and then theres his Big Questions with Bigger Stars segments, with people like Tom Hanks. NBD. But, for now, the hot dog vendor takes the cake or mustard, as it were. You have to see it to believe it, right?! The clip was shown during Thursday nights episode of The Late Show, reported Time, and it was filmed during the September 17 Cubs game, said Uproxx. (Of all times for me to actually have been in Chicago and not go to that game! Lesson learned.) And, ICYMI, even though Colberts from South Carolina, hes no stranger to Chicago. He attended Northwestern and performed improv with Second City. Seeing Colberts transformation into a Chicago hot dog vendor was like watching Undercover Boss. image (49) Fun fact: Rocco Caputo, the hot dog vendor here next to Colbert, has worked at the ballpark forever and was actually in the Wrigley Field episode of Undercover Boss. Then came the disguise. image (50) And sunglasses as an added touch. image (51) And a lanyard, of course. Have to make it official, right?! image (53) And lets not forget the Chicago accent Colbert mastered, too. image (52) Colbert played Donny Franks and yelled out catchphrases like: Hot dogs! Everybodys a wiener, come on, step right up! And: Get your hot dogs while you can life is short! He looked like a whole new person albeit one who was followed around by a camera crew, said The Washington Post. Colbert also threw out the first pitch, and seemed to fool everyone. Stephen Colbert disguised as a hot dog vendor at Wrigley. Had no idea it was him when he threw out the first pitch pic.twitter.com/dc8pTng31w Cory Ninko (@Cninko) September 17, 2016 He is so good as Donny, amirite?! Stephen Colbert undercover as hot dog guy in Cubs hat at Cubs game today @Cubs #Colbert pic.twitter.com/sP4I4itLaF Ed Marut (@emarut) September 17, 2016 And people ate it up, so to speak. You can watch the whole clip here: The post Um, Stephen Colbert was a hot dog vendor at a Cubs game because hes seriously awesome appeared first on HelloGiggles. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pledged Sunday to play a greater role in stepped-up efforts to reach a deal on settling the decades-old conflict in Cyprus before the end of the year. Following a meeting with the leaders of the divided island, Ban praised the two men for their decision to intensify negotiations with a view to reaching a deal on reunifying the island in 2016. "The leaders asked me to step up my personal engagement in the process," Ban told reporters following a trilateral meeting. "I stand ready to support them in whatever they may require, including on the international dimensions of the issue." The division between Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities is one of the world's thorniest and longest-running diplomatic problems, and has defied repeated efforts at a solution. The United Nations relaunched talks in May 2015 in what is seen as the best chance yet to end four decades of division. The Mediterranean island has been divided since an Athens-inspired coup in 1974 triggered a Turkish invasion of the north. The division has been a major hurdle in Turkey's aspirations to join the European Union. "The period ahead will be crucial for Cyprus," Ban said following his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades. "Time is of the essence. The United Nations and I will do our utmost to promote a successful outcome," he pledged. Ban has said he would like to see a final settlement of the Cyprus conflict before he steps down as UN chief on December 31. - A road map to a deal - After meeting with Ban on Saturday, Akinci said he expected a "road map" to be agreed during the trilateral meeting to turn recent progress in the talks into a "real success story." Anastasiades told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that a settlement to the decades-old conflict would provide a "beacon of hope" that even the world's most intractable problems can be resolved. Story continues Negotiations have centered on creating a new bi-communal Cyprus federation, but there have been differences over the issues of property and territorial adjustments that could see a number of Turkish Cypriots displaced from their homes. The issues of how many people will be allowed to return to their former homes and how many will receive financial compensation are also huge stumbling blocks. The costs of compensation are estimated to run to billions of euros (dollars) and the financial aspects of the agreement are said to be among the issues on the table during the talks in New York. Any agreement the two leaders reach will have to be put to simultaneous referendums on either side of the island. A previous peace deal brokered by then-UN chief Kofi Annan in 2004 was backed by a significant majority of Turkish Cypriot voters but overwhelmingly rejected by their Greek Cypriot counterparts. TOMAH Ed Shemelya told the story of a Kentucky 17-year-old who overdosed on THC and stopped breathing for 90 seconds before being revived and placed on a hospital ventilator. Less than a month later, the teen was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol and fleeing the scene of an accident. Shemelya said he and teen were having a come-to-Jesus talk when he told Shemelya, Im scared to death of pot. I thought the pills would be safer. Shemelya said he was chilled by the teens response. Shemelya, director of the National Marijuana Initiative, delivered an unrelenting two-hour indictment of marijuana and efforts to legalize the drug during a presentation sponsored by Monroe County Safe Community Coalition at F&M Bank. He said that sharply elevated THC levels in marijuana are making the drug increasingly addictive and dangerous. Most Americans have no idea what theyre talking about when it comes to todays marijuana, said Shemelya, a 38-year law enforcement veteran who is retired from the Kentucky State Police. The dope of the 60s and 70s ... I would say that dope back then was pretty harmless, a pretty benign drug, but thats not what we have today ... We have no idea what todays marijuana is doing to the brain. He said THC levels in marijuana are substantially higher now and can be concentrated into forms with extreme toxicity levels. He said only 30 percent is smoked; the rest is consumed as edibles and concentrates. Edible forms range from cookies to candy bars and lollipops to gummy bears. Edibles, Shemelya said, are particularly dangerous, especially for an inexperienced user. He said someone who eats a marijuana cookie doesnt feel an immediate effect and will continue consuming in pursuit of a high, which can trigger an overdose. He also showed slides of marijuana in highly concentrated forms that go by names such as green crack, ear wax and hash oil capsules. They take a hit off that, its lights out, and they go down, he said. This is what scares me. This is to marijuana what crack was to cocaine. He said edibles and concentrates are driving the sales of marijuana in states that have approved marijuana for medical or recreational use. Shemelya dismissed medical marijuana legislation and said its simply a ruse to validate recreational use. He said there is no evidence that medical marijuana as commonly described has any medicinal value. This isnt about grandma in a wheelchair, he said. Its about our kids ... who will be adversely affected by this drug. The invitation-only meeting was attended by about 15 people, including state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse. She said while there are bills in the Wisconsin state legislature to either legalize marijuana or approve it for medical use, she said neither bill has majority support. I dont see at this point a strong energy to legalize marijuana, Billings said. Shemelya said people in states that have gone the farthest in legalizing marijuana, particularly Colorado and Washington, are beginning to regret those decisions. Denver used to be a beautiful town, he said. Now you cant walk two blocks without being higher than a pine with all the marijuana consumption. He said promises of a tax windfall revenue from legalization are illusory. They havent built the first school in Colorado, he said. Theyve built a few playgrounds. He said even if a majority of voters favor legalization, lawmakers have an obligation to tell them theyre wrong. Sometimes acquiescing to what you think is the will of the people isnt always in the best interest of the people, he said. Shemelya has nothing but contempt for pro-marijuana activists. He said they are spending up to $100 million to lobby state legislatures. He called their political tactics vicious. What is driving this is greed pure, unadulterated greed, he said. We are wholly underfunded ... Im a one-man show trying to educate people about whats going on. I dont have a media platform. I dont have a marketing arm. He acknowledged that law enforcement alone wont solve the problem. He said drug education in the 1980s, led by Nancy Reagans Just say no campaign, had a positive impact and that federal anti-drug education has lagged since then. It has to be a holistic approach, he said. Were not going to arrest our way out of this problem. Were not going treat our way out of this problem. Were not going to educate our way out of this problem. As the national anthem blared inside the Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina Saturday (Sept. 24), a group of 75 students spoke out against police brutality, without uttering a single word. The group of both black and white students, raised fists during the anthem, while University of North Carolina band members took a knee. A wide shot of the arena shows the cluster of students with fists in the air and wearing black shirts, amid a sea of blue UNC shirts. The protest took place at a game between the Tar Heels and Pittsburg Panthers, and follows the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday (Sept. 20). Scott, 43, was gunned down by Charlotte police, as his wife stood nearby recording and informing officers that her husband was unarmed and suffered from a traumatic brain injury. After the family publicized firsthand video of Smiths shooting, Charlotte police released body cam recordings from the officers involved. In July, North Carolinas governor passed a law protecting police footage from being made public without a court order. See video of the UNC student protest below. The University of North Dakota is investigating two racially charged photos that were reportedly taken by students and posted online in a 48-hour period. The president of the university, Mark Kennedy, said in a statement that hes appalled at the messages posted to social media. Read: University Advises Staff to Avoid Angering Students Who Will Soon Be Allowed Guns in Class In one incident, three white students posted a photo to snapchat with the phrase locked that black b**** out. Etonde Maloke, a student at the university, shared what happened on her Facebook page. Maloke said her friend left her phone in a room and three students, pictured in the photo laughing and throwing up peace signs, took her friends phone and posted the picture, with the offensive caption, to her Snapchat without permission. I'm so livid!! We all know Racism is alive and well (whether you like to admit it not). When said acts of racism happen at your school, it is infuriating and heart breaking, Maloke wrote. My friend was not aware that they had done this and didn't even realize they had put this on her snapchat story until another friend of ours pointed it out. The University of North Dakota needs to take action against these students for this blatant act of racism. Less than 12 hours after Maloke published her post, another Snapchat image surfaced, apparently screengrabbed, of four white students donning black, facial masks with the caption, Black lives matter. The campus police and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities are investigating both incidents. The university said they will work to explore the best practices for diversity education at the school. I have been disappointed to learn that we have people in our university community who dont know that the kind of behavior and messaging demonstrated in these two photos is not ok, and that, in fact, it is inexcusable, Kennedy said. We value diversity and inclusion and take seriously respect for others as well as the exchange of different thoughts and ideas. Story continues Just earlier this month Kansas State University student, Paige Shoemaker, came under fire for posting a similar image on snapchat of herself with a black face mask and the caption "It feels good to finally be a n****. Read: Stacey Dash Mocks Black History Month in Awkward Oscars Appearance Shoemaker later apologized for the photo in a Facebook post, saying, "We clearly understand that what was said and done was completely disrespectful. We will battle everyone for the right to make things right, because we know what we did was wrong." Watch: Neighbors Paint Over Racist Graffiti Left On Home When Family Was Out of Town Related Articles: Cris Cyborg may have looked like a skeleton weighing-in on Friday for her second-ever UFC fight, but she looked like her old self in her fight against Lina Lansberg. The first round was slow, with Lansberg literally hanging on for dear life and in an attempt to wear out Cyborg, but that didnt work out well. Cyborg showed no signs of slowing down as she chipped away at Lansbergs body with knees that would make any Muay Thai instructor proud. As the round expired, Cyborg would get a takedown, then a late flurry would rock Lansberg, but the crafty Swede would keep on keeping on. The second round, however, was all Cyborg. This combo made Lansberg look like a punching bag. Lansbergs nose would be busted, and the blood began to flow. Lansberg said she wanted to take the damage early, but rope-a-doping Cyborg isnt a great idea. Chipmunks cannot rope-a-dope lawnmowers, after all. The referee would mercifully put an end to the fight at the end of the second round, and she remains undefeated at 140. For what its worth, Lina Lansberg was all smiles even with her Reebok gear soaked in blood. lansberg1 UFC/FOX Sports 1 lansberg2 UFC/FOX Sports 1 Lansberg is the happiest, goriest, beaten fighter: Washington (AFP) - Hidden underground in steel-and-concrete silos across rural America, more than 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles point to the skies, poised for launch -- and ready to obliterate cities across the world. First designed in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War, the Minuteman nuclear weapons are starting to show their age, and replacement parts are difficult to find for the weapons designed in an analog age. Also aging are their silos, many built in the 1950s and now rusting as water seeps through the decaying concrete. Over the next 20 years, the US Air Force will switch out the entirety of its Minuteman III fleet with an as-yet-unnamed new missile known only as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD). The Air Force estimates the cost of the GBSD, to be introduced late in the 2020s and phased in over the following decade, will be around $86 billion over the missiles' life cycle of about 50 years. Critics point to the Defense Department's long history of projects going way over budget and say the cost of replacing the nukes and maintaining their launch facilities is not warranted, given the tactical threats the United States currently faces. The Air Force "doesn't know how we are going to afford this," said Laicie Heeley, a nuclear expert at the Stimson Center, a nonpartisan anti-nuclear proliferation think tank in Washington. "Nuclear is crowding out more conventional systems that are (better suited to) the threats of today." - America's nuclear triad - The Air Force issued requests for proposals in July for vendors to replace the Minuteman, named after colonial militiamen who eventually fought against the British in America's Revolutionary War. The prize will likely go to one of the three US defense giants: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, and the new missile will be equipped with state-of-the-art electronics while being protected from any cyber threats. Story continues America's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are just one leg of its "triad" -- a three-pronged nuclear attack force also comprising submarines and bombers. The Pentagon wants to replace or modernize all three legs of the triad, at a cost experts estimate will hit $1 trillion over the next 30 years. "We flat can't afford it. And from a priorities standpoint, it's the wrong priority in the world that we face," Democratic Congressman Adam Smith told a Washington forum last week, noting that the ICBM force is the part of the triad best suited for reduction. The lawmaker said countries like China are able to boast a "spectacular deterrent" with far fewer nuclear weapons. "What they have is enough to say 'Don't screw with us, or we will obliterate you,'" he said, adding that even if the United States were to enter a major nuclear fight, "we're pretty much all toast anyways." The Pentagon insists it is imperative to push ahead with a complete overhaul of America's nuclear force. While the United States and Russia signed a treaty in 2010 to reduce the numbers of nuclear launchers, Moscow is modernizing its own triad. "The Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans are upgrading all of their systems," an Air Force official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the nuclear program. "They are upgrading all of their legs of the triad -- in that environment, I am not sure it makes sense" to do nothing. Another Air Force official said many of the vendors who first built or equipped the missile silos have long gone out of business, making it an arduous task to find replacement parts. He said he'd heard anecdotes of colleagues scouring Ebay or other sites looking for antique components. The Minuteman fleet is currently dotted across locations in North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will on Monday visit Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where control centers for that state's nukes are located. The Air Force has in recent years battled flagging morale among its "missileers" -- airmen in charge of the land-based missile force. A series of embarrassing revelations in 2014 described the state of the nuclear force, with dozens of airmen disciplined cheating on a test. Other investigations have probed drug use. The trouble began after the demise of the Soviet Union, as the mission gradually received a lower priority and offered a less-promising career path. Fans inside Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on Saturday (Sept. 24) for the second and final night of the iHeartRadio Music Festival were treated to a superstar roster of artists that started with Britney Spears and wrapped up with Usher (and some of his oldest friends!) -- with some Ariana Grande, Sting and Pitbull thrown in between for good measure. Drake Makes the Crowd Put in 'Work,' Plus 21 More Things You Didn't See From iHeartRadio Music Festival Day 1 Now that the 2016 fest is a wrap, take a look at what you might have missed from night two of #iHeartFestival: 7:48 p.m. PT: Britney Spears kicks off night 2 by getting right to work -- with her 2013 hit "Work Bitch." The pop star is clearly comfortable on a Vegas stage, with nearly three years under her belt in her Planet Hollywood residency. 8:06 p.m.: Spears surprises the crowd by bringing out G-Eazy for lead Glory single "Make Me" and the rapper's own "Me, Myself & I," reprising their sexy MTV VMAs performance from last month. G-Eazy didn't have to travel too far: He performed Friday at the Life Is Beautiful Festival in Downtown Las Vegas. Young Gerald @G_Eazy X @britneyspears! #iHeartFestival #iheartbritney https://t.co/J1AS8Btckf pic.twitter.com/0aPlEkEgzB - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 Britney Spears Brings Out G-Eazy to Close iHeartRadio Music Festival Set 8:20 p.m.: Superstar country duo Florida Georgia Line let the iHeartRadio crowd know with their first song: This is "How We Roll." 8:33 p.m.: After FGL's Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley reveal that their first concert and first album, respectively, were both by the Backstreet Boys, they welcome BSB themselves to perform "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." Nick Carter even changes one of the lyrics to "As long as there'll be Vegas, we'll be coming back again." Backstreet Boys Join Florida Georgia Line to Declare 'Backstreet's Back' at iHeartRadio Music Festival Story continues 8:41 p.m.: The Boys are back: Backstreet re-emerges to give fans a quick preview of their upcoming Las Vegas residency with a three-song set including "I Want It That Way," "As Long as You Love Me" and "Larger Than Life" (also the name of their Planet Hollywood show). We will always love you @BackstreetBoys. See you in #Vegas soon! #iHeartFestival pic.twitter.com/FN5ZZZZLTT - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 8:53 p.m.: Following sets from Twenty One Pilots and U2 on night 1, Cage the Elephant is night 2's first rock 'n' roll rep to hit the stage, running through "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked," "Shake Me Down" and more Alternative Songs chart mainstays. 9:23 p.m.: Ariana Grande emerges in sunglasses and an oversize hooded yellow coat singing "Into You." She removes the sunglasses halfway through the song and makes full use of the big screens to show off her signature high ponytail. 9:34 p.m.: Grande performs her only non-Dangerous Woman track of the night, welcoming Zedd onstage to play drums for their collabo "Break Free." THANK YOU @ArianaGrande. What an incredible set on an incredible night 2 at our #iHeartFestival. #iHeartAriana pic.twitter.com/c2Do0rwoXp - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 9:55 p.m.: Zedd is back for his own set, kicking off with the Hayley Williams-featuring "Stay the Night" before launching into his biggest hit to date: the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single "Clarity." 10:05 p.m.: Nasri from Magic! hits the stage with Zedd to sing the band's megahit "Rude" set to the producer's dance track, kicking off a string of guests. Next up is Aloe Blacc for his upbeat Zedd collab "Candyman." Then it's Hailee Steinfeld for the pair's latest single "Starving." You gotta close out a @Zedd set with confetti! Especially when he's got @HaileeSteinfeld and @greymusique with him! #iHeartFestival pic.twitter.com/pEXhn1YANX - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 10:24 p.m.: "Welcome to your life/ There's no turning back." Tears for Fears hit the stage with the (newly relevant) song "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." The 1980s hitmakers didn't miss a beat, sounding great on "Head Over Heels," "Mad World" and the perfect final sing-along "Shout." Timeless @TearsForFears! #iHeartFestival! pic.twitter.com/52WIeIgd5W - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 10:32 p.m.: As Tears for Fears play the lush "Sowing the Seeds of Love," we spot Pitbull's scantily clad dancers getting limber with some stretches backstage. 10:59 p.m.: Speaking of Mr. Worldwide, he finally hits the stage after a very long intro from his band (and from Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight") to get the party started with 2012 hit "Don't Stop the Party." 11:14 p.m.: Pit pauses the party for a moment to get serious about the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiment in America today. "We're all immigrants. So if we're gonna talk about the true-blooded Americans, maybe we should invite the Native Americans into this conversation," he says to wild applause. .@pitbull is giving us EVERYTHING! #iHeartFestival https://t.co/J1AS8Btckf pic.twitter.com/4K6sQrceZJ - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 11:27 p.m.: Sting hits the ground running with The Police's "Message in a Bottle" before playing two new songs: "I Can't Stop Thinking About You," the first single from his upcoming 57th & 9th album (due Nov. 11), and "50,000," which was inspired by the deaths of Prince and David Bowie. 11:39 p.m.: Though he did play one more hit ("Every Breath You Take"), Sting took it all the way back to 1978 with his final selection, playing The Police's "Next to You" -- the opening track from the band's debut album. Aaaahhhh!!! "Every Breath You Take"! @OfficialSting is taking it back to The Police! #iHeartFestival https://t.co/J1AS8Btckf pic.twitter.com/twigy39jMv - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 11:50 p.m.: Usher -- who earlier Saturday played the Global Citizen Festival in New York City -- miraculously materialized on the Las Vegas stage with "Crash," the first single from his just-released album Hard II Love. He almost exclusively used the set as a showcase for his new music -- also including "No Limit," sans Young Thug -- but there was one very big megahit surprise in store for fans 12:24 a.m.: Lil Jon appeared early in the set to play DJ/hypeman for Usher, so when the track for "Lovers & Friends" started, the audience began to wonder whether the third piece of the trifecta might be in the house. He was. Ludacris came out to thunderous applause to rap his verse and handle the song's closing refrain: "Please tell your lovers and friends that Usher, Jon and Luda had to do it again." 12:29 a.m.: And they did do it again. All Usher had to do was throw a peace sign in the air and the crowd knew what was next. "Peace up, A-Town down." The Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit "Yeah!" took the show to the next level and helped compensate for the crowd's unfamiliarity with the rest of the set. Yeah! #iHeartFestival https://t.co/J1AS8Btckf pic.twitter.com/3Jci8MNkbt - iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) September 25, 2016 (BURLINGTON, Wash.) 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 Sheriffs 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. 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 suspects 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 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. 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 dont 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 the suspects vehicle that was there, Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock said Saturday night. Story continues 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 that Skagit County court records show three domestic-violence assault charges against Cetin. The victim was identified as Cetins 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 shooters 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 Macys with a hunting type rifle in his hand, Cammock said. 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. Its too scary. Its 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 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. 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 Laras mother said she had survived cancer as a young girl and was a happy student. Evangelina Lara told 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. In 1880, Nickolaus and Margaretha Birnbaum left Luxembourg to start a new life in the Coulee Region. More than 130 years later, descendant James Birnbaum began the process of reclaiming his heritage, finalizing his dual citizenship in November 2015. Birnbaum is one of many area citizens with ties to Luxembourg, a country similar in size and geography to La Crosse County, and is a proponent of the dual citizenship opportunity available through 2018. The program, the result of legislation passed in 2008, allows participants to become citizens of the European Union, vote in their elections and take advantage of the free or low-cost university tuition and medical coverage in the country. Its a real honor to be able to reclaim the citizenship my ancestors had to renounce when they emigrated, Birnbaum said. As the youngest child, I was the repository for all the family pictures and documents. There were many things I didnt know (about my family history) until I started going through papers for the dual citizenship process. Birnbaum, 69, spent much of his childhood helping at the family business, the Hotel Luxembourg, built by Nickolaus and son Ben in 1887. The hybrid bar, grocery store and boarding house was located at 1006 Mississippi St. and is now a parking lot. Nickolaus and Ben were joiners skilled carpenters, Birnbaum said. The family came here for work. Luxembourg was not a wealthy country, and La Crosse became one of the major centers for Luxembourgers. There are whole pockets of them along the Mississippi. When people came to Ellis Island they were identified by the language they spoke, not what country they were from, said Birnbaum, whose ancestors spoke both German and Luxembourgish. Most people in La Crosse think they are German, but are really Luxembourgers. I would really encourage them to inquire about it. Birnbaum. a La Crosse attorney, says the hardest part of the dual citizenship process, which takes about a year to finalize, was working through inaccuracies in his fathers birth certificate. But, he assures the rest of the process was painless and affordable, at a cost of about $1,000 plus travel expenses to present the application. Applicants must be able to prove their Luxembourg lineage, provide documentation of their stateside family history, and deliver the paperwork in person to the Luxembourg Ministry of Justice. The process is not overwhelming, and the Luxembourg American Cultural Society is very helpful, said Birnbaum, who is first vice chair of the LACS. The organization promotes tourism, student exchanges, arts, commerce and trade development between the two countries. Were opening up doors in Wisconsin and experiencing things that 10-15 years ago never would have felt possible. Naomi Weisjahn hopes grandson Will Thielker will take advantage of those doors when he is older. Naomi, her daughter, Mindy Weisjahn, and nine-month-old Will each received their dual citizenship in July 2015. Im hoping someday hell want to study in Luxembourg and travel Europe because of this, Naomi said. And feel connected because of his mother and his grandmother being Luxembourgers. The Weisjahns ancestors arrived in Boyd, Wis., in the 1860s from the town of Sandweiler. The family began researching their genealogy in 2005 before taking it a step further a decade later. We wanted to connect with Luxembourg and get a sense of where we came from, said Mindy, president of the Luxembourg American Descendants Society. Going on this journey has been wonderful. Our ancestors would be so proud to know weve done this, Naomi said. Its been really fun. We met the grand duke and his son when we were handing in our paperwork. The people in Luxembourg are very positive. Historically their country has been invaded so many times that this generation could be angry, but they are so loving and positive and kind. Birnbaum is similarly impressed by the countys welcoming nature, and hopes others will discover the merits of dual citizenship. There are people beyond the border who are great people and valuable just like us we have a great deal more in common than separates us, he said. How small the world really is. Of all the playground rules that still apply to presidential politics, dont hit girls is probably the trickiest. Especially in debates, where hitting your rival (not literally, of course) is the whole point. Thats why so many male candidates have floundered when they found themselves going man-to-man with a female opponent. Most voters dont like to see women candidates get attacked or patronized by men. And since debates are often the only moments where candidates share the same physical space, the gender dynamics can be more obviousand more precarious. Nobody likes to see a man beating up a girl, and nobody likes to see a man invading a womans personal space, says Jennifer Lawless, director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University. She said that while she was researching her book, Women on the Run, campaign managers told her that debates were often the trickiest minefields for a male candidate running against a female opponent. You have to demonstrate that youre respectful and not belittle or demean your candidates accomplishments or qualifications, she said. That can make it hard to, well, debate them. Here are some reasons why: Remarks can come across as patronizing. Take, for example, the 1984 Vice Presidential debates, the first national debate that included a female candidate. Then-Vice President George H.W. Bush got in hot water for explaining foreign policy to Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential candidate for a major party. Let me help you with the difference, Mrs. Ferraro, between Iran and the embassy in Lebanon, he said. Ferraro retorted: I almost resent Vice President Bush your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy. In a follow-up interview, Ferraro said she thought Bush was kind of looking down his patrician nose at me when he doubted her foreign policy chops. He made the mistake of trying to kind of look down on me and give me a little bit of a lesson, she said. And people did not like that in him. It was mansplaining, before that was a thing. Story continues By contrast, then-Sen. Joe Biden avoided making a mistake during his vice presidential debate with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008. Biden maintained an even keel by aiming most of his criticism at John McCain, rather than going after his counterpart. He never got personal (even after she started off the debate by asking if she could call him Joe) and he rarely focused on her own statements or policies, instead choosing to focus on McCain. The tactic worked, although the debate was not very memorable as a result. Stunts can backfire. Look at the moment in Hillary Clintons 2000 run for New York Senate, when Rep. Rick Lazio approached her lectern and demanded she sign a campaign pledge. He got into her personal space, and she had to back away from him as if physically threatened. It felt too aggressive, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. I dont know if it would have felt the same way if there were two men up there. Many analysts say that Lazio lost the debateand the electionin that moment. One-liners can go sour. When Clinton ran for the Democratic nomination in 2007, and all the primary candidates were asked to say one nice thing and one critical thing about the candidate standing next to them. Sen. John Edwards went with Um, Im not sure about that coat, drawing attention to Clintons pink jacket in a row of dark suits. The moment was clearly intended as a joke, but the voters thought it sounded sexist. Barack Obama fell into the same trap later in that primary, when Clinton was asked about why voters dont seem to like her. Youre likable enough, Hillary, he interjected. It sounded condescending and dismissive, and made voters like her more. Even off-handed comments that might seem tame when directed at a male opponent can sound sexist when said to a female one. When Sen. Bernie Sanders tried to fend off Clintons interruption during a Democratic primary debate with excuse me, Im talking, it made the news the next day. Whether the comment was justified or not (she was, after all, interrupting) it still carried a whiff of sexism to many viewers. Women can hit hard on sexist remarks. Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio couldnt land a punch on Donald Trump in the GOP primary debates, but Carly Fiorina got a direct hit. When the moderator asked her what she thought about Trumps denigrating comments about her appearance (he had said Look at that face! Would anybody vote for that?) she skewered him. I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said, she answered drily. The reaction shot of Trumps squirm was one of only a few moments throughout the primary when Trump was knocked off balance. But heres the thing about debating a female candidate: two of the five times theres been a woman in a nationally televised presidential debate, that woman has been Clinton, and she is typically extremely prepared. Homework doesnt always win debatesthere are many deal-breaking moments that have nothing to do with preparationbut it surely doesnt lose them. And since the gender dynamic means male candidates have to avoid direct personal hits on their opponents, the most effective strategy is often to allow female opponents to make mistakes (like Biden did with Palin) or to go head-to-head on deep policy questions (as Obama did with Clinton during the 2008 primary). Neither scenario seems likely on Monday. But no matter how it plays out, its likely to be different from any of the high-profile debates between men and women so far. It took Cris Cyborg Justino a little more than one round to finish off Lina Lansberg. (Getty) Cris Cyborg Justino has already won two title belts, so the fact she doesnt have a UFC division to compete in doesnt faze her much. The powerful Brazilian is simply interested in putting on the biggest fights possible. She won for the 17th consecutive time, posting her 15th knockout with a one-sided beatdown of Lina Lansberg. Justino blistered Lansberg with a powerful right hand and then pummeled her on the ground, forcing referee Mario Yamasaki to stop the bout in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Brasilia, Brazil, at 2:29 of the second. Justino was far bigger and stronger and toyed with the gritty Lansberg most of the night. Cris is amazing in every way, Lansberg said. I thought I would do better, but she is really good. Justino forced Lansberg against the cage early in the first round, and Lansberg was unable to get off. Justino took her time and landed combinations, bloodying Lansbergs nose and mouth. Late in the first, Justino slammed her and got into mount, going for the finish with elbows. Lansberg survived, but it was only a temporary reprieve. The fighters were soon back against the cage again in the second round and Justino once again showed her power and accuracy. She again took Lansberg down and this time she finished it. It makes little sense that a fighter as talented and popular as Justino doesnt have a division in which to compete. But UFC president Dana White has been adamant that he wont create a featherweight division for her, and has insisted that she fight at a catchweight of 141 pounds. Its extremely difficult for Justino to make that weight, but it only seems to make her take her anger out on her opponents. Given the lack of a division, there is no logical next opponent for her and no title to pursue. That, however, doesnt seem to bother her. I already have two belts at home, Justino said. I just want to put on super fights for my fans and make them happy. That she did. The crowd in Brasilia roared its approval of her every move, and shes clearly developed into a major star. Story continues Several of the UFCs top bantamweights have said theyd fight her, but because Justino is so large, theyre always going to be at a disadvantage. It would seem to be the wise move for the UFC to take advantage of Justinos enormous talents and create a featherweight division for her. Lansberg has a good Muay Thai background, but she was no match for Justino in any area on Saturday. Justino physically overwhelmed her, hitting her with powerful shots that were both fast and well-placed. I knew she had good Muay Thai and would want to keep it standing, so I took her to the ground and gave her the ground and pound, Justino said. Justino lost her pro debut and has since won 17 in succession, with 15 of them by finish. She also had one no contest, which was a knockout victory that was changed to a no contest in 2011 when she tested positive for a banned substance. But shes been part of the UFCs USADA testing pool since the 24/7/365 testing went into effect last year, and going into Saturdays event, shed passed all 10 tests shes been given. It seems pretty obvious shell become a big-time star if she has her own division to compete in where shell face opponents her own size. She is a special talent and deserves to be treated as such. Sanaa (AFP) - A Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen killed nine members of the same family, including several children, on Sunday in the southwestern rebel-held city of Ibb, witnesses and medics said. Eleven neighbours were also wounded when the family's house, on the southern edge of the mountain city, was hit during a night of intense air strikes, witnesses said. Medics at the city's main hospital confirmed they had received nine bodies, including those of women and children. The house was next to a vocational college that Iran-backed Huthi rebels have converted into a military base and arms depot, witnesses said. The air strikes came amid growing international criticism of the Arab coalition over the mounting toll of civilian casualties in its campaign against the rebels. Huthi rebels and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh control Ibb and swathes of Yemeni territory including the capital Sanaa, which they seized in September 2014. Since the coalition intervened in March last year, government forces have managed to push rebels out of five southern provinces, including the port city of Aden. More than 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the start of the Saudi-led campaign, more than half of them civilians, according to the United Nations. The UN warned on Friday of rising civilian casualties, saying that 180 people were killed and 268 injured in August, a 40 percent rise on the previous month. On Wednesday, at least 20 civilians died in air strikes on the rebel-held Red Sea city of Hodeida that the coalition said targeted "Huthi leaders". UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the strikes on Hodeida, calling for "urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure". TORONTO (Reuters) - Blame it on jet lag or maybe a precocious knowledge that his great-grandmother is Canada's head of state but Britain's 3-year-old Prince George just wasn't going to be charmed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Landing in Canada on Saturday on a weeklong official visit with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton, George, holding his father's hand, ignored Trudeau when he squatted down to the toddler's level to offer a high-five variation, the low-five. Trudeau then switched his palm for a high-five and subsequently offered a handshake, both of which were seemingly rebuffed, creating an awkward moment on the airport tarmac in the western province of British Columbia. Canadians felt the princely snub acutely, accustomed as they are to seeing their young premier win over millions of fans around the world and attain social media star status. "My heart broke 15 times for trudeau in this," said a Twitter user with the handle @OhAlexaandra. "Justin Trudeau getting denied a high five by a toddler (even if it was the son of the prince) is a great analogy for modern global affairs," said a Twitter user with the handle @EmMcCon. George did shake hands with Barack Obama on his visit to England in April, when the prince was allowed to greet the U.S. president dressed in natty pajamas and a robe before he went to bed. George and his year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, are in Canada for the first time but it is the second trip for their parents, who visited in 2011. On Sunday, William and Kate were to visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia to meet staff and volunteers who help recent migrants to the area. The couple also is scheduled to meet young leaders of various industries in Canada and some of Vancouver's first responders. Before leaving Canada on Oct. 1, the couple is expected to have more than more than 30 engagements, including with aboriginal Canadian communities. William is second in line to succeed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, who has been Canada's head of state since she ascended to Britain's throne in 1952. (Reporting by Ethan Lou in Toronto; Editing by Bill Trott and Mary Milliken) UPDATE 11:31 p.m. ET: We've updated this story with a statement from Palmer Luckey, after updating the story earlier with more comments from developers. Palmer Luckey, the 24-year old founder of VR company Oculus, has been secretly financing an unofficial, Pro-Donald Trump group dedicated to posting memes and putting together viral stunts in an attempt to disparage Hillary Clinton. Small developers have taken notice of the news, originally reported by The Daily Beast, and are threatening to remove Oculus Rift support from their VR games if Luckey doesn't step down. Luckey, who sold Oculus to Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion, put money behind Nimble America, a 501(c)4, and went by the Reddit handle NimbleRichMan until it was deleted late last night. In a Reddit post on r/The_Donald (a pro-Trump subreddit with a rule banning "Dissenters or S[ocial Justice Warriors]," the organization said that "weve proven that sh*tposting is powerful and meme magic is real." MORE: Best Gaming PCs for Every Budget The organization's best-known stunt was a viral billboard posted near Pittsburgh with a distorted image of Clinton and the caption "Too Big to Jail." Luckey confirmed his involvement as the man behind the group's bank account. "Ive got plenty of money," Luckey told The Daily Beast. Money is not my issue. I thought it sounded like a real jolly good time. Luckey said he spoke with a number of pro-Trump supporters behind the group on Facebook and met Breitbart tech editor and alt-right internet figurehead Milo Yiannopoulos. Yiannopulos was recently in the news for being banned from Twitter following harassment of Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones. On social media, indie developers are denouncing Luckey and his involvement, with some threatening to drop Oculus Rift support from games until Luckey steps down or is removed from his job. Polytron, the makers of the hit indie game Fez, put out a statement on Pastebin and on Twitter that it won't support the Oculus Rift with its new game, SuperHyperCube due to Luckey's funding the pro-Trump group. "In a political climate as fragile and horrifying as this one, we cannot tacitly endorse these actions by supporting Luckey or his platform," the team wrote. Story continues "Hey @oculus, @PalmerLuckey's actions are unacceptable. NewtonVR will not be supporting the Oculus Touch as long as he is employed there," developer Tomorrow Today Labs wrote on Twitter. NewtonVR is a free physics-based tool for VR developers, and Oculus Touch is the VR company's upcoming controllers to support its Rift headset. Developer Scruta Games also voiced discontent on Twitter: "Until @PalmerLuckey steps down from his position at @oculus, we will be cancelling Oculus support for our games." Late Friday night, Luckey released a statement on Facebook: "I am deeply sorry that my actions are negatively impacting the perception of Oculus and its partners," he wrote. "The recent news stories about me do not accurately represent my views." He claimed to have contributed $10,000 to Nimble America, which he said he wrote "had fresh ideas on how to communicate with young voters through the use of several billboards." He also wrote he claims to vote for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in the general election this November. Luckey also claims that that contrary to The Daily Beast's original report, he did not write the NimbleRichMan Reddit posts and was also not behind their deletion. Be sure to check out the full story on The Daily Beast, which discusses Nimble America's spending, how the r/The_Donald subreddit reacted negatively to Nimble America, and posts about the organization being deleted from Reddit. Copyright 2016 Toms Guides , a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Charlotte police bow to public pressure to release footage of Keith Lamont Scotts shooting The police department of Charlotte, North Carolina, has bowed to the new standard for video footage of police violence. If a member of the force shoots and kills a civilian, public scrutiny now gives law enforcement almost no choice but to release it. The police announced on Saturday that it would release footage of both University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Mattie Mae Krause will reign over Oktoberfest after being crowned Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest during the annual pageant Saturday night at the La Crosse Center. Krause played contemporary flute to Rachel Plattens Fight Song for her talent performance en route to her pageant victory. Krause, whose platform is Project HEART, becomes part of the Oktoberfest family and will represent La Crosse next summer at the Miss Wisconsin competition in Oshkosh. She also received a $3,350 combined cash scholarship, a $500 Eunice Stevens Spirit of Community scholarship, the Lorraine Gay Memorial Academic Award of $100, the Miracle Maker Award of $100 and a $150 scholarship for having the highest-scoring interview. First runner-up is UW-L student Madeline Kumm, who won a $900 combined cash scholarship, and a $150 scholarship for having the highest scoring talent. CBS Hawaii Five-0 got people talking with Friday nights Season 7 premiere, which surprised us with an uncanny cameo and then wowed us with an epic, parkour-filled foot chase. RELATEDRatings: MacGyver Opens With a Bang, H50 Surges vs. 2015 Premiere TVLine hopped on the phone with showrunner Peter M. Lenkov to talk about recreating the late Jack Lord who of course played Steve McGarrett on the original H50 for a heart-to-heart with Alex OLoughlins team leader, as well as find out the trickiest part about filming that extended, white-knuckle chase. TVLINE | Where did the Jack Lord idea suddenly sprout from, seven seasons in? I actually wrote the scene a few years ago it was going to be the last scene of the series. As I realized that the end may not be as soon as Id thought, I wanted to get it on screen before anybody else did something like that. TVLINE | What all was involved? Motion capture, CGI..? It was a voice actor, a real actor, a body stand-in and then CG work. Alex acted against a real actor, just to have something to play off of, and we put the voice in afterwards. We had a body double that looked like Jack Lord, who has the same bone structure, and the face was CG [laid] over the actors face. TVLINE | Best I recall from my days as a rugrat, it was quite the soundalike. Very much so. Actually, at the premiere in Hawaii, people who knew and worked with Jack were blown away as soon as they heard his voice on screen. You hear his voice before you see his face, and people were awed. It was pretty amazing. Look, CG like that is not perfected yet, but TVLINE | But it was pretty good. It was like 5 percent videogame-y, but otherwise. Well, we tried. And I just wanted to do it before anybody else. TVLINE | Did you need to get permission from Jack Lords estate? How does that work? We went through his estate, which is owned by a bank, and they approved the script back in June, knowing that it was about honoring his legacy. Story continues PHOTOSFive-0 First Look: Catherine Rejoins the Team for Episode 150 TVLINE | The parkour Hawaii Five-0 chase scene, meanwhile, was just bananas. How long did that take to shoot? That took, off and on, a couple of weeks. I told [director] Brian Spicer at the beginning that I wanted to have like six or seven minutes of a chase I wanted The French Connection on foot. And those guys, they delivered. Jesse La Flair is a real parkour champ [and played the suspect], and there were a lot of cameras strapped to him, so we could get real POV shots. It was pretty amazing. TVLINE | Is he the one who suggested the balcony sequence, or was that something you had seen and wanted? That was a collaboration between Jessie, our stunt coordinator Jeff [Cadiente], and Brian, choosing locations that we could get and use, that worked into our schedule since we were doing little pieces at a time. TVLINE | What was the trickiest part of shooting that chase? Convincing the studio to air all of it. [Laughs] Its a little bit under six minutes but it is pretty long, and to get a network to air something like that, which is just straight action. Theyre always worried the audience is going to change the channel, so that was the big feat! Want more scoop on H50, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matts Inside Line. Related stories S.W.A.T. Reboot Headed to CBS From EPs Shawn Ryan and Justin Lin Alan Cumming to Star In, Produce James Patterson Pilot Dr. Death at CBS Jane Pauley to Succeed Charles Osgood as Host of CBS Sunday Morning VIROQUA For women and families in poverty, life is a balancing act of glass balls every day, and you cant drop any one of them, Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said during last weeks Womens Issues Roundtable. Shilling was among six participants who addressed health, economics, hunger and domestic abuse Monday at Vernon County Democratic headquarters in Viroqua. Two-thirds of low-wage jobs are held by women, many of whom are supporting children, said Couleecap executive director Grace Jones, during a presentation on wage disparity between men and women and area county percentages (16 percent in Vernon) of people living in poverty. Single-parent families are hit hardest. If one thing goes wrong, everything hits the fan. Jones also showed percentages of homeless including children, and how many people, many working poor, spend more than 35 percent of their income on housing (Vernon 54 percent). Available, affordable reproductive heath care is key to womens security, Shilling said, lamenting that Wisconsin has cut funding to Planned Parenthood, resulting in closure of five rural clinics, making it difficult for women to obtain services such as cancer screening. In Vernon County, Essential Health in Viroqua provides these services, said Sara Martinez, staff registered nurse. Community Hunger Solutions in Viroqua provides food for people in need, but many who need this help arent coming to get it, said Gary Thompson, farm/food coordinator, who envisions an area plant to process food that is going to waste. We need to take away the stigma of poverty, said Yvonne Ward of Viroqua, among about 40 people attending the program. If people are working very hard and still not making the bottom line, they shouldnt be embarrassed to go (to food banks) for food. They arent going because they do not want to be seen getting free food. A first-time senior Skype session ran the gamut from nostalgia to humor, confusion to excitement, with just a touch of good-natured competition. Who here has artificial body parts? asked Jenessa Anderson, resident program coordinator for Brookdale Senior Living. Three ladies raised their hands. Weve got two knees and a hip over here, Kathy Helgerson, owner of Simple Steps to Technology, Skyped back from Eagle Crest South Assisted Living. Its a tie. The two groups of seniors connected over screens on Thursday, comparing numbers of grandkids, discussing favorite activities and taking polls. While everyone acknowledged knowing cursive and sending hand-written letters, only a few were familiar with Skype, tablets and texting. That lack of familiarity with modern technology is what led Helgerson to start Simple Steps a year ago. Formerly employed by Degen Berglund for almost four decades, Helgerson discovered a knack for tech support when visiting her mother, Rita, at Brookdale Senior Living. I found myself helping everyone with their devices, said Helgerson, who enrolled in a program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Small Business Development Center and met with her first client in August 2015. I set up Skype for her, and she cried when she saw her daughter on the screen for the first time, recalled Helgerson, who offers one-on-one and group sessions as well as customizing technology for individuals with dementia, a condition that affects her mother. Its important to stay connected with your family. Helgerson was excited to see Rita, who was greeted warmly by acquaintances at Eagle Crest, in the audience at Brookdale during the Thursday gathering. The residents are like a unique, close family, a special group of people, Helgerson said. The hope is someone will see someone they know at the other location. Marilyn Ondell, a Brookdale resident, connected with old friend Betty Kendrick, who is also her former student. We should start a writing club on Skype and share our stories, Kendrick offered from her seat at Eagle Crest. A bit confused at first, Ondell asked, Do I talk to the screen? before responding, I do think that would be wonderful. We can relive the old days. Helgerson held Kendricks knitting project up to the camera, much to Ondells delight: Ooh, thats nice, she gushed. Big and nice. Helgerson and Anderson have also introduced residents to YouTube, Google Earth and iPads. The goal is to educate and entertain, said Helgerson, who previously captivated one reluctant woman with Google Earth. The session was over and she said we just had to go to Bangkok, so next time I have to do that. Anderson says Brookdale residents have been largely accepting of new technology, and hopes it will help them better connect with the younger generation. The more people we can get on board, the more they can see and communicate with people they might otherwise not, Anderson said. Ondell said the afternoon made her more open to embracing technology. Im not at all a tech, Ondell said. As simple as this is for other people, its not for me. But Im enjoying finding out more about the future. For more information on Simple Steps to Technology, visit SimpleStepsToTechnology.com. As campuses do more to combat discrimination, students and watchdogs are pushing back with free speech concerns. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has had a bias/hate reporting system and response team since 2005, Assistant Director of Campus Climate Amanda Goodenough said, and the university received 192 reports through the system during the 2015-2016 school year. The system allows students to anonymously report incidents of hate and bias on campus, which Goodenough said include any act motivated in whole or part by bias toward a protected group of people. Not of all these acts rise to the level of student misconduct or a crime, she said, but they provide a snapshot of the culture on campus. The response team doesn't handle any incidents that do rise to the level of a conduct violation, she said, referring those to other campus departments, and she said a lot of the work of the team is reaching out to students who report an incident and providing support. People can experience the same situation on campus differently, response team member and Affirmative Action Director and Title IX Coordinator Nizam Arain said, and can feel unsafe or threatened by behavior another person wouldn't find objectionable. The reporting system lets the university hear those marginalized voices and work on ways to address those issues. "We want to help people to understand the importance of words and actions," Goodenough said, "to create a safe opportunity for people to have these conversations." Whitney Storvick, the vice president for the Women's Studies Student Association and a senior from Waseca, Minn., said she has used the bias/hate reporting system a number of times while she has been a student at UW-L. Having the team helps combat hate and bias, pushes back against offensive actions being normalized in the community and provides a safe space for students to validate their reactions, she said. "The system gives you the option to talk to someone who understands," she said, "someone to comfort you and assure that it's real. That's huge." Western Technical College also has a bias/hate reporting form on the school's website and officials said the college received one complaint of graffiti last year. At Viterbo, harassment and bias-related incident are violations of the university's code of conduct and all incidents are investigated by university officials. Bias incidents reported last year at UW-L run the gamut from graffiti and vandalism to spoken words and actions targeted at students. For instance, a number of students reported a video created by the university's Information Technology Services department that featured a white administrator dressed in a sombrero and imitating a Mexican accent. Other reports documented physical damage of a display of another country's flag on campus and incidents in which minority students were yelled at using racial slurs and epithets. A number of incidents were reported by residence hall staff who documented offensive postings and graffiti found during rounds and who frequently encounter drawn penises, slurs and foul language posted on notes and whiteboards or in other common areas. Other incidents have resulted in university action, such as the drawing of a lynching with the words #blacklivesdon'tmatter, which resulted in a teach-in at UW-L last spring; sightings of a truck with the Confederate flag that resulted in a forum on racism last winter; and a "trap bed" left in the hallway of one of the residences halls that warned students to remember to wear a condom, which was highlighted at a forum on hate and bias last spring. Other incidents target individuals or organizations that offended the reporter. One posting called out a professor by name for laughing inappropriately during a faculty senate meeting and a number of students reported their professors for how they taught controversial academic subjects such as sexual assault or Southern culture. One student reported feeling unsafe after encountering a Campus Crusade for Christ poster on campus, saying the cross represents "oppression and hate of the LGBT+ community." The student reported feeling unsafe on campus while homophobic groups are allowed. Two students reported one of their peers for an off-campus blog post that was shared on Facebook and Tumblr about life as a white student, with one of the reporters saying the blog was offensive to students of color and they they did not feel safe living on campus since the author lived close by. While many of the incidents reported were anonymous or resulted in contact only with the students making the reports, the hate and response team did reach out to the administrators in the ITS video and have contacted Facebook administrators to remove social media posts reported to the system. The team has also worked with residence life staff to speak with students about some postings in the residence halls and reached out to department leadership in some of the incidents in which faculty were reported for their teaching. Campus Climate also responded to the chalkings that appeared on UW-L sidewalks last spring with messages that supported Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump such as "Trump 2016 and "build the wall." A number of students reported the chalkings to the bias/hate response team, which responded on Facebook with this message: "While we respect peoples right to express opinions, we also recognize that some communities on campus experience these messages as discriminatory or hostile. All manifestations of prejudice and intolerance are contradictory to our mission as a university." That post was soon taken down from the office's official Facebook page. Goodenough and Arain said that the bias response team respects students and faculty members' First Amendment rights and have stated such on the reporting system's website. That hasn't been good enough for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a nonprofit organization that promotes First Amendment rights at colleges and universities. The organization lists the hate/bias system among UW-L's policies that receive a yellow-light rating for their potential to be used to punish protected speech. The organization also chose the hate/bias system as its Speech Code of the Month for February of this year. Lawmakers and free speech advocates have been pushing back against these kinds of teams recently, such as the team at the University of Norther Colorado, which was recently disbanded after reports the team asked a professor to forgo discussing controversial subjects in class. Samantha Harris, director of policy research at FIRE, said bias/hate systems like UW-L's are problematic for a number of reasons. They label bias/hate very broadly, which can include constitutionally protected expression. She said teams such as UW-L's that say they avoid taking action on reported incidents create a "process-as-punishment" system in which students, faculty and staff censor themselves in order to avoid being reported. "It sends a message to students that they aren't adults who can work out problems themselves," she said. Criticisms of "political correctness" on campus have been raised by Republican lawmakers in the Wisconsin Legislature. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, called it a plague that stifles free speech and critical thinking in a report by the Capitol Times, and his sentiments were echoed by colleague Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater. If only the taxpayers and tuition-paying families had a safe space that might protect them from wasteful UW System spending on political correctness, Nass said in an August statement. A number of reports made to the system have been satirical or critical of it, such as students reporting encounters with Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders supporters on campus after the chalking incident. Others criticized university officials for their handling of the Confederate flag incident, saying it crushed free speech on campus. Instead of stifling free speech, Goodenough said, the bias system fosters the expression of marginalized students. They're not being coddled, she said, but are some of the most resilient students she knows, facing both academic challenges and cultural adversities, "Sometimes I think it is ironic ... the students using the system are exercising their free speech rights," she said. "If we replace the words PC with respect then respect is something everyone deserves." During Friday's teach-in on rape culture at UW-L, several administrators and students spoke about changing UW-L policies in light of a recent incident in which an offensive banner was hung near campus. Some on campus have lamented the fact that the incident didn't rise to the level of a conduct violation and were upset UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow defended the free speech rights of the students. They called new policies that would result in punishment for similar speech in the future. While he found the banner to be distasteful and gross, UW-L College Republicans president Ben Stelter said the students who were involved should never have to give up their free speech rights when attending a public university. This kind of attitude combined with systems such as the bias/hate response team makes it hard for students to speak up about issues or express their beliefs. "It's a concerning time for free speech on campus," Stelter said. "People are not speaking their minds on both sides of issues." Kimberly Blaeser knows not every poem starts as a gem, but sometimes the roughest starts produce the most promising verse. Sometimes it comes readily, and others I put away and tinker with and find ways to make it sparkle, said Blaeser, a self-described very bad child poet who grew up to be the 2015-16 Wisconsin Poet Laureate. The best pieces come about in the process of discovery ... allowing the path to be altered. With three published collections, Apprenticed to Justice, Absentee Indians and Other Poems and Trailing You, and a devoted following, Blaeser, an English professor at UW-Milwaukee, has perfected the imperfect process, and will no doubt inspire both seasoned and aspiring poets during her reading Tuesday at the Pump House. The performance is in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosses Hear, Here public oral history program, which focuses on the character, history and untold stories of La Crosse. It is actually a very Native American idea, Blaeser said. Places have stories, which is how we understand our relationship with place. It seems as if as poets what were doing is paying attention to the world, and sometimes we need to speak out about situations in society. Blaeser, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who was raised on the White Earth Reservation in northwestern Minnesota, focused her early poetry on giving a voice to Native Americans. She has recently introduced themes of family, nature, spirit and motherhood into her work, as well as expanding into picto-poems, which were derived from ekphrastic poems, poetic descriptions of art used to expand its meaning. Bringing two arts together shows how experience is layered, Blaeser explained. What we see is always imbedded in stories and experiences. Blaeser is planning an eclectic selection for her Pump House event, including Picto-Poems and historical and humorous pieces accessible and enjoyable for all ages. Blaeser encourages audience interaction at her reciprocal readings. There are really lovely moments that come from sharing, she said. Part of the delight is having conversations about the ideas theyve raised and how you connect to them. Blaeser says poetry has changed her own way of connecting with the world. I experience things in a new shining way through the gift of poetry. It gives you a language for the ineffable, a gesture for things we think and wonder about deeply but are unable to state clearer. Its the pathway, not the destination, that makes poetry joyful. Need an explanation for Donald Trumps rise? Look no further, many pundits are saying, than a popular new book, J.D. Vances Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir chronicling the authors journey from a struggling childhood in Appalachia to earning a degree at an Ivy League law school. What many dont understand is how truly desperate these places are, Vance told an interviewer, and were not talking about small enclaves or a few towns were talking about multiple states where a significant chunk of the white working class struggles to get by. The problem, Vance says: Neither Democrats nor Republicans have offered much to help such people out. What to make of Vances book? How should Democrats and Republicans respond? Joel Mathis and Ben Boychuk debate the issue. Joel Mathis Liberals have some amends to make. We havent always been kind to the people Vance affectionately calls hillbillies, and when weve used that word, theres generally been little affection. Vance complains that Democrats offer his folks smug condescension and hes not entirely wrong: President Barack Obama famously suggested rural whites cling to their guns and religion, and Hillary Clintons recent basket of deplorables statement seemed to confirm the problem. But if theres been a breakup between the once-solidly Democratic white working class and the Democratic Party, its been a two-way street one that Vance, it seems, takes pains to avoid acknowledging. Why dont these folks like Obama much? According to Vance, it has its roots in the presidents Ivy League education. He is brilliant, wealthy, and speaks like a constitutional law professor which, of course, he is, Vance writes of the president. Nothing about him bears any resemblance to the people I admired growing up: His accent clean, perfect, neutral is foreign; his credentials so impressive that theyre frightening; he made his life in Chicago, a dense metropolis; and he conducts himself with a confidence that comes from knowing the modern American meritocracy was built for him. You know who else that paragraph describes: Franklin D. Roosevelt, a rich, Ivy League-educated New Yorker with a patrician accent to end all patrician accents and also, according to Vance, a hero to his underclass family. Whats the difference? Race is unavoidably part of the estrangement between Democrats and the white underclass. Vance also says his people dont want handouts, but the truth is that government is critical to his own rise in the meritocracy. He first escaped his roots by joining the Marines which calls to mind how government jobs, like those at the post office, have been a ticket to the middle class for many African-American families. At Yale Law, he received need-based financial aid. The choice isnt between handouts or hard work. Vance used both to rise above his station. Lets hope that path is available to others who would try to follow. Ben Boychuk Trumps name appears nowhere in Vances book. But to read the 31-year-old Vances memoir is to understand better why the billionaire real-estate mogul has won the hearts (and likely votes) of millions of American sons and daughters of the soil. Without question, white working-class voters have suffered under the past two presidential administrations. While Hillary dismisses many of them as irredeemable racist, sexist and the usual litany of offenses against left-wing pieties Trump speaks to them like no other politician in recent memory. Globalization and the great recession helped hollow out the economy, driving out good businesses and solid blue-collar jobs and replacing them with pawnshops and cash-for-gold establishments, welfare and food stamps, drug addiction and suicide. And beyond that? The story Vance tells is largely one of self-inflicted wounds. We purchase homes we dont need, refinance them for more spending money, and declare bankruptcy, often leaving them full of garbage in our wake, he writes. We talk about the value of hard work but tell ourselves the reason were not working is some perceived unfairness. Vance doesnt profess any profound answers. But, he writes, I know it starts when we stop blaming Obama or Bush or faceless companies and ask ourselves what we can do to make things better. The answer, in part, boils down to keeping families intact and fostering a culture that values education, perseverance and hard work. Vance part grew up without his mother and father. What he had instead were a tough Mawmaw and Pawpaw, who were often quick-tempered and violent but who also helped set him on the right path. A president is neither a Mawmaw nor a Pawpaw, which is why placing too much hope in the upcoming election is folly. Not that Trump could fix any of the problems afflicting the white working class. And besides, the hillbilly vote is far too small to propel Trump into the White House. But Trump seems to understand their plight better than the Democrats do. They arent deplorable. Theyre just desperate. So, why are you running for office? Thats a question Ive answered hundreds, if not thousands of times as Ive knocked on doors across the 94th Assembly District. There are many challenges facing western Wisconsin, and its easy to get caught up in talking about just one. Im concerned about our roads and the state of our infrastructure. I think we deserve lower taxes but the true heart of why Im running for office is the American Dream. Ive lived it, and I want my friends and neighbors to have a chance to live their dreams as well. As the biracial son of a single mother who was raised below the poverty line, statistics would not have predicted that I would be the first in my family to graduate from college and go on to work in management for a Fortune 150 company. Yet, here I am. At times, its been a tough journey, but Ive accomplished these things because I am blessed to live in a country that values equality of opportunity and encourages everyone to chart their own course in life. At its core, the American Dream is the idea that if we work hard and play by the rules, we can achieve more than the previous generation, and prepare the next generation to achieve even more than we have. Recent polling has revealed a terrifying trend. For the first time, 56 percent of parents believe that their kids will be worse off than they are. Eighty percent of millennial workers believe they will not have the same opportunities as their parents generation. I know the American Dream exists because Ive seen it in action; but for too many people, even here in western Wisconsin, it has become a pipe dream. So many folks feel as though theyve been left behind. It can become tempting to look to the government to ensure that we all have equal outcomes. However, this is a trap a trap that reins in ingenuity, puts a ceiling on our potential, and stunts societys growth. No, the governments role is not to provide equal outcomes it is to ensure equal opportunity. In this area, I believe that we can do better. While southeastern Wisconsin gets the funding they need for mega-projects, too many of the rural roads that our farms and businesses depend on have become riddled with potholes. I will be our voice at the table for infrastructure. Recently, I was asked about the teacher shortage that our rural schools are seeing. We cannot allow western Wisconsin children to fall behind. I will advocate strongly for equitable funding for our K-12 schools as well as push for further incentives to attract teachers to our rural schools. We need to ensure that young families can build the home they always wanted, while enabling senior citizens to stay in the home theyve built; we need lower property taxes. I will work every day to ensure that people can keep more of their money while also making sure that we all see tangible results for our tax dollars. I am running for the Assembly because I want to ensure that we have equal access to solid infrastructure and quality schools so that we can guarantee equality of opportunity for all in this generation and the next. I am running to lower our tax burden, and return more spendable income to folks so they can invest in a new business, a new home, and pursue a better life. Im running because I want the opportunity to work every day to give men and women in western Wisconsin the freedom and equal opportunity that we need to achieve our piece of the American Dream. Rates of gun violence in the United States are some of the highest in the world outside of war zones. Every year, somewhere in the range of 30,000 American deaths occur due to the use of firearms. To effectively reduce such loss of life, it would be logical to study the problem to find solutions. In 1996, former Arkansas Congressman Jay Dickey spearheaded efforts to prevent the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from conducting research into gun violence. The $2.6 million that the CDC had used for firearm injury research in 1995 was then designated the next year by Congress for prevention of traumatic brain injuries, a significant public health concern. But after the 2012 Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting, former Rep. Dickey began to recant his position. He came to the realization that publicly funded research, such as that conducted by the CDC, would actually help us find solutions to our exorbitantly high gun-related death rate. As of now, the CDC conducts research into a variety of violence-related problems, including child abuse, youth violence, sexual assault and suicide. With 30,000 deaths per year, why not guns? The 1996 Dickey Amendment didnt explicitly forbid research into gun violence. It said that the CDC may not use funds to advocate or promote gun control. The agency and scientists working under its auspices got the message: firearms research was politically fraught, and it has stopped. Dickey now recognizes that political purposes should never have gotten in the way of this public health issue. He also acknowledges he should have done something back in 1996 to allow continued funding for government-sponsored gun-violence research. The phrase better late than never comes to mind. Another former member of Congress who happens also to be a physicist, Rush Holt, has recently reminded us its not a good idea to muzzle scientific investigation for political purposes. Like Dickey, Holt is calling for an end to the congressional restrictions on the CDCs capacity to engage in gun-violence research. Once we do end the ban, an informed public will have the opportunity to overcome our ideologically charged debate around gun violence and regulation. We will be better off with a discussion premised upon legitimate scientific research, as opposed to political stances intended to demean and vilify those with opposing views. In the meantime, privately funded research provides important clues to patterns of gun ownership. The Guardian newspaper recently published research from Harvard University and Northeastern University that shows 3 percent of American adults now own almost half of all of the guns in the United States, the percentage of Americans owning guns is actually on the decline, and the number of women owning guns is on the rise. This data suggest gun ownership is driven by a growing fearfulness in our society, despite violent crime rates having decreased over the last several decades. One crime on the increase: gun thefts. Perhaps the increase by 70 million in our gun stock since 1994 is a factor to consider in this increased theft rate. The American Psychological Association could put government funds to good use researching any connection between behavioral indicators and the potential for gun-related violence. Since the ban from the Dickey Amendment is still in place, we are unable to engage in the necessary broad research required to provide the evidence to formulate sensible public policy. When researchers collect detailed data on gun violence, we enhance our capacity to discern verifiable patterns concerning the 30,000 gun deaths every year. On such evidence we can design informed interventions. Perhaps we could even prevent some of them. Today, 350 communities in 42 states are participating in the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. La Crosse has a host of activities this afternoon. If 30,000 deaths annually concern you, perhaps you will participate. When researchers collect detailed data on gun violence, we enhance our capacity to discern verifiable patterns concerning the 30,000 gun deaths every year. Global warming is clearly occurring. Average land and ocean surface temperatures were about 1.5 degrees warmer in the early 2000s than they were from 1850 to 1900. Even if we suddenly reduced our greenhouse gas emissions, the world would continue getting hotter. Earth has survived heat waves and ice ages in the past, and it will continue to survive regardless of how much carbon and methane we pump into the atmosphere. Some species will thrive, including jellyfish and, sadly, diseases such as dengue fever, which will flourish in warming water. But when we focus on the impact of global warming on humans rather than on the Earth as a whole, the danger is more obvious. Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns will seriously damage both our cities and our food supply. Depending on the amount of greenhouse gases we emit and how Earth responds, average temperatures are likely to be anywhere from 2 to 8 degrees warmer in 2100 than in the 1960s. Assuming the actual increase is somewhere in the middle of that range, here are some of the impacts we likely would feel both across the United States and here in Wisconsin: Rising oceans: As water gets warmer, it expands. Additionally, rising temperatures have melted some of the worlds glaciers and ice sheets, dumping water into the oceans. Sea level has risen more than one-tenth of an inch per year during the past 20 years. Over the next century, the global sea level could rise by up to 6.5 feet, and the rise could be even bigger along the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard. In this case, substantial portions of cities such as New York and Miami would be below sea level, and New Orleans would be almost entirely flooded if its levees broke. The United States would have to devote substantial resources to either relocate residents or build dikes and levees to prevent some of its major cities from going underwater. More extreme weather: Global warming means more (and warmer) hot days and nights. This causes deaths from clear risks such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but also from less obvious causes such as heart attacks and strokes. The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that reductions in cold-related deaths are projected to be smaller than increases in heat-related deaths in most regions. Global warming also affects local weather patterns. Here in Wisconsin, one of the changes weve already seen is an increase in precipitation and runoff. One recent study concluded that increased rainfall linked to global warming produced more and larger summer flooding in Milwaukee. Our cities dikes, sewer systems, and drainage systems are built based on past flooding patterns. If flooding in the Midwest grows or becomes more frequent, well have to spend additional money upgrading these systems or (even worse) cleaning up after they fail. In contrast, the West is likely to see more frequent and worse droughts, leading to more wildfires and reduced water supply. A harmed food supply: Global warming is likely to upset all aspects of the worlds food supply, including fish, crops, meat and dairy. Some edible fish species are likely to be directly impacted by global warming. The number of Pacific salmon already is shrinking due to a loss of snowpack, which leads to smaller stream flows, and an increase in water temperatures. Many cereal crops, too, produce lower yields at higher temperatures. And droughts in the West are likely to uniquely harm rain-fed agriculture. Even in cooler, wetter areas like Wisconsin, scientists estimate that despite some additional precipitation, increasing temperatures will reduce yields of such crops as corn and soybeans. Even dairy cows arent immune to climate change. Heat stress lowers milk production, which will require dairy farmers to either spend more on cooling their cattle or see less milk per cow. This is just a sampling of the ways humans will be harmed by global warming. All of these consequences will be considerably worse if the planet warms by 8 degrees, and less severe if temperatures rise by 2 degrees. The more we do now to limit how much the world warms, the more we can reduce heat waves, flooding, droughts, coastal cities being inundated by rising sea levels, and harm to our farmers and our food supply. Its time for action on climate change. Tomah Memorial Hospital received a special delivery Sept. 14 as a new, state-of-the-art 128 slice computed tomography (CT) scanner arrived for installation in the hospitals imaging department. The new scanner replaces a 64-slice scanner that had been used for the past eight years. According to imaging departement director Jessica Kennedy, the new Siemens SOMATOM Definition AS CT scanner provides a number of patient-friendly features while producing consistent, higher quality images. At Tomah Memorial, we are dedicated to achieving the highest levels of patient safety. For this reason, we use CT imaging technology that enables excellent quality images using low radiation doses, said Kennedy. Our investment in this low-dose CT technology is part of our ongoing commitment to our patients health and well-being. CT scans use X-rays, or invisible beams of ionizing radiation that pass through the body and are altered by different tissues to create images. Kennedy said Tomah Memorial joins a limited group of hospitals in Wisconsin with the scanner, which cost $670,000. The 128-slice scanner refers to the number of detectors that are present on the unit, thereby creating more detailed images in a shorter amount of time. A mobile scanner is being used during the installation of the new system, which is expected to be completed by Friday, Sept. 23. The trend Ive seen in a couple letters to the editor so far this election season has been for writers to use my past columns regarding the poor leadership of Gov. Scott Walker and project those pieces on our local sitting State Assembly Rep. Lee Nerison. Ive written reams of paper on how Walkers leadership has hurt Wisconsin. I have not projected Walkers actions onto any other candidate. The difficulty with anybody who thinks one Republican equals any other Republican is the same lunacy that has gotten us into the polarized knot of state and federal government that currently exists. Ive chosen in my column to give equal access to Democratic challenger Alicia Leinberger and incumbent Nerison prior to the election. I ran a column for Alicia a couple months ago. I ran one for Nerison last week. My disdain for Gov. Walker has been obvious from the news of divide and conquer. But Ive always supported local government control. I view myself as a local conservative. I supported Lee Nerison in the last election. Ive already written that I cant support Donald Trump for President. As I said, I wouldnt want him teaching Sunday school to my children. His mouth continually spews hateful, dangerous rhetoric. Hes no president. Hillary Clinton is no better perhaps worse. I remember how Bill Clinton tied up the last three years of what could have been the most productive presidency of the late 20th Century as the nation focused on a stain on a blue dress. Bill Clinton is a worse human being than Trump. Who wants to entrust their 22-year-old daughter as an intern for a company whose CEO is going to seek sexual favors from her in the head office? Bill Clinton is a pig. Donald Trump is a pig, but at least he owns it. What does this have to do with Hillary? She is as transparent as a brick wall. Shes a non-starter for anyone interested in freedom of the press or protecting the peoples right to know. This is what happens when America stops seeing its best and brightest choosing public service. Instead the most mouthy and combative must run for office, because thats where our republic has degenerated. The Fourth Estate no longer covers issues, movements or revolutions. It covers hate speech, because that drives Twitter, Facebook and social media. Many people think this is the work of journalists. No, it is the work of publishing companies, who have abandoned journalism for profit, slashed newsrooms by 50 percent or more, and exchanged journalism that makes a difference for website hits. Here in local, community journalism, positive stories are better received. Id much rather write positive stories discussing Leinberger and Nerison than just come out hammering them. I talked to them about issues and shared that with readers. Democrats looking for quotes from me to add to their letters to the editor should know on the federal level I support the death penalty, Department of Defense spending, the deportation of illegal immigrants and the Second Amendment. As for state Democrats, they have been short on answers and large on throwing blame. The best solution Ive heard to correcting Wisconsin school funding came from our own state assemblyman in my column last week. Nerison suggests rewriting the states school funding formula to better fund rural schools. Stop giving equal aid to extremely wealthy public school districts. Invest more money in rural schools that have neither the resources or ability to compete for teachers or the same high-tech learning environments. Thats what Lee Nerison says. I support that. I say this nonsense with the state funding private schools should stop immediately. Ive always felt most comfortable when the State Legislature was in a Republican majority and the governors office was held by a Democrat. I felt like the most got done in Wisconsin in the fairest way for rural residents in the state when this was the case. As for Lee Nerison sitting at the right hand of Gov. Walker and being a Republican insider? What complete baloney. The competition for that spot is ferocious and filled with many wannabee minions whose souls were sold long ago. I dont think Nerison would sell his soul. I dont think Leinberger would either. 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14 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (2) Feb 11 (1) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (1) Feb 08 (1) Feb 07 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 05 (5) Feb 03 (1) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (1) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (5) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (3) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (1) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (5) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (6) Dec 14 (4) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (5) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (5) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (4) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (4) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (3) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (4) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (2) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (6) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (3) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (4) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (5) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (6) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (4) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (5) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (3) Aug 09 (4) Aug 08 (2) Aug 07 (2) Aug 06 (2) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (2) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (2) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (6) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (4) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (4) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (5) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (2) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (2) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (1) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (2) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (5) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (2) May 23 (4) May 22 (4) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (4) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (4) May 13 (9) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (5) May 09 (4) May 08 (3) May 07 (5) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (1) May 02 (5) May 01 (7) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (3) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (3) Apr 14 (4) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (6) Apr 10 (1) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (3) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (3) Apr 02 (4) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (4) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (4) Mar 26 (2) Mar 25 (4) Mar 24 (6) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (4) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (4) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (5) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (5) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (5) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (3) Mar 02 (5) Mar 01 (4) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (3) Feb 26 (3) Feb 25 (3) Feb 24 (4) Feb 23 (4) Feb 22 (3) Feb 21 (4) Feb 20 (4) Feb 19 (3) Feb 18 (3) Feb 17 (3) Feb 16 (5) Feb 15 (4) Feb 14 (3) Feb 13 (4) Feb 12 (3) Feb 11 (3) Feb 10 (4) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (3) Feb 07 (4) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (3) Feb 04 (3) Feb 03 (5) Feb 02 (4) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (3) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (3) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (4) Jan 25 (3) Jan 24 (5) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (6) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (3) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (4) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (3) Jan 08 (4) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (4) Jan 05 (3) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (5) Jan 02 (4) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (2) Dec 29 (2) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (4) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (5) Dec 17 (3) Dec 16 (3) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (3) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (2) Dec 11 (6) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (4) Dec 08 (6) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (3) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (2) Nov 29 (3) Nov 28 (3) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (6) Nov 22 (5) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (2) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (7) Nov 17 (5) Nov 16 (4) Nov 15 (6) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (3) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (3) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (4) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (2) Nov 06 (2) Nov 05 (2) Nov 04 (4) Nov 03 (4) Nov 02 (4) Nov 01 (2) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (2) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (2) Oct 24 (2) Oct 23 (2) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (2) Oct 16 (2) Oct 15 (2) Oct 14 (4) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (3) Oct 11 (2) Oct 10 (2) Oct 09 (4) Oct 08 (4) Oct 07 (4) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (6) Oct 01 (6) Sep 30 (5) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (7) Sep 26 (4) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (5) Sep 23 (8) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (3) Sep 20 (6) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (7) Sep 15 (3) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (5) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (5) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (2) Sep 06 (7) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (2) Sep 01 (2) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (4) Aug 25 (3) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (4) Aug 21 (4) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (2) Aug 16 (2) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (5) Aug 12 (10) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (4) Aug 09 (5) Aug 08 (3) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (7) Jul 31 (5) Jul 30 (4) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (5) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (5) Jul 22 (7) Jul 21 (5) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (6) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (6) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (3) Jul 12 (2) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (3) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (8) Jun 30 (6) Jun 29 (4) Jun 28 (6) Jun 27 (6) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (6) Jun 24 (6) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (5) Jun 18 (8) Jun 17 (6) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (5) Jun 13 (4) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (6) Jun 10 (4) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (5) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (3) Jun 02 (3) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (2) May 29 (2) May 28 (2) May 27 (4) May 26 (4) May 25 (3) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (5) May 20 (4) May 19 (2) May 18 (3) May 17 (3) May 16 (3) May 15 (4) May 14 (5) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (3) May 10 (4) May 09 (4) May 08 (4) May 07 (3) May 06 (2) May 05 (3) May 04 (4) May 03 (2) May 02 (3) May 01 (3) Apr 30 (3) Apr 29 (4) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (3) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (5) Apr 18 (7) Apr 17 (6) Apr 16 (10) Apr 15 (5) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (4) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (7) Apr 08 (4) Apr 07 (7) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (7) Apr 04 (5) Apr 03 (4) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (5) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (5) Mar 29 (7) Mar 28 (6) Mar 27 (5) Mar 26 (5) Mar 25 (6) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (5) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (3) Mar 19 (6) Mar 18 (6) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (5) Mar 14 (4) Mar 13 (5) Mar 12 (5) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (4) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (3) Mar 05 (4) Mar 04 (6) Mar 03 (4) Mar 02 (4) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (6) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (4) Feb 25 (6) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (3) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (6) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (6) Feb 18 (4) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (3) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (6) Feb 13 (6) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (5) Feb 10 (3) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (4) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (3) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (3) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (3) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (2) Jan 26 (3) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (2) Jan 22 (2) Jan 21 (5) Jan 20 (4) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (4) Jan 17 (4) Jan 16 (3) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (3) Jan 12 (3) Jan 11 (2) Jan 10 (8) Jan 09 (6) Jan 08 (2) Jan 07 (2) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (2) Jan 04 (2) Jan 03 (2) Jan 02 (2) Jan 01 (2) Dec 31 (2) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (3) Dec 27 (2) Dec 26 (2) Dec 25 (2) Dec 24 (2) Dec 23 (2) Dec 22 (2) Dec 21 (2) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (2) Dec 18 (3) Dec 17 (2) Dec 16 (2) Dec 15 (3) Dec 14 (2) Dec 13 (3) Dec 12 (3) Dec 11 (3) Dec 10 (5) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (3) Dec 07 (2) Dec 06 (3) Dec 05 (3) Dec 04 (5) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (2) Nov 27 (2) Nov 26 (2) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (2) Nov 23 (2) Nov 22 (2) Nov 21 (2) Nov 20 (3) Nov 19 (3) Nov 18 (2) Nov 17 (2) Nov 16 (5) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (4) Nov 13 (2) Nov 12 (2) Nov 11 (2) Nov 10 (2) Nov 09 (2) Nov 08 (2) Nov 07 (3) Nov 06 (6) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (5) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (5) Oct 29 (4) Oct 28 (3) Oct 27 (2) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (4) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (4) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (2) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (2) Oct 18 (2) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (4) Oct 14 (2) Oct 13 (2) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (4) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (2) Oct 05 (5) Oct 04 (5) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (4) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (2) Sep 29 (2) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (2) Sep 25 (3) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (2) Sep 22 (2) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (2) Sep 19 (3) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (3) Sep 16 (2) Sep 15 (4) Sep 14 (3) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (4) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (2) Sep 09 (5) Sep 08 (5) Sep 07 (5) Sep 06 (4) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (3) Sep 03 (2) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (3) Aug 31 (2) Aug 30 (2) Aug 29 (3) Aug 28 (6) Aug 27 (3) Aug 26 (2) Aug 25 (2) Aug 24 (3) Aug 23 (2) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (5) Aug 20 (4) Aug 19 (3) Aug 18 (2) Aug 17 (5) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (4) Aug 14 (5) Aug 13 (2) Aug 12 (2) Aug 11 (2) Aug 10 (2) Aug 09 (2) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (5) Aug 06 (6) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (5) Aug 03 (2) Aug 02 (3) Aug 01 (2) Jul 31 (4) Jul 30 (2) Jul 29 (2) Jul 28 (2) Jul 27 (2) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (4) Jul 24 (2) Jul 23 (3) Jul 22 (2) Jul 21 (3) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (2) Jul 18 (3) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (2) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (2) Jul 12 (3) Jul 11 (2) Jul 10 (2) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (2) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (2) Jul 03 (2) Jul 02 (2) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (7) Jun 28 (3) Jun 27 (2) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (5) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (2) Jun 19 (2) Jun 18 (2) Jun 17 (2) Jun 16 (2) Jun 15 (2) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (3) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (3) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (4) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (2) May 26 (2) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (2) May 22 (3) May 21 (3) May 20 (2) May 19 (2) May 18 (4) May 17 (7) May 16 (2) May 15 (2) May 14 (4) May 13 (3) May 12 (4) May 11 (4) May 10 (4) May 09 (3) May 08 (2) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (1) May 04 (2) May 03 (4) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (3) Apr 28 (2) Apr 27 (3) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (2) Apr 22 (2) Apr 21 (2) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (5) Apr 16 (4) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (3) Apr 13 (3) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (4) Apr 08 (3) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (3) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (1) Apr 03 (1) Apr 02 (1) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (2) Mar 30 (3) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (3) Mar 27 (3) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (3) Mar 22 (3) Mar 21 (4) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (3) Mar 18 (1) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (2) Mar 15 (1) Mar 14 (3) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (2) Mar 08 (1) Mar 07 (1) Mar 04 (2) Mar 02 (2) Feb 28 (1) Feb 24 (1) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (3) Dec 26 (3) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (3) Dec 23 (3) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (3) Dec 18 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YEARS AGO Charles Davis, Atlantic & Pacific Railway Agent of this place, reports that everyone who could get away has gone to the fair in Albuquerque. Hes sold 106 of the special low rate round-trip tickets for either business or for pleasure. The sidewalk on the south side of the Railroad Avenue is very dilapidated. Unless repairs are made it will result in a damage suit against the city. Pedestrians are obliged to walk in the street, it being unfit to be walked upon even in daylight. The Vagrant Act needs to be enforced. Tramps are becoming too numerous. The Board of Supervisors should authorize our county officials to put these roaming individuals to work. A heavy much-needed shower fell on us Thursday night. The Peaks are crowned with beautiful white. 100 YEARS AGO El Morto Escota was assessed a $200 fine or 200 days for pegging away with his 6 shooter within city limits on Sunday night thus disturbing the neighborhood. He has more time than money so took the 200 days in jail. Fred Russell met with an accident Monday while hitching up his team. He was attempting to connect the whiffle tree when the team stepped ahead catching the tip of his finger in the chain. He had it attended to immediately and may yet be able to retain the tip. Ordinance #189. Declaring of the business conducted in that certain building on the corner of San Francisco and Phoenix Ave. as being conducted in a disorderly manner and against Peace and Quiet of that neighborhood, the building is closed. The plentiful rain this past week would have been more opportune if it had fallen in May and June. 75 YEARS AGO The Flagstaff Excelsior factory which opened last April located north of the Southwest Lumber Mill is operating at full capacity to fill the defense need. This product is being made from Coconino County Aspen trees and is used by airplane plants and naval bases. The U. S. Forest Service is supervising the harvest. D.B. Roesner General Manager is hiring 6 new men and expects to need more soon. Production is to be held at 40 tons per month year round. Wires from Senators Carl Hayden and E. W. Farland assure us that the President has signed for a loan of $175,000 for our low income rental homes project. T. J. Tormey, Chairman of the Flagstaff Housing Authority. 20 Rangers have enrolled in the Fort Valley Forest Service School for 3 weeks of intensive instruction in Field work. H. 72 Fri. L 28 Wed. Rain 0.08 Mon. 50 YEARS AGO The one-way street plan is nearly ready to go ahead with the only remaining needs to install traffic lights at Verde and Santa Fe and make the light at Beaver and Santa Fe continue to operate while trains are passing through. There was a bomb scare at East Flagstaff Jr. High on Friday when an anonymous call was received at 8:40 am. The students were dismissed to go out of doors and the firemen arrived at 8:52. After careful searching, no bomb was found. School was dismissed for the day. H. 75 Sun. L. 41 Thurs. Rain 0.6 Thurs. 25 YEARS AGO The City Council has rejected all of the options for the realignment of Rt. 180. ADOT prefers to cut through McMillan Mesa saying it would be a 2 lane scenic highway. The opposition say it would spur unwanted development and provide free roads for developers. The discussion is not yet over. The plan for the downtown parking garage has been approved by the council. A robber wearing a pollen mask and blue jump suit took four Quality Market employees hostage at gun point on Thursday night about 10:30 following closing time. He taped their mouths and bound their wrists then forced them to open the safe. Work on the 8-foot bike path along the south side of Santa Fe Ave. from 4th St. to Fanning is expected to last into November. It will connect with the path at Switzer and Santa Fe. Expect traffic delays on the east bound lane. H. 83 Wed. ll.27 Fri.. Rain Sun., Mon., Tues. & Thurs. 0.08 Total for year 13.50 Five Northern Arizona Healthcare nurses won top awards at the Arizona March of Dimes 2016 Nurse of the Year Awards Gala. This yearly event celebrates nursing excellence and recognizes nursing leaders from across the state. Nurses throughout Arizona were nominated in one or more of 15 different categories. NAH had 75 nominees, 10 finalists and five winners -- the most nominees, finalists and winners out of all the healthcare systems in Arizona. Those winners are: Cindy Beckett, Ph.D., R.N.C.-O.B., L.C.C.E., C.H.R.C., for Evidence Based Practice and Research Nancy Foreman, B.S.N., R.N., O.C.N., for Distinguished Nurse of the Year Joan Moore, B.S.N., R.N., C.P.N., for Pediatric Leighanne Morton, M.B.A., R.N., for General Medicine/Surgical Erika Simon, M.S.N.-Ed., R.N., C.C.R.N., for Critical Care The number of winners from NAH is a testament not only to the quality care delivered in Northern Arizona, but to the dedication and expertise of the nurses at both Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center, said Katy Wilkens, FMC chief nursing officer. A popular travel blogger is being criticized for writing only good comments and posting fun videos from a trip to North Korea. British world traveler Louis Cole posted the videos on his YouTube channel last month. The videos were recorded during a 10-day trip with a group of friends. His YouTube channel has nearly two million subscribers, and he has more than 800,000 followers on Twitter. Some social media followers and the activist group Human Rights Watch criticized Cole for not showing the realities of life in North Korea. One user responded to a photo Cole posted on Instagram of him surfing with a smiling North Korean boy. You have to be realistic, man. Not everything is smiles and rainbows. The user said Coles information was usually realistic and useful for travelers. Im disappointed that you werent just as honest and realistic on this latest trip. Sure, this was probably 100 percent orchestrated and you werent allowed to film anything they didnt allow you to. Cole says he purposely tried to focus on the beautiful, positive things from the trip. His videos showed him surfing, visiting a water park and sightseeing across the country. He did not focus on the fact that North Korean government officials controlled where he could go and who he could talk to. After his visit, Cole released a video explaining his postings about the trip. I am not an investigative journalist. I dont really do political commentary and there are other places on the Internet you can go to find those kind of things... He denied a suggestion that he might have been paid by the North Korean government to make a propaganda video. The assumption I made, which may have been wrong of me, was that people watching my North Korea blogs would have already had a broader perspective on North Korea..." Another social media critic said the video and photo postings did not show the real North Korea, The one in which the majority of North Koreans live in poverty and have their rights stripped from them. The pictures youre posting are just a glimpse of what THEY want you to see. The Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch for Asia, Phil Robertson, told VOA he agrees with the criticisms. Our concern was that this guy was portraying such a relentlessly positive message about North Korea that is completely out of line with what we know about the human rights abuses there. The United Nations General Assembly has voted to refer North Koreas leadership to the International Criminal Court. A UN report documented between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners inside the country. It also linked North Korean officials to acts including murder, torture, rape, forced abortions and sexual violence. Cole answered his social media critics in a post on Instagram. Many people saw our trip to North Korea & our positive interaction with people as controversial, he wrote. It was moments like this, breaking down the barriers that separate this beautiful country from the rest of the world, that make me honored to have been a part of this group. Robertson, however, said he does not believe the travel posts were building cultural bridges. He said Cole did not research the real North Korea and gave the countrys government a lot of free publicity. Im Bryan Lynn. Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think this blogger should have included other information in his posts about North Korea? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story blogger n. a person who writes about personal opinions, activities and experiences on a website. rainbow n. curved line of different colors that can appear in the sky when the sun shines through rain orchestrate v. organize something to achieve a specific goal assumption n. something thought to be true without real proof broader perspective - adj. see something from a larger point of view glimpse n. to look quickly at something, glance portray v. to describe something or someone relentlessly adj. continuing without stopping or getting weaker controversial adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument Only 60 percent of students seeking a bachelors degree at an American college or university finish their study program within six years. That information comes from the United States Department of Education. It was part of a report released in May. The report talks about full-time students who attended a four-year college or university for the first time in 2008. It states that 60 percent of them completed their degree program by 2014. Experts say there are many reasons why this number is so low. But many schools are looking for ways to increase the graduation rate. For example, every American college or university requires students to identify the main subject, or major, of their studies. After all their requirements have been met, students receive their degree in that major. Some universities require individuals to declare a major at the beginning of their studies. Other schools let students wait until their second year. Changing majors is also acceptable. But some experts argue against changing majors. They note it may cause students to take more time to complete their degree program. However, a new study suggests that students who change their majors may be more likely to graduate. The Education Advisory Board (EAB) released the report on the study last month. The board studies higher education and tries to help American colleges and universities make improvements. The study was based on information gathered from over 78,000 college students. It looked at the graduation rate of students who changed majors within the first four years of study. On average, their graduation rate was between about four to six percent higher than students who never changed majors. The report also suggests that changing majors within the first three years of study has little to no effect on the average time it takes students to complete their degree. The EABs senior director Ed Venit wrote the report. He would not comment on whether or not college students should change majors. But he said that about 80 percent of students do change at some point. Venit also said it is not completely clear why changing majors might help students. But he thinks some people become more invested in their studies once they have had time to decide what they truly want to do. "Students who chose a major early on: maybe they didnt have full information about what they wanted to do. Maybe they just picked something that felt familiar or their parents pushed them to something, whatever it might be. But maybe they didnt make a full choice early on. Those students were only, perhaps just kind of attached to their major, versus students who either wait and explore a little bit longer or have declared something, explored further and found something else that they like even better." Venit added that the Department of Educations graduation rate information is not completely correct. It only includes the rates for students studying for the first time -- not for those who have changed schools. These students represent about 40 percent of the university population across the United States. The real six-year graduation rate is only between 53 and 55 percent, Venit said. He said that it is difficult to understand why the rate is so low. Some students leave school because of poor academic performance. Others leave because they lack the money to pay for their schooling. And others leave because they feel they are not getting enough in return for the high cost of higher education. No matter the reason, Venit said, this is the biggest and most complex problem facing higher education. Yet, some schools try anything they can to make their students experiences as successful as possible. Carleton College is a private institution in the northern state of Minnesota. About 2,000 students attend the college. The four-year graduation rate of students who began studying there in 2009 was 91 percent. George Shuffelton is the associate dean at Carleton College. He said students only choose to attend the college if they are willing to commit a great deal of effort to their studies. But, he adds, the Carleton community has students from every part of the country as well as other countries. And they all do what they can to support each other. "Students here dont tend to see college as a competition. They tend to help each other and support each other, and that makes a real difference. And then also, we try to create a culture where its okay to ask for help." Shuffelton said Carleton College also works to make sure its students graduate. Like most universities, members of the faculty act as academic advisors to students. Shuffelton noted that Carletons small class sizes provide students with a more personal experience. Most faculty members are also full-time employees. This means they are more able to give support to the success of the school and their students, Shuffelton said. Other schools are exploring other, more unusual methods to help students graduate. When students declares their major, they usually choose a subject such as history or mathematics. Oftentimes, students choose a major because they believe it will lead to a career path. Susan Burleson is the vice-president of student success and communications at Davidson County Community College in North Carolina. She thinks students often have little idea of what that path requires or where it will take them when they start college. "It is not developmentally normal or common or necessarily appropriate to know what you want to be at the age of 18. It is a time, developmentally, when you should be exploring who you are and what you want to be some day." Burleson said that years ago officials at Davidson began noticing students would choose a major because of what they thought they knew about the field. But in many cases, some students felt they had made the wrong choice and wasted time, money and effort. These students would then often leave school without completing a degree program. Then the college decided to start using a program called meta-majors in 2013. Meta-majors are programs in which students choose a general subject like computer science at the beginning of their studies. As the student progresses through their studies, they learn more about specific areas of interest in that field. For example, a Davidson student in the computer science meta-major program can choose classes that relate to cyber security or information technology. Then the student can choose more classes which relate to their interests. After two years, they then complete an associates degree relating specifically to their interests. Meta-majors are becoming more popular across the country, and are available at schools in Florida, Arizona and Washington State. Burleson said it is still early days in the program at Davidson. The school only offers meta-majors in computer science and business. But she hopes to expand the program to other subjects soon. Burleson added that traditional education paths do not work for everyone and new methods may help more students graduate. Im Pete Musto. Pete Musto reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What is the college graduation rate of your country? Do schools in your country have special programs to help students graduate? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bachelors degree n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study graduation n. the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university academic adj. of or relating to schools and education institution n. an established organization commit v. to say that someone or something will definitely do something faculty n. the group of teachers in a school or college appropriate adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation specific adj. special or particular cyber adj. relating to computers associates degree n. a degree that is given to a student who has completed two years of study at a junior college, college, or university in the U.S. In the future, very small wireless devices could be placed inside human brains to study and stimulate brain cells. That is the goal of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. University researchers have created extremely small sensors, called neural dust, to study brain cells. The word neural describes something related to the bodys nervous system. The researchers hope these sensors will treat conditions of the brain such as epilepsy. The sensors also could improve the brains control of the devices used to replace missing or injured parts of the body, called prosthetics. In 2003, Jan Scheuermann permanently lost the ability to move her arms and legs because of a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration. But she was able to feed herself using a robotic hand controlled by her thoughts in 2012. Doctors connected a sensor to her brain using wires. The sensor received the commands from her brain and sent them to the robotic device. Tiny wireless devices could be safer Wires, however, can cause inflammation in the brain. University of California engineers hope to replace the technology Scheuermann used in 2012 with neural dust sensors. These sensors are smaller than a single piece of rice and use no wires. Instead, the wireless sensors change high-frequency sound waves, transmitted by a device outside the body, into electricity. The electricity powers the sensors that then can identify changes in the muscles or nerves to which they are attached. Finally the sensors send this information back to the device that first sent the sound waves. Researchers attached neural dust sensors to nerves and muscles in the legs of rats and studied the signals the sensors produced. The scientists hope to place neural dust directly into the brain in the future. They want to study brain function and hope the sensors will make it possible for people to use robotic prosthetics without being connected to a computer through wires. Michael Maharbiz is one of the University of California researchers working on the technology. He says these new kinds of prosthetics could take many forms and serve many different functions. He also says neural dust could operate in a similar way to devices called Fitbits. Fitbits are worn on a persons arm. They monitor physical activity as well as body functions such as heart rate. Maharbiz says neural dust could act like a Fitbit inside the body that monitors nerve, muscle and organ activity as it is taking place. However, the sensors must be made even smaller to use in the brain. Scientists now are working to create neural dust that is thinner than a piece of human hair. Im Pete Musto. Deborah Block reported on this story for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. What new technologies do you think humanity with invent in the near future? How do you think these new technologies will change the world? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stimulate v. to make something more active sensor n. a device that can sense light, heat, sound, motion and provide information about it Inflammation n. swelling of tissue high-frequency adj. waves that occur very quickly function n. a purpose or activity done by someone or something monitor v. to observe, to watch or record September is suicide prevention month in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers suicide a worldwide problem. WHO reports that 800,000 people take their own lives each year. On average, a person commits suicide every 40 seconds, it said. WHO officials say suicides have long-lasting effects on the family members and friends left behind. People not only feel very sad about the death, but feel guilt for not taking action they think might have prevented the suicide. A Woman Who Lost Her Father and Son to Suicide Dorothy Paugh was nine years old when her father shot himself to death. I count that day as the last day of my childhood, Paugh said. Because from that moment on, I had no sense of security. I had no sense that the world was a safe place. She made her comments as she stood near her fathers burial place at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside of Washington D.C. It is where American war veterans are buried. Her father served in the U.S. military during World War II. Dorothy Paughs life was shaken again -- 50 years after her dads suicide. Her son Peter bought a gun for protection. Peter would go on to take his life at the age of 25. Paugh looks at a photograph of her son. This is my favorite picture of Peter because he has a hint of a smile, she said. Paugh said it is important that people not see those who take their own lives as cowards. Because my father was brave, she said. He fought in World War II.I think he just got overwhelmed. Veterans Trying to Stop Suicides Seven hundred fifty U.S. military veterans rode bicycles 110 miles from Arlington, Virginia to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. They wanted to bring attention to the continuing problem of suicides. One of the riders was retired Army Sergeant Norberto Roman of Puerto Rico. Our mission is to stop the suicides, he said. Suicide is a very personal to Roman. I tried to commit suicide myself in Iraq and I went through eight years of hell, through PTSD treatment and Im blessed to be here today, he said. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is known by the letters PTSD. The National Institute of Mental Health describes it as a condition suffered by individuals who experienced a shocking, frightening or dangerous event. More Action is Needed The World Health Organization said in its recent report that more action can be taken to reduce suicides. Many people who commit suicide do so by swallowing poison, using a gun or taking an overdose of drugs, WHO officials said. They added that people should try harder to keep those things away from individuals who might use them to hurt themselves or others. It would also be helpful to reduce the stigma of suicide, WHO said. A stigma is when people have a poor or bad opinion about something, often for no good reason. The stigma makes people afraid to ask for help when they are thinking of taking their own lives, the WHO report said. Paugh, who lost her father and son to suicide, now works to inform people about the problem. She urges them to take action if they have reason to think a friend or relative is considering suicide. If we think someone may be troubled, ask them outright if they are having thoughts of suicide, Paugh said. It is not an easy discussion, but it is much better than a funeral, she added. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-29 years old, according to the World Health Organization. Im Bruce Alpert. Carol Pearson reported this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the story and did additional reporting for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story commit -- v. to say you will do something moment -- n. a particular time hint -- n. a very small amount of something coward -- n. someone who is too afraid to do what is right or expected overwhelmed -- v. to affect someone very strongly bicycle -- n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals mission -- n. a task or job that someone is given to do Can't download the mp3s or zip files? Baffled by the point of this blog? Please go to the FAQ first of all. Your answer should be there. NOTE - you can also join our Facebook group by clicking on this link or alternatively feel free to be a Twitter follower . My personal site where you can find out more about my writing can also be found here "Left and to the Back" is a blog exploring the dark and dusty world of flop singles and albums, the kind you may find lingering near the stock room of your local second hand record store (if you still have one), or perhaps going for extortionate sums on ebay. The music uploaded to this site is for evaluation only, and where it is otherwise available at a reasonable price I would persuade you to support your local second hand record store by buying it. Many of the posts on here are about digging around in these shops and being thrilled by ridiculous and obscure finds, and I hope I'm persuading a few more readers to get out there and dig around. So please do dig. Man. No blog or download site can ever be an effective substitute. For a better idea about the kind of music featured, both sublime and ridiculous, please go to our Spotify playlist here . Please note that L&TTB is not primarily a sixties blog, even though a lot of good "lost" material was released around this era and will be featured. In short, if I like it and it's interesting, I'll upload it. And sometimes if I don't like it but it's interesting, it will also feature. (Editors note: In honor of the upcoming Dawson County Fall Hero Flight, the Clipper-Herald presents the stories of some of the veterans who participated in the April flight. This is the final installment of the four-part series. All stories based on interviews provided by the Dawson County Hero Flight committee.) When I first arrived, it was hot. Very, very hot. I can still remember how I ran over to a tank and got what I thought would be a cold drink of water. But it ended up being a hot drink of water. About everything came up, whatever I had left in my stomach. I remember that. Thats Galen Morriss recollection of his first day in Vietnam. The Lexington native received his draft notice two months after graduating from high school in 1966, and spent his first year as an Army automatic weapons instructor in El Paso. Hed held out some hope that hed remain stateside throughout his two-year term in the military, but both Galen and wife Joan expected that, at some point, hed be called to go overseas. He was deployed in October 1967. When I found out I was going, I never gave it a second thought. I knew when I was drafted that Id likely spend some time over there, he said. Even in Vietnam, I ran across a lot of guys Id instructed back in Texas. I thought, Well, I hope I taught them the right things. Morriss automatic weapons military occupancy specialty meant he was in-demand in Vietnam. It was kind of useful over there, he said. As part of a Ready Reactionary Force, he and 12-14 other soldiers were dispatched to trouble areas around the country. We went where we were needed, Morris explained. Sometimes they took us by chopper, but a lot of times we were attached to the 11th Cavalry and theyd transport us in personnel carriers. And of course, we did a lot of walking. Our typical day included a lot of waiting and anticipation. And it was freezing. As hot as it was when I arrived, during the monsoon season it was absolutely freezing because we couldnt wear any of our rain gear. It made too much noise, he continued. We listened to our radios at a very low frequency. It was a lot of long days, some longer than others. Morris was qualified to use quad .50 caliber and 40 millimeter weapons, but primarily used an M-60. The others were huge, you couldnt carry those around. The M-60 was a very good weapon, he said. Morris returned to the United States in October 1968, after one year inVietnam. When we landed in California, a group of us stayed together while we were exiting the military. There were a lot of flower children running around. They thought they knew what the world was all about, he said. We stayed together as much as possible for protection. His return home to Nebraska was far less eventful or worrisome. There wasnt any reaction from the community, but my family was very excited I was home, he said. In the years since leaving Vietnam, Morris hasnt given much thought to the memories of his time there. I try to forget as much as I can, and I dont know if the men I served with made it back. For me, I went, did my job, came home, and tried to forget all about it, he said. There were some names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall Morris wanted to look up, but to him its more about what the names on the wall signify than the memorial itself. When I see all those names, I see a list of these men and what they could have contributed to society if they hadnt been taken away inVietnam. What could they have invented? Who would they have become? Well never know. Its a sad deal. Flagstaff City Council candidates have been given the chance to answer a weekly question in no more than 150 words. This weeks question: What do you believe are the highest priority actions for the city of Flagstaff to take to ensure the long-term supply and purity of Flagstaff's water? Mayor CORAL EVANS Securing a long-term water supply is a regional issue. Our Regional Plan, Zoning Code, and Comprehensive Water Policy need to be linked through a transparent community planning process. Flagstaff and Coconino County should become Active Management Areas in coordination with ADWR. Ongoing litigation regarding the Snow Bowl contract is hindering our ability to successfully negotiate other water agreements with the Tribes (e.g. Red-Gap Ranch, the Western-Navajo Pipeline, Little Colorado River Adjudication). We need to rebuild our relationship with our Native American neighbors. We should start working to determine the appropriate alignment of the proposed Red-Gap pipeline. The pipeline is estimated to be $280M. Costs will not decrease while we wait to act, currently Council is neglecting to take the next step of developing a strategic plan to pay for this pipeline. That is a mistake. As Mayor I will take the steps needed to ensure Flagstaffs future water supply. JERRY NABOURS Our water department is sure that we cannot conserve enough water to meet our future requirements. We will need new sources of water. When Lake Mary is high we use it first. We also have numerous wells around the city. We have plans for a few more local wells. Fortunately, our local wells are sustainable at our current use. All of our water is top quality. For our long term water supply we have the Red Gap Ranch well field about 30 miles east of town. The test wells show that the water is pure and plentiful. When I took office there was no route to bring the water to town. I was able to get ADOT to let the city use the I-40 corridor for our pipeline. Our future water may be more expensive, but I believe as Mayor I am obligated to ensure water for future generations. Council JEFF ORAVITS Before being elected in 2012 I served on the Flagstaff Water Commission and I currently serve on the NAZMunicipal Water Association which finds solutions to regional water needs. Over the past four years Council has made progress on water related issues. An easement has been secured by working with ADOT to ensure we have access to the Red Gap water supply. New water rates passed this year puts about $1,000,000 more per year towards our water infrastructure. A Blue Ribbon Commission was created for water quality with a goal of evaluating contaminants of emerging concern and looking into potential mitigation. Weve also made progress in forest health which has direct positive impacts to our water supply. I have made our infrastructure a top priority over the past four years and if re-elected, I will continue to focus on infrastructure including our water infrastructure, quality and long term sustainability. JAMIE WHELAN The importance of electing leaders that realize the stark fact that our water is limited, that it is a precious resource and that it is in our care is the #1 priority. I am that leader. Comprehensive conservation and extensive planning while replacing old pipelines and creating new are imperative. We can no longer postpone decisions. Conservation and quality must be the priority and the lens that all planning and development look through. Businesses and individuals alike must all participate in financing the infrastructure needed to make sure water is clean and available for the people of Flagstaff and our neighbors, now and in the future. The use of Red Gap Ranch and the Colorado River are realities in our future. Conservation can postpone some of the impacts but only some. I would like to recommend that every citizen watch Pipelines of the Past to Pipelines of the Future (http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?nid=2373). KARLA BREWSTER Flagstaffs first priority to ensure our long term supply of water is to get the Red Gap water to Flagstaff. We already own the rights to that water but need to decide how to fund a pipeline from the source to Flagstaff. The purity should not be a problem as our current water goes through treatment that makes Flagstaff water some of the best water in the state. We start with some pretty good sources of ground water compared to other communities in the state, then make what we have better. Many communities have corrosive water to start with and have many more processes to make it comply with state standards for drinking water, where ours goes through very little process to not only comply with state standards, but exceeds them. We also have programs that encourage conservation of our water, and are the most conservative in the state, except for one small town on the east side of the state. ADAM SHIMONI Water is a critical resource and is one of my top priorities running for Council. Before even discussing future water sources, such as Red Gap Ranch, my priority is to first truly commit and invest in water conservation. Actions include reexamining our water rate structure to ensure maximized water conservation not only for households but for industry and businesses. Other action steps include researching, investing, and implementing advanced wastewater treatment and purification, incorporating water conservation measures, where appropriate, into new developments, such as greywater systems, rainwater catchments, low flush toilets, etc. Id like to help develop a clear policy guiding Council on the allocation of reclaimed water for recreational and other non-conventional uses and amend the Principles of Sound Water Management to ensure water conservation plays a central role. Other policies need adjustment to allow for more opportunities for public input and changes by Council on water allocation and use. CHARLIE ODEGAARD Based on having served on the Water Commission for the past three years, I believe conservation is the highestit has a positive return with the least expense. Even with a population increase of 50% since 1990, we are using the same volume of water as in 1990. Also, we have initiated two programsa water audit program available to homes and businesses, and Conserve2Enhance, which funds voluntary community water conservation projects. I also believe reclamationsome uses of reclaimed water instead of potable water will be a significant element of a sustained water supply. We must also make sure we have adequate water supply in the future, by bringing new water sources to Flagstaff, as we have done with Lake Mary and drilling wells. We should diligently pursue the goal of eventually bringing Red Gap Ranch water to Flagstaffa concept for which feasibility funding is available. JIM MCCARTHY A sustainable high-quality water supply, at an affordable cost, is one of my priorities. We must continue reasonable conservation measures and develop practical water sources. The city bought Red Gap Ranch to access its groundwater. While it is good to have another water source, it is lower quality water, and the project will cost $3,000 to $5,000 for every Flagstaff resident. No payment plan has been developed. While I was on the City Water Commission, there was a push to use precious drinking water, instead of reclaimed water, for snowmaking at Snowbowl. I led the successful effort to protect our water supply from the inappropriate change. GOTHENBURG, Neb. - State Sen. Matt Williams attended the Legislative Forum hosted by the Nebraska State Chamber Commerce and Industry Wednesday afternoon in Gothenburg. This was the second forum in the row Williams attended with the State Chamber, he previously attended one held in Broken Bow. Williams paid homage to Bill Barrett, a "great friend" of the county. Barrett died this week. Barrett served as a U.S. Congressman during his career of public service. Elected as a state senator in 2014, Williams was appointed as the vice chair of the banking, commerce and insurance committee. He previously was chairman of Gothenburg State Bank and also served as the 2013 chair of the American Bankers Association. After two years in the Legislature, Williams said he was proud to have a 100 percent voting record from the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce. "I want to do those things that help us grow economically and have less regulation," he said. Asked about his bid to become the speaker of the Legislature, Williams confirmed that he would seek to sway enough senators to vote for his candidacy. Both the speaker of the Legislature and committee chairs would be appointed by senators on the first day of the Legislative session in January, he said. During this year's Legislative Session, Williams said he was proud to have led the fight to address synthetic drugs such as K2 in the state. He helped pass a bill that increased the penalty for those dealing these dangerous drugs. His way of crafting policy, which he used on theK2 issue, is to bring people together to sit down and talk and see what they agree on, Williams said. Williams said he also supported a bill that would expand problem solving courts - such as the drug courts. "This experiment started in Dawson County in Lexington. It is a way to lower the level of criminal offenses and get people out of prison and give them a safe" alternative, Williams said. A Medicaid expansion bill was not passed in the last session, such a proposal has become a constant presence in the senate, he said. "We have nearly 100,000 residents in our state not covered by Obamacare, who can't afford insurance because they make too little," Williams said. Williams said he led the filibuster against a medical marijuana bill in the senate earlier this year. He said he does not support legalizing a schedule one drug that the government categorizes in the same class as heroin. "I've seen how it (marijuana) has invaded Colorado and Western Nebraska. They (senate supporters of medical marijuana) had 31 votes, they needed 33 votes to break the filibuster. It will be back," he said. Unfortunately, due to the controversial use of a state computer by State Sen. Bill Kinter, "there is a cloud over the legislature right now about how much fun a senator can have over the internet and with cyber relaxation," Williams said. After speaking with Kinter, Williams said the senator affirmed his desire not to resign from office. When it comes to using public computers and being on the public's time, Williams said members of the Legislature had to hold themselves to a higher standard. Due to term limits, not only would about a dozen new senators be elected for the new session; but senators with not a lot of policy-making experience would be asked to lead and assume chairs of committees, he said. Having served on the judiciary committee, Williams said he has seen how the corrections department has been ignored for a significant amount of time. This has led to a 30 percent turnover with employees because pay is non-competitive, he said. Because state prisons are at 170 percent capacity, there is no longer any space to offer much needed programs for inmates - such as those that treat anger management, drug issues or life skills that could be used to acquire a job, Williams said. "One of the responsibilities of state government is to provide public safety. When you look at the riots, escapes, problems with abuses we've had (in the prison system) ... we have nearly a 40 percent recidivism rate. That's a horrible failure," he said. It costs $38,000 to house each inmate in a state prison, Williams said. Although state government does not spend nor collect local property taxes, talk about these taxes was directly tied to school funding, he said. Williams said the current state aid formula for school funding was not working well for rural school districts. Although all 13 schools in his district receive state aid, only one -Lexington - received equalization aid, he said. According to a Nebraska State Legislature State Aid to Schools report, equalization aid is determined by taking into consideration a school's needs and subtracting its resources, the amount that is left is considered as equalization aid. Equalization aid is given based on special criteria of a school district like amount of English language learners and poverty level. "If your resources are too large, the amount of state aid goes down and disappears," Williams said about the situation facing small rural schools. The resources in question are land values and agriculture land values, that have had valuations keep on increasing in recent years. Williams said a change in the state aid formula for education funding was not going to happen by attacking urban senators whose districts get lots of money but by working with them to find common ground. "Change will happen behind closed doors with people doing what is right," he said. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released portions of the dashboard cam and body cam footage associated with the controversial officer-involved shooting of Keith Scott. Public pressure to release video grew in recent days Incident has sparked multiple nights of protest in Charlotte Police Chief said release is meant to get "objective facts" to the public According to a statement released with the video, on Tuesday officers were attempting to serve a warrant on another suspect when they encountered Scott. The statement says Scott was armed, and that officers on the scene, including Officer Brentley Vinson, believed he posed an imminent threat, causing Vinson to open fire. Scott's family maintains that he was unarmed. Along with the video, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police released photos of a handgun, ankle holster and a marijuana blunt recovered at the scene that officers said belonged to Scott. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said the release of the video footage had nothing to do with the mounting public pressure to do so. Rather, he insisted it was part of their effort to get the objective facts to the public. RELATED STORIES: We all know a few people who just don't empathize with others. It is of no consequence to them that others are hurt, because for them anything that gets them what they want is fine. Consider groups that deliberately harm vulnerable citizens. Example: a Republican Congress that refuses to fund the cleanup of the Flint Michigan water system, made toxic by the Republican leadership in that state. Consider the Republican leadership in this state that: 1) boosts educational goals, but doesn't fund them; 2) is perfectly OK with being "the third-highest state in the nation for childhood food insecurity;" 3) is indifferent to Arizona's status as one of the top 10 poverty-stricken states in the nation, with 1 in 6 of us living in poverty; 4) underfunds public education so badly that only slightly more than one-third of our elementary-age children pass the state exam in math and English; 5) refused even court orders to appropriately fund K-12 education; 6) and at the local level fights to continue exploiting minimum wage workers. Read/listen to the news. Consider who harms the poorest, our children and our most vulnerable workers. Note well who does and who does not. Who represents you? Who might you prefer as your neighbor? CHARLES W. 'CHUCK' BARNES Flagstaff Here's what you need to know about Tampa Bay area weather for the weekend: Mostly clear skies overnight Scattered showers, storms return Monday afternoon The few storms out there currently end this evening. Then, skies will be mostly clear to partly cloudy overnight. The wind pattern over the area for Monday and Tuesday will be rather weak, with the west coast sea breeze pushing inland each afternoon. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will return for the afternoons. Storms are likely to move slowly again on Monday, especially. Later on Wednesday, a cold front will move into North Florida. This will switch the prevailing winds here to westerly. Showers and storms on Wednesday will start earlier in the day at the coast. On Thursday, the cold front may edge south far enough for the Nature Coast to get a little sample of some less humid air. Farther south, the humid onshore winds will continue. Showers and storms will start early in the day near the coast and will then shift inland. By Friday, that weakened front may be able to move into the Bay area. If we are lucky, there will be a little drop in the humidity. There still will be some showers and storms, especially from Tampa Bay and south. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp; Mumbai: Filmmaker Karan Johar says his heart bleeds for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack and he understands the anger in the country but boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism. Johar's comment comes after MNS threatened Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India, failing which the shooting of their films would be stalled. Fawad stars in Johar's upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which is slated to release this Diwali. "I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it," the director told a news channel. "But this is not a solution. I don't believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art." The 44-year-old filmmaker said he feels "vulnerable", while speaking about it publicly. "I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was to put out a product out of love and nothing else." When asked how he will deal with these threats, Johar said, "I don't know... I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let's look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer." The director said sometimes creative people feel so frustrated that they just want to "fold hands and say 'leave us alone'." "I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in that scheme of things. I am just a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel, I am a vulnerable soft target. I have faced it, felt the repercussions of it in the past and I have constantly combated that. "Sometimes, you just want to fold your hands and say, 'We are creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions in the world, in ourcountry who are happy with the work we do, allow us that...' I think we should not be those soft targets anymore. We don't matter in the scheme of things but we can make things happier and better," he said. Kozhikode (Kerala): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that India will ratify the Conference of Parties (CoP) protocol on combating climate change on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on 2 October. "Now the time has come to ratify the COP21 protocol. India will do it on Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October," Modi said while addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive meet here. In the UN climate change conference COP21 in Paris, 195 countries adopted the first universal, legally binding global climate deal. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The agreement is due to enter into force in 2020. Jammu: Curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar town in the wee hours on Sunday after three persons were detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) triggering stone pelting. "Curfew was imposed in Kishtwar town and other nearby areas around 0400 hours today as a precautionary measure", SSP Kishtwar, Sandeep Wazir told PTI. He said three persons were detained last night in Kishtwar in connection with attempts to disrupt peace. After they were detained, some persons in the area resorted to stone pelting, police sources said. This forced the district administration to impose curfew, the sources said. Those detained under PSA have been identified as Abdul Qayoom Molvi, Saif-I'd-din Bhagwan and Farid Ahmad Bagwan. New Delhi: Likening the anger in the country over Uri attack to that witnessed in the 1965 war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday maintained that those responsible for the terror strike will surely be punished as he asserted that the army does not speak but displays bravery. He also sent out a message to the people of Kashmir, which has been witnessing unrest for over two months, saying that "peace, unity and harmony" are the ways to resolve problems and expressed confidence that all issues can be addressed through discussions. In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', which he began by paying tributes to the 18 soldiers who died in the Uri attack on 18 September, Modi said, "this cowardly act was enough to shake the entire country. There is mourning as well as anger in the country." He said, "This is a loss not only for those families which lost their sons, brothers, husbands. This loss is for the entire country. That is why, today I will say only this much, which I said on that day (of the incident) also and I will repeat it today, that the guilty will surely be punished." Reposing faith in the Indian army, the Prime Minister said it will foil all such designs through its bravery. "They (Indian armymen) are the people who take bravery toits pinnacle so that 125 crore people can live a peaceful life," he said. We are proud of our army. People and politicians get opportunities to speak and that's what they do. But the army does not speak. The army displays its bravery," Modi said. He read out a message of an 11th standard student who had expressed anger over the Uri incident and had the desire to do something over it. After lot of thinking, he had resolved to give extra 3 hours to studies every day as his contribution to the country. Appreciating the child's "constructive thinking", the Prime Minister said, "there is a lot of value to the anger that people of the country have. This is a symbol of the country's awakening. This anger is of the kind of 'do something'... When 1965 war (with Pakistan) broke out and Lal Bahadur Shastri was leading the country, similar was the feeling, anger in the country. There was fever of nationalism. Everybody was keen to do something. "At that time, Lal Bahadur Shastri ji attempted to represent this feeling in an excellent manner to the world and he gave the slogan of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' to inspire common people to work for the country." Modi also said that when Mahatma Gandhi was leading the freedom movement and whenever it attained speed, he would direct that for constructive works in the society. "We all the army should carry out its responsibility, we in the government should fulfill our duties and the citizens should provide constructive contribution with the feeling of nationalism then the nation will definitely touch new heights," he said. In his 35-minute broadcast, the Prime Minister also wanted to specially "speak" to the people of Kashmir. "The people of Kashmir have started to understand the anti-national forces clearly. And as the reality is dawning on them, they have started distancing themselves from such forces and have started walking on the path of peace," he said. He said it is the desire of all parents that schools and colleges in Kashmir started working properly and farmers there want that their produce should reach the markets of the country. "Economic activity should take place properly. Since last few days, business activities have started," he said. "We all know that peace, unity and harmony are the ways to solve our problems and also to ensure our progress and development. For our future generations, we have to cross new heights of development," the Prime Minister said, adding "I am confident that we will resolve all issues together through discussions, will find ways and jointly lay the track for the future generations of Kashmir." Emphasising that security of common people of Kashmir is the responsibility of the government, he said, "to maintain law and order, the authorities have to take some steps," an apparent reference to the tough measures taken in the Valley to deal with stone-pelters that has led to casualties. At the same time, he said he wanted to tell the security forces that "the capabilities, the power, the laws, the rules" which they have should be used properly as these are for maintaining law and order and to ensure peaceful living of the people of Kashmir. craigslist: thailand jobs, apartments, for sale, services, community, and events craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, services, local community, and events White Plains: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are expected to meet separately with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday ahead of their first presidential debate on Monday night. Netanyahu was expected to meet in New York with the presidential nominees of the two major parties in what could set the tone for future relations between Israel and the next White House administration. The Israeli leader has sought to project neutrality this time after perceptions arose that he favored Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012. The one-on-one discussions will follow what was likely Netanyahu's final meeting with Obama last week, capping what has been a sometimes rocky 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 US nuclear agreement with Iran. More recently, Netanyahu has urged Obama to avoid pushing for a Palestinian state in his final months in office. Clinton has supported a negotiated two-state solution in the region, vowed to enforce the Iran nuclear agreement and help defend Israel's security. The former secretary of state suggested in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 earlier this month that the Islamic State group was "rooting for Donald Trump's victory" and he had helped strengthen the hands of extremists by his provocative statements about Muslims. Trump has been a fierce critic of the Iran nuclear agreement and promised during a speech to AIPAC earlier this year that he would deepen ties between the two countries if he was elected president, adding the days of "treating Israel like a second-class citizen will end on day one". But he also raised eyebrows when he questioned Israel's commitment to a peace deal last year and said he didn't want to show any bias in favor of one side or the other. The meetings will also come after the US recently completed a 10-year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel. Clinton said in a statement that it would help "solidify and chart a course for the US-Israeli defense relationship in the 21st century as we face a range of common challenges." Baltimore: Three gunmen shot and wounded eight people including a 3-year-old girl on an east Baltimore street Saturday night, police said, adding the suspects fled and the victims were all expected to survive. The shooting erupted outside some rowhouses about 8:30 pm after the three armed men converged on the group from different points, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said at a news conference. Davis, who went to the scene, said the shooting was a premeditated act of retaliatory violence in response to a Labor Day weekend shooting in which a man was fatally shot and two women were wounded, one of them pregnant. He did not immediately explain how investigators believed the shootings were linked. Davis said the victims could have recognised the gunmen but authorities haven't immediately been able to identify the suspects and were still searching for them hours afterward. According to the commissioner, one of the armed men emerged from an alley and two others ran down the street, stopping just short of the victims before they opened fire. He added that the 3-year-old girl and her father were standing a slight distance away from the others and that the child was not an intended target. Authorities have said one of the attackers had a shotgun and the other two had handguns. Davis said that in addition to the girl, one of the victims was a woman and the rest were men. The adults ranged in age from 26 to 39. The shooting occurred just a block from where an outdoor fair was held earlier Saturday. Police said the attack was unrelated to the fair and grand opening for "Open Works," a project billed as an innovative work space. Baltimore Police Spokesman TJ Smith tweeted earlier that none of the injuries was life-threatening but he didn't elaborate further. Police cordoned off at least three city blocks late Saturday and were keeping bystanders away as the police commissioner stood with detectives at the scene. Nearby, detectives used flashlights to search overgrown grass in an alley near the shooting scene. Police cars also blocked a nearby intersection. Amman: A gunman on Sunday killed prominent Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar outside a court where he was facing charges for sharing a cartoon deemed offensive to Islam, state news agency Petra reported. Hattar was struck by three bullets before the assailant was arrested, said Petra. Witnesses told AFP that a man had opened fire in front of the court in Amman's Abdali district. The 56-year-old Christian was arrested on 13 August after posting a cartoon mocking jihadists on his Facebook account. He was charged with inciting sectarian strife and insulting Islam before being released on bail in early September. Jordan's attorney general had imposed a blackout on media coverage of the case. Hattar removed the cartoon from his Facebook page after it triggered outrage on social media. Jordan is a leading member of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in neighbouring Iraq and Syria, and was the target of a June 21 suicide bombing that killed seven border guards. The kingdom has carried out air strikes targeting Islamic State jihadists and hosts coalition troops on its territory. New York: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here to address the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, with all eyes and ears set on her speech on Monday, which is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir. Swaraj arrived on Saturday afternoon and will address the UN General Debate on Sunday morning. "Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet. Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York pic.twitter.com/hFJp0nImDR Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2016 Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UNGA speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir. India's strong Right of Reply to his speech 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. Outlining India's focus for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, New Delhi's envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin had said that terrorism is the "primary concern" for India as well as for nations across the world. He listed reform of the UN Security Council, sustainable development, climate change and peacekeeping as other priorities for India in the current UNGA session. Swarup told reporters here on 23 September that "the whole world and the entire nation" is waiting to hear from Swaraj who will deliver India's "vision document" for the 71st UNGA. "We are all looking forward to that," he had said. He, however did not elaborate on elements of Swaraj's address but said "the whole world and the entire country is waiting to hear what the external affairs minister has to say but I think the broad themes that Akbaruddin has outlined are definitely going to be a part of our presentation at this most important forum in the international community". Swarup said one can also expect "a continued focus from India on the theme of terrorism which is today undoubtedly the single biggest challenge to international peace and security". Exercising the Right of Reply to Sharif's "long tirade" about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN Eenam Gambhir had said, "the worst violation of human rights is terrorism". "When practiced as an instrument of state policy it is a war crime. What my country and our other neighbours are facing today is Pakistan's long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, the consequences of which have spread well beyond our region," she said. She had said India sees in Pakistan as "a terrorist state" which channelises billions of dollars, much of it diverted from international aid, to training, financing and supporting terrorist groups as militant proxies against it neighbours. New York: India has hit back at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's remarks that the Uri terror attack could be the result of a "reaction" of the people to the situation in Kashmir, saying the "use of alibis" by him is not going to work anymore. "The use of alibis which are so blatantly and obviously wrong did not work in New York, it's not going to work in London and it is not going to work, we all can say with some confidence, even in Islamabad," Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar told PTI here. Akbar made the remarks in response to Sharif's comments in London that the Uri attacks could be the result of the people's "reaction" to the tense situation in Kashmir. "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 had told reporters on Friday in London where he had stopped on his way back from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session. Akbar, who has attended a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session here, said it was in an "extremely receptive manner" that the most important and powerful nations accepted India's "rationale and reasonable positions, our efforts to working through problems with cooperation, our efforts at saying that the true objective should be the elimination of the scourge of poverty and development". He said there is strong support among nations for India's key focus that the greatest benefits of growth should go to those who need it most. Underscoring that the biggest enemy of human rights is terrorism, he said the "enemy of development is terrorism and we must end this scourge". 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. Lurking in the Snake River is a remnant of long ago, when giants ruled the world. The white sturgeon is Idahos largest fish, reaching up to 15 feet and exceeding 1,100 pounds. They remain throughout the Snake, up to Shoshone Falls, and are also found in the lower Salmon River. A small population listed on the Endangered Species Act remains in the Kootenai River, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game news release said. Conserving this relic of the dinosaur days has been an ongoing project. Fish and Game collaborates with Idaho Power and the College of Southern Idaho to help conserve white sturgeon in the middle Snake River, the release said. Efforts include stocking the river with hatchery sturgeon in an attempt to sustain the population while allowing for sport fishing. To raise awareness of the species and the project, Fish and Game is producing a series of blog posts to show how the management project works and give more information on the unique fish. Each post shows a different step in the process of collecting wild adults who are spawning, rearing the juvenile fish and releasing them into the river. Many Idahoans dont realize how much effort goes on behind the scenes when it comes to managing sturgeon populations in Idaho, said Martin Koenig, Fish and Games sportfishing coordinator. Our new blog features will be a great way to give folks a glimpse into the details behind some of our lesser-known conservation efforts. The first four installments of the seven-part series are available now at idfg.idaho.gov/fish. Community action partnership seeks reps South Central Community Action Partnership is seeking applicants interested in serving as an elected low-income representative for Twin Falls County and as a private sector representative in Minidoka and Cassia Counties. Applicants must reside or work within an associated county. Applications for the opportunity to participate on the Board of Directors may be obtained by contacting the Twin Falls office at 550 Washington St. S. or by calling 1-800-627-1733 for more information. Applications and letter of interest must be returned to SCCAP, P.O. Box 531, Twin Falls, ID 83303-0531 or by fax 208-733-9355, by Sept. 29. Bike the Falls planned for Oct. 1 at Auger Falls TWIN FALLS Bike the Falls will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Auger Falls trailhead. Registration starts at 10 a.m. with the ride at 11 a.m. Cost is $35 for individual riders and $20 for family bike riders (family of four). The event will include free demonstrations, free guided childrens rides and free food from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Auger Falls. Bike the Falls is presented by Wright Physical Therapy and the United Way of South Central Idaho along with other sponsors. Running the Racks fundraiser set for Oct. 15 BURLEY The Burley Fire Departments Running the Racks 5K race is planned for Oct. 15 to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. at Wright Physical Therapy, 1945 Hiland Ave. in Burley. Cost is $30 per person. $60 for a family of four, or $100 for a team of four. This Fun Run/Walk 5K Fundraiser to raise awareness and money needed for breast cancer. The Race/walk will start at Wright Physical Therapy 1945 Hiland Ave in Burley. We also have a 1 mile course for kids, families or people that want to walk. Costs are $30 for a single, $60 for a family of 4, or $100 for a team of 4. The cost includes a gift bag with shirt for adults and goodies for kids. Find the Route Map www.wrightpt.com/events There will be food and prizes. Library director attends session to improve services OAKLEY AriAnn Hale from Oakley Free Library recently attended Idaho Commission for Libraries one-day networking session for new public library directors. The event provided an opportunity for twelve directors from rural communities to learn first-hand about the Commission programs, resources, and services available to them, and to start building a network of colleagues across the state. Libraries play a role every step of the way on the learning continuum throughout life by providing early literacy, economic development, community engagement, and broadband opportunities. said State Librarian Ann Joslin. We commend AriAnn Hale for her commitment to enhancing the library services in her community. Attendees received information and materials to target library services to diverse audiences, Identify valuable professional and leadership development opportunities, and build connections within the Idaho library community. They also had the opportunity to brainstorm with other public library directors and meet with Commission staff members who provide programs, training, and consulting services. Participants report coming away from the training feeling equipped, connected to support, and energized to better serve their communities, said ICfL continuing education consultant Shirley Biladeau. It was great to facilitate connecting people with relevant programs and services. Everyones confidence level was definitely elevated by the end of the day. Oakley is a small town library with big plans for a better future. September is get a library card we hope to see you soon. Grief support group Auburn Crest Hospice is offering a new service to those in our community that have experienced any type of loss in their life. We are beginning a Grief Support Group on Thursday October 6th at 7 p.m. and we will gather at our office, located at 397 Blue Lakes Blvd, in Twin Falls. This support group will meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. for six sessions. The goals for this group are to come together to support one another, share memories of loved ones, process through stages of grief, gain tools to navigate the grief process, and to prepare for coming holidays. Questions, RSVP and information can be directed to facilitators Sandy and Sheri at (208)735-7450. All are welcome. Burley Community Fire Prevention Breakfast BURLEY The Burley Annual Community Fire Prevention Breakfast will be held from 7 to 11 a.m. Oct. 1 at the Burley Fire Station, 1235 Miller Ave. Pancakes, eggs, sausage and hash browns will be served. Cost is $5 a person or $20 for a family of five. Donations are welcome. Three Free Dental Days Dr. Bond at Canyon Falls Dental is going to having a 3 for Free promotion for the Magic Valley. In gratitude for your many years of patronage and support for our practice. In October we are offering 3 days of free dentistry for those who are greatest in need. Come into our office at 143 East Main St in Jerome to fill out an application for this event. For more information call Bond, Dr. Bond at 324-7007. Thank you so much Magic Valley for your many years of support. Recent additions to the Filer City Library Best Sellers: Home by Harlen Coben, The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, Razor Girl by Carl Hiaasen, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J. K. Rowling (BOISE) Sgt. 1st Class Erin Smith of the Idaho Army National Guard was honored with the Spirit of Freedom Award Thursday, August 25, by Sen. Mike Crapo during his recent visit to Gowen Field. Smith became the first female armor enlisted Soldier in the nation after graduating the U.S. Armys M1 Armor Crewman School, June 25. During the small ceremony, the senator pointed out that the award was not only for her achievement of becoming the first female armor enlisted Soldier, but for a continued demonstration of sacrifice and dedication to service. Smith enlisted in the Idaho Army National Guard in 2001 as a healthcare specialist and served on a tour to Bosnia in 2002 with the 183rd Aviation Battalion, headquartered in Boise, Idaho. She deployed again to Iraq in 2004 with the Idaho National Guards 116th Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. While serving in Iraq, Smith earned the Combat Medical Badge for her actions providing medical support while her unit was engaged by the enemy. Shes standing here beside me, wearing the Combat Medical Badge because shes been in combat already, Crapo said. This is an opportunity for us to give you thanks for blazing the path, for standing up and helping to fight and defend our nation. According to Crapos office, the Spirit of Freedom Award is reserved for those who have demonstrated the spirit, tenacity and sense of self-sacrifice that are integral to Idaho character. Smith, an accomplished Soldier and combat veteran, most recently went shoulder-to-shoulder with her male peers through the technically and physically demanding 19 Kilo Army Military Occupational Skill curriculum, administered by the 1st of the 204th Regional Training Institutes Armor Training Battalion located in Boise, Idaho. An M1 armor crewman is responsible for operating armored equipment such as the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks, in maneuvering against and destroying enemy targets. Sen. Crapo concluded his presentation to Smith by acknowledging her as a model Soldier, For being an example of one of so many who are standing right here in this room, willing to put their lives and their bodies on the line to defend our freedom in this country, Crapo said. Until recently, females have historically been prohibited from serving in combat roles within the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. However, in December of 2015, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that the U.S. military would open all positions to women, without exception. This means those occupational skills previously off limits to females, like infantry and armor, are now open to both women and men who can meet the standards set by the different military services. Thank you to the schoolhouse for allowing me to attend and for being so professional and also being the first, Smith said. If it wasnt for the schoolhouse wanting to do that, for wanting to pave the way, for wanting to be the first, none of us couldve done it. As the first female 19K M1 Armor Crewman School graduate in the nation, Smith will serve as a mentor and leader of future female enlisted combat professionals in the Idaho Army National Guard. TWIN FALLS When juveniles commit crimes, the way in which they reach the juvenile court system is much as an adult would. Often, its a victim who reports the crime to police, but it can also happen in other ways, like an officer pulling over a teen driver and finding drugs in the car. With juveniles, its also common for school resource officers to refer them to prosecutors for criminal charges. But Matt Triner, a school resource officer with Twin Falls Police who works mostly out of Canyon Ridge High School, said he makes every effort to avoid sending kids into the system. I would like to try every possible avenue to affect their behavior or change their behavior before we ever got them started in the legal process, Triner said in a Sept. 1 interview at his Canyon Ridge office. I try and use everything possible first, so thats school discipline, whether thats in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, all of those things. We use up all of those to the point where our school has behavioral contracts, they have attendance contracts, so they use all those tools first. Then when they dont see the change were looking for, thats when they come to me. Triner said its his job to hold kids accountable and provide help that changes behavior so that were not dealing with them again and again and again. Once unruly students are referred to Triner, there is one more option before a juvenile begins the legal process. Following is a step-by-step look at how a juvenile case proceeds through the system, and the ways in which it can be intercepted or diverted before and sometimes after charges are filed. 1. Status Offender Services This is a voluntary juvenile diversion program for low-risk youth who commit status offenses, which are crimes that can be committed only by juveniles: truancy, incorrigible behavior, running away, tobacco possession and curfew violations. The mission, according to a pamphlet from Twin Falls County Status Offender Services, is: helping juveniles stay out of the juvenile justice system. When a juvenile is suspected of committing a status offense, rather than being charged with a crime, he or she can go through programming offered by Status Offender Services, thus avoiding the court system and a formal record. Becoming involved in SOS starts with a referral from law enforcement, schools, or a social service agency, the pamphlet says. In addition, parents can self-refer their child to the program. In some instances, juveniles suspected of alcohol possession, petit theft and battery can also take part in Status Offender Services. SOS strives to put resources in place to not only provide accountability for the juveniles behavior, but also to address any underlying family issues, the pamphlet says. Accountability and resources may include community service, therapy, parenting classes, in-home services such as NorthStar, support and help with mental health concerns, and drug and alcohol treatment. The program is a rousing success in Twin Falls County, according to statistics from the Twin Falls County Status Offender Services: Between 2001 and 2013, SOS has maintained an average non-recidivism rate juveniles who do not re-offend at 89 percent. 2. Police become involved For crimes that are not status offenses, police usually become involved after some sort of contact from a victim a storeowner whose merchandise was stolen, for example. At schools, police involvement could begin when a fight breaks out between students, or when a teacher catches a student breaking the law. 3. Police investigate At this point, a juvenile case is just like an adult case. Police have to investigate, collect evidence, conduct interviews and find probable cause that a crime was committed, and that the juvenile in question was responsible. One key difference is that at this stage, police can decide to handle a situation within department this is, releasing the juvenile to a parent or releasing a juvenile with a warning without filing charges. Statewide, between 28 and 34 percent of juveniles arrested each year between 2000 and 2015 were handled within department, according to statistics gathered by Idaho State Police. 4. Police make arrest and/or file charging request This is just the same as an adult criminal case. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, a juvenile suspect will either be arrested or summoned to court for an initial appearance, which in the juvenile justice system is known as an admit or deny hearing. Before that appearance, police must file a charging request with prosecutors, who decide the next step. 5. Consider diversion Once prosecutors receive the charging request, they consider whether to divert the case, another way to help a juvenile offender stay out of the system and keep a clean record. Well consider diversion based on risk factors and prior involvement in the system, said Janice Kroeger, the Twin Falls County deputy prosecutor who handles juvenile cases. Diversion programs are totally voluntary, so we have to have cooperation of the family a responsible adult as well as the juvenile. According to the Juvenile Corrections Act, diversion involves referring the case directly to the county probation officer or a community-based diversion program for informal probation and counseling. 6. Charges filed If police file a charging request and prosecutors decide not to divert, then prosecutors file a petition with the court and a juvenile is officially charged with a crime. For very serious crimes, this is also the point at which juveniles can be charged as adults in a process known as an automatic waiver. A juvenile 14 or older is automatically waived to adult court when suspected of murder or attempted murder; robbery; rape; forcible sexual penetration by use of a foreign object; infamous crimes against nature, committed by force or violence; mayhem; assault or battery with the intent to commit any of the previous felonies; and first-degree arson or aggravated arson. Certain drug offenses committed on or within 1,000 feet of school campuses can also qualify a juvenile for automatic waiver to adult court. For crimes charged in juvenile court, during the initial appearance a juvenile must admit or deny the criminal charges. 7. Admit or deny hearing Alexis Walker, a 15-year-old Twin Falls High School sophomore, recently recalled her admit or deny hearing, which happened after a night in the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center. She was arrested for running away but said the juvenile justice system has helped her a lot, especially in learning to communicate well with her family. Judge Daniel Dolan, who hears most juvenile cases in Twin Falls County, presided over her initial appearance, but he was in another courtroom connected via video. I was just in a little room in the detention center, and it was really intimidating, Alexis remembered. I was confused about what was happening. But Judge Dolan was pretty nice. Dolan asked if she understood why she had been arrested and was being charged with a crime. Then her attorney and the prosecutors made arguments about the terms of her release while her case was pending. The prosecutors, she said, wanted her to be outfitted with an ankle monitor. The judge thought for a second, and then he decided he was going to release me to my parents without the ankle monitor, Alexis recalled. Just as in adult court, juveniles are assigned public defenders if their families cant afford private attorneys. Like adult offenders entering a not-guilty plea during an arraignment, this first hearing usually results in a denial. But if a juvenile does admit to the crime he or she is charged with in the first hearing, a judge can fashion an informal adjustment to the petition. As explained in the Juvenile Corrections Act, an informal adjustment includes, but is not limited to: a reprimand of the juvenile offender; informal supervision with the probation department; community service work; restitution to the victim; or participation in a community-based diversion program. The judge can dismiss the case, if it is compatible with the public interest, once the offender satisfies the terms of the informal adjustment and the court is convinced there is no longer cause for continuing the terms. An informal disposition like this is another way for a juvenile to avoid his or her record being marred by a criminal conviction. 8. Pretrial, discovery and plea negotiations If a juvenile denies the criminal charge, the case proceeds just like an adult case with status conferences, motion hearings and pretrial conferences. Attorneys from both sides continue to investigate and share with each other the facts of the case. They also negotiate plea settlements. The biggest difference is that if a juvenile case reaches trial or an evidentiary hearing, as its known in juvenile cases a judge, not a jury, determines guilt. And, rather than finding a juvenile guilty, a judge rules that he or she is within the purview of the Juvenile Corrections Act. 9. Disposition and social history A juvenile is sentenced once he or she admits to a crime or is found by a judge to be under purview of the act. In adult court, you have what are called presentence investigations, and those are only in felonies, Kroeger said. In juvenile courts, we get social histories on almost every single crime, even if its a status offense. If were going to sentencing in juvenile court, the judges routinely get social histories. This report, according to the Juvenile Corrections Act, contains information about the juveniles home environment, history and competency development, as well as the juveniles social, physical and mental condition. Based on that report and other factors, a judge crafts a disposition, or sentence. 10. Probation, detention and corrections The Juvenile Corrections Act lays out clear sentencing options for juvenile judges. In the rules described below, except for the last rule, detention means commitment to the juveniles local, county-operated detention center, such as the Snake River Juvenile Detention Center in Twin Falls, which serves five counties. Separately, the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections operates three correctional facilities: in Lewiston (36 beds), Nampa (84 beds) and St. Anthony (150 beds). A. For any offense, the first option is probation. Formal probation is not to exceed three years unless the crime is sexual in nature, in which case probation can last until the juvenile offenders 21st birthday. B. For status offenses (runaway, truancy, etc.), a judge can sentence a juvenile to 30 days in detention. But there are specific rules that determine whether a juvenile actually has to serve the detention time. C. For crimes that would be considered misdemeanors if committed by an adult, or for habitual status offenders, a judge can commit a juvenile to up to 90 days detention for each criminal act. D. For crimes that would be considered felonies if committed by an adult, a judge can commit the juvenile offender to detention up to 180 days for each criminal act. In all of the above cases, a judge can order a detention sentence be suspended based on specific probation terms. As in adult court, that detention sentence is meant to act as a deterrent and help ensure successful probation. E. For the most serious crimes, and when its been determined there are no better or more rehabilitative treatment options, a judge can commit the juvenile offender to the legal custody of the IDJC. Juvenile correction center sentences are not to exceed an offenders 19th birthday unless a review board decides there are special circumstances, in which case the sentence cannot exceed the offenders 21st birthday. TWIN FALLS Until about a century ago, juveniles who committed crimes were treated just like adults throughout the country. That changed in 1899, when Illinois recognized that juveniles were not the same as adults and established a court in Chicago for defendants 16 and younger. Across the country, juvenile courts and new legislation to deal with juvenile justice soon followed, and Idaho established its first juvenile corrections law in 1905. Linda Wright, a longtime trial court administrator in Idahos 5th Judicial District who retired last year, laid out the history of Idahos juvenile justice system in a paper she wrote in 1996. Since 1905, Idaho has had some form of juvenile corrections law and has changed that law every few years to meet the changing needs of the state, Wright wrote. The state has progressed from different forms of Correction of Delinquent Children, to the Youth Rehabilitation Act of 1963. The Youth Rehabilitation Act, commonly called the YRA, was in place until 1989 and was directed by the states department of health and welfare. But about two decades after its formation, the YRA was becoming so ineffective that four of Idahos largest counties Ada, Bannock, Canyon and Kootenai decided to create their own juvenile systems and programs. With tacit legislative approval, Wright wrote, those four counties hired juvenile probation officers, built detention centers and established local programs outside the parameters of the YRA. But this fragmented approach created questions for other counties in the state, Wright wrote. If the four largest counties were not using the states YRA system and the (health and welfare) programs, then where was the money going that the Legislature had budgeted the (health and welfare) for juvenile justice? The YRA also seriously lacked funding, according to Wright. This meant that smaller counties like Camas, Gooding and Lincoln seldom received much assistance from health and welfare, and when midsize counties like Twin Falls and Minidoka asked for a specific program from health and welfare, they were often told that the program had not been funded properly, that there was no room in the program or that the program was not available. The Legislature reformed the YRA with the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1989. But the act, which was still directed by what had become the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, continued to lack proper funding and suffered from the same problems as the YRA. In 1994, Idaho State Sen. Denton Darrington said the influence of drugs and gangs meant juveniles were committing more heinous crimes at a younger and younger age, and delinquency has gone far beyond the ability of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 1989 to handle. According to Wright, the YRA and the 1989 act did not have the organizational structure for different agencies to work together. Also, the philosophy of (Health and Welfare) was to keep families together at virtually any cost and to rehabilitate youthful offenders, not necessarily to punish them. By 1993, these problems had escalated to the point that reform was again needed. In 1994, the state Legislature authorized an interim committee to study Idahos juvenile justice system and assess related agencies and their roles. The committee traveled the state for a series of 16 public hearings where it met with the public, heard agency comments on the problems with the YRA, toured detention facilities and reviewed diversion programs. The study came at the same time many other states were studying their juvenile justice systems and passing new juvenile corrections laws. Idaho was one of 12 states in 1995 that passed juvenile reform laws. During its tour of the state, the committee found widespread dissatisfaction. Judges were concerned about the lack of programs offered by Health and Welfare. County probation officers and Health and Welfare caseworkers were often in disagreement about who should assume responsibility for juvenile offenders. Parents didnt know where to turn when their children were in trouble. Victims of juvenile crimes felt like they were left out of the system and forgotten, and often would not receive restitution or be repaid for damages. And county commissioners were concerned about liability issues with detaining juveniles. The committee researched juvenile justice models from other states and settled on a plan that created the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, which was to adopt a balanced approach philosophy centered around three principles: accountability, community protection and competency development. The 1995 Legislature approved the departments creation and adopted the Juvenile Corrections Act of 1995, the system thats still in use today. JEROME The U.S. Constitutions due process guarantees dont stop applying after hours, weekends or holidays, a Jerome County public defender argued in court this week. But detectives from the Jerome County Sheriffs Office, Stacey DePew argued, violated her 17-year-old clients due process rights Easter Sunday night when they conducted a coercive and suggestive show-up rather than a proper photographic line-up to obtain eyewitness testimony. The sheriff and prosecutors argue the unorthodox identification process was necessary under the circumstances to determine which of the three teens in a reported shooting was the actual shooter, but DePew said the eyewitness testimony against her client was so tainted and coercive that it should not be allowed as evidence if and when the case goes to trial. And without the eyewitness testimony, prosecutors may not have much of a case. Juan Santos Suarez-Gomez, charged as an adult with a felony count of attempted murder, is set for trial Oct. 19. But the outcome of that trial, and if the case even reaches trial, rests largely on the decision now under consideration by District Judge Richard Bevan, who must decide whether to allow the evidence showing the victim in the case identified Suarez-Gomez as the shooter. The 17-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Hes charged with second-degree attempted murder for allegedly firing three shots at Kiel Thibault, a Jerome farmer who caught Suarez-Gomez and two friends dumping trash on his property about 8:10 p.m. on Easter Sunday, March 27. Thibault said he asked the three teens to pick up the trash they dumped, and they complied without a problem until one of them bum rushed the farmer and fired three shots from a silver revolver. Thibault, uninjured in the shooting, jumped in his truck and followed the teens, who sped away in a white Chevrolet Tahoe pulling a trailer. Thibault called 911 to report the shooting, and a few minutes later, Jerome Police Officer Jashell Robinson spotted the Tahoe and gave chase. After a short pursuit, the teens surrendered. Suarez-Gomez and his friends were taken into custody, and thats when the problems began, DePew said. Thibault was asked to come to the sheriffs office to give a statement, but en-route he was told to go where the Tahoe was stopped to identify it as the one that had been on his property. Thibault confirmed the SUV was the one involved in the shooting, so he knew its three occupants were detained, but when he arrived at the sheriffs office for the interview, he made it clear hed have a difficult time identifying the shooter. I could recognize all three of them, Thibault said at the start of the interview, which was shown on video in court Monday. But to be honest I dont know that I could put the gun in the hands of one or the other. Just moments later though, Thibault says he thinks if he sees all three suspects, he could probably point out the one who shot at him, contradicting his earlier statement. He then made several other contradicting statements about whether he could identify the shooter. At the end of the interview, a sheriffs detective tells Thibault they're going to do something a little unorthodox and that it isnt the normal way we do this, but if weve got the right people I dont want these people going home tonight. The detective then shows Thibault three photos on his cell phone of the three teens arrested in the Tahoe, and Thibault identifies the one he believes was the shooter. The identification procedures used in this case were overly suggestive, DePew wrote in a motion to suppress the identification evidence. There was no lineup; no double-blind procedure; no pre-lineup instruction; no instructions at all; and confirmatory feedback was given before the photos were ever shown. This so called procedure was clearly overly suggestive. This was a show-up procedure. Detective Kennedy might as well as taken Mr. Thibault to the jail and pulled Mr. Suarez out of a holding cell. In court, DePew made it clear she was not trying to paint Thibault as a villain or liar, but argued that he was under stress from being shot at, and it was law enforcements responsibility to do the photo lineup properly. Its not Mr. Thibaults fault, but the reason we have these factors and case law is because eyewitness identification, particularly under circumstances like this, is fallible, DePew argued. The identification as presented, on photos clearly taken from the jail of the suspects from the car, makes this so tainted that any identification we have after that should be suppressed. Jerome County Deputy Prosecutor Eileen McDevitt argued, both in court Monday and in court documents, that the violent nature of the shooting necessitated the unorthodox approach. We have a case where were balancing two things, two very serious things, McDevitt argued Monday. The need to comply with the photo lineup, against an individual who unprovoked, who doesnt know the person, takes a gun, within 11 feet, shoots at them, and then proceeds to not run away but walk forward more in an aggressive act and shoot two more times. The dangerous, violent nature of the shooter made it necessary for the detectives to make an arrest by any means necessary, the prosecutor argued, pointing out also the parts of the interview when Thibault was more confident hed be able to identify the shooter, and the quickness with which he identified Suarez-Gomez when shown all three photos. Jerome County Sheriff Doug McFall said Friday the process of identification his detectives used was based on timing because the interview was just a few hours after the shooting, they were allowed to show just pictures of the suspects and not a photo lineup featuring fillers. If someone robs a bank, for example, and we catch them down the road, we can take them back to have the tellers identify them, McFall said. From my training, the detectives in this case used appropriate protocol. If it was a couple days later, then yes, they would have had to use a proper photo lineup. The issue that night, as Detective Chad Kingsland testified Monday, was because the suspects were juveniles, the detectives couldnt keep them detained without charging them, but they also couldnt get a proper photo lineup until Monday morning. I understand the restraints that law enforcement was under, but the Constitution doesnt suddenly stop applying because its after hours or on a Sunday, DePew argued. Mr. Suarez-Gomezs due process right to have this done appropriately doesnt stop because its after hours or on a Sunday, and because they may have to cut him loose. Bevan must now decide if in fact the photo procedure was unconstitutional and if hell allow the identification to be introduced as evidence. Hes expected to make that ruling during a hearing set for Oct. 5. DECLO A trimmed down construction plan for Declo Elementary School is getting final touches and will be put out to bid in October. Construction on the first phase of two phases will start in November and take 10 months to complete. We are so excited to actually see shovels in the dirt in Declo, elementary school Principal Kevin Lloyd said about ongoing construction at the nearby Declo Junior High School. Work is underway on a new handicap accessible ramp at the junior high. Lloyd said parents are eager to see construction begin. But having construction right next door always adds a layer of distraction and danger, he said. Declo is the last community to get a start on its construction projects because it had the largest underestimation of construction costs in the bond shortfall. The Cassia County School District passed a $37 million construction bond in the spring of 2015, but last fall it was discovered that the previous architect hired by the district grossly underestimated costs for projects in Declo and Burley. The district attempted to make up the shortfall by passing another $15 million construction bond in May. But voters shot it down. So officials went back to the drawing board to determine what could be built with the available money. What will be built in Declo? Declos projects were the most severely affected, said Michael Arrington, president of Starr Corporation, the construction company overseeing the project. The district will spend about a $500,000 more in Declo than originally planned, but projects had to be scaled down because of miscalculated costs. In Declo, $5.7 million will be spent, $16.1 million in Burley, $7.3 million in Malta and $5.7 million in Oakley. The original plan was to build a new elementary school to replace the open-concept 1970s building that had room dividers instead of walls between the classrooms. The plan now is to split the new school construction into two phases with the first phase completed during this construction cycle. The second phase will move forward in the future if taxpayers approve spending the additional money. The first phase will be a 30,000-square-foot building with nine classrooms, administration offices, a library, computer lab, restrooms and a gym. Were still getting an elementary school. At this point it will just be smaller, district spokeswoman Debbie Critchfield said. Its the size of Raft River High School, and thats not too shabby. Arrington said the school is 60 percent as large as what was originally planned. Student numbers at the school have increased by 20 students each year in the past four years, which represents another classroom a year. The new building will have a 20-foot-long enclosed connector space leading to the old elementary school, which will still be in use until the second phase is built. The second phase will add another bank of classrooms with restrooms and an additional computer lab. Arrington said there will be improvements done to the old elementary schools fire alarm and bell systems to tie it into the new school, and the playground will be relocated, but no structural or cosmetic changes will be made to the old building. We dont want to dive into cosmetic changes when the goal is to eventually take this building down, Critchfield said. As the professionals have pointed out, we could spend millions of dollars on it. Parents have questioned including a gym when there wasnt enough money to complete all the projects in the original plan. But, Critchfield said, Cassia County schools have a history of not building gyms and regretting it later. School administrators say that gym space is the most-used space in a school by both students and the community. Theres nothing flashy about this gym, Arrington said. Lloyd said the hope is to be able to move all the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders out of the building between the old elementary and the junior high and bring those students into the old elementary school. Now, the elementary student travel between three buildings: The first houses K-2 students, the second with 3-5 students and the third has a multi-purpose room with a cafeteria, which creates a safety issue, Critchfield said. There will also be some rerouting of buses and cars. Some of that discussion has presented the biggest challenges in figuring out where to put everything, Critchfield said. Other projects at Declo school will include a commons area linking the junior high to the elementary building housing third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students. The elementary building will become part of the junior high. Thats a sizeable improvement in space on what they have, Critchfield said. The junior highs bottle neck hallway linking two parts of the building will be remodeled to make the commons area and a classroom and restroom will be removed to accommodate the new space. The commons area will give students a place to hang out before and after school or eat lunch. Construction on the commons area will start in the spring and a new heating-and-air-conditioning system will be installed next summer along with the new restrooms and administration area. Thats been a real sore spot for our district maintenance people who have to fix the pipes broken in the ceiling each winter, Critchfield said. The sewer line that runs to the east of the schools is also being extended 700 feet. The district expects the plans to be finalized in a week. Critchfield said the district originally staggered the construction start dates in the various communities, and setbacks with the bond shortage shifted timelines a little. It changed our course a little bit, but thats OK, Critchfield said. Considering where weve been and all the waiting, this is a great time in the district with all these things happening. Forty minutes after the explosion in Chelsea Saturday night, Donald Trump told a crowd in Colorado that a bomb had gone off in New York and said, We better get very tough, folks. We better get very, very tough. For the next 48 hours, the media denounced Trump for jumping to conclusions about a bomb and especially for the wild suggestion that government policy had had anything to do with it. (How about our policy of naturalizing 858 people from terrorist-producing countries who were still under orders of deportation? Is it deplorable to ask about that policy?) That night, CNN boasted that it placed numerous requests to the Trump campaign, demanding his evidence that it was a bomb. This explosive-filled device with a detonator that blew up in a dumpster what makes you think it was a bomb? Hoping to get a snappy riposte from the pouty pantsuit on Trumps wild leap from an explosion in a dumpster to a bomb, the press asked her to comment on Trumps conclusion as they termed his statement of the blindingly obvious. Hillary referred to the bombing as a bombing, then snipped, I think its important to know the facts about any incident like this ... I think its always wiser to wait until you have information before making conclusions. True, there was a bombing, but that doesnt mean there was a bomb. Lets not fly off the handle. It could have been an exploding Edible Arrangement. Even after the dumbest mammal in North America, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, had admitted it was a bomb, journalists were indignant that Trump had called a bomb a bomb before they said so. On CNNs Inside Politics on Sunday, The New York Times Maggie Haberman said that even Trumps supporters worry that he often gets ahead of information and that Democrats would make it an issue of his not being careful, that he doesnt wait for facts. That he just goes off and talks. Hey, Maggie? Im a Trump supporter and I know lots of Trump supporters. None of us ever worry about Trump getting ahead of the facts. CNNs Sara Murray complained that Trump seizes on these moments so instantly before we have the facts. Instead of instantly seizing on this moment to assume Trump was wrong, shouldnt Sara have waited until all the facts were in? On CBS Face the Nation, The Washington Posts Ruth Marcus announced, Im a facts girl thanks for sharing your OKCupid profile with us, Ruth! so I think the response, Id like to wait for the facts until I comment, is always a good idea. The media was enraged that Trump was sensible enough to realize what had happened. HE COULD HAVE BEEN WRONG! Yeah, but he wasnt. As Trump said, I should be a newscaster because I called it before the news. By Monday morning, Hillary was doing PR work for Islam, calling the culprits bad guys, but stressing that were not going to go after an entire religion. No one had suggested going after an entire religion, but I guess you can never be too careful when dealing with all those deplorable, irredeemable Americans. A few hours later, New Jersey police caught the suspect, an Irish Catholic altar boy from Teaneck named Seamus Patrick OSullivan. Just kidding! He was an immigrant from Afghanistan named Ahmad Khan Rahami. This is the doubletalk the public has been forced to endure after every terrorist attack. As described in In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! our media and politicians are pretty quick to jump to the conclusion that terrorist attacks have absolutely nothing to do with Islam. The night a truck bomb was found smoldering in Times Square, Mayor Michael Bloomberg went on CBS Evening News and said he thought it was somebody homegrown, maybe somebody with a political agenda that doesnt like the health care bill or something. The morning after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, NBCs law enforcement analyst, Jim Cavanaugh, said that his best guess was that the shooter was a person rooted in white hate movements, and had picked the club because its a diverse club and he hates diverse people. (By which I think he means yours truly! I have the perfect alibi, of course. If I ever found myself in a gay nightclub, Id be too busy signing autographs to shoot anybody.) The fact that the shooter was a second-generation Muslim immigrant named Omar Mateen, who had repeatedly pledged his allegiance to ISIS during the attack, was treated by our media as one of many strands of evidence, not nearly as important as the possibility that Mateen might be gay and had been scarred by Americas endemic homophobia. After the 2009 Fort Hood attack by a Major Nidal Hasan yelling, Allahu Akbar! Obama warned Americans not to jump to conclusions. (Deplorable, irredeemable Americans are always jumping to unwarranted conclusions!) He proceeded to label the jihadist attack an act of workplace violence. To Obamas credit, his policies have reduced workplace violence considerably by putting so many Americans out of work. The media and Obama administration officials took weeks to settle on a motive for the San Bernardino terrorists, despite their having pledged allegiance to ISIS while committing the attack. That night, the Los Angeles Times falsely reported that an office dispute had preceded the slaughter. The Times won a Pulitzer for the reporting that included this intentional misdirection. The left has apparently decided that white America is a declining demographic and they are going to treat Muslim grievance groups like NARAL: We are with you on everything. Its probably just a coincidence that Muslim immigrants are advantageous to the Democrats electoral prospects. Even the terrorists have been getting impatient with the American lefts refusal to give them due credit. Major Hasans spiritual adviser, Anwar al-Awlaki, denounced the Obama administration for denying that the Fort Hood shooting was a glorious act of Islamic terrorism. After Orlando, al-Qaidas in-house magazine, Inspire, ordered jihadists in America to concentrate on killing Anglo-Saxon Americans to avoid confusing the U.S. media. When American settlers sent scouts to ride ahead and look for Indians, if the scouts returned saying there were 6,000 Sioux on the other side of the ridge, no one cared about their horsemanship or the language they used. Trump is the only politician in 50 years to say, Immigration security is national security. The media wont listen. But the voters are listening. Democrats, fearful that third-party presidential candidates could attract enough millennials to cost Hillary Clinton key states are stepping up efforts to woo young voters with one message: Stop Trump. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, and Jill Stein, the left-wing Green Party aspirant, are attracting much of their support from younger voters. Some recent polls show them attracting a total of over 10 percent of the vote nationally and doing much better than that with millennials. There are lots of potential Clinton voters who could be lost to these third-party candidates, acknowledges Geoff Garin, the pollster for Priorities USA, the Clinton Super PAC. We are making a first-class effort to reach them through digital media and saying that their vote could mean Donald Trump is president. Bill Weld, Johnsons vice presidential candidate, said that the Libertarian ticket was taking equally from both sides. But he also said that he considers Trump by far the greater danger and will focus on attacking him in the final six weeks. Watch me on this, declared the former Massachusetts governor, a lifelong Republican. He said Trumps proposal to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants reminds me of Germany in the 1930s. Voters born after the early 1980s chose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 60 percent to 37 percent in the 2012 election, when they accounted for almost one in five voters. Polls suggest they may turn out in smaller numbers this time and favor the Democratic side less because Johnson and Stein are getting a slice of their votes. Trump is enormously unpopular with millennials, a fact that the Clintonites like to emphasize. Young people think Donald Trump is deeply out of step with their values, on issues affecting them, diversity and inclusion. says Garin. But Clinton is well aware of her problem with young voters. She was clobbered by Bernie Sanders among millennials in the Democratic primaries, and her slippage in September polls is largely attributable to their defections. On Monday she wrote a blog post for MIC, a news site aimed at millennials, titled Heres What Millennials Have Taught Me, in which she acknowledged that she has to give them a more positive message. She also wrote about her own post-college experiences. She also showed up on the satiric talk show Between Two Ferns, giving deadpan answers to silly questions posed by the comedian Zach Galifianakis. In attacking Trump with millennials in mind, Democrats will focus on the environment and climate change which Trump has called a hoax as well as social issues and racial tolerance. Some Clinton supporters hope that if the race still seems close in late October, then the Johnson-Weld ticket, which is on the ballot in all 50 states, might throw in the towel in the interest of defeating the Republicans. Weld ruled that out, but added, Im just getting a chance to go to work on Mr. Trump. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email sunnews@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes To refresh our people's memories. It will be recalled that during the second to the last session of the previous SP in June, the SP adopted a resolution that introduced the filing of a case in Canada. This is in continuation of Marinduque's call for environmental justice that has been marred in recent past by the most blatant kind of deception and manipulation by some in government and their legal cohorts. An ethical Canadian law firm was identified based on track record after a prolonged search by stakeholders concerned. The said law firm was invited for talks by the provincial government of Marinduque in January this year. The said law firm had expected to receive a clear and direct mandate from the provincial government to handle the case in Canada after the dismissal of the case handled by U.S. lawyers in Nevada. The U.S. lawyers also showed up in the talks held at the provincial government with stakeholders. Based on reliable information the Canadian lawyers made it clear that they would welcome talks with the U.S. lawyers. But months so quietly passed that civil society groups concerned felt that contrary to what were agreed upon, some people are just buying time to home-brew another plot. Then earlier this month, an SP meeting called by the Committee on Environment was held at the Capitol. Meeting at Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Sept. 2, 2016 with U.S. legal counsel. FB photo: Carlo Manay Lo and behold! The U.S. legal counsel whose "actions, demeanor and articulations in many instances" was slammed by certain members of the previous SP, and whose continued participation in the planned suit to be filed in Canada is being openly opposed by Marinduque's foremost environmental org, appeared during the meeting with a powerpoint presentation of his plan and those of the U.S.lawyers to file the case in Canada with another Canadian law firm of their own choosing instead. No explanation was conveyed if the agreed negotiations between the two law firms who came over for talks with PGM ever took place, but this time in the SP meeting the controversial U.S. lawyer claimed to be ready already with draft contracts for approval by the SP. The contract excludes the Canadian ethical law firm identified and officially invited by the PGM in January. Only very recently were copies of the purported draft contracts presented to key persons involved in this issue. One such person said thus: "It's simply worse, horrible, so much worse than the 2005 agreement entered into by the provincial government and the legal counsel concerned". MACEC reps including the Bishop of Boac were invited. FB photo: Carlo Manay In another follow-up meeting organized by the environmental group, the general sentiment of those concerned was to enumerate the causes for terminating the involvement of the U.S. lawyers concerned. Asked why they seem to favor these lawyers in-spite of poor performance and questionable actions that put a cloud of doubt on their credibility and integrity, a provincial government official explained "many times" that they are thinking that if the U.S. lawyers will not be engaged, "baka mademanda ang probinsya!". So is there anything more sick than this situation? How can the Province work with a law firm that allegedly appears to be threatening to sue if they choose another firm? Is that how lame arguments are being loosely and ridiculously sold in Marinduque? Common sense dictates that it's not how it works. The Province has every right to terminate relationship with any law firm. Not to forget that the case is over in Nevada. Fair terms to be negotiated between the U.S. and Canadian law firms mentioned, as agreed upon, is not for province to worry about. Why should clients act under threat by their own lawyers if this is the case? Isn't that a terrible, abusive kind of relationship? Or are other 'arrangements' past and present behind all these? We've seen a lot of related tragic-comedy plays before. Is this another such comedic and tragic Moro-Moro and Zarzuela in the offing? Batman, Robin, Superman and even Darna could make special guest appearances on this one for sanity and justice to reign in our beloved Marinduque. Also read the following excerpts (posted here exactly 3 years ago): THE TRUE COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LAOR THAT DESTROYED AMERICA THE BIG SECRET DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW: Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has testified before a Congressional committee that in 2004, 95% of all outstanding warrants for murder in Los Angeles were for illegal aliens; in 2000, 23% of all Los Angeles County jail inmates were illegal aliens and that in 1995, 60% of Los Angeless largest street gang, the 18th Street gang, were illegal aliens. 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New business Todd Havelka opened his own private counseling practice at the Water's Edge Professional Center, 2419 Mullan Road, Suite F. Havelka is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed addiction counselor in the state of Montana. His skills include chemical dependency evaluations as well as individual, group and family counseling for those struggling with substances. He also works with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, and other debilitating mental health issues. Havelka received his undergraduate degree at the University of Montana and his master's degree at Walla Walla University. Phone 880-4455 or email toddhavelkalcsw@gmail.com. Store reopening Spirit Halloween is open for business at 1212 Longstaff St. This is the 13th year in operation for Melanie Lerum and Martin Malson. The store in Kalispell is located at 1431 Highway 35 and operated by Steve Lerum and his son, Derrick, manages the store in Great Falls. All locations are open and are actively raising money for the Spirit of Children charity with Montana's collection being donated to the Shodair Hospital in Helena. These stores were recognized as national leaders for one of the highest percentages of patrons making a contribution. New associates Advanced Technology Group has hired the following employees. Christine Folz is a consultant with the software quality and solutions group at ATGs Missoula Solution Center. Her background is in agile project management, scrum master, and quality analysis testing and assurance. She is skilled in full stack web development technologies and is SteelBrick certified. Prior to joining ATG, Folz worked for Vubiquity and Ameriprise Financial. She graduated with a masters degree in business administration/entrepreneurship from the University of Montana. Benjamin Utigard is a consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. His background is in project management and business analysis, with a focus on forecasting, auditing, and process improvement. Prior to joining ATG, Utigard worked for Kerry and Vision processing Technologies Inc. He is SteelBrick certified and graduated with a masters degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Michael Waite is an IT support analyst with for Advanced Technology Groups corporate organization. His background is in account management, database and system administration, and software implementation. He is skilled in systems and operations, business application and design, and web design. Prior to joining ATG, Waite worked for Logistic Systems Inc. in Missoula. He has a bachelors degree in management information systems from the University of Montana. Jessica Burbank joined Goodrich and Reely law firm as a paralegal. She has 15 years of experience in Montana liquor and gambling licensing, having previously worked at both the Department of Revenue Liquor Control Division, and the Department of Justice Gambling Control Division. Goodrich and Reely specializes in tax law, estate planning, probate, business transactions, bankruptcy, commercial litigation and transactions involving liquor and gaming license matters. Phone 541-9719 or email jessica@goodrichreely.com. Promotions Advanced Technology Group announced the following promotions. Joel Colbert is in a new position as a consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. Previously he was a managed services analyst on ATGs managed services team performing software testing and quality assurance. Prior to joining ATG, Colbert worked for AWARE in Missoula. He is SteelBrick and Aria certified, holds multiple badges in Salesforce Trailhead, and is working toward his Salesforce app developer certification. He has a bachelors degree in marketing from the University of Montana. Joseph Desch is in a new position as a consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. He started three years ago as a summer intern with the company, and joined full time after graduating the University of Montana with a degree in management information systems this spring. Desch was a sales analyst on the managed services team performing analysis, quality assurance, and sales operations for several clients. He is SteelBrick certified, holds multiple badges in Salesforce Trailhead, and is working toward his Salesforce app developer certification. Sonia Flamm is in a new position as a consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. Previously she was a managed services analyst on ATGs Managed Services team performing software testing and quality assurance. She is SteelBrick and Aria certified, holds multiple badges in Salesforce Trailhead, and is a Salesforce certified app builder. Prior to joining ATG, Flamm worked for medical clinic and Missoula Families First, and has a social media marketing background. She has a bachelors degree in business administration and management from the University of Montana. Robert Maxson is in a new position as a Consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. Previously he was a managed services analyst on ATGs managed services team performing software testing and quality assurance. He is SteelBrick and Aria certified, holds multiple badges in Salesforce Trailhead, and is a Salesforce certified app builder. Prior to joining ATG, Maxson held various management positions with Holiday Companies. He has a bachelors degree in business administration and management from the University of Montana. Matthew Ryan is in a new position as a consultant with ATGs Missoula Solution Center. Previously he was a managed services analyst on ATGs managed services team performing software testing and quality assurance. He is SteelBrick and Aria certified, holds multiple badges in Salesforce Trailhead, and is working toward his Salesforce app developer certification. Prior to joining ATG, Ryan worked for Crescent Electric Supply Co., Missoula Federal Credit Union, and Pro Mark Inc. He has a bachelors degree in business administration and management from the University of Montana. Elected The Missoula Businesswomen's Network announced its 2015-2016 Missoula Businesswomen's sub-network chairs. Julie Anton, RE/MAX All Stars Realtor, co-chair; Julie M. Richter, Compass Insurance Group, co-chair; Carol Cunningham, C2 Business Solutions, Mission Valley Sub-Network co-chair; Laurie Dassonville, Send Out Cards, Mission Valley Sub-Network co-chair. Recognition Shane Reely of Goodrich and Reely law firm has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 23rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America practicing tax law and trusts and estates. Reely has been selected for this award since 2005. Additionally, he has been named the Best Lawyers 2017 Tax Law "Lawyer of the Year" for Missoula. Only a single lawyer in each practice area in each community is being honored as a "Lawyer of the Year." Goodrich and Reely specializes in tax law, estate planning, probate, business transactions, bankruptcy, commercial litigation and transactions involving liquor and gaming license matters. Phone 541-9700 or email Shane@goodrichreely.com. Nick Norwood's most recent book is "Gravel and Hawk," published by Ohio University Press. This poem has sorrow at the top and happiness at the bottom, which means there's a lot of living in between. It's from the quarterly journal "Five Points." Norwood lives and teaches in Georgia. Ronnie's Dad dead, Mom back in the bank, tellering started dressing in cute skirts and pants suits she sewed herself from onionskin patterns and bright-colored knits picked up at Cloth World. Got her dark brunette hair cut in a shag. And she and her single girlfriends from work on a weekday night would leave me to "Love American Style" or Mary Tyler Moore and step out to hear the country house band or now-and-then headliners like Ray Price and Merle Haggard. Mom's blue Buick Wildcat shoulder to shoulder with the other Detroit behemoths in the dim lot around back. Wind skittering trash along the street. Bass notes thumping through the sheet-metal walls and the full swinging sound suddenly blaring when a couple came in or out the door. I know because I'm there, now, in the lot, crouched behind the fender of a Skylark or Riviera, in the weird green glow of the rooftop Ronnie's sign, not keeping tabs on Mom, not watching out, just keeping time with the band and sipping a Slurpee while she dances through this two-year window before getting re-hitched, settling back down. Just twenty-seven, twenty-eight years old, looking pretty, having the time of her life. Like tens of thousands of Japanese Americans, Yuko Shimomura spent the World War II years with his family behind barbed wire. He was of grade-school age then. All these years later Shimomura is coming to Missoula to share his memories of life at internment and relocation camps in California and Utah. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula and the University of Montana have invited Shimomura to present My 2 Years Behind Barbed Wire in the United States at 6 p.m. Tuesday. It'll be in Room 110 of UMs Interdisciplinary Science Building on the southwest corner of campus. A World War II alien detention camp at Fort Missoula is becoming the county museums most compelling national story. Japanese men averaging 60 years in age were uprooted from their homes on the West Coast after the attack on Pearl Harbor and brought here to determine by loyalty hearings if they were national security threats. Shimomuras family was uprooted from its home in San Francisco and sent to an internment camp in San Bruno, California, and later to the Topaz War Relocation Center near Delta, Utah, 100 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. Operated by the War Relocation Authority from Sept. 11, 1942, until Oct. 31, 1945, the center was home to more than 9,000 internees and staff at its peak. Its an important Montana story, said Robert Tuck, an assistant professor of Japanese at UM. We sometimes think of Missoula as an out-of-the-way place thats kind of not involved in all these bigger world history events. For some people thats why they like it here, Tuck said. The truth is thats not at all the case. Weve been a part of big national and world events, and having Mr. Shimomura come and talk here is a great demonstration of that. Tuck said his own students tend to have a sense that Japan is very far away and exotic, and not something that has had much of an impact on their lives or on western Montana. Again, thats not true. There are lots of ways the Japanese have had effects on us, and this is a great opportunity for them to see that, Tuck said. He recently gave a talk to a service club about the connections Japanese mining companies had to Butte in the early 20th century. The connections are there if you look for them, said Tuck. Shimomura lived with his family in Ogden, Utah, after their release from Topaz. He graduated from high school there and, after a hitch in the U.S. Army, attended Weber State University and Utah State University. He earned a bachelors degree in manufacturing engineering and went on to work at Hewlett-Packard as a software engineer and later in human resources with Japanese and American electronics companies. Tuesdays event is free and open to the public. A question-and-answer session will follow. Shimomura also will speak to several classes on campus and to local high school students Tuesday and Wednesday. FRENCHTOWN While some kids blew giant bubbles and rode miniature ponies at Opportunity Resources seventh annual Autumn Fest on Saturday, others opted for a hayride that toured Opportunity Ranchs latest installment a trail along the Clark Fork, accessible to people with disabilities. The trail, which consists of pressed gravel for wheelchairs to easily roll over, leads to a fishing access on the Clark Fork River and an area that will one day be a disabled-accessible campground. Opportunity Resources marketing manager Erica Deforrest said the trail is just another way for the organization to enhance the quality of life for disabled people. People with disabilities have a really hard time getting out into nature because of the terrain, Deforrest said. And the Autumn Fest is one of our two fundraisers that allow us to support adults with disabilities. Deforrest said while the Autumn Fest raises money for Opportunity Resources, its also a chance for disabled people to get outside and become integrated with other community members. We go out of our way to find sponsors and volunteers so we can keep this free for kids under 12, Deforrest said. So it exposes people of all ages to our mission. Deforrest said Opportunity Resources next fundraiser will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel sometime in the spring. On Saturday, a few thousand people spread out all over Opportunity Ranchs 160 acres in Frenchtown. Even with all the people, the ranch, surrounded by mountains and by trees changing color, had enough leftover space to provide a landing space for a helicopter. Kids oohed and ahhed as the helicopter took off into the cloudy sky only moments after it had landed. Even the line dancers stopped to look when they heard the ruckus interrupt their music. Others were distracted by fall-themed games, including pumpkin bowling, horseback riding and bag racing. Possibly the most popular game was giant Jenga, where kids could pull out the wrong piece of plywood and watch some real destruction. There was even a station where kids could tie-dye their own shirts and make their own apple cider. Unfortunately, none seemed to enjoy digging through hay to find candy, the station where volunteers Joel Yuhas and Caitlynn Anschuetz sat on bales of hay waiting to be noticed. Yuhas, 25, and Anschuetz, 19, said they had been at the festival since 9 a.m. and would stay until its finale at 4 p.m., moving to wherever they were most needed. Anschuetz said she volunteers for various events almost every weekend, but shes never seen all the Missoula mascots show up to an event. She motioned to the University of Montanas Monte and the Ospreys Ollie Osprey, who were both teasing kids at the ring-tossing station. I like volunteering and I love kids, Anschuetz said. So I think this event is pretty awesome. For the many Montanans concerned that outdated criminal justice laws are endangering public safety and ruining peoples lives, its heartening that Congress has indicated that it hopes to take up the issue during the coming weeks. But it remains unclear whether any legislation will make it to the presidents desk. Thats why the nearly 30,000 employers that call Montana home should consider voluntarily taking action themselves. Businesses have a powerful role to play in giving individuals with criminal records a second chance. The easiest step they can take is to ban the box. Right now, most employers require jobseekers to check a box on an application if they have any criminal record. Too often, this can function as an automatic application denied for individuals who have any blemish in their past. Nationwide, some 650,000 incarcerated individuals rejoin society every year, and they desperately need jobs to help them transition back into society and to provide for themselves and their families. But the criminal record box often shuts them out of the job market before they can get a foot in the door. A 2009 study by Harvard and Princeton researchers showed individuals who checked the box reduced their chances of a callback by 50 percent, with blacks hurt twice as much as whites. Sure enough, unemployment among those with a criminal record remains staggeringly high: A third of men without jobs between the ages of 25 and 54 have a criminal record. And the lack of employment is one of the key reasons why over two-thirds are re-arrested, over half are re-convicted, and two out of five are re-incarcerated within three years of release. Ex-offender unemployment not only holds back individuals working to improve their lives, it also stifles our economy. A 2010 study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated the annual lost economic value at between $57 billion and $65 billion. These are a few of the reasons why my employer, Koch Industries, officially banned the box on our job application last year, including for applicants in Montana. Now we delay the question until later in the hiring process. This allows us to consider a candidates past record in the context of their other life experiences. Companies big and small have made the same choice because it makes sense from a business perspective. With an estimated one in three adults in the U.S. having some sort of criminal record, its shortsighted for an employer to potentially eliminate one-third of the available applicant pool. We should seek the best talent periodwith or without a record. Over the years at Koch, individuals hired with a past record have been dedicated employees who have succeeded at the company. They are valuable contributors, and more importantly, they are on a path towards a productive and fulfilling life. We recognize that banning the box may not make sense for every business, which is why a government mandate isnt the solution. Each employer needs to make its own decision on this issue. If the nearly 30,000 employers in Montana voluntarily considered banning the box, the social and economic landscape could be defined by more opportunity and prosperity, especially for the least fortunate. Thousands of Montanans with criminal records try to rejoin society every year, and they want to contribute to their communities and improve their lives. Montana businesses can help them by breaking down barriers that stand in their way. No one should be judged forever based on what they did on their worst dayand everyone deserves a second chance. When our country is in trouble, Americans always stand up. History bears that out and today it is painfully clear our democracy is in crisis. As Montanans, we fully understand this crisis, and we have been setting the stage for national repair. More than any other state, we have historically experienced the unbridled power of money in our politics; and we have worked hard to make sure our elections are fair and free of the undue influence of big money. Since 1787, our national Constitution has promised one person, one vote, and this is supposed to mean that citizens have an equal say in electing our officeholders, and that all of our votes are of equal value. But today, money gives greater weight to the votes of people and businesses who have plenty of it. To continue to fight for this sacred value of equal say, our friends from Montana to Massachusetts and 36 other states will join Republicans, Democrats and folks of all political persuasions from across the country at the National Citizens Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. We will join 300 citizen leaders from 38 states to convene at the first-ever gathering of Americans of every political viewpoint to deliberate on the 28th Amendment to the Constitution to secure democracy for the people. One of our goals is to restore the promise of our Constitution and to hold our elected leaders accountable to the people. Americans are way ahead of the candidates and most politicians on this. Wherever we are on the tipping point scale, Americans of all beliefs, political thought and interests are coming together across the country to restore democracy of, by and for the people with the 28th Amendment. So far, 702 cities and towns, 17 states with two more on the ballot this November, millions of citizen signatures, hundreds of supporters in Congress have engaged in this battle for the soul of our democracy. We citizens expect our elected representatives to be honest about the choice we will be making if we fail to act: moving into a plutocracy and killing effective democracy with money and crony capitalism. The court broke our constitutional foundation in Citizens United v. FEC, and a 28th Amendment is needed now. Less than 1 percent of Americans contribute 80 percent of the campaign funds. And more than 80 percent of Americans have had enough. In this election cycle, we have begun to hear more about Citizens United. Adding insult to the injury of that 2010 injury, the court eliminated the Montana Corrupt Practices Act in 2012, thereby removing the accountability we Montanans established in our politics. Federal court decisions have stripped the states of traditional powers to regulate corporations; expanded the power of the wealthy to control politicians and policy; and limited the ability of Americans to participate, serve and be represented equally in our government. Our founders foresaw that the American experiment would face crises from time to time. Through Article V, they created the mechanism that gives the citizens the final word in self-government. In 2012, 75 percent of voters approved Initiative 166, leading Montanas congressional delegation toward a 28th Amendment to overturn Citizens United. The initiative received majority support in all 56 counties. Voters agreed that this amendment should ensure that courts not give corporations the inherent rights of human beings under the Constitution, and secure a level playing field so all individuals - regardless of wealth - may be represented fairly. Tuesday, Sept. 20, I attended Soft Landing Missoulas thoughtful presentation about some of the causes of conflict and the refugee crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I felt grateful to live in a community that has been so welcoming of people who have been through such unimaginable suffering and loss. After the presentation, one gentleman spoke bluntly of his fears that Congolese refugees would bring this same type of violence to Missoula. He was booed, or quietly dismissed, by most members of the audience. I even heard one person say, We dont want you here. How can we continue on the path of being a compassionate and welcoming community if we so easily dismiss the fears and beliefs of our neighbors? I guarantee that some of our new Congolese neighbors hold beliefs that would make many of us cringe. Yet we accept them with open arms, celebrating our differences, which will inevitably make all our lives richer. Why, then, can we not also accept the different beliefs of our non-refugee neighbors and learn to listen to and work with them as well? The work of being an open, compassionate community isnt only about welcoming refugees. It is also about welcoming diversity of thought, culture and life experience. It is easy to scorn those whose values we see as abhorrent. Much more difficult is the task of listening and trying to understand. I once heard a University of Montana professor of social science say, Love begins where agreement ends. Lets not let disagreement tear our community apart, or negate the welcoming compassion for which Missoula is known. Terri Nichols, Missoula DEER LODGE Hazardous fuel reduction, logs for jobs, stream restoration and improved habitat for fish, wildlife and cattle on the Montana State Prison ranch near Deer Lodge are the result of a Forests in Focus Initiative project. The after-effects of the catastrophic mountain pine beetle outbreak has resulted in a forest health crisis throughout Montana and the West, and the availability of timber continues to be challenge for Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge and other mills, leaders in the industry said. The $3 million, state-funded cost-share Forests in Focus Initiative, or FIFI, is designed to increase the rate of forest restoration and/or hazardous fuel reduction, put logs on trucks for jobs, and to improve watersheds and wildlife habitat on non-industrial private, state and tribal lands. Since FIFI was started in 2014, 24 projects across the state have been completed So far its been a good program, said Roger Ziesak, grant manager and forest practices specialist with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Were getting some really nice work done all around the state. This project benefits the (prison) ranch and local business. STIMULUS MONEY Sean Steinebach, state forester and project foreman, said that in 2009-10, federal stimulus money was used on the south end of state prison ranch property to jump-start harvest and restoration by picking up beetle-killed timber that was sent to the pulp mill. He and Steve Flynn, with Sun Mountain Lumber, agreed it was expensive because the steep terrain required 800 to 1,000 feet of cable to bring the timber uphill. There was a lot of dead timber lying on the ground, but Im really happy that is cleaned up in case there is a fire, Steinebach said. The $200,000 grant from the state FIFI Fire Suppression Fund and a collaborative effort by DNRC, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Sun Mountain Lumber and Montana Correctional Enterprises made the recently completed commercial forest thinning project possible. The grant was awarded in February 2015 with work starting last summer. Sun Mountain Lumber put in more money than the state; the only grant where more money was contributed by a partner than the grant, Steinebach said. Rich Lane, of Willis Enterprise that operates the Bonner pulp mill, said, This is state money and we want to invest wisely; that has been done here. Recently DNRC representatives, county commissioners, and industry partners toured portions of the completed 470-acre project on the north end of the prison ranch where more than two million board feet of timber was harvested. COMMERCIAL THINNING Sun Mountain Logging did commercial thinning of Douglas fir and lodge pole pine at 30-foot spacing for a natural forest look. The trees left are a variety of sizes and ages intended to reduce the potential for insect infestation and the possibility of a forest fire. It will also force a crown fire to the ground where firefighters can battle it. The work provided 550 loads of saw logs to Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge, 60 loads of pulp logs to the pulp mill in Bonner and 200-300 tons of rails to build a fence along LaMarche Creek. Ziesak said best management practices were used in every aspect of road construction and harvest to ensure minimal soil disturbance, to protect water quality and disturbed areas will be seeded with grass. FWP was concerned about a pure strain of westslope cutthroat trout in LaMarche Creek that was being affected by sediment flowing into the stream from poorly maintained roads after storms. The project included road maintenance to prevent sediment, obliteration of a number of unnecessary roads, realignment of the stream that had blown out its banks in places, and installation of culverts. Now a 2.5-mile fence will be built along both sides of the stream to protect the riparian area, with water gaps installed for the cattle to use. In addition to the logging, sawmill and pulp mill jobs, and watershed restoration, Montana Correctional Enterprises received money from the timber sale that Ross Wagner, MSP ranch manager, said will be used for vocational training of inmates. Also, DNRC trust land on the south end made money for the school trust fund. This project could not have been done if the sawmill were not here, Steinebach said. MISSOULA There they were, a bunch of guys from Montana in mismatched suits, holding a trophy among heavyweights in the news and documentary world. Butte three-dimensional animation artist Wesley Meeks was one of a team of designers that won an Emmy at the News and Documentary Awards at a ceremony last week in New York City. The group won the Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction award for its work on "Valley Uprising," a documentary about the history of the boundary-pushing rock-climbing scene in Yosemite that aired on the Discovery Channel. "It was quite surprising. We were up against HBO, POV, NOVA/PBS, all these other fantastic graphic artists, and so it was definitely an honor," team leader Barry Thompson of Missoula said in a phone interview from New York. Meeks and Thompson, an independent motion designer, share the honor with three others from Missoula: Assistant motion designer Sari Jones; assistant motion designer Greg Twigg, a media arts professor at the University of Montana; and Eric Bucy, a motion designer. Also on the team were two out-of-state members, Mark Palkoski of New York and Marty Blumen of New Zealand. Meeks, 27, is a 2007 Butte High School graduate and the son of Elizabeth Wing Spooner of Butte. The documentary was directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen of Sender Films and produced by Big Up Productions. Thompson worked with that team on other projects, and they recruited him to help with a unique problem: The Yosemite climbing scene wasn't well documented on film, particularly in the high-altitude scenes that viewers expect of a climbing movie. Thompson and company used historical photographs to create fly-through animations of the still images of death-defying climbs to help create drama. While the effects are quite complicated, Thompson compared it to creating a pop-up book that a virtual camera can move through to "film" a scene. The effects took years to complete, a span of behind-the-scenes labor that was awarded with the Emmy. Thompson, Twigg, Meeks and Polkoski attended the ceremony, held at Frederick P. Rose Hall in Jazz at Lincoln Center. While they were hesitant to expect a win, on Tuesday night, Twigg, Thompson, and Thompson's wife Melissa wrote down some notes for an acceptance speech, just in case. As presenter George Stephanopoulos listed off the nominees, Twigg handed his cell phone to another person at his table. "In the event we win, could you take some pictures?" he asked her before Stephanopoulos announced their win and Twigg headed to the stage, an experience he described as "euphoric." He said it was an honor just to be nominated Thompson pulled his team together from various places, and they weren't even a fully fledged design shop. The Emmy is also a win for UM. Five of the team members, Twigg, Thompson, Meeks, Jones, and Bucy, are graduates of the School of Media Arts. "It's a great representation for us," Twigg said. As a final thought, Twigg added that "the trophy is beautiful, it's heavy, and it feels like a million dollars." After the ceremony, they carried it to the hotel inside "a box inside of a pharmacy bag to hide it." In the Butte Superfund cleanup, the longest-running Kabuki production this side of the Pacific, what appears to be rational is routinely dismissed as fantasy, and what appears to be real is frequently revealed to be chimera. Onto this well-trodden stage about this same time last year came Gov. Steve Bullock, who decided to cut through the drama and take simple action. The state would not wait for EPA and ARCO to hem and haw and trade favors in secret negotiations even as they held their masks and recited their tired lines onstage. He would not wait to see if they ultimately reconsidered their scientifically indefensible position that the Parrot tailings pose no threat to groundwater or to Silver Bow Creek. The tailings, he said, should come out, and he instructed the Natural Resource Damage Program to get dirt moving by summer 2016. Necessary? Absolutely. Refreshing? Certainly. But anybody who thought that was the end of the Parrot tailings controversy seriously underestimated the actors behind the masks, who prefer to do their real work well outside the sightlines of the suckers in the seats, also known as Buttes citizens. After letting Bullock simmer for months in the bureaucratic soup of county-shop location issues, and realizing he had election-related time constraints as well as cash constraints posed by the relative peanuts left to Butte after so much more has been spent elsewhere, ARCO finally saw its opportunity: Its approval was needed to forward the states plan to dump the contaminated tailings near the Berkeley Pit. Every other option had been exhausted. The governor needed ARCOs help to accomplish what the company had long insisted did not need to be done. The result, so far, has been predictable. The approval has not been forthcoming. We should make no mistake about who is responsible for that. And we applaud Bullock for sticking to his guns and refusing to negotiate a Butte Priority Soils consent decree until ARCO relents. Meanwhile, EPA has released its 5-year review of the area-wide cleanup. Its a year late, but its contents are depressingly familiar. Once again, the EPA concludes, there is no evidence to indicate the waste-in-place remedy is not the right solution for the upper Silver Bow Creek watershed. That assertion, given the research that has been done by various agencies over the past five years and what it shows, is stunning. A draft summary of the review does note, however, that there is a fair amount of concern in the community regarding remedy at Butte Priority Soils. You could say that. As The Montana Standard has surveyed this landscape over the past year and a half, we have repeatedly raised the issue of transparency. How, exactly, are the actions of local, state and federal government representatives to determine a plan for Buttes future not the peoples business? Some of the consent-decree negotiators have promised to take various steps toward transparency. Certainly, some of those promises have been well-intentioned. But none of them have assuaged that concern in the community that EPA so correctly identifies. The EPA has given us dire warnings of what may transpire if The Montana Standard and the Silver Bow Creek Headwaters Coalition are successful in our legal effort, launched last week, to open up those negotiations to the public. Most or all of the parties would refuse to negotiate if confidentiality could not be assured, the agency told us. But both Bullock and Butte-Silver Bow Chief Executive Matt Vincent have said that while they will abide by a judges decision, they would welcome true transparency in the negotiations. Around the country, the EPA routinely seeks confidentiality for such negotiations, although there is no law or federal regulation demanding it. But whatever is done elsewhere, we believe Butte to be a special circumstance. We all know this is the largest Superfund site in the nation. We all know this Superfund litigation spans nearly two decades. And we all know what should be done. Its no secret, even if the talks are secret. Butte deserves a cleanup and a restoration second to none. It deserves a clean waterway flowing through a restored environment, and a storm water solution that wont unfairly burden local taxpayers. And it deserves a real, practicable, and paid-for remedy to the Berkeley Pit. For fourteen years, secret talks have not produced what Butte deserves. Lets try bringing the citizens into the room, and holding both those responsible for the pollution and our public agencies accountable in real time. Weve been hearing the lines recited behind the masks for too long. http://www.wbur.org/news/2016/09/20/mass-high-court-black-men-may-have-legitimate-reason-to-flee-police Mass. High Court Says Black Men May Have Legitimate Reason To Flee Police Black men who try to avoid an encounter with Boston police by fleeing may have a legitimate reason to do so and should not be deemed suspicious according to a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Citing Boston police data and a 2014 report by the ACLU of Massachusetts that found blacks were disproportionately stopped by the city's police, the states highest court on Tuesday threw out the gun conviction of Jimmy Warren. Warren was arrested on Dec. 18, 2011, by police who were investigating a break-in in Roxbury. Police had been given a description of the suspects as three black men one wearing a red hoodie, one wearing a black hoodie and the other wearing dark clothing. An officer later spotted Warren and another man (both wearing dark clothing) walking near a park. When the officer approached the men, they ran. Warren was later arrested and searched. No contraband was found on him, but police recovered an unlicensed .22 caliber firearm in a nearby yard. Warren was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and later convicted. In its ruling, the court made two major findings: The justices said police didnt have the right to stop Warren in the first place, and the fact that he ran away shouldnt be used against him. On the first point, the court said the description of the break-in suspects clothing was vague, making it impossible for police to reasonably and rationally target Warren or any other black man wearing dark clothing as a suspect. The court said the ubiquitous clothing description and the officers "hunch" wasnt enough to justify the stop. "Lacking any information about facial features, hairstyles, skin tone, height, weight, or other physical characteristics, the victim's description 'contribute[d] nothing to the officers' ability to distinguish the defendant from any other black male' wearing dark clothes and a 'hoodie' in Roxbury." On the second point, the court noted that state law gives individuals the right to not speak to police and even walk away if they arent charged with anything. The court said when an individual does flee, the action doesn't necessarily mean the person is guilty. And when it comes to black men, the BPD and ACLU reports documenting a pattern of racial profiling of black males in the city of Boston must be taken into consideration, the court said. "We do not eliminate flight as a factor in the reasonable suspicion analysis whenever a black male is the subject of an investigatory stop. However, in such circumstances, flight is not necessarily probative of a suspect's state of mind or consciousness of guilt. Rather, the finding that black males in Boston are disproportionately and repeatedly targeted for FIO [Field Interrogation and Observation] encounters suggests a reason for flight totally unrelated to consciousness of guilt. Such an individual, when approached by the police, might just as easily be motivated by the desire to avoid the recurring indignity of being racially profiled as by the desire to hide criminal activity. Given this reality for black males in the city of Boston, a judge should, in appropriate cases, consider the report's findings in weighing flight as a factor in the reasonable suspicion calculus." The SJC concluded that police lacked reasonable suspicion for an investigatory stop in this case. Matthew Segal, the legal director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, called the decision "a powerful ruling" that demonstrates what role courts can play in addressing community concerns about policing. "The states highest court, in talking about people of color, its saying that their lives matter and under the law, their views matter," Segal said. "The reason thats significant is that all the time in police-civilian encounters there are disputes about what is suspicious and what is not suspicious. So this is an opinion that looks at those encounters through the eyes of a black man who might justifiably be concerned that he will be the victim of profiling." The ACLU's report found that between 2007 and 2010, 63 percent of Boston police encounters were with blacks, though at that time the city's black population was just 24 percent. Notably, the report said that taking into account high-crime neighborhoods did not explain the disparity. Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans blasted the SJC ruling and said he was "troubled" the court cited the ACLU report, which he called "heavily tainted against the police department." "I think they relied heavily on an ACLU report that I think was clearly way out of context," Evans told reporters Tuesday. "Im a little disappointed that they relied heavily on a report that didnt take into context who was stopped and why. That report clearly shows that we were targeting the individuals that were driving violence in the city and the hot spots." The SJC ruling also cited the Boston Police Department's own analysis, which found blacks were 8 percent more likely to be stopped repeatedly and 12 percent more likely to be searched and frisked even when controlling for factors like criminal history, gang affiliation and violent crime areas. Evans said the department's report found there was no indication of bias. The department's report did outline steps to ensure fair stops, including increased training on racial profiling and unconscious bias. The SJC ruling comes a week after the launch of a long-awaited police body camera pilot program in Boston -- a program many, including Segal, see as a positive step toward police accountability and transparency. Body cameras have been part of a larger national conversation on policing since the 2014 fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and other high-profile police shootings of unarmed black men across the country. WBUR's Delores Handy contributed reporting. We are teachers from all across Montana who have one thing in common: Weve been given Montanas highest teaching award for providing the kids in our classrooms with educational experiences that open doors for them to college, to careers, to citizenship, and above all to healthy and happy lives. We believe that opening those doors was what the framers of our constitution envisioned when they said that the goal of public education in Montana is to develop the full educational potential of each person. Were grateful for the efforts of Montanas citizens and public servants to ensure that our public schools are excellent environments for teaching and learning. Were especially grateful for the efforts of Gov. Steve Bullock in the past four years. He secured record levels of funding for Montanas elementary, middle and high schools. He doubled the funding for the Montana Digital Academy, bringing talents and subjects that were once confined to one classroom to students throughout Montana. Recognizing that online classes mean nothing without high-speed internet access, he partnered with EducationSuperHighway to improve schools internet connectivity. BETTER BREAKFAST Bullock has demonstrated a commitment to creating an education pipeline that ensures that all Montana kids enter school on a level playing field, receive the help they need to succeed along the way, and leave it ready for the next step. In his first term, he expanded preschool education in communities across the state and doubled the number of childcare providers in the STARS to Quality program. Knowing that hungry children have trouble learning, he improved access to breakfast programs for more than 40,000 public school students. He bolstered investment in college and career readiness programs so that students plan appropriately for a successful future. To ensure that schools are welcoming places, he signed the first-ever Montana anti-bullying bill into law. Hes promoted running start programs that allow kids to gain college credit or career certifications at a greatly reduced cost while theyre still in high school. Participation in these dual enrollment programs has doubled during his term. Thanks to Bullock and Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau and their ability to work with educators, business and community leaders, high school graduation rates are now at historic highs. TUITION FREEZE Bullocks vision for an education pipeline goes far beyond high school. Understanding that for many students, the cost of college has been an obstacle, he has frozen tuition at Montanas college and universities, making Montana No. 1 in the nation for affordable college tuition. Hes created the first-ever STEM scholarships in Montana, offsetting college costs for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And hes championed a major investment in research, broadening the educational opportunities available to college students while diversifying Montanas economy. In short, Bullock has not only given us more resources to open doors for Montana students, hes created more doors to be opened. He went to public schools and his kids go to public schools, so he has both the history and the vision to protect and enhance what he rightly calls Montanas great equalizer: public education. The same cannot be said of his opponent. Bullock has a record of achievement that is sure to grow even longer in his second term. We urge you to join us in voting to re-elect Bullock. -- Sen. Mary Sheehy Moe, D-Great Falls, has been honored as Montana Teacher of the Year. She collaborated on this guest opinion with these other Teachers of the Year: Eileen Sheehy, Jessica Anderson, Craig Beals, Anna Baldwin, Anne Keith, Steve Gardiner, Gary Carmichael, Jon Runnalls, Terry Beaver, Patty Myers and Hal Stearns Gov. Steve Bullock and his Republican challenger Greg Gianforte are both campaigning on promises to improve the states public schools, but their visions of what needs to change and how to make it happen differ greatly. Itll be in line with what he has done over the last three and a half years, which has been to ensure that all students have access to a great public education wherever they are in the state, Bullocks education advisor Siri Smillie said. Ensuring that students are prepared for college or career starts before students enter kindergarten, with preschool. Many of Bullocks proposals, including a plan for voluntary, public preschool, are revived versions of initiatives that failed to pass the Legislature in the 2015 session. Bullock, who has the support of school unions, also includes school facilities in his infrastructure spending plan. He wants to further expand dual enrollment opportunities and touts recent funding increases for districts. Gianfortes proposals focus on doubling down on the use of technology in the classroom as well as reducing burdensome regulations, a theme carried throughout many aspects of his campaign. Education has been an extremely important area for me in most of my nonprofit work over the last 15 years, Gianforte said. I favor giving parents more options in education. Gianforte has suggested expanding the use of digital content delivery, adding computer science courses to more schools, and revamping reporting requirements as part of a proposal to spend more money in the classroom rather than on administration or support services. In the past, he has supported school-choice efforts through his nonprofit board memberships. As the state reports declining revenues, it is unclear how Bullock might fund some of his education proposals, which likely will face opposition from conservatives looking to fend off spending increases. Gianforte has said increases might not be needed to improve outcomes, suggesting that the current funding levels just need to be focused differently. He also said that spending on school facilities likely will have to wait until the states revenue collections improve. Education traditionally tends to be an advantage for Democrats, said Carroll College political scientist Jeremy Johnson. In the gubernatorial race, this is most evident from the endorsement of Bullock by MEA-MFT, the schools union group. We really like Steve Bullock. We think hes done well by us, President Eric Feaver said, noting that the Democrat has supported school funding increases, expanded state spending on continued education for teachers, and expanded the Montana Digital Academy that supplements courses already offered at schools statewide. There are still some things left undone. Infrastructure, obviously. Montana ranks near the bottom nationally for the state's share of funding for school construction and repair, according to U.S. Census figures on government finance. A 2008 state inventory tallied $360 million in needed repairs, a number that education advocates say has likely grown because the state has only spent a few million dollars a year on the problem. That figure does not include the cost of new construction to manage district growth. Bullocks infrastructure proposal, Build Montana, includes school facilities on the list of priorities along with water and sewer improvements. He introduced a similar plan two years ago that did not advance out of committee. He fought for schools to be included in other bills, but the 2015 Legislature ultimately failed by one vote to approve any major infrastructure funding and did not pass measures to fund the Quality Schools Grant Program, effectively killing it and shifting the burden to local taxpayers. Gianforte, by contrast, has not included schools in his infrastructure proposal. He has said he is open to discussing ideas but is skeptical that the state will have enough revenue to fund school projects given declining receipts from oil, gas, and agriculture. The best way to fund education long-term is to have a strong private sector so we have a tax base that can pay for education, he said. The State of Montana spent about $6,000 per student in the 2014 academic year while districts collected another $5,000 from local taxes and federal officials funded about $1,000 per student, according to the most recent year of school finance data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. That puts Montana squarely in the middle of state rankings for per-student funding. According to the same data, the state also ranks 21st in the nation for the percentage of all spending that went toward the salaries and benefits of instructional staff, 60 percent compared with a high of 69 percent in New York and low of 54 percent in Oklahoma. However, Montanas starting teacher salaries, about $28,500, are the lowest in the nation and a little over half that of neighboring states. Gianforte said he would advocate for less federal overreach and seek ways to loosen state requirements that tie the hands of local school boards and potentially increase spending outside the classroom. We developed this inspect-and-report mentality that is consuming resources, he said. Were measuring the wrong things, too many things, or too often. That needs to change. Thats more of a cultural issue that we can fix with new leadership. Gianforte has centered his education platform around technology. He proposes adding computer science courses to every high school and allowing coding courses to count toward foreign language requirements. A group of language teachers has opposed that second proposal, noting that such graduation rules are set at the local level and not part of state requirements. Gianforte also has called for an expansion of the Montana Digital Academy, which offers online courses to students in schools that do not offer those remedial or advanced courses. Citing a program in Darby as an example of technology innovating instruction, he suggested that schools could use online instruction to increase offerings and personalize the learning plans of students. Historically, weve had a teacher who is the primary deliverer of content and reviewer of performance, he said, noting that Darbys model is similar in philosophy to the self-guided education nonprofit Khan Academy. This changes the role of the teacher slightly, and change is always hard. Im not saying its right for every school, but we ought to make these tools available and then let local school boards decide whether to adopt them. When the states digital academy was first founded, many teachers were nervous that it was a move toward replacing them in classrooms. Today, some see Gianfortes proposal to significantly expand the academy as evidence of an agenda to privatize education. Greg Gianforte is an existential danger to public schools in this state, Feaver said. The union president highlighted several instances from Gianfortes philanthropic work that he said run counter to advocating for quality public education. He said Gianfortes contribution to a creationism museum in Glendive is evidence that he might tamper with science standards in schools and said that his previous support of bills that would direct some public funding to help parents pay for private school could undercut funding for public schools. Feaver focused on Gianfortes support for a program that offers a tax credit for people who donate to scholarship programs for private schools. The law, passed in 2015, has been challenged in court because it indirectly reroutes tax dollars to religious schools in potential violation of the state constitution. He also noted that Gianforte serves on the boards of Petra Academy, a Christian private school in Bozeman, and ACE Scholarships, two groups that could benefit from the states new scholarship tax credit program. This is self-interest of the lowest sort, Feaver said. Gianforte has defended his work with education nonprofits as proof that he is committed to seeing every child reach their full potential and said that supporting private school options is not the same as opposing public schools. My opponent wants to condemn my Christian faith, he said in March when asked about his work at Petra and for other nonprofits that work to advocate for private schools, particularly those that are faith-based. I believe that parents should have more say in how their kids are educated. Republicans have called the critiques of Gianfortes school choice record hypocritical given that Bullock earlier this year celebrated the Board of Educations approval of the states first two charter schools, which receive state funding but have flexibility on some state rules to implement alternative education models. Bullock, in turn, has previously pointed to those programs as evidence of his support for local control. How much the education proposals of Bullock and Gianforte will influence voters remains to be seen, said Johnson, the political scientist. I dont see Donald Trump talking about education nearly as much compared to other Republicans in recent years. Bush tried to talk about it, he said, looking at the broader topics driving campaigns nationwide. I dont think the electorate is at a place right now where this is as essential to the political discourse as it was in previous cycles. Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published an amendment to its invitation to apply for high-demand frequency spectrum. This follows an amendment published over a week ago which postponed the closing date for applications by 30 days. In its latest amendment, which was published on 23 September, ICASA has changed the timeframes of the process again, and relaxed its BEE requirements. Where companies previously had to have 30% equity ownership held by people from historically disadvantaged groups, they may now also apply if they are a level 4 or greater BBBEE contributor. It also clarified that operators would not be held to the roll-out obligations set out in the invitation to apply (ITA) if they dont have access to 100% of the spectrum they paid for. Under the terms of the ITA, operators who get spectrum must cover 100% of South Africas population with 30Mbps download and 15Mbps upload speeds by 2020. However, some of the spectrum that is set to be part of the auction is still being used for analogue television broadcast services. If South Africa does not complete its migration from analogue to digital TV broadcasting by the time the spectrum licenses from this ITA are issued, ICASA said it will defer the 2020 roll-out requirement. ICASA also clarified that the R3 million application fee for the spectrum auction is refundable in the event that a court sets aside the ITA. The new timelines set out in the amendment are summarised in the table below. ICASA Invitation Schedule Task Start Finish Application date 3 February 2017 3 February 2017 Publication of list of applicants 16 February 2017 16 February 2017 Submission of queries/clarifications to Applicants regarding their Applications 16 February 2017 20 February 2017 Announcement of Applicants qualified as Bidders 3 April 2017 3 April 2017 Bidder seminar and mock auction 10 April 2017 13 April 2017 Auction 3 May 2017 12 May 2017 Announcement of auction result 19 May 2017 26 May 2017 Payment of auction fee 29 May 2017 30 May 2017 Issuing of the Licenses 3 June 2017 28 June 2017 More in ICASA Expiring mobile data bundles prejudice consumers: ICASA ICASA stands ground on spectrum auction, extends deadline ICASA spectrum fight, the courts must decide: Minister When the worlds first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, was launched on October 4, 1957, it heralded the need for legal regulation of the exploration and use of outer space. Since then international law has been developed to facilitate the use of technologies such as satellite telecommunications, global positioning systems, remote sensing technology for weather forecasting and disaster management, and television broadcast from satellites. In this regard, space law has played a positive role by allowing for and not unduly restricting the development of space-related technology. At the same time, the existing legal regime has not prevented the development of military technology capable of utilising outer space. There are some restrictions, but these were specified in the space law treaties in relatively general terms and were open to interpretation as to what they did (and did not) prohibit. This is not entirely surprising. The development of space-related technology was inextricably related to military strength, both in reality and to influence the perception of others. Cold War tensions It is no coincidence that the space race emerged at the height of the Cold War when both the United States and the Soviet Union strove to flex their technological muscles. The early stages of human space activity coincided with a period of quite considerable tension. The possibility of large scale and potentially highly destructive military conflict between the (space) superpowers always lurked in the background. The successful launch of Sputnik generated unease in the western world because the technology used was similar to that for ballistic missiles. It was crucial that efforts were made by the international community to regulate this new frontier in order to avoid a build-up of weapons and armed conflict in space. The obligations and restrictions were eventually agreed and codified in five major United Nations space treaties. They addressed, in part, some specific military and weapons-related aspects of space activities. Every year since the early 1980s, the United Nations (UN) has passed a resolution on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space. But these initiatives were neither entirely clear nor sufficiently comprehensive to meet all of these challenges. The deployment of weapons of mass destruction in Earths orbit was banned but this did not extend to other weapons or military systems. Outer space for peaceful purposes As far back as 1967, the UN recognised the common interest of all mankind in the progress of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. It also declared that the moon and celestial bodies must be explored and used exclusively for peaceful purposes. Most space law scholars would interpret this as prohibiting military activities in outer space. But this was not followed by those who actually had space capability. It is now clear that space has been used for military activities almost from the start of the space age. Some of this may be termed passive military activities in outer space. This includes the provision of supporting communications, imaging and location assistance through satellite technology. But many countries are now increasingly using space technology as part of active engagement in the conduct of armed conflict on land, at sea and in the air in the terrestrial context. The use of GPS-satellite guided missiles is now common-place in modern conflicts. Even more worrying, recent trends in technological development have underlined that serious threats to global security exist in this final frontier. This is due to the strategic value of outer space and the dependence of militaries on space assets for their operations. All major space powers are working to develop space-based weapons systems and many now suggest that a war in space is inevitable. No peace deal, yet The law of armed conflict is a major source of restraint regarding military operations on Earth. But there is barely any reference to outer space in many of the treaties that codify that body of law. Efforts to broker international agreement to stem the weaponisation of outer space, or agree on rules to safeguard space sustainability and security, have so far stalled. An agreed statement and clarification of the limitations international law places on the military use of outer space is now an urgent priority. In this regard, a group of more than 40 international experts are about to embark on a three-year research project that will culminate in a Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (MILAMOS). The group will include ourselves and other lawyers, scientists, diplomats, military personnel and technicians, all working in their personal capacity. The vision of the MILAMOS Project is to ensure space activities are conducted in accordance with the rule of law. This will involve a consideration of the existing international rules on outer space. It will also involve integration with international humanitarian law and the rules prohibiting the use of force. The drafting of the rules will involve many meetings, heated discussions and compromises. It is envisaged that at the end of the project the applicable rules will be agreed on the basis of consensus. The MILAMOS Project is not an effort to condone warfare in outer space. On the contrary, it seeks to prevent armed conflict and minimise the devastating impact that space technology and military operations may have on the long-term and peaceful use of outer space. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. More gaming news The game thats been in Early Access for over eight years Raspberry Pi Official Starter Kit South African pricing revealed 5 games that are flying under everyones radar My first post about the Lottery dream list covered a modest wish for a car that recently sold for about $14 million but only cost $6000 in 1963. & Here is the link to that article. I am not a greedy person, so I offer this next item on my dream list. This is actually well within my reach right now without a big lottery win. The dream artifact from the past is the old Wooden Chris Craft boats. I don't know where I got my love for the beautiful wooden boats but it has been on my dream list for a long time. Back in the 1970's one of my customers had a yearly vendor meeting on Lake Rabun in north Georgia. They would pick us up at the boat house and take us to the cabin. Lake Rabun is known as the home of probably the most numerous and collectible Chris Craft and wooden boats. It is a realtively small lake that meanders throught the mountains and hills. There is only one boat house on the lake. I think it is currently called Rabun County Boat house but was originally Halls Boat house and that is what all the locals still call it.. My memory of the vendor weekends always causes a flashback of the great looking boats on the lake. Here is a link to Hall's boathouse with more Wood Boats I think this is the same boat that they used to take us to the customer cabin. I vaguely remember an Uncle who had an old Chris Craft and I think there is where I got my love for the shiny sleek lines. The sound of the inboard was also a big thrill. I have also had a long subjugated love for wood wood working ever since I made my first sloppy book ends in Bass High School shop class. I had no talent nor paitence in wood working skills then or now. I have worked on paitence most of my life to no avail. Some of these boats range in cost from $15K and up, which does not require a lottery win. However, buying one would kill the dream, and the dream is what is most important and not really the boat. I have joined the Facebook page just to see the posting of these old wooden boats. Chris Craft on Facebook Link Like most dreams, it may be nothing more than a wish for simpler times, when I at least thought that the beauty of craftsmanship was just as important as portfolio full of stocks. It may also be a yearning for simple times that never existed except in a young boys mind. I used to wonder why old people always live in the past, but not anymore. You have got to admit, these things are beautiful even if they are expensive to maintain and operate. Here are some pictures from various websites. Advertise Here Be seen advertise here. Contact us. Grimsley Author Jim Grimsley will meet with East Carolina University students and read from his best-selling memoir, "How I Learned to Shed My Skin," on Sept. 22.Grimsley will speak about his personal experiences growing up during segregation in Jones County at 3:15 p.m. in Mendenhall Student Center's Great Rooms. At 8 p.m., he will read from his memoir at the Greenville Museum of Art, 802 Evans St.Grimsley also will announce the winner of the North Carolina Literary Review's Alex Albright Creative Nonfiction Prize at the Greenville Museum of Art. The winner will receive $250 and their essay will be published in the North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR) in 2017. The prize is named for the publication's founding editor and funded by the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association.Both events are free and open to the public and are part of a series of events celebrating the 25th issue of the annual NCLR. Sponsors include ECU's English and creative writing departments, the NCLR and Greenville Museum of Art.Grimsley, who is white, combines the story of how Jones County schools were integrated, first by a "Freedom of Choice" desegregation plan and then by federal mandate, with his personal account of how he learned to be a racist while growing up there - and then unlearned those lessons. Black classmates brought into a whites-only school system by integration taught him how to "shed" his racism.Since 1999, Grimsley has been senior writer in residence at Emory University in Atlanta and is one of 50 active fellows in the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He has won numerous awards and prizes for his writing, including the 2005 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Writers Award, the Lambda Literary Award for Fiction, the Asimov Readers' Award, the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction, and the Bryan Prize for Drama. He has been named Georgia Author of the Year twice.Grimsley has been an active supporter of the eastern North Carolina literary scene as a participant in the annual literary homecomings that were hosted by ECU for a decade and as a frequent contributor to NCLR. He did most of his background research for "How I Shed My Skin" at ECU's Joyner Library and was featured at a Greenville Museum of Art reading last December.Grimsley's books and the NCLR will be available for purchase at the GMA reading. For more information, contact Alex Albright at 252-328-4876 or the Greenville Museum of Art at 252-758-1946. CALISTOGA When he first was seen by two sisters, the 20-something-year-old Quarter horse was emaciated, his ribs so pronounced it seemed as if they were barely holding his hide, and open wounds on his back gushed blood. Now in his forever home with Sunrise Horse Rescue, scars mark the areas where the worst wounds were, but hes continuing to heal and put on weight. Its very surreal to have him here, said Michelle Grinnell of the horse now named Pace. Hes getting wonderful attention and care and I get to see him. Grinnell, who lives in Napa, and her sister Katie Migliavacca of San Francisco are largely responsible for rescuing the horse from the abusive and cruel circumstances in which they found him. They were on a trip to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon in April when they encountered several horses, including the one that is now at Sunrise,that were being used to transport tourists gear including items such as heavy ice chests, backpacks and camping equipment on the eight- to 10-mile trek in the Grand Canyon. The sisters, who were carrying their own backpacks and not using a pack horse, were startled, Migliavacca said, when they saw the physical condition of the animals. They were even more disturbed to later see the animals beaten and whipped. They saw Pace tied up for two days with no food or water. He wasnt even given the basics, Grinnell said. They couldnt shake the image, or the knowledge that these horses and mules, which are also used as pack animals were being abused. A couple of days after they returned from their Arizona trip, the sisters got to work trying to rescue the horses and mules, and draw attention to what they have now learned may be a decades-old problem. Grinnell and Migliavacca got busy using social media to report what theyd seen and reached out to any animal advocate group or governing agency they could think of that might be able to intervene. They were finally successful in getting the Bureau of Indian Affairs involved. Two agents walked Pace out of the canyon on June 6, they said. It was then that he got his name. One of the agents told them that the horse had one pace, and it was very, very slow, Grinnell said. And the name stuck. Pace was taken to Coconino Humane Society in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he was nursed back to a healthy enough status so he could be transported to Sunrise, where the sisters are volunteers, and where the rescue group agreed to take in and keep Pace. He arrived at Sunrise on Tubbs Lane, where Sundance Ranch and Tamber Bey Vineyards are located, on Sept. 3. Lisa OConnor, founding member of Sunrise, said Pace is adjusting well to his new surroundings. They include a large shaded area, fresh water and food, and on one particular day, lots of sliced apples, something with which Pace had been unfamiliar. When he was first rescued and staying at Coconino Humane Society, Grinnell said Pace didnt know what to do with treats. We gave him an apple and he spit it out, she said. Pace is happy to take apple slices from everyone at Sunrise now, and considering what he has been through, he is doing very well, said Jeff Hoelsken, executive director of Sunrise. The vet noted that he needs some dental work, and we will continue to monitor his weight and nutrition, which is very important after a horse has been through such extreme starvation. His sores have been healing nicely but we are continuing to treat with some ointments and a medicated shampoo. In general, he is in good health and he continues to improve, which is a credit to the people and organizations that first rescued him and began his re-feeding and wound care protocols, Hoelsken said. Its amazing to me he can learn to trust, Grinnell said. As great as it is that Pace is in a safe place where he will be cared for the rest of his natural life, Grinnell, Migliavacca, OConnor, Hoelsken, and others in the Sunrise Horse Rescue group said this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many others that are in need of rescuing, but the issue is layers deep involving a Native American sovereign nation, government bureaucracy, and tourists who are booking trips to the falls through third-party operators and unknowingly supporting wranglers who own, and abuse or neglect, the horses, mules and donkeys that carry their belongings up and down the canyon trails. To learn more or support Sunrise in its rescue efforts, go to SunriseHorseRescue.org. For more information about how to put a stop to the abuse of pack animals go to SAVE (Stop Animal ViolencE Foundation). Kenzo Estate east of Napa on the slopes of Mount George has won county permission to bump up wine production and triple weekly visitation during the peak tourist season, despite questions about traffic. The winery at 3200 Monticello Road, also known as Highway 121, links the city of Napa and Lake Berryessa. People driving the two-lane road climb far above Napa Valley as they head east to the top of a ridge near Kenzo Estate. On Wednesday, the Napa County Planning Commission heard several regular users of Highway 121 expressed concern about more visitors leaving and entering the road to visit Kenzo Estate. Traffic studies didnt completely ease their minds. The studies are all well and good, Circle Oaks resident Lisa Hirayama said. But unless youve lived it, you cant know what the traffic is like. Commissioners considered whether Kenzo Estate needs to add a left-turn lane to Highway 121, as required by county road standards, but not state Department of Transportation safety standards. They decided against the idea. County Deputy Public Works Director Rick Marshall said adding a left-turn lane would mean doing significant grading and removing 50 oaks. Most people visiting the winery will be coming from Napa and wont have to make a left turn to reach it, he said. Commissioner Heather Phillips was more concerned about people leaving the winery and turning left across Highway 121 to head back to Napa. Marshall said the breaks in traffic are big enough. Ive traveled that road many times, Commissioner Terry Scott said. Coming from the west up to Kenzo, it is somewhat hidden to the right. Commissioners want Kenzo Estate to add signs to let drivers know they are approaching the winery. But, given this is a state highway, Caltrans has the final say. I would urge caution in making this a condition they possibly cant satisfy, Marshall said. Attorney Tom Adams, speaking on behalf of Kenzo Estate, said the winery will try to add the signs. Adams also told the Kenzo Estate story. Kenzo Tsujimoto became interested in Napa County after the 1976 Judgement of Paris wine tasting competition launched Napa to international fame. In 1990, the founder of a Japanese video game company bought 3,800 acres on the slopes of Mount George and stretching eastward toward Wooden Valley Road. Its a beautiful site. Its pretty isolated, Adams said. Tsujimoto planted his first vineyards in 1998, had viticulturist David Abreu replant them a few years later and produced the first Kenzo Estate vintage in 2005 under winemaker Heidi Barrett. This is an iconic, historic property and one of the largest landholdings in Napa County, Planning Commissioner Michael Basayne said. Kenzo Estate will increase wine production from 85,000 gallons annually to 102,000 gallons annually. Adams said that is the right amount for the 146 acres of vineyards when they are fully producing and the Planning Commission agreed. The winery will increase maximum weekly visitation from 75 people to 250 people from May through October and 150 people from November through April. Adams said many of the winery visitors come from Japan and want the Kenzo Estate experience. It is an important component of what we see today as the industry standard for marketing, Adams said. Third District State Senate candidates Bill Dodd and Mariko Yamada demonstrated their differencesand got in a few jabsas they tackled issues ranging from climate change to family leave at a local candidates forum. Assemblyman Dodd is a Napa native, and former Assemblywoman Yamada is a Davis resident. Both are Democrats who emerged from the June primary to compete in the Nov. 8 election to succeed Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, and represent a district that includes all of Napa County. One question at Tuesdays forum at Napa Valley College dealt with Senate Bill 32, which calls for tougher greenhouse gas reduction targets and was recently signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. Dodd and Yamada sat a few feet away from each other at a desk as they addressed this and other issues. Dodd said he didnt support the original version of the bill because he thought it had problems. Among them, he said, were requirements that would have increased housing affordable costs by $60,000 a unit. However, Dodd said, he talked with the bills author and voted for the revised bill this year that he thought corrected the problems. He called it the strongest climate change legislation in the world. Yamada said she would have voted for the original, stronger climate change bill. She added she is still glad the watered-downmake that oiled-downversion of the bill passed. Climate change is really probably the most important existential issue of our time, Yamada said. We dont have time to wait any longer. The tipping point has been reached. That brought a rejoinder from Dodd during his rebuttal time. Thats just what we dont need in the Legislature, legislators who just vote yes on the issue of the day, Dodd said. You have to read these bills. The texts matter. A similar dynamic played out on a question over paid parental and medical leave for all employees. Dodd said he voiced concerns about an original parental leave bill for small businesses because he didnt think it aligned with federal bills. This year, he said, he supported a bill with clearer language. I think its something thats human, that we need to be doing as small business people anyway, Dodd said. This time, Yamada delivered the jab. She said Dodd was a freshman legislator when he didnt support the bills original version and perhaps just voted the way he felt most comfortable. I dont know if it had something to do with the internal conflict that may have arisen from being a former Republican changing to Democrat, Yamada said. I think there are some values that are very different. The United States has some of the most archaic family leave policies in the world, Yamada said. She would have supported the original family leave bill and, while there is always room for improvements, she sees no evidence that Dodd provided amendments. Dodd talked about his vote against a bill for expanding farmworker overtime. He thought it important the farm industry be worked into the solution. The state needs to work on policies that benefit both the farmer and farmworkers, he said. I just thought it was a jam-job, frankly, hastily put in, Dodd said. Yamada had a different view of the bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. For me, the issue of overtime for farmworkers, in particular, is just a fundamental civil rights issue, Yamada said. I do come from a civil rights background myself. My family was interned during World War II as part of the evacuation after Pearl Harbor. The two found agreement on a question over whether California should abolish the death penalty. Yamada said she thought some crimes are so heinous that the death penalty should be an option. I know thats going to shock some of my closer friends and supporters in this room, Yamada said. She mentioned the 1998 racially motivated murder of James Byrd, who was dragged several miles behind a pickup truck, as an example. But, Yamada said, there needs to be a death penalty moratorium until DNA evidence can be checked for every case. I dont find any fault with what she said there, Dodd said after listening to Yamadas death penalty remarks. One question dealt with whether the candidates would refuse to accept campaign donations from certain corporations. Yamada noted Dodd has a big fundraising lead in the race. She suggested voters consider the influence money has in politics, follow the money in the two campaigns and make their own decision. As to specific corporations, not many of them offer me money, Yamada said to laughter from the audience. Thats not my problem. Records with the Secretary of States office show Dodd from January 2015 through June 2016 raised more than $1.4 million for his campaign. In addition, independent expenditure committeesin essence super-PACsspent $2.7 million in his behalf through April 30. Yamada from January 2015 through June 2016 raised $383,612, with no independent campaign committee dollars. Dodd said he has a clear rule he wont accept money from big oil and big tobacco. But he made no apologies for his large campaign coffers and for the large influx of independent expenditure money. He has history of meeting with people, being open and objective and being honest with them about the way he will vote, either for or against them, Dodd said. I think thats what you want in an elected official, someone who will look at all sides of an issue and make a decision, he said. The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters Napa County and the AAUW Napa Valley College Club. A 3-year-old girl drowned in a backyard swimming pool on the 2000 block of Kathleen Drive, a pocket of unincorporated Napa County, on Saturday afternoon, according to Napa City Fire. Firefighters arrived to the scene to find a bystander performing CPR on the girl shortly after 3:30 p.m., said Capt. Ty Becerra. Becerra said the bystander, who is believed to be a neighbor, said the mother was unaware of where the girl was for a short time, but found her in the swimming pool and immediately pulled her out. The first responders took over working on the child and transported her to Queen of the Valley Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. Thorough reporting by many journalists, at The Washington Post and elsewhere, have uncovered extensive ties between Donald Trump on the one hand and Russia on the other. Trump's own statements make little secret of his personal admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has praised for having "great control over his country." And Trump seemed to have openly solicited Russian hacking of the U.S. election, to the point that critics have accused him of treason. So it may seem surprising to hear Trump suddenly change his tone on Russia this week over an obscure battle on Internet policy. Taking a swipe at Russia's support for Internet censorship, a Trump policy adviser warned Wednesday of giving the Kremlin too much say in how the Internet should be governed. The statement reads like a snub to Putin - that is, until you realize that Trump's own policy would wind up giving the Russian leader precisely what he wants. Let's start with the policy itself. What Trump opposes is the decision by the U.S. government to officially let an international non-profit manage the Internet's domain name system, or the DNS. The DNS is what helps computers understand what you mean when you type in an address like google.com. And this non-profit organization, known as ICANN, has already been managing the DNS for decades. This organization is made up of businesses, public interest groups, and yes, governments like the United States's, China's and Russia's. On paper, the United States is technically still in control; it's simply been contracting out the job to ICANN for the past 20-odd years. But by ceding that symbolic authority to ICANN for the first time, the United States will be handing over its responsibility. To that extent, it's true that foreign regimes will technically see an increase in influence over the Internet. Exactly how much is where people disagree. Opponents of the transition, like Trump, essentially argue that it amounts to a historic crisis. In the words of Trump adviser Stephen Miller on Wednesday: "Internet freedom is now at risk with the President's intent to cede control to international interests, including countries like China and Russia, which have a long track record of trying to impose online censorship. Congress needs to act, or Internet freedom will be lost for good, since there will be no way to make it great again once it is lost." Another leader in making these remarks has been Republican Senator Ted Cruz, Texas, who's been beating this drum for months. This argument is basically wrong, according to some of the Internet's most respected experts. Take Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web in 1989. He calls the argument put forward by Trump and Cruz "misguided." He also adds that the United States can no more "control" ICANN to prevent Russia from meddling with the Internet than Russia can bend ICANN to serve its own ends. "Sen. Cruz's plan to ride to the defense of the Internet on a white horse is based on a fundamental misconception," Berners-Lee wrote in a recent op-ed for The Post. Although Russia could seek loopholes in the new system, many experts - even some Republican-leaning ones - say the danger is indirect at best. That's because ICANN is explicitly set up to prevent any one stakeholder from having too much say. For example, governments can only give advice to ICANN's decision-making board, and then only as a committee. Assuming the governments all agreed on a course of action - which would be unlikely if, say, Russia and the United States were at odds over some policy - the decision-making board can still vote to reject their recommendation. And if there isn't a consensus? The board doesn't have to take the governmental committee's advice into account at all. Couldn't Russia or China try an end-run and stack the board with its people? It's a possibility, but one that's likely remote, according to the Internet pioneer Vint Cerf. "A great many conditions must be satisfied" before anything like that could occur, Cerf wrote in May. Moreover, even if Russia somehow managed to assert control over ICANN, the non-profit would have little way of directly censoring the Internet, according to Berners-Lee. The DNS is responsible for little more than cataloging the Internet's names and addresses - it doesn't control what you see when you arrive at a website. And governments like Russia's already censor the Internet with few checks on their power, said Berners-Lee; they don't need ICANN's rubber stamp to do so. In short, policy experts are coming out of the woodwork to say that Cruz and Trump are wrong. Their argument earned them three Pinocchios from my colleague Glenn Kessler, who writes The Washington Post's Fact Checker column (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/09/21/cruzs-claim-that-icanns-transition-will-empower-foes-to-censor-the-internet/?tid=a_inl). Beyond its incorrectness, Trump's preferred policy - stopping the transition - would ironically wind up helping Putin rather than undermining him, critics say. "If the U.S. is forced to abort the transition now it would play right into the hands of authoritarian states," according to Milton Mueller, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. "'Look,' they will say, 'the U.S. wants to control the Internet, why can't we?'" If this is how Trump's policy plays in Russia, it could ultimately backfire against U.S. interests in a free and open Internet. (A Trump spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.) As long as the United States retains its "authority" over the Internet DNS - which is mostly symbolic anyway - it risks giving other countries ammunition to claim that they, too, should be allowed to "control" the Internet in ways that suit themselves. Moving forward with the transition, experts say, largely takes that argument off the table. It's Time to Actually Fight the War on Terror It's hard for a nation to win a conflict that it pretends doesn't exist, just like it's hard for a boxer to win a fight half-heartedly. Right now, the United States is a world champion who thinks that holding his hands down at his waist, tossing out the occasional jab and clumsily trotting around the ring is enough to win. Radical Islam, on the other hand, is a pesky fighter without much skill. However, a willingness to commit suicide if it means damaging the "crusader coalition" makes radical Islam dangerous, even to a nation as powerful as the United States. The American people had several more tastes of terror this past weekend. In Minnesota, twenty two year old Dahir Adan stabbed nine innocent civilians in a shopping mall. ISIS soon after reported that the young man was a "soldier" for their cause, taking responsibility for the attack. Thankfully, Adan was killed by an armed off-duty police officer before he could hurt anyone else. In Manhattan, a pipe bomb set by Afghan American Ahmad Khan Rahami injured twenty nine and was found to be in connection with several other planted bombs, including one that went off at a Veteran's 5k race in New Jersey. After a fierce shootout with police, Rahami was taken into custody. What makes this attack most frightening is the lingering uncertainty about whether or not he was working alone, leaving open the possibility that there is an active terror cell in the United States. To be fair, we shouldn't forget that the battle against terror is a difficult one to fight, particularly at home. Walking the line between civil liberty and national security is always contentious, and leaning too far to one side or the other can bring about unintended consequences that no one wants. That concession aside, it must be noted that what we are doing now is pathetic. Both at home and abroad, a combination of rampant political correctness and incompetence in the upper levels of government is throttling any chance we have at legitimately fighting terror. Both Rahami from the New York bombings and Omar Mateen, the perpetrator in the Orlando shooting, were on the FBI terror watch list at some point. We all know what happened with them. The neighbors of the San Bernardino shooters noticed strange behavior but failed to report it because they feared being accused of racial profiling, according to the Daily Mail. Fourteen people died and more were injured at the hands of these terrorists and their greatest aide, P.C. culture. It is about time we face the facts. Despite what President Obama or some wacked out Sociology professor will argue, there is only one active religion on this planet that has people chopping off heads in its name, and it is Islam. I know that there are plenty of peaceful people who practice Islam in some form and I have no interest in any movement that encourages the religious persecution of these types of people. Every American should value the sacred freedom of religion, so long as it is not used as a justification for physically harming another. However, it's time to stop pretending that we can coddle terrorists into changing their mind about the west. The ideology of radical Islam has to be thoroughly annihilated or more innocent people across the globe will die meaningless deaths, including Americans. This means we have to treat the war on terror like an actual war. This means suspending immigration from terror hot-spots in the Middle East and asking for unprecedented vigilance among our Counter-terrorism forces at home. The fear of being labeled a 'racist' or 'xenophobe' needs to stop getting in the way of people reporting suspicious activity and stop preventing effective law enforcement. No more threats can be allowed to slip through like Mateen and Rahami did. Abroad, it means the thorough destruction of the Islamic State through aggressive and decisive military action, starting with a Congressional declaration of war. I will concede that the situation in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, is far from black and white. That, however, is no excuse for inaction and weakness on our part. Whether we like it or not, we live in a unipolar world with only one true superpower. If the United States doesn't act to end this threat, it's hard to imagine anyone will. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] "China is already on Pakistan's side," the Nation said in an editorial. It said greater efforts must be made to make Muslim countries publicly denounce India's policy. It said South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were all on India's side. Iran, it pointed out, had opted for neutrality. "The rest of the world has chosen to look the other way, which could be countered by Pakistan asking for individual support one by one. The US and other global powers have so far chosen not to get involved," it said. India-Pakistan ties have hit a new lot over Kashmir, and especially after the September 18 attack on an army camp in Uri which left 18 soldiers dead. --IANS ruwa/mr ( 156 Words) 2016-09-23-17:34:08 (IANS) Contact: McCrory Communications McCrory Communications govpress@nc.gov Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory provided an update on the state's response to three States of Emergency currently in effect regarding flooding in northeastern North Carolina, civil unrest in Charlotte and the statewide fuel shortage.said Governor McCrory.Governor McCrory provided an update on the state's response to severe flooding in northeastern North Carolina, where 11 counties are under a State of Emergency. Rainfall amounts of eight to 12 inches fell across much of eastern North Carolina, while some communities received more than 17 inches of rain.The state has deployed swift water rescue teams to help people stranded in floodwaters, and have rescued 138 people to date from homes and vehicles, including 61 residents and staff from a nursing home in Windsor. Earlier today the governor met with the Greensboro swift water rescue team that was on the ground yesterday and thanked them for their service.N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson toured Bertie and Chowan counties yesterday to survey the damage. Now that floodwaters have receded in some areas, N.C. DOT crews are working to assess damage to the region's roadways and begin making necessary repairs. Three primary routes remain closed - U.S. 17 Business in Windsor, U.S. 13 north of Windsor and N.C. 45 in Hertford County - along with numerous secondary roads.State environmental officials are continuing to monitor conditions at public water systems, animal operations and water treatment plants. The governor is also monitoring the impact of the storms on the agricultural industry.Governor McCrory also discussed the state's response to support local officials in Charlotte as they continue to maintain peace. Upon the request of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney, the governor deployed North Carolina National Guard troops and State Highway Patrol troopers to help protect infrastructure and control traffic.Their support helped protests remain largely peaceful Thursday night.said Governor McCrory.The National Guard and State Highway Patrol will remain in Charlotte through Sunday to be available to help protect infrastructure and support local law enforcement as needed.Governor McCrory confirmed that the State Bureau of Investigation has initiated an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.The fuel shortage in North Carolina is now in its second week, and fortunately things are looking more optimistic now than they were a week ago. The Wilmington distribution terminal at the port has been operating around the clock at nearly four times the normal production capacity to help offset the shortage.On Tuesday, Governor McCrory announced that the Colonial Pipeline bypass was completed. Delivery amounts are expected to continue to increase in the coming days.The governor thanked North Carolinians for heeding calls to conserve fuel and encouraged people to continue until supplies return to normal. Premier body on cyber security Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has announced the launch of its new chapter in Singapore with an aim to encourage the exchange of information, sharing of knowledge and best practices on cyber Security. The DSCI Singapore chapter among other things would be engaged in building linkages with stakeholders in the government, industry, LEAs and academia, establishing channels of collaborations on policy deliberation, industry development and capacity building on Security Privacy and Cybercrime investigation, building community to bridge cyber security skills gap between India and Singapore amongst others. "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," said High Commissioner Vijay Thakur Singh. "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. I am confident the chapter will act as a catalyst for growth of a strong community in the region to address the evolving cyber challenges," said CEO DSCI, Rama Vedashree. DSCI has created and nurtured a network of over 4000 security and privacy professionals in India in with 12 chapters operating successfully in different cities in India. The chapters are directed by voluntary association of individuals, the Anchor and Co-Anchor are appointed to conduct regular affairs. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Saturday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Pakistan as "brave", saying he had shown "Pakistan a mirror". "He has shown a mirror to the Pakistani people. Before Independence, India and Pakistan were one, but today we can see the difference between India and Pakistan," BJP leader and Minister of Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad told ANI. "Today,Indian IT exports has reached eight lakh crores and Pakistan is just exporting terrorism. Pakistan is the hub of terrorism, which is very unfortunate. And today, I'm proud of our Prime Minister," he added. He said after the Uri attack, the whole nation supports Prime Minister Modi and there will be no compromise with the security of the nation. "Today, Pakistan has been told in strong words that India will not tolerate terrorism," said Prasad. Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "In very clear words, the Prime Minister has told the world that we will not forget our martyrs and if Pakistan wants war, then we are ready for war for the development of our nation." "He also told the people of Pakistan that their leaders are misleading them and it is possible that within a few years the people themselves will stand against these leaders. The Prime Minister has said we are ready for any challenge," added Rathore. Yesterday, while addressing a public rally in Kozhikode, Kerala, the Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, and said the people of Pakistan should ask their leaders that India and Pakistan got freedom in the same year, but India exports software and our country is exporting terrorists. "India has never bowed down in front of terrorism nor will it. Our 18 soldiers sacrificed their lives because of terrorists exported by our neighbouring country. There's anger in the entire country after the Uri attack, and India will never forget this," he said. "I want to tell people of Pakistan that your leaders are misleading you by talking on Kashmir. They can't manage what they have, and they are talking about Kashmir. You can imagine that our neighbour was successful in one incident, and if they would have succeeded in the other 17 times, what would have happened?" Prime Minister Modi added. (ANI) Two high profile delegations from Georgetown University, Washington and E-Government Leadership Centre, National University of Singapore visited Dr. MCR HRD Institute here and had deliberations with Telangana Director General and EO Special Chief Secretary Vinod K Agrawal and his teamof senior functionaries with a view to establish collaborative ties. "In the present-day globalized world, the training establishments are required to adopt a proactive approach in networking with the eminent global players, sharing their experiences, resources, and knowledge, and thereby transforming themselves into learning organizations", Mr Agrawal said. He added that the collaborations will be of great help to trainees in understanding best practices of administration from global perspective. Prof. Imke Baumann, Director, Custom and Open Enrolment Programs at the Georgetown University said the proposed collaboration with Dr. MCR HRD Institute may involve Joint Certification Programs, Faculty Exchange, International Conferences. Mr Ashley Baker, Associate Dean, Mc Donough School of Business stated that the collaboration may be greatly instrumental in addressing the needs of the all the stakeholders of both the institutions. "Collaborating with Dr. MCR HRD Institute is high on our agenda considering its growing stature in India in the domain of training for Government employees", said Mr. Vijay Velamoor, Special Advisor, Executive Education at McDonough School of Business. Senior functionaries at Dr. MCR HRD Institute made power-point presentations on different areas of collaboration between Georgetown University and Dr. MCR HRD Institute, including International Immersion Program, Study Abroad Program, Executive Program on Public Policy, Handholding for Urban Development Programs, On-the-Spot Training Programs, Master's Program on Urban and Regional Planning. Dr Ashok Kumar Seetharaman, Centre Director, E-Government Leadership Centre, National University of Singapore said that the proposed collaboration may include such areas as Capacity Building in the field of E-Governance, International Events on Smart Cities, Cyber Security, Data Analytics and added that the collaboration may result in faculty exchanges, both physical and web-based, as well as joint certification programs. He addressed the officers of All India Services and Central Civil Services who are participating in the 91st Foundation Course, being organised by the Institute.UNI VV CS 1707 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-949880.Xml In a daring broad-daylight robbery, emboldenedchain-snatchers snatched the gold chain of a woman beforebundling into a room of her own house and locking from outside. Police said the culprits then searched the house for about 10minutes and left the place. The shell-shocked woman could not evenraise an alarm as it took her several minutes to gain composure. The shocking incident occurred this morning at General HospitalRoad, Vidyaranyapuram, that is usually crowded. The woman has beenidentified as 50-year-old Yamuna. In her version to the Police, Yamuna said that she was alone atthe house as her husband had gone out and her children Abhishek andAvinash had gone to work at a private educational institution. She said that as she was putting the clothes on a wire, twobike-borne youths came in front of her house and asked for anaddress of a house in chaste Kannada. An unsuspecting Yamuna volunteered and went near the gate of thehouse to give them the address. Seizing the opportunity, the helmet-wearing youth swiftly parkedtheir bike and came near Yamuna. All of a sudden, one of the youthscaught hold of her arm and dragged her into her house while theother youth pushed her from behind. The duo later snatched her gold chain weighing40 grams and dragged her into a room and locked her from outside. Yamuna, who sustained bruises on her arm, was too shocked toraise an alarm and it took some time for her to realise that she wasrobbed. Surprisingly, none of the neighbours saw the criminalsdragging her into her house. Yamuna later managed to call a fewneighbours from the room's windows. They opened the doors andalerted the Police. The victim is yet to ascertain what thecriminals have stolen from the house. According to the police, the criminals threatened her with aknife and also slashed her forearm with a blade. She has beenadmitted to a private nursing home. Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime and traffic) N. Rudramuni,Krishnaraja sub-division ACP C. Mallik, visited the spot along withdog squad and finger print experts. The Police are examining theCCTV footages in the area and have suspected the involvement of localcriminal gang that is familiar with the area.UNI BSP CS 1758 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-948767.Xml After failing to get place in the earlier lists issued by Government of India (GoI), Jammu and Kashmir government is now working on modalities to secure place for Srinagar in the 'Smar Cities' scheduled to be announced in January next year. Officials said that a high-level meeting was convened here today under the chairmanship of Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HURDD), Hridesh Kumar to discuss the modalities for securing a place for Srinagar in the Smart Cities list.During the meeting, Mr Kumar urged officers of different departments to synchronize their efforts for ensuring that the summer capital of the state makes it to the final list of Smart Cities which will be announced in January 2017. A presentation was made at the meeting by the consultant - Voyants Partnering Vision (VPV) - engaged by Srinagar Municipal Corporation to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Srinagar city. The meeting was told that the firm successfully helped the Nagaland government in securing a place for Kohima in the recently announced Smart Cities list.In their detailed presentation, the VPV consultants said a Smart City envisions wide spectrum development of urban components that provide residents smart solutions to make infrastructure and services better, and also enhance the quality of life.Describing the strategic components of Smart Cities, they said a combination of retrofit and redevelopment, which include innovative planning, optimum use of resources and provisions of affordable housing would be included in the draft proposal.Regarding the initial plan for preparing the DPR, a four-pronged action plan has been prepared to provide data sharing in a time-bound manner, suggestions for Smart City proposal, convergence of funds towards Smart City proposal, MoUs and resolutions for Smart City.Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Mr Kumar directed the officers of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), Power Development Department (PDD) and other departments to identify a nodal officers who will coordinate with the consulting firm for ensuring timely submission of data about Srinagar city which will be used to draw up proposal for development of Srinagar as Smart City.Mr Kumar said a similar exercise will be carried out in Jammu city so that both the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir make it to the final list of Smart Cities which, he said, is part of 'Agenda of the Alliance' of the Coalition Government.In order to expedite the process, the District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, said he will chair meetings with various departments and set up nodal officers.Mr Kumar asked the consulting agency to prepare the draft proposal by the end of November 2016 while as the final draft would be submitted to the Government of India in the month of January 2017.He also stressed various departments to provide necessary assistance to Voyants Partnering Vision in preparing the draft and at the same time provide inputs, data and suggestions to the consulting agency.Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Bashir Ahmad Khan informed the meeting that the Corporation has already created a Cyber Cell comprising 12 people to provide necessary assistance to Voyants Partnering Vision and a dedicated phone line has been set up to facilitate smooth functioning of the project.The SMC, he said, will inform the general public about Smart City project by running campaigns in print and electronic media as well as on internet. He said dedicated pages have been created on social networking sites to get instantaneous feedback from the citizens about the development of Srinagar as Smart City. UNI ABS SDR ADG PR1301 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-949530.Xml According to group's sources, Raees Khan alias Azam Tariq was among the four Taliban leaders killed in an operation by Afghan security forces late Saturday, reports the Express Tribune. Reportedly, Tariq's son was also among the dead. The security sources also confirmed that the leader was killed. Tariq had earlier served as the spokesperson for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and was currently working as spokesperson of the Mehsud Taliban faction led by Khan Sayed 'Sajna'. Majority of Sajna group members live in Paktika province, after they crossed Afghanistan in the wake of military operations in Waziristan tribal region. (ANI) The British authorities have confiscated the passport of a prominent Syrian activist and critic of President Bashar al-Assad at the request of the Syrian Government, effectively preventing her from travelling and blocking her work. Zaina Erhaim, an award-winning journalist and campaigner based in Turkey, had her passport taken away by the United Kingdom's border officials when she landed at Heathrow airport in London, reports the Guardian. After more than an hour of questioning, they told her that the document had been reported stolen. The complaint came from the government she has been campaigning against for years. "I expect to be harassed inside my country. I know that if I went home I would be killed, but now I find that Assad's arm can even reach to the UK. This is a dictator pursuing a journalist," said Erahim. A receipt that Erhaim was given for the passport states: "Document reported as stolen." Erhaim had previously used the passport without problems to travel to the UK in April, when she collected the Index on Censorship's Freedom of Expression Journalism award for her work. She had also travelled on it without any problems across Europe. She also has an older Syrian passport that she can use to return to Turkey, because it is still valid. But because it has no pages left for visas or immigration stamps - the reason she got the new document - she will effectively be unable to leave Turkey again. The Home Office said that Britain had to comply with the request because passports are the legal property of the government that issues them. (ANI) India and Afghanistan have reached an agreement for establishment of an air corridor. "We reached an agreement with #India for establishment of an air corridor, to send #Afghan goods through the air. Pres @ashrafghani," Pajhwok Afghan News tweeted quoting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as saying. Ghani during his two-day visit to India last week urged the Indian businessmen to use the air route for trade in a bid to help free his landlocked country from the constraints of those neighbours, who do not wish his country well. Earlier this month, he called upon Pakistan to allow Kabul to engage in trade with India through its land routes, a request turned down by Islamabad. The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan stood at less than $685 million in 2014-15. However, the trade relations can realize its true potential if the Wagah-Attari route is opened for bilateral trade with Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) has been restrictive in this aspect. The APTTA is a bilateral trade agreement between Islamabad and Kabul. It has been renegotiated several times. The treaty was signed in 1950 which gave Afghanistan the right to import duty-free goods through Karachi. The US has maintained that it would encourage Ghani's move of asking Pakistan to include India in the transit trade agreement for stronger trade relations between all countries of the region. Speaking at the daily press briefing, Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Mark C Toner said, "I would just say, speaking broadly, that we would support stronger trade relations within the region. And we've long said that it's a priority for the United States at least, but it should be a priority for the countries in the region to all work more cooperatively and constructively together. And a trade agreement would be part of that." When asked as to what was his position on Afghanistan asking India's inclusion in the transit trade agreement it has with Pakistan, Toner replied, "I think we would encourage, as I said, stronger trade relations between all the countries of the region." (ANI) The family of a black man fatally shot by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, today released its own video of the encounter that sparked three days of protests, and they continued to urge officials to release their own recordings of the slaying.The moment that a black police officer shoots Keith Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, cannot be seen in the two-minute video recorded by his wife, Rakeyia, who can be heard urging officers not to open fire."Don't shoot him! He has no weapon," she can be heard telling officers as they yell at Scott, "Drop the gun!" About a half-dozen gunshots can be heard in the video released to US media, followed by her scream, "Did you shoot him? He better not be dead."The video was filmed from a nearby curb as the drama unfolded on the street in front of Rakeyia Scott.Scott's death was the latest in a long string of controversial killings of black people by US police that have stirred an intense debate on race and justice and unleashed waves of protests and riots. A United Nations working group today compared the killings to the lynching of black people by white mobs in the 19th and 20th centuries.Scott's death sparked two days of rioting in Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city, with protesters dismissing police officers' claim that Scott was holding a gun.Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Chief Kerr Putney has said that video taken by police body cameras supports the police's version of events, but he has refused to release the video publicly. He told reporters on Friday that releasing the video now could harm the investigation into the shooting, now being led by the state."I know the expectation is that video footage can be the panacea and I can tell you that is not the case," Putney said, adding that he would eventually agree with the release of the video. "It's a matter of when and a matter of sequence."Scott's family initially contended that he was carrying a book, but after viewing the police video on Thursday the family said it was "impossible to discern" what, if anything, Scott was carrying."There's nothing in that video that shows him acting aggressively, threatening or maybe dangerous," Justin Bamberg, one of the lawyers representing the family, said in an interview early today.No gun can be seen in Mrs. Scott's video.Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican locked in a tight re-election race, signed a law last week that would require authorities to obtain a court order before releasing police video. Critics say it would prevent the sort of transparency that is needed to defuse public anger in the wake of police shootings.Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton added her voice to the calls for the release of the footage."Charlotte should release police video of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting without delay. We must ensure justice & work to bridge divides," she said on Twitter today.Scott was the 214th black person killed by US police this year out of an overall total of 821, according to Mapping Police Violence, a group created out of the protest movement. There is no national-level government data on police shootings.The UN working group recommended the United States create a reliable national system to track killings and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, as well as ending the practice of racial profiling.Today, Charlotte police arrested a civilian and charged him with the murder of a protester who died on Thursday after being shot the previous night during protests in the city, Putney told a news conference.Police identified the suspected shooter as Rayquan Borum, 21, and the victim as Justin Carr. They did not disclose Carr's age. According to the Charlotte Observer, he was 26.POLITICAL BATTLESThe killing and its aftermath are playing out in a state that has been at the forefront of some of the nation's most bitter political fights in recent years.North Carolina's Republican-dominated state legislature has tightened voting laws, slashed education spending and passed a law prohibiting transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.Civil rights leaders say that state officials who pursue these policies are partly to blame for this week's unrest."It's somewhat hypocritical to cry out against violence when you pass violent policies," said the Rev. William Barber, head of the North Carolina NAACP.In contrast to the tension in Charlotte, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was calm after a white police officer was charged with first-degree manslaughter yesterday for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Terence Crutcher, that was also captured on video.The officer involved in the shooting, Betty Shelby, turned herself in early today and was released on 50,000 dollars bond. REUTERS RSD 0149 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-947968.Xml President Barack Obama today vetoed legislation allowing families of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, a move expected to prompt the US 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. The bill passed earlier this month 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.Obama said other countries could use the law, known as JASTA, as an excuse to sue US diplomats, service members 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 United States, our forces, and our personnel," Obama said in a statement.New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who has championed the measure, immediately made clear how difficult it will be for Obama to sustain the veto.If two-thirds of the lawmakers in each of the Senate and House of Representatives vote to override Obama's veto, the law would stand, the first such override since he became president in 2009. Obama leaves office in January.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."A group of survivors and families have pressed Congress to uphold the legislation, calling Obama's veto explanation "unconvincing and unsupportable."The Saudi government has lobbied heavily to stop the bill, as has the European Union.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 destabilize vital bilateral relationships and the global economy," GE Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who backs the legislation. REUTERS RSD 0232 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-947973.Xml 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." Warplanes bombed Aleppo today with what residents described as unprecedented ferocity after the Russian-backed Syrian army announced an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city, killing off any hope of reviving a ceasefire.Video images filmed by residents showed a young girl screaming as rescuers frantically dug her out of rubble, pulling her out alive. Another showed rescuers digging out a toddler with their bare hands, shouting "God is Great" as they lifted him from the debris. The boy showed no signs of life as he was rushed off in a rescuer's arms.The apparent collapse of US-backed peacemaking may mark a turning point in the 5-1/2-year-old war, with the government and its Russian and Iranian allies now seemingly determined to crush the rebellion in its biggest urban stronghold."Can you hear it? The neighbourhood is getting hit right now by missiles. We can hear the planes right now," Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist, told Reuters. "The planes are not leaving the sky, helicopters, barrel bombs, warplanes."Hamza al-Khatib, head of a hospital in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, said that 91 people had been killed in Friday's bombardment while the Civil Defence rescue group that operates in opposition areas said 40 buildings were destroyed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring body gave an initial death toll of 27.Ammar al Selmo, the head of Civil Defence, said the rescuers themselves were targeted, with three of their four centres in Aleppo hit."What's happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word," he told Reuters. "Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes."Water has been cut off to nearly two million people in Aleppo as a result of the attacks on Thursday and Friday, the UN children's agency UNICEF said.The Syrian army announced overnight that it was launching an operation to recapture the rebel-held sector of the city. Today a Syrian military source denied the army was targeting civilians, saying it was accurately targeting "terrorist positions" in Aleppo.Western diplomats fear a bloodbath if the government unleashes a full-blown assault to capture the besieged opposition-held zone, where 250,000 civilians still are trapped."The only way to take eastern Aleppo is by such a monstrous atrocity that it would resonate for generations. It would be the stuff of history," one Western diplomat said.The assault left no doubt that the government of President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian allies had spurned a plea from US Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights to resurrect the ceasefire, which collapsed on Monday after a week.At the United Nations, diplomatic efforts to revive the truce made no tangible progress."My fear is that the bombings of the last few hours in Aleppo show that the regime is actually playing the card of partitioning Syria and its backers are letting it happen," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayraud told reporters.Recovering full control of the rebels' last significant urban area would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, strengthening his control over Syria's most populous and strategically important regions.COMPREHENSIVE OFFENSIVEIn its late-night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced "the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo". It warned residents to stay away from "the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs".An army source said on Friday that the offensive would be "comprehensive", with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. "With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time," he said.Several residents said explosions had struck with far greater force than anything that had hit the city in the past, making bigger craters and bringing entire buildings down."I woke up to a powerful earthquake though I was in a place far away from where the missile landed," said a rebel commander in a voice recording sent to Reuters. His group had "martyrs under the rubble" in three locations.The offensive coincided with international meetings on Syria in New York, ostensibly intended to revive the truce announced jointly by the United States and Russia on September 9.The collapse of the ceasefire - the same fate as that of all previous efforts to halt a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians - appeared to have doomed the peace bid, probably the last chance for a settlement before US President Barack Obama leaves office in January.The Syrian government, strengthened by Russian air power and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, has been tightening its grip on rebel-held districts of Aleppo this year, and this summer achieved a long-held goal of fully encircling the area.Syrian state television reported late on Friday that the army had managed to advance and secure control over a road near Ramousah in southwest Aleppo, but this was denied by rebels. They said several attempts by the army to advance had failed.Yesterday in New York, the United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive the ceasefire during what UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura called a "long, painful, difficult and disappointing" meeting.Kerry said he had made "a little progress" in talks today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who cited no progress and accused the United States of failing to honour the latest ceasefire deal. REUTERS RSD 0302 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-947977.Xml Brazil Supreme Court Judge Teori Zavascki approved a preliminary investigation into plea bargain deal allegations from former Transpetro head Sergio Machado that cite President Michel Temer and Senate President Renan Calheiros, among others, the court said yesterday. REUTERS RSD 0454 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-947990.Xml Beppe Grillo, the irreverent comic who co-founded Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, declared he was taking back leadership of the bloc this weekend ahead of a year-end referendum that could sink the government.Saying he was "tired", Grillo stepped aside two years ago, letting a five-member directorate take care of the movement's day-to-day decision making, backed by 5-Star strategist and co-founder Gianroberto Casaleggio.But much has changed since then. Casaleggio died in April, and missteps by Virginia Raggi, the 5-Star mayor of Rome elected earlier this year, have exposed rifts and confusion among the movement's top lawmakers."I'm back," Grillo announced to the 5-Star faithful, tens of thousands of whom filled a large square in the Sicilian capital of Palermo late on Saturday for the movement's annual meeting, which continues on Sunday."I will be the political boss and I will take decisions because someone has to," he said during a speech broadcast on TV Earlier, before taking the stage, Grillo said he would take charge at least until the elections.Wearing blue jeans and a cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up, Grillo appeared to relish returning to his role as chief rabble rouser, shouting that the movement had entered its "second phase".The 5-Star Movement stormed onto the national political scene in 2013 when it won more than 25 percent of the national vote, coming in a close second to the ruling Democratic Party (PD).With PD Prime Minister Renzi facing a crucial referendum vote on his trademark constitutional reform by the end of the year, the timing of Grillo's announcement appears meant reinvigorate the movement to defeat the referendum and make ready for a vote that could come as early as 2017.The 5-Star opposes the referendum, which is aimed at streamlining lawmaking and seating stable governments, saying it would concentrate too much power in the hands of the government.But Grillo's announcement runs contrary to a founding principle of the movement: no leaders.In fact until now the white-maned Grillo, 68, has defined himself as the 5-Star spokesman, not its leader, and has always refused to stand himself for prime minister.ROME AND REFERENDUMGrillo's move to take the reigns of what has become one of Europe's most potent anti-establishment movements -- it wants a national referendum to decide whether Italy should abandon the euro -- follows a disastrous month for Rome's 5-Star mayor.Since winning a landslide victory in June, Raggi has been beset by resignations, infighting and scandals. Her election to the high-profile post had been meant to show the movement was ready to govern.But it is Prime Minister Renzi who is facing an even bigger challenge. On Monday Renzi's government is due to announce the date of the referendum, which will be held either at the end of November or the beginning of December.Polls show that the outcome of the vote is still too close to call, but the momentum seems to be building against the constitutional overhaul. If Renzi losses the vote, the future of his government will be highly uncertain.Italy is due to hold an election in the spring of 2018, but it could come sooner if President Sergio Mattarella were to fail to find a temporary solution, and some recent polls show the 5-Star Movement is the country's most popular party. REUTERS VS VN1923 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-950163.Xml The death toll now stands at five in the mass shooting at a Burlington, Washington, mall after a critically wounded person died, the state police reported on Saturday. Washington State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Francis said on Twitter that a wounded man, who had been taken to a nearby hospital had died. About 7 p.m. on Friday night, a young man carrying a rifle entered the Macy's store at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 105 km (65 miles) north of Seattle, where he opened fire in the cosmetics section, killing four women and wounding the man, after which he fled, EFE news quoted the police as saying. The shooter headed north on Interstate 5 after the attack, Francis said. A grainy security camera photo of a young, slender man with short, dark hair carrying a rifle whom authorities said is the lone suspect -- and whom some have described as a "Hispanic" in his 20's -- was released and the public was asked to help identify him. Law enforcement authorities are not certain of his motive or any relationship he may have had with one or more of the victims, Francis said. Authorities have not released the names of the victims and say they will not do so until autopsies are completed. The FBI said they see no indications of terrorism in the attack, although the investigation is in its preliminary phase and no suspect has yet been arrested. Authorities have mounted a large manhunt for the shooter but he has not yet been located. The shooter, dressed in a black shirt and shorts did not originally enter the mall with the rifle, EFE news quoted police official Tom Moser as saying. The police have recovered the rifle, but at present they refused to provide more information about it. Mount Vernon police Lt. Chris Cammock refused to confirm or deny rumours that the young man is Hispanic, saying that was just the conclusion of some people who had viewed the publicly-posted security camera photo of the suspect. --IANS lok/ ( 349 Words) 2016-09-25-00:56:08 (IANS) YANGON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The ministry of hotel and tourism of Myanmar issued a total of 312 outbound tour licenses this year as of August, official media reported Saturday. The outbound tour licenses, issued since February, were granted to local tour operators to enable them to run international trips and tour package as a part of enhancing the country's tourism sector . Unlicensed companies, that run outbound tour, will be fined in accordance with the current law . Hotels and tourism sector is one of the promoted sector of the country covered by the National Export Strategy . According to the figures of the ministry of hotel and tourism, three million tourists entered the country as of August this year . Foreign direct investment in that sector reached 2.481 billion U.S. dollars as of August since late 1988. LONDON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Birmingham was Saturday named the "most enterprising place in Britain" in the 2016 Enterprising Britain Awards. Britain's second largest city after London, Birmingham, won the title which celebrates local initiatives to back business and growth. Liverpool, Broxbourne and Kent also won enterprise awards, which were announced by the government's small business minister Margot James. The City of Birmingham and Liverpool John Moores University will now go forward as Britain's entries to the European Enterprise Promotion Awards. The winning project saw Birmingham City Council team up with six Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to improve confidence, encourage investment, and attract and retain business talent. The city supported 1,000 businesses, generating 113 million U.S. dollars in private sector investment, creating or safeguarding 4,300 jobs, as part of ambitious plans to build an Engine for Growth in Britain's Midlands region. Minister James said: "We have 900,000 more small businesses than in 2010 and they have an important role to play in building an economy that works for all. "These awards recognise the value of local support and show what can be achieved when people who know their community best make their own decisions." Run by Investment in Young People (IiYP), on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Enterprising Britain awards celebrate local initiatives which boost business and growth. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has committed itself to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh Saturday. Minh made the remarks at the annual high-level debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. "I believe that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is within our grasp," Minh said, "we are indeed expected by our people, our children and our grandchildren to deliver on our commitments." Reform, innovation, creativity and economic restructuring are setting countries on a prosperous path, he added. Deputy prime minister said sustainable development requires global and regional cooperation and integration. New advancements in science and technology are paving the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Minh added. This year's high-level General Assembly debate from Sept. 20-26 has gathered over 140 world leaders here in New York on a variety of issues, ranging from sustainable development, counter terrorism, and refugee and migrant crises. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia joins other countries in calling for robust and effective international actions in the collective fight against terrorism, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Saturday. "Only if and when the international community stand united, can the terrorists be defeated," Zahid said in an address before the annual United Nations General Assembly. "No nation is immune to the threat of international terrorism," he said, emphasizing "an urgent need" to counter terrorism comprehensively. A total of 230 terror suspects were detained in Malaysia over the past three years, of whom 84 have been charged, Malaysian officials said in August. On June 28, a grenade hit a bar in the suburb of the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur, leaving 8 injured. The bombing was considered the first attack related to the Islamic State (IS) in the country. On Saturday, the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister also pointed out that the fight against terrorism cannot be won through force or punitive measures alone. "We need to counter it from the ideological perspective -- by countering the narratives and addressing the root causes of issues that could be manipulated to attract people into supporting these groups," he said. 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. VIENNA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern on Saturday said the European Union (EU) should be able to decide who could be able to reach the European continent, not the human traffickers. Kern made the remarks at a press conference after the Vienna summit of European leaders. Kern said he believes the better protection of EU border could be a solution of the migrant crisis, though the influx of the illegal migrants has been slowing down. He noted there were still some 50,000 migrants reaching Germany after the closure of the so-called Balkan route. "Seventy percent of the target has been reached," said the Austrian chancellor in regard to migrant influx after the Vienna summit, but noting the EU should make more progress. "We need to decide who gets to come to Europe, not the traffickers," he emphasized, saying the EU should better control the external border, otherwise, internal border control could be negative for EU member states. European leaders gathered in Vienna on Saturday to discuss the ongoing migrant crisis, especially the so-called Balkan route used by Afghan, Iraqi and Syrian refugees to reach Europe. EU-Turkey agreement and the closure of Balkan migrant route significantly brought down the number of migrants who are coming to Europe from Turkey. Austrian and German leaders agreed that the situation of the migrant influx is better than 2015, however, more progress should be made in the future. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told media that the EU wants to stop illegal immigration while living up to humanitarian responsibilities after the talks. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the EU should build a giant refugee city on the Libyan coast, seeing Libya as a key state to protect the external border of Europe especially the Mediterranean border. In the last migrant wave, many of the people got access to European continent by sea, making the EU difficult to protect its border, while many died due to the poor conditions of the transportation. Following their welcoming policy toward migrants in 2015, European states changed their attitude when waves of migrants arriving in Europe caused pressure to local governments. The owners of large car wash have filed permits to build a new $600,000 facility across from MetraPark, and they plan to open next summer. Alberta, Canada-based Mint Smartwash will have a 200-foot exterior express mega tunnel, 26 free vacuum stations, free mat washing stations and membership options for unlimited washes, said Chris Friesen, the company president. The spot at 601 Fourth Ave. N. had originally been targeted by a Colorado company called Car Wash Express for a business called Splish Splash Car Wash. However, properties owned by Car Wash Express were sold off, so Mint joined Car Wash Express investors in the project this summer, Friesen said. The original project was much larger, costing $4 million. Its located inside the East Billings Urban Renewal District. Mint Smartwash operates one other car wash in Lethbridge, Alberta, and is partners with other investors from the Car Wash Express group, he added. Location is very important to our model. (The areas) underserved market and demographic fits other locations where this model has been successful. Weather patterns also make it attractive, Friesen wrote in an email. The business will reclaim and recycle water and have about 15 employees. Workers are currently clearing the site, which was formerly a used car lot. 2 new shops downtown A Billings native is returning home and getting into the jewelry business. Sam Randall is planning to open Magpie Jewelry Gallery at 2702 Second Ave. N. in downtown Billings next month. About three decades ago, she graduated Billings Senior High School and owned a restaurant in New Mexico before deciding to return to be closer to family. Randall is an artist but has never owned a jewelry store. At Magpie, she plans to sell artisan jewelry, handmade and fabricated from all over the country. I thought the town was ripe for this, she said last week. The 900-square-foot space was formerly part of Gallery Interiors, which moved in February 2015 to 2814 Second Ave. N. A few blocks away, Vintage Apothecary, a health and wellness boutique, is moving into 2818 Third Ave. N. The shop will have loose herbals, custom herbal tea blends, blended essential oils, a custom fragrance bar, local honey, soaps and other products, according to the shops Facebook page. The target opening is Nov. 1, according to the owner. Fraud forum coming Montanas Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica J. Lindeen will be in Billings 6 p.m. Sept. 28 to help people learn to avoid investment fraud. Lindeen will host a screening of the documentary Gold Diggers: Investment Fraud in the Treasure State at the Elks Club Esquire Room at 934 Lewis Ave. The film, narrated by actor Bill Pullman, chronicles two of Montanas most infamous investment scams in recent history. Admission is free and includes a complimentary meal for attendees. The event is paid for by a grant from the nonprofit Investor Protection Trust. Seating is limited. Call 1-800-332-6148 or visit www.csimt.gov/fraudtour for more information. Haikus from the valley Exxon pays twelve mil Restoration to continue For a fouled river LAGOS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Saturday began clearing and fumigation of northeast Bama town in Borno State, recently liberated by the military to prepare ground for the return of the people. The operation was to ensure the early return of the people back home, said Nasiru Surundi, Sole Administrator of the Borno Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA). Bama is the second largest town in Borno after Maiduguri, the state capital. "We are here with 1,000 personnel to clear the entire town of refuse and other rubbish ahead of the peoples' return," he told reporters. He said the agency had earlier deployed 40 environment staff to commence the cleaning before the eventual launching. Surundi said BOSEPA was also spraying another sets of chemicals that would prevent disease outbreaks after the return of the people. Bama, one of the worst hit towns by the Boko Haram insurgency was liberated in 2015 by the military after been occupied for several months by the insurgents. Nigerian troops have routed terrorists from different towns and communities in northeast Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in recent times. With the massive military operations, the troops have also recovered several sophisticated weapons from the terrorists. Enditem KAMPALA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the number of people fleeing to neighboring countries since the political violence broke out in April last year in Burundi has topped 300,000. In a statement issued here Friday, UNHCR said the refugees- principally from Muyinga, Makamba, Cankuzo, Kirundo and Ruyigi provinces have fled to Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Zambia in search of asylum or international protection. The refugees are fleeing violence, threats, extra judicial killing, abduction, torture and persecution in the central African country, according to the refugee agency. Tanzania currently hosts 163,084 Burundian refugees, the largest number in the region; Uganda hosts 41,938 Burundian refugees; Rwanda is home to more than 81,000 Burundian refugees; DRC hosts more than 21,000 refugees while Zambia has 1,700 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers. "Although departure numbers have generally not been as high as in 2015, there has been a constant flow this year, including more than 20,000 in July and August," said UNHCR. UNHCR expects the number of arrivals to continue to rise in the remaining months of this year, while noting that aid agencies will struggle to continue providing adequate shelter, protection and life-saving services. The agency noted that the reception capacities of the host countries such as Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC, are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children. "These worrying trends will persist as long as a solution to the political crisis remains elusive, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region," it said. "To ensure that the refugees receive the assistance and protection they need, UNHCR calls on the international community to maintain efforts for peace and step up support for the countries of asylum, particularly in areas such as shelter, basic services, education, health and livelihoods." The violence broke out in Bujumbura following President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid to seek for a controversial third term in office. Enditem HELSINKI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A large scale anti-racist demonstration was held in Helsinki, and similar protests took place in some other cities of Finland on Saturday. Police estimated that about 15,000 people participated in the anti-racist demonstration called "Peli poikki (Game over)" in downtown Helsinki. The procession of protesters marched from the Citizens' Square to the Senate Square in the city center in the afternoon. According to the Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat, former Finnish President Tarja Halonen showed up in the Senate Square and made a speech. "We have so many people and it is an excellent thing, because democracy is a team game," said Halonen, adding any forms of violence or threat of violence are absolutely intolerable. Similar demonstrations were held in other Finnish cities, such as Tampere, Joensuu, Kuopio and Jyvaskyla. Prime Minister Juha Sipila joined the protest in Kuopio. Police said the anti-racist demonstrations went peacefully. Meanwhile, an anti-immigration protest was organized by the "Rajat kiinni (Close borders)" group in Helsinki. Two people were arrested in the counter-demonstration, because they did not obey police's exit order. The two were caught for preventing possible crimes and disturbances to protection, said police. Last Friday, a 28-year-old man died after an assault at the Central Railway Station of Helsinki. He allegedly had a conflict with an individual during a demonstration held by the Finnish Resistance Movement. One of the founders of the far-right group has been detained on suspicion of aggravated involuntary manslaughter. The incident triggered the public's anti-racist sentiment, which finally resulted in the nationwide demonstrations. The "Game over" demonstrations were jointly organized by many Finnish NGOs, human right groups and private citizens. Enditem TALLINN, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Estonian electoral college on Saturday failed to elect a new president as neither Siim Kallas nor Allar Joks making the necessary majority of votes, according to Estonian Broadcasting Corporation (ERR). The election now passes on back to the Riigikogu, the Estonian parliament, with the results that Kallas winning 138 votes, Joks getting 134 votes while blank votes is 57 and invalid votes is three. Both candidates failed to get 167 votes, which would have been necessary for election, the ERR report said on Saturday evening. The election will now go back to the same Riigikogu that previously proved incapable of electing a president. Kallas declared prior to Saturday's election that he wouldn't run anymore should the task be passed back to parliament. Assuming that Kallas won't change his mind, this will leave the Reform Party without a candidate. Talking to ERR reporter, Kallas said Estonia had entered a constitutional crisis, and the system definitely needed to be changed. Joks said he was satisfied with his result, but not happy. Asked if he would be a candidate in the now upcoming second election in the Riigikogu, Joks said he wouldn't run anymore. Asked if he had expected Saturday's result, President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor, who presided over the two unsuccessful voting rounds, said that he had been certain that they would elect a president today. The Riigikogu will make the next attempt at choosing President Toomas Hendrik Ilves' successor on Oct. 3 this year, after the failed rounds of elections since early September. The next rounds in the Riigikogu will require a repetition of the already known procedure of candidates gathering 21 personal nominations, for which at least some of the parties will have to find new candidates, or agree on a common candidate with each other. Enditem UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called for a political solution in the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya and emphasized the need to revive the Middle East peace process. In his meeting with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the secretary-general of the League of Arab States (LAS), the UN chief "stressed the need to urgently find a political solution" to the Syrian, Yemeni and Libyan conflicts, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the current annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, the week-long event which is to end on Sept. 26. The UN and LAS leaders signed the Protocol of Amendment to the 1989 UN-LAS Agreement of Cooperation to strengthen the cooperation between the two organizations, Dujarric said. Duirng the meeting, Ban congratulated Aboul Gheit on the recent assumption of his duties as secretary-general of the LAS and reaffirmed the United Nations commitment to work constructively with the LAS, the spokesman said. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said here Saturday that the world's least developed countries (LDCs) will miss the growth and productivity targets they have set themselves by the target date of 2021 with no considerable support from the international community. "But unless this progress speeds up considerably over the next five years, across all sectors, it will not be possible to achieve the Istanbul Programme of Action by the target date of 2021," Eliasson said at the ministerial meeting of 28 least developed countries, which was held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly. The Istanbul Programme, adopted at a UN conference in 2011, set a whole roster of goals to be achieved by the LDCs by 2021, including sustained economic growth by strengthening productive capacity, fostering human and social development with gender equality and the empowerment of women, and enhancing financial resources and good governance. "LDCs will need robust support to diversify their production, boost trade and protect development gains from external shocks," he said. The LDCs account for more than 880 million people, about 12 percent of world population, but for less than two percent of world gross domestic product (GDP) and one percent of global trade in goods. Structural constraints, natural disasters, pandemics, conflict and post-conflict situations, and climate change are continuing to undermine progress, he said. Eliasson noted that many LDCs are affected by the large movements of refugees and migrants, either as countries of origin or as host countries, and he called on donor countries to fulfil their pledge to allocate at least 0.2 percent of their Gross National Income for official development assistance (ODA) to LDCs. "But ODA alone will not be enough," he said. "LDCs themselves will need to make greater efforts to raise domestic resources through capacity building, private sector development, and better institutional and policy interventions," he said. "Sustainable development relies on national ownership and leadership, strengthening democratic processes and the rule of law, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls," he said. Public-private partnerships, North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation must play a part, he added, pledging UN support for all areas. "We must reinforce our work at every level, including here at the United Nations, to accelerate progress to achieve the Istanbul Programme of Action by 2021, and the Sustainable Development Goals," he said. "But we must always remember that while these frameworks are vital, they should not be seen as an end in themselves." UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Education remains a key pillar in Iceland's development cooperation, said Lilja Alfredsdottir, the Icelandic minister for foreign affairs and external trade, on Saturday. Alfredsdottir made the speech at the annual high-level debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. "Icelandic society has developed over the last 70 years from being a poor society, to a modern prosperous economy," Alfredsdottir said, "we could not have done this if we had not ensured access for all to quality secondary and higher education." Education is a precondition of good governance, she added. "We have agreed, that no one can be left behind." Meanwhile, the foreign minister said Iceland has pledged efforts to implement sustainable development. "We have set our sights high for the future of our planet. We have set goals to address climate change. We have mapped out a course to sustainable development which is universal, leaves no one behind and preserves our planet," said Alfredsdottir. "The rules and objectives are agreed - a major achievement," she said, "now we have to implement them." This year's high-level General Assembly debate from Sept. 20-26 has gathered over 140 world leaders here in New York on a variety of issues, ranging from sustainable development, counter terrorism, and refugee and migrant crises. ANKARA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said Saturday that Turkey will accelerate structural economic reforms and maintain fiscal discipline, responding to Moody's decision to downgrade Turkey's sovereign credit rating from Baa3 to Ba1. On Friday, ratings agency Moody's cut Turkey's long-term issuer and senior unsecured bond ratings by one notch to the speculative or "junk" level of Ba1 with a "stable" outlook. "Expediting economic reforms and protecting fiscal discipline will be our best answer to the credit agencies," Simsek tweeted, adding "we will keep reforms without stopping." "The fundamentals of Turkey are solid," he noted. " Our economy grew 5.2 percent in the post-global financial crisis era regardless of lots of domestic and international shocks." Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci also reacted to the agency's decision in his twitter and pointed out that the decision doesn't reflect the real Turkish economy. "Turkey's economy grew 3.9 percent in the first half of the year, although the global economy slowed down." he tweeted. "At the same time, our current account deficit declined and produced a budget surplus, while many other economies posted deficit," Zeybekci said. The minister also said that neither in Turkish private sector nor in public sector experienced any deterioration in funding capabilities. "We will continue to make reforms which will improve business climate by maintaining our political stability and market-friendly approach," he added. Moody's said in its report that risks related to the country's sizeable external funding requirements increased and Turkish GDP growth and institutional strength slowed down. According to the report, Turkey's finances have weakened amid increased political turmoil after the July 15 coup attempt. The agency said it expects that the deterioration in Turkey's credit rating will continue over the next two to three years. It added that the stable outlook reflected "the government's robust balance sheet, which would allow for the absorption of shocks and flexible responses." Moody's also said it sees Turkey's real GDP growth averaging 2.7 percent between 2016 and 2019. 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: "One of the cornerstones on which the foreign policy of Barbados is built is our unwavering commitment to the United Nations. We see the UN as the core of an effective multilateral system, with responsibility for addressing issues of international peace, security and development." -- Maxine Mcclean, the foreign minister of Barbados. "New sources of threats to humanity have emerged while at the same time the traditional sources of threats become more pronounced. The modes and intensity of non-traditional security threats, such as terrorism, transnational crimes, ethnic tensions and intra-state conflicts, and violent extremism have increased manifold." -- Prakash Sharan Mahat, the foreign minister of Nepal. "Combating international terrorism and extremism has become a top priority. There is a need in developing national, regional and international mechanisms aimed at elimination of military infrastructures, channels of financial and logistic support, recruiting and propaganda of violence." -- Sirodjidin Aslov, the foreign minister of Tajikistan. "The UN is indeed the foremost platform for coming together as a community of nations to discuss and tackle the greatest challenges of our time. These challenges are clear and require robust and coordinated international action to overcome." -- Adbdusalam Hadliyeh Omer, the foreign minister of Somalia. "The origins of the migration crisis are complex and diffuse -- many migrants and refugees are fleeing conflict and violence; many others are fleeing poverty and deprivation. The vast scale and sustained nature of the movement is, at times, bewildering and threatens to overwhelm our rules-based migration system. It confronts us with a wide array of problems to overcome at the same time -- the harrowing violence in Syria; the barbarism of Da'esh; the collapse of order within Libya; the practices of ruthless people smugglers." -- Charles Flanagan, the foreign minister of Ireland. CARACAS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The border between Venezuela and Colombia was re-opened on Friday night in an attempt to allow heavy-loaded vehicles to pass between the two countries for bilateral trade, said the Venezuelan governor of the western border state Tachira, Jose Vielma Mora. Close to midnight on Friday, Vielma Mora said that the decision taken to re-open the border was a response to an instruction given by Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, the second stage in the "gradual and controlled" re-opening of the bi-national border. In this way, he said that with the border open, food and products will now be able to be transported, specifically via the International Simon Bolivar bridge that connects the Venezuelan town of San Antonio in Tachira with the Colombian town of Cucuta. The designated timetable for freight vehicles to travel across the border is Monday to Friday, from 20:00 to 24:00 (Venezuelan time). However, governor Vielma Mora said that the schedule could be extended if there are vehicles waiting on both sides of the border. President Nicolas Maduro said before that the re-opening of the border, will consist of three stages. The first relates to pedestrian traffic, the second involves commercial drive and the third includes regularizing the issue of fuel. The border between Colombia and Venezuela, which stretches for 2,219 kilometers, was decreed closed by Maduro on Aug. 19, 2015, after Caracas reported a "paramilitary attack" against three soldiers from its Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB). It was impossible to decide what was more beautiful Saturday night at the Billings Symphony Orchestras season opener the music or the dancing. Its rare to have an orchestra share the stage with a dance company, but the BSO squeezed 50 musicians on stage at the Alberta Bair Theater with four featured dancers from the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Typically, the orchestra is out of sight in the orchestra pit during a dance performance. The theater was packed with 1,100 people, many who showed their enthusiasm with shouts of bravo and two standing ovations. Some young families in the audience took selfies with the ABT stage in the background, adding to the celebratory atmosphere in the theater. BSO board chairman John Stewart promised the audience before the two-hour concert opened that the BSO will stay true to its mission in its 66th season. Everyone on this stage is working all year to fulfill our mission to enrich lives, Stewart said. Following her long-standing tradition, director Anne Harrigan opened the concert with a sing-along rendition of the National Anthem. With so many members of the BSO Chorale and church choir members in the audience, even the high notes sounded good. Then the orchestra opened what Harrigan called the Readers Digest version of Swan Lake, featuring select movements. Nicholas Schultz and Laura McQueen Schultz displayed poise and grace as they slipped into a modern dance interpretation of the story of Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with a swan princess. The performance blended modern choreography with classical ballet. Dawnell Dryja and Christian Griggs-Drane performing a stunning "Pas de deux" with Dryja spinning across the stage in pirouettes and Drane defying gravity as he twirled in the air. The performance was so precise it was hard to imagine the challenge of matching the tempo of live music to the choreography rehearsed by the dancers to recorded music. Harrigan whipped her head back and forth at the podium to keep her eyes and wand on both the musicians and the dancers. There was more dancing in the second half for a medley of Gershwin tunes, Who Cares? The big finish was one of Gershwins most loved tunes, I Got Rhythm, featuring all four dancers in dazzling spins and aerial maneuvers. The next season concert is Music of the Masters on Oct. 15. STOCKHOLM, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Stockholm county council experienced an IT breakdown Saturday, leading staff at the Swedish capital's hospitals to fear for patients' safety. The technical issue was rectified later in the day but several care facilities were affected, with staff unable to log into their computers to access patient journals. Ambulance services were also affected. "It was a serious situation and we had significant disturbances," Anna Nergardh, a head doctor in Stockholm told Swedish Television. Other medical staff in Stockholm described a chaotic situation, with one nurse, who wised to remain anonymous, saying that the patient journals contain vital information such as blood test results, x-rays, medical referrals and medical histories. The nurse said that 100 staff members at her work place had to share six computers and had to take notes using pens and paper. However, Nergardh said the problem was addressed and that patient safety could be upheld. MEXICO CITY, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- An oil tanker transporting fuel for Mexican oil company, Pemex, caught fire on Saturday off the coast of the eastern state of Veracruz, although no casualties have been reported. Pemex broke the news on its official Twitter account, saying the ship named Burgos was off the town of Boca del Rio, near the port of Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship was located around 9.5 km off the coast at 11:30 a.m. local time when an explosion took place starting the fire and sending a column of black smoke high into the sky, according to Veracruz' port authority. The ship was sailing to the port of Coatzacoalcos at the time of the explosion but its 31 crewmembers have been safely evacuated by Pemex, with no injuries reported. "There is no risk for the population or facilities close to the incident," added Pemex on Twitter. According to Mexican daily El Universal, Pemex specialists are on board to ensure that the thousands of barrels of diesel and gasoline being transported will not pose an environmental risk. Operations could last up to 48 hours with the ship either set to be towed into port or the fuel transferred to another vessel. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday called for a political and peaceful solution to differences among all the parties concerned in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the issues related to elections in the country. The secretary-general made the appeals in his meeting here with Raymond Tshibanda N'tungamulongo, the foreign minister of the DRC, which came on the sidelines of the current annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly. During the meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, the secretary-general handed Tshibanda a letter to President Joseph Kabila conveying his views on the political situation in the DRC, in particular the national political dialogue and the electoral process, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "The Secretary-General encouraged the holding of an inclusive political dialogue and peaceful resolution of differences on issues related to elections in the DRC," he said. Earlier Saturday, 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. 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. U.S. Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton gestures to spectators on the last day of the 2016 U.S. Democratic National Convention at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the United States, on July 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) 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 last of a series of four in-depth reports they have produced. CHARLOTTE, the United States, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- For 65-year-old Gail Summerskill, a professor of English from Strayer University, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is held to a higher standard just because she is a female politician. "People talked about how she scream, but they would never say a man is screaming," Summerskill with short red hair and red-framed glasses told Xinhua at her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Being a grandmother, Clinton was even suspected by the public for possibly having too much distraction from her grand children. But for male presidential candidates, being a grandfather is never a problem, she said. "She came out as such a brilliant partner when she was the first lady, but people were like: too much, you are supposed to be dealing with curtains," said Summerskill. Since her childhood dream of becoming a woman astronaut was shattered, when she wrote to NASA at the age of 13 only to get the reply that "there would not be any women astronauts," Clinton has succeeded in making many cracks in the "glass ceiling." Her mother, who had a tough childhood, has inspired Clinton to devote herself to improving the health care and education systems especially for children, and she helped create the successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as the first lady from 1992-2000. In 2000, she became the first woman to serve as a U.S. senator from New York. After she came up short in her presidential run in 2008, she told her supporters: "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it." BIGGER CHALLENGE However, to make the last strike to break the highest "glass ceiling," Clinton seems to face a much bigger challenge not only because she is a woman but also because she is a Clinton. Numerous research studies have shown that Hillary Clinton has been subjected to more negative media coverage as compared to her opponents, including Donald Trump, said Dianne Bystrom, director of Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University. "Women candidates often face greater scrutiny of appearance, experience, and their personal life," said Kelly Dittmar, assistant professor of political science at Rutgers university-Camden and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "Clinton continues to be criticized on her hair, her clothes, and questioned about who will really be in charge (she or Bill Clinton) if she wins the presidency," Dittmar said. In addition, the Clintons have been subjected to attacks by right-wing conservative political operatives, right-wing media, and even mainstream media for more than 30 years, said Bystrom. The recent media hype of clinton's health scare climaxed the coverage which scrutinizes the female candidate from her appearance to the way she talks. Clinton's presidential campaign acknowledged that she had pneumonia after her early exit from a Spet. 11 memorial ceremony in New York, making the concern of her health headline for the next few days. Jennifer Gunter, a doctor both certified in Canada and the U.S., who blogs about medical and political matters, dismissed the public panic as unfounded in a post on Sept. 13. "Let me be very clear, if you can be like Trump, a 70-year-old man with a normal blood pressure on a statin who released no other valuable health information, or like McCain, a 71-year-old man on a statin with a history of melanoma, and run for the highest office, you can certainly be a 68-year-old woman on a blood thinner and thyroid medication who had a bout of pneumonia," she wrote. She added that "this focus on Clinton's health is either a complete lack of understanding about medicine, health, and disability or an egregious double-standard where being a woman is considered a medical condition." Retired production supervisor from a compressor and generator factory, Dave Kielar, who also lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, said that he did not think Hillary Clinton is strong enough to lead the country. "She has made comments that if she is elected, she is going to put her husband in charge of this and in charge of that." "It's not another term of Bill Clinton. She has to have her own policies which cannot rely on what her husband did in the past but what she could do in the future." However, Kielar said he did not object a woman being elected as the president. If Clinton can stand on her own feet, and stops referring to what her husband is going to do if she is elected, people would think she is strong enough to lead the country. This made the upcoming first national debate between Clinton and Trump on Monday even more important as she will elaborate on her national policies before the public in the debate. "There are people who do not support a woman being president because they do not think that is an appropriate role for women to play. But I do not think there are enough of them," said Debbie Walsh, director of Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers University. She said that there are few who would even say it. "It is one of the things that socially unacceptable to say." Walsh said she thought it is a close election, if Clinton were to lose the election, "I do not think her gender will be the reason." AMBIVALENT SITUATION In addition to being held to a higher standard, there are multiple challenges that Clinton faces as a woman candidate. To campaign for the White House, she has to prove she is both "woman enough" as a woman and "man enough" for the job of president. "All this said, Hillary Clinton is not a typical woman candidate, most voters know and have formed an opinion of her that, while influenced by her gender, is highly individualized based on her long tenure in the public spotlight. Therefore, stereotypical advantages and disadvantages don't automatically apply to her," Dittmar said. Summerskill said that there might be an ambivalent situation for Clinton. On one hand, "you can't be so much into women's issues where you alienate the men," while on the other hand, "you can't win (with women's support) and then lose their trust" by not keeping promises to tackle gender inequality. "If you press the woman issues such as the equal pay too much, you can be seen as a one-trick pony, like all you care about is only women," she said, adding that it's like Barack Obama who really had to negotiate how much he was going to talk about being African American and helping the African American population when he was running for president. Meanwhile, Bystrom said Hillary Clinton receives very favorable ratings when she is serving in public office. She has been named by Gallup's annual poll as the most admired woman in the world for a record 20 times. She receives lower evaluations when she runs for political office, especially the U.S. presidency as the first woman in history to be nominated by a major political party. Dittmar pointed out that women voters outnumber and outvote men in U.S. elections. They are key to any presidential election outcome. Women are also more likely than men to vote for Democratic candidates. Trump's gender strategy might help him among men who feel a sense of resentment about women's empowerment and seek to return to more traditional gender power dynamics that benefit men and masculinity, said Dittmar. "But I don't believe it will win him nearly to counter the support he is losing among women." Women are also more likely to be late-deciders, meaning candidates need to make their case to women for the duration of the presidential campaign, Dittmar said. UNDERREPRESENTATION "We need to remember that Hillary Clinton is the first woman in the United States to be nominated for president by one of the two major political parties. This is something new for us," said Bystrom. Fewer women, than men, run for political office in the United States, and that is at the heart of the problem, she said. Statistics show in open seat races (races without an incumbent) women candidates win just as often, or even more so, than men. However, women are much less likely to run for political office in the U.S, Bystrom said. Studies have shown that women in the U.S. have less political ambition than men - women are less confident about their qualifications for political office, even when they are just as qualified - or more so - than male political candidates. "Women actually set higher standards for themselves, compared to men, before running for political office," she said. Walsh said that even if the U.S. is to elect a woman president in 2016, "we would still be looking at a state legislature that is under a quarter women, a congress that is under a quarter women." "If a women is elected president, it is a milestone and it is important, but it does not mean the problem of women's underrepresentation is solved." She said more work needs to be done at the party level, particularly on the Republican side. Democratic women make up about a third of all democratic members of congress, about a third of all Democratic state legislators. But on the Republican side, in congress, women only make up nine or 10 percent, and about 17 percent among state legislators. Summerskill said not getting equal pay is still a problem for women in the U.S., and she felt that gender bias had impacted her own life. She said that women have always been teachers, so teachers do not get paid well. "It saddens me that as someone who has spent 39 years in the field, I never make much money. That is not right." To earn extra bucks for traveling and to meet interesting people, Summerskill and her freelance photographer husband Robert have been airbnb hosts for five years and received nearly 100 guests. American women who work full time, year round are paid only 79 cents for every dollar paid to men -- and for women of color, the wage gap is even larger, according to the National Women's Law Center. "To make things really change, it is going to take more women in power," Summerskill said. "We need to get used to having people of color and women in important places and we are not going to have a big deal about it," she said. (Reporting by Li Ming, Li Changxiang and Yuan Yue; Editing by Zhou Xiaozheng, Ding Yimin and Zhu Lei) YANGON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar military has conducted a joint maneuver of army, air and artillery forces at Meiktila station with the presence of Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, official media reported Sunday. Addressing the joint military drill on Saturday, Min Aung Hlaing said the maneuver is aimed at preventing foreign invasion, urging the troops to make efforts for becoming a strong forces. The joint military drill was also attended by Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Vice Sen-Gen Soe Win and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Gen Khin Aung Myint and senior military officers. The military drill was the first conducted since the new government took office on April 1. CARACAS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Cuba represents the ongoing efforts both China and the island nation make to grow closer over the years, according to one analyst. Li's trip to Havana marks the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960, making it a truly unique chance to boost bilateral cooperation. Li's visit follows his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada. "This is a historic milestone which crowns a process of improvement and expansion of relations of all types between Cuba and China, not only commercially but politically as well," said the former Director of International Relations for the Venezuelan presidency Sergio Rodriguez Gelfenstein in an interview with Xinhua. China is now Cuba's second-largest trading partner and is vital to the island's growth, said Gelfenstein. Commercial exchanges between the two countries have grown consistently, with bilateral trade reaching some 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 and further expanding in 2016. Both countries have also adhered to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for bilateral economic relations -- an MoU signed in 2011 -- over the last five years, Gelfenstein said. The MoU has witnessed important advances in areas such as science and technology, tourism, judicial cooperation, culture and sports. Beijing and Havana enjoy a political closeness which will not be affected by the process of Havana's rapprochement with Washington, Gelfenstein said. The evolving ties between Beijing and Havana have been a part of China's wish to show its willingness to cooperate with Latin America and the Caribbean in general, he added. "Latin America has for the first time the possibility of negotiating and creating cooperation mechanisms with a global power like China, which does not impose a preconceived agenda on the region," he said. China's wish to maintain international ties with all countries in the region, regardless of their current national circumstances, is the pillar of its foreign policy, he said. Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States waves as she arrives on stage a the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 46th Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner, at the Washington Convention Center, September 17 2016, in Washington, DC. (Photo Credit: Olivier Douliery/CNP/AdMedia//ADMEDIA_adm_HillaryClintonHRC091716_CNP_001/Credit:Olivier Douliery/CNP/AdMe/SIPA/1609181831) 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 last of a series of four in-depth reports they have produced. CHARLOTTE, the United States, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- For 65-year-old Gail Summerskill, a professor of English from Strayer University, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is held to a higher standard just because she is a female politician. "People talked about how she scream, but they would never say a man is screaming," Summerskill with short red hair and red-framed glasses told Xinhua at her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Being a grandmother, Clinton was even suspected by the public for possibly having too much distraction from her grand children. But for male presidential candidates, being a grandfather is never a problem, she said. "She came out as such a brilliant partner when she was the first lady, but people were like: too much, you are supposed to be dealing with curtains," said Summerskill. Since her childhood dream of becoming a woman astronaut was shattered, when she wrote to NASA at the age of 13 only to get the reply that "there would not be any women astronauts," Clinton has succeeded in making many cracks in the "glass ceiling." Her mother, who had a tough childhood, has inspired Clinton to devote herself to improving the health care and education systems especially for children, and she helped create the successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as the first lady from 1992-2000. In 2000, she became the first woman to serve as a U.S. senator from New York. After she came up short in her presidential run in 2008, she told her supporters: "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it." Former United States President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States, on the podium as they anticipate the balloon drop following her acceptance speech during the fourth session of the 2016 Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Photo Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia//ADMEDIA_adm_072816_DNC4_CNP_097/Credit:Ron Sachs/CNP/AdMedia/SIPA/1607292336) BIGGER CHALLENGE However, to make the last strike to break the highest "glass ceiling," Clinton seems to face a much bigger challenge not only because she is a woman but also because she is a Clinton. Numerous research studies have shown that Hillary Clinton has been subjected to more negative media coverage as compared to her opponents, including Donald Trump, said Dianne Bystrom, director of Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, Iowa State University. "Women candidates often face greater scrutiny of appearance, experience, and their personal life," said Kelly Dittmar, assistant professor of political science at Rutgers university-Camden and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "Clinton continues to be criticized on her hair, her clothes, and questioned about who will really be in charge (she or Bill Clinton) if she wins the presidency," Dittmar said. In addition, the Clintons have been subjected to attacks by right-wing conservative political operatives, right-wing media, and even mainstream media for more than 30 years, said Bystrom. The recent media hype of clinton's health scare climaxed the coverage which scrutinizes the female candidate from her appearance to the way she talks. Clinton's presidential campaign acknowledged that she had pneumonia after her early exit from a Spet. 11 memorial ceremony in New York, making the concern of her health headline for the next few days. Jennifer Gunter, a doctor both certified in Canada and the U.S., who blogs about medical and political matters, dismissed the public panic as unfounded in a post on Sept. 13. "Let me be very clear, if you can be like Trump, a 70-year-old man with a normal blood pressure on a statin who released no other valuable health information, or like McCain, a 71-year-old man on a statin with a history of melanoma, and run for the highest office, you can certainly be a 68-year-old woman on a blood thinner and thyroid medication who had a bout of pneumonia," she wrote. She added that "this focus on Clinton's health is either a complete lack of understanding about medicine, health, and disability or an egregious double-standard where being a woman is considered a medical condition." Retired production supervisor from a compressor and generator factory, Dave Kielar, who also lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, said that he did not think Hillary Clinton is strong enough to lead the country. "She has made comments that if she is elected, she is going to put her husband in charge of this and in charge of that." "It's not another term of Bill Clinton. She has to have her own policies which cannot rely on what her husband did in the past but what she could do in the future." However, Kielar said he did not object a woman being elected as the president. If Clinton can stand on her own feet, and stops referring to what her husband is going to do if she is elected, people would think she is strong enough to lead the country. This made the upcoming first national debate between Clinton and Trump on Monday even more important as she will elaborate on her national policies before the public in the debate. "There are people who do not support a woman being president because they do not think that is an appropriate role for women to play. But I do not think there are enough of them," said Debbie Walsh, director of Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics of Rutgers University. She said that there are few who would even say it. "It is one of the things that socially unacceptable to say." Walsh said she thought it is a close election, if Clinton were to lose the election, "I do not think her gender will be the reason." AMBIVALENT SITUATION In addition to being held to a higher standard, there are multiple challenges that Clinton faces as a woman candidate. To campaign for the White House, she has to prove she is both "woman enough" as a woman and "man enough" for the job of president. "All this said, Hillary Clinton is not a typical woman candidate, most voters know and have formed an opinion of her that, while influenced by her gender, is highly individualized based on her long tenure in the public spotlight. Therefore, stereotypical advantages and disadvantages don't automatically apply to her," Dittmar said. Summerskill said that there might be an ambivalent situation for Clinton. On one hand, "you can't be so much into women's issues where you alienate the men," while on the other hand, "you can't win (with women's support) and then lose their trust" by not keeping promises to tackle gender inequality. "If you press the woman issues such as the equal pay too much, you can be seen as a one-trick pony, like all you care about is only women," she said, adding that it's like Barack Obama who really had to negotiate how much he was going to talk about being African American and helping the African American population when he was running for president. Meanwhile, Bystrom said Hillary Clinton receives very favorable ratings when she is serving in public office. She has been named by Gallup's annual poll as the most admired woman in the world for a record 20 times. She receives lower evaluations when she runs for political office, especially the U.S. presidency as the first woman in history to be nominated by a major political party. Dittmar pointed out that women voters outnumber and outvote men in U.S. elections. They are key to any presidential election outcome. Women are also more likely than men to vote for Democratic candidates. Trump's gender strategy might help him among men who feel a sense of resentment about women's empowerment and seek to return to more traditional gender power dynamics that benefit men and masculinity, said Dittmar. "But I don't believe it will win him nearly to counter the support he is losing among women." Women are also more likely to be late-deciders, meaning candidates need to make their case to women for the duration of the presidential campaign, Dittmar said. Gail Summerskill talks to Xinhua at her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Xinhua/Yuan Yue) UNDERREPRESENTATION "We need to remember that Hillary Clinton is the first woman in the United States to be nominated for president by one of the two major political parties. This is something new for us," said Bystrom. Fewer women, than men, run for political office in the United States, and that is at the heart of the problem, she said. Statistics show in open seat races (races without an incumbent) women candidates win just as often, or even more so, than men. However, women are much less likely to run for political office in the U.S, Bystrom said. Studies have shown that women in the U.S. have less political ambition than men - women are less confident about their qualifications for political office, even when they are just as qualified - or more so - than male political candidates. "Women actually set higher standards for themselves, compared to men, before running for political office," she said. Walsh said that even if the U.S. is to elect a woman president in 2016, "we would still be looking at a state legislature that is under a quarter women, a congress that is under a quarter women." "If a women is elected president, it is a milestone and it is important, but it does not mean the problem of women's underrepresentation is solved." She said more work needs to be done at the party level, particularly on the Republican side. Democratic women make up about a third of all democratic members of congress, about a third of all Democratic state legislators. But on the Republican side, in congress, women only make up nine or 10 percent, and about 17 percent among state legislators. Summerskill said not getting equal pay is still a problem for women in the U.S., and she felt that gender bias had impacted her own life. She said that women have always been teachers, so teachers do not get paid well. "It saddens me that as someone who has spent 39 years in the field, I never make much money. That is not right." To earn extra bucks for traveling and to meet interesting people, Summerskill and her freelance photographer husband Robert have been airbnb hosts for five years and received nearly 100 guests. American women who work full time, year round are paid only 79 cents for every dollar paid to men -- and for women of color, the wage gap is even larger, according to the National Women's Law Center. "To make things really change, it is going to take more women in power," Summerskill said. "We need to get used to having people of color and women in important places and we are not going to have a big deal about it," she said. (Reporting by Li Ming, Li Changxiang and Yuan Yue; Editing by Zhou Xiaozheng, Ding Yimin and Zhu Lei) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as 8 people were shot on Satursday night in Baltimore while three armed suspects at large, multi TV networks reported. Students from the Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC) and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) performed dance of the thousand-Hand Guan Yin at Whitney Young Magnet High School, Chicago on Saturday, September 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) 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. A female student performed traditional Chinese music with Chinese ancient zither at Whitney Young Magnet High School, Chicago on Saturday, September 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Wang Ping) "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. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A suspect was arrested Saturday night for his role in a mall shooting in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state of Washington. KING-TV in Seattle reported that the 20-year-old man was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, about 29 miles (47 km), southwest of Burlington, where the incident took place Friday night and the man killed 5 victims. Related: Mall shooting in Washington state claims 5th victim 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. Full story The whole southern belle way of life that some women in Chelsea Cheffs home state of Mississippi adopted never suited her. It just wasnt me, the 33-year-old said with no hint of a drawl. So 13 years ago in pursuit of a change of lifestyle Chelsea left a small liberal arts college in the South to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Montana State University in Bozeman. The move ended up completely altering the course of her life when she met the man who would be her husband, Corey Cheff. She had never eaten wild game until she met me, said Corey, a lifelong Columbia Falls resident who helps run his familys logging and road-building business. We grew up on it. Chelsea has found her lifestyle change. Now she is married, living in the mountains of northwest Montana, has two children, loves to hunt and works a part-time job. Then a year-and-a-half ago, almost on a whim, she launched a small business building outdoor gear out of paracord the strong, lightweight nylon rope that got its name from its original use, parachute cord. Tying one on In a year-and-a-half she has nurtured the fledgling SOS Gear into a mainly online business that generates a small profit and also helps her feed the need to be more involved in the outdoors and hunting. Emphasizing that fact her Twitter photo shows her drawing a bow. To be able to do what we love hunting and running my own business you make time, she said. For Chelsea thats often meant working early into the morning after her children are tucked into bed or driving eight hours east to archery hunt for elk on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge with her husband for two days. Weve sacrificed a lot, Chelsea said. Shes not alone. A 2015 study showed Montana led the nation in the creation of new businesses. People want to stay in Montana, and given that there arent that many large corporations here, people try to figure out a way to stay, Kregg Aytes, dean of the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship at MSU in Bozeman, told the Billings Gazette in a 2015 story. Bowhunters Thats certainly the case with Chelsea. She could have moved to Seattle or Houston for an engineering job but chose the Montana lifestyle, and all it has to offer, instead. September is what we live for, she said, the opening of the archery season. She got hooked on the sport after Corey took it up. For him, targeting shooting in the back yard was a stress reliever. When Chelsea showed interest, he got her outfitted with all of the gear. Now the fall is all about hunting. That is a date night for her, going hunting, Corey said. Chelsea started out rifle hunting in 2007 and shot her first deer in 2008 before transitioning to archery in 2010. She has yet to kill a big game animal with her bow, although last year she shoulder punched an elk with an arrow but never did recover the animal. It was a little heartbreaking, she said. Realization The impetus for launching SOS Gear came when Corey wanted to buy a paracord survival bracelet. He figured having the strong, thin rope always with him would be handy if his chainsaw cord ever broke. Then his uncle fell 40 feet out of a tree, emphasizing that preparedness for an emergency is always a good idea. Were usually 3, 4, 5 miles back, out of cellphone service when were hunting, Chelsea said. I started thinking what would happen if one of us got hurt. Theres no way I could carry my husband. Hes 6-2, 210 pounds. Im 5-4, 112 pounds. I started to assess what was in my hunting pack, stuff for survival purposes. Paracord, she realized, could be used to build a shelter or to make a splint for a broken leg. I try not to carry anything that has just one use, she said. Tied up With a new bracelet costing $10 Chelsea thought she could buy 100 feet of paracord for the same price and make one for her hubby, even though her only previous experience was braiding friendship bracelets in summer camp as a teen. Then friends saw Coreys bracelet and wanted one, too. I realized that maybe I could make some money here and was able to be home with the kids, she said. It was a way I could start contributing a bit after losing an engineering job that would have required her to place her children in daycare. So SOS Gear was born. It was really built from me doing all of it from almost nothing, she said, a strong point of pride, as is her satisfaction in custom-building each piece. Growing From bracelets Chelsea has expanded SOS Gear to include bow and rifle slings, belts, lanyards, key chains, game drags and bird carriers. She even braids handles for insulated tumblers. She definitely likes to work and come up with new products, Corey said. The way her business works its all about the customer. Chelsea tracks her sales on a map pinned to the wall. So far shes sold her products in 45 states and six Canadian provinces. Yet even now there are sleepless nights when she lies awake in bed wishing an email order would arrive to generate more income. I hope it will continue to grow and be a fulltime job on its own, she said. I hope in the future I can look back and say I built a business from nothing in a mans outdoor industry. I hope to see the silver lining in it and better us for the future. Until then, she said, At least Im doing something I truly love. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as eight people were shot on Saturday night in east Baltimore, including a father and his three-year-old daughter, Baltimore police said. The victims have been rushed to hospital and their injuries are non-life threatening, said the police. Following the shooting, all three armed suspects fled the scene on foot, one reportedly with a shotgun and two with handguns, a CBS report quoted the police as saying. No more details are available for now. Demonstrators protest against the fatal shooting of a black man in Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States, Sept. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Lu Jiafei) WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Police in the U.S. city Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday released the police bodycam and dashcam videos of the fatal shooting of a black man after days of protests and violence. In addition to the two videos, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) also released three photos of a handgun, a holster, as well as a marijuana "blunt" that belonged to Keith Lamont Scott, the 43-year-old victim who was killed by a police officer on Tuesday. The police move came under increasing pressure from Scott's family and the public after the shooting sparked four days of protests and riots. Scott was shot and killed by CMPD police officer Brentley Vinson, also an African American, who was serving a warrant on someone else with other officers when they encountered Scott at an apartment complex Tuesday afternoon. The CMPD said police officers at the scene saw marijuana and a weapon inside Scott's car and that Vinson opened fire after Scott refused to obey police commands to drop a handgun. But Scott's family and residents disputed the police claim, insisting that Scott was holding a book instead of a gun. In a police video, Scott was seen slowly walking backward out of his car before the shooting. He neither pointed a gun at the officers nor made sudden movements. In response to the release of police videos, Justin Bamberg, attorney for Scott's family, told a news conference Saturday evening that he did not see anything in the videos that would lead to the loss of Scott's life. He said the most important question that should be answered is whether Scott's actions justified the police shooting. Ray Dotch, Scott's brother-in-law, said that the family was left with far more questions than answers by the videos. Scott "was an American citizen who deserves better," he added. Indeed, people cannot clearly tell from the cellphone video released Friday, which was shot by Scott's wife during the shooting, that an object left on the ground near Scott's body was a gun or not. In the video, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly told the police officers not to shoot his husband because he had no gun and was just taking his medicine. But the officers were heard opening fire minutes after they shouted commands to Scott to drop a gun. In a news release distributed Saturday with the videos and photos, the CMPD detailed the fatal encounter between its officers and Scott Tuesday afternoon, alleging that Scott possessed marijuana and a handgun and ignored officers' repeated loud verbal commands to drop the gun. Officer Vinson opened fire at Scott after perceiving that Scott's actions and movements posed "an immediate physical threat." A lab analysis of the gun recovered at the scene "revealed the presence of Mr. Scott's DNA and his fingerprints" on it, the CMPD claimed. CMPD chief Kerr Putney told a news conference earlier Saturday that he decided to release the videos to the public after determining that the release would not have an adverse impact on the investigation. The shooting incident has sparked four nights of protests in Charlotte, including two nights of violent riots on Tuesday and Wednesday. Protesters have demanded the police release the tapes of the shooting. A state of emergency was declared Tuesday in Charlotte, followed by a curfew that was imposed from midnight Thursday. Protests continued on Thursday and Friday in the city, but were mostly peaceful. CANBERRA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's social services minister has flagged a plan to replace family welfare payments with tax breaks. Christian Porter said the current family tax benefit (FTB) scheme, whereby families that earn less than 70,000 U.S. dollars total per year are awarded up to 5,200 U.S. dollars annually for every dependent child, was "deeply inefficient." Porter said there were "hundreds of thousands" of cases every year where families were paying 9,000 U.S. dollars in income tax and then being awarded the same amount back in FTB payments. "You can imagine that that is an extremely inefficient and costly system to, in effect, draw money from one group through tax to give it straight back to them, with all of the administrative costs and loss that occurs in moving that money through government back to the pockets of people from whom you took it in the first place," Porter told Sky News on Sunday. "The FTB System, when it was designed in its present form by (former PM) John Howard and (former Treasurer) Peter Costello, had always envisaged tax credits rather than direct transfer welfare payments, but for a variety of reasons that didn't occur at the time. "Allowing people to keep more of their own money, rather than taking money off them, washing it through government with all of the expense and administrative burden that takes and then giving it back to them, the first situation of letting them keep more of their own money is far preferable." Porter said technological limitations at the time the FTB was first introduced was the reason it had defaulted to the current structure, but technological improvements within the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) could see the new system introduced by 2020. "We will have certain junctures in the future that are available to try to sort through some of these very long standing, very inefficient problems and do it in a way that actually advantages recipients of welfare payments rather than disadvantages them," he said. LA PAZ, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-two archaeological pieces of the Tiwanaku culture has been repatriated from Germany and will be put on display in a museum in La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, local media reported Saturday. Tiwanaku is a Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia. At a news conference on Saturday in Santa Cruz, the capital of the eastern department of Santa Cruz, Bolivian President Evo Morales showed the artifacts along with the photos taken by German cameraman Hans Ertl. Ertl's grandson Tobias Wagner Berger had all these items in Munich, Germany, and returned them to the South American country. "I have been amazed to see that the artifacts are part of the Bolivian people," said Morales, noting that now the items need to be catalogued. Morales said the operation to return the archaeological pieces and valuable photos, treasured by a family in Germany for 50 years, began when Bolivian diplomats received messages from Ertl's remaining family who expressed a desire to return the archaeological treasures to Bolivia. Bolivian Culture Minister Marko Machicao said the items will be moved to La Paz to be studied. The artifacts come from Tiwanaku and from the Pacajes culture, said Machicao. Machicao hoped that families in other countries could also return more archaeological pieces that left Bolivia in an uncertain way. Machicao said a technical team from his ministry will evaluate, make an inventory and identify the origin of the returned archaeological pieces. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca thanked Tobias Wagner Berger for returning part of Bolivia's cultural heritage. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council is scheduled to have an emergency meeting on the current situation in Syria on Sunday morning, diplomatic sources told Xinhua Saturday night. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11:00 EDT (1500 GMT) at the request of the United States and France, two of the five permanent members of the 15-nation UN body, the sources said. UN officials also confirmed that the emergency council meeting is to be an open one, at which ambassadors are expected to air their views on the latest development on the ground in Syria. The council meeting on Sunday is unusual as the annual high-level debate of the UN General is going on at UN headquarters in New York. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council is scheduled to have an emergency meeting on the current situation in Syria on Sunday morning, diplomatic sources told Xinhua Saturday night. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11:00 EDT (1500 GMT) at the request of the United States and France, two of the five permanent members of the 15-nation UN body, the sources said. UN officials also confirmed that the emergency council meeting is to be an open one, at which ambassadors are expected to air their views on the latest development on the ground in Syria. The council meeting is unusual on Sunday as the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly is going on at UN Headquarters in New York. The last emergency council meeting was held last Saturday evening at the request of Russia in response to the airstrikes staged by the U.S.-led coalition on Syrian military positions. The Sunday council meeting will be held to disucss the latest military escalation in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. Earlier on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that he was appalled by the latest escalation in Aleppo, saying that the northern Syrian city 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 the 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. 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 border. It is also Syria's largest province and once was the economic hub of the war-torn country. HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Havana's Confucius Institute, the only certified institution in the island country that teaches the Chinese language and culture, saw an "enrollment explosion" this academic year. The institute, located in the capital's Chinatown, is part of a growing network of institutions worldwide that receives support from the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban), to promote the Chinese language and culture in other countries. Today, there are more than 500 Confucius Institutes in 134 countries and they are a perfect testimony to the increased exchanges between students of different nationalities and Chinese teachers. Cuba's Confucius Institute opened in November 2009 and academic activities began in January 2010 following the signing of a cooperation agreement between Hanban and the University of Havana. "We have a total of 950 students this year in 43 class groups for the 6 levels of Chinese language, while we also have 14 groups of children and teenagers aged between 11 and 17, with special courses designed for their age group," the institute's director, Arsenio Aleman, told Xinhua. Aleman said that in Cuba's case, the courses are free and the expenses are covered by the island's government and Hanban. Hanban is also responsible for providing teachers and equipment. Zhang Wei, co-director of Havana's Confucius Institute, is happy to see hundreds of candidates applying for the basic Chinese classes offered by the institution. "China and Cuba have very close economic, cultural and political ties. Many Cubans have realized the importance of this strategic relationship and have decided to learn our language to understand each other better. For them learning Chinese is a way to prepare for the future," he said. Zhang said that one of the institute's objectives is to serve as a window for the world to appreciate the Chinese language and its culture as well as for teachers and volunteers to learn about other countries. "Chinese teachers and staff have the opportunity to travel to other nations to teach and learn from other cultures. This is one of Confucius' thoughts as he said that one should live and learn," said Zhang. For Cubans, the institution is an important place to learn and master the Chinese language and also understand a thousands-year-old culture. That is the case for computer engineer Alberto Garcia who spoke to Xinhua about his experience of studying for two years at Havana's Confucius Institute. "I came here to meet the needs at my work due to the growing trade between the two countries. It has been very helpful, interesting and challenging to learn Chinese," he said. Dayana Liao, a young lawyer in Havana, entered the Confucius Institute to reconnect with her Chinese roots. "When I became aware there is a Confucius Institute in Havana I enrolled without thinking. Now I have begun my third year here," she said. Liao also said it's surprising and encouraging to see the progress China has achieved in recent years as an emerging country with new development proposals that are stimulating, especially for underdeveloped nations. "I think it is very important for the youth and for everyone in general to learn Chinese because it will be the most used language this century," said Liao. BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's imports from Hong Kong reached 12.62 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2016, up 128.5 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The mainland's exports to Hong Kong hit 156.87 billion U.S. dollars, a decrease of 5.4 percent year on year, ministry figures showed. Trade between the mainland and Hong Kong totaled 169.49 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months, down 1.1 percent year on year. The figure accounted for 8.4 percent of the mainland's total overseas trade in the first seven months. The mainland approved 7,446 Hong Kong-invested projects from January to July in 2016, with the actual use of Hong Kong capital reaching 47.81 billion U.S. dollars, down 8.4 percent from the same period of last year. As of the end of July, 393,659 Hong Kong-invested projects had been approved by mainland authorities and the actual use of Hong Kong capital totaled 881.13 billion U.S. dollars. UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of world nations Saturday urged the international community to cope with the migration crisis at the general debate of the UN General Assembly as the annual event is coming to its end. "Our own history as a people forms the enduring backdrop to our foreign policy agenda," said Foreign Minister Charles Flanagan of Ireland. "That part of our past is unfortunately the tragic present for others." The island nation is traditionally known for its emigrants. "The origins of the migration crisis are complex and diffuse -- many migrants and refugees are fleeing from conflict and violence; many others are fleeing from poverty and deprivation," said Flanagan. "The vast scale and sustained nature of the movement is, at times, bewildering and threatens to overwhelm our rules-based migration systems," he said. "It confronts us with a wide array of problems to overcome at the same time: the harrowing violence in Syria; the barbarism of Da'esh (or IS); the collapse of order within Libya; the practices of ruthless people smugglers," he added. Pasquale Valentini, foreign minister of San Marino, an enclaved microstate surrounded by Italy, said his nation is "well aware of the extreme seriousness of the world situation and of the need for each international stakeholder to play its part ... to address the present humanitarian emergency." Besides providing financial contributions to international programs, San Marino has joined a local project to establish humanitarian corridors and has hosted some migrants, "a small contribution provided by our micro-state with great determination," said Valentini. Somalia, which has produced an uncountable number of refugees, is evolving and aware of the widespread diaspora, said Somali Foreign Minister Abdusalam Omar. "We are positively contributing to the stability, progress and development of our region, continent and the world through partnerships," said Omar. "Through diverse partnerships, we are also working on successfully returning Somali refugees home from Kenya voluntarily and with dignity to actively participate in the rebuilding efforts of their nation," he said. "Somalia, more than any other nation today, recognizes the importance of peace building to avert the international refugee crisis and appreciates the valuable contribution refugees make to their new and old homes through remittances and cultural education which is crucial for tolerance," he added. He also said the his nation is determined to save vulnerable lives at sea and reverse the brain drain that can hold back national progress. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem accused some countries of exploiting the humanitarian tragedy and suffering of Syrians, "especially in terrorist-held areas," to achieve goals that have nothing to do with humanitarian principles or the interests of Syrian people. Syria is still suffering the throes of war and the displacement of its people. "Some countries continue to shed crocodile tears over the situation of Syrians in some areas, accusing the Syrian government of employing a policy of sieges and starvation," said Moualem. "All the while, these same countries continue to support and arm the terrorists that besiege civilians in these areas from the inside and use them as human shields and prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid or confiscate it," he said. "Ladies and gentlemen, make no mistake: no one is more committed than the Syrian government to ending the suffering of Syrians and providing them with a life of dignity wherever they may be and without exception," he added. "This is a duty and not a favor." BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Toyota will recall 762 imported vehicles across China's mainland from Nov. 1 due to defective airbags, according to the country's quality watchdog. The recall affects 566 imported Lexus RX200t vehicles made between Oct. 7, 2015 and June 27, 2016, and 196 imported Lexus RX450h cars produced between Dec. 4, 2015 and March 4, 2016, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. A defect has been found in the gas generator of the airbags of the affected vehicles, which may result in safety problems. Toyota has promised to replace the defective parts free of charge. Gov. Steve Bullock and Republican challenger Greg Gianforte are both campaigning on promises to improve the states public schools, but their visions of what needs to change and how to make it happen differ greatly. Itll be in line with what he has done over the last three and a half years, which has been to ensure that all students have access to a great public education wherever they are in the state, Bullocks Education Adviser Siri Smillie said. Ensuring that students are prepared for college or career starts before students enter kindergarten, with preschool. Many of Bullocks proposals, including a plan for voluntary public preschool, are revived versions of initiatives that failed to pass the Legislature in the 2015 session. Bullock, who has the support of school unions, also includes school facilities in his infrastructure spending plan, wants to further expand dual enrollment opportunities and touts recent funding increases for districts. Gianfortes proposals focus on doubling down on the use and instruction of technology in the classroom as well as reducing burdensome regulations, a theme carried throughout many aspects of his campaign. Education has been an extremely important area for me in most of my nonprofit work over the last 15 years, Gianforte said. I favor giving parents more options in education. Gianforte has suggested expanding the use of digital content delivery, adding computer science courses to more schools and revamping reporting requirements as part of a proposal to spend more money in the classroom rather than on administration or support services. In the past, he has supported school choice efforts through his nonprofit board memberships. As the state reports declining revenues, it is unclear how Bullock might fund some of his education proposals, which likely will face opposition from conservatives looking to fend off spending increases. Gianforte has said increases might not be needed to improve outcomes, suggesting that the current funding levels just need to be focused differently. He also said that spending on school facilities likely will have to wait until the states revenue collections improve. Infrastructure, spending Education traditionally tends to be an advantage for Democrats, said Carroll College political scientist Jeremy Johnson. In the gubernatorial race, this is most evident from the endorsement of Bullock by MEA-MFT, the schools union group. We really like Steve Bullock. We think hes done well by us, President Eric Feaver said, noting that the Democrat has supported school funding increases, expanded state spending on continued education for teachers and expanded the Montana Digital Academy that supplements courses already offered at schools statewide. There are still some things left undone. Infrastructure obviously. Montana ranks near the bottom nationally for the state's share of funding for school construction and repair, according to U.S. Census figures on government finance. A 2008 state inventory tallied $360 million in needed repairs, a number that education advocates say has likely grown because the state has spent only a few million dollars a year on the problem. That figure does not include the cost of new construction to manage district growth. Bullocks infrastructure proposal, Build Montana, includes school facilities on the list of priorities, along with water and sewer improvements. He introduced a similar plan two years ago that did not advance out of committee. He fought for schools to be included in other bills, but the 2015 Legislature ultimately failed by one vote to approve any major infrastructure funding and did not pass measures to fund the Quality Schools Grant Program, effectively killing it and shifting the burden to local taxpayers. Gianforte, by contrast, has not included schools in his infrastructure proposal. He has said he is open to discussing ideas, but is skeptical that the state will find enough revenue to fund school projects given declining receipts from oil, gas and agriculture. The best way to fund education long term is to have a strong private sector so we have a tax base that can pay for education, he said. The State of Montana spent about $6,000 per student in the 2014 academic year, while districts collected another $5,000 from local taxes and federal officials funded about $1,000 per student, according to the most recent year of school finance data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. That puts Montana squarely in the middle of state rankings for per-student funding. According to the same data, the state also ranks 21st in the nation for the percentage of all spending that went toward the salaries and benefits of instructional staff, 60 percent compared with a high of 69 percent in New York and low of 54 percent in Oklahoma. However, Montanas starting teacher salaries, about $28,500, are the lowest in the nation and a little more than half that of neighboring states. Gianforte said he would advocate for less federal overreach and seek out ways to loosen state requirements that tie the hands of local school boards and potentially increase spending outside the classroom. We developed this inspect-and-report mentality that is consuming resources, he said. Were measuring the wrong things, too many things or too often. That needs to change. Thats more of a cultural issue that we can fix with new leadership. Technology Gianforte has centered his education platform on technology. He proposes adding computer science courses to every high school and allowing coding courses to count toward foreign language requirements. A group of language teachers has opposed that second proposal, noting that such graduation rules are set at the local level and not part of state requirements. Gianforte also has called for an expansion of the Montana Digital Academy, which offers online courses to students in schools that do not offer those remedial or advanced courses. Citing a program in Darby as an example of technology innovating instruction, he suggested that schools could use online instruction to increase offerings and personalize the learning plans of students. Historically, weve had a teacher who is the primary deliverer of content and reviewer of performance, he said, noting that Darbys model is similar in philosophy to the self-guided education nonprofit Khan Academy. This changes the role of the teacher slightly, and change is always hard. Im not saying its right for every school, but we ought to make these tools available and then let local school boards decide whether to adopt them. Public vs. private When the states digital academy was first founded, many teachers were nervous that it was a move toward replacing them in classrooms. Today, some see Gianfortes proposal to significantly expand the academy as evidence of an agenda to privatize education. Greg Gianforte is an existential danger to public schools in this state, Feaver said. The union president highlighted several instances from Gianfortes philanthropic work that he said run counter to advocating for quality public education. He said Gianfortes contribution to a creationism museum in Glendive is evidence that he might tamper with science standards in schools and said that his previous support of bills that would direct some public funding to help parents pay for private school could undercut funding for public schools. Feaver focused on Gianfortes support for a program that offers a tax credit for people who donate to scholarship programs for private schools. The law, passed in 2015, has been challenged in court because it indirectly reroutes tax dollars to religious schools in potential violation of the state constitution. He also noted that Gianforte serves on the boards of Petra Academy, a Christian private school in Bozeman, and ACE Scholarships, two groups that could benefit from the states new scholarship tax credit program. This is self-interest of the lowest sort, Feaver said. Gianforte has defended his work with education nonprofits as proof that he is committed to seeing every child reach their full potential and said that supporting private school options is not the same as opposing public schools. My opponent wants to condemn my Christian faith, he said in March when asked about his work at Petra and for other nonprofits that work to advocate for private schools, particularly those that are faith-based. I believe that parents should have more say in how their kids are educated. Republicans have called the critiques of Gianfortes school choice record as hypocritical given that Bullock, earlier this year, celebrated the Board of Educations approval of the states first two charter schools, which receive state funding but have flexibility on some state rules to implement alternative education models. Bullock, in turn, has previously pointed to those programs as evidence of his support for local control. How much the education proposals of Bullock and Gianforte will influence voters remains to be seen, said Johnson, the political scientist. I dont see Donald Trump talking about education nearly as much compared to other Republicans in recent years. Bush tried to talk about it, he said, looking at the broader topics driving campaigns nationwide. I dont think the electorate is at a place right now where this is as essential to the political discourse as it was in previous cycles. NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first of three presidential debates between the Democratic and Republican nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, will be held Monday at Hofstra University in New York. The debate will last 90 minutes without commercial breaks. NBC's Nightly News anchor Lester Holt will be the moderator to ask questions. It would be the first-ever one-on-one debate between the two candidates, and the clash is expected to draw a record 100 million viewers. What can viewers expect to see as the two polar opposites face off against each other? A WELL-PREPARED CLINTON VS. AN UNPREDICTABLE TRUMP As a veteran debater, Clinton has more stage experience than most of the presidential candidates in recent history. But she still took a better half of recent weeks preparing for Monday, looking into massive data about Trump's history and past performances, doing mock debates with her team and preparing to defend possible attacks from the freshly businessman turned politician. "I do not know which Donald Trump will show up," said Clinton in an August fundraising event in New York. How would Trump approach the debate, and whether Clinton has any effective plan to tackle his facade will be interesting to watch for. "Maybe he will try to be presidential and try to convey a gravity that he hasn't done before or will he come in and try to insult and try to score some points," said Clinton. Trump, on the other hand, showed little clue if he will stay on message while looking presidential or resort to petty insults and name-calling that had worked to his advantage on the debate stage in the primary season. He had been on the campaign trail to the various battleground states, paying minimal attention to the materials his team collected for him, and refused to participate in mock debates. But he had been studying videos of Clinton's previous debate performances "looking for her vulnerabilities," according to The New York Times. Even if Trump decides to act "presidential," It is unclear whether he can resist the temptation to attack Clinton on personal issues, including her health and her husband's past infidelities. But it's certain he would not give up the opportunities to go after the scandals that had been plaguing the race from day one, like Clinton's private email server and her relations with big donors. "I can talk about her deleting emails after she gets a subpoena from Congress and lots of other things," said Trump in a recent interview with Fox News. NOT ABOUT POLICIES History has shown that a presidential debate was seldom a contest of which candidate has better policies. Instead, it's a show of character and temperament. This was true ever since the very first nationally televised debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Radio listeners thought the debate had been a tie. However, with a baggy suit and bad makeup exposed by his constant sweating, Nixon was widely deemed loser of the debate by TV viewers in contrast to a well-dressed and poised Kennedy. Clinton has been widely acknowledged by voters as experienced and competent for the job of president. There's hardly any doubt about it. She also has been in many one-on-one live debates throughout her long political career, while Trump has never done even one. So it becomes imperative for Clinton to appear experienced, mature and relatable. If Trump can drag her into an angry dog fight and exchange of name-calling, then he would have a better chance. Being the first female major-party nominee in U.S. history, it would also be intriguing to see how or if Clinton will play the "gender card." Studies find that gender stereotypes play an important role. It is already a concern how the viewers would perceive the fact that a 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 meters) Trump will tower over a 5-foot-7-inch (1.70 meters) Clinton when they stand together on stage. Research has also found that a man appearing aggressive will likely be perceived positively, while a woman appearing aggressive is mostly received negatively. If Clinton remains calm and collected when under attack from Trump, and not get defensive or dismissive as she sometimes does during the campaign, she will score a better image among voters. Trump, on the other hand, should avoid his previous sexist rhetoric to ensure viewers wouldn't become sympathetic towards Clinton. DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS "When I watch her in the debate, she just seems somehow slimy and can just wiggle out from any question or situation," said Brian Grasso, a sophomore at Duke University. To gain an upper hand, Clinton has to find a way to change the public's reception of her as a dishonest and untrustworthy establishment politician, which is a difficult job to do. The expectation for Trump to emerge as the winner of the debate is relatively low. People don't expect him to speak with lots of substance. He just needs to show voters that he can handle the job as president, and not someone who cannot control his mouth from speaking outrageous things. The debate will also be a clash of views on whether the country is in decline. Trump had painted America as a dark and desperate place, and Clinton will have to challenge it. The three major topics announced by the Commission on Presidential Debates are "America's Direction," "Achieving Prosperity" and "Securing America," which are translated to economy, national security and the candidates' vision for the country's future. Recent bombing attacks in New York and New Jersey, tensions between police and African Americans in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and shootings in Burlington, Washington could all fall in line with Trump's rhetoric, as he had benefited before from inciting fear among the American public after similar incidents. "For all his lack of substance, Trump's showmanship, as ex-TV star, makes him a formidable debate foe," wrote Brian Fallon, a spokesperson for the Clinton campaign. Trump's team had urged the candidate to hold his own and stay focused on important themes like economy, anti-terrorism and protection of the country's borders. "A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man you can trust with nuclear weapons," Clinton said during her Democratic convention speech. How Clinton would attempt to get under Trump's skin in the debate and bait him into losing his temper will be a scene to look out for. ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11 people including four civilians lost their lives as an explosive device of Taliban militants went off prematurely in the eastern Kunar province Saturday night, provincial police chief Juma Gul Hemat said Sunday. "A group of Taliban rebels were planting a mine on a road in Dangam district Saturday night to target security forces' convoy, but the device exploded prematurely killing 11 people including seven militants and four civilian passersby on the spot," Hemat told reporters here. Taliban militants who are largely relying on roadside and suicide bombings are yet to make comments. Kunar with Assadabad as its capital 185 km east of Kabul has been the scene of Taliban-led insurgency over the past one decade. SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- A lone suspect, identified as Arcan Cetin, was arrested Saturday night for his role in a mall shooting in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington. Cetin was reportedly arrested around 7:00 p.m. local time Saturday night (0200 GMT on Sunday), less than 24 hours after the mall shooting. In addition to providing the name of the gunman, Sergeant Mark Francis, a public information officer with Washington State Patrol, posted on Twitter that the man in custody is a 20-year-old resident of Oak Harbor. KING-TV in Seattle reported that the gunman was apprehended in Oak Harbor, about 29 miles, or 47 kilometers, southwest of Burlington, a small town where the gun-shooting incident took place Friday night. Security camera images showed that the shooter first entered the mall, apparently without a weapon, and then held a rifle in front of a store. The images were posted by authorities as part of an effort to seek public help to hunt down the suspect. The fatalities, initially four women at the makeup section of Macy's department store and one vendor at Cascade Mall, were revised Saturday morning to include a male who did not survive life-threatening injuries from the incident. SANAA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Saudi-led coalition airstrikes killed 10 residents on early Sunday morning in Yemen's southern Ibb province, officials, medics and residents said. Yemen's official Saba news agency reported that a total of 10 residents were killed and nine others wounded in the airstrikes on residential neighborhood of Maffrak Jibla in downtown Ibb provincial capital city. An official medic of Ibb's government-run al-Thawra hospital confirmed to Xinhua the toll, saying the 10 dead included women, children and teenagers. Residents said the airstrikes targeted residential buildings in the area at dawn. "There is no military, no security, no government and nor even rebels' establishment here...here only poor residents," resident Mohamed Kasim spoke to Xinhua by phone. It was the latest in a series of airstrikes against civilians in Yemen. On Wednesday, the coalition airstrikes killed 25 civilians when they hit a residential quarter and nearby souk. The Houthis seized Ibb and half of the country's north in 2014, forcing internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee into exile. The move triggered a military airforce intervention by the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, to fight back the rebels and restore Hadi and his government to the capital Sanaa. The Houthis are still in full control of most northern cities despite the intensified 19-month war. The outbreak of war prompted foreign countries to close their embassies and evacuate the staff. The war has since killed over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, injured about 35,000 others and displaced over three million, according to statistics from humanitarian agencies. HOUSTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of protesters marched Saturday night in the fourth largest U.S. city of Houston to honor those killed in police-involved shootings as well as other incidents locally and across the nation. Supporters of Black Lives Matter, an activist movement against violence and racism toward black people, chanted the slogans such as "No justice, no peace! No racist police! Hands up, don't shoot," the local TV station ABC13 reported. There was a large police presence during the march from MacGregor Park through the University of Houston down to Texas Southern University. "Too many times people are dying at the hands of cops. We're tired of coming here and saying black lives matters -- police need to stop killing us," said Gregory Chatman, 25, a student of the Houston Community College and co-organizer of the event. "We just want black people to feel safe in our communities. We want to go outside without worrying about if police are going to kill us or harass us today," he added. Deondre Moore, another co-organizer of the event, also said, "We're tired of seeing what's going on in America. We're fed up." "Every morning I see black and brown bodies in the street. I don't feel safe when I see a police officer coming around. I'm afraid to say this, but white people don't have to deal with this," he said. "When something is wrong, we need to call it for what it is -- systematic racism, police brutality, a system that wasn't built for people who look like me. It needs to be dismantled and rebuilt," he added. Some protesters said that racism is real in America and they stressed the importance of speaking up and not letting others silence their voices. The protest came after the recent police-involved shootings of black men in the U.S. states of Oklahoma and North Carolina. Meanwhile, seven protesters were arrested by police during a march on Saturday afternoon in Jackson Square in Louisiana's largest city of New Orleans to protest against the city's four monuments honoring Civil War era figures. Take 'Em Down NOLA, a grassroots group opposed to the prevalence of the city's monuments honoring white supremacists, remains frustrated that more than 8 months after the City Council voted to remove the four monuments, those monuments still remain. The group said that statue of Andrew Jackson, who was a slaveholder and served as the 7th president of the United States, must go. BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 18 others wounded on Sunday in a suicide bomb attack at Shiite neighborhood in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source said. A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a tent set up near a school building by Shiite Muslims as part of preparations to observe one of their major rituals next week, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The Muslims around the world honor the holy month of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. However, the Shiite Muslims used to make their own communal rituals during the month, including commemorating Ashura, or the 10th day of Muharram, which marks the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed and buried in Karbala, 100 km southwest of Baghdad, in 680 AD. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide attacks against Shiite pilgrims who perform communal rituals in Iraq, in an attempt to provoke sectarian strife in the violence-shattered country. Terrorist acts, violence and armed conflicts killed 691 Iraqis and wounded 1,016 others in August across Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said earlier. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the United States that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. People look at the site of a suicide bomb attack in the central Allawi district of Baghdad, Iraq September 11, 2016.(REUTERS Photo) BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 18 others wounded on Sunday in a suicide bomb attack at Shiite neighborhood in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source said. A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a tent set up near a school building by Shiite Muslims as part of preparations to observe one of their major rituals next week, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The Muslims around the world honor the holy month of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. However, the Shiite Muslims used to make their own communal rituals during the month, including commemorating Ashura, or the 10th day of Muharram, which marks the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed and buried in Karbala, 100 km southwest of Baghdad, in 680 AD. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State (IS) militant group, in most cases, is responsible for such suicide attacks against Shiite pilgrims who perform communal rituals in Iraq, in an attempt to provoke sectarian strife in the violence-shattered country. Terrorist acts, violence and armed conflicts killed 691 Iraqis and wounded 1,016 others in August across Iraq, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said earlier. Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence, and the emergence of extremist groups, such as the IS, on the United States that invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003. Cuban President Raul Castro holds a welcoming ceremony for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) before their talks in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 24, 2016. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Tao) HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday pledged to further forge ahead bilateral relations with Cuba through enhancing high-level exchange of visits and promoting economic cooperation. The pledge came as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held talks with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Saturday. Li arrived in the capital of the Caribbean country on Saturday afternoon following a visit to Canada. Hailing the progress made in the past 56 years since the two countries set up diplomatic ties, Li said China has firmly adhered to the policy of China-Cuba friendship, supported Cuba in following a socialist path and promoted bilateral pragmatic cooperation. China stands ready to further enhance high-level exchange of visits, deepen economic cooperation and step up coordination on international affairs with Cuba so as to push forward bilateral ties, said Li. Both China and Cuba are currently facing urgent tasks of developing the economy and improving the livelihood of the people, said the premier. China wants to focus on development and cooperation with the Cuban side, supports Cuba's industrialization process and would like to conduct cooperation with Cuba in infrastructural construction and industrial equipment production, Li said. The Chinese premier also called on the two countries to expand trade and investment cooperation, share development experience and make more frequent people-to-people exchanges. Raul Castro, for his part, spoke highly of the historic significance of Li's visit, the first official visit by a Chinese premier in 56 years. He said Cuba agrees with China on measures to develop bilateral ties and is willing to learn from China's development experience. Cuba looks forward to increasing high-level exchanges with China, and expanding down-to-earth cooperation with China in trade and education, Castro added. He also suggested the two countries enhance coordination on international affairs so as to safeguard common interests of the vast number of developing countries. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of some 20 cooperative agreements in areas including economic technology, finance, production capacity, telecommunication, environment protection, and inspection and quarantine. Li arrived in Havana Saturday for a three-day official visit to Cuba, the first official visit to the Latin American country by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960. 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. MOGADISHU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's electoral team failed to meet the Sept. 24 deadline for the start of the elections of members of the Lower House, raising concerns the delay could affect the election of the president slated for Oct. 30. By Saturday, the day polling stations were set to open in the regional capitals, the Federal Indirect Elections Implementing Team, FIEIT and its state level equivalent were still held up in a meeting to iron out contentious issues. The polls body said in a statement on Sept. 21 that elders tasked with choosing the delegates who will elect members of the Lower House were yet to submit their lists to the electoral body even as it emerged clans were not willing to reserve seats to women in line with the poll procedures. The polls body also said it was facing financial, political and security challenges which could delay the electoral process for the Horn of Africa nation. The international community committed to meet 60 percent of the budget while Somalia would clear the rest through Federal Government purse and candidates fees. Besides the technical aspects of the elections, security remains a key challenge. The militant group Al-Shabaab announced last week it would disrupt the polls, raising concerns this could scare some voters away. Analysts have expressed fears that a delay in parliamentary elections will automatically influence that of the president which is scheduled for Oct. 30. The Presidency announced in a decree Sept. 4 that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud would have limited powers after Sept. 10 when his constitutionally mandated term ran out. The decree stipulated the extended stay in office must come to a close in November 6. But the delay of Parliamentary elections is likely to affect the October 30 Presidential poll. The election of members of the Upper House which ought to be completed by Sept. 25 also stands postponed. The timetable which set out the process to choose a new federal Parliament between Sept. 24 and Oct. 10 and president by Oct. 30 was endorsed by Somalia's National Leadership Forum. The electoral body announced late last month that a list of 135 traditional elders was being finalized for selecting 14,025 members of Electoral Colleges, who will in turn elect the 275 members of the lower house of the next federal parliament. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The investigation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over the allegations of child abuse by the 52-year-old actor Brad Pitt is unlikely to proceed, a source close to the situation has told the U.S. People Magazine. Pitt is accused of being "verbally abusive" and getting "physical" with his 15-year-old son Madox, while he and his wife Angelina Jolie were returning from France to their home in Los Angeles on a private plane on Sept. 14, the People Magazine reported. A source close to the couple told the People Magazine that Pitt did not strike Maddox but rather, "made contact" with him "in the shoulder area." "There was absolutely no physical injury to him," the source explained. Pitt was allegedly drunk, and was arguing with Jolie. "There was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have," the source said. The FBI hasn't determined if a full-fledged investigation is warranted. "The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," according to a statement released by Laura Eimiller of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. A source close to the actor said that "it does not seem likely at this time that the FBI will be recommending further investigation into the matter." Angelina Jolie, the 41-year-old Oscar-winning actress of Hollywood, filed petition for divorce on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the breakup. Many believe the child-abuse incidence may have triggered the split, which put an end to the two-year marriage of the glamorous couple. Jolie is asking the court for physical custody of the couple's six children and to grant Pitt visitation rights. Jolie is not asking for spousal support. Among their six children, they gave birth to three of them and adopted the other three. A source told U.S. Weekly that Jolie took extreme measures to sever lines of communication with her estranged husband Pitt. "Angelina has blocked all incoming text messages and also Brad's numbers," the insider said. The source told the People Magazine that Pitt "is beside himself and has been crying." "He was completely caught off-guard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this," the source said. "She had threatened divorce in the past but he did not think she would file this time," the source added. There was a certain irony at the Sept. 1 debate for Montanas sole seat in the U.S. House. Momentary confusion ensued after candidates Ryan Zinke and Denise Juneau took the stage at Petro Theater on the MSU Billings campus, where three podiums were set up. One went left, one went right, until they were directed to stand side by side. The stand reserved for Mike Fellows remained vacant. Fellows, who died Monday night in a head-on collision on Highway 200 near Potomac, was the Libertarian candidate for the House seat for the ninth time in the past 10 elections. Hed called debate organizers earlier in the day to notify them he couldn't make it. He was in a Missoula hospital undergoing treatment for kidney failure. So many times in past years, Fellows was denied a place on the debate stage in Billings because he hadnt gained the required support in a poll by Lee Newspapers of Montana. In a 2004 debate in Great Falls, as Denny Rehberg and Tracy Velazquez duked it out onstage, Fellows was introduced and videotaped the proceedings, but he wasn't invited to join the fray. He used to have to fight to get into debates, retired Lee statehouse reporter Chuck Johnson said in the aftermath of Fellows death. And he objected when they wouldnt let him. Theres a place in Montana politics for those who tilt at windmills. 'Perennial' candidate In the days after Fellows death in a crash that almost cost another life, and appears to have been triggered by his severe health condition, the man from the liberal bastion of Missoula was routinely identified as a perennial Libertarian candidate. Fellows was that and, of course, much more. He was the glue that held the Libertarian Party together for the past 20 years, the chairman of the state party for most of those and the national party's go-to man in Montana. Fellows was also a man who guarded his privacy even while doggedly stepping into the public limelight or as much a limelight as the public allows a champion of a third party that struggles to gain traction in mainstream America. "Do I look like a fool running all the time?" Fellows once asked his friend and fellow Libertarian David Merrick of Corvallis. I told him there are people whove been elected to major offices whove run and run and finally, by virtue of name recognition, got elected, Merrick said last week. I said, Youre not foolish. Youre doing us a great favor putting in the work you do for the party. Fellows, who was born in Lewiston, Idaho, and moved to Havre in 1975, was a fixture at every Montana parade and county fair he could get to, espousing the Libertarian point of view that he embraced early in life. It's the philosophy of live and let live, and people shouldnt have laws ordering them around and ordering them what to do, Merrick said. And so it was that Fellows, who lived alone on South Third Street West in Missoula, did little campaigning on his own behalf but lived his life for the cause. He represented probably the most stamina Ive ever seen, and determination to help the Libertarian party stay on the ballot in the state of Montana, said Merrick, who was at the vanguard of the Libertarian creation movement in the early 1970s in California. Securing a spot on the ballot For a party to place a candidate on the ballot without going through the signature-gathering process, its candidates are required to muster a vote total exceeding 5 percent of the votes cast for governor in the previous election, Merrick explained. When Fellows became chairman of the state Libertarian committee, he took on the responsibility of making sure someone from the party was always running for governor, for secretary of state and for the U.S. House. The national Libertarian party kicks in for some candidates, but a lot of times Mike paid (the registration fee) to get them on the ballot, said Merrick, who on Wednesday wrote a check for $1,740 to register Rick Breckenridge of Proctor as Fellows' replacement. That was his goal, it was his ambition, its what he did, Merrick said. Fellows was was 0-and-8 in Congressional races carrying the Libertarian flag, and he lost bids in 1996 for state Senate, in 1998 for the state House, and in 2012 for Supreme Court clerk. In 1998 he simultaneously challenged Democrat Tom Facey of Missoula for the House District 67 seat and Republican Rick Hill and Democrat Dusty Deschamps for Hills congressional seat. (A statute passed by the 2003 Legislature prohibits dual entries these days.) Fellows garnered 20 percent of the vote against Facey and 2 percent against Hill and Deschamps. But always he was able to keep Libertarians on the ballot and their voices heard. 'I might have won' Montana has had its share of quixotic candidates, pointed out David Parker, a political scientist at Montana State University. The late Bob Kelleher, a Butte Democrat, ran for various positions over the course of more than 40 years, including president in 1975. Being a perennial candidate is not unusual, Parker said. Fellows switched gears in 2012, running for Supreme Court clerk and surprising himself and Democrat incumbent Ed Smith by garnering 43 percent of the votes, a nationwide record for a Libertarian. He carried 27 of Montanas 56 counties. Mike won with 89 percent in one precinct here in Ravalli County, Merrick remembered. He said, Oh my gosh. I probably should have campaigned a little bit more and I might have won. In 2014 it was back to the congressional race against Zinke and Democrat John Lewis. And Fellows was back to garnering 5 percent of the vote again. He was an enigma, Johnson said. He never wanted to give us his birth date. I think he was concerned about potential privacy violation. Many a time Fellows would wait until the day of the filing deadline to show up at the Secretary of State's office in Helena, Johnson recalled. Hed kind of hang around, and I sort of had the feeling he was waiting to see if someone else filed in a race that wasnt covered. He was always alone, and he would often file with one or two minutes left. Seeing a doctor True to his philosophy, Fellows doggedly refused medical treatment as his kidneys shut down. He had lost maybe 60 pounds, maybe 70, said Joel Baird, general manager of Missoula Community Access TV. He went from 190 to 120, that kind of thing. Fellows was treasurer of the MCAT board and since 1992 produced some 1,000 Libertarian-espousing live TV programs. Baird said he came to recent board meetings in this absolutely alarming state. "He gets out of the hospital and he's out about two days and he goes down to Dillon for something and to Bozeman for something," said Merrick. In the heat of July, Fellows told Baird he was driving to Bozeman to make an appearance at the Gallatin County Fair. It seemed like such a bad idea," Baird said. Baird asked Fellows where hed be staying. With a friend, Fellows replied. Does your friend have air conditioning? Baird asked. Well, he hasnt built his house yet, Fellows said. That was kind of a Mike thing, simply telling me hes going to Bozeman, and once he gets there hes going to camp out with a friend, said Baird. He was such a wild man. When I say that, I guess he seemed to have this single-minded vision about proselytizing the Libertarian point of view." Concerned friends at MCAT and elsewhere finally convinced Fellows to see a doctor. What I heard is they gave him four days to live, Baird said. Dialysis treatments three a week, each three hours a day began only in the past month or so. Road to Seeley Lake It was against his better judgment, and Merricks advice, that Fellows drove the 50 miles to Seeley Lake on Monday for a political forum hosted by the local community council. I kept telling him, Dont do this thing, Merrick said. It just didnt make sense to me. They didnt know who else was going to be there. It didnt look like (Juneau and Zinke) were showing up. But he said, Well, they invited me up, so I guess I should be there. Reduced to a voice even raspier than usual, Fellows made it through the forum. Then he climbed into his older Lexus on which hed plastered placards espousing Vote Libertarian and Mike Fellows, U.S. House and headed down the Blackfoot highway. Authorities say at just after 9 p.m., less than a mile from the Potomac turnoff on Highway 200, the Lexus veered across the center line and into the path of a Subaru Forester. The driver of the Forester, a 58-year-old woman from Potomac, was hospitalized. Fellows was pronounced dead at the scene. Merrick, who is 76, said he talked to Fellows a couple times a week, but he was surprised to see in news accounts that his friend was only 59. He would have guessed mid-60s, but he had never asked. Ive known him for 15 to 20 years and didnt know if he had a religion or not, Merrick said. Just a year ago he said to me, Im Catholic. A 1988 University of Montana graduate in radio-television, Fellows worked for years as an orderly at Hillside Manor. He told Johnson in 2014 hed spent most of his life helping others in the nursing home business. He was also first vice commander at American Legion Post 27. Fellows said he served in the Army Reserves in 1982-83. He didnt really volunteer much about his life, Johnson said. As near as I can tell he was dedicated to one thing in life and it was the Libertarian philosophy. I felt so bad when I heard hed died, he added. Most candidates dont do their own driving for a statewide campaign. Its tough. You have to be on your toes for public appearances and debates and the like. Last Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. was to have been the next episode of Labor Vision, a twice-monthly show on MCAT that Fellows produced for 20 years. As the days passed after his death, word was slow in coming about funeral services. "Mike was a free spirit and probably wouldn't want a lot of fuss anyway," said Roger Peterson, a longtime Missoula friend. "Maybe just beer and sharing of stories at the Union Club." By Thursday, Baird and MCAT had hatched a plan for their own tribute. Itll be called the Mike Fellows Open House. From 5 to 8 p.m. on Missoulas next First Friday, Oct. 7, the MCAT studio will be open to anyone who wants to come in and share his or her thoughts and memories of Fellows on camera. Selections from the hundreds of hours of Labor Vision will be spliced in as well. The unique voice and steadfast passion of Montana's "godfather of third-party politics" isn't quelled yet. MANILA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit Vietnam from September 28 to 29, a senior government official said Sunday. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over a state-run radio station that aside from meeting his counterpart, Duterte will also meet with businessmen and the Filipino community in Vietnam during his trip. He noted that Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who will accompany the president in his trip, has lined up programs related to trade and commerce. While the president is in Vietnam, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will again head the caretaker committee to oversee government operations, he said. Duterte's trip to Vietnam will be his third overseas trip after Laos, where he attended a regional summit, and Indonesia early this month. TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's defense ministry on Sunday launched the production line of homegrown ballistic missile of "Zolfaqar," Tasnim news agency reported. The tactical missile, which is capable of evading jamming signals in electronic warfare, will come into service by the end of the current Iranian year, in March 2017. Zolfaqar runs on solid fuel and can hit the targets with pin-point accuracy in a range of 750 km. On Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps demonstrated Zolfaqar during a military parade in Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas. Iranian officials have vowed to develop missile programs as a means to enhance deterrent power of the country. An Iranian military truck carries parts of the S300 missile system during the annual military parade marking the anniversary of the start of Iran's 1980-1988 war with Iraq, on September 21, 2016, in the capital Tehran.(AFP Photo) TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's defense ministry on Sunday launched the production line of homegrown ballistic missile of "Zolfaqar," Tasnim news agency reported. The tactical missile, which is capable of evading jamming signals in electronic warfare, will come into service by the end of the current Iranian year, in March 2017. Zolfaqar runs on solid fuel and can hit the targets with pin-point accuracy in a range of 750 km. On Wednesday, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps demonstrated Zolfaqar during a military parade in Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas. Iranian officials have vowed to develop missile programs as a means to enhance deterrent power of the country. NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenneth Giitu left formal employment in 1998 with dreams of becoming one of Kenya's preeminent entrepreneurs. He had worked for a prestigious chemical manufacturing firm for almost a decade before he decided to become self-employed. He was convinced that the technical skills he had acquired from the blue chip firm would propel him to become a successful businessman. Giitu started a small cottage industry of manufacturing chemicals required for the health-care industry. He entered into the business of supplying Calamine lotion, surgical spirits, antiseptics, sanitizers and peroxide to the local market. The businessman depended on raw materials sourced locally in order to make his products. However, he was unable to compete with established manufacturers who benefited from economies of scales. "Because I bought products in small quantities I couldn't get bulk discount and hence my business remained unprofitable," Giitu told Xinhua in Nairobi in an interview on the sidelines of a briefing of the Kenyan business delegation which is to depart for China to attend the China Import and Export Fair, or 120th Canton Fair to be held in south China's Guangzhou from Oct. 15. He recalled he struggled to raise money to finance his first business trip to China over ten years ago but his efforts have paid off handsomely. "Since I discovered Chinese technology, my business has expanded over 20 times in volume," he said. His business now employs over 60 staff up from two before he began sourcing raw material from the Asian nation. "I am now able to access world class technology at half the cost of sourcing from Europe," he added. Giitu, who is the CEO of Diarim Enterprises, travels to China at least four times a year to source for raw materials straight from Chinese manufacturers. He told Xinhua on Saturday that Chinese technology in the health-care is now comparable to that of U.S. or Europe. "In addition, the Chinese firms tend to be more responsive to customer needs," he added. The entrepreneur's latest venture is a water producing facility. In 2012, he purchased water bottling equipment from China that uses reverse osmosis to produce mineral water. "Many people advised me against buying machinery from China because of the mistaken belief that Chinese goods are of low quality," he revealed. "However, ever since I installed the machine it has never failed even once," he added. His water products have achieved the Kenya Bureau of Standards Diamond Mark of Quality and currently enjoys a huge market share in Kenya's crowded mineral water industry. Giitu said he plans to use his latest trip to the Canton Fair to source for the latest Chinese technology in order to expand his business even further. JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Africa's overall elephant population has seen the worst declines in 25 years, mainly due to poaching over the past 10 years, according to a report released here on Sunday. The African Elephant Status Report was launched by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) at the ongoing 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Spices of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Based on population estimates from a wide range of sources, including aerial surveys and elephant dung counts, the estimates for 2015 were 93,000 lower than in 2006. However, including 18,000 from previously uncounted populations, the real decline from estimates is considered to be closer to 111,000. The continental total is now thought to be about 415,000 elephants, although there may be an additional 117,000 to 135,000 elephants in areas not systematically surveyed. The surge in poaching for ivory that began approximately a decade ago, the worst that Africa has experienced since the 1970s and 1980s, has been the main driver of the decline, while habitat loss poses an increasingly serious, long-term threat to the species, according to the report. "These new numbers reveal the truly alarming plight of the majestic elephant, one of the world's most intelligent animals and the largest terrestrial mammal alive today," said IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. "It is shocking but not surprising that poaching has taken such a dramatic toll on this iconic species." This report provides further scientific evidence of the need to scale up efforts to combat poaching, he said. "Nevertheless, these efforts must not detract from addressing other major and increasingly devastating threats such as habitat loss," Andersen said. With over 70 percent of the estimated African elephants, Southern Africa has by far the largest number of the species, approximately 293,000 elephants in systematically surveyed areas. Eastern Africa holds about 86,000 (20 percent) estimated elephants, while Central Africa has about 24,000 estimated elephants (six percent). West Africa continues to hold the smallest regional population with approximately 11,000 (under three percent). Eastern Africa, the region most affected by poaching, has experienced an almost 50 percent elephant population reduction, largely attributed to an over 60 percent decline in Tanzania's elephant population. Although some sites have recorded declines, elephant numbers have been stable or increasing since 2006 in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, and range expansion has been reported in Kenya. Central Africa's forest elephant population has been substantially affected by poaching for ivory since the 1990s. The Democratic Republic of Congo used to hold one of the most significant forest elephant populations in Africa, which has now been reduced to tiny remnants of its former size. The savanna populations of Chad have taken heavy losses and those in the Central African Republic have almost completely disappeared. The report is an authoritative source of knowledge about the numbers and distribution of African elephant populations across their 37 range states in sub-Saharan Africa. It presents more than 275 new or updated estimates for individual elephant populations across Africa, with over 180 of these arising from systematic surveys. The report summarizes for the first time in almost a decade elephant numbers at the continental, regional and national levels, and examines changes in population estimates at the site level. ARUSHA, Tanzania, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Songoro Tozo is one of the coffee growers in southwestern Tanzania's district of Mbozi who are currently overwhelmed with a number of challenges which have made them unable to reach production target for the last 15 years. In the hilly and sloppy area of Mbozi, farmers have been failing to raise production from 250 grams of coffee beans per plant to 1,000 grams, the target set by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute (TaCRI). A 52-year-old farmer, Tozo said erratic and often adverse changes to weather patterns make coffee growing in the area more a lottery than an art. "I have been in this venture for more than three decades, and in those good days, we had enough rains, but now rains start late, delaying crop planting and resulting in late coffee flowering and berry ripening," said Tozo, of Nambizo village. "That means delays for farmers in earning income from their coffee," he said, adding that in some years it rains within a shorter period, a situation that affects the growth of the crop. A father of four, Tozo cites lack of extension officers and the high cost of farm inputs as the "deadly" challenges facing coffee cultivators in the area and perhaps across Tanzania. "As farmers, we're left growing coffee on our own as there are no extension officers," said Jonas Silungwe, a coffee grower in the area, who owns five acres of farm land. Silungwe said farmers were expecting that the government would come up with dams that would help farmers to venture into irrigation as mitigation measures to climate change. "In the past, we had strong cooperative societies, which used to pay farmers at the right time and empower us with new farming skills as well as ensuring that farm inputs are available, but now it's not the case," Silungwe lamented. According to Silungwe some farmers uprooted the crop and planted other crops, as they could not maintain them. Sikujuwa Msukwa of Nkanga village said "coffee farming is under a new threat, as of now the market is flooded with fake pesticides and insecticides. This makes our sweat disappear in a thin air as we're spending a lot of money in production with a very minimal return." Isack Mushi, manager of Mbimba center of TaCRI said that the institute has reached 15 years and it has been facing a number of challenges including failing to help farmers raise coffee bean output to 1,000 grams per plant. "We've also failed to improve grading of coffee beans from between 13 and 9 to between 9 and 5," he said, citing limited investment in the crop by local authorities through supporting farmers with extension officers as well as making farmers get farm inputs like fertilizers at low price. Edna Mwaigomole, Mbozi District Council executive director is aware of the challenge facing the coffee farming in the district. "In this financial year, we're going to employ 47 extension officers as part of our efforts to revamp the cash crop," she said. However, Deusdedit Kibasa, senior researcher from Ardhi University suggested the need for coffee growers to start venturing into organic farming. Kibasa said many farmers have been using unfriendly farming methods including the use of toxic chemicals, which reduces the quality of coffee beans, making it unable to compete in the international markets. Apart from destroying the quality of coffee beans, the expert said it also destroys the soil which reduced its fertility making farmers get less and less production on a yearly basis. Coffee is one of Tanzania's major export crops; on average the country produces around 50,000 metric tons each year of which approximately 70 percent is Arabica and 30 percent Robusta. Sales generate over 100 million U.S. dollars per year, according to data from Tanzania's Coffee Board. The three main Arabica growing regions are in the North/Kilimanjaro, Mbeya and the Matengo Highlands (Mbinga). Tanzania ranks the 19th largest producer of coffee in the world. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of Pakistani Taliban, Azam Tariq, is believed to have been killed in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, the group's sources confirmed to the media on Sunday. Azam Tariq was among four Pakistani Taliban activists who were killed in an operation by the Afghan security forces late Saturday, the sources told tribal journalists in Pakistan. Some sources said Azam's son is also among the dead. Security sources have also confirmed to tribal journalists in the region that the Taliban's leader has been killed, according to section of the media. The slain leader had previously worked as the spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and was working as spokesman for the Taliban faction led by a senior commander, Khan Sayed alias Sajna. Pakistani security officials believe that majority of the Taliban belong to Sajna group living in Paktika province after they entered Afghanistan in the wake of military operations in Waziristan tribal region. Last month, American and Afghan officials confirmed that a leader of the Islamic State, Hafiz Saeed Khan, was killed in a U.S. drone strike. Khan, a senior former Pakistani Taliban leader, was the head of the IS group in Afghanistan and Pakistan. RAMALLAH, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian government on Sunday slammed Israel after the death of a Palestinian inmate and held it responsible for his death. Israel announced Sunday morning that 40-year-old Yasser Dhiab Hamdouneh died while in custody after a stroke that hit him. Hamdouneh was incarcerated in Ramon prison, serving life sentence since March 2003. He had been suffering from recurrent shortness of breath, heart problems and pain in his left ear for a long time, said Palestinian sources. Palestinian government spokesperson Yousef Al-Mahmoud said in a press statement that "the government holds Israel and its so-called prisons authority and medical staff, fully responsible for the death of Yasser Dhiab Hamdouneh." Al-Mahmoud called on all international legal and humanitarian organizations to move immediately to release Palestinian prisoners, especially the ill and children. The Palestinians said that 1,800 of Palestinian prisoners are suffering difficult health conditions. ISTANBUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday signaled his readiness to work with the United States in removing the Islamic State (IS) from its de-facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria, but insisted on the exclusion of Syrian Kurdish militias from any operation, local media said. "Our foreign ministry officials and military officials have been in contact with the U.S. about the Raqqa issue," the president said on his way back from New York after attending UN General Assembly sessions, according to private NTV news channel. "Raqqa is the most important center for Deash. If U.S. will not make PYD and YPG be involved in this business, we can of course join this struggle with the U.S.," he said. On Thursday, Erdogan's spokesman ruled out the possibility of Turkey joining any operation against Deash or IS militants in Raqqa to be joined by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) or its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG). Erdogan also indicated that Ankara could contribute to the seizure of Mosul, the Iraq's second largest city, from the IS. Turkey sent tanks, warplanes and special operations forces into northern Syria on Aug. 24 in a launch of what it called Operation Euphrates Shield to fight both the IS and Syrian Kurdish militias. Related: Spotlight: Turkey's "offensive" against terrorism signals new cross-border operations: analysts ISTANBUL, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's projected "offensive" against terrorist groups, including the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), raises the possibility of new cross-border operations in the near future that would include northern Iraq, analysts said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan waits to address the United Nations General Assembly in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.S. September 20, 2016.(REUTERS photo) ISTANBUL, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday signaled his readiness to work with the United States in removing the Islamic State (IS) from its de-facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria, but insisted on the exclusion of Syrian Kurdish militias from any operation, local media said. "Our foreign ministry officials and military officials have been in contact with the U.S. about the Raqqa issue," the president said on his way back from New York after attending UN General Assembly sessions, according to private NTV news channel. "Raqqa is the most important center for Deash. If U.S. will not make PYD and YPG be involved in this business, we can of course join this struggle with the U.S.," he said. On Thursday, Erdogan's spokesman ruled out the possibility of Turkey joining any operation against Deash or IS militants in Raqqa to be joined by the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) or its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG). Erdogan also indicated that Ankara could contribute to the seizure of Mosul, the Iraq's second largest city, from the IS. Turkey sent tanks, warplanes and special operations forces into northern Syria on Aug. 24 in a launch of what it called Operation Euphrates Shield to fight both the IS and Syrian Kurdish militias. Bataan Death March survivor, artist and educator Ben Steele will be remembered for his heroism and his warm, caring personality. Steele died Sunday in Billings at age 98 with his wife Shirley and daughters Julie Jorgenson and Rosemarie Steele at his side. Everyone knows his war stories and what he went through as a POW, but its his personality, his warm caring personality that made people love him, Jorgenson said. His students would come up to me and say, Ben and I have a special bond. But he made everyone feel special; every student had that special bond with him. A documentary film about Steele's life, Survival Through Art, has just been completed by filmmaker Jan Thompson. A private screening is set for November, but Jorgenson said there will be other upcoming opportunities to see it. Steele was born on Nov. 17, 1917, in Roundup and grew up riding horses and roping cattle in the Bull Mountains. One of his biggest and earliest influences was the cowboy artist Will James, Jorgenson said. Dad used to deliver art supplies to Will James, who was a loner, but he liked Dad. His parents told him not to hang out much with Will James because he was a drinker, but Dad never said a bad word about him. Steele later used his skill at drawing to keep his sanity when he was a prisoner of war. His powerful drawings of his time in captivity are housed at the University of Montana in Missoula. In 2015, when School District 2 was naming a new middle school on Grand Avenue and 56th Street West, Shannon Burns Johnson pushed to have it named for Steele. She rallied the community, obtaining 2,000 signatures in a matter of days to get Steeles name on the list. When I went to tell Ben about the idea, he just stared at me for a minute, then he got this huge grin on his face and said, Ben Steele Middle School that would be a great name, Johnson said. Ground was broken on the middle school in March, and Jorgenson said her father considered having his name on the school one of his highest honors. U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who met Steele on the Big Sky Honor Flight in 2013, issued a statement Sunday about Steeles heroism. Montana has lost an American hero and a state treasure, Daines said. Ben Steele will be remembered for his service, his courage and his artistic legacy. Steele was a U.S. Army Air Corps private in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked and captured his unit. At least 7,000 soldiers died during a 66-mile march under a hot tropical suna march so horrific that the Japanese commander was later executed for war crimes. Steele was bayoneted, starved and beaten. He suffered dysentery, malaria, pneumonia, beriberi and septicemia. He gained the emotional strength to stay alive in part by sketching pictures. His heroic journey is told in the 2009 New York Times bestseller Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath by Michael and Elizabeth Norman. Ohio teenager Lexi Winkelfoos traveled 1,000 miles to meet Steele in 2015 after she read the book for a history project. Winkelfoos said she wanted to hear Steele's laugh and know that he found happiness. "After reading the book, I just wanted to know that he was happy after everything he had been through," Winkelfoos said. After the war, Steele pursued college and graduate degrees in art and returned to Billings to teach at Eastern Montana College and Montana State University Billings. Steele met Harry Koyama, a student of Japanese heritage, in his art class in the 1960s. Steele said he learned to forgive his Japanese captors because of his relationship with Koyama, which Steele talked about in Tears in the Darkness. Hes been a part of my life since I met him in college in the 1960s, Koyama said. Thats even more of a humbling experience to know that I had not just an effect, but a positive effect on his life. Ben was just a great person and an excellent art teacher. I still use some of the techniques Ben taught me. Another former student, Jacque Kittson, said Steele was actively painting and drawing up until the final weeks of his life. A show featuring some of his new works and those of his friends will be on display Oct. 8 at the Carbon County Arts Guild in Red Lodge. I was so blessed to have him as my teacher, friend, mentor and second father, Kittson said. Photos: Ben Steele ALGIERS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Sunday expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached by major oil producing countries to stabilize the world oil market. "I'm very optimistic that OPEC members would reach a consensual agreement to restore stability to the up-and-down oil market," Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa told a press conference preceding the informal meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algiers. The informal meeting of OPEC will be held on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algiers from Sept. 26-28. The OPEC members pump up 33.4 million barrels per day, which is a very high level that could never help pushing prices to hike, according to the Algerian official. Bouterfa urged both the OPEC and non-OPEC members to freeze production in a bid to stabilize the market. He noted that oil price at 50 or 60 U.S. dollars would be favorable for both consumers and producers, as it would help producers to maintain investments and exploration of new fields, and therefore assure the availability of this key energy product in the long term. He further noted that Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two influential members of OPEC, have been sending positive signals as they are likely to work on limiting their outputs in the short term, adding that talks are also underway with non-OPEC producers including Russia, to persuade them to freeze production. NAIROBI, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government said on Sunday that it plans to expand the Nairobi-Mombasa highway from the current single lane to six lane modern highway and bids are likely to be invited soon, an official said on Sunday. State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu told a news conference in Nairobi that already a U.S. investor has expressed its interest in the Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway which is expected to ease traffic jams in Nairobi. "I can confirm U.S. investor interest in this Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway. Among the partners involved are Bechtel Corp., the United States' largest construction and civil engineering firm, which will be supported in this endeavor by the United States' Import-Export Bank and OPIC," he said. The U.S. Export-Import Bank is simultaneously working with Bechtel to secure investment for the 485-kilometre expressway which is intended to speed up commerce and travel between Kenya's main port of Mombasa and cities throughout East Africa. OPIC's role in the emerging deal would be to insure Bechtel against breach of contract. "We are hopeful that these discussions will bear fruit, and that Kenya will soon enjoy the new infrastructure on the Nairobi-Mombasa route," Esipisu said. "More importantly, though, this is a show of continued massive international investor confidence in our economy and our country," he added. According to Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia the government plans to build the road through a Public Private Partnership. The 485km Mombasa-Nairobi highway is crucial for trade in the region since it connects the port to Nairobi and onward to the hinterland markets, including landlocked Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. More than 90 percent of goods landing at Mombasa port -- one of the largest and busiest ports in Africa -- are transported over the road and over a parallel railway line, underlining the importance of the road. Nearly all of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan's imported goods reach their destinations via this road, making it an important regional economic asset. JERUSALEM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails announced Sunday a three-day hunger strike after a Palestinian inmate died, Israeli authorities and Palestinian media said. Israel Prison Service Spokesman Assaf Librati confirmed to Xinhua that Yasser Dhiab Hamdouneh, a Palestinian from the West Bank city of Jenin, was pronounced dead on Sunday morning. "He collapsed during morning workout," Librati said without elaborating on the cause of death. An ambulance was called to the Damon Prison in northern Israel, where Hamdouneh was held, but "the resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful," Librati said. Palestinian media reported that Hamdouneh apparently suffered a cardiac arrest or a stroke. According to the Palestinian Ma'an news agency, the Palestinian prisoners announced a three-day hunger strike to protest his death. Hamdouneh suffered from several health issues, including shortness of breath, heart problems, and ear pains, Ma'an reported. Hamdouneh served a life sentence for killing an Israeli merchant in the West Bank in 2003. According to Addameer, a Palestinian prisonoers' rights organisation, Israel maintains a "deliberate policy of neglect" of the health of Palestinians in jails. Palestinian prisoners and detainees often go on hunger strikes to protest their harsh imprisonment conditions and administrative detention, an indefinable incarceration without charges for renewable periods of six months. Librati said that the Prison Service will establish a committee to probe the death of Hamdouneh, a routine procedure in case of death of prisoners. "Apparently, there was nothing unusual about his death," he said. BUDAPEST, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The explosion in downtown Budapest Saturday night was caused by some kind of bomb, not by gas leak, Attila Ladocsi, Hungarian forensic demolition expert, told television channel M1 on Sunday. It was definitely some kind of bomb, he said, adding that the debris around the shop at the corner of Terez Ring and Kiraly Street clearly showed that a large amount of explosive was behind it. It is a highly frequented area with many cafes, restaurants, night clubs and hotels, all packed on Saturday night. Asked if it had been a pipe bomb as alleged by the daily newspaper Nepszabadsag, Ladocsi said the explosion was far more powerful than a pipe bomb, and was definitely a homemade device. Police have called for eyewitnesses to come forward to help hunt down the bomber who will be charged with attempted murder. The device went off at around 10:30 p.m.local time (2030 GMT) on Saturday night. It broke neighborhood windows and could be heard miles away. Two police officers patrolling the area were hurt and hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. They were the only wounded, the police stated. The police declined to give further information, saying that it was in the interests of the investigation to remain silent. JAKARTA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers had discovered 36 bodies and were still looking for 22 others who are missing after floods and landslides hit West Java province in western Indonesia earlier this week, an official from the local disaster agency said on Sunday. In Garut district, rescuers found 33 bodies and are searching for all the missing persons, Haryadi Wargadibrata, head of provincial disaster agency, told Xinhua by phone from the province. A total of 6,361 internally displaced persons remain at government office buildings and military stations, he said. The catastrophe left 951 houses damaged and swept by currents of rivers, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency, 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 the Red Cross. In Sumedang district, three people were killed after landslides hit 2 houses, he added. Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy downpours. Relatives and friends of the Jordanian writer Maher Hattar hold pictures of him during a sit-in in the town of Al-Fuheis, near Amman, Jordan, Sept. 25, 2016. The Jordanian writer who published a cartoon that some claimed to be insulting to God was shot down Sunday. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh) AMMAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Jordanian writer who published a cartoon that some claimed to be insulting to God was shot down Sunday. Maher Hattar, a Christian, republished a cartoon recently that depicts God in heaven. The cartoon showed a bearded man surrounded by two women. The cartoon caused an outrage in Jordan and authorities detained Hattar in August on charge of inciting racism and sectarianism and insulting religious beliefs. He later apologized and said he was referring to what the terrorist Islamic State members think of as a God in the cartoon. "Hattar was killed as he was entering the court for trial," a security source told Xinhua Sunday. The gunman was arrested. Security sources said the gunman is a Jordanian and was known to be an extremist. The gunman said he killed Hattar for republishing the cartoon, according to initial investigation by the authorities. Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2015 shows a modern light rail system built by China in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia sees China as a serious development partner, says Ethiopian State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation Ahmed Shide. The Ethiopian minister made the remarks at a reception co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and Chinese Mission to the African Union (AU) on Thursday to mark the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1. The heroes and heroines of China, in the 1930s and 40s, made the historic long march to bring peace, equality, and justice to their great nation, which culminated in the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, he said. "Ever since the succeeding generations, through relentless struggle, have not only pulled hundreds of millions of Chinese out of abject poverty, and enabled them to meet their dire needs, but also successfully put their great nation on irreversible development path," said the minister. Ethiopian State Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ahmed Shide speaks during the reception celebrating the 67th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) "Hence, this day is indeed, memorable for the Chinese people and the world at large," he noted. Stating that Ethiopia and China enjoy a longstanding and wide-ranging strategic comprehensive partnership, Ahmed said China has played an exemplary role in supporting Ethiopia's struggle to extricate its people out of poverty and to transform its economy. "Ethiopia sees China as a serious development partner and has keen desire to strengthen and deepen the existing excellent relationship between our two countries, most importantly this partnership based on mutual respect and win-win benefit," said the minister. He also stated that Ethiopia and China are supporting each other on regional and global matters of common interest and contribute immensely to world peace and equitable development. With a photograph exhibition, the reception was attended by senior government officials of Ethiopia and the pan-Africa bloc as well as diplomats, heads and representatives of different organizations. In his remarks during the event, Kuang Weilin, Head of Chinese Mission to AU, noted that the great strides China has made since its reform and opening up process have changed the destiny of the Chinese people, and also significantly contributed to global peace and prosperity. Chinese Ambassador to the African Union Kuang Weilin speaks during the reception celebrating the 67th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) "Over the past 67 years, China has witnessed remarkable economic and social achievements. Gone are the days when China was poor, weak and divided," said the envoy. Despite challenges at home and abroad, he said China remains committed to deepening reforms and opening up to ensure sound and sustainable economic growth. He also reiterated that China is focusing on structural reforms, innovation, new technology, and new industries, among others, which has provided new driving forces for the country's sustainable development. With economic growth of 6.7 percent during the first half of this year, which is not small accomplishment in light of the sheer size of the country's gross domestic product, China plays its role as a key engine of the world economy. Saying China's economic growth contributed nearly 30 percent to the global economic growth last year, Kuang said the fundamentals of China's economy remain sound and the general trend is promising. "We are confident that China can maintain medium-to-high growth rate in the years to come, which will undoubtedly boost recovery of the world economy," noted Kuang. Elephants seen roaming free in Amboseli park on Jan. 3, 2016 in Kenya. (Xinhua/Zhu Shaobin) JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Saturday opened the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Johannesburg, which will discuss key issues pertaining to the regulation of international trade in wildlife. Zuma said the wildlife species will become extinct if illegal trafficking is not checked and regulated. He pointed out that the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future. Zuma expressed his country's commitment to working with other countries to preserve wildlife. A black rhino in Namibia's Erindi Private Game Reserve. (Xinhua file photo) "It is critical for governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Regulations must ensure that trade of rhinos for example, or wild ginger is in a way that ensures that future generations continue to benefit from them, and that they do not become extinct," Zuma said. 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. The existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future, he noted. The natural resources sustain livelihoods of communities and promoting economic development, Zuma said. Wildlife contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), create jobs and sustain lives of the people, said Zuma. He called for a transparent and fair system that allows governments to meet their development imperatives which are intertwined with the sustainable use of species. "You are all here because your countries agree that legal international trade in wildlife, particularly in endangered species, requires regulation, monitoring, enforcement and international collaboration," Zuma said. The illegal trade in wildlife, including poaching, presents significant challenges and threats to the environment, including undermining the potential benefits arising from legal trade that contributes significantly to socio-economic upliftment and development. "Global governance is critical for our common success," Zuma said. He said legal trade in wildlife species should be well-regulated and conducted within the CITES framework and national legislative frameworks. Secretary General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), John Scanlon, addresses the opening of the 17th meeting of Conference of the Parties to the CITES (known as CITES CoP17) at Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sept. 24, 2016.(Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) John Scanlon, CITES Secretary General, said there has been increasing political interest and funding towards wildlife preservation. He said governments and international bodies like the UN Crime Commission have shown much commitment in fighting illegal trade in wildlife species. Scanlon said the conference will review the crime fighting mechanism and find ways to strengthen it. Over the next two weeks, Parties to CITES will take important decisions in the interests of protecting the planet's most precious wildlife. Over 500 species will be affected, some of which are illegally traded across the globe at alarming levels. "We are not only talking about challenges at CoP 17 but what more needs to be done," Scanlon said. United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Erik Solheim called for a "combined struggle" to preserve the wildlife. He commended China for using celebrities to spread the message about the need to preserve wildlife. Solheim also praised the Beijing International Airport for dedicating its commercial space to informing travelers about the dangers to wildlife. "CITES cannot succeed in isolation. When we work together there is no limit to what we can achieve," he said. Chairperson of the CITES Standing Committee, Oystein Storkersen said there has been lots of innovative ways to push the CITES agenda forward. The conference, which will last until October 5, is considering proposals put forward by different countries. If there is no consensus, they will resort to a vote. Mogadishu residents seen in a Sept. 21, 2016 demonstration against marine disputes between Somalia and Kenya, offers a glimpse of the country's capital. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse) MOGADISHU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's electoral team failed to meet the Sept. 24 deadline for the start of the elections of members of the Lower House, raising concerns the delay could affect the election of the president slated for Oct. 30. By Saturday, the day polling stations were set to open in the regional capitals, the Federal Indirect Elections Implementing Team, FIEIT and its state level equivalent were still held up in a meeting to iron out contentious issues. The polls body said in a statement on Sept. 21 that elders tasked with choosing the delegates who will elect members of the Lower House were yet to submit their lists to the electoral body even as it emerged clans were not willing to reserve seats to women in line with the poll procedures. The polls body also said it was facing financial, political and security challenges which could delay the electoral process for the Horn of Africa nation. The international community committed to meet 60 percent of the budget while Somalia would clear the rest through Federal Government purse and candidates fees. Besides the technical aspects of the elections, security remains a key challenge. The militant group Al-Shabaab announced last week it would disrupt the polls, raising concerns this could scare some voters away. Analysts have expressed fears that a delay in parliamentary elections will automatically influence that of the president which is scheduled for Oct. 30. The Presidency announced in a decree Sept. 4 that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud would have limited powers after Sept. 10 when his constitutionally mandated term ran out. The decree stipulated the extended stay in office must come to a close in November 6. But the delay of Parliamentary elections is likely to affect the October 30 Presidential poll. The election of members of the Upper House which ought to be completed by Sept. 25 also stands postponed. The timetable which set out the process to choose a new federal Parliament between Sept. 24 and Oct. 10 and president by Oct. 30 was endorsed by Somalia's National Leadership Forum. The electoral body announced late last month that a list of 135 traditional elders was being finalized for selecting 14,025 members of Electoral Colleges, who will in turn elect the 275 members of the lower house of the next federal parliament. BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists on Sunday maneuvered the country's Tiangong-2 space lab to a preset orbit 393 kilometers above Earth's surface, in preparation for a planned docking with the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft set to launch next month. Tiangong-2, which blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the back of a Long March-2F T2 rocket on Sept. 15, has already gone through about nine days of on-orbit testing before Sunday's maneuver, according to Li Jian, deputy head of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. "All test results suggest the space lab is in good condition," Li said. Earlier reports said China's future space station, which the country plans to put into service around 2022, will also be orbiting the Earth at approximately the same height - 393 kilometers above ground. The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft is expected to carry two astronauts into space to dock with the Tiangong-2 in October. The astronauts will work in the lab for 30 days before returning to Earth. Li said the docking will be the country's first-ever simulation of future space station docking technologies, which will see the manned spacecraft "catching up with the space station using its own space maneuvering capacities." In April 2017, China's first space cargo ship Tianzhou-1, which literally means heavenly vessel, will also be sent into orbit to dock with the space lab, providing it with fuel and other supplies. BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Sunday said police have seized over 3,300 people for stealing and trading private information of Chinese citizens via the Internet in a national campaign. The suspects were linked to over 1,200 criminal cases, the MPS said in a statement. They include 270 insiders from banking, education, telecommunication, securities and other sectors, in addition to some 90 professional hackers. In one case, it said, 13 people led by a suspect surnamed Qiu gained access to 60 million items of private information linked to popular Chinese online shopping portals such as taobao.com, jd.com, and dangdang.com. A total of 420,000 items of illegitimate and fraudulent information have been removed from the Internet since the campaign started in April, the statement added. The development came as authorities try to raise awareness against rampant cyber and telecom fraud across the nation. Telecom fraud became a public sore point in China after a case last month in which Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old high school graduate in Shandong Province, died of cardiac arrest after losing her tuition money to a telecom fraudster. According to the MPS, infringement of private information via the Internet often serves as a precursor to telecom fraud. It said the ministry will keep up high pressure on crimes that involve stealing, trading and illegally taking advantage of citizens' private information, and will work to urge e-commerce, instant messaging and social networking platforms to step up internal supervision. NANCHANG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A three-month crackdown on illegal fishing has started on Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, in the eastern province of Jiangxi on Sunday. The Ministry of Agriculture and local provincial government assembled inspectors from fishery management, police and transportation departments for the crackdown on illegal fishing on the lake. They will target electric nets, high-power snail nets, motorized trawls and other illegal fishing methods. There are about 60,000 fishermen along the Yangtze, and half of them find livings around the Poyang and Dongting lakes, in the middle reaches of Yangtze, said Yi Yanrong, director of Yangtze fishing at the Ministry of Agriculture. "We face heavy tasks to protect the aquatic resources along the Yangtze," he said. There are about 1,000 Yangtze cowfish, an endangered subspecies of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River, and half of them live in the two lakes, he said. Xiong Shangming, a fisherman at Poyang, said some fishermen use high-power machines to catch snails. "The snails are the fundamental resources in Poyang. If the snails are gone, the lake would get muddy, and lots of fish feed on the Poyang snails," he said, "the harsher the crackdown, the better." Similar crackdown will also take place on the Dongting Lake, in central China's Hunan Province. Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, addresses the Finland-China Bussiness Forum, in Helsinki, Finland, Sept. 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) HELSINKI, Sept. 25 (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. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (C), first vice president of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, takes part in the inauguration ceremony of the permanent seat of the Confucius Institute in Havana, capital of Cuba, Oct. 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) HAVANA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Havana's Confucius Institute, the only certified institution in the island country that teaches the Chinese language and culture, saw an "enrollment explosion" this academic year. The institute, located in the capital's Chinatown, is part of a growing network of institutions worldwide that receives support from the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (Hanban), to promote the Chinese language and culture in other countries. Today, there are more than 500 Confucius Institutes in 134 countries and they are a perfect testimony to the increased exchanges between students of different nationalities and Chinese teachers. Cuba's Confucius Institute opened in November 2009 and academic activities began in January 2010 following the signing of a cooperation agreement between Hanban and the University of Havana. "We have a total of 950 students this year in 43 class groups for the 6 levels of Chinese language, while we also have 14 groups of children and teenagers aged between 11 and 17, with special courses designed for their age group," the institute's director, Arsenio Aleman, told Xinhua. Aleman said that in Cuba's case, the courses are free and the expenses are covered by the island's government and Hanban. Hanban is also responsible for providing teachers and equipment. Zhang Wei, co-director of Havana's Confucius Institute, is happy to see hundreds of candidates applying for the basic Chinese classes offered by the institution. "China and Cuba have very close economic, cultural and political ties. Many Cubans have realized the importance of this strategic relationship and have decided to learn our language to understand each other better. For them learning Chinese is a way to prepare for the future," he said. Zhang said that one of the institute's objectives is to serve as a window for the world to appreciate the Chinese language and its culture as well as for teachers and volunteers to learn about other countries. "Chinese teachers and staff have the opportunity to travel to other nations to teach and learn from other cultures. This is one of Confucius' thoughts as he said that one should live and learn," said Zhang. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (2nd R), first vice president of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, cuts the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony of the permanent seat of the Confucius Institute in Havana, capital of Cuba, Oct. 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) For Cubans, the institution is an important place to learn and master the Chinese language and also understand a thousands-year-old culture. That is the case for computer engineer Alberto Garcia who spoke to Xinhua about his experience of studying for two years at Havana's Confucius Institute. "I came here to meet the needs at my work due to the growing trade between the two countries. It has been very helpful, interesting and challenging to learn Chinese," he said. Dayana Liao, a young lawyer in Havana, entered the Confucius Institute to reconnect with her Chinese roots. "When I became aware there is a Confucius Institute in Havana I enrolled without thinking. Now I have begun my third year here," she said. Liao also said it's surprising and encouraging to see the progress China has achieved in recent years as an emerging country with new development proposals that are stimulating, especially for underdeveloped nations. "I think it is very important for the youth and for everyone in general to learn Chinese because it will be the most used language this century," said Liao. Cuban President Raul Castro holds a welcoming ceremony for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) before their talks in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao) CARACAS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) --Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Cuba represents the ongoing efforts both China and the island nation make to grow closer over the years, according to one analyst. Li's trip to Havana marks the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960, making it a truly unique chance to boost bilateral cooperation. Li's visit follows his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada. "This is a historic milestone which crowns a process of improvement and expansion of relations of all types between Cuba and China, not only commercially but politically as well," said the former Director of International Relations for the Venezuelan presidency Sergio Rodriguez Gelfenstein in an interview with Xinhua. China is now Cuba's second-largest trading partner and is vital to the island's growth, said Gelfenstein. Commercial exchanges between the two countries have grown consistently, with bilateral trade reaching some 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 and further expanding in 2016. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (2nd L) holds talks with Cuban President Raul Castro (3rd R) at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Both countries have also adhered to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for bilateral economic relations -- an MoU signed in 2011 -- over the last five years, Gelfenstein said. The MoU has witnessed important advances in areas such as science and technology, tourism, judicial cooperation, culture and sports. Beijing and Havana enjoy a political closeness which will not be affected by the process of Havana's rapprochement with Washington, Gelfenstein said. The evolving ties between Beijing and Havana have been a part of China's wish to show its willingness to cooperate with Latin America and the Caribbean in general, he added. "Latin America has for the first time the possibility of negotiating and creating cooperation mechanisms with a global power like China, which does not impose a preconceived agenda on the region," he said. China's wish to maintain international ties with all countries in the region, regardless of their current national circumstances, is the pillar of its foreign policy, he said. Venezuelan soldiers watch at the border pass of Paraguachon, of Guajira municipalty, in Zulia State, Venezuela, on Sept. 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Boris Vergara) CARACAS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The border between Venezuela and Colombia was re-opened on Friday night in an attempt to allow heavy-loaded vehicles to pass between the two countries for bilateral trade, said the Venezuelan governor of the western border state Tachira, Jose Vielma Mora. Close to midnight on Friday, Vielma Mora said that the decision taken to re-open the border was a response to an instruction given by Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, the second stage in the "gradual and controlled" re-opening of the bi-national border. In this way, he said that with the border open, food and products will now be able to be transported, specifically via the International Simon Bolivar bridge that connects the Venezuelan town of San Antonio in Tachira with the Colombian town of Cucuta. The designated timetable for freight vehicles to travel across the border is Monday to Friday, from 20:00 to 24:00 (Venezuelan time). However, governor Vielma Mora said that the schedule could be extended if there are vehicles waiting on both sides of the border. President Nicolas Maduro said before that the re-opening of the border, will consist of three stages. The first relates to pedestrian traffic, the second involves commercial drive and the third includes regularizing the issue of fuel. The border between Colombia and Venezuela, which stretches for 2,219 kilometers, was decreed closed by Maduro on Aug. 19, 2015, after Caracas reported a "paramilitary attack" against three soldiers from its Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB). SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A lone suspect, identified as 20-year-old Arcan Cetin, was arrested Saturday night for his role in a mall shooting in the U.S. Pacific Northwest state of Washington. Skagit Multiple Agency Response Team, based in Mount Vernon, the county seat of Skagit County, where the city of Burlington is located, said Cetin was arrested without incident at about 6:30 p.m. U.S. Pacific time while walking along a road in Oak Harbor. Oak Harbor, a town in neighboring Island County, is about 29 miles, or 47 kilometers, southwest of Burlington, where the shooting took place Friday night and claimed the lives of four female and a male victims at the makeup department of Macy's department store, one of some 50 vendors at the Cascade Mall. According to authorities, in less than 24 hours after the incident, investigators worked on "numerous tips" from the public and settled down on a particular tip that identified Cetin, an immigrant from Turkey with a permanent resident status in the United States, as a person of interest, therefore interviewing family and associates who are familiar with the man. They also identified a suspect vehicle by reviewing security footage that had been gathered from businesses around the mall. Earlier, authorities released security footage taken from within the mall, showing the shooter entering the enclosed facility, apparently without a weapon, and then holding a rifle in front of a store. He was last seen walking toward a nearby highway after leaving the scene. No motive has been established as of late Saturday night, and Cetin is set to appear at a court for arraignment on Monday. Withheld for the time being, information about the victims is expected to be released also on Monday. However, authorities noted, the investigation is likely to continue for at least several weeks. Washington state governor Jay Inslee joined law enforcement officers at a press conference Saturday night in Mount Vernon to talk about the deadly shooting incident. VILNIUS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania plans to spend more than 100 million euros (112 million U.S. dollars) on Norwegian and American mid-range air defense systems NASAMS, the country's defense minister said on Sunday. The Baltic state's defense ministry informed BNS news agency of the spending on NASAMS. "We plan to spend a bit more than 100 million euros," Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas told BNS. According to the ministry, two of the country armed force's batteries, military units of a size of a company, would be equipped with the NASAMS systems. The country plans to acquire two rocket launchers for one of the batteries, each battery is to receive a fire distribution center and radar, according to the ministry's information provided to BNS. In May, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced the country starts negotiations with the Norwegian government on purchasing the medium-range air defense systems NASAMS. According to local media, the system manufactured by Kongsberg is capable of hitting the targets at the range of up to 40 km and at the height of up to 14 km. Currently, the country's armed force only has short-range air defense systems. In recent years, Lithuania has stepped up its defense capabilities. It has purchased Polish made man-portable short-range air defense systems GROM and decided to increase its armed forces' stock of mid-range anti-tank systems by purchasing JAVELIN systems. The Baltic state also acquired German 155 mm self-propelled howitzers PzH 2000. In August, Lithuania agreed to purchase 88 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) the Boxer from the German-Dutch manufacturer Artec. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) KATHMANDU, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A car carrying seven people slipped off a mountain highway and plunged into Trishuli River at Ghoptebheer area of Chitwan District on Sunday evening in which three were killed and three others missing including a former Nepali minister, police said. Former Minister for Home Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire, his family members and relatives were en route to Capital City Kathmandu from Mustan District when the accident happened, officials said. Of the total seven passengers, the police recovered three bodies from the crash site while three others still have gone missing and one person rescued alive, a senior police officer of Chitwan District Binod Prakash Singh told local media. Initial police investigation suggests that the former minister was driving the vehicle himself, local media reports said. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between the Afghan government and the armed resistance group Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan, saying it supports the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace efforts. The peace deal was signed in Kabul on Thursday after months of negotiations that will allow the group to start political activities and take part in elections. The group will declare permanent ceasefire, the 25-point peace agreement said. "Pakistan welcomes the recent agreement signed between the government of Afghanistan and Hekmatyar (Chief of Hizb-e-Islami)," the Foreign Ministry said. "Pakistan wishes to see peace in Afghanistan and we support all sincere Afghan owned and Afghan led peace efforts to that end," a Foreign Ministry statement said. The statement said the people of Afghanistan deserve peace and prosperity, adding Pakistan remains committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan as it is in the larger interest of the region and Pakistan in particular. The agreement will pave the way for the return of Hekmatyar to Kabul in weeks to seal the agreement along with President Ashraf Ghani. The United States had designated Hekmatyar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2003 for his "support to terrorist acts committed by al-Qa'ida and the Taliban," according to the State Department. Kabul will approach the United Nations Security Council, the United States and other institutions to "lift restrictions by them against Hizb-e-Islami party of Afghanistan, its leadership and members as soon as possible."